hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第21节

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y。〃
　〃A　bit　hungover　are　we？〃　Steengo　asked　cheerfully。　〃I　suppose　there　is　good　reason；　considering　the　length　of　the　nights　here。　Their　parties　must　go　on　forever。　Or　maybe　it　just　seems　that　way。　Eat　a　bit；　sleep　a　bit。　Eat　a　bit；　drink　a　bit。　Or　maybe　more　than　a　bit。　I　thought　that　the　beer　tasted　a　little　on　the　nasty　side。　So　I　only　had　one。　But　the　meat　courses！　Tremendous；　vegetables；　good　gravy；　liked　the　bread　and　red　sauce；　plus　。　。　。〃
　His　voice　died　away　as　Floyd　crawled　out　of　bed　and　staggered；　groaning；　from　the　room。
　〃You　are　cruel；〃　I　said；　smacking　my　dry　lips　together　and　feeling　a　little　better。
　〃Not　cruel。　Just　pointing　out　a　few　truths。　This　mission　first。　Overdrinking；　hangovers　and　Technicolor　yawns　saved　for　our　victory　celebration。〃
　There　was　nothing　I　could　say。　He　was　right。
　〃Message　received；〃　I　said；　reaching　for　my　clothes。　〃The　quiet　life　and　plenty　of　rest　and　raw　vegetables。　Think　positive。〃
　Dawn　brightened　the　window。　A　new　day。　Ten　days　to　deadline。　I　was　thinking　negative　and　I　shook　myself　like　a　wet　dog　and　tried　to　shrug　off　the　mood。　〃Let's　go　to　the　fair。〃
　When　we　emerged　from　the　BOQ；　Sergeant　Ljotur　was　waiting　for　us。　He　snapped　to　attention　and　gave　a　mighty　salute…as　did　the　squad　of　soldiers　from　the　gate　guard　that　he　had　brought　with　him。
　〃We　take　you　to　the　market！〃　he　called　out。　〃These　men　are　all　volunteers；　eagerly　happy　to　carry　any　purchases　finest　musicians　in　galaxy　may　make。〃
　〃Greatly　appreciated。　Lead　on；〃　I　said　as　we　stepped　out　briskly　on　the　red　brick　road。
　The　sun　was　a　glowing　crimson　disk　on　the　horizon　when　me　reached　the　market。　The　Fundamentaloid　nomads　must　lave　been　early　risers　because　everything　was　in　great　swing　already。　I　ready。　And　gory　too；　I　thought　I　heard　a　low　moan　from　Floyd；　but　the　baaing　and　farting　of　the　sheots　tended　to　drown　out　most　other　sounds。　plain　they　might　as　the　butchered　carcasses　of　their　late　panions　were　unloaded　from　their　backs。　But　there　had　to　be　more　than　a　meat　market　here；　eyes　averted　we　hurried　past　the　sanguineous　display。
　Now　bearded　nomads　solicited　our　attention　in　pleading　voices；　pointing　out　the　attractions　of　their　wares。　Which　weren't　that　attractive。　Tired…looking　vegetables；　crude　clay　pots；　piles　of　dried　sheot　chips　for　the　barbecue。
　〃Pretty　grim；〃　Floyd　said。
　〃Not　important；〃　I　told　him；　jerking　my　thumb　towards　the　strolling　customers。　〃They　are　the　ones　that　we　are　interested　in。〃　I　took　out　the　photographs　of　the　artifact　that　we　were　looking　for　and　passed　one　to　each　of　my　panions。　〃Find　out　if　any　of　the　Paradisians　have　seen　this。〃
　〃We　don't　just　spring　it　on　them？〃　Steengo　said　doubtfully。
　〃You're　right。　We　don't。　During　the　sleepless　hours　of　the　night　I　worked　up　a　cover　story。　It　goes　this　way；　something　close　to　the　truth。　The　nomads　found　this　thing　in　a　stream　bed　after　a　flash　flood。　Tried　to　trade　it　to　the　keepers　of　the　Pentagon　who　have　a　strict　policy　of　nonmunication。　However　it　was　photographed　when　presented　and　only　later　was　it　recognized　as　an　archeological　artifact　of　possible　interest。〃
　〃Reasonable；〃　Steengo　said　doubtfully。　〃But　what　are　we　doing　with　the　photos？〃
　〃Given　to　us　when　we　were　booted　out　of　the　place。　Hints　made　of　rewards；　possible　remission　of　sentence；　lots　of　fedha。　With　great　reluctance　we　agreed　to　look　for　the　thing　since；　simply；　what　have　we　got　to　lose？〃
　〃Thin　but　plausible；〃　Floyd　said。　〃Let's　give　it　a　try。〃
　There　was　no　difficulty　talking　to　the　Paradisians；　if　anything　it　was　hard　to　get　rid　of　them　once　approached。　How　they　loved　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats！　Soon　I　had　a　string　of　adoring　fans　trailing　behind　me…along　with　most　of　the　squad　of　guards。　Everyone　wanted　to　help：　none　of　them　knew　a　thing。　But　one　name　kept　cropping　up　during　the　questioning。　Sjonvarp。
　Steengo　pushed　through　the　crowd　and　held　up　the　now　dogeared　photograph。　〃Still　nothing。　But　a　couple　of　them　said　to　ask　Sjonvarp。　Who　seems　to　be　the　top　trader　around　here。〃
　〃I　heard　the　same　thing。　Grab　Floyd；　He　must　be　recovering　because　I　saw　him　looking　at　the　fermented　sheot…milk　stand。　Bring　him　here　before　he　makes　a　mistake　that　he　will　long　remember。〃
　Sjonvarp　was　easy　enough　to　find；　with　countless　fingers　pointing　us　the　way。　He　was　a　tall　and　solidly…built　man　with　iron…gray　hair。　His　stern　face　broke　into　a　smile　when　he　turned　to　see　who　had　called　out　his　name。
　〃The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　in　the　flesh！　I　am　trebly　blessed！〃
　We　hummed　two　bars　of　〃All　Alone〃　followed　by　a　brisk　buck　and　wing。　Which　elicited　a　round　of　applause　from　the　spectators　and　a　broader　smile　from　Sjonvarp。
　〃Such　rhythm　and　beauty！〃　he　said。
　〃We　sing　'em　the　way　you　like　it；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　told　in　the　market　that　you　are　the　master…trader　in　these　parts。〃
　〃I　am。　Pleased　to　make　your　acquaintances；　Jim；　Floyd　and　Steengo。〃
　〃Likewise。　If　you　have　a　moment　I　have　a　picture　here　I　would　like　you　to　look　at。〃　I　hit　the　high　points　of　our　spiel　as　I　passed　the　pic　over。　He　only　half　listened；　but　did　put　all　of　Isis　attention　on　the　photo。　Turning　it　around　at　arm's　length；　squinting　farsightedly　to　make　it　out。
　〃Of　course'。　I　thought　so。〃　He　handed　it　back　to　me。　〃Some　markets　ago；　I　forget　exactly　how　many；　one　of　these　odorous　simpletons　traded　it　to　one　of　my　assistants。　We　buy　anything　that　might　be　of　scientific　interest　for　the　specialists　to　examine。　It　didn't　look　like　much。　But　I　gave　it　to　old　Heimskur　anyway。〃
　〃Well　that　takes　care　of　that　then；〃　I　said；　tearing　the　photo　up　and　dropping　the　pieces。　〃We're　doing　our　concert　tonight…I　can　get　you　a　ticket　if　you　want　one。〃
　The　artifact　was　instantly　forgotten…as　I　hoped；　although　it　took　some　time　for　us　to　extract　ourselves　from　the　attentive　embrace　of　our　fans。　Only　by　saying　that　it　was　rehearsal　time　did　we　manage　to　break　away。
　〃Don't　we　look　for　the　thing　any　more？〃　Floyd　asked　worriedly。　A　good　musician；　but　I　think　drink　was　eroding　his　brain　cells。
　〃We　have　the　man's　name；〃　Steengo　said。　〃That's　what　we　look　into　next。〃
　〃How？〃　Floyd　asked；　still　suffering　from　semi…paralysis　of　the　neural　network。
　〃Any　way　we　can；〃　I　told　him。　〃Make　friends。　Drop　names。　Drop　Heimskur's　name　among　the　others。　We　find　out　who　he　is　and　what　he　does。　Now；　as　we　stroll；　I'll　report　in。〃
　Tremearne　and　Madonette　listened　carefully　to　my　report。　He　overed　and　outed　but　she　stayed　to　chat。
　〃Jim；　it's　time　I　left　my　hole　in　the　wall　and　visited　the　other　half　of　the　city。　It　must　be　safe　。　。　。〃
　〃We　hope　that…but　we　don't　know　that。　And　there　is　no　point　in　your　taking　any　chances　as　long　as　the　thing　we　are　looking　for　is　here。　Enjoy　the　break。　And　don't　do　a　thing　until　we　find　out　more　here。〃
　We　found　lunch　waiting　in　our　quarters。　Fruit　and　slices　of　cold　meatloaf　on　silver　plates；　covered　with　crystal　domes。
　〃Great！〃　Floyd　said；　chomping　down　a　slice。
　〃Probably　minced　sheot　shank；〃　Steengo　said；　suddenly　gloomy。
　〃Food's　food　and　I　never　consider　the　source。〃　Floyd　reached　for　another　slice　just　as　our　golden　greeter　appeared。
　〃A　pleasure　to　see　you　musical　Rats　enjoying　yourself。　When　you　have　eaten　your　fill　I　have　a　request　for　the　presence　of　Rat　Jim。〃
　〃Who　wants　me？〃　I　asked　suspiciously　through　a　mouthful　of　sweet　pulp。
　〃All　will　be　revealed。〃　He　put　his　index　finger　along　his　nose；　winked　and　rolled　his　eyes。　Which　silent　munication　I　assumed　meant　something　like　you'll　find　out　soon　enough。　I　had　no　choice。　And　I　had　lost　my　appetite。　I　wiped　my　fingers　on　a　damp　cloth　and　followed　him　yet　another　time。
　Iron　John　was　waiting　for　me　at　the　door　of　the　Veritorium　where　we　had　all　seen　the　puzzling　holoflic。
　〃e　with　me；　Jim；〃　he　said　with　a　deep　voice　like　distant　thunder。　〃Today　you　will　see　and　understand　all　of　the　revelation。〃
　〃I'll　get　the　others　。　。　。〃
　〃Not　this　time；　Jim。〃　His　hand　closed　gently　but　firmly　onto　my　shoulder　and　I　had　little　choice　but　to　go　along　with　him。　〃You　are　wise　beyond　your　years。　An　old　head　on　a　young　body。　Therefore　you　are　the　one　who　will　be　helped　the　most　by　your　understanding　of　this　mystery　that　is　no　mystery。　e。〃
　He　sat　me　down　but　did　not　join　me；　yet　I　was　aware　of　his　presence　close　by　me　in　the　darkness。　The　mist　roiled　and　cleared　and　I　was　once　again　by　the　lake。
　There　was　only　silence　in　the　forest　around　the　ducky　pond。　As　the　last　ripple　died　away　the　young　man　turned　crud　left　without　looking　back。　Trod　the　dead　leaves　beneath。　the　trees　until　he　emerged　and　saw　the　king　before　him。
　〃There　is　something　I　must　do；〃　he　told　the　king；　nor　would　he　say　any　more。　The　king　saw　that　the　man's　dog　was　gone　…　the　man　himself　was　unharmed。　He　had　many　questions　but　；　did　not　know　how　to　speak　them。　Instead　he　followed　the　young　man　back　to　the　castle。　In　the　courtyard　the　young　man　looked　around；　then　spotted　a　large　leathern　bucket。
　〃I　need　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Take　it。〃　The　king　dismissed　him　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Remember　I　have　helped　you。　One　day　you　must　tell　me　what　you　found　in　the　woods。〃
　The　young　man　turned　in　silence　and　made　his　way；　alone；　back　to　the　dark　pond。　There　he　dipped　the　bucket　into　the　water　and　hurled　its　contents　into　the　ditch