hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第8节

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There's　no　one　here　but　me…me…me。　
Me　me　…　me　
That's　all　I　see　
I'm　all　alone；　
just　
me　
me　
me。
　This　was　all　done　to　the　acpaniment　of　holographic　shaking　trees；　storm　clouds　and　other　spooky　effects。　The　music　wailed　as　Madonette　seguidillad　into　the　rest　of　the　song。
　I'm　all　alone　and　it's　very　dark　
I　sneak　out　the　window　to　the　park。　
The　wind　blows　bard　and　the　tree　limbs　wave　
And　I'm　right　before　an　open　grave！　
When　I　try　to　run　and　try　to　flee…　
But　I　know　they're　out　there　after　me！　
I　sit　and　cry　and　I　know　that's　right　…　
Because　the　sun　es　up　
It's　the　end　of　the　night　。　。　。
　With　a　last　wail　and　a　writhe　of　purple　fog　the　sun　rose　majestically　behind　us　and　the　music　trickled　to　an　end。
　The　silence　stretched　and　stretched…until　it　was　finally　broken　by　a　tumultuous　applause。
　〃Well　gang；〃　I　said；　〃it　looks　like　we　have　done　it。　Or　as　Barry　Moyd　says　it　looks　like　we　are　but　really　rooty…getooty！　〃
　On　the　seventh　day　we　did　not　rest。　After　a　final　round　of　rehearsals　I　called　an　early　break。　〃Get　some　racktime。　Pack　your　bags。　The　music　and　props　are　ready　to　go。　We　ship　out　at　midnight。　Transportation　to　the　spaceport　leaves　here　an　hour　earlier…so　don't　be　late。〃
　They　shuffled　out　wearily　with　dragging　feet。　The　Admiral　stamped　in　as　they　left；　with　Zach　trailing　in　his　wake。
　〃This　agent　informs　me　that　all　preparations　have　been　made　and　you　are　ready　to　embark。〃　I　could　only　nod　agreement。
　〃Wish　I　could　go　with　you；〃　Zach　said。
　〃You　set　it　all　up…you　have　our　thanks　for　that。　Now　get　going。〃
　He　numbed　my　fingers　with　his　handshake　and　the　door　closed　behind　him。
　The　Admiral's　smile　had　all　of　the　warmth　of　a　striking　snake。　〃Drug　Enforcement　has　e　up　with　a　crime　so　awful　that　it　means　an　instant　sentence　to　Liokukae。〃
　〃That's　nice…what　is　it？〃
　〃Misuse　of　a　highly　refined　and　expensive　drug　called　baksheesh。　You　and　the　rest　of　the　musicians　have　been　caught　smuggling　it　and　are　addicted　to　it。　There　is　a　medical　cure　for　the　addiction　that　leaves　the　victim　weak　and　vibrating　for　a　number　of　days。　This　should　give　you　a　little　time　to　look　around　before　you　have　to　play　your　first　concert。　The　press　release　has　already　gone　out　about　your　capture　and　your　sentence　to　prison　hospital　for　the　criminally　doped。　The　natives　of　Liokukae　will　not　be　surprised　at　all　when　you　arrive　there。　Questions？〃
　〃A　big　one。　Has　the　munication　been　set　up？〃
　〃Yes。　The　coded　radio　built　into　your　jaw　can　reach　the　receiver　at　the　entrance　terminal　from　any　place　on　the　planet。　It　will　be　manned　all　of　the　time　and　an　officer　will　be　listening　in　on　all　munication。　Your　contact　on　the　ground　will　give　you　what　aid　he　can　before　you　go　out　of　the　sealed　terminal。　Then　he　will　move　to　the　spacecruiser　Remorseless　in　orbit　above；　which　will　also　monitor　your　radio。　We　can　hit　anywhere　on　the　planet　in　a　maximum　of　eleven　minutes。　Send　the　signal　when　you　have　found　the　artifact　and　the　space　marines　will　be　there。　Report　at　a　minimum　of　once　a　day。　Location　and　results　of　your　investigation。〃
　〃Just　in　case　we　get　blown　away　and　you　have　to　send　in　the　second　team？〃
　〃Exactly。　More　questions？〃
　〃One。　Going　to　wish　us　luck？〃
　〃No。　Don't　believe　in　it。　Make　your　own。〃
　〃Gee；　thanks；　you　really　are　all　heart。〃
　He　turned　and　stamped　away　and　the　door　swung　shut　behind　him。　Fatigue　washed　through　me　and　black　depression　hit　just　one　more　time。　Why　was　I　doing　this？
　To　stay　alive　of　course。　Twenty…two　days　more　before　my　curtain　fell　for　the　final　performance。
　
　CHAPTER　6
　The　Faster　Than　Light　voyage　aboard　the　good　ship　Remorseless　was　blessedly　brief。　Being　surrounded　by　the　military　has　always　had　a　deleterious　effect　on　my　morale。　We　had　a　solid　day　of　rehearsal；　some　bad　food；　a　good　night's　rest；　followed　the　next　day　by　a　very　non…alcoholic　party…since　the　Navy　was　remorselessly　teetotal。　Then；　a　few　hours　before　we　were　to　meet　the　shuttle；　the　medics　gave　us　the　injections　that　were　to　simulate　the　aftereffects　of　our　drug　treatment。
　I　think　I　would　have　preferred　the　treatment。　I　didn't　mind　seeing　my　last　meal　go　by　for　a　second　time；　it　had　been　pretty　bad　and　I　would　not　miss　it。　But　the　shakes　and　shivers　were　something　else　again。　And　all　of　my　vibrating　and　stumbling　co…musicians　had　eyeballs　as　red　as　fire。　I　dared　not　look　in　the　mirror　for　fear　of　what　I　would　see　there。
　Steengo　was　gray　and　drawn　and　looked　a　hundred　years　old。　I　felt　a　quick　blast　of　guilt　for　dragging　him　out　of　retirement。　Said　guilt　fading　instantly　when　I　thought　about　my　own　problems。
　〃Do　I　look　as　bad　as　you　do？〃　Floyd　said　in　a　hoarse　voice；　his　new…grown　beard　black　against　his　parchment　skin。
　〃I　hope　not；〃　I　husked　in　return。　Madonette　reached　over　and　patted　my　shaking　hand　in　what　might　have　been　a　maternal　way。
　〃It　will　be　all　right　on　the　night；　Jim。　Just　you　wait　and　see。
　I　did　not　feel　filial　in　return　since　I　was　rapidly　developing　a　crush　on　her　that　I　hoped　I　disguised。　I　growled　something　or　other　and　stumbled　away　to　the　heads　where　I　could　be　alone　with　my　misery。　Even　this　did　not　work　for　the　speaker　in　the　ceiling　rustled　ominously…then　crashed　out　Admiral　Bonbon's　voice。　。
　〃Now　hear　this。　All　Stainless　Steel　Rats　will　assemble　at　debarkation　station　twelve　in　two　minutes。　We　are　now　in　parking　orbit。　One　minute　and　fifty…eight　seconds。　One　minute　and　。　。　。〃
　I　slammed　out　into　the　passageway　to　escape　his　voice　but　it　followed　me　as　I　fled。　I　was　the　last　to　arrive　and　I　collapsed　and　joined　the　others　where　they　slumped　on　the　deck　beside　our　backpacks。　The　Admiral　appeared　suddenly　behind　me　like　a　bad　dream　and　roared　his　mand。
　〃Attention！　On　your　feet　you　slovenly　crew！〃
　〃Never！〃　I　shouted　even　louder　in　a　cracked　voice。　Rolling　over　to　pull　the　swaying　bodies　back　to　the　deck。
　〃Begone　foul　military　fiend！　We　are　musicians；　civilians；　medically　reformed　drug　addicts　and　we　must　think　and　feel　that　way。　Someday；　if　we　live；　you　may　have　some　of　us　back　at　your　military　mercy。　But　not　now。　Leave　us　in　peace　and　wait　for　my　reports。〃
　He　snarled　a　rich　naval　oath…but　had　the　brains　to　turn　cm　his　heel　and　vanish。　There　was　a　ragged　cheer　from　my　panions　which　made　me　feel　slightly　less　sordid。　The　silence　after　this　was　unbroken；　except　for　the　occasional　groan；　until　distant　motors　whirred　and　the　inner　lock　swung　majestically　open。　A　keen　clipboard…bearing　naval　officer　stepped　t　I　h　rough。
　〃Landing　party　for　Liokukae？〃
　〃All　present；　all　ill。　Send　a　working　party　for　our　gear。〃
　He　muttered　into　his　lapel　microphone；　reached　to　the　hack　of　his　belt　to　unclip　a　pair　of　handcuffs。　Which　he　promptly　snapped　onto　my　wrists。
　〃Whasha？〃　I　blurted　incoherently。　Blinking　down　at　the　cuffs。
　〃Don't　give　me　a　hard　time；　you　drug…pushing　addict；　and　I　won't　give　you　one。　You　may　be　a　big　man　out　there　in　the　galaxy；　but　here　you　are　just　one　more　sentenced　crook。　Who　is　going　to　carry　his　own　pack…no　working　party　for　the　likes　of　you。〃
　I　opened　my　mouth　to　verbally　assassinate　him。　Then　closed　it。　It　had　been　my　idea　that　our　mission　be　known　to　the　minimum　few。　He　obviously　wasn't　one　of　them。　I　groaned　to　my　feet　and　stumbled　into　the　airlock　dragging　my　gear　after　me；　the　others　following　in　like　condition。　The　orbital　shuttle　ship　was　grim　and　cheerless。　The　hard　metal　seats　snapped　clamps　on　our　ankles　when　we　sat　down；　no　dancing　in　the　aisles　this　trip。　We　watched　in　silence　as　our　backpacks　were　thrown　into　a　storage　bin；　then　looked　up　at　the　big　screen　on　the　front　bulkhead。　Lots　of　stars。　They　rotated　and　the　bulk　of　Remorseless　swam　into　sight；　grew　smaller　and　dropped　behind　as　the　engines　fired。　Then　the　pickup　turned　so　that　the　growing　bulk　of　the　planet　could　be　seen　and　we　were　treated　to　a　scratchy　and　static…filled　ancient　recording　of　martial　music。　This　died　away　and　was　replaced　by　a　male　speaker　with　a　repulsive　nasal　whine。
　〃Now　hear　this；　prisoners。　This　is　a　one…way　trip。　You　will　have　resisted　all　efforts　at　adjustment　that　would　have　fitted　you　to　live　peacefully　in　our　humane　and　civilized　society　。　。　。〃
　〃Blow　it　out　your　rocket　tubes'。〃　Steengo　snarled；　running　his　fingers　through　his　gray　hair；　perhaps　to　see　if　it　was　still　there。　I　would　have　nodded　agreement　with　his　snarl　only　my　head　hurt　too　much。
　〃。　。　。　brought　upon　yourselves　by　your　own　efforts。　Upon　landing　you　will　be　escorted　by　armed　guards　to　the　gates　of　the　landing　station。　Your　restraints　will　be　removed　and　you　will　be　given　an　orientation　booklet；　a　canteen　of　distilled　water；　as　well　as　a　week's　supply　of　concentrated　survival　rations。　During　that　week　you　will　look　for　small　trees　bearing　hard　fruit。　These　are　the　polpettone　trees　and　a　source　of　nourishment　for　all。　Their　fruit　is　the　result　of　careful　gene　mutation　and　transplant；　rich　in　animal　protein。　They　should　not　be　eaten　raw　because　of　the　chance　of　trichinosis；　but　should　be　baked　or　boiled。　You　must　remember　。　。　。〃
　I　wanted　to　remember　nothing　he　said　so　I　tuned　him　out。　I　tried　to　reassure　myself　that　the　normal　condemned　passenger　on；　this　flight　must　have　done　something　pretty　gruesome　to　deserve　this　fate。　I　wasn't　convinced。　Despit