deathworld-第13章

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e　more　in　his　hand；　he　began　to　roll　the　drum　along　the　ground　with　his　feet。　It　was　slow；　cumbersome　work；　but　he　was　still　in　the　fight。
　 Jason　pushed　through　the　hurrying　crowd　and　bent　over　the　drum。　〃Let　me　do　it；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　cover　us　both　with　your　gun。〃
　 The　man　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　eyes　with　the　back　of　his　arm　and　blinked　at　Jason。　He　seemed　to　recognize　him。　When　he　smiled　it　was　a　grimace　of　pain；　empty　of　humor。　〃Do　that。　I　can　still　shoot。　Two　half　men…maybe　we　equal　one　whole。〃　Jason　was　laboring　too　hard　to　even　notice　the　insult。
　 An　explosion　had　blasted　a　raw　pit　in　the　street　ahead。　Two　people　were　at　the　bottom；　digging　it　even　deeper　with　shovels。　The　whole　thing　seemed　meaningless。　Just　as　Jason　and　the　wounded　man　rolled　up　the　drum；　the　diggers　leaped　out　of　the　excavation　and　began　shooting　down　into　its　depths。　One　of　them　turned；　a　young　girl；　barely　in　her　teens。
　 〃Praise　Perimeter！〃　she　breathed。　〃They　found　the　napalm。　One　of　the　new　horrors　is　breaking　through　toward　Area　13；　we　just　found　it。〃　Even　as　she　talked　she　swiveled　the　drum　around；　kicked　the　easy…off　plug；　and　began　dumping　the　gelid　contents　into　the　hole。　When　half　of　it　had　gurgled　down；　she　kicked　the　drum　itself　in。　Her　panion　pulled　a　flare　from　his　belt；　lit　it；　and　threw　it　after　the　drum。
　 〃Back　quick。　They　don't　like　heat；〃　he　said。
　 This　was　putting　it　very　mildly。　The　napalm　caught；　tongues　of　flame　and　roiling；　greasy　smoke　climbing　up　to　the　sky。　Under　Jason's　feet　the　earth　shifted　and　moved。　Something　black　and　long　stirred　in　the　heart　of　the　flame；　then　arched　up　into　the　sky　over　their　heads。　In　the　midst　of　the　searing　heat；　it　still　moved　with　alien；　jolting　motions。　It　was　immense；　at　least　two　meters　thick　and　with　no　indication　of　its　length。　The　flames　didn't　stop　it；　just　annoyed　it。
　 Jason　had　some　idea　of　the　thing's　length　as　the　street　cracked　and　buckled　for　fifty　meters　on　each　side　of　the　pit。　Great　loops　of　the　creature　began　to　emerge　from　the　ground。　He　fired　his　gun；　as　did　the　others。　Not　that　it　seemed　to　have　any　effect。　More　and　more　people　were　appearing；　armed　with　a　variety　of　weapons。　Flamethrowers　and　grenades　seemed　to　be　the　most　effective。
　 〃Clear　the　area；　we're　going　to　saturate　it。　Fall　back。〃
　 The　voice　was　so　loud　it　jarred　Jason's　ear。　He　turned　and　recognized　Kerk；　who　had　arrived　with　truckloads　of　equipment。　He　had　a　power　speaker　on　his　back；　the　mike　hung　in　front　of　his　lips。　His　amplified　voice　brought　an　instant　reaction　from　the　crowd。　They　began　to　move。
　 There　was　still　doubt　in　Jason's　mind　what　to　do。　Clear　the　area？　But　what　area？　He　started　toward　Kerk；　before　he　realized　that　the　rest　of　the　Pyrrans　were　going　in　the　opposite　direction。　Even　under　two　gravities；　they　moved。
　 Jason　had　a　naked　feeling　of　being　alone　on　the　stage。　He　was　in　the　center　of　the　street；　and　the　others　had　vanished。　No　one　remained。　Except　the　wounded　man　Jason　had　helped。　He　stumbled　toward　Jason；　waving　his　good　arm。　Jason　couldn't　understand　what　he　said。　Kerk　was　shouting　orders　again　from　one　of　the　trucks。　They　had　started　to　move　too。　The　urgency　struck　home　and　Jason　started　to　run。
　 It　was　too　late。　On　all　sides　the　earth　was　buckling；　cracking；　as　more
　loops　of　the　underground　thing　forced　its　way　into　the　light。　Safety　lay　ahead。　Only　in　front　of　it　rose　an　arch　of　dirt　encrusted　grey。
　 There　are　seconds　of　time　that　seem　to　last　an~　eternity。　A　moment　of　subjective　time　that　is　grabbed　and　stretched　to　an　infinite　distance。　This　was　one　of　those　moments。　Jason　stood；　frozen。　Even　the　smoke　in　the　sky　hung　unmoving。　The　high…standing　loop　of　alien　life　was　before　him；　every　detail　piercingly　clear。
　 Thick　as　a　man；　ribbed　and　grey　as　old　bark。　Tendrils　projected　from　all　parts　of　it；　pallid　and　twisting　lengths　that　writhed　slowly　with　snake…like　life。　Shaped　like　a　plant；　yet　with　the　motions　of　an　animal。　And　cracldng；　splitting。　This　was　the　worst。
　 Seams　and　openings　appeared。　Splintering；　gaping　mouths　that　vomited　out　a　horde　of　pallid　animals。　Jason　heard　their　shriekings；　shrill　yet　remote。　He　saw　the　needle…like　teeth　that　lined　their　jaws。
　 The　paralysis　of　the　unknown　held　him　there。　He　should　have　died。　Kerk　was　thundering　at　him　through　the　power　speaker；　others　were　firing　into　the　attacking　creature。　Jason　knew　nothing。
　 Then　he　was　shot　forward；　pushed　by　a　rock…hard　shoulder。　The　wounded　man　was　still　there；　trying　to　get　Jason　clear。　Gun　clenched　in　his　jaws；　he　dragged　Jason　along　with　his　good　arm。　Toward　the　creature。　The　others　stopped　firing。　They　saw　his　plan　and　it　was　a　good　one。
　 A　loop　of　the　thing　arched　into　the　air；　leaving　an　opening　between　its　body　and　the　ground。　The　wounded　Pyrran　planted　his　feet　and　tightened　his　muscles。　One…handed；　with　a　single　thrust；　he　picked　Jason　off　the　ground　and　sent　him　hurtling　under　the　living　arch。　Moving　tendrils　brushed　fire　along　his　face；　then　he　was　through；　rolling　over　and　over　on　the　ground。　The　wounded　Pyrran　leaped　after　him。
　 It　was　too　late。　There　had　been　a　chance　for　one　person　to　get　out。　The　Pyrran　could　have　done　it　easily…instead　he　had　pushed　Jason　first。　The　thing　was　aware　of　movement　when　Jason　brushed　its　tendrils。　It　dropped　and　caught　the　wounded　man　under　its　weight。　He　vanished　from　sight　as　the　tendrils　wrapped　around　him　and　the　animals　swarmed　over。　His　trigger　must　have　pulled　back　to　full　automatic　because　the　gun　kept　firing　a　long　time　after　he　should　have　been　dead。
　 Jason　crawled。　Some　of　the　fanged　animals　ran　toward　him；　but　were　shot。　He　knew　nothing　about　this。　Then　rude　hands　grabbed　him　up　and　pulled　him　forward。　He　slammed　into　the　side　of　a　truck　and　Kerk's　face　was　in　front　of　his；　flushed　and　angry。　One　of　the　giant　fists　closed　on　the　front　of　Jason's　clothes　and　he　was　lifted　off　his　feet；　shaken　like　a　limp　bag　of　rags。　He　offered　no　protest　and　could　not　have　even　if　Kerk　had　killed　him。
　 When　he　was　thrown　to　the　ground；　someone　picked　him　up　and　slid　him　into　the　back　of　the　truck。　He　did　not　lose　consciousness　as　the　truck　bounced　away；　yet　he　could　not　move。　In　a　moment　the　fatigue　would　go　away　and　he　would　sit　up。　That　was　all　he　was；　just　a　little　tired。　Even　as　he　thought　this；　he　passed　out。
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　 〃Just　like　old　times；〃　Jason　said　when　Brucco　came　into　the　room　with　a　tray　of　food。　Without　a　word　Brucco　served　Jason　and　the　wounded　men　in　the　other　beds；　then　left。　〃Thanks；〃　Jason　called　after　his　retreating　back。
　 A　joke；　a　twist　of　a　grin；　like　it　always　was。　Sure。　But　even　as　he　grinned　and　his　lips　shaped　a　joke；　Jason　felt　them　like　a　veneer　on　the　outside。　Something　plastered　on　with　a　life　of　its　own。　Inside　he　was　numb　and　immovable。　His　body　was　stiff　as　his　eyes　still　watched　that　arch　of　alien　flesh　descend　and　smother　the　one…armed　Pyrran　with　its　million　burning　fingers。
　 He　could　feel　himself　under　the　arch。　After　all；　hadn't　the　wounded　man　taken　his　place？　He　finished　the　meal　without　realizing　that　he　ate。
　 Ever　since　that　morning；　when　he　had　recovered　consciousness；　it　had　been　like　this。　He　knew　that　he　should　have　died　out　there　in　that　battle…tom　street。　His　life　should　have　been　snuffed　out；　for　making　the　mistake　of　thinking　that　he　could　actually　help　the　battling　Pyrrans。　Instead　of　being　underfoot　and　in　the　way。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　Jason；　the　man　with　the　wounded　arm　would　have　been　brought　here　to　the　safety　of　the　reorientation　buildings。　He　knew　he　was　lying　in　the　bed　that　belonged　to　that　man。
　 The　man　who　had　given　his　life　for　Jason's。
　 The　man　whose　name　he　didn't　even　know。
　 There　were　drugs　in　the　food　and　they　made　him　sleep。　The　medicated　pads　soaked　the　pain　and　rawness　out　of　the　bums　where　the　tentacles　had　seared　his　face。　When　he　awoke　the　second　time；　his　touch　with　reality　had　been　restored。
　 A　man　had　died　so　he　could　live。　Jason　faced　the　fact。　He　couldn't　restore　that　life；　no　matter　how　much　he　wanted　to。　What　he　could　do　was　make　the　man's　death　worthwhile。　If　it　can　be　said　that　any　death　was　worthwhile。　。　。　。　He　forced　his　thoughts　from　that　track。
　 Jason　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　His　work　was　even　more　important
　now。　If　he　could　solve　the　riddle　of　this　deadly　world；　he　could　repay　in　part　the　debt　he　owed。
　 Sitting　up　made　his　head　spin　and　he　held　to　the　edge　of　the　bed　until　it　slowed　down。　The　others　in　the　room　ignored　him　as　he　slowly　and　painfully　dragged　on　his　clothes。　Brucco　came　in；　saw　what　he　was　doing；　and　left　again　without　a　word。
　 Dressing　took　a　long　time；　but　it　was　finally　done。　When　Jason　finally　left　the　room　he　found　Kerk　waiting　there　for　him。
　 〃Kerk；　I　want　to　tell　you。　。　。　。〃
　 〃Tell　me　nothing！〃　The　thunder　of　Kerk's　voice　bounced　back　from　the　ceiling　and　walls。　〃I'm　telling　you。　I'll　tell　you　once　and　that　will　be　the　end　of　it。　You're　not　wanted　on　Pyrrus；　Jason　dinAlt；　neither　you　nor　your　precious　off…world　schemes　are　wanted　here。　I　let　you　convince　me　once　with　your　twisted　tongue。　Helped　you　at　the　expense　of　more　important　work。　I　should　have　known　what　the　result　of　your　'logic'　'　would　be。　Now　I've　seen。　Weif　died　so　you　could　live。　He　was　twice　the　man　you　will　ever　be。〃
　 'WeIf？　Was　that　his　name？〃　Jason　asked　stumblingly。　〃I　didn't　know。　。　。　。〃
　 〃You　didn't　even　know。〃　Kerk's　lips　pulled　back　from　his　teeth　in　a　grimace　of　disgust。　〃You　didn't　even　know　his　name…yet　he　died　that　you　might　continue　your　miserable　existence。〃　Kerk　spat；　as　if　the　words　gave　a　vile　flavor　to　his　speech；　and　stamped　toward　the　exit　lock。　Almost　as　an　afterthought；　he　turned　back　to　Jason。
　 〃You'll　stay　here　in　the　sealed　buildings　until　the　ship　returns　in　two　weeks。　Then　you　will　leave　this　planet　and　never　e　back。　If　you　do　I'll　kill　you　instantly。　With　pleasure。〃　He　started　through　the　lock。
　 〃Wait；〃　Jason　shouted。　〃You　can't　decide　like　that。　You　haven't　even　seen　the　evidence　I've　uncovered。　Ask　Meta…〃　The　lock　thumped　shut　and　Kerk　was　gone。
　 The　whole　thing　was　just　too　stupid。　Anger　began　to　replace　the　futile　despair　of　a　moment　before。　He　was　being　treated　like　an　irresponsible　child；　the　importance　of　his　discovery　of　the　log　pletely　ignored。　…
　 Jason　turned　and　saw　for　the　first　time　that　Brucco　was　standing　there。　〃Did　you　hear　that？〃　Jason　asked　him。
　 〃Yes。　And　I　quite　agree。　You　can　consider　yourself　lucky。〃
　 〃Lucky！〃　Jason　was　the　angry　one　now。　〃Lucky　to　be　treated　like　a　/　moronic　child；　with　contempt　for　everything　I　do…〃
　 〃I　said　lucky；〃　Brucco　snapped。　'Welf　was　Kerk's　only　surviving　son。　Kerk　had　high　hopes　for　him；　was　training　him　to　take　his　place　eventually。〃　He　turned　to　leave　but　Jason　called　after　him。
　 〃Wait。　I'm　sorry　about　Welf。　I　can't　be　any　sorrier　knowing　that　he　was　Kerk's　son。　But　at　least　it　explains　why　Kerk　is　so　quick　to　throw　me　out…as　well　as　the　evidence　I　have　uncovered。　The　log　of　the　ship。　。　。〃
　 〃I　know；　I've　seen　it；〃　Brucco　interrupted。　〃Meta　brought　it　in。　Very　interesting　historical　document。〃
　 〃That's　all　you　can　see　it　as；　an　historical　document？　The　significance　of　the　planetary　change　escapes　you？〃
　 〃It　doesn't　escape　me；〃　Brucco　answered　briefly。　〃But　I　cannot　see　that　it　has　any　relevan