deathworld-第17章

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　 〃Is　that　all？〃　Rhes　asked；　as　he　watched　Jason　stow　the　medikit　ba　in　his　belt。
　 Jason　nodded；　then　looked　up　and　noticed　the　wet　marks　of　tears　the　sick　man's　face。　Rhes　became　aware　at　the　same　time　and　brush　at　them　angrily。
　 〃When　a　man　is　sick；〃　he　growled；　〃the　body　and　all　its　senses　becon
　traitor。　I　don't　think　I　have　cried　since　I　was　a　child…but　you　must　i
　alize　it's　not　myself　I'm　crying　for。　It's　the　untold　thousands　of　my　pe
　ple　who　have　died　for　lack　of　that　little　device　you　treat　so　casuall）
　 〃Surely　you　have　medicines；　doctors　of　your　own？〃
　 〃Herb　doctors　and　witch　doctors；〃　Rues　said；　consigning　them　all　oblivion　with　a　chop　of　his　hand。　〃The　few　hard　working　and　honc　men　are　hampered　by　the　fact　that　the　faith　healers　can　usually　cu　better　than　their　strongest　potion。〃
　 The　talking　had　tired　Rhes。　He　stopped　suddenly　and　closed　his　ey~　On　his　chest；　the　inflamed　areas　were　already　losing　their　angry　col
　as　the　injections　took　effect。　Jason　glanced　around　the　room；　looking　for　clues　to　the　mystery　of　these　people。
　 Floor　and　walls　were　made　of　wood　lengths　fitte？l　together；　free　of　paint　or　decoration。　They　looked　simple　and　crude；　fit　only　for　the　savages　he　had　expected　to　meet。　Or　were　they　crude？　The　wood　had　a　sweeping；　flame…like　grain。　When　he　bent　close　he　saw　that　wax　had　been　rubbed　over　the　wood　to　bring　out　this　pattern。　Was　this　the　act　of　savages…or　of　artistic　men　seeking　to　make　the　most　of　simple　materials？　The　final　effect　was　far　superior　to　the　drab…paint　and　riveted…steel　rooms　of　the　city　dwelling　Pyrrans。　Wasn't　it　true　that　both　ends　of　the　artistic　scale　were　dominated　by　simplicity？　The　untutored　aborigine　made　a　simple　expression　of　a　clear　idea；　and　created　beauty。　At　the　other　extreme；　the　sophisticated　critic　rejected　overelaboration　and　decoration　and　sought　the　truthful　clarity　of　uncluttered　art。　At　which　end　of　the　scale　was　he　looking　now？
　 These　men　were　savages；　he　had　been　told　that。　They　dressed　in　furs　and　spoke　a　slurred　and　broken　language；　at　least　Naxa　did。　Rhes　admitted　he　preferred　faith　healers　to　doctors。　But；　if　all　this　were　true；　where　did　the　municator　fit　into　the　picture？　Or　the　glowing　ceiling　that　illuminated　the　room　with　a　soft　light？
　 Rhes　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　at　Jason；　as　if　seeing　him　for　the　first　time。　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked。　〃And　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　 There　was　a　cold　menace　in　his　words　and　Jason　understood　why。　The　city　Pyrrans　hated　the　〃grubbers〃　and；　without　a　doubt；　the　feeling　was　mutual。　Naxa's　axe　had　proved　that。　Naxa　had　entered　silently　while　they　talked；　and　stood　with　his　fingers　touching　the　haft　of　this　same　axe。　Jason　knew　his　life　was　still　in　jeopardy；　until　he　gave　an
　answer　that　satisfied　these　men。 …
　 He　couldn't　tell　the　truth。　If　they　once　suspected　he　was　spying　among　them　to　aid　the　city　people；　it　would　be　the　end。　Nevertheless；　he　had　to　be　free　to　talk　about　the　survival　problem。
　 The　answer　hit　him　as　soon　as　he　had　stated　the　problem。　All　this　had　only　taken　an　instant　to　consider；　as　he　turned　back　to　face　the　invalid；　and　he　answered　at　once。　Trying　to　keep　his　voice　normal　and　unconcerned。
　 〃I'm　Jason　dinAh；　an　ecologist；　so　you　see　I　have　the　best　reasons　in　the　universe　for　visiting　this　planet…〃
　 〃What　is　an　ecologist？〃　Rhes　broke　in。　There　was　nothing　in　his　voice　to　indicate　whether　he　meant　the　question　seriously；　or　as　a　trap。　All　traces　of　the　ease　of　their　earlier　conversation　were　gone；　his　voice　had　the　deadliness　of　a　stingwing's　poison。　Jason　chose　his　words　carefully。
　 〃Simply　stated；　it　is　that　branch　of　biology　that　considers　the　relatior　between　organisms　and　their　environment。　How　climatic　and　othc　factors　affect　the　life　forms；　and　how　the　life　forms　in　turn　affect　eac　other　and　the　environment。〃　That　much　Jason　knew　was　true…but　11　really　knew　very　little　more　about　the　subject；　so　he　moved　on　quickl~
　 〃I　heard　reports　of　this　planet；　and　finally　came　here　to　study　it　firs　hand。　I　did　what　work　I　could　in　the　shelter　of　the　city；　but　it　wasn　enough。　The　people　there　think　I'm　crazy；　but　they　finally　agreed　let　me　make　a　trip　out　here。〃
　 〃What　arrangements　have　been　made　for　your　return？〃　Nas　snapped。
　 〃None；〃　Jason　told　him。　〃They　seemed　quite　sure　that　I　would　F　killed　instantly　and　had　no　hope　of　me　ing　back。　They　refused　t　let　me　go　on　my　own　and　I　had　to　break　away。〃
　 This　answer　seemed　to　satisfy　Rhes　and　his　face　cracked　into　a　mirti　less　smile。　〃They　would　think　that；　those　junkmen。　Can't　move　a　met~　outside　their　walls　without　an　armor…plated　machine　big　as　a　ban　What　did　they　tell　you　about　us？〃
　 Again　Jason　knew　a　lot　depended　on　his　answer。　This　time　ii　thought　carefully　before　speaking。
　 〃Well；　perhaps　I'll　get　that　axe　in　the　back　of　my　neck　for　sayin　this…but　I　have　to　be　honest。　You　must　know　what　they　think。　Thc　told　me　you　were　filthy　and　ignorant　savages…who　smelled。　And　youwell；　had　curious　customs　~u　practiced　with　the　animals。　In　exchan~　for　food；　they　traded　you　beads　and　knives。　。　。
　 Both　Pyrrans　broke　into　a　convulsion　of　laughter　at　this。　Rh~　stopped　soon；　from　weakness；　but　Naxa　laughed　himself　into　a　coug＇　ing　fit　and　had　to　splash　water　over　his　head　from　a　gourd　jug。
　 〃That　I　believe　well　enough；〃　Rhes　said。　〃It　sounds　like　the　stupidii　they　would　talk。　Those　people　know　nothing　of　the　world　they　live　ii　I　hope　the　rest　of　what　you　said　is　true；　but　even　if　it　is　not；　you　ai　wele　here。　You　are　from　off…world；　that　I　know。　No　junkman　won＇　have　lifted　a　finger　to　save　my　life。　You　are　the　first　off…worlder　my　pe　ple　have　ever　known　and　for　that　you　are　doubly　wele。　We　wi　help　you　in　any　way　we　can。　My　arm　is　your　arm。〃
　 These　last　words　had　a　ritual　sound　to　them　and；　when　Jason　r　peated　them；　Naxa　nodded　at　the　correctness　of　this。　At　the　same　tim　Jason　felt　that　they　were　more　than　empty　ritual。　Interdependenc　meant　survival　on　Pyrrus；　and　he　knew　that　these　people　stood　togeth　to　the　death　against　the　mortal　dangers　around　them。　He　hoped　ti　ritual　would　include　him　in　that　protective　sphere。
　 〃That　is　enough　for　tonight；〃　Rhes　said。　〃The　spotted　sickness　h：
　weakened　me；　and　your　medicine　has　turned　me　to　jelly。　You　will　stay　here；　Jason。　There　is　a　blanket；　but　no　bed；　at　least　for　now。〃
　 Enthusiasm　had　carried　Jason　this　far；　making　him　forget　the　two…G　exertions　of　the　long　day。　Now　fatigue　hit　him　a　physical　blow。　He　had　dim　memories　of　refusing　food　and　rolling　in　the　blanket　on　the　floor。　After　that；　oblivion。
　17
　 Every　square　inch　of　his　body　ached　where　the　doubled　gravity　hi　pressed　his　flesh　to　the　unyielding　wood　of　the　floor。　His　eyes　we　gummy　and　his　mouth　was　filled　with　an　indescribable　taste　that　can　off　in　chunks。　Sitting　up　was　an　effort　and　he　had　to　stifle　a　groan　as　h　joints　cracked。
　 〃Good　day；　Jason；〃　Rhes　called　from　the　bed。　〃If　I　didn't　believe　i　medicine　so　strongly；　I　would　be　tempted　to　say　there　is　a　miracle　i　your　machine　that　has　cured　me　overnight。〃
　 There　was　no　doubt　that　he　was　on　the　mend。　The　inflamed　patch　had　vanished　and　the　burning　light　was　gone　from　his　eyes。　He　sa　propped　up　on　the　bed；　watching　the　morning　sun　melt　the　night's　hai　storm　into　the　fields。
　 〃There's　meat　in　tb~　cabinet　there；〃　he　said；　〃and　either　water　or　vi~　to　drink。〃
　 The　visk　proved　to　be　a　distilled　beverage　of　extraordinary　poten　that　instantly　cleared　the　fog　from　Jason's　brain；　though　it　did　leave　slight　ringing　in　his　ears。　And　the　meat　was　a　tenderly　smoked　joisi　the　best　food　he　had　tasted　since　leaving　Darkhan。　Taken　together；　thi　restored　his　faith　in　life　and　the　future。　He　lowered　his　glass　with　relaxed　sigh　and　looked　around。
　 With　the　pressures　of　immediate　survival　and　exhaustion　remove　his　thoughts　returned　automatically　to　his　problem。　What　were　the：
　people　really　like…and　how　had　they　managed　to　sur~ive　in　the　dead　wilderness？　In　the　city　he　had　been　told　they　were　savages。　Yet　the　was　a　carefully　tended　and　repaired　municator　on　the　wall。　Ar　by　the　door　a　crossbow　that　fired　machined　metal　bolts；　he　could　see　ti　tool　marks　still　visible　on　their　shanks。　The　one　thing　he　needed　w　more　information。　He　could　start　by　getting　rid　of　some　of　his　nii　information。
　 〃Rhes；　you　laughed　when　I　told　you　what　the　city　people　said；　aboi　trading　you　trinkets　for　food。　What　do　they　really　trade　you？〃
　 〃Anything　within　certain　limits；〃　Rhes　said。　〃Small　manufactun
　items；　such　as　electronic　ponents　for　our　municators。　Rustless　alloys　we　can't　make　in　our　forges；　cutting　tools；　atomic…electric　convertens　that　produce　power　from　any　radioactive　element；　Things　like　that。　Within　reason　they'll　trade　anything　we　ask　that　isn't　on　the　forbidden　list。　They　need　the　food　badly。〃
　 〃And　the　items　on　the　forbidden　list…？〃
　 〃Weapons　of　course；　or　anything　that　might　be　made　into　a　powerful　weapon。　They　know　we　make　gunpowder　so　we　can't　get　anything　like　large　casting　or　seamless　tubing　we　could　make　into　heavy　gun　barrels。　We　drill　our　own　rifle　barrels　by　hand；　though　the　crossbow　is　quiet　and　faster　in　the　jungle。　Then　they　don't　like　us　to　know　very　much；　so　the　only　reading　matter　that　gets　to　us　are　tech　maintenance　manuals；　empty　of　basic　theory。
　 〃The　last　banned　category　you　know　about…medicine。　This　is　the　one　thing　I　cannot　understand；　that　makes　me　burn　with　hatred　with　every　death　they　might　have　prevented。〃
　 〃I　know　their　reasons；〃　Jason　said。
　 〃Then　tell　me；　because　I　can　think　of　none。〃
　 〃Survival…it's　just　that　simple。　I　doubt　if　you　realize　it；　but　they　have　a　decreasing　population。　It　is　just　a　matter　of　years　before　they　will　be　gone。　Whereas　your　people　at　least　must　have　a　stable…if　not　slightly　growing　population…to　have　existed　without　their　mechanical　protections。　So　in　the　city　they　hate　you　and　are　jealous　of　you　at　the　same　time。　If　they　gave　you　medicine　and　you　prospered；　you　would　be　winning　the　battle　they　have　lost。　I　imagine　they　tolerate　you　as　a　necessary　evil；　to　supply　them　with　food；　otherwise　they　wish　you　were　all　dead。〃
　 〃It　makes　sense；〃　Rhes　growled；　slamming　his　fist　against　the　bed。　〃The　kind　of　twisted　logic　you　expect　from　junkmen。　They　use　us　to　feed　them；　give　us　the　absolute　minimum　in　return；　and　at　the　same　time　cut　us　off　from　the　knowledge　that　will　get　us　out　of　this　hand　to　mouth　existence。　Worse；　far　worse；　they　cut　us　off　from　the　stars　and　the　rest　of　mankind。〃　The　hatred　on　his　face　was　so　strong　that　Jason　unconsciously　drew　back。
　 〃Do　you　think　we　are　savages　here；　Jason？　We　act　and　look　like　animals　because　we　have　to　fight　for　existence　on　an　animal　level。　Yet　we　know　about　the　stars。　In　that　chest　over　there；　sealed　in　metal；　are　over　thirty　books；　all　we　have。　Fiction　most　of　them；　with　some　history　and　general　science　thrown　in。　Enough　to　keep　alive　the　stories　of　the　settlement　here　and　the　rest　of　the　universe　outside。　We　see　the　ships　land　in　the　city　and　we　know　that　up　there　are　worlds　we　can　only　dream　about　and　never　see。　Do　you　wonder　that　we　hate　these　beasts　that　call　themselves　men；　and　would　destroy　them　in　an　instant　if　we　could？　They
　are　right　to　keep　weapons　from　us…for　sure　as　the　sun　rises　in　the　moi　ing　we　would　kill　them　to　a　man