deathworld-第20章

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Jason　had　contacted　the　grubbers；　he　could　not　be　allowed　to　leave　the　planet　alive。　The　woods　people　were　being　simple　if　they　thought　a　plan　this　obvious　might　succeed。　Or　had　they　just　gambled　on　the　very　long　chance　it　might　work？　They　certainly　had　nothing　to　lose　by　it。
　 Only　half　of　Jason's　mind　was　occupied　with　the　work　as　he　drew　up　a　list　of　materials　he　would　need　for　the　psionic　direction　finder。　His　thoughts　plodded　in　tight　circles；　searching　for　a　way　out　that　didn't　exist。　He　was　too　deeply　involved　now　to　just　leave。　Kerk　would　see　to　that。　Unless　he　could　find　a　way　to　end　the　war　and　settle　the　grubber　question；　he　was　marooned　on　Pyrrus　for　life。　A　very　short　life。
　 When　the　list　was　ready；　he　called　Supply。　With　a　few　substitutions；　everything　he　might　possibly　need　was　in　stock；　and　would　be　sent　over。　Skop　sank　into　an　apparent　doze　in　his　chair　and　Jason；　his　head　propped　against　the　pull　of　gravity　by　one　arm；　began　a　working　sketch　of　his　machine。
　 Jason　looked　up　suddenly；　aware　of　the　silence。　He　could　hear　machinery　in　the　building　and　voices　in　the　hall　outside。　What　kind　of　silence　then…？
　 Mental　silence。　He　had　been　so　preoccupied　since　his　return　to　the　city　that　he　hadn't　noticed　the　plete　lack　of　any　kind　of　psi　sensation。　The　constant　wash　of　animal　reactions　was　missing；　as　was　the　vague　tactile　awareness　of　his　PK。　With　sudden　realization；　he　remembered　that　it　was　always　this　way　inside　the　city。
　 He　tried　to　listen　with　his　mind…and　stopped　almost　before　he　began。　There　was　a　constant　press　of　thought　about　him　that　he　was　made　aware　of　when　he　reached　out。　It　was　like　being　in　a　vessel　far　beneath　the　ocean；　with　your　hand　on　the　door　that　held　back　the　frightening　pressure。　Touching　the　door；　without　opening　it；　you　could　feel　the　stresses；　the　power　pushing　in　and　waiting　to　crush　you。　It　was　this　way　with　the　psi　pressure　in　the　city。　The　unvoiced　hate…filled　screams　of　Pyrrus　would　instantly　destroy　any　mind　that　received　them。　Some　function　of　his　brain　acted　as　a　psi　circuit　breaker；　shutting　off　awareness　before　his　mind　could　be　blasted。　There　was　just　enough　leakthrough　to　keep　him　aware　of　the　pressure…and　supply　the　raw　materials　for　his　constant　nightmares。
　 There　was　only　one　fringe　benefit。　The　lack　of　thought　pressure
　made　it　easier　for　him　to　concentrate。　In　spite　of　his　fatigue；　the　d　gram　developed　swiftly。
　 Meta　arrived　late　that　afternoon；　bringing　the　parts　he　had　orderc　She　slid　the　long　box　onto　the　workbench；　started　to　speak；　but　chang　her　mind　and　said　nothing。　Jason　looked　up　at　her　and　smiled。
　 〃Confused？〃　he　asked。
　 〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　confused。　Just　r　noyed。　The　regular　trip　has　been　canceled　and　our　supply　schedule　'~　be　thrown　off　for　months　to　e。　And　instead　of　piloting　or　perimel　assignment　all　I　am　allowed　to　do　is　stand　around　and　wait　for　yc　Then　take　some　silly　flight　following　your　directions。　Do　you　wond　that　I'm　annoyed？〃
　 Jason　carefully　set　the　parts　out　on　the　chassis　before　he　spoke。　〃　I　said；　you're　confused。　I　can　point　out　how　you're　confused…whi　will　make　you　even　more　confused。　A　temptation　that　I　frankly　fr　hard　to　resist。〃
　 She　looked　across　the　bench　at　him；　frowning；　one　finger　uncc　sciously　curling　and　uncurling　a　short　lock　of　hair。　Jason　liked　her　ti　way。　As　a　Pyrran　operating　at　full　blast；　she　had　as　much　personality　a　gear　in　a　machine。　Once　out　of　that　pattern　she　reminded　him　mc　of　the　girl　he　had　known　on　that　first　flight　to　Pyrrus。　He　wondered　it　was　possible　to　really　get　across　to　her　what　he　meant。
　 〃I'm　not　being　insulting　when　I　say　'confused；'　Meta。　With　ye　background　you　couldn't　be　any　other　way。　You　have　an　insular　p　sonality。　Admittedly；　Pyrrus　is　an　unusual　island　with　a　lot　of　hi~　power　problems　that　you　are　an　expert　at　solving。　That　doesn't　make　any　less　of　an　island。　When　you　face　a　cosmopolitan　problem；　you　conf　used。　Or　even　worse；　when　your　island　problems　are　put　intc　bigger　context。　That's　like　playing　your　own　game；　only　having　t　rules　change　constantly　as　you　go　along。〃
　 〃You're　talking　nonsense；〃　she　snapped　at　him。　〃Pyrrus　isn't　an　islai　and　battling　for　survival　is　definitely　not　a　game。〃
　 〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　smiled。　〃I　was　using　a　figure　of　speech；　and　a　bac　chosen　one　at　that。　Let's　put　the　problem　on　more　concrete　terms。　Ta　an　example。　Suppose　I　were　to　tell　you　that　over　there；　hanging　fr　the　doorframe；　was　a　stingwing…〃
　 Meta's　gun　was　pointing　at　the　door　before　he　finished　the　last　wo　There　was　a　crash　as　the　guard's　chair　went　over。　He　had　jumped　fr　a　half…doze　to　full　alertness　in　an　instant；　his　gun　also　searching　t　doorframe。
　 〃That　was　just　an　example；〃　Jason　said。　〃There's　really　nothi
　there。〃　The　guard's　gun　vanished　and　he　scowled　a　look　of　contempt　at　Jason；　as　he　righted　the　chair　and　dropped　into　it。
　 〃You　both　have　proved　yourself　capable　of　handling　a　Pyrran　problem；〃　Jason　continued。　〃But　what　if　I　said　that　there　is　a　thing　hanging　from　the　doorframe　that　looks　like　a　stingwing；　but　is　really　a　kind　of　large　insect　that　spins　a　fine　silk　that　can　be　used　to　weave　clothes？〃
　 The　guard　glared　from　under　his　thick　eyebrows　at　the　empty　doorframe；　his　gun　whined　part　way　out；　then　snapped　back　into　the　ho！ster。　He　growled　something　inaudible　at　Jason；　then　stamped　into　the　outer　room；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　Meta　frowned　in　concentration　and　looked　puzzled。
　 〃It　couldn't　be　anything　except　a　stingwing；〃　she　finally　said。　〃Nothing　else　could　possibly　look　like　that。　And　even　if　it　didn't　spin　silk；　it　would　bite　if　you　got　near；　so　you　would　have　to　kill　it。〃　She　smiled　with　satisfaction　at　the　indestructible　logic　of　her　answer。
　 〃Wrong　again；〃　Jason　said。　〃I　just　described　the　mimic…spinner　that　lives　on　Stover's　Planet。　It　imitates　the　most　violent　forms　of　life　there；　does　such　a　good　job　that　it　has　no　need　for　other　defenses。　It'll　sit　quietly　on　your　hand　and　spin　for　you　by　the　yard。　If　I　dropped　a　shipload　of　them　here'on　Pyrrus；　you　never　could　be　sure　when　to　shoot；　could　you？〃
　 〃But　they　arc　not　here　now；〃　Meta　insisted。
　 〃Yet　they　could　be　quite　easily。　And　if　they　were；　all　the　rules　of　your　game　would　change。　Getting　the　idea　now？　There　are　some　fixed　laws　and　rules　in　the　galaxy…but　they're　not　the　ones　you　live　by。　Your　rule　is　war　unending　with　the　local　life。　I　want　to　step　outside　your　rule　book　and　end　that　war。　Wouldn't　you　like　that？　Wouldn't　you　like　an　existence　that　was　more　than　just　an　endless　battle　for　survival？　A　life　with　a　chance　for　happiness；　love；　music；　art…all　the　enjoyable　things　you　have　never　had　the　time　for。〃
　 All　the　Pyrran　sternness　was　gone　from　her　face　as　she　listened　to　what　he　said；　letting　herself　follow　these　alien　concepts。　He　had　put　his　hand　out　automatically　as　he　talked；　and　had　taken　hers。　It　was　warm　and　her　pulse　fast　to　his　touch。
　 Meta　suddenly　became　conscious　of　his　hand　and　snapped　hers　away；　rising　to　her　feet　at　the　same　time。　As　she　started　blindly　toward　the　door；　Jason's　voice　snapped　after　her。
　 〃The　guard；　Skop；　ran　away　because　he　didn't　want　to　lose　his　precious　two…value　logic。　It's　all　he　has。　But　you've　seen　other　parts　of　the　galaxy；　Meta；　you　know　there　is　a　lot　more　to　life　than　kill…and…be…killed　on　Pyrrus。　You　feel　it　is　true；　even　if　you　won't　admit　it。〃
　 She　turned　and　ran　out　the　door。
　 Jason　looked　after　her；　his　hand　scraping　the　bristle　on　his　chin　thoughtfully。　〃Meta；　I　have　the　faint　hope　that　the　woman　is　winning　over　the　Pyrran。　I　think　that　I　saw…perhaps　for　the　first　time　in　the　history　of　this　bloody；　wartorn　city…a　tear　in　one　of　its　citizen's　eyes。〃
　Li
　
　 〃Drop　that　equipment　and　Kerk　will　undoubtedly　pull　both　your　arms　off；〃　Jason　said。　〃He's　over　there　now；　looking　as　sorry　as　possible　that　I　ever　talked　him　into　this。〃
　 Skop　cursed　under　the　bulky　mass　of　the　psi　detector；　passing　it　up　to　Meta　who　waited　in　the　open　port　of　the　spaceship。　Jason　supervised　the　loading　and　blasted　all　the　local　life　that　came　to　investigate。　Horndevils　were　thick　this　morning　and　he　shot　four　of　them。　He　was　last　aboard　and　closed　the　lock　behind　him。
　 〃Where　are　you　going　to　install　it？〃　Meta　asked。
　 〃You　tell　me；〃　Jason　said。　〃I　need　a　spot　for　the　antenna　where　there　will　be　no　dense　metal　in　front　of　the　bowl　to　interfere　with　the　signal。　Thin　plastic　will　do　or；　if　worst　es　to　worst；　I　can　mount　it　outside　the　hull　with　a　remote　drive。〃
　 〃You　may　have　to；〃　she　said。　〃The　hull　is　an　unbroken　unit；　we　do　all　viewing　by　screen　and　instruments。　I　don't　think…wait…there　is　one　place　that　might　do。〃
　 She　led　the　way　to　a　bulge　in　the　hull　that　marked　one　of　the　lifeboats。　They　went　in　through　the　always…open　lock；　Skop　struggling　after　them　with　the　apparatus。
　 〃These　lifeboats　are　half　buried　in　the　ship；〃　Meta　explained。　〃They　have　transparent　front　ports　covered　by　friction　shields　that　withdraw　automatically　when　the　boat　is　launched。〃
　 〃Can　we　pull　back　the　shields　now？〃
　 〃I　think　so；〃　she　said。　She　traced　the　launching　circuits　to　a　junction　box　and　opened　the　lid。　When　she　closed　the　shield　relay　manually；　the　heavy　plates　slipped　back　into　the　hull。　There　was　a　clear　view；　since　most　of　the　viewport　projected　beyond　the　parent　ship。
　 〃Perfect；〃　Jason　said。　〃I'll　set　up　here。　Now　how　do　I　talk　to　you　in　the　ship？〃
　 〃Bight　here；〃　she　said。　〃There's　a　pretuned　setting　on　this　municator。　Don't　touch　anything　else…and　particularly　not　this　switch。〃　She　pointed　to　a　large　pull…handle　set　square　into　the　center　of　the　control
　board。　〃Emergency　launching。　Two　seconds　after　that　is　pulled；　t　lifeboat　is　shot　free。　And　it　so　happens　this　boat　has　no　fuel。〃
　 〃Hands　off　for　sure；〃　Jason　said。　〃Now　have　Husky　there　run　me　a　line　with　ship's　power　and　I'll　get　this　stuff　set　up。〃
　 The　detector　was　simple；　though　the　tuning　had　to　be　precise。　dish…shaped　antenna　pulled　in　the　signal　for　the　delicately　balanc　detector。　There　was　a　sharp　falloff　on　both　sides　of　the　input　so　din　tion　could　be　precisely　determined。　The　resulting　signal　was　fed　to　amplifier　stage。　Unlike　the　electronic　ponents　of　the　first　stage；　ti　one　was　drawn　in　symbols　on　white　paper。　Carefully　glued…on　inf　and　output　leads　ran　to　ft。
　 When　everything　was　ready　and　clamped　into　place；　Jason　nodd　to　Meta's　image　on　the　screen。　〃Take　her　up…and　easy；　please。　No　of　your　nine…G　specials。　Go　into　a　slow　circle　around　the　perimeter；　a　till　tell　you　differently。〃
　 Under　steady　power　the　ship　lifted　and　grabbed　for　altitude；　th　eased　into　its　circular　course。　They　made　five　circuits　of　the　city　befc　Jason　shook　his　head。
　 〃The　thing　seems　to　be　working　fine；　but　we're　getting　too　mu　noise　from　all　the　local　life。　Get　thirty　kilometers　out　from　the　city　a　start　a　new　circuit。〃
　 The　results　were　better　this　time。　A　powerful　signal　came　fr　the　direction　of　the　city；　confined　to　less　than　a　degree　of　arc。　With　antenna　fixed　at　a　right　angle　to　the　direction　of　the　ship's　flight；　signal　was　fairly　constant。　Meta　rotated　the　ship　on　its　main　axis；　ur　Jason's　lifeboat　was　directly　below。
　 〃Going　fine　now；〃　he　said。　〃Just　hold　your　controls　as　they　are　a　keep　the　nose　from　drifting。〃
　 Af~er　maki