deathworld-第6章

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　 Meta　punched　in　the　last　setting；　and　the　course　tape　began　to　chunk　out　of　the　case。　She　turned　her　attention　back　to　Jason。　〃I'm　glad　you're　aboard　this　trip；　though　I　am　sorry　you　are　going　to　Pyrrus。　But　we'll　have　lots　of　time　to　talk　and　there　are　so　many　things　I　want　to　find　out。　About　other　planets。　And　why　people　go　around　acting　the　way　they　do。　Not　at　all　like　home　where　you　know　why　people　are　doing　things　all　the　time。〃　She　frowned　over　the　tape　for　a　moment；　then　turned　her　attention　back　to　Jason。　〃What　is　your　home　planet　like？〃
　 One　after　another　the　usual　lies　he　told　people　came　to　his　lips；　and　were　pushed　away。　Why　bother　lying　to　a　girl　who　really　didn't　care　if　you　were　serf　or　noble？　To　her　there　were　only　two　kinds　of　people　in　the　galaxy。　Pyrrans；　and　the　rest。　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　fled　from　Porgorstorsaand；　he　found　himself　telling　someone　the　truth　of　his　origin。
　 〃My　home　planet？　Just　about　the　stuffiest；　dullest；　dead…end　in　the　universe。　You　can't　believe　the　destructive　decay　of　a　planet　that　is　mainly　agrarian；　caste…conscious　and　pletely　satisfied　with　its　own　boring　existence。　Not　only　is　there　no　change…but　no　one　wants　change。　My　father　was　a　farmer；　so　I　should　have　been　a　farmer　too…if　I　had　listened　to　the　advice　of　my　betters。　It　was　unthinkable；　as　well　as　forbidden　for　me　to　do　anything　else。　And　everything　I　wanted　to　do　was　against　the　law。　I　was　fifteen　before　I　learned　to　read…out　of　a　book　stolen　from　a　noble　school。　After　that　there　was　no　turning　back。　By　the　time　I　stowed　away　aboard　an　off…world　freighter　at　nineteen　I　must　have　broken　every　law　on　the　planet。　Happily。　Leaving　home　for　me　was　just　like　getting　out　of　prison。〃
　 Mete　shook　her　head　at…　the　thought。　〃I　just　can't　imagine　a　place　like　that。　But　I'm　sure　I　wouldn't　like　it　there。〃
　 〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't；〃　Jason　smiled。　〃So　once　I　was　in　space；　with　no　law…abiding　talents　or　skills；　I　just　wandered　into　one　thing　and　another。　In　this　age　of　technology；　I　was　pletely　out　of　place。　Oh；　I
　suppose　I　could　have　done　well　in　some　army；　but　I'm　not　so　good　at　taking　orders。　Whenever　I　gambled　I　did　well；　so　little　by　little　I　just　drifted　into　it。　People　are　the　same　everywhere；　so　I'　manage　to　make　out。　very　well　wherever　I　end　up。〃
　 〃I　know　what　you　mean　about　people　being　alike；　but　they　are　so　different；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　being　clear　at　all；　am　I？　What　I　mean　is　that　at　home　I　know　what　people　will　do　and　why　they　do　it　at　the　same　time。　People　on　all　the　other　planets　do　act　alike；　as　you　said；　yet　I　have　very　much　trouble　understanding　why。　For　instance。　I　like　to　try　the　local　food　when　we　set　down　on　a　planet；　and　if　there　is　time　I　always　do。　There　are　bars　and　restaurants　near　every　spaceport　so　I　go　there。　And　I　always　have　trouble　with　the　men。　They　want　to　buy　me　drinks；　hold　my　hand。〃
　 〃Well　a　single　girl　in　those　port　joints　has　to　expect　a　certain　amount　of　interest　from　the　men。〃
　 〃Oh；　I　know　that；〃　she　said。　〃What　I　don't　understand　is　why　they　don't　listen　when　I　tell　them　I　am　not　interested　and　to　go　away。　They　just　laugh　and　pull　up　a　chair；　usually。　But　I　have　found　that　one　thing　works　wherever　I　am。　I　tell　them　if　they　don't　stop　bothering　me　I'll　break　their　arm。〃
　 〃Does　that　stop　them？〃　Jason　asked。
　 〃No；　of　course　not。　But　after　I　break　their　arm　they　go　away。　And　the　others　don't　bother　me　either。　It's　a　lot　of　fuss　to　go　through　and　the　food　is　usually　awful。〃
　 Jason　didn't　laugh。　Particularly　when　he　realized　that　this　girl　could　break　the　arm　of　any　spaceport　thug　in　the　galaxy。　She　was　a　strange　mixture　of　na？veté　and　strength；　unlike　anyone　he　had　ever　met　before。　Once　again　he　realized　that　he　had　to　visit　the　planet　that　produced　people　like　her　and　Kerk。
　 〃Tell　me　about　Pyrrus；〃　he　asked。　〃Why　is　it　that　you　and　Kerk　assume　automatically　that　I　will　drop　dead　as　soon　as　I　land？　What　is　the　planet　like？〃
　 All　the　warmth　was　gone　from　her　face　now。　〃I　can't　tell　you。　You　will　have　to　see　for　yourself。　I　know　that　much　after　visiting　some　of　the　other　worlds。　Pyrrus　is　like　nothing　you　galaxy　people　have　ever　experienced。　You　won't　really　believe　it　until　it　is　too　late。　Will　you　promise　me　something？〃
　 〃No；〃　he　answered。　〃At　least　not　until　after　I　hear　what　it　is　and　decide。〃
　 〃Don't　leave　the　ship　when　we　land。　You　should　be　safe　enough　aboard；　and　I'll　be　flying　a　cargo　out　within　a　few　weeks。〃
　 〃I'll　promise　nothing　of　the　sort。　I'll　leave　when　I　…　want　to　leave。〃
　Jason　knew　there　was　undoubtedly　a　reason　for　her　words；　but　he　resented　her　automatic　superiority。
　 Mete　finished　the　jump　settings　without　another　word。　There　was　a　tension　in　the　room　that　prevented　them　both　from　talking。
　 It　was　the　next　shipday　before　he　saw　her　again；　then　it　was　pletely　by　accident。　She　was　in　the　astrogation　dome　when　he　entered；　looking　up　at　the　spark…filled　blackness　of　the　jump　sky。　For　the　first　time　he　saw　her　off　duty；　wearing　something　other　than　a　shipsuit。　This　was　a　thin　and　softly　shining　robe　that　clung　to　her　body。
　 She　smiled　at　him。　〃The　stars　are　so　wonderful。　e　see。〃　Jason　stood　close　to　her；　looking　up。　The　oddly　geometric　patterns　of　the　jump　sky　were　familiar　to　him；　yet　they　still　had　the　power　to　draw　him　forward。　Even　more　so　now。　Meta's　presence　made　a　disturbing　difference　in　the　dark　silence　of　the　dome。　Her　tilted　head　almost　rested　on　his　shoulder；　the　crown　of　her　hair　eclipsing　part　of　the　sky；　the　smell　of　it　soft　in　his　nostrils。
　 Almost　without　thought　his　arms　went　around　her；　aware　of　the　warm　firmness　of　her　flesh　beneath　the　thin　robe。　She　did　not　resent　it；　for　she　covered　his　hands　with　hers。
　 〃You're　smiling；〃　she　said。　〃You　like　the　stars　too。〃
　 〃Very　much；〃　he　answered。　〃But　more　than　that。　I　remembered　the　story　you　told　me。　Do　you　want　to　break　my　arm；　Mete？〃
　 〃Of　course　not；〃　she　said　very　seriously；　then　smiled　back。　〃I　like　you；　Jason。　Even　though　you're　not　a　Pyrran；　I　like　you　very　much。　And　I've　been　so　lonely。〃
　 When　she　looked　up　at　him；　he　kissed　her。　She　returned　the　kiss　with　a　passion　that　had　no　shame　or　false　modesty。
　 〃My　cabin　is　just　down　this　corridor；〃　she　said。
　6
　 After　that　they　were　together　constantly。　When　Mete　was　on　duty　he　brought　her　meals　to　the　bridge　and　they　talked。　Jason　learned　little　more　about　her　world　since；　by　unspoken　agreement；　they　didn't　discuss　it。　He　talked　of　the　many　planets　he　had　visited　and　the　people　be　had　known。　She　was　an　appreciative　listener　and　the　time　went　quickly　by。　They　enjoyed　each　other's　pany　and　it　was　a　wonderful　trip。　…
　 Then　it　ended。
　 There　were　fourteen　people　aboard　the　ship；　yet　Jason　had　never　seen　more　than　two　or　three　at　a　time。　There　was　a　fixed　rotation　of　duties　that　they　followed　in　the　ship's　operation。　When　not　on　duty；　the　Pyrrans　minded　their　own　business　in　an　intense　and　self…sufficient　manner。　Only　when　the　ship　came　out　of　jump　and　the　PA　barked　assembly　did　they　all　get　together。　…
　 Kerk　was　giving　orders　for　the　landing　and　questions　were　snapped　back　and　forth。　It　was　all　technical　and　Jason　didn't　bother　following　it。　It　was　the　attitude　of　the　Pyrrans　that　drew　his　attention。　Their　talk　tended　to　be　faster　now　as　were　their　motions。　They　were　like　soldiers　preparing　for　battle。
　 Their　sameness　struck　Jason　for　the　first　time。　Not　that　they　looked　alike　or　did　the　same　things。　It　was　the　way　they　moved　and　reacted　that　caused　the　striking　similarity。　They　were　like　great；　stalking　cats。　Walking　fast；　tense　and　ready　to　spring　at　all　times；　their　eyes　never　still　for　an　instant。
　 Jason　tried　to　talk　to　Meta　after　the　meeting；　but　she　was　almost　a　stranger。　She　answered　in　monosyllables　and　her　eyes　never　met　his；　just　brushed　over　them　and　went　on。　There　was　nothing　he　could　really　say；　so　she　moved　to　leave。　He　started　to　put　his　hand　out　to　stop　her…　then　thought　better　of　it。　There　would　be　other　times　to　talk。
　 Kerk　was　the　only　one　who　took　any　notice　of　him…and　then　only　to　order　him　to　an　acceleration　couch。
　 Meta's　landings　were　infinitely　worse　than　her　takeoffs。　At　least　when
　she　landed　on　Pyrrus。　There　were　sudden　acceleration　surges　in　every　direction。　At　one　point　there　was　a　free　fall　that　seemed　endless。　There　were　loud　thuds　against　the　hull　that　shook　the　framework　of　the　ship。　It　was　more　like　a　battle　than　a　landing　and　Jason　wondered　how　much　truth　there　was　in　that。
　When　the　ship　finally　landed；　Jason　didn't　even　know　it。　The　constant　two…C's　felt　like　deceleration。　Only　the　descending　moan　of　the　ship's　engines　convinced　him　they　were　down。　Unbuciding　the　straps　and　sitting　up　was　an　effort。
　Two…C's　don't　seem　that　bad。　At　first。　Walking　required　the　same　exertion　as　would　carrying　a　man　of　his　own　weight　on　his　shoulders。　When　Jason　lifted　his　arm　to　unlatch　the　door　it　was　as　heavy　as　two　arms。　He　shuffled　slowly　toward　the　main　lock。
　They　were　all　there　ahead　of　him；　two　of　the　men　rolling　transparent　cylinders　from　a　nearby　room。　From　their　obvious　weight　and　the　way　they　clanged　when　they　bumped；　Jason　knew　they　were　made　of　transparent　metal。　He　couldn't　conceive　any　possible　use　for　them。　Empty　cylinders　a　meter　in　diameter；　longer　than　a　man。　One　end　solid；　the　other　hinged　and　sealed。　It　wasn't　until　Kerk　spun　the　sealing　wheel　and　opened　one　of　them　that　their　use　became　apparent。
　 〃Cet　in；〃　Kerk　said。　〃When　you're　locked　inside；　you'll　be　carried　out　of　the　ship。〃
　 〃Thank　you；　no；〃　Jason　told　him。　〃I　have　no　particular　desire　to　make　a　spectacular　landing　on　your　planet　sealed　up　like　a　packaged　sausage。〃
　 〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　was　Kerk's　snapped　answer。　〃We're　all　going　out　in　these　tubes。　We've　been　away　too　long　to　risk　the　surface　without　reorientation。〃。
　 Jason　did　feel　a　little　foolish　as　he　saw　the　others　getting　into　tubes。　He　picked　the　nearest　one；　slid　into　it　feet　first；　and　pulled　the　lid　dosed。　When　he　tightened　the　wheel　in　the　center；　it　squeezed　down　against　a　flexible　seal。　Within　a　minute　the　CO2　content　in　the　closed　cylinder　went　up　and　an　air　regenerator　at　the　bottom　hummed　into　life。
　 Kerk　was　the　last　one　in。　He　checked　the　seals　on　all　the　other　tubes　first；　then　jabbed　the　airlock　override　release。　As　it　started　cycling；　he　quickly　sealed　himself　in　the　remaining　cylinder。　Both　inner　and　outer　locks　ground　slowly　open　and　dim　light　filtered　in　through　sheets　of　falling　rain。
　 For　Jason；　the　whole　thing　seemed　an　anticlimax。　All　this　preparation　for　absolutely　nothing。　Long；　impatient　minutes　passed　before　a
　lift　truck　appeared　driven　by　a　Pyrran。　He　loaded　the　cylinders　onto　…
　his　truck　like　so　much　dead　cargo。　Jason　had　the　misfortune　to　be　buried　at　the　bottom　of　the　pile　so　could　see　absolutely　nothing　when　they　drove　outside。
　It　wasn't　until　the　man…carrying　cylinders　had　been　dumped　in　a　metal…walled　room；　that　Jason　saw　his　first　native　Pyrran　life。
　The　lift　truck　driver　was　swinging　a　thick　outer　door　shut　when　something　flew　in　through　the　entrance　and　struck　against　the　far　wall。　Jason's　eye　was　caught　by　the　motion；　he　looked　to　see　what　it　was　when　it　dropped　straight　down　toward　his　face。
　 Forgetful　of　the　metal　cylinder　wall；　he　flinched　away。　The　c