bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第10章

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　　〃I　think　we　are　now。　It　does　feel　warmer；　doesn't　it；　Bill？　We　had　better　undress；　if　it　really　is　a　battle　we　may　get　too　busy。〃
　　〃Let's　go；　let's　go；　down　to　the　buff；〃　First　Class　Spleen　barked；　leaping　gazellelike　down　the　rows　of　fuses；　clad　only　in　a　pair　of　dirty　gym　socks　and　his　tattooed…on　stripes　and　fouled…fuse　insignia　of　rank。　There　was　a　sudden　crackling　in　the　air；　and　Bill　felt　the　clipped…short　stubs　of　his　hair　stirring　in　his　scalp。
　　〃What's　that？〃　he　yiped。
　　〃Secondary　discharge　from　that　bank　of　fuses；〃　Tembo　pointed。　〃It's　classified　as　to　what　is　happening；　but　I　heard　tell　that　it　means　one　of　the　defense　screens　is　under　radiation　attack；　and　as　it　overloads　it　climbs　up　the　spectrum　to　green；　to　blue　to　ultraviolet　until　finally　it　goes　black　and　the　screen　breaks　down。〃
　　〃That　sounds　pretty　way　out。〃
　　〃I　told　you　it　was　just　a　rumor。　The　material　is　classified。。〃
　　〃THERE　SHE　GOES！！〃
　　A　crackling　bang　split　the　humid　air　of　the　fuse　room；　and　a　bank　of　fuses　arced；　smoked；　burned　black。　One　of　them　cracked　in　half；　showering　small　fragments　like　shrapnel　in　every　direction。　The　fusemen　leaped；　；grabbed　the　fuses；　slipped　in　replacements　with　sweating　hands；　barely　visible　to　each　other　through　the　reeking　layers　of　smoke。　The　fuses　were　driven　home；　and　there　was　a　moment's　silence；　broken　only　by　a　plaintive　bleating　from　the　munications　screen。
　　〃Son　of　a　bowb！〃　First　Class　Spleen　muttered；　kicking　a　fuse　out　of　the　way　and　diving　for　the　screen。　His　uniform　jacket　was　hanging　on　a　hook　next　to　it；　and　he　struggled　into　this　before　banging　the　RECEIVE　switch。　He　finished
closing　the　last　button　just　as　the　screen　cleared。　Spleen　saluted；　so　it　must　have　been　an　officer　he　was　facing；　the　screen　was　edge…on　to　Bill；　so　he　couldn't　tell；　but　the　voice　had　the　quacking　no…chin…and…plenty…of…teeth　whine　that　he　was　beginning　to　associate　with　the　officer　class。　
　　〃You're　slow　in　answering；　First　Class　Spleen…maybe　Second　Class　Spleen　would　be　able　to　answer　faster？〃
　　〃Have　pity；　sir…I'm　an　old　man。〃　He　dropped　to　his　knees　in　a　prayerful　attitude　which　took　him　off　the　screen。
　　〃Get　up；　you　idiot！　Have　you　repaired　the　fuses　after　that　last　overload？〃
　　〃We　replace；　sir；　not　repair　。　。　。〃
　　〃None　of　your　technical　gibberish；　you　swine！　A　straight　answer！〃
　　〃All　in　order；　sir。　Operating　in　the　green。　No　plaints　from　anyone；　your　worship。〃
　　〃Why　are　you　out　of　uniform？〃
　　〃I　am　in　uniform；　sir；〃　Spleen　whined；　moving　closer　to　the　screen　so　that　his　bare　behind　and　shaking　lower　limbs　could　not　be　seen。
　　〃Don't　lie　to　me！　There's　sweat　on　your　forehead。　You　aren't　allowed　to　sweat　in　uniform。　Do　you。　see　me　sweating？　And　I　have　a　cap　on　too…at　the　correct　angle。　I'll　forget　it　this　time　because　I　have　a　heart　of　gold。　Dismissed。〃
　　〃Filthy　bowb！〃　Spleen　cursed　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　tearing　the　jacket　from　his　stifling　body。　The　temperature　was　over　120　and　still　rising。　〃Sweat！　They　have　air　conditioning　on　the　bridge…and　where　do　you　think　they　discharge　the
heat？　In　here！　YEEOOW！！〃
　　Two　entire　banks　of　fuses　blew　out　at　the　same　time；　three　of　the　fuses　exploding　like　bombs。　At　the　same　moment　the　floor　under　their　feet　bucked　hard　enough　to　actually　be　felt。
　　〃Big　trouble！〃　Tembo　shouted。　〃Anything　that　is　strong　enough　to　feel　through　the　stasis　field　must　be　powerful　enough　to　flatten　this　ship　like　a　pancake。　There　go　some　morel〃　He　dived　for　the　bank　and　kicked　a　fuse　clear　of　the　clips　and　jammed　in。　a　replacement
　　It　was　an　inferno。　Fuses　were　exploding　like　aerial　bombs；　sending　whistling　particles　of　ceramic　death　through　the　air。　There　was　a　lightning　crackle　as　a　board　shorted　to　the　metal　floor　and　a　hideous　scream；　thankfully　cut　short；　as
the　sheet　of　lightning　passed　through　a　fuse　tender's　body。　Greasy　smoke　boiled　and　hung　in　sheets；　making　it　almost　impossible　to　see。　Bill　raked　the　remains　of　a　broken　fuse　from　the　darkened　clips　and　jumped　for　the　replacement　rack。
He　clutched　the　ninety…pound　fuse　in　his　aching　arms　and　had　just　turned　back　toward　the　boards；　when　the　universe　exploded。
　　All　the　remaining　fuses　seemed　to　have　shorted　at　once；　and　the　screaming　bolt　of　crackling　electricity　crashed　the　length　of　the　room。　In　its　eye…piercing　light　and　in　a　single；　eternal　moment　Bill　saw　the　flame　sear　through　the　ranks　of　the　fuse　tenders；　throwing　them　about　and　incinerating　them　like　particles　of　dust　in　an　open　fire。　Tembo　crumpled　and　collapsed；　a　mass　of　seared　flesh；　a　flying　length　of　metal　tore　First　Class　Spleen　open　from　neck　to　groin　in　a　single　hideous　wound。
　　〃Look　at　that　vent　in　Spleen！〃　Bowb　shouted；　then　screamed　as　a　ball　of　lightning　rolled　over　him　and　turned　him　to　a　blackened　husk　in　a　fraction　of　a　second。
　　By　chance；　a　mere　accident；　Bill　was　holding　the　solid　bulk　of　the　fuse　before　him　when　the　flame　struck。　It　washed　over　his　left　arm；　which　was　on　the　outside　of　the　fuse；　and　hurled　its　flaming　weight　against　the　thick　cylinder。　The　force　hit　Bill；　knocked　him　back　toward　the　reserve　racks　of　fuses；　and　rolled　him　end　over　end　flat　on　the　floor　while　the　all…destroying　sheet　of　fire　crackled　inches　above　his　head。　It　died　away　as　suddenly　as　it　had　e；　leaving　behind　nothing　but　smoke；　heat；　the　scorched　smell　of　roasted　flesh；　destruction；　and　death；　death；　death。　Bill　crawled　painfully　for　the　hatchway；　and　nothing　else　moved　down　the　blackened　and　twisted　length　of　the　fuse　room。
　　The　partment　below　seemed　just　as　hot；　its　air　as　bereft　of　nourishment　for　his　lungs　as　the　one　he　had　just　quitted。　He　crawled　on；　barely　conscious　of　the　fact　that　he　moved　on　two　lacerated　knees　and　one　bloody　hand。　His　other　arm　just　hung　and　dragged；　a　twisted　and　blackened　length　of　debris；　and　only　the　blessings　of　deep　shock　kept　him　from　screaming　with　unbearable　pain。　
　　He　crawled　on；　over　a　sill；　through　a　passageway。　The　air　was　clearer　here　and　much　cooler：　he　sat　up　and…　inhaled　its　blessed　freshness。　The　partment　was　familiar…yet　unfamiliar…he　blinked　at　it；　trying　to　understand　why。　Long　and　narrow；　with　a　curved　wall　that　had　the　butt　ends　of　immense　guns　projecting　from　it。　The　main　battery；　of　course；　the　guns　Chinger　spy　Eager　Beager　had　photographed。　Different　now；　the　ceiling　closer　to　the　deck；　bent　and　dented；　as　if　some　gigantic　hammer　had　beat　on　it　from　the　outside。　There　was　a　man　slumped　in　the　gunner's　seat　of　the　nearest　weapon。
　　〃What　happened？〃　Bill　asked；　dragging　himself　over　to　the　man　and　clutching　him　by　the　shoulder。　Surprisingly　enough　the　gunner　only　weighed　a　few　pounds；　and　he　fell　from　the　seat；　light　as　a　husk；　with　a　shriveled　parchment　face　as　though　not　a　drop　of　liquid　were　left　in　his　body。
　　〃Dehydrator　Ray；〃　Bill　grunted。　〃I　thought　they　only　had　them　on　TV。〃　The　gunner's　seat　was　padded　and　looked　very　fortable；　far　more　so　than　the　warped　steel　deck：　Bill　slid　into　the　recently　vacated　position　and　stared　with　unseeing　eyes　at。　the　screen　before　him。　Little　moving　blobs　of　light。
　　In　large　letters；　just　above　the　screen；　was　printed：　GREEN　LIGHTS　OUR　SHIPS；　RED　LIGHTS　ENEMY。　FORGETTING　THIS　Is　A　COURTS…MARTIAL　OFFENSE。　〃I　won't　forget；〃　Bill　mumbled；　as　he　started　to　slide　sideways　from　the　chair。　To　steady　himself　he　grabbed　a　large　handle　that　rose　before　him；　and　when　he　did　a　circle　of　light　with　an　X　in　it　moved　on　the　screen。　It　was　very　interesting。　He　put　the　circle　around　one　of　the　green　lights；　then　remembered　something　about　a　courtsmartial　offense。　He　jiggled　it　a　bit；　and　it　moved　over　to；a　red　light；　with　the　X　right　over　the　light。　There　was　a　red　button　on　top　of　the　handle；　and　he　pressed　it　because　it　looked　like　the　kind　of　button　that　is　made　to　be　pressed。　The　gun　next　to　him　went　wh　f　f　le　。　。　。　in　a　very　subdued　way；　and　the　red　light　went　out。　Not　very　interesting；　he　let　go　of　the　handle。　
　　〃Oh；　but　you　are　a　fighting　fool！〃　a　voice　said；　and；　with　some　effort；　Bill　turned　his　head。　A　man　stood　in　the　doorway　wearing　a　burned　and　tattered　uniform　still　hung　with　shreds　of　gold　braid。　He　weaved　forward。　〃I　saw　it；〃　he　breathed。　〃Until　my　dying　day　I　won't　forget　it。　A　fighting　fooll　What　guts！　Fearless！　Forward　against　the　enemy；　no　holds　barred；　don't　give　up　the　ship　。　。　。〃
　　〃What　the　bowb　you　talking　about？〃　Bill　asked　thickly。
　　〃A　hero！〃　the　officer　said；　pounding　Bill　on　the　back；　this　caused　a　great　deal　of　pain　and　was　the　last　straw　for　his　conscious　mind；　which　let　go　the　reins　of　mand　and　went　away　to　sulk。　Bill　passed　out。

VIII

　　〃Now　won't　you　be　a　nice　trooper…wooper　and　drink　your　dinner。。。〃
　　The　warn　notes　of　the　voice　insinuated　themselves　into　a　singularly　repulsive　dream　that　Bill　was　only　too　glad　to　leave；　and；　with　a　great　deal　of　effort；　he　managed　to　heave　his　eyes　open。　A　quick　bit　of　blinking　got　them　into　focus；　and　he　saw　before　him　a　cup　on　a　tray　held　by　a　white　hand　attached　to　a　white　arm　connected　to　a　white　uniform　well　stuffed　with　female　breasts。　With　a　guttural　animal　growl　Bill　knocked　the　tray　aside　and　hurled　himself　at　the　dress。　He　didn't　make　it；　because　his　left　arm　was　wrapped　up　in　something　and　hung　from　wires；　so　that　he　spun　around　in　the　bed　like　an　impaled　beetle；　still　uttering　harsh　cries。　The　nurse　shrieked　and　fled。
　　〃Glad　to　see　that　you　are　feeling　better；〃　the　doctor　said；　whipping　him　straight　in　the　bed　with　a　practiced　gesture　and　numbing　Bill's　still　flailing　right　arm　with　a　neat　judo　blow。　〃I'll　pour　you　some　more　dinner；　and　you　drink　it　right　down；　then　we'll　let　your　buddies　in　for　the　unveiling；　they're　all　waiting　outside。〃
　　The　tingling　was　dying　from　his　arm；　and　he　could　wrap　his　fingers　about　the　cup　now。　He　sipped。　〃What　buddies？　What　unveiling？　What's　going　on　here？〃　he　asked　suspiciously。
　　Then　the　door　was　opened；　and　the　troopers　came　in。　Bill　searched　their　faces；　looking　for　buddies；　but　all　he　saw　were　ex…welders　and　strangers。　Then　he　remembered。　〃Bowb　Brown　cooked！〃　he　screamed。　〃Tembo　broiled！　First　Class　Spleen　guttedl　They're　all　dead！〃　He　hid　under　the　covers　and　moaned　horribly。
　　〃That's　no　way　for　a　hero　to　act；〃　the　doctor　said；　dragging　him　back　onto　the　pillows　and　tucking　the　covers　under　his　arms。　〃You're　a　hero；　trooper；　the　man　whose　guts；　ingenuity；　integrity；　stick…to…itiveness；　fighting　spirit；　and　deadly　aim　saved　the　ship。　All　the　screens　were　down；　the　power　room　destroyed；　the　gunners　dead；　control　lost；　and　the　enemy　dreadnaught　zeroing　in　for　the　kill　when　you　appeared　like　an　avenging　angel；　wounded　and　near　to　death；　and　with　your　last　conscious　effort　fired　the　shot　heard　round　the　fleet；　the　single　blast　that　disemboweled　the　enemy　and　saved　our　ship；　the　grand　old　lady　of　the　fleet；　Christine　Keeler。〃　He　handed　a　sheet　of　paper　to　Bill。　〃I　am　of　course　quoting　from　the　official　report；　me　myself；　I　think　it　was　just　a　lucky　accident　。
　　You're　just　jealous；〃　Bill　sneered；　already　falling　in　love　with　his　new　image。
　　〃Don't　get　Freudian　with　me！〃　the　doctor　screamed；　then　snuffled　pitifully。　〃I　always　wanted　to　be　a　hero；　but　all　I　do　is　wait　hand　and　foot　on　heroes。　I'm　taking　that　bandage　off　now。〃
　　He　unclipped　the　wires　that　held　up　Bill's　arm　and　began　to　unwind　the　bandages　while　the　troopers　crowded　around　to　watch。