bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


thing　like　this。〃　　　〃But　we　only　got　three　here。〃
　　〃I　saw　the　fourth　one　earlier；　getting　carried　off　stiff　as　a　board　by　a　sanitation　robot。〃
　　〃Affirm；　then　let's　go。〃　　
　Fear　lashed　through　Bill　again。　How　long　before　one　of　the　bunch　talked；　ratted　to　buy　a　favor　for　himself；　and　told　the　cops　that　they　had　just　sworn；　in　a　new　recruit？　He　had　to　get　out　of　here。　All　the　police　now　seemed　to　be　bunched　at　the　wienie　roast；　and　he　had　to　take　a　chance。　Sliding　from　the　pile　as　silently　as　he　could；　he　began　to　creep　in　the　opposite　direction。　If　there　was　no　exit　this　way　he　was　trapped…no；　mustn't　think　like　that！　Behind　him　whistles　shrilled　again；　and　he　knew　the　hunt　was　on。　Adrenalin　poured　into　his　bloodstream　as　he　spurted　forward；　while　rich；　equine　protein　added　strength　to　his　legs　and　a　decided　canter　to　his　gait。　Ahead　was　a　door；　and　he　hurled　his　weight　against　it；　for　an　instant　it　stuck…then　squealed　open　on　rusty　hinges。　Heedless　of　danger；　he　hurled　himself　down　the　spiral　staircase；　down　and　down；　and　out　of　another　door；　fleeing　wildly；　thinking　only　of　escape。　
　　Once　more；　with　the　instincts　of　a　hunted　animal；　he　fled　downward。　He　did　not　notice　that　the　walls　here　were　bolted　together　at　places　and　streaked　with　rust；　nor　did　he　think　it　unusual　when　he　had　to　pry　open　a　jammed　wooden　doorwood　on　a　planet　that　had　not　seen　a　tree　in　a　hundred　millenia！　The　air　was　danker　and　foul　at　times；　and　his　fearridden　course　took　him　through　a　stone　tunnel　where　nameless　beasts　fled　before　him　with　the　rattle　of　evil　claws。　There　were　long　stretches　now　doomed　to　eternal　darkness　where　he　had　to　feel　his　way；　running　his　fingers　along　the　repellent　and　slimy　moss　covered　walls。　Where　there　were　lights　they　glowed　but　dimly　behind　their　burdens　of　spider　webs　and　insect　corpses。　He　splashed　through　pools　of　stagnant　water　until；　slowly；　the　strangeness　of　his　surroundings　penetrated；　and　he　blinked　about　him。　Set　into　the　floor　beneath　his　feet　was　another　door；　and；　still　gripped　by　the　reflex　of　flight；　he　threw　it　open；　but　it　led　nowhere。　Instead　it　gave　access　to　a　bin　of　some　kind　of　granulated　material；　not　unlike　coarse　sugar。　Though　it　might　just　as　well　be　insulation。　It　could　be　edible：　he　bent　and　picked　some　up　between　his　fingers　and　ground　it　between　his　teeth。　No；　not　edible；　he　spat　it　out；　though　there　was　something　very　familiar　about　it。　Then　it　hit　him。
　　It　was　dirt。　Earth。　Soil。　Sand。　The　stuff　that　planets　were　made　out　of；　that　this　planet　was　made　out　of；　it　was　the　surface　of　Helior；　on　which　the　incredible　weight　of　the　world…embracing　city　rested。　He　looked　up；　and　in　that　unspeakable　moment　was　suddenly　aware　of　that　weight；　all　that　weight；　above　his　head；　pressing　down　and　trying　to　crush　him。　Now　he　was　on　the　bottom；　rock　bottom；　and　obsessed　by　galloping　claustrophobia。　Giving　a　weak　scream；　he　stumbled　down　the　hallway　until　it　ended　in　an　immense　sealed　and　bolted　door。　There　was　no　way　out　of　this。　And　when　he　looked　at　the　blackened　thickness　of　the　door　he　decided　that　he　really　didn't　want　to　go　out　that　way　either。　What　nameless　horrors　might　lurk　behind　a　portal　like　this　at　the　bottom　of　the　world？
　　Then；　while　he　watched；　paralyzed；　with　staring　eyes；　the　door　squealed　and　started　to　swing　open。　He　turned　to　run　and　screamed　aloud　in　terror　as　something　grabbed　him　in　an　unbreakable　grip。

V

　　　Not　that　Bill　didn't　try　to　break　the　grip；　but　it　was　hopeless。　He　wriggled　in　the　skeleton…white　claws　that　clutched　him　and　tried　futilely　to　pry　them　from　his　arms；　all　the　time　uttering　helpless　little　bleats　like　a　lamb　in　an　eagle's　talons。　Thrashing　ineffectually；　he　was　drawn　backward　through　the　mighty　portal　which　swung　shut　without　the　agency　of　human　hands。　
　　〃Wele。　。　。〃　a　sepulchral　voice　said；　and　Bill　staggered　as　the　restraining　grasp　was　removed；　then　whirled　about　to　face　the　large　white　robot；　now　immobile。　Next　to　the　robot　stood　a　small　man　in　a　white　jacket　who　sported　a　large；　bald　head　and　a　serious　expression。　
　　〃You　don't　have　to　tell　me　your　name；〃　the　small　man　said；　〃not　unless　you　want　to。　But　I　am　Inspector　Jeyes。　Have　you　e　seeking　sanctuary？〃
　　　〃Are　you　offering　it？〃　Bill　asked　dubiously。
　　〃Interesting　point；　most　interesting。〃　Jeyes　rubbed　his　chapped　hands　together　with　a　dry；　rustling　sound。　〃But　we　shall　have　no　theological　arguments　now；　tempting　as　they　are；　I　assure　you；　so　I　think　it　might　be　best　to　make　a　statement；　yes　indeed。　There　is　a　sanctuary　here…have　you　e　to　avail　yourself　of　it？〃
　　Bill；　now　that　he　had　recovered　from　his　first　shock；　was　being　a　little　crafty；　remembering　all　the　trouble　he　had　gotten　into　by　opening　his　big　wug。　〃Listen；　I　don't　even　know　who　you　are　or　where　I　am　or　what　kind　of　strings　are　attached　to　this　sanctuary　business。〃
　　　〃Very　proper；　my　mistake；　I　assure　you；　since　I　took　you　for　one　of　the　city's　deplanned；　though　now　I　notice　that　the　rags　you　are　wearing　were　once　a　trooper's　dress　uniform　and　that　the　oxidized　shard　of　pot　metal　on　your　chest　is　the　remains　of　a　noble　decoration。　Wele　to　Helior；　the　Imperial　Planet；　and　how　is　the　war　ing？〃　
　　〃Fine；　fine…but　what's　this　all　about？〃
　　〃I　am　Inspector　Jeyes　of　the　City　Department　of　Sanitation。　I　can　see；　and　I　sincerely　hope　you　will　pardon　the　indiscretion；　that　you　are　in　a　bit　of　trouble；　out　of　uniform；　your　plan　gone；　perhaps　even　your　ID　card　vanished。〃　He　watched　Bill's　uneasy　motion　with　shrewd；　birdlike　eyes。　〃But　it　doesn't　have　to　be　that　way。　Accept　sanctuary。　We　will　provide　for　you；　give　you　a　good　job；　a　new　uniform；　even　a　new　ID　card。〃
　　〃And　all　I　have　to　do　is　bee　a　garbage　man！〃　Bill　sneered。　
　　〃We　prefer　the　term　G…man；〃　Inspector　Jeyes　answered　humbly。　　
　〃I'll　think　about　it；〃　Bill　said　coldly。
　　〃Might　I　help　you　make　up　your　mind？〃　the　inspector　asked；　and　pressed　a　button　on　the　wall。　The　portal　into　outer　blackness　squealed　open　once　again；　and　the　robot　grabbed　Bill　and　started　to　push。
　　〃Sanctuary！〃　Bill　squealed；　then　pouted　when　the　robot　had　released　him　and　the　door　was　resealed。　〃I　was　just　going　to　say　that　anyway；　you　didn't　have　to　throw　your　weight　around。〃
　　〃A　thousand　pardons；　we　want　you　to　feel　happy　here。　Wele　to　the　D　of　S。　At　the　risk　of　embarrassment；　may　I　ask　if　you　will　need　a　new　ID　card？　Many　of　our　recruits　like　to　start　life　afresh　down　here　in　the　department；　and　we　have　a　vast　selection　of　cards　to　choose　from。　We　get　everything　eventually　you　must　remember；　bodies　and　emptied　wastebaskets　included；　and　you　would　be　surprised　at　the　number　of　cards　we　collect　that　way。　If　you'll　just　step　into　this　elevator　。　。　。〃
　　The　D　of　S　did　have　a　lot　of　cards；　cases　and　cases　of　them；　all　neatly　filed　and　alphabetized。　In　no　time　at　all　Bill　had　found　one　with　a　description　that　fitted　him　fairly　closely；　issued　in　the　name　of　one　Wilhelm　Stuzzicadenti；　and　showed　it　to　the　inspector。　　　〃Very　good；　glad　to　have　you　with　us；　Villy　。　。　。〃
　　〃Just　call　me　Bill。〃　　　〃。　。　。　and　wele　to　the　service；　Bill；　we　are　always　undermanned　down　here；　and　you　can　have　your　pick　of　jobs；　yes　indeed；　depending　of　course　upon　your　talents…and　your　interests。　When　you　think　of　sanitation　　hat　es　to　your　mind？〃
　　〃Garbage。〃　　　The　inspector　sighed。　〃That's　the　usual　reaction；　but　I　had　expected　better　of　you。　Garbage　is　just　one　thing　our　Collection　Division　has　to　deal　with；　in　addition　there　are　Refuse；　Waste；　and　Rubbish。　Then　there　are　whole　other　departments；　Hall　Cleaning；　Plumbing　Repair；　Research；　Sewage　Disposal　。　。　。　〃
　　〃That　last　one　sounds　real　interesting。　Before　I　was　forcefully　enlisted　I　was　taking　a　correspondence　course　in　Technical　Fertilizer　Operating。〃　　　〃Why　that's　wonderful！　You　must　tell　me　more　about　it；　but　sit　down　first；　get　fortable。〃　He　led　Bill　to　a　deep；　upholstered　chair；　then　turned　away　to　extract　two　plastic　cartons　from　a　dispenser。　〃And　have　a　cooling　Alco…Jolt　while　you're　talking。〃
　　〃There's　not　much　to　say。　I　never　finished　my　course；　and　it　appears　now　I　will　never　satisfy　my　lifelong　ambition　and　operate　fertilizer。　Maybe　your　Sewage　Disposal　department　。　。　。　？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry。　It　is　heartbreaking；　since　that's　right　down　your　alley　too；　so　to　speak；　but　if　there　is　one　operation　that　doesn't　give　us　any　problem；　it's　sewage；　because　it's　mostly　automated。　We're　proud　of　our　sewage　record　because
it's　a　big　one；　there　must　be　over　150　billion　people　on　Helior　。　。　。〃
　　　〃WOW！〃
　　〃。　。　。　you're　right；　I　can　see　that　glow　in　your　eye。　That　is　a　lot　of　sewage；　and　I　hope　sometime　to　have　the　honor　of　showing　you　through　our　plant。　But　remember；　where　there　is　sewage　there　must　be　food；　and　with　Helior　importing　all　its　food　we　have　a　closed…circle　operation　here　that　is　a　sanitary　engineer's　dream。　Ships　from　the　agricultural　planets　bring　in　the　processed　food　which　goes　out　to　the　populace　where　it　starts　through；　what　might　be　called　the　chain　of　mand。　We　get　the　effluvium　and　process　it；　the　usual　settling　and　chemical　treatments；　anaerobic　bacteria　and　the　like…　I'm　not　boring　you　am　I？〃
　　〃No；　please　。　。　。〃　Bill　said；　smiling　and　flicking　away　a　tear　with　a　knuckle；　〃it's　just　that　I'm　so　happy；　I　haven't　had　an　intelligent　conversation　in　so　long　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　can　well　imagine…it　must　be　brutalizing　in　the　service；〃　he　clapped　Bill　on　the　shoulder；　a　hearty　stout…fellow…well…met　gesture。　〃Forget　all　that；　you're　among　friends　now。　Where　was　I？　Oh　yes；　the　bacteria；　then　dehydration　and　pression。　We　produce　one　of　the　finest　bricks　of　condensed　fertilizer　in　the　civilized　galaxy　and　I'll　stand　up　to　any　man　on　that　〃
　　〃I'm　sure　you　do！〃　Bill　agreed　fervently。
　　〃…and　automated　belts　and　lifts　carry　the　bricks　to　the　spaceports　where　they　are　loaded　into　the　spaceships　as　fast　as　they　are　emptied。　A　full　load　for　a　full　load；　that's　our　motto。　And　I've　heard　that　on　some　poor…soiled　planets　they　cheer　when　the　ships　e　home。　No；　we　can't　plain　about　our；　sewage　operation；　it　is　in　the　other　departments　that　we　have　our　problems。〃　Inspector　Jeyes　drained　his　container　and　sat　scowling；　his　pleasure　drained　just　as　fast。　〃No；　don't　do　that！〃　he　barked　as　Bill　finished　his　drink　and　started　to　pitch　the　empty　container　at　the　wall…disposal　chute。　　　〃Didn't　mean　to　snap；〃　the　inspector　apologized；　〃but　that's　our　big　problem。　Refuse。　Did　you　ever　think　how　many　newspapers　150　billion　people　throw　away　every　day？　Or　how　many　dispos…a…steins？　Or　dinner　plates？　We're　working　on　this　problem　in　research；　day　and　night；　but　it's　getting　ahead　of　us。　It's　a　nightmare。　That　Alco…Jolt　container　you're　holding　is　one　of　our　answers；　but　it's　just　a　drop　of　water　in　the　ocean。〃　
　　As　the　last　drops　of　liquid　evaporated　from　the　container　it　began　to　writhe　obscenely　in　Bill's　hand；　and；　horrified；　he　dropped　it　to　the　floor；　where　it　continued　to　twitch　and　change　form；　collapsing　and　flattening　before　his　eyes。　
　　〃We　have　to　thank　the　mathematicians　for　that　one；〃　the　inspector　said。　〃To　a　topologist　a　phonograph　record　or　a　teacup　or　a　drink　container　all　have　the　same　shape；　a　solid　with　a　hole　in　it；　and　any　one　can　be　deformed　into　any　of　the　others　by　a　continuous　one…to…one　transformation。　So　we　made　the　containers　out　of　memory　plastic　that　return　to　th