bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第27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！


r　you　die　or　you're　back　in　the　line　in　a　couple　of　weeks。〃
　　〃Maybe　a　guy　gets　his　arm　blown　off？〃
　　　〃They　got　an　icebox　full　of　old　arms。　Sew　a　new　one　on　and　bango；　right　back　into　the　line。〃
　　〃What　about　a　foot？〃　Bill　asked；　worried。
　　　〃That's　right…I　forgot！　They　got　a　foot　shortage。　So　many　guys　lying　around　without　feet　that　they're　running　out　of　bed　space。　They　were　just　starting　to　ship　some　of　them　offplanet　when　I　left。〃
　　〃You　got　any　pain　pills？〃　Bill　asked；　changing　the　subject。　The　medic　dug　out　a　white　bottle。
　　〃Three　of　these　and　you'd　laugh　while　they　sawed　your　head　off。〃
　　　〃Give　me　three。〃
　　〃If　you　ever　see　a　guy　around　what　has　his　foot　shot　off；　you　better　quick　tie　something　around　his　leg　just　over　the　knee；　tight；　to　cut　the　blood　off。〃
　　〃Thanks　buddy。〃
　　〃No　skin　off　my　nose。〃
　　　〃Let's　get　moving；〃　the　infantry　sergeant　said。　〃The　quicker　we　move　the　better　our　chances。〃
　　　Occasional　flares　from　atomic　rifles　burned　through　the　foliage　overhead；　and　the　thud…thud　of　heavy　weapons　shook　the　mud　under　their　feet。　They　worked　along　parallel　with　the　firing　until　it　had　died　down；　then　stopped。　Bill；　the　only　one　not　chained　in　the　line；　crawled　ahead　to　reconnoiter。　The　enemy　lines　seemed　to　be　lightly　held　and　he　found　a　spot　that　looked　the　best　for　a　breakthrough。　Then；　before　he　returned；　he　dug　the　heavy　cord　from　his　pocket　that　he　had　taken　from　one　of　the　ration　boxes。　He　tied　a　tourniquet　above　his　right　knee　and　twisted　it　tight　with　a　stick；　then　swallowed　the　three　pills。　He　stayed　behind　some　heavy　shrubs　when　he　called　to　the　others。　
　　〃Straight　ahead；　then　sharp　right　before　that　clump　of　frees。　Let's　go…and　FAST！〃
　　　Bill　led　the　way　until　the　first　men　could　see　the　lines　ahead。　Then　he　called　out　〃What's　that？〃　and　ran　into　the　heavy　foliage。　〃Chingers！〃　he　shouted；　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　a　tree。　　　He　took　careful　aim　with　his　pistol　and　blew　his　right　foot　off。　　　〃Get　moving　fast！〃　he　shouted；　and　heard　the　crash　of　the　frightened　men　through　the　undergrowth。　He　threw　the　pistol　away；　fired　at　random　into　the　trees　a　few　times；　then　dragged　to　his　feet。　The　atomic　rifle　made　a　good　enough　crutch　to　hobble　along　on；　and　he　did　not　have　far　to　go。　Two　troopers；　they　must　have　been　new　to　bat　or　they　would　have　known　better；　left　the　shelter　to　help　him　inside。
　　　〃Thanks；　buddies；〃　he　gasped；　and　sank　to　the　ground。　〃War　sure　is　hell。〃

ENVOI
　
　
　
　　　The　martial　music　echoed　from　the　hillside；　bouncing　back　from　the　rocky　ledges　and　losing　itself　in　the　hushed　green　shadows　under　the　trees。　Around　the　bend；　stamping　proudly　through　the　dust；　came　the　little　parade　led　by　the　magnificent　form　of　a　one…robot　band。　Sunlight　gleamed　on　its　golden　limbs　and　twinkled　from　the　brazen　instruments　it　worked　with　such　enthusiasm。　A　small　formation　of　assorted　robots　rolled　and　clattered　in　its　wake；　and　bringing　up　the　rear　was　the　solitary　figure　of　the　grizzle…haired　recruiting　sergeant；　striding　along　strongly；　his　rows　of　medals　ajingle。　Though　the　road　was　smooth　the　sergeant　lurched　suddenly；　stumbling；　and　cursed　with　the　rich　proficiency　of　years。
　　〃Halt！〃　he　manded；　and　while　his　little　pany　braked　to　a　stop　he　leaned　against　the　stone　wall　that　bordered　the　road　and　rolled　up　his　right　pants　leg。　When　he　whistled　one　of　the　robots　trundled　quickly　over　and　held　out　a　tool　box　from　which　the　sergeant　took　a　large　screwdriver　and　tightened　one　of　the　bolts　in　the　ankle　of　his　artificial　foot。　Then　he　squirted　a　few　drops　from　an　oil　can　onto　the　joint　and　rolled　the　pants　leg　back　down。　When　he　straightened　up　he　noticed　that　a　robomule　was　pulling　a　plow　down　a　furrow　in　the　field　beyond　the　fence；　while　a　husky　farm　lad　guided　it。
　　　〃Beer！〃　the　sergeant　barked；　then；　〃　‘A　Spaceman's　Lament。'　〃
　　The　one…robot　band　brought　forth　the　gentle　melodies　of　the　old　song；　and　by　the　time　the　furrow　reached　the　limits　of　the　field　there　were　two　dew…frosted　steins　of　beer　resting　on　the　fence。
　　〃That's　sure　pretty　music；〃　the　plowboy　said。
　　〃Join　me　in　a　beer；〃　the　sergeant　said；　sprinkling　a　white　powder　into　it　from　a　packet　concealed　in　his　hand。
　　〃Don't　mind　iffen　I　do；　sure　is　hotter'n　h…　out　here　today。〃
　　　〃Say　hell；　son；　I　heard　the　word　before。〃
　　〃Mamma　don't　like　me　to　cuss。　You　sure　do　have　long　teeth；　mister。〃
　　　The　sergeant　twanged　a　tusk。　〃A　big　fellow　like　you　should　cuss　a　bit。　If　you　were　a　trooper　you　could　say　hell…　or　even　bowb…　if　you　wanted　to；　all　the　time。〃
　　　〃I　don't　think　I'd　want　to　say　anything　like　that。〃　He　flushed　red　under　his　deep　tan。　〃Thanks　for　the　beer；　but　I　gotta　be　plowing　on　now。　Mamma　said　I　was　to　never　talk　to　soldiers。〃
　　〃Your　mamma's　right；　a　dirty；　cursing；　drinking　crew　the　most　of　them。　Say；　would　you　like　to　see　a　picture　here　of　a　new　model　robomule　that　can　run　a　thousand　hours　without　lubrication？〃　The　sergeant　held　his　hand　out　behind　him；
and　a　robot　put　a　viewer　into　it。
　　　〃Why　that　sounds　nice！〃　The　farm　lad　raised　the　viewer　to　his　eyes　and　looked　into　it　and　flushed　an　even　deeper　red。　〃That's　no　mule；　mister；　that's　a　girl　and　her　clothes　are　。　。　。〃
　　The　sergeant　reached　out　swiftly　and　pressed　a　button　on　the　top　of　the　viewer。　Something　went　（hunk　inside　of　it；　and　the　farmer　stood　rigid　and　frozen。　He　did　not　move　or　change　expression　when　the　sergeant　reached　out　and　took　the　little　machine　from　his　paralyzed　fingers。
　　　〃Take　this　stylo；〃　the　sergeant　said；　and　the　other's　fingers　closed　on　it。　〃Now　sign　this　form；　right　down　there　where　it　says　RECRUIT'S　SIGNATURE　。　。　。〃
The　stylo　scratched；　and　a　sudden　scream　pierced　the　air。
　　　〃My　Charlie！　What　are　you　doing　with　my　Charlie！〃　an　ancient；　gray…haired　woman　walled；　as　she　scrambled　around　the　hill。
　　〃Your　son　is　now　a　trooper　for　the　greater　glory　of　the　Emperor；〃　the　sergeant　said；　and　waved　over　the　robot　tailor。
　　〃No…please…〃　the　woman　begged；　clutching　the　sergeant's　hand　and　dribbling　tears　onto　it。　〃I've　lost　one　son；　isn't　that　enough　。　。　。　〃　she　blinked　up　through　the　tears；　then　blinked　again。　〃But　you…you're　my　boy！　My　Bill　e　home！　Even　with　those　teeth　and　the　scars　and　one　black　hand　and　one　white　hand　and　one　artificial　foot；　I　can　tell；　a　mother　always　knows！〃
　　　The　sergeant　frowned　down　at　the　woman。　〃I　believe　you　might　be　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　the　name　Phigerinadon　II　sounded　familiar。〃
　　　The　robot　tailor　had　finished　his　job。　The　red　paper　jacket　shone　bravely　in　the　sun；　the　one…molecule…thick　boots　gleamed。　〃Fall　in；〃　Bill　shouted；　and　the　recruit　climbed　over　the　wall。
　　　〃Billy；　Billy　。　。　。〃　the　woman　wailed；　〃this　is　your　little　brother　Charlie！　You　wouldn't　take　your　own　little　brother　into　the　troopers；　would　you？〃
　　　Bill　thought　about　his　mother；　then　he　thought　about　his　baby　brother　Charlie；　then　he　thought　of　the　one　month　that　would　be　taken　off　of　his　enlistment　time　for　every　recruit　he　brought　in；　and　he　snapped　his　answer　back　；instantly。　　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　　The　music　blared；　the　soldiers　marched；　the　mother　cried…as　mothers　have　always　done…and　the　brave　little　band　tramped　down　the　road　and　over　the　hill　and　out　of　sight　into　the　sunset。