bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第4章

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he　etched…in　EMBALMING　FLUID　〃Any　trouble　I　call　the　MPs。〃　The　smile　returned　as　money　struck　the　counter。　〃Name　your　poison；　gents。〃
　　They　sat　around　a　long；　narrow　table　as　thick　as　it　was　wide；　with　brass　handles　on　both　sides；　and　let　the　blessed　relief　of　ethyl　alcohol　trickle　a　path　down　their　dust…lined　throats。
　　〃I　never　drank　before　I　came　into　the　service；〃　Bill　said；　draining　four　fingers　neat　of　Old　Kidney　Killer　and　held　his　glass　out　for　more。
　　〃You　never　had　to；〃　Ugly　said；　pouring。
　　〃That's　for　sure；〃　Bowb　Brown　said；　smacking　his　lips　with　relish　and　raising　a　bottle　to　his　lips　again。
　　〃Gee；〃　Eager　Beager　said；　sipping　hesitantly　at　the　edge　of　his　glass；　〃it　tastes　like　a　tincture　of　sugar；　wood　chips；　various　esters；　and　a　number　of　higher　alcohols。〃
　　〃Drink　up；〃　Bowb　said　incoherently　around　the　neck　of　the　bottle。　〃All　them　things　is　good　for　you。〃
　　〃Now　I　want　a　woman；〃　Ugly　said；　and　there　was　a　rush　as　they　all　jammed　in　the　door；　trying　to　get　out　at　the　same　time；　until　someone　shouted；　〃Look！〃　and　they　turned　to　see　Eager　still　sitting　at　the　table。
　　〃Woman！〃　Ugly　said　enthusiastically；　in　the　tone　of　voice　you　say　Dinner！　when　you　are　calling　a　dog。　The　knot　of　men　stirred　in　the　doorway　and　stamped　their　feet。　Eager　didn't　move。
　　〃Gee…I　think　I'll　stay　right　here；〃　he　said；　his　smile　simpler　than　ever。　〃But　you　guys　run　along。〃
　　〃Don't　you　feel　well；　Eager？〃
　　〃Feel　fine。〃
　　〃Ain't　you　reached　puberty？〃
　　〃Gee。。。〃
　　〃What　you　gonna　do　here？〃
　　Eager　reached　under　the　table　and　dragged　out　a　canvas　grip。　He　opened　it　to　show　them　that　it　was　packed　with　great　purple　boots。　〃I　thought　I'd　catch　up　on　my　polishing。〃
　　They　walked　slowly　down　the　wooden　sidewalk；　silent　for　the　moment。　〃I　wonder　if　there　is　something　wrong　with　Eager？〃　Bill　asked；　but　no　one　answered　him。　They　were　looking　down　the　rutted　street；　at　a　brilliantly　illuminated　sign
that　cast　a　tempting；　ruddy　glow。　
　　SPACEMEN'S　REST　it　said。　CONTINUOUS　STRIP　SHOW　and　BEST　DRINKS　and　better　PRIVATE　ROOMS　FOR　GUESTS　AND　THEIR　FRIENDS。　They　walked　faster。　The　front　wall　of　the　Spacemen's　Rest　was　covered　with　shatterproof　glass　cases　filled　with　tri…di　pix　of　the　fully　dressed　（bangle　and　double　stars）　entertainers；　and　further　in　with　pix　of　them　nude　（debangled　with　fallen　stars）。　Bill　stayed　the　quick　sound　of　panting　by　pointing　to　a　…small　sign　almost　lost　among　the　tumescent　wealth　of　mammaries。
　　OFFICERS　ONLY　It　read。
　　〃Move　along；〃　an　MP　grated；　and　poked　at　them　with　his　electronic　nightstick。　They　shuffled　on。
　　The　next　establishment　admitted　men　of　all　classes；　but　the　cover　charge　was　seventy…seven　credits；　more　than　they　all　had　between　them。　After　that　the　OFFICERS　ONLY　began　again；　until　the　pavement　ended　and　all　the　lights　were　behind　them。
　　〃What's　that？〃　Ugly　asked　at　the　sound　of　murmured　voices　from　a　nearby　darkened　street；　and　peering　closely　they　saw　a　line　of　troopers　that　stretched　out　of　sight　around　a　distant　er。　〃What's　this？〃　he　asked　the　last　man　in　the　line。
　　〃Lower…ranks　cathouse。　Two　credits；　two　minutes。　And　don't　try　to。buck　the　line；　bowb。　On　the　back；　on　the　back。〃
　　They　joined　up　instantly；　and　Bill　ended　up　last；　but　not　for　long。　They　shuffled　forward　slowly；　and　other　troopers　appeared　and　cued　up　behind　him。　The　night　was　cool；　and　he　took　many　life…preserving　slugs　from　his　bottle。　There　was　little　conversation　and　what　there　was　died　as　the　red…lit　portal　loomed　ever　closer。　It　opened　and　closed　at　regular　intervals；　and　one　by　one　Bill's　buddies　slipped　in　to　partake　of　its　satisfying；　though　rapid；　pleasures。　Then　it　was　his　turn　and　the　door　started　to　open　and　he　started　to　step　forward　and　the　sirens　started　to　scream　and　a　large　MP　with　a　great　fat　belly　jumped　between　Bill　and　the　door。
　　〃Emergency　recall。　Back　to　the　base　you　men！〃　it　barked。
　　Bill　howled　a　strangled　groan　of　frustration　and　leaped　forward；　but　a　light　tap　with　the　electronic　nightstick　sent　him　reeling　back　with　the　others。　He　was　carried　along；　half　stunned；　with　the　shuffling　wave　of　bodies；　while　the　sirens　moaned　and　the　artificial　northern　lights　in　the　sky　spelled　out　TO　ARMS！！！！　in　letters　of　flame　each　a　hundred　miles　long。　Someone　put　his　handout；　holding　Bill　up　as　he　started　to　slide　under　the　trampling　purple　boots。　It　was　his　old　buddy；　Ugly；　carrying　a　satiated　smirk　and　he　hated　him　and　tried　to　hit　him。　But　before　he　could　raise　his　fist　they　were　swept　into　a　monorail　car；　hurtled　through　the　night；　and　disgorged　back　in　Camp　LeonTrotsky。　He　forgot　his　anger　when　the　gnarled　claws　of　Deathwish　Drang　dragged　them　from　the　crowd。
　　〃Pack　your　bags；〃　he　rasped。　〃You're　shipping　out。〃
　　〃They　can't　do　that　to　us…we　haven't　finished　our　training。〃
　　〃They　can　do　whatever　they　want；　and　they　usually　do。　A　glorious　space　battle　has　just　been　fought　to　its　victorious　conclusion　and　there　are　over　four　million　casualties；　give　or　take　a　hundred　thousand。　Replacements　are　needed；　which　is　you。　Prepare　to　board　the　transports　immediately　if　not　sooner。〃
　　〃We　can't…we　have　no　space　gear！　The　supply　room　。　。　。〃
　　〃All　of　the　supply　personnel　have　already　been　shipped　out。〃
　　〃Food　。　。　。〃
　　〃The　cooks　and　KP　pushers　are　already　spacebound。　This　is　an　emergency。　All　non…essential　personnel　are　being　sent　out。　Probably　to　die。〃　He　twanged　a　tusk　coyly　and　washed　them　with　his　loathsome　grin。　〃While　I　remain　here　in　peaceful　security　to　train　your　replacements。〃　The　delivery　tube　plunked　at　his　elbow；　and　as　he　opened　the　message　capsule　and　read　its　contents　his　smile　slowly　fell　to　pieces。　〃They're　shipping　me　out　too；〃　he　said　hollowly。

III

A　total　of　89；672；899　recruits　had　already　been　shipped　into　space　through　Camp　Leon　Trotsky；　so　the　process　was　an　automatic　and　smoothly　working　one；　even　though　this　time　it　was　processing　itself；　like　a　snake　swallowing　its　own　tail。　Bill　and　his　buddies　were　the　last　group　of　recruits　through；　and　the　snake　began　ingesting　itself　right　behind　them。　No　sooner　had　they　been　shorn　of　their　sprouting　fuzz　and　deloused　in　the　ultrasonic　delouser　than　the　barbers　rushed　at　each　other　and　in　a　welter　of　under　and　over　arms；　gobbets　of　hair；　shards　of　mustache；　bits　of　flesh；　drops　of　blood；　they　clipped　and　shaved　each　other；　then　pulled　the　operator　after　them　into　the　ultrasonic　chamber。　Medical　corpsmen　gave　themselves　injections　against　rocket…fever　and　spacecafard；　record　clerks　issued　themselves　pay　books；　and　the　loadmasters　kicked　each　other　up　the　ramps　and　into　the　waiting　shuttleships。　Rockets　blasted；　living　columns　of　fire　like　scarlet　tongues　licking　down　at　the　blasting　pads；　burning　up　the　ramps　in　a　lovely　pyrotechnic　display；　since　the　ramp　operators　were　also　aboard。　The　ships　echoed　and　thundered　up　into　the　night　sky　leaving　Camp　Leon　Trotsky　a　dark　and　silent　ghost　town　where　bits　of　daily　orders　and　punishment　rosters　rustled　and　blew　from　the　bulletin　boards；　dancing　through　the　deserted　streets　to　finally　plaster　themselves　against　the　noisy；　bright　windows　of　the　Officers'　Club　where　a　great　drinking　party　was　in　progress；　although　there　was　much　plaining　because　the　officers　had　to　serve　themselves。
　　Up　and　up　the　shuttleships　shot；　toward　the　great　fleet　of　deep…spacers　that　darkened　the　stars　above；　a　new　fleet；　the　most　powerful　the　galaxy　had　ever　seen；　so　new　in　fact　that　the　ships　were　still　under　construction。　Welding　torches　flared　in　brilliant　points　of　light　while　hot　rivets　hurled　their　flat　trajectories　across　the　sky　into　the　waiting　buckets。　The　spots　of　light　died　away　as　one　behemoth　of　the　star　lanes　was　pleted　and　thin　screams　sounded　in　the　space…suit　radio　circuit　as　the　workers；　instead　of　being　returned　to　the　yards；　were　pressed　into　service　on　the　ship　they　had　so　recently　built。　This　was　total　war。
　　Bill　staggered　through　the　sagging　plastic　tube　that　connected　the　shuttleship　to　a　dreadnaught　of　space　and　dropped　his　bags　iii　front　of　a　petty　chief　officer　who　sat　at　a　desk　in　the　hangar…sized　spacelock。　Or　rather　he　tried　to　drop　it；　but　since　there　was　no　gravity　the　bags　remained　in　mid…air；　and　when　he　pushed　them　down　he　rose　（since　a　body　when　it　is　falling　freely　is　said　to　be　in　free　fall；　and　anything　with　weight　has　no　weight；　and　for　every　action　there　is　an　equal　and　opposite　reaction　or　something　like　that）。　The　petty　looked　up　and　snarled　and　pulled　Bill　back　down　to　the　deck。
　　〃None　of　your　bowby　spacelubber　tricks；　trooper。　Name？〃
　　〃Bill；　spelled　with　two　L's。〃
　　〃Bil；〃　the　petty　mumbled；　licking　the　end　of　his　stylo；　then　inscribing　it　in　the　ship's　roster　with　round；　illiterate　letters。　　〃Two　‘L's'　for　officers　only；　bowb…learn　your　place。　What's　your　classification？〃
　　〃Recruit；　unskilled；　untrained；　spacesick。〃
　　〃Well　don't　puke　in　here；　that's　what　you　have　your　own　quarters　for。　You　are　　now　a　Fuse　Tender　Sixth　Class；　unskilled。　Bunk　down　in　partment　34J…89T…ooi。　Move。　And　keep　that　woopsy…sack　over　your　head。〃
　　No　sooner　had　Bill　found　his　quarters　and　thrown　his　bags　into　a　bunk；　where　they　floated　five　inches　over　the　reclaimed　rock…wool　mattress；　than　Eager　Beager　came　in；　followed　by　Bowb　Brown　and　a　crowd　of　strangers；　some　of　them　carrying　welding　torches　and　angry　expressions。
　　〃Where's　Ugly　and　the　rest　of　the　squad？〃　Bill　asked。　　　Bowb　shrugged　and　strapped　himself　into　his　bunk　for　a　little　shut…eye。　Eager　opened　one　of　the　six　bags　he　always　carried　and　removed　some　boots　to　polish。　
　　〃Are　you　saved？〃　A　deep　voice；　vibrant　with　emotion；　sounded　from　the　other　end　of　the　partment。　Bill　looked　up；　startled；　and　the　big　trooper　standing　there　saw　the　motion　and　stabbed　toward　him　with　an　immense　finger。　〃You；　brother；　are　you　saved？〃
　　〃That's　a　little　hard　to　say；〃　Bill　mumbled；　bending　over　and　rooting　in　his　bag；　hoping　the　man　would　go　away。　But　he　didn't；　in　fact；　he　came　over　and　sat　down　on　Bill's　bunk。　Bill　tried　to　ignore　him；　but　this　was　hard　to　do；　because　the　trooper　was　over　six　feet　high；　heavily　muscled；　and　ironjawed。　He　had　lovely；　purplish…black　skin　that　made　Bill　a　little　jealous；　because　his　was　only　a　sort　of　grayish　pink。　Since　the　trooper's　shipboard　uniform　was　almost　the　same　shade　of　black；　he　looked　all　of　a　piece；　very　effective　with　his　flashing　smile　and　piercing　gaze。
　　〃Wele　aboard　the　Christine　Keeler；〃　he　said；　and　with　a　friendly　shake　splintered　most　of　Bill's　knucklebones。　〃The　grand　old　lady　of　this　fleet；　missioned　almost　a　week　ago。　I'm　the　Reverend　Fuse　Tender　Sixth　Class　Tembo；
and　I　see　by　the　stencil　on　your　bag　that　your　name　is　Bill；　and　since　we're　shipmates；　Bill；　please　call　me　Tembo；　and　how　is　the　condition　of　your　soul？〃　
　　〃I　haven't　had　much　chance　to　think　about　it　lately　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　should　think　not；　just　ing　from　recruit　training；　since　attendance　of　chapel　during　training　is　a　court…martial　offense。　But　that's　all　behind　you　now　and　you　can　be　saved。　Might　I　ask　if　you　are　of　the　faith　。　。　。　？〃
　　〃My　folks　were　Fundamentalist　Zoroastrian；　so　I　suppose　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Superstition；　my　boy；　rank　superstition。　It　was　the　hand　of　fate　that　brought　us　together　in　this　ship；　that　your　soul　would　have　this　one　chance　to　be　saved　from　the　fiery　pit。　You've　heard　of　Earth？〃
　　〃I　like　plain　f