bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第5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！


ould　have　this　one　chance　to　be　saved　from　the　fiery　pit。　You've　heard　of　Earth？〃
　　〃I　like　plain　food　。　。　。〃
　　〃It's　a　planet；　my　boy…the　home　of　the　human　race。　The　home　from　whence　we　all　sprang；　see　it；　a　green　and　lovely　world；　a　jewel　in　space。〃　Tembo　had　slipped　a　tiny　projector　from　his　pocket　while　he　spoke；　and　a　colored　image　appeared　on　the　bulkhead；　a　planet　swimming　artistically　through　the　void；　girdled　by　white　clouds。　Suddenly　ruddy　lightning　shot　through　the　clouds；　and　they　twisted　and　boiled　while　great　wounds　appeared　on　the　planet　below。　From　the　pinhead　speaker　came　the　tiny　sound　of　rolling　thunder。　〃But　wars　sprang　up　among　the　sons　of　man　and　they　smote　each　other　with　the　atomic　energies　until　the　Earth　itself　groaned　aloud　and　mighty　was　the　holocaust。　And　when　the　final　lightnings　stilled　there　was　death　in　the　North；　death　in　the　West；　death　in　the　East；　death；　death；　death。　Do　you　realize　what　that　means？〃　Tembo's　voice　was　eloquent　with　feeling；　suspended　for　an　instant　in　mid…flight；　waiting　for　the　answer　to　the　catechistical　question。
　　〃I'm　not　quite　sure；〃　Bill　said；　rooting　aimlessly　in　his　bag；　〃I　e　from　Phigerinadon　II；　it's　a　quieter　place　。　。　。〃
　　〃There　was　no　death　in　the　SOUTH！　And　why　was　the　South　spared；　I　ask　you；　and　the　answer　is　because　it　was　the　will　of　Samedi　that　all　the　false　prophets　and　false　religions　and　false　gods　be　wiped　from　the　face　of　the　Earth　so　that　the　only　true　faith　should　remain。　The　First　Reformed　Voodoo　Church　。　。　。〃
　　General　Quarters　sounded；　a　hooting　alarm　keyed　to　the　resonant　frequency　of　the　human　skull　so　that　the　bone　vibrated　as　though　the　head　were　inside　a　mighty　bell；　and　the　eyes　blurred　out　of　focus　with　each　stroke。　There　was　a　scramble　for　the　passageway；　where　the　hideous　sound　。was　not　quite　as　loud　and　where　non…corns　were　waiting　to　herd　them　to　their　stations。　Bill　followed　Eager　Beager　up　an　oily　ladder　and　out　of　the　hatch　in　the　floor　of　the　fuse　room。　Great　racks　of　fuses　stretched　away　on　all　sides　of　them；　while　from　the　tops　of　the　racks　sprang　arm…thick　cables　that　looped　upward　and　vanished　through　the　ceiling。　In　front　of　the　racks；　evenly　spaced；　were　round　openings　a　foot　in　diameter。
　　〃My　opening　remarks　will　be　brief；　any　trouble　from　any　of　you　and　I　will　personally　myself　feed　you　head　first　down　the　nearest　fuseway。〃　A　greasy　forefinger　pointed　at　one　of　the　holes　in　the　deck；　and　they　recognized　the　voice　of　their　new　master。　He　was　shorter　and　wider　and　thicker　in　the　gut　than　Deathwish；　but　there　was　a　generic　resemblance　that　was　unmistakable。　〃I　am　Fuse　Tender　First　Class　Spleen。　I　will　take　you　crumbly；　ground…crawling　bowbs　and　will　turn　you　into　highly　skilled　and　efficient　fuse　tenders　or　else　feed　you　down　the　nearest　fuseway。　This　is　a　highly　skilled　and　efficient　technical　speciality　which　usually　takes　a　year　to　train　a　good　man　but　this　is　war　so　you　are　going　to　learn　to　do　it　now　or　else。　I　will　now　demonstrate。　Tembo　front　and　center。　Take　board　19J…9；　it's　out　of　circuit　now。〃
　　Tembo　clashed　his　heels　and　stood　at　rigid　attention　in　front　of　the　board。
Stretching　away　on　both　sides　of　him　were　the　fuses；　white　ceramic　cylinders　capped　on　both　ends　with　metal；　each　one　a　foot　in　diameter；　five　feet　high；　and　weighing　ninety　pounds。　There　was　a　red　band　around　the　midriff　of　each　fuse。　First　Class　Spleen　tapped　one　of　these　bands。　
　　〃Every　fuse　has　one　of　these　red　bands；　which　is　called　a　fuseband　and　is　of　the　color　red。　When　the　fuse　burns　out　this　band　turns　black。　I　don't　expect　you　to　remember　all　this　now；　but　it's　in　your　manual　and　you　are　going　to　be　letter…perfect　before　I　am　done　with　you；　or　else。　Now　I　will　show　you　what　will　happen　when　a　fuse　burns　out。　Tembo…that　is　a　burned…out　fuse！　Go！〃
　　〃Unggh！〃　Tembo　shouted；　and　leaped　at　the　fuse　and　grasped　it　with　both　hands。　〃Unggh！〃　he　said　again；　as　he　pulled　it　from　the　clips；　and　again　〃Unggh！〃　when　he　dropped　it　into　the　fuseway。　Then；　still　Ungghing；　be　pulled　a　new　fuse　from　the　storage　rack　and　clipped　it　into　place　and　with　a　final　Unggh！　snapped　back　to　attention。
　　〃And　that's　the　way　it　is　done；　by　the　count；　by　the　numbers；　the　trooper　way；　and　you　are　going　to　learn　it　or　else。〃　A　dull　buzzing　sounded；　grumbling　through　the　air　like　a　stifled　eructation。　〃There's　the　chow　call；　so　I'll　let　you　break　now；　and　while　you're　eating；　think　about　what　you　are　going　to　have　to　learn。　Fall　out。〃
　　Other　troopers　were　going　by　in　the　corridor；　and　they　followed　them　into　the　bowels　of　the　ship。
　　〃Geedo　you　think　the　food　might　be　any　better　than　it　was　back　in　camp？〃　Eager　asked；　smacking　his　lips　excitedly。
　　〃It　is　pletely　impossible　that　it　could　be　any　worse；〃　Bill　said　as　they　joined　a　line　leading　to　a　door　labeled　CONSOLIDATED　MESS　NUMBER　Two。　〃Any　change　will　have　to　make　it　better。　After　all…aren't　we　fighting　troopers　now？　We　have　to　go　into　bat　fit；　the　manual　says。〃
　　The　line　moved　forward　with　painful　slowness；　but　within　an　hour　they　were　at　the　door。　Inside　the　room　a　tired　looking　KP　in　soap…stained；　。　greasy　fatigues　handed　Bill　a　yellow　plastic　cup　from　a　rack　before　him。　Bill　moved　on；　and　when　the　trooper　in　front　of　him　stepped　away；　he　faced　a　blank　wall　from　which　there　emerged　a　single；　handleless　spigot。　A　fat　cook　standing　next　to　it；　wearing　a　large　white　chef's　hat　and　a　soiled　undershirt；　waved　him
forward　with　the　soup　ladle　in　his　hand。
　　〃C'mon；　c'mon；　ain't　you　never　et　before？　Cup　under　the　spout；　dog　tag　in　the　slot；　snap　it　up！〃
　　Bill　held　the　cup　as　he　had　been　advised　and　noticed　a　narrow　slit　in　the　metal　wall　just　at　eye　level。　His　dog　tags　were　hanging　around　his　neck；　and　he　pushed　one　of　them　into　the　slot。　Something　went　bzzzzz；　and　a　thin　stream　of　yellow　fluid　gushed　out；　filling　the　cup　halfway。　　　〃Next　man！〃　the　cook　shouted；　and　pulled　Bill　away　so　that　Eager　could　take
his　place。　〃What　is　this？〃　Bill　asked；　peering　into　the　cup。
　　〃What　is　this！　What　is　this！〃　the　cook　raged；　growing　bright　red。　〃This　is　your　dinner；　you　stupid　bowbl　This　is　absolutely　chemically　pure　water　in　which　are　dissolved　eighteen　amino　acids；　sixteen　vitamins；　eleven　mineral　salts；　a　fatty　acid　ester；　and　glucose。　What　else　did　you　expect？〃
　　〃Dinner　。　。　。　？〃　Bill　said　hopefully；　then　saw　red　as　the　soup　ladle　crashed　down　on　his　head。　〃Could　I　have　it　without　the　fatty　acid　ester？〃　he　asked　hopefully；　but　be　was　pushed　out　into　the　corridor　where　Eager　joined　him。
　　〃Gee；〃　Eager　said。　〃This　has　all　the　food　elements　necessary　to　sustain　life　indefinitely。　Isn't　that　marvelous？〃　　　Bill　sipped　at　his　cup；　then　sighed　tremulously。
　　〃Look　at　that；〃　Tembo　said；　and　when　Bill　turned；　a　projected　image　appeared　on　the　corridor　wall。　It　showed　a　misty　firmament；　in　which　tiny　figures　seemed　to　be　riding　on　clouds。　〃Hell　awaits　you；　my　boy；　unless　you　are　saved。　Turn　your　back　on　your　superstitious　ways；　for　the　First　Reformed　Voodoo　Church　weles　you　with　open　arms；　e　unto　her　bosom；　and　find　your　place　in　heaven　at　Samedi's　right　hand。　Sit　there　with　Mondonguc　and　Bakalou　and　Zandor；　who　will　wele　you。〃
　　The　projected　scene　changed；　the　clouds　grew　closer；　while　from　the　little　speaker　came　the　tiny　sound　of　a　heavenly　choir　with　drum　acpaniment。　Now　the　figures　could　be　seen　clearly；　all　with　very　dark　skins　and　white　robes　from　the　back　of　which　protruded　great　black　wings。　They　smiled　and　waved　gracefully　to　each　other　as　their　clouds　passed；　while　singing　enthusiastically　and　beating　on　the　little　tomtoms　that　each　one　carried。　It　was　a　lovely　scene；　and　Bill's　eyes　misted　a　bit。　
　　〃Attention！〃
　　The　barking　tones　echoed　from　the　walls　and　the　troopers　snapped　their　shoulders　back；　heels　together；　eyes　ahead。　The　heavenly　choir　vanished　as　Tembo　shoved　the　projector　back　into　his　pocket。
　　〃As　you　was；〃　First　Class　Spleen　ordered；　and　they　turned　to　see　him　leading　two　MPs　with　drawn　handguns　who　were　acting　as　bodyguards　for　an　officer。　Bill　knew　it　was　an　officer　because　they　had　had　an　officer…identification　course；　plus　the　fact　that　there　was　a　KNOW　YOUR　OFFICERS　chart　on　the　latrine　wall　that　he　had　had　a　great　deal　of　opportunity　to　study　during　an　anguilluliasis　epidemic。　His　jaw　gaped　open　as　the　officer　went　by；　almost　close　enough　to　touch；　and　stopped　in　front　of　Tembo。
　　〃Fuse　Tender　Sixth　Class　Tembo；　I　have　good　news　for　you。　In　two　weeks　your　seven…year　period　of　enlistment　will　be　up；　and　because　of　your　fine　record　Captain　Zekial　has　authorized　a　doubling　of　the　usual　mustering…out　pay；　an
honorable　discharge　with　band　music；　as　well　as　your　free　transport　back　to　Earth。〃
　　Tembo；　relaxed　and　firm；　looked　down　at　the　runty　lieutenant　with　the　well…chewed　blond　mustache　who　stood　before　him。　〃That　will　be　impossible；　Sir。〃
　　〃Impossible！〃　the　lieutenant　screeched；　and　rocked　back　and　forth　on　his　high　heeled　boots。　〃Who　are　you　to　tell　me　what　is　impossible　。　。　。　I〃
　　〃Not　I；　Sir；〃　Tembo　answered　with　utmost　calm。　〃Regulation　i3…9A；　paragraph　45；　page　8923；　volume　43　of　Rules；　Regulations　and　Articles　of　War。　'No　man　nor　officer　shall　or　will　receive　a　discharge　other　than　dishonorable　with　death　sentence　from　a　vessel；　post；　base；　camp；　ship；　outpost；　or　labor　camp　during　time　of　emergency　。　。　。'　〃
　　〃Are　you　a　ship's　lawyer；　Tembo？〃
　　〃No；　Sir。　I'm　a　loyal　trooper；　Sir。　I　just　want　to　do　my　duty；　Sir。〃
　　〃There's　something　very　funny　about　you；　Tembo。　I　saw　in　your　record　that　you　enlisted　voluntarily　without　drugs　and　or　hypnotics　being　used。　Now　you　refuse　discharge。　That'sbad；　Tembo；　very　bad。　Gives　you　a　bad　name。　Makes　you　look　suspicious。　Makes　you　look　like　a　spy　or　something。〃
　　〃I'm　a　loyal　trooper；　of　the　Emperor；　sir；　not　a　spy。〃
　　〃You're　not　a　spy；　Tembo；　we　have　looked　into　that　very　carefully。　But　why　are　you　in　the　service；　Tembo？〃
　　〃To　be　a　loyal　trooper　of　the　Emperor；　sir；　and　to　do　my　best　to　spread　the　gospel。　Have　you　been　saved；　sir？〃
　　〃Watch　your　tongue；　trooper　or　I'll　have　you　up　on　charges！　Yes；　we　know　that　story…Reverend…but　we　don't　believe　it。　You're　being　too　tricky；　but　we'll　find　out　。　。　。〃　He　stalked　away；　muttering　to　himself；　and　they　all　snapped　to　attention　until　he　was　gone。　The　other　troopers　looked　at　Tembo　oddly　and　did　not　feel　fortable　until　he　had　gone。　Bill　and　Eager　walked　slowly　back　to　their　quarters。
　　〃Turned　down　a　discharge　。　。　。　！〃　Bill　mumbled　in　awe。
　　〃Gee；〃　Eager　said；　〃maybe　he's。　nuts。　I　can't　think　of　any　other　reason。〃
　　〃Nobody　could　be　that　crazy；〃　Bill　said。　〃I　wonder　what's　in　there？〃　pointing　to　a　door　with　a　large　sign　that　read　ADMITTANCE　TO　AUTHORIZED　PERSONNEL　ONLY。
　　〃Gee…I　don't　know…maybe　food？〃
　　They　slipped　through　instantly　and　closed　the　door　behind　them；　but　there　was　no　food　there。　Instead　they　were　in　a　long　chamber　with　one　curved　wall；　while　attached　to　this　wall　were　cumbersome　devices　each　set　with　meters；　dials；
switches；　controls；　levers；　a　view　screen；　and　a　relief　tube。　Bill　bent　over　and　read　the　label　on　the　nearest　one。
　　〃Mark　IV　Atomic　Blaster…and　look　at　the　size　of　them！　This　must　be　the　ship's　main　battery。〃　He　turned　around　and　saw　that　Eager　was　holding　his　arm　up　so　that　his　wrist　watch　pointed　at　the　guns　and　was　pressing　on　the　crown　with　the　index　finge