bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第9章

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s　boots　Bill　could　feel　a　faint；　distant　tremor　in　the　deck。
　　〃What's　that？〃　he　asked　Tembo　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　　〃Main　drive；　not　the　Bloater　Drive。　Atomic　engines。　Means　we　must　be　maneuvering；　doing　something。〃
　　〃But　what？〃
　　〃Watch　them　fusebandsl〃　First　Class　Spleen　shouted。
　　Bill　was　beginning　to　sweat…then　suddenly　realized　that　it　was　being　excruciatingly　hot。　Tembo；　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　fuses；　slipped　out　of　his　clothes　and　folded　them　neatly　behind　him。
　　〃Are　we　allowed　to　do　that？〃　Bill　asked；　pulling　at　his　collar。　〃What's　happening？〃
　　〃It's　against　regulations；　but　you　have　to　strip　or　cook。　Peel；　son；　or　you　will　die　unblessed。　We　must　be　going　into　action　because　the　shields　are　up。　Seventeen　force　screens；　one　electromagnetic　screen；　a　double…armored　hull；　and　a　thin　layer　of　pseudo…living　jelly　that　flows　over　and　seals　any　openings。　With　all　that　stuff　there　is　absolutely　no　energy　loss　from　the　ship；　nor　any　way　to　get　rid　of　energy。　Or　heat。　With　the　engines　running　and　everyone　sweating　it　can　get　pretty　hot。　Even　hotter　when　the　guns　fire。〃
　　The　temperature　stayed　high；　just　at　the　boundary　of　tolerability　for　hours；　while　they　stared　at　the　fusebands。　At　one　point　there　was　a　tiny　plink　that　Bill　felt　through　his　bare　feet　on　the　hot　metal　rather　than　heard。
　　〃And　what　was　that？〃
　　〃Torpedoes　being　fired。〃
　　〃At　what？〃
　　Tembo　just　shrugged　in　answer　and　never　let　his　vigilant　gaze　stray　from　the　fusebands。　Bill　writhed　with　frustration；　boredom；　heat　rash；　and　fatigue　for　another　hour；　until　the　all　clear　blew　and　a　breath　of　cool　air　came　in　from　the　ventilators。　By　the　time　he　had　pulled　his　uniform　back　on　Tembo　was　gone；　and　he　trudged　wearily　back　to　his　quarters。
　　There　was　a　new　mimeographed　notice　pinned　to　the　bulletin　board　in　the　corridor　and　he　bent　to　read　its　blurred　message。

FROM：　Captain　Zekial　TO：　All　Personnel　RE：　Recent　engagement　On　23/11…8956　this　ship　did　participate　in　the　destruction　by　atomic　torpedo　of　the　enemy　installation　17KL…345　and　did　in　concert　with　the　other　vessels　of　said　flotilla　Red　Crutch　acplish　its　mission；　it　is　thereby　hereby　authorized　that　all　personnel　of　this　vessel　shall　attach　an　Atomic　Cluster　to　the　ribbon　denoting　the　Active　Duty　Unit　Engagement　Award；　or　however　if　this　is　their　first　mission　of　this　type　they　will　be　authorized　to　wear　the　Unit　Engagement　Award。
NOTE：　Some　personnel　have　been　observed　with　their　Atomic　Clusters　inverted　and　this　is　WRONG　and　a　COURTS…MARTIAL　OFFENSE　that　is　punishable　by　DEATH。

VII

　　After　the　heroic　razing　of　17KL…345　there　were　weeks　of　training　and　drill　to　restore　the　battle…weary　veterans　to　their　usual　fitness。　But　midway　in　these　depressing　months　a　new　call　sounded　over　the　speakers；　one　Bill　had　never　heard　before；　a　clanging　sound　like　steel　bars　being　clashed　together　in　a　metal　drum　full　of　marbles。　It　meant　nothing　to　him　nor　to　the　other　new　men；　but　it　sent　Tembo　springing　from　his　bunk　to　do　a　quick　two…step　Death　Curse　Dance　with　tom…tom　acpaniment　on　his　footlocker　cover。　
　　〃Are　you　around　the　bend？〃　Bill　asked　dully　from　where　he　sprawled　and　read　a　tattered　copy；　of　Real　Ghoul　Sex　Fiend　Shocker　ics　with　Built…in　Sound　Effects。　A　ghastly　moan　was　keening　from　the　page　he　was　looking　at。
　　〃Don't　you　know？〃　Tembo　asked。　〃Don't　you　KNOW　That's　mail　call；　my　boy；　the　grandest　sound　in　space。〃
　　The　rest　of　the　watch　was　spent　in　hurrying　up　and　waiting　standing　in　line；　and　all　the　rest。　Maximum　inefficiency　was　attached　to　the　delivery　of　the　mail；　but　finally；　in　spite　of　all　barriers；　the　post　was　distributed　and　Bill　had　a　precious　spacial…postal　from　his　mother。　On　one　side　of　the　card　was　a　picture　of　the　Noisome…Offal　refinery　just　outside　of　his　home　town；　and　this　alone　was　enough　to　raise　a　lump　in　his　throat。　Then；　in　the　tiny　square　allowed　for　the　message；　his　mother's　pathetic　scrawl　had　traced　out：　〃Bad　crop；　in　debt；　robmule　has　packing　glanders；　hope　you　are　the　same…love；　Maw。〃　Still；　it　was　a　message　from　home；　and　he　read　and　reread　it　as　they　stood　in　line　for　chow。　Tembo；　just　ahead　of　him；　also　had　a　card；　all　angels　and　churches；　just　what　you　would　expect；　and　Bill　was　shocked　when　he　saw　Tembo　read　the　card　one　last　time　then　plunge　it　into　his　cup　of　dinner。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　that　for？〃　he　asked；　shocked。
　　〃What　else　is　mail　good　for？〃　Tembo　hummed；　and　poked　the　card　deeper。　〃You　just　watch　this　now。〃
　　Before　Bill's　startled　gaze；　and　right　in　front　of　his　eyes；　the　card　was　starting　to　swell。　The　white　surface　broke　off　and　fell　away　in　tiny　flakes　while　the　brown　insides　grew　and　grew　until　they　filled　the　cup　and　were　an　inch　thick。　Tembo　fished　the　dripping　slab　out　and　took　a　large　bite　from　one　corner。
　　〃Dehydrated　chocolate；〃　he　said　indistinctly。　〃Good！　Try　yours。〃
　　Even　before　he　spoke　Bill　had　pushed　his　card　down　into　the　liquid　and　was　fascinatedly　watching　it　swell。　The　message　fell　away；　but　instead　of　brown　a　swelling　white　mass　became　visible。
　　〃Taffy…or　bread　maybe；〃　he　said；　and　tried　not　to　drool。
　　The　white　mass　was　swelling；　pushing　against　the　sides　of　the　cup；　expanding　out　of　the　top。　Bill　grabbed　the　end　and　held　it　as　it　rose。　Out　and　out　it　came　until　every　drop　of　liquid　had　been　absorbed　and　Bill　held　between　his　out…stretched　hands　a　string　of　fat；　connected　letters　over　two　yards　long。　VOTE…FOR…HONEST…DEER…THE…TROOPERS'…FRIEND　they　read。　Bill　leaned　over　and　bit　out　an　immense　mouthful　of　T。　He　spluttered　and　spat　the　damp　shards　onto　the　deck。
　　〃Cardboard；〃　he　said　sadly。　〃Mother　always　shops　for　bargains。　Even　in　dehydrated　chocolate　。　。　。〃　He　reached　for　his　cup　for　something　to　wash　the　old…newsprint　taste　out　of　his　mouth；　but　it　was　empty。
　　Somewhere　high　in　the　seats　of　power；　a　decision　was　made；　a　problem　resolved；　an　order　issued。　From　small　things　do　big　things　grow；　a　tiny　bird　turd　lands　on　a　snow…covered　mountain　slope；　rolls；　collects　snow；　bees　bigger　and　bigger；　gigantic　and　more　gigantic　until　it　is　a　thundering　mass　of　　snow　and　ice；　an　avalanche；　a　ravening　mass　of　hurtling　death　that　wipes　out　an　entire　village。　From　small　beginnings　。　。　。　Who　knows　what　the　beginning　was　here；　perhaps　the　Gods　do；　but　they　are　laughing。　Perhaps　the　haughty；　strutting　peahen　wife　of　some　High　Minister　saw　a　bauble　she　cherished　and　with　shrewish；　spiteful　tongue　exacerbated　her　peacock　husband　until；　to　give　himself　peace；　he　promised　her　the　trinket；　then　sought　the　money　for　its　purchase。　Perhaps　this　was　a　word　in　the　Emperor's　ear　about　a　new　campaign　in　the　77sub7th　Zone；　quiet　now　for　years；　a　victory　there…or　even　a　draw　if　there　were　enough　deaths…would　mean　a　medal；　an　award；　some　cash。　And　thus　did　a　woman's　covetousness；　like　a　tiny　bird's　turd；　start　the　snowball　of　　warfare　rolling；　mighty　fleets　gathering；　ship　after　ship　assembling；　like　a　rock　in　a　pool　of　water　the　ripples　spread　until　even　the　lowliest　were　touched　by　its　motion　。　。　。
　　〃We're　heading　for　action；〃　Tembo　said　as　he　sniffed　at　his　cup　of　lunch。　〃They're　loading　up　the　chow　with　stimulants；　pain　depressors；　saltpeter；　and　antibiotics。〃
　　〃Is　that　why　they　keep　playing　the　patriotic　music？〃　Bill　shouted　so　that　he　could　be　heard　over　the　endless　roar　of　bugles　and　drums　that　poured　from　the　speakers。　Tembo　nodded。
　　〃There　is　little　time　left　to　be　saved；　to　assure　your　place　in　Samedi's　legions…〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　talk　to　Bowb　Brown？〃　Bill　screamed。　〃I　got　tom…toms　ing　out　of　my　ears！　Every　time　I　look　at　a　wall　I　see　angels　floating　by　on　clouds。　Stop　bothering　me！　Work　on　Bowbanybody　who　would　do　what　he　does　with　thoats　would　probably　join　up　with　your　Voodoo　mob　in　a　second。〃
　　〃I　have　talked　with　Brown　about　his　soul；　but　the　issue　is　still　in　doubt。　He　never　answers　me；　so　I　am　not　sure　if　he　has　heard　me　or　not。　But　you　are　different；　my　son；　you　show　anger；　which　means　you　are　showing　doubt；　and　doubt
is　the　first　step　to　belief　。　。　。〃
　　The　music　cut　off　in　mid…peal；　and　for　three　seconds　there　was　an　echoing　blast　of　silence　that　abruptly　terminated。
　　〃Now　hear　this。　Attention　all　hands　。　。　。　stand　by　。　。　。　in　a　few　moments　we　will　be　taking　you　to　the　flagship　for　a　on…the…spot　report　from　the　admiral　。　。　。　stand　by　。　。　。〃　The　voice　was　cut　off　by　the　sounding　of　General　Quarters　but　went　on　again　when　this　hideous　sound　had　ended。　〃。　。　。　and　here　we　are　on　the　bridge　of　that　gigantic　conquistadore　of　the　spacelanes；　the　twenty…mile…long；　heavily　armored；　mightily　gunned　super　battleship　the　Fairy　Queen　。　。　。　the　men　on　watch　are　stepping　aside　now　and　ing　toward　me　in　a　simple　uniform　of　spun　platinum　is　the　Grand　Admiral　of　the　Fleet；　the　Right　Honorable　Lord　Archaeopteryx　。　。　。　Could　you　spare　us　a　moment　Your　Lordship？　Wonderfull　The　next　voice　you　hear　will　be　。　。　。　〃
　　The　next　voice　was　a　burst　of　music　while　the　fusemen　eyed　their　fusebands；　but　the　next　voice　after　that　had　all　the　rich　adenoidal　tones　always　heard　from　peers　of　the　Empire。
　　〃Lads…we're　going　into　action！　This；　the　mightiest　fleet　the　galaxy　has　ever　seen　is　heading　directly　toward　the　enemy　to　deliver　the　devastating　blow　that　may　win　us　the　war。　In　my　operations　tank　before　me　I　see　a　myriad　pinpoints　of　light；　stretching　as　far　as　the　eye　can　see；　and　each　point　of　light…I　tell　you　they　are　like　holes　in　a　blanket！is　not　a　ship；　not　a　squadron…but　an　entire　fleet！　We　are　sweeping　forward；　closing　in　。　。　。〃
　　The　sound　of　tom…toms　filled　the　air；　and　on　the　fuseband　that　Bill　was　watching　appeared　a　matched　set　of　golden　gates；　swinging　open。
　　〃Tembo！〃　he　screamed。　〃Will　you　knock　that　off　I　want　to　hear　about　the　battle　。　。　。〃
　　〃Canned　tripe；〃　Tembo　sniffed。　〃Better　to　use　the　few　remaining　moments　of　this　life　that　may　remain　to　you　to　seek　salvation。　That's　no　admiral；　that's　a　canned　tape。　I've　heard　it　five　times　already；　and　they　only　play　it　to　build　morale　before　what　they　are　sure　is　to　be　a　battle　with　heavy　losses。　It　never　was　an　admiral；　it's　；from　an　old　TV　program　。　。　。〃
　　〃Yippee！〃　Bill　shouted；　and　leaped　forward。　The　fuse　he　was　looking　at　crackled　with　a　brilliant　discharge　around　the　clips；　and　at　the　same　moment　the　fuseband　charred　and　turned　from　red　to　black。　〃Unggh！〃　he　grunted；　then　〃Unggh！　Ungghl　Ungghl〃　in　rapid　succession；　burning　his　palms　on　the　still　hot　fuse；　dropping　it　on　his　toe；　and　finally　getting　it　into　a　fuseway。　When　he　turned　back　Tembo　had　already　clipped　a　fresh　fuse　into　the　empty　clips。
　　〃That　was　my　fuse　you　shouldn't　have　。　。　。〃　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes。
　　〃Sorry。　But　by　the　rules　I　must　help　if　I　am　free。〃
　　〃Well；　at　least　we're　in　action；〃　Bill　said；　back　in　position　and　trying　to　favor　his　bruised　foot。
　　〃Not　in　action　yet；　still　too　cold　in　here。　And　that　was　just　a　fuse　breakdown；　you　can　tell　by　the　clip　discharge；　they　do　that　sometimes　when　they　get　old。〃
　　〃。　。　。　massed　armadas　manned　by　heroic　troopers　。　。　。〃
　　〃We　could　have　been　in　bat。〃　Bill　pouted。
　　〃。　。　。　thunder　of　atomic　broadsides　and　lightning　trails　of　hurtling　torpedoes　。　。　。　〃
　　〃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　Cla