hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第10部分

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　〃No　truer　words　ever　spoken；〃　Tremearne　said　grimly。　〃If　no　one　else　has　any　questions　put　the　cuffs　back　on　and　you're　out　of　here。〃
　〃Hell　yes；〃　Steengo　said；　climbing　to　his　feet。　〃Let's　get　it　over　with。〃
　Our　packs　were　waiting　for　us　in　front　of　a　massive　and　bolt…studded　door。　There　were　four　shoddy　little　plastic　bags　as　well；　which　probably　contained　our　iron　rations　and　water。　An　orientation　booklet　was　tucked　into　each　one。　A　backup　force　of　guards　with　stunguns　and　porcuswine　prods　stomped　up　and　glared　obnoxiously　while　our　manacles　were　removed。
　〃In　there；〃　the　petty　officer　ordered；　pointing　to　the　anteroom　in　front　of　the　exit　portal。　〃Inner　door　is　closed　and　sealed　before　the　outside　one　opens。　You　got　only　one　way　to　go。　Or　stay　in　the　room　if　you　are　tired　of　living。　After　five　minutes　the　outer　door　closes　and　nerve　gas　is　pumped　in　through　those　vents　up　there。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you！〃　I　snapped。
　His　smile　was　without　warmth。　〃Then　why　don't　you　just　hang　around　and　find　out？〃
　I　raised　my　fist　and　he　hurriedly　jumped　back。　The　porcuswine　prods　sparkled　in　my　direction。　I　raised　my　finger　to　them　in　the　intergalactic　gesture　that　is　as　old　as　time；　turned　and　walked　away　from　them　following　the　others。　There　was　a　creak　and　a　thud　from　behind　us　as　the　door　swung　shut；　but　I　did　not　turn　to　look。　The　future；　whatever　it　contained；　lay　just　ahead。
　We　helped　each　other　on　with　our　packs；　swaying　dizzily　with　the　effort。　There　was　the　thud　of　withdrawn　bolts　from　inside　the　door；　the　growl　of　straining　motors　as　it　started　to　open。
　Unconsciously　we　drew　together　as　we　turned　to　face　the　unknown。
　
　CHAPTER　7
　A　splatter　of　rain　blew　in　through　the　opening　door。　Wele　to　sunny；　holiday　Liokukae。　Which　opened　wider　to　reveal　the　group　of　very　ugly…looking　individuals　who　were　waiting　outside。　They　were　dressed　in　an　astounding　variety　of　clothing　…　it　looked　like　all　the　donations　to　charity　in　the　entire　galaxy　had　been　sent　here…and　they　all　had　two　things　in　mon。　They　were　heavily　armed　with　a　mixture　of　clubs；　swords；　maces　and　axes。　And　they　all　looked　very　angry。
　Just　about　what　I　had　expected；　I　chomped　down　on　the　Blastoff　capsule　I　had　put　in　my　mouth。　I　had　never　thought　much　of　the　weaklings…recovering…from…treatment　plan　and　had　palmed　this　pill　in　case　it　were　needed。　It　was。
　A　wave　of　energy　and　power　washed　through　me　as　the　mixture　of　powerful　chemicals；　uppers；　stimulants；　adrenalins；　swept　away　all　the　fatigue　and　shakes。　Power！　Power！　Power！　I　swayed　forward　on　tiptoes　as　Tremearne　had　advised；　flaring　my　nostrils　at　the　same　time。
　A　great　bearded　lout　swinging　a　crude　but　serviceable　sword　glared　down　at　me。　I　glared　back；　noting　that　not　only　did　his　eyes　meet　in　the　middle　but　that　his　hairline　also　started　at　his　eyebrows。　When　he　shouted　at　me　his　breath　frightened　me　more　than　he　did。
　〃You　dere；　little　boy。　Gimme　what　you　carrying。　You　all　drop　what　you　got　or　you　get　it。〃
　〃No　one　tell　me　what　to　do　unless　he　can　beat　me；　you　illiterate　cretin；〃　I　shouted　back。　The　macho　showdown　with　these　macho　mothers　would　have　to　take　place　sooner　or　later。　Sooner　was　better。
　He　roared　angrily　at　the　insults；　even　though　he　could　not　understand　them；　and　swung　up　the　sword。　I　sneered。
　〃Big　coward　kill　little　man　with　sword　when　little　man　got　no　ax。〃　I　gave　him　two　fingers　to　doubly　amplify　my　feelings。
　I　hoped　my　simple　syntax　fitted　the　local　linguistic　profile　because　I　wanted　to　make　sure　they　all　understood　me。　They　must　have；　because　Pigbreath　dropped　his　sword　and　jumped　towards　me。　I　swung　off　my　pack　and　stepped　out　into　the　mud。　He　had　his　arms　out；　fingers　snapping；　ready　to　grab　and　crush。
　I　ducked　under　them；　tripped　him　as　he　went　by　to　splat　down　into　a　puddle。　He　rose　up；　angrier　than　ever；　balled　his　fists　and　came　on　more　warily　this　time。
　I　could　have　finished　it　then　and　there　and　made　life　easier。　But　I　had　to　display　a　bit　of　skill　first　so　his　mates　wouldn't　think　that　his　downfall　had　been　an　accident。　I　blocked　his　punch；　grabbed　and　twisted　his　arm；　then　ran　him　into　the　wall　with　a　satisfactory　crunch。
　The　blood　from　his　nose　did　not　improve　his　temper。　Nor　did　my　flying　kick　that　numbed　one　of　his　legs；　a　stab　with　my　knee　that　crumpled　the　other。　Legless；　he　dropped　to　his　knees；　then　crawled　towards　me　on　all　fours。　By　this　time　even　the　dullest　of　the　audience　knew　who　had　won　this　fight。　So　I　grabbed　him　by　the　hair　and　pulled　him　up；　hit　his　throat　with　the　edge　of　my　hand　and　let　him　keep　going　backwards；　splatting　down　unconscious　in　the　mud。　I　picked　up　his　discarded　sword；　tested　the　edge　with　my　thumb…jumped　about　so　suddenly　and　menacingly　that　the　armed　men　stepped　away　without　thinking。　I　kept　the　momentum　going。
　〃I　got　sword　now。　You　want　it；　you　die　for　it。　Or　maybe　lie　smart　bloke　one　of　you　what　takes　me　to　your　boss；　Svinjar。　Guy　what　does　dat　gets　this　sword　for　free。　Any　takers？〃
　The　novelty　of　the　offer　and　their　inherent　greed　warded　off　any　attack　for　the　moment。
　〃Get　out　of　there　and　get　behind　me；〃　I　called　over　my　shoulder。　〃And　do　your　best　to　radiate　obnoxious　intolerance。〃　Growling　and　gnashing　their　teeth　my　merry　band　emerged　and　lined　up　at　my　back。
　〃You　give　me　sword　I　take　you　Svinjar；〃　an　exceedingly　hairy　and　musclebound　specimen　said。　He　was　armed　only　with　a　wooden　club　so　his　greed　was　understandable。
　〃You　take　me　Svinjar　then　you　get　sword。　Move　it。〃
　There　was　hesitation；　dark　looks；　muttering。　I　swished　the　sword　under　their　noses　so　they　had　to　step　back　again。　〃I　got　something　real　nice　in　my　pack　for　Svinjar。　You　betcha　he　kill　any　bloke　stop　him　grabbing　it　soonest。〃
　Threats　penetrated　where　blandishments　hadn't　and　we　all　moved　off　into　the　rainstorm。　Along　muddy　tracks　between　collapsing　hovels；　to　a　small　hill　with　a　largish　building　made　of　logs；　their　bark　still　on；　gracing　the　summit。　I　swung　the　sword　so　no　one　came　too　close；　followed　my　guide　up　a　stony　path　to　the　entrance　with　my　weary　musicians　stumbling　after。　I　was　feeling　a　bit　guilty　about　taking　the　Blastoff　capsule。　But　things　had　developed　too　quickly　to　get　some　to　the　others。　I　stopped　at　the　entrance　and　waved　them　through。
　〃In　we　go；　safe　haven　at　last。　Take　one　of　these　as　you　pass　and　chomp　it　instantly。　It　is　a　super…upper　that　will　restore　you　to　the　world　of　the　living。〃
　My　club…bearing　guide　pushed　inside　and　hurried　past　the　groups　of　men　who　lolled　about　the　large　room；　to　the　man　in　the　great　stone　chair　next　to　the　fireplace。　〃You　my　boss；　boss　Svinjar。　We　bring　them　like　you　say。〃　He　swung　about　and　stamped　over　to　me。　〃Now　you　give　sword。〃
　〃Sure。　Fetch。〃
　I　threw　it　out　the　door　into　the　rain；　heard　a　yipe　of　pain　as　it　bounced　off　one　of　his　gang。　He　ran　after　it　as　I　walked　over　and　stood　before　the　stone　throne。
　〃You　my　boss；　boss　Svinjar。　These　guys　my　band。　Make　good　music　you　betcha。〃
　He　looked　me　up　and　down　coldly；　a　big　man　with　big　muscles…as　well　as　a　big　belly　that　hung　over　his　belt。　Tiny　piggy　eyes　peered　out　through　the　thicket　of　bristly　gray　hair　and　beard。　The　pommel　of　a　sword　projected　from　a　niche　in　the　stone　chair　and　he　touched　it　with　his　fingers；　slipping　it　out　then　letting　it　fall　back。
　〃Why　are　you　talking　in　that　obnoxiously　obscene　patois？〃
　〃I　do　beg　your　pardon。〃　I　bowed　deprecatingly。　〃I　was　addressed　in　that　manner　and　assumed　it　was　the　local　dialect。〃
　〃It　is…but　only　among　the　uneducated　imbeciles　who　were　born　here。　Since　you　weren't；　don't　offend　my　sensibility　again。　Are　you　the　musicians　that　got　into　deep　cagal？〃
　〃Word　sure　spreads　fast。〃
　He　waved　his　hand　at　the　3D　set　against　the　wall　and　I　felt　my　eyes　bulge。　It　was　a　solid　metal　block　with　an　armored　glass　face…with　the　aerial　under　the　glass。　A　handle　stuck　out　one　side。
　〃Our　jailers　are　most　generous　in　their　desire　that　we　be　entertained　at　all　times。　They　distribute　these　in　great　numbers。　Unbreakable；　eternal…and　four　hundred　and　twelve　channels。〃
　〃What　powers　it？〃
　〃Slaves；〃　he　said　and　reached　out　a　toe　to　prod　the　nearest　one。　The　slave　groaned　and　climbed　to　his　feet；　stumbled　over；　clanking　his　chains　as　he　went；　and　began　to　turn　the　handle　on　the　internal　generator。　The　thing　burst　to　life　with　a　mercial　for　industrial　strength　cat　food。
　〃Enough！〃　Svinjar　ordered　and　the　meows　faded　and　died。
　〃You　and　your　panions　kept　the　news　channels　alive。　When　they　said　crime　and　hospital　treatment　I　was　rather　convinced　they　meant　here。　Ready　to　play？〃
　〃The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　are　always　at　the　service　of　those　in　control。　Which；　in　this　case；　I　assume　is　you。〃
　〃You　assume　right。　A　concert　it　is…and　now。　We　haven't　had　any　live　entertainment　here　since　the　cannibalistic　magician　died　of　infection　after　being　bitten　by　accident　in　the　heat　of　passion。　Begin。〃
　By　necessity　all　our　gear　had　to　be　pact。　The　fist…sized　loudspeakers　contained　holoprojectors　that　blew　their　image　up　to　room　size。
　〃All　right　guys；〃　I　called　out。　〃Let's　set　up　by　the　back　wall。　No　costumes　for　this　first　gig　and　we'll　start　with　‘The　Swedish　Monster　from　Outer　Space。〃'
　This　was　one　of　our　more　impressive　numbers。　It　had　been　found　in　one　of　th