hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第18部分

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　I　started　to　shout　fight…but　at　the　last　instant　called　out
　〃Listen！〃
　For　they　had　forgotten　about　their　weapons　and　were　shouting　with　joy！
　〃It's　them；　like　on　the　Galactic　Greasecutter　show　。　。　。〃
　〃The　hairy；　ugly　one…that's　Floyd！〃
　〃I　want　to　hear　‘How　Much　Is　the　Snakey　in　the　Snakepit'　！　〃
　Then　they　were　around　us；　trying　to　shake　our　hands　and　emitting　hoarse　cries　of　fannish　enthusiasm。
　〃But…but…〃　I　but…butted。　〃Your　official　greeter　never　heard　of　us？〃
　The　first　soldier；　snarls　now　turned　to　smiles；　not　too　gently　pushed　the　old　man　aside。　〃Afatt　never　looks　at　the　boggle　gox。　But　we　do！　Let　me　tell　you　it　was　like　suicidesville　around　here　when　we　heard　that　you　were　sent　down。　Should　have　known　that　you　would　have　to　end　up　here。　Wait　until　the　boys　in　the　barracks　hear　about　this。　There'll　be　a　crackup　in　the　old　kaserne　tonight！〃
　They　escorted　us　cheerily　under　the　arch　and　onto　the　drillfield　beyond；　our　new　host　proudly　leading　the　way。
　〃I'm　Ljotur；　Sergeant　of　the　Guard。　You　all　take　it　easy　while　I　call　this　in。　Drinks！〃　he　ordered　his　men。　〃And　food　whatever　they　want。〃
　This　was　more　like　it。　The　beer　tasted　like　beer；　although　it　was　of　an　interesting　green　color。　The　soldiers　crowded　close；　hanging　on　every　word　we　said；　so　I　chomped　my　jaw　to　get　Tremearne's　attention　and　made　my　report　to　him　in　the　form　of　a　speech。
　〃Gallant　warriors　of　Paradise…we　are　overwhelmed　by　your　greeting。　You　have　weled　we　drug…ridden　convicts　as　heroes　to　your　fair　land。　You　ply　us　with　food　and　drink　and；　by　your　loud　cheers；　I　feel　we　have　a　beautiful　future　here。〃
　〃I　certainly　hope　so；〃　Tremearne's　voice　said　inside　my　head。　〃But　until　you　find　out　the　score　on　this　male　female　thing　I　am　ordering　Madonette　to　stay　where　she　is。〃
　〃I　agree　pletely；〃　I　called　out。　〃Don't　you　agree　pletely；　guys；　that　this　is　the　warmest　wele　we　have　ever　received？〃
　My　panions　nodded　without　interrupting　the　flow　of　food　and　drink　and　there　were　gurgled　shouts　of　agreement　from　all　sides　as　more　beer　vanished。　I　was　wiping　my　lips　with　the　back　of　my　hand　when　Ljotur　reappeared。
　〃I　have　talked　to　Iron　John　himself　who　summons　you　to　his　presence　soonest。　But　until　the　Chariots　of　Fire　appear　could　you…oh；　would　you！…play　us　a　number！〃
　His　words　were　drowned　out　by　hearty　masculine　cries　of　joy
　〃Let's　set　up　for　a　quick　gig；　boys…these　guys　deserve　it。〃　I　looked　around。　〃Any　requests？〃
　Many　were　shouted；　but　〃Nothing's　Too　Bad　For　the　Enemy〃　seemed　to　be　most　popular。　Best　choice　too　since　it　had　an　all　male　lyric。　Loud　thunder　rolled　while　lightning　flared　and　sizzled。　Our　fans　fell　back　into　an　appreciative　half　circle　while　we　let　fly。
　Death　and　torture　and　murder　and　rape　
WE　LIKE　IT！　LYRE　LIKE　IT！　
Cutting　and　slashing　and　murder　and　looting；　
Hacking　and　cracking　and　stabbing　and　shooting。　
Blowing　up　slowing　up　showing　up　to　kill　
Arson　and　cursin'　done　with　a　will　
'Cause　。　。　。　
NOTHING'S　TOO　BAD　FOR　THE　ENEMEEE　。　。　。　
Drinking　and　drinking　and　drinking　and　drinking　
Shouting　and　cursing　and　lying　and　stinking　
Chasing　girls　grabbing　girls　huggin'　and　kissin'　
Showing　girls　all　the　things　they　been　missin'　。　。　。
　As　can　easily　be　imagined　this　delicate　flower　of　a　lyric　rally　went　down　well　with　the　troops。　They　were　still　cheering　when　there　was　a　hissing　rumble　behind　us　and　we　turned　to　see　that　our　transportation　had　arrived。　Perhaps　the　locals　were　used　to　these　things　but　it　was　really　eye…bugging　time　for　the　tourists。
　〃Only　for　special　occasions；　special　people；〃　Ljotur　said　proudly。
　We　gaped　in　silence；　lost　for　words。　There　were　two　of　the　vehicles；　made　of　wood　and　decorated　with　gilt　scrolls　and　strands　of　jewels。　Each　had　a　single　wheel　in　front　which　was　steered　by　a　tiller。　This　was　manned　by　the　driver　who　rode　high　above。　I　looked　at　the　closer　one。　A　wide　seat　was　in　the　middle　and　there　were　two　wheels　to　the　rear。　All　of　which　was　pretty　monplace…not　counting　the　pricey　decoration　…if　you　did　not　allow　for　the　propulsion　at　the　back。　This　was　a　shining　metal　tube；　now　crackling　and　emitting　an　occasional　puff　of　smoke。　I　drew　my　attention　away　from　it　as　the　ornate　door　was　thrown　wide。　I　stepped　in　and　seated　myself　on　the　soft　cushions。　Floyd　and　Steengo　were　ushered　reverently　into　the　other　vehicle。　Doors　were　slammed　and　Ljotur　shouted　a　mand　to　the　drivers。
　〃You're　off？　Fuel　on！　Frapu　viajn　startigilojn！　Drivers　hit　your　starters！〃
　I　saw　now　that　there　was　a　metal　tank　under　my　driver's　seat。　He　reached　down　and　opened　a　valve　and　I　could　hear　the　gurgle　of　liquid　in　the　pipe。　Then　he　stamped　down　on　a　pedal；　the　starter　I　guess。
　No…it　just　started　the　starter。　The　pedal　pulled　on　a　cord　that　ran　on　pulleys　to　the　rear　of　the　chariot。　This　lifted　and　dropped　a　small　hammer　that　banged　the　starter　on　the　shoulder。　This　was　an　individual；　dressed　pletely　in　black；　who　sat　on　a　little　platform　slung　behind　the　wheels。　Not　only　dressed　in　black；　but　with　blackened　arms　and　face；　his　hair　a　burnt　stubble。　I　soon　found　out　why。　Liquid　was　now　dripping　from　the　metal　tube　and　the　starter　reached　out　and　touched　a　match　to　it；　jumped　back　as　it　ignited。　A　tongue　of　black　smoke　and　flame　leaped　out　to　the　rear；　singeing　the　soldiers　who　weren't　quick　enough　out　of　the　way。
　Now　the　starter　was　grinding　away　at　a　handle；　presumably　pumping　air　into　the　primitive　jet。　Within　seconds　the　roar　grew　louder；　the　flame　longer…and　my　Chariot　of　Fire　shuddered　and　began　to　slowly　roll　forward。　Very　showy。　Though　it　probably　only　got　about　a　mile　to　a　hundred　gallons。　I　waved　cheerfully　to　my　fellow　victims；　who　waved　feebly　and　fearfully　back。　Relax　Jim；　sit　back　and　enjoy　the　ride。
　It　was　hard　to　do。　I　admit　I　did　not　see　much　of　the　passing　scenery；　being　too　involved　with　thoughts　of　survival。　Nor　did　I　relax　until　our　little　convoy　had　stopped　and　the　blowtorch　behind　me　was　extinguished。　The　chariot's　door　swung　open　to　the　blast　of　discordant　horns。　I　grabbed　up　my　pack　and　stepped　down　onto　a　gray　stepping　block。
　Which　was　resistant　but　soft。　I　turned　and　looked　and　saw　that　it　was　not　a　step　at　all　but　a　man　dressed　in　gray；　kneeling　on　all　fours。　He　rose　and　scurried　off；　along　with　another　human　footstep。　Midgets；　about　as　tall　as　my　waist　and　almost　as　wide。　My　panions　had　reacted　as　I　had；　our　eyes　met　but　we　said　nothing。
　〃Greetings；〃　a　stentorian　voice　bellowed。　〃Wele；　wele　visitors　to　Paradise。〃
　〃Thanks　much；〃　I　said　to　the　tall　and　barrel…chested　man　who　was　draped　in　gold　cloth。　〃Iron　John；　I　presume？〃
　〃Most　flattering…but　you　presume　wrongly。　Musical　guests；　kindly　follow　me。〃
　The　trumpets　blared　again；　then　the　trumpeters　opened　ranks。　Three　gray…clad　men　hurried　up　and　took　our　packs。　I　started　to　resist；　then　made　the　reluctant　decision　that　it　would　be　all　right。　The　reception　we　had　received　at　the　archway　had　been　too　spontaneous　to　be　planned。　Our　gold…clad　greeter　bowed　to　us；　then　led　the　way。　Towards　the　brick　steps　of　a　brick　building。
　If　the　Paradisians　were　short　on　building　materials　they　certainly　weren't　bereft　of　architectural　imagination。　Tall　pill　pillars　capped　with　ornate　capitals；　rose　up　to　support　the　archive　of　a　plex　entablature。　Just　like　I　had　been　taught　in　Architecture　1。　To　either　side　tall　windows　opened　onto　wide　balconies。　And　all　of　this　done　in　red　brick。
　〃Looks　great　so　far；〃　Floyd　said。
　〃Yes；　great；〃　I　agreed。　But　I　looked　back　to　make　sure　the　porters　with　our　packs　were　right　behind　us。　And　I　still　had　the　concussion　grenades　in　my　pocket。　No　one　ever　got　into　trouble　by　being　prepared…as　we　used　to　say　in　the　Boy　Sprouts。
　Down　a　brick　corridor　over　brick　paving　we　went。　Through　a　brick　doorway　into　a　great　and　impressive　room。　It　was　colorfully　lit　by　the　sunlight　that　streamed　through　the　ceiling…high；　stained…glass　windows。　Colorful　scenes　were　depicted　there　of　armies　marching；　attacking；　fighting；　dying；　the　usual　thing。　This　motif　was　carried　through　to　the　walls　which　were　hung　with　tattered　battle　banners；　shields　and　swords。　Robed　men　who　stood　about　the　room　turned　and　nodded　to　us　as　we　entered。　But　our　guide　led　us　past　them　to　the　far　wall　where　there　was　an　elevated　throne；　made　of　you…know…what；　on　which　was　seated　the　tallest　man　I　have　ever　seen。
　Not　only　tall…but　naked。
　At　least　he　would　have　been　naked　if　he　had　not　been　pletely　covered　with　rusty；　reddish　hair。　His　beard　cascaded　down　his　chest…which　was　covered　as　well　with　hair。　Arms　and　legs　and；　I　couldn't　help　peeking　when　he　stood；　hair　all　down　his　belly　and　crotch　as　well。　This　was　all　that　was　visible　since　he　was　wearing　a　sort　of　jockstrap　or　sporran　woven　out　of；　well　possibly；　his　own　hair。　All　of　it　the　color　of　rusty　iron。　I　stepped　forward　and。　bowed　a　little　bow。
　〃Iron　John　。　。　。　？〃
　〃None　other；〃　he　rumbled　in　a　voice　like　distant　thunder。　〃Wele　Jim…and　Floyd　and　Steengo。　Wele　Stainless　Steel　Rats。　Your　fame　has　gone　before　you。〃
　Always　good　to　meet　a　true　fan。　We　all　bowed　now　since　this　was　not　the　kind　of　reception　you　normally　get。　Bowed　yet　again　as　all　in　the　room　cheered　lustily。
　Iron　John　sat　down　again　and　crossed　his　legs。　He　either　painted　his　toenai