hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第20部分

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　〃What　about　her？〃　Steengo　asked。
　〃We've　got　to　tell　her　what　has　happened。〃　I　stuck　my　thumb　in　my　ear　and　addressed　my　pinkie。　〃Jim　calling　Madonette。　Are　you　on…line？〃
　〃Very　much　so。〃
　〃I　read　you　as　well；〃　Tremearne　said　tinnily　from　my　thumbnail。
　I　outlined　the　events　of　the　day。　Said　over　and　awaited　any　reaction。　Madonette　gasped；　nor　could　I　blame　her；　but　Tremearne　was　all　business　as　usual。
　〃You　are　doing　well　on　your　side　of　the　wall。　Is　it　time　for　Madonette　to　check　out　her　side？〃
　〃Not　yet；　not　until　we　have　a　few　answers　to　an　awful　lot　of　questions。〃
　〃Agreed…but　only　for　now。　What　have　you　discovered　about　the　artifact？〃
　〃Negative　so　far。　Give　us　a　break；　Captain。　Don't　you　think　that　getting　in　here；　pressing　the　flesh　and　doing　a　gig　is　enough　for　one　day？〃　The　silence　lengthened。　〃Yes；　sir；　right　you　are…it's　not　enough。　One　alien　artifact　ing　up。　Over　and　out。〃
　I　pulled　my　finger　out　of　my　ear；　wiped　the　earwax　off　of　it；　stared　gloomily　into　space。
　〃How　do　we　find　it？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。　I　just　said　that　to　get　Tremearne　off　my　neck。〃
　〃I　know　how　we　start；〃　Steengo　said。　I　launched　a　quizzical　look　in　his　direction。
　〃First　the　Esc　and　now　this。　Our　humble　harp　player　reveals　hidden　depths。〃　He　nodded　and　smiled。
　〃All　those　years　laboring　for　the　League　perhaps。　Didn't　the　ancient　gladhander　at　the　gate　tell　us　that　there　would　be　a　market　at　dawn　tomorrow？〃
　〃His　very　words；〃　Floyd　said。　〃But　so　what？　The　artifact　is　long　gone　from　the　market。〃
　〃Of　course。　But　the　merchants　aren't。　There　is　a　good　chance　that　whoever　bought　the　thing　might　still　be　there。〃
　〃A　genius！〃　I　applauded。　〃Behind　those　gray　hairs　lies　even　grayer　gray　matter　that　knows　how　to　think！〃
　He　nodded　acceptance。　〃I　never　did　enjoy　retirement。　What's　next；　boss　Jim？〃
　〃Grab　Goldy。　Show　strong　interest　in　the　market。　Have　him　lay　on　a　guide　to　take　us　there　when　it　opens　in　the　morning　。　。　。
　As　though　speaking　his　name　had　been　a　summons；　bugles　sounded；　the　door　opened；　our　gilt…garbed　guardian　came　in。
　〃A　summons　for　you；　oh　lucky　ones。　Iron　John　will　see　you　in　the　Veritorium。　e！〃
　We　went…since　we　had　little　choice。　For　a　change　Goldy　was　not　in　a　chatty　mood；　waving　off　our　queries　with　a　flick　of　his　hand。　More　corridors；　more　bricks…and　another　door。　It　opened　into　misty　darkness。　Stumbling　and　barking　our　ankles　we　made　our　way　to　a　row　of　waiting　chairs；　sat　down　as　instructed。　It　was　even　darker　when　Goldy　closed　the　door　behind　him　as　he　left。
　〃I　don't　like　this；〃　Floyd　muttered；　muttering　for　all　of　us。
　〃Patience；〃　I　said　for　lack　of　any　more　intelligent　answer；　then　nervously　squeezed　my　knuckles　until　they　cracked。　There　was　a　movement　of　air　in　the　darkness　and　a　growing　glow。　Iron　John　swam　into　view；　a　blown…up　image　really。　He　pointed　at　us。
　〃The　experience　that　you　are　about　to　have　is　vital　to　your　existence。　Its　memory　will　sustain　you　and　uplift　you　and　will　never　be　forgotten。　I　know　that　you　will　be　ever　grateful　and　I　accept　your　tearful　thanks　in　advance。　This　is　the　experience　that　will　change　you；　develop　you；　enrich　you。　Wele；　wele；　to　the　first　day　of　the　rest　of　your　new　and　fulfilling　lives。〃
　As　his　image　faded　I　coughed　to　cover　the　grunt　of　suspicion　that　this　old　bushwah　evoked。　Never　try　to　con　a　conman。　I　settled　my　rump　more　fortably　in　the　chair　and　prepared　to　be　entertained。
　As　soon　as　it　started　1　could　see　that　the　holofilm　was　very　professionally　made。　I　appreciated　that　the　young；　the　gullible　…or　the　just　plain　stupid…would　be　very　impressed　by　it。　The　mist　churned；　the　russet　light　grew　brighter　and　I　was　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　the　scene。
　The　king　watched　in　silence　as　the　group　of　armed　men　walked　warily　into　the　forest　and　disappeared　from　sight　among　the　trees。　Outwardly　he　was　patient　as　he　waited；　although　he　reached　up　and　touched　his　crown　from　time　to　time　as　though　reassuring　himself　that　it　was　still　there；　that　he　was　still　king。　A　very　long　time　later　he　stiffened；　turned　his　head　and　listened　as　slow　footsteps　shuffled　through　the　thick　leaves　below　the　trees。　But　no　warrior　appeared；　just　the　thick　and　twisted　figure　of　his　fester；　headdress　bobbling；　laps　moist　with　flecked　。saliva。
　〃What　did　you　see？〃　the　king　asked　at　last。
　〃Gone；　Majesty。　All　gone。　Just　lake　all　of　those　who　have　gone　before。　Vanished　among　the　trees　around　the　lake。　None　returned。　〃
　〃None　ever　return；　〃　the　king　said；　sorrow　and　defeat　dragging　him　down。　He　stood　that　way；　unknowing；　unseeing　as　a　young　man　appeared　and　strode　towards　him；　a　silent　gray　dog　walked　at　his　side。　The　jester；　jaw　agape；　spittle　pendulous；　hacked　away　as　the　stranger　approached。
　〃Why　do　you　grieve；　oh　king？〃　he　asked　in　a　light　and　clear　voice。
　〃1　grieve　for　there　is　part　of　the　forest　in　my　kingdom　where　men　do　go…but　none　return。　They　go　in　tens　and　twenties…but　none　is　ever　seen　again。
　〃I　will　go；〃　the　young　man　said；　〃but　I　will　go　alone。〃
　He　snapped　his　fingers　and；　without　another　word　being　spoken；　man　and　dog　walked　off　into　the　forest。　Beneath　the　trees　and　pendant　mosses；　around　the　hedges　and　nodding　cattails　to　the　edge　of　a　dark　pond。　The　young　man　stopped　to　look　at　it　and　a　hand；　sudden　and　dripping；　rose　from　the　water　and　seized　the　dog。　Pulled　it　beneath　the　surface。　The　ripples　died　away　and　the　surface　was　still。
　The　young　man　did　not　cry　or　flee；　just　nodded。
　〃This　must　be　the　place；〃　he　said。
　The　darkness　faded　and　light　returned。　Iron　John　was　gone；　the　chamber　was　empty。　I　looked　at　Floyd　who　seemed　just　as　bewildered　as　I　was。
　〃Did　I　miss　the　point　somehow？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　feel　sorry　for　the　dog；〃　Floyd　said。　We　both　looked　at　Steengo　who　was　nodding　thoughtfully。
　〃That's　only　the　beginning；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　understand　what　is　happening　when　you　see　the　rest。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　like　to；　maybe；　explain　just　what　you　are　talking　about？〃
　Steengo　shook　his　head　in　a　solemn　no。　〃Later；　perhaps。　But　I　don't　think　I　will　have　to。　You　will　see　for　yourselves。〃
　〃You've　seen　this　holoflick　before？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃No。　But　I　have　read　my　mythology。　It's　better　'that　you　see　the　rest　before　we　talk　about　it。〃
　I　started　to　protest；　shut　my　mouth。　Realized　that　there　was　no　point　in　probing　further。　The　door　opened　and　our　guide　reappeared。
　〃Just　the　man　we　are　looking　for；〃　I　said；　remembering　our　earlier　decision。　〃We　have　heard；　from　reliable　sources；　that　there　is　to　be　an　outdoor　market　at。　dawn　tomorrow。〃
　〃Your　sources　are　correct。　Tomorrow　is　the　tenth　day　and　that　is　market　day。　Always　on　the　tenth　day　because　the　nomads　remember　by　marking　a　finger　each　day　with　soot　until　all　fingers　are　。　。　。〃
　〃Right；　thanks。　I　can　count　to　ten　without　dirty　fingers。　My　fellow　musicians　and　I　would　like　to　visit　this　market…is　this　possible？〃
　〃You　have　but　to　ask；　great　Jim　of　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats。〃
　〃I've　asked。　Can　someone　show　us　the　way　in　the　morning？〃
　〃Tis　more　fit　that　you　use　the　Chariots　of　Fire　。　。　。〃
　〃I　agree；　more　fit。　But　more　fit　that　we　be　fit。　Walking　is　a　wonderful　exercise。〃
　〃Then　walk　you　shall；　if　that　is　your　desire。　An　escort　will　be　provided。　It　is　now　the　hour　of　dining　and　a　banquet　has　been　prepared　in　your　honor。　Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　follow　me？〃
　〃Lead　on；　my　friend。　As　long　as　it　is　not　polpettone　again　we　are　your　avid　customers。〃
　As　we　followed　him　out　I　discovered　that　my　fingers　had　a　fife　of　their　own。　Or；　more　probably；　were　being　twitched　into　activity　by　my　worried　subconscious。　They　flicked　over　the　puter　controls　and　the　glowing　numbers　appeared　before　me。
　Nineteen　and　a　pulsing　red　eleven。
　Eleven　days　to　go。　The　morning　market　had　better　produce　something。
　
　CHAPTER　15
　〃It　is　going　to　be　such　a　lovely　day；〃　the　voice　said。
　Each　word　shot　through　my　head　like　a　rusty　arrow；　grating　and　scraping　against　the　growing　headache　that　was　throbbing　there。　I　opened　one　eye　blurrily　and　bright　light　added　to　the　pain。　I　had　only　enough　energy　to　twist　my　lips　into　a　surly　snarl　as　our　gold…clad　host　flitted　about　our　quarters。　Opening　curtains；　picking　up　discarded　clothing；　generally　being　as　obnoxious　as　possible　at　this　predawn　hour。　Only　when　I　heard　the　outer　door　slam　did　I　crawl　from　the　bed；　turn　off　the　searing　lights；　stumble　on　all　fours　to　my　pack　where　it　rested　against　the　wall。　On　the　third　fumbling　attempt　I　managed　to　open　it　and　click　out　a　Sobering　Effect　pill。　I　swallowed　it　dry　and　sat　motionlessly　while　I　waited　for　its　beneficent　chemicals　to　seep　through　my　fractured　body。
　〃What　was　in　that　green　beer？〃　Floyd　said　hoarsely；　then　began　to　cough。　Moaning　in　agony　between　coughs　as　his　aching　head　was　kicked　about。　My　headache　was　seeping　away　so　I　clicked　out　a　pill　for　him　and　walked　unsteadily　across　to　his　bed　of　pain。
　〃Swallow。　This。　Will。　Help。〃
　〃Quite　a　party　last　night；〃　Steengo　said　benevolently；　joined　fingers　resting　fortably　on　the　ample　bulge　of　his　stomach。
　〃Die；〃　Floyd　gasped；　unsteady　fingers　groping　for　the　pill。　〃And　burn　painfully　in　hell　forever。　Plus　one　day。〃
　〃A　bit　hungover　are　we？〃　Steengo　asked　cheerfully。　〃I　suppose　there　is　good　reason；　consid