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！
nderstand what he said。 Kerk was shouting orders again from one of the trucks。 They had started to move too。 The urgency struck home and Jason started to run。
It was too late。 On all sides the earth was buckling； cracking； as more
loops of the underground thing forced its way into the light。 Safety lay ahead。 Only in front of it rose an arch of dirt encrusted grey。
There are seconds of time that seem to last an~ eternity。 A moment of subjective time that is grabbed and stretched to an infinite distance。 This was one of those moments。 Jason stood； frozen。 Even the smoke in the sky hung unmoving。 The high…standing loop of alien life was before him； every detail piercingly clear。
Thick as a man； ribbed and grey as old bark。 Tendrils projected from all parts of it； pallid and twisting lengths that writhed slowly with snake…like life。 Shaped like a plant； yet with the motions of an animal。 And cracldng； splitting。 This was the worst。
Seams and openings appeared。 Splintering； gaping mouths that vomited out a horde of pallid animals。 Jason heard their shriekings； shrill yet remote。 He saw the needle…like teeth that lined their jaws。
The paralysis of the unknown held him there。 He should have died。 Kerk was thundering at him through the power speaker； others were firing into the attacking creature。 Jason knew nothing。
Then he was shot forward； pushed by a rock…hard shoulder。 The wounded man was still there； trying to get Jason clear。 Gun clenched in his jaws； he dragged Jason along with his good arm。 Toward the creature。 The others stopped firing。 They saw his plan and it was a good one。
A loop of the thing arched into the air； leaving an opening between its body and the ground。 The wounded Pyrran planted his feet and tightened his muscles。 One…handed； with a single thrust； he picked Jason off the ground and sent him hurtling under the living arch。 Moving tendrils brushed fire along his face； then he was through； rolling over and over on the ground。 The wounded Pyrran leaped after him。
It was too late。 There had been a chance for one person to get out。 The Pyrran could have done it easily…instead he had pushed Jason first。 The thing was aware of movement when Jason brushed its tendrils。 It dropped and caught the wounded man under its weight。 He vanished from sight as the tendrils wrapped around him and the animals swarmed over。 His trigger must have pulled back to full automatic because the gun kept firing a long time after he should have been dead。
Jason crawled。 Some of the fanged animals ran toward him； but were shot。 He knew nothing about this。 Then rude hands grabbed him up and pulled him forward。 He slammed into the side of a truck and Kerk's face was in front of his； flushed and angry。 One of the giant fists closed on the front of Jason's clothes and he was lifted off his feet； shaken like a limp bag of rags。 He offered no protest and could not have even if Kerk had killed him。
When he was thrown to the ground； someone picked him up and slid him into the back of the truck。 He did not lose consciousness as the truck bounced away； yet he could not move。 In a moment the fatigue would go away and he would sit up。 That was all he was； just a little tired。 Even as he thought this； he passed out。
13
〃Just like old times；〃 Jason said when Brucco came into the room with a tray of food。 Without a word Brucco served Jason and the wounded men in the other beds； then left。 〃Thanks；〃 Jason called after his retreating back。
A joke； a twist of a grin； like it always was。 Sure。 But even as he grinned and his lips shaped a joke； Jason felt them like a veneer on the outside。 Something plastered on with a life of its own。 Inside he was numb and immovable。 His body was stiff as his eyes still watched that arch of alien flesh descend and smother the one…armed Pyrran with its million burning fingers。
He could feel himself under the arch。 After all； hadn't the wounded man taken his place？ He finished the meal without realizing that he ate。
Ever since that morning； when he had recovered consciousness； it had been like this。 He knew that he should have died out there in that battle…tom street。 His life should have been snuffed out； for making the mistake of thinking that he could actually help the battling Pyrrans。 Instead of being underfoot and in the way。 If it hadn't been for Jason； the man with the wounded arm would have been brought here to the safety of the reorientation buildings。 He knew he was lying in the bed that belonged to that man。
The man who had given his life for Jason's。
The man whose name he didn't even know。
There were drugs in the food and they made him sleep。 The medicated pads soaked the pain and rawness out of the bums where the tentacles had seared his face。 When he awoke the second time； his touch with reality had been restored。
A man had died so he could live。 Jason faced the fact。 He couldn't restore that life； no matter how much he wanted to。 What he could do was make the man's death worthwhile。 If it can be said that any death was worthwhile。 。 。 。 He forced his thoughts from that track。
Jason knew what he had to do。 His work was even more important
now。 If he could solve the riddle of this deadly world； he could repay in part the debt he owed。
Sitting up made his head spin and he held to the edge of the bed until it slowed down。 The others in the room ignored him as he slowly and painfully dragged on his clothes。 Brucco came in； saw what he was doing； and left again without a word。
Dressing took a long time； but it was finally done。 When Jason finally left the room he found Kerk waiting there for him。
〃Kerk； I want to tell you。 。 。 。〃
〃Tell me nothing！〃 The thunder of Kerk's voice bounced back from the ceiling and walls。 〃I'm telling you。 I'll tell you once and that will be the end of it。 You're not wanted on Pyrrus； Jason dinAlt； neither you nor your precious off…world schemes are wanted here。 I let you convince me once with your twisted tongue。 Helped you at the expense of more important work。 I should have known what the result of your 'logic' ' would be。 Now I've seen。 Weif died so you could live。 He was twice the man you will ever be。〃
'WeIf？ Was that his name？〃 Jason asked stumblingly。 〃I didn't know。 。 。 。〃
〃You didn't even know。〃 Kerk's lips pulled back from his teeth in a grimace of disgust。 〃You didn't even know his name…yet he died that you might continue your miserable existence。〃 Kerk spat； as if the words gave a vile flavor to his speech； and stamped toward the exit lock。 Almost as an afterthought； he turned back to Jason。
〃You'll stay here in the sealed buildings until the ship returns in two weeks。 Then you will leave this planet and never e back。 If you do I'll kill you instantly。 With pleasure。〃 He started through the lock。
〃Wait；〃 Jason shouted。 〃You can't decide like that。 You haven't even seen the evidence I've uncovered。 Ask Meta…〃 The lock thumped shut and Kerk was gone。
The whole thing was just too stupid。 Anger began to replace the futile despair of a moment before。 He was being treated like an irresponsible child； the importance of his discovery of the log pletely ignored。 …
Jason turned and saw for the first time that Brucco was standing there。 〃Did you hear that？〃 Jason asked him。
〃Yes。 And I quite agree。 You can consider yourself lucky。〃
〃Lucky！〃 Jason was the angry one now。 〃Lucky to be treated like a / moronic child； with contempt for everything I do…〃
〃I said lucky；〃 Brucco snapped。 'Welf was Kerk's only surviving son。 Kerk had high hopes for him； was training him to take his place eventually。〃 He turned to leave but Jason called after him。
〃Wait。 I'm sorry about Welf。 I can't be any sorrier knowing that he was Kerk's son。 But at least it explains why Kerk is so quick to throw me out…as well as the evidence I have uncovered。 The log of the ship。 。 。〃
〃I know； I've seen it；〃 Brucco interrupted。 〃Meta brought it in。 Very interesting historical document。〃
〃That's all you can see it as； an historical document？ The significance of the planetary change escapes you？〃
〃It doesn't escape me；〃 Brucco answered briefly。 〃But I cannot see that it has any relevancy today。 The past is unchangeable and we must fight in the present。 That is enough to occupy all our energies。〃
The pressure of futility built up inside Jason； fighting for a way to
burst free。 Wherever he turned； there was only indifference。
〃You're an intelligent man； Brucco…yet you can see no further than the tip of your own nose。 I suppose it is inevitable。 You and the rest of the Pyrrans are supermen by Earth standards。 Tough； ruthless； unbeatable； fast on the draw。 Drop you anywhere and you land on your feet。 You would make perfect Texas Rangers； Canadian Mounties； Venus Swamp Patrolmen…any of the mythical frontier fighters of the past。 And I think that's where you really belong。 In the past。 On Pyrrus； mankind has been pushed to the limit of adaptability in muscle and reflex。 And it's a dead end。 Brain was the thing that dragged mankind out of the caves and started him on his way to the stars。 When we start thinking with our muscles again we are on our way right back to those caves。 Isn't t