But there was little zing in his voice and the words were, of course, lost in the confused sea of sound—musical, argumentative, operatic and otherwise. Heedless, the orchestras played, the ballet dancers whirled, painters sketched5, gymnasts tumbled, dramatists soliloquized and the vocalists made it plain that they would give no quarter.
McWorther's World shud-shuddered. And the towering peaks of machinery6 and grain, cases and crates8 rumbled9 ominously10 as their slopes shifted. Titus' ears popped and he suddenly felt a giddiness that was all out of proportion to the number of juleps he had consumed.
An all-too-brief silence fell over the multitude. Then, as stability returned to the planetoid, they dived back into their various activities.
They were damned fools, McWorther thought. Even if it meant risking their lives, they would be willing to stay there and consort11 in their Olympian ecstasy12 of artistic13 communion. It was a field day, old home week, esoteric anschluss, a fraternal blowout—all rolled into one.
A distant explosion rent what was left of the compact atmosphere. And, as an immediate14 consequence, additional hundreds of tons of grain hissed15 down a nearby slope and eased into the lake.
Somewhat concerned, Titus stared at the myriad16 points of light coruscating17 deep out in space. What was happening was obvious: There were millions, perhaps billions of articles of freight in the same orbit—all maintaining their distances from the planetoid and from one another by virtue18 of their mass-repulsion generators20. And, where that many electronic units were concerned, the breakdown21 factor became a predictable quantity. McWorther's World could now expect to be the target of a plunging22 chunk23 of cargo24 once every four or five minutes.
Another few hours, Titus realized, and that interval25 would be reduced to four or five seconds. For he could readily see the infinite streams of freighters that were still arriving and dropping off additional cargo.
As a matter of fact, it was so thick out there now that only a faint, diffused26 light was coming through from McWorther's Sun.
Titus poured himself another mintless, sugarless, iceless julep.
The insigne of the Western Cluster emblazoned on its side, a giant ship felt its way down through the atmosphere, sidled this way and that as it squeezed through the barrier of anchored Pullman crafts, pulled up and hovered27 over the southern edge of the veranda.
At that particular moment, Titus had been quite fascinated with the tumblers' practice session. One of the gymnasts, preparing for a back-flip, had taken a boost from the cupped hands of another. Only the resulting arc through the air was executed with slow-motion rhythm that took the performer to a height of perhaps twenty feet before he floated back to the ground.
At the same time, Titus' ears popped again and he had the odd sensation that the deck chair was shrinking away beneath him.
The newly arrived ship lowered an escalator to the surface and the pilot glided28 down, landing only a few feet from McWorther.
"There seems to be some mistake," he said. "I was given these coordinates29 and orbital factor for a—" he checked his notebook—"McWorther's World."
"This," said Titus stiffly, "is McWorther's World."
Cupping his hands, the pilot called back into the ship. "We're on the right place."
"This is it?"
Titus lurched to his feet, returning an equally startled expression. The man coming clown the escalator was President Vance Roswell of the Western Federation31! He had seen the face on thousands of newscasts.
Roswell, sickened, stared at the mountains of supplies on the obscured surface of the planetoid. He tilted32 his head back and took in the glimmering33 sea of cargo out in space, the flaring34 trails of exhaust jets that criss-crossed in an infinite pattern as endless streams of ships jockeyed into position to discharge more freight. Then he dropped to the veranda railing and buried his face hopelessly in his hands.
By then, one of the orchestra conductors, who had also recognized the President, had abruptly37 brought his baton38 down to terminate the "Lyraen Overture39." He led his ensemble40 into a stirring rendition of the "West Cluster Anthem41."
But even before the musicians tapered43 to silence on a jagged, perplexed44 note, the other orchestra blared forth45 with the "East Cluster Blastoff March," all its members standing46 and facing the northern edge of the veranda.
Titus watched the impressive vessel47 float to the surface, its almost invisible repulsor beams jostling the lesser48 Pullman ships out of its way. Splashed across its side was the fist-clutching-galaxy symbol of the Eastern Federation.
He was still gawking when the hatch opened, ushering49 onto the tiled surface none other than the Emperor himself—an immense, brilliantly robed man who swept like a bowling50 ball through his retinue51 of aides.
There were two distant explosions, one close on the heels of the other, and the planetoid convulsed. That time, Titus imagined, he had seen one of the masses of cargo plunging to the surface.
The Emperor drew up before Titus. But although his lips moved, no audible sound came from his mouth, since he was in the immediate range of the Eastern Symphony Orchestra's bass52 section.
Scowling53, he whirled, threw up this arms and bellowed54 for silence. Quiet came as though someone had pulled a plug.
"Now," he said, propping55 his fists on his hips35 and flaring his robe out even further, "perhaps someone will enlighten me. I'm looking for McWorther's World. It's supposed to be here."
Titus poured a triple, undiluted julep and gulped56 down half of it. He said, "You're standing on it."
"This! That's impossible! What's the population?"
"Two—not counting the transients." Titus started to offer the Emperor the rest of his julep, thought better of it and drank it himself.
Roswell withdrew from his dejection, looked up and nodded, verifying the Emperor's stark57 suspicion. It was apparent that the President was only then aware of the Emperor's identity. And the latter was obviously no less surprised on recognizing his counterpart from the Western Cluster.
They only stared uncertainly at each other while the hundreds of virtuosos, sensing the propriety58 of demonstrating their loyalty59, split into two groups and took sides behind their respective leaders.
Roswell laughed finally. It was a high-pitched, unnatural60 sound that conveyed no glee at all and grew only more ragged61 as his shifting stare once again took in the completely ruined merchandise on the surface, the practically irretrievable cargoes62 adrift in space. His pitiable outburst suggested an infinity63 of futility64 over the wanton waste. It spoke65 wordlessly of sterility66 for hundreds of productive worlds over the years ahead—economic sterility, and its inevitable67 consequence of military impotence.
The Emperor watched him for a moment, then dropped to the veranda rail beside him. He didn't join in the almost hysterical68 laughter. But his glum69 features reflected sympathetic appreciation70 of Roswell's predicament. And in his heavy silence was the admission that the circumstances were mutual71.
McWorther's World trembled again. Titus inclined his head to one side, jiggling a finger in his ear to stop it from popping. He could have sworn, too, that he had seen the Emperor and the President levitate72 a good several inches off the rail.
Edna stalked from the house, surveyed the new arrivals without giving any indication she had recognized them and wagged a finger in her husband's face.
"Titus, this has gone far enough!" she exclaimed. "If you don't—"
She was taken aback by his understatement. But he hadn't meant it that way. He had merely expressed suspicion over his recurrent sensations of lightness.
Almost at the same time, two other ships dropped down at the edge of the veranda. The hatch of the first sprang open and disgorged a thin man in a swallow-tail coat who drew rigidly74 erect75 and announced:
"His Most August Excellency, Prime Minister Netath of Gauyuth-Six!"
Ogarm Netath, indignation branding his features, strode out. "Where's this Potentate76 McWorther character?" he demanded.
A hundred extended fingers singled out Titus, who was just then pouring a thirteenth julep.
By that time, the other ship had thrown open its hatch and a short, stout79 man in a business suit emerged.
"I am Wheeler of Rear-Sobucks and Company," he disclosed, standing to one side so that two men working with antigrav grapples could wrestle80 a large crate7 onto the veranda. "I have an apology and an automatic bather for Potentate McWorther."
But Titus turned his back on the man, abruptly facing his wife. "Good God! What day is it?"
She frowned in puzzlement. "Why, Wednesday."
There was a sharp explosion nearby as another article of cargo came hurtling down from space.
"And it's almost noon!"
She nodded, still perplexed.
"Get into the spaceabout, Love—quick!"
She hesitated and he gave her a shove.
But he paused and faced the others. "You got just about fifteen minutes to climb into your contraptions and clear out—all of you! Because by then we'll be fresh out of gravity!"
And they'd be lucky if they had that much time, he realized as he followed Edna into the small craft. He had known he would have to face the inevitable crisis on Wednesday. But all along he had been off one day in his calculations, such that he had been sure today was only Tuesday.
From space, he watched the end of McWorther's World.
The atmosphere went first, swooshing outward as a result of abrupt36 decompression and leaving a halo of frozen water crystals in its wake. Then the cargo that was piled on the surface recoiled84 from its own cumulative85 pressure and shot out into space. The topsoil followed suit, dispersing86 like a dust storm, while the lakes boiled in one instant and their vapor87 froze in the next.
Before any of the hurtling mess could reach his spaceabout, Titus followed the Pullman crafts, the Rear-Sobucks delivery vehicle and the Presidential and Imperial yachts into hyperspace.
Titus and Edna McWorther have given up rustic88 retirement89. Instead they are living out their declining years in a floating villa90 just off the Jersey91 coast.
Life is still gratifying, with the exception of one detail.
But Titus is resolved that he and his wife will have to be content with the shower-masseur for the rest of their lives.
At any rate, he'll be damned if he'll put in another order for an automatic bather, with or without a back-scrubbing attachment92.
The End
The End
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收听单词发音
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1
consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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virtuosos
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| n.艺术大师( virtuoso的名词复数 )；名家；艺术爱好者；古董收藏家 | |
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5
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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crate
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| vt.(up)把…装入箱中；n.板条箱，装货箱 | |
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crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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11
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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13
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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14
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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15
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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16
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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17
coruscating
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| v.闪光，闪烁( coruscate的现在分词 ) | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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19
generator
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| n.发电机，发生器 | |
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generators
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| n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司 | |
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21
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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23
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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25
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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26
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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28
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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29
coordinates
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| n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等 | |
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30
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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31
federation
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| n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会 | |
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tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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33
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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34
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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35
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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36
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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38
baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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41
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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42
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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43
tapered
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| adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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45
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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46
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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47
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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48
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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49
ushering
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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50
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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51
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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52
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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53
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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54
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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55
propping
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| 支撑 | |
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56
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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57
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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58
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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59
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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60
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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61
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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62
cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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63
infinity
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| n.无限，无穷，大量 | |
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64
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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65
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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66
sterility
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| n.不生育，不结果，贫瘠，消毒，无菌 | |
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67
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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68
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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69
glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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70
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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71
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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72
levitate
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| v.升在空中 | |
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73
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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74
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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75
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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76
potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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77
stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
consignments
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| n.托付货物( consignment的名词复数 )；托卖货物；寄售；托运 | |
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80
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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81
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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82
supplementary
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| adj.补充的，附加的 | |
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83
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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84
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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85
cumulative
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| adj.累积的，渐增的 | |
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86
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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87
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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88
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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89
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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90
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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91
jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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92
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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