Retief turned. An immense Flap-jack, hung with crimson1 trappings, rippled3 at his side. The voice issued from a disk strapped4 to its back. "You fight well. I think we will find in each other worthy5 adversaries6."
"Thanks. I'm sure the test would be interesting, but I'm hoping we can avoid it."
"Avoid it?" Retief heard a low humming coming from the speaker in the silence. "Well, let us dine," the mighty7 Flap-jack said at last. "We can resolve these matters later. I am called Hoshick of the Mosaic8 of the Two Dawns."
"I'm Retief." Hoshick waited expectantly, "... of the Mountain of Red Tape," Retief added.
"Take place, Retief," said Hoshick. "I hope you won't find our rude couches uncomfortable." Two other large Flap-jacks came into the room, communed silently with Hoshick. "Pray forgive our lack of translating devices," he said to Retief. "Permit me to introduce my colleagues...."
A small Flap-jack rippled the chamber9 bearing on its back a silver tray laden10 with aromatic11 food. The waiter served the four diners, filled the drinking tubes with yellow wine. It smelled good.
"I trust you'll find these dishes palatable," said Hoshick. "Our metabolisms12 are much alike, I believe." Retief tried the food. It had a delicious nut-like flavor. The wine was indistinguishable from Chateau13 d'Yquem.
"It was an unexpected pleasure to encounter your party here," said Hoshick. "I confess at first we took you for an indigenous14 earth-grubbing form, but we were soon disabused15 of that notion." He raised a tube, manipulating it deftly16 with his fringe tentacles17. Retief returned the salute18 and drank.
"Of course," Hoshick continued, "as soon as we realized that you were sportsmen like ourselves, we attempted to make amends19 by providing a bit of activity for you. We've ordered out our heavier equipment and a few trained skirmishers and soon we'll be able to give you an adequate show. Or so I hope."
"Additional skirmishers?" said Retief. "How many, if you don't mind my asking?"
"For the moment, perhaps only a few hundred. There-after ... well, I'm sure we can arrange that between us. Personally I would prefer a contest of limited scope. No nuclear or radiation-effect weapons. Such a bore, screening the spawn20 for deviations21. Though I confess we've come upon some remarkably22 useful sports. The rangerform such as you made captive, for example. Simple-minded, of course, but a fantastically keen tracker."
"Oh, by all means," Retief said. "No atomics. As you pointed23 out, spawn-sorting is a nuisance, and then too, it's wasteful24 of troops."
"Ah, well, they are after all expendable. But we agree: no atomics. Have you tried the ground-gwack eggs? Rather a specialty25 of my Mosaic...."
"Delicious," said Retief. "I wonder. Have you considered eliminating weapons altogether?"
A scratchy sound issued from the disk. "Pardon my laughter," Hoshick said, "but surely you jest?"
"As a matter of fact," said Retief, "we ourselves seldom use weapons."
"I seem to recall that our first contact of skirmishforms involved the use of a weapon by one of your units."
"My apologies," said Retief. "The—ah—the skirmishform failed to recognize that he was dealing26 with a sportsman."
"Still, now that we have commenced so merrily with weapons...." Hoshick signaled and the servant refilled tubes.
"There is an aspect I haven't yet mentioned," Retief went on. "I hope you won't take this personally, but the fact is, our skirmishforms think of weapons as something one employs only in dealing with certain specific life-forms."
"Oh? Curious. What forms are those?"
"Vermin. Or 'varmints' as some call them. Deadly antagonists27, but lacking in caste. I don't want our skirmishforms thinking of such worthy adversaries as yourself as varmints."
"Dear me! I hadn't realized, of course. Most considerate of you to point it out." Hoshick clucked in dismay. "I see that skirmishforms are much the same among you as with us: lacking in perception." He laughed scratchily. "Imagine considering us as—what was the word?—varmints."
"Which brings us to the crux28 of the matter. You see, we're up against a serious problem with regard to skirmishforms. A low birth rate. Therefore we've reluctantly taken to substitutes for the mass actions so dear to the heart of the sportsman. We've attempted to put an end to these contests altogether...."
Hoshick coughed explosively, sending a spray of wine into the air. "What are you saying?" he gasped29. "Are you proposing that Hoshick of the Mosaic of the Two Dawns abandon honor....?"
"Sir!" said Retief sternly. "You forget yourself. I, Retief of the Red Tape Mountain, make an alternate proposal more in keeping with the newest sporting principles."
"New?" cried Hoshick. "My dear Retief, what a pleasant surprise! I'm enthralled30 with novel modes. One gets so out of touch. Do elaborate."
"It's quite simple, really. Each side selects a representative and the two individuals settle the issue between them."
"I ... um ... fear I don't understand. What possible significance could one attach to the activities of a couple of random31 skirmishforms?"
"I haven't made myself clear," said Retief. He took a sip32 of wine. "We don't involve the skirmishforms at all. That's quite passe."
"You don't mean...?"
"That's right. You and me."
Outside on the starlit sand Retief tossed aside the power pistol, followed it with the leather shirt Swazey had lent him. By the faint light he could just make out the towering figure of the Flap-jack rearing up before him, his trappings gone. A silent rank of Flap-jack retainers were grouped behind him.
"I fear I must lay aside the translator now, Retief," said Hoshick. He sighed and rippled his fringe tentacles. "My spawn-fellows will never credit this. Such a curious turn fashion has taken. How much more pleasant it is to observe the action of the skirmishforms from a distance."
"I suggest we use Tennessee rules," said Retief. "They're very liberal. Biting, gouging33, stomping34, kneeing and of course choking, as well as the usual punching, shoving and kicking."
"Hmmm. These gambits seem geared to forms employing rigid35 endo-skeletons; I fear I shall be at a disadvantage."
"By no means. But perhaps we could rule out tentacle-twisting, just to even it."
"Very well. Shall we begin?"
With a rush Hoshick threw himself at Retief, who ducked, whirled, and leaped on the Flap-jack's back ... and felt himself flipped37 clear by a mighty ripple2 of the alien's slab-like body. Retief rolled aside as Hoshick turned on him; he jumped to his feet and threw a right hay-maker to Hoshick's mid-section. The alien whipped his left fringe around in an arc that connected with Retief's jaw38, sent him spinning onto his back ... and Hoshick's weight struck him.
Retief twisted, tried to roll. The flat body of the alien blanketed him. He worked an arm free, drumming blows on the leathery back. Hoshick nestled closer.
It was like burial under a dump-truck-load of concrete.
He remembered the rangerform he had captured. The sensitive orifice had been placed ventrally, in what would be the thoracic area....
He groped, felt tough hide set with horny granules. He would be missing skin tomorrow ... if there was a tomorrow. His thumb found the orifice and probed.
The Flap-jack recoiled41. Retief held fast, probed deeper, groping with the other hand. If the alien were bilaterally42 symmetrical there would be a set of ready made hand-holds....
There were.
Retief dug in and the Flap-jack writhed43, pulled away. Retief held on, scrambled44 to his feet, threw his weight against the alien and fell on top of him, still gouging. Hoshick rippled his fringe wildly, flopped45 in terror, then went limp.
Retief relaxed, released his hold and got to his feet, breathing hard. Hoshick humped himself over onto his ventral side, lifted and moved gingerly over to the sidelines. His retainers came forward, assisted him into his trappings, strapped on the translator. He sighed heavily, adjusted the volume.
"There is much to be said for the old system," he said. "What a burden one's sportsmanship places on one at times."
"Great sport, wasn't it?" said Retief. "Now, I know you'll be eager to continue. If you'll just wait while I run back and fetch some of our gougerforms—"
"May hide-ticks devour46 the gougerforms!" Hoshick bellowed47. "You've given me such a sprong-ache as I'll remember each spawning-time for a year."
"Speaking of hide-ticks," said Retief, "we've developed a biterform—"
"Enough!" Hoshick roared, so loudly that the translator bounced on his hide. "Suddenly I yearn48 for the crowded yellow sands of Jaq. I had hoped...." He broke off, drew a rasping breath. "I had hoped, Retief," he said, speaking sadly now, "to find a new land here where I might plan my own Mosaic, till these alien sands and bring forth49 such a crop of paradise-lichen50 as should glut51 the markets of a hundred worlds. But my spirit is not equal to the prospect52 of biterforms and gougerforms without end. I am shamed before you...."
"To tell you the truth, I'm old-fashioned myself. I'd rather watch the action from a distance too."
"My spawn-fellows aren't here. And besides, didn't I mention it? No one who's really in the know would think of engaging in competition by mere54 combat if there were any other way. Now, you mentioned tilling the sand, raising lichens—things like that—"
"That on which we dined but now," said Hoshick, "and from which the wine is made."
"The big news in fashionable diplomacy55 today is farming competition. Now, if you'd like to take these deserts and raise lichen, we'll promise to stick to the oases56 and vegetables."
Hoshick curled his back in attention. "Retief, you're quite serious? You would leave all the fair sand hills to us?"
"The whole works, Hoshick. I'll take the oases."
Hoshick rippled his fringes ecstatically. "Once again you have outdone me, Retief," he cried. "This time, in generosity57."
"We'll talk over the details later. I'm sure we can establish a set of rules that will satisfy all parties. Now I've got to get back. I think some of the gougerforms are waiting to see me."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
ripple
|
|
| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rippled
|
|
| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
strapped
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
adversaries
|
|
| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mosaic
|
|
| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
aromatic
|
|
| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
metabolisms
|
|
| n.新陈代谢( metabolism的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
chateau
|
|
| n.城堡，别墅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
indigenous
|
|
| adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
disabused
|
|
| v.去除…的错误想法( disabuse的过去式和过去分词 )；使醒悟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
16
deftly
|
|
| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
tentacles
|
|
| n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 )；触角；触须；触毛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
amends
|
|
| n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
spawn
|
|
| n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
deviations
|
|
| 背离，偏离( deviation的名词复数 )； 离经叛道的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
wasteful
|
|
| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
specialty
|
|
| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
antagonists
|
|
| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
crux
|
|
| adj.十字形；难事，关键，最重要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
enthralled
|
|
| 迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
sip
|
|
| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gouging
|
|
| n.刨削[槽]v.凿( gouge的现在分词 )；乱要价；（在…中）抠出…；挖出… | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
stomping
|
|
| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
plebeian
|
|
| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
flipped
|
|
| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
smothering
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
budged
|
|
| v.（使）稍微移动( budge的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
bilaterally
|
|
| [医]adv.两侧，双向地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
flopped
|
|
| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
devour
|
|
| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
bellowed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
yearn
|
|
| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
lichen
|
|
| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
glut
|
|
| n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
condone
|
|
| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
diplomacy
|
|
| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
oases
|
|
| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲( oasis的名词复数 )；（困苦中）令人快慰的地方（或时刻）；乐土；乐事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |