"Government men, I imagine. Word travels fast." Retief pulled off his cape1. "This saves me the trouble of paying another call at the Foreign Ministry2."
"What have you been doing? They seem very upset, I don't mind telling you."
"I'm sure you don't. Come along. And bring an official recorder."
Two Groaci wearing heavy eye-shields and elaborate crest3 ornaments4 indicative of rank rose as Retief entered the room. Neither offered a courteous5 snap of the mandibles, Retief noted6. They were mad, all right.
"I am Fith, of the Terrestrial Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Consul7," the taller Groacian said, in lisping Terran. "May I present Shluh, of the Internal Police?"
"Sit down, gentlemen," Retief said. They resumed their seats. Miss Meuhl hovered8 nervously9, then sat on the edge of a comfortless chair.
"Oh, it's such a pleasure—" she began.
"So true," Fith said. "Frankly11, I have had a most disturbing report, Mr. Consul. I shall ask Shluh to recount it." He nodded to the police chief.
"One hour ago," The Groacian said, "a Groacian national was brought to hospital suffering from serious contusions. Questioning of this individual revealed that he had been set upon and beaten by a foreigner. A Terrestrial, to be precise. Investigation12 by my department indicates that the description of the culprit closely matches that of the Terrestrial Consul."
"Have you ever heard," Retief said, looking steadily14 at Fith, "of a Terrestrial cruiser, the ISV Terrific, which dropped from sight in this sector15 nine years ago?"
"Really!" Miss Meuhl exclaimed, rising. "I wash my hands—"
"Just keep that recorder going," Retief snapped.
"I'll not be a party—"
"You'll do as you're told, Miss Meuhl," Retief said quietly. "I'm telling you to make an official sealed record of this conversation."
Miss Meuhl sat down.
Fith puffed16 out his throat indignantly. "You reopen an old wound, Mr. Consul. It reminds us of certain illegal treatment at Terrestrial hands—"
"Hogwash," Retief said. "That tune17 went over with my predecessors18, but it hits a sour note with me."
"All our efforts," Miss Meuhl said, "to live down that terrible episode! And you—"
"Terrible? I understand that a Terrestrial task force stood off Groac and sent a delegation19 down to ask questions. They got some funny answers, and stayed on to dig around a little. After a week they left. Somewhat annoying to the Groaci, maybe—at the most. If they were innocent."
"IF!" Miss Meuhl burst out.
"If, indeed!" Fith said, his weak voice trembling. "I must protest your—"
"Save the protests, Fith. You have some explaining to do. And I don't think your story will be good enough."
"It is for you to explain! This person who was beaten—"
"Not beaten. Just rapped a few times to loosen his memory."
"Then you admit—"
"It worked, too. He remembered lots of things, once he put his mind to it."
Fith rose; Shluh followed suit.
"I shall ask for your immediate20 recall, Mr. Consul. Were it not for your diplomatic immunity21, I should do more—"
"Why did the government fall, Fith? It was just after the task force paid its visit, and before the arrival of the first Terrestrial diplomatic mission."
"This is an internal matter!" Fith cried, in his faint Groacian voice. "The new regime has shown itself most amiable22 to you Terrestrials. It has outdone itself—"
"—to keep the Terrestrial consul and his staff in the dark," Retief said. "And the same goes for the few terrestrial businessmen you've visaed. This continual round of culture; no social contacts outside the diplomatic circle; no travel permits to visit out-lying districts, or your satellite—"
"You'll talk to me, or there'll be a task force here in five days to do the talking," Retief said.
"You can't!" Miss Meuhl gasped.
Retief turned a steady look on Miss Meuhl. She closed her mouth. The Groaci sat down.
"Answer me this one," Retief said, looking at Shluh. "A few years back—about nine, I think—there was a little parade held here. Some curious looking creatures were captured. After being securely caged, they were exhibited to the gentle Groaci public. Hauled through the streets. Very educational, no doubt. A highly cultural show.
"Funny thing about these animals. They wore clothes. They seemed to communicate with each other. Altogether it was a very amusing exhibit.
"Tell me, Shluh, what happened to those six Terrestrials after the parade was over?"
Fith made a choked noise and spoke24 rapidly to Shluh in Groacian. Shluh retracted25 his eyes, shrank down in his chair. Miss Meuhl opened her mouth, closed it and blinked rapidly.
"How did they die?" Retief snapped. "Did you murder them, cut their throats, shoot them or bury them alive? What amusing end did you figure out for them? Research, maybe? Cut them open to see what made them yell...."
"No!" Fith gasped. "I must correct this terrible false impression at once."
"False impression, hell," Retief said. "They were Terrans! A simple narco-interrogation would get that out of any Groacian who saw the parade."
"They're alive?"
"I see," Retief said. "They died."
"We tried to keep them alive, of course. But we did not know what foods—"
"Didn't take the trouble to find out, either, did you?"
"They fell ill," Fith said. "One by one...."
"We'll deal with that question later," Retief said. "Right now, I want more information. Where did you get them? Where did you hide the ship? What happened to the rest of the crew? Did they 'fall ill' before the big parade?"
"There were no more! Absolutely, I assure you!"
"Killed in the crash landing?"
"No crash landing. The ship descended29 intact, east of the city. The ... Terrestrials ... were unharmed. Naturally, we feared them. They were strange to us. We had never before seen such beings."
"Stepped off the ship with guns blazing, did they?"
"Guns? No, no guns—"
"They raised their hands, didn't they? Asked for help. You helped them; helped them to death."
"How could we know?" Fith moaned.
"How could you know a flotilla would show up in a few months looking for them, you mean? That was a shock, wasn't it? I'll bet you had a brisk time of it hiding the ship, and shutting everybody up. A close call, eh?"
"We were afraid," Shluh said. "We are a simple people. We feared the strange creatures from the alien craft. We did not kill them, but we felt it was as well they ... did not survive. Then, when the warships30 came, we realized our error. But we feared to speak. We purged31 our guilty leaders, concealed32 what had happened, and ... offered our friendship. We invited the opening of diplomatic relations. We made a blunder, it is true, a great blunder. But we have tried to make amends33...."
"Where is the ship?"
"The ship?"
"What did you do with it? It was too big to just walk off and forget. Where is it?"
The two Groacians exchanged looks.
"We wish to show our contrition," Fith said. "We will show you the ship."
"Miss Meuhl," Retief said. "If I don't come back in a reasonable length of time, transmit that recording34 to Regional Headquarters, sealed." He stood, looked at the Groaci.
"Let's go," he said.
Retief stooped under the heavy timbers shoring the entry to the cavern35. He peered into the gloom at the curving flank of the space-burned hull36.
"Any lights in here?" he asked.
A Groacian threw a switch. A weak bluish glow sprang up.
Retief walked along the raised wooden catwalk, studying the ship. Empty emplacements gaped37 below lensless scanner eyes. Littered decking was visible within the half-open entry port. Near the bow the words 'IVS Terrific B7 New Terra' were lettered in bright chrome duralloy.
"How did you get it in here?" Retief asked.
"It was hauled here from the landing point, some nine miles distant," Fith said, his voice thinner than ever. "This is a natural crevasse38. The vessel39 was lowered into it and roofed over."
"All here is high-grade iron ore," Fith said, waving a member. "Great veins41 of almost pure metal."
Shluh came forward with a hand-lamp. The party entered the ship.
Retief clambered up a narrow companionway, glanced around the interior of the control compartment43. Dust was thick on the deck, the stanchions where acceleration44 couches had been mounted, the empty instrument panels, the litter of sheared45 bolts, scraps46 of wire and paper. A thin frosting of rust47 dulled the exposed metal where cutting torches had sliced away heavy shielding. There was a faint odor of stale bedding.
"I've seen enough," Retief said.
Silently, the Groacians led the way back out through the tunnel and into the late afternoon sunshine. As they climbed the slope to the steam car, Fith came to Retief's side.
"Indeed, I hope that this will be the end of this unfortunate affair," he said. "Now that all has been fully49 and honestly shown—"
"You can skip all that," Retief said. "You're nine years late. The crew was still alive when the task force called, I imagine. You killed them—or let them die—rather than take the chance of admitting what you'd done."
"The Terrific was a heavy cruiser, about twenty thousand tons." Retief looked grimly at the slender Foreign Office official. "Where is she, Fith? I won't settle for a hundred-ton lifeboat."
"I know nothing of ... of...." He stopped. His throat vibrated rapidly as he struggled for calm.
"My government can entertain no further accusations52, Mr. Consul," he said at last. "I have been completely candid53 with you, I have overlooked your probing into matters not properly within your sphere of responsibility. My patience is at an end."
"Where is that ship?" Retief rapped out. "You never learn, do you? You're still convinced you can hide the whole thing and forget it. I'm telling you you can't."
"We return to the city now," Fith said. "I can do no more."
"You can and you will, Fith," Retief said. "I intend to get to the truth of this matter."
Fith spoke to Shluh in rapid Groacian. The police chief gestured to his four armed constables54. They moved to ring Retief in.
Retief eyed Fith. "Don't try it," he said. "You'll just get yourself in deeper."
Fith clacked his mandibles angrily, eye stalks canted aggressively toward the Terrestrial.
"Out of deference55 to your diplomatic status, Terrestrial, I shall ignore your insulting remarks," Fith said in his reedy voice. "Let us now return to the city."
Retief looked at the four policemen. "I see your point," he said.
"I advise you to remain very close to your consulate," Fith said. "I advise you to dismiss these fancies from your mind, and to enjoy the cultural aspects of life at Groac. Especially, I should not venture out of the city, or appear overly curious about matters of concern only to the Groacian government."
In the front seat, Shluh looked straight ahead. The loosely-sprung vehicle bobbed and swayed along the narrow highway. Retief listened to the rhythmic57 puffing58 of the motor and said nothing.
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收听单词发音
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1
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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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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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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17
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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delegation
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| n.代表团；派遣 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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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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retracted
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| v.撤回或撤消( retract的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝执行或遵守；缩回；拉回 | |
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26
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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warships
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| 军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只 | |
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purged
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| 清除（政敌等）( purge的过去式和过去分词 )； 涤除（罪恶等）； 净化（心灵、风气等）； 消除（错事等）的不良影响 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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crevasse
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| n. 裂缝，破口；v.使有裂缝 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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detectors
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| 探测器( detector的名词复数 ) | |
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41
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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42
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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acceleration
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| n.加速，加速度 | |
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45
sheared
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| v.剪羊毛( shear的过去式和过去分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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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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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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abjectly
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| 凄惨地； 绝望地； 糟透地； 悲惨地 | |
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51
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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52
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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53
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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54
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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55
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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