It was a cool morning. A light breeze carried the fishy3 odor of Fusty dwellings4 across the broad cobbled avenue. A few mature Fustians lumbered6 heavily along in the shade of the low buildings, audibly wheezing8 under the burden of their immense carapaces10. Among them, shell-less youths trotted11 briskly on scaly12 stub legs. The driver of the flat-car, a labor-caste Fustian5 with his guild13 colors emblazoned on his back, heaved at the tiller, swung the unwieldy conveyance14 through the shipyard gates, creaked to a halt.
"Thus I come to the shipyard with frightful15 speed," he said in Fustian. "Well I know the way of the naked-backs, who move always in haste."
Retief climbed down, handed him a coin. "You should take up professional racing," he said. "Daredevil."
He crossed the littered yard and tapped at the door of a rambling16 shed. Boards creaked inside. Then the door swung back.
"Long-may-you-sleep," said Retief. "I'd like to take a look around, if you don't mind. I understand you're laying the bedplate for your new liner today."
"May-you-dream-of-the-deeps," the old fellow mumbled18. He waved a stumpy arm toward a group of shell-less Fustians standing19 by a massive hoist20. "The youths know more of bedplates than do I, who but tend the place of papers."
"I know how you feel, old-timer," said Retief. "That sounds like the story of my life. Among your papers do you have a set of plans for the vessel21? I understand it's to be a passenger liner."
The oldster nodded. He shuffled22 to a drawing file, rummaged23, pulled out a sheaf of curled prints and spread them on the table. Retief stood silently, running a finger over the uppermost drawing, tracing lines....
"What does the naked-back here?" barked a deep voice behind Retief. He turned. A heavy-faced Fustian youth, wrapped in a mantle25, stood at the open door. Beady yellow eyes set among fine scales bored into Retief.
"I came to take a look at your new liner," said Retief.
"We need no prying26 foreigners here," the youth snapped. His eye fell on the drawings. He hissed27 in sudden anger.
"Doddering hulk!" he snapped at the ancient. "May you toss in nightmares! Put by the plans!"
"My mistake," Retief said. "I didn't know this was a secret project."
The youth hesitated. "It is not a secret project," he muttered. "Why should it be secret?"
"You tell me."
The youth worked his jaws28 and rocked his head from side to side in the Fusty gesture of uncertainty29. "There is nothing to conceal," he said. "We merely construct a passenger liner."
"Then you don't mind if I look over the drawings," said Retief. "Who knows? Maybe some day I'll want to reserve a suite30 for the trip out."
The youth turned and disappeared. Retief grinned at the oldster. "Went for his big brother, I guess," he said. "I have a feeling I won't get to study these in peace here. Mind if I copy them?"
"Willingly, light-footed one," said the old Fustian. "And mine is the shame for the discourtesy of youth."
Retief took out a tiny camera, flipped31 a copying lens in place, leafed through the drawings, clicking the shutter32.
"Why don't you elders clamp down?"
"Agile34 are they and we are slow of foot. And this unrest is new. Unknown in my youth was such insolence35."
"The police—"
"Bah!" the ancient rumbled36. "None have we worthy37 of the name, nor have we needed ought ere now."
"What's behind it?"
"They have found leaders. The spiv, Slock, is one. And I fear they plot mischief38." He pointed39 to the window. "They come, and a Soft One with them."
Retief pocketed the camera, glanced out the window. A pale-featured Groaci with an ornately decorated crest40 stood with the youths, who eyed the hut, then started toward it.
"That's the military attache of the Groaci Embassy," Retief said. "I wonder what he and the boys are cooking up together?"
"Naught41 that augurs42 well for the dignity of Fust," the oldster rumbled. "Flee, agile one, while I engage their attentions."
"I was just leaving," Retief said. "Which way out?"
"The rear door," the Fustian gestured with a stubby member. "Rest well, stranger on these shores." He moved to the entrance.
"Same to you, pop," said Retief. "And thanks."
He eased through the narrow back entrance, waited until voices were raised at the front of the shed, then strolled off toward the gate.
The second dark of the third cycle was lightening when Retief left the Embassy technical library and crossed the corridor to his office. He flipped on a light. A note was tucked under a paperweight:
"Retief—I shall expect your attendance at the IAS dinner at first dark of the fourth cycle. There will be a brief but, I hope, impressive Sponsorship ceremony for the SCARS group, with full press coverage43, arrangements for which I have managed to complete in spite of your intransigence44."
Retief snorted and glanced at his watch. Less than three hours. Just time to creep home by flat-car, dress in ceremonial uniform and creep back.
Outside he flagged a lumbering45 bus. He stationed himself in a corner and watched the yellow sun, Beta, rise rapidly above the low skyline. The nearby sea was at high tide now, under the pull of the major sun and the three moons, and the stiff breeze carried a mist of salt spray.
Retief turned up his collar against the dampness. In half an hour he would be perspiring46 under the vertical47 rays of a third-noon sun, but the thought failed to keep the chill off.
Two Youths clambered up on the platform, moving purposefully toward Retief. He moved off the rail, watching them, weight balanced.
"That's close enough, kids," he said. "Plenty of room on this scow. No need to crowd up."
"There are certain films," the lead Fustian muttered. His voice was unusually deep for a Youth. He was wrapped in a heavy cloak and moved awkwardly. His adolescence48 was nearly at an end, Retief guessed.
"I told you once," said Retief. "Don't crowd me."
The two stepped close, slit49 mouths snapping in anger. Retief put out a foot, hooked it behind the scaly leg of the overaged juvenile50 and threw his weight against the cloaked chest. The clumsy Fustian tottered51, fell heavily. Retief was past him and off the flat-car before the other Youth had completed his vain lunge toward the spot Retief had occupied. The Terrestrial waved cheerfully at the pair, hopped52 aboard another vehicle, watched his would-be assailants lumber7 down from their car, tiny heads twisted to follow his retreating figure.
So they wanted the film? Retief reflected, thumbing a cigar alight. They were a little late. He had already filed it in the Embassy vault53, after running a copy for the reference files.
And a comparison of the drawings with those of the obsolete54 Mark XXXV battle cruiser used two hundred years earlier by the Concordiat Naval55 Arm showed them to be almost identical, gun emplacements and all. The term "obsolete" was a relative one. A ship which had been outmoded in the armories56 of the Galactic Powers could still be king of the walk in the Eastern Arm.
But how had these two known of the film? There had been no one present but himself and the old-timer—and he was willing to bet the elderly Fustian hadn't told them anything.
At least not willingly....
Retief frowned, dropped the cigar over the side, waited until the flat-car negotiated a mud-wallow, then swung down and headed for the shipyard.
The door, hinges torn loose, had been propped57 loosely back in position. Retief looked around at the battered58 interior of the shed. The old fellow had put up a struggle.
There were deep drag-marks in the dust behind the building. Retief followed them across the yard. They disappeared under the steel door of a warehouse59.
Retief glanced around. Now, at the mid-hour of the fourth cycle, the workmen were heaped along the edge of the refreshment60 pond, deep in their siesta61. He took a multi-bladed tool from a pocket, tried various fittings in the lock. It snicked open.
He eased the door aside far enough to enter.
Heaped bales loomed62 before him. Snapping on the tiny lamp in the handle of the combination tool, Retief looked over the pile. One stack seemed out of alignment63 ... and the dust had been scraped from the floor before it. He pocketed the light, climbed up on the bales, looked over into a nest made by stacking the bundles around a clear spot. The aged24 Fustian lay in it, on his back, a heavy sack tied over his head.
The oldster threshed his gnarled legs. He rocked slightly and fell back. "A curse on the cradle that rocked their infant slumbers," he rumbled. "But place me back on my feet and I hunt down the youth, Slock, though he flee to the bottommost muck of the Sea of Torments66."
"How am I going to get you out of here? Maybe I'd better get some help."
"I doubt if they'd go that far."
"Would they not?" The Fustian stretched his neck. "Cast your light here. But for the toughness of my hide...."
Retief put the beam of the light on the leathery neck. A great smear70 of thick purplish blood welled from a ragged71 cut. The oldster chuckled72, a sound like a seal coughing.
"Traitor73, they called me. For long they sawed at me—in vain. Then they trussed me and dumped me here. They think to return with weapons to complete the task."
"Weapons? I thought it was illegal!"
"Their evil genius, the Soft One," said the Fustian. "He would provide fuel to the Devil himself."
"The Groaci again," said Retief. "I wonder what their angle is."
"And I must confess, I told them of you, ere I knew their full intentions. Much can I tell you of their doings. But first, I pray, the block and tackle."
Retief found the hoist where the Fustian directed him, maneuvered74 it into position, hooked onto the edge of the carapace and hauled away. The immense Fustian rose slowly, teetered ... then flopped75 on his chest.
Slowly he got to his feet.
"My name is Whonk, fleet one," he said. "My cows are yours."
"Thanks. I'm Retief. I'd like to meet the girls some time. But right now, let's get out of here."
Whonk leaned his bulk against the ponderous76 stacks of baled kelp, bulldozed them aside. "Slow am I to anger," he said, "but implacable in my wrath77. Slock, beware!"
"Hold it," said Retief suddenly. He sniffed78. "What's that odor?" He flashed the light around, played it over a dry stain on the floor. He knelt, sniffed at the spot.
Whonk considered. "There were drums," he said. "Four of them, quite small, painted an evil green, the property of the Soft Ones, the Groaci. They lay here a day and a night. At full dark of the first period they came with stevedores80 and loaded them aboard the barge81 Moss82 Rock."
"The VIP boat. Who's scheduled to use it?"
"I know not. But what matters this? Let us discuss cargo movements after I have settled a score with certain Youths."
"We'd better follow this up first, Whonk. There's only one substance I know of that's transported in drums and smells like that blot83 on the floor. That's titanite: the hottest explosive this side of a uranium pile."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
looming
|
|
| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
fishy
|
|
| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fustian
|
|
| n.浮夸的；厚粗棉布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lumbered
|
|
| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
lumber
|
|
| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
wheezing
|
|
| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
carapace
|
|
| n.（蟹或龟的）甲壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
carapaces
|
|
| n.（龟、蟹等的）硬壳( carapace的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
trotted
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
scaly
|
|
| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
guild
|
|
| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
conveyance
|
|
| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
tarnished
|
|
| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
mumbled
|
|
| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hoist
|
|
| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
rummaged
|
|
| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
prying
|
|
| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
suite
|
|
| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
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： |
|
|
|
|
32
shutter
|
|
| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
virulent
|
|
| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
agile
|
|
| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
rumbled
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
augurs
|
|
| n.（古罗马的）占兆官( augur的名词复数 )；占卜师，预言者v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的第三人称单数 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
coverage
|
|
| n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
intransigence
|
|
| n.妥协的态度；强硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
lumbering
|
|
| n.采伐林木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
perspiring
|
|
| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
vertical
|
|
| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
adolescence
|
|
| n.青春期，青少年 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
slit
|
|
| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
juvenile
|
|
| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
tottered
|
|
| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
hopped
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
obsolete
|
|
| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
armories
|
|
| n.纹章( armory的名词复数 )；纹章学；兵工厂；军械库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
propped
|
|
| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
battered
|
|
| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
warehouse
|
|
| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
siesta
|
|
| n.午睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
loomed
|
|
| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
alignment
|
|
| n.队列；结盟，联合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
twine
|
|
| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
nosy
|
|
| adj.鼻子大的，好管闲事的，爱追问的；n.大鼻者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
torments
|
|
| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
perfidious
|
|
| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
abound
|
|
| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
smear
|
|
| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
maneuvered
|
|
| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
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： |
|
|
|
|
76
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
stevedores
|
|
| n.码头装卸工人，搬运工( stevedore的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
barge
|
|
| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
moss
|
|
| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
blot
|
|
| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |