"A sign of the times," said Whonk, glancing inside the empty shelter. "A guard should stand here, but I see him not. Doubtless he crept away to sleep."
"Let's go aboard and take a look around."
They entered the ship. Soft lights glowed in utter silence. A rough box stood on the floor, rollers and pry-bars beside it—a discordant5 note in the muted luxury of the setting. Whonk rummaged6 in it.
"Curious," he said. "What means this?" He held up a stained cloak of orange and green, a metal bracelet7, papers.
"I know not." Whonk glanced at the arm-band. "But this is lettered." He passed the metal band to Retief.
"SCARS," Retief read. He looked at Whonk. "It seems to me I've heard the name before," he murmured. "Let's get back to the Embassy—fast."
Back on the ramp9 Retief heard a sound ... and turned in time to duck the charge of a hulking Fustian10 youth who thundered past him and fetched up against the broad chest of Whonk, who locked him in a warm embrace.
"The lout12 hid there by the storage bin," rumbled13 Whonk. The captive youth thumped16 fists and toes fruitlessly against the oldster's carapace17.
"Hang onto him," said Retief. "He looks like the biting kind."
"No fear. Clumsy I am, yet not without strength."
"Ask him where the titanite is tucked away."
The youth gurgled.
"Better let up before you make a mess of him," said Retief. Whonk lifted the Youth clear of the floor, then flung him down with a thump15 that made the ground quiver. The younger Fustian glared up at the elder, mouth snapping.
"This one was among those who trussed me and hid me away for the killing," said Whonk. "In his repentance19 he will tell all to his elder."
"That's the same young squirt that tried to strike up an acquaintance with me on the bus," Retief said. "He gets around."
The youth scrambled20 to hands and knees, scuttled21 for freedom. Retief planted a foot on his dragging cloak; it ripped free. He stared at the bare back of the Fustian—
"By the Great Egg!" Whonk exclaimed, tripping the refugee as he tried to rise. "This is no Youth! His carapace has been taken from him!"
Retief looked at the scarred back. "I thought he looked a little old. But I thought—"
"This is not possible," Whonk said wonderingly. "The great nerve trunks are deeply involved. Not even the cleverest surgeon could excise22 the carapace and leave the patient living."
"It looks like somebody did the trick. But let's take this boy with us and get out of here. His folks may come home."
"Too late," said Whonk. Retief turned.
Three youths came from behind the sheds.
"Well," Retief said. "It looks like the SCARS are out in force tonight. Where's your pal23?" he said to the advancing trio. "The sticky little bird with the eye-stalks? Back at his Embassy, leaving you suckers holding the bag, I'll bet."
"Shelter behind me, Retief," said Whonk.
"Go get 'em, old-timer." Retief stooped, picked up one of the pry-bars. "I'll jump around and distract them."
Whonk let out a whistling roar and charged for the immature24 Fustians. They fanned out ... and one tripped, sprawled25 on his face. Retief whirled the metal bar he had thrust between the Fustian's legs, slammed it against the skull26 of another, who shook his head, turned on Retief ... and bounced off the steel hull27 of the Moss Rock as Whonk took him in full charge.
Retief used the bar on another head. His third blow laid the Fustian on the pavement, oozing28 purple. The other two club members departed hastily, seriously dented29 but still mobile.
Retief leaned on his club, breathing hard. "Tough heads these kids have got. I'm tempted30 to chase those two lads down, but I've got another errand to run. I don't know who the Groaci intended to blast, but I have a sneaking31 suspicion somebody of importance was scheduled for a boat ride in the next few hours. And three drums of titanite is enough to vaporize this tub and everyone aboard her."
"The plot is foiled," said Whonk. "But what reason did they have?"
"The Groaci are behind it. I have an idea the SCARS didn't know about this gambit."
"Which of these is the leader?" asked Whonk. He prodded32 a fallen Youth with a horny toe. "Arise, dreaming one."
"Never mind him, Whonk. We'll tie these two up and leave them here. I know where to find the boss."
A stolid33 crowd filled the low-ceilinged banquet hall. Retief scanned the tables for the pale blobs of Terrestrial faces, dwarfed34 by the giant armored bodies of the Fustians. Across the room Magnan fluttered a hand. Retief headed toward him. A low-pitched vibration35 filled the air: the rumble14 of subsonic Fustian music.
Retief slid into his place beside Magnan. "Sorry to be late, Mr. Ambassador."
"I'm honored that you chose to appear at all," said Magnan coldly. He turned back to the Fustian on his left.
The Fustian looked at him, beady-eyed. "It is the Lament37 of Hatching," he said; "our National Dirge38."
"Oh," said Magnan. "How interesting. Such a pleasing balance of instruments—"
"It is a droon solo," said the Fustian, eyeing the Terrestrial Ambassador suspiciously.
"Why don't you just admit you can't hear it," Retief whispered loudly. "And if I may interrupt a moment—"
Magnan cleared his throat. "Now that our Mr. Retief has arrived, perhaps we could rush right along to the Sponsorship ceremonies."
"This group," said Retief, leaning across Magnan, "the SCARS. How much do you know about them, Mr. Minister?"
"Nothing at all," the huge Fustian elder rumbled. "For my taste, all Youths should be kept penned with the livestock39 until they grow a carapace to tame their irresponsibility."
"We mustn't lose sight of the importance of channeling youthful energies," said Magnan.
"Labor40 gangs," said the minister. "In my youth we were indentured41 to the dredge-masters. I myself drew a muck sledge42."
"But in these modern times," put in Magnan, "surely it's incumbent43 on us to make happy these golden hours."
The minister snorted. "Last week I had a golden hour. They set upon me and pelted44 me with overripe stench-fruit."
"But this was merely a manifestation45 of normal youthful frustrations," cried Magnan. "Their essential tenderness—"
"You'd not find a tender spot on that lout yonder," the minister said, pointing with a fork at a newly arrived Youth, "if you drilled boreholes and blasted."
"Why, that's our guest of honor," said Magnan, "a fine young fellow! Slop I believe his name is."
"Slock," said Retief. "Eight feet of armor-plated orneriness. And—"
Magnan rose and tapped on his glass. The Fustians winced46 at the, to them, supersonic vibrations47. They looked at each other muttering. Magnan tapped louder. The Minister drew in his head, eyes closed. Some of the Fustians rose, tottered48 for the doors; the noise level rose. Magnan redoubled his efforts. The glass broke with a clatter49 and green wine gushed50 on the tablecloth51.
"What in the name of the Great Egg!" the Minister muttered. He blinked, breathing deeply.
"Too bad the glass gave out," said Retief. "In another minute you'd have cleared the hall. And then maybe I could have gotten a word in sideways. There's a matter you should know about—"
"Your attention, please," Magnan said, rising. "I see that our fine young guest has arrived, and I hope that the remainder of his committee will be along in a moment. It is my pleasure to announce that our Mr. Retief has had the good fortune to win out in the keen bidding for the pleasure of sponsoring this lovely group."
Retief tugged54 at Magnan's sleeve. "Don't introduce me yet," he said. "I want to appear suddenly. More dramatic, you know."
"Well," murmured Magnan, glancing down at Retief, "I'm gratified to see you entering into the spirit of the event at last." He turned his attention back to the assembled guests. "If our honored guest will join me on the rostrum...?" he said. "The gentlemen of the press may want to catch a few shots of the presentation."
Magnan stepped up on the low platform at the center of the wide room, took his place beside the robed Fustian youth and beamed at the cameras.
"How gratifying it is to take this opportunity to express once more the great pleasure we have in sponsoring SCARS," he said, talking slowly for the benefit of the scribbling55 reporters. "We'd like to think that in our modest way we're to be a part of all that the SCARS achieve during the years ahead."
Magnan paused as a huge Fustian elder heaved his bulk up the two low steps to the rostrum, approached the guest of honor. He watched as the newcomer paused behind Slock, who did not see the new arrival.
Retief pushed through the crowd, stepped up to face the Fustian youth. Slock stared at him, drew back.
"You know me, Slock," said Retief loudly. "An old fellow named Whonk told you about me, just before you tried to saw his head off, remember? It was when I came out to take a look at that battle cruiser you're building."
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1
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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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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rummaged
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
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bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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fustian
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| n.浮夸的；厚粗棉布 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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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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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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carapace
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| n.（蟹或龟的）甲壳 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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scrambled
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| 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 | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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excise
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| n.(国产)货物税；vt.切除，删去 | |
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pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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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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28
oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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29
dented
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| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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30
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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32
prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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33
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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dirge
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| n.哀乐，挽歌，庄重悲哀的乐曲 | |
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livestock
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| n.家畜，牲畜 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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41
indentured
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| v.以契约束缚（学徒）( indenture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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44
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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45
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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46
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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48
tottered
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| 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 | |
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49
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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50
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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51
tablecloth
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| n.桌布，台布 | |
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52
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
dabbing
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| 石面凿毛，灰泥抛毛 | |
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54
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
scribbling
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| n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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