Awake or sleeping, the security of First Regiment would rest this night in the hands of Lee Hartford. It was he who bore the final responsibility for allowing no living thing to enter the Barracks except in a well-scrubbed safety-suit; for assuring that the air his sleeping comrades breathed was sterile5 and dustless; that the Syphon's poisonous bug-juice was of the proper pH and germicidity; and for checking that the whereabouts of every Axenite on Kansas was reflected on the Status Board. That these duties were complex was attested6 by the assignment of a Service Company officer to the Board, a woman who would watch the Board's bands of lights and meters every moment. Hartford could sleep; he was the Responsible Male. Mrs. Paula Piacentelli, 1/Lt. S.C. (Gnotobiotics Spec.), had to remain awake: she was the Knowledgeable7 Woman.
Hartford found Paula already at her work in the Board Room. Only a bit over five feet tall, Piacentelli's wife was concentrated woman of the most splendid sort. When Hartford had told her that Pia was taking the picket, she frowned. "I hope he doesn't plan anything foolish."
"Me? Foolish?" Piacentelli demanded from the elevator. He walked up, clammed8 shut in his blue safety-suit, ready to hit bug-dirt. Under one arm he carried a package sheathed9 in opaque10 plastic. Behind him, in the gray safety-suit of an enlisted11 trooper, was a man Hartford recognized as Corporal Bond, machine-gunner from Pia's platoon. "Lieutenant1 Gabriel Piacentelli reporting with one man, Sir and Ma'am," he said, saluting12 his wife and Hartford.
"At ease, Weenie-head," Hartford said. "With you and Bond on picket amidst the sunflowers, I won't sleep a wink13 all night." He turned to the corporal. "Did you sure-enough volunteer for this duty?" he asked.
"Yes, sir!" Bond said. "I voluntarily assumed the duty of absorbing a fifth of Lt. Piacentelli's Class-VI Scotch14. The Lieutenant was kind enough to reciprocate15 by offering me this tour."
"He gave you Scotch?" Hartford turned to Piacentelli. "Gabe, for a jug16 of Scotch I'd have gone on picket with you myself. What's that you're taking outside with you? Lunch?"
"A microscope," Piacentelli said. "I'm doing a little research for Paula." His wife nodded. A gnotobiotics technician, responsible for maintaining the bacteriological security of the Barracks, she had business with microscopes.
"Want to give me the word on this romp17 of yours?" Hartford asked.
"Standard picket, Lee," Piacentelli said. "I'll learn a little Kansan, take care of Paula's project and tell you all about it when we get back."
"Let's see your weapons." Hartford inspected Bond's Dardick-rifle and Piacentelli's Dardick-pistol. Both weapons were loaded, clean and wrapped up for their trip through the Wet Gut18 in plastic sleeves. The trucks and heavy weapons stayed outside on bug-dirt. The lighter19 weapons and all ammunition20 came back inside the Barracks with the troopers who carried them. The weapons were detail-stripped on each re-entry, irradiated with u-v and fit with fresh sleeves. As had been discovered with the first axenic animals, in the 1930's, keeping a mammal germ-free is a formidable task. When that mammal is a human being and a soldier the job is double-tough.
"Check out a jeep," Hartford said. "Report each half-hour. Don't shoot any Stinkers ... sorry, I mean Indigenous21 Hominids. Try not to hit a camelopard with the jeep; we're low on replacement22 parts. In fact, be careful. Okay, Pia?"
"Done and done, Exalted23 One."
Hartford dropped his voice. "I'd feel easier in my mind if I knew what's so important as to require your desertion of our mutual24 womb tonight, Pia."
"Language study, you might say," Piacentelli replied.
"Ha! So desa ka?" Hartford replied. "That's so much bug-dirt, and you know it."
"Ha!" Piacentelli said. "See you at dawn. Take care of my wife, buddy25."
"Aren't you going to kiss her good night?" Hartford asked.
Pia grinned through his clammed-shut helmet and clomped to the elevator with Bond. They were en route to the Hot Gut and the Wet Gut, the twisting hallway from the sterile First Regiment Barracks to the living night of Kansas.
Hartford turned.
Paula Piacentelli wore the short skirt, knee-hose and short-sleeved blouse of Pioneer green that was the Class B uniform for females inside the Barracks. She looked, Hartford thought, remarkably26 delectable27; and he again congratulated his friend on his luck in getting her. He returned his attention to the Status Board, which Paula was conning28. Two red lights flickered29 on above the ground-floor diagram of the Barracks, indicating that the two men of the picket had entered the Hot Gut. A moment later these lights blinked off, and two lighted over the diagram of the Wet Gut. Piacentelli and Bond were swimming now, towing their weapons in ballooning plastic sleeves. Sterile, on their way out into a filthy30 world, these two men were the outpost that would protect through the night their hundreds of brothers and sisters sleeping safe in utero. Freud, thou shouldst have lived this hour! Hartford mused31.
Piacentelli turned the ignition key of the jeep he'd chosen. With the starting cough of the engine, one of the rank of TV screens over the Status Board lighted. The camera eye was looking out the rear-view mirror of the jeep, and picked up Pia's helmeted head and the shoulder of his companion. "We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!" Piacentelli sang.
His wife spoke32 into the microphone before her. "Don't do anything foolish, Lieutenant," she said. "And remember, all transmissions are recorded and are audited34, at random35, by the Base Commander."
"Transmission received, receiver contrite," Piacentelli reported back. "Okay, Paula-Darling. From now on till Bond and I swim home, we'll be as military as GI soap." He flicked36 the TV monitor around to look out the windshield and started the jeep down the road toward Stinkerville. The duty of the picket was to chug around outside at random, hitting all the cross-roads, settlements and high spots of the countryside near the Barracks; to interview late-riding Indigenous Hominids and inquire their business being out; to conduct such searches of Stinker homes and hideaways as might seem useful to the occupying Axenites; and to remain at all times in contact with the officers on duty at the Status Board.
As the picket got underway, Hartford went down to the Terrible Third's area to check quickly through the two-man apartments. Knock on the door; "As you were, Troopers." A brisk inspection37 of two safety-suits, gaping38 beside their owners' bunks39 like firemen's boot-sheathed pants. The men were quiet. Guard-duty meant that any socializing with Service Company troopers was impossible for a night, and militated against any intake40 of alcoholic41 beverage42. It was a bore, especially after three dry and womanless weeks in the field. Hartford visited his Platoon Sergeant43 last: "Sergeant Felix, could you have our bunch standing44 on bug-dirt ten minutes after I blew the whistle? Very well, then. Good night, Felix."
Having demonstrated to his troopers that he was suffering the same strictures as they, Hartford went back to the O.G. cubicle45 in the Board Room. He checked his own safety-suit, his plastic-packaged Dardick-pistol, said good night to Paula Piacentelli and lay down to begin his first night's sleep outside a safety-suit in three weeks.
But sleep didn't come easily.
There was the murmur46 from the Board Room; Piacentelli's half-hourly reports. "Nothing to report, Paula. I'm at Road Junction47 (41-17). No I.H. activity. No excitement at all."
"Continue random patrol, Lieutenant."
"Yes, Dear. I'm going to run down to Kansannamura (42-19) for my next call-in."
"Carry on, Lieutenant."
Pia was in the best possible hands with Paula on duty, Hartford mused. The Status Board was really a woman's job. The girls of the Service Companies were the house-keepers of the Barracks, the guardians48 of the Regimental lares and penates. Paula, for example, had as her primary duty gnotobiotic control: the maintenance of the whole germ-free system of the Barracks, from the Hot-&-Wet Guts49 to safety-suit inspection and the upkeep of the Decontamination Vehicles. Behind the women on Board-duty, however, was always at least one male, combat-trained Officer of the Guard, ready (once awakened50 and briefed by the female help) to take armed men into the field.
But meanwhile, Hartford wanted to sleep.
Half an hour passed, and at its end Pia made his report: "Picket reporting, Paula. I'm going into the village. Corporal Bond will remain with the jeep, and will keep the transmitter open till I get back. Okay?"
"Be careful, Lieutenant," Paula Piacentelli said, combining affection with military formality.
Hartford, deciding that sleep was impossible, got up and cold-showered. Dressing51 in fresh Class B's, he walked out to join Paula at the Status Board. The TV screen showed Bond, the sheathed Dardick-rifle slung52 over his shoulder, pacing back and forth53 in front of the jeep, glancing from time to time toward the walls of Kansannamura, white in the light of the skyful of stars. He was nervous, evidently aware of the fact that Kansas was largely unexplored, her potential for midnight mayhem untested. Bond spoke across his shoulder. "The lieutenant has been gone for a quarter hour, Ma'am," he said. "Do you want me to go in and ask him to come out?"
"Wait another quarter-hour, Corporal," Paula said. She explained to Hartford, "What he's got to do may take a little time." They watched the screen. Bond climbed back into the jeep, where he sat with his rifle between his knees, sweeping54 his attention around him, at the village, at the road behind, at the sunflower-fields, where the blossoms were bleached55 white and the leaves enameled56 black by starlight.
With Paula's agreement, Hartford pressed the microphone-switch to talk with Bond. "Have you tried to tap Piacentelli on his suit-receiver, Corporal?"
"Yes, sir," Bond said. "First thing. No answer."
"Turn your bitcher full up, then," Hartford said. "Tell Lieutenant Piacentelli that the O.G. wants him out on the road within five minutes."
"Done and done, sir." Bond tongued the bitcher's controls to Full Volume and repeated the message. Echoes bounced back from the walls of Stinkerville and lost themselves in the tangle57 of sunflowers.
No one answered.
The village seemed as much asleep as it had been before Bond's bellow58. The Kansans were never hasty to volunteer response to Axenites; they knew that troopers meant trouble.
"Piacentelli is busy at something," Hartford said, as much to reassure59 himself as Pia's wife. "I think I'll go out and have a look." He spoke to Bond: "Get out of the jeep, but stay close to it. Report any haps60 immediately. Watch for lights, listen for small-arms fire."
"Done and done, sir."
Hartford phoned Felix, his platoon sergeant. "Report to the Board Room to sub for me," he said. "Wake the Platoon Guide and tell him to stand ready to fall the Guard out, but not to wake anyone else yet. This is probably a nothing, Felix; Lt. Piacentelli just went for a walk in Stinkerville."
The Command Light, top in the tier of all the hierarchy61 of red-yellow-green-white Status-Board indicators62, flashed alive.
"A nothing?" Nasty Nef's voice demanded. "What sort of talk is that, Lieutenant? If I've been properly interpreting the past five minutes' transmissions, we've got an Axenite officer stranded63 in the middle of a Stinker village. This, Mister, is not a nothing. Call out the Guard. Prepare to join me in a Stinkerville shakedown. Those Gooks got to learn they can't play fast-and-easy with Axenite troopers."
"Done and done, sir!" Hartford snapped. He toggled the phone to get Felix back. "Felix, fall the boys out beside the Syphon. We've got the Old Man hitting bug-dirt with us, so look sharp."
"The colonel's going out with us?" Felix asked.
"Yes. There must be more to this situation than meets the company-grade eye," Hartford said. "Diaper-up our darlings and stand by in the Hot Gut, Felix."
"Done and done!"
Twenty seconds later a figure in Santa Claus red came clashing into the room. Hartford, half into his blue safety-suit, came to a clumsy attention. The newcomer, his helmet clammed shut all ready for contamination, bellowed64, "Get with it, Mister!"
"Yes, sir." Hartford fit himself into the suit, a sort of cockpit, a congeries of valves, gauges65, counters and vetters. In a moment he'd sealed himself in the sterile suit, checked his air-filters and air reserve. "The Guard is assembled in the Hot Gut, sir, ready to take the field."
"Dam' well better be," Nef said. "Lead off, Mister." He turned to Paula Piacentelli. "Send a Decontamination Vehicle after us, Lieutenant. No telling what those Stinker devils have cooked up with Piacentelli." Back to Hartford: "You're in command of the Guard, I'll observe and offer suggestions."
"Tain-HUT!" Platoon Sergeant Felix saluted66 the scarlet-clad colonel and the blue-clad lieutenant as they stepped from the elevator into the electric atmosphere of the Hot Gut. The Guard snapped to, their plastic-packaged Dardick-rifles at order arms.
"Take 'em out, Felix," Hartford said. "Two personnel carriers, a .50-caliber m.g.-mounted jeep fore33 and aft. You and the colonel take the rear jeep; I'll lead. Have the men unbag their weapons the instant we're outside. Any questions?"
"No, sir."
"Move out," Hartford said.
点击
收听单词发音
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1
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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2
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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3
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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5
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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6
attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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7
knowledgeable
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| adj.知识渊博的；有见识的 | |
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clammed
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| v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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10
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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11
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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12
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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13
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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14
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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15
reciprocate
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| v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答 | |
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16
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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romp
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| n.欢闹；v.嬉闹玩笑 | |
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18
gut
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| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
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19
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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20
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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21
indigenous
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| adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的 | |
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22
replacement
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| n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品 | |
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23
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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24
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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25
buddy
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| n.（美口）密友，伙伴 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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28
conning
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| v.诈骗，哄骗( con的现在分词 )；指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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29
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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31
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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32
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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33
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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audited
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| v.审计，查账( audit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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36
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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37
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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38
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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39
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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40
intake
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| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
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41
alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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42
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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43
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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44
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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45
cubicle
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| n.大房间中隔出的小室 | |
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46
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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47
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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48
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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49
guts
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| v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠 | |
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50
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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51
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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52
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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54
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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55
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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56
enameled
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| 涂瓷釉于，给…上瓷漆，给…上彩饰( enamel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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58
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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59
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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60
haps
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| n.粗厚毛披巾；偶然，机会，运气( hap的名词复数 ) | |
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61
hierarchy
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| n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层 | |
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62
indicators
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| （仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号 | |
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63
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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64
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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65
gauges
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| n.规格( gauge的名词复数 )；厚度；宽度；标准尺寸v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的第三人称单数 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
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