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Deathworld by Harry Harrison, Chapter - XIV

Chapter - XIV

XIV. Jason spent one depressed day lying on his bunk counting rivets, forcing himself to accept defeat.

Kerk's order that he was not to leave the sealed building tied his hands completely. He felt himself close to the answer—but he was never going to get it. One day of defeat was all he could take.

Kerk's attitude was completely emotional, untempered by the slightest touch of logic. This fact kept driving home until Jason could no longer ignore it. Emotional reasoning was something he had learned to mistrust early in life. He couldn't agree with Kerk in the slightest—which meant he had to utilize the ten remaining days to solve the problem. If it meant disobeying Kerk, it would still have to be done. He grabbed up his noteplate with a new enthusiasm.

His first sources of information had been used up, but there must be others. Chewing the scriber and needling his brain, he slowly built up a list of other possibilities. Any idea, no matter how wild, was put down. When the plate was filled he wiped the long shots and impossibles—such as consulting off-world historical records. This was a Pyrran problem, and had to be settled on this planet or not at all. The list worked down to two probables.

Either old records, notebooks or diaries that individual Pyrrans might have in their possession, or verbal histories that had been passed down the generations by word of mouth. The first choice seemed to be the most probable and he acted on it at once. After a careful check of his medikit and gun he went to see Brucco. "What's new and deadly in the world since I left?

he asked.

Brucco glared at him.

"You can't go out, Kerk has forbidden it. "Did he put you in charge of guarding me to see if I obeyed?

Jason's voice was quiet and cold. Brucco rubbed his jaw and frowned in thought.

Finally he just shrugged. "No, I'm not guarding you—nor do I want the job. As far as I know this is between you and Kerk and it can stay that way. Leave whenever you want. And get yourself killed quietly some place so there will be an end to the trouble you cause once and for all. "I love you, too," Jason said.

"Now brief me on the wildlife. The only new mutation that routine precautions wouldn't take care of was a slate-colored lizard that spit a fast nerve poison with deadly accuracy.

Death took place in seconds if the saliva touched any bare skin. The lizards had to be looked out for, and shot before they came within range. An hour of lizard-blasting in a training chamber made him proficient in the exact procedure. Jason left the sealed buildings quietly and no one saw him go.

He followed the map to the nearest barracks, shuffling tiredly through the dusty streets. It was a hot, quiet afternoon, broken only by rumblings from the distance, and the occasional crack of his gun. It was cool inside the thick-walled barracks buildings, and he collapsed onto a bench until the sweat dried and his heart stopped pounding.

Then he went to the nearest recreation room to start his search. Before it began it was finished.

None of the Pyrrans kept old artifacts of any kind and thought the whole idea was very funny. After the twentieth negative answer Jason was ready to admit defeat in this line of investigation. There was as much chance of meeting a Pyrran with old documents as finding a bundle of grandfather's letters in a soldier's kit bag. This left a single possibility—verbal histories.

Again Jason questioned with the same lack of results. The fun had worn off the game for the Pyrrans and they were beginning to growl. Jason stopped while he was still in one piece. The commissary served him a meal that tasted like plastic paste and wood pulp. He ate it quickly, then sat brooding over the empty tray, hating to admit to another dead end. Who could supply him with answers? All the people he had talked to were so young. They had no interest or patience for story-telling. That was an old folks' hobby—and there were no oldsters on Pyrrus. With one exception that he knew of, the librarian, Poli.

It was a possibility. A man who worked with records and books might have an interest in some of the older ones. He might even remember reading volumes now destroyed. A very slim lead indeed, but one that had to be pursued. Walking to the library almost killed Jason.

The torrential rains made the footing bad, and in the dim light it was hard to see what was coming. A snapper came in close enough to take out a chunk of flesh before he could blast it. The antitoxin made him dizzy and he lost some blood before he could get the wound dressed. He reached the library, exhausted and angry. Poli was working on the guts of one of the catalogue machines.

He didn't stop until Jason had tapped him on the shoulder. Switching on his hearing aid, the Pyrran stood quietly, crippled and bent, waiting for Jason to talk. "Have you any old papers or letters that you have kept for your personal use?

A shake of the head, no . "What about stories—you know, about great things that have happened in the past, that someone might have told you when you were young?

Negative. Results negative.

Every question was answered by a shake of Poli's head, and very soon the old man grew irritated and pointed to the work he hadn't finished. "Yes, I know you have work to do," Jason said.

"But this is important." Poli shook his head an angry no and reached to turn off his hearing aid. Jason groped for a question that might get a more positive answer. There was something tugging at his mind, a word he had heard and made a note of, to be investigated later. Something that Kerk had said ... "That's it!

It was right there—on the tip of his tongue. "Just a second, Poli, just one more question. What is a 'grubber'?

Have you ever seen one or know what they do, or where they can be found—" The words were cut off as Poli whirled and lashed the back of his good arm into Jason's face.

Though the man was aged and crippled, the blow almost fractured Jason's jaw, sending him sliding across the floor. Through a daze he saw Poli hobbling towards him, making thick bubbling noises in his ruined throat; what remained of his face twisted and working with anger. This was no time for diplomacy.

Moving as fast as he could, with the high-G, foot-slapping shuffle, Jason headed for the sealed door. He was no match for any Pyrran in hand-to-hand combat, young and small or old and crippled. The door thunked open, as he went through, and barely closed in Poli's face. Outside the rain had turned to snow and Jason trudged wearily through the slush, rubbing his sore jaw and turning over the only fact he had.

Grubber was a key—but to what? And who did he dare ask for more information? Kerk was the man he had talked to best, but not any more. That left only Meta as a possible source. He wanted to see her at once, but sudden exhaustion swept through him. It took all of his strength to stumble back to the school buildings. In the morning he ate and left early.

There was only a week left. It was impossible to hurry and he cursed as he dragged his double-weight body to the assignment center. Meta was on night perimeter duty and should be back to her quarters soon. He shuffled over there and was lying on her bunk when she came in. "Get out," she said in a flat voice.

"Or do I throw you out? "Patience, please," he said as he sat up.

"Just resting here until you came back. I have a single question, and if you will answer it for me I'll go and stop bothering you. "What is it?

she asked, tapping her foot with impatience. But there was also a touch of curiosity in her voice. Jason thought carefully before he spoke. "Now please , don't shoot me. You know I'm an off-worlder with a big mouth, and you have heard me say some awful things without taking a shot at me. Now I have another one. Will you please show your superiority to the other people of the galaxy by holding your temper and not reducing me to component atoms? His only answer was a tap of the foot, so he took a deep breath and plunged in.

"What is a 'grubber'?

For a long moment she was quiet, unmoving.

Then she curled her lips back in disgust. "You find the most repulsive topics. "That may be so," he said, "but it still doesn't answer my question.

"It's ... well, the sort of thing people just don't talk about.

"I do," he assured her.

"Well, I don't ! It's the most disgusting thing in the world, and that's all I'm going to say. Talk to Krannon, but not to me." She had him by the arm while she talked and he was half dragged to the hall. The door slammed behind him and he muttered " lady wrestler " under his breath. His anger ebbed away as he realized that she had given him a clue in spite of herself. Next step, find out who or what Krannon was. Assignment center listed a man named Krannon, and gave his shift number and work location.

It was close by and Jason walked there. A large, cubical, and windowless building, with the single word food next to each of the sealed entrances. The small entrance he went through was a series of automatic chambers that cycled him through ultrasonics, ultraviolet, antibio spray, rotating brushes and three final rinses. He was finally admitted, damper but much cleaner to the central area. Men and robots were stacking crates and he asked one of the men for Krannon. The man looked him up and down coldly and spat on his shoes before answering. Krannon worked in a large storage bay by himself.

He was a stocky man in patched coveralls whose only expression was one of intense gloom. When Jason came in he stopped hauling bales and sat down on the nearest one. The lines of unhappiness were cut into his face and seemed to grow deeper while Jason explained what he was after. All the talk of ancient history on Pyrrus bored him as well and he yawned openly. When Jason finished he yawned again and didn't even bother to answer him. Jason waited a moment, then asked again.

"I said do you have any old books, papers, records or that sort of thing? "You sure picked the right guy to bother, off-worlder," was his only answer.

"After talking to me you're going to have nothing but trouble. "Why is that?

Jason asked. "Why?

For the first time he was animated with something besides grief. "I'll tell you why! I made one mistake, just one, and I get a life sentence. For life—how would you like that? Just me alone, being by myself all the time. Even taking orders from the grubbers. Jason controlled himself, keeping the elation out of his voice.

"Grubbers? What are grubbers? The enormity of the question stopped Krannon, it seemed impossible that there could be a man alive who had never heard of grubbers.

Happiness lifted some of the gloom from his face as he realized that he had a captive audience who would listen to his troubles. "Grubbers are traitors—that's what they are.

Traitors to the human race and they ought to be wiped out. Living in the jungle. The things they do with the animals—" "You mean they're people ... Pyrrans like yourself?

Jason broke in. "Not like me , mister. Don't make that mistake again if you want to go on living. Maybe I dozed off on guard once so I got stuck with this job. That doesn't mean I like it or like them. They stink, really stink, and if it wasn't for the food we get from them they'd all be dead tomorrow. That's the kind of killing job I could really put my heart into. "If they supply you with food, you must give them something in return?

"Trade goods, beads, knives, the usual things.

Supply sends them over in cartons and I take care of the delivery. "How?

Jason asked. "By armored truck to the delivery site.

Then I go back later to pick up the food they've left in exchange. "Can I go with you on the next delivery?

Krannon frowned over the idea for a minute.

"Yeah, I suppose it's all right if you're stupid enough to come. You can help me load. They're between harvests now, so the next trip won't be for eight days—" "But that's after the ship leaves—it'll be too late.

Can't you go earlier? "Don't tell me your troubles, mister," Krannon grumbled, climbing to his feet.

"That's when I go and the date's not changing for you. Jason realized he had got as much out of the man as was possible for one session.

He started for the door, then turned. "One thing," he asked.

"Just what do these savages—the grubbers—look like? "How do I know," Krannon snapped.

"I trade with them, I don't make love to them. If I ever saw one, I'd shoot him down on the spot." He flexed his fingers and his gun jumped in and out of his hand as he said it. Jason quietly let himself out. Lying on his bunk, resting his gravity-weary body, he searched for a way to get Krannon to change the delivery date.

His millions of credits were worthless on this world without currency. If the man couldn't be convinced, he had to be bribed. With what? Jason's eyes touched the locker where his off-world clothing still hung, and he had an idea. It was morning before he could return to the food warehouse—and one day closer to his deadline.

Krannon didn't bother to look up from his work when Jason came in. "Do you want this?

Jason asked, handing the outcast a flat gold case inset with a single large diamond. Krannon grunted and turned it over in his hands. "A toy," he said.

"What is it good for? "Well, when you press this button you get a light.

A flame appeared through a hole in the top. Krannon started to hand it back. "What do I need a little fire for?

Here, keep it. "Wait a second," Jason said, "that's not all it does.

When you press the jewel in the center one of these comes out." A black pellet the size of his fingernail dropped into his palm. "A grenade, made of solid ulranite. Just squeeze it hard and throw. Three seconds later it explodes with enough force to blast open this building. This time Krannon almost smiled as he reached for the case.

Destructive and death-dealing weapons are like candy to a Pyrran. While he looked at it Jason made his offer. "The case and bombs are yours if you move the date of your next delivery up to tomorrow—and let me go with you.

"Be here at 0500," Krannon said.

"We leave early.

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Chapter - XIV |XIV Kapitel - XIV Capítulo - XIV Rozdział - XIV Глава - XIV Bölüm - XIV Розділ - XIV 第十四章

XIV. Jason spent one depressed day lying on his bunk counting rivets, forcing himself to accept defeat. ||||||||постели||заклепки||||| ||||||||bed or cot|tallying up|||||| ||||||||ліжко||заклепки|примушуючи||||поразка

Kerk’s order that he was not to leave the sealed building tied his hands completely. |||||||||запечатаній||||| He felt himself close to the answer—but he was never going to get it. One day of defeat was all he could take.

Kerk’s attitude was completely emotional, untempered by the slightest touch of logic. |||||необузданной|||||| |||||unrestrained|||||| |||||抑制されない|||||| |||||непригноблений|||||| This fact kept driving home until Jason could no longer ignore it. Этот факт продолжал доводить до сознания, пока Джейсон больше не мог его игнорировать. Emotional reasoning was something he had learned to mistrust early in life. ||||||||не довіряти||| Он рано научился не доверять эмоциональным рассуждениям. He couldn’t agree with Kerk in the slightest—which meant he had to utilize the ten remaining days to solve the problem. |||||||not at all|||||||||||||| |||||||||||||використати||десять|||||| Он ни в малейшей степени не мог согласиться с Керком, а это означало, что он должен был использовать оставшиеся десять дней, чтобы решить проблему. If it meant disobeying Kerk, it would still have to be done. |||непокора|||||||| He grabbed up his noteplate with a new enthusiasm. ||||блокнот|||| Он схватил блокнот с новым энтузиазмом.

His first sources of information had been used up, but there must be others. Chewing the scriber and needling his brain, he slowly built up a list of other possibilities. ||писателя||||||||||||| жував||письменник||колючка||||||||||| Пережевывая бумагу и копаясь в своем мозгу, он медленно составил список других возможностей. Any idea, no matter how wild, was put down. When the plate was filled he wiped the long shots and impossibles—such as consulting off-world historical records. Когда тарелка была заполнена, он вытирал дальние планы и невозможности, такие как сверка с историческими записями вне мира. This was a Pyrran problem, and had to be settled on this planet or not at all. The list worked down to two probables. ||||||можливі кандидати

Either old records, notebooks or diaries that individual Pyrrans might have in their possession, or verbal histories that had been passed down the generations by word of mouth. |||||щоденники||||||||володінні|||||||||||||| Либо старые записи, записные книжки или дневники, которые могли быть у отдельных пиррян, либо устные истории, которые передавались из поколения в поколение из уст в уста. The first choice seemed to be the most probable and he acted on it at once. After a careful check of his medikit and gun he went to see Brucco. ||||||медичний набір||||||| "What’s new and deadly in the world since I left? «Что нового и смертельного в мире с тех пор, как я ушел?

he asked.

Brucco glared at him. |поглянув злісно|| Брукко уставился на него.

"You can’t go out, Kerk has forbidden it. ||||||заборонено| "Did he put you in charge of guarding me to see if I obeyed? |||||||||||||підкорився — Он поручил тебе охранять меня, чтобы следить, повинуюсь ли я?

Jason’s voice was quiet and cold. Brucco rubbed his jaw and frowned in thought. Брукко потер челюсть и задумался.

Finally he just shrugged. |||пожав плечима Наконец он просто пожал плечами. "No, I’m not guarding you—nor do I want the job. |||охороняючи||||||| «Нет, я не охраняю тебя — и мне не нужна эта работа. As far as I know this is between you and Kerk and it can stay that way. Leave whenever you want. And get yourself killed quietly some place so there will be an end to the trouble you cause once and for all. "I love you, too," Jason said.

"Now brief me on the wildlife. |||||animals |познайом мене||||дикі тварини «Теперь расскажи мне о дикой природе. The only new mutation that routine precautions wouldn’t take care of was a slate-colored lizard that spit a fast nerve poison with deadly accuracy. |||||||||||||серый||||||||||| |||мутація|||заходи безпеки||||||||||||||||||точністю Единственной новой мутацией, с которой не позаботились обычные меры предосторожности, была ящерица грифельно-серого цвета, которая со смертельной точностью выплевывала нервно-паралитический яд.

Death took place in seconds if the saliva touched any bare skin. |||||||слина|||оголеної| The lizards had to be looked out for, and shot before they came within range. ||||||||||||||доступу За ящерицами нужно было следить и стрелять, прежде чем они окажутся в пределах досягаемости. An hour of lizard-blasting in a training chamber made him proficient in the exact procedure. ||||вибухової роботи||||тренувальна кімната|||кваліфікованим|||| Час подрыва ящериц в тренировочной камере научил его точной процедуре. Jason left the sealed buildings quietly and no one saw him go.

He followed the map to the nearest barracks, shuffling tiredly through the dusty streets. ||||||||потупцюючи||||| Он пошел по карте до ближайшей казармы, устало шаркая ногами по пыльным улицам. It was a hot, quiet afternoon, broken only by rumblings from the distance, and the occasional crack of his gun. Это был жаркий, тихий полдень, нарушаемый только грохотом издалека и случайным треском его ружья. It was cool inside the thick-walled barracks buildings, and he collapsed onto a bench until the sweat dried and his heart stopped pounding. |||||||казарми||||||||||||||||пульсувати В толстостенных барачных корпусах было прохладно, и он рухнул на скамейку, пока не высох пот и не перестало биться сердце.

Then he went to the nearest recreation room to start his search. Затем он отправился в ближайшую комнату отдыха, чтобы начать поиски. Before it began it was finished.

None of the Pyrrans kept old artifacts of any kind and thought the whole idea was very funny. ||||||артефакти||||||||||| Ни у кого из пиррцев не было никаких старых артефактов, и вся эта идея показалась им очень забавной. After the twentieth negative answer Jason was ready to admit defeat in this line of investigation. ||||||||||поразка||||| There was as much chance of meeting a Pyrran with old documents as finding a bundle of grandfather’s letters in a soldier’s kit bag. |||||||||||||||пакет|||||||| Встретить пиррянина со старыми документами было так же вероятно, как найти пачку дедовских писем в солдатском вещмешке. This left a single possibility—verbal histories.

Again Jason questioned with the same lack of results. The fun had worn off the game for the Pyrrans and they were beginning to growl. |||||||||||||||гриміти Веселье для пиррян закончилось, и они начали рычать. Jason stopped while he was still in one piece. Джейсон остановился, пока был еще целым. The commissary served him a meal that tasted like plastic paste and wood pulp. |столовая|||||||||||| |cafeteria|||||||||||| |комісаріат||||||||||||пульпа Комиссар подал ему еду со вкусом пластиковой пасты и древесной массы. He ate it quickly, then sat brooding over the empty tray, hating to admit to another dead end. ||||||deep in thought||||||||||| ||||||в роздумах||||тазик||||||| Он быстро съел его, затем сел, размышляя над пустым подносом, ненавидя признавать очередной тупик. Who could supply him with answers? ||постачити||| All the people he had talked to were so young. They had no interest or patience for story-telling. That was an old folks' hobby—and there were no oldsters on Pyrrus. With one exception that he knew of, the librarian, Poli.

It was a possibility. A man who worked with records and books might have an interest in some of the older ones. He might even remember reading volumes now destroyed. Возможно, он даже помнит уничтоженные тома для чтения. A very slim lead indeed, but one that had to be pursued. |||||||||||переслідував Действительно, очень небольшое преимущество, но его нужно было использовать. Walking to the library almost killed Jason.

The torrential rains made the footing bad, and in the dim light it was hard to see what was coming. |зливові||||основа|||||півтемряві|||||to|||| Проливные дожди портили опору, и в тусклом свете было трудно разглядеть, что грядет. Зливові дощі зробили поверхню нищівною, і в слабкому світлі було важко побачити, що наближається. A snapper came in close enough to take out a chunk of flesh before he could blast it. |снаппер|||||||||||||||| |снаппер|||||||||кусок||||||| Окунь подлетел достаточно близко, чтобы вырвать кусок плоти, прежде чем он успел его взорвать. Снаппер підійшов настільки близько, що встиг вирвати шматок плоті, перш ніж він міг вистрелити. The antitoxin made him dizzy and he lost some blood before he could get the wound dressed. ||||запаморочений||||||||||||перев'язаний От антитоксина у него закружилась голова, и он потерял немного крови, прежде чем успел перевязать рану. Антитоксин запаморочив його, і він втратив трохи крові, перш ніж зміг перев'язати рану. He reached the library, exhausted and angry. Poli was working on the guts of one of the catalogue machines. |||||внутрішня|||||| Поли возился с внутренностями одной из каталожных машин.

He didn’t stop until Jason had tapped him on the shoulder. Switching on his hearing aid, the Pyrran stood quietly, crippled and bent, waiting for Jason to talk. |||||||||каліка||схилений||||| Включив слуховой аппарат, пирранец тихо стоял, покалеченный и согбенный, ожидая, что Джейсон заговорит. "Have you any old papers or letters that you have kept for your personal use?

A shake of the head, no . "What about stories—you know, about great things that have happened in the past, that someone might have told you when you were young?

Negative. Results negative.

Every question was answered by a shake of Poli’s head, and very soon the old man grew irritated and pointed to the work he hadn’t finished. ||||||||Поли||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||роздратованим|||||||| "Yes, I know you have work to do," Jason said.

"But this is important." Poli shook his head an angry no and reached to turn off his hearing aid. Поли сердито покачал головой и потянулся выключить слуховой аппарат. Jason groped for a question that might get a more positive answer. |пытался|||||||||| |шукав|||||||||позитивнішу| Джейсон нащупал вопрос, на который можно было бы получить более положительный ответ. There was something tugging at his mind, a word he had heard and made a note of, to be investigated later. |||тягнучи||||||||||||||||| Что-то не давало ему покоя, слово, которое он услышал и запомнил, чтобы исследовать позже. Something that Kerk had said ... "That’s it!

It was right there—on the tip of his tongue. "Just a second, Poli, just one more question. What is a 'grubber'? |||грабли |||scooper tool |||прибиральник сміття

Have you ever seen one or know what they do, or where they can be found—" Вы когда-нибудь видели их или знаете, что они делают, или где их можно найти… The words were cut off as Poli whirled and lashed the back of his good arm into Jason’s face. |||||||обернувся||вдарив||||||||| Слова оборвались, когда Поли развернулся и ударил тыльной стороной здоровой руки по лицу Джейсона. Слова були перервані, коли Полі закрутився і вдарив назад своєю нормальною рукою Джейсона в обличчя.

Though the man was aged and crippled, the blow almost fractured Jason’s jaw, sending him sliding across the floor. ||||||каліка||удар||зламав||щелепа|||||| Попри те, що чоловік був старим і калічним, удар майже зламав щелепу Джейсона, відправивши його ковзати по підлозі. Through a daze he saw Poli hobbling towards him, making thick bubbling noises in his ruined throat; what remained of his face twisted and working with anger. ||оцепенении||||ковыляя|||||||||||||||||||| ||тумані||||кульгаючи|||||булькаючі звуки||||||||||||||| Сквозь оцепенение он увидел, как Поли ковыляет к нему, издавая густые булькающие звуки из разбитого горла; то, что осталось от его лица, перекошено и работает от гнева. Через запаморочення він побачив, як Полі кульгає до нього, видаючи густі булькаючі звуки в його зруйнованій горлі; те, що залишилося від його обличчя, перекручувалося і працювало від гніву. This was no time for diplomacy.

Moving as fast as he could, with the high-G, foot-slapping shuffle, Jason headed for the sealed door. |||||||||||поплескування ногами|швидка хода|||||запечатані| Двигаясь так быстро, как только мог, с высокой перегрузкой, шаркая ногами, Джейсон направился к запечатанной двери. He was no match for any Pyrran in hand-to-hand combat, young and small or old and crippled. ||||||||||||||||||disabled В рукопашной схватке он не мог сравниться ни с одним пиррианцем, молодым и маленьким, или старым и калекой. The door thunked open, as he went through, and barely closed in Poli’s face. ||ударилась||||||||||| ||глухо стукнула||||||||||| Дверь со стуком открылась, когда он прошел, и едва закрылась перед лицом Поли. Outside the rain had turned to snow and Jason trudged wearily through the slush, rubbing his sore jaw and turning over the only fact he had. |||||||||||||slushy snow|||||||||||| |||||||||плентався|втомлено|||слякоть|||болюча||||||||| Снаружи дождь сменился снегом, и Джейсон устало брел по слякоти, потирая воспаленную челюсть и переворачивая единственный факт, который у него был.

Grubber was a key—but to what? Груббер(1)|||||| And who did he dare ask for more information? Kerk was the man he had talked to best, but not any more. Керк был человеком, с которым он разговаривал лучше всего, но не больше. That left only Meta as a possible source. He wanted to see her at once, but sudden exhaustion swept through him. |desired||||||||||| |||||||||втома|поглинула|| Он хотел увидеть ее сейчас же, но внезапная усталость охватила его. It took all of his strength to stumble back to the school buildings. |||||||заблукати||||| Ему потребовались все силы, чтобы вернуться к школьным зданиям. In the morning he ate and left early.

There was only a week left. It was impossible to hurry and he cursed as he dragged his double-weight body to the assignment center. |||||||||||||||||центр призначення| Торопиться было нельзя, и он выругался, волок свое удвоенное тело в центр назначения. Meta was on night perimeter duty and should be back to her quarters soon. He shuffled over there and was lying on her bunk when she came in. |||||||||постели|||| Он прошаркал туда и лежал на ее койке, когда она вошла. "Get out," she said in a flat voice.

"Or do I throw you out? ||||тебе| "Patience, please," he said as he sat up.

"Just resting here until you came back. I have a single question, and if you will answer it for me I’ll go and stop bothering you. "What is it?

she asked, tapping her foot with impatience. ||постукуючи||||нетерпіння But there was also a touch of curiosity in her voice. |||||||цікавість||| Jason thought carefully before he spoke. "Now please , don’t shoot me. You know I’m an off-worlder with a big mouth, and you have heard me say some awful things without taking a shot at me. Вы знаете, что я инопланетянин с большим ртом, и вы слышали, как я говорю ужасные вещи, даже не стреляя в меня. Now I have another one. Теперь у меня есть еще один. Will you please show your superiority to the other people of the galaxy by holding your temper and not reducing me to component atoms? |||||перевага||||||||||||||перетворювати|||| Не могли бы вы показать свое превосходство другим людям галактики, сдержав свой гнев и не превращая меня в составные атомы? His only answer was a tap of the foot, so he took a deep breath and plunged in. ||||||||||||||||пірнув|

"What is a 'grubber'?

For a long moment she was quiet, unmoving.

Then she curled her lips back in disgust. |||||назад|| Потом с отвращением скривила губы. "You find the most repulsive topics. ||||відразливі| «Вы находите самые отталкивающие темы. "That may be so," he said, "but it still doesn’t answer my question. «Может быть, это и так, — сказал он, — но это все равно не отвечает на мой вопрос.

"It’s ... well, the sort of thing people just don’t talk about. «Это… ну, о таких вещах люди просто не говорят.

"I do," he assured her. — Я знаю, — заверил он ее.

"Well, I don’t ! «Ну, не знаю! It’s the most disgusting thing in the world, and that’s all I’m going to say. Это самая отвратительная вещь в мире, и это все, что я хочу сказать. Talk to Krannon, but not to me." ||Краннон|||| Говори с Кранноном, но не со мной». She had him by the arm while she talked and he was half dragged to the hall. Она держала его за руку, пока говорила, и его наполовину вытащили в холл. The door slammed behind him and he muttered " lady wrestler " under his breath. ||захлопнулася|||||||||| Дверь захлопнулась за ним, и он пробормотал себе под нос «женщина-рестлер». His anger ebbed away as he realized that she had given him a clue in spite of herself. ||улеглась||||||||||||||| ||зменшилася|||||||||||||незважаючи на|| Его гнев утих, когда он понял, что она дала ему подсказку вопреки своей воле. Next step, find out who or what Krannon was. Assignment center listed a man named Krannon, and gave his shift number and work location. ||вказав|||||||||||| В центре распределения был указан человек по имени Крэннон, а также номер его смены и место работы.

It was close by and Jason walked there. A large, cubical, and windowless building, with the single word food next to each of the sealed entrances. ||||||||||||||||запечатаних| Большое кубическое здание без окон, с одним словом «еда» рядом с каждым из запечатанных входов. The small entrance he went through was a series of automatic chambers that cycled him through ultrasonics, ultraviolet, antibio spray, rotating brushes and three final rinses. ||||||||||||||||ultrasonic waves||||spinning|||||rinsing stages |||||||||||камер|||||ультразвук|ультрафіолетовий|антибіотичний спрей||обертові щітки|||||промивань Небольшой вход, через который он прошел, представлял собой серию автоматических камер, в которых он проходил через ультразвук, ультрафиолет, спрей с антибиотиками, вращающиеся щетки и три заключительных полоскания. Маленький вхід, через який він пройшов, представляв собою серію автоматичних камер, які пропускали його через ультразвук, ультрафіолет, антимікробний спрей, обертові щітки та три фінальні промивання. He was finally admitted, damper but much cleaner to the central area. ||||хотя||||||| ||||dampener||||||| ||||зменшувач||||||| В конце концов его впустили, более влажного, но гораздо более чистого по сравнению с центральной зоной. Нарешті його допустили, вологішим, але значно чистішим до центральної зони. Men and robots were stacking crates and he asked one of the men for Krannon. ||||складали одну на одну|ящики||||||||| Люди и роботы складывали ящики, и он попросил одного из мужчин показать Краннона. Чоловіки та роботи складали ящики, і він запитав одного з чоловіків про Краннона. The man looked him up and down coldly and spat on his shoes before answering. |||||||||плюнув||||| Krannon worked in a large storage bay by himself. |||||склад||| Краннон работал в большом складском отсеке в одиночку.

He was a stocky man in patched coveralls whose only expression was one of intense gloom. |||||||work overalls|||||||| |||коренастий|||латаний|комбінезон з латками||||||||похмурість Это был коренастый мужчина в заплатанном комбинезоне, на лице которого была лишь глубокая угрюмость. When Jason came in he stopped hauling bales and sat down on the nearest one. ||||||таскать|тюки||||||| |||||||bales||||||| ||||||перетягуючи|тюки||||||| Когда Джейсон вошел, он перестал таскать тюки и сел на ближайший. The lines of unhappiness were cut into his face and seemed to grow deeper while Jason explained what he was after. Морщины недовольства прорезались на его лице и, казалось, становились глубже, пока Джейсон объяснял, чего он добивался. All the talk of ancient history on Pyrrus bored him as well and he yawned openly. Ему тоже надоели все разговоры о древней истории Пирра, и он открыто зевнул. When Jason finished he yawned again and didn’t even bother to answer him. ||||позіхнув|||||||| Jason waited a moment, then asked again.

"I said do you have any old books, papers, records or that sort of thing? "You sure picked the right guy to bother, off-worlder," was his only answer. «Ты выбрал того парня, которого нужно беспокоить, инопланетянин», — был его единственный ответ.

"After talking to me you’re going to have nothing but trouble. «После разговора со мной у тебя не будет ничего, кроме неприятностей. "Why is that?

Jason asked. "Why?

For the first time he was animated with something besides grief. ||||||оживлений|||крім окрім|горе Впервые он был воодушевлен чем-то, кроме горя. "I’ll tell you why! I made one mistake, just one, and I get a life sentence. Я сделал одну ошибку, всего одну, и получил пожизненный срок. For life—how would you like that? На всю жизнь — как бы вы этого хотели? Just me alone, being by myself all the time. Только я один, все время наедине с собой. Even taking orders from the grubbers. |||||грубияны |||||those who scrounge |||||грубії Даже принимая заказы от корчевателей. Jason controlled himself, keeping the elation out of his voice. |||||восторг|||| |||||екстаз||||

"Grubbers? What are grubbers? The enormity of the question stopped Krannon, it seemed impossible that there could be a man alive who had never heard of grubbers. |величие||||||||||||||||||||| |magnitude||||||||||||||||||||| |величезність||||||||||||||||||||| Грандиозность вопроса остановила Краннона, казалось невероятным, что может быть живой человек, который никогда не слышал о корчевателях.

Happiness lifted some of the gloom from his face as he realized that he had a captive audience who would listen to his troubles. ||||||||||||||||в'язень||||||| Счастье немного сняло мрак с его лица, когда он понял, что у него есть пленная аудитория, которая выслушает его проблемы. "Grubbers are traitors—that’s what they are. ||зрадники||||

Traitors to the human race and they ought to be wiped out. Предатели рода человеческого, и они должны быть уничтожены. Living in the jungle. The things they do with the animals—" "You mean they’re people ... Pyrrans like yourself?

Jason broke in. "Not like me , mister. "Не то, что я, мистер. Don’t make that mistake again if you want to go on living. Не повторяйте эту ошибку, если хотите жить дальше. Maybe I dozed off on guard once so I got stuck with this job. ||задрімав||||||||||| Может быть, однажды я задремал на страже, поэтому застрял на этой работе. That doesn’t mean I like it or like them. Это не значит, что они мне нравятся или нравятся. They stink, really stink, and if it wasn’t for the food we get from them they’d all be dead tomorrow. |smell bad|||||||||||||||||| |погані||погано пахнуть|||||||||||||||| Они воняют, действительно воняют, и если бы не еда, которую мы получаем от них, завтра они все были бы мертвы. That’s the kind of killing job I could really put my heart into. Это такая убийственная работа, в которую я действительно мог бы вложить душу. "If they supply you with food, you must give them something in return? ||постачають||||||||||

"Trade goods, beads, knives, the usual things. торгівля||бісер|||| «Торговые товары, бусы, ножи, обычные вещи.

Supply sends them over in cartons and I take care of the delivery. Снабжение отправляет их в картонных коробках, а я позабочусь о доставке. "How?

Jason asked. "By armored truck to the delivery site. "Бронеавтомобилем к месту доставки.

Then I go back later to pick up the food they’ve left in exchange. "Can I go with you on the next delivery?

Krannon frowned over the idea for a minute.

"Yeah, I suppose it’s all right if you’re stupid enough to come. You can help me load. They’re between harvests now, so the next trip won’t be for eight days—" ||урожайні збори|||||||||| Сейчас между сборами урожая, так что следующая поездка состоится через восемь дней… "But that’s after the ship leaves—it’ll be too late.

Can’t you go earlier? "Don’t tell me your troubles, mister," Krannon grumbled, climbing to his feet. — Не рассказывайте мне о своих проблемах, мистер, — проворчал Краннон, поднимаясь на ноги.

"That’s when I go and the date’s not changing for you. Jason realized he had got as much out of the man as was possible for one session. Джейсон понял, что за один сеанс вытянул из этого человека все, что было возможно.

He started for the door, then turned. "One thing," he asked.

"Just what do these savages—the grubbers—look like? «Как же выглядят эти дикари — корчеватели? "How do I know," Krannon snapped. — Откуда мне знать, — отрезал Крэннон.

"I trade with them, I don’t make love to them. «Я торгую с ними, я не занимаюсь с ними любовью. If I ever saw one, I’d shoot him down on the spot." He flexed his fingers and his gun jumped in and out of his hand as he said it. |зігнув|||||||||||||||| Он согнул пальцы, и его пистолет подпрыгивал в его руке, когда он говорил это. Jason quietly let himself out. Lying on his bunk, resting his gravity-weary body, he searched for a way to get Krannon to change the delivery date. |||койке|||||||||||||||||| |||ліжко||||втомлене від тяжкості|||||||||||||| Лежа на койке, отдыхая измученным гравитацией телом, он искал способ заставить Крэннона изменить дату доставки.

His millions of credits were worthless on this world without currency. If the man couldn’t be convinced, he had to be bribed. |||||переконаний|||||підкуплений With what? Jason’s eyes touched the locker where his off-world clothing still hung, and he had an idea. Взгляд Джейсона коснулся шкафчика, где все еще висела его внеземная одежда, и у него появилась идея. It was morning before he could return to the food warehouse—and one day closer to his deadline. ||||||||||склад їжі||||||| Это было утро, прежде чем он смог вернуться на продовольственный склад — и на один день ближе к его крайнему сроку.

Krannon didn’t bother to look up from his work when Jason came in. Когда вошел Джейсон, Крэннон даже не оторвался от работы. "Do you want this? "Вы хотите, чтобы это?

Jason asked, handing the outcast a flat gold case inset with a single large diamond. ||передаючи||вигнанець|||||вставленим||||| — спросил Джейсон, протягивая изгою плоский золотой футляр с одним крупным бриллиантом. Krannon grunted and turned it over in his hands. |похмурився||||||| Краннон хмыкнул и повертел его в руках. "A toy," he said.

"What is it good for? "Well, when you press this button you get a light. "Ну, коли ти натискаєш цю кнопку, з'являється світло.

A flame appeared through a hole in the top. Через отверстие в верхней части появилось пламя. Полум'я з'явилось через отвір у верхній частині. Krannon started to hand it back. Краннон начал отдавать его обратно. Краннон почав повертати це назад. "What do I need a little fire for? "Для чого мені маленький вогник?

Here, keep it. Вот, держи. Ось, тримай його. "Wait a second," Jason said, "that’s not all it does. "Зачекай хвилинку," сказав Джейсон, "це не все, на що він здатен.

When you press the jewel in the center one of these comes out." ||||кнопка|||||||| Когда вы нажимаете на драгоценный камень в центре, один из них выходит». Коли ви натискаєте на коштовність у центрі, одна з цих речей виходить. A black pellet the size of his fingernail dropped into his palm. |||||||нігтьова пластина|||| Черный шарик размером с его ноготь упал ему на ладонь. Чорна кулька розміром з його ніготь впала йому на долоню. "A grenade, made of solid ulranite. |||||улранит "Граната, сделанная из твердого ульранита. "Граната, зроблена з твердого ульраниту." Just squeeze it hard and throw. Просто сожмите его сильно и бросьте. Three seconds later it explodes with enough force to blast open this building. ||||вибухає|||||||| Через три секунды он взорвется с достаточной силой, чтобы взорвать это здание. This time Krannon almost smiled as he reached for the case. На этот раз Крэннон почти улыбнулся, когда потянулся за футляром.

Destructive and death-dealing weapons are like candy to a Pyrran. Разрушительное и смертоносное оружие для пирранца как конфетка. While he looked at it Jason made his offer. "The case and bombs are yours if you move the date of your next delivery up to tomorrow—and let me go with you.

"Be here at 0500," Krannon said. «Будьте здесь в 05:00», — сказал Крэннон.

"We leave early.