按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
garding the stranger with clinical interest。
The dark giant tossed off the first shot； shuffled to the chalk line； and said in oddly … accented English； 〃To my profession；〃 and hurled the glass into the fireplace。
Then he walked back to the bar and repeated the entire procedure。 Ten times。
By the last glass； brick was chipping in the fireplace。
When the last； 〃To my profession；〃 echoed in empty air； he turned and faced us。 He waited； tensely； for question or challenge。 There was none。 He half turned away； paused； then swung back and took a couple of deep breaths。 When he spoke his voice made you hurt to hear it。
〃My profession； gentlemen；〃 he said with that funny accent I couldn't place； 〃is that of advance scout。 For a race whose home is many light … years from here。 Many； many light … years from here。〃 He paused； looking for our reactions。
Well； I thought； ten whiskeys and he's a Martian。 Indeed。 Pleased to meet you； I'm Popeye the Sailor。 I guess it was pretty obvious we were all thinking the same way； because he looked tired and said； 〃it would take far more ethanol than that to befuddle me； gentlemen。〃 Nobody said a word to that； and he turned to Callahan。 〃You know I am not intoxicated；〃 he stated。
Callahan considered him professionally and said finally； 〃Nope。 You're not tight。 I'll be a son of a bitch； but you're not tight。〃
The stranger nodded thanks； spoke thereafter directly to Callahan。 〃I am here now three days。 In two hours I shall be finished。 When I am finished I shall go home。 After I have gone your planet will be vaporized。 I have accumulated data which will ensure the annihilation of your species when they are assimilated by my Masters。 To them； you will seem as cancerous cells； in danger of infecting all you touch。 You will not be permitted to exist。 You will be cured。 And I repent me of my profession。〃
Maybe I wouldn't have believed it anywhere else。 But at Callahan's Place anything can happen。 Hell； we all believed him。 Fast Eddie sang out； 〃Anything we can do about it？〃 and he was serious for sure。 You can tell with Fast Eddie。
〃I am helpless；〃 the giant alien said dispassionately。 〃I contain。。。 installations。。。 which are beyond my influencing … or yours。 They have recorded all the data I have perceived in these three days； in two hours a preset mechanism will be triggered and will transmit their contents to the Masters。〃 I looked at my watch： it was eleven … fifteen。 〃The conclusions of the Masters are foregone。 I cannot prevent the transmission； I cannot even attempt to。 I am counterprogrammed。〃
〃Why are you in this line of work if it bugs you so much？〃 Callahan wanted to know。 No hostility； no panic。 He was trying to understand。
〃I am accustomed to take pride in my work；〃 the alien said。 〃I make safe the paths of the Masters。 They must not be threatened by warlike species。 I go before； to identify danger； and see to its neutralization。 It is a good profession； I think。 I thought。〃
〃What changed your mind？〃 asked Doc Webster sympathetically。
〃This place； this。。。 ‘bar' place we are in … this is not like the rest I have seen。 Outside are hatred； petition； morals elevated to the status of ethics； prejudices elevated to the status of morals； whims elevated to the status of prejudices； all things with which I am wearily familiar； the classic symptoms of disease。
〃But here is difference。 Here in this place I sense qualities； attributes I did not know your species possessed； attributes which everywhere else in the known universe are mutually exclusive of the things I have perceived here tonight。 They are good things。。。 they cause me great anguish for your passing。 They fill me with hurt。
〃Oh； that I might lay down my geas；〃 he cried。 〃I did not know that you had love！〃
In the echoing stillness； Callahan said simply； 〃Sure we do； son。 It's maybe spread a little thin these days； but we've got it all right。 Sure would be a shame if it all went up in smoke。〃 He looked down at the rye bottle he still held in his big hand； and absently drank off a couple ounces。 〃Any chance that your masters might feel the same way？〃
〃None。 Even I can still see that you must be destroyed if the Masters are to be safe。 But for the first time in some thousands of years； I regret my profession。 I fear I can do no more。〃
〃No way you can gum up the works？〃
〃None。 So long as I am alive and conscious； the transmission will take place。 I could not assemble the volition to stop it。 I have said： I am counterprogrammed。〃
I saw Noah Gonzalez' expression soften； heard him say； 〃Geez； buddy； that's hard lines。〃 A mumbled agreement rose； and Callahan nodded slowly。
〃That's tough； brother。 I wouldn't want to be in your shoes。〃
He looked at us with absolute astonishment； the hurt in those terrible eyes of his mixed now with bewilderment。 Shorty handed him another drink and it was like he didn't know what to do with it。
〃You tell us how much it will take； mister；〃 Shorty said respectfully； 〃and we'll get you drunk。〃
The tall man with star…burned skin groaned from deep within himself and backed away until the fireplace contained him。 He and the flames ignored each other； and no one found it surprising。
〃What is your matter？〃 he cried。 〃Why are you not destroying me？ You fools； you need only destroy me and you are saved。 I am your judge。 I am your jury。 I will be your executioner。〃
〃You didn't ask for the job；〃 Shorty said gently。 〃It ain't your doing。〃
〃But you do not understand！ If my data are not transmitted； the Masters will assume my destruction and avoid this system forever。 Only the equal or superior of a Master could overe my defenses； but I can control them。 I will not use them。 Do you prehend me？ I will not activate my defenses … you can destroy me and save yourselves and your species； and I will not hinder you。
〃Kill me！〃 he shrieked。
There was a long； long pause； maybe a second or two； and then Callahan pointed to the drink Shorty still held out and growled； 〃You better drink that； friend。 You need it。 Talkin' of killin' in my joint。 Wash your mouth out with bourbon and get outta that fireplace； I want to use it。〃
〃Yeah； me too！〃 came the cry on all sides； and the big guy looked like he was gonna cry。 Conversations started up again and Fast Eddie began playing 〃I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire；〃 in very bad taste indeed。
Some of the boys wandered thoughtfully out； going home to tell their families； or settle their affairs。 The rest of us； lacking either concern； drifted over to console the alien。 I mean； where else would I want to be on Judgement Day？
He was sitting down； now； with booze of all kinds on the table before him。 He looked up at us like a wounded giant。 But none of us knew how to begin； and Callahan spoke first。
〃You never did tell us your name； friend。〃
The alien looked startled； and he sat absolutely still； rigid as a fence post； for a long； long moment。 His face twisted up awful； as though he was waging some titanic inner battle with himself； and cords of muscle stood up on his neck in what didn't seem to be the right places。 Doc Webster began to talk