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！
lebrate。
Chapter 7
No longer a thief I； nor a hider under rocks。 On the 13th day I had unblocked my door and dug my way back to the surface。 With this symbolic act I left behind my fugitive's existence and entered Cliaandian society。 With assorted identification and various uniforms I now played a wide selection of roles in this rather repellent society until I knew far more about it than I really cared。 In my various identities I only brushed the periphery of the military since I wanted to save my energies for a frontal assault there in full power。
With this possibility I boarded a SST flight to Dosadanglup； the fair sized provincial city that happened to be situated adjacent to the military base of Glupost。 From what I had been able to determine Glupost was also a major spaceship center and staging area for offworld expeditions。 So there was more than chance to the fact that I loitered near enough to the seat reservation clerk to see who got what； and then asked for a seat next to a very attractive who。
Attractive only to me； I hasten to add。 By any other standard of measurement the flight…major would win no prizes…His jaw was too big； apparently designed to project into places where it wasn't wanted； and it had a nasty little cleft built into it as though it had cracked from being poked too far。 Suspicious dark eyes lurked under simian shelving brows and the cavernous nostrils were twin fur…lined subway tunnels。 I could not care less。 I saw only the black uniform of the Space Armada； the many decorations signifying active service； and the wings…and…rocket of a senior pilot。 He was my man。
〃Good evening； sir； good evening；〃 I said as I slipped into the seat next to him。 〃A pleasure to travel with you。〃
He aimed the twin cannons of his nose at me and fired a broadside snort that signaled a close to the recently opened conversation。 I smiled in return and buckled my belt and was slammed back into the cushions as the SST buried itself into the night sky。 At cruising altitude most of the wing area slipped back into the hull and I took out my pocket flask and detached the two small cups。
〃It would be a pleasure to offer you a drink of refreshment； noble flight…major； in gratitude for your many services rendered to the glorious cause of Cliaand。〃
This time he did not even bother to grunt； but instead picked at his teeth with a none too clean pinky nail until he extracted a fragment of meat from his recent dinner。 Close examination convinced him that it was too large to discard so he re…ingested it with a certain relish。 A man of simple pleasures。 I offered a better one。
〃Nothing too good for our boys in the service。 This is narcolethe。〃 I sipped at the cup and smacked my lips。
He looked directly at me for the first time and there should have been little splintering sounds as his lips moved slowly into an unaccustomed smile。
〃I'll drink that；〃 he said in a grating voice； and well he should since the small flask of liqueur would have cost him a month's salary。 Narcolethe； the finest drink known to mankind； distilled in small quantities from a scarce botanical on a minor planet at the galaxy's rim。 Soothing； charming； subtle； intoxicating； inspiring； aphrodisiac； stimulating。 It was everything any other drink was； plus much more； with no side effects and no hangover。 He took the proffered cup and lowered the caverns of his nose over it and sipped。
〃Not bad； 〃 he said； and I smiled at this crude understatement as though it were sincerest flattery and offered him the false name I had assumed。 He thought about it and realized that an exchange was in order。
〃Flight…Major Vaska Hulja。〃
〃The pleasure is mine； sir； the pleasure is mine。 May I top that up for you； these cups are so small。〃
Very soon； as our razor nosed craft cracked the sound barrier and boomed through the sleep of the dozing citizens on the ground； I came to almost love the flight…major。 He was perfect； all…around； with no bulges of doubt or pockmarks of uncertainty。 Just as a spider is a perfect spider or a vampire bat a perfect vampire bat； he was a perfect freewheeling bastard。 As his spirits lifted and his tongue grew thick the anecdotes became more detailed。 The flight…major on strafing：
〃Never make mistake of going after individuals or small groups； it is overall effect that counts。 Stay to plan； hit buildings and grouped vehicles； finish the run。 On a second run it's all right to hit groups of people； but only big ones； with firebombs。 That spreads and splatters and gets the most。〃
The flight…major on recreation：
〃There was just the two of us and we had maybe a dozen bottles and case of weedstick； enough for couple of days； so we got these three girls； one as spare； you know； just in case； and took them 。 。 。〃
The flight…major on offworlders：
〃Animals。 You can't tell me we can even interbreed with them。 Obvious that Cliaand is source of all intelligent life in the universe and only civilizing influence。〃
There was more like this and I could only nod my head in rapt attention。 Perfect； as I said。 What had me almost pulsating with joy was the information that he had just been assigned to the Glupost station after his R & R。 This was his first visit to the immense base after years of duty on the fighting front。 Destiny was controlling the fall of the dice。
What I had to do next was dangerous and involved a great deal of riskbut the opportunity presented was too good to miss。 In the weeks that I had been exploring the details of the Cliaand society I had e to know it in great depth。 I thought。 Now was the time to find out how much I really did know。 For the part of society I had picked my way through was just the periphery； the non…military part and the military was the one that really counted。 It dominated this world in every way and had managed to extend its dominance to other worlds as well。 Despite the rules of logic； the inverse square； and history。 I was going to have to apply my little bit of know…how to crack the final barrier。
I was joining the army。 Enlisting in the Space Armada。 With the rank of flight…major。 As the ship tilted into its landing approach I put thought into deed。
〃Must you report to duty at once； Vaska？〃 Strong drink had put us on a first name basis。 He shook his head in a shaggy no。
〃Tomorrow I am due。〃
〃Wonderful。 You do not wish to spend your last night of leave between the cold sheets of a solitary bed in the B。O。Q。 Just think what else could be acplished in the same time。〃
I went into some imaginary detail of what could be done with silken sheets in an un…solitary bed。 Good food and fine drink were mentioned as well； but these were only of contingent interest。 The flask lilted once more and he nodded cheerful agreement to my plan。
As soon as we had landed and our baggage had been disgorged； a robocab took us to the Dosadan…GIup Robotnik。 This was the local branch of a planet…wide chain of hotels that specialized in non…human service。 Everything was mechanized and puterized。 Human beings presumably visited them once in a while to check the gauges and empty the tills； but I had never seen one although I