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1、【英文读物】The Madman From Earthchapter 1 The Consul for the Terrestrial States, Retief said, presents his compliments, et cetera, to the Ministry of Culture of the Groacian Autonomy, and with reference to the Ministrys invitation to attend a recital of interpretive grimacing, has the honor to express re
2、gret that he will be unableYou cant turn this invitation down, Administrative Assistant Meuhl said flatly. Ill make that accepts with pleasure.Retief exhaled a plume of cigar smoke.Miss Meuhl, he said, in the past couple of weeks Ive sat through six light-concerts, four attempts at chamber music, an
3、d god knows how many assorted folk-art festivals. Ive been tied up every off-duty hour since I got hereYou cant offend the Groaci, Miss Meuhl said sharply. Consul Whaffle would never have been so rude.Whaffle left here three months ago, Retief said, leaving me in charge.Well, Miss Meuhl said, snappi
4、ng off the dictyper. Im sure I dont know what excuse I can give the Minister.Never mind the excuses, Retief said. Just tell him I wont be there. He stood up.Are you leaving the office? Miss Meuhl adjusted her glasses. I have some important letters here for your signature.I dont recall dictating any
5、letters today, Miss Meuhl, Retief said, pulling on a light cape.I wrote them for you. Theyre just as Consul Whaffle would have wanted them.Did you write all Whaffles letters for him, Miss Meuhl?Consul Whaffle was an extremely busy man, Miss Meuhl said stiffly. He had complete confidence in me.Since
6、Im cutting out the culture from now on, Retief said, I wont be so busy.Well! Miss Meuhl said. May I ask where youll be if something comes up?Im going over to the Foreign Office Archives.Miss Meuhl blinked behind thick lenses. Whatever for?Retief looked thoughtfully at Miss Meuhl. Youve been here on
7、Groac for four years, Miss Meuhl. What was behind the coup detat that put the present government in power?Im sure I havent pried intoWhat about that Terrestrial cruiser? The one that disappeared out this way about ten years back?Mr. Retief, those are just the sort of questions we avoid with the Groa
8、ci. I certainly hope youre not thinking of openly intrudingWhy?The Groaci are a very sensitive race. They dont welcome outworlders raking up things. Theyve been gracious enough to let us live down the fact that Terrestrials subjected them to deep humiliation on one occasion.You mean when they came l
9、ooking for the cruiser?I, for one, am ashamed of the high-handed tactics that were employed, grilling these innocent people as though they were criminals. We try never to reopen that wound, Mr. Retief.They never found the cruiser, did they?Certainly not on Groac.Retief nodded. Thanks, Miss Meuhl, he
10、 said. Ill be back before you close the office. Miss Meuhls face was set in lines of grim disapproval as he closed the door.The pale-featured Groacian vibrated his throat-bladder in a distressed bleat.Not to enter the Archives, he said in his faint voice. The denial of permission. The deep regret of
11、 the Archivist.The importance of my task here, Retief said, enunciating the glottal dialect with difficulty. My interest in local history.The impossibility of access to outworlders. To depart quietly.The necessity that I enter.The specific instructions of the Archivist. The Groacians voice rose to a
12、 whisper. To insist no longer. To give up this idea!OK, Skinny, I know when Im licked, Retief said in Terran. To keep your nose clean.Outside, Retief stood for a moment looking across at the deeply carved windowless stucco facades lining the street, then started off in the direction of the Terrestri
13、al Consulate General. The few Groacians on the street eyed him furtively, veered to avoid him as he passed. Flimsy high-wheeled ground cars puffed silently along the resilient pavement. The air was clean and cool.At the office, Miss Meuhl would be waiting with another list of complaints.Retief studi
14、ed the carving over the open doorways along the street. An elaborate one picked out in pinkish paint seemed to indicate the Groacian equivalent of a bar. Retief went in.A Groacian bartender was dispensing clay pots of alcoholic drink from the bar-pit at the center of the room. He looked at Retief an
15、d froze in mid-motion, a metal tube poised over a waiting pot.To enjoy a cooling drink, Retief said in Groacian, squatting down at the edge of the pit. To sample a true Groacian beverage.To not enjoy my poor offerings, the Groacian mumbled. A pain in the digestive sacs; to express regret.To not worr
16、y, Retief said, irritated. To pour it out and let me decide whether I like it.To be grappled in by peace-keepers for poisoning offoreigners. The barkeep looked around for support, found none. The Groaci customers, eyes elsewhere, were drifting away.To get the lead out, Retief said, placing a thick g
17、old-piece in the dish provided. To shake a tentacle.The procuring of a cage, a thin voice called from the sidelines. The displaying of a freak.Retief turned. A tall Groacian vibrated his mandibles in a gesture of contempt. From his bluish throat coloration, it was apparent the creature was drunk.To
18、choke in your upper sac, the bartender hissed, extending his eyes toward the drunk. To keep silent, litter-mate of drones.To swallow your own poison, dispenser of vileness, the drunk whispered. To find a proper cage for this zoo-piece. He wavered toward Retief. To show this one in the streets, like
19、all freaks.Seen a lot of freaks like me, have you? Retief asked, interestedly.To speak intelligibly, malodorous outworlder, the drunk said. The barkeep whispered something, and two customers came up to the drunk, took his arms and helped him to the door.To get a cage! the drunk shrilled. To keep the
20、 animals in their own stinking place.Ive changed my mind, Retief said to the bartender. To be grateful as hell, but to have to hurry off now. He followed the drunk out the door. The other Groaci released him, hurried back inside. Retief looked at the weaving alien.To begone, freak, the Groacian whis
21、pered.To be pals, Retief said. To be kind to dumb animals.To have you hauled away to a stockyard, ill-odored foreign livestock.To not be angry, fragrant native, Retief said. To permit me to chum with you.To flee before I take a cane to you!To have a drink togetherTo not endure such insolence! The Gr
22、oacian advanced toward Retief. Retief backed away.To hold hands, Retief said. To be palsy-walsyThe Groacian reached for him, missed. A passer-by stepped around him, head down, scuttled away. Retief backed into the opening to a narrow crossway and offered further verbal familiarities to the drunken l
23、ocal, who followed, furious. Retief backed, rounded a corner into a narrow alley-like passage, deserted, silent . except for the following Groacian.Retief stepped around him, seized his collar and yanked. The Groacian fell on his back. Retief stood over him. The downed native half-rose; Retief put a
24、 foot against his chest and pushed.To not be going anywhere for a few minutes, Retief said. To stay right here and have a nice long talk.chapter 2 There you are! Miss Meuhl said, eyeing Retief over her lenses. There are two gentlemen waiting to see you. Groacian gentlemen.Government men, I imagine.
25、Word travels fast. Retief pulled off his cape. This saves me the trouble of paying another call at the Foreign Ministry.What have you been doing? They seem very upset, I dont mind telling you.Im sure you dont. Come along. And bring an official recorder.Two Groaci wearing heavy eye-shields and elabor
26、ate crest ornaments indicative of rank rose as Retief entered the room. Neither offered a courteous snap of the mandibles, Retief noted. They were mad, all right.I am Fith, of the Terrestrial Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Consul, the taller Groacian said, in lisping Terran. May I present Sh
27、luh, of the Internal Police?Sit down, gentlemen, Retief said. They resumed their seats. Miss Meuhl hovered nervously, then sat on the edge of a comfortless chair.Oh, its such a pleasure she began.Never mind that, Retief said. These gentlemen didnt come here to sip tea today.So true, Fith said. Frank
28、ly, I have had a most disturbing report, Mr. Consul. I shall ask Shluh to recount it. He nodded to the police chief.One hour ago, The Groacian said, a Groacian national was brought to hospital suffering from serious contusions. Questioning of this individual revealed that he had been set upon and be
29、aten by a foreigner. A Terrestrial, to be precise. Investigation by my department indicates that the description of the culprit closely matches that of the Terrestrial Consul.Miss Meuhl gasped audibly.Have you ever heard, Retief said, looking steadily at Fith, of a Terrestrial cruiser, the ISV Terri
30、fic, which dropped from sight in this sector nine years ago?Really! Miss Meuhl exclaimed, rising. I wash my handsJust keep that recorder going, Retief snapped.Ill not be a partyYoull do as youre told, Miss Meuhl, Retief said quietly. Im telling you to make an official sealed record of this conversat
31、ion.Miss Meuhl sat down.Fith puffed out his throat indignantly. You reopen an old wound, Mr. Consul. It reminds us of certain illegal treatment at Terrestrial handsHogwash, Retief said. That tune went over with my predecessors, but it hits a sour note with me.All our efforts, Miss Meuhl said, to liv
32、e down that terrible episode! And youTerrible? I understand that a Terrestrial task force stood off Groac and sent a delegation down to ask questions. They got some funny answers, and stayed on to dig around a little. After a week they left. Somewhat annoying to the Groaci, maybeat the most. If they
33、 were innocent.IF! Miss Meuhl burst out.If, indeed! Fith said, his weak voice trembling. I must protest yourSave the protests, Fith. You have some explaining to do. And I dont think your story will be good enough.It is for you to explain! This person who was beatenNot beaten. Just rapped a few times
34、 to loosen his memory.Then you admitIt worked, too. He remembered lots of things, once he put his mind to it.Fith rose; Shluh followed suit.I shall ask for your immediate recall, Mr. Consul. Were it not for your diplomatic immunity, I should do moreWhy did the government fall, Fith? It was just afte
35、r the task force paid its visit, and before the arrival of the first Terrestrial diplomatic mission.This is an internal matter! Fith cried, in his faint Groacian voice. The new regime has shown itself most amiable to you Terrestrials. It has outdone itselfto keep the Terrestrial consul and his staff
36、 in the dark, Retief said. And the same goes for the few terrestrial businessmen youve visaed. This continual round of culture; no social contacts outside the diplomatic circle; no travel permits to visit out-lying districts, or your satelliteEnough! Fiths mandibles quivered in distress. I can talk
37、no more of this matterYoull talk to me, or therell be a task force here in five days to do the talking, Retief said.You cant! Miss Meuhl gasped.Retief turned a steady look on Miss Meuhl. She closed her mouth. The Groaci sat down.Answer me this one, Retief said, looking at Shluh. A few years backabou
38、t nine, I thinkthere was a little parade held here. Some curious looking creatures were captured. After being securely caged, they were exhibited to the gentle Groaci public. Hauled through the streets. Very educational, no doubt. A highly cultural show.Funny thing about these animals. They wore clo
39、thes. They seemed to communicate with each other. Altogether it was a very amusing exhibit.Tell me, Shluh, what happened to those six Terrestrials after the parade was over?Fith made a choked noise and spoke rapidly to Shluh in Groacian. Shluh retracted his eyes, shrank down in his chair. Miss Meuhl
40、 opened her mouth, closed it and blinked rapidly.How did they die? Retief snapped. Did you murder them, cut their throats, shoot them or bury them alive? What amusing end did you figure out for them? Research, maybe? Cut them open to see what made them yell.No! Fith gasped. I must correct this terri
41、ble false impression at once.False impression, hell, Retief said. They were Terrans! A simple narco-interrogation would get that out of any Groacian who saw the parade.Yes, Fith said weakly. It is true, they were Terrestrials. But there was no killing.Theyre alive?Alas, no. They . died.Miss Meuhl ye
42、lped faintly.I see, Retief said. They died.We tried to keep them alive, of course. But we did not know what foodsDidnt take the trouble to find out, either, did you?They fell ill, Fith said. One by one.Well deal with that question later, Retief said. Right now, I want more information. Where did you
43、 get them? Where did you hide the ship? What happened to the rest of the crew? Did they fall ill before the big parade?There were no more! Absolutely, I assure you!Killed in the crash landing?No crash landing. The ship descended intact, east of the city. The . Terrestrials . were unharmed. Naturally
44、, we feared them. They were strange to us. We had never before seen such beings.Stepped off the ship with guns blazing, did they?Guns? No, no gunsThey raised their hands, didnt they? Asked for help. You helped them; helped them to death.How could we know? Fith moaned.How could you know a flotilla wo
45、uld show up in a few months looking for them, you mean? That was a shock, wasnt it? Ill bet you had a brisk time of it hiding the ship, and shutting everybody up. A close call, eh?We were afraid, Shluh said. We are a simple people. We feared the strange creatures from the alien craft. We did not kil
46、l them, but we felt it was as well they . did not survive. Then, when the warships came, we realized our error. But we feared to speak. We purged our guilty leaders, concealed what had happened, and . offered our friendship. We invited the opening of diplomatic relations. We made a blunder, it is tr
47、ue, a great blunder. But we have tried to make amends.Where is the ship?The ship?What did you do with it? It was too big to just walk off and forget. Where is it?The two Groacians exchanged looks.We wish to show our contrition, Fith said. We will show you the ship.Miss Meuhl, Retief said. If I dont come back in a reasonable length of time, transmit that recording to Regional Headquarters, sealed. He stood, looked at the Groaci.Lets go, he said.Retief stooped under the heavy