×

Usamos cookies para ayudar a mejorar LingQ. Al visitar este sitio, aceptas nuestras politicas de cookie.

Start learning this lesson now
image

Deathworld by Harry Harrison, Chapter - XI

Chapter - XI

XI.

Resealing the cellar, they carried the box back to Jason's new office.

Only after spraying with decontaminant, did they examine it closely. Meta picked out engraved letters on the lid. "S. T. POLLUX VICTORY—that must be the name of the spacer this log came from.

But I don't recognize the class, or whatever it is the initials S. T. stand for. "Stellar Transport," Jason told her, as he tried the lock mechanism.

"I've heard of them but I've never seen one. They were built during the last wave of galactic expansion. Really nothing more than gigantic metal containers, put together in space. After they were loaded with people, machinery and supplies, they would be towed to whatever planetary system had been chosen. These same tugs and one-shot rockets would brake the S. 's in for a landing. Then leave them there. The hull was a ready source of metal and the colonists could start right in building their new world. And they were big . All of them held at least fifty thousand people ..." Only after he said it, did he realize the significance of his words.

Meta's deadly stare drove it home. There were now less people on Pyrrus than had been in the original settlement. And human population, without rigid birth controls, usually increased geometrically.

Jason dinAlt suddenly remembered Meta's itchy trigger finger. "But we can't be sure how many people were aboard this one," he said hurriedly.

"Or even if this is the log of the ship that settled Pyrrus. Can you find something to pry this open with? The lock is corroded into a single lump. Meta took her anger out on the box.

Her fingers managed to force a gap between lid and bottom. She wrenched at it. Rusty metal screeched and tore. The lid came off in her hands and a heavy book thudded to the table. The cover legend destroyed all doubt.

LOG OF S. T. POLLUX VICTORY.

OUTWARD BOUND—SETANI TO PYRRUS. 55,000 SETTLERS ABOARD. Meta couldn't argue now.

She stood behind Jason with tight-clenched fists and read over his shoulder as he turned the brittle, yellowed pages. He quickly skipped through the opening part that covered the sailing preparations and trip out. Only when he had reached the actual landing did he start reading slowly. The impact of the ancient words leaped out at him. "Here it is," Jason shouted.

"Proof positive that we're on the right trail. Even you will have to admit that. Read it, right here. ... Second day since the tugs left, we are completely on our own now.

The settlers still haven't grown used to this planet, though we have orientation talks every night. As well as the morale agents who I have working twenty hours a day. I suppose I really can't blame the people, they all lived in the underways of Setani and I doubt if they saw the sun once a year. This planet has weather with a vengeance, worse than anything I've seen on a hundred other planets. Was I wrong during the original planning stages not to insist on settlers from one of the agrarian worlds? People who could handle the outdoors. These citified Setanians are afraid to go out in the rain.

But of course they have adapted completely to their native 1.5 gravity so the two gee here doesn't bother them much. That was the factor that decided us. Anyway—too late now to do anything about it. Or about the unending cycle of rain, snow, hail, hurricanes and such. Answer will be to start the mines going, sell the metals and build completely enclosed cities. The only thing on this forsaken planet that isn't actually against us are the animals.

A few large predators at first, but the guards made short work of them. The rest of the wild life leaves us alone. Glad of that! They have been fighting for existence so long that I have never seen a more deadly looking collection. Even the little rodents no bigger than a man's hand are armored like tanks ... "I don't believe a word of it," Meta broke in.

"That can't be Pyrrus he's writing about ..." Her words died away as Jason wordlessly pointed to the title on the cover. He continued scanning the pages, flipping them quickly.

A sentence caught his eye and he stopped. Jamming his finger against the place, he read aloud. "'... And troubles keep piling up.

First Har Palo with his theory that the vulcanism is so close to the surface that the ground keeps warm and the crops grow so well. Even if he is right—what can we do? We must be self-dependent if we intend to survive. And now this other thing. It seems that the forest fire drove a lot of new species our way. Animals, insects and even birds have attacked the people. (Note for Har: check if possible seasonal migration might explain attacks.) There have been fourteen deaths from wounds and poisoning. We'll have to enforce the rules for insect lotion at all times. And I suppose build some kind of perimeter defense to keep the larger beasts out of the camp. "This is a beginning," Jason said.

"At least now we are aware of the real nature of the battle we're engaged in. It doesn't make Pyrrus any easier to handle, or make the life forms less dangerous, to know that they were once better disposed towards mankind. All this does is point the way. Something took the peaceful life forms, shook them up, and turned this planet into one big deathtrap for mankind. That something is what I want to uncover.

Chapter - XI Kapitel - XI Capítulo - XI Rozdział - XI Capítulo - XI Глава - XI Bölüm - XI 第十一章

XI.

Resealing the cellar, they carried the box back to Jason’s new office. Запечатав подвал, они отнесли коробку обратно в новый офис Джейсона.

Only after spraying with decontaminant, did they examine it closely. Только после опрыскивания обеззараживающим средством внимательно осмотрели. Meta picked out engraved letters on the lid. Мета выбрала выгравированные буквы на крышке. "S. T. POLLUX VICTORY—that must be the name of the spacer this log came from. "ST POLLUX VICTORY - это должно быть имя космонавта, от которого пришел этот журнал.

But I don’t recognize the class, or whatever it is the initials S. T. stand for. Но я не узнаю ни класс, ни что там обозначают инициалы ST. "Stellar Transport," Jason told her, as he tried the lock mechanism. «Звездный транспорт», — сказал ей Джейсон, пробуя механизм замка.

"I’ve heard of them but I’ve never seen one. They were built during the last wave of galactic expansion. Really nothing more than gigantic metal containers, put together in space. After they were loaded with people, machinery and supplies, they would be towed to whatever planetary system had been chosen. После того, как они будут загружены людьми, оборудованием и припасами, их отбуксируют к любой выбранной планетарной системе. These same tugs and one-shot rockets would brake the S. Эти же буксиры и однозарядные ракеты затормозили бы S. 's in for a landing. готовится к посадке. Then leave them there. The hull was a ready source of metal and the colonists could start right in building their new world. Корпус был готовым источником металла, и колонисты могли прямо сейчас начать строить свой новый мир. And they were big . И они были большими. All of them held at least fifty thousand people ..." Все они вмещали не менее пятидесяти тысяч человек…» Only after he said it, did he realize the significance of his words.

Meta’s deadly stare drove it home. Смертельный взгляд Меты довел его до конца. There were now less people on Pyrrus than had been in the original settlement. Теперь на Пирре было меньше людей, чем в первоначальном поселении. And human population, without rigid birth controls, usually increased geometrically. And human population, without rigid birth controls, usually increased geometrically.

Jason dinAlt suddenly remembered Meta’s itchy trigger finger. Джейсон ДинАльт внезапно вспомнил зудящий палец Меты. "But we can’t be sure how many people were aboard this one," he said hurriedly. — Но мы не можем точно сказать, сколько людей было на борту этого, — поспешно сказал он.

"Or even if this is the log of the ship that settled Pyrrus. «Или даже если это бортовой журнал корабля, заселившего Пирра. Can you find something to pry this open with? Can you find something to pry this open with? Вы можете найти что-нибудь, чтобы открыть это? The lock is corroded into a single lump. Замок разъеден в единый комок. Meta took her anger out on the box. Мета выместила свой гнев на коробке.

Her fingers managed to force a gap between lid and bottom. Ее пальцам удалось пробить щель между крышкой и дном. She wrenched at it. Она дернулась. Rusty metal screeched and tore. The lid came off in her hands and a heavy book thudded to the table. The lid came off in her hands and a heavy book thudded to the table. Крышка оторвалась у нее в руках, и тяжелая книга с глухим стуком упала на стол. The cover legend destroyed all doubt. Легенда на обложке развеяла все сомнения.

LOG OF S. T. POLLUX VICTORY.

OUTWARD BOUND—SETANI TO PYRRUS. ВНЕШНЯЯ СВЯЗЬ — СЕТАНИ С ПИРРОМ. 55,000 SETTLERS ABOARD. 55 000 ПОСЕЛЕНЦЕВ НА БОРТУ. Meta couldn’t argue now. Мета не могла сейчас спорить.

She stood behind Jason with tight-clenched fists and read over his shoulder as he turned the brittle, yellowed pages. She stood behind Jason with tight-clenched fists and read over his shoulder as he turned the brittle, yellowed pages. Она стояла позади Джейсона, крепко сжав кулаки, и читала через его плечо, пока он перелистывал ломкие пожелтевшие страницы. He quickly skipped through the opening part that covered the sailing preparations and trip out. Он быстро пропустил вступительную часть, посвященную подготовке к отплытию и отплытию. Only when he had reached the actual landing did he start reading slowly. Только когда он добрался до самой площадки, он начал медленно читать. The impact of the ancient words leaped out at him. The impact of the ancient words leaped out at him. Влияние древних слов поразило его. "Here it is," Jason shouted. — Вот оно, — крикнул Джейсон.

"Proof positive that we’re on the right trail. «Доказательство того, что мы на правильном пути. Even you will have to admit that. Даже вам придется это признать. Read it, right here. Прочтите это прямо здесь. ... Second day since the tugs left, we are completely on our own now. ...Второй день после ухода буксиров, теперь мы полностью предоставлены сами себе.

The settlers still haven’t grown used to this planet, though we have orientation talks every night. Поселенцы до сих пор не привыкли к этой планете, хотя у нас каждую ночь проходят ознакомительные беседы. As well as the morale agents who I have working twenty hours a day. As well as the morale agents who I have working twenty hours a day. Как и агенты по морали, которые у меня работают по двадцать часов в сутки. I suppose I really can’t blame the people, they all lived in the underways of Setani and I doubt if they saw the sun once a year. Полагаю, я действительно не могу винить людей, все они жили в подземельях Сетани, и я сомневаюсь, что они видели солнце хотя бы раз в году. This planet has weather with a vengeance, worse than anything I’ve seen on a hundred other planets. This planet has weather with a vengeance, worse than anything I've seen on a hundred other planets. На этой планете погода мстительная, хуже, чем что-либо, что я видел на сотне других планет. Was I wrong during the original planning stages not to insist on settlers from one of the agrarian worlds? Was I wrong during the original planning stages not to insist on settlers from one of the agrarian worlds? Был ли я не прав на начальных этапах планирования, не настаивая на поселенцах из одного из аграрных миров? People who could handle the outdoors. Люди, которые могли справиться с на открытом воздухе. These citified Setanians are afraid to go out in the rain. These citified Setanians are afraid to go out in the rain. Эти городские сетанцы боятся выходить под дождь.

But of course they have adapted completely to their native 1.5 gravity so the two gee here doesn’t bother them much. That was the factor that decided us. Это был фактор, который определил нас. Anyway—too late now to do anything about it. Or about the unending cycle of rain, snow, hail, hurricanes and such. Или о бесконечном цикле дождя, снега, града, ураганов и тому подобного. Answer will be to start the mines going, sell the metals and build completely enclosed cities. Answer will be to start the mines going, sell the metals and build completely enclosed cities. Ответ будет заключаться в том, чтобы запустить шахты, продавать металлы и строить полностью закрытые города. The only thing on this forsaken planet that isn’t actually against us are the animals. The only thing on this forsaken planet that isn't actually against us are the animals. Единственное, что на этой заброшенной планете не против нас, это животные.

A few large predators at first, but the guards made short work of them. A few large predators at first, but the guards made short work of them. Сначала было несколько крупных хищников, но охранники быстро с ними расправились. The rest of the wild life leaves us alone. Glad of that! They have been fighting for existence so long that I have never seen a more deadly looking collection. Они боролись за существование так долго, что я никогда не видел более смертоносной коллекции. Even the little rodents no bigger than a man’s hand are armored like tanks ... Even the little rodents no bigger than a man's hand are armored like tanks ... Даже маленькие грызуны размером с ладонь человека бронированы как танки... "I don’t believe a word of it," Meta broke in. — Я не верю ни единому слову, — вмешалась Мета.

"That can’t be Pyrrus he’s writing about ..." Her words died away as Jason wordlessly pointed to the title on the cover. «Это не может быть Пиррус, о котором он пишет…» Ее слова замерли, когда Джейсон безмолвно указал на заголовок на обложке. He continued scanning the pages, flipping them quickly. Он продолжал просматривать страницы, быстро перелистывая их.

A sentence caught his eye and he stopped. Jamming his finger against the place, he read aloud. Jamming his finger against the place, he read aloud. Прижав палец к месту, он прочитал вслух. "'... And troubles keep piling up. "'... А неприятности копятся.

First Har Palo with his theory that the vulcanism is so close to the surface that the ground keeps warm and the crops grow so well. Сначала Хар Пало со своей теорией о том, что вулканизм так близок к поверхности, что земля сохраняет тепло и урожай так хорошо растет. Even if he is right—what can we do? Даже если он прав — что мы можем сделать? We must be self-dependent if we intend to survive. Мы должны быть самостоятельными, если хотим выжить. And now this other thing. It seems that the forest fire drove a lot of new species our way. Кажется, что лесной пожар прогнал нам много новых видов. Animals, insects and even birds have attacked the people. (Note for Har: check if possible seasonal migration might explain attacks.) (Примечание для Хара: проверьте, может ли сезонная миграция объяснить атаки.) There have been fourteen deaths from wounds and poisoning. We’ll have to enforce the rules for insect lotion at all times. Нам придется постоянно следить за соблюдением правил для лосьона от насекомых. And I suppose build some kind of perimeter defense to keep the larger beasts out of the camp. "This is a beginning," Jason said.

"At least now we are aware of the real nature of the battle we’re engaged in. «По крайней мере, теперь мы осознаем истинный характер битвы, в которой мы участвуем. It doesn’t make Pyrrus any easier to handle, or make the life forms less dangerous, to know that they were once better disposed towards mankind. It doesn't make Pyrrus any easier to handle, or make the life forms less dangerous, to know that they were once better disposed towards mankind. Знание того, что когда-то они были лучше расположены к человечеству, не облегчает обращение с Пирром и не делает формы жизни менее опасными. All this does is point the way. Все это указывает путь. Something took the peaceful life forms, shook them up, and turned this planet into one big deathtrap for mankind. Something took the peaceful life forms, shook them up, and turned this planet into one big deathtrap for mankind. Что-то взяло мирные формы жизни, встряхнуло их и превратило эту планету в одну большую смертельную ловушку для человечества. That something is what I want to uncover. Это то, что я хочу раскрыть.