Chapter - XXIV Kapitel - XXIV Capítulo - XXIV Rozdział XXIV Capítulo - XXIV Bölüm - XXIV 第二十四章

XXIV. For a strange length of time after that, there were only hazy patches of memory that impressed themselves on Jason. Какое-то странное время после этого у Джейсона были только смутные клочки воспоминаний.

A sense of movement and large beasts around him. Walls, wood-smoke, the murmur of voices. None of it meant very much and he was too tired to care. Ничто из этого не имело большого значения, и он слишком устал, чтобы заботиться об этом. It was easier and much better just to let go. Было проще и намного лучше просто отпустить. "About time," Rhes said. — Как раз вовремя, — сказал Рес.

"A couple more days lying there like that and we would have buried you, even if you were still breathing. — Еще пару дней так полежать, и мы бы тебя похоронили, даже если бы ты еще дышал. Jason blinked at him, trying to focus the face that swam above him. Джейсон моргнул, пытаясь сфокусировать взгляд на лице, проплывающем над ним.

He finally recognized Rhes, and wanted to answer him. But talking only brought on a spell of body-wracking coughing. Но разговор только вызвал приступ изнурительного кашля. Someone held a cup to his lips and sweet fluid trickled down his throat. Кто-то поднес чашку к его губам, и сладкая жидкость потекла по его горлу. He rested, then tried again. "How long have I been here?

The voice was thin and sounded far away. Голос был тонким и звучал далеко. Jason had trouble recognizing it for his own. "Eight days.

And why didn’t you listen when I talked to you?" И почему ты не слушала, когда я говорил с тобой?» Rhes said.

"You should have stayed near the ship when you crashed.

Didn’t you remember what I said about coming down anywhere on this continent? No matter, too late to worry about that. Next time listen to what I say. Our people moved fast and reached the site of the wreck before dark. They found the broken trees and the spot where the ship had sunk, and at first thought whoever had been in it had drowned. Они нашли сломанные деревья и место, где затонул корабль, и сначала подумали, что тот, кто был в нем, утонул. Then one of the dogs found your trail, but lost it again in the swamps during the night. Потом одна из собак нашла твой след, но ночью опять потеряла его в болотах. They had a fine time with the mud and the snow and didn’t have any luck at all in finding the spoor again. They had a fine time with the mud and the snow and didn't have any luck at all in finding the spoor again. Они прекрасно провели время в грязи и снегу, и им не повезло снова найти след. By the next afternoon they were ready to send for more help when they heard your firing. Just made it, from what I hear. Только что сделал это, насколько я слышал. Lucky one of them was a talker and could tell the wild dogs to clear out. К счастью, один из них был болтливым и мог сказать диким собакам, чтобы они убирались. Would have had to kill them all otherwise, and that’s not healthy. Иначе пришлось бы их всех убить, а это нехорошо. "Thanks for saving my neck," Jason said.

"That was closer than I like to come. "That was closer than I like to come. «Это было ближе, чем мне бы хотелось. What happened after? I was sure I was done for, I remember that much. Я был уверен, что мне конец, я многое помню. Diagnosed all the symptoms of pneumonia. Диагностированы все симптомы пневмонии. Guaranteed fatal in my condition without treatment. Looks like you were wrong when you said most of your remedies were useless—they seemed to work well on me. Похоже, вы были неправы, когда говорили, что большинство ваших лекарств бесполезны — мне кажется, они хорошо подействовали на меня. His voice died off as Rhes shook his head in a slow no , lines of worry sharp-cut into his face. Его голос оборвался, когда Рес покачал головой в медленном «нет», морщины беспокойства прорезали его лицо. Jason looked around and saw Naxa and another man. They had the same deeply unhappy expressions as Rhes. "What is it?

Jason asked, feeling the trouble. — спросил Джейсон, чувствуя беспокойство. "If your remedies didn’t work—what did? Not my medikit. That was empty. I remember losing it or throwing it away. Я помню, как потерял его или выбросил. "You were dying," Rhes said slowly.

"We couldn’t cure you. Only a junkman medicine machine could do that. We got one from the driver of the food truck. "But how?

Jason asked, dazed. "You told me the city forbids you medicine. He couldn’t give you his own medikit. Not unless he was—" Если только он не был… Rhes nodded and finished the sentence.

"Dead. Of course he was dead. I killed him myself, with a great deal of pleasure. This hit Jason hard. Это сильно ударило по Джейсону.

He sagged against the pillows and thought of all those who had died since he had come to Pyrrus. Он откинулся на подушки и подумал обо всех тех, кто умер с тех пор, как он прибыл в Пирр. The men who had died to save him, died so he could live, died because of his ideas. Люди, которые умерли, чтобы спасти его, умерли, чтобы он мог жить, умерли из-за его идей. It was a burden of guilt that he couldn’t bear to think about. Это было бремя вины, о котором он не мог думать. Would it stop with Krannon—or would the city people try to avenge his death? Would it stop with Krannon—or would the city people try to avenge his death? "Don’t you realize what that means! «Неужели вы не понимаете, что это значит!

he gasped out the words. он выдохнул слова. "Krannon’s death will turn the city against you. There’ll be no more supplies. Припасов больше не будет. They’ll attack you when they can, kill your people—" "Of course we know that!

Rhes leaned forward, his voice hoarse and intense. "It wasn’t an easy decision to come to. We have always had a trading agreement with the junkmen. The trading trucks were inviolate. This was our last and only link to the galaxy outside and eventual hope of contacting them. "Yet you broke that link to save me—why?

"Only you can answer that question completely.

There was a great attack on the city and we saw their walls broken, they had to be moved back at one place. Было большое нападение на город, и мы увидели, что их стены сломаны, их пришлось отодвинуть на одно место. At the same time the spaceship was over the ocean, dropping bombs of some kind—the flash was reported. В то же время космический корабль находился над океаном, сбрасывая какие-то бомбы — сообщили о вспышке. Then the ship returned and you left it in a smaller ship. They fired at you but didn’t kill you. The little ship wasn’t destroyed either, we are starting to raise it now. Кораблик тоже не разрушился, сейчас начинаем его поднимать. What does it all mean? We had no way of telling. У нас не было возможности сказать. We only knew it was something vitally important. You were alive, but would obviously die before you could talk. Ты был жив, но, очевидно, умрешь, прежде чем заговоришь. The small ship might be repaired to fly, perhaps that was your plan and that is why you stole it for us. We couldn’t let you die, not even if it meant all-out war with the city. We couldn't let you die, not even if it meant all-out war with the city. Мы не могли позволить тебе умереть, даже если бы это означало тотальную войну с городом. The situation was explained to all of our people who could be reached by screen and they voted to save you. Ситуация была объяснена всем нашим людям, с которыми можно было связаться через экран, и они проголосовали за ваше спасение. I killed the junkman for his medicine, then rode two doryms to death to get here in time. "Now tell us—what does it mean?

What is your plan? How will it help us? Guilt leaned on Jason and stifled his mouth. Guilt leaned on Jason and stifled his mouth. Чувство вины навалилось на Джейсона и зажало ему рот.

A fragment of an ancient legend cut across his mind, about the jonah who wrecked the spacer so all in it died, yet he lived. A fragment of an ancient legend cut across his mind, about the jonah who wrecked the spacer so all in it died, yet he lived. Was that he? Had he wrecked a world? Could he dare admit to these people that he had taken the lifeboat only to save his own life? The three Pyrrans leaned forward, waiting for his words.

Jason closed his eyes so he wouldn’t see their faces. What could he tell them? If he admitted the truth they would undoubtedly kill him on the spot, considering it only justice. He wasn’t fearful for his own life any more, but if he died the other deaths would all have been in vain. And there still was a way to end this planetary war. All the facts were available now, it was just a matter of putting them together. If only he wasn’t so tired, he could see the solution. It was right there, lurking around a corner in his brain, waiting to be dragged out. It was right there, lurking around a corner in his brain, waiting to be dragged out. Whatever he did, he couldn’t admit the truth now.

If he died all hope died. He had to lie to gain time, then find the true solution as soon as he was able. That was all he could do. "You were right," Jason said haltingly.

"The small ship has an interstellar drive in it. Perhaps it can still be saved. Even if it can’t there is another way. I can’t explain now, but I will tell you when I am rested. Don’t worry. The fight is almost over. They laughed and pounded each other on the back.

When they came to shake his hand as well, he closed his eyes and made believe he was asleep. It is very hard to be a hypocrite if you aren’t trained for it. It is very hard to be a hypocrite if you aren't trained for it. Rhes woke him early the next morning.

"Do you feel well enough to travel?" he asked. "Depends what you mean by travel," Jason told him.

"If you mean under my own power, I doubt if I could get as far as that door. "You’ll be carried," Rhes broke in.

"We have a litter swung between two doryms. Not too comfortable, but you’ll get there. But only if you think you are well enough to move. We called all the people within riding distance and they are beginning to gather. By this afternoon we will have enough men and doryms to pull the ship out of the swamp. "I’ll come," Jason said, pushing himself to a sitting position.

The effort exhausted him, bringing a wave of nausea. Only by leaning his full weight against the wall could he keep from falling back. He sat, propped there, until he heard shouts and the stamping of heavy feet outside, and they came to carry him out. Он сидел, подпираемый, пока снаружи не услышал крики и топот тяжелых ног, и его вынесли. The trip drained away his small store of energy, and he fell into an exhausted sleep. Поездка истощила его небольшой запас энергии, и он заснул измученным сном.

When he opened his eyes the doryms were standing knee deep in the swamp and the salvage operation had begun. Когда он открыл глаза, доримы стояли по колено в болоте, и спасательная операция уже началась. Ropes vanished out of sight in the water while lines of struggling animals and men hauled at them. Веревки исчезли из виду в воде, а веревки дерущихся животных и людей тянули их. The beasts bellowed, the men cursed as they slipped and fell. Звери ревели, люди ругались, поскальзываясь и падая. All of the Pyrrans tugging on the lines weren’t male, women were there as well. Shorter on the average than the men, they were just as brawny. В среднем они были ниже мужчин, но были такими же мускулистыми. Their clothing was varied and many-colored, the first touch of decoration Jason had seen on this planet. Их одежда была разнообразной и разноцветной, первое украшение, которое Джейсон увидел на этой планете. Getting the ship up was a heart-breaking job. Поднять корабль было душераздирающей работой.

The mud sucked at it and underwater roots caught on the vanes. Грязь засосала его, и подводные корни зацепились за лопасти. Divers plunged time and again into the brown water to cut them free. Дайверы снова и снова погружались в коричневую воду, чтобы освободить их. Progress was incredibly slow, but the work never stopped. Jason’s brain was working even slower. The ship would be hauled up eventually—what would he do then? He had to have a new plan by that time, but thinking was impossible work. His thoughts corkscrewed and he had to fight down the rising feeling of panic. His thoughts corkscrewed and he had to fight down the rising feeling of panic. Мысли закружились, и ему пришлось бороться с нарастающим чувством паники. The sun was low when the ship’s nose finally appeared above the water. Солнце уже было низко, когда нос корабля наконец показался над водой.

A ragged cheer broke out at first sight of that battered cone of metal and they went ahead with new energy. A ragged cheer broke out at first sight of that battered cone of metal and they went ahead with new energy. При первом же взгляде на этот потрепанный металлический конус раздались рваные аплодисменты, и они двинулись вперед с новой энергией. Jason was the first one who noticed the dorym weaving towards them. Jason was the first one who noticed the dorym weaving towards them. Джейсон был первым, кто заметил, что дорим плетется к ним.

The dogs saw it, of course, and ran out and sniffed. Собаки это, конечно, увидели, выбежали и понюхали. The rider shouted to the dogs and kicked angrily at the sides of his mount. Всадник крикнул собакам и сердито брыкнул по бокам своего скакуна. Even at this distance Jason could see the beast’s heaving sides and yellow foam-flecked hide. Even at this distance Jason could see the beast's heaving sides and yellow foam-flecked hide. Даже на таком расстоянии Джейсон мог видеть вздымающиеся бока зверя и шкуру с желтыми пятнами пены. It was barely able to stagger now and the man jumped down, running ahead on foot. Теперь он едва мог шататься, и человек спрыгнул вниз, побежав вперед пешком. He was shouting something as he ran that couldn’t be heard above the noise. На бегу он что-то кричал, но этого не было слышно из-за шума. There was a single moment when the sounds slacked a bit and the running man’s voice could be heard. Был единственный момент, когда звуки немного стихли и послышался голос бегущего человека.

He was calling the same word over and over again. It sounded like wait , but Jason couldn’t be sure. Это звучало как ожидание, но Джейсон не был уверен. Others had heard him though, and the result was instantaneous. Однако другие его услышали, и результат был мгновенным. They stopped, unmoving, where they were. Many of those holding the ropes let go of them. Many of those holding the ropes let go of them. Многие из тех, кто держал веревки, отпустили их. Only the quick action of the anchor men kept the ship from sliding back under, dragging the harnessed doryms with it. Только быстрые действия якорей удержали корабль от соскальзывания обратно под воду, увлекая за собой запряженные доримы. A wave of silence washed across the swamp in the wake of the running man’s shouts. Волна тишины прокатилась по болоту после криков бегущего человека. They could be heard clearly now. " Quake! "Тряснуть!

Quake on the way! South—only safe way is south! Юг — единственный безопасный путь — юг! One by one the ropes dropped back into the water and the Pyrrans turned to wade to solid land. Веревки одна за другой опускались в воду, и пирряне повернули, чтобы перейти вброд к твердой земле.

Before they were well started Rhes' voice cracked out. Прежде чем они успели начать, голос Реса сорвался. "Stay at work! «Оставайтесь на работе!

Get the ship up, it’s our only hope now. I’ll talk to Hananas, find out how much time we have. Я поговорю с Хананасом, узнаю, сколько у нас есть времени. These solitary people were unused to orders. These solitary people were unused to orders. Эти одинокие люди не привыкли к приказам.

They stopped and milled about, reason fighting with the urgent desire to run. They stopped and milled about, reason fighting with the urgent desire to run. Они остановились и зашагали, рассудок боролся с настойчивым желанием бежать. One by one they stepped back to the ropes as they worked out the sense of Rhes' words. Один за другим они отступали к веревкам, пытаясь понять смысл слов Реса. As soon as it was clear the work would continue he turned away. Как только стало ясно, что работа будет продолжена, он отвернулся. "What is it?

What’s happening?" Jason called to him as he ran by. "It’s Hananas," Rhes said, stopping by the litter, waiting for the newcomer to reach him. — Это Хананас, — сказал Рес, останавливаясь у носилок и ожидая, пока к нему подойдет новичок.

"He’s a quakeman. "Он землетрясение. They know when quakes are coming, before they happen. Hananas ran up, panting and tired. Хананас подбежал, тяжело дыша и устал.

He was a short man, built like a barrel on stubby legs, a great white beard covering his neck and the top of his chest. Это был невысокий мужчина, сложенный как бочка, на коротких ногах, с большой белой бородой, покрывающей его шею и верхнюю часть груди. Another time Jason might have laughed at his incongruous waddle, but not now. В другой раз Джейсон мог бы посмеяться над его нелепой походкой, но не сейчас. There was a charged difference in the air since the little man had arrived. There was a charged difference in the air since the little man had arrived. С тех пор, как появился маленький человечек, в воздухе повисла заряженная разница. "Why didn’t ... you have somebody near a plate? "Why didn't ... you have somebody near a plate? «Почему не... у тебя кто-нибудь стоял возле тарелки?

I called all over this area without an answer. Я обзвонил всю эту область без ответа. Finally ... had to come myself—" Finally ... had to come myself—" "How much time do we have? "Сколько у нас есть времени?

Rhes cut in. – вмешался Рес. "We have to get that ship up before we pull out. «Мы должны поднять этот корабль, прежде чем мы отступим. "Time! "Время!

Who knows about time!" the graybeard cursed. — выругался седобородый. "Get out or you’re dead. «Уходи, или ты мертв. "Calm down, Han," Rhes said in a quieter voice, taking the oldster’s arms in both his hands. "Calm down, Han," Rhes said in a quieter voice, taking the oldster's arms in both his hands. — Успокойся, Хан, — сказал Рес более тихим голосом, беря обеими руками руки старика.

"You know what we’re doing here—and how much depends on getting the ship up. «Вы знаете, что мы здесь делаем — и как многое зависит от того, поднимем ли мы корабль. Now how does it feel? Как вы себя чувствуете? This going to be a fast one or a slow one? Это будет быстро или медленно? "Fast.

Faster than anything I felt in a long time. Быстрее, чем что-либо, что я чувствовал за долгое время. She’s starting far away though, if you had a plate here I bet Mach or someone else up near the firelands would be reporting new eruptions. Она начинается далеко, хотя, если бы у вас была тарелка здесь, я держу пари, что Мах или кто-то еще у огненных полей сообщил бы о новых извержениях. It’s on the way and, if we don’t get out soon, we’re not getting out t’all. Он уже в пути, и если мы не выберемся в ближайшее время, то не выберемся совсем. There was a burble of water as the ship was hauled out a bit farther. Послышался журчание воды, когда корабль оттащили немного дальше.

No one talked now and there was a fierce urgency in their movements. Теперь никто не разговаривал, и в их движениях была свирепая настойчивость. Jason still wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. Джейсон все еще не был уверен, что именно произошло. "Don’t shoot me for a foreigner," he said, "but just what is wrong? «Не стреляйте в меня за иностранца, — сказал он, — а что не так?

Are you expecting earthquakes here, are you sure? "Sure!

Hananas screeched. Хананас взвизгнул. "Of course I’m sure. If I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t be a quakeman. It’s on the way. Это на пути. "There’s no doubt of that," Rhes added. — В этом нет никаких сомнений, — добавил Рес.

"I don’t know how you can tell on your planet when quakes or vulcanism are going to start, machines maybe. «Я не знаю, как вы можете сказать на своей планете, когда начнутся землетрясения или вулканизм, может быть, машины. We have nothing like that. But quakemen, like Hananas here, always know about them before they happen. If the word can be passed fast enough, we get away. Если слово можно передать достаточно быстро, мы уходим. The quake is coming all right, the only thing in doubt is how much time we have. Землетрясение приближается, сомневаюсь только в том, сколько у нас есть времени. The work went on and there was a good chance they would die long before it was finished. Работа продолжалась, и была большая вероятность, что они умрут задолго до того, как она будет закончена.

All for nothing. The only way Jason could get them to stop would be to admit the ship was useless. Единственный способ, которым Джейсон мог заставить их остановиться, — это признать, что корабль бесполезен. He would be killed then and the grubber chances would die with him. Тогда его убьют, и вместе с ним умрут шансы корчевателя. He chewed his lip as the sun set and the work continued by torchlight. Он закусил губу, когда солнце село, и работа продолжилась при свете факелов. Hananas paced around, grumbling under his breath, halting only to glance at the northern horizon. Хананас ходил взад-вперед, бормоча себе под нос, останавливаясь только для того, чтобы бросить взгляд на северный горизонт.

The people felt his restlessness and transmitted it to the animals. Люди чувствовали его неугомонность и передавали ее животным. Dogfights broke out and the doryms pulled reluctantly at their harnesses. Начались воздушные бои, и доримы неохотно дергали за упряжь. With each passing second their chances grew slimmer and Jason searched desperately for a way out of the trap of his own constructing. С каждой секундой их шансы становились все меньше, и Джейсон отчаянно искал выход из ловушки, которую сам же и устроил. "Look—" someone said, and they all turned.

The sky to the north was lit with a red light. Небо на севере было освещено красным светом. There was a rumble in the ground that was felt more than heard. Под землей раздался грохот, который больше ощущался, чем слышался. The surface of the water blurred, then broke into patterns of tiny waves. Поверхность воды расплылась, затем разбилась на узоры крошечных волн. Jason turned away from the light, looking at the water and the ship. Джейсон отвернулся от света, глядя на воду и корабль. It was higher now, the top of the stern exposed. Теперь он был выше, обнажая верхнюю часть кормы. There was a gaping hole here, blasted through the metal by the spaceship’s guns. Здесь была зияющая дыра, пробитая в металле орудиями космического корабля. "Rhes," he called, his words jammed together in the rush to get them out. "Rhes," he called, his words jammed together in the rush to get them out. — Рес, — позвал он, его слова смешались в спешке, чтобы выговорить их.

"Look at the ship, at the hole blasted in her stern. «Посмотрите на корабль, на дыру, пробитую в его корме. I landed on the rockets and didn’t know how badly she was hit. Я приземлился на ракеты и не знал, насколько сильно она пострадала. But the guns hit the star drive! Но пушки попали в звездный диск! Rhes gaped at him unbelievingly as he went on. Рес недоверчиво уставился на него, пока он продолжал.

Improvising, playing by ear, trying to manufacture lies that rang of the truth. Improvising, playing by ear, trying to manufacture lies that rang of the truth. Импровизируя, играя на слух, пытаясь сфабриковать ложь, похожую на правду. "I watched them install the drive—it’s an auxiliary to the other engines. «Я видел, как устанавливали привод — он вспомогательный по отношению к другим двигателям.

It was bolted to the hull right there. Он был прикручен к корпусу прямо там. It’s gone now, blown up. Сейчас его нет, он взорван. The boat will never leave this planet, much less go to another star. Лодка никогда не покинет эту планету, тем более не отправится к другой звезде. He couldn’t look Rhes in the eyes after that. После этого он не мог смотреть Ресу в глаза.

He sank back into the furs that had been propped behind him, feeling the weakness even more. Он снова погрузился в меха, которые были подперты позади него, чувствуя слабость еще больше. Rhes was silent and Jason couldn’t tell if his story had been believed. Рес молчал, и Джейсон не мог сказать, поверили ли его рассказу. Only when the Pyrran bent and slashed the nearest rope did he know he had won. Only when the Pyrran bent and slashed the nearest rope did he know he had won. Только когда пирранец согнулся и перерезал ближайшую веревку, он понял, что победил. The word passed from man to man and the ropes were cut silently. Слово передавалось от человека к человеку, и веревки бесшумно перерезались.

Behind them the ship they had labored so hard over, sank back into the water. Позади них корабль, над которым они так тяжело трудились, снова погрузился в воду. None of them watched. Никто из них не смотрел. Each was locked in his own world of thought as they formed up to leave. Каждый был заперт в своем собственном мире мыслей, пока они собирались уходить. As soon as the doryms were saddled and packed they started out, Hananas leading the way. Как только доримы были оседланы и упакованы, они отправились в путь, Хананас шел впереди. Within minutes they were all moving, a single file that vanished into the darkness. Within minutes they were all moving, a single file that vanished into the darkness. Через несколько минут все они двинулись, единая гуська и исчезла в темноте. Jason’s litter had to be left behind, it would have been smashed to pieces in the night march. Jason's litter had to be left behind, it would have been smashed to pieces in the night march. Помет Джейсона пришлось оставить, он бы разлетелся вдребезги во время ночного марша.

Rhes pulled him up into the saddle before him, locking his body into place with a steel-hard arm. Рес усадил его в седло перед собой, зафиксировав тело твердой, как сталь, рукой. The trek continued. Поход продолжился. When they left the swamp they changed directions sharply. Выйдя из болота, они резко изменили направление.

A little later Jason knew why, when the southern sky exploded. Чуть позже Джейсон понял почему, когда южное небо взорвалось. Flames lit the scene brightly, ashes sifted down and hot lumps of rock crashed into the trees. Пламя ярко осветило сцену, просеянный пепел и горячие глыбы камней врезались в деревья. They steamed when they hit, and if it hadn’t been for the earlier rain they would have been faced with a forest fire as well. Они испарялись при попадании, и если бы не прошедший ранее дождь, их бы тоже ждал лесной пожар. Something large loomed up next to the line of march, and when they crossed an open space Jason looked at it in the reflected light from the sky. Что-то большое вырисовывалось рядом с линией марша, и когда они пересекли открытое пространство, Джейсон посмотрел на это в отраженном свете неба.

"Rhes—" he choked, pointing. — Рес… — прохрипел он, указывая.

Rhes looked at the great beast moving next to them, shaggy body and twisted horns as high as their shoulders, then looked away. Рес посмотрел на движущегося рядом с ними огромного зверя с лохматым телом и закрученными рогами до плеч, а затем отвернулся. He wasn’t frightened or apparently interested. Он не был напуган или явно заинтересован. Jason looked around then and began to understand. Джейсон огляделся и начал понимать. All of the fleeing animals made no sound, that’s why he hadn’t noticed them before. Все убегающие животные не издавали ни звука, поэтому он не заметил их раньше.

But on both sides dark forms ran between the trees. Some he recognized, most of them he didn’t. For a few minutes a pack of wild dogs ran near them, even mingling with the domesticated dogs. No notice was taken. Flying things flapped overhead. Flying things flapped overhead. Над головой хлопали летающие вещи. Under the greater threat of the volcanoes all other battles were forgotten. Life respected life. A herd of fat, piglike beasts with curling tusks, blundered through the line. Стадо толстых, похожих на свиней зверей с загнутыми клыками пробралось через линию. The doryms slowed, picking their steps carefully so they wouldn’t step on them. Общежития замедлили шаг, осторожно выбирая шаги, чтобы не наступить на них. Smaller animals sometimes clung to the backs of the bigger ones, riding untouched a while, before they leaped off. Smaller animals sometimes clung to the backs of the bigger ones, riding untouched a while, before they leaped off. Меньшие животные иногда цеплялись за спины больших, некоторое время скакали нетронутыми, прежде чем спрыгнуть. Pounded mercilessly by the saddle, Jason fell wearily into a light sleep. Безжалостно подбитый седлом, Джейсон устало провалился в легкий сон.

It was shot through with dreams of the rushing animals, hurrying on forever in silence. It was shot through with dreams of the rushing animals, hurrying on forever in silence. Он был пронизан мечтами о мчащихся животных, спешащих навеки в тишине. With his eyes open or shut he saw the same endless stream of beasts. With his eyes open or shut he saw the same endless stream of beasts. С открытыми или закрытыми глазами он видел один и тот же бесконечный поток зверей. It all meant something, and he frowned as he tried to think what. It all meant something, and he frowned as he tried to think what. Все это что-то значило, и он нахмурился, пытаясь сообразить, что именно.

Animals running, Pyrran animals. He sat bolt upright suddenly, wide awake, staring down in comprehension. He sat bolt upright suddenly, wide awake, staring down in comprehension. Внезапно он резко выпрямился, проснувшись, глядя вниз с пониманием.

"What is it?

Rhes asked. "Go on," Jason said. — Продолжай, — сказал Джейсон.

"Get us out of this, and get us out safely. «Вытащите нас отсюда, и выведите нас безопасно. I told you the lifeboat wasn’t the only answer. Я говорил тебе, спасательная шлюпка не единственный выход. I know how your people can get what they want—end the war now. Я знаю, как ваши люди могут получить то, что они хотят — прекратить войну сейчас же. There is a way, and I know how it can be done. Способ есть, и я знаю, как это сделать.