Harry Harrison - To the Stars 99 by To the Stars Trilogy

Author:To the Stars Trilogy [Trilogy, To the Stars]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-12T12:49:19+00:00

Ten

The two of them were eating together at the folding table in the rear of the engine. The Road was straight and flat, and Otakar was alone at the wheel. When they talked quietly he could not hear them. Hyzo was below with Emo; the occasional cry and slap of cards indicated what they were doing. Jan had no appetite but he ate because he knew he had to. Alzbeta ate slowly, as though she wasn’t aware of what she was doing.

“I had to,” Jan said, his voice almost a whisper. She did not answer. “Don’t you understand that? You haven’t said a word to me since. Two days now.” She looked down at her plate. “You’ll answer me or you’ll go back to your family car with the others.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. You killed them.”

“I knew it was that. I did not~they killed themselves”

“Just children.”

“Stupid children, now dead ones. Why weren’t their parents watching them? Where was the supervision? The families here must breed for stupidity. Everyone knows what kind of animal life there is in that jungle. We never stop there. What could the doctor have done?”

“We don’t know.”

“We do know. The children would have died in any case, and perhaps the doctor and others as well. Don’t you understand I had no choice? I had to think of all of the others.”

Alzbeta looked down at her clasped hands, her fingers wrung tightly together. “It just seems so very wrong.

“I know it does-and it was not easy to do. Do you think I have slept since they died? It’s on my conscience if that makes you feel any better. But how would I have felt if I had stopped and there were more casualties? The children would have died in any case before the doctor reached them. Stopping would only have made matters worse.

“Perhaps you’re right; I’m not sure anymore.

“And perhaps I was wrong. But right or wrong I had to do what I did. There was no choice.”

They let it rest there; there was no simple answer. The trek continued, along the chain of islands, along the planed mountain peaks. At times they could see the ocean on both sides and, from this high up, it almost looked attractive. The teeming life could not be seen, just the white tops and the marching rows of waves. Very soon a blur on the horizon grew to a long range of mountains. Before they arrived at the southern continent Jan ordered a full eight hour stop. All running gear, tires, brakes, wheels, were inspected and all of the air filters cleaned again, though they did not need it. Another jungle was ahead and there would be no stopping. It was not as wide as the one north of the island chain, but was just as virulent.

This was the last barrier, the last trial. They went through it in three days, without stopping, and into the tunnel beyond. When the last train was well inside the tunnel they halted to rest, then~drove on short hours later.

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