The Stainless Steel Rat: The Gateway Collection by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison [Harrison, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575122659
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2015-12-30T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

We were very silent on our return trip, scarcely aware of the manifold pleasures that rode with us in our Transport of Delight. Only behind the closed doors of our quarters did we let go. I nodded appreciatively as I listened while Floyd swore blasphemously and scatologically; he had a fine turn of phrase and went on for a long time without repeating himself.

“And I double that,” I said when lack of breath forced him to subside. “We have indeed been hard done by.”

“We have,” Steengo agreed. “But we have also been lied to.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that Heimskur was selling us a line of old camel cagal. More than half of his so-called history of science and nature was pure propaganda for the troops. If we can’t believe him about that—how can we believe him when he shovels a lot of bushwah about the artifact? Do you remember his last words?”

“No.”

“Neither do I. But I hope someone does. I imagine that you didn’t notice it—but I was doing a lot of head-scratching and nose-picking while we were doing that tour.”

Floyd wasn’t being bright today and gaped at the news. I smiled and put my index finger into my ear. “Come in ear in the sky. Do you read me?”

“No, but I hear you,” Captain Tremearne said through my fingernail.

“Good. But more important—did you listen in to our guided tour?”

“All of it. Very boring. But I recorded it anyway, the way you asked.”

“The way Steengo asked—credit where credit is due. Would you be so kind as to play back the last speech about the artifact.”

“Coming up.” After some clattering and high-pitched voices whizzing by our aged guide sounded forth.

“Discarded. Gone from Paradise. Non-existent. Men have no need of such rubbish therefore it is gone forever.”

I copied it down and got it right after a couple of repeats. “That’s it. Thanks.”

“There,” Steengo said, tapping the paper. “Weasel wording. That tricky old devil was playing with us, knowing that we had some reason to be interested in the thing. He never said destroyed, not once. Discarded? That means it might be still around someplace. Gone from Paradise—could be anywhere else on this planet. But I particularly like the bit about men having no need for the thing.” He smiled a smile like a poker player laying down five Aces.

“If men have no need for it—what about women?”

“Women?” I felt my jaw hanging open and closed it with a clack. “What about them? There are only men here?”

“How right you are. And right on the other side of the town wall is—what? I’m betting on women. Either that or an awful lot of cloning is going on in this place. I’ll bet on nature and some kind of connection through the wall.”

My jawphone buzzed and Tremearne’s voice echoed inside my sinuses. “I agree with Steengo. And so does Madonette. She’s already on her way along the wall to the city and will report as soon as she finds out anything.”

I started to protest, realized the futility, kept my mouth shut.

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