Sleepers Of Mars
- Автор: Уиндем Джон Паркс Лукас Бейнон Харрис
- Год: 1977
- Язык: английский
- Год: Coronet Books/Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
- ISBN: 0340173262
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Sleepers Of Mars». Краткое содержание книги:
Of course, we are now well used to the idea of Man On The Moon, we have become blasé as to the possibilities of inter-planetary travel. But imagine two expeditions to Mars, one British, the other Russian, both in the process of discovering a mechanical race, invented and produced by the Martians as they believe their specie to be dying.
The other four novellas in this collection give further evidence of John Wyndham’s genius at invention, characterisation and sense of movement.
‘It may be,’ he pointed out, ‘that this is not an advance at all, as they mean it, but merely the normal rate of growth.’
‘God forbid! ’ said David fervently.
‘What scientists have they got on the job?’ asked Dirk.
‘None. They reckoned they could tackle this thing all right without them—it’d mean extra expense to bring them along.’
Dick grunted. ‘Probably save you expense in the end,’ he commented.
They looked out across the clearing. Save for the increased number of holes in her sides, the Hurakan looked just as they had first seen her the previous day. The sunlight bathed her, glittering in sparkling flashes from her polished plates. To all appearances, there was nothing amiss between her and them; nothing to stop one from walking right up to her and entering. Staring intently one could fancy, perhaps, the slightest haze about her; something more tenuous than rising heat, but enough to make the edges not quite sharp. Nevertheless, David realised that, unwarned, he would have walked right into the invisible trap without a suspicion.
With the relinquishing or his responsibility to the inspector, the sergeant’s spirits had become more normal. The other had taken over without enthusiasm, and was now a troubled man. He nodded in a depressed way to David and Dirk, as they came up, and asked a few questions in a tone which showed that he expected little help from them. A few minutes later, a man in military uniform strolled across from the protecting cordon, and introduced himself.
He was, it seemed, a Captain Forbes, and not unpleased with the fact. He gazed across at the Hurakan in a bored style, and his manner was a blend of faint amusement and superiority. He spoke of his commander who had sent him, but had given no reason.
‘Well, Inspector,’ he said, ‘you’ve certainly managed to stir up our people—they’ve sent me along to reinforce you with a party of men and a machine-gun. What’s it all about?’
The sergeant explained the situation again; and the inspector, though he had heard it before, listened to his subordinate with an expression of increasing anxiety. At the end of the report, and David’s description of Toby’s end, he nodded slowly and gazed thoughtfully towards the ship.
‘As we have no more evidence to go on, we must conclude that the crash killed all the men aboard and set free some queer specimen they were bringing home with them, as our young friends here seem to think. Or else that the thing got free on the journey, attacked them and possibly killed the only men competent to land the ship properly. But there’s no proof which it was.’
Captain Forbes, with a scepticism born of little imagination, protested.
‘But that sounds absurd. What do you reckon the thing is?’ David disclaimed all pretence of knowledge, but suggested that it was some kind of animal. It might equally well be plant, he admitted, but he thought not.
Captain Forbes smiled with a kindly tolerance, lit a cigarette and began to saunter towards the ship. Dirk caught him by the arm.
‘Don’t be a fool ! I don’t blame you for not believing us, but take a look at this.’
He caught up the branch which the sergeant had dropped the previous day, and exhibited the teethmarks. The captain examined them with close attention, and lost his ambition to advance at the moment.
The inspector turned to David.
‘You’ve thought of no way of tackling this thing, I suppose?’ David shook his head. Dirk chimed in : ‘I’ve thought of one thing which may, or may not, be important.’
‘And that is?’
‘To prevent it from reaching the trees, if possible. You notice that it has consumed all the wood it has found. That may be merely a method of removing obstruction, but I doubt it: it didn’t deal with the metal that way. I shouldn’t be surprised to find that it feeds on wood.’
With his eye, the inspector measured the distance between the wreck and the trees—a quarter was already covered in the majority of places. Captain Forbes fidgeted impatiently.
‘Look here, Inspector, I know this is your show, but what about letting me try my machine-gun on the thing—that’ll tear it to bits.’
The other hesitated, and then agreed. He had little faith in the power of a machine-gun against the creature—if such it was—but no harm seemed likely to result. As the captain strolled off, a thought struck him, and he scribbled a few words on a piece of paper which he handed to a constable with instructions for him to hurry.
A puzzled-looking party of machine-gunners arrived, and was steered into position a few yards from the danger line. When it was explained that they were to set up their weapon at this spot, they appeared at first resentful, and then amused. They planted the gun with the air of men who humoured the half-witted.
‘Bit o’ target practice—only there ain’t no target,’ muttered one of them.
The gunner settled himself. ‘What do we aim for, sir?’
‘Just aim straight ahead.’
The man shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, and drummed a short burst. The crew gasped audibly. Each bullet had uncannily mushroomed out, and now hung, a splotch of lead, in mid-air.
‘Can’t say as I like this,’ one of the men muttered nervously. ‘What the hell is it, anyway?’
The gun choked out another rattling burst, with identical results. David shot a sidelong glance at the captain; the expression of the latter was highly gratifying. The gunner turned an astonished face.
‘Any more, sir?’ he inquired.
‘Look out! ’ shouted David. The blobs of lead had risen and surged forward. The gun crew, now thoroughly rattled, jumped back. One man tripped over the tripod and fell. There came a crunching sound, followed by a cry of agony— and the man’s boot, with his foot still inside, began to move slowly away. His companions turned and dragged him back.
Captain Forbes’s face turned a peculiar colour as he stared foolishly at the severed foot. For the first time, it seemed to dawn on him that the affair was not a hoax, after all.
‘Well, your machine-gun hasn’t cut much ice,’ commented the inspector, unkindly. ‘When they bring the stuff I’ve sent for, we’ll try another trick.’
They were forced to wait for half an hour before a small party appeared carrying a bulky object, which a closer view revealed to be a bale of cotton-waste. Behind them followed two more men carrying cans of petrol.
‘Soak the stuff,’ directed the inspector, as they lowered it. ‘Pour the lot over it—and get some long poles.’
The lighted bale flared furiously. Four men approached and began to lever it forward with the poles, while the rest stood intently awaiting the outcome.
‘If it’s a success, we’ll get some flame throwers,’ the inspector was saying.
The bale came to an abrupt stop as it met the unseen barrier. It rested there, flaming smokily.
‘Push again! ’
The obstruction had withdrawn, and the bale was able to advance a full turn before the next check. The sergeant showed what for him was unusual excitement.
‘Bit hot for it,’ he gloated. ‘We’ve got it moving, now! ’
But he was too optimistic. Just as the poles came forward for a further thrust, there came a thud which shook the ground; the flames were snuffed out, and nothing but a charred smear remained of the flattened bale. The pole-holders speedily retreated.
‘Damned if it hasn’t jumped on it !’ snorted the sergeant indignantly.
The inspector pushed back his cap and scratched his head. His expression, as he gazed towards the Hurakan, was one of utter loss. Captain Forbes was no less taken aback, but after a few minutes’ thought, he broke into a smile. He stepped closer to the inspector, and made a suggestion. The other looked doubtful.