West of
West of the sun
作者：Pangborn, Edgar, 1909-1976
体例：题 章数：137
字数：334,697 来源：Project Gutenberg
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- 本站收录 1 个来源：Project Gutenberg（334,697 字）。
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- 按「题」标记切分为 137 题（Gutenberg 卷册标记）。
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- 原文溯源
cache/epub/39572/pg39572.txt（Project Gutenberg）
章节目录
共 137 题- Transcriber's Note
- THE YEAR ONE
- WEST OF THE SUN
- EDGAR PANGBORN
- To Mary C. Pangborn
- Contents
- Part One
- A.D. 2056
- Shading closed lids, Spearman said with harshness, "Myth?"
- Dorothy said, "You haven't seen these latest pictures, Doc."
- Spearman suggested: "We could take more shots. But...."
- Paul Mason broke the darkening silence. "But what, Ed?"
- The stars moved. "Paul--check straps. Over."
- Paul glanced behind him. "All set. Over."
- The earphones screamed: "Release! _Drive off!_"
- Paul noticed himself weeping. "They made it! They made it!"
- The voice said coldly, "Quiet. Your altitude? Over."
- Spearman's far-off voice said, "Life all right. I can't make out----"
- The Earphones Were Squawking: "Speak Up! Can you hear me? Can you----"
- Paul's forehead was wet. "Dark in an hour, he reminded me."
- Wright turned away. "Dorothy?"
- She said warmly, "Yes. You."
- Wright whispered with difficulty, "I will try."
- Paul said, "They're best made by one who hates making them."
- After a time he said lifelessly, "Go on with the inventory, Paul."
- It was dark when Wright's finger prodded him. "A visitor."
- Wright whispered, "The planet Lucifer did not ask for us."
- Dorothy hugged his arm. "Not even one measly robin?"
- She was startled. "Why not? I can digest boilerplate."
- Gradually Paul began to realize it. "But you said yes."
- She leaned to him, no longer smiling. "I said yes...."
- Spearman shrugged. "Must get organized. How much damage, Paul?"
- Ann muttered, "Paul, don't----"
- Wright began: "Some knowledge of the life around us----"
- Spearman groaned: "You _would_ go out."
- Wright snapped at him. "Camp in the open--some disadvantages----"
- Wright grinned at the fat man. "Pal, it better be."
- Spearman said, "Are you crazy?"
- The giant rumpled his chest fur. "Mijok."
- Dorothy whispered, "He watched over us all night."
- Paul remarked, "You're elected."
- Wright glanced helplessly at Paul. "We--"
- She glanced at him, lips quivering. "I was kind of aware of it."
- Spearman grunted, "Why? They've got a civilization, as Doc says."
- Spearman wondered: "Will the pygmies have a season too?"
- Ann suggested: "Maybe it helps...."
- Ann was amused, though her cheeks were flaming. "I was offered one."
- Paul ran to him. "The others--Dorothy? Sears?"
- Spearman groaned: "Ann, what--Use your head...."
- Part Two
- The Year One
- Sears watched him. "Yes.... Want to start back tomorrow?"
- Arek admitted: "I suppose not. But the six other villages----"
- Speaking almost like a Charin, Arek said, "They'd better."
- Rak asked in solemn curiosity, "For what is it good?"
- Sears whispered in his beard, "Less homesick?"
- Sears groaned: "There _are_ more boats above the falls."
- Paul stammered, "You look like a million dollars."
- Ann said, "I'm going overland."
- Wright muttered, "Damn it, Nancy--"
- Ann Bryan said, "I'm staying for the show."
- Wright asked, "Will you abide by a vote when Ed gets back?"
- Wright mumbled inadequately, "We'll reach the island."
- Ann said, "Then you already see it as a retreat?"
- Dorothy murmured. "Tem--tem--"
- Dunin hopped up and down. "'Tempest!' Big _big_ breeze--"
- Wright said, "You, Dorothy, Helen, and the giant children."
- Sears asked quickly, "Bring back specimens?"
- Wright let out his breath sharply. "So--"
- Spearman asked evenly, "Paul, how's the charlesite?"
- Ann's keen ears caught a far-off sound. "Mijok's coming back."
- Paul asked, "How many, Nan?"
- Sears stopped humming and mumbled, "Don't, Chris...."
- Dorothy claimed: "Seven pounds at birth--that ain't hay, Mijok."
- Sears winced. "That part ain't good."
- Spearman snapped: "Then use only three--Abara, Mijok, Elis."
- Paul caught up with him on the trail. "Look, Ed--"
- Pakriaa murmured, "I have never seen you fight."
- Dorothy said, "Paul Mason."
- Mijok's voice rumbled in the depths: "Paul Mason."
- Black lips and ancient white face smiled up at him. "If you wish."
- Paul followed him. "It's the drums--don't you think?"
- Paul sat by him, puzzled. "To thank me?"
- Her voice had warmth: "And they know you are my commander."
- Her face became sane and blank in agony. "My people--my people----"
- Wright's voice came thinly in the dark: "Abara, stop them! Sears----"
- Abara stammered. "You have talk to me too, Sears--"
- Her answer was firm and considered: "I will not leave you...."
- She muttered, "When the change comes you will return to us--"
- Wright whispered, "If they wanted it--it had to be so."
- Mijok laughed savagely. "When did he see that? Ask him."
- Paul snarled, "Yes, a dream's as near as he came to a battlefield."
- Brodaa choked: "You cannot touch Amisura. Your spear will turn--"
- Wright cried, "I forbid it, Nisana. Let them go. Brodaa!"
- Brodaa said quickly, "He asks sacrifice--you, Paul, Pakriaa--"
- Nisana whispered, "I will talk to the Vestoian--yes?"
- Pakriaa said thickly, "I am here. What to say? She is nothing."
- Abara called down: "Mister Johnson says it is safe."
- Nisana was looking up, a little afraid, uncertain. "Princess?"
- Part Three
- The Year Ten
- Dunin still grinned. "Just sail past it."
- Dorothy whispered, "I have _never_ quite believed that Ed and Ann----"
- Elis grumbled, "What's up there to burn? No vegetation. Rock."
- The smoke seemed to be thinning. "How long since our last trip over?"
- Only Nisana thought to ask, "Good voyage today, Paul?"
- Wright was carefully calm. "I'll go over, with Paul, Elis--and--"
- Dorothy said, "We measure it in Lucifer years, pretty please."
- Later she ate ravenously. "I want to tell you----"
- Arek asked, "Have you had anything to eat?"
- Nisana asked, "What is next to do?"
- Mijok said softly, "First-light is a good time."
- Nisana murmured, "With Spearman's bodyguard it could be different."
- Paul laughed. "Ed could have designed a better sloop."
- Elis suggested: "Ann has come neater to the immediate present."
- Dunin asked, "He is older than you?"
- Spearman said almost absently, "Are they?"
- Mijok broke in, utterly bewildered: "What are you saying?"
- Wright whispered, "It may not even have been from Earth."
- The crying one muttered, "I'm John."
- Pakriaa pointed up. "There! That we remember. Oh, the beautiful--"
- Arek asked evenly, "You've come to stay, I hope?"
- Kajana smiled. "So did you."
- NORA STERN: Well, naturally, Jimmy--
- ANN: If you'll excuse me--
- WRIGHT: Yes. For a long time. But now I think she--
- SPEARMAN: What--
- MUKERJI: Yes, but--
- SLADE: Why, forgive me, I supposed--I took it for granted--
- TEJRON: I knew--I knew--
- SLADE: But--
- WRIGHT: Please--
- PAUL: We have shelter, clothing, enough to eat--
- PAUL: How is--
- MUKERJI: Kittens--kinkens--
- SLADE: Well, he told me--
- PAUL: Yes--yes, almost. Maybe you'd better--