mc.theandromedastrein- 第42节

　
　　　It　produced　a　diffraction　pattern　instead　of　an　image。　This　appeared　as　a　pattern　of　geometric　dots；　in　itself　rather　mysterious；　on　a　photographic　plate。　By　using　a　puter；　the　pattern　of　dots　could　be　analyzed　and　the　structure　deduced。
　
　　　It　was　a　relatively　new　science；　retaining　an　old…fashioned　name。　Crystals　were　seldom　used　any　more；　the　term　〃X　ray　crystallography〃　dated　from　the　days　when　crystals　were　chosen　as　test　objects。　Crystals　had　regular　structures　and　thus　the　pattern　of　dots　resulting　from　a　beam　of　X　rays　shot　at　a　crystal　were　easier　to　analyze。　But　in　recent　years　the　X　rays　had　been　shot　at　irregular　objects　of　varying　sorts。　The　X　rays　were　bounced　off　at　different　angles。　A　puter　could　〃read〃　the　photographic　plate　and　measure　the　angles；　and　from　this　work　back　to　the　shape　of　the　object　that　had　caused　such　a　reflection。
　
　　　The　puter　at　Wildfire　performed　the　endless　and　tedious　calculations。　All　this；　if　done　by　manual　human　calculation；　would　take　years；　perhaps　centuries。　But　the　puter　could　do　it　in　seconds。
　
　　　***
　
　　　〃How　are　you　feeling；　Mr。　Jackson？〃　Hall　asked。
　
　　　The　old　man　blinked　his　eyes　and　looked　at　Hall；　in　his　plastic　suit。
　
　　　〃All　right。　Not　the　best；　but　all　right。〃

　　　He　gave　a　wry　grin。
　
　　　〃Up　to　talking　a　little？〃
　　　〃About　what？
　　　〃Piedmont。〃　
　　　〃What　about　it？〃
　　　〃That　night；〃　Hall　said。　〃The　night　it　all　happened。〃
　　　〃Well；　I　tell　you。　I've　lived　in　Piedmont　all　my　life。　Traveled　a　bit　been　to　LA；　and　even　up　to　Frisco。　Went　as　far　east　as　St。　Louis；　which　was　far　enough　for　me。　But　Piedmont；　that's　where　I've　lived。　And　I　have　to　tell　you〃
　
　　　〃The　night　it　all　happened；〃　Hall　repeated。
　　　He　stopped；　and　turned　his　head　away。　〃I　don't　want　to　think　about　it；〃　he　said。
　　　〃You　have　to　think　about　it。〃
　　　〃No。〃　
　
　　　He　continued　to　look　away　for　a　moment；　and　then　turned　back　to　Hall。　〃They　all　died；　did　they？〃
　
　　　〃Not　all。　One　other　survived。　〃　He　nodded　to　the　crib　next　to　Jackson。
　　　Jackson　peered　over　at　the　bundle　of　blankets。　〃Who's　that？　〃
　　　〃A　baby。〃
　　　〃Baby？　Must　be　the　Ritter　child。　Jamie　Ritter。　Real　young；　is　it？〃
　　　〃About　two　months。〃
　　　〃Yep。　That's　him。　A　real　little　heller。　Just　like　the　old　man。　Old　Ritter　likes　to　kick　up　a　storm；　and　his　kid's　the　same　way。　Squalling　morning；　noon；　and　night。　Family　couldn't　keep　the　windas　open；　on　account　of　the　squalling。
　
　　　〃Is　there　anything　else　unusual　about　Jamie？〃
　　　〃Nope。　Healthy　as　a　water　buffalo；　except　he　squalls。　I　remember　he　was　squalling　like　the　dickens　that　night。
　　　Hall　said；　〃What　night？〃
　　　〃The　night　Charley　Thomas　brought　the　damned　thing　in。　We　all　seen　it；　of　course。　It　came　down　like　one　of　them　shooting　stars；　all　glowing；　and　landed　just　to　the　north。　Everybody　was　excited；　and　Charley　Thomas　went　off　to　get　it。　Came　back　about　twenty　minutes　later　with　the　thing　in　the　back　of　his　Ford　station　wagon。　Brand…new　wagon。　He's　real　proud　of　it。〃　
　　　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　　　〃Well；　we　all　gathered　around；　looking　at　it。　Reckoned　it　must　be　one　of　those　space　things。　Annie　figured　it　was　from　Mars；　but　you　know　how　Annie　is。　Lets　her　mind　carry　her　off；　at　times。　The　rest　of　us；　we　didn't　feel　it　was　no　Martian　thing；　we　just　figured　it　was　something　sent　up　from　Cape　Canaveral。　You　know；　that　place　in　Florida　where　they　shoot　the　rockets？〃
　　　〃Yes。　Go　on。〃
　　　〃So；　once　we　figured　that　out　good　and　proper；　we　didn't　know　what　to　do。　Nothing　like　that　ever　happened　in　Piedmont；　you　know。　I　mean；　once　we　had　that　tourist　with　the　gun；　shot　up　the　anche　Chief　motel；　but　that　was　back　in　'48　and　besides；　he　was　just　a　GI　had　a　little　too　much　to　drink；　and　there　were　exterminating　circumstances。　His　gal　run　out　on　him　while　he　was　in　Germany　or　some　damn　place。　Nobody　gave　him　a　bad　time；　we　understood　how　it　was。　But　nothing　happened　since；　really。　Quiet　town。　That's　why　we　like　it；　I　reckon。〃
　　　〃What　did　you　do　with　the　capsule？〃
　　　〃Well；　we　didn't　know　what　to　do　with　it。　Al；　he　said　open　'er　up；　but　we　didn't　figure　that　was　right；　especially　since　it　might　have　some　scientific　stuff　inside；　so　we　thought　awhile。　And　then　Charley；　who　got　it　in　the　first　place；　Charley　says；　let's　give　it　to　Doc。　That's　Doc　Benedict。　He's　the　town　doctor。　Actually；　he　takes　care　of　everybody　around；　even　the　Indians。　But　he's　a　good　fella　anyhow；　and　he's　been　to　lots　of　schools。　Got　these　degrees　on　the　walls？　Well；　we　figured　Doc　Benedict　would　know　what　to　do　with　the　thing。　So　we　brought　it　to　him。
　　　〃And　then？〃
　　　〃Old　Doc　Benedict；　he's　not　so　old　actually；　he　looks　'er　over　real　careful；　like　it　was　his　patient；　and　then　he　allows　as　how　it　might　be　a　thing　from　space；　and　it　might　be　one　of　ours；　or　it　might　be　one　of　theirs。　And　he　says　he'll　take　care　of　it；　and　maybe　make　a　few　phone　calls；　and　let　everybody　know　in　a　few　hours。　See；　Doc　always　played　poker　Monday　nights　with　Charley　and　Al　and　Herb　Johnstone；　over　at　Herb's　place；　and　we　figured　that　he'd　spread　the　word　around　then。　Besides；　it　was　getting　on　suppertime　and　most　of　us　were　a　bit　hungry；　so　we　all　kind　of　left　it　with　Doc。〃
　　　〃When　was　that？〃
　　　〃Bout　seven…thirty　or　so。〃
　　　〃What　did　Benedict　do　with　the　satellite？〃
　　　〃Took　it　inside　his　house。　None　of　us　saw　it　again。　It　was　about　eight；　eight…thirty　that　it　all　started　up；　you　see。　I　was　over　at　the　gas　station；　having　a　chat　with　Al；　who　was　working　the　pump　that　night。　Chilly　night；　but　I　wanted　a　chat　to　take　my　mind　off　the　pain。　And　to　get　some　soda　from　the　machine；　to　wash　down　the　aspirin　with。　Also；　I　was　thirsty；　squeeze　makes　you　right　thirsty；　you　know。〃
　　　〃You'd　been　drinking　Sterno　that　day？〃
　　　〃Bout　six　o'clock　I　had　some；　yes。〃
　　　〃How　did　you　feel？〃
　　　〃Well；　when　I　was　with　Al；　I　felt　good。　Little　dizzy；　and　my　stomach　was　paining　me；　but　I　felt　good。　And　Al　and　me　were　sitting　inside　the　office；　you　know；　talking；　and　suddenly　he　shouts；　'Oh　God；　my　head！'　He　ups　and　runs　outside；　and　falls　down。　Right　there　in　the　street；　not　a　word　from　him。
　　　〃Well；　I　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　it。　I　figured　he　had　a　heart　attack　or　a　shock；　but　he　was　pretty　young　for　that；　so　I　went　after　him。　Only　he　was　dead。　Then　。。。　they　all　started　ing　out。　I　believe　Mrs。　Langdon；　the　Widow　Langdon；　was　next。　After　that；　I　don't　recall；　there　was　so　many　of　them。　Just　pouring　outside；　it　seemed　like。　And　they　just　grab　their　chests　and　fall；　like　they　slipped。　Only　they　wouldn't　get　up　afterward。　And　never　a　word　from　any　of　them。〃　
　　　〃What　did　you　think？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　know　what　to　think；　it　was　so　damned　peculiar。　I　was　scared；　I　don't　mind　telling　you；　but　I　tried　to　stay　calm。　I　couldn't；　naturally。　My　old　heart　was　thumping；　and　I　was　wheezin'　and　gaspin'。　I　was　scared。　I　thought　everybody　was　dead。　Then　I　heard　the　baby　crying；　so　I　knew　not　everybody　could　be　dead。　And　then　I　saw　the　General。〃　
　　　〃The　General？〃
　　　〃Oh；　we　just　called　him　that。　He　wasn't　no　general；　just　been　in　the　war；　and　liked　to　be　remembered。　Older'n　me；　he　is。　Nice　fella；　Peter　Arnold。　Steady　as　a　rock　all　his　life　and　he's　standing　by　the　porch；　all　got　up　in　his　military　clothes。　It's　dark；　but　there's　a　moon；　and　he　sees　me　in　the　street　and　he　says；　'That　you；　Peter？'　We　both　got　the　same　name；　see。　And　I　says；　'Yes　it　is。'　And　he　says；　'What　the　hell's　happening？　Japs　ing　in？　And　I　think　that's　a　mighty　peculiar　thing；　for　him　to　be　saying。　And　he　says；　'I　think　it　must　be　the　Japs；　e　to　kill　us　all。'　And　I　say；　'Peter；　you　gone　loco？'　And　he　says　he　don't　feel　too　good　and　he　goes　inside。　Course；　he　must　have　gone　loco；　'cause　he　shot　himself。　But　others　went　loco；　too。　It　was　the　disease。〃
　　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　　〃People　don't　burn　themselves；　or　drown　themselves；　if　they　got　sense；　do　they？　All　them　in　that　town　were　good；　normal　folks　until　that　night。　Then　they　just　seemed　to　go　crazy。〃
　　　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　　　〃I　thought　to　myself；　Peter；　you're　dreaming。　You　had　too　much　to　drink。　So　I　went　home　and　got　into　bed；　and　figured　I'd　be　better　in　the　morning。　Only　about　ten　o'clock；　I　hear　a　noise；　and　it's　a　car；　so　I　go　outside　to　se