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.” He waved his hand.“She’s back at camp with The Temperance right now,laying in supplies for an expeditionary voyage we’re going to make to the interior.That’s why Ichased after you, to tell the truth.If you’d been good old Kedgeree Kirk, I was going to offer youa place in the crew.”“Hurley.” said the professor with some irritation.“In any case, it seems like every time I turn around, one of these green-skinned wallahs is tryingto abduct Joanna.She’s a sturdy gal, and admirable as all get out, but it’s really a bit much.Andmonsters – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to pull her out of some squanch-hole orother.”“For goodness sakes, Hurley, I’m trying to ask Mister Jonas some questions.”“Look here, Bags, just for once you’ve got to let go of all this science twaddle.This poorfellow’s fiancée has been kidnapped by the priests and they’re going to sacrifice the girl!They’ve beaten him so badly that he can hardly remember his own name! And you’d just as soonpoke and prod him as offer him any help, wouldn’t you?”“Here now,” said the professor, taken aback.“I’m not sure.” Paul began, but Hurley Brummond stood up, unfolding to the full extent of hisimpressive height.“Don’t you worry, lad,” he said, and almost knocked Paul across the table with a comradelycrack on the back.“I’ll ask around – there’s more than a few, both green and white, who owe afavor to Brummond of Mars.Yes, that’s just what I’ll do.Bags, I’ll meet you both in back of theclub at sundown.”He was gone from the room in three strides, leaving Paul and the professor almost breathless.“He’s a good lad,” Bagwalter said at last.“Tough as nails and big-hearted.And my Joanna loveshim dearly.” He took a sip of his sherry.“But I do wish sometimes he weren’t so damnedstupid.”Far across the desert, the sun had almost disappeared behind the distant mountains, going to itsrest contented after a long day scorching the upturned face of Mars.The last rays struck crimsonglints from all of Tuktubim’s windows and translucent spires.From the balcony at the back of the Ares Club, Paul stared down the hillside on what seemed tobe a vast scatter of rubies and diamonds.For a moment, he wondered if this place could be thehome he had sought.It was strange, but somehow quite familiar as well.He could not rememberwhere he had been last, but he knew it had been somewhere different – there had been severalsomewheres in his past, he felt sure – and even without the specific memories, he felt rootlessweariness in his bones and thoughts.“Look at that!” said Gally, pointing.Not far away a huge flying ship, similar in shape to theceremonial barges they had seen on the Great Canal, was slowly rising past the towertops intothe evening sky, guide ropes dangling.Hundreds of dark shapes moved on its decks and in thecomplicated rigging.Lanterns glowed along its length, dozens of bright-burning points.Thebarge almost seemed to be a living constellation sprung from the vaults of the night.“It’s beautiful.” Paul looked down.Gally was rapt, wide-eyed, and Paul felt something likepride that he had protected this boy, had brought him safely out of.out of.? It was useless – thememory would not come.“It’s too bad Klooroo didn’t stay to see this,” he continued.“But Isuppose it’s all very familiar to him.” Klooroo of the Fisher People, perhaps feeling he hadfulfilled his promise once Paul had discovered other Earthmen, had brought Gally back from thebazaar and then headed off to his shanty town beside the canal.“Still, he was kind to us, and Iwas sad to see him go.”“He was only a nimbor,” said Gally dismissively.Paul stared at the boy, who was still raptly watching the airship.The remark seemed oddly outof character, as though Gally had absorbed some of the attitudes of those around him.“Wind from the desert tonight.” Professor Bagwalter released a thin stream of smoke from hislips, then screwed his cigar back into the corner of his mouth.“It will be hotter tomorrow.”Paul found that hard to imagine.“I don’t want to keep the boy up too late.Do you think MisterBrummond is going to be here soon.?”The professor shrugged.“You never can tell with Hurley.” He produced and examined hispocketwatch.“He’s only a quarter of an hour late.I shouldn’t worry.”“It’s flying away!” said Gally.The large airship was disappearing into the growing darkness.Only the lights were visible now, bright pinpoints growing ever smaller.Bagwalter smiled at the boy, then turned to Paul [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]