*The Outpost and the Aliens*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u54e8\u5361\u548c\u5916\u661f\u4eba<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I began sweeping the floor again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u53c8\u5f00\u59cb\u64e6\u8d77\u4e86\u5730\u677f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That’s the fifth time you’ve swept up in the last hour,” said Willie the Bard. “How much cleaner does the place have to be before you’re happy?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u4e0a\u4e2a\u949f\u5934\u4f60\u5df2\u7ecf\u64e6\u4e86\u5f97\u6709\u4e94\u5341\u6b21\u4e86\u3002\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u5a01\u5229\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u4f60\u5728\u9ad8\u5174\u4e4b\u524d\u8fd9\u5730\u65b9\u5f97\u6709\u591a\u5e72\u51c0\u554a\uff1f\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s just nervous energy,” I said. “They’re fighting a war out there, and we’re stuck here at the Outpost.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bard glanced out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u6211\u5c31\u662f\u592a\u7d27\u5f20\u4e86\u800c\u5df2\uff0c\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u4ed6\u4eec\u5c31\u5728\u5916\u9762\u6253\u7740\u4ed7\uff0c\u6211\u4eec\u5374\u9677\u5728\u5c97\u54e8\u8fd9\u91cc\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Uh … I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings,” he said nervously, “but we’re not as far from the war as you<\/p>\n\n\n\n
think.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u5443\u2026\u2026\u6211\u4e0d\u60f3\u5f53\u4e13\u95e8\u9001\u574f\u6d88\u606f\u7684\u4eba\uff0c\u201d\u4ed6\u7d27\u5f20\u5730\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u4e0d\u8fc7\u6211\u4eec\u5176\u5b9e\u6ca1\u4f60\u60f3\u7684\u79bb\u6218\u4e89\u90a3\u4e48\u8fdc\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What’s happening?” I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u600e\u4e48\u4e86\uff1f\u201d\u6211\u95ee\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A ship just landed.” He continued staring at it. “It’s not like any other ship I’ve ever seen.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u6709\u67b6\u98de\u8239\u964d\u843d\u4e86\uff0c\u201d\u4ed6\u7ee7\u7eed\u76ef\u7740\u5916\u9762\uff0c\u201c\u6839\u672c\u4e0d\u50cf\u6211\u89c1\u8fc7\u7684\u4efb\u4f55\u98de\u8239\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Damn!” I said. “We’ll just have to defend the place as best we can.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u8be5\u6b7b\uff01\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u4eec\u5fc5\u987b\u5c3d\u529b\u5b88\u4f4f\u8fd9\u5757\u5730\u65b9\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We?”<\/strong> repeated the Bard. “I’m a historian. I’ve never held a weapon in my life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/strong>\u6211\u4eec\uff1f\u201d<\/strong>\u8bd7\u4eba\u95ee\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u662f\u4e2a\u5386\u53f2\u5b66\u5bb6\u3002\u6211\u8fd9\u8f88\u5b50\u90fd\u6ca1\u62ff\u8fc7\u6b66\u5668\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I can’t stand them off all by myself,” I said. “Einstein’s blind, deaf and mute. You’re elected.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u8eab\u4e0a\u4e0d\u5e26\u67aa\u6211\u53ef\u5fcd\u53d7\u4e0d\u4e86\uff0c\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u7231\u56e0\u65af\u5766\u770b\u4e0d\u89c1\uff0c\u542c\u4e0d\u5230\uff0c\u8fd8\u8bf4\u4e0d\u51fa\u8bdd\u3002\u5c31\u5269\u4f60\u4e86\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Get Reggie to help.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u53bb\u627e\u96f7\u5409\u5e2e\u5fd9\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He’s a robot,” I said. “A robot can’t harm a sentient being, or, through inaction, allow harm to come to<\/p>\n\n\n\n one.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u96f7\u5409\u662f\u673a\u5668\u4eba\uff0c\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u673a\u5668\u4eba\u4e0d\u80fd\u4f24\u5bb3\u6709\u611f\u60c5\u7684\u4e8b\u7269\uff0c\u4e5f\u4e0d\u80fd\u5728\u6709\u611f\u60c5\u7684\u4e8b\u7269\u53d7\u5230\u4f24\u5bb3\u65f6\u8896\u624b\u65c1\u89c2\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Stupidest thing I ever heard,” muttered the Bard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u8fd9\u771f\u662f\u6211\u542c\u8fc7\u7684\u6700\u8822\u7684\u4e8b\u60c5\u4e86\u3002\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u5c0f\u58f0\u8bf4\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then Reggie spoke up from his position behind the bar. “On the contrary, I have absolutely no moral or<\/p>\n\n\n\n ethical compunction against harming Men or aliens.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u65f6\u96f7\u5409\u5728\u90a3\u5427\u53f0\u91cc\u9762\u5f00\u53e3\u4e86\uff0c\u201c\u6070\u6070\u76f8\u53cd\uff0c\u6211\u5b8c\u5168\u6ca1\u6709\u9053\u5fb7\u6216\u8bba\u7406\u65b9\u9762\u7684\u987e\u8651\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You don’t?” I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u4f60\u6ca1\u6709\uff1f\u201d\u6211\u95ee\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “None whatsoever.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u5b8c\u5168\u6ca1\u6709\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Good. Then grab a weapon and — “<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u597d\u5427\u3002\u90a3\u5c31\u6293\u4e0a\u4e00\u628a\u6b66\u5668\u7136\u540e\u2014\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “However,” he continued, “the only thing I know how to do is make drinks. I am totally ignorant of<\/p>\n\n\n\n firearms and military tactics. If you would like to take the necessary fourteen hours to reprogram me…”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u4e0d\u8fc7\uff0c\u201d\u4ed6\u7ee7\u7eed\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u552f\u4e00\u61c2\u7684\u4e00\u4ef6\u4e8b\u5c31\u662f\u600e\u4e48\u505a\u996e\u6599\u3002\u6211\u5b8c\u5168\u4e0d\u61c2\u5f00\u53e3\u6216\u662f\u6218\u672f\u3002\u5982\u679c\u4f60\u613f\u610f\u82b1\u4e0a\u5341\u56db\u4e2a\u5c0f\u65f6\u7ed9\u6211\u91cd\u65b0\u7f16\u7a0b\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I don’t think there’s time,” I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u73b0\u5728\u6ca1\u90a3\u4e48\u591a\u65f6\u95f4\u3002\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There isn’t,” confirmed the Bard. “They’re already marching out of the ship. Seventeen — no, eighteen —<\/p>\n\n\n\n of ’em.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u662f\u6ca1\u6709\uff0c\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u786e\u8ba4\uff0c\u201c\u4ed6\u4eec\u5df2\u7ecf\u4ece\u98de\u8239\u91cc\u51fa\u6765\u4e86\u3002\u6709\u5341\u4e03\u2014\u2014\u4e0d\u5bf9\uff0c\u5341\u516b\u4e2a\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Okay,” I said. “There’s no way I can take them out with standard weapons. This calls for something<\/p>\n\n\n\n special.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u597d\u5427\uff0c\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u7528\u5e38\u89c4\u6b66\u5668\u53ef\u6ca1\u529e\u6cd5\u628a\u4ed6\u4eec\u5168\u641e\u5b9a\u3002\u5f97\u7528\u70b9\u7279\u6b8a\u7684\u5bb6\u4f19\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I reached behind the bar and pulled out the molecular imploder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4ece\u5427\u53f0\u540e\u9762\u62c9\u51fa\u4e00\u628a\u5206\u5b50\u805a\u7206\u67aa\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I didn’t know you had an imploder,” said the Bard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u6211\u90fd\u4e0d\u77e5\u9053\u4f60\u6709\u628a\u805a\u7206\u67aa\u3002\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u8bf4\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’ve never had occasion to use it before.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u4ee5\u524d\u6211\u4ece\u6ca1\u673a\u4f1a\u7528\u5230\u5b83\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s an impressive-looking weapon,” he said admiringly. “What powers the damned thing?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u771f\u662f\u628a\u7ed9\u4eba\u6df1\u523b\u5370\u8c61\u7684\u6b66\u5668\uff0c\u201d\u4ed6\u7fa1\u6155\u5730\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u8fd9\u8be5\u6b7b\u7684\u73a9\u610f\u7528\u4ec0\u4e48\u9a71\u52a8\u7684\uff1f\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Fission, fusion, who the hell knows?” I said. “I just know that it turns things into jelly — aliens, humans,<\/p>\n\n\n\n spaceships, buildings, everything.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u88c2\u53d8\u8fd8\u662f\u805a\u53d8\u6765\u7740\uff0c\u8c01\u4ed6\u597d\u7684\u77e5\u9053\uff1f\u201d\u6211\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u53ea\u77e5\u9053\u5b83\u628a\u4e1c\u897f\u53d8\u6210\u679c\u51bb\u2014\u2014\u5916\u661f\u4eba\uff0c\u4eba\u7c7b\uff0c\u98de\u8239\uff0c\u5efa\u7b51\uff0c\u4ec0\u4e48\u90fd\u662f\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I walked to the doorway, aimed the imploder, and activated the trigger mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u8d70\u5411\u95e8\u53e3\uff0c\u7528\u805a\u7206\u67aa\u7784\u51c6\uff0c\u6263\u4f4f\u4e86\u6273\u673a\u88c5\u7f6e\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n And nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ec0\u4e48\u90fd\u6ca1\u53d1\u751f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Isn’t it loaded?” asked the Bard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u662f\u4e0d\u662f\u6ca1\u4e0a\u819b\uff1f\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u95ee\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “You don’t _load_ an imploder!” I snapped. “You just aim and fire it!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u4f60\u7528\u4e0d\u7740\u7ed9\u4e00\u628a\u805a\u7206\u67aa\u2018\u4e0a\u819b\u2019\uff01\u201d\u6211\u5389\u58f0\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u4f60\u53ea\u9700\u8981\u7784\u51c6\u548c\u5f00\u706b\uff01\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Maybe it’s not getting any power,” he suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u4e5f\u8bb8\u662f\u5b83\u6ca1\u80fd\u91cf\u4e86\u3002\u201d\u4ed6\u51fa\u8d77\u4e86\u4e3b\u610f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n I checked the gauges. “Everything reads right. Everything should be working. What the hell is wrong?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u68c0\u67e5\u4e86\u4e00\u4e0b\u663e\u793a\u5668\u3002\u201c\u4e00\u5207\u8ba1\u6570\u90fd\u6b63\u5e38\uff0c\u6240\u4ee5\u90e8\u4ef6\u90fd\u5e94\u8be5\u901a\u7528\u3002\u4ed6\u5988\u7684\u5230\u5e95\u54ea\u51fa\u9519\u4e86\uff1f\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let’s ask the expert,” said the Bard. “Toss me the computer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u54b1\u4eec\u6765\u95ee\u95ee\u4e13\u5bb6\uff0c\u201d\u8bd7\u4eba\u8bf4\uff0c\u201c\u628a\u7535\u8111\u6254\u8fc7\u6765\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I did as he asked, and he tapped out the problem for Einstein, who replied a moment later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u7167\u4ed6\u8bf4\u7684\u505a\u4e86\uff0c\u4ed6\u628a\u95ee\u9898\u8f93\u5230\u7231\u56e0\u65af\u5766\u91cc\u9762\uff0c\u8fc7\u4e86\u4e00\u4f1a\uff0c\u5b83\u56de\u7b54\u4e86\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He says that they’ve probably got some kind of atomic neutralizer that’s messing up your power source,<\/p>\n\n\n\n and that you should use a laser cannon or a pulse torpedo instead.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u5b83\u8bf4\u4ed6\u4eec\u53ef\u80fd\u7528\u4e86\u67d0\u79cd\u539f\u5b50\u4e2d\u548c\u5242\u6291\u5236\u4e86\u4f60\u7684\u80fd\u6e90\uff0c\u4f60\u53ef\u4ee5\u6539\u7528\u6fc0\u5149\u70ae\u6216\u8005\u8109\u51b2\u9c7c\u96f7\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This is the Outpost, not a fucking military vessel!” I yelled, as the aliens approached to within two<\/p>\n\n\n\n hundred yards. “I don’t have that kind of weaponry!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u8fd9\u91cc\u662f\u5c97\u54e8\uff0c\u4e0d\u662f\u6df7\u86cb\u519b\u8230\uff01\u201d\u6211\u558a\u5230\uff0c\u5916\u661f\u4eba\u4eec\u5df2\u7ecf\u5728\u4e8c\u767e\u7801\u5f00\u5916\u4e86\uff0c\u201c\u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u90a3\u4e9b\u6b66\u5668\uff01\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another exchange of messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53c8\u5f39\u51fa\u6765\u4e00\u6761\u6d88\u606f\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He says it’s an interesting problem.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u5b83\u8bf4\u8fd9\u662f\u4e2a\u6709\u8da3\u7684\u95ee\u9898\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “That’s _all_ he’s got to say?” I said frantically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u90a3\u5c31\u662f\u5b83\u8bf4\u7684\u5168\u90e8<\/strong>\u5185\u5bb9\uff1f\u201d\u6211\u53d1\u72c2\u5730\u95ee\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He says he’s never seen an insoluble problem. He just doesn’t know if he can solve this one in the time<\/p>\n\n\n\n remaining.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u5b83\u8bf4\u5b83\u4ece\u6ca1\u89c1\u8fc7\u4e0d\u80fd\u89e3\u51b3\u7684\u95ee\u9898\u3002\u5b83\u53ea\u662f\u4e0d\u77e5\u9053\u5b83\u80fd\u4e0d\u80fd\u5728\u5269\u4e0b\u8fd9\u70b9\u65f6\u95f4\u5185\u89e3\u51b3\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The aliens seemed to sense that we were defenseless and increased their pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5916\u661f\u4eba\u4eec\u4f3c\u4e4e\u5bdf\u89c9\u5230\u6211\u4eec\u6beb\u65e0\u9632\u5fa1\uff0c\u52a0\u5feb\u4e86\u4ed6\u4eec\u7684\u901f\u5ea6\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Well?” I demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u6240\u4ee5\uff1f\u201d\u6211\u95ee\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n “He says he’s working on it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u5b83\u8bf4\u5b83\u5728\u60f3\u529e\u6cd5\u3002\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Tell him he’d better finish working in ten seconds!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u544a\u8bc9\u5b83\u5b83\u6700\u597d\u5728\u5341\u79d2\u949f\u5185\u628a\u529e\u6cd5\u60f3\u51fa\u6765\uff01\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He finished in eight seconds. I followed his advice, and that was the end of the alien invasion, and, for all<\/p>\n\n\n\n I knew, of the whole damned war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5b83\u53ea\u82b1\u4e86\u516b\u79d2\u949f\u3002\u6211\u542c\u4ece\u4e86\u5b83\u7684\u5efa\u8bae\uff0c\u7ec8\u7ed3\u4e86\u672c\u6b21\u5916\u661f\u4eba\u5165\u4fb5\uff0c\u800c\u4e14\uff0c\u636e\u6211\u6240\u77e5\uff0c\u4e5f\u7ec8\u7ed3\u4e86\u8fd9\u4e00\u6574\u573a\u8be5\u6b7b\u7684\u6218\u4e89<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"