《Bordered in Black 》作者：- Larry Niven【EPUB】

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Bordered in BlackBy Larry Niven Only one figure stood in the airlock though it was a cargo lock easily big enough to hold both men. Lean and sandy haired the tiny figure was obviously Carver Rappaport. A bushy beard now covered half his face. He waited patiently while the ramp was run up and then he started down. Turnbull waiting at the bottom suppressed growing uneasiness. Something was wrong. Hed known it the moment he heard that the Overcee was landing. The ship must have been in the solar system for hours. Why hadnt she called in And where was Wall Kameon Returning spacers usually sprinted down the ramp eager to touch honest concrete again. Rappaport came down with slow methodical speed. Seen close his beard was ragged unkempt. He reached bottom and Turnbull saw that the square features were set like cement. Rappaport brushed past him and kept walking. Turnbull ran after him and fell into step looking and feeling foolish. Rappaport was a good head taller and where he was walking Turnbull was almost running. He shouted above the background noise of the spaceport quotRappaport wheres Kameonquot Like Turnbull Rappaport had to raise his voice. quotDead.quot quotDead Was it the ship Rappaport did the ship kill himquot quotNo.quot quotThen what Is his body aboardquot quotTurnbull I dxont want to talk about it. No his body isnt aboard. His--quot Rappaport ground the heels of his hands into his eyes like a man with a blinding headache. quotHis gravequot he said emphasizing the word quothas a nice black border around it. Lets leave it at that.quot But they couldnt of course. Two security officers caught up with them near the edge of the field. quotStop himquot said Turnbull and they each took an arm. Rappaport stopped walking and turned. quotHave you forgotten that Im carrying a destruct capsulequot quotWhat about itquot For the moment Turnbull really didnt understand what he meant. quotAny more interference and Ill use it. Understand this Turnbull. I dont care any more. Project Overcee is over. I dont know where I go from here. The best thing we can do is blow up that ship and stay in our own solar system.quot quotMan have you gone crazy What happened out there You-- meet aliensquot quotNo comment. --No Ill answer that one. We didnt meet aliens. Now tell your comedian friends to let go.quot Turnbull let himself realize that the man wasnt bluffing. Rappaport was prepared to commit suicide. Turnbull the instinctive politician weighed changes and gambled. quotIf you havent decided to talk in twenty-four hours well let you go. I promise that. Well keep you here til then by force if necessary