《The Beast-Jewel Of Mars》作者： - Leigh Brackett【EPUB】

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The Beast-Jewel of Mars I Burk Winters remained in the passenger section while the Starflight made her landing at KahoraPort. He did not think that he could bear to see another man not even one he liked as much ashe did Johnny Niles handle the controls of the ship that had been his for so long. He did not wish even to say goodbye to Johnny but there was no avoiding it. The young officerwas waiting for him as he came down the ramp and the deep concern he felt was not hidden inthe least by his casually hearty grin. Johnny held out his hand. quotSo long Burk. Youve earnedthis leave. Have fun with it.quot Burk Winters looked out over the vast tarmac that spread for miles across the ochre desert. Anorderly roaring confusion of trucks and flatcars and men and ships—ore ships freighterstramps sleek liners like the Starflight bearing the colors of three planets and a dozencolonies but still arrogantly and predominantly Terran. Johnny followed his gaze and said softly quotIt always gives you a thrill doesnt itquot Winters did not answer. Miles away safe from the thundering rocket blasts the glassite domeof Kahora Trade City for Mars rose jewel-like out of the red sand. The little sun staredwearily down and the ancient hills considered it and the old old wandering wind passed overit and it seemed as though the planet bore Kahora and its spaceport with patience as thoughit were a small local infection that would soon be gone. He had forgotten Johnny Niles. He had forgotten everything but his own dark thoughts. The youngofficer studied him with covert pity and he did not know it. Burk Winters was a big man and a tough man tempered by years of deep-space flying. The sameglare of naked light that had burned his skin so dark had bleached his hair until it was almostwhite and just in the last few months his gray eyes seemed to have caught and held a spark ofthat pitiless radiance. The easy good nature was gone out of them and the lines that laughterhad shaped around his mouth had deepened now into bitter scars. A big man a hard man but aman who was no longer in control of himself. All during the voyage out from Earth he had chain-smoked the little Venusian cigarettes that have a sedative effect. He was smoking one now andeven so he could not keep his hands steady nor stop the everlasting tic in his right cheek. quotBurk.quot Johnnys voice came to him from a great distance quotBurk its none of my business but. . .quot He hesitated then blurted out quotDo you think Mars is good for you nowquot Quite abruptly Winters said quotTake good care of the Starflight Johnny. Goodbye.quot He went away down the ramp. The pilot stared after him. The Second Officer came up to Johnny.