文稿教程综合henry kuttner-absalom.pdfVIP

ABSALOM

AtduskJoelLockecamehomefromtheuniversitywhereheheldthechair

ofpsychonamics.Hecamequietlyintothehouse,byasidedoor,andstood

listening,atall,tight-lippedmanoffortywithafaintlysardonicmouthand

coolgrayeyes.Hecouldheartheprecipitronhumming.Thatmeantthat

AbigailSchuler,thehousekeeper,wasbusywithherduties.Lockesmiled

slightlyandturnedtowardapanelinthewallthatopenedathisapproach.

Thesmallelevatortookhimnoiselesslyupstairs.

There,hemovedwithcuriousstealth.Hewentdirectlytoadoorat

ofthehallandpausedbeforeit,hisheadbent,hiseyesunfocused.He

heardnothing.Presentlyheopenedthedoorandsteppedintotheroom.

Instantlythefeelingofunsurenessjoltedback,freezinghimwherehe

stood.Hemadenosign,thoughhismouthtightened.Heforcedhimselfto

remainquietasheglancedaround.

Itcouldhavebeentheroomofanormaltwenty-year-old,notaboyof

eight.Tennisracquetswereheapedinadisorderlyfashionagainstapileof

bookrecords.Thethiaminizerwasturnedon,andLockeautomatically

clickedtheswitchover.Abruptlyheturned.Thetelevisorscreenwasblank,

yethecouldhaveswornthateyeshadbeenwatchinghimfromit.

Thiswasntthefirsttimeithadhappened.

AfterawhileLocketurnedagainandsquattedtoexaminethebookreels.

HepickedoutonelabeledBRIAFFONENTROPICLOGICandturnedthe

cylinderoverinhishands,scowling.Thenhereplaceditandwentoutof

theroom,withalast,consideringlookatthetelevisor.

DownstairsAbigailSchulerwasfingeringtheMastermaidswitchboard.Her

primmouthwasastightastheseverebunofgray-shothairatthebackof

herneck.

Goodevening,Lockesaid.WheresAbsalom?

Outplaying,BrotherLocke,thehousekeepersaidformally.Yourehome

early.Ihaventfinishedthelivingroomyet.

Well,turnontheionsandletemplay,Lockesaid.Itwonttakelong.

Ivegotsomep