Peter F. Hamilton - The Naked God

VIP免费
2024-12-05 0 0 2.93MB 1021 页 5.9玖币
侵权投诉
The Naked God
Peter F. Hamilton
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of
the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales,
or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
THE NAKED GOD. Copyright © 2000 by Peter F. Hamilton. All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means,
including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the
publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. For information
address Warner Books, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Aspect® name and logo are registered trademarks of Warner Books, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
ISBN 0-7595-8036-7
A hardcover edition of this book was published in 2000 by Warner Books. A mass market
edition was published in two volumes in 2000 by Warner Books.
First eBook edition: November 2000
Visit our Web site at www.iPublish.com.
The Naked God
Contents
Cast of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Epilogue
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
SHIPS
LADY MACBETH
Joshua Calvert Captain
Liol Calvert Fusion specialist
Ashly Hanson Pilot
Sarha Mitcham Systems specialist
Dahybi Yadev Node specialist
Beaulieu Cosmonik
Peter Adul Mission specialist
Alkad Mzu Mission specialist
Oski Katsura Mission specialist
Samuel Edenist Intelligence agent
OENONE
Syrinx Captain
Ruben Fusion systems
Oxley Pilot
Cacus Life support
Edwin Toroid systems
Serina Toroid systems
Tyla Cargo officer
Kempster Getchell Mission specialist
Renato Vella Mission specialist
Parker Higgens Mission specialist
Monica Foulkes ESA agent
VILLENEUVE’S REVENGE
André Duchamp Captain
Kingsley Pryor Capone’s agent
MINDORI
Rocio Condra Hellhawk possessor
Jed Hinton Deadnight disciple
Beth Deadnight disciple
Gerald Skibbow Refugee
Gari Hinton Jed’s sister
Navar Jed’s half sister
ARIKARA
Meredith Saldana Rear Admiral, squadron commander
Grese Lieutenant, squadron intelligence officer
Rhoecus Lieutenant, voidhawk liaison
Kroeber Commander
HABITATS
TRANQUILLITY
Ione Saldana Lord of Ruin
Dominique Vasilkovsky Socialite
Father Horst Elwes Priest, refugee
VALISK
Dariat Ghost
Tolton Street poet
Erentz Rubra’s descendant
Dr Patan Physicist
ASTEROIDS
TRAFALGAR
Samual Aleksandrovich First Admiral Confederation Navy
Lalwani Admiral, CNIS chief
Motela Kolhammer Admiral, 1st fleet commander
Dr Pierce Gilmore CNIS research division director
Jacqueline Couteur Possessor
Murphy Hewlett Confederation marine lieutenant
Amr al-Sahhaf Captain, staff officer
MONTEREY
Jezzibella Mood Fantasy artist
Al Capone Possessor
Kiera Salter Possessor of Marie Skibbow
Leroy Octavius Jezzibella’s manager
Libby Jezzibella’s dermal technologist
Avram Harwood III Mayor of San Angeles
Emmet Mordden Organization lieutenant
Silvano Richmann Organization lieutenant
Mickey Pileggi Organization lieutenant
Patricia Mangano Organization lieutenant
Webster Pryor Hostage
Luigi Balsamo ex-Commander, Organization fleet
Cameron Leung Hellhawk Zahan
Bernhard Allsop Possessor
Hudson Proctor Possessor, Kiera’s deputy
Soi Yin Hellhawk
Etchells Hellhawk Stryla
PLANETS
NORFOLK
Luca Comar Grant Kavanagh’s possessor
Susannah Marjorie Kavanagh’s possessor
Carmitha Romany
Bruce Spanton Marauder
Johan Mr Butterworth’s possessor
Marcella Rye Colsterworth council officer
Véronique Olive Fenchurch’s possessor
OMBEY
Ralph Hiltch General, Liberation army
Cathal Fitzgerald Ralph’s deputy
Dean Foal ESA G66 division
Will Danza ESA G66 division
Kirsten Saldana Princess of Ombey
Diana Tiernan Police technology division chief
Admiral Farquar Royal Navy, Ombey Commander
Hugh Rosler DataAxis reporter
Tim Beard Rover reporter
Sinon Liberation army serjeant
Choma Liberation army serjeant
Elana Duncan Liberation army mercenary
Janne Palmer Royal Marine
Annette Ekelund Possessor
Soi Hon Possessor, ex-guerrilla
Delvan Possessor
Milne Possessor
Moyo Possessor
Stephanie Ash Possessor
Cochrane Possessor
Rana Possessor
Tina Sudol Possessor
McPhee Possessor
Franklin Possessor
KULU
Alastair II The King
Simon, Duke of Salion Chairman security commission
Lord Kelman Mountjoy Foreign office minister
Lady Phillipa Oshin Prime minister
KIINT HOMEWORLD
Richard Keaton Observer
Tracy Dean Observer
Jay Hilton Refugee, Haile’s friend
Haile Juvenile Kiint
Nang Haile’s parent
Lieria Haile’s parent
EARTH
Louise Kavanagh Refugee
Genevieve Kavanagh Refugee
Fletcher Christian Possessor
Quinn Dexter Messiah of the Light Bringer
Banneth High Magus, Edmonton sect
Andy Behoo Sellrat
Ivanov Robson Private detective
Brent Roi Detective, Halo Police
Courtney Edmonton sect acolyte
Billy-Joe Edmonton sect acolyte
OTHERS
CONFEDERATION
Olton Haaker Assembly President
Jeeta Anwar Chief presidential aide
Mae Ortlieb Presidential science aide
Cayeaux Edenist ambassador
Sir Maurice Hall Kulu Kingdom ambassador
EDENISTS
Wing-Tsit Chong Edenism’s Founder
Athene Syrinx’s mother
MOSDVA
Quantook-LOU Distributor of resources
TYRATHCA
Baulona-PWM Breeder, electronics regulator
1
Jay Hilton was sound asleep when every electrophorescent strip in the paediatric ward
sprang up to full intensity. The simple dream of her mother broke apart like a stained-glass
statue shattered by a powerful gust of sharp white light; colourful splinters tumbling off
into the glare.
Jay blinked heavily against the rush of light, raising her head in confusion. The familiar
scenery of the ward hardened around her. She felt so tired. It certainly wasn’t morning yet.
A huge yawn forced her mouth open. All around her the other children were waking up in
bleary-eyed mystification. Holomorph stickers began reacting to the light, translucent
cartoon images rising up to perform their mischievous antics. Animatic dolls cooed
sympathetically as children clutched at them for reassurance. Then the doors at the far end
of the ward slid open, and the nurses came hurrying in.
One look at the brittle smiles on their faces was all Jay needed. Something was badly
wrong. Her heart shivered. Surely not the possessed? Not here?
The nurses began ushering children out of their beds, and along the central aisle towards the
doors. Complaints and questions were firmly ignored.
“It’s a fire drill,” the senior staff nurse called out. “Come along, quickly, now. I want you
out of here and into the lifts. Pronto. Pronto.” He clapped his hands loudly.
Jay shoved the thin duvet back, and scuttled down off the bed. Her long cotton nightie was
tangled round her knees, which took a moment to straighten. She was about to join the
others charging along the aisle when she caught the flickers of motion and light outside the
window. Every morning since she’d arrived, Jay had sat in front of that window, gazing
solemnly out at Mirchusko and its giddy green cloudscape. She’d never seen speckles of
light swarming out there before.
Danger.
The silent mental word was spoken so quickly Jay almost didn’t catch it. Though the feel of
Haile was unmistakable. She looked round, expecting to see the Kiint ambling down the
aisle towards her. But there was only the rank of flustered nurses propelling children along.
Knowing full well she wasn’t doing what she was supposed to, Jay padded over to the big
window, and pressed her nose against it. A slim band of tiny blue-white stars had looped
itself round Tranquillity. They were all moving, contracting around the habitat. She could
see now that they weren’t really stars, they were lengthening. Flames. Brilliant, tiny flames.
Hundreds of them.
My friend. My friend. Lifeloss anguish.
Now that was definitely Haile, and intimating plenty of distress. Jay took a step back from
the window, seeing misty grey swirls where her face and hands had pressed against it.
“What’s the matter?” she asked the empty air.
A cascade of new flames burst into existence outside the habitat. Expanding knots
blossoming seemingly at random across space. Jay gasped at the sight. There were
thousands of them, interlacing and expanding. It was so pretty.
Friend. Friend.
Evacuation procedure initiated.
Jay frowned. The second mental voice came as a faint echo. She thought it was one of the
adult Kiint, possibly Lieria. Jay had only encountered Haile’s parents a few times. They
were awfully intimidating, though they’d been nice enough to her.
Designation. Two.
No. The adult responded forcefully. Forbidden.
Designation.
You may not, child. Sorrow felt for all human suffering. But obedience required.
No. Friend. My friend. Designation. Two. Confirmed.
Jay had never felt Haile so determined before. It was kind of scary. “Please?” she asked
nervously. “What’s happening?”
A torrent of light burst through the window. It was as if a sun had risen over Mirchusko’s
horizon. All of space was alive with brilliant efflorescences.
The adult Kiint said: Evacuation enacted.
Designated.
Jay felt a wash of guilty triumph rushing out from her friend. She wanted to reach out and
comfort Haile, who she knew from the adult’s reaction was in Big Trouble over something.
Instead, she concentrated on forming a beaming smile at the heart of her own mind, hoping
Haile would pick it up. Then the air around her was crawling as if she was caught in a
breeze.
“Jay!” one of the nurses called. “Come along sweetie, you . . .”
The light around Jay was fading fast, along with the sounds of the ward. She could just hear
the nurse’s gasp of astonishment. The breeze abruptly turned into a small gale, whipping
her nightie around and making her bristly hair stand on end. Some kind of grey fog was
forming around her, a perfectly spherical bubble of the stuff, with her at the centre. Except
she couldn’t feel any dampness in the air. It darkened rapidly, reducing the ward to weak
spectral outlines. Then the boundary expanded at a speed so frightening that Jay screamed.
The boundary vanished, and with it any sign of the ward. She was alone in space devoid of
stars. And falling.
Jay put her hands to her head and screamed again, as hard as she possibly could. It didn’t
put a stop to any of the horror. She paused to suck down a huge breath. That was when the
boundary reappeared out on the edge of nowhere. Hurtling towards her so fast from every
direction that she knew the impact would squash her flat. She jammed her eyes shut.
“MUMMY!”
Something like a stiff feather tickled the soles of her feet, and she was abruptly standing on
solid ground. Jay windmilled her arms for balance, pitching forward. She landed hard on
some kind of cool floor, her eyes still tight shut. The air she gulped down was warmer than
it had been in the ward, and a lot more humid. Funny smell. Rosy light was playing over
her eyelids.
Still crouched on all fours, Jay risked a quick peep as she gathered herself to scream again.
The sight which greeted her was so incredible that the breath stalled in her throat. “Oh
gosh,” was all she eventually managed to squeak.
Joshua initiated the ZTT jump with little enthusiasm. His downcast mood was one which he
shared with all the Lady Mac’s crew and passengers—at least, those who weren’t in zero-
tau. To have achieved so much, only to have their final triumph snatched away.
Except . . . Once the initial shock of discovering that Tranquillity had vanished from its
orbit had subsided, he wasn’t frightened. Not for Ione, or his child. Tranquillity hadn’t been
destroyed, there was at least that comfort. Which logically meant the habitat had been
possessed and snatched out of the universe.
He didn’t believe it.
But his intuition was hardly infallible. Perhaps he simply didn’t want to believe it.
Tranquillity was home. The emotional investment he had in the habitat and its precious
contents was enormous. Tell anyone that everything they ever treasured has been erased,
and the reaction is always the same. Whatever. His vacillation made him as miserable as
the rest of the ship, just for a different reason.
“Jump confirmed,” he said. “Samuel, you’re on.”
Lady Mac had jumped into one of Trafalgar’s designated emergence zones, a hundred
thousand kilometres above Avon. Her transponder was already blaring out her flight
authority codes. Somehow Joshua didn’t think that would quite be enough. Not when you
barged in unexpected on the Confederation’s primary military base in the middle of a crisis
like this one.
“I’ve got distortion fields focusing on us,” Dahybi said drolly. “Five of them, I think.”
The flight computer alerted Joshua that targeting radars were locking on to the hull. When
he accessed the sensors rising out of their recesses, he found three voidhawks and two
frigates on interception courses. Trafalgar’s strategic defence command was directing a
barrage of questions at him. He glanced over at the Edenist as he started to datavise a
response. Samuel was lying prone on his acceleration couch, eyes closed as he conversed
with other Edenists in the asteroid.
Sarha grinned round phlegmatically. “How many medals do you think they’ll give us
摘要：

TheNakedGodPeterF.HamiltonThisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentsaretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualevents,locales,orpersons,livingordead,iscoincidental.THENAKEDGOD.Copyright©2000byPeterF.Hamilton.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookm...

展开>> 收起<<
Peter F. Hamilton - The Naked God.pdf

共1021页,预览10页

还剩页未读， 继续阅读

声明：本站为文档C2C交易模式，即用户上传的文档直接被用户下载，本站只是中间服务平台，本站所有文档下载所得的收益归上传人(含作者)所有。玖贝云文库仅提供信息存储空间，仅对用户上传内容的表现方式做保护处理，对上载内容本身不做任何修改或编辑。若文档所含内容侵犯了您的版权或隐私，请立即通知玖贝云文库，我们立即给予删除！

相关推荐

更多
立即下载
分类：外语学习 价格：5.9玖币 属性：1021 页 大小：2.93MB 格式：PDF 时间：2024-12-05

开通VIP享超值会员特权

  • 多端同步记录
  • 高速下载文档
  • 免费文档工具
  • 分享文档赚钱
  • 每日登录抽奖
  • 优质衍生服务

作者详情

相关内容

更多

热门标签

人际关系 动力学连接体 力的合成 配电装置 高考理综 全宋诗作者索引 公务员考试
/ 1021
评分 收藏
分享
立即下载 VIP免费下载
客服
关注