David Brin - Kiln People

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2024-12-06 0 0 1.62MB 351 页 5.9玖币
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KILN PEOPLE
David Brin
This is a work of fiction.
All the characters and events portrayed in this novel
are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
KILN PEOPLE
Copyright © 2002 by David Brin
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Edited by Beth Meacham
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN 0-312-70397-X
www.ebookyes.com
First Edition: January 2002
For Poul Anderson, who explored for all of us, making the future fun … … and Greg Bear, who
takes on every shadow, with edge … … and Gregory Benford, who delves stark beauty in the dark
ocean of night … … all of them shamans by the campfire. Indispensable.
KILN
PEOPLE
Table of Contents
PART I
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
PART II
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
PART III
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
PART IV
72
73
74
75
Acknowledgments
PART I
Adieu! for once again the fierce dispute
how who
why who
Betwixt damnation and impassion’d clay
Must I burn through …
But when I am consumed in the Fire,
Give me new Phoenix wings to fly at my desire.
—John Keats,
“On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again”
1
A Good Head for Wine
… or how Monday’s green ditto brings home fond memories of the river…
It’s hard to stay cordial while fighting for your life, even when your life doesn’t amount to
much.
Even when you’re just a lump of clay.
Some kind of missile—a stone I guess—smacked the brick wall inches away, splattering my
face with stinging grit. There wasn’t any shelter to cower behind, except an overstuffed trash can. I
grabbed the lid and swung it around.
Just in time. Another slug walloped the lid, denting plastic instead of my chest.
Someone had me nailed.
Moments ago, the alley had seemed a good place to hide and catch my breath. But now its
chill darkness betrayed me instead. Even a ditto gives off some body heat. Beta and his gang don’t
carry guns into this part of town—they wouldn’t dare—but their slingshots come equipped with
infrared sights.
I had to flee the betraying darkness. So while the shooter reloaded, I raised my makeshift
shield and dashed for the bright lights of Odeon District.
It was a risky move. The place swarmed with archies, dining at cafés or milling about near
classy theaters. Couples strolled arm-in-arm along the quay, enjoying a riverside breeze. Only a
few coloreds like me could be seen—mostly waiters serving their bland-skinned betters at canopied
tables.
I wasn’t going to be welcome in this zone, where owners throng to enjoy their long, sensuous
lives. But if I stayed on back streets I’d get hacked into fish food by my own kind. So I took a
chance.
Damn. It’s crowded, I thought, while picking a path across the plaza, hoping to avoid
brushing against any of the sauntering archies. Though my expression was earnest—as if I had a
legit reason to be there—I must have stood out like a duck among swans, and not just because of
skin color. My torn paper clothes drew notice. Anyway, it’s kind of hard to move delicately while
brandishing a battered trash lid between your vitals and the alley behind you.
A sharp blow struck the plastic again. Glancing back, I saw a yellow-hued figure lower his
slingshot to load another round. Furtive shapes peered from the shadows, debating how to reach
me.
I plunged into the crowd. Would they keep shooting and risk hitting a real person?
Ancient instinct—seared into my clay body by the one who made me—clamored to run. But I
faced other dangers now—from the archetype human beings surrounding me. So I tried to perform
all the standard courtesies, bowing and stepping aside for couples who wouldn’t veer or slow down
for a mere ditto.
I had a minute or two of false hopes. Women chiefly looked past me, like I didn’t exist. Most
of the men were more puzzled than hostile. One surprised chap even made way for me, as if I were
real. I smiled back. I’ll do the same for your ditto someday, chum.
But the next fellow wasn’t satisfied when I gave him right of way. His elbow planted a sharp
jab, en passant, and pale eyes glittered, daring me to complain.
摘要:

KILNPEOPLEDavidBrinThisisaworkoffiction.Allthecharactersandeventsportrayedinthisnovelareeitherfictitiousorareusedfictitiously.KILNPEOPLECopyright©2002byDavidBrinAllrightsreserved,includingtherighttoreproducethisbook,orportionsthereof,inanyform.EditedbyBethMeachamATorBookPublishedbyTomDohertyAssociat...

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分类:外语学习 价格:5.9玖币 属性:351 页 大小:1.62MB 格式:PDF 时间:2024-12-06

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