《The Dragon-Queen Of Venus 》作者：- Leigh Brackett【EPUB】

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THE DRAGON-QUEEN OF VENUS Tex stirred uneasily where he lay on the parapet staring into the heavy Venusian fog. Thegreasy moisture ran down the fort wall lay rank on his lips. With a sigh for the hot dry airof Texas and a curse for the adventure-thirst that made him leave it he shifted his shortsteel-hard body and wrinkled his sandy-red brows in the never-ending effort to see. A stifledcough turned his head. He whispered quotHi Breska.quot The Martian grinned and lay down beside him.His skin was wind-burned like Texs his black eyes nested in wrinkles caused by squintingagainst sun and blowing dust. For a second they were silent feeling the desert like a bond between them. Then Breskamastering his cough grunted: quotTheyre an hour late now. Whats the matter with emquot Tex was worried too. The regular dawnattack of the swamp-dwellers was long overdue. quotReckon theyre thinking up some new tricksquot he said. quotI sure wish our relief would get here.I could use a vacation.quot Breskas teeth showed a cynical flash of white. quotIf they dont come soon it wont matter. At that starving is pleasanter than beetle-bombsor green snakes. Hey Tex. Here comes the Skipper.quot Captain John Smith—Smith was a common namein the Volunteer Legion—crawled along the catwalk. There were new lines of strain on theofficers gaunt face and Texs uneasiness grew. He knew that supplies were running low. Repairs were urgently needed. Wasnt the relief gointo come at all But Captain Smiths pleasant English voice was as calm as though he were discussing cricket-scores in a comfortable London club. quotAny sign of the beggars Texquot quotNo sir. But I got a feeling. . . .quot quotHm. Yes. We all have. Well keep a sharp. . . .quot A scream cut him short. It came from belowin the square compound. Tex shivered craning down through the rusty netting covering the well.Hed heard screams like that before. A man ran across the greasy stones tearing at something