【英文读物】A Great Day for the Irish

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1、【英文读物】A Great Day for the IrishChapter 1Bridget Kelly stood at the foot of the rocket lift and watched the loading operation. The freighthad long since been inspected and stowed, and now it was the passengers turn. Bridget was gladthat for once she was not responsible. Let others worry and snoop. Th

2、is time she was a passengerherself, star ward bound. Inspected, passed and okayed, she could have the pleasure of watchingothers squirm.Like that beauty coming aboard with the furs and the orchid. She wouldnt be allowed to keepthe orchid, of course. Bridget grinned as she saw the flower tossed into

3、a trash can and imaginedthe words the beauty was mouthing. The man beside her sported a boutonniere. Yes, there itwent into the can. He was still smiling, probably cracking wise. Bridget had separated so manytravelers from so many items that she could tell what the passenger was going to say before

4、hesaid it.Most people knew that strenuous efforts were being made to keep pests and epidemics awayfrom Earth. Ever since the beginnings of space travel, the quarantine of incoming ships at theMoon had been rigidly observed. But the fact that plagues could also spread from Earth seldomregistered on t

5、he publics mind.Bridget was all too well aware of it. For several years she had labored to that end in theQuarantine Service. Now that her savings had accumulated and her abilities as an entomologistwere recognized, she was about to board one of the shining ships herself There were raisedeyebrows wh

6、en her destination was known. An entomologist going to New Edena planetwhere insects were at a minimum. But Bridget only smiled. She knew what she wanted. She wasbound for the frontier, where men are men and women are scarce.The speaker blared. The countdown was beginning.Fifteen minutes! rasped the

7、 mechanical voice. Fifteen minutes to blast-off!She took a last look at the planet of her birth and squeezed into the lift. The few remainingpassengers pushed in with her. A man in a red waistcoat was commiserating with the womanbeside him.Dont let the officials get you down/ he said. Well have to p

8、ut up with them for the journey.But on New Eden, I hear; the conditions are so good they hardly need any regulations at all.It isnt that, sniffed his friend. Its just that you gave it to me and I was hoping to wear ittonight.Perhaps I can buy you something in hydroponics. I had no idea they were so

9、touchy or Id havehad the orchid fumigated.Bridget felt the scorn of the official for the general public. If youre going to New Eden, youought to know we want to keep it that way.The red waistcoat looked down at her.Oh, officialdom without stripes? he said. Or are you an old hand? Perhaps you can exp

10、lain thedeal before we get there.So he was the type that cracked wise, and she had put her foot in it right at the beginning.Ive never been off Earth before, she admitted. I read up on it all first.The lift was at the lock door, and she slipped through without looking back. The speaker wascroaking T

11、en minutes to go as she hurried to her cabin and prepared for takeoff. Shed have todo better than this or the trip would be a washout. Better just concentrate on enjoying it . thenew experiences. the fascination of travel.The jets roared and Bridget Kelly blacked out.Several hours later she had reco

12、vered enough to spruce up, take the prescribed dose of covitronagainst space sickness, and make her way to the lounge. She found the table setting with hername on it and had hardly sat down before a familiar voice began at her ear.Sure and if it isnt Bridget Kelly, and its a long time Ive been waiti

13、ng for herself.She looked up into the same laughing eyes, only this time they were above an emerald-greenwaistcoat.Still determined that New Eden shall not be polluted by snakes? Oh, excuse me, that was St.Patrick. Youre worried about bugs.She laughed in spite of herself and glanced at the place car

14、d next hers. Mr. Patch Maguire, itread.I didnt mean to sound stuffy, she said. Its just that most people dont realize how important itis . how much trouble just a few insects . well, Ive worked at it and I ought to know.Ah, an official entomologist. But in that case, why New Eden? Or are you insuran

15、ce againstpeople like Carrie and me who might import something?You never can tell. Something may turn up. Its hard to imagine a planet without any insects atall.Edens remarkable that way, put in the young officer sitting across from them. No stingingbugs or parasites. Makes everything a lot more com

16、fortable. Still, its pretty new. Only a smallpart developed so far.So weve insurance against the unknown in Bridget Kelly.And what might you be insurance against, Mr. Maguire? she countered.The officer stared. Dont you folks know each other? Mr. Maguires a grower of fancy plants. Sortof goes togethe

17、r. plants and insects! He laughed. Well, it looks like the rest of our table wontshow up for this meal.What happened to the lady without the orchid? She was with you, wasnt she? Bridget asked.Carrie, said Patch Maguire, is one of those unfortunates on whom covitron does not work. Shewont be with any

18、one for the duration. I was just hoping our whole table was not similarlyafflicted.Its a pity, mused the young officer. So many people make the flight across space only once. Ifthey did it more often, they might get accustomed.Dont you take covitron? Bridget asked, beginning to wonder how soon she s

19、hould repeat thedose. Some people said it made you sleepy, and she certainly didnt want that with things justgetting started . and Patch Maguire . Patch Maguire.Suddenly a window opened in her mind. She saw a letter with short punching sentences. Youthink you can get away with this high-handed, over

20、bearing, totally uncalled-for destruction ofproperty? Ill take it to the top! Ill see you idiots in hell . or at least out of the Service! PatchMaguire protesting the destruction of his shipment of seeds imported from Regulus V. Noamount of explanation that the seeds had been found to harbor a bligh

21、t which, once let loose onEarth. Patch Maguire had a reputation as an authority on crossbreeding and mutation ofplants . and also for throwing his weight around. It was several years ago, but Bridgetremembered the consternation in the department.She realized that Maguire and the officer were talking

22、. They were agreeing that space sicknesswas only a matter of psychology, and that if you just didnt think about it, no covitron wasnecessary. She hastily swallowed another pill with her coffee and hoped the coffee would keepher awake.They toured the ship together; she and Patch. They marveled at the

23、 scene from the viewport andchatted with the captain in the control room. The steward inquired about his taste in music andstereo, and he even gave advice to the gardeners in hydroponics. All doors were open to Patch,and there were murmurs about the handsome couple as they moved through the lounge.

24、Bythe end of the trip they were making plans for New Eden. Patch insisted that Bridget was in thewrong profession and she agreed that the science of agriculture might be more rewarding thanentomology under certain conditions.At the farewell dinner; Patch gave her a bouquet hed had made up especially

25、 by the gardeners.But she was more interested in the small green leaf he wore in his lapel. He took it out andinsisted on fastening it in her hair.Sure and its a shamrock! he cried, as he arranged it. And have you forgotten what day it istomorrow?Its the day we land, Bridget replied. But what day th

26、at is in our time or ships time . its tooconfusing!Its St. Patricks Day, thats what it is! he said. A great day for the Irish and a great day for us.And I wouldnt be without the shamrock on St. Patricks Day! They should call the planet NewIreland, that they should. Wasnt Ireland the garden island, a

27、ll green and fruitful and with nosnakes? And I hear this planets the garden planet and with no insects either to make lifemiserable. But let you and me be living there a while and well make it New Ireland for sure!And he planted a kiss on her mouth without a thought of who was looking at them.As the

28、ir tablemates drank their health, Bridget blushed and her eyes shone, and after dinnerPatch escorted her to the stereo where they sat very close together in the dark. But as thepictures flashed across the screen and as Patchs arm went across her shoulder and drew herclose, her mind was besieged by a

29、n army of little doubts. Shamrock . shamrock . what had sheread about the shamrock?Patch/1 she whispered. Where did you get it?Get what? Patch murmured, bending over to kiss her.The shamrock, Patch? I dont believe they have it in hydroponics.Sure, they must have it. Patchs lips brushed hers and she

30、found it difficult to think clearly.I never saw it there. Patch! Are you sure?Saw what? I dont see anything but you. Thats enough for me.About the shamrock, Patch!It looks beautiful on you. Sure and I wouldnt be without a shamrock on St. Patricks Day.Bridget gave up. She lay back in the sanctuary of

31、 his arm and basked in the warm feeling of hislips on her hair. But the doubts kept crawling about in her mind. What was the matter with her?Couldnt she be happy when everything was perfect? Had she been a cut-and-dried inspector fortoo many years? But she remembered the words of Professor Schwarzko

32、pf, the day she receivedher degree: The inspectors are the watchdogs of the planets. Without them, all that man hasbuilt can be destroyed.When Patch had kissed her good night outside her cabin and his footsteps had died away alongthe corridor, she crept out into the passage and made her way to hydro

33、ponics.Why, no/ said the chief gardener, we never carry clover of any sort. Why do you ask?On her way to the control room, Bridget tried not to think. She found the young officer from hertable on duty with the captain, and the two men listened in surprise as she outlined her fears.I dont want to acc

34、use Mr. Maguire of anything, she said. Im sure he doesnt realize howseriousand of course there may be nothing to it. Its just that I remember that shamrocksharbor the golden nematodethat is, in the soil around the roots. And it seems likely that if Mr.Maguire has live shamrocksand I remember what a

35、serious plague they once brought overfrom Ireland to America.The captain pulled his mustache. Its clearly against regulations. I cant imagine how hed get itpast inspection. But then, Maguires a very persistent man and hes got pull in odd places. I dontwant to rouse the ire of the Irish, but I see yo

36、ur point.Couldnt you search his cabinwithout his knowing I said to? Oh, Im sure hed be very angry.But if I could only look at his plants, then Id be sure if theyre safe. You must have ways of gettinginif there should be a short circuit or something in his cabin.Oh, we have ways, the captain said. Do

37、nt we, Lieutenant?Perhaps at breakfast, suggested the young officer. If Miss Kelly could arrange to make it asleisurely as possible.And right afterward you might go to the lieutenants cabinwith your instruments and withoutMr. Maguire.She had no trouble in making her breakfast leisurely. She could ha

38、rdly choke it down. UnderPatchs admiring gaze and flagrant approval she was uncomfortably conscious of treachery. Sheleft as soon as the protracted meal was oveo even though she knew it would give him theopportunity to discover the rape of his plants.The lieutenant was waiting for her in his cabin.

39、He sat behind his desk eyeing a motley collectionof clover in an assortment of little jars and boxes. Bridget brought out her pocket scope andwithout a word pulled the first specimen up by the roots and began to examine it. The lieutenantwatched in fascination.Its a good thing Mr. Maguire cant see y

40、ou now, he said. Hed take an entirely different tonefrom the one Ive been hearing lately.Im hoping he doesnt find out/ she muttered. What he doesnt know. Oh! Oh! Look here! Afine big cyst! Now if theyre all like this.The lieutenants face took on a look of respect. He came around from behind his desk

41、 and peeredover her shoulder. Found something already? he asked.Bridget pushed the scope under his nose. See that? she said. In the right-hand corner.You mean that lump? Doesnt look very dangerous.No, it doesnt. But its a nematode cyst, all right. That little brown lump, if turned loose in thesoilgi

42、ve it a few years and youll have a real pest on your hands.You dont say. Wed better get rid of it right away. Do you think theres any more?Thats just what Im going to find out.But before she could move to the desk for the other containers there was a sound of scufflingoutside, the door was flung vio

43、lently open, and a rich, Irish voice proclaimed in righteous anger:So here you are, conspiring against me! Both the culprits red-handed! And my shamrocks, mylittle plants, my babies! Thank heavens I got here in time!The lieutenant moved to intercept him. I beg your pardon, sir; but these plants are

44、in quarantine,and if you have any others we havent found一Youre no true daughter of Ireland, Bridget Kelly. And Im fortunate to have found you out intime, false and faithless as you are!Now, now, cautioned the lieutenant, getting between Maguire and the desk. She was onlydoing her duty. You should se

45、e the things shes been showing me in her microscope. A menace tothe whole planet!Dont you believe a word of it! thundered Maguire. These inspectors are full of fears andfancies. Puffed up with their own importance. And Ill thank you to give me back my plants thatyou stole out of my cabin.Im afraid I

46、 cant do that/ the lieutenant said. Not until Miss Kelly has examined each one一andthen only the ones that get a clean bill of health. And he began to collect the little pots andremove them as far as possible from Maguires reach.Well, come along then, Bridgetgive them the bill of health, Maguire orde

47、red, Youll do thatfor me, Im sure. And I dont know what all the fuss is about either, all over a few little plants, andshamrocks at that.The few little plants have a few little cysts all through their roots, said Bridget, whose temperwas wearing thin. Ive only looked at one so far, but as nice an in

48、festation of the goldennematode Ive seldom seen. Its got to go down the incinerator.The incinerator! screamed Maguire. Woman! My shamrocks! All the way from Ireland!If you hadnt spent your whole life circumventing regulations and pulling wires, this wouldnthave happened. Why didnt you get them treat

49、ed and certified before coming aboard?Because there wasnt time, thats why! Patch shouted. They only came from Ireland as I wasleaving for the ship. If it hadnt been for a snooping, sniveling worry-wartall about a worm thatyou cant even see.You can see the results right enough! Bridgets voice was ris

50、ing to match his. Did you ever hearof the Long Island potato? The best on the East Coast they were. The golden nematode ruinedLong Island for potatoes. Thats what the shamrock did for America! Thats a sneaking,treacherous worm for you!And who would want to grow potatoes on Long Island, built up into

51、 a city as it is?Theyre going to want to grow potatoes on New Eden, and Im here to see they can.If thats all thats worrying you, Ill breed you a nematode-resistant potato. And now Ill thankyou to let me take my shamrocks and make an end to this disgraceful scene.But when he looked around, he found t

52、he lieutenant had quietly removed himself with the plants,and the door of the cabin was crowded with interested passengers.So you think youve put one over on me! Patch shouted. Its a good thing I found out in timehow I was being deceived by a pair of eyes and a mouth that says one thing and means an

53、other!And I suppose youre the soul of honor! With no thought of responsibility to your fellow man!Youve had your way all your life, and its lucky I found that out, toobeforebefore.But he was gone, elbowing his way through the crowd, and the onlookers drifted away,embarrassed at the sight of the stor

54、my girl who shouted hysterically after him. Bridget slammedthe door and collapsed into a chair.Im sorry for the noise, she apologized when the officer returned. Td better finish checking theplants before its time to land.Never mind the plants, the lieutenant told her. Ive put them where he wont find

55、 them in ahurry. As a matter of fact, we arent going to land. Were in orbit now and theyre to send a rocketshuttle. They arent worried about what were bringing in this time. Its what we might take out.Theres a howling plague on New Eden after all. Several of our passengers have changed theirminds ab

56、out landing.A plague? said Bridget stupidly. It was hard to concentrate on anything more deadly than thegolden nematode.Oh, nothing you or I could catch. Something to do with agriculture and the plants. Whichreminds me, Ive a batch of telegrams for you. The authorities are delighted to learn weve ar

57、egistered entomologist aboard. Very few of them have come this way.By the time Bridget had read the sheaf of papers, she had made the transition from the world ofshipboard romance to her accustomed world of science and order. There was work to be done.Her talents were needed in a dozen places at onc

58、e. She left orders for the confiscated clovers tobe destroyed and went to her cabin to pack. She was on the first shuttle to leave the ship.The weeks that followed were filled with hard work with test tube and microscope, at her deskand in the field. The majority of her co-workers were men, but none

59、 had time to look for alaughing eye or a smiling mouth. The beautiful garden planet of New Eden was being reduced toa desert by a mysterious something that was swiftly attacking all the cultivated areas. Starvationwas looming and there was talk of hasty evacuation. The situation was passing out of c

60、ontrol.The villain could not be isolated. Was it an insect, a virus, a chemical in the soil? Some of the fewnative insects were caught and subjected to experiment. The soils were analyzed and tested.Those were not the answer. The only thing certain was that the previously lush brown loam wasturning

61、to a yellow, chalky sand, and everything that grew in it withered and died.Bridget visited farm after farm and trudged from field to field. She looked at worried faces andtried to think of words of encouragement. Back at the laboratory she studied her specimens farinto the night and fell asleep at h

62、er desk. She was too tired to think about Patch Maguire, who,she concluded, had never left the spaceship. What would a grower of gardens, a breeder ofplants do in a spreading desert? He had gone on to some more flourishing planet.She was called to the office one day.I hear theres a farm that claims

63、they dont have the plague, said the harassed young scientistbehind the desk. Better get over there and see if its any more than a rumor. Take the heli andbring back all the usual samples. Heres the directions on getting there.He shoved a torn piece of paper at her and turned back to his cluttered desk. Bridget picked upher collecting kit and climbed into the cab of the machine. By this time she knew her way aboutthe settlements. Without doubt, she told herself, this farm was on