Arthur C. Clarke - History Lesson

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1、HistoryLessonArthurC.Clarke1949BetterPublicationsInc.Noonecouldrememberwhenthetribehadbegunitslongjourney.Thelandofgreatrollingplainsthathadbeenitsfirsthomewasnownomorethanahalf-forgottendream.FormanyyearsShannandhispeoplehadbeenfleeingthroughacountryoflowhillsandsparklinglakes,andnowthemountains

2、layahead.Thissummertheymustcrossthemtothesouthernlands.Therewaslittletimetolose.ThewhiteterrorthathadcomedownfromthePoles,grindingcontinentstodustandfreezingtheveryairbeforeit,waslessthanaday'smarchbehind.Shannwonderediftheglacierscouldclimbthemountainsahead,andwithinhishearthedaredtokindlealittl

3、eflameofhope.Thismightproveabarrieragainstwhicheventheremorselessicewouldbatterinvain.Inthesouthernlandsofwhichthelegendsspoke,hispeoplemightfindrefugeatlast.Ittookweekstodiscoverapassthroughwhichthetribeandtheanimalscouldtravel.Whenmidsummercame,theyhadcampedinalonelyvalleywheretheairwasthinandt

4、hestarsshonewithabrilliancenoonehadeverseenbefore.ThesummerwaswaningwhenShanntookhistwosonsandwentaheadtoexploretheway.Forthreedaystheyclimbed,andforthreenightssleptasbesttheycouldonthefreezingrocks,andonthefourthmorningtherewasnothingaheadbutagentlerisetoacairnofgraystonesbuiltbyothertravelers,c

5、enturiesago.Shannfelthimselftrembling,andnotwithcold,astheywalkedtowardthelittlepyramidofstones.HisPage1sonshadfallenbehind.Noonespoke,fortoomuchwasatstake.Inalittlewhiletheywouldknowifalltheirhopeshadbeenbetrayed.Toeastandwest,thewallofmountainscurvedawayasifembracingthelandbeneath.Belowlayendle

6、ssmilesofundulatingplain,withagreatriverswingingacrossitintremendousloops.Itwasafertileland;oneinwhichthetribecouldraisecropsknowingthattherewouldbenoneedtofleebeforetheharvestcame.ThenShannliftedhiseyestothesouth,andsawthedoomofallhishopes.Forthereattheedgeoftheworldglimmeredthatdeadlylighthehad

7、seensooftentothenorth-theglintoficebelowthehorizon.Therewasnowayforward.Throughalltheyearsofflight,theglaciersfromthesouthhadbeenadvancingtomeetthem.Soontheywouldbecrushedbeneaththemovingwallsofice...Southernglaciersdi