（外文电子版资料）Niven, Larry - Bordered in Black.doc

Bordered in Black By Larry Niven Only one figure stood in the airlock, though it was a cargo lock, easily big enough to hold both men. Lean and sandy haired, the tiny figure was obviously Carver Rappaport. A bushy beard now covered half his face. He waited patiently while the ramp was run up, and then he started down. Turnbull, waiting at the bottom, suppressed growing uneasiness. Something was wrong. Hed known it the moment he heard that the Overcee was landing. The ship must have been in the solar system for hours. Why hadnt she called in? And where was Wall Kameon? Returning spacers usually sprinted down the ramp, eager to touch honest concrete again. Rappaport came down with slow, methodical speed. Seen close, his beard was ragged, unkempt. He reached bottom, and Turnbull saw that the square features were set like cement. Rappaport brushed past him and kept walking. Turnbull ran after him and fell into step, looking and feeling foolish. Rappaport was a good head taller, and where he was walking, Turnbull was almost running. He shouted above the background noise of the spaceport, Rappaport, wheres Kameon? Like Turnbull, Rappaport had to raise his voice. Dead. Dead? Was it the ship? Rappaport, did the ship kill him? No. Then what? Is his body aboard? Turnbull, I dxont want to talk about it. No, his body isnt aboard. His-- Rappaport ground the heels of his hands into his eyes, like a man with a blinding headache. His grave, he said, emphasizing the word, has a nice black border around it. Lets leave it at that. But they couldnt, of course. Two security officers caught up with them near the edge of the field. Stop him, said Turnbull, and they each took an arm. Rappaport stopped walking and turned. Have you forgotten that Im carrying a destruct capsule? What about it? For the moment Turnbull really didnt understand what he meant. Any more interference and Ill use it. Understand this, Turnbull. I dont care any more. Project Overcee is