hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Just　an　office　drudge…singing　for　a　hobby。〃
　〃The　office's　loss　is　music's　gain。〃　I　smiled　and　blew　a　kiss　her　way。　〃One　down；　two　to　go。　Steengo；　I　have　a　feeling　that　you　really　aren't　retired。　Right？〃
　〃Right。　And　I　do　take　some　pride　in　my　musical　abilities。　Which；　if　you　must　know；　was　why　I　was　suckered　into　this　operation　by　my　old　drinking　buddy；　Admiral　Benbow。〃
　〃Drinking　buddy！　He　who　drinks　with　an　admiral　。　。　。〃
　〃Must　be　an　admiral　too。　Perfectly　correct；　I　am　Arseculint　。　。　。〃
　〃I　didn't　quite　catch　that。〃
　〃Arseculint　is　an　acronym　for　Area　Sector　mander　Cultural　Intercourse。　And　you　can　uncurl　your　lip。　Perhaps；　in　context；　‘intercourse'　is　not　quite　the　right　word。　Cultural　Relationships　might　express　it　better。　My　degrees　are　in　archeology　and　cultural　anthropology；　which　is　what　attracted　me　to　the　civil　service　in　the　first　place。　Sort　of　hands…on　application　of　theory。　I　followed　the　matter　of　the　alien　artifact　with　a　great　deal　of　interest。　So　I　was　ripe　for　the　plucking；　you　might　say；　when　Stinky　Benbow　asked　me　to　volunteer。〃
　〃Stinky？〃
　〃Yes；　funny　nickname；　goes　back　to　the　academy；　something　to　do　with　a　chemistry　experiment。　Which　is　pletely　beside　the　point。　I　thought　enough　of　this　assignment　to　take　a　leave　from　my　desk。　Great　fun。　Up　until　the　last；　that　is。〃
　〃Which　leaves　young　Floyd　here？　Also　an　admiral？〃
　He　looked　sheepish。　〃e　on；　Jim；　you　know　better　than　that。　I　even　washed　out　of　college；　never　graduated　at　all　。　。　。〃
　I　pointed　an　accusatory　finger。　〃Putting　academic　credits　aside　you　must　have　some　value　to　the　Special　Corps。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　I　do。　I　really　am　sort　of　an　instructor　。　。　。〃
　〃Speak　up；　Floyd；〃　Steengo　said　proudly。　〃Being　chief　instructor　in　charge　of　the　unarmed　defense　school　is　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of。〃
　〃I　agree　pletely！〃　I　said。　〃If　you　weren't　a　whiz　kid　in　unarmed　bat；　why　none　of　us　would　be　here。　Thanks　guys。　Mission　plete　and　successful。　Let's　drink　to　that。〃
　As　we　raised　and　clashed　our　glasses　together；　drank　deep；　I　thought　of　my　mother。　I　do　this　very　rarely；　it　must　be　all　the　male…female　myth　dredging　that　brought　her　to　mind。　Or　what　she　used　to　say。　Very　superstitious　my　Ma。　Had　a　superstition　for　any　occasion。　The　one　that　I　remember　best　was　when　you　said　how　great　things　were；　or　what　a　nice　day　it　was。　Bite　your　tongue　she　used　to　say。
　Meaning　don't　tempt　the　gods。　Keep　your　head　down。　Because　saying　that　something　was　good　would　surely　bring　about　the　opposite。
　Bite　your　tongue；　good　old　Ma。　What　a　lot　of　malarky。
　When　I　lowered　my　glass　I　saw　a　woman　stumble　in　through　the　open　door。　A　young　woman　with　torn　clothing；　dusty　and　staggering。
　〃Sound　the　alarm　。　。　。〃　she　gasped。　〃Disaster　destruction！〃
　Madonette　caught　her　as　she　fell；　listened　to　her　whispered　words；　looked　up　with　a　horrified　expression。
　〃She's　hurt；　babbling　。　。　。　something　about　the　science　building；　destroyed；　gone。　Everything。〃
　That　was　when　I　felt　the　cold　tongs　grab　tight　to　my　chest；　squeezing　so　hard　they　made　speech　almost　impossible。
　〃The　artifact…〃　was　all　I　managed　to　say。
　Madonette　nodded　slow　agreement。　〃That's　where　it　was；　they　told　me。　In　the　science　building。　So　it　must　be　gone　too。〃
　
　CHAPTER　21
　The　mutual　decision　of　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　was　a　simple　one：　we　had　had　about　enough　for　one　day。　We　were　alive；　if　not　too　well。　We　had　found　the　artifact　so　our　mission　was　acplished。　The　fact　that　it　had　also　been　destroyed　was　beside　the　fact。　I　hoped。　They　would　have　to　supply　me　with　the　poison　antidote　now。　I　kept　that　thought　firmly　before　me　as　I　went　to　sleep。　This　was　a　time　for　rest。　Wounds　had　to　heal；　tissue　had　to　mend；　fatigue　had　to　be　alleviated：　medication　and　a　good　night's　sleep　took　care　of　all　of　that。
　The　sun　was　shining　brilliantly　upon　the　garden　of　our　new　residence　when　I　dragged　myself　there　next　morning。　Sleep　had　banished　fatigue；　which　meant　that　I　felt　all　the　bruises　that　much　more　enthusiastically。　My　medication　was　beginning　to　override　the　pain　and　I　dropped　into　a　chair　while　I　waited　for　beneficence　to　take　place。　Steengo　came　in　soon　after；　swinging　along　on　crutches　and　looking　very　much　like　I　felt。　He　eased　himself　into　the　chair　opposite　me。　I　smiled　a　weling　smile。
　〃Good　morning；　Admiral。〃
　〃Please；　Jim…I'm　still　Steengo。〃
　〃Then；　Steengo；　since　we're　alone　for　the　moment；　let　me　express　my　heartfelt　thanks　for　breaking　up　the　brainwashing　session　with　Iron　John。　For　which；　unhappily；　you　paid　quite　a　physical　price。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Jim；　I　appreciate　that。　But　I　had　to　do　it。　To　save　you　from　being　programmed。　Also…I　really　did　lose　my　temper。　Teddy　bear　indeed！　A　plete　corruption　of　history。〃
　〃No　teddy　bear？　No　golden　ball？〃
　〃The　golden　ball；　yes。　That　represents　innocence；　the　pleasures　of　childhood　without　responsibility。　It　is　lost　when　we　grow　up。　To　regain　this　freedom　the　myth　tells　us　we　have　to　find　the　ball　under　mother's　pillow…and　steal　it。〃
　〃But　in　a　society　without　women　you　can't　have　a　mother　…so　the　myth　has　to　be　rewritten？〃
　Steengo　nodded　agreement；　then　winced　and　touched　the　bandage　around　his　head。　〃Retold　as　nonsense。　In　the　original　story　Mother　never　wants　the　boy　child　to　grow　up；　sees　him　as　young　and　dependent　forever。　Independence　must　be　stolen　away　from　mother…hence　the　golden　ball　under　her　pillow。〃
　〃Pretty　deep　stuff。〃
　〃Pretty　fascinating　stuff。　Mankind　depends　on　its　myths　to　rationalize　existence。　Pervert　the　myth　and　you　pervert　society。〃
　〃Like　Big　Red　and　his　mates　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall？〃
　〃Exactly。　But　what　was　happening　there　was　far　more　dangerous　than　just　editing　a　myth。　I　had　suspected　that　there　would　be　some　strong　narcogases　in　the　air…and　I　was　right。　You　and　Floyd　were　glassy…eyed　and　practically　hypnotized　into　immobility。　So　it　wasn't　just　a　matter　of　listening　to　one　more　story　about　the　magnetic　field　of　the　deep　masculine。　This　was　about　having　a　very　pernicious　and　demented　theory　punched　deep　into　your　mind；　into　your　subconscious。　You　were　being　brainwashed；　thought…controlled…and　this　sort　of　crude　forced　suggestion　can　do　infinite　harm。　I　had　to　stop　it。
　〃Risking　your　o〃m　life　at　the　same　time？〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　I　am　sure　you　would　have　done　the　same　for　me　if　the　circumstances　were　reversed。〃
　There　was　no　answering　that　one。　Would　I？　I　smiled；　a　little　grimly。　〃Can　I　at　least　say　thanks？〃
　〃You　can。　Greatly　appreciated。　So　back　to　work。　Now；　before　the　others　e；　to　more　pressing　business。　Since　I　am　now　in　the　open；　so　to　speak；　I　am　relieving　Captain　Tremearne　and　taking　mand　of　this　operation。　I　am　in　a　better　position　to　kick　the　cagal　out　of　the　chain　of　mand　and　make　sure　that　your　antidote　is　here　instantly。　Or　sooner。　My　first　imperative　order　when　I　took　mand　was　to　send　for　it。〃
　〃Then　you　know　about　the　thirty…day　poison？　If　I　might　be　frank…I　can　tell　you…it　has　had　me　pretty　worried。　Thank　you…》　》
　〃Don't　thank　me　yet。　Because　I　want　your　assurance　that　you　will　stick　with　this　assignment；　thirty…day　poison　or　no。〃
　〃Of　course　I　will。　I　took　on　this　job；　got　paid；　and　gave　my　word　I　would　finish　it。　The　poison　was　just　some　bureaucratic　moron's　idea　of　a　pletion　bond。〃
　〃I　was　sure　you　would　say　that。　Knew　that　you　would　carry　on　regardless；　threat　of　death　or　no　threat　of　death。〃
　Why　was　I　unfortable　when　he　said　this？　This　was　my　old　mate　Steengo　talking。　Or　was　there　a　strong　whiff　of　the　admiral　behind　his　words？　Once　the　military；　always　the　military　。　。　。　No；　I　would　not　think　ill　of　him。　But　I　better　remember　that　the　poison　was　still　churning　away。　He　was　smiling　widely　and　I　let　my　smile　mirror　his。　Although；　deep　inside；　the　worry　and　fear　still　nagged　and　scratched　at　my　thoughts。　Find　the　artifact；　Jim。　That　is　the　only　way　to　be　sure　about　the　antidote。
　I　laughed　and　smiled。　But　only　on　the　outside。　〃Carry　on；　of　course。　The　artifact　must　be　found。〃
　〃Must　be　found；　you　are　right。　The　search　must　go　on！〃　He　looked　over　my　shoulder　and　waved。　〃And　there's　Floyd　…　and　Madonette。　Wele；　my　dear；　wele。　I　would　stand　to　greet　you；　but　only　with　difficulty。〃
　She　smiled　and　kissed　his　forehead　below　the　bandage。　Of　course　she　was　the　last　one　to　arrive；　woman's　prerogative。　Though　I　had　better　abandon　such　male…chauv…pig　reflexive　observations。　At　least　while　I　was　still　a　guest　of　the　ladies　this　side　of　Paradise。
　〃I　have　been　talking　to　Mata；〃　she　said；　seating　herself　and　sipping　a　bit　of　fruit　juice。　〃The　science　building　was　empty　when　the　explosion　occurred；　so　no　one　was　injured。　Since　then　they　have　sifted　the　ruins　and　found　that　there　is　no　trace　at　all　of　the　artifact。〃
　〃Positive？〃　I　asked。
　〃Positive。　They　have　been　eavesdropping　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall；　so　they　knew　about　all　our　interest　in　the　thing。　They　waited　until　they　observed　that　all　the　male　scientists　had　looked　at　it　and　prodded　it　enough。　As　expected　those　noble　gentlemen…referred　here　to　as　‘the　geriatric　inpetents'　had　discovered　nothing。　Having　no　further　interest　the　scientists　had　it　transferred　here。　A　study　program　had　been　drawn　up　to　examine　the　artifact　but　was　just　beginning　when　the　explosion　occurred。　End　of　report。〃
　So　the　artifact　might　have　been　stolen；　might　still　be　around。　I　could　help　look　for　it。　But　I　could　also　stop　counting　the　days。　Earlier；　when　I　had　been　woken　up　by　my　puter；　it　had　been　flashing　a　glowing　seven　for　my　benefit。　Now　Admiral　Steengo　had　relieved　me　of　this　chronic　worry。
　But　I　had　taken　three　million　for　this　job…and　I　still　wondered　what　the　thing　really　was。　So　the　artifact…chase　would　continue。　Minus　the　pressure　of　the　days。　I　looked　around　at　my　musical　rats　and　realized　that　nothing　had　changed　for　them。　The　search　for　the　artifact　was　still　on。　Well　…　why　not！
　〃What　do　we　do　next？〃　I　said。　Steengo；　now　more　of　an　admiral　than　a　musician；　toted　up　the　possible　options。
　〃Was　the　explosion　an　accident？　If　it　wasn't…who　caused　it？　There　are　really　a　lot　of　questions　that　must　be　asked　。　。　。〃
　〃Mata　told　me　to　tell　you　that　you　were　to　ask　Aida　if　you　had　any　questions；〃　Madonette　said　brightly。
　We　considered　this　seriously　for　a　moment；　then　realized　we　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　of　what　she　was　talking　about。　Still　the　admiral；　Steengo　spoke　for　all　of　us。
　〃Who　is　Aida？〃
　〃Not　who…but　what。　An　acronym　for　Artificially　Intelligent　Data　Assembler。　I　think　that　it　is　the　central　puter　here。　In　any　case；　here　is　the　access　terminal。〃
　She　put　what　looked　like　an　ordinary　portaphone　on　the　table　and　switched　it　on。　Nothing　happened。
　〃Are　you　there；　Aida？〃　Madonette　said。
　〃Ready　to　be　summoned　at　any　time；　darling；〃　the　voice　said。　In　a　rich　and　sexy　contralto。
　〃I　thought　you　said　puter？〃　was　my　baffled　response。
　〃Do　I　hear　a　male　voice？〃　Aida　said。　Then　giggled。　〃It　has　been　such　a　very　long　time！　Might　I　ask　your　name；　sweetie？〃
　〃Jim…not　sweetie。　And　why　did　you　call　me　that？〃
　〃Training　and　programming；　dear　boy。　Before　this　present　assignment　I　ran　an　exploration　spacer。　Male　crew；　endless　years　in　space。　It　was　felt　by　my　creators　that　a　female　voice　and　presence　would　be　more　efficacious　morale…wise　than　a　machine　or　masculine　presence。〃
　〃The　last　explorat