hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第25章

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cious　morale…wise　than　a　machine　or　masculine　presence。〃
　〃The　last　exploration　spacer　was　junked　centuries　ago；〃　Steengo　said。
　〃A　lady　does　not　like　to　be　reminded　of　her　age；〃　Aida　said　huskily。　〃But　it　is　true。　When　my　ship　was　sent　to　the　breakers　I　was　made　redundant。　Since　I　am　basically　a　puter　program　I　am…every　woman's　dream…eternal。　I　had；　shall　we　say；　a　rather　varied　career　before　I　ended　up　here。　Mind　you；　I'm　not　plaining。　I　find　this　such　a　pleasant　occupation。　There　are　charming　ladies　to　talk　to；　as　well　as　additional　memory　banks　and　data　bases　to　access　whenever　I　wish　to。　Most　pleasurable　but　I　do　chatter　on。　I　have　been　informed　that　you　have　a　problem。　If　you　would　identify　yourselves　by　name　it　would　make　conversation　that　much　easier。　Jim　and　Madonette　I　know。　The　name　of　the　gentleman　who　just　spoke？〃
　〃Admiral…〃　Steengo　said；　then　broke　off。
　〃Let　us　do　keep　it　on　a　first…name　basis。　And　your　first　name　is　Admiral。　Others？〃
　〃Floyd；〃　said　Floyd。
　〃And　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　you　all。　How　may　I　help？〃
　〃An　item；　referred　to　as　the　artifact；　was　recently　brought　to　the　science　building。　Do　you　know　about　it？〃
　〃Indeed　I　do。　I　was　studying　it；　so　am　therefore　quite　familiar　with　the　strange　construction。　In　fact　I　had　it　under　observation　at　the　time　of　the　explosion。〃
　〃Did　you　see　what　happened　to　it？〃
　〃Taking　the　literal　meaning　of　see；　dear　Jim；　forces　me　to　answer　that　question　in　the　negative。　I　had　no　photo　pickups　operating　at　the　time　so　I　did　not　physically　see　what　happened　to　it。　The　only　information　I　had　was　the　direction　that　it　left　in。　That　was　thirty…two　degrees　to　the　right　of　the　zero　north…polar　latitude。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　at　all　out　there　in　that　direction；〃　Steengo　said。　〃No　settlements；　no　nomadic　tribes。　Nothing　but　empty　plains　right　up　the　polar　cap。　How　do　you　know　that　the　artifact　was　taken　that　way？〃
　〃I　know　that；　mon　Amiral；　because　this　artifact　emits　tachyons　and　I　was　observing　it　with　a　tachyometer。　Keeping　count；　so　to　speak；　and　most　interesting　it　was　too。　It　did　not　emit　many…after　all；　what　source　does？…but　a　few　are　much　better　than　none。　Let　the　record　show　that　it　emitted　one　tachyon；　from　the　direction　I　have　given　you；　just　microseconds　before　the　explosion　that　destroyed　the　equipment　I　was　using。〃
　〃You　weren't…injured？〃　Madonette　said。
　〃How　sweet　of　you　to　ask！　I　wasn't；　because　I　wasn't　there。　As　soon　as　I　could　I　constructed　a　new　tachyometer；　conveyed　it　to　the　site　of　the　explosion　with；　unhappily；　no　results。　Now　there　is　just　background　radiation。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　caused　the　explosion？〃
　〃Wele　to　this　easy　give…and…take　of　social　intercourse；　friend　Floyd。　To　answer　your　question…I　do。　It　was　a　very　powerful　explosive。　I　can　give　you　the　chemical　formula　but　I　am　sure　that　you　would　find　that　immensely　boring。　But　I　can　tell　you　that　this　explosive　was　manufactured　quite　widely　for　the　mining　industry　at　one　time。　It　is　named　ausbrechitite。〃
　〃Never　heard　of　it。〃
　〃Understandable；　Admiral；　since　it　was　found　to　grow　unstable　with　the　passage　of　time。　Manufacturing　was　phased　out　and　ausbrechitite　was　replaced　by　newer　and　more　stable　explosives。〃
　〃When　was　this？〃　I　asked。
　〃A　bit　over　three　centuries　ago。　Would　you　like　the　exact　date？〃
　〃That　will　do　fine。〃
　We　blinked　at　each　other　in　silence。　Not　knowing　what　to　do　with　this　weird　historical…scientific　evidence。　Only　Madonette　had　the　brains　to　ask　the　right　question。
　〃Aida…do　you　have　any　theories　about　what　happened？〃
　〃Simply　thousands　my　dear。　But　there　is　no　point　in　telling　you　about　them　until　I　gather　some　more　evidence。　Right　now　you　might　say　that　we　are　in　the　early　moves　of　a　chess　game　with　millions　of　possibilities　for　the　rest　of　the　game。　But　I　can　give　you　some　figures。　Chances　of　an　accidental　explosion；　zero。　Chances　that　the　explosion　was　tied　in　with　the　theft；　sixty…seven　percent。　What　happens　next　depends　upon　you。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Consider　reality。　You　are　mobile；　cher　Jim　while　I　am；　so　to　speak；　tied　down　to　the　job。　I　can　give　advice；　and　acpany　you　in　transceiver　form　when　you　leave　here。　But　what　happens　next…that　decision　is　up　to　you。〃
　〃What　decision？〃　Aida　could　be　exasperating　at　times。
　〃I　will　supply　a　new　tachyometer。　If　you　take　it　in　the　direction　I　have　indicated　you　might　be　able　to　track　the　artifact　in　this　manner。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said　and　reached　out　and　turned　Aida　off。　〃Looks　like　us　humans　have　to　e　to　a　decision。　Who　follows　the　trail？　Let　us　not　all　speak　at　once　but　let　me　speak　first　because　I　am　top　rat。　I　have　the　feeling　that　it　is　now　time　to　thin　our　ranks。　I　say　that　Madonette　does　not　go　any　further。　We　needed　her　for　the　music…and　wonderful　she　was　too！…but　not　for　crawling　around　looking　for　nutcases　planting　century…old　bombs。〃
　〃I　second　Jim's　motion；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said。
　〃I　third　it；〃　Floyd　said　quickly　as　Madonette　tried　to　speak。　〃This　is　really　not　your　kind　of　job。　Nor　is　it　Steengo's　either。〃
　〃Isn't　that　for　me　to　decide？〃　Steengo　snarled　in　his　best　admiralish　mode。
　〃No；〃　I　suggested。　〃If　you　wish　to　be　of　assistance；　you　can　really　help　us　by　organizing　the　base　operation　from　here。　I　declare　that　the　motion　has　been　seconded　and　passed　above　all　objections。　This　is　only　a　democracy　when　it　suits　me。〃
　Steengo　smiled　and　the　admiral's　scowl　vanished；　he　was　too　smart　to　argue。　〃I　agree。　I　am　well　past　my　sell…by　date　for　fieldwork。　My　aching　bones　tell　me　that。　Please；　Madonette；　give　in　graciously　to　the　thrust　of　history。　Are　you　nodding　albeit　reluctantly？　Good。　Above　and　beyond　any　aid　given　by　Aida；　I　will　see　to　it　that　the　Special　Corps　will　supply　any　equipment　needed。　Questions？〃　He　glowered　around　in　a　circle　but　we　were　silent。　He　nodded　with　satisfaction　and　Madonette　raised　her　hand。
　〃With　that　decision　out　of　the　way…may　I　pass　on　a　request？　In　conversation　I　have　discovered　that　everyone　here　is　a　true　musical　Rat　fan　so　。　。　。〃
　〃Could　we　do　one　last　gig　before　the　group　breaks　up？　You　betcha。　All　in　agreement。〃
　There　was　a　rousing　cheer　from　all　except　Steengo　who　looked　unhappy　at　the　thought　of　all　of　his　instruments　reduced　to　a　pile　of　particles。　But　Madonette；　ever　resourceful；　had　done　a　bit　of　work　before　she　mentioned　the　gig。
　〃I've　asked　around　among　the　girls。　They　tell　me　that　there　is　a　really　nice　chamber　group　here；　as　well　as　a　symphony　orchestra…they　must　have　at　least　one　instrument　Steengo　can　play。〃
　〃Any　of　them；　all　of　them…just　unleash　me！〃　he　said　and　now　it　was　smiles　and　cheers　all　around。
　Due　to　the　miracles　of　modern　medicines；　curing　and　healing　drugs；　pain…killers　and　a　large　shot　of　booze　for　Steengo；　we　were　ready　to　do　our　performance　later　this　same　day。　A　matinee；　since　night　here　was　still　a　couple　of　our　days　away　and　not　worth　waiting　for。
　There　was　quite　a　turnout　at　the　sports　stadium。　Cheers　and　shouts　of　joy　greeted　us　and　no　one　seemed　to　mind　that　Steengo　was　not　only　out　of　costume　but　playing　from　a　wheelchair。　If　this　was　to　be　the　last　curtain　for　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　we　meant　to　make　it　a　performance　to　remember。　Leaving　the　more　militaristic　and　macho　songs　aside　for　the　moment　we　launched　into　a　mellow　blues　number。
　Blue　world　…　
Hear　me　singing　my　song。　
Blue　world　…　
What's　it　I　done　wrong？　
Blue　world　…　
You　gonna　help　me　along　
Blue　wor…r…r…ld。　
Here　we　are　
We　ain't　goin'　away。　
Here　we　are　
On　this　planet　to　stay。　
Blue　wor…rr…ld。　

Landing　was　easy；　
Plenty　of　fun。　
Down　came　our　rocket　…　
'Neath　the　blue　sun。　
Landing　was　great　
Everything　swell。　
Now　it's　all　over；　
Living　is　hell；　
Down　here　at　the　bottom　of　the　gravity　well。
　We　did　many　an　encore　this　day。　Finished　finally　with　the　feeling　of　exhaustion　and　happiness　that　only　es　with　an　artistic　job　well　done。　Sleep　came　easily　but；　unable　to　resist；　I　took　one　last　peek　at　the　days　remaining　before　closing　my　eyes。
　Still　seven。　Still　a　week。　Plenty　of　time　for　my　good　buddy　Admiral　Steengo　to　kick　butt　and　e　up　with　the　antidote。　I　think　I　was　smiling　when　I　closed　my　eyes　which；　when　you　think　about　it；　was　quite　a　change　from　the　preceding　twenty…seven　days。　Yes　it　was。
　Then　why　wasn't　I　going　to　sleep？　Instead　of　lying　there　tensely　staring　into　the　darkness。　An　easy　answer。
　Until　the　happy　moment　when　I　pulled　back　the　plunger　and　shot　up　with　the　antidote　I　had　only　seven　days　to　live。
　Nighty…night；　Jim。　Sleep　well　。　。　。
　
　CHAPTER　22
　Either　I　was　a　slugabed　or　the　admiral；　released　from　his　role　as　a　musician；　was　a　workaholic。　Or　both。　Because　by　the　time　I　had　appeared　he　had　single…handedly　organized　our　expedition　down　to　the　last　detail。　He　was　muttering　over　the　heap　of　apparatus　as　he　punched　the　checklist　into　his　handheld。　He　glanced　up；　waved　vaguely；　then　finished　off　the　last　items。
　〃This　is　your　new　backpack。　It　contains　a　number　of　items　you　will　probably　need…and　here's　a　printout　of　what's　inside　it。　I　assume　that　you　have　a　good　deal　of　illegal　and　possibly　deadly　items　in　your　old　pack　which　you　can　transfer　after　I　leave。　Aida　is　assembling　another　tachyometer　and　I'm　going　to　get　it　now。　Floyd　will　join　you　shortly…and　here　is　Madonette；　wele；　wele。〃
　Steengo　made　as　graceful　an　exit　as　he　could　on　crutches。　Madonette；　a　picture　of　good　cheer；　swept　in　and　took　both　of　my　hands　in　hers。　Then　discovered　that　this　wasn't　an　enthusiastic　enough　greeting　so　she　kissed　me　warmly　on　my　cheek。　My　arms　embraced　her　in　automatic　response；　but　closed　on　empty　air　since　she　had　already　whirled　away　and　dropped　onto　the　couch。
　〃I　wish　that　I　were　ing　with　you；　Jim…but　I　know　that　it's　impossible。　Still；　I'm　not　looking　forward　to　getting　back　to　the　stuffy　old　office。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　miss　you；〃　I　said。　Meaning　it　to　be　a　calm　statement　but　listening　to　myself　in　horror　as　it　came　out　all　dewy…eyed　and　smarmy。　〃All　of　us　will　miss　you；　of　course。〃
　〃Same　here。　There　were　some　hairy　moments…but　you　took　care　of　everything；　didn't　you？〃　The　warmth　and　appreciation　were　such　that　I　could　feel　myself　blushing。　〃All　in　all　I　think　it　was　an　experience　of　a　lifetime。　And　I　am　definitely　not　going　back　to　all　those　files　and　staff　meetings　and　sealed　windows。　It's　field　work　from　now　on。　Out　in　the　fresh　air？　Isn't　that　a　good　idea？〃
　〃Wonderful；　yes　indeed；〃　I　said；　missing　her　already。　I　don't　know　where　all　this　might　have　ended　if　Floyd　hadn't　made　a　disgustingly　cheerful　entrance。
　〃Morning　all。　Good　day　for　the　expedition。　Hi　and　unhappily　good…by　Madonette；　panion　of　many　an　adventure。　It　has　been　fun　working　with　you。〃
　〃Could　you　teach　me　unarmed　defense？〃
　〃My　pleasure。　Easy　enough　if　you　work　at　it。〃
　〃Then　I　could　train　to　be　a　field　agent？〃
　〃Probably　not。　But　I'll　sure　look　into　it。〃
　〃Would　you！　I'd　be　ever　grateful。　I　was　telling　Jim　that　I　don't　want　to　work　in　an　office　anymore。〃
　〃Nor　should　you！　A　girl　with　your　talents　can　find　much　better　occupation。〃
　They　smiled　at　each　other　from　opposite　ends　of　the　couch；　knees　almost　touching；　wrapped　up　in　each　other。　I　was　forgotten。　I　hated　Floyd's　guts。　Was　more　than　happy　to　hear　the　thud　of　crutches　and　the　dragging　footsteps　approaching。
　〃All　here；〃　Steengo　said。　〃Very　go