hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第3章

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This　is　a　puter…generated　plex　of　toxins　that　are　neutral　now…but　which　will　kill　you　horribly　in　exactly　thirty　days　if　you　are　not　given　the　antidote。　Which　is　also　puter…generated　and　impossible　to　duplicate。〃
　He　jumped　back　quite　smartly　when　I　leaped　at　him。　But　the　chain　on　my　ankle　would　not　quite　reach。　My　fingers　snapped　ineffectually　just　in　front　of　his　throat。
　〃If　you　will　cease　clawing　at　the　air　I　will　explain；〃　Narcoses　said　with　an　air　of　weary　sophistication。　Had　he　done　this　kind　of　thing　before　I　wondered？　I　folded　my　arms　and　stepped　back。
　〃Much　better。　Although　I　am　a　lawyer　licensed　to　practice　on　this　planet；　I　am　also　a　representative　of　the　Galactic　League。〃
　〃Wonderful。　The　Paskonjakians　want　to　drown　me…you　poison　me。　I　thought　this　was　a　galaxy　of　peace？〃
　〃You　are　wasting　time。　I　am　here　to　free　you；　under　certain　conditions。　The　League　has　need　of　a　criminal。　One　who　is　both　skilled　and　reliable。　Which　is　an　oxymoron。　You　have　proved　your　criminalistic　ability　by　your　almost…successful　theft。　The　poison　guarantees　your　reliability。　Do　I　assume　that　you　will　cooperate？　At　the　minimum　you　have　a　life　extension　of　thirty　days。〃
　〃Yes；　sure；　you're　on。　Not　that　I　have　a　choice。〃
　〃You　don't。〃　He　looked　at　the　watch　set　into　his　little　fingernail　and　stepped　aside　as　the　door　opened。　A　chubby；　bearded　youth　came　in　with　a　sheaf　of　papers。
　〃Excellent；〃　Narcoses　said。　〃You　have　the　will？〃　The　young　man　nodded。　The　door　was　closed　and　sealed　again。
　〃Five　minutes；〃　Narcoses　said。
　The　newer　pulled　down　a　zipper　that　sealed　his　onepiece　suit。　Took　off　the　suit…and　a　lot　of　flesh　with　it。　The　suit　was　padded。　He　was　not　fat　at　all；　but　lean　and　muscular　quite　like　me。　When　he　peeled　off　the　fake　beard　I　realized　that　he　looked　exactly　like　me。　I　blinked　rapidly　as　I　stared　at　my　own　face。
　〃Only　four　minutes　left　diGriz。　Put　on　the　suit。　I'll　fix　the　beard。〃
　The　well…built　and　handsome　stranger　pulled　on　my　discarded　robe。　Stepped　aside　when　Narcoses　took　a　key　from　his　pocket；　bent　and　unlocked　the　restraining　cuff　on　my　ankle。　f　landed　it　to　the　other　who　emotionlessly　bent　and　snapped　it　t（》　Isis　own　ankle。
　〃Why…why　are　you　doing　this？〃　I　asked　him。
　He　said　nothing；　just　leaned　over　to　retrieve　the　gun。
　〃I'll　need　another　bullet；〃　he　said。　With　my　voice。
　〃The　Colonel　will　supply　it；〃　Narcoses　said。　Then　remembered　something　else　he　had　said　just　moments　ago；
　〃You　called　me　diGriz。　You　know　my　name？〃
　〃I　know　a　lot　more　than　that；〃　he　said　pressing　the　beard　and　mustache　into　position　on　my　face。　〃Carry　these　papers。　Follow　me　out　of　here。　Keep　your　mouth　shut。〃
　All　of　which　I　was　very　happy　to　do。　With　one　last　look　at　my　imprisoned　self　I　trotted　forth　to　freedom。
　
　CHAPTER　3
　I　trotted　behind　Narcoses；　clutching　the　papers　and　trying　to　think　bearded　and　fat。　The　guards　were　ignoring　us；　watching　instead　with　sadistic　fascination　as　one　of　their　number　started　to　close　the　watertight　door。
　〃Wait；〃　the　Colonel　said；　opening　a　small　box　and　taking　out　a　cartridge。　He　looked　up　as　I　passed；　stared　me　straight　in　the　face。　I　felt　perspiration　bursting　from　my　pores。　The　momentary　glance　must　have　lasted　about　a　subjective　hour。　Then　he　kept　on　turning　and　called　out　to　the　guard。
　〃Open　that　again　you　idiot？　I　load　the　gun　then　you　close　the　door。　When　that　has　been　done　this　business　will　be　over　with　once　and　for　all。〃
　We　turned　a　corner　and　the　noxious　group　vanished　from　sight　behind　us。　Silently；　as　ordered；　I　followed　the　lawyer　through　many　a　guarded　portal；　into　an　elevator；　out　of　it　and　then　through　one　final　door；　escaping　the　Mint　at　last。　Letting　out　a　great　sigh　of　relief　as　we　went　past　the　armed　guards　and　headed　for　the　waiting　ground　car。
　〃Silence？　Into　the　car。　Speak　to　me　in　the　office　about　a　salary　raise…not　before。〃
　Narcoses　must　know　things　that　I　didn't。　Detector　bugs　in　the　ornamental　trees　we　were　passing？　Acoustic　microphones　aimed　our　way？　I　realized　now　that　my　carefully　planned　crime　had　apparently　been　a　disaster　from　the　moment　I　had　conceived　it。
　The　driver　was　silent　as　a　tomb…and　about　as　attractive。　I　watched　the　buildings　stream　by；　then　the　outskirts　of　the　city　appeared。　We　drove　on　until　we　reached　a　small　building　in　a　leafy　suburb。　The　front　door　opened　as　we　approached；　then　closed　behind　us　apparently　without　human　intervention。　The　same　thing　happened　to　the　inner　door　which　was　tastefully　labeled　with　jewel…studded　gold　letters　PEDERASTS　NARCOSES　Attorney　at　Laws。　It　closed　silently　and　I　wheeled　about　and　pointed　a　menacing　finger　at　him。
　〃You　knew　about　me　even　before　I　landed　on　this　planet。〃
　〃Of　course。　As　soon　as　your　false　credentials　were　filed　the　investigation　began。〃
　〃So　you　stood　by　and　let　me　plot　and　plan　and　mit　a　crime　and　get　sentenced　to　death…without　making　any　attempt　to　interfere？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃That's　criminal！　More　of　a　crime　than　my　crime。〃
　〃Not　really。　You　were　always　going　to　be　plucked　out　of　that　terminal　swimming　pool　in　any　case。　We　just　wanted　to　see　how　well　you　did。〃
　〃How　did　I　do？〃
　〃Very　good…for　a　lad　your　age。　You　got　the　job。〃
　〃Well　good　for　me。　But　what　about　my　double…the　bloke　who　took　my　place？〃
　〃That　bloke；　as　you　refer　to　him；　is　one　of　the　finest　and　most　expensive　humanoid　robots　that　money　can　afford。　Which　money　will　not　be　wasted　since　the　doctor　who　is　now　performing　the　postmortem　is　in　our　pay。　The　incident　is　closed。〃'
　〃Wonderful；〃　I　sighed；　dropping　limply　onto　the　couch。　〃Look；　can　I　get　a　drink？　It　has　been　a　long　day。　No　spirits　howevera　beer　will　do　fine。〃
　〃A　capital　idea。　I　will　join　you。〃
　A　tiny　but　well…stocked　bar　unfolded　from　one　wall；　the　dispenser　produced　two　chilled　brews。　I　gulped　and　smacked。
　〃Excellent。　If　I　have　only　thirty　days　to　go　shouldn't　you　be　telling　me　about　what　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃In　good　time；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　across　from　me。　〃Captain　Varod　asked　me　to　send　his　regards。　And　to　convey　the　message　that　he　knee　you　were　lying　when　you　promised　to　give　up　a　life　of　crime。〃
　〃So　he　had　me　watched？〃
　〃You're　catching　on。　After　this　last　criminal　assignment　for　us　you　will　bee　an　honest　man。　Or　else。〃
　〃Who　are　you　to　talk！〃　I　sneered　and　drained　the　glass。　〃A　crooked　shyster　who　is　theoretically　paid　to　uphold　the　law。　Yet　you　stand　by　and　let　the　thugs　here　on　Paskonjak　pass　legislation　to　have　trials　after　an　execution…then　you　employ　a　criminal　to　mit　a　criminal　act。　Not　what　I　would　call　sincerely　law…abiding。〃
　〃First；〃　he　said；　lifting　a　finger　in　a　very　legalistic　way；　〃we　have　never　condoned　the　secret　law　in　the　Mint。　It　was　only　recently　produced　by　the　overly…paranoid　management　here。　Yours　was　the　first　arrest…and　will　be　the　last。　There　have　been　numerous　job　replacements　already。　Secondly；〃　another　finger　rose　to　join　the　first；　〃the　League　has　never　condoned　violence　or　criminal　acts。　This　is　the　first　occurrence　and　has　been　produced　by　an　。unusual　series　of　circumstances。　After　great　deliberation　the　decision　was　made　to　do　it　just　this　one　time。　And　never　again。〃
　〃Millions　might　believe　that；〃　I　sneered　disbelievingly。　〃Isn't　it　time　you　told　me　what　the　job　is？〃
　〃No…because　I　don't　know　myself。　My　vote　was　cast　against　this　entire　operation　so　I　have　been　included　out。　Professor　Van　Diver　will　brief　you。〃
　〃But　what　about　the　thirty…day　poison？〃
　〃You　will　be　contacted　on　the　twenty…ninth　day。〃　He　stood　up　and　went　to　the　door。　〃It　is　against　my　principles　to　wish　you　good　luck。〃
　This　was　his　puritanical　pontificatory　exit　line。　Because　as　he　went　out　an　elderly　type　with　a　white　beard　and　a　monocle　entered。
　〃Professor　Van　Diver　I　presume？〃
　〃Indeed；〃　he　said　extending　a　damp；　limp　hand　for　me　to　shake。　〃You　must　be　the　volunteer　with　the　nom　de　guerre　of　Jim　about　whose　presence　I　was　informed；　who　would　await　me　here。　It　was　very　good　of　you　to　undertake　what　can　only　be　called　a　rather　diligent　and　difficult　assignment。〃
　〃Rather；〃　I　intoned；　falling　into　his　academic　mode　of　speech。　〃Is　there　any　remote　possibility　that　I　might　be　informed　of　the　nature　of　this　assignment？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　have　the　requisite　authority　to　provide　augmentive　information　to　you　concerning　the　history　and　tragic　circumstance　of　the　loss。　Another　individual；　who　shall　be　nameless；　will　supply　the　assistance　that　you　will　require。　I　shall　begin　with　the　circumstances　that　occurred　a　little　over　twenty　years　ago　。　。　。〃
　〃A　beer。　I　must　have　refreshment。　Will　you　join　me？〃
　〃I　abstain　from　all　alcoholic　and　caffeine…containing　beverages。〃　He　glared　at　me　glassily　through　his　menacing　monocle　as　I　refilled　my　mug。　I　sipped　and　sat　and　waved　him　into　action。　His　voice　washed　over　me　in　turgid　waves　and　soon　had　me　half…asleep…but　the　content　of　his　talk　woke　me　up　fast　enough。　He　went　on　far　too　long；　with　far　too　many　digressions；　but　despite　this　it　was　fascinating　stuff　to　listen　to。
　A　stripped…down　version　wouldn't　have　been　half　as　much　fun　for　him　and　would　have　taken　only　a　few　minutes　to　tell。　Simply；　Galaksia　Universitato　had　sent　an　expedition　to　a　reported　archeological　site　on　a　distant　world…where　they　had　uncovered　an　artifact　of　non…human　origin。
　〃You　must　be　kidding；〃　I　said。　〃Mankind　has　explored　a　great　part　of　the　galaxy　in　the　last　thirty…two　thousand　years　and　no　trace　of　an　alien　race　has　ever　been　found。〃
　He　sniffed　loudly。　〃I　do　not　‘kid'　as　you　say　in　your　simple　demotic。　I　have　pictorial　proof　here；　photographs　sent　back　by　the　expedition。　The　artifact　was　uncovered　in　a　stratum　at　least　a　million　years　old　and　resembles　nothing　in　any　data　base　existent　in　the　known　universe。〃
　He　took　a　print　from　his　inner　pocket　and　passed　it　over　to　me。　I　took　it　and　looked　at　it；　then　turned　it　around　since　there　was　no　indication　of　which　was　top　or　bottom。　A　twisted　hunk　of　incongruous　angles　and　forms　resembling　nothing　I　had　ever　seen　before。
　〃It　looks　alien　enough　to　be　alien；〃　I　said。　Looking　at　it　was　beginning　to　hurt　my　eyes　so　I　dropped　it　onto　the　table。　〃What　does　it　do；　or　what　is　it　made　of　or　whatever？〃
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea　since　it　was　never　conveyed　to　the　university。　It　was；　I　must　say；　interrupted　in　its　journey　and　it　is　essential　that　it　be　recovered。〃
　〃Pretty　sloppy　way　to　handle　the　only　alien　artifact　in　the　universe。
　〃That　is　beyond　the　scope　of　my　authority　and　not　for　me　to　say。　But　I　am　authorized　to　unperfunctorily　predicate　that　it　must　be　found　and　returned。　At　any　cost　which　sums　I　am　duly　authorized　to　pay。　Officers　of　the　Galactic　League　have　assured　me　that　you；　pseudonymous　Jim；　have　volunteered　to　find　and　return　the　artifact。　They　have　convinced　me　that　you；　ins　young　as　you　are；　are　a　specialist　in　these　matters。　I　can　only　wish　you　best　of　luck…and　look　forward　to　meeting　you　again　when　you　return　with　that　which　we　desire　the　most。〃
　He　exited　then　and　a　bald；　uniformed　naval　officer　entered　m　his　place。　Closed　the　door　and　glared　at　me　with　a　steely　gaze。　I　glared　back。
　〃Are　you　the　one　who　is　finally　going　to　tell　me　what　is　going　on？〃　I　asked。
　〃Damn　right；〃　he　growled。　〃Damn　fool　idea…but　the　only　one　we　have　going。　I　am　Admiral　Benbow；　head　of　League　N