hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第32章

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　〃You　are　not　me　and　I　am　worried　and　answer　the　question　or　I　will　kill　you　slowly　first　chance　I　have。　Speaking　of　killing　。　。　。〃　I　found　that　I　couldn't　go　on。
　〃I　meant　it　when　I　said　don't　worry。　The　threat　of　the　thirty…day　poison　is　over。〃
　〃You　have　the　antidote？〃
　〃No。　But　the　thirty　days　are　past。　Two　days　ago！〃
　〃Past！！　Then　I'm　dead！〃
　But　I　wasn't　dead。　My　brain　spluttered　and　clanked　and　slipped　back　into　gear。　Thirty　days　past。　No　antidote。　I　was　alive。　I　could　hear　my　teeth　grating　as　I　spoke。
　〃Then　the　thirty…day　poison…the　whole　thing　was　a　fake　from　the　start；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃I　am　afraid　that　it　was；　and　I　do　apologize。　But　you　must　realize　that　I　did　not　know　about　it　until　now。　Only　one　person　had　that　information；　the　instigator　of　the　operation。〃
　〃Admiral　Benbow！〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that　information　is　not　mine　to　reveal。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to…it　reveals　itself。　That　lawyer　who　gave　me　the　drink　was　just　doing　as　directed。　Lawyers　will　do　anything　if　you　pay　them　enough。　Benbow　was　in　charge　and　Benbow　invented　the　poison　plot　to　keep　me　in　line。〃
　〃Perhaps；　Jim；　perhaps。〃　His　voice；　even　when　transmitted　through　the　agency　of　a　plastic　dog；　reeked　of　insincerity　and　equivocation。　〃But　there　is　nothing　we　can　do　about　it　now。　A　thing　of　the　past。　Best　forgotten。　Correct？〃
　I　nodded　and　thought…then　smiled。　〃Correct；　Admiral。　Why　don't　we　just　forget　about　the　whole　thing。　All's　well　that　ends　well　and　tomorrow　is　another　day。　Forget　it。〃
　For　now；　I　thought　to　myself；　but　did　not　speak　that　important　little　codicil　aloud。
　〃I'm　glad　you　understand；　Jim。　No　hard　feelings　then。〃
　I　dropped　the　dog；　turned　and　clapped　Floyd　happily　on　the　shoulder；　bent　and　picked　up　the　replacement　artifact。
　〃We　did　it；　Floyd；　we　did　it。　I　will　explain　everything　as　we　walk。　In　great　detail。　But　as　you　can　see　we　are　free；　in　possession　of　this　artifact。　Mission　acplished。　Now…lead　on；　faithful　Fido；　since　you　have　memorized　the　entrance…and…exit　path。　But　go　slowly；　for　it　really　has　been　one　of　those　days。〃
　I　was　hungry　and　thirsty。　But　even　more　thirsty　for…what？　Revenge？　No；　revenge　was　a　dead　end。　If　not　vengeance…what　then？
　The　time　had　e　for　a　little　evening　up；　a　little　sorting　out　of　the　record。　I　had　been　taken　in　pletely　by　the　poisonous　con　job。　So　before　the　last　i　was　dotted；　before　the　last　alien　artifact　laid　to　rest；　I　was　going　to　see　that　a　little　justice　got　done。
　On　my　terms。
　
　CHAPTER　27
　〃Carry　this　for　a　bit；　will　you　Floyd；〃　I　said；　passing　over　the　replacement　temporooter。　We　were　leaving　the　last　lit　tunnel　behind　and　would　depend　now　on　Aida　to　remember　the　way。　〃I'm　a　little　on　the　tired　side。〃
　〃I　don't　wonder。　But　you　have　to　understand…my　patience　has　just　run　out。　So　work　hard　and　see　if　you　can　dig　up　enough　energy　to　tell　me　just　what　happened。　I　am　now　pletely　confused。　I　remember　that　I　wasted　the　Killerbot　with　that　gun　you　now　have　tucked　into　your　belt；　the　one　Fido　brought　to　me。　Then　I　jumped　through　the　door　and　told　you　to　get　down　so　I　could　blast　the　mander　as　well　as　anyone　else　who　was　looking　for　trouble。〃
　〃That's　just　the　way　I　remember　it。〃
　Fido　barked　and　turned　a　corner　from　one　dark　tunnel　into　another　even　darker　one。　Floyd　sounded　worried。
　〃I　remember　pulling　the　trigger…then　suddenly　you　are　holding　the　gun；　not　me；　and　right　next　to　me　there　are　two　creatures；　people；　robots；　something　like　that。　I　blink　and　look　into　the　lab　and　everyone　is　standing　like　they　are　frozen。　Nothing　moves…but　nothing。　Then　when　I　look　back　I　see　that　the　two　metal　things　have　vanished。　So　I　am　beginning　to　feel　like　I　am　going　around　the　mental　bend。　Therefore　I　would　appreciate　it　if　you　would　kindly；　and　quickly；　tell　me　what　happened。〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew。　I　saw　the　same　things　you　did。　I　don't　know　what　happened。〃
　〃But　you　must　know…you　were　talking　to　them！〃
　〃Was　I？　I　don't　remember。　Everything　is　still　kind　of　fuzzy。〃
　〃Jim…don't　do　this　to　me。　You　have　to　remember！　And　what　were　you　shouting　at　the　Admiral　about？　Something　about　poison　and　another　Admiral。〃
　〃That's　easy　enough　to　answer。　Certain　individuals　blackmailed　me　into　this　operation　by　telling　me　I　had　been　poisoned　and　that　I　had　thirty　days　to　live　if　I　didn't　get　the　antidote。　There　was　no　poison…therefore　no　antidote。　So　all　the　time　we　have　been　rushing　about　I　have　been　thinking　about　the　poison　and　counting　the　days　before　I　curled　up　my　toes　and　keeled　over。〃
　He　was　silent　a　moment；　then　he　spoke。
　〃That's　pretty　heavy。　You　are　sure　about　that？〃
　〃I　am。　And　I　am　also　terminally　tired　so　can　we　please　put　this　conversation　off　for　a　bit。　I　would　just　like　to　concentrate　on　putting　one　foot　in　front　of　another　for　awhile。〃
　Like　it　or　not　Floyd　had　to　settle　for　that　for　the　moment。　Because　I　needed　some　time　for　deep　cogitation；　to　dream　up　some　sort　of　reasonable　story　for　him…as　well　as　the　rest　of　the　troops。　Stumbling　with　fatigue　I　was　grateful　that　we　made　our　way　through　the　tunnels　without　meeting　any　opposition。　Though　I　had　the　gun　ready　just　in　case。　When　Fido　actuated　the　escape　hatch　and　it　opened　to　reveal　the　blue　sky…I　sighed　with　relief；　Gave　the　gun　back　to　Floyd　and　used　my　remaining　strength　to　crawl　out　onto　the　ground。　Dropped　with　a　groan　and　leaned　back　against　a　polpettone　tree。
　〃You　have　the　gun；　Floyd；〃　I　said。　〃So　pass　me　back　that　ancient　artifact　if　you　please。　Aida…is　there　any　transportation　on　the　way？〃
　〃There　should　be。　I　sent　out　your　position　as　soon　as　you　were　aboveground　and　I　could　get　a　triangulation。　Help　is　on　the　way。〃
　As　indeed　it　was…for　a　black　spot　in　the　sky　grew　quickly　into　the　launch　from　the　good　old　Remorseless。　It　landed　with　a　shuddering　thud；　which　bit　of　flying　I　recognized；　so　I　was　not　surprised　when　Captain　Tremearne　exited　through　the　open　door。
　〃Congratulations；〃　he　said；　and　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃You　did　it；　Jim。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said；　as　he　gave　my　hand　a　good　crushing　handshake。　〃And　don't　think　that　it　was　easy。〃
　〃Never！　I　was　there…remember。　Can　I　relieve　you　of　that　thing？〃
　〃No！〃　I　shouted…and　was　shocked　to　hear　the　fine　edge　of　hysteria；　or　incipient　madness；　to　my　voice。　Well　why　not！　〃I'll　hand　it　over…along　with　a　detailed　explanation　of　just　what　it　is…at　the　meeting。〃
　〃What　meeting？〃
　〃The　meeting　that　you　are　now　going　to　arrange　at　the　Pentagon。　I'll　want　all　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　there。　A　last　reunion　so　to　speak。　Has　Madonette　gone　back　to　her　imprisoning　office　yet？〃
　〃She　was　supposed　to。　But　she　would　not　leave　the　planet　until　you　came　back。〃
　〃Faithful　to　the　end！　So　in　addition　to　all　the　Rats　I　would　like　a　few　other　friends　present。〃
　〃Friends？〃　He　looked　baffled。　〃Like　who？〃
　〃Well　that　macho　fat　thug　Svinjar　for　one。　King　of　the　Machmen。　Then　you　can　invite　Iron　John　and　his　opposite　number；　Mata。　Ask　yourself　to　e　along　as　well。　It　will　make　an　interesting　gathering。〃
　〃Interesting…yes'。　But　impossible。　None　of　the　exiles　on　this　prison　planet　is　permitted　inside　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃Really？　I　thought　that　you　were　the　guy　that　was　going　to　see　that　Liokukae　was　cleaned　up　and　cleaned　out？〃
　〃Yes…but…〃
　〃Now　is　the　time；　Captain。　For　at　this　meeting　I　am　not　only　going　to　turn　over　the　alien　artifact　and　reveal　its　secret…　but　I　am　going　to　tell　everyone　just　how　the　situation　here　is　going　to　end。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃You're　invited　to　the　meeting。　You'll　hear　then。〃
　〃This　will　not　be　easy　to　arrange。〃
　〃Yes　it　will。〃　I　pointed　to　Floyd。　〃Ask　him　about　the　strange　things　that　happened　when　we　were　back　there　with　the　Survivalists。　Admiral　Steengo　will　verify　his　reports。　There　is　a　lot　more　to　be　cleaned　up　on　this　planet　than　you　ever　realized。　Get　your　arguments　together；　consult　your　superiors；　look　after　this。〃　I　passed　over　the　artifacted　artifact。　〃And　don't　wake　me　up　until　it　has　been　all　arranged。〃
　I　climbed　wearily　into　the　launch。　Pushed　up　the　armrests　on　the　back　row　of　seats。　Stretched　out　and　fell　instantly　to　sleep。
　The　next　thing　I　knew　Floyd　was　shaking　me　gently　by　the　arm。　〃We're　back　in　the　Pentagon。　The　meeting　is　on　just　like　you　said。　I　have　breakfast　and　some　clean　clothes　waiting　for　you。　They'll　be　ready　when　you　are。〃
　The　shower　blasted　out　warm　water　and　heated　air　and　I　stayed　under　it　far　too　long。　But　it　did　wonders　not　only　for　my　disposition　but　for　my　sore　muscles　as　well。　I　did　not　hurry。　They　had　arranged　the　meeting…on　my　terms…only　because　they　had　no　choice。　They　would　have　informed　me　to　get　stuffed　if　they　could。　But　the　labtechs　would　have　found　nothing　when　they　examined　the　artifact。　Floyd　would　have　told　his　confused　story　about　what　had　happened　when　he　had　jumped　in　with　his　gun　ready。　Very　confusing。　In　the　end　they　would　have　been　forced　to　the　reluctant　conclusion　that　the　only　way　they　could　ever　find　out　what　had　happened　in　the　underground　laboratory　was　by　having　me　tell　them。　After　which；　knowing　their　record　for　veracity；　they　probably　felt　that　they　could　do　whatever　they　wanted　with　me。
　〃Well；　Jim；〃　I　said　to　my　smiling　and　sleek　image　in　the　mirror；　as　I　carefully　bed　my　hair；　〃let's　give　them　what　they　want。〃
　Floyd　was　my　guide。　Stamping　in　step　with　me　along　the　corridors　and　into　the　conference　room。
　〃Hi；　guys！〃　I　said　in　cheery　greeting　to　the　far…from…friendly　faces。
　Only　Madonette　returned　my　smile；　waved　a　tentative　hand。　Admiral　Steengo　was　stern；　Tremearne　unmunicative…as　was　Mata。　Floyd　was　grim…faced…but　winked　when　I　glanced　his　way。　Iron　John　and　Svinjar　were　chained　to　their　chairs　or　they　would　have　killed　me　instantly。　As　it　was　they　strained　forward；　eyes　bulging　with　homicidal　rage。　I　was　most　pleased　to　see　that　my　hairy　red　friend　had　a　bandaged　skull　and　an　arm　in　a　sling。　The　aged　artifact　lay　on　the　table　before　them　and　I　went　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　table　next　to　it。
　〃Tell　us　about　the　device；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said　in　a　reasonable　and　friendly　voice。
　〃Not　quite　yet；　Admiral。　I　assume　that　your　techs　could　make　nothing　of　it？〃
　〃They　say　it　is　over　a　million　years　old。　That's　all。〃
　〃There's　more　to　it　than　that。　But　first　a　few　introductions。　The　bruised　guy　with　red　fur　is　Iron　John。　Leader　of　a　cult　which　you　are　now　going　to　abolish。　You　can　ship　him　off　for　treatment　at　an　establishment　for　the　criminally　insane。　Along　with　the　fat　man　next　to　him。　I　have　them　here　because　I　wanted　you　to　see　just　what　your　policies　of　benign　neglect　had　forced　on　the　human　beings　out　there　on　garbage　world。〃
　I　smiled　and　waited　for　the　cursing　and　the　spitting　to　die　down；　then　nodded　pleasantly　at　the　unwholesome　twosome。
　〃Would　anyone　here　like　to　live　in　the　kind　of　societies　that　you　are　subjecting　the　helpless　people　on　Liokukae　to？　A　mittee　must　be　appointed　now。　Plans　drawn　up　to　free　the　women　and　children　from　their　bondage。　You　will　find　that　Mata　will　be　able　to　advise　you　on　that。　I　think　the　various　males　on　the　planet　will　have　to　be　interviewed　separately。　I'm　sure　that　a　number　of　them　like　their　world　the　way　it　is。　They　can　have　it。　The　others　deserve　something　better。　But　all　that　is　in　the　future。　First　let　us　look　at　the　past。　I'm　sure　that　the　others　on　my　team　will　grieve　the　passing　of　The　Stainless　Ste