bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第18节

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aring　with　the　dangers　and　despairs　of　Bill's　journeyings；　for　they　are　beyond　imagining。　Suffice　to　say　he　did　it。　He　reached　the　T。R。C。
　　Through　red…rimmed　eyes　he　blinked　at　the　sign；　TRANSIT　RANKERS'　CENTER　it　said；　then　had　to　lean　against　the　wall　as　relief　made　his　knees　weak。　He　had　done　it！　He　had　only　overstayed　his　leave　by　eight　days；　and　that　couldn't　matter　too　much。　Soon　now　he　would　be　back　in　the　friendly　arms　of　the　troopers　again；　away　from　the　endless　miles　of　metal　corridors；　the　constantly　rushing　crowds；　the　slipways；　slideways；　gravdrops；　hellavators；　suctionlifts；　and　all　the　rest。　He　would　get　stinking　drunk　with　his　buddies　and　let　the　alcohol　dissolve　the　memories　of　his　terrible　travels；　try　to　forget　the　endless　horror　of　those　days　of　wandering　without　food　or　water　or　sound　of　human　voice；　endlessly　stumbling　through　the。　Stygian　stacks　in　the　Carbon　Paper　Levels。　It　was　all　behind　。him　now。　He　dusted　his　scruffy　uniform；　shamefully　aware　of　the　rips；　crumplings；　and　missing　buttons　that　defaced　it。　If　he　could　get　into　the　barracks　without　being　stopped　he　would　change　uniforms　before　reporting　to　the　orderly　room。
　　A　few　heads　turned　his　way；　but　he　made　it　all　right　through　the　day　room　and　into　the　barracks。　Only　his　mattress　was　rolled　up；　his　blankets　were…　gone　and　his　locker　empty。　It　was　beginning　to　look　as　though　he　was　in　trouble；　and
trouble　in　the　troopers　is　never　a　simple　thing。　Repressing　a　cold　feeling　of　despair　he　washed　up　a　bit　in　the　latrine；　took　a　stiffening　drink　from　the　cold　tap；　then　dragged　his　feet　to　the　orderly　room。　The　first　sergeant　was　at　his　desk；　a　giant；　powerful；　sadistic…looking　man　with　dark　skin　the　same　color　as　that　of　his　old　buddy　Tembo。　He　held　a　plastic　doll　dressed　in　a　captain's　uniform　in　one　hand；　and　was　pushing　straightened…out　paper　clips　into　it　with　the　other。　Without　turning　his　head　he　roiled　his　eyes　toward　Bill　and　scowled。
　　〃You're　in　bad　trouble；　trooper；　ing　into　the　orderly　room　out　of　uniform　like　that。〃
　　〃I'm　in　worse　trouble　than　you　think；　Sarge；〃　Bill　said　leaning　weakly　on　the　desk。　The　sergeant　stared　at　Bill's　mismatched　hands；　his　eyes　flickering　back　and　forth　quickly　from　one　to　the　other。
　　〃Where　did　you　get　that　hand；　trooper？　Speak　up！　I　know　that　hand。〃
　　〃It　belonged　to　a　buddy　of　mine；　and　I　have　the　arm　that　goes　with　it　too。〃
　　Anxious　to　get　onto　any　subject　other　than　his　military　crimes；　Bill　held　the　hand　out　for　the　sergeant　to　look　at。　But　he　was　horrified　when　the　fingers　tensed　into　a　rockhard　fist；　the　muscles　bunched　on　his　arm　and　the　fist　flew　forward　to　catch　the　first　sergeant　square　on　the　jaw　and　knocked　him　backward　off　his　chair　ass　over　applecart。　〃Sergeant！〃　Bill　screamed；　and　grabbed　the　rebellious　hand　with　his　other　and　forced　it；　not　without　a　struggle；　back　to　his　side。
　　The　sergeant　rose　slowly；　and　Bill　backed　away；　shuddering。　He　could　not　believe　it　when　the　sergeant　reseated　himself　and　Bill　saw　that　he　saw　smiling。
　　〃Thought　I　knew　that　hand；　belongs　to　my　old　buddy　Tembo。　We　always　joked　like　that。　You　take　good　care　of　that　arm；　you　hear？　Is　there　any　more　of　Tembo　around？〃　and　when　Bill　said　no；　he　knocked　out　a　quick　tom…tom　beat　on
the　edge　of　the　desk。　〃Well；　he's　gone　to　the　Big　Ju…ju　Rite　in　the　Sky。〃　The　smile　vanished　and　the　snarl　reappeared。　〃You're　in　bad　trouble；　trooper。　Let's　see　your　ID　card。〃
　　He　whipped　it　from　Bill's　nerveless　fingers　and　shoved　it　into　a　slot　in　the　desk。　Lights　flickered；　the　mechanism　hummed　and　vibrated　and　a　screen　lit　up。　The　first　sergeant　read　the　message　there；　and　as　he　did　the　snarl　faded　from
his　face　and　was　replaced　by　an　expression　of　cold　anger。　When　he　turned　back　to　Bill　his　eyes　were　narrowed　slits　that　pinned　him　with　a　gaze　that　could　curdle　milk　in　an　instant　or　destroy　minor　life　forms　like　rodents　or　cockroaches。　It　chilled　Bill's　blood　in　his　veins　and　sent　a　shiver　through　his　body　that　made　it　sway　like　a　tree　in　the　wind。
　　〃Where　did　you　steal　this　ID　card？　Who　are　you？〃
　　On　the　third　try　Bill　managed　to　force　words　between　his　paralyzed　lips。　〃It's　me　。　。　。　that's　my　card　。　。　。　I'm　me；　Fuse　Tender　First　Class　Bill　。　。　。〃
　　〃You　are　a　liar。〃　A　fingernail　uniquely　designed　for　ripping　out　jugular　veins　flicked　at　the　card。　〃This　card　must　be　stolen；　because　First　Class　Fuse　Tender　Bil　shipped　out　of　here　eight　days　ago。　That　is　what　the　record　says；　and　records　do　not　lie。　You've　had　it；　Bowb。〃　He　depressed　a　red　button　labeled　MILITARY　POLICE；　and　an　alarm　bell　could　be　heard　ringing　angrily　in　the　distance。　Bill　shuffled　his　feet；　and　his　eyes　rolled；　searching　for　some　way　to　escape。　〃Hold　him　there；　Tembo；〃　the　sergeant　snapped；　〃I　want　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　this。〃
　　Bill's　left…right　arm　grabbed　the　edge　of　the　desk；　and　he　couldn't　pry　it　lose。　He　was　still　struggling　with　it　when　heavy　boots　thudded　up　behind　him。　
　　〃What's　up？〃　a　familiar　voice　growled。
　　〃Impersonation　of　a　non…missioned　officer　plus　lesser　charges　that　don't　matter　because　the　first　charge　alone　calls　for　electro…arc　lobectomy　and　thirty　lashes。〃
　　〃Oh；　sir；〃　Bill　laughed；　spinning　about　and　feasting　his　eyes　on　a　long…loathed　figure。　〃Deathwish　Drangi　Tell　them　you　know　me。〃
　　One　of　the　two　men　was　the　usual　red…hatted；　clubbed；　gunned；　and　polished　brute　in　human　form。　But　the　other　one　could　only　be　Deathwish。
　　〃Do　you　know　the　prisoner？〃　the　first　sergeant　asked。
　　Deathwish　squinted；　rolling　his　eyes　the　length　of　Bill's　body。　〃I　knew　a　Sixth…class　fuse…fingerer　named　Bill；　but　both　his　hands　matched。　Something　very　strange　here。　We'll　rough　him　up　a　bit　in　the　guardhouse　and　let　you　know　what　he　confesses。〃
　　〃Affirm。　But　watch　out　for　that　left　hand。　It　belongs　to　a　friend　of　mine。〃
　　〃Won't　lay　a　finger　on　it。〃
　　〃But　I　am　Billl〃　Bill　shouted。　〃That's　me；　my　card；　I　can　prove　it。〃
　　〃An　imposter；〃　the　sergeant　said；　and　pointed　to　the　controls　on　his　desk。
〃The　records　say　that　First　Class　Fuse　Tender　Bil　shipped　out　of　here　eight　days　ago。　And　records　don't　lie。〃　'
　　〃Records　can't　lie；　or　there　would　be　no　order　in　the　universe；〃　Deathwish　said；　grinding　his　club　deep　into　Bill's　gut　and　shoving　him　toward　the　door。
〃Did　those　back…ordered　thumbscrews　e　in　yet？〃　he　asked　the　other　MP。
　　It　could　only　have　been　fatigue　that　caused　Bill　to　do　what　he　did　then。　Fatigue；　desperation；　and　fear　bined　and　overpowered　him；　for　at　heart　he　was　a　good　trooper　and　had　learned　to　be　Brave　and　Clean　and　Reverent　arid　Heterosexual　and　all　the　rest。　But　every　man　has　his　breaking　point；　and　Bill　had　reached　his。　He　had　faith　in　the　impartial　working　of　justice…never　having　learned　any　better…but　it　was　the　thought　of　torture　that　bugged　him。　When　his　fear…crazed　eyes　saw　the　sign　on　the　wall　that　read　LAUNDRY；　a　synapse　closed　without　conscious　awareness　on　his　part；　and　he　leaped　forward；　his　sudden　desperate　action　breaking　the　grip　on　his　arm。　Escapel　Behind　that　flap　on　the　wall　must　lie　a　laundry　chute　with　a　pile　of　nice　soft　sheets　and　towels　at　the　bottom　that　would　ease　his　fall。　He　could　get　awayl　Ignoring　the　harsh；　beastlike　cries　of　the　MPs；　he　dived　headfirst　through　the　opening。　
　　He　fell　about　four　feet；　landed　headfirst；　and　almost　brained　himself。　There　was　not　a　chute　here　but　a　deep；　strong　metal　laundry　basket。
　　Behind　him　the　MPs　beat　at　the　swinging　flap；　but　they　could　not　budge　it；　since　Bill's　legs　had　jammed　up　behind　it　and　stopped　it　from　swinging　open。
　　〃It's　locked！〃　Deathwish　cried。　〃We've　been　hadl　Where　does　this　laundry　chute　go？〃　Making　the　same　mistaken　assumption　as　Bill。
　　〃I　don't　know；　I'm　a　new　man　here　myself；〃　the　other　man　gasped。
　　〃You'll　be　new　man　in　the　electric　chair　if　we　don't　find　that　bowb！〃
　　The　voices　dimmed　as　the　heavy　boots　thudded　away；　and　Bill　stirred。　His　neck　was　twisted　at　an　odd　angle　and　hurt；　his　knees　crunched　into　his　chest；　and　he　was　half　suffocated　by　the　cloth　jammed　into　his　face。　He　tried　to　straighten　his　legs　and　pushed　against　the　metal　wall；　there　was　a　click　as　something　snapped；　and　he　fell　forward　as　the　laundry　basket　dropped　out　into　the　serviceway　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall。
　　〃There　he　is！〃　a　familiarly　hateful　voice　shouted；　and　Bill　staggered　away。　The　running　boots　were　just　behind　him　when　he　came　to　the　gravchute　and　once　more　dived　headfirst；　with　considerably　greater　success　this　time。　As　the　apoplectic　MPs　sprang…in　after　him　the　automatic　cycling　circuit　spaced　them　all　out　a　good　fifteen　feet　apart。　It　was　a　slow；　drifting　fall；　and　Bill's　vision　finally　cleared　and　he　looked　up　and　shuddered　at　the　sight　of　Deathwish's　fang…filled　physiognomy　drifting　down　behind　him。
　　〃Old　buddy；〃　Bill　sobbed；　clasping　his　hands　prayerfully。　〃Why　are　you　chasing　me？〃
　　〃Don't　buddy　me；　you　Chinger　spy。　You're　not　even　a　good　spy…your　arms　don't　match。〃　As　he　dropped　Deathwish　pulled　his　gun　free　of　the　holster　and　aimed　it　squarely　between　Bill's　eyes。　〃Shot　while　attempting　to　escape。〃
　　〃Have　mercy！〃　Bill　pleaded。
　　〃Death　to　all　Chingers。〃　He　pulled　the　trigger。

IV

The　bullet　plowed　slowly　out　of　the　cloud　of　expanding　gas　and　drifted　about　two　feet　toward　Bill　before　the　humming　gravity　field　slowed　it