the stainless steel rat-第13节

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　if　the　psych　docs　hadn't　assured　me　that　Pepe　had　told　the　truth；　I　would　have　recognized　the　manner　in　which　the　escape　was　carried　out。　Angelina　was　one　step　ahead　of　us　all　the　way。　When　she　had　escaped　from　the　battleship　in　the　scout　rocket　she　had　made　no　attempt　to　flee。　Instead　she　must　have　gone　at　full　blast　to　the　nearest　navy　ship；　a　twelve…man　pocket　cruiser。　They　of　course　had　no　idea　what　had　really　happened　aboard　the　battleship；　as　I　hadn't　put　out　the　general　alarm　yet。　I　should　have　done　that　as　soon　as　she　had　escaped。　If　I　had；　twelve　good　men　might　still　be　alive。　We'll　never　know　what　story　she　told　them；　but　it　was　obvious　they　weren't　on　their　guard。　Probably　something　about　being　a　prisoner　and　escaping　during　the　fighting。　In　any　case　she　took　the　ship。　Five　of　the　men　were　dead　of　gas　poisoning　the　others　shot。　We　discovered　this　when　the　cruiser　was　later　found　drifting　and　inert；　parsecs　away。　After　capturing　the　cruiser　she　had　set　the　controls　on　the　scout　ship　for　evasion　tactics　and　launched　it。　While　we　were　all　merrily　chasing　it　she　simply　let　her　ship　drop　behind　the　chase　and　vanished　from　the　fleet。　Her　trail　blurs　there；　though　it　is　obvious　she　must　have　captured　another　ship。　What　this　ship　was；　and　where　she　went　in　it；　was　a　plete　mystery。
　　　　　Back　in　Corps　headquarters　I　found　myself　trying　to　explain　this　all　to　Inskipp。　He　had　a　cold　eye　and　hardened　manner　and　I　found　myself　trying　to　justify　my　actions。
　　　　　〃You　can't　win　them　all；〃　I　said。　〃I　brought　home…your　battleship　and　Pepe…may　his　personality　rest　in　peace　now　that　it　has　been　erased。　Angelina　tricked　me　and　got　away；　I'll　admit　that。　But　she　did　a　much　better　job　of　fooling　the　boys　in　the　navy！〃　
　　　　　〃Why　so　much　venom？〃　Inskipp　asked　in　an　arid　voice。　〃No　one's　accusing　you　of　dereliction　of　duty。　You　sound　like　a　man　with　a　guilty　conscience。　You　did　a　good　job。　A　fine　job。　A　great　job　。　。　。　for　a　first　assignment　。　。　。〃
　　　　　〃You're　doing　it　again！〃　I　howled。　〃Prodding　my　conscience　to　see　how　soft　it　is。　Like　keeping　him　around。〃　I　pointed　to　Pepe　Nero　who　was　sitting　near　us　in　the　restaurant　eating　slowly；　mumbling　to　himself　with　vacant…eyed　dullness。　His　old　personality　had　been　stripped　from　his　mind　and　a　new　one　implanted。　Only　the　body　remained　of　the　old　Pepe　who　had　loved　Angelina　and　stolen　a　battleship。
　　　　　〃The　psychs　are　working　on　a　new　theory　of　body…personality；〃　Inskipp　said　blandly；　〃so　why　not　keep　him　around　here　under　observation？　If　any　of　his　criminal　tendencies　should　develop　in　the　new　personality　we'll　be　in　a　wonderful　spot　to　recruit　him　for　the　Corps。　Does　he　bother　you？〃
　　　　　〃Not　him；〃　I　snorted。　〃After　the　massacres　he　pulled　for　his　psychotic　girlfriend　you　could　grind　him　into　hamburger　for　all　I　care。　But　he　does　remind　me　that　she　is　still　out　there　somewhere。　Free　and　planning　new　mischief。　I　want　to　go　after　her。〃
　　　　　〃Well　you're　not；〃　Inskipp　said。　〃You've　asked　me　before　and　I　have　refused　before。　The　topic　is　now　closed。〃　
　　　　　〃But　I　could　。　。　。〃
　　　　　〃You　could　what？〃　He　gave　me　a　nasty　chuckle。　〃Every　law　officer　in　the　galaxy　has　a　pie　of　her　and　there　is　a　continual　search　going　on。　How　could　you　possibly　do　more　than　they　are　already　doing？〃
　　　　　〃I　couldn't；　I　guess；〃　I　grumbled。　〃So　the　hell　with　it；　as　you　say。〃　I　pushed　my　plate　away　and　stood　and　stretched　as　naturally　as　I　could。　〃I'm　going　to　get　a　large　jug　of　liquid　refreshment　and　go　to　my　quarters　and　nurse　my　sorrows。〃
　　　　　〃You　do　that。　And　forget　Angelina。　e　to　my　office　at　0900　hours　tomorrow　and　you　better　be　sober。〃
　　　　　〃Slave　driver；〃　I　moaned；　going　out　the　door　and　turning　down　the　hall　towards　the　residence　wing。　As　soon　as　I　was　out　of　sight　I　took　a　side　ramp　that　led　to　the　spaceport。
　　　　　That's　one　lesson　I　had　already　learned　from　Angelina。　When　you　have　a　plan　put　it　into　action　instantly。　Don't　let　it　lie　around　and　get　stale　and　have　other　people　start　thinking　about　it　themselves。　I　was　putting　myself　up　against　the　shrewdest　man　in　the　business　right　now；　and　the　thought　alone　was　enough　to　make　me　sweat。　I　was　going　against　Inskipp's　direct　orders；　walking　out　on　him　and　the　Corps。　Not　really　walking　out；　since　I　only　wanted　to　finish　the　job　I　had　started　for　them。　But　I　was　obviously　the　only　one　who　would　look　at　it　that　way。
　　　　　There　were　tools；　gadgets　and　a　good　deal　of　money　in　my　quarters　that　would　e　in　very　handy　on　this　job。　I　would　just　have　to　do　without　them。　When　Inskipp　started　to　think　about　my　sudden　conversion　to　his　point　of　view　I　wanted　to　be　well　away　in　space。
　　　　　A　mechanic　with　a　drag…robot　was　pulling　an　agent's　ship　into　place　on　the　launching　ramp。　I　stamped　over　and　used　my　official　voice。
　　　　　〃Is　that　my　ship？〃
　　　　　〃No；　sir…it's　for　Full　Agent　Nielsen；　there　he　is　ing　up　now。〃
　　　　　〃Check　with　control　central；　will　you？　It's　going　to　be　rush　no　matter　how　we　handle　it。〃
　　　　　〃New　job；　Jimmy？〃　Ove　asked　as　he　came　up。　I　nodded　and　watched　the　mechanic　until　he　vanished　around　the　corner。
　　　　　〃Same　old　business；〃　I　said。　〃And　how's　your　tennis　game　ing？〃　I　asked；　lifting　my　hand　with　an　imaginary　racket。
　　　　　〃Getting　better　all　the　time；〃　he　said；　turning　his　head　to　look　at　his　ship。
　　　　　〃I'll　teach　you　a　new　stroke；〃　I　said；　bringing　my　hand　down　sharply　and　catching　him　on　the　side　of　the　neck　with　the　straightened　edge。　He　folded　without　a　sound　and　I　lowered　him　gently　to　the　deck　and　dragged　him　out　of　sight　behind　a　row　of　lubrication　drums。　I　gently　pried　the　box　with　the　course　tapes　from　his　limp　fingers。
　　　　　Before　the　mechanic　could　return　I　was　in　the　ship　and　had　the　lock　sealed。　I　fed　the　course　tape　into　the　controls　and　punched　the　tower　bination　for　clearance。　There　was　a　subjective　century　of　waiting；　during　which　eternal　period　of　time　I　produced　a　fine　heading　of　sweat　all　over　my　head。　Then　the　green　light　came　on。
　　　　　Step　one　and　still　in　the　clear。　As　soon　as　the　launching　acceleration　stopped　I　was　out　of　the　chair　and　attacking　the　control　panel　with　the　screwdriver　ready　in　my　hand。　There　was　always　a　remote　control　unit　here　so　that　any　Corps　ship　could　be　flown　from　a　distance。　I　had　discovered　it　on　my　first　flight　in　one　of　these　ships　since　I　have　always　maintained　that　there　is　a　positive　value　to　being　nosey。　I　disconnected　the　input　and　output　leads；　then　dived　for　the　engine　room。
　　　　　Perhaps　I　am　too　suspicious　or　have　too　low　an　opinion　of　mankind。　Or　of　Inskipp；　who　had　his　own　rules　on　most　subjects。　Someone　more　trusting　than　I　would　have　ignored　the　radio　controlled　suicide　bomb　built　into　the　engine。　This　could　be　used　to　scuttle　the　ship　in　case　of　capture。　I　didn't　think　they　would　use　it　on　me　except　as　a　last　resort。　Nevertheless　I　still　wanted　it　disconnected。
　　　　　The　bomb　was　an　integral　part　of　the　engine　mounting；　a　solid　block　of　bermedex　built　into　the　casing。　The　lid　dropped　off　easily　enough　and　inside　there　was　a　maze　of　circuits　all　leading　to　a　fuse　screwed　into　the　thick　metal。　It　had　a　big　hex…head　on　it　and　I　scraped　my　knuckles　trying　to　get　a　wrench　around　it　and　turn　it　in　the　close　quarters。　With　a　last　grate　of　bruised　flesh　and　knucklebones　I　twisted　it　free。　It　hung　down　from　its　wire　leads；　a　nerve　drawn　from　a　deadly　tooth。
　　　　　Then　it　exploded　with　a　loud　bang　and　a　cloud　of　black　smoke。
　　　　　With　most　unnatural　calm　I　looked　from　the　cloud　of　dispersing　smoke　back　to　the　black　hole　in　the　bermedex　charge。　This　would　have　turned　the　ship　and　its　contents　into　a　fine　dust。
　　　　　〃Inskipp；〃　I　said；　but　my　throat　was　dry　and　my　voice　cracked　and　I　had　to　start　again。　〃Inskipp；　I　get　your　message。　You　thought　you　were　giving　me　my　discharge。　Accept　instead　my　resignation　from　the　Special　Corps。〃
　Chapter　9
　
　　　　　My　most　overwhelming　feeling　was　one　of　relief。　I　was　on　my　own　again　and　responsible　to　no　man。　I　actually　hummed　a　bit　as　I　dropped　the　ship　out　of　warpdrive　long　enough　to　slip　in　a　course　tape　chosen　at　random　from　the　file。　There　would　be　no　chance　of　an　intercept　this　way　and　I　could　cut　a　tape　for　a　new　course　once　I　was　well　clear　of　the　headquarters　station。
　　　　　A　course　to　where？　I　wasn't　sure　yet。　That　would　require　a　bit　of　research；　though　there　was　no　doubt　about　what　I　would　be　doing。　Looking　for　Angelina。　At　first　thought　it　seemed　a　little　stupid　to　be　taking　on　a　job　the　Corps　had　refused　me。　It　was　still　their　job。　On　second　thought　I　realized　that　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　Corps　now。　Angy　had　pulled　a　fast　one　on　me；　pinned　on　the　prize…chump　medal。　That　is　something　that　you　just　don't　do　to　Slippery　Jim　diGriz。　Call　it　ego　if　you　like。　But　ego　is　the　only　thing　that　keeps　a　man　in　my　profession　operating。　Remove　that　and　you　have　removed　everything。　I　had　no　real　idea　of　what　I　would　do　with　her　when　I　found　her。　Probably　turn　her　over　to　the　police；　since　people　like　her　gave　the　business　a　bad　name。　Better　to　worry　about　cooking　the　fish　after　I　had　caught　it。
　　　　　A　plan　was　necessary；　so　I　prepared　all　the　plan　producing　ingredients。　For　one　terrible　moment　I　thought　there　were　no　cigars　in　the　ship。　Then　the　service　unit　groaned　and　produced　a　box　from　some　dark　corner　of　th