the stainless steel rat-第16节

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ding　across　the　counter　on　my　stomach。
　　　　　After　this　it　was　just　a　matter　of　pick　and　choose；　there　was　certainly　no　shortage　of　money　rolling　around　loose。　I　ignored　the　small　stuff　and　went　to　the　source；　the　riven　vault　out　of　which　poured　a　golden　torrent。　Within　two　minutes　I　had　filled　the　bag　I　had　brought　and　was　ready　to　leave。　The　smoke　near　the　doors　was　thinning　a　bit；　but　a　few　more　grenades　took　care　of　that。
　　　　　Everything　was　working　perfectly　and　under　control；　except　for　one　fool　of　a　guard　who　was　making　a　nuisance　of　himself。　His　tiny　brain　realized　dimly　that　something　wrong　was　going　on；　so　he　was　staggering　in　circles　firing　his　gun。　It　was　a　wonder　he　hadn't　hit　anyone　yet。　I　took　the　gun　away　and　hit　him　on　the　head　with　it。
　　　　　The　smoke　was　densest　near　the　doors；　making　it　impossible　to　see　out。　It　was　just　as　impossible　of　course　to　see　in；　so　no　one　in　the　street　had　any　real　idea　of　what　had　happened。　They　of　course　knew　something　was　wrong；　two　policemen　had　rushed　in　with　guns　drawn　。　。　。　but　were　now　as　helpless　as　the　rest。　I　organized　the　relief　of　the　sufferers　then；　and　began　pulling　and　guiding　them　to　the　door。　When　I　had　enough　of　a　crowd　collected　I　joined　them　and　we　all　crawled　out　into　the　street　together。　I　put　the　goggles　in　my　pocket　and　kept　my　eyes　closed　until　I　had　groped　clear　of　the　gas。　Some　worthy　citizens　helped　me　and　I　thanked　them；　tears　streaming　down　my　face　from　the　fringes　of　the　gas；　and　went　my　way。
　　　　　That's　how　easy　it　is。　That's　how　easy　it　always　is　if　you　plan　ahead　and　don't　take　foolish　risks。　My　morale　was　high　and　the　blood　sang　in　my　veins。　Life　was　deliciously　crooked　and　worth　living　again。　Finding　Angelina's　trail　now　would　be　simplicity　itself。　There　was　nothing　I　couldn't　do。
　　　　　Staying　on　the　crest　of　this　emotional　wave；　I　rented　a　room　in　a　spacemen　'　s　hotel　near　the　port；　cleaned　up　and　strode　forth　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　life。　There　were　many　rough…and…ready　joints　in　the　area　and　I　made　the　rounds。　I　had　a　steak　in　one　and　a　drink　apiece　in　each　of　the　others。　If　Angelina　had　e　to　Freibur　she　would　surely　have　passed…at　least　briefly…through　this　area。　The　trail　would　be　here；　I　felt　that　in　my　bones。　Crooked　bones　once　again；　and　sympathetic　to　her　own　lawlessness。
　　　　　〃Howsabout　buying　a　girl　a　drink；〃　the　tart　said　spiritlessly；　and　I　shook　my　head　no　with　the　same　lack　of　interest。　The　hostesses；　pallid　creatures　of　the　night；　were　ing　out　as　the　evening　progressed。　I　was　getting　a　good　share　of　propositions　since　I　had　taken　care　to　look　like　a　spaceman　on　leave；　always　a　good　source　of　revenue　for　these　women。　This　one　was　the　latest　of　a　number　who　had　approached　me。　A　little　better　looking　than　most；　at　least　better　constructed。　I　watched　her　walking　away　with　interest　that　bordered　on　admiration。　Her　skirt　was　short；　tight　and　slashed　high　up　on　the　sides。　High　heels　lent　a　rotating　motion　to　this　producing　a　most　effective　result。　She　reached　the　bar　and　turned　to　survey　the　room；　and　I　couldn't　help　but　appreciate　the　rest　of　her。　Her　blouse　was　made　of　thin　strips　of　shimmering　fabric；　joined　together　only　at　the　tops　and　bottoms。　They　separated　to　reveal　enticing　slices　of　creamy　skin　whenever　she　moved；　and　I'm　sure　had　the　desired　effect　on　masculine　libidos。
　　　　　My　eyes　finally　reached　her　face…a　long　trip　since　I　had　started　the　survey　at　her　ankles…and　she　was　quite　attractive。　Almost　familiar。　。　。　。
　　　　　Exactly　at　this　instant　my　heart　gave　a　grinding　thud　in　my　chest；　and　I　grew　rigid　in　my　chair。　It　seemed　impossible…yet　it　had　to　be　true。
　　　　　She　was　Angelina。
　Chapter　10
　
　　　　　Her　hair　had　been　bleached　and　there　were　some　simple　and　obvious　changes　in　her　features。　They　had　been　altered　just　enough　so　it　would　be　impossible　to　identify　her　from　a　photograph　or　a　description。　She　could　never　be　recognized。
　　　　　Except　by　me；　that　is。　I　had　seen　her　in　the　stolen　battleship　and　I　had　talked　to　her。　And　the　nice　part　was　I　could　identify　her　and　she　would　have　no　idea　of　who　I　was。　She　had　seen　me　only　brieflyin　a　spacesuit　with　a　tinted　faceplateand　I'm　sure　had　plenty　of　other　things　to　think　about　at　the　time。
　　　　　This　was　the　climax　of　the　most　successful　day　of　my　life。　The　fetid　air　of　the　dive　was　like　wine　in　my　nostrils。　I　relaxed　and　savored　every　last　drop　of　irony　in　the　situation。　You　had　to　give　the　girl　credit；　though。　She　had　adopted　a　perfect　cover。　I　myself　had　never　imagined　she　would　stay　here；　and　I　thought　I　had　weighted　all　of　the　possibilities。　Because　she　had　taken　a　good　bit　of　the　stolen　cash　with　her；　I　had　never　considered　she　would　be　living　like　a　penniless　tramp。　The　girl　had　guts；　you　had　to　give　her　credit。　She　had　adopted　an　almost　perfect　disguise　and　blended　neatly　into　the　background。　If　only　she　wasn't　so　damned　kill…happywhat　a　team　we　would　make！
　　　　　My　heart　gave　the　second　grinding　thump　of　the　evening　when　I　realized　the　dead…end　trail　down　which　my　emotions　were　leading　roe。　Angelina　was　disaster　to　anyone　she　came　near。　Inside　that　lovely　head　squatted　a　highly　intelligent　but　strangely　warped　brain。　For　my　own　sake　I　would　be　better　off　thinking　about　the　corpses　she　had　piled　up；　not　about　her　figure。　There　was　only　one　thing　to　be　done。　Get　her　away　from　here　and　turn　her　over　to　the　Corps。　I　didn't　even　consider　how　I　felt　about　the　Corpsor　how　they　felt　about　me。　This　was　an　entirely　different　affair　that　had　to　be　done　neatly　and　with　dispatch　before　I　changed　my　mind。
　　　　　I　joined　her　at　the　bar　and　ordered　two　double　shots　of　the　local　battery　acid。　Being　careful；　I　deepened　my　voice　and　changed　my　accent　and　manner　of　speaking。　Angelina　had　heard　enough　of　my　voice　to　identify　it　easilythat　was　the　one　thing　I　had　to　be　aware　of。
　　　　　〃Drink　up；　doll；〃　I　said　raising　my　drink　and　leering　at　her。　〃Then　we　go　up　to　your　place。　You　got　a　place　don't　you？〃　
　　　　　〃I　gotta　place　you　gotta　League　ten…spot　in　hard　change？〃　
　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　I　grumbled；　feigning　insult。　〃You　think　I'm　buying　this　bilge…juice　on　the　arm？〃
　　　　　〃I　ain't　no　cafeteria　pay…on…your…way…out；〃　she　said　with　a　bored　lack　of　interest　that　was　magnificent。　〃Pay　now　and　then　we　go。〃
　　　　　When　I　flipped　the　ten　credits　her　way　she　speared　it　neatly　out　of　the　air；　weighed　it；　bit　it；　and　vanished　it　inside　her　belt。　I　looked　on　with　frank　admiration；　which　she　would　mistake　for　carnal　interest；　but　was　in　reality　appreciation　of　the　faultless　manner　with　which　she　played　her　role。　Only　when　she　turned　away　did　I　make　myself　remember　that　this　was　business　not　pleasure；　and　I　had　a　stem　duty　to　perform。　My　resolution　was　wavering　and　I　screwed　it　tight　again　with　a　memory　of　corpses　floating　in　space。　Draining　my　glass　I　followed　her　marvelous　rotation　out　of　the　bar　and　down　a　noisome　alley。
　　　　　The　dark　decrepitude　of　the　narrow　passage　jarred　my　reflexes　awake。　Angelina　played　her　part　well；　but　I　doubted　if　she　bedded　down　with　all　the　space　tramps　who　hit　this　port。　There　was　a　good　chance　that　she　had　a　confederate　around　who　had　a　strong　right　arm　with　a　heavy　object　clutched　tightly　in　his　hand。　Or　perhaps　I'm　naturally　suspicious。　My　hand　was　on　the　gun　in　my　pocket　but　I　didn't　need　to　use　it。　We　treaded　across　another　street　and　turned　into　a　hallway。　She　went　first　and　we　didn't　talk。　No　one　came　near　us　or　even　bothered　to　notice　us。　When　she　unlocked　her　room　I　relaxed　a　bit。　It　was　small　and　tawdry；　but　offered　no　possible　hiding　place　for　an　acplice。　Angelina　went　straight　to　the　bed　and　I　checked　the　door　to　see　if　it　really　was　locked。　It　was。
　　　　　When　I　turned　around　she　was　pointing　a　。75　caliber　recoilless　automatic　at　me；　so　big　and　ugly　that　she　had　to　hold　it　in　both　tiny　hands。
　　　　　〃What　the　hell　is　the　racket？〃　I　Mustered；　fighting　back　the　sick　sensation　that　I　had　missed　an　important　clue　someplace　along　the　line。　My　hand　was　still　on　the　gun　in　my　pocket　but　trying　to　draw　it　would　be　instant　suicide。
　　　　　〃I'm　going　to　kill　you　without　ever　even　knowing　your　name；〃　she　said　sweetly；　with　a　cute　smile　that　showed　even　white　teeth。　〃But　you　have　this　ing　for　ruining　my　battleship　operation。〃　
　　　　　Still　she　didn't　fire；　but　her　grin　widened　until　it　was　almost　a　laugh。　She　was　enjoying　the　uncontrolled　expressions　on　my　face　as　I　recognized　the　fact　that　I　had　been　out…thought　all　the　way　along　the　line。　That　the　trapper　was　the　trappee。　That　she　had　me　exactly　precisely　where　she　wanted　me　and　there　wasn't　a　single　bloody　damn　thing　I　could　do　about　it。
　　　　　Angelina　finally　had　to　laugh　out　loud；　a　laugh　clear　and　charming　as　a　silver　bell；　as　she　watched　me　reach　these　sickening　conclusions　one　after　another。　She　was　an　artist　to　her　fingertips　and　waited　just　long　enough　for　me　to　understand　everything。　Then；　at　the　exact　and　ultimate　moment　of　my　maximum　realization　and　despair　she　pulled　the　trigger。　
　　　　　Not　once；　but　over　and　over　again。
　　　　　Four　tearing；　thundering　bullets　of　pain　directly　into　my　heart。　And　a　final　slug　directly　between　my　eyes。
　Chapter　11
　
　　　　　It　wasn't　really　consciousness；　but　a　sort　of　ruddy；　pain…filled　blur。　A　gut…gripping　nausea　fought　with　the　pain；　but　the　pain　wo