the stainless steel rat-第23节

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e　me　varying　degrees　of　get…lost　looks　when　I　trundled　up　and　snapped　to　attention。　I　was　bigger　than　most　of　them　and　must　have　made　a　nice　blob　of　color　because　I　caught　Villy's　eye　and　the　head　slowly　slewed　around　in　my　direction。　One　of　his　octogenarian　cronies　had　met　me　earlier　in　the　evening　and　was　forced　to　make　the　introduction。
　　　　　〃A　very　great　pleasure　to　meet　your　majesty；〃　I　droned　with　a　bit　of　a　drunken　blur　to　my　voice。　Not　that　the　King　noticed；　but　some　of　the　others　did　and　scowled。　〃I　am　by　way　of　being　a　bit　of　an　entomologist　myself；　if　you　will　pardon　the　expression；　hoping　to　follow　in　your　royal　footsteps。　I　am　keen　on　this　and　feel　that　greater　attention　should　be　paid　on　Freibur；　more　respect　given　I　should　say；　and　more　opportunity　taken　to　utilize　the　advantageous　aspects　of　the　forminifera；　lepidoptera　and　all　the　others。　Heraldry；　for　instance；　the　flags　might　utilize　the　more　visual　aspects　of　insects　。　。　。〃
　　　　　I　babbled　on　like　this　for　a　while；　the　crowd　getting　impatient　with　the　unwanted　interruption。　The　Kingwho　wasn't　getting　in　more　than　one　word　in　tengot　tired　of　nodding　after　a　while　and　his　attention　began　to　wander。　My　voice　thickened　and　blurred　and　I　could　see　them　wondering　how　to　get　rid　of　the　drunk。　Wh6n　the　first　tentative　hand　reached　out　for　my　elbow　I　played　my　trump　card。
　　　　　〃Because　of　your　majesty's　interest；〃　I　said；　fumbling　in　my　pocket；　〃I　carefully　kept　this　specimen；　carrying　it　across　the　countless　light　years　to　reach　its　logical　resting　place；　your　highness's　collection。〃　Pulling　out　the　flat　plastic　case；　I　held　it　under　his　nose。　With　an　effort　he　blinked　his　watery　eyes　back　into　focus　and　let　out　a　little　gasp。　The　others　crowded　around　and　I　gave　them　a　few　seconds　to　enjoy　the　thing。
　　　　　Well　it　was　a　beautiful　bug；　I　can't　deny　that。　However　it　had　not　traveled　across　countless　light　years　because　I　had　just　made　it　myself　that　morning。　Most　of　the　parts　were　assembled　from　other　insects；　with　a　few　pieces　of　plastic　thrown　in　where　nature　had　let　me　down。　Its　body　was　as　long　as　my　hand；　and　it　had　three　sets　of　wings；　each　set　in　a　different　color。　There　were　a　lot　of　legs　underneath；　pretty　mismatched　I'm　afraid　since　they　came　from　a　dozen　other　insects　and　a　lot　of　them　got　mashed　or　misplaced　during　construction。　Some　other　nice　touches　like　a　massive　stinger；　three　eyes；　a　corkscrew　tail　and　such…like　were　not　lost　on　my　rapt　audience。　I　had　had　the　foresight　to　make　the　case　of　tinted　plastic　which　blurred　the　contents　nicely　and　hinted　at　rather　than　revealed　them。
　　　　　〃But　you　must　see　it　more　closely；　your　highness；〃　I　said；　snapping　open　the　case　while　both　of　us　swayed　back　and　forth。　This　was　a　difficult　juggling　act　as　I　had　to　hold　the　case　in　the　same　hand　as　my　wineglass；　leaving　my　other　hand　free　to　grasp　the　monstrosity。　I　plucked　it　out　between　thumb　and　forefinger　and　the　King　leaned　close；　the　drink　in　his　own　glass　slopping　back　and　forth　in　his　eagerness。　I　squeezed　just　a　bit　with　my　thumb　and　the　bug　popped　forward　in　lively　fashion　and　dived　into　the　King's　glass。
　　　　　〃Save　it！　Save　it！〃　I　cried；　〃A　valuable　specimen！〃　I　plunged　my　fingers　in　after　it　and　chased　it　around　and　around。　Some　of　the　drink　slopped　out　staining　Villelm's　gilt…edged　cuff。　A　gasp　went　up　and　angry　voices　sounded。　Someone　pulled　hard　at　my　shoulder。
　　　　　〃Leave　off　you　title…stealing　clots！〃　I　shouted；　and　pulled　away　roughly　from　the　grasp。　The　drowned　insect　flew　out　of　my　fingers　and　landed　on　the　King's　chest；　from　where　it　fell　slowly　to　the　floor；　shedding　wings；　legs　and　other　parts　on　the　way。　I　must　have　used　a　very　inferior　glue。　When　I　leaped　to　grab　the　dropping　corpse　the　forgotten　drink　in　my　other　hand　splashed　red　and　sticky　onto　the　King's　jacket。　A　howl　of　anger　went　up　from　the　crowd。
　　　　　I'll　say　this　much　for　the　King；　he　took　it　well。　Stood　there　swaying　like　a　tree　in　the　storm；　but　offering　no　protest　outside　of　mumbling；　〃I　say　。　。　。　I　say　。　。　。〃　a　few　times。　Not　even　when　I　rubbed　the　wine　in　with　my　handkerchief；　treading　on　his　toes　by　accident　as　the　crowd　behind　pushed　too　close。　One　of　them　pulled　hard　at　my　arm；　then　let　go　when　I　shrugged。　My　arm　struck　against　Villelm　IX'　s　noble　chest　and　his　royal　upper　plate　popped　out　on　the　floor　to　add　to　the　fun。
　　　　　Fun　it　was　too；　once　the　old　boys　got　cleared　away。　The　younger　nobility　leaped　to　their　majesty's　defense　and　I　showed　them　a　thing　or　two　about　mix…it…up　fighting　that　I　had　learned　on　a　number　of　planets。　They　made　up　in　energy　what　they　lacked　in　technique　and　we　had　a　really　good　go…around。　Women　screamed；　strong　men　cursed　and　the　King　was　half　carried　out　of　the　fracas。　After　that　things　got　dirty　and　I　did　too。　I　couldn't　blame　them；　but　that　didn't　stop　me　from　giving　just　as　good　as　I　received。
　　　　　My　last　memory　is　of　a　number　of　them　holding　me　while　another　one　hit　me。　I　got　him　in　the　face　with　the　shoe　on　my　free　leg；　but　'they　grabbed　that　too　and　his　replacement　turned　off　all　the　limits。
　Chapter　15
　
　　　　　Uncivilized　as　my　behavior　had　been；　the　jailers　persisted　in　treating　me　in　a　most　civilized　fashion。　I　grumbled　about　this　and　made　their　job　as　hard　as　possible。　I　hadn't　voluntarily　entered　prison　in　order　to　win　a　popularity　contest。　Pulling　all　those　gags　on　the　poor　old　King　had　been　a　risk。　Lese…majeste　is　the　sort　of　crime　that　is　usually　punishable　by　death。　Happily　the　civilizing　influences　of　the　League　had　penetrated　darkest　Freibur；　and　the　locals　now　fell　over　backwards　to　show　m〃　how　law…abiding　they　were。　I　would　have　none　of　it。　When　they　brought　me　a　meal　I　ate　it；　then　destroyed　the　dishes　to　show　my　contempt　for　this　unlawful　detention。
　　　　　This　was　the　bait。　The　bruises　I　had　suffered　would　be　a　small　enough　price　to　pay　if　my　attempt　at　publicity　paid　off　in　the　right　quarters。　Without　a　doubt　I　was　being　discussed。　A　figure　of　shame；　a　traitor　to　my　class。　A　violent　man　in　a　peaceful　world；　and　a　pugnacious；　bative　unpromising　one　at　that。　In　short　I　was　all　the　things　a　good　Freiburian　detested；　and　the　sort　of　a　man　Angelina　should　have　a　great　deal　of　interest　in。
　　　　　In　spite　of　its　recent　bloody　past；　Freibur　was　woefully　short　of　roughneck　manpower。　Not　at　the　very　lowest　levels　of　course；　the　portside　drinkeries　were　stuffed　with　muscle…bound　apes　with　pinhead　brains。　Angelina　would　be　able　to　recruit　allot　those　she　needed。　But　strongarm　squads　alone　wouldn't　win　her　a　victory。　She　needed　allies　and　aid　from　the　nobility；　and　from　what　I　had　seen　this　sort　of　talent　was　greatly　lacking。　In　my　indirect　manner　I　had　displayed　all　the　traits　she　would　be　interested　in；　doing　it　in　such　a　way　that　she　wouldn't　know　the　show　had　been　arranged　only　for　her。　The　trap　was　open；　all　she　had　to　do　was　step　into　it。
　　　　　Metal　boomed　as　the　turnkey　rapped　on　the　door。　〃You　have　visitors；　Grav　Diebstall；〃　he　said；　opening　the　inner　grill。
　　　　　〃Tell　them　to　go　to　hell！〃　I　shouted。　〃There's　no　one　on　this　poxty　planet　I　want　to　see。〃
　　　　　Paying　no　attention　to　my　request；　he　bowed　in　the　governor　of　the　prison　and　a　pair　of　ancient　types　wearing　black　clothes　and　severe　looks。　I　did　the　best　I　could　to　ignore　them。　They　waited　grimly　until　the　guard　had　gone；　then　the　skinniest　opened　a　folder　he　was　carrying　and　slowly　drew　out　a　sheet　of　paper　with　his　fingertips。
　　　　　〃I　will　not　sign　a　suicide　note　so　you　can　butcher　me　in　my　sleep；〃　I　snarled　at　him。　This　rattled　him　a　bit；　but　he　tried　to　ignore　it。
　　　　　〃That　is　an　unfair　suggestion；〃　he　intoned　solemnly。　〃I　am　the　Royal　Attorney　and　would　never　condone　such　an　action。〃　All　three　of　them　nodded　together　as　though　they　were　pulled　by　one　string；　and　the　effect　was　so　pulsive　that　I　almost　nodded　myself。
　　　　　〃I　will　not　mit　suicide　voluntarily；〃　I　said　harshly　to　break　the　spell　of　agreement。　〃That　is　the　last　word　that　will　be　said　on　the　subject。〃
　　　　　The　Royal　Attorney　had　been　around　the　courts　long　enough　not　to　be　thrown　off　his　mark　by　this　kind　of　obliquity。　He　coughed；　rattled　the　paper；　and　got　back　to　basics。
　　　　　〃There　are　a　number　of　crimes　you　could　be　charged　with　young　man；〃　he　droned；　with　an　intensely　gloomy　expression　draped　on　his　face。　I　yawned；　unimpressed。　〃I　hope　this　will　not　have　to　be　done；〃　he　went　on；　〃since　it　would　only　cause　harm　to　all　concerned。　The　King　himself　does　not　wish　to　see　this　happen；　and　in　fact　has　pressed　upon　me　his　earnest　desire　to　have　this　affair　ended　quietly　now。　His　desire　for　peace　has　prevailed　upon　us　all；　and　I　am　here　now　to　put　his　wish　into　action。　B　you　will　sign　this　apology；　you　will　be　placed　aboard　a　starship　leaving　tonight。　The　matter　will　be　ended。〃
　　　　　〃Trying　to　get　rid　of　me　to　cover　up　your　drunken　brawls　at　the　palace；　hey？〃　I　sneered。　The　Attorney's　face　purpled　but　he　controlled　his　temper　with　a　magnificent　effort。　If　they　threw　me　off　the　planet　now　everything　was　wasted。
　　　　　〃You　are　being　insulting；　sir！〃　he　snorted。　〃You　are　not　without　blame　in　this　matter；　remember。　I　heartily　remend　that　you　accept　the　King's　leniency　in　this　tragic　affair　and　sign　that　apology。〃　He　handed　the　paper　to　me　and　I　tore　it　to　pieces。
　　　　　〃Apologiz