the stainless steel rat-第28节

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　had　been　housed　in　the　illformed　flesh　had　been　warped　and　changed。
　　　　　Poor　Angelina。　I　could　be　sorry　for　her　without　forgetting　the　ones　she　had　killed。　Poor；　tragic；　a　lone　girl　who　in　winning　half　the　battle　had　lost　the　other　half。　Purchased　skill　had　shaped　the　body　into　a　lovelytruthfully　an　angelicform。　Yet　in　succeeding；　the　strength　of　the　mind　that　had　acplished　all　this　had　been　deformed　until　it　had　been　made　as　ugly　as　the　body　had　been　in　the　beginning。
　　　　　Yet　if　you　could　change　a　bodycouldn't　you　change　a　mind？　Could　something　be　done　for　her？
　　　　　The　very　pressure　and　magnitude　of　my　thoughts　drove　me　out　of　the　small　room　and　into　the　air。　It　was　nearing　midnight　and　the　guards　would　be　stationed　below　and　all　the　doors　locked。　Rather　than　face　the　explanations　and　simple　mechanical　difficulties；　I　climbed　upwards　instead。　There　would　be　no　one　in　the　roof　gardens　and　walkways　this　time　of　night；　I　could　be　alone。
　　　　　Freibur　has　no　moon；　but　it　was　a　clear　night　and　the　stars　cast　enough　light　to　see　by。　The　roof　guard　saluted　when　I　went　by；　and　I　could　see　the　red　spark　of　a　cigarette　in　his　hand。　I　should　have　said　something　about　it；　but　my　mind　was　too　occupied。　Passing　on　I　turned　a　corner　and　stood　leaning　on　the　parapet；　looking　out　unseeingly　at　the　black　bulk　of　the　mountains。
　Something　kept　gnawing　for　attention　and　after　a　few　minutes　I　recognized　what　it　was。　The　guard。　He　was　there　for　a　purpose　and　smoking　on　duty　wasn't　considered　the　best　behavior　for　a　sentry。　Perhaps　I　was　being　finicky；　but　it　is　a　failing　of　mine。　Take　care　of　all　the　small　factors　and　the　big　ones　take　care　of　themselves。　In　any　case；　simply　thinking　about　it　was　bothering　me；　so　I　might　as　well　go　around　and　say　a　word　to　him。
　　　　　He　wasn't　at　his　usual　post；　which　was　optimistic；　at　least　he　was　making　the　rounds　and　keeping　an　eye　on　things。　I　started　to　walk　back　when　I　noticed　the　broken　flowers　hanging　from　the　edge　of　the　garden。　This　was　most　unusual　because　the　roof　gardens　were　the　Count's　special　pleasure　and　were　practically　manicured　daily。　Then　I　saw　the　dark　patch　in　among　the　flowers　and　had　the　first　intimation　that　something　was　very；　very　wrong。
　　　　　It　was　the　guard；　and　he　was　either　dead　or　deeply　unconscious。　I　didn't　bother　to　find　out　which。　There　was　only　one　reason　I　could　think　of　for　someone　to　be　here　at　night　like　this。　Angelina。　Her　loom　was　on　the　top　floor；　almost　below　this　spot。　Silently　I　ran　to　the　decorative　railing　and　looked　over。　Five　meters　below　was　the　white　patch　of　the　balcony　outside　her　window。　Something　black　and　formless　was　crouched　there。
　　　　　My　gun　was　in　my　room。　For　one　of　the　few　times　in　my　life　I　had　been　so　disturbed　that　my　normal　precautions　were　forgotten。　My　concern　over　Angelina　was　going　to　cost　her　her　life。
　　　　　All　of　this　I　realized　in　a　fraction　of　a　second　as　my　fingers　ran　along　the　balustrade。　A　shiny　blob　was　fixed　there；　anchoring　a　strand　so　thin　that　it　was　invisible；　yet　I　knew　was　as　strong　as　a　cable。　The　assassin　had　lowered　himself　with　web　spinner；　a　tiny　device　that　spun　a　thin　strand　like　a　spider。　Only　the　strand's　substance　was　formed　of　a　single　long…chain　molecule　that　could　support　a　man's　weight。　It　would　slice　my　hands　like　the　sharpest　blade　if　I　tried　to　slide　down　it。
　　　　　There　was　only　one　way　I　could　reach　that　balcony；　a　tiny　square　above　the　two…kilometer　drop　into　the　valley　below。　I　made　the　decision　even　as　I　was　leaping　up　onto　the　rail。　It　had　a　wide　flat　top　and　I　sat　for　an　instant　to　catch　my　balance。　Below　me　the　window　swung　open　noiselessly　and　I　dropped；　my　heels　extended；　aiming　for　the　man　below。
　　　　　I　turned　in　the　air　and　instead　of　hitting　him　squarely　I　caromed　off　his　shoulder　and　we　both　sprawled　onto　the　balcony。　It　shivered　under　the　impact；　but　the　ancient　stone　held。　The　fall　had　half…stunned　me；　and　with　pain…blurred　reasoning　I　hoped　that　his　shoulder　felt　as　bad　as　my　leg。　For　a　few　moments　I　could　do　nothing　but　gasp　for　breath　and　try　to　scramble　towards　him。　A　long；　thin　bladed　knife　had　been　knocked　from　his　hand　by　the　impact　and　I　could　see　it　glittering　where　he　reached　for　it。　His　fingers　clutched　it　just　as　I　attacked。　He　grunted　and　made　a　vicious　stab　at　me　that　brushed　my　sleeve。　Before　he　could　draw　back　I　had　his　knife　wrist　in　my　hand　and　clamped　on。
　　　　　It　was　a　silent；　nightmare　battle。　Both　of　us　were　half…dazed　from　my　drop；　yet　we　knew　it　was　life　we　were　battling　for。　I　couldn't　stand　because　of　my　bruised　leg　and　he　was　instantly　on　top　of　me；　heavier　and　stronger。　He　couldn't　use　the　arm　I　had　landed　on；　but　it　took　all　the　strength　of　both　my　arms　to　hold　away　the　menacing　blade。　There　was　no　sound　other　than　our　hoarse　panting。
　　　　　This　assassin　was　going　to　win　as　weight　and　remorseless　strength　brought　the　knife　down。　Sweat　almost　blinded　me；　but　I　could　still　see　well　enough　to　notice　the　twisted　way　his　other　arm　hung。　I　had　broken　a　bone　when　I　hityet　he　had　never　made　a　sound。
　　　　　There　is　no　such　thing　as　fair　fighting　when　you　are　struggling　for　your　life。　I　squirmed　my　leg　out　from　under　him　and　managed　to　bend　it　enough　to　dig　the　knee　into　his　broken　arm。　His　whole　body　shuddered。　I　did　it　again。　Harder。　He　twisted；　trying　to　pull　away　from　the　pain。　I　heaved　sideways；　throwing　him　off　balance。　His　elbow　bait　as　be　tried　to　save　himself　from　falling　and　I　put　all　my　strength　in　both　hands　turning　that　sinewy　wrist　and　driving　the　hand　backwards。
　It　almost　worked；　but　he　was　still　stronger　than　I　was　and　the　point　of　the　blade　merely　scratched　his　chest。　Even　as　I　was　fighting　to　turn　the　hand　again　he　shuddered　and　died。
　　　　　A　ruse　would　not　have　tricked　mebut　this　was　no　ruse。　I　felt　every　muscle　in　his　body　tighten　rock…bard　in　a　spasm　as　he　fell　sideways。　My　grip　on　his　wrist　didn't　lessen　until　the　light　came　on　in　the　room　behind　me。　Only　then　did　I　see　the　ugly　yellow　stain　halfway　up　the　blade　of　the　knife。　A　quick…acting　nerve　poison；　silent　and　deadly。　There；　on　the　sleeve　of　my　shirt；　was　a　thin　yellow　mark　where　the　blade　had　brushed　me。　I　knew　these　poisons　didn't　need　a　puncture；　they　could　work　just　as　well　on　the　naked　skin。
　　　　　With　infinite　caution；　struggling　against　the　fatigue　that　wanted　my　hands　to　shake；　I　peeled　my　shirt　slowly　off。　Only　when　it　had　been　buried　on　top　of　the　corpse　did　I　let　myself　drop　backwards；　gasping　for　air。
　　　　　My　leg　could　work　now；　though　it　hurt　hideously。　It　must　have　been　bruised　but　not　broken　since　it　supported　my　weight。　Turning；　I　stumbled　to　the　high　window　and　threw　it　open。　Light　streamed　out　on　the　body　behind　me。　Angelina　was　sitting　up　in　bed；　her　face　smooth　and　her　hands　folded　on　the　covers　in　front　of　her。　Only　her　eyes　showing　any　awareness　of　what　had　happened。
　　　　　〃Dead；〃　I　said　with　a　dry　throat；　and　spat　to　clear　it。　〃Killed　by　his　own　poison。〃　I　slumped　into　the　room；　testing　my　leg。
　　　　　〃I　was　sleeping；　I　didn't　hear　him　open　the　window；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you。〃
　　　　　Actress；　liar；　cheat；　murderess。　She　had　played　a　hundred　roles　in　countless　voices。　Yet　when　she　said　those　final　words　there　was　a　ring　of　unforged　feeling　to　them。　This　murder　attempt　had　e　too　soon　after　the　earlier　traumatic　scene。　Her　defenses　were　still　down；　her　real　emotions　showing。
　　　　　Her　hair　hung　to　her　shoulders；　brushing　the　single　ribbons　of　her　nightgown　which　was　made　of　some　thin　and　soft　fabric；　intimate。　This　sight；　on　top　of　the　events　of　the　evening；　removed　any　reserve　I　might　have　had。　I　was　kneeling　by　the　bed；　holding　her　shoulders　and　staring　deep　into　her　eyes；　trying　to　reach　what　lay　behind　them。　The　locket　with　the　broken　chain　lay　on　the　bedside　table。　I　grabbed　it　in　my　fist。
　　　　　〃Don't　you　realize　this　girl　doesn't　exist　except　in　your　memory；〃　I　said；　and　Angelina　didn't　move。　〃It's　past　like　everything　else。　You　were　a　babynow　you're　a　woman。　You　were　a　little　girlnow　you're　a　woman。　You　may　have　been　this　girlbut　you　are　not　any　more！〃
　　　　　With　a　convulsive　movement　I　turned　and　hurled　the　thing　out　of　the　window　into　the　darkness。
　　　　　〃You're　none　of　those　things　of　the　past；　Angelina！〃　I　said　with　an　intensity　louder　than　a　shout。　〃You　are　yourself　。　。　。　just　yourself！〃
　　　　　I　kissed　her　then　and　there　was　no　trace　of　the　pushing　away　or　rejection　there　had　been　before。　As　I　needed　her；　she　needed　me。
　Chapter　18
　
　　　　　Dawn　was　just　touching　the　sky　when　I　brought　the　assassin's　body　in　to　the　Count。　I　was　deprived　of　the　pleasure　of　waking　him　since　the　sergeant　of　the　guard　had　already　done　this　when　the　roof　sentry　had　been　discovered。　The　guard　was　dead　too；　from　a　tiny　puncture　of　the　same　poison…tipped　blade。　The　guardsmen　and　the　Count　were　all　gathered　around　the　body　on　the　floor　of　the　Count's　sitting　room　and　chattering　away　about　this　mystery；　the　inexplicable　death　of　the　sentry。　They　didn't　see　me　until　I　dropped　my　corpse　down　by　the　other　one；　and　they　all　jumped　back。
　　　　　〃Here's　the　killer；〃　I　told　them；　not　without　a　certain　amount　of　pride。　Count　Cassitor　must　have　recognized　the　thug　because　he　gave　a　shuddering　start　and　popped　his　eyes。　No　doubt　an　ex…relative；　brother…in…law　or　something