the stainless steel rat-第5节

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nding　orders　to　shoot　at　anyone　who　tried　to　leave　the　building。　A　nice　trap。　The　cops　inside　would　keep　looking　until　they　found　me。　If　I　tried　to　leave　I　would　be　blasted。　I　was　beginning　to　feel　very　much　like　a　trapped　rat。
　　　　　Every　light　in　the　store　came　on　and　I　stepped；　frozen。　I　was　near　the　wall　of　a　large　farm…goods　showroom。　Across　the　room　from　me　were　three　soldiers。　We　spotted　each　other　at　the　same　time；　I　dived　for　the　door　with　bullets　slapping　all　around　me。　The　military　was　in　it　too；　they　sure　must　have　wanted　me　bad。　A　bank　of　elevators　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　door…and　stairs　leading　up。　I　hit　the　elevator　in　one　bounce　and　punched　the　sub…basement　button；　and　just　got　out　ahead　of　the　closing　doors。　The　stairs　were　back　towards　the　approaching　soldiers；　I　felt　like　I　was　running　right　into　their　guns。　I　must　have　made　the　turn　into　the　stairs　a　split　second　ahead　of　their　arrival。　Up　the　stairs　and　around　the　first　landing　before　they　were　even　with　the　bottom。　Luck　was　still　on　my　side。　They　hadn't　seen　me　and　were　sure　I　had　gone　down。　I　sagged　against　the　wall；　listening　to　the　shouts　and　whistle　blowing　as　they　turned　the　hunt　towards　the　basement。
　　　　　There　was　one　smart　one　in　the　bunch。　While　the　others　were　all　following　the　phony　trail　I　heard　him　start　slowly　up　the　stairs。　I　didn't　have　any　gas　grenades　left；　all　I　could　do　was　climb　up　ahead　of　him；　trying　to　do　it　without　making　a　sound。
　　　　　He　came　on　slowly　and　steadily　and　I　stayed　ahead　of　him。　We　went　up　four　flights　that　way；　me　in　my　stocking　feet　with　my　shoes　around　my　neck；　his　heavy　boots　behind　me　making　a　dull　rasping　on　the　metal　stairs。
　　　　　As　I　started　up　the　fifth　flight　I　stopped；　my　foot　halfway　up　a　step。
　　　　　Someone　else　was　ing　down；　someone　wearing　the　same　kind　of　military　boots。　I　found　the　door　to　the　hall；　opened　it　behind　me　and　slipped　through。　There　was　a　long　hall　in　front　of　me　lined　with　offices　of　some　kind。　I　began　to　run　the　length　of　it；　trying　to　reach　a　turning　before　the　door　behind　me　could　open　and　those　exploding　slugs　tear　me　in　half。　The　hall　seemed　endless　and　I　suddenly　realized　I　would　never　reach　the　end　in　time。
　　　　　I　was　a　rat　looking　for　a　hole…and　there　was　none。　The　doors　were　locked；　all　of　them；　I　tried　each　as　I　came　to　it；　knowing　I　would　never　make　it。　That　stairwell　door　was　opening　behind　me　and　the　gun　was　ing　up。　I　didn't　dare　turn　and　look　but　I　could　fee＇　it。　When　the　door　opened　under　my　hand　I　fell　through　before　I　realized　what　had　happened。　I　locked　it　behind　me　and　leaned　against　it　in　the　darkness；　panting　like　a　spent　animal。　Then　the　light　came　on　and　I　saw　the　man　sitting　behind　the　desk；　smiling　at　me。
　
　　　　　There　is　a　limit　to　the　amount　of　shock　the　human　body　can　absorb。　I'd　had　mine。　I　didn't　care　if　he　shot　me　or　offered　a　cigarette…I　had　reached　the　end　of　my　line。　He　did　neither。　He　offered　me　a　cigar　instead。
　　　　　〃Have　one　of　these；　diGriz；　I　believe　they're　your　brand。〃　
　　　　　The　body　is　a　slave　of　habit。　Even　with　death　a　few　inches　away　it　will　respond　to　established　custom。　My　fingers　moved　of　their　own　volition　and　took　the　cigar；　my　lips　clenched　it　and　my　lungs　sucked　it　into　life。　And　all　the　time　my　eyes　watched　the　man　behind　the　desk　waiting　for　death　to　reach　out。
　　　　　It　must　have　shown。　He　waved　towards　a　chair　and　carefully　kept　both　hands　in　sight　on　top　of　the　desk。　I　still　had　my　gun；　it　was　trained　on　him。
　　　　　〃Sit　down　diGriz　and　put　that　cannon　away。　If　I　wanted　to　kill　you；　I　could　have　done　it　a　lot　easier　than　herding　you　into　this　room。〃　His　eyebrows　moved　up　in　surprise　when　he　saw　the　expression　on　my　face。　〃Don't　tell　me　you　thought　it　was　an　accident　that　you　ended　up　here？〃
　　　　　I　had；　up　until　that　moment；　and　the　lack　of　intelligent　reasoning　on　my　part　brought　on　a　wave　of　shame　that　snapped　me　back　to　reality。　I　had　been　outwitted　and　outfought；　the　least　I　could　do　was　surrender　graciously。　I　threw　the　gun　on　the　desk　and　dropped　into　the　offered　chair。　He　swept　the　pistol　neatly　into　a　drawer　and　relaxed　a　bit　himself。
　　　　　〃Had　me　worried　there　for　a　minute；　the　way　you　stood　there　rolling　your　eyes　and　waving　this　piece　of　field　artillery　around。〃　
　　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　　　　He　smiled　at　the　abruptness　of　my　tone。　〃Well；　it　doesn't　matter　who　I　am。　What　does　matter　is　the　organization　that　I　represent。〃　
　　　　　〃The　Corps？〃
　　　　　〃Exactly。　The　Special　Corps。　You　didn't　think　I　was　the　local　police；　did　you？　They　have　orders　to　shoot　you　on　sight。　It　was　only　after　I　told　them　how　to　find　you　that　they　let　the　Corps　e　along　on　the　job。　I　have　some　of　my　men　in　the　building；　they're　the　ones　who　herded　you　up　here。　The　rest　are　all　locals　with　itchy　trigger　fingers。〃
　　　　　It　wasn't　very　flattering　but　it　was　true。　I　had　been　pushed　around　like　a　class　M　robot；　with　every　move　charted　in　advance。　The　old　boy　behind　the　desk…for　the　first　time　I　realized　he　was　about　sixty…five…really　had　my　number。　The　game　was　over。
　　　　　〃All　right　Mr。　Detective；　you　have　me　so　there　is　no　sense　in　gloating。　What's　next　on　the　program？　Psychological　reorientation；　lobotomy…or　just　plain　firing　squad？〃
　　　　　〃None　of　those。　I'm　afraid。　I　am　here　to　offer　you　a　job　on　the　Corps。〃
　　　　　The　whole　thing　was　so　ludicrous　that　I　almost　fell　out　of　the　chair　laughing。　Me。　James　diGriz；　the　interplanet　thief　working　as　a　policeman。　It　was　just　too　funny。　He　sat　patiently；　waiting　until　I　was　through。
　
　　　　　〃I　will　admit　it　has　its　ludicrous　side…but　only　at　first　glance。　If　'　you　stop　to　think；　you　will　have　to　admit　that　who　is　better　qualified　to　catch　a　thief　than　another　thief？〃
　　　　　There　was　more　than　a　little　truth　in　that；　but　I　wasn't　buying　my　freedom　by　turning　stool　pigeon。
　　　　　〃An　interesting　offer；　but　I'm　not　getting　out　of　this　by　playing　the　rat。　There　is　even　a　code　among　thieves；　you　know。〃　
　　　　　That　made　him　angry。　He　was　bigger　than　he　looked　sitting　down　and　the　fist　he　shook　in　my　face　was　as　large　as　a　shoe。
　　　　　〃What　kind　of　stupidity　do　you　call　that？　It　sounds　like　a　line　out　of　a　TV　thriller。　You've　never　met　another　crook　in　your　whole　life　and　you　know　it！　And　if　you　did　you　would　cheerfully　turn　him　in　if　you　could　make　a　profit　on　the　deal。　The　entire　essence　of　your　life　is　individualism…that　and　the　excitement　of　doing　what　others　can't　do。　Well　that's　over　now；　and　you　better　start　admitting　it　to　yourself。　You　can　no　longer　be　the　interplanet　playboy　you　used　to　be…but　you　can　do　a　job　that　will　require　every　bit　of　your　special　talents　and　abilities。　Have　you　ever　killed　a　man？〃　
　　　　　His　change　of　pace　caught　me　off　guard；　I　stumbled　out　an　answer。
　　　　　〃No　。　。　。　not　that　I　know　of。〃
　　　　　〃Well　you　haven't；　if　that　will　make　you　sleep　any　better　at　night。　You're　not　a　homicidal；　I　checked　that　on　your　record　before　I　came　out　after　you。　That　is　why　I　know　you　will　join　the　Corps　and　get　a　great　deal　of　pleasure　out　of　going　after　the　other　kind　of　criminal　who　is　sick；　not　just　socially　protesting。　The　man　who　can　kill　and　enjoy　it。〃
　　　　　He　was　too　convincing；　he　had　all　the　answers。　I　had　only　one　more　argument　and　I　threw　it　in　with　the　air　of　a　last　ditch　defense。
　　　　　〃What　about　the　Corps；　if　they　ever　find　out　you　are　hiring　half…reformed　criminals　to　do　your　dirty　work　we　will　both　be　shot　at　dawn。〃
　　　　　This　time　it　was　his　turn　to　laugh。　I　could　see　nothing　funny　so　I　ignored　him　until　he　was　finished。
　　　　　〃In　the　first　place　my　boy；　I　am　the　Corps…at　least　the　man　at　the　top…and　what　do　you　think　my　name　is？　Harold　Peters　Inskipp；　that's　what　it　is！〃　
　　　　　〃Not　the　Inskipp　that…〃
　　　　　〃The　same。　Inskipp　the　Uncatchable。　The　man　who　looted　the　Pharsydion　II　in　mid…flight　and　pulled　all　those　other　deals　I'm　sure　you　read　about　in　your　misspent　youth。　I　was　recruited　just　the　way　you　were。〃　He　had　me　on　the　ropes　and　knew　it。　He　moved　in　for　the　kill。
　　　　　〃And　who　do　you　think　the　rest　of　our　agents　are？　I　don't　mean　the　bright…eyed　grads　of　our　technical　schools；　like　the　ones　on　my　squad　downstairs。　I　mean　the　full　agents。　The　men　who　plan　the　operations；　do　the　preliminary　fieldwork　and　see　that　everything　es　off　smoothly。　They're　crooks。　All　crooks。　The　better　they　were　on　their　own；　the　better　a　job　they　do　for　the　Corps。　It's　a　great；　big；　brawling　universe　and　you　would　be　surprised　at　some　of　the　problems　that　e　up。　The　only　men　we　can　recruit　to　do　the　job　are　the　ones　who　have　already　succeeded　at　it。　
　　　　　〃Are　you　on？〃
　　　　　It　had　happened　too　fast　and　I　hadn't　had　time　to　think。　I　would　probably　go　on　arguing　for　an　hour。　But　way　down　in　the　back　of　my　mind　the　decision　had　been　made。　I　was　going　to　do　it；　I　couldn't　say　no。
　　　　　I　was　losing　something；　and　I　hoped　I　wouldn't　miss　it。　No　matter　what　freedom　I　had　working　with　an　organization；　I　would　still　be　working　with　other　people。　The　old　carefree；　sole　responsibility　days　were　over。　I　was　joining　the　ranks　of　society　again。
　　　　　There　was　the　beginning　of　a　warm　feeling　at　the　thought。　It　would　at　least　be　the　end　of　loneliness。　Friendship　would　make　up　for　what　I　had　lost。
　Chapter　4
　
　　　I　have　never　been　more　wrong。
　　　The　people　I　met　wer