the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第1节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　　　　I　stood　in　line；　as　patient　as　the　other　taxpayers；　my　filled　out　forms　and　my　cash　gripped　body　in　my　hand。　Cash；　money；　the　old　fashioned　green　folding　stuff。　A　local　custom　that　I　intended　to　make　expensive　to　the　local　customers。　I　was　scratching　under　the　artificial　beard；　which　itched　abominably；　when　the　man　before　me　stepped　out　of　the　way　and　I　was　at　the　window。　My　finger　stuck　in　the　glue　and　I　had　a　job　freeing　it　without　pulling　the　beard　off　as　well。
　　　　〃e；　e；　pass　it　over；〃　the　aging；　hatchet…faced；　bitter　and　shrewish　female　official　said；　hand　extended　impatiently。
　　　　〃On　the　contrary；〃　I　said；　letting　the　papers　and　banknotes　fall　away　to　disclose　the　immense　。75　recoilless　pistol　that　I　held。　〃　You　pass　it　over。　All　of　that　tax　money　you　have　extracted　from　the　sheep　like　suckers　who　populate　this　backward　planet。〃　
　　　　I　smiled　to　show　that　I　meant　it　and　she　choked　off　a　scream　and　began　scrabbling　in　the　cash　drawer。　It　was　a　broad　smile　that　showed　all　of　my　teeth；　which　I　had　stained　bright　red；　which　should　have　helped　her　decide　on　the　proper　course　of　action。　As　the　money　was　pushed　towards　me　I　stuffed　it　into　my　long　topcoat　that　was　pletely　lined　with　deep　pockets。
　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　the　man　behind　me　gasped；　eyes　bulging　like　great　white　grapes。
　　　　〃Taking　money；〃　I　said　and　flipped　a　bundle　at　him。　〃Why　don't　you　have　some　yourself。〃　He　caught　it　by　reflex；　goggled　at　it；　and　all　the　alarms　went　off　at　once　and　I　heard　the　doors　crashing　shut。　The　cashier　had　managed　to　trigger　an　alarm。
　　　　〃Good　for　you；〃　I　said；　〃but　don't　let　a　minor　thing　like　that　prevent　you　from　keeping　the　cash　ing。〃
　　　　She　gasped　and　started　to　slip　from　sight；　but　a　wave　of　the　gun　and　another　flash　of　my　carmine　dentures　restored　a　semblance　of　life；　and　the　flow　of　bills　continued。　People　started　to　rush　about　and　gun…waving　guards　began　to　appear　looking　around　enthusiastically　for　someone　to　shoot；　so　I　triggered　the　radio　relay　in　my　pocket。　There　was　a　series　of　charming　explosions　all　about　the　bank；　from　every　wastebasket　where　I　had　planted　a　gas　bomb；　followed　by　the　even　more　charming　screams　of　the　customers。　I　stopped　stowing　money　long　enough　to　slip　on　the　gas…tight　goggles　and　settle　them　into　place。　And　to　clamp　my　mouth　shut　so　I　was　forced　to　breathe　through　the　filter　plugs　in　my　nostrils。
　　　　It　was　fascinating　to　watch。　Blackout　gas　is　invisible　and　has　no　odor　but　it　does　contain　a　chemical　that　acts　almost　instantly；　bringing　about　a　temporary　but　plete　paralysis　of　the　optic　nerve。　Within　fifteen　seconds　everyone　in　the　bank　was　blind。
　　　　With　the　exception　of　James　Bolivar　diGriz；　myself；　man　of　many　talents。　Humming　a　happy　tune　through　closed　lips　I　stowed　away　the　remaining　money。　My　benefactress　had　finally　slid　from　sight　and　was　screaming　incontinently　somewhere　behind　the　counter。　So　were　a　lot　of　other　people。　There　was　plenty　of　groping　about　and　falling　over　things　as　I　made　my　way　through　this　little　blacked　out　corner　of　bedlam。　An　eerie　sensation　indeed；　the　one…eyed　man　in　the　country　of　the　blind　and　all　that。　A　crowd　had　already　gathered　outside；　pressing　in　fascinated　awe　against　the　windows　and　glass　doors；　to　watch　the　drama　unfolding　inside。　I　waved　and　smiled　and　a　shudder　passed　through　the　nearest　as　they　pushed　back　in　panic　from　the　door。　I　shot　the　lock　oat；　angling　the　gun　so　the　bullets　shrieked　away　over　their　heads；　and　kicked　the　door　open。　Before　exiting　myself　I　threw　a　screamer　out　onto　the　sidewalk　and　quickly　pushed　the　stopples　into　my　ears。
　　　　The　screamer　sounded　off　and　everyone　began　to　leave　quickly。　You　have　to　leave　quickly　when　you　hear　one　of　these　things。　They　send　out　a　mixed　brew　of　devilish　sounds　at　the　decibel　level　of　a　major　earthquake。　Some　are　audible；　sounds　like　a　magnified　fingernail　on　a　blackboard；　while　others　are　supersonic　and　produce　sensations　of　panic　and　imminent　death。　Harmless　and　highly　effective。　The　street　was　otherwise　empty　when　I　walked　out　to　the　car　that　was　just　pulling　up　to　the　curb。　My　head　was　throbbing　with　the　supersonics　that　got　past　the　plugs　and　I　was　more　than　happy　to　slip　through　the　open　door　and　relax　while　Angelina　gunned　the　machine　down　the　street。
　　　　〃Everything　go　all　right？〃　she　asked；　keeping　her　eyes　on　the　road　as　she　whirled　around　a　corner　on　the　outside　wheels。　Sirens　began　to　sound　in　the　distance。
　　　　〃A　piece　of　cake。　Smooth　as　castor　oil　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Your　similes　leave　a　lot　to　be　desired。〃
　　　　〃Sorry。　A　touch　of　indigestion　this　morning。　But　my　coat　is　lined　with　more　money　than　we　could　possibly　need。〃
　　　　〃How　nice！〃　she　laughed；　and　she　meant　it。　That　irresistible　grin；　the　crinkled　nose。　I　longed　to　nibble　it；　or　at　least　kiss　her；　but　settled　for　a　radely　pat　on　the　shoulder　since　she　needed　all　her　concentration　for　driving。　I　popped　a　stick　of　gum　in　my　mouth　that　would　remove　the　red　tooth　dye　and　began　to　peel　off　my　disguise。
　　　　As　I　changed　so　did　the　car。　Angelina　turned　into　a　side　street；　slowed　and　then　found　an　even　quieter　street　to　drive　along。　There　was　no　one　in　sight。　She　pressed　the　button。
　　　　My；　but　technology　can　do　some　interesting　things。　The　license　plate　flipped　over　to　reveal　a　different　number；　but　that　was　too　simple　a　trick　to　even　discuss。　Angelina　flicked　on　the　windshield　wipers　as　a　fine　spray　of　catalytic　fluid　sprang　out　of　jets　on　the　front　of　the　car。　Wherever　it　touched　the　blue　paint　turned　a　bright　red。　Except　for　the　top　of　the　car　which　became　transparent　so　that　in　a　few　moments　we　were　sitting　in　a　bubble　top　surveying　the　world　around。　A　good　deal　of　what　appeared　to　be　chrome　plated　metal　dissolved　and　washed　away　altering　the　appearance　and　even　the　make　of　the　car。　As　soon　as　this　process　was　plete　Angelina　sedately　turned　a　corner　and　started　back　in　the　direction　from　whence　we　had　e。　Her　orange　wig　was　locked　away　with　my　disguise　and　I　held　the　wheel　while　she　put　on　an　immense　pair　of　goggly　sunglasses。
　　　　〃Where　to　next？〃　she　asked　as　a　huddle　of　shrieking　police　cars　tore　by　in　the　opposite　direction。
　　　　〃I　was　thinking　of　the　shore。　Wind；　sun；　sand；　that　sort　of　thing。　Healthy　and　bracing。〃
　　　　〃A　little　too　bracing　if　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so。〃　She　patted　the　rounded　bulge　of　her　midriff　with　a　more　than　satisfied　smile。　〃It's　six　months　now；　going　on　seven；　so　I'm　not　feeling　that　athletic。　Which　reminds　me　。　。　。〃　She　flashed　me　a　quick　scowl；　then　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　road。　〃You　promised　to　make　an　honest　woman　out　of　me　so　that　we　could　call　this　a　honeymoon。〃
　　　　〃My　love；〃　I　said；　and　clasped　her　hand　in　all　sincerity。　〃At　the　first　possible　moment。　I　don't　want　to　make　an　honest　woman　out　of　youthat　would　be　physically　impossible　since　you　are　basically　as　larcenous　minded　as　I　ambut　I　will　certainly　many　you　and　slip　an　expensive〃　
　　　　〃Stolen！〃
　　　　〃…ring　on　this　delicate　little　finger。　I　do　promise。　But　the　second　we　try　to　register　a　marriage　we'll　be　fed　into　the　puter　and　the　game　will　be　up。　Our　little　holiday　at　an　end。〃
　　　　〃And　you'll　be　hooked　for　life。　I　think　I　better　grab　you　now　before　I　get　too　round　to　run　and　catch　you。　We'll　go　to　your　beach　resort　and　enjoy　one　last　day　of　mad　freedom。　And　tomorrow；　right　after　breakfast；　we　are　getting　married。　Do　you　promise？〃　
　　　　〃There　is　just　one　question　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Promise；　Slippery　Jim；　I　know　you！〃　
　　　　〃You　have　my　word　except　。　。　。〃
　　　　She　braked　the　car　to　a　skidding　stop　and　I　found　myself　looking　down　the　barrel　of　my　own　。75　recoilless。　It　looked　very　big。　Her　knuckle　was　white　on　the　trigger。
　　　　〃Promise　you　quick…witted　slippery　tricky　crooked　lying　con　man　or　I'll　blow　your　brains　out。〃　
　　　　〃My　darling；　you　do　love　me！〃
　　　　〃Of　course　I　do。　But　if　I　can't　have　you　all　to　myself　I'll　have　you　dead。　Speak！〃　
　　　　〃We　get　married　in　the　morning。〃
　　　　〃Some　men　are　so　hard　to　convince；〃　she　whispered；　slipping　the　gun　into　my　pocket　and　herself　into　my　arms。　Then　she　kissed　me　with　such　delicious　intensity　that　I　almost　looked　forward　to　the　morrow。

Chapter　2

　　　　〃WHERE　ARE　YOU　GOING；　Slippery　Jim？〃　Angelina　asked；　leaning　out　of　the　window　of　our　room　above。　I　stopped　with　my　hand　on　the　gate。
　　　　〃Just　down　for　a　quick　swim；　my　love；〃　I　shouted　back　and　swung　the　gate　open。　A　。75　roared　and　the　ruins　of　the　gate　were　blown　out　of　my　hand。
　　　　〃Open　your　robe；〃　she　said；　not　unkindly；　and　blew　the　smoke　from　the　gun　barrel　at　the　same　time。
　　　　I　shrugged　with　resignation　and　opened　the　beach　robe。　My　feet　were　bare。　But　of　course　I　was　fully　dressed；　with　my　pant　legs　rolled　up　and　my　shoes　stuffed　into　my　jacket　pockets。　She　nodded　understandably。
　　　　〃You　can　e　back　upstairs。　You're　going　nowhere。〃　
　　　　〃Of　course　I'm　not。〃　Hot　indignation。　〃I'm　not　that　sort　of　chap。　I　was　just　afraid　you　might　misunderstand。　I　just　wanted　to　nip　into　the　shops　and　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Upstairs。〃
　　　　I　went。　Hell　hath　no　fury　etc。　was　invented　to　describe　my　Angelina。　The　Special　Corps　medics　had　stripped　her　of　her　homicidal　tendencies；　unknotted　the　tangled　skeins　of　her　subconscious　and　equipped　her　for　a　more　happy　existence　than　circumstance　had　previously　provided。　But　when　it　came　to　the