the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第26节

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ou　give　me　a　quick　sketch　of　the　ground　plan　of　the　building　and　the　immediate　area　around　it。〃
　　　　She　drew　quickly　and　accurately；　military　training　no　doubt；　indicating　doors　and　windows　and　the　surrounding　streets。　
　　　　〃What　do　your　robutlers　look　like？〃　I　asked。
　　　　〃Roughly　humanoid　in　form　and　size；　the　optimum　shape　for　a　home　environment。　In　addition〃
　　　　〃That's　fine。　How　many　do　you　have　ready　to　go；　field　tested　or　whatever　you　call　it；　with　their　little　power　packs　charged？〃　
　　　　She　frowned　in　thought。　〃I'll　have　to　check　with　shipping；　but　at　a　rough　guess　I　would　say　between　150　and　200。〃　
　　　　〃That　will　be　just　perfect　for　our　needs。　Would　you　be　terribly　put　outyour　insurance　might　cover　itif　they　were　destroyed　in　the　cause　of　Burada　freedom？〃
　　　　〃Every　Firtina　robutler　would　willingly　die；　happily；　if　it　had　any　emotions　for　the　cause。　Though　of　course　they　are　incapable　of　bearing　arms　or　of　violent　acts　of　any　kind。〃
　　　　〃They　don't　have　to。　We　can　take　care　of　that。　Our　robutler　brigade　will　be　the　diversion　that　gets　us　out　of　here。　Now　e　close　girls　and　I'll　tell　you　the　plan。〃
　　　　The　old　diGriz　brain　was　really　turning　over　at　last。　The　firing　in　the　background　only　stimulated　me　to　grander　efforts；　while　I　was　buoyed　up　on　a　wave　of　cheerful　enthusiasm。　Within　minutes　the　preparations　were　being　made；　and　within　a　half　an　hour　the　troops　were　ready　to　attack。
　　　　〃You　know　your　orders？〃　I　asked　the　dimly　lit　shipping　bay　full　of　robots。
　　　　〃That　we　do　sir；　yes　sir；　thank　you　sir；〃　they　all　answered　in　the　best　of　cultured　accents。
　　　　〃Then　prepare　to　depart。　What　you　do　now　is　a　far　far　better　thing　than　you　would　have　ever　done　in　an　electronic　lifetime　of　domestic　service。　When　I　say　leave；　each　to　its　appointed　task。〃　
　　　　〃Very　kind　sir；　thank　you　sir。〃
　　　　There　were　over　a　hundred　here　in　the　shipping　bay　of　the　factory；　our　main　diversionary　attack。　They　stood　in　neat　rows；　humming　and　eager　to　go。　The　front　ranks　were　dressed　in　all　the　excess　garments　we　had　been　able　to　assemble；　some　with　uniform　hats；　others　with　jackets；　still　fewer　wearing　slacks。　Most　of　the　clothing　had　been　donated　piecemeal　by　the　female　shocktroops；　which　fact　was　not　doing　me　much　good　in　my　new　marital　status。　There　was　entirely　too　much　tanned　flesh　around　for　a　man　to　pletely　ignore。　It　was　almost　a　pleasure　to　be　with　the　robots　for　a　change。　Their　forms　were　sleek　but　hard；　their　dress　inconsistent　and　revealing　of　nothing　of　interest。　And　each　of　them　clutched　a　length　of　pipe　or　plastic　or　some　other　object　resembling　a　weapon。　In　the　confusion　that　was　soon　to　e　my　hope　was　that　they　would　be　mistaken　for　human　attackers。　I　looked　at　my　watch　and　raised　the　…radio　to　my　mouth。
　　　　〃Stand　by　all　units。　Fifteen　seconds　to　zero。　Bombers　stand　ready。　Keep　away　from　the　windows　until　the　last　second。　Ready；　keep　low　。　。　。　trigger　your　bombs　。　。　。　THROW！〃
　　　　There　was　a　series　of　dull　explosions　from　the　street　outside；　that　would　be　echoed　on　all　sides　of　the　building；　as　the　girls　heaved　the　bombs　from　the　upper　stories。　Smoke　bombs　for　the　most　part；　though　there　were　some　irritants　and　sleep　gas　mixed　in　with　them。　I　gave　the　bombs　five　seconds　to　maximum　density　then　hit　the　garage　door　switches。　The　doors　rumbled　up　to　reveal　little　other　than　twisting　coils　of　smoke　that　instantly　began　to　pour　into　the　garage。
　　　　〃Go；　my　loyal　troops；　go！〃　I　ordered　and　every　left　foot　shot　forward　as　one；　and　the　ranks　of　my　robot　brigade　surged　forward。
　　　　〃Thanking　you　sir！〃　mellifluously　sounded　in　perfect　tones　from　those　metallic　throats；　and　I　retreated　as　they　ran　by。
　　　　There　was　firing　now；　from　the　windows　above；　echoed　instantly　by　the　troops　outside。　According　to　plan。　I　looked　at　my　watch　as　I　ran。　Fifteen　seconds　from　zero；　time　for　the　second　wave。　〃All　other　robutler　unitsnow！〃　I　ordered　into　the　…radio。
　　　　At　that　moment；　from　the　other　doors　and　exits　of　the　factory；　into　the　shroud　of　smoke　and　gas；　the　remaining　robots　should　be　going　into　action。　I　had　not　taken　the　time　to　try　and　rig　an　eavesdropping　circuit　on　the　enemy's　mand　net；　but　I　could　just　imagine　what　was　happening　now。　What　I　hoped　was　happening　now。
　　　　The　building　was　surrounded；　all　their　troops　alert；　our　stronghold　visible　in　all　details　in　the　warm　afternoon　sunlight。　Then　the　sudden　change；　smoke；　chemical　irritants；　shrouding　the　building　on　all　sides。　A　breakout　obviouslyand　there　it　was！　Dim　figures　in　the　smoke；　firing；　get　them；　shoot　to　kill。　Zoing；　zoing！　Take　that　you　rotten　Burada　guerrilla　fink！　What　fighters　these　Burada　aremen　of　steel！shoot　them　and　they　don't　fall。　Panic　in　the　smoke。　The　word　that　there　are　other　breakouts。　Which　was　the　real　one；　which　a　cover？　How　to　mass　the　troops？　Where　should　the　reserves　be　sent？
　　　　I　figured　that　it　would　take　about　one　minute　for　the　first　confusion　to　have　reached　its　peak。　After　this　the　smoke　would　begin　to　thin　and　the　dead　bodies　would　be　discovered　to　be　robots　and　the　word　would　get　out。　We　wanted　to　get　out　before　this　word　did。　Once　the　bombs　had　been　thrown　Taze　and　her　troops　would　be　hurrying　to　get　into　positionand　one　minute　was　not　very　much　time　to　reach　the　back　of　the　factory　from　the　upper　floors。　Yet　most　of　them　were　there　before　me　with　Taze　checking　them　off　as　they　ran　up。
　　　　〃That's　the　lot；〃　she　said；　making　a　final　tick　on　her　list。
　　　　〃With　five　seconds　to　go。〃　I　looked　at　my　watch　and　raised　my　hand。
　　　　〃Now！　Angelina　stand　ready　with　the　grenades。〃　
　　　　The　small　fire　exit　was　unlocked　and　dragged　open　and　Angelina　buried　her　smoke　grenades　out　to　intensify　the　gloom　before　us。　There　was　no　more　talking；　and　in　the　sudden　silence　the　shooting　and　shouting　could　clearly　be　heard。　I　was　sure　that　I　could　detect　an　occasional　Thank　you；　sir　among　the　voices。　Fayda　led　the　way　and　we　followed　in　line；　hands　on　the　shoulders　of　the　preceding　marchers。　I　was　in　the　middle　of　the　line　and　Angelina　just　before　me；　so　I　held　to　her。　This　placement　was　accidental；　I　am　sure；　since　she　wouldn't　have　cared　if　I　clutched　one　of　the　half…naked　Burada　cuties。
　　　　It　was　a　little　disconcerting　moving　helplessly　like　this　through　the　darkness；　particularly　when　the　occasional　missile　whined　by。　By　accident；　I　hoped。　This　street　was　narrow　and　blocked　at　both　ends　by　Cliaand　troops。　If　they　knew　what　was　happening　they　could　sweep　the　street　with　a　deadly　crossfire。　But　hopefully　they　were　involved　with　the　robutlers　for　the　moment。　All　we　had　to　do　was　quietly　cross　the　20　meters　or　so　of　open　road；　to　the　apartment　dwelling　on　the　other　side。　If　we　reached　this　unnoticed　we　had　a　good　chance　of　going　through　it　to　the　mixed　business　and　residential　plaza　on　the　other　side。　From　here　we　would　break　up　and　scatter　through　the　warren　of　streets　and　walkways　and　tunnels；　hopefully　merging　into　the　civilian　population　and　disappearing　before　our　absence　was　noticed。　Hopefully。
　　　　I　was　counting　my　steps　so　knew　I　had　almost　reached　the　buildingwhich　meant　half　of　our　number　were　safewhen　the　voice　called　out　nearby。
　　　　〃Is　that　you；　Zobno？　What　did　the　sergeant　say　about　robots？　It　sounded　like　robots？〃
　　　　The　line　stopped；　instantly；　in　breath…holding　silence。　We　were　so　close。　The　voice　was　male　and　it　spoke　Cliaandian。
　　　　〃Robots？　What　robots？〃　I　asked　as　I　pulled　the　hand　from　my　shoulder　and　placed　it　on　Angelina's　shoulder　before　me。　〃Move；〃　I　whispered　in　her　ear。　Then　left　the　line　and　stamped　heavily　towards　him　in　my　new　boots。
　　　　〃I'm　sure　he　said　robots；〃　the　voice　plained。　Behind　me　I　was　aware　of　the　faint　stir　as　the　line　started　forward　again。　I　stamped　and　coughed　and　moved　closer　to　the　unseen　speaker。　My　hands　before　me　ready　for　a　quick　clench　and　crush　as　soon　as　he　spoke　again。
　　　　All　of　which　would　have　worked　fine；　and　have　given　me　a　little　sadistic　pleasure；　if　the　evening　breeze　had　not　sent　eddies　around　the　corners　of　the　building。　The　wind　moved　coolly　on　my　face　and　a　rift　opened　in　the　smoke。　I　was　looking　at　a　Cliaand　trooper；　helmed　and　armed　with　his　gaussrifle　at　the　ready；　a　shocked　expression　stamped　on　his　face。　With　good　reason。　Instead　of　gazing　upon　a　fellow　trooper　he　saw　an　unknown　individual　with　snapping　fingers；　red　eyes　and　unshaven　jaw；　dressed　in　totally　transparent　dungarees　and　ladies'　boots；　with　bundles　and　packs　slung　on　his　shoulders。　Gape　was　about　all　he　could　do。
　　　　This　paralysis　lasted　just　long　enough　for　me　to　reach　him。　I　grabbed　him　by　the　throat　so　he　couldn't　shout　a　warning；　and　by　the　gun　so　he　couldn't　shoot　me。　We　danced　around　like　this　for　a　bit　and　the　smoke　closed　over　us　again。　My　opponent　wasn't　shouting　or　shootingbut　neither　was　he　submitting。　He　was　burly　and　well　muscled　and　holding　his　own。　Luckily　he　wasn't　too　bright　and　kept　both　his　hands　on　the　gun　and　tried　to　get　it　away　from　me。　Just　about　the　time　he　realized　he　could　hold　it　with　one　hand　and　slug　me　with　the　other　I　got　a　foot　behind　his　heel　and　went　down　on　top　of　him。　Before　he　hit　the　ground　he　managed　to　get　two　quick　punches　into　my　midriff　which　did　me　no　good。　Then　we　landed　and　I　knocked　all　the　air　out　of　him。　This　freed　my　throat　hand　and；　before　he　could　suck　in　enou