the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第8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！


and　picked　up　the　cleaver　again。　Rush　and　improvise　was　the　motto　of　this　operation。
　　　　〃What　is　that？〃　I　asked　the　cook；　slipping　the　hat　from　his　mouth　for　the　moment。
　　　　〃The　front　door。　Someone　there；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　his　eyes　on　the　cleaver　I　held　ready　over　his　head。　I　restored　the　gag　and　sidled　to　the　swinging　door　on　the　far　wall　and　evened　it　enough　to　peek　through。
　　　　The　dining　room　beyond　was　dark　and　empty。　The　banging　and　。ringing　came　from　the　entrance　on　the　far　side。　No　one　else　had　appeared　to　answer　this　noisy　summons　so　I　felt　safe　in　assuming　that　the　cock　and　I　were　alone　for　the　moment。　Now　to　see　what　it　was　all　about。　With　the　cleaver　at　the　ready　I　went　to　the　front　entrance；　slid　back　the　bolt　and　opened　the　door　a　crack。
　　　　〃Whaddayawant？〃　I　asked；　aiming　for　the　same　rudimentary　grammar　and　low　accent　voiced　by　the　code。
　　　　〃Refrigerator　service。　You　called　you　got　trouble。　What　kind　of　trouble？〃
　　　　〃Big　trouble！〃　My　heart　bounded　with　unexpected　joy。　〃e　in　and　bring　biggest　toolbox　you　got。〃
It　was　a　fair　sized　toolbox　and　I　let　him　in；　closed　the　door　behind；　and　tapped　him　smartly　on　the　back　of　the　head　with　the　flat　of　the　cleaver　blade。　He　folded　nicely。　His　uniform　was　a　utilitarian　dark　green；　a　great　improvement　on　wasp；　white　or　garbage；　my　only　choice　up　to　this　moment。　I　stripped　him　quickly　and　tied　him　to　a　chair　next　to　the　cook　where　they　miserated　in　silence　with　each　other。　For　the　first　time　I　was　ahead　of　my　pursuers。　With　luck　it　would　be　some　hours　before　my　captives　were　discovered　and　connected　with　my　flight。　I　put　the　green　uniform　cm；　prepared　a　large　number　of　sandwiches；　picked　up　the　toolbox；　tipped　my　uniform　cap　to　the　captives　in　the　kitchen；　and　slipped　out　the　front　door。
　　　　A　large　riding　robot　was　standing　there；　another　toolbox　hanging　from　one　hand；　humming　quietly　to　itself。　Painted　on　its　metallic　chest　was　the　same　crest　of　the　service　pany　that　now　adorned　my　own　chest。
　　　　〃We　travel　in　fort；〃　I　said。　〃Take　this。〃　I　got　my　fingers　out　of　the　way　just　in　time　as　it　reached　for　the　toolbox。
　　　　During　my　rapid　trips　through　the　city　I　had　seen　a　number　of　these　riding　robots　from　a　distance；　but　had　never　been　close　to　one　before。　There　was　a　sort　of　saddle　arrangement　on　their　backs　where　the　operator　rode；　but　I　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　of　how　to　get　into　the　seat。　Did　the　thing　kneel　to　be　mounted　or　drop　down　a　ladder　or　what？　Cars　and　other　robots　were　going　by　in　this　street　and　a　squad　of　soldiers　was　approaching　at　a　good　clip。　I　found　myself　sweating　again。
　　　　〃I　wish　to　leave。　Now。〃
　　　　Nothing　happened。　Except　that　the　soldiers　were　that　much　closer。　The　robot　stood　as　stolid　as　a　statue。　There　was　no　help　here。　I　didn't　know　if　it　was　the　orthodox　manner　or　not；　I　had　to　do　something；　so　I　put　one　foot　on　the　thing's　hip　socket；　grabbed　a　riding　light　up　near　its　shoulder　blade　and　swarmed　up　its　side。　Hidden　motors　hummed　louder　as　it　shifted　balance　to　acmodate　my　added　weight。　I　slipped　into　the　saddle　just　as　the　squad　of　soldiers　trotted　by。　They　ignored　me　pletely。
　　　　The　seat　was　fortable。　I　had　a　good　view；　with　my　head　at　least　three　meters　above　the　ground；　and　I　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　what　to　do　next。　Though　leaving　this　vicinity　would　make　fine　openers。　A　pact　control　panel　was　set　into　the　top　of　the　robot's　head　and　I　pressed　the　button　labeled　WALK。　I　felt　the　grinding　vibration　of　internal　gears　being　engaged　and　it　began　to　mark　time　in　place。　A　good　beginning。　A　rapid　search　found　the　button　marked　FORWARD。　It　lurched　ahead　and　broke　into　an　easy　trot。　I　soon　left　the　police　and　all　the　excitement　behind。
　　　　A　plan　was　needed。　I　rode　my　mechanical　mount　through　the　heart　of　the　city　and　considered　my　position。　One　man　against　a　world。　Very　poetic　and　possibly　disconcerting　except　for　the　fact　that　I　had　been　in　this　position　before　while　they　had　not。　All　of　the　security　arrangements　meant　that　aliens　were　few　and　far　between　on　Cliaand　and　always　kept　under　close　surveillance。　Perhaps　they　had　never　lost　track　of　one　before　and　this　was　sure　to　be　a　great　annoyance。　Heads　would　roll。　Fine。　As　long　as　one　of　them　wasn't　mine。　In　a　sense　I　had　the　advantage。　Other　than　my　cover　identity　they　knew　nothing　about　me。　If　I　could　lose　myself　in　the　depths　of　their　depressing　culture　I　would　be　impossible　to　find。　As　long　as　I　stayed　submerged。　Positive　action　would　e　later。　Right　now　I　had　to　save　my　valuable　hide　and　plan　for　the　future。
　　　　One　of　the　city　exits　was　ahead　and　an　unusually　large　number　of　uniformed　individuals　were　involved　in　examining　and　searching　everyone　attempting　to　leave。　A　touch　on　the　LEFT　button　started　my　mount　down　another　street　away　from　this　danger。　When　I　wanted　to　leave　the　city　I　would。　That　time　had　not　yet　arrived。
　　　　By　mid　afternoon　I　had　a　working　knowledge　of　the　layout　of　the　city　and　was　developing　calluses　on　my　bottom。　The　robot　was　going　slower　and　evidently　in　need　of　a　recharge　from　some　handy　wall　socket。　I　needed　a　recharge　from　the　sandwiches　in　the　toolbox。　We　both　needed　a　rest。　And　the　chances　were　good　that　my　prisoners　had　been　found　in　the　kitchen　and　that　the　new　alarm　was　going　out。　Using　the　more　vacant　side　streets　I　worked　the　robot　back　to　the　manufacturing　district　that　I　had　noted　earlier　and　looked　for　a　place　to　hole　up。　I　had　seen　some　factories　and　warehouses　with　a　distinctly　deserted　air　that　would　fit　my　needs。
　　　　One　did。　Cobwebs　on　the　windows　and　rust　on　the　hinges　of　the　front　door。　No　one　in　sight　and　a　lock　that　I　could　have　opened　in　the　dark　with　my　fingernails。　The　door　creaked　open；　not　a　soul　was　in　sight。　We　slipped　in　and　the　bolt　clicked　behind　us。　Security。　The　place　was　deserted；　dusty　and　for　the　most　part　empty。　A　great　ancient　piece　of　machinery　brooded　in　one　er；　as　featureless　and　mysterious　as　a　lost　jungle　idol；　with　sacrifices　of　discarded　cartons　about　its　feet。　Perfect。　I　lunched；　relaxed；　searched　the　building；　found　an　interior　room　with　no　windows；　brought　in　the　flashlight　and　a　pencil　from　the　toolbox　and　one　of　the　sacrificial　cartons。　Time　for　the　next　step。
　　　　Pencil　in　hand；　the　blank　square　before　me　illuminated　by　the　light；　I　spoke　aloud。
　　　　〃Now　hear　this。　Memory　is　about　to　begin。　The　count　will　start　at　ten。　I　will　bee　tired　during　the　progression　and　by　the　time　zero　is　reached　I　will　be　asleep。　The　memory　is　keyed　to　the　word　。　。　。　xanadu！〃
　　　　〃Ten；〃　I　said；　feeling　fine。　Then　〃Nine〃　and　I　yawned。　By　the　time　I　hit　five　my　eyelids　were　drooping　and　I　have　no　memory　at　all　of　ever　getting　to　zero。

Chapter　6

　　　　I　awoke　to　find　my　fingers　stiff；　my　arm　cramped；　my　eyes　sore。　And　the　great　square　of　cardboard　covered　with　a　plex　wiring　diagram。　The　subconscious　is　a　fine　place　to　hide　things　unknown　to　the　conscious　mind。　I　not　only　had　the　diagram　but　suddenly　realized　that　I　now　knew　just　how　to　use　it。　The　plan　was　a　dazzlingly　simple　one　and　I　was　instantly　jealous　of　whoever　dreamed　it　up。　It　also　required　a　bit　of　time；　a　lot　of　electronic　wiring　and　equipment。　All　of　which　would　have　to　be　stolen。　I　sighed　and　stretched　my　cramped　muscles。　It　had　been　a　tiring　day　and　my　sleep　during　the　hypnotic　trance　had　been　no　sleep　at　all。　Tomorrow　would　be　another　day；　the　pace　of　pursuit　should　have　died　down。
　　　　Tomorrow　and　tomorrow　were　nothing　but　work。　I　was　a　stainless　steel　rat　gone　to　ground　and　there　was　much　scuttling　about　to　be　done。　The　city　continued　in　its　business　around　me；　and　I'm　sure　the　search　for　me　went　on　unabated　although　it　never　came　near　my　cozy　retreat。　I　soldered　and　wired；　stole　food　and　other　items　of　fort　and　luxury　in　an　almost　offhand　way。　Cliaand　seemed　to　have　a　very　low　level　of　crime　because　almost　no　precautions　appeared　to　have　been　taken　to　prevent　the　sort　of　burglary　I　indulged　in。　Either　the　criminal　class　had　all　been　killed　off　or　they　now　ran　the　government。　Which　could　very　likely　be　the　case。　My　solitary　period　would　end　soon　and　I　would　abandon　my　passive　role　and　indulge　in　the　espionage　that　I　had　been　sent　here　to　do。
　　　　Leaving　the　city　was　far　simpler　than　I　had　imagined。　By　adroit　loitering　in　the　area　of　the　checkpoint　I　saw　that　the　military　were　in　charge　of　the　operation　which　appeared　to　proceed　in　a　very　simpleminded　and　military　way。　A　certain　amount　of　saluting　and　ordering；　examining　of　papers　and　rubber…stamping；　a　quick　search　and　away。　I　hoped　it　would　work　that　easily　for　me。　To　make　the　entire　operation　military　I　stole　an　army　truck　at　dusk；　stopping　it　by　planting　my　robot　in　the　road　in　front　of　it。　The　truck　vibrated　to　a　stop　and　the　driver　put　his　head　out　and　cursed　fluently。　Most　of　the　words　had　not　been　in　my　language　lessons　and　I　filed　them　for　future　use。　He　seemed　to　be　alone；　which　was　a　blessing。
　　　　〃And　the　same　to　you；〃　I　told　him。　〃That　is　no　way　to　talk　to　civilians。　This　is　emergency。〃　
　　　　〃What　emergency？〃　Suspiciously。　
　　　　〃This　emergency。〃　Enthusiastically。
　　　　The　needle　slammed　home　in　the　side　of　his　neck　and　he　slumped。　I　had　also　made　a　raid　on　a　chemical　supply　house。　I　pushed　him　aside；　put　on　his　uniform　cap；　ordered　the　robot　into　the　back　of　the　truck　and　returned　to　the　war