the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第27部分

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ed　and　I　knocked　all　the　air　out　of　him。　This　freed　my　throat　hand　and；　before　he　could　suck　in　enough　breath　to　shout　with；　I　rendered　him　unconscious。
　　　　I　sat　on　him；　waiting　for　my　head　to　stop　spinning　and　for　the　knot　of　pain　in　my　gut　to　ease；　when　another　voice　sounded　close　by。
　　　　〃What's　that　noise？　Who　is　it？〃
　　　　I　breathed　in　a　deep　shuddering　breath；　let　a　bit　of　it　out　and　worked　for　control　of　my　voice。
　　　　〃It's　me。〃　Always　a　good　answer。　〃I　tripped　and　fell　down。　I　hurt　a　finger　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Then　you'll　get　a　medal　for　it。　Now　shut　up。〃　
　　　　I　shut　up；　took　the　gaussrifle　from　my　limp　panion　and　stood　upand　realized　that　I　was　pletely　lost　in　the　smoky　darkness。
　　　　Not　a　pleasant　sensation　at　all。　The　smoke　was　thinning　and　I　was　alone　with　no　sense　of　direction。　If　I　walked　in　the　wrong　direction　it　would　be　suicide。
　　　　Panic！　Or　rather　a　moment　of　panic。　I　always　allow　myself　at　least　a　brief　panic　in　any　tight　situation。　This　flushes　out　the　bloodstream；　starts　the　heart　pumping　faster；　releases　a　jolt　of　adrenaline　and　provides　other　nice　things　for　an　emergency。　But　only　a　little　panic；　time　was　pressing。　And　after　the　basic　bestial　emotion　drained　away；　lips　dropped　back　over　fangs　and　hair　on　neck　down　again　and　all　that；　I　put　the　old　logic　center　to　work。
　　　　ITEM：　I　was　not　alone。　The　silent　line　of　escapees　may　have　marched　into　the　building　and　safety；　but　my　Angelina　would　not　desert　me。　I　knew；　as　clearly　as　if　I　could　see　her；　that　she　was　outside　that　door　to　survival　and　waiting　for　me。
　　　　ITEM：　She　had　her　sense　of　direction；　I　didn't。　Therefore　she　would　have　to　e　to　me。
　　　　〃This　finger　is　killing　me；　Sarge；〃　I　whined；　then　whistled　in　supposed　agony。　One　short　whistle　and　one　long　one。　The　letter　a　for　Angelina　in　the　code　that　I　knew　she　knew　well。　That　I　needed　help　I　knew　she　would　figure　out　for　herself。
　　　　〃Stop　that　whistling　and　noise；〃　the　other　voice　growled　back；　ending　in　a　note　of　suspicion。　〃Say；　who　are　you？〃　
　　　　I　groped　through　my　memory　for　the　name　I　had　heard　a　few　moments　earlier。
　　　　〃It's　me；　Sarge。　Zobno。　This　finger　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃That's　not　Zobno！〃　a　second　voice　called　out。　〃I'm　Zobno　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃No；　I　am；〃　I　shouted。　〃Who's　that　said　that？〃　
　　　　〃Both　of　you　e　herenow！〃　the　sergeant　ordered。　〃I'm　going　to　start　shooting　in　five　seconds。〃
　　　　The　real　Zobno　stumbled　through　the　smoke　and　I　didn't　dare　say　a　thing　or　move。　And　I　could　already　feel　the　slugs　tearing　through　mewhen　something　plucked　at　my　sleeve　and　I　jumped。
　　　　〃Angelina？〃　I　whispered；　and　received　a　silent　answer　when　she　threw　her　arms　about　me。　I　reached　for　her　but　she　wasn't　waiting；　taking　my　hand　she　pulled　me　after　her。　There　were　voices　behind　us　in　the　smoke　then　the　sudden　whine　of　a　gaussrifle　and　shouts　of　mand。
　　　　I　stumbled　over　an　invisible　step　and　waiting　hands　pulled　me　through　the　doorway。

Chapter　17

　　　　〃Search　party　。　。　。　search　party　。　。　。〃
　　　　The　words　came　dimly　through　the　throaty　growls　of　the　attacking　teddy　bears。　I　could　have　fought　them　off；　even　though　the　candy　canes　I　was　using　for　swords　kept　breaking　on　me。　But　even　without　a　candy　cane　give　a　teddy　a　quick　kick　in　the　gut　and　over　he　goes；　no　staying　power。　The　teddies　I　could　have　handled　alone　if　they　hadn't　got　those　damn　wooden　soldiers　on　their　side。　They　would　make　a　good　bonfire　and　that　is　just　what　I　had　in　mind；　fumbling　for　matches；　when　one　of　them　got　me　in　the　arm　with　the　bayonet　on　his　toy　rifle。　It　stung　and　I　blinked　and　opened　my　eyes　to　look　up　at　the　whiskery　face　of　Doctor　Mutfak　who　was　staring　back　at　me。
　　　　〃An　alarm；　that　was；　very　badly　timed　indeed　I　must　say。　I　have　given　you　an　injection　to　cancel　the　hypnotic　drug。　〃He　held　up　the　hypodermic　and　I　rubbed　my　arm　where　it　had　stung　me。　〃Very　badly　timed。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　arrange　it　that　way；〃　I　mumbled；　still　only　half　awake　and　wishing　I　could　have　finished　off　the　teddy　bears。
　　　　〃The　treatment　is　going　well　and　it　will　be　time　consuming　to　start　over　again。　I　have　regressed　you　to　your　childhood　andmy！you　have　had　an　interesting；　not　to　say　repellent　childhood！　You　must　give　me　permission　to　write　up　this　case。　The　symbol　of　the　teddy　bear；　normally　one　of　warmth　and　fort；　has　been　transmogrified　by　your　obnoxious　subconscious　into　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Later；　doctor；　if　you　please；〃　Angelina　said；　coining　to　my　rescue。　A　picture　of　golden　charm；　she　had　been　sunning　herself　on　the　balcony　and　the　wisps　of　fabric　she　wore　for　this　operation　had　about　the　same　surface　area　as　a　butterfly's　wing。
　　　　I　sat　up　and　shook　my　head；　still　foggy　with　the　traces　of　the　drug。　The　room　was　colorful　and　luxurious；　with　one　entire　wall　opening　onto　the　balcony；　with　the　blue　sky　and　bluer　ocean　beyond；　perched　high　on　top　of　the　Ringa　Baligi　Hotel。　This　hotel；　supposed　to　be　the　best　one　on　Burada　and　I　could　well　believe　it；　was　in　the　center　of　a　lagoon　and　approachable　only　by　water　or　air。　This　gave　us　advance　warning　of　any　unwanted　visitorsand　the　warning　had　just　been　given。　The　drill　was　carefully　worked　out。　I　had　worn　swim　trunks　during　the　brain…bending　session；　just　in　case　of　an　emergency　like　this　one；　so　I　took　Angelina's　hand　and　we　trotted　to　the　private　elevator。　As　we　got　into　it　the　sound　of　engines　on　the　landing　platform　above　was　loud　and　clear。　We　held　the　grips　as　the　high…speed　elevator　dropped　out　from　under　us。　
　　　　〃Do　you　feel　up　to　this？〃　Angelina　asked。
　　　　〃Just　a　little　foggy；　but　that　will　go　away。　Do　you　think　this　brain…drainer　is　any　good？〃
　　　　〃He's　supposed　to　be　the　best　on　the　planet。　He'll　straighten　out　the　kinks　Kraj　put　in　if　anyone　can。〃
　　　　〃He　could　work　a　bit　faster。　Three　days　now　and　we're　still　in　my　childhood。〃
　　　　〃You　must　have　been　a　terrible　little　boy。　Some　of　the　things　I've　heard。。。〃
　　　　Before　I　could　think　of　a　snappy　eback　the　elevator　whooshed　to　a　stop　and　we　emerged　at　water　level。　Steps　led　down　into　the　ocean　from　an　enclosed　diving　room。　The　attendant　was　waiting　with　our　scuba　gear　ready　and　we　buckled　it　on　and　dove　in。　Straight　to　the　bottom　and　out　among　the　coral　reefs。　Even　if　they　came　looking　they　would　never　find　us　here。　I　snapped　on　the　sonar　municator　and　called　in。
　　　　〃Not　much　of　a　search；〃　the　operator　told　me。　〃I'll　let　you　know　when　they　reach　the　lower　level。〃
　　　　Angelina　and　I　dove　deep。　Rainbow…hued　fish　burst　out　and　around　us；　green　plants　bowed　to　our　passing。　The　water　was　clear　and　warm　and　was　rapidly　restoring　my　thoughts　and　good　spirits。　We　swam　to　a　grotto；　pletely　surrounded　by　coral；　that　we　had　found　on　an　earlier　visit　during　an　alert；　and　settled　down　on　the　golden　sand。　I　put　my　arm　around　Angelina　and　she　snuggled　up　to　me；　both　for　the　fun　of　it　and　to　get　our　masks　touching　so　we　could　talk。
　　　　〃Anything　new　e　in　on　Kraj　and　his　boys　while　the　doc　was　slogging　through　my　gray　matter？〃
　　　　〃They've　been　located；　but　that's　all。　Now　that　the　first　stage　of　invasion　is　over　the　Cliaand　forces　seem　to　be　settling　down　for　the　occupation。　They've　taken　over　this　immense　office　building；　the　Octagon　it's　called　probably　because　it　has　eight　sides；　and　have　cleared　everyone　out。　They　seem　to　have　moved　most　of　their　administrative　operations　thereand　one　of　Kraj's　gray　men　was　seen　ing　out　of　the　building。　This　must　be　where　they　are　holed　up。〃　
　　　　〃I　wonder　why　they　left　the　last　building？〃　
　　　　〃Afraid　of　you　and　your　relentless　revenge；　no　doubt。〃　
　　　　I　snorted。　Hard　to　do　in　a　face　mask。　〃You're　only　saying　that；　but　by　Belial　there　is　more　than　an　element　of　truth　in　it。　The　Cliaand　operation　in　general　has　to　be　knocked　out；　but　those　gray　men　need　special　attention。　But　first　we　have　to　grab　one　of　them。　I'll　have　to　get　inside　the　building。〃
　　　　〃You'll　do　nothing　of　the　sort。〃　She　pinched　the　skin　over　my　ribs　and　I　tried　to　slap　her　hand　away　but　you　can't　do　this　under　water。　I　settled　for　a　pinch　myself；　and　she　was　surely　far　more　pinchable　than　I；　and　we　played　around　like　this　for　awhile　until　I　remembered　why　she　had　distracted　me　and　returned　ruthlessly　to　the　interrupted　conversation。
　　　　〃Why　can't　I　try　to　get　into　the　building？　I'll　be　disguised；　I　speak　Cliaandian；　I　know　the　ropes　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃And　they　know　yours。　They'll　have　cameras　on　every　entrance　feeding　data　to　the　puters。　Which　will　know　your　height；　your　build；　your　weight；　manner　of　walk；　retinal　pattern；　the　works。　You　can't　disguise　everything　and　you　know　it。　They'll　have　you　in　the　bag　the　instant　you　walk　into　the　place。〃
　　　　〃You're　just　saying　that　because　it　is　true；〃　I　muttered。　〃So　I　suppose　you　have　a　better　plan？〃
　　　　〃I　do。　I　speak　Cliaandian　and　they　have　no　records　on　me　at　all。　And　I'm　an　experienced　field　operator；　the　only　one　on　this　planet　besides　you。〃　
　　　　〃No！〃
　　　　〃Why　the　instant　no？〃　She　scowled　at　me　and　the　next　pinch　hurt。　〃You're　my　husband；　not　my　ownerremember？　I'm　as　good　at　this　business　as　you　are；　maybe　better；　and　there　is　a　job　that　needs　doing。　Let's　have　none　of　your　male　superiority　and　possessiveness。〃　
　　　　She　was　right　of　course；　but　I　couldn't　let　her　know　it。　
　　　　〃I　was　only　worried　about　your　safety。〃
　　　　She　melted　at　this；　even　the　smartest　woman　is　a　sucker　for　the