the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第32部分

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！


on　these　different　worlds　if　the　example　of　Burada　is　at　all　relevant。　You　heard　what　Taze　said；　the　fighting　is　dying　down　because　of　the　massive　reaction　by　the　Cliaand　forces。　If　one　of　them　is　killed　in　a　raid　they　slaughter　twenty　Buradans　in　return。　These　people；　after　generations　of　peace；　are　not　mentally　equipped　to　fight　a　ruthless　guerrilla　war。　I　even　doubt　if　the　Cliaandians　would　react　so　viciously　if　they　weren't　forced　on　by　the　gray　men　who　organized　and　order　everything。　The　soldiers　just　follow　orders；　and　following　orders　has　always　been　a　Cliaand　strength。　We'll　never　stop　these　people　by　trying　to　incite　minor　revolts　behind　their　backs。　But　you　are　right　about　causing　them　trouble　on　the　various　worlds。　The　entire　Cliaandian　economy　and　culture　is　set　up　on　a　continuing　wartime　basis。　It　is　like　some　demented　life　form　that　must　keep　expanding　or　die。　Cliaand　itself　can't　possibly　build　or　supply　its　fleets　but　must　depend　on　the　conquered　worlds。　These　worlds　are　in　the　absolute　control　of　the　Cliaand　so　they　take　orders　and　turn　out　the　goods　and　the　invasions　roll　on　and　nothing　can　stop　the　advance。〃
　　　　〃I　wish　the　Cliaand　invasion　was　that　demented　life　form　you　talk　about；　some　sort　of　ugly　green　growing　thing。　We　could　tear　it　up　by　the　roots；　break　off　the　limbs〃　She　broke　a　hard　roll　in　half　to　demonstrate　what　she　meant；　then　nibbled　at　it。　When　she　started　to　speak　again　I　held　up　my　hand。
　　　　〃Stop；〃　I　ordered。　〃Say　nothing。　I　think。　I　see　something。　It　is　almost　there。〃
　　　　Then　I　paced　the　room；　putting　two　and　two　together　and　getting　four　and　adding　four　and　getting　eight　and　performing　equally　skilled　problems　of　mathematics　and　logic。　It　was　clear；　all　clear；　and　the　pieces　fell　into　place　and　I　fell　into　my　chair　and　grabbed　up　my　drink。
　　　　〃I　am　a　genius；〃　I　said。
　　　　〃I　know。　That's　why　I　married　you。　Physically　you　are　very　unattractive。〃
　　　　〃You　will　soon　be　apologizing　for　that　remark；　woman。　For　the　moment　we　will　drink　to　my　Plan　and　to　victory。〃　
　　　　We　clinked　and　sipped。　
　　　　〃What　plan？〃　she　asked。
　　　　〃I　cannot　tell　you　yet。　Aside　from　the　fact　that　you　scoffed；　it　is　not　detailed　in　all　its　ramifications　and　must　be　worked　out。　But　the　first　step　is　clear　and　will　begin　at　once　or　sooner。　Do　you　think　the　gray　men　have　made　a　public　announcement　of　Kraj's　kidnapping？〃
　　　　〃I　doubt　it。　We've　heard　nothing　on　the　mand　circuits　we　monitor。　And　I'm　sure　this　is　not　the　kind　of　news　they　would　want　the　Cliaandian　man…m…the…spaceship　to　know　about。〃　
　　　　〃Just　my　thinking。　Add　to　this　the　exaggerated　aloofness　and　self…centered　attitude　that　they　have；　even　towards　each　other。　I　am　going　to　gamble　on　the　fact　that　there　has　been　no　widespread　announcement　about　Kraj。〃　
　　　　〃How？〃
　　　　〃Get　the　makeup　and　face…lifting　kit。　I　am　going　to　get　into　the　military　base　disguised　as　Kraj。　I　have　some　important　things　to　do　there。〃
　　　　She　started　to　protest；　but　I　raised　my　finger　and　she　was　silent。　Just　as　I　had　been　when　she　went　to　the　Octagon。　There　was　nothing　she　could　say　and　she　knew　it。
　　　　Without　a　word　she　went　for　the　disguise　materials。

Chapter　20

　　　　I　need　Cliaandian　transportation　and　I　got　it　in　the　simplest　way　possible。　From　the　enemy。　Since　I　wasn't　outrageously　happy　about　the　makeup　job　we　had　done　I　decided　to　operate　after　dark　when　the　dim　lights　would　help　the　illusion。　Then；　wearing　Kraj's　uniform　and　carrying　my　own　case；　I　went　with　Hamal　to　the　Octagon；　scene　of　the　earlier　festivities。　Hamal　was　a　member　of　the　auxiliary　police；　male　that　is；　since　the　women　made　up　most　of　the　force。　I　would　have　preferred　one　of　the　girls；　they　seemed　much　more　sure　of　themselves；　but　there　were　only　male　Cliaand　troops　on　the　planet　at　this　time。　The　handful　of　Cliaand　women　stayed　out　of　sight。　Hamal　looked　a　little　nervous　and　I　didn't　like　the　way　he　rolled　his　eyes　from　time　to　time；　but　be　would　have　to　do。
　　　　〃You　understand　your　part？〃　I　asked　him；　pushing　him　into　the　shadowed　entrance　to　the　deep　doorway。　
　　　　〃I　do；　sir；　sure　I　do。〃
　　　　Were　his　teeth　chattering？　It　was　hard　to　tell。　I　took　out　the　vial　Dr。　Mutfak　had　given　me　for　use　in　case　of　emergency。
　　　　〃Take　two　of　these；　chew　and　swallow。　They're　happy　pills　that　should　raise　your　morale　without　sending　you　dancing　through　the　streets。〃　
　　　　〃I　don't　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃You　do　now。　Take。〃
　　　　He　took　and　I　scuttled　away　towards　the　Octagon；　keeping　to　the　shadows；　and　looking　carefully　around　the　corner　before　I　made　my　play。　There　was　a　certain　amount　of　traffic　in　and　out　of　the　building　even　at　this　hour　of　the　night；　but　nothing　that　would　help　me。　Finally　a　small　ground　car　pulled　up　and　dropped　two　officers　off；　then　started　away。　In　my　direction。　All　systems　go。　I　stepped　into　the　street　in　front　of　it　and　waved　my　hand；　it　squealed　to　a　stop　with　the　front　bumper　almost　touching　me。　The　driver　looked　frightened　and　I　kept　him　that　way。
　　　　〃Do　you　always　drive　like　that？〃　
　　　　〃No；　sir；　but　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃Save　your　excuses；　they　don't　interest　me。〃　I　climbed　into　the　car　next　to　him　while　he　was　still　gaping。　〃Drive　on；　I'll　tell　you　where　I　want　to　go。〃　
　　　　〃Sir；　this　car；　I　mean　。　。　。〃
　　　　A　single；　cold；　Krajian　look　wilted　him　like　a　spring　flower　in　a　blizzard　and　he　shot　the　car　forward。　As　soon　as　we　were　out　of　sight　of　the　building　I　ordered　him　to　stop　and　broke　a　sleep　capsule　under　his　nose。　I'm　sure　he　could　use　the　rest。　Then　I　drove　him　to　the　place　where　Hamal　was　waiting。　He　had　pried　open　the　door　to　the　stationery　store　in　which　he　was　hiding；　and　we　carried　the　Cliaand　trooper　inside。　He　would　sleep　until　rooming　after　that　capsule　and　I　arranged　reams　of　paper　fortably　under　his　head　and　feet　while　Hamal　changed　into　his　uniform。
　　　　〃Do　you　know　how　to　drive　this　car？〃　I　asked　him　when　we　emerged。
　　　　〃I　should。　It's　one　of　ours。　They　stole　it　and　painted　their　dirty　flag　on　it。〃
　　　　〃Spoils　of　war　regained。　Now　drive　me　to　the　spaceport。　And　don't　stop　pletely　at　the　gate；　just　slow　down　and　keep　rolling。　It's　all　bluff　so　keep　your　chin　up　and　try　not　to　look　as　scared　as　you　are。　Be　a　man。〃
　　　　〃I　am；〃　he　moaned。　〃But　this　is　a　woman's　job。　I　don't　know　how　I　ever　got　myself　talked　into　it。〃　
　　　　〃Shut　up　and　drive　on。　And　take　a　couple　more　of　these　pills。〃　
　　　　The　spaceport　was　ahead　and　I　was　more　worried　about　my　driver　than　I　was　about　anyone　there；　I　had　seen　the　way　they　stayed　out　of　Kraj's　way。　Perhaps　that　would　help　to　explain　my　driver's　obvious　fear。　I　sighed。　Roll　on　the　car。　Everyone　was　supposed　to　know　Krajand　now　I　was　putting　that　theory　to　the　test。　The　guards　snapped　to　attention　when　we　appeared　and　the　sergeant　started　to　say　something；　but　I　talked　first。
　　　　〃Stay　away　from　that　phone。　I　want　to　talk　to　some　people　and　I　don't　want　you　telling　them　I'm　ing。　You　know　what　will　happen　to　you　if　you　do。〃　I　had　to　shout　the　last　words　since；　in　his　near　panic；　Hamal　had　not　slowed　enough　and　we　zipped　right　by　the　guards。　But　they　must　have　heard　because　they　made　no　attempt　that　I　could　see　to　get　near　their　phone。　Step　one。
　　　　〃I　can't　do　it！〃　Hamal　sobbed　and　spun　the　wheel　on　the　car　until　we　were　headed　back　towards　the　gate。　〃I'm　going　home。　I　was　never　cut　out　for　the　police；　it　was　all　my　mother's　idea；　she　wanted　me　to　be　like　a　daughter　to　her　and　made　a　tomgirl　out　of　me。　When　all　I　ever　wanted　to　be　was　a　simple　househusband　like　my　father　。　。　。〃
　　　　The　gate　was　ing　up　at　a　great　rate　and　I　cursed　fluently　and　jumbled　out　a　sleep　capsule　to　crack　in　front　of　his　face；　then　tugged　at　the　wheel。　I　had　to　hold　him　up　with　the　other　hand　and　we　made　another　turn　and　zipped　off　into　the　night　again。　I　hesitated　to　think　what　the　guards　at　the　gate　thought　about　all　this。　Struggling　with　the　controls　I　managed　to　guide　the　car　to　the　rear　of　one　of　the　big　hangars　before　Hamal's　foot　slipped　off　the　accelerator　and　the　engine　died。
　　　　There　were　crates　of　some　kind　in　the　rear　of　the　car　as　well　as　a　bundle　of　army　blankets。　I　heaved　everything　out　except　the　blankets　which　I　used　to　cover　Hamal；　now　curled　up　sweetly　on　the　floor。　Perhaps　I　should　have　shot　him　or　just　dropped　him　out。　But　it　really　wasn't　his　fault　that　he　was　born　low　man　in　a　matriarchy。　As　long　as　no　one　came　near　the　car　we　were　safe；　and　I　did　not　feel　that　anyone　would　show　that　much　interest　in　Kraj's　car。　I　drove　to　the　nearest　spacer；　a　great　cargo　transport；　and　parked　well　away　from　the　lights　around　the　entrance。　Now　for　step　two。
　　　　〃You　know　who　I　am？〃　I　said　to　the　master　at　arms　stationed　at　the　foot　of　the　gangway。　My　voice　cold　and　empty。
　　　　〃Yes；　sir；　I　do。〃　He　stood　at　attention　staring　directly　ahead　of　him。
　　　　〃All　right；　then　have　the　Chief　Engineer　meet　me　on　A　deck。〃　
　　　　〃He's　not　aboard；　sir。〃
　　　　〃I've　made　a　note　of　that　dereliction　of　duty　and　you　will　tell　him　of　it　when　he　returns。　His　assistant　then。〃
　　　　I　went　by　him　without　a　further　look　and　he　sprang　to　the　telephone。　By　the　time　I　had　reached　A　deck　an　engineer　in　greasy　coveralls　was　waiting　for　me；　nervously　wiping　his　hands　on　a　cloth。
　　　　〃I'm　sorry；　we　were　taking　down　one　of　the　generators　。　。　。　〃　his　voice　ran　out　and　expired　as　I　glared