the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第7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！


of　Pacov's　head。　He　slumped　with　a　muffled　groan。
　　　　And　even　as　he　slumped　down　I　was　leaning　over　into　the　front　of　the　car　and　banging　down　on　the　emergency　stop　button。　The　motor　died；　the　brakes　locked；　we　squealed　to　a　stop　and　the　doors　popped　open。　Not　more　than　a　dozen　paces　from　the　selected　spot。　A　bullseye。　I　was　out　and　running　at　the　same　moment。
　　　　Because　when　I　hit　my　bodyguard　and　the　stop　button　every　alarm　must　have　lit　up　on　the　bugging　boardthere　were　plenty　of　little　seeing　eyes　in　the　car。　The　forces　of　the　enemy　were　launched　at　the　same　instant　I　was。　All　I　had　were　secondsa　minute　perhapsof　freedom　before　the　troops　closed　in　and　grabbed　me。　
　　　　Would　it　be　enough　time？
　　　　Running；　head　down　as　fast　as　I　could；　I　turned　and　skidded　into　the　narrow　opening　of　the　service　street。　This　cut　through　behind　a　row　of　buildings　and　emerged　on　a　different　street。　There　were　robots　here　loading　rubbish　into　bins；　but　they　ignored　me　as　I　ran　by　since　they　were　simple　M　types　programmed　for　nothing　but　this　kind　of　work。
　　　　The　robot　pusher　was　another　matter。　He　was　human　and　had　an　electronic　lash　that　he　used　to　stir　the　robots　along。　It　cracked　out　and　snapped　around　me　and　the　electric　current　crackled　into　my　side。

Chapter　5

　　　　It　was　shocking；　to　say　the　least；　but　I　barely　felt　it。　The　voltage　is　kept　low　since　it　is　meant　to　stir　the　robots；　not　to　cook　out　their　brain　circuits。　I　grabbed　the　whip　as　soon　as　it　hit　and　pulled　hard。
　　　　All　of　this　was　of　course　according　to　plan。　I　had　seen　this　robot　pusher　and　his　work　gang　in　this　same　place　every　day　when　we　passed；　Cliaand　does　love　its　routine。　The　robot　pusher；　a　thick…necked　and　thuggy　looking　individual；　could　be　counted　on　to　interfere　with　a　running　alien…and　had　done　just　as　I　had　hoped。　When　I　pulled　on　the　whip　I　had　him　off　balance　and　he　staggered　towards　me；　jaw　agape；　and　I　let　him　have　a　roundhouse　right　on　the　point　of　that　a　gaping　jaw。　It　connected。
　　　　He　shook　his　head；　growled　something；　and　came　at　me　with　his　hands　ready　to　crunch　and　rend。
　　　　This　was　not　according　to　plan。　He　was　supposed　to　drop　instantly　so　I　could　rush　through　the　rest　of　the　routine　before　the　cavalry　arrived。　How　could　I　have　known　that　not　only　did　he　have　the　IQ　of　a　block　of　stone　but　the　constitution　of　one　as　well？　I　stepped　aside；　his　fingers　grabbed　empty　air；　and　I　began　to　sweat。　Time　was　passing　and　I　had　no　time。　I　had　to　render　this　hulk　unconscious　in　the　quickest　way　possible。
　　　　I　did。　It　wasn't　graceful　but　it　worked。　I　tripped　him　as　he　went　by；　then　jumped　on　his　back　and　rode　him　to　the　ground　accelerating　his　fall。　And　held　him　by　the　head　and　pounded　it　against　the　pavement。　It　took　three　good　knocks…I　was　afraid　the　pavement　would　give　way　before　he　did…before　he　grunted　and　relaxed。
　　　　In　the　distance　the　first　siren　sounded。　I　sweated　harder。　Indifferent　to　the　ways　of　man　the　robots　dumped　their　dustbins。
　　　　The　robot　pusher　was　dressed　in　a　uniform　of　a　deposed　green　in　color；　no　doubt　symbolic　of　his　trade。　It　was　closed　with　a　single　zipper　which　I　unzipped；　then　began　to　work　the　clothing　off　his　bulky　and　unyielding　form。　While　the　sirens　grew　closer。　At　the　last　moment　I　had　to　stop　and　tear　his　boots　off　in　order　to　remove　the　trousers；　a　noisome　operation　that　added　nothing　good　to　the　entire　affair。
　　　　The　siren　echoed　loudly　from　the　walls　of　the　service　street　and　brakes　squealed　nastily　close　by。
　　　　With　what　very　well　might　be　called　frantic　haste　I　pulled　the　uniform　on　over　my　own　wasp…like　garb　and　zipped　it　shut。　Running　feet　pounded　loudly　towards　me。　I　grabbed　up　the　whip　and　let　the　nearest　robot　have　a　crack　right　across　his　ball　bearings。
　　　　〃Stuff　this　man　into　a　bin！〃　I　ordered　and　stood　back　as　it　grabbed　up　its　former　master。
　　　　The　feet　had　just　vanished　from　view　when　the　first　of　the　red　uniformed　soldiers　burst　into　sight。
　　　　〃An　alien！〃　I　shouted；　and　shook　my　whip　towards　the　other　end　of　the　narrow　street。　〃He　went　thataway。　Fast。　Before　I　could　stop　him。〃
　　　　The　soldiers　kept　going　fast　as　well。　Which　was　a　good　thing　since　the　pair　of　recently　removed　boots　were　lying　there　right　in　plain　sight。　I　threw　them　in　the　bin　after　their　owner　and　cracked　the　whip　on　my　half　dozen　robots。
　　　　〃We　march；〃　I　ordered。　〃To　the　next　location。〃　I　hoped　they　were　programmed　for　a　regular　route…and　they　were。　The　truck…robot　led　the　way　and　the　others　fell　in　behind　them。　I　went　behind；　whip　ready。　My　little　procession　emerged　into　the　police　gorged；　soldier　full　street。　Armored　vehicles　twisted　around　us　and　drivers　cursed。　My　faithful　band　of　robots　struck　straight　across　the　street　through　this　mess　while　I；　with　a　paralyzed　smile　on　my　lips；　trotted　along　after　them。　I　was　afraid　that　if　I　made　any　attempt　to　change　the　orders　my　mechanical　team　would　stage　a　sit…down　right　there　in　the　street。　We　passed　behind　the　abandoned　groundcar　just　as　my　old　bodyguard；　Pacov；　was　being　helped　from　it。　I　turned　my　back　on　him　and　tried　to　ignore　the　chill　prickling　up　and　down　the　nape　of　my　neck。　If　he　recognized　me　。　。　。
　　　　The　first　robot　entered　another　service　way　and　I　staggered　after　them　until；　after　what　felt　like　a　two　day　walk；　I　entered　this　haven　of　relative　safety。　It　was　a　coolish　day　but　I　was　sweating　heavily：　I　leaned　against　the　wall　to　recover　while　my　robots　emptied　the　bins。　More　cars　were　still　appearing　in　the　street　I　had　so　recently　left　and　a　flight　of　jets　thundered　by　overhead。　My；　but　they　certainly　were　missing　me。
　　　　What　next？　A　good　question。　Very　soon　now；　when　no　trace　of　the　fugitive　alien　could　be　found；　someone　would　remember　the　one　witness　to　his　escape。　And　they　would　want　to　talk　to　the　robot　pusher　again。　Before　that　moment　came　I　would　have　to　be　elsewhere…but　where？　My　assets　were　very　limited；　a　collection　of　garbage　collecting　robots；　now　industriously　clanking　away　at　their　trade；　two　uniforms…one　worn　over　the　other…either　of　which　made　me　a　marked　man；　and　an　electronic　whip。　Good　only　for　whipping　robots；　the　feeble　current　it　generated　was　just　enough　to　close　a　relay　to　cancel　a　previous　order　or　action。　What　to　do？
　　　　There　was　a　grating　noise　close　behind　me　and　I　jumped　aside　as　a　rusty　iron　door　slid　upwards。　A　fat　man　in　a　white　hat　poked　his　head　out。
　　　　〃I　got　another　barrel　in　here　for　you；　Slobodan；〃　he　said；　then　looked　suspiciously　at　me。　〃You　ain't　Slobodan。〃　
　　　　〃You're　right。　Slobodan　is　someone　else。　And　he　is　somewhere　else。　In　the　hospital。　Having　a　hernia　removed。　They're　putting　in　a　new　one。〃
　　　　Was　opportunity　tapping？　I　talked　fast　and　thought　even　faster。　There　was　still　plenty　of　rushing　about　in　the　street　I　had　so　recently　crossed　but　no　one　was　looking　into　the　serviceway。　I　cracked　my　whip　across　the　gearbox　of　the　nearest　robot　and　ordered　him　to　me。
　　　　〃Follow　that　man；〃　I　said；　snapping　my　whip　in　the　right　direction。　White　hat　popped　back　inside；　the　robot　followed　him　and　I　followed　the　robot。
　　　　Into　a　kitchen。　A　big　one；　a　restaurant　kitchen　obviously。　And　there　was　no　one　else　in　sight。
　　　　〃What　time　do　you　open？〃　I　asked。　〃I'm　getting　quite　an　appetite　on　this　job。〃
　　　　〃Not　until　tonight…hey！　Tell　this　robot　to　stop　following　me　and　get　that　garbage　out　of　here。〃
The　cook　was　backing　around　the　room　with　the　robot　trundling　faithfully　after　him。　They　made　a　fine　pair。
　　　　〃Robot；〃　I　said；　and　cracked　the　whip。　〃Do　not　follow　that　man　any　more。　Just　reach　out　your　implacable　little　robot　hands　and　grab　him　by　the　arms　so　he　cannot　get　away。〃
　　　　The　robot's　reflexes；　being　electronic；　were　faster　than　the　cook's。　The　steel　hands　closed；　the　cook　opened　his　mouth　to　plain…　and　I　stuffed　his　hat　into　it。　He　chewed　it　angrily　and　made　muffled　noises　deep　in　his　throat。　He　kept　this　up　all　the　time　I　was　tying　him　into　a　chair　with　a　fine　assortment　of　towels；　securing　the　gag　in　place　as　well。　No　one　else　had　appeared　and　my　luck　was　still　running　strong。
　　　　〃Out；〃　I　ordered　the　robot；　cracking　it　across　the　patient　metal　back。　The　others　were　still　working　away　and　I　laid　about　like　a　happy　flagellant　until　they　were　all　quivering　for　orders。
　　　　〃Return。　To　the　place　from　whence　you　came　this　morning。　Go　now。〃
　　　　Like　well…trained　troops　they　turned　and　started　away。　Thankfully；　in　the　direction　away　from　the　street　we　had　just　crossed。　I　popped　back　into　the　kitchen　and　locked　the　door。　Safe　for　the　moment。　They　would　trace　me　to　the　robot　rubbishmen　sooner　or　later；　but　would　have　no　idea　where　or　when　I　had　left　the　convoy。　Things　were　working　out　just　fine。
　　　　The　captive　cook　had　managed　to　knock　the　chair　over　and　was　wriggling；　chair　and　all；　towards　the　exit。
　　　　〃Naughty；〃　I　said；　and　took　the　largest　cleaver　from　the　rack。　He　stopped　at　once　and　rolled　his　eyes　at　me。　I　put　the　cleaver　and　the　whip　where　they　could　be　reached　quickly　and　looked　about。　For　a　little　while　at　least　I　could　breathe　easy　and　make　some　more　definite　plans。　It　had　all　been　rush　and　improvise　so　far。　There　was　a　sudden　knocking　in　the　distance　and　the　sharp　ringing　of　a　bell。　I　sighed　and　picked　up　the　cleaver　again。　Rush　and　improvise　was　the　motto　of　this　operation。
　　　　〃What　is　t