bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第14部分

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　　〃No；　I　can't　imagine。　And　I　don't　believe　it　either。　It　would　cost　too　much。　But　I　can　imagine　one　covered　with　anodized　aluminum。　Like。　that　one。〃
　　Now　that　Bill　looked　closer　he　could　see　that　it　didn't　really　shine　like　gold；　and　he　started　to　feel　depressed　again。　No！　He　forced　himself　to　perk　up。　You　could　take　away　the　gold　but　you　couldn't　take　away　the　gloryl　Helior　was　still　the　imperial　world；　the　never　sleeping；　all…seeing　eye　in　the　heart　of　the　galaxy。　Everything　that　happened　on　every　planet　or　on　every　ship　in　space　was　reported　here；　sorted；　coded；　filed；　annotated；　judged；　lost；　found；　acted　on。　From　Helior　came　the　orders　that　ruled　the　worlds　of　man；　that　held　back　the　night　of　alien　domination。　Helior；　a　man…changed　world　with　its　seas；　mountains；　and　continents　covered　by　a　shielding　of　metal；　miles　thick；　layer　upon　layer　of　levels　with　a　global　population　dedicated　to　but　one　ideal。　Rule。　The　gleaming　upper　level　was　dotted　with　space　ships　of　all　sizes；　while　the　dark　sky　twinkled　with　others　arriving　and　departing。　Closer　and　closer　swam　the　scene；　then　there　was　a　sudden　burst　of　light　and　the　window　went　dark。
　　〃We　crashed！〃　Bill　gasped。　〃Good　as　dead　。　。　。'
　　〃Shut　your　wug。　That　was　just　the　film　what　broke；　Since　there's　no　brass　on　this　run　they　won't　bother　fixing　it。〃
　　〃Film？〃
　　〃What　else？　Are　you　so　ratty　in　the　head　you　think　they're　going　to　build　shuttleships　with　great　big　windows　in　the　nose　just　where　the　maximum　friction　on　re…entry　will　burn　holes　in　them？　A　film。　Back　projection。　For　all　we　know
it's　nighttime　here。〃
　　The　pilot　mashed　them　with　15G　when　they　landed　（he　also　knew　he　had　no　brass　on　this　run）；　and　while　they　were　popping　their　dislocated　vertebrae　back　into　position　and　squeezing　their　eyeballs　back　into　shape　so　that　they　could　see；　the　hatch　swung　open。　Not　only　was　it　night；　but　it　was　raining　too。　A　Second…class　Passenger　Handler's　Mate　poked　his　head　in　and　swept　them　with　a　professionally　friendly　grin。
　　〃Wele　to　Helior；　Imperial　Planet　of　a　thousand　delights…〃　his　face　fell　into　a　habitual　snarl。　〃Ain't　there　no　officers　with　you　bowbs？　C'mon；　shag　outta　there；　get　the　uranium　out；　we　gotta　schedule　to　keep。〃
　　They　ignored　him　as　he　brushed　by　and　went　to　wake　the　infantry　sergeant；　still　snoring　like　a　broken　impeller；　untroubled　in　his　sleep　by　a　little　thing　like　15Gs。　The　snore　changed　to　a　throaty　grunt　that　was　cut　into　by　the　Passenger　Handler's　Mate's　shrill　scream　as　he　was　kneed　in　the　groin。　Still　muttering；　the　sergeant　joined　them　as　they　left　the　ship　and　he　helped　steady　the　gunner's　clattering　metal　legs　on　the　still　wet　surface　of　the　landing　ramp。　They　watched　with　stony　resignation　as　their　duffel　bags　were　ejected　from　the　luggage　partment　into　a　deep　pool　of　water。　As　a　last　feeble　flick　of　petty　revenge　the　Passenger　Handler's　Mate　turned　off　the　repeller　field　that　had　been　keeping　the　rain　off　them；　and　they　were　soaking　wet　in　an　instant　and　chilled　by　the　icy　wind。　They　shouldered　their　bags…except　for　the　gunner；　who　dragged　his　on　little　wheels…and　started　for　the　nearest　lights；　at　least　a　mile　away　and　barely　visible　through　the　lashing　rain。　Halfway　there　the　gunner　froze　up　as　his　relays　shorted；　so　they　put　the　wheels　under　his　heels　and　loaded　the　bags　onto　his　legs；　and　he　made　a　damn　fine　handcar　the　rest　of　the　way。
　　〃I　make　a　damn　fine　handcar；〃　the　gunner　growled。
　　〃Don't　bitch；〃　the　sergeant　told　him。　〃At　least　you　got　a　civilian　occupation。〃　He　kicked　the　door　open　and　they　walked　and　rolled　into　the　wele　warmth　of　the　operations　office。
　　〃You　have　a　can　of　solvent？〃　Bill　asked　the　man　behind　the　counter。
　　〃You　have　travel　orders？〃　the　man　asked；　ignoring　his　question。
　　〃In　my　bag　I　got　a　can；〃　the　gunner　said；　and　Bill　pulled　it　open　and　rummaged　around。
　　They　handed　over　their　orders；　the　gunner's　were　buttoned　into　his　breast　pocket；　and　the　clerk　fed　them　into　the　slot　of　the　giant　machine　behind　him。　The　machine　hummed　and　flashed　lights；　and　Bill　dripped　solvent　onto　all　of　the　gunner's　electrical　connections　until　the　water　was　washed　away。　A　horn　sounded；　the　orders　were　regurgitated；　and　a　length　of　printed　tape　began　clicking　out　of　another　orifice。　The　clerk　snatched　it　up　and　read　it　rapidly。
　　〃You're　in　trouble；〃　he　said　with　sadistic　relish。　〃All　three　of　you　are　supposed　to　get　the　Purple　Dart　in　a　ceremony　with　the　Emperor　and　they're　filming　in　three　hours。　You'll　never　make　it　in　time。〃
　　〃None　of　your　bowb；〃　the　sergeant　grated。　〃We　just　got　off　the　ship。　Where　do　we　go？〃
　　〃Area　1457…D；　Level　K9；　Block　823…7；　Corridor　492；　Chambers　FLM…34；　Room　62；　ask　for　Producer　Ratt〃
　　〃How　do　we　get　there？〃　Bill　asked。
　　〃Don't　ask　me；　I　just　work　here。〃　The　clerk　threw　three　thick　volumes　onto　the　counter；　each　one　over　a　foot　square　and　almost　as　thick；　with　a　chain　riveted　to　the　spine。　〃Find　your　own　way；　here's　your　floor　plan；　but　you　have　to　sign　for　it。　Losing　it　is　a　courts…martial　offense　punishable　by　。　。　。〃
　　The　clerk　suddenly　realized　that　he　was　alone　in　the　room　with　the　three　veterans；　and　as　he　blanched　white　he　reached　out　for　a　red　button。　But　before　his　finger　could　touch　it　the　gunner's　metal　arm；　spitting　sparks　and　smoking；
pinned　it　to　the　counter。　The　sergeant　leaned　over　until　his　face　was　an　inch　from　the　clerk's　then　spoke　in　a　low；　chill　voice　that　curdled　the　blood。　
　　〃We　will　not　find　our　own　way。　You　will　find　our　way　for　us。　You　will　provide　us　with　a　Guide。〃
　　〃Guides　are　only　for　officers；〃　the　clerk　protested　weakly；　then　gasped　as　a　steel…bar　finger　ground　him　in　the　stomach。
　　〃Treat　us　like　officers；〃　the　sergeant　breathed。　〃We　don't　mind。〃
　　With　chattering　teeth　the　clerk　ordered　a　guide；　and　a　small　metal　door　in　the　far　wall　crashed　open。　The　Guide　had　a　tubular　metal　body　that　ran　on　six　rubber…tired　wheels；　a　head　fashioned　to　resemble　a　hound　dog's；　and　a　springy　metal　tail。　〃Here；　boy；〃　the　sergeant　manded；　and　the　Guide　rushed　over　to　him；　slipped　out　a　red　plastic　tongue；　and；　with　a　slight　grinding　of　gears；　began　to　emit　the　sound　of　mechanical　panting。　The　sergeant　took　the　length　of　printed　tape　and　quickly　punched　the　code　1457…D　K9　823…7　492　FLM　34　62　on　the　buttons　that　decorated　the　Guide's　head。　There　were　two　sharp　barks；　the　red　tongue　vanished；　the　tail　vibrated；　and　the　Guide　rolled　away　down　the　corridor。　The　veterans　followed。
　　It　took　them　an　hour；　by　slideway；　escalator；　elevator；　pneumocar；　shanks'　mare；　monorail；　moving　sidewalk；　and　greased　pole　to　reach　room　62。　While　they　were　seated　on　the　slideway　they　secured　the　chains　of　their　floor　plans　to　their　belts；　since　even　Bill　was　beginning　to　realize　the　value　of　a　guide　to　this　world…sized　city。　At　the　door　to　room　62　the　Guide　barked　three　times；　then　rolled　away　before　they　could　grab　it。
　　〃Should　have　been　quicker；〃　the　sergeant　said。　〃Those　things　are　worth　their　weight　in　diamonds。〃　He　pushed　the　door　open　to　reveal　a　fat　man　seated　at　a　desk　shouting　into　a　visisphone。
　　〃I　don't　give　a　flying　bowb　what　your　excuses　are；　excuses　I　can　buy　wholesale。　All　I　know　is　I　got　a　production　schedule　and　the　cameras　are　ready　to　roll　and　where　are　my　principals？　I　ask　you…and　what　do　you　tell　me…〃　he　looked　up　and　began　to　scream；　〃Out！　Out！　Can't　you　see　I'm　busy！〃　　　The　sergeant　reached　over　and　threw　the　visisphone　onto　the　floor　then　stomped　it　to　tiny　smoking　bits。
　　〃You　have　a　direct　way　of　getting　attention；〃　Bill　said。
　　〃Two　years　in　bat　make　you　very　direct；〃　the　sergeant　said；　and　grated　his　teeth　together　in　a　loud　and　disturbing　way。　Then；　〃Here　we　are；　Ratt；　what　do　we　do？〃
　　Producer　Ratt　kicked　his　way　through　the　wreckage　and　threw　open　a　door　behind　the　desk。　〃Places！　Lights！〃　he　shrieked；　and　there　was　an　immense　scurrying　and　a　sudden　glare。　The　to…be…honored　veterans　followed　him　through　the　door　into　an　immense　sound　stage　humming　with　organized　bustle。　Cameras　on　motorized　dollies　rolled　around　the　set　where　flats　and　props　simulated　the　end　of　a　regal　throne　room。　The　stained…glass　windows　glowed　with　imaginary
sunlight；　and　a　golden　sunbeam　from　a　spotlight　illuminated　the　throne。　Goaded　on　by　the　director's　screamed　instructions　the　crowd　of　nobility　and　high…ranking　officers　took　positions　before　the　throne。
　　〃He　called　them　bowbs！〃　Bill　gasped。　〃He'll　be　shot！〃
　　〃Are　you　ever　stupid；〃　the　gunner　said；　unreeling　a　length　of　flex　from　his　right　leg　and　plugging　it　into　an　outlet　to　recharge　his　batteries。　〃Those　are　all　actors。　You　think　they　can　get　real　nobility　for　a　thing　like　this？〃
　　〃We　only　got　time　to　run　through　this　once　before　the　Emperor　gets　here；　so　no　mistakes。〃　Director　Ratt　clambered　up　and　settled　himself　on　the　throne。　〃I'll　stand　in　for　the　Emp。　Now　you　principals；　you　got　the　easiest　roles；　and　I　don't　want　you　to　flub　it。　We　got　no　time　for　retakes。　You　get　into　position　there；　that's　the　stuff；　in　a　row；　and　when　I　say　roll　you　snap　to　attention　like　you　been　taught　or　the　taxpayers　been　wasting　their　money。　You　there；　the　guy　on　the　left　that's　built　into　the　bird　cage；　keep　your　damn　motors　turned　off；　you're　lousing。　up　the　soundtrack。　Grind　gears　once　more　and　I'll　pull　all　your　fuses。　Affirm。　You　ju