bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第19部分

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IV

The　bullet　plowed　slowly　out　of　the　cloud　of　expanding　gas　and　drifted　about　two　feet　toward　Bill　before　the　humming　gravity　field　slowed　it　to　a　stop。　The　simple…minded　cycling　circuit　translated　the　bullet's　speed　as　mass　and　assumed　that　another　body　had　entered　the　gravchute　and　assigned　it　a　position。　Deathwish's　fall　slowed　until　he　was　fifteen　feet　behind　the　bullet；　while　the　other　MP　also　assumed　the　same　relative　position　behind　him。　The　gap　between　Bill　and　his　pursuers　was　now　twice　as　wide；　and　he　took　advantage　of　this　and　ducked　out　of　the　exit　at　the　next　level。　An　open　elevator　beckoned　to　him　coyly　and　he　was　into　it　and　had　the　door　closed　before　the　wildly　cursing　Deathwish　could　emerge　from　the　shaft。
　　After　this；　escape　was　simply　a　matter　of　muddling　his　trail。　He　used　different　means　of　transportation　at　random；　and　all　the　time　kept　fleeing　to　lower　levels　as　though　seeking　to　escape　like　a　mole　by　burrowing　deep　into　the　ground。　It　was　exhaustion　that　stopped　him　finally；　dropping　him　in　his　tracks；　slumped　against　a　wall　and　panting　like　a　triceratops　in　heat。　Gradually　he　became　aware　of　his　surroundings　and　realized　that　he　had　e　lower　than　he　had　ever　been　before。　The　corridors　were　gloomier　and　older；　made　of　steel　plates　riveted　together。　Massive　pillars；　some　a　hundred　feet　or　more　in　diameter；　broke　the　smoothness　of　the　walls；　great　structures　that　supported　the　mass　of　the　world…city　above。　Most　of　the　doors　he　saw　were　locked　and　bolted；　hung　with　elaborate　seals。　It　was　darker；　too；　he　realized；　as　he　wearily　dragged　to　his　feet　and　went　looking　for　something　to　drink：　his　throat　burned　like　fire。　A　drink　dispenser　was　let　into　the　wall　ahead　and　was　different　from　most　of　the　ones　he　was　used　to　in　that　it　had　thick　steel　bars　reinforcing　the　front　of　the　mechanism　and　was　adorned　with　a　large　sign　that　read　THIS　MACHINE　PROTECTED　BY　YOU…COOK…EM　BURGLAR　ALARMS　ANY　ATTEMPT　TO　BREAK　INTO　THE　MECHANISM　WILL　RELEASE　100；000　VOLTS　THROUGH　THE　CULPRIT　RESPONSIBLE。　He　found　enough　coins　in　his　pocket　to　buy　a　double　HeroinCola　and　stepped　carefully　back　out　of　the　range　of　any　sparks　while　the　cup　filled。
　　He　felt　much　better　after　draining　it；　until　he　looked　in　his　wallet　then　he　felt　much　worse。　He　had　eight　imperial　bucks　to　his　name；　and　when　they　were　gone…then　what？　Self…pity　broke　through　his　exhausted　and　drug…ridden　senses；　and　he　wept。　He　was　vaguely　aware　of　occasional　passersby　but　paid　them　no　heed。　Not　until　three　men　stopped　close　by　and　let　a　fourth　sink　to　the　floor。　Bill　glanced　at　them；　then　looked　away；　their　words　ing　dimly　to　his　ears　made　no　sense；　since　he　was　having　afar　better　time　wallowing　in　lacrimose　indulgence。
　　〃Poor　old　Golph；　looks　like　he's　done　for。〃
　　〃That's　for　sure。　He's　rattling　just　about　the　nicest　death　rattle　I　ever　heard。　Leave　him　here　for　the　cleaning　robots。〃
　　〃But　what　about　the　job？　We　need　four　to　pull　it。〃
　　〃Let's　take　a　look　at　deplanned　over　there。〃
　　A　heavy　boot　in　Bill's　side　rolled　him　over　and　caught　his　attention。　He　blinked　up　at　the　circle　of　men　all　similar　in　their　tattered　clothes；　dirty　skins；　and　bearded　faces。　They　were　different　in　size　and　shape；　though　they　all　had　one　thing　in　mon。　None　of　them　carried　a　floor　plan；　and　they　all　looked　strangely　naked　without　the　heavy；　pendant　volumes。
　　〃Where's　your　floor　plan？〃　the　biggest　and　hairiest　asked；　and　kicked　Bill　again。
　　〃Stolen　。　。　。〃　he　started　to　sob　again。
　　〃Are　you　a　trooper？〃
　　〃They　took　away　my　ID　card　。　。　。〃
　　〃Got　any　bucks？〃
　　〃Gone　。　。　。　all　gone　。　。　。　like　the　dispos…a…steins　of　yesteryear　。　。　。〃
　　〃Then　you　are　one　of　the　deplanned；〃　the　watchers　chanted　in　unison；　and　helped　Bill　to　his　feet。　〃Now…join　with　us　in　'The　Song　of　the　Deplanned；'〃　and　with　quavering　voices　they　sang：

　　　Stand　together　one　and　all；
　　　For　Brothers　Deplanned　always　shall；
　　　Unite　and　fight　to　achieve　the　Right；
　　　That　Might　shall　fail　and　Truth　avail；
　　　So　that　we；　who　once　were　free；　can　someday　be
　　　Once　more　free　to　see　the　skies　o　f　blue　above；
　　　And　hear　the　gentle　piny…pat
　　　Of　snow。

　　〃It　doesn't　rhyme　very　well；〃　Bill　said。
　　〃Ah；　we's　short　of　talent　down　here；　we　is；〃　the　smallest　and　oldest　deplanned　said；　and　coughed　a　hacking；　rachitic　cough。
　　〃Shut　up；〃　the　big　one　said；　and　kidney…punched　the　old　one　and　Bill。　〃I'm　Litvok；　and　this　is　my　bunch。　You　part　of　my　bunch　now；　newer；　and　your　name　is　Golph　28169…minus〃
　　〃No；　I'm　not；　my　name　is　Bill；　and　it's　easier　to　say…〃　He　was　slugged　again。
　　〃Shaddup！　Bill's　a　hard　name　because　it's　a　new　name；　and　I　never　remember　no　new　names。　I　always　got　a　Golph　28169…minus　in　my　bunch。　What's　your　name？〃
　　〃Bill…　OUCH！　I　mean　Golph！〃
　　〃That's　better…but　don't　forget　you　got　a　last　name　too　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　is　hungry；〃　the　old　one　whined。　〃When　we　gonna　make　the　raid？〃
　　〃Now。　Follow　me。〃
　　They　stepped　over　the　old　Golph　etc。　who　had　expired　while　the　new　one　was　being　initiated；　and　hurried　away　down　a　dark；　dank　back　passage。　Bill　followed　along；　wondering　what　he　had　got　himself　into；　but　too　weary　to　worry　about　it　now。　They　were　talking　about　food；　after　he　had　some　food　he　would　think　about　what　to　do　next；　but　meanwhile　he　felt　glad　that　someone　was　taking　care　of　him　and　doing　his　thinking　for　him。　It　was　just　like　being　back　in　the　troopers；　only　better；　since　you　didn't　even　have　to　shave。　　　The　little　band　of　men　emerged　into　a　brightly　lit　hallway；　cringing　a　little　in　the　sudden　glare。　Litvok　waved　them　to　a　stop　and　peered　carefully　in　both　directions；　then　cupped　one　dirt…grimed　hand　to　his　cauliflower　ear　and　　listened；　frowning　with　the　effort。
　　〃It　looks　clear。　Schmutzig；　you　stay　here　and　give　the　alarm　if　anyone　es；　Sporco　you　go　down　the　hall　to　the　next　bend；　and　you　do　same　thing。　You；　new　Golph；　e　with　me。〃
　　The　two　sentries　scrambled　off　to　their　duties；　while　Bill　followed　Litvok　into　an　alcove　containing　a　locked　metal　door；　which　the　burly　leader　opened　with　a　single　blow　of　a　metal　hammer　he　took　from　a　place　of　concealment　in　his　ragged　clothes。　Inside　were　a　number　of　pipes　of　assorted　dimensions　that　rose　from　the　floor　and　vanished　into　the　ceiling　above。　There　were　numbers　stenciled　onto　each　pipe；　and　Litvok　pointed　to　them。
　　〃We　gotta　find　kl…9256…B；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　　Bill　found　the　pipe　quickly。　It　was　about　as　big　around　as　his　wrist；　and　be　had　just　called　to　the　bunch　leader　when　a　shrill　whistle　sounded　down　the　hall。
　　〃Outside！〃　Litvok　said；　and　pushed　Bill　before　him；　then　closed　the　door　and　stood　so　that　his　body　covered　the　broken　lock。　There　was　a　growing　rumbling　and　swishing　noise　that　came　down　the　hall　toward　them　as　they　cowered　in　the　alcove。　Litvok　held　his　hammer　behind　his　back　as　the　noise　increased；　and　a　sanitation　robot　appeared　and　swiveled　its　binocular　eyestalk　toward　them。　
　　〃Will　you　kindly　move；　this　robot　wishes　to　clean　where　you　are　standing；〃　a　recorded　voice　spoke　from　the　robot　in　firm　tones。　It　whirled　its　brushes　at　them　hopefully。
　　〃Get　lost；〃　Litvok　growled。
　　〃Interference　with　a　sanitation　robot　during　the　performance　of　its　duties　is　a　punishable　crime；　as　well　as　an　antisocial　act。　Have　you　stopped　to　consider　where　you　would　be　if　the　Sanitation　Department　wasn't　。　。　。〃
　　〃Blabbermouth；〃　Litvok　snarled　and　hit　the　robot　on　top　of　its　brain　case　with　the　hammer。　〃WONKITY！！〃　the　robot　shrilled；　and　went　reeling　down　the　hall　dribbling　water　incontinently　from　its　nozzles。　〃Let's　finish　the　job；〃　Litvok
said；　throwing　the　door　open　again。　He　handed　the　hammer　to　Bill；　and　drawing　a　hacksaw　from　a　place　of　concealment　in　his　ragged　clothes　he　attacked　the　pipe　with　frenzied　strokes。　The　metal　pipe　was　tough；　and　within　a　minute　he　was
running　with　sweat　and　starting　to　tire。
　　〃Take　over；〃　he　shouted　at　Bill。　〃Go　as　fast　as　you　can；　then　I　take　over　again。〃　Turn　and　turn　about　it　took　them　less　than　three　minutes　to　saw　all　the　way　through　the　pipe。　Litvok　slipped　the　saw　back　into　his　clothes　and　picked　up　the　hammer。　〃Get　ready；〃　he　said；　spitting　on　his　hands　and　then　taking　a　mighty　swing　at　the　pipe。
　　Two　blows　did　it；　the　top　part　of　the　severed　pipe　bent　out　of　alignment　with　the　bottom；　and　from　the　opening　began　to　pour　an　endless　stream　of　linked　green　frankfurters。　Litvok　grabbed　the　end　of　the　chain　and　threw　it　over　Bill's　shoulder；　then　began　to　coil　loops　of　the　things　over　his　shoulders　and　arms；　higher　and　higher。　They　reached　the　level　of　Bill's　eyes　and　he　could　read　the　white　lettering　stamped　all　over　their　grass…green　forms。　CHLORA…FILLIES　they　read；　and　THERE'S　SUNSHINE　IN　EVERY　LINK！　and　THE　EQUINE　WURST　OF　DISTINCTION；　and　TRY　OUR　DOBBIN…BURGERS　NEXT　TIME！
　　〃Enough　。　。　。　〃　Bill　groaned；　staggering　under　the　weight。　Litvok　snapped　the　chain　and　began　twining　them　over　his　own　shoulders；　when　the　flow　of　shiny　green　forms　suddenly　ceased。　He　pulled　the　last　links　from　the　pipe　and　pushed
out　the　door。
　　〃The　alarm　went；　they're　onto　us。　Get　out　fast　before　the　cops　get　herel〃　He　whistled　shrilly；　and　the　lookouts　came　running　to　join　them。　They　fled；　Bill　stumbling　under　the　weight　of　the　wursts；　in　a　nightmare　race　through　tunnels；　down　stairs；　ladders；　and　o