bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第23部分

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　　〃Not　a　word。　It　sure　is　a　great　idea。〃
　　Smiling　pridefully；　Basurero　cleaned　his　tray　and　reached　over　and　pushed　it　into　a　disposal　slot　in　the　wall；　but　when　he　did　this　fourteen　other　trays　came　cascading　out　over　the　table。　〃See！〃　He　grated　his　teeth；　depressed　in　an　instant。　〃This　is　where　the　buck　ends。　We're　the　bottom　level　and　everything　dumped　on　every　level　up　above　ends　up　here；　and　we're　being　swamped　with　no　place　to　store　it　and　no　way　to　get　rid　of　it。　I　gotta　run　now。　We'll　have　to　put　Emergency　　　Plan　Big　Flea　into　action　at　once。〃　He　rose；　and　Bill　followed　him　out　the　door。　
　　〃Is　Big　Flea　classified　too？〃
　　〃It　won't　be　once　it　hits　the　fan。　We've　got　a　Health　Department　inspector　bribed　to　find　evidence　of　insect　infestation　in　one　of　the　dormitory　blocks…one　of　the　big　ones；　a　mile　high；　a　mile　wide；　a　mile　thick。　Just　think　of　that；　147；725；952；000　cubic　feet　of　rubbish　dump　going　to　waste。　They　clean　everyone　out　to　fumigate　the　place　and　before　they　can　get　back　in　we　fill　it　up　with　plastic　trays。〃
　　〃Don't　they　plain？〃　
　　〃Of　course　they　plain；　but　what　good　does　it　do　them？　We　just　blame　it　on　departmental　error　and　tell　them　to　send　the　plaint　through　channels；　and　channels　on　this　planet　really　means　something。　You　figure　a　ten…　to　twentyyear　wait　on　most　paper　work。　Here's　your　office。〃　He　pointed　to　an　open　doorway。　〃You　settle　down　and　study　the　records　and　see　if　you　can　e　up　with　any　ideas　by　the　next　shift。〃　He　hurried　away。　
　　It　was　a　small　office；　but　Bill　was　proud　of　it。　He　closed　the　door　and　admired　the　files；　the　desk；　the　swivel　chair；　the　lamp；　all　made　from　a　variety　of　discarded　bottles；　cans；　boxes；　casters；　coasters；　and　such。　But　there　would　be　plenty　of　time　to　appreciate　it；　now　he　had　to　get　to　work：　He　hauled　open　the　top　drawer　in　the　file　cabinet　and　stared　at　the　blackclothed；　mat…bearded；　pasty…faced　corpse　that　was　jammed　in　there。　He　slammed　the　drawer　shut　and　retreated　quickly。　
　　〃Here；　here；〃　he　told　himself　firmly。　〃You've　seen　enough　bodies　before；　trooper；　there's　no　need　to　get　nervous　over　this　one。〃　He　walked　back　and　hauled　the　file　open　again　and　the　corpse　opened　beady；　gummy　eyes　and　stared　at　him　intensely。　

VI
　
　　〃What　are　you　doing　in　my　file　cabinet？〃　Bill　asked；　as　the　man　climbed　down；　stretching　cramped　muscles。　He　was　short；　and　his　rusty；　old…fashioned　suit　was　badly　wrinkled。
　　〃I　had　to　see　you…privately。　This　is　the　best　way；　I　know　from　experience。　You　are　dissatisfied；　are　you　not？〃
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　
　　〃Men　call　me　Ecks。〃
　　〃You're　catching　on；　you're　a　bright　one。〃　A　smile　flickered　across　his　face；　giving　a　quick　glimpse　of　browned　snags　of　teeth；　then　vanished　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　〃You're　the　kind　of　man　we　need　in　the　Party；　a　man　with　promise。〃
　　〃What　party？〃　
　　〃Don't　ask　too　many　questions；　or　you'll　be　in　trouble。　Discipline　is　strict；　just　prick　your　wrist　so　you　can　swear　a　Blood　Oath。〃
　　　〃For　what？〃　Bill　watched　closely；　ready　for　any　suspicious　movements。　
　　〃You　hate　the　Emperor　who　enslaved　you　in　his　fascist　army；　you're　a　freedom…loving；　God…fearing　freeman；　ready　to　lay　down　his　life　to　save　his　loved　ones。　You're　ready　to　join　the　revolt；　the　glorious　revolution　that　will　free　。　。　。　〃
　　〃Out！〃　Bill　shrieked；　clutching　the　man　by　the　slack　of　his　clothes　and　rushing　him　toward　the　door。　X　slipped　out　of　his　grasp　and　rushed　behind　the　desk。
　　〃You're　just　a　lackey　of　the　criminals　now；　but　free　your　mind　from　its　chains。　Read　this　book〃…something　fluttered　to　the　floor…〃and　think。　I　shall　return。〃
　　When　Bill　dived　for　him；　X　did　something　to　the　wall；　and　a　panel　swung　open　that　he　vanished　through。　It　swung　shut　with　a　dick；　and　when　Bill　looked　closely　he　could　find　no　mark　or　seam　in　the　apparently　solid　surface。　With　trembling　fingers　he　picked　up　the　book　and　read　the　title；　Blood；　a　Layman's　Guide　to　Armed　Insurrection；　then；　whitefaced；　hurled　it　from　him。　He　tried　to　burn　it；　but　the　pages　were　noninflammable；　nor　could　he　tear　them。　His　scissors　blunted　without　cutting　a　sheet。　In　desperation　he　finally　stuffed　it　behind　the　file　cabinet　and　tried　to　forget　that　it　was　there。　　　After　the　calculated　and　sadistic　slavery　of　the　troopers；　doing　an　honest　day's　work　for　an　honest　day's　garbage　was　a　great　pleasure　for　Bill。　He　threw　himself　into　his　labors　and　was　concentrating　so　hard　that　he　never　heard　the　door　open　and　was　startled　when　the　man　spoke。
　　〃Is　this　the　Department　of　Sanitation？〃　Bill　looked　up　and　saw　the　newer's　ruddy　face　peering　over　the　top　of　an　immense　pile　of　plastic　trays　that　he　clasped　in　his　outstretched　arms。　Without　looking　back　the　man　kicked　the　door
shut　and　another　hand　with　a　gun　in　it　appeared　under　the　pile　of　trays。　〃One　false　move　and　you're　dead；〃　he　said。
　　Bill　could　count　just　as　well　as　the　next　fellow　and　two　hands　plus　one　hand　make　three　so　he　did　not　make　a　false　move　but　a　true　move；　that　is　he　kicked　upwards　into　the　bottom　of　the　mound　of　trays　so　they　caught　the　gunman　under　the　chin　and　knocked　him　backwards。　The　trays　fell　and　before　the　last　one　had　hit　the　floor　Bill　was　sitting　on　the　man's　back；　twisting　his　head　with　the　　deadly　Venerian　neck…crunch；　which　can　snap　the　spine　like　a　weathered　stick。
　　〃Uncle　。。。〃　the　man　moaned。　〃Onkle；　zio；　tio；　ujak　。　。　。　！〃　　　〃I　suppose　all　you　Chinger　spies　speak　a　lot　of　languages；〃　Bill　said；　putting　on　the　pressure。
　　〃Me　。　。　。　friend　。　。　。　〃　the　man　gurgled。　　　〃You　Chinger；　got　three　arms。〃
　　The　man　writhed　more；　and　one　of　his　arms　came　off。　Bill　picked　it　up　to　take　a　close　look；　first　kicking　the　gun　into　a　far　corner。　〃This　is　a　phony　arm；〃　Bill　said。
　　〃What　else　。　。　。　？〃　the　man　said　hoarsely；　fingering　his　neck　with　two　real　arms。　〃Part　of　the　disguise。　Very　tricky。　I　can　carry　something　and　still　have　one　arm　free。　How　e　you　didn't　join　the　revolution？〃
　　Bill　began　to　sweat　and　cast　a　quick　look　at　the　cabinet　that　hid　the　guilty　book。　〃What're　you　talking　about？　I'm　a　loyal　Emperor…lover　。　。　。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　then　how　e　you　didn't　report　to　the　G。B。I。　that　a　Man　Called　X　was　here　to　enlist　you？〃　　
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
　　〃It's　our　job　to　know　everything。　Here's　my　identification；　agent　Pinkerton　of　the　Galactic　Bureau　of　Investigation。〃　He　passed　over　a　jewel…encrusted　ID　card　with　color　photograph　and　the　works。
　　〃I　just　didn't　want　any　trouble；〃　Bill　whined。　〃That's　all。　I　bother　nobody　and　nobody　bothers　me。〃
　　〃A　noble　sentiment…for　an　anarchist！　Are　you　an　anarchist；　boy？〃　His　rapier　eye　pierced　Bill　through　and　through。
　　〃No！　Not　that！　I　can't　even　spell　it！〃
　　〃I　sure　hope　not。　You're　a　good　kid；　and　I　want　to　see　you　get　along。　I'm　going　to　give　you　a　second　chance。　When　you　see　X　again　tell　him　you　changed　your　mind　and　you　want　to　join　the　Party。　Then　you　join　and　go　to　work　for　us。　Every　time　there　is　a　meeting　you　e　right　back　and　call　me　on　the　phone；　my　number　is　written　on　this　candy　bar〃…he　threw　the　paper…wrapped　slab　on　the　desk…〃memorize　it；　then　eat　it。　Is　that　clear？〃　
　　〃No。　I　don't　want　to　do　it。〃
　　〃You'll　do　it　or　I'll　have　you　shot　for　aiding…the…enemy　within　an　hour。　And　as　long　as　you're　reporting　we'll　pay　you　a　hundred　bucks　a　month。〃　
　　〃In　advance？〃
　　〃In　advance。〃　The　roll　of　bills　landed　on　the　desk。　〃That's　for　next　month。　See　that　you　earn　it。〃　He　hung　his　spare　arm　from　his　shoulder；　picked　up　the　trays　and　was　gone。
　　The　more　Bill　thought　about　it　the　more　he　sweated　and　realized　what　a　bind　he　was　in。　The　last　thing　he　wanted　to　do　was　to　get　mixed　up　in　a　revolution　now　that　he　had　peace；　job　security；　and　unlimited　。　garbage；　but　they　just　wouldn't　leave　him　alone。　If　he　didn't　join　the　Party　the　G。B。I。　would　get　him　into　trouble；　which　would　be　a　very　easy　thing　to　do；　since　once　they　discovered　his　real　identity　he　was　as　good　as　dead。　But　there　was　still　a　chance　that　X　would　forget　about　him　and　not　e　back；　and　as　long　as　he　wasn't　asked；　he　couldn't　join；　could　he？　He　grasped　at　this　enfeebled　straw　and　hurled　himself　into　his　work　to　forget　his　troubles。
　　He　found　pay　dirt　almost　at　once　in　the　Refuse　files。　After　careful　cross…checking　he　discovered　that　his　idea　had　never　been　tried　before。　It　took　him　less　than　an　hour　to　gather　together　the　material　he　needed；　and　less　than　three　hours　after　that；　after　questioning　everyone　he　passed　and　tramping　endless　miles；　he　found　his　way　to　Basurero's　office。　　　〃Now　find　your　way　back　to　your　own　office；〃　Basurero　grumbled；　〃can't　you　see　I'm　busy。〃　With　palsied　fingers　he　poured　another　three　inches　of　Old　Organic　Poison　into　his　glass　and　drained　it。
　　〃You　can　forget　your　troubles…〃　
　〃What　else　do　you　think　I'm　trying　to　do？　Blow。〃
　　〃Not　before　I've　shown　you　this。　A　new　way　to　get　rid　of　the　plastic　trays。〃　　
　Basurero　lurched　to　his　feet；　and　the　bottle　tumbled　unnoticed　to　the　floor；　where　its　spilled　contents　began　eating　a　hole　in　the　teflon　covering。　〃You　mean　it？　Positive？　You　have　a　new　sholution　。　。　。　？〃　
　　〃Positive。〃
　　〃I　wish　I　didn'　have　to　do　this…〃　Basurero　shuddered　and　took　from　the　shelf　a　jar　labeled　SOBERING…EFFECT；　THE　ORIGINAL　INSTANT　CURE　FOR　INEBRIATION…NOT　TO　BE　TAKEN　WITHOUT　A　DOCTORS　PRESCRIPTION　AND　A　LIFE　INSURANCE　POLICY。　He　extracte