bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第25部分

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utor　representative。　Its　hydraulic　clipper…claws　snipped　just　once　and　the　cable　was　severed。　The　lights　on　the　box　went　out；　and　the　stream　of　cards　stopped：　the　cut　cable　twitched；　spat　some　sparks　from　its　cut　end；　then　slithered　backward　out　the　door　like　a　monstrous　serpent　and　vanished。　　　〃Meeting　will　e　to　order；〃　X　said　hoarsely；　and　banged　again。
　　Bill　held　his　head　in　his　hands　and　wondered　if　this　was　worth　a　measly　hundred　bucks　a　month。
　　A　hundred　bucks　a　month　was　good　money；　though；　and　Bill　saved　every　bit　of　it。　Easy；　lazy　months　rolled　by；　and　he　went　regularly　to　meetings　and　reported　regularly　to　the　G。B。I。；　and　on　the　first　of　every　month　he　would　find　his　money　baked　into　the　egg　roll　he　invariably　had　for　lunch。　He　kept　the　greasy　bills　in　a　toy　rubber　cat　he　found　on　the　rubbish　heap；　and　bit　by　bit　the　kitty　grew　The　revolution　took　but　little　of　his　time；　and　he　enjoyed　his　work　in　the　D　of　S。　He　was　in　charge　of　Operation　Surprise　Package　now　and　had　a　team　of　a　thousand　robots　working　full　time　wrapping　and　mailing　the　plastic　trays　to　every　planet　of　the　galaxy。　He　thought　of　it　as　a　humanitarian　work　and　could　imagine　the　glad　cries　of　joy　on　far…off　Faroffia　and　distant　Distanta　when　the　unexpected　package　arrived　and　the　wealth　of　lovely；　shining；　moldy　plastic　clattered　to　the　floor。　But　Bill　was　living　in　a　fool's　paradise；　and　his　bovine　placency　was　cruelly　shattered　one　morning　when　a　robot　sidled　up　to　him　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃Sic　temper　tyrannosaurus；　pass　it　on；〃　then　sidled　away　and　vanished。
　　This；　was　the　signal。　The　revolution　was　about　to　begin！　

VIII
　
Bill　locked　the　door　to　his　office　and　one　last　time　pressed　a　certain　way　at　a　certain　place；　and　the　secret　panel　slipped　open。　It　didn't　really　slip　any　more；　in　fact　it　dropped　with　a　loud　noise；　and　it　had　been　used　so　much　during　his　happy　year　as　a　Gman　that　even　when　it　was　closed　it　let　a　positive　draft　in　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　But　no　more；　the　crisis　he　had　been　dreading　had　e　and　he　knew　there　were　big　changes　in　store…no　matter　what　the　oute　of　the　revolution　was…and　experience　had　taught　him　that　all　change　was　for　the　worst。　With　leaden；　stumbling　feet　he　tramped　the　caves；　tripped　on　the　rusty　rails；　waded　the　water；　gave　the　countersign　to　the　unseen　anthropophagus　who　was　talking　with　his　mouth　full　and　could　barely　be　understood。　Someone；　in　the　excitement　of　the　moment；　had　given　the　wrong　password。　Bill　shivered；　this　was　a　bad　omen　of　the　day　to　e。
　　As　usual　Bill　sat　next　to　the　robots；　good；　solid　fellows　with　built…in　obsequiousness　in　spite　of　their　revolutionary　tendencies。　As　X　hammered　for　silence；　Bill　steeled　himself　for　an　ordeal。　For　months　now　the　Gman　Pinkerton　had　been　after　him　for　more　information　other　than　date…of…meeting　and　number　present。　〃Facts；　facts；　facts！〃　he　kept　saying。　〃loo　something　to　earn　your　money。〃
　　〃I　have　a　question；〃　Bill　said　in　a　loud；　shaky　voice；　his　words　falling　like　bombs　into　the　sudden　silence　that　followed　X's　frantic　hammering。　　　〃There　is　no　time　for　questions；〃　X　said　peevishly；　〃the　time　has　e　to　act。〃　　　〃I　don't　mind　acting；〃　Bill　said；　nervously　aware　that　all　the　human；　electronic；　and　vat…grown　eyes　were　upon　him。　〃I　just　want　to　know　who　I'm　acting　for。　You've　never　told　us　who　was　going　to　get　the　job　once　the　Emperor　is　gone。〃
　　〃Our　leader　is　a　man　called　X；　that　is　all　you　have　to　know。〃　
　　〃But　that's　your　name　too！〃
　　〃You　are　at　last　getting　a　glimmering　of　Revolutionary　Science。　All　the　cell　leaders　are　called　X　so　as　to　confuse　the　enemy。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　about　the　enemy；　but　it　sure　confuses　me。〃
　　〃You　talk　like　a　counter…revolutionary；〃　X　screamed；　and　leveled　the　revolver　at　Bill。　The　row　behind　Bill　emptied　as　everyone　there　scurried　out　of　the　field　of　fire。
　　〃I　am　not！　I'm　as　good　a　revolutionary　as　anyone　hereUp　the　Revolution！〃　He　gave　the　party　salute；　both　hands　clasped　together　over　his　head；　and　sat　down　hurriedly。　Everyone　else　saluted　too；　and　X；　slightly　mollified；　pointed　with　the　barrel　of　his　gun　at　a　large　map　hung　on　the　wall。
　　〃This　is　the　objective　of　our　cell；　the　Imperial　Power　Station　on　Chauvinistisk　Square。　We　will　assemble　nearby　in　squads；　then　join　in　a　concerted　attack　at　oo16　hours。　No　resistance　is　expected　as　the　power　station　is　not　guarded。　Weapons　and　torches　will　be　issued　as　you　leave；　as　well　as　printed　instructions　of　the　correct　route　to　the　rallying　points　for　the　benefit　of　the　planless　here。　Are　there　any　questions？〃　He　cocked　his　revolver　and　pointed　it　at　the　cringing　Bill。　There　were　no　questions。　〃Excellent。　We　will　all　rise　and　sing　'The　Hymn　For　a　Glorious　Revolt。〃'　In　a　mixed　chorus　of　voice　and　mechanical　speech…box　they　sang：
　　　　　Arise　ye　bureaucratic　prisoners；
　　　　Revolting　workers　o　f　Helior；　　　　　Arise　and　raise　the　Revolution；
　　　　By　fist；　foot；　pistol；　hammer；　and　claw！　
　　Refreshed　by　this　enthusiastic　and　monotone　exercise　they　shuffled　out　in　slow　lines；　drawing　their　revolutionary　supplies。　Bill　pocketed　his　printed　instructions；　shouldered　his　torch　and　flintlock　ray　gun；　and　hurried　one　last　time　through　the　secret　passages。　There　was　barely　enough　time　for　the　long　trip　ahead　of　him；　and　he　had　to　report　to　the　G。B。I。　first。　　　This　was　easier　assumed　than　acplished；　and　he　began　to　sweat　as　he　dialed　the　number　again。　It　was　impossible　to　get　a　line；　and　even　the　exchanges　gave　a　busy　signal。　Either　the　phone　traffic　was　very　heavy　or　the　revolutionaries　had　already　begun　to　interfere　with　the　munications。　He　sighed　with　relief　when　Pinkerton's　surly　features　finally　filled　the　tiny　screen。　〃What's　up？〃　
　　〃I've　discovered　the　name　of　the　leader　of　the　revolution。　He　is　a　man　called　X。〃
　　〃And　you　want　a　bonus　for　that；　stupid？　That　information　has　been　on　file　for　months。　Got　anything　else？〃
　　〃Well；　the　revolution　is　to　start　at　0016　hours；　I　thought　you　might　like　to　know。〃　That'd　show　them！
　　Pinkerton　yawned。　〃Is　that　all？　For　your　information　that　information　is　old　information。　You're　not　the　only　spy　we've　got；　though　you　might　be　the　worst。　Now　listen。　Write　this　down　in　big　letters　so　you　won't　forget。　Your　cell　is　to
attack　the　Imperial　Power　Station。　Stay　with　them　as　far　as　the　square；　then　look　for　a　store　with　the　sign　KWIK…FREEZ　KOSHER　HAMS　LTD。；　this　is　the　cover　for　our　unit。　Get　over　there　fast　and　report　to　me。　Understood？〃
　　〃Affirm。〃　The　line　went　dead；　and　Bill　looked　for　a　piece　of　wrapping　paper　to　tie　around　the　torch　and　flintlock　until　the　moment　came　to　use　them。　He　had　to　hurry。　There　was　little　time　left　before　zero　hour　and　a　long　distance　to　cover　by　a　very　plicated　route。　
　　〃You　were　almost　late；〃　Ghoulem　the　android　said；　when　　　Bill　stumbled　into　the　dead…end　corridor　which　was　the　assembly　point。　
　　〃Don't　give　me　any　lip；　you　son　of　a　bottle；〃　Bill　gasped；　tearing　the　paper　from　his　burden。　〃Just　give　me　a　light　for　my　torch。〃
　　A　match　flared；　and　in　a　moment　the　pitchy　torches　were　crackling　and　smoking。　Tension　grew　as　the　second　hand　moved　closer　to　the　hour　and　feet　shuffled　nervously　on　the　metal　pavement。　Bill　jumped　as　a　shrill　blast　sounded　on　a　whistle；　then　they　were　sweeping　out　of　the　alley　in　a　human　and　inhuman　wave；　a　hoarse　cry　bursting　from　the　throats　and　loudspeakers；　guns　at　the　ready。　Down　the　corridors　and　walkways　they　ran；　sparks　falling　like　rain　from　their　torches。　This　was　revolution！　Bill　was　carried　away　by　the　emotion　and　rush　of　bodies　and　cheered　as　loudly　as　the　rest　and　shoved　his　torch　first　at　the　corridor　wall；　then　into　a　chair　on　the　chairway　which　put　the　torch　out；　since　everything　in　Helior　is　either　made　of　metal　or　is　fireproof。　There　was　no　time　to　relight　it；　and　he　hurled　it　from　him　as　they　swept　into　the　i　mmense　square　that　fronted　on　the　power　plant。　Most　of　the　other　torches　were　out　now；　but　they　wouldn't　need　them　here；　just　their　trusty　flintlock　ray　guns　to　blow　the　guts　out　of　any　filthy　lackey　of　the　Emperor　who　tried　to　stand　in　their　way。　Other　units　were　pouring　from　the　streets　that　led　into　the　square；　joining　into　one　surging；　mindless　mob　thundering　toward　the　grim　walls　of　the　power　station。
　　　An　electric　sign　blinking　on　and　off　drew　Bi'll's　attention；　KWIK…FREEZ　KOSHER　HAMS　LTD　it　read…and　he　gasped　as　memory　returned。　By　Ahriman；　he　had　forgotten　that　he　was　a　spy　for　the　G。B。I。　and　had　been　about　to　join　the　raid　on　the　power　stationt　Was　there　still　time　to　get　out　before　the　counter…blow　fell！　Sweating　more　than　a　little；　he　began　working　his　way　through　the　mob　toward　the　sign…then　he　was　at　the　fringes　and　running　toward　safety。　It　wasn't　too　late。　He　grabbed　the　front　door　handle　and　pulled；　but　it　would　not　open。　In　panic　he　twisted　and　shook　it　until　the　entire　front　of　the　building　began　to　shake；　rocking　back　and　forth　and　creaking。　He　gaped　at　it　in　paralyzed　horror　until　a　loud　hissing　drew　his　attention。
　　　〃Get　over　here；　you　stupid　bowb；〃　a　voice　crackled；　and　he　looked　up　to　see　the　G。B。I。　agent　Pinkerton　standing　at　the　er　of　the　building　and　beckoning　to　him　angrily。　Bill　followed　the　agent　around　the　er　and　found　quite　a　crowd　standing　there；　and　there　was　plenty　of　room　for　all　of　them　because　the　building　was　not　ther