hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第24部分

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　Pleasures　better　lived　without。　But　this　was　a　royal　mand　and　no　way　to　get　around　it。　I　took　a　bit　of　diple…fast　and　rubbed　my　jaw　smooth；　bed　my　hair　and　tried　not　to　scowl　at　myself　in　the　mirror。　I　was　the　last　to　emerge　and　we　boarded　the　Transport　of　Delight　in　silence；　rolled　ponderously　to　our　destiny。
　〃I　wonder　why　all　three　of　us？〃　Steengo　said；　sipping　his　glass　of　chilled　wine。　〃Last　time　it　was　you　alone　at　the　training…film　session；　wasn't　it；　Jim？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　I　said；　wanting　to　change　the　subject。　Nor　was　I　too　pleased　with　his　light…hearted　attitude。　I　tried　to　think　about　Madonette　going　in　alone　to　the　other　city；　but　my　thoughts　kept　trundling　back　to　Iron　John。　What　was　going　to　happen　now？
　When　we　entered　the　Veritorium　I　was　surprised　at　how　big　it　really　was。　It　was　better　lit　now　and　I　saw　that　rows　of　seats　reached　up　in　a　semicircle。　They　were　all　filled　now　with　the　oldest　collection　of　Paradisians　I　had　seen　so　far。　Bald　heads　and　gray　hair；　wrinkles　and　toothless　jaws。
　Iron　John　himself　stepped　forward　to　greet　us。　〃You　are　all　truly　wele　here…and　these　seats　are　for　you。〃　They　were　three　of　the　best　in　the　front　row…separated　from　the　others。　〃You　are　our　honored　guests；　musical　Stainless　Steel　Rats。　This　occasion　is　a　special　one…specially　so　for　young　James　diGriz。　You　are　the　youngest　man　here；　Jim；　and　very　soon　you　will　find　out　why。　Your　panions　will；　I　am　sure；　watch　with　pleasure。　Not　only　pleasure　but　I　sincerely　hope　that　they　will　learn　by　observation。　Now　we　begin　。　。　。〃
　Cued　by　his　words　the　lights　died　and　darkness　filled　the　Veritorium。　Footsteps　sounded　in　the　darkness；　and　there　was　a　small　laugh。　Light　appeared　and　I　saw　the　small　boy　hurry　forward；　stumbling　a　bit　under　the　weight　of　the　box　he　was　carrying。　He　put　it　down　and　opened　the　lid；　took　out　a　top　that　started　spinning　when　he　touched　its　switch。　Then　he　took　out　a　tray　of　blocks；　started　to　build　a　tower　with　them。　When　it　was　high　enough　he　turned　to　take　another　toy　out　of　the　box。　He　was　a　very　concentrated；　very　intense　young　boy；　about　eight　years　old。　He　rummaged　deeper　in　the　box；　then　looked　around　with　a　childish　frown。
　〃Don't　hide；　teddy；〃　he　said。　Looked　behind　the　toy　box；　then　into　it　again　and　then…with　sudden　determination…turned　and　hurried　off。　He　vanished　from　sight　but　I　could　hear　his　footsteps　going　away；　stopping。　Then　ing　back。　Carrying　a　teddy　bear。　A　monplace；　slightly　worn；　very　ordinary　teddy　bear。　He　propped　it　against　the　toy　box　and　started　building　a　second　tower　from　the　blocks。
　The　scene　grew　lighter　and　I　realized　we　were　back　in　the　castle　courtyard。　The　boy　was　alone…or　was　he？　Something　was　there　in　the　darkness；　a　shape　that　grew　clearer。
　It　was　an　iron　cage　and；　sitting　silently；　inside　it　was　Iron　John。　The　boy　shouted　and　knocked　over　the　block　towers；　ran　to　pick　up　the　strewn　blocks。　Looked　at　Iron　John；　then　away。　The　cage　and　its　occupant　must　be　a　familiar　sight　to　him。
　Nothing　else　happened。　The　boy　played；　Iron　John　watched　him　in　silence。　Yet　there　was　an　electric　tension　in　the　air　that　made　it　hard　to　breathe。　I　knew　that　something　vitally　important　was　about　to　happen；　and　when　the　boy　reached　again　into　the　toy　box　I　found　myself　leaning　forward。
　When　he　took　the　small　golden　ball　from　the　box　I　realized　that　I　had　been　holding　my　breath；　I　let　it　out　with　a　gasp。　Nor　was　I　the　only　one　for　around　me　in　the　darkness　there　were　echoes　of　my　gasp。
　The　ball　bounced　and　rolled　and　the　boy　laughed　with　pleasure。
　Then　he　threw　it　once；　harder　than　intended；　and　it　rolled　and　rolled。　Through　the　bars　of　the　iron　cage　to　stop　at　Iron　John's　feet。
　〃My　ball；〃　the　boy　said。　〃Give　it　back。〃
　〃No；〃　Iron　John　said。　〃You　must　unlock　this　cage　and　let　me　out。　Then　you　will　have　your　golden　ball　back。〃
　〃Locked；〃　the　boy　said。
　Iron　John　nodded。　〃Of　course。　But　you　know　how　to　find　the　key。〃
　The　boy　was　shaking　his　head　no　as　he　backed　away。
　〃Where　is　the　key？〃　the　man　in　the　cage　asked；　but　the　boy　was　gone。　〃Where　is　the　key？　But　you　are　only　a　boy。　Perhaps　you　are　too　young　to　know　where　the　key　is。　You　must　be　older　to　find　the　key。〃
　There　were　murmurs　of　agreement　from　the　invisible　audience。　It　was　very　important　to　find　the　key；　I　knew　that。　The　key　。　。　。
　It　was　then　that　I　became　aware　that　Iron　John　was　looking　at　me。　He　was　there　in　the　cage；　it　wasn't　a　holoflic。　He　looked　at　me　and　nodded。
　〃Jim；　I'll　bet　you　know　where　the　key　is。　You　are　no　longer　a　boy。　You　can　find　it…now。〃
　His　voice　was　a　goad。　I　was　on　my　feet；　walking　forward　to　the　box　of　toys。　My　foot　touched　a　block　and　it　rattled　aside。
　〃The　key　is　in　the　toy　box；〃　I　said；　but　I　didn't　believe　the　words　even　as　I　spoke　them。　I　looked　at　Iron　John　who　shook　his　head　no。
　〃Not　in　the　box。〃
　I　looked　down　again　and　realized　that　I　did　know　where　the　key　was。　I　raised　my　eyes　to　Iron　John　and　he　nodded　solemnly。　〃See　you　do　know　where　the　key　to　the　cage　is。　You　can　let　me　out　now；　Jim。　Because　you　know　the　key　is　there。　Inside　。　。　。〃
　〃Teddy；〃　I　said。
　〃Teddy。　Not　a　real　bear。　Teddies　are　for　children　and　you　are　no　longer　a　child。　Inside　teddy。〃
　I　reached　out；　blinked　away　the　tears　that　were　blurring　my　vision；　seized　up　the　toy；　felt　the　soft　fabric　between　my　fingers。　Heard　a　loud　voice　that　slashed　the　silence。
　〃Not　quite　right；　Jim；　not　right。　The　key　is　not　there…it　has　to　be　under　your　mother's　pillow！〃
　Steengo　had　e　forward　to　join　me；　had　to　shout　the　last　words　to　be　heard　over　the　roar　of　voices。
　〃Mother　doesn't　want　her　son　to　leave　her。　She　hides　the　key　to　the　Iron　man's　cage　under　her　pillow。　The　son　must　steal　the　key　。　。　。〃
　The　shouting　voices　drowned　him　out。　Then　it　went　dark　in　an　instant　and　someone　ran　into　me　knocking　me　down。　I　tried　to　stand；　to　call　out；　but　a　hard　foot　walked　on　my　hand。　I　shouted　aloud　at　the　sudden　pain　but　my　voice　went　unheard　in　the　clamor。　Someone　else　jarred　into　me　and　the　darkness　became　even　more　intense。
　〃Jim…are　you　all　right？　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　Floyd's　face　was　just　above　mine；　looking　worried。　Was　I　all　right？　I　didn't　know。　I　was　in　bed；　must　have　been　asleep。　Why　was　he　waking　me？
　Then　I　remembered　and　sat　upright；　grabbed　his　arms。
　〃The　Veritorium！　It　got　dark；　something　happened。　I　can't　remember…〃　'
　〃I'm　not　much　help　because　I　can't　either。　It　seemed　like　a　good　show。　Hard　to　follow　the　plot　but　you　were　in　it；　do　you　remember　that？〃　I　nodded。　〃Seemed　to　be　enjoying　yourself；　although　you　didn't　look　happy　about　tearing　the　stuffing　out　of　the　teddy　bear。　That's　when　Steengo　joined　you　onstage　and　all　the　fun　started。　Or　stopped。　It　all　gets　vague　about　that　time。〃
　〃Where's　Steengo？〃
　〃You　tell　me。　I　saw　him　last　on　the　stage。　I　was　sleeping　myself；　just　woke　up。　Looked　around；　no　Steengo。　Found　you　here　snoring　away　and　I　gave　you　a　shake。〃
　〃If　he's　not　here　。　。　。〃
　A　muted　knock　sounded　at　the　door；　and　a　moment　later　it　opened　and　Veldi　looked　in。
　〃Gentlemen；　a　happy　good　morning　to　you　both。　I　thought　I　heard　your　voices　and　hoped　you　would　be　awake。　I　bring　you　a　message　from　your　friend　。　。　。〃
　〃Steengo　…　you've　seen　him？〃
　〃Indeed　I　did。　We　had　a　friendly　chat　before　you　awoke。　Then；　before　he　left；　he　made　this　recording。　Told　me　to　give　it　to　you。　Told　me　you　would　understand。〃
　He　placed　a　small　recorder　on　the　table；　stepped　back。　〃The　green　button　is　to　play；　red　to　stop。〃　Then　he　was　gone。
　〃A　message？〃　Floyd　asked；　picking　the　thing　up　and　staring　at　it。
　Press　the　button　instead　of　fiddling　with　the　damn　thing！〃
　He　looked　startled　at　my　tone；　put　it　back　on　the　table　and　turned　it　on。
　〃Good　morning　there；　Jim　and　Floyd。　You　guys　are　sure　sound　sleepers　and　I　didn't　want　to　wake　you　before　I　went　out。　You　know；　I'm　beginning　to　think　that　this　city　is　not　for　me。　I　need　some　space　to　get　my　thoughts　together。　I'm　going　to　take　a　walk　back　down　the　wall；　get　some　air　to　breathe；　some　space　to　think　in。　You　hang　in　there　and　I'll　be　in　touch。〃
　〃That　old　Steengo；〃　Floyd　said。　〃What　a　character。　That's　him　all　right。　His　voice；　sure　enough；　and　his　way　of　thinking。　Some　guy！〃
　I　looked　up；　looked　him　in　the　eye。　His　face　was　as　grim　as　mine。　He　shook　his　head　in　a　silent　no。　I　did　the　same。
　Steengo　had　not　left　that　message。　It　was　his　voice　all　right。　Easy　enough　for　the　electronic　technicians　to　fake　that。
　Steengo　was　gone。
　What　had　happened？
　
　CHAPTER　18
　I　really　slept；〃　I　said。　〃Like　a　rock。　Thirsty。〃
　〃The　same。　I'll　get　some　juice　and　a　couple　of　glasses。〃
　〃Great　idea。〃
　I　had　scribbled　the　note　by　the　time　he　came　back；　slipped　it　to　him　when　I　took　the　glass。　He　opened　it　behind　the　pitcher；　read　it。
　Place　bugged。　What　do　we　do？
　He　nodded　as　he　passed　me　my　glass　of　juice。
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said；　watching　him　turn　over　the　note　and　write　on　the　back。　I　don't　know　if　there　were　optical　bugs　as　well　as　the　audio　ones。　Until　we　found　out　we　had　to　act　as　though　there　were。　I　kept　the　note　in　my　palm　when　I　read　it。
　Steengo　much　concerned。　Left　these　for　you　before　we　went　to　the　show。
　I　finished　the　juice；　put　my　glass　down；　lifted　my　eyebrows　quizzically。　He　pointed　quic