hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第31节

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　There　was　a　rousing　cheer　from　all　except　Steengo　who　looked　unhappy　at　the　thought　of　all　of　his　instruments　reduced　to　a　pile　of　particles。　But　Madonette；　ever　resourceful；　had　done　a　bit　of　work　before　she　mentioned　the　gig。
　〃I've　asked　around　among　the　girls。　They　tell　me　that　there　is　a　really　nice　chamber　group　here；　as　well　as　a　symphony　orchestra…they　must　have　at　least　one　instrument　Steengo　can　play。〃
　〃Any　of　them；　all　of　them…just　unleash　me！〃　he　said　and　now　it　was　smiles　and　cheers　all　around。
　Due　to　the　miracles　of　modern　medicines；　curing　and　healing　drugs；　pain…killers　and　a　large　shot　of　booze　for　Steengo；　we　were　ready　to　do　our　performance　later　this　same　day。　A　matinee；　since　night　here　was　still　a　couple　of　our　days　away　and　not　worth　waiting　for。
　There　was　quite　a　turnout　at　the　sports　stadium。　Cheers　and　shouts　of　joy　greeted　us　and　no　one　seemed　to　mind　that　Steengo　was　not　only　out　of　costume　but　playing　from　a　wheelchair。　If　this　was　to　be　the　last　curtain　for　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　we　meant　to　make　it　a　performance　to　remember。　Leaving　the　more　militaristic　and　macho　songs　aside　for　the　moment　we　launched　into　a　mellow　blues　number。
　Blue　world　…　
Hear　me　singing　my　song。　
Blue　world　…　
What's　it　I　done　wrong？　
Blue　world　…　
You　gonna　help　me　along　
Blue　wor…r…r…ld。　
Here　we　are　
We　ain't　goin'　away。　
Here　we　are　
On　this　planet　to　stay。　
Blue　wor…rr…ld。　

Landing　was　easy；　
Plenty　of　fun。　
Down　came　our　rocket　…　
'Neath　the　blue　sun。　
Landing　was　great　
Everything　swell。　
Now　it's　all　over；　
Living　is　hell；　
Down　here　at　the　bottom　of　the　gravity　well。
　We　did　many　an　encore　this　day。　Finished　finally　with　the　feeling　of　exhaustion　and　happiness　that　only　es　with　an　artistic　job　well　done。　Sleep　came　easily　but；　unable　to　resist；　I　took　one　last　peek　at　the　days　remaining　before　closing　my　eyes。
　Still　seven。　Still　a　week。　Plenty　of　time　for　my　good　buddy　Admiral　Steengo　to　kick　butt　and　e　up　with　the　antidote。　I　think　I　was　smiling　when　I　closed　my　eyes　which；　when　you　think　about　it；　was　quite　a　change　from　the　preceding　twenty…seven　days。　Yes　it　was。
　Then　why　wasn't　I　going　to　sleep？　Instead　of　lying　there　tensely　staring　into　the　darkness。　An　easy　answer。
　Until　the　happy　moment　when　I　pulled　back　the　plunger　and　shot　up　with　the　antidote　I　had　only　seven　days　to　live。
　Nighty…night；　Jim。　Sleep　well　。　。　。
　
　CHAPTER　22
　Either　I　was　a　slugabed　or　the　admiral；　released　from　his　role　as　a　musician；　was　a　workaholic。　Or　both。　Because　by　the　time　I　had　appeared　he　had　single…handedly　organized　our　expedition　down　to　the　last　detail。　He　was　muttering　over　the　heap　of　apparatus　as　he　punched　the　checklist　into　his　handheld。　He　glanced　up；　waved　vaguely；　then　finished　off　the　last　items。
　〃This　is　your　new　backpack。　It　contains　a　number　of　items　you　will　probably　need…and　here's　a　printout　of　what's　inside　it。　I　assume　that　you　have　a　good　deal　of　illegal　and　possibly　deadly　items　in　your　old　pack　which　you　can　transfer　after　I　leave。　Aida　is　assembling　another　tachyometer　and　I'm　going　to　get　it　now。　Floyd　will　join　you　shortly…and　here　is　Madonette；　wele；　wele。〃
　Steengo　made　as　graceful　an　exit　as　he　could　on　crutches。　Madonette；　a　picture　of　good　cheer；　swept　in　and　took　both　of　my　hands　in　hers。　Then　discovered　that　this　wasn't　an　enthusiastic　enough　greeting　so　she　kissed　me　warmly　on　my　cheek。　My　arms　embraced　her　in　automatic　response；　but　closed　on　empty　air　since　she　had　already　whirled　away　and　dropped　onto　the　couch。
　〃I　wish　that　I　were　ing　with　you；　Jim…but　I　know　that　it's　impossible。　Still；　I'm　not　looking　forward　to　getting　back　to　the　stuffy　old　office。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　miss　you；〃　I　said。　Meaning　it　to　be　a　calm　statement　but　listening　to　myself　in　horror　as　it　came　out　all　dewy…eyed　and　smarmy。　〃All　of　us　will　miss　you；　of　course。〃
　〃Same　here。　There　were　some　hairy　moments…but　you　took　care　of　everything；　didn't　you？〃　The　warmth　and　appreciation　were　such　that　I　could　feel　myself　blushing。　〃All　in　all　I　think　it　was　an　experience　of　a　lifetime。　And　I　am　definitely　not　going　back　to　all　those　files　and　staff　meetings　and　sealed　windows。　It's　field　work　from　now　on。　Out　in　the　fresh　air？　Isn't　that　a　good　idea？〃
　〃Wonderful；　yes　indeed；〃　I　said；　missing　her　already。　I　don't　know　where　all　this　might　have　ended　if　Floyd　hadn't　made　a　disgustingly　cheerful　entrance。
　〃Morning　all。　Good　day　for　the　expedition。　Hi　and　unhappily　good…by　Madonette；　panion　of　many　an　adventure。　It　has　been　fun　working　with　you。〃
　〃Could　you　teach　me　unarmed　defense？〃
　〃My　pleasure。　Easy　enough　if　you　work　at　it。〃
　〃Then　I　could　train　to　be　a　field　agent？〃
　〃Probably　not。　But　I'll　sure　look　into　it。〃
　〃Would　you！　I'd　be　ever　grateful。　I　was　telling　Jim　that　I　don't　want　to　work　in　an　office　anymore。〃
　〃Nor　should　you！　A　girl　with　your　talents　can　find　much　better　occupation。〃
　They　smiled　at　each　other　from　opposite　ends　of　the　couch；　knees　almost　touching；　wrapped　up　in　each　other。　I　was　forgotten。　I　hated　Floyd's　guts。　Was　more　than　happy　to　hear　the　thud　of　crutches　and　the　dragging　footsteps　approaching。
　〃All　here；〃　Steengo　said。　〃Very　good。　The　tachyometer　is　ready。〃
　The　thing　that　was　following　him　now　trotted　forward。　Walking；　stiff…legged；　was　the　ugliest　fake　dog　that　I　had　ever　seen　in　my　life。　It　was　covered　in　black　artificial　fur　with　handfuls　missing；　had　beady　black　eyes　like　buttons；　stuck　out　a　dry　red　tongue　as　it　barked。
　〃Bow…wow。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　‘bow…wow'？〃　I　gasped　aloud。　〃What　is　this　repulsive　object？〃
　〃The　tachyometer；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said。
　〃Bow…wow；〃　it　barked　again。　〃And　for　convenience　sake　the　tachyometer　is　mounted　within　this　mobile　terminal。〃
　〃Aida？〃　I　said。
　〃None　other。　Do　you　like　this　disguise？〃
　〃I　have　never　seen　a　more　artificial　artificial　dog　in　my　life！　〃
　〃Well　don't　get　too　insulting　about　it。　Fido　is　state　of　the　art…and　that　is　modern　art　if　you　are　thinking　something　nasty。　For　one　thing　the　dear　little　doggy　municates　with　me　by　gravimetric　waves　which；　as　I　am　sure　you　know；　cannot　be　blocked　like　radio　waves。　They　penetrate　the　most　solid　buildings；　cut　through　the　most　gigantic　mountain　ranges。　So　we　are　always　in　munication；　always　in　touch。　Admittedly　Fido　here　has　seen　better　days。　But　you　know　what　they　say　about　beggars？〃
　〃I　do。　But　we're　choosers　without　being　beggars　and　I　choose　a　better　mobile　terminal。〃
　〃Your　choice；　handsome。　Give　me　two　days　and　you　can　have　whatever　you　want。〃
　Two　days？　And　I　had　like　maybe　six　and　a　half　to　live　unless　the　antidote　arrived。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　whistled。
　〃Here　Fido。　Nice　doggie。　Let's　go　walkies。〃
　〃Bow…wow；〃　it　said　and　began　to　pant　most　artificially。
　〃This　is　the　plan；〃　Admiral　Steengo　said。　〃I　will　monitor　this　operation　from　the　orbiting　spacer　along　with　Captain　Tremearne。　Jim　and　Floyd　will　head　north　in　the　direction　taken　by　the　missing　artifact。　Aida　will　be　in　contact　with　this　terminal；　that　will　also　be　searching　for　a　tachyon　emission　source。〃　He　appeared　to　run　out　of　words　and　rubbed　his　jaw。
　〃A　nice　plan；〃　I　said；　but　I　could　not　keep　a　certain　tone　of　derision　out　of　my　voice。　〃Cooked　down　to　essentials　it　means　that　we　just　trot　north　until　something　happens。〃
　〃A　satisfactory　interpretation。　Good　luck。〃
　〃Thanks。　And　you　will　keep　the　other　and　most　pressing　matter　of　a　certain　injection　on　the　top　of　your　agenda？〃
　〃I　shall　query　the　people　involved　hourly　on　the　hour；〃　he　said　grimly…and　I　think　he　meant　it。
　We　filled　our　packs；　kept　the　good…bys　as　brief　as　possible；　loaded　up　and　followed　Fido　out　without　a　backward　glance。　I　liked　Madonette。　Perhaps　too　much　while　I　was　on　an　assignment　like　this。　Go；　Jim；　go　I　cozened。　Follow　your　wandering　tachyon。
　We　followed　the　flapping　black　nylon　tail　through　the　streets　and　onward　to　the　outlying　farms。　The　women　we　met　waved　happily；　some　even　whistling　bits　of　our　tunes　to　cheer　us　on　the　way。　The　last　farm　fell　behind　us　and　the　open　plains　opened　out　ahead。　I　clacked　my　jaw…radio。
　〃Are　you　there；　Tremearne？〃
　〃Listening　in。〃
　〃Any　tribes　of　nomads　around…or　up　ahead？〃
　〃Negative。〃
　〃Any　buildings；　farms；　people；　sheots　…　anything　visible　on　this　heading？〃
　〃Negative。　We've　done　a　detailed　scan　as　far　north　as　the　polar　ace。　Nothing。〃
　〃Thanks。　Over　and　out。〃　Wonderful。
　〃Empty　on　all　sides；　nothing　at　all　ahead；〃　I　reported　to　Floyd。　〃So　we　just　stay　on　this　heading　until　our　plastic　retriever　detects　any　tachyons…or　we　reach　the　north　pole　and　freeze　to　death。〃
　〃I've　been　meaning　to　ask。　What's　a　tachyon？〃
　〃Good　question。　Up　until　now　I　thought　it　was　just　a　theoretical　unit　that　the　physicists　dreamed　up　in　order　to　explain　how　the　universe　works。　One　of　the　subatomic　entities　that　exist　either　as　waves　or　particles。　Until　they　are　observed　they　have　no　real　existence。　It　has　been　said；　and　who　am　I　to　doubt　it；　that　they　exist　in　a　probabilities　limbo　of　many　possible　superimposed　states。〃　I　noticed　that　Floyd's　jaw　was　beginning　to　drop；　his　eyes　to　glaze。　He　shook　his　head。
　〃You　are　going　to　have　to　try　harder；　Jim…you　lost　me　a　long　time　back。〃
　〃Right；　sorry。　Try　this。　Ther