hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第35节

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nnels。　I　was　only　vaguely　aware　of　our　two　guides；　Floyd　and　the　scuttling　form　of　Fido。　The　next　time　we　stopped　I　sagged　against　the　wall。　Enough　was　enough　yet　already。
　〃You　will　both　stay　here　with　Dreadnought；〃　Indefatigable　manded。　〃You　will　be　sent　for。〃
　Nor　would　our　watcher　answer　any　questions　in　the　few　minutes　that　we　waited。　〃Proceed；〃　a　voice　manded　and　we　did。　Into　a　dimly　lit　chamber　that　appeared　glaringly　bright　to　our　dark…adapted　eyes。　A　half…dozen　young　men；　garbed　like　our　guides；　sat　on　the　other　side　of　a　long　table。
　〃Stand　here；〃　Indefatigable　ordered；　then　joined　Dreadnought　and　sat　down　with　the　others。
　〃No　chairs　for　us？〃　I　asked；　but　was　ignored。　Fido　felt　equally　irked；　jumped　up　onto　the　table　and　barked。　Jumped　back　to　the　floor　to　dodge　the　swing　of　a　fist。
　〃Shut　up；〃　one　of　the　men　suggested。　〃We　are　awaiting　orders。　We　are　here；　Alphamega。〃
　They　all　turned　to　look　at　a　red　box　on　the　table。　It　was　made　of　plastic　and　was　featureless　except　for　louvers　on　one　side。
　〃Are　the　two　Outsiders　you　told　me　of　present　as　well？〃　the　box　asked。　The　voice　was　flat　and　mechanical　and　obviously　cycled　through　a　speech　occulter。
　〃They　are。〃
　〃I　speak　to　you；　Outsiders。　I　have　been　told　that　you　e　here　seeking　an　object　taken　from　you。〃
　〃That　is　correct；　speaking…box。〃
　〃What　is　the　function　of　this　object？〃
　〃You　tell　me…you　stole　it　from　us。〃　I　was　beginning　to　get　teed　off　at　all　this　cloak…and…dagger　stuff。
　〃Your　attitude　is　unacceptable。　Answer　my　question　or　be　punished。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath…and　reined　in　my　temper。
　〃I'd　like　that；〃　Floyd　said　cheerfully；　as　fed　up　as　I　was　with　all　this　nonsense。
　Where　the　discussion　would　have　gone　from　here　would　never　be　known　because　at　that　moment　running　footsteps　sounded　and　a　wild…eyed　young　man　burst　into　the　room。
　〃Alarm！　Watchpatrol　ing！〃
　The　sound　of　a　number　of　thudding　feet　added　a　note　of　urgency　to　his　warning。　But　at　least　our　captors　were　prepared　for　the　emergency。　A　door　opened　in　the　wall　behind　them　and　there　was　a　rush　to　get　through　it。　The　newer；　who　must　have　known　what　would　happen；　was　the　last　one　in　the　crowd　to　jump　to　safety。
　The　table　was　in　the　way。　I　launched　myself　across　it　just　in　time　to　have　the　concealed　door　slammed　in　my　face。　I　kicked　it　but　it　didn't　budge。　I　looked　at　the　now　silent　box。
　〃Speak　up；　Alphamega。　How　do　we　get　out　of　this？〃
　The　red　box　crackled…then　burst　into　flame。　Melted　into　a　pool　of　plastic。　〃Thanks；〃　I　said。
　〃Any　other　way　out？〃　Floyd　asked。
　〃Not　that　I　can　see。〃
　The　rapid　footsteps　were　just　outside。　Before　I　could　dig　out　a　gas　bomb　the　scrum　of　armed　men　burst　into　the　room。
　Things　got　busy。　Floyd　dropped　the　first　three　who　came　through　the　door　while　I　tackled　the　next　two。　Then　the　going　got　tough　because　more　and　more　kept　pushing　in。　Some　had　body　armor；　all　of　them　had　transparent　riot　masks　attached　to　their　spiked　helmets。　They　didn't　try　to　shoot　us；　but　rather　enjoyed　clubbing　us　with　their　guns。
　Something　hard　got　me　on　the　back　of　the　head　and　I　staggered　and　fell。　Before　they　jumped　me　the　last　thing　I　saw　was　Fido　going　up　the　wall　like　a　spider　and　vanishing　in　the　darkness　there。　Then　I　got　thudded　and　had　a　nice　darkness　of　my　own。
　〃Feeling　any　better；　Jim？〃　a　distant　voice　said　and　I　felt　something　wet　and　cool　on　my　forehead。
　〃Shbsha　。　。　。〃　I　said；　or　something　like　that。　Chomped　my　dry　mouth　and　opened　my　eyes。　Floyd's　face　swam　blurrily　into　view。　I　blinked　and　saw　that　he　was　smiling。　He　put　the　cold　cloth　back　onto　my　forehead；　which　felt　very　nice。
　〃You　got　a　bad　one　on　the　back　of　your　head；〃　he　said。　〃They　didn't　hit　me　quite　as　hard。〃
　I　started　to　say　Where　are　we？　but　figured　that　was　a　pretty　dim　question　with　an　obvious　answer。　I　could　see　a　barred　door　which　was　hint　enough。　It　hurt　when　I　sat　up　on　the　bunk。　Floyd　handed　me　a　plastic　cup　of　water　which　I　gurgled　down　and　passed　back　for　a　refill。　I　patted　my　pockets　and　the　seams　of　my　trousers　hopefully…but　all　my　concealed　weaponry　was　gone。
　〃Seen　any　dogs　around　lately？〃
　〃Nope。〃
　So　that　was　that。　Hit　on　the　head。　Imprisoned。　Deserted　by　man's　best　friend。　Somewhere　underground　so　my　jaw　radio　probably　wouldn't　work。　Just　in　case　I　clacked　hard　and　called　for　attention；　but　couldn't　even　get　any　static。
　〃Well…it　could　be　worse；〃　Floyd　said　in　a　repellently　cheery　fashion。　I　was　about　to　curse　him　out　when　he　got　just　the　answer　he　deserved。
　〃And　it　will　be。　You　will　be　dead；〃　the　man　said　from　the　other　side　of　the　barred　door。　〃Instantly。　If　you　attempt　to　touch　me　or　the　Killerbot　behind　me。　Is　that　clear？〃
　He　was　gray…haired；　stern…faced；　dressed　in　the　same　bat　fatigues　and　spiked　helmet　as　everyone　else　whom　we　had　seen　here。　The　only　difference　was　that　his　spike　was　gold　and　had　stylized　wings　on　it。　He　moved　aside　and　pointed　at　the　very　deadly…looking　collection　of　mobile　military　hardware　behind　him。　All　guns；　clubs；　wheels；　knives　and　metal　teeth。　Teeth　for　tearing　out　throats？
　I　had　no　intention　of　finding　out。　〃Follow　me；〃　our　captor　said；　turning　and　walking　away。　The　cell　door　clicked　and　swung　open。　Floyd　and　I　shuffled　out　and　followed　him　at　a　discreet　distance。　Clanking　and　rattling；　the　Killerbot　rumbled　along　behind　us。
　The　hallway；　while　being　a　depressing　and　drab　tone　of　gray；　was　at　least　well　lit。　At　regular　intervals　were　framed　photographs…apparently　all　of　the　same　individual　from　what　I　could　see　as　we　walked　past。　Or　of　a　number　of　scowling　military　types　differing　only　in　the　braid　and　the　medals　on　their　camouflage　suits。
　Our　host　turned　into　a　doorway　that　was　flanked　by　studded　steel　columns。　We　followed…all　too　aware　of　the　clanking　apparatus　just　behind。
　〃Impressive；〃　I　said；　looking　around　the　giant　chamber。　Black　marble　floor　and　walls。　A　large　window　looking　out　onto　a　military　camp　filled　with　flapping　flags；　marching　troops；　rows　of　armor…plated　vehicles。　Since　we　were　deep　underground　it　was　obviously　a　projection…but　a　very　good　one。　These　militaristic　themes　were　also　carried　through　in　the　interior　decorations；　light　fixtures　made　of　aerial　bombs；　machine…gun　flowerpots；　draperies　assembled　from　tattered；　ancient　banners。　I　found　it　horribly　depressing。
　Without　looking　back　our　captor　marched　around　the　gigantic　conference　table　and　sat　down　in　the　single；　high…backed　chair　there。　With　a　wave　of　his　hand　he　indicated　the　two　smaller　chairs　before　us。
　〃Sit；〃　he　manded。　Behind　us　was　a　clank　and　rattle；　a　hiss　of　escaping　steam。　We　sat。
　Something　brushed　my　ankle　and　I　looked　down　and　saw　that　padded　clamps　had　swung　into　position　to　secure　my　legs；　motors　whirred　and　they　tightened。
　I　threw　my　arms　into　the　air　just　as　clamps　from　the　chair　arms　swung　out　and　clicked　shut　on　empty　air。
　〃Not　wise；〃　our　host　said。　There　was　a　clank…clank　close　behind　me　and　what　could　only　have　been　a　gun…muzzle　ground　into　the　back　of　my　neck。　The　wrist　clamps　snapped　open。　I　sighed　and　dropped　my　arms。　I　didn't　have　to　look　to　know　that　Floyd　had　been　imprisoned　the　same　way。
　〃Leave。〃
　When　his　master　manded　the　ambulatory　war…machine　clanked　and　rumbled　out　of　the　room　and　I　heard　the　immense　doors　close。
　〃I　am　The　mander；〃　our　captor　said；　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and　lighting　a　large；　green　cigar。
　〃Is　that　your　title　or　your　name？〃　I　asked。
　〃Both；〃　he　said；　blowing　a　ring　of　blue　smoke　towards　the　ceiling。　〃I　have　imprisoned　you　since　I　do　not　wish　to　be　attacked…nor　do　I　wish　to　have　anyone　or　anything　present　while　we　talk。〃　He　touched　a　button　on　his　desk　and　looked　at　pulsing　purple　light。　〃And　now　we　are　secure　against　eavesdropping。〃
　〃Going　to　tell　us　who　all　you　guys　are；　what　you　are　doing　here　and　that　sort　of　thing？〃　I　asked。
　〃Assuredly。　We　are　The　Survivalists。〃
　〃I　think　I　heard　a　reference　to　your　mob　before。〃
　〃Undoubtedly。　During　the　years　of　the　Breakdown　there　were　a　number　of　groups　with　that　name。　We　are　the　only　ones　who　deserve　it　since　we　are　the　only　ones　who　survive。〃
　〃Survivalists；〃　Floyd　said；　and　went　on　as　though　reading　from　a　book。　〃Groups　who　believed　in　the　inevitability　of　the　ing　war；　as　well　as　the　inability　of　their　own　governments　to　protect　them；　who　then　withdrew　from　society　into　underground　bunkers　equipped　with　food；　water；　ammunition　and　supplies　adequate　to　survive　any　catastrophe。　None　survive。〃
　〃Very　good…you　are　quoting　from　。　。　。　？〃
　〃Handbook　of　Historical　Nuts；　Cults　and　Saviors。〃
　〃Very　good…except　for　the　title　and　the　last　line。　We　survived。〃
　〃A　little　too　well；〃　I　said。　〃The　Breakdown　Wars　are　long　gone　and　the　galaxy　is　at　peace　now。〃
　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that。　Just　don't　tell　anyone　else　here。〃
　〃Why　not？　But　let　me　guess。　You　want　to　keep　them　stupid　and　in　line　because　you　are　onto　a　very　good　thing。　For　as　long　as　there　is　war　or　the　threat　of　war　those　in　charge　tend　to　stay　in　charge。　Which；　of　course；　is　you。〃
　〃An　excellent　summation；　Jim。　Though　there　are　those　who　are　unhappy　with　the　state　of　things　。　。　。〃
　〃We've　met　them。　Youngsters　who　perhaps　aren't　too　happy　with　the　militaristic　status　quo　and　war　forever。　Who　perhaps　prefer　a　future　in　the　bosom　of　thei