the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第15节

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esent　to　try　to　enter　or　leave　the　base。　The　guards　would　be　suspicious　and　reinforced　and　the　place　crawling　with　troops。　Which　of　course　gave　me　the　clue　as　to　what　I　had　to　do。　Turn　their　strength　against　them；　use　their　own　numbers　to　defeat　them；　judo　on　a　giant　basis。　But　how？
　　　　The　answer　came　quickly　enough　once　the　problem　had　been　correctly　stated；　I　put　together　the　equipment　I　would　need；　it　was　quite　bulky；　then　stowed　it　all　into　a　large　suitcase　and　fitted　the　suitcase　with　a　destruct　apparatus。　A　disguise　would　be　needed；　nothing　plex；　just　something　to　hide　my　real…assumed　identity。　Ahh；　the　levels　of　deception　we　must　enter　into。　A　long　coat　buttoned　high　concealed　my　uniform；　my　cap　went　into　my　pocket　to　be　replaced　by　a　floppy　black　hat；　and　my　old　faithful　gray　beard　muzzled　my　face　in　anonymity。　I　was　ready。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　a　small　drink　and　slipped　out；　locking　the　door　behind　me　and　pocketing　the　key。　As　I　went　out　I　slipped　this　into　a　waste　chute　and　the　flare　of　instant　destruction　brightened　my　way。　Going　a　good　distance　from　the　hotel　I　signaled　and　a　robocab　stopped　and　I　heaved　in　my　suitcase。
　　　　〃Main　entrance；　Glupost　base；〃　I　ordered　and　away　we　went。　
　　　　Madness？　Perhaps。　But　it　was　the　only　way。
　　　　Not　that　I　didn't　have　a　trapped　butterfly　or　two　beating　for　release　from　my　stomach。　This　was　only　to　be　expected　as　we　rolled　up　the　approach　street　under　the　high　lights；　towards　the　suspicious　and　heavily　armed　guards　who　stood　about　fondling　their　weapons。　Dawn　was　already　lightening　the　sky。
　　　　〃The　base　is　closed！〃　a　lieutenant　shouted；　pulling　open　the　door　of　the　cab。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　　　〃Base；〃　I　quavered　in　a　very　bad　imitation　of　an　old　man's　falsetto。　〃Isn't　this　the　Carrot　Juice　Center　for　Natural　Health？　This　cab　has　done　me　wrong　。　。　。〃
　　　　The　officious　lieutenant　snorted　through　his　nostrils　and　turned　awayand　I　rolled　a　pair　of　gas　grenades　out　through　his　bowed　legs。　And　heaved　five　more　after　them。　As　the　first　ones　went　off　I　pulled　the　gas　mask　down　out　of　my　hat　and　slapped　it　over　my　face；　beard　and　all。
　　　　My　but　things　got　busy。　The　grenades　were　a　fine　mixture　of　blackout　gas；　smoke　and　happygas。　Blind；　laughing；　cursing；　coughing　men　stumbled　about　on　all　sides　and　a　few　guns　went　off。　I　worked　my　way　through　their　confused　ranks；　sowing　more　confusion　as　I　went；　and　up　to　the　main　gates　and　put　down　my　suitcase　and　opened　it。　The　shaped　charges　had　adhesive　bases　and　stuck　to　the　steel　of　the　gate　when　I　slapped　them　into　place。
　　　　A　rocket　slug　burst　against　the　gate　and　pieces　of　shrapnel　tore　at　my　flapping　coat。　I　hit　the　ground。　Tearing　out　two　smoke　grenades　and　dropping　them　behind　me。　Just　as　the　smoke　roiled　up　I　had　a　quick　glimpse　of　a　squad　ing　up　on　the　double；　still　outside　the　gassed　area；　firing　as　they　came。　Two　more　blackout　gas　bombs　in　that　direction　helped　a　lot。　Now；　as　much　in　the　dark　as　everyone　else；　I　pushed　in　the　caps　by　touch　and　linked　them　with　fuse　wire　to　the　radio　igniter。
　　　　Time　was　passing　too　quickly。　They　were　alert　inside　the　gate　now　and　would　be　waiting　for　me。　But　I　had　e　too　far　to　back　out。　I　closed　the　suitcase；　again　by　touch；　grabbed　it　up　and　inched　my　way　along　the　wall　and　pressed　the　transmitter　switch　in　my　pocket。
　　　　Explosions　banged　out　in　the　darkness　and　were　followed　by　the　clang　of　steel。
　　　　Hopefully　an　opening　had　been　blasted　in　the　gate。
　　　　I　stumbled　back　towards　it　with　all　the　sounds　of　bedlam　in　the　darkness　around　me。

Chapter　10

　　　　The　hole　was　there　all　right；　with　glimpses　of　lights　on　the　other　side　as　the　smoke　cloud　roiled　through　it。　There　were　troops　there　too　because　a　hail　of　small　arms　fire　clanged　against　the　door　with　some　chance　slugs　ing　through　the　new…blasted　opening。　Screams　sounded　behind　me　as　someone　was　hit。　The　fools　were　shooting　each　other；　helping　to　spread　the　confusion　I　had　sown。　Keeping　out　of　the　line　of　fire　from　inside　the　gate　I　hurled　grenade　after　grenade　through　and；　when　the　smoke　was　at　its　thickest　there；　went　through　myself　as　fast　and　low　as　I　could。
　　　　It　really　sounded　great。　Sirens　were　moaning；　men　shouting；　weapons　barking：　the　voices　of　utter　confusion。　I　threw　more　grenades　in　all　directions；　throwing　them　as　far　as　I　could　to　widen　the　area　of　cover；　until　only　a　half　dozen　were　left。　These　I　saved　for　possible　emergencies；　which　were　sure　to　emerge；　jamming　them　into　my　coat　pockets。　The　self…destruct　on　the　suitcase　had　a　five…second　delay　which　I　tripped；　then　buried　the　suitcase　away　in　the　opposite　direction。　I　crept　along　the　wall；　my　only　point　of　reference　in　the　blackout；　towards　the　guardhouse　I　had　noticed　when　I　had　first　examined　the　gate。　There　had　been　a　clutch　of　vehicles　parked　thereat　the　timeand　I　muttered　prayers　that　at　least　one　of　them　still　remained。　The　cloud　thinned　and　I　buried　two　more　grenades　ahead　of　me。　In　the　darkness　I　heard　a　motor　start　up。
　　　　Forgetting　caution；　I　ran。　Someone　slammed　into　me　and　fell　heavily　but　I　kept　my　feet　and　stumbled　on。　Then　I　tripped　over　a　curb　and　did　fall；　but　did　a　quick　roll　and　came　up　running　minus　my　hat。　The　engine　was　louder　and　then　I　saw　the　squarish　van　just　beyond　the　edge　of　the　smoke　cloud。　It　was　turning　to　start　down　the　road　and　I　threw　two　of　my　remaining　four　grenades　as　far　ahead　of　it　as　I　could。　The　driver　hit　the　brakes　as　the　mushrooming　clouds　sprang　out；　then　I　was　at　the　door　tearing　it　open。　He　was　in　cook's　white；　cap　and　all；　and　I　reached　out　and　dragged　him　to　me；　landing　a　swift　right　cross　on　his　gaping　jaw　as　he　went　by。　Then　I　was　in　the　driver's　seat　and　pushing　the　thing　into　gear　and　jumping　the　deadweight　of　the　vehicle　forward　as　fast　as　I　could；　letting　the　door　swing　shut　with　the　sudden　acceleration。　Once　out　of　the　smoke　I　saw　that　daylight　had　arrived。
　　　　Well　done；　I　congratulated　myself；　then　slowed　down　to　avoid　being　conspicuous。　More　soldiers　were　ing　down　the　street　towards　me；　running　at　the　double；　so　I　slipped　down　as　far　as　I　could　and　began　to　tug　at　the　gray　beard。　It　was　just　about　time　to　resume　my　Vaska　identity。
　　　　A　ringing　pain　possessed　the　side　of　my　head　and　I　fell　over；　shouting　aloud　at　the　sudden　agony　pulling　on　the　steering　tiller　as　I　went。　The　van　rushed　at　the　squad　of　soldiers　who　scattered　in　all　directions。　Something　shiny　flashed　in　the　corner　of　my　eye　and　I　moved　aside　so　the　second　blow　caught　me　on　the　shoulder　and　was　scarcely　felt　through　all　the　clothing。　A　white　clad　arm　holding　a　heavy　pot　projected　in　from　the　rear　of　the　truck。　I　jammed　the　steering　tiller　hard　over　and　the　arm　vanished　from　sight　as　its　owner　fell。　In　the　rush　I　had　forgotten　there　might　be　others　in　the　van。
　　　　Just　before　the　truck　a　frightened　officer　was　spread…eagled　against　the　wall。　I　pushed　the　tiller　again　and　narrowly　avoided　him　and　we　had　a　good　look　at　each　other　as　the　van　rushed　by。　He　was　sure　to　be　impressed　by　my　gas　mask　and　beard　and　would　instantly　report　it　on　his　radio。　Time　was　running　out。　Ann　and　pot　reappeared　and　I　chopped　the　wrist　with　the　edge　of　my　hand　and　gained　possession　of　the　pot。　As　soon　as　I　had　whipped　the　van　around　another　corner；　foot　hard　down　on　the　throttle　now；　I　threw　the　pot　back　to　its　owner　with　a　blackout　grenade　inside；　silencing　at　least　this　source　of　trouble　for　the　moment。　I　straightened　the　weaving　course　of　the　van；　gently　touched　the　growing　knot　on　my　head；　and　noticed　a　brace　of　armored　vehicles　that　appeared　in　the　road　ahead　and　turned　in　my　direction。　Buildings　rushed　by　and　I　braked　and　turned　into　the　next　crossroad。　The　van　was　being　more　of　a　liability　than　an　asset　and　I　had　to　get　rid　of　it。
　　　　But　what　then？　I　did　not　want　to　be　found　away　from　my　quarters；　this　would　bring　instant　suspicion；　and　the　officers'　buildings　woe　in　the　opposite　direction。　But　the　officers'　club　was　not　too　far　away　in　the　recreation　area。　Could　I　get　there？　Was　it　possible　that　the　unconscious　drunks　of　the　previous　evening's　festivities　still　lay　on　the　bunks　where　I　had　left　them？　This　was　too　good　a　chance　to　miss；　because　if　I　could　get　back　into　my　bunk　I　would　certainly　not　be　suspect。
　　　　This　was　close　enough。　There　were　vehicles　ing　towards　meand　undoubtedly　more　behind　mebut　none　dose　for　the　moment。　I　twisted　the　van　into　a　narrow　street；　beaked　to　a　stop　and　hit　the　ground　running。　Shedding　my　disguise　as　I　went；　coat；　beard；　gas　mask　marking　the　trail　behind　me。　I　stuffed　the　remaining　grenade　into　my　pocket；　pulled　on　my　cap；　squared　my　shoulders　in　a　military　manner；　and　strolled　around　the　corner。　A　squad　of　soldiers　were　pouring　out　of　barracks　and　forming　ranks；　but　they　ignored　me；　just　another　uniform　among　uniforms。　The　officers'　club　was　not　too　far　away。　Two　more　corners　and　there　it　was。　The　front　door　sealed；　but　I　knew　the　bunkroom　entrance　would　be　open。
　　　　Just　as　I　was　about　to　turn　the　corner　I　heard　the　men　talking　and　I　held　back。
　　　　〃Is　that　all？〃
　　　　〃Just　a　few　more；　sir；　a　couple　that　are　hard　to　wake　up。　And　one　who　won't　get　out　of　his　bunk。〃　
　　　　〃I'll　talk　to　him。〃　
　　　　I　took　a　quick　look；　then　drew　back。
　　　　I　was　too　late。　An　officer　was　just　entering　the　bunkroom　door　and　plen