the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第24节

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　the　others。
　　　　When　I　straightened　up　I　saw　that　Otrov　and　all　but　one　of　the　gray　men　were　dozing　happily　in　a　heap；　while　my　rescuers　put　down　the　final　one。　He　was　a　big　bruiser　and　fought　well；　but　he　was　outclassed　and　soon　unconscious。　Which　was　interesting　because　both　of　his　attackers　were　womendressed　in　skimpy　and　colorful　Burada　shifts　and　the　high…heeled　local　shoes。　The　nearest　one　turned　and　I　recognized　Sergeant　Taze　and　some　of　the　pieces　began　to　fall　into　place。
　　　　The　other　woman　was　smaller　and　quite　neatly　formed；　with　a　figure　I　remembered　and　a　face　I　could　not　forget。　My　wife。
　　　　〃There；　there；〃　Angelina　said；　patting　me　on　one　cheek　and　giving　me　a　quick　kiss　on　the　other。　〃I　hope　you　can　run　a　bit；　darling；　because　more　of　these　thugs　are　on　the　way。〃　A　projectile　of　some　kind　whined　by　to　punctuate　the　statement。
　　　　〃Run　。　。　。　〃　I　said　hoarsely　and　staggered　off；　still　not　quite　sure　what　had　happened　but　at　least　still　bright　enough　to　not　ask　any　questions。　Taze　put　her　arm　around　me；　getting　me　going　in　the　right　direction　and　pulling　me　along；　while　my　Angelina　relieved　me　of　the　weight　of　box　and　cable。　We　rushed　away　like　that　and　I'm　sure　we　made　a　charming　sight；　me　in　my　transparent　coveralls　and　the　girls　in　their　neat　little　frocks；　except　no　one　was　on　the　street　to　appreciate　the　scene。
　　　　〃Keep　going！〃　Taze　shouted　as　she　dragged　me　around　a　corner。　There　were　explosions　close　behind　us。　I　ignored　everything　except　putting　one　foot　in　front　of　the　other　as　fast　as　I　could　and　wondered　just　how　long　I　would　last。
　　　　Taze　seemed　to　know　what　she　was　doing。　Before　we　had　gone　very　far　in　this　new　direction　she　turned；　half　carried　me　up　a　few　steps　and　into　a　building。　She　threw　the　bolts　on　the　heavy　door　and　we　staggered　on；　a　little　slower　now；　through　deserted　offices　of　some　kind；　to　the　rear　where　the　windows　faced　on　a　courtyard。　There　was　a　good　sized　drop　here　and　Taze　went　first；　lithe　as　a　big　cat；　then　helped　me　down　with　Angelina　lowering　from　above。　I　was　as　putty　in　their　hands；　and　a　very　nice　sensation　it　was　too。　Taze　ran　ahead　to　open　a　large　door。　Inside　was　a　Cliaand　mand　car　with　a　general's　flag　still　flying　from　the　antenna。　
　　　　〃That's　more　like　it；〃　I　said；　walking　over　on　rubbery　legs。
　　　　〃In　the　back　you　two；〃　Taze　ordered；　pulling　on　a　military　jacket　and　pushing　her　hair　up　under　a　Cliaand　helmet。　I　did　not　ask　what　had　happened　to　the　original　owner。　Angelina　was　right　behind　me　when　I　crawled　into　the　back　and　collapsed　on　the　floor；　snuggling　her　warm　round　curves　up　against　me。　I　felt　very　fortable　as　the　car　bounced　forward。　I　enjoyed　a　good　hug　and　a　kiss　before　I　could　get　in　any　questions。
　　　　〃Your　figure　has　improved；〃　I　managed　to　gasp　when　I　came　up　for　air。
　　　　〃You'll　be　so　happy　to　know　that　you　are　now　the　proud　father　of　twins。　Both　boys。　With　big　mouths　and　hearty　appetites　like　their　father。　I've　named　them　James　and　Bolivar　after　you。〃　
　　　　〃Anything　you　say；　my　sweet。　I　suppose　you　would　not　mind　telling　me　how　you　came　to　be　here　at　this　most　opportune　moment？〃　
　　　　〃I　came　to　take　care　of　you；　and　as　you　can　see　I　was　right。〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　I　said；　and　nodded　dimly　at　this　fine　bit　of　female　logic。　〃Mechanically；　I　mean。　The　last　I　saw　you　were　headed　for　the　hospital　with　a　bulge　in　your　midriff　and　the　light　of　motherhood　in　your　eyes。〃
　　　　〃Well　that　all　worked　out　fine　as　I've　told　you；　weren't　you　listening？　Then　I　heard　that　these　filthy　Cliaand　people　were　off　to　invade　another　planet　and　that　you　were　probably　taking　part　in　the　invasion。〃　
　　　　〃Inskipp　told　you　all　this？〃
　　　　〃Of　course　not！〃　She　sniffed　delicately　at　the　thought。　〃I　broke　into　his　files　and　found　the　records。　He　was　very　angry　but　did　not　try　to　stop　me　when　I　came　here　with　the　follow…up　team。　I　imagine　he　knew　better　than　to　interfere。　In　fact　he　promised　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　nurse　and　the　children　for　me。　We　went　into　orbit；　received　the　message　and　I　came　down；　that's　about　all　there　is　to　it。　Let　me　try　this　lockpick　on　that　horrid　collar　thing　you're　wearing。　I　don't　know　why　you　ever　let　them　treat　you　like　this。〃　
　　　　〃There　are　one　or　two　gaps　in　your　story；〃　I　insisted。　〃Like　what　message？〃
　　　　〃My　message；〃　Taze　said；　who　had　been　shamelessly　eavesdropping　while　she　drove。　〃You　forget　that　I　am　a　sergeant　in　the　Guard　and　I　had　seen　the　message　you　prepared；　the　one　they　took　away。　So　of　course　I　had　memorized　it　as　well　as　the　radio　frequencies。　Those　swine　took　me　to　a　prison　camp　for　civilians　so　I　left　it　that　same　night。〃　Taze　was　quite　sure　of　herself　and；　looking　back　at　the　record；　I　realized　she　had　cause　to　be。
　　　　〃I　came　down　in　a　scout　ship　as　soon　as　the　call　was　heard。〃　Angelina　diddled　with　the　lockpick　while　she　talked。　〃I　had　to　shoot　my　way　in　which　certainly　was　not　hard　to　do。　For　galaxy　conquerors　these　people　are　very　indifferent　pilots。　Then　I　met　Taze。〃　Angelina　touched　her　lips　to　my　ear　and　hissed　coldly。　〃How　well　do　you　know　this　girl？〃　She　twisted　the　collar　at　the　same　time。
　　　　〃Just　met　her　that　once。〃　I　gasped；　and　the　pressure　let　off。　〃Not　my　type　at　all。〃　
　　　　〃You　like　them　buxom　like　that；　don't　lie　to　me　Jim　diGriz。〃　
　　　　I　blinked　rapidly　and　tried　to　restore　the　conversation　to　its　original　direction。
　　　　〃But　then；　how　did　you　find　me？　What　did　you　do？〃　
　　　　〃Simple　enough。〃　There　was　a　click　and　the　collar　snapped　open。　I　rubbed　my　sore　neck　with　relief。　'　〃There　is　only　one　building　where　these　men　in　gray　uniforms　operate。　We　watched　it；　trying　to　find　a　way　in。　Our　only　trouble　was　the　soldiers；　trying　to　pick　us　up　all　the　time。　But　we　extracted　information　from　them。　And　this　car。〃
　　　　I　had　a　vision　of　these　two　murderous　curies　slowly　decimating　the　Cliaandian　invasion　with　their　own　secret　weapons；　and　knew　enough　not　to　ask　about　the　fate　of　the　driver　and　his　friends。
　　　　〃Now　tell　us　what　happened　to　you；〃　Angelina　said；　and　snuggled　down　to　hear　a　good　story。　〃I'm　dying　to　find　out　what　this　thing　is　they　had　on　your　neck　and　why　in　heaven　you　are　wearing　that　awful　transparent　suit。〃
　　　　I　told　them　all　right；　and　was　rewarded　with　a　number　of　girlish　gasps；　and　at　least　one　screech　when　I　got　to　the　wrist　part。　Taze　even　stopped　the　car　so　she　could　look　at　the　scars　too。　After　that　they　listened　in　cold…eyed　stillness　and　I　almost　felt　sorry　for　any　of　the　gray　men　they　might　meet　in　the　future。　By　the　time　I　had　finished　my　fascinating　and　slightly　repulsive　story　we　had　arrived　at　wherever　we　were　going。　A　wide　door　opened　at　our　approach　and　closed　behind　us。　Other　girls　were　there；　well　armed　and　attractive　for　the　most　part；　and　I　wondered　how　the　Konsolosluk　party　had　ever　managed　to　muster　up　a　resistance　to　a　government　like　this。　Thank　the　Cliaandians　for　that。　When　it　es　to　governments　and　armies　I'm　pretty　much　of　an　anarchist　and　think　least　is　best　in　both　departments。　But　if　you　have　to　have　them　it　sure　helps　if　they　are　pretty。　I　shook　my　head；　realizing　that　my　thoughts　still　hadn't　a　firm　grip　on　reality；　and　let　myself　be　led　to　a　room　where　there　was　a　very　enticing　army　cot。　I　dropped　onto　it。
　　　　〃Clothes；〃　I　said；　〃and　drink；　and　not　necessarily　in　that　order。〃　I　tucked　a　corner　of　the　blanket　coyly　over　me。　Not　out　of　shame；　rather　that　these　alert　amazons　should　not　be　subject　to　temptation。　And　besides；　my　wife　was　there。　She　knew　very　well　what　I　meant　by　drink　and　pushed　aside　the　glass　of　water　one　of　the　ladies　was　trying　to　force　on　me　and　passed　over　a　small　flask　of　potent　brew。　It　burned　sweetly　down　my　throat　and　sent　tendrils　of　fire　into　my　brain。
　　　　〃I'm　afraid　my　thoughts　。　。　。　my　sense　of　reality　is　still　a　little　confused；〃　I　admitted；　and　from　the　look　on　Angelina's　face　I　knew　that　she　was　already　aware　of　it。　〃They　did　something　to　me；　don't　know　what；　but　it'll　wear　off　soon　I'm　sure。〃
　　　　〃I'll　kill　them；　every　one；　terribly；〃　Angelina　said　through　tight　clenched　teeth　and　there　was　a　murmur　of　agreement　from　all　the　listeners。　I　closed　my　eyes　for　a　moment　to　rest　them　and　when　I　opened　them　again　the　room　was　empty　except　for　Angelina；　a　light　had　been　lit　and　the　window　was　dark。　It　was　like　a　spliced　break　in　a　film　with　a　chunk　left　out。　I　respected　Kraj's　mental　diddling　techniques　and　roundly　loathed　him　for　it。
　　　　〃Hungry；〃　I　told　Angelina　and　she　came　over　and　sat　by　me　and　held　my　hand。
　　　　〃You've　been　asleepand　talking。　Some　awfully　strange　things。〃
　　　　〃I　feel　better　for　it。　When　we　get　back　to　base　I'll　have　the　medics　vacuum　out　all　the　dark　corners。　But　there　are　more　important　things　for　the　present。　We　have　to　organize　the　resistance　here　before　the　Cliaand　get　a　tight　grip　on　everything。　And　。　。　。〃　
　　　　〃No。〃　
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean　no？〃
　　　　I　had　the　feeling　that　I　had　missed　some　important　part　of　the　conversation。　Was　this　more　results　of　the　brain　fiddlingor　just　female　conversation？
　　　　〃I　mean　no；　we　won't　do　that。　While　you　were　sleeping　I　sent　a　long　report　to　Inskipp；　everything　you　told　me　about　the　Cliaand　plans　and　how　they　work　their　invasions　and　how　they　are　out　to　get　the　Corps；　everything。〃　
　　　　〃Did　you　at　least　sign　my　name？〃　I　asked；　petulantly。
　　　　She　patted　my