the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第29节

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　wife　if　you　don't。　If　you　surrender　she　will　be　released　at　once。〃　
　　　　〃What　proof　do　I　have　that　you　will　keep　your　word？〃　
　　　　〃None　whatsoever。　But　you　don't　have　a　choice；　do　you？〃　
　　　　〃I'll　be　there；〃　I　said　as　calmly　as　I　could　manage　and　turned　the　phone　offbut　not　before　I　heard　Angelina's　shouted　no　in　the　background。
　　　　〃Are　those　clothes　dry　yet？〃　I　asked；　tearing　off　my　shirt　and　kicking　out　of　my　boots　at　the　same　time。
　　　　〃Just　about；〃　Taze　said。　She　and　another　girl　were　holding　hot　air　blowers　to　a　Cliaand　uniform　that　I　thought　was　just　right　for　this　occasion。　It　had　been　soaked　in　a　chemical　bath　and　was　now　being　force　dried。
　　　　〃Almost　is　good　enough；　we　can't　wait　any　longer。〃　
　　　　There　were　some　damp　patches；　but　nothing　that　mattered。　We　left；　and　the　powerboat　was　waiting　at　the　hotel　dock　below；　motor　rumbling。　So　far　so　good。　And　the　car　was　there　on　shore　with　Dr。　Mutfak　in　the　back；　black　bag　on　his　knees；　muttering　to　himself。
　　　　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　really　a　violation　of　my　medical　code　of　ethics。〃
　　　　〃War　is　a　violation　of　any　code　of　ethics　or　morality；　a　monstrosity　against　which　any　weapons　must　be　used。　Do　what　you　have　been　asked。〃
　　　　〃I'll　do　it；　that　goes　without　saying；　but　a　man　is　allowed　to　ment　upon　the　ethics　involved。〃　
　　　　〃ment。　But　fill　the　needle　at　the　same　time。〃　
　　　　We　parked　in　a　side　street；　in　the　darkness；　with　the　Octagon　just　around　the　corner。
　　　　〃Catalyst；〃　I　said；　〃and　don't　spill　any。　Under　my　arms　where　the　dampness　won't　be　noticed。〃
　　　　I　raised　both　arms　and　felt　the　warmth　of　the　liquid　from　the　insulated　container；　then　quickly　lowered　my　arms　to　trap　the　wet　fabric　between　my　upper　arms　and　my　sides。　Then　I　climbed　out　of　the　car　and　put　my　hand　back　in　through　the　window；　The　needle　bit　into　my　flesh　and　that　was　that。　As　I　started　around　the　corner　I　heard　the　car　pull　away。
　　　　The　Octagon　loomed　up　like　a　mountain　before　me；　the　sky　beginning　to　lighten　behind　it。　We　had　cut　this　very　close。　There　was　an　entrance　ahead；　the　one　I　had　been　directed　to；　and　two　of　the　gray　men　were　waiting。　Both　wore　gausspistols　which　were　still　in　the　holsters。　They　were　very　sure　of　themselves。　I　walked　up　to　them　silently　and　one　of　them　clamped　a　e…along　cuff　on　my　wrist　and　led　me　in　through　the　doors　and　past　the　silent　guards。　I　stumbled　going　up　the　stairs　and　after　that　looked　down　carefully　to　see　where　I　put　my　feet。　The　injection　was　beginning　to　take　effect。　There　was　nothing　I　wanted　to　say　and　my　captors；　they　in　their　usual　fashion；　had　nothing　to　say　to　me。　They　prodded　me　in　the　direction　they　wanted　me　to　go　and　pushed　me　through　the　doorway　of　the　room　they　wanted　me　to　enter。　Once　inside　they　covered　me　with　their　guns　while　the　wrist…cuff　was　unlocked。　
　　　　〃Clothes　off；〃　one　of　them　ordered。
　　　　It　was　an　effort　not　to　smile。　There　was　the　fluoroscope　off　to　one　side　and　the　other　test　equipment。　These　characters　were　running　true　to　type；　following　the　same　routine　they　had　used　when　I　had　first　been　captured。　Didn't　they　realize　that　routine　was　a　trap　and　a　losing　game？　No　they　did　not。　I　fumbled　off　my　clothes　and　let　them　work　their　will　upon　me。
　　　　They　found　nothing　of　course；　since　there　was　nothing　there　to　find。　Or　rather　there　was　one　thing　that　I　was　sure　they　would　not　find。　And　they　didn't。　They　slowly　plodded　through　their　routine　examinations　and　I　began　to　wish　they　would　finish　and　be　done。　My　head　was　getting　a　little　foggy　from　the　drug　and　I　felt　as　though　I　were　wrapped　in　cotton　wool。　The　injection　must　be　reaching　the　peak　of　its　effectiveness　and　would　be　tapering　off　soon。　What　I　had　to　do　must　be　done　when　the　drug　was　at　the　height　of　its　poweror　close　to　itor　all　the　preparations　would　be　useless。
　　　　〃Put　these　on；〃　a　wooden　faced　captor　said　and　threw　me　the　familiar　transparent　dungarees。　I　bent　to　pick　them　up　and　to　cover　the　smile　that　I　could　no　longer　resist。　Done　it！　They　did　not　seem　impatient　when　I　fumbled　with　the　closings　on　the　clothes。　I　had　to　watch　my　fingers　carefully　to　be　sure　they　did　their　job。　When　the　collar　locked　around　my　neck　I　almost　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief。　We　were　getting　close；　and　the　timing　was　just　about　perfect。　As　one　of　the　guards　took　the　torture　box　and　led　me　out　I　lowered　my　head　so　I　could　see　where　I　put　my　feet　so　I　would　not　stumble。　If　this　generated　an　illusion　of　defeat　all　the　better。　We　went　down　a　wide　corridor　and　past　a　staircase；　and　I　made　a　mental　note　of　its　location；　even　counting　the　paces　after　it　to　get　some　estimate　of　its　distance　from　our　destination。
　　　　Which　was　Kraj's　lair。　He　was　waiting　behind　his　desk；　as　patiently　and　as　emotionlessly　as　a　spider　in　its　web。　Angelina　sat　before　him；　her　torture　box　hooked　to　the　ceiling。　
　　　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　I　asked　as　I　came　through　the　door。　
　　　　〃Of　course。　Nothing　has　happened。　You　shouldn't　have　e。〃　
　　　　As　soon　as　I　had　this　reassurance　I　turned　my　attention　to　Kraj；　aware　at　the　same　time　of　the　guard　closing　the　door　behind　us。　
　　　　〃You'll　release　her　now；　won't　you？〃　I　asked。
　　　　〃Naturally　not。　There　would　be　no　advantage　in　that。〃　His　expression　never　changed　while　he　spoke。
　　　　〃I　didn't　think　you　would。　Is　there　any　reason　why　you　shouldn't　tell　me　how　you　caught　her？〃
　　　　〃Your　memory　contained　an　exact　description　of　your　wife。　When　we　discovered　that　two　women　had　aided　your　escape　we　naturally　assumed　that　one　might　have　been　this　Angelina。　The　puter　identified　her　as　soon　as　she　entered　the　building。〃　
　　　　〃We　were　foolish　to　take　the　risk；〃　I　said；　apparently　turning　to　face　her；　but　looking　at　the　guard　instead。　He　was　about　to　hook　my　torture　box　to　another　hook　in　the　ceilingand　if　he　did　we　were　trapped。
　　　　All　I　could　do　was　make　a　dive　for　him。
　　　　〃Stop　him！〃　Kraj　shouted　and　the　guard　looked　at　me　and　pressed　a　quick　pattern　on　the　red　keys　on　the　box。
　　　　I　can't　pretend　that　it　felt　nice。　Enough　pain　leaked　through　to　tear　at　my　stomach　with　nausea　and　to　knot　my　muscles。　I　stumbled　and　fell　at　the　man's　feet；　not　quite　reaching　him。　The　drug　I　had　taken　blocked　most　of　the　pain；　but　not　all　of　it。　There　still　had　to　be　nerve　pathways　open　for　motor　control。　My　eyes　filled　with　tears　and　I　could　not　wipe　them　so　my　vision　blurred　and　swam。　There　was　a　shoe　before　me　and　that　was　no　good；　and　a　uniform　leg；　bad　as　well。
　　　　And　then　the　guard's　hand　as　he　bent　over　to　take　hold　of　me。　I　lashed　out　with　my　extended　middle　finger　and　scratched　the　skin　on　the　back　of　his　hand。
　　　　He　shivered　just　a　bit　and　kept　on　bending；　almost　in　slow　motion；　until　he　crumpled　on　the　floor　next　to　me；　dropping　the　control　box。　It　was　just　close　enough　to　reach　out　and　tap　the　off　button。
　　　　The　pain　was　over；　instantly。　And　Kraj　was　behind　my　back。　I　scrambled　and　rolled；　fighting　my　knotted　muscles；　climbing　to　my　feet。
　　　　In　the　few　moments　since　I　had　attacked　the　guard　the　situation　had　changed　drastically。　Angelina　lay　across　Kraj's　desk；　holding　to　her　collar；　writhing　in　pain。　Kraj　was　on　his　knees　behind　the　desk　reaching　for　his　gun。　I　dived　for　him　just　as　he　raised　it。　I　was　not　going　to　make　it；　I　was　too　late；　he　was　going　to　fire　and　that　was　that。
　　　　But　at　precisely　that　moment　the　distant　explosion　went　off　and　the　floor　heaved；　dust　and　bits　of　plastic　shook　down　from　the　ceiling　and　the　lights　flickered。　Kraj　had　not　been　expecting　thisand　I　hadand　his　attention　wavered　for　that　vital　instant　as　I　slithered　across　the　desk　towards　him　and　my　fingernail　nicked　his　skin。
　　　　He　fired；　but　the　slug　plowed　into　the　far　wall　because　he　was　falling；　unconscious　even　as　he　pulled　the　trigger。
　　　　Angelina　must　have　attacked　him　as　soon　as　I　had　dived　for　the　guard。　By　hanging　from　the　cable　she　had　brought　her　feet　up　high　enough　to　get　in　the　one　good　kick　that　had　sent　Kraj　over。　He　had　retaliated　by　going　to　the　radio　control　before　his　gunand　this　little　bit　of　excess　sadism　had　given　me　the　chance　to　reach　him。　But　Angelina　was　paying　for　this　now。
　　　　I　could　not　look　at　her　twisting　body　as　I　climbed　up　on　the　desk　beside　her。　There　were　a　number　of　controls　before　Kraj's　chair　but　I　was　not　going　to　take　the　time　to　try　to　figure　them　out。　Instead　I　unhooked　the　box　and　turned　it　off。　Angelina　opened　her　eyes　and　lay　still；　just　staring　at　me　as　I　went　through　the　drawers　in　the　desk。
　　　　〃Darling　you　are　a　genius；〃　she　said　weakly。　I　found　a　key　and　bent　to　unlock　her　collar。　〃How　did　you　do　it？〃
　　　　〃I　out…thought　them；　that's　all。　They　couldn't　find　any　weapons　in　my　clothing　because　the　clothing　itself　was　the　weapon。　The　fabric　was　soaked　in　tanturaline　which　transformed　it　into　a　powerful　explosive。　I　put　the　liquid　catalyst　on　the　cloth　under　my　arms　where　my　body　heat　would　keep　it　from　reacting。　As　long　as　I　was　in　the　uniform　nothing　happened；　but　as　soon　as　they　made　me　strip　it　offas　I　was　sure　they　wouldthe　catalyst　began　to　cool　and　when　it　reached　the　critical　temperature　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃Boom　the　whole　thing　exploded。　My　genius。〃　She　reached　up　and　pulled　me　to　her　as　the　collar　clicked　open；　and　bestowed　a　warm　and　passionate　kiss　that　I　returned　for　a　bit　until　I　remembered　where　we　were　and　disentangled