the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第35节

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litary　band。　Who　were　now　thumping　and　trumpeting　and　generally　having　a　good　time。　We　strolled　out　onto　the　platform　and　the　robopram　rolled　after　us。　Jamesor　was　it　Bolivar？tried　to　hurl　himself　out　of　it　but　a　padded　tentacle　pushed　him　back　to　the　pillows。
　　　　〃It　doesn't　look　so　bad；〃　Angelina　said；　looking　out　across　the　spaceport　to　the　city　while　the　stage　slowly　descended。　〃I　can't　understand　what　you　were　plaining　about。〃
　　　　〃Let's　say　the　reception　was　a　bit　different　last　time　I　was　here。　Isn't　that　a　pleasant　sight？〃
　　　　I　pointed　to　the　row　upon　row　of　abandoned　spaceships；　the　streaks　of　rust　on　their　sides　visible　even　from　here。
　　　　〃Very　nice；〃　she　said；　not　looking；　tucking　in　an　infant　that　the　robopram　had　already　done　an　excellent　job　on。　Like　all　new　fathers　I　was　more　than　a　little　jealous　of　the　attention　lavished　on　the　kiddies；　and　I　looked　forward　to　the　next　joint　assignment　when　I　might　get　a　little　closer　to　center　stage　in　her　affections。　I　was　being　broken　to　the　marriage　harness　and；　despite　my　basic　loathings　and　thrashings；　was　beginning　to　enjoy　it。
　　　　〃Isn't　that　dangerous？〃　Angelina　asked　as　we　reached　the　ground　and　the　double　row　of　soldiers　of　the　honor　guard　snapped　to　attention　with　a　resounding　crash　and　clatter。　There　must　have　been　at　least　a　thousand　of　them　and　each　one　was　armed　with　a　gaussrifle。
　　　　〃Weapons　have　been　incapacitated；　that　was　part　of　the　agreement。〃　
　　　　〃But　can　we　trust　them？〃　
　　　　〃Absolutely。　One　thing　they　know　how　to　do　is　take　orders。〃　
　　　　We　strolled　on　towards　the　reception　buildings；　between　the　rows　of　gaudy　glittering　soldiers；　erect　as　statues　with　their　rifles　at　present　arms。
　　　　〃I'll　show　you；〃　I　said　and　led　her　over　to　the　nearest　soldier　while　the　pram　turned　to　follow　us。　He　was　tall；　erect；　big…jawed；　steel…eyed；　everything　a　soldier　should　be。
　　　　〃Right　shoulder…HARMS！〃　I　barked　in　my　best　parade　ground　manner。　He　obeyed　instantly　with　a　great　deal　of　snappy　exactitude。　Gray　haired　too；　he　must　have　been　at　the　game　for　a　long　time。
　　　　〃Inspection　。　。　。　wait　for　it　。　。　。　HARMS！〃
　　　　He　snapped　the　weapon　down　across　his　chest　and　with　a　double　clack…clack　opened　the　inspection　port　and　extended　the　rifle。　I　seized　it　and　looked　inside　the　receiver。　Spotless。　I　held　it　up　to　the　sky　and　looked　down　the　barrel　and　saw　only　unrelieved　blackness。　
　　　　〃There's　something　blocking　the　barrel。〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　Orders；　sir。〃　
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　
　　　　〃Lead；　sir。　Melted　it　and　poured　it　in　myself。〃　
　　　　〃An　excellent　weapon。　Carry　on　trooper。〃　I　hurled　it　back　at　him　and　be　caught　and　rattled　it　efficiently。　There　was　something　about　him。
　　　　〃Don't　I　know　you；　trooper？〃
　　　　〃Perhaps；　sir；　I've　done　duty　on　many　planets。　I　was　a　colonel　once。
　　　　There　was　a　distant　glint　in　his　eyes　when　he　said　this；　but　it　quickly　faded。　Of　course。　I　hadn't　recognized　him　without　his　beard。　He　was　the　officer　that　Kraj　had　watching　me；　who　tried　to　shoot　me　when　we　first　landed　on　Burada。
　　　　〃I　knew　that　man；　high　ranking　officer；〃　I　told　Angelina　as　we　strolled　on。
　　　　〃Very　little　chance　for　that　kind　of　work　now。　He　should　be　happy　he　has　a　job　that　keeps　him　out　in　the　fresh　air。　It's　amazing　that　they　all　seem　to　be　taking　it　so　well。〃
　　　　〃They　have　little　choice。　When　their　empire　collapsed　they　flocked　back　here　to　Cliaandand　found　out　that　all　their　mineral　and　power　resources　had　been　exhausted　during　the　invasion　years　and　they　had　never　noticed　it。　So　it　was　either　farm　or　go　hungry。　I　understand　that　the　agriculture　is　going　just　fine　right　now。　And　the　gray　men　are　gone；　Inskipp　sent　agents　in　and　found　they　had　all　packed　up　and　left。　To　cause　trouble　elsewhere　I　suppose。　We　are　going　to　have　to　track　them　to　their　home　planet　one　of　these　days。〃　
　　　　〃Nasty　people。　That's　where　a　globe…buster　bomb　would　do　some　good。〃
　　　　〃Not　in　front　of　the　children；〃　I　said；　patting　her　hand。　〃You　don't　want　them　to　get　wrong　thoughts　about　their　mother。〃　
　　　　〃They'll　get　some　right　ones。　And　I'm　still　suspicious　of　these　ex…warrior　types。〃
　　　　〃Don't　be。　We　had　political　agents　in　here　after　the　breakdown。　Issuing　orders　and　orders　are　one　thing　they　know　how　to　take。　All　things　considered　they　have　been　quite　good　about　it。〃　
　　　　Angelina　sniffed；　still　not　convinced。　〃I　wonder　what　bright　boy　thought　up　the　tourist　routineand　suggested　we　e　on　the　first　tour　ship？〃
　　　　〃I　did。　Guilty　on　both　counts。　And　don't　look　daggers　at　me。　They　need　something　that　will　keep　them　busy　and　bring　in　foreign　exchange　and　that　sort　of　thing；　and　tourism　is　about　all　a　planet　without　resources　can　manage。　They　have　swimming　and　skiing　and　all　the　usual　things；　plus　a　deadly　sort　of　fascination　for　the　people　they　once　invaded。　It　will　work　out；　you　just　wait　and　see。〃　
　　　　Hordes　of　uniformed　porters　jostled　for　our　baggage；　then　led　the　way　with　the　bags　to　the　surface　transportation。　Things　had　changed　mightily　since　my　first　visit　to　this　planet。　They　seemed　to　be　enjoying　themselves；　too。　I　don't　think　they　were　ever　cut　out　to　be　a　warrior　race　and　interstellar　conquerors。　For　old　times'　sake　I　had　registered　us　at　the　Zlato…Zlato　where　I　had　first　stayed；　still　the　most　luxurious　hotel　in　town。　The　doorman's　manners　were　far　better　this　time　and　the　desk　clerk　even　bowed　as　we　came　up。
　　　　〃Wele　to　Cliaand；　General　and　Mrs。　James　diGriz　and　sons。　May　your　stay　here　be　an　enjoyable　one。〃
　　　　Traveling　with　a　title　always　helps；　even　more　so　on　this　world。　I　looked　around　the　lobby　and　then　at　the　clerk。　
　　　　〃Otrov！　Is　that　you？〃　I　said。　He　bowed　again。
　　　　〃I　am　Otrov；　indeed　sir；　but　I　am　afraid　you　have　the　better　of　me。〃
　　　　〃Sorry。　Couldn't　expect　you　to　recognize　me　with　my　own　face；　or　a　reasonable　facsimile。　The　last　time　you　talked　to　me　you　thought　I　was　a　creature　named　Kraj；　and　before　that　you　knew　me　as　Vaska　Hulja。〃
　　　　〃Vaskacan　it　be　you！　It　is；　I　do　believe；　the　voice　of　course。〃　Then　his　own　voice　sank。　〃I　hope　you　will　accept　my　apology　at　this　late　date。　I　never　did　feel　right　about　helping　that　Kraj　to　capture　you。　Even　though　I　was　unconscious　for　a　day　and　a　half；　I　was　still　rather　happy　you　had　escaped。　I　know　you　were　a　spy　and　all　that；　but。。。〃
　　　　〃Say　no　more。　The　matter　is　closed　and　I　prefer　to　think　of　you　as　the　roommate　of　our　drinking　days。〃
　　　　〃Most　kind。　Would　you　grant　me　the　courtesy　of　shaking　your　hand？〃　
　　　　We　shook　and　I　looked　at　him　curiously。
　　　　〃You've　changed；　for　the　better　I　think。　Put　on　a　little　weight；　polished　up　the　old　manners。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Vaska。　Most　kind。　Stopped　drinking　so　I　have　to　watch　my　diet　now。　And　I　don't　have　to　worry　about　flying　those　filthy　spaceships　any　more。　My　family　were　always　innkeepers；　traditional　trade　and　all　that。　Until　the　draft　got　me。　A　pleasure　to　return　to　something　I　know；　and　right　at　the　top　too　as　you　can　see。　Shortage　of　good　hotel　men　now。　If　you　will　sign　here。〃　
　　　　He　handed　me　the　pen　and　continued　in　the　same　neutral　voice；　only　not　as　loudly。
　　　　〃I　hope　you　will　pardon　my　saying　this　is　a　bit　of　emergency；　so　please　don't　jump　or　turn　around。　But　there　has　been　a　man　staying　here　ever　since　we　opened；　one　of　Kraj's　men　I　do　believe；　and　he　has　the　staff　terrified。　I　didn't　know　what　he　wanted　until　this　moment。　I　believe　he　is　after　you　and　I　hope　you　are　armed。　He　is　ing　from　the　right；　behind　you；　wearing　a　plum　jacket　and　yellow　striped　hat。〃
　　　　It　was　a　holidayand　I　was　unarmed。　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　time　I　swore　silently　that　it　would　be　the　last。　Then　I　remembered　Angelina　and　saw　her　bending　over　the　robopram　again。
　　　　〃I　don't　wish　to　bother　you　dearest；〃　I　said；　smiling；　an　itchy　feeling　crawling　up　my　back　and　into　my　skull。　〃But　the　man　in　the　plum　jacket　ing　up　behind　me　is　an　assassin。　Do　you　think　you　could　do　anything　about　itand　keep　him　alive　if　possible？〃　
　　　　〃How　sweet　of　you　to　ask！〃　she　said；　laughing；　patting　the　pile　of　diapers　in　the　pram。
　　　　I　stepped　back　to　the　desk；　watching　her。　Charming；　relaxed；　smiling；　touching　her　hair。
　　　　Taking　her　time　too。　I　opened　my　mouth　to　mention　this　factjust　as　her　arm　snapped　down。　There　was　a　muffled　shriek　behind　me　and　I　turned　and　ducked。
　　　　It　was　all　over。　Plum　coat　had　lost　his　striped　hatand　his　pistol　as　well　which　was　lying　on　the　rug。　He　was　reaching　for　the　knife　that　projected　from　his　upper　arm；　making　little　scrabbling　motions。　Then　Angelina　was　at　his　side；　chopping　his　neck　and　lowering　his　unconscious　figure　to　the　floor。
　　　　〃Holiday　world；　indeed；〃　she　sniffed；　but　I　knew　she　was　enjoying　herself。
　　　　〃You'll　get　a　medal　for　this；　my　sweet。　The　Corps　will　take　care　of　this　lad　and　I　imagine　they　will　extract　information　about　his　home　planet；　which　will　be　a　relief。〃　I　turned　back　to　Otrov。　
　　　　〃Thanks　for　saving　my　life。〃
　　　　〃Not　at　all；　sir。　I　always　believe　that　it　is　the　little　extra　services　that　count。　Nowmay　I　show　you　your　room？〃
　　　　〃You　may；　and　a　drink　as　well。　You'll　join　us　in　a　glass　won't　you？〃
　　　　〃Well；　just　this　once；　seeing　as　how　it　is　a　special　occasion。　And　I　must　say　that　you　are　a　lucky　man　to　have　a　wife　who　shares　your　same　enthusiasm　and　talents。〃
　　　　〃It　was　a　match　made　in　crime　and　s