the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第5节

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trong　lockpick　dropped　into　my　fingers。　A　work　of　art。　I　admired　it　when　I　raised　my　glass。　And　said　good…by。　On　the　way　back　to　my　cabin　I　dropped　it　into　a　waste　disposal。　It　would　go　on　with　the　ship　while　I　landed　（MI　this　singularly　inhospitable　world。
　　　　Every　report　and　interview　indicated　that　Cliaand　had　the　most　paranoiac　customs　men　in　the　known　universe。　Contraband　simply　could　not　be　smuggled　in。　Therefore　I　was　not　trying。　I　was　just　what　I　appeared　to　be。　A　salesman；　representative　of　Fazzoletto…Mouchoir　Ltd。；　dealers　in　deadly　weapons。　The　firm　existed　and　I　was　their　salesman　and　no　amount　of　investigation　could　prove　otherwise。　Let　them　try。
　　　　They　did。　Landing　on　Cliaand　was　not　unlike　going　into　prison。　I；　and　the　handful　of　other　debarkees；　trundled　down　the　gangway　and　into　a　gray　room　of　ominous　aspect。　We　huddled　together；　under　the　eyes　of　watchful　and　heavily　armed　guards；　while　our　luggage　was　brought　and　dumped　nearby。　Nothing　happened　until　the　gangway　had　been　withdrawn　and　the　Kannettava　had　departed。　Then；　one　by　one；　we　were　called　out。
　　　　I　was　not　first　and　I　weled　the　opportunity　to　examine　the　local　types。　They　were　supremely　indifferent　to　us；　stamping　about　in　knee…high　boots；　fingering　their　weapons　and　keeping　their　chins　up　high。　Their　uniforms　were　all　the　same　color；　a　color　which　at　first　glance　might　be　mistaken　for　a　very　unmilitary　hue　of　carmine；　a　purplish　red。　Very　quickly　I　realized　that　this　was　almost　exactly　the　color　of　blood；　half　arterial　blue；　half　venous　pink。　It　was　rather　disgusting　and　hard　to　avoid　locking　at。　And；　in　addition；　gave　no　small　hint　about　the　nature　of　the　wearer。
　　　　All　of　the　guards　were　on　the　large　side　and　ran　to　protruding　jaws　and　little　piggy　eyes。　Their　helmets　looked　like　fibersteel；　with　sinister　black　visors　and　transparent　faceplates　that　could　be　droned　down。　Each　carried　a　gaussrifle；　a　multipurpose　and　particularly　deadly　weapon。　High　capacity　batteries　stored　a　really　impressive　electrical　charge　in　the　stock。　When　the　trigger　was　depressed　a　strong　magnetic　field　was　generated　in　the　barrel　which　accelerated　the　missile　with　a　muzzle　velocity　that　equaled　any　explosive　cartridge　weapon。　And　the　gaussrifle　was　superior　in　that　it　had　a　more　rapid　rate　of　fire；　made　no　sound；　and　shot　out　any　one　of　an　assortment　of　deadly　missiles；　from　poison　needles　to　explosive　charges。　The　Corps　had　reports　about　this　weapon　but　we　had　never　seen　（me。　I　made　plans　to　rectify　that　situation　as　soon　as　possible。
　　　　〃Pas　Ratunkowy；〃　someone　shouted　and　I　stirred　to　life　as　I　remembered　this　was　my　cover　name。　I　waved　hesitantly　and　one　of　the　guards　stomped　and　clacked　over　to　me。　I　do　believe　that　he　had　metal　plates　on　his　heels　to　increase　the　militaristic　effect。　I　looked　forward　to　getting　a　pair　of　these　boots　as　well：　I　was　beginning　to　like　Cliaand。
　　　　〃You　Pas　Ratunkowy？〃
　　　　〃I　am　he；　sir；　at　your　service；〃　I　answered　in　his　native　tongue；　being　careful　to　keep　a　foreign　accent。
　　　　〃Get　your　luggage。　e　with　me。〃
　　　　He　spun　about　and　I　had　the　temerity　to　call　after　him。　
　　　　〃But；　sir；　bags　are　too　heavy　to　carry　all　at　once。〃　
　　　　This　time　he　impaled　me　with　a　cold；　withering　look　and　fingered　his　gaussrifle　suggestively。　〃Cart；〃　he　finally　snarled　and　stabbed　a　finger　at　the　far　side　of　the　prison　yard。　I　humbly　went　after　cart。　This　was　a　drably　efficient　motorized　platform　that　rolled　along　on　small　wheels。　I　quickly　loaded　my　bags　onto　it　and　looked　for　my　guide。　He　stood　by　a　now　open　door　with　his　finger　even　closer　to　the　trigger　than　before。　The　electric　motor　whined　at　top　speed　and　I　galloped　after　the　thing　towards　the　door。　
　　　　The　inspection　began。
　　　　How　easy　that　is　to　say。　But　it　is　one　of　those　simple　statements　like　〃I　dropped　the　atom　bomb　and　it　went　off。〃　This　was　the　most　detailed　and　thorough　inspection　I　had　ever　experienced　and　I　was　exceedingly　happy　that　I　had　found　that　lockpick　first。
　　　　There　were　ten　men　waiting　in　the　smooth…walled；　antiseptically　white　room。　Six　took　my　baggage　while　the　other　four　took　me。　The　first　thing　they　did　was　strip　me　mother　naked　and　drop　me　onto　a　fluoroscope。　A　magnifying　one。　Seconds　later　they　were　conferring　over　a　blown…up　print　of　the　fillings　in　my　teeth。　There　was　a　mutual　decision　that　one　of　them　was　unduly　large　and　had　a　rather　unusual　shape。　A　sinister　looking　array　of　dental　gadgetry　emerged　and　they　had　the　filling　out　in　an　instant。　While　the　tooth　was　being　refilled　with　enamelI'll　say　that　much　for　themthe　original　filling　was　being　zapped　by　a　spectroscope。　They　seemed　neither　depressed　nor　elated　when　its　metallic　content　proved　to　be　that　of　an　accepted　dental　alloy。　The　search　went　on。
　　　　While　my　tender　pink　person　was　being　probed　one　of　the　inquisitors　produced　a　file　of　papers。　Most　of　these　were　psigrams　sent　out　after　my　landing　application　had　been　received。　They　had　consulted　Fazzoletto…Mouchoir　Ltd。；　my　employers；　and　had　all　the　details　of　my　job。　It　is　a　good　thing　that　this　was　legitimate。　I　responded　correctly　to　all　the　questions；　inserting　random　sounds　only　twice　when　the　physical　examination　probed　a　tender　spot。　This　appeared　to　go　well；　at　least　the　file　was　closed　and　put　aside。
　　　　While　this　was　going　on　I　had　been　catching　glimpses　of　the　fate　of　my　bags。　They　suffered　more　than　I　did。　Each　of　them　had　been　opened　and　emptied；　the　contents　spread　out　on　the　white　tables；　and　the　bag　was　then　methodically　taken　to　pieces。　To　little　pieces。　The　seams　were　cut　open；　the　fastening　removed；　the　handles　dissected。　And　the　resulting　rubbish　put　in　plastic　bags；　labeled　and　saved。　No　doubt　for　a　later　and　most　detailed　inspection。　My　clothing　was　given　only　a　perfunctory　examination　then　pushed　aside。　I　soon　found　out　why。　I　would　not　be　seeing　it　again　until　I　left　the　planet。
　　　　〃You　will　be　issued　with　good　Cliaand　clothing；〃　one　of　my　inquisitors　announced。　〃It　is　pleasure　to　wear。〃　I　doubted　that　very　much　but　kept　my　silence。
　　　　〃Is　this　religious　symbol；〃　another　asked；　holding　the　photograph　in　his　fingertips　at　arm's　length。　
　　　　〃It　is　a　picture　of　my　wife。〃　
　　　　〃Only　religious　symbols　permitted。〃　
　　　　〃She　is　like　an　angel　to　me。〃
　　　　They　puzzled　over　this　one　lot　awhile；　then　reluctantly　admitted　the　picture。　Not　that　I　would　be　able　to　have　anything　as　deadly　as　the　original。　It　was　whisked　away　and　a　photographic　copy　returned。　Angelina　seemed　to　be　scowling　in　this　print　or　perhaps　that　was　only　my　imagination。
　　　　〃All　at　your　personal　items；　identification　and　so　on　will　be　returned　to　you　when　you　leave；〃　I　was　coldly　informed。
　　　　〃While　on　Cliaand　you　will　wear　local　dress　and　observe　local　customs。　Your　personal　items　are　there。〃　Three　very　utilitarian　and　ugly　pieces　of　luggage　were　indicated。　〃Here　is　your　identification　card。〃　I　grabbed　at　it；　happy　to　be　assured　of　my　existence；　still　naked　and　beginning　to　get　a　chill。
　　　　〃What　is　in　this　locked　case？〃　an　inspector　called　out；　a　ring　of　expectancy　in　his　voice　like　that　of　abound　catching　the　scent。　They　all　stopped　work　and　came　over　as　the　incriminating　case　was　held　out　for　my　inspection。　Their　expressions　indicated　that　whatever　answer　I　gave　would　be　admission　of　crime　to　be　followed　by　the　death　penalty。　I　permitted　myself　to　cringe　back　and　roll　my　eyes。　
　　　　〃Sirs；　I　have　done　nothing　wrong　。　。　。〃　I　cried。　
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　
　　　　〃Military　weapons〃
　　　　There　were　stifled　cries　and　one　of　them　looked　around　as　though　for　a　gun　to　execute　me　on　the　spot。　I　stammered　on。
　　　　〃But；　sirs；　you　must　understand。　These　are　the　reason　I　came　to　your　hospitable　planet。　My　firm；　Fazzoletto…Mouchoir　Ltd。；　is　an　old　and　much　respected　manufacturer　in　the　field　of　military　electronics。　These　are　samples。　Some　most　delicate。　Only　to　be　opened　in　the　presence　of　an　armament　specialist。〃
　　　　〃I　am　armament　specialist；〃　one　of　them　said；　stepping　forward。　I　had　noted　him　earlier　because　of　his　bald　head　and　a　sinister　scar　that　drew　up　one　eye　in　a　perpetual　wink。
　　　　〃Please　to　meet　you；　sir。　I　am　Pas　Ratunkowy。〃　He　was　unimpressed　by　my　name　and　did　not　offer　his。　〃If　I　can　have　my　key　ring　I　will　open　said　case　and　display　to　you　its　contents。〃　
　　　　A　camera　was　swung　into　place　to　record　the　entire　operation；　before　I　was　permitted　to　proceed。　I　unlocked　the　case　and　flipped　back　the　lid。　The　armament　specialist　glared　down　at　the　various　ponents　in　their　padded　niches。　I　explained。
　　　　〃My　firm　is　the　originator　and　sole　manufacturer　of　the　memory　line　of　proximity　fuses。　No　other　line　is　as　pact　as　ours；　none　as　versatile。〃　I　used　tweezers　to　take　a　fuse　from　a　holder。　It　was　no　larger　than　a　pinhead。　'　〃This　is　the　most　minuscule；　designed　to　be　used　in　a　weapon　as　small　as　a　handgun。　Firing　activates　the　fuse　which　will　then　detonate　the　charge　in　the　slug　when　it　es　near　a　target　of　predetermined　size。　This　other　fuse　is　the　most　intelligent；　designed　for　use　in　heavy　weapons　or　missiles。〃　They　all　leaned　forward　eagerly　when　I　held　up　the　wafer　of　the　Mem…IV　and　pointed　out　its　singular　merits。
　　　　〃All　solid　state　construction；　capable　of　resisting　incredible　pressures；　thousands　of　G's；　massive　shocks。　It　can　be　preset　to　d