bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第15部分

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ad　pounding　from　the　oxy　jag；　he　began　flipping　furiously　through　his　floor　plan。　While　he　waited　for　the　elevator　he　found　his　place　from　the　code　number　on　the　door　and　began　to　plot　a　new　course　toward　the　Palace　Gardens。
　　This　time　he　did　not　allow　himself　to　be　distracted。　By　only　eating　candy　bars　and　drinking　carbonated　beverages　from　the　dispensers　along　his　route　he　avoided　the　dangers　and　distractions　of　the　eateries；　and　by　keeping　himself　awake　he　avoided　missing　connections。　With　black　bags　under　his　eyes　and　teeth　rotting　in　his　head　he　stumbled　from　a　gravshaft　and　with…　thudding　heart　finally　saw　a　florally　decorated　and　colorfully　illuminated　scentsign　that　said　HANGING　GARDENS　There　was　an　entrance　turnstile　and　a　cashier's　window。
　　〃One　please。〃
　　〃That'll　be　ten　imperial　bucks。〃
　　〃Isn't　that　a　little　expensive？〃　he　said　peevishly；　unrolling　the　bills　one　by　one　from　his　thin　wad。
　　〃If　you're　poor；　don't　e　to　Helior。〃
　　The　cashier…robot　was　primed　with　all　the　snappy　answers。　Bill　ignored　it　and　pushed　through　into　the　gardens。　They　were　everything　he　had　ever　dreamed　of　and　more。　As　he　walked　down　the　gray　cinder　path　inside　the　outer　wall　he　could　see　green　shrubs　and　grass　just　on　the　other　side　of　the　titanium　mesh　fence。　No　more　than　a　hundred　yards　away；　on　the　other　side　of　the　grass；　were　floating；　colorful　plants　and　flowers　from　all　the　worlds　of　the　Empire。　And　there！　Tiny　in　the　distance　were　the　Rainbow　Fountains；　almost　visible　to　the　naked　eye。　Bill　slipped　a　coin　into　one　of　the　telescopes　and　watched　their　colors　glow　and　wane；　and　it　was　just　as　good　as　seeing　it　on　TV。　He　went　on；　circling　inside　the　wall；　bathed　by　the　light　of　the　artificial　sun　in　the　giant　dome　above。
　　But　even　the　heady　pleasures　of　the　gardens　waned　in　the　face　of　the　soul…consuming　fatigue　that　gripped　him　in　iron　hands。　There　were　steel　benches　pegged　to　the　wall；　and　he　dropped　onto　one　to　rest　for　a　moment；　then　closed　his　eyes　for　a　second　to　ease　the　glare。　His　chin　dropped　onto　his　chest；　and　before　he　realized　it　he　was　sound　asleep。　Other　visitors　scrunched　by　on　the　cinders　without　disturbing　him；　nor　did　he　move　when　one　sat　down　at　the　far　end　of　the　bench。
　　Since　Bill　never　saw　this　man　there　is　no　point　in　describing　him。　Suffice　to　say　that　he　had　sallow　skin；　a　broken；　reddened　nose；　feral　eyes　peering　from　under　a　simian　brow；　wide　hips　and　narrow　shoulders；　mismatched　feet；　lean；　knobby；　dirty　fingers；　and　a　twitch。
　　Long　seconds　of　eternity　ticked　by　while　the　man　sat　there。　Then　for　a　few　moments　there　were　no　other　visitors　in　sight。　With　a　quick；　snakelike　motion　the　newer　whipped　an　atomic　arc…pencil　from　his　pocket。　The　small；　incredibly　hot　flame　whispered　briefly　as　he　pressed　it　against　the　chain　that　secured　Bill's　floor　plan　to　his　waist；　just　at　the　point　where　the　looped　chain　rested　on　the　metal　bench。　In　a　trice　the　metal　of　the　chain　was　welded　fast　to　the　metal　of　the　bench。　Still　undisturbed；　Bill　slept　on。　
　　A　wolfish　grin　flickered　across　the　man's　face　like　the　evil　rings　formed　in　sewer　water　by　a　diving　rat。　Then；　with　a　single　swift　motion；　the　atomic　flame　severed　the　chain　near　the　volume。　Pocketing　the　arc…pencil　the　thief　rose；　plucked　Bill's　floor　plan　from　his　lap；　and　strode　quickly　away。　

III

At　first　Bill　didn't　appreciate　the　magnitude　of　his　loss。　He　swam　slowly　up　out　of　his　sleep；　thickheaded；　with　the　feeling　that　something　was　wrong。　Only　after　repeated　tugging　did　he　realize　that　the　chain　was　stuck　fast　to　the　bench　and　that　the　book　was　gone。　The　chain　could　not　be　freed；　and　in　the　end　he　had　to　unfasten　it　from　his　belt　and　leave　it　dangling。　Retracing　his　steps　to　the　entrance；　he　knocked　on　the　cashier's　window。
　　〃No　refunds；〃　the　robot　said。
　　〃I　want　to　report　a　crime。〃
　　〃The　police　handle　crime。　You　want　to　talk　to　the　police。　You　talk　to　the　police　on　a　phone。　Here　is　a　phone。　The　number　is　111…11…111。〃　A　small　door　slid　open；　and　a　phone　popped　out；　catching　Bill　in　the　chest　and　knocking　him
back　on　his　heels。　He　dialed　the　number。
　　〃Police；〃　a　voice　said；　and　a　bulldog…faced　sergeant　wearing　a　Prussian　blue　uniform　and　a　scowl　appeared　on　the　screen。
　　〃I　want　to　report　a　theft。〃
　　〃Grand　larceny　or　petty　larceny？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　it　was　my　floor　plan　that　was　stolen。〃
　　〃Petty　larceny。　Proceed　to　your　nearest　police　station。　This　is　an　emergency　circuit；　and　you　are　tying　it　up　illegally。　The　penalty　for　illegally　tying　up　an　emergency　circuit　is　。　。　。〃　Bill　jammed　hard　on　the　button　and　the　screen　went　blank。　He　turned　back　to　the　robot　cashier。
　　〃No　refunds；〃　it　said。　Bill　snarled　impatiently。
　　〃Shut　up。　All　I　want　to　know　is　where　the　nearest　police　station　is。〃
　　〃I　am　a　cashier　robot；　not　an　information　robot。　That　information　is　not　in　my　memory。　I　suggest　you　consult　your　floor　plan。〃
　　〃But　it's　my　floor　plan　that　has　been　stolen！〃
　　〃I　suggest　you　talk　to　the　police。〃
　　〃But　。　。　。〃　Bill　turned　red　and　kicked　the　cashier's　box　angrily。　〃No　refunds；〃　it　said　as　he　stalked　away。
　　〃Drinky；　drinky；　make　you　stinky；〃　a　robot　bar　said；　rolling　up　and　whispering　in　his　ear。　It　made　the　sound　of　ice　cubes　rattling　in　a　frosty　glass。
　　〃A　damn　good　idea。　Beer。　A　large　one。〃　He　pushed　coins　into　its　money　slot　and　clutched　at　the　dispos…a…stein　that　rattled　down　the　chute　and　almost　bounced　to　the　ground。　It　cooled　and　refreshed　him　and　calmed　his　anger。　He　looked　at　the　sign　that　said　To　THE　JEWELED　PALACE。　〃I'll　go　to　the　palace；　have　a　look…see；　then　find　someone　there　who　can　direct　me　to　the　police　station。　Ouchl〃　The　robot　bar　had　pulled　the　dispos…a…stein　from　his　hand；　almost　taking　his　forefinger　with　it；　and　with　unerring　robotic　aim　hurled　it　thirty…two　feet　into　the　open　mouth　of　a　rubbish　shaft　that　projected　from　a　wall。
　　The　Jeweled　Palace　appeared　to　be　about　as　accessible　as　the　Hanging　Gardens；　and　he　decided　to　report　the　theft　before　paying　his　way　into　the　grilled　enclosure　that　circled　the　palace　at　an　awesome　distance。　There　was　a　policeman
hanging　out　his　belly　and　idly　spinning　his　club　near　the　entrance　who　should　know　where　the　police　station　was。
　　〃Where's　the　police　station？〃　Bill　asked。
　　〃I　ain't　no　information　booth…use　your　floor　plan。〃
　　〃lout〃…through　teeth　tightly　clamped　together…〃I　cannot。　My　floor　plan　has　been　stolen　and　that　is　why　I　want　to　find　Yipe！〃
　　Bill　said　Yipe！　because　the　policeman；　with　a　practiced　motion；　had　jammed　the　end　of　his　club　up　into　Bill's　armpit　and　pushed　him　around　the　er　with　it。
　　〃I　used　to　be　a　trooper　myself　before　I　bought　my　way　out；〃　the　officer　said。　
　　〃I　would　enjoy　your　reminiscences　more　if　you　took　the　club　out　of　my　armpit；〃　Bill　moaned；　then　sighed　gratefully　as　the　club　vanished。
　　〃Since　I　used　to　be　a　trooper　I　don't　want　to　see　a　buddy　with　the　Purple　Dart　with　Coalsack　Nebula　Cluster　get　into　trouble。　I　am　also　an　honest　cop　and　don't　take　bribes；　but　if　a　buddy　was　to　loan　me　twenty…five　bucks　until　payday　I　would　be　much　obliged。〃
　　Bill　had　been　born　stupid；　but　he　was　learning。　The　money　appeared　and　vanished　swiftly；　and　the　cop　relaxed；　clacking　the　end　of　his　club　against　his　yellow　teeth。
　　〃Let　me　tell　you　something；　pal；　before　you　make　any　official　statements　to　me　in　my　official　capacity；　since　up　to　now　we　have　just　been　talking　buddy…buddy。　There　are　a　lot　of　ways　to　get　into　trouble　here　on　Helior；　but　the　easiest　is　to　lose　your　floor　plan。　It　is　a　hanging　offense　on　Helior。　I　know　a　guy　what　went　into　the　station　to　report　that　someone　got　his　plan　and　they　slapped　the　cuffs　on　him　inside　ten　seconds；　maybe　five。　Now　what　was　it　you　wanted　to　say　to　me？〃
　　〃You　got　a　match？〃
　　〃I　don't　smoke。〃
　　〃Good…by。〃
　　〃Take　it　easy；　pal。〃
　　Bill　scuttled　around　another　corner　and　leaned　against　the　wall　breathing　deeply。　Now　what？　He　could　barely　find　his　way　around　this　place　with　the　plan…how　could　he　do　it　without　one？　There　was　a　leaden　weight　pulling　at　his　insides　that　he　tried　to　ignore。　He　forced　away　the　feeling　of　terror　and　tried　to　think。　But　thinking　made　him　lightheaded。　It　seemed　like　years　since　he　had　had　a　good　meal；　and　thinking　of　food　he　began　to　pump　saliva　at　such　a　great　rate　that　he　almost　drowned。　Food；　that's　what　he　needed；　food　for　thought；　he　had　to　relax　over　a　nice；　juicy　steak；　and　when　the　inner　man　was　satisfied　he　would　be　able　to　think　clearly　and　find　a　way　out　of　this　mess。　There　must　be　a　way　out。　He　had　almost　a　full　day　left　before　he　was　due　back　from　leave；　there　was　plenty　of　time。　Staggering　around　a　sharp　bend　he　came　out　into　a　high　tunnel　brilliant　with　lights；　the　most　brilliant　of　which　was　a　sign　that　said　THE　GOLD　SPACE　SUIT。
　　〃The　Gold　Space　Suit；〃　Bill　said。　〃That's　more　like　it。　Galaxy…famous　on　countless　TV　programs；　what　a　restaurant；　that's　the　way　to　build　up　the　old　morale。　It'll　be　expensive；　but　what　the　hell　。　。　。〃
　　Tightening　his　belt　and　straightening　his　collar；　he　strode　up　the　wide　gold　steps　and　through　the　imitation　spacelock。　The　headwaiter　beckoned　him　and　smiled；　soft　music　wafted　his　way　and　the　floor　opened　beneath　his　feet。　Scratching　helplessly　at　the　smooth　walls；　he　shot　down　the　golden　tube　which　turned　gradually　until；　when　he　emerged；　he　shot　through　the　air　and　fell；　sprawling；　into　a　dusty　metal　alleyway。　Ahead　of　him；　painted　on　the　wall　with　foot…high　letters；　was　the　imperious　message；　GET　LOST　BUM。　
　　He　stood　and　dusted　himself；　and　a　robot　sidled　over　and　crooned　in　his　ear　with　the　voice　of　a　。young　and　lovely　girl；　〃I　bet　you're　hungry；　darling。　Why　not　try　Giuseppe　Singh's　neo…Indian　curried　pizza？　You're　just　a　few　steps　from　Singh's；　directions　are　on　the　back　of　the　card。〃
　　The　robot　took　a　card　from　a　slot　in　its　chest　and　put　it　carefully　into　Bill's　mouth。　It　was　a　cheap　and　badly　adjusted　robot。　Bill　spluttered　the　soggy　card　out　and　wiped　it　on　his　handkerchief。
　　〃What　happened？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　bet　you're　hungry；　darling；　grrrr…ark。〃　The　robot　switched　to　another　recorded　message；　cued　by　Bill's　question。　〃You　have　just　been　ejected　from　The　Gold　Space　Suit；　galaxy…famous　on　countless　TV　programs；　because　you　are　a　cheap　bum。　When　you　entered　this　establishment　you　were　X…rayed　and　the　contents