the stainless steel rat-第14部分

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tyles。　I　took　more　notice　of　them　than　they　did　of　roe。　A　news　robot　was　the　only　thing　that　singled　me　out　for　attention。　It　blatted　its　dull　offerings　in　my　ear　and　waved　a　board　with　the　printed　headlines　until　I　bought　a　paper　to　get　rid　of　it。　League　currency　was　in　circulation　here；　as　well　as　local　money；　and　the　robot　made　no　protest　when　I　slipped　a　credit　in　its　chest　slot；　though　it　did　give　me　change　in　Freibur　gilden…undoubtedly　at　a　ruinous　rate　of　exchange。　At　least　that's　the　way　I　would　have　done　it　if　I　were　programming　the　thing。
　　　　　All　of　the　news　was　unimportant　and　trivial…the　advertisements　were　of　much　more　interest。　Looking　through　the　big　hotels　I　pared　their　offered　pleasures　and　prices。
　　　　　It　was　this　that　set　me　to　trembling　and　sweating　with　terror。　How　quickly　we　lose　the　ingrained　habits　of　a　lifetime。　After　a　month　on　the　side　of　law　and　order　I　was　acting　like　an　honest　man！
　　　　　〃You're　a　criminal；〃　I　muttered　through　clenched　teeth；　and　spat　on　a　NO　SPITTTNG　sign。　〃You　hate　the　law　and　live　happily　without　it。　You　are　a　law　unto　yourself；　and　the　most　honest　man　in　the　galaxy。　You　can't　break　any　rules　since　you　make　them　up　yourself　and　change　them　whenever　you　see　fit。〃　
　　　　　All　of　this　was　true；　and　I　hated　myself　for　forgetting　it。　That　little　period　of　honesty　in　the　Corps　was　working　like　a　blight　to　destroy　all　of　my　best　anti…social　tendencies。
　　　　　〃Think　dirty！〃　I　cried　aloud；　startling　a　girl　who　was　walking　by　on　the　path。　I　leered　to　prove　that　she　had　heard　correctly　and　she　hurried　quickly　away。　That　was　better。　I　left　myself　at　the　same　time；　in　the　opposite　direction；　looking　for　an　opportunity　to　do　bad。　I　had　to　reestablish　my　identity　before　I　could　even　consider　finding　Angelina。
　　　　　Opportunity　was　easy　to　find。　Within　ten　minutes　I　had　spotted　my　target。　I　had　all　the　equipment　I　might　need　in　my　sack。　What　I　would　use　for　the　job　I　stowed　in　my　pockets　and　waist　wallet；　then　checked　my　bag　in　a　public　locker。
　　　　　Everything　about　the　First　Bank　of　Freibur　begged　to　be　cracked。　It　had　three　entrances；　four　guards　and　was　busily　crowded。　Four　human　guards！　No　bank　in　existence　would　pay　all　those　salaries　if　they　had　electronic　protection。　It　was　an　effort　not　to　hum　with　happiness　as　I　stood　in　line　for　one　of　the　human　clerks。　Fully　automated　banks　aren't　hard　to　rob；　they　just　require　different　techniques。　This　mixture　of　man　and　machine　was　the　easiest　of　all。
　　　　　〃Change　a　League　ten…star　for　gilden；〃　I　said；　slapping　the　shiny　coin　on　the　counter　before　him。
　　　　　〃Yessir；〃　the　cashier　said；　only　glancing　at　the　coin　and　feeding　it　into　the　accounting　machine　next　to　him。　His　fingers　had　already　set　up　the　amount　for　me　in　gilden；　even　before　the　currency　valid　signal　blinked　on。　My　money　rattled　down　into　the　cup　before　me　and　I　counted　it　slowly。　This　was　done　mechanically；　because　my　mind　was　really　on　the　ten…credit　coin　now　rolling　and　clinking　down　inside　the　machine's　innards。　When　I　was　sure　it　had　finished　its　trip　and　landed　in　the　vault　I　pressed　the　button　on　my　wrist　transmitter。
　　　　　It　was　beautiful；　that　was　the　only　word　for　it。　The　kind　of　thing　that　leaves　a　warm　glow　lodged　in　the　memory；　that　produces　a　twinge　of　happiness　for　years　after　whenever　it　is　nudged。　That　little　ten…credit　coin　had　taken　hours　to　construct　and　every　minute　was　worth　it。　I　had　sliced　it　in　half；　hollowed　it　out；　loaded　it　with　lead　back　to　its　original　weight；　built　in　a　tiny　radio　receiver；　a　fuse　and　a　charge　of　burmedex；　which　now　went　off　with　an　incredibly　satisfactory　explosion。　A　grinding　thump　deep　in　the　bank's　entrails　was　followed　by　a　tremendous　amount　of　clanking　and　banging。　The　rear　wall…containing　the　vault…split　open　and　disgorged　a　torrent　of　money　and　smoke。　Some　last　effort　of　the　expiring　accounting　machine　gave　me　an　unexpected　dividend。　The　money　dispensers　at　every　cashier's　station　burst　into　frantic　life。　A　torrent　of　large　and　small　coins　poured　out　on　the　startled　customers　who　quickly　mastered　their　surprise　and　began　grabbing。　Their　moment　of　pleasure　was　brief　because　the　same　radio　cue　had　set　off　the　smoke　and　gas　bombs　I　had　thoughtfully　dropped　in　all　the　wastebaskets。　Unnoticed　in　the　excitement；　I　threw　a　few　more　gas　bombs　in　with　the　cashiers。　This　gas　is　an　effective　mixture　of　my　own　concoction；　a　sinister　brew　of　regurgitants　and　lachrymatories。　Its　effect　was　instantaneous　and　powerful。　（There　were　of　course　no　children　in　the　bank；　since　I　don't　believe　in　being　cruel　to　those　too　young　to　protect　themselves。）　Within　seconds　the　clients　and　employees　found　themselves　unable　to　see；　and　too　preoccupied　to　take　any　notice　of　me。
　　　　　As　the　gas　rolled　towards　me　I　lowered　my　head　and　slipped　the　goggles　over　my　eyes。　When　I　looked　up　I　was　the　only　person　in　the　bank　that　was　able　to　see。　I　was　of　course　careful　to　breathe　through　the　filter　plugs　in　my　nose；　so　I　could　enjoy　the　continued　digestion　of　my　last　meal。　My　teller　had　vanished　from　sight　and　I　did　a　neat　dive　through　the　opening；　sliding　across　the　counter　on　my　stomach。
　　　　　After　this　it　was　just　a　matter　of　pick　and　choose；　there　was　certainly　no　shortage　of　money　rolling　around　loose。　I　ignored　the　small　stuff　and　went　to　the　source；　the　riven　vault　out　of　which　poured　a　golden　torrent。　Within　two　minutes　I　had　filled　the　bag　I　had　brought　and　was　ready　to　leave。　The　smoke　near　the　doors　was　thinning　a　bit；　but　a　few　more　grenades　took　care　of　that。
　　　　　Everything　was　working　perfectly　and　under　control；　except　for　one　fool　of　a　guard　who　was　making　a　nuisance　of　himself。　His　tiny　brain　realized　dimly　that　something　wrong　was　going　on；　so　he　was　staggering　in　circles　firing　his　gun。　It　was　a　wonder　he　hadn't　hit　anyone　yet。　I　took　the　gun　away　and　hit　him　on　the　head　with　it。
　　　　　The　smoke　was　densest　near　the　doors；　making　it　impossible　to　see　out。　It　was　just　as　impossible　of　course　to　see　in；　so　no　one　in　the　street　had　any　real　idea　of　what　had　happened。　They　of　course　knew　something　was　wrong；　two　policemen　had　rushed　in　with　guns　drawn　。　。　。　but　were　now　as　helpless　as　the　rest。　I　organized　the　relief　of　the　sufferers　then；　and　began　pulling　and　guiding　them　to　the　door。　When　I　had　enough　of　a　crowd　collected　I　joined　them　and　we　all　crawled　out　into　the　street　together。　I　put　the　goggles　in　my　pocket　and　kept　my　eyes　closed　until　I　had　groped　clear　of　the　gas。　Some　worthy　citizens　helped　me　and　I　thanked　them；　tears　streaming　down　my　face　from　the　fringes　of　the　gas；　and　went　my　way。
　　　　　That's　how　easy　it　is。　That's　how　easy　it　always　is　if　you　plan　ahead　and　don't　take　foolish　risks。　My　morale　was　high　and　the　blood　sang　in　my　veins。　Life　was　deliciously　crooked　and　worth　living　again。　Finding　Angelina's　trail　now　would　be　simplicity　itself。　There　was　nothing　I　couldn't　do。
　　　　　Staying　on　the　crest　of　this　emotional　wave；　I　rented　a　room　in　a　spacemen　'　s　hotel　near　the　port；　cleaned　up　and　strode　forth　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　life。　There　were　many　rough…and…ready　joints　in　the　area　and　I　made　the　rounds。　I　had　a　steak　in　one　and　a　drink　apiece　in　each　of　the　others。　If　Angelina　had　e　to　Freibur　she　would　surely　have　passed…at　least　briefly…through　this　area。　The　trail　would　be　here；　I　felt　that　in　my　bones。　Crooked　bones　once　again；　and　sympathetic　to　her　own　lawlessness。
　　　　　〃Howsabout　buying　a　girl　a　drink；〃　the　tart　said　spiritlessly；　and　I　shook　my　head　no　with　the　same　lack　of　interest。　The　hostesses；　pallid　creatures　of　the　night；　were　ing　out　as　the　evening　progressed。　I　was　getting　a　good　share　of　propositions　since　I　had　taken　care　to　look　like　a　spaceman　on　leave；　always　a　good　source　of　revenue　for　these　women。　This　one　was　the　latest　of　a　number　who　had　approached　me。　A　little　better　looking　than　most；　at　least　better　constructed。　I　watched　her　walking　away　with　interest　that　bordered　on　admiration。　Her　skirt　was　short；　tight　and　slashed　high　up　on　the　sides。　High　heels　lent　a　rotating　motion　to　this　producing　a　most　effective　result。　She　reached　the　bar　and　turned　to　survey　the　room；　and　I　couldn't　help　but　appreciate　the　rest　of　her。　Her　blouse　was　made　of　thin　strips　of　shimmering　fabric；　joined　together　only　at　the　tops　and　bottoms。　They　separated　to　reveal　enticing　slices　of　creamy　skin　whenever　she　moved；　and　I'm　sure　had　the　desired　effect　on　masculine　libidos。
　　　　　My　eyes　finally　reached　her　face…a　long　trip　since　I　had　started　the　survey　at　her　ankles…and　she　was　quite　attractive。　Almost　familiar。　。　。　。
　　　　　Exactly　at　this　instant　my　heart　gave　a　grinding　thud　in　my　chest；　and　I　grew　rigid　in　my　chair。　It　seemed　impossible…yet　it　had　to　be　true。
　　　　　She　was　Angelina。
　Chapter　10
　
　　　　　Her　hair　had　been　bleached　and　there　were　some　simple　and　obvious　changes　in　her　features。　They　had　been　altered　just　enough　so　it　would　be　impossible　to　identify　her　from　a　photograph　or　a　description。　She　could　never　be　recognized。
　　　　　Except　by　me；　that　is。　I　had　seen　her　in　the　stolen　battleship　and　I　had　talked　to　her。　And　the　nice　part　was　I　could　identify　her　and　she　would　have　no　idea　of　who　I　was。　She　had　seen　me　only　brieflyin　a　spacesuit　with　a　tinted　faceplateand　I'm　sure　had　plenty　of　other　things　to　think　about　at　the　time。
　　　　　This　was　the　climax　of　the　most　successful　day　of　my　life。　The　fetid　air　of　the　dive　was　like　wine　in　my　nostrils。　I　relaxed　and　savored　every　last　drop　of　irony　in　the　situation。　You　had　to　give　the　girl　credit；　though。　She　had　adopted　a　perfect　cover。　I　myself　had　never　imagined　she　would　stay　here；　and　I　thought　I　had　weighted　all　of　the　possibilities。　Because　she　had　taken　a　good　bit　of　the　stolen　cash　with　her；　I　had　never　considered　she　would　be　living　like　a　penniless　tramp。　The　girl　had　guts；　you　had　to　give　her　credit。　She　had　adopted　an　almost　perfect　disguise　and　blended　neatly　into　the　background。　If　only　she　wasn't　so　damned　kill…happywhat　a　team　we　would　make！
　　　　　My　heart　gave　the　second　grinding　thump　of　the　evening　when　I　realized　the　dead…end　trail　down　which　my　emotions　were　leading　roe。　Angelina　was　disaster　to　anyone　she　came　near。　Inside　that　lovely　head　squatted　a　highly　intelligent　but　strangely　warped　brain。　For　my　own　sake　I　would