the stainless steel rat-第15部分

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e　that　lovely　head　squatted　a　highly　intelligent　but　strangely　warped　brain。　For　my　own　sake　I　would　be　better　off　thinking　about　the　corpses　she　had　piled　up；　not　about　her　figure。　There　was　only　one　thing　to　be　done。　Get　her　away　from　here　and　turn　her　over　to　the　Corps。　I　didn't　even　consider　how　I　felt　about　the　Corpsor　how　they　felt　about　me。　This　was　an　entirely　different　affair　that　had　to　be　done　neatly　and　with　dispatch　before　I　changed　my　mind。
　　　　　I　joined　her　at　the　bar　and　ordered　two　double　shots　of　the　local　battery　acid。　Being　careful；　I　deepened　my　voice　and　changed　my　accent　and　manner　of　speaking。　Angelina　had　heard　enough　of　my　voice　to　identify　it　easilythat　was　the　one　thing　I　had　to　be　aware　of。
　　　　　〃Drink　up；　doll；〃　I　said　raising　my　drink　and　leering　at　her。　〃Then　we　go　up　to　your　place。　You　got　a　place　don't　you？〃　
　　　　　〃I　gotta　place　you　gotta　League　ten…spot　in　hard　change？〃　
　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　I　grumbled；　feigning　insult。　〃You　think　I'm　buying　this　bilge…juice　on　the　arm？〃
　　　　　〃I　ain't　no　cafeteria　pay…on…your…way…out；〃　she　said　with　a　bored　lack　of　interest　that　was　magnificent。　〃Pay　now　and　then　we　go。〃
　　　　　When　I　flipped　the　ten　credits　her　way　she　speared　it　neatly　out　of　the　air；　weighed　it；　bit　it；　and　vanished　it　inside　her　belt。　I　looked　on　with　frank　admiration；　which　she　would　mistake　for　carnal　interest；　but　was　in　reality　appreciation　of　the　faultless　manner　with　which　she　played　her　role。　Only　when　she　turned　away　did　I　make　myself　remember　that　this　was　business　not　pleasure；　and　I　had　a　stem　duty　to　perform。　My　resolution　was　wavering　and　I　screwed　it　tight　again　with　a　memory　of　corpses　floating　in　space。　Draining　my　glass　I　followed　her　marvelous　rotation　out　of　the　bar　and　down　a　noisome　alley。
　　　　　The　dark　decrepitude　of　the　narrow　passage　jarred　my　reflexes　awake。　Angelina　played　her　part　well；　but　I　doubted　if　she　bedded　down　with　all　the　space　tramps　who　hit　this　port。　There　was　a　good　chance　that　she　had　a　confederate　around　who　had　a　strong　right　arm　with　a　heavy　object　clutched　tightly　in　his　hand。　Or　perhaps　I'm　naturally　suspicious。　My　hand　was　on　the　gun　in　my　pocket　but　I　didn't　need　to　use　it。　We　treaded　across　another　street　and　turned　into　a　hallway。　She　went　first　and　we　didn't　talk。　No　one　came　near　us　or　even　bothered　to　notice　us。　When　she　unlocked　her　room　I　relaxed　a　bit。　It　was　small　and　tawdry；　but　offered　no　possible　hiding　place　for　an　acplice。　Angelina　went　straight　to　the　bed　and　I　checked　the　door　to　see　if　it　really　was　locked。　It　was。
　　　　　When　I　turned　around　she　was　pointing　a　。75　caliber　recoilless　automatic　at　me；　so　big　and　ugly　that　she　had　to　hold　it　in　both　tiny　hands。
　　　　　〃What　the　hell　is　the　racket？〃　I　Mustered；　fighting　back　the　sick　sensation　that　I　had　missed　an　important　clue　someplace　along　the　line。　My　hand　was　still　on　the　gun　in　my　pocket　but　trying　to　draw　it　would　be　instant　suicide。
　　　　　〃I'm　going　to　kill　you　without　ever　even　knowing　your　name；〃　she　said　sweetly；　with　a　cute　smile　that　showed　even　white　teeth。　〃But　you　have　this　ing　for　ruining　my　battleship　operation。〃　
　　　　　Still　she　didn't　fire；　but　her　grin　widened　until　it　was　almost　a　laugh。　She　was　enjoying　the　uncontrolled　expressions　on　my　face　as　I　recognized　the　fact　that　I　had　been　out…thought　all　the　way　along　the　line。　That　the　trapper　was　the　trappee。　That　she　had　me　exactly　precisely　where　she　wanted　me　and　there　wasn't　a　single　bloody　damn　thing　I　could　do　about　it。
　　　　　Angelina　finally　had　to　laugh　out　loud；　a　laugh　clear　and　charming　as　a　silver　bell；　as　she　watched　me　reach　these　sickening　conclusions　one　after　another。　She　was　an　artist　to　her　fingertips　and　waited　just　long　enough　for　me　to　understand　everything。　Then；　at　the　exact　and　ultimate　moment　of　my　maximum　realization　and　despair　she　pulled　the　trigger。　
　　　　　Not　once；　but　over　and　over　again。
　　　　　Four　tearing；　thundering　bullets　of　pain　directly　into　my　heart。　And　a　final　slug　directly　between　my　eyes。
　Chapter　11
　
　　　　　It　wasn't　really　consciousness；　but　a　sort　of　ruddy；　pain…filled　blur。　A　gut…gripping　nausea　fought　with　the　pain；　but　the　pain　won　easily。　Part　of　the　trouble　was　that　my　eyes　were　closed；　yet　opening　them　was　incredibly　difficult。　I　finally　managed　it　and　could　make　out　a　face　swimming　in　a　blur　above　me。
　　　　　〃What　happened？〃　the　blur　asked。
　　　　　〃I　was　going　to　ask　you　the　same　thing　。　。　。〃　I　said；　and　stopped；　surprised　at　how　weak　and　bubbly　my　voice　was。　Something　brushed　across　my　lips　and　I　saw　a　red…stained　pad　as　it　went　away。
　　　　　After　I　blinked　some　sight　back　into　my　eyes；　blur…face　turned　out　to　be　a　youngish　man　dressed　in　white。　A　doctor　I　suppose；　and　I　was　aware　of　motion；　we　must　be　driving　in　an　ambulance。
　　　　　〃Who　shot　you？〃　the　doctor　asked。　〃Someone　reported　the　shots　and　you'll　be　pleased　to　know　we　got　there　just　in　the　old　nick　of　time。　You've　lost　a　lot　of　bloodsome　of　which　I've　replacedhave　multiple　fractures　of　the　radius　and　ulna；　an　extensive　bullet　wound　in　your　forearm；　a　further　wound　in　your　right　temple；　possible　fracture　of　the　skull；　extremely　probable　fractures　in　your　ribs　and　the　possibility　of　internal　injuries。　Someone　got　a　grudge　against　you？　Who？〃
　　　　　Who？　My　darling　Angelina；　that's　who。　Temptress；　sorceress；　murderess；　that's　who　tried　to　kill　me。　I　remembered　now。　The　wide　black　muzzle　of　the　gun　looking　big　enough　to　park　a　spaceship　in。　The　fire　blasting　out　of　it；　the　slugs　hammering　into　me；　and　the　pain　as　my　expensive；　guaranteed；　bulletproof　underwear　soaked　up　the　impact　of　the　bullets；　spreading　it　across　the　entire　front　of　my　body。　I　remembered　the　hope　that　this　would　satisfy　her　and　the　despair　of　hope　as　the　muzzle　of　that　reeking　gun　lifted　to　my　face。
　　　　　I　remembered　the　last　instant　of　regret　as　I　put　my　arms　before　my　face　and　threw　myself　sideways　in　a　vain　attempt　at　escape。
　　　　　The　funny　thing　is　that　escape　attempt　had　worked。　The　bullet　that　had　smashed　my　forearm　must　have　been　deflected　enough　by　the　bone　to　carom　off　my　skull；　instead　of　catching　it　point　blank　and　drilling　on　through。　All　this　had　produced　satisfactory　quantities　of　blood　and　an　immobile　body　on　the　floor。　That　had　caused　Angelina's　mistake；　her　only　one。　The　boom　of　the　gun　in　that　tiny　room；　my　apparent　corpse；　the　blood；　it　must　have　all　rattled　the　female　side　of　her；　at　least　a　bit。　She　had　to　leave　fast　before　the　shots　were　investigated　and　she　had　not　taken　that　extra　bit　of　time　to　make　sure。
　　　　　〃Lie　down；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃I'll　give　you　an　injection　that　will　knock　you　out　for　a　week　if　you　don't　lie　down！〃　Only　when　he　said　this　did　I　realize　I　was　half　sitting　up　in　the　stretcher　and　chuckling　a　particularly　dirty　laugh。　I　let　myself　be　pushed　down　easily；　since　my　chest　was　drenched　in　pain　whenever　I　moved。
　　　　　Right　at　that　moment　my　mind　began　ticking　over　plans　for　making　the　most　of　the　situation。　Ignoring　the　pain　as　well　as　I　could　I　looked　around　the　ambulance；　looking　for　a　way　to　capitalize　on　the　bit　of　luck　that　had　kept　me　still　alive　while　she　thought　I　was　dead。
　　　　　We　pulled　up　at　the　hospital　then；　and　there　was　nothing　much　I　could　do　in　the　ambulance　except　steal　the　stylus　and　official　forms　from　the　rack　above　my　head。　My　right　arm　was　still　good；　though　it　hurt　like　fire　whenever　I　moved。　A　robot　snapped　the　wheels　down　on　my　stretcher；　latched　onto　it　and　wheeled　it　inside。　As　it　went　by　the　doctor　he　slipped　some　papers　into　a　holder　near　my　head　and　waved　good…by　to　me。　I　gave　him　back　a　gallant　smile　as　I　trundled　into　the　butcher　shop。
　　　　　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight　I　pulled　out　the　papers　and　scanned　them　quickly。　Here　lay　my　opportunity　if　I　had　enough　time　to　grab　it。　There　was　the　doctor's　reportin　quadruplicate。　Until　these　forms　were　fed　into　the　machinery　I　didn't　exist。　I　was　in　a　statistical　limbo　out　of　which　I　would　be　born　into　the　hospital。　Stillborn　if　I　had　my　way。　I　pushed　my　pillow　off　onto　the　corridor　floor　and　the　robot　stopped。　He　paid　no　attention　to　my　writing　and　didn't　seem　to　mind　stopping　two　more　times　to　rescue　the　pillow；　giving　me　time　to　finish　my　forgery。
　　　　　This　Doctor　Mcvbklzat　least　that's　what　his　signature　reads　likehad　a　lot　to　learn　about　signing　papers。　He　had　left　acres　of　clear　space　between　the　last　line　of　the　report　and　his　signature。　I　filled　this　with　a　very　passable　imitation　of　his　handwriting。　Massive　internal　hemorrhage；　shock　。　。　。　I　wrote；　died　en　route。　This　sounded　official　enough。　I　quickly　added　All　attempts　resuscitation　failed。　I　had　a　moment　of　doubt　about　spelling　this　jaw　breaker；　but　since　Dr。　Mcvbklz　thought　there　were　two　P's　in　multiple　he　could　be　expected　to　muff　this　one　too。　This　last　line　made　sure　there　wouldn't　be　any　hanky…panky　with　needles　and　electric　prods　to　jazz　some　life　back　into　the　corpse。　We　turned　out　of　the　corridor　just　as　I　slipped　the　forms　back　into　their　slot　and　lay　back　trying　to　look　dead。
　　　　　〃Here's　a　D。O。A。；　Svend；〃　someone　called　out；　rustling　the　papers　behind　my　head。　I　heard　the　robot　rolling　away；　untroubled　by　the　fact　that　his　writing；　pillow…shedding　patient　was　suddenly　dead。　This　lack　of　curiosity　is　what　I　like　about　robots。　I　tried　to　think　dead　thoughts　and　hoped　the　right　expression　was　showing　on　my　face。　Something　jerked　at　my　left　foot　and　my　boot　and　sock　were　pulled　off。　A　hand　grabbed　my　foot。
　　　　　〃How　tragic；〃　this　sympathetic　soul　said；　〃he's　still　warm。　Maybe　we　should　put　him　on　the　table　and　get　the　revival　team　down。〃　What　a　nosey；　mealy…mouthed；　interfering　sod　he　was。
　　　　　〃Nah；　〃　the　voice　of　a　wiser　and　cooler　head　said　from　across　the　room。　〃They　tried　the　works　in　the　ambulance。　Slide　him　in　the　box；〃
　　　　　A　terrifying　pain　lanced　through　my　foot　and　I　almost　gave　the　whole　show　away。　Only　the　fiercest　control　enabled　me　to　lie　unmoving　while　this　clown　grimly　tightened　the　wire　around　my　big　toe。　There　was　a　tag　hanging　from　the　wire　and　I　heartily　wished　the　same　tag　was　hung　from　his　ear　secured　by　the　same　throttling　wire。　Pain　from　the　toe　washed　up　and　joined　the　ache　in　my　chest；　head　and　arm；　and　I　fought　for　corpselike　rigidity　as　the　stretcher　trundled　along。
　　　　　Somewhere　behind　m