the stainless steel rat-第26部分

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　　　　　Actress；　liar；　cheat；　murderess。　She　had　played　a　hundred　roles　in　countless　voices。　Yet　when　she　said　those　final　words　there　was　a　ring　of　unforged　feeling　to　them。　This　murder　attempt　had　e　too　soon　after　the　earlier　traumatic　scene。　Her　defenses　were　still　down；　her　real　emotions　showing。
　　　　　Her　hair　hung　to　her　shoulders；　brushing　the　single　ribbons　of　her　nightgown　which　was　made　of　some　thin　and　soft　fabric；　intimate。　This　sight；　on　top　of　the　events　of　the　evening；　removed　any　reserve　I　might　have　had。　I　was　kneeling　by　the　bed；　holding　her　shoulders　and　staring　deep　into　her　eyes；　trying　to　reach　what　lay　behind　them。　The　locket　with　the　broken　chain　lay　on　the　bedside　table。　I　grabbed　it　in　my　fist。
　　　　　〃Don't　you　realize　this　girl　doesn't　exist　except　in　your　memory；〃　I　said；　and　Angelina　didn't　move。　〃It's　past　like　everything　else。　You　were　a　babynow　you're　a　woman。　You　were　a　little　girlnow　you're　a　woman。　You　may　have　been　this　girlbut　you　are　not　any　more！〃
　　　　　With　a　convulsive　movement　I　turned　and　hurled　the　thing　out　of　the　window　into　the　darkness。
　　　　　〃You're　none　of　those　things　of　the　past；　Angelina！〃　I　said　with　an　intensity　louder　than　a　shout。　〃You　are　yourself　。　。　。　just　yourself！〃
　　　　　I　kissed　her　then　and　there　was　no　trace　of　the　pushing　away　or　rejection　there　had　been　before。　As　I　needed　her；　she　needed　me。
　Chapter　18
　
　　　　　Dawn　was　just　touching　the　sky　when　I　brought　the　assassin's　body　in　to　the　Count。　I　was　deprived　of　the　pleasure　of　waking　him　since　the　sergeant　of　the　guard　had　already　done　this　when　the　roof　sentry　had　been　discovered。　The　guard　was　dead　too；　from　a　tiny　puncture　of　the　same　poison…tipped　blade。　The　guardsmen　and　the　Count　were　all　gathered　around　the　body　on　the　floor　of　the　Count's　sitting　room　and　chattering　away　about　this　mystery；　the　inexplicable　death　of　the　sentry。　They　didn't　see　me　until　I　dropped　my　corpse　down　by　the　other　one；　and　they　all　jumped　back。
　　　　　〃Here's　the　killer；〃　I　told　them；　not　without　a　certain　amount　of　pride。　Count　Cassitor　must　have　recognized　the　thug　because　he　gave　a　shuddering　start　and　popped　his　eyes。　No　doubt　an　ex…relative；　brother…in…law　or　something。　I　imagined　he　hadn't　believed　that　the　Radebrechen　family　would　really　go　through　with　their　threats　of　revenge。
　　　　　A　certain　uneasiness　about　the　guard　sergeant　gave　me　my　first　cue　that　I　was　imagining　wrong。　The　sergeant　glanced　back　and　forth　from　the　corpse　to　the　Count　and　I　wondered　what　thoughts　were　going　through　his　shaven　and　thick…skulled　military　head。　There　were　wheels　within　wheels　here　and　I　would　like　to　have　known　what　was　going　on。　I　made　a　mental　note　to　have　a　buddy…to…buddy　talk　with　sarge　at　the　first　opportunity。　The　Count　chewed　his　cheek　and　cracked　his　knuckles　over　the　bodies；　and　finally　ordered　them　dragged　out。
　　　　　〃Stay　here。　Bent；〃　he　said　as　I　started　to　leave　with　the　others。　I　dropped　into　a　chair　while　he　locked　the　rest　out。　Then　he　made　a　rush　for　the　bar　and　choked　down　about　a　waterglass　full　of　the　local　spirits。　Only　when　he　was　working　on　his　second　glass　did　he　remember　to　offer　me　some　of　this　potable　aqua　regia。　I　wasn't　saying　no；　and　while　I　sipped　at　it　I　wondered　what　he　was　so　upset　about。
　　　　　First　the　Count　checked　the　locks　on　all　the　doors　and　sealed　the　single　window。　His　ring　key　unlocked　the　bottom　drawer　of　his　desk　and　he　took　out　a　small　electronic　device　with　controls　and　an　extendible　aerial　on　top。
　　　　　〃Well　look　at　that！〃　I　said　when　he　pulled　out　the　aerial。　He　didn't　answer　me；　just　shot　a　long　look　at　me　from　under　his　eyebrows；　and　went　back　to　adjusting　the　thing。　Only　when　it　was　turned　on　and　the　green　light　glowed　on　the　top　did　he　relax　a　bit。　
　　　　　〃You　know　what　this　is？〃　he　asked；　pointing　at　the　gadget。
　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　I　said。　〃But　not　from　seeing　them　on　Freibur。　They　aren't　that　mon。〃
　　　　　〃They　aren't　mon　at　all；〃　he　mumbled；　staring　at　the　green　light　which　glowed　steadily。　〃As　far　as　I　know　this　is　the　only　one　on　the　planetso　I　wish　you　wouldn't　mention　it　to　anybody。　Anybody；〃　he　repeated　with　emphasis。
　　　　　〃Not　my　business；〃　I　told　him　with　disarming　lack　of　interest。　〃I　think　a　man's　entitled　to　his　privacy。〃
　　　　　I　liked　privacy　myself　and　had　used　snooper…detectors　like　this　one　plenty　of　times。　They　could　sense　electronic　or　radiation　snoopers　and　gave　instant　warning。　There　were　ways　of　fooling　them；　but　it　wasn't　easy　to　do。　As　long　as　no　one　knew　about　the　thing　the　Count　could　be　sure　he　wasn't　being　eavesdropped　on。　But　who　would　want　to　do　that？　He　was　in　the　middle　of　his　own　buildingand　even　he　must　know　that　snooper　devices　couldn't　be　worked　from　a　distance。　There　was　distinct　smell　of　rat　in　the　air；　and　I　was　beginning　to　get　an　idea　of　what　was　going　on。　The　Count　didn't　leave　me　any　doubt　as　to　who　the　rat　was。
　　　　　〃You're　not　a　stupid　man；　Grav　Diebstall；〃　he　said；　which　means　he　thought　I　was　a　lot　stupider　than　he　was。　〃You've　been　offplanet　and　seen　other　worlds。　You　know　how　backward　and　suppressed　we　are　here；　or　you　wouldn't　have　joined　with　roc　to　help　throw　off　the　yoke　around　our　planet's　neck。　No　sacrifice　is　too　great　if　it　will　bring　closer　this　day　of　liberation。〃　For　some　reason　he　was　sweating　now　and　had　resumed　his　unpleasant　habit　of　cracking　the　knuckles。　The　side　of　his　headwhere　Angela　had　landed　the　bottlewas　covered　with　plasti…skin　and　dry　of　sweat。　I　hoped　it　hurt。
　　　　　〃This　foreign　woman　you　have　been　guarding〃　the　Count　said；　turning　sideways　but　still　watching　me　from　the　corners　of　his　eyes。　〃She　had　been　of　some　help　in　organizing　things；　but　is　now　putting　us　in　an　embarrassing　position。　There　has　been　one　attempt　on　her　life　and　there　will　probably　be　others。　The　Radebrechen　are　an　old　and　loyal　familyher　presence　is　a　continued　insult　to　them。〃　Then　he　pulled　at　his　drink　and　delivered　the　punch　line。
　　　　　〃I　think　that　you　can　do　the　job　she　is　doing。　Just　as　well；　and　perhaps　better。　How　would　you　like　that？〃
　　　　　Without　a　doubt　I　was　just　brimming　over　with　talentor　there　was　a　shortage　of　revolutionaries　on　this　planet。　This　was　the　second　time　within　twelve　hours　that　I　had　been　offered　a　partnership　in　the　new　order。　One　thing　I　was　sure　of　thoughAngelovely's　offer　had　been　sincere。　Cassi　Duke　of　Rdenrundt's　proposition　had　a　distinctly　bad　odor　to　it。　I　played　along　to　see　what　he　was　leading　up　to。
　　　　　〃I　am　honored；　noble　Count；〃　I　oozed。　〃But　what　will　happen　to　the　foreign　woman？　I　don't　imagine　she　will　think　much　of　the　idea。〃
　　　　　〃What　she　thinks　is　not　important；〃　he　snarled　and　touched　his　fingers　lightly　to　the　side　of　his　head。　He　swallowed　and　got　his　temper　back　under　control。　〃We　cannot　be　cruel　to　her；〃　he　said　with　one　of　the　most　insincere　smiles　I　have　ever　seen　on　a　human　being's　face。　〃We'll　just　hold　her　in　custody。　She　has　some　guards　who　I　imagine　will　be　loyal；　but　my　men　will　take　care　of　them。　You　will　be　with　her　and　arrest　her　at　the　proper　time。　Just　turn　her　over　to　the　jailers　who　will　keep　her　safe。　Safe　for　herself；　and　out　of　sight　where　she　can　cause　no　more　trouble　for　us。〃
　　　　　〃It's　a　good　plan；〃　I　agreed　with　winning　insincerity。　〃I　don't　enjoy　the　thought　of　putting　this　poor　woman　in　jail；　but　if　it　is　necessary　to　the　cause　it　must　be　done。　The　ends　justify　the　means。〃　
　　　　　〃You're　right。　I　only　wish　I　was　able　to　state　it　so　clearly。　You　have　a　remarkable　ability　to　turn　a　phrase。　Bent。　I'm　going　to　write　that　down　so　I　can　remember　it。　The　ends　justify　。　。　。〃　
　　　　　He　scratched　away　industriously　on　a　note　plate。　What　a　knowledge　of　history　he　hadjust　the　man　to　plan　a　revolution！　I　searched　my　memory　for　a　few　more　old　saws　to　supply　him　with；　until　my　brain　was　flooded　with　a　sudden　anger。　I　jumped　to　my　feet。
　　　　　〃If　we　are　going　to　do　this　we　should　not　waste　any　time；　Count　Rdenrundt；〃　I　said。　〃I　suggest　1800　hours　tonight　for　the　action。　That　will　give　you　enough　time　to　arrange　for　the　capture　of　her　guards。　I　will　be　in　her　rooms　and　will　arrest　her　as　soon　as　I　have　a　message　from　you　that　the　first　move　has　succeeded。〃　
　　　　　〃You're　correct。　A　man　of　action　as　always。　Bent。　It　will　be　as　you　say。〃　We　shook　hands　then　and　it　took　all　the　will　power　I　possessed　to　stop　from　crushing　to　a　pulp　his　limp；　moist；　serpentine　paw。　I　went　straight　to　Angelina。
　　　　　〃Can　we　be　overheard　here？〃　I　asked　her。　
　　　　　〃No；　the　room　is　pletely　shielded。〃
　　　　　〃Your　former　boy…friend。　Count　Cassi；　has　a　snooper…detector。　He　may　have　other　equipment　for　listening　to　what　goes　on　here。〃　
　　　　　This　thought　didn't　bother　Angelic　in　the　slightest。　She　sat　by　the　mirror；　brushing　her　hair。　The　scene　was　lovely　but　distracting。　There　were　strong　winds　blowing　through　the　revolution　that　threatened　to　knock　everything　down。
　　　　　〃I　know　about　the　detector；〃　she　said　calmly；　brushing。　〃I　arranged　for　him　to　get　itwithout　his　knowledge　of　courseand　made　sure　it　was　useless　on　the　best　frequencies。　I　keep　a　close　watch　on　his　affairs　that　way。〃
　　　　　〃Were　you　listening　in　a　few　minutes　ago　when　he　was　making　arrangements　with　me　to　kill　your　guards　and　throw　you　into　the　dungeons　downstairs？〃
　　　　　〃No；　I　wasn't　listening；〃　she　said　with　that　amazing　self…possession　and　calm　that　marked　all　her　actions。　She　smiled　in　the　mirror　at　me。　〃I　was　busy　just　remembering　last　night。〃
　　　　　Women！　They　insist　on　mixing　everything　up　together。　Perhaps　they　operate…better　that　way；　but　it　is　very　hard　on　those　of　us　who　find　that　keeping　emotion　and　logic　separate　produces　sounder　thinking。　I　had　to　make　her　understand　the　seriousness　of　this　situation。
　　　　　〃Well；　if　that　little　bit　of　news　doesn't　interest　you；〃　I　said　as　calmly　as　I　could；　〃perhaps　this　does。　The　rough　Radebrechens　didn't　send　that　killer　last　nightthe　Count　did。〃　
　　　　　Success　at　last。　Angelina　actually　stopped　bing　her　hair　and　her　eyes　widened　a　bit　at　the　import　of　what　I　said。　She　didn't　ask　any　stupid　questions；　but　waited　for　me　to　finish。
　　　　　〃I　think　you　have　underestimated　the　desperation　of　that　rat　upstairs。　When　you　droned　him　with　that　bottle　yesterday；　you　pushed　him　just　as　far　as　he　could　be　pushed。　He　must　have　had　his　plans　already　made　and　you