hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第7部分

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　problem；　dear　sir。　You　must　assure　me　that　this　gets　to　Professor　Van　Diver　at　the　Galaksia　Universitato　at　once。　He　is　expecting　these　historical　documents。〃
　I　had　already　spaciofaxed　the　professor　that　I　was　sending　him　some　personal　possessions；　that　he　should　please　hold　on　to　them　until　I　came　and　picked　them　up。　In　case　he　got　curious　the　contents　were　sealed　in　an　armored　case　that　would　take　a　diamond　drill　to　open。　I　was　betting　that　his　curiosity　would　not　go　that　far。　My　package　vanished　into　the　mailchute　and　I　went　back　to　work。
　At　the　end　of　the　sixth　day　we　were　all　pretty　exhausted。　Barry　Moyd　Shlepper　had　stayed　up　for　two　nights　running；　cold　towels　wrapped　around　his　head；　fortified　by　trebcaff　coffee；　putting　together　some　musical　numbers　from　the　archaic　junk。　He　proved　to　be　a　good　hand　at　theft…or　adaptation　as　he　liked　to　call　it。　The　group　had　rehearsed；　recorded；　then　rehearsed　some　more。　I　had　concentrated　on　costumes；　props　and　effects　and　was　almost　satisfied。
　After　one　last　break　I　called　my　troops　together。　〃You　will　be　pleased　to　know　that　we　will　now　give　our　first　public　performance。〃　This　produced　the　expected　groans　and　shrill　cries　of　plaint　and　I　waited　until　they　had　died　down。
　〃I　know　how　you　feel…and　I　feel　the　same　way　too。　I　think　that　the　blues　number；　‘I'm　All　Alone；'　is　our　best　piece。　You　know　we　have　had　a　lot　of　help　from　the　staff　here　and　I　think　we　owe　it　to　them　to　see　what　we　all　have　done。　I've　invited　something　like　thirty　of　them　and　they　should　be　here　soon。
　Right　on　cue　the　door　opened　and　the　suspicious　public　employees　filed　in；　each　carrying　a　folding　chair。　Admiral　Benbow　led　the　way；　his　flag　officer　carried　two　chairs。　Zach　supervised　the　seating　arrangements　and　our　cavernous　rehearsal　studio　became　a　theater　for　the　first　time。　We　retreated　to　the　podium　where　I　dimmed　the　houselights；　then　hit　myself　and　my　electronic　gear　with　a　baby　spot。
　〃Ladies；　gentlemen；　guests。　We　have　all　worked　hard　this　last　week　and　in　the　name　of　The　Stainless　Steel　Rats　I　would　like　to　thank　you。〃
　I　hit　a　switch　and　my　amplified　voice　echoed　Thank　You；　Thank　You。　Overlaid　by　a　growing　crescendo　of　drums　and　ending　with　a　crack　of　thunder　and　a　few　realistic　lightning　bolts。　I　could　see　by　their　wide　eyes　and　dropped　jaws　that　I　had　their　attention。
　〃For　our　first　number　the　melodious　Madonette　will　render　heart…rendingly　the　tragically　lonely…‘I'm　All　Alone'！〃
　At　this　the　colored　kliegs　burst　down　on　us；　revealing　our　pink…sequined　skintight　costumes　in　all　their　iridescent　glory。　As　we　played　the　opening　bars　of　the　theme　the　lights　concentrated　on　Madonette；　whose　costume　had　more　flesh　than　fabric　and　seemed　to　be　deeply　appreciated。　After　a　last　whistle　of　wind　and　crash　of　thunder　and　lighting　she　extended　her　lovely　arms　to　the　audience　and　sang：
　Here　I　am…and　I'm　all　alone　
No　one　calls　on　the　telephone。　
I　look　around…and　what　do　I　see？　
There's　no　one　here　but　me…me…me。　
Me　me　…　me　
That's　all　I　see　
I'm　all　alone；　
just　
me　
me　
me。
　This　was　all　done　to　the　acpaniment　of　holographic　shaking　trees；　storm　clouds　and　other　spooky　effects。　The　music　wailed　as　Madonette　seguidillad　into　the　rest　of　the　song。
　I'm　all　alone　and　it's　very　dark　
I　sneak　out　the　window　to　the　park。　
The　wind　blows　bard　and　the　tree　limbs　wave　
And　I'm　right　before　an　open　grave！　
When　I　try　to　run　and　try　to　flee…　
But　I　know　they're　out　there　after　me！　
I　sit　and　cry　and　I　know　that's　right　…　
Because　the　sun　es　up　
It's　the　end　of　the　night　。　。　。
　With　a　last　wail　and　a　writhe　of　purple　fog　the　sun　rose　majestically　behind　us　and　the　music　trickled　to　an　end。
　The　silence　stretched　and　stretched…until　it　was　finally　broken　by　a　tumultuous　applause。
　〃Well　gang；〃　I　said；　〃it　looks　like　we　have　done　it。　Or　as　Barry　Moyd　says　it　looks　like　we　are　but　really　rooty…getooty！　〃
　On　the　seventh　day　we　did　not　rest。　After　a　final　round　of　rehearsals　I　called　an　early　break。　〃Get　some　racktime。　Pack　your　bags。　The　music　and　props　are　ready　to　go。　We　ship　out　at　midnight。　Transportation　to　the　spaceport　leaves　here　an　hour　earlier…so　don't　be　late。〃
　They　shuffled　out　wearily　with　dragging　feet。　The　Admiral　stamped　in　as　they　left；　with　Zach　trailing　in　his　wake。
　〃This　agent　informs　me　that　all　preparations　have　been　made　and　you　are　ready　to　embark。〃　I　could　only　nod　agreement。
　〃Wish　I　could　go　with　you；〃　Zach　said。
　〃You　set　it　all　up…you　have　our　thanks　for　that。　Now　get　going。〃
　He　numbed　my　fingers　with　his　handshake　and　the　door　closed　behind　him。
　The　Admiral's　smile　had　all　of　the　warmth　of　a　striking　snake。　〃Drug　Enforcement　has　e　up　with　a　crime　so　awful　that　it　means　an　instant　sentence　to　Liokukae。〃
　〃That's　nice…what　is　it？〃
　〃Misuse　of　a　highly　refined　and　expensive　drug　called　baksheesh。　You　and　the　rest　of　the　musicians　have　been　caught　smuggling　it　and　are　addicted　to　it。　There　is　a　medical　cure　for　the　addiction　that　leaves　the　victim　weak　and　vibrating　for　a　number　of　days。　This　should　give　you　a　little　time　to　look　around　before　you　have　to　play　your　first　concert。　The　press　release　has　already　gone　out　about　your　capture　and　your　sentence　to　prison　hospital　for　the　criminally　doped。　The　natives　of　Liokukae　will　not　be　surprised　at　all　when　you　arrive　there。　Questions？〃
　〃A　big　one。　Has　the　munication　been　set　up？〃
　〃Yes。　The　coded　radio　built　into　your　jaw　can　reach　the　receiver　at　the　entrance　terminal　from　any　place　on　the　planet。　It　will　be　manned　all　of　the　time　and　an　officer　will　be　listening　in　on　all　munication。　Your　contact　on　the　ground　will　give　you　what　aid　he　can　before　you　go　out　of　the　sealed　terminal。　Then　he　will　move　to　the　spacecruiser　Remorseless　in　orbit　above；　which　will　also　monitor　your　radio。　We　can　hit　anywhere　on　the　planet　in　a　maximum　of　eleven　minutes。　Send　the　signal　when　you　have　found　the　artifact　and　the　space　marines　will　be　there。　Report　at　a　minimum　of　once　a　day。　Location　and　results　of　your　investigation。〃
　〃Just　in　case　we　get　blown　away　and　you　have　to　send　in　the　second　team？〃
　〃Exactly。　More　questions？〃
　〃One。　Going　to　wish　us　luck？〃
　〃No。　Don't　believe　in　it。　Make　your　own。〃
　〃Gee；　thanks；　you　really　are　all　heart。〃
　He　turned　and　stamped　away　and　the　door　swung　shut　behind　him。　Fatigue　washed　through　me　and　black　depression　hit　just　one　more　time。　Why　was　I　doing　this？
　To　stay　alive　of　course。　Twenty…two　days　more　before　my　curtain　fell　for　the　final　performance。
　
　CHAPTER　6
　The　Faster　Than　Light　voyage　aboard　the　good　ship　Remorseless　was　blessedly　brief。　Being　surrounded　by　the　military　has　always　had　a　deleterious　effect　on　my　morale。　We　had　a　solid　day　of　rehearsal；　some　bad　food；　a　good　night's　rest；　followed　the　next　day　by　a　very　non…alcoholic　party…since　the　Navy　was　remorselessly　teetotal。　Then；　a　few　hours　before　we　were　to　meet　the　shuttle；　the　medics　gave　us　the　injections　that　were　to　simulate　the　aftereffects　of　our　drug　treatment。
　I　think　I　would　have　preferred　the　treatment。　I　didn't　mind　seeing　my　last　meal　go　by　for　a　second　time；　it　had　been　pretty　bad　and　I　would　not　miss　it。　But　the　shakes　and　shivers　were　something　else　again。　And　all　of　my　vibrating　and　stumbling　co…musicians　had　eyeballs　as　red　as　fire。　I　dared　not　look　in　the　mirror　for　fear　of　what　I　would　see　there。
　Steengo　was　gray　and　drawn　and　looked　a　hundred　years　old。　I　felt　a　quick　blast　of　guilt　for　dragging　him　out　of　retirement。　Said　guilt　fading　instantly　when　I　thought　about　my　own　problems。
　〃Do　I　look　as　bad　as　you　do？〃　Floyd　said　in　a　hoarse　voice；　his　new…grown　beard　black　against　his　parchment　skin。
　〃I　hope　not；〃　I　husked　in　return。　Madonette　reached　over　and　patted　my　shaking　hand　in　what　might　have　been　a　maternal　way。
　〃It　will　be　all　right　on　the　night；　Jim。　Just　you　wait　and　see。
　I　did　not　feel　filial　in　return　since　I　was　rapidly　developing　a　crush　on　her　that　I　hoped　I　disguised。　I　growled　something　or　other　and　stumbled　away　to　the　heads　where　I　could　be　alone　with　my　misery。　Even　this　did　not　work　for　the　speaker　in　the　ceiling　rustled　ominously…then　crashed　out　Admiral　Bonbon's　voice。　。
　〃Now　hear　this。　All　Stainless　Steel　Rats　will　assemble　at　debarkation　station　twelve　in　two　minutes。　We　are　now　in　parking　orbit。　One　minute　and　fifty…eight　seconds。　One　minute　and　。　。　。〃
　I　slammed　out　into　the　passageway　to　escape　his　voice　but　it　followed　me　as　I　fled。　I　was　the　last　to　arrive　and　I　collapsed　and　joined　the　others　where　they　slumped　on　the　deck　beside　our　backpacks。　The　Admiral　appeared　suddenly　behind　me　like　a　bad　dream　and　roared　his　mand。
　〃Attention！　On　your　feet　you　slovenly　crew！〃
　〃Never！〃　I　shouted　even　louder　in　a　cracked　voice。　Rolling　over　to　pull　the　swaying　bodies　back　to　the　deck。
　〃Begone　foul　military　fiend！　We　are　musicians；　civilians；　medically　reformed　drug　addicts　and　we　must　think　and　feel　that　way。　Someday；　if　we　live；　you　may　have　some　of　us　back　at　your　military　mercy。　But　not　now。　Leave　us　in　peace　and　wait　for　my　reports。〃
　He　snarled　a　rich　naval　oath…but　had　the　brains　to　turn　cm　his　heel　and　vanish。　There　was　a　ragged　cheer　from　my　panions　which　made　me　feel　slightly　less　sordid。　The　silence　after　this　was　unbroken；　except　for　the　occasional　groan；　until　distant　motors　whirred　and　the　inner　lock　swung　majestically　open。　A　keen　clipboard…bearing　naval　officer　stepped　t　I　h　rough。
　〃Landing　party　for　Liokukae？〃
　〃All　present；　all　ill。　Send　a　working　party　for　our　gear。〃
　He　muttered　into　his　lapel　microphone；　reached　to　the　hack　of　his　belt　to　unclip　a　pair　of　handcuffs。　Which　he　promptly　snapped　onto　my　wrists。
　〃Whasha？〃　I　blurted　incoherently。　Blinking　down　at　the　cuffs。
　〃Don't　give　me　a　hard　time；　you　drug…pushing　addict；　and　I　won't　give　you　one。　You　may　be　a　big　man　out　there　in　the　galaxy；　but　here　you　are　just　one　more　sentenced　crook。　Who　is　going　to　carry　his　own　pack…no　working　party　for　the　likes　of　you。〃
　I　opened　my　mouth　to　verbally　assassinate　him。　Then　closed　it。　It　had　been　my　idea　that　our　mission　be　known　to　the　minimum　few。　He　obviously　wasn't　one　of　them。　I　groaned　to　my　feet　and　stumbled　into　the　airlock　dragging　my　gear　after　me；　the　others　following　in