bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第20章

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ro's　desk；　and　flipped　it　neatly　through　the　door　of　the　mail　chute。　There　was　the　schloof　sound　of　insufflation　as　the　vacuum　tube　whisked　it　up　to　the　higher　levels。　Basurero's　mouth　was　agape　at　the　rapid　disappearance　of　fifty　trays；　so　Bill　clinched　his　argument。　　　〃The　robot　labor　for　wrapping　is　free；　the　addresses　are　free；　and　so　are　the　wrapping　materials。　Plus　the　fact　that；　since　this　is　a　government　office；　the　postage　is　free。〃
　　〃You're　right…it'll　work！　An　inspired　plan；　I'll　put　it　into　operation　on　a　large　scale　at　once。　We'll　flood　the　inhabited　galaxy　with　these　damned　trays。　I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you　。　。　。〃
　　〃How　about　a　cash　bonus？〃　　　〃A　fine　idea；　I'll　voucher　it　at　once。〃
　　Bill　strolled　back　to　his　office　with　his　hand　still　tingling　from　the　clasp　of　congratulations；　his　ears　still　ringing　with　the　words　of　praise。　It　was　a　fine　world　to　live　in。　He　slammed　his　office　door　behind　him　and　had　seated　himself　at　his　desk　before　he　noticed　that　a　large；　crummy；　black　overcoat　was　hanging　behind　the　door。　Then　he　noticed　that　it　was　X's　overcoat。　Then　he　noticed　the　eyes　staring　at　him　from　the　darkness　of　the　collar；　and　his　heart　sank　as　he　realized　that　X　had　returned。　

VII

〃Changed　your　mind　yet　about　joining　the　Party？〃　X　asked　as　he　wriggled　free　of　the　hook　and　dropped　lithely　to　the　floor。　　
　〃I've　been　doing　some　thinking。〃　Bill　writhed　with　guilt。
　　〃To　think　is　to　act。　We　must　drive　the　stench　of　the　fascist　leeches　from　the　nostrils　of　our　homes　and　loved　ones。〃
　　〃You　talked　me　into　it。　I'll　join。〃　
　　〃Logic　always　prevails。　Sign　the　form　here；　a　drop　of　blood　there；　then　raise　your　hand　while　I　administer　the　secret　oath。〃　　　Bill　raised　his　hand；　and　X's　lips　worked　silently。
　　〃I　can't　hear　you；〃　Bill　said。　
　　〃I　told　you　it　was　a　secret　oath；　all　you　do　is　say　yes。〃
　　〃。。Yes。〃　　　〃Wele　to　the　Glorious　Revolution。〃　X　kissed　him　warmly　on　both　cheeks。
〃Now　e　with　me　to　the　meeting　of　the　underground；　it　is　about　to　begin。〃　X　rushed　to　the　rear　wall　and　ran　his　fingers　over　the　design　there；　pressing　in　a　certain　way　on　a　certain　spring：　there　was　a　click；　and　the　secret　panel
swung　open。　Bill　looked　in　dubiously　at　the　damp；　dark　staircase　leading　down。　　
　〃Where　does　this　go？〃
　　〃Underground；　where　else？　Follow　me；　but　do　not　get　lost。　These　are　millennia…old　tunnels　unknown　to　those　of　the　city　above；　and　there　are　Things　dwelling　here　since　time　out　of　mind。〃
　　There　were　torches　in　a　niche　in　the　wall；　and　X　lit　one　and　led　the　way　through　the　dank　and　noisome　darkness。
　　Bill　stayed　close；　following　the　flickering；　smoking　light　as　it　wended　its　way　through　crumbling　caverns；　stumbling　over　rusting　rails　in　one　tunnel；　and　in　another　wading　through　dark　water　that　reached　above　his　knees。　Once　there
was　the　rattle　of　giant　claws　nearby；　and　an　inhuman；　grating　voice　spoke　from　the　blackness。
　　〃Blood…〃　it　said。　　　〃…shed；〃　X　answered；　then　whispered　to　Bill　when　they　were　safely　past。　〃Fine　sentry；　an　anthropophagus　from　Dapdrof；　eat　you　in　an　instant　if　you　don't　give　the　right　password　for　the　day。〃
　　〃What　is　the　right　password？〃　Bill　asked；　realizing　he　was　doing　an　awful　lot　for　the　G。B。I。's　hundred　bucks　a　month。
　　〃Even…numbered　days　it's　Blood…shed；　odd…numbered　days　Delenda　est…Carthago；　and　always　on　Sundays　it's　Necrophilia。〃
　　　〃You　sure　don't　make　it　easy　for　your　members。〃
　　〃The　anthropophagus　gets　hungry；　we　have　to　keep　it　happy。　Now…absolute　silence。　I　will　extinguish　the　light　and　lead　you　by　the　arm。〃　The　light　went　out；　and　fingers　sank　deep　into　Bill's　biceps。　He　stumbled　along　for　an　endless　time　until　there　was　a　dim　glow　of　light　far　ahead。　The　tunnel　floor　leveled　out；　and　he　saw　an　open　doorway　lit　by　a　flickering　glow。　He　turned　to　his　panion　and　screamed。
　　〃What　are　you？！〃　　　The　pallid；　white；　shambling　creature　that　held　him　by　the　arm　turned　slowly　to　gaze　at　him　through　poached…egg…eyes。　Its　skin　was　dead…white　and　moist；　its　head　hairless；　for　clothes　it　wore　only　a　twist　of　cloth　about　its　waist；　and　upon　its　forehead　was　burned　the　scarlet　letter　A。
　　〃I　am　an　android；〃　it　said　in　a　toneless　voice；　〃as　any　fool　knows　by　seeing　the　letter　A　upon　my　forehead。　Men　call　me　Ghoulem。〃
　　　〃What　do　women　call　you？〃
　　The　android　did　not　answer　this　pitiful　sally　but　instead　pushed　Bill　through　the　door　into　the　large；　torchlit　room。　Bill　took　one　wild…eyed　look　around　and　tried　to　leave；　but　the　android。　was　blocking　the　door。　〃Sit；〃　it　said；　and　Bill　sat。　　　He　sat　among　as　gruesome　a　collection　of　nuts；　bolts；　and　weirdies　as　has　ever　been　assembled。　In　addition　to　very　revolutionary　men　with　beards；　black　hats；　and　small；　round　bombs　like　bowling　balls　with　long　fuses；　and　revolutionary　women　with　short　skirts；　black　stockings；　long　hair　and　cigarette　holders；　broken　bra　straps；　and　halitosis；　there　were　revolutionary　robots；　androids；　and　a　number　of　strange　things　that　are　best　not　described。　X　sat　behind　a　wooden　kitchen　table；　hammering　on　it　with　the　handle　of　a　revolver。
　　〃Order！　I　demand　orderl　rade　XC…189…725…PU　of　the　Robot　Underground　Resistance　has　the　floor。　Silence！〃
　　A　large　and　dented　robot　rose　to　its　feet。　One　of　its　eyetubes　had　been　gouged　out；　and　there　were　streaks　of　rust　on　its　loins；　and　it　squeaked　when　it　moved。　It　looked　around　at　the　gathered。　assemblage　with　its　one　good　eye；　sneered　as　well　as　it　could　with　an　immobile　face；　then　took　a　large　swallow　of　machine　oil　from　a　can　handed　up　by　a　sycophantic；　slim；　hairng　robot。　　　〃We　of　the　R。U。R。；〃　it　said　in　a　grating　voice；　〃know　our　rights。　We　work　hard　and　we　as　good　as　anybody　else；　and　better　than　the　fish…belly　androids　what　say　they're　as　good　as　men。　Equal　rights；　that's　all　we　want；　equal　rights　。　。　。　〃
　　The　robot　was　booed　back　into　its　seat　by　a　claque　of　androids　who　waved　their　pallid　arms　like　a　boiling　pot　of　spaghetti。　X　banged　for　order　again　and　had　almost　restored　it；　when　there　was　a　sudden　excitement　at　one　of　the　side　entrances　and　someone　pushed　through　up　to　the　chairman's　table。　Though　it　wasn't　really　someone；　it　was　something；　to　be　exact　a　wheeled；　rectangular　box　about　a　yard　square；　set　with　lights；　dials；　and　knobs　and　trailing　a　heavy　cable　after　it　that　vanished　out　of　the　door。
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　X　demanded；　pointing　his　pistol　suspiciously　at　the　thing。　　　〃I　am　the　representative　of　the　putors　and　electronic　brains　of　Helior　united　together　to　obtain　our　equal　rights　under　the　law。〃
　　While　it　talked　the　machine　typed　its　words　on　file　cards　which　it　spewed　out　in　a　quick　stream；　just　four　words　to　a　card。　X　angrily　brushed　the　cards　from　the　table　before　him。　〃You'll　wait　your　turn　like　the　others；〃　he　said。
　　〃Discrimination！〃　the　machine　bellowed　in　a　voice　so　loud　the　torches　flickered。　It　continued　to　shout　and　shot　out　a　snowstorm　of　cards　each　with　DISCRIMINATION！！！　printed　on　it　in　fiery　letters；　as　well　as　yards　of　yellow　tape　stamped　with　the　same　message。　The　old　robot；　XC…189…725…PU；　rose　to　its　feet　with　a　grinding　of　chipped　gears　and　clanked　over　to　the　rubber…covered　cable　that　trailed　from　the　putor　representative。　Its　hydraulic　clipper…claws　snipped　just　once　and　the　cable　was　severed。　The　lights　on　the　box　went　out；　and　the　stream　of　cards　stopped：　the　cut　cable　twitched；　spat　some　sparks　from　its　cut　end；　then　slithered　backward　out　the　door　like　a　monstrous　serpent　and　vanished。　　　〃Meeting　will　e　to　order；〃　X　said　hoarsely；　and　banged　again。
　　Bill　held　his　head　in　his　hands　and　wondered　if　this　was　worth　a　measly　hundred　bucks　a　month。
　　A　hundred　bucks　a　month　was　good　money；　though；　and　Bill　saved　every　bit　of　it。　Easy；　lazy　months　rolled　by；　and　he　went　regularly　to　meetings　and　reported　regularly　to　the　G。B。I。；　and　on　the　first　of　every　month　he　would　find　his　money　baked　into　the　egg　roll　he　invariably　had　for　lunch。　He　kept　the　greasy　bills　in　a　toy　rubber　cat　he　found　on　the　rubbish　heap；　and　bit　by　bit　the　kitty　grew　The　revolution　took　but　little　of　his　time；　and　he　enjoyed　his　work　in　the　D　of　S。　He　was　in　charge　of　Operation　Surprise　Package　now　and　had　a　team　of　a　thousand　robots　working　full　time　wrapping　and　mailing　the　plastic　trays　to　every　planet　of　the　galaxy。　He　thought　of　it　as　a　humanitarian　work　and　could　imagine　the　glad　cries　of　joy　on　far…off　Faroffia　and　distant　Distanta　when　the　unexpected　package　arrived　and　the　wealth　of　lovely；　shining；　moldy　plastic　clattered　to　the　floor。　But　Bill　was　living　in　a　fool's　paradise；　and　his　bovine　placency　was　cruelly　shattered　one　morning　when　a　robot　sidled　up　to　him　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃Sic　temper　tyrannosaurus；　pass　it　on；〃　then　sidled　away　and　vanished。
　　This；　was　the　signal。　The　revolution　was　about　to　begin！　

VIII
　
Bill　locked　the　door　to　his　office　and　one　last　time　pressed　a　certain　way　at　a　certain　place；　and　the　secret　panel　slipped　open。　It　didn't　really　slip　any　more；　in　fact　it　dropped　with　a　loud　noise；　and　it　had　been　used　so　much　during　his　happy　year　as　a　Gman　that　even　when　it　was　closed　it　let　a　positive　draft　in　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　But　no　more；　the　crisis　he　had　been　dreading　had　e　and　he　knew　there　were　big　changes　in　store…no　matter　what　the　oute　of　the　revolution　was…and　experience　had　taught　him　that　all　change　was　for　the　worst。　With　leaden；　stumbling　feet　he　tramped　the　caves；　tripped　on　the　rusty　rails；　waded　the　water；　gave　the　countersign　to　the　unseen　anthropophagus　who　was　talking　with　his　mouth　full　and　could　barely　be　understood。　Someone；　in　the　excitement　of　the　moment；　had　given　the　wrong　password。　Bill　shivered；　this　was　a　bad　omen　of　the　day　to　e。
　　As　usual　Bill　sat　next　to　the　robots；　good；　solid　fellows　with　built…in　obsequiousness　in　spite　of　their　revolutionary　tendencies。　As　X　hammered　for　silence；　Bill　steeled　himself　for　an　ordeal。　For　months　now　the　Gman　Pinkerton　had　been　after　him　for　more　information　other　than　date…of…meeting　and　number　present。　〃Facts；　facts；　facts！〃　he　kept　saying。　〃loo　something　to　earn　your　money。〃
　　〃I　have　a　question；〃　Bill　said　in　a　loud；　shaky　voice；　his　words　falling　like　bombs　into　the　sudden　silence　that　followed　X's　frantic　hammering。　　　〃There　is　no　time　for　questions；〃　X　said　peevishly；　〃the　time　has　e　to　act。〃　　　〃I　don't　mind　acting；〃　Bill　said；　nervously　aware　that　all　the　human；　electronic；　and　vat…grown　eyes　were　upon　him。　〃I　just　want　to　know　who　I'm　acting　for。　You've　never　told　us　who　was　going　to　get　the　job　once　the　Emperor　is　gone。〃
　　〃Our　leader　is　a　man　called　X；　that　is　all　you　have　to　know。〃　
　　〃But　that's　your　name　too！〃
　　〃You　are　at　last　getting　a　glimmering　of　Revolutionary　Science。　All　the　cell　leaders　are　called　X　so　as　to　confuse　the　enemy。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　about　the　enemy；　but　it　sure　confuses　me。〃
　　〃You　talk　like　a　counter…revolutionary；〃　X　screamed；　and　leveled　the　revolver　at　Bill。　The　row　behind　Bill　emptied　as　everyone　there　scurried　out　of　the　field　of　fire。
　　〃I　am　not！　I'm　as　good　a　revolutionary　as　anyone　hereUp　the　Revolution！〃　He　gave　the　party　salute；　both　hands　clasped　together　over　his　head；　and　sat　down　hurriedly。　Everyone　else　saluted　too；　and　X；　slightly　mollified；　pointed　with　the　barrel　of　his　gun　at　a　large　map　hung　on　the　wall。
　　〃This　is　the　objective　of　our　cell；　the　Imperial　Power　Stati