bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第21章

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gun　at　a　large　map　hung　on　the　wall。
　　〃This　is　the　objective　of　our　cell；　the　Imperial　Power　Station　on　Chauvinistisk　Square。　We　will　assemble　nearby　in　squads；　then　join　in　a　concerted　attack　at　oo16　hours。　No　resistance　is　expected　as　the　power　station　is　not　guarded。　Weapons　and　torches　will　be　issued　as　you　leave；　as　well　as　printed　instructions　of　the　correct　route　to　the　rallying　points　for　the　benefit　of　the　planless　here。　Are　there　any　questions？〃　He　cocked　his　revolver　and　pointed　it　at　the　cringing　Bill。　There　were　no　questions。　〃Excellent。　We　will　all　rise　and　sing　'The　Hymn　For　a　Glorious　Revolt。〃'　In　a　mixed　chorus　of　voice　and　mechanical　speech…box　they　sang：
　　　　　Arise　ye　bureaucratic　prisoners；
　　　　Revolting　workers　o　f　Helior；　　　　　Arise　and　raise　the　Revolution；
　　　　By　fist；　foot；　pistol；　hammer；　and　claw！　
　　Refreshed　by　this　enthusiastic　and　monotone　exercise　they　shuffled　out　in　slow　lines；　drawing　their　revolutionary　supplies。　Bill　pocketed　his　printed　instructions；　shouldered　his　torch　and　flintlock　ray　gun；　and　hurried　one　last　time　through　the　secret　passages。　There　was　barely　enough　time　for　the　long　trip　ahead　of　him；　and　he　had　to　report　to　the　G。B。I。　first。　　　This　was　easier　assumed　than　acplished；　and　he　began　to　sweat　as　he　dialed　the　number　again。　It　was　impossible　to　get　a　line；　and　even　the　exchanges　gave　a　busy　signal。　Either　the　phone　traffic　was　very　heavy　or　the　revolutionaries　had　already　begun　to　interfere　with　the　munications。　He　sighed　with　relief　when　Pinkerton's　surly　features　finally　filled　the　tiny　screen。　〃What's　up？〃　
　　〃I've　discovered　the　name　of　the　leader　of　the　revolution。　He　is　a　man　called　X。〃
　　〃And　you　want　a　bonus　for　that；　stupid？　That　information　has　been　on　file　for　months。　Got　anything　else？〃
　　〃Well；　the　revolution　is　to　start　at　0016　hours；　I　thought　you　might　like　to　know。〃　That'd　show　them！
　　Pinkerton　yawned。　〃Is　that　all？　For　your　information　that　information　is　old　information。　You're　not　the　only　spy　we've　got；　though　you　might　be　the　worst。　Now　listen。　Write　this　down　in　big　letters　so　you　won't　forget。　Your　cell　is　to
attack　the　Imperial　Power　Station。　Stay　with　them　as　far　as　the　square；　then　look　for　a　store　with　the　sign　KWIK…FREEZ　KOSHER　HAMS　LTD。；　this　is　the　cover　for　our　unit。　Get　over　there　fast　and　report　to　me。　Understood？〃
　　〃Affirm。〃　The　line　went　dead；　and　Bill　looked　for　a　piece　of　wrapping　paper　to　tie　around　the　torch　and　flintlock　until　the　moment　came　to　use　them。　He　had　to　hurry。　There　was　little　time　left　before　zero　hour　and　a　long　distance　to　cover　by　a　very　plicated　route。　
　　〃You　were　almost　late；〃　Ghoulem　the　android　said；　when　　　Bill　stumbled　into　the　dead…end　corridor　which　was　the　assembly　point。　
　　〃Don't　give　me　any　lip；　you　son　of　a　bottle；〃　Bill　gasped；　tearing　the　paper　from　his　burden。　〃Just　give　me　a　light　for　my　torch。〃
　　A　match　flared；　and　in　a　moment　the　pitchy　torches　were　crackling　and　smoking。　Tension　grew　as　the　second　hand　moved　closer　to　the　hour　and　feet　shuffled　nervously　on　the　metal　pavement。　Bill　jumped　as　a　shrill　blast　sounded　on　a　whistle；　then　they　were　sweeping　out　of　the　alley　in　a　human　and　inhuman　wave；　a　hoarse　cry　bursting　from　the　throats　and　loudspeakers；　guns　at　the　ready。　Down　the　corridors　and　walkways　they　ran；　sparks　falling　like　rain　from　their　torches。　This　was　revolution！　Bill　was　carried　away　by　the　emotion　and　rush　of　bodies　and　cheered　as　loudly　as　the　rest　and　shoved　his　torch　first　at　the　corridor　wall；　then　into　a　chair　on　the　chairway　which　put　the　torch　out；　since　everything　in　Helior　is　either　made　of　metal　or　is　fireproof。　There　was　no　time　to　relight　it；　and　he　hurled　it　from　him　as　they　swept　into　the　i　mmense　square　that　fronted　on　the　power　plant。　Most　of　the　other　torches　were　out　now；　but　they　wouldn't　need　them　here；　just　their　trusty　flintlock　ray　guns　to　blow　the　guts　out　of　any　filthy　lackey　of　the　Emperor　who　tried　to　stand　in　their　way。　Other　units　were　pouring　from　the　streets　that　led　into　the　square；　joining　into　one　surging；　mindless　mob　thundering　toward　the　grim　walls　of　the　power　station。
　　　An　electric　sign　blinking　on　and　off　drew　Bi'll's　attention；　KWIK…FREEZ　KOSHER　HAMS　LTD　it　read…and　he　gasped　as　memory　returned。　By　Ahriman；　he　had　forgotten　that　he　was　a　spy　for　the　G。B。I。　and　had　been　about　to　join　the　raid　on　the　power　stationt　Was　there　still　time　to　get　out　before　the　counter…blow　fell！　Sweating　more　than　a　little；　he　began　working　his　way　through　the　mob　toward　the　sign…then　he　was　at　the　fringes　and　running　toward　safety。　It　wasn't　too　late。　He　grabbed　the　front　door　handle　and　pulled；　but　it　would　not　open。　In　panic　he　twisted　and　shook　it　until　the　entire　front　of　the　building　began　to　shake；　rocking　back　and　forth　and　creaking。　He　gaped　at　it　in　paralyzed　horror　until　a　loud　hissing　drew　his　attention。
　　　〃Get　over　here；　you　stupid　bowb；〃　a　voice　crackled；　and　he　looked　up　to　see　the　G。B。I。　agent　Pinkerton　standing　at　the　er　of　the　building　and　beckoning　to　him　angrily。　Bill　followed　the　agent　around　the　er　and　found　quite　a　crowd　standing　there；　and　there　was　plenty　of　room　for　all　of　them　because　the　building　was　not　there。　Bill　could　see　now　that　the　building　was　just　a　front　made　out　of　cardboard　with　a　door　handle　on　it　and　was　secured　by　wooden　supports　to　the　front　of　an　atomic　tank。　Grouped　around　the　armorplated　side　and　treads　of　the　tank　were　a　number　of　heavily　armed　soldiers　and　G。B。I。　agents　as　well　as　an　even　larger　number　of　revolutionaries；　their　clothes　singed　and　pitted　by　sparks　from　the　torches。　Standing　next　to　Bill　was　the　android；　Ghoulem。
　　　〃You！〃　Bill　gasped；　and　the　android　curled　its　lips　in　a　carefully　practiced　sneer。　
　　〃That's　right…and　keeping。　an　eye　on　you　for　the　G。B。I。　Nothing　is　left　to　chance　in　this　organization。〃　　　Pinkerton　was　peeking　out　through　a　hole　in　the　false　store　front。　〃I　think　the　agents　are　clear　now；〃　he　said；　‘but　maybe　we　better　wait　a　little　longer。　At　last　count　there　were　agents　of　sixty…five　spy；　intelligence；　and　counter…intelligence　outfits　involved　in　investigating　this　operation。　These　　revolutionaries　don't　stand　a　chance　。　。　。〃
　　A　siren　blasted　from　the　power　plant；　apparently　a　prearranged　signal；　because　the　soldiers　battered　at　the　cardboard　store　front　until　it　came　loose　and　fell　flat　into　the　square。
　　Chauvinistisk　Square　was　empty。　　　Well；　not　really　empty。　Bill　looked　again　and　saw　that　one　man　was　left　in　the　square；　he　hadn't　noticed　him　at　first。　He　was　running　their　way　but　stopped　with　a　pitiful　screech　when　he　saw　what　was　hidden　behind　the　store。
　　　〃I　surrender！〃　he　shouted；　and　Bill　saw　that　he　was　the　man　called　X。　The　power　plant　gates　opened；　and　a　squadron　of　flamethrower　tanks　rumbled　out。
　　　〃Coward！〃　Pinkerton　sneered；　and　pulled　back　the　slide　on　his　gun。　〃Don't　try　to　back　out　now；　X；　at　least　die　like　a　man。〃
　　〃I'm　not　X…that。　is　just　a　nom…de…espionage。〃　He　tore　off　his　false　beard　and　mustache；　disclosing　a　twitching　and　uninteresting　face　with　pronounced　underbite。　〃I　am　Gill　O'Teen；　M。A。　and　LL。D。　from　the　Imperial　School　of　Counter…Spying　and　Double…Agentry。　I　was　hired　by　this　operation；　I　can　prove　it；　I　have　documents；　Prince　Microcephil　payed　me　to　overthrow　his　uncle　so　he　could　bee　Emperor　。　。　。　〃
　　〃You　think　I'm　stupid；〃　Pinkerton　snapped；　aiming　his　gun　〃The　Old　Emperor；　may　he　rest　in　eternal　peace；　died　a　year　ago；　and　Prince　Microcephil　is　the　Emperor　now。　You　can't　revolt　against　the　man　who　hired　you！〃
　　〃I　never　read　the　newspapers；〃　O'Teen　alias　X　moaned。　
　　〃Fire！〃　Pinkerton　said　sternly；　and　from　all　sides　washed　a　wave　of　atomic　shells；　gouts　of　flame；　bullets；　and　grenades。　Bill　hit　the　dirt；　and　when　he　raised　his　head　the　square　was　empty　except　for　a　greasy　patch　and　a　shallow　hole　in　the　pavement。　Even　while　he　watched；　a　street…cleaning　robot　buzzed　by　and　swabbed　up　the　grease。　It　hummed…　briefly；　backed　up；　then　filled　in　the　shallow　hole　with　a　squirt　of　repair　plastic　from　a　concealed　tank。　When　it　rolled　on　again　there　was　no　trace　of　anything　whatsoever。　
　　〃Hello　Bill　。　。　。　〃　said　a　voice　so　paralyzingly　familiar　that　Bill's　hair　prickled　and　stood　up　from　his　head　like　a　toothbrush。　He　spun　and　looked　at　the　squad　of　MPs　standing　there；　and　especially　he　stared　at　the　large；　loathsome　form　of　the　MP　who　led　them。
　　〃Deathwish　Drang　。　。　。〃　he　breathed。　
　　〃The　same。〃
　　〃Save　me！〃　Bill　gasped；　running　to　G。B。I。　agent　Pinkerton　and　hugging　him　about　the　knees。
　　〃Save　you？〃　Pinkerton　laughed；　and　kneed　Bill　under　the　jaw　so　that　he　sprawled　backward。　〃I'm　the　one　who　called　them。　We　checked　your　record；　boy；　and　found　out　that　you　are　in　a　heap　of　trouble。　You　have　been　AWOL　from　the
troopers　for　a　year　now；　and　we　don't　want　any　deserters　on　our　team。〃
　　　〃But　I　worked　for　you…helped　you…〃
　　〃Take　him　away；〃　Pinkerton　said；　and　turned　his　back。
　　〃There's　no　justice；〃　Bill　moaned；　as　the　hated　fingers　sank　into　his　arms　again。
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　Deathwish　told　him；　〃you　weren't　expecting　any；　were　you？〃
　　　They　dragged　him　away。
　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　E=mc2　OR　BUST　
　
I
　〃I　want　a　lawyer；　I　have　to　have　a　lawyer！　I　demand　my　rights！〃　Bill　hammered　on　the　bars　of　the　cell　with　the　chipped　bowl　that　they　had　served　his　evening　meal　of　bread　and　water　in；　shouting　loudly　for　attention。　No　one　came　in　answer　to　his　call；　and　finally；　hoarse；　tired；　and　depressed；　he　lay　down　on　the　knobbed　plastic　bunk　and　stared　up　at　the　metal　ceiling。　Sunk　in　misery；　he　stared　at　the　hook　for　long　minutes　before　it　finally　penetrated。　A　hook？　Why　a　hook　here？　Even　in　his　apathy　it　bothered　him；　just　as　it　had　bothered　him　when　they　gave　him　a　stout　plastic　belt　with　a　sturdy　buckle　for　his　shoddy　prison　dungarees。　Who　wears　a　belt　with　one…piece　dungarees？　They　had　taken　everything　from　him　and　supplied　him　only　with　paper　slippers；　crumpled　dungarees；　and　a　fine　belt。　Why？　And　why　was　there　a　sturdy　great　hook　penetrating　through　the　unbroken　smoothness　of　the　ceiling？
　　〃I'm　saved！〃　Bill　screamed；　and　leaped　up；　balancing　on　the　end　of　the　bunk　and　whipping　off　the　belt。　There　was　a　hole　in　the　strap　end　of　the　belt　that　fitted　neatly　over　the　hook。　While　the　buckle　made　a　beautiful　slip　knot　for　a　loop　on　the　other　end　that　would　fit　lovingly　around　his　neck。　And　he　could　slip　it　over　his　head；　seat　the　buckle　under　his　ear；　kick　off　from　the　bunk　and　strangle　painfully　with　his　toes　a　full　foot　above　the　floor。　It　was　perfect。
　　　〃It　is　perfect！〃　he　shouted　happily；　and　jumped　off　the　bunk　and　ran　in　circles　under　the　noose；　going　yeow…yeow…yeow　by　flapping　his　hand　in　front　of　his　mouth。　〃I'm　not　stuck；　cooked；　through；　and　finished。　They　want　me　to　knock　myself　off　to　make　things　easy　for　them。〃
　　This　time　he　lay　back　on　the　bunk；　smiling　happily；　and　tried　to　think　it　out。　There　had　to　be　a　chance　he　could　wriggle　out　of　this　thing　alive；　or　they　wouldn't　have　gone　to　all　this　trouble　to　give　him　an　opportunity　to　hang　himself。　Or　could　they　be　playing　a　double；　subtle　game？　Allowing　him　hope　where　none　existed？　No；　this　was　impossible。　They　had　a　lot　of　attributes：　pettiness；　selfishness；　anger；　vengefulness；　superiority；　power…lust；　the　list　was　almost　endless；　but　one　thing　was