the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第26部分

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　　　　The　hallway　was　empty；　a　good　beginning。　I　trotted　to　the　stairs　without　seeing　anyone；　then　went　down　them　two　at　a　time。　The　next　floor　would　be　the　ground　floor　since　they　had　only　taken　me　up　one　story。　This　memory　was　opposed　by　the　reality　that　there　was　a　large　stairwell　beside　me　that　did　not　end　at　the　next　floor。　When　this　fact　finally　registered　on　my　tardy　synapses　I　skidded　to　a　stop　and　looked　carefully　over　the　edge　of　the　railing。　
　　　　There　were　at　least　eight　more　stories　below　this　one。
　　　　They　had　been　running　through　my　cerebral　cortex　with　their　little　leaden　boots。　This　certainly　proved　my　theoretical　stance　that　a　good　deal　of　what　had　happened　to　me　was　illusion　or　false　memory。　What　had　been　real？　Was　this　'escape'　real　at　the　present　moment？　This　was　a　chilling　thought；　everything　that　was　happening　could　be　a　generated　series　of　unreal　events　to　prove　to　me　that　I　could　not　escape。　I　could　keep　going　down　these　stairs　forever　or　wake　up　at　any　moment　back　in　my　room　still　attached　to　my　pendent　box。　Well；　if　this　were　true；　there　was　absolutely　nothing　I　could　do　about　it。　I　had　to　treat　this　illusion　like　reality　until　it　proved　otherwise。　Unless　this　was　an　endless　dream　building　these　stairs　had　to　end　somewhere；　and　I　was　going　to　find　out。
　　　　Four　floors　down；　just　when　I　was　beginning　to　get　dizzy　from　the　constant　circling；　I　met　another　man　ing　up。　A　gray　man　with　a　rifle　and　a　very　surprised　look。　Since　I　had　been　expecting　this　encounter　and　he　hadn't　I　got　in　the　first　shot。
　　　　Quite　a　shot。　The　gausspistol　was　loaded　with　explosive　slugs。　They　blasted　a　gaping　hole　in　the　staircase　and　buried　the　gray　man　against　the　wall　where　he　slumped；　crumpled　and　unconscious。　The　echoes　were　still　booming　and　the　dust　unsettled　when　I　leaped　the　gaping　hole　and　buried　myself　down　the　stairs　at　a　suicidal　pace。　It　would　be　more　certain　suicide　to　wait　around。
　　　　The　stairs　ended；　I　was　at　the　bottom；　and　I　slammed　into　the　wall　I　was　going　so　fast。　There　was　much　shouting　from　above　me　and　the　hammer　of　running　feet。　My　gun　at　the　ready　I　pushed　open　the　door　and　walked　into　blackness。
　　　　It　was　a　bit　of　a　shock　and　I　almost　fired　off　a　couple　of　rounds　on　general　principle　but；　as　my　eyes　adjusted；　I　saw　a　dim　light　in　the　distance。　There　were　rough　walls　and　dust　and　other　indications　that　I　had　bypassed　the　ground　floor　and　ended　up　in　a　cellar。　Which　was　all　right　too　since　there　was　undoubtedly　a　warm　reception　waiting　for　me　a　flight　above。　If　I　could　get　out　of　the　basement　I　was　still　one　jump　ahead　of　the　petition。　Gun　ready；　metal　box　swinging；　shins　bruised　by　unseen　obstacles；　I　stumbled　towards　the　far　off　light。　I　was　not　enthused　when　I　reached　it　after　running　the　invisible　obstacle　course。　It　was　a　window。
　　　　But　a　small　window；　high　on　the　wall；　coated　with　insect　corpses　and　dirt。　And　heavily　barred。
　　　　Behind　me　in　the　darkness　there　were　shouts；　running　feet；　crashing　noises　and　healthy　curses。　What　to　do？
　　　　Obvious。　Get　out。　I　stepped　back；　raised　the　gun；　shielded　my　face；　and　blew　the　window　out。　And　part　of　the　wall　around　it　and　some　of　the　street　outside　until　my　gun　clicked　empty。　I　dropped　it；　slung　my　box　over　my　shoulder　and　used　my　free　hand　to　help　me　scrabble　up　the　slope　of　rubble　and　out　into　the　street。
　　　　To　start　running　again。　Someone　saw　me　and　shouted　but　I　did　not　shout　back。　I　ran　harder　even　though　I　was　getting　winded　and　more　than　a　little　fatigued　by　the　effort。　It　is　one　thing　to　escape；　it　is　another　thing　altogether　to　stay　free　once　out。　Barefooted；　dressed　in　totally　transparent　clothes　with　a　collar　and　some　meters　of　wire　about　my　neck；　not　to　mention　the　control　box；　I　must　have　presented　a　rather　unusual　and　unmistakable　sight。　I　needed　to　hide；　hole　up；　change；　get　rid　of　the　collar；　a　lot　of　things。　And　I　was　getting　very　tired。
　　　　I　went　around　a　corner　as　fast　as　I　could　and　slammed　into　someone　ing　in　the　opposite　direction。　We　both　went　down　and　I　rolled　on　my　back　like　a　bug；　near　exhaustion；　gasping　for　air。　Then　I　saw　the　face　of　the　man　I　had　run　into　and　had　a　last　little　burst　of　hope。
　　　　〃Otrov。〃　I　gasped。　〃0ld　friend；　old　roommate；　old　copilot。　I　am　in　trouble　and　need　your　help。　The　locals；　you　see　。　。　。〃　
　　　　I　saw　Otrov；　a　mild　man　at　the　worst　of　times；　turn　into　a　very　angry　animal。　Twisted　face；　bulging　eyes；　the　works。　He　dived　on　me　and　pinned　me　to　the　cold　ground。
　　　　〃Locals　nothing；〃　he　shouted。　〃Kraj　has　been　asking　after　you；　Kraj　wants　you。　What　have　you　done？〃
Chapter　15

　　　　I　struggled　a　bit；　but　it　did　me　no　good。　My　heart　wasn't　in　it　and　I　was　close　to　exhaustion。　Though　I　did　manage　to　catch　my　ex…friend　Otrov　a　good　one　on　the　side　of　the　head　with　my　torture　box。　His　eyes　crossed　but　he　didn't　let　go　and　by　that　time　a　small　squad　of　gray　men　were　upon　us；　peeling　him　off　and　plodding　me　to　my　feet　with　their　rifle　barrels。　I　prodded　slowly。　Sunk　in　dark　despair　and　limp　with　fatigue　I　was　certainly　in　no　hurry。
　　　　There　were　six　of　them　and　Otrov；　who　had　a　look　on　his　face　of　wishing　to　be　elsewhere。
　　　　〃Kraj　talked　to　me；　you　see。　About　Vaska　here；　said　he　wanted　him　。。。　〃　His　voice　ran　down　and　expired　when　the　stony　faced　men　pletely　ignored　him。　I　didn't。
　　　　〃What　did　you　expectgratitude？　You　rat。　Starting　your　own　bomb…your…buddy　week；　aren't　you？〃　I　tried　to　sneer　but　it　turned　to　a　gurgle　when　one　of　my　captors　jerked　on　my　cable。　One　of　my　five　captors。　I　blinked　and　looked　again　because　I　could　swear　there　had　been　six　there　a　moment　ago。
　　　　While　I　was　still　counting　a　pair　of　hands　reached　up　and　closed　around　the　neck　of　number　five。　His　eyeballs　bulged　and　his　mouth　gaped　and　I　worked　to　keep　my　expression　calm　and　not　to　bulge　my　own　eyes　in　the　same　manner。　The　hands　scrunched；　the　eyes　closed；　and　number　five　vanished　from　sight。　I　struggled　a　bit　so　the　survivors　would　keep　their　attention　on　me；　even　lashing　out　a　foot　and　getting　Otrov　in　the　ankle　to　keep　him　occupied　as　well。
　　　　〃You　didn't　have　to　do　that；〃　he　plained。　I　smiled　as　number　four　went　the　way　of　the　others。
　　　　There　was　something　to　be　admired　in　the　efficient　and　quiet　disposal　of　the　enemy。　It　reminded　me　of　a　hunter　I　once　worked　with　on　a　planet　whose　name　I　forget。　He　was　a　professional　and　very　good　at　his　job。　He　would　go　out　at　dawn　when　a　flock　of　birds　was　going　over　and　shoot　the　last　bird　in　the　flight。　Then　the　next　one　and　the　next　one。　He　could　get　four　or　five　sometimes　without　the　other　birds　even　knowing　what　was　happening。　The　same　principle　was　being　applied　here　in　an　equally　professional　way。
　　　　The　system　broke　down　with　number　four　who　thrashed　a　bit　and　drew　the　attention　of　one　of　the　others；　human　beings　being　slightly　smarter　than　birds　after　all。　I　waited　until　they　had　turned　towards　the　disturbance　then　let　the　nearest　gray　man　have　it　in　the　side　of　the　neck　with　the　edge　of　my　hand。　Fatigue　weakened　the　blow　so　that　he　didn't　drop　at　once　and　I　had　to　let　him　have　a　few　more　to　quiet　him。　And　while　I　worked　I　was　aware　of　thuds　and　cut…off　screams　from　the　others。
　　　　When　I　straightened　up　I　saw　that　Otrov　and　all　but　one　of　the　gray　men　were　dozing　happily　in　a　heap；　while　my　rescuers　put　down　the　final　one。　He　was　a　big　bruiser　and　fought　well；　but　he　was　outclassed　and　soon　unconscious。　Which　was　interesting　because　both　of　his　attackers　were　womendressed　in　skimpy　and　colorful　Burada　shifts　and　the　high…heeled　local　shoes。　The　nearest　one　turned　and　I　recognized　Sergeant　Taze　and　some　of　the　pieces　began　to　fall　into　place。
　　　　The　other　woman　was　smaller　and　quite　neatly　formed；　with　a　figure　I　remembered　and　a　face　I　could　not　forget。　My　wife。
　　　　〃There；　there；〃　Angelina　said；　patting　me　on　one　cheek　and　giving　me　a　quick　kiss　on　the　other。　〃I　hope　you　can　run　a　bit；　darling；　because　more　of　these　thugs　are　on　the　way。〃　A　projectile　of　some　kind　whined　by　to　punctuate　the　statement。
　　　　〃Run　。　。　。　〃　I　said　hoarsely　and　staggered　off；　still　not　quite　sure　what　had　happened　but　at　least　still　bright　enough　to　not　ask　any　questions。　Taze　put　her　arm　around　me；　getting　me　going　in　the　right　direction　and　pulling　me　along；　while　my　Angelina　r