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　Chapter　17
　
　　　　　Well　what　else　was　there　to　do？　I　hadn't　e　this　far；　getting　myself　shot；　hashed　on　the　head　and　well　stomped；　just　to　arrest　her。　I　mean　I　was　going　to　arrest　her；　of　course；　but　it　was　next　to　impossible　in　the　center　of　the　Count's　stronghold。　Besides　that；　I　wanted　to　find　out　a　bit　more　about　the　Count's　proposed　uprising；　since　this　would　certainly　e　within　the　jurisdiction　of　the　Special　Corps　。If　I　was　going　to　reenlist　I　had　better　bring　along　a　few　prizes　to　show　my　good　intentions。
　　　　　AnywayI　wasn't　so　sure　I　wanted　to　reenlist。　It　was　a　little　hard　to　forget　that　scuttling　charge　they　had　tried　to　blow　up　under　me。　The　whole　thing　wasn't　so　simple。　There　were　a　lot　of　things　mixed　up　in　this。　One　fact　being　that　I　enjoyed　Angelina　and　most　of　the　time　I　was　with　her　I　forgot　about　those　bodies　floating　in　space。　They　returned　at　night　all　right　and　chopped　at　my　conscience；　but　I　was　always　tired　and　went　to　sleep　quickly　before　they　could　get　through　and　bother　me。
　　　　　Life　was　a　bed　of　roses；　and　I　might　as　well　enjoy　it　before　the　blossoms　withered。　Watching　Angelady　at　work　was　a　distinct　pleasure；　and　if　you　stood　my　back　to　the　wall　and　made　me　swear；　I　would　be　forced　to　admit　that　I　learned　a　thing　or　two　from　her。　Single…handedly　she　was　organizing　a　revolution　on　a　peaceful　planetand　it　stood　every　chance　of　succeeding。　In　my　small　way　I　helped。　The　few　times　she　mentioned　a　problem　to　me　I　had　a　ready　answer　and　in　all　the　cases　she　went　along　with　my　suggestions。　Of　course　I　had　never　toppled　governments　before；　but　there　are　basic　laws　in　crime　as　in　everything　else；　and　it　is　just　a　matter　of　application。　This　didn't　happen　often。　Most　of　the　time　during　those　first　few　weeks　I　was　a　plain　bodyguard；　keeping　a　wary　eye　out　for　assassins。　This　position　had　a　certain　ironical　angle　that　appealed　to　me　greatly。
　　　　　However　there　was　a　serpent　in　our　little　Eden　of　Insurrection；　and　his　name　was　Rdenrundt。　I　never　heard　much；　but　from　a　word　caught　here　and　there　I　began　to　see　that　the　Count　wasn't　really　cut　out　to　be　a　revolutionary。　The　closer　we　came　to　the　day　the　more　pallid　he　became。　His　little　physical　vices　began　to　add　up；　and　one　day　the　whole　thing　came　to　a　head。
　　　　　Angelegant　and　the　Count　were　in　a　business　session　and　I　sat　in　the　anteroom　outside。　I　shamelessly　eavesdropped　whenever　I　could；　and　this　time　I　had　managed　to　leave　the　door　open　a　crack　after　I　had　checked　her　into　the　room。　Careful　manipulation　with　my　toe　opened　it　a　bit　more　until　I　could　hear　a　murmur　of　their　voices。　An　argument　was　progressing　nicelythere　were　a　lot　of　them　at　this　timeand　I　could　catch　a　word　here　and　there。　The　Count　was　shouting　and　it　was　obvious　that　he　wouldn't　give　in　on　some　simple　and　necessary　piece　of　blackmail　to　advance　the　cause。　Then　his　tone　changed　and　his　voice　dropped　so　I　couldn't　hear　his　words；　strain　as　I　might。　There　was　a　saccharine　wheedle　and　whine　in　his　voice；　and　Angelina's　answer　was　clear　enough。　A　loud　and　positive　no。　His　bellow　brought　me　to　my　feet。
　　　　　〃Why　not？　It's　always　no　now　and　I've　had　enough　of　it！〃
　　　　　There　was　the　sound　of　tearing　cloth　and　something　fell　to　the　floor　and　broke。　I　was　through　the　door　in　a　single　bound。　For　a　brief　instant　I　had　a　glimpse　of　a　struggling　tableau　as　he　pulled　at　her。　Angelina's　clothing　was　torn　from　one　shoulder　and　his　fingers　were　sunk　into　her　arms　like　claws。　Clubbing　my　pistol　I　ran　forward。　Angelina　was　a　bit　faster。　She　pulled　a　bottle　from　the　table　and　banged　it　into　the　side　of　his　head　with　neat　efficiency。　The　Count　dropped　as　if　he　had　been　shot。　She　was　pulling　up　her　torn　blouse　when　I　came　roaring　to　a　halt。
　　　　　〃Put　the　gun　away。　Bentit's　all　over；〃　she　said　in　a　calm　voice。　I　did；　but　only　after　making　sure　the　Count　was　really　out；　hoping　an　extra　slam　might　be　needed。　But　she　had　done　a　good　job。　When　I　stood　up　Angelina　was　already　halfway　out　of　the　room　and　I　had　to　run　to　catch　up　with　her。　The　only　other　thing　she　said　was　〃Wait　here；〃　when　she　steamed　into　her　room。
　It　took　no　great　power　of　divination　to　see　that　there　was　trouble　ingif　it　hadn't　already　arrived。　When　the　Count　came　to　with　a　busted　head　he　would　undoubtedly　have　some　second　thoughts　about　Angelina　and　revolutions。　I　thought　cm　these　and　related　subjects　while　I　matched　coins　with　the　guards。　A　few　minutes　later　Angelina　called　me　in。
　　　　　A　long　robe　covered　her　arms　so　the　bruises　he　had　made　weren't　visible。　Though　outwardly　posed　there　was　a　telltale　glint　in　her　eyes　that　meant　she　was　doing　a　slow　bum。　I　spoke　what　was　undoubtedly　the　uppermost　thought　in　her　mind。
　　　　　〃Want　me　to　fix　it　so　the　Count　joins　his　noble　ancestors　in　the　family　crypt？〃
　　　　　She　shook　her　head　no。　〃He　still　has　his　uses。　I　managed　to　control　my　temperso　you　had　better　hold　yours。〃　
　　　　　〃Mine's　in　great　shape。　But　what　makes　you　think　you　can　still　get　work　or　cooperation　out　of　him？　He's　going　to　have　an　awful　sore　head　when　he　es　to。〃
　　　　　Minor　factors　like　this　didn't　bother　her；　she　dismissed　the　thought　with　a　wave　of　her　hand。　'　I　can　still　handle　him　and　make　him　do　whatever　I　wantwithin　limits。　The　limitations　are　his　own　natural　abilities；　which　I　didn't　realize　were　so　slight　when　I　picked　him　to　head　this　revolt。　I'm　afraid　his　cowardice　is　slowly　destroying　any　large　hopes　I　might　have　had　for　him。　He　will　still　have　value　as　a　figurehead　and　we　must　use　him　for　that。　But　the　power　and　decisions　must　be　ours。〃
　　　　　I　wasn't　being　slow；　just　wary。　I　chewed　around　her　statements　from　all　sides　before　I　answered。　〃Just　what　is　this　we　and　ours　business？　Where　do　I　fit　in？〃
　　　　　Angelilith　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　tossed　a　lock　of　her　lovely　golden　hair　to　one　side。　Her　smile　had　about　a　two　thousand…volt　charge　and　was　aimed　at　me。
　　　　　〃I　want　you　to　e　in　with　me　on　this　thing；〃　she　said　with　a　voice　rich　as　warm　honey。　〃A　partnership。　We'll　keep　the　Count　of　Rdenrundt　out　in　front　until　the　plan　succeeds。　Then　eliminate　him　and　go　the　rest　of　the　way　ourselves。　Do　you　agree？〃　
　　　　　〃Well；〃　I　said。　Then　with　brilliant　inspiration；　〃Well　。　。　。〃　again。　For　the　first　time　in　a　lifetime　of　verbal　pyrotechnics　I　found　the　flow　shut　off。　I　paced　the　room　and　pulled　my　scattered　wits　together。
　　　　　〃I　hate　to　look　a　gift　rocket　in　the　tubes；〃　I　told　her；　〃neverthelesswhy　me？　A　simple　but　hard　working　bodyguard；　who　will　guard　your　person；　labor　for　the　cause　and　look　forward　to　the　restoration　of　his　stolen　lands　and　title。　How　e　the　big　jump　from　office　boy　to　board　chairman？〃
　〃You　know　better　than　to　ask　that；〃　she　said　and　smiled；　and　the　temperature　of　the　room　rose　ten　degrees。　〃I　think　you　can　handle　this　job　as　well　as　I　can；　and　enjoy　doing　it。　Working　together；　you　and　I　will　make　this　the　cleanest　revolt　that　ever　took　over　a　planet。　What　do　you　say？〃
　　　　　I　was　pacing　behind　her　as　she　talked。　She　stood　up　and　took　me　by　the　arm；　stilling　my　restless　walking。　I　could　feel　the　warmth　of　her　fingers　burning　through　my　thin　shirt。　Her　face　was　in　front　of　me；　smiling；　and　her　voice　pitched　so　low　that　I　barely　heard　it。　
　　　　　〃It　would　be　something；　wouldn't　it。　You　and　I　。　。　。　together。〃　
　　　　　Wouldn't　it！　There　are　occasions　when　words　can't　say　it　all　and　your　body　speaks　for　you。　This　was　a　time　like　that。　Without　physical　deliberation　my　arms　were　around　her；　pulling　her　to　me；　my　mouth　pushing　down　on　hers。
　　　　　For　the　briefest　of　instants　she　was　the　same；　her　arms　tight　on　my　shoulders；　her　lips　alive。　Just　for　a　sliver　of　time　so　brief　that　afterwards　I　couldn't　be　sure　that　I　hadn't　imagined　it。　Then　the　warmth　was　suddenly　drained　away　and　everything　was　wrong。
　　　　　She　didn't　fight　me　or　attempt　to　push　back。　But　her　lips　were　lifeless　under　mine　and　her　eyes　open；　looking　at　me　with　a　sterile　emptiness。　She　did　nothing　until　I　had　dropped　my　arms　and　stepped　away；　then　she　seated　herself　stiffly　in　the　chair　again。　
　　　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　asked　not　trusting　myself　to　say　more。
　〃A　pretty　faceis　that　all　you　think　of？〃　she　asked；　and　the　words　seemed　pulled　from　her　in　sobs。　Expressing　real　emotions　didn't　e　easily　with　her。　〃Are　you　me