the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第3部分

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　was　conned　into　the　Special　Corps　to　help　catch　other　erodes。　And　I　caught　you。　Not　only　were　you　a　crook　but　a　mastermind　criminal　as　well　and　a　cheerfully　sadistic　murderess。　〃　I　felt　her　body　shiver　in　my　hands　and　held　her　tighter。　〃It　has　to　be　said；　because　that　is　what　you　were。　You　aren't　any　more。　You　had　reasons　to　be　that　way　and　the　reasons　have　been　removed　and　some　unhappy　quirks　in　your　otherwise　pristine　cortex　have　been　straightened　out。　And　now　I　love　you。　But　I　want　to　remember　that　I　loved　you　even　then　during　your　unreconstructed　days；　which　is　saying　a　lot。　So　if　I　buck　at　the　harness　now；　or　am　difficult　to　deal　with　in　the　mornings；　just　remember　that　and　make　allowances。　Is　it　a　deal？〃
　　　　It　apparently　was。　She　dropped　the　bagon　my　toe；　but　I　dared　not　flinchand　wrapped　her　arms　around　me　and　was　kissing　me　and　knocked　me　over　into　the　deep　grass　and　I　had　a　jolly　time　kissing　her　right　back。　The　newlywed　effect　I　suppose　you　would　call　it；　great　fun　。　。　。
　　　　We　froze；　rigid；　as　a　pair　of　flywheel　cycles　moaned　and　skidded　to　a　stop　by　our　car。　Only　the　police　used　these　since　they　move　a　good　deal　faster　than　the　peat…powered　steamers。　They　are　tricycle　affairs　with　a　great　heavy　flywheel　encased　between　the　rear　wheels。　They　plugged　them　in　at　night　so　their　motor…generators　could　run　the　flywheel　up　to　top　speed。　During　the　day　the　flywheel　generated　electricity　to　drive　the　motors　in　each　wheel。　Very　efficient　and　smog…free。　Very　dangerous。
　　　　〃This　is　the　car；　Fodder！〃　one　of　the　police　shouted　out　over　the　constant　moan　of　the　flywheels。
　　　　〃I'll　call　it　in。　They　can't　have　gone　far。　We　sure　have　them　trapped　now！〃
　　　　Nothing　infuriates　me　like　the　bland　assurances　of　petty　officials。　Oh　yes；　really　trapped　now。　I　growled　deep　in　my　throat　as　the　other　uniformed　inpetent　poked　his　nose　around　the　car　and　gaped　at　our　cozy　cuddle　in　the　grass。　He　was　still　gaping　when　I　lunged　an　arm　up　and　around　his　neck　with　a　tight　squeeze　on　his　throat　and　pulled　him　down　to　join　us。　It　was　fun　to　watch　his　tongue　e　out　and　his　eyes　pop　and　his　head　turn　red　but　Angelina　spoiled　it。　She　whipped　off　his　helmet　and　rapped　him　smartlyand　accuratelyon　the　temple　with　the　heel　of　her　shoe。　He　turned　off　and　I　let　him　drop。
　　　　〃And　you　talk　about　me；〃　my　bride　whispered。　〃You've　got　more　than　a　touch　of　the　old　sadist　in　your　own　makeup。〃　
　　　　〃I　called　it　in。　Everybody　knows。　We've　sure　got　than　now　。　。　。〃　the　enthusiastic　remaining　officer　said；　but　his　voice　rattled　to　a　stop　when　he　looked　down　the　muzzle　of　his　associate's　riot　gun。　Angelina　dug　a　sleep　capsule　out　of　her　bag　and　snapped　it　under　his　nose。
　　　　〃And　now　what；　boss？〃　she　asked；　smiling　happily　at　the　two　black…uniformed；　brass…buttoned　figures　by　the　side　of　the　road。
　　　　〃I　have　been　thinking；〃　I　said；　and　rubbed　my　jaw　and　frowned　with　deep　concentration　to　prove　it。　〃We　have　had　over　four　months　of　worry…less　holiday；　but　all　good　things　must　end。　We　could　extend　our　leave。　But　it　would　be　hectic　to　say　the　least　and　people　would　get　hurt　and　youwhile　that　is　a　fine　shapeit　is　not　quite　the　shape　for　flight　aid　pursuit　and　general　nastiness。　Shall　we　return　to　the　service　from　which　we　fled？〃
　　　　〃I　was　hoping　you　would　say　that。　Morning　sickness　and　bank　robbery　just　don't　seem　to　mix。　It　will　be　fun　to　get　back。〃
　　　　〃Particularly　since　they　will　be　so　glad　to　see　us。　Considering　that　they　turned　down　our　request　for　leave　and　we　had　to　steal　that　mail　ship。〃
　　　　〃Not　to　mention　all　the　expense　money　we　have　stolen　because　we　couldn't　touch　our　bank　accounts。〃　
　　　　〃Right。　Follow　me　and　we'll　do　this　with　style。〃　
　　　　We　stripped　off　their　uniforms　and　gently　laid　the　snoring　peace　officers　in　the　rear　of　the　car。　One　had　pink　polk…a…dot　underwear　while　the　other's　was　utilitarian　blackbut　trimmed　with　lace。　Which　might　have　been　local　custom　of　dress　but　gave　me　second　thoughts　about　the　police　on　Kamata　and　I　was　glad　we　were　leaving。　Uniformed；　helmeted；　and　goggled　we　hummed　merrily　down　the　road　on　our　flywheel　cycles　waving　to　all　the　tanks　and　trucks　that　roared　by　the　other　way。　Before　there　were　too　many　screams　and　shouts　of　discovery　I　braked　in　the　center　of　the　road　and　signaled　an　armored　car　to　a　stop。　Angelina　swung　her　cycle　behind　them　so　that　they　would　not　find　the　sight　of　a　pregnant　police　officer　too　distracting。
　　　　〃Got　them　cornered！〃　I　shouted。　〃But　they　have　a　radio　so　keep　this　off　the　net。　Follow　me。〃
　　　　〃Lead　on！〃　the　driver　shouted；　his　mate　nodding　agreement　while　thoughts　of　rewards；　fame；　medals　danced　dazzlingly　before　their　eyes。　I　led　them　to　a　deserted　track　into　the　woods　that　ended　at　a　small　lake　plete　with　ramshackle　boathouse　and　dock。
　　　　I　braked；　waved　them　to　a　stop；　touched　my　finger　to　my　lips　and　tiptoed　back　to　their　car。　The　driver　lowered　the　side　window　and　looked　out　expectantly。
　　　　〃Breathe　this；〃　I　said　and　flipped　a　gas　grenade　through　the　opening。
　　　　There　was　a　cloud　of　smoke　followed　by　gasps　followed　by　two　more　silent　uniformed　figures　snoring　in　the　grass。
　　　　〃Going　to　take　a　quick　peek　at　their　underwear？〃　Angelina　asked。
　　　　〃No。　I　want　to　maintain　some　illusions；　even　if　they　are　false。〃　
　　　　The　cycles　rolled　merrily　down　the　dock　and　off　into　the　water　where　they　steamed　and　short…circuited　and　made　a　lot　of　bubbles。　As　soon　as　the　armored　car　had　aired　out　we　boarded　and　drove　away。　Angelina　found　the　driver's　untouched　lunch　and　cheerfully　consumed　it。　I　avoided　most　of　the　main　roads　and　headed　back　to　the　city　where　the　mand　post　was　located　at　the　central　police　station。　I　wanted　to　go　where　the　big　action　was。
　　　　We　parked　in　the　underground　garage；　deserted　now；　and　took　the　elevator　to　the　tower。　The　building　was　almost　empty；　except　for　the　mand　center；　and　I　found　an　unoccupied　office　nearby　and　left　Angelina　there。　Innocently　amusing　herself　with　the　sealedbut　easily　openedconfidential　files；　I　lowered　my　goggles　into　place　and　staged　a　dusty；　exhausted　entrance　to　control。　I　was　ignored。　The　man　I　wanted　to　see　was　pacing　the　floor　sucking　on　a　long　dead　pipe。　I　rushed　up　and　saluted。　
　　　　〃Sir；　are　you　Mr。　Inskipp？〃
　　　　〃Yar；〃　he　muttered；　his　attention　still　on　the　great　wall　chart　that　theoretically　showed　the　condition　of　the　chase。　
　　　　〃Someone　to　see　you；　sir。〃
　　　　〃What？　What？〃　be　said；　still　distracted。　Harold　Peters　Inskipp；　director　and　mastermind　of　the　Special　Corps；　not　quite　with　it　this　day。　He　followed　me　out　easily　enough　and　I　closed　the　door　and　slipped　off　the　heavy　goggles。
　　　　〃We're　ready　to　e　home　now；〃　I　told　him。　〃If　you　can　find　a　quiet　way　of　getting　us　off　this　planet　without　the　locals　getting　their　greedy　hands　on　us。〃
　　　　His　jaw　clenched　with　anger　and　fractured　the　mouthpiece　of　the　pipe　into　innumerable　fragments。　I　led　him；　spitting　out　pieces　of　plastic；　to　the　room　where　Angelina　was　waiting。

Chapter　3

　　　　〃ARRGH！〃　Inskipp　snarled；　and　shook　the　sheaf　of　papers　in　his　hand　so　that　they　rattled　like　dry　skeletal　bones。
　　　　〃Very　expressive；〃　I　said；　sliding　a　cigar　from　my　pocket　humidor　and　holding　it　to　my　ear。　〃But　with　a　very　minimal　content　of　information。　Could　you　be　more　explicit？〃　I　pinched　the　cigar's　small　end　and　there　was　not　the　slightest　crackle。　Perfection。
　　　　〃Do　you　know　how　many　millions　your　crime　wave　has　cost？　The　economy　of　Kamata　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃Will　not　suffer　an　iota。　The　government　will　reimburse　the　institutions　that　suffered　the　losses　and　will　then　in　turn　deduct　the　same　amount　from　its　annual　payment　to　the　Special　Corps。　Which　has　more　money　than　it　can　possibly　use　in　any　case。　And　look　at　the　benefits　bestowed　in　return。　Plenty　of　excitement　for　the　populace；　increased　sales　of　newspapers；　exercise　for　the　sedentary　law　enforcement　officersand　that　is　an　interesting　story　in　itselfas　well　as　field　maneuvers　that　were　a　pleasure　for　everyone　involved。　Far　from　being　annoyed　they　should　pay　us　a　fee　for　making　all　these　exciting　things　possible。　〃　I　lit　the　cigar　and　blew　out　a　great　cloud　of　fragrant　smoke。
　　　　〃Don't　play　wise　with　me；　you　aging　con　man。　If　I　turned　you　and　your　bride　over　to　the　Kamata　authorities　you　would　still　be　in　jail　600　yea