the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第31部分

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ttom　and　out　among　the　coral　reefs。　Even　if　they　came　looking　they　would　never　find　us　here。　I　snapped　on　the　sonar　municator　and　called　in。
　　　　〃Not　much　of　a　search；〃　the　operator　told　me。　〃I'll　let　you　know　when　they　reach　the　lower　level。〃
　　　　Angelina　and　I　dove　deep。　Rainbow…hued　fish　burst　out　and　around　us；　green　plants　bowed　to　our　passing。　The　water　was　clear　and　warm　and　was　rapidly　restoring　my　thoughts　and　good　spirits。　We　swam　to　a　grotto；　pletely　surrounded　by　coral；　that　we　had　found　on　an　earlier　visit　during　an　alert；　and　settled　down　on　the　golden　sand。　I　put　my　arm　around　Angelina　and　she　snuggled　up　to　me；　both　for　the　fun　of　it　and　to　get　our　masks　touching　so　we　could　talk。
　　　　〃Anything　new　e　in　on　Kraj　and　his　boys　while　the　doc　was　slogging　through　my　gray　matter？〃
　　　　〃They've　been　located；　but　that's　all。　Now　that　the　first　stage　of　invasion　is　over　the　Cliaand　forces　seem　to　be　settling　down　for　the　occupation。　They've　taken　over　this　immense　office　building；　the　Octagon　it's　called　probably　because　it　has　eight　sides；　and　have　cleared　everyone　out。　They　seem　to　have　moved　most　of　their　administrative　operations　thereand　one　of　Kraj's　gray　men　was　seen　ing　out　of　the　building。　This　must　be　where　they　are　holed　up。〃　
　　　　〃I　wonder　why　they　left　the　last　building？〃　
　　　　〃Afraid　of　you　and　your　relentless　revenge；　no　doubt。〃　
　　　　I　snorted。　Hard　to　do　in　a　face　mask。　〃You're　only　saying　that；　but　by　Belial　there　is　more　than　an　element　of　truth　in　it。　The　Cliaand　operation　in　general　has　to　be　knocked　out；　but　those　gray　men　need　special　attention。　But　first　we　have　to　grab　one　of　them。　I'll　have　to　get　inside　the　building。〃
　　　　〃You'll　do　nothing　of　the　sort。〃　She　pinched　the　skin　over　my　ribs　and　I　tried　to　slap　her　hand　away　but　you　can't　do　this　under　water。　I　settled　for　a　pinch　myself；　and　she　was　surely　far　more　pinchable　than　I；　and　we　played　around　like　this　for　awhile　until　I　remembered　why　she　had　distracted　me　and　returned　ruthlessly　to　the　interrupted　conversation。
　　　　〃Why　can't　I　try　to　get　into　the　building？　I'll　be　disguised；　I　speak　Cliaandian；　I　know　the　ropes　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃And　they　know　yours。　They'll　have　cameras　on　every　entrance　feeding　data　to　the　puters。　Which　will　know　your　height；　your　build；　your　weight；　manner　of　walk；　retinal　pattern；　the　works。　You　can't　disguise　everything　and　you　know　it。　They'll　have　you　in　the　bag　the　instant　you　walk　into　the　place。〃
　　　　〃You're　just　saying　that　because　it　is　true；〃　I　muttered。　〃So　I　suppose　you　have　a　better　plan？〃
　　　　〃I　do。　I　speak　Cliaandian　and　they　have　no　records　on　me　at　all。　And　I'm　an　experienced　field　operator；　the　only　one　on　this　planet　besides　you。〃　
　　　　〃No！〃
　　　　〃Why　the　instant　no？〃　She　scowled　at　me　and　the　next　pinch　hurt。　〃You're　my　husband；　not　my　ownerremember？　I'm　as　good　at　this　business　as　you　are；　maybe　better；　and　there　is　a　job　that　needs　doing。　Let's　have　none　of　your　male　superiority　and　possessiveness。〃　
　　　　She　was　right　of　course；　but　I　couldn't　let　her　know　it。　
　　　　〃I　was　only　worried　about　your　safety。〃
　　　　She　melted　at　this；　even　the　smartest　woman　is　a　sucker　for　the　loving　attention；　and　rubbed　against　me。　I　felt　like　the　heel　I　was。
　　　　〃You　do　love　me；　Jim；　in　your　own　horrible　way。　But　I'll　be　all　right；　you'll　see。　There　are　some　women　among　the　Cliaandian　supporting　echelonsI　don't　see　how　they　can　wear　those　ugly　uniformsand　the　girls　and　I　will　grab　onto　one。　With　her　uniform　and　identification　I'll　get　into　the　building；　find　Kraj〃
　　　　〃You　won't　do　anything　foolish？〃
　　　　〃Of　course　not。　This　is　too　important　to　bungle　by　trying　it　alone。　I　told　you　I　wanted　to　give　him　my　personal　attention　at　my　leisure。　This　will　be　a　scouting　trip　only。　I'll　locate　the　gray　men；　map　the　layout　and　take　a　look　at　the　detection　devicesand　leave　at　once。〃　
　　　　〃Great。〃　I　was　getting　enthusiastic　now　and　trying　to　put　my　fears　for　her　safety　aside。　〃That　is　all　we　will　need　to　mount　a　quick　kidnapping。　Hit　them　fast　and　hard；　walk　right　in　and　grab　Kraj　and　right　out　again。　Foolproof。〃　
　　　　The　sonar　municator　buzzed　and　I　flicked　it　on。　
　　　　〃The　search　party　has　gone。　You　may　return。〃　
　　　　We　swam　back　slowly；　hand　in　hand；　enjoying　the　moment。　Doctor　Mutfak　was　waiting　when　we　climbed　out　of　the　water。
　　　　〃Good；　we　pick　up　where　we　left　off。　〃There　was　no　warmth　at　all　in　his　smile。　〃The　teddy　bears；　we　must　probe　the　symbolism　here　so　we　can　move　on　to　more　recent　things。〃
　　　　He　tapped　his　foot　impatiently　while　Angelina　and　I　clutched　in　a　nice　wet　embrace　and　kissed　with　abandon。　Wearing　the　masks　had　been　quite　frustrating。　Then　back　to　the　room。　I　let　the　doctor　put　me　under　at　once　since　I　didn't　want　Angelina　to　catch　my　jumpiness　before　she　left。　The　mission　would　be　difficult　enough　without　my　giving　her　things　to　worry　about。　She　waved　and　went　to　dress　and　I　waved　back　and　Mutfak　stuck　a　needle　in　my　arm。　No　romance　in　his　soul。
　　　　We　must　have　moved　along　nicely　because　when　I　awoke　next　the　teddy　bears　had　long　since　vanished　and　the　last　dream　I　remembered　had　something　to　do　with　exploding　spaceships　and　solar　flares。　Dr。　Mutfak　was　packing　up　his　instruments　and　the　last　glimmer　of　daylight　was　fading　in　the　night　sky　outside。　
　　　　〃Very　good；〃　he　said。　〃ing　along　nicely。〃　
　　　　〃Have　you　uncovered　any　traces　of　Kraj's　tampering　yet？〃　
　　　　〃Traces！〃　His　nostrils　flared　and　he　puffed　out　his　cheek。　〃They　are　like　heavy　boot　marks　all　through　your　cortex！　Butchers；　those　people；　simply　butchers！　Lucky　in　a　way　because　their　traces　are　so　easy　to　find。　Memory　blocks　all　over；　areas　of　amnesia　with　connections　to　patterns　of　false　memory。　These　memories　are　the　only　thing　of　any　clinical　value　and　I　must　find　out　what　techniques　they　use。　They　were　placed　there　very　quickly；　you　told　me　that；　yet　they　are　incredibly　plete；　all　senses　involved；　and　detailed　as　well。〃
　　　　〃I'll　vouch　for　that。〃
　　　　〃I　think　you　will　have　found　them　impossible　to　tell　from　real　memories；　that　is　the　strength　of　their　technique。　I　have　removed　some　major　ones　that　seemed　to　be　disturbing　you　and　in　later　sessions　I　will　take　care　of　the　others。　Nowlook　at　your　wrists　and　tell　me　about　the　red　lines　you　see　there。〃
　　　　〃They　look　just　like　red　lines；〃　I　said。　Then　I　remembered　waking　up　in　the　cell　and；　for　some　reason　believing　that　my　hands　had　been　cut　off。　I　don't　know　why。　They　were　just　red　lines。　
　　　　〃A　false　memory？〃　I　asked。
　　　　〃Yes；　and　an　outstandingly　repulsive　one。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　at　the　next　session。　But　right　now　you　need　rest。〃　
　　　　〃A　fine　idea；　after　I　get　something　to　eat　。　。　。〃　
　　　　The　door　flew　open　and　Taze　ran　in　and；　as　she　passed；　I　had　a　quick　glimpse　of　the　horrified　expression　on　her　face。　Sudden　fear　hit　me　in　the　stomach　and　I　sat；　watching　her；　saying　nothing　while　she　turned　on　the　TV。　The　Cliaandians　had　a　propaganda　station　operating　now；　though　no　one　bothered　to　watch　it。
　　　　The　screen　lit　up　and　I　found　myself　looking　at　Kraj。　He　almost　smiled　as　he　spoke。
　　　　〃It's　a　tape；　it　keeps　repeating；〃　Taze　said。
　　　　〃　。　。　。　that　we　want　him　to　know。　Someone　out　there　must　know　the　man　known　as　James　diGriz。　Contact　him。　Tell　him　to　listen　to　this　broadcast。　This　message　is　for　you；　diGriz。　We　want　you　back　here。　I　have　Angelina　here。　She　is　unharmedas　yetand　will　remain　that　way　until　dawn。　I　suggest　you　contact　me　and　see　me。
　　　　〃Wele　home；　Jim。〃
Chapter　18

　　　　I　had　a　number　of　moments　of　numb　shock　after　this；　during　which　period　I　wished　to　be　alone。　Taze　was　understanding　enough　to　leave　when　I　pointed　at　the　exit；　but　the　doctor　tried　to　start　a　conversation　which　I　terminated　by　clutching　his　neck　and　the　seat　of　his　trousers　and　heaving　through　the　door　which　she　obligingly　held　open。　Then　I　kicked　in　the　TV　set；　an　act　of　wanton　destruction　that　helped　a　bit；　before　I　poured　a　stiff　cogitating　drink。　With　this　in　hand　I　droned　into　the　chair；　looked　out　unseeingly　at　the　star　spread　sky；　and　worked　out　a　plan。　This　was　not　going　to　be　simpleand　dawn　was　not　that　far　away。
　　　　The　thought　that　kept　nibbling　at　the　edge　of　my　awareness　was　finally　faced。　I　was　going　to　have　to　surrender　and　get　a　collar　back　onthere　was　no