the.stainless.steel.rats.revenge-第40部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ture　you。　Even　though　I　was　unconscious　for　a　day　and　a　half；　I　was　still　rather　happy　you　had　escaped。　I　know　you　were　a　spy　and　all　that；　but。。。〃
　　　　〃Say　no　more。　The　matter　is　closed　and　I　prefer　to　think　of　you　as　the　roommate　of　our　drinking　days。〃
　　　　〃Most　kind。　Would　you　grant　me　the　courtesy　of　shaking　your　hand？〃　
　　　　We　shook　and　I　looked　at　him　curiously。
　　　　〃You've　changed；　for　the　better　I　think。　Put　on　a　little　weight；　polished　up　the　old　manners。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Vaska。　Most　kind。　Stopped　drinking　so　I　have　to　watch　my　diet　now。　And　I　don't　have　to　worry　about　flying　those　filthy　spaceships　any　more。　My　family　were　always　innkeepers；　traditional　trade　and　all　that。　Until　the　draft　got　me。　A　pleasure　to　return　to　something　I　know；　and　right　at　the　top　too　as　you　can　see。　Shortage　of　good　hotel　men　now。　If　you　will　sign　here。〃　
　　　　He　handed　me　the　pen　and　continued　in　the　same　neutral　voice；　only　not　as　loudly。
　　　　〃I　hope　you　will　pardon　my　saying　this　is　a　bit　of　emergency；　so　please　don't　jump　or　turn　around。　But　there　has　been　a　man　staying　here　ever　since　we　opened；　one　of　Kraj's　men　I　do　believe；　and　he　has　the　staff　terrified。　I　didn't　know　what　he　wanted　until　this　moment。　I　believe　he　is　after　you　and　I　hope　you　are　armed。　He　is　ing　from　the　right；　behind　you；　wearing　a　plum　jacket　and　yellow　striped　hat。〃
　　　　It　was　a　holidayand　I　was　unarmed。　For　the　first　time　in　a　long　time　I　swore　silently　that　it　would　be　the　last。　Then　I　remembered　Angelina　and　saw　her　bending　over　the　robopram　again。
　　　　〃I　don't　wish　to　bother　you　dearest；〃　I　said；　smiling；　an　itchy　feeling　crawling　up　my　back　and　into　my　skull。　〃But　the　man　in　the　plum　jacket　ing　up　behind　me　is　an　assassin。　Do　you　think　you　could　do　anything　about　itand　keep　him　alive　if　possible？〃　
　　　　〃How　sweet　of　you　to　ask！〃　she　said；　laughing；　patting　the　pile　of　diapers　in　the　pram。
　　　　I　stepped　back　to　the　desk；　watching　her。　Charming；　relaxed；　smiling；　touching　her　hair。
　　　　Taking　her　time　too。　I　opened　my　mouth　to　mention　this　factjust　as　her　arm　snapped　down。　There　was　a　muffled　shriek　behind　me　and　I　turned　and　ducked。
　　　　It　was　all　over。　Plum　coat　had　lost　his　striped　hatand　his　pistol　as　well　which　was　lying　on　the　rug。　He　was　reaching　for　the　knife　that　projected　from　his　upper　arm；　making　little　scrabbling　motions。　Then　Angelina　was　at　his　side；　chopping　his　neck　and　lowering　his　unconscious　figure　to　the　floor。
　　　　〃Holiday　world；　indeed；〃　she　sniffed；　but　I　knew　she　was　enjoying　herself。
　　　　〃You'll　get　a　medal　for　this；　my　sweet。　The　Corps　will　take　care　of　this　lad　and　I　imagine　they　will　extract　information　about　his　home　planet；　which　will　be　a　relief。〃　I　turned　back　to　Otrov。　
　　　　〃Thanks　for　saving　my　life。〃
　　　　〃Not　at　all；　sir。　I　always　believe　that　it　is　the　little　extra　services　that　count。　Nowmay　I　show　you　your　room？〃
　　　　〃You　may；　and　a　drink　as　well。　You'll　join　us　in　a　glass　won't　you？〃
　　　　〃Well；　just　this　once；　seeing　as　how　it　is　a　special　occasion。　And　I　must　say　that　you　are　a　lucky　man　to　have　a　wife　who　shares　your　same　enthusiasm　and　talents。〃
　　　　〃It　was　a　match　made　in　crime　and　some　day　I　may　tell　you　all　about　it。〃
　　　　I　looked　on　fondly　while　my　Angelina　neatly　wiped　her　knife　off　on　the　unconscious　man's　shirt；　then　stowed　it　back　among　the　diapers。　I　was　sure　that　when　the　children　got　older　they　would　appreciate　her　talents。
　　　　She　was　the　sort　of　mother　every　boy　should　have。

　
　
　
　1