the stainless steel rat-第28部分

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gh　imagination　to　appreciate　the　ideas　Angelina　was　feeding　him。　Yet　I　imagine　he　had　the　money　and　the　titleand　the　ambitionwhich　bination　she　had　to　have。　Once　more　I　wondered　where　she　was。
　　　　　Something　came　in　through　the　door　and　I　recoiled；　thinking　the　war　was　on。　It　was　only　a　robot；　but　it　made　such　a　hideous　amount　of　hissing　and　clanking　that　I　wondered　what　was　wrong　with　it。　The　Count　ordered　the　ghastly　thing　to　wheel　over　the　bar；　as　it　turned　away　I　saw　what　could　have　been　a　chimney　projecting　behind　one　shoulder。　There　was　the　distinct　odor　of　coal　smoke　in　the　air。　
　　　　　〃Does　that　robot　bum　coal〃〃　I　gurgled。
　　　　　〃It　goes；〃　the　Count　said；　pouring　us　out　a　pair　of　drinks。　〃It　is　a　perfect　example　of　what　is　wrong　with　the　Freiburian　economy　under　the　gracious　rule　of　Villelm　the　Inpetent。　You　don't　see　any　robots　like　this　in　the　capital！〃
　　　　　〃I　should　hope　not；〃　I　gasped；　staring　bug…eyed　at　the　trickle　of　steam　escaping　from　the　thing；　and　the　stains　of　rust　and　coal　dust　on　its　plates。　〃Of　course　I've　been　away　a　long　time　。　。　。　things　change　。　。　。〃
　　　　　〃They　don't　change　fast　enough！　And　don't　act　galactic…wise　with　me；　Diebstall。　I've　been　to　Misteldross　and　seen　how　the　rubes　live。　You　have　no　robots　at　allmuch　less　a　contraption　like　this。　〃　He　kicked　at　the　thing　in　sullen　anger　and　it　staggered　back　a　bit；　valves　clicking　open　as　steam　pumped　into　the　leg　pistons　to　straighten　it　up。　〃Two　hundred　years　e　next　Grundlovsday　we　will　have　been　in　the　League；　milked　dry　and　pacified　by　themand　for　what？　To　provide　luxuries　for　the　King　in　Freiburbad。　While　out　here　we　get　a　miserable　consignment　of　a　few　robot　brains　and　some　control　circuitry。　We　have　to　build　the　rest　of　the　inefficient　monsters　ourselves。　And　out　in　the　real　sticks　where　you　e　from　they　think　robot　is　a　misspelling　of　a　boat　that　goes　with　oars！〃　
　　　　　He　drained　his　glass　and　I　made　no　attempt　to　explain　to　him　the　economics　of　galactic　merce；　planetary　prestige；　or　the　multifold　levels　of　intermunication。　This　lost　planet　had　been　cut　off　from　the　mainstream　of　galactic　culture　for　maybe　a　thousand　years；　until　contact　had　been　reestablished　after　the　Breakdown。　They　were　being　eased　back　into　the　culture　gradually；　without　any　violent　repercussions　that　might　upset　the　process。　Sure；　a　billion　robots　could　be　dumped　here　tomorrow。　What　good　would　that　do　the　economy？　It　was　certainly　much　better　to　bring　in　the　control　units　and　let　the　locals　build　the　things　for　themselves。　If　they　didn't　like　the　final　product　they　could　improve　the　design　instead　of　plaining。
　　　　　The　Count　of　course　didn't　see　it　this　way。　Angelina　had　done　a　nice　job　at　playing　upon　his　prejudices　and　desires。　He　was　still　glaring　at　the　robot　when　he　leaned　forward　and　suddenly　tapped　a　dial　on　the　thing's　side。
　　　　　〃Look　at　that！〃　he　shouted。　〃Down　to　eighty　pounds　pressure！　Next　thing　you　know　the　thing　will　be　falling　on　its　face　and　burning　the　place　down。　Stoke；　you　idiotstoke！！〃
　　　　　A　couple　of　relays　closed　inside　the　contraption　and　the　robot　clanked　and　put　the　tray　of　glasses　down。　I　took　a　very　long　drag　on　my　drink　and　enjoyed　the　scene。　Trundling　over　to　the　fireplaceat　a　slower　pace　now　I'll　admitit　opened　a　door　in　its　stomach　and　flame　belched　out。　Using　the　coal　scoop　in　the　pail　it　shoveled　in　a　good　portion　of　anthracite　and　banged　the　firedoor　shut　again。　Rich　black　smoke　boiled　from　its　chimney。　At　least　it　was　housebroken　and　didn't　shake　out　its　grate　here。
　　　　　〃Outside；　dammit；　outside！〃　the　Count　shouted；　coughing　at　the　same　time。　The　smoke　was　a　little　thick。　I　poured　another　drink　and　decided　right　then　that　I　was　going　to　like　Rdenrundt。
　　　　　I　would　have　liked　it　a　lot　better　if　I　could　have　found　Angelina。　This　whole　affair　bore　every　sign　of　her　light　touch；　yet　she　was　nowhere　in　sight。　I　was　shown　to　a　room　and　met　some　of　the　officers　on　the　Count's　staff。　One　of　them；　Kurt；　a　youth　of　noble　lineage　but　no　money；　showed　me　around　the　grounds。　The　place　was　a　cross　between　a　feudal　keep　and　a　small　town；　with　a　high　wall　cutting　it　off　from　the　city　proper。　There　appeared　to　be　no　obvious　signs　of　the　Count's　plans；　outside　of　the　number　of　armed　retainers　who　lounged　about　and　practiced　uninterestedly　in　the　shooting　ranges。　It　all　locked　too　peaceful　to　be　trueyet　I　had　been　brought　here。　That　was　no　accident。　I　tried　a　little　delicate　questioning　and　Kurt　was　frank　with　his　answers。　Like　a　lot　of　the　far…country　gentry　be　bore　a　grudge　against　the　central　authorities；　although　he　would　of　course　never　have　gotten　around　to　doing　anything　about　it　on　his　own。　Somehow　he　had　been　recruited　and　was　ready　to　go　along　with　the　plans；　all　of　which　were　very　vague　to　him。　I　doubt　if　he　had　ever　seen　a　corpse。　That　he　was　telling　me　the　truth　about　everything　was　obvious　when　I　caught　him　in　his　first　lie。
　　　　　We　had　passed　some　women　and　bent　a　knee；　and　Kurt　had　volunteered　the　advice　that　they　were　the　wives　of　two　of　the　other　officers。
　　　　　〃And　you're　married　too？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　〃No。　Never　had　the　time；　I　guess。　Now　I　suppose　it's　too　late；　at　least　for　awhile。　When　this　whole　business　is　over　and　life　is　a　little　more　peaceful　there'll　be　plenty　of　time　to　settle　down。〃　
　　　　　〃How　right；〃　I　agreed。　'〃What　about　the　Count？　Is　he　married？　I've　been　away　so　many　years　that　it's　hard　to　keep　track　of　that　kind　of　thing。　Wives；　children　and　such。〃　Without　being　obvious　I　was　watching　him　when　I　asked　this；　and　he　gave　a　little　start。
　　　　　〃Well　。　。　。　yes；　you　might　say。　I　mean　the　Count　was　married；　but　there　was　an　accident；　he's　not　married　now　。　。　。〃　His　voice　tapered　away　and　he　drew　my　attention　to　something　else；　happy　to　leave　the　topic。
　　　　　Now　if　there　is　one　thing　that　always　marks　Angelina's　trail　it　is　a　corpse　or　two。　It　took　no　great　amount　of　inspiration　to　connect　her　with　the　〃accidental〃　death　of　the　Count's　wife。　If　the　death　had　been　natural　Kurt　would　not　have　been　afraid　to　talk　about　it。　He　didn't　mention　the　topic　again　and　I　made　no　attempt　to　pump　him。　I　had　my　lead。　Angelina　may　not　have　been　in　sightbut　her　spoor　was　around　me　on　all　sides。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　time　now。　As　soon　as　I　was　able　to；　I　would　shake　Kurt　and　hunt　up　the　bullyboys　who　had　spirited　me　out　of　the　jail。　Buy　them　a　few　drinks　to　assure　them　that　there　were　no　hard　feelings　about　the　beating　they　had　given　me。　Then　pump　them　adroitly　about　the　man　who　had　led　them。
　　　　　Angelina　made　her　move　first。　One　of　the　coal…burning　robots　came　hissing　and　clanking　around　with　a　message。　The　Count　would　like　to　see　me。　I　slicked　my　hair；　tucked　in　my　shirt　and　reported　for　duty。
　　　　　I　was　pleased　to　see　that　the　Count　was　a　steady　and　solitary　daytime　drinker。　In　addition；　there　was　very　little　tobacco　in　his　cigarette；　the　sweet　smoke　filled　the　room。　All　this　meant　he　was　due　for　early　dissolution；　and　I　would　not　be　numbered　among　his　mourners。　None　of　this　showed　in　my　expression　or　attitude　of　course。　I　was　all　flashing　eye　and　hell…cracking　attention。　
　　　　　〃Is　it　action；　sir？　Is　that　why　you　sent　for　me？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　〃Sit　down；　sit　down；〃　he　mumbled；　waving　me　towards　a　chair。　〃Relax。　Want　a　cigarette？〃　He　pushed　the　box　towards　me　and　I　eyed　the　thin　brown　cylinders　with　distaste。
　　　　　〃Not　today；　sir。　I'm　laying　off　smoking　for　awhile。　Sharpening　up　the　old　eye。　Keeping　the　old　trigger　finger　limber　and　ready　for　action。〃
　The　Count's　mind　was　occupied　elsewhere　and　I　doubt　if　he　heard　a　word　I　said。　He　chewed　abstractedly　at　the　inside　of　his　cheek　while　he　looked　me　up　and　down。　A　decision　finally　struggled　up　through　his　half…clotted　brain。
　　　　　〃What　do　you　know　about　the　Radebrechen　family？〃　he　asked；　which　is　about　as　exotic　a　question　as　I　have　ever　had　thrown　at　me。　
　　　　　Absolutely　nothing；〃　I　answered　truthfully。　〃Should　I？〃　
　　　　　〃No　。　。　。　no　。　。　。〃　he　answered　vaguely；　and　went　back　to　chewing　his　cheek。　I　was　getting　high　just　from　breathing　the　air　in　the　room　and　I　wondered　how　be　was　feeling。
　　　　　〃e　with　me；〃　he　said；　pushing　over　his　chair　and　almost　falling　on　top　of　it。　We　plodded　through　a　number　of　balls　deeper　into　the　building；　until　we　came　to