the stainless steel rat-第33部分
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within twelve hours that I had been offered a partnership in the new order。 One thing I was sure of thoughAngelovely's offer had been sincere。 Cassi Duke of Rdenrundt's proposition had a distinctly bad odor to it。 I played along to see what he was leading up to。
〃I am honored； noble Count；〃 I oozed。 〃But what will happen to the foreign woman？ I don't imagine she will think much of the idea。〃
〃What she thinks is not important；〃 he snarled and touched his fingers lightly to the side of his head。 He swallowed and got his temper back under control。 〃We cannot be cruel to her；〃 he said with one of the most insincere smiles I have ever seen on a human being's face。 〃We'll just hold her in custody。 She has some guards who I imagine will be loyal； but my men will take care of them。 You will be with her and arrest her at the proper time。 Just turn her over to the jailers who will keep her safe。 Safe for herself； and out of sight where she can cause no more trouble for us。〃
〃It's a good plan；〃 I agreed with winning insincerity。 〃I don't enjoy the thought of putting this poor woman in jail； but if it is necessary to the cause it must be done。 The ends justify the means。〃
〃You're right。 I only wish I was able to state it so clearly。 You have a remarkable ability to turn a phrase。 Bent。 I'm going to write that down so I can remember it。 The ends justify 。 。 。〃
He scratched away industriously on a note plate。 What a knowledge of history he hadjust the man to plan a revolution！ I searched my memory for a few more old saws to supply him with； until my brain was flooded with a sudden anger。 I jumped to my feet。
〃If we are going to do this we should not waste any time； Count Rdenrundt；〃 I said。 〃I suggest 1800 hours tonight for the action。 That will give you enough time to arrange for the capture of her guards。 I will be in her rooms and will arrest her as soon as I have a message from you that the first move has succeeded。〃
〃You're correct。 A man of action as always。 Bent。 It will be as you say。〃 We shook hands then and it took all the will power I possessed to stop from crushing to a pulp his limp； moist； serpentine paw。 I went straight to Angelina。
〃Can we be overheard here？〃 I asked her。
〃No； the room is pletely shielded。〃
〃Your former boy…friend。 Count Cassi； has a snooper…detector。 He may have other equipment for listening to what goes on here。〃
This thought didn't bother Angelic in the slightest。 She sat by the mirror； brushing her hair。 The scene was lovely but distracting。 There were strong winds blowing through the revolution that threatened to knock everything down。
〃I know about the detector；〃 she said calmly； brushing。 〃I arranged for him to get itwithout his knowledge of courseand made sure it was useless on the best frequencies。 I keep a close watch on his affairs that way。〃
〃Were you listening in a few minutes ago when he was making arrangements with me to kill your guards and throw you into the dungeons downstairs？〃
〃No； I wasn't listening；〃 she said with that amazing self…possession and calm that marked all her actions。 She smiled in the mirror at me。 〃I was busy just remembering last night。〃
Women！ They insist on mixing everything up together。 Perhaps they operate…better that way； but it is very hard on those of us who find that keeping emotion and logic separate produces sounder thinking。 I had to make her understand the seriousness of this situation。
〃Well； if that little bit of news doesn't interest you；〃 I said as calmly as I could； 〃perhaps this does。 The rough Radebrechens didn't send that killer last nightthe Count did。〃
Success at last。 Angelina actually stopped bing her hair and her eyes widened a bit at the import of what I said。 She didn't ask any stupid questions； but waited for me to finish。
〃I think you have underestimated the desperation of that rat upstairs。 When you droned him with that bottle yesterday； you pushed him just as far as he could be pushed。 He must have had his plans already made and you made his mind up for him。 The sergeant of the guard recognized the assassin and connected him with the Count。 That also explains how the killer got access to the roof and knew just where to find you。 It's also the best explanation I can imagine for the suddenness of this attack。 There's too much coincidence here with the thing happening right after your battle with Cassitor the Cantankerous。〃
Angelina had gone back to bing her hair while I talked； fluffing up the curls。 She made no response。 Her apparent lack of interest was beginning to try my nerves。
〃Wellwhat are you going to do about it？〃 I asked； with more than a little note of peevishness in my voice。
〃Don't you think it's more important to ask what you are going to do about it？〃 She delivered this line very lightly； but there was a lot behind it。 I saw she was watching me in the minor； so I turned and went over to the window； looking out over the fatal balcony at the snow…summitted mountain peaks beyond。 What was I going to do about it？ Of course that was the question heremuch bigger than she realized。
What was I going to do about the whole thing？ Everyone was offering me half…interests in a revolution I hadn't the slimiest interest in。 Or did I？ What was I doing here？ Had I e to arrest Angelina for the Special Corps？ That assignment seemed to have been forgotten a while back。 A decision had to be reached soon。 My body disguise was goodbut not that good。 It wasn't intended to stand up to long inspection。 Only the fact that Angelina was undoubtedly sure that she had killed me had prevented her from recognizing my real identity so far。 I had certainly recognized her easily enough； facial changes and all。
Just at this point the bottom dropped out of everything。 There is a little process called selective forgetting whereby we suppress and distort memories we find distasteful。 My disguise hadn't been meant to stand inspection this long。 Originally I had been sure she would have penetrated it by now。 With this realization came the memory of what I had said the night before。 A wickedly revealing statement that I had pushed back and forgotten until now。
You're none of these things out of the past； I had shouted。 None of these things 。 。 。 Angelina。 I had bellowed this and there had been no protest from her。
Except that she no longer used the name Angelina； she used the alias Engela here。
When I tuned to face her my guilty thoughts must have been scrawled all over my face； but she only gave me that enigmatic smile and said nothing。 At least she had stopped bing her hair。
〃You know I'm not Grav Bent Diebstall；〃 I said with an effort。 〃How long have you known？〃
〃For quite a while； since soon after you came here； in fact。〃
〃Do you know who I am？〃
〃I have no idea what your real name is； if that's what you mean。 But I do remember how angry I was when you tricked me out of the battleships； after all my work。 And I recall the intense satisfaction with which I shot you in Freiburbad。 Can you tell me your name now？〃
〃Jim；〃 I said through the haze I was rooted in。 〃James diGriz； known as Slippery Jim to the trade。〃
〃How nice。 My name is really Angela。 I think it was done as a horrid joke by my father； which is one of the reasons I enjoyed seeing him die。〃
〃Why haven't you killed me？〃 I asked； having a fairly good idea of how father had passed on。
〃Why should I； darling？〃 she asked； and her light； empty tone was gone。 〃We've both made mistakes in the past and it has taken us a dreadfully long time to find out that we are just alike。 I might as well ask you why you haven't arrested methat's what you started out to do isn't it？〃
〃It wasbut 。 。 。〃
〃But； what？ You must have e here with that idea in mind； but you were fighting an awful battle with yourself。 That's why I hid the fact that I knew who you really were。 You were growing up； getting over whatever idiotic notions ever involved you with the police in the first place。 I had no idea how the whole thing would e out； though I did hope。 You see I didn't want to kill you； not unl
