bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第21部分

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　Ignoring　the　harsh；　beastlike　cries　of　the　MPs；　he　dived　headfirst　through　the　opening。　
　　He　fell　about　four　feet；　landed　headfirst；　and　almost　brained　himself。　There　was　not　a　chute　here　but　a　deep；　strong　metal　laundry　basket。
　　Behind　him　the　MPs　beat　at　the　swinging　flap；　but　they　could　not　budge　it；　since　Bill's　legs　had　jammed　up　behind　it　and　stopped　it　from　swinging　open。
　　〃It's　locked！〃　Deathwish　cried。　〃We've　been　hadl　Where　does　this　laundry　chute　go？〃　Making　the　same　mistaken　assumption　as　Bill。
　　〃I　don't　know；　I'm　a　new　man　here　myself；〃　the　other　man　gasped。
　　〃You'll　be　new　man　in　the　electric　chair　if　we　don't　find　that　bowb！〃
　　The　voices　dimmed　as　the　heavy　boots　thudded　away；　and　Bill　stirred。　His　neck　was　twisted　at　an　odd　angle　and　hurt；　his　knees　crunched　into　his　chest；　and　he　was　half　suffocated　by　the　cloth　jammed　into　his　face。　He　tried　to　straighten　his　legs　and　pushed　against　the　metal　wall；　there　was　a　click　as　something　snapped；　and　he　fell　forward　as　the　laundry　basket　dropped　out　into　the　serviceway　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall。
　　〃There　he　is！〃　a　familiarly　hateful　voice　shouted；　and　Bill　staggered　away。　The　running　boots　were　just　behind　him　when　he　came　to　the　gravchute　and　once　more　dived　headfirst；　with　considerably　greater　success　this　time。　As　the　apoplectic　MPs　sprang…in　after　him　the　automatic　cycling　circuit　spaced　them　all　out　a　good　fifteen　feet　apart。　It　was　a　slow；　drifting　fall；　and　Bill's　vision　finally　cleared　and　he　looked　up　and　shuddered　at　the　sight　of　Deathwish's　fang…filled　physiognomy　drifting　down　behind　him。
　　〃Old　buddy；〃　Bill　sobbed；　clasping　his　hands　prayerfully。　〃Why　are　you　chasing　me？〃
　　〃Don't　buddy　me；　you　Chinger　spy。　You're　not　even　a　good　spy…your　arms　don't　match。〃　As　he　dropped　Deathwish　pulled　his　gun　free　of　the　holster　and　aimed　it　squarely　between　Bill's　eyes。　〃Shot　while　attempting　to　escape。〃
　　〃Have　mercy！〃　Bill　pleaded。
　　〃Death　to　all　Chingers。〃　He　pulled　the　trigger。

IV

The　bullet　plowed　slowly　out　of　the　cloud　of　expanding　gas　and　drifted　about　two　feet　toward　Bill　before　the　humming　gravity　field　slowed　it　to　a　stop。　The　simple…minded　cycling　circuit　translated　the　bullet's　speed　as　mass　and　assumed　that　another　body　had　entered　the　gravchute　and　assigned　it　a　position。　Deathwish's　fall　slowed　until　he　was　fifteen　feet　behind　the　bullet；　while　the　other　MP　also　assumed　the　same　relative　position　behind　him。　The　gap　between　Bill　and　his　pursuers　was　now　twice　as　wide；　and　he　took　advantage　of　this　and　ducked　out　of　the　exit　at　the　next　level。　An　open　elevator　beckoned　to　him　coyly　and　he　was　into　it　and　had　the　door　closed　before　the　wildly　cursing　Deathwish　could　emerge　from　the　shaft。
　　After　this；　escape　was　simply　a　matter　of　muddling　his　trail。　He　used　different　means　of　transportation　at　random；　and　all　the　time　kept　fleeing　to　lower　levels　as　though　seeking　to　escape　like　a　mole　by　burrowing　deep　into　the　ground。　It　was　exhaustion　that　stopped　him　finally；　dropping　him　in　his　tracks；　slumped　against　a　wall　and　panting　like　a　triceratops　in　heat。　Gradually　he　became　aware　of　his　surroundings　and　realized　that　he　had　e　lower　than　he　had　ever　been　before。　The　corridors　were　gloomier　and　older；　made　of　steel　plates　riveted　together。　Massive　pillars；　some　a　hundred　feet　or　more　in　diameter；　broke　the　smoothness　of　the　walls；　great　structures　that　supported　the　mass　of　the　world…city　above。　Most　of　the　doors　he　saw　were　locked　and　bolted；　hung　with　elaborate　seals。　It　was　darker；　too；　he　realized；　as　he　wearily　dragged　to　his　feet　and　went　looking　for　something　to　drink：　his　throat　burned　like　fire。　A　drink　dispenser　was　let　into　the　wall　ahead　and　was　different　from　most　of　the　ones　he　was　used　to　in　that　it　had　thick　steel　bars　reinforcing　the　front　of　the　mechanism　and　was　adorned　with　a　large　sign　that　read　THIS　MACHINE　PROTECTED　BY　YOU…COOK…EM　BURGLAR　ALARMS　ANY　ATTEMPT　TO　BREAK　INTO　THE　MECHANISM　WILL　RELEASE　100；000　VOLTS　THROUGH　THE　CULPRIT　RESPONSIBLE。　He　found　enough　coins　in　his　pocket　to　buy　a　double　HeroinCola　and　stepped　carefully　back　out　of　the　range　of　any　sparks　while　the　cup　filled。
　　He　felt　much　better　after　draining　it；　until　he　looked　in　his　wallet　then　he　felt　much　worse。　He　had　eight　imperial　bucks　to　his　name；　and　when　they　were　gone…then　what？　Self…pity　broke　through　his　exhausted　and　drug…ridden　senses；　and　he　wept。　He　was　vaguely　aware　of　occasional　passersby　but　paid　them　no　heed。　Not　until　three　men　stopped　close　by　and　let　a　fourth　sink　to　the　floor。　Bill　glanced　at　them；　then　looked　away；　their　words　ing　dimly　to　his　ears　made　no　sense；　since　he　was　having　afar　better　time　wallowing　in　lacrimose　indulgence。
　　〃Poor　old　Golph；　looks　like　he's　done　for。〃
　　〃That's　for　sure。　He's　rattling　just　about　the　nicest　death　rattle　I　ever　heard。　Leave　him　here　for　the　cleaning　robots。〃
　　〃But　what　about　the　job？　We　need　four　to　pull　it。〃
　　〃Let's　take　a　look　at　deplanned　over　there。〃
　　A　heavy　boot　in　Bill's　side　rolled　him　over　and　caught　his　attention。　He　blinked　up　at　the　circle　of　men　all　similar　in　their　tattered　clothes；　dirty　skins；　and　bearded　faces。　They　were　different　in　size　and　shape；　though　they　all　had　one　thing　in　mon。　None　of　them　carried　a　floor　plan；　and　they　all　looked　strangely　naked　without　the　heavy；　pendant　volumes。
　　〃Where's　your　floor　plan？〃　the　biggest　and　hairiest　asked；　and　kicked　Bill　again。
　　〃Stolen　。　。　。〃　he　started　to　sob　again。
　　〃Are　you　a　trooper？〃
　　〃They　took　away　my　ID　card　。　。　。〃
　　〃Got　any　bucks？〃
　　〃Gone　。　。　。　all　gone　。　。　。　like　the　dispos…a…steins　of　yesteryear　。　。　。〃
　　〃Then　you　are　one　of　the　deplanned；〃　the　watchers　chanted　in　unison；　and　helped　Bill　to　his　feet。　〃Now…join　with　us　in　'The　Song　of　the　Deplanned；'〃　and　with　quavering　voices　they　sang：

　　　Stand　together　one　and　all；
　　　For　Brothers　Deplanned　always　shall；
　　　Unite　and　fight　to　achieve　the　Right；
　　　That　Might　shall　fail　and　Truth　avail；
　　　So　that　we；　who　once　were　free；　can　someday　be
　　　Once　more　free　to　see　the　skies　o　f　blue　above；
　　　And　hear　the　gentle　piny…pat
　　　Of　snow。

　　〃It　doesn't　rhyme　very　well；〃　Bill　said。
　　〃Ah；　we's　short　of　talent　down　here；　we　is；〃　the　smallest　and　oldest　deplanned　said；　and　coughed　a　hacking；　rachitic　cough。
　　〃Shut　up；〃　the　big　one　said；　and　kidney…punched　the　old　one　and　Bill。　〃I'm　Litvok；　and　this　is　my　bunch。　You　part　of　my　bunch　now；　newer；　and　your　name　is　Golph　28169…minus〃
　　〃No；　I'm　not；　my　name　is　Bill；　and　it's　easier　to　say…〃　He　was　slugged　again。
　　〃Shaddup！　Bill's　a　hard　name　because　it's　a　new　name；　and　I　never　remember　no　new　names。　I　always　got　a　Golph　28169…minus　in　my　bunch。　What's　your　name？〃
　　〃Bill…　OUCH！　I　mean　Golph！〃
　　〃That's　better…but　don't　forget　you　got　a　last　name　too　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　is　hungry；〃　the　old　one　whined。　〃When　we　gonna　make　the　raid？〃
　　〃Now。　Follow　me。〃
　　They　stepped　over　the　old　Golph　etc。　who　had　expired　while　the　new　one　was　being　initiated；　and　hurried　away　down　a　dark；　dank　back　passage。　Bill　followed　along；　wondering　what　he　had　got　himself　into；　but　too　weary　to　worry　about　it　now。　They　were　talking　about　food；　after　he　had　some　food　he　would　think　about　what　to　do　next；　but　meanwhile　he　felt　glad　that　someone　was　taking　care　of　him　and　doing　his　thinking　for　him。　It　was　just　like　being　back　in　the　troopers；　only　better；　since　you　didn't　even　have　to　shave。　　　The　little　band　of　men　emerged　into　a　brightly　lit　hallway；　cringing　a　little　in　the　sudden　glare。　Litvok　waved　them　to　a　stop　and　peered　carefully　in　both　directions；　then　cupped　one　dirt…grimed　hand　to　his　cauliflower　ear　and　　listened；　frowning　with　the　effort。
　　〃It　looks　clear。　Schmutzig；　you　stay　here　and　give　the　alarm　if　anyone　es；　Sporco　you　go　down　the　hall　to　the　next　bend；　and　you　do　same　thing。　You；　new　Golph；　e　with　me。〃
　　The　two　sentries　scrambled　off　to　their　duties；　while　Bill　followed　Litvok　into　an　alcove　containing　a　locked　metal　door；　which　the　burly　leader　opened　with　a　single　blow　of　a　metal　hammer　he　took　from　a　place　of　concealment　in　his　ragged　clothes。　Inside　were　a　number　of　pipes　of　assorted　dimensions　that　rose　from　the　floor　and　vanished　into　the　ceiling　above。　There　were　numbers　stenciled　ont