lrh.villainyvictorious-第11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！


ertly　balanced　a　silver　tray　which　must　have　had　ten　pounds　of　colored　sweetbuns　on　it；　topped；　each　one；　with　a　design　which　said　Queen　Teenie。
Madison　suddenly　got　the　picture。
Teenie　had　INFLUENCE！
Hope　boomed　in　him　like　a　struck　drum。　He　could　almost　hear　the　trumpets　blare。　Influence　could　be　USED！
The　two　old　women　had　made　their　offerings　to　Teenie；　bent　to　one　knee。　She　had　a　goblet　of　sparklewater　now　in　one　hand　and　was　cramming　an　oversized　sweet…bun　into　her　oversized　mouth　with　the　other。
The　two　old　women　cast　their　eyes　sideways　in　a　question　to　Teenie；　waiting　then　for　a　signal　to　offer　something　to　Madison。
Teenie　shook　her　head。　〃Forget　him；〃　she　said。　〃He's　no　friend　of　mine。〃
The　two　old　women　backed　away；　bowed　and　left。
It　was　more　than　hunger　which　made　Madison　stare　after　them。　He　knew　just　where　he　stood　now。　Nowhere。
His　hopes　of　finishing　Heller　fell　crumbling　about　him。

Chapter　5

A　small　obituary　ran　through　Madison's　head：

Earthman　Found　Dead

An　emaciated　body　was　discovered　last　night　in　Slum　City。　The　identoplate　had　the　name　J。　Walter　Madison。　No　known　relatives　or　friends　on　Voltar。

Teenie　sat　there　stuffing　herself　with　sweetbuns　and　guzzling　down　nutritious　sparklewater。　Maybe；　thought　Madison；　when　the　beast　in　her　is　fed；　she　will　be　more　kind。
He　waited　until　her　face　looked　relaxed　and　then　he　said；　〃Teenie；　mon　humanity　says　that　you　should　help　me。〃
She　shrugged。　〃Why　should　I？　Did　you　help　me　on　the　yacht？　No。　You　didn't　even　attempt　to　persuade　that　（bleeped）　Gris　to　stay　aboard！　You　ran　right　off　with　him！〃
Ah；　so　that　was　what　was　biting　her。　No　reason　to　stir　it　up　further：　he　would　try　another　tack；　earnest　and　sincere。　Even　frank！〃Teenie；　I've　got　to　succeed　as　a　PR　here。　Otherwise　I'll　never　be　accepted　back　on　Earth。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　Wister？〃
〃The　Whiz　Kid？　Yeah；　I　read　something。　And　that　（bleeping）　（bleep）　（bleep）　Gris　was　snarling　about　him　one　day。〃
〃Well；　Teenie；　the　Whiz　Kid　was　really　Jettero　Heller；　a　Royal　officer　of　Voltar。　And　I'm　in　trouble。　I　never　pleted　my　job　on　him。〃
〃That's　your　（bleep）；　baby。　Not　mine。〃
Madison　was　beginning　to　feel　desperate。　That　obituary　was　drifting　to　the　last　page；　below　the　classifieds。　〃Teenie；　I've　got　to　make　motions　of　putting　Hisst　on　the　throne。〃
〃So　what's　that　to　me？　He　doesn't　and　won't　give　a　（bleep）　what's　happening　in　Palace　City。　He　never　even　talks　to　the　Lords　here　and　they　sure　won't　talk　to　him；　no　matter　what　he　calls　himself。　He's　just　a　rat　from　Slum　City：　he'd　still　have　to　rule　through　the　Grand　Council。　He's　got　them　all　drugged　up；　but　even　so　he　can　only　push　them　so　far。　They　privately　laugh　at　him　behind　his　back。　Even　if　he　gets　put　on　the　throne　he　won't　last　any　time　at　all。　I　know　what　I'm　talking　about；　because　I　been　through　page　school　now　and　I　know　all　the　pages　and　they　know　everything！　So　all　I've　got　to　do　is　keep　in　good　with　the　catamites；　raise　lots　of　Mary　Jane　and　sit　here　in　my　queen's　palace　having　fun。　I've　got　it　made。〃
Madison's　obituary　even　lost　its　subtitle。　Desperation　boiled　over。　He　got　down　on　his　knees。　〃Please；　Teenie。　Oh；　please；　help　me！〃
She　laughed　at　him。　She　snapped　her　fingers　in　yet　a　different　way　and　two　young　boys；　about　twelve；　ran　out　of　a　hall；　stopped　before　her　and　bowed。
〃You've　got　to　excuse　me；　Madison；〃　said　Teenie。　〃I　have　a　class　starting　shortly。〃
All　sorts　of　arguments　were　racing　through　Madison's　head。　He　was　hastily　examining　her　own　assessment　of　her　situation　to　see　if　he　could　punch　any　holes　in　it。　Having　worked　for　Rockecenter；　he　knew　that　madmen　could　not　be　dismissed　so　lightly。　But　all　he　could　e　up　with　was　that　she　had　INFLUENCE　and　he　needed　it　desperately。
Then　suddenly　he　registered　what　she　was　doing。　He　was　horrified　for　more　reasons　than　one。　Good　Heavens；　she　was　going　to　disgrace　herself　and　not　even　be　able　to　help　him　if　she　would。　She　had　gone　insane！
She　had　signalled　to　the　two　boys　before　her　and　they　were　grinning　in　a　knowing　way　and　taking　off　their　clothes！
〃No；　no！〃　cried　Madison。　〃Not　here！　This　is　a　public　audience　hall！〃
Teenie　smiled。　She　said；　〃I　know。　And　the　audience　will　be　here　soon。　Bye…bye；　Madison。　If　you　ever　get　back　to　Earth；　say　hello　to　Broadway。〃
Madison　knelt　there；　suffering。　He　ignored　the　dismissal。　Somehow；　some　way；　he　would　make　her　listen　to　his　plea；　but　right　now　she　seemed　to　be　well　on　the　way　to　destroying　her　public　image。　The　huge　entrance　doors　weren't　even　closed！
The　first　little　boy　was　looking　down；　grinning。
Teenie　reached　her　hand　out。
Madison　stared。　He　was　horrified。　〃Teenie！　What　are　you　doing？　Don't　make　that　boy　into　a　queer！　Take　that　out　of　your　mouth！〃
Teenie　leaned　back　and　looked　in　disdain　at　Madison。　〃They're　not　being　made　into　queers；　idiot。　They'll　be　top…grade　catamites　when　I'm　done。　It's　still　early　and
I'm　just　playing　around　waiting　for　the　audience。　You　should　see　what　happens　then！〃
He　could　see　liveried　people　watching　for　her　bidding　in　the　halls。　She　was　really　going　to　destroy　herself　before　she　could　be　of　any　possible　use　to　him！　He　said　hastily　in　English；　〃Teenie；　don't　perform　sexual　acts　in　public！　The　thing　you　did　there　is　not　socially　acceptable！　Not　even　in　front　of　the　help！　What　will　the　servants　think？〃
She　looked　at　him；　annoyed。　In　English；　she　said；　〃What　will　they　think？　Listen；　mister；　they're　so　glad　to　have　a　live　body　in　the　place；　they'll　put　up　with　anything。　They　don't　get　paid　in　this　palace　unless　they're　serving　royalty。　And　you　ought　to　hear　the　tales　they　tell　about　Queen　Hora。　In　the　time　of　their　grandfathers　she　had　a　new　lover　every　night！　And　in　just　the　short　time　I've　been　here　they're　saying　the　good　old　days　are　back。　What　do　they　think；　indeed！〃　She　was　angry　now　and　shouting；　still　in　English。　〃Go　ahead　and　raise　your　voice　to　me　and　you'll　see　what　these　servants　think　of　me！　They'll　slaughter　you！〃
Madison　was　suddenly　chilled。　A　hand　settled　on　his　right　shoulder。　He　glanced　sideways　in　fear。　A　man　in　silver　livery　was　standing　there；　scowling　at　him　with　ferocity！
A　hand　settled　on　his　left　shoulder。　He　whipped　his　head　in　that　direction。　A　second　glowering　man　in　silver　was　there。　And　both　these　brutes　were　carrying　strange；　sharp　axes！
〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　the　first　one　to　Teenie；　〃this　man　has　provoked　you　in　your　own　palace。　Would　you　care　to　conduct　his　trial　and　execution　now　or　would　you　prefer　to　wait　until　after　this　evening's　ceremonies？〃
Teenie　considered　it。　Then　she　reached　for　her　Earth　purse　and　looked　at　her　Mickey　Mouse　watch。　〃Shattering　ets！〃　she　said　in　Voltarian。　〃I'm　running　late！〃　She　glanced　toward　the　men。　〃I　can't　be　bothered　with　him　now。　Sergeants；　shove　him　in　a　chair　over　there　and　tie　him　up。〃　She　grabbed　her　purse　and　yelled　in　the　general　direction　of　other　servants；　〃Get　this　hall　ready　fast！〃　and　raced　off　up　a　stairway　of　gold。
The　sergeants　pushed　Madison　backwards　across　the　room　and　plunked　him　down　in　a　metal　chair。　They　clamped　some　shackles　on　him　and　bound　him　there　solidly。　One　of　them　gave　the　chains　a　final　yank；　unnecessarily　hard。　〃You　must　be　crazy　mad；　you　fool；　to　insult　our　queen。　She's　the　most　wonderful　thing　that's　happened　here　in　centuries　and　you　just　made　yourself　a　lot　of　enemies。　So　sit　quietly！　Not　another　word　out　of　you。　Hammer；〃　he　said　to　the　other　guard；　〃you　better　stay　here　so　you　can　prevent　some　other　staff　from　sneaking　up　and　cutting　this　（bleep's）　throat。〃　He　turned　back　to　Madison。　〃Insulting　Queen　Teenie！〃　And　he　spat　straight　in　Madison's　face！
Madison　cringed。　He　had　not　thought　he　could　get　any　lower。　And　as　the　spittle　dripped　down　his　cheek；　he　reposed　his　obituary。　He　added　a　line：

Body　taken　to　the　local　garbage　dump。

Chapter　6

The　hall　resounded　with　the　sounds　of　hurrying　staff　who　dashed　about　setting　up　the　place。　They　roped　off　two　large　areas；　one　with　red　ropes；　the　other　with　blue。　Before　them　they　left　an　open　expanse。　About　five　hundred　square　feet　of　it　was　suddenly　underlit　so　that　it　glowed　and　shimmered。　The　whole　ceiling　turned　into　a　blue　haze；　much　like　a　summer　sky。
Two　liveried　footmen　raced　out；　pushing　a　big　vertical　board　on　wheels。　Two　more；　with　the　sound　of　thunder；　pushed　into　view　a　massive　golden　throne　all　covered　with　sparkling　jewels。　The　seat　was　twelve　feet　above　the　floor；　reached　by　scarlet　steps。　They　placed　it　in　front　of　the　open　expanse；　across　from　the　ropes。
There　was　a　rumble。　On　the　wall；　over　to　the　right　of　the　throne；　ten　feet　above　the　floor；　a　whole　section　moved　outward　to　form　a　balcony　that　was　a　stage。　Eight　musicians　with　strange　instruments　were　already　in　place；　adjusting　their　equipment：　they　were　dressed　in　shimmering　yellow　clothing　that　sparked　other　colors　each　time　they　moved。
A　dozen　silver…liveried　men　with　axes　on　tall　handles　marched　in　smartly　and　took　positions　at　the　ends　of　the　roped　areas　and　on　either　side　of　the　throne。
As　quickly　as　they　had　appeared；　the　hurrying　staff　vanished；　leaving　only　the　silent　musicians　and　guards。　The　stillness；　after　all　that　noise；　was　almost　like　a　blow。
There　were　then　some　murmurings　and　footsteps　ing　from　the　main　entrance　stairs。
Madison　tried　to　fish　in　his　pocket；　hopeful　that　he　had　a　kleenex　so　he　could　wipe　his　face；　wet　with　spittle　that　was　too　much　like　tears。
〃Sit　still！〃　snarled　Hammer　and　blocked　his　motion　with　the　axe。　Madison　froze：　little　chains　of　sparks　were　racing　up　and　down　that　blade；　giving　off　the　odor　of　ozone。　He　recoiled：　It　wasn't　just　a　ceremonial　axe　as　he　had　thought…it　was　an　electric　weapon。　Gods　knew　what　it　would　do！　Would　the　sparks　jump？　He　hoped　it　wouldn't　touch　his　chains：　it　could　electrocute　him！　He　let　the　spittle　drip。　Maybe　they　were　tears　now；　for　he　certainly　felt　like　crying。　In　all　of　his　career　as　a　PR；　he　had　never　felt　quite　so　dejected…except　maybe　that　time　he　had　accidentally　wrecked　the　country　of　Patagonia；　or　perhaps　that　afternoon　he　had　icily　been　dismissed　by　the　president　of　an　international　airline　Rockecenter　had　told　him　to　PR；　or　possibly　the　dreadful　day　the　presidential　candidate　Bury　had　given　him　as　a　client　suddenly　announced　he　had　gone　insane。　Unaccountable　failures　dogged　his　life。　He　certainly　hop