lrh.villainyvictorious-第16部分

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sible　links　between　Rockecenter　and　Lombar；　he　began　to　shiver。　Oh；　it　was　surely　death　indeed　if　he　did　not　somehow　get　to　work　on　Heller…Wister！
The　current　guard　shifted　position　slightly　and　the　axe　emitted　a　puff　of　ozone。　It　brought　his　mind　to　Teenie。
Up　to　now　he　had　been　thinking　that　if　he　went　upstairs　and　went　to　bed　with　her；　she　would　then　help　him。　He　realized　she　had　made　no　guarantees　of　that　whatever。　All　she　had　promised　was　that　if　he　went　upstairs　and　slept　with　her；　he　would　not　be　executed　at　dawn！
It　was　a　problem　wherein　if　he　did　he　would　die　because　of　his　mother　and　if　he　didn't　he　would　die　because　of　Bury。　It　wouldn't　help　him　at　all　to　go　up　there。
Obviously；　this　required　some　other　solution！
He　was　usually　good　at　getting　ideas　and　had　always　been　proud　that；　because　of　the　Oedipus　plex；　he　was　a　genius　at　it。　But　tonight　his　mind　seemed　bankrupt。
He　glanced　at　his　Omega　wristwatch。　He　had　been　sitting　here　for　two　hours！　What　a　long　time　for　him　just　to　sit　without　getting　a　single　constructive　idea！　He　took　a　grip　on　himself。　After　all；　he　was　a　PR　man；　a　true…blue　professional。
He　would　be　orderly。　He　would　now　skim　over　everything　Teenie　had　said　to　him　since　the　moment　he　found　her　by　the　pool。　It　didn't　take　long。　He　tried　it　again。
Suddenly　he　stiffened　in　his　chair。
HE　HAD　IT！
If　it　didn't　work；　he　would　only　be　dead　anyway。
IF　IT　DID；　HE　COULD　FINISH　HIS　JOB　ON　HELLER…WISTER！
Madison　looked　up　at　the　guard。　Calmly；　keeping　all　signs　of　elation　out　of　his　voice　so　the　guard　would　suppose　him　to　be　operating　in　defeat；　he　said；　〃Take　me　upstairs　to　your　mistress。〃
OH；　GOD；　THIS　HAD　TO　WORK！

PART　SEVENTY…THREE
Chapter　1

The　guard　hissed　sharply　into　a　microphone　disguised　as　a　silver　button。
Instantly　a　sergeant　sped　into　the　huge　hall。　He　looked　at　Madison's　guard；　who　jerked　a　thumb　toward　the　stairs；　and　the　sergeant　nodded。
With　a　clank　and　a　rattle　they　struck　off　Madison's　chains。　He　stood　up　and　rubbed　his　wrists　and　neck。
They　thrust　him　into　a　washroom　and　made　him　strip　and　bathe。　They　inspected　him。　Intimately。
〃He　doesn't　seem　to　have　any　lice　or　bacteria；〃　said　the　original　guard；　gazing　critically　at　Madison；　〃but　he's　not　well　equipped。　I　don't　see　how　he　can　give　her　a　good　time。〃
〃Well；　listen　you；〃　said　the　sergeant　to　Madison；　suddenly　flicking　a　knife　out　of　the　back　of　his　silver　coat；　〃if　you　don't　act　nice　and　give　her　a　good　（bleep）；　I'll　personally　use　this　to　cut　your　（bleeps）　off。　Is　that　understood？〃
Madison　gulped；　covered　his　（bleeps）　protectively　with　his　hand　and　backed　up。
They　threw　a　white　silk　robe　on　him　that　still　bore　a　Royal　crest　and　the　words　Property　of　Queen　Hora。　Do　not　use　this　robe　for　burial。　Return　it　to　palace　in　undamaged　condition。
〃Now；　what's　the　proper　protocol？〃　the　guard　asked　the　sergeant。　〃I　don't　for　the　life　of　me　recall　whether　my　grandfather　said　to　deliver　the　man　in　shackles　or　gold　ropes。〃
〃Neither　one；〃　said　the　sergeant。　〃It　was　a　collar　and　a　gold　leading　chain。　Why；　there's　one　of　them　right　over　on　that　shelf。〃　He　got　it　and　looked　at　it。　〃What　do　you　know？　It　isn't　true　the　collar　had　spikes　inside　it。　My　grandmother　must　have　made　that　up。　See；　look　here；〃　he　showed　the　guard。　〃It's　an　electric　wire。　And　see　here；　there's　the　activating　button　at　the　end　of　the　chain。　Oh；　no！　Its　power　pack　is　dead。　No　sparks。〃
〃Hey；　lucky！〃　said　the　guard；　gazing　into　the　power　recess　in　a　link。　〃It's　the　same　type　we　use　in　our　boot　toes。　Here；　I'll　take　the　one　out　of　my　left　boot。〃　He　did　so；　and　when　they　tested　the　collar　again；　it　sparked　when　the　button　on　the　end　of　the　chain　was　pressed。
They　put　it　on　Madison。
〃Now；〃　said　the　sergeant；　〃if　I　heard　right；　the　protocol　is；　you　lead　him　in；　bow；　and　when　the　queen　puts　out　her　hand；　you　place　the　chain　handle　in　it；　and　I　think　you　say；　'Your　Majesty；　here　is　one　to　do　your　bidding：　pray　thee；　if　he　does　not　please　thee；　I　shall　be　right　outside　the　door　with　an　electric　whip。'　〃
〃We　haven't　got　an　electric　whip；〃　said　the　guard。
〃Well；　you　can't　go　changing　protocol；〃　said　the　sergeant。　〃Don't　you　go　shifting　words　around。　You　keep　the　words　just　like　they　are；　but　if　this　（bleepard）　doesn't　do　as　he　is　told；　use　your　stinger。〃
The　guard　checked　the　inside　of　his　silver　boot　to　see　if　his　stinger　was　in　place　and　started　to　nod；　but　the　sergeant　interrupted　him。　〃Like　I　always　tell　you；　be　careful　of　your　weapons。　The　staff　would　kill　you　out　of　hand　if　anything　happened　to　displease　Her　Majesty。〃　He　had　drawn　the　stinger　out　of　the　other　man's　boot。
The　weapon　was　a　limber　rod　about　fourteen　inches　long。　The　sergeant　gripped　the　handle　and　the　tip　glowed。
He　raised　it　and　gave　Madison　a　slash　across　the　lower　thigh。
YIKES！　It　gave　a　stinging　shock　like　the　bite　of　a　huge　insect！　Madison　yanked　the　robe　aside　and　stared　at　his　thigh。
〃Oh；　that　was　just　low　power；〃　said　the　sergeant。　〃You　don't　think　I'd　mark　you　up　just　before　you　went　to　please　Her　Majesty；　do　you？　Man's　an　idiot；〃　he　mented　to　the　guard。　〃Now；　when　you　present　him　and　go　back　to　stand　guard　in　the　hallway；　you　keep　your　ear　to　the　door　and　if　you　hear　any　protests　or　arguments　or　if　you　DON'T　hear　some　moans　and　squeals　of　pleasure；　you　go　right　back　in　and　sting　the　Hells　out　of　him　until　he　DOES　do　his　job！　Understand？〃
The　guard　nodded。　〃Sure　is　great　to　have　things　running　normally　again。〃
〃Well；　yes；〃　said　the　sergeant。　〃And　you　just　make　sure　that　Her　Majesty　doesn't　have　to　wear　her　thumb　out　pushing　the　button　on　that　collar　chain。　The　darling　is　entitled　to　all　the　fun　this　fellow　can　give　her。〃
〃What　do　I　do　when　she's　through　with　him？〃　said　the　guard。
〃Oh；　you'll　probably　have　been　relieved　by　that　time　and　I'll　be　hanging　around。　But　if　it　happens　on　your　watch　and　she　hasn't　told　you　otherwise；　listen　to　make　sure　it's　all　quiet　and　has　been　for　some　time。　Then　beckon　up　one　of　her　maids…probably　the　one　on　watch　at　the　foot　of　her　bed…and　tiptoe　in。　Now；　this　is　the　tricky　part：　use　your　ultraviolet　lamp　and　eyeglass　so　you　don't　wake　Her　Majesty；　and　look　very　carefully　at　her　face。　If　she's　frowning　or　sleeping　restlessly；　take　him　to　the　execution　hall。　If　she's　sleeping　with　a　slight　smile；　then　get　this　fellow　out　very　carefully　without　waking　her　and　send　him　back　to　his　regiment。〃
〃I　haven't　got　a　regiment；〃　said　Madison。
They　both　looked　shocked。　Then　the　sergeant　said；　〃That's　true。　Those　clothes　hanging　there　are　no　uniform　I　ever　saw　before。　Wait　a　minute。　Maybe　this　is　all　wrong。　Are　you　sure　you're　a　nobleman？〃
Madison's　mind　raced。　Despite　all　these　horrible　arrangements　which　he　only　hoped　he　could　escape；　he　had　to　get　up　those　stairs　and　present　his　inspired　idea　to　Teenie。　He　drew　himself　up　haughtily。　〃I；〃　he　said；　〃am　one　of　the　Knights　of　Columbus！〃
〃Is　that　noble？〃　said　the　sergeant。　〃You　see；　if　a　male　moner　were　to　lay　hands　upon　her；　protocol　requires　instant　death。　So　don't　go　trifling　with　us。〃
〃A　knight〃　said　Madison；　〃in　her　native　language；　means　a　gentleman…soldier。　It　is　one　who　has　been　raised　by　his　sovereign　to　the　nobility。　I　came　here　as　a　knight…errant。〃
The　sergeant　told　the　guard。　〃Well；　that　may　be。　Tell　you　what。　When　you　take　him　out　of　her　bed；　put　him　in　one　of　the　better　dungeons　and　hold　him　and　I'll　get　this　clarified　in　the　morning。　If　it　turns　out　he　isn't　really　noble　after　all；　we'll　have　the　pleasure　of　executing　him　anyway。　I　sure　didn't　like　the　way　he　was　yelling　and　screaming　at　her　yesterday　afternoon。　Didn't　sound　very　noble　to　me！　And　if　he　starts　yelling　and　screaming　at　her　again；　take　him　out　of　there　fast！　We　don't　want　our　dear　queen　getting　upset　and　leaving　us。〃
The　guard　gave　the　chain　a　yank　and　Madison；　not　expecting　it；　flinched　back。
The　guard　pressed　the　button　in　the　handle。
It　felt　to　Madison　that　his　neck　had　been　sawed　through！　It　wasn't　an　electric　shock；　it　was　a　tearing　sensation。　Awful！
〃e　along；〃　said　the　guard。　〃Her　Majesty　awaits。〃
The　sole　of　Madison's　foot　recoiled　from　the　cold；　rough　floor　stones　of　the　washroom。　〃You　didn't　give　me　any　slippers！　At　least　let　me　put　on　my　shoes！〃
〃Barefoot　is　just　great；〃　said　the　guard。　And　he　gave　the　button　another　push。
Madison　gripped　his　head　so　it　wouldn't　fall　off。
He　followed。
Everything　depended　on　the　next　few　minutes。　He　would　be　a　dead　man　or　a　hero！
His　idea　MUST　work！

Chapter　2

He　wasn't　being　taken　up　the　golden　stairs。　He　was　being　led　up　a　circular　metal　set　of　steps　that　spiralled　back　of　the　walls。　It　was　very　dark　and　from　the　deadness　of　the　air　Madison　suspected　it　had　long　been　out　of　use。　Suddenly　a　gate　with　spikes　barred　their　way：　he　could　see　small　sparks　chasing　back　and　forth；　skipping　from　tip　to　tip　on　daggerlike　extrusions；　ready　to　impale　any　unauthorized　interloper。　No　wonder　Flick　said　no…no　on　robbing　these　palaces。　They　were　FORTS！
The　guard　did　something　over　at　the　side　and　with　the　groan　of　long　disuse　the　portal　slid　aside。
They　seemed　to　be　in　a　dark　box　now；　another　thick　door　facing　them。　The　guard　picked　up　a　dusty　microphone　and　said　something；　evidently　to　a　remote　security　desk…some　sort　of　numbered　password。　Then　the　guard　shoved　him　in　front　of　what　must　be　a　closed…circuit　camera。
〃Demonstrate　that　you　are　not　under　duress；　Jinto；〃　said　a　sepulchral　voice。
Jinto；　Madison's　guard；　closed　his　hand　on　the　chain。　The　dreadful　tearing　feeling　ripped　at　Madison's　neck　and　an　additional　yank　threw　him　off　balance。
Apparently　some　security　post　somewhere　was　satisfied。　Beyond　the　haze　of　lingering　pain；　Madison　heard　the　slither　and　snap　of　several　sets　of　remote…controlled　bolts。
Silently　the　door　slid　open　and　Madison　was　pushed　forward。
A　moaning　sort　of　music　caressed　his　ears。
He　was　hit　with　a　feminine　whiff　of　fragrance　and　he　fearfully　opened　his　eyes。
He　was　standing　in　a　softly　lit　room　of　considerable　dimensions。　Gently　rippling　colored　lights　bathed　the　walls　in　ever…changing　pastels；　soothing；　almost　hypnotic。　Overhead；　at　first　he　thought　these　must　be　the　open　skies　and　then　he　saw　that　the　stars　were　slowly　dancing　in　a　pattern　about　a　moon　which；　real　as　it　looked；　could　never　possibly；　in　nature；　pulse　with　the　same　ripples　as　the　walls：　the　ceiling　was