lrh.villainyvictorious-第21部分

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Madison　let　him　spin　for　a　little　while　but；　after　all；　this　was　a　client　and　he　had　to　close。
〃So　you　can　now　honor　your　promise　to　me；〃　said　Madison。　〃An　unlimited　budget　and　a　totally　free　hand。〃
That　brought　Lombar　out　of　his　spin。　He　fixed　Madison　with　a　stare。　The　yellow　lights　in　his　yellow　eyes　were　strange。　〃You　can't　have　a　budget。　Only　a　department　or　section　can　have　a　budget。　And　it　would　take　a　Royal　order　to　create　a　new　one。〃　He　checked　himself。　He　must　never　e　so　close　to　saying　that　there　is　no　emperor　or　seal　back　of　that　door。　〃His　Majesty　is　far　too　ill。〃
〃But　you　promised　unlimited　funds！〃　said　Madison。　〃You　said　if　the　Lords　bowed。。。〃
Lombar　was　shaking　his　head；　annoyed。　〃Why　are　you　making　me　listen　to　you？　I　don't　have　to　listen　to　people。〃
〃It's　because　the　people　have　to　listen；〃　said　Madison。　〃To　BELIEVE　you　should　be　Emperor；　they　have　to　listen　and　I　have　to　see　that　they　listen　to　the　right　things　and　get　whipped　up　about　it。　It　will　take　PR　and　it　will　take　time　to　create　the　favorable　climate。　And　PR　costs　MONEY！〃
〃Money；〃　said　Lombar。　〃I　can　only　authorize　pay。　That's　why　nobody　gets　paid　much　in　the　Apparatus。　I　can't　authorize　budgets　for　departments　that　don't　exist！〃
〃Then；〃　said　Madison；　〃as　you　are　a　man　of　your　word　and　worthy　to　be　Emperor　because　of　that；　authorize　unlimited　pay。〃
〃WHAT？〃
〃You　saw　the　Lords　bow。〃
Lombar　suddenly　blinked　and　began　to　nod；　sort　of　bowing　himself。　Madison　slid　his　identoplate　across　the　desk。　He　saw　a　basket　of　forms　and　found　〃Change　of　Pay。〃　He　wrote　〃UNLIMITED〃　on　it　and　slid　it　to　Lombar。
Lombar　looked　at　it　and　then　filled　it　out　and　stamped　it　with　Madison's　identoplate　and　then　found　his　own　in　his　hand　and　stamped　again。
Madison　already　had　the　other　order　written　and　he　slid　it　under　Lombar's　identoplate　and　it　came　down　on　it。　The　order　said：

J。　Walter　Madison；　in　all　matters　of　PR；　is　to　have　an　absolutely　free　hand　with　material；　equipment　and　personnel；　and　no　further　authorization　required。

Lombar　Hisst
Chief　of　the　Apparatus　and　Spokesman　for　His　Majesty；　Cling　the　Lofty。

Madison　knew　the　man　was　hooked　now　in　more　ways　than　one。　It　was　time　to　split　with　his　spoils。
He　got　out　into　the　hall　and　out　of　sight　and　then　leaned　weakly　against　a　door；　for　he　felt　his　knees　would　give　way。
It　was　an　awfully　good　thing　Hisst　never　listened　to　anybody。
And　who　would　tell　him　anyway？
In　fact；　who　knew　what　the　swindle　was？　Everyone　else；　watching；　would　have　thought　Hisst　would　know。
The　cameraman　had　made　it！　He　had　not　missed。
Right　back　of　Hisst；　in　the　golden　dress　of　a　page；　amongst　the　crowd　of　boys；　had　e　Teenie！
In　the　whole　walk　in　and　the　whole　walk　out；　she　had　been　right　back　of　Hisst；　but　cut　out　of　the　frame。
The　Lords　had　been　alerted　by　their　pages。
They　had　been　bowing　to　Queen　Teenie；　not　to　Lombar　Hisst！
Madison's　knees　stopped　shaking。
He　clutched　his　goodies　to　his　bosom　and　sped　out　of　the　palace。
Though　distant　still；　victory　beckoned　loud　and　clear　just　over　the　horizon。
HE　HAD　HIS　CHANCE　AT　HELLER！
Wild　exultation　began　to　pound　through　him　as　he　finally　believed　himself　that　it　was　true！
HE　WAS　THE　ABSOLUTE　CZAR　OF　PR　ON　VOLTAR！
Lombar　seemed　to　have　forgotten　about　him。　The　chief　went　over　to　the　Homeview　and　fed　the　strip　back　in。　He　sat　down　on　a　stool　before　it；　cushioned　his　jaw　in　his　cupped　hands　and　began　to　watch　it　again。

PART　SEVENTY…FOUR
Chapter　1

Teenie；　standing　in　the　door　of　her　palace；　still　clothed　in　the　golden　page's　costume　she　had　worn　while　walking　back　of　Lombar；　received　Madison's　ebullient　good　news　somewhat　grimly。　She　looked　at　the　authorizations　and　gave　them　back。
〃All　right；　all　right；　Madison。　We've　got　it　this　far。　Now　you　better　start　delivering。　You　can't　hang　around　here　and　get　anything　done　now。　I　want　Gris's　head　and　I　want　it　bad…rotting　preferred。　So　roll　up　your　sleeves　and　start　sweating！〃
The　look　she　gave　him　was　so　meaningful　and　the　pop　of　her　bubblegum　so　explosive　that　Madison　hastily　left。　She　might　suspect　that　this　really　was　a　double　cross。　He　wasn't　after　Gris　at　all…his　real　target　was　Heller…Wister；　for　only　in　that　way　could　he　e　right　with　Mr。　Bury。　With　Heller…Wister　fully　handled　on　Voltar；　Madison　could　only　then　return　to　Earth　a　conquering　hero…and　not　be　shot　as　a　deserter。
He　hoped　Teenie　realized　that　PR　was　intricate　and　plex　and　wasn't　done　in　a　minute。　The　thing　to　keep　your　attention　on　was　thoroughness…and　GETTING　HEADLINES！
Madison　knew　the　image　he　would　have　to　plete：　it　was　that　of　a　folk　hero　on　the　model　of　Jesse　James；　and　how　well　he　was　researched　in　such　images　now…in　the　yacht　he　had　travelled　all　over　studying　famous　outlaws。　Heavens；　he　fairly　ached　to　put　it　into　effect。
He　knew　just　how　to　attain　results：　Coverage；　Controversy　and　Confidence。
What　he　lacked　here　on　Voltar　were　Connections；　another　C　which　he　had　always　had　on　Earth。
Well；　first　things　first。　He　had　better　get　organized。　He　didn't　even　have　a　secretary；　much　less　a　string　of　obedient　editors　and　publishers。　Money。　That　was　what　he　better　start　with　first。
As　he　climbed　into　his　airbus；　he　said　to　Flick；　〃How　do　I　get　my　identoplate　changed？　Where　do　I　go？〃
〃You　going　to　get　PAID？　Oh；　you　just　lie　back　on　the　seat　there　and　relax　and　I'll　have　you　to　the　Government　City　Finance　Office　twice　as　fast　as　this　junk　heap　will　go！〃
They　took　off　in　a　blur。　They　rushed　through　the　Palace　City　gates；　outbound；　so　fast　Madison　hardly　had　time　to　get　nauseated　from　the　time　shift　to　thirteen　minutes　earlier。
As　he　drove　frantically　across　the　Great　Desert；　Flick　said；　〃Oh；　but　am　I　tired　of　eating　stale　sweetbuns　out　of　garbage　pails　like　we　been　doing！　You　also　owe　me　a　pack　of　puffsticks。　And　I　know　a　rooming　house　where　we　can　get　a　room　real　cheap。　Do　you　feel　all　right？　Are　you　fortable？　Should　I　turn　on　some　music？〃
Madison　was　not　paying　much　attention。　He　was　trying　to　work　out　how　he　would　go　about　setting　up　in　such　unknown　terrain。　Then　he　got　off　into　headlines　that　kept　drifting　through　his　head：　18　point；　FLEET　OFFICER　GOES　RENEGADE　but　he　kept　discarding　them。　They　were　sort　of　pale　and　lacked　punch。　He　realized　this　would　require　a　lot　of　careful　planning　to　really　make　it　good。　He　had　no　support　troops；　he　had　no　lines　and　the　fact　that　these　people　on　Voltar　were　ignorant　of　real　PR　was　both　a　blessing　and　a　curse。　Every　trick　of　the　trade　would　be　brand…new　to　them；　but　on　the　other　hand；　there　were　no　traditional　supports。　It　was　sort　of　like　a　man　approaching　a　virgin：　the　question　was；　how　willing　would　she　be　to　be　raped？
His　thinking　was　interrupted　by　Flick。　The　driver　had　gotten　out；　opened　Madison's　door　and　was　now　anxiously　cautioning　him　not　to　trip　on　the　ramp　as　he　alighted。　Madison　was　startled　to　see　how　much　time　had　elapsed。　They　were　at　the　Finance　Department。
Following　the　anxious　directions　of　Flick；　Madison　went　by　himself　through　the　scurrying　crowds　and　came　shortly　to　a　counter　which　had　a　sign：

Identoplate　Changes

A　bored　clerk；　in　a　working　coverall　to　protect　his　suit；　finished　downgrading　the　pay　of　a　disgruntled　teacher　who　had　been　transferred　to　a　lesser　school　and　turned　to　Madison。　Without　interest；　he　examined　the　papers。　He　reached　over　for　his　plate…changing　machine　and　then　suddenly　looked　back　at　the　form。
〃UNLIMITED　PAY？〃　He　went　boggle…eyed。　He　hastily　pushed　buzzers　and　Madison　found　himself　surrounded　on　every　hand　by　Finance　Department　Security　Police。
An　officer　took　the　Change　of　Pay　form　through　a　door　while　the　others　just　stood　and　stared　at　Madison。　The　officer　could　be　seen　punching　buttons　and　turning　on　lights　that　apparently　verified　codes　hidden　in　identoplates。
When　he　came　back；　he　held　on　to　the　form　and　waited。　It　made　Madison　very　nervous。
Shortly；　an　old　man　with　a　Finance　Department　executive　badge　came　behind　the　counter　and　the　officer　gave　him　the　form。
〃I　can't　understand　it；〃　the　officer　said。　〃It's　genuine。〃
〃This　is　impossible！〃　said　the　aged　executive。　〃Unlimited　pay　status？　He　could　buy　the　planet！〃
〃Well；　it's　your　business　now；〃　said　the　officer；　and　at　a　signal　all　the　Finance　Police　left。　But　all　along　the　counters；　the　word　had　spread　and　clerks　and　others　were　peering　at　Madison　and　whispering。
Another　executive　came　behind　the　counter　and　the　first　one　handed　him　the　form　and　said；　〃Gods；　look　at　this；　Cipho。　That　guy　Hisst　gets　crazier　every　day！　It's　a　valid　order。　But　what　do　we　do？〃
Cipho　said；　〃What　allocations　would　it　e　out　of？　Let　me　see　the　other　papers。〃
They　examined　them　minutely。　They　conferred。　Madison　got　very　nervous。　He　said；　〃Is　there　something　wrong？〃
The　first　executive　looked　at　him。　〃We　can't　determine　what　budget　it　es　out　of。　Your　rank　is　PR　man；　whatever　that　is；　and　it's　in　the　Apparatus。　Your　pay　status　says　No　Pay…P；　so　that　means　you　were　to　be　attached　to　Palace　City。　Hisst　signed　this　authorization　not　only　as　Chief　of　the　Apparatus　but　also　as　Spokesman　for　His　Majesty；　so　that　would　make　it　Royal。　We　can't　determine　which　letter　designation　to　put　after　the　new　pay　status。　I'm　afraid　you　will　have　to　e　back。〃
Madison's　stomach　rumbled。　He　thought　of　his　image　with　Flick。　He　thought　of　Teenie's　meaningful　look。　He　thought　of　his　anxiety　to　get　started。　〃Is　there　no　way　it　can　be　done　now？〃
〃Well；　it's　dangerous；〃　said　Cipho。　〃You　might　overdraw　somebody's　budget。　You　might　decide　to　buy　Industrial　City　or　something　and　then　you'd　jam　all　our　puters。〃
〃What　kind　of　money　is　in　those　budgets？〃　said　Madison　desperately。
They　went　in　the　other　room　and　came　back。　Cipho　said；　〃The　Apparatus　is　nearly　overdrawn　because　of　the　revolt　on　Calabar。　Palace　City　is　nearly　empty　now；　so　its　allocation　is　only　50　percent　utilized。　The　Royal　expenditures　have　dropped　to　almost　nothing。〃
〃Money；〃　begged　Madison。　〃How　much　money　is　in　them？〃
〃There's　a　billion　Palace　City　that　won't　be　used　and　about　four　billion　Royal。〃
Madison's　hopes　soared。　〃Look；　just　give　me　a　pay　status　on　all　three。〃
〃Hmm；〃　said　Cipho。
〃Look；〃　said　Madison；　putting　on　his　most　earnest　and　sincere　face；　〃I　am　a　reasonable　man。　If　I　guarantee　to　advise　you　if　I　intend　to　draw　more　than　a　billion　at　any　one　time　and　confer　with　you；　w