lrh.villainyvictorious-第23部分

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〃You　hold　on　to　this　Apparatus　junk　heap；〃　said　Flick　to　Chalber。　〃I'll　tell　you　what　to　do　with　it。　And　you　stand　ready　to　give　me　two　or　three　mass…passenger　air…coaches　if　I　send　for　them。　I've　always　wanted　some。〃
He　went　off　leaving　a　numbed　Chalber。
Suddenly　Flick　rushed　out　of　the　munication　booth。　He　was　flinging　his　arms　around。　He　said；　〃I've　got　it！　Oh；　man；　my　dreams　are　really　ing　true。　Would　you　believe　it；　I've　got　it！〃
Flick　was　dashing　around；　checking　the　Model　99；　and　Madison　couldn't　get　his　attention。
Flick　stacked　all　the　contents　of　the　vendor's　cart　into　the　hidden　cabinets　and　pushed　Madison　in　like　another　piece　of　baggage。
Madison　felt　a　little　piqued。　After　all；　it　was　he　who　now　owned　the　car。　Who　was　boss　here　anyway？
〃Listen；　Flick；〃　said　Madison　mildly　as　they　took　off；　〃I'm　glad　you　got　us　a　nice　car　but　I　have　other　things　to　think　about　and　do。　I　am　a　working　PR；　you　know。　I　should　be　about　my　business　getting　some　connections。〃
〃Feel　her！〃　cried　Flick。　〃Ain't　she　beautiful？　Not　a　sound　from　the　outside；　not　even　a　whirr　from　the　drives。　Oh；　man；　does　she　handle　just　like　I　knew　she　would。〃
The　car　did　ride　smoothly；　actually　like　a　feather。　He　was　startled　to　look　out　the　window　and　see　the　ground　rushing　by；　quite　close；　at　a　speed　which　must　be　approaching　sound。　They　had　left　mercial　City　but　the　verdant　countryside　was　such　a　blur；　Madison　could　not　tell　if　they　were　farms　or　parks　or　what。
〃Flick；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　sure　it's　a　joy　to　drive　this　thing　and　she　is　a　beauty；　I　admit。　But　I　see　it　is　now　afternoon　and　I　should　not　be　wasting　the　day。〃
〃Never　you　mind；〃　said　Flick。　〃Don't　you　fret。　I　can　tell　you're　new　here。　An　Earthman；　isn't　it？　I　didn't　know　we　had　such　a　planet　but　I　don't　know　them　all。　So　you　just　let　me　handle　this　so　you　don't　get　lost。〃
They　were　over　buildings　now　and　were　slowing　down。　The　area　seemed　to　consist　of　a　lot　of　parks　and　clubs　whose　signs　were　even　visible　in　daylight。　For　a　hopeful　moment；　he　thought　Flick　might　be　taking　him　to　Homeview；　for　he　could　see　a　gigantic　dome　ahead　with　that　lettering　upon　it。
〃We're　almost　there；〃　said　Flick。　〃This　is　Joy　City。　That's　our　destination　over　there；　just　beyond　that　big　sign；　Dirt　Club。　Ain't　it　remarkable？〃
〃Well；　that　IS　a　remarkable　advertising　sign；〃　said　Madison。　〃A　girl　in　a　military　hat　lying　on　cannon　parabolas。　But　really；　Flick；　I　think　I　should　go　over　to　Homeview。。。。〃
〃Not　the　Dirt　Club。　That's　for　Army　officers　and　we　ain't　Army。　No；　no。　That　big　bright　slab　of　a　building。〃
Madison　tried　to　see　what　they　were　heading　for。　All　he　saw　was　a　rectangle　of　metal　that　must　be　eighty　stories　high　and　which　covered　an　area　of　what　might　be　six　New　York　City　blocks。
〃That's　her！〃　said　Flick；　hovering　to　let　some　traffic　clear。　〃The　five　top　stories　of　that　building　was　the　town…house　of　General　Loop。〃
〃All　that？〃
〃Yeah；　he　was　awful　rich。　He　died　a　couple　years　ago　and　it's　too　big　for　anybody　to　want　to　live　in。　The　swank　residences　are　all　over　at　Pausch　Hills　and　nobody　with　that　much　money　wants　to　live　in　Joy　City：　there's　nothing　but　clubs　and　hotels　and　amusement　parks　and　the　entertainment　industry　around　here。　So　it's　been　closed。　It　must　be　absolutely　crammed　with　antiques　and　valuables。　Way　back　before　he　retired；　the　owner；　General　Loop；　was　in　charge　of　all　electronic　security　for　the　whole　Confederacy。　Ever　since　I　heard　nobody　was　living　in　it　now；　I've　tried　and　tried　to　sneak　into　it；　but　it's　guarded　by　the　fanciest　electronic　gimmicks　anybody　ever　heard　of！　An　awful　challenge：　I've　laid　awake　nights　trying　to　figure　out　how　to　break　in　and　rob　the　joint。　But　back　there；　I　solved　it。　I'll　tell　them　we're　interested　in　buying　it。　And　they'll　show　me　every　security　device！　Then　we'll　e　back　and　rob　it。　Smart；　eh？〃
Madison　blinked。　However；　before　he　could　protest；　Flick　received　a　clearance　on　a　flashing　screen　on　his　dash　and　dived　abruptly　for　the　roof。　The　flat　metal　expanse　was　the　size　of　several　football　fields。　He　headed　for　a　solitary　figure　at　one　end；　tiny　as　a　doll　in　all　that　vastness。　It　was　waving　at　them　to　e　in。　Flick　landed。
An　old　man　in　a　watchman's　uniform　was　at　their　door。　He　was　carrying　a　small　box　in　his　hand。　〃So　you're　the　fellow　that　wants　to　buy　this　place；〃　he　said　to　Flick。
〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Flick　emphatically。　〃Another　dream　that's　going　to　e　true。〃
〃Why　hasn't　anybody　bought　it？〃　said　Madison；　not　at　all　happy　about　what　he　was　getting　into。　He　might　be　able　to　use　some　offices；　but　this　was　not　even　getting　a　building：　it　was　a　planned　robbery。　He　was　being　steered　way　off　his　mark；　and　the　meaningful　look　of　Teenie　hovered　in　memory。
〃Oh；　they're　crazy；　of　course；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃but　they　think　the　place　is　haunted。〃
That　was　all　Madison　needed　to　get　along：　the　robbery　of　a　haunted　townhouse。　What　a　headline　THAT　would　make！　He　tried　to　think　of　something　that　would　dampen　Flick's　enthusiasm。
But　the　old　man　was　talking；　〃You　can't　get　into　this　place　without　help；〃　he　said；　climbing　in。
〃I　know；〃　said　Flick。
〃So　I　thought　I'd　better　e　up　in　person　with　the　box。　They're　all　waiting　for　you　down　below；　so　if　you'll　just　move　this　airbus　ahead　to　that　small　white　dot　you　see　there；　we'll　go　in。〃
Flick；　quivering　with　expectancy；　moved　the　car　as　stated　and　the　old　man　pushed　at　the　side　of　the　box。
SWOOP！
Hidden　doors　whose　edges　had　not　been　evident　activated　and　they　were　still　sitting　in　the　airbus　but　it　was　now　sitting　in　the　center　of　a　palatial　living　room！
Madison　glanced　up。　The　door　was　gone。
Three　nicely　dressed　men　were　sitting　around　a　desk。
Flick　leaped　out　of　the　car；　looking　all　around。　There　were　paintings　on　the　walls；　vases　on　stands。　He　rubbed　his　hands。
Flick　rushed　over　to　the　desk。　He　didn't　shake　hands。　〃Let　me　see　the　rest　of　this　layout！〃
One　of　the　men；　gray…headed；　said；　〃We　have　to　be　sure　this　is　a　serious　offer。　We　came　over　from　the　bank　just　in　case　somebody　really　wanted　to　buy　it。〃
〃We　got　to　see　the　whole　place；〃　said　Flick。
The　three　businessmen　and　the　watchman　seemed　a　little　cool　but　then　Flick；　like　a　stage　magician；　flashed　Madison's　identoplate。
〃Pay　status　UNLIMITED？〃　gawped　the　gray…haired　man。
Flick　gave　Madison　a　broad　wink　when　the　bankers　weren't　looking。
Madison　swallowed。　This　was　NOT　good　PR！　The　identoplate　was　now　being　used　as　an　entrance　to　case　a　joint　and　rob　it！　He　had　visions　of　himself　being　carted　off　to　jail。
The　bankers　made　haste　to　show　them　some　of　the　rest　of　the　townhouse。　To　see　all　of　it　would　have　taken　more　than　a　day。　Five　floors　of　this　size　would　have　taken　far　more　walking　than　they　had　the　legs　for。
There　were　apartments　beyond　count；　some　quite　elegant。　Some　were　like　the　palatial　cabins　of　ships　at　sea；　some　were　like　those　of　spacecraft。　Some　looked　like　hunting　lodges。
There　were　several　bars　as　big　as　a　tavern；　chairs　and　tables　and　decor　approximating　styles　of　different　planets。
There　were　kitchens　that　were　plex　mazes　of　electronic　cooking　gear　which　sent　viands　upwards　which　would　then　appear　magically　on　tables　in　dining　salons　without　having　seemed　to　travel。
There　were　rooms　which　contained　such　a　multitude　of　screens　that　one　got　the　impression　he　could　look　at　any　band　or　transmission　on　any　planet　anywhere。
They　came　to　an　auditorium　that　would　seat　at　least　two　hundred　people　and　whose　stage　revolved　or　simply　flapped　back　when　another　decorated　stage　rose。
Madison　got　the　distinct　impression　they　were　not　seeing　everything　there　was　to　see　in　these　rooms。　Something　odd　about　it　all；　something　strange。　Spooky。　Part　of　it　was　that　there　seemed　to　be　windows　but　they　were　all　black。
The　old　watchman　didn't　seem　to　be　much　interested。　Flick　ran　along　and　the　watchman　would　hit　buttons　in　his　box　and　the　doors　of　rooms　would　open。　Flick　would　look　in；　see　paintings　and　hangings　of　great　value　and　rush　on。
〃You　realize；〃　the　watchman　said　at　last；　〃that　if　I　was　not　working　this　box　right；　we　not　only　could　not　pass　down　these　halls；　for　I've　opened　all　the　invisible　barriers；　but　traps　would　open　in　the　floor　as　well。　There's　this　box　for　watchmen　and　such　but　some　of　the　master　suites　can't　be　opened　at　all　until　they're　voice…tuned　to　the　new　owner。〃
Flick　whispered　to　Madison　excitedly。　〃There's　a　half　a　million　credits　in　loot　in　this　place。　It　would　be　the　haul　of　the　century。〃　Then　he　went　racing　on　to　glance　into　more　rooms。
〃Of　course；〃　the　gray…haired　banker　told　Madison；　〃the　apartment　has　regular　street　entrances　and　elevators：　several　of　them　in　fact。　But　you　can　only　e　up　to　the　first　floor　of　these　five。　The　upper　ones　require　special　entrance。　General　Loop　was　pretty　security　conscious；　I'm　afraid。〃
Finally　the　three　bankers　and　the　bored　watchman　were　so　worn　out　with　walking　that　they　simply　stopped。　〃Do　you　mind；〃　said　the　gray…haired　man；　〃if　we　go　back　to　the　hangar　salon？　If　you're　still　interested。。。〃
〃Oh；　we're　interested！〃　said　Flick　with　a　wink　at　Madison。　And　he　followed　them　back　to　where　the　airbus　was。
Flick；　arriving　there；　reached　out　his　hand　to　the　watchman。　〃Could　I　see　that　box？〃
The　watchman　shook　his　head。
The　three　bankers　sank　wearily　into　chairs；　quite　worn　out　from　almost　two　hours　of　unaccustomed　walking。　Madison　himself　felt　fagged。
〃If　you're　willing　to　talk　price；〃　said　the　gray…haired　man；　〃we　are　open　to　some　serious　offers。　We　know　that　the　place　is　large；　too　large。　And　it　could　never　obtain　a　hotel　license。　The　entire　remainder　of　the　building；　all　seventy…five　lower　floors；　are　separately　owned　by　residential　families　such　as　club　officials　and　so　on；　and　they　are　much　smaller。　This　so…called　townhouse　is　all　under　one　deed　that　can't　be　broken　down　into　subdeeds　and　so　it　can't　be　separately　rented　out　or　sold　in　pieces。　Now；　I　am　being　very　frank。　The　general's　heirs　want　to　get　rid　of　it。　It　would　not　be　honest　of　us　not　to　tell　you。　So　what　do　you　offer？〃　Madison　was　sure　Flick　would　find　some　excuse。　Madison's　main　problem　was　how　he　was　going　to　discourage　Flick　from　a　break…in　and　robbery。
Flick　was　looking　at　the　box　in　the　watchman's　hands。　It　was　obvious　the　watchman　was　not　going　to　give　it　up。　Flick　sighed　deeply。　Madison　had　visions　of　being　part　of　a　break…in　th