lrh.villainyvictorious-第38部分

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Chapter　6

Flick；　nervously　navigating　and　driving　at　ten　thousand　feet；　looked　all　around：　there　was　no　land　now　anywhere　in　sight；　only　heaving　green　sea。
He　pushed　a　button　on　his　panel　and　in　a　screen　alongside　of　the　map；　Madison　read：

RELAX　ISLAND；　formerly　known　to　the　ancients　as　Teon；　stronghold　of　the　since　departed　sea　people。　Royal　preserve　of　early　Voltarian　monarchs　but　fell　into　disuse　fifty　thousand　years　ago。　Deeded　to　the　Royal　Family　of　Flisten　after　the　Treaty　of　Flisten。　Located　in　the　semitropical　grid　18/103；　Western　Ocean；　883　miles　from　the　central　continent　mainland。　Area　305　square　miles。　Surrounded　by　vertical　black　cliffs　2000　to　5000　feet　in　height；　no　beaches　or　harbors。　Highest　altitude；　9056　feet；　Mount　Teon　located　at　north　end；　which；　though　snow…capped　in　colder　months；　blocks　inclement　storms。　Island　formed　by　geological　upthrust　of　volcanic　peak　but　volcano　long　since　extinct。　Mean　annual　temperature　76　degrees。　First　view；　clouds　usually　clutching　Mount　Teon　or　reflective　sky　discolor。　Warning　to　fishing　craft　and　all　aerial　traffic；　do　not　attempt　to　land。

Madison　was　chilled。　What　a　bleak　and　awful　place　that　must　be！　Black　cliffs；　no　harbors；　warning　not　to　land。　What　on　Earth　was　Teenie　thinking　of；　ing　out　here？
Flick　leaned　toward　him　and　whispered；　〃I　think　I'm　lost。　You're　supposed　to　just　punch　in　the　grids　but　I　think　this　Model　99　is　lost；　too！　I　forgot　to　read　my　ground　distance　meter　when　we　left　the　mainland。　That　ocean　down　there　is　full　of　toothers；　some　of　them　fifty　feet　long　and　if　they　don't　get　you；　the　airborne　flying　batfish　will。　Visibility　is　getting　bad。　Can　you　get　permission　to　turn　back？〃
Madison　turned。　Others　had　not　heard　Flick　but　the　fact　that　he　had　moved　caused　the　guard　officer　to　glare。　Teenie　was　deeply　lost　in　her　own　thoughts；　scowling。
Madison　said　to　Flick；　〃For　heaven's　sake；　find　the　place。　I'm　not　tackling　any　more　women　today！〃
〃Me　neither；〃　said　Flick。　And　he　began　to　peer　to　the　left　and　right。
There　was　a　mist　across　the　sun　which　made　visibility　poor。　〃Haven't　you　got　a　radar？〃　said　Madison。
〃You　mean　beams？　Oh；　yeah；　beams；〃　and　Flick　hastily　began　to　twiddle　knobs。　The　screens　stayed　blank。　〃I　ain't　no　ocean　pilot；〃　said　Flick。　〃When　I　crash　'em　I　like　to　have　somebody　find　the　remains。　Look　at　that　distance　meter。　We've　already　e　twenty…one　hundred　miles。〃
〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Madison。　〃You're　only　scanning　ahead。　What　if　we　already　passed　it？〃
Flick　hastily　twiddled　more　controls　and　shot　the　beams　behind　them。
THERE　WAS　THE　MOUNTAIN！
They'd　passed　right　over　the　top　of　it　with　only　a　hundred　feet　to　spare！　It　had　been　hidden　by　morning　clouds。
Madison　let　out　a　gasp　of　relief。　They　had　overshot　by　twenty　miles！　Flick　slued　the　airbus　around；　reducing　speed；　dropping　altitude。
Instantly；　the　moment　they　changed　course；　their　speakers　boomed；　〃Warning；　warning　Model　99…3。　This　is　Satellite　Monitor　Control；　Planetary　Defense。　We　have　a　Slaughter　Warhead　ready　to　launch。　Do　NOT　attempt　to　land　on　Relax　Island。〃
Perspiration　started　up　on　Flick's　low　forehead　as　he　hastily　veered　off。　He　grabbed　a　microphone。　〃I　been　ordered　to　land　here！〃　And　he　hastily　grabbed　Madison's　identoplate　and　pushed　it　in　the　slot。
〃We're　sorry；　that　won't　do；〃　said　Planetary　Defense。　〃There's　been　no　landing　on　Relax　Island　for　fifty　years；　but　you're　not　the　first　one　to　try。　Clear　off　at　once！〃
A　hand　was　plucking　Madison's　sleeve　and　he　turned　to　find　the　major…domo　pushing　something　at　him。　It　was　an　identoplate。　He　passed　it　to　Flick　who　withdrew　Madison's　and　put　the　new　one　in　the　slot。　His　hand　was　shaking　so；　he　could　hardly　get　it　in。
〃Is　this　a　trick　or　something？〃　boomed　Planetary　Defense。　〃We'll　have　to　clear　this　with　Government　City。　Stand　by。〃
Madison　and　Flick　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay。
There　was　a　pause；　then；　〃Would　Your　Majesty　accept　our　apologies？　We　are　merely　being　diligent　in　executing　Exterior　Division　orders　that　no　one　may　land　on　Relax　Island　without　the　express　approval　of　Your　Majesty。　We　bow。〃
The　major…domo　grabbed　the　mike。　〃Her　Majesty　graciously　thanks　your　diligence　and　watchful　eye　and　verifies　that　the　order　is　still　in　force。　She　releases　you　to　your　duties。〃
〃We　kiss　the　hem　of　her　robe。　Out。〃
Flick　said；　〃Phewww！　A　Slaughter　Warhead！　You　were　right；　Chief；　in　saying　this　would　be　an　awful　day。〃　He　passed　Teenie's　identoplate　back　over　his　shoulder　to　the　major…domo。
Madison　had　been　electrified　by　the　exchange。　Teenie　wasn't　lying；　for　once。　Even　Planetary　Defense　and　Government　City　had　her　registered　as　a　queen。
And　seconds　later；　he　got　another　shock。　They　had　dropped　below　the　cloud　layer　and　there；　dappled　in　patches　of　sunlight；　lay　the　island。
It　was　BIG！　He　hadn't　realized　that　it　took　so　much　ground　to　make　up　305　square　miles。　From　four　thousand　feet；　you　couldn't　even　take　it　all　in。
There　were　gentle　hills　and　forests。　There　were　waterfalls　and　rivers。　There　were　squares　of　fields　walled　by　stone　on　which　crops　were　growing。　There　were　herds　of　animals　in　meadows。　And　there　were　little　villages　with　white　walls　nestling　here　and　there　in　the　brilliant　verdure　of　folded　hills。　Dropping　even　lower；　he　saw　that　the　masses　of　color　were　flowering　trees　and　flower　gardens。
He　tried　to　pare　it　to　any　island　he　knew　of　on　Earth　for　beauty。　Tahiti？　No。　It　was　ten　times　that。
WHAT　A　PARADISE！
〃Where　do　I　land？〃　squeaked　Flick。
〃In　front　of　the　palace；〃　pointed　the　major…domo。
Madison　saw　it。　It　was　partially　up　the　slope　of　Mount　Teon　and　so　masked　by　flowering　trees　that　the　size　of　it　was　obscured　until　they　were　almost　landed。　Then　it　burst　upon　him　that　he　was　looking　at　a　building　that　must　be　a　thousand　feet　long；　curving　elegantly　upon　the　mountain　breast。　It　was　only　three　stories　high　but　it　must　reach　back　into　the　mountain。
There　was　a　landing　target；　the　usual　blue　circle　nearly　gone。　Weeds　were　pushing　through　the　stone　steps　which　led　down　to　it。
Then　Madison　took　a　closer　look。　All　along　the　curving　palace　front；　what　he　had　taken　to　be　green　scallops　of　decoration　was　moss；　hanging　on　faded　metal　ropes　which　bore　only　a　fleck　or　two　of　gilt。　Dead　limbs　from　forgotten　storms　littered　the　curving　steps　and　terraces。
They　got　out　and　stared　at　the　palace。
〃Jesus！〃　said　Teenie。
A　door　opened；　one　that　was　inset　into　the　massive　entrance　grills。
An　old　man　with　a　stick　in　his　hand；　gray　beard　flying；　raced　toward　them。
〃Be　off！　Be　off！〃　he　screamed。　Then　he　drew　himself　up　in　his　tattered　rags　and　shouted；　〃You're　trespassing！　This　is　the　domain　of　the　Planet　Flisten。　Fly　away　fast　or　I'll　call　the　guard！〃
The　major…domo　waddled　up　to　him。　〃Governor　Spurt；　I　will　wager　you　do　not　even　have　a　guard！　Down　on　your　knees；　you　oaf！〃
〃Down　on　my　knees　in　Hells　for　you！〃
The　major…domo　turned；　〃That　is　an　insult　you　cannot　forgive；　Your　Majesty。　This　place　is　a　disgrace：　the　walks　are　clogged　with　weeds；　the　fountains　aren't　even　running。　pare　it　to　the　beautiful　condition　you　found　your　palace　in　Palace　City　in；　hold　an　immediate　trial　and　let　us　fertilize　the　grass　with　his　blood。　That　is　my　remendation。　I　await　your　mand。〃
The　old　man　had　been　gawping。　Now　he　began　to　shake。　〃Did　you　say　'Your　Majesty'？〃
〃Her　Royal　Majesty　Teenie　the　First！〃　said　the　major…domo　and　unsnapped　the　Exterior　Division　scroll　before　the　bugging　eyes　of　Governor　Spurt。
〃Oh；　my　Gods！〃　wailed　the　old　man。　〃We　have　a　QUEEN！〃
Faces　popped　out　of　palace　windows。
The　old　man　rushed　forward　and　fell　prostrate　at　Teenie's　feet。　Talking；　blubbering　really；　with　his　face　pushed　into　the　pavement；　he　said；　〃Oh；　forgive　me；　forgive　me。　Mercy！　We　did　not　know　you　existed。　We　did　not　know　you　were　ing。　We　have　had　no　warning。　Fifty　years　ago　when　dear　Queen　Hora　died；　Exterior
Division　people　came　and　locked　up　all　the　chests。　We　have　had　no　money　for　paint　or　material　of　any　kind。　No　one　has　e　from　the　mainland。　None　of　us　can　go。　We　raise　our　own　food　and　fish　in　the　sea。　We　have　not　forgotten　protocol；　we　drill　it　every　week！　Please；　please；　Your　Majesty；　don't　execute　me　on　the　day　your　ing　has　made　the　happiest　day　of　my　life！〃　Then　he　stopped　for　a　moment　and　said；　〃No。　You　can　go　ahead　and　execute　me　if　it　will　give　you　the　slightest　moment　of　pleasure。〃
Governor　Spurt　reached　out　and　put　her　foot　on　his　neck　and　he　clung　to　it；　caressing　it。
〃I　don't　want　your　life；〃　said　Teenie。　〃I　want　you　to　show　me　the　deepest；　rottenest　dungeon　that　you've　got。〃
〃Oh；　good；　you'll　put　me　in　it。　It　is　more　than　I　deserve。〃
Teenie　looked　up。　The　earlier　shout　of　the　old　man　had　been　overheard。　At　least　two　hundred　people；　young　and　old；　had　e　scurrying　out　of　the　palace；　half…naked　and　in　rags；　and　were　now　prostrating　themselves　on　the　terrace；　steps　and　landing　target。　They　were　all　sobbing。
Teenie　turned　to　the　major…domo。　She　removed　her　foot　from　the　back　of　Governor　Spurt's　neck。　〃Will　you　tell　this　idiot　to　get　up　and　lead　the　way　to　that　dungeon？〃
Madison　had　a　chill。　Was　that　why　she　had　brought　him　here？　To　put　him　in　it？
〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　the　major…domo；　〃if　you　are　choosing　to　be　merciful　despite　this　man's　offense；　could　I　remend　that　you　at　least　let　me　tell　these　people　to　clear　some　of　the　debris　off　the　steps　and　brush　the　halls　so　that　it　will　not　soil　your　feet　to　enter？〃
Teenie　gave　a　slight　motion　with　her　hand。　Governor　Spurt　instantly　kissed　her　foot　and　scuttled　backwards。
He　leaped　to　his　feet　and　bawled　at　the　crowd；　〃GET　BUSY！　CLEAN　THIS　PLACE　UP　FOR　YOUR　QUEEN！〃
One　would　have　thought；　from　the　ferocity　and　volume　of　his　voice；　that　he　would　have　blown　them　all　over　backwards　but　this　was　not　the　case。　They　rose　with　awe　upon　their　faces　and　like　a　wave　across　them；　the　look　changed　to　adoration。　They　started　throwing　kisses　and　then　took　up　the　bellow　of　a　big　fellow　at　the　back：　〃LONG　LIVE　THE　QUEEN！〃
Governor　Spurt　finally　got　them　going　back　inside。
Restlessly；　Teenie　paced　about。　She　had　something　on　her　mind　and　she　was　not　paying　too　much　attention　to　her　surroundings。　But；　inwardly　driven　to　be　in　motion；　she　walked　up　a　path；　all　weed　grown　but　festooned　with　heavy…scented　flowers；　and　came　to　a　spot　where　she　could　overlook　the　valleys　below。
Madison；　s