lrh.villainyvictorious-第39部分

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　heavy…scented　flowers；　and　came　to　a　spot　where　she　could　overlook　the　valleys　below。
Madison；　somewhat　anxious；　trailed　after　her。　He　looked　at　the　breathtaking　view。　〃How　lovely；〃　he　said；　hoping　it　would　soothe　her。　〃It's　a　garden　spot　like　I　have　never　seen　before。　Even　the　softness　of　the　breeze　kisses　one。　And　how　restful！　Even　the　song　of　the　birds　is　a　lullaby。〃
〃Shut　up；〃　said　Teenie。　Then　she　looked　around。　〃It's　a　pretty　place；　all　right。　Too　（bleeped）　pretty；　if　you　ask　me！　I　thought；　like　it　said　in　the　book；　it　was　all　black　cliffs　and　rocks。〃
One　of　the　sergeants　came　up　with　a　message　from　the　major…domo。　〃It's　cleared　enough　for　you　to　enter　now；　Your　Majesty。　But　please　watch　your　step；　some　of　the　paving　is　loose。〃
Teenie　gave　her　red　glove　cuffs　a　twitch　and　promptly　strode　down　the　path。　She　stamped　up　the　steps　and　across　the　terrace。　They　had　the　gigantic　front　doors　open　now　and　the　ragged　staff　was　lined　up　on　each　side；　all　kneeling；　trying　to　catch　her　eye。
Governor　Spurt　was　waiting　with　a　burning　torch。　But　Teenie　paused　beside　her　major…domo。　〃If　you　can　get　any　sense　into　these　people；　have　somebody　assemble　my　regiment　out　in　front。〃
The　major…domo　bowed　and　turned　back　and　Teenie　followed　Governor　Spurt。
Men　who　had　suddenly　remembered　they　were　sergeants　and　guards　were　opening　doors　ahead　of　her。　A　man　who　was　probably　the　seneschal；　for　all　his　rags；　was　jangling　opening　plates　as　he　hurried　on　ahead。
〃What　are　you　doing　with　that　wooden　torch？〃　Teenie's　Palace　City　guard　officer　demanded　of　Governor　Spurt。　〃Where　are　the　lights？〃
〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　Spurt；　〃we　ran　out　of　fuel　bars　way　back　when　I　was　a　boy。　Even　this　wooden　torch　is　a　luxury。　So　many　of　the　people　here　were　nobles　and　courtiers　and　high…level　technicians　that　they　had　quite　forgotten　folk　arts。　It　took　us　three　years　after　dear　Queen　Hora　died　to　work　out　how　to　weave　the　hair　of　the　woolly　animals　into　rope。　We　never　have　reevolved　the　skill　of　making　cloth。　We　do　very　well　to　just　weave　baskets　to　carry　fish　and　food；　and　we　could　only　do　that　because　some　of　them；　as　little　girls；　used　to　make　flower　garlands　and　flower　caps。　It　is　a　terrible　shock；　when　you　are　a　high…level　technology；　to　suddenly　have　to　flounder　with　the　primitive。　The　steppingstones　upward　to　a　high　technology　all　disappear　and　one　tries　in　vain　to　go　back　down　them：　everyone　has　forgotten　how。〃
〃I　didn't　ask　for　a　lecture；〃　said　the　guard　captain。　〃I　asked　you　where　the　lights　were。　I　see　we　are　entering　tunnels　back　into　the　mountain　and　I'm　not　letting　Her　Majesty　go　any　further　until　there's　light。〃
Spurt　hastily　said；　〃Oh；　I'm　sure　the　electronics　and　electrical　devices　all　work。　There　just　isn't　any　fuel。。。。〃
The　guard　officer　pushed　him　aside　and　strode　ahead。　Looking　along　the　walls；　he　finally　found　a　panel。　He　scraped　off　the　mold　and　dust；　found　the　catch；　opened　it　and　then；　taking　a　spare　electric　saber　battery　from　his　belt；　pushed　it　into　a　slot。
Nothing　happened。
Disgustedly；　he　recovered　his　battery　and　with　an　acid　glare　at　the　governor　said　to　Teenie；　〃Your　Majesty；　this　place　is　getting　impossible。　I　think　these　tunnels　go　way　into　the　mountains　and　deep　down。　I　must　ask　you　not　to　proceed。〃
〃I　got　to　have　a　dungeon；〃　said　Teenie。　〃The　deeper　and　darker　and　more　awful；　the　better。　Lead　on！〃
Following　the　sputtering；　sparking　torch；　their　shadows　eerie　on　the　walls；　the　group　proceeded。
At　length；　having　descended　very　deep　into　black　rock；　they　came　to　a　series　of　openings。　There　was　a　guard　room。　Then　there　were　chambers　lined　with　cells；　their　doors　all　corroded　and　hanging　awry。　Finally　there　was　a　large　chamber　which　seemed　to　contain　a　forge　and　the　remains　of　whips。　Teenie　patted　a　slab　of　stone　which　lay；　filth…encrusted；　at　its　center。
Madison　realized　it　was　a　torture　chamber　and　when　he　saw　the　look　on　her　face　by　torchlight　he　felt　his　hair　rise。
She　found　there　were　two　cells　just　beyond　it；　little　more　than　dark　holes。　She　took　the　torch　and　peered　into　them；　one　after　the　other。　She　found　some　old　shackles。
〃These；〃　said　Spurt；　〃are　left　over　from　the　ancient　Teon　sea　people。　I've　only　been　down　here　once；　when　a　courtier　sixty　years　ago　lost　a　pet　snug。　These　dungeons　scared　me　half　to　death。　Could　I　ask　Your　Majesty　to　withdraw　from　such　an　awful　place？〃
Teenie　was　testing　the　remains　of　a　door　on　one　of　the　holes。　〃This　has　got　to　be　repaired；〃　she　said。
〃Oh；　yes；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Spurt。　〃We'll　clean　it　all　up。〃
〃No；〃　said　Teenie。　〃Leave　it　as　filthy　and　awful　as　possible。　I　only　want　it　fixed　so　no　one　can　ever　get　out。　And　repair　those　torture　implements；　too。〃
Madison　could　stand　it　no　longer。　〃Teenie；　what　ARE　you　up　to？〃　he　said　in　English。
〃This；〃　she　said；　〃is　all　for　Gris。〃
〃Gris？〃
〃Yes！　The　moment　I　heard　torture　dungeons　existed　over　here；　I　had　to　e　at　once。　They're　torture　dungeons；　all　right。　A　real　horror　picture。　They'll　do　just　fine。　I　am　going　to　put　Gris　right　there　in　that　hole　and　then　every　day　for　the　rest　of　his　life　I　am　going　to　torture　him　and　hear　him　scream　and　blubber　and　beg。　I'll　carve　on　him　for　years　and　years！〃
〃Wait　a　minute；　Teenie。　You　haven't　got　Gris。　He's　in　the　Royal　Courts　and　Prison！〃
Teenie；　in　the　torchlight；　fixed　him　with　an　awful　smile。　〃That's　my　military　campaign。　Queen　Hora　kept　her　regiment　here。　I'm　going　to　smuggle　them　out　and　in　the　dark　of　night　I'm　going　to　storm　the　Royal　Prison　and　get　Gris！〃
〃Teenie；　you　can't　ask　that　of　anyone。　It　would　be　death　to　try！〃
〃The　men　of　the　regiment　were　all　Flisten　nobles；　sworn　to　give　their　lives　at　the　whim　of　their　queen。　In　each　generation；　only　the　strongest　of　their　descendants　were　permitted　to　join　the　regiment。　You　are　going　to　get　me　the　arms　and　transport！　And　I　am　going　to　get　Gris！〃
〃Teenie；〃　said　Madison　in　shock。　〃Teenie；　listen　to　me。　I　can　get　Gris　brought　to　trial。　It　will　take　a　long　time　and　lots　of　work。　I　can　hammer　away　in　the　media；　try　him　in　the　press　and　absolutely　force　them　to　try　him。　And；〃　he　added　in　desperation；　for　his　whole　plan　for　Heller　depended　upon　it；　〃I　can　guarantee　the　trial　will　go　on　and　on！　He'd　suffer　mentally　no　end！〃
〃That　isn't　the　suffering　I　want　to　see；〃　said　Teenie。　〃I　want　him　right　here　under　my　sharpest　knife。　For　years。〃
Real　desperation　seized　Madison。　He　could　see　them　both　being　killed。　〃Teenie；　what　if　somehow　I　arranged　it　to　get　him　sentenced　at　the　trial　and　into　your　custody？〃
〃I'd　have　to　wait　too　long；〃　said　Teenie。　She　turned　to　the　governor　and　began　to　give　minute　orders　about　the　cell　and　the　torture　chamber　and　the　implements。　It　took　her　quite　a　while。
A　radio　crackled　on　the　guard　captain's　belt。　It　was　the　major…domo。　〃Please　inform　Her　Majesty　that　her　regiment　is　assembling。　They've　had　to　get　word　to　the　villages　and　farms。　But　they　should　all　be　ready　for　review　by　the　time　you　have　e　out。〃
Madison　had　not　realized　how　deep　they　had　e　into　the　mountain　until　he　tried　to　walk　back　up。　The　foul　and　ancient　air　didn't　help　him　catch　his　breath　as　he　toiled　on　up　the　ramps。　It　took　them　nearly　half　an　hour　to　get　back　into　the　halls。
A　sergeant　knelt　and　would　have　used　a　handkerchief　to　brush　off　Teenie's　boots　but　women　from　the　palace　pushed　him　aside；　and　though　their　cloths　were　animal　skins；　they　got　the　stains　and　mold　off　Teenie's　black　suit；　boots　and　red　gloves。
Then　Teenie　walked　through　the　hallways　and　salons　toward　the　big　entrance　door。
She　strode　across　the　terrace。　She　reached　the　top　of　the　outside　steps。
She　stopped　dead。
About　five　hundred　men　were　standing　there　in　an　orderly　parade。　Their　faces　were　handsome；　their　physiques　magnificent。　Obviously　the　product　of　noble　lines；　every　one；　the　titled　sons　of　officers　of　long　ago；　mothered　by　titled　ladies　of　Queen　Hora's　court。　They　were　young　and　they　were　splendid；　despite　their　rags。
An　old　man；　evidently　their　colonel；　stood　straight　as　a　ramrod　before　them。　At　the　sight　of　Teenie；　he　and　the　whole　regiment　knelt。
〃Your　Majesty；〃　the　colonel　bawled；　〃we　have　not　forgotten　protocol。　We　lie　ready　to　do　our　duty。　We　are　only　too　anxious　to　do　Your　Majesty's　bedding。〃
From　five　hundred　throats；　a　song　arose：

Oh；　wele　to　us；
Oh；　wele　to　us。
We　greet　you；　dear　Queenie；
And　promise　sex　plus！

And　then；　at　a　signal　from　the　colonel；　they　all　rose　up。
But　what　had　stopped　Teenie　was　the　flowers　in　their　hair；　whole　crowns　of　them。　They　had　no　weapons　in　their　hands　nor　any　sign　of　any。
They　began　to　form　rings　by　squad　and　then　began　to　dance；　plucking　flowers　from　their　garlands　and　tossing　them　into　the　air　as　they　circled　with　skipping；　mincing　steps　like　girls。
Teenie　sank　down　on　the　top　step。
She　lowered　her　head　and　began　to　cry。
The　regiment　stopped　in　consternation。　The　major…domo　waved　his　hand　at　them　and　they　scattered　like　chaff　and　vanished。
Teenie's　sobs　grew　very　marked。
Madison　knelt　beside　her。
〃They　aren't　soldiers；〃　sobbed　Teenie。　〃They　were　bred　for　bed。　Oh；　Maddie；　what　am　I　going　to　do？〃
Madison　did　not　tell　her　he　could　recruit　five　hundred　criminals　that　would　take　on　a　Death　Battalion　in　a　day！　Oh；　no。　It　didn't　suit　his　plans。　He　was　very　clever；　that　Madison。　He　didn't　even　push　her。
〃Maddie；〃　she　said　brokenly；　after　she　had　sobbed　for　a　while；　〃do　you　think　you　actually　could　get　Gris　sentenced　to　my　custody？〃
〃Well；　as　I　am　very　fond　of　you；　Teenie；　as　a　favor　to　you；　I　am　absolutely　certain　that　I　can。〃
〃Then　I'll　help　you　follow　your　plan　to　try　him　in　the　press；〃　said　Teenie；　feeling　a　little　better；　〃and　when　he　is　sentenced　get　custody　of　him。〃
A　ragged　maid　was　trying　to　dry　Teenie's　tears　with　a　scrap　of　animal　fur。
Teenie　looked　at　Madison　suddenly。　Her　eyes　went　very　hard。　〃But　there's　one　thing　you　got　to　know；　Madison。　If　you　fail　to　get　me　custody　of　Gris；　you'll　be　right　there　in　that　cell　yourself！〃
Madison　had　no　slightest　idea　of　how　he　could　possibly　acplish　such　a　thing。　He　had　just　been　talking。
He　backed　up；　nodding　in　little　jerks。　〃I　won't　fail　you；　Teenie。〃
Gods；　was　he　in　for　it　now！

PART　SEVENTY…SEVEN
Chapter　1

The　second　Madison　entered　the　townhouse　in　Joy　City　he　got　to　work。　He　felt　that　he　was　marching　to　the　solemn　beat　of　drums　and　that　noble　victory　beckoned　f