lrh.villainyvictorious-第51部分

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　the　first　general　with　a　sneer。
〃No；〃　said　the　first　general。　〃I　was　simply　hoping　that　some　way　the　Army　could　be　coerced　into　participation。　We　only　have　about　four　million　troops。　When　distribution　to　other　continents　is　examined。。。〃
〃We　could　simply　concentrate　on　the　United　States；〃　said　another　general。
〃No；　no；　no；〃　said　a　general　with　artillery　badges。　〃There　are　more　than　twelve　nations　that　are　nuclear　armed；　according　to　reports。　Failure　to　make　this　an　infantry　action　on　all　continents　could　result　in　some　hysterical　nuclear　involvement。　If　the　objectives　of　the　chief　are　to　be　attained；　we　have　to　prevent　their　use　of　hydrogen　bombs　from　one　country　to　another　across　oceans。　I　think　you　would　find　the　objective　areas　totally　contaminated　and　unusable。〃
An　aide　bent　over　Lombar；　〃Your　Excellency；　the　Earthman　has　finally　arrived。〃
All　eyes　swivelled　to　Madison。　（To　do　him　justice；　he　might　not　have　understood　pletely　that　what　was　under　discussion　was　an　invasion　of　Earth；　for　the　meeting　transcripts　do　not；　of　course；　give　internal　thoughts　of　those　speaking。　Madison's　own　logs　shed　no　light　on　this。）
The　general　of　artillery　was　the　one　who　spoke。　〃What　is　the　range　and　thermal　penetration　potential　of　an　MX3　missile？〃
Madison　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　I　don't　have　it　at　my　fingertips。　But　I　don't　think　it's　much　to　be　worried　about。　The　full　project　was；　if　I　recall；　challenged　by　the　General　Accounting　Office　because　of　cost　overruns　and　was　suspended。　I　remember　reading　about　it。〃
〃Ha！〃　said　the　artillery　general。　〃Good　man。　So　that's　a　system　we　don't　have　to　worry　about。　Now　what　about　the　satellite　killers？　Those　could　be　used　against　spaceships。〃
〃Well；　only　the　Russians　developed　those。　They　received　a　lot　of　TV　coverage。　So　I　should　think　that　if　you　avoided　the　sky…space　over　Russia；　they　would　be　no　problem。〃
〃Aha！〃　said　the　artillery　general。　〃Show　us　this　Russia；〃
Madison　walked　up　to　the　front　of　the　cave　and　with　a　〃With　your　permission〃　took　the　remote　from　the　staff　officer。　He　mastered　it　and　the　projector　began　to　throw　up　Earth　maps。　He　found　Russia　and　showed　them。　（Madison　would　not　have　known；　since　it　had　happened　after　his　departure；　that　there　was　no　Russia　now。）
Hisst　moved　restively。　He　glared　at　the　generals。　〃All　right；　you　can　go　and　wrangle　someplace　else　now。　But　get　a　general　operational　plan　on　this　desk　by　tomorrow！〃
They　rose　and　their　aides　got　their　papers　together　and　they　left。　Lombar；　after　a　bit；　became　aware　that　Madison　was　still　there。
〃You've　been　dismissed！〃　said　Hisst。
〃I　wanted　to　see　you　about　Gris；〃　said　Madison。
〃Gris；　Gris；　Gris！　Well；　（BLEEP）　Gris！　He's　the　one　who　is　the　cause　of　all　this　trouble！〃
〃Could　I　ask　what　all　this　trouble　is？〃　said　Madison。
〃Amphetamines！　Intelligence！〃　shouted　Hisst。　〃If　the　sun　didn't　rise　tomorrow　and　I　investigated；　I　can　promise　you　it　would　lead　to　Gris！　The　Blixo；　on　its　last　arrival；　should　have　brought　amphetamines。　It　didn't。　Now　there　has　not　been　one　freighter　since！　He　never　kept　his　intelligence　reports　up　and　now　we're　going　blind。〃
〃I　can　get　him！〃　said　Madison。
That　got　through　to　Hisst。　But　he　shook　his　head。
〃I've　sent　three　assassins　into　the　Royal　prison。　Gris　is　still　alive！　It's　impossible。〃
〃You　don't　want　him　dead；〃　said　Madison。　〃You　want　him　talking。〃
〃He　let　Heller　get　away　from　him；〃　said　Lombar　in　his　usual　disconnected　way。　〃I'm　going　to　kill　him！〃
〃I　can　get　Heller；　too；〃　said　Madison。
〃Heller　has　turned　all　Earth　against　me；〃　said　Hisst。　〃I　am　certain　that　right　this　minute　Heller　is　racing　through　the　streets　of　that　planet　screaming　at　the　people　to　attack　me！　He's　a　scourge！　The　Army　and　the　Fleet　won't　make　the　slightest　effort　to　smash　him！〃
〃Please；〃　said　Madison。　〃Let's　open　up　our　coats。　Is　there　some　reason　you　don't　want　Gris　to　talk？〃
The　unpredictable　Lombar　suddenly　broke　out　laughing。　Madison　did　note　later　that；　with　Lombar；　he　very　often　felt　like　he　was　dealing　with　someone　who　was　quite　insane。
〃Did　you　set　Gris　up　some　way？〃　pursued　Madison。
Lombar　was　still　laughing。　Finally　he　said；　〃If　I　were　ever　accused　of　anything；　nothing　could　be　proved。　Every　order　that　ever　went　to　Blito…P3；　every　shipment　that　ever　came　from　there；　bears　only　the　name　of　Soltan　Gris。　He　stamped　his　life　away！〃
〃Then　you　wouldn't　mind　if　Gris　came　to　trial？〃
〃What's　a　trial　got　to　do　with　it？〃
Madison　said；　〃A　trial　that　was　public；　that　was　reported　in　the　media。　Blow　by　blow。〃
〃That's　a　funny　idea。〃
〃You　can　even　try　him　first　in　the　media　and　then　he's　certain　to　be　found　guilty　in　the　court。　That's　the　proper　way　to　do　these　things。〃
〃How　strange。〃
〃You'd　emerge　the　hero；〃　said　Madison。　〃It　would　help　build　your　image。〃
〃Oh；　trials　have　nothing　to　do　with　this；〃　said　Hisst；　suddenly　looking　angry。　〃My　problem　is　how　to　get　the　Army　and　Fleet　cooperating。〃
〃Is　that　very　vital？〃　said　Madison。
〃He　asks　me　if　that's　vital；〃　Lombar　asked　an　invisible　spectator　who　wasn't　there。　〃I'd　have　to　withdraw　the　whole　Apparatus　from　Calabar　to　invade　Earth。　At　least　the　Army　and　Fleet　could　take　over　there！〃
〃You　need　the　cooperation　of　the　Army　and　Fleet；〃　said　Madison。　〃I　CAN　GET　THEM　FOR　YOU！〃
Lombar　stopped。　Finally　he　said；　〃How？〃
〃Let　me　have　all　the　files　and　witnesses　on　Gris。　I　will　get　him　into　the　press　and　on　trial。　Then　I　will　get　him　to　accuse　Heller。　It　can　be　done　so　that　the　whole　Army　and　Fleet　will　go　chasing　after　Heller　like　mad　dogs！〃
〃Really？〃
Madison　took　the　clipping　book　he　had　been　carrying。　He　flopped　it　open　on　the　desk　before　Lombar。　〃These　stories　are　just　trial　balloons。　I　wrote　every　one。　They'll　print　anything　I　issue。　All　I　have　to　do　is　use　the　media；　and　the　Army　and　the　Fleet　will　be　in　your　hands！〃
Lombar　was　staring　at　the　book；　leafing　through　it。　〃They　are　publishing　what　you　say？〃
〃I　control　the　media　of　the　Confederacy。　It's　just　a　tool。　I　can　use　it　to　whip　up　a　storm　that　will　give　you　all　the　support　you　will　ever　need　for　anything　you　want　to　do。　I　can　mold　public　opinion　like　it　was　clay！　And　that　is　the　key　to　all　your　projects。〃
〃Miraculous！〃　said　Lombar；　still　staring　at　the　book。　〃Crobe？　A　hero？〃　Yet　here　were　touched…up　pictures　of　Crobe；　front　page！　Laudatory！　Paper　after　paper！
〃There；　you　see？　And　that's　just　an　exercise　to　try　my　muscle。　A　nothing。〃
〃Madison；　if　you　can　make　them　think　that　that　demented　old　criminal　is　a　hero；　then　it　should　be　no　difficulty　at　all　to　make　a　deserving；　preselected　man　like　me。。。〃
〃An　emperor；〃　Madison　finished　for　him。
Hisst's　yellow　eyes　grew　round　and　then　began　to　glow。　He　stood　up；　towering　over　Madison　a　foot。　He　took　one　of　Madison's　hands　in　his　and　stroked　it。　Then　he　turned　and　bawled　toward　the　door；　〃CHIEF　CLERK！　GIVE　THIS　MAN　MADISON　EVERYTHING　HE　WANTS！　EVERYTHING；　YOU　UNDERSTAND；　OR　I　WILL　HAVE　YOUR　HEAD！〃

Chapter　4

Outside　the　sun　had　almost　set。　The　square　was　nearly　deserted　and　the　Model　99　looked　lonely　in　the　rubble。
Madison　handed　Cun　an　enormous　stack　of　printouts；　gave　Flick　an　address　card　and　got　in。
〃You　had　us　worried；〃　said　Flick　as　he　got　the　Model　99　moving。　〃Cun　was　talking　to　the　driver　of　that　general's　tank　beside　us：　he　said　that　was　the　whole　Apparatus　General　Staff　in　there　planning　a　full…scale　invasion。　When　he　said　'Blito…P3'　we　flipped！　Ain't　that　the　planet　you're　from？〃
Madison　was　lost　in　thought　and　did　not　reply。
〃Now；　I'm　from　Calabar；〃　said　Flick。　〃All　that　war　over　there　worries　me。　They　slaughter　whole　towns；　butcher　the　kids；　rape　the　women；　burn　the　lot。　I　should　think　your　hair　was　standing　on　end　thinking　of　the　Apparatus　invading　your　planet。〃
〃Oh；　war　is　just　war；〃　said　Madison　in　a　bored　voice。　〃I'm　a　PR　man。　Most　wars　are　started　by　PRs。　So　what's　there　to　be　excited　about？〃
〃Listen　to　that；　Cun；〃　said　Flick。　〃What　a　cool　one！　But　I　guess　that　kind　of　attitude　goes　along　with　being　a　murderer。　And　speaking　of　murder；　get　your　stinger　out；　Cun。　This　neighborhood　we're　moving　into　is　a　perfect　'X　marks　the　spot。'〃
They　pulled　up　before　a　place　that　was　more　fallen　down　than　standing：　the　reek　of　garbage　assailed　their　noses。　Madison　walked　up　some　steps　at　the　risk　of　a　broken　ankle　and　banged　on　a　door。
A　man　with　two　tufts　of　gray　hair　standing　out　on　either　side　of　his　head　poked　his　nose　out。　〃Go　away。　I've　just　this　minute　gotten　home。　I'm　entitled　to　a　little　peace。〃
〃Is　your　name　Bawtch？〃　said　Madison。
Bawtch　tried　to　close　the　door　but　Madison's　foot　was　in　it。　〃I've　e　to　you　for　information　about　a　man　named　Gris。〃
〃GRIS！　Get　out　of　here！〃
〃He's　in　the　Royal　prison；〃　said　Madison；　〃laughing　at　you　all。　I'm　trying　to　get　him　brought　to　trial。〃
〃e　in！〃　said　Bawtch。
For　a　revelatory　half　an　hour；　Madison；　in　Bawtch's　best　chair；　listened　entranced。　〃So　then；〃　he　finally　said；　〃I　could　count　on　you　as　a　character　witness。〃
〃I'd　walk　across　the　Great　Desert　just　for　a　chance　to　testify；〃　said　Bawtch。
〃And　if　I　asked　you　to　give　a　lecture　on　him；　you'd　talk？〃　said　Madison。
〃Indeed　I　would；〃　said　Bawtch。　〃Now；　thinking　this　over；　I　can　give　you　a　couple　names。　They're　just　down　the　street。〃　He　wrote　an　address　and　handed　it　across。
At　the　door；　Bawtch　shook　him　emotionally　by　the　hand。　〃Count　on　me；　Madison。〃
They　rolled　around　the　corner　and　down　a　hill。　They　halted　before　a　very　decayed　boarding　house…For　Gentlemen　Officers；　it　said　on　a　twisted　sign。
A　harsh…faced　woman　came　to　the　door。　Madison　had　learned　his　lesson：　〃I'm　here　to　get　you　to　help　me　hang　Gris。　I　presume　your　name　is　Meeley。　You　were　once　his　landlady。〃
〃To　help　you　hang。。。〃　She　whirled　suddenly　and　yelled　in　the　direction　of　the　kitchen。　〃SKE！　E　OUT　HERE！　WE'RE　IN　LUCK！　SOMEBODY　WANTS　TO　HANG　GRIS！〃
Madison　found　himself　in　a　parlor；　drinking　hot　jolt。　He　listened　while　Ske；　Gris's　old　driver；　poured　out　his　tale　of　woe；　interrupted　with　curses　and　tales　of　woe　of　her　own　by　Meeley。　He　gathered　that　Gris　had　given　them　both　counterfeit　bills　and　had　they　tried　to　pass　them　they　would　have　been　executed。　But；　knowing　Gris；　instead　they　had　gone　straight　to　the　Finance　Police　with　plaints　of　their　own。　Their　bitterness　against　Gris　had　bound　them　close　together。
Oh；　yes；　they'd　testify　at　any　trial。　Gladly；　gladly；　gladly！　At　a　lecture？　Wel