lrh.villainyvictorious-第58部分

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hs　and　let's　gamble　again　that　he　will　cancel　your　rebel　status　and　proclaim　you　successor。　And　then　gamble　that　the　Fleet　and　Army　stay　out　of　it。　And　then　gamble　that　we　put　up　such　a　ferocious　defense　that　we　cripple　the　Apparatus。〃
Mortiiy　shook　his　head。　〃Please　don't　use　that　word　'gamble'　again！　You're　painting　the　thinnest　forlorn　hope　I　ever　heard　of！〃
〃I'm　not　through；　Your　Highness。　Then　suppose　we　secretly　tell　Hisst　that　the　Emperor　is　here。〃
〃WHAT？〃
〃He　will　know　then　that　we　aren't　going　to　make　a　public　announcement。〃
〃We　can't　anyway！　I'm　not　in　line　for　the　throne　anymore。　It　would　not　do　us　any　good　to　announce　it　publicly。　It　would　bring　the　whole　pack　down　on　us！　No；　the　only　thing　that　would　save　this　is　for　my　father　to　wake　up　and　proclaim　Hisst　a　traitor　by　Royal　proclamation。〃
〃One　other　possibility。　I　inform　Hisst　secretly　that　that　is　exactly　what　will　happen　if　he　brings　the　Fleet　and　Army　into　this　war。〃
〃He'd　read　it　as　a　declaration　that　the　Emperor　was　dead　or　incapacitated。〃
〃But　he　wouldn't　be　sure。〃
〃Royal　Officer　Heller；　you　are　insane！〃
〃That　may　or　may　not　be；〃　said　Heller；　〃but　I　can　hazard　that　such　a　message　would　drive　Hisst　close　to　or　over　the　border　into　insanity。　You　were　an　acplished　Fleet　officer；　Your　Highness。　You　are　aware　of　the　principle　that　unstabilizing　enemy　mand　can　often　get　him　to　do　something　rash；　foolhardy　or　do　nothing　at　all。〃
〃Don't　lecture　me　on　strategy　and　tactics；　Officer　Heller。　I　was　fighting　battles　when　you　weren't　even　weaned。　There　is　another　principle　and　that　is；　when　an　opportunity　presents　itself　and　one　does　nothing；　one　is　almost　certain　to　lose。　Yours　is　the　craziest　battle　plan　I　ever　heard　of。　I　will　adopt　it。　Go　bring　my　father。　I　give　you　my　word　I　will　not　kill　him。　We　will　put　him　in　a　nice；　safe　cave。　You　can　put　the　rest　of　the　plan　into　effect。　He　may；　as　you　say；　recover。　Until　then；　we　live　on　hope。　You　are　crazy；　Officer　Heller。　I　like　you。　MEN！　UNTIE　HIS　HANDS！〃

Chapter　7

It　was　dusk　and　it　was　raining。　Shining　rivulets　of　water　ran　from　the　semidead　spaceships　of　Emergency　Fleet　Reserve。
As　the　tug　Prince　Caucalsia　came　to　silent　rest　on　its　tail；　mander　Crup　and　old　Atty　stared　nervously　as　Jettero　Heller；　not　waiting　for　a　ladder；　slid　down　from　the　airlock　on　a　safety　line。
〃My　Gods；　Jet！〃　mander　Crup　whispered；　〃you've　got　no　business　here。　There's　a　general　warrant　out　for　your　arrest！〃
〃Hello；　mander！　Hello；　Atty！〃　said　Heller　in　a　loud　voice。
〃Sh；　sh；　sh！〃　they　both　said　in　chorus。
〃What　are　you　shushing　about？〃　said　Heller。　〃I　can't　hear　you　in　this　rain！〃
〃Arrest！〃　said　Crup。　〃Lombar　Hisst　has　had　his　agents　tearing　Voltar　apart　trying　to　find　where　you　are！〃
〃Look；〃　said　Heller；　again　in　a　loud　voice；　〃if　a　Fleet　officer　can't　land　at　a　Fleet　base　without　worrying　about　'drunks；'　I　don't　know　what　the　Confederacy　is　ing　to。〃
〃It's　ing　to　Hell　Eight　very　rapidly；〃　said　Crup。　〃Hisst　is　calling　himself　a　dictator　and　the　Apparatus　is　in　charge　of　everything。〃
〃Not　in　charge　of　me；〃　said　Heller。　〃Loan　me　a　fast　aircar　and；　Atty；　get　this　ship　full　of　food　and　things。
Particularly　lots　of　Food。　Put　it　on　the　Exterior　Division　account　I　gave　you　last　time。〃
〃He's　crazy；〃　said　Crup。
〃Couldn't　agree　more；〃　said　Heller。
An　hour　later；　the　old　gray…haired　enlisted　man　who　served　as　clerk　at　the　Fleet　Officer's　Club　was　taking　advantage　of　a　rainy　night　to　try　to　balance　his　accounts。　He　heard　a　sound　at　the　counter；　he　looked　up　and　saw　someone　in　a　streaming　raincloak　standing　there。　He　went　over。
〃Could　I　have　my　room　key？〃
The　old　clerk　stared。　He　went　white。　〃Good　Gods！〃　he　whispered。　〃There's　a　general　warrant　out　for　your　arrest！　Agents　have　been　here　three　times　in　the　past　week　checking　to　see　if。。。〃
〃First　things　first；〃　said　Heller。　〃My　key！　And　then　send　some　hot　tup　and　sweetbuns　to　my　room。　Did　you　know　it's　wet　out　there？〃
〃Jet；　you're　crazy！〃
〃Always　was。　Can't　take　time　to　reform　now。　Tell　Bis　of　Fleet　Intelligence　to　e　up　if　he's　around　and　has　a　moment。〃
Ten　minutes　later；　a　stunned　Bis　entered　Heller's　posh　suite。　He　heard　Heller　in　the　shower　and　went　to　the　door。
〃Jet！〃　said　Bis　in　a　stage　whisper；　〃there's　a　general　warrant　out　for　your　arrest！〃
〃Speak　up！〃　said　Heller　in　a　loud　voice。　〃Hand　me　that　bottle　of　soap；　would　you？〃
〃Oh；　Jet；　you're　crazy！〃
〃Seems　to　be　a　universal　opinion。　How　you　been？　Winning　any　bullet　ball　games　lately？〃
〃Oh；　Jet；　you're　hopeless。〃
〃Maybe；　but　not　quite。　He　who　hath　no　hope　is　not　long　in　the　spaceways。　Hand　me　a　towel；　would　you？〃
Heller；　towel　wrapped　around　him；　was　soon　sitting　in　a　living　room　chair；　drinking　hot　tup。
Bis　declined　a　canister。　〃I　don't　think　you　realize　how　serious　all　this　is；〃　he　said；　perched　nervously　on　the　edge　of　a　couch。
〃Oh；　I　do；〃　said　Heller。　〃Going　out　in　rain　like　this　could　make　even　the　strongest　men　catch　cold。〃
〃Jet！　The　Apparatus　is　all　over　the　place！　They　want　your　blood！　And　they're　a　（bleeped）　bloodthirsty　lot！〃
〃I'm　glad　you　brought　that　up；〃　said　Heller。　〃Remember　that　fellow　Gris　I　tried　to　deliver　to　the　Royal　prison？〃
〃I　know。　The　papers　are　screaming　about　him。〃
〃Well；　listen；〃　said　Heller。　〃ing　in；　I　heard　a　news　bulletin　that　he　was　being　brought　to　trial。　Apparently　he's　even　going　to　have　some　attorneys　defending　him。　Do　you　recall　those　boxes　of　papers　I　sent　you？〃
〃The　Gris　blackmail　file　on　the　Apparatus？〃
〃Right。　I　want　you　to　hand　those　over　to　his　attorneys。〃
〃WHAT？〃　Bis　stared　at　him。　〃But　they'd　use　those　to　try　to　get　him　off。〃
〃Possibly。　But　it　sure　would　upset　a　lot　of　people　in　the　Apparatus。〃
Suddenly　Bis　barked　a　laugh。　〃You　know；　I　think　it　would。　I'll　do　it。　But　listen；　Jet；　you've　got　to　get　out　of　here。　They　have　this　place　watched。〃
〃Oh；　I'm　leaving　very　shortly；〃　said　Heller。　〃Just　as　soon　as　you　get　me　a　mustard…colored　Apparatus　officer's　uniform　and　an　Apparatus　airbus。〃
〃WHAT？〃
〃Don't　tell　me　Fleet　Intelligence　hasn't　collected　some　to　use　in　espionage　on　another　service。〃
Bis　held　his　face　in　his　hands。　〃Now　I　know　why　a　bat　engineer　has　such　short　life　expectancy。　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
〃The　less　you　know　about　that；　the　less　you　can　tell　the　torturers。　Get　me　a　false　identoplate　along　with　it。　You've　got　lots　of　time。　Shall　we　say　fifteen　minutes　at　the　back　door？〃
Bis　stared　at　him　numbly。
Two　hours　later；　Heller　landed　the　Apparatus…marked　airbus　on　the　landing　target　at　Camp　Kill。　The　rain　had　not　reached　over　the　mountains　into　the　Great　Desert　but　the　airbus　bore　signs　of　it：　it　was　suspiciously　clean　for　an　Apparatus　vehicle。
The　guard　officer　came　into　the　glaring　target　lights。　He　looked　at　the　smudgy　identoplate　that　said　〃Captain　Fal。〃
〃I　won't　be　here　long；〃　said　Heller。　〃I've　e　to　pay　a　gambling　debt　to　Captain　Snelz。〃
〃Pickings　in　town　must　be　good　lately；〃　said　the　guard　officer。
〃Couldn't　be　better；〃　said　Heller。
〃Thanks　for　the　tip　that　he'll　have　money。　He's　in　those　dugouts　back　under　the　hill。〃
Heller　got　out。　He　was　wearing　big　sand　goggles。　He　walked　at　a　leisurely　pace　through　the　dusty；　cluttered　camp。
A　sentry　stood　outside　a　dugout　door。　Before　he　could　challenge；　Heller　yelled；　〃Hey；　Snelz；　you　got　any　thudder　dice　for　sale？〃
There　was　an　instant　flurry　inside。　Then　a　white　face；　just　a　blur　in　the　night；　peered　out　of　the　low　dug…out　entrance。
Heller　walked　boldly　past　the　sentry　and　entered。
In　a　hoarse　whisper；　Snelz　said；　〃My　Gods；　Jet！　Don't　you　know　there's　a　general　warrant　out　for　your　arrest？〃
〃You　know；〃　said　Heller；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃if　people　keep　telling　me；　sooner　or　later　I'll　believe　it。〃
Snelz　shuddered。　He　turned　and　made　a　gesture　at　a　prostitute　who　lay　naked　on　a　far　bunk。　She　grabbed　her　clothes　and　scuttled　out。
Snelz　was　tucking　his　shirt　in　his　pants　and　trying　to　drop　the　door　curtain　at　the　same　time。
〃Heller；〃　he　said；　〃you're　crazy。〃
〃No；　I'm　thirsty。〃
Snelz；　both　his　shirt　collar　and　his　hair　standing　up；　tried　to　find　something　that　hadn't　been　emptied　in　the　debris　on　the　table　and；　after　upsetting　several　bottles　and　canisters；　got　some　sparklewater　poured。　Heller　sat　down　and　sipped　it。
The　ex…Fleet　marine　sat　nervously　across　from　him。　〃Jet；　there's　a　whisper　out　that　Hisst　will　pay　a　hundred　thousand　credits　cash　for　clues　as　to　where　you　are。〃
〃Cheap；〃　said　Heller。　〃The　man　always　was　cheap。〃
〃Why　are　you　HERE　of　all　places？〃
Heller　reached　into　his　Apparatus　tunic　and　pulled　out　an　envelope。　He　laid　it　before　Snelz。　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃has　got　to　be　delivered　to　Lombar　Hisst。〃
〃I　haven't　got　access　to　him；〃　said　Snelz。　〃I'm　only　a　captain。〃
〃Well；　I　wouldn't　think　it　would　be　healthy　to　give　it　to　him；〃　said　Heller。　〃If　he　received　it　and　those　seals　were　disturbed；　my　guess　is　that　he　would　very　likely　execute　the　bearer　just　to　be　sure　his　mouth　stayed　shut。〃
Snelz　looked　at　the　outer　cover。　It　said：

TO　LOMBAR　HISST
FROM　JETTERO　HELLER
Private。　Personal。　Secret。

Snelz's　hand　began　to　shake。　〃This　could　get　me　killed　just　looking　at　it！　Heart　failure！〃
Heller　laid　down　a　five…hundred…credit　note。　〃Just　so　you　don't　feel　too　bad　being　deprived　of　that　hundred　thousand。〃
Snelz　was　shocked。　〃I　wouldn't　ever　turn　you　in。　You're　my　friend！　You　don't　have　to　pay　me　anything　either！〃
〃Well；　I　told　the　landing　guard　officer　I　was　here　to　pay　a　gambling　debt；　so　he'll　be　on　to　you　for　drinks；　so　I　don't　want　this　to　cost　you　anything　personally。　Now　think；　do　you　know　of　a　way　to　get　this　into　Hisst's　hand？〃
Snelz　thought　about　it。　Then　he　suddenly　smiled　brightly。　〃Yes；　I　think　I　can　do　that。　And　without　a　hitch。〃
〃It's　very　important　that　he　get　it。　No　slips。〃
〃No　slips；〃　said　Snelz。
〃Good；〃　said　Heller。　〃That　pletes　my　business。　Would　you　like　to　indulge　in　a　few　passes　with　the　dice？〃
〃Oh；　Jet；　please　to　the　Gods；　get　out　of　here。　You　have　both　our　bodies　halfway　down　into　that　chasm　right　this　minute。　Don't　you　realize　that　Hisst　es　to　the　tower　office　up　there　almost　every　day？　He　might　be　in　this　camp　right　now！〃
〃Then　it　will　be　very　easy　to　get　the　message　to　him；　won't　it？〃　said　Heller。　〃Well；　you　seem　to　have　lost　your　gambling　fever；　so　I　guess　I'll　run　along。　I'll　stop　by　the　canteen。。。。〃
〃Jet；〃　said　Snelz　in　a　tight　and　urgent　voice；　〃you　get。