lrh.villainyvictorious-第61部分

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ed　the　courtroom　with　their　stench。
Gris　was　being　more　confident；　even　cockier；　in　the　limelight。　When；　after　a　day　or　two　or　even　three　was　spent　upon　a　crime；　he　would　again　be　put　upon　the　stand；　he　would　confess　that　the　evidence　was　true；　that　he　had　done　it　and　that　as　an　Apparatus　officer　he　pleaded　guilty　to　it　BUT　he　would　qualify　the　statement　by　declaring　each　time；　〃JETTERO　HELLER　MADE　ME　DO　IT。　IT　WAS　ALL　BECAUSE　OF　HIM。〃
Headlines；　headlines；　headlines；　hours　and　hours　of　Homeview。　Day　after　day。　Week　after　week。　The　public　outrage　against　this　Apparatus　officer　was　growing　to　such　a　pitch　that　Lord　Turn　borrowed　tanks　and　stationed　them　in　front　of　every　gate。　Not　only　was　the　courtroom　jammed　each　day　but　the　whole　hill　on　which　the　castle　stood　was　a　constant　jam　of　spectators。　Every　Homeview　set　on　Voltar　was　playing　to　crowds。
Several　times　Lord　Turn　addressed　the　Gris　attorneys。　〃How　in　the　name　of　anything　holy　is　this　continuous　blackening　of　your　client　ever　going　to　get　him　off？〃
The　attorneys　calmly　ignored　Turn's　bafflement。　They　just　continued　to　produce　more　crimes。　Gris　continued　to　plead　guilty　to　them。　Gris　continued　to　assert　that　Heller　had　made　him　do　them。　And　so　the　show　went　on。
The　Fleet　was　being　absolutely　livid。　These　accusations　by　a　〃drunk；〃　sitting　there　and　grinning　now　in　his　black　Apparatus　colonel's　uniform；　continually　accusing　a　Royal　officer　of　the　Fleet…and　of　all　people；　Jettero　Heller…and　never　explaining　for　a　moment　how　or　why　he　had　made　Gris　do　it　was　getting　to　be　a　lot　more　than　the　Fleet　could　take。
The　court　was　only　running　mornings；　and　one　afternoon　Madison　received　an　urgent　summons　from　Lorn…bar　Hisst　to　e　at　once　to　the　Apparatus　plaza　in　Government　City。
He　flew　in　but　was　diverted　by　an　Apparatus　patrol　to　an　entrance　through　the　cliff　below。　Even　so；　he　had　a　glimpse　of　the　plaza：　it　was　packed　with　Fleet　staff　cars　bearing　admirals'　pennants。
Lombar　Hisst　was　in　a　dungeon　room　under　his　office。　He　met　Madison　the　instant　the　PR　man　stepped　out　of　the　airbus。
〃You've　got　to　help　me；〃　said　the　agitated　Hisst。　〃There's　a　deputation　up　there。　The　most　senior　officers　of　the　Fleet。　The　Fleet　outnumbers　the　Apparatus　ten　to　one；　even　more。　They're　very　angry　about　what　Gris　is　saying！　What　if　they　mutiny？〃
〃Now　listen；〃　said　Madison；　in　a　calm；　reassuring　voice；　〃this　is　just　a　problem　in　PR　and　we　are　being　very　successful。　The　basics　are　Coverage；　Controversy　and　Confidence。　We　surely　have　Coverage：　every　paper　is　giving　us　front　page　every　day　and　the　Homeview　exposure　is　terrific。　This　deputation　is　vital　Controversy。　We　could　not　possibly　do　without　it。　Now　all　we　have　to　add　is　maximum　Confidence。〃
〃That's　what's　getting　shaky；〃　said　Lombar。　〃Mine。〃
〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　said　Madison；　〃this　is　all　part　of　the　plan。　This　is　a　heaven…sent　opportunity　for　image　building。　You　can　raise　public　confidence　to　the　stars　with　it！　This　is　just　another　great　chance　to　be　a　STRONG　MAN！　Somebody　not　to　be　trifled　with！　Now　give　me　one　of　those　presigned　blanks　we　got　from　the　Grand　Council。　I'll　send　for　my　camera　crew。　You　just　let　those　admirals　cool　their　heels　while　I　set　this　up。〃
Lombar；　much　reassured；　did　as　he　was　told。
An　hour　later；　in　his　cave　of　an　office；　before　the　cameras　of　Madison's　crew；　he　stood　tall　in　his　red　uniform　and　glared　at　the　deputation　in　powder　blue。
In　a　roaring　voice；　into　the　incredulous　faces　of　senior　Fleet　officers　he　had　not　even　invited　to　sit；　Lombar　Hisst；　using　the　Madison　prepared　speech；　stormed；　〃You　are　here　to　plain　about　the　statements　of　the　prisoner　Gris。　I　shall　have　you　know　that　he　is　not　representative　of　the　Apparatus。　Apparatus　officers　are　honest　and　upright　men；　beyond　reproach。　That　is　more　than　I　can　say　for　officers　of　the　Fleet。　You　have　dared　to　question　what　I；　the　Dictator　of　Voltar；　have　ordered。　Therefore；　know　all；　by　order　of　the　Grand　Council　and　signed　by　the　Lord　of　the　Fleet；　its　member；　the　following　regulations　are　in　effect　at　once：

〃A）　No　officer　or　personnel　of　the　Fleet　may　mention　the　name　of　Jettero　Heller。
〃B）　No　officer　or　personnel　of　the　Fleet　may　speak　ill　of　the　Apparatus。
〃C）　No　officer　or　personnel　of　the　Fleet　may　plain　about　myself；　Lombar　Hisst；　in　any　way；　or　question　any　order　that　I　issue；　no　matter　how　or　where。
〃D）　Fleet　officers　must　salute　any　officer　or　personnel　of　the　Apparatus。
〃E）　Any　offender　against　these　regulations　shall　be　docked　a　year's　pay。
〃The　deputation　before　me　is　dismissed。　Get　out　of　here　at　once！〃

A　senior；　gray…haired　admiral；　the　whole　front　of　his　uniform　gold　with　decorations；　stepped　forward。　〃Hisst；　I　can　see　from　here　that　the　order　you　hold　in　your　hand　bears　no　Royal　seal。　It　cannot　therefore　be　enforced；　as　it　has　no　validity。〃
Hisst　drew　himself　up　like　a　red　thunderstorm。　The　cameras　were　rolling。　〃You；　sir；　have　just　violated　Section　C　of　this　issue　twice。　You　have　questioned　an　order　I　gave　and　the　deputation　which　came　to　me　so　impudently　has　not　left！　Therefore；〃　and　he　reached　down　to　his　desk　for　another　order　Madison　had　just　typed　in　case；　〃the　entire　Fleet　is　restricted　to　its　ships　and　bases　and　this　order　calls　upon　the　Army　to　enforce　it。　Now　salute　and　LEAVE！〃
They　did　not　salute。　They　left。
The　camera　crew　went　out　to　show　them　getting　into　the　airbuses。
Lombar　was　ecstatic。　〃They　obeyed！〃　he　said　to　Madison。　〃Did　you　see　their　faces？　Almost　purple！　But　they　are　cowed！　Why；　I　suddenly　realize　I　can　use　them　to　relieve　the　Apparatus　on　Calabar　and　begin　to　organize　the　invasion　of　Blito…P3　in　earnest！〃
〃Oh；　yes；　indeed；〃　said　Madison。　〃Today　you've　taken　a　giant　step　forward　to　assuming　total　power　and　the　Crown。〃
〃I　certainly　have；〃　said　Lombar；　expanding。　〃When　we　capture　Rockecenter　and　put　him　back　on　his　throne　there；　I'm　going　to　have　to　tell　him　what　a　truly　magnificent　aide　you　are。〃
Madison　grinned。
This　was　cream　on　top　of　cream。
Yes；　his　homeing　would　be　glorious。
He　just　had　to　make　sure　that　he　had　finished　his　job　with　Heller。

Chapter　3

Madison　felt　now　that　it　was　time　to　advance　his　program　a　notch。　According　to　his　notebooks；　with　this　trial；　so　far；　he　had　been　using　a　PR　technique　known　as　〃invidious　association。〃
Day　after　day；　as　the　gruesome　testimony　ran　on；　Lord　Turn　would　challenge　the　Gris　attorneys；　demanding　they　inform　him　exactly　what　this　or　that　crime　could　possibly　have　to　do　with　Jettero　Heller。　In　fact；　each　time　Gris　would　take　the　stand　again　to　admit　guilt　and　state　that　he　had　done　it　because　of　Heller；　Lord　Turn　would　lose　no　chance　to　again　demand　an　explanation…what　did　this　have　to　do　with　the　charge　against　Gris　and　what　did　it　have　to　do　with　Jettero　Heller？　But　the　Gris　attorneys　were　old；　experienced　hands　and；　with　this　legal　dodge　or　that；　would　insist　on　their　rights　to　present　the　case　IN　FULL　before　giving　any　explanation　of　relevance。　In　due　course；　they　solemnly　promised　Lord　Turn；　it　would　be　revealed　just　how　the　charge　of　bigamy　was　incurred　by　Gris　because　of　Heller。
The　image　of　Heller　was　being　surrounded　in　mystery。　Now　it　was　time　to　begin　to　give　it　more　substance。　To　a　master　of　PR　like　Madison；　it　was　just　child's　play。　The　next　move；　while　the　trial　continued；　was　to　begin　the　image　remold。　It　was　time　to　release　the　musical。
He　got　Hightee　Heller　on　the　viewer…phone。　〃I　understand；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　play；　The　Outlaw；　is　all　ready　to　hit　the　stage。〃
〃That's　true；〃　said　Hightee。　〃Sets　and　costumes；　music；　all　rehearsed　and　ready　to　go。　But　I　don't　think　this　is　a　wise　time　to　do　it。　It　has　political　connotations　and　the　political　scene　looks　pretty　rocky。〃
〃Oh；　heavens；〃　said　Madison；　〃is　that　all？　Forget　it。　I　can　absolutely　guarantee　that　no　harm　will　e　to　you。　Hisst　will　do　whatever　I　say。〃
〃I've　noticed　that；〃　said　Hightee。
〃Well；　e　on；　then；　be　a　sport。　The　people　hate　him　anyway　and　they　love　you。　He　wouldn't　dare　touch　you。　By　the　way；　you　haven't　heard　from　dear　Jettero；　have　you？〃
〃Oh；　when　I　showed　the　jewel；　a　Fleet　observer　wrote　in　and　said　he　was　certain；　from　the　way　an　Apparatus　fuel　dump　was　blown　up；　that　Jet　was　on　Calabar。　But　that's　impossible。　He'd　never　side　with　rebels。〃
Madison　knew　very　well　that　Heller　was　on　Calabar；　but　he　said；　〃Of　course　not。　Well；　shall　we　put　the　musical　on　the　planks　tomorrow　night？〃
〃If　you　can　guarantee　nothing　will　happen　to　members　of　the　cast。　We're　dealing　with　Apparatus　thugs；　you　know；　and　I　don't　want　my　friends　knocked　around。〃
The　shameless　Madison　said；　〃I　absolutely　guarantee　on　my　honor　as　a　gentleman；　nothing　at　all　will　happen　to　the　cast　and　no　harm　will　e　to　you。　Hisst　just　needs　a　bit　of　slowing　down；　that's　all。〃
〃All　right；〃　said　Hightee；　〃in　front　of　the　cameras　she　goes；　tomorrow　night；　live。　Good　viewing。〃
Madison　called　the　manager　of　Homeview　and　dictated　some　announcement　spots　to　go　on　the　air　at　once　and　continuing。　They　were　terrific　e…ons。　He　wanted　all　Voltar　in　front　of　sets　tomorrow　night　and　the　whole　Confederacy　right　after。
At　6：30　the　following　evening；　he　ran　down　Lombar　in　his　Government　City　office。　Madison　walked　in　looking　very　worried。
〃Chief；　in　just　a　few　minutes；　there　is　something　I　have　to　get　your　opinion　on。　I　tried　to　stop　it　but　they　are　so　bullheaded　over　at　Homeview。　They　wouldn't　listen；　and　furthermore；　they　wouldn't　even　tell　me　what　it　was　all　about。　You've　seen　the　spot　ads？〃
Lombar　was　reading　some　reports　of　fights　and　riots　between　the　Army　and　the　Fleet；　occasioned　by　the　Army　halfheartedly　trying　to　enforce　Fleet　quarantine　to　bases。　It　was　giving　him　some　satisfaction　to　see　them　quarrelling　with　each　other　instead　of　him。　His　confidence　was　rising。　The　strong…man　image　seemed　to　be　very　effective。　He　hardly　paid　any　attention　at　all　when　Madison　turned　on　the　Homeview。
The　spot　announcer　said；　〃In　just　fifteen　minutes　now；　the　new　HIGHTEE　HELLER　musical；　The　Outlaw；　will　e　to　you　live；　live；　live。　It　has　a　new　type　of　music　called　downbeat　that　has　never　been　heard　before。　It　has　a　cast　of　hundreds。　After　this　one　showing　on　Homeview　it　will　move　to　the　Joy　City　Amphitheater。　So　this　is　your　last　chance　to　view　it　free。　Hightee　Heller　takes　her　life　in　her　hands　to　bring　it　to　you。　So　rush　out　and　get　your　n