sk.runningman-第29部分

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　　〃Go　ahead；〃　he　told　her。
　　They　crept　up　to　the　bullhorn；　and　when　the　driver's　side　door　was　even　with　it；　she　opened　the　door　and　pulled　it　in。　It　was　red　and　white。　The　letters　G　and　A；　embossed　over　a　thunderbolt；　were　on　the　side。　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃How　far　are　we　from　the　main　building？〃　She　squinted。　〃A　quarter　of　a　mile；　I　guess。　〃　〃How　far　are　we　from　Lot　16？〃　〃Half　that。〃　〃Good。　That's　good。　Yeah。〃　He　realized　he　was　pulsively　biting　his　lips　and　tried　to　make　himself　stop。　His　head　hurt；　his　entire　body　ached　from　adrenaline。　〃Keep　driving。　Go　up　to　the　entrance　of　Lot　16　and　then　stop。〃　〃Then　what？〃　He　smiled　tightly　and　unhappily。　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃is　going　to　be　the　site　of　Richards's　Last　Stand。〃
　　
　　Minus　036　and　COUNTING
　　When　she　stopped　the　car　at　the　entrance　of　the　parking　lot；　the　reaction　was　quick　and　immediate。　〃KEEP　MOVING；〃　the　bullhorn　prodded。　〃THE　AIRPORT　POLICE　ARE　INSIDE。　AS　SPECIFIED。〃
　　Richards　raised　his　own　bullhorn　for　the　first　time。　〃TEN　MINUTES；〃　he　said。　〃I　HAVE　TO　THINK。〃
　　Silence　again。
　　〃Don't　you　realize　you're　pushing　them　to　do　it？〃　she　asked　him　in　a　strange；　controlled　voice。
　　He　uttered　a　weird；　squeezed　giggle　that　sounded　like　steam　under　high　pressure　escaping　from　a　teapot。　〃They　know　I'm　getting　set　to　screw　them。　They　don't　know　how。〃
　　〃You　can't；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　you　see　that　yet？〃
　　〃Maybe　I　can；〃　he　said。
　　
　　Minus　035　and　COUNTING
　　〃Listen：〃
　　〃When　the　Games　first　started；　people　said　they　were　the　world's　greatest　entertainment　because　there　had　never　been　anything　like　them。　But　nothing's　that　original。　There　were　the　gladiators　in　Rome　who　did　the　same　thing。　And　there's　another　game；　too。　Poker。　In　poker　the　highest　hand　is　a　royal　straight…flush　in　spades。　And　the　toughest　kind　of　poker　is　five…card　stud。　Four　cards　up　on　the　table　and　one　in　the　hole。　For　nickels　and　dimes　anyone　can　stay　in　the　game。　It　costs　you　maybe　half　a　buck　to　see　the　other　guy's　hole　card。　But　when　you　push　the　stakes　up；　the　hole　card　starts　to　look　bigger　and　bigger。　After　a　dozen　rounds　of　betting；　with　your　life's　savings　and　car　and　house　on　the　line；　that　hole　card　stands　taller　than　Mount　Everest。　The　Running　Man　is　like　that。　Only　I'm　not　supposed　to　have　any　money　to　bet　with。　They've　got　the　men；　the　firepower；　and　the　time。　We're　playing　with　their　cards　and　their　chips　in　their　casino。　When　I'm　caught；　I'm　supposed　to　fold。　But　maybe　I　stacked　the　deck　a　bit。　I　called　the　newsie　line　in　Rockland。　The　newsies；　that's　my　ten　of　spades。　They　had　to　give　me　safe　conduct；　because　everyone　was　watching。　There　were　no　more　chances　for　neat　disposal　after　that　first　roadblock。　It's　funny；　too；　because　it's　the　Free…Vee　that　gives　the　Network　the　clout　that　it　has。　If　you　see　it　on　the　Free…Vee；　it　must　be　true。　So　if　the　whole　country　saw　the　police　murder　my　hostage…a　well…to…do；　middle…class　female　hostage…they　would　have　to　believe　it。　They　can't　risk　it；　the　system　is　laboring　under　too　much　suspension　of　belief　now。　Funny；　huh？　My　people　are　here。　There's　been　trouble　on　the　road　already。　If　the　troopers　and　the　Hunters　turn　all　their　guns　on　us；　something　nasty　might　happen。　A　man　told　me　to　stay　near　my　own　people。　He　was　more　right　than　he　knew。　One　of　the　reasons　they've　been　handling　me　with　the　kid　gloves　on　is　because　my　people　are　here。
　　〃My　people；　they're　the　jack　of　spades。
　　〃The　queen；　the　lady　in　the　affair；　is　you。
　　〃I'm　the　king；　the　black　man　with　the　sword。
　　〃These　are　my　up　cards。　The　media；　the　possibility　of　real　trouble；　you；　me。　Together　they're　nothing。　A　pair　will　take　them。　Without　the　ace　of　spades　it's　junk。　With　the　ace；　it's　unbeatable。〃
　　He　suddenly　picked　up　her　handbag；　an　imitation　alligator…skin　clutch　purse　with　a　small　silver　chain。　He　stuffed　it　into　his　coat　pocket　where　it　bulged　prominently。
　　〃I　haven't　got　the　ace；〃　he　said　softly。　〃With　a　little　more　forethought；　I　could　have　had　it。　But　I　do　have　a　hole　card…one　they　can't　see。　So　I'm　going　to　run　a　bluff。〃
　　〃You　don't　have　a　chance；〃　she　said　hollowly。　〃What　can　you　do　with　my　bag？　Shoot　them　with　a　lipstick？〃
　　〃I　think　that　they've　been　playing　a　crooked　game　so　long　that　they'll　fold。　I　think　they　are　yellow　straight　through　from　the　back　to　belly。
　　〃RICHARDS！　TEN　MINUTES　ARE　UP！〃
　　Richards　put　the　bullhorn　to　his　lips。
　　
　　Minus　034　and　COUNTING
　　〃LISTEN　TO　ME　CAREFULLY！〃　His　voice　boomed　and　rolled　across　the　flat　jetport　acres。　Police　waited　tensely。　The　crowd　shuffled。　〃I　AM　CARRYING　TWELVE　POUNDS　OF　DYNACORE　HI…IMPACT　PLASTIC　EXPLOSIVE　IN　MY　COAT　POCKET…THE　VARIETY　THEY　CALL　BLACK　IRISH。　TWELVE　POUNDS　IS　ENOUGH　TO　TAKE　OUT　EVERYTHING　AND　EVERYONE　WITHIN　A　THIRD　OF　A　MILE　AND　PROBABLY　ENOUGH　TO　EXPLODE　THE　JETPORT　FUEL　STORAGE　TANKS。　IF　YOU　DON'T　FOLLOW　MY　INSTRUCTIONS　TO　THE　LETTER；　I'LL　BLOW　YOU　ALL　TO　HELL。　A　GENERAL　ATOMICS　IMPLODER　RING　IS　SET　INTO　THE　EXPLOSIVE。　I　HAVE　IT　PULLED　OUT　TO　HALF…COCK。　ONE　JIGGLE　AND　YOU　CAN　ALL　PUT　YOUR　HEADS　BETWEEN　YOUR　LEGS　AND　KISS　YOUR　ASSES　GOODBYE。〃
　　There　were　screams　from　the　crowd　followed　by　sudden　tidelike　movement。　The　police　found　they　had　no　one　to　hold　back。　Men　and　women　were　tearing　across　roads　and　fields；　streaming　out　the　gates　and　scaling　the　cyclone　fence　around　the　jetport。　Their　faces　were　blank　and　avid　with　panic。
　　The　police　shuffled　uneasily。　On　no　face　did　Amelia　Williams　see　disbelief。
　　〃RICHARDS？〃　The　huge　voice　boomed。　　〃THAT'S　A　LIE。　E　OUT。〃
　　〃I　AM　ING　OUT；〃　he　boomed　back。　〃BUT　BEFORE　I　DO；　LET　ME　GIVE　YOU　YOUR　MARCHING　ORDERS。　I　WANT　A　JET　FULLY　FUELED　AND　READY　TO　FLY　WITH　A　SKELETON　CREW。　THIS　JET　WILL　BE　A　LOCKHEED/GA　OR　A　DELTA　SUPERSONIC。　THE　RANGE　MUST　BE　AT　LEAST　TWO　THOUSAND　MILES。　THIS　WILL　BE　READY　IN　NINETY　MINUTES。〃
　　Cameras　reeling　and　cranking　away。　Flashbulbs　popping。　The　press　looked　uneasy　too。　But；　of　course；　there　was　the　psychic　pressure　of　those　five　hundred　million　watchers　to　be　considered。　They　were　real。　The　job　was　real。　And　Richards's　twelve　pounds　of　Black　Irish　might　be　just　a　figment　of　his　admirable　criminal　mentality。
　　〃RICHARDS？〃　A　man　dressed　only　in　dark　slacks　and　a　white　shirt　rolled　up　to　the　elbows　in　spite　of　the　fall　chill　strolled　out　from　behind　a　gaggle　of　unmarked　cars　fifty　yards　beyond　Lot　16。　He　was　carrying　a　bullhorn　larger　than　Richards's。　From　this　distance；　Amelia　could　see　only　that　he　was　wearing　small　spectacles；　they　flashed　in　the　dying　sunlight。
　　〃I　AM　EVAN　McCONE。〃
　　He　knew　the　name；　of　course。　It　was　supposed　to　strike　fear　into　his　heart。　He　was　not　surprised　to　find　that　it　did　strike　fear　into　his　heart。　Evan　McCone　was　the　Chief　Hunter。　A　direct　descendent　of　J。　Edgar　Hoover　and　Heinrich　Himmler；　he　thought。　The　personification　of　the　steel　inside　the　Network's　cathode　glove。　A　boogeyman。　A　name　to　frighten　bad　children　with。　If　you　don't　stop　playing　with　matches；　Johnny；　I'll　let　Evan　McCone　out　of　your　closet。
　　Fleetingly；　in　the　eye　of　memory；　he　recalled　a　dream…voice。　Are　you　the　man；　little　brother？
　　〃YOU'RE　LYING；　RICHARDS。　WE　KNOW　IT。　A　MAN　WITHOUT　A　GA　RATING　HAS　NO　WAY　OF　GETTING　DYNACORE。　LET　THE　WOMAN　GO　AND　E　OUT。　WE　DON'T　WANT　TO　HAVE　TO　KILL　HER；　TOO。〃
　　Amelia　made　a　weak；　wretched　hissing　noise。
　　Richards　boomed：　〃THAT　MAY　GO　OVER　IN　SHAKER　HEIGHTS；　LITTLE　MAN。　IN　THE　STREETS　YOU　CAN　BUY　DYNACORE　EVERY　TWO　BLOCKS　IF　YOU'VE　GOT　CASH　ON　THE　LINE。　AND　I　DID。　GAMES　FEDERATION　MONEY。　YOU　HAVE　EIGHTY…SIX　MINUTES。〃
　　〃NO　DEAL。〃
　　〃McCONE？〃
　　〃YES。〃
　　〃I'M　SENDING　THE　WOMAN　OUT　NOW。　SHE'S　SEEN　THE　IRISH。〃　Amelia　was　looking　at　him　with　stunned　horror。　〃MEANWHILE；　YOU　BETTER　GET　IT　IN　GEAR。　EIGHTY…FIVE　MINUTES。　I'M　NOT　BLUFFING；　ASSHOLE。　ONE　BULLET　AND　WE'RE　ALL　GOING　TO　THE　MOON。〃
　　〃No；〃　she　whispered。　Her　face　was　an　unbelieving　rictus。　〃You　can't　believe　I'm　going　to　lie　for　you。〃
　　〃If　you　don't；　I'm　dead。　I'm　shot　and　broken　and　hardly　conscious　enough　to　know　what　I'm　saying；　but　I　know　this　is　the　best　way；　one　way　or　the　other。　Now　listen：　Dynacore　is　white　and　solid；　slightly　greasy　to　the　touch。　It…〃
　　〃No；　no！　No！　〃　She　clapped　her　hands　over　her　ears。
　　〃It　looks　like　a　bar　of　Ivory　soap。　Very　dense；　though。　Now　I'm　going　to　describe　the　imploder　ring。　It　looks…〃
　　She　began　to　weep。　〃I　can't；　don't　you　know　that？　I　have　my　duty　as　a　citizen。　My　conscience。　I　have　my…〃
　　〃Yeah；　and　they　might　find　out　you　lied；〃　he　added　dryly。　〃Except　they　won't。　Because　if　you　back　me；　they'll　cave　in。　I'll　be　off　like　a　bigass　bird。〃
　　〃I　can't！〃
　　〃RICHARDS！　SEND　THE　WOMAN　OUT！〃
　　〃The　imploder　ring　is　gold；〃　he　continued。　〃About　two　inches　in　diameter。　It　looks　like　a　keyring　with　no　keys　in　it。　Attached　to　it　is　a　slim　rod　like　a　mechanical　pencil　with　a　G…A　trigger　device　attached　to　it。　The　trigger　device　looks　like　the　eraser　on　the　pencil。〃
　　She　was　rocking　back　and　forth；　moaning　a　little。　She　had　a　cheek　in　either　hand　and　was　twisting　her　flesh　as　if　it　were　dough。
　　〃I　told　them　I　had　pulled　out　to　half…cock。　That　means　you　would　be　able　to　see　a　single　small　notch　just　above　the　surface　of　the　Irish。　Got　it？〃
　　No　answer；　she　wept　and　moaned　and　rocked。
　　〃Sure　you　do；〃　he　said　softly。　〃You're　a　bright　girl；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　lie；〃　she　said。
　　〃If　they　ask　you　anything　else；　you　don't　know　from　Rooty…Toot。　You　didn't　see。　You　were　too　scared。　Except　for　one　thing：　I've　been　holding　the　ring　ever　since　that　first　roadblock。　You　didn't　know　what　it　was；　but　I　had　it　in　my　hand。〃
　　〃Better　kill　me　now。〃
　　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃Get　out。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　convulsively；　her　mouth　working；　her　eyes　dark　holes。　The　pretty；　self…assured　woman　with　the　wraparound　shades　was　all　gone。　Richards　wondered　if　that　woman　would　ever　reappear。　He　did　not　think　so。　Not　wholly。
　　〃Go；〃　he　said。　〃Go。　Go。〃
　　〃I…I…Ah；　God…〃
　　She　lunged　against　the　door　and　half　sprang；　half　fell　out。　She　was　on　her　feet　instantly　and　running。　Her　hair　streamed　out　behind　her　and　she　seemed　very　beautiful；　almost　goddesslike；　and　she　ran　into　the　lukewarm　starburst　of　a　million　flashbulbs。
　　Carbines　flashed　up；　ready；　and　were　lowered　a