sk.runningman-第3部分

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n　with　L　and　had　been　called　over　an　hour　before。　Richards　wondered　idly　if　he　had　been　cut。
　　The　examination　room　was　long　and　tiled；　lit　with　fluorescent　tubes。　It　looked　like　an　assembly　line；　with　bored　doctors　standing　at　various　stations　along　the　way。
　　Would　any　of　you　like　to　check　my　little　girl？　Richards　thought　bitterly。
　　The　applicants　showed　their　cads　to　another　camera　eye　embedded　in　the　wall　and　were　ordered　to　stop　by　a　row　of　clotheshooks。　A　doctor　in　a　long　white　lab　coat　walked　over　to　them；　clipboard　tucked　under　one　arm。
　　〃Strip；〃　he　said。　〃Hang　your　clothes　on　the　hooks。　Remember　the　number　over　your　hook　and　give　the　number　to　the　orderly　at　the　far　end。　Don't　worry　about　your　valuables。　Nobody　here　wants　them。〃
　　Valuables。　That　was　a　hot　one；　Richards　thought；　unbuttoning　his　shirt。　He　had　an　empty　wallet　with　a　few　pictures　of　Sheila　and　Cathy；　a　receipt　for　a　shoe　sole　he　had　had　replaced　at　the　local　cobbler's　six　months　ago；　a　keyring　with　no　keys　on　it　except　for　the　doorkey；　a　baby　sock　that　he　did　not　remember　putting　in　there；　and　the　package　of　Blams　he　had　gotten　from　the　machine。
　　He　was　wearing　tattered　skivvies　because　Sheila　was　too　stubborn　to　let　him　go　without；　but　many　of　the　men　were　buck　under　their　pants。　Soon　they　all　stood　stripped　and　anonymous；　penises　dangling　between　their　legs　like　forgotten　warclubs。　Everyone　held　his　card　in　one　hand。　Some　shuffled　their　feet　as　if　the　floor　were　cold；　although　it　was　not。　The　faint；　impersonally　nostalgic　odor　of　alcohol　drifted　through。
　　〃Stay　in　line；〃　the　doctor　with　the　clipboard　was　instructing。　〃Always　show　your　card。　Follow　instructions。〃
　　The　line　moved　forward。　Richards　saw　there　was　a　cop　with　each　doctor　along　the　way。　He　dropped　his　eyes　and　waited　passively。
　　〃Card。〃
　　He　gave　his　card　over。　The　first　doctor　noted　the　number；　then　said：　〃Open　your　mouth。〃
　　Richards　opened　it。　His　tongue　was　depressed。
　　The　next　doctor　peered　into　his　pupils　with　a　tiny　bright　light；　and　then　stared　in　his　ears。
　　The　next　placed　the　cold　circle　of　a　stethoscope　on　his　chest。　〃Cough。〃
　　Richards　coughed。　Down　the　line　a　man　was　being　hauled　away。　He　needed　the　money；　they　couldn't　do　it；　he'd　get　his　lawyer　on　them。
　　The　doctor　moved　his　stethoscope。　〃Cough。〃
　　Richards　coughed。　The　doctor　turned　him　around　and　put　the　stethoscope　on　his　back。
　　〃Take　a　deep　breath　and　hold　it。　〃　The　stethoscope　moved。
　　〃Exhale。〃
　　Richards　exhaled。
　　〃Move　along。〃
　　His　blood　pressure　was　taken　by　a　grinning　doctor　with　an　eyepatch。　He　was　given　a　short…arm　inspection　by　a　bald　medico　who　had　several　large　brown　freckles；　like　liverspots；　on　his　pate。　The　doctor　placed　a　cool　hand　between　the　sac　of　his　scrotum　and　his　upper　thigh。
　　〃Cough。〃
　　Richards　coughed。
　　〃Move　along。〃
　　His　temperature　was　taken。　He　was　asked　to　spit　in　a　cup。　Halfway；　now。　Halfway　down　the　hall。　Two　or　three　men　had　already　finished　up；　and　an　orderly　with　a　pasty　face　and　rabbit　teeth　was　bringing　them　their　clothes　in　wire　baskets。　Half　a　dozen　more　had　been　pulled　out　of　the　line　and　shown　the　stairs。
　　〃Bend　over　and　spread　your　cheeks。〃
　　Richards　bent　and　spread。　A　finger　coated　with　plastic　invaded　his　rectal　channel；　explored；　retreated。
　　〃Move　along。〃
　　He　stepped　into　a　booth　with　curtains　on　three　sides；　like　the　old　voting　booths　voting　booths　had　been　done　away　with　by　puter　election　eleven　years　ago　and　urinated　in　a　blue　beaker。　The　doctor　took　it　and　put　it　in　a　wire　rack。
　　At　the　next　stop　he　looked　at　an　eye…chart。　〃Read；〃　the　doctor　said。
　　〃E…A；L…D；M；F…S；P；M；Z…K；L；A；　C；D…U；　S；　G；A…　〃
　　〃That's　enough。　Move　along。〃
　　He　entered　another　pseudo　voting　booth　and　put　earphones　over　his　head。　He　was　told　to　push　the　white　button　when　he　heard　something　and　the　red　button　when　he　didn't　hear　it　anymore。　The　sound　was　very　high　and　faint…like　a　dog　whistle　that　had　been　pitch…lowered　into　just　audible　human　range。　Richards　pushed　buttons　until　he　was　told　to　stop。
　　He　was　weighed。　His　arches　were　examined。　He　stood　in　front　of　a　fluoroscope　and　put　on　a　lead　apron。　A　doctor；　chewing　gum　and　singing　something　tunelessly　under　his　breath；　took　several　pictures　and　noted　his　card　number。
　　Richards　had　e　in　with　a　group　of　about　thirty。　Twelve　had　made　it　to　the　far　end　of　the　room。　Some　were　dressed　and　waiting　for　the　elevator。　About　a　dozen　more　had　been　hauled　out　of　line。　One　of　them　tried　to　attack　the　doctor　that　had　cut　him　and　was　felled　by　a　policeman　wielding　a　move…along　at　full　charge。　The　pal　fell　as　if　poleaxed。
　　Richards　stood　at　a　low　table　and　was　asked　if　he　had　had　some　fifty　different　diseases。　Most　of　them　were　respiratory　in　nature。　The　doctor　looked　up　sharply　when　Richards　said　there　was　a　case　of　influenza　in　the　family。
　　〃Wife？〃
　　〃No。　My　daughter。〃
　　〃Age？〃
　　〃A　year　and　a　half。〃
　　〃Have　you　been　immunized？　Don't　try　to　lie！〃　the　doctor　shouted　suddenly；　as　if　Richards　had　already　tried　to　lie。　〃We'll　check　your　health　stats。〃
　　〃Immunized　July　2023。　Booster　September　2023。　Block　health　clinic。〃
　　〃Move　along。〃
　　Richards　had　a　sudden　urge　to　reach　over　the　table　and　pop　the　maggot's　neck。　Instead；　he　moved　along。
　　At　the　last　stop；　a　severe…looking　woman　doctor　with　close…cropped　hair　and　an　Electric　Juicer　plugged　into　one　ear　asked　him　if　he　was　a　homosexual。
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Have　you　ever　been　arrested　on　a　felony　charge？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Do　you　have　any　severe　phobias？　By　that　I　mean…〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃You　better　listen　to　the　definition；〃　she　said　with　a　faint　touch　of　condescension。　〃I　mean…〃
　　〃Do　I　have　any　unusual　and　pulsive　fears；　such　as　acrophobia　or　claustrophobia。　I　don't。〃
　　Her　lips　pressed　tightly　together；　and　for　a　moment　she　seemed　on　the　verge　of　sharp　ment。
　　〃Do　you　use　or　have　you　used　any　hallucinogenic　or　addictive　drugs？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Do　you　have　any　relatives　who　have　been　arrested　on　charges　of　crimes　against　the　government　or　against　the　Network？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Sign　this　loyalty　oath　and　this　Games　mission　release　form；　Mr。；　uh；　Richards。〃
　　He　scratched　his　signature。
　　〃Show　the　orderly　your　card　and　tell　him　the　number…〃
　　He　left　her　in　midsentence　and　gestured　at　the　bucktoothed　orderly　with　his　thumb。　〃Number　twenty…six；　Bugs。〃　The　orderly　brought　his　things。　Richards　dressed　slowly　and　went　over　by　the　elevator。　His　anus　felt　hot　and　embarrassed；　violated；　a　little　slippery　with　the　lubricant　the　doctor　had　used。
　　When　they　were　all　bunched　together；　the　elevator　door　opened。　The　bulletproof　Judas　hole　was　empty　this　time。　The　cop　was　a　skinny　man　with　a　large　wen　beside　his　nose。　〃Step　to　the　rear；〃　he　chanted。　〃Please　step　to　the　rear。〃
　　As　the　doors　closed；　Richards　could　see　the　S's　ing　in　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall。　The　doctor　with　the　clipboard　was　approaching　them。　Then　the　doors　clicked　together；　cutting　off　the　view。
　　They　rode　up　to　the　third　floor；　and　the　doors　opened　on　a　huge；　semi…lit　dormitory。　Rows　and　rows　of　narrow　iron…and…canvas　cots　seemed　to　stretch　out　to　infinity。
　　Two　cops　began　to　check　them　out　of　the　elevator；　giving　them　bed　numbers。　Richards's　was　940。　The　cot　had　one　brown　blanket　and　a　very　flat　pillow。　Richards　lay　down　on　the　cot　and　let　his　shoes　drop　to　the　floor。　His　feet　dangled　over　the　end；　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　about　it。
　　He　crossed　his　arms　under　his　head　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。
　　
　　Minus　094　and　COUNTING
　　He　was　awakened　promptly　at　six　the　following　morning　by　a　very　loud　buzzer。　For　a　moment　he　was　foggy；　disoriented；　wondering　if　Sheila　had　bought　an　alarm　clock　or　what。　Then　it　came　to　him　and　he　sat　up。
　　They　were　led　by　groups　of　fifty　into　a　large　industrial　bathroom　where　they　showed　their　cards　to　a　camera　guarded　by　a　policeman。　Richards　went　to　a　blue…tiled　booth　that　contained　a　mirror；　a　basin；　a　shower；　a　toilet。　On　the　shelf　above　the　basin　was　a　row　of　toothbrushes　wrapped　in　cellophane；　an　electric　razor；　a　bar　of　soap；　and　a　half…used　tube　of　toothpaste。　A　sign　tucked　into　the　corner　of　the　mirror　read：　RESPECT　THIS　PROPERTY！　Beneath　it；　someone　had　scrawled：　I　ONLY　RESPECT　MY　ASS！
　　Richards　showered；　dried　with　a　towel　that　topped　a　pile　on　the　toilet　tank；　shaved；　and　brushed。
　　They　were　let　into　a　cafeteria　where　they　showed　their　L　D。　cards　again。　Richards　took　a　tray　and　pushed　it　down　a　stainless　steel　ledge。　He　was　given　a　box　of　cornflakes；　a　greasy　dish　of　home　fries；　a　scoop　of　scrambled　eggs；　a　piece　of　toast　as　cold　and　hard　as　a　marble　gravestone；　a　halfpint　of　milk；　a　cup　of　muddy　coffee　（no　cream）；　an　envelope　of　sugar；　an　envelope　of　salt；　and　a　pat　of　fake　butter　on　a　tiny　square　of　oily　paper。
　　He　wolfed　the　meal；　they　all　did。　For　Richards　it　was　the　first　real　food；　other　than　greasy　pizza　wedges　and　government　pill…modities；　that　he　had　eaten　in　God　knew　how　long。　Yet　it　was　oddly　bland；　as　if　some　vampire　chef　in　the　kitchen　had　sucked　all　the　taste　out　of　it　and　left　only　brute　nutrients。
　　What　were　they　eating　this　morning？　Kelp　pills。　Fake　milk　for　the　baby。　A　sudden　feeling　of　desperation　swelled　over　him。　Christ；　when　would　they　start　seeing　money？　Today？　Tomorrow？　Next　week？
　　Or　maybe　that　was　just　a　gimmick　too；　a　flashy　e…on。　Maybe　there　wasn't　even　any　rainbow；　let　alone　a　pot　of　gold。
　　He　sat　staring　at　his　empty　plate　until　the　seven　o'clock　buzzer　went　and　they　were　moved　on　to　the　elevators。
　　
　　Minus　093　and　COUNTING
　　On　the　fourth　floor　Richards's　group　of　fifty　was　herded　first　into　a　large；　furniture…less　room　ringed　with　what　looked　like　letter　slots。　They　showed　their　cards　again；　and　the　elevator　doors　whooshed　closed　behind　them。
　　A　gaunt　man　with　receding　hair　with　the　Games　emblem　（the　silhouette　of　a　human　head　superimposed　over　a　torch）　on　his　lab　coat　came　into　the　room。
　　〃Please　undress　and　remove　all　valuables　from　your　clothes；〃　he　said。　〃Then　drop　your　clothes　into　one　of　the　incinerator　slots。　You'll　be　issued　Games　coveralls。　〃　He　smiled　magnanimously。　〃You　may　keep　the　coveralls　no　matter　what　your　personal　Games　resolution　may　be。〃
　　There　w