sk.runningman-第7部分

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　　〃You'll　appear　live　Tuesday　night。　Subsequent　programs　will　be　a　patch…up　of　tapes；　films；　and　live　tricasts　when　possible。　We've　been　known　to　interrupt　scheduled　broadcasting　when　a　particularly　resourceful　contestant　is　on　the　verge　of　reaching　his　。　。　。　personal　Waterloo；　shall　we　say。
　　〃The　rules　are　simplicity　themselves。　You…or　your　surviving　family…will　win　one　hundred　New　Dollars　for　each　hour　you　remain　free。　We　stake　you　to　forty…eight　hundred　dollars　conning　money　on　the　assumption　that　you　will　be　able　to　fox　the　Hunters　for　forty…eight　hours。　The　unspent　balance　refundable；　of　course；　if　you　fall　before　the　forty…eight　hours　are　up。　You're　given　a　twelve…hour　head　start。　If　you　last　thirty　days；　you　win　the　Grand　Prize。　One　billion　New　Dollars。〃
　　Richards　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。
　　〃My　sentiments　exactly；〃　Killian　said　with　a　dry　smile。　〃Do　you　have　any　questions？〃
　　〃Just　one；〃　Richards　said；　leaning　forward。　The　traces　of　humor　had　vanished　from　his　face　pletely。　〃How　would　you　like　to　be　the　one　out　there；　on　the　run？〃
　　Killian　laughed。　He　held　his　belly　and　huge　mahogany　laughter　rolled　richly　in　the　room。　〃Oh　。　。　。　Mr。　Richards　。　。　。　you　must　excuse　m…me…〃and　he　went　off　into　another　gale。
　　At　last；　dabbing　his　eyes　with　a　large　white　handkerchief；　Killian　seemed　to　get　himself　under　control。　〃You　see；　not　only　are　you　possessed　of　a　sense　of　humor；　Mr。　Richards。　You　。　。　。　I…〃　He　choked　new　laughter　down。　〃Please　excuse　me。　You've　struck　my　funnybone。〃
　　〃I　see　I　have。〃
　　〃Other　questions？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Very　good。　There　will　be　a　staff　meeting　before　the　program。　If　any　questions　should　develop　in　that　fascinating　mind　of　yours；　please　hold　them　until　then。〃　Killian　pressed　a　button　on　his　desk。
　　〃Spare　me　the　cheap　snatch；〃　Richards　said。　〃I'm　married。〃
　　Killian's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃Are　you　quite　sure？　Fidelity　is　admirable；　Mr。　Richards；　but　it's　a　long　time　from　Friday　to　Tuesday。　And　considering　the　fact　that　you　may　never　see　your　wife　again…〃
　　〃I'm　married。〃
　　〃Very　well。　〃　He　nodded　to　the　girl　in　the　doorway　and　she　disappeared。　〃Anything　we　can　do　for　you；　Mr。　Richards？　You'll　have　a　private　suite　on　the　ninth　floor；　and　meal　requests　will　be　filled　within　reason。〃
　　〃A　good　bottle　of　bourbon。　And　a　telephone　so　I　can　talk　to　my　w…〃
　　〃Ah；　no；　I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Richards。　The　bourbon　we　can　do。　But　once　you　sign　this　release　form；〃…he　pushed　it　over　to　Richards　along　with　a　pen…〃you're　inmunicado　until　Tuesday。　Would　you　care　to　reconsider　the　girl？〃
　　〃No；〃　Richards　said；　and　scrawled　his　name　on　the　dotted　line。　〃But　you　better　make　that　two　bottles　of　bourbon。〃
　　〃Certainly。〃　Killian　stood　and　offered　his　hand　again。
　　Richards　disregarded　it　again；　and　walked　out。
　　Killian　looked　after　him　and　with　blank　eyes。　He　was　not　smiling。
　　
　　Minus　086　and　COUNTING
　　The　receptionist　popped　promptly　out　of　her　foxhole　as　Richards　walked　through　and　handed　him　an　envelope。　On　the　front：
　　Mr。　Richards；
　　I　suspect　one　of　the　things　that　you　will　not　mention　during　our　interview　is　the　fact　that　you　need　money　badly　right　now。　Is　it　not　true？
　　Despite　rumors　to　the　contrary；　Games　Authority　does　not　give　advances。　You　must　not　look　upon　yourself　as　a　contestant　with　all　the　glitter　that　word　entails。　You　are　not　a　Free…Vee　star　but　only　a　working　joe　who　is　being　paid　extremely　well　for　undertaking　a　dangerous　job。
　　However；　Games　Authority　has　no　rule　which　forbids　me　from　extending　you　a　personal　loan。　Inside　you　will　find　ten　percent　of　your　advance　salary…not　in　New　Dollars；　I　should　caution　you；　but　in　Games　Certificates　redeemable　for　dollars。　Should　you　decide　to　send　these　certificates　to　your　wife；　as　I　suspect　you　will；　she　will　find　they　have　one　advantage　over　New　Dollars；　a　reputable　doctor　will　accept　them　as　legal　tender；　while　a　quack　will　not。
　　Sincerely；
　　Dan　Killian
　　
　　Richards　opened　the　envelope　and　pulled　out　a　thick　book　of　coupons　with　the　Games　symbol　on　the　vellum　cover。　Inside　were　forty…eight　coupons　with　a　face　value　of　ten　New　Dollars　each。　Richards　felt　an　absurd　wave　of　gratitude　toward　Killian　sweep　him　and　crushed　it。　He　had　no　doubt　that　Killian　would　attach　four　hundred　and　eighty　dollars　of　his　advance　money；　and　besides　that；　four…eighty　was　a　pretty　goddam　cheap　price　to　pay　for　insurance　on　the　big　show；　the　continued　happiness　of　the　client；　and　Killian's　own　big…money　job。
　　〃Shit；〃　he　said。
　　The　receptionist　poked　attentively　out　of　her　foxhole。　〃Did　you　say　something；　Mr。　Richards？〃
　　〃No。　Which　way　to　the　elevators？
　　
　　Minus　085　and　COUNTING
　　The　suite　was　sumptuous。
　　Wall…to…wall　carpeting　almost　deep　enough　to　breast　stroke　in　covered　the　floors　of　all　three　rooms：　living　room；　bedroom；　and　bath。　The　Free…Vee　was　turned　off；　blessed　silence　prevailed。　There　were　flowers　in　the　vases；　and　on　the　wall　next　to　the　door　was　a　button　discreetly　marked　SERVICE。　The　service　would　be　fast；　too；　Richards　thought　cynically。　There　were　two　cops　stationed　outside　his　ninthfloor　suite　just　to　make　sure　he　didn't　go　wandering。
　　He　pushed　the　service　button；　and　the　door　opened。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Richards；〃　one　of　the　cops　said。　Richards　fancied　he　could　see　how　sour　that　Mister　tasted　in　his　mouth。　〃The　bourbon　you　asked　for　will　be…〃
　　〃It's　not　that；〃　Richards　said。　He　showed　the　cop　the　book　of　coupons　Killian　had　left　for　him。　〃I　want　you　to　take　this　somewhere。〃
　　〃Just　write　the　name　and　address；　Mr。　Richards；　and　I'll　see　that　it's　delivered。〃
　　Richards　found　the　cobbler's　receipt　and　wrote　his　address　and　Sheila's　name　on　the　back　of　it。　He　gave　the　tattered　paper　and　the　coupon　book　to　the　cop。　He　was　turning　away　when　a　new　thought　struck　Richards。　〃Hey！　Just　a　second！〃
　　The　cop　turned　back；　and　Richards　plucked　the　coupon　book　out　of　his　hand。　He　opened　it　to　the　first　coupon；　and　tore　one　tenth　of　it　along　the　perforated　line。　Equivalent　value：　One　New　Dollar。
　　〃Do　you　know　a　cop　named　Charlie　Grady？〃
　　〃Charlie？〃　The　cop　looked　at　him　warily。　〃Yeah；　I　know　Charlie。　He's　got　fifth…floor　duty。〃
　　〃Give　him　this。〃　Richards　handed　him　the　coupon　section。　〃Tell　him　the　extra　fifty　cents　is　his　usurer's　fee。〃
　　The　cop　fumed　away　again；　and　Richards　called　him　back　once　more。
　　〃You'll　bring　me　written　receipts　from　my　wife　and　from　Grady；　won't　you？〃
　　Disgust　showed　openly　on　the　cop's　face。　〃Ain't　you　the　trusting　soul？〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Richards　said；　smiling　thinly。　〃You　guys　taught　me　that。　South　of　the　Canal　you　taught　me　all　about　it。〃
　　〃It's　gonna　be　fun；〃　the　cop　said；　〃watching　them　go　after　you。　I'm　gonna　be　glued　to　my　Free…Vee　with　a　beer　in　each　hand。〃
　　〃Just　bring　me　the　receipts；〃　Richards　said；　and　closed　the　door　gently　in　the　cop's　face。
　　The　bourbon　came　twenty　minutes　later；　and　Richards　told　the　surprised　delivery　man　that　he　would　like　a　couple　of　thick　novels　sent　up。
　　〃Novels？〃
　　〃Books。　You　know。　Read。　Words。　Movable　press。〃　Richards　pantomimed　flipping　pages。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said　doubtfully。　〃Do　you　have　a　dinner　order'？〃
　　Christ；　the　shit　was　getting　thick。　He　was　drowning　in　it。　Richards　saw　a　sudden　fantasy…cartoon：　Man　falls　into　outhouse　hole　and　drowns　in　pink　shit　that　smells　like　Chanel　No。　5。　The　kicker：　It　still　tastes　like　shit。
　　〃Steak。　Peas。　Mashed　potatoes。　〃　God；　what　was　Sheila　sitting　down　to？　A　protein　pill　and　a　cup　of　fake　coffee？　〃Milk。　Apple　cobbler　with　cream。　Got　it？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　Would　you　like…〃
　　〃No。　〃　Richards　said；　suddenly　distraught。　〃No。　Get　out。　〃　He　had　no　appetite。　Absolutely　none。
　　
　　Minus　084　and　COUNTING
　　With　sour　amusement　Richards　thought　that　the　Games　bellboy　had　taken　him　literally　about　the　novels：　He　must　have　picked　them　out　with　a　ruler　as　his　only　guide。　Anything　over　an　inch　and　a　half　is　okay。　He　had　brought　Richards　three　books　he　had　never　heard　of：　two　golden　oldies　titled　God　Is　an　Englishman　and　Not　as　a　Stranger　and　a　huge　tome　written　three　years　ago　called　The　Pleasure　of　Serving。　Richards　peeked　into　that　one　first　and　wrinkled　his　nose。　Poor　boy　makes　good　in　General　Atomics。　Rises　from　engine　wiper　to　gear　tradesman。　Takes　night　courses　（on　what？　Richards　wondered；　Monopoly　money？）。　Falls　in　love　with　beautiful　girl　（apparently　syphilis　hadn't　rotted　her　nose　off　yet）　at　a　block　orgy。　Promoted　to　junior　technico　following　dazzling　aptitude　scores。　Three…year　marriage　contract　follows；　and…
　　Richards　threw　the　book　across　the　room。　God　Is　an　Englishman　was　a　little　better。　He　poured　himself　a　bourbon　on　the　rocks　and　settled　into　the　story。
　　By　the　time　the　discreet　knock　came；　he　was　three　hundred　pages　in；　and　pretty　well　in　the　bag　to　boot。　One　of　the　bourbon　bottles　was　empty。　He　went　to　the　door　holding　the　other　in　his　hand。　The　cop　was　there。　〃Your　receipts；　Mr。　Richards；〃　he　said；　and　pulled　the　door　closed。
　　Sheila　had　not　written　anything；　but　had　sent　one　of　Cathy's　baby　pictures。　He　looked　at　it　and　felt　the　easy　tears　of　drunkenness　prick　his　eyes。　He　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　looked　at　the　other　receipt。　Charlie　Grady　had　written　briefly　on　the　back　of　a　traffic　ticket　form：
　　Thanks；　maggot。　Get　stuffed。
　　Charlie　Grady
　　
　　Richards　snickered　and　let　the　paper　flitter　to　the　carpet。　〃Thanks；　Charlie；〃　he　said　to　the　empty　room。　〃I　needed　that。〃
　　He　looked　at　the　picture　of　Cathy　again；　a　tiny；　red…faced　infant　of　four　days　at　the　time　of　the　photo；　screaming　her　head　off；　swimming　in　a　white　cradle　dress　that　Sheila　had　made　herself。　He　felt　the　tears　lurking　and　made　himself　think　of　good　old　Charlie's　thank…you　note。　He　wondered　if　he　could　kill　the　entire　second　bottle　before　he　passed　out；　and　decided　to　find　out。
　　He　almost　made　it。
　　
　　Minus　083　and　COUNTING
　　Richards　spent　Saturday　living　through　a　huge　hangover。　He　was　almost　over　it　by　Saturday　evening；　and　ordered　two　more　bottles　of　bourbon　with　supper。　He　got　through　both　of　them　and　woke　up　in　the　pale　early　light　of　Sunday　morning　seeing　large　caterpillars　with　flat；　murderous　eyes　crawling　slowly　down　the　far　bedroom　wall。　He　decided　then　it　would　be　against　his