rr.eastofealing-第31章

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　Omally　floundered　about　seeking　a　suitable　weapon；　his　hand　closed　over　a　length　of　iron　conduit。　'Up　the　rebels；'　he　cried　as　he　flung　himself　towards　Jim's　attacker。　His　own　double　turned　upon　him　to　stand　glaring；　eye　to　eye。　'You　bastard；'　spat　Omally；　'e　and　try　your　luck。'　He　swung　his　cudgel　with　terrific　force　but　the　robot　shot　out　a　hand　and　grasped　it；　tearing　it　from　his　grip　and　flinging　it　the　length　of　the　warehouse。　Omally　ducked　back　as　his　double　delved　into　its　pocket。　The　smile　widened　upon　its　lips　as　the　small　black　box　appeared。
　'Hold　hard；'　a　voice　echoed　about　the　warehouse。　Four　pairs　of　eyes　shot　in　the　direction　of　the　sound。　A　tall；　gaunt　figure　stood　crouched　in　the　doorway；　silhouetted　against　the　light；　legs　spread　widely　apart　and　hands　held　forward。　'This　is　a　Magnum　Forty…four；'　he　shouted；　'biggest　handgun　in　the　world　and　can　blow　your　heads　clean　off　your　shoulders。　What　do　you　say；　punks？'
　The　robot　duplicates　looked　towards　their　respective　quarries；　one　cowering　and　covering　his　nuts；　the　other　standing　defiant；　thirty…four…function　barlow　knife　now　in　hand。　They　turned　in　unison　towards　the　source　of　their　annoyance。
　'Hold　hard　or　I　fire；'　cried　Sherlock　Holmes。
　The　robots　stole　forward　upon　synthetic　heels。
　'Right　on。'　Holmes'　trigger　finger　tightened。　Two　shots　rang　out　in　rapid　succession。　The　robot　Pooley　span　from　his　feet　in　a　hazy　blur；　his　head　a　mass　of　trailing　ribbons　and　sparking　wires。　The　Omally　sank　to　its　knees；　foul　yellow　slime　spurting　from　two　over…large　holes　front　and　back　of　its　plastic　skull。　He　rose　to　stumble　forward；　cruel　claws　scratching　at　the　air；　jerked　upright；　then　slumped　to　the　deck；　a　rag　doll　flung　carelessly　aside。　Holmes　blew　into　the　barrel　of　his　Forty…four；　spun　it　upon　his　forefinger；　and　tucked　it　away　into　his　shoulder　holster。　'Gotcha；'　he　said。
　Omally　clicked　back　the　blade　of　his　barlow　knife　and　thrust　the　thing　into　his　breast　pocket。　He　stepped　over　to　console　the　gibbering　Pooley。　'Thanks　yet　again；'　he　said　to　Sherlock　Holmes。　'It　seems　that　we　are　once　more　in　your　debt。'
　'No　sweat；'　the　great　detective　replied。　He　stooped　over　the　twisted　'corpse'　of　the　false　and　fallen　Pooley　and　began　to　turn　out　its　pockets。　Jim　crept　forward　and　watched　in　horror　as　Holmes　examined　the　contents　before　tossing　them　aside。　A　besmutted　handkerchief；　a　leaky　ballpoint　pen；　an　initialled　gold　Cartier　lighter；　and　a　packet　of　Passing　Cloud　cigarettes。
　Pooley　patted　frantically　at　his　pockets；　they'd　been　picked　obviously。　To　his　further　horror　his　patting　disclosed　an　identically　besmutted　handkerchief；　a　leaky　ballpoint　pen；　and　the　same　Cartier　lighter；　which　he　had　not　as　yet　learned　how　to　fill；　even　the　packet　of　fags。　Pooley　held　out　his　hands　to　Sherlock　Holmes。　The　detective　took　the　cigarette　packet　and　shook　it　open：　seventeen　cigarettes。　He　picked　up　the　robot's　packet：　three　gone　from　the　packet　of　twenty。
　'Very　thorough。　Every　last　detail　absolutely　correct；'　said　Holmes。　'I　would　hazard　a　guess　that；　should　we　analyse　the　fluff　in　your　trouser　pockets　and　that　of　this　demon…spawn　here；　they　would　match　exactly。'　Jim　shuddered。　Holmes　pleted　his　search　and　satisfied　himself　that　he　had　taken　all　relevant　matters　into　account。　He　rose　to　leave。　'I　must　away　now；'　he　said。　'The　game　is　afoot。'
　'It's　costing　us　an　arm　and　a　leg；'　said　Omally。　'Well；　good　luck　to　you　at　the　very　least。'
　'Your　sentiment　is　appreciated；　John；　but　luck　plays　no　part　whatsoever　in　my　investigations。'　Holmes　tapped　at　his　right　temple。　'It　all　es　from　here。　The　science　of　deduction；　made　art。'
　'Yes；'　said　Omally　doubtfully。　'Well；　be　that　as　it　may。　My　best　wishes　to　you　for　the　success　of　your　mission。'
　'Ten…four；'　said　the　detective。　'Up　and　away。'　With　these　few　words　he　leapt　out　through　the　warehouse　door　and　was　presently　lost　from　view。
　'I　still　say　he's　a　nutter。'　Omally　brushed　the　dust　and　grime　away　from　the　numb　and　shattered　Jim　Pooley。
　The　two　electronic　cadavers　lay　spread　across　the　warehouse　floor；　and　it　was　no　pleasant　thing　to　behold　your　own　corpse　lying　at　your　very　feet。　Pocket　fluff　and　all。　Omally　turned　Jim's　head　away。　'e　on；　mate；'　said　he　softly。　'We've　had　a　good　innings　here；　let's　not　spoil　it。'
　Jim　pointed　a　dangly　hand　towards　his　doppelganger；　'It　was　me；'　he　said。　'It　was　me。'
　'Well；　it's　not　any　more。　e　on；　let's　get　out　of　here。'
　'I　shouldn't　do　it。'　A　voice　from　behind　froze　Omally　in　his　tracks　and　caused　his　hand　to　seek　out　his　barlow　knife。　'Don't　go　outside；　I'm　telling　you。'　Omally　turned　slowly　and　wearily　to　face　whatever　the　new　threat　might　be。　Across　the　deserted　warehouse　floor　a　head　peeped　out　from　a　now　open　manhole。　It　was　Soap　Distant。　'Lead　roof；'　said　the　pink…eyed　man　from　below。　'The　puter　scan　cannot　penetrate　it。　That's　why　they　couldn't　find　you。'
　Omally　peered　up　into　the　darkness　of　the　eaves　above。　'So　that　was　it。'
　'Hurry　now；'　said　Soap。　'Their　back…up　boys　are　on　the　way。'
　John　did　not　need　telling　twice。　Thrusting　Pooley　before　him；　he　made　for　the　manhole　and　something　which　loosely…resembled　safety。　As　Jim's　head　vanished　into　the　darkness　below　John　skipped　back　to　where　his　duplicate　lay。　Viewing　his　own　remains；　he　smiled　briefly；　and　stopped　to　remove　the　thing's　left　boot。　Upending　this；　a　bundle　of　banknotes　tumbled　out　into　his　hand。　'Very　thorough　indeed；'　said　John；　pocketing　the　spoils　of　war。
　
　24
　A　half　a　mile　beneath　the　surface　of　Planet　Earth；　Soap　Distant　offered　Omally　a　cup　of　tea。
　'This　time　I　think　I　will；'　said　John。　'Is　there　any　chance　of　breakfast；　Soap？'
　'Certainly。'　The　pink…eyed　man　applied　himself　to　the　frying…pan。
　'Are　you　all　right；　Jim？'　Omally　prodded　his　panion　who　was　staring　dumbly　into　space。
　'It　was　me；'　mouthed　Jim。
　'Well；　it　isn't　now。　You're　safe。'
　'It　was　me。'
　'Sunnyside　up；'　piped　Soap。
　'Two　on　a　raft；'　Omally　replied；　'with　all　the　trimmings。'
　Shortly　a　fine　breakfast　was　in　the　offing。　With　the　aid　of　much　pushing；　prompting；　and　cuffing；　Jim　was　slowly　brought　back　to　the　land　of　the　living　to　enjoy　his。　For　every　'It　was　me'；　he　received　a　blow　to　the　head。　Somewhat　after　the　fashion　of　the　now　legendary　Pavlov's　pooches　he　learned　the　error　of　his　ways。　'Could　I　have　another　fried　slice？'　he　asked。
　Soap　obliged。　As　he　turned　the　bread　in　the　pan　he　said。　'The　lead　you　see；　the　scan　cannot　penetrate　it。　They've　got　an　eye　in　the　sky　up　there　watching　everybody　that's　left；　but　they　can't　see　through　the　lead。　I　myself　lined　the　Professor's　loft　with　lead　foil。　Keeps　the　buggers　out　it　does。'
　Omally　wiped　his　chin。　'Very　good；　Soap。　It　is　pleasing　to　hear　that　some　precautions　can　be　taken。'
　'Oh　yes；　no　system　is　infallible。　Old　Ratinous　and　Loathesome　think　they've　got　it　all　figured　out；　but　there　is　always　a　dodge　to　be　found　by　the　thinking　man。'
　'Such　was　once　the　credo　of　my　karma　but　I　am　now　experiencing　some　doubts。'
　'Don't；'　said　Soap。　'We'll　beat　the　blighters　yet。'
　'You　seem　very　confident。'
　Soap　dumped　the　fried　slice　on　to　Pooley's　plate；　and　popped　a　grilled　tomato　into　his　mouth。　'Oh　yes；'　he　said　between　munchings；　'there　is　not　a　machine　yet　that　will　not　fare　the　worse　for　a　well…placed　spanner　jammed　up　its　works。'
　'Good　man；'　said　Omally；　leaning　forward　to　pat　his　host　upon　the　shoulder。　'I　hope　you　know　where　to　place　the　spanner。'
　'Never　fear。'　Soap　pulled　at　his　lower　eye。　'Never　fear。'
　'See；'　said　Omally；　nudging　Pooley　in　the　rib　area；　'even　with　Armageddon　staring　you　in　the　face　there　is　always　a　flanker　to　be　pulled。'
　'It　was　me；'　said　Jim。　'Could　I　have　another　grilled　sausage　do　you　think；　Soap？'
　The　pink…eyed　man　laughed　heartily。　'Have　two；'　he　cried；　'have　three　if　you　wish。'
　'Three　would　be　fine；'　said　Jim。　'I　have　no　wish　to　appear　greedy。'
　The　three　sub…Earthers　enjoyed　a　hearty　breakfast　washed　down　with　several　bottles　of　Chateau　Distant　carrot　claret。　'I　think　you　might　do　well　to　lie　low　here　for　a　while；'　Soap　advised　his　guests。　'Your　cards　would　seem　to　be　well　and　truly　marked　at　present。'
　'What　about　the　spanner？'　Omally　made　turning　motions　with　his　hand。
　'All