rr.eastofealing-第40章

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rmac；　untrue。　But　it　was　hypnotic；　its　unreality　drew　the　eye　and　held　it　there。　'e　on；　Jim。'　Omally　tugged　at　Pooley's　sleeve。　'You're　falling　behind　again。'
　Pooley　struggled　on。　Ahead；　the　Lateinos　and　Romiith　building　dwarfed　all　beneath　its　black　shadow。　The　sky　was　dark　with　tumbling　clouds；　strange　images　weaved　and　flowed　beyond　the　mysterious　glittering　walls；　shimmering　over　the　roof…tops。　Even　now　something　terrible　was　occurring　beyond　the　boundaries　of　the　borough。
　The　awful　procession　turned　out　of　the　Butts　and　up　into　Moby　Dick　Terrace。　Professor　Slobe　drew　his　followers　aside　from　the　throng　and　the　helmeted　duo　scuttled　after　him。　'Make　haste　now。'
　The　Lateinos　and　Romiith　building　filled　the　eastern　skyline。　Jim　noted　with　increasing　gloom　that　an　entire　terrace　of　houses　had　gone；　overwhelmed　by　the　pitiless　structure　which　reared　into　the　darkling　sky。
　On　a　roadside　bench　ahead　an　old　man　sat　with　his　dog。
　'Good　day；　lads；'　said　Old　Pete；　as　the　strangely…clad　threesome　passed　him　by　at　close　quarters。　'Fair　old　do　this　year；　isn't　it？'
　'Bloody　marvellous；'　Pooley　replied。　'Hope　to　see　you　later　for　one　in　the　Swan　if　all　goes　well。'
　Old　Pete　cleared　his　throat　with　a　curiously　mechanical　coughing　sound。　'Look　out　for　yourself；'　said　he。
　The　three　men　continued　their　journey　at　the　Jog…
　'Stop　here　now；'　said　Professor　Slobe；　as　they　came　finally　to　the　corner　of　the　street。　'I　am　expecting　somebody。'
　'A　friend　I　hope。'
　'That　would　be　nice；'　said　Jim；　with　a　little　more　flippancy　than　the　situation　warranted。　'Organizer　of　the　Festival　raffle　is　it？　Or　chairman　of　the　float　mittee？'
　Omally　took　what　he　considered　to　be　one　of　the　last　opportunities　left　to　him　to　welt　Jim　about　the　head。　'Oow　ouch！'　he　said；　clutching　at　a　throbbing　fist。　Pooley　smiled　sweetly。　'How　much　do　you　want　for　the　copyright　of　this　helmet？'　he　asked　the　Professor。
　'Leave　it　out；　you　two。　Here　he　es。'
　Along　the　deserted　pavement；　weaving　with　great　difficulty；　came　an　all　too　familiar　figure；　clad　in　grey　shopkeeper's　overall　and　trilby　hat。　But　what　was　this　that　the　clone　shopkeeper　rode　upon　his　precarious　journey？　Could　this　be　that　creaking　vestige　of　a　more　glorious　age；　now　black　and　pitted　and　sorely　taken　with　the　rest？　Surely　we　have　seen　these　perished　hand…grips　before？　Marvelled　at　the　coil…spring　saddle　and　oil…bath　chainguard？　The　stymied　Sturmey　Archer　Three…speed　and　the　tungsten…carbide　lamp？　Yes；　there　can　be　no　doubt；　it　is　that　noted　iron　stallion；　that　prince　of　pedaldom；　squeaking　and　plaining　beneath　the　weight　of　its　alien　rider；　it　can　be　no　other。　Let　men　take　note　and　ladies　beware：　Marchant　the　wonder　bike；　it　is　he。
　'Get　off　my　bleeding　bicycle；'　yelled　John　Omally。
　Norman　the　Second　leapt　down　from　his　borrowed　mount　with　some　alacrity。　Not；　however；　with　sufficient　alertness　to　avoid　the　sneaky　pedal　which　had　been　awaiting　its　chance　to　drive　in　deep。　Norman's　right　trouser　cuff　vanished　into　the　oil…bath　and　the　automated　shopman　bit　the　dust。
　'Bastard；'　squealed　the　mechanical　man。　'I'll　do　for　you。'
　'Nice　one；　Marchant；'　said　John；　drawing　his　bike　beyond　reach。　The　bicycle　rang　its　bell　in　greeting　and　nuzzled　its　handlebar　into　its　master's　waistcoat。
　'Bloody　pathetic　isn't　it？'　said　Jim。　'A　boy　and　his　bike；　I　ask　you。'
　'Do　you　think　we　might　apply　ourselves　to　the　job　in　hand？'　the　Professor　asked。
　'I　like　the　helmets；'　said　Norman　the　Second。　'What　is　it　then；　Justice　League　of　America？'
　'A　running　gag　I　believe；'　Jim　replied。　'Did　you　have　to　bring　his　bike？　That　thing　depresses　me。'
　'Easy　Jim；　if　I　am　going　to　die；　I　will　do　it　with　Marchant　at　my　side；　or　at　least　under　my　bum。'
　'Bloody　pathetic。'
　'Time　to　do　your　party　trick；　Jim；'　said　Omally。　'Professor？'
　The　old　man　indicated　a　dimly…lit　panel　on　the　bleak　wall。　'Just　there；'　he　said。
　'I　don't　know　if　this　is　such　a　good　idea；'　Jim　plained。　'I　think　the　best　idea　would　be　to　give　the　place　a　good　leaving　alone。'
　'Stick　your　mitt　out；　Jim。'
　The　cursed　Croesus　placed　his　priceless　palm　on　to　the　panel。　There　was　a　brief　swish　and　a　section　of　the　wall　shot　aside。　A　very　bad　smell　came　from　within。
　'Quickly　now；'　said　the　Professor。　'Keep　your　hand　on　the　panel　until　we're　all　in；　Jim。'
　A　moment　later　the　gap　closed　upon　three　men；　one　robot　shopkeeper；　and　a　bike　called　Marchant。
　'Blimey；'　said　Omally。　'I　don't　know　what　I　expected；　but　it　wasn't　this。'
　They　stood　now　in　what　might　have　been　the　lobby　and　entrance　hall　of　any　one　of　a　thousand　big　business　consortiums。　The　traditional　symbols　of　success　and　opulence；　the　marble　walls；　thick　plush　carpeting；　chromium　reception　desk；　even　the　rubber　plant　in　its　Boda　plant…stand；　were　all　there。　It　was　so　normal　and　so　very　ordinary　as　to　be　fearful。　For　behind　this　facade；　each　man　knew；　lurked　a　power　more　evil　than　anything　words　were　able　to　express。
　'Gentlemen；'　said　Professor　Slobe；　'we　are　now　in　the　belly　of　the　beast。'
　Omally　suddenly　clutched　at　his　stomach。　'I　think　I'm　going　to　chuck　up；'　he　said。　'I　can　feel　something。　Something　wrong。'
　'Hold　on。'　The　Professor　laid　a　calming　hand　upon　Omally's　arm。　'Speak　the　rosary；　it　will　pass。'
　Beneath　his　breath　Omally　whispered　the　magical　words　of　the　old　prayer。　Its　power　was　almost　instantaneous；　and　the　sick　and　claustrophobic　feeling　lifted　itself　from　his　shoulders；　to　alight　upon　Jim　Pooley。
　'Blech；'　went　Jim。　Being　a　man　of　fewer　words　and　little　religious　conviction；　he　threw　up　over　the　rubber　plant。
　'That　will　please　the　caretaker；'　chuckled　Omally。
　'Sorry；'　said　Jim；　drawing　his　shirt…sleeve　over　the　cold　sweat　on　his　brow。　'Gippy　tummy　I　think。　I　must　be　going　cold　turkey　for　the　want　of　a　pint。'
　'You　and　me　both。　Which　way；　Professor？'
　The　old　man　fingered　his　chin。　'There　is　no…one　on　the　desk；　shall　we　take　the　lift？'
　Norman　the　Second　shook　his　head；　'I　would　strongly　advise　the　stairs。　A　stairway　to　oblivion　is　better　than　no　stairway　at　all　I　always　say。　Would　you　like　me　to　carry　your　bike；　John；　or　would　you　prefer　to　chain　it　to　the　rubber　plant？'
　'I'll　carry　my　own　bike；　thank　you。'
　Pooley　squinted　up　at　the　ragged　geometry；　spiralling　into　nothingness　above。　'Looks　like　a　long　haul；'　said　he。　'Surely　the　cellar　would　be　your　man；　down　to　the　fuse　boxes　and　out　with　the　fuse。　I　feel　that　I　have　done　more　than　my　fair　share　of　climbing　today。'
　'Onward　and　upward。'
　Now　there　just　may　be　a　knack　to　be　had　with　stairs。　Some　speak　with　conviction　that　the　balls　of　the　feet　are　your　man。　Others　favour　shallow　breathing　or　the　occupation　of　the　mind　upon　higher　things。　Walking　up　backwards；　that　one　might　deceive　your　legs　into　thinking　they　were　ing　down；　has　even　been　suggested。　In　the　course　of　the　next　fifteen　minutes　it　must　fairly　be　stated　that　each　of　these　possible　methods　and　in　fact　a　good　many　more；　ranging　from　the　subtly　ingenious　to　the　downright　absurd；　were　employed。　And　each　met　with　plete　and　utter　failure。
　'I'm　gone。'　Pooley　sank　to　his　knees　and　clutched　at　his　heart。
　'Nurse；　the　oxygen。'　Omally　dragged　himself　a　stair　or　more　further　and　collapsed　beneath　his　bike。　'We　must　give　poor　Jim　a　breather；'　he　said。　'The　life　of　ease　has　gone　to　his　legs。'
　'Are　you　all　right　yourself？'　Norman　the　Second　enquired。
　'Oh　yes。'　Omally　wheezed　bronchitically　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　eyes。　'It　is　Jim　I　fear　for。'
　Professor　Slobe　peered　down　from　a　landing　above。　If　his　ancient　limbs　were　suffering　the　agonies　one　would　naturally　assume　them　to　be；　he　showed　no　outward　sign。　The　light　of　determination　burned　in　his　eyes。　'e　on　now；'　he　urged。　'We　are　nearly　there。'
　'Nearly　there？'　groaned　Jim。　'Not　only　can　I　hear　the　grim　reaper　sharpening　his　scythe；　I　am　beginning　to　see　the　sparks。'
　'You've　enough　breath；　Jim；　lend　him　your　arm；　John。'
　'e　on；　Jim。'　Omally　shouldered　up　his　bike　and　aided　his　sagging　panion。　'If　we　get　out　of　this　I　will　let　you　buy　me　a　drink。'
　'If　we　get　out　of　this　I　will　buy　you　a　pub。'
　'Onward　and　upward　then。'
　Another　two　flights　passed　beneath　them；　to　John　and　Jim　it　was　evident　that　some　fiendish　builder　was　steadily　i