bill_the_galactic_hero_v1.1-第28章
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utor representative。 Its hydraulic clipper…claws snipped just once and the cable was severed。 The lights on the box went out； and the stream of cards stopped： the cut cable twitched； spat some sparks from its cut end； then slithered backward out the door like a monstrous serpent and vanished。 〃Meeting will e to order；〃 X said hoarsely； and banged again。
Bill held his head in his hands and wondered if this was worth a measly hundred bucks a month。
A hundred bucks a month was good money； though； and Bill saved every bit of it。 Easy； lazy months rolled by； and he went regularly to meetings and reported regularly to the G。B。I。； and on the first of every month he would find his money baked into the egg roll he invariably had for lunch。 He kept the greasy bills in a toy rubber cat he found on the rubbish heap； and bit by bit the kitty grew The revolution took but little of his time； and he enjoyed his work in the D of S。 He was in charge of Operation Surprise Package now and had a team of a thousand robots working full time wrapping and mailing the plastic trays to every planet of the galaxy。 He thought of it as a humanitarian work and could imagine the glad cries of joy on far…off Faroffia and distant Distanta when the unexpected package arrived and the wealth of lovely； shining； moldy plastic clattered to the floor。 But Bill was living in a fool's paradise； and his bovine placency was cruelly shattered one morning when a robot sidled up to him and whispered in his ear； 〃Sic temper tyrannosaurus； pass it on；〃 then sidled away and vanished。
This； was the signal。 The revolution was about to begin！
VIII
Bill locked the door to his office and one last time pressed a certain way at a certain place； and the secret panel slipped open。 It didn't really slip any more； in fact it dropped with a loud noise； and it had been used so much during his happy year as a Gman that even when it was closed it let a positive draft in on the back of his neck。 But no more； the crisis he had been dreading had e and he knew there were big changes in store…no matter what the oute of the revolution was…and experience had taught him that all change was for the worst。 With leaden； stumbling feet he tramped the caves； tripped on the rusty rails； waded the water； gave the countersign to the unseen anthropophagus who was talking with his mouth full and could barely be understood。 Someone； in the excitement of the moment； had given the wrong password。 Bill shivered； this was a bad omen of the day to e。
As usual Bill sat next to the robots； good； solid fellows with built…in obsequiousness in spite of their revolutionary tendencies。 As X hammered for silence； Bill steeled himself for an ordeal。 For months now the Gman Pinkerton had been after him for more information other than date…of…meeting and number present。 〃Facts； facts； facts！〃 he kept saying。 〃loo something to earn your money。〃
〃I have a question；〃 Bill said in a loud； shaky voice； his words falling like bombs into the sudden silence that followed X's frantic hammering。 〃There is no time for questions；〃 X said peevishly； 〃the time has e to act。〃 〃I don't mind acting；〃 Bill said； nervously aware that all the human； electronic； and vat…grown eyes were upon him。 〃I just want to know who I'm acting for。 You've never told us who was going to get the job once the Emperor is gone。〃
〃Our leader is a man called X； that is all you have to know。〃
〃But that's your name too！〃
〃You are at last getting a glimmering of Revolutionary Science。 All the cell leaders are called X so as to confuse the enemy。〃
〃I don't know about the enemy； but it sure confuses me。〃
〃You talk like a counter…revolutionary；〃 X screamed； and leveled the revolver at Bill。 The row behind Bill emptied as everyone there scurried out of the field of fire。
〃I am not！ I'm as good a revolutionary as anyone hereUp the Revolution！〃 He gave the party salute； both hands clasped together over his head； and sat down hurriedly。 Everyone else saluted too； and X； slightly mollified； pointed with the barrel of his gun at a large map hung on the wall。
〃This is the objective of our cell； the Imperial Power Station on Chauvinistisk Square。 We will assemble nearby in squads； then join in a concerted attack at oo16 hours。 No resistance is expected as the power station is not guarded。 Weapons and torches will be issued as you leave； as well as printed instructions of the correct route to the rallying points for the benefit of the planless here。 Are there any questions？〃 He cocked his revolver and pointed it at the cringing Bill。 There were no questions。 〃Excellent。 We will all rise and sing 'The Hymn For a Glorious Revolt。〃' In a mixed chorus of voice and mechanical speech…box they sang：
Arise ye bureaucratic prisoners；
Revolting workers o f Helior； Arise and raise the Revolution；
By fist； foot； pistol； hammer； and claw！
Refreshed by this enthusiastic and monotone exercise they shuffled out in slow lines； drawing their revolutionary supplies。 Bill pocketed his printed instructions； shouldered his torch and flintlock ray gun； and hurried one last time through the secret passages。 There was barely enough time for the long trip ahead of him； and he had to report to the G。B。I。 first。 This was easier assumed than acplished； and he began to sweat as he dialed the number again。 It was impossible to get a line； and even the exchanges gave a busy signal。 Either the phone traffic was very heavy or the revolutionaries had already begun to interfere with the munications。 He sighed with relief when Pinkerton's surly features finally filled the tiny screen。 〃What's up？〃
〃I've discovered the name of the leader of the revolution。 He is a man called X。〃
〃And you want a bonus for that； stupid？ That information has been on file for months。 Got anything else？〃
〃Well； the revolution is to start at 0016 hours； I thought you might like to know。〃 That'd show them！
Pinkerton yawned。 〃Is that all？ For your information that information is old information。 You're not the only spy we've got； though you might be the worst。 Now listen。 Write this down in big letters so you won't forget。 Your cell is to
attack the Imperial Power Station。 Stay with them as far as the square； then look for a store with the sign KWIK…FREEZ KOSHER HAMS LTD。； this is the cover for our unit。 Get over there fast and report to me。 Understood？〃
〃Affirm。〃 The line went dead； and Bill looked for a piece of wrapping paper to tie around the torch and flintlock until the moment came to use them。 He had to hurry。 There was little time left before zero hour and a long distance to cover by a very plicated route。
〃You were almost late；〃 Ghoulem the android said； when Bill stumbled into the dead…end corridor which was the assembly point。
〃Don't give me any lip； you son of a bottle；〃 Bill gasped； tearing the paper from his burden。 〃Just give me a light for my torch。〃
A match flared； and in a moment the pitchy torches were crackling and smoking。 Tension grew as the second hand moved closer to the hour and feet shuffled nervously on the metal pavement。 Bill jumped as a shrill blast sounded on a whistle； then they were sweeping out of the alley in a human and inhuman wave； a hoarse cry bursting from the throats and loudspeakers； guns at the ready。 Down the corridors and walkways they ran； sparks falling like rain from their torches。 This was revolution！ Bill was carried away by the emotion and rush of bodies and cheered as loudly as the rest and shoved his torch first at the corridor wall； then into a chair on the chairway which put the torch out； since everything in Helior is either made of metal or is fireproof。 There was no time to relight it； and he hurled it from him as they swept into the i mmense square that fronted on the power plant。 Most of the other torches were out now； but they wouldn't need them here； just their trusty flintlock ray guns to blow the guts out of any filthy lackey of the Emperor who tried to stand in their way。 Other units were pouring from the streets that led into the square； joining into one surging； mindless mob thundering toward the grim walls of the power station。
An electric sign blinking on and off drew Bi'
