122391.fb2 Dying Space - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 34

Dying Space - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 34

"The presentation ceremony must be a dilly," Remo said.

"Now we talk softly/'she whispered.

"About what?"

"About Communism, of course. Is on page 210 of Worker's Marriage Manual. I give you copy."

Til pass."

"You not find Communism interesting?" she said archly.

"As interesting as tearing the wings off flies."

She stood up, her hands on her hips. "You have insulted Communist Party," she said. "For this you will be punished." She bellowed for a guard.

When the uniformed detachment entered, she shouted, "Get him out of here."

"Back to his cell, Madam Commander?" one asked.

"No. Put him in the dungeon. By himself."

Remo felt himself being dragged from the office. It was all over. His strength was almost gone. He had nothing left.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Hold still," the professor whispered to the glassy-eyed robot in front of her. The instrument in her hand welded together two wires in his chest.

"I'm experiencing an unusual sensation," Mr. Gordons said.

"Is it heat?" She held up the tiny blowtorch. "I'm welding."

"I don't know. I don't think so. It is a strange and terrible feeling." Then something clicked in his throat and he said, "Now I know what the feeling is. It is fear."

"Fear? How can you feel fear? You're a robot."

"I am afraid, Mom."

The professor stepped back a pace. She looked at his panic-stricken face. "It's the creativity," she said slowly. "The heat from this blowtorch is stepping up the fusion of the silver transistors. That must be it."

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"Am I becoming creative?" Mr. Gordons asked.

"I think you might be."

"Hey, what you two talking about?" Ivan thundered from his chair, the iridescent blue mermaid on his chest undulating. He set down a pitcher of martinis he had finished mixing.

"I was just telling him what a sweet, intelligent, considerate person you are, Ivan," she said, smiling. "Say, you couldn't spare some of that, could you?" She pointed to the pitcher filled with swirling clear liquid.

"When you finished," Ivan said. "First, you change robot into Russian weapon, then you get vodka."

"Commie hoople," she muttered.

Mr. Gordons lurched. "I have to kill that Remo," he said.

"First things first," the professor whispered softly. "We've got other things to do. A country to save. Trust me."

"I must kill Remo," Mr. Gordons said.

Behind them, Ivan dozed lightly.

"Listen," Dr. Payton-Holmes said. "Nothing is more important than destroying that Volga. You're hooked up now to make sure it can't hurt America."

"I do not care about America being hurt. I care about me being hurt. I must kill that Remo before he hurts me again."

"Are you going to listen to your mother?" she hissed.

"Yes, Mom. I think."

"You can have Remo. But first, the Volga. Now play dead."

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Mr. Gordons snapped into a rigid position, and the professor called out, "Okay, Ivan. I'm done."

Ivan snapped awake with a snort. "This thing now Russian weapon?"

"Yes. All they have to do is reach inside his belly and turn him on."

"All right," Ivan said. "I send you back to cell now and I take robot away. Later, Ivan come to see you. With bottle of vodka. And Ivan."

"Where is that idiot Ivan?" the high commander snapped from her position at the head of the long mahogany table. She shot a look over her shoulder at the door.

To her immediate left, Grigori Seminov placed his monocle in his eye, making him look like half a fish. He was staring at Istoropovich, who sat on the other side of the high commander, the gold balls around his neck clicking softly. While he had had nothing really to do with it, Istoropovich would take credit for having captured the LC-111. There might be enough credit involved to have him think he could make a move for Semi-nov's job as number two man in Moscow Center. Seminov would be on the alert.

The high commander was talking. "Is all ready for the Volga?" she asked.

"All is ready, Commander," Seminov said.

"Fine. When that simpleton arrives, we will make sure that the robot cannot interfere with Volga. Our socialist science will again lead the way in space," she said.

By poisoning the moon? Seminov thought. But he said nothing, remembering the fate of his aunt

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who had had the poor judgment to speak her mind.