The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell by Harry Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

here, the boys as well, and this was the reason why Sybil was possibly risking her life. This was going to work. It had to work.
    My walk was not without a purpose; I had seen a cafe just across the square from the Church of the Seekers of the Way. It had a row of tables outside protected by an awning. And a hydro-repeller field as well I realized as I entered; this field and mine flickered with glints of light where they interacted. I touched the brim of my cap and turned mine off, sat at a table with a clear view of the church.

    â€œWelcome, welcome, sir or madam,” the table candle said as its wick flickered and lit up.
    â€œSir, not madam.”
    â€œHow can we be of service … sir not madam?”
    The world was full of moronic robots and computers tonight.
    â€œBring beer. Big, cold.”
    â€œDelighted to be of service, sir not madam.”
    The table vibrated, then a hatch slid back and the beer emerged. I reached for it but could not lift it.
    â€œTwo kropotniks, fifty,” a colder mechanical voice said. I pushed three coins into the slot and the clamp on the glass was released. “Thank you for the tip,” the voice said, keeping my change. I drowned my incipient growl with a swig of beer.
    The rain lashed down on the square, thunder rumbled in the distance. An occasional car swished by; the door to the Church of the Seekers of the Way remained closed. The beer was flat. I waited.
    Time passed. I finished the first beer and ordered another one.
    â€œTwo kropotniks, seventy,” the table said.
    â€œWhy? The last beer was two fifty.”
    â€œThat was during the happy hour. Pay.”
    I fed in the exact amount this time and the glass was released. “Cheapskate,” the computer muttered and emitted an electronic raspberry.
    The rain finally slackened, stopped, and one of Vulkann’s three moons appeared briefly through a gap in the clouds. Then there was flicker of movement across the way and three women emerged from the church. They talked together for a moment before separating. Sybil came towards me and I felt a certain relaxation; at least she was safe. She did not look at me but must have been aware of my presence because she turned and entered the cafe. I took a few minutes to sip my beer. She did not appear to have been followed. I finished my drink, put the glass down and went inside.

    She was in one of the rear booths with a cocktail glass before her; she nodded slightly and I went to join her. She took a large swallow, then a second one—and sighed.
    â€œJim, that was an experience I find difficult to describe. There were three of us and we joined Father Marablis—or Slakey—I’m beginning to be unsure of a lot of things. There were no machines that I could see. He talked to us for a bit then touched his hand to my forehead. Something happened. I can’t tell you what. I didn’t black out or anything like that. I can only repeat what Vivilia VonBrun said—it was indescribable. But I can clearly remember what happened next. We were walking through a field of very short grass, following Marablis. He stopped and pointed upwards and at the same moment I heard the sound of chimes, most distinctly. He was pointing to a white cloud that drifted towards us. The chimes, the music, was coming from the cloud and when I heard it I felt, well, an elation of some kind. Some sort of spiritual upwelling. Then—and don’t laugh—I swear I saw a little flying creature behind the cloud. Just a glimpse.”
    â€œA bird?”
    â€œNo … a tiny pink baby with little wings on its shoulders. Then it was gone and it was over.”
    â€œJust like that?”
    â€œI—I just don’t know. I remember that Marablis touched my arm, turning me, and I was back in that room in the church again along with the other women. I felt, well just sad, as though I had lost something very precious.”
    There was little I could say. She