ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
Ò»ÊÀÊé³Ç ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

rr.eastofealing-µÚ24ÕÂ

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡'There¡¡now£»'¡¡said¡¡Professor¡¡Slobe£»¡¡'you¡¡have¡¡saved¡¡me¡¡my¡¡old¡¡breath¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡no¡¡souls¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡man's¡¡soul¡¡alone¡¡which¡¡prevents¡¡him¡¡slipping¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡The¡¡soul¡¡cries¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡worships¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡Replace¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lord¡¡of¡¡light¡¡is¡¡cast¡¡down¡£¡¡The¡¡darkness¡¡returns¡£'
¡¡'The¡¡whole¡¡menu¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bowl¡¡of¡¡sprouts£»'¡¡said¡¡Omally¡¡bitterly¡£¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sick¡£'
¡¡'It¡¡all¡¡sounds¡¡somewhat¡¡eclectic£»'¡¡remarked¡¡Jim£»¡¡surprising¡¡even¡¡himself¡£¡¡'I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡pretend¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡much¡¡of¡¡it¡£'
¡¡'Like¡¡the¡¡sprout£»¡¡it¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡swallowing£»'¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡replied¡£¡¡'What¡¡I¡¡am¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡say¡¡is¡¡this£º¡¡puter¡¡science¡¡is¡¡founded¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡silicon¡¡chip¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡long¡¡been¡¡suggested¡¡by¡¡scientists¡¡that¡¡life¡¡might¡¡exist¡¡elsewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡universe£»¡¡life¡¡possibly¡¡with¡¡a¡¡silicon¡¡base¡£¡¡They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have¡¡created¡¡it¡¡here¡¡on¡¡Earth£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡behest¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hidden¡¡master¡£¡¡When¡¡man¡¡is¡¡made¡¡subservient¡¡to¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡he¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡control¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡destiny¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡he¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡the¡¡dominant¡¡species¡£¡¡The¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Brentford¡¡are¡¡being¡¡replaced¡¡one¡¡after¡¡another¡¡by¡¡duplicates¡¡of¡¡themselves¡£¡¡Soulless¡¡robots¡¡programmed¡¡to¡¡worship¡¡their¡¡master¡£¡¡Unless¡¡we¡¡act¡¡quickly£»¡¡then¡¡all¡¡we¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡known¡¡will¡¡be¡¡lost¡£'
¡¡Pooley¡¡solemnly¡¡removed¡¡his¡¡wristlet¡¡watch¡¡and¡¡cast¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡plastic¡¡crackled¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡flames£»¡¡and£»¡¡to¡¡add¡¡further¡¡horror¡¡to¡¡a¡¡conversation¡¡which¡¡had¡¡already¡¡been¡¡a¡¡far¡¡cry¡¡from¡¡a¡¡cosy¡¡fireside¡¡chat£»¡¡a¡¡shrill¡¡voice¡¡shrieked¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡calling¡¡for¡¡mercy¡£
¡¡Omally¡¡crossed¡¡himself¡£¡¡'I¡¡believe£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡simply¡£
¡¡'Then¡¡you¡¡will¡¡fight¡¡with¡¡me£¿'
¡¡'I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡little¡¡choice¡£¡¡Jim£¿'
¡¡Pooley¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡unmarked¡¡palm¡£¡¡'Count¡¡me¡¡in£»¡¡I¡¡suppose£»'¡¡said¡¡he¡£
¡¡
¡¡17
¡¡The¡¡conversation¡¡wore¡¡long¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡John¡¡and¡¡Jim¡¡were¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡know¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡plans¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡had¡¡formulated£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡obstinately¡¡vague¡¡in¡¡his¡¡replies¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡either¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡uncertain¡¡as¡¡to¡¡what¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡set¡¡certain¡¡wheels¡¡in¡¡motion¡¡and¡¡feared¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡might£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡eagerness¡¡to¡¡pitch¡¡in¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cause£»¡¡confound¡¡them¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡Jim¡¡at¡¡length¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡rooms¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡a¡¡most¡¡uneasy¡¡sleep¡¡beset¡¡with¡¡ghastly¡¡dreams¡¡of¡¡mechanical¡¡monsters¡¡and¡¡bogey¡¡men¡¡who¡¡loomed¡¡up¡¡from¡¡every¡¡darkened¡¡corner¡£¡¡Omally£»¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡slept¡¡the¡¡sleep¡¡of¡¡the¡¡just£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡unjust¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡considering¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£
¡¡At¡¡around¡¡eleven¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡met¡¡up¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Swan¡£¡¡Pooley¡¡emptied¡¡what¡¡pennies¡¡remained¡¡to¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡outspread¡¡palm¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fellow¡£¡¡'He¡¡won't¡¡take¡¡my¡¡cash¡¡any¡¡more£»¡¡simply¡¡runs¡¡his¡¡damn¡¡little¡¡wand¡¡over¡¡my¡¡hand¡£¡¡It¡¡gives¡¡me¡¡little¡¡pleasure¡£'
¡¡'If¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡truth¡¡to¡¡anything¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡told¡¡us£»¡¡then¡¡at¡¡least¡¡we¡¡have¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡idea¡¡what's¡¡going¡¡on¡£'
¡¡'Vague¡¡would¡¡be¡¡your¡¡man£»¡¡John£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡well¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡league¡£'
¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡suit¡¡you¡¡have¡¡on¡¡there£»'¡¡Omally¡¡observed¡¡as¡¡Jim¡¡strode¡¡on¡¡before¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Swan¡£¡¡'If¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tight¡¡across¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡perhaps¡£'
¡¡The¡¡pale¡¡young¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡headphones¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡jump¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡had¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Neville¡¡since¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡whisked¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ambulance¡£¡¡The¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡Mercy¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡another¡¡hospital¡¡but¡¡seemed¡¡uncertain¡¡where¡£¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡ownership¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brewery¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡hands¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡Brentford¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡part¡­time¡¡barman¡£¡¡'Replacement£»'¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡had¡¡said£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡more¡¡than¡¡unsettling¡¡business¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡duplicates¡¡were¡¡even¡¡now¡¡being¡¡created¡¡to¡¡replace¡¡each¡¡living¡¡individual¡¡in¡¡Brentford¡¡was¡¡no¡¡laughing¡¡matter¡£
¡¡'Usual¡¡please£»'¡¡said¡¡Jim£»¡¡extending¡¡his¡¡palm¡£
¡¡The¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡headset¡¡ran¡¡his¡¡electronic¡¡pen¡¡across¡¡the¡¡outstretched¡¡appendage¡¡and¡¡cleared¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡with¡¡a¡¡curiously¡¡mechanical¡¡coughing¡¡sound¡£¡¡'Great¡¡day¡¡for¡¡the¡¡race£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡'Yours¡¡or¡¡mine£¿'¡¡muttered¡¡Jim¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡breath¡£
¡¡Omally¡¡bought¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡'It's¡¡just¡¡not¡¡the¡¡same¡¡any¡¡more£»'¡¡he¡¡sighed£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡his¡¡pint¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡table¡¡Jim¡¡now¡¡occupied¡£¡¡'I¡¡miss¡¡the¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chase¡£'
¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡anything¡¡is¡¡ever¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡same¡¡again£»'¡¡said¡¡Pooley¡¡unhappily¡£¡¡'All¡¡is¡¡finished¡¡here¡£¡¡If¡¡only¡¡we¡¡had¡¡legged¡¡it¡¡away¡¡in¡¡time¡¡we¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡sitting¡¡here¡¡trapped¡¡like¡¡rats£»¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡be¡¡replaced¡¡by¡¡piles¡¡of¡¡diodes¡£'
¡¡John¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡one¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡will¡¡expand¡¡to¡¡finally¡¡engulf¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡never¡¡did¡¡explain¡¡why¡¡it¡¡all¡¡started¡¡right¡¡here¡£'
¡¡'Well£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡had¡¡to¡¡start¡¡somewhere¡¡and¡¡Brentford£»¡¡although¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡some£»¡¡is£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡world¡¡knows£»¡¡better¡¡than¡¡most¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡unfairness¡¡of¡¡it¡¡that¡¡gets¡¡my¡¡dander¡¡up¡£¡¡Me£»¡¡with¡¡money¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡and¡¡two¡¡dozen¡¡High¡¡Street¡¡shops¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡it¡¡in¡£¡¡My¡¡God£»¡¡I'm¡¡doing¡¡my¡¡best£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡about¡¡teas¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Ritz¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Concorde¡¡flight¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Bahamas£¿¡¡Such¡¡things¡¡are¡¡day¡¡to¡¡day¡¡affairs¡¡for¡¡lads¡¡with¡¡my¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡scratch¡£¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡even¡¡buy¡¡people¡¡drinks¡£¡¡My¡¡entire¡¡wealth¡¡is¡¡without¡¡purpose¡£'
¡¡'The¡¡Professor¡¡warned¡¡you£»¡¡Jim£»¡¡the¡¡money¡¡wasn't¡¡meant¡¡for¡¡you¡£'
¡¡'This¡¡beer¡¡is¡¡definitely¡¡not¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡£'¡¡Pooley¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡pint¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡Through¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡amber¡¡liquid¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡puter¡¡lines¡¡etched¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡twinkled¡¡like¡¡the¡¡slats¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Venetian¡¡blind¡£
¡¡'I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡the¡¡same£»'¡¡Omally¡¡replied¡£¡¡'It¡¡has¡¡a¡¡definitely¡¡metallic¡¡tang¡¡to¡¡it¡¡nowadays¡£'
¡¡An¡¡odd¡¡figure¡¡now¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Swan¡£¡¡He¡¡appeared¡¡awkward¡¡and¡¡ill¡¡at¡¡ease¡¡amongst¡¡his¡¡surroundings¡£¡¡The¡¡stranger¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡wide¡­brimmed¡¡hat¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡material¡¡and¡¡a¡¡similarly¡­coloured¡¡cloak¡¡which¡¡reached¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡exposing¡¡only¡¡the¡¡very¡¡tips¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Wellington¡¡boots¡£
¡¡'It's¡¡Soap£»'¡¡Omally¡¡whispered¡£¡¡'Now¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡suppose¡¡he¡¡is¡¡doing¡¡here£¿'
¡¡'e¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡us¡¡our¡¡thirty¡¡quid£»¡¡hopefully£»'¡¡said¡¡Jim£»¡¡who¡¡even¡¡in¡¡wealth¡¡was¡¡never¡¡too¡¡aloof¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡a¡¡creditor¡£
¡¡Soap¡¡ordered¡¡a¡¡Guinness£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gold¡¡nugget¡¡which¡¡the¡¡barman¡¡weighed¡¡up¡¡and¡¡mitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡till¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡in¡¡black¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡two¡¡seated¡¡drinkers¡£¡¡'Good¡¡day£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡'Not¡¡yet£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Omally¡£¡¡'But¡¡you¡¡have¡¡my¡¡full¡¡permission¡¡to¡¡improve¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡should¡¡you¡¡so¡¡wish¡£'
¡¡'Might¡¡I¡¡take¡¡a¡¡seat£¿'
¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡must¡£'
¡¡Soap¡¡removed¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡His¡¡albino¡¡coiffure¡¡glowed¡¡stunningly¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡saloon¡­bar£»¡¡the¡¡pink¡¡eyes¡¡wandered¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡£¡¡'How's¡¡tricks£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡'Oh£»¡¡going¡¡great¡¡guns£»'¡¡Pooley¡¡made¡¡an¡¡airy¡¡gesture¡£¡¡'Just¡¡sitting¡¡here¡¡drinking¡¡duff¡¡beer£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Ringside¡¡seats¡¡to¡¡boot¡£'
¡¡'Hm¡£'¡¡Soap¡¡toyed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ample¡¡brim¡¡of¡¡his¡¡extraordinary¡¡hat¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what¡¡though£»¡¡but¡£¡¡You're¡¡better¡¡off¡¡here¡¡than¡¡out¡¡there¡£'¡¡He¡¡thumbed¡¡away¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡glistening¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡light¡¡which¡¡shimmered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡Swan's¡¡upper¡¡panes¡£¡¡'It's¡¡all¡¡hell¡¡for¡¡sure¡¡in¡¡that¡¡neck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woods¡£'
¡¡'You¡¡mean¡¡you've¡¡been¡¡outside£¿'¡¡Omally¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡ample¡¡eyebrows¡£
¡¡'Naturally¡£'¡¡Soap¡¡tugged¡¡lewdly¡¡at¡¡his¡¡lower¡¡eye¡£¡¡'You¡¡know¡¡the¡¡expression¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man¡¡down£¿¡¡Well¡¡here¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man¡¡down¡¡is¡¡worth¡¡three¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Butts¡£¡¡Good'n¡¡that£»¡¡eh£¿¡¡One¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡£'
¡¡'Bloody¡¡marvellous£»'¡¡said¡¡Pooley¡¡without¡¡conviction¡£¡¡'So¡¡what¡¡is¡¡going¡¡on¡¡out¡¡there£¿'
¡¡'Bad¡¡things¡£'¡¡Soap¡¡stared¡¡sombrely¡¡into¡¡his¡¡pint¡£¡¡The¡¡sharpened£»¡¡ear¡­rooting¡¡nail¡¡of¡¡his¡¡little¡¡finger¡¡traced¡¡a¡¡runic¡¡symbol¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡knap¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hatbrim¡£¡¡'Bad¡¡things¡£'¡¡Soap¡¡sipped¡¡at¡¡his¡¡pint¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡slim¡¡wrist¡¡across¡¡his¡¡mouth¡£¡¡'Bloody¡¡chaos£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡simply¡£¡¡'It¡¡makes¡¡me¡¡sick¡¡at¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡goes¡¡on¡¡out¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Professor¡¡says¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡watch¡£¡¡Although¡¡he¡¡never¡¡says¡¡for¡¡what¡£'
¡¡'So¡¡what¡¡have¡¡you¡¡seen£»¡¡Soap£¿'
¡¡'They¡¡are¡¡starving¡¡out¡¡there¡£'¡¡Soap's¡¡pink¡¡eyes¡¡darted¡¡up¡¡at¡¡his¡¡inquisitor¡£
¡¡'You're¡¡joking£»¡¡surely£¿'
¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡not¡£¡¡Since¡¡the¡¡institution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡non¡­monetary¡¡system¡¡of¡¡exchange¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡country¡¡is¡¡literally¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡civil¡¡war¡£'
¡¡'e¡¡now£»'¡¡said¡¡Jim¡£¡¡'What¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡is¡¡that¡¡a¡¡few¡¡die¡­hards¡¡are¡¡giving¡¡two¡¡fingers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡printed¡­palm¡¡brigade¡£¡¡Bloody¡¡good¡¡luck¡¡to¡¡them¡¡I¡¡say¡£¡¡I'll¡¡arrange¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡million¡¡drawn¡¡out¡£¡¡You¡¡take¡¡it¡¡with¡¡my¡¡blessings¡£'
¡¡'Money¡¡won't¡¡do¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡Soap¡£¡¡'Paper¡¡currency¡¡is¡¡illegal¡£¡¡All¡¡assets¡¡were¡¡ins
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡