In the outer office, talking to Page, stood Anderton's slim and attractive young wife, Lisa. She was engaged in a sharp, animated1 discussion of policy, and barely glanced up as Witwer and her husband entered.
"Hello, darling," Anderton said.
Witwer remained silent. But his pale eyes flickered2 slightly as they rested on the brown-haired woman in her trim police uniform. Lisa was now an executive official of Precrime but once, Witwer knew, she had been Anderton's secretary.
Noticing the interest on Witwer's face Anderton paused and reflected. To plant the card in the machines would require an accomplice3 on the inside—someone who was closely connected with Precrime and had access to the analytical4 equipment. Lisa was an improbable element. But the possibility did exist.
Of course, the conspiracy5 could be large-scale and elaborate, involving far more than a "rigged" card inserted somewhere along the line. The original data itself might have been tampered6 with. Actually, there was no telling how far back the alteration7 went. A cold fear touched him as he began to see the possibilities. His original impulse—to tear open the machines and remove all the data—was uselessly primitive8. Probably the tapes agreed with the card: He would only incriminate himself further.
He had approximately twenty-four hours. Then, the Army people would check over their cards and discover the discrepancy9. They would find in their files a duplicate of the card he had appropriated. He had only one of two copies, which meant that the folded card in his pocket might just as well be lying on Page's desk in plain view of everyone.
From outside the building came the drone of police cars starting out on their routine round-ups. How many hours would elapse before one of them pulled up in front of his house?
"What's the matter, darling?" Lisa asked him uneasily. "You look as if you've just seen a ghost. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he assured her.
Lisa suddenly seemed to become aware of Ed Witwer's admiring scrutiny10. "Is this gentleman your new co-worker, darling?" she asked.
Warily11, Anderton introduced his new associate. Lisa smiled in friendly greeting. Did a covert12 awareness13 pass between them? He couldn't tell. God, he was beginning to suspect everybody—not only his wife and Witwer, but a dozen members of his staff.
"Are you from New York?" Lisa asked.
"No," Witwer replied. "I've lived most of my life in Chicago. I'm staying at a hotel—one of the big downtown hotels. Wait—I have the name written on a card somewhere."
While he self-consciously searched his pockets, Lisa suggested: "Perhaps you'd like to have dinner with us. We'll be working in close cooperation, and I really think we ought to get better acquainted."
Startled, Anderton backed off. What were the chances of his wife's friendliness14 being benign15, accidental? Witwer would be present the balance of the evening, and would now have an excuse to trail along to Anderton's private residence. Profoundly disturbed, he turned impulsively16, and moved toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Lisa asked, astonished.
"Back to the monkey block," he told her. "I want to check over some rather puzzling data tapes before the Army sees them." He was out in the corridor before she could think of a plausible17 reason for detaining him.
Rapidly, he made his way to the ramp18 at its far end. He was striding down the outside stairs toward the public sidewalk, when Lisa appeared breathlessly behind him.
"What on earth has come over you?" Catching19 hold of his arm, she moved quickly in front of him. "I knew you were leaving," she exclaimed, blocking his way. "What's wrong with you? Everybody thinks you're—" She checked herself. "I mean, you're acting20 so erratically21."
People surged by them—the usual afternoon crowd. Ignoring them, Anderton pried22 his wife's fingers from his arm. "I'm getting out," he told her. "While there's still time."
"But—why?"
"I'm being framed—deliberately and maliciously23. This creature is out to get my job. The Senate is getting at me through him."
Lisa gazed up at him, bewildered. "But he seems like such a nice young man."
"Nice as a water moccasin."
Lisa's dismay turned to disbelief. "I don't believe it. Darling, all this strain you've been under—" Smiling uncertainly, she faltered24: "It's not really credible25 that Ed Witwer is trying to frame you. How could he, even if he wanted to? Surely Ed wouldn't—"
"Ed?"
"That's his name, isn't it?"
Her brown eyes flashed in startled, wildly incredulous protest. "Good heavens, you're suspicious of everybody. You actually believe I'm mixed up with it in some way, don't you?"
He considered. "I'm not sure."
She drew closer to him, her eyes accusing. "That's not true. You really believe it. Maybe you ought to go away for a few weeks. You desperately26 need a rest. All this tension and trauma27, a younger man coming in. You're acting paranoiac28. Can't you see that? People plotting against you. Tell me, do you have any actual proof?"
Anderton removed his wallet and took out the folded card. "Examine this carefully," he said, handing it to her.
The color drained out of her face, and she gave a little harsh, dry gasp29.
"The set-up is fairly obvious," Anderton told her, as levelly as he could. "This will give Witwer a legal pretext30 to remove me right now. He won't have to wait until I resign." Grimly, he added: "They know I'm good for a few years yet."
"But-"
"It will end the check and balance system. Precrime will no longer be an independent agency. The Senate will control the police, and after that—" His lips tightened31. "They'll absorb the Army too. Well, it's outwardly logical enough. Of course I feel hostility32 and resentment33 toward Witwer—of course I have a motive34.
"Nobody likes to be replaced by a younger man, and find himself turned out to pasture. It's all really quite plausible—except that I haven't the remotest intention of killing35 Witwer. But I can't prove that. So what can I do?"
Mutely, her face very white, Lisa shook her head. "I—I don't know. Darling, if only—"
"Right now," Anderton said abruptly36, "I'm going home to pack my things. That's about as far ahead as I can plan."
"You're really going to—to try to hide out?"
"I am. As far as the Centaurian-colony planets, if necessary. It's been done successfully before, and I have a twenty-four-hour start." He turned resolutely37. "Go back inside. There's no point in your coming with me."
"Did you imagine I would?" Lisa asked huskily.
Startled, Anderton stared at her. "Wouldn't you?" Then with amazement38, he murmured: "No, I can see you don't believe me. You still think I'm imagining all this." He jabbed savagely39 at the card. "Even with that evidence you still aren't convinced."
"No," Lisa agreed quickly, "I'm not. You didn't look at it closely enough, darling. Ed Witwer's name isn't on it."
Incredulous, Anderton took the card from her.
"Nobody says you're going to kill Ed Witwer," Lisa continued rapidly, in a thin, brittle40 voice. "The card must be genuine, understand? And it has nothing to do with Ed. He's not plotting against you and neither is anybody else."
Too confused to reply, Anderton stood studying the card. She was right. Ed Witwer was not listed as his victim. On line five, the machine had neatly41 stamped another name.
LEOPOLD KAPLAN
Numbly42, he pocketed the card. He had never heard of the man in his life.
收听单词发音 |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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discrepancy
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| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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awareness
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| n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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erratically
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| adv.不规律地，不定地 | |
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pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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trauma
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| n.外伤，精神创伤 | |
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paranoiac
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| n.偏执狂患者 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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numbly
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| adv.失去知觉，麻木 | |
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