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。 It was only a matter of minutes before I was pulling into the loading area in the back of the big store。 There was a certain amount of excitement here but it was lost in the normal bustle of merce。 Here and there a knot of truck drivers or shipping foremen were exchanging views on the robbery； since robots don't gossip the normal work was going on。 The men were； of course； so excited that no attention was paid to my truck when I pulled into the parking line next to the other vans。 I killed the engine and settled back with a satisfied sigh。
The first part was plete。 The second part of the operation was just as important though。 I dug into my paunch for the kit that I always take on the job…for such an emergency as this。 Normally； I don't believe in stimulants； but I was still groggy from the banging around。 Two cc's of Linoten in my ante cubital cleared that up quickly enough。 The spring was back in my step when I went into the back of the van。
The driver's assistant and the guards were still out and would stay that way for at least ten hours。 I arranged them in a neat row in the front of the truck where they wouldn't be in my way； and went to work。
The armored car almost filled the body of the trailer as I knew it would； therefore I had fastened the boxes to the walls。 They were fine； strong shipping boxes with Moraio's printed all over them。 It had been a minor theft from their warehouse that should go unnoticed。 I pulled the boxes down and folded them for packing； I was soon sweating and had to take my shirt off as I packed the money bundles into the boxes。
It took almost two hours to stuff and seal the boxes with tape。 Every ten minutes or so I would check through the peephole in the door； only the normal activities were going on。 The police undoubtedly had the entire town sealed and were tearing it apart building by building looking for the truck。 I was fairly sure that the last place they would think of looking was the rear of the robbed store。
The warehouse that had provided the boxes had also provided a supply of shipping forms。 I fixed one of these on each box； addressed to different pick…up addresses and marked paid of course； and was ready to finish the operation。
It was almost dark by this time； however I knew that the shipping department would be busy most of the night。 The engine caught on the first revolution and I pulled out of the parking rank and backed slowly up to the platform。 There was a relatively quiet area where the shipping dock met the receiving dock； I stopped the trailer as close to the dividing line as I could。 I didn't open the rear door until all the workmen were faced in a different direction。 Even the stupidest of them would have been interested in why a truck was unloading the firm's own boxes。 As I piled them up on the platform I threw a tarp over them； it only took a few minutes。 Only when the truck gates were closed and locked did I pull off the tarp and sit down on the boxes for a smoke。
It wasn't a long wait。 Before the cigarette was finished a robot from the shipping department passed close enough for me to call him。
〃Over there。 The M…19 that was loading these burned out a brake…band； you better see that they're taken care of。〃
His eyes glowed with the light of duty。 Some of these higher M types take their job very seriously。 I had to step back quickly as the forklifts and M…trucks appeared out of the doors behind me。 There was a scurry of loading and sorting and my haul vanished down the platform。 I lighted another cigarette and watched for a while as the boxes were coded and stamped and loaded on the outgoing trucks and local belts。
All that was left for me now was the disposing of the truck on some side street and changing personalities。
As I was getting into the truck I realized for the first time that something was wrong。 I； of course； had been keeping an eye on the gate…but not watching it closely enough。 Trucks had been going in and out。 Now the realization hit me like a hammer blow over the solar plexus。 They were the same trucks going both ways。 A large； red cross…country job was just pulling out。 I heard the echo of its exhaust roar down the street…then die away to an idling grumble。 When it roared up again it didn't go away； instead the truck came in through the second gate。 There were police cars waiting outside that wall。 Waiting for me。
Chapter 3
For the first time in my career I felt the sharp fear of the hunted man。 This was the first time I had ever had the police on my trail when I wasn't expecting them。 The money was lost； that much was certain； but I was no longer concerned with that。 It was me they were after now。
Think first； then act。 I was safe enough for the moment。 They were； of course； moving in on me； going slowly as they had no idea of where I was in the giant loading yard。 How had they found me？ That was the important point。 The local police are used to an almost crimeless world； they couldn't have found my trail this quickly。 In fact； I hadn't left a trail。 Whoever had set the trap here had done it with logic and reason。
Unbidden the words jumped into my mind。
The Special Corps。
Nothing was ever printed about it； only a thousand whispered words heard on a thousand worlds around the galaxy。 The Special Corps； the branch of the League that took care of the troubles that individual planets couldn't solve。 The Corps was supposed to have finished off the remnants of Haskell's Raiders after the peace； of putting the illegal T & Z Traders out of business； of finally catching Inskipp。 And now they were after me。
They were out there waiting for me to make a break。 They were thinking of all the ways out just as I was…and they were blocking them。 I had to think fast and I had to think right。
Only two ways out。 Through the gates or through the store。 The gales were too well covered to make a break； in the store there would be other exits。 It had to be that way。 Even as I made the conclusion I knew that other minds had made it too； that men were moving in to cover those doors。 That thought brought fear…and made me angry as well。 The very idea that someone could outthink me was odious。 They could try all right…but I would give them a run for their money。 I still had a few tricks left。
First； a little misdirection。 I started the truck； left it in low gear and aimed it at the gate。 When it was going straight I locked the steering wheel with the friction clamp and dropped out the far side of the cab and strolled back to the warehouse。 Once inside I moved faster。 Behind me I heard some shots； a heavy crump； and a lot of shouting。 That was more like it。
The night locks were connected on the doors that led to the store proper。 An old…fashioned alarm that I could disconnect in a few moments。 My picklocks opened the door and I gave it a quick kick with my foot and turned away。 There were no alarm bells； but I knew that somewhere in the building an indicator showed that the door was opened。 As fast as I could run I went to the last door on the opposite side of the building。 This time I made sure the alarm was disconnected before I went through the door。 I locked it behind me。
It is the hardest job in the world to run and be quiet at the same time。 My lungs were burning before I reached the employees' entrance。 A few times I saw flashlights ahead and had to double down different aisles； it was mostly luck that I made it without being spotted。 There were two men in uniform standing in front of the door I wanted to go out of。 Keeping as close to the wall as I could； I made it to within twenty feet of them before I threw the gas grenade。 For one second I was sure that they had gas masks on and I had reached the end of the road…then they slumped down。 One of them was blocking the door； I rolled him aside and slid it open a few inches。
The searchlight couldn't have been more than thirty feet from the door； when it flashed on the light was more pain than glare。 I dropped the instant it came on and the slugs from the machine pistol ate a line of glaring holes across the door。 My ears were numb from the roar of the exploding slugs and I could just make out the thud of running footsteps。 My own 。75 was in my hand and I put an entire clip of slugs through the door； aiming high so I wouldn't hurt anyone。 It would not stop them； but it should slow them down。
They returned the fire； must have been a whole squad out there。 Pieces of plastic flew out of the back wall and slugs screamed down the corridor。 It was good cover； I knew there was nobody ing up behind me。 Keeping as flat as I could I crawled in the opposite direction； out of the line of fire。 I turned two corners before I was far enough from the guns to risk standing up。 My knees were shaky and great blobs of color kept fogging my vision。 The searchlight had done a good job； I could barely see at all in the dim light。
I kept moving slowly； trying to get as far away from the gunfire as possible。 The squad outside had fired as soon as I had opened the door； that meant standing orders to shoot at anyone who tried to leave the building。 A nice trap。 The cops inside would