《Installment Plan 》作者：- Clifford D Simak 【EPUB】

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Simak I THE MISHAP came at dusk as the last floater was settling down above the cargo dump the eightsmall motors flickering bluely in the twilight. One instant it was floating level a thousandfeet above the ground descending gently with its cargo stacked upon it and the riding robotsperched atop the cargo. The next instant it tilted as first one motor failed and then a secondone. The load of cargo spilled and the riding robots with it. The floater unbalanced became a screaming wheel spinning crazily that whipped in atightening raging spiral down upon the base. Steve Sheridan tumbled from the pile of crates stacked outside his tent. A hundred yards awaythe cargo hit with a thundering crash that could be heard and felt above the screaming of thefloater. The crates and boxes came apart and the crushed and twisted merchandise spread into abroken mound. Sheridan dived for the open tent flaps and as he did the floater hit slicing into the radioshack which had been set up less than an hour before. It tore a massive hole into the groundhalf burying itself throwing up a barrage of sand and gravel that bulleted across the areadrumming like a storm of sleet against the tent. A pebble grazed Sheridans forehead and he felt the blast of sand against his cheek. Then hewas inside the tent and scrambling for the transmog chest that stood beside the desk. quotHezekiahquot he bawled. quotHezekiah where are youquot He fumbled his ring of keys and found the right one and got it in the lock. He twisted and thelid of the chest snapped open. Outside he could hear the pounding of running robot feet. He thrust back the cover of the chest and began lifting out the compartments in which thetransmogs were racked. quotHezekiahquot he shouted. For Hezekiah was the one who knew where all the transmogs were he could lay his hands upon anyof them that might be needed without having to hunt for it. Behind Sheridan the canvas rustled and Hezekiah came in with a rush. He brushed Sheridan toone side. quotHere let me sirquot he said. quotWell need some roboticistsquot said Sheridan. quotThose boys must be smashed up fairly bad.quot quotHere they are. You better handle them sir. You do it better than any one of us.quot Sheridan took the thee transmogs and dropped them in the pocket of his jacket. quotIm sorry there are no more sirquot Hezekiah said. quotThat is all we have.quot quotThese will have to doquot said Sheridan. quotHow about the radio shack Was anyone in therequot quotI understand that it was quite empty. Silas had just stepped out of it. He was very luckysir.quot quotYes indeedquot agreed Sheridan. He ducked out of the tent and ran toward the mound of broken crates and boxes. Robots wereswarming over it digging frantically. As he ran he saw them stoop and lift free a