《Test To Destruction》作者： - Keith Laumer【EPUB】

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Test to Destruction The late October wind drove icy rain against Mallory's face above his turned-up collar where he stood concealed in the shadows at the mouth of the narrow alley. "It's ironic, Johnny," the small, grim-faced man beside him muttered. "You-the man who should have been World Premier tonight- skulking in the back streets while Koslo and his bully boys drink champagne in the Executive Palace." "That's all right, Paul," Mallory said. "Maybe he'll be too busy with his victory celebration to concern himself with me." "And maybe he won't," the small man said. "He won't rest easy as long as he knows you're alive to oppose him." "It will only be a few more hours, Paul. By breakfast time, Koslo will know his rigged election didn't take." "But if he takes you first, that's the end, Johnny. Without you the coup will collapse like a soap bubble." "I'm not leaving the city," Mallory said flatly. "Yes, there's a certain risk involved; but you don't bring down a dictator without taking a few chances." "You didn't have to take this one, meeting Crandall yourself." "It will help if he sees me, knows I'm in this all the way." In silence, the two men waited the arrival of their fellow conspirator. * * * Aboard the interstellar dreadnought cruising half a parsec from Earth, the compound Ree mind