tz.cobra strike-第15部分

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；　had　usually　signaled　a　favor　request　was　ing。　〃Uh；　Governor　。。。　would　you　be　willing　to　fly　out　with　the　team？　We'd　all　feel　better　with　someone　of　your　experience　along。〃
　Jonny　looked　back　at　Chrys；　raised　his　eyebrows。　She　was　still　studying　the　displays；　though；　and　when　she　finally　met　his　gaze　she　seemed　surprised　he　was　even　asking。　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　〃Just　be　careful。〃
　If　I　live　to　be　ten　thousand。。。。　Turning　back　to　Banyon；　he　nodded。　〃All　right；　then。　Let's　get　cracking。〃
　It　was　indeed　a　herd…a　big　herd…and　to　Jonny；　who'd　seen　such　things　only　on　tape；　the　sight　of　so　many　wild　animals　together　at　once　was　both　awesome　and　a　little　bit　frightening。　Even　just　jogging　along；　the　mass　of　brown…furred　quadrupeds　made　a　thunder　audible　inside　a　sealed　aircar　two　hundred　meters　overhead；　and　their　wide　hooves　raised　a　dust　cloud　despite　the　damping　effect　of　the　webgrass　underfoot。
　〃I　think；〃　Banyon　mented　as　they　all　took　in　the　sight；　〃we're　going　to　have　to　rethink　our　basic　plan。〃
　One　of　the　other　Cobras　snorted；　and　someone　else　let　loose　with　a　rather　strained　chuckle。　Jonny　let　the　tension…easing　noises　ripple　around　the　crowded　aircar　and　then　gestured　out　the　window。　〃Let's　get　a　few　kilometers　ahead　of　them　and　see　if　we　can　e　up　with　a　way　to　shift　them　off　their　course。〃
　Banyon　nodded　and　turned　the　vehicle　around；　but　as　the　roar　faded　behind　them　Jonny　studied　the　landscape　below　with　decreasing　hope。　The　Cobras　had　already　established　that　there　weren't　any　natural　obstacles　between　the　herd　and　the　Menssana；　and　now　that　he　knew　what　they　were　up　against　it
　seemed　very　unlikely　they　could　do　anything　to　the　terrain　that　would　make　any　difference　whatsoever。　Something　more　drastic　was　likely　to　be　necessary。　Drastic　and　dangerous。
　Banyon　had　apparently　reached　the　same　conclusion。　〃We're　going　to　have　to　scare　them；　I'm　afraid；〃　he　murmured；　just　loudly　enough　for　Jonny　to　hear。
　〃There　used　to　be　herds　this　size　all　over　parts　of　Earth　and　Blue　Haven；〃　Jonny　said。　〃I　wish　I　knew　how　they'd　been　hunted。　Well。　We　don't　have　anything　like　real　explosives　aboard；　and　we　don't　yet　know　what　this　species〃　predators　even　look　like。　I　suppose　that　leaves　close…in　work　with　lasers　and　sonics。〃
　〃Laser　range　isn't　that　short…oh。　Right。　If　they　don't　see　us；　there's　no　guarantee　they'll　figure　out　which　way　to　run。〃
　〃Or　even　notice　they're　being　killed　off。〃　Jonny　thought　for　a　minute；　but　nothing　else　obvious　came　to　mind。　〃Well　。。。　let's　try　buzzing　them　with　the　car　first。　Maybe　that'll　do　the　trick。〃
　But　the　animals　apparently　had　no　enemies　that　were　airborne。　pletely　oblivious　to　the　darting　craft　above　them；　they　continued　stolidly　on　their　way。　〃We　do　it　the　hard　way　now？〃　one　of　the　others　asked。
　Banyon　nodded。　〃Afraid　so。　But　hopefully　not　too　hard。　Saving　the　biologists　some　work　isn't　worth　anyone　getting　killed　over。〃
　〃Or　even　hurt；〃　Jonny　put　in。　〃We'll　just…〃
　A　ping　from　the　car's　phone　interrupted　him。　〃Governor；　we've　got　something　here　that　may　or　may　not　mean　anything；〃　Captain　Shepherd　said；　his　attention　somewhere　off…camera。　〃The　satellite's　been　pleting　its　large…scale　geosurvey　。。　。　and　it　looks　very　much　like　that　herd　is　running　along　one　of　the　planet's　magnetic　field　lines。〃
　Banyon　looked　at　Jonny；　eyebrows　raised。　〃I　thought　the　only　things　that　used　geomagnetic　navigation　were　birds；　insects；　and　tweenies；〃
　〃So　did　all　the　Menssana's　biologists；〃　Shepherd　returned　dryly。　〃But　they　admit　there's　no　reason　something　larger　couldn't　make　use　of　the　mechanism。〃
　〃If　we　assume　they're　indeed　paralleling　the　field　lines；　is　the　camp　still　in　danger？〃　Jonny　asked。
　〃Yes。　The　probability　actually　goes　up　a　couple　of　points。〃
　Jonny　looked　questioningly　at　Banyon。　〃Worth　a　try；〃　the　other　grunted。　〃Captain；　is　there　anything　aboard　the　ship　that　can　generate　a　strong　magnetic　field？〃
　〃Sure…the　drive　modulators。　All　we'll　need　to　do　is　pull　off　some　of　the　shielding　and　we'll　get　enough　field　leakage　to　overwhelm　their　direction　finders。　If　that's　what's　really　happening。〃
　〃It's　worth　trying；〃　Banyon　repeated。　〃How　fast　can　you　get　that　shielding　off？〃
　〃It's　already　being　done。　Say　another　hour　at　the　most。〃
　The　gently　rolling　terrain　could　not　by　any　stretch　of　the　imagination　be　called　hilly；　but　even　so　the　flatfoot　herd　was　audible　long　before　it　could　be　seen。　Standing　a　few　meters　back　from　the　main　line　of　Cobras；　Jonny　wiped　the　perspiration　off　his　palms　as　the　thunder　steadily　grew；　hoping　this　was　going　to　work。　In　theory；　the　Cobra's　antiarmor　lasers　should　be　able　to　make　fungus　feed　out　of　the　herd　if　something　went　wrong　。。。　but　Jonny　couldn't　help　remembering　how　hard　the　equally　herbiverous　gantuas　of　Aventine　were　to　kill。
　〃Get　ready；〃　his　phone　said。　He　glanced　up　to　see　the　car　as　it　hovered　above　and　ahead　of　the　Cobras。　〃You'll　see　them　any　minute　now。　Wait　for　the　captain's　signal。。。。〃
　And　the　leading　edge　of　the　herd　came　over　a　low　rise；　like　a　dark　tsunami　clearing　a　breakwater。
　They　weren't　heading　directly　toward　the　Cobras；　and　in　actual　size　were　quite　a　bit　smaller　than　gantuas；　but　the　sheer　numbers　and　ground…level　view　more　than　made　up　for　it。　Jonny　clenched　his　jaw　firmly；　fighting　hard　against　the　urge　to　turn　and　run　for　cover　。　。　。　and　as　the　wave　poured　over　the　rise　a　new　voice　on　the　phone　barked；　〃Now！〃
　The　answer　was　a　volley　of　Cobra　antiarmor　lasers…　directed　not　at　the　flatfoots；　but　at　the　clusters　of　boulders　the　Cobras　had　wrestled　into　position　fifty　meters　closer　to　the　herd。　Very　special　boulders　。。。　and　if　the　Menssana's　geologists　had　been　right　about　that　particular　formation…
　They　had。　The　mix　of　high…　and　low…expansion　minerals　in　each　boulder　could　survive　for　only　a　second　or　less　under　a　laser's　glare　before　disintegrating　with　a　crack　that　was　audible　even　over　the　herd's　rumble。　Like　a　string　of　firecrackers　the　boulders　blew　up　as　the　Cobras　continued　their　sweep　。。。　and　like　firecrackers；　they　actually　produced　little　more　than　noise。　But　it　was　enough；　and　as　the　herd's　headlong　rush　faltered　in　sudden　confusion；　Jonny　could　almost　see　them　lose　their　internal　sense　of　direction。　An　instant　later　the　hesitation　was　gone　and　the　herd　had　doubled　its　speed　to　a　flat…out　run　。。。　but　in　the　slightly　altered　direction　the　Menssana's　additional　magnetic　field　was　defining　for　them　from　the　ship's　new　position　some　ten　kilometers　away。　The　flank　of　the　herd　would　now　miss　the　line　of　Cobras；　and　when　the　Menssana　lifted　in　an　hour　or　so　and　the　flatfoots　resumed　their　original　direction　their　path　would　be　shifted　at　least　a　kilometer　out　of　the　way　of　the　human　encampment。
　Theoretically。　But　there　would　be　time　to　make　sure。
　The　aircar　was　dropping　toward　the　ground　and　the　Cobras　were　beginning　to　converge　on　it。　〃Good　job；〃　Banyon's　voice　came　from　Jonny's　phone。　〃Let's　head　back。〃
　The　last　few　clouds　had　cleared　shortly　before　sunset；　and　the　night　sky　was　alive　with　stars。　Walking　hand　in　hand　just　inside　the　perimeter；　Jonny　and　Chrys　took　turns　naming　the　recognizable　constellations　and　trying　to　match　the　more　distorted　ones　with　their　Aventinian　counterparts。　Eventually；　they　ran　out；　and　for　a　time　they　just　walked　in　silence；　enjoying　the　night　air。　Jonny；　his　audio　enhancers　activated；　heard　the　faint　roar　before　Chrys　did；　and　by　the　time　she　took　notice　the　steady　volume　level　showed　their　plan　had　succeeded。
　〃The　flatfoot　herd？〃　she　asked；　peering　off　into　the　darkness。
　〃Right；〃　he　nodded。　〃And　they're　not　getting　any　closer。　At　least　a　kilometer　away…maybe　two。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Strange。　I　remember　some　biology　class　in　school　where　the　instructor　took　it　upon　himself　to　〃prove〃　that　no　land　animal　larger　than　a　condorine　could　ever　evolve　with　a　magnetic　sense　unless　there　was　some　ridiculously　high　local　field　present。　I　wish　he　was　here　to　see　this。〃
　Jonny　chuckled。　〃/　remember　reading　about　the　old　theory　that　all　the　native　plants　and　animals　on　the　various　Dominion　worlds　were　mutated　descend…ents　of　spores　or　bacteria　that　had　ultimately　been　blown　there　by　solar　winds　from　Earth。　The　argument　was　still　going　strong　when　the　Trofts　and　Minthisti　were　found；　I　understand；　and　I　have　no　idea　what　its　proponents　made　of　Aventine。　If　there　are　still　any　of　them　around。　I　guess　the　possibility　of　making　a　public　fool　of　yourself　is　just　one　of　those　risks　scientists　have　to　face。〃
　〃You　know；　that　universal　genetic　code　thing　has　always　bothered　me；　too；〃　Chrys　mused。　〃Why　should　all　the　life　we　find　show　the　same　DNA　and　protein　forms？　It　doesn't　seem　reasonable。〃
　〃Even　if　that　turns　out　to　be　the　only　workable　structure？〃
　〃I've　never　liked　that　theory。　It　seems　arrogant；　somehow。〃
　Jenny　shrugged。　〃I　don't　especially　care　for　it　either。　I've　heard　the　Troft　theory　is　that　some　major　disaster　three　or　four　billion　years　ago　nearly　sterilized　this　whole　region　of　space；　taking　with　it　an　early　starfaring　people。　The　algae　and　bacteria　that　survived　on　each　world　were　therefore　all　from　one　mon　stock；　though　they've　since　evolved　independently。〃
　〃That　must've　been　one　gantua　of　a　disaster。〃
　〃I　think　it　was　supposed　to　be　either　a　chain　of　supernovas　or　the　final　collapse　of　the　galaxy's　central　black　hole。〃
　〃Jh…huh。　Almost　simpler　to　believe　God　set　it　up　this　way　deliberately。〃
　〃Certainly　makes　a　colonist's　life　easier　to　be　able　to　digest　the　local　flora　and　fauna；〃　Jonny　agreed。
　〃Though　the　vice　versa　is　occasionally　a　problem。〃
　Jonny　tensed；　but　Chrys's　tone　hadn't　been　one　of　accusation。　〃I　appreciate　your　letting　me　go　with　the　others　today；〃　he　said；　as　long　as　they　were　now　on　the　topic。　〃I　know　I　promised　to　stay　out　of　things　on　this　trip…〃
　〃You　could　hardly　hold　out　when　you　were　needed；〃　she　put　in。　〃And　it　wasn't　like　you　were　in　serious　danger　out　there。　Were　you？〃
　〃No；　not　with　the　aircar　and　Menssana　as　backup。　Still；　I'll　try　to　behave　myself　the　rest　of　the　trip。〃
　She　chuckled　and　gave　his　hand　a　squeeze。　〃It's　all　right；　Jonny。　Really。　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　just　sit　on　your　hands　when　you're　needed。　Just　be　careful。〃
　〃Always；〃　he　assured　her；　wondering　at　her　abrupt　attitude　change。　This　was　the　old　Chrys　back　again；　the　one　who'd　been　so　supportive　of　his　service　when　they　were　first　married。　What　had　happened　to　change　her？　Was　she　simply　reacting　to　the　new　environment；　slipping　into　old　thought　patterns　with　the　reminder　of　their　past　struggles　on　Aventine？
　He　didn't　know。　But　he　liked　the　change　。。。　and　he　had　the　rest　of　the　trip　to　figure　out　how　to　keep　her　this　way　when　they　returned　home。
　
　
　Chapter　10
　
　The　clearance　to　remove　their　filter　helmets　had　e　from　the　Dewdrop　just　before　the　evening's　medical　exam；　and　in　the　hours　between　then　and　bedtime　Joshua　thought　his　nose　had　bee　thoroughly　accustomed　to　the　exotic　scents　of　Qasama's　air。　But　the　group　hadn't　taken　more　than　three　steps　outside　their　guest　house　in　the　morning　before　Joshua　realized　that　belief　had　been　a　little　premature。
　The　new　odor　seemed　to　be　a　mixture　of　baking　aromas　with　some　not…quite…aromatic　smoke　with　something　he　couldn't　begin　to　identify。
　He　apparently　was