tz.cobra strike-第17部分

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oking　horns　sprouted　from　the　massive　heads；　and　running　down　the　back　was　a　dorsal　strip　of　thirty…centimeter　quills　that　even　an　Aventinian　spine　leopard　would　have　been　proud　to　possess。　There　were　at　least　a　hundred　of　the　creatures　in　sight　already；　running　shoulder　to　shoulder　and　head　to　tail；　with　more　pouring　in　behind　them　。。。　and　as　Pyre　tensed　in　automatic　bat　reaction；　the　Qasamans　opened　fire。
　Christopher　spat　something　startled　sounding；　and　even　Pyre…who'd　had　an　idea　what　to　expect…jerked　at　the　sound。　The　Dominion　had　given　up　simple　explosive　firearms　long　ago　in　favor　of　lasers　and　more　sophisticated　rocket　cartridges；　but　such　progress　had　apparently　passed　Qasama　by。　The　guns　ahead　of　Joshua　roared　like　miniature　grenades　going　off　。。。　and　some　of　the　bololins　in　the　herd　abruptly　faltered　and　fell。
　Pyre　happened　to　be　looking　directly　at　one　of　the　quadrupeds　as　it　was　hit；　and　he　was　thus　the　first　one　in　the　lounge　to　see　the　tan…colored　bird　that　shot　upward　from　the　carcass。
　It　was　at　least　half　again　as　large　as　a　mojo；　that　quick　glance　showed　him　as　the　bird　arrowed　off　the　screen；　but　seemed　built　along　the　same　predacious　lines。　Its　hiding　place；　as　near　as　he　could　tell；　had　been　the　bololin's　dorsal　quill　forest　。。。　an　instant　later　Joshua　reacted　and　the　view　shifted　upward；　and　Pyre　saw　more　of　the　birds　already　in　the　air；　presumably　having　similarly　deserted　dying　bololins。
　Closing　rapidly　on　them　was　a　flock　of　mojos。
　〃They're　crazy；〃　Christopher　said；　barely　audible　over　the　gunfire。　〃Those　birds　are　bigger　than　they　are…〃
　〃And　they　seem　to　be　predators；　too；〃　Telek　growled。　〃Something's　wrong　here…predators　don't　usually　pick　on　other　predators。　Joshua！…keep　tracking　the　birds。〃
　The　display　steadied；　and　Pyre　watched　in　morbid　fascination　as　a　mojo　came　in　from　above　and　behind　one　of　the　larger　birds；　swooping　down　with　talons　ready。　It　hit…got　a　grip…and　for　half　a　dozen　heartbeats　it　clung　there　in　piggyback　position。　The　larger　bird　twisted　violently；　to　no　avail；　leveled　out　once　more…
　And　the　mojo　spread　its　wings　and　dropped　off　and　back。　Making　no　attempt　to　pursue；　it　turned　in　a　lazy　circle　and　headed　back　to　the　crowd　of　Qasamans。
　〃What　the　blooming　hell？〃　Telek　muttered。
　Pyre　couldn't　have　put　it　better　himself。
　Joshua's　gaze　returned　to　the　street　now。　The　herd　was　out　of　sight；　and　through　the　settling　dust　about　twenty　carcasses　were　visible；　mangled　to　various　degrees。　One　of　the　Qasamans…Moff；　Pyre　saw…　stepped　out　into　the　avenue　and　looked　carefully　in　both　directions。　Holstering　his　pistol；　he　stepped　back；　and　as　if　on　signal；　the　other　guns　likewise　vanished　and　the　crowds　began　to　break　up。
　Telek　squeezed　the　mike　hard。　〃Yuri…everybody…　find　out　everything　you　can　about　what　just　happened。　Especially　the　thing　with　the　birds。〃
　Silently；　Pyre　seconded　the　order。　Though　he　doubted　the　contact　team　really　needed　that　prompting。
　Joshua　certainly　hadn't　needed　Telek　to　state　the　obvious…bursting　with　curiosity；　he　could　barely　wait　until　Moff　had　pushed　his　way　through　the　dispersing　crowd　to　fire　off　his　first　question。　〃How　did　those　animals　get　into　the　city　so　easily？〃　he　asked。
　Moff　frowned；　throwing　a　glance　at　York　as　well。　〃I　told　you　to　stay　back。〃
　〃Sorry。　What　were　those…bololins；　you　called　them？　…what　were　they　doing　here？〃
　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　had　joined　the　group　now；　as　had　most　of　Moffs　associates。　〃The　bololins　migrate　periodically；〃　he　said；　almost　reluctantly。　〃A　herd　like　that　always　forms　for　a　run；　and　you'll　agree　something　like　that　would　be　almost　impossible　to　stop。　So　we've　built　the　city　to　pass　them　through　with　as　little　damage　as　possible。〃
　York　glanced　at　the　carcasses　in　the　avenue。　〃As　little　damage　to　you；　anyway。〃
　〃Crews　will　be　along　momentarily　to　take　them　to　a　processing　area；〃　Moff　said。　〃Both　meat　and　hides　will　be　saved。〃
　〃You'd　do　better　to　split　a　few　off　from　the　herd　and　stop　them　before　you　shoot；〃　York　persisted。　〃Letting　them　get　trampled　like　that　doesn't　do　hide　or　meat　any　good。〃
　〃What　was　all　that　with　the　mojos　and　those　other　birds？〃　Joshua　asked　as　Moff　started　to　reply。　〃Do　mojos　hunt　like　that　even　when　they　don't　intend　to　eat？〃
　〃To…？　Oh；　I　see。〃　Moff　reached　up　to　stroke　his　mojo's　throat。　〃Tarbines　aren't　a　food　animal。　Mojos　seek　them　for　reproduction。　Cerenkov；〃　he　said；　turning　away　from　Joshua；　〃we　will　need　to　cut　short　our　visit　to　the　marketplace　if　we　intend　to　reach　the　art　gallery　during　the　time　it　will　be　cleared　for　us。　If　you　wish；　we　can　return　here　another　time。〃
　〃All　right。〃　Cerenkov　sent　a　long　look　toward　the　bololin　carcasses　as　Moff　steered　them　down　the　avenue　to　the　cross　street　where　their　car　had　been　moved。　〃Does　this　sort　of　thing　happen　very　often？〃
　〃Occasionally。　Perhaps　more　often　in　the　next　few　days…there　is　a　major　migration　underway。　But　there's　no　need　for　concern。　The　probability　you　will　be　near　the　affected　streets　is　small；　and　even　if　you　are　the　rooftop　alarms　always　give　adequate　warning。　e　now；　we　must　hurry。〃
　Conversation　ceased。　As　they　walked；　Joshua　nudged　York　and　slowed　his　pace　a　bit。　York　matched　his　speed；　and　as　Moff　and　the　others　pulled　a　few　paces　ahead；　Joshua　reached　up　to　put　his　thumb　over　the　microphone　on　his　translator　pendant。　〃You've　lived　on　a　lot　of　worlds；〃　he　murmured　to　the　other。　〃You　ever　seen　a　male　and　female　of　the　same　species　that　look　that　different？〃
　York　shrugged　minutely；　his　hand　similarly　on　his　translator。　〃I've　seen　or　heard　of　some　that　are　even　more　mismatched　than　that　。。。　but　I've　never　heard
　of　a　mating　that　looks　that　much　like　an　out…and…out　attack。　Almost　like…well；　hell；　I'll　say　it：　like　a　rape。〃
　Joshua　felt　a　shiver　run　up　his　back。　〃It　did；　didn't　it？　The　mojos　were　hitting　them　like　condorines　swooping　down　on　rabbits。〃
　〃And　the　tarbines　were　trying　like　crazy　to　get　away。　Something　really　weird's　happening　here；　Joshua。〃
　Ahead；　Moff　glanced　back。　Casually；　Joshua　dropped　his　arm　back　to　his　side　and　increased　his　speed；　York　doing　the　same　beside　him。　They'd　have　to　find　some　private　way　to　clue　Cerenkov　in　on　this　and　get　him　to　start　probing；　Joshua　knew；　already　trying　to　figure　out　a　way　to　do　that。　He　hoped　the　other's　silver　tongue　would　be　up　to　the　challenge　。。。　because　if　the　mojo's　mating　behavior　was　evidence　of　some　significant　biological　principle　here；　it　could　be　vital　to　root　such　information　out。
　And　it　wa；s　sure　as　hell　that　the　support　team；　stuck　inside　the　Dewdrop；　wouldn't　be　able　to　do　anything　in　that　direction。
　〃No；〃　Telek　shook　her　head。　〃Absolutely　not。　It's
　insane。〃
　〃It's　not　insane；〃　Pyre　retorted。　〃It's　feasible；　practical；　and　there's　no　other　way　to　get　hard　data。〃　He　glanced　at　the　displayed　map　of　Sollas　and　the　red　mass　that　was　the　puter's　estimate　of　the　bololin　herd's　position。　〃And　we've　got　maybe　fifteen　minutes　to　take　advantage　of　that　herd。〃
　〃You'll　be　outside…alone…in　unknown　and　presumably　hostile　country；〃　Telek　growled；　ticking　off　fingers　with　quick；　almost　vicious　motions。　〃You'll　have　limited　munication　with　us　and　none　at　all　with　the　locals；　should　you　stumble　on　any。　And　you　probably　wouldn't　have　a　chance　of　sneaking　back　in　unnoticed…which　means　that　if　you　got　hurt　you'd　be　forcing　me　to　choose　between　your　life　and　anything　further　for　the　mission。〃
　〃And　if　I　don't　go　you　may　never　find　out　why　male　mojos　rape　their　females；〃　Pyre　said　quietly。　〃Not　to　mention　why　the　tarbines　ride　bololins。　Or　for　that　matter；　why　the　bololins　are　so　hard　to　keep　out　of　cities。〃
　Telek　looked　at　Christopher　and　Nnamdi。　〃Well？〃　she　demanded。　〃Say　something；　you　two。　Tell　him　he's　crazy。〃
　The　two　scientists　exchanged　glances　and　Christopher　shrugged　unfortably。　〃Governor；　we're　here　to　learn　everything　we　can　about　this　place；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　not　meeting　either　Telek's　or　Pyre's。　〃I　agree　it's　dangerous　。。。　but　Almo's　right　about　the　bololins　probably　not　getting　this　close　again。〃
　〃And　he　is　a　Cobra；〃　Nnamdi　put　in。
　〃A　Cobra。〃　Telek　almost　spat　the　word。　〃And　so　he's　invulnerable　to　accidents　and　snake　bites？〃　She　dropped　her　eyes　to　the　city　display。
　For　a　moment　there　was　silence。　〃We　have　survival　packs　already　made　up；〃　Pyre　said　quietly。　〃One　would　suffice　for　a　week；　I　can　take　two。　There　are　laser　m　setups　I　could　use　to　keep　in　touch　from　the　woods　without　the　Qasamans　catching　on。　I've　seen　biological　field　analyzers　being　used；　I'm　sure　I　can　set　one　up　for　you　or　even　run　it　a　little　myself　if　necessary。　And　I　could　take　a　couple　of　small　freeze　boxes　if　you　wanted　a　whole　tarbine　to　study　later。〃
　She　shook　her　head；　eyes　still　on　the　screen。　〃You're　Cobra　team　leader。　Do　what　you　like。〃
　Which　was　not　exactly　enthusiastic　support；　but　Pyre　would　have　to　take　what　he　could　get。　The　bololins　were　barely　minutes　away。　〃Michael；　Dorjay…　two　survival　packs　and　laser　m　to　the　port　cargo　hatch；　stat；〃　he　said　into　the　inter。　The　two　Cobras　acknowledged　and　Pyre　left　the　lounge　at　a　fast　jog；　heading　for　his　stateroom　for　a　quick　change　into　more　suitable　clothing。　There　was　a　boxed　bio　field　analyzer　down　in　the　cargo　hold；　he　could　grab　it　on　his　way　out。　The　hatch　itself；　facing　away　from　the　city；　should　let　him　out　into　the　ship's　shadow　unseen。　At　that　point　he　would　just　have　to　hope　the　botolins　were　indeed　running　deliberately　along　magnetic　field　lines　。。。　and　that　the　runways　were　as　dusty　as　they　looked。
　He　was　in　the　cargo　hold　three　minutes　later。　A　minute　after　that；　laden　like　a　pack　cart；　he　was　crouching　outside；　hugging　the　Dewdrop's　hull　as　he　moved　toward　the　bow。　The　rumble　of　the　bololins　was　audible　without　his　enhancers　now；　and　a　quick　glance　under　the　Dewdrop's　nose　showed　they　were　indeed　on　the　projected　path；　one　that　would　take　the　herd's　flank　within　fifty　meters　of　the　ship。　Behind　the　first　few　ranks　the　dust　was　already　beginning　to　obscure　the　city　beyond；　and　it　was　getting　thicker。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Pyre　gave　the　edge　of　the　forest　a　quick　scan　and　got　ready　to　run。
　The　leading　edge　of　the　herd　thundered　by。　Pyre　let　the　next　few　ranks　pass　as　well；　and　then　he　was　off；　running　bent　over　to　present　as　low　a　profile　as　possible。　Equipment　banging　against　back　and　thighs　with　each　step；　he　traced　a　curved　path　that　ended　with　him　pacing　the　snuffling　herd　barely　a　meter　from　its　flank。
　It　was　instantly　obvious　the　nearest　bololins　didn't　care　for　his　presence。　One　or　two　veered　at　him　as　they　ran；　horns　hooking　toward　his　side；　but　even　without　his　programmed　reflexes　he　was　more　ma…neuverable　than　the　massive　beasts　and　evaded　them　without　trouble。　More　troublesome…and　unexpected…　were　the　two…meter…long　whiplash　tails　no　one　had　noticed。　If　the　first　such　blow　hadn't　landed　across　his　backpack　it　would　undoubtedly　have　left　a　painful　welt　or　even　torn　muscle。　As　it　was；　his　nano…puter　had　to　take　over　servo　control　briefly　to　restore　his　balance。
　But　it　was　only　a　few　more　seconds　to　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　as　the　herd　passed　the　first　few　trees　Pyre　parted　pany　with　them；　angling　off　to　the　side　and　ing　to　a　stop　only　when　a　glance　behind　showed　nothing　but　greenery。
　For　a　long　moment　he　just　stood