tz.cobra strike-第23部分

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　〃And　it　waited　until　you；　Doctor；　had　your　back　turned；〃　Chrys　added；　shuddering。　〃The　one　who　gave　the　capture　order。　Jonny　。。。　this　sounds　too　much　to　be　coincidence。〃
　〃Maybe　they've　seen　tool…makers　before；〃　Jonny　said　slowly。　〃Maybe　the　Trofts　landed　when　they　were　surveying　the　area。　That　way　they　could　know　about　weapons。〃
　〃They　could　all　be　part　of　a　hive　mind；　perhaps；〃　Porris　suggested　suddenly。　〃Each　individual　wouldn't　have　to　be　independently　intelligent　that　way。〃
　〃The　hive　mind　theory's　been　in　disrepute　for　twenty
　years；〃　Hanford　said。　But　he　didn't　sound　all　that　confident。　〃And　anyway；　that　doesn't　explain　how　they　knew　our　language　well　enough　to　realize　I　was　sending　you　for　a　flash　net。〃
　Abruptly；　Jonny　realized　he　was　still　staring　at　the　spot　where　the　bird　had　vanished。　He　looked　around　quickly；　but　no　vast　clouds　of　attacking　birds　were　sweeping　down　from　the　sky；　as　he'd　half　expected。　Only　occasional　and　far…distant　specks　marred　the　red…tinged　blue。　Still　。。。　〃I　think　it　might　be　a　good　idea　to　get　everything　packed　up　early；〃　he　said　to　the　others。　〃Be　ready　to　leave　at　a　moment's　notice　if　。。。　it　bees　necessary。〃
　Hanford　looked　as　if　he　would　object；　seemed　to　think　better　of　it；　and　turned　to　Banyon　instead。　〃Would　it　be　possible　to　get　a　couple　of　Cobras　to　e　on　a　hunting　run　with　me？　I　want　one　of　those　birds…alive　if　possible；　but　I'm　no　longer　that　fussy。〃
　〃I'll　see　what　I　can　do；〃　Banyon　said　grimly。　〃I　think　finding　out　more　about　them　would　be　an　excellent　idea。〃
　In　the　end；　Captain　Shepherd　accepted　all　the　remendations　put　before　him。　The　quick…lift　preparations　were　made；　the　perimeter　Cobra　guard　was　doubled；　and　the　scientists　shifted　into　an　almost　frantic　high　speed。　Two　separate　hunting　parties　failed　to　make　so　much　as　visual　contact　with　any　of　the　mysterious　birds。　The　facts；　the　speculations；　and　the　rumors　circulated　widely　。。。　and　the　Menssana　lifted　a　full　twelve　hours　ahead　of　schedule。　For　once；　there　were　no　plaints。
　
　
　Chapter　15
　
　They　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　wandering　around　the　Huriseem　marketplace…more　time；　York　thought；　than　they'd　spent　at　any　other　single　place　during　their　entire　Qasaman　tour…and　he　breathed　a　private　sigh　of　relief　when　the　end　was　finally　in　sight。　The　presence　of　so　many　mojos　virtually　eye　to　eye　with　him　was　something　he　found　particularly　unnerving；　and　Moffs　continued　absence　wasn't　helping　a　bit。　He　wondered　how　Mayor　Ingliss　would　explain　the　latter；　something　he　would　have　no　choice　but　to　do　as　soon　as　they　left　the　marketplace　mob。　Alone　with　their　escort；　the　team　would　have　to　〃notice〃　that　Moff　was　missing；　and　Ingliss　would　then　have　to　spin　some　story。
　York　didn't　want　to　hear　it。　It　would　be　a　packet　of　lies；　worse　yet；　a　packet　of　obvious　lies。　Moff's　exit　had　been　too　smooth；　the　timing　of　it　too　well　chosen；　to　have　been　accidental。　Clearly；　the　team　hadn't　been　intended　to　miss　him　at　all。　York's　gut　instincts　told　him　that　having　to　admit　Moff　had　been　away　would　be　almost　as　bad　in　the　Qasaman's　minds　as　actually　telling　where　and　why　he'd　gone。　The　more　York　saw　of　the　Qasamans…the　more　he　listened　to　Moff's　evasive　answers　to　their　questions；　the　more　he　saw　of　what　they　were　and　were　not　being　shown　through　all　of　that　the　descriptions　overcautious　and　suspicious　were　gradually　giving　way　to　the　word　paranoid。　Whether　their　history　had　given　them　a　right　to　be　that　way　was　irrelevant；　what　mattered　at　the　moment　was　that　York　had　seen　paranoid　minds　at　work　before；　and　he　knew　how　they　worked。　The　simple　fact　of　Moff's　absence　gave　him　not　a　single　byte　of　useful　information；　but　the　Qasamans　might　not　recognize　that。　They　were　just　as　likely　to　assume　that　their　entire　plot…or　plan；　or　scheme；　or　damn　surprise　party；　for　all　he　knew…had　been　totally　promised；　and　that　they　would　have　to　spring　things　prematurely。
　York　didn't　want　that。　If　Moff　were　planning　something…anything…it　would　be　safer　for　all　involved　if　it　went　off　smoothly　and　on　schedule。　Damn　it；　Moff；　get　back　here；　he　thought　furiously　into　the　air。　Get　back　here　and　keep　your　illusion　that　you're　in　control。
　So　engrossed　was　he　in　watching　surreptitiously　for　Moff　that　he　pletely　missed　whatever　it　was　that　started　the　fight。
　His　first　rude　notice；　in　fact；　was　a　sudden　grip　on　his　shoulder　by　one　of　Moff's　assistants；　hauling　him　up　short　at　the　very　edge　of　a　ring　of　people　that　had　formed　just　past　the　marketplace　boundary。　The　open　area　so　encircled　was　perhaps　twenty　meters　wide；　inside；　barely　five　meters　apart；　two　men　without　mojos　faced　each　other。　Their　expressions　were　just　short　of　murderous。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　York　asked　the　Qasaman　still　holding　his　arm。
　It　was　Ingliss；　two　people　down　the　circle；　who　answered。　〃A　duel；〃　he　said。　〃Insult　has　been　made；　challenge　offered　and　accepted。〃
　York's　mouth　went　dry　as　his　eyes　found　first　the　opponents〃　belted　pistols　and　then　the　two　hundred　or　more　people　gathered　to　watch。　Surely　they　wouldn't　start　shooting　here…　A　man　with　a　blue…and…silver　headband　appeared　halfway　around　the　circle　and　stepped　to　the　two　men。　From　a　large　shoulder　pouch　he　took　a　thirty…centimeter　rattan…like　stick　and　a　set　of　two　small　balls　connected　together　by　fifty　centimeters　of　milky…white　cord。　Handing　the　stick　and　balls　to　one　of　the　batants；　he　went　to　the　other　man　and　gave　him　a　second　set　from　the　bag。　He　stepped　back　to　the　edge　of　the　circle；　raised　his　right　hand；　and　then　brought　it　down　in　a　chopping　motion…
　And　the　batant　to　York's　right；　who'd　been　swinging　the　balls　lazily　over　his　head　by　their　cord；　abruptly　hurled　them　at　his　opponent。
　Hurled　them　well；　too；　with　power　and　accuracy。　But　the　other　was　ready。　Holding　his　stick　vertically　in　front　of　him；　he　deftly　caught　the　spinning　projectile　on　it；　letting　the　balls　wrap　themselves　up。　An　instant　later　his　own　set　of　balls　were　whirling　back　toward　the　first　man；　who　similarly　caught　them　on　his　stick。　A　momentary　pause　for　each　to　disentangle　his　opponent's　captured　weapon　and　they　were　ready　to　begin　again。
　〃What's　going　on？〃　York　whispered　again。
　〃A　duel；　as　I　said；〃　Ingliss　murmured　back。　〃Each　man　takes　turns　casting　his　curse　ball　bola　at　the　other　until　both　weapons　have　been　lost　to　the　crowd　or　one　opponent　has　conceded。　The　curse　balls　will　leave　impressive　bruises；　but　seldom　do　more　physical　damage。〃
　〃Lost　to　the　crowd？〃
　〃If　a　throw　goes　wide　or　is　otherwise　not　caught；　the　observers　will　not　return　it。　Two　such　misses；　clearly；　and　the　duel　must　end。〃
　〃What　keeps　one　of　them　from　charging　his　opponent　between　throws　and　beating　his　brains　out？〃
　〃The　same　thing　that　keeps　them　from　using　their　guns；〃　Ingliss　replied　calmly。　〃Their　mojos…there　and　there。〃　He　pointed　to　two　of　the　spectators；　each　of　whom　had　an　extra　bird　on　his　shoulder。
　York　frowned。　〃You　mean　they　guard　against　all　attacks；　even　unarmed　ones？　I　thought　they　only　reacted　to　the　drawing　of　guns。〃
　〃Oh；　of　course　they　can't　defend　against　alt　attacks；〃　the　mayor　shrugged。　〃You　could　hit　me　now；　suddenly；　before　my　mojo　could　stop　you。　Though　it　would　keep　you　from　continuing　the　attack。〃　He　nodded　to　the　duelists；　now　beginning　to　show　sweat　sheens　from　their　efforts。　〃But　they　are　so　obviously　fighting　that　their　mojos　will　keep　them　apart。〃
　〃I　see。〃　York　thought　about　the　implications　of　that　for　the　Cobras；　should　they　eventually　need　to　go　into　action。　Would　the　mojos　recognize　them　as　the　source　of　the　lethal　laser　flashes　in　a　battle？　There　was　no　way　to　know。　〃At　least；〃　he　mented　out　loud；　〃that　explains　why　no　one's　tried　to　e　up　with　a　gun　or　weapon　the　mojos　wouldn't　recognize　as　such。　You'd　get　one　free　shot　at　your　target；　but　that's　about　all。〃
　〃You　Aventinians　seem　to　think　a　great　deal　in　terms　of　interpersonal　conflict；〃　Ingliss　said　in　a　voice　that　seemed　oddly　tight。　〃Your　planet　must　be　a　frightening　one　to　live　on。　Perhaps　if　you　had　mojos　of　your　own。。。。　At　any　rate；　you're　correct　about　alternative　weapons。　In　the　early　days　of　mojo　domestication　many　people　tried　making　them；　with　the　result　you've　already　deduced。〃
　〃Uh…huh；〃　York　nodded　and　settled　down　to　watch。　It　seemed　to　take　a　long　time；　but　in　actual　fact　the　duel　was　over　in　just　a　few　minutes；　York　couldn't　tell　offhand　what　it　solved；　but　as　the　crowd　closed　in　on　the　fighters；　separating　them　as　secondary　masses　of　seemingly　happy　well…wishers　and　friends　formed　around　each；　he　decided　that　they　all　considered　it　to　have　been　worthwhile。　Maybe　Nnamdi　could　sort　out　the　sociology　and　psychology　of　it　aboard　ship；　for　York；　it　was　a　low…priority　worry　indeed。　Glancing　around　through　the　dispersing　crowd；　he　located　the　islands　of　stability　that　were　the　rest　of　the　contact　team；　Mayor　Ingliss　and　the　escorts…
　And　Moff。
　York　blinked；　trying　hard　to　keep　any　hint　of　surprise　or　chagrin　out　of　his　face。　Despite　his　best　efforts；　the　Qasaman　had　slipped　back　into　the　group　unnoticed；　just　as　he'd　left　it。　It　suddenly　made　the　duel's　timing　suspicious　。。。　and　if　the　duel　was　a　？fake　it　automatically　raised　the　importance　of　Moff's　secret　errand；　raised　it　unfortably　high。　Throwing　together　such　a　diversion　required　either　a　lot　of　people　ready　on　a　moment's　notice；　or　else　a　smaller　group　capable　of　fooling　the　locals　as　well　as　the　Aventinian　visitors。　Either　one　implied　a　great　deal　of　effort　and…perhaps…a　fair　amount　of　advance　planning。
　Were　the　Qasamans　on　to　them？　And　if　so；　for　how　long？
　〃I'm　sorry　you　had　to　see　that；〃　Moff　said　as　the　team　and　escort　drew　back　together。　〃It's　a　form　of　aggression　we've　been　unable　to　eliminate　pletely。〃
　〃It　seems　pretty　mild　pared　to　some　I've　seen；〃　Cerenkov　assured　him。　Neither　he　nor　the　others　showed　any　reaction　to　Moff's　reappearance；　and　York　quietly　let　out　the　breath　he'd　been　holding。
　〃It's　still　more　than　a　truly　civilized　society　should　have；〃　Moff　said　stiffly。　〃Our　strength　of　will　should　be　turned　outward；　toward　the　conquering　of　this　world。〃
　〃And　beyond？〃　Rynstadt　murmured。
　Moff　looked　at　him；　an　intense　look　on　his　face。　〃The　stars　are　mankind's　future；〃　he　said。　〃We　won't　always　be　confined　to　this　one　world。〃
　〃Mankind　will　never　be　confined　again；〃　Cerenkov　agreed　solemnly。　〃Tell　me；　does　this　sort　of　duel　happen　very　often？　The　whoever　it　was　with　the　headband　seemed　to　be　right　on　top　of　things。〃
　〃Each　village　and　city　has　one　or　more　judges；　depending　on　its　population；〃　Moff　said。　〃They　have
　many　other　duties　besides　overseeing　duels。　But　e…we　have　a　great　many　more　places　to　visit　here。　Mayor　Ingliss　has　yet　to　show　you　the　local　government　center；　and　we　should　also　have　time　to　see　a　typical　residential　neighborhood　before　the　krisjaw　hunters　return。　At　that　point　we'll　be　able　to　visit　the　farming　areas。〃
　Cerenkov　smiled。　〃Point　taken；　Moff…we　do　have　a　busy　schedule。　Please；　lead　on；〃
　They　turned　a　corner　and　headed　for　the　cars　Ingliss's　people　had　driven　around　the　marketplace　area　for　them；　and　York　decided　to　be　cautiously　optimistic。　Sticking　to　the　tour　at　this　point　meant　Moff　believed　his　absence　hadn't　been　noticed。　Which　meant　whatever　the　Qasamans　had　planned　would　be　going　off　on　their　origin