tz.cobra strike-第26部分

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or　such　a　switch。
　And　if　his　guess　proved　correct　the　whole　party　would　be　there　for　a　few　extra　minutes。　Long　enough；　perhaps；　for　Pyre　to　get　there　too。
　At　which　point　he'd　have　to　face　not　only　the　busload　of　Qasamans　but　also　whatever　troops　they'd　assembled　for　the　transfer。　But　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　that。　It　was　time　for　Almo　Pyre；　Cobra；　to　bee　what　his　implanted　equipment　had　always　intended　him　to　be。　Not　a　hunter；　spy；　nor　even　a　killer　of　Aventinian　spine　leopards。
　But　a　warrior。
　Setting　off　at　the　fastest　run　the　forest　permitted；　he　headed　south。　It　was　all　up　to　him　now。
　It　was　all　up　to　him　now。
　York　took　a　quiet　breath；　using　his　Marine　biofeed…back　techniques　to　relax　his　muscles　and　nerves　and　to　prepare　him　for　action。　To　the　right　and　slightly　ahead　he　could　see　the　buildings　of　Sollas　silhouetted　against　the　darkening　sky；　and　if　he　remembered　the　aerial　maps　correctly　they　were　now　about　as　close　to　the　city　as　this　road　got。　It　was　time　to　make　his　attempt　。。。　and　to　find　out　just　how　deadly　these　mojos　were。
　His　pen　and　ring　were　already　resting　casually　in　his　left　hand。　Easing　his　calculator…watch　off　his　left　wrist；　he　fit　the　pen　through　its　band；　making　sure　the　contacts　were　wedged　solidly　together。　The　ring　slid　onto　the　pen's　clip　to　its　own　slot；　and　the　palm…mate　was　ready。　The　arming　sequence　was　three　keystrokes　on　the　calculator。
　Wrapping　the　watchband　into　position　around　his　right　palm；　he　raised　his　hand　over　the　back　of　the　seat　in　front　of　him。　Moff　had　given　up　his　guard　duty　to　one　of　the　others　a　few　kilometers　back；　but　the　Qasaman's　attention　was　on　Rynstadt　and　Joshua　at　the　moment。　/　get　one　free　shot；　York　reminded　himself　distantly；　and　bringing　the　pen　to　bear　on　the　guard；　he　squeezed　the　trigger。
　The　Oasaman　jerked　as　the　tiny　dart　buried　itself　deep　in　his　cheek；　his　gun　swinging　wildly　in　reflexive　search　for　a　target。　Reflexive　but　useless；　already　his　eyes　were　beginning　to　glaze　as　the　potent　mix　of　neurotoxins　took　effect。　York　shifted　his　aim　to　the　mojo　on　the　dying　man's　shoulder　and　a　second　dart　found　its　target　。。。　but　as　he　brought　the　palm…mate　to　bear　on　Moff's　mojo　all　hell　broke　loose。
　They　were　smart　all　right；　those　birds。　The　dead　Oasaman　hadn't　even　fallen　to　the　floor　before　the　remaining　five　mojos　were　in　the　air；　sweeping　toward　him　like　silver…blue　Furies。　He　got　off　two　more　shots；　but　neither　connected…and　then　they　were　on　him；　talons　digging　into　his　face　and　gun　arm　and　slamming　him　hard　into　the　seat。　Through　the　haze　of　agony　he　could　dimly　hear　screams　from　Rynstadt　and　the　inprehensible　shouts　of　the　Qasamans。　Mojo　wings　slapped　at　his　eyes；　blinding　him；　but　he　didn't　need　his　sight　to　know　that　his　right　forearm　was　being　flayed；　his　right　hand　torn　by　beaks　and　talons　as　the　mojos　fought　single…mindedly　to　get　the　palm…mate　away　from　him。　But　it　was　wrapped　firmly　around　his　open　hand；　caught　there　though　the　will　to　hold　it　had　long　since　vanished。　His　arm　was　on　fire…wave　after　wave　of　agony　screaming　into　his　brain…and　then　suddenly　the　birds　were　gone；　flut…　taring　away　to　squawk　at　him　from　seat　backs　and　Qasaman　shoulders；　and　he　saw　what　they'd　done　to　his　arm…
　And　the　emotional　shock　bined　with　the　physical　shock　。。　。　and　Decker　York；　who　had　seen　men　injured　and　killed　on　five　other　worlds；　dropped　like　a　stone　into　the　temporary　sanctuary　of　unconsciousness。
　His　last　thought　before　the　blackness　took　him　was　that　he　would　never　wake　up。
　〃Oh；　my　God；〃　Christopher　whispered。　〃My　God。〃
　Telek　bit　hard　into　the　knuckles　of　her　right　hand；　curled　into　an　impotent　fist　at　her　mouth。　York's　arm。。；。　She　willed　her　eyes　to　turn　away；　but　they　were　as　tightly　frozen　to　the　scene　as　Joshua's　own　eyes　were。　Like　a　violent；　haphazard　dissection　of　York's　arm…except　that　York　was　still　alive。　For　now。
　Beside　her；　Nnamdi　gagged　and　fled　the　room。　She　hardly　noticed。
　It　seemed　like　forever；　but　it　was　probably　only　a　few　seconds　before　Rynstadt　was　at　York's　side；　a　small　can　of　seal…spray　from　his　landing　kit　clutched　in　his　shaking　hand。　He　sprayed　it　on　York's　arm；　sloppily　and　with　an　amateur's　lack　of　uniformity；　but　by　the　time　the　can　hissed　itself　dry　Cerenkov　had　broken　his　own　paralysis　and　moved　in　with　a　fresh　can。　Together　they　managed　to　seal　off　the　worst　of　the　blood　flow。
　Through　it　all　Joshua　never　budged。　Terrified　out　of　his　mind；　Telek　thought。　What　a　thing　for　a　kid　to　seel
　〃Governor？〃　F'ahl's　voice　from　the　inter　made　her　jump。　〃Will　he　live？〃
　She　hesitated。　With　the　blood　loss　stopped　and　the　seal…spray's　anti…shock　factors　supporting　York's　system　。。。　but　she　knew　better　than　to　give　even　herself　false　hope。　〃Not　a　chance；〃　she　told　F'ahl　quietly。　〃He　needs　the　Dewdrop's　medical　facilities　within　an　hour　or　less。〃
　〃Almo…〃
　〃Might　be　able　to　get　him　here　in　time。　But　he　won't。　If　he　tries　he'll　just　get　himself　killed；　too。〃　The　words　burned　in　her　mouth；　but　she　knew　they　were　true。　With　the　Qasamans　and　their　birds　jarred　out　of　any　overconfidence　they　might　have　had。　Pyre　wouldn't　get　within　ten　meters　of　the　bus。　But　he　would　try　anyway。。。。
　And　now　there　was　no　other　choice。　〃Captain；　prepare　the　Dewdrop　for　lift；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　straying　at　last　from　the　display；　only　to　stop　on　Justin　lying　in　his　couch。　His　fists；　too；　were　clenched；　but　if　he　recognized　she　had　just　condemned　his　brother　to　death　he　didn't　show　it。　〃We'll　try　to　take　out　as　much　of　the　tower　and　forest　weaponry　before　we　go　and　hope　the　ship　can　absorb　whatever　we　don't　destroy。〃
　〃Understood；　Governor。〃
　Telek　turned　to　the　lounge　doorway；　where　Winward　and　Link　were　standing；　their　faces　pale　and　grim。　〃We　won't　be　able　to　get　it　all　from　here；〃　she　told　them　quietly。
　〃Already　figured　that　out；〃　Winward　grunted。　〃When　do　you　want　us　to　head　out？〃
　The　pre…launch　sequence　would　take　at　least　ten　minutes。　〃About　fifteen　minutes；〃　she　said。
　Winward　nodded。　〃We'll　get　geared　up。〃　Together　the　two　Cobras　turned　and　left。
　〃Full　survival　packs；〃　Telek　called　after　them。
　〃Sure；〃　the　reply　drifted　back　along　the　corridor。
　But　she　wasn't　fooling　anyone；　and　they　all　knew　it。　Even　if　the　two　Cobras　lived　through　the　ing　battle；　there　was　virtually　no　chance　the　Dewdrop　would　be　able　to　e　back　and　pick　them　up。　Assuming　the　Dewdrop　survived　its　own　gauntlet。
　Well；　they'd　find　out　about　that　in　half　an　hour　or　less。　Until　then…　Until　then；　there'd　be　enough　time　to　watch　Pyre　die　in　his　rescue　attempt。
　Because　it　was　her　duty　to　do　so；　Telek　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　displays。　But　the　taste　of　defeat　was　bitter　in　her　throat；　and　she　felt　very；　very　old。
　
　
　Chapter　17
　
　Joshua's　heart　was　a　painful　thundering　in　his　throat；　his　eyes　blurred　by　tears　of　fear　and　sympathetic　pain。　Hidden　from　sight　by　the　white　crust　of　the　seal…spray；　York's　terrible　arm　injuries　were　burned　into　Joshua's　memory　as　if　the　vision　would　be　there　forever。　Oh；　God；　Decker；　he　mouthed。　Decker！
　And　he'd　done　nothing　to　help。　Not　during　York's　escape　attempt　nor　even　afterwards。　Rynstadt　and　Cerenkov　had　jumped　in　with　their　medical　kits；　but　Joshua；　terrified　of　the　Qasamans　and　mojos；　hadn't　twitched　a　muscle　to　assist　them。　If　it'd　been　up　to　him；　York　would've　quietly　bled　to　death。
　People　expect　great　things　from　us。　He　felt　like　a　child。　A　cowardly　child。
　〃We've　got　to　get　him　back　to　the　ship；〃　Cerenkov　murmured；　raising　a　blood…stained　arm　to　wipe　at　his　cheek。　〃He's　going　to　need　transfusions　and　God　only　knows　what　else。〃
　Rynstadt　muttered　something　in　response；　too　low　for　Joshua　to　hear。　Lifting　his　gaze　finally　from　the　carnage；　Joshua　looked　up　toward　the　front　of　the　bus　to　see　Moff　watching　them；　his　gun　braced　and　ready　on　the　nearest　seat　back。　The　bus　had　sped　up；　Joshua　noted　mechanically；　and　ahead　in　the　gloom　he　could　see　a　cluster　of　dim　lights。　An　unwalled
　　　village　or　crossroads　checkpoint？　Joshua　guessed　the　latter。　A　half　dozen　vehicles　were　faintly　visible；　as　was　a　small　shed…like　building。
　And　milling　among　them　a　lot　of　Qasamans。
　The　bus　came　to　a　halt　among　the　cluster　of　vehicles。　It　had　barely　stopped　before　a　burly　Qasaman　had　the　door　open　and　had　bounded　inside。　He　exchanged　a　half…dozen　rapid…fire　sentences　with　Moff；　then　looked　at　the　Aventinians。　〃Bachutsl〃　he　snapped；　hand　jabbing　emphatically　toward　the　door。
　〃Yuri？〃　Rynstadt　murmured。
　〃Of　course；〃　Cerenkov　said　bitterly。　〃What　choice　do　we　have？〃
　Leaving　York　propped　up　against　the　seat；　they　stepped　past　the　newer　and　out　the　door。　Joshua　followed；　his　stomach　a　churning　cauldron　of　painful　emotions。
　Four　more　heavily　armed　men　were　waiting　in　a　semicircle　around　the　bus　door。　With　them　was　a　wizened　old　man　with　stooped　shoulders　and　the　last　remnants　of　white　hair　plastered　down　over　his　balding　head。　But　his　eyes　were　bright…disturbingly　bright…and　it　was　he　who　addressed　the　three　prisoners。　〃You　are　accused　of　spying　on　the　world　Qasama；〃　he　said；　his　words　heavily　accented　but　clear　enough。　〃Your　panion　York　is　also　accused　of　killing　a　Qasaman　and　a　mojo。　Any　further　attempts　at　violence　will　be　punished　by　immediate　death。　You　will　now　e　with　your　escort　to　a　place　for　questions。〃
　〃What　about　our　friend？〃　Cerenkov　nodded　back　toward　the　bus。　〃He　needs　medical　attention　immediately　if　he's　to　live。〃
　The　old　man　spoke　to　the　apparent　leader　of　the　new　escort；　was　answered　in　biting　tones。　〃He　will　be　treated　here/〃　the　old　man　told　Cerenkov。　〃If　he　dies；　that　is　merely　his　just　punishment　for　his　crime。　You　will　e　now。〃
　Joshua　took　a　deep　breath。　〃No；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Our　friend　will　be　taken　back　to　our　ship。　Now。　Otherwise　we　will　all　die　without　answering　a　single　question。〃
　The　old　man　translated；　and　the　escort　leader's　brow　darkened　as　he　spat　a　reply。　〃You　are　not　in　a　position　to　make　any　demands；〃　the　old　man　said。
　〃You　are　wrong/〃　Joshua　said　as　calmly　as　his　tongue　could　manage；　the　vision　of　York's　flaying　superimposed　on　the　scene　around　him。　If　his　bluff　was　called　。。。　and　even　as　he　slowly　raised　his　left　fist　he　knew　he　was　indeed　a　coward。　The　thought　of　such　a　fate　made　his　stomach　violently　ill　。。。　but　this　had　to　be　tried。　〃This　device　on　my　wrist　is　a　self…destruct…a　one…man　bomb；〃　he　told　the　old　man。　〃If　I　unclench　my　fist　without　turning　it　off　I　will　be　blown　to　dust。　Along　with　all　of　you。　I　will　give　you　the　device　only　when　I　have　personally　escorted　Decker　into　our　ship。〃
　A　long；　brittle　silence　followed　the　translation。　〃You　continue　to　think　us　fools；〃　the　leader　said　at　last　through　the　old　man。　〃You　enter　the　ship　and　you　will　not　return。〃
　Joshua　shook　his　head　minutely。　〃No。　I　will　return。〃
　The　leader　spat；　but　before　he　could　speak　again　Moff　stepped　to　his　side　and　whispered　into　his　ear。　The　leader　frowned　at　him　for　a　moment；　then；　pursing　his　lips；　he　gave　a　brisk　nod　and　spoke　to　one　of　his　men。　The　other　disappeared　into　the　darkness；　and　Moff　turned　to　the　old　man；　again　speaking　too　quietly　for　Joshua　to　hear。　The　other　nodded。　〃Moff　has　agreed　to　your　request；　as　a　gesture　of　goodwill；　on　one　condition：　you　will　wear　an　explosive　device　around　your　neck　until　you　emerge　f