tz.cobra strike-第27部分

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of　goodwill；　on　one　condition：　you　will　wear　an　explosive　device　around　your　neck　until　you　emerge　from　the　ship。　Should　you　remain　inside　for　more　than　three　minutes　it　will　be　allowed　to　explode。〃
　Joshua's　throat　tightened　involuntarily；　and　for　a　handful　of　heartbeats　thoughts　of　betrayal　and　treachery　swirled　like　a　dark　liquid　through　the　cautious　hope　rising　in　his　brain。　Surely　there　were　simpler　ways　of　killing　him　if　the　Qasamans　so　chose　。。。　but　if　they　wanted　to　make　sure　the　Dewdrop　never　lifted　again；　there　would　be　no　easier　way　to　penetrate　the　outer　hull。　But　that　might　lose　them　the　secret　of　the　stardrive…but　they　might　not　care…but　if　he　didn't　take　the　risk　York　was　dead…but　why　would　they　have　any　interest　in　a　good…faith　gesture　when　they　held　all　the　cards…
　He　focused　at　last　on　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt；　who　were　watching　him　in　turn。　〃What　do　I　do？〃　he　whispered　from　amid　the　turmoil。
　Cerenkov　shrugged　fractionally。　〃It's　your　life　that's　at　stake。　You'll　have　to　use　your　own　best　judgment。〃
　His　life　。。。　except　that　it　wasn't；　Joshua　suddenly　realized。　Together；　the　three　of　them　had　no　chance　at　all　of　being　rescued　。。。　but　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　plus　Justin　might　just　be　able　to　break　the　odds。
　It　was　all　of　their　lives　at　stake　here。　Corwin's　plan…the　reason　the　Moreaus　were　here　at　all…and　the　whole　thing　was　in　Joshua's　trembling　hands。　〃All　right；〃　he　said　to　the　old　man。　〃It's　a　deal。〃
　The　old　man　translated；　and　the　leader　began　to　give　orders。
　The　next　few　minutes　went　quickly。　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　were　taken　to　another；　obviously　armored；　bus　and　were　driven　off　into　the　darkness　along　their　original　southwest　road。　York；　still　unconscious；　was　transferred　by　hand　stretcher　to　a　second　armored　vehicle。　Joshua；　Moff；　and　the　translator　joined　him。　As　they　rumbled　northward　toward　Sollas　and　the　Dewdrop　one　of　the　escort　carefully　fitted　Joshua　with　his　explosive　collar。
　It　was　a　simple　device；　consisting　of　two　squat　cylinders　at　the　sides　of　his　neck　fastened　together　by　a　soft　but　tough…feeling　plastic　band　about　three　centimeters　wide　and　a　couple　of　millimeters　thick。　It　seemed　to　make　breathing　difficult　。。。　but　perhaps　that　was　just　his　imagination。　Licking　his　lips　frequently；　he　tried　not　to　swallow　too　often　and　forced　his　mind　to　concentrate　instead　on　York's　condition　and　chances。
　All　too　soon；　they　had　arrived。
　The　bus　coasted　to　a　halt　some　fifty　or　sixty　meters　from　the　Dewdrop's　main　hatch。　Two　Qasamans　unloaded　a　rolling　table　and　placed　York's　stretcher　on　top　of　it；　returning　then　to　the　vehicle。　Moff　motioned　Joshua　to　stand　and　held　a　small　box　up　to　each　of　the　cylinders　around　the　Aventinian's　neck。　Joshua　heard　two　faint　clicks；　felt；　rather　than　heard；　the　faint　vibration　from　within。　〃Three　minutes　only…　remember；〃　Moff　said　in　passable　Anglic；　looking　the　younger　man　in　the　eye。
　Joshua　licked　his　lips　and　nodded。　〃I'll　be　back。〃
　The　trip　to　the　ship　seemed　to　take　a　lifetime；　torn　as　he　was　between　the　need　for　haste　and　the　opposite　need　to　give　York　as　smooth　a　ride　as　possible。　He　settled　for　a　slow　jog；　praying　fervently　that　someone　would　be　watching　and　be　ready　to　pop　the　hatch　for　him　。。。　and　that　he　could　explain　all　of　this　fast　enough　。。。　and　that　they'd　be　able　to　switch　the　collar　in　the　time　allotted。。。。
　He　was　two　steps　from　the　hatch　when　it　opened；　one　of　F'ahl's　crewers　stepping　out　to　grip　the　front　stretcher　handles。　Seconds　later　they　were　inside；　with　Christopher；　Winward；　and　Link　waiting　for　them　in　the　ready　room。
　〃Sit　down；〃　Christopher　snapped　tightly　as　someone　took　Joshua's　half　of　the　stretcher。
　Joshua's　knees　needed　no　urging；　dropping　him　like　a　lump　of　clay　into　the　indicated　chair。　〃This　thing　on　my　neck…〃
　〃Is　a　bomb；〃　Christopher　finished　for　him。　Already　the　other　was　tracing　the　strap　with　a　small　sensor；　his　forehead　shiny　with　perspiration。　〃We　know…they　weren't　able　to　jam　your　signal。　Now　sit　tight　and　we'll　see　if　we　can　get　the　damn　thing　off　without　triggering　it。〃
　Joshua　gritted　his　teeth　and　fell　silent；　and　as　he　did　so　Justin　entered　the　room；　clad　only　in　his　underwear。　For　a　moment　the　twins　gazed　at　each　other　。。　。　and　the　expression　on　Justin's　face　sent　half　the　weight　resting　on　Joshua's　shoulders　spinning　away　into　oblivion。　They　weren't　in　the　clear　yet…not　by　a　long　shot…but　there　was　a　satisfaction　in　Justin's　eyes　that　said　Joshua　had　done　his　job　well；　had　made　the　decisions　that　gave　them　all　a　chance。
　Justin　was　proud　of　him　。。。　and；　ultimately；　that　was　what　really　mattered。
　The　moment　passed；　and；　kneeling　before　his　brother；　Justin　began　to　remove　Joshua's　boots。　Joshua　unfastened　his　own　belt　and　slid　off　his　pants；　and　he　was　beginning　to　work　on　his　tunic　when　Christopher　gave　a　little　snort。　〃All　right；　here　it　is。　Let's　see　。。　…　bypass　here　and　here。　Dorjay？〃
　Joshua　felt　something　cool　slide　between　the　collar　and　his　neck。　〃Hold　still；〃　Link　muttered　from　behind　him。　There　was　the　soft　crackle　of　heat…stressed　plastic　。。。　and　suddenly　the　pressure　on　his　throat　eased；　and　Winward　lifted　the　broken　ring　over　his　head。　〃Out　of　the　chair；〃　Link　said　tersely。　〃Justin？〃
　Joshua's　place　was　taken　by　his　brother；　and　the　collar　lowered　carefully　around　Justin's　neck。　〃Time？〃　Christopher　asked　as　the　Cobras　eased　the　two　broken　ends　back　together　and　began　the　ticklish　job　of　reconnecting　them。
　〃Ninety　seconds；〃　F'ahl's　voice　came　over　the　room　inter。　〃Plenty　of　time。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Link　growled　under　his　breath。　〃e　down　here　and　say　that。　Easy；　Michael。〃
　Joshua　got　his　tunic　and　watch　off　and　waited；　heart　thudding　full　blast　again　as　he　watched　Christopher　and　the　Cobras　work。　If　they　weren't　able　to　do　it　in　time…
　〃Okay；〃　Christopher　announced　suddenly。　〃Looks　good。　Here　go　the　bypasses。。。。〃
　The　wires　came　off；　and　the　cylinders　remained　solid。　Cautiously；　Justin　stood　up　and　reached　for　Joshua's　tunic；　and　by　the　time　Christopher　had　eased　the　protective　ring　out　from　under　the　collar　he　was　nearly　dressed。　〃I　don't　know　where　Yuri　and　Marck　were　taken；〃　Joshua　told　him　as　he　fastened　on　the　other's　watch。
　〃I　know　that；〃　Justin　nodded。　〃I　was　you；　remember。〃
　〃Yeah。　I　just　meant…be　careful；　okay？〃　Justin　gave　him　a　tight　smile。　〃I'll　be　fine；　Joshua…　don't　worry　about　me。　The　Moreau　luck　goes　with　me。〃
　He　slipped　out　the　hatch；　and　Joshua　collapsed　back　into　the　chair　as　the　shock　of　all　that　had　happened　finally　caught　up　with　him　and　his　legs　turned　to　rubber。　The　Moreau　luck。　Great。　Just　great。　And　the　worst　part　of　it　was　that　Justin　really　believed　in　his　imaginary　immunity。　Believed　in　it；　acted　on　it　。。。　and　while　Joshua　sat　idly　by　in　the　Dewdrop's　relative　safety；　his　brother's　superstition　could　easily　get　him　killed。
　〃Damn　them；〃　he　hissed　at　the　universe　in　general…at　Moff　and　the　Qasamans；　the　Cobra　Worlds〃　Council；　who'd　sent　them；　even　his　own　brother　Corwin；　whose　idea　this　had　ultimately　been。　〃Damn　all　of　them。〃
　A　hand　fell　on　his　shoulder。　Looking　up　through　eyes　suddenly　tear…blurred；　he　saw　Link　standing　over　him。　〃e　on；〃　the　Cobra　said。　〃Captain　F'ahl　and　Governor　Telek　are　going　to　want　to　hear　your　analysis　of　the　situation　out　there。〃
　Sure　they　are；　Joshua　thought　bitterly。　The　sole　value　such　a　report　could　have　would　be　to　keep　his　mind　too　busy　to　dwell　on　Justin。　But　he　merely　nodded　and　got　to　his　feet。　He　was　too　tired　to　argue　。。。　and；　actually；　some　distraction　might　not　be　a　bad　idea　right　now。
　He　took　a　moment　to　stop　by　his　stateroom　first　and　get　dressed；　letting　Link　go　on　ahead　without　him。　York　was　nowhere　in　sight　when　he　finally　reached　the　lounge；　but　Telek　allayed　his　worst　fears　before　he　was　able　to　voice　them。　〃Decker's　stable；　at　least　for　now；〃　she　said；　glancing　up　at　him　before　returning　her　gaze　to　the　outside　monitor　display。　〃Monitors　and　I。V。S　are　all　hooked　up；　he'll　be　all　right　until　we　can　figure　out　what　to　do　about　his　arm。〃
　Translation：　where　exactly　it'll　need　to　be　amputated。　Swallowing　the　thought；　Joshua　stepped　behind　Telek　and　looked　over　her　shoulder。　Moff　and　Justin　were　just　getting　back　into　the　armored　bus。　The　explosive　collar；　he　noted　with　marginal　easing　of　tension；　had　been　removed；　as　had　the　〃self…destruct〃　watch　with　which　he'd　bluffed　the　Qasamans。　〃What's　he　supposed　to　do　now？〃　he　asked　Telek。　〃I　mean；　you　did　give　him　some　sort　of　plan　to　follow；　didn't　you？〃
　〃As　much　of　a　plan　as　we　could　e　up　with；〃　Winward　grunted　from　another　display。　〃We're　assuming　he'll　be　taken　to　wherever　they've　got　Yuri　and　Marck。　Once　he's　inside…well；　we're　hoping　Almo　will　have　followed　the　other　two　when　they　headed　south。　With　Cobras　inside　and　outside；　they　should　be　able　to　break　out　of　wherever　the　Qasamans　put　them。〃
　〃Almo　was　going　to　follow　us？〃
　〃He　was　going　to　try。　If　he　didn't　get　down　to　the　crossroads　in　time…〃　Winward　shrugged　fractionally。　〃We'll　hope　he'll　follow　the　road　and　try　to　catch　up。　It's　the　only　logical　thing　for　him　to　do。〃
　Follow　the　road　。。。　except　that　he　wouldn't　know　Moff　would　be　bringing　a　second　vehicle　up　from　behind。　Joshua　shivered　at　the　vision　of　Pyre　caught；　alone；　between　two　carloads　of　armed　Qasamans　and　mojos。　And　with　the　radios　still　jammed　there　was　no　way　to　alert　him　to　the　potential　pincer　closing　on　him。
　Telek　leaned　back　in　her　seat；　exhaling　a　hissing　sigh。　〃Well；　that's　it；　gentlemen；〃　she　said。　〃We've　done　everything　we　can　for　the　moment　for　Yuri　and
　Marck。　Next　job；　then；　is　to　figure　out　how　to　deactivate　the　defenses　around　the　Dewdrop　so　that　they've　got　a　ship　to　e　back　to。　Let's　get　busy　on　that　one；　shall　we？〃
　The　armored　bus　sped　past　Pyre's　place　of　concealment。　Though　the　windows　were　small　and　dark　his　enhanced　vision　enabled　him　to　identify　two　of　its　occupants：　Moff；　and　the　same　driver　who'd　earlier　taken　the　vehicle　toward　Sollas　with　Joshua　and　an　apparently　injured　Decker　York　aboard。　It　was　back　now；　following　the　same　road　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　had　taken　a　half　hour　or　so　ago。　And　the　major　question　of　the　hour：　who　exactly　was　in　there？
　Pyre　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　forehead；　smearing　the　sweat　and　dirt　there　as　he　tried　to　think。　York；　Joshua；　and　Moff　head　toward　Sollas；　Moff；　at　least；　heads　away　shortly　thereafter。　Had　they　decided　to　split　up　the　contact　team；　with　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　stashed　away　down　south　while　York　and　Joshua　were　hidden　in　Sollas？　Possible；　but　given　the　lengths　the　Qasamans　had　gone　to　to　keep　their　prisoners　as　far　away　as　possible　from　the　Dewdrop　it　didn't　seem　likely。　Had　they　taken　York　to　the　nearest　hospital　to　treat　what　had　looked　to　be　one　double　hell　of　an　arm　injury？　But　then　why　take　Joshua　along？
　The　sounds　of　the　bus　were　fading　away　down　the　road。　If　he　was　going　to　follow　it；　he　had　to　make　that　decision　fast。
　When　he'd　first　dashed　off　through　the　forest　on　this　crazy　rescue　attempt　the　question　hadn't　even　been　a　debatable　one。　But　since　then　he'd　had　time　to　think　it　all　through　。。。　and　though　it　wrenched　his　soul　to　admit　it；　he　knew　he'd　gotten　his　priorities　scrambled。
　The　contact　team　was；　at　least　from　a　purely　military　standpoint；　expendable。　The　Dewdrop；　with　all　the　data　they'd　collected　about　Qasama；　wa