tz.cobra strike-第28部分

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　The　contact　team　was；　at　least　from　a　purely　military　standpoint；　expendable。　The　Dewdrop；　with　all　the　data　they'd　collected　about　Qasama；　was　not。　The　Dewdrop　had　to　be　freed　。。。　and　three…quarters　of　her　Cobra　fighting　force　was　still　trapped　inside。
　To　the　southwest；　the　sounds　of　the　bus　had　vanished　into　the　forest。　Notching　his　optical　sensors　up　against　the　darkness。　Pyre　began　circling　cautiously　around　the　vehicles　and　men　that　still　straddled　the　crossroads。　He　could　stay　within　the　relative　cover　of　the　forest　for　a　few　kilometers；　but　long　before　he　got　to　the　airfield　area　he　would　have　to　move　into　the　city　proper　if　he　wanted　any　chance　of　approaching　the　Qasamans〃　tower　defenses　undetected。　The　contact　team　had　spent　little　time　on　the　streets　of　Sollas　at　night…and　none　of　it　near　the　edges　of　the　city。　Pyre　had　no　idea　what　sort　of　crowd　level　he'd　have　to　get　through　once　he　left　the　forest。　If　he　could　steal　some　Qasaman　clothing　。。。　but　he　couldn't　speak　word　one　of　their　language；　and　he　would　at　any　rate　be　instantly　conspicuous　by　his　lack　of　a　mojo　panion。
　The　crossroads；　he　judged；　were　far　enough　behind　him　now　to　risk　a　little　noise。　Senses　alert　for　forest　predators　as　well　as　wandering　Qasamans；　he　broke　into　a　brisk　jog。　Whatever　he　came　up　with；　the　inspiration　had　better　e　fast。　In　five　minutes；　ten　at　the　most；　Sollas　was　going　to　play　host　to　its　first　Cobra。
　
　
　Chapter　18
　
　Joshua's　implanted　sensors　were　reputed　to　be　the　best　the　Cobra　Worlds　had　available；　but　sitting　in　a　bouncing　vehicle　across　from　a　man　he'd　seen　almost　constantly　for　a　week；　Justin　recognized　with　an　unpleasant　shock　just　how　limited　his　piggybacked　experience　of　Qasama　had　really　been。　The　texture　of　the　seat　where　his　hands　rested　on　it…the　odd　paving　of　the　road　as　transmitted　by　the　bus's　vibration…　above　all　the　tangy　and　exotic　scents　filling　the　air　around　him…it　was　as　if　he'd　stepped　into　a　painting　and　found　that　the　world　it　depicted　was　real。
　And　the　whole　effect　made　him　nervous。　He　was　supposed　to　be　an　undetectable　substitute　for　his　brother；　and　instead　was　feeling　like　the　new　kid　on　the　block。　All　he　needed　now　was　for　Moff　to　pick　up　that　something　was　off…color　here　and　bury　him　a　hundred　kilometers　from　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　while　the　Qasamans　figured　out　what　was　going　on。
　When　your　defense　stinks；　attack。　〃I　must　say；　Moff；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　you　people　are　nothing　short　of　astonishing　at　learning　new　languages。　How　long　have　you　been　able　to　speak　Anglic？〃
　Moff's　eyes　flicked　to　the　old　man　two　seats　down；　who　let　loose　with　a　stream　of　Qasaman。　Moff　replied　in　kind；　and　the　translator　turned　back　to　Justin。
　　　〃We　will　ask　the　questions　today；〃　he　said。　〃It　will　be　your　position　to　answer　them。〃
　Justin　snorted。　〃e　on；　Moff…it's　hardly　a　secret　anymore。　Not　with　your　friend　here　speaking　as　well　as　I　do。　And　you　said　something　to　me　yourself；　right　after　you　switched　on　the　little　insurance　policy　you　had　around　my　neck。　So　e　on…how　did　all　of　you　learn　it　so　fast？〃
　He　kept　a　surreptitious　eye　on　the　old　man　as　he　spoke；　watching　for　hesitations　with　words　or　grammar。　But　if　the　other　had　any　trouble；　it　wasn't　obvious。　Moff　eyed　Justin　for　a　moment　after　the　translator　finished；　then　said　something　in　a　thoughtful　tone　that　the　Cobra　didn't　care　for　even　before　he　heard　the　old　man's　version：　〃You　seem　to　have　regained　some　of　your　courage。　What　did　those　aboard　your　ship　say　to　strengthen　you　so？〃
　〃They　reminded　me　of　what　your　planetary　superiors　will　say　when　they're　informed　how　you　have　threatened　a　peaceful　diplomatic　mission；〃　Justin　shot　back。
　〃Oh？〃　Moff　said　through　the　translator。　〃Perhaps。　We　shall　soon　see　if　that；　too；　is　one　of　your　lies。　By　the　time　we　have　reached　Purma；　or　perhaps　even　before。〃
　〃I　resent　the　implication　I　would　lie　to　you。〃
　〃Resent　it　if　you　wish。　But　the　cylinders　you　wore　into　your　ship　will　show　the　truth　of　the　matter。〃
　Justin　felt　his　mouth　go　dry。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked；　hoping　his　sudden　horrible　suspicion　was　wrong。
　It　wasn't。　〃The　cylinders　contained　cameras　and　sound　recording　devices；〃　the　translator　said。　〃We　hoped　to　get　a　first　approximation　of　the　situation　and　number　of　personnel　aboard。〃
　And　smack　dab　in　the　middle　of　the　tape　would　be　that　free　and　unexpected　bonus；　the　Moreau　twin　switch。　And　when　they　saw　that…　〃A　fat　lot　of　good　it'll　do　you；〃　he　snorted；　putting　as　much　scorn　into　His　voice　as　he　could　scrape　together。　〃We　told　no　lies　about　our　ship　or　people。　What　are　you　expecting…　hundreds　of　armored　soldiers　squeezed　into　that　little　thing？〃
　Moff　waited　for　the　translation　and　then　shrugged。　Apparently　really　doesn't　understand　Anglic；　Justin　decided　as　the　two　Qasamans　held　a　brief　discussion。　Just　learned　that　one　phrase　to　emphasize　the　three…minute　limit；　probably。　And　we　fell　for　it　like　primitives。　Stupid；　stupid；　stupid。
　〃We　shall　see　what　is　there；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Perhaps　it　will　help　us　decide　what　should　be　done　with　all　of　you。〃
　/'//　just　bet　it　will；　Justin　thought；　but　remained　silent。　Moff　settled　back　in　his　seat；　indicating　the　conversation　was　over　for　the　moment。。。　and　Justin　tried　to　get　his　brain　on…line。
　All　right。　First　off；　the　spy　cameras　probably　weren't　transmitting　a　live　picture　from　the　Dewdrop…the　Qasamans　would've　had　to　open　up　part　of　their　radio　jamming；　and　an　action　of　that　sort　might　have　been　detected。　So　Moff　and　pany　didn't　yet　know　about　the　Moreau　switch；　an　ignorance　they　would　keep　until　those　back　in　Sollas　found　out　themselves　and　were　able　to　blow　the　whistle。　The　jamming　meant　Justin　was　safe　enough　while　the　bus　was　still　on　the　road。　If　he　made　his　move　before　they　reached　the　next　city…Purma；　had　Moff　called　it？…he'd　take　them　totally　by　surprise　。。。
　And　would　then　have　to　search　the　whole　city　for　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt。
　Justin　grimaced。　He　could　afford　not　knowing　where　the　others　were　being　kept；　but　only　if　Pyre　had　followed　their　bus　instead　of　waiting　for　Justin's。　There　was　no　way　of　knowing　which　option　the　other　Cobra　had　taken；　and　Justin　didn't　dare　gamble　on　it。　He　would　just　have　to　let　them　take　him　to　the　other　prisoners；　hope　he　could　take　out　all　the　additional　guards　and　mojos　that　would　undoubtedly　be　present…　And　pray　the　bus　didn't　stop　outside　of　town　at　a　checkpoint　with　long…range　munications　capability。
　Damn。　If　they　did　that　then　all　bets　were　instantly　off。　Moff　was　being　pretty　casual　about　his　prisoner；　but　that　was　surely　based　on　a　week's　worth　of　observation　of　Joshua's　character　and　reactions。　If　he　found　out　he　had　someone　else　he　was　bound　to　react　with　a　tighter　leash　。。。　and　there　were　ways　to　render　even　a　Cobra　helpless。
　Through　the　window　ahead　the　bus's　headlights　showed　nothing　but　road　and　flanking　forest。　No　city　lights　yet　。。。　Carefully；　methodically；　Justin　activated　his　multiple…targe　ting　lock　and　sequen…。tially　locked　onto　all　the　mojos　in　the　vehicle。　Just　in　case。
　Easing　back　into　his　seat；　he　watched　the　road　ahead　and　kept　his　hands　well　clear　of　any　possible　obstructions。　And　tried　to　relax。
　〃What　do　you　suppose　is　keeping　them？〃　Rynstadt　asked　quietly　from　the　lightweight　table　in　the　middle　of　their　cell。
　Standing　at　the　barred　window；　Cerenkov　automatically　glanced　at　his　bare　wrist；　dropping　it　back　to　his　side　with　an　embarrassed　snort。　All　jewelry　had　been　taken　from　them　immediately　after　they　left　the　Sollas　crossroads…fallout；　obviously；　from　York's　gun　and　Joshua's　〃self…destruct〃　bluff。　For　Cerenkov；　not　knowing　the　time　could　be　a　major　annoyance　at　the　best　of　times；　under　the　present　circumstances；　it　was　an　excruciating　form　of　subtle　torture。　〃It　may　not　mean　anything　yet；〃　he　told　Rynstadt。　〃We　haven't　been　here　all　that　long　ourselves；　and　if　transferring　Decker　to　the　ship　took　longer　than　expected　Moff　and　Joshua　may　still　not　be　overdue。〃
　〃And　if…〃　Rynstadt　let　the　sentence　die。　〃Yeah；　maybe　you're　right；〃　he　said　instead。　〃Moff　would　undoubtedly　want　to　be　here　before　they　start　this　silly　questioning。〃
　Cerenkov　nodded；　feeling　frustration　welling　up　within　him　at　having　to　stifle　the　thoughts　clearly　uppermost　in　both　their　minds。　Such　as　whether　York　had　really　been　allowed　back　into　the　Dewdrop　。。。　and　whether　it　would　be　Joshua　or　Justin　who　would　soon　be　joining　them　in　their　cell。　But　after　the　old　man　at　the　crossroads　Cerenkov　had　no　intention　of　assuming　none　of　the　guards　lined　up　against　the　cell　wall　understood　Anglic。
　And　so　he　kept　his　thoughts　and　speculations　to　himself。　But　time　was　dragging　on　。。。　and　as　the　minutes　slowly　added　up　he　began　to　feel　as　if　he　and　Rynstadt　were　standing　on　a　sheet　of　rapidly　thawing　ice。　If　Justin　had　been　forced　to　take　premature　action；　that　would　also　explain　the　delay　。。。　and　it　would　leave　the　two　of　them　in　a　dead…end　position　here。
　Outside；　a　flicker　of　light　caught　Cerenkov's　eye；　off　toward　the　right。　Pressing　the　side　of　his　face　to　the　glass；　he　could　just　see　what　appeared　to　be　another　of　the　armored　vehicles　he　and　Rynstadt　had　arrived　in。　A　handful　of　figures　stepped　to　the　door。　〃Looks　like　they're　here；〃　he　announced　over　his　shoulder；　striving　for　calm。　Now　the　real　fun　would　begin　。。；　especially　since　they　wouldn't　know　themselves　which　twin　they　had　until　he　took　some　sort　of　action。　That　would　be　tricky；　he　didn't　want　to　get　caught　flatfooted　in　a　crossfire；　but　neither　did　he　want　to　be　poised　on　tiptoe　waiting　expectantly　for　the　order　to　hit　the　floor。　Moff　or　one　of　the　guards　might　pick　up　on　something　like　that…
　The　thought　froze　in　place。　The　bus　was　pulling　away　from　the　building；　its　weling　mittee　heading　back　inside　。。。　but　no　one　else　was　with　them。
　An　empty　bus？　was　his　first；　hopeful　guess　。。。　but　he　didn't　believe　it　for　even　a　moment。　The　vehicle　was　speeding　up　now；　heading　further　into　the　city　。。。　and　deep　within　him；　Cerenkov　knew　Moff　and　Justin　were　aboard　it。　Something　had　gone　wrong。　Badly　enough　wrong　that　the　prisoners　were　being　split　up；　apparently　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。
　And　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　were　in　their　own　private　hole。　A　very　deep　private　hole。
　Slowly；　he　turned　away　from　the　window。　〃Well？〃　Rynstadt　demanded。
　〃False　alarm；〃　Cerenkov　murmured。　〃It　wasn't　them。〃
　Justin　watched　the　tall　building　disappear　from　view　through　the　window　as　the　bus　picked　up　speed；　muscles　tight　with　adrenaline　and　the　sinking　certainty　that　the　game　was；　in　one　sense　or　another；　over。　Moff　could　pretend　all　he　liked　that　they'd　stopped　only　for　information　from　Sollas；　but　Justin　had　been　watching　the　driver　as　Moff　consulted　with　the　men　from　the　building；　and　it　was　clear　that　he'd　been　taken　by　surprise　by　the　order　to　move　on。　Almost　certainly　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　were　somewhere　in　that　structure　behind　them。　Moff's　studied　casualness　merely　underscored　the　fact　that　they　wanted　Justin　to　attach　no　special　significance　to　the　place。
　So　they　knew。　The　films　had　been　seen；　word　had　been　flashed　south　from　Sollas；　and　Moff　was　taking　him　somewhere　high…security　for　a　long　talk　and　probably　some　careful　study　as　well。　Justin　had　to　act　fast；　to　kill　or　disable　everyone　aboard　and　escape　before　the　Qasamans