tz.cobra strike-第36部分

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　〃We　will　kill　you　all；〃　Kimmeron　said。
　〃You　know　better　than　that。　So　I'll　offer　you　a　deal：　release　all　our　people　unharmed　and　we'll　leave　without　seeing　what　you've　got　down　there。〃
　Kimmeron's　laugh　was　a　harsh　bark。　〃You　seek　to　trade　something　for　a　lack　of　something。　Even　if　I　wanted　to　agree；　how　could　I　persuade　others　to　do　so？〃
　〃You　explain　that　we　take　home　details　of　city　and　village　life；　or　we　take　home　every　secret　you've　got；〃　Pyre　told　him　coldly。　〃And　your　time　is　running　out。　Winward　will　start　down　the　tower　in　three　minutes；　and　I　can't　guarantee　Link　won't　find　his　way　underground　even　sooner。〃
　It　took　the　mil　three　minutes　and　a　little　more；　but　in　the　end　Kimmeron　agreed。
　
　
　Chapter　22
　
　It　took　another　fifteen　minutes　for　Kimmeron　to　get　the　agreement　of　the　Purma　officials　who　were　holding　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt。　The　radio　jamming　wasn't　lifted　for　five　minutes　longer；　but　Pyre　had　already　been　allowed　to　send　Link　a　message　via　the　tower's　outside　speakers；　warning　the　other　Cobra　to　lie　low　and　hold　off　on　any　attack。　Telek；　when　Pyre　was　finally　allowed　through　to　her；　agreed　to　the　arrangement　and　directed　Link　to　wait　in　the　tower　with　Winward　until　Pyre　made　it　back。　Then；　with　Kimmeron　his　reluctant　panion；　Pyre　got　into　a　car　and　headed　down　the　broad　avenues　toward　the　airfield　。　。　。　and　waited　with　lasers　ready　for　the　inevitable　ambush。
　It　didn't　e。　The　car　passed　through　several　sets　of　sentries；　none　of　whom　even　raised　a　weapon；　passed　beneath　tall　buildings　without　so　much　as　a　brick　being　thrown；　passed　even　among　the　grim　mass　of　Qasamans　at　the　base　of　the　airfield　tower。　Nothing。　They　pulled　up　to　the　Dewdrop's　main　hatch；　and　Pyre　waited　with　Kimmeron　close　beside　him　until　Winward　and　Link　returned。
　The　two　Cobras　entered　the　ship；　and　Pyre　turned　to　Kimmeron。　〃We've　pleted　our　part　of　the　deal；〃　he　said；　putting　as　much　quiet　steel　as　he　could　into　the　words。　〃You've　done　half　of　yours。　I　trust　you　won't　be　tempted　to　back　out。〃
　〃Your　two　panions　will　be　waiting　when　you　land　at　Purma；〃　Kimmeron　said　coldly。
　〃Good。　Now　take　the　car　and　get　clear　before　we　lift。〃　Pyre　stepped　into　the　hatchway；　and　the　airlock　door　closed。
　The　inner　door　slid　open；　and　in　that　same　moment　the　Dewdrop　lurched　slightly　and　they　were　airborne。
　Link　was　waiting　as　Pyre　stepped　into　the　ready　room。　〃Looks　like　we　might　actually　pull　this　off；〃　the　younger　Cobra　said　quietly。
　〃Heavy　emphasis　on　the　might；〃　Pyre　nodded。　〃How's　Michael？　He　looked　in　pretty　bad　shape　when　you　passed　me　out　there。〃
　〃I　don't　know…the　governor's　looking　at　him　now。　Probably　in　better　shape　than　Decker。〃
　〃Yes；　what　happened　to　him？　I　saw　him　carried　away　from　the　bus　on　a　stretcher；　but　I　couldn't　tell　anything　more。〃
　Link's　lip　twitched　in　a　grimace。　〃He　tried　to　break　the　contact　team　out　of　the　bus　at　the　beginning　of　all　this。　The　mojos　flayed　his　arm；　practically　down　to　the　bone。〃
　Pyre　felt　his　neck　muscles　tighten。　〃Oh；　God。　Is　he…？〃
　〃Too　soon　to　tell　anything；　except　that　he'll　probably　live。〃　Link　Hcked　his　lips。　〃Listen　。。。　did　Kimmeron　say　anything　about　Justin？　He　switched　with　Joshua　when　they　brought　Decker　in　and　was　taken　off　toward　Purma。〃
　For　the　unprovoked　deaths　in　Purma；　Kimmeron　had　said；　sentencing　the　Dewdrop　to　death。　Justin's　work？　Undoubtedly。　But　Kimmeron　hadn't　mentioned　him　in　negotiating　the　other　prisoners〃　release。　Was　he；　then；　free　somewhere　out　in　the　Qasaman　night？
　Or　was　he　dead？
　〃Kimmeron　didn't　say；〃　he　told　Link　slowly。　It　had　happened；　his　mind　told　him　vaguely；　the　danger　to　Justin　he'd　worried　about　all　the　way　back　at　the　beginning　of　this　mission。　〃Well。　First　things　first；　I　suppose。　We'll　land　at　Purma；　get　Yuri　and　Marck　safely　aboard　。。　。　and　then　try　to　find　out　what　we　can　about　him。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Link　searched　his　face　another　moment；　then　nodded。　〃Yeah。　e　on；　let's　get　back　to　the　lounge；　find　out　what's　happening。〃
　〃Sure。〃　Back　to　the　lounge；　where　Joshua　would　be　waiting。　。　。　。　But　Pyre　wouldn't　have　to　tell　him　his　brother　might　be　dead。　Not　yet；　anyway。
　Strapped　tightly　into　the　highly　unfortable　interrogation　chair；　Rynstadt　stared　at　the　door　through　which　his　questioners　had　left；　trying　to　keep　his　expression　neutral　for　the　cameras　he　could　see　focused　on　him。
　It　wasn't　an　easy　task。　The　questioning　had　been　loud　and　brutal；　and　it'd　been　a　relief　when　the　four　Qasamans　abruptly　switched　off　the　painful　strobe　lights　and　left　the　room。　But　as　the　minutes　had　dragged　on　and　he'd　had　time　to　pull　himself　together；　their　continued　absence　began　to　seem　increasingly　ominous。　What　were　they　preparing　for　him　that　took　a　half　hour　to　set　up？　Shock　treatments？　Sonics？　Maybe　even　something　as　crude…and　horrible…as　slow　dismemberment？　His　stomach　churned　at　the　thought。　Death…fast　death…he'd　been　willing　to　risk　for　the　opportunity　of　ing　to　Qasama。　Slow　torture　was　something　else　entirely　。。。　and　he　knew　far　more　about　Aventinian　technology　than　he　really　wanted　to　tell　them。
　Without　warning　the　door　swung　open；　causing　Rynstadt　to　jerk　against　his　restraints。　Two　of　the　four　interrogators　entered　and　stepped　over　to　him。　For　a　moment　they　stared　down　at　him；　Rynstadt　forcing　himself　to　return　their　gaze。　Then；　still　wordlessly；　they　bent　down　and　began　unstrapping　him。　Here　it　es；　Rynstadt　thought；　steeling　himself。　The　torture　chamber　had　been　readied；　and　he　was　about　to　find　out　what　they'd　e　up　with。
　The　Qasamans　finished　their　task；　but　even　as　Rynstadt　uncramped　his　legs　and　got　them　under　him　the　men　turned　and　left。　The　door　banged　shut；　and　he　was　left　standing　there；　alone。
　It　made　no　sense　to　his　befuddled　mind；　but　they　didn't　give　him　time　to　wonder。　〃Rynstadt/〃　a　hidden　speaker　boomed；　〃your　panions　have　bargained　for　your　release。　You　will　be　allowed　to　eat　and　drink　and　then　be　taken　to　city's　edge。〃
　The　speaker　went　off　with　a　loud　click；　and　simultaneously　a　slot　in　the　base　of　the　door　opened　and　a　steaming　tray　was　pushed　through。
　None　of　this　made　any　sense；　either。　What　did　the　Dewdrop　have　to　bargain　with　that　the　Qasamans　would　consider　worth　Rynstadt's　life？　But　at　the　sight　of　the　food；　one　clear　thought　cut　through　the　confusion　in　his　mind。
　Poison。
　The　stew　and　hot　berry　juice　were　poisoned　。。。　and　he　would　soon　tell　them　anything　they　wanted　to　know　in　exchange　for　the　antidote。　Or　else　he　really　was　being　released；　in　which　case　he'd　be　dead　before　the　Dewdrop　cleared　the　system；　in　a　final　act　of　Qasaman　vengeance。
　His　stomach　rumbled；　reminding　him　he　hadn't　eaten　since　lunch　in　Huriseem；　a　medium…sized　eternity　ago　。。。　and　on　closer　examination；　poisoning　him　did　seem　a　little　melodramatic。
　Again　his　stomach　growled。　Suppose　he　simply　refused　to　eat？　If　the　food　was　indeed　safe；　probably　nothing；　except　that　he'd　go　hungry。　If　it　was　poisoned　。。。　presumably　they'd　e　and　hypospray　the　stuff　into　him。
　Walking　over　to　the　tray；　he　picked　it　up　and　sniffed　cautiously　at　the　bowl　and　mug。　He'd　had　the　stew　and　juice　several　times　before　during　the　contact　team's　tour；　and　both　smelled　just　the　way　he　remembered。　For　a　long　moment　he　was　tempted　。。。　but　if　there　was　really　a　chance　for　freedom；　he'd　be　foolish　to　take　even　slim　risks。　〃Thanks；〃　he　called　to　the　hidden　mike　as　he　set　the　tray　back　on　the　floor　by　the　slot；　〃but　I'm　not　hungry　right　now。〃
　He　held　his　breath。　If　the　Qasaman　voice　sounded　angry　or　annoyed　。。。　〃Very　well；〃　the　other　said　simply。　The　slot　opened　again；　and　Rynstadt　glanced　down　to　see　a　hand　snare　the　tray　and　pull　it　back　out　of　sight。
　A　shiny　hand。
　A　hand　encased　in　a　surgeon's　glove。
　The　slot　cover　slid　back　in　place；　and　Rynstadt　walked　back　to　the　chair；　feeling　cold　all　over。　Poison；　for　sure…but　not　in　the　food。　On　the　tray。　Mixed　with　a　contact　absorption　enhancer　and　spread　on　the　tray。
　And　now　it　was　on　his　hands　。。。　and　in　his　blood。
　He　sat　down；　legs　trembling　with　reaction。　He　was；　then；　being　released…there　was　no　need　for　such　an　elaborate　subterfuge　if　the　poison　was　just　part　of　his　interrogation。　Released…and　simultaneously　mur…dured。　Melodramatic　or　not…barbaric　or　not…they　had　opted　for　vengeance。
　Was　there　any　chance　at　all　of　ing　through　this　alive？　Perhaps；　but　only　if　the　Qasamans　had　timed　their　dosage　so　as　to　let　the　Dewdrop　get　a　good　distance　away　before　their　treachery　became　known。　How　long？　One　hour？　Two？　Twelve？
　There　was　no　way　to　know。　But　the　fact　that　he　knew　he'd　been　poisoned　gave　Telek　and　the　medical　analyzers　aboard　ship　the　maximum　time　to　identify　and　counteract　the　specific　toxin　used　on　him。
　e　on；　he　urged　the　Dewdrop　silently。　Get　me　the　hett　out　of　here。　In　the　meantime　。。。　letting　his　body　slump　in　the　chair；　he　consciously　slowed　his　breathing。　The　slower　the　metabolism；　in　theory；　the　slower　the　poison　would　be　absorbed　into　his　tissues。
　And　he　settled　back　to　wait。
　The　distinctive　whine　of　gravity　lifts；　faint　even　in　his　enhanced　hearing；　finally　dragged　Justin　from　his　sleep。　For　a　moment　he　lay　quietly　in　the　tall　grass；　reorienting　himself；　allowing　the　bitter　memories　to　return。　Then；　carefully；　he　raised　his　head。
　The　motion　drew　an　involuntary　hiss　between　his　teeth；　he'd　forgotten　all　the　places　his　body　ached。　But　the　sight　in　the　northern　sky　drove　all　such　considerations　into　the　background。　Against　the　blazing　stars　of　Qasama's　night　a　hazy　reddish　oval　was　drifting。
　The　Dewdrop　was　making　a　break　for　it。
　He　watched　the　haze　for　a　long　minute；　teeth　clamped　together　as　he　tried　not　to　cry。　They　were　leaving。　Without　him。　Without　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt；　as　well？　Probably。　There　was　no　way　to　know　for　sure；　but　Telek　had　counted　on　him　to　rescue　them；　and　his　failure　probably　meant　they　were　all　marooned。
　Marooned。
　Automatically；　as　if　trying　to　insulate　itself　from　the　emotional　shock；　his　mind　began　tracing　out　his　options。　He　could　escape　into　the　forest；　living　off　the　wild　game　there；　and　hope　he　could　hold　out　until　the　military　expedition　that　would　surely　follow。　Or　he　could　try　to　find　a　village　that　would　trade　his　Cobra　skills　for　sanctuary　from　the　central　authorities。　Or…
　Or　he　could　just　stay　here　in　the　grass　until　he　died。　It　all　amounted　to　that　in　the　end。
　It　was　only　then　that　the　realization　broke　through　to　him　that　the　Dewdrop　was　moving　too　slowly。
　Much　too　slowly。　They　crippled　it；　was　his　first；　awful　thought　。。。　but　if　the　grav　lifts　had　been　damaged　F'ahl　should　have　kicked　in　the　main　drive　by　now　to　assist。　No；　something　else　was　happening　。。。　and　abruptly；　he　understood。
　They　were　flying　low　and　slow　on　purpose。　Looking　for　him。　He'd　rolled　over　on　his　back　in　an　instant；　glancing　toward　the　city　as　he　lifted　his　left　leg；　but　not　really　caring　if　anyone　there　spotted　his　signal。　In　a　few　minutes　the　Dewdrop　would　be　here　。。。　and　after　his　moments　of　despair　the　promise　of　rescue　was　flooding　his　mind　and　body　with　adrenaline…fueled　determination。　Let　the　Qasamans　e　for　him　now…let　the　whole　city　get　in　his　way　if　they　wanted　to。
　Targeting　the　Dewdrop；　he　fired　his　antiarmor　laser　three　times。
　Thirty　kilometers　away；　the　ship's　hull　would　barely　register　the　heat　of　those　shots