tz.cobra strike-第4部分

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　The　leap　would　be　short…that　much　was　instantly　obvious…but　Pyre　knew　the　predator　would　hit　the　ground　running。　His　hands　were　already　in　firing　position…little　fingers　pointed　toward　the　spine　leopard；　thumbs　resting　against　ring　fingers〃　nails…and　as　the　animal　stretched　its　hind　legs　downward　for　a　landing　he　squeezed。
　The　lasers　in　his　little　fingers　spat　needles　of　light　into　the　spine　leopard's　face；　burning　fur　and　bone　and　brain　tissue。　But　Pyre's　intended　target；　its　eyes；　escaped　destruction；　and　the　creature's　more　decentralized　nervous　system　shrugged　off　the　brain　damage　as　if　not　noticing　it。　The　spine　leopard　landed；　feet　stumbling　slightly　on　the　branch…littered　surface…　Pyre　had　twisted　and　was　swinging　his　left　leg　to　bear　when　Telek　gasped。　〃Behind　you！〃　she　snapped。
　A　glimpse　over　his　shoulder　was　all　Pyre　could　get　from　his　angle；　but　it　was　enough。　The　flicker　he'd　seen　in　the　forest　had　bee　a　second　spine　leopard；　charging　them　like　a　furry　missile。
　And　spinning　the　direction　he　was；　Pyre　was　out　of　position　to　do　anything　about　it。　〃Down！〃　he　barked　at　Telek；　hoping　desperately　he　could　attract　the　spine　leopard's　attack　to　himself。　His　programmed　reflexes　gave　him　a　fighting　chance；　but　they　had　no　provision　for　defending　bystanders；　as　well。。。。　An　instant　later　his　left　leg　reached　firing　position；　and　from　the　heel　of　his　boot　the　brilliant　spear　of　his　antiarmor　laser　lanced　out。
　There　was　no　time　to　assess　the　damage…he　would　just　have　to　assume　the　first　spine　leopard　was　at　least　temporarily　stopped。　Continuing　his　spin；　he　dropped　his　left　leg　back　to　the　ground　and　brought　up　his　right…
　In　time　to　catch　the　second　spine　leopard　full　in　the　face　with　his　foot。
　There　was　no　way　Pyre's　precarious　balance　could　absorb　the　full　impact　of　the　predator's　charge…and　even　as　the　animal's　teeth　scrambled　for　a　grip　on　his　boot　he　felt　himself　falling　sideways。　Letting　his　left　leg　buckle　beneath　him；　he　drew　his　right　back　from　the　fangs　。。。　and　as　spine　leopard　sailed　over　him　he　straightened　the　leg　sharply　to　send　a　servo…augmented　kick　hard　into　the　creature's　belly。
　It　shrieked；　and　even　through　the　blur　of　motion　Pyre　saw　its　foreleg　spines　snap　outward　into　defense　position。　It　knew　it　was　hurt　。。。　though　perhaps　not　that　it　was　doomed。　For　whatever　incidental　damage　Pyre's　kick　had　caused；　it　had　also　pushed　the　creature　higher　into　the　air…and　the　extra　half　second　it　took　the　spine　leopard　to　reach　the　ground　was　all　the　time　Pyre　needed　to　again　bring　his　left　leg　to　bear。　The　antiarmor　laser　flashed　twice；　and　the　predator　landed　in　a　smoking　heap。
　Pyre　scrambled　to　his　feet；　eyes　automatically
　searching　out　the　unmoving　figure　of　the　first　spine　leopard。　Only　then　did　he　turn　back　to　see　what　had　happened　to　Telek。
　The　governor　was　on　hands　and　knees　in　the　small　hollow　between　two　fallen　tree　limbs；　the　small　pellet　pistol　she'd　been　carrying　clutched　in　one　hand。　〃Is　it　safe　to　e　out　yet？〃　she　asked；　only　a　slight　quaver　in　her　voice。
　Pyre　gave　the　edge　of　the　forest　a　careful　scan。　〃I　think　so；〃　he　said；　stepping　forward　to　help　her　up。　〃Thanks　for　the　warning。〃
　〃No　problem。〃　She　waved　off　his　assistance；　brushing　off　dead　leaves　as　she　got　to　her　feet。　〃I'd　heard　reports　from　other　areas　that　the　spine　leopards　were　occasionally　hunting　in　pairs　these　days；　but　I　didn't　think　it'd　started　here　yet。　Survival　pressure's　supposed　to　be　lighter　in　the　major　forests。〃
　〃It's　strong　enough；〃　Pyre　told　her　grimly。　〃And　as
　I　was　saying；　unless　you　biologists　can　e　up　with
　a　way　to　counteract　it；　these　hunts　are　going　to　have
　to　continue。〃
　〃I'm　hardly　on　the　forefront　of　biological　research
　these　days…〃
　She　broke　off　as　Pyre　held　up　his　hand。　〃Report；〃　he　said　quietly　into　his　wire…mike。　〃。。。　yes。　Need　any　help？　。。。　all　right。　Return　here　when　you're　done。〃
　Telek　was　watching　him。　〃They　found　the　den　site；〃　he　told　her。　〃Ten　cubs　in　it。〃
　Her　mouth　pressed　into　a　tight　line。　〃Ten。　Twenty　years　ago　a　spine　leopard　litter　never　exceeded　two　or　three。　Never；〃
　Pyre　shrugged　unfortably；　running　a　hand　through　his　thinning　hair。　Pony…seven　years　old；　and　chasing　through　the　forests　like　a　newly…missioned　kid。　He　might　have　been　bitter　if　the　duty　wasn't　so　vital。　〃We've　cleared　out　too　many　of　their　territories；〃　he　said　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃However　it　is　they　sense　these　things；　they　know　there's　room　on　Aventine　for　a　whole　lot　more　spine　leopards。　Theoretically。〃
　Telek　snorted　gently。　〃Theoretically；　indeed。　Spine　leopards　in　the　streets　of　Capitalia。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　turn。　〃If　you　only　knew。　Pyre；　how　often　biologists　have　yearned　for　a　truly　self…healing　planetary　ecology。　And　now　we've　got　two　。　。。　and　they're　a　damn　bloody　nuisance。〃
　〃
　〃Nuisance〃　is　hardly　a　word　I'd　apply　to　Caelian；　Governor；〃　Pyre　murmured。
　〃True。〃　Something　in　her　tone　made　him　glance　over；　and　he　found　her　gazing　tight…lipped　into　the　forest。　〃Well　。　。。　maybe　there's　something　we　can　do　about　it。〃
　〃About　all　we　could　do　about　Caelian　is　abandon　it；〃　he　retorted。
　〃That's　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind；〃　she　nodded。　〃Tell　me；　would　you　be　available　for　some　consultation　before　the　Council　meeting　the　day　after　tomorrow？　I　need　some　expert　advice　from　an　experienced　Cobra　team　leader。〃
　〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　said　reluctantly。　〃But　only　if　we're　finished　pletely　out　here。〃
　〃Fine；〃　she　agreed。　〃I　think　you'll　find　my　proposal　very　interesting。〃
　/　doubt　it；　he　told　himself　morosely；　turning　his　attention　back　to　the　forest。　Another　political　mind　with　another　political　solution。　Once…just　once…I'd　like　to　hear　something　else。　Anything　else。　Unbidden；　the　face　of　Tors　Challinor　rose　before　him：　Challinor；　who　had　tried　years　ago　to　take　military　control　of　Aventine。　Well；　all　right；　he　told　the　memory　with　a　shudder。　I'd　like　almost　anything　else。
　
　
　Chapter　4
　
　〃This　meeting　is　officially　e　to　order；〃　Governor…General　Stiggur　announced；　bringing　his　hand　down　in　a　dramatic　gesture　to　start　the　sealed　recorder。
　Somehow；　Corwin　thought；　the　whole　thing　lost　a　lot　of　effect　when　translated　to　a　room　the　size　of　a　large　office　and　an　audience　of　six。　〃I've　called　you　here；〃　Stiggur　continued；　〃to　discuss　the　issue　raised　at　the　Council　meeting　two　weeks　ago：　namely；　whether　to　undertake　the　job　the　Tlos　demesne　has　offered　us。〃
　Corwin　glanced　surreptitiously　around　the　table　at　the　five　governors；　feeling　as　he　never　had　at　Council　meetings　the　sheer　weight　of　political　authority　assembled　around　him。　An　oppressive；　almost　suffocating　presence…
　Until　Governor　Lizabet　Telek　spoke　up　and　broke　the　bubble。　〃I　realize；　Brom；　that　you're　speaking　for　posterity　here；〃　she　said　to　Stiggur；　〃but　can　we　try　to　do　without　the　heavy　historical　phrasings？〃
　Stiggur　tried　to　glare　at　her；　but　his　heart　clearly　wasn't　in　it。　None　of　them　had　e　to　Aventine　all　those　years　ago　with　any　political　aspirations；　and　while　they'd　stepped　into　these　positions　with　reasonable　success；　they　were　all　still　non…politicians　beneath　the　trappings。
　〃All　right…point　taken；〃　Stiggur　sighed。　〃Fine。　So　who's　got　anything　to　report？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　know　first　of　all　where　Governor　Emeritus　Moreau　is；〃　Caelian's　Governor　Howie　Vartanson　spoke　up。　〃It　seems　to　me　this　issue　should　take　priority　over　therapy　sessions　or　whatever。〃
　〃My　father's　in　the　hospital　at　the　moment；〃　Corwin　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　say　something　nasty　about　the　other's　unthinking　callousness。　He　knew　Jonny　was　a　first…generation　Cobra；　after　all。　〃Immune　system　trouble；　the　doctors　think。〃
　〃How　serious　is　it？〃　Stiggur　asked；　frowning。
　〃Apparently　not　very。　It　came　on　rather　suddenly　last　night；　though。〃
　〃You　should　have　let　someone　know；〃　Jor　Hemner　said；　one　frail　hand　playing　restlessly　with　his　wispy　beard。　〃We　could　have　postponed　this　meeting。〃
　〃Not　if　we　want　to　have　a　remendation　for　the　full　Council　meeting　this　afternoon；〃　Corwin　said；　glancing　at　Hemner　before　returning　his　gaze　to　Stiggur。　〃I　know　my　father's　thoughts　on　this　matter；　sir；　and　have　his　authority　to　act　for　him。　I　presume　you'll　accept　my　council　proxy　in　this　session？〃
　〃Well；　the　strict　legality…〃
　〃Oh；　for　heaven's　sake；　Brom；　let　him　sit　in　and　be　done　with　it；〃　Telek　put　in。　〃We've　got　a　lot　of　ground　to　cover　this　morning；　and　I　want　to　get　to　it。〃
　〃Fine。〃　Stiggur　raised　his　eyebrows　at　the　others。　〃Any　objections？　All　right。　Anyone　managed　to　find　out　anything　from　the　Trofts　about　this　Qasama？〃
　Olor　Roi　of　Palatine　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　tried　playing　the　old　independent…planets　routine　on　Speaker　One；　but　I　think　it's　starting　to　wear　thin。　They're　finally　tumbling　to　the　fact　that　we're　a　political　unit　even　though　we　can　all　make　our　own　trade　agreements。　Still；　I　think　he　was　being　honest　when　he　said　he'd　already　given　us　all　he　had。〃
　〃Maybe　he　was　just　holding　out　in　hopes　we'd　outbid　you；〃　suggested　Dylan　Fairleigh；　the　thirdAventine　governor。　It　was　a　rather　naive　ment；　Corwin　thought；　betraying　the　lack　of　experience　with　Troft　trade　that　almost　automatically　came　with　the　other's　Far　West　Region　jurisdiction。
　Vartanson；　predictably；　didn't　bother　to　take　that　into　account。　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；〃　he　snorted。　〃Trofts　don't　hold　out　without　making　it　known　that　they　have　something　for　sale。　Where've　you　been　the　past　14　years；　anyway？〃
　Fairleigh's　forehead　darkened；　but　before　he　could　speak　Telek　cut　in。　〃Okay…so　it's　established　the　Tlossies　haven't　got　anything。　Next　step　is　obviously　to　get　to　someone　who　does。　I　see　two　choices：　the　Baliu　demesne　or　Qasama　itself。〃
　〃Just　a　second；〃　Corwin　spoke　up。　〃Isn't　the　next　step　to　see　whether　we're　going　to　need　this　information？〃
　Telek　frowned　at　him。　〃Of　course　we　need　it。　How　else　can　we　make　a　rational　decision？〃
　〃The　most　rational　decision　would　be　to　give　the　Tlossies　a　simple　no　sale　right　now；〃　Corwin　answered。　〃If　we　do…〃
　〃Since　when　is　hiding　from　reality　a　rational　decision？〃　Telek　interrupted　tartly。
　〃Saying　no　now　is　a　statement　of　principle；〃　Corwin　told　her；　feeling　sweat　break　out　on　his　forehead。　Jonny　had　warned　him　this　view　was　unlikely　to　be　well　received；　but　Corwin　hadn't　been　prepared　for　so　strong　a　negative　reaction。　〃It　says　we're　not　interested　in　being　mercenaries　for…〃
　〃What　about　our　own　interests？〃　Vartanson　put　in。　〃If　Qasama　is　a　threat　to　the　Trofts　it's　probably　a　threat　to　us；　too。〃
　〃Yes；　but　。。。〃　Corwin　stopped　as　words　and　logic　suddenly　tangled　into　a　knotted　mess。　Relax；　he　ordered　himself。　No　one　here's　anyone　to　be　afraid　of。
　But　even　as　he　fought　his　sudden　shyness　Stiggur　came　to　his　rescue。　〃I　think　the　point　Corwin's　trying　to　make　is　that　we　can　still　send　expeditions　to　Qasama　or　wherever　once　we've　turned　down　the　Baliu　demesne's　deal；〃　he　said。　〃At　that　point　we're　not　constrained　by　what　the　Trofts　want　done；　but　are　free　to　take　action　as　we　see　fit。〃
　〃Sounds　very　noble；〃　Telek　nodded。　〃Unfortunately；　it　runs　very　quickly　into　one　important　practical　detail。　Namely；　who　pays　for　this　if　the　Trofts　don't？〃
　Fairleigh　shifted　in　his　seat。　〃I　was　under　the　impression　the　Trofts　were　offering　only　those　five　planets；　not　payment　of　costs　too。