tz.cobra strike-第40部分

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ation　net　had　again　taken　over　his　life。
　〃Have　you　had　a　chance　to　see　Justin　lately？〃　Joshua　asked　after　the　amenities　were　out　of　the　way。
　〃Not　since　the　evening　after　your　debriefing。〃　Corwin　winced　at　that　sudden　revelation。　Four　days；　it　had　been　now；　without　talking　to　anyone　in　his　family　except　his　father。　He　wasn't　used　to　getting　so　far　out　of　touch。　〃I　haven't　had　much　time　lately。〃
　〃Well；　I　think　you'd　better　find　the　time　for　this。　Soon。〃
　Corwin　frowned。　〃Why？　Something　wrong？〃
　Joshua's　phone　screen　image　hesitated；　shook　its　head　minutely。　〃I　don't　know。　It's　nothing　I　can　put　my　finger　on；　but　。　。　。　well；　he　hasn't　e　back　from　the　Academy　yet；　you　know。〃
　Corwin　didn't。　〃Medical　observation？〃
　〃No；　but　he's　spending　almost　all　his　time　alone　in　the　room　they've　given　him　out　there。　And　he's　doing　a　lot　of　puter　library　searches。〃
　Corwin　thought　back　to　Justin's　report；　which　he'd　hurriedly　skimmed　and　filed　away　two　days　ago。　His　brother　had　gone　through　hell's　own　porch　out　there　。。。　〃Maybe　he's　just　killing　time　while　the　emotional　wounds　heal　over　a　bit；〃　he　suggested。　But　even　as　he　said　them　the　words　rang　false　in　his　ears。　Justin　simply　wasn't　the　type　to　lick　his　wounds　in　private。
　Joshua　might　have　been　reading　his　mind。　〃Then　those　wounds　must　be　a　lot　deeper　than　he's　letting　on；　because　he's　never　holed　up　like　this　before。　And　the　library　search　stuff　bothers　me；　too。　Any　way　for　you　to　get　a　list　of　what　he's　been　researching？〃
　〃Possibly。〃　Corwin　scratched　his　cheek。　〃Well　。。。　did　you　remind　him　we're　having　a　Moreau　Family　war　council　this　evening？〃
　〃Yes；〃　the　other　nodded。　〃He　said　he'd　try　to　make　it。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Corwin　said　slowly。　〃Okay。　I　haven't　talked　to　you；　so　of　course　I　don't　know　he's　been　reminded。　I'll　call　him　up　like　a　good　big　brother　should；　and　while　I'm　at　it　I'll　see　what　else　I　can　get　out　of　him。　All　right？〃
　〃Fine。　Thanks；　Corwin…this　has　been　driving　me　just　barely　south　of　frantic。〃
　〃No　problem。　See　you　tonight。〃
　Joshua　disappeared　from　the　screen。　Scowling；　Corwin　punched　up　the　Cobra　Academy　and　asked　for　Justin。　A　moment　later　his　brother's　face　came　on。　〃Hello？…oh；　hi；　Corwin。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　It　took　Corwin　a　second　to　find　his　tongue。　Seldom　if　ever　had　he　known　Justin　to　be　so　coolly　polite；　so…the　term　businesslike　leapt　to　mind。　〃Uh；　I　was　just　calling　to　see　if　you'd　be　ing　to　the　family　round　table　tonight；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　presume　Dad　told　you　about　it？〃
　〃Yes；　a　couple…days　ago；　and　Joshua　again　today。　I　understand　Aunt　Gwen's　going　to　be　there　too。〃
　Nuts；　Corwin　thought　with　a　mental　grimace。　He'd　been　planning　to　drop　that　tidbit　on　Justin　himself　as　a　surprise　bonus　incentive　to　attend。　Aunt　Gwen…　Jonny's　younger　sister…had　been　Justin's　favorite　relative　since　childhood；　but　her　visits　had　been　few　and　far　between　since　her　move　to　Palatine　six　years　earlier。　〃That's　right；〃　he　told　Justin。　〃She's　one　of　the　geologists　working　on　the　Qasama　data。〃
　Justin's　lip　might　have　twitched　at　the　name　Qasama；　Corwin　wasn't　sure。　〃Yes；　Dad　mentioned　that。　Well；　as　I　told　Joshua；　I'll　try　to　make　it。〃
　〃What's　to　keep　you　away？〃　Corwin　asked；　studiously　casual。　〃You're　still　off…duty；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Officially；　yes。　But　there's　something　I've　been　working　on　lately　that　I'm　trying　to　finish　up。〃
　〃What　sort　of　something？〃
　Justin's　face　didn't　change。　〃You'll　find　out　when　it's　done。　Until　then　I'd　rather　not　say。〃
　Corwin　exhaled　quietly　and　admitted　defeat。　〃All　right；　be　mysterious；　see　if　I　care。　But　let　me　know　if　you　need　transport　and　I'll　send　a　car　for　you。〃
　　〃Thanks。　Talk　to　you　later。〃
　〃
　〃Bye。〃　The　screen　blanked；　and　Corwin　leaned　back　in　his　seat。　The　trip　to　Qasama　had　definitely　changed　his　younger　brother…and　not　necessarily　for　the　better。　Still；　as　he'd　told　Joshua；　some　things　simply　took　time　to　work　out。
　His　inter　buzzed：　Yutu　with　something　new　on　the　public　net　that　needed　an　official　response。　Sighing；　Corwin　turned　on　the　net　and；　pushing　his　worries　about　Justin　into　the　background；　got　back　to　work。
　For　Pyre；　it　was　just　like　old　times。　Almost。
　An　invitation　to　the　Moreau　family　dinners　had　always　ranked　at　the　very　top　of　his　list；　not　only　because　he　enjoyed　their　pany　but　also　because　their　tacit　acceptance　of　him　as　part　of　the　family　was　an　honor　bestowed　on　few　other　outsiders。　Over　the　years　he'd　had　the　privilege　of　watching　the　three　boys　move　from　high　chairs　to　boosters　to　full　adult　participation；　had　learned　by　osmosis　some　of　the　intricacies　of　Cobra　World　politics；　had　even　gotten　to　know　Gwen　Moreau；　barely　three　years　his　senior；　well　enough　to　seriously　consider　marriage　to　her。　Tonight　as　he　looked　around　the　table；　listening　and　contributing　to　the　chitchat；　he　felt　the　memories　of　those　happier　times　drifting　like　the　scent　of　good　cahve　through　his　mind。
　But　tonight　the　warmth　was　chilled；　and　all　their　efforts　could　not　dispel　the　cloud　that　Justin's　empty　chair　cast　over　the　proceedings。　Jonny　had　assured　them　that　Justin　would　be　there　in　time　for　the　discussion；　but　as　dinner　wore　down　to　dessert　and　then　cahve　Pyre　began　to　doubt　it。
　And　worse　than　Justin's　voluntary　exile　was　the　cold　certainty　in　Pyre's　gut　that　ultimately　it　was　his　fault。
　Not　just　the　fact　that　he'd　been　Justin's　Cobra　trainer；　the　one　responsible　for　making　sure　the　boy
　was　ready　for　the　mission。　Pyre　had　trained　Cobras　before；　and　if　Justin　had　failed　to　develop　that　touch　of　defensive　paranoia　a　man　in　danger　needed；　that　was　simply　the　other's　basic　personality。　Too；　he　could　have　forbidden　Justin's　participation　on　the　mission；　but　the　Council　wanted　the　twins　aboard　and　there　was　nothing　Pyre　could　have　pointed　to　to　justify　dropping　them　out。
　But　if　he'd　followed　the　armored　bus　when　Moff　had　taken　Justin　from　Sollas　to　Purma。。。。
　It　was　a　scenerio　Pyre　had　played　over　and　over　in　infinite　variation　on　the　trip　back　to　Aventine；　and　it　〃　still　haunted　the　quiet　times　of　his　day。　If　he'd　followed　the　bus　he　could　have　broken　Justin　out　at　that　first　stop；　the　two　of　them　then　freeing　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt。　Or　even　have　waited　until　the　high…security　building　and　then　backtracked　to　the　others〃　rescue。　Justin　would　never　have　had　to　face　the　situation　of　being　deep　in　enemy　territory；　abandoned　by　the　outside　assistance　he'd　counted　on。
　And　he　wouldn't　have　had　to　learn　quite　so　hard　the　fact　that　even　Cobras　were　allowed　to　be　afraid。　Allowed　to　panic。　Allowed　to　remain　human。
　Dinner　ended；　and　the　group　moved　into　the　living　room。　But　Jonny　had　barely　begun　when　there　was　a　quiet　knock　on　the　door　and　Justin　let　himself　in。
　There　was　a　brief；　awkward　moment　as　everyone　I　tried　for　the　right　balance　of　greeting；　interest；　casu…I　alness；　and　solicitude。　But　then　Joshua　managed　to　I　break　the　ice。　〃About　time；〃　he　growled；　mock…｜　seriously。　〃You　were　supposed　to　be　bringing　the　main　course。〃
　Justin　smiled；　and　the　tension　eased。　〃Sorry　I'm　。　late；〃　he　apologized；　also　mock…seriously；　to　his　｜　brother。　〃The　gantua　steaks　will　be　along　in　a　minute…and　as　partial　pensation　for　the　delay；　｜　the　meat　is　exceptionally　fresh。〃
　He　sat　down　beside　Joshua；　nodded　to　the　others　　and　then　turned　his　eyes　expectantly　to　his　father。　〃How　much　have　I　missed？〃
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　we　were　just　starting。〃　Jonny　hesitated。　〃What　I'm　about　to　say…about　to　suggest…is　going　to　sound　pretty　strange；〃　he　said；　glancing　around　at　the　others。　〃What's　worse　is　that　I　haven't　got　any　solid　evidence　whatsoever　for　it。　That's　the　main　reason　you're　all　here：　to　help　me　decide　whether　I'm　actually　on　to　something　or　just　hallucinating。〃　His　eyes　shifted　to　Chrys；　seated　on　the　couch　between　Corwin　and　Gwen；　and　stayed　there　as　if　seeking　strength。　〃I　asked　you　to　read　the　report　on　the　planet　Tacta　that　the　Menssana　brought　back；　in　particular　the　section　on　the　bird　we've　nicknamed　the　spookie。　What　was　in　there　wasn't　much…mainly　just　a　brief　encounter　we　had　with　one　near　the　ship's　perimeter。　What　wasn't　there　was　the　strong　suspicion　I've　had　ever　since　then　that　the　spookie　is　in　some　degree　telepathic。〃
　The　word　seemed　to　hang　like　smoke　in　the　air。　Pyre　flicked　his　eyes　around　the　room：　at　Chrys；　who　looked　troubled；　Corwin；　Gwen；　and　Joshua；　whose　faces　appeared　to　register　astonished　skepticism；　at　Justin；　whose　expression　was　closed　but。。。　interested。
　〃All　my　evidence　is　subjective；〃　Jonny　continued；　〃but　let　me　describe　exactly　what　happened　and　see　what　you　think。〃
　Carefully；　almost　as　if　giving　evidence　in　court；　he　went　on　to　tell　of　the　spookie　watching　him　from　the　low　bushes；　of　its　agitation　when　he　called　others　over　to　see；　of　its　deftly　timed；　deftly　executed　break　for　freedom；　and　of　the　mission's　failure　to　locate　any　more　of　the　species。　When　he　finished　there　was　a　long　silence。
　〃Anyone　else　e　to　this　conclusion？〃　Gwen　asked　at　last。
　〃Two　or　three　others　are　wondering　about　it；〃　Jonny　told　her。　〃Understandably；　none　of　us　put　it　in　our
　official　reports；　but　Chrys　and　I　weren't　imagining　things　out　there。〃
　〃Um。　Doesn't　have　to　be　a　plete；　mind…reading　telepathy；　does　it？〃　Gwen　mused。　〃With　a　spookie's　brain　capacity　it　shouldn't　have　the　intelligence　to　handle　input　like　that。〃
　〃Dr。　Hanford　made　a　similar　ment　at　the　time；〃　Chrys　said。　〃We've　talked　about　the　possibility　the　spookies　might　form　some　kind　of　group　mind；　or　that　the　sense　boils　down　more　to　a　feeling　for　danger　than　actual　mind…reading。〃
　〃I'd　vote　for　the　latter；〃　Corwin　put　in。　〃A　group　mind；　even　if　such　a　thing　could　exist；　shouldn't　worry　too　much　about　losing　one　of　its　cells。　In　fact；　it　might　deliberately　sacrifice　a　spookie　or　two　to　get　a　look　at　your　weaponry　in　action。〃
　〃Good　point；〃　Jonny　nodded。　〃I　lean　toward　the　danger…recognition　theory　myself；　though　it　requires　a　pretty　fine　scale　to　have　timed　things　that　well。〃
　〃The　fine…tuning；　at　least；　could　have　been　coincidental；〃　Corwin　suggested。
　〃Or　the　whole　thing　could　have　been　coincidence；〃　Joshua　said　hesitantly。　〃Sorry；　Dad；　but　I　don't　see　anything　here　that　can't　be　explained　away。〃
　〃Oh；　I　agree；〃　Jonny　said　without　rancor。　〃And　if　I　hadn't　been　there　I'd　be　treating　it　with　the　same　healthy　skepticism。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　hope　you're　right。　But　one　way　or　the　other；　we've　got　to　pin　this　down；　and　we've　got　to　pin　it　down　fast。〃
　〃Why？〃　Pyre　asked。　〃It　seems　to　me　Tacta's　fauna　is　pretty　far　down　the　priority　stack。　What's　the　big　rush　for？〃
　Jonny　opened　his　mouth…but　it　was　Justin　who　spoke。　〃Because　the　Council's　about　to　make　a　decision　on　war　with　Qasama；〃　he　said　evenly；　〃and　the　mojos　are　related　to　these　spookies。　Aren't　they。〃
　Jonny　nodded；　and　Pyre　felt　the　blood　draining　out　of　his　face。　〃You　mean　to　say　we　were　fighting　telepathic　birds　down　there？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Jonny　said。　〃You　were　there。　You　tell　me。〃
　Pyre　licked　his　lips　briefly；　eyes　shifting　to　Justin。　The　immediate　shock　was　fading　and　he　was　able　to　think。。。。　〃No；〃　he　said　after　a　minute。　〃No；　they　weren't　strictly　telepathic。　They　never　recognized　that　we　were　Cobras；　for　one　thing…never　reacted　as　if　I　was　armed　until　I　started　shooting。〃
　〃Did　you　ever　see　how　they　reacted　to