tz.cobra strike-第42部分

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nside　it；　leaking　very　little　of　it　out　for　anyone　to　pick　up。〃
　Justin　whistled　under　his　breath。　〃Cute。　Very　cute。　A　planet　already　wired　for　sound。〃　And　if　true；　it　would　eliminate　the　last　lingering　doubts　he　had　about　mojo　long…distance　telepathic　abilities。　That　was　worth　a　lot　right　there。　〃When　will　you　know　for　sure　if　you're　right？〃
　She　sighed　again。　〃I　suppose　it　won't　be　certain　until　your　intelligence　raid　finds　the　antennas。〃　She　gazed　at　him　another　moment；　then　got　to　her　feet。　〃I'd　better　be　going；〃　she　said；　backing　toward　the　door。　〃Almo's　waiting　to　take　me　back　to　my　hotel。　I'll　。。。　talk　to　you　later。〃
　〃Thanks　for　ing　by；〃　Justin　said。　〃Don't　worry…　this'll　be　done　in　a　day　or　two；　and　after　it's　submitted　I'll　have　more　time　to　spend　with　the　family。〃
　〃Sure。　Well　。　。　。　good　night。〃
　〃
　〃Night；　Aunt　Gwen。〃
　For　a　long　minute　after　she　left　he　stayed　where　he　was；　eyes　on　the　closed　door。　A　hundred　meters　down　to　the　Qasamans〃　basaltic　waveguide。　Thirty　stories；　more　or　less　。。。　approximately　the　depth　of　the　Purma　building　he'd　escaped　from。　Had　that　been　all　the　place　was？…the　local　munications　center；　not　the　industrial　plex　that　he'd　thought？　If　so…
　If　so；　he'd　missed　little　of　truly　vital　importance　by　his　premature　break　for　freedom。
　He　was；　perhaps；　not　a　failure；　after　all。　Or　at　least　not　as　much　of　one　as　he'd　thought。
　It　was　nice　to　know。　But；　ultimately；　it　made　little　practical　difference。　There　was　still　the　job　on　Qasama　to　do；　and　he　and　his　fellow　Cobras　the　only　ones　who　could　do　it。
　Turning　to　his　desk　once　more；　he　got　back　to　work。
　
　
　Chapter　26
　
　Stiggur　was　neither　impressed　nor　convinced　by　Jonny's　arguments。　Neither；　very　obviously；　were　most　of　the　others。
　〃A　telepathic　bird；〃　Vartanson　snorted。　〃e　on；　now…don't　you　think　you're　reaching　just　a　little　too　far　for　this　one？〃
　Jonny　kept　his　temper　with　an　effort。　〃What　about　the　design　of　the　cities？〃　he　asked。
　〃What　about　it？〃　Vartanson　shot　back。　〃There　are　any　of　a　hundred　explanations　for　that。　Maybe　the　mojos　get　sick　if　they　don't　breed　regularly　and　the　city　dwellers　don't　want　to　take　trips　into　the　woods　for　the　purpose。　Maybe　they　can't　wall　out　the　bololin　herds　and　this　was　the　best　promise　available。〃
　〃Then　why　build　cities？〃　Jonny　said。　〃They　like　being　decentralized…why　not　just　stick　with　villages？〃
　〃Because　there　are　social　and　economic　advantages　to　a　certain　amount　of　population　concentration；〃　Fairleigh　spoke　up。　〃Masking　any　trace　of　their　underground　industry　would　be　a　good　reason　all　by　itself。〃
　〃And　before　you　bring　up　the　Tactan　spookies；〃　Roi　said；　〃your　correlation　between　those　and　the　mojos　is　tentative　at　best…and　the　conclusions　you
　　　e　to　about　the　spookies　is　ridiculous。　I'm　sorry；　but　it　is。〃
　〃That's　a　rather　blanket　assessment　for　someone　who　doesn't　know　a　thing　about　biology；〃　Jonny　told　him　tartly。
　〃Oh；　is　it？　Well；　perhaps　we　ought　to　ask　our　resident　biologist；　then。〃　Roi　turned　to　Telek。　〃Lizabet；　what　do　you　think？〃
　Telek　favored　him　with　a　cool　look；　which　she　sent　slowly　around　the　table。　〃I　think；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃that　we'd　damn　well　better　find　out　for　sure。　And　that　we'd　better　do　it　fast。〃
　There　was　a　stunned　silence。　Jonny　stared　at　Telek；　her　unexpected　support　throwing　his　brain　off…line。　〃You　agree　the　mojos　are　influencing　the　Qasamans〃　actions？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　agree　they're　more　than　they　seem；〃　she　said。　〃How　much　more　is　what　we've　got　to　find　out。〃
　Stiggur　cleared　his　throat。　〃Lizabet　。。。　I　understand　that　your　professional　interests　here　are　naturally　directed　more　toward　the　mojos　than　the　Qasaman　technological　base。　But…〃
　〃Then　let　me　put　it　another　way；〃　Telek　interrupted　him。　〃I've　known　about　Jonny's　theory　since　yesterday…never　mind　how…and　I've　used　that　time　to　do　a　couple　of　new　studies　on　the　visual　record　the　team　brought　back。〃　She　looked　at　Roi。　〃Olor；　I　would　say　that　the　Palatinian　glow…nose　is　probably　the　most　popular　pet　anywhere　in　the　Worlds…you　agree？　Good。　How　many　people　on　Palatine　own　one？〃
　Roi　blinked。　〃I　don't　know；　off　hand。　Eighty　percent；　I'd　guess。〃
　〃I　looked　up　the　numbers；〃　Telek　said。　〃Assuming　only　one　per　customer　the　figure　is　actually　under　sixty　percent。　If　you　include　all　other　pets　the　number　of　owners　is　still　only　about　eighty…seven　percent。〃
　〃What's　your　point？〃　Stiggur　asked。
　Telek　focused　on　him。　〃Thirteen　percent　of　an　admittedly　pet…crazy　people　don't　own　pets。　But　every　single　damn　Qasaman　has　a　mojo。〃
　Jonny　frowned　into　the　thoughtful　silence；　trying　to　visualize　the　scenes　he'd　seen　from　the　records。　It　was　possible；　he　decided　with　some　surprise。　〃No　exceptions？〃　he　asked　Telek。
　〃Only　three　the　puter　scan　came　up　with；　and　two　don't　really　count：　children　under　ten　or　so；　and　dancers　and　duelists。　The　duelists　get　their　birds　back　after　their　curse　ball　game；　though；　and　I　suspect　the　dancers　have　them　waiting　backstage；　too。　At　which　point　we're　back　to　one　hundred　percent　of　the　adult　population　with　mojos。　The　floor　is　open　for　speculation。〃
　〃They're　living　in　a　dangerous　environment；〃　Vartanson　shrugged。
　〃Not　really；〃　Telek　shook　her　head。　〃The　villages　ought　to　be　safe　enough；　with　the　walls　and　the　scarcity　of　the　krisjaw　predators　that　were　mentioned。　And　with　the　bololin　alarms　even　Sollas　and　the　other　cities　aren't　all　that　hazardous　any　more。　The　big　〃danger〃　argument　strikes　me　as　a　convenient　but　flimsy　rationale。〃
　〃What　about　all　their　fellow　humans　running　around　with　guns？〃　Roi　snorted。
　〃Yes；　what　about　that？〃　Jonny　put　in。　Across　the　table　Hemner　muttered　something　and　began　fiddling　with　his　display。　Jonny　waited　a　second；　but　he　didn't　say　anything；　so　Jonny　turned　to　Vartanson。　〃Howie；　do　you　allow　your　people　to　carry　their　weapons　inside　the　fortified　pounds？〃
　Vartanson　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃The　Cobras　are　armed；　of　course；　but　alt　hand　weapons　are　checked　inside　the　inner　doors。〃
　〃The　Qasamans　have　grown　up　with　a　tradition　of　carrying　their　guns；　though；〃　Fairleigh　argued。　〃You　couldn't　get　them　to　just　give　them　up　overnight。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Telek　asked。　〃They've　also　got　a　tradition　of　not　attacking　each　other；　remember。〃
　〃Besides　which；〃　Hemner　added　without　looking　up；　〃banning　in…city　weapons　has　been　done　successfully　in　dozens　of　places　in　the　Dominion。〃
　〃The　Qasamans　wouldn't　put　up　with　that；　in　my　opinion；〃　Roi　shook　his　head。
　〃Let's　get　back　to　the　point；　shall　we？〃　Telek　said。　〃The　question　is　why　the　Qasamans　are　still　bothering　to　carry　these　birds　around　with　them　when　it's　not　necessary　to　do　so。〃
　〃But　we've　answered　that　question；〃　Stiggur　said　with　a　sigh。　〃As　long　as　anyone　carries　a　gun　and　a　mojo；　everyone　has　to　do　so。　Otherwise　they　won't　feel　safe。〃
　〃The　cultural　conditioning…〃
　〃Will　be　adequate　for　most　of　them；〃　Stiggur　said。　〃But　not　for　all。　And　if　I　were　a　Qasaman；　I'd　want　protection　against　even　that　small　group　of　dangerous　people。〃
　Telek　grimaced；　clearly　hunting　for　a　new　approach。　〃Brom…〃
　〃All　right；　we've　talked　long　enough；〃　Hemner　said　firmly。　〃We're　going　to　vote　on　Lizabet's　proposal。　Now。〃
　All　eyes　shifted　to　the　frail　old　man。　〃Jor；　you're　out　of　order；〃　Stiggur　said　quietly。　〃I　know　emotions　are　running　high　on　all　this…〃
　〃You　do；　do　you？〃　Hemner　smiled　thinly。　His　hands；　Jonny　noted　with　a　vague　twinge　of　uneasiness；　had　left　their　usual　place　on　top　of　the　table　and　were　hidden　from　view　in　his　lap。　〃And　you　prefer　words　to　actions；　I　suppose。　It's　so　much　easier　to　manipulate　people's　emotions。　Well；　the　time　has　e　for　action。　We're　going　to　vote；　and　we're　going　to　pass　Lizabet's　mojo　study。　Or　else。〃
　〃Or　else　what？〃　Stiggur　snapped；　irritation　finally　breaking　through。
　〃Or　else　the　nay　votes　will　be　eliminated；〃　Hemner　said　harshly。　〃Beginning　with　him。〃
　And　his　right　hand　came　up　over　the　edge　of　the　table；　the　small　flat　handgun　clutched　in　it　swiveling　to　point　at　Roi。
　Someone　gasped　in　shock　。　。　。　but　even　before　the　pistol　had　steadied　on　its　target；　Jonny　was　in　motion。　Both　fingertip　lasers　spat　fire；　one　into　the　pistol；　the　other　tracing　a　line　directly　in　front　of　Hemner's　eyes。　The　old　man　jerked　back　with　a　cry　as　the　heat　and　light　reached　his　hand　and　face；　the　pistol　swinging　away　from　the　others。　Gripping　the　table　edge　with　both　hands；　Jonny　kicked　back　and　up　with　his　feet；　sending　his　chair　spinning　across　the　room　and　flipping　his　body　to　slam　onto　his　back　on　the　table。　His　legs　caught　Hemner's　arm　full　force；　eliciting　a　second　yelp　from　the　other　and　sending　the　gun　sailing　into　the　far　wall。
　〃Get　the　gun！〃　Jonny　snapped　through　the　agony　the　sudden　violence　had　ignited　in　his　arthritic　joints。　He　swung　up　to　a　sitting　position；　grabbed　both　of　Hemner's　wrists。　〃Jor；　what　the　hell　was　that　supposed　to　acplish？〃
　〃Just　proving　a　point；〃　Hemner　said　calmly；　the　harshness　of　a　minute　earlier　gone　without　a　trace。　〃My　wrists　…　easy　…　〃
　〃You　were　what？〃
　〃I'll　be　damned。〃　The　voice　was　Roi's　and　Jonny　turned　to　look。
　Roi　was　standing　by　the　far　wall；　holding　Hemner's
　Which　was　nothing　more　than　a　pen　and　an　intricately　folded　magcard。
　Jonny　looked　down　at　Hemner。　〃Jor　。　。　。　what's　going　on？〃
　〃As　I　said；　I　was　proving　a　point；〃　the　other　said。　〃Uh　…　if　you　wouldn't　mind　。　。　。　？〃
　Releasing　his　grip；　Jonny　climbed　carefully　off　the　table　and　walked　around　back　to　his　seat。　Roi　sat　down；　too；　and　Stiggur　cleared　his　throat。　〃This　had　better　be　good/〃　he　warned　Hemner。
　The　other　nodded。　〃Olor；　were　you　armed　just　now　when　I　pretended　to　pull　a　weapon　on　you？〃　he　asked。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　Roi　snorted。
　〃Yet　even　with　a　real　gun　I　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　shoot　you。　True？　Why　not？〃
　〃Because　Jonny　was　here　and　he's　faster　than　you　are。〃
　Hemner　nodded　and　turned　to　Stiggur。　〃Security；　Brom。　You　don't　need　everyone　carrying　mojos　for　your　citizens　to　be　protected。　The　mojos　attack　anyone　drawing　a　gun；　whether　their　own　masters　are　specifically　threatened　or　not。〃　He　waved　at　his　display。　〃The　records　of　the　bus　attack　on　York　clearly　show　that…I've　just　checked。　Even　if　everyone　wants　to　carry　a　gun；　you　still　don't　need　that　many　mojos。　Twenty　percent；　or　even　less；　bined　with　the　cultural　bias　against　fighting　would　be　more　than　adequate。〃
　〃Assuming　they're　that　peaceful　without　that　tal…oned　reminder　on　their　shoulders；〃　Fairleigh　growled。　〃Maybe　they're　more　violent　without　mojos　nearby。〃
　Vartanson　laughed　abruptly。　〃Dylan；　did　you　hear　what　you　just　said？　Almost　exactly　what　Jonny's　been　suggesting。〃　He　nodded　at　Jonny。　〃All　right；　I'm　convinced　the　mojos　need　more　study。　But　we　need　to　learn　about　the　Qasaman　technological　base；　too；　and　I'm　not　sure　which　is　more　important。〃
　〃Then　let's　do　both；〃　Telek　spoke　up。　Reaching　to　the　stack　of　magdisks　in　front　of　her；　she　selected　one　and　slid　it　into　her　reader。　〃This　is　a　plete　tactical　plan　that　was　submitted　to　my　office　yesterday　via　Almo　Pyre。　I'd　like　us　all　to　read　it　through　and　seriously　consider　it　as　a　basis　for　the　next　mission　to　Qasama；　Brom？〃
　〃Any　ments　or　objections？〃　Stiggur　asked；　his　eyes　sweeping　the　table。　〃All　right；　then。　Let's　take　a　look。〃
　Telek　sent　the　report　to　the　other