tz.cobra strike-第45部分

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Good；〃　McKinley　said　briskly　as　the　Qasaman　seated　himself　again。　〃Let's　see；　I　guess　I　should　backtrack　a　bit。〃
　He　launched　into　a　repeat　of　an　earlier　question；　and　Winward　shifted　his　attention　to　the　mojo　sitting　in　its　corner。　Sitting；　but　clearly　not　happy　with　its　banishment。　The　head　movements　and　feather　ruffling　Winward　had　noted　earlier　had　increased　dramatically；　both　in　frequency　and　magnitude。　Nervous　at　being　separated　from　its　protector？　the　Cobra　wondered。　Or　upset　because　it　can't　influence　things　as　well　at　this　distance？　The　whole　idea　of　the　mojos　having　some　subliminal　power　over　the　Qasamans　made　Winward　feel　decidedly　twitchy。　Alone　among　all　he'd　talked　to；　he　still　hoped　Jonny　Moreau's　theory　was　wrong。
　〃Damn。〃
　Winward　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　interrogation　to　find　McKinley　scowling　into　space。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　the　recorder's　still　picking　up　too　much　noise。　I　guess　we're　going　to　have　to　put　your　mojo　out　of　the　room　entirely。　Kreel？…would　you　e　in　here　a　minute。　Bring　something　talon…proof　with　you。〃
　〃Wait；〃　the　Qasaman　said；　half　rising　from　his　seat。　〃You　cannot　take　my　mojo　away　from　here。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　McKinley　asked。　〃We　won't　hurt　it；　and　you'll　have　it　back　in　a　few　minutes。〃　The　door　opened　and　the　Cobra　who'd　earlier　escorted　the　Qasaman　in　stepped　into　the　room；　a　thick　cloth　bunched　in　his　hand。
　〃You　must　not　take　him；〃　the　Qasaman　repeated；　the　first　hint　of　anger　beginning　to　show　through　his　stoicism。　〃I　have　cooperated　fully…you　have　no　right　to　treat　me　this　way。〃
　〃Seven　more　questions…that's　all；〃　McKinley　said　soothingly。　〃Five　minutes　or　less；　and　you'll　have　it　back。　Look；　there's　an　empty　office　across　the　hall；　Kreel　can　just　stand　there　in　the　middle　of　the　room　with　your　mojo　on　his　arm；　and　when　we're　done　you　can　open　the　door　and　get　it　back。　No　harm　will　e　to　it…I　promise。〃
　Provided　it　behaves　itself；　Winward　added　silently。　Kreel　would　have　another　Cobra　in　the　room　with　him；　lasers　targeted　on　the　bird　the　whole　time；　but　Winward　didn't　envy　him　the　job　of　standing　there　with　mojo　talons　less　than　half　a　meter　from　his　face。
　The　Qasaman　was　still　protesting；　but　it　was　clear　from　his　voice　that　he　knew　it　was　futile。　Kreel　meanwhile　had　wrapped　the　cloth　around　his　left　forearm　and　stooped　to　present　it　to　the　mojo。　With　obvious　hesitation　the　bird　climbed　aboard。　Kreel　left；　clos…　ing　the　door　behind　them；　and　McKinley　resumed　his　questioning。
　It　was　all　over；　as　he'd　promised；　in　less　than　five　minutes；　but　well　before　it　ended　Winward　came　to　the　conclusion　that　he　was　seeing　just　how　angry　a　Qasaman　could　bee　without　physically　attacking　something。　The　man's　earlier　grudging　cooperation　became　an　almost　palpable　bitterness　as　he　spat　his　answers　at　the　recorder。　Twice　he　refused　to　answer　at　all。　Winward　found　his　own　muscles　tensing　in　anticipation　of　the　moment　when　the　Qasaman's　control　broke　pletely　and　sent　him　diving　across　the　desk　in　a　strangulation　attempt。
　That　moment；　fortunately；　never　came。　McKinley　finished　his　list；　and　thirty　seconds　later　the　man　and　mojo　were　reunited　across　the　hall。　〃One　more　thing　and　you　can　go；〃　McKinley　told　him　as　he　stroked　the　bird's　throat　soothingly。　〃Kreel's　going　to　put　a　numbered　ribbon　around　your　neck　so　we'll　know　we've　already　talked　to　you。　I　presume　you　won't　want　to　go　through　this　again。〃
　The　Qasaman　snorted；　but　otherwise　ignored　everyone　except　his　mojo　as　Kreel　wrapped　the　red　ribbon　snugly　around　his　neck　and　sealed　the　ends　together。　Then；　still　wordlessly；　he　stalked　down　the　hall　toward　the　exit；　Kreel　a　step　behind　him。
　McKinley　took　a　deep　breath；　let　it　out　in　a　long　sigh。　〃And　if　you　thought　that　was　rough；〃　he　told　Winward　wryly；　〃wait'll　you　see　what's　on…line　for　tomorrow。〃
　〃I　can　hardly　wait；〃　Winward　said　as　they　walked　back　to　the　testing　room。　〃You　really　getting　anything　worthwhile　from　all　of　this？〃
　〃Oh；　sure。〃　Swiveling　the　recorder　box　around；　McKinley　opened　a　panel　to　reveal　a　pact　display　and　keyboard。　He　busied　himself　with　the　latter　and　a　set　of　curves　appeared　on　the　screen。　〃posite　of　the　three　hundred　sixty　Qasamans　we　tested　today；〃　he　told　Winward。　〃pared　to　a　data　base　line　we　took　on　Aventine　the　week　before　we　left。　The　Qasamans　maintain　a　much　lower　stress　level；　despite　the　obnoxious　content　of　the　questions；　as　long　as　their　mojos　are　on　their　shoulders。　It　rises　some　when　we　put　the　birds　across　the　room；　but　it　doesn't　really　shoot　up　until　the　birds　are　out　of　sight。　Then　it　actually　goes　above　our　baseline　levels…right　here…　and　it　drops　off　much　faster　when　they　get　the　mojos　back。〃
　Winward　pursed　his　lips。　〃Some　of　that　could　be　irritation　from　having　to　go　over　the　same　questions　twice；〃　he　suggested。
　〃And　some　of　it　could　be　differences　between　our　cultures；　though　we've　tried　to　minimize　both　effects；〃　McKinley　nodded。　〃Sure。　We　haven't　got　any　proof　yet；　but　the　indications　are　certainly　there。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Subliminal　control　。。。　〃So　what　are　you　doing　tomorrow　that'll　be　worse？〃
　〃We're　going　to　let　them　keep　their　mojos　throughout　the　questioning；　but　we're　going　to　irritate　the　birds　with　ultrasonics　and　see　how　much　if　any　of　the　tension　transfers。〃
　〃Sounds　like　great　fun。　You　know　enough　about　mojo　senses　to　know　what'll　do　the　trick？〃
　〃We　think　so。　I　guess　we'll　find　out。〃
　〃Um。　Then　day　three　is　when　you　try　mixing　the　mojos　and　owners　up？〃
　〃Right。　And　we'll　also　do　the　hunt…stress　test　some　time　in　there；　whenever　outrider…three　is　able　to　get　their　bololin　herd　here。　I　only　hope　we'll　have　enough　people　with　sensor…ribbons　on　by　then　to　get　us　some　good　numbers…it's　for　sure　we　won't　be　able　to　repeat　that　experiment。〃　McKinley　cocked　an　eyebrow。　〃You　look　pensive。　Trouble？〃
　Winward　pursed　his　lips。　〃You　really　think　it'll　take　the　rest　of　the　planet　two　more　days　to…figure　out　something's　wrong　and　make　some　major　response？〃
　〃I　thought　we　wanted　them　to　react。〃
　〃We　want　them　to　react　sufficiently　for　us　to　see　their　heavy　weaponry；　if　any；〃　Winward　said。　〃We　don't　want　them　to　put　togetherssomething　powerful　enough　to　roll　over　us。〃
　〃Ouch。　Yes；　I　concede　the　difference。　Well　。。。　if　they　move　faster；　I　guess　we'll　just　have　to　speed　things　up。　And　you　Cobras　will　have　to　start　earning　your　room　and　board　here　the　hard　way。〃
　Winward　grimaced。　Heavily　armed　Qasamans　。　。　。　and　clouds　of　mojos。　〃Yes。　I　guess　we　will。〃
　
　
　Chapter　28
　
　York　had　put　in　a　long　day　aboard　ship　and　had　looked　forward　to　at　least　one　good　night's　sleep　before　things　heated　up　below。　But　he'd　been　asleep　barely　four　hours　when　the　inter's　pinging　dragged　him　awake。　〃Yes…York/〃　he　mumbled。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Something　happening　on　Qasama；〃　the　duty　officer's　voice　said。　〃I　think　you'll　want　to　see　this。〃
　〃On　my　way。〃
　Robed　and　barefoot；　he　was　seated　before　one　of　the　big　displays　in　two　minutes　flat　。。。　and　the　image　there　was　indeed　worth　waking　him　for。
　〃Helicopters；〃　he　identified　them　to　the　two　spotters　on　duty。　〃Possibly　with　auxiliary　thrusters…　they're　making　pretty　good　speed。　Where'd　they　e　from？〃
　〃We　first　picked　them　up　a　few　kilometers　east　of　Sollas；〃　the　duty　officer　told　him。　〃Could　have　e　a　fair　distance；　though；　if　they'd　been　going　slower；　it　was　the　movement　we　noticed　first。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃　York　tapped　keys；　watched　the　results　appear　at　the　bottom　of　the　screen。　Six　units；　flying　just　a　bit　subsonic…which　didn't　prove　anything　about　their　actual　capabilities…heading　southeast　toward　the　Menssana's　village。　ETA；　roughly　two　hours。　〃Get　me　Governor　Telek；〃　he　said　over　his　shoulder。
　　　Telek　had　also　been　asleep；　and　by　the　time　the　Menssana's　duty　officer　rousted　her　out　of　bed　York　had　a　bit　more　information。　〃Two　oNhem　are　fairly　big；　possibly　implying　troop　carriers；〃　he　told　her。　〃The　other　four　are　smaller；　I'd　guess　reconnaissance　or　attack。　Odds　are　probably　good　that　they're　converted　civilian　craft；　instead　of　specifically　military　ones；　which　should　be　to　our　advantage。〃
　〃Well；　at　least　they　don't　have　gravity　lifts；〃　Telek　mused。　〃That's　one　technological　edge　we　know　we've　got。〃
　〃Not　necessarily。〃　York　shook　his　head。　〃No　one　puts　grav　lifts　on　attack　helicopters；　whether　they've　got　〃em　or　not…the　things　are　wildly　inefficient　for　tight；　high…speed　maneuvering。　Besides；　for　nighttime　applications　a　grav　lift's　glow　makes　you　a　flying　bull's…eye。〃
　〃So　these　are　something　we　should　worry　about？〃
　York　snorted。　〃Worry　and　a　half。　We　used　a　lot　of　helicopters　back　in　the　Marines；　and　I've　seen　them　chew　up　areas　twice　the　size　of　your　village。〃
　Telek's　inter　image　went　tight…lipped。　〃Except　that　they'd　kill　three　thousand　of　their　own　people　if　they　try　that。〃
　〃Right；　and　I　doubt　they're　quite　that　desperate　yet；〃　York　agreed。　〃And　they're　unlikely　to　hang　around　overhead　sniping　at　the　Cobras　until　they　have　an　idea　of　what　we've　got　to　shoot　back　with。〃
　〃So　the　gleaner…team　stays　put；〃　Telek　said。　〃But　the　outrider　teams　go　to　ground？〃
　〃They　certainly　make　themselves　inconspicuous。　And　the　Menssana　gets　the　hell　out　of　there。〃
　〃Damn。〃　Telek　bit　at　her　lip。　〃Yeah；　you're　right。　You　think　going　to　ground　a　hundred　kilometers　away　will　be　safe　enough？〃
　〃The　farther　the　better。　But　you've　got　to　move　fast；　before　they're　close　enough　to　spot　your　grav　lifts。　I　don't　want　to　find　out　the　hard　way　what　sort　of　air…to…air　capability　they　have。〃
　〃Good　point。　Captain　Shepherd？〃
　〃Three　minutes　to　lift；〃　the　other's　voice　came　into　the　circuit。　〃We've　picked　a　tentative　hiding　place　three　hundred　kilometers　northwest　of　here；　subject　to　your　approval。〃
　〃What；　right　in　the　path　of　the　helicopters？〃　York　frowned。
　〃No；　several　kilometers　off　their　approach。　There's　a　large　section　of　good　rock　cover　under　a　crevasse　overhang　there…and　it's　certainly　the　last　direction　the　Qasamans　would　expect　us　to　run。〃
　〃Fine；〃　Telek　put　in　impatiently。　〃Just　get　us　moving；　I'll　look　the　maps　over　when　I　have　time。　Decker；　keep　an　eye　on　those　helicopters　and　let　us　know　if　anything　else　shows　up。〃
　〃Will　do；〃　York　said。　〃And　you　people　sit　on　your　screens；　too…they　could　have　sneaked　antiaircraft　or　spotters　out　there　under　the　trees　earlier　today。〃
　〃You're　a　fort　in　my　old　age；〃　Telek　returned　dryly。　〃I've　got　to　go　now；　get　Michael　on　the　line。　Talk　to　you　later。〃
　Telek's　image　vanished　from　the　screen。　〃At　least　they　can't　block　or　trace　our　munications　this　time　around；〃　the　duty　officer　said。
　〃Unless　they've　learned　about　split…frequency　radio　in　the　past　six　weeks；〃　York　told　him　heavily。　〃And　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　them。〃　Taking　a　deep　breath；　he　chased　the　last　of　the　sleep　from　his　mind。　〃All　right；　gentlemen；　let's　get　busy。　plete　sweep　of　the　village　and　everything　for　a　thousand　kilometers　around　it。　If　anything's　moving　out　there；　I　want　to　know　about　it。〃
　The　helicopter　formation　broke　up　about　fifty　kilometers　west　of　the　village；　two　of　the　smaller　ones　heading　straight　in　while　the　others　circled　to　the　north　and　south。　Winward's　Cobras　braced　for　an　attack　。。。　but　the　craft　made　only　a　single　pass　overhead　before　regrouping　to　the　east　and　swinging　around　to　head　north。　For　awhile　they　tracked　along　the　road；　and　Py