tz.cobra strike-第47部分

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ve　a　similar　sense　for　relative　danger　they　may　recognize　that　their　best　bet　really　is　to　sit　and　wait。〃
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence　as　the　others　digested　that。　〃I　suppose　it's　reasonably　self…consistent；　as　theories　go；〃　one　of　the　zoologists　said　at　last。　〃Hard　to　see　how　a　system　like　that　would　get　started；　though。　Not　to　mention　how　you'd　prove　it。〃
　〃Given　a　telepathic　ability；　it　seems　pretty　straightforward　to　me；〃　Banyon　said。　〃The　mojos　need　some　predator　strong　enough　to　take　on　a　bololin　in　order　to　get　access　to　their　embryo…hosts。　Maybe　the　mojo　acts　as　long…range　spotter　for　the　krisjaw　in　return　or　something。〃
　〃Though　with　the　mojo's　control　the　relationship　doesn't　have　to　be　particularly　mutual；〃　Hanford　murmured。　〃The　birds　may　be　out…and…out　parasites。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Banyon　said。　〃And　as　for　proving　it　。。。　Dale；　target　the　mojo　nearest　you；　all　right？　Head　shot；　fast　and　clean；　without　affecting　the　krisjaw　directly。〃
　〃Okay；〃　the　voice　came　in　his　ear。　〃Ready。〃
　Banyon　targeted　the　appropriate　krisjaw　and　eased　his　weight　onto　his　right　leg。　If　this　worked　he　wanted　his　antiarmor　laser　ready　to　fire。　〃Okay：　now。〃
　A　flicker　of　light　from　beside　and　behind　the　krisjaw　caught　the　mojo…and　an　instant　later　the　krisjaw　screamed　and　charged。　Banyon　leaned　back　as　he　activated　the　automatic　fire　control；　his　leg　swinging　up　to　fire　point　blank　at　the　creature's　face。　There　was　a　blaze　of　reflected　light；　and　the　krisjaw's　fur　blackened　as　the　laser　flash…burned　it。　The　animal　slammed　heavily　to　the　ground…
　And　Banyon　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　remaining　krisjaw's　mojo　streaking　for　his　face。
　The　landscape　tilted　crazily　as　his　nanoputer　threw　him　out　of　the　way　of　the　bird's　attack…but　not　before　he　saw　the　the　krisjaw；　too；　was　in　motion。　He　hit　the　ground；　rolling　awkwardly　on　his　left　shoulder　as　someone　screamed　。。。　and　he　came　up　into　a　crouch　to　see　the　krisjaw　spring　toward　Hanford。
　Banyon　snapped　his　hands　up　in　a　fast　dual　shot　at　the　predator；　but　what　saved　the　zoologist's　life　in　that　first　half　second　was　his　own　reflexive　shot　with　his　flash　net　gun。　The　krisjaw　hit；　slamming　Hanford　to　the　ground；　but　with　claws　and　teeth　temporarily　blocked　by　the　netting　it　could　do　little　except　gouge　at　its　victim。　Banyon　scrambled　to　get　his　legs　clear　of　the　undergrowth　。。。　but　before　he　could　bring　his　antiarmor　laser　to　bear　two　brilliant　spears　of　light　lit　up　the　forest　and　the　krisjaw　collapsed　in　a　charred　heap。
　Banyon　got　to　his　feet；　looking　quickly　around。　The　mojo　was　still　unaccounted　for　。　。　。
　But　not　for　long。　The　bird　was　perched　atop　one　of　the　other　zoologist's　crossed　forearms；　wings　beating　at　the　man's　head　and　shoulders　as　it　tried　to　work　its　beak　in　to　the　face。
　Banyon　was　on　it　in　a　second；　grabbing　its　neck　with　both　hands　and　squeezing。　The　mojo　released　its　grip；　fluttering　wildly　as　it　tried　to　get　at　its　new　attacker。　But　Banyon's　grip　had　Cobra　servos　behind　it　。。。　and　within　a　few　seconds　the　bird　lay　limp　in　his　hands。　〃You　okay？〃　he　asked　the　zoologist；　wincing　at　the　blood　oozing　through　the　other's　sleeves。
　〃Arms　and　head　hurt　like　crazy；〃　the　other　grunted；　lowering　his　guard　hesitantly。　〃Otherwise　。。　。　okay；　I　think。〃
　His　face；　at　least；　was　unmarked。　〃We'll　get　you　right　back　to　the　aircar；〃　Banyon　told　him；　turning　back　to　Hanford。　The　other　Cobras　had　the　krisjaw　carcass　off　him　now；　and　Dale　was　kneeling　beside　him。　〃How　is　he？〃　Banyon　asked。
　〃Might　have　a　cracked　rib　or　two；〃　Dale　said；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Not　a　good　idea　to　carry　him　far；　I'll　go　bring　the　aircar　here。〃
　Banyon　nodded　and　knelt　beside　Hanford　as　Dale　set　off　at　a　fast　trot。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　he　asked。
　〃Scientifically　vindicated；〃　Hanford　murmured；　managing　a　weak　smile。　〃We've　now　proved　that　mojos　in　the　wild　serve　the　same　role　they　do　for　the　Qasamans。　They　help　the　krisjaws　fight。〃
　〃And　apparently　help　decide　when　fighting's　the　best　approach；〃　Banyon　nodded。
　〃As　opposed　to　simply　getting　out　of　the　way？〃
　Banyon　looked　up　to　meet　the　angry　glare　of　the　team's　uninjured　zoologist。　〃I　wasn't　running　out　on　you；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　the　other　snorted。　〃Just　getting　to　a　place　where　you　could　line　up　a　clear　shot；　right？　While　it　was　busy　with　the　rest　of　us。　Fine　job…really　fine。〃　He　turned　his　back。
　Banyon　sighed；　closing　his　eyes　briefly。　They　would　never　learn…neither　the　people　who　assigned　Cobras　as　bodyguards；　nor　the　bodyguarded　people　themselves。　In　a　pinch　a　Cobra's　puterized　reflexes　were　designed　to　protect　him　and　him　alone。　There　was　no　provision　for　heroic　self…sacrifice　in　the　nanoputer's　programming　。　。　。　and　the　civilians　would　never　understand　that；　no　matter　how　many　times　they　were　told。
　There　was　a　quiet　click　in　his　earphone：　a　relay　from　the　split…freq　equipment　in　their　aircar。　〃Banyon？　This　is　Telek；　e　in。〃
　〃Yes；　Governor。　What's　up？〃
　〃Any　results　on　your　hunt　yet？〃
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　yes。　We　can　send　them　to　you　as　soon　as　we　get　the　recorders　tied　into　the　transmitter。〃
　〃Don't　bother；〃　Telek　said；　and　Banyon　could　hear　a　new　undertone　of　tension　in　her　voice。　〃Just　get　yourselves　and　the　data　back　to　the　Menssana…you've　got　our　current　location？〃
　〃If　you　haven't　moved　since　last　night；　yes。　What's　gone　wrong？〃
　〃Nothing；　really；〃　she　sighed。　〃At　least　nothing　unexpected。　But　I　want　to　be　able　to　pull　out　quickly　if　we　need　to。〃
　Banyon　grimaced　as　something　tight　took　hold　of　his　stomach。　〃The　Qasaman　convoy　has　reached　outrider…one？〃
　〃Ten　minutes　ago。　And　the　team's　under　attack。〃
　
　
　Chapter　29
　
　The　forest　was　alive　with　the　stutter　of　rapid…fire　guns　and　the　furious　sleet　of　bullets　tearing　at　leaves　and　undergrowth　and　blasting　great　sprays　of　splinters　from　tree　trunks　all　around。　Flat　on　his　belly　behind　the　largest　tree　he　could　find　near　his　station；　Justin　hugged　the　ground　and　waited　for　the　barrage　to　ease　up　or　shift　direction。　It　did；　and　he　took　a　cautious　peek　around　the　bole。　A　hundred　meters　away　six　Qasamans　were　running　back　toward　the　convoy　from　the　tree　trunk　the　Cobras　had　felled　across　the　road。　They'd　been　placing　explosives；　Pyre　had　guessed　。。。　and　even　as　Justin　watched；　the　barrier　erupted　with　yellow　fire。　The　smoke　cleared　to　show　a　section　of　the　trunk　had　disintegrated。
　〃Barrier　down；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　reported　in　Jus…tin's　ear。　〃Convoy　starting　up　again。〃
　The　hail　of　lead　intensified；　almost　covering　the　sound　of　car　engines；　but　little　of　the　fire　was　ing　in　Justin's　direction。　〃I'm　on　it；〃　he　said　into　his　mike。　Twenty　meters　closer　to　him　was　the　next　of　the　trees　along　the　road　they'd　prepared　so　carefully　last　night。　Raising　his　hand　out　of　the　matted　leaves；　he　targeted　carefully　and　fired。
　The　rope　holding　the　precut　tree　snapped；　and　with　a　crack　of　breaking　wood　audible　even　over　the　gun　shots　it　toppled　gracefully　across　the　road。　〃Barrier　replaced；〃　he　reported。
　〃Stand　by　to　pull　back；〃　Pyre　said　tersely。　〃Smoke　。。。　？〃
　In　response；　the　forest　on　both　sides　of　the　road　erupted　with　black　smoke。　〃Lead　team；　pull　back；〃　Pyre　ordered。
　Justin　began　backing　away　from　his　tree；　balancing　the　need　for　speed　with　the　need　to　remain　low。　The　smoke　would　block　visual　and　infrared　targeting；　but　there　were　always　lucky　shots　to　worry　about。　So　far　the　Qasamans〃　lack　of　experience　with　warfare　had　showed　up　clearly　in　their　unimaginative　tactics；　but　they　more　than　made　up　for　that　with　enthusiasm。
　He　was　midway　to　his　new　cover；　smack　in　the　middle　of　nowhere；　when　a　new　stutter　opened　up　from　above。　He　froze；　muffling　a　curse。
　The　helicopters　were　back。
　Or　at　least　one　of　them　was。　It　was　off　to　the　east　a　ways；　he　estimated　from　the　sound；　probably　blowing　up　some　of　the　hundred　or　so　〃warm…body〃　infrared　decoys　they'd　spent　the　morning　setting　up。　But　the　machine　was　drifting　closer。　Making　a　quick　decision；　Justin　leaped　to　his　feet　and　dashed　for　cover。　The　pitch　of　the　helicopter's　drone　shifted　as　he　did　so；　and　a　second　later　he　got　a　glimpse　of　the　craft　through　the　trees　。。。　and　a　rain　of　bullets　abruptly　splattered　at　his　heels。
　He　put　on　a　burst　of　speed；　and　was　behind　his　target　tree　before　the　Qasaman　gunner　could　correct　his　aim。　〃I'm　okay/〃　he　called　into　his　mike　before　anyone　had　to　ask。　〃But　I'm　pinned　down。〃
　〃I'm　on　it；〃　someone　grunted。　〃Someone　give　me　covering　fire？〃
　〃Got　it；〃　Pyre　said。　〃On　three。　One；　two；　three〃
　The　helicopter　had　swung　around；　trying　for　a　clear　shot　at　Justin；　and　was　framed　almost　perfectly　be…　tween　tree　branches　as　Pyre's　antiarmor　laser　flashed　squarely　into　the　cockpit　windows。
　The　craft　jerked；　nearly　destabilizing　enough　to　slide　into　the　treetops　bare　meters　below。　But　the　pilot　was　good；　and　within　seconds　the　craft　was　nearly　steady　again　。。。　and　from　directly　beneath；　a　figure　shot　upward　through　the　leafy　canopy　to　grab　the　helicopter's　side　door　handle。　Twisting　his　legs　upward；　the　Cobra　turned　himself　around　his　precarious　grip　to　what　was　in　effect　a　one…armed　handstand　along　the　helicopter's　side　。。。　and　with　his　feet　barely　a　meter　from　the　main　rotor　hub；　his　antiarmor　laser　blazed　forth。
　The　pilot　did　his　best。　Almost　instantly　the　craft　banked　hard　to　the　side；　throwing　the　Cobra　off　in　an　action　that　should　have　killed　him。　But　with　the　nanoputer's　cat…landing　programming　even　that　small　satisfaction　would　be　denied　the　Qasaman　。　。　。　and　as　he　carefully　righted　the　helicopter　the　stressed　rotor　metal　gave　way。　Two　seconds　later　the　forest　shook　with　the　thunder　of　the　crash。
　〃Report；〃　Pyre　snapped　as　the　explosion　died　into　the　dull　crackle　of　burning　fuel。
　〃No　problem；〃　the　Cobra　assured　them　all。　〃Watch　the　branches　if　any　of　you　have　to　try　that…the　damn　things　scratch　like　hell。〃
　Justin　let　out　a　relieved　sigh　。。　。　and　suddenly　became　aware　of　the　relative　silence。　〃They've　stopped　shooting…〃
　〃Almo；　we've　got　a　Qasaman　on　the　road；〃　one　of　the　others　interrupted。　〃He's　alone…well；　with　a　mojo…and　he's　holding　a　white　flag。〃
　A　white　flag。　Winward　had　gone　out　under　a　white　flag　the　last　trip　here　。　。　。　and　had　been　shot　for　his　trouble。　Justin's　jaw　tightened　as　he　wondered　if　Pyre　remembered　that　。　。　。　wondered　what　the　other's　response　would　be。
　〃Okay；〃　Pyre　said　after　a　moment。　〃Everyone　keep　looking　sharp…they　may　be　using　him　as　a　diversion　while　they　sneak　around　to　encircle　us　on　foot；　I'm　going　to　call　him　over　and　see　what　he　wants。〃
　〃Target　the　mojo　right　away；〃　someone　said　dryly。
　〃No　kidding。　Here　goes。〃
　Pyre's　voice　continued　normally　in　Justin's　ear　as；　bullhorn　amplified；　the　Qasaman　translation　echoed　among　the　trees：　〃Continue　forward。　Keep　your　hands　visible　and　your　mojo　on　your　shoulder。　I'll　tell　you　where　to　leave　the　road。〃
　Quiet　returned　to　the　forest。　Notching　up　his　auditory　enhancers；　Justin　settled　down　beside　his　tree　to　wait。
　Telek　rubbed　her　eyes　with　the　heels　of　both　hands；　〃The　problem；〃　she　told　Pyre　wearily；　〃is　the　same　one　we've　had　ever　since　the　convoy　first　appeared：　namely；　we　simply　don't　have　enough　data　yet　to　pull　out。〃
　〃What　you　mean　is　that　you　haven't　proved　yet　that　the　mojos　are　directly　controlling　the　Qasamans；〃　he　retorted。