tz.cobra strike-第48部分

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　〃What　you　mean　is　that　you　haven't　proved　yet　that　the　mojos　are　directly　controlling　the　Qasamans；〃　he　retorted。
　Probably　true；　she　admitted　to　herself。　〃What　I　mean　is　that　the　gleaner…team　hasn't　finished　its　agenda。〃
　〃It　may　not　get　the　chance/〃　Pyre　growled。　〃I　don't　think　they're　bluffing　when　they　say　this　is　our　last　chance　to　pull　out　before　they　turn　up　the　fire。　And　if　they　don't　mind　how　much　it　costs　them　we　really　aren't　going　to　be　able　to　hold　them　very　long。〃
　And　that　short　reprieve　would　cost　them　ten　good　Cobras…and　probably　give　the　Qasamans　reasonably　undamaged　Cobra　equipment　to　study。　〃The　last　thing　I　want　is　a　full　battle　with　you　on　the　losing　end；〃　Telek　told　him。　〃But　I　don't　see　the　hook　yet；　and　past　experience　tells　me　there's　one　somewhere　in　this　offer。〃
　〃Maybe　there　isn't。　Maybe　Moff　just　wants　to　avoid　bloodshed。〃
　Telek's　lip　twitched　at　the　name。　Moff。　Escort　for　off…world　visitors；　sharp…eyed　observer　who'd　pulled　the　whole　thing　down　on　them　last　time；　and　now　one　of　the　leaders　of　this　thrown…together　task　force。　A　man　of　many　talents　。。。　and　a　man　of　luck；　too；　to　have　survived　Justin's　Purma　rampage。　She　wondered　how　Justin　was　feeling　about　Moff's　presence　out　there；　chased　the　thought　irritably　from　her　mind。　Moff。　What　did　she　know　about　him　that　might　give　her　a　clue　as　to　what　he　was　up　to　with　this？　Did　he　want　to　chase　the　invaders　away　from　the　village　into　an　ambush　where　the　Qasamans　wouldn't　be　risking　civilian　lives？　Was　there　something　in　the　village　they　didn't　want　found？　Could　it　really　be　as　simple　as　an　attempt　to　drag　the　two　cultures　back　from　an　otherwise　almost　inevitable　war？
　But　the　gleaner…team　needed　more　time。
　〃Governor？〃
　〃Still　here；　Almo；〃　she　sighed。　〃All　right；　let's　try　an　experiment。　Tell　them　we'll　pull　out　as　soon　as　we've　shown　a　representative　that　we　haven't　hurt　or　killed　anyone　in　the　village。〃
　〃Will　that　give　outrider…three　enough　time　to　bring　their　bololin　herd　by　the　village？〃
　Telek　checked　her　projections。　〃It　might；　if　we　take　things　slow　enough。　But　we　probably　wouldn't　have　time　after　the　hunt…stress　test　to　remove　the　neck　sensors　the　gleaner…team's　got　on　the　subjects。〃
　〃The　Council　was　pretty　firm　on　the　point　of　not　leaving　any　electronics　behind；〃　Pyre　reminded　her。
　〃I　know；　I　know。　Well；　if　we　have　to　scrap　that　test；　we　scrap　it；　that's　all。　Look；　just　see　if　they'll　buy　the　idea　of　a　tour。　I'll　talk　to　Michael　and　McKinley　while　you　do　that；　see　if　they　have　any　ideas。〃
　〃All　right。〃　Pyre　hesitated。　〃If　it'll　really　help　。。。　we　are　prepared　to　die　out　here。〃
　Telek　blinked　away　sudden　moisture。　〃I　appreciate　that；〃　she　managed。　〃But　you　also　qualify　as　electronics　I'd　rather　not　leave　behind。　Talk　to　the　Qasamans　and　call　me　back。〃
　〃Yes；　I　do　have　an　idea；〃　Winward　told　Telek　with　grim　satisfaction。　〃I've　been　thinking　about　it　ever　since　the　psych　people　first　started　plaining　that　we　needed　to　do　long…term　studies。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃And　if　you　can't　do　the　studies　themselves；　the　next　best　thing　is　to　get　the　results；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　think　I　know　just　where　to　find　them。〃
　〃We　want　it　to　be　someone　in　authority；　whose　word　the　Qasaman　leadership　trusts；〃　Pyre　warned　the　messenger；　watching　his　words　carefully。　〃We　want　to　prove　our　people　have　acted　humanely。〃
　〃You　invade　our　world　and　terrorize　an　entire　village　and　then　expect　to　earn　a　reputation　as　gentlemen？〃　the　Qasaman　spat；　〃You're　in　no　position　to　make　demands　of　us；　but　as　it　happens　Moff　is　willing　to　acpany　your　escort　to　the　village。　As　a　gesture　of　good　faith　only；　of　course。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Pyre　nodded。　Winward　had　called　it　correctly　。　。　。　and　whatever　Moff's　own　reasons　for　accepting　the　offer；　he　would　soon　be　in　their　hands。
　And　at　that　point　it　would　be　up　to　McKinley　and　Winward。　Pyre　hoped　they　could　pull　it　off。
　〃Two　；　。　。　one　。　。　。　mark。〃　Dan　Rostin　flipped　the　aircar's　huge　electromagnet　off　as；　in　perfect　synch；　Parker　swung　the　little　craft　into　the　air。　Just　in　time：　the　flankers　of　the　bololin　herd　thundering　by　grazed　the　aircar's　underside　with　their　dorsal　quills。　Parker　grabbed　some　more　altitude　and　blew　a　drop　of　sweat　from　the　tip　of　his　nose。　〃Outrider…three　to　Telek；〃　he　called　toward　the　long…range　mike。　〃Last　course　change　plete。　Can　you　confirm　the　direction　is　right？〃
　〃Telek　here；〃　the　governor's　voice　came　back　promptly。　〃Just　a　second　…　we're　getting　a　reading　from　the　Dewdrop。〃　There　was　a　short　pause。　〃Yes；　confirmed。　Have　they　picked　up　speed　for　some　reason？〃
　〃They　sure　have；〃　Parker　told　her。　〃I　think　all　these　direction　changes　and　field　strength　fluctuations　are　starting　to　get　to　them。　If　they　keep　it　up　they'll　pass　the　village　in　about　fifty　minutes。〃
　〃Dewdrop　gives　us　essentially　the　same　number。　All　right；　I'll　let　gleaner…team　know。　I　hope　it　doesn't　ruin　their　schedule。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　Parker　snorted。　〃There's　no　way　we're　going　to　slow　them　down；　that's　for　sure。〃
　Telek　sighed。　〃Yeah。　Well。。。　get　back　here；　preferably　without　drawing　attention　to　yourselves。　Don't　worry　about　making　good　speed；　it　doesn't　look　like　we'll　be　moving　from　here　for　quite　some　time。〃
　Moff　drove　his　car　through　the　open　village　gate　and　then　said　his　first　words　since　leaving　the　Cobras〃　blockade：　〃Where　now？〃
　〃The　mayoral　building；〃　Justin　told　him。　〃It's　ahead　down　the　street　and　to　the　left。〃
　The　other　nodded；　and　Justin　sent　a　sidelong　look　at　the　Qasaman's　face。　Moff　hadn't　seemed　surprised　to　have　Justin　assigned　as　his　escort；　but　then；　little　ever　seemed　to　surprise　him。　Even　now；　entering　an　enemy…held　village；　his　face　was　impassive；　only　his　darting　eyes　giving　any　indication　of　concern　or　worry。　〃Where　are　all　the　villagers？〃
　Justin　glanced　around。　Except　for　a　Cobra　at　each　end　of　the　block　they　were　approaching；　the　streets　were　indeed　deserted。　He　put　the　question　via　municator　to　Winward。　〃They're　all　outside　in　the　north　and　central　parts　of　town；〃　he　relayed　the　answer。
　〃I'd　like　to　see　them　before　I　speak　to　your　leaders。〃
　Justin　shrugged；　striving　for　unconcern。　They　were　on　a　tight　schedule；　but　he　couldn't　tell　Moff　that。　〃Okay　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃Just　don't　take　too　long。　I
　　Timothy　Zakn
　want　the　talks　to　get　underway　before　anyone　starts　shooting　out　there　again。〃
　〃Our　people　won't　start　more　fighting　if　yours　don't。〃
　Justin　shrugged　again　and　settled　back　to　endure　the　detour。　He　was　supposed　to　try　and　get　an　inkling　of　what　Moff　was　up　to；　but　aside　from　spotting　a　likely　recording　device　built　into　the　Qasaman's　mojo　perch　he　hadn't　seen　any　sort　of　equipment　that　could　give　him　any　hints。　The　thought　of　the　bacteriological　attack　on　Cerenkov　and　Rynstadt　on　the　last　trip　made　his　skin　creep；　despite　the　assurances　by　Telek　and　Winward　that　Moff　was　unlikely　to　risk　his　own　life　with　such　stuff　when　safer　delivery　methods　existed。　The　Aventinians〃　logic；　he　kept　remembering；　was　required　by　no　law　of　nature　to　be　the　same　as　the　Qasamans'。
　Moff　drove　them　around　a　couple　of　corners…and　there；　indeed；　were　the　villagers。
　It　looked　like　a　giant　in…town　picnic；　to　Justin's　eyes；　with　most　of　the　adults　sitting　around　in　small　groups　while　children　played　games　around　and　among　them。　At　the　edges　of　the　square　Cobras　stood　on　guard。
　〃The　remainder　are　through　the　archway　there？〃　Moff　asked；　pointing。
　〃I　think　so；　yes。〃
　Without　asking　permission　the　Qasaman　turned　a　corner　and　headed　that　way。　The　rest　of　the　villagers　were　in　a　smaller　open　area　a　couple　of　blocks　further　north；　and　Moff　stopped　as　they　came　within　sight　of　the　crowd。　For　a　moment　he　looked　them　over；　as　if　searching　for　mistreatment；　and　Justin　noticed　his　shoulders　turning　slowly　as　he　gave　the　recorder　in　his　epaulet　a　sweep　of　the　area。　Allowing　the　troops　back　at　the　blockade　to　see　the　villagers　were　all　right；　if　the　recorder　was　transmitting　a　live　picture…
　Justin　felt　his　body　stiffen。　No；　not　the　villagers。　He　watched　the　other's　eyes；　noted　where　they　paused。　Moff　was　looking　at　the　guards。
　He　was　counting　the　Cobras。
　Of　course。　It　was　the　same　trick；　turned　inside…out；　that　he'd　used　to　view　the　Dewdrop's　interior　when　Joshua　and　York　were　allowed　back　inside。　Of　the　thirty　Cobras　in　the　village；　Justin　guessed　about　twenty　were　guarding　the　two　groups　of　civilians…an　absurdly　small　number　for　three　thousand　people；　even　given　Cobra　abilities。　Moff　had　surely　noticed　that；　and　would　just　as　surely　conclude　that　the　total　number　of　Cobras　wasn't　much　higher　than　the　number　visible。
　Or；　in　other　words；　that　the　gleaner…team　was　a　sitting　target。　Which　implied　。。。　what？
　Justin　didn't　know；　but　the　others　needed　this　information　right　away。　Pressing　his　mike　surreptitiously　against　his　lips；　he　began　to　whisper。
　York　shook　his　head；　eyes　hard　on　the　display　before　him。　〃No　helicopter　movement　I　can　see；〃　he　told　Telek。　〃You　sure　Moff's　gadget　isn't　just　recording？〃
　〃We've　found　the　transmission　band　it's　using；〃　she　said　tightly。　〃What　about　other　aircraft？　You　said　some　fixed…wing　craft　had　appeared　on　the　Sollas　airfield。〃
　〃They're　still　there。　Almo　still　says　no　trouble　at　outrider…one's　blockade？〃
　〃Not　unless　they're　sneaking　troops　in　a　wide　circle　around　the　area　to　head　south　on　foot。〃　Telek's　image　shook　its　head。　〃You　think　they're　just　waiting　until　we're　clear　of　the　village？〃
　York　opened　his　mouth　。。。　and　paused　as　a　new　thought　struck　him。　〃Tell　me；　does　Moff　seem　to　know　his　way　around　the　village？〃
　〃I'm　sure　they've　got　maps　of　the　place　in　Sollas；　yes；〃　she　said　dryly。
　〃Right。　Now　tell　me　where　there's　enough　room　in　the　village　for　a　landing　shuttle。〃
　〃Why…〃　Telek　broke　off。　〃The　area　by　the　gate；　and　the　two　areas　where　we've　got　the　villagers。〃
　〃And　Moff's　seen　all　three；〃　York　nodded　grimly。　〃So　he's　now　just　confirmed　what　the　helicopters　last　night　probably　reported：　the　gleaner…team　has　no　ship　standing　close　enough　for　a　quick　escape。〃
　Telek　let　out　a　long；　shuddering　breath。　〃Damn。　Damn；　and　damn　again。　No　wonder　he's　not　in　any　hurry　to　attack。　He　wants　another　crack　at　a　starship；　and　he　wants　his　task　force　in　reasonable　bat　shape　when　it　shows　up。　Hence　the　cease…fire。　Captain；　what's　our　best　possible　time　to　the　village？〃
　〃From　here；　no　less　than　thirty　minutes；〃　Shepherd's　voice　came　on。　〃The　ship's　not　designed　for　extended　high…speed　atmospheric　flight。〃
　〃Half　an　hour；〃　York　snorted。　〃We　could　drop　down　and　reach　them　faster　than　that。〃
　〃Except　that　there's　no　way　you　could　stuff　the　fifty　people　from　gleaner　and　outrider…one　aboard　and　still　lift；〃　Telek　growled。　〃Well；　gentlemen；　we'd　better　figure　something　out；　and　fast。　Our　best　chance　at　a　diversion's　due　to　hit　the　village　in　just　under　forty　minutes　now。　Gleaner…team　has　to　get　out　then。〃
　Or；　York　added　silently；　they　might　not　get　out　at　all。　Gnawing　at　the　inside　of　his　cheek；　he　stared　at　the　display　and　tried　to　think。
　The　Cobra　at　the　mayoral　building's　entrance　stepped　aside　as　Moff　and　Justin　came　up。　〃They're　waiting　in　the　first　office　on　your　left；〃　he　said；　pulling　open　the　door　for　them。　Out　of　Moff's　sight　as　the　Qasaman　passed；　his　hand　made　a　quick　brushing　motion：　the　code　sign　for　stay　bac