tz.cobra strike-第8部分

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　〃Five　pi…　Jonny！〃　Chrys's　eyes　widened　with　shock。　〃You　don't　mean…the　survey　mission？〃
　〃Sure…and　why　not？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　why　not？　That's　a　scientific　expedition；　not　a　vacation　service　for　the　middle…aged。〃
　〃Ah；　but　I'm　a　governor　emeritus；　remember？　If　Liz　Telek…　can　talk　her　way　aboard　the　Qasama　trip　on　the　grounds　someone　with　authority　should　be　present；　I　can　certainly　borrow　her　argument。〃
　A　muscle　in　Chrys's　jaw　twitched。　〃You've　already　arranged　this；　haven't　you？〃　she　asked　suspiciously。
　〃Yes…but　I'm　going　only　if　you　do。　I　didn't　misrepresent　any　of　this；　Chrys…I'll　be　there　strictly　to　observe；　make　a　policy　decision　should　one　e　up；　and　otherwise　just　stay　out　of　everyone　else's　way。　It　really　will　be　just　like　an　out…of…the…way　vacation　for　the　two　of　us。〃
　Chrys　dropped　her　eyes　to　the　table。　〃It'd　be　dangerous；　though；　wouldn't　it？〃
　Jonny　shrugged。　〃So　was　life　in　Ariel　when　we　were　first　married。　You　didn't　seem　to　mind　it　so　much。〃
　〃I　was　a　lot　younger　then。〃
　〃So？　Why　should　Justin　and　Joshua　have　all　the　fun？〃
　He'd　hoped　to　spark　a　reaction　of　some　kind；　but　was　pletely　unprepared　for　the　burst　of　laughter　that　escaped　Chrys's　lips。　Genuine　laughter；　with　genuine　amusement　behind　it。　〃You're　impossible；〃　she　accused；　swiveling　in　her　seat　to　give　him　a　mock　glare。　〃Didn't　I　just　tell　you　I　planned　to　be　worried　about　them？　What're　we　going　to　do…make　this　a　Christmas　exchange　of　worries？〃
　〃Or　we　can　deputize　Corwin　to　do　the　worrying　for　all　of　us；〃　Jonny　suggested　with　a　straight　face。　〃Brothers　in　the　morning；　parents　in　the　afternoon；　and　he　can　worry　about　the　Council　for　me　in　the　evenings。　e　on；　Chrys…it'll　probably　be　our　only　chance　to　see　the　place　our　great…great…grandchildren　may　someday　live。〃　At　least　our　only　chance　together；　he　added　to　himself；　in　the　three　or　four　years　I　have　left。
　Her　face　showed　no　hint　of　having　followed　that　train　of　thought：　but　a　minute　later　she　sighed　and　nodded。　〃All　right。　Yes…let's　do　it。〃
　〃Thanks；　Hon；〃　he　said　quietly。　It　wouldn't；　he
　knew；　quite　make　up　for　losing　her　sons　to　the　universe　at　large　。。。　but　perhaps　having　a　husband　back　for　a　while　would　be　at　least　partial　pensation。
　He　hoped　so。　Despite　his　assurances；　it　was　quite　possible　two　of　those　sons　would　soon　be　swallowed　up　by　that　same　universe；　never　to　return。
　
　
　Chapter　6
　
　The　Council…along　with　an　ever…expanding　ring　of　agents/confidants…kept　the　secret　of　the　Troft　proposal　remarkably　well　for　nearly　four　weeks　longer；　but　at　that　point　Stiggur　decided　to　release　the　news　to　the　general　population。　From　Corwin's　point　of　view　the　timing　couldn't　have　been　worse。　Still　in　the　midst　of　detailed　financial　negotiations　with　the　Trofts；　he　was　abruptly　thrust　into　the　position　of　being　answer　man　for　what　seemed　sometimes　to　be　all　three　hundred　eighty　thousand　of　Aventine's　people。　Theron　Yutu　and　the　rest　of　the　staff　were　able　to　handle　a　lot　of　it　on　their　own；　but　there　were　a　fair　number　of　policy…type　questions　that　only　he　and　Jonny　could　answer；　and　because　of　his　private　mitment　to　keeping　his　father's　workload　as　light　as　possible；　Corwin　wound　up　spending　an　amazing　amount　of　time　on　the　phone　and　the　public　information　net。
　Fortunately；　the　reaction　was　generally　positive。　Most　of　the　objections　raised　were　along　the　ethical　lines　the　Moreau　family　had　discussed　together　in　their　own　first　pass　by　the　issue；　and　even　among　those　dissenters　support　for　the　Council　ran　high。　Virtually　no　one　raised　the　point　Corwin　had　been　most　worried　about：　namely；　why　the　Council　had　waited　nearly　two　months　before　soliciting　public　feedback。　That　one　he　would　have　found　hard　to　answer。
　But　all　the　public　relations　work　took　his　attention　away　from　the　mission　details　being　hammered　out…　took　enough　of　it；　in　fact；　that　he　pletely　missed　the　important　part　of　the　proposed　survey　mission　team　until　the　list　was　made　public　。。。　and　even　then　Joshua　had　to　call　and　tell　him　about　it。
　〃I　wondered　why　you　were　taking　it　so　calmly；〃　Jonny　said　when　Corwin　confronted　him　a　few　minutes　later。　〃I　suppose　I　should　have　mentioned　it　to　you。〃
　〃Mentioned；　my　left　eye；〃　Corwin　growled。　〃You　should　have　at　least　discussed　it　with　the　rest　of　us　before　you　went　ahead　and　signed　yourselves　up。〃
　〃Why？〃　Jonny　countered。　〃What　your　mother　and　I　do　with　our　lives　is　our　business…　we　are　old　enough　to　make　these　decisions　for　ourselves。　We　decided　we　wanted　a　change　of　scenery；　and　this　seemed　a　good　way　to　get　it。〃　He　cocked　an　eyebrow。　〃Or　are　you　going　to　suggest　neither　of　us　would　know　how　to　handle　an　alien　environment？〃
　Corwin　clamped　his　teeth　together。　〃You're　a　lot　older　than　you　were　when　you　came　to　Aventine。　You　could　die　out　there。〃
　〃Your　brothers　could　die　on　Qasama；〃　Jonny　reminded　him　softly。　〃Should　we　all　sit　here　in　safety　while　they're　out　risking　their　lives？　This　way　we're　at　least　in　a　sense　sharing　their　danger。〃
　A　cold　shiver　rippled　up　Corwin's　back。　〃Only　in　the　most　far…fetched　sense；〃　he　said。　〃Your　danger　won't　diminish　theirs。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Jonny's　smile　was　wry　but　clear；　without　any　trace　of　self…delusion　in　it。　〃That's　one　of　the　most　fascinating　things　about　the　human　psyche…a　deep　subconscious　feeling　can　be　very　strong　without　making　any　logical　sense　whatsoever。〃　He　sobered。　〃I　don't　ask　you　to　approve；　Corwin；　but　grant　that　know　enough　about　myself　and　my　wife　to　know　what　I'm　doing　on　this。〃
　Corwin　sighed　and　waved　a　hand　in　defeat。　〃All　right。　But　you'd　both　darn　well　better　e　back　safely。　I　can't　run　the　Council　all　by　myself；　you　know。〃
　Jonny　chuckled。　〃We'll　do　our　best。〃　Reaching　over　to　his　phone；　he　tapped　up　something　on　the　display。　〃Let's　see　。。。　ah；　good…Council's　discussing　Cobra　contingent　this　afternoon。　That　one　we　can　safely　skip。　How　would　you　like　to　see　some　of　your　father's　practical　politics　in　action？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Corwin　said；　wondering　what　the　other　was　talking　about。
　〃Good。〃　Jonny　tapped　a　few　more　keys。　〃This　is　Jonny　Moreau。　Is　the　special　aircar　I　ordered　ready　yet？　。。。　Good。　Inform　the　pilot　we'll　be　lifting　in　about　twenty　minutes：　myself　and　two　other　passengers。〃
　Signing　off；　he　got　to　his　feet　and　stepped　over　to　the　rack　where　his　heated　suit　was　hanging。　〃Go　get　your　coat；〃　he　told　Corwin。　〃We're　about　to　give　a　customer　the　Aventine　equivalent　of　a　free　sample　。。。　which；　with　any　luck；　won't　turn　out　to　be　exactly　free。〃
　The　third　passenger　turned　out　to　be　Speaker　One。
　Corwin　watched　the　Troft　in　a　sort　of　surreptitious　fascination　as　they　flew　high　above　the　Aventinian　landscape。　He'd　seen　plenty　of　Trofts　in　his　life；　but　never　one　so　close　and　for　so　long　a　time。　The　back…jointed　legs　and　splaytoed　feet；　the　vaguely　insectoid　torso　and　abdomen；　the　arms　with　their　flexible　radiator　membranes；　the　oversized　head　with　its　double　throat　bladder　and　strangely　chicken…like　face…all　the　gross　anatomical　features　were　as　familiar　to　him　as　those　of　human　beings　or　even　spine　leopards。　But　there　were　fine　details　which　Corwin　realized　he'd　never　so　much　as　noticed。　The　faint　sheen　of　the
　alien's　skin；　for　example；　was　a　more　muted　version　of　the　same　shimmer　shown　by　its　leotard…like　outfit。　Even　at　a　meter's　distance　he　could　see　the　tiny　lines　crisscrossing　its　skin　and　the　slender　hairs　growing　out　of　each　intersection。　Seated　on　its　specially　designed　couch；　the　Troft　moved　only　occasionally　during　the　flight；　but　whenever　it　did　Corwin　caught　a　glimpse　of　wiry　muscles　working　beneath　the　skin　and…sometimes…a　hint　of　its　skeletal　structure　as　well。　The　large　main　eyes　were　a　different　color　than　the　three　tiny　pound　eyes　grouped　around　each　one。　The　main　eyes；　he'd　once　read；　were　for　good　binocular　vision；　the　pound　eyes　permitted　both　night　vision　and　the　detection　of　polarized　sunlight　for　cloudy…day　solar　navigation。　The　alien's　short　beak　remained　closed　during　the　trip；　which　Corwin　regretted：　he'd　have　liked　to　have　seen　what　Troft　tri…cuspid　teeth　really　looked　like。
　Jonny　said　virtually　nothing　during　the　20…minute　flight；　beyond　giving　the　pilot　their　destination。　Apparently　he　and　Speaker　One　had　worked　this　out　in　advance　and　neither　felt　the　need　to　discuss　anything　further。　Corwin　considered　pressing　his　father　for　information；　but　decided　reluctantly　that　Jenny's　silence　was　a　cue　to　be　followed。　Splitting　his　attention　between　the　Troft　and　the　view　out　the　window；　he　cultivated　what　patience　he　could　muster。
　They　landed　at　last　near　a　large；　squarish　building　nestled　inexplicably　out　in　the　snowy　forest　far　from　any　village　Corwin　was　familiar　with；　A　two…man　escort　was　waiting　as　Jonny　led　the　way　out　of　the　aircar　。；。　and　it　was　only　then　that　Corwin　began　to　get　an　inkling　of　what　his　father　had　in　mind。
　High　on　each　man's　chest　was　a　patch　with　the　words　〃Training　Center〃；　beneath　it　was　the　stylized　hooded…snake　emblem　of　the　Cobra　Academy。
　〃Governor；〃　one　of　them　nodded　at　Jonny。　〃You　and　your　guests　are　cleared　for　monitor　room　access。　If　you'll　all　follow　me。　。。　。〃
　Together　they　headed　through　an　armored　door　and　down　an　exceptionally　drab　and　anonymous　corridor；　footsteps　echoing　oddly　against　the　metallic　walls。　Their　guide　led　them　into　an　elevator；　thirty　seconds　later　they　exited　into　a　large；　unevenly　lit　room　and　a　scene　of　muted　tension。　In　the　darker　areas　along　the　wall　at　least　thirty　people　sat　before　banks　of　small　display　screens；　working　away　at　keyboards　and　joysticks；　while　in　the　center　a　large　semicircular　console　with　larger　displays　was　the　focus　of　attention　for　a　half…dozen　men　in　the　red　and　black　diamond…patterned　tunics　of　the　Cobras；　One　of　them　headed　over　to　meet　the　newers；　and　as　he　approached　Corwin　recognized　him　as　Cobra　Coordinator　Sun　himself。　The　royal　treatment；　indeed；　he　thought。
　〃Governor；〃　Sun　said；　inclining　his　head　briefly　to　Jonny　as　he　neared　the　group。　〃Speaker　One；　Mr。　Moreau；〃　he　added　with　similar　nods　to　the　Troft　and　Corwin。　〃If　you'll　step　this　way；　the　team　has　just　penetrated　the　outer　perimeter　section。〃
　〃Is　there　an　attack　taking　place？〃　Speaker　One　asked　as　they　followed　Sun　back　toward　the　crescent…shaped　console。
　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking；〃　Sun　told　it。　〃The　Cobra　team　who'll　be　going　to　Qasama　is　practicing　their　building　assault　techniques。　Let's　see　how　they're　doing。〃
　The　displays　showed　various　degrees　of　activity；　and　Corwin　scanned　them　quickly　in　an　effort　to　make　sense　of　it　all。　Despite　the　multiple　camera　angles　shown；　it　was　soon　apparent　that　there　were　actually　only　a　total　of　four　Cobras　involved：　Almo　Pyre；　Jus…tin；　and　two　more　Corwin　knew　only　from　pictures　and　Council　reports；　Michael　Winward　and　Dorjay　Link。　The　latter　two　were　moving　stealthily　down　a　corridor；　while　Pyre　and　Justin　huddled　before　a　formidable…looking　door。
　〃Those　two；〃　Sun　explained；　pointing　at　Pyre　and　Justin；　〃are　blocked　by　a　blast　door　with　an　elec…
　Ironic　lock。　They　could　probably　force　it　open　with　their　antiarmor　lasers；　but　at　this　point　there's　been　no　general　alarm　and　it's　worth　the　time　to　see　if　they　can　get　through　more　quietly。　Looks　like　one　of　the　Qasamans　is　about　to　surprise　them；　though。〃　He　tapped　a　display　whose　rolling　image　show