15_death_dance-第2部分

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some　sort　is　enacted；　Admiral　Hunter　and　the　others　will　abide　by　its　terms　and　return　to　Tirol。〃

The　Invid　crossed　his　massive　arms。　〃Yes；　I'm　sure　they　would　have　honored　it；　Dr。　Lang。　But　I'm　afraid　it's　too　late。　Four　months　ago　the　Sentinels'　ship　was　destroyed…with　all　hands　aboard。〃

A　collective　gasp　rose　from　the　crowd；　and　Edwards　heard　Minmei　begin　to　sob。　〃Rick。。。Jonathan；〃　she　said；　struggling　to　her　feet；　only　to　collapse　across　Edwards's　lap。

Someone　nearby　screamed。　Lang　and　the　rest　of　the　council　were　standing；　their　words　swallowed　up　in　the　noise　of　dozens　of　separate　conversations。　News　personnel　and　members　of　the　general　staff　were　rushing　from　the　room。　Edwards　snapped　an　order　to　his　aide　to　summon　a　doctor。　Adams；　meanwhile；　was　shoving　onlookers　aside。

Edwards　held　Minmei　protectively。　Once　again　he　sought　out　the　Invid's　lustrous　eyes；　and　in　that　glance　a　pact　was　affirmed。


But　on　Praxis　the　dead　walked…those　Sentinels　who　had　escaped　the　destruction　of　the　Farrago；　and；　unknown　to　them；　a　deadly　host　of　archaic　creatures　returned　to　life　in　the　bowels　of　the　planet's　abandoned　Genesis　Pits。。。

〃Take　a　look　for　yourself；〃　Vince　Grant　suggested；　stepping　back　from　the　scanner's　monitor　screen。　Rick　Hunter　and　Jonathan　Wolff　leaned　in　to　regard　the　image　centered　there：　an　intact　drive　module　that　had　been　blown　clear　of　the　ship　and　had　fallen　into　low　orbit　around　Praxis。　Vince　was　reasonably　certain　the　module's　Protoculture…peat　engines　were　undamaged。

〃And　there's　no　way　to　call　it　down？〃　Rick　asked。　〃A　hundred　miles　or　so　and　an　Alpha　could　reach　the　thing。〃　Normally；　one　could　fly　a　Veritech　to　the　moon　and　back；　but　not　one　of　the　Sentinels'　all…but…depleted　Alphas　was　capable　of　attaining　escape　velocity。

Vince　shook　his　head；　his　brown　face　grim。　〃We　barely　have　enough　power　to　keep　the　nets　alive。〃

〃Then　it　might　as　well　be　a　million　miles　away；〃　Wolff　thought　to　add。

Vince　switched　off　the　screen　and　the　three　men　sat　down　to　steaming　mugs　of　tea　one　of　the　Praxians　had　brewed　up　from　some　indigenous　grass。　After　four　months　it　had　e　down　to　this：　the　GMU's　stores　were　nearly　empty　and　foraging　had　bee　one　of　the　group's　primary　activities。　And　in　all　those　months　they　had　yet　to　e　up　with　an　explanation　for　the　disappearance　of　the　planet's　native　population。　What　was　left　of　the　central　city　and　all　the　surrounding　villages　were　deserted。　But　whether　what　Bela　called　〃the　Praxian　Sisterhood〃　had　chosen　to　leave　had　not　been　ascertained。

Puzzling；　too；　were　the　tectonic　anomalies　and　quakes　that　were　continuing　to　plague　the　planet；　as　often　as　three　times　a　day　now。　The　quakes　had　convinced　the　Sentinels'　Praxian　contingent　that　Arla…NonBela's　〃mother〃　and　the　leader　of　the　Sisterhood…had　struck　a　deal　with　the　Invid　to　move　the　planet's　population　to　some　other　world。　Rick　wasn't　sure　if　he　bought　the　explanation；　but　it　certainly　served　a　therapeutic　need　if　nothing　else。

〃Look；〃　Rick　said；　breaking　the　silence；　〃they're　probably　already　searching　for　us。　Lang's　not　about　to　write　us　off。　And　even　if　the　mining　operation　is　close　to　on…schedule；　they'll　have　at　least　one　ship　readied　with　the　capability　for　a　local　jump。　We　just　have　to　hope　the　Invid　have　lost　interest　in　this　place。〃

The　horde's　absence　these　months　bordered　on　the　conspicuous；　and　with　the　quakes　and　deserted　villages；　Cabell　had　speculated　that　it　was　possible　the　Invid　knew　something　the　Sentinels　didn't。

Rick's　optimism　in　the　face　of　all　this　had　Vince　smiling　to　himself。　Rick　would　always　be　a　mander　whether　he　liked　it　or　not。　〃It's　not　Lang　we're　worried　about；〃　he　said；　speaking　for　himself　and　Wolff。

Rick　caught　his　meaning。　〃Edwards　has　to　answer　to　the　council。〃　There　was　an　edge　to　his　voice　he　didn't　mean　to　put　there。　Lang　had　warned　Rick　about　Edwards　during　one　of　the　last　links　the　Farrago　had　had　with　Base　Tirol；　and　it　was　difficult　to　keep　the　memory　of　that　brief　deep…space　mo　from　surfacing。

〃Don't　underestimate　the　man's　ambitions；　Rick；〃　Wolff　cautioned。　〃I'm　sure　they're　going　to　e　looking；　but　I'm　willing　to　bet　that　Edwards　will　have　the　council　eating　out　of　his　hand　by　then。　Maybe　one　of　us　should　have…〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　over　old　ground；〃　Rick　cut　him　off。　〃The　only　thing　that　interests　me　right　now　is　a　way　to　reach　that　drive　module。〃

Grant　and　Wolff　exchanged　looks　and　studied　their　cups　of　tea。　Rick　was　right；　of　course：　there　was　no　use　dwelling　on　the　choices　they　had　made；　individually　and　collectively。　Wolff　liked　to　think　that　at　least　Vince　had　Jean　by　his　side　and　the　precious　GMU　under　his　feet。　But　Rick　had　all　but　resigned　his　mission；　and　Wolff　himself　had　left　his　heart　behind。

A　rumbling　sound　broke　the　silence；　causing　the　mugs　to　skitter　across　the　tabletop。　The　tremor　built　in　intensity；　rattling　the　mand　center's　consoles　and　screens；　then　subsided；　rolling　away　beneath　them　like　contained　thunder。

No　one　spoke　for　a　moment。　Wolff　wore　a　wary　look　as　he　loosened　his　grip　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　sat　back　to　exhale　a　whistle。　〃Course；　Praxis　could　do　us　in　long　before　the　Invid　or　Edwards。〃

〃Pleasant　thought；〃　Vince　told　him。

Rick　gave　them　both　an　angry　look。　〃We're　going　to　get　to　that　module　if　we　have　to　pole…vault　there。〃


Tactical　concerns　（and　personal　preference）　had　kept　Vince　Grant　and　Rick　somewhat　anchored　to　the　GMU　（which　had　been　moved　inland　from　its　original　seaside　landing　zone）；　but　the　rest　of　the　substantially　reduced　Robotech　contingent；　along　with　the　XT　Sentinels；　had　opted　for　Praxis's　wooded　valleys；　the　planet's　often　glorious　skies；　and　rolling　hills。　Max　and　Miriya's　Skull　Squadron　had　spent　most　of　the　past　months　reconning　remote　areas；　hoping　to　e　upon　some　trace　of　the　vanished　Sisterhood；　but　they　had　only　succeeded　in　further　depleting　already　critical　reserves　of　Protoculture　fuel。　Consequently；　the　Wolff　Pack　stuck　close　to　base；　Hovertanks　shut　down。　Bela　and　Gnea　and　the　other　Praxians　had　voluntarily　detailed　themselves　to　serve　the　group's　logistical　needs；　and　were　assisted　in　this　by　the　bearlike　Karbarrans　and　vulpine　Garudans。　Cabell　had　all　but　isolated　himself；　disappearing　for　long　walks　from　which　he　would　return　with　samples　of　native　rock　or　flora。　Still　a　bit　unfortable　with　the　Humans　and　not　yet　fully　accepted　by　the　XTs；　the　Tiresian　was　often　found　in　the　pany　of　Rem；　Baldan；　Teal；　and　the　limbless　Haydonites；　Veidt　and　Sarna。　Janice；　too；　had　bee　an　unofficial　member　of　Cabell's　eldritch　clique；　much　to　Rick　and　Lisa's　puzzlement。

Presently；　Cabell　and　Janice　were　off　together　on　a　long　walk；　they　were　on　a　forested　slope　about　fifteen　miles　from　the　mobile　base　when　the　tremor　that　had　shaken　the　GMU　struck。　The　minor　quake　did　little　more　than　knock　them　off　balance　and　loosen　some　gravel　and　shale　from　nearby　heights；　but　it　was　the　morning's　second　shakeup　and　it　brought　a　severe　look　to　Cabell's　face。

Janice　had　thought　to　take　hold　of　the　old　man's　arm　and　utter　a　short　panicked　sound　as　the　ground　began　to　tremble。　It　was　a　performance　worthy　of　Minmei's　best；　although　Janice　could　hardly　appreciate　it　as　such…any　more　than　she　could　fully　understand　just　what　had　pelled　her　to　seek　out　Rem　and　Cabell's　pany　in　the　first　place。　That　this　should　somehow　please　Dr。　Lang　was　a　thought　as　baffling　to　her　as　it　was　disforting。

〃There；　there；　child；〃　Cabell　was　saying；　patting　her　hand。　〃It　will　be　over　in　a　moment。〃

They　remenced　their　climb　when　the　tremor　passed。　Janice　disengaged　herself　and　urged　Cabell　to　go　on　with　what　they　had　been　discussing。

〃Ah；　yes；〃　he　said；　running　a　hand　over　his　bald　pate；　〃the　trees。〃

Janice　listened　like　a　student　eager　for　A's。

〃As　you　can　see；　they're　nothing　like　the　scrub　growth　we　found　on　Karbarra…far　healthier；　much　closer　to　the　unmutated　form。〃　He　motioned　with　his　hand　and　went　up　on　tiptoes　to　touch　the　spherical　〃canopy〃　of　a　healthy…looking　specimen。　The　tendrils　that　encased　the　solid…looking　sphere　and　rigid　near…translucent　trunk　seemed　to　pulse　with　life。　Gingerly；　Cabell　plucked　one　of　the　verdigris…colored　applelike　fruits；　burnished　it　against　his　robe；　and　began　to　turn　it　about　in　his　wrinkled　hand。

〃Even　the　fruit　they　bear　is　different　in　color　and　texture…although　still　a　far　cry　from　the　true　Opteran　species。　Nevertheless；　it　may　tell　us　something。〃　He　took　off　his　rucksack　and　placed　the　sample　inside。　〃Look　for　the　ripest　ones；〃　the　instructed　Janice；　as　she　added　a　second　fruit　to　the　pack。

Cabell　was　straightening　up　when　a　sudden　movement　further　up　the　slope　caught　his　eye。　Janice　heard　him　start；　and　turned　to　follow　his　narrowed　gaze。

〃What　was　it？〃

Cabell　stroked　his　beard。　〃I　thought　I　saw　someone　up　ahead。〃

〃A　Praxian？〃　Janice　asked；　craning　her　neck　and　sharpening　her　vision。

〃No；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃I　would　swear　it　was　Burak！〃


Later；　a　stone's　throw　from　the　grounded　GMU；　inside　the　wooden　structure　that　had　been　designated　both　quarters　and　cell；　Tesla　wolfed　down　the　fruits　Burak　had　picked　from　the　sinister　orchard　Zor's　Flower　of　Life　seedings　had　spawned　on　Praxis。

〃Yes；　yes；　different；　ummm；〃　the　Invid　was　saying　in　a　voice　tinged…with　rapture。

The　young　Perytonian　tried　to　avert　his　eyes；　but　in　the　end　couldn't　help　himself　from　watching　Tesla　as　he　ingested　fruit　after　fruit。　Moist　sucking　noises　filled　the　cell。

〃And　you　think　they　may　have　seen　you？〃　Tesla　asked　him。

〃It　is　possible…Cabell；　in　any　case。〃

Tesla　scoffed；　still　munching　and　handling　the　fruits　as　if　they　were　wealth　itself。　〃Cabell　is　too　old　to　recognize　the　nose　on　his　own　face。　Besides；　they　know　I　can't　subsist　on　what　you　call　food。〃

Burak　said　nothing。　It　was　true　enough：　the　Invid's　food　stock　had　been　destroyed　with　the　Farrago；　and　the　Sentinels　had　agreed　to　place　Burak　in　charge　of　securing　alternative　nutrient　plants。　But　Cabell；　who　was　anything　but　a　doddering　old　man；　and　perhaps　fearing　the　very　transformations　Tesla　was　beginning　to　undergo；　had　suggested　that　the　Invid's　fruit　and　Flower　intake　be　regulated…this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　Tesla　had　to　some　extent　ingratiated　himself　with　the　group　since　their　victory　on　Karbarra。　Each　evening；　Cabell　and　Jean　Grant　would　look　in　on　Tesla。　Burak　had　been　asked　to　furnish　them　with　a　daily　log　of　the　amounts　gathered　and　ingested；　and　the　devilish…looking　Perytonian　was　plying…inasmuch　as　he　would　file　a　report。　But　the　report　was　hardly　a　reflection　of　the　actual　amounts　Tesla　consumed。　Fortunately；　though；　the　Invid's　transformations　had　been　limited　to　brief　periods　following　his　meals；　when　neither　Cabell　nor　Jean　were　present。

〃More；〃　Tesla　said　now；　holding　out　his　hands。

Burak　regarded　the　Invid's　newly…acquired　fifth　digit　and　pulled　the　basket　out　of　reach。　〃I　think　you've　had　enough　for　today。〃　Burak　had　heard　it　said　that　extraordinary　powers　could　be　gained　from　ingesting　the　fruits　of　Haydon's　Worlds；　but　he　had　never　understood　that　to　mean　physical　transfiguration；　and　the　Invid's　recent　changes　were　beginning　to　fill　him　with　fear。

Tesla's　eyes　glowed　red　as　he　came　to　his　feet；　taller　by　inches　than　he　had　stood　on　Karbarra。　〃You　dare　to　say　thi