douglashill.galacticwarlord-第12部分

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Overlight。　His　ship　puter　had　been　preprogrammed；　Talis　had　said；　to　take　the　ship　off　the　asteroid　and　then　to　enter　Overlight　as　soon　as　possible。
　And；　Talis　had　added；　the　puter　had　been　programmed　to　erase　those　instructions　once　Keill　was　in　Overlight。
　Keill　had　wondered　about　that　statement。　If　the　Overseers　had　intended　him　to　go　out　as　their　emissary；　as　Talis　had　said　earlier；　how　would　he　ever　have　contacted　them；　reported　to　them？　Talis　had　read　his　puzzlement　correctly；　and　had　explained。
　'If　you　ever　have　any　wish　to　contact　us；'　the　old　man　had　said；　'we　have　provided　a　munications　link。　It　will　be　there　when　you　need　it。'
　At　the　time；　with　his　doubts　and　disbeliefs　still　strong；　Keill　had　not　given　much　thought　to　the　statement。　He　had　felt　that　there　was　never　likely　to　be　a　time　when　he　would　want　to　make　any　contact　with　the　old　man　and　his　peculiar；　hooded　friends。　But　now；　out　in　space；　that　vague　assurance　of　a　munications　link　worried　him。
　munications　were　definitely　one　of　the　Overseers'　specialities。　He　had　been　shown　some　of　their　monitoring　devices；　of　the　sort　that　they　had　scattered　around　the　Inhabited　Worlds　…　amazingly　intricate　but　pact　objects；　some　no　bigger　than　a　fist；　none　larger　than　a　man's　head。　Operating　like　spy　satellites；　they　could　pick　up；　record　and　transmit　most　forms　of　broadcast　media　from　a　planet's　surface；　whether　electronic；　holo　or　whatever。　They　could　also；　from　orbit；　film　and　transmit　visual　images　of　a　planet　that　were　astonishingly　detailed　…　as　Keill　had　seen　with　the　tape　of　the　nine　men　on　Creffa。　And　the　devices　were　nearly　undetectable　by　the　people　of　any　planet；　because　of　their　size　and　the　erratic　orbits　that　were　built　into　them。
　Also；　if　anyone　did　locate　them　by　accident；　the　devices　would　self…destruct　before　they　could　be　examined　closely。
　That　fact　especially　troubled　Keill。
　One　of　the　pleasures　of　being　away　from　the　asteroid　had　been　the　feeling　of　personal　freedom　…　of　not　being　watched。　He　had　known；　all　the　time　he　was　there；　that　he　had　been　under　scrutiny　by　similar　monitors。　But　was　he　still　being　watched　？　Was　there　a　device　hidden　on　his　ship；　monitoring　him？　Or　was　the　munications　link　that　Talis　had　mentioned　merely　waiting　somewhere　in　the　ship　…　waiting　for　the　moment　when　he　might　need　it；　before　somehow　being　activated　？
　If　so；　where　was　it？　And　was　it；　too；　programmed　to　self…destruct　if　wrongly　handled　？
　He　strongly　hoped　that　the　Overseers　had　not　planted　such　a　device　on　the　ship。　If　he　came　across　it　unknowingly；　and　mishandled　it；　he　could　blow　himself　out　of　the　sky。
　Time　to　make　a　search；　he　thought。
　He　unstrapped　himself　from　the　slingseat　and　stood　up。　The　familiar　drift　of　his　body；　in　null…gravity；　did　not　trouble　him。　The　boots　of　his　spacesuit　adhered　to　the　treated　deck　of　the　ship；　keeping　him　from　floating。　He　moved　towards　a　row　of　partments　that　extended　across　one　side　of　the　single　inner　chamber　of　the　ship。　They　held　all　his　necessities　…　food　supplies　in　one；　weapons　in　another；　clothing　and　personal　possessions　in　another；　and　so　on。
　One　thing　about　a　single…person　fighter；　he　thought；　there　are　only　so　many　places　where　an　object　can　be　hidden。　Besides　those　partments；　there　were　the　ship's　various　systems　…　the　drive；　life　support；　ship's　weapons　and　the　rest　…　behind　heavy　bulkheads　at　the　nose　and　stern。　He　could　go　through　all　possible　storage　spaces　in　a　few　minutes。　But　he　would　be　thorough；　he　told　himself；　and　take　his　time。　If　the　Overseers　had　planted　a　monitor；　it　could　be　extremely　miniaturized。　But　there　was　time　…　about　half　an　hour　yet　before　he　would　e　out　of　Overlight　near　the　planet　Saltrenius。
　And　then　something　odd　happened；　something　totally　irrational。
　He　began　to　laugh。
　Not　out　loud；　but　to　himself；　within　himself。　Carefree；　bubbling　laughter。。。
　No；　he　thought　…　and　anger　surged　up　in　him；　blotting　out　the　laughter。　It's　not　me。　It's　that　alien　…　that　winged；　telepathic　giggler　of　an　alien。
　Instantly　the　silent；　laughing　voice　formed　in　his　mind。　Now　that　you　have　discovered　me；　may　I　be　released？　Your　weapons　store　does　not　suit　my　dignity。
　Keill　moved　swiftly　to　the　weapons　partment　and　flung　open　its　door。
　The　round；　colourless　eyes　of　the　little　alien　gazed　at　him；　unblinkingly。
　Your　munications　link　reporting　for　duty；　sir；　it　said。
　The　alien　floated　out；　automatically　spreading　its　wings　despite　the　null…gravity；　and　drifted　over　to　the　control　panel。　There　it　settled　on　the　edge；　gripping　with　the　strange　little　feet　that　were　like　hands。　And　Keill　followed；　speechless　with　anger；　flinging　himself　into　the　slingseat；　glaring　at　the　creature。　It　returned　his　look　calmly；　but　the　silent　laughter　faded。
　I　warned　Talis　you　would　be　angry；　the　inner　voice　said。　But　he　felt　you　would　not　allow　me　to　acpany　you　if　you　knew　beforehand。
　'He　was　quite　right；'　said　Keill　coldly。　'And　I　don't　want　you　to　acpany　me　now。　Give　me　the　figures；　and　I'll　alter　course　and　take　you　back。'
　I　cannot；　the　alien　said。　I　do　not　know　the　coordinates。
　'You　must！'　Keill　said。　'Surely　even　those　senile　old　madmen　wouldn't　send　you　away　unless　you　could　get　back！'
　I　can　get　back；　the　voice　replied。　But　I　do　not　know　how。
　As　Keill　was　about　to　explode；　the　alien　hastily　went　on：　The　data　is　in　my　unconscious　memory。　Talis　can　recall　me　by　projecting　a　certain　code　to　my　mind。　I　will　then　automatically　programme　the　puter　for　return。　But　I　will　at　once　forget　the　data；　consciously　…just　as　the　puter　will　erase　the　figures　from　its　memory　once　the　new　course　is　begun。
　Again　Keill　was　speechless。　More　of　Talis's　cursed　secrecy。　And；　like　every　action　of　the　Overseers；　it　seemed　both　so　plausible　…　and　yet　so　wholly　mad。
　Then　a　thought　struck　him。　'You　can　reach　Talis's　mind　from　here　？'
　The　reach　of　an　Ehrlil　mind　has　no　limits　in　space。　The　little　alien　spoke　matter…of…factly；　without　pride。
　'If　so；'　Keill　said；　'you　could　have　remained　on　the　asteroid；　and　still　set　up　a　〃munications　link〃　with　me；　wherever　I　was。'
　True。
　'Then　why　are　you　here　？'　Keill　shouted。
　Talis　did　not　wish　you　to　go　into　danger　unaided。
　'Unaided　？'　Keill　echoed。　'I'm　to　face　nine　men　who　will　almost　certainly　try　to　kill　me　…　and　I　must　do　so　with　you　filling　my　mind　with　crazed　giggling　？'
　I　will　not　get　in　your　way。　The　alien's　silent　voice　seemed　hurt。　But　I　can　use　a　weapon；　as　you　know。　And　pilot　your　ship。
　'You　can　pilot　this　ship　？'
　Human　ships　are　child's　play　…　even　for　a　child　like　myself。　The　words　held　a　trace　of　laughter；　quickly　fading。　How　do　you　think　you　were　taken　from　Saltrenius　to　the　asteroid？
　Keill　pondered。　'Perhaps　then　you　can　be　of　use。'
　He　had　worried；　earlier；　about　leaving　his　craft　unattended　after　landing　on　Creffa。　If　some　of　his　enemies　located　it；　he　would　have　his　escape　cut　off。　But　now；　with　the　alien。。。
　Exactly；　the　inner　voice　said；　replying　to　his　thought。　I　will　guard　your　ship。　And　whatever　else　you　wish。　I　am　under　your　orders。
　'All　right；'　Keill　said　at　last。　'As　long　as　you　remember　that；　and　don't　start　taking　orders　from　Talis　at　long　range。　Remember　that　I'm　going　on　a　task　of　my　own　choosing。　I'm　not　the　Overseers'　emissary　…　and　I　want　no　interference；　from　them　or　from　you。'
　It　will　be　as　you　say。　The　thought　seemed　saddened。　But　you　are　being　needlessly　stubborn。　All　that　Talis　told　you　is　the　truth。
　Keill　was　disturbed　by　the　words；　and　by　the　clear　sincerity　and　earnestness　behind　them。　Such　things　could　not　be　pretended；　in　a　telepathic　voice。
　'No　doubt　you　believe　it；'　Keill　said。　'But　I'm　not　concerned　now　with　tales　of　Warlords　and　the　rest　of　it。　My　concern　is　with　nine　men　on　Creffa；　and　what　I　can　get　out　of　them　about　the　death　of　my　world。'
　It　is　all　the　same　thing；　said　the　alien　patiently。　Can　you　not　see　that　the　death　of　Moros　should　demand　your　belief　in　the　Warlord？　Such　an　act　could　only　be　done　by　someone　extremely　powerful；　and　extremely　ruthless。
　Keill　did　not　reply　at　once。　It　was　a　point　that　he　himself　always　came　back　to。　Who　was　there　in　the　galaxy　dangerous　enough；　insane　enough；　to　destroy　the　Legions　？　How　could　an　attacker　get　past　the　defences　of　Moros　？　And；　most　of　all；why　？
　When　it　came　down　to　answers；　he　thought　ruefully；　Talis's　story　of　the　Warlord　was　the　only　one　he　had　been　given；　by　anyone。　If　only　it　was　not　so　unlikely。。。
　Only　your　stubbornness　makes　it　so；　came　the　voice　of　the　alien。
　'That's　another　thing；〃　Keill　said　sharply。　'While　you're　here；　you　will　keep　out　of　my　mind。　My　thoughts　are　my　own。'
　I　told　you　before　that　I　receive　with　difficulty　from　humans；　the　alien　replied。　I　could　not　read　the　deeper　levels　of　your　mind　if　I　wished　to。　I　can　receive　only　those　thoughts　that　you　form　clearly；　on　the　surface　of　your　mind；　as　if　you　were　speaking　them。
　'Nothing　more　？'　Keill　asked　suspiciously。
　Only　blurred　impressions；　mixtures　of　emotions。　Indeed；　that　is　all　I　ever　get　from　most　humans。　You；　at　least；　have　some　clarity　of　mind；　if　not　as　much　as　the　Overseers。　That　is　one　reason　why　I　was　willing　to　e　with　you。
　'One　reason　？'　Keill　was　interested　in　spite　of　himself。　'What　are　the　others　？'
　First；　because　I　agree　with　Talis　that　you　will　need　me；　the　alien　said。　Second；　because　it　is　obvious　that　life　in　your　pany　will　never　be　unexciting。
　'It　might　be　shorter　than　you　bargained　for；'　Keill　said　grimly。
　Possibly。　'But　I　do　not　fear　dying　…　except　from　boredom。
　Keill　could　not　help　smiling　at　the　words；　and　a　trace　of　the　alien's　laughter　crept　into　his　mind　in　response。　He　leaned　back　and　studied　the　creature　again。　The　slender；　bird…like　body；　the　domed　head；　the　round　eyes　…　it　was　almost　a　clownish　figure。　Yet　the　brightness　of　those　eyes；　and　the　capability　of　the　hands；　belied　the　foolishness。　Keill　thought　for　a　moment　of　this　little　being；　alone　in　its　own　ship；　penetrating　the　inconceivable　distances　from　one　galaxy　to　another；　facing　whatever　unknowable　dangers　lay　on　such　a　path　。。。
　He　realized　that　beyond　its　appearance；　beyond　its　zany　sense　of　humour；　it　…　no；　he　corrected　himself；　she　…　deserved　respect。　She　was　a　being　of　high　intelligence；　ability　and　courage。