douglashill.galacticwarlord-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


tance；　with　difficulty。
　The　first　message　they　sent　was　frightening。　He　was　totally　immobilized。　He　could　not　move　a　single　muscle　in　his　body　except　those　around　his　eyes　and　mouth。
　The　second　message　was　reassuring。　He　still　had　feeling　in　his　body　…　he　was　not　paralysed。　Instead；　something　was　constraining　him；　something　that　clung　to　every　centimetre　of　his　skin　except　his　face；　preventing　even　the　smallest　movement。
　The　third　message　was　unbelievable。　Though　he　could　not　move；　though　his　mind　was　far　from　clear；　though　he　felt　an　immense　weariness　throughout　his　entire　being；　so　that　even　moistening　his　lips　with　his　tongue　was　an　effort　…　despite　all　this；　he　felt　wonderful。
　The　pain　had　gone。
　The　lancing　fire　that　had　seared　every　cell　in　the　depths　of　his　body；　through　every　waking　minute　of　the　months　past。。　。　Gone。
　Unless；　of　course；　he　was　dreaming　again。　Or　perhaps　delirious；　in　the　final　stages　of　the　death　that　the　pain　had　been　a　prelude　to。
　He　rolled　his　eyes；　up；　down；　sideways；　to　the　limits　of　his　peripheral　vision。　He　saw　the　plain　walls　and　ceiling　of　an　unremarkable　room；　with　cheerful　diffuse　lighting。　He　noted　that　he　was　not　lying　flat　on　his　back　but　propped　up；　half…reclining；　on　some　padded　surface　contoured　to　fit　his　body　perfectly。
　He　saw　all　that；　but　it　was　overridden　by　the　shock　of　having　seen　himself。
　He　was　entirely　covered　by　a　garment　that　clung　like　a　second　skin；　which　was　certainly　what　held　him　immobile。　It　was　silvery；　shiny；　and　apparently　without　a　seam。　From　many　points　on　the　garment　…　and　so；　presumably；　from　Keill's　body；　though　he　felt　no　disfort　…　sprouted　a　huge　array　of　tubes　and　wires；　like　the　tendrils　of　some　wild　alien　growth。　The　tubes　and　wires　led　on　each　side　to　a　variety　of　plicated　machinery；　none　of　which　seemed　familiar　to　Keill　in　any　way。
　It　was　no　dream；　he　decided。　And　it　was　an　odd；　unlikely　scene　for　a　delirium　to　shape。　But　then　…　what　was　it　？
　At　that　moment　a　voice　spoke　in　the　room。　A　firm　male　voice；　with　a　note　of　friendliness；　even　kindliness；　that　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere。
　'Are　you　awake；　Keill　Randor　？'
　Keill　struggled　in　his　throat　to　find　his　voice；　found　only　a　whisper。　'Who　are　you？'
　The　voice　did　not　return　at　once。　When　it　did；　it　seemed　slightly　muffled；　as　if　the　speaker　had　turned　aside；　addressing　someone　other　than　Keill。
　'Amazing　powers　of　recuperation　。　。　。　He　shouldn't　have　wakened　for　days　yet。'
　'Days　？'　Keill　whispered。
　The　voice　replied　at　full　volume　again；　but　with　an　extra　firmness。　'It　is　too　soon；　Keill　Randor；　for　you　to　ask　questions　or　receive　answers。　You　will　sleep　again　now；　and　we　will　speak　later　when　you　are　entirely　restored。'
　Keill　fought　his　voice　into　a　desperate　croak。　'Who　are　you　？　What　are　you　？　What　are　you　doing　to　me　？'
　There　was　a　pause。　'Very　well；　I　see　that　those　questions　deserve　some　answer。'　The　voice　grew　even　kindlier。　'My　name　is　Talis；　though　that　will　mean　little　to　you。　I　am　a　man；　much　as　yourself；　if　a　good　deal　older。'　A　chuckle。　'And　what　we　are　doing；　Keill　Randor；　is　saving　your　life。'
　Keill　wanted　to　cry　out；　wanted　to　scream　questions；　but　his　mind　was　a　darkening　jumble；　unable　to　focus　on　words　or　their　meanings；　and　he　knew　that　one　of　the　tubes　in　his　eerie　garment　had　slid　a　drug　into　his　veins。　He　struggled　with　numbing　lips；　with　the　spreading　blankness　in　his　mind；　and　mumbled　the　only　question　he　could　manage。
　'Why？
　He　was　not　sure　he　had　heard　the　answer；　as　he　drifted　into　sleep。　But　it　had　sounded　like…
　'Because　you　are　needed。'
　He　opened　his　eyes　slowly；　as　before。　But　sensation　flooded　in　upon　him。　His　mind　was　not　dulled　this　time；　but　alert；　functioning；　with　a　strange　extra　feeling　of　being　marvellously　refreshed。
　And　there　was　still　no　pain。
　Yet　his　body　was　behaving　in　a　disturbing　way。　He　still　could　not　move　his　head　or　limbs；　still　felt　himself　gripped　and　held　in　the　half…lifted　position　…　but　every　muscle　was　quivering；　uncontrollably。
　He　glanced　round；　and　down　at　himself；　the　memory　of　his　previous　awakening　plete。　He　was　no　longer　wearing　the　silvery　garment。　Instead；　a　light　covering　had　been　drawn　over　him；　up　to　his　neck。　Beneath　it；　he　knew　he　was　naked。　And　he　was　still　lying　on　the　same　padded　bed；　deeply　contoured　to　fit　the　shape　of　his　body　exactly。
　It　was　the　contours　of　the　bed　that　gripped　him；　and　that　were　trembling　…　vibrating　over　the　whole　surface　of　his　body。　Relaxing　with　relief；　he　saw　that　it　was　an　advanced　form　of　massage　unit；　designed　to　maintain　muscle　tone　and　circulation　in　an　immobilized　patient。
　He　remembered　the　mysterious　voice　that　had　spoken　to　him。　It　had　made　clear　that　he　would　sleep　for　days。　So　he　must　have　lain　on　that　bed　for　a　long　time　in　the　restrictions　of　the　strange　garment。　The　massage　unit　would　have　kept　his　muscles　from　weakening　and　deteriorating　too　much。
　How　weak　he　might　be　remained　to　be　seen。　It　was　not　the　most　important　of　the　questions　that　clamoured　in　his　mind。　But　it　was　probably　the　only　one　that　he　could　answer　for　himself。
　He　inhaled　deeply；　aware　that　his　body　was　relaxed；　but　testing　the　relaxation；　letting　it　spread　through　every　muscle；　out　of　the　centre　of　his　being。　Then　he　concentrated　on　his　right　arm；　gathering　his　energies；　focusing　them；　channelling　them　to　that　arm；　building　the　power　within　it　to　a　higher　and　higher　peak。。。
　Then；　with　a　fierce　exhalation；　he　released　that　power。
　His　arm　ripped　free　of　the　constriction。
　It　was　a　small　triumph；　but　an　important　first　step　…　to　regaining　control　over　his　own　person；　to　putting　an　end　to　his　time　of　lying　trapped　like　a　swaddled　baby；　while　unknown　people　and　strange　machines　did　whatever　they　wished　with　him。
　Yet　he　found　that　he　was　bathed　in　sweat　after　the　exertion；　and　his　free　arm　was　oddly　heavy。　He　let　it　fall　on　the　outside　of　the　covering；　reaching　again　for　the　inner　relaxation；　knowing　that　he　would　need　to　rest　awhile　before　trying　to　summon　the　power　to　free　his　other　arm。
　At　that　point　a　human　figure　appeared　…　materialized；　from　empty　air　…　before　him。
　And　the　voice　that　Keill　had　heard　before　spoke　again；　still　from　no　specific　point　within　the　room。
　'Quite　astonishing；'　it　said。　'You　should　not　be　at　all　strong　enough；　yet；　to　break　free　of　the　unit。'
　Keill　said　nothing。　Around　him　the　massage　unit's　vibrations　dwindled　and　stopped；　and　its　grip　on　his　body　eased。　It　became　merely　a　fortably　contoured　bed；　and　Keill　could　move　again。　He　began　making　small；　minimal　movements；　stretching　and　twisting；　testing　the　state　of　his　body；　while　warily　studying　the　figure　that　had　appeared　so　suddenly。
　An　unadorned　robe　covered　all　of　the　figure's　body；　and　extended　into　a　heavy　cowl；　or　hood；　that　was　pulled　forward　so　that　the　face　was　obscured　in　shadow。　But　from　the　posture　of　the　figure；　which　was　seated　on　a　tall；　plain　chair；　and　the　size　and　shape　of　the　hands；　Keill　could　see　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　someone　thin；　elderly　and　probably　male。
　But　then　he　saw　that　he　was　not　actually　in　the　presence　of　the　figure。　The　angles　of　the　shadowings　and　the　faint　haziness　of　outline　told　him　that　he　was　looking　at　a　holo…image。　Which　explained　the　sudden　materialization；　and　the　apparently　disembodied　voice。
　'Do　not　be　alarmed；　Keill　Randor。　You　are　not　among　enemies。'
　'Who　are　you？'　Keill　said　sharply；　glad　to　find　that　his　voice　was　working　normally。　'What　am　I　doing　here　？'
　'You　asked　those　questions　before　…　do　you　remember？'　said　the　voice。　'I　am　Talis；　who　spoke　to　you　when　you　awoke　prematurely。。。'
　'I　remember；'　Keill　replied。　'But　you　told　me　little；　and　explained　nothing。　Now　I　want　explanations。'
　'That　is　why　I　am　here；'　said　the　kindly　voice。　'But　tell　me　first　how　you　feel。'
　'I　feel　weak；　as　you　must　surely　know；'　Keill　said　brusquely。　'But　everything　seems　to　be　functional。　And　the　pain　is　gone。'
　'Yes　…　we　have　removed　the　radiation　from　your　body。　Soon　you　will　be　fully　restored　to　your　normal　state　of　health　…which；　it　seems；　is　quite　remarkable。'
　'If　that　is　so；'　Keill　said　slowly；　'then　I　will　owe　you　a　debt　that　I　can　never　repay。　And　I　will　want　to　know　all　the　more　who　you　are；　and　why　this　is　happening。'
　'Just　so；'　said　the　figure。　'There　is　much　to　tell　you。　There　is　much　also　that　you　cannot　be　told。　But　I　will　explain　what　I　can。'
　The　figure　settled　back　in　its　chair；　folding　its　long　hands；　and　continued。
　'I　am　one　of　a　group　of　people；　mostly　old　dodderers　like　myself…'　the　warm　voice　chuckled　as　before…'who　can　immodestly　call　themselves　some　of　the　leading　intellects　of　the　Inhabited　Worlds。　Most　of　us　are　scientists　of　one　sort　or　another。　You　would　doubtless　recognize　many　of　our　names；　if　you　were　ever　to　know　them。'
　'You　told　me　your　name；'　Keill　interjected。
　'Talis　is　the　name　I　use　now。　It　is　not　my　true　name　…　and　that　I　cannot　tell　you。'
　Keill　shrugged　and　remained　silent；　while　the　image　of　the　old　man　called　Talis　went　on。　He　told　Keill　how　most　of　the　individuals　in　the　group　had　known　each　other　for　a　long　time；　had　often　worked　together；　conferring　over　problems　of　far…reaching　importance　round　the　galaxy。　More　and　more　they　had　been　invited　to　work　on　specific　problems　by　governments　of　different　planets；　here　and　there　…　because　they　were　able　to　bring　a　vast　range　of　knowledge；　and　a　special　kind　of　overview；　to　the　solution　of　such　problems。
　And　it　was　just　that　overview；　Talis　said；　that　gave　them　an　early　warning　of　a　new　problem　within　the　human　worlds。　A　threat；　a　danger；　that　might　well　in　the　end　affect　the　future　of　the　entire　galaxy。
　Keill　might　have　interrupted　again；　but　the　old　man；　not　to　be　hurried；　held　up　a　hand　to　stop　him。
　'When　we　saw　the　magnitude　of　this　danger；'　Talis　continued；　'we　made　up　our　minds　that　we　must　pool　all　our　resources；　all　our　knowledge　and　abilities；　to　oppose　it。　We　also　knew　that　if　we　opposed　it；　we　ourselves　would　be　in　immediate　danger。　So　we　abandoned　the　lives　we　were　then　leading；　and　came　here。'
　'Where　is　here　？'　Keill　asked。
　'We　are　on　…　more　correctly；　within　…　an　asteroid；'　Talis　said。　'A　wandering　piece　of　space　debris；　which　appears　on　no　star　maps　or　charts　of