deathworld-第32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！


　…our　people'll　be　here；　kill　the　damn　grubbers　and　their　lies！〃
　 Jason　tore　at　the　fingers　that　were　choking　the　life　out　of　him；　but　was　like　pulling　at　bent　steel　bars。　He　couldn't　talk　and　the　blood　han　mered　in　his　ears　and　drowned　his　thoughts。　It　was　over　now　and　h　had　lost。　They'd　butcher　each　other　in　the　spaceship　and　Pyrrus　woul　keep　on　being　a　deathworld　until　every　one　of　them　was　dead。
　 Mete　hurtled　forward　like　an　uncoiled　spring　and　the　crossbovi　twanged。　One　bolt　caught　her　in　the　leg；　the　other　transfixed　her　upp　ann。　But　she　had　been　shot　as　she　jumped　and　her　inertia　carried　hi　across　the　room；　to　her　fellow　Pyrran　and　the　dying　off…worlder。
　 She　raised　her　good　arm　and　chopped　down　with　the　edge　of　hi　hand。
　 It　caught　Skop　a　hard　blow　on　the　biceps　and　his　arm　jumped　spa　medically；　his　hand　leaping　from　Jason's　throat。
　 〃What　are　you　doing！〃　he　shouted　in　strange　terror　to　the　wounde　girl　who　fell　against　him。　He　pushed　her　away；　still　clutching　Jaso　with　his　other　hand。　She　didn't　answer。　Instead　she　chopped　agaii　hard　and　true；　the　edge　of　her　hand　catching　Skop　across　the　windpip　crushing　it。　He　dropped　Jason　and　fell　to　the　floor；　retching　an　gasping。
　 Jason　watched　the　end　through　a　haze；　barely　conscious。
　 Skop　struggled　to　his　feet；　turned　pain…filled　eyes　to　his　friend　〃You're　wrong；〃　Kerk　said。　〃Don't　do　itt〃
　 The　sound　the　wounded　man　made　was　more　animal　than　humai　When　he　dived　toward　the　guns　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　the　cros　bows　twanged　like　harps　of　death。　He　skidded　into　the　guns；　his　han　knocking　them　aside；　but　he　was　already　dead。
　 When　Brucco　went　over　to　help　Meta；　no　one　interfered。　Jase　gasped　air　back　into　his　lungs；　breathing　in　life。　The　watching　gla　eye　of　the　viewer　carried　the　scene　to　everyone　in　the　city。
　
　 〃Thanks；　Mete。　。　。　for　understanding。　。　。　as　well　as　helping。〃　J　son　had　to　force　the　words　out。
　 〃Skop　was　wrong　and　you　were　right；　Jason；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　brol　for　a　second　as　Brucco　snapped　off　the　feathered　end　of　the　steel　be　with　his　fingers；　and　pulled　the　shaft　out　of　her　arm。　〃I　can't　stay　i　the　city；　only　people　who　feel　as　Skop　did　will　be　able　to　do　thi　And　I'm　afraid　I　can't　go　into　the　forest…you　saw　what　luck　I　had　wil　the　stingwing。　If　it~s　all　right；　I'd　like　to　e　with　you。　I'd　like　to　ve~　much。〃
　 It　hurt　when　he　talked　so　Jason　could　only　smile；　but　she　knew　what　he　meant。
　 Kerk　looked　down　in　unhappiness　at　the　body　of　the　dead　man。　〃He　was　wrong…bui~　I　know　how　he　felt。　I　can't　leave　the　city；　not　yet。　Someone　will　have　to　keep　things　in　hand　while　the　changes　are　taking　place。　Your　ship　is　a　good　idea；　Jason；　you'll　have　no　shortage　of　volunteers。　Though　I　doubt　if　you'll　get　Brucco　to　go　with　you。〃
　 〃Of　course　not；〃　Brucco　snapped；　not　looking　up　from　the　pression　bandage　he　was　tying。　〃There's　enough　to　do　right　here　on　Pyrrus。　The　animal　life；　quite　a　study　to　be　made；　probably　have　every　ecologist　in　the　galaxy　visiting　here　before　long。　But　I'll　be　first。〃
　 Kerk　walked　slowly　to　the　screen　overlooking　the　city。　No　one　attempted　to　stop　him。　He　looked　out　at　the　buildings；　the　smoke　still　curling　up　from　the　perimeter；　and　the　limitless　sweep　of　green　jungle　beyond。
　 〃You've　changed　it　all；　Jason；〃　he　said。　〃We　can't　see　it　now；　but　Pyrrus　will　never　be　the　way　it　was　before　you　came。　For　better　or　worse。〃
　 〃Better；　danm　it；　better；〃　Jason　croaked；　and　rubbed　his　aching　throat。　〃Now　get　together　and　end　this　war　so　people　will　really　believe　it。〃
　 Rhes　turned　and；　after　an　instant's　hesitation；　extended　his　hand　to　Kerk。　The　grey…haired　Pyrran　felt　the　same　repugnance　himself　about　touching　a　grubber；　the　memory　of　a　lifetime　of　disgust。
　 But　they　shook　hands　then　because　they　were　both　strong　men。