tz.cobra strike-第51部分

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　The　tester；　it　turned　out；　had　been　correct。　Bird　and　man　had　attacked　at　precisely　the　same　moment。
　〃You　can　see　signs　of　agitation　in　both　of　them；〃　McKinley　pointed　out；　running　the　tape　again。　〃The　rippling　feathers　and　snapping　motions　of　the　beak　here；　the　shifting　muscle　lines　in　his　face；　here；　and　the　hand　movements。〃
　〃This　is　all　in　response　to　ultrasonics　that　humans　can't　hear？〃　Something　prickled　on　the　back　of　Win…ward's　neck。
　〃Right。　Just　took　at　the　tester　here…he's　in　the　same　ultrasonic　beam　and　isn't　so　much　as　sweating　hard。〃　McKinley　bit　at　his　lip。　〃But　I　wasn't　expecting　this　much　of　a　mon　reaction。〃
　〃They're　getting　some　of　their　courage　back；　maybe；　knowing　troops　are　on　the　way。〃
　〃But　the　birds　aren't　supposed　to　be　intelligent　enough　to　pick　up　on　things　like　that；〃　McKinley　growled。
　〃Maybe　they　pick　it　up　via　body　language　from　their　humans。　Maybe　that's　the　way　the　mojos〃　agitation　transmits　in　reverse；　too；〃
　〃Possible。〃　McKinley　sighed。　〃Unfortunately；　the　body　language　and　telepathic　theories　are　going　to　be　very　hard　to　distinguish　between　without　long…term　studies。〃
　〃Which　we　don't　have　time　for。〃　Winward　grimaced。　〃Well；　do　the　best　you　can…maybe　you　and　the　bio　people　will　be　able　to　pull　useful　results　out　of　the　raw　data。　In　the　meantime；　try　to　avoid　pushing　any　more　of　your　subjects　over　the　brink。〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　Banyon　took　a　deep　breath；　exhaled　it　carefully。　At　long　last；　paydirt。
　The　three　creatures　eyeing　the　humans　from　the　undergrowth　were　krisjaws；　all　right…surely　no　two　creatures　on　Qasama　could　have　those　wavy；　flame…shaped　canine　teeth。　Nearly　two　meters　long；　with　the　lean　musculature　and　stealth　of　predators；　they　eased　toward　the　four　humans；　eyes　fixed　on　their　prey。
　And　Governor　Telek's　theory　had　been　correct。　On　the　shoulder　of　each　sat　an　equally　attentive　mojo。
　〃Now　what？〃　Hanford　murmured；　a　bit　nervously；　at　Banyon's　side。　〃You　have　the　recorders　running？〃　The　Cobra　sensed　rather　than　saw　Hanford's　nod。　〃Everyone　else　in　position？〃
　Three　acknowledgments　came　through　his　earphone。　The　other　Cobras　had　the　krisjaws　boxed　up　。。。　and　it　was　time　to　test　the　predators〃　reactions。　〃Get　ready；〃　he　muttered　to　the　zoologists　grouped　behind　him。　〃Here　goes。〃　Raising　his　hands；　he　fired　a　salvo　from　fingertip　lasers　into　the　brush　at　either　side　of　the　stalking　animals。
　The　krisjaws　weren't　stupid。　All　three　froze　in　place　for　a　long　minute　and　then　began　backing　away　as　cautiously　as　they'd　been　advancing。　They　got　barely　a　meter；　though；　before　a　second　burst　of　laser　fire　from　one　of　Banyon's　hidden　flankers　traced　a　line　of　smoldering　vegetation　behind　them。　Again　they　froze；　heads　turning　slowly　as　if　to　seek　out　their　hidden　assailant。　〃Well；〃　Banyon　said　after　a　few　seconds；　〃it　looks　like　they'll　be　staying　put　for　a　bit。　How　close　did　you　want　to　examine　them？〃
　〃No　closer　than　necessary；〃　one　of　the　zoologists　muttered。　〃I　don't　trust　a　flash　net　to　hold　anything　that　size。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　Hanford　said…though　not　all　that　confidently；　Banyon　thought。　〃Let　me　take　a　shot　at　the　one　on　the　right。　Everyone　watch　for　trouble。〃
　There　was　a　soft　chuff　of　pressed　air　from　behind　Banyon's　shoulder；　a　glimpse　of　a　tiny　cylinder　arrowing　toward　the　target　krisjaw…and　with　an　explosive　crack　the　flash　net　blew　out　to　tangle　the　krisjaw's　head　and　forelegs。　Screeching；　the　mojo　on　its　back　shot　clear　。。。　and　the　krisjaw　went　berserk。
　Banyon　had　used　flash　nets　against　spine　leopards　on　Aventine　on　numerous　occasion…had　trapped　bigger　and　meaner…looking　animals　orr…the　Menssana's　five…world　tour　a　couple　of　months　ago…but　never　in　all　that　had　he　seen　such　a　violent　reaction。　The　krisjaw　screamed　in　rage；　slashing　as　best　it　could　with　teeth　and　claws　at　the　fine　mesh　clinging　to　its　body；　rolling　around　in　the　underbrush　and　occasionally　even　twisting　itself　entirely　off　the　ground　in　its　frenzy。
　And　within　seconds　it　had　opened　up　tears　in　the　net。
　Hanford　stepped　a　pace　forward；　raising　his　air　gun　again；　but　Banyon　had　already　made　his　decision。　〃Forget　it；〃　he　called　to　the　zoologist　over　the　noise；　pressing　the　gun　barrel　down。　Targeting；　he　swung　his　leg　up　and　fired　his　antiarmor　laser。
　The　landscape　lit　up　briefly；　and　with　one　final　scream　the　krisjaw　collapsed　among　the　ruins　of　the　net。
　Someone　swore　feelingly　under　his　breath。　〃No　wonder　the　Qasamans　organize　hunts　against　these　things。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Banyon　shifted　his　attention　to　the　other　two　krisjaws；　still　waiting　quietly。　Waiting；　but　several　meters　further　to　the　side　than　they'd　been　a　minute　earlier。　A　new　line　of　blackened　vegetation　smoldered　beside　them。　〃What　happened？…they　try　to　slip　away　in　the　confusion？〃
　〃They　thought　about　it；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　replied　dryly。　〃I　think　we've　convinced　them　to　cooperate　for　the　moment。〃
　〃Cooperate；〃　Hanford　mused。　〃I　seem　to　remember　the　mayor　of　Huriseem　mentioning　the　krisjaws　were　pretty　peaceful　when　the　Qasamans　first　got　here。〃
　〃He　said　it　was　a　legend；〃　one　of　the　others　reminded　him。　〃I　find　it　hard　to　swallow　that　an　animal's　behavior　would　change　that　drastically。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　we're　looking　at　right　now？〃　Hanford　snorted。　〃Those　two　krisjaws　are　being　about　as　peaceable　as　they　e。〃
　〃Only　because　they　see　they'll　be　cut　to　ribbons　if　they　try　anything。〃
　〃Which　in　itself　is　highly　suggestive；〃　Banyon　put　in。　〃Remember　the　gleaner…team　report　this　morning　about　the　apparent　transfer　of　aggression　between　mojos　and　humans？〃
　〃You　think　the　mojo　made　the　krisjaw　fight　back　against　the　net？〃　Hanford　shaded　his　eyes　as　he　searched　the　trees　for　the　escaped　bird。
　〃Just　the　opposite；〃　Banyon　told　him。　〃I'm　wondering　if　perhaps　the　mojo　was　sitting　on　the　krisjaw's　natural　aggression；　holding　it　in　check　until　it　was　forced　too　far　away。〃
　〃That's　crazy；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　scoffed。　〃The　krisjaws　are　sitting　targets　out　there…their　best　survival　tactic　right　now　is　to　run　or　attack。〃
　〃Except　that　we've　demonstrated　we　can　kill　them　if　they　try　either；〃　Hanford　said　thoughtfully。　〃Remember　the　spookies　on　Tacta？　If　the　mojos　have　a　similar　sense　for　relative　danger　they　may　recognize　that　their　best　bet　really　is　to　sit　and　wait。〃
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence　as　the　others　digested　that。　〃I　suppose　it's　reasonably　self…consistent；　as　theories　go；〃　one　of　the　zoologists　said　at　last。　〃Hard　to　see　how　a　system　like　that　would　get　started；　though。　Not　to　mention　how　you'd　prove　it。〃
　〃Given　a　telepathic　ability；　it　seems　pretty　straightforward　to　me；〃　Banyon　said。　〃The　mojos　need　some　predator　strong　enough　to　take　on　a　bololin　in　order　to　get　access　to　their　embryo…hosts。　Maybe　the　mojo　acts　as　long…range　spotter　for　the　krisjaw　in　return　or　something。〃
　〃Though　with　the　mojo's　control　the　relationship　doesn't　have　to　be　particularly　mutual；〃　Hanford　murmured。　〃The　birds　may　be　out…and…out　parasites。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Banyon　said。　〃And　as　for　proving　it　。。。　Dale；　target　the　mojo　nearest　you；　all　right？　Head　shot；　fast　and　clean；　without　affecting　the　krisjaw　directly。〃
　〃Okay；〃　the　voice　came　in　his　ear。　〃Ready。〃
　Banyon　targeted　the　appropriate　krisjaw　and　eased　his　weight　onto　his　right　leg。　If　this　worked　he　wanted　his　antiarmor　laser　ready　to　fire。　〃Okay：　now。〃
　A　flicker　of　light　from　beside　and　behind　the　krisjaw　caught　the　mojo…and　an　instant　later　the　krisjaw　screamed　and　charged。　Banyon　leaned　back　as　he　activated　the　automatic　fire　control；　his　leg　swinging　up　to　fire　point　blank　at　the　creature's　face。　There　was　a　blaze　of　reflected　light；　and　the　krisjaw's　fur　blackened　as　the　laser　flash…burned　it。　The　animal　slammed　heavily　to　the　ground…
　And　Banyon　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　remaining　krisjaw's　mojo　streaking　for　his　face。
　The　landscape　tilted　crazily　as　his　nanoputer　threw　him　out　of　the　way　of　the　bird's　attack…but　not　before　he　saw　the　the　krisjaw；　too；　was　in　motion。　He　hit　the　ground；　rolling　awkwardly　on　his　left　shoulder　as　someone　screamed　。。。　and　he　came　up　into　a　crouch　to　see　the　krisjaw　spring　toward　Hanford。
　Banyon　snapped　his　hands　up　in　a　fast　dual　shot　at　the　predator；　but　what　saved　the　zoologist's　life　in　that　first　half　second　was　his　own　reflexive　shot　with　his　flash　net　gun。　The　krisjaw　hit；　slamming　Hanford　to　the　ground；　but　with　claws　and　teeth　temporarily　blocked　by　the　netting　it　could　do　little　except　gouge　at　its　victim。　Banyon　scrambled　to　get　his　legs　clear　of　the　undergrowth　。。。　but　before　he　could　bring　his　antiarmor　laser　to　bear　two　brilliant　spears　of　light　lit　up　the　forest　and　the　krisjaw　collapsed　in　a　charred　heap。
　Banyon　got　to　his　feet；　looking　quickly　around。　The　mojo　was　still　unaccounted　for　。　。　。
　But　not　for　long。　The　bird　was　perched　atop　one　of　the　other　zoologist's　crossed　forearms；　wings　beating　at　the　man's　head　and　shoulders　as　it　tried　to　work　its　beak　in　to　the　face。
　Banyon　was　on　it　in　a　second；　grabbing　its　neck　with　both　hands　and　squeezing。　The　mojo　released　its　grip；　fluttering　wildly　as　it　tried　to　get　at　its　new　attacker。　But　Banyon's　grip　had　Cobra　servos　behind　it　。。。　and　within　a　few　seconds　the　bird　lay　limp　in　his　hands。　〃You　okay？〃　he　asked　the　zoologist；　wincing　at　the　blood　oozing　through　the　other's　sleeves。
　〃Arms　and　head　hurt　like　crazy；〃　the　other　grunted；　lowering　his　guard　hesitantly。　〃Otherwise　。。　。　okay；　I　think。〃
　His　face；　at　least；　was　unmarked。　〃We'll　get　you　right　back　to　the　aircar；〃　Banyon　told　him；　turning　back　to　Hanford。　The　other　Cobras　had　the　krisjaw　carcass　off　him　now；　and　Dale　was　kneeling　beside　him。　〃How　is　he？〃　Banyon　asked。
　〃Might　have　a　cracked　rib　or　two；〃　Dale　said；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Not　a　good　idea　to　carry　him　far；　I'll　go　bring　the　aircar　here。〃
　Banyon　nodded　and　knelt　beside　Hanford　as　Dale　set　off　at　a　fast　trot。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　he　asked。
　〃Scientifically　vindicated；〃　Hanford　murmured；　managing　a　weak　smile。　〃We've　now　proved　that　mojos　in　the　wild　serve　the　same　role　they　do　for　the　Qasamans。　They　help　the　krisjaws　fight。〃
　〃And　apparently　help　decide　when　fighting's　the　best　approach；〃　Banyon　nodded。
　〃As　opposed　to　simply　getting　out　of　the　way？〃
　Banyon　looked　up　to　meet　the　angry　glare　of　the　team's　unin