tz.cobra strike-第6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！
do you want？〃 he asked instead。 〃A contractual mitment to handle whatever this threat is that Qasama poses？〃
〃Of course not；〃 she snorted。 〃No one in their right mind would give a Troft a carte blanche like that。 All I want is to mit us to a survey mission…at Troft expense。〃
〃Won't that mit us to carrying out the rest of it； too？〃
〃Not if the agreement's drawn up carefully enough。〃 She pursed her lips。 〃You're about to bring up the image question if we look Qasama over and then back out。 I don't really have any better answer to that than the one I gave fifteen minutes ago。 The risks of not knowing what kind of threat Qasama is are greater than the risks of looking weak to the Trofts。〃 Corwin took a deep breath。 〃Then I presume you'd like to have that as the official remendation to the Council in a few hours？〃
〃I'd like that very much；〃 she said cautiously。 〃What's it going to cost me？〃
Corwin gestured toward the conference room down the hall。 〃Your proposed survey mission would include a maximum of twelve people plus ship's crew； as I recall。 I want two of those twelve to be my father's choice。〃
〃With his skeptic's attitude to keep the mission honest？〃 She smiled wryly。 〃As a matter of fact； that's probably a good idea 。。。 but giving a governor emeritus sixteen percent of the package isn't likely to fly very smoothly。〃
〃I can sweeten the deal considerably。 How would you like to send an undetectable Cobra on the mission？〃
He had the satisfaction of seeing her eyes widen with surprise。 〃I thought a careful deep…body scan would pick up even Cobra gear。〃
〃It will；〃 Corwin nodded。 〃But a scan of that type takes almost fifteen minutes to plete。 How many times is a host likely to subject visiting dignitaries to that sort of thing？〃
She frowned at him for several heartbeats。 〃My immediate reaction is that you're being anthropomorphic in the extreme。 Suppose their deep…body stuff is more sensitive or just faster than ours； for example？ But assuming you're right； then what？ …cram a Cobra surgery team into the Dewdrop for some fast work？〃
〃Not at all。 I propose sending a Cobra and a non…Cobra who are virtually indistinguishable from each other。 My twin brothers Joshua and Justin。〃
Telek's breath came out in a thoughtful hiss。 〃Cute。 Very cute。 So the Cobra stays aboard ship until the aliens have done all their studies on the landing party； and then they switch places？ Interesting proposal。 But suppose the Qasamans use something besides sight for identification？ Sound or scent； for instance？〃
Corwin shrugged； trying to make the gesture look casual。 〃Then we're out of luck。 But most land predators we know of…including those on Troft and Do…minion worlds…rely heavily on sight。 I think it's a fair gamble； and if it doesn't work we haven't really lost anything。〃
〃Except two places in the mission that could have gone to other people。〃 Telek leaned back in her chair； her eyes focused somewhere behind Corwin's head。 He waited； forcing himself to breathe normally 。。。 and abruptly her eyes returned to him and she nodded。 〃All right； it's a 。deal 。。。 on one further condition。 You…or； rather； your father…must support my bid to go on the mission。〃
〃You？〃 Corwin blurted。 〃But that's…〃
〃Ridiculous？ Hardly。 The mission's going to need both scientific and political experts aboard； and I'm the only governor who qualifies in both fields and is healthy enough to make the trip。〃
〃Your biological degree is a long way behind you。〃
〃I've kept up with the field。 And we need someone of governor rank in case some major policy decision es up。 Unless you know any syndics you'd trust with that task。〃
But can I trust you with it？ He pursed his lips tightly； unsure of what he should do。
〃You've got time to think；〃 she said calmly as the silence began to stretch。 Glancing at her watch； she stood up。 〃The mission team's not likely to be determined for at least a week or two。 Talk it over with Jonny； work through the logic…I think you'll agree I should be aboard。 But it's time to go back in there and get a remendation for the Council to chew on。〃
Corwin stood up； too。 〃All right 。。。 but if I vote with you now； I want you to support my getting Justin and Joshua aboard…whether my father ultimately backs your own bid or not。〃
She smiled wryly。 〃Realized you were giving away too much； did you？ Well； that's how you learn。 Sure； I'll support your brothers。 It's a good idea 。。。 and to be perfectly honest； I don't expect I'll need Jonny's vote to get on the mission； anyway。〃
The vote was four to two in favor of Telek's proposal when it came to Corwin's turn。 He avoided Hemner's and Roi's eyes as he made it six to two； but he could feel their astonished gazes on him as Stiggur recorded the vote into the record。
Three hours later； the full Council made it official。
Lying propped up in his hopital bed； Jonny listened silently to Corwin's report of the governors〃 session； the Council meeting； and the private deal he'd made。 / should be angry； Jonny thought； peripherally aware of the IV tubes feeding clear fluids into his arms。 Some calming factor in the antibiotic voodoo mixture？ Or did I really know all along my plan wouldn't make it？
Corwin stopped speaking and waited； the tension lines visible in his face。 〃Have you spoken to Justin or Joshua about this？〃 Jonny asked。 〃Or your mother？〃
Corwin actually winced。 〃No； to both questions。 I came up with the basic idea last week； but I hoped I wouldn't have to suggest it to anyone。 At least； not without talking to you first。 I think they'd be willing； though。〃
〃Oh； they'll be willing； all right…that's not the problem。〃 Jonny turned his head to gaze out the window。 Capitalia's streetlights were visible below； the cityscape superimposed on the reflection of the hospital room around him。 〃You boys have always been very precious to your mother； you know；〃 he said。 〃You provided the extra family warmth that I often wasn't able to give her。 Too often wasn't able to。 As a Cobra 。 。 。 then a syndic 。 。。 then a governor 。。。 it takes a lot of time to serve people； Corwin。 Time taken away from your family。 You came to work with me here； and Justin's being a Cobra 。 。 。 and now Joshua's going to be taken from her； too。〃 He realized abruptly he was rambling and brought his eyes back to Corwin。
The other was looking pretty miserable。 〃I'm sorry。
Maybe I shouldn't have done it。 They can still back down。〃
Jonny shook his head。 〃No； you did the right thing； all the way down the line。 Putting the twins aboard could give us a key tactical advantage； and the full council probably wouldn't have gone for my proposal any more than Brom and pany did。 Especially with the cost estimates Cally and Almo provided。〃 He shook his head。 〃Pity Cally's too old to go along…a Cobra with military experience would be awfully nice to have on the scene。。。。〃 He trailed off thoughtfully as an idea suddenly occurred to him。
〃You're not planning to go yourself； are you？〃 Corwin asked suspiciously into his train of thought。
〃Hm？ Oh； no。 Not really。 I was just trying to think of a way to make this all up to your mother。〃 Taking a deep breath； he let it out in a controlled sigh。 〃Well。 I'll be out of here in the mornng； or so they say…soon enough for us to break this to her。 Why don't you talk to Joshua tonight； get his reaction。 If possible； I think we should all be together when we tell Chrys。〃
〃All except Justin；〃 Corwin reminded him。 〃He'll be in surgical isolation for another week。〃
〃I know that；〃 Jonny said； a touch of asperity making it through the emotional damper around him。 〃But the three of us should be there。〃
〃Right；〃 Corwin nodded； standing up。 〃I'll let you get back to resting now and see you in the morning。 I can check on my way out when you'll be released and be here to drive you home。〃
〃Fine。 Oh； and while you're checking that； would you ask the doctor to drop by when he's got some time？ There are some things I want to discuss with him。〃
〃Sure；〃 Corwin said。 He held his father's eye another second； then turned and left。
Shifting to a more fortable position； Jonny closed his eyes and let all tensions melt away。 Had there been another touch of suspicion in Corwin's face as he left？ Jonny wasn't sure。 But it didn't really matter。 Unlike his son； he had several other governors besides Telek with whom he could cut a deal and by the time Corwin found out about it； it would all be arranged。
And the other would surely approve； anyway。 Eventually。
Chapter 5
The room they'd taken him to was the first surprise… Justin had had the impression that the new trainees would be kept together for their first postoperative orientation session。 A quick glance around the office as his escort left him alone was a second shock： no Cobra training instructor could possibly have an office this ornate。 The desk…had he seen its carved cyprene wood in the Cobra lecture tapes he'd studied before applying？ If so； this was the private office of Coordinator Sun himself。 Whatever was going on； this was not part of the published schedule。
Behind the desk； a private door opened。 Justin tensed； and as a man stepped into the room； he felt a relieved grin spread over his face。 〃Almo！ I thought you were still out in Syzra District hunting down spine leopards。〃
〃Hello； Justin…no； please stay seated。〃 Pyre sat down behind the desk。
And Justin suddenly realized the other hadn't even smiled in greeting。 〃What's up； Almo？〃 he asked； his pleased surprise evaporating。 〃Is something wrong？ Good Lord…is it Dad？〃
〃No； no； your family's fine；〃 Pyre hastened to reassure him。 〃Although in a couple of months…〃 He broke off。 〃Let's start over。 How much do you know about the Qasama thing？〃
Justin hesitated。 Admitting to Pyre that his father had given the family confidential information was no big deal in and of itself 。。。 but under these circumstances。 。 。 。 〃Just the basics of the Troft offer；〃 he said。 〃My father wanted to discuss the ethical aspects with us。〃
〃Fine；〃 Pyre nodded。 〃Then I won't need to go over that with you。 In the past three weeks there*ve been some twists added…by the Council and； believe it or not； your own brother。〃
Justin listened in silence as Pyre explaine
