tz.theicarushunt-第17部分

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mic　humming　of　the　various　machines　would　be　quite　conducive　to　lulling　a　weary　traveler　to　sleep。
　But　I　wasn't　going　to　sleep。　Not　yet。　Instead；　I　walked　the　length　of　the　corridor　to　the　aft　ladder　and　headed　back　up　to　the　mid　deck；　treading　as　quietly　on　the　rungs　as　I　could。
　Ixil　was　nowhere　in　sight；　having　apparently　already　disappeared　into　the　wraparound　to　relieve　Nicabar　in　the　engine　room。　At　the　forward　end　of　the　corridor；　I　saw　that　Tera　had　rather　pointedly　closed　the　bridge　door　behind　her。　A　girl　who　liked　her　privacy；　I　decided；　though　there　might　not　be　anything　more　to　it　than　the　natural　reticence　of　a　lone　woman　locked　in　a　flying　tin　can　with　four　unfamiliar　men　and　two　alien　males。　But　whatever　the　reason；　it　was　going　to　make　my　current　project　that　much　safer。
　The　puter…room　door　was　closed；　too；　but　that　was　all　right；　near　as　I　could　tell；　none　of　the　Icarus's　doors　locked。　Taking　one　last　look　around　to　make　sure　I　wasn't　being　observed；　I　opened　the　door　and　went　inside；　closing　it　behind　me。
　The　room　looked　exactly　the　way　it　had　when　I'd　last　seen　it；　except　of　course　that　Tera　wasn't　there。　The　Worthram　T…66　puter　dominated　the　space；　pressing　up　against　the　aft　bulkhead　and　covering　much　of　the　starboard　wall　as　well。　Fastened　to　the　forward　bulkhead　was　a　two…sectioned　metal　cabinet　with　the　hard…copy　printer　on　one　side　and　a　set　of　shelves　crammed　with　reference　material　and　datadisks　on　the　other。　Squeezed　in　between　the　two　was　the　puter　control　desk　where　Tera　fought　to　beat　the　archaic　machine　into　submission。
　And　where；　allegedly；　she'd　been　sitting　when　she　hit　her　head　hard　enough　for　me　to　hear　from　the　wraparound。
　I　went　over　and　sat　down　in　the　chair。　It　wasn't　nearly　as　fancy　as　the　one　on　the　bridge；　but　then；　in　emergency　maneuvers　it　was　far　more　important　for　the　pilot　to　stay　in　his　seat　than　the　puter　jock。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　I　leaned　forward　and　banged　my　head　experimentally　against　the　edge　of　the　control　panel。
　Even　granted　that　I　was　hearing　it　from　a　more　personal　angle；　the　thud　didn't　sound　anything　like　what　I'd　heard　earlier。　That　one　had　definitely　been　metallic；　this　one　sounded　exactly　like　a　skull　whacked　against　a　control　board。
　Rubbing　thoughtfully　at　my　forehead　and　the　dull　ache　that　had　joined　the　chorus　throughout　my　body；　I　looked　slowly　around　the　room。　So　there　were　two　possibilities。　Either　Tera　had　coincidentally　hit　her　head　against　something　at　about　the　same　time　I'd　heard　that　metal…on…metal　sound；　or　else　she　was　lying。　If　the　former；　then　I　needed　to　look　elsewhere；　if　the　latter；　there　was　something　else　in　here　that　had　in　fact　made　the　noise。
　The　problem　was；　what？　Unlike　Ixil's　machine　shop；　there　weren't　any　tools　lying　around　or　hanging　on　racks　that　might　fall　and　clatter　against　the　deck。　There　were　plenty　of　cables　and　connectors；　but　they　were　for　the　most　part　light　and　rubber…coated。　The　cabinet　was　plain　metal；　but　it　was　bolted　to　the　bulkhead。　Besides；　if　it　had　tipped　over；　it　would　have　left　a　mess　of　manuals　and　datadisks　scattered　on　the　deck　which　she　wouldn't　have　had　time　to　pick　up。　The　manuals　themselves；　it　went　without　saying；　couldn't　possibly　make　such　a　sound。
　Unless；　it　suddenly　occurred　to　me；　one　of　the　manuals　wasn't　what　it　seemed。
　It　took　me　the　better　part　of　ten　minutes　to　pull　each　of　the　manuals　off　the　shelf；　examine　it　carefully；　and　put　it　back　in　its　place。　Ten　wasted　minutes。　None　of　them　was　anything　other　than　it　appeared；　and　none　of　them　could　have　made　that　noise。
　Which　left　only　one　possibility。　Whatever　Tera　had　dropped；　she　was　carrying　it　with　her。　A　wrench；　possibly；　though　what　she　would　need　a　wrench　for　I　couldn't　imagine。
　Or　a　gun。
　The　mid…deck　corridor　was　still　deserted　as　I　left　the　puter　room　and　made　my　way　down　the　aft　stairway。　I　was　tired；　my　head　was　now　peting　with　my　leg　to　see　which　could　ache　the　most；　and　I　had　the　annoying　sense　that　I　was　chasing　my　own　tail。　Even　if　Tera　did　have　a　weapon；　that　didn't　necessarily　mean　she　was　up　to　anything。　Besides；　it　was　still　entirely　possible　that　the　noise　had　e　from　somewhere　else。　I　didn't　really　believe　it；　but　it　was　possible。
　The　Number　Eight　sleeping　cabin　was　like　the　other　seven　aboard　the　Icarus：　small　and　cramped；　with　a　triple　bunk　against　the　inner　hull　and　a　triple　locker　facing　it　from　the　corridor…side　wall。　An　inter　was　set　into　the　inner　hull　beside　the　triple　bunk；　with　a　meter　of　empty　hull　space　on　its　other　side　where　a　lounge　seat　or　puter　desk　would　have　gone　on　a　properly　furnished　ship。　Clearly　the　ship　had　been　designed　to　carry　a　lot　more　passengers　than　were　currently　aboard；　as　it　was；　we　all　conveniently　got　a　cabin　to　ourselves；　with　one　on　the　upper　deck　as　a　spare。　The　privacy　was　useful　in　that　it　gave　me　a　fair　amount　of　freedom　of　movement；　not　so　useful　in　that　it　offered　that　same　freedom　to　everyone　else；　too。
　The　light　switch　was　by　the　door。　I　punched　it　to　nighttime　dim；　then　crossed　the　room　and　lay　down　on　the　bottom　bunk。　Unrolling　the　blanket　over　me；　I　slid　my　plasmic　under　the　pillow；　where　it　would　be　available　if　needed；　and　closed　my　eyes。　With　unpleasant　images　of　a　frowning　Uncle　Arthur　flickering　behind　my　eyelids；　I　fell　asleep。
　*　*　*
　　
　I　AWOKE　SLOWLY；　in　slightly　disoriented　stages；　vaguely　aware　that　something　was　wrong　but　not　exactly　sure　what。　The　light　was　still　at　the　dim　level　I'd　set；　the　door　was　still　closed；　and　I　was　still　alone　in　the　cabin。　The　rhythmic　drone　of　the　environmental　system　was　still　vibrating　gently　through　the　air　and　hull　around　me。　The　deeper　hum　of　the　stardrive…
　The　deeper　hum　of　the　stardrive　wasn't　there。
　The　Icarus　had　stopped。
　I　had　my　boots　and　jacket　on　in　fifteen　seconds　flat；　almost　forgetting　to　grab　my　plasmic　in　my　rush　to　get　out　of　the　room。　I　hurried　out　into　the　corridor；　went　up　the　forward　ladder　like　a　cork　out　of　a　bottle；　and　charged　into　the　bridge。
　Seated　in　the　restraint　chair；　Tera　turned　a　mildly　questioning　eye　in　my　direction。　〃I　thought　you　were　asleep；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　have　we　stopped？〃　I　demanded。
　Her　eyebrows　lifted　a　bit　higher。　〃We've　got　another　hull　ridge；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃Chort's　getting　ready　to　go　out　and　fix　it。〃
　I　scowled　past　her　at　the　displays。　Sure　enough；　the　new　camera　I'd　had　Ixil　and　Shawn　install　in　the　wraparound　showed　two　space…suited　figures　just　sealing　the　pressure　door　behind　them。　One　was　obviously　Chort；　the　other　was　just　as　obviously　Ixil。　〃You　should　have　called　me；〃　I　growled。
　〃Why？〃　she　countered。　〃There's　nothing　to　this　operation　that　the　pilot　needs　to　have　a　hand　in。　Besides；　you're　off…duty；　remember？　Go　back　to　bed。〃
　The　radio　speaker　clicked。　〃We're　ready；　Tera；〃　Ixil's　voice　said。　〃You　can　shut　down　the　grav　generator。〃
　〃Acknowledged；〃　Tera　said；　flipping　back　the　safety　cover　and　turning　the　switch　ninety　degrees。　〃Shutting　off　gravity　generator　now。〃
　She　pushed　the　switch；　and　I　went　through　the　usual　momentary　disorientation　before　my　stomach　settled　down。　〃Go　back　to　bed；〃　Tera　repeated；　her　eyes　on　the　monitors。　〃I'll　call　you　if　there's　a　problem。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　would；〃　I　said　shortly。　Once　again；　it　seemed；　I　had　managed　to　embarrass　myself　in　front　of　this　woman。　This　was　getting　to　be　a　very　bad　habit。　〃I'll　stay　a　bit。〃
　〃I　don't　need　you；〃　she　said　flatly；　flicking　a　single　glowering　glance　at　me　and　then　turning　her　attention　back　to　the　monitors。　〃More　to　the　point；　I　don't　want　you。　Go　away。〃
　〃Do　we　know　where　the　ridge　is？〃　I　asked；　ignoring　the　order。
　〃Big　sphere；　starboard　side；〃　she　said。　〃Chort　thinks　it's　a　small　one。〃
　〃Let's　hope　he's　right。〃
　She　didn't　answer。　For　a　few　minutes　we　watched　the　monitors　together　in　silence；　anxious　silence　on　my　part；　frosty　silence　on　hers。　I　presumed　that　Ixil　had　made　it　his　business　to　make　sure　the　grav　generator　couldn't　impulsively　go　on…line　again；　but　I　didn't　know　for　sure；　and　I　didn't　want　to　ask　him　about　it　on　an　open　radio　channel。　I　tried　to　figure　out　how　I　would　lock　down　the　generator　if　it　was　up　to　me；　but　I　didn't　know　enough　about　the　intricacies　of　the　system。
　〃You　two　been　flying　together　long？〃　Tera　broke　into　my　thoughts。
　I　blinked　at　her　in　mild　surprise。　Casual　conversation　from　Tera　was　something　new　in　my　admittedly　brief　acquaintance　with　her。　〃Six　years；〃　I　told　her。　〃I　took　him　on　about　a　year　after　I　bought　the　Stormy　Banks。　I　figured　having　a　partner　would　help　me　run　cargoes　faster　and　more　efficiently　and　bring　in　more　money。〃
　〃I　take　it　it　didn't　work？〃
　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃　I　countered；　long　experience　with　that　question　putting　automatic　defensiveness　into　my　voice。
　〃You're　here；　aren't　you？〃　she　said。　〃Sorry…I　didn't　mean　that　the　way　it　sounded。　With　the　Patth　handling　almost　everything　worth　shipping　these　days；　it's　a　wonder　everyone　else　hasn't　been　driven　out　of　business。〃
　〃Give　them　a　few　more　years；〃　I　said　sourly。　〃The　way　they're　going；　it　won't　be　long　before　they　have　it　all。〃
　〃At　least　everything　legitimate；〃　she　said；　giving　me　a　sideways　look。　〃You　do　run　legitimate　cargoes；　don't　you；　McKell？〃
　〃Every　single　chance　I　get；〃　I　said；　trying　to　put　a　touch　of　levity　into　my　tone　as　I　gazed　at　her　profile；　wishing　I　could　read　what　was　going　on　behind　those　hazel　eyes　of　hers。　Had　she　talked　to　someone　while　we　were　on　Xathru？　Heard　something；　perhaps；　about　my　forced　affiliation　with　Brother　John　and　the　Antoniewicz　organization？　〃What　about　you？〃　I　asked；　hoping　to　change　the　subject。　〃How　long　have　you　been　flying？〃
　〃Not　long；〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　do　when　you　can't　get　legitimate　work？〃
　So　much　for　changing　the　subject。　〃Sometimes　we're　able　to　pick　up　intrasystem　cargoes；〃　I　told　her。　〃Occasionally　we　have　to　find　temp　jobs　in　whatever　port　we're　stuck　in　until　something　es　along。　Mostly；　we　eat　real　light。〃
　〃You're　not　a　big　fan　of　the　Patth；　then；　I　take　it？〃
　〃No　one　who　hauls　cargo　for　a　living　is　a　fan　of　the　Patth；〃　I　said　darkly；　my　conversation　with　Nicabar　flashing　to　mind。　〃Is　this　your　subtle　way　of　suggesting　we　might　be　carrying　a　Patth　cargo？〃
　There　were　a　lot　of　things；　I　knew；　that　a　petent　actress　could　do　with