tz.theicarushunt-第32部分
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。 〃And without the release key； all they can do is batter at the blocks and hope they crack。〃
〃Which I'm sure they're already doing；〃 Uncle Arthur said darkly。 〃Not a pleasant thing to dwell on； but the point is that the maneuver has bought you some time。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 So much for my embryonic theory that it was one of Cameron's people who had been trying so hard to keep us out of the Icarus's cargo hold。 〃Unfortunately； it's also bought someone else some time； too。〃
〃Explain。〃
I gave him a quick summary of the jinx that had been dogging us ever since leaving Meima。 Or since before our exit； actually； if you counted Cameron's failure to make it to the ship。 〃The incident with Chort and Jones might conceivably have been an accident；〃 I concluded。 〃But not the cutting torch or the lad skulking between hulls with the handy eavesdroppers' kit。 Having the Patth on our tail would have been plenty； but having this added in is way too much of a good thing。〃
〃Indeed；〃 Uncle Arthur said thoughtfully。 〃You have a theory； of course？〃
〃I have one；〃 I said。 〃But I don't think you're going to like it。 You said the Ihmisits thought they spotted Cameron on Meima yesterday。 How certain are they of that？〃
〃As certain as any of these things ever are；〃 he said； his eyes narrowing。 〃Which is to say； not very。 Why； do you think you know where Cameron is？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 I said。 〃I think there's a good chance he's dead。〃
There was another twitch of the beard。 I was right； he didn't like it at all。 〃Explain。〃
〃It's clear that someone doesn't want us getting a look at the cargo；〃 I said。 〃I thought that that someone must be one of the archaeologists； but you've now told me that's impossible。 So it's someone else。 Someone who does know what's in there； and who furthermore has decided that having sole proprietorship of that knowledge will be valuable to him。〃
〃It couldn't be Cameron himself？〃
〃I don't see how；〃 I said； shaking my head。 〃When I first arrived at the Icarus there was a time lock on the hatch； which didn't release until after most of the crew had already assembled。 I examined the lock later； and it had definitely been set the previous afternoon； well before the Ihmisits threw everyone out of the spaceport and locked it down for the night。 There was no way for Cameron to have gotten aboard before the gates opened again； and he certainly didn't get on after we were there。〃
〃And you think that was because he was already dead？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃One of the people he hired to crew the Icarus either knew something about it already or was sufficiently intrigued to take Cameron into a dark alley somewhere and find out exactly what was aboard。〃
〃That would have taken some severe persuasion；〃 Uncle Arthur murmured。
〃Which is why I suspect he's dead；〃 I said。 〃An interrogation that would have gotten him to talk would have left him either dead or incapacitated or drug…atose。 In either of the latter two cases； the Ihmisits or Patth would certainly have found him by now。 In the first case。。。〃 I didn't bother to finish。
〃You may be right；〃 Uncle Arthur said heavily。 〃You will identify this person； of course。〃
〃I certainly intend to try；〃 I said。 〃It would help if I had some more information on this crew I've been saddled with。〃
〃Undoubtedly。 Their names？〃
〃Almont Nicabar； drive specialist； onetime EarthGuard Marine。 Geoff Shawn； electronics。 Has Cole's disease and a resulting borandis addiction。 Any chance you can get some borandis to me； by the way？〃
〃Possibly。 Next？〃
〃Hayden Everett； medic。 Former professional throw…boxer twenty…odd years ago； though I don't know if it was under his own name or not。 Chort； Craea； spacewalker。 Nothing else known。〃
〃With a Craea almost nothing else needs to be known；〃 Uncle Arthur put in。
〃Possibly；〃 I said。 〃I'd like him checked out anyway。 And finally Tera； last name unknown。 She may be a member of one of those religious sects who don't give their full names to strangers； but I haven't yet seen her do anything particularly religious。〃
〃The practice of one's beliefs is not always blatant and obvious；〃 Uncle Arthur reminded me。 〃A quiet look into her cabin for religious paraphernalia at some point might be enlightening。〃
〃I intend to take a quiet look into all their cabins when I get the chance；〃 I assured him。 〃Now： descriptions。。。〃
I ran through everyone's physical description as quickly as I could； knowing that it was all being recorded。 〃How fast can you get this to me？〃 I asked when I was finished。
〃It will take a few hours；〃 he said。 〃Where are you now？〃
〃Potosi； but I have no intention of staying here any longer than I have to；〃 I told him。 〃I don't know where we'll be heading next。 Someplace quiet and peaceful and anonymous would be a nice change of pace。〃
〃You may have to settle for anonymous；〃 he said； his eyes shifting to the side and his shoulders shifting with the subtle movements of someone typing on a keyboard。 〃Is there anything else？〃
〃Actually； yes；〃 I said。 〃We also seem to have a new group of players in the game。〃 I described the incident with the Lumpy Brothers on Xathru； and the coronal…discharge weapons they'd been carrying。 〃Have you heard of either this species or the weapons？〃 I asked when I finished。
〃A qualified yes to both；〃 he said； his eyes still busy off camera。 〃You may recall hearing rumors about a failed covert operation a few years ago in which an elite EarthGuard task force tried to steal data on the Talariac Drive。 Weapons very similar to those you describe were used against them； by guards who also match your description。〃
I sighed。 〃Which makes the Lumpy Clan some kind of Patth client race。〃
〃Very likely；〃 he agreed。 〃Don't sound so surprised。 Certainly their first efforts to find the Icarus would be made quietly； through their own people and agents。 It was only after that failed that they began to approach first the Spiral's criminals and now legitimate governments。〃
I thought about the three Patth Cameron and I had seen in that Meima taverno。 So that was why they'd ventured out of their usual restricted hideouts。 〃Still； it strikes me that they gave up on the quiet approach rather quickly；〃 I pointed out。 〃Could my smoking the Lumpy Brothers really have rattled them that badly？〃
〃I doubt it；〃 he said soberly。 〃More likely it was a matter of new information as to what exactly the prize was they were chasing。〃
And that knowledge had instantly pushed them into an open and increasingly public hunt。 Terrific。 〃This place you're finding for us better be real anonymous；〃 I told him。
〃I believe I can make it so；〃 he said。 〃Can you make Morsh Pon from there in one jump？〃
I felt my eyes narrow。 〃Assuming we can get off Potosi； yes；〃 I said cautiously； wondering if he was really going where I thought he was on this。
He was。 〃Good；〃 he said briskly。 〃The Blue District on Morsh Pon； then； at the Baker's Dozen taverno。 I'll have the information delivered to you there。〃
〃Ah。。。 yes； sir；〃 I said。 Morsh Pon was an Ulko colony world； and the Ulkomaals； like the Najik； had a reputation for great talent at creating wealth。 Unlike the Najik； however； the Ulkomaals relied heavily on the hospitality industry to make their money； specifically hospitality toward the less virtuous members of civilized society at large。 Morsh Pon was a quiet refuge for smugglers and other criminal types； far worse than even Dorscind's World； with the Blue District the worst area on the planet。
Which under normal circumstances； given my connection with Brother John and the Antoniewicz organization； would have made it an ideal place to go to ground。 Unfortunately； the current circumstances were far from normal。 〃I trust you remember； sir；〃 I said diplomatically； 〃that the Patth have invited the entire Spiral underworld out for a drink？〃
〃I remember quite well；〃 he said calmly。 〃It will be taken care of。 Now； I suspect time is growing short。 You'd best get moving。〃
It was； clearly； a dismissal。 I didn't particularly feel like being dismissed yet…there were still several aspects of this whole arrangement I felt like arguing some more。 But when Uncle Arthur said good…bye； he meant good…bye。 Besides； he was right； time was indeed growing short。 〃Yes； sir；〃 I said； suppressing a sigh。 〃I'll be in touch。〃
〃Do that；〃 he said。 The screen blanked； and he was gone。
I collected my change and left the booth。 Once again； I half expected one of Brother John's assassins to jump me in the corridor； once again； it didn't happen。 I snagged a city map from a rack by the main exit doors； located the street intersection called Gystr'n Corner； and headed outside。
The rain that had been threatening earlier was starting to e down now； a scattering of large fat drops that almost seemed to bounce as they hit the ground。 I had already decided that Gystr'n Corner was too far to walk； and now with the rain beginning I further decided not to wait for the public rail system。 Brother John wouldn't like that； his standard orders were for us to take public transportation whenever possible； the better to avoid official backtracks。 But then； Brother John wasn't here getting wet。 Hailing a cab； I gave the driver my destination； told him there would be an extra hundred marks for him if he got me there fast； and all but fell back into the spring…bare seat as he took off like an attack shuttle on wheels。
With the way I'd been spending money like water lately； first with full…vid starconnects and now on cabs； it was just as well I'd relieved that Patth agent on Dorscind's World of all those hundred…mark bills that had been weighing him down。 Now； watching the city； startled vehicle drivers； and outraged pedestrians blurring along past my windows； it occurred to me that perhaps some extra travel…health insurance might have been a good idea； too。 My map's key estimated it to be twenty…three minutes from the Starrm building to Gystr'n Corner。 My driver made it in just over fifteen； probably a new land…speed record for the city； possibly for the entire planet。
Emendo Torsk was there as promised； standing in front of a short cabanalike shelter； his squat Drilie shape almost hidden behind the plex multimusic box he was playing with both his hands and
