tz.theicarushunt-第61部分
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ing before we're ready？〃
〃In that case； we're back to the question of why he didn't betray us earlier and save everyone a lot of trouble；〃 I reminded him。
〃I suppose。〃 He eyed me closely。 〃You wouldn't be holding out on me； would you？〃
〃Holding out how？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 he said with a shrug。 〃Actually considering offering the Icarus to Brother John without consulting me first； for example。〃
〃Don't be silly；〃 I said； putting some huff into my voice。 〃Though you have to admit that would be one way to keep it safe。〃
〃 'Safe' being an extremely relative term。〃
〃True；〃 I conceded。 〃Still； Brother John could probably give even the Patth a pretty good run for their money。〃
〃And of course； turning such a plum over to him would give us a giant step up in the Antoniewicz organization；〃 he continued。 〃Don't pretend that hadn't already occurred to you； either。〃
〃Occurred； pondered； and dismissed；〃 I assured him。 〃I have plenty of faults； but ambition on that scale isn't one of them。〃 I cocked an eyebrow at him。 〃Unless you'd like to take a shot at it。〃
〃What； be the first nonhuman in Antoniewicz's direct line of mand？〃 he asked dryly。 〃Thanks； but I think I'll pass。〃
I waved a hand。 〃Up to you。 By the way； do you happen to know if Nicabar's gotten Shawn back inside the ship yet？〃
〃Yes； they came in while you were inside the small sphere；〃 he said。 〃Tera will let us know when the wraparound's been repressurized。〃 He cocked his head to the side。 〃She seemed rather annoyed you'd gotten yourself trapped on this side of the wraparound when you had work to do over there。〃
〃Actually； there's very little work left to do；〃 I said with a shrug。 〃I already know where we're heading。〃
〃And that is？〃
I cleared my throat。 〃I thought we'd try the Grand Feast of Plorins on Palmary。〃
The ferrets twitched again； quite impressively this time。 〃You are joking；〃 Ixil said。 〃The Grand Feast of Plorins？〃
〃Can you think of a better place to hide than square in the middle of a wall…to…wall crowd of people？〃 I asked reasonably。
〃With half the thieves； lifters； and cons for two hundred light…years working that same crowd？〃 he countered。 〃And； as a consequence； half the badgemen for the same two hundred light…years there to keep an eye on them？ And both groups busy looking for us？〃
〃Of course it's crazy；〃 I agreed。 〃That's why no one will be expecting it。〃
He shook his head。 But at least the ferrets had settled down again。 He must be getting used to the idea。 〃 'Crazy' isn't nearly strong enough a word；〃 he said with a sigh。 〃But under the circumstances I suppose it's as good a plan as any。〃
〃That's the spirit；〃 I said approvingly。 〃Besides； they'll be watching every port within a thousand light…years of Utheno anyway。 The bigger the clog of space traffic we sneak in under； the better the chances they'll miss us pletely。〃
He gave me one of his repertoire of sour looks。 〃And the more confusion and panic we can stir up if they don't？〃
I shrugged。 〃Something like that。〃
The inter clicked。 〃McKell？〃 Tera's voice came。 〃Wraparound's ready again。 You feel like getting your butt in here and finding us a place to land？〃
〃Yes； dear；〃 I murmured。
〃What was that？〃
〃I said I'll be right there；〃 I said。 〃And tell Revs to get back here and give Ixil a hand with the startup procedure。〃
* * *
PALMARY WAS ONE of those semi…independent colony worlds that； while relatively newly settled； still somehow managed to seem like it had been there forever。 Part of that was the fact that； unlike most colonies； there was no dominant species controlling most of the local real estate。 The Trinkians had found the world about twenty years ago and started its development； but within a few years they'd been joined by Wanch settlers； Porpyfian miners； and k'Tra foresters。 Someone on some news service had touted the place； menting favorably on its egalitarian flavor； and within a few years more the planet was starting to seem almost crowded。
The Grand Feast of Plorins was something the k'Tra had brought with them； and the rest of the egalitarians on the planet had grabbed on to the idea with both hands。 Depending on who you talked to； the Grand Feast was either a deeply meaningful manifestation of esoteric historic and cultural significance； or else the greatest excuse to party the Spiral had ever known。 I assumed the truth was probably somewhere in the middle； where truth has a tendency to lurk anyway； but I was certainly willing to concede the point that millions of beings who had not the slightest interest in k'Tra history or culture nevertheless descended enthusiastically on the planet every year for a three…week bash。
The Grand Feast was sometimes pared to the annual Mardi Gras celebrations that still took place in various places on Earth and its colonies。 Mardi Gras invariably lost。
I had used the hull cameras to take a quick look at the changes that had been made to the ship before we ever took to hyperspace again。 Chort was right： The disguise was far from perfect。 On the other hand； he and his helpers had gotten enough of the plates in place to markedly change both our visual and radar signatures； which was hopefully all we would need to get to the ground without tripping alarms from the underworld to the Patth and back again。
Once we were on the ground； of course； it would be a different story。 Someone who wandered in close for a good look would easily be able to see through the gaps to the distinctive joined spheres beneath。 But I had a couple of ideas for dealing with that one； and anyway； getting to the ground was the first order of business。
After the near disaster at Utheno the situation at Palmary was decidedly anticlimactic。 The official start of the Grand Feast was still three days away； but the hard…core party types were already clogging the space lanes as they headed in to scope out the best celebration spots or just get a head start on the festivities。 With our new silhouette； plus yet another of Ixil's fake IDs identifying us as the Sherman's Blunder； we sailed straight through the prelanding formalities。 A harried…sounding controller directed me to a landing rectangle at the Bangrot Spaceport； a name that didn't even show up on my supposedly prehensive listing； and instructed us to have a good time。
The reason for the lack of a listing was apparent as soon as I got within visual range of the coordinates I'd been given。 The Bangrot Spaceport was nothing more than a large open area stretching across the southern ends of the twin cities Drobney and k'Barch； an area that looked to me like a former condemned building development。 Apparently； the Grand Feast had grown so large they were now having to park spaceships on every reasonably sized vacant lot they could find。
And the official celebration didn't even start for three more days。 Give this whole thing a few years； and they might as well declare it a permanent party and be done with it。
One might have assumed that the Bangrot Expansion Spaceport would be only sparsely settled； with the bulk of the space still waiting for the arrival of the lateers。 But one would have been wrong。 The place was crowded with ships； already crammed in practically nose to tail； with the narrow spaces between them crawling with activity。 As far as this party was concerned； we were the lateers。
I was also a little worried about what would happen to the definitions of 〃up〃 and 〃down〃 inside the Icarus as we went deeper into the Palmary gravity field。 Tera had told us that on Meima the alien gravity generator in the large sphere had been able to cancel out all other gravitational effects； but that was before Cameron's techs had gotten in and started messing around。 If it failed to overe Palmary's gravitational attraction I was going to suddenly find myself lying on my back in my seat as I tried to pilot the ship to the ground。 Or worse； our jury…rigged seating system might fail pletely and I would find myself； my seat； and possibly my entire control board falling to the bottom of the sphere some twenty meters below。
That particular set of fears proved groundless。 With the removal of the metal baffling that had been created by the inner hull； walls； and corridors； the alien generator had e back to full strength； and I didn't feel so much as a flicker of change in the gravity as I eased the Icarus down onto the undersized plot of ground we'd been assigned。
〃Now what？〃 Tera called to me from across the sphere； her voice echoing through the open space as I keyed the ship's systems back to standby。
〃I go scare us up some borandis；〃 I said； craning my neck to look up at her； watching the top of her head as she got up from her seat at the puter and walked toward the wraparound。
〃What about the rest of us？〃 Shawn called up from a quarter of the way around the sphere； at the natural bottom point of the ship。 I'd stationed everyone else except Nicabar down there on the theory that there was no point in letting everyone fall to their deaths if the alien gravity failed。 〃I suppose we're all going to sit around here like we did before and just wait for you？ Twiddling our thumbs or whatever？〃
〃You're wele to twiddle whatever you want；〃 I told him； walking down the curve toward them； 〃since you and Everett are staying in here where he can try to keep you quiet until I get back with the medicine。〃
I pointed at Chort and Tera； the latter approaching the group from the other side。 〃You two and Nicabar； on the other hand； aren't going to have time to twiddle much of anything。 I want the three of you to collect all the emergency lights we've got and start stringing them just inside the gaps in the shroud out there； with the lights shining outward。 All nice and decorative for the Grand Feast； and with any luck the glare will keep everyone from seeing past them to the linked spheres underneath。〃
〃Maybe we could also get hold of some colored transparent sheeting to cover them with；〃 Tera suggested。 〃They'd look even more festive that way。〃
〃Probably would；〃 I agreed。 〃But I don't know how well they've got this temporary spaceport equipped。 I don't want anyone wandering too far afield hunting for anything that's not really vital。〃
〃They've
