tz.theicarushunt-第68部分

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　I　sighed。　We　were；　without　a　doubt；　just　exactly　the　right　men　to　be　challenging　the　giant　octopus　of　Patth　economic　domination。　Humanity　was　counting　on　us；　and　humanity　was　in　trouble。　〃Tell　me　some　more　good　news；〃　I　said　sourly。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　can；〃　he　said；　digging　out　a　bottle　of　painkillers　and　tossing　it　to　me。　〃I've　found　us　a　safe　haven。　A　temporary　one；　at　least。〃
　I　frowned　at　him。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃I　got　in　touch　with　a　friend　of　mine　on　my　way　over　from　the　ship；〃　he　said；　dropping　his　voice。　〃Called　him　on　that　Starrm　station　by　the　tram　lines。　He's　a　retired　doctor；　one　of　my　instructors　when　I　went　through　med　training。　He's　running　a　private　ski　and　ice…climbing　place　now　on　a　quiet　little　resort　world　about　five　days　away；　plete　with　a　small　but　full…service　landing　area。　Fuel　supply；　landing…pad　repulsors；　perimeter　lift…assist　grav　beams…the　works。〃
　〃He'll　be　used　to　private　yachts　there；〃　Nicabar　pointed　out　doubtfully。　〃Can　he　handle　a　ship　the　size　of　the　Icarus？〃
　〃I　spelled　out　the　dimensions　and　he　says　he　can；〃　Everett　said。　〃And　it's　off…season　there　right　now；　which　means　the　place　is　deserted。〃
　〃Other　towns？〃　Ixil　asked。
　〃Nearest　is　two　hundred　kilometers　away；〃　Everett　said。　〃We'll　have　time　to　finish　the　camouflage　work　on　the　ship　and　give　all　these　burns　some　healing　time。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　still　further。　〃We　might　even　be　able　to　get　the　stardrive　working。〃
　〃Sounds　too　good　to　be　true；〃　I　said。　〃What's　the　catch？〃
　〃No　catch；〃　Everett　said。　〃He　has　no　idea　who　or　what　we　are…I　told　him　you　were　a　group　of　investors　interested　in　buying　into　resorts　like　his　and　pouring　expansion　money　into　the　more　successful　ones。　He　won't　even　be　there…he's　heading　out　in　two　days　on　an　equipment…buying　trip。　We'll　have　the　whole　place　to　ourselves。〃
　I　looked　at　Ixil　and　lifted　my　eyebrows　questioningly。　He　shrugged　slightly　in　reply；　his　expression　mirroring　my　own　thoughts。　Even　if　this　turned　out　to　be　a　trap；　given　that　the　Patth　were　already　breathing　down　our　necks　we　didn't　have　a　lot　to　lose。　At　least　with　a　trap　set　the　Patth　and　Iykams　might　not　be　so　quick　to　flail　around　with　blunt　objects；　a　restraint　that　would　not　only　give　my　head　a　chance　to　heal　but　would　also　automatically　raise　our　chances　of　slipping　or　fighting　our　way　out　of　it。　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃We'll　try　it。　Where　is　this　place？〃
　Everett　hesitated；　glancing　around　the　darkened　room。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃Out　here　in　the　open…you　know。〃
　〃I　want　to　know　now；〃　I　told　him；　moving　close　and　putting　my　ear　to　his　lips。　〃Just　whisper　it。〃
　He　sighed；　his　breath　unpleasantly　warm　on　my　cheek。　〃It's　on　Beyscrim；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　northwest　section　of　the　Highlandia　continent。〃
　〃Got　it；〃　I　said；　getting　a　grip　under　his　arm。　He　was　right；　even　whispering　it　in　here　was　risky。　But　I　needed　to　know；　and　I　needed　to　know　before　we　got　back　to　the　ship。　〃Okay。　Now　we　can　go。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　21
　
　AFTER　ALL　THE　firepower　that　had　been　expended　inside　the　club；　I'd　half　expected　to　find　a　wall　of　local　police　surrounding　the　place　as　we　slipped　out　the　emergency　exit　and　down　the　alley　onto　the　crowded　k'Barch　streets。　But　to　my　mild　surprise　not　a　single　badgeman　was　visible　anywhere　among　the　colorfully　dressed　celebrants。　Either　they　just　hadn't　made　it　to　the　scene　yet　because　of　the　crowds　or　because　they　were　tied　up　with　other　more　pressing　business；　or　else　a　little　good…natured　gunplay　wasn't　remarkable　enough　during　the　Grand　Feast　to　warrant　official　attention。
　Especially　without　the　club's　ownership　making　any　plaints；　and　it　was　for　sure　that　Ambassador　Nask　wouldn't　have　risked　losing　Patth　control　of　the　Icarus　by　calling　the　local　authorities　in。
　Which　was　just　as　well；　considering　how　much　trouble　we　had　making　our　escape　even　without　governmental　interference。　Now　that　it　was　full　night；　the　crowds　filling　the　streets　were　at　least　twice　as　dense　as　they'd　been　when　I'd　first　arrived；　and　it　seemed　like　every　third　step　one　of　us　managed　to　get　jostled　or　bumped　in　a　tender　spot　by　some　boisterous　or　flat…out　drunk　reveler。　Even　the　high…quality　painkillers　and　anesthetic　pads　Cameron　had　stocked　the　Icarus　with　could　only　do　so　much；　and　by　the　end　of　the　second　block　I　was　about　ready　to　haul　out　my　plasmic　and　start　shooting　us　a　clear　path。
　Adding　to　the　physical　torture　of　pushing　through　the　morass　was　the　tension　of　wondering　if　and　when　the　Patth　would　be　able　to　regroup　for　another　stab　at　us。　Even　in　a　multispecies　gathering　like　this　Ixil　and　his　ferrets　stood　out；　drawing　far　more　attention　than　any　of　us　liked。　But　like　the　badgemen；　the　Patth　and　their　Iykami　minions　failed　to　materialize。　Either　we'd　already　taken　out　the　bulk　of　their　force；　or　else　Nask　had　decided　to　concentrate　whatever　he　had　left　on　the　various　spaceport　entrances　instead　of　trying　to　b　the　entire　city。　I　could　only　hope　that　the　informally　thrown…together　Bangrot　Spaceport　wouldn't　have　made　it　onto　his　map。
　It　turned　out　that　the　night…to…dawn　club　wasn't　too　far　from　the　pharmacy　where　the　Iykams　had　jumped　me；　which　was　itself　not　very　far　from　the　tram　station　where　I'd　first　gotten　off。　But　from　the　unfamiliar　terrain　we　quickly　passed　into；　it　was　clear　that　Ixil　was　leading　us　in　a　different　direction　entirely。　I　understood　the　tactical　reasoning　behind　the　plan：　The　nearest　station　would　naturally　be　where　the　Patth　would　concentrate　any　observers　they　might　be　able　to　pull　together。　But　at　the　same　time；　I　found　myself　privately　grousing　at　having　to　put　up　with　more　of　this　than　I　absolutely　had　to。
　But　we　made　it　through　the　crowds；　and　my　head　didn't　fall　off　along　the　way；　and　finally　I　saw　the　undulating　sign　of　a　tram　station　ahead　of　us。　〃Wait　here；〃　Ixil　said；　steering　the　three　of　us　into　the　mouth　of　another　alleyway。　〃I'll　go　check　for　unwele　pany。〃
　〃Right；〃　I　said；　helping　him　ease　Everett　to　the　ground。　〃The　k'Tra　might　have　monitor　cameras　in　there；　too。〃
　〃I'll　take　care　of　them；〃　he　promised。　Two　steps　later；　he　was　lost　to　sight　among　the　teeming　multitudes。
　〃What　was　all　that　about　monitors？〃　Everett　asked；　rubbing　his　leg　at　the　edge　of　the　burn　pad。
　〃Monitor　cameras　can　be　used　by　people　other　than　those　who　set　them　up；〃　I　told　him。　〃It　could　be　the　Patth　aren't　bothering　to　look　for　us　out　here　because　they've　already　tapped　into　the　k'Tra　citywide　monitor　system。〃
　〃A　fact　Ixil　seemed　to　pick　up　on　right　away；〃　Nicabar　said。　He　was　leaning　against　the　opposite　wall　from　me；　regarding　me　with　a　thoughtful　expression。　〃Has　he　had　any　military　experience；　McKell？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃We　started　flying　the　Stormy　Banks　together　about　six　years　ago；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　can't　recall　him　ever　mentioning　military　service　in　any　of　that　time。〃
　〃Interesting；〃　Nicabar　said。　He　had　closed　his　eyes；　and　I　saw　now　that　what　I'd　taken　to　be　thoughtfulness　was　merely　a　deep　fatigue。　〃In　some　ways　he　thinks　like　a　military　man。〃
　〃Probably　my　influence；〃　I　said。　〃I　had　five　years　in　EarthGuard　back　in　my　twenties。〃
　〃Yes；　Tera　told　me　a　little　about　your　career；〃　Nicabar　said；　opening　his　eyes　briefly；　then　closing　them　again。　〃Anyway；　I　hope　you　realize　what　a　good　partner　you've　got　there。〃
　I　didn't　straighten　up；　or　inhale　sharply；　or　do　any　of　the　other　things　that　traditionally　acpany　a　moment　of　blinding　epiphany。　But　with　Nicabar's　words；　the　last　of　the　stubborn　pieces　finally　fell　into　place。　I　knew　now　who　had　murdered　Jones；　had　tried　to　murder　Ixil；　and　had　been　working　at　cross…purposes　to　us　ever　since　the　Icarus　lifted　off　Meima。
　And　perhaps　even　more　important；　I　knew　why。
　I　was　still　working　out　all　the　ramifications　when　Ixil　reappeared　in　the　alleyway。　〃All　clear；〃　he　said；　offering　Everett　a　hand。　〃I　can　see　the　lights　of　an　ining　tram　headed　our　direction。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said；　helping　him　get　Everett　to　his　feet。　〃You　three　get　going。　I'll　meet　you　back　at　the　ship。〃
　They　looked　at　me　as　if　I'd　just　sprouted　a　second　head。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Nicabar　demanded。
　〃I'm　talking　about　finishing　the　job　I　came　here　to　do；〃　I　said。　〃I　never　had　a　chance　to　get　Shawn's　borandis。　Speaking　of　which；　Nask　has　all　my　cash。〃
　〃I'll　go　get　the　borandis；〃　Ixil　volunteered。　〃You　head　back　with　the　others。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃They're　walking　wounded；　Ixil；〃　I　reminded　him。　〃You're　the　only　able…bodied　person　we've　got　this　side　of　the　ship。　They　need　you　to　help　them　get　back　safely。〃
　〃But　what　about　you？〃　Everett　objected。　〃It's　not　exactly　safe　for　you　to　wander　around　alone；　you　know。〃
　〃He's　right；〃　Nicabar　agreed。　〃Ixil；　you　help　Everett　back。　I'll　go　with　McKell。〃
　〃Ixil　might　need　your　help；　too；〃　I　said。　〃Everett　could　still　go　into　delayed　shock　and　have　to　be　carried。　For　that　matter；　Revs；　you　could　go　into　shock；　and　there's　no　way　in　hell　I　could　lug　you　back　by　myself。〃　I　craned　my　neck。　〃And　if　you　don't　get　moving；　you're　going　to　miss　this　tram。〃
　〃But…〃　Nicabar　began。
　〃Save　your　breath；〃　Ixil　advised；　settling　Everett's　arm　in　place　over　his　shoulder；　Pix　and　Pax　scrabbling　around　for　new　positions　out　of　the　way。　〃It's　no　use　arguing　with　him　when　he's　made　up　his　mind　this　way。〃
　〃And　what　if　the　Iykams　find　him？〃　Nicabar　growled。
　〃The　Iykams　are　dead　or　scattered；〃　I　said。　〃Personally；　I'm　more　worried　about　what'll　happen　if　the　Patth　stumble　onto　the　ship　and　none　of　you　are　there　to　defend　it。　Or　do　you　really　think　Tera　and　Chort　can　hold　off　a　concerted　attack　by　themselves？〃
　〃I　suppose　he's　right；〃　Everett　said　reluctantly。
　〃Of　course　I'm　right；〃　I　said。　〃Give　me　one　hour　after　you　get　to　the　ship　for　me　to　catch　up　with　you。　If　I'm　not　back；　Ixil；　you'd　better　try　lifting　off。　Head　for　Everett's　hiding　place；　and　I'll　try　to　catch　up　with　you。　And　let　me　have　some　money；　will　you？〃
　〃Here；〃　Ixil　said；　pulling　out　his　wallet　and　handing　it　to　me；　his　eyes　steady　on　my　face。　〃There　should　be　enough　there。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said　as　I　took　it。　There　was　a　lot　he　wanted　to　say；　I　could　tell；　but　didn't　dare　do　so　in　front　of　the　others。　〃Now　get　going。〃
　Ixil　nodded。　〃Be　careful。〃
　〃Trust　me；〃　I　promised。
　They　headed　out；　varying　degrees　of　unhappiness　m