tz.theicarushunt-第74部分

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luck　came　in：　Chort　returned　to　the　ship　about　the　same　time　and　decided　they　shouldn't　go　in　without　the　captain　being　there。　So　he　blocked　their　path；　and　no　one　in　the　Spiral　goes　out　of　their　way　to　irritate　Crooea。　The　Najik　were　probably　in　the　process　of　discussing　protocol　with　their　HQ　when　the　third　and　final　bit　of　bad　luck　arrived。〃
　〃You？〃　Nicabar　suggested。
　〃Me；〃　I　confirmed。　〃Ryland　knew　how　far　across　the　city　he　had　sent　me　for　the　borandis；　and　figured　the　whole　thing　would　be　over　and　done　with　long　before　I　could　make　it　back。　What　he　didn't　know　was　that　the　sky　was　going　to　open　up　and　rain　small　mammals；　and　that　as　a　result　I　would　hire　a　cab　instead　of　using　the　more　anonymous　public　transports　the　way　his　employees　are　supposed　to。　At　any　rate；　I　got　back　in　time　to　bluff　the　Najik　out　of　a　real　search；　and　we　were　off　again。〃
　〃An　amazing　bit　of　deduction；〃　Everett　mented；　shaking　his　head　in　feigned　wonderment。　Apparently；　he　still　wasn't　ready　to　give　it　up。　〃Seriously　flawed；　of　course；　but　still　interesting　to　listen　to。　Tell　me　this；　then；　Mr。　Detective：　If　I　was　so　determined　to　get　you　or　Ixil；　why　did　I　risk　my　life　to　help　get　you　away　from　the　Patth　on　Palmary？　To　the　point　of　even　getting　shot；　as　you　may　recall？〃
　〃Oh；　I　recall；　all　right；〃　I　said　with　a　nod。　〃And　the　reason　is　simple；　even　if　the　rest　of　the　details　are　a　little　murky。　You　didn't　hurt　Ixil　or　me　because　by　then　you　knew　just　how　valuable　the　Icarus　really　was　and　that　Ryland　would　definitely　want　to　get　hold　of　it　himself。　You　needed　a　pilot　to　get　off　the　planet；　hence；　the　selfless　volunteer　work。〃
　With　my　free　hand　I　gestured　to　Nicabar。　〃Revs；　however；　was　a　different　and　more　serious　matter　entirely。　You　needed　a　pilot　and　an　engine　specialist　to　fly　the　Icarus；　but　with　Ixil　and　Revs　both　around；　you　had　two　engine　specialists。　Under　other　circumstances　you　probably　would　have　been　happy　to　have　the　duplication；　but　sometime　in　the　preparation　for　my　rescue　Revs　must　have　let　it　slip　that　he　was　an　ex…EarthGuard　Marine。　That　was　great　for　getting　me　out；　but　not　so　great　when　you　looked　further　down　the　line。
　〃And　so；　when　Ixil　left　you　in　the　main　club　room　as　rear　guard；　you　propped　up　one　of　the　dead　Iykams　in　a　likely　position　behind　some　of　the　tables；　picked　out　a　spot　nearby；　and　then　shot　yourself　in　the　leg。〃
　〃He　shot　himself？〃　Chort　whistled。　〃But　why？〃
　〃Two　reasons；〃　I　said。　〃First；　because　he　needed　an　excuse　for　why　he　was　out　of　sight　when　Revs　and　Ixil　brought　me　in　from　the　back　room。　Remember；　he　had　to　shoot　at　Revs　from　concealment　near　where　he'd　set　up　the　dead　Iykam；　then　move　a　couple　of　tables　away　from　there　and　shoot　the　corpse　in　the　back　if　it　was　to　look　plausible。　The　only　possible　reason　he　could　have　for　lying　down　on　the　job　was　if　he'd　been　shot。〃
　I　shrugged。　〃As　it　happened；　he　wasn't　as　good　or　as　lucky　as　he'd　hoped；　and　was　only　able　to　wound　Revs　instead　of　killing　him。　Still；　for　putting　him　more　or　less　out　of　action　it　was　good　enough。〃
　I　was　looking　directly　at　Everett　as　I　spoke；　and　so　it　was　that　I　caught　the　flicker　of　relief　that　crossed　his　face　just　before　the　quiet　and　all…too…familiar　voice　came　from　the　archway　behind　me。　〃Very　clever；　Jordan；〃　the　voice　said。　〃Very　clever　indeed。〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　as　the　rest　of　the　people　around　the　table　once　again　became　stunned　marble　statues。　〃And　the　second　reason　he　shot　himself；〃　I　added；　letting　the　breath　out　in　a　resigned　sigh；　〃was　that　he　wanted　an　excuse　to　stay　aboard　the　Icarus　after　the　rest　of　us　came　up　here　to　the　lodge。　That　Starrm　call　he'd　made；　you　see；　wasn't　to　any　doctor　friend。〃
　With　my　free　hand；　not　turning　or　even　looking　around；　I　gestured　to　the　archway　behind　me。　〃May　I　introduce　you　all　to　Johnston　Scotto　Ryland。〃
　　
　
　
　CHAPTER　24
　
　〃I'M　IMPRESSED；　JORDAN；　really　I　am；〃　Brother　John　said；　his　voice　acpanied　by　the　sound　of　measured　footsteps　ing　toward　me　across　the　wooden　floor。　〃So　that's　why　you　were　sitting　on　the　portico　all　afternoon；　was　it？　Waiting　to　see　if　I'd　show　up？〃
　〃Not　really；〃　I　told　him。　〃No…don't　try　it；〃　I　added；　shifting　my　aim　toward　Nicabar　as　he　began　to　ease　one　hand　toward　the　edge　of　the　table。
　〃Yes；　do　listen　to　the　man；〃　Brother　John　agreed。　〃At　least；　if　you　want　to　live。　You　can　put　your　gun　down；　too；　Jordan；　there's　a　good　boy。　So　you　didn't　expect　me　to　show　up？〃
　〃Not　while　I　was　watching；　no；〃　I　said；　laying　my　plasmic　on　the　table　and　only　then　half　turning　to　look　around　behind　me。　Brother　John　was　standing　in　the　archway；　beaming　with　apparent　ease　in　our　direction；　as　six　of　the　biggest　and　meanest…looking　thugs　I'd　ever　seen　strode　purposefully　toward　us。　Their　faces　were　without　a　doubt　those　of　casual　killers；　the　large　black　guns　they　were　pointing　at　us　made　my　plasmic　look　like　a　toy　in　parison。　〃I　assumed　Everett　was　watching　the　cliffs　behind　the　lodge；　waiting　for　you　to　arrive。〃
　〃Don't　be　absurd；〃　Brother　John　said。　His　voice　was　still　cheerful；　but　there　was　a　sudden　undercurrent　of　menace　beneath　it。　〃You　don't　really　think　I'd　have　let　you　get　here　ahead　of　us；　do　you？　We've　been　waiting　in　the　back　wing　of　the　lodge　for　almost　a　day　now。　No；　I　think　you　were　waiting　for　Everett　to　get　tired　of　his　vigil　and　e　inside。〃
　〃What　exactly　is　going　on　here？〃　Tera　asked；　her　voice　trying　hard　to　be　calm　but　not　entirely　succeeding。
　〃I　should　think　that　was　obvious；〃　Brother　John　said；　his　gaze　still　on　me。　〃We're　taking　the　Icarus　and　its　alien　stardrive　off　your　hands。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　hadn't　gotten　to　that　part　yet；〃　I　said　apologetically；　turning　back　to　the　table。　The　bodyguards　had　reached　us　now；　and　as　four　of　them　stood　watch　the　other　two　hauled　Ixil　and　Chort　to　their　feet　and　began　a　quick　but　thorough　frisking。　〃Everett　was　told　to　lure　us　here　with　the　promise　of　a　safe　haven。　Mr。　Ryland　and　his　people　were；　we　know　now；　waiting　in　hiding　here　in　the　fort　of　the　lodge。　As　soon　as　the　rest　of　us　were　inside　out　of　the　way；　the　plan　was　to　sneak　out　to　the　ship　and　take　off；　leaving　us　stranded。〃
　The　thugs　found　no　weapons　on　Ixil　or　Chort；　pushed　them　back　down　into　their　chairs；　and　moved　on　to　Tera　and　Shawn。　〃I'm　surprised　they　didn't　just　line　us　up　and　shoot　us；〃　Tera　bit　out；　glaring　ice…shredders　at　Brother　John　and　ignoring　as　best　she　could　the　hands　moving　over　her　body。
　〃You　underestimate　Mr。　Ryland；〃　I　told　her。
　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　Brother　John　seconded。　〃After　all；　you　already　owe　me　your　lives　once　over。　It　was　my　people　on　Palmary　who　stood　guard　over　the　spaceport　during　your　mad　rush　off　the　planet。　As　well　as　in　the　control　tower；　I　might　add。〃
　〃I　wondered　why　we　got　away　so　easily；〃　Nicabar　murmured。　〃The　least　the　Patth　should　have　done　was　lock　down　all　departures。〃
　〃They　tried；〃　Brother　John　said；　beaming　some　more。　〃Indeed　they　did。　The　pressure　was　applied；　and　the　governmental　authorities　had　given　the　orders。　Somehow；　though；　the　controllers　were　able　to　see　through　to　a　better　and　more　enlightened　reasoning。〃
　〃We　do　owe　him　that；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　when　I　said　you'd　underestimated　him；　Tera；　I　was　referring　to　something　else　entirely。　Mr。　Ryland　would　never　think　of　killing　us　here。　Not　when　he　can　make　a　little　extra　money　by　turning　us　over　to　the　Patth。〃
　Tera　stared　at　me；　her　mouth　dropping　open。　〃Are　you　saying…？〃　She　looked　back　at　Brother　John。　〃You　are　a　slime。〃
　〃I'd　warn　your　lady　friend　to　be　quiet；　Jordan；〃　Brother　John　said；　a　mid…November　chill　in　his　voice。　〃Particularly　since　the　value　of　your　lives　has　decreased　markedly　in　the　past　three　minutes。〃
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　Nicabar　asked　calmly。　The　thugs　had　relieved　Tera　of　her　pepperbox　shotgun　pistol；　and　now　it　was　Nicabar's　and　my　turn。
　〃He　means　he　wasn't　planning　to　sell　us　to　the　Patth　just　to　pick　up　a　little　spare　change；〃　I　explained；　wincing　as　the　searching　hands　ran　afoul　of　my　assortment　of　sore　muscles　and　joints。　〃It　was　mainly　to　buy　him　more　time　to　get　the　Icarus　out　of　here　and　bury　it　somewhere。　Since　none　of　us　would　know　what　had　happened　to　the　ship；　the　Patth　could　interrogate　us　until　June　without　learning　anything　that　would　do　them　any　good。〃
　〃Nice　guys；〃　Shawn　muttered；　shying　back　as　one　of　the　thugs　sent　him　a　warning　look。
　〃You　know；　Jordan；　I　do　believe　I've　been　guilty　of　underestimating　you；〃　Brother　John　said　as　one　of　the　searchers　found　Nicabar's　Kochran…Uzi　and　tucked　it　away。　〃No；　no；　don't　sit；〃　he　added　as　they　started　to　push　the　two　of　us　back　into　our　seats。　〃You　and　your　alien　partner　are　ing　with　me。　You　realize　you　never　told　me　he　was　an　alien？〃
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　I　said。　〃Which　was　why　Everett　was　able　to　mistake　Jones　for　my　partner　in　the　first　place。　You　hadn't　told　him　Ixil　was　an　alien　because　at　the　time　you　didn't　know　it　yourself。〃
　〃I　hate　aliens；〃　Brother　John　said　conversationally。　〃Almost　as　much　as　I　hate　alien…lovers。　Everett；　you　might　as　well　e　with　us；　too。　The　rest　of　you　will　stay　here　while　we　decide　what　to　do　with　you。〃
　〃You　might　want　the　girl；　too；　Mr。　Ryland；〃　Everett　said；　gesturing　toward　Tera　as　he　got　to　his　feet。　〃McKell　says　she's　Arno　Cameron's　daughter。〃
　〃Really；〃　Brother　John　said；　and　for　the　first　time　since　he'd　e　in　I　saw　a　flicker　of　genuine　surprise　cross　his　face。　〃By　all　means；　bring　her　along。　After　all；　McKell　might　need　extra　persuasion。〃
　〃Persuasion？〃　Nicabar　asked　as　the　nearest　thug　hauled　Tera　back　to　her　feet。
　〃Yes；〃　Brother　John　said；　his　voice　suddenly　dark。　〃It　seems　our　too…too…clever　alien…lover　did　something　to　the　Icarus's　control　systems。　Our　people　can't　get　anything　to　work。〃
　〃I　didn't　want　you　leaving　without　having　a　chance　for　this　little　chat；〃　I　said　mildly；　looking　over　at　Everett。　〃Everett；　tell　the　truth。　You　put　up　a　good　show　here；　but　you　really　did　kill　Jones；　didn't　you？〃
　He　snorted。　〃So　for　all　that　bluster　you　really　didn't　know　for　sure；　huh？〃　he　sneered。　〃Of　course　I　killed　him。　What；　you　think　Chort　did　it？〃
　〃Just　wanted　to　make　sure；〃　I　murmured。
　〃Glad　we　could　clear　that　up；〃　Brother　John　said。　〃Dar；　Kinrick；　you　stay　here。　The　rest　of　you；　e　with　me。〃
　The　walk　back　to　the　Icarus　seemed　a　lot　longer　thi