tz.theicarushunt-第75部分

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　〃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　this　time。　Brother　John　took　the　lead；　with　Everett　and　one　of　his　men　at　his　sides。　Behind　them；　Ixil；　Tera；　and　I　were　herded　along　by　the　other　three；　who　made　sure　to　keep　us　a　respectful　five　paces　behind　the　others　in　case　one　of　us　suddenly　felt　the　urge　to　mit　suicide　by　trying　to　jump　them。
　It　was　darker　outside　now。　Darker　and　colder；　and　the　light　breeze　that　had　been　rustling　the　leaves　earlier　had　picked　up　into　something　stiff　and　unpleasant。　Which　were；　not　coincidentally；　words　that　also　described　Tera　as　she　stalked　along　in　bitter　silence　beside　me；　undoubtedly　heaping　full　blame　for　the　situation　squarely　on　my　head。　To　be　fair；　it　was　hardly　a　point　of　view　I　could　disagree　with。
　But　at　the　moment　I　didn't　really　care　about　the　cold　or　the　footing　or　Tera's　anger　or　even　the　gun　digging　into　my　left　kidney。　My　entire　attention　was　on　the　dice　I　could　visualize　rolling　across　a　mental　table　in　front　of　my　eyes。　The　dice　had　been　thrown；　the　gamble　had　been　made；　and　in　a　handful　of　minutes　I　would　find　out　whether　I'd　won　or　lost。
　There　was　a　shadowy　figure　waiting　in　the　open　hatchway　as　we　reached　the　Icarus　and　started　up　the　ladder。　Brother　John　went　first；　followed　by　his　bodyguard　and　Everett；　then　Tera；　another　guard；　and　Ixil。　The　other　two　guards　saved　me　for　last；　then　sandwiched　me　between　them　as　the　three　of　us　went　up　the　ladder。　Either　Brother　John　considered　me　the　most　dangerous　of　the　group；　or　else　the　fact　that　I　had　been　the　one　to　gimmick　the　ship　entitled　me　to　special　handling。
　Brother　John　had　gone　on　ahead；　but　Tera　and　Ixil　were　still　waiting　as　I　reached　the　wraparound；　together　with　their　guards；　the　shadowy　figure　I'd　seen　waiting　up　there；　and　two　more　of　his　buddies。　I'd　thought　the　bodyguards　Brother　John　had　brought　to　the　lodge　were　big；　ugly；　and　well　armed；　but　this　latter　group　beat　them　hands　down　on　all　three　counts。　Silently；　they　gestured　with　their　guns；　just　as　silently；　we　walked　along　the　wraparound　to　the　main　sphere。
　The　hatch　to　the　sphere　was　closed。　The　leading　thug　opened　it　and　stepped　through；　bobbling　his　balance　somewhat　as　he　passed　through　the　gravity　change。　Tera　and　Ixil　went　next；　negotiating　the　discontinuity　with　the　grace　of　long　practice。　Holding　my　breath；　I　followed。
　The　sphere　looked　more　or　less　the　way　I'd　left　it　earlier　that　evening；　except　that　the　inner　lights　were　blazing　cheerfully　away　and　that　there　were　another　eight　strangers　glowering　at　us。　Four　of　them；　stamped　from　the　same　mold　as　our　current　escort；　were　standing　in　a　loose　group　near　the　bottom　of　the　sphere；　three　others；　working　diligently　at　my　helm　and　nav　setup　up　the　forward　side　of　the　hull；　were　apparently　the　pilot　and　engine　specialists　who　were　supposed　to　have　had　the　Icarus　well　on　its　way　by　now。
　But　it　was　the　eighth　man　who　caught　my　full　attention；　the　man　waiting　at　the　exact　bottom　of　the　sphere　as　if　not　trusting　the　alien　gravity　that　pinned　his　tech　people　to　the　deck　halfway　up　the　side。　He　was　a　small　man；　at　least　pared　to　the　four　bodyguards　grouped　around　him；　well　past　middle　age　despite　the　signs　of　extensive　rejuvenation　therapy；　wearing　a　dark　and　expensive　suit　and　some　muted　and　even　more　expensive　jewelry。　His　face　was　old；　his　expression　was　impassive；　and　his　eyes　were　as　dead　as　a　thousand…year…old　corpse。　He　was　a　man　I　had　never　met；　but　I　knew　instantly　who　he　was。
　The　rolling　dice　had　e　to　a　halt。　And　I'd　won。
　〃You　must　be　McKell；〃　the　man　said　as　Brother　John　led　us　down　the　hull　toward　him；　his　voice　as　dead　as　his　eyes。
　〃Yes；〃　I　acknowledged。　〃And　you　must　be　Mr。　Antoniewicz。　I'm　very　pleased　to　finally　meet　you。〃
　〃Are　you；〃　he　said。　Some　people；　or　so　the　saying　goes；　can　undress　you　with　their　eyes。　Antoniewicz's　look　was　more　like　stripping　me　straight　down　to　the　bone。　〃Interesting。　Most　of　those　who　are　brought　to　meet　me　are　not　at　all　looking　forward　to　the　experience。　Many　of　them　find　themselves　screaming；　in　fact；　and　don't　seem　able　to　stop。〃
　I　swallowed　despite　myself；　all　the　stories　and　rumors　of　what　happened　to　people　brought　before　Antoniewicz　flashing　through　my　mind。　〃I　understand　that；　sir；〃　I　said　humbly。　〃But　if　I　may　be　so　bold；　I　suspect　none　of　those　others　were　bringing　the　sort　of　gift　I　have　to　offer　you。〃
　The　corners　of　his　lips　might　have　turned　up；　but　it　would　have　taken　a　micrometer　to　measure　it。　The　smile；　if　that's　what　it　was；　made　his　eyes　look　even　deader。　〃Really。　I　was　under　the　impression　that　the　Icarus　was　now　mine　by　simple　right　of　possession。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　I　said；　passing　over　the　fact　that　if　I　hadn't　cooperatively　flown　the　ship　into　his　waiting　arms　it　wouldn't　have　been　in　his　possession。　Considering　the　size　and　number　of　his　bodyguards；　ments　like　that　were　quite　easy　for　me　to　stifle。　〃I　was　actually　speaking　of　something　else　entirely。　Or；　rather；　someone　else　entirely。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Everett　growled；　taking　a　step　toward　me。　〃You　take　credit　for　her　and　I'll　cave　your　face　in。〃
　〃Ryland？〃　Antoniewicz　invited；　gesturing　at　Tera。
　〃Everett　claims　she's　the　daughter　of　Arno　Cameron；〃　Brother　John　said。　I　could　still　hear　the　phony　good　humor　in　his　voice；　but　it　was　curiously　subdued。　Most　everything　good；　I　suspected；　humor　included；　would　darken　or　wilt　in　Antoniewicz's　presence。　〃Cameron's　the　man　who…〃
　〃I　know　who　he　is；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　〃Tell　me　why　Everett　thinks　he　deserves　credit　for　her。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　take　a　moment　to　remind　everyone　that　I'm　not　anyone's　carnival　prize；〃　Tera　cut　in；　glaring　at　each　of　us　in　turn　but　saving　her　most　withering　look　for　me。　I　couldn't　really　blame　her　on　that　count；　either；　if　I　hadn't　revealed　her　identity　during　my　brilliant　summing　up　of　the　case　a　few　minutes　ago；　she'd　be　just　one　more　anonymous　prisoner　back　in　the　lodge。
　I　cleared　my　throat。　〃If　I　might　explain…〃
　〃Quiet；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　He　hadn't　raised　his　voice；　or　changed　his　inflection；　or　even　looked　at　me…the　full　force　of　his　gaze　was　on　Tera　at　the　moment。　And　yet；　my　mouth　clamped　shut；　almost　of　its　own　accord；　my　attempted　mediation　cut　short　as　if　guillotined。　The　sheer　presence　of　the　man；　the　power　and　evil　lurking　veiled　beneath　the　surface；　were　almost　physical　qualities　like　his　voice　or　face　or　expensive　suit。　For　the　first　time；　I　truly　understood　how　it　was　he'd　been　able　to　create　such　a　huge　and　wide…ranging　criminal　empire。
　Tera　wasn't　nearly　as　easily　impressed　as　I　was。　〃I　don't　know　who　exactly　you　are；〃　she　continued　on　into　the　silence；　〃but　whatever　it　is　you　think　I'm　worth　to　you；　you're　sadly　mistaken。〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　Antoniewicz　disagreed　mildly。　〃Of　all　those　who　worked　closely　on　this　ship；　only　your　father　remains　at　large。　You're　the　lever　that　will　pry　him　out　of　hiding。〃
　〃If　you　think　that；　you're　more　of　a　fool　than　I　thought；〃　Tera　scoffed；　clearly　not　caring　whether　she　offended　him　or　not。　Across　our　little　circle　I　saw　both　Everett　and　Brother　John　wince；　with　Pix　and　Pax　giving　a　little　twitch　as　well。　One　simply　didn't　talk　that　way　to　Mr。　Antoniewicz。　〃My　father　is　fully　aware　of　what　this　ship　is　worth　to　humanity；〃　Tera　continued。　〃And　he　has　never　yet　let　personal　considerations　get　in　the　way　of　what　needs　to　be　done。　Whatever　information　he　has　about　the　Icarus；　the　last　thing　he'll　do　is　give　it　away　to　someone　like　you。　Certainly　not　under　duress。〃
　〃Not　even　with　his　daughter's　life　at　stake？〃　Antoniewicz　asked；　his　voice　politely　incredulous。
　〃No；〃　Tera　said　flatly；　straightening　to　an　almost…haughty　posture　as　pride　momentarily　eclipsed　every　evidence　of　fear　and　uncertainty。　I　could　imagine　the　true　royalty　of　old　facing　the　peasant　mobs　with　the　same　courage　and　disdain。
　And　with　the　same　results。　〃Pity；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　sounding　almost　regretful。　〃In　that　case；　you're　worth　nothing　to　me　at　all。〃　He　looked　at　the　man　standing　behind　me　to　my　right　and　lifted　a　languid　hand。
　And　abruptly；　the　pressure　of　the　gun　muzzle　on　my　back　vanished　as；　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　him　bring　the　weapon　around　to　point　straight　at　Tera's　face　I　don't　know　why　I　did　it　Antoniewicz　was　bluffing；　and　I　knew　he　was　bluffing。　He　would　never　kill　a　potential　hostage　whose　usefulness　hadn't　yet　been　tested；　not　even　one　who'd　verbally　spit　in　his　eye　the　way　she　had。　I　knew　it　was　an　act；　and　if　I'd　had　another　fraction　of　a　second　to　think　about　it　I'd　have　realized　that　I　was　playing　directly　into　his　hands。
　But　I'd　promised　Cameron　that　I　would　watch　over　his　daughter；　and　the　reflexes　just　kicked　in　on　their　own。　With　my　right　hand　I　slapped　the　thug's　gun　off　target；　then　spun　around　on　my　right　heel　to　drive　my　right　elbow　into　his　solar　plexus　as　I　grabbed　for　the　weapon　with　my　left　hand。
　It　was　about　as　close　to　a　plete　failure　as　anything　I'd　ever　tried　in　my　life　My　elbow　struck　an　unyielding　slab　of　body　armor；　my　snatch　for　the　gun　missed　pletely　as　he　twitched　it　aside　out　of　my　reach；　and　before　I　could　regain　my　balance　to　try　something　else　he'd　taken　a　long　pace　backward　and　was　looking　at　me　with　the　sort　of　expression　you　might　use　for　a　particularly　interesting　new　species　of　insect。　About　the　only　thing　that　kept　it　from　being　a　plete　failure　was　that　I　didn't　fall　flat　on　my　face　in　the　process。
　I　braced　myself；　waiting　for　the　inevitable　flurry　of　shots　and　the　searing　pain　that　would　acpany　them。　But　once　again；　my　reflexive　thought　was　out　of　step　with　reality。　〃Interesting；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　his　voice　cutting　calmly　across　the　sudden　tension。　〃You　were　right；　Ryland。　He　is　something　of　the　heroic　type；　isn't　he？〃
　〃And　seems　to　have　soft　feelings　for　Ms。　Cameron；　besides；〃　Brother　John　agreed。　He　was　openly　gloating　now；　I　saw；　though　whether　that　was　at　my　failure　or　his　own　cleverness　I　couldn't　tell。
　〃The　only　feelings　I　have　for　her　are　ones　you　couldn't　understand；〃　I　growled　back　with　the　ill　temper　of　a　man　who's　just　pletely　humiliated　himself。　〃Loyalty；　for　one。　Or　any　of　the　other　sympathetic　emotions　human　beings　have　for　each　other。　Of　course