tz.theicarushunt-第76部分

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ings　have　for　each　other。　Of　course；　in　your　case；　I　use　the　term　'human　being'　in　its　loosest　possible　sense。　You're　a　lot　less　human　than　most　of　the　aliens　I　know。〃
　The　gloating　vanished　from　Brother　John's　face；　the　handsome　face　turning　suddenly　ugly。　〃Listen；　McKell…〃
　〃Enough；〃　Antoniewicz　cut　him　off；　giving　me　the　same　interesting…insect　look　his　bodyguard　had。　〃Whatever　the　details　of　his　character　flaws；　it's　clear　now　that　McKell　would　not　wish　harm　to　e　to　the　lady。〃　He　lifted　his　eyebrows　slightly。　〃That　is　clear；　is　it　not？〃
　I　looked　at　Tera。　Some　of　that　earlier　defiance　was　still　simmering　in　her　eyes；　but　the　face　behind　them　had　gone　noticeably　pale。　The　aura　of　death　and　evil　surrounding　Antoniewicz　was　starting　to　get　to　her。　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　I　asked；　giving　bluff　and　bluster　one　last　try。
　I　might　as　well　have　saved　myself　the　trouble。　〃Don't　play　stupid；　McKell；〃　Antoniewicz　reproved　me。　〃It　doesn't　suit　you。　Will　you　release　the　locks　you　put　on　the　Icarus's　systems？　Or　do　my　men　take　Ms。　Cameron　back　to　the　engine　room？〃
　The　ship；　I　noticed　dimly；　suddenly　felt　very　cold。　〃Let　me　offer　an　alternative　deal；〃　I　said；　my　tongue　feeling　sluggish　in　my　mouth。　Antoniewicz　was　starting　to　get　to　me；　too。　〃If　you'll　let　Tera；　Ixil；　and　me　leave　here　unharmed；　I'll　ungimmick　the　ship　and　give　you　something　that'll　be　far　more　valuable　to　you　than　all　three　of　us　put　together。〃
　〃He's　stalling；〃　Brother　John　said　contemptuously。　〃He　hasn't　got　anything　left　to　bargain　with。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　Arno　Cameron。〃
　〃You　can　tell　us　where　he　is？〃　Antoniewicz　asked。
　〃I　can　do　better　than　that；〃　I　said；　trying　hard　to　ignore　the　suddenly　stricken　look　on　Tera's　face。　〃I　can　deliver　him　to　you。　Right　now。〃
　The　atmosphere　was　suddenly　electric。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Brother　John　demanded；　looking　around　as　if　expecting　Cameron　to　pop　out　of　the　alien　hull。　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃He's　hiding　in　the　smaller　sphere；〃　I　said；　settling　for　the　simplest　explanation。　Giving　them　the　plete　story　would　only　confuse　the　issue。　〃I　can　go　in　there　and　get　him。〃
　〃Really；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　his　voice　suddenly　cold。　〃Do　you　think　us　fools；　McKell？　My　people　checked　every　cubic　centimeter　of　this　ship　before　I　came　aboard。〃
　〃Maybe　everything　out　here　and　in　the　engine　section；　but　not　the　small　sphere；〃　I　said；　shaking　my　head。　〃Not　visually；　anyway。　That　place　is　a　mess　of　cables　and　wires…they'd　have　been　hours　at　it。　What　did　they　use；　body…heat　sensors　and　motion　detectors？〃
　〃And　a　few　other　specialized　devices；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　eyeing　me　speculatively。　〃You　realize；　I　trust；　that　Cameron　dead　is　not　a　bargaining　chip。〃
　〃He's　not　dead；〃　I　assured　him。　〃There's　an　area　in　there　that　sensors　can't　reach。　All　that　alien　machinery；　I　suppose。〃
　Antoniewicz　glanced　at　Brother　John；　turned　back　to　me。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me　where　he　is。　I'll　send　one　of　my　men　in　after　him。〃
　〃It's　very　hard　to　find　the　place；〃　I　said。　〃Besides；　if　it's　anyone　but　me；　he'll　probably　put　up　a　fight。　That　could　damage　something。〃
　〃Possibly　even　Cameron　himself；〃　Brother　John　murmured。
　〃I'm　not　letting　you　out　of　my　sight；〃　Antoniewicz　said　in　a　tone　that　said　there　would　be　no　further　discussion　on　the　matter。　〃Tell　us　where　he　is。〃
　I　sighed。　〃That's　not　necessary；〃　I　said　reluctantly。　〃I　told　him　that　when　it　was　safe　to　e　out　I'd　either　e　personally　or　else　send　in　one　of　Ixil's　ferrets。　There's　an　entrance　in　the　engine　room　that　should　be　open。〃
　〃Good；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　He　was　all　calm　again　now　that　he'd　gotten　his　way。　〃Send　him。〃
　I　looked　at　Ixil　and　nodded。　He　nodded　back；　and　Pix　scampered　down　his　leg　and　headed　up　toward　the　wraparound。　〃You'd　better　tell　whoever　you　have　in　the　wraparound　and　engine　room　not　to　stop　him；〃　I　warned。
　〃There's　no　one　back　there；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　〃I　presume　Cameron　will　be　ing　out　the　same　way？〃
　〃No；　he'll　e　out　here；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　covered　access　hole　beside　Tera's　puter。　〃There's　a　better　access　panel　over　there。〃
　〃Open　it；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　flicking　his　eyes　to　one　of　the　bodyguards。　〃While　we　wait；　McKell；　you　can　start　fixing　my　ship。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　said。　Furtively；　with　the　feeling　of　someone　about　to　rub　salt　into　his　own　raw　flesh；　I　looked　over　at　Tera。　Knowing　that；　however　painful　it　was　going　to　be；　I　had　to　see　how　she　was　taking　this。
　I　was　prepared　for　rage；　for　fear；　for　even　borderline　hysteria。　But　there　was　none　of　that　in　her　face。　Not　anymore。　Her　face　was　instead　totally　drained　of　emotion；　as　dead　as　Antoniewicz's　eyes；　the　face　of　someone　facing　the　end　of　all　things　with　the　certain　knowledge　that　there　was　nothing　left　to　be　redeemed　from　the　ashes。　The　strong　industrialist's　daughter；　the　proud　and　defiant　royal　personage…all　of　that　was　gone。　There　was　nothing　left　but　fatigue；　and　a　young　woman　facing　the　inevitability　of　her　own　death。
　〃I　trusted　you；〃　she　said　quietly。
　I　turned　my　eyes　away。　It　hurt　just　exactly　as　bad　as　I'd　expected　it　to。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　〃I　did　what　I　had　to。〃
　I　estimated　it　would　take　about　ten　minutes　for　Pix　to　make　it　to　the　center　of　the　sphere　and　trip　the　stargate　mechanism。　I　took　my　time　unlocking　the　seals　I'd　put　on　the　Icarus's　helm　and　nav　systems；　with　the　result　that　nine　of　those　minutes　were　gone　by　the　time　I　walked　back　down　to　where　Antoniewicz　and　the　others　were　still　waiting。　〃They　can　get　started　now；〃　I　told　Antoniewicz；　nodding　up　at　the　techs。　〃I　locked　down　the　puter　and　engine　controls；　too；　but　I　can't　undo　that　until　the　helm　and　nav　have　been　fired　up　and　done　their　self…checks。〃
　〃Then　you　should　go　up　there　so　as　to　be　ready　for　that　occurrence；〃　Antoniewicz　said；　gesturing　up　toward　the　puter　and　the　two　bodyguards　standing　watch　over　the　now　open　access　panel。　〃You've　cost　me　far　too　much　time　as　it　is。〃
　〃It'll　take　another　few　minutes　before　I　can　get　started；〃　I　told　him。　〃In　the　meantime；　I　wanted　to　give　you　a　warning。〃
　His　eyebrows　lifted　in　obvious　amusement。　〃Indeed？　Something　to　do　with　you　and　the　others；　no　doubt？〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　I　said。　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you　that　I've　heard　rumors　that　Geneva　has　folded　under　Patth　pressure　and　forbidden　all　Earth　citizens　and　associates　to　give　aid　to　the　Icarus；〃
　〃And　you　think　such　orders　apply　to　me？〃　Antoniewicz　said；　even　more　amused。
　〃Not　your　core　people；　no；〃　I　said。　〃But　a　lot　of　your　looser　associates　might　get　cold　feet　under　that　kind　of　pressure；　particularly　those　quiet　government　and　military　contacts　you've　got　who　will　now　have　management　or　senior　officers　looking　over　their　shoulders。　Add　to　that　the　Patth　reward；　which　is　probably　doubling　every　six　hours；　and　even　you　might　have　trouble　moving　and　hiding　the　Icarus。〃
　〃I'm　quite　aware　of　the　challenges　involved；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　〃That　was　precisely　why　I　came　myself；　bringing　only　those　most　loyal　to　me。〃　He　gave　me　another　of　those　micrometer　smiles。　〃That's　also　why　I'll　be　taking　the　Icarus　to　one　of　my　private　estates　when　we　leave　here。〃
　I　glanced　at　Ixil。　〃I　see；〃　I　said。　〃I　presume　you'll　be　dropping　Ixil　and　Tera　and　me　off　on　the　way？〃
　He　frowned；　another　micrometer…level　expression。　〃Who　said　anything　about　dropping　you　off　anywhere？〃
　〃That　was　the　deal；〃　I　reminded　him；　frowning　in　turn。　〃I　would　give　you　Cameron　in　exchange　for　Tera。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Antoniewicz　said。　〃I　forgot。〃　He　craned　his　neck　to　look　at　the　helm。　〃Yodanna？〃　he　called。
　〃Helm　ing　up　now；　Mr。　Antoniewicz；〃　one　of　the　techs　called　back。
　〃What　about　the　rest　of　the　ship？〃
　〃Checking　now；　sir；　but　it　looks　promising。〃
　Antoniewicz　looked　back　at　me。　〃For　such　a　clever　man；　McKell；　you're　amazingly　stupid　sometimes；〃　he　said。　〃Ms。　Cameron　is　far　too　useful　as　insurance　for　her　father's　cooperation　for　me　to　release　her。　As　for　you　and　your　alien；　the　two　of　you　are　far　too　dangerous　to　keep　around　any　longer　than　necessary。〃　He　looked　up　again。　〃Yodanna？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　call　wafted　its　way　back　down　to　us。　〃I've　got　the　sequence　he　used。　We　can　unlock　the　puter　and　engine　systems　ourselves。〃
　Antoniewicz　looked　back　at　me。　〃And　I　would　say　that　the　moment　of　obsolescence　has　arrived　sooner　than　expected；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　always　offer　a　man　the　chance　for　final　words；　McKell。　Have　you　any？〃
　A　ripple　of　breeze　brushed　past　my　hair　〃No　last　words；　Mr。　Antoniewicz；〃　I　said　firmly；　standing　up　straight　and　closing　my　eyes。　〃Go　ahead　and　shoot。〃
　Even　with　my　eyes　closed；　it　was　like　a　strobe　light　had　gone　off　in　my　face。　A　multiple　strobe　light；　a　dozen　flickering　bursts　of　light　like　the　prophet　Elijah　calling　fire　down　from　heaven。　I　heard　a　gasp　from　somewhere　beside　me；　a　startled　reflexive　scream　from　Tera；　an　equally　startled　curse　from　Brother　John。
　And　then；　silence。　Cautiously；　wary　of　another　round　of　flashes；　I　eased　open　my　eyes。
　Antoniewicz　was　standing　rigidly　exactly　where　I'd　left　him；　his　face　utterly　expressionless。　Everett　had　turned　pletely　white。　Brother　John's　face　was　white；　too；　his　expression　that　of　a　man　walking　through　a　graveyard　in　the　dead　of　night。
　Which　was；　I　decided　as　I　looked　around；　an　extremely　apt　analogy。　All　around　us；　this　most　loyal　group　of　Antoniewicz's　bodyguards　were　sprawled　on　the　deck　where　they'd　stood；　their　weapons　for　the　most　part　still　clutched　in　rigid　hands；　the　tops　of　their　heads　smoking　with　the　nose…curling　stink　of　burnt　hair　and　skin　and　bone。　Fire　from　heaven；　indeed。
　From　Tera's　direction　came　a　sudden　choked　gasp…apparently；　her　vision　was　just　now　clearing　up　from　the　aftereffects　of　that　multiple　stutter　of　laser　fire。　〃It's　all　right；　Tera；〃　I　assured　her　quickly；　crossing　to　her　side。　〃Just　relax。　It's　all　over。〃
　〃But…〃　She　broke　off；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder　at　the　entrance　to　the　wraparound　〃Not　there；〃　I　told　her；　pointing　above　us。　〃There。〃
　Even　having　known　what　to　expect；　I　had　to　admit　the　sight　was　something　to　behold。　There　were　twelve　of　them　grouped　together　in　a　tight　knot　in　the　center　of　the　sphere；　starting　now　to　drift　off　in　various　directions　toward　the　hull　under　the　influence　of　the　alien　grav　field。　Their　squashed…iguana　faces　were　only　partly　visible