15_death_dance-第6部分

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　charge；　heat；　and　stench；　and　the　cave　that　housed　the　orbs　was　fast　being　unworkable。　The　Skull　had　arrived　hours　earlier；　and　by　the　time　Vince　and　Jean　Grant；　Janice；　Rem；　Wolff；　Burak；　and　the　others　stepped　from　the　mobile　base；　the　rest　of　the　core　Sentinels　were　well　into　Rick's　impromptu　briefing。　Several　dozen　orbs　of　varying　size　had　already　exited　the　cave；　and　were　well　on　the　way　to　their　enigmatic　deepspace　destiny；　but　Veidt　and　Sarna　had　〃persuaded〃　the　stragglers　to　lag　behind　awhile　longer。　Kami　and　Learna　had　reported　the　emergence　of　yet　more　spheres　from　the　cavern's　internal　chimney。　Cabell　speculated　that　it　might　be　possible　to　widen　the　access　some；　and　thereby　increase　the　chances　of　additional　creatures　reaching　the　surface。

The　plan　called　for　the　spheres　to　lift　an　Alpha　with　a　crew　of　five　clear　through　Praxis's　suddenly　albescent　atmosphere。　Once　in　space　and　under　its　own　power；　the　mecha　would　plete　the　rendezvous　with　the　drive　module。　When　that　was　acplished；　the　crew　would　drop　the　module　into　a　lower　orbit　while　the　spheres　continued　to　raise　five…person　crews。　It　was　conceivable　that　the　GMU　would　have　to　be　abandoned；　but　at　least　the　VTs　and　Hovertanks　would　survive。　Although　it　sounded　crazy　the　plan　was　straightforward　enough；　there　remained；　however；　several　variables　to　deal　with。　First；　the　Sentinels　had　no　idea　how　many　orbs　might　be　required　to　lift　a　VT；　or　just　how　fast　they　would　be　able　to　raise　it　the　requisite　distance。　An　incorrect　guess　could　leave　the　mecha　hanging　in　space　waiting　for　the　module　to　plete　another　orbit；　or；　worse　still；　missing　the　thing　altogether。　Second；　and　equally　problematic；　the　initial　crew　would　have　to　be　prised　of　personnel　capable　of　piloting　the　module　into　a　lower　orbit；　and　possibly…should　the　orbs　for　some　reason　withdraw　their　support…through　a　spacefold　to　Karbarra；　or　equidistant　Fantoma。　Third；　someone　was　going　to　have　to　stay　in　touch　with　the　orbs。

This　last　issue　had　been　decided　by　the　time　the　GMU　contingent　joined　the　others　near　the　cave　entrance。　Sarna　was　going　to　be　in　charge　of　mustering　and　instructing　the　creatures　in　their　task。　Veidt　had　simply　said；　〃Sarna　will　do　it；〃　and　no　one　argued　the　point。　Rick　now　had　the　module　in　mind。

Most　of　the　XT　aliens　were　out　of　the　running　for　this　slot；　except　Veidt…who　was　needed　down　below　to　mind…link　with　the　spheres…and　Lron。　Rick　had　doubts　that　the　burly　Karbarran　could　successfully　pilot　the　ship　through　a　jump；　and　although　the　module　was　Spherisian　in　design；　neither　Teal　nor　Baldan　were　qualified　to　handle　it。　Vince　was　needed　for　the　GMU。　That　left　only　Lisa；　unless。。。

〃Janice；〃　Rick　said　suddenly；　〃can　you　handle　it？〃

Burak　almost　volunteered；　but　Tesla　restrained　him　at　the　last　moment；　gesturing　him　silent　while　everyone's　attention　was　focused　on　Minmei's　former　partner。

She　nodded；　without　saying　anything。　If　it　came　down　to　a　fold　for　Tirol；　Lang　would　be　delighted　to　find　her　aboard。　She　sensed　Lisa　looking　at　her；　and　gave　her　a　tight…lipped　but　understanding　look。

〃Lisa？〃　Rick　said；　figuring　he　would　be　safer　with　a　crowd　around　him。

〃I'm　fine　with　your　choice；　mander；〃　she　told　him　evenly。　〃But　just　who　do　you　have　in　mind　to　pilot　the　Alpha？〃

Rick　looked　around　unfortably。　〃Well；　I　think　I'm　the　most　qual…〃

Half…a…dozen　voices　interrupted　him　at　once。

〃It's　too　risky；〃　Max　said；　speaking　for　all　of　them。　〃I'll　go。〃

〃Your　place　is　with　the　Skull；〃　Rick　pointed　out　firmly；　and　everyone　grumbled　their　agreement。　Several　of　Max's　squadron　volunteered；　including　Miriya；　but　Rick　rejected　all　of　them　for　one　reason　or　another。　Then　Jonathan　Wolff　stepped　forward。

〃I'm　the　logical　choice；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　circle。　〃With　Vince　and　Max；　we'll　still　have　our　air…and　ground…based　forces　intact　in　the　event　of　a　follow…up　attack。　One　less　tanker　isn't　going　to　influence　things　one　way　or　another。〃

Rick　had　to　smile　at　Wolff's　attempt　at　humility；　but　Wolff's　reasoning　was　sound。　〃All　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you've　got　it。〃

Just　then　Tesla　began　to　shoulder　his　way　to　the　center　of　the　circle。　〃mander；　I；　too；　would　like　to　volunteer　my　services。〃　He　turned　to　the　Sentinels；　some　of　whom　were　already　ridiculing　him。

〃You've　all　seen　how　I　can　be　made　to　cooperate。　But　now　I　wish　nothing　more　than　to　demonstrate　my　willingness　to　cooperate。　These　four　months　have　taught　me　a　great　deal　about　freedom　and　self…determination；　and　I　would　urge　you　all　to　begin　to　accept　me　as　a　member　of　your　group；　rather　than　a　prisoner。　Should　the　Regent's　troops　appear　in　Praxis…space；　I　will　be　there　to　foil　them；　much　as　I　did　in　Tracialle。〃

Rick　looked　up　at　the　Invid；　remembering　what　Lisa　had　told　him　of　the　Farrago's　attack　on　the　Karbarran　city；　and　wondering　whether　Tesla　was　genuine　or　simply　trying　to　save　his　own　green　skin。　Rick　asked　him　if　he　wasn't　growing　tired　of　his　role…whether　he　had　any　reservations　about　betraying　the　Invid　cause。

〃It　seems　to　be　my　lot　in　life；〃　Tesla　said　in　a　theatrical　manner。　〃Besides；　I　want　this　mission　to　succeed　as　much　as　the　rest　of　you　do。〃

Rick　exhaled　a　short　laugh。　〃We　appreciate　that；　Tesla。　But　intentions　aside；　I　think　you　might　be　too。。。uh；　large　for　the　mecha。〃

〃Too　large！〃　Telsa　said　as　though　insulted。　〃Put　me　in　the　Beta's　cargo　section；　then。〃　He　sucked　in　his　breath；　as　if　to　narrow　his　bulk；　and　waited；　making　an　effort　to　will　the　right　words　into　the　Human's　mind。

〃You　think　we　can　fit　Burak　and　Tesla　back　there？〃　Rick　asked　Wolff　hesitantly。

Wolff　sized　up　the　Invid　and　the　horned　Perytonian；　who　was　looking　a　bit　peaked。　〃Be　a　little　tight；　but　I　think　we　can　manage　them。〃

〃Then　let's　hop　to　it；〃　Rick　said　decisively。

Tesla　and　Burak　lingered　for　a　moment　at　the　hub　of　the　sudden　activity。　The　Invid　turned　partway　toward　his　acplice　and　spoke　in　a　hushed　voice。

〃Make　certain　you　bring　plenty　of　fruit　aboard；　my　young　friend。　Destiny　calls　to　us　both。〃


On　Tirol；　too；　things　were　off　to　a　shaky　start。　During　the　first　session　of　the　truce　negotiations；　the　Regent　had　thrown　a　kind　of　temper　tantrum；　which　only　Edwards　recognized　as　being　as　false　as　the　Invid　himself。　He　had　a　perfect　understanding　of　the　imposter's　aim；　and　so　was　hardly　surprised　to　learn　afterward　that　the　XT　had　informed　Dr。　Lang　and　the　council　he　would　henceforth　meet　with　Edwards　only。　The　Regent　had　explained　how　difficult　and　alien　it　was　for　him　to　discuss　terms　with　a　body　of　representatives…especially　when　one　of　those　twelve　was　a　Zentraedi；　with　whom　the　Invid　would　never　make　peace。　Once　again　Lang　had　tried　to　set　himself　up　as　ombudsman；　and　once　again　the　Regent　had　rejected　him　out　of　hand。　Edwards　was　the　Human　the　Regent　would　talk　to；　and　none　other。　Lang　let　the　council　know　that　he　was　against　any　one…to…one　arrangements　and　insisted　that　his　arguments　be　added　to　the　record。　But　Edwards　was　delighted　to　hear　that　the　council　had　overruled　the　scientist's　objections　and　that　Longchamps　and　the　others　were　counting　on　him　to　see　the　talks　through　to　their　pletion。

Just　now　the　simulagent　and　the　traitor　were　seated　across　from　one　another　in　Edwards's　spacious　quarters　aboard　the　SDF…3。　The　two　of　them　had　already　put　on　quite　a　show　in　the　fortress　amphitheater；　but　here　they　were　safe　from　the　prying　eyes　of　the　council　and　free　to　speak　their　minds。　Edwards　had　decided　to　play　it　close　to　the　bone；　and　congratulated　the　Invid　on　his　performance。

〃Why；　whatever　do　you　mean；　General？〃　the　false　Regent　said　after　a　short　silence。

There　was　just　enough　hesitation　in　the　Invid's　response　to　reassure　Edwards　that　he　was　dealing　with　an　imposter；　but　it　benefited　him　to　play　along。　〃Your　words　for　the　council's　scanners；〃　Edwards　told　him。　〃All　that　talk　about　how　there's　more　than　enough　room　in　the　Quadrant　for　both　our　races。〃

〃We　are　a　reasonable　people；〃　the　false　Regent　returned；　sipping　at　the　green　grog　he　had　brought　with　him。

〃Yes；　of　course；　you　are。　I'm　encouraged　by　the　very　fact　that　you've　e　to　Tirol。　There　are　some　who　didn't　believe　you　would。〃

〃And　you？〃

〃Oh；　I　think　you're　capable　of　almost　anything；　Your　Highness。〃

The　Invid　set　aside　his　goblet　and　looked　across　the　desk　at　Edwards。　〃You　speak　boldly　for　one　your　size；　Human。　Are　all　those　from　your　world　so　courageous？〃

Edwards　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　grinned。　〃To　a　man。〃

〃And　your　weapons　speak　with　equal　power。。。But　it　intrigues　me：　how　exactly　did　you　e　by　your　Protoculture　systems？〃

〃We　took　them　away　from　the　Zentraedi；〃　Edwards　said；　leaning　forward　on　the　desk。　〃They　were　annoying　us。〃

The　simulagent　studied　his　four…fingered　hands。　〃And　you　came　here　in　search　of　their　Masters？〃

〃We　came　here　to　finish　the　job；　if　you　want　the　truth。　Word　had　it　that　they　were　going　to　be　showing　up　in　our　neighborhood；　so　we　decided　to　take　the　fight　to　them　instead。　Save　our　planet　the　inconvenience　of　a　backyard　war。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　seemed　to　have　missed　them。〃

〃We'll　catch　up。〃　Edwards　shrugged。　〃First　we've　got　a　little　business　here　to　take　care　of。〃

The　Invid　ignored　the　remark。　〃Just　where　is　your　'neighborhood；'　General？〃

Edwards　touched　his　faceplate。　〃A　long　way　from　Tirol。〃

〃Yes；　but　where？〃

〃West　of　the　Moon；　east　of　the　Sun。〃

〃You　trifle　with　me；〃　the　XT　said　menacingly。

Edwards　shot　to　his　feet　and　put　both　hands　flat　on　the　desk。　〃And　you　waste　my　time！　What　are　you　after？〃

The　Invid　met　his　glare。　〃The　return　of　the　brain。〃

〃In　exchange　for　what？〃

〃Your　lives；〃　the　Regent　hissed。

Edwards　laughed　and　walked　away　from　the　desk；　only　to　whirl　around　and　say；　〃You　needed　my　help　to　eliminate　a　single　Karbarran　ship。　And　I　know　that　your　fleet　is　spread　so　thin　you　can　hardly　protect　the　worlds　you've　conquered。　So　what　makes　you　think　you　can　intimidate　me　now？〃

The　Regent；　too；　was　on　his　feet；　filling　one　half　of　the　room。　〃I　thought　for　a　moment　we　were　on　the　same　side；　General。　But　perhaps　I　was　mistaken。〃

〃You've　already　been　more　help　to　me　than　you　know；〃　Edwards　told　him。　〃But　the　brain　stays　until　you've　got　something　better　to　offer　me　than　threats。〃

〃Your　egotism　will　be　the　death　of　you；〃　the　Re