16_world_killers-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ent；　was　steadfast　in　her　refusal　to　so　much　as　speak　to　him。

His　first　impulse　was　to　call　his　security　convoy　over　to　the　Royal　Hall　with　lights　flashing　and　sirens　wailing。　But　in　the　cautious　head…on　power　games　he　was　playing　with　Lang　and　the　rest　of　the　Plenepotentiary　Council；　he　couldn't　afford　to　attract　attention　to　the　secret　advantage　he　held。　So　the　trip　was　low…profile。

With　Ghost　Rider　guards　flanking；　Edwards　picked　his　way　through　the　catabs　under　the　gargantuan　Royal　Hall；　ing　at　last　to　the　carefully　guarded　installations　that　was　under　his　personal　control。

〃We　have　a　contact　signal；　sir；〃　the　officer　on　duty　explained；　〃but　no　response　to　our　acknowledgment。　We　just　get　the　same　word　in　code。〃

The　officer　turned　up　the　volume　and　the　speakers　murmured　Edwards's　name　over　and　over。

Edwards　issued　terse　mands。　The　room　was　cleared；　leaving　him　alone　with　the　apparatus。　It　took　a　bit　of　remembering；　but　he　had　been　careful　to　learn　how　to　operate　the　devices　himself。

〃Edwards　here。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　then　he　found　himself　looking　into　the　face　of　the　Invid　Regent。

I　knew　it！　Edwards　exulted。　Perhaps　it　was　in　some　measure　a　function　of　the　strange　insights　he　had　gotten　when　he　had　taken　that　brain…boost　from　the　captured　Invid　equipment；　but　perhaps　it　was　just　as　much　a　matter　of　his　innate　suspicion。　In　any　case；　he　had　never　believed　that　the　creature　strangled　on　Tirol　by　Tesla　was　the　real　Regent。

〃You　took　your　time　answering；　Human；〃　the　Regent　said。

〃I'm　here　now。　What　do　you　want？〃

Each　was　inspecting　the　other　with　the　same　thought：　this　fool　could　be　the　answer　to　my　problem！

〃There　have　been。。。unfortunate　mishaps；〃　the　Regent　said。　〃Your　enemies　and　mine　now　hold　Haydon　IV。〃

Edwards　bit　back　an　insult；　he　had　to　appear　absolutely　calm。　The　failure　of　his　Ghost　Riders　to　return　from　the　pursuit　of　Breetai　had　been　clear　enough　proof　that　the　Zentraedi　had　probably　linked　up　with　the　damned　Sentinels。　But　to　hear　that　they　had　triumphed　again　was　almost　enough　to　make　him　doubt　his　own　high　destiny　to　rule　all　Creation。

But　no；　here　was　the　Regent；　a　sign　that　Edwards　was；　indeed；　the　Chosen　of　the　Gods。

Edwards　resisted　the　impulse　to　taunt　the　Regent；　he　would　need　the　creature's　goodwill　for　a　while　longer　yet。　〃That's　too　bad。　What　are　we　going　to　do　about　it？〃

The　Regent　hid　his　satisfaction　at　hearing　that　Edwards　would　willingly　be　a　part　of　the　Regent's　web　of　machinations。　〃I　am　on　my　way　to　the　Home　Hive　on　Optera　now。　Once　there；　I　will　contact　you　with　details　of　our　bined　effort。　The　Protoculture　willing；　we　shall　wipe　the　Sentinels　out　of　existence。〃

〃I　look　forward　to　that　day；　my　good　friend；〃　Edwards　said　in　a　butter…wouldn't…melt　voice。

The　two　broke　contact　with　an　identical　silent　thought：　Just　wait　until　I　no　longer　need　you；　you　gullible　simpleton！


On　Haydon　IV；　the　sorrow　over　Sarna's　death　and　the　deaths　of　thousands　of　others；　and　the　destruction　of　Glike；　was　lessened　somewhat　by　the　somber　satisfaction　of　having　evicted　the　Invid。

Once　the　Regent　departed　in　his　flagship；　the　Invid　simply　lost　their　will　to　fight。　The　mopping…up　hadn't　taken　long。　By　the　time　Breetai's　Valivarre　and　the　two　REF　cruisers　were　making　planetfall；　most　of　the　fighting　was　finished。

They　found　a　city　where　triumphant　amazons　were　celebrating　their　liberation；　patrolling　the　city　with　weapons　in　their　hands　and　heads　held　high。　The　Haydonites；　too；　had　undergone　a　change：　gone　were　the　days　when　they　could　stomach　Invid　tyranny　over　themselves　or　others。　The　ruins　of　Glike　had　the　air　of　a　monument　to　the　trans…species　hunger　for　freedom。

In　the　wake　of　the　struggle；　the　other　Sentinels　were　left　in　various　moods　and　states。　Vince　Grant　and　his　wife　hugged；　rejoicing　in　the　victory；　but　were　melancholy　in　the　knowledge　that　there　was　so　much　more　yet　to　do。

Jack　Baker　and　Karen　Penn；　watching　over　Rem　in　a　Hall　of　Healing；　found　that　they　didn't　despise　one　another　quite　so　much。　〃Glad　you　made　it；　Penn；〃　Jack　blurted。

〃Thanks　for。。。for　riding　to　the　rescue；　Lancelot；〃　she　tried　to　joke；　but　she　couldn't　bring　herself　to　say　it　lightly　as　their　eyes　met。

Across　from　them；　Janice　Em　was　gazing　down　on　Rem；　too。　She　saw　images　of　Rem　and　Zor　and…something　else；　impulses　fought　in　her　for　dominance。　Although　it　was　contrary　to　her　programming；　an　undeniable　tide　of　emotion　welled　up　in　her　every　time　she　looked　at　the　clone。　She　longed　for　a　chance　to　ask　Lang　what　it　all　meant；　but　despaired　of　ever　having　the　chance；　the　war　seemed　to　have　taken　on　a　life　of　its　own。

For　Breetai　there　were　cheers　and　accolades；　and　kisses；　too；　though　his　sixty…foot　height　made　those　a　little　impractical。

Lisa　didn't　care；　she　insisted　that　the　Zentraedi　lift　her　high　so　that　she　could　plant　a　wet　one　on　his　cheek。　She　had　the　interesting　experience　of　seeing　one　of　the　universe's　biggest　blushes　up　close。　There　was　a　tallish　female　Zentraedi　close…by；　someone　Lisa　had　heard　called　Kazianna；　who　frowned　a　bit　at　Lisa's　display　of　affection。

Lisa　understood　the　possessive　look　she　was　seeing　on　Kazianna's　face；　and　lingered　a　moment；　literally　grabbing　Breetai's　ear。　〃Well！　Congratulations！〃　she　said　slyly。　The　ear　grew　red　and　warm　in　her　grasp；　but　Breetai　was　grinning　like　a　schoolboy。

As　for　Lisa　and　Rick；　there　was　something　between　them　that　hadn't　been　there　before　the　Haydon　campaign。　It　was　the　unweighted　love　that　had　e　into　being　when　it　was　proven　in　battle　that　there　was　no　inequality　of　courage…or　concern…between　them。　Each　was　an　acplished　fighter　now；　and　it　was　understood　that　each　would　have　dangers　to　face。　And　so　each　felt　equal　love　for　the　other；　and　apprehensions；　and　pride。　And　each　felt　the　immeasurable　value　of　every　moment　they　shared。

The　Karbarrans　and　Garudans　managed　to　contact　the　members　of　their　respective　races　who　were　on　Haydon　IV；　and　enjoyed　the　particular　pleasures　of　hometown　manners。　It　pleased　the　other　Sentinels　to　know　that　word　of　the　exploits　of　Lron；　Crysta；　Kami；　Learna；　and　the　rest　would　be　carried　back　to　their　homes。

Max　Sterling　took　no　part　in　the　impromptu　celebrations　because　he　spent　every　waking　moment　by　Miriya's　bedside　and　often　slept　there　as　well。　She　had　lost　consciousness　shortly　after　the　Regent's　flagship　lifted　off；　and　had　sunk　into　a　deep　a　less　than　an　hour　later。　Even　the　Haydonite　healers　were　mystified　by　her　condition；　which　was　caused　by　some　interaction　of　her　impossible　pregnancy；　exposure　to　the　Garudan　atmosphere；　and　the　exertions　of　the　battle　in　Glike。

Tesla　and　Burak　had　reappeared。　Tesla　was　now　taller；　more　Humaniform。　Most　notably；　he　had　a　mouth；　and　spoke　with　it。　Things　were　so　disorganized　in　Glike　that　there　wasn't　much　time　for　ment。　But　everyone　who　saw　him　groaned；　either　out　loud　or　mentally。　Jeez；　he　was　bad　enough　as　it　was！　But　now　that　he's　got　a　mouth　to　shoot　off。。。

Breetai's　news　that　Tesla　had　strangled　the　simulagent　had　everyone　looking　at　the　scientist　with　renewed　suspicion；　of　course；　and　there　was　vague　talk　of　bringing　some　kind　of　war…crimes　charge　against　him。　But　Tesla　managed　to　deflect　it；　for　the　moment　anyway；　by　pointing　out　that　his　victim　was　an　Invid　espionage　agent　and　that；　in　any　case；　Tesla　himself　was　technically　a　POW。　The　waters　thus　muddied；　he　remained　at　liberty　and　at　least　nominally　a　Sentinels　collaborator。

Tesla　had　considered　parting　ways　with　the　Sentinels；　but　faced　the　conclusion　that　his　key　to　Ultimate　Transformation　lay　in　visiting　the　other　worlds　that　had　felt　Haydon's　personal　touch…Spheris　and　Peryton。　And　the　only　reasonably　safe　way　to　do　that　lay　in　the　pany　of　the　Sentinels。　Besides；　trying　an　escape　would　risk　the　wrath　of　the　Karbarrans；　the　Praxians；　the　Humans；　and　the　rest；　and　even　with　his　enhanced　powers；　Tesla　secretly　trembled　to　think　of　what　that　meant。

And　so　when　he　was　finally　brought　before　the　leadership；　Bela　pinking　him　in　the　side　with　a　shortsword；　Tesla　deflected　their　accusations　and　inquiries　about　the　changes　the　Flower's　Fruit　had　wrought　in　him。

Instead；　he　said　in　his　blandest　voice；　〃We　have　a　mon　cause；　you　must　put　aside　your　hatred　and　mistrust；　and　work　with　me　in　friendship。〃

The　core　group　of　the　Sentinels　were　in　favor　of　roasting　him　alive；　or　at　least　putting　a　leash　and　exploding　collar　back　on　him；　but　the　very　bylaws　of　the　Sentinels；　and　of　Haydon　militated　against　that。　And　so；　when　the　Sentinels　came　together　to　deliberate　on　their　next　move；　Tesla　had　his　say。

〃My　people　are　a　peaceful　race；　who　can　deny　this？　Did　we　not　live　in　tranquility　for　a　million　eons；　until　outsiders　taught　us　crime　and　sin　and　hate？　As　the　Regent　and　Regis　were　deranged　by　this　experience；　so　have　our　rulers　warped　the　Invid。

〃Have　I　myself　not　mitted　murder　most　foul　for　your　cause？　I；　who　never　raised　a　hand　in　violence　to　any　living　thing　before　in　my　life？　But　as　you　are　willing　to　wage　war　for　peace；　so　I　have　done　in　my　own　way。〃

There　were　angry　faces　all　around　the　new　conference　hall　that　had　been　raised　by　Robotech　mecha　and　Haydonite　science　there　in　the　ruins　of　Glike。　Many　glowered　and　murmured；　but　there　was　no　arguing　the　facts。　Janice　Em；　wearing　the　aspect　of　her　android　self　as　she　sometimes　did　these　days；　looked　over　at　Rem　to　see　his　reaction；　wondering　what　the　opinion　of　the　genetic　heir　of　Zor　would　be。　Rem's　face　was　resolutely　unrevealing。

As　for　Breetai；　he　was　studying　Janice　Em　and　wondering　about　Lang's　motives　in　creating　her。　Fortunately　for　the　android　and　her　creator；　the　Sentinels　seemed　to　regard　her　as　their　ally　and　rade　in　arms；　rather　than　as　some　REF　version　of　the　simulagent。

Tesla's　strange　new　mouth；　almost　doll…like；　formed　his　words　with　an　uncanny　grace　and　lilt。

〃But　my　people　deserve　a　chance　to　redeem　themselves　and　make　restitution！〃　Tesla　pressed　on。　〃I　have　had　a　chance　to　learn　peace　and　restraint　and　love　in　my　time　among　the　Sentinels；　and…〃

Here　his　voice　broke　in　calculated　fashion　and　he　made　a　show　of　holding　back　tears。　〃Destroy　the　Regent　and　the　Regis；　yes！　But　return　to　us　the　Flower　of　Life；　or　give　us　whatever　world　upon　which　the　Flower　choses　to　prosper。　And　then　we　will　be　the　harmless；　inward…turning；　passionate　Invid　of　old。　A　thousand　generations　of　genetic　heritage　call　out　to　us　to　be　so！　And　if　Fate　grants　it；　I　would　take　humble　pleasure　in　making　my　small　contribution　to　the　Destiny　of　my　species。

〃We　were　given　life；　as　you　were！　Let　us　live！〃　That　subject　was　tabled　for　the　time　being；　but　the　Sentinels　leadership　exchanged　troubled　looks。　Tesla　might　be　a　plete　moron　militarily；　but　he　was　a　consummate　politician。

Maybe　the　two　go　hand　in　hand；　Rick　thought；　reflecting　back　to　Senator　Russo　and　his　ilk　on　Earth。


Other　matters　came　to　the　fore　and　were　more　quickly　and　decisively　dealt　with。

Breetai　argued　strongly　that　all　the　Sentinels；　liberated　Praxians　included；　should　return　to　Tirol　to　fight　Edwards's　scurrilous　charges。　It　looked　like　he　would　carry　the　question；　not　through　guile　or　politicking；　but　simply　through　the　force　of　his　conviction。

Rick　looked　around；　wondering　who　was　going　to　muster　the　counterargument。　But　he　remembered　that　Baldan　of　Spheris　was　dead；　and　Teal；　the　other　leading　Spherisian；　was　still　closeted　and　caring　for　Baldan's　death…growth。　The　only　notable　Perytonian；　Burak；　had　been　silent　and　impossible　to　talk　to　ever　since　the　Garudan　campaign；　somehow　under　Tesla's　spell。

And　Spheris　and　Peryton　were　the　last　two　worlds　on　the　Sentinels'　tactical　charts；　the　last　two　from　which　the　Invid　must　be　uprooted。　Rick　scanned　the　room　and　realized　that　there　were　few　Spherisians…and　none　who　would　speak…and　no　Perytonians　at　all；　aside　from　silent　Burak。

Rick　was　as　surprised　as　anyone　when　he　heard　himself　address　the　assembly。

〃I've　fought　against　Great　Breetai　and　alongside　him；　and　in　all　this　time；　to　my　recollection；　I've　never　actually　found　the　nerve　to　contradict　him。〃

At　that　ment；　there　were　rumblings　of　laughter　from　the　Zentraedi；　seated　like　Norse　gods　in　immense　chairs　around　the　walls　of　the　room。　Kazianna　put　her　hand　on　Breetai's　shoulder；　and　Breetai　placed　his　hand　on　hers　but　kept　his　attention　on　Rick　Hunter。　Size　meant　nothing　in　the　arena　of　debate；　and　Breetai；　as　canny　as　any　Borgia　or　Caesar；　knew　that。

〃We　congratulate　ourselves　for　the　work　we've　done；　as　we　should；〃　Rick　went　on。　〃But　what　about　Spheris？　And　Peryton？　Things　there　are　as　bad　as　they　were　here　on　Haydon　IV；　don't　you　think？　Or　maybe　worse？

〃So　the　choice　is　between　going　on　to　end　the　misery　the　Invid　are　inflicting　on　those　planets；　or　going　back　to　clear　our　names。　Well；　here's　my　vote：　I　have　to　live　with　the　memories　of　what　I　do；　or　don't　do；　not　what　people　say　about　me。　I　say　we　go　on；　and　Edwards　be　damned。〃

He　resumed　his　seat　amid　an　almost　equal　mix　of　cheers　and　objections。　But　Lisa　was　looking　at　him　with　a　peculiar　cant　to　her　chin。

No　more　barnstorming；　live…for…today；　seat…of…the…pants　daredevil；　she　thought。　He's　someone　else　now；　like　we　all　are。　Older　but　wiser。　And　yet　he　was　arguing　the　cause　he　had　argued　against　before；　when　Burak　wanted　to　turn　the　timetable　upside　down。　A　sense　of　fairness；　maybe。

Lisa　reached　over　beneath　the　table　and　gave　her　husband's　hand　a　squeeze。　Rick　looked　a　little　startled；　then　gave　her　a　squeeze　back。

After　the　lesser　questions　were　resolved；　the　session　settled　into　a　collision　between　the　two　factions。　Breetai's　point　was　a　valid　one；　even　a　frightening　one：　if　Edwards　got　control　of　the　council　and　undermined　Lang's　authority；　the　general　might　wrest　control　of　the　new　fleet　of　space…fold　ships。　That　in　turn　could　make　him　unstoppable。

But　there　were　many　who　felt　as　Rick　did；　having　fought　the　Invid　oppression　on　several　worlds　now。　Among　the　most　determined　of　these　were　the　freed　Praxian　slaves。

The　dispute　cut　across　lines　of　species；　gender；　and　even　family；　however。　The　goliath　voices　of　the　Zentraedi　and　the　roars　of　the　Karbarrans　and　the　objections　of　the　Humans　and　the　other　races'　outcries　threatened　to　turn　the　debate　to　a　riot。

Rick　had　barely　spoken　since　his　first　statement。　But　when　it　seemed　the　Sentinels　were　about　to　lose　their　sense　of　purpose　and　revert　to　sheer　quarreling；　he　rose　again。

〃Um；　I　don't　see　where　there's　anything　we　can　do　but　promise。　Someone　has　to　answer　Edwards's　charges；　and　someone　has　to　fight　for　Spheris　and　Peryton；　now！〃


He　dipped　into　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　good…luck　piece；　a　Kennedy　half…dollar　his　father　had　given　him。　〃What　d'you　say；　Breetai？　I'd　trust　you　with　either　mission。　Heads；　you　go　to　Spheris　and　I　face　Edwards？〃

He　showed　both　sides　of　the　coin；　to　prove　there　was　no　fix。

Breetai　had　eased　off　his　chair　to　kneel　by　the　table。　His　face　cracked　wide　in　the　first　true　smile　he　had　allowed　himself　in　some　time。　Breetai　held　out　his　palm；　as　big　as　a　desktop。　〃Flip　it　here；　Rick　Hunter。〃

Rick　did。　Breetai　caught　it；　clapping　his　palms　together；　and　opened　his　hands　again　to　show　them　all。　It　was　tails。

There　would　be　plenty　to　do　tomorrow；　but　for　the　time　being；　everyone　needed　an　adjournment。

When　all　the　others　were　dispersed　and　they　wer