16_world_killers-第7部分

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Valivarre　and　the　two　cruisers　stood　motionless；　at　a　face…off；　while　REF　officers　struggled　with　damage　control　and　tried　to　reestablish　a　chain　of　mand。

At　last　Captain　da　Cruz；　of　the　Tokugawa's　sister　ship；　the　Jutland；　contacted　Breetai。　He　asked　her；　〃Captain；　will　you　accept　my　offer　and　part　courses　under　a　truce　flag？〃

〃Sir；　we　will　not；〃　da　Cruz；　a　gangly　woman　with　olive　skin　and　iron…gray　hah〃　gathered　in　a　tight　knot　at　her　neck；　responded。

〃I　understand。〃　Breetai　nodded。　〃My　warriors　and　I　await　your　pleasure。〃

〃Lord　Breetai；　you　misunderstand。　It　is　my　opinion；　and　that　of　most　others　in　this　contingent；　that　orders　were　violated　when　you　were　attacked。　I　have　had　access　to　certain　sealed　instructions　given　modore　Renquist　by　General　Edwards；　and　it　is　my　opinion　that　the　Sentinels　are　now　to　be　found　on　Haydon　IV。

〃What　I　propose　is　that　the　Jutland…and　the　Tokugawa；　as　soon　as　emergency　repairs　can　be　made　on　her…acpany　you　there　on　your　mission　to　find　Rick　and　Lisa　Hunter　and　the　others。　We　will　render　military　aid　as　needed；　and　escort　the　admiral　and　his　wife　and　the　rest　to　REF　Base　Tirol　so　that　they　can　make　a　fair　answer　to　the　charges　against　them。〃

Da　Cruz　permitted　herself　the　raising　of　an　eyebrow。　〃You　see；　many　of　us　find　it　difficult　to　picture　the　Hunters　as　traitors；　too。〃

The　corners　of　Breetai's　lips　turned　up。　〃Perhaps　we　can　help　with　the　repairs　to　the　Tokugawa；　madam。　You　might　say　we've　bee　a　bit　inventive　of　late。〃


CHAPTER　SEVEN

There　are　more　enjoyable　things　in　life　than　being　a　here。　Having　shingles；　for　instance。
Jack　Baker；　Upwardly　Mobile

The　raiding　party　stared；　aghast；　at　the　thing　that　had　been　Janice　Em。

Her　skin　had　bee　transparent；　and　the　blood　vessels　and　musculature　of　her　face　could　be　seen。　Her　eyes　emitted　an　eerie　light；　what　there　was　of　her　expression　seemed　flat；　unblinking　and　un…Human。

Jack　found　that　he　had　instinctively　raised　his　submachine　gun。　〃Wh…what　are　you；　a　zombie？　He　felt　stupid　even　saying　it。

Her　voice；　when　it　came；　had　much　of　Janice's　tone　and　manner。　〃No；　I　am　an　Artificial　Person；　built　in　the　Tokyo　research　megaplex。　I've　acted　as　Dr。　Lang's　eyes　and　ears　on　the　Sentinels　mission。〃

Lron's　broad；　thickly　furred　chest　rumbled。　〃I　don't　like　such　things…androids　running　around　pretending　they　are　alive！〃

The　AP　was　quick　to　answer；　〃Oh；　but　the　Janice　you　know　was　unaware　that　she　was　an　Artificial　Person…an　android；　if　you　insist。　But　I'm　still　Janice；　with　all　the　thoughts　and　memories　of　Janice。　Only；　I'm　aware　of　the　other　side　of　my　personality　at　last…that　which　served　Lang。　You　might　say　I'm　finally　whole。〃

〃But　why　do　you　reveal　this　now？　Bela　asked　suspiciously。　She　had　rather　liked　Jan…admired　her　for　being　as　quick　and　strong　and　skilled　in　battle　as　an　amazon。　But　Bela　looked　upon　this　being　before　her…a　Wyrdling；　as　Praxians　would　call　it…with　wariness。

〃Because　we　mustn't　follow　the　inertial　trackers　directly　to　Glike；〃　the　AP　answered。　〃The　Awareness　that　oversees　Haydon　IV　is　near；　and　I　think　it's　the　key　to　our　dilemma。　I　saw　that　there　was　no　other　way　to　get　you　to　detour；　though；　and　if　I'd　merely　slipped　away；　you'd　have　e　searching　for　me　and　put　yourselves　in　greater　danger。　I　understand　friendship　that　well；　you　see。〃

She　put　one　hand　back　to　gather　up　her　long　lavender　hair　and　hold　it　out　from　the　nape　of　her　neck。　〃And　there　is　another　reason　to　reveal　myself。　To　locate　the　source　of　this　Awareness　I　must　contact　it　directly；　and　to　do　that…I　must　speak　to　it。〃

She　reached　up　with　her　free　hand　and　pulled　a　patch　of　synthetic　skin　from　her　neck。　She　turned　to　show　them　the　input　aperture　that　had　been　hidden　there。　There　was　a　concerted　hiss　from　the　two　lesser　Invid　scientists；　and　Tesla's　eyes　bulged　with　fascination。　Burak　slashed　the　air　angrily　with　his　horns　and　made　a　mystical　sign　of　protection。

Jan　let　her　hair　fall　back　into　place；　and　dipped　into　a　pouch　on　her　harness。　She　came　up　with　connector　cord　and　several　different　sorts　of　adaptors。　〃According　to　my　analysis；　one　of　these　will　let　me　link　up　with　this　artificial　sentience　I've　detected。〃

〃No！　She's　not　to　be　trusted；〃　Tesla　objected。　〃An　android？　How　can　we　know　what　her　real　motive　is？　Better　that　I　were　allowed　to　converse　with　this　Awareness；　my　friends。〃

Jack　looked　Tesla　over。　The　Regent's　onetime　chief　scientist　no　longer　resembled　a　conventional　upper…caste　Invid；　some　time　after　the　awful　events　on　Garuda；　he　had　undergone　some　kind　of　change　that　he　still　refused　to　explain。

He　was　now　almost　as　tall　as　the　Regent…over　seventeen　feet。　His　snout　was　shorter；　head　more　defined；　hands　and　feet　more　humanoid　than　reptilian。　His　hide　was　now　a　pale　green；　waxy　and　smooth。

But　most　troubling　of　all；　he　had　grown　a　fifth　digit；　and　his　hands　and　his　use　of　them　looked　quite　Human。

Tesla　had　convinced　the　Sentinels　that　he　could　be　of　help　on　this　mission；　but　Jack　wasn't　about　to　trust　the　scientist　with　the　secrets　of　Haydon　IV。　He　moved　the　muzzle　of　his　chattergun　over　to　cover　Tesla。　〃Forget　it。　You　stay　away　from　the　machinery　down　here　unless　I　say　otherwise。〃

Tesla　radiated　an　unspeakable　hatred；　but　said　nothing。　Burak　bridled；　too；　and　moved　to　stand　by　the　Invid。　Jack　had　long　since　noticed　that　there　was　something　between　the　two；　some　secret　they　shared；　but　Burak's　gesture　was　more　on　the　order　of　a　realignment　of　loyalties。

Burak　had　been　growing　a　little　unstable。　He　resented　it　that　his　homeworld；　Peryton；　was　far　back　on　the　timetable　of　Sentinels　priorities。　Jack　made　a　mental　note　to　keep　an　eye　on　him；　as　well。

〃Okay；　uh；　Janice。〃　Jack　decided　that　he　might　as　well　go　on　calling　her　that。　〃What　d'you　need？〃

〃First；　a　proper　interface。〃　She　led　them　off　along　the　highway…wide　catwalk；　they　automatically　took　up　tactical　positions　and　intervals。　They　passed　into　a　smaller　side　passageway；　one　the　VTs　would　never　have　managed。　The　other　raiders　were　jumpy；　expecting　Haydon　IV　to　e　up　with　new　horrors；　but　Jan　seemed　blithely　confident　that　away　from　their　Protoculture…powered　mecha　and　weapons　they　would　no　longer　be　considered　invaders。

Janice's　theory　might　be　correct；　but　Jack　still　thought　longingly　of　all　the　firepower　they　had　been　forced　to　abandon。

Janice　appeared　to　be　finding　her　way　like　an　Indian　in　deep　forest；　listening　and　kind　of　sniffing　the　air　currents　as　well　as　searching　the　future…tech　terrain　with　her　gaze。

As　they　trailed　along；　they　grew　hotter。　Lron　and　Crysta　shed　their　outsize　flight　suits　pletely；　abandoning　them　except　for　helmets…and　the　mo　equipment　in　them…and　the　harnesses　that　held　their　gear　and　weapons。

Jack；　Kami；　and　Learna　removed　their　helmets　as　well；　attaching　them　to　their　web　gear；　and　the　two　Garudans　put　on　their　special　breather　masks。

At　last　Janice　stopped　in　another　vast　open　place　big　enough　to　hold　a　cruiser。　Before　them　was　a　surprisingly　delicate…looking　affair　that　reminded　Jack　of　a　filament…bright　cat's　cradle　the　size　of　the　REF　headquarters　building　back　on　Tirol。

There　were　tiers　of　instrumentation　all　around；　Jan　selected　one　right　away。　It　only　took　her　a　moment　or　two　to　figure　out　which　adapters　to　use；　in　which　configuration；　and　then　she　was　ready。

Jack　volunteered　to　make　the　connection。　As　he　stood　by　with　the　plug　in　his　hand；　Jan　seemed　to　revert　to　her　Human　side　again。　〃If　you　see　me　go　into　overload；　get　the　plug　out　at　once。　I　mean；　right　away；　okay　Jack？〃

〃Sure；　right。〃　It　hadn't　occurred　to　him　that　she　was　risking　her　life…if　that　was　the　correct　term。　He　nervously　worked　his　fingers　in　his　flight　glove；　hoping　it　would　insulate　him　from　any　power　surges。

With　Jan　holding　her　hair　aside　again；　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　plugged　the　adapter　into　the　outlet　in　her　neck。　Banks　of　peripheral　instrumentation　came　alive　in　light　of　various　colors　and　a　deep　humming　filled　the　chamber；　the　humming　rose　in　pitch　until　it　sounded　like　a　synthesized　choir。

A　glow　sprang　out　from　Janice　Em；　and　Jack　nearly　pulled　the　plug；　but　she　managed　in　a　breathless　voice；　〃Don't。。。don't。〃

Jack　stepped　back　to　watch　as　she　was　bathed　in　radiance。　He　thought　he　could　sense　conversations　being　held　all　around　him；　and　the　flow　of　rivers　of　information。　He　spun　to　see　how　the　other　raiders　were　weathering。

Bela　and　Gnea　were　unafraid；　but　had　closed　ranks。　Lron　and　Crysta　had　their　weapons　in　their　hands；　but　didn't　look　like　they　were　going　to　blow　holes　in　anything；　their　service　in　the　Sentinels　had　taught　them　a　certain　self…control。

Kami　and　Learna　were　looking　about　them　in　rapture；　and　Jack　wondered　what　they　were　seeing　and　hearing。　They　were　inhaling　through　their　breather　masks；　drawing　the　atmosphere　of　Garuda；　with　its　myriad　microscopic　symbiotes；　into　their　lungs。　He　knew　they　were　in　the　expanded　mindstate　of　hin；　and　wished　he　could　know　how　the　systemry　of　Haydon　IV　was　manifesting　itself　to　them。

The　two　lesser　Invid　POWs；　Garak　and　Pye；　were　cringing　in　a　corner；　but　Tesla　had　drawn　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　hands　reaching　into　the　air　imploringly。　He　lurched　toward　a　stack　of　control　panels　and　indicators　like　a　long…lost　lover。

Jack　squeezed　off　a　short　burst　into　the　decking　in　the　scientist's　path；　tracers　drawing　bright　warning　lines；　ricochets　glancing　away　into　the　distance。　Tesla　stopped　as　if　someone　had　slapped　him　out　of　a　trance；　gazing　down　at　the　dully　gleaming　bullet…smears　of　lead　at　his　feet。

Jack　had　the　submachine　gun　up　to　his　shoulder；　Tesla　bracketed　in　the　sight　blades。　Tesla　moved　back　a　step；　and　then　another；　until　he　was　back　where　he　had　been　standing。　Jack　stole　a　quick　glance　aside　at　Burak；　who　was　fingering　his　Garudan　small　arm；　a　thing　that　looked　like　a　grappling　hook。

Burak　looked　indecisive；　but　it　was　plain　that　he　was　furious　with　Jack's　intervention。　Then　a　hand　fell　on　Burak's　shoulder。　Bela　had　shouldered　her　crossbow　and　held　her　shortsword　in　her　other　hand。　Gnea　held　her　halberd　ready。　There　was　no　struggle；　only　an　understanding　that　Burak　was　to　lower　his　weapon　and　stand　his　ground；　or　else　see　his　head　fly　from　his　shoulders。　He　chose　the　former　option。

Wise　decision；　Jack　thought。　Otherwise　those　ladies　would　probably　have　your　horns　on　their　living…room　wall；　kid。

〃Look！〃　Jack　pivoted；　seeing　what　Crysta　was　bellowing　about。　His　jaw　dropped。

Janice　Em　was　still　wrapped　in　a　strobing　aurora；　but　she　was　changing　appearance。　One　moment；　she　was　the　Janice　who　had　sung　with　Minmei　and　later　joined　the　Sentinels。　The　next；　she　was　the　Artificial　Person　she　had　revealed　herself　to　be。　Then　she　was　something　even　more　disturbing…a　transparent　Human　being　or　a　Spherisian。　And　after　that　she　flickered；　seeming　to　be　a　Haydonite；　with　their　smooth　lack　of　features；　an　ectoplasmic　robe　flowing　around　her　as　she　hovered　above　the　decking。

The　brilliance　grew　more　intense；　so　that　they　could　barely　endure　it。　Jack　thought　about　spraying　a　burst　into　the　machinery　or　turning　a　random　control；　but　decided　that　might　get　them　into　even　worse　trouble。

A　wind　swept　through　the　mammoth　chamber；　and　somewhere　in　the　center　of　the　light　Janice　was　shifting　through　various　forms…some　Human；　some　not。　Kami　was　baying　in　hysteria；　and　Tesla　was　screaming；　while　Lron　had　both　hands　clapped　to　his　ears。　Gnea　and　Bela；　arms　outspread；　swords　lifted；　were　war　goddesses　howling　a　banshee　challenge　to　the　elements。

Just　when　it　seemed　they　couldn't　bear　it　anymore；　the　light　faded　and　the　sound　died　away。　The　air　lost　every　breath　of　movement。　In　the　stillness　that　followed；　the　raiders　collected　themselves　and　blinked　away　the　dazzling　lights　circling　before　their　eyes。

Janice　Em　stood　once　more　in　her　Human　form；　the　disconnected　interface　jack　in　her　hand。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Bela　ventured。

〃Yes；　quite；　thank　you。〃　She　sounded　distant；　but　then　she　beamed　at　them　in　a　very　Homo　sapiens　smile。

〃I'm　fine；　and　I　found　out　what　we　need　to　know。〃


〃But。。。〃　Jack　realized　his　submachine　gun's　muzzle　was　pointed　her　way　and　quickly　lowered　it。　〃What　was　all　that　shape…changing　about？〃

Janice　looked　up　at　the　web　of　light。　〃You　might　say　that　Haydon　IV　has　been　teaching　me　a　few　things　about　my　own　capabilities　and　potential。　The　Tokyo　project　teams　and　even　Dr。　Lang；　I'm　afraid；　didn't　quite　realize　them　all。〃

She　collected　herself；　turning　her　attention　to　matters　at　hand。　〃But　that's　beside　the　point　now。　We　must　be　on　our　way。〃

She　had　bent　to　pick　up　her　own　weapons　and　equipment。　〃And　we　must　hurry。　The　others　are　in　danger；　up　above　in　Glike；　and　we　have　to　get　to　them　at　once。〃

〃Huh？　Hey！〃　Jack　trotted　after　to　catch　up；　as　Jan　started　for　a　nearby　column　of　instrumentality。　The　others　fell　in　behind；　Gnea　and　Bela　in　particular　making　sure　the　Invid　kept　up　and　got　into　no　mischief。

The　column　was　the　circumference　of　a　spaceport　control　tower；　stretching　from　the　floor　to　the　ceiling。　As　Jan　approached　it；　a　section　of　flickering　indicators　slid　aside；　revealing　a　small　partment。

Jan　turned　on　her　panions；　silencing　their　objections；　demands；　and　threats。　〃Listen：　I'll　answer　any　question　you　want；　explain　everything　I　can；　on　the　journey。　Only；　we　must　start　now；　and　this　is　the　first　step　on　the　road　to　Glike。〃

Jack　blew　his　breath　out；　cheeks　bulging　like　a　bugler's。　〃If　I　survive；　I'm　never　volunteering　for　anything　again。　Okay；　let's　march。〃

The　place　wasn't　too　cramped；　they　had　about　as　much　room　as　in　a　half…filled　elevator。　None　of　them　was　particularly　surprised　when　the　partment　closed　up　again　and　there　was　a　feeling　of　movement；　straight　up。

〃First　question；〃　Jack　said　tiredly。　〃D'they　have　rest　rooms　on　this　flight？〃

〃You　should've　thought　of　that　before　we　left。〃　Janice　Em　grinned　back　at　him。


The　medics　had　injected　her　with　something　calculated　to　speed　along　her　sobering…making　her　neurotransmitters　block　the　acute　depressant　effects　and　raising　her　P3　waves。　But　Minmei　was　still　writhing　between　a　pair　of　Ghost　Rider　security　people　as　she　was　dragged　before　Edwards　in　his　office　on　the　top　floor　of　Base　Tirol　HQ　on　Fantoma。

She　had　tried　to　bite；　scratch；　and　kick；　but　the　REF　people　were　used　to　hand…to…hand　bat；　and　even　though　they　were　under　orders　not　to　retaliate；　they　had　kept　her　from　inflicting　any　significant　damage。　Exhausted；　she　was　pushed　forcefully　into　a　chair　and　kept　seated。

Her　face　was　smudged　with　dirt　and　tears。　Through　a　sort　of　blur；　she　saw　a　figure　move　and　heard　Edwards's　voice。　〃Wait　outside；〃　he　told　his　troops。

She　heard　the　brittle　fury　in　his　voice　and　became　truly　afraid　for　the　first　time。　She　had　seen　his　moods　before；　knew　he　was　capable　of　anything　when　he　was　like　this…even　of　murdering　her　on　the　spot。

She　wiped　her　eyes　and　tried　to　stop　crying。　Edwards　was　standing　behind　his　desk；　hands　clasped　at　the　small　of　his　back。

〃Who　was　the　pilot　who　helped　you　escape？〃

〃Go　to　hell；〃　she　choked。

He　walked　unhurriedly　from　behind　the　desk。　〃Where　did　you　think　you　were　going？〃

〃God　damn　you！〃

He　moved　with　stunning　speed；　grabbing　a　fistful　of　her　hair　and　winding　it　painfully；　making　her　cry　out；　holding　her　in　her　seat　with　his　other　hand。

〃Do　you　really　think　you　can　ever