15_death_dance-第6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！


his　lead；　and　the　two　of　them　took　to　the　rigs。

A　moment　later；　on　the　floor　of　an　enormous　sublevel　room；　Rick　was　certain　they　had　overshot　their　mark　and　landed　in　hell。　In　the　strobing　light　he　could　see　they　were　standing　on　the　rim　of　a　massive　well　that　seemed　to　drop　straight　down　to　the　planet's　molten　core。　Here；　too；　the　ceiling　was　covered　with　orbs…most　of　them　of　greater　size　than　any　he　had　seen　on　the　surface；　but　it　was　the　creatures　crawling　up　out　of　that　well　that　had　left　him　speechless。　They　might　have　been　Hovertank…size　spiders；　except　for　their　eyestalks；　double…tiered　segmented　bodies；　and　front…facing　mouths。　And　if　they　weren't　the　devil's　own　creation；　Rick　decided；　then　he　didn't　ever　want　to　meet　their　maker。　For　no　god　could　have　loved　so　hideous　and　evil…looking　a　beast。

It　thrilled　him　to　realize　that　the　black　stickiness　coating　the　cavern's　floor　was　blood　from　these　things；　but　even　that　was　not　enough　to　wash　the　fear　out　of　him。　He　remembered　reading　somewhere　that　there　was　an　actual　endogenous　terror　hormone　certain　creatures　gave　rise　to　in　the　human　body；　and　indeed　he　seemed　to　remember　them　in　some　primal　corner　of　his　mind。　But　then　he　suddenly　recalled　where　he　had　actually　seen　them：　they　were　the　creatures　an　ancient　and　unknown　Praxian　hand　had　depicted　on　the　cave's　walls！


Tesla　was　amazed　by　the　Human　female's　strength。　He　had　finally　succeeded　in　dragging　her　backward　into　the　Beta's　cargo　space　and　now　had　both　of　Janice's　seemingly　frail　wrists　firmly　clasped　in　his　own　hands；　but　it　had　been　a　struggle　all　the　way。　Burak；　meanwhile；　had　slid　forward　into　the　cockpit　seat　to　handle　the　controls。　The　drive　module　was　looming　into　view　through　the　VT's　canopy；　right　on　schedule；　and　theirs　for　the　taking。

〃Wele　to　our　crew；〃　Tesla　was　saying　to　the　still…untamed　female。　〃Glad　to　have　you　aboard。〃　Jonathan　Wolff's　urgent　voice　could　be　heard　over　the　open　net。

Janice　twisted　around；　almost　breaking　free　of　his　hold；　and　glared　at　him。　〃Is　this　any　way　to　treat　a　guest？〃

〃If　I　let　you　free；　will　you　promise　to　behave？〃

Janice　gave　her　head　a　defiant　toss。　〃Try　me。〃

Tesla　eased　his　grip；　and　the　android　everyone　thought　a　woman　lunged　for　Burak's　neck。　Tesla　pinioned　her　arms　and　threw　her　roughly　against　the　aft　bulkhead；　he　was　pleased　to　see　some　of　the　fight　go　out　of　her。

〃Burak；〃　Janice　said　weakly；　one　hand　to　her　head。　〃What's　your　part　in　this？　I　can't　believe　you'd　leave　your　friends　to　die　back　there。〃

Burak　showed　her　his　profile；　velvety　horns　and　heavily　boned　brows　accented　amber　in　the　display　lights。　〃It's　the　only　way　I　can　help　free　my　planet；〃　he　offered。　〃You　can't　understand…〃

〃Enough　of　this；〃　Tesla　interrupted；　taking　stock　of　the　wounds　Janice's　fingernails　had　opened　on　his　arms。　〃Pay　attention　to　what　you're　doing。　And　shut　down　the　m；〃　he　added；　gesturing　to　the　net　switch。

The　crystalline…shaped　Spherisian　module　filled　their　view　now；　eclipsing　the　stars。　Burak　matched　the　Beta's　course　to　the　module's　seemingly　slow…motion　end…over…end　roll；　and　began　to　maneuver　the　mecha　along　the　drive's　scorched　and　much…abused　hull。　He　utilized　the　onboard　puter　to　municate　with　the　module's　own；　and　within　minutes　the　docking…bay　hatch　was　opened；　the　Beta　was　home　free。

When　the　bay　had　repressurized；　the　trio　climbed　from　the　Beta　cockpit　and　eventually　found　their　way　to　the　bridge。　Tesla　carried　Janice　the　entire　way；　bear…hugged　to　his　huge　chest　like　some　sort　of　stuffed　toy　he　couldn't　live　without。　Burak　lugged　along　the　mutated　fruits　he　had　smuggled　aboard　the　VT　before　liftoff。

The　Invid　was　feeling　omnipotent…not　only　because　he　had　so　easily　outwitted　the　Sentinels；　but　because　he　would　soon　be　on　his　way　to　Optera　for　the　face…to…face　encounter　with　the　Regent　he　had　so　often　envisioned　these　past　periods。　The　fruits　from　Karbarra　and　Praxis　had；　so　he　believed；　rendered　him　superior　to　the　monarch　he　had　once　served　as　soldier　and　would…be　son。　And　now　it　was　time　for　the　Regent　to　step　aside　and　grant　him　his　due　position　as　leader　of　the　Invid　race。　Tesla　had　e　to　understand　that　it　took　more　than　mere　strength　to　lead；　it　took　insight　and　vision；　and　these　gifts　were　his　in　abundance。

But　as　they　arrived　at　the　drive's　control　room；　some　very　real　problems　presented　themselves；　eroding　Tesla's　fantasies　and　summoning　an　anger　from　his　depths。

〃But　you　told　me　you　could　astrogate　this　ship！〃

With　a　gesture　of　helplessness；　Burak　turned　from　the　starmaps　and　spacefold　charts　he　had　called　up　on　the　Spherisian　guidance　monitors。　〃I　thought　I　could；　but　now。。。〃

Tesla　stormed　over　to　him　and　began　to　scan　the　screens；　puzzling　over　the　datascrolls。　He　pointed　a　thick　finger　at　one　of　them。　〃Here。　Here　is　Optera。〃

Burak's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃Optera！　But；　Tesla…Peryton；　we're　going　to　Peryton。〃

Telsa　pushed　him　aside。　〃In　due　time；〃　he　said　absently。　〃First　there　is　something　I　must　attend　to。〃

Burak　steeled　himself。　〃Then　attend　to　it　without　my　help。〃

Tesla　made　a　violent　motion　with　his　hands；　but　checked　himself　short　of　the　Perytonian's　neck；　taking　him　instead　by　the　shoulders；　fraternally。　〃Of　course；　my　dear。　To　Peryton；　then。〃　Tesla's　hands　urged　Burak　down　into　one　of　the　acceleration　seats。　〃Now；　why　don't　we　try　to　figure　this　out　together；　step　by　step。　Let's　just　say　for　example's　sake　that　we　did　want　to　fold　for　Opteraspace。。。Now；　how　would　we　do　that；　my　friend。。。？〃

Janice　took　in　the　exchange　from　across　the　room。　The　two　mutineers　had　all　but　forgotten　about　her；　so　it　was　easy　enough　to　jack　into　the　drive's　systems　while　their　attention　was　focused　elsewhere。　In　a　short　time　she　had　pleted　her　bit　of　cybernetic　magic。　No　matter　what　they　fed　into　the　ship's　astrogational　puters　now；　the　module　was　locked　on　course　for　the　Fantoma　space　system。

Janice　smiled　to　herself；　wondering　how　Tesla　would　take　to　surprises。


At　first　it　was　believed　that　Baker　and　Rem　had　been　captured　or　eaten　by　the　bristly　eight…legged　crawling　nightmares　delivered　up　from　the　Praxian　netherworld；　but　subsequently　the　Sentinels　found　that　their　two　teammates　were　simply　being　detained…the　word　someone　from　the　Wolff　Pack　had　used。　Jack　and　Rem　had　been　probed　and　manhandled；　but　apparently　were　safe。　It　seemed　that　the　arachnids…Gnea　and　Bela　had　a　name　for　them　no　one　could　pronounce…had　no　taste　for　meat。　Moreover；　the　creatures　weren't　on　a　feeding　frenzy　at　all…nor；　for　that　matter；　were　they　interested　in　counterattacking　the　beings　who　were　busy　lancing　them　with　lasers　and　rockets。　Like　the　orbs；　these　living　anachronisms…unseen　on　Praxis　for　millennia…were　attempting　to　flee　the　storms　that　burned　at　the　planet's　transformed　core。

Rick　was　long　past　his　initial　fright；　but　the　sour　taste　of　fear　remained　in　his　mouth。　It　struck　him　as　odd　that　while　in　his　day　he　had　fought　fifty…foot　giants　and　walking　slugs；　ridden　into　battle　alongside　humanoid　clones；　ursine　warriors；　and　amazons　on　Robotsteeds；　he　could　experience　such　utter　terror　at　the　sight　of　giant　spiders。　Maybe；　he　had　decided；　it　was　the　very　mindlessness　of　the　creatures；　after　all；　even　the　Invid　weren't　monsters；　were　they？　The　Praxian　women　had　been　equally　frightened；　and　Rick　tried　to　imagine　what　it　might　be　like　to　go　up　against；　say；　dinosaurs。

But　if　the　creatures　hadn't　actually　added　to　the　Sentinels'　plight；　they　had　done　nothing　to　improve　things。　Countless　orbs　had　exited　the　cave；　and　now　there　was　a　nasty　bit　of　mopping　up　to　do　down　below　while　the　rest　of　the　orbs　were　mustered　for　further　lift　assists。　To　make　matters　worse；　there　was　still　no　word　from　the　Beta；　and　one　of　the　Spherisians　had　gone　and　gotten　himself　stuck　in　a　rock！

Presently；　Rick　and　some　of　the　others　were　grouped　around　Teal　and　the　hand　that　had　once　belonged　to　her　friend。　Baldan　was　merged　with　the　wall…the　way　a　Mesoamerican　bas…relief　could　be　said　to　be　merged　to　a　stela。　His　profile　was　frozen　but　plainly　visible；　and　there　was　a　crystalline　mass　protruding　from　the　section　of　rock　where　his　chest　might　have　been。　The　crystal　grew　before　the　astonished　eyes　of　the　assembled　group。

〃No；　you　can't；　Baldan…please　stop　this！〃　Teal　was　shouting　to　the　wall。　She　swung　around　to　Rick。　〃He　is　attempting　to　transfer　his　essence。　But　this　has　never　been　achieved　on　any　world　but　Spheris。〃　She　looked　back　at　the　engorged　growth。　〃And　I　don't　want　to　raise　it！〃

Again　the　crystal　enlarged。　Teal　put　her　hands　to　her　head　in　a　panicked　gesture　and　pleaded　with　Baldan　to　stop。　But　ultimately　her　hands　reached　for　the　faceted　thing　and　she　began　to　tug　at　it。

〃It's　no　use；　Baldan；〃　she　cried。　〃It　will　die！〃

Rick　moved　in　to　give　her　a　hand；　and　with　some　effort　the　two　of　them　managed　to　pull　the　crystal　loose。　The　hollow　pop！　sent　a　shudder　up　Rick's　back。　Baldan's　profile　receded　into　the　wall　and　vanished。　Teal　dropped　the　crystal　from　her　trembling　hands　and　regarded　it。

〃The　child　is　lifeless。。。dead。〃　She　looked　around　at　the　others。　〃Baldan　is　lost　to　us。〃

Whimpering　sounds　found　their　way　out　from　under　Kami　and　Learna's　breathing　tubes。　Rick　took　Teal　by　the　shoulders。　〃What　did　he　tell　you？〃

She　stared　at　him　blankly　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃The　Invid。　They　must　have　been　using　Praxis　for　experiments　of　some　sort。　It　was　the　chambers　they　hollowed　out　that　gave　birth　to　those　creatures。　And　these　same　chambers　have　ushered　in　this　world's　demise。〃

〃But　what　kind　of　experiments？〃　Rick　demanded。　〃What　were　they　trying　to　create？〃

Teal　shook　her　head。

Tight…lipped；　Rick　released　her　and　motioned　a　radioman　over　to　him。　〃Any　word　from　the　Beta？〃　he　asked　Vince　when　the　GMU　link　was　established。

〃They've　reached　the　module；〃　Vince　updated。　〃But　we're　not　getting　through　to　them。〃

Rick　summarized　what　had　gone　down　in　the　caverns。　〃I　want　to　speak　with　Tesla　as　soon　as　they　call　in。　He　must　know　something　about　all　this…these　pits。　Maybe　there's　a　way　to　reverse　it？〃

〃Unlikely；〃　Vince　responded。　〃But　I'm　sure　Tesla　will　tell　us　what　he　knows。　He's　practically　one　of　us　now。〃


With　a　little　help　from　the　GMU's　puters；　the　Alpha　was　back　on　course。　Wolff　and　his　Haydonite　copilot　were　I　at　a　loss　to　explain　the　unexpected　separation；　but　they　assumed　Janice　had　done　so　with　some　good　purpose　in　mind；　and　that　her　radio　silence　was　nothing　more　than　a　glitch　in　the　system。　It　didn't　occur　to　either　of　them　that　there　was　conspiracy　afoot。

Wolff　continued　in　this　hopeful　vein；　even　after　he　had　learned　that　the　Beta　had　apparently　made　a　successful　docking　with　the　drive　module。　That　singed　piece　of　orbiting　space　debris　was　above　him　now；　and　he　was　getting　all　he　could　from　the　Alpha　to　make　up　for　lost　time。　It　was　only　when　his　radio　requests　for　docking　coordinates　were　ignored　that　he　began　to　suspect　foul　play。　The　hunch　became　full…fledged　concern　when　he　couldn't　get　the　Alpha's　onboard　systems　to　interface　with　the　module。　Consequently；　the　docking…bay　shields　remained　closed；　and　unless　something　could　be　done　to　open　them；　the　Alpha　was　going　to　wind　up　dead　in　space。

Even　if　that　meant　going　extravehicular。

Sarna　took　over　the　controls　while　Wolff　suited　up。　Praxis　turned　below　them　like　a　cataracted　eye。　The　telepath　strapped　in；　bringing　the　Alpha　as　close　as　she　could　to　the　module's　scarred　hull；　then　Wolff　blew　the　canopy。　He　floated　up　and　out　of　the　VT　on　a　tether　line；　took　hold　of　the　side　of　the　pinwheeling　ship；　and　tried　to　center　his　attention　on　the　alien　external　control　panel。　Sarna　spoke　to　him　through　the　helmet　relays；　avoiding　the　net　in　favor　of　frequencies　of　a　cerebral　sort。　Wolff　heard　her　thoughts　as　spoken　words　as　he　fumbled　with　Spherian　switches　designed　for　hands　more　sensitive　than　his　own。

But　a　short　while　later　the　hatch　was　sliding　open　and　pocketing　itself　in　the　crystalline　hull。　Sarna　engaged　the　Alpha's　attitude　jets　and　began　to　maneuver　the　ship　to　safety。

The　Beta　was　inside；　empty；　and　fortunately；　Wolff　decided；　there　was　no　weling　party　there　to　greet　them。　Down　on　the　hold　floor　now　he　armed　himself　with　a　rifle　and　two　handguns；　Sarna　had　perfect　recall　of　the　module's　corridor　and　partment　layout；　so　she　led　the　way。　They　were　barely　out　of　the　docking　area　when　the　ship　lurched。

〃We're　leaving　orbit；〃　Sarna　told　him。

Wolff　felt　the　rumble　of　the　module's　drives　ladder　its　way　up　his　legs。　Sarna　hovered　along　the　corridor　at　an　increased　pace；　then　abruptly　right…angled　herself　into　a　large　cabinspace　and　told　Wolff　strap　himself　into　one　of　the　seats。

Wolff　regarded　the　acceleration　couch　and　threw　her　a　questioning　look。

〃We're　preparing　to　fold；〃　she　told　him。


〃They've　what！〃

〃They　folded；〃　Vince　Grant　repeated。　〃The　module's　gone。〃

Rick　leaned　against　one　of　the　GMU　mand…center　consoles　to　catch　his　breath。　He　had　run　all　the　way　from　the　cave　only　to　hear　the　bad　news　as　soon　as　he　came　through　the　hatch。

〃But；　but；　did　they…〃

〃Not　one　word；〃　Jean　cut　in。　〃The　last　message　we　had　was　from　Wolff。　He　was　sure　something　had　happened　to　Janice。〃

〃Tesla；〃　Rick　said；　biting　out　the　name。

Vince　nodded。　〃That's　my　guess。〃

〃But　where's　the　Alpha　now？〃　Rick　added；　looking　back　and　forth　between　the　two　of　them。

Jean　pushed　herself　back　from　the　console；　her　hands　on　the　arms　of　the　chair。　〃That's　the　weird　part。　The　Alpha　made　it　aboard。〃

Rick　fell　silent；　it　felt　for　a　moment　as　though　they　were　speaking　to　him　in　a　foreign　tongue。　He　shook　his　head；　hoping　everything　would　settle　into　some　sort　of　order。　〃Maybe　it　wasn't　Tesla。　Maybe　Janice　knows　something　we　don't。。。〃

〃Okay；〃　Vince　said。

〃And　maybe　she　managed　to　get　word　to　Wolff；　but　he　couldn't　reach　us。。。〃

〃Okay；　again。〃

〃And　maybe　they　had　to　fold　because　they　realized　there　was　no　way　to　get　everyone　offworld　using　the　VTs。。。〃

〃Uh　huh。〃　Vince　folded　his　arms。　〃So　they　take　off　for　Karbarra　or　Tirol；　figuring　we'll　be　able　to　wait　it　out。〃

Rick　left　it　unanswered。　There　was　no　need；　anyway；　now　that　the　tremors　had　remenced。　A　steady；　thunderous　roar　filtered　into　the　room；　somewhere　nearby；　mountain　ranges　were　beginning　to　crumble。


It　was　a　short　jump。　Wolff　could　feel　himself　ing　out　of　the　fold's　dizzying　effects；　and　was　on　his　feet　even　before　Sarna　had　furnished　him　with　an　all…clear　sign。

When　the　two　of　them　burst　onto　the　module's　bridge；　they　found　Tesla　and　Burak　seated　at　the　controls。　Janice　was　off　to　one　side；　asleep；　Wolff　thought。

Tesla　and　Burak　both　swung　around　as　they　heard　the　hiss　of　the　hatch。　The　Invid's　snout　dropped　open　when　he　saw　Wolff　standing　there　armed　to　the　teeth；　and　he　immediately　fell　backward　against　his　coconspirator；　hoping　Wolff　would　read　it　as　Burak　attempting　a　capture。

The　two　XTs　rolled　across　one　of　the　console　benches　and　down　onto　the　floor。　Taken　pletely　off　guard；　Burak　didn't　know　what　had　hit　him。　But　Tesla　was　forcing　himself　into　a　subordinate　position　now；　and　ordering　Burak　to　grab　him　by　the　neck。

〃Fight；　you　idiot！〃　Tesla　was　whispering。　〃You've　go　to　make　them　believe　you　had　nothing　to　do　with　this！〃

Burak　finally　got　the　message　and　threw　his　hands　around　the　Invid's　thick　neck。　The　two　of　them　butted　heads　and　snarled　and　cursed　at　eac