tz.cobra strike-第16章

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　But　if　the　translator　had　glitched　it　wasn't　obvious。　One　of　the　Qasamans　stepped　a　half　pace　forward；　raising　his　hand　in　imitation　of　Cerenkov's　gesture；　and　began　speaking。　〃We　greet　you　in　turn；〃　Cerenkov's　earphone　murmured　seconds　later。　〃I　am　Moff；　I　wele　you　in　the　name　of　Mayor　Kimmeron　of　Soltas　and　the　people　of　Qasama。　Your　interpreter　speaks　our　language　well。　Why　does　he　rest　aboard　your　craft？〃
　〃Our　translator　is　a　machine；〃　Cerenkov　told　him　carefully；　wishing　he　knew　just　how　technologically　advanced　these　people　were。　Would　they　understand　the　word　puter；　or　relegate　the　whole　process　to　black　magic？　〃Each　word　I　speak　is　sent　to　it　from　this　microphone；　where　it　pares　the　word　to　those　it　knows　of　your　language…〃
　〃I　understand　translation　devices；〃　Moff　interrupted　him。　〃Other　visitors　here　used　such　things；　though
　we　have　no　need　of　them　on　Qasama。　Your　machine　uses　many　of　the　same　inflections　theirs　did。〃
　The　hidden　question　was　obvious；　and　Cerenkov　had　a　split…second　decision　to　make　as　to　how　to　answer　it。　Honesty　seemed　the　safest　approach。　〃If　you　speak　of　the　Trofts　of　the　Baliu'ckha'spmi　demesne；　we　did　indeed　purchase　our　translator　from　them。　That's　also　how　we　knew　you　were　here；　though　they　failed　to　mention　that　we　are　of　the　same　race。　How　did　you　arrive　here；　so　far　away　from　other　human　worlds；　if　I　may　ask？〃
　Moff　ran　his　eyes　over　the　Dewdrop　for　a　moment　before　turning　back　to　Cerenkov。　〃A　large　craft；　though　much　smaller　than　the　one　of　legends；〃　he　mented。　〃How　many　people　does　it　usually　carry？〃
　In　other　words；　Cerenkov　thought；　how　many　are　still　aboard？　Again；　honesty　would　be　best　。。。　honesty　tempered　with　the　fact　that　Justin　Moreau　was　to　be　treated　as　nonexistent。　〃There　are　seven　crewmen　and　six　members　of　the　diplomatic　mission　still　aboard；〃　he　told　Moff。　〃For　various　reasons　they　will　remain　there。〃
　〃During　which　time　you　four　intend　to　do　what？〃
　The　question　caught　Cerenkov　off　guard。　He'd　expected　to　hold　talks　with　the　leadership　and　to　be　given　a　grand　tour　of　the　area…but　he　hadn't　expected　to　have　to　make　such　requests　out　here　beside　the　ship。　〃We'd　like　to　visit　with　your　people；〃　he　said。　〃Share　information　of　mutual　interest；　perhaps　open　trade　negotiations。　We　do　share　a　mon　heritage；　after　all。〃
　Moff's　eyes　bored　into　his。　〃Our　heritage　is　one　of　struggle　against　both　men　and　nature；〃　he　said　bluntly。　〃Tell　me；　where　is　this　world　Aventine　you　e　from？〃
　〃It's　about　forty…five　light…years　from　here；〃　Cerenkov　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　point　dramatically　toward　the　sky。　〃I'm　not　sure　of　the　actual　direction　or　whether　our　sun　is　even　visible　at　this　distance。〃
　〃I　see。　What　is　your　relationship　with　the　Lords　of　Rajan　Putra　and　the　Agra　Dynasty？〃
　Cerenkov　felt　his　heartbeat　pick　up。　At　last；　a　clue　of　sorts　as　to　when　the　Qasamans　had　left　the　Dominion　of　Man。　He　himself　had　only　the　vaguest　idea　when　the　Dynasties　had　existed…and　no　recollection　at　all　of　any　Rajan　Putra…but　Nnamdi's　sociologist　training　ought　to　cover　at　least　some　history　as　well。
　But　that　wouldn't　tell　him　what　the　Qasamans〃　own　feelings　toward　the　Dynasties　had　been　。。。　and　if　he　didn't　e　up　with　a　safely　neutral　answer　the　whole　expedition　could　be　shifted　into　the　〃enemies〃　column　without　any　further　warning。　〃I'm　afraid　that　question　doesn't　mean　anything　to　me；〃　he　told　Moff。　〃We　left　the　main　group　of　human　worlds　ourselves　some　time　ago；　and　at　that　time　there　wasn't　any　government　calling　itself　a　dynasty；　at　least　not　that　I　know　of。〃
　A　slight　frown　creased　Moff's　forehead。　〃The　Agra　Dynasty　claimed　it　was　eternal。〃
　Cerenkov　remained　silent；　and　after　a　moment　Moff　shrugged。　〃Perhaps　a　search　through　your　records　will　show　us　what　happened　after　we　left；〃　he　said。　〃So。　You　wish　to　visit　our　world。　For　how　long？〃
　Cerenkov　shrugged。　〃That's　entirely　up　to　you…we　wouldn't　want　to　impose　overmuch　on　your　hospitality。　We　can　also　bring　our　own　supplies　if　you'd　like。〃　（
　Moff's　eyes　seemed　to　focus　on　the　clear　bubble　around　Cerenkov's　head。　〃You　will　have　trouble　eating　like　that；　won't　you？　Or　would　you　want　to　return　to　your　craft　for　every　meal？〃
　〃That　shouldn't　be　necessary；〃　Cerenkov　shook　his　head。　〃By　the　time　we're　likely　to　get　hungry；　our　analysis　of　your　air　should　be　plete。　I'm　expecting　it　to　show　nothing　dangerous；　but　we　need　to　be　cautious。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Moff　glanced　to　both　sides；　as　if　waiting　for　a　protest　from　one　of　his　party。　But　they
　remained　silent。　〃Very　well；　Cerenkov；　you　and　your　panions　may　e　with　me　into　the　city。　But　you　must　agree　to　obey　my　mands　without　question；　for　your　own　safety。　Even　in　Sollas　the　many　dangers　of　Qasama　are　not　wholly　absent。〃
　〃Very　well；　I　agree；〃　Cerenkov　said　with　only　the　slightest　hesitation。　〃We're　well　aware　of　how　dangerous　a　planet　can　be　for　visitors。〃
　〃Good。　Then　my　first　order　is　for　you　to　leave　all　weapons　with　your　craft。〃
　Beside　Cerenkov；　York　stirred　slightly。　〃Yet　you　just　said　Qasama　could　be　dangerous；〃　Cerenkov　said；　choosing　his　words　carefully。　He'd　half　expected　this；　but　had　no　intention　of　giving　in　without　at　least　trying　to　talk　Moff　out　of　it。　〃If　you're　afraid　we　might　use　our　weapons　against　your　citizens；　let　me　assure　you…〃
　〃Our　citizens　have　nothing　to　fear　from　your　weapons；〃　Moff　interrupted。　〃It's　you　who　would　be　in　danger。　The　mojos…〃　he　gestured　to　the　bird　resting　on　his　shoulder…　〃are　trained　to　attack　when　weapons　are　drawn　or　used；　except　for　hunting　or　self…defense　purposes。〃
　Frowning；　Cerenkov　studied　the　bird…　Silver…blue　in　color；　built　rather　like　a　pact　hawk；　it　returned　his　gaze　with　what　seemed　to　be　preternatural　alertness。　The　talons　clinging　to　the　oversized　epaulet　were　long　and　sharp；　the　feet　themselves　disproportionately　large。　A　hunting　bird；　if　he'd　ever　seen　one　。。。　and　he'd　heard　enough　stories　of　professional　falconers　to　have　plenty　of　respect　for　such　creatures。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃We'll…〃
　〃By　my　instructions；　and　one　at　a　time；〃　Moff　said；　his　hand　curving　up　to　stroke　his　mojo's　throat　again。　〃You　first；　Cerenkov。　Rest　your　hand　on　your　weapon；　say　〃clear/　and　then　draw　it　。。。　slowly。〃
　Cerenkov's　laser　was　holstered　across　his　belt；　only　its　grip　visible　beneath　his　loose　jacket。　Reaching　for　it；　he　thumbed　off　the　holster's　safety　strap。　〃Clear；〃　he　said；　waiting　for　the　translation　before　drawing　it　free。
　The　mojos〃　reaction　was　immediate。　Practically　in　unison　all　six　birds　gave　a　single；　harsh　caw　and　snapped　their　wings　out　into　flight　position。　Two　of　the　birds　even　left　their　owners〃　shoulders；　tracing　a　tight　circle　half　a　meter　above　Cerenkov's　head　before　settling　back　onto　their　perches。　Beside　him；　York　spat　something　and　dropped　to　a　crouch；　Cerenkov　himself　bit　down　hard　on　his　tongue　in　an　effort　to　remain　absolutely　motionless。
　And　as　quickly　as　it　had　begun；　the　flurry　of　activity　was　over。　The　mojos；　wings　still　poised　at　the　ready；　became　living　statues　on　the　Qasamans〃　shoulders。　Moving　with　infinite　care；　Cerenkov　walked　back　to　the　Dewdrop's　hatchway　and　laid　his　laser　in　the　airlock。　As　if　on　cue；　the　mojos　relaxed　again；　and　Cerenkov　returned　to　the　line。　〃Marck？〃　he　said；　striving　to　keep　his　voice　steady。　〃Your　turn。〃
　〃Right。〃　Rynstadt　cleared　his　throat。　〃Clear。〃
　The　mojos　reacted　a　bit　more　calmly　this　time　around；　and　their　responses　eased　even　further　for　York　and　Joshua。　Clearly；　they'd　picked　up　rather　quickly　on　the　fact　that　hostilities　were　not　being　initiated。　Just　as　clearly；　they　weren't　taking　chances；　either。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Moff　said　when　all　four　lasers　were　in　the　airlock。　He　raised　both　hands　over　his　head；　and　Cerenkov's　peripheral　vision　caught　movement　at　the　edge　of　the　colorful　city。　A　large　vehicle　was　approaching；　an　open　car　type　of　thing　with　two　Qasamans　in　it。　Both　figures　had　bulging　left　shoulders；　Cerenkov　didn't　have　to　see　any　more　clearly　to　know　the　lumps　would　turn　out　to　be　mojos。　〃Mayor　Kimmeron　is　waiting　to　meet　you/〃　Moff　continued。　〃We'll　be　taken　to　his　chambers　now。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Cerenkov　managed。　〃We're　looking　forward　to　meeting　him。
　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　not　to　stare　at　the　mojos。
　There　wer