tz.cobra strike-第41章

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　And　speaking　of　them；　if　he　could　manage　to　take　the　mayor　captive　or　hold　some　critical　nerve　center；　he　might　even　be　able　to　wangle　their　freedom　without　the　dangers　a　brute…force　approach　would　entail。
　All　in　all；　he　decided；　it　was　worth　trying。
　Scanning　the　street　one　last　time；　he　lowered　himself　quickly　over　the　parapet　and　dropped　to　the　ground；　bouncing　off　a　convenient　window　ledge　halfway　down　to　ease　the　final　shock　of　landing。　Checking　the　cross　street；　he　started　northeast　toward　the　center　of　town　at　a　deceptively　easy…looking　lope；　enhanc　d　vision　and　hearing　alert　for　the　Qasamans　who　would　inevitably　appear。
　The　static　crackle　of　the　Qasamans〃　radio　jamming　blanket　dominated　the　Dewdrop's　lounge；　its　monotony　matching　perfectly　the　unchanging　still…life　on　the　ship's　outside　monitors。　For　all　the　evidence　offered；　the　entire　population　of　Qasama　could　have　fallen　off　the　planet　immediately　after　Justin　had　been　taken　away　nearly　an　hour　ago。　Telek　glanced　at　her　watch；　sloshing　the　untasted　cahve　in　her　mug　as　she　did　so。　Three　minutes　gone；　and　not　even　a　hint　the　Qasamans　intended　to　reply。　〃Try　it　again；〃　she　told　Nnamdi。
　He　nodded　and　raised　the　mike　to　his　lips。　〃This　is　Dr。　Hersh　Nnamdi　aboard　the　Aventinian　ship　Dew…drop；〃　he　said。　〃We　urgently　request　munication　with　Mayor　Kimmeron　or　other　Qasaman　leaders。　Please　respond。〃
　He　lowered　the　mike　into　his　lap　and　Telek　strained　her　ears；　listening。　The　Dewdrop's　most　powerful　tight…beam　transmitter　was　spitting　Nnamdi's　translated　words　directly　at　the　nearby　tower。　Jamming　or　no　jamming；　some　of　that　signal　should　be　getting　through。　If　the　Qasamans　were　listening。
　If　they　weren't；　this　was　a　plete　waste　of　effort。　If　they　were；　even　if　they　didn't　care　to　reply；　Winward　might　have　a　chance。
　Might。
　〃Stage　two；〃　Telek　said　to　Nnamdi。　〃Put　some　emotion　into　it。〃
　The　other's　cheek　twitched；　but　he　lifted　the　mike。　〃This　is　Dr。　Hersh　Nnamdi　aboard　the　Dewdrop。　I　would　like　to　send　an　unarmed　representative　out　to　negotiate　our　panions〃　release　with　you。　Will　you　grant　him　safe…conduct　to　someone　in　authority？〃
　Static。　Beside　Nnamdi；　Christopher　stirred　and　looked　at　Telek。　〃You　realize；　of　course；　that　if　Justin　and　Almo　have　made　their　move　down　south；　Kimmeron　will　know　we've　got　super…warriors　aboard　and　will　be　waiting　for　Michael　with　all　the　guns　they've　got。〃
　Telek　nodded　wordlessly。　Winward　knew　it　too；　of　course。　She　stole　a　glance　at　the　Cobra　as　he　sat　in　quiet　conversation　with　Link　at　one　of　the　other　displays。　They　would　be　discussing　tactics　and　strategy；　she　knew…and　what　good　it　would　do　she　couldn't　imagine。　Shots　or　shells　fired　from　a　distance　by　an　unseen　gunner　weren't　something　that　could　be　fought。　Not　even　by　Cobras。
　〃Someone…anyone…answer　me；　please。〃　Nnamdi's　voice　cracked　a　bit；　and　Telek　shifted　her　attention　back　to　him。　The　strain　was　beginning　to　get　to　him；　she　realized　uneasily。　A　little　of　that　would　add　believability　to　the　whole　scheme；　but　too　much　could　be　trouble。　〃Look；　I'm　going　to　send　out　my　second…in…mand；　Mr。　Michael　Winward；〃　Nnamdi　continued。　〃Please　talk　to　him；　all　right？　There's　no　need　for　any　more　bloodshed　than　we've　all　already　suffered。　I'm　sure　we　can　make　a　deal　if　you'll　only　agree　to　negotiate。〃
　Nnamdi　paused；　looking　to　Telek。　Steeling　herself；　she　nodded。　He　licked　his　lips　and　turned　back　to　the　mike。　〃I'm　sending　him　out　now。　Okay？〃
　The　static　remained　unbroken。　Putting　down　the　mike；　Nnamdi　slumped　in　his　seat　and　closed　his　eyes。　Across　the　room；　Winward　got　easily　to　his　feet。　〃That's　my　cue；　I　believe；〃　he　remarked；　picking　up　his　formal　tunic　from　the　back　of　a　chair　and　slipping　it　on　over　his　black　nightfighter　bat　suit。
　〃m　set；〃　Link　murmured　〃Got　it；〃　Winward　nodded；　scooping　up　the　translator…link　pendant/earphone　set　laying　on　the　table　in　front　of　Nnamdi。　〃Governor；　I'll　try　to　find　and　hit　the　jammer　first；　but　if　I　can't　find　it　I'll　go　straight　for　the　tower's　defenses。　If　you　pick　up　gunfire　and　explosions　from　back　there；　sweep　the　forest　with　m　laser　fire　and　send　Dorjay　out。〃
　〃Right；〃　Telek　said；　trying　to　match　his　calm　tone。　〃Good　luck；　and　don't　take　any　stupid　chances。〃
　He　twitched　a　smile　at　her　and　left。　Sinking　into　the　seat　next　to　Nnamdi；　Telek　watched　the　screen　。。。　and　a　minute　later　the　outside　monitors　showed　the　Cobra　walking　slowly　toward　the　tower；　a　half…meter…square　white　flag　held　prominently　in　front　of　him。
　No　shells　arced　out　of　the　sky　as　he　made　his　slow　way　across　the　airfield。　Telek's　heart　thudded　painfully；　her　emotions　flip…flopping　between　hope　and　the　fear　that　too　much　hope　would　automatically　bring　about　disaster。　Link；　who　had　moved　to　watch　over　her　shoulder；　twice　reached　down　to　jump　the　magnification。　The　second　time　he　did　so　they　saw　that　a　force　of　eight　Qasamans　had　gathered　at　the　foot　of　the　tower　to　await　Winward's　arrival。　Eight　Qasamans；　and　of　course　eight　mojos。
　Two　stepped　forward　as　Winward　neared　the　group；　their　drawn　guns　glinting　in　the　faint　backwash　of　Sollas's　lights。　They　relieved　him　of　his　flag　and　frisked　him　for　weapons。　The　entire　force　then　formed　a　box　around　him　and　led　him　away；　not　into　the　tower　but　around　toward　the　building's　side。　Taking　him　to　someone　in　authority？　Telek　wondered。　Maybe　even　to　the　officer　in　charge　of　their　antiaircraft　weapons？
　They　all　disappeared　around　the　corner　。。。　and　a　minute　later　the　breeze　carried　with　it　the　sound　of　a　single　gunshot。
　
　
　Chapter　19
　
　The　bus　pulled　finally　to　a　stop　beside　a　darkened　building　and　Moff　motioned　toward　the　door　with　his　pistol。　〃Out；〃　the　old　man　added　unnecessarily。　Keeping　his　movements　smooth　and　nonthreatening；　Justin　stood　up　and　let　the　Qasamans　escort　him　outside。
　The　building　was　a　shock　of　deja　vu；　and　it　took　Justin　only　a　second　to　realize　what　it　reminded　him　of。　〃Looks　like　a　stunted　version　of　the　Sollas　airfield　tower；〃　he　remarked　as　Moff　led　him　toward　a　guard…flanked　door。　〃Oddly　out　of　place　here　in　the　middle　of　a　city。〃
　Moff　didn't　answer。　Two　separate　doors　at　least；　Justin　noted；　scanning　the　structure　casually；　and　three　floors　with　windows。　Lots　of　ways　in。　e　on；　Almo…hit　these　guys　and　let's　see　what's　in　there。
　But　no　flashes　of　laser　light　interrupted　them　as　they　walked　to　the　building　door。　There　Moff　stopped　and　turned；　leveling　his　gun　at　Justin's　chest。　〃You　will　put　your　hands　behind　your　back　now；〃　the　old　man　said　from　behind　the　ring　of　Qasamans。
　Justin　plied；　and　cold　metal　bands　clamped
　around　his　wrists。　A/mo；　where　are　you？　he　thought
　fiercely；　flicking　glances　at　the　surrounding　buildings。
　Moff　led　them　between　the　guards　and　into*　life
　　　building。　The　high…security　building　where　the　Qasamans　felt　it　safe　to　bring　an　unknown　danger。
　The　sweat　was　beginning　to　break　out　on　Justin's　forehead。　It's　all　right；　he　told　himself。　It's　all　right。　So　you're　on　your　own；　but　you've　been　trained　for　this　sort　of　thing。　Two　doors；　and　three　floors　of　windows；　remember？　Getting　away　will　be　a　snap。　Carefully　he　let　his　fingers　explore　the　cuffs　holding　him。　The　wrist　rings　were　dauntingly　thick　。。。　but　it　was　a　short　chain；　not　a　solid　bar；　that　connected　them。　A　moment's　experimentation　showed　he　could　curl　either　of　his　fingertip　lasers　to　rest　against　one　of　the　links。　While　he　might　get　burned　in　the　process；　it　should　only　take　a　few　seconds　to　cut　himself　free。　Though　not　if　the　targeting　lock　wanted　to　hit　the　mojos　first。。。。　Shivering　at　what　could　have　been　a　nasty　mistake；　he　canceled　the　lock。　Take　it　easy；　Justin…you're　letting　yourself　get　flustered。
　Moff　led　them　down　a　hallway　to　an　elevator。　A　car　was　waiting　for　them。　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Justin　asked；　just　to　break　the　silence。
　But　no　one　answered。　Three　of　the　guards　herded　Justin　into　the　car；　Moff　and　the　old　man　joined　them。　Steady；　kid；　steady。　Justin　bit　down　on　his　rising　fear。　Just　see　where　they're　taking　you；　then　knock　〃em　against　the　watts　and　out　a　window。
　Moff　pushed　the　bottom　of　a　long　row　of　buttons　。。。　and　the　elevator　started　down。
　Down。　Into　the　ground…deep　into　the　ground；　if　the　buttons　were　each　a　full　floor…where　th