tz.cobra strike-第59章
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〃Oh？〃 Pyre eyed her。 〃You'd rather I not be down on Qasama？〃
〃I'd rather you not risk your life； if you must know；〃 she said grudgingly。 〃You've done your bit。〃
〃Ah。 You feel the same way about Justin； Michael； and Dorjay？ Or is it different because you specifically asked that / be aboard the Dewdrop the last time around？〃
Her Up curled。 〃So you did know。 I'd hoped I'd hid my tracks a bit better than that。〃
〃I have friends among the elite； too。 Which is why I was surprised you'd requested me。〃
Telek exhaled loudly。 〃Well； it wasn't because you were a good friend of the Moreaus；〃 she said。 〃Though that was why I asked you and Halloran for the initial cost study。 But for the trip itself。。。。〃 She paused； eyes drifting to the window and the Capitalia city…scape beyond。 〃It bothered me all the way from the beginning why the Baliu demesne should think Cobras would have a better shot at the Qasamans then they did。〃
〃They already knew the mojos attack drawn weapons；〃 Pyre suggested。
〃True。 And there was the whole question of whether this was a test。 But it occurred to me that there was one other possibility。〃
Pyre frowned in thought 。。。 and suddenly it hit him。 〃You think they knew we were the same species as the Qasamans？〃
〃I think it highly probable；〃 Telek nodded。 〃Cobras would have an advantage in a war against other humans。 And being the connivers they are； of course； they wouldn't want us to know who we were facing until we'd mitted to some course of action。〃
〃Yeah；〃 Pyre said slowly。 〃We nearly got killed on Qasama and we're still barely holding our own with public opinion。 Imagine the furor if we'd known in advance we were being asked to exterminate another human society。〃 He cocked an eyebrow at her。 〃That doesn't explain my presence aboard； though。〃
She took a deep breath。 〃I didn't like the fact that I might be called upon to betray another human colony out there。 You were there to make sure I kept my priorities straight。 Did you know； Almo； that I was married once？〃
He shook his head； taking the abrupt subject change in stride。 〃Divorced？〃
〃Widowed。 Since before I became a governor。 He was a Cobra 。。。 and he died on Caelian。〃
She paused； memories flicking visibly across her face。 Pyre waited； sensing what would e next。 〃You remind me a great deal of him；〃 she continued at last。 〃In appearance； even more in spirit。 I wanted you there as a constant reminder that we need a new world for the Caelians to move to。〃
〃Even if that world is bought with the Qasamans〃 lives？〃 he snarled。
The words came out harsher than he'd intended them to； but Telek never flinched。 〃Yes；〃 she said quietly。 〃Even then。 My duty is to the Cobra Worlds； first and foremost 。。。 and it's going to stay that way。〃
Pyre looked at her； a sudden chill sending a shiver up his back。 All the time together on the Dewdrop 。。。 and he hadn't really known her at all。
〃I'm sorry if that makes you hate me；〃 she said after a moment。 〃But in my opinion I had no choice。〃
He nodded； though to which part of her statement he wasn't sure。 〃If you'll excuse me；〃 he said； hearing the stiffness in his voice； 〃I need to get back to work。 I have a roster to plete for the team I'll be taking to Qasama。〃
She nodded。 〃All right。 I'll talk to you later。〃
He turned and left 。。。 and wondered that he didn't hate her for her ruthlessness。 The Cobra board took Justin's plan apart； examined it； debated it； and…in places…changed it； and then they put it together again and pronounced it sound。 The forty…eight Cobras and fourteen scientists who would be landing on Qasama were chosen and trained。 The Baliu demesne expressed their displeasure at funding a second mission on what still amounted to speculation； but well before the training period was over Jonny and Stiggur were able to change the aliens〃 minds。
And less than a month after the Dewdrop had returned from Qasama； both it and the Menssana lifted quietly from the Capitalia starport and headed back。
Chapter 27
Night on Qasama。
The villages along the eastern arm of what was now referred to as the Fertile Crescent were dark as the Menssana drifted down on its gravity lifts。 Dark； but visible enough in infrared scanners。 The roads connecting the towns were visible； too； the network narrowing like a filigree arrowhead to point at the most southerly village at the end of the crescent 。。。 with but a single road northward connecting it to the rest of Qasaman civilization。
The Menssana stopped first along that road； some twenty kilometers north of town； and when it lifted again it had left twenty…two people and the two aircars behind。 The aircars themselves lifted before the ship was out of sight； bound on missions of their own； and； almost lazily； the Menssana swung southward toward the sleeping target village； its sensors taking in great gulps of electromagnetic radiation； sound； and particulate matter and spitting out maps and lists in return。 The ship circled the village once； maintaining a discreet distance to avoid detection。 When it finally set down in the forest some fifty meters from the wall； the forty passengers who emerged had a fair idea what they were getting into。
Within half an hour； though no one else yet knew it； they had taken the town。
The mayor got a full two steps into his office before his face registered the fact that someone else was sitting on his cushions…and he managed another step and a half before he was able to stop。 His eyes widened； then narrowed as surprise turned to anger。 He snapped something； 〃Who are you〃？ the Menssana's puter translated it。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Mayor；〃 Winward said gravely from the cushions； his newly reconstructed eyes steady on the other's mojo。 〃Forgive the intrusion； but we need some information from you and your people。〃
The mayor seemed to freeze at the first words from the pendant around Winward's neck 。。。 and as his eyes searched the Cobra's face the blood abruptly drained from his cheeks。 〃You！〃 he whispered。
Winward nodded understanding。 〃Ah； so Kimmeron circulated our pictures； did he？ Good。 Then you know who I am 。。。 and you know the foolishness of resistance。〃
The mayor's gun hand was trembling as if in indecision。 〃I wouldn't advise it；〃 Winward told him。 〃I can kill both you and your mojo before you can draw。 Besides； there are others with me…lots of others…and if you start shooting the rest of your people probably will； too； and we'll just have to kill a bunch of you to prove we can do it。〃 He cocked his head。 〃We don't have to prove that； do we？〃
A muscle in the other's cheek twitched。 〃I've seen the reports of your carnage；〃 he said grimly。
〃Good；〃 Winward said； matching the other's tone。 〃I hate having to cover the same ground twice。 So。 Are you going to cooperate？〃
The mayor was silent for a moment。 〃What do you want from us？〃
Quietly； Winward let out the breath he'd been holding。 〃We want only to ask your people some ques…
tions and do a few painless and harmless studies on them and their mojos；〃
He watched the mayor's face closely； but he could see no obvious reaction。 〃Very well；〃 the Qasaman said。 〃Only to prevent unnecessary bloodshed； I will give in。 But be warned： if your tests aren't as harmless as you claim you'll soon have more bloodshed than you have taste for。〃
〃Agreed。〃 Winward stood and gestured to the cushions and the low switch…covered console beside it。 〃Call your people and tell them to leave their homes and e into the streets。 They may bring their mojos but must leave their guns inside。〃
〃The women and children； too？〃
〃They must e out； and some will need to be tested。 If it'll make you feel better； I can allow a close relative to be present while any woman or child is being questioned。〃
〃That 。。。 would be appreciated。〃 The mayor's eyes held Winward's for a moment； 〃To what demon have you sold your soul； that you are able to return from the dead？〃
Winward shook his head minutely。 〃You wouldn't believe it if I told you；〃 he said。 〃Now call your people。〃
The Qasaman pursed his lips and sat down。 Flipping a handful of switches on the console； he began speaking； his voice echoing faintly from the streets。 Winward listened
