tz.cobra strike-第65章
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ck toward the convoy from the tree trunk the Cobras had felled across the road。 They'd been placing explosives； Pyre had guessed 。。。 and even as Justin watched； the barrier erupted with yellow fire。 The smoke cleared to show a section of the trunk had disintegrated。
〃Barrier down；〃 one of the Cobras reported in Jus…tin's ear。 〃Convoy starting up again。〃
The hail of lead intensified； almost covering the sound of car engines； but little of the fire was ing in Justin's direction。 〃I'm on it；〃 he said into his mike。 Twenty meters closer to him was the next of the trees along the road they'd prepared so carefully last night。 Raising his hand out of the matted leaves； he targeted carefully and fired。
The rope holding the precut tree snapped； and with a crack of breaking wood audible even over the gun shots it toppled gracefully across the road。 〃Barrier replaced；〃 he reported。
〃Stand by to pull back；〃 Pyre said tersely。 〃Smoke 。。。 ？〃
In response； the forest on both sides of the road erupted with black smoke。 〃Lead team； pull back；〃 Pyre ordered。
Justin began backing away from his tree； balancing the need for speed with the need to remain low。 The smoke would block visual and infrared targeting； but there were always lucky shots to worry about。 So far the Qasamans〃 lack of experience with warfare had showed up clearly in their unimaginative tactics； but they more than made up for that with enthusiasm。
He was midway to his new cover； smack in the middle of nowhere； when a new stutter opened up from above。 He froze； muffling a curse。
The helicopters were back。
Or at least one of them was。 It was off to the east a ways； he estimated from the sound； probably blowing up some of the hundred or so 〃warm…body〃 infrared decoys they'd spent the morning setting up。 But the machine was drifting closer。 Making a quick decision； Justin leaped to his feet and dashed for cover。 The pitch of the helicopter's drone shifted as he did so； and a second later he got a glimpse of the craft through the trees 。。。 and a rain of bullets abruptly splattered at his heels。
He put on a burst of speed； and was behind his target tree before the Qasaman gunner could correct his aim。 〃I'm okay/〃 he called into his mike before anyone had to ask。 〃But I'm pinned down。〃
〃I'm on it；〃 someone grunted。 〃Someone give me covering fire？〃
〃Got it；〃 Pyre said。 〃On three。 One； two； three〃
The helicopter had swung around； trying for a clear shot at Justin； and was framed almost perfectly be… tween tree branches as Pyre's antiarmor laser flashed squarely into the cockpit windows。
The craft jerked； nearly destabilizing enough to slide into the treetops bare meters below。 But the pilot was good； and within seconds the craft was nearly steady again 。。。 and from directly beneath； a figure shot upward through the leafy canopy to grab the helicopter's side door handle。 Twisting his legs upward； the Cobra turned himself around his precarious grip to what was in effect a one…armed handstand along the helicopter's side 。。。 and with his feet barely a meter from the main rotor hub； his antiarmor laser blazed forth。
The pilot did his best。 Almost instantly the craft banked hard to the side； throwing the Cobra off in an action that should have killed him。 But with the nanoputer's cat…landing programming even that small satisfaction would be denied the Qasaman 。 。 。 and as he carefully righted the helicopter the stressed rotor metal gave way。 Two seconds later the forest shook with the thunder of the crash。
〃Report；〃 Pyre snapped as the explosion died into the dull crackle of burning fuel。
〃No problem；〃 the Cobra assured them all。 〃Watch the branches if any of you have to try that…the damn things scratch like hell。〃
Justin let out a relieved sigh 。。 。 and suddenly became aware of the relative silence。 〃They've stopped shooting…〃
〃Almo； we've got a Qasaman on the road；〃 one of the others interrupted。 〃He's alone…well； with a mojo…and he's holding a white flag。〃
A white flag。 Winward had gone out under a white flag the last trip here 。 。 。 and had been shot for his trouble。 Justin's jaw tightened as he wondered if Pyre remembered that 。 。 。 wondered what the other's response would be。
〃Okay；〃 Pyre said after a moment。 〃Everyone keep looking sharp…they may be using him as a diversion while they sneak around to encircle us on foot； I'm going to call him over and see what he wants。〃
〃Target the mojo right away；〃 someone said dryly。
〃No kidding。 Here goes。〃
Pyre's voice continued normally in Justin's ear as； bullhorn amplified； the Qasaman translation echoed among the trees： 〃Continue forward。 Keep your hands visible and your mojo on your shoulder。 I'll tell you where to leave the road。〃
Quiet returned to the forest。 Notching up his auditory enhancers； Justin settled down beside his tree to wait。
Telek rubbed her eyes with the heels of both hands； 〃The problem；〃 she told Pyre wearily； 〃is the same one we've had ever since the convoy first appeared： namely； we simply don't have enough data yet to pull out。〃
〃What you mean is that you haven't proved yet that the mojos are directly controlling the Qasamans；〃 he retorted。
Probably true； she admitted to herself。 〃What I mean is that the gleaner…team hasn't finished its agenda。〃
〃It may not get the chance/〃 Pyre growled。 〃I don't think they're bluffing when they say this is our last chance to pull out before they turn up the fire。 And if they don't mind how much it costs them we really aren't going to be able to hold them very long。〃
And that short reprieve would cost them ten good Cobras…and probably give the Qasamans reasonably undamaged Cobra equipment to study。 〃The last thing I want is a full battle with you on the losing end；〃 Telek told him。 〃But I don't see the hook yet； and past experience tells me there's one somewhere in this offer。〃
〃Maybe there isn't。 Maybe Moff just wants to avoid bloodshed。〃
Telek's lip twitched at the name。 Moff。 Escort for off…world visitors； sharp…eyed observer who'd pulled the whole thing down on them last time； and now one of the leaders of this thrown…together task force。 A man of many talents 。。。 and a man of luck； too； to have survived Justin's Purma rampage。 She wondered how Justin was feeling about Moff's presence out there； chased the thought irritably from her mind。 Moff。 What did she know about him that might give her a clue as to what he was up to with this？ Did he want to chase the invaders away from the village into an ambush where the Qasamans wouldn't be risking civilian lives？ Was there something in the village they didn't want found？ Could it really be as simple as an attempt to drag the two cultures back from an otherwise almost inevitable war？
But the gleaner…team needed more time。
〃Governor？〃
〃Still here； Almo；〃 she sighed。 〃All right； let's try an experiment。 Tell them we'll pull out as soon as we've shown a representative that we haven't hurt or killed anyone in the village。〃
〃Will that give outrider…three enough time to bring their bololin herd by the village？〃
Telek checked her projections。 〃It might； if we take things slow enough。 But we probably wouldn't have time after the hunt…stress test to remove the neck sensors the gleaner…team's got on the subjects。〃
〃The Council was pretty firm on the point of not leaving any electronics behind；〃 Pyre reminded her。
〃I know； I know。 Well； if we have to scrap that test； we scrap it； that's all。 Look； just see if they'll buy the idea of a tour。 I'll talk to Michael and McKinley while you do that； see if they have any ideas。〃
〃All right。〃 Pyre hesitated。 〃If it'll really help 。。。 we are prepared to die out here。〃
Telek blinked away sudden moisture。 〃I appreciate that；〃 she managed。 〃But you also qualify as electronics I'd rather not leave behind。 Talk to the Qasamans and call me back。〃
〃Yes； I do have an idea；〃 Winward told Telek with grim satisfaction。 〃I've been thinking about it ever since the psych people first started plaining that we needed to do long…term studies。〃
〃And？〃
〃And if you can't do the studies themselves； the next best thing is to get the results；〃 he said。 〃And I think I know just where to find them。〃
〃We want it to
