tz.cobra strike-第7章

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eful　before　we　mit　our　votes　to　the　record。〃
　Stiggur's　eyebrows　lifted　slightly；　but　he　nodded　without　hesitation。　〃All　right。　We'll　meet　back　here　in　20　minutes。〃
　The　general　exodus　was　quiet…apparently　the　others　felt　in　need　of　a　break；　as　well…and　a　minute　or　two　later　Corwin　was　sitting　in　his　father's　Dominion　Building　office。　For　a　long　moment　he　stared　at　the　phone　on　the　desk；　wondering　if　he　should　discuss　this　with　anyone　before　he　went　ahead　and　did　it。　But　his　father　would　still　be　in　the　depths　of　biochemical　surgery；　and　he　could　guess　what　his　mother　would　say。　Theron　Yutu；　across　town　in　Jonny's　main　office？　No。　The　twins…he　ought　to　discuss　it　with　；？　them。　But　Justin　was　inmunicado　in　the　surgery　i　wing　of　the　Cobra　Academy；　and　to　tell　only　Joshua　would　be　unfair　。　。　。　and　Corwin　realized　he　was　｜　stalling。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　he　got　up　from　his　f　father's　chair　and　headed　down　the　hall　to　Governor　Telek's　office。
　If　she　was　surprised　to　see　him；　it　didn't　show。　〃Corwin；〃　she　nodded；　closing　the　door　behind　him　and　ushering　him　to　a　seat。　〃Nice　dilemma　we　have　here；　isn't　it？　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　Corwin　waited　until　she　was　seated　again　at　herdesk　before　speaking；　〃How　do　you　see　the　vote？〃　he　asked　bluntly。
　Again；　she　showed　no　surprise。　〃Myself；　Brom；　Dylan；　and　Howie　for；　you；　Jor；　and　Olor　against。　Deadlock。　You　e　here　to　try　and　change　my　mind？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃You　knew　my　father　would　be　against　the　whole　thing；　didn't　you？　That's　why　you　dragged　Cally　and　Almo　into　it。〃
　〃Your　father　was　one　of　the　strongest　opponents　of　the　Cobra　Academy　when　it　was　set　up　some　twenty…five　years　ago；〃　she　reminded　him。　〃It　wasn't　hard　to　guess　he'd　be　against　any　proposal　that　would　increase　the　number　of　Cobras。〃
　Which　made　Jonny's　philosophical　objections　to　Cobras…for…hire　sound　like　nothing　more　than　camouflage　for　an　old　habitual　reflex。　Corwin　swallowed　hard　against　the　rebuttal　that　wanted　to　e　out。　Now　was　not　the　time　to　defend　his　father's　stand。　〃So　what　exactly　do　you　want？〃　he　asked　instead。　〃A　contractual　mitment　to　handle　whatever　this　threat　is　that　Qasama　poses？〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　she　snorted。　〃No　one　in　their　right　mind　would　give　a　Troft　a　carte　blanche　like　that。　All　I　want　is　to　mit　us　to　a　survey　mission…at　Troft　expense。〃
　〃Won't　that　mit　us　to　carrying　out　the　rest　of　it；　too？〃
　〃Not　if　the　agreement's　drawn　up　carefully　enough。〃　She　pursed　her　lips。　〃You're　about　to　bring　up　the　image　question　if　we　look　Qasama　over　and　then　back　out。　I　don't　really　have　any　better　answer　to　that　than　the　one　I　gave　fifteen　minutes　ago。　The　risks　of　not　knowing　what　kind　of　threat　Qasama　is　are　greater　than　the　risks　of　looking　weak　to　the　Trofts。〃　Corwin　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Then　I　presume　you'd　like　to　have　that　as　the　official　remendation　to　the　Council　in　a　few　hours？〃
　〃I'd　like　that　very　much；〃　she　said　cautiously。　〃What's　it　going　to　cost　me？〃
　Corwin　gestured　toward　the　conference　room　down　the　hall。　〃Your　proposed　survey　mission　would　include　a　maximum　of　twelve　people　plus　ship's　crew；　as　I　recall。　I　want　two　of　those　twelve　to　be　my　father's　choice。〃
　〃With　his　skeptic's　attitude　to　keep　the　mission　honest？〃　She　smiled　wryly。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　that's　probably　a　good　idea　。。。　but　giving　a　governor　emeritus　sixteen　percent　of　the　package　isn't　likely　to　fly　very　smoothly。〃
　〃I　can　sweeten　the　deal　considerably。　How　would　you　like　to　send　an　undetectable　Cobra　on　the　mission？〃
　He　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　her　eyes　widen　with　surprise。　〃I　thought　a　careful　deep…body　scan　would　pick　up　even　Cobra　gear。〃
　〃It　will；〃　Corwin　nodded。　〃But　a　scan　of　that　type　takes　almost　fifteen　minutes　to　plete。　How　many　times　is　a　host　likely　to　subject　visiting　dignitaries　to　that　sort　of　thing？〃
　She　frowned　at　him　for　several　heartbeats。　〃My　immediate　reaction　is　that　you're　being　anthropomorphic　in　the　extreme。　Suppose　their　deep…body　stuff　is　more　sensitive　or　just　faster　than　ours；　for　example？　But　assuming　you're　right；　then　what？　…cram　a　Cobra　surgery　team　into　the　Dewdrop　for　some　fast　work？〃
　〃Not　at　all。　I　propose　sending　a　Cobra　and　a　non…Cobra　who　are　virtually　indistinguishable　from　each　other。　My　twin　brothers　Joshua　and　Justin。〃
　Telek's　breath　came　out　in　a　thoughtful　hiss。　〃Cute。　Very　cute。　So　the　Cobra　stays　aboard　ship　until　the　aliens　have　done　all　their　studies　on　the　landing　party；　and　then　they　switch　places？　Interesting　proposal。　But　suppose　the　Qasamans　use　something　besides　sight　for　identification？　Sound　or　scent；　for　instance？〃
　Corwin　shrugged；　trying　to　make　the　gesture　look　casual。　〃Then　we're　out　of　luck。　But　most　land　predators　we　know　of…including　those　on　Troft　and　Do…minion　worlds…rely　heavily　on　sight。　I　think　it's　a　fair　gamble；　and　if　it　doesn't　work　we　haven't　really　lost　anything。〃
　〃Except　two　places　in　the　mission　that　could　have　gone　to　other　people。〃　Telek　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　her　eyes　focused　somewhere　behind　Corwin's　head。　He　waited；　forcing　himself　to　breathe　normally　。。。　and　abruptly　her　eyes　returned　to　him　and　she　nodded。　〃All　right；　it's　a　。deal　。。。　on　one　further　condition。　You…or；　rather；　your　father…must　support　my　bid　to　go　on　the　mission。〃
　〃You？〃　Corwin　blurted。　〃But　that's…〃
　〃Ridiculous？　Hardly。　The　mission's　going　to　need　both　scientific　and　political　experts　aboard；　and　I'm　the　only　governor　who　qualifies　in　both　fields　and　is　healthy　enough　to　make　the　trip。〃
　〃Your　biological　degree　is　a　long　way　behind　you。〃
　〃I've　kept　up　with　the　field。　And　we　need　someone　of　governor　rank　in　case　some　major　policy　decision　es　up。　Unless　you　know　any　syndics　you'd　trust　with　that　task。〃
　But　can　I　trust　you　with　it？　He　pursed　his　lips　tightly；　unsure　of　what　he　should　do。
　〃You've　got　time　to　think；〃　she　said　calmly　as　the　silence　began　to　stretch。　Glancing　at　her　watch；　she　stood　up。　〃The　mission　team's　not　likely　to　be　determined　for　at　least　a　week　or　two。　Talk　it　over　with　Jonny；　work　through　the　logic…I　think　you'll　agree　I　should　be　aboard。　But　it's　time　to　go　back　in　there　and　get　a　remendation　for　the　Council　to　chew　on。〃
　Corwin　stood　up；　too。　〃All　right　。。。　but　if　I　vote　with　you　now；　I　want　you　to　support　my　getting　Justin　and　Joshua　aboard…whether　my　father　ultimately　backs　your　own　bid　or　not。〃
　She　smiled　wryly。　〃Realized　you　were　giving　away　too　much；　did　you？　Well；　that's　how　you　learn。　Sure；　I'll　support　your　brothers。　It's　a　good　idea　。。。　and　to　be　perfectly　honest；　I　don't　expect　I'll　need　Jonny's　vote　to　get　on　the　mission；　anyway。〃
　The　vote　was　four　to　two　in　favor　of　Telek's　proposal　when　it　came　to　Corwin's　turn。　He　avoided　Hemner's　and　Roi's　eyes　as　he　made　it　six　to　two；　but　he　could　feel　their　astonished　gazes　on　him　as　Stiggur　recorded　the　vote　into　the　record。
　Three　hours　later；　the　full　Council　made　it　official。
　Lying　propped　up　in　his　hopital　bed；　Jonny　listened　silently　to　Corwin's　report　of　the　governors〃　session；　the　Council　meeting；　and　the　private　deal　he'd　made。　/　should　be　angry；　Jonny　thought；　peripherally　aware　of　the　IV　tubes　feeding　clear　fluids　into　his　arms。　Some　calming　factor　in　the　antibiotic　voodoo　mixture？　Or　did　I　really　know　all　along　my　plan　wouldn't　make　it？
　Corwin　stopped　speaking　and　waited；　the　tension　lines　visible　in　his　face。　〃Have　you　spoken　to　Justin　or　Joshua　about　this？〃　Jonny　asked。　〃Or　your　mother？〃
　Corwin　actually　winced。　〃No；　to　both　questions。　I　came　up　with　the　basic　idea　last　week；　but　I　hoped　I　wouldn't　have　to　suggest　it　to　anyone。　At　least；　not　without　talking　to　you　first。　I　think　they'd　be　willing；　though。〃
　〃Oh；　they'll　be　willing；　all　right…that's　not　the　problem。〃　Jonny　turned　his　head　to　gaze　out　the　window。　Capitalia's　streetlights　were　visible　below；　the　cityscape　superimposed　on　the　reflection　of　the　hospital　room　around　him。　〃You　boys　have　always　been　very　precious　to　your　mother；　you　know；〃　he　said。　〃You　provided　the　extra　family　warmth　that　I　often　wasn't　able　to　give　her。　Too　often　wasn't　able　to。　As　a　Cobra　。　。　。　then　a　syndic　。　。。　then　a　governor　。。。　it　takes　a　lot　of　time　to　serve　people；　Corwin。　Time　taken　away　from　your　family。　You　came　to　work　with　me　here；　and　Justin's　being　a　Cobra　。