tz.cobra strike-第71章

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oward　space　would　be　dramatically　slowed　or　even　halted　altogether　once　the　mojos　deserted　them。〃
　〃If　they　do；〃　Justin　murmured；　his　own　attention　still　directed　out　the　window。
　〃There　is　that；〃　Corwin　admitted。　〃Actually；　the　Trofts　were　more　convinced　that　would　happen　than　we　were…it　was　the　results　of　the　change　they　weren't　sure　of。　I　get　the　feeling　their　biopredictor　methods　are　a　bit　ahead　of　ours。〃
　〃Like　everything　else；〃　Joshua　agreed　wryly。　〃Hey…　here　e　Almo　and　Aunt　Gwen。〃
　〃There　you　are；〃　Gwen　said　as　they　came　up　through　the　milling　crowd　to　the　others。　〃I　thought　you'd　be　watching　from　around　the　other　corridor。〃
　　　〃You　get　a　better　view　of　the　passengers　here；〃　Corwin　explained。　〃I　was　starting　to　think　you　were　going　to　miss　the　event　entirely。〃
　Pyre　shook　his　head。　〃We　just　came　from　saying　goodbye。　Everyone　else　had　been　shooed　out　already；　but　they　made　an　exception　for　us。　Amazing　what　being　a　hero　will　do　for　you。〃
　The　others　chuckled…all　except　Justin；　Corwin　noted；　who　merely　smiled　slightly。　Still；　that　was　progress　of　a　sort。　The　scars　of　his　failings…real　or　perceived…were　still　visible；　but　at　least　they　weren't　bleeding　any　more。　For　his　brother's　sake　alone　Corwin　could　hope　the　Moreau　Proposal　succeeded。
　〃Jonny　tells　me　you　persuaded　the　Trofts　to　lend　some　troop　carriers　for　the　Caelian　evacuation；〃　Pyre　continued。　〃How'd　you　sell　them　that　one？〃
　Corwin　shrugged。　〃Wasn't　really　hard。　If　the　Qasa…mans　do　manage　to　get　into　space　the　Baliuies　would　just　as　soon　they　were　as　immediate　a　threat　to　us　as　to　them。　It's　to　their　advantage　to　let　us　have　the　new　worlds　and　help　us　a　bit　in　settling　them。　Especially　considering　they've　just　saved　themselves　the　cost　of　financing　a　war。〃
　〃There　they　go；〃　Justin　said　suddenly。
　Everyone　turned　to　look。　The　line　of　passengers　for　the　trip　to　Kubha…or　Esquiline；　as　it'd　now　been　officially　renamed…were　crossing　the　short　distance　from　the　old　entrypoint　building　to　the　waiting　ship。　Near　the　front　of　the　column　Corwin　spotted　his　parents；　Chrys　supporting　Jonny　with　an　arm　around　his　waist　but　both　walking　with　a　firm　tread。　Bound　for　a　new　world。；。。
　Behind　him；　Gwen　sighed。　〃This　really　is　crazy；　you　know；〃　she　said　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃Emigrating　in　his　condition…and　to　an　untested　world；　yet。〃
　〃Not　entirely　untested；〃　Pyre　reminded　her。　〃Besides；　the　hot　climate　there　will　be　better　for　him　than　anything　the　civilized　areas　of　Aventine　have　to　offer。〃
　〃And　there're　no　politics　there；　either；〃　Justin　murmured。
　Corwin　looked　at　the　other；　wondering　how　much　he　knew　of　that　old　parental　sore　spot。　But　Justin's　face　was　giving　nothing　away。　Doesn't　really　matter；　Corwin　thought　with　a　mental　shrug。　What　mattered　was　that　his　parents　would　have　their　last　two　or　three　years　together　away　from　the　worst　of　Aventine's　memories。　Away　from　Aventine…and　in　precisely　the　same　sort　of　culturally　uncluttered　world　in　which　they'd　first　fallen　in　love。　It　was；　Corwin　thought；　perhaps　their　best　shot　at　happiness。　He　hoped　it　worked。
　Together；　the　five　of　them　watched　Chrys　and　Jonny　board　the　Menssana。　Then　Joshua　let　out　a　quiet　breath　and　craned　his　neck　to　look　down　the　hall。　〃I　think　we'll　get　a　better　view　of　the　launch　path　from　the　gallery　over　there；〃　he　said；　pointing。　〃Anyone　want　to　e？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Gwen　said。　〃e　on；　Almo。〃
　〃I've　seen　enough　lifting　ships　to　last　me　both　this　life　and　the　next；〃　Pyre　grumbled。　But　he　nevertheless　allowed　her　to　steer　him　away。
　Justin　remained　gazing　out　the　window　as　the　three　left；　and　for　a　few　heartbeats　Corwin　wondered　if　the　other　hadn't　realized　that　he；　too；　had　stayed　behind。　Then　Justin　stirred　and　glanced　down　the　hallway。　〃You　think　they'll　ever　get　together？〃　he　asked。
　〃Who…Almo　and　Aunt　Gwen？〃　Corwin　shrugged。　〃Don't　know。　I　guess　it　depends　on　whether　Almo　ever　allows　himself　to　give　up　the　responsibilities　of　being　a　Cobra　long　enough　to　accept　someone　else　into　his　life。　You　know　better　than　I　do　how　seriously　he　takes　his　job。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Justin　was　silent　a　long　moment。　〃You　realize　if　it　doesn't　work　。。。　well；　Dad　will　be　dead　before　the　Qasamans　can　find　the　new　worlds；　but　Mom　might　not　be。〃
　Corwin　understood。　〃I　don't　know；　Justin。　But　if　the　mojos　really　do　leave　them　there'll　be　nothing　in　particular　to　unite　them　into　a　mon　front；　warlike　or　otherwise。　Especially　since　they'll　probably　flounder　around　for　a　while　just　getting　used　to　the　new　petition。　And　if　they're　broken　up　into　smaller　states　or　factions　they're　as　likely　to　open　trade　as　to　take　shots　at　us。〃
　Justin　shook　his　head。　〃You're　forgetting　what　they're　like。　I've　seen　them；　Corwin；　and　I　know　they'll　hold　the　grudge　they　have　against　us　until　their　sun　burns　out。　That　kind　of　hate　and　fear　will　keep　them　working　together　against　us；　no　matter　what　other　petition　arises。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　Corwin　nodded。　〃But　only　if　their　paranoia　level　stays　as　high　as　it　is　now。〃
　〃Why　would　it　change…？〃　Justin　broke　off　as　a　look　of　disbelief　crossed　his　face。　〃You　mean　。。。　the　mojos　might　have　been　behind　that？〃
　〃Why　not？　We　know　they　can　amplify　human　emotions　when　they　want　to。〃
　〃But　what　does　it　gain　them　to　have　their　hunters　jumping　at　shadows？〃
　〃Well。。。〃　Corwin's　lips　twitched　in　a　secret　smile。　〃If　you　were　convinced　the　universe　was　out　to　get　you；　where　would　you　rather　live？　A　city　on　a　plain；　or　a　village　in　the　middle　of　a　forest？〃
　Justin　opened　his　mouth；　blinked　。。。　and　abruptly　laughed。　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　〃Well；　maybe　I'm　wrong；〃　Corwin　shrugged。　〃But　maybe　in　a　couple　of　generations　we'll　find　the　Qasamans　have　bee　a　perfectly　reasonable　society；　ripe　for　trade　and　diplomacy。〃
　〃We　can　hope　so；　anyway。〃　Justin　sobered　and　turned　again　to　the　window。　〃It's　so　hard　when　the　old　folks　leave　the　nest。〃
　Corwin　laid　a　hand　on　his　brother's　shoulder。　〃We'll　all　miss　them；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃But。。。　well；　they're　old　enough　to　make　these　decisions　for　themselves。　e　on；　let's　get　over　to　the　others。　Traumatic　times　like　this　are　what　families　were　made　for。〃　Together；　they　headed　down　the　hallway。



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