douglashill.galacticwarlord-第11章
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atories …crammed； one and all； with collections of equipment that Keill； who thought of himself as fairly knowledgeable about technology； could not begin to fathom。
Another gangway led upwards； and he sprinted along it。 It took him up to a chamber heaped； floor to ceiling； with book tapes and information tapes of every kind； and a number of viewers scattered among them。 Beyond that room was an observation chamber； with a broad viewscreen offering a panoramic segment of star…filled space。 Abundant star…maps； charts of the space lanes； puter outlets were available around the room。
It was a wele sight； for Keill knew that if he was able to escape； he might need the information within that room to get his bearings； and his direction。
But he did not linger there just yet。 He had heard no sound of an alarm being raised； nor had there been any sign of pursuit。 But he did not doubt that his disappearance from the room had been noted … and Talis； or someone； would surely be working out how to put an end to his wild flight。
Another passageway； and more closed doors。 Another gangway； leading again to a higher level。 Another chamber 。。。
He came to an abrupt halt； barely able to contain the yell of exultation that rose in his chest。
The broad chamber before him … with a high； curved ceiling that had to be the outer hull of whatever space structure he was in … contained his own ship。
It gleamed and shone as it had not done since it had first e out of production on Moros。 Old battle scars and stains had been removed； the blue Legion insignia re…embossed； the blunt snouts of the weapons polished。 It looked as newly remade as his uniform had。 And it was the most heartening sight Keill had seen for a long time。
His first instinct was simply to climb in and blast his way out through the ceiling。 But as he began to move round the ship towards the entrance； he hesitated。
It might be more sensible； he thought； to arm himself from the store of weapons in his ship； and go in search of Talis。 Even if he had to burn his way through some of those closed doors。
Then he would be able to demand answers to all those crucial questions that the old man had left hanging in the air。 About why he was keeping Keill there。 And what Talis knew of the destruction of Moros。
It was possible that his store of weapons had been removed from the ship。 But at least the airlock hatch was invitingly open； the ramp down。 And there was no one in the way。
But as he approached the ramp； he heard a weirdly out…of…place sound。 One he had heard before … the night he had tried to steal his own ship； on Saltrenius。
Like a cloth； flapping in the wind。。。
He glanced up； and froze。
A winged creature； like nothing he had ever seen； was hovering above his ship。
The wings … broad； veined membranes that looked flimsy； almost translucent … flapped again as the creature settled upon the ship's hatchway。 There it perched； folding its wings； regarding Keill through two large； colourless； perfectly circular eyes。
Its body was less than a metre high； and narrow； covered with what looked like overlapping plates of soft skin； purplish…grey。 Its head seemed too large for the little body； rounded and dome…like； with a small tapering snout beneath the great eyes。 And it was a biped … though each of the two small feet seemed in fact more like hands； having three sturdy； jointed toes like fingers； and a fourth one opposing； like a thumb。
But it was not perched on both feet。 It was balanced on one。
The other one was； incredibly； gripping a needle…gun … and aiming it unwaveringly at Keill。
Keill's astonishment deepened even further in the next instant … when he heard a voice。
Not the voice； as before； of the old man called Talis。 Not any kind of voice that Keill could hear externally； in his ears。
This voice formed itself within KeilPs mind。
And it said：
Is it not ical； human…called…Randor； that I must once again use a weapon to keep you from your own ship ？
Chapter seven
At gun…point； with the winged creature fluttering behind and above him … out of reach even if Keill had been tempted to attack it … he was herded out of the domed chamber that held his spaceship。 Down another passage they went； the creature's wing…tips brushing the walls； and finally through a door that； Keill remembered； had been solidly locked when he had e that way before。
Now it swung silently open； revealing a long； low； abundantly furnished room that was clearly designed for fort and relaxation。 Low； cushioned seats were scattered around on the soft floor…covering； the lighting was quiet and mellow； tables here and there were piled with book tapes。
Keill took it all in with a glance； reserving his full attention for the figure seated in the centre of the room。 It was Talis； robed and cowled as before … but there was no doubt that this time it was not a holo…image。 He was there in the flesh。
The old man gestured towards a chair opposite him； inviting Keill to sit。 Keill did so slowly； turning to watch the winged creature … which settled on the back of another chair； folding its delicate wings； still well out of reach。 And still aiming the needle…gun at Keill； while gazing at him unblinkingly with its round； luminous eyes。
'I very much regret。。。' Talis's kindly voice began。
Keill interrupted。 'Is this；' he asked； gesturing at the creature； 'the thing that attacked me on Saltrenius ？'
Talis sighed。 'Yes； but attacked is not really the right word。。。'
'What is it ？' Keill demanded。
'An alien；' said Talis； 'of a race that calls itself the。Ehrlil。 From another galaxy。'
Keill was startled； but his face remained impassive。 'And telepathic ？'
Before Talis could reply； words again formed soundlessly in the depths of Keill's mind。
I project with ease； human。 But I receive with difficulty from the mudheads of this galaxy。
Keill frowned； feeling slightly unnerved。 'I think； old man； that you are setting up some kind of elaborate hoax； for reasons that I cannot guess。'
'It is no hoax；' Talis said quietly。 'I have told you only the truth。'
'But an alien ？ A mind…reading alien ？'
It was not impossible； Keill knew。 Just highly unlikely。 Intergalactic travel had been tried many times by human explorers … but it presented its own special problems and rigours； and few had returned。 Those that did e back had mostly had their minds unhinged by loneliness； unknown dangers and the long…term effects of Overlight； and their babbled accounts made little sense。 But recent history included some tales of alien beings making the intergalactic journey in the other direction … and making brief； uneventful contact with humans on the Inhabited Worlds； before going on their unguessable ways。
Keill had never seen such an alien； though； nor had he ever met anyone who had。
Yet there were no such beings native to his own galaxy。 When man first went out among the stars； during the Scattering； the planets that were to bee the Inhabited Worlds held many kinds of strange life forms。 But it had been a grave disappointment for the early colonists （though； for some； a relief） that none of the life forms had been intelligent。 Mankind found himself to be the only intelligent species in his galaxy。 As for telepathy； again Keill knew that it probably existed in some form。 He had heard of a few humans … some of the altered ones； whose planets had produced mutations in their human populations … who could reach into other minds。 But always in a limited； erratic way。
He brought his attention back to Talis； who was expounding on the subject。'。 。。 an intrepid race of explorers； it seems； who think nothing of the awesome emptiness between galaxies。 They are very long…lived； of course； and are always in mental contact with one another。。。'
'Why is it here ？' Keill demanded。
'Not it；' Talis said with a chuckle； 'she。 Glr is a female of her species。'
'All right；' Keill said patiently； 'why is she here ？'
'Her ship developed a malfunction；' Talis replied； 'and she was forced to land on a human world。 In time a leading scientist met her and befriended her。 And she has stayed； finding humanity a source of considerable interest。。。'
And amusement； said t
