deathworld-第36章

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s。　Others　grabbed　on　and　bent　the　jagged　pieces　aside。　The　hole　was　filled　with　smoke　and　nothing　was　visible　through　it。　Jason　dived　into　the　opening；　rolled　on　a　heap　of　rubble　and　smacked　into　something　solid。　When　he　blinked　the　smoke　from　his　eyes；　he　looked　around　him。
　 He　was　inside　the　city。
　 The　others　poured　through　now；　picking　him　up　as　they　charged　in　so　he　wouldn't　be　trampled　underfoot。　Someone　spotted　the　spaceship　and　they　ran　that　way。
　 A　man　ran　around　the　corner　of　a　building　toward　them。　His　Pyrran　reflexes　sent　him　springing　into　the　safety　of　a　doorway　the　same　moment　he　saw　the　invaders。　But　they　were　Pyrrans　too。　The　man　slumped　slowly　back　onto　the　street；　three　metal　bolts　sticking　out　of　his　body。　They　ran　on　without　stopping；　running　between　the　low　storehouses。　The　ship　stood　ahead。
　 Someone　had　reached　it　before　them；　they　could　see　the　outer　hatch　slowly　grinding　shut。　A　hail　of　bolts　from　the　bows　crashed　into　it　with　no　effect。
　 〃Keep　going！〃　Jason　shouted。　〃Get　next　to　the　hull　before　he　reaches　the　guns。〃
　 This　time　three　men　didn't　make　it。　The　rest　of　them　were　under　the　belly　of　the　ship　when　every　gun　let　go　at　once。　Most　of　them　were　aimed　away　from　the　ship；　still　the　scream　of　shells　and　electric　discharges　was　earshattering。　The　three　men　still　in　the　open　dissolved　under　the　fire。　W7hoever　was　inside　the　ship　had　hit　all　the　gun　trips　at　once；　both　to　knock　out　the　attackers　and　summon　aid。　He　would　be　on　the　screen　now；　calling　for　help。　Their　time　was　running　out。
　 Jason　reached　up　and　tried　to　open　the　hatch；　while　the　others　watched。　It　was　locked　from　the　inside。　One　of　the　men　brushed　him　aside　and　pulled　at　the　inset　handle。　It　broke　off　in　his　hand　but　the　hatch　remained　closed。
　 The　big　guns　had　stopped　now　and　they　could　hear　again。
　 〃Did　anyone　get　the　gun　from　that　dead　man？〃　he　asked。　〃It　would　blow　this　thing　open。〃
　 〃No；〃　Plies　said；　〃we　didn't　stop。〃
　 Before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth；　two　men　were　running　back　toward　the　buildings；　angling　away　from　each　other。　The　ship's
　guns　roared　again；　a　string　of　explosions　cut　across　one　man。　Before　they　could　change　directions　and　find　the　other　man　he　had　reached　the　buildings。
　 He　returned　quickly；　darting　into　the　open　to　throw　the　gun　to　them。　Before　he　could　dive　back　to　safety；　the　shells　caught　him。
　 Jason　grabbed　up　the　gun　as　it　skidded　almost　to　his　feet。　They　heard　the　sound　of　wide　open　truck　turbines　screaming　toward　them　as　he　blasted　the　lock。　The　mechanism　sighed　and　the　hatch　sagged　open。　They　were　all　through　the　airlock　before　the　first　truck　appeared。　Naxa　stayed　behind　with　the　gun；　to　hold　the　lock　until　they　could　take　the　control　room。
　 Everyone　climbed　faster　than　Jason；　once　he　had　pointed　them　the　way；　so　the　battle　was　over　when　he　got　there。　The　single　city　Pyrran　looked　like　a　pincushion。　One　of　the　techs　had　foqnd　the　gun　controls　and　was　shooting　wildly；　the　sheer　quantity　of　his　fire　driving　the　trucks　back。
　 〃Someone　get　on　the　radio　and　tell　the　talkers　to　call　the　attack　off；〃　Jason　said。　He　found　the　munications　screen　and　snapped　it　on。　Kerk's　wide…eyed　face　stared　at　him　from　the　screen。
　 〃You！〃　Kerk　said；　breathing　the　word　like　a　curse。
　 〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　Jason　answered。　He　talked　without　looking　up；　while　his　hands　were　busy　at　the　control　board。　〃Listen　to　me；　Kerk…and　don't　doubt　anything　I　say。　I　may　not　know　how　to　fly　one　of　these　ships；　but　I　do　know　how　to　blow　them　up。　Do　you　hear　that　sound？〃　He　ffipped　over　a　switch　and　the　faraway　whine　of　a　pump　droned　faintly。　〃That's　the　main　fuel　pump。　If　I　let　it　run…which　I　won't　right　now…it　could　quickly　fill　the　drive　chamber　with　raw　fuel。　Pour　in　so　much　that　it　would　run　out　of　the　stern　tubes。　Then　what　do　you　think　would　happen　to　your　one…and…only　spacer　if　I　pressed　the　firing　button？　I'm　not　asking　you　what　would　happen　to　me…since　you　don't　care…　but　you　need　this　ship　the　way　you　need　life　itself。〃
　 There　was　only　silence　in　the　cabin　now。　The　men　who　had　won　the　ship　turned　to　face　him。　Kerk's　voice　grated　loudly　through　the　room。
　 'What　do　you　want；　Jason？　What　are　you　trying　to　do？　Why　did　you　lead　those　animals　in　here？〃　His　voice　cracked　and　broke　as　anger　choked　him　and　spilled　over。
　 〃Watch　your　tongue；　Kerk；〃　Jason　said　with　soft　menace。　〃These　men　you　are　talking　about　are　the　only　ones　on　Pyrrus　who　have　a　spaceship。　If　you　want　them　to　share　it　with　you；　you　had　better　learn　to　talk　nicely。　Now　e　over　here　at　once…and　bring　Brucco　and　Meta。〃　Jason　looked　at　the　older　man's　florid　and　swollen　face　and　felt　a　measure　of　sympathy。　〃Don't　look　so　unhappy；　it's　not　the　end　of　the　world。　In　fact；　it　might　be　the　beginning　of　one。　And　another　thing；　leave　this　channel　open　when　you　go。　Have　it　hooked　into　every　screen　in　the　city　so　everyone　can　see　what　happens　here。　Make　sure　it's　taped　too；　for　replay。〃
　 Kerk　started　to　say　something；　but　changed　his　mind　before　he　did。　He　left　the　screen；　but　the　set　stayed　alive。　Carrying　the　scene　in　the　control　room　to　the　entire　city。
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　 The　fight　was　over。　It　had　ended　so　quickly　the　fact　hadn't　really　sunk　in　yet。　Rhes　rubbed　his　hand　against　the　gleaming　metal　of　the　control　console；　letting　the　reality　of　touch　convince　him。　The　other　men　milled　about；　looking　out　through　the　viewscreens　or　soaking　in　the　mechanical　strangeness　of　the　room。
　 Jason　was　physically　exhausted；　but　he　couldn't　let　it　show。　He　opened　the　pilot's　medbox　and　dug　through　it　until　he　found　the　stimulants。　Three　of　the　little　gold　pills　washed　the　fatigue　from　his　body；　and　he　could　think　clearly　again。
　 〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　shouted。　〃The　fight's　not　over　yet。　They'll　try　anything　to　take　this　ship　back　and　we　have　to　be　ready。　I　want　one　of　the　techs　to　go　over　these　boards　until　he　finds　the　lock　controls。　Make　sure　all　the　airlocks　and　ports　are　sealed。　Send　men　to　check　them；　if　necessary。　Turn　on　all　the　screens　to　scan　in　every　direction；　so　no　one　can　get　near　the　ship。　We'll　need　a　guard　in　the　engine　room；　my　control　could　be　cut　if　they　broke　in　there。　And　there　had　better　be　a　room…by…room　search　of　the　ship；　in　case　someone　else　is　locked　in　with　us。〃
　 The　men　had　something　to　do　now　and　felt　relieved。　Plies　split　them　up　into　groups　and　set　them　to　work。　Jason　stayed　at　the　controls；　his　hand　next　to　the　pump　switch。　The　battle　wasn't　over　yet。
　 〃There's　a　truck　ing；〃　Plies　called；　〃going　slow。〃
　 〃Should　I　blast　it？〃　the　man　at　the　gun　controls　asked。
　 〃Hold　your　fire；〃　Jason　said；　〃until　we　can　see　who　it　is。　If　it's　the　people　I　sent　for；　let　them　through。〃
　 As　the　truck　came　on　slowly；　the　gunner　tracked　it　with　his　sights。　There　was　a　driver　and　three　passengers。　Jason　waited　until　he　was　positive　who　they　were。
　 〃Those　are　the　ones；〃　he　said。　〃Stop　them　at　the　lock；　Plies；　make　them　e　in　one　at　a　time。　Take　their　guns　as　they　enter；　then　strip　them　of　all　their　equipment。　There　is　no　way　of　telling　what　could　be　a　concealed　weapon。　Be　specially　careful　of　Brucco…he's　the　thin　one
　with　a　face　like　an　axe　edge…make　sure　you　strip　him　clean。　He's　a　specialist　in　weapons　and　survival。　And　bring　the　driver；　too；　we　don't　want　him　reporting　back　about　the　broken　airlock　or　the　state　of　our　guns。〃
　 Waiting　wAs　hard。　His　hand　stayed　next　to　the　pump　switch；　even　though　he　knew　he　could　never　use　it。　Just　as　long　as　the　others　thought　he　would。
　 There　were　stampings　and　muttered　curses　in　the　corridor；　the　prisoners　were　pushed　in。　Jason　had　one　look　at　their　deadly　expressions　and　clenched　fists　before　he　called　to　Plies。
　 〃Keep　them　against　the　wall　and　watch　them。　Bowmen　keep　your　weapons　up。〃　He　looked　at　the　people　who　had　once　been　his　friends　and　who　now　swam　in　hatred　for　him。　Meta；　Kerk；　Brucco。　The　driver　was　Skop；　the　man　Kerk　had　once　appointed　to　guard　him。　He　looked　ready　to　explode　now　that　the　roles　had　been　reversed。
　 〃Pay　close　attention；〃　Jason　said；　〃because　your　lives　depend　upon　it。　Keep　your　backs　to　the　wall　and　don't　attempt　to　e　any　closer　to　me　than　you　are　now。　If　you　do；　you　will　be　shot　instantly。　If　we　were　alone；　any　one　of　you　could　undoubtedly　reach　me　b