15_death_dance-第21章

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essness　on　the　council's　part。　But　if　this　Edwards　had　permitted　it　to　happen…even　engineered　it；　as　the　Regent　was　inclined　to　believe…then　the　murder　had　more　sinister　implications；　it　was　as　if　Edwards　knew　all　along　that　the　Regent　had　sent　an　imposter　in　his　place；　and　the　murder　was　the　Human's　way　of　responding　to　the　substitution。

He　made　a　note　to　treat　Edwards　differently　the　next　time。

The　simulagent　hadn't　been　able　to　learn　anything　about　the　Masters'　destination；　or　the　location　of　the　Humans'　Earth；　but　it　was　possible　that　his　death　would　have　a　positive　side　effect。　Obviously　the　Humans　were　anxious　to　sue　for　peace；　and　although　he　couldn't　grant　them　this　just　yet；　that　fact　eased　his　concern　about　their　presence　in　the　Quadrant。　And　now　it　was　likely　that　others　besides　Edwards　would　be　willing　to　turn　against　the　Sentinels。

The　Regent　called　up　a　starmap　in　the　sphere　and　leaned　forward　to　study　it。　〃Garuda；〃　he　decided　after　a　moment；　that's　where　they　would　be　heading。　A　miserable　world　if　there　ever　was　one；　a　world　that　had　its　own　way　of　dealing　with　intruders。。。The　Regent　had　recalled　all　of　his　warships　from　the　planet　to　strengthen　the　fleet　he　had　sent　to　Optera；　but　there　was　still　a　small　garrison　of　soldiers　and　scientists　there　tending　the　orchards　and　farms　and　supervising　the　transport　of　the　nutrient。　Sufficiently　forewarned；　they　just　might　be　able　to　succeed　where　larger　forces　had　failed。

The　Regent　rubbed　his　hands　together　in　a　gesture　of　renewed　excitement。　He　grunted　to　the　beasts　that　flanked　his　chair。　Perhaps　it　wasn't　so　bad　being　dead　after　all。


When　news　of　the　Plenipotentiary　Council's　decision　was　released；　the　Expeditionary　mission　found　itself　more　divided　than　ever。　Everyone　on　Base　Tirol　and　aboard　the　SDF…3　now　felt　pelled　to　take　a　stand。　The　council；　by　majority　if　not　by　unanimous　decision；　had　effectively　branded　former　admirals　Hunter　and　Hayes；　along　with　the　rest　of　the　Human　and　XT　Sentinels；　outlaws。　In　due　time　a　ship　would　be　detailed　for　their　capture；　but　presently　they　were　to　receive　no　help　from　RDF　personnel；　and　anyone　found　aiding　or　abetting　the　Sentinels'　cause　would　be　subject　to　prosecution　to　the　full　extent　of　the　law。　Moreover；　General　Edwards　was　being　placed　in　full　mand　of　the　RDF；　he　would　be　overseeing　both　the　mining　op　and　construction　projects；　and　his　staff　would　be　supervising　all　aspects　of　civil　defense；　including　minor　police　actions。

Lang；　Exedore；　Huxley；　Obstat；　Reinhardt　and　a　few　others　had　bee　a　cabal　overnight；　and　Lang　realized　that　it　wouldn't　be　long　before　Edwards's　Ghost　Riders　would　be　keeping　watch　on　their　every　move…if　in　fact　this　wasn't　already　the　case。　There　were　enough　unanswered　questions　about　the　Regent's　assassination　to　convince　Lang　that　Edwards　had　had　a　hand　in　the　affair。　He　surmised；　too；　that　Edwards　was　aware　of　the　assistance　Lang　had　rendered　Wolff；　but　if　he　had　any　proof；　he　was　probably　saving　it　for　the　next　occasion　the　two　men　went　toe…to…toe。　Lang　could　only　hope　that　Wolff　had　reached　Praxis　in　time　to　rescue　the　Sentinels；　because　in　every　other　way；　the　plan　had　done　more　harm　than　good。　However；　by　taking　such　a　hard…line　stance；　the　council　had　inadvertently　weakened　Edwards…perhaps　not　now；　but　in　the　long　run；　when　those　loyal　to　Hunter　would　step　forward　in　a　show　of　strength。

Lang　was　in　his　quarters；　piling　a　mental　list　of　the　men　and　women　who　could　be　counted　on；　when　the　door　tone　sounded　and　Lynn…Minmei　begged　entry。　She　was　the　last　person　Lang　wanted　to　see；　but　as　he　thought　about　her　a　plan　came　to　mind。　He　had　persuaded　her　once　into　accepting　Janice　as　her　partner；　now　perhaps　he　could　talk　her　into　assuming　the　android's　role　as　a　spy。

〃Dr。　Lang；　I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you；〃　she　said；　ing　through　the　door。　〃I　just　had　to　talk　to　someone。〃

He　could　see　she　was　frantic。　〃Don't　be　silly；　my　dear。　Sit　down。　Can　I　fix　you　something？〃

〃No；〃　she　said　absently。　〃No；　thank　you。　I　just　need　to　know　if　it's　true；　Dr。　Lang…what　they're　saying　about　Jonathan　and　Rick。〃

Lang　sat　down；　even　though　Minmei　remained　standing。　〃What　do　you　think；　Minmei？〃

She　threw　her　hands　up　in　a　nervous　gesture。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　think！　General　Edwards　says　one　thing；　you　say　another。。。〃　She　looked　directly　at　him。　〃Most　of　my　old　friends　won't　even　talk　to　me　anymore。　And　the　way　Janice　acted。。。〃

He　offered　her　an　understanding　nod。　〃Well；　maybe　you've　just　ended　up　on　the　wrong　side　somehow。　And　everyone's　waiting　for　you　to　return。〃

She　sat　down；　facing　him。　〃That's　what　I　want　to　know：　am　I　on　the　wrong　side？　People　are　saying　the　most　horrible　things　about　General　Edwards。　But　I　know　him；　I　know　what　kind　of　man　he　is。〃

〃You　may　think　you　know　him；　Minmei；　but　I　assure　you；　you　don't。　It's。。。〃　Lang　fumbled　for　the　words；　〃it's　as　though　he　has　some　sort　of　personal　vendetta　against　Rick。　I　can't　even　begin　to　understand　it。　I　only　know　that　he　has　turned　the　council　against　your　friends；　and　I　know　they'd　be　crushed　to　learn　that　you're　not　supporting　them。〃

Minmei　bit　her　lip。　〃And　that's　just　what　Jonathan's　going　to　tell　them；　too。〃

Lang　thought　he　detected　a　flash　of　anger　behind　the　words；　he　started　to　reply；　but　she　cut　him　off；　the　anger　visible　now。

〃That　snake！　Who　is　he　to　be　calling　people　names？　He's　a　liar！〃

〃Minmei…〃

〃Mr。　Charm；〃　she　said；　getting　up　from　the　couch。　〃He　should　talk　about　loyalty。　Ha！　What　does　he　know　about　anything？〃　She　shot　Lang　a　look。　〃What　do　any　of　you　know？〃

Lang　was　never　good　at　dealing　with　theatrics；　he　knew　this　much　about　himself　and　kept　still。

〃Liars；　murderers；　outlaws；〃　Minmei　was　saying。　〃Things　were　just　too　peaceful　for　them　on　Tirol。　They　needed　to　go　find　themselves　a　war。〃

〃That's　Edwards　talking；〃　Lang　managed。

〃This　is　me　talking！〃　she　screamed　at　him。　〃I　hate　you！　I　hate　the　whole　bunch　of　you！〃

She　began　to　cry　into　her　hands。　Lang　made　a　move　toward　her；　but　she　was　gone　by　the　time　he　reached　the　door。


〃Go　ahead；　say　it；〃　Rick　said　to　Lisa。　〃I　could　feel　you　saying　it　clear　across　the　hold。　So　let's　clear　the　air。〃

She　looked　at　him　and　frowned。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　Say　what？〃

They　were　in　the　small　cabinspace　that　had　been　set　aside　as　their　quarters　aboard　the　SDF…7。　The　dreadnought　was　approaching　Garuda　from　the　far　side　of　the　planet's　massive　sun　after　a　brief　period　in　hyperspace。

〃You　wanna　say　'I　told　you　so；'〃　Rick　continued。　〃Edwards　is　getting　stronger　and　now　we're　in　no　position　to　stop　him。　If　we　had　remained　on　Tirol；　all　this　would　never　have　happened；　and　we'd　probably　have　a　truce　worked　out　and　be　a　long　way　toward　repairing　the　SDF…3。〃　Rick　snorted。　〃Anything　I've　left　out？〃

〃I'm　not　saying　a　word；　Rick；〃　she　told　him。　〃You're　doing　such　a　fine　job　without　me。〃

〃All　right；　so　you　think　I　made　a　big　mistake；　and　maybe　a　part　of　me　agrees　with　you。　But　the　truth　is　that　I　would　have　been　going　out　of　my　skull　back　there；　and　at　least　now　I　feel　we　are　acplishing　something…maybe　not　for　ourselves　exactly；　but　for　Lron　and　Crysta　and　Kami　and　everyone。　You　can't　argue　with　that。〃

Lisa　shrugged。　〃Who's　arguing？〃

〃And　another　thing。〃　Rick　put　his　hands　to　his　hips。　〃You　figure　that　just　because　I'm　suddenly　all　gung　ho　and　take…charge　that　I　really　am　a　mander　after　all。　But　I'll　tell　you　something：　the　only　reason　I'm　okay　with　the　role　is　because　there's　no　damned　council　telling　me　what　to　think。　We've　got　a　democracy　here；　not　some　red…tape　portable　government；　and　that　suits　me　fine。〃

〃Well；　I…〃

〃So　don't　go　thinking　that　I'm　going　to　ask　to　be　reinstated　when　all　this　blows　over。〃

〃Do　you　think　it　will；　Rick？〃

He　heard　the　desperation　in　her　tone　and　it　took　the　wind　right　out　of　his　sails。　He　leaned　over；　took　her　hand；　and　kissed　it。　〃You　bet；〃　he　said　softly。　〃And　we'll　get　back　on　course。〃

She　reached　out　to　stroke　his　arm。　〃I　don't　want　us　to　grow　apart；　Rick；　and　I　feel　that　happening　sometimes。〃

He　was　tempted　to　say　something　about　Lisa's　involvement　with　Gnea　and　Bela；　but　held　his　tongue。　〃I　won't　let　that　happen。〃

She　sighed　fretfully。　〃We　used　to　have　so　many　dreams…remember