15_death_dance-第27章

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Anxious　for　some　news　of　Tesla；　or　information　regarding　the　next　destination　of　the　Sentinels；　he　had　spent　the　better　part　of　a　week　in　the　bath；　waiting。　Now　he　practically　ran　to　the　throne　room；　sashing　his　robe　as　he　approached　the　municator　sphere。

〃Five　Sentinels；〃　he　said　out　of　breath。　〃Which　ones？〃　〃A　Garudan；　three　Humans；　and。。。a　Tiresian。〃　The　Regent　was　pleased　to　learn　that　he　had　correctly　anticipated　the　Sentinels'　destination。　He　had　passed　the　word　to　all　his　lieutenants　that　their　troops　be　placed　on　alert。　But　it　was　captives　he　was　after　this　time；　not　body　counts；　and　no　mention　was　to　be　made　of　his　supposed　assassination。　With　captives　in　hand；　he　hoped　to　learn　whether　or　not　Tesla　had　been　acting　alone；　or　in　league　with　the　rebels。

〃A　Tiresian　you　say。〃

〃Yes；　my　liege。　We　have　him　here　with　us　now。〃　The　Regent　peered　at　the　terror…stricken　face　centered　in　the　sphere's　image；　and　brought　his　hand　to　his　snout　in　a　gesture　of　contemplation。　〃This　one　looks。。。familiar　somehow。〃

〃Well　he　should；　Your　Highness；〃　the　master　scientist　said　as　Rem's　image　de…rezzed。　〃We　subjected　the　three　Humans　and　the　Tiresian　to　Garuda's　atmosphere　in　an　effort　to　extract　the　data　you　requested。〃

〃And？〃　the　Regent　replied　anxiously。　〃Did　you　discover　the　location　of　the　Humans'　homeworld…this　Earth！〃

〃No。　However；　we　may　have　a　clue　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　the　matrix；〃　the　scientist　was　quick　to　add。　〃My　lord；　allow　us　to　screen　for　your　pleasure　the　results　of　the　Tiresian's　exposure。〃

The　Regent　scowled　at　the　sphere。　〃Do　not　bore　me　with　details；〃　he　cautioned。

〃You　will　find　this　anything　but　boring；〃　the　scientist　told　him。

The　Regent　viewed　the　playback　for　a　moment；　then　staggered　backward；　collapsing　into　his　high…backed　throne。　He　sat　agape；　a　defeated　husband　watching　tapes　of　his　wife。。。the　seduction；　the　transgression；　the　cruel　aftermath；　all　captured　in　graphic　detail。　That　face；　that　face。。。

〃How？〃　the　Regent　finally　managed。　〃How　is　this　possible？　He　is　dead。〃　Or　is　he？　the　Regent　suddenly　asked　himself。　Could　he　have　been　duped　all　these　years　into　thinking　Zor　dead；　when　in　fact。。。No；　he　thought。　Zor　was　dead。　But　what　then　was　the　origin　of　these　images？　A　simulagent；　perhaps；　like　the　very　one　he　had　created　to　take　his　place　at　the　summit…

〃We　know　Zor　is　dead；〃　the　scientist　was　saying。　〃But　somehow　his　memory　lives　on　in　this　one…a　clone；　we　suspect。〃

The　Regent　came　bolt　upright　in　the　chair。　〃The　matrix！〃

〃Precisely。〃

〃He　must　be　sent　to　Optera　at　once！〃

The　scientist　inclined　his　head　some。　〃Of　course；　my　lord。　But　would　it　not　be　best　to　take　advantage　of　Garuda's　proximity　to　Haydon　IV？　May　I　remind　Your　Highness　of　the　devices　there　that　are　far　superior…〃

〃Yes；　yes。　See　that　it　is　arranged。　I　will　leave　immediately；〃　the　Regent　added；　already　on　his　feet。

〃There　is　one　small　detail；　however。。。〃

〃What？〃

〃We　have　learned　that　the　Regis　is　there。〃

〃On　Haydon　IV？！〃

〃Yes；　my　lord。　Should　we　wait　until　she　leaves　before　transporting　the　clone？〃

The　Regent　started　to　agree；　but　bit　off　his　words。　Why　not　let　her　see　the　clone？　he　asked　himself。　Why　not　let　her　look　once　more　upon　Zor's　face；　into　his　very　thoughts　and　recollections？　He　laughed　out　loud。　To　be　there；　to　see　her　face　when　the　clone　was　presented。。。

〃No；　you　are　not　to　wait；〃　the　Regent　said　shortly。　〃In　fact；　you　are　simply　to　say　that　you　have　a　gift　for　her…a　gift　from　her　loving　husband！〃


〃I　need　to　see　Tesla　at　once；〃　Burak　told　Janice　as　he　stepped　from　the　shuttle's　ramp　into　the　SDF…7's　docking　bay。　Gnea　and　Max　had　ridden　up　with　him；　but　they　were　already　rushing　off　to　meet　with　Wolff　and　Vince　Grant。

Janice　thought　she　heard　something　akin　to　arrogance　in　the　Perytonian's　voice；　but　decided　to　leave　it　unchallenged。　〃Of　course；　Burak；〃　she　said；　motioning　for　him　to　follow　her。

They　didn't　speak　for　the　duration　of　the　long　walk　to　the　cargo　hold　that　had　bee　Tesla's　quarters；　but　short　of　the　closed　hatch　Burak　stopped　and　said；　〃Alone。〃　The　Perytonian　positioned　himself　between　Janice　and　the　hatch。

〃Something　I　should　know？〃　she　risked。

〃You　should　know　that　he　doesn't　like　you　very　much；〃　Burak　whispered　back　menacingly；　gesturing　over　one　shoulder　with　his　two…thumbed　hand。

Janice　laughed。　〃And　we　make　such　an　adorable　couple。　Is　it　my　looks　or　my　personality？〃

Burak　contorted　his　demon　face　for　her　benefit。

〃Keep　doing　that　and　your　face　is　going　to　stay　that　way；〃　she　said；　moving　off。

Burak　snorted　and　entered　the　hold；　pulling　smuggled　Fruits　from　his　uniform　and　casually　tossing　them　to　Tesla；　who　was　seated　on　an　enormous　crate。

〃What's　this　all　about？〃　the　Invid　asked　peevishly；　as　one　of　the　mutant　Fruits　bounced　off　his　snout。

〃I　have　good　news；〃　Burak　announced；　assuming　a　proud　stance　and　allowing　Tesla　to　regard　him　a　moment。　〃You　claim　to　be　more　evolved　than　the　Regent。　That　means　the　scientists　would　recognize　your　greatness；　does　it　not？〃

Tesla　ducked　his　snout；　looked　around　the　hold　like　a　felon；　and　motioned　for　Burak　to　keep　his　voice　down。　〃Yes；　certainly；〃　he　said。　〃But　what　does　this　have　to　do　with　anything？〃

Burak　studied　one　of　the　Fruits。　〃Suppose　I　could　arrange　for　an　audience　with　the　scientists　here？〃

Tesla　shot　to　his　feet；　horrified　by　the　prospect。　〃You　must…〃

〃Hunter　and　a　few　of　the　others　were　captured；〃　Burak　quickly　explained；　gazing　up　at　the　Invid。　〃I　suggested　that　we　exchange　you　for　them。　That　way…〃

〃You　what？〃

〃That　way　you'll　be　able　to　assert　your　right　to　the　throne…just　as　you。。。wanted。。。What's　wrong？〃

Wearily；　Tesla　had　reseated　himself。　〃You　fool；〃　he　muttered；　shaking　his　hands。　〃You've　just　sealed　my　fate。〃

〃B…but。。。〃

〃It's　too　soon；　Burak；　too　soon。　The　Regis　will　send　me　to　the　pits。〃　He　glanced　up。　〃The　next　time　you　see　Tesla　he'll　be　a　maggot。〃

Burak　made　a　distressed　sound；　seeing　his　own　dreams　for　Peryton　go　up　in　smoke；　and　just　then　Janice；　Vince　Grant；　Gnea；　and　Lron　burst　into　the　hold。　The　amazon　Praxian　had　an　armed　blaster　in　her　hands。

〃Everybody　ready？〃　Janice　said　brightly；　looking　back　and　forth　between　Burak　and　Tesla。　Cautiously；　Lron　and　Grant　had　moved　in　to　shackle　the　Invid's　wrists　and　place　a　prisoner　bib　around　his　neck。

〃All　right；　Invid；　let's　go；〃　Gnea　said；　brandishing　the　weapon。

Lron　gave　Tesla　a　light　shove。

Tesla　looked　down　and　caught　Janice's　smile。

〃Guess　this　is　your　lucky　day；〃　she　told　him。


Jonathan　Wolff　sat　on　the　bridge　of　the　cruiser　with　his　feet　up　on　one　of　the　duty…station　consoles。　He　was　alone　for　a　change；　Grant　and　most　of　the　crew　having　rushed　off　for　the　ordnance　bay。　Well　within　reach；　on　the　floor　beside　the　mand　chair；　was　a　bottle　of　Southlands　brandy。　It　was　almost　empty。

〃To　rescues；〃　Wolff　said　now；　toasting　Garuda　through　the　forward　viewport　and　lifting　the　bottle　to　his　lips。　He　gulped　down　half　an　inch　and　shuddered。

The　Hunters　had　gone　and　gotten　themselves　captured；　along　with　Karen；　Rem；　and　that　Garudan…Kami。　And　Max　or　somebody　figured　they　could　swap　them　for　Tesla；　only　Wolff　didn't　put　much　stock　in　it。　Of　course　he　hadn't　said　that　to　them…oh　no；　mustn't　burst　anyone's　bubble；　chin　up　and　all　that　ancient　rot。　But　that　was　what　he　felt。　The　Invid　would　go　back　on　their　word；　maybe　the　Sentinels　would　go　back　on　theirs；　somebody　would　betray　somebody　else。。。he　didn't　need　to　be　there　to　see　it　all　go　down。

〃So　here's　to　betrayals；〃　he　said；　and　took　another　pull。　〃Minmei；　you。。。meanie。〃

Doubled　over　in　laughter；　Wolff　swung　his　legs　off　the　control　panel。　Yes；　she　was　a　meanie　all　right；　telling　him　to　take　a　walk；　falling　in　love　with　his　enemy。　〃Earth's　enemy；〃　Wolff　emphasized。　〃Have　to　give　the　man　his　due。〃　He　drank　again；　staring　blankly　at　the　bottle　when　he　lowered　it；　rocking　back　and　forth。

Without　warning；　a　tone　sounded　on　the　bridge　and　nearly　sent　him　out　of　his　skin。　He　reached　out　for　the　　stud　and　slammed　his　fist　down；　missing　it；　but　getting　it　on　the　third　try。

〃Wolff；〃　he　said。

〃A　small　craft；〃　one　of　the　new　crewmen　reported。　〃Not　much　bigger　than　an　Alpha。　Transport；　maybe。〃

〃Put　it　up；〃　Wolff　sai