15_death_dance-第19部分

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ailed　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？〃

〃Of　course　I　remember；〃　he　said；　trying　to　sound　cheerful。　〃And　we'll　make　every　one　of　them　e　true。〃　He　squatted　down　to　face　her。　〃Look；　let's　just　see　what　happens　on　Garuda。　From　what　Kami　says；　the　Invid　never　actually　conquered　the　place。　And　from　what　Wolff　told　me；　it　sounds　like　they　pulled　all　their　troop　carriers　away。　They've　got　a　small　garrison　there；　and　that's　it。　Maybe　there　won't　have　to　be　much　fighting。　We'll　get　to　have　some　PT。〃

She　laughed　lightly。　〃Now　there's　a　dream　if　I　ever　heard　one。〃

〃You'll　see；〃　he　said；　bringing　her　up　into　his　embrace。


In　the　cruiser's　med　room；　Jean　Grant　was　trying　to　figure　out　what　to　do　with　the　now…smooth；　football…sized　crystal　on　the　gurney…the　Spherisian　infant　Miriya　and　Bela　had　brought　up　from　Praxis。　The　two　women　were　watching　Jean's　every　move；　while　Teal　sat　quietly　in　a　corner　of　the　room。　Jean　gave　the　crystal　a　gentle　turn；　it　felt　cool　to　the　touch　and　seemingly　inanimate；　but　scans　had　indicated　a　high　level　of　bioenergy；　or　at　least　an　approximation　thereof。　God　knew　the　thing　was　growing　fast　enough！　Jean　sensed　Miriya　and　Bela's　eyes　on　her　and　said；　〃Well；　what　do　you　two　expect　me　to　do　with　this；　this。。。child？　She　turned　sharply　to　Teal。　〃Teal；　get　over　here！　At　least　tell　me　what　I'm　supposed　to　do。〃

Wearily；　Teal　got　to　her　feet　and　joined　Jean　at　the　gurney。　She　glanced　down　at　the　crystal　and　fixed　her　transparent　eyes　on　the　infant's　saviors。　〃You　saved　him；　Bela。　You　raise　him。〃

〃It's　a　him？〃　Jean　asked；　peering　at　the　crystal　as　though　she　had　missed　something。　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃Because　it　is　Baldan's　child。　It　is　Baldan。〃

Miriya　made　a　face。　〃Wait　a　minute；　let's　get　this　straight：　is　it　Baldan；　or　is　it　Baldan's　child？〃

〃It　is　both；〃　Teal　told　her。

〃Well；　it　sure　doesn't　look　like　Baldan；〃　Jean　pointed　out。　〃Is　it；　er；　he　in　a　state　of　gestation　inside　the　crystal？　Or　do　we　need　to　incubate　him？　Speak　to　me；　girl！〃

Teal　turned　away　from　the　gurney。　〃I　don't　want　to　care　for　it！〃　When　she　faced　them　again；　it　was　obvious　she　was；　in　some　Spherisian　fashion；　crying。　〃Baldan　was　not　my　mate；〃　she　explained。　〃It　was　the　Invid　Tesla　who　chose　us；　it　was　he　who　brought　us　together。〃

Jean　put　a　hand　on　Teal's　shoulder。　〃But　I　don't　understand；　honey。　What　does　all　this　have　to　do　with　caring　for　the　child？〃

〃He　must　be　shaped〃　Teal　answered　her。　〃And　to　do　so　I　must　enter　into　a　rapport　with　Baldan…I　must　bee　his　mate。〃

No　one　said　anything　for　a　moment。　〃And　if　we　do　nothing？〃　Bela　asked。

〃Baldan　will　die。〃　Teal　continued　to　cry；　muttering　to　herself　in　her　own　tongue…praying；　Jean　ventured。　Then　suddenly　she　produced　a　kind　of　crystalline　paring　knife　from　the　bodice　of　her　garment。

〃Teal；　no！〃　Jean　started　to　say；　but　before　she　could　stop　her；　Teal　had　struck　the　infant　with　the　edge　of　the　blade；　as　one　might　bring　a　tool　to　bear　on　a　piece　of　ore。　A　chip　broke　away　from　the　crystal；　revealing　a　dazzling　facet。　Teal　struck　again　and　again；　each　stroke　sure　of　its　mark；　each