tz.cobra strike-第27节

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　A　footstep　behind　him　made　him　turn。　It　was　Chrys；　a　vaguely　sour　look　on　her　face。　〃Feel　like　being　a　politician　again？〃　she　asked　without　preamble。
　Jonny　flicked　a　look　past　her　at　the　bustling　activity　in　the　protected　area　between　them　and　the　ship。　〃What's　up？〃　he　asked；　focusing　on　her　again。
　She　waved　a　hand　in　disgust。　〃The　same　fight　they've　been　having　since　we　hot…tailed　it　off　Junca。　The　scientists　want　to　take　the　time　we　didn't　use　there　to　go　back　for　an　additional　look　at　Kubha　or　Fuson。〃
　〃And　Shepherd　wants　to　just　drop　the　two　days　we　saved　out　of　the　schedule　and　head　back　home　as　soon　as　we're　done　here；〃　Jonny　finished　for　her　with　an　exasperated　sigh。　He　was　roundly　sick　of　the　whole　issue；　especially　when　Shepherd's　first　refusal　should　have　settled　things　long　ago。　〃So　what　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃/　don't　want　you　to　do　anything；〃　she　returned。　〃But　Rey　seems　to　think　you　might　be　able　to　inject　a　few　well…chosen　words　into　the　debate。〃
　Put　another　way；　Banyon　wanted　him　to　thunder　the　scientists　back　into　their　labs。　Jonny　had　no　doubts　which　side　of　the　issue　the　Cobras　supported…having　been　saddled　with　both　the　defense　of　the　expedition　and　its　hardest　work；　they　were　quite　ready　to　head　home　as　soon　as　possible。　The　four　who　were　still　in　sickbay　with　injuries　from　the　mad　scramble　off　Junca　probably　held　triple　batches　of　that　opinion。
　And　it　would　certainly　be　the　easiest　way　to　settle　the　debate。　Jonny　Moreau　the　Cobra；　Governor　Emeritus；　had　more　physical　and　legal　authority　than　anyone　else　aboard；　including　Shepherd　himself。　He　was　opening　his　mouth　to　give　in　when　he　took　a　good　look　at　Chrys's　expression。
　It　was　angry。　She　was　trying　to　hide　the　emotion；　but　Jonny　knew　her　too　well　to　be　fooled。　The　tension
　　lines　around　her　eyes；　the　slight　pinch　to　her　mouth；　the　tight　muscles　in　cheeks　and　neck…anger；　for　sure。　Anger　and　a　smattering　of　frustration。
　It　was　the　same　expression　he'd　seen　on　her　far　too　often　these　past　few　years。
　And　with　that　sudden　connection　came　the　truly　proper　response　to　the　Messana's　intramural　squabbles。　〃Well；　Key　and　the　others　can　just　forget　it；〃　he　told　her。　〃If　Shepherd's　too　polite　to　chew　the　scientists〃　ears　off　he　can　just　put　up　with　their　yammering。　I'm　on　vacation　out　here。〃
　Chrys's　eyes　widened　momentarily；　but　even　as　a　faint　smile　flickered　across　her　lips　the　tension　was　leaving　her　face　and　body。　〃I'll　quote　you　exactly；〃　he　said。
　〃Do　that。　But　first　take　a　look　here；〃　he　added　as　she　started　to　turn　back　toward　the　encampment。　〃It　looks　like　we're　starting　to　attract　the　local　sightseers。〃
　The　bird　was　indeed　still　sitting　quietly　on　its　branch。　〃Odd；〃　Chrys　said；　studying　it　through　a　pair　of　folding　binoculars。　〃That　beak　looks　more　suited　to　a　predator　than　to　a　seed　or　insect　eater。　The　feet；　too。〃
　Jonny　bumped　his　optical　enhancers　up　a　notch。　They　did　rather　look　like　condorine　talons；　now　that　she　mentioned　it。　〃What's　odd　about　it？　We've　catalogued　birds　and　rodentoids　here　small　enough　for　it　to　prey　on。〃
　〃I　know　。。。　but　why　is　it　just　sitting　there？　Why　isn't　it　out　hunting　or　something？〃
　Jonny　frowned。　Sitting　motionlessly　amid　the　low　bushes　。。。　as　if　afraid　of　losing　what　little　cover　its　position　provided。　〃Maybe　it's　hurt/〃　he　suggested　slowly。　〃Or　hiding　from　a　larger　predator。〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　and　he　saw　in　｝ier　eyes　that　she　was　following　the　same　train　of　logic　and　reaching　the　same　conclusion。　And　liking　it　no　better　than　he　did。　〃Like　。。。　us？〃　she　eventually　voiced　the　mon　thought。
　〃I　don't　see　anything　else　it　could　be　afraid　of；〃　he　admitted；　giving　the　sky　a　quick　sweep。
　〃A　ground　animal…？　No。　Anything　the　size　of　a　cat　could　get　it　in　those　low　bushes。〃　Chrys's　eyes　shifted　to　the　bird。　〃But　。。。　how　could　it　know…？〃
　〃It's　intelligent。〃　Jonny　didn't　realize　until　he'd　said　the　words　just　how　strongly　he　was　starting　to　believe　them。　〃It　recognizes　we're　tool…makers　and　aliens　and　is　being　properly　cautious。　Or　is　waiting　for　us　to　municate。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Well　。。。　maybe　I　should　go　over　to　it。〃
　Chrys's　grip　on　his　arm　was　surprisingly　strong。　〃You　think　that'd　be　safe？〃
　〃I　am　a　Cobra…remember？〃　he　growled　with　tension　of　his　own。　Contact　with　the　unknown　。。。　his　old　bat　training　came　surging　back。　Rule　One：　Have　a　backup。　Carefully；　keeping　the　movements　fluid；　he　pulled　his　field　phone　from　his　belt。　〃Dr。　Hanford？〃　he　said；　naming　the　only　zoologist　he　knew　to　be　close　by；　the　only　one　he　remembered　seeing　near　the　ship　when　Chrys　came　up　a　few　minutes　ago。
　〃Hanford。〃
　〃Jonny　Moreau。　I'm　at　the　southeast　part　of　the　perimeter。　Get　over　here；　quietly。　And　bring　any　Cobras　nearby　with　you。〃
　〃Got　it。〃
　Jonny　replaced　the　phone　and　waited。　The　bird　waited　too；　but　seemed　to　be　getting　a　little　restless。　Though　perhaps　that　was　his　imagination。
　Hanford　arrived　a　couple　of　minutes　later；　running　with　an　awkward…looking　waddle　that　made　for　a　fair　promise　between　speed　and　stealth。　Banyon　and　a　Cobra　named　Porris　were　with　him。　〃What　is　it？〃　the　zoologist　stage…whispered；　ing　to　a　stop　at　Jonny's　side。
　Jonny　nodded　toward　the　bird。　〃Tell　me　what　you　make　of　that。〃
　　〃You　mean　the　bushes…？〃
　〃No；　the　bird　there；〃　Chrys　said；　pointing　it　out。
　〃The…？　Ah。〃　Hanford　got　his　own　binoculars　out。　〃Ah。　Yes；　we've　seen　others　of　the　species。　Always　at　a　distance；　though…I　don't　think　anyone's　ever　gotten　this　close　to　one　before。〃
　〃They're　rather　skittish；　then？〃　Jonny　prompted。　〃Normally；　that　is？〃
　〃Um；〃　Hanford　grunted　thoughtfully。　〃Yes。　He　does　seem　unusually　brave；　doesn't　he？〃
　〃Maybe　he's　staying　put　because　he's　afraid　of　us；〃　Banyon　said。
　〃If　he's　afraid　then　he　should　take　off；〃　Hanford　shook　his　head。
　〃No；　sir。　We're　too　close　to　him　for　that。〃　Banyon　pointed。　〃The　instant　he　leaves　that　bush　he'll　be　silhouetted　against　the　sky…and　he'll　be　in　motion。　Either　one　would　be　more　than　enough　for　most　predators。　He's　in　lousy　position　where　he　is；　but　it's　the　best　option　he's　got。〃
　〃Except　that　he's　a　bird　and　we're　obviously　not；〃　Hanford　said。　〃Once　he's　aloft　he　shouldn't　have　anything　to　fear　from　us。〃
　〃Unless；〃　Jonny　suggested　quietly；　〃he　understands　what　weapons　are。〃
　There　was　a　short　silence。　〃No；〃　Hanford　said　at　last。　〃No；　I　can't　believe　that。　Look　at　that　cranium　size；　for　starters…there's　just　not　enough　room　in　there　for　a　massive　brain。〃
　〃Size　isn't　all…important…〃　Porris　began。
　〃But　cell　number　is；〃　Hanford　shot　back。　〃And　Tactan　cell　sizes　and　biochemistry　are　close　enough　to　ours　to　make　the　parison　valid。　No；　he's　not　a　sentient　lifeform…he's　just　frozen　with　fear　and　doesn't　realize　he　can　escape　any　time　he　wants　to。〃
　〃
　〃Ladybird；　ladybird；　fly　away　home；〃
　〃　Chrys　murmured。
　〃Yes；　well；　he's　missed　his　chance　now；〃　Hanford　said　briskly。　〃Porris；　you　know　where　the　flash　nets　are　stored？〃　He　half…turned　toward　the　Menssana…
　And　the　bird　shot　off　its　perch。
　Chrys　gasped　with　the　suddenness　of　it；　as　beside　her　Banyon　reflexively　snapped　his　hands　into　firing　position。　〃Hold　it！〃　Jonny　barked　to　him。　〃Let　it　go。〃
　〃What？〃　Hanford　yelped。　〃Shoot　it；　man…shoot　it！〃
　But　Banyon　lowered　his　hands。
　The　bird　went。　Not　straight　up　into　the　sky；　as　Jonny　would　have　thought　most　likely；　but　horizontally　along　the　tops　of　the　bushes。　And　。。。　zigzagging。　Zigzagging　like。。。。
　It　disappeared　beyond　a　gentle　rise　and　Jonny　turned　to　find　Banyon's　eyes　on　him。　〃Evasive　maneuvers；〃　the　other　almost　whispered。
　〃Why　didn't　you　shoot　it？〃　Hanford　barked；　gripping　Jonny's　arm；　his　other　hand　clenched　into　a　frustrated　fist。　〃I　gave　you　Cobras　a　direct　order…〃
　〃Doctor；〃　Jonny　interjected；　〃the　bird　didn't　move　until　you　suggested　we　try　and　capture　it。〃
　〃I　don't　care。　You　should…〃　Hanford　stopped　abruptly　as　it　suddenly　seemed　to　penetrate。　〃You　mean…？　No。　No。　I　don't　believe　it。　How　could　it　have　known　what　we　were　saying？　It　couldn't　have。〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃　Banyon's　voice　was　dark。　〃But　it　knew　it　had　to　leave；　and　it　took　a　low；　evasive　route　when　it　did。　The　sort　of　pattern　you'd　use　against　enemy　fire。〃
　〃And　it　waited　until　you；　Doctor；　had　your　back　turned；〃　Chrys　added；　shuddering。　〃The　one　who　gave　the　capture　order。　Jonny　。。。　this　sounds　too　much　to　be　coincidence。〃
　〃Maybe　they've　seen　tool…makers　before；〃　Jonny　said　slowly。　〃Maybe　the　Trofts　landed　when　they　were　surveying　the　area。　That　way　they　could　know　about　weapons。〃
　〃They　could　all　be　part　of　a　hive　mind；　perhaps；〃　Porris　suggested　suddenly。　〃Each　individual　wouldn't　have　to　be　independently　intelligent　that　way。〃
　〃The　hive　mind　theory's　been　in　disrepute　for　twenty
　years；〃　Hanford　said。　But　he　didn't　sound　all　that　confident。　〃And　anyway；　that　doesn't　explain　how　they　knew　our　language　well　enough　to　realize　I　was　sending　you　for　a　flash　net。〃
　Abruptly；　Jonny　realized　he　was　still　staring　at　the　spot　where　the　bird　had　vanished。　He　looked　around　quickly；　but　no　vast　clouds　of　attacking　birds　were　sweeping　down　from　the　sky；　as　he'd　half　expected。　Only　occasional　and　far…distant　specks　marred　the　red…tinged　blue。　Still　。。。　〃I　think　it　might　be　a　good　idea　to　get　everything　packed　up　early；〃　he