tz.cobra strike-第57节

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ed　to　the　zoologist　over　the　noise；　pressing　the　gun　barrel　down。　Targeting；　he　swung　his　leg　up　and　fired　his　antiarmor　laser。
　The　landscape　lit　up　briefly；　and　with　one　final　scream　the　krisjaw　collapsed　among　the　ruins　of　the　net。
　Someone　swore　feelingly　under　his　breath。　〃No　wonder　the　Qasamans　organize　hunts　against　these　things。〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Banyon　shifted　his　attention　to　the　other　two　krisjaws；　still　waiting　quietly。　Waiting；　but　several　meters　further　to　the　side　than　they'd　been　a　minute　earlier。　A　new　line　of　blackened　vegetation　smoldered　beside　them。　〃What　happened？…they　try　to　slip　away　in　the　confusion？〃
　〃They　thought　about　it；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　replied　dryly。　〃I　think　we've　convinced　them　to　cooperate　for　the　moment。〃
　〃Cooperate；〃　Hanford　mused。　〃I　seem　to　remember　the　mayor　of　Huriseem　mentioning　the　krisjaws　were　pretty　peaceful　when　the　Qasamans　first　got　here。〃
　〃He　said　it　was　a　legend；〃　one　of　the　others　reminded　him。　〃I　find　it　hard　to　swallow　that　an　animal's　behavior　would　change　that　drastically。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　we're　looking　at　right　now？〃　Hanford　snorted。　〃Those　two　krisjaws　are　being　about　as　peaceable　as　they　e。〃
　〃Only　because　they　see　they'll　be　cut　to　ribbons　if　they　try　anything。〃
　〃Which　in　itself　is　highly　suggestive；〃　Banyon　put　in。　〃Remember　the　gleaner…team　report　this　morning　about　the　apparent　transfer　of　aggression　between　mojos　and　humans？〃
　〃You　think　the　mojo　made　the　krisjaw　fight　back　against　the　net？〃　Hanford　shaded　his　eyes　as　he　searched　the　trees　for　the　escaped　bird。
　〃Just　the　opposite；〃　Banyon　told　him。　〃I'm　wondering　if　perhaps　the　mojo　was　sitting　on　the　krisjaw's　natural　aggression；　holding　it　in　check　until　it　was　forced　too　far　away。〃
　〃That's　crazy；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　scoffed。　〃The　krisjaws　are　sitting　targets　out　there…their　best　survival　tactic　right　now　is　to　run　or　attack。〃
　〃Except　that　we've　demonstrated　we　can　kill　them　if　they　try　either；〃　Hanford　said　thoughtfully。　〃Remember　the　spookies　on　Tacta？　If　the　mojos　have　a　similar　sense　for　relative　danger　they　may　recognize　that　their　best　bet　really　is　to　sit　and　wait。〃
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　silence　as　the　others　digested　that。　〃I　suppose　it's　reasonably　self…consistent；　as　theories　go；〃　one　of　the　zoologists　said　at　last。　〃Hard　to　see　how　a　system　like　that　would　get　started；　though。　Not　to　mention　how　you'd　prove　it。〃
　〃Given　a　telepathic　ability；　it　seems　pretty　straightforward　to　me；〃　Banyon　said。　〃The　mojos　need　some　predator　strong　enough　to　take　on　a　bololin　in　order　to　get　access　to　their　embryo…hosts。　Maybe　the　mojo　acts　as　long…range　spotter　for　the　krisjaw　in　return　or　something。〃
　〃Though　with　the　mojo's　control　the　relationship　doesn't　have　to　be　particularly　mutual；〃　Hanford　murmured。　〃The　birds　may　be　out…and…out　parasites。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Banyon　said。　〃And　as　for　proving　it　。。。　Dale；　target　the　mojo　nearest　you；　all　right？　Head　shot；　fast　and　clean；　without　affecting　the　krisjaw　directly。〃
　〃Okay；〃　the　voice　came　in　his　ear。　〃Ready。〃
　Banyon　targeted　the　appropriate　krisjaw　and　eased　his　weight　onto　his　right　leg。　If　this　worked　he　wanted　his　antiarmor　laser　ready　to　fire。　〃Okay：　now。〃
　A　flicker　of　light　from　beside　and　behind　the　krisjaw　caught　the　mojo…and　an　instant　later　the　krisjaw　screamed　and　charged。　Banyon　leaned　back　as　he　activated　the　automatic　fire　control；　his　leg　swinging　up　to　fire　point　blank　at　the　creature's　face。　There　was　a　blaze　of　reflected　light；　and　the　krisjaw's　fur　blackened　as　the　laser　flash…burned　it。　The　animal　slammed　heavily　to　the　ground…
　And　Banyon　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　remaining　krisjaw's　mojo　streaking　for　his　face。
　The　landscape　tilted　crazily　as　his　nanoputer　threw　him　out　of　the　way　of　the　bird's　attack…but　not　before　he　saw　the　the　krisjaw；　too；　was　in　motion。　He　hit　the　ground；　rolling　awkwardly　on　his　left　shoulder　as　someone　screamed　。。。　and　he　came　up　into　a　crouch　to　see　the　krisjaw　spring　toward　Hanford。
　Banyon　snapped　his　hands　up　in　a　fast　dual　shot　at　the　predator；　but　what　saved　the　zoologist's　life　in　that　first　half　second　was　his　own　reflexive　shot　with　his　flash　net　gun。　The　krisjaw　hit；　slamming　Hanford　to　the　ground；　but　with　claws　and　teeth　temporarily　blocked　by　the　netting　it　could　do　little　except　gouge　at　its　victim。　Banyon　scrambled　to　get　his　legs　clear　of　the　undergrowth　。。。　but　before　he　could　bring　his　antiarmor　laser　to　bear　two　brilliant　spears　of　light　lit　up　the　forest　and　the　krisjaw　collapsed　in　a　charred　heap。
　Banyon　got　to　his　feet；　looking　quickly　around。　The　mojo　was　still　unaccounted　for　。　。　。
　But　not　for　long。　The　bird　was　perched　atop　one　of　the　other　zoologist's　crossed　forearms；　wings　beating　at　the　man's　head　and　shoulders　as　it　tried　to　work　its　beak　in　to　the　face。
　Banyon　was　on　it　in　a　second；　grabbing　its　neck　with　both　hands　and　squeezing。　The　mojo　released　its　grip；　fluttering　wildly　as　it　tried　to　get　at　its　new　attacker。　But　Banyon's　grip　had　Cobra　servos　behind　it　。。。　and　within　a　few　seconds　the　bird　lay　limp　in　his　hands。　〃You　okay？〃　he　asked　the　zoologist；　wincing　at　the　blood　oozing　through　the　other's　sleeves。
　〃Arms　and　head　hurt　like　crazy；〃　the　other　grunted；　lowering　his　guard　hesitantly。　〃Otherwise　。。　。　okay；　I　think。〃
　His　face；　at　least；　was　unmarked。　〃We'll　get　you　right　back　to　the　aircar；〃　Banyon　told　him；　turning　back　to　Hanford。　The　other　Cobras　had　the　krisjaw　carcass　off　him　now；　and　Dale　was　kneeling　beside　him。　〃How　is　he？〃　Banyon　asked。
　〃Might　have　a　cracked　rib　or　two；〃　Dale　said；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃Not　a　good　idea　to　carry　him　far；　I'll　go　bring　the　aircar　here。〃
　Banyon　nodded　and　knelt　beside　Hanford　as　Dale　set　off　at　a　fast　trot。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　he　asked。
　〃Scientifically　vindicated；〃　Hanford　murmured；　managing　a　weak　smile。　〃We've　now　proved　that　mojos　in　the　wild　serve　the　same　role　they　do　for　the　Qasamans。　They　help　the　krisjaws　fight。〃
　〃And　apparently　help　decide　when　fighting's　the　best　approach；〃　Banyon　nodded。
　〃As　opposed　to　simply　getting　out　of　the　way？〃
　Banyon　looked　up　to　meet　the　angry　glare　of　the　team's　uninjured　zoologist。　〃I　wasn't　running　out　on　you；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃Of　course　not；〃　the　other　snorted。　〃Just　getting　to　a　place　where　you　could　line　up　a　clear　shot；　right？　While　it　was　busy　with　the　rest　of　us。　Fine　job…really　fine。〃　He　turned　his　back。
　Banyon　sighed；　closing　his　eyes　briefly。　They　would　never　learn…neither　the　people　who　assigned　Cobras　as　bodyguards；　nor　the　bodyguarded　people　themselves。　In　a　pinch　a　Cobra's　puterized　reflexes　were　designed　to　protect　him　and　him　alone。　There　was　no　provision　for　heroic　self…sacrifice　in　the　nanoputer's　programming　。　。　。　and　the　civilians　would　never　understand　that；　no　matter　how　many　times　they　were　told。
　There　was　a　quiet　click　in　his　earphone：　a　relay　from　the　split…freq　equipment　in　their　aircar。　〃Banyon？　This　is　Telek；　e　in。〃
　〃Yes；　Governor。　What's　up？〃
　〃Any　results　on　your　hunt　yet？〃
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　yes。　We　can　send　them　to　you　as　soon　as　we　get　the　recorders　tied　into　the　transmitter。〃
　〃Don't　bother；〃　Telek　said；　and　Banyon　could　hear　a　new　undertone　of　tension　in　her　voice。　〃Just　get　yourselves　and　the　data　back　to　the　Menssana…you've　got　our　current　location？〃
　〃If　you　haven't　moved　since　last　night；　yes。　What's　gone　wrong？〃
　〃Nothing；　really；〃　she　sighed。　〃At　least　nothing　unexpected。　But　I　want　to　be　able　to　pull　out　quickly　if　we　need　to。〃
　Banyon　grimaced　as　something　tight　took　hold　of　his　stomach。　〃The　Qasaman　convoy　has　reached　outrider…one？〃
　〃Ten　minutes　ago。　And　the　team's　under　attack。〃
　
　
　Chapter　29
　
　The　forest　was　alive　with　the　stutter　of　rapid…fire　guns　and　the　furious　sleet　of　bullets　tearing　at　leaves　and　undergrowth　and　blasting　great　sprays　of　splinters　from　tree　trunks　all　around。　Flat　on　his　belly　behind　the　largest　tree　he　could　find　near　his　station；　Justin　hugged　the　ground　and　waited　for　the　barrage　to　ease　up　or　shift　direction。　It　did；　and　he　took　a　cautious　peek　around　the　bole。　A　hundred　meters　away　six　Qasamans　were　running　back　toward　the　convoy　from　the　tree　trunk　the　Cobras　had　felled　across　the　road。　They'd　been　placing　explosives；　Pyre　had　guessed　。。。　and　even　as　Justin　watched；　the　barrier　erupted　with　yellow　fire。　The　smoke　cleared　to　show　a　section　of　the　trunk　had　disintegrated。
　〃Barrier　down；〃　one　of　the　Cobras　reported　in　Jus…tin's　ear。　〃Convoy　starting　up　again。〃
　The　hail　of　lead　intensified；　almost　covering　the　sound　of　car　engines；　but　little　of　the　fire　was　ing　in　Justin's　direction。　〃I'm　on　it；〃　he　said　into　his　mike。　Twenty　meters　closer　to　him　was　the　next　of　the　trees　along　the　road　they'd　prepared　so　carefully　last　night。　Raising　his　hand　out　of　the　matted　leaves；　he　targeted　carefully　and　fired。
　The　rope　holding　the　precut　tree　snapped；　and　with　a　crack　of　breaking　wood　audible　even　over　the　gun　shots　it　toppled　gracefully　across　the　road。　〃Barrier　replaced；〃　he　reported。
　〃Stand　by　to　pull　back；〃　Pyre　said　tersely。　〃Smoke　。。。　？〃
　In　response；　the　forest　on　both　sides　of　the　road　erupted　with　black　smoke。　〃Lead　team；　pull　back；〃　Pyre　ordered。
　Justin　began　backing　away　from　his　tree；　balancing