tz.theicarushunt-第74节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


h　them；　and　Revs；　I'd　appreciate　it　if　you'd　get　that　upper　vent　open　so　that　Pix　can　get　out。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　I　asked；　keeping　one　eye　on　the　three　Patth　and　the　other　on　Ixil。　He　had　retrieved　one　of　the　corona　guns　and　was　fiddling　with　a　pair　of　control　settings。
　〃This　will　be　an　experiment；〃　Ixil　said。　〃I　found　this　setting　when　I　was　examining　the　weapons　you　brought　from　your　encounter　on　Xathru。　It's　quite　low…power…far　too　low；　in　fact；　to　possibly　serve　as　a　credible　weapon。〃
　〃What's　it　for；　then？〃　Nicabar　asked；　grunting　as　he　tore　the　grating　from　the　upper　vent。　Pix　was　more　than　ready；　diving　out　of　the　opening　almost　before　the　grating　was　all　the　way　off。　Hitting　the　floor；　he　dodged　around　the　Iykams'　bodies　and　scampered　up　Ixil's　leg。
　〃I　expect　it's　used　for　torture；〃　Ixil　said；　squinting　at　the　dials。　〃Something　to　cause　pain　without　the　risk　of　physical　damage。〃
　〃What　an　efficient　idea；〃　I　muttered；　gazing　hard　at　Nask。　He　said　nothing；　his　eyes　riveted　on　the　weapon　in　Ixil's　hand。　〃No　reason　you　should　have　to　carry　both　a　gun　and　a　set　of　thumbscrews；　too。〃
　〃Indeed；〃　Ixil　said。　Finishing　his　adjustments；　he　headed　toward　Brosh。
　〃Just　a　moment；〃　Brosh　said；　taking　a　hasty　step　back。　〃I'm　a　simple　starship　pilot；　from　a　civilian　merchant　ship。　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　decisions　or　policies　of　that　sort。〃
　〃I　realize　that；〃　Ixil　said；　reaching　out　his　free　hand　and　taking　one　of　Brosh's　arms　in　an　unbreakable　grip。　〃And　for　that　reason　I　sincerely　hope　this　doesn't　hurt　too　much。〃
　And　pressing　the　corona　gun　against　Brosh's　left　cheekbone；　he　pulled　the　trigger。
　There　wasn't　any　flash…the　current　flow　was　far　too　low　to　produce　a　spark。　But　from　the　effect　on　Brosh　Ixil　might　have　just　put　a　thousand　volts　across　his　face。　He　gasped　sharply；　his　head　jerking　back　with　such　violence　that　my　own　head　injuries　throbbed　in　sympathetic　pain。　Ixil　didn't　give　him　a　chance　to　recover　his　balance；　but　simply　leaned　forward　and　delivered　a　second　jolt　to　the　other　cheekbone。　Brosh　gasped　again；　a　sound　that　seemed　to　be　on　the　edge　of　panic　or　hysteria。　〃Just　one　more；〃　Ixil　soothed　him；　and　delivered　a　third　shock　to　his　forehead　just　above　his　eyes。
　Abruptly；　Nask　snarled　something　in　the　Patth　language。　About　a　step　behind　me；　he'd　suddenly　figured　out　what　Ixil　was　doing。　〃You　sacundian　alien　frouzht…〃
　〃…and　then　we　move　on　to　the　hands；〃　Ixil　said；　ignoring　both　Nask's　curses　and　Brosh's　yelps　and　delivering　a　quick　jolt　to　the　backs　of　each　of　the　pilot's　hands。　〃And　that；〃　he　added；　letting　go　of　Brosh's　arm　so　quickly　that　the　other　nearly　toppled　over　backward；　〃is　that。〃
　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　I　agreed。　〃And　with　all　that　lovely　implanted　circuitry　now　scrambled　or　fried；　the　Considerate　is　without　a　chief　pilot。〃
　〃And　will　be　also　without　its　backup　pilot　in　a　moment；〃　Ixil　agreed；　moving　to　where　Enig　was　cringing。
　Enig　demonstrated　himself　capable　of　more　dignity　and　self…control　than　his　superior；　leaving　Nask's　continuing　stream　of　invective　un…punctuated　by　gasps　or　moans。　〃Now　it　should　be　safe　to　secure　them　to　the　desk；〃　Ixil　said；　tossing　the　weapon　distastefully　across　the　room　and　taking　his　plasmic　back　from　me。　〃Revs；　if　you'll　do　the　honors？〃
　A　minute　later；　the　three　Patth　were　trussed　like　a　matched　set　of　Thanksgiving　turkeys。　They　maintained　a　stoic　silence　throughout　the　operation；　even　Nask　apparently　having　run　out　of　things　to　call　us。　But　the　ambassador　stared　at　Ixil　the　whole　time；　and　there　was　something　about　the　very　deadness　of　his　expression　that　sent　a　chill　up　my　back。
　〃Looks　good；〃　I　said　after　Nicabar　had　finished；　giving　his　handiwork　a　quick　examination。　Not　that　I　didn't　trust　him　to　do　a　proper　job；　but　it　was　too　late　in　the　day　to　be　taking　unnecessary　chances。　〃I　presume　one　of　you　knows　the　best　way　out？〃
　〃Straight　through　the　club；〃　Ixil　said。　He　snapped　his　fingers　and　Pax　abandoned　his　examination　of　one　of　the　dead　Iykams　and　scurried　toward　him。　〃Did　you　know　you　were　in　the　back　rooms　of　a　night…to…dawn　club；　by　the　way？〃
　〃No；　but　I　should　have　guessed　from　the　music　I　was　hearing；〃　I　said　as　Pax　climbed　up　and　took　his　accustomed　place　on　Ixil's　other　shoulder。　It　occurred　to　me　that　I　hadn't　actually　heard　the　band　for　some　time　now；　straining　my　ears；　I　discovered　I　still　couldn't　hear　it。　Either　Nicabar's　gunshots　had　affected　my　hearing；　or　else　the　club　had　suddenly　gone　silent。　An　ominous　possibility；　that　one。　〃Let's　go。〃
　I　headed　for　the　door；　scooping　up　one　of　the　corona　guns　along　the　way　just　to　have　some　kind　of　weapon　in　my　hand。　Nicabar　and　Ixil　moved　into　support　positions　on　either　side　of　me；　Nicabar　easing　the　door　open　for　a　cautious　look　as　Ixil　kept　an　eye　on　our　three　Patth　friends。　〃All　clear；〃　Nicabar　murmured。　He　started　out…
　〃Kalix。〃
　I　turned　around。　Nask　was　still　staring　at　Ixil；　the　look　of　death　still　smoldering　in　his　eyes。　〃For　what　you　did　here　you　will　pay　dearly；〃　the　ambassador　said　quietly。　〃You；　and　all　your　species　with　you。　Remember　this　night　as　you　watch　your　people　starve　to　death。〃
　For　a　moment　Ixil　looked　back　at　him；　his　own　face　expressionless；　and　I　wondered　uneasily　if　he　was　having　second　thoughts　about　the　side　he'd　chosen。　If　Nask　wasn't　just　blowing　off　steam…and　if　he　could　persuade　the　Patth　Director　General　to　back　him　up…the　Patth　certainly　had　it　within　their　economic　power　to　make　life　miserable　for　the　Kalixiri。
　〃Ixil？〃　Nicabar　prompted　quietly。
　His　voice　seemed　to　break　the　spell。　〃Yes；〃　Ixil　said；　turning　back。　〃Go　ahead。　I'll　take　the　rear。〃
　Seconds　later；　the　three　of　us　were　moving　along　a　well…lit　but　deserted　corridor。　There　was　still　no　music；　nor；　as　we　moved　along；　could　I　hear　any　sounds　at　all　other　than　our　own。　〃What　did　you　do；　scare　away　all　the　patrons　when　you　came　in？〃　I　murmured。
　〃Something　like　that；〃　Nicabar　murmured　back。
　〃I　hope　you　scared　away　the　Iykams；　too；〃　I　said。　〃Nask　implied　he　had　a　whole　troop　of　them　guarding　the　building。〃
　〃He　did；〃　Ixil　said　grimly。　〃Everett　and　I　dealt　rather　more　permanently　with　them　while　the　Patth　were　distracted　with　you　and　Nicabar。〃
　〃And　where　is　Everett？〃
　〃On　guard　in　the　main　club　area；〃　Ixil　said。　〃It's　right　up　here　on　the　right。〃
　We　rounded　a　corner；　to　find　ourselves　at　the　edge　of　a　garishly　decorated　wiggle　floor；　its　flickerlights　still　playing　to　its　departed　clientele；　a　scattering　of　spilled　drinks　and　a　couple　of　lost　scarves　adding　color　to　the　floor　itself。　Beyond　the　wiggle　floor；　surrounding　it　on　all　three　sides　other　than　the　one　we　were　on；　were　the　drinking　and　conversation　areas；　consisting　of　a　collection　of　close…packed　tables。　Most　of　them　sported　abandoned　bottles　and　glasses；　with　the　disarrayed　chairs　around　them　evidence　of　just　how　rapidly　the　club's　clientele　had　departed。　The　arrangement　of　lights　had　put　most　of　the　conversation　area　into　deep　shadow；　a　fact　I　didn't　care　much　for　at　all。
　Especially　given　that　there　was　no　sign　of　Everett。　On　guard　or　otherwise。
　Nicabar　had　made　the　same　observation。　〃So　where　is　he？〃　he　murmured。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Ixil　said　as　we　hugged　the　corner。　〃Maybe　he　went　outside　for　some　reason。〃
　Or　maybe　the　Patth　or　Iykams　had　spirited　him　away；　I　didn't　bother　to　add。　If　so；　the　evening　was　still　a　long　way　from　being　over。　〃Where's　the　door？〃　I　asked。
　〃There's　an　emergency　exit　behind　that　cluster　of　orange　lights　in　the　corner；〃　Nicabar　answered。　〃It　opens　onto　an　alleyway　just　off　one　of　the　major　streets。〃
　〃Let's　hope　he's　out　there；〃　I　said。　〃After　you。〃
　Silently；　Nicabar　headed　off；　angling　across　the　wiggle　floor　toward　the　orange　lights　he'd　pointed　out。　We　were　about　two…thirds　of　the　way　across　the　wiggle　floor；　pinned　like　moths　in　the　glow　from　the　flickerlights；　when　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　movement　from　behind　the　mass　of　darkened　tables　to　our　left。　〃Watch　it！〃　I　snapped；　jabbing　a　finger　that　direction。
　But　my　warning　was　too　late。　There　was　the　muted　flash　of　a　plasma…bolt　ignition；　and　with　a　gasped　curse　Nicabar　dropped　to　one　knee；　his　gun　firing　spasmodically　toward　the　area　where　the　shot　had　originated。
　〃Damn；〃　I　snarled；　jumping　to　his　side　and　pulling　him　flat　onto　the　floor　as　Ixil's　plasmic　opened　up　from　behind　me；　laying　down　a　spray　of　cover　fire。
　〃Shoulder；〃　Nicabar　bit　out　from　between　clenched　teeth；　his　voice　almost　inaudible　over　the　rapid…fire　hiss　of　Ixil's　plasma　fire　and　the　louder　three…millimeter　rounds　from　his　own　gun。　〃Not　too　bad。　Can　you　see　him？〃
　I　couldn't；　though　I　could　make　out　vague　movements　back　in　the　shadows　as　our　unseen　assailant　apparently　repositioned　himself　for　his　next　shot。　But　without　a　weapon　that　could　reach　that　far　it　didn't　much　matter　whether　I　could　see　him　or　not。　Instead；　I　darted　to　the　edge　of　the　wiggle　floor；　grabbed　the　nearest　table；　and　half　shoved；　half　threw　it　to　where　Nicabar　was　firing。
　And　then；　even　as　the　table　skidded　with　a　horrendous　screech　into　a　position　where　he　could　use　it　for　cover；　there　was　another　plasmic　flash　from　just　to　the　right　of　our　attacker's　direction；　this　one　acpanied　by　a　startlingly　forlorn　sort　of　squeak。　〃I　got　him；〃　a　hoarse　voice　croake