tz.theicarushunt-第76节

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　It　turned　out　that　the　night…to…dawn　club　wasn't　too　far　from　the　pharmacy　where　the　Iykams　had　jumped　me；　which　was　itself　not　very　far　from　the　tram　station　where　I'd　first　gotten　off。　But　from　the　unfamiliar　terrain　we　quickly　passed　into；　it　was　clear　that　Ixil　was　leading　us　in　a　different　direction　entirely。　I　understood　the　tactical　reasoning　behind　the　plan：　The　nearest　station　would　naturally　be　where　the　Patth　would　concentrate　any　observers　they　might　be　able　to　pull　together。　But　at　the　same　time；　I　found　myself　privately　grousing　at　having　to　put　up　with　more　of　this　than　I　absolutely　had　to。
　But　we　made　it　through　the　crowds；　and　my　head　didn't　fall　off　along　the　way；　and　finally　I　saw　the　undulating　sign　of　a　tram　station　ahead　of　us。　〃Wait　here；〃　Ixil　said；　steering　the　three　of　us　into　the　mouth　of　another　alleyway。　〃I'll　go　check　for　unwele　pany。〃
　〃Right；〃　I　said；　helping　him　ease　Everett　to　the　ground。　〃The　k'Tra　might　have　monitor　cameras　in　there；　too。〃
　〃I'll　take　care　of　them；〃　he　promised。　Two　steps　later；　he　was　lost　to　sight　among　the　teeming　multitudes。
　〃What　was　all　that　about　monitors？〃　Everett　asked；　rubbing　his　leg　at　the　edge　of　the　burn　pad。
　〃Monitor　cameras　can　be　used　by　people　other　than　those　who　set　them　up；〃　I　told　him。　〃It　could　be　the　Patth　aren't　bothering　to　look　for　us　out　here　because　they've　already　tapped　into　the　k'Tra　citywide　monitor　system。〃
　〃A　fact　Ixil　seemed　to　pick　up　on　right　away；〃　Nicabar　said。　He　was　leaning　against　the　opposite　wall　from　me；　regarding　me　with　a　thoughtful　expression。　〃Has　he　had　any　military　experience；　McKell？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃We　started　flying　the　Stormy　Banks　together　about　six　years　ago；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　can't　recall　him　ever　mentioning　military　service　in　any　of　that　time。〃
　〃Interesting；〃　Nicabar　said。　He　had　closed　his　eyes；　and　I　saw　now　that　what　I'd　taken　to　be　thoughtfulness　was　merely　a　deep　fatigue。　〃In　some　ways　he　thinks　like　a　military　man。〃
　〃Probably　my　influence；〃　I　said。　〃I　had　five　years　in　EarthGuard　back　in　my　twenties。〃
　〃Yes；　Tera　told　me　a　little　about　your　career；〃　Nicabar　said；　opening　his　eyes　briefly；　then　closing　them　again。　〃Anyway；　I　hope　you　realize　what　a　good　partner　you've　got　there。〃
　I　didn't　straighten　up；　or　inhale　sharply；　or　do　any　of　the　other　things　that　traditionally　acpany　a　moment　of　blinding　epiphany。　But　with　Nicabar's　words；　the　last　of　the　stubborn　pieces　finally　fell　into　place。　I　knew　now　who　had　murdered　Jones；　had　tried　to　murder　Ixil；　and　had　been　working　at　cross…purposes　to　us　ever　since　the　Icarus　lifted　off　Meima。
　And　perhaps　even　more　important；　I　knew　why。
　I　was　still　working　out　all　the　ramifications　when　Ixil　reappeared　in　the　alleyway。　〃All　clear；〃　he　said；　offering　Everett　a　hand。　〃I　can　see　the　lights　of　an　ining　tram　headed　our　direction。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said；　helping　him　get　Everett　to　his　feet。　〃You　three　get　going。　I'll　meet　you　back　at　the　ship。〃
　They　looked　at　me　as　if　I'd　just　sprouted　a　second　head。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Nicabar　demanded。
　〃I'm　talking　about　finishing　the　job　I　came　here　to　do；〃　I　said。　〃I　never　had　a　chance　to　get　Shawn's　borandis。　Speaking　of　which；　Nask　has　all　my　cash。〃
　〃I'll　go　get　the　borandis；〃　Ixil　volunteered。　〃You　head　back　with　the　others。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃They're　walking　wounded；　Ixil；〃　I　reminded　him。　〃You're　the　only　able…bodied　person　we've　got　this　side　of　the　ship。　They　need　you　to　help　them　get　back　safely。〃
　〃But　what　about　you？〃　Everett　objected。　〃It's　not　exactly　safe　for　you　to　wander　around　alone；　you　know。〃
　〃He's　right；〃　Nicabar　agreed。　〃Ixil；　you　help　Everett　back。　I'll　go　with　McKell。〃
　〃Ixil　might　need　your　help；　too；〃　I　said。　〃Everett　could　still　go　into　delayed　shock　and　have　to　be　carried。　For　that　matter；　Revs；　you　could　go　into　shock；　and　there's　no　way　in　hell　I　could　lug　you　back　by　myself。〃　I　craned　my　neck。　〃And　if　you　don't　get　moving；　you're　going　to　miss　this　tram。〃
　〃But…〃　Nicabar　began。
　〃Save　your　breath；〃　Ixil　advised；　settling　Everett's　arm　in　place　over　his　shoulder；　Pix　and　Pax　scrabbling　around　for　new　positions　out　of　the　way。　〃It's　no　use　arguing　with　him　when　he's　made　up　his　mind　this　way。〃
　〃And　what　if　the　Iykams　find　him？〃　Nicabar　growled。
　〃The　Iykams　are　dead　or　scattered；〃　I　said。　〃Personally；　I'm　more　worried　about　what'll　happen　if　the　Patth　stumble　onto　the　ship　and　none　of　you　are　there　to　defend　it。　Or　do　you　really　think　Tera　and　Chort　can　hold　off　a　concerted　attack　by　themselves？〃
　〃I　suppose　he's　right；〃　Everett　said　reluctantly。
　〃Of　course　I'm　right；〃　I　said。　〃Give　me　one　hour　after　you　get　to　the　ship　for　me　to　catch　up　with　you。　If　I'm　not　back；　Ixil；　you'd　better　try　lifting　off。　Head　for　Everett's　hiding　place；　and　I'll　try　to　catch　up　with　you。　And　let　me　have　some　money；　will　you？〃
　〃Here；〃　Ixil　said；　pulling　out　his　wallet　and　handing　it　to　me；　his　eyes　steady　on　my　face。　〃There　should　be　enough　there。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　I　said　as　I　took　it。　There　was　a　lot　he　wanted　to　say；　I　could　tell；　but　didn't　dare　do　so　in　front　of　the　others。　〃Now　get　going。〃
　Ixil　nodded。　〃Be　careful。〃
　〃Trust　me；〃　I　promised。
　They　headed　out；　varying　degrees　of　unhappiness　mirrored　in　their　faces　and　postures。　I　leafed　through　the　wallet…three　hundred　marks；　more　than　enough…making　sure　to　give　them　a　good　head　start。　Then；　diving　into　the　crowd；　I　followed　after　them。　Partly　it　was　simple　caution　on　my　part；　a　desire　to　be　in　backup　position　in　case　the　Iykams　hadn't　all　been　killed　or　scattered。　Mainly；　though；　I　wanted　to　make　sure　all　three　actually　got　on　that　tram　and　stayed　there。　What　I　was　about　to　do　next　I　couldn't　afford　to　let　even　a　hint　leak　out　about。
　And　so　I　stood　half…concealed　behind　a　group　of　Skanks　and　watched　as　they　got　aboard。　I　hung　around　until　the　tram　pulled　out；　then；　standing　on　tiptoe　to　study　the　flapping　display　flags；　I　headed　for　the　nearest　pharmacy。
　I　had　anticipated　having　no　trouble　picking　up　borandis　in　the　middle　of　the　Grand　Feast；　and　no　trouble　was　exactly　what　I　got。　Ten　minutes　after　entering；　I　was　out　on　the　street　again；　two　hundred　marks'　worth　of　borandis　safely　tucked　away　in　my　inner　pocket。　With　any　luck　that　would　be　far　more　than　we　would　actually　need；　but　it　would　look　suspicious　if　I'd　only　brought　enough　to　get　us　to　Everett's　Beyscrim　hideout。　I　made　my　way　back　to　the　station　and　hid　in　the　crowd　until　the　next　tram　arrived。
　Not　surprisingly；　the　tram　was　quite　uncrowded；　with　the　revels　in　full　swing　the　majority　of　the　traffic　was　headed　into　the　cities　and　not　vice　versa。　The　sparse　occupancy　meant　I　was　more　conspicuous　than　I　might　otherwise　have　been；　but　it　also　meant　I　got　a　seat　all　to　myself；　plus　a　few　minutes　of　badly　needed　rest。　All　in　all；　I　decided　it　was　a　fair　trade。
　The　ride　was　uneventful。　I　saw　no　Patth；　no　Iykams；　and　no　sign　that　I　was　being　either　watched　or　followed。　And　after　what　seemed　like　far　too　short　a　trip　the　doors　opened　onto　the　Bangrot　Spaceport　platform。
　It　was　going　to　be　another　long　hike　back　to　the　Icarus；　unless　opportunity　and　diminished　crowd　density　enabled　me　to　take　one　of　the　little　runaround　cars　instead。　But　whichever；　ride　or　walk；　it　was　going　to　be　postponed　a　little　while　longer。　Instead　of　turning　right　and　making　for　the　Icarus；　I　turned　left　and　headed　to　the　Starrm　building。
　The　receptionist　at　Uncle　Arthur's　left　me　on　hold　for　several　minutes；　which　was　a　bad　sign　all　by　itself。　It　meant　they　were　having　to　wake　him　up；　and　Uncle　Arthur　roused　from　his　beauty　sleep　was　never　even　remotely　at　his　best。　Add　to　that　the　news　I　was　about　to　give　him；　and　this　was　likely　to　be　one　of　our　less　pleasant　conversations。
　My　first　look　at　him；　when　the　display　finally　cleared；　was　the　first　indication　that　my　assessment　of　the　situation　had　been　ominously　off　target。　Uncle　Arthur　was　not　garbed　in　sleep　shirt　and　hastily　thrown…on　robe；　his　hair　tousled　into　a　multidirectional　halo。　He　was　instead　immaculately　groomed；　every　hair　in　place；　and　dressed　in　the　sort　of　upscale　finery　I　hadn't　seen　him　wear　in　years。
　Which　meant　that　instead　of　hauling　him　out　of　bed；　I'd　instead　interrupted　a　meeting　with　those　higher　up　in　the　food　chain　than　he　was；　out　in　those　murky　waters　he'd　spent　so　much　of　his　life　swimming　in。　I　tried　to　decide　whether　that　was　better　or　worse　than　waking　him　up；　but　my　throbbing　head　wasn't　up　to　the　task。
　And　then　I　took　my　first　look　at　his　face；　and　felt　an　icy　cold　begin　to　seep　into　my　heart。　It　was　a　graveyard　face；　the　look　of　a　man　who's　been　backed　into　a　corner　by　his　enemies　with　nowhere　else　to　go　and　no　more　tricks　left　to　use。　The　look　of　a　chess　master　down　to　his　king　and　one　pawn；　with　the　painful　knowledge　that　that　pawn　is　about　to　be　sacrificed。
　〃Jordan；〃　he　said；　his　voice　studiously　neutral。　〃We　were　just　talking　about　you。　What's　the　situation？〃
　〃Mine's　not　so　hot；〃　I　said。　〃How's　yours？〃
　〃Not　very　good；　I'm　afraid；〃　he　conceded。　〃Where　are　you　now？〃
　〃In　the　middle　of　the　Grand　Feast　celebration　on　Palmary；〃　I　told　him。　〃And　hoping　to　get　the　hell　out　as　fast　as　we　can。〃
　〃I　take　it　you　had　some　trouble？〃
　〃You　might　say　that；〃　I　agreed　tartly。　〃T