tz.theicarushunt-第8节

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ever　seen　two　of　them　set　this　close　together　before。　Peering　up　along　the　side　of　the　hull；　squinting　in　the　glare　of　the　rising　sun；　I　could　see　what　looked　like　four　more　pairs　of　the　slots　rising　in　a　vertical　line　to　the　top　of　the　engine　section。
　I　mulled　at　it　for　a　moment；　but　I　couldn't　e　up　with　any　good　reason　to　have　a　group　of　latch　grooves　here。　Still；　considering　how　unorthodox　the　rest　of　the　Icarus's　design　was；　I　wasn't　inclined　to　waste　too　much　brainpower　on　the　question　right　now。　The　ship's　specs　should　be　in　the　puter；　once　we　were　off　the　ground；　I　could　look　them　up　and　see　what　they　were　for。
　On　impulse；　I　pulled　out　the　now　useless　guidance　tag　and　tore　it　in　half。　Loosely　wadding　up　the　pieces；　I　carefully　stuck　one　into　each　of　the　lower　two　latch　grooves；　making　sure　they　were　out　of　view。　The　thin　plastic　wouldn't　block　or　impede　any　connector　that　might　be　put　into　the　slot；　but　the　act　of　insertion　would　squash　the　plastic　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　groove；　leaving　proof　that　something　had　been　there。
　I　finished　the　rest　of　my　inspection　tour　without　finding　anything　else　of　particular　interest。　The　wraparound　tunnel/airlock　we'd　seen　on　the　port　side　had　no　match　on　the　starboard；　as　I'd　thought　it　might；　and　there　were　no　other　entrances　into　the　ship　that　I　could　see。　By　the　time　I　returned　to　the　stairway；　there　were　four　others　and　their　luggage　waiting　with　Jones：　two　men；　a　Craean　male；　and…surprisingly　enough；　at　least　to　me…a　young　woman。
　〃Ah…there　you　are；〃　Jones　called　as　I　came　around　the　curve　of　the　smaller　sphere　to　join　them。　〃Gentlefolk；　this　is　our　pilot　and　navigator；　Captain　Jordan　McKell。〃
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；〃　I　said；　giving　them　a　quick　once…over　as　I　joined　the　group。　〃I　sure　hope　one　of　you　knows　what's　going　on　here。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　what's　going　on？〃　one　of　the　newers　demanded　in　a　scratchy　voice。　He　was　in　his　early　twenties；　thin　to　the　point　of　being　scrawny；　with　pale　blond　hair　and　an　air　of　nervousness　that　hung　off　his　shoulders　like　a　rain　cloak。　〃You're　the　pilot；　aren't　you？　I　thought　you　pilots　always　knew　everything。〃
　〃Ah…you've　been　reading　our　propaganda　sheets；〃　I　said　approvingly。　〃Very　good。〃
　He　frowned。　〃Propaganda　sheets？〃
　〃A　joke；〃　I　said；　sorry　I'd　even　tried　it。　Apparently；　humor　wasn't　his　strong　point。　〃I　was　hired　off　the　street；　just　like　all　the　rest　of　you　were。〃
　I　sent　a　casual　glance　around　the　group　as　I　spoke；　watching　for　a　reaction。　But　if　any　of　them　had　had　a　different　sort　of　invitation　to　this　party；　he　was　keeping　it　to　himself。　〃I'm　sure　we'll　all　have　our　questions　answered　as　soon　as　our　employer　arrives；〃　I　added。
　〃If　he　shows　up；〃　the　other　man　murmured。　He　was　tall；　probably　around　thirty　years　old；　with　prematurely　gray　hair　and　quietly　probing　eyes。　His　musculature　was　somewhat　leaner　than　Jones's；　but　just　as　impressive　in　its　own　way。
　〃He'll　be　here；〃　I　said；　trying　to　put　more　confidence　into　my　tone　than　I　felt。　Having　a　murder　charge　hanging　over　Cameron's　head　was　going　to　severely　cramp　his　mobility。　〃While　we're　waiting；　how　about　you　starting　off　the　introductions？〃
　〃Sure；〃　the　gray…haired　man　said。　〃I'm　Almont　Nicabar…call　me　Revs。　Engine　certification；　though　I'm　cleared　to　handle　mechanics；　too。〃
　〃Really；〃　Jones　said；　sounding　interested。　〃Where'd　you　journeyman　on　your　mechanics　training？〃
　〃I　didn't　go　through　an　actual　program；〃　Nicabar　said。　〃Mostly　I　just　picked　it　up　while　I　was　in　the　service。〃
　〃No　kidding；〃　Jones　said。　Apparently　our　mechanic　was　the　terminally　sociable　type。　〃Which　branch？〃
　〃Look；　can't　we　save　the　social…club　chat　till　later？〃　the　nervous　kid　growled；　his　head　bobbing　restlessly　as　he　checked　out　every　spacer　that　came　into　sight　along　the　walkways。
　〃I'm　open　to　other　suggestions；〃　I　said　mildly。　〃Unfortunately；　as　long　as　the　entryway's　locked…〃
　〃So　why　don't　we　open　it？〃　he　cut　me　off　impatiently；　peering　up　at　the　wraparound。　〃A　cheeseball　hatch　like　that…I　could　pop　it　in　half　a　minute。〃
　〃Not　a　good　idea；〃　Jones　warned。　〃You　can　break　the　airlock　seal　that　way。〃
　〃And　that　would　leave　our　hull/EVA　specialist　with　nothing　to　do；〃　I　said；　turning　to　the　Craea。　〃And　you　are；　sir？〃
　〃I　am　Chort；〃　the　alien　said；　his　voice　carrying　the　typical　whistly　overtones　of　his　species；　a　vaguely　ethereal　sound　most　other　beings　either　found　fascinating　or　else　drove　them　pletely　up　a　wall。　〃How　did　you　know　I　was　the　spacewalker？〃
　〃You're　far　too　modest；〃　I　told　him；　bowing　respectfully。　〃The　reputation　of　the　Crooea　among　spacewalkers　far　precedes　you。　We　are　honored　to　have　you　with　us。〃
　Chort　returned　the　bow；　his　feathery　blue…green　scales　shimmering　where　they　caught　the　sunlight。　Like　most　of　his　species；　he　was　short　and　slender；　with　pure　white　eyes；　a　short　Mohawk…style　feathery　crest　topping　his　head；　and　a　toothed　bird's　bill　for　a　mouth。　His　age　was　impossible　to　read；　but　I　tentatively　put　it　somewhere　between　fifteen　and　eighty。　〃You're　far　too　generous；〃　he　replied。
　〃Not　at　all；〃　I　assured　him；　putting　all　the　sincere　flattery　into　my　voice　that　I　figured　I　could　get　away　with。　The　entire　Craean　species　loved　zero　gee；　whether　working　in　it　or　playing　in　it；　with　the　lithe　bodies　and　pact　musculature　that　were　perfect　for　climbing　around　outside　ships。　On　top　of　that；　they　seemed　to　have　a　sixth　sense　when　it　came　to　the　depressingly　regular　hull　problems　created　by　hyperspace　pressure；　plus　the　ability　to　evaluate　the　condition　of　a　plate　through　touch　alone。
　All　of　which　meant　they　were　highly　in　demand　for　hull/EVA　positions　aboard　starships；　to　the　point　where　ship　owners　frequently　tried　to　cajole；　bribe；　or　otherwise　steal　them　away　from　rivals　in　port。　I　wasn't　sure　how　Cameron　had　managed　to　get　him　to　sign　on　with　us；　but　a　little　ego…massage　here　and　there　wouldn't　hurt　our　chances　of　keeping　him　here。
　Unfortunately；　our　nervous　type　either　didn't　understand　such　subtleties　or　just　didn't　care。　〃Oh；　give　it　a　rest；〃　he　growled。　〃He　saw　your　luggage；　Chort…you　can　tell　there's　a　vac　suit　in　there。〃
　The　blue…green　scales　edged　with　the　pale　red　of　surprise。　〃Oh；〃　Chort　said。　〃Of　course。　There's　certainly　that；　too。〃
　〃Don't　mind　him；〃　I　told　the　Craea；　controlling　my　annoyance　with　a　supreme　effort。　〃He's　our　certified　diplomacy　expert。〃
　Jones　chuckled；　and　the　kid　scowled。　〃I　am　not；〃　he　insisted。　〃I'm　electronics。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　name？〃　Nicabar　asked。　〃Or　are　we　going　to　have　to　call　you　Twitchy　for　the　rest　of　the　trip？〃
　〃Har；　har；〃　he　said；　glowering　at　Nicabar。　〃I'm　Shawn。　Geoff　Shawn。〃
　〃Which　just　leaves　you；〃　I　said；　turning　to　the　woman。　She　was　slim；　with　black　hair　and　hazel　eyes；　probably　no　older　than　her　mid…twenties；　with　the　sort　of　lightly　tanned　skin　of　someone　who　played　a　lot　outdoors。　Like　Shawn；　she　seemed　more　interested　in　the　passing　pedestrian　traffic　than　she　was　in　our　little　get…acquainted　session。　〃Do　you　cover　both　the　puter　and　medical　specialties？〃
　〃Just　puters；〃　she　said　briefly；　her　eyes　flicking　to　me　once　in　quick　evaluation；　then　turning　away　again。　〃My　name's　Tera。〃
　〃Tera　what？〃　Jones　asked。
　〃Just　Tera；〃　she　repeated；　giving　him　a　coolly　evaluating　look。
　〃Yes；　but…〃
　〃Just　Tera；〃　I　cut　Jones　off；　warning　him　with　my　eyes　to　drop　it。　She　might　just　be　the　shy　type；　but　there　were　also　several　religious　sects　I　knew　of　who　made　it　a　policy　to　never　give　their　full　names　to　outsiders。　Either　way；　pressing　her　about　it　would　be　pointless　and　only　add　more　friction　to　a　crew　that；　by　the　looks　of　things；　was　already　rapidly　reaching　its　quota。
　〃Means　we're　missing　our　medic；〃　Nicabar　put　in；　smoothly　stepping　in　and　filling　the　conversational　awkwardness。　〃I　wonder　where　he　is。〃
　〃Maybe　he's　having　a　drink　with　Borodin；〃　Shawn　said　acidly。　〃Look；　this　is　stupid。　Are　you　sure　that　entryway's　sealed？〃
　〃You're　wele　to　try　it　yourself；〃　I　told　him；　waving　at　the　keypad　and　wishing　I　knew　what　our　next　move　should　be。　I　certainly　didn't　want　to　leave　Cameron　behind；　particularly　not　with　a　murder　charge　outstanding　against　him。　But　if　the　Ihmisits　had　already　picked　him　up；　there　wasn't　much　point　in　our　hanging　around；　either。　Maybe　I　should　give　Ixil　a　call　over　at　the　Stormy　Banks　and　have　him　do　a　quiet　search。
　From　above　me　came　the　ka…thunk　of　released　seals　and　the　hissing　of　hydraulics；　and　I　spun　around　to　see　the　entryway　door　swinging　ponderously　open。　〃What　did　you　do？〃　I　demanded；　looking　at　Shawn。
　〃What　do　you　mean；　what　did　I　do？〃　he　shot　back。　〃I　pushed　the　damn　OPEN　button；　that's　what　I　did。　It　was　unlocked　the　whole　time；　you　morons。〃
　〃Borodin　must　have　had　it　on　a　time　lock；〃　Jones　said；　frowning。　〃I　wonder　why。〃
　〃Maybe　he's　not　ing；〃　Tera　suggested。　〃Maybe　he　never　intended　to　in　the　first　place。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　not　going　anywhere　without　the　advance　he　promised；〃　Shawn　said　flatly。
　〃Besides　which；　we　don't　know　exactly　where　we're　supposed　to　go；〃　I　reminded　them；　stepping　past　him　and　peering　up　the　stairway。　It　canted　to　the　right　at　a　slight　angle；　one　more　example　of　slightly　shoddy　workmanship　to　add　to　my　growing　list。　I　could　see　a　glowing　ceiling　light　over　the　hatch　inside　the　wraparound；　but