tz.theicarushunt-第83节
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ned to the ship； the Patth could interrogate us until June without learning anything that would do them any good。〃
〃Nice guys；〃 Shawn muttered； shying back as one of the thugs sent him a warning look。
〃You know； Jordan； I do believe I've been guilty of underestimating you；〃 Brother John said as one of the searchers found Nicabar's Kochran…Uzi and tucked it away。 〃No； no； don't sit；〃 he added as they started to push the two of us back into our seats。 〃You and your alien partner are ing with me。 You realize you never told me he was an alien？〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 I said。 〃Which was why Everett was able to mistake Jones for my partner in the first place。 You hadn't told him Ixil was an alien because at the time you didn't know it yourself。〃
〃I hate aliens；〃 Brother John said conversationally。 〃Almost as much as I hate alien…lovers。 Everett； you might as well e with us； too。 The rest of you will stay here while we decide what to do with you。〃
〃You might want the girl； too； Mr。 Ryland；〃 Everett said； gesturing toward Tera as he got to his feet。 〃McKell says she's Arno Cameron's daughter。〃
〃Really；〃 Brother John said； and for the first time since he'd e in I saw a flicker of genuine surprise cross his face。 〃By all means； bring her along。 After all； McKell might need extra persuasion。〃
〃Persuasion？〃 Nicabar asked as the nearest thug hauled Tera back to her feet。
〃Yes；〃 Brother John said； his voice suddenly dark。 〃It seems our too…too…clever alien…lover did something to the Icarus's control systems。 Our people can't get anything to work。〃
〃I didn't want you leaving without having a chance for this little chat；〃 I said mildly； looking over at Everett。 〃Everett； tell the truth。 You put up a good show here； but you really did kill Jones； didn't you？〃
He snorted。 〃So for all that bluster you really didn't know for sure； huh？〃 he sneered。 〃Of course I killed him。 What； you think Chort did it？〃
〃Just wanted to make sure；〃 I murmured。
〃Glad we could clear that up；〃 Brother John said。 〃Dar； Kinrick； you stay here。 The rest of you； e with me。〃
The walk back to the Icarus seemed a lot longer this time。 Brother John took the lead； with Everett and one of his men at his sides。 Behind them； Ixil； Tera； and I were herded along by the other three； who made sure to keep us a respectful five paces behind the others in case one of us suddenly felt the urge to mit suicide by trying to jump them。
It was darker outside now。 Darker and colder； and the light breeze that had been rustling the leaves earlier had picked up into something stiff and unpleasant。 Which were； not coincidentally； words that also described Tera as she stalked along in bitter silence beside me； undoubtedly heaping full blame for the situation squarely on my head。 To be fair； it was hardly a point of view I could disagree with。
But at the moment I didn't really care about the cold or the footing or Tera's anger or even the gun digging into my left kidney。 My entire attention was on the dice I could visualize rolling across a mental table in front of my eyes。 The dice had been thrown； the gamble had been made； and in a handful of minutes I would find out whether I'd won or lost。
There was a shadowy figure waiting in the open hatchway as we reached the Icarus and started up the ladder。 Brother John went first； followed by his bodyguard and Everett； then Tera； another guard； and Ixil。 The other two guards saved me for last； then sandwiched me between them as the three of us went up the ladder。 Either Brother John considered me the most dangerous of the group； or else the fact that I had been the one to gimmick the ship entitled me to special handling。
Brother John had gone on ahead； but Tera and Ixil were still waiting as I reached the wraparound； together with their guards； the shadowy figure I'd seen waiting up there； and two more of his buddies。 I'd thought the bodyguards Brother John had brought to the lodge were big； ugly； and well armed； but this latter group beat them hands down on all three counts。 Silently； they gestured with their guns； just as silently； we walked along the wraparound to the main sphere。
The hatch to the sphere was closed。 The leading thug opened it and stepped through； bobbling his balance somewhat as he passed through the gravity change。 Tera and Ixil went next； negotiating the discontinuity with the grace of long practice。 Holding my breath； I followed。
The sphere looked more or less the way I'd left it earlier that evening； except that the inner lights were blazing cheerfully away and that there were another eight strangers glowering at us。 Four of them； stamped from the same mold as our current escort； were standing in a loose group near the bottom of the sphere； three others； working diligently at my helm and nav setup up the forward side of the hull； were apparently the pilot and engine specialists who were supposed to have had the Icarus well on its way by now。
But it was the eighth man who caught my full attention； the man waiting at the exact bottom of the sphere as if not trusting the alien gravity that pinned his tech people to the deck halfway up the side。 He was a small man； at least pared to the four bodyguards grouped around him； well past middle age despite the signs of extensive rejuvenation therapy； wearing a dark and expensive suit and some muted and even more expensive jewelry。 His face was old； his expression was impassive； and his eyes were as dead as a thousand…year…old corpse。 He was a man I had never met； but I knew instantly who he was。
The rolling dice had e to a halt。 And I'd won。
〃You must be McKell；〃 the man said as Brother John led us down the hull toward him； his voice as dead as his eyes。
〃Yes；〃 I acknowledged。 〃And you must be Mr。 Antoniewicz。 I'm very pleased to finally meet you。〃
〃Are you；〃 he said。 Some people； or so the saying goes； can undress you with their eyes。 Antoniewicz's look was more like stripping me straight down to the bone。 〃Interesting。 Most of those who are brought to meet me are not at all looking forward to the experience。 Many of them find themselves screaming； in fact； and don't seem able to stop。〃
I swallowed despite myself； all the stories and rumors of what happened to people brought before Antoniewicz flashing through my mind。 〃I understand that； sir；〃 I said humbly。 〃But if I may be so bold； I suspect none of those others were bringing the sort of gift I have to offer you。〃
The corners of his lips might have turned up； but it would have taken a micrometer to measure it。 The smile； if that's what it was； made his eyes look even deader。 〃Really。 I was under the impression that the Icarus was now mine by simple right of possession。〃
〃I agree；〃 I said； passing over the fact that if I hadn't cooperatively flown the ship into his waiting arms it wouldn't have been in his possession。 Considering the size and number of his bodyguards； ments like that were quite easy for me to stifle。 〃I was actually speaking of something else entirely。 Or； rather； someone else entirely。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 Everett growled； taking a step toward me。 〃You take credit for her and I'll cave your face in。〃
〃Ryland？〃 Antoniewicz invited； gesturing at Tera。
〃Everett claims she's the daughter of Arno Cameron；〃 Brother John said。 I could still hear the phony good humor in his voice； but it was curiously subdued。 Most everything good； I suspected； humor included； would darken or wilt in Antoniewicz's presence。 〃Cameron's the man who…〃
〃I know who he is；〃 Antoniewicz said。 〃Tell me why Everett thinks he deserves credit for her。〃
〃I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone that I'm not anyone's carnival prize；〃 Tera cut in； glaring at each of us in turn but saving her most withering look for me。 I couldn't really blame her on that count； either； if I hadn't revealed her identity during my brilliant summing up of the case a few minutes ago； she'd be just one more anonymous prisoner back in the lodge。
I cleared my throat。 〃If I might explain…〃
〃Quiet；〃 Antoniewicz said。 He hadn't raised his voice； or changed his inflection； or even looked at me…the full force of his gaze was on Tera at the moment。 And yet； my mouth clamped shut； almost of its own accord； my attempted mediation cut short as if guillotined。 The sheer presence of the man； the power and evil lurking veiled beneath the surface； were almost physical qualities like his voice or face or expensive suit。 For the first time； I truly understood how it was he'd been able to create such a huge and wide…ranging criminal empire。
Tera wasn't nearly as easily impressed as I was。 〃I don't know who exactly you are；〃 she continued on into the silence； 〃but whatever it is you think I'm worth to you； you're sadly mistaken。〃
〃No； I don't think so；〃 Antoniewicz disagreed mildly。 〃Of all those who worked closely on this ship； only your father remains at large。 You're the lever that will pry him out of hiding。〃
〃If you think that； you're more of a fool than I thought；〃 Tera scoffed； clearly not caring whether she offended him or not。 Across our little circle I saw both Everett and Brother John wince； with Pix and Pax giving a little twitch as well。 One simply didn't talk that way to Mr。 Antoniewicz。 〃My fat
