deathworld-第6部分

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By　the　time　we　get　to　our　seats；　the　ship　will　take　off。〃
　 〃That's　all　very　fine；〃　Jason　said。　〃But　what　will　the　guards　be　doing　all　this　time？〃
　 〃Shooting　at　us　and　each　other。　We　will　take　advantage　of　the　confusion　to　get　aboard。〃
　 This　answer　did　nothing　to　settle　Jason's　mind；　but　he　let　it　slide　for　the　moment。　〃All　right；　say　we　do　get　aboard。　Why　don't　they　just　prevent　takeoff　until　we　have　been　dragged　out　and　stood　against　a　wall？〃
　 Kerk　spared　him　a　contemptuous　glance　before　he　returned　his　eyes　to　the　road。　〃I　said　the　ship　was　the　Pride　of　Darkhan。　If　you　had　studied　this　system　at　all；　you　would　know　what　that　means。　Cassylia　and　Darkhan　are　sister　planets　and　rivals　in　every　way。　It　has　been　less　than　two　centuries　since　they　fought　an　intrasystem　war　that　almost　destroyed　both　of　them。　Now　they　exist　in　an　armed…to…the…teeth　neutrality　that　neither　dare　violate。　The　moment　we　set　foot　aboard　the　ship　we　are　on　Darkhan　territory。　There　is　no　extradition　agreement　between　the　planets。　Cassylia　may　want　us…but　not　badly　enough　to　start　another　war。〃
　 That　was　all　the　explanation　there　was　time　for。　Kerk　swung　the　car　out　of　the　rush　of　traffic　and　onto　a　bridge　marked　Official　Cars　Only。　Jason　had　a　feeling　of　nakedness　as　they　rolled　under　the　harsh　port　lights　toward　the　guarded　gate　ahead。
　 It　was　dosed。
　 Another　car　approached　the　gate　from　the　inside　and　Kerk　slowed　their　car　to　a　crawl。　One　of　the　guards　talked　to　the　driver　of　the　car　inside　the　port；　then　waved　to　the　gate　attendant。　The　barrier　gate　began　to　swing　inward　and　Kerk　jammed　down　on　the　accelerator。
　 Everything　happened　at　once。　The　turbine　howled；　the　spinning　tires　screeched　on　the　road　and　the　car　crashed　open　the　gate。　Jason　had　a　vanishing　glimpse　of　the　open…mouthed　guards；　then　they　were　skidding　around　the　corner　of　a　building。　A　few　shots　popped　after　them；　but　none　came　close。
　 Driving　with　one　hand；　Kerk　reached　under　the　dash　and　pulled　out　a　gun　that　was　the　twin　of　the　monster　strapped　to　his　arm。　〃Use　this　instead　of　your　own；〃　he　said。　〃Rocket…propelled　explosive　slugs。　Make　a　great　bang。　Don't　bother　shooting　at　anyone…I'll　take　care　of　that。　Just　stir　up　a　little　action　and　make　them　keep　their　distance。　Like　this。〃　~
　 He　fired　a　single；　snap　shot　out　the　side　window　and　passed　the　gun　to　Jason　almost　before　the　slug　hit。　An　empty　truck　blew　up　with　a　roar；　raining　pieces　on　the　cars　around　and　sending　their　drivers　fleeing　in　panic。
　 After　that　it　was　a　nightmare　ride　through　a　madhouse。　Kerk　drove　with　an　apparent　contempt　for　violent　death。　Other　cars　followed　them
　and　were　lost　in　wheel…raising　turns。　They　careened　almost　the　full　length　of　the　field；　leaving　a　trail　of　smoking　chaos。
　 Then　the　pursuit　was　all　behind　them　and　the　oply　thing　ahead　was　the　slim　spire　of　the　Pride　of　Darkhan。
　 The　Pride　was　surrounded　by　a　strong　wire　fence　as　suited　the　begrudged　status　of　her　planetary　origin。　The　gate　was　closed　and　guarded　by　soldiers　with　leveled　guns；　waiting　for　a　shot　at　the　approaching　car。　Kerk　made　no　attempt　to　e　near　them。　Instead　he　fed　the　last　reserves　of　power　to　the　car　and　headed　for　the　fence。　〃Cover　your　face；〃　he　shouted。
　 Jason　put　his　arms　in　front　of　his　head　just　as　they　hit。
　 Torn　metal　screamed；　the　fence　buckled；　wrapped　itself　around　the　car；　but　did　not　break。　Jason　flew　off　the　seat　and　into　the　padded　dash。　By　the　time　Kerk　had　the　warped　door　open；　he　realized　that　the　ride　was　over。　Kerk　must　have　seen　the　spin　of　his　eyeballs　because　he　didn't　talk；　just　pulled　Jason　out　and　threw　him　onto　the　hood　of　the　ruined　car。
　 〃Climb　over　the　buckled　wire　and　make　a　run　for　the　ship；〃　he　shouted。
　 If　there　was　any　doubt　what　he　meant；　he　set　Jason　an　example　of　fine　roadwork。　It　was　inconceivable　that　someone　of　his　bulk　could　run　so　fast；　yet　he　did。　He　moved　more　like　a　charging　tank　than　a　man。　Jason　shook　the　fog　from　his　head　and　worked　up　some　speed　himself。　Nevertheless；　he　was　barely　halfway　to　the　ship　when　Kerk　hit　the　gangway。　It　was　already　unhooked　from　the　ship；　but　the　shocked　attendants　stopped　rolling　it　away　as　the　big　man　bounded　up　the　steps。
　 At　the　top　he　turned　and　fired　at　the　soldiers　who　were　charging　in　through　the　open　gate。　They　dropped；　crawled；　and　returned　his　fire。　Very　few　shot　at　Jason's　running　fonn。
　 The　scene　in　front　of　Jason　cranked　over　in　slow　motion。　Kerk　standing　at　the　top　of　the　ramp；　coolly　returning　the　fire　that　splashed　all　about。　He　could　have　found　safety　in　an　instant　through　the　open　port　behind　him。　The　only　reason　he　stayed　there　was　to　cover　Jason。
　 〃Thanks；〃　Jason　managed　to　gasp　as　he　made　the　last　few　steps　up　the　gangway；　jumped　the　gap　and　collapsed　inside　the　ship。
　 〃You're　perfectly　wele；〃　Kerk　said　as　he　joined　him；　waving　his　gun　to　cool　it　off。
　 A　~grim…jawed　ship's　officer　stood　back　out　of　range　of　fire　from　the　ground　and　looked　them　both　up　and　down。　〃And　just　what　the　hell　is　going　on　here；〃　he　growled。
　 Kerk　tested　the　barrel　with　a　wet　thumb；　then　let　the　gun　slide　back　into　its　holster。　'We　are　law…abiding　citizens　of　a　different　system　who
　have　mitted　no　criminal　acts。　The　savages　of　Cassylia　are　too　barbarous　for　civilized　pany。　Therefore　we　are　going　to　Darkban…　here　are　our　tickets…in　whose　sovereign　territory　1　believe　we　are　at　this　moment〃　This　last　was　added　for　the　benefit　of　the　Cassylian　officer　who　had　just　stumbled　to　the　top　of　the　gangway　and　was　raising　his　gun。
　The　soldier　couldn't　be　blamed。　He　saw　these　badly　wanted　criminals　getting　away。　Aboard　a　Darkban　ship　as　well。　Anger　got　the　best　of　him　and　he　brought　his　gun　up。
　〃e　out　of　there；　you　scum！　You're　not　escaping　that　easily。　e　out　slow　with　your　hands　up　or　I'll　blast　you。。。〃
　It　was　a　frozen　moment　of　time　that　stretched　and　stretched　without　breaking。　The　pistol　covered　Kerk　and　Jason。　Neither　of　them　attempted　to　reach　for　their　own　guns。
　The　gun　twitched　a　bit　as　the　ship~s　officer　moved；　then　steadied　back　on　the　two　men。　The　Darkhan　spaceman　hadn't　gone　far；　just　a　pace　across　the　lock。　This　was　enough　to　bring　him　next　to　a　red　box　set　flush　with　the　wall。　With　a　single；　swift　gesture；　he　flipped　up　the　cover　and　poised　his　thumb　over　the　button　inside。　When　he　smiled；　his　11ps　peeled　back　to　show　all　of　his　teeth。　He　had　made　up　his　mind；　and　it　was　the　arrogance　of　the　Cassylian　officer　that　had　been　the　deciding　factor。
　〃Fire　a　single　shot　into　Darkhan　territory　and　I　press　this　button；〃　he　shouted。　〃And　you　know　what　this　button　does…every　one　of　your　ships　has　them　as　well。　mit　a　hostile　act　against　this　ship　and　someone　will　press　a　button。　Every　control　rod　will　be　blown　out　of　the　ship~s　pile　at　that　instant　and　half　your　filthy　city　will　go　up　in　the　explosion。〃　His　smile　was　chiseled　on　his　face　and　there　was　no　doubt　he　would　do　what　he　said。　〃Go　ahead；　fire。　I　think　I　would　enjoy　pressing　this。〃
　The　takeoff　siren　was　hooting　now；　the　close　lock　light　blinking　an　angry　message　from　the　bridge。　Like　four　actors　in　a　grim　drama；　they　faced　each　other　an　instant　more。
　Then　the　Cassylian　officer；　growling　with　unvoicable；　frustrated　anger；　turned　and　leaped　back　to　the　steps。
　〃All　passengers　board　ship。　Forty…five　seconds　to　takeoff。　Clear　the　port。〃。　The　ship's　officer　slammed　shut　the　cover　of　the　box　and　locked　it　as　he　talked。　There　was　barely　time　to　make　the　acceleration　couches　before　the　Pride　of　Darkkan　cleared　ground。
　5
　 Once　the　ship　was　in　orbit；　the　captain　sent　for　Jason　and　Kerk。　Kerk　took　the　floor　and　was　pletely　frank　about　the　previous　night's　activities。　The　only　fact　of　importance　he　left　out　was　Jason's　background　as　a　professional　gambler。　He　drew　a　beautiful　picture　of　two　lucky　strangers　whom　the　evil　forces　of　Cassylia　wanted　to　deprive　of　their　gambling　profits。　All　this　fitted　perfectly　the　captain's　preconceptions　of　Cassylia。　In　the　end；　he　congratulated　his　officer　on　the　correctness　of　his　actions　and　began　the　preparation　of　a　long　report　to　his　government　He　gave　the　two　men　his　best　wishes　as　well　as　the　liberty　of　the　ship。
　 It　was　a　short　trip。　Jason　barely　had　time　to　catch　up　on　his　sleep　before　th