tz.theicarushunt-第26部分

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　But　at　the　moment　I　couldn't　be　bothered　about　such　vague　and　uncertain　futures。　Right　now　my　sole　concern　was　whether　or　not　I　could　survive　the　next　ten　seconds。
　I　needn't　have　worried。　Thompson　might　be　more　than　a　flunky；　and　the　Lumpies　were　professional　enough　in　their　own　right；　but　it　apparently　never　occurred　to　any　of　them　that　their　quarry　might　pull　something　this　insane。　They　hurried　incautiously　forward；　the　Lumpies　pulling　a　pace　or　two　ahead　of　Thompson；　and　then；　as　they　got　within　three　steps　of　me；　I　snapped　my　head　left　as　if　I'd　suddenly　seen　something　and　jabbed　a　finger　toward　a　gap　between　two　of　the　maintenance　buildings。　〃Watch　out！〃　I　barked。
　The　Lumpies　were　professionals；　all　right。　Braking　to　an　instant　halt；　they　jumped　backward　in　unison；　putting　themselves　between　Thompson　and　the　unknown　danger。　I　jumped　back；　too；　landing　upright　beside　Thompson；　and　as　the　Lumpies　yanked　their　guns　out　of　their　back　holsters；　I　slid　around　behind　Thompson；　got　an　arm　around　his　neck；　and　pressed　my　plasmic　into　his　right　ear。　〃Don't　turn　around；〃　I　said　conversationally。　〃But　do　set　your　weapons　on　the　ground。〃
　Again　in　unison；　and　flagrantly　ignoring　my　orders；　they　started　to　swivel　around。　I　shifted　my　aim　and　sent　a　plasma　blast　directly　between　them　to　spatter　off　the　ground　ahead。　〃I　said　not　to　turn　around；〃　I　reminded　them；　returning　my　plasmic　to　its　previous　resting　place　against　Thompson's　sideburn。　He　flinched　away　from　the　residual　muzzle　heat；　but　I　pressed　it　hard　against　the　skin。　It　wouldn't　damage　him；　and　I'd　always　found　that　a　little　mild　pain　did　wonders　for　cooperation。　Especially　with　people　who　weren't　used　to　it。
　Thompson　was　apparently　very　unused　to　pain。　〃Don't　move；〃　he　seconded　hastily；　his　voice　breaking　slightly　at　the　top。　〃Do　what　he　says…he　means　it。〃
　〃I　do　indeed；〃　I　agreed。　〃Anyway；　heroics　would　be　wasted。　I'm　not　going　to　hurt　anyone　unless　I　have　to…don't　forget　I　could　have　shot　both　of　you　in　the　back　just　now。　So　be　smart　and　put　your　guns　on　the　ground　in　front　of　you…slowly；　of　course…and　then　take　two　steps　past　them。〃
　They　obeyed　quickly　and　without　argument；　raising　my　estimation　of　Thompson's　status　another　couple　of　notches。　He　might　look　like　an　accountant　with　no　stomach　for　even　potential　conflict；　but　when　he　talked；　even　in　a　squeaky　voice；　people　listened。
　More　importantly；　they　obeyed。　The　Lumpies　became　models　of　cooperation；　dutifully　stepping　past　their　weapons　and　lying　facedown　as　I　ordered　with　their　hands　visible。　I　retrieved　their　guns…between　them　and　Fulbright　and　the　first　set　of　Lumpies；　I　was　starting　to　make　a　nice　little　weapons　collection　here…and　had　Thompson　relieve　them　of　the　restraints　I　knew　they　would　have　brought　with　them。
　He　came　up　with　two　sets；　which　seemed　to　be　one　set　too　many　unless　they　either　had　planned　to　stiff　Fulbright　or　else　intended　to　shackle　me　hand　and　foot　and　carry　me　away　draped　over　someone's　shoulder　like　a　bag　of　cement。　But　whatever　the　reason；　it　was　certainly　a　convenient　number　for　my　purposes。　A　minute　later　I　had　the　Lumpies　cuffed　together　through　one　of　the　slots　in　the　bottom　pallet　with　Thompson　cuffed　on　the　other　side　of　the　stack。　With　the　weight　of　the　rest　of　the　stack　on　top；　and　the　utter　lack　of　leverage　any　of　them　had　to　work　with；　I　was　pretty　sure　they　would　stay　put　until　someone　happened　by；　which　from　the　evidence　would　probably　not　be　until　the　next　shift　change　at　the　maintenance　buildings。　Hopefully；　that　wouldn't　be　for　at　least　another　couple　of　hours。
　〃You　won't　get　away　with　this；〃　Thompson　warned　as　I　went　quickly　through　his　pockets。　〃Not　a　chance　in　the　universe。　If　you　release　me　now；　I　promise　nothing　will　happen　to　you　because　of　this　incident。〃
　〃Nothing　over　and　above　what　you　planned　to　do　to　me　anyway？〃　I　suggested。　〃Thanks；　but　I'll　take　my　chances。〃
　〃Your　chances　don't　exist；　McKell；〃　he　said　flatly。　〃And　we　don't　want　you；　anyway。　All　we　want　is　the　Icarus。　All　of　you　are　free　to　go。〃　He　cocked　his　head　to　the　side　as　he　looked　up　at　me；　a　gesture　that　somehow　made　him　look　even　more　like　an　accountant。　〃I'll　do　better；　in　fact。　I　can　promise　you　that　if　you'll　turn　the　Icarus　over　to　me；　you'll　profit　quite　handsomely　on　the　deal。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　this　will　do；〃　I　said；　withdrawing　a　neat　stack　of　hundred…mark　bills　from　one　of　his　inside　pockets。　〃I　know　it's　not　nice　to　steal；〃　I　added；　slipping　the　stack　into　my　pocket；　〃but　we're　likely　to　have　some　unexpected　expenses　along　the　way。　If　you'll　give　me　your　name　and　address；　I'll　make　sure　you're　properly　reimbursed。〃
　〃Fifty　thousand；　McKell；〃　he　said；　staring　unblinkingly　into　my　eyes。　〃Fifty　thousand　marks　to　take　me　to　the　Icarus　and　walk　away。〃
　I　gazed　down　at　him；　a　hard　lump　forming　in　my　throat。　What　in　hell's　name　were　we　carrying；　anyway？　〃I　appreciate　the　offer；〃　I　said；　checking　the　other　inside　pocket。　This　one　yielded　a　phone　and　a　slim　documents　folder。　〃But　I'm　already　under　contract。〃
　〃A　hundred　thousand；〃　he　said。　〃Five　hundred　thousand。　Name　your　price。〃
　I　patted　his　shoulder　and　stood　up。　〃You　might　be　surprised　sometime　to　find　out　what　money　can't　buy；〃　I　said；　tossing　his　phone　onto　the　stack　of　pallets　where　none　of　them　could　reach　it　and　pocketing　the　documents　folder。　〃See　you　around。〃
　〃You're　making　a　big　mistake；　McKell；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　quiet；　but　it　held　an　absolute　conviction　that　sent　a　chill　up　my　back。　〃You　have　no　idea　who　you're　dealing　with。〃
　〃Maybe　this　will　tell　me；〃　I　countered；　tapping　the　pocket　where　I'd　put　his　folder。
　I　passed　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　pallets；　where　Fulbright　was　still　lying　trussed　up　glaring　at　me。　〃Sorry　about　this；　James；〃　I　apologized。　〃I'll　make　it　up　to　you　next　time；　all　right？〃
　The　look　in　his　eyes　made　it　abundantly　clear　what　his　plans　were　for　the　next　time。　But　again；　that　was　a　future　too　distant　to　worry　about　right　now。
　I　hopped　on　the　southbound　slideway　and　headed　back　toward　the　spaceport　center；　keeping　an　eye　on　the　Lumpies　and　Thompson　as　long　as　they　were　in　sight。　The　minute　they　were　lost　to　view　I　got　off　the　slideway　and　headed　east　toward　the　Icarus's　landing　cradle；　walking　quickly　along　until　I　reached　a　properly　directed　slideway　and　getting　on　it。
　And　there；　with　finally　a　moment　of　breathing　space；　I　opened　Thompson's　folder　and　started　going　through　his　papers。　I　was　only　halfway　through　when　I　put　them　back　into　my　pocket　and　pulled　out　Fulbright's　phone。
　〃Yes？〃　Ixil's　melodic　voice　answered。
　〃It's　me；〃　I　said。　〃How's　the　fueling　going？〃
　〃Probably　no　more　than　a　quarter　finished；〃　he　said。　〃They　only　got　here　fifteen　minutes　ago。〃
　〃Tell　them　to　quit　and　seal　the　ship　back　up；〃　I　told　him。　〃And　get　the　bridge　and　drive　preflights　started。　We're　out　of　here　as　soon　as　I　get　back。〃
　There　was　just　the　briefest　pause。　〃What　did　Uncle　Arthur　say？〃
　〃I　never　got　to　talk　to　Uncle　Arthur；〃　I　told　him。　〃And　I'll　explain　as　much　as　I　can　when　I　get　there。　Just　get　us　ready　to　fly；　all　right？〃
　〃Got　it；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　be　ready　when　you　are。〃
　The　Icarus　was　buttoned　down；　with　no　fuelers　in　sight；　by　the　time　I　retracted　the　ramp　and　sealed　the　hatchway。　Tera　and　Everett　tried　to　collar　me　in　the　corridor；　demanding　to　know　what　the　rush　was；　I　ordered　them　back　to　their　stations　in　no　uncertain　terms　and　headed　to　the　bridge。
　Ixil　was　waiting　for　me　there。　〃All　set；〃　he　said；　standing　up　and　relinquishing　the　control　chair　to　me。　〃Nicabar　is　ready　with　the　drive；　the　fuelers　are　paid　off；　and　I've　got　lift　permission　from　the　tower。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said；　sliding　into　the　chair　and　sounding　the　lift　alert。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　We　were　off　the　ground；　nearly　out　of　Dorscind's　World's　atmosphere；　and　driving　for　the　blackness　of　space　when　he　finally　broke　the　silence。　〃Well？〃
　I　leaned　back　in　my　seat。　〃Someone　out　there　wants　to　get　hold　of　the　Icarus；〃　I　said。　〃They　want　it　very　badly。〃
　He　frowned。　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know　why；〃　I　said；　pulling　Thompson's　documents　out　of　my　pocket　and　handing　them　over。　〃But　I　do　know　who。〃
　He　leafed　through　the　papers；　and　stopped　at　the　same　place　I　had。　Staring　at　the　plain　I