tz.theicarushunt-第32部分
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whether I could slip into the room and get to it without incinerating myself。
Unfortunately； at that point came an even bigger question： What could I do with the thing if and when I got to it？ Shipboard fire extinguishers used a two…prong approach； the foam smothering the air away from the flames while simultaneously pulling out as much of the heat as possible。 But that acetylene fire had a lot of heat built up already； possibly more than a small extinguisher canister could handle； and given that the blaze had its own built…in oxygen supply； the question of smothering was even more problematic。
There was a breath of sudden movement beside me。 〃Got it；〃 Nicabar said； holding the half…meter…long orange canister ready in the doorway。 〃Straight in？〃
〃Straight in；〃 I told him。 He squeezed the handle； and a stream of yellowish fluid sprayed toward the writhing hoses； its loud hissing joining the crackle of the flames。 Joining； but not eliminating。 For a few seconds the blaze faltered as the droplets sucked heat away from it； but then seemed to gather its strength again in defiance。 The hoses twisted around in their unpredictable way； sending the tip skittering off the edge of Nicabar's spray； and with an almost…triumphant roar the fire blazed fully back to life。
But those few seconds were enough。 I jumped into the room and ducked to my right； grabbing at the bright orange object at the edge of my peripheral vision as I kept my main attention on the fire and Nicabar's attack on it。 The quick…releases holding the extinguisher to the bulkhead worked exactly as they were supposed to； though in the mood I was in I would have had the canister off the wall no matter how it was fastened there。 I continued to my right； twisting the canister around into position in my hands as I moved。 I got it lined up just as the hoses started to shift toward me； and squeezed the handle。
My spray joined Nicabar's； and the tanks and hoses all but vanished into a roiling cloud of mist。 But the fire itself was still clearly visible； diminished but a long way yet from being quenched。 And with the gas pressure driving its erratic movements pletely unaffected by the foam； it was still just as dangerous as it had been before。
There was only one chance； and I had to take it before the extinguishers ran dry and the flame roared back to full strength again。 Squeezing the handle hard； keeping my stream of foam aimed as best I could； I charged straight in toward our adversary。 Nicabar shouted something from the doorway； but I couldn't make out what he was saying over the noise。 The hoses finished their oscillation the other direction and started swinging back； and in about half a second the flame would get its chance to incinerate me on its way to doing the same to Ixil。
And at the last moment； with my best effort at the long jump since failing to make my college track team； I leaped over the flame and landed squarely on the end of the hoses； pinning them in place on the deck。
I heard Nicabar give an encouraging whoop； and suddenly the billowing mist from his extinguisher was flowing coldly around my legs； a sharp contrast to the backwash of heat that already seemed to be trying to cook my feet inside my boots。 But for that final two seconds I didn't care about either the fire or Nicabar's efforts to put it out。 Dropping my own canister onto the deck； I grabbed the valve handle on the acetylene tank and twisted for all I was worth。
And with one final indignant gasping wheeze from the hoses； the fire went out。
CHAPTER 8
〃ALL I CAN say is that you were very lucky；〃 Everett said； shaking his head as he finished sealing the last burn pad around Ixil's leg and picked up the medical scanner again。 〃Very lucky indeed。 I know my hearing's not up to picking up sounds that subtle； especially through two doors。 If I'd still been on the bridge instead of McKell； I'd be pulling a blanket over your face about now。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 Ixil said； his voice and manner the subdued humility of someone who knows he's done something stupid that has put himself in danger and made trouble for everyone else。 Glancing over at the med…room doorway； where Nicabar； Tera； and Chort were silently watching the procedure； I could see traces of sympathetic embarrassment in their faces； the normal reaction of polite people having to witness another person's private shame。
I didn't feel any such embarrassment myself。 But then； I knew full well that this humility bit was pletely out of character for Ixil； that it was all merely for show in the hopes of allaying any suspicions anyone might have about the sort of person he really was。
Vaguely； I wondered if one of the observers standing in the doorway was putting on a similar performance。
〃Next time I suggest checking all the equipment before you start it up；〃 Everett went on sternly； running the scanner slowly along Ixil's burned leg as he frowned at the readings。 Not surprisingly； Cameron's people had failed to include a Kalixiri module with their med puter； and I could almost guarantee the readings were like nothing Everett had ever seen before。 Fortunately； Ixil had another； uninjured leg to use for parison。
〃I'll second that；〃 I put in； throwing a glance at the other end of the room。 Still strapped to the examination table； Shawn's face…for that matter； his entire body…was practically dripping with impatience and a near…total contempt for Ixil and his injuries； a marked contrast to the solicitude everyone else was showing。 Still； aside from a single sour question about what the hell was going on as we'd hustled Ixil inside； he'd kept his mouth shut。 Maybe his borandis…withdrawal sarcasm was under better control than he'd implied； or maybe he was in the calm side of one of the mood swings he'd mentioned。 Or maybe he'd seen Ixil's expression and was possessed of a finer…tuned survival instinct than I'd thought。 〃The shape this whole ship is in；〃 I added diplomatically； turning back to Ixil； 〃it's a wonder more of the equipment hasn't fallen apart。〃
〃I know；〃 Ixil said again。 〃I heartily promise to be more careful next time。〃
〃We can all consider ourselves lucky the lesson wasn't learned more painfully；〃 Everett said； shifting the scanner from Ixil's leg to the impressively swelling bruise on his forehead where the torch head had slammed into him when it sheared apart； the impact throwing him back against the lockers and knocking him out cold。
He didn't remember that last part himself； of course； having been unconscious at the time。 But the ferrets hadn't been injured in the accident； and once I'd coaxed them out from behind the row of lockers where they'd gone to ground Ixil had been able to sample their memories and confirm the entire sequence of events。
〃At any rate； that's all I can do for now；〃 Everett concluded； putting the scanner aside and smoothing the burn pads one last time。 〃Except for a painkiller or sedative； of course。 Either would help you sleep。〃
〃Don't worry； I'll sleep just fine；〃 Ixil assured him。 〃There really isn't all that much pain。〃
Everett looked doubtful； but he nodded and headed for the sonic scrubber。 〃As you wish；〃 he said as he started cleaning his hands。 〃If you change your mind just let me know。 I'm sure there's something aboard that will work on a Kalix。〃
〃I'll keep that in mind；〃 Ixil promised； easing off the stool where Everett had been working on him and standing up。
Or more accurately； trying to stand up。 His leg wobbled beneath him； and he grabbed at the wall for balance。
As cues went； it was one of the more obvious ones I'd ever been tossed。 〃Hang on； I'll give you a hand；〃 I said quickly； stepping to his side as I juggled Pix and Pax around to free up one of my hands。 The furry little beasts were less than cooperative…they'd gone back to Ixil's shoulders long enough for him to get their version of the accident； but he was still in pain and they weren't at all interested in sharing in it。 But with a little creative shuffling I got them settled in on shoulder and forearm and was able to assist a limping Ixil out past the group at the doorway。 〃Excitement's over for the night；〃 I told them as we made our slow way down the corridor。 〃Tera； I'd app
