tz.theicarushunt-第88部分
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Tera questioned my choice of placement； pointing out that resting so close to the edge of an artificially built…up landing area was an invitation to disaster should the Icarus's weight cause the edge to collapse。 Everett was equally critical of my landing site； except that his argument was that I'd chosen the pad farthest from the lodge； thereby putting us an extra hundred meters from the forts we all hoped were waiting for us up there。 I pointed out to Tera that the idea was for the trees to provide us at least a little bit of visual cover from any aircraft that happened to pass overhead； to Everett； I rather ungraciously suggested that if after several days of rest the walk was still too much for him； he was wele to stay aboard while the rest of us checked the place out。 That was exactly what he did； though he phrased it more along the lines of standing guard over the ship than of anything so childish as a fit of sulking or pique。 I accepted his offer； pretended also to accept his rationale for it； and together the rest of us trooped on up through the cool afternoon air to the lodge。
I'd noted on the way in that the lodge was good…sized； but I hadn't realized just how extensive the place actually was。 Besides the main rectangular section running parallel to the landing area； there was also a full wing extending back from the middle toward the mountain itself； giving the building an overall T…shape。 How I'd missed that back wing I didn't know； except to assume that the rough…cut slate roofing had blended so well into the rocky slope beyond that I hadn't realized it was part of the lodge。 Beyscrim； I decided； must be a fantastically popular place at the height of the tourist season。
The size of the lodge also meant that the six of us…or seven； whenever Everett deigned to join us…would have the chance to get seriously lost from each other。 After the forced intimacy we'd created by ripping out the Icarus's decks and cabins； the thought of a little personal privacy was something the whole crew was definitely champing at the bit for。 I thought about keeping us all together at least long enough to check out the public areas of the lodge for signs of recent occupancy； but when I offered the suggestion Tera made it clear that she wasn't interested in anyone else's pany for a couple of hours at least。 Snagging the key for one of the guest rooms…old…fashioned permanent keys were apparently part of the rustic atmosphere of the place…she headed off to get some sleep on a real bed。 Shawn and Nicabar took her cue and picked out rooms of their own； while Chort headed instead to the kitchen area to see what sort of food might be available。 Giving up； I sent Ixil with him and then headed back outside onto the lodge's wide front portico。
It had been late afternoon when we'd landed； and from what the nav listing had said about Beyscrim's rotation period I had assumed we would have another two to three hours of daylight left。 But I had failed to take into account the effects of the mountain range to the west that rose dramatically behind the Icarus and its shading trees。 Already the sun was dipping behind the taller peaks； and I could see now that it would be dusk in probably half an hour。
Still； half an hour of sun and fresh air was better than nothing。 Snagging one of the sturdy lounge chairs lined up along the portico's back wall； I pulled it to the front edge and sat down。
Everett had evidently been thinking along the same lines I had； at least as far as the fresh air was concerned。 From where I sat I could make out his figure in the wraparound just behind the open hatchway； gazing back in my direction。 I thought about waving to him； but concluded after a minute that the lack of any such gesture on his part probably meant he was still not feeling all that sociable； at least not toward me。 So I just settled more fortably into my chair； aware of Everett's presence but not acknowledging it any more than he was acknowledging mine。
We sat there； wrapped in our own little worlds； as the sun vanished and the western sky faded from sunlight into a multicolored glow into dusk。 Ixil came by once to tell me that Chort had located a cache of stored food and was busy preparing dinner for us all； then disappeared back inside to assist him。 I stayed where I was a few minutes more； watching the sky and mountains as the dusk darkened to full night and a scattering of brilliant stars appeared。 Everett； I presumed； was similarly watching the lodge and the mountains rising behind it。 Or possibly he was just watching me。
It had been full night for about twenty minutes when the dropping air temperature finally began to penetrate my jacket and I decided enough was enough。 Picking my way carefully downslope； with only the decorative lights of the portico to illuminate the path； I made my way back to the Icarus。
I found Everett stretched out on his cot in the main sphere； leafing through the ship's pharmaceutical listing； his injured leg propped up on one of the medical kits。 〃The wraparound get too boring for you？〃 I asked as I made my way toward him。
〃It got too chilly；〃 he said。 〃What's happening out there？〃
〃Absolutely nothing；〃 I said。 〃Oh； except that dinner is going to be ready soon。 Thought you might want to join us。〃
〃What are we having？〃 he asked。
〃No idea；〃 I admitted。 〃However； Chort's in charge of preparation； so I expect it'll at least be palatable。〃
〃Probably；〃 Everett said； wincing slightly as he shifted his leg。 〃Unfortunately； I don't know if I'm up to the walk。〃
〃Really；〃 I said； frowning； as I squatted down beside him。 〃I didn't realize it was bothering you that badly or I wouldn't have jumped on you earlier。 Sorry。〃
He waved the apology away。 〃Don't worry about it。 You were right…it should be mostly healed by now。 Maybe it's the cold and lower air pressure up here that's bothering it。〃
〃Then the lodge and a real bed are exactly what you need；〃 I said briskly； straightening up and reaching down to him。 〃e on…I'll give you a hand。〃
〃No； that's all right；〃 he said。 〃Let me just rest it a while longer； and I'll e up later。〃
〃You're going to join us for dinner； Everett；〃 I said firmly。 〃This is the first decent meal we'll have had since I don't know when； and you and your leg aren't going to miss out on it。〃
〃Look； I appreciate the thought。 But…〃
〃Besides； we have to have a serious talk about what we're going to do after we leave here；〃 I said。 〃And that's going to concern all of us。 So； bottom line： Either you let me help you up to the lodge； or I'm going to send Nicabar and Ixil to carry you。 Your choice。〃
〃You win；〃 he said； putting down the listing and smiling wryly。 〃They wound up mostly carrying me back to the Icarus on Palmary； and I'm not in any hurry to repeat the experience。〃
We made our way around the curve of the hull and into the wraparound。 Everett's leg didn't seem to be giving him all that much trouble that I could see； but I nevertheless kept a hand ready to assist if it should suddenly go weak on him。 I turned on the entryway floodlights for better lighting and preceded him down the ladder。 He reached the ground safely； and we headed toward the lodge。
A gentle breeze had started up since I'd entered the Icarus； stirring up the cold mountain air and making it feel that much colder； and Everett's leg reacted by stiffening up even more。 It took us over ten minutes to cross the four hundred meters to the lodge； and by the time we made it up the steps to the portico he had given his pride a vacation and was leaning heavily on my arm。 〃Sorry about this；〃 he puffed as I steered us to the main door。 〃I guess I should have let Ixil carry me after all。〃
〃Not a problem；〃 I assured him。 〃You'll be better once we get you out of all this cold night。。。 damn。〃
〃What？〃 he asked。
〃The lights；〃 I said； turning around to look behind us。 Sure enough； the Icarus was beautifully bathed in the backwash from the floodlights。 〃I wasn't even thinking。 Too used to always leaving them on in port； I guess。〃
〃You going to go back and turn them off？〃 Everett asked。
〃Unless we want to advertise our presence to anyone who happens to pass by；〃 I said； getting the door open and helping him l
