tz.cobra strike-第24部分

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　〃And　he　is　a　Cobra；〃　Nnamdi　put　in。
　〃A　Cobra。〃　Telek　almost　spat　the　word。　〃And　so　he's　invulnerable　to　accidents　and　snake　bites？〃　She　dropped　her　eyes　to　the　city　display。
　For　a　moment　there　was　silence。　〃We　have　survival　packs　already　made　up；〃　Pyre　said　quietly。　〃One　would　suffice　for　a　week；　I　can　take　two。　There　are　laser　m　setups　I　could　use　to　keep　in　touch　from　the　woods　without　the　Qasamans　catching　on。　I've　seen　biological　field　analyzers　being　used；　I'm　sure　I　can　set　one　up　for　you　or　even　run　it　a　little　myself　if　necessary。　And　I　could　take　a　couple　of　small　freeze　boxes　if　you　wanted　a　whole　tarbine　to　study　later。〃
　She　shook　her　head；　eyes　still　on　the　screen。　〃You're　Cobra　team　leader。　Do　what　you　like。〃
　Which　was　not　exactly　enthusiastic　support；　but　Pyre　would　have　to　take　what　he　could　get。　The　bololins　were　barely　minutes　away。　〃Michael；　Dorjay…　two　survival　packs　and　laser　m　to　the　port　cargo　hatch；　stat；〃　he　said　into　the　inter。　The　two　Cobras　acknowledged　and　Pyre　left　the　lounge　at　a　fast　jog；　heading　for　his　stateroom　for　a　quick　change　into　more　suitable　clothing。　There　was　a　boxed　bio　field　analyzer　down　in　the　cargo　hold；　he　could　grab　it　on　his　way　out。　The　hatch　itself；　facing　away　from　the　city；　should　let　him　out　into　the　ship's　shadow　unseen。　At　that　point　he　would　just　have　to　hope　the　botolins　were　indeed　running　deliberately　along　magnetic　field　lines　。。。　and　that　the　runways　were　as　dusty　as　they　looked。
　He　was　in　the　cargo　hold　three　minutes　later。　A　minute　after　that；　laden　like　a　pack　cart；　he　was　crouching　outside；　hugging　the　Dewdrop's　hull　as　he　moved　toward　the　bow。　The　rumble　of　the　bololins　was　audible　without　his　enhancers　now；　and　a　quick　glance　under　the　Dewdrop's　nose　showed　they　were　indeed　on　the　projected　path；　one　that　would　take　the　herd's　flank　within　fifty　meters　of　the　ship。　Behind　the　first　few　ranks　the　dust　was　already　beginning　to　obscure　the　city　beyond；　and　it　was　getting　thicker。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Pyre　gave　the　edge　of　the　forest　a　quick　scan　and　got　ready　to　run。
　The　leading　edge　of　the　herd　thundered　by。　Pyre　let　the　next　few　ranks　pass　as　well；　and　then　he　was　off；　running　bent　over　to　present　as　low　a　profile　as　possible。　Equipment　banging　against　back　and　thighs　with　each　step；　he　traced　a　curved　path　that　ended　with　him　pacing　the　snuffling　herd　barely　a　meter　from　its　flank。
　It　was　instantly　obvious　the　nearest　bololins　didn't　care　for　his　presence。　One　or　two　veered　at　him　as　they　ran；　horns　hooking　toward　his　side；　but　even　without　his　programmed　reflexes　he　was　more　ma…neuverable　than　the　massive　beasts　and　evaded　them　without　trouble。　More　troublesome…and　unexpected…　were　the　two…meter…long　whiplash　tails　no　one　had　noticed。　If　the　first　such　blow　hadn't　landed　across　his　backpack　it　would　undoubtedly　have　left　a　painful　welt　or　even　torn　muscle。　As　it　was；　his　nano…puter　had　to　take　over　servo　control　briefly　to　restore　his　balance。
　But　it　was　only　a　few　more　seconds　to　the　edge　of　the　forest；　and　as　the　herd　passed　the　first　few　trees　Pyre　parted　pany　with　them；　angling　off　to　the　side　and　ing　to　a　stop　only　when　a　glance　behind　showed　nothing　but　greenery。
　For　a　long　moment　he　just　stood　there；　turning　slowly　around　as　his　auditory　and　optical　enhancers　probed　as　much　of　the　surroundings　as　possible。　Gradually　the　sound　of　the　bololins　faded　into　the　distance；　to　be　replaced　by　the　chirps；　clicks；　and　whistles　of　birds；　insects；　and　God　alone　knew　what　else。　Small　animals　moved　in　trees　and　undergrowth；　and　once　he　thought　he　heard　something　much　heavier　on　the　prowl。
　It　was　just　barely　possible　that　this　hadn't　been　the　smartest　idea　he'd　ever　had。
　But　there　was　nothing　for　it　now　but　to　go　ahead　and　do　the　job　he'd　promised　Telek　he　would。　Setting　his　equipment　at　the　base　of　a　tree；　he　made　sure　his　auditory　enhancers　were　on　full　and　got　to　work。
　
　
　Chapter　11
　
　〃If　ever　there　was　a　world　designed　for　colonization；〃　Captain　Shepherd　said　with　satisfaction；　〃this　is　definitely　it。〃
　Gazing　around　the　gray…brown　landscape；　Jonny　had　to　agree。　Whatever　the　mechanism　that　had　scoured　this　region　of　space　down　to　nucleic　acids；　it　was　clear　Kubha　had　suffered　more　than　most。　Nothing　but　the　most　primitive　life　existed　here：　one…celled　plants　and　animals；　and　perhaps　a　few　hundred　species　of　only　slightly　more　plex　organisms。　A　virtual　blank　slate；　ready　to　accept　whatever　ecological　pattern　any　future　colony　chose　to　set　up　on　it。
　Any　pattern；　that　is；　that　could　stand　the　heat。
　A　young　biologist　trudged　up　the　knoll　where　Jonny　and　Shepherd　were　standing；　a　full　rack　of　sample　tubes　held　carefully　to　his　chest。　〃Captain；　Governor；〃　he　nodded；　blowing　a　drop　of　sweat　from　the　tip　of　his　nose。　〃Thought　you　might　be　interested　in　seeing　the　preliminary　patibility　test　results　before　I　file　them。〃
　Jonny　hid　a　smile　as　he　and　Shepherd　stooped　to　peer　into　the　tubes　at　the　various　mixes　of　native　and　Aventinian　cells。　At　Chata；　at　Fuson；　and　now　at　Kubha；　the　scientists　had　never　ceased　their　efforts　to　persuade　Shepherd　to　grant　them　more　time　for
　　　sample　taking　and　general　study；　and　getting　him　interested　in　the　results　was　just　one　of　the　more　subtle　approaches。　It　wouldn't　work；　of　course；　the　Council　had　made　it　very　clear　that　this　was　to　be　a　whirlwind　tour；　and　Shepherd　took　his　orders　very　seriously。
　〃Interesting；〃　the　captain　nodded；　straightening　up　from　his　brief　examination。　〃Better　get　them　to　the　freeze　chamber；　though；　if　you　want　time　to　gather　any　more。　We're　lifting　in　about　two　hours。〃
　A　hint　of　chagrin　crossed　the　biologist's　face　before　it　could　be　suppressed。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　headed　toward　the　Menssana。
　〃You're　a　cold…blooded　taskmaster　without　a　drop　of　scientific　curiosity；　did　you　know　that？〃　Jonny　asked　blandly。
　Shepherd's　lip　quirked。　〃So　I've　been　told。　But　the　Council　said　a　fast　prelim　study；　and　that's　exactly　what　they're　going　to　get。　Besides；　I　want　to　be　back　when　the　Dewdrop　arrives；　just　in　case…〃
　〃Hi；　Chrys；〃　Jonny　interrupted；　turning　as　his　wife　came　up　to　join　them。　His　enhanced　hearing　had　picked　up　the　sound　of　her　footsteps；　and　the　last　thing　he　wanted　to　remind　her　of　was　the　Dewdrop　sitting　on　alien　soil　with　two　of　her　sons　aboard。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　added；　waving　a　hand　at　the　landscape。
　〃Too　empty　for　my　tastes；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃Seems　spooky；　somehow。　And　I'm　not　crazy　about　pan…frying　my　brain　out　here。〃　She　gave　Jonny　a　careful　look。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃
　〃Fine；〃　he　told　her；　and　meant　it。　〃The　heat's　not　only　helping　my　arthritis；　but　also　seems　to　be　pushing　my　heart　rate　and　circulation　up　enough　to　pensate　a　bit　for　my　anemia。〃
　〃Which　means　you're　going　to　trade　anemia　for　a　heart　attack？〃　Shepherd　grunted。　〃Great。　Maybe　you'd　better　get　back　inside　until　we're　ready　to　lift；　Governor。〃
　〃My　heart's　in　no　danger；〃　Jonny　protested。　〃It'll　probably　live　two　years　longer　than　I　do。〃
　〃Sure　it　will。〃　Shepherd　hooked　a　thumb　in　the　Menssana's　direction。　〃Go　on；　Governor。　Call　it　an
　order。〃
　For　a　moment　Jonny　was　tempted　to　unilaterally　take　himself　out　of　the　chain　of　mand。　He　found　it　refreshing　to　be　out　in　the　open　air…especially　where　there　was　no　danger　of　anything　sticking　teeth；　claws；　mandibles；　or　stings　into　him…and　very　much　wanted　to　enjoy　the　last　hours　he'd　have　here。　But　there　was　that　promise　to　Chrys。。。。　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　he　grumbled。　〃But　under　protest。〃
　Together；　he　and　Chrys　trotted　down　the　knoll。　〃The　Council　sure　named　this　one　right；〃　Chrys　remarked　as　they　reached　level　ground　and　slowed　to　a　more　sedate　walk。　〃Named　what　right？　Kubha？〃
　〃Uh…huh。　You　know…the　five　stars　of　the　Southern　Cross　constellation　of　Asgard…〃
　〃I　know　how　the　planets　were　code…named；　yes；〃　Jonny　interrupted　her。
　〃Well；　it　happens　that　Kubha's　the　hottest　of　those　stars；　and　this　Kubha's　the　hottest　of　these　planets；　at　least　so　far。　Must　be　an　omen。〃
　Jonny　snorted。　〃Let's　not　give　either　the　Council　or　the　universe　that　much　credit。〃
　Chrys　smiled。　〃Hey；　cheer　up；〃　she　said；　taking　his　arm；　〃Everything's　really　going　pretty　well。　The　Jonny　Moreau　luck　seems　to　hold　up　ev