15_death_dance-第14章

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ing　things　up；　not　giving　a　damn　what　goes　on　back　here！〃

Wolff　was　too　numb　to　respond。　Edwards；　he　thought；　was　like　some　kind　of　toxic　spill；　polluting　everything　he　touched。　Minmei　had　her　arms　folded　across　her　chest；　as　though　she　were　trying　to　hold　herself　together；　her　foot　was　tapping　the　floor。　Wolff　reached　for　his　drink　and　drained　the　glass。

〃Well；　I　guess　there's　nothing　more　to　say；　is　there？〃

Her　lips　were　a　thin　line；　trembling；　then　all　at　once　she　seemed　to　relax。　〃I　want　us　to　be　friends；　Jonathan。　I've　opened　a　kind　of　canteen　in　Tiresia；　and　I'd　love　you　to　see　it。　Will　you　promise　to　stop　by？〃

He　regarded　her　as　one　would　a　memory；　mulling　over　her　performance；　the　scene　the　two　of　them　had　just　played　out。　〃Sure；〃　he　told　her　absently；　〃I'll　stop　by。〃

〃There's　a　lot　you'll　be　able　to　do　here…all　sorts　of　things。　You'll　see。〃　Minmei　seemed　excited；　like　she　had　won　a　court　case　or　something。　She　smiled　at　him　from　the　doorway。　〃See　you　soon；　okay？〃

Wolff　forced　a　smile　and　raised　his　empty　glass　to　her。　〃To　friendship；〃　he　offered。

She　threw　him　a　wink　and　stepped　out。

Applause；　Wolff　said　to　himself。


While　Wolff　and　Minmei　were　having　their　heart…to…heart　and　Exedore　and　Sarna　were　off　somewhere　discussing　Haydon　IV's　curious　history；　Lang　took　his　AI　creation　to　his　office　and　dumped　Janice's　memory　into　one　of　the　lab's　databanks。　He　scanned　the　android's　recordings；　briefly　reviewing　the　events　of　the　Karbarran　and　Praxian　campaigns；　but　focusing　in　on　Janice's　monitorings　and　evaluations　of　the　Sentinels'　personnel。　There　was　data　about　Veidt　and　Sarna；　the　beings　from　Haydon　IV；　that　justified　further　analysis；　and　some　anomalies　concerning　the　Tiresian　Rem；　but　for　the　moment　Lang's　main　concerns　were　Burak　and　Tesla。　He　had　found　the　Invid's　bio…readings　baffling；　much　different　from　those　of　the　so…called　scientists；　and　superior　in　some　respects　to　the　Regent　himself！　Moreover；　the　data　provided　suggested　that　Tesla　was　after　nothing　less　than　the　Regent's　throne。　And　apparently　the　Perytonian；　Burak；　had　been　assisting　him　in　some　unspecified　way。　Lang　reminded　himself　to　alert　Wolff　to　these　matters。


Minmei　was　gone　by　the　time　Lang　and　the　others　returned　to　the　scientist's　quarters；　and　Wolff　seemed　sullen；　just　as　Lang　had　anticipated。　There　was　a　nearly　empty　brandy　bottle　on　the　low　table　in　front　of　the　couch。

〃I　want　to　talk　about　that　ship；　Lang；〃　the　colonel　said　without　preamble。　〃When　can　we　have　it？…steal　it；　I　mean。〃

〃The　sooner　the　better。〃

Wolff　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃What's　it　going　to　mean　to　the　summit？〃

Lang　let　out　his　breath　and　traded　looks　with　Exedore。　If　Wolff　didn't　want　to　mention　Minmei；　it　was　fine　with　him。

〃We've　already　discussed　possible　scenarios　with　Reinhardt　and　Forsythe。　It　could　set　things　back　some；　of　course；　but　as　long　as　we　can　make　the　Regent　believe　that　you　acted　on　your　own；　I　don't　think　we'll　be　jeopardizing　the　truce。〃

Exedore　concurred。　〃Furthermore；　we　think　it　best　if　you　take　Janice；　Sarna；　and　Burak　with　you。　There's　no　telling　what　the　Regent　might　expect　in　the　way　of　reprisals　for　our。。。carelessness。〃

〃We　wouldn't　have　it　any　other　way；〃　Janice　chimed　in；　seemingly　unaware　of　the　gaps　in　her　recent　past。

〃What　about　Tesla？〃　Sarna　thought　to　ask。

Lang　stroked　his　chin。　〃We've　been　wondering　about　that。　He　could　represent　a　wele　chip　at　our　bargaining　table。　But　as　I　understand　it；　that's　been　his　primary　function　all　along。〃

Wolff　snorted。　〃I'm　not　saying　we　couldn't　get　along　without　him；　but　he　has　been　useful　to　us。〃

〃Not　if　the　Regent　begins　to　look　upon　him　as　a　traitor；〃　Exedore　saw　fit　to　point　out。

Lang　thought　about　the　data　he　had　screened；　and　Tesla's　ambitions。　〃Take　him；〃　he　decided　at　last。　〃I　think　he'll　continue　to　serve　you。　In　fact；　from　what　Janice　told　me　of　the　mutiny；　our　Tesla　seems　to　have　his　sights　set　on　leadership　of　the　Invid。　You　might　be　able　to　encourage　that　some；　Wolff。〃

Wolff　slapped　his　hands　on　his　thighs　and　stood　up。　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？　What　about　weapons　and　a　shuttlecraft　to　reach　the　ship？〃

〃That's　all　been　arranged；〃　Exedore　told　him。

〃What　if　Edwards　decides　to　pursue　us？〃

〃Somehow　I　don't　think　he　will；〃　Lang　speculated。　〃But　you　will　be　hunted。　You'll　have　to　leave　Praxis　and　remain　inmunicado　for　a　time。〃

Suddenly　Wolff　began　to　feel　the　immensity　of　it　all。　〃Can　you　get　Burak　and　Tesla　out　of　lockup　without　arousing　suspicion？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　Lang　answered　him　from　the　。

Wolff　heard　him　tell　the　guards　in　the　confinement　area　to　have　the　two　XTs　brought　to　the　laboratory　for　testing。　Then　he　saw　Lang's　face　pale。

〃What　is　it？〃

〃They've　already　been　released；〃　Lang　said。　〃On　Colonel　Wolff's　request。〃


Elsewhere　in　the　fortress；　Burak　and　Tesla　were　moving　cautiously　along　an　empty　corridor　space；　closing　on　an　area　that　had　been　designated　for　the　Regent　and　his　retinue。　Only　minutes　before；　they　had　overpowered　their　armed　escorts；　it　had　proved　as　simple　a　matter　as　it　had　been　to　inveigle　information　concerning　the　location　of　the　Regent's　guest　quarters。　Tesla　was　whispering　self…congratulatory　praises　to　himself　now；　while　Burak　remained　in　the　larger　being's　shadow；　fearful　of　discovery　by　Human　personnel。

〃What　are　you　shivering　about？〃　Tesla　said；　ing　around；　bold　and　aggravated。　He　motioned　broadly　to　the　corridor。　〃Fate　has　cleared　a　path　for　us。〃

Burak　had　to　admit　that　that　seemed　to　be　the　case。　They　had　seen　no　one　since　leaving　confinement；　in　fact；　it　was　almost　as　if　someone　were　running　along　ahead　of　them；　sweeping　the　place　clean。　But　what　Tesla　didn't　realize　was　that　Burak　was　as　frightened　of　fate　as　he　was　anything　else。　It　was　fate　that　kept　his　planet　locked　in　the　recurring　past；　fate　that　had　gotten　him　into　this　mess　to　begin　with。。。

〃I　can　feel　his　presence；〃　Tesla　announced；　stopping　short。　Burak　bumped　into　him　and　backed　up　a　step。　Tesla　appeared　to　be　growing　larger　as　he　approached　his　quarry。　〃Soon；　my　friend；　soon。〃

It　dawned　on　Burak　that　the　Invid　had　more　on　his　mind　than　talk；　and　he　wanted　no　part　of　murder。　He　said　as　much　to　Tesla　as　they　approached　an　intersection　midway　along　the　corridor。　〃I…I'll　wait　for　you　here…you　know；　s…stand　guard。〃

Tesla　looked　down　at　him。　〃Fine。　You　do　that；〃　he　sneered；　and　moved　off　into　the　perpendicular　corridor。

A　short　distance　from　the　intersection　Tesla　came　upon　the　first　line　of　Invid　sentries。　Recognizing　the　Regent's　chief　scientist；　they　immediately　genuflected　and　offered　their　salute。　Then　four　of　the　Regent's　elite　soldiers　came　forward　to　escort　Tesla　into　the　Regent's　private　chambers。

〃Tesla！〃　the　simulagent　gasped；　spilling　a　lapful　of　fruits　to　the　floor　as　he　stood　up。　〃They've　released　you？〃　His　snout　went　up　in　an　approximation　of　a　laugh。　〃I　knew　I　could　do　it！〃

Tesla　regarded　the　gesture　with　indifference；　too　caught　up　in　the　moment　to　realize　just　who　and　what　he　was　dealing　with。

〃I　have　things　to　discuss　with　you；　sire；〃　he　said；　taking　a　menacing　step　forward。

〃Yes；　I'm　sure　you　do！　Tesla；　I'm　delighted　to　see　you。〃

〃We'll　see；〃　Tesla　told　him。　〃But　perhaps　you　should　reserve　judgment　until　you've　heard　me　out。〃

The　simulagent's　elongated　brow　wrinkled。　There　was　something　in　Tesla's　tone。。。His　black　eyes　began　to　dart　around　the　room。　The　guards；　he　remembered；　and　made　a　move　toward　the　door。

〃Don't　even　think　of　it；〃　Tesla　said；　stepping　into　his　path。　He　thrust　a　powerful　finger　into　the　simulagent's　chest　and　held　his　other　hand　up　for　inspection。　〃Five　fingers；　Regent。　Five！　There　was　a　time　when　your　wife　alone　had　five　fingers。　Doesn't　that　tell　you　something　about　me？〃

At　Tesla's　shove；　the　false　Regent　fell　backward　onto　a　table　that　somehow　managed　to　support　his　bulk。　〃Tesla；　you're　mad！　What　are　you　trying　to　do？〃

〃Mad？　Anything　but　mad；　Your　Highness！　I　have　been　ingesting　the　fruits　of　other　worlds；　while　you've　been　playing　silly　war　games　with　these　Humans。　And　as　a　result　I've　had　my　inner　eye　opened　to　transcendent　realities；　while　you've　set　your　gaze　on　meaningless　conquests。　I　have　been　evolving；　while　you　have　sunk　to　your　neck　back　into　the　slime　that　gave　us　birth。　The　fruits　were　meant　for　you；　but　it　is　Tesla　who　has　reaped　their　subtle　benefits。　You　used　to　ridicule　my　delvings　into　such　things；　but　regard　me　now：　I　live；　Regent；〃　Tesla　intoned；　raising　his　arms　above　his　head；　〃and　you　will　die　unless　you　abdicate　to　me！〃

The　simulagent　opened　his　mouth　to　cry　for　help；　but　nothing　emerged。

〃Kneel　before　me！〃　Tesla　demanded；　gesturing　to　the　floor。

Paralyzed　with　fear；　the　simulagent　gulped　and　found　his　voice。　〃Tesla；　listen　to　me：　you　don't　understand。　I…〃

〃Kneel　before　me！〃

〃I…〃

Tesla　grabbed　the　false　Regent　by　the　cowl　and　dragged　him　to　his　knees。　〃I　will　rule　in　your　place。　I　will　lead　our　race　from　this　moment　on。　Do　you　agree　to　it？〃

〃Tesla；〃　the　simulagent　pleaded。　〃I　can't　agree…〃

〃Fool！　Would　you　force　me　to　kill　you！〃　His　hands　were　clasped　around　the　simulagent's　thick　neck　now。

〃…〃

〃Abdicate！〃

〃…〃

〃Surrender　to　me！〃

〃…〃

The　simulagent's　four…fingered　hands　tore　desper