15_death_dance-第37部分

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gers　alike；　and　it　enforced　them　without　bias。

The　Invid　squad　mander　whispered　as　much　to　the　Regent；　while　the　ursine　Karbarrans　continued　to　hurl　insults　and　imprecations。　And　at　the　same　moment　one　of　the　Regis's　servants　approached；　offering　a　brief　and　unconvincing　genuflection。

〃Your　Highness；〃　the　servant　said；　with　a　condescending　tone。

The　Regent　raised　a　fist。　〃How　dare　she　refuse　to　honor　my　arrival！〃

〃Perhaps；　my　lord；〃　the　Regent's　own　lieutenant　suggested；　〃she　trembles　in　terror　at　the　mere　thought　of　your　blinding　presence。〃

〃Grovel　on　your　own　time；〃　the　Regent　snarled。　He　fixed　his　wife's　servant　with　a　gimlet　stare。　〃Where　is　my　shameful　wife？　Explain　this　breach　of　protocol；　worm；　before　I　find　a　place　for　you　in　the　Pits。〃

The　servant　lifted　its　head。　〃She　is　gone；　Regent。〃

The　Regent　knew　as　much　already；　and　bristled　at　the　servant's　impertinence。　〃I'm　aware　that　she　is　gone…her　flagship　has　left　orbit。　But　I　want　to　know　where。〃

〃She　left　no　word；　m'lord。　Save　to　say　that　she　is　not　expected　to　return。〃

〃Which　explains　your　laxity。〃　The　Regent　raised　himself　to　his　full　height；　and　looked　down　his　snout　on　the　Regis's　creature。　〃Perhaps　I　will　make　an　example　of　you；　grub。　Now；　lead　me　to　our　chambers　before　I　forget　myself。。。See　that　my　pets　are　cared　for；〃　he　said　to　his　lieutenant　as　an　afterthought；　〃and　have　the　Sentinel　prisoner　brought　before　me。〃

Several　other　servants　appeared　to　usher　the　Regent　and　his　retinue　to　the　same　rooms　his　queen　had　occupied　and　abandoned；　and　along　the　way　he　could　not　help　but　take　note　of　some　of　Haydon　IV's　wonders。　The　planet　was　unlike　anything　he　had　ever　seen；　and　yet　there　was　a　sense　of　familiarity　everywhere　he　looked。　Here；　a　structure　that　was　reminiscent　of　Tiresia；　there；　a　patch　of　forest　seemingly　lifted　from　Garuda。　Spherisian　crystal　palaces；　Karbarran　factories　without　the　dirt　or　stench；　Praxian　arabesque　carvings；　totems；　statues；　pillars；　and　pedestals…even　some　things　which　could　only　have　e　from　Optera　itself：　fields　of　Flowers　and　rows　of　Fruit…bearing　trees；　all　sterile　to　be　sure；　but　so　faultless；　so　exquisite　in　appearance。

And　yet　nowhere　a　hint　of　instrumentality。

He　understood；　though；　why　the　Regis　would　leave：　there　was　no　warmth　to　the　world；　no　taste　of　life　to　its　clear　skies　and　reflective　waters。　No；　she　would　not　have　been　at　home　here；　he　told　himself。　It　was　a　real　world　she　required；　one　like　the　Optera　of　their　past。　He　refused　to　believe　that　his　arrival　could　have　forced　her　hand…certainly　not　after　the　gift　he　had　sent　her。　This；　however；　didn't　stop　him　from　plaining　to　his　lieutenant　once　they　had　reached　the　tall　spire's　uppermost　rooms　and　his　throne　had　been　positioned。

〃Decamped！〃　he　sneered；　hands　stroking　the　gem…collared　necks　of　his　Hellcat　pets。　〃She　expects　me　to　win　the　war　while　she's　off　flitting　around　the　cosmos　preening　her　tubercles　and　hatching　plots　against　me…〃

〃M'lord；〃　a　servant　interrupted；　bowing　from　the　doorway。　〃We　have　the　prisoner。〃

The　Regent　smiled　as　Rem　was　dragged　in。　A　lieutenant　〃persuaded〃　the　Tiresian　to　assume　a　groveling　posture。　But　the　Regent's　smile　began　to　fade　as　he　studied　Rem。　Great　suns！　he　thought。　He　does　wear　the　face　of　the　seducer！

Two　scientists　had　entered　on　the　heels　of　the　Zor…Clone；　and　the　'Cats　were　suddenly　snarling；　pacing；　and　sniffing　the　air。　〃What　did　she　think　of　him？〃　the　Regent　asked；　rising　from　his　chair。

One　of　the　scientists　made　a　coughing　sound。　〃Uh；　she　was。。。amused；　Your　Highness。〃

〃Yes；　I　can　well　imagine。　Did　you　record　their　sessions　together？〃

The　two　Invid　traded　quick　glances。　〃We　did；　my　lord。〃

He　turned　to　gaze　at　Rem。　〃I　wish　to　view　the　results　of　their　reunion。　I　want　to　see　her　guilt；　the　sadness　in　her　heart；　before　I　grant　her　forgiveness。〃

〃But；　Regent…〃

The　Regent　slammed　a　massive　fist　down　on　the　throne's　contoured　seat。　〃Bring　me　the　recordings…now！〃


There　was　silence　on　the　bridge　of　the　SDF…7　while　Wolff　and　Vince　waited　for　the　ship's　identification　library　to　display　its　assessment。　Wolff　folded　his　arms　and　leaned　away　from　the　console　when　the　data　appeared。

〃Well？〃

〃Signatures　confirmed；〃　Wolff　said　flatly。　〃Invid　troop　carriers　the　Regent's　flagship。　We're　too　late。〃

〃Are　they　scanning　us？〃

Wolff　exhaled　loudly　and　swung　to　a　peripheral　monitor。　〃Affirmative。　But　it's　low…level；　cursory。　Could　be　we're　an　unknown　quantity。　God　knows　there　are　enough　other　ships　docked　out　here。〃

Vince　had　to　agree；　he　had　never　seen　so　many　different　types　and　classes　of　starship。　Haydon　IV　was　obviously　all　that　Veidt　and　Sarna　had　been　telling　everyone。

〃So　what　do　we　do；　Captain…open　a　hailing　frequency；　tell　them　we're　just　in　for　liberty；　a　little　R　'n'　R？〃

Vince　frowned　and　put　a　hand　on　the　ship's　address…system　stud。。。

〃Haydon　IV　is　an　open　world；〃　Veidt　was　explaining　in　the　briefing　room　ten　minutes　later。　〃I　thought　I　had　already　made　myself　clear　on　this　point。　The　planet　has　never　been　taken　by　force；　its　defenses　are　legendary。　There　are；　in　the　central　records；　references　to　an　attempted　invasion　some　two　thousand　Earth…standard　years　ago。　Several　hundred　vessels　were　destroyed　in　a　matter　of　moments。〃

〃But　the　Invid…〃　Jack　started　to　say。

〃The　Invid　did　not　engage　Haydon　IV's　defenses；〃　Sarna　picked　up。　〃Any　who　e　in　peace　are　free　to　stay　and　trade。　The　Invid　came　and　insinuated　themselves　into　positions　of　political　authority；　but　they　are　quite　tame　here。　We　may　land　in　safety；　but　we　will　surely　be　taken　into　custody。〃

〃Then　we　can't　go　in　under　arms；〃　Crysta　said。

Jack　grunted。　〃Maybe　you　don't　have　the　courage　to　try；　but　I　do。〃

Lron　glared　at　him　from　across　the　table。　〃You　dare　impugn　her　courage？　Perhaps　you…〃

〃Stop　this！〃　Jean　interrupted。　〃Both　of　you。〃

〃Exactly　what　are　these　'defenses；'　Veidt？〃　Vince　wanted　to　know。

〃I　have　never　seen　them。　As　I　stated；　they　have　not　been　put　to　the　test　in　two　thousand　of　your　years。〃

〃e　on；〃　Jack　said；　looking　around。　〃Then　how　do　we　know　they're　still　functioning？〃

〃Do　you　hunger　to　challenge　them？〃　Sarna　asked。

Jack　returned　a　sullen　stare。

Jean　shook　her　head　and　snorted。　〃So　to　utilize　the　medical　facilities；　we　have　to　go　in　with　our　hands　raised。〃

〃Yes；　straight　into　an　Invid　stronghold；〃　Bela　said。

〃We　are　given　no　choice；〃　Gnea　added。　〃Our　rades　will　have　to　be　surrendered。　But　who　among　us　will　escort　them　down？〃　The　Praxian　glanced　around　the　table。

〃I'll　go；〃　Wolff　volunteered。

Jean　caught　her　husband's　eye。　〃I　will；　too。〃

〃Wait　a　minute；　wait　a　minute；〃　Jack　said；　standing　up。　〃I'm　as　concerned　about　Karen　and　Rick　and　Lisa　as　any　of　you。　But　just　suppose　the　Invid　deny　the　request　for　medical　help。　Then　they've　not　only　got　Karen；　they've　got　you　and　you　and　whoever　else　is　crazy　enough　to　volunteer。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Uh；　uh。　We　need　to　find　some　way　around　this。〃

〃The　Invid　cannot　deny　that　which　is　promised　by　the　planet　to　all；〃　Veidt　said；　loud　enough　to　cut　through　all　the　separate　arguments　Jack's　objection　had　raised。　Everyone　heard　the　Haydonite's　remark；　but　the　bickering　continued。

〃All　right；　simmer　down；〃　Vince　told　the　table。　〃Max　has　an　idea。〃

〃Two　landing　parties；〃　the　Skull　ace　began　when　everyone　was　quiet。　He　was　exhausted；　having　spent　every　minute　by　Miriya's　side。　Her　condition　had　deteriorated　after　the　fold　to　Haydon　IV；　and　it　was　Jean's　thought　to　number　her　among　the　patients。　〃Some　of　us　take　the　four　of　them　down；　the　rest　of　you　go　in　unannounced　to　keep　an　eye　on　us。〃

〃It　will　not　work；　mander；〃　Veidt　said；　but　Jack；　Lron；　Bella；　and　Gnea　were　already　enthusiastic。　Even　Burak　added　his　voice　to　the　group　as　a　show　of　support。

〃The'　planet's　defenses　will　detect　you；〃　Sarna　tried　to　warn　them。　〃We'll　have　to　risk　it；〃　Vince　answered　her。

And　the　plan　was　put　to　a　vote。

Jean　and　Wolff　had　already　volunteered；　and　now　Max　and　Vince　and　Cabell　joined　them。　Veidt　and　Sarna　would　escort　them。　Jack；　however；　insisted　that　Karen's　cause　would　be　better　served　by　his　doing　something　more　than　crying　by　her　bedside；　so　he　opted　for　the　second　team。　Burak；　Kami　and　Learna；　Be