douglashill.galacticwarlord-第15部分

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　It　rose　from　the　broad　expanse　of　dust　like　a　blister　rises　from　human　skin；　but　so　bright　in　the　reflected　glare　that　it　seemed　to　be　made　of　mirrors。　Around　it；　the　dust　was　crisscrossed　with　the　tracks　of　many　boots；　from　the　ings　and　goings　of　the　dome's　nine　occupants。　But　at　the　moment　there　was　no　one　in　sight；　no　sign　of　movement　or　activity　around　the　dome。
　He　drew　back　behind　the　screening　rock　and　began　a　cautious　circling；　wanting　to　examine　the　dome　from　all　sides；　and　most　especially　to　locate　its　entrance。
　Keill。
　Glr's　voice　within　his　mind　…　and　a　tone　of　some　urgency　in　the　one　word。
　Your　ship's　sensors　report　another　ship　nearby。　On　a　course　for　a　landing。
　As　before；　Keill　concentrated；　to　form　the　reply　in　his　mind。　'Will　it　overfly　your　position？'
　No；　its　course　will　bring　it　down　near　the　dome；　from　the　bright　side。　I　will　not　be　detected。
　That　was　some　luck；　anyway；　Keill　thought　to　himself。　But　he　wished　that　the　other　ship　could　have　delayed　its　arrival　awhile。　Even　so；　he　thought；　if　he　could　get　close　enough　to　the　landing　without　being　seen；　and　watch　the　men　that　disembarked；　he　might　learn　something。
　He　knew　perfectly　well；　with　a　calm　and　untroubled　sure…ness；　that　he　would　eventually　have　to　try　to　enter　the　dome；　no　matter　how　many　men　were　waiting　inside。　But　he　also　had　no　intention　of　going　in　too　blindly　…　not　if　he　could　manage　a　careful　study　of　the　opposition；　or　some　of　them；　beforehand。
　He　wound　his　way　as　swiftly　as　he　could　through　the　rocks；　still　circling　the　dome　but　at　no　time　exposing　himself　to　it。　Then　he　felt　the　ground　tremble　slightly　beneath　his　feet。　And　at　the　same　time　Glr's　voice　reached　into　his　mind　again。
　Sensors　indicate　the　ship　is　landing。　It　seems　to　be　the　cruiser。
　An　image　began　to　form　in　Keill's　mind；　projected　by　Glr　…of　the　dome；　squatting　in　its　empty　stretch　of　ground；　and　on　the　edge　of　that　plain　a　ship　ing　in　to　land。　The　ship　was　recognizably　a　cruiser；　but　Glr's　mind　had　added　a　few　touches　of　her　own　…　a　great　plume　of　fire　from　the　ship's　drive；　and　an　evil　face　painted　on　to　the　front　of　the　ship；　all　jagged　teeth　and　cruel；　slanted　eyes。
　'Thanks'　Keill　said　sardonically。'　Very　artistic。'
　Better　than　a　map；　is　it　not？　asked　Glr；　her　laughter　bubbling。
　'Much　better。　Be　quiet　now；　while　I　go　and　look'
　The　heavy　vibrations　set　up　by　the　cruiser's　landing　increased　steadily　as　lie　crept　forward；　until　…　crouching　within　the　solid　blackness　of　a　tall　rock's　shadow　…　he　was　again　at　the　edge　of　the　plain。
　The　vibrations　eased　and　stopped。　The　cruiser　was　down。　Keill　leaned　forward　to　peer　round　the　rock　that　sheltered　him　…　and　at　once　jerked　his　head　back。
　The　cruiser　had　landed　about　three　hundred　metres　away。
　And　beyond　it；　he　had　seen　the　entrance　of　the　dome　…　its　airlock　open　and　spacesuited　men　emerging；　moving　at　speed　in　the　same　long；　leaping　strides　that　Keill　had　used　earlier。
　He　flattened　himself　against　the　rock。　If　any　of　those　men；　or　the　men　in　the　ship；　had　glanced　his　way　…　and　if　his　helmet　had　glinted　even　for　an　instant　in　the　brilliant　light。。。
　It　was　an　outside　chance　…　but　it　was　possible。　Time　to　move。
　But　he　did　not　retrace　his　steps。　He　drifted　with　slow　caution　from　rock　to　rock　towards　where　the　cruiser　had　settled。　Whatever　the　risk；　he　was　not　going　to　pass　up　a　chance　to　see　whatever　might　be　seen。
　Soon　he　had　spotted　another　vantage　point　at　the　edge　of　the　open　area。　When　he　reached　it；　he　saw；　he　would　be　able　to　observe　the　ship　and　the　dome　while　staying　safely　hidden　in　a　bulge　of　deep　shadow。　He　began　to　circle　an　outcropping；　moving　towards　that　point。
　And　he　came　face　to　face　with　two　men；　rounding　the　outcropping　from　the　other　direction。
　Their　faceplates；　like　Keill's；　were　darkened　against　the　glare；　revealing　nothing。　But　one　of　them　was　wearing　a　space…suit　identical　to　Keill's　…　with　the　blue　circlet　of　the　Legions　gleaming　from　helmet　and　chest。
　And　both　men　were　holding　weapons；　ready　in　their　hands。
　Keill　identified　the　guns　at　a　glance；　and　with　some　distaste。　Janglers；　they　were　called　…　stubby　pistols　with　ugly；　flared；
　bell…shaped　muzzles。　They　discharged　a　field　that　set　up　interference　with　the　human　nervous　system　…　which　caused；　at　the　very　least；　indescribable　pain。　The　guns　were　a　sadist's　weapon；　outlawed　on　many　worlds；　and　never；　as　Keill　well　knew；　carried　by　legionaries。
　He　stood　calmly　where　he　was；　making　no　motion　towards　his　own　weapon；　while　the　other　two　took　a　tentative　step　towards　him。　The　one　in　the　Legion　spacesuit　lifted　a　gloved　hand　to　his　helmet；　touching　the　switch　that　activated　the　man…to…man　municator。
　'That　you；　Jiker？'　The　voice　within　Keill's　helmet　was　metallic；　distorted　by　the　municator。
　Keill　felt　relieved。　Of　course　there　were　two　men　on　Creffa　wearing　full　legionary　uniform。；　which　obviously　included　spacesuits。　This　one；　seeing　Keill's　suit；　naturally　thought　he　was　looking　at　his　fellow　impostor。
　Keill　flicked　his　own　helmet　switch。　'Yeah；　it's　me；'　he　said　gruffly；　knowing　his　voice　would　be　just　as　distorted　in　the　other　man's　ears。
　But　to　his　surprise　the　other　raised　his　gun　menacingly。
　'The　hell　it　is；'　said　the　voice　in　Keill's　helmet。　'I'm　Jiker。'
　Keill's　hand　flashed；　and　his　gun　leaped　from　his　belt。　But　the　other　man　had　only　to　press　the　firing　stud　on　the　jangler。　And　pure；　raging　agony　reached　out　and　grasped　Keill's　body　like　a　monstrous　fist。
　Dimly　he　heard　himself　cry　out；　dimly　he　felt　himself　twisting；　jerking；　beginning　to　fall。
　Then　he　heard　and　felt　nothing　at　all。
　
　Chapter　eleven
　
　Keill　awoke　to　the　clamour　of　his　own　name　being　shouted；　over　and　over。
　No；　not　shouted；　he　realized。　It　was　Glr's　mental　call；　as　penetrating　as　a　cry　of　fear。
　'Stop　it'　he　thought；　raising　one　hand　to　his　head；　which　was　throbbing　dully。　'I'm　here。'
　Relief　flooded　into　his　mind　from　Glr's。　What　happened？　Where　are　you？
　Keill's　probing　fingers　found　a　raised　and　tender　bump　on　his　head；　and　the　slight　roughness　of　dried　blood。　'I　must　have　bounced　my　head　around　in　my　helmet　when　I　fell。　As　for　where　I　am。。。'
　He　looked　around。　He　was　lying　on　a　hard　bunk　in　a　small；　metal…walled　cubicle　…　which　he　recognized　as　the　usual　cramped　sleeping　quarters　for　men　in　a　space…dome。　The　air　smelled　stale　and　musty；　but　was　breathable　…　and　he　was　his　normal　weight；　which　meant　that　some　form　of　artificial　gravity　was　operating　in　the　dome。　His　spacesuit　had　been　stripped　off　him　and　flung　untidily　in　one　corner　…　though　his　energy　gun；　predictably；　was　not　with　it。
　'I'm　inside　the　dome；　and　I'm　in　one　piece。'　He　swung　up　to　a　sitting　position；　ignoring　the　headache。　One　thing　about　the　janglers；　he　thought　to　himself　…　for　all　the　pain　they　caused；　it　stopped　instantly　when　the　weapon　was　deactivated。　Though　there　could　sometimes　be　serious　after…effects。。。
　What　now？　Glr　asked。
　'You　stay　there；　and　stay　quiet　awhile。　The　door　is　probably　guarded；　and　I'm　going　to。。。'
　Whatever　it　was；　he　was　not　able　to　do　it。　The　door　swung　open；　and　two　men　entered。　Both　were　carrying　guns；　and　they　separated　as　they　entered；　moving　to　either　side　of　Keill　and　keeping　their　weapons　trained　on　him；　all　very　professionally。
　One　of　them；　holding　a　jangler；　was　thin；　wiry；　with　a　long　jaw　and　small；　glittering　eyes。　The　other　was　heavy…set　and　swarthy；　with　a　nose　that　seemed　to　have　been　broken　many　times。　And　he　had　Keill's　own　beam…gun　in　his　hand。
　Both　were　wearing　legionary　uniforms。
　'Y've　e　round；　have　y'　？'　the　thin　one　said。　'Thought　y'　might've　cracked　y'r　skull。'　He　grinned；　a　mouthful　of　small；　yellow　teeth。　'Nice　trick；　that；　wasn't　it　？　Askin'　y'　if　y'　was　me　？　Ol'　Rish　here；　he　would've　answered　different；　wouldn't　y'；　Rish？'
　The　heavy…set　man　grunted；　never　taking　his　eyes　from　Keill。　So　the　thin　one　was　Jiker；　the　one　who　had　shot　Keill。　And；　yes；　it　had　been　a　good　trick。　But　Keill　remained　silent；　studying　the　two　men；　judging　their　abilities；　doubting　if　he　would　have　much　of　a　chance　to　move　against　two　guns；　but　poised　and　ready　if　even　the　edge　of　a　chance　offered　itself。
　'Nothin'　t'　say　t'　y'r　brother　legionaries　？'　Jiker　went　on。　His　laugh　was　high…pitched　and　ugly。
　'Where　did　you　get　the　uniforms　？'　Keill　asked；　his　voice　as　expressionless　as　his　face。
　'Took　'em　off　a　ship　that　just　came　floatin'　by；'　Jiker　grinned。　'Boys　wearin'　'em　didn't　have　use　for　'em；　not　any　more。'
　'Where　was　that　？'　Keill　asked。
　'Just　off　good　ol'　Moros；'　Jiker　said；　snickering。　'You　remember　Moros；　don't　y'；　boy？'
　'Why　were　you　there？'　Much　could　be　learned　from　talkative　men；　Keill　knew；　if　they　could　be　kept　talking。
　Jiker　seemed　all　too　ready　to　chatter。　'We　like　it　there；　don't　we；　Rish　？　Quietest　place　y'　ever　saw　…　real　peaceful　now。　Like　the　boss　said；　when　we　did　the　last　sweep　。。。'
　'Jiker！'
　The　voice　from　the　doorway　was　deep；　resonant；　musical；
　seeming　effortlessly　to　fill　the　room。　Jiker's　thin　mouth　snapped　shut；　and　he　paled　slightly　beneath　his　spacer's　sunburn　as　he　glanced　towards　the　door。
　The　bare…chested　man　who　was　entering　the　cubicle　had　to　stoop；　and　to　turn　his　vast　shoulders　sideways；　t