18_the_end_of_the_circle-第20章

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rove；　eh？

Zor　could　not　recall　his　reply　now…a　glance；　a　glower；　some　nonmittal　sound。　It　was　true　that　treasures　were　sometimes　found　or　discovered；　but　most　often　they　were　the　end　result　of　greed；　plunder；　willful　extraction　。　。　。　〃Which　is　it　that　you　hold　in　store　for　us？〃　he　asked　an　arc　of　reflected　light　outside　the　viewport。　〃A　discovery　that　will　reward　us　with　wealth　and　fame；　the　accolades　of　our　distant　fathers？　Or　a　world　that　will　bring　out　the　worst　in　us；　a　world　for　the　taking？〃

The　planet　was　the　fifth　of　this　star　the　charts　called　Tzuptum；　a　lush　wanderer　with　a　single　oblate　moon　to　light　its　night　skies。　Zor　had　a　preference　for　such　celestial　partnerships　and　shivered　thinking　of　Tirol's　long　night；　Fantoma's　oppressive　proximity。　It　was　not　fitting　for　sentient　creatures　to　be　so　overruled；　rotated　in　the　shadow　of　something　monstrously　huge。　Thought　and　contemplation　required　a　more　subtle　interplay　of　forces：　of　winds　and　tides　and　natural　rhythms。　In　the　absence　of　that　grew　an　urge　to　dominate；　to　absorb　the　power　of　that　larger　other；　to　extend　influence　in　the　basest　of　manners；　to　conquer　all　that　would　threaten　to　overshadow　。　。　。

He　brought　his　face　close　to　the　hull's　transparency；　as　though　his　eyes　could　tell　him　something　the　scanners　could　not。　But　what　was　there　to　discern　from　up　here？　he　asked　himself。　Hailings　had　gone　unanswered；　and　yet　there　was；　as　Vard　had　indicated；　abundant　life　of　a　plex　sort。　So　the　planet's　life　forms　were　either　pretechnological　or　atechnological。　Primitive　was　the　operative　classification　used　by　the　ship's　cyber…networks；　but　Zor　knew　better　than　to　accept　that　as　in　any　way　descriptive。

Maybe　they　are　right　not　to　respond　to　us；　he　thought。　Their　way　of　saying　they　want　no　part　of　whatever　it　is　we　are　offering　。。。　But　something　told　him　there　was　more　to　it　than　that。　From　somewhere　within　him　arose　a　belief　that　the　dominant　life　forms　on　this　world　were　simply　too　self…involved　to　answer。　That　deep　in　the　dense　forests　below；　an　experiment　of　grand　design　was　taking　shape。　And　perhaps　even　now　those　beings　were　cursing　their　misfortune；　decrying　the　fact　that　in　this　vast　universe　someone　had　found　them…had　found　them　out！

The　dropships　were　standing　by；　Vard　was　telling　him　from　the　hatchway。　With　hailings　still　unacknowledged；　ship's　General　mand　was　remending　acpaniment　by　surface…effect　drones　and　a　full　plement　of　armed　Troopers。　What　General　mand　called　standard　operating　procedures。

The　method　had　been　utilized　on　dozens　of　worlds　to　no　lasting　ill　effect；　but　Zor　could　not　suppress　a　feeling　that　such　techniques　might　prove　calamitous　here。　He　could　argue　the　point；　of　course；　but　mand　would　ultimately　have　its　way。

He　turned　to　give　the　planet　one　final　look　before　following　Vard　out　into　the　corridor。　In　place　of　the　anticipation　he　normally　felt　prior　to　a　drop　came　apprehension。

〃You　are　from　this　day　forward　changed；〃　he　said　aloud；　uncertain　whether　his　words　were　directed　to　the　planet　or　to　himself。。。


Rem　had　been　found　lying　unconscious　in　a　rec…level　corridor。

And　Dr。　Wenslow；　astrogation's　wide…scope　expert；　had　detected　a　planet　orbiting　Lang's　indecisive　second　star　from　the　right。

The　two　messages　had　arrived　simultaneously　in　Lang's　lower　deck　study；　where　Rick　and　the　scientist　were　still　poring　over　star　charts　and　indices。　While　Rick　attended　to　the　former；　Lang　linked　systems　with　Wenslow　to　see　for　himself　just　what　was　out　there。

〃We've　got　him　down　in　med　lab；　sir；〃　a　female　lieutenant　named　Clay　reported　over　the　inter。

〃Any　idea　what　caused　it？〃　Rick　asked。

〃Not　yet；　sir。　He　was　found　outside　the　music　room。〃　Rick　checked　a　half…formed　expletive。　Music　room；　he　thought。　This　was　the　〃emergency〃　he　had　excused　himself　for　a　little　over　an　hour　ago？

〃He　was　alone？　No　one　else　around？〃

The　lieutenant　cleared　her　throat。　〃Mister　Grant　and　Miss　Minmei　were　inside　the　room；　sir。　But　they　apparently　had　no　knowledge　of　Rem's　presence。〃

〃Minmei？〃　Rick　said。　〃She　was　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　Singing；　sir。〃

Rick's　mouth　fell　open。　〃You　must　have　gotten　that　part　of　it　wrong；　Lieutenant。〃

〃I　don't　think　so；　sir。　She　was　singing　with　Mister　Grant　and　the　two　Tiresian　women。　〃

Rick　pushed　a　hand　through　his　long　hair。　What　the　hell　was　happening　to　his　ship？　he　wondered。　What　had　this　place…those　lights…done　to　everyone？　He　exhaled　slowly　and　brought　out　his　mand　voice。　〃Lieutenant；　I　want　you　to　find　some　excuse　for　keeping　Rem　under　close　medical　observation　for　the　next；　let's　say；　two　hours。〃　Rick　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃He　is　not　to　be　released　until　1900　hours。〃

〃Yes；　sir。

Rick　patched　himself　through　to　security　next　and　instructed　the　chief　of　station　there　that　Rem's　whereabouts　were　to　be　discreetly　monitored　at　all　times　until　further　notice。

〃And　have　someone　keep　an　eye　on　Minmei　as　well；〃　he　added　as　an　afterthought。

That　much　acplished；　he　turned　to　Lang；　who　favored　him　with　an　enigmatic　smile。

〃We've　actually　got　ourselves　a　planet？〃　Rick　said。

Lang　shrugged。　〃It　would　appear　so。〃　He　activated　a　screen　on　his　desk　and　beckoned　Rick　over。　〃Polar　caps；　mountain　ranges；　a　verdant　equatorial　belt；　Earthlike　atmospheric　conditions　。　。　。　Custom…made　for　us；　wouldn't　you　agree？〃

Rick　raised　an　eyebrow；　one　hand　flat　on　the　inter　control　panel　again。　〃Yeah；　a　little　too　custom…made；〃　he　started　to　say　as　the　bridge　responded。

〃Bridge；　mander　Forsythe。〃

〃Raul；　Hunter。　Put　me　through　to　Lisa；　would　you？〃

〃Sorry；　Rick。　She's　not　here。　You　might　check　the　nursery。〃　Rick　felt　his　face　flush。　Another　〃emergency；〃　no　doubt；

like　Rem's　need　for　a　stroll　around　the　ship　and　Minmei's　sudden　urge　to　sing。　〃Raul；　what　the　hell　is　going　on　around　here？　Is　everybody　going　space…happy？　Who's　running　this　ship；　anyway？〃

Forsythe　was　quiet　for　a　moment。　〃Which　question　do　you　want　me　to　respond　to　first；　Rick？〃

Rick　let　out　an　exasperated　sigh。　〃Skip　it；　Raul。　Just　stand　by　for　new　course　headings。　And　when　the　admiral　returns；　tell　her　I　want　to　see　her　in　the　briefing　room；　ASAP。〃

Forsythe　signed　off；　and　Rick　swung　back　to　Lang。　〃Suggestions；　Doctor？〃

〃I　suppose　it　could　be　a　trap　of　some　sort；　an　attempt　to　lure　us　in；〃　Lang　began。　〃But　I　don't　see　that　we　have　much　choice。　If　the　planet　is　inhabited　in　addition　to　being　hospitable；　we　stand　a　chance　of　learning　a　bit　about　this　place；　perhaps　even　a　way　out　of　it。　Certainly　more　than　we'll　learn　from　these　stars　something　has　seen　fit　to　provide。〃

Rick　studied　Lang's　expression。　〃You're　serious　about　that；　aren't　you？〃

Lang　nodded。

〃All　right。　Instruct　astrogation　to　plot　us　a　course　in。〃


While　reflex　drives　were　carrying　the　SDF…3　toward　a　planet　that　had　seemingly　leapt　into　existence　only　moments　before；　the　Ark　Angel；　recently　reemerged　in　normal　space；　was　bearing　down　on　a　world　that　had　traveled　hundreds　of　thousands　of　parsecs　to　settle　itself　on　the　dark　edge　of　annihilation。

The　Terran　legation　had　tried　to　convince　Karbarra　to　stay　its　warlike　hand；　if　only　until　Haydon　IV　had　a　chance　to　respond　to　the　charges　brought　against　it。　In　this；　the　Ark　Angel　promised　to　act　as　intermediary　and　arbiter。　But　it　had　been　plain　that　Karbarra　was　out　for　more　than　blood　vengeance。　The　ursinoids　had　agreed　not　to　obstruct　Earth's　representatives　from　municating　with　the　Haydonites　but　had　assured　everyone　that　a　flotilla　of　Karbarran　ships　would　be　folding　at　the　Ark　Angel's　stern　and　that　any　hostility　Haydon　IV　directed　against　them　would　be　met　in　kind。

Vince；　Jean；　Harry　Penn；　Scott；　Cabell；　and　Nichols　and　his　interface　addict　associates　had　passed　most　of　the　journey　from　Tirol　gathered　in　the　starship's　situation　room；　discussing　strategic　options　and　speculating　on　the　SDF…3's　present　whereabouts。

Scott；　his　body　hot…wired　on　an　assortment　of　liquid　stimulants；　thought　he　might　simply　spontaneously　bust　before　the　session　ended。　The　brief　reunion　with　his　parents　had　only　aggravated　the　concern　he　felt　for　his　missing　friends；　and　to　top　that　off　he　had　finally　taken　his　tortuous　relationship　with　Marlene　to　its　predictable　conclusion。

Back　on　the　Angel　after　the　nearly　disastrous　summit　in　Tiresia；　he　had　gone　to　her　cell…against　his　better　judgment…where　one　thing　had　led　to　another；　and　had　ultimately　found　the　two　of　them　pressed　against　a　spot　of　bulkhead　inaccessible　to　the　prying　eyes　of　the　security　cams；　making　love　with　animal　intensity。　Green　blood　or　no；　Marlene　was　a　woman　of　human　needs　and　passions。　And　while　Scott　was　still　deliciously　dazed　from　their　sensual　intertwining；　the　encounter　had　left　him　more　confused　than　ever。

〃I'm　sorry　to　make　it　sound　like　this；　Cabell；〃　Vince　was　saying；　〃but　we　didn't　make　the　jump　from　Earth　to　get　ourselves　entangled　in　Local　Group　affairs。　We　came　back　for　the　SDF…3；　not　to　assist　Karbarra　in　its　push　for　control　of　the　spaceways。〃

Cabell's　clear　eyes　narrowed。　〃Perhaps　not；　mander；　but　I　suggest　the　time　has　arrived　for　Earth　to　consider　itself　part　of　the　Local　Group。　After　all；　it　was　at　the　insistence　of　your　Plenipotentiary　Council　that　this　war　machine　was　built　to　begin　with。〃

The　Terrans　waited。

〃I　would　point　out　to　you　that　the　SDF…3　had　the　capacity　to　fold　to　Earth　shortly　after　the　end　of　the　Sentinels'　campaign。　You　could　have　returned　then；　with　the　Local　Group's　blessings　and　thanks；　instead　of　anchoring　yourself　in　Tirol璼pace　for　an　additional　three　years。〃

Vince　snorted。　〃Embark　on　a　five…year　voyage　to　find　our　homeworld　occupied　by　the　Invid　Regis？〃

〃So　you　chose　to　defeat　her　in　a　war；〃　Cabell　said　in　a　casual　way。　〃The　result　is　the　same。　You　perhaps　succeeded　in　chasing　her　off；　but　at　what　cost？　The　fleet　you　labored　to　construct　is　gone；　atomized。　Your　planet　is　devastated。　And　your　philosophy　of　answering　might　with　might　has　had　a　telling　effect　on　the　Local　Group　worlds。〃　The　Tiresian　raised　an　accusatory　finger。　〃You　knew　full　well　when　you　left　Tirol　what　you　had　set　in　motion　on　Karbarra。〃

Scott　was　grateful　for　the　momentary　silence　that　followed　Cabell's　remarks。　On　the　voyage　out　from　Earth；　Vince　had　brought　him　up　to　date　on　Local　Group　grudges；　but　Scott　had　not　expected　the　once　morose　Karbarrans　to　be　so　radically　affected　by　their　recent　economic　windfalls。　And　aside　from　problems　of　a　localized　sort；　there　were；　to　hear　Cabell　and　Nichols　tell　it；　problems　in　the　grand　scheme　of　things　as　well。　Scott　could　not　follow　half　the　mathematical　proofs　the　scientists　had　offered　up　as　evidence；　but　something　had　apparently　worked　a　bit　of　underhanded　universal　micro/macro　magic；　tugging　matter　in　both　realms　just　that　much　closer　together。　Cabell　had　even　said　something　about　pulsar　stars　disappearing　entirely　a　〃Big　Crunch〃　in　the　working。

〃I　don't　see　what　Karbarra　or　Haydon　IV's　got　to　do　with　us；〃　Scott　interjected。　〃General　Grant's　already　said　it；　Cabell：　It's　the　Regis　we're　after。〃

Scott　noticed　Nichols　and　Cabell　trade　looks。

〃We　were　hoping　you　could　update　us　on　that　score；　Colonel；〃　Nichols　said　at　last。

〃Me？　How　so？〃

〃Well；　you've　been　having　intimate　。。。　discussions　with　her　agent；　haven't　you？〃　Nichols　asked。　〃We　thought　maybe　Marl