deathworld-第26章

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es　at　regularly　repeated　two；　four；　three　and　one　minute　intervals。〃
　 They　crawled　back　to　the　hollow　where　Naxa　and　the　others　waited　for　them。　There　were　only　thirty　men　in　the　party。　What　they　had　to　do　could　only　be　done　with　a　fast；　light　force。　Their　strongest　weapon　was　surprise。　Once　that　was　gone　their　other　weapons　wouldn't　hold　out　for　seconds　against　the　city　guns。　Everyone　looked　unfortable　in
　the　fur　and　leather　wrappings；　and　some　of　the　men　had　loosened　them　to　cool　off。
　 'Wrap　up；〃　Jason　ordered。　〃None　of　you　have　been　this　close　to　the　perimeter　before　and　you　don't　understand　how　deadly　it　is　here。　Naxa　is　keeping　the　larger　animals　away　and　you　all　can　handle　the　smaller　ones。　That　isn't　the　danger。　Every　thorn　is　poisoned；　and　even　the　blades　of　grass　carry　a　deadly　sting。　Watch　out　for　insects　of　any　kind　and　once　we　start　moving　breathe　only　through　the　wet　cloths。〃
　 〃He's　right；〃　Naxa　snorted。　〃N'ver　been　closer　'n　this　m'self。　Death；　death　up　by　that　wall。　Do　like　'e　says。〃
　 They　could　only　wait　then；　honing　down　already　needlesharp　cross~　bow　bolts；　and　glancing　up　at　the　slowly　moving　sun。　Only　Naxa　didn'i　share　the　unrest。　He　sat；　eyes　unfocused；　feeling　the　movement　ol　animal　life　in　the　jungle　around　them。
　 〃On　the　way；〃　he　said。　〃Biggest　thing　I　'ver　heard。　Not　a　beast　'tween　here　and　the　mountains；　ain't　howlin'　'is　lungs　out；　rwmin'　toward　the　city。；'
　 Jason　was　aware　of　part　of　it。　A　tension　in　the　air　and　a　wave　a！　intensified　anger　and　hatred。　It　would　work；　he　knew；　if　they　couk　only　keep　the　attack　confined　to　a　small　area。　The　talkers　had　seemec　sure　of　it。　They　had　stalked　out　quietly　that　morning；　a　thin　line　a！　ragged　men；　moving　in　a　mental　sweep　that　would　round　up　the　Pyrrar　life　and　send　it　charging　against　the　city。
　 〃They　hit！〃　Naxa　said　suddenly。
　 The　men　were　on　their　feet　now；　staring　in　the　direction　of　the　city　Jason　had　felt　the　twist　in　his　gut　as　the　attack　had　been　driven　home　and　knew　that　this　was　it。　There　was　the　sound　of　shots　and　a　heav3　booming　far　away。　Thin　streamers　of　smoke　began　to　blow　above　thc　treetops。
　 〃Let's　get　into　position；〃　Plies　said。
　 Around　them　the　jungle　howled　with　an　echo　of　hatred。　The　half　sentient　plants　writhed　and　the　air　was　thick　with　small　flying　things　Naxa　sweated　and　mumbled　as　he　turned　back　the　animals　that　crashec　toward　them。　By　the　time　they　reached　the　last　screen　of　foliage　befon　the　burned…out　area；　they　had　lost　four　men。　One　had　been　stung　by　ax　insect；　Jason　got　the　medikit　to　him　in　time　but　he　was　so　sick　he　ha　to　turn　back　The　other　three　were　bitten　or　scratched　and　treatmen　came　too　late。　Their　swollen；　twisted　bodies　were　left　behind　on
　trail。
　 〃Dam'　beasts　hurt　m'　head；〃　Naxa　muttered。　〃When　we　go　in？〃
　 〃Not　yet；〃　Plies　said。　'We　wait　for　the　signal。〃
　 One　of　the　men　carried　the　radio。　He　set　it　down　carefully；　thei
　threw　the　aerial　over　a　branch。　The　set　was　shielded　so　no　radiation　leaked　out　to　give　them　away。　It　was　turned　on；　but　only　a　hiss　of　atmospheric　static　came　from　the　speaker。
　 〃We　could　have　timed　it。　。　。　。〃　Plies　said。
　 〃No；　we　c@uldn't；〃　Jason　told　him。　〃Not　accurately。　We　want　to　hit　that　wall　at　the　height　of　the　attack；　when　our　chances　are　best。　Even　if　they　hear　the　message　it　won't　mean　a　thing　to　them　inside。　And　a　few　minutes　later　it　won't　matter。〃
　 The　sound　from　the　speaker　changed。　A　voice　spoke　a　short　sentence；　then　cut　off。
　 〃Bring　me　three　barrels　of　flour。〃
　 〃Let's　go；〃　Rhes　urged　as　he　started　forward。
　 'Wait；〃　Jason　said；　taking　him　by　the　arm。　〃I'm　timing　the　flamethrower。　It's　due　in。　。　。　there！〃　A　blast　of　fire　sprayed　the　ground；　then　turned　off。　〃We　have　four　minutes　to　the　next　one…we　hit　the　long　period！〃
　 They　ran；　stumbling　in　the　soft　ashes；　tripping　over　charred　bones　and　rusted　metal。　Two　men　grabbed　Jason　under　the　arm　and　half　carried　him　across　the　ground。　It　hadn't　been　planned　that　way；　but　it　saved　precious　seconds。　They　dropped　him　against　the　wall　and　he　fumbled　out　the　bombs　he　had　made。　The　charges　from　Krannon's　gun；　taken　when　he　was　killed；　had　been　hooked　together　with　a　firing　circuit。　All　the　moves　had　been　rehearsed　carefully　and　they　went　smoothly　now。
　 Jason　had　picked　the　metal　wall　as　being　the　best　spot　to　break　in。　It　offered　the　most　resistance　to　the　native　life；　so　the　chances　were　it　wouldn't　be　reinforced　with　sandbags　or　fill；　the　way　other　parts　of　the　wall　were。　If　he　was　wrong；　they　were　all　dead。
　 The　first　men　had　slapped　their　wads　of　sticky　congealed　sap　against　the　wall。　Jason　pressed　the　charges　into　them　and　they　stuck；　a　roughly　rectangular　pattern　as　high　as　a　man。　'While　he　did　this；　the　detonating　wire　was　run　out　to　its　length　and　the　raiders　pressed　back　against　the　base　of　the　wall。　Jason　stumbled　through　the　ashes　to　the　detonator；　fell　on　it　and　pressed　the　switch　at　the　same　time。
　 Behind　him　a　thundering　bang　shook　the　wall　and　red　flame　burst　out。　Plies　was　the　first　one　there；　pulling　at　the　twisted　and　smoking　metal　with　his　gloved　hands。　Others　grabbed　on　and　bent　the　jagged　pieces　aside。　The　hole　was　filled　with　smoke　and　nothing　was　visible　through　it。　Jason　dived　into　the　opening；　rolled　on　a　heap　of　rubble　and　smacked　into　something　solid。　When　he　blinked　the　smoke　from　his　eyes；　he　looked　around　him。
　 He　was　inside　the　city。
　 The　others　poured　through　now；　picking　him　up　as　they　charged　in　so　he　wouldn't　be　trampled　underfoot。　Someone　spotted　the　spaceship　and　they　ran　that　way。
　 A　man　ran　around　the　corner　of　a　building　toward　them。　His　Pyrran　reflexes　sent　him　springing　into　the　safety　of　a　doorway　the　same　moment　he　saw　the　invaders。　But　they　were　Pyrrans　too。　The　man　slumped　slowly　back　onto　the　street；　three　metal　bolts　sticking　out　of　his　body。　They　ran　on　without　stopping；　running　between　the　low　storehouses。　The　ship　stood　ahead。
　 Someone　had　reached　it　before　them；　they　could　see　the　outer　hatch　slowly　grinding　shut。　A　hail　of　bolts　from　the　bows　crashed　into　it　with　no　effect。
　 〃Keep　going！〃　Jason　shouted。　〃Get　next　to　the　hull　before　he　reaches　the　guns。〃
　 This　time　three　men　didn't　make　it。　The　rest　of　them　were　under　the　belly　of　the　ship　when　every　gun　let　go　at　once。　Most　of　them　were　aimed　away　from　the　ship；　still　the　scream　of　shells　and　electric　discharges　was　earshattering。　The　three　men　still　in　the　open　dissolved　under　the　fire。　W7hoever　was　inside　the　ship　had　hit　all　the　gun　trips　at　once；　both　to　knock　out　the　attackers　and　summon　aid。　He　would　be　on　the　screen　now；　calling　for　help。　Their　time　was　running　out。
　 Jason　reached　up　and　tried　to　open　the　hatch；　while　the　others　watched。　It　was　locked　from　the　inside。　One　of　the　men　brushed　him　aside　and　pulled　at　the　inset　handle。　It　broke　off　in　his　hand　but　the　hatch　remained　closed。
　 The　big　guns　had　stopped　now　and　they　could　hear　again。
　 〃Did　anyone　get　the　gun　from　that　dead　man？〃　he　asked。　〃It　would　blow　this　thing　open。〃
　 〃No；〃　Plies　said；　〃we　didn't　stop。〃
　 Before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth；　two　men　were　running　back　toward　the　buildings；　angling　away　from　each　other。　The　ship's
　guns　roared　again；　a　string　of　explosions　cut　across　one　man。　Before　they　could　change　directions　and　find　the　other　man　he　had　reached　the　buildings。
　 He　returned　quickly；　darting　into　the　open　to　throw　the　gun　to　them。　Before　he　could　dive　back　to　safety；　the　shells　caught　him。
　 Jason　grabbed　up　the　gun　as　it　skidded　almost　to　his　feet。　They　heard　the　sound　of　wide　open　truck　turbines　screaming　toward　them　as　he　blasted　the　lock。　The　mechanism　sighed　and　the　hatch　sagged　open。　They　were　all　through　the　airlock　before　the　first　truck　appeared。　Naxa　stayed　behind　with　the　gun；　to　hold　the　lock　until　they　could　take　the　control　room。
　 Everyone　climbed　faster　than　Jason；　once　he　had　pointed　them　the　way；　so　the　battle　was　over　when　he　got　there。　The　single　city　Pyrran　looked　like　a　pincushion。　One　of　the　techs　had　foqnd　the　gun　controls　and　was　shooting　wildly；　the　sheer　quantity　of　his　fire　driving　the　trucks　back。
　 〃Someone　get　on　the　radio　and　tell　the　talkers　to　call　the　attack　off；〃　Jason　said。　He　found　the　munications　screen　and　snapped　it　on。　Kerk's　wide…eyed　face　stared　at　him　from　the　screen。
　 〃You！〃　Kerk　said；　breathing　the　word　like　a　curse。
　 〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　Jason　answered。　He　talked　without　looking　up；　while　his　hands　were　busy　at　the　control　board。　〃Listen　to　me；　Kerk…and　don't　doubt　anything　I　say。　I　may　not　know　how　to　fly　one　of　these　ships；　but　I　do　know　how　to　blow　them　up。　Do　you　hear　that　sound？〃　He　ffipped　over　a　switch　and　the　faraway　whine　of　a　pump　droned　faintly。　〃That's　the　main　fuel　pump。　If　I　let　it　run…which　I　won't　right　now…it　could　quickly　fill　the　drive　chamber　with　raw　fuel。　Pour　in　so　much　that　it　would　run　out　of　the　stern　tubes。　Then　what　do　you　think　would　happen　to　your　one…and…only　spacer　if　I　pressed　the　firing　button？　I'm　not　asking　you　what　would　happen　to　me…since　you　don't　care…　but　you　need　this　ship　the　way　you　need　life　itself。〃
　 There　was　only　silence　in　the　cabin　now。　The　men　who　had　won　the　ship　turned　to　face　him。　Kerk's　voice　grated　loudly　through　the　room。
　 'What　do　you　want；　Jason？　What　are　you　trying　to　do？　Why　did　you　lead　those　animals　in　here？〃　His　voice　cracked　and　broke　as　anger　choked　him　and　spilled　over。
　 〃Watch　your　tongue；　Kerk；〃　Jason　said　with　soft　menace。　〃These　men　you　are　talking　about　are　the　only　ones　on　Pyrrus　who　have　a　spaceship。　If　you　want　them　to　share　it　with　you；　you　had　better　learn　to　talk　nicely。　Now　e　over　here　at　once…and　bring　Brucco　and　Meta。〃　Jason　looked　at　the　older　man's　florid　and　swollen　face　and　felt　a　measure　of　sympathy。　〃Don't　look　so　unhappy；　it's　not　the　end　of　the　world。　In　fact；　it　might　be　the　beginning　of　one。　And　another　thing；　leave　this　channel　open　when　you　go。　Have　it　hooked　into　every　screen　in　the　city　so　everyone　can　see　what　happens　here。　Make　sure　it's　taped　too；　for　replay。〃
　 Kerk　started　to　say　something；　but　changed　his　mind　before　he　did。　He　left　the　screen；　but　the　set　stayed　alive。　Carrying　the　scene　in　the　control　room　to　the　entire　city。
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　 The　fight　was　over。　It　had　ended　so　quickly　the　fact　hadn't　really　sunk　in　yet。　Rhes　rubbed　his　hand　against　the　gleaming　metal　of　the　control　console；　letting　the　reality　of　touch　convince　him。　The　other　men　milled　about；　looking　out　through　the　viewscreens　or　soaking　in　the　mechanical　strangeness　of　the　room。
　 Jason　was　physically　exhausted；　but　he　couldn't　let　it　show。　He　opened　the　pilot's　medbox　and　dug　through　it　until　he　found　the　stimulants。　Three　of　the　little　gold　pills　washed　the　fatigue　from　his　body；　and　he　could　think　clearly　again。
　 〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　shouted。　〃The　fight's　not　over　yet。　They'll　try　anything　to　take　this　ship　back　and　we　have　to　be　ready。　I　want　one　of　the　techs　to　go　over　these　boards　until　he　finds　the　lock　controls。　Make　sure　all　the　airlocks　and　ports　are　sealed。　Send　men　to　check　them；　if　necessary。　Turn　on　all　the　screens　to　scan　in　every　direction；　so　no　one　can　get　near　the　ship。　We'll　need　a　guard　in　the　engine　room；　my　control　could　be　cut　if　they　broke　in　there。　And　there　had　better　be　a　room…by…room　search　of　the　ship；