douglashill.galacticwarlord-第13章

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ve　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；　to　pass　through　the　doorway。　Here　was　the　leader　of　the　original　three　false　legionaries　…　the　half…naked　giant　who　had　gazed　at　Keill；　and　laughed；　that　frustrating　day　on　the　spaceport　of　Saltrenius。
　He　was　smiling　now；　unpleasantly。　'Jiker；　one　of　these　days　I　think　I　will　send　you　for　a　walk　outside　without　a　suit；　and　see　if　you　can　talk　in　vacuum。'
　The　threat　seemed　all　the　more　vicious　for　having　been　made　in　that　easy；　melodious　voice。　Then　the　giant　turned　to　inspect　Keill　…　who　countered　with　an　inspection　of　his　own。
　The　enormous；　smoothly　muscled　bulk　of　the　man　was　belied　by　the　lightness　of　his　step；　the　control　of　his　movements。　Here　was　no　lumbering　man…mountain；　Keill　saw；　but　a　man　who　was　as　athletic　and　co…ordinated　as　he　was　powerful。　Which　made　him　all　the　more　formidable。
　Probably　from　one　of　the　altered　worlds；　Keill　surmised。　The　hairlessness；　the　bronze　skin　were　indications。　But　there　was　something　else。。。
　He　remembered　the　words　of　the　newsman　back　on　Saltrenius；　which　seemed　so　long　ago。　About　the　strange　markings　round　the　throat　and　belly　of　the　giant。　The　marks　were　plainly　visible　to　Keill　…　looking　very　much　like　raised；　narrow　ridges　of　scar　tissue；　evenly　and　pletely　encircling　the　powerful　neck　and　abdomen。　Then　Keill　looked　again；　and　his　skin　crawled。
　The　ridges　seemed　to　be　moving。　Writhing；　swelling　slightly。　As　if　serpentine　things　with　lives　of　their　own　were　curled　round　the　giant's　body；　just　beneath　the　skin。
　The　giant's　malicious　smile　widened　as　he　surveyed　Keill。　'So　we　have　finally　caught　one；　have　we　？'　His　chuckle　resounded　in　the　narrow　room。　'And；　I　believe；　the　very　one　who　was　hurrying　to　make　our　acquaintance　on　Saltrenius。　What　took　you　so　long　to　pay　us　a　visit；　legionary　？'
　Keill　said　nothing；　watching　the　giant　impassively。
　'Taking　refuge　in　silence；　I　see。　Very　well　…　we　shall　go　through　the　formalities。　Your　name　and　rank？'
　'Keill　Randor；　Group　Leader　of　the　fourth　Strike　Group　of　the　41st　Legion。'　Keill's　voice　was　flat　and　cold。
　'Of　the　planet　Moros；'　said　the　giant。　'Is　that　not　how　the　ritual　went　on　？'
　Keill　let　the　question　pass。　'Gloating　is　a　pastime　of　small　minds。　Do　you　have　a　name；　gloater　？'
　The　giant's　smile　faded　for　an　instant；　then　returned。　'Ah；　the　legendary　fighting　spirit　of　the　Legions　is　not　quelled。　Yes；　Keill　Randor；　you　may　know　my　name　…　for　the　short　while　that　you　have　left　to　know　anything。　I　am　the　Lord　Thr'un　of　Irruq…hoa。'
　Keill　raised　a　sardonic　eyebrow。　He　had　never　heard　of　a　planet　called　Irruq…hoa；　but　then　there　were　many　planets　he　had　never　heard　of。　He　did　know　that　aristocratic　titles　were　mon　in　many　human　societies　through　the　galaxy。　But　it　was　an　odd　distinction　for　the　leader　of　a　gang　like　this　to　bear。
　'Why　is　a　lord　of　Irruq…hoa　sitting　on　a　moon　of　Saltrenius　pretending　to　be　a　legionary　？'
　The　giant's　laughter　boomed。　'On　my　world；　we　have　a　species　of　water　creature　that　is　hardly　more　than　a　large　stomach；　with　filters。　It　sits　quietly　across　the　current　of　the　stream；　and　other　creatures　swim　blindly　in；　to　be　eaten。　I　have　been　waiting　here　to　eat　you；　legionary。'
　'On　my　planet；'　Keill　replied　coldly；　'there　was　a　poisonous　reptile　that　had　the　ability　to　disguise　itself　as　other；　less　vicious　creatures。　We　always　killed　them；　whenever　we　discovered　one。'
　'I　am　the　reptile　in　disguise；　am　I？'　laughed　Thr'un。　'And　you　would　like　to　kill　me；　I　am　sure。'　He　stepped　forward；　looming　over　Keill；　the　eerie　markings　jutting　and　squirming
　beneath　his　skin。　'It　would　be　interesting　to　let　you　try；　Randor。　I　have　often　wondered　how　the　famous　fighting　skills　of　the　Legions　would　measure　up　to　those　of　the　。。。　to　mine。'
　Keill　had　not　missed　the　broken　sentence。　'To　those　of　the　what？'
　Thr'un　smiled。　'So　many　questions。　But　it　is　I　who　have　questions　that　are　to　be　answered。'　He　moved　back；　folding　his　huge　arms。　'First　answer　me　this；　Randor。　How　many　other　legionaries　have　survived　？'
　Keill　nodded　thoughtfully。　'So　I　am　the　first；　as　you　said；　to　fall　into　your　trap。　I　doubt　if　the　others　will　be　so　careless。'
　'What　others　？'　the　giant　hissed。　'Where　？'
　Letting　his　eyes　shift　away　from　Thr'un；　Keill　assumed　an　expression　of　dismay；　as　if　he　had　said　more　than　he　intended。　'Perhaps　there　are　no　others。　I。。。　I　don't　know。'
　'You　will　tell　me！'　Thr'un　bellowed。
　Keill　bent　his　head　and　stared　steadfastly　at　the　floor；　giving　a　perfect　portrayal　of　a　man　determined　not　to　give　away　a　secret。
　The　giant　snorted；　and　gestured　at　Jiker　and　Rish。　'Bring　him　along；'　he　ordered。　'You　may　tie　him　down　and　jangle　him　a　little　until　he　feels　more　conversational。'
　Thr'un　turned　and　went　abruptly　out；　and　Keill　raised　his　head　to　confront　the　muzzles　of　the　guns　in　the　other　men's　hands；　and　the　unholy　gleam　of　pleasure　in　their　eyes。
　They　guided　him　into　a　corridor　that　ran　outside　the　cubicle；　both　men　staying　well　behind　him　and　staying　on　opposite　sides　of　the　corridor；　so　that　even　Keill　could　not　hope　to　turn　and　lunge　at　both　together。　So　he　went　without　argument；　using　his　chance　to　examine　what　he　could　see　of　the　layout　of　the　dome。
　It　seemed　to　follow　the　basic；　standard　shape　of　most　space…domes。　It　was　ovoid；　and　on　two　levels。　The　upper　one　would　normally　be　a　hemisphere　of　metal　and　plastic；　topped　with　a　broad　lens…like　circle　of　plastiglass　and　used　primarily　for　observation；　munication　and　the　like。　So　Keill　knew　from　the　flat；　blank　ceiling　that　he　must　be　on　the　lower　level。
　Most　space…domes　had　one　wide　corridor　running　round　the　circumference　of　the　lower　level；　just　inside　the　tough　outer　hull。　That　main　corridor　would　surround　all　the　various　functioning　sections　of　the　dome　…　like　workrooms　and　laboratories；　sleeping　quarters；　munal　eating　and　recreation　areas　…　along　with　the　usual　life…support　systems；　storage　rooms　and　so　on。　And　these　would　be　connected　by　narrower　passages　that　would　each　join　up　at　some　point　with　the　main　outer　corridor。
　So　it　seemed　to　be；　in　this　case。　The　passage　they　had　entered　from　the　cubicle　led　to　a　broad；　curving　corridor　as　Keill　had　expected。　A　quick　glance　over　his　shoulder　arid　he　had　exactly　what　he　needed　for　his　bearings　…　because　he　had　glimpsed；　behind　them；　the　broad　and　heavy　hatchway　of　an　airlock。　That　had　to　be　the　dome's　entrance　…　almost　certainly　its　only　one。
　They　moved　along　the　main　corridor；　then　soon　turned　down　another　of　the　narrow　connecting　passages。　There　the　two　armed　men　had　to　walk　nearly　shoulder　to　shoulder；　but　even　so　it　would　have　been　insanely　risky　for　Keill　to　turn　on　them。　Anyway；　there　was　too　much　he　still　wanted　to　find　out　…　and；　he　hoped；　there　might　be　better　chances　for　escape　later。
　In　a　moment　they　came　to　a　doorway　opening　off　the　passage；　and　the　two　urged　Keill　through　it。　It　might　once　have　been　a　laboratory；　when　the　dome　was　serving　its　original　purpose　of　scientific　research。　Now　it　was　disused　and　empty；　except　for　a　low；　heavy　metal　platform；　which　had　once　probably　held　an　assortment　of　machinery　and　equipment。
　Now；　apparently；　it　was　to　hold　Keill　Randor。
　'Get　on　there；'　Jiker　snarled；　with　a　gesture　of　the　jangler。　'On　y'r　back。'
　Keill　did　as　he　was　told；　calmly；　though　he　could　guess　what　was　to　e。　But　Rish　was　holding　the　beam…gun　aimed　unerringly　at　Keill's　head；　and　looked　only　too　ready　to　use　it。
　Jiker　stooped　and　took　several　metal　bands　and　clamps　from　beneath　the　platform；　obviously　well　prepared　beforehand　for　their　purpose。　He　fastened　the　bands　tightly　across　Keill；　clamping　him　to　the　bare　metal　surface　so　that　he　was　immobilized　…　held　by　wrists　and　ankles；　and　by　bands　across　chest　and　thighs。
　'Now；'　Jiker　said；　licking　thin　lips；　'think　about　them　questions　the　boss　asked　y'。'
　He　raised　the　jangler　and　pressed　the　stud。
　The　agony　flooded　in。　It　was　as　if　every　nerve…end　was　being　dragged　forcibly　from　its　place；　to　be　dipped　in　acid　and　hacked　at　by　a　saw…toothed　blade。　Keill's　body　contorted；　convulsed；　threshing　within　the　confines　of　the　bands　that　held　him　…　and　blood　streamed　from　his　lip　where　he