douglashill.galacticwarlord-第15章

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wo　just　in　front　of　the　dome's　entrance。'
　To　keep　them　penned　up　inside？　Glr　said；　doubtfully。
　'Yes。'　There　was　a　cold　deadliness　in　the　mental　tone。　'I　want　them　all　in　here；　with　me。'
　As　you　wish；　said　Glr。
　Keill　had　not　taken　his　eyes　from　Jiker。　'Where　will　the　men　be；　suiting　up　？'
　'Equipment　room；　down　th'　other　end　by　th'　entrance。'
　'And　Thr'un？'
　'Maybe　with　'em。。。　Maybe　up　in　th'　dome；　where　he　stays　most　'f　th'　time。。。'　An　evil　glint　lit　up　Jiker's　eyes。　'Y'　won't　get　past　him；　y'know！　He'll　take　y'　apart！　He　ain't　human！'
　Keill　was　about　to　demand　more　detail　on　that　interesting　point　when　the　door　to　the　chamber　was　flung　open。
　One　of　the　other　men　burst　in；　obviously　sent　to　collect　Jiker　and　Rish。　The　pass　Glr　had　made　in　the　ship　had　produced　action。　Thr'un　would　be　organizing　his　men　to　face　a　possible　attack。
　But　Keill　spun　and　fired　…　with　the　beam…gun　…　before　the　newer　could　open　his　mouth。　The　man　screamed　and　toppled；　a　small　flame　licking　for　an　instant　at　the　edge　of　the　hole　burned　by　the　energy　gun　in　the　centre　of　his　chest。　And　in　that　instant　Jiker　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　lunged　desperately　at　Keill。
　Effortlessly　Keill　stepped　within　the　reach　of　the　frantically　clawing　fingers　and　drove　a　short；　jabbing　punch　at　the　side　of　the　long　jaw。　Anger　and　left…over　pain　put　extra　venom　behind　his　fist　…　and　the　angle　of　Jiker's　head；　as　his　body　sprawled；　showed　that　it　was　not　only　janglers　that　broke　necks。
　Beneath　his　feet　the　floor　quivered；　heavy　vibrations　shaking　the　rock　foundation　of　the　dome。　That　would　be　Glr；　making　short　work　of　the　cruiser。
　Keill　moved　quickly　towards　the　door；　bending　over　the　man　he　had　shot；　freeing　his　gun。　A　needier；　just　for　variety。　But　not　much　more　useful　to　Keill　than　the　jangler。　He　dropped　both　weapons　on　the　floor；　and　smashed　them　with　two　driving　blows　of　his　heel。　His　own　beam…gun　would　be　all　the　weapon　he　would　need。
　There　had　been　eight　men；　and　Thr'un　had　made　nine。　Now　there　were　five；　besides　the　giant。
　More　vibrations　underfoot　…　and　then　the　voice　of　Glr　in　Keill's　mind。
　At　the　entrance；　as　requested。　Two　men　in　spacesuits　had　started　to　e　out。　They　have　gone　back　in　at　some　speed。
　'Good；'　Keill　replied。　'Stay　there　and　keep　watch。　And　don't　speak　for　a　while　…I'm　going　to　be　busy。'
　Gun　in　hand；　he　sprang　through　the　door　and　moved　away　along　the　narrow　passage。
　There　had　been　no　one　in　the　passage　…　and　as　Keill　came　to　its　junction　with　the　wide　outer　corridor；　and　peered　carefully　round　the　corner；　there　was　still　no　one　in　sight。　No　doubt　most　of　the　remaining　men　were　collected　at　the　other　end　of　the　dome；　near　the　airlocks；　as　Jiker　had　said。　All　their　attention　would　be　on　the　spaceship　…　with　its　Legion　markings　…　guarding　the　dome's　entrance。　The　last　thing　they　would　expect　would　be　one　man　attacking　them　from　within。　
　And；　because　that　one　man　was　an　armed　legionary　of　Moros；　in　full　fighting　readiness　and　with　a　good　many　scores　to　settle；　it　was　all　too　likely　that　it　would　be　the　last　thing　they　would　expect。
　Keill　turned　into　the　corridor　and　moved　swiftly　and　silently　along　it；　hugging　the　inner　wall。　His　movements　seemed　to　have　eased　the　pain　from　his　strained　and　tortured　muscles；　and　he　moved　as　lightly　and　fluidly　as　he　ever　did。　He　slowed　his　pace　as　he　neared　the　opening　of　another　connecting　passage。　A　careful　glance　round　…　and　again　no　one。　But　soon；　he　was　certain；　the　curving　main　corridor　would　reveal　the　opening　of　the　airlock　at　the　dome's　entrance。。。
　And　there　it　was；　and　two　men　in　space　suits；　with　guns　in　their　hands　…　energy　guns。　They　hesitated　only　for　a　second；　astonished　at　the　sight　of　him；　then　jerked　up　their　guns　and　fired。
　Keill　dived　full　length　straight　ahead。　His　left　hand　slapped　on　the　smooth　metal　floor　to　break　his　fall；　as　the　beams　from　the　others'　guns　sizzled　above　his　head。　Then　he　was　sliding　a　few　paces；　full　length　on　the　floor；　but　his　own　gun　was　rocksteady　in　his　right　hand；　blazing　out　its　deadliness。
　The　two　men　dropped　with　a　clatter；　and　Keill　was　up　again。　To　the　left　of　the　spacesuited　bodies；　a　doorway　that　had　to　be　the　end　chamber　where　the　others　were　gathered。　Three　left　now；　besides　the　giant。
　He　flattened　against　the　wall；　swiftly　glanced　round　the　edge　of　the　door　and　drew　back。　Energy　beams　hissed　past；　biting　into　the　doorframe；　the　metal　sliding　and　dripping　as　it　melted。　Two　of　them；　waiting；　hidden　behind　metal　cases　in　what　must　be　the　equipment　room。　He　could　hear　their　voices；　high…pitched　and　nervous　in　the　face　of　this　unexpected　attack。
　Beyond　them；　he　had　seen　in　that　lightning　glance；　had　been　another　doorway。　And　somewhere　there　was　a　third　man。。。
　He　moved　quietly　away　from　the　door。　The　two　inside　the　equipment　room　would　keep　for　a　moment　…　they　were　not　likely　to　move。　But　the　third　man　was　probably　trying　to　circle；　to　get　behind　Keill。　Would　he　use　the　nearest　connecting　passage；　the　one　Keill　had　just　e　past　？
　Apparently　he　would。　Keill　waited　at　the　corner　of　the　passage；　ears　straining；　and　caught　the　muffled　slide　of　boots　on　metal　as　the　man　crept　forward。　Listening　carefully；　Keill　waited　…　not　a　muscle　moving；　hardly　breathing；　as　if　he　were　carved　in　stone。
　Another　soft　shuffle　of　a　foot　…　nearer　now。　Carefully　Keill　weighed　the　distance　and　the　timing；　poising　himself；　silently　shifting　his　gun　to　his　left　hand　。。。
　Then　the　other　man　put　his　head　round　the　corner；　and　met　the　axe…edge　of　Keill's　hand　across　his　throat。
　Keill　caught　the　body　as　it　collapsed；　easing　it　soundlessly　to　the　floor；　ignoring　the　purple…black　of　the　face　as　the　man　died　swiftly　from　a　crushed　larynx。　Silent　as　before；　he　drifted　along　the　narrow　connecting　passage；　rounded　the　corner；　then　let　his　boots　ring　solidly　on　the　metal　as　he　stepped　through　the　doorway　into　the　chamber　behind　the　last　two　men　who　waited；　watching　nervously　in　the　wrong　direction。
　They　swung　round　in　panic；　wildly　trying　to　bring　their　guns　to　bear；　and　Keill　dropped　them　with　one　shot　apiece。
　And　now　there　was　only　Thr'un。
　A　quick　but　careful　survey　of　the　remainder　of　the　dome's　lower　level　confirmed　what　Jiker　had　said。　The　giant　was　certainly　on　the　upper　level　…　where　he　had　no　doubt　gone　to　look　out　at　the　Legion　ship　that　lay　in　wait　at　the　dome's　entrance。
　Keill　paused　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　that　led　to　the　upper　level；　staring　up　at　the　curving　wall；　with　a　patch　of　stars　glinting　through　the　plastiglass　at　the　crest　of　the　dome。　One　set　of　stairs；　which　emerged　through　the　floor　of　the　top　level；　so　that　at　the　top　Keill　would　be　in　full　view　of　the　waiting　Thr'un。
　He　ghosted　up　a　few　steps　in　total　silence；　then　halted；　crouching；　and　projected　a　call。　'Glr　…　another　diversion。　Fire　a　blast　over　the　dome；　as　close　as　you　can'
　At　your　service；　came　the　cheerful　reply。
　The　plastiglass　flared　with　eerie　light　as　the　narrow　beam　of　energy　blazed　past　overhead。　In　the　same　instant　Keill　sprang　up　the　remaining　stairs；　dived　and　rolled。
　Another；　narrower　beam　flashed　centimetres　away　from　where　he　had　been；　burning　deep　into　the　floor。　But　Keill　had　found　refuge　behind　a　heap　of　discarded　cases；　and　lay　there；　listening　carefully；　looking　over　his　surroundings。
　Clearly　Thr'un's　men　had　seen　no　need　to　be　tidy…minded　in　their　occupancy　of　the　dome。　Nor　had　the　scientific　group　who　had　first　used　the　structure　been　any　more　inclined　to　neatness　when　they　left。　The　upper　level；　which　was　one　large　chamber　with　the　dome　itself　as　ceiling；　was　filled　with　clutter　and　rubble。
　There　were　discarded　cases　and　containers　of　every　size　and　shape；　scattered　and　heaped　at　random。　There　were　what　seemed　to　be　stacks　of　spare　parts　for　machinery；　and　segments　of　scientific　equipment；　probably　damaged　and　thrown　aside　as　irrepairable。　There　were　even　a　few　mounds　of　rock　…　no　doubt　samples　from　the　surface　of　the　moon；　left　behind　after　examination。
　It　all　meant　useful　cover；　for　anyone　wishing　to　keep　hidden　in　the　wide　chamber。　But　it　was　cover　for　Thr'un　as　much　as　Keill。
　Then　Keill　saw　that　there　was　a　considerable　cleared　space　along　one　side　of　the　chamber　…　a　space　that　was　dominated　by　a　tall　bank　of　equipment；　apparently　in　working　order。
　munications　equipment；　without　doubt。　Perhaps　for　Thr'un　to　maintain　contact　with　his　'Master'　？
　A　faint　rustle　to　Keill's　left。　The　giant　was　circling；　stalking；　seeking　a　chance　for　another　shot　with　his　beam…gun。
　Keep　moving；　Keill　told　himself；　edging　soundlessly　away　to　his　right。　It　was　his　only　direction　…　yet　he　regretted　it；　for　he　was　being　driven　away　from　the　stairs；　being　cut　off　from　the　only　way　out。　No　matter；　he　thought。　If　he'd　been　sensible；　he　would　never　have　climbed　the　stairs　…　but　merely　have　gone　out　to　his　ship　and　blasted　the　dome　to　cinders。　But　somehow　he　had　wanted　to　face　the　giant　this　way。　And　there　was　always　the　chance　that　more　useful　information　might　be　forthing。
　The　energy　beam　hissed　past　him；　and　a　metal　canister　on　a　heap　of　rubbish　fell　away；　a　gaping　hole　melted　into　its　surface。　Keill　ducked；　moving　swiftly　…　and　as　he　did　so；　the　rich　bass　voice　of　Thr'un　echoed　musically　through　the　chamber。
　'Wele；　legionary。　You　seem　amazingly　difficult　to　kill　…but　I　promise　you；　you　will　not　leave　here　alive。'
　
　Chapter　thirteen
　
　Keill　did　not　reply；　but　took　advantage　of　the　sound　of　the　resonant　voice　to　move　more　swiftly。　Only　a　few　strides　now；　and　he　would　be　behind　the　heavy　bank　of　equipment　that　was　some　plex　form　of　municator。　There　was　a　chance　that　Thr'un　would　not　wish　to　burn　through　that；　to　reach　him。
　'As　close…mouthed　as　ever；　Randor？'　called　the　giant。　He；　too；　had　moved；　as　the　direction　of　his　voice　showed。　'I　would　have　thought　you　would　have　a　few　last　words。'
　Again；　covered　by　the　rolling　echoes　of　Thr'un's　voice；　Keill　moved。　For　an　instant　he　was　fully　exposed　in　the　cleared　area；　but　his　speed　saved　him。　He　felt　the　blistering　heat　of　the　energy　beam　just　above　his　head　as　he　dived　and　rolled；　ing　to　rest　behind　the　municator　cabinet。　Its　metal　bulk　rose　fortingly　above　him；　nearly　his　own　height。
　'You　are　mistaken；'　Thr'un　said；　'if　you　think　that　will　protect　you。'　To　underline　the　words；　the　energy　beam　bit　at　the　corner　of　the　municator。　Molten　metal　hissed　and　dripped。
　'And　you　are　mistaken；'　Keill　shouted；　'if　you　think　killing　me　will　save　you。　My　。　。。　panion　in　the　ship　still　has　you　trapped。'
　'Yes；　that　was　clever　of　you；'　Thr'un　mocked。　His　voice　indicated　that　he　was　moving　slowly　closer。　'I　had　not　imagined　that　there　was　someone　in　your　ship　…　you　were　alone；　were　you　not；　on　Saltrenius　？　Who　is　it　out　there；　another　legionary？'
　'As　full　of　questions　as　ever；　Thr'un　？'　Keill　said；　mimicking　the　giant's　earlier　words。　'Still　intending　to　report　dutifully　to　your　Master　？'
　Keill　was　aware　that　the　giant　wanted　to　keep　him　talking；　to　put　him　off…guard　when　the　final　attack　came。　But　the　trick　might　work　in　reverse。　Certainly　Thr'un　seemed　to　enjoy　the　sound　of　his　own　voice。　。。
　'I　do　not　report　to　the　Master；'　Thr'un　sneered。　'Only　the　One　reports。'
　Keill　sat　up　at　that。　More　intriguing　hints　and　mysteries。　Could　he　jolt　more　infor