douglashill.galacticwarlord-第7章

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　At　that　point　a　human　figure　appeared　…　materialized；　from　empty　air　…　before　him。
　And　the　voice　that　Keill　had　heard　before　spoke　again；　still　from　no　specific　point　within　the　room。
　'Quite　astonishing；'　it　said。　'You　should　not　be　at　all　strong　enough；　yet；　to　break　free　of　the　unit。'
　Keill　said　nothing。　Around　him　the　massage　unit's　vibrations　dwindled　and　stopped；　and　its　grip　on　his　body　eased。　It　became　merely　a　fortably　contoured　bed；　and　Keill　could　move　again。　He　began　making　small；　minimal　movements；　stretching　and　twisting；　testing　the　state　of　his　body；　while　warily　studying　the　figure　that　had　appeared　so　suddenly。
　An　unadorned　robe　covered　all　of　the　figure's　body；　and　extended　into　a　heavy　cowl；　or　hood；　that　was　pulled　forward　so　that　the　face　was　obscured　in　shadow。　But　from　the　posture　of　the　figure；　which　was　seated　on　a　tall；　plain　chair；　and　the　size　and　shape　of　the　hands；　Keill　could　see　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　someone　thin；　elderly　and　probably　male。
　But　then　he　saw　that　he　was　not　actually　in　the　presence　of　the　figure。　The　angles　of　the　shadowings　and　the　faint　haziness　of　outline　told　him　that　he　was　looking　at　a　holo…image。　Which　explained　the　sudden　materialization；　and　the　apparently　disembodied　voice。
　'Do　not　be　alarmed；　Keill　Randor。　You　are　not　among　enemies。'
　'Who　are　you？'　Keill　said　sharply；　glad　to　find　that　his　voice　was　working　normally。　'What　am　I　doing　here　？'
　'You　asked　those　questions　before　…　do　you　remember？'　said　the　voice。　'I　am　Talis；　who　spoke　to　you　when　you　awoke　prematurely。。。'
　'I　remember；'　Keill　replied。　'But　you　told　me　little；　and　explained　nothing。　Now　I　want　explanations。'
　'That　is　why　I　am　here；'　said　the　kindly　voice。　'But　tell　me　first　how　you　feel。'
　'I　feel　weak；　as　you　must　surely　know；'　Keill　said　brusquely。　'But　everything　seems　to　be　functional。　And　the　pain　is　gone。'
　'Yes　…　we　have　removed　the　radiation　from　your　body。　Soon　you　will　be　fully　restored　to　your　normal　state　of　health　…which；　it　seems；　is　quite　remarkable。'
　'If　that　is　so；'　Keill　said　slowly；　'then　I　will　owe　you　a　debt　that　I　can　never　repay。　And　I　will　want　to　know　all　the　more　who　you　are；　and　why　this　is　happening。'
　'Just　so；'　said　the　figure。　'There　is　much　to　tell　you。　There　is　much　also　that　you　cannot　be　told。　But　I　will　explain　what　I　can。'
　The　figure　settled　back　in　its　chair；　folding　its　long　hands；　and　continued。
　'I　am　one　of　a　group　of　people；　mostly　old　dodderers　like　myself…'　the　warm　voice　chuckled　as　before…'who　can　immodestly　call　themselves　some　of　the　leading　intellects　of　the　Inhabited　Worlds。　Most　of　us　are　scientists　of　one　sort　or　another。　You　would　doubtless　recognize　many　of　our　names；　if　you　were　ever　to　know　them。'
　'You　told　me　your　name；'　Keill　interjected。
　'Talis　is　the　name　I　use　now。　It　is　not　my　true　name　…　and　that　I　cannot　tell　you。'
　Keill　shrugged　and　remained　silent；　while　the　image　of　the　old　man　called　Talis　went　on。　He　told　Keill　how　most　of　the　individuals　in　the　group　had　known　each　other　for　a　long　time；　had　often　worked　together；　conferring　over　problems　of　far…reaching　importance　round　the　galaxy。　More　and　more　they　had　been　invited　to　work　on　specific　problems　by　governments　of　different　planets；　here　and　there　…　because　they　were　able　to　bring　a　vast　range　of　knowledge；　and　a　special　kind　of　overview；　to　the　solution　of　such　problems。
　And　it　was　just　that　overview；　Talis　said；　that　gave　them　an　early　warning　of　a　new　problem　within　the　human　worlds。　A　threat；　a　danger；　that　might　well　in　the　end　affect　the　future　of　the　entire　galaxy。
　Keill　might　have　interrupted　again；　but　the　old　man；　not　to　be　hurried；　held　up　a　hand　to　stop　him。
　'When　we　saw　the　magnitude　of　this　danger；'　Talis　continued；　'we　made　up　our　minds　that　we　must　pool　all　our　resources；　all　our　knowledge　and　abilities；　to　oppose　it。　We　also　knew　that　if　we　opposed　it；　we　ourselves　would　be　in　immediate　danger。　So　we　abandoned　the　lives　we　were　then　leading；　and　came　here。'
　'Where　is　here　？'　Keill　asked。
　'We　are　on　…　more　correctly；　within　…　an　asteroid；'　Talis　said。　'A　wandering　piece　of　space　debris；　which　appears　on　no　star　maps　or　charts　of　the　spaceways。'
　And　he　explained　how　he　and　the　nameless　others　had　constructed　a　secret　base　for　themselves　within　the　asteroid　…　with　the　most　advanced　laboratories；　munications　equipment　and　special　protective　devices　that　they　could　contrive。　It　had　been　a　long；　slow　process；　for　secrecy　had　to　be　absolute。　During　the　process；　Talis　said；　all　of　his　panions　had　disappeared　from　their　home　worlds；　as　undramatically　as　possible。　They　had　made　sure　that　official　records　would　show；　if　anyone　inquired；　that　many　of　them　had　died；　as　old　people　will。　The　rest　of　them　would　have　seemed　to　have　retired；　fading　away　into　obscurity　and　senility。
　'We　know　that　we　cannot　be　traced　here；　or　located；'　Talis　said。　'And　we　know　that　here　we　must　stay；　within　our　asteroid；　and　do　everything　in　our　power　to　counter　the　growing　threat　…　that　may　one　day　soon　endanger　the　very　existence　of　the　galaxy　as　we　know　it。'
　Keill　frowned　dubiously。　'You'll　pardon　me　if　I　find　all　this　hard　to　take　in。　What　is　this　terrible　threat？　And　what　is　it　all　to　do　with　me　being　here　？'
　'Do　not　take　it　too　lightly；　Keill　Randor。'　The　old　voice　was　sombre。　'We　are　confronting　an　enemy　of　frightening　power；　and　even　more　frightening　intentions。　He　is　all　humanity's　enemy　…　but　he　is　even　more　particularly　your　enemy。　For　he　is　the　one　who　murdered　your　world。'
　
　Chapter　six
　
　Shock　jolted　Keill　into　a　sitting　position　…　but　the　movement　drenched　him　with　sweat　again；　and　dizziness　swept　over　him；　blurring　his　vision。　He　sagged　back　against　the　cushioned　bed；　and　the　hooded　figure　in　the　holo…image　leaned　forward　anxiously。
　'You　must　not　over…tax　yourself；'　Talis　said。　'I　have　spoken　for　too　long；　and　I　fear　I　have　distressed　you。　Now　you　must　rest；　and　we　will　speak　again　when　you　are　stronger。'
　'No　…　wait。。。'　Keill　said　weakly。　'I　must　know　。。。'
　But　the　holo…image　vanished　as　abruptly　as　it　had　appeared；　and　the　room　was　silent　once　more。
　Keill　lay　back；　limp　with　the　emotions　that　boiled　within　him；　the　desperate　need　to　know　more。　He　might　have　tried　to　shout；　even　to　get　up；　though　his　limbs　felt　as　if　they　were　made　of　water。　But　a　sound　from　one　side　diverted　him。
　Twisting　his　head　around；　he　saw　a　section　of　the　wall　swing　silently　inwards；　though　there　had　been　no　sign　of　a　door…seam。　Through　the　opening　rolled　a　wheeled；　upright　cylindrical　shape　…　a　robot　servitor；　bearing　a　beaker　upon　its　level　upper　surface。
　It　came　to　a　stop　beside　the　bed。　The　beaker　held　a　milky　liquid；　fragrant；　steaming　slightly。　Keill　found　that　he　was　desperately　thirsty。　He　picked　up　the　beaker；　grimly　forbidding　his　hand　to　shake；　and　drained　the　contents。　When　the　empty　beaker　was　replaced；　the　servitor　rolled　away；　and　the　wall　closed　as　blank　and　seamless　as　before。
　The　drink　had　been　bland；　but　flavoursome　and　warm。　It　also　seemed　soothing；　relaxing　…　and　then　Keill　knew　that　it　was　certainly　drugged；　that　again　the　numbness　was　invading　his　mind；　quietening　its　turmoil；　and　he　was　drifting　into　sleep。
　When　he　awoke　again　he　felt　as　refreshed　as　before；　and　more　of　his　strength　seemed　to　have　returned。　He　was　able　to　sit　up　without　effort　…　though　when　he　swung　his　legs　off　the　bed　and　tried　to　stand；　he　found　himself　shaky；　and　was　glad　to　sink　back　down　on　to　the　contoured　padding。
　But　the　room　remained　empty。　Keill　tried　shouting；　calling　Talis's　name；　demanding　his　return　…　but　no　image　formed；　no　voice　came。
　Instead　the　robot　servitor　appeared；　as　before。　It　bore　another　drink　…　a　clear；　cool　liquid　this　time　…　and　a　bowl　containing　a　gruel…like　substance。　Keill　tasted　them　suspiciously　at　first；　but　growing　thirst　and　hunger　drove　him　to　empty　the　containers。　And　this　time　there　was　no　drug；　only　refreshment；　pleasant　tastes；　and　the　restorative　feeling　of　food　in　the　stomach。
　The　robot's　entrance　had　also　coincided　with　the　opening　of　another　panel　in　the　wall　behind　Keill；　revealing　a　small　shower…and…lavatory　unit；　as　pact　as　the　same　facility　on　a　spaceship。　He　needed　the　support　of　the　robot　to　make　use　of　it；　and　fell　back　exhausted　when　he　returned　to　the　bed。　But　it　was　another　step　ahead；　another　step　towards　the　time　when　his　strength　would　be　returned　and　he　could　bee　his　own　master　again　…　and　begin　to　find　out　what　was　really　happening。
　From　then　on；　the　undisturbed　days　continued　…　if　they　were　days；　for　Keill　had　no　way　of　measuring　the　passage　of　time　within　the　blank…walled　room。　He　slept　and　woke；　ate　and　drank；　rested　and　thought　…　sorting　through　the　questions　and　the　doubts　that　swarmed　within　him。
　He　could　not　bring　himself　to　accept　what　he　had　been　told　by　the　old　man　called　Talis　…　because　it　seemed　too　improbable；　and　because　too　much　had　been　left　unexplained。　A　group　of　aged　scientists　hiding　themselves　away　so　as　to　fight　some　nameless　enemy？　The　same　enemy　being　the　destroyer　who　had　wiped　out　the　Legions　of　Moros　？
　The　questions　of　'who'　and　'why'　bulked　too　large；　too　unanswerable。　And　he　had　been　offered　no　evidence　of　any　of　it；　save　one　holo…image　of　an　old　man　keeping　his　face　hidden。
　He　assembled　what　facts　he　had；　testing　their　solidity。　He　had　just　entered　his　ship；　on　Saltrenius；　when　someone　…　or　something　…　had　e　behind　him　and　felled　him　with　a　needier。　He　was　now　in　an　empty　room　somewhere；　tended　by　a　robot。　He　had　gone　through　some　prolonged　physical　ordeal；　which　had　left　him　weakened　…　and　which　had　seemed　to　require　some　highly　sophisticated　technology。　And　he　was　free　of　pain。
　Or　was　he　？　Was　even　that　a　true　fact　？　Certainly　there　were　drugs　that　could　blot　out　even　that　much　pain。　But　he　did　not　feel　drugged　…　he　was　alert　and　clear…headed；　despite　his　body's　shakiness。
　Then　perhaps；　as　he　had　thought　before；　he　was　lying　in　a　hospital　somewhere；　in　the　terminal　stages　of　his　illness；　finishing　out　his　life　in　delirium。
　Did　the　hallucinations　of　delirium　go　on　as　long　as　these　past　events　seemed　to　have　？　He　did　not　know。　Would　they　be　so　detailed；　in　such　an　ordered　routine；　as　his　days　now　were　in　this　room　？　He　did　not　know。
　The　questions　pursued　themselves　round　in　circles　within　his　mind　till　he　was　weary　of　them。　In　the　end；　he　knew　very　little。　In　time；　perhaps；　if　Talis　returned；　or　if　other　developments　came　along；　he　would　learn　more。
　Meanwhile；　his　legionary　discipline　reasserted　itself。　A　man　did　not　fret　over　situations　he　could　not　hope　to　alter。　A　man　did　not　waste　energy　gnawing　at　questions　for　which　there　seemed；　as　yet；　no　answers。　If　it　was　necessary　to　wait；　then　a　man　must　wait　…　calm；　controlled；　patient。
　And　he　must　keep　himself　ready　at　all　times　to　act；　instantly；　when　action　became　possible。
　So　Keill　readied　himself。　He　began　a　programme　of　light　exercises　at　regular　intervals　…　routine　ones　that　he　had　known　from　childhood。　As　he　grew　stronger；　he　extended　the　work…outs；　regaining　more　and　more　of　his　normal　suppleness；　agility　and　strength。　And　he　was　aware　that　Talis；　or　someone；　was　keeping　his　progress　under　observation　…　for　his　meals　grew　larger　and　more