douglashill.galacticwarlord-第8章

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　under　observation　…　for　his　meals　grew　larger　and　more　substantial　as　his　output　of　energy　increased。
　Then　one　day；　as　if　to　underline　how　far　he　had　e　from　being　weak　and　bed…ridden；　the　robot　brought　not　only　his　usual　meal　but　also　his　clothing。
　His　full　uniform　was　there　…　cleaned；　fresh；　showing　no　signs　of　wear。　As　if　it　were　a　new　one　made　exactly　to　the　specifications　of　the　old。
　He　dressed　quickly；　delighting　in　the　familiarity　of　the　garments；　feeling　even　more　fully　himself。　And　his　delight　increased　when　he　slipped　a　hand　into　a　tunic　pocket　and　drew　out　the　light　chain　with；　dangling　from　it；　his　identity　disc。　Its　angry　red　glow　faded；　shifted　to　the　sky…blue　of　normality　as　he　took　it　in　his　hand；　then　quickly　put　the　chain　round　his　neck。
　Now；　he　thought；　I　am　a　legionary　again。
　Even　so；　the　routine　went　on；　and　still　no　contact　came　from　Talis。　Keill　persisted　in　his　self…directed　programme　of　exercise；　testing　himself　ever　more　strenuously。　Until　the　time　came　at　last　when　he　could　put　himself　through　the　plete　routine　of　gruelling　physical　stresses　that　had　formed　his　basic　training　scheme　for　the　Festival　of　Martial　Games；　on　Moros。
　When　he　emerged　from　that　routine　sweating　only　lightly；　his　breathing　even；　his　body　still　resilient；　with　a　reserve　of　energy　left；　he　knew　he　was　ready。
　The　time　of　waiting　was　over。
　When　the　robot　next　came；　Keill　did　not　hesitate。　As　the　wall　panel　swung　open；　he　simply　hurdled　the　small　wheeled　cylinder；　and　was　out　…　to　seek　his　freedom。
　He　found　himself　in　a　narrow　passageway；　dimly　lit；　with　metallic　floor；　walls　and　ceiling。　Closed　doors；　like　the　hatchways　of　spaceships；　interrupted　the　smoothness　of　one　wall　here　and　there　along　its　length。
　The　doors　were　tightly　secured；　and　Keill　did　not　waste　energy　trying　to　break　through　them。　They　were　made　of　the　special　quaternium　alloy　used　for　the　hulls　of　fighting　ships；　well　able　to　resist　heavier　assaults　than　even　he　could　manage　bare…handed。
　He　raced　along　the　passage。　It　took　an　L…turn　to　the　right；　and　offered　him　two　gangways；　downwards　and　upwards。　Without　pausing　he　chose　the　downward　steps　…　and　came　to　a　sizeable　chamber　containing　an　array　of　plex　machinery；　in　separated　partments。
　Most　of　this　equipment　he　recognized　…　the　air　and　water　recyclers　especially。　It　all　seemed　to　be　larger　and　more　intricate　forms　of　the　standard　life…support　systems　for　spacecraft。　And　the　bulkiest　device；　in　the　central　position；　was　surely　a　very　advanced　form　of　gravitational　unit。
　So　he　was　on　some　form　of　space　station　or　artificial　satellite；　he　realized。　Perhaps　Talis's　story　of　a　secret；　hollowed…out　asteroid　was　true。
　But　he　would　not　know　unless　he　could　get　outside　it。　And　for　that　he　would　need　at　least　a　space　suit；　preferably　with　a　weapon；　and　…　if　luck　were　really　with　him　…　a　ship　of　some　sort。
　He　retraced　his　steps；　racing　up　to　the　upper　level。　More　passageways；　but　often　now　with　doors　that　opened。　They　revealed　a　series　of　chambers　that　were　clearly　laboratories　…crammed；　one　and　all；　with　collections　of　equipment　that　Keill；　who　thought　of　himself　as　fairly　knowledgeable　about　technology；　could　not　begin　to　fathom。
　Another　gangway　led　upwards；　and　he　sprinted　along　it。　It　took　him　up　to　a　chamber　heaped；　floor　to　ceiling；　with　book　tapes　and　information　tapes　of　every　kind；　and　a　number　of　viewers　scattered　among　them。　Beyond　that　room　was　an　observation　chamber；　with　a　broad　viewscreen　offering　a　panoramic　segment　of　star…filled　space。　Abundant　star…maps；　charts　of　the　space　lanes；　puter　outlets　were　available　around　the　room。
　It　was　a　wele　sight；　for　Keill　knew　that　if　he　was　able　to　escape；　he　might　need　the　information　within　that　room　to　get　his　bearings；　and　his　direction。
　But　he　did　not　linger　there　just　yet。　He　had　heard　no　sound　of　an　alarm　being　raised；　nor　had　there　been　any　sign　of　pursuit。　But　he　did　not　doubt　that　his　disappearance　from　the　room　had　been　noted　…　and　Talis；　or　someone；　would　surely　be　working　out　how　to　put　an　end　to　his　wild　flight。
　Another　passageway；　and　more　closed　doors。　Another　gangway；　leading　again　to　a　higher　level。　Another　chamber　。。。
　He　came　to　an　abrupt　halt；　barely　able　to　contain　the　yell　of　exultation　that　rose　in　his　chest。
　The　broad　chamber　before　him　…　with　a　high；　curved　ceiling　that　had　to　be　the　outer　hull　of　whatever　space　structure　he　was　in　…　contained　his　own　ship。
　It　gleamed　and　shone　as　it　had　not　done　since　it　had　first　e　out　of　production　on　Moros。　Old　battle　scars　and　stains　had　been　removed；　the　blue　Legion　insignia　re…embossed；　the　blunt　snouts　of　the　weapons　polished。　It　looked　as　newly　remade　as　his　uniform　had。　And　it　was　the　most　heartening　sight　Keill　had　seen　for　a　long　time。
　His　first　instinct　was　simply　to　climb　in　and　blast　his　way　out　through　the　ceiling。　But　as　he　began　to　move　round　the　ship　towards　the　entrance；　he　hesitated。
　It　might　be　more　sensible；　he　thought；　to　arm　himself　from　the　store　of　weapons　in　his　ship；　and　go　in　search　of　Talis。　Even　if　he　had　to　burn　his　way　through　some　of　those　closed　doors。
　　Then　he　would　be　able　to　demand　answers　to　all　those　crucial　questions　that　the　old　man　had　left　hanging　in　the　air。　About　why　he　was　keeping　Keill　there。　And　what　Talis　knew　of　the　destruction　of　Moros。
　It　was　possible　that　his　store　of　weapons　had　been　removed　from　the　ship。　But　at　least　the　airlock　hatch　was　invitingly　open；　the　ramp　down。　And　there　was　no　one　in　the　way。
　But　as　he　approached　the　ramp；　he　heard　a　weirdly　out…of…place　sound。　One　he　had　heard　before　…　the　night　he　had　tried　to　steal　his　own　ship；　on　Saltrenius。
　Like　a　cloth；　flapping　in　the　wind。。。
　He　glanced　up；　and　froze。
　A　winged　creature；　like　nothing　he　had　ever　seen；　was　hovering　above　his　ship。
　The　wings　…　broad；　veined　membranes　that　looked　flimsy；　almost　translucent　…　flapped　again　as　the　creature　settled　upon　the　ship's　hatchway。　There　it　perched；　folding　its　wings；　regarding　Keill　through　two　large；　colourless；　perfectly　circular　eyes。
　Its　body　was　less　than　a　metre　high；　and　narrow；　covered　with　what　looked　like　overlapping　plates　of　soft　skin；　purplish…grey。　Its　head　seemed　too　large　for　the　little　body；　rounded　and　dome…like；　with　a　small　tapering　snout　beneath　the　great　eyes。　And　it　was　a　biped　…　though　each　of　the　two　small　feet　seemed　in　fact　more　like　hands；　having　three　sturdy；　jointed　toes　like　fingers；　and　a　fourth　one　opposing；　like　a　thumb。
　But　it　was　not　perched　on　both　feet。　It　was　balanced　on　one。
　The　other　one　was；　incredibly；　gripping　a　needle…gun　…　and　aiming　it　unwaveringly　at　Keill。
　Keill's　astonishment　deepened　even　further　in　the　next　instant　…　when　he　heard　a　voice。
　Not　the　voice；　as　before；　of　the　old　man　called　Talis。　Not　any　kind　of　voice　that　Keill　could　hear　externally；　in　his　ears。
　This　voice　formed　itself　within　KeilPs　mind。
　And　it　said：
　Is　it　not　ical；　human…called…Randor；　that　I　must　once　again　use　a　weapon　to　keep　you　from　your　own　ship　？
　
　Chapter　seven
　
　At　gun…point；　with　the　winged　creature　fluttering　behind　and　above　him　…　out　of　reach　even　if　Keill　had　been　tempted　to　attack　it　…　he　was　herded　out　of　the　domed　chamber　that　held　his　spaceship。　Down　another　passage　they　went；　the　creature's　wing…tips　brushing　the　walls；　and　finally　through　a　door　that；　Keill　remembered；　had　been　solidly　locked　when　he　had　e　that　way　before。
　Now　it　swung　silently　open；　revealing　a　long；　low；　abundantly　furnished　room　that　was　clearly　designed　for　fort　and　relaxation。　Low；　cushioned　seats　were　scattered　around　on　the　soft　floor…covering；　the　lighting　was　quiet　and　mellow；　tables　here　and　there　were　piled　with　book　tapes。
　Keill　took　it　all　in　with　a　glance；　reserving　his　full　attention　for　the　figure　seated　in　the　centre　of　the　room。　It　was　Talis；　robed　and　cowled　as　before　…　but　there　was　no　doubt　that　this　time　it　was　not　a　holo…image。　He　was　there　in　the　flesh。
　The　old　man　gestured　towards　a　chair　opposite　him；　inviting　Keill　to　sit。　Keill　did　so　slowly；　turning　to　watch　the　winged　creature　…　which　settled　on　the　back　of　another　chair；　folding　its　delicate　wings；　still　well　out　of　reach。　And　still　aiming　the　needle…gun　at　Keill；　while　gazing　at　him　unblinkingly　with　its　round；　luminous　eyes。
　'I　very　much　regret。。。'　Talis's　kindly　voice　began。
　Keill　interrupted。　'Is　this；'　he　asked；　gesturing　at　the　creature；　'the　thing　that　attacked　me　on　Saltrenius　？'
　Talis　sighed。　'Yes；　but　attacked　is　not　really　the　right　word。。。'
　'What　is　it　？'　Keill　demanded。
　'An　alien；'　said　Talis；　'of　a　race　that　calls　itself　the。Ehrlil。　From　another　galaxy。'
　Keill　was　startled；　but　his　face　remained　impassive。　'And　telepathic　？'
　Before　Talis　could　reply；　words　again　formed　soundlessly　in　the　depths　of　Keill's　mind。
　I　project　with　ease；　human。　But　I　receive　with　difficulty　from　the　mudheads　of　this　galaxy。
　Keill　frowned；　feeling　slightly　unnerved。　'I　think；　old　man；　that　you　are　setting　up　some　kind　of　elaborate　hoax；　for　reasons　that　I　cannot　guess。'
　'It　is　no　hoax；'　Talis　said　quietly。　'I　have　told　you　only　the　truth。'
　'But　an　alien　？　A　mind…reading　alien　？'
　It　was　not　impossible；　Keill　knew。　Just　highly　unlikely。　Intergalactic　travel　had　been　tried　many　times　by　human　explorers　…　but　it　presented　its　own　special　problems　and　rigours；　and　few　had　returned。　Those　that　did　e　back　had　mostly　had　their　minds　unhinged　by　loneliness；　unknown　dangers　and　the　long…term　effects　of　Overlight；　and　their　babbled　accounts　made　little　sense。　But　recent　history　included　some　tales　of　alien　beings　making　the　intergalactic　journey　in　the　other　direction　…　and　making　brief；　uneventful　contact　with　humans　on　the　Inhabited　Worlds；　before　going　on　their　unguessable　ways。
　Keill　had　never　seen　such　an　alien；　though；　nor　had　he　ever　met　anyone　who　had。
　Yet　there　were　no　such　beings　native　to　his　own　galaxy。　When　man　first　went　out　among　the　stars；　during　the　Scattering；　the　planets　that　were　to　bee　the　Inhabited　Worlds　held　many　kinds　of　strange　life　forms。　But　it　had　been　a　grave　disappointment　for　the　early　colonists　（though；　for　some；　a　relief）　that　none　of　the　life　forms　had　been　intelligent。　Mankind　found　himself　to　be　the　only　intelligent　species　in　his　galaxy。　As　for　telepathy；　again　Keill　knew　that　it　probably　existed　in　some　form。　He　had　heard　of　a　few　humans　…　some　of　the　altered　ones；　whose　planets　had　produced　mutations　in　their　human　populations　…　who　could　reach　into　other　minds。　But　always　in　a　limited；　erratic　way。
　He　brought　his　attention　back　to　Talis；　who　was　expounding　on　the　subject。'。　。。　an　intrepid　race　of　explorers；　it　seems；　who　think　nothing　of　the　awesome　emptiness　between　galaxies。　They　are　very　long…lived；　of　course；　and　are　always　in　mental　contact　with　one　another。。。'
　'Why　is　it　here　？'　Keill　demanded。
　'Not　it；'　Talis　said　with　a　chuckle；　'she。　Glr　is　a　female　of　her　species。'
　'All　right；'　Keill　said　patiently；　'why　is　she　here　？'
　'Her　ship　developed　a　malfunction；'　Talis　replied；　'and　she　was　forced　to　land　on　a　human　world。　In　time　a　leading　scientist　met　her　and　befriended　her。　And　she　has　stayed；　finding　humanity　a　source　of　considerable　interest。。。'
　And　amusement；　said　t