douglashill.galacticwarlord-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　that　the　Warlord　is　hidden　even　to　his　emissaries；　who　receive　their　orders　indirectly。　And　we　have　learned　that　a　failed　emissary；　like　those　of　whom　I　speak；　does　not　remain　alive　for　long。'
　'It　is　not　much；'　Keill　said。
　'True　…　but　we　dare　not　press　too　hard。　As　far　as　we　know　the　Warlord　has　not　guessed　our　existence。　And　he　must　not；　as　yet；　for　we　know　too　little　to　oppose　him　properly。　That　is　why　we；　too；　are　so　secretive　…　even　with　you；　Keill　Randor。　If　you　were　ever　to　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　Warlord　or　his　servants；　they　would　not　be　able　to　wrest　knowledge　from　you　that　you　do　not　have　…　of　who　we　are；　where　we　are。'
　Keill　smiled　dryly。　'You　must　hide；　so　he　won't　know　of　you　…　yet　while　you're　hiding；　you　can't　learn　more　of　him。　This　is　foolishness！'
　'No；'　said　Talis　quietly；　'it　is　the　reason　why　we；　too；　need　an　emissary。'
　'By　which；'　Keill　said；　'you　mean　me。'
　'Just　so。　We　cannot　go　out　among　the　Worlds　ourselves。　We　have　devices　that　can　monitor　events　on　nearly　any　planet　of　our　choosing　…　but　we　need　someone　to　be　our　eyes　and　ears　at　close　range。　Someone　who　can　go　on　to　worlds　threatened　by　the　Warlord　…　and　survive。'
　'One　man　against　this　。。。　emperor　of　wars　？'
　'Not　just　a　man。　A　legionary。　No　one　in　the　galaxy　would　have　a　higher　potential　for　survival。'
　But　as　Talis　spoke；　another　voice　was　also　speaking　…　in　Keill's　mind。
　In　the　midst　of　all　your　doubts；　Randor；　you　would　do　well　to　remember　that　you　survive　now　only　because　of　the　Overseers'　skills；　which　they　gave　to　you　at　considerable　risk。
　Keill　turned　swiftly。　The　alien；　Glr；　was　floating　across　the　room　on　her　translucent　wings；　to　settle　on　a　perch　near　the　door；　her　great　eyes　fixed　as　before　on　Keill。　'
　'I　haven't　forgotten；'　he　said　slowly；　'the　unpayable　debt　I　owe；　for　my　healing。　If　I　am　healed。'
　Glr　fluttered　her　wings　as　if　echoing　the　exasperation　in　Talis's　voice。　'Do　you　doubt　even　that　？'
　'The　medic　told　me；'　Keill　said　stubbornly；　'that　the　effects　of　the　radiation　couldn't　be　reversed。'
　'True；'　Talis　replied。　'It　had　settled　in　your　bones；　irreversibly。　So　…　we　replaced　them。'
　'Replaced。。。　？'
　'A　process　of　my　own　invention；　if　I　may　say　so；'　Talis　went　on。　'Your　skeletal　structure　is　now　posed　of　an　organic　alloy。'
　Keill　stared　at　him　speechlessly。
　It　was　an　interesting　operation。　The　replacement　had　to　be　done　molecule　by　molecule；　taking　care　to　match　your　original　skeleton　exactly　in　shape　and　weight；　and　to　ensure　that　your　bone　marrow　adapted。　But…'　he　gestured　expansively　at　Keill　…'it　all　seems　entirely　successful。'
　Keill　did　not　see　the　gesture。　He　was　looking　down　at　himself；　at　his　arms　and　legs；　his　ribs；　his　knuckles　。。。
　'There　is　an　interesting　side　effect；'　Talis　continued　chattily。　'The　alloy　has　quite　surprising　resilience　and　strength。　Our　tests　have　shown　that　it　is　almost　pletely　infrangible。'
　'Infrangible？　What。。。'
　It　means；　mudhead；　laughed　Glr　in　his　mind；　that　your　bones　cannot　be　broken；
　Keill's　head　jerked　up；　eyes　wide　with　disbelief。　Then　a　smile　began　to　form　on　his　lips　…　a　smile　of　scornful　irony；　but　tinged　with　disappointment。
　'Now　you　have　gone　too　far；'　he　said。　'If　you　thought　you　could　ease　my　doubts　with　a　wild　tale　like　that。。。'
　I　would　gladly　arrange　a　test　for　you；　Glr　put　in；　but　your　flesh　would　suffer　painful　bruising　in　the　process。
　Keill　stood　up　abruptly。　'Talis；　if　that　is　your　name；　I　can　swallow　no　more　absurdity。　You　may　cling　to　your　fantasies　of　Warlords　and　galactic　empires　…　and　bone　replacements　…　and　tell　them　to　the　next　fool　who　es　along。　But　I　have　something　else　to　do　…　a　task　put　on　me　by　a　dear　friend　who　tried　to　save　me　while　she　herself　was　dying。　I'm　going　to　look　for　the　one　who　destroyed　Moros；　whoever　it　may　be；　if　it　takes　the　rest　of　my　life；　long　or　short。　And　I'm　going　to　start　looking　on　that　moon　of　Saltrenius　…　with　no　more　delay。'
　He　turned　and　moved　to　the　door。　But　the　alien　was　there　before　him　…　wings　spread；　sturdy　fingers　revealing　small；　sharp　talons；　equally　sharp　little　teeth　gleaming　in　the　narrow　mouth。
　Keill　halted。　'Old　man；　I　wish　no　harm　to　you　or　to　this　creature。　But　I'm　leaving；　one　way　or　another。'
　Talis　raised　a　hand；　and　some　mental　message　must　have　passed　between　him　and　Glr；　for　the　alien　swirled　away　from　the　door　and　settled。
　'I　would　not　stop　you　leaving；　Keill　Randor；'　said　the　old　man。　'I　have　told　you　all　I　can　tell　you　…　I　cannot　force　you　to　believe　me。　But　certainly；　the　moon　called　Creffa　is　exactly　where　we　wish　you　to　go。'
　Keill　turned　back；　surprised。　'But　before；　on　Saltrenius　。。。　You　went　to　some　lengths　to　stop　me。'
　'Of　course。　You　were　dying　then　…　and　you　were　going　into　danger　unprepared。'　The　old　hand　moved　as　before；　to　the　side　of　the　chair。　'Bear　with　me　a　moment　longer；　and　observe。'
　Again　the　surface　of　the　nearby　wall　shivered。　But　this　time　it　was　not　the　silent　group　of　hooded　figures　that　Keill　saw。
　Instead　the　screen　revealed　an　eerie　alien　landscape；　stark；　rock…strewn；　the　shadows　deep　black　and　sharply　defined。　In　the　background　rose　the　high；　curved　surface　of　a　life…support　dome；　sleek　and　shiny　in　the　brilliant　light。
　In　the　foreground　was　the　bulky；　cylindrical　shape　of　a　spaceship　…　which　Keill　recognized　at　once。
　The　cruiser　he　had　seen　at　the　Saltrenius　spaceport。　The　ship　that　belonged　to　the　three　men　who　called　themselves　legionaries。
　'This　is　Creffa；'　Talis　said。　'I　see　you　have　recognized　the　ship。　One　of　our　monitoring　devices　recorded　this　scene　within　the　last　few　days。'
　Keill　said　nothing；　but　watched。　The　airlock　of　the　ship　was　opening；　and　figures　were　appearing。
　They　were　spacesuited；　of　course；　but　Keill　did　not　need　to　see　faces　to　the　first　man　who　descended　to　the　dusty　surface。
　A　head　taller　than　the　others；　enormous　width　of　shoulder。。。　The　mocking　giant　who　preferred　to　wear　only　half　a　legionary　uniform。
　Behind　him　from　the　ship；　stooping　under　sizeable　containers　of　what　must　have　been　supplies；　came　other　figures。　Not'　just　the　two　that　Keill　had　expected。　The　giant　had　acquired　some　new　panions。
　In　all；　there　were　nine　men　who　left　the　ship　and　made　their　way；　through　the　light　gravity　of　Creffa；　towards　the　dome。
　'Are　there　more　inside？'　Keill　asked；　as　the　image　faded　from　the　screen。
　'No；'　Talis　said。　'Only　the　nine。　Six　more　had　been　recruited　…　from　the　criminal　element　on　Saltrenius　…　before　we　took　you　from　the　planet。　And　hear　me；　Keill　Randor　…　not　one　of　them　is　a　legionary。'
　Keill　nodded。　'As　I　thought。　I　was　certain　before　that　the　first　three　were　not。'
　Surprise　showed　in　Talis's　voice。　'You　knew　？　Yet　you　were　going　…　ill　as　you　were；　and　unaided　…　to　walk　into　their　trap　？'
　'A　trap　is　no　trap　if　it　is　expected；'　Keill　said。　'I　had　to　go。　As　I　still　must　…　whether　there　are　nine　or　ninety。'
　'Just　so；'　Talis　replied。　'Much　could　be　learned；　many　questions　answered；　by　patient　and　careful　observation　on　Creffa。'
　'Observation　？'　Keill　echoed　with　a　grim　smile。　'Something　more；　Talis。　It's　clear　that　whoever　destroyed　Moros　also　sent　those　men　to　pose　as　legionaries；　and　to　set　up　a　base　that　would　attract　any　survivors。　I　want　to　spring　that　trap　before　any　real　legionaries　walk　into　it　unknowingly。'　His　voice　grew　tense。　'Some　may　already　have　done　so　while　I've　been　here。'
　The　cowled　figure　shook　his　head。　'None　has。　Our　monitoring　devices　have　kept　a　full…time　watch。　In　the　same　way；　all　our　devices　have　searched　and　scoured　the　galaxy；　since　the　day　of　Moros's　destruction；　looking　for　surviving　legionaries。　We　have　found　none　…　except　yourself。'
　Keill　was　stunned；　hearing　the　words　he　had　been　half…dreading　for　so　long。　'There　must　be　some！　You　can't　monitor　the　entire　galaxy！'
　'If　there　are；'　Talis　said　softly；　'they　are　in　hiding。　They　are　not　moving　around　the　galaxy　as　you　did；　searching　for　their　fellows。　Had　any　done　so；　we　would　have　located　them　…　just　as　we　located　you。'　He　reached　a　sympathetic　hand　towards　Keill。　'No；　I　greatly　fear。　。。　that　you　may　be　the　last　legionary。'
　Keill's　face　revealed　little　of　the　torment　within　him　…　only　a　momentary　twisting　of　his　features；　a　flash　of　anguish　in　his　eyes。　Then　his　control　returned；　and　he　gazed　calmly　at　Talis。
　'Even　if　that　is　true；'　he　said　levelly；　'I　am　still　going　to　this　moon；　to　do　what　must　be　done。'
　Well　spoken；　said　the　bright　inner　voice　of　Glr。　Foolish；　stubborn　and　brave　…　no　wonder　humans　are　so　short…lived。
　Keill　ignored　the　interruption；　for　Talis　had　raised　an　admonishing　hand。　'I　agree；　you　must　go。　But　I　urge　you　…　do　not　plunge　into　rash　action。　Use　caution！'
　Keill　rose　to　his　feet；　smiling　thinly。　'Talis；　it　is　too　late　for　caution。　A　time　always　es　when　it　is　necessary　to　act；　not　merely　to　observe。　That　time　has　e　now；　for　me　…　and　for　those　impostors　on　Creffa。'
　
　Part　three
　Killers'　moon
　
　Chapter　nine
　
　Enveloped　in　the　misted　nothingness　of　Overlight；　Keill　Randor　pleted　his　routine　check　of　his　spaceship's　systems；　leaned　back　in　the　slingseat　and　stretched　luxuriously。
　He　was　relaxed；　entirely　at　ease；　and　glad　to　be　on　the　move。　Inaction　was　nearly　the　worst　torment　of　all；　he　thou