douglashill.galacticwarlord-第5部分

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downs　that　were　surely；　inevitably；　killing　him。
　A　month　more；　the　medic　had　said。　Two　at　the　most。
　More　than　half　of　that　month　had　passed　by　the　time　he　made　planetfall　on　Coranex。　Keill　had　almost　begun　looking　forward　to　the　end　…　not　only　as　a　release　from　the　pain。　It　would　also　release　him　from　the　dreams　that　came　to　torment　his　nights；　in　which　he　re…lived　the　terrible　day　when　he　thought　he　was　rushing　to　his　planet's　aid　and　found　he　had　e　to　join　it　only　in　death。
　And　it　would　release　him　from　the　despair　which　came　with　the　growing　realization　that　his　search　for　other　legionary　survivors　seemed　more　and　more　hopeless。
　But　now　。　。　。　hope　had　revived。　If　the　man　called　Crask　had　been　speaking　the　truth；　he　was　only　hours　from　a　meeting　with　other　survivors；　and　perhaps　some　answers　to　the　questions　that　plagued　him　as　fiercely　as　the　pain。
　（The　flavour　of　that　anticipation　reached　into　the　dream；　filled　it；　changed　its　nature。　The　tense　movements　of　his　closed　eyes　dwindled　as　the　dream　images　fragmented　again　and　scattered。　For　the　first　time　in　weeks；　Keill　sank　deeper　into　a　peaceful；　undisturbed　sleep。　And　his　ship　plunged　on　through　nothingness；　towards　a　planet　called　Saltrenius。）
　The　spaceport　at　Saltrenius　might　have　been　the　port　at　Coranex　…　the　same　plasticrete　surface；　scarred　and　crumbled　here　and　there　from　shoddy　maintenance　and　the　batterings　of　a　thousand　ships　…　the　same　low；　shabby　buildings　where　bored　officials　scanned　identification；　took　details；　yawningly　accepted　landing　fees。
　Even　the　town　clustered　near　the　port　might　have　been　transplanted　from　Coranex　and　all　the　other　small；　unimportant　worlds　like　it。　Of　course　there　were　differences：　the　shape　of　the　buildings；　the　appearance　and　dress　of　the　people。　Saltrenius　was　grimier　than　most　worlds；　for　much　of　the　planet　was　devoted　to　gathering　and　processing　a　dusty　residue　from　the　bark　of　a　native　plant；　used　on　many　worlds　in　medical　pounds。　The　dust；　Keill　found；　was　everywhere　…especially；　it　seemed；　on　the　usual　assortment　of　dingy　buildings　devoted　to　the　less　choosy　pleasure…seekers　among　space　travellers。
　This　time；　though；　Keill　avoided　those　streets。　He　was　looking　for　a　different　source　of　information　…　local　facts；　this　time；　rather　than　space　talk。　Every　world　naturally　had　its　own　forms　of　munications　media　…　holo…screen　or　the　more　out…dated　ultravid。　The　media　people　were　the　ones　most　likely　to　know　what　he　needed　to　know。
　A　few　questions；　and　he　located　the　building　he　wanted；　which　housed　the　local　office　of　the　munications　network。　Squat；　grey　and　dull　the　building　was；　and　Keill　spared　it　hardly　a　glance。　A　few　more　questions；　a　few　galacs　changing　hands；　and　a　secretary　was　going　in　search　of　a　network　newsman。　'Just　the　man　you　want；'　Keill　had　been　told。　'Knows　everything　going　on　in　Saltrenius。'
　Only　minutes　later　Keill　was　sitting　in　a　noisy；　crowded　reception　area；　with　a　beaker　of　some　unidentifiable　fluid　before　him；　while　across　the　table　a　grey　old　man　who　said　his　name　was　Xann　Exur　was　gulping　a　similar　beakerful　with　every　sign　of　deep　enjoyment。
　At　last　the　beaker　was　set　down；　empty。　Keill；　his　own　still　untasted；　signalled　a　bartender　for　another；　then　looked　hopefully　at　the　old　man。
　Exur　wiped　his　lips；　loose　grey　flesh　wobbling　at　jowl　and　throat。　'Sure　I　can　help　you；　boy。　Glad　to。　Always　thought　well　of　the　Legions　…　terrible　thing　that　happened。'
　Keill　nodded；　waiting。
　The　old　man　leaned　forward。　In　his　eyes　shone　the　eternal　hope　of　a　professional　newsman　scenting　a　story。　'Any　ideas　yourself　how　it　happened　？'
　Keill　shook　his　head。　'If　you　can　tell　me　what　I　want　to　know；　I　might　be　on　the　way　to　some　ideas。　But　I　haven't　much　time。'
　Exur　looked　disappointed。　'Ah　well；　imagine　it'll　all　e　out　someday。'　His　second　drink　came；　and　he　was　about　to　gulp　it　in　the　wake　of　the　first　when　Keill　leaned　forward　and　took　hold　of　the　skinny　wrist。　The　grip　was　light；　but　the　old　man　did　not　fail　to　sense　the　steely　strength　within　those　fingers。
　'I　said　I　haven't　much　time；'　Keill　said　quietly。
　'Oh；　right；　sure；'　Exur　said　rapidly。　'Like　I　said；　glad　to　help。　What's　happened　is　this　。。。'
　Keill　released　his　grip　and　listened　patiently　as　the　old　man　told　his　rambling　tale。　Three　men　in　legionary　uniform　had　e　to　Saltrenius；　a　month　or　so　earlier。　They　had　picked　up　supplies；　and　had　spent　some　time　in　the　town；　where　Exur　had　heard　of　their　presence　and　had　spoken　to　them。
　The　three　had　confirmed　that　Moros　was　destroyed；　and　that　they　might　be　the　last　living　members　of　the　Legions。　But　in　case　they　weren't；　they　had　been　spreading　the　word　round　the　spaceways。　They　were　planning　to　set　up　a　base；　so　that　if　there　were　other　survivors　they　too　could　make　their　way　to　Saltrenius　and　join　their　fellows。
　'Did　they　say　why　they　had　chosen　this　place　？'　Keill　asked。
　'Nope。　And　I　didn't　press　them。　They　didn't　mind　talking　to　me；　telling　me　their　story；　but　they　didn't　like　too　many　questions。　Especially　the　big　fella。'
　'But　did　you　find　out　where　this　base　is　？'
　'Sure。'　The　old　man　grinned；　pleased　with　himself。　'On　Creffa。'
　'Creffa？'
　Exur　waved　a　skinny　hand　in　the　air。　'One　of　our　moons。　Saltrenius's　got　two。'
　Keill　looked　baffled。　Why　a　moon　？　Why　Saltrenius　at　all　？　And　the　old　man　read　his　expression　correctly。
　'Yep；　I　wondered　why　Creffa　too。　Didn't　like　to　ask；　by　then；　but　they　told　me。　There's　an　old　space…dome　out　there；　built　when　we　were　exploring　the　moons；　years　back。　They're　fixing　it　up　to　be　their　base。　Guess　they　like　to　keep　themselves　to　themselves。'
　Keill　was　still　slightly　puzzled；　but　at　least　that　part　made　sense。　Moros　had；　after　all；　been　attacked。　The　attacker；　whoever　it　might　be；　was　still　around　somewhere。　A　handful　of　legionaries　would　think　first　of　setting　up　a　base　that　was　at　once　remote　and　defensible。　A　dome　on　an　airless　moon　might　do　very　well。
　'Then　they're　still　there　？'　he　asked。
　'Sure；'　Exur　said。　'Been　seen　just　recently；　down　here。　They　e　down　now　and　then　to　pick　up　stuff　they　need。'
　'And　there's　no　doubt　in　your　mind　that　they're　legionaries　？'
　'Well；　they　said　they　were；　that's　all　I　can　say。　And　they　were　wearing　uniforms　like　yours；　with　that　blue　circle　thing。'　The　old　man　paused。　'All　except　that　big　fella　。。。'
　'What　about　him？'
　Exur　chortled。　'He　didn't　seem　to　like　clothes　too　much。　Oh；　he　had　on　the　pants　and　boots　like　yours　…　but　he　always　went　round　stripped　to　the　waist。　Still；　reckon　if　I　had　muscles　like　him　I'd　show　'em　off　too。'
　Keill　frowned；　then　reached　up　to　undo　the　top　fasteners　of　his　tunic。　From　round　his　neck　he　drew　a　light　metal　chain；　from　which　dangled　a　disc　of　hard　plastic。　He　held　out　the　disc　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　'Was　the　big　man　wearing　one　of　these？'　he　asked。
　Exur　studied　the　disc　with　interest。　Around　its　edge　was　the　brilliant　blue　circlet　that　was　the　Legion　insignia。　Within　it；　embedded　deep　in　the　plastic；　were　coded　shapes　…　which；　to　other　legionraies；　would　reveal　Keill's　place　of　origin　on　Moros　and　his　rank　in　the　Legions。　There　was　also　a　tiny　but　perfectly　clear　three…dimensional　colour　image　of　Keill's　face。
　'Now　I　never　saw　one　of　those　before；'　Exur　said。　'Identification；　is　it　？'
　Keill　nodded。　'Every　legionary　has　one。　And　each　disc　is　chemically　tuned　to　the　physical　make…up　of　its　owner。　No　one　can　wear　anyone　else's；　and　they're　hard　to　forge。　Here。'
　He　placed　the　disc　in　the　old　man's　hand。　At　once　the　sky…blue　circlet　began　to　alter　…　darkening；　shifting；　until　in　seconds　it　glowed　a　deep；　almost　angry　red。
　Exur　stared；　fascinated。　'Nice　bit　of　work；　that。　Interesting。'　He　handed　back　the　disc　…　which　returned　to　its　normal　blue　as　Keill　took　it　and　slipped　the　chain　round　his　neck　again。　'Anyway；'　the　old　man　went　on；　'the　big　fella　definitely　didn't　have　one　of　them。'
　'Are　you　sure　？'
　'Course。　Man's　got　a　chest　like　a　wall。　Didn't　have　any　decorations　on　it。'　Again　a　pause。　'Except　for　the　markings。'
　'Markings　？'
　'Yep　…　like　tattoos；　maybe；　or　like　scars；　except　they　were　too　neat　and　even。　Raised　ridges　of　skin；　like　…　one　round　his　neck；　one　round　his　belly。'　A　skinny　finger　demonstrated。　'Legionaries　have　them；　too　？'
　'No；'　Keill　said　thoughtfully。　'Nothing　like　that。'
　The　old　man's　eyes　sparkled　with　curiosity。　'Are　you　thinking　that　these　fellas　aren't　real　legionaries　？'
　'I　don't　know　what　I'm　thinking。　But　this　big　man　did　say　he　was　。。。　？'
　'Yep。　He　did　most　of　the　talking。　Lot　of　laughing；　too。　Not　very　pleasant。　Made　me　downright　nervous　…I　was　glad　to　get　away；　I　can　tell　you。'
　Keill　nodded；　and　stood　up。　'I'm　grateful　for　your　help；　Xann　Exur　…　more　than　I　can　say。　I　wish　I'd　met　you　sooner。
　I'm　deeply　in　your　debt；　and　I　doubt　if　I'll　be　able　to　repay　it。'　As　if　to　echo　his　words；　the　pain　stabbed　through　him　more　savagely　than　ever。
　But　the　old　man　noticed　nothing。　'My　pleasure；　son；　and　my　job。　I'm　a　newsman；　and　you　could　be　news。　If　you　find　out　those　fellas　are　fakes；　let　me　know；　will　you　？'
　Keill　smiled　grimly。　'If　they　really　are　legionaries；　I'll　let　you　know。　If　they're　not　…　then　I'll　probably　be　too　busy；　for　a　while。'
　
　Chapt