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！
He realized that beyond its appearance； beyond its zany sense of humour； it … no； he corrected himself； she … deserved respect。 She was a being of high intelligence； ability and courage。
'All right； little friend；' he said at last； still smiling。 'Glr…that is what you are called ？ We'll be rades…in…arms； for a while。 I hope neither of us will regret it。'
We will not； Keill Randor； said Glr。 For myself； I wele your friendship。 As I will wele even more the time when you learn that Talis spoke the truth。 I hope the knowledge is not acquired too pain…fully。
A faint chill prickled Keill's spine。 'Do you read the future； as well as minds ？'
No。 But I can make predictions； as you can； from the available data。
Before Keill could reply； the puter intruded with a warning tone to draw his attention； and a cluster of figures flashing on to its screen。
They were nearing the point of emerging from Overlight。
Keill turned his concentration to the controls； readying the ship for entrance into normal space； checking the course that would bypass the planet Saltrenius towards a landing on its moon； Creffa。
Chapter ten
Creffa was small for a moon； but as airless； rocky； cratered and uninviting as any。 Keill's course took him on one orbital sweep； far enough out so that anyone spotting him from the moon's surface would not be able to identify the ship； or imagine that he was anything other than a bypassing ship on its way to planetfall on Saltrenius。
His viewscreens； at extended magnification； showed the gleaming space…dome clearly。 The bubble of sturdy metal and plastic was set on a broad； dusty plain on the moon's bright side； yet not far from the sharply defined boundary of the far side's darkness。 There were no craters or rock formations within several hundred metres of the dome itself； he saw。 A man on foot would have no cover approaching it。
But at least one piece of luck had e his way。 The orbital sweep showed that the space cruiser which belonged to the dome's occupants was not in sight。
'Probably on Saltrenius again；' Keill decided。
Some have remained； Glr said。 I can sense human minds within the dome； though I cannot tell how many。
'Anyway； it lowers the odds；' Keill said。 'And it gives me a chance for some exploring。 Whoever's been left in the dome is likely to stay inside。'
He curved his ship to a landing … just inside the deep shadow of the moon's dark side； and over the horizon that would be visible from the dome。 He knew that the landing would not be detected： its sound would not travel in the vacuum； and he had chosen a spot surrounded by upthrust clumps of rock that would swallow the vibrations。
Unstrapping himself from the slingseat； he gathered up his helmet and went to the weapons partment。 It contained a sizeable selection of rifles and pistols； with even a few knives and other hand weapons。 But Keill did not hesitate over his choice。 He had no illusions about what might happen： if there was a fight； it would be no place for more civilized weapons like anaesthetic needle…guns or stun…guns。 Instead he strapped on an ion…energy pistol； a beamer … a modified version of his spaceship's weapons； firing a focused beam of raw energy。
Glr watched the preparations with interest。 You are very calm； for a human； she said。
'What did you expect ？' Keill smiled。 'That my knees would tremble ？'
I would have expected some worry or excitement； Glr replied。 It is the human way。
Keill shrugged his way into his airpack。 'It isn't the Legion way。 A waste of energy。'
Some day you must instruct me in the ways of the Legions； Glr said。
Keill laughed。 'Little friend； if I survive this； I'll happily put you through an entire training programme。' He fastened his helmet； swiftly ran through a final check of his equipment； then turned again to Glr； concentrating； trying to form words dearly in his mind； as if speaking them。
'Are you receiving me？' he asked。
Perfectly。
'Good … then we can keep in contact。 I want you to stay at the controls； but do absolutely nothing unless I tell you。 Clear？
Perfectly。
'And if any of the others spot the ship； and try to board it； let me know at once？
I hear and obey。 There was a hint of laughter in the reply。
'Keep your jokes for afterwards。 And one more thing … if I don't e back 。。。'
You will be dead； Glr replied calmly； and no longer able to give me orders。 So I will use my initiative。
Keill smiled。 'All right。 Then you can go off and report to your Overseers'
I will； said Glr。 But first I might try out the weapons of this ship。 On the dome and its occupants。
The airlock closed silently behind him as Keill dropped to the surface of Creffa。 It was a slow； dreamy drop； in the light gravity of the moon … and his progress was also like a dream； long； reaching strides that were in fact huge； slow leaps of many metres at a time。 Soon he had reached the edge of the undiffused glare that was the bright side of the moon。
The plastiglass of his helmet darkened instantly； protectively； as he moved across into the light。 Behind him； his ship could no longer be seen over the horizon。 Ahead； somewhere beyond the jagged clusters of rocks where he stood； the dome lay。
In some ways； he thought； with the abundance of fanged rock and the absence of vegetation and water； his surroundings were like the region of the Iron Peaks on Moros； where trainee legionaries went for individual survival tests。 But at least in that place there would have been the moan of a mournful wind； and the crunch and slide of your boots over the rock； to prove that you were still alive。 In this dreary place； airless…ness meant an inhuman silence； bleak and disturbing； so that Keill felt like a disembodied ghost。
But he shook off the oppression that gathered in his mind； and began to make his way through the rocks … slowly and stealthily； controlling his movements now so that he kept low to the ground despite the low gravity； trying to step only on rock so that no tell…tale footprints would remain in the dust behind him。
At last； edging beneath an overhang that would have collapsed long before in normal gravity； he saw the dome。
It rose from the broad expanse of dust like a blister rises from human skin； but so bright in the reflected glare that it seemed to be made of mirrors。 Around it； the dust was crisscrossed with the tracks of many boots； from the ings and goings of the dome's nine occupants。 But at the moment there was no one in sight； no sign of movement or activity around the dome。
He drew back behind the screening rock and began a cautious circling； wanting to examine the dome from all sides； and most especially to locate its entrance。
Keill。
Glr's voice within his mind … and a tone of some urgency in the one word。
Your ship's sensors report another ship nearby。 On a course for a landing。
As before； Keill concentrated； to form the reply in his mind。 'Will it overfly your position？'
No； its course will bring it down near the dome； from the bright side。 I will not be detected。
That was some luck； anyway； Keill thought to himself。 But he wished that the other ship could have delayed its arrival awhile。 Even so； he thought； if he could get close enough to the landing without being seen； and watch the men that disembarked； he might learn something。
He knew perfectly well； with a calm and untroubled sure…ness； that he would eventually have to try to enter the dome； no matter how many men were waiting inside。 But he also had no intention of going in too blindly … not if he could manage a careful study of the opposition； or some of them； beforehand。
He wound his way as swiftly as he could through the rocks； still circling the dome but at no time exposing himself to it。 Then he felt the ground tremble slightly beneath his feet。 And at the same time Glr's voice reached into his mind again。
Sensors indicate the ship is landing。 It seems to be the cruiser。
An image began to form in Keill's mind； projected by Glr …of the dome； squatting in its empty stretch of ground； and on the edge of that plain a ship ing in to land。 The ship was recognizably a cruiser； but Glr's mind had added a few touches of her own … a great plume of fire from the ship's drive； and an evil face painted on to the front of the ship； all jagged teeth and cruel； slanted eyes。
'Thanks' Keill said sardonically。' Very artistic。'
Better than a map； is it not？ asked Glr； her laughter bubbling。
'Much better。 Be quiet now； while I go and look'
The heavy vibrations set up by the cruiser's landing increased steadily as lie crept forward； until … crouching within the solid blackness of a tall rock's shadow … he was again at the edge of the plain。
The vibrations eased and stopped。 The cruiser was down。 Keill leaned forward to peer round the rock that sheltered him … and at once jerked his head back。
The cruiser had landed about three hundred metres away。
And beyond it； he had seen the entrance of the dome … its airlock open and spacesuited men emerging； moving at speed in the same long； leaping strides that Keill had used earlier。
He flattened himself against the rock。 If any of those men； or the men in the ship； had glanced his way … and if his helmet had glinted even for an instant in the brilliant light。。。
It was an outside chance … but it was possible。 Time to move。
But he did not retrace his steps。 He drifted with slow caution from rock to rock towards where the cruiser had settled。 Whatever the risk； he was not going to pass up a chance to see whatever might be seen。
Soon he had spotted another vantage point at the edge of the open area。 When he reached it； he saw； he would be able to observe the ship and the dome while staying safely hidden in a bulge of deep shadow。 He began to circle an outcropping； moving towards that point。
And he came face to face with two men； rounding the outcropping from the other direction。
Their faceplates； like Keill's； were darkened against the glare； revealing nothing。 But one of them was wearing a space…suit identical to Keill's … with the blue circlet of the Legions gleaming from helmet and chest。
And both men were holding weapons； ready in their hands。
Keill identified the guns at a glance； and with some distaste。 Janglers； they were called … stubby pistols with ugly； flared；
bell…shaped muzzles。 They discharged a field that set up interference with the human nervous system … which caused； at the very least； indescribable pain。 The guns were a sadist's weapon； outlawed on many worlds； and never； as Keill well knew； carried by legionaries。
He stood calmly where he was； making no motion towards his own weapon； while the other two took a tentative step towards him。 The one in the Legion spacesuit lifted a gloved hand to his helmet； touching the switch that activated the man…to…man municator。
'That you； Jiker？' The voice within Keill's helmet was metallic； distorted by the municator。
Keill felt relieved。 Of course there were two men on Creffa wearing full legionary uniform。； which obviously included spacesuits。 This one； seeing Keill's suit； naturally thought he was looking at his fellow impostor。
Keill flicked his own helmet switch。 'Yeah； it's me；' he said gruffly； knowing his voice would be just as distorted in the other man's ears。
But to his surprise the other raised his gun menacingly。
'The hell it is；' said the voice in Keill's helmet。 'I'm Jiker。'
Keill's hand flashed； and his gun leaped from his belt。 But the other man had only to press the firing stud on the jangler。 And pure； raging agony reached out and grasped Keill's body like a monstrous fist。
Dimly he heard himself cry out； dimly he felt himself twisting； jerking； beginning to fall。
Then he heard and felt nothing at all。
Chapter eleven
Keill awoke to the clamour of his own name being shouted； over and over。
No； not shouted； he realized。 It was Glr's mental call； as penetrating as a cry of fear。
'Stop it' he thought； raising one hand to his head； which was throbbing dully。 'I'm here。'
Relief flooded into his mind from Glr's。 What happened？ Where are you？
Keill's probing fingers found a raised and tender bump on his head； and the slight roughness of dried blood。 'I must have bounced