15_death_dance- 第13部分

Exedore　concurred。　〃Furthermore；　we　think　it　best　if　you　take　Janice；　Sarna；　and　Burak　with　you。　There's　no　telling　what　the　Regent　might　expect　in　the　way　of　reprisals　for　our。。。carelessness。〃

〃We　wouldn't　have　it　any　other　way；〃　Janice　chimed　in；　seemingly　unaware　of　the　gaps　in　her　recent　past。

〃What　about　Tesla？〃　Sarna　thought　to　ask。

Lang　stroked　his　chin。　〃We've　been　wondering　about　that。　He　could　represent　a　wele　chip　at　our　bargaining　table。　But　as　I　understand　it；　that's　been　his　primary　function　all　along。〃

Wolff　snorted。　〃I'm　not　saying　we　couldn't　get　along　without　him；　but　he　has　been　useful　to　us。〃

〃Not　if　the　Regent　begins　to　look　upon　him　as　a　traitor；〃　Exedore　saw　fit　to　point　out。

Lang　thought　about　the　data　he　had　screened；　and　Tesla's　ambitions。　〃Take　him；〃　he　decided　at　last。　〃I　think　he'll　continue　to　serve　you。　In　fact；　from　what　Janice　told　me　of　the　mutiny；　our　Tesla　seems　to　have　his　sights　set　on　leadership　of　the　Invid。　You　might　be　able　to　encourage　that　some；　Wolff。〃

Wolff　slapped　his　hands　on　his　thighs　and　stood　up。　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？　What　about　weapons　and　a　shuttlecraft　to　reach　the　ship？〃

〃That's　all　been　arranged；〃　Exedore　told　him。

〃What　if　Edwards　decides　to　pursue　us？〃

〃Somehow　I　don't　think　he　will；〃　Lang　speculated。　〃But　you　will　be　hunted。　You'll　have　to　leave　Praxis　and　remain　inmunicado　for　a　time。〃

Suddenly　Wolff　began　to　feel　the　immensity　of　it　all。　〃Can　you　get　Burak　and　Tesla　out　of　lockup　without　arousing　suspicion？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　Lang　answered　him　from　the　。

Wolff　heard　him　tell　the　guards　in　the　confinement　area　to　have　the　two　XTs　brought　to　the　laboratory　for　testing。　Then　he　saw　Lang's　face　pale。

〃What　is　it？〃

〃They've　already　been　released；〃　Lang　said。　〃On　Colonel　Wolff's　request。〃


Elsewhere　in　the　fortress；　Burak　and　Tesla　were　moving　cautiously　along　an　empty　corridor　space；　closing　on　an　area　that　had　been　designated　for　the　Regent　and　his　retinue。　Only　minutes　before；　they　had　overpowered　their　armed　escorts；　it　had　proved　as　simple　a　matter　as　it　had　been　to　inveigle　information　concerning　the　location　of　the　Regent's　guest　quarters。　Tesla　was　whispering　self…congratulatory　praises　to　himself　now；　while　Burak　remained　in　the　larger　being's　shadow；　fearful　of　discovery　by　Human　personnel。

〃What　are　you　shivering　about？〃　Tesla　said；　ing　around；　bold　and　aggravated。　He　motioned　broadly　to　the　corridor。　〃Fate　has　cleared　a　path　for　us。〃

Burak　had　to　admit　that　that　seemed　to　be　the　case。　They　had　seen　no　one　since　leaving　confinement；　in　fact；　it　was　almost　as　if　someone　were　running　along　ahead　of　them；　sweeping　the　place　clean。　But　what　Tesla　didn't　realize　was　that　Burak　was　as　frightened　of　fate　as　he　was　anything　else。　It　was　fate　that　kept　his　planet　locked　in　the　recurring　past；　fate　that　had　gotten　him　into　this　mess　to　begin　with。。。

〃I　can　feel　his　presence；〃　Tesla　announced；　stopping　short。　Burak　bumped　into　him　and　backed　up　a　step。　Tesla　appeared　to　be　growing　larger　as　he　approached　his　quarry。　〃Soon；　my　friend；　soon。〃

It　dawned　on　Burak　that　the　Invid　had　more　on　his　mind　than　talk；　and　he　wanted　no　part　of　murder。　He　said　as　much　to　Tesla　as　they　approached　an　intersection　midway　along　the　corridor。　〃I…I'll　wait　for　you　here…you　know；　s…stand　guard。〃

Tesla　looked　down　at　him。　〃Fine。　You　do　that；〃　he　sneered；　and　moved　off　into　the　perpendicular　corridor。

A　short　distance　from　the　intersection　Tesla　came　upon　the　first　line　of　Invid　sentries。　Recognizing　the　Regent's　chief　scientist；　they　immediately　genuflected　and　offered　their　salute。　Then　four　of　the　Regent's　elite　soldiers　came　forward　to　escort　Tesla　into　the　Regent's　private　chambers。

〃Tesla！〃　the　simulagent　gasped；　spilling　a　lapful　of　fruits　to　the　floor　as　he　stood　up。　〃They've　released　you？〃　His　snout　went　up　in　an　approximation　of　a　laugh。　〃I　knew　I　could　do　it！〃

Tesla　regarded　the　gesture　with　indifference；　too　caught　up　in　the　moment　to　realize　just　who　and　what　he　was　dealing　with。

〃I　have　things　to　discuss　with　you；　sire；〃　he　said；　taking　a　menacing　step　forward。

〃Yes；　I'm　sure　you　do！　Tesla；　I'm　delighted　to　see　you。〃

〃We'll　see；〃　Tesla　told　him。　〃But　perhaps　you　should　reserve　judgment　until　you've　heard　me　out。〃

The　simulagent's　elongated　brow　wrinkled。　There　was　something　in　Tesla's　tone。。。His　black　eyes　began　to　dart　around　the　room。　The　guards；　he　remembered；　and　made　a　move　toward　the　door。

〃Don't　even　think　of　it；〃　Tesla　said；　stepping　into　his　path。　He　thrust　a　powerful　finger　into　the　simulagent's　chest　and　held　his　other　hand　up　for　inspection。　〃Five　fingers；　Regent。　Five！　There　was　a　time　when　your　wife　alone　had　five　fingers。　Doesn't　that　tell　you　something　about　me？〃

At　Tesla's　shove；　the　false　Regent　fell　backward　onto　a　table　that　somehow　managed　to　support　his　bulk。　〃Tesla；　you're　mad！　What　are　you　trying　to　do？〃

〃Mad？　Anything　but　mad；　Your　Highness！　I　have　been　ingesting　the　fruits　of　other　worlds；　while　you've　been　playing　silly　war　games　with　these　Humans。　And　as　a　result　I've　had　my　inner　eye　opened　to　transcendent　realities；　while　you've　set　your　gaze　on　meaningless　conquests。　I　have　been　evolving；　while　you　have　sunk　to　your　neck　back　into　the　slime　that　gave　us　birth。　The　fruits　were　meant　for　you；　but　it　is　Tesla　who　has　reaped　their　subtle　benefits。　You　used　to　ridicule　my　delvings　into　such　things；　but　regard　me　now：　I　live；　Regent；〃　Tesla　intoned；　raising　his　arms　above　his　head；　〃and　you　will　die　unless　you　abdicate　to　me！〃

The　simulagent　opened　his　mouth　to　cry　for　help；　but　nothing　emerged。

〃Kneel　before　me！〃　Tesla　demanded；　gesturing　to　the　floor。

Paralyzed　with　fear；　the　simulagent　gulped　and　found　his　voice。　〃Tesla；　listen　to　me：　you　don't　understand。　I…〃

〃Kneel　before　me！〃

〃I…〃

Tesla　grabbed　the　false　Regent　by　the　cowl　and　dragged　him　to　his　knees。　〃I　will　rule　in　your　place。　I　will　lead　our　race　from　this　moment　on。　Do　you　agree　to　it？〃

〃Tesla；〃　the　simulagent　pleaded。　〃I　can't　agree…〃

〃Fool！　Would　you　force　me　to　kill　you！〃　His　hands　were　clasped　around　the　simulagent's　thick　neck　now。

〃…〃

〃Abdicate！〃

〃…〃

〃Surrender　to　me！〃

〃…〃

The　simulagent's　four…fingered　hands　tore　desperately　at　Tesla's　own；　but　could　not　counter　the　strength　madness　had　lent　them。　Tesla's　powerful　thumbs　found　soft　and　vulnerable　places　as　he　continued　to　squeeze　the　life　from　his　would…be　foe。　Black　eyes　bulged　and　a　horrible　death　rattle　began　to　emerge　from　the　simulagent's　ruptured　throat。　Then　it　was　over。

He　withdrew　his　hands　and　stepped　back；　as　if　waking　from　some　somnambulistic　experience。　The　Regent's　body　was　sprawled　on　the　floor　below　him；　already　drained　of　life's　vernal　colors。　This　being；　who　had　been　like　a　father　to　him。。。And　suddenly　Tesla　knew　a　gut…wrenching　fear…a　fear　intense　enough　to　engulf　all　the　anger　and　hatred　and　maniacal　urges　he　had　given　vent　to　only　a　moment　before。　He　turned　to　the　door；　down　in　a　fugitive's　stoop；　fluids　running　wild　within　him。　He　had　been　misguided！　He　could　not　take　the　Regent's　place！　The　Regis　would　murder　him　for　his　betrayal。　He　would　be　devolved　to　the　lowliest　life…form；　a　mere　troglodyte；　exiled　from　his　own　kind。　And　what　was　he　to　do　now？。。。

He　remembered　the　Sentinels。　Surely　Wolff　would　be　returning　to　Praxis；　he　thought。　He　would　persuade　Wolff　and　the　others　to　take　him　along；　remain　with　them　until　all　this　blew　over。　The　Regis　might　rule　for　a　time；　but　sooner　or　later　he　would　assume　his　rightful　place　and　rule　by　her　side…the　Sentinels　would　encourage　him　to　do　so！

Tesla　gave　a　final　look　at　the　body。　He　began　posing　himself　for　the　guards；　then　realized　that　no　such　charade　was　necessary。　With　the　Regent　dead；　they　were　little　more　than　mindless　devices；　it　was　possible　they　wouldn't　even　remember　Tesla's　visit。

With　these　things　in　mind；　he　opened　the　door。


Lang；　Wolff；　and　the　others　had　split　up　to　search　the　fortress　for　Burak　and　Tesla；　after　agreeing　on　a　time　to　rendezvous　in　the　shuttle　launch　bay。　With　an　all…Human　crew　aboard…save　the　Regent　and　his　retinue…there　wasn't　much　chance　of　the　XTs　escaping　detection；　but　one　never　knew　what　to　expect　from　Tesla。　There　was　no　time　to　investigate　the　release　order　that　had　freed　them；　either；　but　Lang　promised　to　look　into　the　matter　later　on。

It　was　Exedore　who　discovered　Burak　lurking　in　one　of　the　corridors　near　the　ship's　designated　Invid　sector。　It　occurred　to　him　that　the　fortress　seemed　unusually　deserted；　but　he　barely　gave　it　a　second　thought。　He　was　explaining　the　need　for　urgency　to　the　Perytonian　when　Tesla　showed　up　all　in　a　rush；　looking　like　he　had　just　seen　the　face　of　the　Creator。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Exedore　said；　toe…to…toe　with　the　towering　Invid。

Tesla　began　to　stutter　a　response；　then　remembered　himself　and　said；　〃I　don't　have　to　answer　to　some　Zentraedi　clone。〃

Exedore　bristled　at　the　ment；　but　decided　against　engaging　in　what　would　be　a　useless　argument。　Instead；　he　drew　a　handgun；　informed　the　two　of　Wolff's　departure　plans；　and　hurried　them　along　to　the　hold。　Wolff；　Janice；　and　Sarna　were　already　there；　anxious　to　get　under　way。　The　guards…some　of　whom　were　part　of　the　plan…had　already　been　dispatched；　so　it　was　safe　for　the　moment　for　both　Lang　and　Exedore　to　be　on　the　scene。

〃I　guess　this　is　good…bye　for　a　while；〃　Wolff　was　saying　while　Sarna　and　an　armed　Janice　escorted　Burak　and　Tesla　aboard。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　say；　Lang。〃

〃Just　pray　we're　not　too　late；〃　Lang　said　soberly。　He　offered　Wolff　his　hand。　〃Godspeed；　Colonel。〃

Wolff　stepped　back　and　saluted　Lang　and　Exedore；　gave　one　last　look　around　the　bay；　and　hastened　up　the　ramp。

Lang　said；　〃Have　we　done　the　right　thing；　Exedore？〃

〃We　do　what　we　can；〃　the　Zentraedi　told　him。

They　didn't　wait　around　to　watch　the　launch。


〃They're　on　their　way；　General；〃　Colonel　Adams　reported　to　Edwards　a　short　time　later。　〃Your　orders？〃

〃Your　men　are　to　give　pursuit；　but　tell　them　to　keep　their　enthusiasm　in　check。　Just　be　sure　it　looks　good；　and　make　certain　that　the　ship　is　allowed　to　fold。　I　don't　want　any　slipups　now。〃

〃Roger；　sir；〃　Adams　said；　and　signed　off。

Edwards　collapsed　onto　his　bed；　weary