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！
Janice twisted around； almost breaking free of his hold； and glared at him。 〃Is this any way to treat a guest？〃
〃If I let you free； will you promise to behave？〃
Janice gave her head a defiant toss。 〃Try me。〃
Tesla eased his grip； and the android everyone thought a woman lunged for Burak's neck。 Tesla pinioned her arms and threw her roughly against the aft bulkhead； he was pleased to see some of the fight go out of her。
〃Burak；〃 Janice said weakly； one hand to her head。 〃What's your part in this？ I can't believe you'd leave your friends to die back there。〃
Burak showed her his profile； velvety horns and heavily boned brows accented amber in the display lights。 〃It's the only way I can help free my planet；〃 he offered。 〃You can't understand…〃
〃Enough of this；〃 Tesla interrupted； taking stock of the wounds Janice's fingernails had opened on his arms。 〃Pay attention to what you're doing。 And shut down the m；〃 he added； gesturing to the net switch。
The crystalline…shaped Spherisian module filled their view now； eclipsing the stars。 Burak matched the Beta's course to the module's seemingly slow…motion end…over…end roll； and began to maneuver the mecha along the drive's scorched and much…abused hull。 He utilized the onboard puter to municate with the module's own； and within minutes the docking…bay hatch was opened； the Beta was home free。
When the bay had repressurized； the trio climbed from the Beta cockpit and eventually found their way to the bridge。 Tesla carried Janice the entire way； bear…hugged to his huge chest like some sort of stuffed toy he couldn't live without。 Burak lugged along the mutated fruits he had smuggled aboard the VT before liftoff。
The Invid was feeling omnipotent…not only because he had so easily outwitted the Sentinels； but because he would soon be on his way to Optera for the face…to…face encounter with the Regent he had so often envisioned these past periods。 The fruits from Karbarra and Praxis had； so he believed； rendered him superior to the monarch he had once served as soldier and would…be son。 And now it was time for the Regent to step aside and grant him his due position as leader of the Invid race。 Tesla had e to understand that it took more than mere strength to lead； it took insight and vision； and these gifts were his in abundance。
But as they arrived at the drive's control room； some very real problems presented themselves； eroding Tesla's fantasies and summoning an anger from his depths。
〃But you told me you could astrogate this ship！〃
With a gesture of helplessness； Burak turned from the starmaps and spacefold charts he had called up on the Spherisian guidance monitors。 〃I thought I could； but now。。。〃
Tesla stormed over to him and began to scan the screens； puzzling over the datascrolls。 He pointed a thick finger at one of them。 〃Here。 Here is Optera。〃
Burak's eyes opened wide。 〃Optera！ But； Tesla…Peryton； we're going to Peryton。〃
Telsa pushed him aside。 〃In due time；〃 he said absently。 〃First there is something I must attend to。〃
Burak steeled himself。 〃Then attend to it without my help。〃
Tesla made a violent motion with his hands； but checked himself short of the Perytonian's neck； taking him instead by the shoulders； fraternally。 〃Of course； my dear。 To Peryton； then。〃 Tesla's hands urged Burak down into one of the acceleration seats。 〃Now； why don't we try to figure this out together； step by step。 Let's just say for example's sake that we did want to fold for Opteraspace。。。Now； how would we do that； my friend。。。？〃
Janice took in the exchange from across the room。 The two mutineers had all but forgotten about her； so it was easy enough to jack into the drive's systems while their attention was focused elsewhere。 In a short time she had pleted her bit of cybernetic magic。 No matter what they fed into the ship's astrogational puters now； the module was locked on course for the Fantoma space system。
Janice smiled to herself； wondering how Tesla would take to surprises。
At first it was believed that Baker and Rem had been captured or eaten by the bristly eight…legged crawling nightmares delivered up from the Praxian netherworld； but subsequently the Sentinels found that their two teammates were simply being detained…the word someone from the Wolff Pack had used。 Jack and Rem had been probed and manhandled； but apparently were safe。 It seemed that the arachnids…Gnea and Bela had a name for them no one could pronounce…had no taste for meat。 Moreover； the creatures weren't on a feeding frenzy at all…nor； for that matter； were they interested in counterattacking the beings who were busy lancing them with lasers and rockets。 Like the orbs； these living anachronisms…unseen on Praxis for millennia…were attempting to flee the storms that burned at the planet's transformed core。
Rick was long past his initial fright； but the sour taste of fear remained in his mouth。 It struck him as odd that while in his day he had fought fifty…foot giants and walking slugs； ridden into battle alongside humanoid clones； ursine warriors； and amazons on Robotsteeds； he could experience such utter terror at the sight of giant spiders。 Maybe； he had decided； it was the very mindlessness of the creatures； after all； even the Invid weren't monsters； were they？ The Praxian women had been equally frightened； and Rick tried to imagine what it might be like to go up against； say； dinosaurs。
But if the creatures hadn't actually added to the Sentinels' plight； they had done nothing to improve things。 Countless orbs had exited the cave； and now there was a nasty bit of mopping up to do down below while the rest of the orbs were mustered for further lift assists。 To make matters worse； there was still no word from the Beta； and one of the Spherisians had gone and gotten himself stuck in a rock！
Presently； Rick and some of the others were grouped around Teal and the hand that had once belonged to her friend。 Baldan was merged with the wall…the way a Mesoamerican bas…relief could be said to be merged to a stela。 His profile was frozen but plainly visible； and there was a crystalline mass protruding from the section of rock where his chest might have been。 The crystal grew before the astonished eyes of the assembled group。
〃No； you can't； Baldan…please stop this！〃 Teal was shouting to the wall。 She swung around to Rick。 〃He is attempting to transfer his essence。 But this has never been achieved on any world but Spheris。〃 She looked back at the engorged growth。 〃And I don't want to raise it！〃
Again the crystal enlarged。 Teal put her hands to her head in a panicked gesture and pleaded with Baldan to stop。 But ultimately her hands reached for the faceted thing and she began to tug at it。
〃It's no use； Baldan；〃 she cried。 〃It will die！〃
Rick moved in to give her a hand； and with some effort the two of them managed to pull the crystal loose。 The hollow pop！ sent a shudder up Rick's back。 Baldan's profile receded into the wall and vanished。 Teal dropped the crystal from her trembling hands and regarded it。
〃The child is lifeless。。。dead。〃 She looked around at the others。 〃Baldan is lost to us。〃
Whimpering sounds found their way out from under Kami and Lea