douglashill.galacticwarlord-第19节

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　Then　Keill　saw　that　there　was　a　considerable　cleared　space　along　one　side　of　the　chamber　…　a　space　that　was　dominated　by　a　tall　bank　of　equipment；　apparently　in　working　order。
　munications　equipment；　without　doubt。　Perhaps　for　Thr'un　to　maintain　contact　with　his　'Master'　？
　A　faint　rustle　to　Keill's　left。　The　giant　was　circling；　stalking；　seeking　a　chance　for　another　shot　with　his　beam…gun。
　Keep　moving；　Keill　told　himself；　edging　soundlessly　away　to　his　right。　It　was　his　only　direction　…　yet　he　regretted　it；　for　he　was　being　driven　away　from　the　stairs；　being　cut　off　from　the　only　way　out。　No　matter；　he　thought。　If　he'd　been　sensible；　he　would　never　have　climbed　the　stairs　…　but　merely　have　gone　out　to　his　ship　and　blasted　the　dome　to　cinders。　But　somehow　he　had　wanted　to　face　the　giant　this　way。　And　there　was　always　the　chance　that　more　useful　information　might　be　forthing。
　The　energy　beam　hissed　past　him；　and　a　metal　canister　on　a　heap　of　rubbish　fell　away；　a　gaping　hole　melted　into　its　surface。　Keill　ducked；　moving　swiftly　…　and　as　he　did　so；　the　rich　bass　voice　of　Thr'un　echoed　musically　through　the　chamber。
　'Wele；　legionary。　You　seem　amazingly　difficult　to　kill　…but　I　promise　you；　you　will　not　leave　here　alive。'
　
　Chapter　thirteen
　
　Keill　did　not　reply；　but　took　advantage　of　the　sound　of　the　resonant　voice　to　move　more　swiftly。　Only　a　few　strides　now；　and　he　would　be　behind　the　heavy　bank　of　equipment　that　was　some　plex　form　of　municator。　There　was　a　chance　that　Thr'un　would　not　wish　to　burn　through　that；　to　reach　him。
　'As　close…mouthed　as　ever；　Randor？'　called　the　giant。　He；　too；　had　moved；　as　the　direction　of　his　voice　showed。　'I　would　have　thought　you　would　have　a　few　last　words。'
　Again；　covered　by　the　rolling　echoes　of　Thr'un's　voice；　Keill　moved。　For　an　instant　he　was　fully　exposed　in　the　cleared　area；　but　his　speed　saved　him。　He　felt　the　blistering　heat　of　the　energy　beam　just　above　his　head　as　he　dived　and　rolled；　ing　to　rest　behind　the　municator　cabinet。　Its　metal　bulk　rose　fortingly　above　him；　nearly　his　own　height。
　'You　are　mistaken；'　Thr'un　said；　'if　you　think　that　will　protect　you。'　To　underline　the　words；　the　energy　beam　bit　at　the　corner　of　the　municator。　Molten　metal　hissed　and　dripped。
　'And　you　are　mistaken；'　Keill　shouted；　'if　you　think　killing　me　will　save　you。　My　。　。。　panion　in　the　ship　still　has　you　trapped。'
　'Yes；　that　was　clever　of　you；'　Thr'un　mocked。　His　voice　indicated　that　he　was　moving　slowly　closer。　'I　had　not　imagined　that　there　was　someone　in　your　ship　…　you　were　alone；　were　you　not；　on　Saltrenius　？　Who　is　it　out　there；　another　legionary？'
　'As　full　of　questions　as　ever；　Thr'un　？'　Keill　said；　mimicking　the　giant's　earlier　words。　'Still　intending　to　report　dutifully　to　your　Master　？'
　Keill　was　aware　that　the　giant　wanted　to　keep　him　talking；　to　put　him　off…guard　when　the　final　attack　came。　But　the　trick　might　work　in　reverse。　Certainly　Thr'un　seemed　to　enjoy　the　sound　of　his　own　voice。　。。
　'I　do　not　report　to　the　Master；'　Thr'un　sneered。　'Only　the　One　reports。'
　Keill　sat　up　at　that。　More　intriguing　hints　and　mysteries。　Could　he　jolt　more　information　out　of　the　giant　…　providing　he　had　time　to　do　so　？
　'And　the　〃One〃　would　be　the　head　of　your　group　that　you　nearly　told　me　about　？'
　'Clever　again；'　Thr'un　growled。　He　was　even　closer　now。　His　energy　gun　crackled　again；　and　a　corner　of　the　municator　sagged；　something　within　it　bursting　briefly　into　flame。　Keill　paid　scant　attention。
　'Is　he　as　insane　as　you；　or　your　cowardly　Master　？'　he　called。
　'You　prattle　of　things　beyond　your　knowledge！'　Thr'un　replied；　voice　rumbling　deep　with　anger。
　'Knowledge　？'　Keill　said。　He　sensed　that　the　moment　of　attack　was　near；　and　spoke　quickly；　hardly　thinking　about　what　he　was　saying。　'I　know　what　you　are；　and　who　you　serve。　I　know　your　Master　is　the　destroyer　of　my　world　and　my　people。　And　I　know　that　he　has　a　madman's　dream　of　wrecking　the　galaxy　with　warfare；　and　ruling　over　its　ruins！'
　Surprise　joined　the　anger　in　Thr'un's　voice。　'You　know　more　than　you　should；　legionary。　More　than　I　imagined。　The　Master　will　be　interested。'
　Again　his　beam…gun　blazed；　and　there　was　a　flash　and　a　muffled　explosion　deep　in　the　bowels　of　the　bank　of　equipment。　Keill　drew　back　slightly　as　the　metal　that　sheltered　him　grew　hot　to　the　touch。　But　he　moved　by　reflex；　hardly　aware　…for　his　mind　was　dazedly　trying　to　assimilate　what　had　just　been　said。
　He　had　hurled　his　wild　accusations；　based　on　the　story　old　Talis　had　told；　in　order　to　provoke　Thr'un　into　revealing　the　true　nature　of　the　'Master'　who　directed　him。　He　had　not　imagined　for　a　moment。。。
　But　it　had　happened。　Thr'un　had　confirmed　the　fantastic　things　Keill　had　said。
　Which　meant　that　the　Overseers'　story　about　the　Warlord　。。。　was　true。
　As　true　as　Talis's　statement　about　the　bones　of　Keill's　body。
　He　shook　his　head；　trying　to　clear　it；　to　re…orient　himself。　Think　about　it　later；　he　told　himself　savagely；　or　you　won't　live　to　think　at　all。
　Thr'un's　voice　had　last　e　from　a　point　that　must　be　on；　or　near；　the　edge　of　the　cleared　area。　Silently　Keill　eased　his　way　to　the　right；　crouching　at　the　corner　of　the　municator；　concentrating；　focusing　energy　and　power　into　his　legs。　Make　him　speak　again；　he　thought。　Pinpoint　his　position。
　'Your　Master　won't　be　pleased　at　what　has　happened　here；　Thr'un；'　he　called。　'A　failure　is　executed　…　isn't　that　the　way　of　the　Warlord？'
　'Warlord；　you　call　him？'　Thr'un　rumbled。　'An　apt　name。　Yes；　he　has　his　way　with　failure。　But　I　have　not　failed；　legionary。　I　was　sent　here　to　plete　the　task　I　began　…　to　clear　the　galaxy　of　your　Legions。　And　I　will　plete　it！'
　The　implication　of　the　words　struck　Keill　at　once；　and　the　hatred　and　rage　that　rose　in　him　seemed　to　fill　his　veins　with　fire。　'You？　You　are　the　destroyer　？'
　'It　was　I；'　the　giant　gloated；　'who　sent　the　radiation　capsules　into　the　atmosphere　of　Moros。　A　laughably　simple　task。　Miniature　capsules；　made　by　the　genius　of　the　Master；　hidden　in　an　innocent　shipment　of　grain。　Your　Legions　suspected　nothing。　And　then；　on　the　signal；　the　chain　reaction。。。'
　But　Keill　did　not　let　him　finish。　Fury　reinforced　his　strength　as　he　exploded　into　a　surging　leap　…　not　sideways　round　the　corner　of　the　municator；　but　straight　up；　in　a　mighty　standing　jump。
　He　was　firing　as　he　leaped；　firing　as　his　feet　struck　the　top　of　the　melting；　blackened　machine；　firing　still　as　he　sprang　without　pause　out　across　the　cleared　area；　at　the　throat　of　his　enemy。
　The　giant　had　flung　himself　to　one　side　to　dodge　the　deluge　of　energy　blasts；　and　that　movement　and　Keill's　speed　threw　his　own　aim　off。　Energy　beams　sizzled　past　Keill　as　he　charged　…　and　then　scalding　pain　bit　deep　into　his　right　shoulder　as　one　of　the　erratic　beams　found　him；　spinning　him　off…balance；　hurling　him　to　the　floor。
　His　gun　fell　and　slid　out　of　reach　…　and　then　the　giant；　moving　with　his　own　astonishing　speed；　was　towering　over　him；　gun　levelled　at　Keill's　face。
　Keill　waited　for　the　death　shot；　but　Thr'un　did　nothing；　except　let　a　cruel　smile　of　satisfaction　grow　across　his　face。
　'You　see　？'　he　said。　'I　have　not　failed；　after　all。'
　Keill　looked　at　him　with　contempt。　'You　won't　have　long　to　gloat。　My　panion　will　know　the　moment　I　am　dead　…and　will　destroy　the　dome　with　you　in　it。'
　'Indeed？　I　doubt　if　he　will　know　so　quickly。　No；　I　will　have　no　trouble　in　burning　my　way　out　of　the　rear　of　the　dome　and　dealing　with　your　panion　…　after　I　have　dealt　with　you。'
　He　widened　his　mocking　smile；　then　glanced　down　at　Keill's　shoulder；　where　blood　seeped　steadily　through　the　seared　flesh。
　'You　are　injured；　which　is　a　shame；'　Thr'un　said。　'Yet　you　have　proved　a　dangerous　and　resourceful　opponent；　and　so　you　can　still　be　deemed　worthy。'
　To　Keill's　astonishment；　Thr'un　stepped　back；　and　tossed　his　beam…gun　aside。　'e；　Randor；　let　me　show　you　what　I　know　to　be　true　…　that　the　much…admired　skill　of　the　Legions　is　nothing　to　the　power　of　the　Deathwing！'
　Keill　rose　slowly　to　his　feet；　hardly　able　to　believe　what　was　happening。　'Deathwing　？'
　Thr'un　laughed　expansively。　'You　have　not　heard　the　name　？　It　is　the　Master's　select　force　…　his　chosen　lieutenants；　who　serve　his　will　throughout　the　galaxy。　Men　like　myself；　Randor；　from　the　altered　worlds。　Men　to　whom　the　Master　has　given　skills；　and　strengths；　and　power；　beyond　anything　dreamed　of　by　a　puny　legionary！'　He　raised　his　arms　at　his　sides；　muscles　rolling　under　the　naked　bronze　skin。　'See；　Randor！　See　how　your　death　will　e！'
　Keill's　eyes　widened　with　amazement　and　horror。　The　weird；　ridged　markings　on　the　giant's　body　were　moving　again。　Writhing；　swelling　…　opening。。。
　From　beneath　the　skin；　where　the　ridges　encircled　Thr'un's　body；　erupted　growths。　Swiftly　they　extended；　upwards　and　downwards；　flaring；　fanning　out。　They　were　like　slabs　of　thick　and　heavy　leather；　solid　linked　plates　of　a　dark；　unpleasantly　muddy　colour。　And　they　protected　the　giant　like　armour。
　From　the　band　around　the　neck　they　spread　out　to　cover　the　throat　and　the　base　of　the　skull；　reaching　down　over　the　upper　chest　and　back。　Below；　the　abdominal　armour　extended　to　cover　the　loins；　the　belly　and　the　kidneys；　stretching　up　over