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！
Now as he circled and countered； Keill let his body sag even more； let himself stumble and catch himself more often； let his breathing bee ragged panting。
The gleam grew in Thr'un's eyes； his teeth flashed in a victory smile； as he plunged in pursuit of his apparently collapsing opponent。
Any moment now； Keill told himself as he weakly swayed aside from a flailing boot； pretending to half…stagger before recovering。 He circled again； moving carefully。 The timing had to be perfect； Thr'un had to approach at exactly the right angle； and had to respond in exactly the right； orthodox； predictable way。。。
The giant hurtled forward； just as Keill wanted him to。 And Keill swung his left fist； slowing the punch slightly； invitingly。
Thr'un took the invitation。 One hand flashed up and grasped Keill's wrist； the other huge arm clamped his elbow。 Then the giant pivoted； twisted； and threw。
In the microsecond before his feet left the floor； a flurry of images passed through Keill's mind。 The unbelievable words of Talis； on the Overseers' asteroid … the aftermath of the torture session at the hands of Jiker and Rish … the reassuring words of Glr。。。
He had manoeuvred Thr'un into using a standard hold…and…throw； so basic in unarmed bat as to be almost instinctive。 If performed properly； as Keill's body was swung up and across his arm should break neatly in about three places。
He had been sure that Thr'un； with the orthodoxy of his technique； would use the hold。 And he had been sure that the giant would not miss a chance to cripple his opponent's other arm； after which he would no doubt take his time at kicking Keill to death。
But the arm。。。 did not break。
Keill flexed his body as he arched through the air； and his feet thudded firmly on to the floor； instantly finding balance and leverage。 The tendons in his left elbow shrieked with the wrenching pain； but held。
Thr'un； expecting a shattered arm within his grasp； but finding instead that he was holding an arm like a steel bar； was dragged forward for a fleeting instant； off…balance； exposed。
And Keill； oblivious to the blaze of agony in his injured shoulder； swung his right fist across in a short arc with precise timing； swivelling his perfectly poised body as he struck； so that all his weight； all his fury； all his vengeful hatred followed into and through the blow。
In the Martial Games of Moros； such a blow from the fist of Keill Randor had smashed through slabs of plasticrete piled nearly a metre high … had splintered a wooden post as thick as Keill's own waist … had once even crumpled and cracked a plate of niconium steel。
Now that fist struck lethally at Thr'un's temple； just above the ear where the skull is thinnest； and crushed it like paper。
The huge armoured body was flung away like a dry leaf in a storm； crashing to the floor with a heavy； echoing finality。
Part four
Aftermath and beginning
Chapter fourteen
The viewscreens showed the peaceful； star…glittering vastness of deep space。 Far behind； on a tiny moon called Creffa； lay the molten； crumbled ruins of what had once been a gleaming space…dome； flattened by the guns of Keill's spaceship … the last thing Keill had done before his battle fury was spent； before he had sagged back to let Glr take the controls。
The little alien had taken the ship leaping out beyond the planetary system of Saltrenius； far into the weling reaches of space。 There her strange； small hands had dressed Keill's shoulder； rubbed medication on his aching； tormented muscles and generally attended to all his hurts。 Now Keill lay back； luxuriating in the restful clasp of the slingseat； and … with the ship under puter guidance … waited while Glr finished her long…range telepathic report to the Overseers。
At last the round eyes opened。 Talis regrets that the municator on the dome had to be destroyed。 It might have provided some directional fix。
Keill shook his head。 'There wasn't much left of it before I destroyed the dome；' he said aloud。
Certainly the Overseers approve the dome's destruction； Glr said。 They wished no hints of what happened there left to be found by searchers from the Warlord。
'Secrecy at all costs；' Keill intoned； hearing Glr's soft laughter in his mind。
Talis is very interested in your mention of the group called the Deathwing。 He regrets you were not able to learn more about it。
'I beg his pardon；' Keill said sourly。 'That conversation ended a little abruptly。'
The mental laughter rose。 He understands that the Deathwing is a special force from which the Warlord selects his emissaries。 But he wonders if you have any theories about the others in the group …especially the person whom Thr'un called 'the One'。
'Not really。 Except that if he's the leader of that group； and someone like Thr'un only a follower； he must be fairly impressive。'
Just so。 Glr's imitation of Talis's favourite phrase made Keill grin。 The Overseers also ask if you have any doubts remaining； about what Talis told you during your stay with them。
Doubts ？ Keill felt again the chill that had swept over him in that desperate moment of realization when； facing Thr'un； he had learned that the whole fearful story of the Warlord was true beyond all doubt。
'Only one；' he said grimly。 'That if I meet any more members of this Deathwing； I doubt if I'll survive the encounter。'
Glr's bright eyes shone with amusement as she relayed the message。 Talis is sure you will； now that you know more about what to expect。 He is very pleased at being right about his assessment of your survival potential。
'Fine；' Keill muttered。 'Tell him we're all very pleased here； too。'
He also hopes you will now confirm； Glr went on； that you will act as the Overseers' emissary。 To go on their behalf to worlds that are threatened by the Warlord … and to do what you can to oppose the threat。
Keill knew what his answer was； yet he hesitated。 On their behalf？ But he was still a legionary； if alone … and he had a job to do； an unspoken promise to keep； to the dead of Moros。 He did not delude himself that the defeat of Thr'un was anything but a first； small step in keeping that promise。 Somewhere the real enemy； the real destroyer； still lived； still strove to spread his deadly infection of violence and murder。
'Tell Talis；' he said slowly； 'that it is as much my fight as his … or more。 Tell him that I will work with the Overseers； but not for them。 I will accept advice and assistance； but not orders。 Tell him that wherever I go； I will do what I can and what I must … but my way； without interference。'
Talis understands the conditions； and agrees。
'And do you e along as well ？'
Of course； Glr laughed。 You would certainly never survive without me。
Keill lay back in the slingseat。 In his mind's eye an image formed … an image that always lurked on the edge of his imagination； that would probably always continue to lurk there。 The image of the planet Moros as he last saw it … bathed in a glowing haze of lethal radiation； in which everything and everyone that Keill had loved had met their deaths。
And beyond that image； another； newer one。 Like a black shadow across his inner vision。 The dark myster