16_world_killers-第11部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃Halt！　Identify　yours…〃　was　all　he　got　out　before　Vince　waxed　him　with　a　sustained　burst　from　the　rifle。　Guards　were　just　being　aware　of　the　danger　when　Vince　and　Wolff　went　charging　at　them　assault…style；　firing　on　every　other　footfall　as　they　fast…walked。　Rick　dashed　for　the　fallen　officer；　to　relieve　it　of　its　sidearm。

Karen　rushed　forward　to　help　Vince　and　Wolff；　laying　down　rounds　with　the　pistol。　The　guard　station　had　been　stripped　of　all　but　three　soldiers　in　the　emergency；　and　they　only　lasted　a　few　quickened　heartbeats　once　the　shooting　started。

But　at　least　they　left　behind　more　weapons。　Everyone　was　armed　now　except　for　Veidt；　and　Cabell；　whom　Rem　had　once　warned；　Stay　away　from　guns　or　you'll　end　up　burning　your　foot　off！　Even　Miriya　was　in　the　fight；　insisting　on　having　a　pistol。　After　studying　the　Haydonite…installed　equipment　for　a　few　moments；　Veidt　judged　that　escape　from　the　slavepens　could　be　cut　off　by　Invid　in　the　mand　center；　or　even　there　at　the　guard　station　if　the　stations　were　retaken　intact。

Wolff　solved　that　with　his　usual　panache。　Cycling　the　heavy　security　lock　doors　to　open　all　through　the　slavepen　maze　with　the　station's　controls；　he　then　brought　up　the　rifle's　mouth　and　blew　the　controls　to　wreckage。

〃One　problem　down；　but　they'll　be　sending　reinforcements　here　any　time　now；〃　Lisa　said。

Wolff　ran　a　fingertip　over　his　superbly　groomed　mustache。　〃Then；　dearest　Captain；　may　I　suggest　that　we　not　be　here　at　that　time？〃　He　turned　and　set　his　rifle　across　a　control　console；　checking　fields　of　fire；　preparing　to　hold　the　position　while　the　others　effected　rescue。　At　Lisa's　mand；　Karen　stayed　with　him；　handing　her　pistol　to　Jean　and　taking　another　rifle　in　its　place。

Rick　had　readjusted　his　own　Invid　rifle's　sling　so　that　he　could　lug　it；　leveled　in　firing　position；　at　waist　height　with　the　sling　over　his　left　shoulder；　right　hand　on　the　grip　and　trigger。　It　was　unbelievably　heavy；　the　sling　pressing　deep　into　his　flesh。　He　said；　〃Everybody　ready？　No　objections？〃

No　objections。　The　Sentinels　descended　into　the　slave…pens　of　Haydon　IV。


CHAPTER　ELEVEN

Awright；　so　the　mecha　are　in　dinged…up　shape　and　the　weapons　barrels　are　shot　out　and　the　replacement　parts　stocks　are　all　gone。　Boys　and　girls；　we're　all　functioning　beyond　manufacturer's　specifications。
Rick　Hunter；　quoted　in　Mizner's　Rakes　and　Rogues：　The　True　Story　of　the　SDF…3　Expeditionary　Mission

〃I　forbid　it！〃

Vowad　hovered　before　Sarna　as　she　sought　to　take　control　of　the　giant　flying　carpet。　Some　two　acres　in　area；　it　would　hold　all　the　Sentinels　and　all　the　freed　slaves；　too…provided　that　any　of　them　survived　the　uprising。

And　it　wasn't　every　Haydonite　who　could　mand　and　control　such　a　carpet　alone。　But　she　was　the　daughter　of　the　greatest　intellect　of　her　species。

Nevertheless；　Vowad　blocked　her　way　as　she　tried　to　take　control　of　the　carpet　there　on　the　immense　landing　surface　at　the　summit　of　the　city's　tallest　tower…the　roof　of　her　home。

〃I　forbid　you　to　bee　involved　in　this　bestial　business！〃　Vowad　ranted。　〃Let　the　lower　orders　settle　their　own　vendettas！　Let　them　kill　and　kill　one　another　if　that's　what　they　want　so　badly！　You　have　a　far　higher　destiny！〃

〃Why　do　you　always　talk　like　a　god　to　me；〃　Sarna　asked　him；　〃but　bow　your　head　like　a　slave　to　the　Invid？〃

Hearing　that　he　went　rigid；　the　only　movement　being　his　robe's　hem　wafting　in　the　breeze。　She　went　around　him；　took　control　of　the　vast　carpet；　and　bade　it　rise　into　the　air。

Moments　later；　she　was　streaking　for　the　Central　Slave…pen。


Bela　stabbed　her　shortsword　tip　in　the　elevator　floor　to　jam　the　doors　open。

The　Invid　in　the　mand　center　were　preoccupied　with　reports　of　a　firefight　at　the　arsenal；　and　the　sudden　silence　from　the　guard　station　by　the　slavepen　entrance；　when　Jack　and　his　raiders　opened　up。

The　two　ranks　put　out　the　heaviest　volume　of　fire　they　could；　aware　that　the　Invid　would　respond　very　quickly；　and　that　the　pneumatic　reservoirs　of　the　Karbarran　long…guns　would　empty　rapidly。　Even　the　submachine…gun　magazines　would　last　only　three　or　four　seconds　at　full　auto。　The　Sentinels　were　all；　including　Burak；　on　the　firing　line；　Gnea　and　Bela　had　abandoned　their　traditional　weapons　in　favor　of　automatic　weapons。

Tesla；　Garak；　and　Pye　cringed　in　the　furthest　corner　of　the　elevator；　making　no　move　to　either　interfere　with　or　break　past　their　captors。

In　that　first　onslaught　the　team　threw　the　mand　center　into　plete　chaos　and　irreparably　cut　the　Invid　chain　of　mand。　Explosive　armor…piercing　bullets　could　penetrate　vulnerable　spots　even　in　Enforcer　alloy　at　such　short　range；　the　unarmored　Invid　were　targets　assigned　to　Burak；　the　ursinoid　Karbarrans；　and　the　foxlike　Garudans。

And　the　vital　equipment　that　made　the　Invid　nerve　center　function　was　everybody's　bull's…eye。

ponents　exploded　and　clear…polymer　indicator　faces　blew　apart；　power　connectors　shorted　and　splintered　housing　became　deadly　shrapnel。　Invid　who　had　been　calling　for　mass　execution　of　hostage…slaves　only　a　moment　before　died；　clutching　terrible　wounds。

〃Fire　in　the　hole！〃　the　amazons　yelled；　as　per　REF　training。　With　their　teeth　they　had　yanked　out　the　pins　of　the　stick　grenades　they　held　in　each　hand。　Now　they　lofted　them　off　in　assorted　directions　as　the　rest　of　the　raiders　hugged　the　floor。

The　Praxians　had　been　careful　to　angle　the　throws　so　that　the　pylon/elevator　would　shield　the　party　from　the　blast　and　shrapnel。　The　Sentinels　clapped　their　hands　to　their　ears　and　opened　their　mouths　to　reduce　the　effects　of　the　explosions。

The　world　seemed　to　jump；　and　there　was　a　whirlwind　of　shredded　tissue　and　equipment　outside　the　elevator　doorway。　When　Jack　looked　up；　he　saw　the　dead　and　dying　and　heard　the　moans　of　the　injured…but　that　was　mere　background。　Tottering　toward　the　elevator　was　an　Enforcer；　its　armor　pitted　and　lead…smeared　by　impacts。　It　was　lurching；　and　Jack　could　see　green　Invid　soupy　stuff　leaking　from　its　right　knee　joint。

〃LAW！〃　he　yelled；　even　while　he　was　emptying　his　chattergun　magazine　at　the　thing；　lead…smearing　it　some　more。　But　the　Enforcer　was　bringing　its　rifle　sights　into　alignment　with　the　elevator　car。

Janice　Em　shouldered　Jack　aside；　out　of　the　doorway。　She　peered　through　the　sights　of　the　light　antitank　weapon；　fixed　the　Enforcer　in　the　reticle；　and　pulled　the　thumb…trigger。　The　Enforcer　took　the　shaped　charge　in　the　middle　of　its　abdomen　and　swelled；　its　armor　cracking　open　like　a　hard…boiled　egg　with　an　expanding　yoke。　By　then　Jan　was　on　the　floor　with　her　head　covered。　The　blast　went　toward　the　ceiling；　but　left　all　of　them　partly　deaf。

Jack　shook　his　head　in　an　effort　to　stop　the　ringing。　〃Everybody　on　your　feet！〃　Bela　was　shouting。　〃Move　it！〃

The　raiders　rushed　out　into　the　mand　center　to　find　that　secondary　blowups　from　the　systemry　had　done　even　more　damage　than　the　bullets　and　the　grenades　had。　There　was　smoke　everywhere；　and　the　stench　of　the　cracked…open　armor；　a　few　small　fires　still　burned。

〃If　you　see　any　Protoculture　weapons；　grab　'em！〃　Jack　called　out。

Gnea　looked　around　at　the　devastation。　〃This　equipment　is　useless！　Janice　Em；　you　said　you　would　be　able　to　find　out　where　Arla…Non　and　our　other　sisters　are　being　held！〃

〃And　I　shall。〃　Jan　didn't　seem　to　need　direct　physical　connection　to　Haydon's　Awareness　now　that　she　had　interfaced　with　it　once；　instead；　she　went　straight　to　a　small　terminal　and　punched　up　a　schematic。

She　studied　the　glowing　displays　for　a　moment　then　switched　off　the　terminal。　〃There：　that's　our　route。〃

She　pointed　toward　a　column　on　the　far　side　of　the　mand　center；　an　even　bigger　one　than　they　had　arrived　in。

The　raiders　hurried　over　toward　the　column。　Lron　and　Crysta　had　Invid　rifles　now；　and　Kami　and　Learna　pistols。　The　Garudans　were　still　keeping　a　wary　eye　on　Tesla；　Garak；　and　Pye。　Jack　himself　never　let　Burak　stray　from　his　sight。

Some　unseen　manipulation　of　Jan's　caused　the　second　column　to　open　and　reveal　another　elevator　whose　existence　the　Invid　had　never　suspected。

〃Other　Sentinels　are　already　in　the　plex；　and　battle's　begun；〃　she　said。　〃But　the　Invid　are　rushing　reinforcments　here。〃

〃Everybody　in；〃　Jack　said；　standing　by　the　doors　of　the　second　elevator。　When　the　three　Invid　captives　hesitated；　Gnea　and　Bela　prodded　them　with　still…hot　rifle　muzzles。

〃Why　can't　you　just　release　us？〃　Pye　wailed。

〃We　might　still　have　use　for　you；　worm；〃　Bela　said；　ominously　guttural。　Her　whole　world　had　died；　she　had　no　forbearance　with　the　Invid　anymore　and　would　just　as　soon　kill　them。　

〃The　suffering　you've　endured　is　nothing　pared　to　the　suffering　you've　inflicted；　so　do　not　try　my　patience！〃

Jack　got　them　all　boarded；　even　Burak；　who　seemed　to　be　in　another　of　his　strange；　inmunicative　moods。　The　elevator　dropped　toward　the　subsurface　levels。


Rick　led　his　group　at　a　fast　walk；　stopping　himself　whenever　he　found　that　he　had　broken　into　a　trot。　Stumbling　into　an　ambush　wouldn't　help　anything　right　now；　even　though　he　felt　each　ticking　second　as　a　possible　loss　of　Praxian　lives。

Just　before　they　had　started　down；　they　had　heard　the　distant　firefight；　realizing　that　Zibyl's　bunch　had　armed　themselves　and　were　keeping　the　Invid　busy。　But　it　would　still　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　the　Regent　arrived　with　fresh　troops　and　mecha；　enough　to　crush　any　resistance　the　escaped　slaves　could　put　up。

Lisa　had　yielded　the　point　position　to　her　husband；　but　continued　to　conduct　herself　as　overall　mander　of　the　contingent。　Rick；　Max；　Vince；　and　Jean　accepted　that；　as　they　accepted　the　fact　that　Veidt　and　Cabell　were　determined　to　e　the　whole　distance　despite　the　fact　that　the　Haydonite　couldn't…and　the　old　sage　wouldn't…use　a　weapon。

Their　path　led　down　through　a　plex　refurbished　in　Invid　style；　feeling　more　like　a　walk　through　a　living　organism　than　a　raid　on　a　prison　facility。　But　on　the　third　level　below　the　surface；　they　encountered　the　first　of　the　cages。

The　Praxian　slaves　were　being　kept　in　big　ironwork　affairs　suspended　from　the　ceilings；　more　like　captured　birds　or　sideshow　exhibits　than　prisoners　of　war。　When　Rick　spotted　the　first　cage；　the　women　crowded　into　it　looked　at　him　listlessly　for　a　second　or　two；　then　suddenly　realized　what　they　were　seeing。　

One　dragged　herself　halfway　to　her　feet；　fists　clasped　on　the　bars。　〃Sisters！　Look　here！〃

It　was　easy　to　see　that　the　women　knew　something　was　up；　the　cold　evercrete　floor　below　their　pens　was　littered　with　twisted　and　broken　slave　headbands。　Evidently　the　Praxians　had　lost　no　time　getting　rid　of　them　once　the　bands　were　deactivated。

In　another　moment　the　prisoners　were　murmuring　and　exclaiming　to　one　another；　but　there　were　no　shouted　greetings　or　hails。　The　Sentinels　were　unknown　to　the　Praxians；　and　this　just　might　be　some　new　Invid　ploy。　Still；　the　amazons　jostled　to　see　what　was　going　on；　making　their　cages　swing　and　turn。

Someone　made　her　way　through　the　press　of　captives　to　the　bars　of　the　first　cage。　She　was　one　of　the　tallest　there；　powerfully　built；　with　a　long　leonine　mane　of　sun…bleached　hair。　The　colorful　rags　of　her　fighting　costume　were　faded　and　threadbare；　and　her　high；　soft　hide　boots　were　worn　through；　yet　she　had　a　regal　manner；　her　head　erect。

〃Who　are　you；　and　why　have　you　e？〃　she　demanded。　〃Are　you　allies　of　the　Invid？〃

Lisa　recognized　the　woman　from　pictures　she　had　seen　on　Praxis。　〃We're　allies　of　your　daughter　Bela；　Your　Majesty；　and　of　others　who　fight　the　Invid！〃

Queen　Arla…Non　tossed　back　her　mane　proudly。　〃Then；　you're　our　allies；　too。〃

Rick　had　gone　to　study　the　mechanisms　that　suspended　the　cage；　while　Vince；　Max；　and　Jean　fanned　out　as　security。　Even　Miriya　was　on　alert；　holding　her　pistol　ready。

Veidt　was　standing　near　a　systems　juncture；　in　some　kind　of　trance。　Cabell　went　to　look　over　Rick's　shoulder；　offering　his　input。　It　was　some　kind　of　plicated　drum…and…gear　affair；　needlessly　primitive。

〃Don't　touch　anything　till　we　can…〃　Rick　was　saying。

〃Perhaps　this　tiny　lever；〃　Cabell　ventured；　flicking　it。

Arla…Non　and　her　sisters　shouted　angrily　as　the　cage　dropped。　Rick　let　out　a　squawk　and　rammed　in　the　manual　brake；　which　luckily　held；　and　the　prisoners　were　jounced　every　which　way　among　the　bars。

〃Hmm；　interesting；〃　Cabell　allowed。

The　cages　were　lowered　without　further　mishap；　and　Sisters　of　Praxis　crowded　one　another；　stepping　free。　Arla…Non　clapped　Lisa　and　Jean　on　the　shoulders。　〃Thanks　to　you；　Sisters！　And　to　your　male　subordinates　as　well！〃　She　clasped　forearms　with　Miriya。

Rick　looked　a　little　startled；　but　Vince　gave　a　casual　chuckle　and　Max　muttered；　〃Oh；　we　were　just　along　for　pany。〃

Those　who　had　been　freed　were　only　a　small　fraction　of　the　amazons　being　held　in　the　center；　and　that　in　turn　was　only　a　part　of　the　total　number　of　Praxian　slaves　on　Haydon　IV。　Arla…Non　dispatched　her　warriors　to　the　other　cellblocks；　to　continue　the　liberation。　Miriya　and　Lisa　handed　over　their　pistols；　so　the　rescuers　wouldn't　have　to　go　unarmed。

Just　then　Veidt　came　floating　back。　〃Sarna　will　be　here　soon；　but　I　fear　the　other　news　isn't　good。　The　Regent　is　mustering　his　troops　for　an　attack　on　the　Central　Slavepen。　And。。。there　is　some　other　intellect　in　contact　with　the　Awareness　of　Haydon　IV。　I　cannot　discern　it　well；　a　synthetic　mentality；　I　believe。〃

〃No　time　for　that　now；〃　Rick　said。　〃We've　got　to　make　sure　Wolff　and　Karen　don't　get　overrun　up　above；　and　we　gotta　get　the　Praxians　armed。　This　thing's　just　begun。〃

Lisa　conceded　the　sense　of　that。　Once　Arla…Non　understood　the　situation　she　organized　her　women　immediately；　as　capable　as　any　field　mander　the　REF　fighters　had　ever　seen。　She　gave　orders　by　squads　and　platoons；　and　her　warriors　jumped　to　obey；　some　racing　off　to　help　in　freeing　the　rest　of　the　Praxians；　the　rest　forming　up　to　carry　the　battle　back　aboveground。

〃What　about　patrols　down　here？〃　Lisa　asked。

〃We　know　the　schedules　of　the　regular　patrols；　believe　me；〃　Arla…Non　said；　〃and　we　should　be　able　to　deal　with　them；　at　least　for　now。〃

The　group　set　out；　and　Arla…Non　was　as　good　as　her　word。　They　ambushed　the　one　skeleton　crew　of　Enforcers　that　came　their　way；　a　pair　walking　guard。　The　newly　acquired　weapons　were　quickly　distributed。

But　as　they　were　heading　toward　the　surface；　Karen　Penn　came　loping　tiredly　from　that　direction。　She　had　obviously　been　through　some　heavy　fighting。　At　her　back　came　a　squad　of　the　women　from　Zibyl's　group；　somewhat　the　worse　for　bat。

〃That　bunch　from　the　armory　got　to　us；〃　she　explained　breathlessly　to　Rick。　〃We　have　most　of　the　ground　level　secured。　But　a　mob　of　Enforcers　and　Officers　showed　up　and　set　up　a　crossfire　at　the　entrance。　Nobody　can　get　in　or　out；　and　we　think　they're　bringing　up　Inorganics。〃

〃Other　escape　routes？〃　Rick　asked。

Karen　shook　her　head。　〃All　covered；　and　the　crossfire's　murder。〃

More　and　more　Praxians　were　showing　up　now；　liberated　from　other　cellblocks。　Although　there　were　thousands　in　the　place；　Rick　knew　that　didn't　mean　much　unless　they　were　armed。　〃All　right；　let's　get　upstairs　and　see　what　we　can…〃

The　entire　plex　trembled　and　shook　as　distant　impact　made　the　building　rumble。

〃Something　heavy；〃　Max　remarked。

There　were　more　voices；　and　streams　of　Praxians　began　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　surface。