16_world_killers-第12部分

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There　were　more　voices；　and　streams　of　Praxians　began　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　surface。　Many　were　wounded；　some　looking　like　they　wouldn't　make　it。　From　among　them　came　Wolff；　supporting…practically　carrying…Zibyl；　whose　head　lolled。

〃Inorganics　got　some　licks　in；〃　Wolff　explained。　〃Scrim　and　Odeons；　mostly。　We　blew　the　slavepen　entranceway　and　brought　the　roof　down　on　'em　as　they　charged；　no　other　option。　But　that　won't　stop　those　demons　for　long。〃

So　much　for　improvised　rescue　plans；　Rick　thought。

〃A　good　try　anyway；〃　Arla…Non　judged　grimly。　〃We　prefer　dying　free　to　living　in　cages；　and　at　least　we　can　do　that。〃

She　was　right。　Zibyl's　troops　were　weighted　down　with　armaments；　some　carrying　two　of　the　heavy　Invid　rifles；　or　enormous　makeshift　packs　loaded　with　ammunition　and　explosives。　The　other　amazons　surrounded　them；　grabbing　weapons；　preparing　to　make　the　Invid　pay。

As　the　Praxians　rushed　to　set　up　fields　of　fire　and　prepare　ambushes；　Lisa　got　Veidt's　attention。　〃What　about　Sarna？〃

He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃The　streets　are　filled　with　Inorganics；　and　there's　no　way　she　can　land　there。〃

Lisa　was　curious　about　Veidt's　expanding　powers　now　that　he　was　back　on　Haydon　IV；　but　she　had　no　time　to　ponder　it。

Moments　later　there　was　a　tremendous　explosion　from　the　distance；　and　Wolff　said　aloud　to　himself；　〃The　Inorganics。〃

The　few　portable　crew…served　guns　the　Praxians　had　were　set　for　a　crossfire。　Further　back；　down　in　the　warren　of　the　slavepens；　fallback　positions　were　being　set　up。　The　only　thing　left　to　do　was　insure　that　the　Invid　victory　was　costly。

After　a　few　minutes；　they　heard　the　sound　of　heavy　footfalls…marching　mecha；　advancing　on　their　prey　without　fear　or　hesitation。

A　pair　of　colossal　Odeons　rounded　a　corner；　filling　the　corridor。　The　amazon　gunners　waited　until　the　optimal　moment；　then　opened　fire。　The　Odeons　seemed　to　experience　a　rictus　of　agony　as　fire　splashed　over　them　and　ripped　them　apart；　then　they　collapsed　in　on　themselves。

More　Odeons　appeared；　moving　more　cautiously。　The　Sentinels　and　the　Praxians　held　their　fire　until　the　right　moment；　then　blasted　away。　One；　its　skull　turret　aflame；　whirled　and　convulsed；　then；　trying　to　hold　itself　erect；　went　reeling　toward　a　giant　column。

A　camouflaged　panel　at　the　base　of　the　column　slid　open　and　Jack　Baker　was　standing　there；　wide…eyed；　as　he　watched　a　burning　twenty…five…foot…tall　mecha　stagger　directly　toward　him。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

Well；　naturally　I　wanted　a　war！　But　I　didn't　want　a　war　I　might　lose！
The　Regent；　quoted　by　Lemuel　Thicka　in　Temple　of　Flames：　A　History　of　the　Invid　Regent。

Sarna　circled　the　central　slavepen　with　her　enormous　flying　carpet；　peering　down　at　the　turmoil　below。　The　streets　were　crowded　with　Scrim　and　Crann　and　Odeon；　and　even　a　few　Hellcats；　but　no　more　fire　seemed　to　be　ing　from　within。

Still；　she　could　not　set　down　in　the　nearby　plaza；　as　she　had　planned。　The　Invid　had　not　yet　started　firing　at　Haydonites；　but　they　would　attack　her　if　she　dropped　down　among　them。　And；　more　to　the　point；　the　slaves　wouldn't　be　ing　out　that　way　now。

The　city　was　in　turmoil；　with　Praxian　slaves　abandoning　their　work　assignments；　tearing　off　the　inert　headbands；　and　either　fleeing　their　overseers　or　attacking　them　head…on　with　whatever　weapons　came　to　hand。　The　amazons　fought　with　unflinching　courage　and　great　skill；　but　the　Invid　garrison　was　large　and　troops　were　being　rushed　in　from　all　over　the　planet。　It　could　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　the　uprising　was　crushed。

The　defenses　of　Haydon　IV　itself　were　staying　out　of　the　battle；　and　Sarna　knew　why。　It　would　be　easy　enough　for　the　vast　intellect　of　Vowad　to　persuade　the　planet's　systemry　that　this　was　a　limited　conflict　in　which　the　Invid　were　in　the　right；　technically；　but　needed　no　help　in　reestablishing　order。　Thus；　the　glory　of　Haydonite　civilization　was　safe　from　all…out　warfare。

Sarna　herself　had　attempted　to　get　a　message　through　to　the　Sentinels'　cruiser…still　orbiting　far　beyond　Haydon's　defensive　limits…to　let　them　know　what　was　happening。　But　her　father　had　interfered　with　the　transmission　somehow；　and　there　had　been　no　response。

Veidt　was　deep　within　the　plex　somewhere；　along　with　the　other　Sentinels；　and　Sarna　wasn't　about　to　abandon　them。　She　gathered　her　resolve　and　sent　the　immense　carpet　sailing　down　toward　the　roof　of　the　Central　Slavepen。

〃No！〃　She　heard　the　cry　even　as　the　carpet　came　to　rest；　as　gently　as　a　feather。　It　was　Vowad；　on　a　circular　mat。　He　brought　it　in　on　her　own　carpet；　confronting　her。

〃This　is　madness！　e　away　with　me　at　once！〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃My　friends　are　inside　here。〃

Vowad　was　vibrating　with　anger。　〃They're　doomed！　And　you　are；　too；　unless　you　e　away　with　me　this　instant！〃

〃You　could　prevent　that；　Father。　Call　down　the　wrath　of　Haydon　IV　upon　the　Invid！〃

〃Sarna；　it　is　my　duty　to　preserve　our　world；　not　see　it　destroyed！〃

〃Then　go；〃　she　said；　〃and　leave　me　here。　For　I　swore　a　different　vow。〃


Jack　Baker　threw　his　hand　up　and　skipped　back　as　the　burning　Odeon　bounced　off　the　column　and　crashed　onto　its　back。

Bela　and　Gnea　were　already　crowding　to　get　past　him；　to　Arla…Non；　and　it　was　a　bit　like　being　caught　in　the　middle　of　a　buffalo　stampede。

〃Mother！〃

〃Your　Majesty！〃

There　was　no　use　in　trying　to　restrain　them。　They　had　been　frustrated　enough　by　the　sudden　stopping　of　the　elevator。　The　plex's　power　supply　was　disrupted　from　the　attack　on　the　mand　center；　and　from　the　sapper　charges　set　off　by　Wolff。　The　ensuing　counterattack　by　the　Invid　hadn't　helped　either。　By　the　time　the　elevator　was　moving　again；　Janice　Em　was　the　only　calm　one　aboard。

Now　Arla…Non　waved　from　the　shelter　of　an　Invid　design　feature　not　far　away；　a　thing　that　looked　like　a　dendrite。　Lisa　and　Rick　and　some　of　the　others　were　there；　rather　dumbfounded。

〃Look　out！〃　Jan　burst　past　Jack　to　sweep　the　air　with　fire　from　her　Enforcer　rifle。　Everyone　else　saw　what　she　meant；　and　also　fired　at　the　skirmisher　ship　and　its　Armored　Officer　that　had　e　barreling　round　the　corner　for　a　low…level　recon。　Flier　and　Invid　flew　apart　like　a　clay　pigeon。

There　was　a　lot　of　confusion　then；　particularly　regarding　the　odd…looking　being　who　only　halfway　resembled　Janice　Em　at　this　point。　Finally；　Jack　got　them　to　understand　that　there　was　a　bolthole：　the　elevator　could　take　them　clear　to　the　roof。

〃That　will　do；〃　Veidt　told　them　all。　〃Sarna　is　there；　with　the　carpet。〃

Lisa　had　done　some　quick　mental　addition。　〃But　we　can　only　ferry　up　twenty　or　thirty　at　a　time。　We've　got　to　hold　on　down　here　in　the　meantime！　It　might　be　hours！〃

〃Good；　that　will　give　us　a　while　longer　yet　to　kill　Invid；〃　Arla…Non　said　blithely。

Wounded　were　being　taken　aboard　for　the　first　trip；　but　there　were　also　plenty　of　functionals　to　protect　them　once　they　got　up　above。　Rick　took　Max's　arm。　〃Get　Miriya　up　there；　too。　Now！　Don't　argue　with　me；　dammit。〃

Max　was　indecisive　for　a　second；　then　gripped　Rick's　arm　and　turned　to　get　his　wife　and　unborn　child　to　safety。　Rick　discovered　that　Lisa　was　staring　at　him　strangely。

She　gave　him　an　arch　look。　〃You're　not　going　to　insist　I　be　evacuated　with　the　injured　and　helpless？〃

Rick　sighed；　and　his　face　colored　some。　〃Not　you；　Tiger。〃　Her　answering　smile　warmed　him。

Veidt　was　staring　into　the　elevator。　〃So；　the　Awareness　has　seen　fit　to　aid　us。　And　you　are　not　what　you　seemed；　Janice　Em。　Still；　you　must　be　eloquent！　We　have　a　great　deal　to　discuss。〃

〃But　not　until　later；〃　Jan　said。　〃I　want　you　to　take　the　elevator　to　the　roof；　it　will　respond　to　you　now。　I　can　do　more　good　down　here。〃　She　hefted　the　Enforcer　rifle　she　held。

Veidt　inclined　his　head　slowly。　〃And；　more　to　the　point；　Sarna　is　up　there　now；　eh？　And；　unless　I　miss　my　guess；　Vowad？〃

Jan　had　learned　how　to　read　much　of　the　hidden　information　of　Haydon　IV。　She　knew　how　matters　stood　among　the　three。　She　nodded。　〃There　may　still　be　time　to　convince　him；　but　I'm　not　the　one　to　do　it。〃

Without　another　word；　Veidt　entered　the　elevator　among　the　wounded　and　the　vengeful。　Jan　turned　to　Rick　and　Lisa。　〃I　guess　I　don't　look　much　like　my　PR　photos；　hmm？〃

There　was　a　yell　from　the　battle　line　as　another　Inorganic　attack　began。　Rick　watched　the　elevator　doors　close　as　it　began　its　ascent。　The　Sentinels'　misson　had　been　rife　with　mind…boggling　shocks　and　surprises；　that　Janice　was　an　android　seemed　to　fit　in　with　the　unbelievable　scheme　of　things。

〃You　look　pretty　damn　good　to　us；　Jan。〃


Sarna　and　Vowad　were　locked　in　a　battle　of　wills；　the　huge　carpet　
vibrating　under　them。　If　he　couldn't　persuade　his　daughter　to　e　with　him；　he　resolved；　he　would　force　her　to　e；　by　taking　the　carpet　under　his　mand。

But　she　was　fighting　him　with　more　mental　force　than　he　would　have　believed　she　could　marshal。　Though　she　was　of　his　stock；　she　lacked　his　ages　of　training　and　experience…and　yet　something　within　her　was　making　her　very　nearly　her　father's　equal　in　willpower。

But　the　battle　became　moot　as　a　structure　on　the　roof　swung　open　and　the　elevator　appeared　with　its　cargo。　Wounded　amazons　were　assisted　onto　the　carpet；　and　able…bodied　ones　ran　to　set　up　firing　positions。　Max　led　Miriya　to　the　carpet　and　eased　her　down。

They　ignored　Vowad；　who　was　screaming；　〃Go　back；　go　back！　This　war　must　not　spill　over　into　the　city　at　large！〃

But　it　was　too　late。　Before　much　more　could　be　said；　an　ogrelike　Crann　clambored　into　view；　its　sensors　having　detected　activity　on　the　rooftop。

The　Praxians　and　Max　opened　fire　right　away；　but　Crann　were　perhaps　the　most　powerful　of　the　biped　Inorganics；　and　the　thing　just　kept　ing；　firing　back。　A　hole　was　burned　through　the　carpet；　and　several　of　the　wounded　were　killed　instantly　as　the　Crann　advanced。

People　were　diving　for　cover　that　wasn't　there；　Max　left　Miriya's　side　and　went　straight　for　it；　dodging　and　laying　down　rounds　with　an　Enforcer　rifle。

The　Crann　ignored　him；　swinging　its　weapon　muzzle　back　and　forth；　immolating　everything　it　saw。　Then　the　beam　swung　toward　the　three　Haydonites。

Veidt　tried　to　ram　Sarna　to　safety；　but　she　saw　that　her　father　was　paralyzed　with　shock　or　fright。

〃No！〃　she　cried；　and　eluded　her　mate　to　drive　straight　at　Vowad；　her　robe　fluttering　over　the　rooftop。　She　struck　her　father　with　her　head　and　upper　torso；　knocking　him　out　of　the　line　of　fire；　but　the　Crann's　beam　struck　Sarna　dead　center；　and　she　went　flying　to　the　roof's　surface；　her　robes　burning。

Veidt　was　there　at　once；　smothering　the　flames　with　his　own　body；　feeling　more　helpless　than　he　had　ever　felt。　But　Max　got　to　them　in　another　second；　using　his　jacket；　and　even　Miriya　had　staggered　over　to　help。

Meanwhile；　the　amazons　had　zeroed　in　on　the　Crann。　Their　massed　small…arms　fire　found　some　vulnerable　point　in　its　reverse…articulated　knee；　and　as　it　lost　balance　it　also　lost　footing　there　at　the　edge　of　the　roof。　The　Crann　plunged　from　sight；　but　they　heard　the　impact　as　it　struck　the　street　far　below。

Max　didn't　know　much　about　Haydonite　physiology；　and　what　he　saw　of　Sarna's　wound　reinforced　that；　the　weird　textures　and　shapes；　the　unfamiliar　fluids　and　systems；　looked　part　organic；　part　synthetic。　But　he　thought　that　the　damage　was　too　terrible　for　her　to　survive。　She　confirmed　that　when　she　spoke；　her　voice　a　faint　bubbling。

〃Father；　you　see？　What　is　Haydon　IV　under　the　Invid　but　a　beautifully　appointed　slavepen？　War　might　destroy　us；　but　it　can　never　defile　us　the　way　enslavement　has。〃

She　had　no　expression　that　a　Human　could　read；　but　the　note　in　her　voice　wrenched　at　Max's　heart。　Vowad　raised　his　face　to　regard　the　wounded　and　dying　among　the　Praxians；　the　determined…looking　women　who　showed　their　suffering　in　every　line　of　their　faces。

Then　Sarna　spasmed。　From　deep　within　his　faceless　depths；　Veidt　let　out　a　wail　that　was　terrible　to　hear。　With　no　arms　for　a　last　embrace；　he　dropped　until　he　lay　draped　across　the　corpse　of　his　mate；　and　the　sound　of　something　he　had　learned　among　the　Sentinels　came　from　him；　a　sound　no　Haydonite　had　ever　made　before。　Veidt　wept　like　a　lost　soul。

Max's　mouth　fell　open。　From　the　eyeless　visage　of　Veidt；　tears　were　seeping。

〃Ah；　Veidt：　you　are　my　love；〃　Sarna　managed；　though　the　voice　sounded　far　away；　as　if　it　were　ing　now　from　outside　her　body。　〃And　all　of　time　and　space　will　not　keep　us　apart。〃　Then　she　shuddered　again；　and　was　still。

It　took　the　others　a　moment　to　realize　that　a　new　sound　was　rising　to　drown　out　Veidt's　sorrow。　Vowad　floated　there；　head　thrown　back；　blank　face　raised　to　the　sky。　Max　somehow　knew　that　if　the　Haydonite　had　arms；　those　arms　would　have　been　thrown　wide；　hands　clenched　to　fists。

The　sound　that　issued　forth　from　somewhere　within　Vowad　was　animal　pain；　and　animal　anger。

〃More　Inorganics！〃　yelled　a　woman　who　had　leaped　to　the　roof's　edge。　The　alarm　was　repeated　by　others　all　along　that　part　of　the　building。

Max　rose　tiredly；　ignoring　the　pain　of　his　burned　hands；　to　take　up　his　gun。　The　amazons　were　right；　at　least　there　was　time　to　kill　some　more　Invid　before　the　final　defeat　was　nailed　down。　Too　bad　the　Sentinels　had　to　end　this　way。。。

But　just　then；　with　Vowad's　shriek　echoing　off　the　buildings　of　Glike；　the　world　began　to　shake。

It　wasn't　like　an　earthquake；　it　was　more　like　the　whole　artificial　planet　Haydon　IV　resonating　like　a　tuning　fork　to　Vowad's　pain。　The　sky　seemed　to　shimmer　like　a　pan　of　water　being　struck　and　struck　again　on　its　rim。　A　deep　sympathetic　vibration　was　felt　by　everyone　there　on　the　roof。　Even　more　amazing；　the　Invid　teeming　in　the　street　below　stopped　what　they　were　doing　and　stood　stock　still。

Then　there　was　a　sound　to　be　heard　all　through　Glike；　like　wind…whipped　flames…like　the　surging　of　a　funeral　pyre's　inferno。

Those　on　the　roof　abruptly　saw　movement　all　through　the　city。　From　hidden　crannies　and　the　very　seams　of　the　Oz　urbanscape；　incandescent　colors　emerged　in　shapes　that　seemed　alive。　And　all　at　once　the　Invid　in　the　street　below　were　attacked　by　a　moving　ant…army　of　shapes。

Max　yelped　and　leapt　back　as　one　scampered　past　him；　brushing　his　ankle。　It　didn't　hurt；　but　the　contact　made　his　skin　tingle　and　feel　a　bit　numb。　It　was　obvious；　though；　that　the　thing　wasn't　after　Max；　hundreds；　thousands　of　others　like　it　were　emerging　from　every　crevice　and　homing　in　on　the　nearest　Invid。

And　then　he　realized　what　the　thing　was：　a　miniature　humanoid　figure；　whose　likeness　Max　had　seen　often　enough　to　recognize　it：　Zor！　The　humunculi…Zors　were　the　size　of　a　kid's　toy　model；　made　of　kaleidoscopic　colors；　bounding　through　the　air　or　running　at　unbelievable　speed　to　take　on　the　Inorganics。

The　myriad　Zors　were　seeping　from　the　fabric　of　the　city　to　attack　the　Regent's　troops。　Apparently；　the　ghost　in　the　machine　that　was　Haydon　IV's　Awareness　knew　the　Invid　mind　well…and　had　chosen　to　form　its　antibodies　in　the　image　of　the　Regent's　most　hated　foe。

In　seconds；　the　Invid　mecha　were　battling　enemies　that　knew　no　surrender　or　retreat。　Blasts　from　Protoculture　weapons　disintegrated　Haydon　IV's　antibodies；　but　in　the　time　it　took　to　shoot　one；　a　dozen　more　tiny　Zor　simulacra　rose　up　to　attack。　As　the　antibodies　fastened　themselves　to　the　Inorganics；　coating　them；　the　war　machines　began　to　glow。

Unlike　the　contest　in　which　Jack's　raiders