16_world_killers-第13部分

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Unlike　the　contest　in　which　Jack's　raiders　had　fought　beneath　the　planet；　the　antibodies　weren't　in　unending　supply　now。　There　were　limits　even　to　Haydon　IV's　power。　As　Inorganics　everywhere　blazed　away　at　the　tiny　demons　fashioned　in　Zor's　image；　fewer　and　fewer　appeared　to　take　their　places。

But　the　city　was　still　blanketed　with　antibodies　eager　to　hurl　themselves　onto　the　mecha。　As　Max　watched；　a　Hellcat；　coated　with　the　shifting；　coruscating　colors　of　the　antibodies　that　had　plastered　themselves　to　it；　rolled　and　spat　and　flopped；　clawing　at　itself　uselessly。　Its　destructive　aura　grew　brighter；　and　a　moment　later　it　was　ruptured　by　a　dazzling　explosion；　vanishing　from　sight。

Elsewhere；　an　Odeon　staggered　drunkenly；　firing　into　the　air；　as　antibodies　engulfed　it。　It　tried　to　decontaminate　its　arm　with　blasts　from　its　hand　weapon；　but　only　succeeded　in　blowing　the　arm　off。　A　moment　later　it；　too；　blew　apart。

Max　spun　on　Veidt。　〃Hurry！　Get　that　elevator　back　down　for　the　others！　Quick；　before　this　whole　plex　goes！〃

Veidt　was　still　stretched　out　across　Sarna；　oblivious　to　everything　around　him。　At　length；　Vowad　regained　some　part　of　his　posure。

〃I　will　go；〃　he　said。　In　a　moment；　he　had　started　the　elevator　back　down　in　a　race　to　save　as　many　others　as　he　could。


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

YOUR　TAX　DOLLARS　AT　WORK
Graffito　found　on　Sentinels　barricade　in　the　Central　Slavepen；　thought　to　be　attributable　to　Bela

When　the　Regent　heard　of　the　revolt　among　the　Praxian　slaves；　he　took　mand　of　the　situation　himself。　He　left　his　hive　just　outside　the　city　and　called　for　his　Land　Cruiser…the　grotesque　mobile　ground　fortress　that　was　the　centerpiece　of　large…scale　Invid　surface　action。

When　he　was　told　that　the　Sentinels　were　in　some　way　responsible　for　the　slave　uprising；　he　sent　word　to　his　torturers　to　prepare　for　a　much　more　demanding　schedule。　But　once　he　was　informed　that　the　antibodies　of　Haydon　IV　had　turned　against　him；　he　instructed　his　personal　flagship　to　stand　ready　against　immediate　departure。

Not　that　he　counted　the　battle　lost　yet；　the　Haydonite　defenses　had　been　designed　to　eliminate　most　of　an　invading　force　before　that　force　got　to　the　planet's　surface；　and　the　Invid　were　already　at　close　range。　The　Regent　had　an　advantage　no　invader　had　ever　achieved　before。

〃Destroy　all　power　sources！〃　he　ordered。　〃Obliterate　the　planet's　energy　production　centers！　The　Regent　was　certain　that　without　power；　the　antibodies　would　quickly　de…rezz　into　nothingness。

Those　Invid　not　engulfed　in　Zor　antibodies　immediately　began　destroying　all　power　sources　they　could　detect；　which　meant　razing　things　at　random。　The　biped　Inorganics；　in　particular；　destroyed　ages　of　craftsmanship　and　art　in　minutes；　turning　their　aim　haphazardly　from　one　target　to　the　next。　Minarets　toppled；　domes　shattered；　and　delicate　mansions　collapsed　like　fragile　pastry　crust。　Fires　flared　up；　and　smoke　began　to　block　out　Briz'dziki；　Haydon's　sun。

Then　mo　relays　showed　the　Regent　the　nature　of　the　antibodies。　Zor；　again！　The　Regent's　entourage　ducked　and　ran　from　his　berserk　blows；　he　lashed　out　at　the　consoles　and　instrument　panels　around　him。　He　wrenched　the　mand　chair　from　the　deck；　flinging　it　against　a　bulkhead　so　hard　that　the　chair　dented　the　plates。

Zor！　The　perversity　of　the　Haydon　IV　machinery！　The　towering　affrontery　of　it！　〃I　will　have　this　planet　or　I　will　destroy　it！〃　the　Regent　roared。

Though　he　was　in　a　part　of　the　city　that　had　been　spared　the　appearance　of　the　antibodies；　the　Regent　thought　better　of　his　plan　to　travel　on　the　ground。　He　called　for　a　Terror　Weapon　troop　dropship；　but　of　the　three　on　Haydon　IV　at　the　moment；　two　were　elsewhere　on　the　planet　picking　up　reinforcements　and　the　third　had　been　destroyed　while　hovering　near　its　landing　pad　not　far　from　the　Central　Slavepen。

The　Regent　changed　his　instructions；　and　the　Land　Cruiser　swung　toward　the　starport。　Time　to　make　a　break　for　his　flagship；　while　he　still　had　other　cards　to　play。　A　screen　relayed　the　scene　from　the　Land　Cruiser's　brig；　showing　him　that　Rem　was　still　firmly　chained　there。　The　Regent　stroked　his　mammoth　Hellcats　and　contemplated　the　horrors　he　would　inflict　on　the　clone　when　all　this　was　over。


Even　Jack　and　his　team；　who　had　seen　the　Haydon　antibodies　in　action　in　other　forms；　had　difficulty　believing　what　they　were　witnessing。　From　the　very　walls　of　the　dungeons　came　doll…size　Zors　in　every　color；　setting　upon　the　Inorganics；　bringing　them　down　and　blowing　them　apart。

They　were　a　reminder；　too；　of　Rem；　who　was　still　held　captive　by　the　Regent。

In　the　slavepens；　the　counterattack　on　the　Praxians　and　the　Sentinels　stopped　cold。　The　main　danger　to　the　defenders　now　was　the　deafening　sound　of　the　Inorganic　volleys　and　the　reports　of　the　mecha　being　blown　apart。

Nevertheless；　the　Inorganics　had　taken　a　considerable　toll　on　the　antibodies。　When　the　simulacra…Zors　flickered　away　to　carry　the　battle　outside；　like　torch　flames　on　the　wind；　there　were　far　fewer　than　there　had　been　at　the　start。　The　Invid　destruction　of　Haydon's　power…delivery　systems　was　beginning　to　tell。

Vowad　reappeared　with　the　elevator　for　the　next　load　of　evacuees；　but　now　there　was　no　rush。　Arla…Non　had　her　other　injured　ready；　but　many　of　the　others　wanted　to　be　part　of　the　campaign　there　underground；　sweeping　the　Invid　from　the　plex　and　searching　for　any　other　enslaved　Praxians。

〃What　would　be　most　useful；〃　Lisa　told　Vowad；　〃would　be　smaller　flying　carpets；　to　support　the　Praxians　elsewhere　in　the　city　and　on　the　planet。〃

Vowad　spoke　in　a　monotone；　still　numb　with　the　enormity　of　Sarna's　death　and　his　own　act　of　vengeance。　〃I　will　see　what　can　be　done；〃　he　said；　〃but　most　Haydonites　are　busy　rescuing　themselves　and　their　dependents。　The　city　is　dying。〃

Still；　Arla…Non　sent　a　platoon　of　her　amazons　up　with　Vowad；　to　help　secure　the　roof　and　stand　ready　in　case　the　opportunity　arose　to　rescue　other　Praxians。

When　the　elevator　left；　the　Sentinels　and　the　released　slaves　began　a　careful　advance　over　the　ground　the　Invid　had　held　only　minutes　before。　There　was　nothing　but　debris；　smoke；　and　puddles　of　metal。

The　Praxians　returned　to　the　armory　and　continued　their　plundering。　Outside　the　Central　Slavepen；　Rick　and　the　rest　found　the　immediate　area　quiet；　though　the　sounds　of　battle　came　from　close…by。

Vowad　appeared；　this　time　on　a　much　smaller　carpet。　〃I　have　summoned　others；〃　he　said；　〃and　they　will　take　you　and　yours　anywhere　you　wish。〃

High　above；　Rick　could　see；　some　carpets　of　varying　sizes　were　lifting　off；　some　to　take　the　wounded　to　the　Halls　of　Healing；　others　to　descend　to　the　street　and　await　passengers；　all　manded　by　Haydonites　unfamiliar　to　him。　He　realized　that　the　Haydonites　had　somehow　subdivided　the　huge　carpet　Sarna　had　brought。

Maybe　there's　only　one　real　carpet；　it　occurred　to　him；　and　all　the　little　ones　are　just　temporarily　detached　pieces！

Arla…Non's　troops　boarded　the　carpets　by　assigned　units；　to　be　borne　off　to　rescue　more　of　their　Sisters。　Bela　had　assumed　the　status　of　her　mother's　second…in…mand；　and　Gnea　was　a　kind　of　aide…de…camp。　It　was　odd　to　see　the　hard…driving　Bela　deferring　to　someone　so　readily；　but　Arla…Non　wore　an　invisible　cloak　of　authority　and　majesty；　Jack　didn't　blame　Bela　one　bit。

Vowad　was　still　next　to　Rick　and　Lisa。　〃We　have　attempted　to　contact　your　Ark　Angel；　but　the　Invid　still　interfere　with　our　transmissions；　things　beyond　the　Haydonite　atmosphere　are　not　always　within　our　control。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　Lisa　said　gently。　〃There　are　more　immediate　things　to　think　about。〃　The　raiders　had　heard　the　news　of　Sarna's　death　and　Vowad's　sudden　conversion。　Lisa　had　suffered　her　own　losses　in　war　and　knew　how　deeply　it　hurt。

〃Yes。〃　Vowad　nodded。　〃Power　levels　are　dropping；　due　to　the　Invid　destruction。　Inorganic　reinforcements　are　being　airlifted　into　Glike；　and　the　oute　hangs　in　the　balance。　But　that　is　not　what　concerns　me　most。　The　Regent　is　reported　to　be　on　his　way　to　the　starport；　his　ship　standing　ready。　Your　friend　Rem；　the　Zor…clone；　is　still　his　prisoner。

〃I　fear　the　worst。〃


Jack　Baker　did　not　have　enough　time　to　say　hello　to　Karen　Penn　when　he　saw　her。　〃So；　they　finally　kicked　you　outta　sick　bay；　huh？〃　Then　it　was　back　to　fighting　for　their　lives　as　the　Inorganics　pressed　the　battle；　down　in　the　slave　warrens。

Now；　up　on　the　open　street；　he　sought　her　out　in　the　chaos　of　battle。　Sliding　around　a　flying　squad　of　big；　gladsome　amazons　off　to　collect　some　more　Inorganic　scalps；　he　skirted　the　smoking　remains　of　a　skirmish　ship；　and　finally　spotted　her。　She　was　listening　to　the　sounds　of　conflict；　but　she　was　staring　off　toward　the　cloud…high　towers　of　Glike。

〃Um；〃　he　began；　and　found　himself　at　a　loss。　〃You　sure　you're　okay？　No　aftereffects？〃

She　flashed　him　a　smile。　〃Yes。　Thanks；　Jack。〃

She　looked　back　to　the　skyline。　〃Well；　what's　wrong　then？〃　he　persisted。

〃Nothing's　wrong；　Jack。　It's　just　that。。。all　this。。。maybe　it's　just　as　well　that　Glike　be　leveled；　to　start　from　scratch。〃

〃Huh？　Look；　these're　our　allies　now；　y'know！〃

She　turned　a　hateful　expression　on　him。　〃Allies；　hell！　They're　not　the　first　beautiful　culture　to　put　up　with　rot　and　evil　in　its　midst；　just　so　people　could　have　their　aesthetics　and　their　fort　and　their　personal　peace。〃

Jack　felt　the　color　rising　in　his　face。　She's　giving　me　speeches　now？

She　looked　to　the　city　again。　〃The　glory　of　Greece　was　built　on　slavery；　did　you　know　that？　I　don't　care　what　kind　of　crap　they　tell　us　about　it；　if　I'd　been　there　I'd　have　bombed　the　Parthenon；　smashed　everything　slavery　bought　them…〃

Jack　felt　heat　flushing　his　face。　〃Penn；　don't　you　start　preaching　history　to　me！　I　was　just　saying…〃

〃Whatever　es　out　of　the　ashes　of　Glike　will　be　better　than　what　went　before；　even　if　it's　Stone　Age；　because　Haydon'll　be　a　free　planet…〃

Jack　shook　a　fist　at　her。　〃Will　you　shut　up　and　listen？　I'm　saying　I　agree　with…〃

〃Who抮e　you　telling　to　shut　up？〃

〃Penn！　Baker！　Front　'n'　center！〃

They　were　both　breathing　hard；　about　to　mix　it　up　again；　when　Rick　Hunter's　sharp　summons　cut　through　the　gathering　slugfest。　Their　training　kicked　in；　and　they　double…timed　over　to　Rick；　rifles　at　sling　arms。

Veidt　was　standing　near　the　Hunters；　and　so　was　Janice　Em。　The　Artificial　Person　had　resumed　the　aspect　of　a　Human　female。　Rick　quickly　explained　the　tactical　situation；　and　Rem's　dilemma。

〃There's　no　time　to　muster　a　full…scale　strike　at　the　Land　Cruiser；〃　Rick　finished。　〃But　Veidt's　ready　to　try　to　get　a　mando　team　in　by　carpet。　Colonel　Wolff；　the　Garudans；　and　the　Karbarrans　will　be　diverting　the　Regent's　attention　and　providing　fire　support。　Well？〃

〃Count　us　in；　S…〃　Karen　had　begun　answering　for　them　both；　by　habit；　but　she　stopped；　looking　aside　at　the　young　man　who　was　part　friend；　part　title…fight　opponent。

Jack　gave　a　slightly　insubordinate　smile　and　touched　fingertips　to　his　forehead…more　of　a　wave　than　a　salute。　〃Like　she　says；　count　us　in；　Admiral。〃

Jack；　Karen；　and　Veidt　boarded　Veidt's　poker　table…size　carpet　and　lifted　away。　Rick　didn't　even　have　time　to　turn　around；　Vince　Grant　was　standing　there。　〃Bad　news；　Rick：　Tesla　and　Burak　are　gone。〃

〃What　d'ya　mean　gone！　Gone　where？〃

Vince　was　shaking　his　head。　〃Slipped　off　while　we　were　getting　ourselves　organized。　Somebody　said　there's　a　skirmisher　ship　missing。〃

Vince　indicated　Garak　and　Pye　with　a　nod　of　his　head。　〃Those　two　claim　they　don't　know。　I　think　they're　lying；　something's　got　them　frightened；　even　more　frightened　than　the　Haydon　defenses。　Where　would　Tesla　and　Burak　go？〃

Rick　blew　his　breath　out。　〃I　don't　know；　and　we　can't　worry　about　it　right　now。　Just　put　out　an　all…points　to　pick　them　up。　And　don't　go　after　them　yourself！　I　need　you　right　here。〃

Vince　showed　disappointment。　〃Aye；　sir。〃

Rick　returned　to　his　wife　to　find　her　dealing　with　another　problem。　〃New　deepspace　blips　on　the　detectors；〃　a　Haydonite　was　saying。　〃We　think　they're　Invid。〃


The　skirmisher　ship　flew　low　over　the　contested　city；　streaking　toward　the　cluster　of　glowing；　shadow…dappled　domes　that　was　the　Invid　hive　on　the　horizon。

Burak　held　his　breath；　expecting　the　antibodies　of　Haydon　IV　to　hurl　themselves　into　the　air　at　him　at　any　second。　But　the　words　of　Veidt　came　back　to　him；　that　intent　had　everything　to　do　with　the　responses　of　the　defense　system。　And；　certainly；　Tesla's　intent　had　nothing　to　do　with　invasion　and　conquest…at　least　not　today。

Burak　was　perched　on　the　scientist's　shoulders；　gripping　his　robe　and　harness　for　dear　life；　as　Tesla　piloted　the　flier　along　at　breakneck　speed；　using　suicidal　maneuvers　to　avoid　the　mecha　and　miniature　Zor　fire…demons　that　fought　through　the　air。

Burak　had　unconditionally　accepted　that　his　planet's　fate　and　his　own　Higher　Destiny；　his　Messiahhood；　were　tied　to　Tesla's　own。

No　interceptors　or　withering　fire　rose　to　incinerate　them　as　they　sped　toward　the　hive；　Burak　felt　sure　that　Tesla's　growing　powers　had　taken　care　of　that　problem。　Tesla　brought　the　flier　in　for　a　landing　at　the　mouth　of　an　opening　that　led　into　the　central　dome。

Burak　was　beyond　any　thought　of　resistance　by　then。　Tesla　led　him　in　through　a　virtually　abandoned　hive。　What　Invid　there　were　were　disoriented　and　of　no　consequence；　they　stepped　aside；　kowtowing；　at　Tesla's　imperious　orders。

Then　the　two　arrived　in　the　most　holy　place　in　any　hive；　the　chamber　set　aside　for　those　Flowers　of　Life　that　had　blossomed；　or　held　promise　of　blossoming。　Here；　to　Tesla's　wild　exultation；　they　found　plants　that　had　actually　borne　Fruit。

Burak　had　begun　to　recognize　a　pattern；　that　the　Fruit　of　each　world　was　different　from　that　borne　on　any　other。　And　the　Fruit　brought　forth　by　the　worlds　once　touched　by　Haydon　himself…worlds　the　Sentinels　were　trying　to　free…were　the　most　pronouncedly　varied　of　all。

In　this　case；　the　Fruit　were　eggplant…purple　cylinders；　round…bottomed　and　quiveringly　gelid。　Tesla　cupped　his　hands　around　one　gently。

〃See…eee？〃　The　word　was　more　a　whispered　breath　than　a　spoken　sound。　〃See　how　the　light　shines　through　them？　These　are　new；　just　grown！　They've　bee　ripe　in　the　last　few　minutes…no　more　than　an　hour！　Not　even　the　Regent　has　tasted　such　Fruit　as　these！〃

Tesla　suddenly　turned　on　Burak；　who　was　standing　close；　watching　curiously。　The　master　scientist　struck　out　at　the　Perytonian　jealously；　a　blow　that　would　have　killed　if　Burak　hadn't　ducked。　〃Back！　You　shall　have　none！〃

Burak　backstepped　warily。　〃I　want　none。　I　only　want　you　to　keep　your　bargain。〃

Tesla　had　seated　himself　cross…legged　on　the　soft　sward　of　the　arborium；　a　little　pile　of　the　Fruits　in　his　lap。　〃Good。〃

Burak　squatted　on　his　haunches；　to　watch　Tesla　sink　his　long　snout　into　the　Fruit；　slurping　and　slobbering　at　it；　runnels　of　purple　juice　flowing　down　his　chin；　neck；　and　chest。　Soon；　something　pulsed　within　the　Invid。　In　moments；　a　light　shone　from　him　that　threw　Burak's　shadow　on　the　dome　walls。

Burak　hunkered　down；　shielding　his　eyes　a　bit；　to　witness　the　next　step　in　Tesla's　Flower…induced　metamorphosis。


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

Lang　was　first　among　the　Humans　to　notice　it；　the　〃dovetailing；〃　as　he　called　it；　of　the　worlds　specially　touched　by　Haydon　and　those　that　held　such　interest　in　more　recent　times　for　Zor。
He　p