16_world_killers-第22部分

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There　was　a　sudden　scuffling　behind　him　and　Kyle　whirled；　rising。　Edwards's　eyes　flickered　that　way　at　the　same　time；　to　see　Adams　grappling　with　Minmei；　the　bright　edge　of　a　bat　knife　reflecting　the　light。

〃Kill　her！　Kill　her！〃　Edwards　screamed；　not　because　he　thought　Adams　would　necessarily　follow　orders；　but　rather　because　it　would　keep　Lynn…Kyle　diverted。　It　was　no　surprise　that　Kyle　unthinkingly　sprang　to　Minmei's　aid。　Edwards　was　digging　for　his　gun；　even　as　he　thought；　Kyle　must　know　I'm　armed！　Why。。。

Adams's　eyes　opened　wide；　the　edge　of　his　blade　drawing　a　trickle　of　blood　from　Minmei's　neck。　Kyle　came　at　him；　unstoppable　and　almost　too　fast　to　see；　with　a　strength　like　something　out　of　Robotechnology。

Adams　felt　himself　horribly　hurt　and　sent　pinwheeling；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　it；　he　was　propelled　into　a　corner；　black…red　blood　bubbling　on　his　lips；　knowing　he　had　only　a　few　moments　of　life　left。　Minmei　was　safe；　except　for　the　shallow　cut　on　her　throat。

Kyle　spun　on　Edwards；　but　the　general　already　had　his　derringer　in　his　hand。　It　didn't　make　any　difference；　Kyle　leapt　at　him　anyway。

The　gun　was　small；　only　good　for　two　rounds；　but　graphically　effective　at　short　range。　Edwards　shot　Kyle　twice　while　he　was　in　the　air；　the　body　that　landed　on　the　general　was　almost　dead。

Edwards　pushed　Kyle　off；　while　Minmei　came　to　her　cousin's　side；　knelt；　and　brushed　his　raven's…wing　forelock　out　of　his　eyes。　She　took　his　head　into　her　lap　tenderly；　as　Edwards　labored　to　regain　his　breath　and　get　to　his　feet。

Kyle's　eyelids　fluttered。　〃Minmei。。。〃

〃Shh…hh。〃

There　was　no　saving　him；　she　kept　her　trembling　hand　at　his　chin；　so　he　couldn't　see　the　melted　fabric　and　bloody　mess　that　was　his　chest。　Kyle　coughed；　〃The　war　was　almost　over。　We'd　won。〃

〃We'd　won。〃　She　nodded。　〃You　won　it　for　us；　Kyle。〃　She　was　about　to　faint；　holding　a　human　body　that　was　half　blown　open；　but　she　found　reserves　of　courage　from　someplace　she　had　never　delved　into　before；　and　smiled　down　at　him　instead。

There　was　a　final；　galvanic　bit　of　life　to　him。　〃Tell　me　you　love　me；　Minmei。　Let　it　be　the　last　thing　I　hear。　Please。〃

Once；　she　would　have　hung　back　from　conceding　that；　but　she　had　suffered　so　much　since　joining　the　Sentinels。。。it　seemed　that　last　words　were　all　she　knew　anymore。

〃I　love　you；　Lynn…Kyle。　Now　and　forever。〃

Minmei　locked　her　mouth　to　his；　and　felt　Kyle　go　cold　and　lifeless。　She　held　him　close；　rocking　as　she　embraced　his　head；　crooning　a　little　children's　song　he　had　taught　her　a　thousand　eons　ago。

There　was　the　sudden　grip　of　bloody　hands；　and　Edwards　dragged　her　away　from　Lynn…Kyle's　corpse。　He　was　speaking　into　a　rover　mo　unit　through　his　smashed　face。　〃Rally　here！　Rally　here！　Make　pickup　at　this　location　at　once！〃

There　was　a　burst　of　static　as　someone　acknowledged　from　the　assault　units。　Minmei　knew　she　was　still　a　captive　and　that　Edwards　might　still　win　the　day；　but　all　of　that　was　unimportant　to　her　now。

I'm　not　a　prisoner　anymore。　I　have　my　own　part　to　play　now。

She　glanced　around　the　room；　and　everything　she　saw　seemed　to　be　an　edged　weapon　or　a　bludgeon。　Edwards；　still　trying　to　arrange　for　a　rendezvous；　was　suddenly　troubled　when　he　saw　Minmei's　slow　smile。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…TWO

Strange；　that　the　〃Loki〃　of　the　Sentinels　campaign　should　have　a　namesake　so　renowned　in　Earth's　scientific　history。　But　the　Human　Tesla　invented　polyphase　systems；　dynamos；　oscillators；　and　so　much　more；　whereas　there　is　no　record　of　his　Invid　counterpart　making　any　contribution　whatsoever…beyond　the　abominations　that　are　already　so　notorious。
Simon　Kujawa；　Against　All　Worlds：　A　Biography　of　Tesla　the　Infamous

〃What's　your　hurry；　Jack？〃

Karen　tried　to　make　it　sound　joking；　but　some　of　her　concern　slipped　through　nevertheless。　Jack　paused；　there　in　the　Ark　Angel　passageway；　to　face　her。

〃Tesla's　due　to　speak　to　the　leaders；〃　he　said　in　an　emotionless　voice。　〃I'm　making　final　arrangements；　and　I'm　very　pressed　for　time；　so　if　you　don't　mind…〃

〃What　are　you　now；　that　big　slug's　errand　boy？？she　sneered。　〃Does　he　keep　you　busy　kissing　his　feet？　Is　that　why　you　and　Gnea　are　holed　up　down　in　that　partment　with　him　all　the　time？〃

Wrong　tone；　girl；　she　told　herself。　But　she　couldn't　help　it。　She　was　angry　at　him　for　avoiding　her；　she　was　suspicious　of　all　the　time　he　was　spending　together　with　Miss　Teenage　Amazon；　and　she　was　worried　about　what　Tesla　might　be　cooking　up。　And　she　was　PO'd　at　herself　for　caring　so　much　about　Jack　Baker。

He　had　that　same　distant；　dispassionate　look　he　had　been　wearing　lately；　studying　her　like　she　was　something　on　a　microscope　slide。　〃You're　an　idiot；〃　he　said；　and　about…faced　and　marched　off　on　his　way。

She　fought　the　urge　to　go　after　him　and　put　his　lights　out。　Violence　never　solves　anything　unless　you　happen　to　live　in　certain　parts　of　New　Jersey；　as　someone…W。　C。　Fields？…put　it。

There　was　some　slight　reassurance　in　the　fact　that　Tesla　was　about　to　make　his　long…postponed　appearance　before　the　Sentinels　elite。　Rick　Hunter　had　decided　he　wasn't　going　to　put　up　with　any　more　stalling；　and　had　in　fact　been　in　the　process　of　organizing　an　armed　contingent　to　drag　the　Invid　before　a　board　of　inquiry…even　if　it　meant　clapping　Gnea　and　Burak　and　Jack　Baker　in　irons　and　giving　the　alien　scientist　a　taste　of　the　business　end　of　a　cattle　prod。

But　Tesla's　relayed　announcement…that　he　had　something　of　great　importance　to　lay　before　the　leadership　forestalled　all　that。　There　were　a　hundred　different　scuttlebutt　theories　about　what　was　about　to　happen；　and　some　of　them　were　awfully　disquieting。

But　apparently　Jack　Baker　wasn't　about　to　clarify　anything。　Karen　Penn　found　that　she　had　curled　her　hands　into　fists。　Idiot；　huh？　She　went　after　him　with　every　intention　of　dumping　him　on　his　keister。

It　surprised　her　almost　as　much　as　it　did　Jack　Baker　when；　grabbing　his　elbow　and　dragging　him　around　on　his　heel；　she　kissed　him　instead　of　belting　him。　She　put　one　hand　behind　his　head　and　the　other　on　his　cheek　and　went　toil。

It　wasn't　the　first　time　they　had　kissed；　but　Karen　made　it　something　that　said　a　lot　more　than　the　friendly/petitive　necking　they　had　occasionally　done　in　the　past。　She　knew　then　that　Jack　definitely　wasn't　his　normal　self；　it　was　like　kissing　some　unyielding　stranger。

But　then　the　kiss　changed；　and　for　a　moment　Jack　felt　stirrings　of　his　true　self　and　his　own　free　will。　He　put　his　arms　around　Karen　and　kissed　her　back；　as　astonished　crewmembers　of　various　species　detoured　around　the　two　or　stopped　to　stare。　A　few　whistled　and　cheered　and　applauded。

Tesla's　mindlock　reasserted　itself；　though；　and　Karen　felt　Jack　go　distant　and　emotionless。　He　held　her　at　arm's　length；　his　hands　on　her　shoulders。　The　kiss　had　left　her　breathless；　but　he　was　behind　some　strange　emotional　barrier　once　more。　The　interplay　of　his　features　told　her　that　there　was　a　struggle　going　on　somewhere　inside。

〃Let's　see　you　shrug　that　one　off；　Jack；〃　she　whispered　to　him；　her　hands　pressed　to　his　cheeks。　He　lurched　free；　staggering　a　bit；　and　continued　on　his　way。　There　were　a　few　sniggers　from　the　sidelines。　Karen　spun　to　face　the　onlookers。

〃What're　the　bunch　of　ya　doing　standing　around　leering！　Haven't　you　perverts　got　sex　lives　of　your　own？〃

Her　temper　was　well　known。　In　five　seconds　she　had　the　whole　passageway　to　herself。


My　god！　Maybe　we　should　shoot　him　right　now；　before　it's　too　late！　That　was　Rick　Hunter's　first　thought　when　Tesla　appeared　before　the　Sentinels'　leadership。

The　scientist　was　now　fully　as　tall　as　the　Regent；　but　more　strongly　resembled　the　Regis。　He　reminded　Lisa　of　a　store　mannequin　or　an　ancient　statue；　his　bodily　structure　and　face　now　clearly　defined　along　Human　lines　but　still　devoid　of　any　real　identity。

Tesla　had　had　robes　made　for　him…by　Baker　and　Gnea；　Rick　supposed；　the　two　were　doing　all　his　stepping　and　fetching　in　alarmingly　devoted　fashion　these　days…robes　like　those　of　the　Invid　monarch　himself。　He　even　wore　the　jeweled　collar　Lisa　had　once　fastened　around　his　throat；　but　now；　Rick　assumed；　the　Tango…niner　explosive　charges　had　been　removed。　Tesla　looked。。。godlike。

What　Rick　couldn't　figure　out　was　how　the　big　grub　was　doing　all　this　evolving。　There　had　to　be　a　technique　or　medicine　or　something；　but　no　one　had　a　clue　as　to　what　it　might　be。　Of　course；　Burak　and　Jack　and　Gnea　might　know；　but　they　were　now　over　in　Tesla's　camp；　and　weren't　talking。

The　Invid　spread　his　huge　five…fingered　hands　and　spoke　from　his　new　mouth　in　a　saintly　voice。　〃I'm　here　for　just　one　reason；　my　friends：　to　bring　an　end　to　these　unfortunate　hostilities　between　your　races　and　mine。　I　propose　to　begin　my　great　mission　by　alleviating　the　suffering　and　oppression　down　there　on　Spheris。〃

〃And　how　will　you　do　that？〃　Rem　asked　in　clipped；　precise　tones。　More　and　more；　he　found　himself　a　sort　of　moderator　among　the　Sentinels；　since　he　had　a　certain　diligent　impartiality　and　a　need　to　repair　the　damage　done　by　his　species。

Tesla　raised　a　single；　Human…looking　forefinger　dramatically。　〃The　Invid　were　a　peaceful　race；　since　time　out　of　mind；　we　didn't　know　the　meaning　of　war　until　our　Flower　of　Life　was　stolen　from　us。

〃We　can　go　back　to　our　peaceful　ways　again！　For　us；　it　would　be　like　the　Humans　returning　to　the　Garden　of　Eden。　But　for　that　to　happen；　the　old　leaders　must　pass　away。〃

He　pressed　on　before　anybody　could　raise　an　objection。　〃Self…actuated　changes　lie　at　the　heart　of　the　Invid　psyche；　this　is　well　known。　That　is　the　form　of　existence　the　Flower　decreed　for　us。　Now；　I　am　already　more　highly　evolved　than　the　Regent　himself。　I　therefore　intend　to　go　to　the　garrison　on　Spheris　and　mand　the　officers　and　Inorganics　there　to　lay　down　their　arms。〃

〃Just　like　that；〃　Lisa　heard　Janice　Em　mutter。　The　Artificial　Person　wore　the　aspect　of　a　human　female　just　about　constantly　nowadays；　yet　something　of　the　cold　android　logic　bestowed　on　her　by　Lang　had　informed　her　persona。

Tesla　had　caught　it。　〃Yes；　Miss　Em；　just　like　that。　Think　of　the　lives　saved　and　the　suffering　and　damage　that　world　will　be　spared！〃

〃What　if　it　doesn't　work？〃　Kami　of　Garuda　said；　inhaling　through　his　special　breathing　mask。　〃What　if　you　fail？〃

Tesla's　wax…museum　face　turned　toward　him。　〃Then；　proceed　with　the　battle　plan　that　Teal　and　Baldan　II　are　prosecuting。　And　remember　me　with　what　passion　you　can　spare；　for　I　shall　be　dead。〃

That　had　people　talking　to　each　other；　and　Crysta；　banging　the　gavel　she　manned　as　current　chairbeing　of　the　leadership；　was　some　time　in　silencing　it。

〃I　don't　trust　'im；'　Rick　said　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth　to　his　wife。　He　was　looking　at　Burak　and　Gnea　and　Jack　Baker；　who　stood　behind　Tesla　and　gave　every　indication　of　rooting　for　him。

〃Whatever　Baker　and　the　rest've　caught；　I　hope　it's　not　contagious；〃　Lisa　agreed。

〃And　what　are　the　alternatives？〃　Tesla　forged　on。　〃Fighting　the　battle　and　suffering　the　casualties　you'd　planned　on　anyway？　Give　me　a　chance　to　make　up　for　what　my　people　have　done！　That's　all　I　ask　of　you！　This　can　still　be　a　galaxy　of　peace　and　mutual　understanding！〃

Not　a　dry　eye　in　the　house；　Rick　thought　sourly；　with　a　feeling　he　knew　which　way　the　voting　was　going　to　go。

As　for　Tesla；　he　felt　a　spreading　warmth　within　him　as　he　sensed　victory。　How　did　the　line　from　that　Human　story　go？　Don't　throw　me　into　dot　briar　patch！

Or　in　this　case；　into　the　midst　of　an　Inorganic　garrison　he　could　mandeer。　Into　a　Protoculture　garden　where　new　varieties　of　the　Fruit　of　the　Flower　of　Life　waited　to　speed　Tesla's　unprecedented　evolution。　Into　a　power　base　from　which　he　would　launch　his　campaign　to　dominate　the　entire　universe。

Once；　an　age　ago；　realizing　that　his　star　was　on　the　ascendent；　the　Regis　had　asked　him；　〃Tesla；　why　are　you　so　wicked？？

And　he　had　answered　with　a　bored　mental　yawn；　〃Mistress；　only　mediocre　intellects　can　endure　the　tedium　of　being　good。〃


Contacted　deep　within　Spheris；　Baldan　II　and　his　people　agreed　to　try　Tesla's　plan。　The　carnage　that　had　acpanied　previous　battles　with　the　Invid　was　well　known　now；　and　any　idea　that　might　prevent　such　ruin　on　Spheris　was　worth　a　try。

Teal　was　wary　of　it；　though；　once　reassured　that　others　would　take　up　the　fight　for　them；　the　Spherisians　might　be　difficult　or　impossible　to　work　into　a　fighting　mood　once　more。


The　Odeon's　hornlike　energy　projectors　gushed　fiery　bolts　at　him；　but　Wolff's　Hovertank　slewed　aside；　firing　a　close…in　salvo　from　its　own　massive　main　gun。

The　Inorganic　went　up　like　a　roman　candle　as　the　rest　of　the　Wolff　Pack　followed　their　mander；　battling　their　way　through　the　determined　Invid　resistance　toward　the　REF　HQ　building。

The　Hovertanks　were　making　only　the　slowest　progress；　the　Inorganics　were　being　incredibly　obstinate。　Something　to　do　with　Edwards's　control　over　them　and　the　man's　military　zeal；　Wolff　supposed。　The　Inorganics　had　seemed　paralyzed　for　a　few　moments　a　while　back；　and　Wolff　thought　for　a　few　seconds　that　the　general　was　dead；　but　the　alien　mecha　had　shaken　themselves　awake　and　plunged　into　battle　once　again。

When　the　Invid　onslaught　began；　Wolff's　first　impulse　had　been　to　get　his　Hovers　down　into　the　catabs　under　the　Royal　Hall；　where　the　Brain　that　activated　them　floated　in　its　vat。　But　even　before　the　Wolff　Pack　could　get　organized　for　the　assault；　the　Inorganics　had　established　almost…unassailable　defensive　positions　in　the　catabs。　Detectors　said　that　something　big；　involving　a　lot　for　Protoculture；　was　going　on　down　there；　but　nobody　could　figure　out　what。

Since　Edwards　couldn't　leave　the　Living　puter　behind　without　losing　the　bulk　of　his　fighting　strength；　Wolff　deduced　that　preparations　were　being　made　to　move　it。　But　whatever　was　being　done；　it　was　no　impediment　to　the　bat　capabilities　of　the　Inorganics。

Edwards　and　a　major　part　of　his　force　had　made　their　break　for　the　HQ　building。　Jonathan　Wolff　and　most　of　his　available　mecha　pursued。　In　the　meantime　word　came　of　the　hijacking　of　the　SDF…7　cruiser；　Wolff　knew　time　was　short。

Much　of　the　Hovertanks'　success　was　due；　pure　and　simple；　to　the　colonel's　single…minded　determination　to　get　through　to　the　headquarters。　There　could　only　be　one　reason　that　Edwards　would　delay　his　escape　and　divert　his　troops　in　the　way　he　was　doing：　Minmei。　Though　Edwards　had　declared　to　the　council　that　he　had　no　idea　of　her　whereabouts；　Jonathan　Wolff　never　believed　it　for　an　instant。

Assuming　Tank；　Battloid；　and　Gladiator　configuration　in　pliance　with　his　instructions　and　his　deployment　of　them；　his　armored　forces　slugged　their　way　closer　and　closer　to　the　HQ。　The　Inorganics　were　making　them　pay　for　every　yard　of　ground　they　gained　along　the　elevated　highways　and　wide；　straight　boulevards。　Luckily；　fully　three　quarters　of　the　awakened　enemy　mecha　were　tied　up　in　the　fight　by　the　Royal　Hall　or　had　been　engaged　by　other　REF　and　Human　Sentinels　fighters。

Reinforcements　from　SDF…3　and　elsewhere　on　Tirol　would　be　some　time　in　arriving；　however；　and　the　Inorganics　would　have　the　numerical　advantage　for　another　critical　half　hour　or　so　yet。　Wolff　was　undaunted；　though：　the　key　to　victory　lay　not　in　the　sheer　attrition　of　set…piece　battle；　but　rather　in　striking　the　head　from　the　monster…literally。　By　killing　Edwards。