10_invid_invasion-第13部分

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　the　city's　newspaper　when　one　of　his　staff　arrived　with　good　news。

〃We've　been　asked　to　supply　security　at　Yellow　Dancer's　concert　this　afternoon；〃　the　staffer　reported。　He　wore　a　blue…gray　uniform　with　a　red　upturned　collar；　similar　in　cut　and　design　to　that　worn　by　the　colonel。　A　single　red　star　adorned　the　front　of　his　brimmed　cap。　The　Invid　had　made　a　point　of　allowing　local　customs　and　garb　to　remain　unchanged　in　Norristown　and　numerous　other　strongholds　throughout　the　Southlands。　〃Shall　I　refuse　the　request；　sir？〃　the　staffer　wanted　to　know。

Briggs　didn't　bother　to　lower　the　newspaper；　which　effectively　concealed　him　from　the　staffer。　He　hummed　to　himself；　finishing　up　his　fanciful　daydream　scenario　before　replying。　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？〃　he　said　at　last。　〃If　something　should　happen　to　Yellow　Dancer；　it's　our　reputation　that　will　suffer。　Send　every　available　man　down　to　the　arena。〃

〃But　sir；〃　the'　staffer　pointed　out　haltingly；　〃we　can't　risk　leaving　the　facility　unguarded。。。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　the　colonel　said　from　behind　his　paper。　〃What　time　is　the　concert　scheduled　to　end？〃

〃Around　three…thirty；　but…〃

〃And　what　time　are　the　Intercessors　arriving　to　pick　up　the　shipment？〃

〃Four　o'clock；　but…〃

〃Then　there's　no　problem。〃　Briggs　set　the　paper　aside；　got　up　from　behind　the　desk；　and　walked　over　to　the　office　window。　〃What　can　happen？〃　he　said；　gesturing　to　the　facility　half　a　mile　away　at　the　top　of　the　switchbacked　access　road。　〃The　facility's　impregnable。。。And　besides；　I'd　like　to　oversee　Yellow　Dancer's　security　personally。〃　He　swung　around　to　his　lieutenant。　〃See　to　it　that　she　expects　me。〃


Rumor　had　it　that　the　storage　facility　was　originally　a　castle　imported　stone　by　stone　from　Europe　during　the　mid…1800s　by　a　renegade　nobleman　from　Transylvania。　It　saw　more　than　one　hundred　years　of　alteration　and　modernization　before　being　substantially　renovated　（in　the　Hollywood　style）　by　a　sports　event　promoter　who　fell　heir　to　the　place　in　2015。　Much　of　Norristown；　including　the　arena；　owed　its　existence　to　the　same　man。

The　building；　with　its　mansard　roof　and　numerous　spires；　still　retained　a　Proven鏰l　look；　but　this　was　overshadowed　by　the　fantastical　elements　added　on　during　the　last　twenty…five　years；　primarily　the　east　wing's　crenellated　tower。　Three…quarters　of　a　mile　down　the　road　was　the　twin…towered　main　gate；　where　Lunk　and　the　others　were　presently　stopped。

〃I'm　here　to　run　a　check　on　the　cooling　systems；〃　Lunk　said　to　the　helmeted　guard　who　approached　the　driver's　side　window。

〃Your　permit；〃　the　guard　said　nastily。

Lunk　handed　the　papers　down　for　the　man　to　read；　while　a　second　guard　moved　to　the　back　of　the　truck　to　have　a　look　inside。　〃It's　clean；　Fred！〃　Lunk　heard　the　man　call　out　a　minute　later。　The　guard　perused　the　permit　a　while　longer；　then　returned　it。　〃You'd　better　be　clean　on　the　way　out；　too；〃　he　warned　Lunk。　Lunk　saw　sentries　at　the　other　tower　frisking　a　white…coveralled　driver。

〃You　got　it；〃　he　told　the　guard。

The　guard　waved　him　through　and　opened　the　fence　that　spanned　the　roadway。　Lunk　threw　the　truck　into　gear　and　drove　off；　removing　his　hat　and　wiping　away　the　sweat　that　had　collected　on　his　forehead。　Two　trucks　filled　with　security　personnel　passed　him　going　in　the　opposite　direction；　a　sign　that　Lancer's　request　might　have　been　granted。　At　the　top　of　the　switchbacks；　Lunk　backed　the　truck　toward　the　shipping　entrance。　There　were　only　three　or　four　guards　on　patrol；　and　not　one　of　them　even　glanced　at　Lunk　while　he　climbed　down　from　the　cab　and　threw　open　the　rear　doors。

〃We're　in；　gang；〃　he　said　loudly　enough　for　his　friends　to　hear。

Rook；　Rand；　and　Scott　lowered　themselves　from　the　loft　partment　and　entered　the　facility。　Scott　unfolded　Lancer's　map　and　checked　it　against　their　location。　〃This　one；〃　he　told　Rook　and　Rand；　indicating　an　air　duct　grate　along　one　wall。　Lunk　helped　them　move　several　crates　over　to　the　wall。　Scott　climbed　up　first；　rechecked　the　map；　and　peered　through　the　grate。　Satisfied；　he　nodded；　and　Rook　and　Rand　joined　him。　The　two　men　went　to　work　on　the　bolts　that　held　the　grating　to　its　frame；　and　in　a　moment　they　were　able　to　lift　the　panel　free。　Scott　and　Rand　crawled　in。　Lunk　handed　rope；　a　tool　pouch；　and　an　aluminum　carry　case　up　to　Rook。　She　waved　him　good　luck　and　followed　Scott's　lead　into　the　horizontal　duct。

Less　than　fifteen　feet　into　the　duct；　Scott　stopped　and　whispered：　〃The　control　room　is　on　the　third　floor。　It　should　take　us　about　ten　minutes　to　get　there。〃

Rook　could　barely　discern　him　in　the　darkness。　Ten　minutes　was　going　to　feel　like　an　eternity。


Down　below；　the　arena　was　rapidly　filling　to　capacity　and　Annie　was　circulating　in　front　of　the　stage　doing　what　she　did　best：　inciting　the　crowd。

〃。。。At　her　last　concert　a　whole　bunch　of　people　got　up　on　stage；　and　everybody　started　partying　and　having　a　good　ole　time；〃　she　told　everyone　within　earshot。　〃Some　of　us　even　got　to　go　backstage　with　Yellow　Dancer　after　the　concert　and　party　some　more！　But　this　one's　going　to　be　the　best！　I　hear　that　she　might　not　perform　like　this　again；　so　we　better　make　this　the　one　to　remember。　Right？！〃

〃All　right！〃　several　people　shouted。　〃Party　time！〃

Meanwhile；　Yellow　Dancer　was　entertaining　guests　in　her　backstage　dressing　room。　She　had　changed　to　a　sleeveless　pink　and　burgundy　pants　outfit　with　a　matching　bowed　headband；　which　held　her　hair　up　and　off　her　neck。

〃At　the　last　concert；　some　of　my　fans　came　up　on　stage　and　really　made　a　mess　of　things；〃　she　was　explaining；　facing　the　mirror　while　she　applied　eye　liner。　〃I'd　rather　that　didn't　happen　again。〃

〃We　won't　allow　that　here；〃　Briggs；　the　facility　security　chief；　said　from　behind　her。　Yellow　smiled　at　him　in　the　mirror。　〃We'll　do　our　job　and　guarantee　you　plete　security。　As　long　as　nothing　happens　to　bring　the　Invid　down　on　us。〃

〃Those　horrible　creatures；〃　Yellow　said；　twisting　up　her　face。

〃Aah；　they're　not　so　bad　once　you　get　to　know　them；〃　the　chief　started　to　say。

Lancer's　friend；　Woods；　threw　him　a　conspiratorial　wink　from　a　corner　of　the　room。　He　was　a　handsome　young　man　with　a　pencil…thin　mustache　whose　taste　ran　to　calfskin　jackets　and　black　leather　ties。　Just　now　he　was　holding　the　large　bouquet　of　flowers　Briggs　had　brought　along　for　Yellow　Dancer。　〃We　know　you'll　do　your　best；　Colonel；〃　Woods　said　encouragingly。

Lancer　saw　the　chief's　puffy　face　turn　red　with　embarrassment。　〃You're　damn　right　we　will。〃

〃And　I　want　to　thank　you　so　much　for　the　flowers；〃　Yellow　gushed；　turning　away　from　the　mirror　now　to　flash　Briggs　a　painted　smile。　〃They're　lovely。〃

Briggs　leered　at　her。　〃Anything　for　you；　Yellow；　anything　you　want。〃


Scott；　Rook；　and　Rand　had　reached　the　third　floor　of　the　facility。　The　duct　opened　out　into　a　small　area　that　served　as　the　relay　center　for　the　facility's　security　systems。　Scott　and　Rand　moved　in　to　try　to　make　sense　of　the　tangle　of　wires　and　switches　that　covered　two　full　walls　of　the　room。　It　took　several　minutes　to　locate　the　feeds　from　the　security　cameras；　but　the　rest　was　child's　play。　Rook　unsnapped　the　clasps　on　the　carry　case　and　began　to　hand　over　the　devices　Lunk　assured　them　would　scramble　the　a/v　signals。　Scott　and　Rand　quickly　attached　these　to　the　feeder　cables　and　set　off　on　the　next　leg　of　their　cramped　journey。

The　map　called　for　a　brief　return　to　the　air　duct　system　before　they　could　enter　the　actual　storage　area。　But　once　through　this；　they　would　be　free　to　move　about　at　will…assuming　Lunk's　devices　did　the　trick。　They　dropped　out　of　the　duct　into　a　maintenance　corridor　that　encircled　the　supply　room　but　had　no　access　to　it　except　for　a　single　elbow　conduit　located　clear　around　the　back　of　the　building。　Rand　volunteered　to　test　the　effectiveness　of　Lunk's　scramblers　by　making　faces　at　one　of　the　surveillance　cameras。　When　no　sirens　went　off　and　no　guards　came　running；　the　trio　figured　they　were　in　the　clear　and　decided　to　use　one　of　the　maintenance　carts　to　convey　them　to　the　conduit…an　open…topped　electric　affair　with　two　seats　and　a　single　headlamp　that　brought　them　around　back　in　a　quarter　the　time　it　would　have　taken　them　to　walk。

They　stopped　at　the　first　elbow　conduit　and　menced　a　careful　count。　Rook　looked　over　the　map；　while　Scott　took　charge　of　noting　their　position　relative　to　the　first　main。

〃Under　the　main　line；　thirteenth　from　the　right；〃　Scott　said；　recalling　the　scrawled　notation　on　the　map。　He　gestured　to　an　elbow　up　ahead。　〃That　must　be　it。〃

The　conduit　was　made　of　light…gauge　metal；　it　was　a　good　four　feet　in　circumference　and　stood　at　least　six　feet　high　from　floor　to　right…angle　bend。　It　was　held　in　place　by　a　circular　flange；　but　promised　to　be　flexible　enough　once　the　bolts　securing　the　flange　to　the　floor　were　undone。　Rand　and　Scott　took　box　wrenches　from　the　tool　pouch　and　immediately　set　to　work。　At　the　same　time；　Rook　took　a　coil　of　rope　from　the　cart　and　began　to　tie　it　fast　to　one　of　the　adjacent　elbows。

When　the　last　of　the　bolts　had　been　loosened　and　removed；　Rook　and　Scott　shoved　the　conduit　to　one　side　and　bent　down　to　peer　into　the　shaft　below。

Rand　squinted　and　smiled　to　himself　as　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　objects　of　their　search：　crate　after　crate　of　Protoculture　canisters；　each　the　size　and　shape　of　a　squat　thermos。

〃There's　a　mountain　of　it　down　here；〃　he　reported。

Scott　gave　a　tug　on　the　rope　Rook　had　tied　to　the　conduit。　〃Feels　strong　enough；〃　he　mented　while　Rook　tied　the　other　end　around　her　waist。　〃The　security　system　down　there　is　still　operative。　You　touch　anything…the　wall；　the　ceiling；　the　floor…and　you'll　trigger　it。〃

Rook　sat　down　and　let　her　legs　dangle　through　the　opening。　Rand　and　Scott　took　hold　of　the　rope　and　signaled　their　readiness。　〃All　right；〃　she　told　them。　〃Let's　get　this　over　with　before　I　change　my　mind。〃


Yellow　Dancer's　concert　was　under　way。　She　streaked　onto　the　stage　like　a　et；　with　the　band　already　laying　down　the　intro　to　〃Look　Up！〃　and　the　audience　of　several　thousand　roaring　their　appreciation。　It　was　a　heavy　message　number　that　had　bee　something　of　an　anthem　in　the　Southlands；　and　Yellow　loved　singing　it。　She　stood　with　her　legs　spread　apart；　one　hand　on　her　hip；　holding　the　mike　like　an　upturned　glass；　her　body　accenting　the　beat。

Another　winter's　day
Another　gray　reminder　that　what　used　to　be
Has　gone　away。
It's　really　hard　to　say；
How　long　we'll　have　to　live　with　our　insanity；
We　have　to　pay　for　all　we　use；
We　never　think　before　we　light　the　fuse。。。
Look　up；　look　up；　look　up！
The　sky　is　fall…ing！
Look　up；
There's　something　up　you　have　to　know。
Before　you　try　to　go　outside；
To　take　in　the　view；
Look　up；　because　the　sky
Could　fall　on　you。。。


Yellow　looked　to　the　stage　wings；　where　the　colonel　was　eagerly　trying　to　stomp　his　foot　to　the　music；　an　ear…to…ear　grin　on　his　face；　his　men　vigilant　throughout　the　arena。


Loaded　down　with　canisters　of　Protoculture　fished　from　the　storage　room；　the　electric　cart　sped　away　from　the　maintenance　corridor　and　entered　a　stone　serviceway；　damp；　foul…smelling；　and　seemingly　unused　for　centuries。　Rook；　still　dizzy　from　her　upside…down　descent　into　the　storage　room；　had　the　map　spread　open　in　her　lap　while　Scott　drove。　In　the　dim　ambient　light；　she　tried　to　match　juncture　points　in　the　serviceway　with　the　vague　scrawls　indicated　on　the　map。　Finally　she　told　Scott　to　stop　the　cart。　He　got　out　and　began　to　inspect　the　stones　at　eye　level　along　the　right…hand　wall　of　the　corridor。

〃Should　be　over　here　somewhere；〃　Rook　heard　him　say。　She　watched　him　lay　his　hand　against　one　of　the　stones；　and　in　a　moment　the　wall　was　opening。　Another　corridor　was　revealed；　perpendicular　to　the　first　and　decidedly　downhill。

〃And　this　is　supposed　to　lead　to　the　concert　hall？〃　Rook　said　uncertainly。

〃Looks　to　me　like　it　leads　to　the　dungeon；〃　Rand　said　behind　her。

Back　at　the　wheel；　Scott　edged　the　cart　forward　into　the　dark　passageway。　〃Lancer　said　it　was　an　escape　route　constructed　by　the　man　who　originally　had　this　place　built。〃

〃Well；　let's　hope　so；〃　Rook　answered　him　as　the　stone　wall　reassembled　itself　behind　them。

The　ramp　dropped　at　a　steep　angle　that　sorely　tested　the　electric　cart's　brakes；　but　the　important　thing　was　that　they　were　leaving　the　facility　behind。

Rand　was　encouraged。　According　to　his　own　calculations　the　passageway　was　indeed　leading　them　in　the　direction　of　the　arena。　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　he　said　from　his　unfortable　position　atop　the　Protoculture　canisters　stacked　in　the　bed　of　the　cart。　〃We　should　have　taken　more　while　we　had　the　chance。〃

〃Don't　be　so　smart；〃　Scott　said　stiffly。　〃We're　not　out　of　here　yet。〃

Rand　leaned　forward　between　the　front　seats。　〃What's　there　to　worry　about　now？　The　concert's　on；　we've　got　the　'Culture；　Lunk'll　be　waiting　for　us　with　open　arms。。。〃

〃Mr。　Confidence　all　of　a　sudden；〃　Rook　snorted　from　the　shotgun　seat。　Scott　was　easing　up　on　the　brakes；　and　the　cart　was　traveling　along　at　a　good　clip　now。　Rook　was　holding　her　hair　in　place　with　one　hand　when　the　cart's　headlamp　revealed　a　solid　wall　blocking　their　exit。

〃Hold　on！〃　Scott　yelled；　pulling　up　on　the　hand　brake。

The　rear　end　of　the　cart　bounced　and　swerved　as　the　brakes　locked；　but　Scott　managed　to　remain　in　control　and　brought　the　vehicle　to　a　halt　with　room　to　spare。　The　trio　regarded　the　wall　and　began　to　wonder　whether　they　might　have　missed　a　turnoff　earlier　on。

〃I　didn't　see　any　side　tunnels；〃　said　Scott。　〃And　according　to　Lancer's　map　there's　only　supposed　to　be　this　one　passageway。〃

〃The　map's　been　accurate　up　to　now；〃　Rook　added；　running　her　fingers　through　her　tangled　hair。　〃Where'd　we　go　wrong？〃

〃Maybe　we　have　to　give　the　wall　a　push　or　something；　like　up　top；〃　Rand　suggested。

Scott　was　just　about　to　step　out　and　have　a　look；　when　he　heard　a　deep　rumbling　sound　behind　him。　The　trio　turned　to　watch　helplessly　as　a　massive　stone　partition　dropped　from　the　tunnel's　ceiling。

〃Now　what？〃　Scott　said　after　a　moment。

〃They　must　be　on　to　us　somehow！〃　Rook　said。　But　Scott　disagreed。　〃Those　a/v　scramblers　still　have　fifteen　minutes　of　life　left　in　them。　I　think　we　must　have…〃

Scott　cut　himself　off　as　a　new　sound　began　to　infiltrate　their　silent　tomb。　It　began　with　a　grating　sound　of　stone　moving　against　stone；　then　softened　to　a　sibilance　before　gushing　loud　and　clear。

〃Water！〃　Rand　yelled。　〃We're　being　flooded！〃


CHAPTER　NINE

It　was　just　a　case　of　overpensation　again：　We　went　from　having　no　plan　to　too　much　plan！
Rand；　Notes　on　the　Run

Yellow　Dancer　pranced　across　the　stage；　pointing　and　gesturing　to　the　crowd；　swinging　the　microphone　over　her　head　as　though　it　were　a　lariat。　She　was　in　the　midst　of　a　hard　driving　number　now；　a　flat…out　rocker　that　had　the　audience　dancing　in　the　aisles　and　pressing　forward　toward　the　stage。

Annie　was　helping　this　along。

〃Let's　get　this　party　under　way！〃　she　shouted　from　her　cramped　space　near　the　front。　〃Let's　get　up　on　stage！〃

Yellow　spied　Annie　in　the　crowd　and　smiled　while　she　sang。　She　threw　herself　into　an　impromptu　spin；　shaking　her　hips　and　urging　the　band　to　kick　up　the　volume　somewhat。　She　turned　again　and　launched　herself　across　the　stage　in　a　kind　of　Jagger　strut；　inching　her　way　to　ward　the　edge　with　each　pass　and　beckoning　the　fans　to　join　he