10_invid_invasion-第17部分

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〃‘Rook；'　Romy　started　to　say。〃

〃‘I'm　counting　on　you　to　take　care　of　Lilly；'　Rook　added；　activating　the　Cyc。〃

〃I　walked　down　the　stairs　and　casually　aimed　the　blaster　in　Atilla's　direction。　‘You　gonna　run　this　race；　or　what？'　I　asked　him；　unsure　about　my　next　move　should　he　refuse。〃

〃The　Snakes　threw　words　of　encouragement　to　their　leader；　and　Atilla　stepped　forward　to　accept　the　challenge。　Romy　ceremoniously　handed　Rook　her　helmet；　and　some　of　the　Snakes　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　roof　for　a　better　view　of　the　race。〃

〃Things　got　under　way　without　the　preliminaries　and　fanfare　that　usually　characterize　such　events；　Rook　and　Atilla　positioned　their　machines　on　either　side　of　a　flag　bearer；　maybe　a　hundred　feet　from　the　beam。　The　starter；　a　shaved…skull　Snake　in　T…shirt　and　fatigues；　jumped　up　and　brought　the　flag　down　with　a　shout。　The　two　machines　patched　out　and　headed　for　the　beam。　Again；　I　thought　I　heard　distant　thunder　but　made　nothing　of　it。〃

〃I　had　noticed　Atilla　give　the　red　Cyc　a　dismissive　once…over　before　the　flag　dropped　and　figured　he　would　be　in　for　a　surprise。　But　I　was　the　one　surprised：　The　old　Kami　was　a　real　sleeper　and　must　have　concealed　a　turbocharger　somewhere　within　its　works；　because　Atilla　beat　Rook　off　the　line　and　stayed　a　half　length　ahead　of　her　for　the　first　fifty　feet。　In　fact；　I'm　pretty　sure　Snake　Eyes　would　have　hit　the　beam　neck　and　neck　with　Rook　if　fear　hadn't　revealed　his　own　true　colors。〃

〃Just　shy　of　the　beam　he　glanced　over　at　Rook；　saw　that　she　wasn't　about　to　yield　an　inch；　and　bailed　out；　bouncing　and　sliding　all　the　way；　his　cycle　plummeting　over　the　edge　and　exploding　when　it　hit　the　street。〃

〃Rook　rode　the　beam　like　a　pro。　She　told　me　later　that　at　no　time　did　she　even　consider　using　the　mecha's　capabilities　to　save　herself　from　wiping　out。　I　ran　forward　to　the　edge　of　the　roof；　along　with　everyone　else　who　was　applauding　her　feat；　including　more　than　a　few　Snakes。　The　loyal　members　of　the　gang　were　ministering　to　their　bruised　and　road…cashed　leader；　who　knew；　I　think；　that　many　more　challenges　would　soon　be　ing　his　way。〃

〃Rook　had　raised　the　faceshield　of　the　helmet　and　was　waving　back　to　us　when　I　realized　that　that　distant　thunder　was　no　longer　either　distant　or　thunder。　And　an　instant　later；　we　saw　Scott　streak　overhead　in　the　Alpha；　pursued　by　two　Invid　bat　ships。　The　Snakes　began　to　freak　and　scatter　for　cover。　I　turned　and　heard　one　of　them　shout：　‘They　found　out　about　the　Protoculture　I　stole！　They're　gonna　blow　us　apart！'〃

〃I　looked　back　at　Rook　in　time　to　see　her　spin　the　Cyc　through　a　360；　accelerate　along　the　roof；　and　launch　herself　into　Battle　Armor　mode。　This　was　lost　on　most　of　the　Snakes；　but　I　noticed　Atilla　staring　at　the　transformed　Cyclone　like　he　had　just　witnessed　some　kind　of　miracle。〃

〃Rook　put　down　on　a　roof　a　few　blocks　down　the　canyon；　raised　the　mecha's　cannon；　and　took　out　one　of　the　ships。　Scott；　at　the　same　time；　had　thrown　the　VT　into　a　booster　climb　and　was　now　falling　back　down　upon　the　second；　unleashing　a　rain　of　six　missiles　to　deal　with　the　thing。　The　Invid　dropped　itself　to　street　level；　dodging　as　best　it　could；　but　ultimately　took　one　of　the　heat…seekers　full　force　and　spun　out　of　control；　impaling　itself　on　a　spiked　piece　of　construction　infrastructure。　You　would　have　thought　Rook　and　Scott　had　planned　it　that　way。〃


〃After　the　action　died　down；　I　used　the　Cyc's　tac　net　to　notify　Scott　that　his　errant　troops　would　be　home　soon；　we　made　plans　to　rendezvous　on　the　north　road。〃

〃I　didn't　have　any　doubts　about　Rook's　bidding　a　swift　good…bye　to　Trenchtown；　even　though　some　wrongs　had　now　been　redressed　and　some　old　worries　laid　to　rest。　But　I　knew　also　that　there　was　still　a　scene　that　had　to　be　played　out　with　Romy；　and　I　was　anxious　to　see　it。〃

〃The　four　of　us…me；　Rook；　Romy；　and　Lilly…got　together　for　eats　at　his　place。　Small　talk　for　the　most　part；　Romy　made　no　mention　of　Rook's　staying　on　in　Trenchtown；　and　we　made　no　mention　of　Reflex　Point；　Lancer；　or　the　others。

〃‘Rook；　it's　been　so　good　seeing　you　again；'　Lilly　said　as　we　were　preparing　to　shove　off。　‘I　just　can't　tell　you。。。If　it　hadn't　been　for　your　courage；　the　Snakes　would　still　be　ruling　this　city。。。'　She　started　getting　weepy　about　then；　and　it　made　Rook　angry。〃

〃‘What　on　Earth　are　you　crying　about？'　Rook　said；　putting　her　hands　on　the　smaller　woman's　shoulders。　When　Lilly　exchanged　looks　with　Romy；　Rook　caught　on　and　lightened　up。　‘Hey；　don't　worry　about　me；'　she　told　Lilly。　‘There's　a　person　in　my　life　now　who　means　a　lot　to　me。。。'〃

〃I　was　leaning　against　the　building　with　my　hands　behind　my　head　when　she　suddenly　turned　to　me。　'Rand；'　she　said；　leadingly　and　with　a　sweetness　that　didn't　fit　her。　She　came　over　and　took　hold　of　my　arm；　finding　a　pressure　point　in　my　wrist　at　the　same　time。　‘e　on；　give　me　a　kiss　like　you　always　do。'　Under　her　breath；　she　told　me　to　pretend　to　be　her　honey　or　else。　‘Kiss　me　on　the　cheek…and　make　it　look　good；'　she　added。〃

〃Romy　and　Lilly　were　watching　with　a　mixture　of　bemusement　and　anticipation；　and　Rook　was　standing　there；　offering　me　her　left　cheek　like　she　was　my　aunt　or　something；　so　I　did　what　I　had　to　do　to　make　it　look　good！　I　took　hold　of　her　upper　arms　and　pulled　her　to　me　before　she　even　had　a　chance　to　close　her　mouth。　I　didn't　hold　her　long；　and　she　kept　her　eyes　wide　for　the　duration；　not　returning　the　favor；　but　it　was　long　enough　to　bring　a　scarlet　blush　to　her　cheeks。〃

〃‘Rook　is　my　baby　and　always　will　be；'　I　told　Romy　over　Rook's　shoulder；　putting　some　bass　in　my　voice　to　keep　from　laughing。　‘e　on；　honey。　Let's　get　back　to　the　ranch；'　I　said　as　I　mounted　my　Cyc。〃

〃Rook　climbed　on　her　mecha　without　looking　at　me。　Lilly　started　to　say　something；　but　Rook　just　said　goodbye　and　motored　off。　I　did　the　same；　leaving　Romy　and　Lilly　in　the　street；　his　arm　draped　over　her　narrow　shoulders。〃

〃When　I　came　alongside　Rook；　she　flashed　me　the　anger　she　didn't　want　to　show　in　front　of　her　sister；　and　I　decided　to　have　some　fun　with　it。　‘You　kiss　pretty　well　for　such　a　tough　gal；'　I　ribbed　her。〃

〃‘That　was　supposed　to　be　the　cheek；　dirtbag。'〃

〃‘Jeez；　I'm　sorry。。。I　must　have　misunderstood　or　something。。。〃

〃'Pea　brain！　Degenerate！'〃

〃I　laughed；　then　tried　to　switch　tracks。　‘What　about　your　folks；　Rook？'　I　asked　her。　‘Are　they　still　living　in　this　hole？'　I　was　sincere　about　it；　Rook's　past　was　my　way　into　her　present。〃

〃But　she　just　shook　her　head　and　made　for　the　conduit；　not　bothering　to　look　behind。〃


CHAPTER　TWELVE

The　book　Lunk　had　promised　to　deliver　was　called　Inherit　the　Stars；　a　piece　of　speculative　fiction　written　by　the　noted　twentieth…century　British　author　and　inventor　James　P。　Hogan　and　first　published　in　1977。　It　was　the　first　in　a　series　of　novels　that　dealt　with　humankind's　contact　with　an　alien　race　indigenous　to　Ganymede　（the　Ganymeans）；　who　in　many　ways　were　the　antithesis　of　the　Opteran　Invid。
Footnote　in　Xandu　Reem；　A　Stranger　at　Home：　A　Biography　of　Scott　Bernard

When　they　were　reunited　and　on　the　road　north　once　again；　it　was　business　as　usual。　Four　hundred　miles　north　of　Trenchtown　the　team　was　attacked　by　five　Invid　Troopers；　which　they　disposed　of　almost　without　breaking　stride。　Scott　took　out　the　first　two　from　the　Alpha　and　left　the　rest　of　the　work　to　the　three　Cyclones；　piloted　by　Rook；　Rand；　and　Lancer；　who　had　by　now　bee　a　finely　honed　unit。　There　had　been　no　signs　of　Pincer　ships　for　several　days；　and　though　the　Troopers　were　bothersome；　they　posed　no　real　threat　provided　that　each　one　glimpsed　was　accounted　for　on　the　battlefield。

The　desert　terrain　helped　them　to　easily　spot　the　Troopers。　They　had　left　the　highlands　behind。　Gone　were　the　forests　and　misshapen　buttes　of　those　plateaus；　as　well　as　the　cool　air　and　sparkling　rivers　they　had　e　to　take　for　granted。　But　this　was　not　true　desert；　waterless　and　unforgiving；　but　rather　a　broad　expanse　of　arid　lowland；　with　solitary　flat…topped　mesas　to　break　the　monotony　of　the　horizon　and　enough　spring…fed　lakes　to　support　a　wide　assortment　of　settlements。

Lunk；　demanding　equal…time　benefits　after　Rook's　〃dalliance　in　the　Trench〃…Rand's　words…was　calling　the　shots　on　the　latest　detour　along　the　way。　The　group　was　headed　toward　a　town　called　Roca　Negra；　sixty　miles　west　of　the　north　road　and　said　to　be　a　munity　that　had　managed　to　retain　an　old…world　charm。

The　team　had　an　overview　of　the　place　now　from　the　tableland　a　few　miles　east。　Roca　Negra　looked　neat　and　pact；　enlivened　by　groupings　of　cottonwood　and　eucalyptus　trees；　and　lent　a　certain　drama　by　the　mesa　and　rounded　peaks　that　all　but　overshadowed　it。　Scott　made　a　pass　over　the　town　in　the　Alpha；　the　VT's　deltalike　shadow　paralleling　the　course　of　the　main　road；　and　reported　his　sightings。　There　was　a　large　circular　fountain　and　plaza　central　to　the　town；　with　an　assortment　of　rustic…style　buildings　grouped　around　it　and　the　few　streets　that　radiated　out　from　the　hub　like　the　spokes　of　a　wheel。　Scott　could　make　out　tile　roofs　and　cobblestone　streets；　a　church　steeple；　and　a　number　of　people；　some　of　whom　were　staring　up　at　the　Veritech；　while　others　ran　off　to　inform　the　rest　of　the　townsfolk。

Lunk　smiled　at　the　thought　of　the　place　and　urged　the　van　along　with　added　throttle。　Annie　was　next　to　him　in　the　shotgun　seat。　It　was　the　same　police　van　they　had　mandeered　in　Norristown；　but　Lunk　had　removed　the　canvas　top　and　given　the　thing　an　olive…drab　onceover　in　memory　of　the　beloved　APC　he　had　had　blown　out　from　under　him　in　the　highlands。　Lancer；　Rook；　and　Rand　flanked　the　truck　on　their　Cyclones。

〃I　sure　hope　we'll　be　able　to　get　some　food　in　this　town；〃　Annie　said　after　Scott's　message。　〃I'm　starved！〃

Lunk　flashed　her　a　bright…eyed　smile　and　told　her　not　to　worry；　then　turned　to　Rand；　who　had　e　alongside　on　the　driver's　side　of　the　van。

〃What's　so　special　'bout　this　place？〃　Rand　shouted　into　the　wind。　〃You　been　here　before？〃

Lunk　shook　his　head；　maintaining　the　smile。

〃Then　why　are　we　stopping　here？〃　Annie　demanded；　joining　in。

Lunk　reached　back　and　pulled　a　worn　paperback　book　from　the　rear　pocket　of　his　fatigues；　holding　it　out　the　window　for　Rand's　inspection。

〃To　make　good　a　promise　I　made　to　a　friend　a　year　ago；〃　Lunk　said　to　both　of　them。　〃To　deliver　this　book。〃

Rand　gazed　at　the　thing　but　couldn't　make　out　much；　except　that　it　was　aged；　yellowed；　dog…eared；　and　smudged。　Someone　had　thought　to　wrap　the　book　in　protective　plastic；　but　too　late　to　preserve　the　cover　illustration。

〃What　sort　of　book　is　it？〃　Rand　asked。

Lunk　pulled　the　book　in　and　regarded　it。　〃I　really　don't　know…I　haven't　read　it。　But　it　was　important　enough　to　my　buddy　for　him　to　ask　me　to　bring　it　to　his　father　if　I　ever　got　the　chance。〃

〃Well；　why　didn't　your　buddy　deliver　it　himself；　if　it's　so　important？〃

〃I　wish　he　could。。。〃

Rand　saw　Lunk's　smile　fade　and　asked　him　about　it。

〃It　was　during　the　Invid　invasion；〃　Lunk　began。　〃My　friend　was　on　recon　patrol；　and　I　was　detailed　to　rendezvous　with　him　for　the　extraction。　When　I　found　him；　he　was　trying　to　get　away　from　a　couple　of　Shock　Troopers；　and　I　could　see　he　was　wounded。　They　blasted　him　again　while　I。。。sat　and　watched。　How　he　could　get　up　and　run　after　that　I'll　never　know；　but　he　did；　and　started　for　the　APC。　I　thought　there　might　still　be　a　chance；　but　the　Invid　caught　up　with　him　before　I　could　move　in；　and　he　didn't　have　a　prayer。〃

Annie　could　see　that　Lunk　was　torturing　himself　with　the　memory　but　kept　still　and　allowed　him　to　finish。　Was　this　what　he　had　run　from？　Annie　wondered；　recalling　ments　uttered　months　ago　when　they　had　first　met。

〃He　called　out　to　me；〃　Lunk　was　saying。　〃Calling　me　to　e　get　him；　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　do。　The　Invid　had　spotted　the　APC　and　started　after　me；　and　I　had　no　choice　but　to　make　a　run　for　it。

〃I　don't　even　remember　how　I　got　away　from　them。。。But　I　can　still　hear　my　buddy's　voice　ing　over　the　net；　as　loud　and　clear　today　as　I　heard　it　then；　calling　me　to　help　him。　I　can't　forget。。。〃

Lunk's　face　was　beaded　with　sweat；　and　Annie　fought　down　an　urge　to　hold　him。　But　he　was　through　it　now　and　sort　of　shaking　himself　back　to　the　present；　looking　hard　at　the　book　again。

〃This　had　some　special　meaning　for　him；　I　suppose。　The　one　thing　he　wanted　most　was　for　his　old　man　to　have　it。　I　promised　on　the　day　he　went　out。。。〃

〃Oh；　Lunk；〃　Annie　broke　in；　touching　his　arm　lightly。　〃You've　been　carrying　more　than　that　book　around；　haven't　you？　I　feel　so　bad。。。〃

Rand　looked　in　through　the　driver's　side　and　noticed　Annie　crying。　〃Lunk；〃　he　said　all　of　a　sudden。　〃We've　got　a　book　to　deliver。　So　let's　get　on　it！〃

Lunk　saw　Rand　wrist　the　Cyclone's　throttle　to　wheelie　the　mecha　into　lead　position。　He　smiled　to　himself；　thankful　for　the　pany　of　his　friends；　and　pressed　his　foot　down　on　the　van's　accelerator　pedal。


Roca　Negra　had　a　secret　of　its　own；　a　dirty　little　secret　pared　to　the　one　Lunk　wore　like　a　scarlet　letter。　But　no　one　on　the　team　was　aware　of　this　just　yet；　the　only　thing　immediately　obvious　was　that　the　town　seemed　deserted　despite　Scott's　recent　claims　to　the　contrary。

〃Where　is　everybody？〃　Lancer　said　to　Rook　and　Rand　as　the　three　Cyclones　entered　the　empty　plaza。

〃What'd　you　expect…the　wele　wagon？〃　Rook　asked　sarcastically。　〃After　all；　we　didn't　tell　them　Yellow　Dancer　was　ing　to　town。　It's　probably　just　siesta　time。〃

Rand　took　a　look　around　the　circle；　certain　he　saw　people　ducking　away　from　the　open　windows　and　pulling　shutters　closed　on　others。　Even　the　central　fountain　was　deserted；　but　the　damp　earth　around　it　suggested　that　people　had　been　there　a　short　time　ago。　〃You　don't　find　this　a　bit　strange？〃　he　asked　Rook。

〃You're　both　imagining　things；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not　like　this　hasn't　happened　before。　Besides；　there　are　two　kids　right　over　there；〃　she　added；　pointing　to　two　young　boys　munching　on　apples　nearby。

Rand　relaxed　somewhat　at　that　and　swung　his　mecha　into　a　second　lap　around　the　well。　He　began　to　take　stock　of　the　buildings　now　and　realized　that　his　expectations　had　been　way　off　base。　Instead　of　the　stucco　and　terra…cotta　village　he　had　envisioned；　Roca　Negra　was　like　something　lifted　from　what　used　to　be　called　England。　The　architecture　was　of　a　style　he　had　heard　referred　to　as　Tudor；　with　mullioned　windows；　tall　gables；　nogging　and　timber　facades；　and　steeply　pitched　tiled　roofs。　〃How　about　giving　me　a　bite？〃　he　heard　Annie　shout　to　the　kids　as　the　van　drove　past　them。　Then　he　spotted　the　restaurant：　Josh's　Caf？　according　to　the　sign　above　the　curved　entryway。

Rook；　Lancer；　and　Lunk　followed　Rand's　lead；　but　only　Lunk　moved　in　to　investigate。　There　were　tables　and　chairs　set　up　out　front　but　no　one　on　the　scene　to　serve　them。

〃Bring　me　some　peppermint　candies！〃　Annie　shouted　to　Lunk。

Lunk　turned　briefly　to　acknowledge　her；　and　when　he　swung　around；　there　was　a　mustachioed　man　standing　in　the　restaurant's　barroom　swinging　doors。

〃The　restaurant　is　closed　during　the　emergency；〃　the　man　began。　He　spoke　with　a　Spanish　accent　and　wore　an　apron　and　work　shirt　more　suited　to　the　trades　than　to　the　food　biz；　but　he　was　gesturing　Lunk　to　halt　in　a　way　that　suggested　he　owned　the　place。　〃Our　munications　have　been　cut；　and　we're　short　on　supplies　of　all　kinds。　The　indications　right　n