10_invid_invasion-第6部分

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u　forage　'em？〃

〃I'm　mander　Bernard　of　Mars　Division；〃　Scott　said　when　he　had　raised　the　helmet　faceshield。　〃I'm　looking　for　other　survivors　of　my　unit。〃

Ken　glanced　over　at　Rand　and　stepped　back。　〃You're　for　real；　then…soldiers；　I　mean。〃

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　the　others？〃

〃e　with　me；〃　Ken　said　after　a　moment；　already　setting　off　for　the　causeway。

Scott　was　suddenly　full　of　hope。　〃They're　here？〃

〃And　you　can　e；　too；　Annie；〃　Ken　added　without　turning　around。

Annie's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃I　take　back　what　I　said。〃　She　hurried　to　catch　up　with　him　and　attached　herself　to　his　arm　lovingly。

Rand　and　Scott　exchanged　looks　and　brought　the　Cyclones　back　to　life。　〃What's　the　chance　of　landing　some　belly　timber？〃　Rand　wanted　to　know。　〃We've　got　trade　goods。〃

〃Follow　me；〃　Ken　told　him。

Annie　beamed。　〃You've　made　me　so　happy；　Ken。〃　She　went　up　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him　on　the　mouth。

Ken　whisked　them　through　the　checkpoint　and　escorted　them　along　the　causeway　that　led　to　the　main　island。　It　was　a　picturesque　spot　for　a　city；　Rand　had　to　admit：　a　crystal…blue　lake　surrounded　by　forested　hills。　But　there　was　ample　evidence　of　the　war's　hold　over　the　place…the　scorched　and　rusted　hulks　of　Zentraedi　battlecruisers；　downed　Adventurers；　Falcons；　and　Bioroids。　He　noticed　that　there　was　a　second　island；　accessible　only　from　the　main　one；　and　that　it；　too；　was　host　to　a　densely　packed　cluster　of　tall；　mostly　ruined　buildings；　rubble；　and　debris　heaped　up　in　the　streets。　Up　close　the　city　was　somewhat　less　than　inspiring；　literally　a　shell　of　its　former　self；　but　so　far　they　hadn't　been　searched；　hassled；　or　otherwise　bad…vibed；　and　Rand　was　beginning　to　wonder　where　all　those　rumors　had　e　from。

〃These　are　Robotech　soldiers！〃　Ken　announced　to　the　sullen…faced　people　huddled　inside　the　buildings；　postapocalypse　cave　dwellers　in　high…rise　cliffs　of　slagged　steel　and　fractured　concrete。　〃They　were　with　the　forces　who　have　returned　to　Earth　to　rid　us　of　the　Invid。〃　No　one　moved；　no　one　returned　a　word。　There　was　only　the　slight　howling　of　the　wind　and　the　steady　throb　of　the　Cyclones'　engines。　〃They're　looking　for　lost　members　of　the　assault　group。　I'm　going　to　take　them　over　to　the　other　island。〃

Ken　turned　a　wan　smile　to　Scott　and　Rand。　〃As　you　can　see；　folks　around　here　aren't　used　to　strangers；〃　he　said　by　way　of　apology。　〃They're　always　a　bit　suspicious　at　first；　but　don't　worry　about　it。　They'll　soon　get　used　to　you。〃

Scott；　Rand；　and　Annie　followed　Ken's　lead　to　the　causeway　linking　the　main　island　with　its　twin。

〃There　it　is。〃　Ken　pointed。　〃If　any　of　your　rades　have　e　through　here；　they'll　have　been　taken　over　to　the　other　island。〃

〃Thanks　a　lot　for　your　help；　Ken；〃　Scott　said。

Ken　disengaged　his　hand　from　Annie's　two…fisted　lock　on　it。　〃Why　don't　you　show　them　over　the　causeway　while　I　go　talk　to　the　Elders　about　your　staying　here？〃

Annie　called　out　to　him　as　he　was　walking　away。

〃Yes？〃　he　said　impatiently；　not　bothering　to　turn　around。

〃Bye…bye；　sweet　things〃

〃And　don't　forget　that　food！〃　Rand　thought　to　add。

Annie　made　an　elaborate　gesture；　then　laughed。　〃Now；　if　you　gentlemen　will　just　follow　me。。。〃

Rand　chuckled　and　patted　the　rear　seat　of　the　Cyclone。　〃Hop　on；〃　he　told　her。　〃It'll　be　fun。〃


CHAPTER　FOUR

The　Invid　Regis　ruled　her　empire　from　Reflex　Point　（located　in　what　was　once　the　United　States　of　America；　specifically　the　Indiana…Ohio　frontier）；　but　there　was　scarcely　a　region　without　one　or　two　large　hives　（except　the　poles　and　vast　uninhabited　tracts　in　Asia　and　Africa）。　In　this　way　her　Scouts　were　always　about；　with　Enforcers　（a。k。a。　Shock　Troopers）　not　far　behind。　Brazilas　was　no　different　from　other　northern　regions　in　that　it　was　effectively　an　occupied　zone。　Like　Vichy　France　of　the　Second　World　War；　each　town　had　its　sympathizers　and　resistance　fighters；　but　the　former　far　outnumbered　the　latter；　and　it　was　not　unmon　to　encounter　gruesome　and　ghastly　acts　of　betrayal　and　butchery　undertaken　in　the　name　of　self…survival。
Bloom　Nesterfig；　Social　Organization　of　the　Invid

As　Rand　himself　would　later　write：

〃There　was　something　about　Ken's　telling　Annie　to　lead　us　across　the　causeway　that　hit　me　like　a　cold　wind；　but　for　some　reason　I　just　turned　my　back　to　it。　Scott's　innocent　enthusiasm　had　something　to　do　with　this。　Psyched　about　seeing　some　of　his　friends；　he　was　off　in　a　flash；　the　Cyclone's　rear　end　chirping　a　quick　good…bye　to　me　and　the　kid。　So　I　told　her　to　climb　on　and　followed　Scott's　carefree　course；　Annie　laughing　and　hanging　on　for　dear　life　while　I　goosed　the　mecha　into　a　long　goldcard　wheelie。

〃The　bridge　was　a　simple　affair；　a　flat　span　no　more　than　fifteen　feet　wide　and　a　quarter　mile　long；　its　plastar　surface　every　bit　as　holed　and　bellied　as　the　rest　of　Laako's　streets。　The　causeway　seemed　to　bisect　the　island's　stand　of　colorless　truncated　towers；　which　rose　before　us　like　some　ruined　vision　of　the　future；　an　emerald　without　its　shine。　Beyond　it；　a　ridge　of　green　hills　and　a　soft…looking　autumn　sky。

〃Scott　was　a　block　or　two　ahead　of　me　when　we　hit　the　island；　and　talk　about　your　low…rent　downtown。。。the　place　looked　as　though　it　had　seen　some　intense　fighting　with　conventional　weapons　as　well　as　the　usual　Robo　upgrades。　Scott　had　slowed　his　cycle　to　a　crawl　and　was　using　the　mecha's　externals　to　broadcast　our　arrival。

〃‘This　is　mander　Bernard　of　the　Twenty…first　Armored　Tactical　Assault　Squadron；'　his　voice　rang　out。　‘I'm　looking　for　any　Mars　Division　survivors。　If　you　can　hear　my　voice；　please　respond。。。Is　anybody　there？　I　just　want　to　talk！'〃

〃Annie　and　I　looked　around　but　didn't　see　anyone　moving。　I　would　have　been　happy　to　see　some　more　of　those　sunken…eyed　citizens　we　had　seen　on　the　other　side；　but　suddenly　even　those　shadowy　cliff　dwellers　were　in　short　supply。　Up　ahead；　Scott　was　stopped　near　a　pile　of　trashed　mecha；　a　perverse　war　memorial　plete　with　Veritechs；　Battlepods；　Hovertanks；　and　Bioroids；　arms；　legs；　and　cannon　muzzles　fused　together　in　a　kind　of　death…affirming　sculpture。　I　came　up　behind　him　and　toed　the　Cyclone　into　neutral。　We　were　on　a　small　rise　above　the　causeway；　Scott　off　to　my　left；　staring　at　the　junk　heap　with　a　kind　of　morbid　fascination。

〃Then　we　saw　the　Cyclones。〃

〃And　the　bodies。〃

〃You　couldn't　ride　the　wastes　in　those　days　and　be　a　stranger　to　death；　and　like　everyone　I　had　seen　my　fair　share　of　Human　remains；　but　there　were　fresh　kills　in　the　heap；　and　it　was　obvious　what　had　happened。〃

〃‘This　isn't　any　junk　pile！'　I　heard　Scott　say。　‘It's　a　goddamn　graveyard！'〃

〃Annie　gave　a　start　and　hugged　herself　to　my　back。　‘What's　it　mean？'　she　cried；　panic　already　in　her　voice。〃

〃Scott　glanced　over　at　us；　his　face　all　twisted　up。　‘It　means　I　smell　a　rat　and　it's　got　your　boyfriend's　face！'〃

All　at　once　we　heard　a　deep　whirring　noise　acpanied　by　sounds　of　mechanical　disengagement。　I　looked　back　toward　the　causeway　in　time　to　see　it　give　a　shudder；　then　begin　a　slow　retraction　toward　the　main　island。　But　I　was　more　puzzled　than　alarmed。　I'd　already　seen　Scott　leap　that　mecha　of　his　twice　the　distance　to　the　island；　so　our　being　able　to　get　off　this　one　alive　only　meant　that　I　was　going　to　be　learning　the　secrets　of　Cyclone　reconfiguration　in　spite　of　myself。　Moreover；　I　couldn't　figure　why　Ken　needed　to　resort　to　such　elaborate　plans　to　rid　Laako　of　intruders。

〃I　think　Scott　must　have　been　way　ahead　of　me　on　this　one；　because　he　didn't　seem　at　all　surprised　when　two　Invid　suddenly　surfaced　in　the　lake。　Annie's　pounding　me　on　the　back；　shouting；　‘We　gotta　get　outta　here！'　and　Scott　is　just　sitting　silently　on　the　Cyclone　taking　in　the　situation　like　he's　got　all　the　time　in　the　world。　I'll　always　remember　the　look　on　his　face　at　that　moment…and　I　would　have　reason　to　recall　it　often　during　the　following　months。　I　thought　to　myself：　The　eye　of　the　storm。〃

〃Two　more　Invid　were　now　heading　our　way　from　up　the　street；　looming　over　us；　pincers　gleaming　like　knives　caught　in　the　light；　the　ground　shaking　from　their　footfalls。　These　weren't　Scouts　but　Shock　Troopers；　the　larger；　meaner　version　whose　shoulder…mounted　organiclooking　cannons　gave　them　a　wide…eyed　amphibious　look。　The　lake　creatures　had　submerged；　only　to　reappear　behind　us；　rising　up　through　the　plastar　streets　and　putting　a　radical　end　to　thoughts　of　escape。　In　a　moment　the　four　were　joined　by　a　fifth；　who　had　also　taken　the　subterranean　route。〃

〃I　felt　pelled　to　point　out　that　we　were　surrounded；　and　Scott　said；　‘Take　off！'　Which　I　was　all　for。　I　spun　the　cycle　around　my　left　foot　and　was　gone；　Scott　not　two　lengths　behind　me；　his　Cyclone　launched　from　the　street　by　an　overhead　pincer　slam　that　nearly　flattened　him。　Later；　Annie　apologized　for　the　fingernail　prints　she　left　in　my　upper　arms；　but　at　that　moment　I　was　feeling　no　pain。〃

〃I　had　what　I　thought　was　the　presence　of　mind　to　head　for　the　narrower　streets；　but　the　Troopers　were　determined　to　have　us　for　lunch；　their　leader；　airborne　now；　simply　used　its　shoulders　to　power　a　wider　upper…story　path　between　the　buildings。〃

〃‘How'd　they　find　us！'　Annie　was　yelling　into　my　left　ear。〃

〃‘Your　boyfriend；　Ken；'　I　told　her。　‘He　delivered　us　right　into　their　claws。'　But　she　didn't　want　to　hear　it。　Who…Ken？〃

〃‘He'd　never　do　anything　like　that…never！'〃

〃It　wasn't　really　a　good　time　for　an　argument；　though。　The　Troopers　were　sticking　to　us　like　magnets；　firing　off　bursts　of　plasma　fire。　The　fact　that　I　had　seen　what　those　annihilation　discs　could　do　to　a　Human　body　was　probably　responsible　for　the　chancy　moves　I　made　on　the　Cyclone。　But　the　memory　of　those　liquid　remains　paid　off；　because　I　got　us　through　the　first　stretch　unscathed。　Then；　after　we　had　taken　them　around　one　block；　down　an　alleyway；　and　through　half　a　dozen　more　right　angles；　Scott　told　me　to　get　the　kid　out　of　there；　he　was　going　Battle　Armor　to　lure　them　away。　Scott　was　nothing　if　not　noble。　But　I　couldn't　resist　getting　another　look　at　that　reconfiguration　act；　and　caught　some　flack　for　it。〃

〃‘What're　you　looking　at？'　Scott　berated　me　over　the　externals。　‘Get　moving！'〃

〃Annie　seconded　this　with　a　couple　of　cleanly　placed　kidney　shots。　So　Scott　and　I　parted　pany　at　a　T　intersection；　and　the　next　thing　I　heard　was　a　massive　exchange　of　cannonfire　and　a　series　of　crippling　explosions。　But　the　Invid　had　done　their　part　in　sticking　to　Scott's　tail；　and　Annie　and　I　were　in　the　clear　for　the　moment。〃

〃I　pulled　the　bike　over　and　told　her　to　hop　off。　There　was　no　way　I　was　going　to　let　Scott　take　all　the　heat；　I　just　had　to　get　my　Cyclone　to　reconfigure；　battle　armor　or　not。　Trouble　was；　the　damn　thing　wouldn't　respond。　I　thumbed　the　switch　above　the　starter　button；　but　nothing　happened；　so　I　started　flipping　switches　left　and　right；　cursing　the　thing　for　being　so　obstinate。　Annie；　the　little　darling；　stood　by　me；　hands　behind　her　head；　taunting　me　and　telling　me　in　no　uncertain　terms　to　hurry　the　hell　up。　Of　course；　I　have　since　learned　that　that　is　precisely　what　you　don't　do　with　a　piece　of　mecha；　but　what　did　this　basically　backwoods　loner　know　about　mecha　then？　I　just　kept　jiggling　this；　pounding　that；　turning　the　other；　and　all　of　a　sudden　I　found　myself　flat　on　my　back　in　the　seat；　the　Cyclone　grotesquely　reconfigured；　with　both　wheels　behind　it　now；　its　nose　kissing　the　street。〃

〃Annie　was　kind　enough　not　to　laugh　in　my　face；　she　turned　aside　first。　And　I　did　something　brilliant…like　leap　off　the　cycle　and　try　to　place　kick　it　into　the　lake…which　only　resulted　in　an　injury　to　my　foot　to　match　the　one　already　sustained　by　my　pride。〃

〃But　now　Annie　was　shouting　and　pointing　up　at　something。　Scott；　in　full　battle　armor；　had　taken　to　the　buttressed　top　of　a　building　a　few　blocks　away。　One　minute　he　was　standing　there　like　some　sort　of　rooftop　Robostatue；　and　the　next　he　was　playing　dodge…the…plasma…Frisbees。　I　saw　him　drop　into　that　annihilation　disc　storm　and　execute　one　of　those　Bernard　bounces　that　carried　him　out　of　sight；　just　short　of　the　explosions　that　turned　the　building　into　a　chimney；　flames　roaring　up　from　its　blasted　roof；　black　parabolas　of　slagged　stuff　in　the　sky。〃

〃Meanwhile；　I　had　worked　through　my　frustration　and　managed　to　get　the　mecha　back　into　Cycle　mode。　Annie　still　wanted　to　know　why　the　thing　wouldn't　change。　I　started　to　explain　about　the　armor　and　‘thinking　cap；'　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　she　was　running　off　toward　the　causeway。〃

〃‘I'm　gonna　go　and　find　Ken　and　get　him　to　tell　me　once　and　for　all　why　he　went　and　sold　us　out　to　the　Invid！'　she　yelled　after　I　tried　to　get　her　to　stop。　'If　you　don't　like　it…tough！'〃

〃I　had　to　admit　that　I　was　thinking　along　those　very　same　lines；　but　Annie's　timing　left　a　lot　to　be　desired。　And　since　I　didn't　relish　the　thought　of　finding　that　pink　backpack　of　hers　dangling　from　a　bloody　pincer；　I　threw　the　Cyclone　into　gear　and　went　after　her。　I　reached　out；　and　she　swatted　my　hand　away；　telling　me　to　get　lost。　Angry　now；　I　decided　I　would　just　scoop　her　up　in　my　left　arm　and　put　an　end　to　the　foolishness；　but　I　misjudged　both　my　course　and　her　weight。　No　sooner　did　my　arm　go　around　her　waist　than　I　was　pulled　from　the　mecha。　Worse　still；　we　were　right　alongside　an　open　freight　elevator；　and　down　we　went；　eight　feet　or　more；　would…be　opponents　wrapped　in　each　other's　arms。〃

〃I　blacked　out　for　a　moment；　perhaps　we　both　did。　But　Annie　came　around　first　and　laid　into　me　as　though　I　had　just　tried　to　maul　her。　I　came　to　with　her　shouting：　‘Get　off　of　me；　you　monster！　You　dirty　Forager　sleaze！　You're　all　alike！'　She　heaved　me　off　her　and　scrambled　up　out　of　the　shaft　with　a　nimbleness　and　speed　that　surprised　me。　By　the　time　I　poked　my　head　out；　she　was　nowhere　in　sight。　But　I　heard　her　rummaging　around　in　a　nearby　pile　of　mecha　scrap；　still　cursing　men　in　general；　me　in　particular。　When　I　saw　her　e　up　with　an　oldfashioned　automatic　rifle；　I　started　having　second　thoughts　about　showing　myself。　Fortunately；　she　was　only　interested　in　emptying　the　thing's　clip　against　the　already　devastated　facade　of　a　building　across　the　street。　Then　she　tossed　the　depleted　thing　aside　and　dove　back　down　into　the　scrap　heap。　Meanwhile；　I　was　wondering　what　had　bee　of　Scott　and　whether　the　Invid　would　home　in　on　Annie's　gunfire。　When　I　looked　over　at　her　again；　she　was　wrestling　an　antitank　weapon　up　onto　her　shoulder。〃

〃‘Watch　where　you　point　that　thing！'　I　started　to　warn　her。　‘It　might　be…'〃

〃And　it　was。〃

〃The　small　missile　nearly　put　a　center　part　in　my　hair；　then　changed　trajectory　and　detonated　against　the　side　of　the　building。〃

〃A　little　to　the　right　and　she　would　have　connected　with　the　Invid　who　was　just　stepping　around　that　same　corner。〃

〃I　ran　for　the　overturned　Cyclone；　hopped　on；　and　darted　over　to　pick　up　Annie；　who　now　had　control　of　the　weapon。　She　located　another　missile　and　launched　it　against　the　approaching　Shock　Trooper。　I　backed　her　up　with　Scorpions　from　the　front…end　launch　tubes　of　the　Cyclone；　but　neither　of　us　managed　to　connect　with　a　soft　spot　in　the　thing's　shell；　and　it　kept　up　its　menacing　advance。　Annie　screamed　and　made　a　run　for　it；　not　a　second　before　the　creature's　right　claw　came　down　at　her；　the　tip　of　its　bladelike　pincer　swept　the　pack　from　her　back　and　ripped　open　the　jumpsuit　neck　to　waist　but　left　her　otherwi