10_invid_invasion-第7部分

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　pincer　swept　the　pack　from　her　back　and　ripped　open　the　jumpsuit　neck　to　waist　but　left　her　otherwise　untouched。　But　the　nearness　of　the　blow　paralyzed　her；　I　saw　her　reach　back；　finger　the　tear；　and　collapse　to　her　knees。〃

〃Meanwhile；　I　had　problems　of　my　own。　The　Invid　had　turned　its　attention　to　me　and　fired　off　several　discs；　one　of　which　blew　the　Cyclone　out　from　under　me　and　threw　me　a　good　fifteen　feet　from　the　blast。　My　back　was　to　its　advance　now；　but　one　look　at　Annie's　shocked　face　told　me　everything　I　needed　to　know。〃

〃‘Heeelp！'　she　was　screaming。　'Anyone！'〃

〃But　there　was　something　else　in　my　line　of　sight　as　well：　a　glint　across　the　lake；　sunshine　on　gleaming　metal。　And　even　as　my　head　was　going　down　to　the　street　in　a　gesture　of　surrender　and　ultimate　indifference…some　part　of　my　warped　mind　wondering　what　that　giant　cloven　foot　or　pincer　was　going　to　feel　like…I　knew　Annie's　call　had　been　heard。〃

〃A　figure　in　red　Cyclone　battle　armor　launched　itself　across　the　lake　and　came　down　at　the　end　of　the　street；　hopping　in　for　a　rescue；　dodging　one；　two；　then　three　explosive　blasts　from　the　Invid　Shock　Trooper。　I　saw　the　soldier　return　fire　from　the　rifle/cannon　portion　of　the　armor's　right　arm　and　heard　the　Invid　take　a　direct　hit　and　e　apart。〃

〃The　soldier　put　down　behind　me　as　I　rolled　over；　Annie　oohing　and　ahhing　nearby；　just　in　time　to　see　Scott　appear　at　the　other　end　of　the　street　with　three　Invid　on　his　tail。　He　dropped　one　for　the　crowd　and　took　off　out　of　sight；　the　other　two　closing　on　him。　I　got　up；　hand　shielding　my　eyes；　and　tried　to　follow　the　fight。　Overhead　now；　Scott　blasted　a　second　Invid；　then　swooped　in　low　and　ass…backward　to　finish　off　the　last。　I　saw　him　sight　in　on　the　Trooper；　then　loose　the　shot。　It　tore　into　one　of　the　Invid's　hemispheric　cranial　protrusions；　loosing　fire　and　smoke　from　the　hole。〃

〃Scott　was　thrown　backward　by　the　missile's　kick　and　landed　on　his　butt　not　ten　feet　in　front　of　us…Annie；　me；　and　the　mysterious　red　Cycloner。　The　Invid　came　in　on　residuals；　mimicking　Scott's　undignified　approach　with　one　of　its　own；　and　immediately　fell　face　forward　to　the　street；　a　sickly　green　fluid　spewing　from　its　wound；　its　outstretched　pincer　trapping　and　nearly　mincing　poor　Annie。　Scott　had　explained　that　the　fluid　was　a　kind　of　nutrient　derived　from　the　Flowers　of　Life；　but　I　had　yet　to　see　exactly　what　it　was　that　the　stuff　was　keeping　alive！　Scott；　his　faceshield　raised；　turned　to　thank　the　red　who　had　e　to　our　aid。　But　it　was　obvious　he　had　seen　something　I　hadn't；　because　he　stopped　in　midsentence；　as　though　questioning　what　he　was　seeing。〃

〃And　Red　bounded　off　without　a　word。〃

〃At　the　same　time；　Annie　was　crying　for　help；　and　Scott　went　over　to　her；　lifting　the　pincer　enough　to　allow　the　pale　and　shaken　kid　to　crawl　free。　What　a　picture　she　made；　kneeling　there　in　the　dirt；　tears　cascading　down　her　face；　her　torn　jumpsuit　hanging　off　her　shoulders。〃

〃‘I'm　so　sorry；'　she　wailed。　‘This　is　all　my　fault。'〃

〃Scott　didn't　say　anything；　he　simply　walked　over　to　the　fallen　Invid　and　regarded　it…analytically；　I　thought；　as　though　he　had　seen　those　things　bleed　before。〃

〃I　was　sitting　on　the　engine　cover　of　my　overturned　Cyclone　feeling　twenty　years　older　and　wondering　what　had　happened　to　solo　riding。〃

〃‘We　did　what　we　could；'　I　told　Scott。　‘But　it　just　wasn't　enough。'〃

〃Annie　said；　‘Now　what　are　we　going　to　do；　Rand？'〃

〃And　Scott　and　I　exchanged　looks；　remembering　Ken　and　the　other　island。。。〃


〃We　found　Annie's　knapsack；　and　I　did　what　I　could　to　sew　up　the　tear　in　her　jumpsuit。　The　causeway　had　been　reextended　to　plete　the　span　between　the　islands；　Scott　figured　that　Ken　and　the　others　had　heard　the　explosions　and　realized　they　were　going　to　have　to　deal　with　us　one　way　or　another。　This　was　pretty　much　the　case。　Ken　said；　‘I'm　glad　you　made　it；'　when　he　saw　us　cycle　in。　But　Annie　wasn't　buying　it；　she　leaped　off　the　rear　seat；　even　before　I　had　brought　the　Cyclone　to　a　halt；　and　whacked　Ken　across　the　face　forcefully　enough　to　spin　him　around。　He　gave　us　a　brief　over…the…shoulder　look　and　decided　he　had　better　take　it　or　he　would　have　us　ing　down　on　him　as　well。

〃He　asked　Annie　to　forgive　him；　and　frankly；　I　was　surprised　by　the　sincerity　he　managed　to　dredge　up。　‘I　only　did　it　to　save　the　others；'　he　explained。　'If　we　stood　up　to　the　Invid；　all　the　people　in　Laako　would　suffer　for　it。　The　way　things　are；　we　get　by　all　right。'〃

〃Fire　in　his　eyes；　Scott　dismounted；　took　off　his　helmet；　and　walked　over　to　Ken。　‘So　you　feed　potential　troublemakers　to　the　Invid　to　save　your　own　skins；'　he　growled。〃

〃I'm　not　sure　what　would　have　happened　next　if　a　crowd　of　Laako's　citizenry　hadn't　appeared。〃

〃‘You　got　that　right；　soldier！'　their　leader　told　Scott。〃

〃They　were　only　a　dozen　strong；　men；　women；　and　children；　and　they　were　unarmed；　but　there　was　an　attitude　of　defiance　about　them　that　rattled　us。　The　rest　of　the　audience　was　glaring　down　at　us　from　their　cells　in　those　shells　of　buildings。〃

〃‘You've　got　to　leave　here！'　the　man　continued。　‘I'm　sorry；　but　we　don't　want　any　soldiers　in　this　town。　So　get　out…now！'〃

〃I　had　to　hand　it　to　the　guy。　He　wasn't　especially　large　or　well　built；　and　his　glasses　and　workman's　blues　gave　him　a　kind　of　paternal　look；　but　here　he　was　standing　up　to　an　offworlder　in　Cyclone　battle　armor。　I　thought　Scott　would　take　the　poor　man　apart；　instead；　I　heard　him　laugh。〃

〃‘Well；　was　it　something　we　said？'　Scott　asked。〃

〃‘There　is　nothing　funny　about　the　situation；　young　man；'　the　man　responded　angrily。　‘I　am　in　deadly　earnest。　Nobody　here　even　wanted　your　Robotech　Expeditionary　Mission　to　begin　with；　and　if　it　wasn't　for　you　soldiers；　this　planet　would　still　be　living　in　peace！　Now；　get　out！　Save　your　rescues　for　somewhere　else！'〃

〃I　winced　at　hearing　this；　knowing　the　man　had　gone　too　far。　Scott　stepped　into　the　guy's　face；　shouting　back：　‘Why　you。。。Don't　you　realize　that　without　any　kind　of　resistance；　you've　got　no　hope？！'〃

〃‘We　know；'　Ken　chimed　in　from　behind　Scott。　‘But　we　still　want　you　to　leave。'〃

〃‘Terrific；'　Scott　snarled。　‘You're　going　to　sit　back　and　relax　and　let　the　Invid　rule　over　you　and　the　entire　planet…'〃

〃'Fighting　the　Invid　will　aggravate　the　whole　situation！'　the　crowd　leader　interrupted。　‘All　we　want　is　a　peaceful　life。　What　difference　does　it　make　who's　at　the　top…some　corrupt　Council　or　the　Invid？　There's　no　such　thing　as　freedom！'〃

〃The　man　must　have　caught　a　whiff　of　his　own　words；　because　all　of　a　sudden　he　was　soft…spoken　and　rational。　‘Look；　anybody　who　hasn't　seen　it　our　way　has　already　left。　So　will　you　please　go？'〃

〃I　had　heard　the　same　speech　so　often　that　I　hardly　paid　any　attention　to　it；　but　you　just　didn't　go　throwing　the　reality　of　the　situation　into　the　face　of　a　guy　who　had　e　halfway　across　the　galaxy　to　fight　your　battles　for　you。　Before　I　could　open　my　mouth；　Scott　had　grabbed　the　guy　by　the　shirtfront　and　was　ready　to　split　his　head　open。〃

〃I　told　Scott　to　leave　him　alone。　After　all；　in　their　own　way　they　were　right：　They　had　peaceful　lives；　even　without　the　so…called　freedoms　that　were　so　important　thirty　years　ago。　Besides；　nothing　Scott　or　I　could　say　or　do　was　going　to　change　the　way　they　felt。〃

〃‘Look　around　you；'　I　told　Scott。〃

〃He　did；　and　the　truth　of　it　seemed　to　sink　in　some。　He　shoved　the　man　aside　and　spat　in　the　street。　‘I　don't　believe　what　I'm　witnessing　here；'　he　rebuked　the　crowd。　‘You　people　make　me　sick！　You　think　I'm　the　only　one　fighting　the　Invid？　Well；　there　are　plenty　of　others。　People　who　aren't　ready　to　roll　over　and　play　dead；　understand？'〃

〃The　crowd　looked　at　him　pityingly。　He　donned　his　helmet；　mounted　the　Cyclone；　and　took　off　without　a　word　to　any　of　us。〃

〃I　felt　that　I　had　to　back　Scott　up　and　made　some　kind　of　silly　speech　about　selling　out　strangers；　but　it　all　fell　on　deaf　ears。　Except　Annie's。〃

〃‘That　goes　for　me；　too；'　she　told　the　crowd。　‘I　wouldn't　want　to　live　in　this　rotten　town　anyway。'　With　that；　she　threw　herself　onto　the　cycle's　rear　seat　and　told　me　to　‘let　'er　rip。'〃

〃Annie　hugged　herself　to　me　for　all　it　was　worth；　and　I　could　almost　feel　her　tears　through　my　shirt。　But　when　I　asked　if　she　was　okay；　she　said　she　would　make　it　all　right。　I　was　certain　she　had　known　worse　moments　in　her　life。。。〃

〃When　we　caught　up　with　Scott；　I　asked　about　his　plans。〃

〃‘Somehow　or　other　I've　got　to　find　Reflex　Point；'　he　yelled　without　bothering　to　look　over　at　me。〃

〃He　had　mentioned　this　when　we　first　met　and　once　or　twice　since　but　had　never　explained　its　meaning。　‘You　keep　talking　about　this　place　as　if　it's　the　most　important　thing　in　the　world。'〃

〃‘It　is；'　Scott　threw　back　sternly；　and　accelerated　out　front。〃

〃There　was　something　about　his　attitude　that　put　me　off；　or　maybe　I　was　just　hoping　for　an　argument　that　would　split　us　up　and　return　me　to　my　solo　riding。　I　said；　‘You　know　what　your　problem　is？　You　don't　know　how　to　municate　with　people！　Now　that　you've　had　a　taste　of　the　old　homeworld；　don't　you　think　you'd　be　a　lot　happier　back　in　space　with　your　girlfriend？'〃

〃His　silence　told　me　I'd　gotten　to　him。〃

〃‘Lay　off；'　he　snapped　back；　accelerating　again。　'Marlene's　dead。'〃

〃It　literally　stopped　me　cold　in　my　tracks。〃

〃‘He　never　told　you？'　Annie　said　as　we　watched　Scott　disappear　over　a　rise　up　ahead。〃

〃‘Not　one　word　about　it；'　I　mumbled。　It　explained　a　lot　about　Scott's　behavior；　his　obsession　with　waging　this　one…man　war　of　his。。。〃

〃‘I　know　how　he　feels；'　Annie　was　saying。　‘Being　the　woman　so　many　men　dream　of；　and　yet　so　unlucky　in　love；　has　made　me　very　sensitive　to　this　sort　of　thing。'〃

〃I　didn't　know　whether　she　was　trying　to　make　me　laugh　or　what；　but　her　ment　succeeded　in　lightening　my　spirits。　Then　she　slammed　me　on　the　back：　‘Hey；　e　on！　We're　gonna　lose　Scott　if　we　don't　get　a　move　on！'〃

〃I　asked　her　if　she　was　sure　about　leaving　Ken　behind；　and　she　made　a　face。〃

〃‘Uh…huh。　I　have　a　feeling　my　next　lover's　going　to　be　my　last。　Now；　let's　get　moving；　Rand！'〃

〃She　pounded　her　tiny　fists　against　my　back　again；　and　we　were　gone。〃


CHAPTER　FIVE

Mom　was；　as　they　used　to　say　at　the　turn　of　the　century；　one　tough　broad。　She　was　the　most　respected　member　of　the　Blue　Angels；　and　even　after　her　falling　out　with　Romy　and　her　flight　from　Cavern　City；　her　name　was　adopted　by　only　those　riders　who　shot　for　the　narrows；　and　scrawled　on　many　a　wall。
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

It　wasn't　much　of　a　town…strictly　Main…Street　frontier；　run…down　and　dirty…and　it　wasn't　much　of　a　bar；　but　at　least　the　place　offered　cold　beer　（even　if　it　was　locally　brewed　and　bitter…tasting）；　shade；　and　a　singer　backed　by　a　decent　pickup　band。

After　all　of　the　battles　are　over
After　all　of　the　fighting　is　done
Will　you　be　the　one
To　find　yourself　alone　with　your　heart
Looking　for　the　answer？


Rook　Bartley　lifted　her　glass　and　toasted　the　singer。　The　song　was　soft　and　downbeat；　just　what　she　needed　to　ease　herself　into　the　blues；　trip　through　memories　she　couldn't　do　anything　about。

Rook　took　a　look　around　the　place　over　the　rim　of　her　mug。　It　was　dimly　lit　and　poorly　ventilated　but　surprisingly　clean　and　tidy　for　a　joint　in　the　wastes。　There　was　the　usual　assortment　of　types；　Foragers　mostly；　keeping　to　themselves　in　the　corners；　nursing　drinks　and　private　thoughts。　A　couple　or　two　wrapped　around　each　other　on　the　cleared　space　that　passed　for　a　dance　floor。　And　several　bad　boys　on　the　upper　tier；　boots　up　on　the　table；　midnight　shades。　Rook　judged　they　were　locals　from　the　way　they　were　scanning　the　room　for　action；　your　basic　rough　trade　feeling　safe　on　the　barren　piece　of　turf　they　had　secured　for　themselves。　Rook　returned　to　her　drink；　unimpressed。

She　was　a　petite　and　shapely　eighteen…year…old　with　a　mane　of　strawberry…blond　hair　and　a　face　that　more　than　one　man　had　fallen　in　love　with。　She　was　wearing　a　red　and　white　short…sleeved　bodysuit　that　hugged　her　in　all　the　right　places。　It　was　set　off　by　forearm　sheaths；　a　blue　utility　belt；　and　boots；　an　outfit　styled　to　match　the　mecha　she　rode；　a　red　Cyclone　she　had　liberated　from　an　armory　just　after　her　split　from　the　Blue　Angels；　the　assault　by　the　Snakes。。。

When　it　feels　like　tomorrow　will　never　e
When　it　seems　like　the　night　will　not　end
Can　you　pretend　
That　you're　really　not　alone？
You're　out　here　on　your　own　（Lonely　soldier　boy）
You're　out　here　on　your　own　（Lonely　soldier　boy）


Rook　settled　back　in　her　chair　to　study　the　group's　lead　singer；　a　rocker　well　known　in　the　wastes　who　called　herself　Yellow　Dancer。　The　song　had　taken　an　unanticipated　leap　to　four…four；　guitar　and　keyboards　wailing；　and　Yellow　was　off　to　one　side　of　the　low　stage；　clapping　in　time　and　allowing　the　band　their　moment　in　the　spots。　She　was　tall　and　rather　broad…shouldered；　Rook　thought；　but　attractive　in　a　way　that　appealed　to　men　and　women　both。　Her　hair　was　long　but　shagged；　tinted　slightly　lavender　and　held　by　a　green　leather　band　that　chevroned　in　the　center　of　her　forehead。　Yellow's　stage　clothes　were　not　at　all　elaborate…pumps；　tight…fitting　slacks；　and　a　strapless　top　trimmed　in　purple…but　were　well　suited　to　her　tall　frame　and　flattering　to　her　figure。

Yellow　stepped　back　to　the　mike　to　acknowledge　the　applause。　She　was　modest　and　smiling　until　one　of　the　bad　boys　decided　to　change　the　tempo　somewhat。

〃Hey；　baby　face！〃　he　called　out；　getting　up　from　the　table　and　approaching　the　stage。　〃Me　and　my　friends　don't　like　your　music。　It　stinks；　y'　hear？〃

Rook　had　expected　as　much。　It　was　the　one　with　the　pointed　chin　and　wraparound　sunglasses；　the　apparent　gang　leader。　He　was　wearing　tight　jeans　tucked　into　suede　shin　boots　and　a　short…sleeve　shirt　left　unbuttoned。

〃It's　garbage；　it　ain't　music；〃　he　insulted　the　singer。

Rook　wondered　how　Yellow　would　handle　it；　the　pickup　band　were　locals；　as　was　most　of　the　room。　No　one　was　exactly　rising　to　her　defense；　but　neither　was　she　showing　signs　of　concern。

〃Well；　why　don't　you　just　give　these　people　a　sample　of　what　you　consider　music？〃　she　taunted　back。

Some　of　the　crowd　found　the　eback　amusing；　which　only　managed　to　put　Yellow's　critic　on　the　spot。　Rather　than　risk　making　a　fool　of　himself；　he　decided　to　teach　her　a　quick　lesson　and　stepped　forward　swinging　a　lightning　right。

〃I'll　give　'em　a　sample；〃　he　said　at　the　same　time。

But　Yellow　was　even　faster；　still　maintaining　her　place；　she　ducked　to　the　left；　leaving　vacuum　in　her　wake。　The　rogue's　arm　sailed　clean　through　nothingness；　wrapping　itself　around　the　mike　stand；　and　threw　him　pletely　off　balance。　The　crowd　howled；　and　Yellow　smiled。　But　in　that　instant；　her　assailant　recollected　himself；　turned；　and　caught　her　across　the　face　with　an　open…hand　left。

Yellow's　head　snapped　back；　but　not　for　long。　She　countered　with　a　right；　open…hand　also　but　hooked　a　bit　to　bring　her　nails　into　play。　The　man　took　the　blow　full　force　to　his　temple　and　cheek；　his　glasses　were　knocked　askew；　and　blood　had　been　drawn。

〃Now　we're　even；〃　she　said　to　the　leader；　whose　back　was　still　turned　to　her。　But　she　now　had　the　rest　of　the　gang　to　answer　to　as　well；　they　had　left　their　tables　and　were　approaching　her　threateningly。　〃How　about　calling　it　quits；　fellahs？〃　she　told　them。　〃Tag…team