10_invid_invasion-第8部分

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were　approaching　her　threateningly。　〃How　about　calling　it　quits；　fellahs？〃　she　told　them。　〃Tag…team　wrestling　isn't　scheduled　until　Saturday　night；　and　we　wouldn't　want　to　mess　up　the　program；　would　we？〃

Rook　had　to　laugh；　either　she　knew　what　she　was　doing　or　she　was　one　of　those　who　got　her　kicks　facedown。　Rook　had　reason　to　believe　it　was　the　former；　however。　Yellow　was　set　like　an　upsprung　trap；　her　legs　slightly　bent；　her　fists　clawed。　At　the　same　time；　she　was　keeping　an　eye　on　the　one　she　had　already　wounded　and　was　more　than　ready　for　him　when　he　pounced。

〃You　little　witch！〃　the　man　snarled。　〃I'll　kill　you！〃

He　moved　in　and　swung　a　roundhouse　left　with　little　of　the　lightning　that　had　characterized　his　first　swing　and　none　of　the　ambivalence　of　the　second。　But　once　again；　Yellow　was　left　untouched；　and　the　momentum　carried　the　man　off　the　stage；　practically　into　the　arms　of　his　henchmen。

〃I've　enjoyed　our　little　dancing　lesson；〃　Yellow　joked；　backing　away　somewhat。　〃But　if　it's　all　the　same　to　you；　this　place　is　paying　me　to　sing。〃　Her　eyes　darted　right　and　left；　plotting　an　escape　if　needed。　〃Of　course；　we　can　pick　up　where　we　left　off　after　the　show…you　could　sure　use　some　work　on　your　fox…trot；　you　know…and　if　you're　all　nice　boys；　I'll　teach　you　to　rumba。。。〃

The　gang　was　closing　in　on　her；　and　Rook　was　beginning　to　rethink　her　earlier　evaluation　of　Yellow　Dancer。　Whatever　happened　now；　she　had　some　of　it　ing。　Meanwhile　the　club　owner　had　appeared　on　the　stage　to　intercede。　But　Rook　had　to　laugh　again；　grog　making　it　up　into　her　nose。　Not　only　was　the　dude　pushing　seventy；　but　he　began　his　little　speech　by　referring　to　Yellow's　opponents　as　gentlemen！

〃If　you　can't　control　yourselves；〃　he　continued；　his　white　mustache　twitching；　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　ask　you　all　to　leave！〃

You　and　what　army；　Rook　said　to　herself；　quoting　the　punch　line　of　an　old　T'sentrati　joke。

One　of　the　toughs；　a　mean…looking　little　guy　in　a　muscle　shirt；　had　whipped　out　a　throwing　knife　during　the　old　man's　attempted　reprimand。　He　gave　the　knife　a　backhand　toss　now；　sending　it　whizzing　past　the　owner's　head　and　straight　into　the　plywood　wall　behind　the　stage。

〃Mind　your　manners；　Gramps！〃　the　youth　cautioned。

Rook　sighed　tiredly；　swallowed　the　last　two　drops　of　her　drink；　and　stood　up　from　the　table。

〃Boy；　you　guys　sure　have　guts；〃　she　told　the　gathered　gang　members。　They　turned　slowly　toward　her　as　she　knew　they　would；　looks　of　disbelief　on　their　faces。　〃Think　you　can　handle　her　all　by　yourselves？〃

This　brought　immediate　catcalls　and　challenges　from　the　rest　of　the　room。　Rook　smiled　for　the　audience's　benefit　and　winked　at　the　gang　leader。　She　had　been　through　scenes　like　this　too　often　to　count；　and　she　knew　the　leader's　type　as　well　as　she　knew　herself。　She　was　confident　she　could　take　him；　and　that　would　eliminate　the　need　to　go　one　on　one　with　the　others。　All　she　had　to　do　was　go　after　the　leader's　pride；　and　she　had　already　made　a　good　start　in　that　direction。。。

〃Blondie；　take　my　advice　and　stay　out　of　this　or　you'll　be　next；〃　he　warned　her。

Rook　looked　away　nonchalantly。　〃Maybe　if　two　of　you　held　her　down　while　the　others　ran　for　reinforcements。。。Then　you　might　have　a　chance。〃

The　catcalls　increased　in　volume　and　originality。　Even　the　leader　cracked　an　appreciative　smile。　He　steadied　his　shades　and　gave　Rook　the　once…over。　〃A　edian。〃　He　sneered。　〃Too　bad　for　you　I've　got　such　a　poor　sense　of　humor；　'cause　I'm　gonna　make　you　sorry　you　ever　walked　in　here。〃

The　nasty　little　knife　thrower　produced　a　second　shiv；　but　the　leader　motioned　him　back。　〃She's　mine；〃　he　told　his　boys；　and　launched　himself　into　a　charge。

Rook　had　plenty　of　time　to　prepare　and　position　herself；　plus　she　had　already　sized　up　the　guy's　strengths　and　weaknesses。　He　was　ing　at　her　full　force；　yelling　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　his　hands　at　shoulder　height　slightly　out　front。　On　the　balls　of　her　feet　now；　Rook　dropped　herself　into　a　crouch　and　brought　her　right　arm　in　front　of　her　face；　elbow　pointed　outward。　When　the　leader　was　within　range；　she　twisted　back；　then　sprang　up　and　took　her　shot；　catching　the　man　square　in　the　larynx。

Instantly；　he　went　down　on　his　knees；　hands　clutching　his　throat。　〃You　almost　killed　me；〃　he　managed　to　rasp。

〃Well；　e　at　me　again　and　let's　see　if　I　can　get　it　right　this　time；〃　Rook　answered　him。

The　room　was　full　of　applause　and　cheers　by　now；　even　some　of　the　gang　members　were　laughing。

Rook　heard　Yellow　Dancer　say；　〃I　think　the　baboon's　overmatched；〃　just　before　the　leader　growled　and　shouted；　〃Stop　laughing！〃

Then　the　knife　wielder　started　to　move　in。。。


Outside　the　bar；　two　Cyclones　were　added　to　the　long　row　of　cycles　and　various　hybrid　vehicles　that　lined　the　town's　main　street。　Scott　and　Rand　glanced　at　the　cycles　and　at　the　bar　and　traded　questioning　looks。

〃Shall　we　go　in？〃　Rand　asked。

Scott　shrugged　and　removed　his　helmet。　〃What've　we　got　to　lose？〃

〃That's　not　what　I　wanted　to　hear；〃　Rand　started　to　say；　but　Annie　was　already　off　the　Cyclone　and　heading　for　the　door。

〃e　on；　Rand。　I'm　dry　enough　to　spit　cotton。〃

Rand　exhaled　forcibly　and　dismounted　wondering　just　how　he　had　let　things　get　so　out　of　hand。　Just　one　more　town；　he　had　told　himself。　A　place　where　he　could　feel　all　right　about　leaving　Annie　and　saying　a　final　farewell　to　Scott。　Then　it　was　going　to　be　back　to　solo　riding　and　the　open　road。　But　that　had　been　three　days　and　several　towns　ago；　not　one　of　which　suited　his　needs。　Nor　did　he　have　especially　good　feelings　about　this　one。　Two　rows　of　ruined　high…tech　prefabs　split　by　the　northern　highway　and　squeezed　between　the　stone　walls　of　an　arid　canyon；　the　place　had　a　filthy；　forlorn　look　to　it。　It　seemed　as　though　the　town　had　surrendered　long　before　the　Invid's　arrival。

〃They　could　at　least　clean　the　place　up；〃　Rand　said　to　Scott　now。　〃Bunch　of　lazy　slobs。。。〃

〃You　country　boys　do　things　differently；　I　suppose；〃　Scott　said　in　a　patronizing　way。

Rand　scowled。　〃At　least　we　have　enough　self…respect　to　keep　our　homes　from　being　pigsties。　You　wonder　why　I'd　rather　five　off　the　land；　Scott？　Well；　look　around。〃

〃Oh；　quit　arguing；　you　two；〃　Annie　said；　stepping　through　the　barroom's　swinging　doors。　〃This　dump　isn't　so　bad。　What　do　you　think　they　do　for　fun　around　here？〃

Inside；　the　first　thing　that　greeted　their　eyes　was　a　knife　fight。

An　attractive　young　woman　in　a　red　bodysuit　was　squaring　off　against　a　mean…looking　youth　wielding　what　looked　like　a　hunting　knife。　Onlookers　were　cheering　and　offering　words　of　encouragement　to　both　parties。　On　the　room's　stage；　a　tall；　lean　female　and　a　white…haired　old　man　yelled　for　the　fight　to　stop。

Scott　stopped　short。　〃It's　her！？〃

〃Who？〃　said　Annie。

〃She's　the　one　who　helped　us　out　the　other　day…the　girl　on　the　Cyclone！〃

Rand's　eyes　went　wide。　〃The　girl　on　the　Cyclone？　Now　you　tell　me！。。。Well　what　are　we　waiting　for？　Let's　go…〃

〃No；　hold　up　a　minute。〃　Scott　put　his　arm　out　to　restrain　Rand。　〃I'm　sure　she　can　handle　herself　all　right。〃

〃But　they'll　kill　her；〃　said　Annie。

Scott　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。〃

Rand　decided　that　Scott　might　be　right。　The　woman　moved　like　a　dancer；　dodging　the　youth's　every　thrust　and　overhand；　her　blond　hair　twirling　about　her　face。　One　of　the　other　men　in　the　crowd　was　urging　the　knifer　on　with　threats　of　his　own。

〃Stop　your　prancin'　around！　Stick　her；　man！　Stick　her！〃

But　the　woman　wasn't　about　to　let　that　happen。　She　backed　away　with　calculated　deliberation；　turning　and　folding　at　just　the　right　moments。　Rand　could　see　that　the　rogue　was　losing　patience　and　getting　sloppy　with　his　cover；　he　also　noted　that　this　was　not　lost　on　the　woman　in　red。　She　set　herself；　legs　wide；　and　waited　for　him　to　e　in。　Sure　enough；　the　youth　tried　an　over…the…top　reverse　and　left　himself　wide　open；　the　woman　spun　out　from　under　it　and　pleted　her　turn　with　a　roundhouse　kick　that　nailed　him　across　the　face；　throwing　him　against　one　of　the　tables。　The　knifer　went　down　as　the　table　collapsed　under　him；　but　a　second　man；　a　large；　dark…skinned　tough　wearing　an　earflapped　cap；　caught　the　woman　from　behind　in　a　full　nelson。　She　tried　to　struggle　free　but　found　herself　overpowered。　At　the　same　time　a　third　member　of　the　gang　sauntered　in　and　took　the　knife　from　his　fallen　rade。　He　tapped　the　tip　of　the　blade　menacingly　against　the　woman's　cheek。

〃You　can　say　good…bye　to　that　pretty　face　of　yours；　sister；〃　Rand　heard　the　man　say。

Scott　was　already　stepping　in；　as　was　the　female　singer；　who　had　started　to　grab　for　the　knife　stuck　in　the　wall　behind　the　stage。　But　Rand　moved　quicker　than　both　of　them。　He　swept　up　a　heavy　half…empty　goblet　from　a　nearby　table　and　hurled　it；　knocking　the　knife　from　the　gang　leader's　hand。　As　the　youth　screamed　and　dropped；　holding　his　struck　hand；　Rand　yelled；　〃Duck！〃　and　launched　a　second　glass。

Rook　saw　this　one　headed　her　way　and　stretched　herself　thin　in　the　larger　man's　hold；　arms　fully　extended　as　she　slithered　down。　The　glass　hit　the　man　in　the　face；　and　his　hold　on　her　collapsed；　he　was　holding　his　nose　and　moaning　when　Rook　brought　her　boot　down　onto　his　instep　and　turned　away　out　of　reach。

〃I'm　gonna　kill　you　for　that！〃　the　man　yelled。　But　when　he　took　his　hands　away　from　his　face；　he　found　himself　staring　at　Scott's　drawn　blaster。

〃Get　moving…all　of　you！〃　Scott　told　them。

Weapons　were　a　mon　enough　sight　in　the　waste；　but　a　blaster　was　seldom　seen。　Taken　by　surprise；　the　gang　members　began　to　back　toward　the　swinging　doors。　〃You　win　this　one；　soldier；〃　the　leader　threw　over　his　shoulder。　〃But　the　war's　not　over　yet。〃

In　a　moment　the　sounds　of　revving　and　departing　cycles　filled　the　bar。

Rook　looked　disdainfully　at　her　rescuers；　she　recognized　them　as　the　three　she　had　saved　from　an　Invid　setup　in　Laako　three　days　before。　The　redheaded　one　named　Rand　was　eyeing　her　appreciatively。

〃Why'd　you　have　to　butt　in？〃　Rook　said　harshly；　and　left　the　bar。

〃Guess　there's　no　pleasing　some　people；〃　Rand　threw　after　her。

〃Swelled　head！〃　said　Annie；　making　a　face　and　gesturing。

〃Well；　I'm　grateful　for　your　help；〃　said　a　lilting　voice。

Rand　turned　and　nearly　fell　over。　It　was　Yellow　Dancer！　He　hadn't　recognized　her　before　and　could　hardly　believe　his　eyes　now。　〃It　can't　be；〃　he　stammered；　unable　to　control　his　excitement。　〃I've　seen　you　at　least　twenty　times；　but　I　never　thought　I'd　get　the　chance。。。〃　He　turned　and　made　a　desperate　lunge　for　a　napkin　and　shoved　it　toward　Yellow。　〃I　know　it's　silly；　but。。。it's　for　my　kid　sister；　you　know？〃

Yellow　smiled　knowingly。　The　bar　owner　took　a　pen　from　his　jacket　pocket　and　passed　it　to　her。　〃To　your　kid　sister；〃　said　Yellow；　chuckling。　〃As　always。。。〃

Annie　saw　Scott's　look　of　bewilderment　and　said；　〃It's　Yellow　Dancer。　Haven't　you　ever　heard　of　her？〃

Scott　smiled　thinly　and　shook　his　head。

〃Boy；　you're　really　out　of　it；　Scott。〃

Scott　ignored　the　ment　and　turned　to　the　owner。　〃That　gang；　who　are　they？〃

The　man　shrugged。　〃The　usual　riffraff。　Their　kind　seem　to　be　just　about　everywhere　nowadays。〃

〃Yes；　but　what　about　the　local　authorities…have　you　thought　of　asking　them　to　do　something？〃

Rand　raised　his　eyes　to　the　ceiling　in　a　dramatic　gesture　and　turned　away　embarrassed。

The　manager　stared　at　Scott　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Mister；　those　are　the　local　authorities。〃


CHAPTER　SIX

Tirolian　society…that　is；　the　generation　of　Terrans　that　grew　to　manhood　and　womanhood　under　T。R。　Edwards；　Dr。　Emil　Lang；　and　to　some　extent　（by　proxy；　as　it　were）；　Admiral　Rick　and　mander　Lisa　Hunter…took　a　decidedly　different　course　than　its　counterpart　on　Earth　（under　Chairman　Moran；　Supreme　mander　Leonard；　et　al。）。　Thanks　to　Edwards's　chauvinism；　bigotry；　and　undisguised　misogyny；　one　would　certainly　have　been　hard　pressed　to　encounter　the　likes　of　a　Dana　Sterling　or　a　Marie　Crystal　among　the　Tirolian　contingent。。。Scott　Bernard　had　been　raised　in　such　a　milieu；　and　there　were　things；　as　well　as　attitudes；　on　Earth　that　he　had　never　dreamed　possible。
Xandu　Reem；　A　Stranger　at　Home：　A　Biography　of　Scott　Bernard

Ringo　and　his　boys　roared　away　from　the　bar　and　regrouped　at　the　edge　of　town。　Their　cycles；　one　outfitted　with　a　sidecar；　were　well　equipped　with　weapons；　and　it　would　have　been　simple　to　blast　and　torch　the　bar；　but　that　wasn't　really　an　option：　Pops'　had　the　coldest　beer　within　three　hundred　miles。　So　they　decided　to　turn　their　frustrations　against　any　newers　who　might　wander　into　town；　a　bit　of　the　old　ultraviolence；　as　it　had　once　been　called。　Instead；　however；　they　soon　found　an　even　more　suitable　target　in　the　form　of　the　ex…soldier　named　Lunk；　who　had　been　in　town　on　and　off　for　the　past　two　months。　More　than　once　Ringo　had　attempted　to　goad　the　man　into　a　fight　with　less　than　satisfying　results。　The　attempts　had　increased　in　frequency　once　Ringo　found　out　something　about　Lunk's　recent　military　past；　but　still　he　was　unable　to　push　the　man　into　a　hand…to…hand　confrontation。

But　now；　after　his　humiliating　run…in　with　the　strangers　in　the　bar；　Ringo　was　in　no　mood　for　subtlety　or　verbal　provocation。　No　sooner　had　Lunk's　battered　six…wheel　personnel　carrier　lumbered　by　the　gang's　edge…of…town　position　than　Ringo　ordered　his　men　into　pursuit。　There　was　nothing　like　a　little　manhunting　to　pick　you　up　when　you　were　feeling　down。

Lunk　was　twenty…five；　a　huge；　barrel…chested　man　with　almost　brutish　facial　features：　a　wide；　prominent　chin；　heavy…lidded；　soulful　eyes；　and　a　broad；　flat　nose。　He　had　let　his　hair　grow　long　these　past　few　months　and　kept　it　out　of　his　face　with　a　yellow　elastic　headband。　His　size　alone　would　have　given　most　men　pause；　but　there　was　something　soft　and　secretive　about　him　that　often　allowed　smaller　aggressive　types　to　feel　they　could　have　a　free　hand　with　him。

One　look　at　Ringo's　impromptu　roadside　gathering　and　Lunk　knew　that　he　was　in　for　it；　he　told　his　panion；　Kevin；　to　hang　on　and　began　to　push　the　ancient　APC　along　the　town's　main　street　for　all　it　was　worth。

He　could　see　four　cycles　in　the　carrier's　circular　outboard　rearview　mirrors　now；　Ringo's　men　were　opening　up　with　handlebar　and　faring…mounted　weapons；　toying　with　him　as　he　swerved　the　heavy　vehicle　left　and　right。

〃How　many　of　them　are　there？！〃　Kevin　asked　in　a　panic　from　the　shotgun　seat。

〃Too　many！〃　Lunk　yelled　back　as　machine…gun　rounds　fractured　the　mirrors。

Two　rockets　exploded　in　the　street　in　front　of　the　APC；　and　Lunk　braked　hard；　losing　control。　The　vehicle　slid　off　the　roadway　and　crashed　into　an　enormous　pile　of　debris　that　had　been　'dozed　away　from　a　fallen　storefront。　The　impact　left　Lunk　and　Kevin　momentarily　stunned；　but　they　quickly　shook　themselves　out　of　it　and　scampered　out　of　the　carrier's　open　top；　taking　careless　and　crazed　giant　strides　down　the　back　side　of　the　heap。

Ringo　and　his　boys　threw　their　bikes　into　the　pile　with　equal　abandon；　launching　themselves　over　the　top　only　to　careen　down　the　rear　face；　laughing　maniacally　all　the　while。　Lunk　and　Kevin　had　taken　an　alleyway　that　led　to　the　main　street；　so　Ringo　ordered　his　gang　to　split　up；　sending　the　sidecar　cyclist　one　way　and　instructing　the　others　to　form　up　on　his　lead。

Lunk　wasn't　aware　of　the　trap　until　he　saw　the　sidecar　skid　around　a　corner　and　head　his　way。　Turning；　he