15_death_dance-第13部分

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f　Garuda's　orchards　and　〃farms〃　as　they　could。


Rick；　Lisa；　Cabell；　Rem；　Jack；　Karen；　Burak；　Kami；　Learna；　Gnea；　Lron；　and　Crysta　made　up　the　drop　group；　with　members　of　the　Skull　and　Wolff　Pack　escorting　the　shuttle　down。　The　SDF…7　would　remain　in　orbit　to　deal　with　Invid　transport　vessels；　known　to　make　frequent　runs　between　Garuda　and　Optera。　Wolff　and　Grant　shared　the　fortress　mand。　Janice　would　be　keeping　an　eye　on　Tesla。　Veidt　and　Sarna　had　elected　to　stay　behind；　and　Bela　was　apparently　determined　to　help　Teal　with　the　infant　Baldan。

The　landing　party　was　certain　that　the　SDF…7's　arrival　in　Garudaspace　had　not　gone　undetected　by　the　Invid；　the　shuttle　landing　would　probably　be　monitored　as　well。　So　rather　than　risk　immediate　engagement　or　present　any　of　the　hives　with　an　easy　target；　they　opted　to　put　down　in　the　relatively　unpoliced　tribal　sectors；　close　to　Kami　and　Learna's　village。　Unexpectedly；　they　found　themselves　encircled　by　battle…ready　troops　nevertheless…even　before　the　shuttle's　landing　gear　made　contact　with　the　surface。

Kami　had　neglected　to　mention　that　some　of　Garuda's　protectors　were　Tirolian　Bioroids。

Kami　and　Learna　consequently　made　certain　they　were　the　first　to　deplane；　figuring　their　mere　appearance　would　defuse　the　situation。　It　did　so…and　more。　Within　minutes；　half　of　Kami's　tribe　had　emerged　from　the　trees　to　surround　the　shuttle　and　celebrate　the　return　of　their　friends。　The　air　was　suddenly　charged　with　joyous　sounds…excited　barking　to　Rick's　ears…and　Kami　and　Learna　were　embraced；　jostled；　and　hoisted　up　on　countless　shoulders。　With　elaborate　ritual；　the　two　returnees　threw　off　their　breathing　gear　and　pranced　about；　engaging　in　impromptu　dances；　shamanic　steps　of　power。

Rick　radioed　the　Skull　and　Wolff　contingents　to　put　down　along　the　perimeter　of　the　shuttle's　rough　strip；　checked　the　integrity　of　his　environment　suit　and　transpirator；　and　followed　Lisa　out　of　the　pilots'　cabin　to　take　part　in　the　merriment。　An　hour　later；　he　and　the　rest　of　the　landing　party　were　in　the　village's　wooden　longhouse　powwowing　with　the　leaders　of　Kami's　tribe。　Severed　heads　of　Hellcats；　Scrim；　and　Odeon　Inorganics　dangled　from　the　roof　tie…beams。

Also　present　were　a　number　of　the　Bioroid　pilot　clones…androgynous…looking　shaggy…haired　humanoids　with　pointed　features　and　exotic　eyes。　One　of　the　clones…these　Tiresian　lost　boys…was　explaining　to　Cabell　in　a　nasal；　almost　synthesized　voice　how　they　had　e　to　ally　themselves　with　the　Garudan　cause。　They　wore　no　breathing　gear；　and　were　apparently　immune　to　the　spores。

〃The　Masters　left　us　here　to　police　this　world。　But　when　the　Invid　arrived；　munication　with　Tirol　and　the　clone…masters　became　impossible。　Our　Hoverships　destroyed；　all　ties　with　Tirol　cut；　we　began　to　understand　the　concept　of　freedom；　the　loneliness　that　springs　from　abandonment。。。〃

〃So　you　joined　the　Garudans　in　their　fight；〃　Cabell　finished；　astonished。

〃We　thirst　for　freedom；　just　as　they　do。〃

〃Remarkable；〃　the　old　man　mused；　his　own　voice　distorted　by　the　mask's　filters。　〃Absolutely　remarkable。〃　He　hadn't　been　so　astounded　since　learning　from　Lang　that　Miriya　Parino　had　borne　a　child；　and　the　revelation　gave　him　some　hope　that　the　Masters'　clones　were　actually　capable　of　revolt。

Rick　took　advantage　of　a　momentary　silence　to　motion　to　the　trophy　heads。　〃What's　the　situation　here？　Do　the　Invid　run　patrols　through　this　sector？〃

The　tribal　chief　answered　him。　〃Their　Inorganics　patrol；　but　only　when　they　wish　to　intimidate　us；　or　gather　up　laborers　for　the　farms。　They　don't　seem　to　regard　us　as　a　threat…even　with　the　firepower　our　rades　supply；〃　he　added；　indicating　the　clones；　〃but　I　assure　you　that　all　Garuda　is　ripe　for　rebellion。〃

〃You　mean；　they're　using　your　people　on　the　farms？〃

〃Lately；　yes。　And　in　the　labor　camps　near　them。〃

Lron　and　Crystal　grunted；　alarming　some　of　the　Garudans　present。　They　were　keeping　a　wide　circle　around　the　ursine　XTs；　and　a　wider　one　yet　around　Burak；　whose　mask　only　added　to　an　already　demonic　aspect。

Rick　could　see　that　the　news　came　as　a　shock　to　Kami　and　Learna　also。

〃So　much　for　surgical　strikes　from　the　ship；〃　Max　said。

Rick　regarded　the　chief　for　a　moment。　He　found　that　he　was　not　yet　accustomed　to　seeing　Garudans　without　then…breathers；　omnivores　they　might　be；　but　there　was　a　ferocity　to　their　muzzles　he　wasn't　all　that　fortable　with。　Outwardly；　the　chief　resembled　Kami；　but　there　was　a　solemnness　to　his　aspect　that　was　absent　in　the　younger　Garudan。

〃What　about　mecha？〃　Lisa　wanted　to　know。　〃Scouts；　Shock　Troopers？〃

〃Only　when　their　transport　ships　arrive；〃　the　chief　told　her。　〃They　patrol　near　the　farms　to　protect　the　nutrient　shipment　while　it　is　being　loaded。　Rarely　do　they　venture　into　tribal　sectors。〃

Rick　watched　the　chief　gnaw　at　a　hunk　of　meat　one　of　the　women　had　offered　him。　〃Is　there　any　regularity　to　the　shipments？〃

The　chief　exchanged　a　few　sentences　with　Kami　in　the　Garudan　tongue。　The　Sentinel　translated。　〃Approximately　every　three　standard　months。〃　This　was　changed　every　so　often　in　an　attempt　to　foil　what　was　an　extensive　underground　network　at　work　on　Garuda。　But　the　Invid　never　managed　to　keep　anything　secret　for　very　long。

〃And　when　did　the　last　shipment　leave？〃

〃One　month　ago。〃

Rick　grinned　beneath　his　transpirator　mask。　〃That　means　we're　in　the　clear　for　the　moment。　Even　if　they've　already　municated　with　their　fleet；　reinforcements　could　take　weeks　to　get　here。〃

〃The　closest　farm　is　about　one　hundred　miles　from　here；〃　Learna　said；　without　being　asked。　〃Kami　and　I　know　that　area　well。〃

〃An　aerial　recon；〃　Max　suggested。

〃No；〃　Rick　said。　〃I　don't　think　we　should　tip　our　hand　just　yet。　We'll　go　in　on　Hovercycles　first。　Take　a　quick　look　around　before　we　plan　an　assault。　Just　because　mecha　haven't　been　observed　doesn't　mean　they're　not　in　there。〃

〃I　agree；〃　Rick　heard　Jack　say　behind　him。

Karen　nudged　Jack　with　her　elbow　for　butting　in。　〃Sir？〃　she　then　said　to　Lisa；　hoping　Jack　would　learn　by　example。

〃Go　ahead；　Karen。〃

〃I　was　just　wondering　what　exactly　happened　to　the　first　Invid　troops　that　landed　here…before　the　hives　were　built；　I　mean。〃

Again；　Kami　and　the　chief　exchanged　a　few　words。

〃They　went　mad；〃　the　Garudan　leader　said　evenly。　〃Then　they　died。〃


The　recon　team…Rick；　Lisa；　Jack；　Karen；　Rem；　and　Kami　as　scout…left　the　village　shortly　before　dawn；　sticking　close　to　the　northern　fringe　of　Garuda's　preternaturally　quiet　forest。　They　had　traveled　seventy…five　miles　by　the　time　Rhestad　rose…a　massive　oblate　field　of　crimson　that　did　little　to　warm　the　land。　The　two　villages　they　passed　en　route　had　already　been　informed　of　the　mission。　Worried　about　attracting　any　undue　attention　to　themselves；　Rick　had　requested　that　the　Garudans　simply　go　about　their　business；　but　there　was　obviously　too　much　excitement　in　the　air　for　that。　For　sometimes　miles　at　a　stretch；　Rick　would　see　them　crouched　along　the　paths　the　Hovercycles　cut　through　the　woods；　silent　and　feral；　vulpine　eyes　aglow　in　the　eerie　morning　light。

At　mile　eighty…five　the　team　encountered　its　first　Inorganic　patrol…a　pack　of　Hellcats　a　dozen　strong；　roaming　the　forest　like　some　fiendish　pride　of　saber…tooths。　Kami　had　spotted　them　and　passed　the　word；　the　Hovercycles　were　shut　down　and　concealed。　It　was　understood　by　now　that　the　Inorganics　were　more　than　marauders　or　Robopolice　units；　they　functioned　as　the　remote　eyes　and　ears　for　the　Invid　living　puters；　which　in　turn　directed　the　scientists　or　mand　troops。　Engagement；　therefore；　even　if　it　ended　in　victory；　would　have　only　served　to　alert　the　hive　to　the　team's　position；　so　they　lay　as　still　as　they　could；　pressed　close　to　the　chilled　ground　until　the　pack　had　moved　through。

Rick　and　Lisa　were　on　their　stomachs；　side…by…side；　environmental　suits　adjusted　to　mimic　the　colors　and　textures　of　the　area's　fernlike　ground　cover。　Rick　had　his　arm　flung　protectively　across　his　wife's　back；　and　was　gazing　at　her　through　the　helmet's　bubble…shield。　Her　eyes　returned　the　wrinkled　look　his　own　were　trying　to　convey。　It　was　the　first　time　he　and　Lisa　had　been　out　together　in　a　long　while；　and　if　this　wasn't　exactly　anyone's　idea　of　an　ideal　date　or　the　〃closeness〃　Lisa　had　in　mind　during　their　most　recent　heart…to…heart；　at　least　they　were　together。　And　somehow…though　Rick　would　have　been　at　a　loss　to　explain　it…he　felt　more　assured　with　Lisa　beside　him。　At　the　same　time　her　presence　had　a　kind　of　calming　effect；　because　no　matter　what　they　might　have　to　face；　he　was　freed　from　having　to　worry　about　where　she　was　or　what　dangers　she　might　have　otherwise　been　facing　alone。　Here；　he　had　some　measure　of　control　over　her　situation…their　situation。

Moving　more　cautiously　after　Kami　gave　the　all…clear　sign；　the　team　took　another　hour　to　cover　the　last　fifteen　miles。　They　had　portions　of　the　enormous　hive　in　sight　for　five　of　those　miles；　but　didn't　get　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　thing　until　they　were　almost　on　top　of　it。　It　sat　in　the　center　of　an　ancient　impact　crater；　in　a　veritable　forest　of　Optera　trees；　a　dome…shaped　structure　with　a　base　almost　ten　miles　around；　posed　entirely　of　what　appeared　to　be　organic　facets　or　geodesies；　in　fact；　the　hive　had　the　look　of　something　grown　rather　than　erected。　Four　mile…high　cattaillike　antenna　towers　were　positioned　at　cardinal　points　around　the　hive's　oddly　〃bubbled〃　base。

Through　field　glasses；　Rick　could　discern　Garudan　slaves　gathering　mutated　fruits　from　the　trees。　Huge　containers　of　these　were　being　conveyed　to　the　hive　itself　by　Invid　soldiers　in　specially　outfitted　suits；　often　piloting　Hovercarts　of　various　design。　Tracking　the　carts'　movements　ultimately　enabled　Rick　to　discover　one　of　the　hive's　tunnellike　transport　corridors。

〃What　happens　later　on？〃　Rick　whispered　to　Kami；　who　had　stooped　down　to　ask　for　the　binoculars。　〃Are　the　workers　taken　into　the　hive？〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　bringing　his　muzzle　close　to　the　helmet's　audio　pickups。　〃The　labor　camp　lies　about　two　miles　from　here。〃　Kami　pointed　out　the　direction。

〃Are　you　certain　there　are　no　Garudans　inside　the　hive？〃

Kami　shook　his　head。　〃Not　certain。〃　The　hives　were　the　only　places　on　the　planet　impervious　to　Garudan　Sendings　and　out…of…body　flights；　but　the　Invids'　continued　presence　on　world　in　general　had　confused　things。　The　clouds　and　wind　were　full　of　sinister　whisperings。

〃Then　we've　gotta　find　out；〃　Rick　said；　turning　around　to　motion　the　others　forward。

Jack　remained　behind　as　rear　guard；　while　the　rest　of　the　team　began　to　work　their　way　over　the　low　ridge　that　was　the　crater's　rim　and　down　into　the　basin　itself。　It　was　warmer　here；　Rick　realized　without　having　to　check　the　suit's　sensor　displays；　redolent；　too；　he　imagined；　as　the　Optera　tree　forests　on　Praxis　had　been。　They　were　closing　on　the　edge　of　the　cultivation　area　now；　and　it　was　time　for　Kami　to　go　it　alone。

〃Don't　take　any　chances；〃　Rick　cautioned　him。　He　checked　his　chronometer。　〃One　hour。　If　you're　not　back　by　then；　we're　moving　out。〃

〃I'll　get　word　back　to　you　from　the　camp　if　anything　happens。〃

The　underground；　Rick　reminded　himself。

〃Just　see　that　it　doesn't；〃　Rem　said。

Karen　and　Lisa　wished　Kami　luck；　and　he　started　to　move　off。

Then　all　at　once　a　small　mountain　was　growing　under　their　feet。　Rick　thought　for　a　moment　that　this　might　be　how　the　bulb…canopied　Optera　trees　pushed　themselves　from　the　ground。　Lisa　and　the　others　had　been　knocked　off　their　feet；　but　he　was　still　riding　the　rise　up；　arms　outstretched　like　a　high…wire　walker。　Elsewhere　he　could　see　two　more　humps　beginning　to　form。　Kami　yelled　something　inprehensible；　just　before　Rick　leaped　and　caught　hold　of　a　network　of　vinelike　tendrils　encasing　the　canopy…bulb　of　the　nearest　tree。　He　was　dangling　ten　feet　above　the　ground　now；　looking　down　on　his　teammates　and　wondering　why　they　had　their　weapons　drawn；　when　a　triple…clawed　Scout　pincer　suddenly　slammed　into　the　tree　not　a　foot　from　his　head。　The　bulb　split　open　like　an　overripe　melon；　showering　him　with　viscous　green　gop　and　what　he　took　to　be　seeds。

Lisa　and　Karen；　meanwhile；　were　firing　charges　at　the　crab…ship；　trying　to　position　themselves　for　a　shot　at　the　mecha's　scanner；　a　pouting　red　mouth　low　down　on　the　ventral　surface　of　its　armored　head。　But　the　Scouts　who　had　joined　the　first　were　advancing；　and　the　two　women　were　forced　to　hurl　themselves　out　from　under　a　pair　of　cloven　feet。　One　mecha　was　stomping　the　ground；　trying　to　pulverize　them；　even　while　Rem　and　Kami　were　stinging　its　ladybug…shaped　carapace　with　Wolverine　fire。

Rick　disentangled　himself　before　the　first　Scout　could　strike　again；　dropping；　tucking；　and　rolling　out　of　harm's　way；　and　somehow　managing　to　e　up　with　his　weapon　raised。　He　nailed　his　giant　assailant　in　the　knee　joint　and　brought　it　down　in　an　earsplitting　crash；　then　put　a　second　shot　through　its　scanner；　and　ducked　for　cover　as　the　thing　blew　up。

The　force　of　the　blast　threw　one　of　the　other　Scouts　hard　against　the　trees；　where　it　stumbled　and　fell　after　ripping　open　half…a…dozen　bulbs。　Rem　saw　to　it　that　the　ship　didn't　get　up；　lancing　it　open　from　crotch　to　scanner。　Rick　had　been　left　dazed　and　temporarily　deaf　from　the　explosion；　but　he　came　to　in　time　to　see　the　remaining　mecha　raising　its　left　foot　to　smash　Karen　and　Lisa；　who　had　also　been　leveled　by　the　blast。　He　ran　up　behind　the　Scout；　as　if　preparing　to　clip　it　behind　the　knee；　and　emptied　his　handgun　straight　up　into　the　underside　of　the　ship's　rear　tapered　head　armor；　eliciting　a　cascade　of　energy　bolts　and　a　muffled　roar　that　decapitated　the　ship；　spilling　its　Invid　pilot　to　the　ground。　Kami　and　Karen　holed　the　creature；　even　though　it　was　probably　already　dead；　and　moved　quickly　to　Lisa's　side。　Rick　did　likewise；　suddenly　terror…stricken。　Her　suit　was　torn　open；　she　was　bloodied　and　unconscious。

〃We've　got　to　get　her　back　to　the　cycs！〃　Rick　said；　looking　up　at　his　teammates。　But　all　he　got　in　return　was　a　look　of　resignation。　Rick　saw　Kami　and　Karen　toss　their　weapons　aside。　He　whirled　around；　still　in　a　crouch；　in　time　to　see　more　than　a　dozen　Invid　soldiers　emerging　from　the　orchard　to　surround　their　patch　of　green…stained　ground。

〃Throw　your　weapon　down；〃　one　of　the　Praxian…size　soldiers　said　in　Tiresian；　brandishing　an　evil…looking　rifle/cannon　and　gazing　down　at　Rick　through　an　elongated　helmet。

Rick　did　so；　just　as　an　officer　came　shouldering　its　way　through　the　circle。　It　regarded　Lisa　a　moment；　then　swung　its　snout　toward　Rick。

〃The　hive　has　been　expecting　you；〃　it　announced。


〃Our　Regent　has　said　that　he　finds　your　race　most　curious；　and　now　I　understand　why。　You　are　a　little　more　like　worms　than　I'd　imagined；　and　indeed　there　is　the　stench　of　death　about　you。〃

The　interior　of　the　hive　was　greenhouse…hot；　but　the　scientist's　voice　was　cold　and　analytical。　Rick；　Rem；　Kami；　and　Karen　had　been　marched　at　gunpoint　through　the　same　entrance　Rick　had　spied　from　the　crater　rim。　There；　their　helmets　and　transpirators　had　been　removed。　One　of　the　soldiers　had　carried　Lisa　in　over　his　shoulder。　She　was　still　unconscious；　groaning　every　so　often　in　her　delirium。　Rick　was　being　kept　from　her　side。　Kami；　already　succumbing　to　the　hive's　artificial　atmosphere；　had　been　shackled　and　dumped　in　a　corner。

〃Tha