16_world_killers-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Hmm；　interesting；〃　Cabell　allowed。

The　cages　were　lowered　without　further　mishap；　and　Sisters　of　Praxis　crowded　one　another；　stepping　free。　Arla…Non　clapped　Lisa　and　Jean　on　the　shoulders。　〃Thanks　to　you；　Sisters！　And　to　your　male　subordinates　as　well！〃　She　clasped　forearms　with　Miriya。

Rick　looked　a　little　startled；　but　Vince　gave　a　casual　chuckle　and　Max　muttered；　〃Oh；　we　were　just　along　for　pany。〃

Those　who　had　been　freed　were　only　a　small　fraction　of　the　amazons　being　held　in　the　center；　and　that　in　turn　was　only　a　part　of　the　total　number　of　Praxian　slaves　on　Haydon　IV。　Arla…Non　dispatched　her　warriors　to　the　other　cellblocks；　to　continue　the　liberation。　Miriya　and　Lisa　handed　over　their　pistols；　so　the　rescuers　wouldn't　have　to　go　unarmed。

Just　then　Veidt　came　floating　back。　〃Sarna　will　be　here　soon；　but　I　fear　the　other　news　isn't　good。　The　Regent　is　mustering　his　troops　for　an　attack　on　the　Central　Slavepen。　And。。。there　is　some　other　intellect　in　contact　with　the　Awareness　of　Haydon　IV。　I　cannot　discern　it　well；　a　synthetic　mentality；　I　believe。〃

〃No　time　for　that　now；〃　Rick　said。　〃We've　got　to　make　sure　Wolff　and　Karen　don't　get　overrun　up　above；　and　we　gotta　get　the　Praxians　armed。　This　thing's　just　begun。〃

Lisa　conceded　the　sense　of　that。　Once　Arla…Non　understood　the　situation　she　organized　her　women　immediately；　as　capable　as　any　field　mander　the　REF　fighters　had　ever　seen。　She　gave　orders　by　squads　and　platoons；　and　her　warriors　jumped　to　obey；　some　racing　off　to　help　in　freeing　the　rest　of　the　Praxians；　the　rest　forming　up　to　carry　the　battle　back　aboveground。

〃What　about　patrols　down　here？〃　Lisa　asked。

〃We　know　the　schedules　of　the　regular　patrols；　believe　me；〃　Arla…Non　said；　〃and　we　should　be　able　to　deal　with　them；　at　least　for　now。〃

The　group　set　out；　and　Arla…Non　was　as　good　as　her　word。　They　ambushed　the　one　skeleton　crew　of　Enforcers　that　came　their　way；　a　pair　walking　guard。　The　newly　acquired　weapons　were　quickly　distributed。

But　as　they　were　heading　toward　the　surface；　Karen　Penn　came　loping　tiredly　from　that　direction。　She　had　obviously　been　through　some　heavy　fighting。　At　her　back　came　a　squad　of　the　women　from　Zibyl's　group；　somewhat　the　worse　for　bat。

〃That　bunch　from　the　armory　got　to　us；〃　she　explained　breathlessly　to　Rick。　〃We　have　most　of　the　ground　level　secured。　But　a　mob　of　Enforcers　and　Officers　showed　up　and　set　up　a　crossfire　at　the　entrance。　Nobody　can　get　in　or　out；　and　we　think　they're　bringing　up　Inorganics。〃

〃Other　escape　routes？〃　Rick　asked。

Karen　shook　her　head。　〃All　covered；　and　the　crossfire's　murder。〃

More　and　more　Praxians　were　showing　up　now；　liberated　from　other　cellblocks。　Although　there　were　thousands　in　the　place；　Rick　knew　that　didn't　mean　much　unless　they　were　armed。　〃All　right；　let's　get　upstairs　and　see　what　we　can…〃

The　entire　plex　trembled　and　shook　as　distant　impact　made　the　building　rumble。

〃Something　heavy；〃　Max　remarked。

There　were　more　voices；　and　streams　of　Praxians　began　ing　from　the　direction　of　the　surface。　Many　were　wounded；　some　looking　like　they　wouldn't　make　it。　From　among　them　came　Wolff；　supporting…practically　carrying…Zibyl；　whose　head　lolled。

〃Inorganics　got　some　licks　in；〃　Wolff　explained。　〃Scrim　and　Odeons；　mostly。　We　blew　the　slavepen　entranceway　and　brought　the　roof　down　on　'em　as　they　charged；　no　other　option。　But　that　won't　stop　those　demons　for　long。〃

So　much　for　improvised　rescue　plans；　Rick　thought。

〃A　good　try　anyway；〃　Arla…Non　judged　grimly。　〃We　prefer　dying　free　to　living　in　cages；　and　at　least　we　can　do　that。〃

She　was　right。　Zibyl's　troops　were　weighted　down　with　armaments；　some　carrying　two　of　the　heavy　Invid　rifles；　or　enormous　makeshift　packs　loaded　with　ammunition　and　explosives。　The　other　amazons　surrounded　them；　grabbing　weapons；　preparing　to　make　the　Invid　pay。

As　the　Praxians　rushed　to　set　up　fields　of　fire　and　prepare　ambushes；　Lisa　got　Veidt's　attention。　〃What　about　Sarna？〃

He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃The　streets　are　filled　with　Inorganics；　and　there's　no　way　she　can　land　there。〃

Lisa　was　curious　about　Veidt's　expanding　powers　now　that　he　was　back　on　Haydon　IV；　but　she　had　no　time　to　ponder　it。

Moments　later　there　was　a　tremendous　explosion　from　the　distance；　and　Wolff　said　aloud　to　himself；　〃The　Inorganics。〃

The　few　portable　crew…served　guns　the　Praxians　had　were　set　for　a　crossfire。　Further　back；　down　in　the　warren　of　the　slavepens；　fallback　positions　were　being　set　up。　The　only　thing　left　to　do　was　insure　that　the　Invid　victory　was　costly。

After　a　few　minutes；　they　heard　the　sound　of　heavy　footfalls…marching　mecha；　advancing　on　their　prey　without　fear　or　hesitation。

A　pair　of　colossal　Odeons　rounded　a　corner；　filling　the　corridor。　The　amazon　gunners　waited　until　the　optimal　moment；　then　opened　fire。　The　Odeons　seemed　to　experience　a　rictus　of　agony　as　fire　splashed　over　them　and　ripped　them　apart；　then　they　collapsed　in　on　themselves。

More　Odeons　appeared；　moving　more　cautiously。　The　Sentinels　and　the　Praxians　held　their　fire　until　the　right　moment；　then　blasted　away。　One；　its　skull　turret　aflame；　whirled　and　convulsed；　then；　trying　to　hold　itself　erect；　went　reeling　toward　a　giant　column。

A　camouflaged　panel　at　the　base　of　the　column　slid　open　and　Jack　Baker　was　standing　there；　wide…eyed；　as　he　watched　a　burning　twenty…five…foot…tall　mecha　stagger　directly　toward　him。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

Well；　naturally　I　wanted　a　war！　But　I　didn't　want　a　war　I　might　lose！
The　Regent；　quoted　by　Lemuel　Thicka　in　Temple　of　Flames：　A　History　of　the　Invid　Regent。

Sarna　circled　the　central　slavepen　with　her　enormous　flying　carpet；　peering　down　at　the　turmoil　below。　The　streets　were　crowded　with　Scrim　and　Crann　and　Odeon；　and　even　a　few　Hellcats；　but　no　more　fire　seemed　to　be　ing　from　within。

Still；　she　could　not　set　down　in　the　nearby　plaza；　as　she　had　planned。　The　Invid　had　not　yet　started　firing　at　Haydonites；　but　they　would　attack　her　if　she　dropped　down　among　them。　And；　more　to　the　point；　the　slaves　wouldn't　be　ing　out　that　way　now。

The　city　was　in　turmoil；　with　Praxian　slaves　abandoning　their　work　assignments；　tearing　off　the　inert　headbands；　and　either　fleeing　their　overseers　or　attacking　them　head…on　with　whatever　weapons　came　to　hand。　The　amazons　fought　with　unflinching　courage　and　great　skill；　but　the　Invid　garrison　was　large　and　troops　were　being　rushed　in　from　all　over　the　planet。　It　could　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　the　uprising　was　crushed。

The　defenses　of　Haydon　IV　itself　were　staying　out　of　the　battle；　and　Sarna　knew　why。　It　would　be　easy　enough　for　the　vast　intellect　of　Vowad　to　persuade　the　planet's　systemry　that　this　was　a　limited　conflict　in　which　the　Invid　were　in　the　right；　technically；　but　needed　no　help　in　reestablishing　order。　Thus；　the　glory　of　Haydonite　civilization　was　safe　from　all…out　warfare。

Sarna　herself　had　attempted　to　get　a　message　through　to　the　Sentinels'　cruiser…still　orbiting　far　beyond　Haydon's　defensive　limits…to　let　them　know　what　was　happening。　But　her　father　had　interfered　with　the　transmission　somehow；　and　there　had　been　no　response。

Veidt　was　deep　within　the　plex　somewhere；　along　with　the　other　Sentinels；　and　Sarna　wasn't　about　to　abandon　them。　She　gathered　her　resolve　and　sent　the　immense　carpet　sailing　down　toward　the　roof　of　the　Central　Slavepen。

〃No！〃　She　heard　the　cry　even　as　the　carpet　came　to　rest；　as　gently　as　a　feather。　It　was　Vowad；　on　a　circular　mat。　He　brought　it　in　on　her　own　carpet；　confronting　her。

〃This　is　madness！　e　away　with　me　at　once！〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃My　friends　are　inside　here。〃

Vowad　was　vibrating　with　anger。　〃They're　doomed！　And　you　are；　too；　unless　you　e　away　with　me　this　instant！〃

〃You　could　prevent　that；　Father。　Call　down　the　wrath　of　Haydon　IV　upon　the　Invid！〃

〃Sarna；　it　is　my　duty　to　preserve　our　world；　not　see　it　destroyed！〃

〃Then　go；〃　she　said；　〃and　leave　me　here。　For　I　swore　a　different　vow。〃


Jack　Baker　threw　his　hand　up　and　skipped　back　as　the　burning　Odeon　bounced　off　the　column　and　crashed　onto　its　back。

Bela　and　Gnea　were　already　crowding　to　get　past　him；　to　Arla…Non；　and　it　was　a　bit　like　being　caught　in　the　middle　of　a　buffalo　stampede。

〃Mother！〃

〃Your　Majesty！〃

There　was　no　use　in　trying　to　restrain　them。　They　had　been　frustrated　enough　by　the　sudden　stopping　of　the　elevator。　The　plex's　power　supply　was　disrupted　from　the　attack　on　the　mand　center；　and　from　the　sapper　charges　set　off　by　Wolff。　The　ensuing　counterattack　by　the　Invid　hadn't　helped　either。　By　the　time　the　elevator　was　moving　again；　Janice　Em　was　the　only　calm　one　aboard。

Now　Arla…Non　waved　from　the　shelter　of　an　Invid　design　feature　not　far　away；　a　thing　that　looked　like　a　dendrite。　Lisa　and　Rick　and　some　of　the　others　were　there；　rather　dumbfounded。

〃Look　out！〃　Jan　burst　past　Jack　to　sweep　the　air　with　fire　from　her　Enforcer　rifle。　Everyone　else　saw　what　she　meant；　and　also　fired　at　the　skirmisher　ship　and　its　Armored　Officer　that　had　e　barreling　round　the　corner　for　a　low…level　recon。　Flier　and　Invid　flew　apart　like　a　clay　pigeon。

There　was　a　lot　of　confusion　then；　particularly　regarding　the　odd…looking　being　who　only　halfway　resembled　Janice