16_world_killers-第35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！


Q。

He　swung　himself　out　with　a　grip　on　the　evercrete　of　a　flying　buttress；　his　fingers；　as　strong　as　steel；　finding　purchase　where　few　other　Humans'　could　have。　When　the　Scrim　passed　under；　he　made　a　daring　deadfall；　clinging　to　a　ridge　of　armored　backplate。　The　Scrim　stopped　and　turned；　but　saw　nothing　behind　it。　It　charged　after　its　panions；　bringing　up　the　rear；　as　they　breached　the　headquarters'　main　doors。

In　another　instant；　the　man　was　inside　the　building　that　had　for　so　long　resisted　his　every　effort　to　gain　entry。

He　saw　his　chance　and　sprang；　with　nearly　superhuman　strength　and　precision；　to　a　darkened　surveillance　camera　mast；　just　as　the　Inorganic　he　had　been　riding　came　under　intense　fire　from　a　gun　emplacement。　The　fighting　in　the　lobby　and　the　halls　was　hideous　and　without　quarter；　the　Humans　as　willing　to　die　as　the　Invid。　Cool　and　capable　as　he　was；　he　was　staggered　for　a　moment　by　the　blind；　unyielding　carnage　of　it。　Edwards's　advantage　in　numbers　and　firepower　were　quickly　reduced　by　sheer　Human　stubbornness。　The　Invid　media　paid　heavily　for　every　inch　they　claimed。

But　there　were　other　things　to　think　about。　He　slid　away　like　a　flickering　shadow；　knowing　the　floor　plan　from　diligent　study。　He　had　waited　so　long　and　patiently；　so　humbly。　And　now　the　moment　was　his。


Reports　had　it　that　Wolff's　damnable　Wolff　Pack　were　advancing　to　back　up　the　loyalist　Destroids　in　repelling　the　Inorganics。　Luckily；　only　a　part　of　the　Hovertank　unit　had　been　permitted　to　make　planetfall　with　their　mander；　and　most　of　the　rest　of　the　troops　who　had　gone　to　Haydon　IV　were　still　in　orbit　aboard　ship；　too　far　away　to　be　of　any　tactical　importance。

Edwards　didn't　care；　just　as　he　didn't　care　how　many　lives　he　had　to　spend　to　take　the　HQ　citadel。　Troops　and　mecha　were　things　that　he　could　replace；　Minmei　wasn't。

Adams　was　yammering　something　in　his　ear；　Edwards　looked　aside　from　his　screens　and　readouts。　〃What？〃

〃HQ　building　partially　secured　but　still　putting　up　resistance；　sir；〃　Adams　repeated。　〃I　think　we　should　stand　fast　and　wait　till…〃

〃We're　going　in；〃　Edwards　cut　him　off。　〃Where's　that　SDF　escort？〃

Adams　told　him　calmly；　〃Rendezvous　is　still　on　schedule。　They're　beginning　orbital　insertion　now。　We　only　have　twenty…three　minutes；　General。〃

More　than　enough　time。　〃Drive　on！　Hit　hard！〃　Edwards　hollered　over　the　tac　net。　〃I　want　some　results；　people！〃　Relaying　orders　back　to　the　Living　puter　by　means　of　a　receptor　band　that　looked　something　like　an　Invid　slave　headband；　he　worked　the　Inorganics　into　a　killing　frenzy。

He　left　the　limo　behind　to　take　personal　charge　of　the　raid。　His　forces　mowed　down　all　opposition；　slew　and　demolished；　melted　superalloy　and　blew　apart　walls。　At　the　entrance　of　the　brig　section；　he　was　obliged　to　leave　his　Inorganics　and　Ghost　mecha　behind　because　the　corridors　were　too　small。　Ghost　Riders　deployed　with　rifles　leveled；　securing　the　area。


Minmei　had　imagined　the　cell　door　opening；　had　imagined　it　so　many　times　that　she　thought　her　mind　was　playing　tricks　on　her　now　that　it　was　happening。　Oh；　God！　I'd　rather　be　dead　than　crazy！

But　when　Edwards　stepped　into　the　open　doorway；　she　knew　she　wasn't　imagining　it　and　started　to　scream。　Sinking　her　fingers　into　the　black　hair　that　hung　around　her　face；　squeezing　her　eyes　shut；　she　shrieked。

Edwards　pounced　on　her　as　Adams　and　two　lesser　officers　brought　up　the　rear；　guarding　the　door。　The　general　cuffed　her　face；　back　and　forth。　〃Shut　up；　shut　up！〃

Then　he　had　her　shoulders；　shaking　her；　as　she　shuddered　with　long；　wracking　sobs。　〃Minmei；　you're　ing　with　me！　Do　you　hear？　You're　mine！〃　He　slapped　her　again。　〃Not　Hunter's！　Not　Wolff's！　Mine！

Somehow　she　stopped　crying。　Minmei　raised　her　eyes　to　Edwards　with　a　look　he　had　never　seen　from　her　before。　She　wiped　away　the　tears　and　saliva　and　mucous　with　the　back　of　her　hand。

She　looked　her　foe　in　the　eye。　〃If　you　don't　leave　me　alone　you'd　better　kill　me；　T。　R。　Or　else　I　am　going　to　kill　you。〃

He　felt　such　sudden　misgiving　that　he　raised　his　hand　to　hit　her　again；　expecting　her　to　flinch。　But　she　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　him。　〃I'm　going　to　make　you　beg　me　to　forget　what　you　just　said；〃　he　whispered。

Minmei　drew　a　deep　breath。　揘o；　you're　not。〃

A　hand　closed　around　Edwards's　upraised　wrist　from　behind；　a　voice　told　him；　揘o；　you're　not。〃

Edwards　was　pulled　aside；　his　wrist　nearly　broken。　He　was　spun　at　the　cell　wall　like　a　child's　top；　his　burnished　facemask　ringing　against　it；　his　nose　banged　so　that　he　smelled　metal　and　blood。　He　clawed　for　purchase　but　found　himself　sliding　down　the　cold　alloy；　leaving　a　red　stain。　A　foot　pressed　his　head　to　the　deck；　nearly　crushed　it；　then　relented。　Then　the　foot　was　abruptly　gone。

The　general　shook　his　head　to　clear　it；　glancing　about　drunkenly。　Adams　lay　sprawled　in　the　doorway；　perhaps　unconscious；　perhaps　dead。　Edwards　could　see　the　upturned　toes　of　one　downed　guard's　boots　in　the　corridor　beyond。　Minmei　was　on　her　feet　with　a　look　on　her　face　that　Edwards　had　always　longed　to　force　her　to　direct　at　him。　But　it　was　for　the　man　in　the　REF　flight　suit　who　had　appeared　out　of　nowhere。

Edwards　felt　numbed　in　certain　ways；　superalert　in　others。　The　light　danced　in　Minmei's　eyes　as　she　slowly　raised　her　hands　to　her　rescuer。

〃Lynn…Kyle！　Oh；　Lynn…Kyle。。。〃

Her　distant　cousin　and；　in　the　opinion　of　some；　a　reflection　of　the　dark　side　of　Minmei　herself；　her　onetime　lover　and　the　most　renowned　martial　arts　fighter　of　the　Robotech　age。　The　haunted　and　saturnine；　the　brilliantly　gifted　but　ill…starred；　the　undefeated　and　cursed　Lynn…Kyle。

Kyle's　face　was　thinner　than　when　he　had　been　a　movie　star。　The　fine；　silky　black　shag　was　showing　some　gray。　He　kissed　his　cousin's　forehead；　then　took　her　hand。　〃I'm　taking　you　home。〃　There　was　something　as　much　penitent　as　loving　in　his　voice。

Home！　She　couldn't　really　think　what　the　word　meant　anymore。　But　she　felt　weightless；　her　hand　and　her　body　and　her　soul　buoyant　beyond　belief；　as　she　entrusted　her　grip　to　his；　her　feet　seemingly　free　of　the　cell　floor。

Edwards　lurched　and　grabbed　her　ankle　with　a　failing　grip。　〃No！　I　won't　let　you　go！〃

Kyle　was　kneeling　on　Edwards's　biceps；　Edwards's　head　clamped　in　his　hands；　so　quickly　that　there　was　no　sense　of　transition。　The　general　heard　the　bones　of　his　upper　spine　creak　and　knew　that　his　life　lay　on　the　line。

The　dagger　in　Edwards's　boot；　the　energy　derringer　in　his　jacket　pocket…those　might　as　well　be　on　the　SDF…3；　or　back　on　Earth；　for　all　the　good　they　could　do　him。　Kyle　was　as　quick　as　a　lightning　bolt；　and　there　was　simply　no　defense　against　him。　He　was　more　like　an　elemental　force　than　a　man。

〃I've　never　taken　a　human　life。〃　The　words　seemed　to　e　so　slowly；　though　Edwards　knew　Lynn…Kyle　was　speaking　very　fast。　〃But　I'll　kill　you　if　you　don't　lie　still！〃　The　heel　of　Kyle's　hand　lay；　pressing　upward　in　warning；　under　the　general's　nose；　poised　to　execute　him　in　an　instant。

Edwards；　defeated；　kept　still。　In　Kyle's　place；　he　would　have　killed；　but　he　would　never　be　in　Kyle's　place；　he　knew　now。　He　had　lost。

But　he　couldn't　resist　croaking；　〃Go　ahead；　take　the　little　slut；　then。　She's　a　waste　of　time　in　bed　anyway。。。〃

Kyle　seized　a　handful　of　Edwards's　hair；　preparing　to　kill　him。　His　fist　hovered；　middle　knuckle　cocked　forth；　and　Edwards's　eyes　nearly　crossed；　focused　on　that　single　Damoclean　striking　surface　hanging　over　him。

〃Kyle；　no；〃　Minmei　said；　as　her　cousin　drew　quick　breaths　and　gathered　his　resolve。　〃Kyle；　we　need　him！〃

〃I　don't　need　him。〃　The　wrist　turned　upside　down；　the　cocked　knuckle　drawn　back　tight　and　high　under　Kyle's　right　armpit；　aimed　at　Edwards's　Adam's　apple。　The　general　squirmed；　trying　to　move　his　arms；　but　he　was　helpless。

〃Kyle；　the　war's　over。　Just　hang　onto　him；　and　we　can　end　it　all　today。〃　She　swiped　the　long；　damp　night…black　hair　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Kyle；　you're　not　a　murderer。　The　war's　over。〃

〃The　war's　over。〃　Saying　it　didn't　give　Kyle　the　satisfaction　he　thought　he　would　have　back　at　the　beginning…back　when　the　SDF…3　mission　was　recruiting；　back　before　he　and　Minmei　and　the　rest　had　passed　into　the　flames　once　more。

But　it　was　enough。　He　would　settle　for　it。　〃War's　over；　General。　You're　going　to　stand　up　and　order　your　troops　to　surrender。　We'll　strike　a　peace　with　the　Regent。　And　then　we're　all　going　home；　right？〃

Edwards's　mouth　moved；　but　he　was　unable　to　speak。　Yet　he　was　careful　to　nod　unmistakably；　his　hair　pulling　against　Kyle's　grip；　as　he　looked　up　at　that　one　single　knuckle　that　jutted　out　like　a　battering　ram。　〃Urr。　R…right。〃

Kyle　smiled；　nodding。　〃扵he　wolf　shall　dwell　with　the　lamb。'〃　He　grabbed　the　front　of　Edwards's　dress　uniform　jacket；　ready　to　lift　him　up。

〃扐nd　the　leopard　shall　lie　down　with　the　kid。'〃　Kyle　stuck　his　fist　close　to　Edwards's　face　again。　The　fist　was　like　some　gnarled　piece　of　iron　with　a　scruffy　skin…covering　on　it。　〃And　we're　all　going　to　live　happily　ever　after；　isn't　that　right？〃

Edwards　almost　said　something；　but　thought　better　of　it。　He　swallowed；　then　nodded。　Kyle　leaned　forward　to　pull　him　to　his　feet。

There　was　a　sudden　scuffling　behind　him　and　Kyle　whirled；　rising。　Edwards's　eyes　flickered　that