11_metamorphosis-第18章

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His　wife；　a　kindly　woman　with　an　open；　fleshy　face　and　hair　pulled　back　in　a　black　bun；　looked　on　disheartenedly；　doing　her　best　not　to　distract　him。　

Suddenly　she　looked　up　in　terror；　as　shadows　crossed　the　windshield。

At　the　back　of　the　cargo　bed；　Eddie　was　joking　with　Annie。　She　understood　that　he　regarded　her　as　a　kid　sister　and　had　decided　to　wait　until　she　got　to　Paradise　to　make　her　move。　If　a　little　makeup　could　work　wonders　for　Yellow　Dancer；　she　could　imagine　what　it　could　do　for　Annie　LaBelle！

Then　she　heard　a　roaring　of　thrusters；　and　bulky　mecha　heliographed　the　sun　in　a　close　pass。

〃Invid！〃　She　could　see　four　Pincer　Ships；　claws　folded　close　to　them　while　they　made　their　attack　dives。　Mr。　Truman　had　seen　them；　too；　and　began　swerving　as　the　first　annihilation　discs　hit。　The　all…terrain　truck　wove　back　and　forth　on　the　road；　the　Invid　seeming　to　drive　it　almost　playfully；　until　at　last　Mr。　Truman　swerved　sidelong　into　a　boulder；　and　Annie　and　Eddie　were　thrown　from　the　cargo　bed。

A　strafing　Pincer　chopped　a　line　of　explosions　along　the　road；　and　Eddie　rolled　into　the　ditch　with　Annie　in　his　arms。　Mr。　Truman　and　his　wife　fell　along　after；　clutching　one　another。　The　Pincer's　wingmates　held　back　while　the　leader　came　in　for　the　kill。

Then　there　was　an　additional　explosion　and　they　saw　that　the　leader　was　wobbling　and　tumbling　through　the　air；　like　an　unstrung；　burning　puppet。　It　erupted　into　a　balloon　of　energy；　smoke；　and　shrapnel　just　before　it　struck　a　nearby　cliff。

Annie　looked　up；　dazed。　Suddenly　there　were　Cyclone　knights　everywhere　in　the　sky。　All　at　once；　the　Invid　were　getting　a　costly　lesson　in　dogfight　tactics　and　learning　that　the　sky　was　still　a　hotly　contested　killing　ground。

Lancer　pulled　up　nearby；　still　on　his　Cyc；　and　Lunk　in　his　truck。　〃Get　them　out　of　here　while　we　cover！〃　Scott's　voice　came　over　the　tac　net。

Rook's　red…and…silver　armor　was　sleeker；　more　maneuverable　than　the　others'；　and　had　that　wide…bore　long…gun　that　was　unique　to　it。　Scott's　blue…and…silver　was　more　heavily　armed　than　before；　with　an　assault…rifle　module　acquired　in　the　wreckage　of　his　strikeforce's　graveyard；　he　stood　straddle…legged；　letting　the　Invid　e　at　him；　and　held　the　trigger　down。

Rand's　armor；　light…blue…and…silver；　seemed　more　specialized　for　handgun…firing；　and　that　suited　him　just　fine；　the　armor　wielding　a　bigger；　more　powerful　version　of　the　H90。

Then　Lancer　scooped　up　Marlene；　who　had　dismounted　in　a　numbed　astonishment；　set　her　behind　him　on　his　Cyclone；　and　started　off。　Annie　and　Eddie　helped　his　parents　into　Lunk's　truck；　and　it　accelerated　to　catch　up。　The　Cycs　fell　back　in　good　order；　firing；　as　the　Invid　came　down　at　them；　but　then　split　up　as　the　firing　became　too　intense。

Scott　jetted　backward　on　thrusters　that　set　the　brush　among　the　trees　afire；　awaiting　his　chance。　He　could　see　Rand　and　Rook　doing　the　same。　Trees　and　mounds　of　soil　and　rock　exploded；　the　Invid　lashing　out　at　everything　in　their　frustration。

At　last　the　defenders　were　driven　down　to　a　lowermost　verge。　From　that　spot　they　could　either　go　to　the　open　sky；　where　they　would　be　shot　like　clay　pigeons；　or　to　the　forest　that　lay　a　few　hundred　yards　below。　Invid　fire　turned　nearby　trees　into　Roman　candles。

Scott　said；　〃We　have　to　make　them　think　they've　won。〃　I　hope　Lunk　and　Annie　and　the　rest　have　gotten　far　enough　away！　He　dismounted　two　missiles　from　a　forearm　pod；　twisted　their　warheads　to　adjust；　and　waited；　as　the　Invid　rushed　down。　〃On　three！　One。。。〃

The　armored　Cycriders　set　up　a　network　of　fire；　crisscrossing　the　sky　with　brilliant　bursts；　jostling　the　Invid　as　the　Pincer　Ships　came　within　range。

Scott　gave　the　warheads　a　final　twist；　then　tossed　the　missiles　down；　and　took　up　firing　again。　〃Two。。。〃

He　and　Rand　and　Rook　were　throwing　up　a　furious　barrage；　heels　hanging　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　the　dirt　and　gravel　they　had　scuffed　loose　falling。　The　Invid's　attack…pass　cut　the　air。

〃Three！〃

The　Cycs　jumped　back；　dropped。　Invid　annihilation　discs　hit　the　ledge　where　they　had　been　standing；　raising　huge　gouts　of　flame　and　debris　and　smoke。


Although　the　Regis's　awareness　was　not　in　the　Invid　there；　they　spoke　to　one　another　with　her　voice。　They　did　not　know　that　Marlene　was　among　the　prey；　and　that　she　was　part　of　a　greater　plan。

Instead　they　heard　the　Regis's　standing　orders　in　their　minds；　Eliminate　all　resistance！　Neutralize　rebel　forces。　They　must　not　be　allowed　to　escape！　Kill　them　all！


Clinging　to　Lancer's　armored　middle；　Marlene　suddenly　cringed。　〃The；　the　voices　again！〃　She　seemed　about　to　faint。　〃Rand　and　the　others…they　ran！〃

Lancer　had　his　hands　full　with　the　pitched　descent　of　the　mountain　road。　But　he　wondered；　Does　she　mean　Scott　and　the　rest？　And　how　does　she　know？

Then　Lancer；　followed　by　Lunk；　rounded　a　corner　and　had　to　stop。　The　way　was　blocked　by　Maxwell　and　a　score　of　armed　men。

They　were　equipped　to　tackle　even　Cyc　armor；　with　old　LAW　rockets；　RPGs；　a　few　Manville　X…18s；　and　a　truck　mounted　with　a　heavy　machine　gun。　Lancer　fought　off　the　urge　to　break　away　and　e　back　later。　But　Maxwell　might　not　let　the　others　live　long　enough　to　be　rescued；　and　above　all；　Carla　was　with　the　mayor；　standing　in　the　back　of　his　staff　car；　her　hand　caught　up　in　his。

Truman　was　standing　up　in　the　bed　of　Lunk's　truck；　gripping　the　cab　frame。　〃Maxwell；　you　lied。〃

〃I'm　a　good　businessman　and　you're　not；　don't　e　crying　to　me。　There　is　no　way　through　the　mountains。　Congratulations　on　being　the　first　to　ever　e　back。　However…〃

Maxwell　showed　a　thin　smile。　〃Now　that　you　know　my　secret；　you　can't　be　allowed　to　return。　You　understand；　I'm　sure。　Will　you　please　step　down　and　line　up　over　there？〃

Maxwell's　men　had　the　angle　on　them　from　all　sides　with　high…powered　rifles；　pump　shotguns；　and　some　Galil　heavy　assault　pieces　loaded；　no　doubt；　with　armor…piercing　rounds。　The　Trumans；　Annie；　Lunk；　Lancer；　and　Marlene　dismounted　and　did　as　they　were　told。　Lancer　read　his　displays　and　braced　himself。

Carla　caught　Maxwell's　hand。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃

〃They　must　be　eliminated。〃

〃No！〃　she　wrestled　against　him　for　a　moment。　He　threw　her　back　against　the　bed　of　the　converted　truck；　knocking　the　wind　from　her；　ignoring　her　when　she　husked；　〃No；　Donald。。。〃

The　blue…and…silver　Cyclone　rider　had　gathered　the　captives　back　some　distance　from　the　trucks；　Maxwell　noticed；　most　of　them　sheltering　behind　him。　But　Maxwell　smiled。　〃This　is　the　end　of　the　road；　folks。〃　He　raised　his　arm　for　the　signal。

〃If　you　move　it；　I'll　burn　it　off；〃　an　amplified　voice　promised。　Maxwell　spun　around　just　as　Robotech　weapons　opened　fire。　Many　of　his　men　dropped　their　guns　and　all　of　them　cringed；　as　the　dazzling　rays　opened　the　ground　around　them　and　sent　novaflame　curling　into　the　air。

Annie　threw　her　arms　wide　and　sang；　〃Good　work；　Rand！〃

Maxwell　ordered　the　rest　of　his　men　to　throw　down　their　guns；　and　he　dismounted　from　the　car；　gaping　at　Lancer's　H90；　as　Lancer　advanced　on　him。　〃I…if　you　fire　that　thing；　the　Invid　will　be　down　on　us　immediately！〃

〃They're　a　little　busy　right　now。　We　killed　all　the　ones　that　came　after　us。　Now；　you've　been　feeding　innocent　people　to　the　Invid　for　years；　isn't　that　right？〃

Lancer　raised　his　gun。　〃Time　for　you　to　get　a　taste　of　your　own　medicine。〃

Maxwell　drew　a　breath　and　said；　〃If　you　pull　that　trigger；　you'll　never　find　out　how　to　get　through　these　mountains　alive。　And　the　Invid　are　swarming　after　you。〃

The　mayor　met　Lancer's　gaze。　〃My　precise　map　isn't　just　some　children's　story。　It　shows　the　way　through　underground　warrens　dating　back　to　the　Global　Civil　War。　It　leads　into　a　camouflaged　road　through　the　mountains。　You　see…〃　He　gave　a　slight　smile。　〃I　serve　the　Resistance；　too；　they　pay　me　well。　You　can　ask　any　underground　contacts　you　want　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃

Scott　and　Rand　and　the　others　were　frisking　Maxwell's　henchmen。　They　rearmed　their　friends　and　armed　the　others　with　captured　weapons：　Eddie　with　a　Manville；　Mr。　Truman　with　an　ancient　shotgun；　Carla　with　an　Ingram　MAC　9。　They　tossed　the　other　weapons　into　Lunk's　truck。

〃You　spare　my　life　and　we　all　leave　here　alive；〃　Maxwell　was　saying。

Lancer　raised　his　H…90　and　fired。　The　adjusted　threadfine　beam　burned　away　a　piece　of　Maxwell's　left　ear；　cauterizing　what　was　left。　His　hair　was　singed　but　it　did　not　catch　fire。　Maxwell　fell　to　the　ground；　holding　his　wound　and　swearing　in　a　monotone。

Lancer　looked　down　at　Donald　Maxwell；　〃All　right；　we'll　take　you　up　on　your　offer。　And　if　anything　goes　wrong；　you'll　be　the　first　to　die。〃

Carla　ran　after　Lancer　as　he　turned　to　go。　〃Wait！　Lancer；　wait　for　me！〃

Maxwell　lurched　to　his　feet。　〃Carla；　where　are　you　going？〃

She　looked　at　him　and　her　lip　curled。　〃I've　had　enough　of　you！〃

His　protests…that　he　had　done　it　all　for　her；　that　his　wealth　meant　nothing　without　her…couldn't　bring　her　back。

With　Veritechs　looming　around　him；　Eddie　shook　his　head　to　Annie's　cries。　〃Why　won't　you　e　on　with　us；　huh？　Why？〃　she　whined。

Eddie　heaved　a　long　breath。　〃Because　you're　going　where　there's　more　fighting；　and　that's　not　what　I　want；　Mint。　Paradise　was　just　a　lie。　My　dad's　brother　has　a　ranch　down　south；　that's　where　w