11_metamorphosis-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！


ant；　Mint。　Paradise　was　just　a　lie。　My　dad's　brother　has　a　ranch　down　south；　that's　where　we'll　go。　You　can　e　with　us　if　you　want；　but　I'm　not　getting　involved　in　any　war！　Besides；　I　have　to　look　after　my　family。〃

Then　he　had　dropped　her　hand　and　run　to　jump　into　the　passenger　seat　next　to　his　mother　and　father。　〃So　long；　Annie。　Good　luck。〃

〃Eddie！　Good…bye！〃　Annie　called；　but　didn't　move。　The　truck　pulled　away　into　the　dusk。　〃l　love　you！〃

She　whirled　and　threw　herself　into　Lunk's　arms　and　wept。　Lunk　held　her　and　wept　for　her；　too。

Rand　was　sitting　on　and　patting　the　crates　of　ordnance　and　the　few　precious　Protoculture　cells　Maxwell　had　been　forced　to　give　up。　〃At　least　we　got　supplies　and　ammunition。〃

Rook　still　had　her　chin　on　her　fist。　〃The　chance　to　kill　him　against　a　few　supplies？　I　still　don't　like　the　trade。〃　Rand　knew　better　than　to　try　to　reason　with　her　in　a　mood　like　this。

Scott　turned　and　saw　the　APC　throwing　up　a　trail　of　dust；　speeding　up　out　of　Deguello。　〃We　move　out　as　soon　as　Lancer　es　back。〃

Lunk's　borrowed　APC　bounced　up　the　road　from　the　town；　Carla's　suitcase　loaded　in　the　back。　Lancer　somehow　felt　stiff　and　absurd　sitting　next　to　Carla。　He　tried　again。　〃I　simply　don't　want　you　mixed　up　in　all　this；　same　reason　as　before。〃

She　looked　across　at　him　for　an　instant；　then　ahead　through　the　windshield。　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　fight。〃

〃I　know　that。〃

But　Lancer　wasn't　so　sure　Maxwell　would　let　her　go；　despite　all　the　mayor's　assurances。　Then　the　subject　changed　from　the　abstract　to　the　immediate；　dashboard　displays　bleeped；　showing　three　flights　of　Pincer　Ships　cresting　a　ridge　nearby。

Lancer　stepped　hard　on　the　accelerator；　ignoring　the　danger　of　the　curves。　He　felt　a　coldness　right　down　at　his　center。

Good　try；　but…they've　got　us　this　time。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

How　did　the　Regis　lose　contact　with　Ariel；　such　an　important　agent？　The　technically　minded　hindsighters　will　point　out　several　reasons。　The　rest　of　us　have　learned　better　by　now。
Nichols；　Zeitgeist　Reconsidered：　Alien　Psychology　and　the　Third　Robotech　War

The　pincer　ships　swept　in；　but　there　were　abruptly　three　new　blips　on　the　dashboard's　scanners。

Maxwell's　trio　of　prized　autofighters　swooped　in　hard　at　the　Invid　armor…piercing　cannon　rounds；　loosing　missiles　and；　breaking　left；　right；　and　upward；　following　the　aero…maneuvering　programs　in　their　memories…maneuvers　the　Invid　hadn't　had　the　time　or　necessity　to　learn。。。until　now。

Lancer　stopped　for　only　a　moment；　looking　back　to　see　the　warplanes　fighting　their　last　battle。　He　saw　the　bright　fireglobes　of　exploding　Pincer　mecha　in　the　sky；　and　the　whirling；　flaring　wreckage　of　enemy　war　machines。

Go　get　'em！　Lancer　tromped　his　foot　down　hard　on　the　accelerator。


Maxwell；　in　a　secret　tech…pit；　watched　his　fighters　roll　up　a　score　and　then；　one　by　one；　be　overwhelmed　and　sent　down　in　flames。　He　liked　to　think　that　his　father　would　have　been　happy　at　this　last　stand；　even　though　it　came　late　in　the　game。

At　least　Carla　will　be　safe。　So　much　for　the　jets。　What　does　it　matter？　Not　much；　without　Carla。

He　leaned　back　in　the　control　center　chair　and　closed　his　eyes；　wishing　that　he　would　never　have　to　open　them。


Snow　had　begun　drifting　down。

Lancer　had　his　arm　around　Carla's　waist。　〃Donald　sacrificed　all　three　of　his　father's　fighters　to　save　us…no；　to　save　you。〃

He　could　see　that　she　knew　that；　she　was　looking　back　at　Deguello　rather　than　at　the　smoking　remains　of　the　warplanes　and　mecha。　Lancer　wanted　to　wrap　her　in　her　coat　and　take　her　along　with　him。

〃Why？〃　She　was　trembling。

A　core　of　honesty　made　him　answer。　〃You're　everything　to　him。　He　wanted　to　save　your　life。〃

He　was　beginning　to　shiver；　the　flakes　melting　on　his　skin　and　the　thin　bodysuit。　〃What　now；　Carla？〃　He　gripped　her　shoulders　in　strong　hands。　〃I　won't　let　him　use　you　again！〃

〃Oh；　Lancer！　I　have　to…I'm　going　back。〃　She　reached　for　the　satchel　she　had　left　in　the　APC。　〃This　time　I　guess　I'm　the　one　who's　jumping　the　train。〃

She　reached　up；　held　him　close；　kissed　him　with　hopeless　passion。　〃Good…bye　Lancer；　good…bye；　Yellow。〃

Then　she　was　going　back　down　the　road；　walking　to　the　lights　of　the　mayor's　mansion。　Lancer　walked　slowly　to　the　truck。

He　automatically　checked　for　the　weapons　the　team　had　taken　from　Maxwell's　goons　and　saw　the　pile　was　one　gun　light。　The　little　palm…size　shooter　was　gone。

Love　or　death；　what　will　it　be？

Lancer　took　a　last　look　down　the　road　at　Deguello。　As　Yellow　Dancer；　he　blew　a　last　kiss　to　Carla。　Then；　as　Lancer　once　more；　he　pulled　on　the　parka　Lunk　had　left　on　the　seat；　hardened　his　heart　to　all　that　had　gone　on　before；　and　floored　the　accelerator；　to　go　meet　the　Invid；　to　take　them　on　on　their　own　ground。


Maxwell　had　told　the　truth　in　at　least　one　matter：　the　Invid　fortress　blocked　the　only　usable　pass。

The　team　had　hoped　to　avoid　it；　the　hidden　road　was　perilous　but　had　served　for　much　of　the　way。　A　recent　quake　had　brought　the　entire　side　of　a　mountain　down；　though；　making　further　progress　impossible。　There　was　no　choice　but　to　tackle　the　fortress。

Watching　the　morning　patrol　of　Pincer　Ships　and　Shock　Troopers　return；　Scott　did　his　best　not　the　hear　Annie's　teeth　chattering　and　not　to　think　about　the　silent　shivering　of　Marlene　and　the　others。

〃It's　a　pattern；〃　Lancer　said；　still　grave　after　days　journeying　from　Deguello。　His　skin　was　paler　than　ever　from　the　high…country　snow　and　chill。　〃The　bulk　of　their　mecha　goes　out　at　sunrise。　That's　the　best　time　to　make　our　move；　Scott；　whatever　our　move　is　going　to　be。〃

They　were　still　bickering　about　the　best　way　to　deal　with　the　alien　stronghold　when　they　heard　a　cracking　and　splintering　of　wood；　and　Rand's　cry；　〃Tim…ber…rrrr！〃

By　nightfall；　they　were　sitting　around　Rand's　fire；　wearing　every　stitch　of　clothing　they　had；　and　huddling　under　cargo　pads　from　Lunk's　truck　as　well。　Under　the　draperied　shelter　of　a　rock　overhang；　Rand　used　the　molecule…thin　edge　of　a　Southern　Cross　survival　knife　to　carve　skis；　bringing　them　up　every　so　often　to　sight　down　their　lengths　critically；　while　he　explained。

〃Okay；　we　can't　get　our　mecha　anywhere　near　that　fortress　without　being　detected；　right？　So　one　of　us　has　to　get　cross…country　to　the　fortress　and　knock　out　their　Protoculture　detection　gear。〃

〃And　so　you'll　just　ski　on　in　there？〃　Lancer　asked　with　a　tug　of　a　grin。

But　Scott　admitted；　〃It　might　work。　What　other　chance　do　we　have？　When　Rand　signals　us　that；　he's　knocked　out　their　sensors；　we'll　run　the　gauntlet　and　hope　nobody　notices。〃

〃There's　only　one　hangup；　isn't　there；　Rand？〃　Rook　asked；　giving　him　a　look　he　couldn't　quite　read。　〃You　don't　have　any　idea　what　an　Invid　sensor　looks　like。〃

〃I'll　know　it　when　I　see　it；〃　he　grumbled。

Annie　grabbed　one　of　the　skis　and　began　sighting　along　it　as　if　she　knew　what　she　was　doing。　〃Hey；　Rand！　You're　gonna　let　me　e　along；　aren't'cha？〃

He　shaved　another　paper…fine　layer　off　the　ski　he　was　working　on。　〃Actually；　Mint；　I'm　afraid　I　cut　these　for　somebody　a　little　older　and　taller　than　you。　With　blue　eyes　and　long；　strawberry…blond　hair　and　a　shape　that…〃

A　snowball　hit　him　in　the　back　of　the　head。

〃I　mean；　a　team　spirit　that　we　all　admire；〃　Rand　amended。

〃Well；　you　can　count　me　out；〃　Rook　told　him。　〃This　dame　isn't　wandering　around　in　the　wilderness　with　you；　country　boy…〃

It　was　just　then　that　Marlene　went　into　another　seizure。　Nobody　but　Rook　saw　how　hurt　Rand　looked；　nobody　but　Rand　saw　how　confused　Rook　seemed　by　what　she　herself　had　said。

Lunk；　Scott；　and　the　others　kneeling　near　Marlene　didn't　seem　to　be　of　much　help　and　she　appeared　to　e　out　of　the　fit　by　herself。　Rook；　standing　and　looking　down　at　her；　said；　〃It's　almost　as　if　she's　got　some　horrible　memory　locked　up　deep　inside；　that's　trying　to　push　her　over　the　edge。〃

Rand　looked　at　Rook's　profile　in　the　firelight；　and　wondered　how　much　of　that　was　something　Rook　was　projecting。


The　Invid　fortress　was　cut　into　a　mountain　face　that　resembled　a　miniature　Matterhorn　pockmarked　with　hemispherical　openings。

〃Look：　I　cut　those　skis　down　for　you；　Mint；〃　Rand　told　Annie；　〃but　don't　get　cocky。　Practice　runs　are　a　lot　different　from　what　we're　gonna　have　to　do　today。〃

〃Don't　call　me　‘Mint'！〃　was　all　she　had　to　say；　as　she　adjusted　her　improvised　bindings。

The　others　looked　on　from　the　treeline。　Watches　had　been　synchronized；　explosives　packed；　weapons　charged…all　of　it　checked　a　dozen　times　over　and　then　checked　again。　Rand　had　managed　to　snatch　a　little　sleep；　but　he　doubted　that　Scott　had　slept　at　all。

The　fact　that　Annie　should　acpany　Rand　was　less　and　less　of　a　surprise　to　them。　Aside　from　the　Forager；　she　was　the　only　one　with　cross…country　experience　（she　insisted　that　some　undyingly　devoted　boyfriend　had　taught　her）。　And　aside　from　Rand；　she　was　the　only　one　who　could　hope　to　cross　the　open　country　to　the　fortress　in　a　reasonable　amount　of　time。　The　snow　was　so　chancy　that　even　snowshoeing　was　out　of　the　question。

At　five　A。M。；　when　the　sun　was　beginning　to　light　the　sky；　Rand　and　Annie　moved　out。

As　Rand　turned　to　go；　snatching　his　makeshift　ski　poles　out　of　the　ground；　Rook　seemed　to　be　about　to　say　something　or　eve