10_invid_invasion-第26部分

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〃To　make　good　a　promise　I　made　to　a　friend　a　year　ago；〃　Lunk　said　to　both　of　them。　〃To　deliver　this　book。〃

Rand　gazed　at　the　thing　but　couldn't　make　out　much；　except　that　it　was　aged；　yellowed；　dog…eared；　and　smudged。　Someone　had　thought　to　wrap　the　book　in　protective　plastic；　but　too　late　to　preserve　the　cover　illustration。

〃What　sort　of　book　is　it？〃　Rand　asked。

Lunk　pulled　the　book　in　and　regarded　it。　〃I　really　don't　know…I　haven't　read　it。　But　it　was　important　enough　to　my　buddy　for　him　to　ask　me　to　bring　it　to　his　father　if　I　ever　got　the　chance。〃

〃Well；　why　didn't　your　buddy　deliver　it　himself；　if　it's　so　important？〃

〃I　wish　he　could。。。〃

Rand　saw　Lunk's　smile　fade　and　asked　him　about　it。

〃It　was　during　the　Invid　invasion；〃　Lunk　began。　〃My　friend　was　on　recon　patrol；　and　I　was　detailed　to　rendezvous　with　him　for　the　extraction。　When　I　found　him；　he　was　trying　to　get　away　from　a　couple　of　Shock　Troopers；　and　I　could　see　he　was　wounded。　They　blasted　him　again　while　I。。。sat　and　watched。　How　he　could　get　up　and　run　after　that　I'll　never　know；　but　he　did；　and　started　for　the　APC。　I　thought　there　might　still　be　a　chance；　but　the　Invid　caught　up　with　him　before　I　could　move　in；　and　he　didn't　have　a　prayer。〃

Annie　could　see　that　Lunk　was　torturing　himself　with　the　memory　but　kept　still　and　allowed　him　to　finish。　Was　this　what　he　had　run　from？　Annie　wondered；　recalling　ments　uttered　months　ago　when　they　had　first　met。

〃He　called　out　to　me；〃　Lunk　was　saying。　〃Calling　me　to　e　get　him；　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　do。　The　Invid　had　spotted　the　APC　and　started　after　me；　and　I　had　no　choice　but　to　make　a　run　for　it。

〃I　don't　even　remember　how　I　got　away　from　them。。。But　I　can　still　hear　my　buddy's　voice　ing　over　the　net；　as　loud　and　clear　today　as　I　heard　it　then；　calling　me　to　help　him。　I　can't　forget。。。〃

Lunk's　face　was　beaded　with　sweat；　and　Annie　fought　down　an　urge　to　hold　him。　But　he　was　through　it　now　and　sort　of　shaking　himself　back　to　the　present；　looking　hard　at　the　book　again。

〃This　had　some　special　meaning　for　him；　I　suppose。　The　one　thing　he　wanted　most　was　for　his　old　man　to　have　it。　I　promised　on　the　day　he　went　out。。。〃

〃Oh；　Lunk；〃　Annie　broke　in；　touching　his　arm　lightly。　〃You've　been　carrying　more　than　that　book　around；　haven't　you？　I　feel　so　bad。。。〃

Rand　looked　in　through　the　driver's　side　and　noticed　Annie　crying。　〃Lunk；〃　he　said　all　of　a　sudden。　〃We've　got　a　book　to　deliver。　So　let's　get　on　it！〃

Lunk　saw　Rand　wrist　the　Cyclone's　throttle　to　wheelie　the　mecha　into　lead　position。　He　smiled　to　himself；　thankful　for　the　pany　of　his　friends；　and　pressed　his　foot　down　on　the　van's　accelerator　pedal。


Roca　Negra　had　a　secret　of　its　own；　a　dirty　little　secret　pared　to　the　one　Lunk　wore　like　a　scarlet　letter。　But　no　one　on　the　team　was　aware　of　this　just　yet；　the　only　thing　immediately　obvious　was　that　the　town　seemed　deserted　despite　Scott's　recent　claims　to　the　contrary。

〃Where　is　everybody？〃　Lancer　said　to　Rook　and　Rand　as　the　three　Cyclones　entered　the　empty　plaza。

〃What'd　you　expect…the　wele　wagon？〃　Rook　asked　sarcastically。　〃After　all；　we　didn't　tell　them　Yellow　Dancer　was　ing　to　town。　It's　probably　just　siesta　time。〃

Rand　took　a　look　around　the　circle；　certain　he　saw　people　ducking　away　from　the　open　windows　and　pulling　shutters　closed　on　others。　Even　the　central　fountain　was　deserted；　but　the　damp　earth　around　it　suggested　that　people　had　been　there　a　short　time　ago。　〃You　don't　find　this　a　bit　strange？〃　he　asked　Rook。

〃You're　both　imagining　things；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not　like　this　hasn't　happened　before。　Besides；　there　are　two　kids　right　over　there；〃　she　added；　pointing　to　two　young　boys　munching　on　apples　nearby。

Rand　relaxed　somewhat　at　that　and　swung　his　mecha　into　a　second　lap　around　the　well。　He　began　to　take　stock　of　the　buildings　now　and　realized　that　his　expectations　had　been　way　off　base。　Instead　of　the　stucco　and　terra…cotta　village　he　had　envisioned；　Roca　Negra　was　like　something　lifted　from　what　used　to　be　called　England。　The　architecture　was　of　a　style　he　had　heard　referred　to　as　Tudor；　with　mullioned　windows；　tall　gables；　nogging　and　timber　facades；　and　steeply　pitched　tiled　roofs。　〃How　about　giving　me　a　bite？〃　he　heard　Annie　shout　to　the　kids　as　the　van　drove　past　them。　Then　he　spotted　the　restaurant：　Josh's　Caf？　according　to　the　sign　above　the　curved　entryway。

Rook；　Lancer；　and　Lunk　followed　Rand's　lead；　but　only　Lunk　moved　in　to　investigate。　There　were　tables　and　chairs　set　up　out　front　but　no　one　on　the　scene　to　serve　them。

〃Bring　me　some　peppermint　candies！〃　Annie　shouted　to　Lunk。

Lunk　turned　briefly　to　acknowledge　her；　and　when　he　swung　around；　there　was　a　mustachioed　man　standing　in　the　restaurant's　barroom　swinging　doors。

〃The　restaurant　is　closed　during　the　emergency；〃　the　man　began。　He　spoke　with　a　Spanish　accent　and　wore　an　apron　and　work　shirt　more　suited　to　the　trades　than　to　the　food　biz；　but　he　was　gesturing　Lunk　to　halt　in　a　way　that　suggested　he　owned　the　place。　〃Our　munications　have　been　cut；　and　we're　short　on　supplies　of　all　kinds。　The　indications　right　now　are　that　we'll　be　closed　for　about　a　month。〃

〃But　we've　traveled　such　a　long　way！〃　Annie　shouted　out　the　open　top　of　the　van；　disappointment　in　her　voice。　〃We　haven't　had　a　decent　meal　in　weeks。〃

〃I　told　you　what　the　situation　is；〃　the　man　fired　back；　raising　his　fist。　Lunk　was　taken　aback　by　the　gesture。　The　man　was　slight；　but　his　dark　eyes　were　flashing　with　an　anger　that　seemed　to　add　to　his　aspect。　〃There's　nothing　I　can　do　about　it。　We　have　no　food　to　feed　you。　I　suggest　that　you　try　the　next　town。〃

The　man　had　moved　past　Lunk　and　was　now　overturning　the　caf？chairs　and　placing　them　legs　up　on　the　table。　Lunk　followed　him；　deciding　to　steer　clear　of　the　food　issue　for　a　moment　and　inquire　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　Alfred　Nader；　his　dead　friend's　father。　But　the　simple　question。　seemed　to　unhinge　the　restaurant　owner；　who　dropped　one　of　the　chairs　at　the　mention　of　the　man's　name。

〃What're　you　getting　so　upset　about？〃　Lunk　asked；　concerned　but　not　yet　suspicious。　〃I　only　want　to　know　how　I　can　find　Alfred　Nader's　house。　Is　that　too　much　to　ask；　or　are　you　as　short　on　information　as　you　are　on　food？〃

The　owner　averted　Lunk's　penetrating　gaze　and　busied　himself　righting　the　chair。　〃You　must　have　the　wrong　town；〃　he　said　distractedly。　〃I　know　everyone　in　town；　and　there's　nobody　named　Nader　living　here。〃

〃But　you　must　have　heard　of　him；〃　Lunk　pressed。　〃Alfred　Nader？。。。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　never　heard　of　him；〃　the　man　said；　raising　his　voice　and　moving　back　toward　the　swinging　doors。　〃Now　go　away　and　leave　me　alone！〃

〃This　is　weird；〃　Lunk　said；　turning　around　to　face　Rand　and　the　others。　〃This　guy　tells　me　Alfred　Nader　doesn't　live　here。　But　he's　lying；　I'm　sure　of　it。〃　Lunk　took　a　look　back　at　the　doorway　and　walked　to　the　van。　〃Why　the　heck　would　he　lie　like　that？〃

〃Something　stinks；〃　said　Lancer。　〃Nader's　here。　We're　just　going　to　have　to　find　him　on　our　own。〃

〃We'll　split　up；〃　Rook　suggested。

〃All　right；　I'll　go　with　Lunk；〃　said　Rand；　already　climbing　into　the　van's　shotgun　seat。　〃We'll　meet　in　an　hour　by　the　bridge　outside　town。〃

Lunk　thanked　his　friends　for　their　support　and　got　behind　the　wheel。　He　swung　the　van　around　and　headed　it　out　of　the　plaza；　followed　closely　by　Rook　and　Lancer；　who　both　ignored　Annie's　attempts　to　team　up　with　them。

〃Well；　screw　you　guys！〃　she　yelled　as　they　roared　off；　then　she　spied　Rand's　untended　Cyclone　and　smiled　broadly。


Lunk　and　Rand　headed　up　one　of　the　streets　leading　from　the　plaza。　There　were　a　few　people　about；　but　without　exception　they　disappeared　as　the　van　approached。　Shutters　slammed　overhead；　women　carried　their　children　indoors；　and　men　shouted　threats　from　the　darkness　of　interior　spaces。　Much　to　Rand's　surprise；　Lunk　seemed　to　know　his　way。

〃My　friend　used　to　tell　me　all　about　this　place；〃　Lunk　explained；　a　bit　nostalgic。　〃He'd　tell　me　all　about　his　father；　about　how　his　old　man　was　a　big　shot　in　town…a　politician　or　something。〃

〃And　the　restaurant　owner　never　heard　of　him；　huh？〃　Rand　said　knowingly。　〃What　are　they　trying　to　cover　up？〃

〃There's　supposed　to　be　a　bakery　somewhere　along　this　street；〃　Lunk　said；　leaving　Rand's　question　unanswered　and　looking　around。　〃There　it　is；〃　he　said　a　moment　later。　〃A　few　more　landmarks　and　I　might　be　able　to　find　my　way　to　Nader's　house　without　anybody's　help。〃

Rand　was　silent　while　Lunk　took　one　turn　after　another；　the　pattern　of　disappearances　and　threats　unbroken。　〃You　know；　something　just　occurred　to　me；〃　he　said　to　Lunk　when　they　had　reached　the　outskirts　of　town。　〃Maybe　they're　trying　to　protect　Nader。〃

〃How　do　you　mean？〃　Lunk　asked；　pulling　the　van　over。

Rand　turned　to　him。　〃These　people　don't　know　us。　For　all　they　know　we　could　be　sympathizers。　If　Nader　was　a　politico；　he　could　be　in　trouble。〃

〃With　who？〃

Rand　shrugged。　〃The　Invid；　for　starters。〃

The　rest　of　the　team；　having　met　with　the　same　reception；　had　abandoned　their　search　and　were　killing　time　at　the　edge　of　town；　waiting　for　Lunk　and　Rand　to　show　up。　Rook　was　on　her　feet；　leaning　almost　casually　against　the　stone　wall　of　the　bridge。　Lancer　and　Annie　were　sitting　on　the　grassy　embankment　above　the　stream。

〃Lunk　and　Rand　have　got　to　pass　by　here　eventually；〃　Lancer　was　telling　the　others。

Rook　agreed。　〃We're　better　off　just　waiting　for　them。　But　one　of　us　is　going　to　have　to　find　Scott。　Where　do　you　think　he　put　the　Alpha　down？。。。Hey！　A　truck！〃　she　said　suddenly。　〃Maybe　the　driver　can　shed　some　light　on　this　thing。〃

Annie　turned　to　glance　at　the　truck。　〃Looks　like　they're　stopping。〃

No　one　moved　as　the　truck　came　to　a　halt　on　the　bridge。　They　had　seen　two　men　in　the　cab　and　were　looking　there；　when　without　warning　a　third　man　jumped　from　the　canvased　rear。　It　took　them　a　moment　to　realize　that　he　was　wearing　a　gas　mask　and　what　looked　like　a　twin…tanked　oxyacetylene　rig　on　his　back。　And　by　the　time　they　had　made　sense　of　this　it　was　too　late：　The　man　had　brought　the　rig's　torch　out　front　and　released　a　foul…smelling；　eye…smarting　gas　into　their　midst。

Almost　immediately　Rook　and　Lancer　began　to　cough　uncontrollably。　Beneath　the　cloud　and　c