10_invid_invasion-第8部分

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around　chin　guard。

〃I　want　to　head　up　toward　that　city　you　mentioned；〃　Scott　called　back；　maintaining　his　speed。　〃We　might　be　able　to　get　some　information。〃

〃What's　this　we　stuff；　spaceman？〃　Rand　barked。　〃I　go　my　own　way。〃

Scott　smiled　again。　〃e　on；　I'll　show　you　how　to　convert　to　Battle　Armor　mode。　Or　maybe　you're　too　frightened　of　the　Invid；　huh？〃

〃Hey；　pal；　you　go　ahead　and　wage　your　one…man　war。　This　Cyclone's　fine　as　is；〃　Rand　snapped。　〃See　you　around；〃　he　added；　giving　a　twist　to　the　throttle　and　pulling　out　ahead　of　Scott。

In　a　moment　Scott　came　up　alongside　again。

〃Make　up　your　mind…you　headed　to　the　city　or　not？〃

Scott　made　a　gesture　of　nonchalance。　〃I'm　just　headed　where　I'm　headed；　that's　all。〃

〃Well；　get　off　my　tail！〃　Rand　shouted；　lowering　his　goggles。　He　popped　the　front　wheel　and　accelerated　out　front。

Scott　did　the　same；　and　the　two　of　them　toyed　with　each　other　for　several　minutes；　alternating　the　lead。　By　now　they　had　entered　the　shoulderless　downhill　portion　of　the　highway；　and　Rand　was　nursing　some　misgivings　about　playing　chicken　with　a　dude　who　was　decked　out　in　armor。　Nevertheless；　he　stuck　by　the　offworlder；　racing　him　into　a　wide　turn　where　the　roadway　disappeared　around　the　shoulder　of　the　mountain。　Neither　of　them　saw　the　convoy　of　trucks　headed　for　the　pass　until　it　was　almost　too　late。　The　driver　of　the　lead　vehicle…an　opencabbed　eight…wheeler…leaned　on　his　horn　and　locked　up　the　brakes；　throwing　the　transport　into　zigzags。　The　Cyclones；　meanwhile；　were　also　locked　up；　sliding　sideways　down　the　narrow　road。　Rand；　on　the　inside；　saw　a　collapsed　portion　of　an　earthen　wall　and　went　for　it；　ramping　his　bike　up　to　the　high　ground。　Scott；　however；　kept　to　the　road；　dangerously　close　to　the　drop…off　now；　and　brought　the　Cyclone　to　a　halt　a　meter　from　the　truck's　front　grille。

The　driver；　a　long…haired　rube　wearing　a　tall　brimmed　hat；　waved　his　fist　in　the　air。　〃Ya　rogue…somebody　coulda　got　killed！〃

〃Sorry　about　that；〃　Scott　told　him　offhandedly。　〃Look；　we　need　some　information…〃

〃Wait　a　minute！〃　the　driver　cut　Scott　off；　eyeing　him　up　and　down。　〃You're　a　soldier！　What　are　you　doing　out　here？〃

Scott　revealed　just　enough　to　satisfy　the　driver's　curiosity。　〃I'm　looking　for　others　who　may　have　bailed　out。　Have　you　e　across　anyone？〃　Scott　saw　the　man　give　a　start；　then　avert　his　gaze。

〃Nope。　No　one。。。But　lemme　give　you　a　free　piece　of　advice；〃　the　driver　answered　him；　throwing　the　truck　into　forward　gear。　〃You're　gonna　wish　you　never　came　back！〃

Scott　legged　the　Cyclone　off　to　one　side；　calling　out　for　an　explanation　as　the　truck　roared　off。　The　other　drivers　in　the　convoy　regarded　Scott　warily　from　the　cabs　of　their　trucks　as　they　lumbered　by；　but　no　one　said　a　word　until　a　young　boy　in　the　back　of　the　final　one　yelled　out：　〃Hey；　mister；　don't　tell　anyone　who　you　are　or　you'll　be　in　deep　trouble！〃

Scott　thought　he　would　hear　more；　but　the　truck's　headbanded　elder　put　a　hand　over　the　boy's　mouth。　〃Don't　talk　to　that　man；〃　he　threatened　the　kid。

Rand　watched　the　convoy　disappear　around　the　bend　and　saw　Scott's　gesture　of　puzzlement。　〃You　ing　or　not？〃　the　offworlder　asked　him　suddenly。　Rand　thought　about　it　for　a　moment　while　Scott　took　off　down　the　road。　All　his　instincts　told　him　to　follow　the　trucks；　but　ultimately　he　coasted　down　the　incline　and　set　out　to　catch　up　with　Scott；　after　all；　somebody　had　to　keep　the　guy　from　sticking　his　nose　where　it　didn't　belong。

In　the　trees　at　the　edge　of　the　roadway；　the　red　optic　scanner　of　an　Invid　Scout　rotated　slightly　to　track　the　rider's　swift　departure。。。


〃Ken；　please　e　with　me！〃　Annie　was　shouting。　〃I'll　be　good　for　you；　I　promise！　I　love　you！　You　promised　you'd　stay　with　me！〃

He　was　dragging　her　down　the　road　now；　his　hands　underneath　her　arms。　They　were　a　good　half　mile　from　the　causeway　checkpoints　already；　and　Annie　was　still　causing　a　scene。　Finally　he　dropped　her　on　her　butt。

〃Whaddaya　want　from　me…you　want　me　to　leave　my　family　and　friends？〃

She　looked　up　at　him　and　said；　〃Yes。〃

Ken　bent　down　eye　to　eye　with　her。　〃Look；　I　know　it　seems　bad　right　now；　but　you'll　find　somebody　to　take　care　of　you。〃

〃Don't　worry　about　me！〃　she　yelled　in　his　face　as　she　got　up。　〃I　can　find　my　own　way　around。　Men　are　a　dime　a　dozen　for　someone　like　me。〃　Then　suddenly　she　was　all　over　him　again：　〃Please；　Ken！〃

Ken　shook　her　off；　sending　her　down　to　the　ground　on　her　knees。　Fed　up；　he　began　to　walk　back　to　the　checkpoint。　Ten　steps　away；　however；　he　turned　at　the　sound　of　approaching　vehicles。　Scott　and　Rand　were　just　ing　around　a　bend　in　the　tree…lined　road。　They　halted　their　Cyclones　where　Annie　sat　crying。　Ken　took　one　look　at　the　cycles　and　saw　a　sweet　deal　in　the　making。　He　went　over　to　them　with　a　gleam　in　his　eye。

Closest　to　Annie；　Rand　was　asking；　〃What's　the　matter；　kid；　are　you　hurt？〃

She　looked　up；　surprised；　and　told　him　in　no　uncertain　terms　that　she　wasn't　a　kid。　〃So；　beat　it！〃

Ken　ambled　up　and　gestured　appreciatively　at　Scott's　mecha。　〃Nice　wheels；　rogue。〃　Ken　smiled。　〃Where'd　you　forage　'em？〃

〃I'm　mander　Bernard　of　Mars　Division；〃　Scott　said　when　he　had　raised　the　helmet　faceshield。　〃I'm　looking　for　other　survivors　of　my　unit。〃

Ken　glanced　over　at　Rand　and　stepped　back。　〃You're　for　real；　then…soldiers；　I　mean。〃

〃Have　you　seen　any　of　the　others？〃

〃e　with　me；〃　Ken　said　after　a　moment；　already　setting　off　for　the　causeway。

Scott　was　suddenly　full　of　hope。　〃They're　here？〃

〃And　you　can　e；　too；　Annie；〃　Ken　added　without　turning　around。

Annie's　eyes　opened　wide。　〃I　take　back　what　I　said。〃　She　hurried　to　catch　up　with　him　and　attached　herself　to　his　arm　lovingly。

Rand　and　Scott　exchanged　looks　and　brought　the　Cyclones　back　to　life。　〃What's　the　chance　of　landing　some　belly　timber？〃　Rand　wanted　to　know。　〃We've　got　trade　goods。〃

〃Follow　me；〃　Ken　told　him。

Annie　beamed。　〃You've　made　me　so　happy；　Ken。〃　She　went　up　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him　on　the　mouth。

Ken　whisked　them　through　the　checkpoint　and　escorted　them　along　the　causeway　that　led　to　the　main　island。　It　was　a　picturesque　spot　for　a　city；　Rand　had　to　admit：　a　crystal…blue　lake　surrounded　by　forested　hills。　But　there　was　ample　evidence　of　the　war's　hold　over　the　place…the　scorched　and　rusted　hulks　of　Zentraedi　battlecruisers；　downed　Adventurers；　Falcons；　and　Bioroids。　He　noticed　that　there　was　a　second　island；　accessible　only　from　the　main　one；　and　that　it；　too；　was　host　to　a　densely　packed　cluster　of　tall；　mostly　ruined　buildings；　rubble；　and　debris　heaped　up　in　the　streets。　Up　close　the　city　was　somewhat　less　than　inspiring；　literally　a　shell　of　its　former　self；　but　so　far　they　hadn't　been　searched；　hassled；　or　otherwise　bad…vibed；　and　Rand　was　beginning　to　wonder　where　all　those　rumors　had　e　from。

〃These　are　Robotech　soldiers！〃　Ken　announced　to　the　sullen…faced　people　huddled　inside　the　buildings；　postapocalypse　cave　dwellers　in　high…rise　cliffs　of　slagged　steel　and　fractured　concrete。　〃They　were　with　the　forces　who　have　returned　to　Earth　to　rid　us　of　the　Invid。〃　No　one　moved；　no　one　returned　a　word。　There　was　only　the　slight　howling　of　the　wind　and　the　steady　throb　of　the　Cyclones'　engines。　〃They're　looking　for　lost　members　of　the　assault　group。　I'm　going　to　take　them　over　to　the　other　island。〃

Ken　turned　a　wan　smile　to　Scott　and　Rand。　〃As　you　can　see；　folks　around　here　aren't　used　to　strangers；〃　he　said　by　way　of　apology。　〃They're　always　a　bit　suspicious　at　first；　but　don't　worry　about　it。　They'll　soon　get　used　to　you。〃

Scott；　Rand；　and　Annie　followed　Ken's　lead　to　the　causeway　linking　the　main　island　with　its　twin。

〃There　it　is。〃　Ken　pointed。　〃If　any　of　your　rades　have　e　through　here；　they'll　have　been　taken　over　to　the　other　island。〃

〃Thanks　a　lot　for　your　help；　Ken；〃　Scott　said。

Ken　disengaged　his　hand　from　Annie's　two…fisted　lock　on　it。　〃Why　don't　you　show　them　over　the　causeway　while　I　go　talk　to　the　Elders　about　your　staying　here？〃

Annie　called　out　to　him　as　he　was　walking　away。

〃Yes？〃　he　said　impatiently；　not　bothering　to　turn　around。

〃Bye…bye；　sweet　things〃

〃And　don't　forget　that　food！〃　Rand　thought　to　add。

Annie　made　an　elaborate　gesture；　then　laughed。　〃Now；　if　you　gentlemen　will　just　follow　me。。。〃

Rand　chuckled　and　patted　the　rear　seat　of　the　Cyclone。　〃Hop　on；〃　he　told　her。　〃It'll　be　fun。〃


CHAPTER　FOUR

The　Invid　Regis　ruled　her　empire　from　Reflex　Point　（located　in　what　was　once　the　United　States　of　America；　specifically　the　Indiana…Ohio　frontier）；　but　there　was　scarcely　a　region　without　one　or　two　large　hives　（except　the　poles　and　vast　uninhabited　tracts　in　Asia　and　Africa）。　In　this　way　her　Scouts　were　always　about；　with　Enforcers　（a。k。a。　Shock　Troopers）　not　far　behind。　Brazilas　was　no　different　from　other　northern　regions　in　that　it　was　effectively　an　occupied　zone。　Like　Vichy　France　of　the　Second　World　War；　each　town　had　its　sympathizers　and　resistance　fighters；　but　the　former　far　outnumbered　the　latter；　and　it　was　not　unmon　to　encounter　gruesome　and　ghastly　acts　of　betrayal　and　butchery　undertaken　in　the　name　of　self…survival。
Bloom　Nesterfig；　Social　Organization　of　the　Invid

As　Rand　himself　would　later　write：

〃There　was　something　about　Ken's　telling　Annie　to　lead　us　across　the　causeway　that　hit　me　like　a　cold　wind；　but　for　some　reason　I　just　turned　my　back　to　it。　Scott's　innocent　enthusiasm　had　something　to　do　with　this。　Psyched　about　seeing　some　of　his　friends；　he　was　off　in　a　flash；　the　Cyclone's　rear　end　chirping　a　quick　good…bye　to　me　and　the　kid。　So　I　told　her　to　climb　on　and　followed　Scott's　carefree　course；　Annie　laughing　and　hanging　on　for　dear　life　while　I　goosed　the　mecha　into　a　long　goldcard　wheelie。

〃The　bridge　was　a　simple　affair；　a　flat　span　no　more　than　fifteen　feet　wide　and　a　quarter　mile　long；　its　plastar　surface　every　bit　as　holed　and　bellied　as　the　rest　of　Laako's　streets。　The　causeway　seemed　to　bisect　the　island's　stand　of　colorless　truncated　towers；　which　rose　before　us　like　some　ruined　vision　of　the　future；　an　emerald　without　its　shine。　Beyond　it；　a　ridge　of　green　hills　and　a　soft…looking　autumn　sky。

〃Scott　was　a　block　or　two　ahead　of　me　when　we　hit　the　island；　and　talk　about　your　low…rent　downtown。。。the　place　looked　as　though　it