10_invid_invasion-第13章

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〃‘We　know；'　Ken　chimed　in　from　behind　Scott。　‘But　we　still　want　you　to　leave。'〃

〃‘Terrific；'　Scott　snarled。　‘You're　going　to　sit　back　and　relax　and　let　the　Invid　rule　over　you　and　the　entire　planet…'〃

〃'Fighting　the　Invid　will　aggravate　the　whole　situation！'　the　crowd　leader　interrupted。　‘All　we　want　is　a　peaceful　life。　What　difference　does　it　make　who's　at　the　top…some　corrupt　Council　or　the　Invid？　There's　no　such　thing　as　freedom！'〃

〃The　man　must　have　caught　a　whiff　of　his　own　words；　because　all　of　a　sudden　he　was　soft…spoken　and　rational。　‘Look；　anybody　who　hasn't　seen　it　our　way　has　already　left。　So　will　you　please　go？'〃

〃I　had　heard　the　same　speech　so　often　that　I　hardly　paid　any　attention　to　it；　but　you　just　didn't　go　throwing　the　reality　of　the　situation　into　the　face　of　a　guy　who　had　e　halfway　across　the　galaxy　to　fight　your　battles　for　you。　Before　I　could　open　my　mouth；　Scott　had　grabbed　the　guy　by　the　shirtfront　and　was　ready　to　split　his　head　open。〃

〃I　told　Scott　to　leave　him　alone。　After　all；　in　their　own　way　they　were　right：　They　had　peaceful　lives；　even　without　the　so…called　freedoms　that　were　so　important　thirty　years　ago。　Besides；　nothing　Scott　or　I　could　say　or　do　was　going　to　change　the　way　they　felt。〃

〃‘Look　around　you；'　I　told　Scott。〃

〃He　did；　and　the　truth　of　it　seemed　to　sink　in　some。　He　shoved　the　man　aside　and　spat　in　the　street。　‘I　don't　believe　what　I'm　witnessing　here；'　he　rebuked　the　crowd。　‘You　people　make　me　sick！　You　think　I'm　the　only　one　fighting　the　Invid？　Well；　there　are　plenty　of　others。　People　who　aren't　ready　to　roll　over　and　play　dead；　understand？'〃

〃The　crowd　looked　at　him　pityingly。　He　donned　his　helmet；　mounted　the　Cyclone；　and　took　off　without　a　word　to　any　of　us。〃

〃I　felt　that　I　had　to　back　Scott　up　and　made　some　kind　of　silly　speech　about　selling　out　strangers；　but　it　all　fell　on　deaf　ears。　Except　Annie's。〃

〃‘That　goes　for　me；　too；'　she　told　the　crowd。　‘I　wouldn't　want　to　live　in　this　rotten　town　anyway。'　With　that；　she　threw　herself　onto　the　cycle's　rear　seat　and　told　me　to　‘let　'er　rip。'〃

〃Annie　hugged　herself　to　me　for　all　it　was　worth；　and　I　could　almost　feel　her　tears　through　my　shirt。　But　when　I　asked　if　she　was　okay；　she　said　she　would　make　it　all　right。　I　was　certain　she　had　known　worse　moments　in　her　life。。。〃

〃When　we　caught　up　with　Scott；　I　asked　about　his　plans。〃

〃‘Somehow　or　other　I've　got　to　find　Reflex　Point；'　he　yelled　without　bothering　to　look　over　at　me。〃

〃He　had　mentioned　this　when　we　first　met　and　once　or　twice　since　but　had　never　explained　its　meaning。　‘You　keep　talking　about　this　place　as　if　it's　the　most　important　thing　in　the　world。'〃

〃‘It　is；'　Scott　threw　back　sternly；　and　accelerated　out　front。〃

〃There　was　something　about　his　attitude　that　put　me　off；　or　maybe　I　was　just　hoping　for　an　argument　that　would　split　us　up　and　return　me　to　my　solo　riding。　I　said；　‘You　know　what　your　problem　is？　You　don't　know　how　to　municate　with　people！　Now　that　you've　had　a　taste　of　the　old　homeworld；　don't　you　think　you'd　be　a　lot　happier　back　in　space　with　your　girlfriend？'〃

〃His　silence　told　me　I'd　gotten　to　him。〃

〃‘Lay　off；'　he　snapped　back；　accelerating　again。　'Marlene's　dead。'〃

〃It　literally　stopped　me　cold　in　my　tracks。〃

〃‘He　never　told　you？'　Annie　said　as　we　watched　Scott　disappear　over　a　rise　up　ahead。〃

〃‘Not　one　word　about　it；'　I　mumbled。　It　explained　a　lot　about　Scott's　behavior；　his　obsession　with　waging　this　one…man　war　of　his。。。〃

〃‘I　know　how　he　feels；'　Annie　was　saying。　‘Being　the　woman　so　many　men　dream　of；　and　yet　so　unlucky　in　love；　has　made　me　very　sensitive　to　this　sort　of　thing。'〃

〃I　didn't　know　whether　she　was　trying　to　make　me　laugh　or　what；　but　her　ment　succeeded　in　lightening　my　spirits。　Then　she　slammed　me　on　the　back：　‘Hey；　e　on！　We're　gonna　lose　Scott　if　we　don't　get　a　move　on！'〃

〃I　asked　her　if　she　was　sure　about　leaving　Ken　behind；　and　she　made　a　face。〃

〃‘Uh…huh。　I　have　a　feeling　my　next　lover's　going　to　be　my　last。　Now；　let's　get　moving；　Rand！'〃

〃She　pounded　her　tiny　fists　against　my　back　again；　and　we　were　gone。〃


CHAPTER　FIVE

Mom　was；　as　they　used　to　say　at　the　turn　of　the　century；　one　tough　broad。　She　was　the　most　respected　member　of　the　Blue　Angels；　and　even　after　her　falling　out　with　Romy　and　her　flight　from　Cavern　City；　her　name　was　adopted　by　only　those　riders　who　shot　for　the　narrows；　and　scrawled　on　many　a　wall。
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

It　wasn't　much　of　a　town…strictly　Main…Street　frontier；　run…down　and　dirty…and　it　wasn't　much　of　a　bar；　but　at　least　the　place　offered　cold　beer　（even　if　it　was　locally　brewed　and　bitter…tasting）；　shade；　and　a　singer　backed　by　a　decent　pickup　band。

After　all　of　the　battles　are　over
After　all　of　the　fighting　is　done
Will　you　be　the　one
To　find　yourself　alone　with　your　heart
Looking　for　the　answer？


Rook　Bartley　lifted　her　glass　and　toasted　the　singer。　The　song　was　soft　and　downbeat；　just　what　she　needed　to　ease　herself　into　the　blues；　trip　through　memories　she　couldn't　do　anything　about。

Rook　took　a　look　around　the　place　over　the　rim　of　her　mug。　It　was　dimly　lit　and　poorly　ventilated　but　surprisingly　clean　and　tidy　for　a　joint　in　the　wastes。　There　was　the　usual　assortment　of　types；　Foragers　mostly；　keeping　to　themselves　in　the　corners；　nursing　drinks　and　private　thoughts。　A　couple　or　two　wrapped　around　each　other　on　the　cleared　space　that　passed　for　a　dance　floor。　And　several　bad　boys　on　the　upper　tier；　boots　up　on　the　table；　midnight　shades。　Rook　judged　they　were　locals　from　the　way　they　were　scanning　the　room　for　action；　your　basic　rough　trade　feeling　safe　on　the　barren　piece　of　turf　they　had　secured　for　themselves。　Rook　returned　to　her　drink；　unimpressed。

She　was　a　petite　and　shapely　eighteen…year…old　with　a　mane　of　strawberry…blond　hair　and　a　face　that　more　than　one　man　had　fallen　in　love　with。　She　was　wearing　a　red　and　white　short…sleeved　bodysuit　that　hugged　her　in　all　the　right　places。　It　was　set　off　by　forearm　sheaths；　a　blue　utility　belt；　and　boots；　an　outfit　styled　to　match　the　mecha　she　rode；　a　red　Cyclone　she　had　liberated　from　an　armory　just　after　her　split　from　the　Blue　Angels；　the　assault　by　the　Snakes。。。

When　it　feels　like　tomorrow　will　never　e
When　it　seems　like　the　night　will　not　end
Can　you　pretend　
That　you're　really　not　alone？
You're　out　here　on　your　own　（Lonely　soldier　boy）
You're　out　here　on　your　own　（Lonely　soldier　boy）


Rook　settled　back　in　her　chair　to　study　the　group's　lead　singer；　a　rocker　well　known　in　the　wastes　who　called　herself　Yellow　Dancer。　The　song　had　taken　an　unanticipated　leap　to　four…four；　guitar　and　keyboards　wailing；　and　Yellow　was　off　to　one　side　of　the　low　stage；　clapping　in　time　and　allowing　the　band　their　moment　in　the　spots。　She　was　tall　and　rather　broad…shouldered；　Rook　thought；　but　attractive　in　a　way　that　appealed　to　men　and　women　both。　Her　hair　was　long　but　shagged；　tinted　slightly　lavender　and　held　by　a　green　leather　band　that　chevroned　in　the　center　of　her　forehead。　Yellow's　stage　clothes　were　not　at　all　elaborate…pumps；　tight…fitting　slacks；　and　a　strapless　top　trimmed　in　purple…but　were　well　suited　to　her　tall　frame　and　flattering　to　her　figure。

Yellow　stepped　back　to　the　mike　to　acknowledge　the　applause。　She　was　modest　and　smiling　until　one　of　the　bad　boys　decided　to　change　the　tempo　somewhat。

〃Hey；　baby　face！〃　he　called　out；　getting　up　from　the　table　and　approaching　the　stage。　〃Me　and　my　friends　don't　like　your　music。　It　stinks；　y'　hear？〃

Rook　had　expected　as　much。　It　was　the　one　with　the　pointed　chin　and　wraparound　sunglasses；　the　apparent　gang　leader。　He　was　wearing　tight　jeans　tucked　into　suede　shin　boots　and　a　short…sleeve　shirt　left　unbuttoned。

〃It's　garbage；　it　ain't　music；〃　he　insulted　the　singer。

Rook　wondered　how　Yellow　would　handle　it；　the　pickup　band　were　locals；　as　was　most　of　the　room。　No　one　was　exactly　rising　to　her　defense；　but　neither　was　she　showing　signs　of　concern。

〃Well；　why　don't　you　just　give　these　people　a　sample　of　what　you　consider　music？〃　she　taunted　back。

Some　of　the　crowd　found　the　eback　amusing；　which　only　managed　to　put　Yellow's　critic　on　the　spot。　Rathe