10_invid_invasion-第14章

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Some　of　the　crowd　found　the　eback　amusing；　which　only　managed　to　put　Yellow's　critic　on　the　spot。　Rather　than　risk　making　a　fool　of　himself；　he　decided　to　teach　her　a　quick　lesson　and　stepped　forward　swinging　a　lightning　right。

〃I'll　give　'em　a　sample；〃　he　said　at　the　same　time。

But　Yellow　was　even　faster；　still　maintaining　her　place；　she　ducked　to　the　left；　leaving　vacuum　in　her　wake。　The　rogue's　arm　sailed　clean　through　nothingness；　wrapping　itself　around　the　mike　stand；　and　threw　him　pletely　off　balance。　The　crowd　howled；　and　Yellow　smiled。　But　in　that　instant；　her　assailant　recollected　himself；　turned；　and　caught　her　across　the　face　with　an　open…hand　left。

Yellow's　head　snapped　back；　but　not　for　long。　She　countered　with　a　right；　open…hand　also　but　hooked　a　bit　to　bring　her　nails　into　play。　The　man　took　the　blow　full　force　to　his　temple　and　cheek；　his　glasses　were　knocked　askew；　and　blood　had　been　drawn。

〃Now　we're　even；〃　she　said　to　the　leader；　whose　back　was　still　turned　to　her。　But　she　now　had　the　rest　of　the　gang　to　answer　to　as　well；　they　had　left　their　tables　and　were　approaching　her　threateningly。　〃How　about　calling　it　quits；　fellahs？〃　she　told　them。　〃Tag…team　wrestling　isn't　scheduled　until　Saturday　night；　and　we　wouldn't　want　to　mess　up　the　program；　would　we？〃

Rook　had　to　laugh；　either　she　knew　what　she　was　doing　or　she　was　one　of　those　who　got　her　kicks　facedown。　Rook　had　reason　to　believe　it　was　the　former；　however。　Yellow　was　set　like　an　upsprung　trap；　her　legs　slightly　bent；　her　fists　clawed。　At　the　same　time；　she　was　keeping　an　eye　on　the　one　she　had　already　wounded　and　was　more　than　ready　for　him　when　he　pounced。

〃You　little　witch！〃　the　man　snarled。　〃I'll　kill　you！〃

He　moved　in　and　swung　a　roundhouse　left　with　little　of　the　lightning　that　had　characterized　his　first　swing　and　none　of　the　ambivalence　of　the　second。　But　once　again；　Yellow　was　left　untouched；　and　the　momentum　carried　the　man　off　the　stage；　practically　into　the　arms　of　his　henchmen。

〃I've　enjoyed　our　little　dancing　lesson；〃　Yellow　joked；　backing　away　somewhat。　〃But　if　it's　all　the　same　to　you；　this　place　is　paying　me　to　sing。〃　Her　eyes　darted　right　and　left；　plotting　an　escape　if　needed。　〃Of　course；　we　can　pick　up　where　we　left　off　after　the　show…you　could　sure　use　some　work　on　your　fox…trot；　you　know…and　if　you're　all　nice　boys；　I'll　teach　you　to　rumba。。。〃

The　gang　was　closing　in　on　her；　and　Rook　was　beginning　to　rethink　her　earlier　evaluation　of　Yellow　Dancer。　Whatever　happened　now；　she　had　some　of　it　ing。　Meanwhile　the　club　owner　had　appeared　on　the　stage　to　intercede。　But　Rook　had　to　laugh　again；　grog　making　it　up　into　her　nose。　Not　only　was　the　dude　pushing　seventy；　but　he　began　his　little　speech　by　referring　to　Yellow's　opponents　as　gentlemen！

〃If　you　can't　control　yourselves；〃　he　continued；　his　white　mustache　twitching；　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　ask　you　all　to　leave！〃

You　and　what　army；　Rook　said　to　herself；　quoting　the　punch　line　of　an　old　T'sentrati　joke。

One　of　the　toughs；　a　mean…looking　little　guy　in　a　muscle　shirt；　had　whipped　out　a　throwing　knife　during　the　old　man's　attempted　reprimand。　He　gave　the　knife　a　backhand　toss　now；　sending　it　whizzing　past　the　owner's　head　and　straight　into　the　plywood　wall　behind　the　stage。

〃Mind　your　manners；　Gramps！〃　the　youth　cautioned。

Rook　sighed　tiredly；　swallowed　the　last　two　drops　of　her　drink；　and　stood　up　from　the　table。

〃Boy；　you　guys　sure　have　guts；〃　she　told　the　gathered　gang　members。　They　turned　slowly　toward　her　as　she　knew　they　would；　looks　of　disbelief　on　their　faces。　〃Think　you　can　handle　her　all　by　yourselves？〃

This　brought　immediate　catcalls　and　challenges　from　the　rest　of　the　room。　Rook　smiled　for　the　audience's　benefit　and　winked　at　the　gang　leader。　She　had　been　through　scenes　like　this　too　often　to　count；　and　she　knew　the　leader's　type　as　well　as　she　knew　herself。　She　was　confident　she　could　take　him；　and　that　would　eliminate　the　need　to　go　one　on　one　with　the　others。　All　she　had　to　do　was　go　after　the　leader's　pride；　and　she　had　already　made　a　good　start　in　that　direction。。。

〃Blondie；　take　my　advice　and　stay　out　of　this　or　you'll　be　next；〃　he　warned　her。

Rook　looked　away　nonchalantly。　〃Maybe　if　two　of　you　held　her　down　while　the　others　ran　for　reinforcements。。。Then　you　might　have　a　chance。〃

The　catcalls　increased　in　volume　and　originality。　Even　the　leader　cracked　an　appreciative　smile。　He　steadied　his　shades　and　gave　Rook　the　once…over。　〃A　edian。〃　He　sneered。　〃Too　bad　for　you　I've　got　such　a　poor　sense　of　humor；　'cause　I'm　gonna　make　you　sorry　you　ever　walked　in　here。〃

The　nasty　little　knife　thrower　produced　a　second　shiv；　but　the　leader　motioned　him　back。　〃She's　mine；〃　he　told　his　boys；　and　launched　himself　into　a　charge。

Rook　had　plenty　of　time　to　prepare　and　position　herself；　plus　she　had　already　sized　up　the　guy's　strengths　and　weaknesses。　He　was　ing　at　her　full　force；　yelling　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　his　hands　at　shoulder　height　slightly　out　front。　On　the　balls　of　her　feet　now；　Rook　dropped　herself　into　a　crouch　and　brought　her　right　arm　in　front　of　her　face；　elbow　pointed　outward。　When　the　leader　was　within　range；　she　twisted　back；　then　sprang　up　and　took　her　shot；　catching　the　man　square　in　the　larynx。

Instantly；　he　went　down　on　his　knees；　hands　clutching　his　throat。　〃You　almost　killed　me；〃　he　managed　to　rasp。

〃Well；　e　at　me　again　and　let's　see　if　I　can　get　it　right　this　time；〃　Rook　answered　him。

The　room　was　full　of　applause　and　cheers　by　now；　even　some　of　the　gang　members　were　laughing。

Rook　heard　Yellow　Dancer　say；　〃I　think　the　baboon's　overmatched；〃　just　before　the　leader　growled　and　shouted；　〃Stop　laughing！〃

Then　the　knife　wielder　started　to　move　in。。。


Outside　the　bar；　two　Cyclones　were　added　to　the　long　row　of　cycles　and　various　hybrid　vehicles　that　lined　the　town's　main　street。　Scott　and　Rand　glanced　at　the　cycles　and　at　the　bar　and　traded　questioning　looks。

〃Shall　we　go　in？〃　Rand　asked。

Scott　shrugged　and　removed　his　helmet。　〃What've　we　got　to　lose？〃

〃That's　not　what　I　wanted　to　hear；〃　Rand　started　to　say；　but　Annie　was　already　off　the　Cyclone　and　heading　for　the　door。

〃e　on；　Rand。　I'm　dry　enough　to　spit　cotton。〃

Rand　exhaled　forcibly　and　dismounted　wondering　just　how　he　had　let　things　get　so　out　of　hand。　Just　one　more　town；　he　had　told　himself。　A　place　where　he　could　feel　all　right　about　leaving　Annie　and　saying　a　final　farewell　to　Scott。　Then　it　was　going　to　be　back　to　solo　riding　and　the　open　road。　But　that　had　been　three　days　and　several　towns　ago；　not　one　of　which　suited　his　needs。　Nor　did　he　have　especially　good　feelings　about　this　one。　Two　rows　of　ruined　high…tech　prefabs　split　by　the　northern　highway　and　squeezed　between　the　stone　walls　of　an　arid　canyon；　the　place　had　a　filthy；　forlorn　look　to　it。　It　seemed　as　though　the　town　had　surrendered　long　before　the　Invid's　arrival。

〃They　could　at　least　clean　the　place　up；〃　Rand　said　to　Scott　now。　〃Bunch　of　lazy　slobs。。。〃

〃You　country　boys　do　things　differently；　I　suppose；〃　Scott　said　in　a　patronizing　way。

Rand　scowled。　〃At　least　we　have　enough　self…respect　to　keep　our　homes　from　being　pigsties。　You　wonder　why　I'd　rather　five　off　the　land；　Scott？　Well；　look　around。〃

〃Oh；　quit　arguing；　you　two；〃　Annie　said；　stepping　through　the　barroom's　swinging　doors。　〃This　dump　isn't　so　bad。　What　do　you　think　they　do　for　fun　around　here？〃

Inside；　the　first　thing　that　greeted　their　eyes　was　a　knife　fight。

An　attractive　young　woman　in　a　red　bodysuit　was　squaring　off　against　a　mean…looking　youth　wielding　what　looked　like　a　hunting　knife。　Onlookers　were　cheering　and　offering　words　of　encouragement　to　both　parties。　On　the　room's　stage；　a　tall；　lean　female　and　a　white…haired　old　man　yelled　for　the　fight　to　stop。

Scott　stopped　short。　〃It's　her！？〃

〃Who？〃　said　Annie。

〃She's　the　one　who　helped　us　out　the　other　day…the　girl　on　the　Cyclone！〃

Rand's　eyes　went　wide。　〃The　girl　on　the　Cyclone？　Now　you　tell　me！。。。Well　what　are　we　waiting　for？　Let's　go…〃

〃No；　hold　up　a　minute。〃　Scott　put　his　arm　out　to　restrain　Rand。　〃I'm　sure　she　can　handle　herself　all　right。〃

〃But　they'll　kill　her；〃　said　Annie。

Scott　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I