10_invid_invasion-第23章

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〃Couldn't　you　spare　us　some？〃　Annie　asked；　leaning　over　the　Cyclone's　seat。

The　man　snorted。　〃What're　you；　nuts；　kid？　If　anyone　found　out　I'd　shared　my　rations；　I'd　be　in　deep　trouble。〃　He　turned　his　head　at　the　sound　of　a　mechanical　click　and　buzz　and　found　himself　staring　into　the　laser　muzzle　of　a　strange…looking　disc…shaped　weapon。

Rook　grinned　and　gestured　with　the　blaster。　〃Know　what？　You're　already　in　big　trouble；　buddy。。。〃

Five　minutes　later　the　driver　had　been　dragged　to　the　side　of　the　road。　His　arms　and　legs　were　bound　with　rope；　and　his　mouth　was　sealed　by　a　piece　of　wide　tape。　He　continued　to　struggle　while　Lunk　secured　the　final　knots。

〃Relax；　buddy；〃　Rook　told　him。　〃We're　just　going　to　borrow　your　truck　for　a　while。〃　She　hastened　off　to　the　spot　in　the　woods　where　they　had　moved　the　vehicle。　Her　teammates　had　the　back　doors　opened。　〃Well；　the　first　stage　went　pretty　well；〃　Scott　was　menting　as　she　walked　up。

Rand　was　leaning　against　the　trailer　with　his　arms　crossed。　〃I　had　no　idea　that　soldiers　also　doubled　as　hijackers；　Scott。〃

Rook　looked　at　both　of　them　impatiently。　〃Are　you　guys　going　to　stand　here　and　argue；　or　are　we　going　to　get　a　move　on？〃

Scott　and　Rand　exchanged　looks。　〃Let's　do　it；〃　they　said　at　the　same　moment。


A　short　while　later　the　truck　roared　into　town　with　Lunk　at　the　wheel；　the　former　driver's　hard　hat　and　permits　now　part　of　his　disguise。　Rook；　Rand；　Scott；　and　Annie　were　in　the　rear；　but　not　yet　in　what　would　soon　be　their　hiding　place。　Originally　the　plan　had　called　for　all　of　them　to　hide　underneath　the　chassis　while　the　truck　was　cleared　through　to　the　storage　facility；　but　good　fortune　was　on　their　side　in　the　form　of　a　loft　partment　built　into　the　truck's　trailer。　They　could　only　speculate　on　what　the　partment　had　been　used　for；　but　it　was　perfectly　suited　to　their　present　needs。　Lunk　made　one　stop　along　the　way　to　the　facility　gate…just　brief　enough　to　allow　Annie　to　hop　out　and　work　her　way　into　the　crowds　that　were　already　gathering　for　Yellow　Dancer's　concert。

〃Be　sure　to　make　lots　of　noise；〃　Scott　reminded　her。

〃e　on；〃　she　returned；　as　though　insulted。　〃How　do　you　suppose　I　got　the　reputation　for　being　such　a　loudmouth？〃

Scott　grinned　and　began　to　pull　the　rear　doors　closed。　He　was　surprised　by　the　size　of　the　crowds　and　recalled　what　Rand　had　told　him　earlier：　When　people　find　out　Yellow's　ing　to　town；　they　go　pletely　berserk。　When　Annie　had　jumped　out；　Scott　had　glimpsed　a　poster　of　the　singer　pasted　to　the　side　of　a　building：　Yellow　Dancer　in　a　spaghetti…strapped　sundress；　some　sort　of　matching　turban；　low　heels；　and　a　pearl　collar。

Lancer　had　left　for　Norristown　three　days　before　the　rest　of　the　team。　The　plan　called　for　him　to　put　a　pickup　band　together　and　cut　a　deal　with　a　local　promoter；　who　would　secure　the　sports　arena　and　take　care　of　publicity　and　logistics。　The　promoter；　a　man　named　Woods；　was　an　old　friend　of　Lancer's　and　a　member　of　the　resistance。

Scott　thought　back　to　Lancer's　departure…Lancer　in　his　alter…ego　guise。　Scott　couldn't　help　feeling　that　Yellow　Dancer　wasn't　just　Lancer　in　female　attire　but　an　entirely　different　personality。　Lancer's　demeanor　changed　as　well　as　his　voice　and　carriage。　Yellow　was　a　real　entity　living　alongside　Lancer　in　the　same　body。　Scott　found　it　inprehensible　and　just　a　bit　unsettling；　but　it　didn't　detract　from　the　trust　he　had　in　Lancer。　Scott　was　wondering　how　the　second　part　of　Lancer's　plan　was　succeeding　when　he　heard　Lunk's　fist　pounding　against　the　cab　of　the　truck…the　signal　for　Scott；　Rand；　and　Rook　to　take　to　the　overhead　partment。　That　meant　the　truck　was　nearing　the　twin…towered　security　gate　on　the　road　below　the　storage　facility。


Farther　along　the　road　that　wound　up　toward　the　base　of　Drumstick　Butte　was　the　barracks　of　the　security　force　that　staffed　and　guarded　the　storage　facility。　The　chief　of　station；　Colonel　Briggs；　was　a　large；　beefy　man　with　salt…and…pepper　hair　and　a　thick　mustache。　He　was　in　his　office　in　the　barracks；　feet　up　on　the　desk；　daydreaming　over　a　color　photo　of　Yellow　Dancer　that　had　appeared　in　the　morning　edition　of　the　city's　newspaper　when　one　of　his　staff　arrived　with　good　news。

〃We've　been　asked　to　supply　security　at　Yellow　Dancer's　concert　this　afternoon；〃　the　staffer　reported。　He　wore　a　blue…gray　uniform　with　a　red　upturned　collar；　similar　in　cut　and　design　to　that　worn　by　the　colonel。　A　single　red　star　adorned　the　front　of　his　brimmed　cap。　The　Invid　had　made　a　point　of　allowing　local　customs　and　garb　to　remain　unchanged　in　Norristown　and　numerous　other　strongholds　throughout　the　Southlands。　〃Shall　I　refuse　the　request；　sir？〃　the　staffer　wanted　to　know。

Briggs　didn't　bother　to　lower　the　newspaper；　which　effectively　concealed　him　from　the　staffer。　He　hummed　to　himself；　finishing　up　his　fanciful　daydream　scenario　before　replying。　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？〃　he　said　at　last。　〃If　something　should　happen　to　Yellow　Dancer；　it's　our　reputation　that　will　suffer。　Send　every　available　man　down　to　the　arena。〃

〃But　sir；〃　the'　staffer　pointed　out　haltingly；　〃we　can't　risk　leaving　the　facility　unguarded。。。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　the　colonel　said　from　behind　his　paper。　〃What　time　is　the　concert　scheduled　to　end？〃

〃Around　three…thirty；　but…〃

〃And　what　time　are　the　Intercessors　arriving　to　pick　up　the　shipment？〃

〃Four　o'clock；　but…〃

〃Then　there's　no　problem。〃　Briggs　set　the　paper　aside；　got　up　from　behind　the　desk；　and　walked　over　to　the　office　window。　〃What　can　happen？〃　he　said；　gesturing　to　the　facility　half　a　mile　away　at　the　top　of　the　switchbacked　access　road。　〃The　facility's　impregnable。。。And　besides；　I'd　like　to　oversee　Yellow　Dancer's　security　personally。〃　He　swung　around　to　his　lieutenant。　〃See　to　it　that　she　expects　me。〃


Rumor　had　it　that　the　storage　facility　was　originally　a　castle　imported　stone　by　stone　from　Europe　during　the　mid…1800s　by　a　renegade　nobleman　from　Transylvania。　It　saw　more　than　one　hundred　years　of　alteration　and　modernization　before　being　substantially　renovated　（in　the　Hollywood　style）　by　a　sports　event　promoter　who　fell　heir　to　the　place　in　2015。　Much　of　Norristown；　including　the　arena；　owed　its　existence　to　the　same　man。

The　building；　with　its　mansard　roof　and　numerous　spires；　still　retained　a　Proven鏰l　look；　but　this　was　overshadowed　by　the　fantastical　elements　added　on　during　the　last　twenty…five　years；　primarily　the　east　wing's　crenellated　tower。　Three…quarters　of　a　mile　down　the　road　was　the　twin…towered　main　gate；　where　Lunk　and　the　others　were　presently　stopped。

〃I'm　here　to　run　a　check　on　the　cooling　systems；〃　Lunk　said　to　the　helmeted　guard　who　approached　the　driver's　side　window。

〃Your　permit；〃　the　guard　said　nastily。

Lunk　handed　the　papers　down　for　the　man　to　read；　while　a　second　guard　moved　to　the　back　of　the　truck　to　have　a　look　inside。　〃It's　clean；　Fred！〃　Lunk　heard　the　man　call　out　a　minute　later。　The　guard　perused　the　permit　a　while　longer；　then　returned　it。　〃You'd　better　be　clean　on　the　way　out；　too；〃　he　warned　Lunk。　Lunk　saw　sentries　at　the　other　tower　frisking　a　white…coveralled　driver。

〃You　got　it；〃　he　told　the　guard。

The　guard　waved　him　through　and　opened　the　fence　that　spanned　the　roadway。　Lunk　threw　the　truck　into　gear　and　drove　off；　removing　his　hat　and　wiping　away　the　sweat　that　had　collected　on　his　forehead。　Two　trucks　filled　with　security　personnel　passed　him　going　in　the　opposite　direction；　a　sign　that　Lancer's　request　might　have　been　granted。　At　the　top　of　the　switchbacks；　Lunk　backed　the　truck　toward　the　shipping　entrance。　There　were　only　three　or　four　guards　on　patrol；　and　not　one　of　them　even　glanced　at　Lunk　while　he　climbed　down　from　the　cab　and　threw　open　the　rear　doors。

〃We're　in；　gang；〃　he　said　loudly　enough　for　his　friends　to　hear。

Rook；　Rand；　and　Scott　lowered　themselves　from　the　loft　partment　and　entered　the　facility。　Scott　unfolded　Lancer's　map　and　checked　it　against　their　location。　〃This　one；〃　he　told　Rook　and　Rand；　indicating　an　air　duct　grate　along　one　wall。　Lunk　helped　them　move　several　crates　over　to　the　wall。　Scott　climbed　up　first；　rechecked　the　map；　and　peered　through　the　grate。　Satisfied；　he　nodded；　and　Rook　and　Rand　joined　him。　The　two　men　wen