10_invid_invasion-第25章

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The　ramp　dropped　at　a　steep　angle　that　sorely　tested　the　electric　cart's　brakes；　but　the　important　thing　was　that　they　were　leaving　the　facility　behind。

Rand　was　encouraged。　According　to　his　own　calculations　the　passageway　was　indeed　leading　them　in　the　direction　of　the　arena。　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　he　said　from　his　unfortable　position　atop　the　Protoculture　canisters　stacked　in　the　bed　of　the　cart。　〃We　should　have　taken　more　while　we　had　the　chance。〃

〃Don't　be　so　smart；〃　Scott　said　stiffly。　〃We're　not　out　of　here　yet。〃

Rand　leaned　forward　between　the　front　seats。　〃What's　there　to　worry　about　now？　The　concert's　on；　we've　got　the　'Culture；　Lunk'll　be　waiting　for　us　with　open　arms。。。〃

〃Mr。　Confidence　all　of　a　sudden；〃　Rook　snorted　from　the　shotgun　seat。　Scott　was　easing　up　on　the　brakes；　and　the　cart　was　traveling　along　at　a　good　clip　now。　Rook　was　holding　her　hair　in　place　with　one　hand　when　the　cart's　headlamp　revealed　a　solid　wall　blocking　their　exit。

〃Hold　on！〃　Scott　yelled；　pulling　up　on　the　hand　brake。

The　rear　end　of　the　cart　bounced　and　swerved　as　the　brakes　locked；　but　Scott　managed　to　remain　in　control　and　brought　the　vehicle　to　a　halt　with　room　to　spare。　The　trio　regarded　the　wall　and　began　to　wonder　whether　they　might　have　missed　a　turnoff　earlier　on。

〃I　didn't　see　any　side　tunnels；〃　said　Scott。　〃And　according　to　Lancer's　map　there's　only　supposed　to　be　this　one　passageway。〃

〃The　map's　been　accurate　up　to　now；〃　Rook　added；　running　her　fingers　through　her　tangled　hair。　〃Where'd　we　go　wrong？〃

〃Maybe　we　have　to　give　the　wall　a　push　or　something；　like　up　top；〃　Rand　suggested。

Scott　was　just　about　to　step　out　and　have　a　look；　when　he　heard　a　deep　rumbling　sound　behind　him。　The　trio　turned　to　watch　helplessly　as　a　massive　stone　partition　dropped　from　the　tunnel's　ceiling。

〃Now　what？〃　Scott　said　after　a　moment。

〃They　must　be　on　to　us　somehow！〃　Rook　said。　But　Scott　disagreed。　〃Those　a/v　scramblers　still　have　fifteen　minutes　of　life　left　in　them。　I　think　we　must　have…〃

Scott　cut　himself　off　as　a　new　sound　began　to　infiltrate　their　silent　tomb。　It　began　with　a　grating　sound　of　stone　moving　against　stone；　then　softened　to　a　sibilance　before　gushing　loud　and　clear。

〃Water！〃　Rand　yelled。　〃We're　being　flooded！〃


CHAPTER　NINE

It　was　just　a　case　of　overpensation　again：　We　went　from　having　no　plan　to　too　much　plan！
Rand；　Notes　on　the　Run

Yellow　Dancer　pranced　across　the　stage；　pointing　and　gesturing　to　the　crowd；　swinging　the　microphone　over　her　head　as　though　it　were　a　lariat。　She　was　in　the　midst　of　a　hard　driving　number　now；　a　flat…out　rocker　that　had　the　audience　dancing　in　the　aisles　and　pressing　forward　toward　the　stage。

Annie　was　helping　this　along。

〃Let's　get　this　party　under　way！〃　she　shouted　from　her　cramped　space　near　the　front。　〃Let's　get　up　on　stage！〃

Yellow　spied　Annie　in　the　crowd　and　smiled　while　she　sang。　She　threw　herself　into　an　impromptu　spin；　shaking　her　hips　and　urging　the　band　to　kick　up　the　volume　somewhat。　She　turned　again　and　launched　herself　across　the　stage　in　a　kind　of　Jagger　strut；　inching　her　way　to　ward　the　edge　with　each　pass　and　beckoning　the　fans　to　join　her。

Woods　and　the　colonel　looked　on　from　the　wings。

〃What　an　incredible　performer；〃　Briggs　was　saying。　Woods　noticed　the　glint　in　the　colonel's　eye　as　he　watched　Yellow　twirl　herself　like　some　sort　of　singing　acrobat。　〃She's　amazing。。。And　these　kids　look　like　they're　ready　to　jump　out　of　their　socks。〃

The　man　is　practically　drooling。　Woods　laughed　to　himself。　〃They　are　beginning　to　get　a　bit　out　of　hand；〃　he　told　Briggs；　a　forced　note　of　concern　in　his　voice。　He　motioned　to　the　front　ranks　of　the　audience；　where　the　crowds　were　pushing　hard　against　the　security　force's　arm…link　cordon。　〃Don't　you　think　it　would　be　wise　to　keep　a　van　ready　out　back　just　in　case　we　have　to　get　Yellow　Dancer　out　of　here　in　a　hurry？〃

Woods　saw　Briggs　blanch。　He　called　out　to　one　of　the　men　guarding　the　stage　entrance　and　told　him　bring　a　van　to　the　rear　door；　while　Woods　suppressed　a　smile　and　turned　to　watch　Yellow　strut　her　stuff。


On　the　cold　stone　floor　of　a　small；　seldom…used　room　beneath　the　stage；　Lunk　sat　cross…legged；　blowing　up　balloons。　Several　hundred　of　these　helium…filled　colored　globes　had　already　been　inflated　and　secreted　in　a　partment　behind　the　bandshell　itself；　but　the　ones　Lunk　was　busy　preparing　had　to　serve　a　special　purpose。　To　each　grouping　of　four　balloons；　Lunk　added　a　carefully　concealed　propellant　device　in　addition　to　a　sensor　that　would　allow　the　four…color　group　to　home　in　on　a　prearranged　beacon　signal　transmitted　from　the　outskirts　of　Norristown；　close　to　the　spot　where　the　team　had　left　the　Cyclones　and　the　Veritech。

When　Lunk　had　filled　the　last　of　the　balloons；　he　crawled　over　and　shut　down　the　helium　tanks；　only　then　realizing　how　spaced　out　he　was　from　inhaling　the　gas。　He　glanced　at　the　room's　brick　rear　wall　and　moved　over　to　it　now；　running　his　hands　over　the　stones　and　searching　for　any　signs　of　the　doorway　indicated　on　Lancer's　map　of　the　facility　and　linking　passageway。　But　he　could　find　no　evidence　of　seams　or　fractures　in　the　mortar。　Perhaps　it　could　be　opened　only　from　inside　the　tunnel；　he　thought；　checking　his　watch。　He　would　know　soon　enough；　in　any　case。。。


The　cart　turned　out　to　be　watertight。　Not　that　this　would　have　been　some　wondrous　piece　of　news　under　normal　circumstances；　but　given　the　tunnel　trio's　present　condition　it　was　one　of　those　small　miracles　to　be　thankful　for。　It　meant　that　they　were　able　to　remain　seated　while　the　water　rose　around　them　rather　than　have　to　exhaust　themselves　trying　to　remain　afloat　in　water　that　was　well　over　their　heads。　Of　course；　this；　too；　seemed　a　minor　consolation。

A　few　four…pack　canisters　of　Protoculture　were　bobbing　about　in　the　cold　water；　and　Rand　was　sitting　on　the　front　bumper　of　the　cart　looking　like　the　world　was　about　to　end。

Which　was　certainly　an　appropriate　enough　response；　seeing　how　the　water　was　still　pouring　into　their　tomb　with　no　signs　of　letting　up；　and　the　cold　ceiling　was　only　four　feet　above　them　now。　But　Rook；　who　seldom　had　a　good　word　to　say　about　anything；　was　trying　to　cheer　Rand　up。

〃C'mon；　pal；　try　not　to　get　so　down　in　the　dumps。〃

Rand　stared　at　her　in　disbelief。　〃Down　in　the　dumps？〃　he　said；　gesturing　to　the　room；　their　situation。　〃What　d'ya　think；　I　should　be　happy　about　getting　a　chance　to　wash　up　before　I　die？〃

〃It's　my　fault；〃　Scott　told　them。　〃I　should　have　considered　the　possibility　that　some　of　the　older　defensive　systems　would　still　be　operational。〃

Rook　shook　her　head。　〃Don't　blame　yourself；　Scott。〃

〃Let　'im；〃　Rand　argued。　〃Why　not？　He　got　us　into　this；　didn't　he？〃

〃We　got　us　into　this；〃　Rook　said；　raising　her　voice。

Scott　told　them　both　to　shut　up。　〃Besides；　we　might　get　a　lucky　break　yet。〃

Rand　and　Rook　waited　for　an　explanation。

〃If　the　a/v　scramblers　fade　before　the　water　gets　much　higher；　we'll　probably　get　to　face　a　firing　squad　instead　of　drowning。〃


In　the　stage　wings；　the　colonel　looked　out　at　Yellow's　screaming　audience　and　swung　harshly　to　Woods。　〃If　this　mob　gets　any　more　unruly；　the　Invid　are　to　going　to　send　a　few　Troopers　in　here　and　we'll　have　all　hell　to　pay！〃

Woods　had　to　agree。　Yellow　was　supposed　to　have　finished　up　already；　but　instead　she　was　going　into　yet　another　encore。　The　crowds　were　whipped　up　into　such　a　frenzy　that　the　arena　seemed　unable　to　contain　it。

Yellow　Dancer　sensed　Woods's　concern　and　turned　to　him　briefly　as　she　gyrated　around　the　stage。　Where　is　Scott？　she　asked　herself　as　the　band　revved　up。　She　took　several　giant　steps　toward　the　wings　and　tried　to　flash　her　acplice　a　signal；　touching　her　earring　and　shaking　her　head　as　if　to　indicate　that　she　hadn't　heard　from　Lunk　yet。

Woods　acknowledged　his　understanding　with　a　shrug　and　a　slight　gesture　toward　the　chief；　who　was　pacing　in　the　wings　like　a　nervous　animal。

Yellow　brought　the　mike　up　and　asked　if　everyone　was　all　right；　holding　the　mike　out　to　them　as　they　screamed　replies。　Again　they　strained　at　the　security　cordon；　and　several　kids　succeeded　in　making　it　onto　the　stage　before　being　scooped　up　by　guards　and　carried　off。　Som