10_invid_invasion-第34章

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s　who　captured　the　three　strangers　would　not　learn　of　her　statements。

〃Those　no…good　bums　have　done　it　this　time；〃　said　Pedro；　starting　for　the　door。

Maria's　thin　hands　were　clutched　at　her　breast。　〃You　won't　let　them　hurt　the　others；　then？〃

〃When　I　get　my　hands　on　them；　I'll　show　them　who　runs　this　town！〃　the　mayor　said　without　looking　back。

Josh　watched　the　doors　swing　to　and　fro。　Who　would　he　show？　he　asked　himself。　The　rogues　or　the　strangers　who　had　e　in　search　of　Alfred　Nader？　Roca　Negra　could　so　easily　fall　victim　to　violence　from　either　side。。。


Meanwhile；　Rand　and　bunk　were　speeding　toward　the　bridge　to　rendezvous　with　Lancer　and　the　others；　unaware　that　the　bad　part　of　town　had　already　e　calling。

〃But　why　would　they　attack　us？〃　Rand　asked。　〃Just　to　drive　us　out　of　town；　or　what？　And　where　the　heck　is　Scott；　anyway？〃

〃It　has　something　to　do　with　the　disappearance　of　old　man　Nader；〃　Lunk　said　firmly。　He　had　the　book　out　again　and　was　regarding　it　while　he　drove。

〃If　that's　true；　we　oughta　rethink　your　idea　of　trying　to　get　that　book　to　him；〃　Rand　suggested。

Lunk　shook　his　big　head。　〃Uh　uh；　buddy；　no　way。　I　said　I'd　deliver　this　thing　no　matter　what　the　odds。　And　if　Nader's　alive；　I'll　find　'im。〃

〃Bravo；〃　Rand　replied；　crossing　his　arms。　〃I　just　hope　you　don't　get　us　both　killed　in　the　process。〃　The　van　was　closing　in　on　the　bridge　now；　and　Lancer　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　〃They're　supposed　to　be　here。　Where　are　they？〃

〃No　sign　of　the　Cyclones　either；〃　Lunk　added；　bringing　the　van　to　a　halt　and　climbing　out。　He　looked　over　toward　the　embankment；　then　down　at　tire　marks　in　the　dirt　road…marks　that　didn't　belong　to　the　van。　〃Check　this　out；〃　he　told　Rand。　〃Something's　been　by　here　earlier　on…a　truck　by　the　looks　of　it。〃

Rand　and　Lunk　bent　down　to　inspect　the　tracks　and　in　so　doing　took　no　notice　of　the　men　who　climbed　up　from　under　the　bridge。　But　Rand　had　thought　to　bring　the　autopistol　with　him　and　raised　it　threateningly　as　the　men　advanced。　However；　a　second　group　joined　the　first　after　a　moment；　and　although　underarmed　with　clubs；　axes；　and　farm　tools；　they　stood　fourteen　strong。

〃Some　of　you　are　gonna　go　down　with　me；〃　Rand　warned。

He　was　standing　back　to　back　with　Lunk　at　the　center　of　the　wide　circle　that　was　forming　around　them。

〃Get　a　load　of　this　big　bruiser　with　the　knife；〃　Rand　heard　Lunk　say。　He　had　no　intention　of　turning　around　for　a　look　but　had　to　wonder　about　the　size　of　the　man　if　Lunk　was　calling　him　big。　〃If　ever　there　was　an　hombre　with　no　sense　of　humor；　he's　it。〃

〃Well；　this　character　with　the　ax　isn't　exactly　my　idea　of　a　edian　either；〃　Rand　answered　to　let　Lunk　know　how　things　were　on　his　side　of　the　circle。

〃Ugly　bunch　of　gorillas。。。〃　Lunk　growled；　lowering　himself　into　a　crouch　and　beckoning　one　of　the　men　to　e　in　on　him。

〃What　are　they　waiting　for？〃　Rand　started　to　say；　when　one　of　the　circle　said；　〃We　have　your　friends。〃

Rand　felt　Lunk　straighten　up　behind　him。　〃Throw　the　weapon　down；〃　Lunk　told　him。

〃We're　just　going　to　let　them　take　us？〃

Lunk　already　had　his　massive　arms　raised。　〃Take　it　easy；〃　he　said　to　Rand　under　his　breath。　〃My　guess　is　they'll　take　us　to　Lancer　and　the　girls。　Then　we'll　make　our　getaway；　all　right　with　you？〃

〃Well；　if　you　say　so。。。〃　Rand　gulped　and　tossed　the　autopistol　to　the　dirt；　much　to　the　amazement　of　the　circle。　〃It's　your　party；〃　he　shrugged　as　the　men　moved　in　to　bind　his　wrists。


A　short　while　later；　in　the　back　of　the　same　truck　that　had　surprised　Lancer；　Rook；　and　Annie　at　the　bridge；　Lunk　had　a　change　of　heart。　The　truck　had　entered　the　plaza　and　was　moving　slowly　past　Jos？s　Caf？　Lunk　spotted　the　owner　standing　in　the　doorway　and　said：　〃There's　that　bird　Jos？　I　bet　he　knows　where　our　friends　are！〃

And　the　next　thing　Rand　knew；　Lunk　was　standing　up　and　shouldering　his　way　toward　the　street。　Rand　jumped　out　of　the　truck　and　was　right　behind　him。　As　the　two　of　them　rolled；　got　to　their　feet；　and　made　a　mad　dash　for　the　caf？entrance；　propelled　by　blasts　from　the　very　weapon　Rand　had　surrendered　only　moments　before。

Lunk　crashed　through　the　swinging　doors　at　full　speed；　knocking　frail…looking　Jos？halfway　across　the　room。

〃I　sometimes　have　my　doubts　about　you；　partner！〃　Rand　said；　out　of　breath　and　dodging　blasts　that　were　entering　the　bar　from　the　street。　The　truck　was　backing　up；　disgorging　men　who　were　already　closing　in　on　the　caf？　〃Hope　you　have　another　plan　ready；〃　he　added；　noticing　for　the　first　time　that　there　was　a　woman　in　the　room。

Lunk　was　behind　the　bar；　cutting　the　cords　that　bound　his　hands　with　a　knife　he　had　gripped　between　his　teeth。　Jos？was　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　shaking　his　head　as　if　to　restore　himself　to　consciousness。　The　woman　was　kneeling　beside　him。　Lunk　freed　himself　and　tossed　the　knife　to　Rand；　who　had　to　catch　it　in　both　hands　and　duplicate　his　friend's　Houdini　act。

〃Okay；　what's　next？〃　Rand　managed　with　his　mouth　full。

Lunk　grinned　and　pulled　a　hand　blaster　from　beneath　his　shirt。　〃Surprise；〃　he　said；　shoving　the　weapon　into　Jos？s　ribs。　〃Now；　my　closed…mouthed　friend；　you're　going　to　do　a　little　talking。〃

Rand　took　a　cautious　look　out　the　swinging　doors　and　turned　to　Lunk。　〃I　hate　to　bring　up　an　unpleasant　subject；　but　there's　quite　a　crowd　gathering　out　there；　and　since　we've　only　got　one　blast…〃

〃In　a　minute；〃　Lunk　cut　him　off。　〃Start　talking；〃　he　said　to　Jos？　ignoring　the　pleas　of　the　man's　wife。

Jos？swallowed　hard。　〃What　about？　It　isn't　my　problem。〃

〃You　can　begin　with　where　our　friends　are…and　no　stalling！〃

〃Maria；〃　he　said；　looking　imploringly　at　his　wife。　〃What　should　I　do？〃

〃Please　believe　us；〃　she　told　Lunk　from　her　husband's　side。　〃We　don't　know　what　became　of　your　friends。　Only　Pedro　knows　what　happened　to　them。〃

〃Fine。　So　produce　Pedro。〃

〃He　is　the　mayor；〃　Maria　continued。　〃He's　giving　all　the　orders。〃

〃Maria！〃　Jos？yelled；　trying　to　stop　her。

〃Then　take　us　to　him…now！〃

〃But　how？〃　said　Jos？　〃We　can't　get　past　that　mob。〃　He　gestured　toward　the　door。

〃I've　got　an　idea；〃　Rand　said　from　the　door。　〃Jos？　you've　put　on　a　pretty　good　act　so　far；　and　now　you're　going　to　do　some　acting　on　our　behalf。。。〃


Jos？pulled　Rand　and　Lunk　through　the　caf？s　swinging　doors　a　few　minutes　later；　leading　them　along　on　a　leather　leash。　Their　hands　were　now　bound　in　front　of　them　with　white　cloth　napkins　Maria　had　helped　to　knot；　one　of　which　dutifully　concealed　Lunk's　blaster。　The　townsmen　were　suitably　impressed　（if　somewhat　bewildered）　and　moved　in　to　retake　custody　of　their　prisoners；　but　Jos？waved　them　off。

〃Pedro　has　asked　me　to　take　them　to　him。　He　wants　you　men　to　stay　here　and　capture　their　panion　when　he　shows　up。〃

〃You're　doing　fine；〃　Lunk　plimented　him　under　his　breath。　〃Now　just　keep　walking。　Get　us　out　of　here　and　you'll　save　your　skin。　Tell　the　driver　to　take　us　to　Pedro。〃

Jos？motioned　to　the　idling　van　one　of　the　villagers　had　driven　in　from　the　bridge。　〃Is　this　their　vehicle？〃

The　man　behind　the　wheel　nodded。　Jos？shoved　his　prisoners　into　the　rear　seats　and　joined　them　there。　Maria　rode　shotgun。

〃Be　alert　for　their　rade；〃　Jos？reminded　the　men　as　he　ordered　the　van　off。

Away　from　the　caf？　Lunk　loosed　the　cloth　knot　and　brought　the　blaster　out　for　the　driver　to　see。　He　ordered　Jos？and　the　driver　out　of　the　van　when　they　reached　the　mayor's　offices。

〃Now　don't　get　any　funny　ideas　when　we　get　inside；〃　Lunk　advised　them；　making　his　point　with　the　weapon。　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　anybody；　but　I'll　do　what's　necessary。〃

〃You　want　me；　too？〃　said　the　driver；　Gomez。

〃You；　too；〃　said　Rand；　giving　him　a　light　shove。

The　building　was　a　wooden　two…story　structure　with　tall；　curved…top　entry　doors。　Lunk　and　Rand　stayed　behind　the　two　men　as　they　climbed　the　staircase　to　the　upper　floor；　but　once　at　the　office；　Jos？and　Gomez　burst　through　the　doors　shouting　warnings　to　their　friends　inside。　Lunk　was　only　a　step　behind　them；　though；　and　fired　a　shot　at　the　ceiling　to　quiet　the　room。

There　were　a　dozen　or　so　townspeople　in　the　office；　not　counting　Lancer；　Rook；　and　Annie；　who　were　bound　hand　and　foot　on　the　floor　in　the　center　of　the　spacious　room。

〃Hands　up！〃　Lunk　bellowed。

〃Well；　hello；　b