10_invid_invasion-第9章

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This　was　and　was　not　true：　Laako　did　maintain　a　policy　of　limiting　the　time　outsiders　were　allowed　to　spend　in　the　city；　but　well…connected　Ken　could　easily　have　steered　his　way　around　the　regs。　If　he　had　been　so　inclined。

The　two　of　them　were　standing　at　the　causeway　entrance　to　the　city　in　the　lake；　the　tall　albeit　ruined　towers　of　the　Laako's　twin　islands　visible　in　the　background。　Sundry　trucks　and　tractors　on　their　way　to　the　causeway　checkpoint　were　motoring　by；　kicking　up　dust　and　decibels　alike。

〃Please；　Ken！〃　Annie　tried；　emphatically　this　time；　launching　herself　at　him；　hoping　to　pinion　his　arms　with　her　small　hands。　It　was　push　and　pull　for　a　moment…Ken　saying；　〃Annie！。。。Cut　it　out！。。。Stop　it！〃　to　Annie's　〃I　can't！。。。I　won't！。。。I　can't！…〃　but　ultimately　he　put　a　violent　end　to　it；　bringing　his　arms　up　with　such　force　that　Annie　was　thrown　to　the　ground。

Which　was　easy　enough　for　him　to　do。　She　was　a　good　foot　shorter　than　Ken；　with　a　large　mouth；　long；　straight；　carrot…colored　hair；　and　what　some　might　have　termed　a　cherublike　cuteness　about　her。　Her　single　outfit　consisted　of　an　olive…drab　double…breasted　military　jumpsuit　she　had　picked　up　along　the　trail；　set　off　by　a　pink　frameless　rucksack　and　a　maroon　visored　cap　emblazoned　with　the　letters　E。T；　a　piece　of　twentieth…century　nostalgia　that　dated　back　to　a　popular　science…fantasy　film。　It　was　difficult　to　tell…as　it　was　with　many　of　the　lost…whether　Annie　was　searching　for　a　friend；　a　father；　or　a　lover。　And　it　was　doubtful　that　she　could　have　answered　the　question　either。

〃I　told　you　to　cut　it　out；〃　Ken　started　to　say；　but　the　sight　of　her　kneeling　in　the　dirt　crying　her　eyes　out　managed　to　touch　what　meager　tenderness　he　still　possessed。　〃Don't　you　see　I　have　no　choice？〃　he　continued　apologetically；　walking　over　to　her　and　placing　his　hand　on　her　heaving　shoulder。　〃This　whole　thing　is　just　as　hard　for　me　as　it　is　for　you；　Annie。　Please　try　and　understand。〃

She　kept　her　face　buried　in　her　hands；　sobbing　while　he　spoke。

〃Nobody　who　es　from　the　outside　can　stay　for　more　than　a　little　while；　remember？　And　if　I　left　here；　I　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　return。。。〃

Suddenly　the　tears　were　gone　and　she　was　looking　up　at　him　with　a　devious　grin　on　her　face。　〃Then　run　away　with　me；　Ken！　We'll　start　our　own　family；　our　own　town！〃　She　was　up　on　her　feet　now；　tugging　on　his　arm；　but　Ken　didn't　budge。

〃Quit　giving　me　a　hard　time；〃　he　told　her　harshly；　angry　at　himself　for　being　taken　in　by　her　saltwater　act。　〃I'm　not　going　anywhere…you　are！〃

Annie's　face　contorted　through　sorrow　to　rage。　She　cursed　him；　using　everything　her　vocabulary　had　to　offer。　But　in　return　he　proffered　a　knowing　smile　that　undermined　her　anger。　〃You're　heartless；〃　she　seethed；　collapsing　to　the　ground　once　more。　〃Heartless。〃


Rand　had　led　Scott　to　the　site　of　the　downed　transport；　the　Mars　Division　mander　held　little　hope　that　anyone　had　survived　the　crash　but　thought　there　might　be　an　Armored　Alpha　Veritech　still　aboard。　He　was　thankful　for　the　Cyclone；　but　with　perhaps　thousands　of　miles　separating　him　from　the　Invid　Reflex　Point；　the　journey　would　be　a　long　one　indeed。

Fearing　a　visit　from　Invid　reinforcements…Shock　Troopers　this　time…the　two　riders　didn't　remain　long　at　the　wreck。　There　were　neither　survivors　nor　Veritechs；　but　Scott　was　at　least　able　to　procure　additional　Scorpions　for　the　battle　armor　launchers；　several　canisters　of　Protoculture　fuel；　and　a　sensor…studded　helmet　for　Rand。　Thus　far　the　redheaded　rebel　had　demonstrated　no　inclination　to　form　even　a　temporary　partnership；　but　Scott　hoped　that　the　helmet　and　battle　armor　would　entice　him　somewhat。　Scott　would　have　been　the　first　to　admit　his　sense　of　helplessness；　he　was　a　stranger　to　this　world　and　its　ways。　And　if　the　unthinkable　had　occurred…if　he　alone　had　survived　the　atmospheric　plunge…he　was　going　to　need　all　the　help　he　could　get。

Rand　wasn't　sure　what　to　make　of　the　offworlder。　He　was　a　good　man　to　have　on　one's　side　in　a　fight　and　no　doubt…a　capable　enough　officer　in　his　own　element；　but　he　was　a　fish　out　of　water　on　Earth；　and　a　relic　besides…a　throwback　to　a　time　when　humankind　functioned　hopefully　and　collectively。　In　any　case；　Rand　was　a　lone　rider；　and　he　meant　to　keep　it　that　way。　You　joined　up　with　someone；　and　suddenly　there　were　promises　that　had　to　be　made；　plans　and　decisions　a　single　Forager　wasn't　caught　up　in。

Rand　lived　for　the　open　road；　and　he　was　grateful　that　the　offworlder　hadn't　lingered　too　long　at　the　crash　site；　glad　to　have　it　behind　him　now。　The　two　had　ridden　as　far　as　the　hills　together；　then　Rand　had　waved　Scott　off　and　lit　out　on　his　own；　the　Cyclone　throbbing　beneath　him。　He　was　enchanted　with　the　mecha；　but　there　were　a　few　other　priorities　that　needed　tending　to：　food；　for　starters。　The　tasteless　stuff　Scott　had　liberated　from　the　wreck　might　be　all　right　for　spacemen；　but　it　wasn't　likely　to　catch　on　among　down…to…earth　Foragers。

Once　again　he　had　decided　to　pass　on　Laako　City；　it　would　be　easy　enough　to　get　something　to　eat　there；　but　the　results　probably　wouldn't　justify　the　paranoid　garbage　he　would　have　to　put　up　with。　Rand　had　never　visited　Laako；　but　what　he　had　heard　from　other　Foragers　was　enough　to　give　him　second　thoughts　about　the　place。

Even　so；　he　was　headed　in　the　general　direction　of　the　island　city；　putting　the　Cyclone　through　the　paces　on　the　twisting　mountain　road　that　connected　the　wastes　with　the　grasslands　and　lakes　of　the　central　plateaus。　The　only　such　road；　it　was　usually　heavily　trafficked　and　dangerous　in　spots…little　more　than　a　narrow　ledge　with　deep　ruts　and　steep　drop…offs。　But　most　of　that　was　still　ahead　of　him；　and　he　was　cruising　along；　oblivious　to　the　fact　that　Scott　was　not　far　behind。　Then　Rand　heard　the　roar　of　the　second　Cyclone　and　looked　over　his　right　shoulder；　surprised　to　find　the　offworlder　scrambling　along　the　embankment　above　the　roadway。　Scott　gave　a　nod　and　piloted　the　cycle　through　a　clean　jump　that　brought　him　alongside　Rand。

〃What's　the　problem？〃　Rand　shouted；　raising　his　goggles。　〃You　got　nowhere　to　go；　or　what？〃　He　saw　Scott　smile　beneath　the　helmet's　wraparound　chin　guard。

〃I　want　to　head　up　toward　that　city　you　mentioned；〃　Scott　called　back；　maintaining　his　speed。　〃We　might　be　able　to　get　some　information。〃

〃What's　this　we　stuff；　spaceman？〃　Rand　barked。　〃I　go　my　own　way。〃

Scott　smiled　again。　〃e　on；　I'll　show　you　how　to　convert　to　Battle　Armor　mode。　Or　maybe　you're　too　frightened　of　the　Invid；　huh？〃

〃Hey；　pal；　you　go　ahead　and　wage　your　one…man　war。　This　Cyclone's　fine　as　is；〃　Rand　snapped。　〃See　you　around；〃　he　added；　giving　a　twist　to　the　throttle　and　pulling　out　ahead　of　Scott。

In　a　moment　Scott　came　up　alongside　again。

〃Make　up　your　mind…you　headed　to　the　city　or　not？〃

Scott　made　a　gesture　of　nonchalance。　〃I'm　just　headed　where　I'm　headed；　that's　all。〃

〃Well；　get　off　my　tail！〃　Rand　shouted；　lowering　his　goggles。　He　popped　the　front　wheel　and　accelerated　out　front。

Scott　did　the　same；　and　the　two　of　them　toyed　with　each　other　for　several　minutes；　alternating　the　lead。　By　now　they　had　entered　the　shoulderless　downhill　portion　of　the　highway；　and　Rand　was　nursing　some　misgivings　about　playing　chicken　with　a　dude　who　was　decked　out　in　armor。　Nevertheless；　he　stuck　by　the　offworlder；　racing　him　into　a　wide　turn　where　the　roadway　disappeared　around　the　shoulder　of　the　mountain。　Neither　of　them　saw　the　convoy　of　trucks　headed　for　the　pass　until　it　was　almost　too　late。　The　driver　of　the　lead　vehicle…an　opencabbed　eight…wheeler…leaned　on　his　horn　and　locked　up　the　brakes；　throwing　the　transport　into　zigzags。　The　Cyclones；　meanwhile；　were　also　locked　up；　sliding　sideways　down　the　narrow　road。　Rand；　on　the　inside；　saw　a　collapsed　portion　of　an　earthen　wall　and　went　for　it；　ramping　his　bike　up　to　the　high　ground。　Scott；　however；　kept　to　the　road；　dangerously　close　to　the　drop…off　now；　and　brought　the　Cyclone　to　a　halt　a　meter　from　the　truck's　front　grille。

The　driver；　a　long…haired　rube　wearing　a　tall　brimmed　hat；　waved　his　fist　in　the　air。　〃Ya　rogue…somebody　coulda　got　killed！〃

〃Sorry　about　that；〃　Scott　told　him　offhandedly。　〃Look；　we　need　some　information…〃

〃Wait　a　minu