11_metamorphosis- 第18部分

The　Pincers　swooped　close　but　held　fire　for　the　moment；　trying　to　determine　just　what　kind　of　threat　they　faced。　Their　scanners　studied　the　racing　cyclist。


In　the　Hive　Center；　sheets　of　light　and　electrical　discharges　raced　across　the　heaving；　visceral　mass　of　the　Sensor。　〃Patrol　reports　bio…energetic　activity　in　the　approaching　vehicle。　Protoculture　emanations　registered！　All　available　units　converge　and　intercept！〃

Rand；　watching　from　concealment；　held　Annie　well　back。　〃Keep　your　head　down！〃

〃But…what's　happening？〃

Rand　checked　his　watch　again。　〃It　all　hit　the　fan　just　at　the　time　Rook　was　supposed　to　start　her　diversionary　run！〃


As　the　Invid　closed　the　distance；　Rook　hit　a　switch　on　her　right　handlebar　and　tensed　herself　like　a　coiled　spring。


A　change　in　the　din　and　the　Saint　Elmo's　fire　along　the　Sensor　made　Annie　point　and　tug　Rand's　arm。　〃Look；　it's　stopping！　Is　that　bad？〃

Rook！　he　thought。　He　felt　a　stab　of　despair　and　loss　so　powerful　that　it　nearly　staggered　him。


〃Intercept　and　neutralize！〃　the　Regis　manded；　as　the　Pincers　raced　to　obey。

Rook　concentrated　everything　on　her　timing。　Calculations　meant　less　now　than　instincts　and　years　of　experience　in　evading　the　Invid。　At　a　certain　moment　she　slewed　around　a　stand　of　pine　and　laid　down　the　bike　in　a　spume　of　snow；　throwing　herself　clear　of　the　on…purpose　grounding；　diving　into　a　snow　bank。

The　Cyc　lay　dead；　its　Protoculture　engine　off。　Rook　lay　doggo　as　the　Pincers　rounded　the　trees　and　went　on　past；　following　their　Protoculture　detectors；　suddenly　confused。　They　raced　on；　splitting　up；　casting　about　like　bloodhounds　for　a　scent。

Rook　pulled　herself　up　a　little　and　smiled　at　the　receding　Invid　personal…armor　mecha。　〃Ciao！〃

An　instant　later　the　smile　disappeared。　Rand；　get　busy！　Get　out　of　there！　She　was　frowning　at　the　fact　that　she　was　worrying　so　much　over　him…and　Annie；　of　course。。。

She　hadn't　let　anybody　mean　anything　to　her　since　she　had　quit　her　old　biker　gang。　This　caring　for　someone…especially　a　dumb　country　boy…was　making　her　angry　with　herself　and　with　him；　too。


〃It　can't　be　a　coincidence；〃　Rand　said　tightly。　〃That　heap　o'　guts　out　there…that　thing　is　the　Sensor　we're　looking　for！〃

Annie　gripped　his　shirt。　〃D…d'you　think　it　knows　we're　here？〃

〃If　it　does；　we're　in　a　lot　bigger　trouble　than　I　thought。〃

The　obscene　loops　of　the　Sensor　were　dark　and　quiet。　Still；　the　quickening　of　Scouts　went　on。　Rand　watched　as　more　Controllers　went　to　take　up　positions　near　the　stinking　mass　of　the　Regis's　local　embodiment。

Something　occurred　to　him；　and　he　gazed　at　Annie　apprehensively。　She　had　been　possessed　by　an　alien　intelligence　once　before；　in　the　Genesis　Pit。　What　if　it　should　happen　again？　But　no；　she　seemed　to　be　behaving　normally…quaking　with　fear。

Rand　tried　to　calm　himself　and　take　in　the　situation。　〃The　place　is　crawling　with　guards。〃

〃M…my　skin's　crawling；　too！〃

He　picked　a　route　and　led　the　way　from　cover　to　cover。　The　Controllers　were　all　concentrating　on　the　quickening；　gathered　to　one　side　of　the　Sensor。　Then　the　two　reached　the　opposite　side　of　the　monstrous　mound　of　alien　bowels。　Annie　skittered　after　Rand；　quiet　as　a　mouse；　but　she　lost　her　footing　and　was　about　to　go　sprawling。

But　Rand　had　turned；　and　he　caught　her。　The　descent　of　yet　another　Scout　ship　into　the　floor　had　covered　the　noise。　〃Watch　what　you're　doing！〃　he　whispered　fiercely；　turning　her　around　and　rooting　through　the　pink　rucksack。

She　was　puffing；　wiping　the　sweat　from　her　brow；　fanning　herself　with　the　E。T。　cap。　Rand　mumbled；　〃Where　is　it…ah！〃

He　drew　out　an　instrumented　cylinder　the　size　of　a　pint　beercan。　A　shaped…charge　cobalt　limpet　mine；　something　the　team　had　been　saving　ever　since　the　raid　on　Colonel　Wolff's　goodies　warehouse。　〃This　should　do　the　trick。〃　And　we'd　better　not　be　hanging　around　when　it　does！

Annie　whispered；　〃Hey！　I　carried　it；　I　think　I　ought　to　be　the　one　to　plant　it…〃

She　dropped　her　cap　and　stifled　a　squeal　as　she　reached　frantically　to　catch　the　bomb；　Rand　having　casually　tossed　it　to　her　while　the　Controllers　inserted　another　drone。

It　was　supposed　to　be　totally　inert　until　it　was　armed；　but…〃Talk　about　dumb；〃　she　said；　giving　him　a　venomous　look。　Then　she　turned　to　attach　the　limpet　to　the　side　of　the　Sensor's　pool。　She　set　the　timer's　blinking　numerals。　〃One　minute　enough？〃

He　was　setting　a　second　sapper　charge　for　sixty　seconds。　〃Let's　hope　so。〃　They　couldn't　take　a　chance　on　a　longer　setting；　one　of　those　enemy　mecha　might　decide　to　take　a　stroll　at　any　second。

They　nodded　to　each　other。　No　going　back　now！　They　stole　off　the　way　they　had　e。　They　were　halfway　across　the　floor　when　Annie　realized　her　head　felt　cold。　Even　though　she　knew　it　was　crazy；　she　looked　back　instinctively　for　her　treasured　cap。　It　still　lay　where　she　had　dropped　it。

Then；　somehow；　her　feet　had　tangled　up　and　she　was　falling；　almost　cracking　her　chin　on　the　floor。　From　her　loosened　pack　jounced　an　adjustable　ordnance　tool；　ringing　like　an　alarm　bell。

〃Disturbance　in　Hive　Center！〃　thundered　the　Sensor；　in　the　voice　of　the　Regis。


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

Plutarch　said　courage　stands　halfway　between　cowardice　and　rashness。　Shakespeare　said　it　mounteth　with　occasion。　What　we've　got　here　is　living　proof。
Scott　Bernard's　mission　notes

Rand　skidded　to　a　halt；　spun；　and　saw　what　had　happened。　〃Typical！〃

But　he　went　dashing　back；　as　Controllers　turned　to　converge　on　the　spot　where　Annie　lay。　Their　bulging　arms　were　raised　and　pointed；　and　their　built…in　weapons　were　ready　to　fire。　〃Intruders。　Two　in　number。　Neutralize　them；〃　the　Regis　exhorted　her　troops。

Annie　levered　herself　up　miserably。　〃No；　please　don't！　We　didn't　mean　anything！〃

Rand　calculated　time　and　angles。　〃Just　hang　tough；　Mint。　These　jerks　won't　know　what　hit　them　in　a　coupla'　seconds。〃

〃Surrender；　Humans；　or　be　destroyed；〃　the　Regis　demanded。　Rand　watched　the　Controllers　close　in；　his　hand　on　his　H90。　Then　he　holstered　it　and　put　both　hands　over　his　ears　and　opened　his　mouth　wide；　to　lessen　the　impact　of　the　blast。　Annie；　terrified；　did　the　same。　〃Humans；　this　is　your　final　warn…〃

Most　of　the　blast　from　the　limpets'　shaped　charges　was　directed　inward；　into　the　grotesque　coils　of　the　Sensor；　but　the　backwash　was　more　than　enough　to　knock　the　leading　three　Controllers　sideways。

The　Sensor　bore　the　brunt　of　a　stupendous　blast。


Marlene　gasped。

Scott；　too　busy　to　notice；　was　watching　through　his　binocular　as　smoke　roiled　from　one　of　the　snowpeak's　upper　openings。　〃They　did　it！　Isn't　that　a　beautiful…〃

He　lowered　the　binocular　and　turned；　hearing　Marlene　cry　out　and　then　collapse　into　racking　sobs。　Rook　and　the　others　rushed　to　her　side。　〃Is　it　the　same　thing　as　last　time？〃　Lancer　asked；　gently　trying　to　quiet　her。

〃She's　screaming　at　me！〃　Marlene　managed；　through　convulsing　shudders。

Lunk's　low　brows　met。　〃Who　is？〃

Rook　tore　her　gaze　away　from　the　smoking　fortress　and　tried　not　to　fear　that　Rand　had　been　hurt　or　killed。　〃Is　there　any　way　we　can　help；　Marlene？　Tell　us　what　to　do！〃

Marlene　was　on　her　knees；　holding　her　head　in　her　hands。　But　she　shook　it　no；　her　hair　swinging。

〃Let's　get　moving；〃　Scott　barked；　to　snap　his　team　out　of　it。　〃Rand　and　Annie　might　need　help　even　more。〃


〃I。。。don't。。。believe　it；〃　Annie　stammered；　gazing　upward。

Rand　stood　tranfixed　near　where　she　lay；　looking　up　as　well。　〃That…that　thing。。。〃

The　Controllers　were　all　down；　smoking；　either　from　the　initial　blast　or　from　secondary　explosions。　And　the　Sensor　had　vanished　from　its　nutrient　bath；　all　right。　But　now　sickly　pinkish　blobs　of　it；　in　various　sizes；　bobbed　and　drifted　around　the　Hive　Center。　They　tumbled　like　slow…moving　meteors；　drifting；　caroming　off　each　other；　spreading　like　floating　amoebas　to　fill　the　place。

My　god！　We　hit　it　with　enough　wallop　to　knock　off　a　half…dozen　Shock　Troopers；　and　yet…〃It's　dissolved　into　some　kind　of；　of　protoplasmic　flesh！〃　He　wasn't　even　sure　what　the　phrase　meant　himself。　Perhaps；　he　babbled　to　himself；　〃Protoculture　ectoplasm〃　would　be　more　the　term？

Annie　was　struggling　to　get　to　her　feet。　〃It's　ing　straight　for　us！〃　The　deploying　blobs　had　somehow　located　them；　and　were　homing　in　from　all　over　the　chamber　like　evil　clouds　of　murderous　jelly。

Annie　threw　her　arms　around　Rand's　waist。　〃It's　g…gonna　eat　me！〃

Rand　had　his　H90　out；　gripping　it　in　both　hands。　〃Eat　this；〃　he　told　the　remains　of　the　Sensor；　and　began　firing。　But　the　bolts　just　split　the　flying　lumps　into　smaller　ones；　and　the　firing　somehow　made　them　charge　at　high　speed。

The　Regis's　voice　came　from　every　doughy　lump；　down　to　the　least　globule；　as　if　from　a　vast　chorus；　〃Attack！〃

Rand　fired　hopelessly　as　Annie　screamed。


One　pilot　short；　the　team　still　got　all　VTs　into　the　air。　The　Beta　was　linked　to　Scott's　Alpha；　which　increased　its　firepower　and　speed。　The　fighters　moved　forward　on　thrusters　that　shook　the　earth　and　started　minor　avalanches　in　the　valley　behind　them。　Down　below；　Lunk's　APC；　rigged　for　cold…weather　work；　moved　cross…country　almost　as　nimbly　as　a　snow…mobile；　bound　straight　for　the　fortress's　main　portal。

As　they　jumped　off　a　snowbank　and　roared　on　again；　Lunk　said　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth；　〃I　hope　your　stomach's　stronger　than　your　head；　Marlene。〃　But　she　sat　hugging　herself；　eyes　unfocused；　shivering　in　spite　of　the　outpouring　of　the　heaters。


Rand　tried　not　to　retch；　as　wad　after　wad　of　the　stuff　that　had　been　the　Sensor　splattered　into　him；　coating　him。　The　stuff　had　the　consistency　of　runny　putty　but　was　warm　to　the　touch。　The　most　horrible　thing　about　it；　though；　was　that　it　moved　by　itself；　snaillike；　spreading　wherever　it　hit。　And　it　wouldn't　e　off。

The　Sensor　knew；　even　in　its　dispersed　state；　that　it　was　dying。　But　it　knew；　too；　who　its　enemies…its　slayers…were；　and　it　would　have　its　revenge。

Annie's　mind　was　about　to　snap。　She　closed　her　eyes　as　she　rubbed　and　brushed　at　the　stuff；　uselessly　tore　it　with　her　nails；　batted　it　and　shrilled；　〃No；　no；　no；　no；　no！〃

She　flung　herself　back　at　Rand；　who　was　trying　to　clear　the　plugged　muzzle　of　the　H90。　He　was　already　wearing　a　pink　mantle　that　was　surging　to　cover　his　head。　There　was　a　waist…high　pile　all　around　them；　making　it　impossible　to　run。

Rand　beat；　trying　to　shield　Annie　〃Annie；　listen　to　me！〃

〃Auff。　It's　getting　in　my　mouth！〃

The　amorphous　clots　of　residue　streamed　down　at　them　from　every　quarter。　He　heaved　at　her。　〃Hang　onto　me　and　try　to　keep　your　head　above　it！〃

Her　voice　was　muffled　by　a　mask　of　the　stuff。　〃I　can't　breathe！〃

His　arms　were　all　but　paralyzed。　〃Annie；　listen！　Check　the　emergency　tracking　beam！　Is　it　still　flashing？〃　The　crud　was　surging　up　around　his　face。

She　gathered　all　her　courage　and　forced　down　her　panic。　With　a　supreme　effort；　she　got　her　head　around　and　managed　to　get　a　glance　down　at　the　thing　like　a　silvery　fountain　pen　with　a　flashing　tip　that　was　clipped　to　one　of　her　pockets。

She　forced　herself　to　get　out　the　words；　〃I　think　so…yes！〃


The　Pincer　Ships　still　casting　about　for　Rook's　trail　weren't　prepared　for　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　vengeful　trio　of　Veritechs。　The　dogfight　had　barely　begun　when　four　of　the　Invid　personal…armor　mecha　were