11_metamorphosis- 第6部分

〃She　was　still　facing　away　from　us；　the　firelight　playing　over　the　hair　that　looked　so　straggly　after　a　day　of　roughing　it　in　that　sweaty　theme　park。〃

〃Scott　began；　‘Um；　Annie；　are　you　feeling　all…'〃

〃That　voice　came　again。　‘The　age　of　Humans　is　ing　to　an　end！'　What　sat　on　the　ground　turned　toward　us；　but　the　features　we　saw　weren't　Annie's　anymore。　It　was　something　old　and　malign；　using　her　face　and　form。〃

〃‘Now；'　it　gloated；　‘a　new　era　begins　on　Earth！'〃

〃‘What's　she　babbling　about？'　I　said；　but　I　didn't　mean　Annie。〃

〃'Rand；　she…sounds　possessed；'　Scott　swallowed。　And　I　had　been　hoping　he　would　have　some　idea　what　we　should　do。〃

〃The　thing　using　Annie's　body　rose　to　its　feet；　standing　across　the　camp　fire　from　us。　‘Humans；　you　do　not　know　the　extent　of　our　power！'〃

〃With　that；　the　fire　expanded；　the　flames　leapt　high　above　our　heads。　Scott　and　I　backed　off　a　step　or　two；　shielding　our　faces。〃

〃We　saw　Annie　across　the　flames　from　us　as　she　let　them　die　down　a　bit；　her　hair　floating　as　if　windblown；　her　hands　making　passes　as　if　she　were　a　sorceress。〃

〃‘Humans　are　merely　a　dead　end　in　the　great　scheme　of　evolution！'　Annie　gestured；　and　all　of　a　sudden；　so　help　me；　we　were　seeing　a　moving　form　silhouetted　in　the　blaze；　a　female　form　that　didn't　look　quite　Human。　It　threw　its　arms　high　in　triumph；　while　that　chilling　voice　went　on　exultantly。〃

〃‘The　Earth　is　entering　an　era　of　domination　by　a　different　form　of　life；　which　has　traveled　a　different　evolutionary　path。'　The　thing　laughed　evilly。　‘Be　warned。。。'〃

〃But　then　the　voice　trailed　away；　until　it　was　Annie's；　moaning；　and　the　expression　on　the　face　was　one　we　recognized。　Annie　slumped；　and　we　rushed　to　her。〃


CHAPTER　FIVE

Those　which　we　call　monsters　are　not　so　with　God
Montaigne；　Essays；　Vol。　II；　XXX

The　team's　search　patterns　turned　up　nothing。　Exhausted；　they　stopped　for　a　few　hours'　rest　before　they　would　continue　with　a　night…sweep。

Lunk　couldn't　seem　to　stop　himself　from　repeating　the　same　thing　over　and　over：　〃What　coulda　happened　to　em？〃

〃I　don't　know　where　else　to　look；〃　Lancer　admitted　tiredly。　〃Our　best　hope　is　that　they　just…show　up。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　long　purple　hair。

Lunk　sat　down　next　to　him；　leaning　against　the　same　boulder　in　the　firelight。　He　gnawed　noisily　on　a　drumstick　that　they　had　scavenged　from　Wolff's　supply　depot。　〃I　suppose　that's　all　we　can　do。〃

He　looked　to　where　Rook　was　curled　up；　a　lithe　form　in　a　blanket。　There　was　only　a　single　stray　curl　of　strawberry…blond　hair　showing；　brilliant　in　the　firelight。　〃Isn't　she　even　worried　about　them？　How　can　she　sleep　at　a　time　like　this？〃

Without　turning　over；　she　said；　〃I　can't　sleep；　if　you　sit　there　blabbing　and　gorging　yourself　all　night。　How　can　you　eat　at　a　time　like　this？〃

Lunk　wore　a　hurt　look。　Lancer　told　him　in　a　whisper；　〃The　real　reason　she's　awake　is　because　she's　worried；　too；　Lunk。〃

Rook　lay　watching　the　moon；　listening　to　Lunk　plain　about　how　spooky　it　all　was。　After　riding　as　a　loner　for　so　long；　she　was　feeling　again　that　special　torment　that　she　had　promised　herself　she　would　always　avoid…fear　that　harm　had　e　to　a　loved　one；　an　all…consuming　concern　for　people　who　had　bee；　though　she　had　never　meant　to　let　it　happen；　family。


Annie　came　around　again　in　a　second　or　two；　but　when　Rand　and　Scott　told　her　what　had　happened；　she　claimed　that　they　were　both　imagining　things。　As　far　as　she　was　concerned；　she　had　been　having　some　crazy　dream　in　which　she　married　an　Invid　who　looked　like　her　old　boyfriend。

That　was　Annie；　mind　never　too　far　from　the　marriage　that　would；　she　was　sure；　let　her　live　happily　ever　after。　What　the　two　men　were　telling　her　was　upsetting　her；　and　she　gave　them　a　wounded　look；　asking　if　they　couldn't　just　drop　the　whole　issue。　Scott　and　Rand　backed　off。

But　they　would　have　had　to　stop　talking　about　it　anyway；　just　about　then；　a　battle　of　the　bipeds　started　up。　In　the　dim　nightlight　glow　from　the　haze　overhead；　they　could　just　make　out　some　big　meat…eaters　tangling　with　each　other；　probably　over　a　kill　or　some　carrion。　Rand　thought　it　was　between　two　Ceratosauruses　and　a　larger　Allosaurus；　but　couldn't　see　for　sure　and　wasn't　interested　enough　to　stick　around　and　find　out。

Dangerous　as　it　was　traveling　at　night；　the　men　snapped　on　their　armor；　started　the　Cyclones；　and　the　moved　out。　They　found　the　dry　water　course　they　had　been　traveling　on；　but　they　had　no　sooner　increased　their　speed　than　the　air　was　full　of　pterosaurs　of　all　sizes　and　shapes；　swooping　and　diving；　beaks　napping。　Scott　couldn't　figure　out　if　they　had　been　stirred　up　by　the　blood　and　noise　of　the　fight；　or　if　the　Invid　were　somehow　sending　them　at　the　Humans。

Luckily　the　flying　things　were　getting　in　each　other's　way；　so　that　evasive　maneuvers　saved　the　Cyclone　riders　for　the　moment。　And　lucky　was　the　word；　Rand　saw　one　that　had　a　fifty…foot　wingspan。　Scott's　voice　came　over　Rand's　helmet　phones；　〃You　and　Mint　find　cover！　I'll　fight　them　off　and　catch　up！〃

Rand　couldn't　argue；　the　armor　gave　the　men　a　lot　of　protection；　but　Annie　was　pletely　vulnerable。　Rand　rogered　and　increased　his　speed；　peeling　away　and　heading　for　some　tree　cover。　The　soaring　hunters　concentrated　on　Scott。

Scott　switched　to　full　Battle　Armor　mode；　rising　on　thrusters；　Cyclone　ponents　being　part　of　his　powered　suit。　One　blast　from　the　H90　sent　a　small　Pteranodon　tumbling　to　the　ground。　With　the　flock　hesitating；　surprised　at　the　blast；　Scott　landed　in　a　blaring　of　backpack　thrusters；　to　fight　from　the　ground。

He　blasted　the　wing　off　another　as　it　stooped；　but　then　had　to　duck　and　roll　aside　as　a　third　came　at　him　from　the　left。　Its　beak　and　wicked　teeth　would　have　taken　off　an　unprotected　arm；　but　the　Robotech　alloy　saved　him。　He　rolled　onto　his　back；　holding　his　H90　in　both　hands；　firing　at　any　pterosaur　that　came　near。

The　things　shrieked　as　the　blue　bolts　quartered　the　air；　seeking　them　out。

〃Scott's　doing　okay；〃　Rand　said；　from　the　shelter　of　the　trees；　dividing　his　time　between　watching　Annie　and　keeping　an　eye　out　for　strays。　〃I　don't　think　he　needs　our　help。〃

〃I。。。I　kind　of　feel　sorry　for　those　creatures；〃　Annie　confessed。

〃Aw；　Mint；　gimme　a　break！〃

Scott　was　back　on　his　feet　again；　shooting　this　way　and　that　with　a　high　degree　of　accuracy。　Dead　and　dying　soarers；　whole　or　in　pieces；　lay　all　around　him。　As　Rand　and　Annie　watched；　he　nailed　one　that　was　ing　straight　down　at　him　with　folded　wings；　he　got　it　dead　center　and　its　head　exploded。

Then　Rand　noticed；　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　a　glow　ing　from　the　foot　of　the　nearby　cliff…wall。　It　pulsed　brightly；　waned　a　bit；　and　brightened　again。

〃Hang　on；　Annie；　we　have　to　check　something　out。〃


High　on　a　cliff　ledge　overlooking　the　savage　battle；　an　Invid　Shock　Trooper　mindspoke　to　itself　and　its　panion。　It　was　the　Regis's　voice；　the　same　voice　that　was　heard　through　Annie。

〃The　Human　life…forms　are　most　determined！　Their　will　to　survive　is　strong！〃

Like　the　Zentraedi　and　the　Robotech　Masters；　the　dinosaurs　were　discovering　that　Humans　weren't　as　easy　prey　as　they　looked。　Yes；　it　seemed　all　this　experimentation　with　life…forms　from　Earth's　past　and　mutations　of　various　ones　from　its　present　was　pointless。

There　would　have　to　be　further　study　of　the　Humans；　to　find　out　if　their　form　would　suit　the　Invid　despite　its　aberrant　behavioral　patterns。　But　as　for　the　ones　below；　they　had　done　enough　damage　in　the　Genesis　Pit。　It　was　time　to　rid　the　place　of　contaminants。


Rand　stopped　some　distance　from　the　tunnel；　which　was　at　ground　level。　From　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　the　light　and　heat　pulsed　so　strongly　that　Annie　hid　in　the　lee　of　his　armor　except　for　an　occasional　peek。

〃I　knew　something　like　this　had　to　be　here！〃　Rand　cried。　Heat；　light；　the　energy　field…perhaps　even　the　force　that　kept　the　stupendous　stone　ceiling　up…they　had　to　be　powered　by　some　source。　Some　Invid　source。　Rand　armed　his　forward　Scorpions。

〃Rand；　what　are　you　doing？〃　Annie　asked　sharply。

〃It's　time　for　‘Last　Call　at　the　Lizard　Lounge；〃'　he　said。


Eventually　the　pterosaurs　broke　off　their　attack；　the　slaughter　having　been　too　much　even　for　them。　Scott　stood　on　the　battlefield；　the　smoking　remains　all　around　him；　fitting　a　fresh　charge　into　his　H90。

He　rolled　a　body　over　with　his　foot；　inspecting　his　work。　〃Must've　been　something　he　tried　to　eat。〃

Rand　appeared；　Annie　still　clinging　to　his　waist；　the　Cyc　skidding　to　a　stop。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃

〃All　right　so　far。〃

〃Listen；　Scott；　I've　gotta　tell　you…〃

But　before　Rand　could　get　out　his　story　about　the　Invid　power　source；　or　control　center；　or　whatever　it　was；　a　new　chorus　of　sounds　came　to　them。　They　looked　up　to　see　that　the　sky　was　filled　with　every　possible　flying　creature：　dragonflies　and　other　insects　as　well　as　pterosaurs。

〃Something's　stirring　them　up；〃　Scott　said。

〃Something's　got　'em　all　on　the　run！〃　Annie　shouted。

They　peered　into　the　haze…light　and；　sure　enough；　the　whole　population　of　the　strange　sanctuary　seemed　to　be　headed　their　way。

〃Looks　like　we're　going　to　be　right　in　the　middle　of　rush　hour；〃　Scott　was　saying。　Suddenly　the　ground　began　to　tremble　and　dance　beneath　them。　There　was　nothing　they　could　do　except　lurch　and　teeter；　trying　to　keep　their　balance。

〃Earthquake！〃　Rand　yelled。　This　wasn't　the　time　to　tell　Scott　about　the　two　rockets　he　put　into　the　Invid　cave　installation；　or　of　the　terrific　secondary　blast　they　had　set　off…or　of　the　dark　silence　in　the　cave　afterward。　They　could　hear　the　grinding　and　cracking　of　uncountable　tons　of　bedrock　all　around　them。

A　tree　swayed　like　a　giant　flyswatter；　and　came　down　smack　atop　a　Triceratops　that　just　ignored　it　and　kept　bulldozing　along。　A　big　conifer　broke　the　back　of　a　smallish　Stegosaurus；　passing　meat…eaters　ignored　it；　continuing　their　flight。　A　boulder　the　size　of　a　bus；　falling　from　the　ceiling；　squashed　an　Iguanodon。

As　the　herd　passed　by；　Rand　and　Scott　changed　modes　and　soared　overhead　on　thrusters。　Then　they　fell　in　behind　the　beasts；　letting　them　lead　the　way。

〃Scott；　doesn't　it　occur　to　you　that　being　in　the　middle　of　a　dinosaur　stampede　could　be　bad　for　our　health？〃

〃We　don't　know　where　we're　going；　Rand；　maybe　they　do。　Any　better　ideas？〃

Rand　muttered；　〃Oh；　brother。。。〃

Clouds　of　dust　rose　from　the　ground　and　fell　from　the　ceiling。　The　haze　began　to　grow　dim。　Rand　figured　that　the　energy　field　was　losing　the　last　of　its　power。　It　took　every　ounce　of　their　skill　to　keep　the　Cycs　going；　but　Scott　insisted　that　they　stay　on　the　ground。　The　air　was　a　storm　of　flying　things　that　would　have　blinded　them　and　perhaps　even　knocked　them　out　of　the　sky。

Two　big　Tyrannosauruses　some　distance　in　front　of　them　simply　disappeared；　tails　flailing；　and　Scott　barely　had　time　to　give　a　warning。　There　was　no　time　to　brake；　and　the　two　Cyclones　went　off　the　edge；　into　the　abyss　that　had　opened　in　the　ground　before　them。　All　three　howled；　Annie　loudest　of　all。

As　the　armored　men　mechamorphosed；　rising　on　their　backpack　thrusters　again…the　Cyc　wheels　repositioning　up　on　their　backs；　out　of　the　way…and　Rand　held　Annie　in　his　arms；　something　rose　out　of　the　chasm　with　them；　flashing　past。

〃Invid　Shock　Troopers！〃　Scott　sho