11_metamorphosis- 第9部分

〃I'll　look　outside；　you　check　in　back　of　the　house。〃　She　pulled　out　her　gun；　and　that　brought　him　back　to　reality。　His　own　gun　was　in　his　hand；　fitted　with　its　attachable　stock　and　barrel　extension；　in　submachine　gun　configuration　now。　He　stepped　back　through　the　rift　in　the　wall　and　thought　about　the　blob　of　clear　jelly。

A　brief　sensation　of　expanded　awareness；　as　if　his　mind　had　been　touched　by　another；　swept　through　him。　Why　do　I　feel　like　I've　been　through　all　this　before？　The　thought　came　unbidden　and　bemused　him。

He　heard　a　sound　from　back　somewhere　in　the　vaulted　darkness　of　the　hacienda。　It　might　have　been　some　debris　falling　as　easily　as　it　might　have　been　some　living　thing　blundering　into　a　pile　of　rubble。

Rand　warily　followed　the　noise；　his　weapon　raised。　In　a　courtyard　at　the　center　of　the　place；　he　saw　another　sheet　of　the　glistening；　deposing　man…o'…war　stuff；　shrinking　in　the　sun　as　he　watched　it。　Its　highlights　twinkled　like　stars。　He　strained　to　remember　what　it　reminded　him　of；　as　he　moved　on；　footsteps　echoing　in　the　darkened　hallways。

It　looked　almost。。。almost。。。But　the　image　eluded　him。

He　heard　a　sound。　He　whipped　around　a　corner　with　his　weapon　ready；　braced　to　do　battle。　〃FREEZE！　Just　fr…just；　that　is。。。〃


CHAPTER　SEVEN

Not　even　Zand；　for　all　his　PSI　Sinsemilla；　his　Flower　ingestion；　had　foreseen　anything　like　it。　And　on　and　on；　the　Protoculture　Shaped　events。
Xandu　Reem；　A　Stranger　at　Home：　A　Biography　of　Scott　Bernard

She　sat　in　a　shaft　of　sunlight　that　poured　down　on　her　like　a　benediction　from　above。　Her　arms　were　crossed　on　her　bare　bosom；　long；　slim　fingers　clutching　opposite　shoulders。　She　stared　aimlessly　at　the　light。

Her　hair　was　a　deep　red；　like　his　own　but　waist…length；　and　luxuriant　as　some　rare　pelt。　Her　skin　was　so　pale；　her　body　so　frail…looking…and　yet　it　was　a　woman's。　Highlights　glistened　from　her

Like　the　twinkling　of　stars。

Rand　realized　how　close　he　had　e　to　shooting　by　blind　instinct。　He　also　realized　that　she　was　naked；　and　he　saw　how　beautiful　she　was　there　under　the　soft；　almost　loving　sunlight。

〃Ooo！　That　is。。。excuse　me！〃　He　brought　the　gun　up　and　stared　at　it　for　a　moment。　He　whirled；　with　a　country　Forager's　sense　of　propriety。　〃That　is；　I'm　sorry！〃

She　looked　up　at　the　strange　figure；　her　long　distraction　broken。　〃Uh…mm…ahh？〃

The　distraught　Rand　was　trying　to　collect　his　wits。　In　the　outlands　where　he　came　from；　being　found　with　a　naked　woman　could　have　all　sorts　of　horrible　repercussions；　especially　if　one　were　found　with　her　by　her　male　kin。

He　jittered；　staring　at　the　pockmarked　stucco　wall。　〃Didn't　mean　to　surprise　you！　But…won't　you　catch　cold　just　sitting　there　like　that？　You　know…Heh；　umm；　don't　you　have　any…〃　He　tried　not　to　look　at　her。　〃…any　clothes　you　could　put　on？〃

She　didn't　know　who　or　what　she　was。　She　looked　up　at　the　creature　or　object　that　had　moved　and　made　noises　toward　her。　Following　an　ingrained　program；　she　emulated：　〃Clothes。。。put。。。on？〃

〃Yeah；　you　know：　anything　to　w…woo…〃　He　was　having　trouble　spitting　it　out；　and　he　was　having　even　more　trouble　keeping　himself　from　ogling　her。

〃Have　any　thing　w…wwoo…〃　she　mimicked；　pletely　baffled。

Just　then；　Rook　dashed　in。　〃Rand！　I　thought　I　heard　voices！〃

As　she　skidded　to　a　stop；　he　was　already　waving　his　hands；　trying　to　keep　her　from　seeing　the　situation。　〃Um；　don't　e　any　closer！　I　don't　think　you　want　to　see；　er…maybe　we　should　get　back　to　the　Cycl…〃

But　she　had　already　seen　the　naked　woman；　and　her　open…mouthed　surprise　changed　to　anger。　〃Stop　being　an　idiot！〃　She　elbowed　him　aside　and　looked　down　at　the　young　woman；　who　was　trembling　and　looking　up　at　them　both；　apparently　in　a　state　of　shock。

Rook　spun　around　and　grabbed　the　front　of　Rand's　pullover。　〃You　animal！　How　could　you　do　something　like　this？〃

〃Hey；　honest！　I　found　her　like　that！　She　wasn't　wearing　a　single　piece　of　anything！〃　He　was　astounded　by　the　anger　in　her　eyes；　astounded　that　she　could　think　he　would　assault　someone。　He　was　even　more　astonished　by　something　else　he　thought　he　saw　there。　It　was　partially　a　look　of　despair；　as　if　Rand　had　betrayed　her；　betrayed　some　emotional　investment　she　had　made　in　him。

She　released　him　and　began　taking　off　her　faded　yellow　hunting　jacket；　moving　toward　the　young　woman。　〃I'll　just　bet　she　wasn't；　you　scuzzwad！〃　She　knelt　to　drape　her　jacket　gently　around　the　woman's　shoulders。

〃Tell　me；〃　Rook　said　kindly；　〃why　are　you　here　all　by　yourself？〃

〃Here　all　by　yourself；〃　Ariel　repeated。

Rand　told　Rook；　〃That's　all　she　does；　repeat　what　you　say！〃

Rook　rose　and　went　back　to　him。　〃Now　slow　down　and　tell　me　what　you're　babbling　about。〃

He　shrugged。　〃Maybe　she　lost　her　memory。〃

Rook　considered　that。　〃You　mean　like　through　some　sort　of　trauma？〃

The　young　woman　was　staring　down　blankly　at　the　straw　on　which　she　sat。　The　scintillating　lights　playing　off　her　were　fewer　now。


Rand　rode　point；　while　Rook　followed　along　with　the　frightened　young　woman　huddled　in　her　jacket。

They　were　observed　by　the　optical　sensors　of　a　half　dozen　Shock　Troopers　and　Pincer　Ships。

〃The　Simulagent　has　been　accepted；〃　the　Regis's　voice　rang　among　them。　〃Follow　and　observe！　Make　no　attempt　to　contact…as　yet！〃


Annie；　worried　about　Scott；　stayed　behind　when　the　others　went　out　foraging。　Her　few　attempts　to　get　him　to　talk　met　with　utter　failure。　As　the　sun　climbed　higher；　she　idly　inspected　the　nearby　hulk；　and　kept　one　eye　on　Scott。　He　didn't　move　but　sat　beneath　the　gun　turret；　staring　off　into　space。

Something　bright　in　the　sand　caught　her　eye。　〃Hey；　Scott；　look　what　I　found！〃　She　swung　it　from　its　chain。　〃A　pendant！　Isn't　it　beautiful？〃

But　he　never　even　turned　her　way。　Annie's　feelings　were　so　hurt　that　she　threw　the　glittering　thing　back　toward　where　she　had　found　it；　then　squatted　miserably　in　the　dust；　eyes　brimming　with　tears。

But　a　moment　later　she　was　distracted　by　the　approach　of　Scott's　Alpha；　still　in　Guardian　mode。　Annie　jumped　to　her　feet；　waving　and　smiling　up　at　the　Veritech。　〃Hey；　Lancer！〃

A　few　seconds　later；　Lancer　leapt　down　from　the　cockpit。　Annie　trotted　over　to　greet　him。　〃Did　everything　go　all　right？　Didja　find　any　Protoculture？〃

He　beamed；　throwing　back　the　long　purple　tresses。　〃I　found　something　even　better！　e　on；　while　I　tell　Scott。〃

She　dashed　after；　thrilled　without　even　knowing　what　the　news　was。　〃Scott！　Wait'll　you　hear　this！〃

Lancer　stopped　in　front　of　the　young　lieutenant。　〃Scott；　listen…〃　He　stopped　because　Scott　hadn't　even　bothered　to　look　up　at　him。

Scott　sighed　listlessly。　At　last；　still　looking　down；　he　said；　〃Yeah；　what　is　it？〃

But　before　Lancer　could　speak；　they　heard　Lunk　returning；　laughing　and　beeping　the　horn　of　his　truck。　〃Hey；　everybody！　Wait'll　you　see　this！　It's　terrific！〃

He　was　still　carrying　on　as　he　stopped　in　a　shower　of　gravel　and　sand　and　hopped　out　of　the　cab。　Scott　wasn't　any　more　curious　about　Lunk's　find　than　about　Lancer's；　but　Lancer　and　Annie　were　eager　to　hear。

〃You　won't　believe　it！〃　Lunk　chortled。　〃It's　a　new　type　of　Veritech　fighter　I've　never　seen　before！〃　He　was　waving　a　manual。　〃See？　It　attaches　to　the　back　of　the　Alpha；　and　it'll　double　or　triple　the　range　and　firepower！　It's　called；　uhh…〃

He　paused　to　thumb　through　the　manual。　Scott　surprised　everyone　by　saying　quietly；　〃It's　a　Beta　Fighter。〃

The　other　three　went　〃Huh？〃　in　concert；　then　Lunk　continued。　There　was　barely　a　mark　on　the　Beta；　and　he　had　already　repaired　the　slight　damage　there　was。　He　unfolded　one　of　the　manual's　diagrams　and　showed　it　to　Lancer　and　Annie。

The　Beta　was　bigger　and　more　burly　looking　than　the　Alpha。　It　was　a　mecha　of　raw　power　that　could　also　assume　Battloid　form　and　a　kind　of　modified　Guardian。

Then　it　was　Lancer's　turn。　He　had　located　two　more　Alphas　that　looked　like　they　could　be　made　bat　ready；　especially　given　the　surplus　of　spare　parts　lying　around。

Lunk　was　still　giddy。　〃With　four　fighters　and　four　Cyclones；　we'll　just　plain　knock　the　Invid　clear　off　this　old　world！〃

Annie　was　picturing　herself　in　a　victory　parade。　〃Scott；　this　is　so　exciting！　We're　going　to　have　enough　firepower　to　make　us　a　miniature　army！〃

He　looked　at　her　angrily。　〃Four　lousy　fighters？　What　difference　will　that　make　against　the　Invid？　The　people　who　died　here　were　an　army；　don't　you　understand　that；　any　of　you？　This　was　part　of　Admiral　Hunter's　handpicked　force！　And　all　we　can　do　is　end　up　just　like　them！〃　He　slammed　his　fist　against　the　torn　hull　furiously。

He　hated　himself　for　saying　it。　He　had　spent　the　morning　hating　himself　for　a　variety　of　reasons：　for　the　death　of　his　fianc閑　Marlene　in　the　initial　attack；　when　Scott　was　the　only　survivor　from　his　entire　squadron。　For　leading　the　others　along　on　this　quixotic　quest　across　a　ruined　Earth；　with　a　lunatic　vision　of　defeating　the　beings　who　had　conquered　an　entire　world。　For　the　despair　that　had　enveloped　and　disabled　him　pletely；　now　that　all　his　hopes　were　shattered。　For　the　sad　necessity　of　telling　them；　now；　that　it　had　all　been　a　mistake；　and　they　had　to　make　their　own　way　from　here　on；　as　best　they　could。。。

Annie　was　in　tears　and　Lunk's　big　fists　were　balled。　He　looked　a　little　like　an　angry　gorilla。　〃That　does　it。　Bernard！　All　right；　you　feel　bad　about　your　buddies；　we　understand；　and　we　do；　too。　But　is　that　any　reason　to　take　it　out　on　Annie？〃

Lunk　took　a　step　closer。　〃Get　up。〃　His　ham…size；　scarred　fists　were　raised。

But　Lancer　intervened；　almost　frail　and　insubstantial　next　to　Lunk；　though　they　had　all　seen　Lancer　fight　and　knew　differently。　〃Lunk；　stop。　Take　care　of　Annie；　will　you？　I'll　talk　to　Scott。〃

Lunk　hesitated；　then　obeyed。　Lancer　went　to　squat　next　to　Scott；　who　seemed　to　be　asleep。

〃Don't　say　anything；　please；　just　listen。　We're　all　with　you；　and　we're　still　ready　to　follow　you　in　the　fight　against　the　Invid；　because　you…and　we…are　the　last　chance　the　Human　race　has。　But　if　you　give　up　now；　the　team　falls　apart；　because　you're　the　only　one　with　the　know…how　to　tackle　Reflex　Point。

〃Now　I　want　you　to　remember　what　you　told　us：　we're　all　soldiers；　and　we　have　to　do　our　duty；　whatever　the　cost；　whatever　happens。〃

Scott's　eyes　had　slowly　opened；　but　he　still　stared　out　at　the　aftermath　of　the　slaughter。　Lunk；　disgusted；　led　Annie　off　to　begin　work　on　the　Alphas　Lancer　had　found。　After　a　moment　Lancer　followed　them；　leaving　Scott　alone　and　silent　once　more。

There's　no　way　to　defeat　the　Invid。　You're　insane；　and　now　you've　passed　the　insanity　on　to　others。

He　lost　track　of　time　until　a　sudden　glint　of　light　caught　his　eye。　It　was　the　sun　shining　off　the　pendant　Annie　had　tossed　aside。　It　was　a　cheap　piece　of　jewelry；　a　lot　of　people　in　Mars　Division　and　the　other　units　had　carried　it　or　something　like　it。　That　made　him　remember　something　suddenly；　and　he　dug　out　the　locket　Marlene　had　given　him　when　they　had　parted…unknowingly…for　the　final　time。　It　was　a　flat；　heart…shaped　metallic　green　locket　with　a　blood…red　holo…bead　in　the　center；　not　very　expensive　but　unutterably　dear　to　him。

He　activated　it　and　it　opened　like　a　triptych。　The　air　above　the　holo…bead　was　shot　through　with　distortions；　then　the　image　of　Marlene　hung　there；　a　Marlene　perhaps　six　inches　tall。　Her　unifo