10_invid_invasion-第28章

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imself　it　was　time　to　begin　distancing　himself　from　them；　his　new　loyalties　would　have　to　lie　with　Wolff　and　whatever　missions　lay　ahead　of　them。

The　four　men　left　their　Cyclones　in　the　woods　and　followed　Wolff's　lead　along　a　faint　trail　that　coursed　over　low　hills　to　an　enormous　clearing。　Through　the　foliage；　Scott　caught　glimpses　of　a　massive　red　hemisphere　of　some　sort。　It　troubled　him　that　they　had　left　the　Cyclones　behind　and　were　closing　on　the　Invid　Protoculture　farm　armed　only　with　hand　weapons。　Wolff's　explanation　made　sense…that　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　get　near　the　place　on　Protoculture…fueled　mocha…but　even　so；　it　was　hard　to　imagine　that　simple　H…90's　could　effect　much　damage。

It　was　only　when　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　clearing　that　Wolff　made　the　rest　of　the　plan　clear：　It　was　imperative　that　they　make　off　with　enough　Protoculture　to　fuel　the　massive　rescue　operation　Wolff　was　planning。　Each　previous　mission　had　brought　him　closer　to　this　goal；　and　today's　could　plete　the　rescue　team's　requirements。　Beyond　that；　the　four　of　them　simply　had　to　keep　themselves　from　being　fried　by　annihilation　discs。　Scott　had　a　clear　view　of　the　farm　now　and　understood　why　Wolff　hadn't　attempted　to　describe　the　place　earlier…it　had　to　be　seen　to　be　believed。　It　was　a　hemisphere；　all　right；　but　one　that　stood　more　than　three　hundred　feet　high　and　was　nearly　a　mile　in　circumference。　It　was　a　kind　of　blood…red；　organic…looking　geodesic　dome；　lit　from　within　by　a　pulsing　light。　And　from　its　techno…system　base　extended　ten　tentaclelike　projections；　each　a　good　fifty　feet　around。　Scott　imagined　that　it　must　have　resembled　a　jellyfish　creature　from　above。

Wolff　whispered　a　warning　to　his　men。　〃Don't　be　fooled　just　because　you　don't　see　any　Invid。　They're　around；　you　can　be　sure　of　it。〃　Wolff　had　the　faceshield　of　his　Cyclone　helmet　raised；　he　had　his　dark　glasses　on。

Scott　had　to　admit　that　the　man　was　cool　and　alert；　not　the　boozing；　self…pitying　Wolff　he　had　seen　the　night　before　but　the　Wolff　who　had　led　the　Pack　up　the　glory　road。

〃There　are　two　entry　points　above　the　foundation。　The　Protoculture　is　stored　just　inside　these；〃　Wolff　said；　gesturing　to　two　arched　portals　in　the　membranous　portion　of　the　hemisphere　wall。　He　told　Todd　and　Wilson　to　take　the　south　one。　〃Bernard　and　I　will　take　the　other　one。〃

The　three　men　nodded。

〃Don't　overburden　yourselves；〃　Wolff　added。　〃Just　take　what　you　can　carry　without　weighing　yourselves　down。　Remember；　you　might　need　a　free　hand　for　those　blasters。〃　Wolff　grinned。　〃But　I　hope　it　won't　e　to　that。〃

Wilson　and　Todd　moved　off；　using　one　of　the　tentacles　for　cover。　Wolff　waved　Scott　forward　a　moment　later。

Halfway　along　one　of　the　segmented　tentacles；　Wolff　and　Scott　stopped；　huddling　down　with　their　backs　against　the　thing；　waiting　for　Wilson　and　Todd　to　reach　the　south　portal。

But　something　unexpected　occurred　just　as　Wilson　was　stepping　through。

〃Wolff！〃　Scott　heard　Todd　shout　over　the　suit's　tac　net。　〃There's　a　force　field　of　some　kind！〃　He　and　Wolff　turned　at　the　same　moment：　Wilson　seemed　to　be　suspended　in　the　entrance；　arms　up　over　his　head；　his　body　shaking　as　energy　coursed　through　his　suit。　The　ground　was　rumbling　all　of　a　sudden；　and　before　they　could　take　a　step　toward　their　two　rades；　an　Invid　Trooper　erupted　from　the　ground　not　twenty　feet　in　front　of　them。

The　shock　of　seeing　the　thing　must　have　been　enough　to　break　the　charge　that　held　Wilson；　Scott　guessed；　because　now　both　he　and　Todd　were　heading　back　toward　the　woods　at　a　run；　dodging　a　pincer　swipe　along　the　way。　Scott　and　Wolff　adopted　a　similar　tactic；　only　to　find　their　route　back　to　safety　blocked　by　a　second　Invid。　The　Trooper　emerged　with　enough　force　to　throw　Scott　off　his　feet。

A　third　Trooper　had　cut　off　Wilson　and　Todd's　retreat　as　well；　and　the　two　men　were　depleting　their　blaster　charges　against　it。

Wolff　was　shouting　for　Scott　to　get　up；　all　the　while　pouring　energy　from　his　handgun　into　the　face　of　the　alien。　Peripherally；　Scott　saw　a　flash　of　white　light　and　experienced　a　wave　of　searing　heat；　he　turned　in　time　to　see　Wilson　and　Todd　disintegrate　beneath　a　storm　of　annihilation　discs；　their　depth　screams　a　piercing　sound　track　through　the　net。

Wolff；　meanwhile；　had　managed　to　chase　off　the　Invid　that　had　been　looming　over　them　only　a　minute　before。　Scott　couldn't　figure　out　how　he　had　pulled　it　off　but　didn't　stop　to　question　it。　He　was　on　his　feet　now；　Wolff's　mands　to　run　for　it　in　his　ears。　The　tree　line　was　only　fifty　feet　away；　and　he　made　a　mad　dash　for　it。。。


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

The　incident　with　Jonathan　Wolff　dealt　a　severe　blow　to　the　team。　Not　only　because　the　episode　touched　them　more　deeply　than　they　thought　possible…they　were　not　as　inured　as　they　liked　to　think…but　primarily　because　it　seemed　to　shift　the　burden　of　responsibility　entirely　onto　their　shoulders：　There　was　no　resistance；　except　for　their　own　meager　efforts。　But　they　would　get　over　Wolff's　treachery。　How　could　they　not；　once　confronted　with　the　disillusionments　that　lay　ahead？
Zeus　Bellow；　The　Road　to　Reflex　Point

The　note　Scott　left　for　the　team　only　made　matters　worse。　It　read：　〃Don't　anyone　worry。　I　can't　tell　you　where　I'm　going　or　what　I'll　be　doing；　but　I'll　be　back　around　sunset。　Scott。〃

It　was　the　secrecy　that　troubled　Rand　most。　If　Scott　had　simply　disappeared　for　the　day；　Rand　might　not　have　given　his　absence　a　second　thought；　but　when　Scott　failed　to　return　with　Colonel　Wolff　that　afternoon；　he　and　Rook　decided　to　take　matters　into　their　own　hands。　They　didn't　bother　with　the　formalities　of　the　chain　of　mand　that　kept　Jonathan　Wolff　insulated　from　the　city's　rabble；　they　simply　made　their　own　way　to　his　room　and　burst　in　on　the　man　uninvited。

〃Where's　Scott；　Colonel？〃　Rand　said；　out　of　breath　from　his　run　down　the　hall。

Wolff　turned　puffy　eyes　to　them。　He　was　seated　at　a　table　in　the　fetid　room；　a　half…empty　bottle　of　vodka　in　front　of　him。　He　had　barely　moved　when　Rand　and　Rook　had　thrown　open　the　door　and　was　now　regarding　them　tiredly；　with　little　concern。

〃Scott　who？〃　he　said；　refilling　his　glass。

〃Bernard；〃　said　Rook。　〃We　know　he　was　with　you　this　morning；　and　he　hasn't　returned　since。〃

Wolff　made　a　dejected　sound　and　put　down　his　glass。　He　reached　for　his　dark　glasses　and　slid　them　on。　〃Bernard。。。〃

〃Well？〃

Tight…lipped；　Wolff　turned　his　gaze　from　them　and　shook　his　head。

Rand　gasped。　〃You　mean。。。〃

〃I　can't　say　for　sure。　The　Invid　surprised　us；　and　in　the　confusion　I　didn't　see　if　he　made　it　out　or　not。　They　were　waiting　for　us；　and　we　were　overmatched。　What　more　can　I　tell　you？〃

Struggling　with　the　possible　truth　of　it；　Rand　said　nothing。　But　a　suspicious　look　had　begun　to　surface　on　Rook's　face。　〃A　whole　lot　more；〃　she　told　Wolff。　〃How　did　you　escape；　Colonel？〃

Wolff　shrugged。　〃I　was　luckier　than　the　others。　That's　the　way　it　is。〃

Rook　snorted。　〃From　what　I　hear；　that's　the　way　it　always　is　with　you。〃

〃What　are　you　insinuating？〃　Wolff　seethed；　flashing　her　a　cold　look。

Rand　gestured　Rook　to　back　off。　He　took　two　steps　toward　the　table　and　slammed　his　hand　down。　〃Just　tell　us　where　you　were　attacked。〃

Wolff's　hand　went　out　to　steady　the　bottle。　〃If　you're　thinking　about　trying　to　go　out　there　and　find　him；　forget　it。　You　won't　make　it。〃

Rand　showed　his　teeth；　then　relaxed。　〃Look；　we've　got　an　Alpha　fighter　hidden　nearby。　If　there's　even　a　chance　that　Scott's　alive；　you　better　believe　I'm　going　out　there　to　find　him。〃

Mention　of　the　VT　seemed　to　bring　Wolff　around　somewhat。　He　lifted　the　bottle　but　set　it　down　without　pouring。　〃Even　a　fighter　might　not　be　enough。〃　Wolff　gave　Rand　an　appraising　look。　〃Yes；　Scott　told　me　that　you'd　seen　action　together。　But　we're　up　against　a　hive；　not　a　Scout　patrol。〃

〃It's　still　worth　a　try。〃

Wolff　thought　a　moment；　then　said：　〃All　right；　I'll　lead　you　out　there。〃

〃Great！〃

Wolff　stood　up　and　went　for　his　jacket。　〃We'll　leave　immediately。〃

Rand　swung　around　to　Rook。　〃Let　the　others　know　what　I'm　up　to。　We'll　get　Scott　back！〃

With　that　he　rushed　from　the　room；　Wolff　a　few　paces　behind　him。　Rook　stood　dumbfounded　for　a　moment；　then　followed　him　to　the　doorway。　〃What　am　I…your　personal　messenger　or　something？〃　she　yelled　to　his　back。　But　he　didn't　turn　around。　〃Rand！〃　she　shouted　again；　fuming。


Rand　showed　Wolff　where　the　Alpha　was　hidden；　but　the　colonel　insisted　they　recon　the　area　on　Cyclones　before　bringing　the　Veritech　into　play。　The　fighter；　Wolff　insisted；　would　stir　up　the　entire　hive；　it　was　simply　too　precious　a　modity　to　risk；　even　for　the　life　of　a　valued　friend。

Rand　saw　the　logic　of　it；　disturbing　as　it　was；　especially　after　Wolff　had　led　him　to　the　hive。

〃The　place　is　a　fortress！〃　Rand　exclaimed；　keeping　his　voice　low。　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　it。〃

Wolff　regarded　him　from　behind　the　dark　glasses；　obviously　pleased　by　Rand's　shocked　reaction。　They　were　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing　now；　suited　up　in　Cyclone　armor　and　armed　with　hand　blasters。　〃It's　just　one　of　many；〃　Wolff　said。　〃There's　a　chain　of　these　things　that　runs　clear　to　Reflex　Point。〃

Rand　swallowed　hard；　discouraged。　〃It　was　around　here　that　you　last　saw　Scott？〃

Wolff　nodded　and　lowered　the　helmet's　faceshield。　〃We'll　search　the　perimeter　first。〃　He　motioned　Rand　off　to　the　right。　〃Stick　to　the　woods；　and　I'll　meet　you　on　the　other　side。　I　only　hope　there's　something　left　of　Bernard　to　find。〃

Rand　refused　to　allow　the　thought　to　register。　He　turned　and　was　about　to　move　off　when　the　ground　began　to　tremble。　Wolff　drew　his　blaster　and　pivoted　through　a　360；　searching　for　some　sign　of　the　Invid's　egress　point。　Rand　managed　to　get　his　blaster　unholstered　and　aimed　in　the　same　general　direction　as　Wolff　's。

In　a　moment　the　Invid　Trooper　showed　itself；　rising　up　through　the　earth　and　underbrush　just　outside　the　clearing。　Wolff　and　Rand　hit　it　full　power；　but　neither　of　them　was　successful　at　directing　a　charge　to　any　of　the　creature's　vulnerable　points。　The　Trooper　seemed　to　sense　their　helplessness　and　opted　to　kill　them　with　its　claw　rather　than　cannon　fire。　It　had　one　of　its　pincers　raised　for　a　downward　strike；　when　someone　behind　the　two　men　stunned　it　with　a　Scorpion　delivered　to　the　head。

Rand　turned　in　time　to　see　Rook's　red　Cyclone's　rearwheel　landing　in　the　clearing。　She　slid　the　tail　end　of　the　mecha　around　and　shouted　through　the　externals　for　Rand　to　jump　on。

〃I　told　you　you　weren't　leaving　me　behind；〃　Rand　heard　as　he　raced　to　the　Cyc。　〃And　it's　a　lucky　thing　for　you　two　that　I　decided　to　follow。〃

As　Rand　straddled　the　Cyclone's　rear　seat；　he　realized　that　Wolff　wasn't　behind　him。　Over　his　shoulder　he　glimpsed　Wolff　waving　Rook　off。　〃Get　going！〃　Wolff　told　them。　〃I'll　make　it　back　to　my　mecha！〃

Rook　wasn't　about　to　sit　around　and　argue。　She　toed　the　Cyclone　into　gear　and　sped　off　almost　before　Rand　had　secured　an　adequate　handhold　behind　her。　Meanwhile；　the　stunned　Invid　had　e　to　life　and　was　spewing　a　horizontal　hail　of　annihilation　discs　into　the　trees。　The　Trooper　pursued　them；　its　shoulder　cannons　blazing。　Rook　pushed　the　Cyclone　through　a　series　of　twists　and　turns；　dodging　explosions；　plumes　of　fire　and　dirt。

Rand　was　thinking　they　were　in　the　clear　whe