11_metamorphosis-第20章

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Well；　Scott：　make…it…or…break…it　time！　he　thought；　all　in　an　instant；　as　the　valve　before　him　disappeared　in　a　wash　of　demonfire。

Then　he　was　through；　the　Battloid　thrown　into　the　clear　like　a　marionette　fired　out　of　a　mortar。　But　somehow　the　Robotech　colossus　held　together；　straightened　itself；　and　regained　flying　posture；　as　the　core　explosion　reached　the　open　air　on　the　mountain　behind　it。　It　was　as　if　somebody　had　opened　a　floodgate　into　the　heart　of　a　star。

Scott　dazedly　shook　his　head；　trying　to　image　his　mecha　along；　looking　around　him　wonderingly；　and　tasting　the　special　sweetness　of　being　alive。　Well；　what。。。do。。。you。。。know！　He　went　down　to　join　the　others。


Down　below；　Annie；　Lunk；　and　Rook　cheered　as　the　mountain　shook　to　its　roots。　Lancer　was　silent；　but　even　he　nodded　approval。

But　Marlene　only　watched　dully；　hearing　the　distant　wailing　of　the　Regis；　and　Rand　was　thinking　to　himself　that　somewhere　thousands　upon　thousands　of　drones　had　been　consumed。　When　he　thought　about　the　horrible　things　their　quickening　would　have　meant　for　Humans；　he　couldn't　feel　pity。

The　stronghold　itself　began　to　sink；　subsiding　into　the　ground　the　way　the　mountains　above　the　Genesis　Pit　had　subsided。　Passes　everywhere　were　blocked　with　the　snow　shaken　down　by　the　fortress's　passing；　but　at　least　now　the　way　was　open　for　any　who　might　want　to　e　after；　for　anyone　who　had　had　enough　of　the　south　and　wanted　to　try　a　new　life。

Who　knows？　Annie　thought。　Maybe　there　is　a　Paradise！

Far　below　the　snow　line　they　found　a　lake　that；　though　cold；　was　a　wele　place　of　respite。　In　no　time；　Annie　was　in　the　water；　her　much…touted　bikini　covered　by　a　T…shirt。　Rook　was　in；　too；　in　bra　and　panties；　eager　to　wash　off　the　trail　and　the　deaths　and　the　killing。　In　no　time；　Annie　had　her　engaged　in　a　splash…fight。　Both　of　them　loved　it；　even　though　their　lips　were　turning　purple。

Marlene　sat　on　the　grassy　shore；　watching　in　bewilderment。　Maybe　if　she　could　figure　out　this　inprehensible　behavior　it　would　help　her　figure　out　all　the　other　enigmas　that　were　her　life。　Thus　far；　she　had　simply　gone　along　with　the　people　who　had　found　her；　like　a　spore　borne　on　the　wind。　But　was　that　what　she　should　be　doing；　even　if　it　did　feel　appropriate？　Nothing　made　any　sense。

A　few　yards　away；　the　men　sat　at　ease　after　setting　up　camp。　Annie　had　pointedly　informed　them　that　it　was　ladies　first　in　the　bath；　and　they　would　have　to　wait　their　turn。

Rand　was　shaking　his　head；　saying；　〃Poor　Marlene。　All　those　attacks　or　whatever　they　are。　And　she　still　hasn't　pulled　out　of　that　amnesia。　I　wish　there　was　something　we　could　do　for　her。〃　He　was　looking　in　her　direction；　but　it　was　also　easy　to　shift　focus　just　a　little；　and　watch　Rook　splashing　around　in　that　skimpy　outfit；　which；　drenched　in　water；　was　just　about　transparent。　His　breathing　became　a　little　ragged。

〃Don't　push　it；〃　Scott　said。　〃She's　been　through　some　pretty　rough　times。　She's　got　problems　she's　got　to　work　through；　who　doesn't？　She'll　open　up　when　she's　ready。〃

Lancer　was　eyeing　Scott；　thinking　about　the　matter　of　Marlene's　naming；　wondering　what　things　the　team　leader　was　working　through。

Annie　was　hollering　for　Marlene　to　e　in　and　join　the　fun。　Rook　added；　〃Yeah；　c'mon　girl。　It'll　do　you　good。〃

Cold　water　immersion　therapy？　Rand　wondered。　I　could　use　some　right　about　now。

Then　his　predicament　got　even　worse。　Marlene　said；　〃All　right；〃　to　Annie's　invitation；　in　a　hesitant；　unsure　voice…as　if　plying　came　more　easily　than　deciding。

She　rose　and　began　shedding　clothes　as　innocently　as　a　child。　All　four　men　stared；　bug…eyed；　but　it　was　Rand　who　choked　out；　〃Marlene；　stop　that！　Are　you　trying　to　give　me　a　cardiac？〃

But　she　was　already　naked　and　seemed　not　to　hear；　feeling　the　sun　and　the　wind　on　her　skin；　her　fine；　waistlength　red　hair　stirred　by　the　breeze。　It　was　the　slim…but　full；　flawless　female　body　Rand　remembered　so　well　trying　not　to　stare　at。

Framed　there　against　the　mountains　with　the　sun　gleaming　from　her；　Scott　thought　Marlene　was　somehow　a　higher　being。　She　seemed　finer　than　other　Humans…a　creature　possessed　by　an　unconscious　beauty　and　a　natural　grace　so　overwhelming　that　it　caused　an　ache　in　your　heart　just　to　see　it；　and　left　you　changed。

Lancer　had　calmly；　almost　gently；　grabbed　Rand　by　the　earlobe　to　stop　his　raving。　〃Don't　you　know　it's　not　polite　to　stare　at　a　lady？　You　might　make　her　feel　self…conscious。〃

And　who'd　know　better　than　you？　Lunk　thought；　but　not　unkindly。

〃Ow！　Okay！〃　Rand　was　yelping；　trying　to　squirm　out　of　Lancer's　hold。　〃I　didn't　mean　to！　I　won't　do　it　again！　Uh；　but　maybe　what　I　need's　a　swim…〃

Lancer　shoved　him　over　in　mock　disgust。　Rook；　having　watched　from　the　lake；　was　suddenly　scowling。

Gawdamn　hick！


They　were　all　to　remember　the　interlude　by　the　lake　wistfully；　though。　Their　route　soon　descended　to　a　sandblown　desert　region　that　didn't　appear　on　twentieth…century　maps。　It　was　a　desert　more　resembling　those　of　North　America　than　anything　that　had　existed　in　the　South　before　the　devastations　of　the　Zentraedi；　Robotech　Master；　and　Invid。

The　terrain　and　climate　hampered　their　rate　of　travel；　but　the　enemy　activity　was　much　more　of　a　problem。　In　the　wake　of　the　fortress　raid；　the　Regis　had　saturation　patrols　scouring　the　countryside　for　them…consisting　mainly　of　immense　Shock　Troopers　now；　with　Pincers　and　Scouts　in　support　roles。

They　knew　the　aliens　were　concentrating　a　great　deal　of　their　resources　on　the　freedom　fighters；　and　Scott　began　to　fear　the　team　had　attracted　a　fatal　amount　of　attention　to　itself。　What　none　of　them　could　know　was　that　the　Regis　was　also　enraged　and　frustrated　that　she　had　lost　contact　with　her　Simulagent…Marlene。

There　came　a　time　when　the　team　was　held　up　in　a　cave　as　a　sandstorm　raged　outside　and　Shock　Troopers　paced　the　desert　outside；　searching　for　their　trail。　Though　it　should　have　been　broad　daylight；　the　world　was　a　sand…red　dusk；　and　even　in　the　cave　that　tinted　the　air　and　layered　everything；　making　their　world　monochrome。

Marlene；　who　had　bee　ill　once　they　had　e　down　onto　the　desert；　was　nearly　in　a　a；　shivering　in　her　sleeping　bag。　In　reality；　she　was　suffering　a　delayed　reaction　to　the　impact　of　the　Sensor's　destruction　and　the　PSI　emanations'　impact　on　her。

And　their　water　supply　was　virtually　gone；　their　main　supply；　in　jerry　cans　rigged　to　Lunk's　truck；　had　been　shot　up　in　a　brief　skirmish　when　they　made　their　dash　from　the　high　country。　Morale　was　so　bad　that　Scott　blamed　Lunk　for　it；　and　Rand　in　turn　jumped　all　over　Scott；　the　argument　almost　had　them　at　each　other's　throat。　It　didn't　blow　over　so　much　as　spread　to　the　others。　They　were　sick　of　seeing　and　hearing　each　other　and　being　crowded　into　the　cave　with　their　mecha；　the　sand　in　everything；　and　the　endless　howl　of　the　wind。

At　last　Marlene　cried　out　in　her　fever…dream　and　startled　everyone。　There　were　some　shamefaced　apologies；　as　Rand　knelt　to　squeeze　some　moisture　into　her　mouth　from　a　rag…twisted　bit　of　cactus　flesh。　She　opened　her　eyes　at　the　taste　of　the　juice　and；　despite　its　sour　flavor；　smiled　up　at　him　gratefully；　almost　adoringly。　Outside；　the　rumble　of　Shock　Trooper　thrusters　came　over　the　wind；　as　the　aliens　went　to　search　elsewhere。

Rand　couldn't　help　smiling　back；　losing　himself　in　those　mysterious　eyes；　even　chuckling　to　himself。　But　the　others　weren't　laughing；　they　accused　him…absurdly…of　keeping　the　information　about　cactus　moisture　to　himself。

He　jumped　to　his　feet；　fists　cocked。　〃A　guy　just　can't　win　around　you　people；　can　he？　Any　Forager　knows　that　trick；　I　guess　I　just　assumed　you　weren't　so　dumb　you'd　just　die　of　dehydration　when　there're　cactus　all　around　out　there！〃

He　started　for　the　cave　entrance。　〃Did　you　see　me　holding　out？　No！　I　gave　what　I　had　to　Marlene；　or　are　you　all　blind？〃

〃Rand；　wait！〃　Rook　spoke　to　him　sharply；　and　yet　there　was　a　note　of　alarm　in　it。

〃You　want　cactus？　You'll　get　it！〃　She　would　have　gone　with　him；　but　his　hate…mask　expression　made　it　plain　that　he　was　in　no　mood　for　pany。　Rook　watched　him　go；　then　turned　to　study　Marlene；　who　had　fallen　back　into　a　fitful　sleep。

Even　with　his　goggles　on；　Rand　found　himself　all　but　blinded　by　the　storm。　He　counted　his　steps　and　tried　to　remember　the　layout　of　the　area。　He　had　barely　gotten　thirty　yards　before　he　fell　off　the　lip　of　a　deep　sandpit。　He　rolled　and　tumbled　down　its　side；　scraping　skin　and　having　the　wind　knocked　from　him。


Back　in　the　cave；　Marlene's　eyes　suddenly　opened　wide；　though　the　others　were　busy　making　plans　and　didn't　notice。　The　howl　of　the　wind　blotted　out　her　one　soft　cry；　〃Rand！〃


Rand　was　doing　fine　until　an　outcropping　of　sandstone　grazed　his　head。　Then　he　was　seeing　stars；　and　there　was　no　desert；　no　earth；　no　nothing　around　him。

There　were　in　fact　cactus　and　other　plants　near　where　his　body　lay。　The　Invid　Flower　of　Life　took　root　where　it　willed；　with　no　predictable　pattern　or　limitation。　Rand　lay；　out　cold；　in　a　miniature　garden　of　them；　with　several　of　the　tripartite　Flowers　crushed　under　him。


The　sandstorm　had　stopped；　and　the　beat　of　great；　leathery　wings；　and　the　sound　of　a　very　special　voice　crying　his　name；　roused　him。　He　opened　his　eyes　to　a　night　sky；　and　saw　that　a　dragon　was　passing　overhead。　And　in　its　right　forepaw；　amid　gleaming　claws　like　sabers；　it　held。

〃Marlene！〃　He　was　on　his　feet　in　an　instant。

What　the　flamin'；　flyin'…〃Stop！〃

Then　his　Cyc　materialized　next　to　him　and　he　was　off　to　the　rescue。　The　mechabike　took　to　the　air；　and　suddenly　he　was　in　armor；　riding　across　a　rectilinear　landscape。　He　went　to　Cyclone　Guardian　mode；　only　to　discover　that　the　dragon　had　turned　to　fight。

Rand　couldn't　shoot　without　risking　hitting　Marlene。　The　dragon　faked　him　out　with　a　snap　of　its　jaws；　making　him　dart　back。　He　managed　to　recover　as　Marlene　yelled　for　him　to　save　her。

His　back　burners　ignited　as　he　climbed　back　at　the　dragon　for　Round　Two。　〃I　don't　know　what's　going　on；　but　I'm　ing；　Marlene！〃　He　bulldogged　the　dragon；　assisted　by　the　powered　suit。　The　monster's　saliva　ate　at　his　armor　like　acid。　〃Let　'er　go；　ya　oversized　iguana！〃

Then　it　did；　and　she　was　falling；　wailing。　Rand　went　after　her　like　a　meteor　and　caught　her；　but　the　dragon　was　hot　on　their　trail。

But　all　of　a　sudden；　somehow；　it　was　Rand　and　Marlene　on　the　Cyc　again；　no　armor；　dodging　and　evading；　while　the　beast　blew　flamethrower　shots　at　them。　Marlene；　arms　around　his　waist；　cheek　pressed　to　his　back；　called　out；　〃Rand；　listen：　maybe　this　isn't　happening。〃

〃Huh？〃

〃Maybe　you're　dreaming　all　this。〃

〃I　like　that　idea　better　than　being　crazy　as　a　restroom　rodent！〃　Still；　it　was　nice　to　feel　her　arms　around　his　middle。

The　firedrake　stayed　in　their　six　o'clock　position　over　a　Frazetta…scape　of　crags；　peaks；　and　dire　moors。　It　birddogged　them　through　a　long　cave　with　a　bright　light　at　the　other　end。　Rand　wondered　if　he　was　supposed　to　be　reliving　his　birth　trauma　or　something；　even　though　all　he　felt　was　scared。　It　chased　them　under　an　impossibly　big；　bright　moon；　and　Rand　wondered　if　the　Cyc's　silhouette　resembled　a　certain　oldtime　movie　production　pany　logo。

Then　it　was　daytime；　the　desert；　and　the　pursuit　was　still　on。　Rand　realized　that　Marlene　was