11_metamorphosis-第21章

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Then　it　was　daytime；　the　desert；　and　the　pursuit　was　still　on。　Rand　realized　that　Marlene　was　giving　him　the　adoring　look　that　said　it　all；　and　revised　his　opinion　of　the　dream。

Next　thing；　somehow；　they　were　back　in　the　Hive　Center；　and　Marlene　had　another　one　of　her　strange　attacks；　and　Rand；　staring　at　the　Sensor；　made　the　connection。　〃It's　like　a　telepathic　link　with　all　the　other　Invid；〃　Rand　said　slowly；　eyeing　the　Sensor；　〃but　why　would　you　be　so　strongly　affected　by　it；　Marlene？〃

No　time　to　wonder；　the　dragon　was　back。　Rand　was　on　the　Cyc　and　turned　around　to　tell　Marlene　to　get　on；　and　then　realized　she　was　naked　and　unspeakably　beautiful；　as　he　had　seen　her　by　the　lake。


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

A　trillion　light…years　high；
Expanding　primordial　fireball；
Your　Universe　is　still
Your　body
Mingtao；　Protoculture：　Journey　Beyond　Mecha

This　isn't　gonna　be　one　of　those　numbers　where　I　find　myself　in　school　with　no　pants　on；　is　it？　Rand　wondered。

Suddenly　Marlene；　clothed；　was　behind　him　on　the　Cyc。　But　he　saw　that　he　was　back　in　the　Lizard　Lounge。　Appropriately　enough；　the　dragon　showed　up。　At　least　the　Cyc　wasn't　mired　in　mud；　he　accelerated　away　past　dueling　dinosaurs。

Then　he　had　to　dodge　some　Shock。　Troopers。　I　told　Scott　there　were　Invid　here！　〃I　get　the　feeling　this　is　some　kind　of　laboratory；〃　he　told　Marlene；　whose　hands　pressed　him　tighter　to　her。　〃That　the　Invid　are　experimenting　with　the　evolutionary　processes　of　Earth。　But　why？〃

A　ridge　of　rock　rose　up　to　send　Rand　and　Marlene　head　over　heels。　When　he　had　crawled　to　her；　to　cradle　her　head；　she　groaned；　〃You　mustn't　fight　with　Scott。〃

Scott？　What's　she　telling　me；　here？　〃The　two　of　us　just　don't　see　eye　to　eye。　I　honestly　don't　think　our　lives…any　of　us…mean　a　thing　to　him。〃

〃Rand。。。water；　please。。。〃

But　when　he　fetched　it　from　a　pool；　she　couldn't　sip。　He　brought　some　in　his　mouth；　pressed　it　to　her　lips。　Then　he　was　kissing　her；　and　her　eyes　opened。

He　laughed　and　tried　to　joke。　〃Um；　in　some　places；　that　would　mean　we　were　engaged。〃

But　the　roar　of　the　dragon　filled　the　cave　as　it　came　at　them　like　a　bomber；　and　they　were　off　again　on　the　Cyc。　Off　to　one　side　was　Annie；　leering　over　the　flames　once　more　in　the　Genesis　Pit；　speaking　in　the　voice　of　the　Regis。

〃Look；　Human；　into　the　flames　of　truth　and　tremble；　for　it　is　your　doom　that　you　will　see　there。　Even　now　the　final　chapter　of　your　people　is　being　written　in　the　great　Book　of　Time。〃

Annie　wasn't　finished。　〃Once　the　Invid　were　a　simple　race；　content　with　our　own　existence。　But　with　our　world　destroyed；　our　Flowers　stolen；　we　were　changed　forever。　And　once　we　have　conquered　the　Universe　we　shall　rise；　rise…we　shall　ascend　beyond　the　physical。　We　shall　rule　the　higher　planes　of　existence；　as　a　race　of　pure　intellect；　pure　spirit！〃

Rand　saw　again　those　mindshapes　in　the　flames　called　up　by　the　possessed　Annie。　Somehow　he　saw　Reflex　Point；　and　the　very　dwelling　place　of　the　Regis　herself；　though　he　could　not　see　her。

She　said；　〃So　we　have　e　here；　to　regenerate；　to　take　Earth　from　the　dying　hands　of　Humanity。　From　the　ashes　of　your　people　we　shall　arise；　reborn；　like　the　Phoenix！〃

There　was　a　lot　more　to　the　dream；　and　it　got　even　weirder。　The　dragon　snatched　Marlene　again；　and　Rand　found　himself　riding　to　the　rescue　with　his　teammates；　all　of　them　dressed　in　bination　Wagnerian…R。E。　Howard　getups；　but　using　mecha。　And　even　Lunk's　truck　could　fly。　Rand　noticed　that　Rook　seemed　very　displeased　with　him。　

Couldn't　I　just　click　my　Ruby　Slippers　three　times　and　call　it　a　night？

Still；　it　was　great　to　have　a　team　to　back　him　up；　great　to　have　friends。　He　realized　that　it　was　still　a　new　thing　to　him；　but　he　also　realized　that　he　had　felt　a　little　lonely　back　there；　facing　the　Leaping　Lizard　all　alone。

Somewhere　along　the　line　even　the　VTs　got　swords；　gleaming　silvery　ones　as　big　as　telephone　poles。　When　that　dragon　came　at　bay；　the　team　pureed　him。

But　when　demigoddess　Marlene　had　thanked　the　warriors　for　saving　her；　and　they　were　following　the　Eagles　of　Light　homeward；　after　having　been　assured　that　a　new　day　was　dawning　for　the　Human　race；　Rand　could　still　hear　the　voice　of　the　Regis。　From　the　ashes　of　the　Humans；　the　Invid　would　rise　like　a　Phoenix。


What　happened　subsequently　seemed　dreamlike；　but　it　hurt　so　much　that　he　decided　it　wasn't。　The　sandstorm　had　passed　and　he　was　being　helped　back　to　the　cave　by　Rook；　who　had　e　looking　for　him；　and　his　scalp　was　matted　with　blood。

But　when　he　saw　the　look　of　concern　on　her　face；　Rand　reconsidered　the　possibility　that　he　was　still　unconscious。

When　the　team…except　for　Lancer　and　Marlene…ran　out　from　the　cave　demanding　answers；　Rand　found　himself　slurring；　〃Listen；　a　new　day　is　dawning；　for　the　Dragon　is　slain　at　last。　Shut　up　and　listen！　The；　the　day　of　oblivion's　e　f'r　us　all。　Who　th'　hell　were　we；　t'believe　we　could　rule　the　Earth　forever？〃

There　was　a　lot　of　crosstalk　and　some　friction；　some　of　them　mad　at　Rand；　others…especially　Rook…telling　them　to　lay　off。　But　Rand　plowed　on；　〃The　Invid　have　e　here　from　across　the　Cosmos　to　regenerate　themselves　into　a　new　form。　They　want　to　rule　the　physical　Universe；　and　the　higher　planes　of　existence；　too！〃

〃Wow！　His　brain's　been　fried！〃　Annie　whispered。

〃Naw；　Annie；〃　Rook　countered。　〃The　boy　just　hasn't　woken　up。〃　She　gave　him　a　therapeutic　slap　on　the　cheek　that　she　tried　not　to　enjoy　too　much。　Rand　found　himself　back　in　the　real　world。

He　took　a　few　deep　breaths　and　started　again。　〃I　know　now　why　the　Invid　are　here。　They're　trying　to　survive　by　plugging　themselves　into　the　Earth's　evolutionary　system。　Don't　look　at　me　like　that；　you　can't　hardly　blame　'em！　We'd　do　it；　too；　if　we　faced　racial　extinction！〃

Which　we　do；　he　realized。

Scott　was　close　to　taking　a　swing　at　Rand。　〃I　couldn't　care　less　whether　the　Invid　survive　or　go　the　way　of　the　Zentraedi　and　the　Robotech　Masters；　just　as　long　as　they　leave　Earth。　This　is　our　planet！〃

〃Well；　I　wasn't　saying　that　we…〃

〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　you　out　there；　Rand；〃　Scott　seethed；　〃but　it　seems　to　have　knocked　your　loyalties　out　of　whack。〃

〃He　was　lying　on　a　bunch　of　Flowers　of　Life；〃　Rook　blurted。　〃A　whole　little　field　of　them。　And　the　sandstorm　hadn't　bothered　them；　not　even　a　bit。〃

While　the　others　were　thinking　about　that；　Rand　said；　〃What　about　Marlene？　Is　she　all　right？〃

Rook　looked　at　him　for　long　seconds　before　she　said；　〃She's　still　pretty　weak；　I'm　afraid。〃

Rand　went　down　on　one　knee　next　to　her。　Under　his　gaze；　she　stirred；　wakened；　smiled　up　at　him　as　she　had　hours　and　an　eternity　ago。　It　had　taken　a　look　and　a　thought；　not　a　kiss；　to　wake　the　sleeping　damsel。

Well；　Fair　Milady；　I　don't　know　if　you'll　ever　realize　it；　but　you　and　I　have　just　been　on　quite　a　spin。　And　I　wouldn't　have　missed　it　for　the　world。

Rook；　leaning　against　the　cave　wall　with　her　arms　crossed；　glowered　at　the　two。　Maybe　Marlene　was　brain…damaged；　but　that　was　no　excuse　to　gaze　up　at　a　bumpkin　like　Rand　with　liquid；　lambent　eyes。　He　was　nothing　but　a　wasteland　Forager！

〃Hi；〃　Rand　smiled　down　gently。　And　now　Scott；　too；　was　scowling。　In　true　military　style；　he　didn't　bother　to　consider　his　reasons　for　being　irked　at　Rand。　It　was　easier　than　examining　his　feelings　for　Marlene。

Rand　touched　Marlene's　cheek。　Her　gaze　gave　him　the　eerie　feeling　that　she　had　truly　been　along　on　the　all…time　championship　motocross　run。　Marlene　smiled　up　at　him。

A　thought　crossed　Rand's　mind。　What　was　it　Rook　said　he　had　been　lying　on？


Eventually；　as　Scott　had　fatalistically　expected；　a　patrol　of　Shock　Troopers　spotted　them。　The　freedom　fighters　jumped　the　Invid　right　away。

They　knew　little　about　the　Regis；　but　they　were　beginning　to　suspect　something。　The　simple　fact　was　that　the　Regis's　attention　was　often　diverted　to　matters　elsewhere　in　her　world…embracing　scheme；　and　offworld　as　well。　Although　the　whereabouts　of　her　Simulagent　and　this　persistently　bothersome　group　of　enemies　were　high　on　her　priorities　list；　the　Regis　had　a　staggering　number　of　projects　and　operations　to　control　and　guide。

All　the　freedom　fighters　knew　was　that　there　was　still　a　chance　to　avoid　disaster　if　the　team　could　act　quickly　enough。　Once　more　the　VTs　dodged　and　fired；　barrelrolled　and　spat　missiles。

This　battle　took　place　over　a　strange　landscape。　The　place　looked　like　a　jungle；　except　it　appeared　to　have　been　roofed　over。　A　translucent；　shell…like　pink　covering　stretched　over　hundreds　of　square　miles　of　river　valley。　The　roof；　or　whatever　it　was；　had　numerous　irregular　openings　in　it；　openings　so　big　that　the　VTs　could　fly　in　and　out　virtually　at　will。　But　so　could　the　Invid。

The　Humans　were　hampered　by　low　Protoculture　levels　and　ordnance　supplies；　Scott　wondered　if　they　would　even　have　enough　to　get　them　through　this　latest　mass　dogfight。　But　Lancer　was　a　tough；　precise　fighter　jock；　frugal　with　fuel　and　ammo　when　it　was　necessary；　and　he　and　Scott　had　taught　Rand　and　Rook　well。　Trooper　after　Trooper　went　tumbling；　burning；　from　the　air　under　the　weird　shell…roof。

Down　below；　Lunk；　Annie；　and　Marlene　were　having　it　a　little　tougher；　as　a　Trooper　noticed　them　and　came　swooping　down　at　them。　〃Hey；　you　fancy　fly…boys　up　there！〃　Annie　squawked　over　the　tac　net；　〃you　forgetting　your　friends　here　on　terra　firma？〃

Rand　broke　away　from　the　〃ratrace〃　and；　nearly　at　deck　level；　went　after　the　Shock　Trooper　that　was　on　the　APC。　But　suddenly　a　bunch　of　trees　came　at　him　out　of　nowhere。　I　think　I　zigged　when　I　shoulda　zagged；　he　thought；　as　retros　proved　insufficient　and　the　Beta　hung　up　in　a　treetop。

A　disc's　explosion　overturned　the　truck　and　the　Trooper　closed　in　for　the　kill；　as　the　shocked　Lunk；　Annie；　and　Marlene　watched。　All　in　an　instant；　a　bolt　from　a　heavy　VT　cannon　holed　the　enemy　through　and　through；　and　it　toppled。

The　three　looked　up　to　where　Rand's　Beta　hung　like　a　fly　in　web。　〃Some　shot；　huh？〃　he　beamed；　although　he　was　draped　over　his　instrument　panel　at　an　undignified　angle。

〃Jeepers；　what　a　dopey　landing；〃　marveled　Annie。

Above；　Scott　and　the　others　switched　from　Protoculture　to　reserve　impulse　power；　and　used　their　jamming　gear　and　spread　clouds　of　aerosol　smokescreen　behind　them。　Then　they　dived　through　one　of　the　holes　in　the　river　valley's　〃roof；〃　breaking　contact。　As　they　had　hoped；　the　Invid　went　off　in　all　directions；　apparently　mystified　as　to　where　the　prey　had　gone。


The　group　made　its　camp　and　held　council。　With　power　and　ammo　levels　so　low；　Scott　unveiled　what　he　considered　to　be　the　only　workable　plan　for　continuing　the　trip　to　Reflex　Point。

〃A　raft？〃　Rand　exclaimed。

Scott　sipped　from　his　mug。　〃There　are　two　things　to　remend　the　idea：　We'll　save　what　little　Protoculture　we　have　left；　and　we　won't　attract　the　Invid　by　activating　our　mecha。〃

Lancer　blew　on　his　coffee。　〃I　think　it's　a　brilliant　idea。　We'll　just　let　the　river　do　all　the　work。〃

Rand　looked　at　the　mecha。　〃You're　talking　about　one　helluva　raft；　there。　D'you　know　anything　about　rafts；　spaceman？〃

Annie　started　demanding　that　she　be　allowed　to　supervise　and　that　the　raft　be　named　in　her　honor。　Rook　scolded　her　and　said　that　this　wasn't　some　dumb　jungle　movie　where　all　you　need　is　a　couple　of　vines　and　a