11_metamorphosis-第23章

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The　only　answer　he　could　think　of　was　the　fact　that　the　team　was　now　in　the　region　that　had　bee　a　Zentraedi　control　zone；　back　when　Khyron　took　refuge　after　the　apocalyptic　battle　in　which　Dolza's　force　was　wiped　out。　The　Zentraedi　would　certainly　have　found　good　use　for　the　hydroelectric　power；　but　their　giant　size　would've　made　it　difficult　for　them　to　operate　and　maintain　the　dam。　The　answer　would　have　been　to　spare　a　picked　group　of　Micronian　techs。

Most　of　the　men　in　the　group　were　in　their　mid…twenties　or　so；　Scott　judged。　If　a　lot　of　the　techs　had　been　killed；　inadvertently　or　otherwise；　upon　Khyron's　departure；　that　would　have　left　kids　and　a　few　oldsters…like　the　white…haired　man　with　the　slightly　unhinged　look　in　his　eye…to　put　together　a　new　society　of　their　own。　Perhaps　they　had　borrowed　elements　of　their　crude　culture　from　local　Indians。

As　to　why　the　whole　area　had　been　roofed　over；　apparently　by　the　Invid…Scott　could　only　conclude　that　this　was　another　of　their　experimental　labs；　a　kind　of　grandiose　ant　farm。

〃Silence！〃　the　old　man　was　howling。　〃The　only　way　to　bring　back　the　river　god's　den　is　to　sacrifice　you！〃　He　gestured　to　the　shrinking　reservoir。

He　must　be　old　enough　to　recall　the　days　before　the　Wars；　Scott　saw…and　certainly　the　days　before　the　Invid　and　the　Robotech　Masters。　But　something　had　wrenched　his　mind　away　from　the　days　of　sanity　and　rational　thought；　and　locked　him　into　superstition。

〃My　lord；　I　think　I　have　an　idea；〃　Scott　interjected。　〃If　we've　sinned　against　your　god；　we　plead　ignorance。　But　we　will　set　things　right　by　bringing　the　river　god's　den　back　to　your　valley。〃

The　old　man　looked　at　Scott；　perhaps　he　recalled　the　techs　in　their　worksuits…not　so　different　from　Scott's　uniform…who　had　once　made　the　dam　do　their　bidding。　〃You　can　do　this？〃

〃If；　in　return；　you　let　us　go。〃

The　old　man　stroked　his　beard　with　gnarled；　black　nailed　fingers。　〃Very　well；　outlander。　But　if　you　fail；　your　panions　die！〃

Scott　angled　a　thumb　at　Lunk。　〃I'll　need　his　help。〃

And　I　hope　it's　enough。

Scott　surprised　himself　by　recalling　as　much　about　dam　construction　as　he　did　from　a　years…ago　Officer　Candidate　engineering　class。

Lunk　followed　him　at　a　dead　run；　and　they　soon　reached　the　outlet　control　structure；　further　along　the　dam。　But　when　they　got　to　the　control　room；　they　found　a　musty　room　of　half…corroded　machinery　and　a　bewildering　collection　of　long…outmoded　technology。　Switches　were　frozen　in　place；　CRTs　were　dark　and　silent。

Scott　had　concluded　that　some　malfunctioning　autosystem　had　opened　the　gates　to　release　the　reservoir　waters。　〃We'll　shut　off　everything　until　we　find　the　right　one；〃　he　told　Lunk。　Reopening　them　at　a　later　time　would　be　the　locals'　problem。


〃The　outlanders　have　been　gone　a　long　time；　Silverhair；〃　a　warrior　said　to　the　white…haired　chief。

〃Yes。〃　Silverhair　considered　that。　〃Perhaps　they　abandoned　their　panions　to　save　themselves。〃

〃Hold　on　a　second！〃　Rand　protested。　〃If　Scott　says　he'll　do　something；　then　he'll　do　it！　Just　give　him　time！〃

The　old　chief　nodded　slowly。　〃It　is　hard　for　you　to　face　the　fact　that　they　have　deserted　you。　Ulu！〃

The　warrior　addressed　as　Ulu　brought　up　his　spear　blade　and　leveled　it　at　them。


After　some　time；　Lunk　stopped　pulling　levers　and　spinning　manual　valve　wheels　at　random　and　began　reading　designation　plates　on　the　various　consoles。　By　miraculous　good　fortune；　he　found　a　mildewed　manual。　The　covers　were　rotted　to　soggy　filth；　but　the　schematics　themselves　had　been　laminated。

Lunk　might　have　his　problems　with　social　interaction；　but　he　had　never　been　outwitted　by　an　inanimate　object　yet。　He　puzzled　over　the　highpoints　of　the　operating　procedures　for　long　minutes；　then　moved　decisively。　〃Hey；　Scott！　I　found　it！〃

It　was　a　massive；　two…bladed　lever；　an　emergency　manual　control　that　would　in　cases　of　power　failure　close　the　gates　by　means　of　a　fluidic　backup　system。　But　it；　too；　had　suffered　from　the　decades　of　neglect。

Lunk　strained　at　it；　the　muscles　of　his　shoulders　and　arms　bunching　and　swelling。　Scott　threw　his　strength　into　the　fight；　too；　their　hands　clamped　around　the　switch。


Ulu's　spear　blade　was　close。　〃Trust　us；　will　you？〃　Rook　said；　not　able　to　take　her　eyes　off　it。　〃They'll　do　it　and　be　back。〃　The　spearpoint　edged　closer；　and　a　half　dozen　other　warriors　came　after　Ulu；　to　see　that　the　job　was　done　thoroughly。


The　lever　moved；　an　unbelievable　quarter…inch；　down　its　grooves。　Scott　and　Lunk　braced　their　feet　against　the　console；　teeth　gritted；　heaving　for　all　they　were　worth。　The　lever　moved　another　half　inch。


〃I　warned　your　panions　that　all　of　you…would　pay　the　price　of　their　failure；〃　the　chief　said。　The　spear　blades　hemmed　in　the　team　members。

Suddenly　there　was　a　change　in　the　sound　of　the　water　gushing　through　the　gates　and　outlet。　The　flow　was　lessening。

〃They　did　it；〃　Rand　exulted。　〃They　shut　off　the　valve！〃　Annie　managed　a　cheer。　As　the　team　and　the　tribe　watched；　the　flow　was　shut　off；　at　both　the　top　of　the　dam　and　the　bottom。

〃The　valley　is　saved；〃　the　old　chief　said。　〃The　river　god　is　appeased　at　last！〃　His　men　were　a　little　frightened　by　what　they　had　seen；　but　joyous　anyhow。


Scott　and　Lunk　got　back　to　the　dam　crest　as　fast　as　could；　only　to　find　that　their　teammates　had　been　unshackled　and　were　receiving　the　tribesmen's　clamorous　thanks。

〃We　invite　you　to　bee　members　of　our　tribe；〃　the　old　man　said　when　Scott　and　Lunk　got　there。

〃Thank　you；　but　first　there's　a　missing　brother　of　our　tribe　we　have　to　find；〃　Scott　deflected　the　invitation。

〃Hey！　Silverhair！〃　came　a　shout。　〃I　did　it！　I　got　myself　a　wife！〃

There　was　a　barefoot　kid　in　ragged　cutoffs　and　T…shirt；　maybe　an　undersized　thirteen　years　old　or　so；　ing　their　way。　〃I'm　a　man　now！〃　he　puffed；　dragging　a　big；　heavy　old　duffel　bag　after　him。

〃It's　Magruder；〃　said　Silverhair　the　chieftain。

〃Did　he　say　‘wife'？〃　Rand　murmured。

Magruder　staggered　to　a　stop　before　Silverhair　and　dropped　the　rope；　as　the　warriors　gathered　round。　〃I　captured　myself　a　wife；〃　he　panted　again；　〃so　according　to　tribal　law；　you　have　to　make　me　a　warrior！〃　He　pushed　his　narrow　chest　out　proudly。

Rook　got　the　distinct　impression　that　Magruder　was　more　excited　about　the　prospect　of　being　a　warrior　than　about　having　a　wife。　Typical　for　his　age；　she　decided。

Just　then　the　duffel　bag　heaved　and　fell　open。　Everyone　there　gasped。


CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN

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Rand　found　himself　looking　down　at　a　familiar　mass　of　purple　hair。　〃Lancer！〃

Lancer；　gagged；　glared　up　at　Rand　and　at　the　rest　of　the　world。　Scott　turned　to　Magruder　with　a　rare　smile。　〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　some　bad　news　for　you；　kid。　Y'see；　your　fianc閑　is　a　man。　And　not　one　that　I'd　like　to　have　mad　at　me；　if　you　catch　my　drift。〃

Magruder　looked　stricken。　〃It　can't　be！　That's　my　wife！〃

The　tribesman　were　beginning　to　guffaw；　and　Annie　was　giggling　a　bit　hysterically。　〃Is　this　the　missing　brother　you　were　talking　about？〃　Silverhair　asked。

Rand　nodded；　〃Yeah；　his　name's　Lancer。〃

Magruder　had　knelt　to　undo　the　gag。　〃Uh…oh。〃

Lancer　looked　at　him　mildly。　〃It　was　an　honest　mistake；　little　man。　Now…〃　He　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃Get　me　out　of　this　thing！〃

Scott　and　some　of　the　others　stooped　to　help；　Magruder　being　too　paralyzed。　Everyone　was　united　in　laughter　now；　at　the　expense　of　woebegone　Magruder。　Rand　was　having　trouble　catching　his　breath。　〃I…I　guess　you　haven't　had　much　experience；　huh；　little　guy？〃

Annie　was　among　the　loudest；　until　she　saw　how　hurt　and　mortified　Magruder　was。　She　stopped　in　mid…laugh；　realizing　that　here　was　a　mind　of　kindred　spirit；　another　runt　of　the　litter　trying　to　make　a　place　for　himself　and　be　accepted　on　equal　terms。

The　chief　was　ruffling　the　kid's　hair；　plainly；　he　was　a　sort　of　pest/mascot。　〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　him；　my　friends。　Magruder；　these　are　our　guests。〃

But　Magruder　broke　free；　grabbed　up　a　spear；　and　ran　fleetly　for　the　jungle。


Annie　made　a　stop　at　the　truck；　then　followed　Magruder's　trail。　She　caught　up　with　him　in　a　little　clearing　at　the　edge　of　the　stream　where　he　had　ambushed　Lancer。　She　could　hear　him　crying；　so　she　backed　up　some　distance；　then　made　a　lot　more　noise。　〃Yoo…hoo！〃

He　brought　his　spear　around；　swiping　quickly　at　his　eyes　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃Who　is　it？〃

She　struggled　through　the　undergrowth　into　the　clearing；　trailing　the　long　skirt　she　had　scavenged　back　in　New　Denver。　She　was　wearing　a　diaphanous　top；　and　in　her　hair　was　a　flower　garland　she　had　made　that　afternoon。

Annie　struck　a　glamour　pose；　one　hand　behind　her　head；　and　batted　her　eyelashes　at　him。　She　sang；　〃Hi…ya。　Magruder！〃　He　gasped　and　dropped　his　spear；　she　sauntered　over　and　sort　of　nudged　her　shoulder　up　against　him。

He　struggled　to　say；　〃Wh。。。what　are　you　supposed　to　be？〃

She　smiled　coyly。　〃You　poor　thing！　You've　got　such　a　lot　to　learn　about　the　opposite　sex！　Y'need　a　real　woman　to　show　you　what　makes　the　world　go　round；　hmmm？〃

He　pulled　away　so　fast　that　she　almost　toppled　over；　letting　out　a　squawk。　〃And　I　suppose　you're　a　real　woman？〃

Annie's　lower　lip　thrust　out　and　she　made　fists。　〃Hey；　listen；　buster：　don't　forget　your　last　girlfriend！　I'm　a　damn　sight　closer　than　he　was！〃

He　crossed　his　arms　on　his　chest。　〃That's　none　of　your　business！　Why　don't　you　go　away　and　leave　me　alone？〃

〃You'll　never　get　a　wife；　you　lamebrain！〃　she　bawled　at　him。　〃A　woman'd　have　to　be　nuts　to　hook　up　with　a　dippy　squirt　like　you！〃

〃Oh；　yeah？〃

〃Yeah！　You're　hopeless！〃

They　were　snarling　at　each　other；　when　Annie　reminded　herself　why　she　had　e　out　there。　Hold　your　horses；　Annie！　If　you　play　your　cards　right；　this　guy　could　make　you　a　jungle　princess。　Or　a　queen。　Who　knows？　They　might　even　make　you　a　goddess！

She　turned　from　him；　hands　clasped　to　where　her　bosom　was　due　to　appear　any　day　now。　〃I'm　really　sorry　for　shouting　at　you；　Magruder；〃　she　sniffed。　〃It's　just　that…it's　so　difficult　when　a　woman　bees　emotionally　involved。〃

Magruder　looked　like　he'd　been　sandbagged。　〃Uhh！　You're　not　crying；　are　you？　Hey；　don't　do　that！〃

Everything　was　going　just　swell；　Annie　figured。　In　a　week　or　two　she　would　be　running　the　valley。　But　then　her　schedule　was　thrown　out　the　window：　with　a　low　rumbling；　a　trio　of　Shock　Troopers　flew　by　overhead。　〃Yikes！　Invid！〃

Magruder　looked　up　at　them　stonily；　as　the　flight　of　Troopers　disappeared　in　the　distance。　〃The　Overlords　have　e　back　to　their　nest　here　in　the　valley。〃

Annie　turned　to　him。　〃‘Overlords'？〃

He　nodded。　〃My　people　hate　them。　Ever　since　they　first　came　here；　and　made　the　great　roof　over　this　valley；　hunting　has　been　bad；　they　frighten　the　game。〃

He　pointed　downriver。　〃The　strange　three…in…one　flowers　grow　thick　down　there；　and　so　the　Overlords　built　the　great　roof　over　the　valley；　to　make　this　place　their　garden。　The　legends　say　that　someday　the　river　god　will　rise　up　to　smite　them；　but〃…a　shrug…〃so　far　that　day　hasn't　e。〃

He　turned　and　reached　for　his　spear。　Annie　frowned；　〃Um；　Macky；　you're　not　gonna　try　something　stupid；　are　you？〃

He　hefted　the　weapon。　〃It's　time　I　became　a　man！〃　he　said。　〃I'll　prove　myself　in　battle！〃

Holl