12_symphony_of_light-第11部分

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〃Mmmm；　mint　chocolate；〃　Annie　said　with　her　mouth　full。　She　tore　open　a　second　package　and　broke　off　a　piece　for　Marlene。　〃Try　it；　you'll　love　it。　I　could　live　off　this　stuff。〃

Marlene　nibbled　at　it　and　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃It　is　good。〃

〃Peppermint！〃　Annie　exclaimed；　picking　another　item　from　the　floor。　〃This　is　my　most　favorite　thing　in　the　whole　world！〃　She　pillowed　her　head　against　the　bag　and　closed　her　eyes　lovingly。

Nearby；　Rand　popped　open　a　Coke。　〃You　got　mints　on　the　brain；　kid。〃　He　gulped　some　down　and　took　a　bite　from　the　hero　he　had　defrosted。

〃I　don't　care　what　the　Invid　do　as　long　as　they　don't　take　away　our　peppermint。〃

〃Nice　attitude；　Annie。　But　I　gotta　agree　with　you：　this　is　the　life。　Somebody　pinch　me　so　I　know　I　haven't　died　and　gone　to　heaven。〃

Rook；　pushing　a　cartful　of　supplies；　came　by　just　then　to　remind　him。　〃How　about　a　kick　in　the　teeth　instead？〃　She　gave　the　three　of　them　her　best　disapproving　look。　〃What　a　mess。　We're　supposed　to　be　foraging　supplies；　not　packing　them　away　in　our　stomachs。　Ever　think　that　Scott　and　Lancer　might　be　hungry；　too？〃　She　shook　her　head　at　Rand。　〃Sometimes　you　make　me　wonder。〃

He　showed　a　roguish　grin　in　response　and　tossed　a　can　over　to　her。　〃Ever　seen　these　before？〃

Rook　read　the　label。　〃Vienna　sausages？　What's　a　‘vienna'？〃

Rand　saw　Annie　and　Marlene's　puzzled　looks。　〃You　mean　none　of　you　have　tried　these？〃

〃Are　they　peppermints？〃　Annie　said；　getting　to　her　feet。

Rook　made　a　face　and　tossed　the　can　over　her　shoulder　to　Rand。　〃What　a　disgusting　thought。〃

Rand　shared　a　wink　with　Annie　and　said；　〃Let's　find　out。〃

She　kneeled　down　and　pulled　on　the　can's　ring…seal。　〃Oh；　they're　cute！〃　she　laughed；　fishing　out　sausages　for　Rand　and　Marlene。　She　popped　one　into　her　mouth。　〃Ter…ri…fic。。。Not　peppermints；　but　pretty　good　anyway。〃

Rook　was　watching　them　all　munching　away；　her　forefinger　to　her　lower　lip。　〃Lemme　try　one；〃　she　said；　kneeling　down；　hands　between　her　knees。

Rand　dangled　a　sausage　between　his　fingers。　〃I　don't　know。。。　You　think　you　should？〃

〃Just　gimme　it；〃　she　barked；　snatching　it　from　his　grip。　She　chewed　the　thing　up　and　swallowed：　salty　and　too　soft；　but　it　tasted　better　than　anything　she　had　had　in　weeks。

Annie　saw　the　look　of　delight　on　her　face；　laughed；　and　pointed　her　finger　accusingly。　〃Now　our　food　supply's　really　gonna　be　in　trouble！〃


Scott　had　left　the　VT　repairs　to　Lancer　and　Lunk　and　had　gone　off　to　look　for　Rand　and　Rook。　He　couldn't　blame　them　for　wanting　to　explore　the　city；　it　was　like　some　museum　of　prewar　life；　the　life　some　of　the　oldest　members　of　the　Pioneer　Mission　had　spoken　of。

He　was　standing　in　front　of　a　bridal　shop　now；　staring　at　a　lovely　white　dress　in　the　display　window。　The　dress　reminded　him　of　a　picture　he　had　once　seen　that　was　taken　on　his　mother's　wedding　day。　There　was　even　something　about　the　mannequin　that　reminded　him　of　her；　the　short　upswept　brown　hair　adorned　with　a　red　flower。。。He　was　so　caught　up　in　the　memory　that　he　wasn't　aware　of　his　teammates'　presence　until　Annie　spoke。

〃Jeepers；　look　at　that　dress！　What　I'd　give　to　be　married　in　that！〃

Embarrassed；　Scott　swung　around；　certain　they　had　read　his　thoughts　somehow。　Marlene　and　Rook　were　nodding　in　agreement。　They　had　three　shopping　carts　loaded　with　supplies。

〃Hey；　Scott；　who's　the　lucky　girl　gonna　be？〃　Rand　joked。

But　Scott　saw　his　friend's　smile　quickly　collapse　after　Rook　nudged　him　on　the　arm。　Now　it　was　Rand　who　was　embarrassed　for　having　forgotten　about　Marlene…Scott's　Marlene；　who　had　died　during　the　Mars　Division　assault。

The　foursome　began　to　move　off。　Scott　returned　to　his　musings　for　a　moment　more；　then　called　out　for　them　to　stop。

〃Where　do　you　think　you're　going？　I　want　to　get　these　supplies　to　the　ships。　Maybe　you've　forgotten；　but　we　have　an　appointment　to　keep　at　Reflex　Point。〃

Rand　made　a　dismissive　gesture。　〃Ah；　give　it　a　rest；　Scott。　What's　an　hour　or　two　gonna　matter？〃　Then　he　softened　his　tone　somewhat。　〃Look；　I　know　this　place　might　not　be　very　important　to　you。。。〃

〃But　we　were　born　right　here　on　Earth；〃　Annie　filled　in。　〃And　leaving　this　place　now　would　be　like　turning　our　backs　on　our　heritage。〃

Even　Rook　chimed　in。　〃We　deserve　a　little　R&R；　don't　we？〃

The　three　of　them　didn't　wait　for　his　answer　and　started　off　down　the　street。　But　he　didn't　try　to　stop　them；　there　was　no　denying　the　truth　of　their　arguments。

〃You're　such　an　old　stick…in…the…mud　sometimes；〃　Annie　said　over　her　shoulder。

Scott　regarded　the　mannequin　once　again；　only　now　it　was　Marlene；　his　fianc閑's　face；　that　he　saw　there。　Oh；　e　on；　Scott；　he　fantasized　her　saying。　Loosen　up　a　little。　It's　a　beautiful　dress。　And　who　knows；　maybe　they'll　give　us　a　break　on　the　price。。。It　is　our　wedding；　after　all。。。

〃Marlene；〃　he　said　softly。

〃I'm　right　here；　Scott；〃　the　other　Marlene　said　behind　him。　〃What　are　you　thinking　about？〃

He　turned　to　her　and　stammered：　〃Uh。。。about　another　dress　a　long　time　ago　that　was　similar　to　this　one。〃　She　had　a　sympathetic　look　on　her　face。　〃Do　you　think　they're　right　about　me　being　a　stick…in…the…mud？〃

She　was　about　to　reply　that　she　had　no　idea　what　that　meant；　when　Scott's　face　brightened　suddenly　and　he　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Marlene；　how　about　an　unguided　tour　of　the　city…just　you　and　me？〃

She　smiled　and　let　him　take　her　hand　but　an　instant　later　was　down　in　the　street　on　her　butt。

〃Whoa；　are　you　all　right？〃　Scott　was　asking　her。　He　was　kneeling　beside　her　on　the　pavement；　regarding　her　ankle　boots　and　frowning。　〃We're　going　to　have　to　find　you　some　better　shoes　and　some　warmer　clothes。〃

She　took　Scott's　hand　between　hers　and　pressed　it　to　her　cheek。　〃Mmmm。。。You're　not　cold？〃

Scott　nuzzled　her　hair。　〃No。　All　of　a　sudden；　I　feel　very　warm。〃


They　walked　the　deserted　streets　arm　in　arm；　content　to　say　little　and　enjoying　their　closeness。　Marlene　spied　a　display　of　lingerie　in　a　shop　window　and　ran　to　it；　fingertips　to　the　plate　glass。　Here　was　a　pair　of　yellow　bikini　briefs　with　a　matching　spaghetti…strapped　bra；　a　lavender；　camisole；　a　rose…colored　teddy。

〃Aren't　they　beautiful；　Scott？〃

〃Uh；　that's　not　quite　what　I　had　in　mind；〃　he　said　from　a　safe　distance；　blushing　all　the　while。　He　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders　to　move　her　away。　〃Believe　me；　you'd　freeze　in　those　things；〃　he　told　her。

In　a　shoe　store；　he　feigned　a　foreign　accent　and　tried　to　interest　her　in　a　pair　of　low…impact　approach　boots；　but　she　playfully　demanded　to　be　shown　something　more　feminine。

〃But　these　things　will　keep　you　from　churning　in　the　snow。〃

〃Feminine；　I　said。〃

He　round　a　pair　of　white　pumps　in　her　size　and　squatted　down　to　place　them　on　her　feet。　〃They're　not　very　practical；〃　he　started　to　say；　but　she　was　already　up　and　twirling　around　on　one　foot；　laughing。

〃There；〃　she　told　him。　〃Much　better　for　dancing。〃

Scott　smiled　up　at　her。　Dancing；　he　thought。　But　the　more　he　watched　her；　the　more　her　face　began　to　blend　with　memories　of　his　lost　love；　and　ultimately　he　had　to　look　away。　She　saw　the　sadness　in　his　eyes　and　asked　him　to　talk　about　it。

〃I　was　just　dreaming　of　a　better　time；　Marlene。　Of　dancing。。。〃

Then　all　at　once　he　was　on　his　feet；　the　excitement　back　in　his　eyes；　putting　his　hands　atop　her　shoulders。

〃And　now　to　plete　the　picture。。。〃

He　led　her　off　at　a　run　to　a　dress　shop　and　rummaged　through　the　racks　until　he　had　found　what　he　was　after：　a　strapless　gown　cut　like　a　mermaid's　tail；　pale　lavender　above　a　kind　of　pleated　base　of　white　skirt。

〃It　was　made　for　you。〃

She　held　it　up　to　herself；　flattered　by　his　choice。

〃Go　ahead；　try　it　on；〃　he　urged　her。

And　she　was　about　to；　but　there　was　something　vague　in　her　memory　that　prevented　her。　Scott　picked　up　on　it　immediately；　even　though　she　hadn't　a　clue　as　to　why　she　had　stopped。

〃Stupid　of　me；〃　he　said；　smacking　the　heel　of　his　hand　against　his　head。　He　scanned　the　shop　for　a　dressing　room　and　when　he　had　located　it；　rushed　over　to　station　himself　like　a　guard　by　its　curtained　entrance。

〃If　you'll　just　step　this　way；　mademoiselle。。。〃　he　suggested　with　a　theatrical　bow。

She　disappeared　inside　and　cautioned　him　about　peeking；　recalling　the　way　Rand　had　looked　at　her　when　she　had　innocently　stripped　off　her　clothes　to　swim。。。

Scott　jumped　back　as　though　scalded。　She's　reading　my　thoughts；　he　told　himself。　He　swallowed　hard　as　he　watched　her　discarded　clothes　pile　up　on　the　floor　below　the　curtains。　And　when　the　curtains　parted；　she　was　the　most　beautiful　thing　he　had　ever　seen。

She　stood　still；　her　hands　crossed　at　her　neck；　allowing　him　to　take　her　in；　then　she　gathered　her　hair　in　one　hand　and　turned　her　back　to　him。

〃Would　you　zip　me　up；　Scott？〃

He　regarded　the　open　zipper　and　took　halting　steps　toward　the　dressing　room；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　graceful　curve　of　her　back；　the　pale　perfection　of　her　skin。


CHAPTER　SIX

Why　the　sudden　shift　from　Lancer　to　Scott？　many　have　asked。　But　the　answer　is　immediately　evident　once　we　are　reminded　of　Ariel/Marlene's　original　programming　as　Simulagent。　Then　it　seems　entirely　natural　for　her　to　seek　out　the　leader；　and；　as　it　were；　the　team's　weakest　line　of　defense。
Bloom　Nesterfig；　Social　Organization　of　the　Invid

Rand　sang　to　himself　while　his　index　fingers　worked　the　machine's　flippers。　Sure　plays　a　mean　pinball。。。The　left　paddle　caught　the　ball　just　right　and　sent　it　careening　around　the　cushioned　arena；　up　the　forward　ramp；　and　smack　into　the　belly　dancer's　navel　for　a　bonus　score　of　one　thousand　points。　But　propelled　free；　the　steel　sphere　fell　like　one　of　Galileo's　own　and　shot　directly　through　the　Flipper　Straits；　lost　to　the　game's　mechanical　bowels。

〃You　Khyron！〃　Rand　cursed；　whacking　the　machine　with　his　hands。

Beside　him；　Rook　made　a　bored　sound　at　her　own　machine　and　moved　off　to　one　of　the　arcade's　plastiform　seats。

〃Don't　tell　me　you're　giving　up　already？〃　he　asked　over　his　shoulder。

〃Too　boring。〃　She　yawned。

〃Well；　how　do　you　ever　expect　to　improve　at　anything　if　you　just　keep　giving　up？〃

He　was　still　angry　with　her　for　the　elbow　she　had　given　him　earlier　while　they　were　washing　their　clothes　in　the　Laundromat。　Annie　had　wandered　off；　and　Rand　had　spotte