12_symphony_of_light-第18部分

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　soldiers。〃

〃I　confessed　to　Rook　how　pissed　off　I　was　by　the　whole　deal。　‘I　mean；　what　happened　to　Reflex　Point？　Suddenly　we're　a　posse　for　hire；　or　what？'〃

〃For　once；　Rook　actually　agreed　with　me。　Strange；　because　she　had　been　ignoring　me　since　the　stunt　I　pulled　at　the　bathroom　window。　I　had　been　taking　a　kind　of　apologetic；　conciliatory　tone　with　her　ever　since　and　now　suggested　that　we　split　up　to　cover　more　ground。　But　she　didn't　want　to　hear　it。〃

〃‘If　it's　all　the　same　to　you；　I'd　feel　better　about　this　if　we　stayed　together。'〃

〃I　certainly　didn't　need　to　be　told　twice；　and　I'm　sure　I　was　smiling　inside　my　helmet　when　the　Invid　ships　appeared　over　the　hills。〃

〃‘Guess　we're　just　not　meant　to　be　together！'　Rook　shouted　over　the　net　just　before　we　separated。〃

〃There　were　five　ships　bearing　down　on　us：　four　rustbrown　pincer…armed　bat　units　led　by　one　of　the　new　blue　and　white　monsters　we　had　been　up　against　in　the　underground　city。　It　was　bound　to　happen…our　Cycs　were　probably　putting　off　the　only　'Culture　vibes　for　miles　around…and　I　had　said　as　much　before　we　split　up；　but　nobody　wanted　to　hear　it。〃

〃The　leader　dropped　some　fire　at　our　tails；　but　we　were　flat　out　now　and　just　out　of　range。　The　big　guy　stuck　with　me　after　we　separated；　but　Rook　had　her　hands　full　with　the　Pincer　craft。　I　saw　her　slalom　through　a　field　of　explosions；　then　launch　and　reconfigure　to　Battle　Armor　mode。　She　put　down　almost　immediately　and　took　out　one　of　her　pursuers　with　a　single　Scorpion　loosed　in　the　nick　of　time。　I　wanted　to　applaud　her；　but　I　was　too　busy　dodging　blasts　from　that　leader　ship。　There　was　a　low　mesa　directly　in　my　path；　and　I　used　it　to　my　advantage　by　snaking　around　its　base　and　going　over　to　Battle　Armor　before　the　Invid　ship　pleted　its　own　turn。　I　hovered　near　the　eroded　wall　of　the　butte；　trading　shots　with　the　ship；　but　I　couldn't　zero　in　on　any　vulnerable　spots。　The　Invid　was　up　on　its　armored　legs；　towering　over　me；　loosing　anni　discs　from　two　small　weapons　ports　tucked　under　its　chin…guns　I　didn't　know　existed　until　just　then。　But　after　a　minute　of　this　I　took　off　to　find　Rook。　As　the　two　of　us　landed　side　by　side；　she　said；　‘We've　gotta　stop　meeting　like　this。'〃

〃I　would　have　laughed　if　another　blast　from　the　leader　hadn't　forced　us　into　a　rapid　launch。　And　when　we　put　down　again；　there　was　panic　in　Rook's　voice。　‘It's　bad；　Rand！　There's　just　too　many　of　them！'〃

〃‘It's　always　bad！'　I　shouted　back。　‘Just　range　in　on　the　big　one　and　give　it　your　best　shot！'〃

〃The　four　remaining　ships　had　regrouped　and　were　closing　in　on　us。　We　both　raised　our　forearm　launch　tubes；　and　it　was　then　that　Rook　spied　something　atop　one　of　the　nearby　hills。　I　turned　in　time　to　catch　a　metallic　glint。〃

〃‘What　is　that？'　Rook　asked。〃

〃I　told　her　I　had　no　idea。　‘But　if　it's　not　friendly；　we're　in　real　trouble。'〃

〃The　Invid　had　also　caught　sight　of　the　thing；　and　it　was　apparent　an　instant　later　that　they　found　it　to　be　a　more　appealing　target。　The　ships　zoomed　past　us　without　a　shot；　making　straight　for　the　hilltop。　I　thought　it　might　be　Scott　or　maybe　Lunk　in　the　APC；　but　I　had　to　guess　again；　because　instead　of　attacking；　the　ships　simply　moved　off；　as　though　recalled　unexpectedly。〃

〃‘I　guess　it's　friendly；'　Rook　was　saying；　stepping　out　for　a　better　view　of　the　thing。　But　that　didn't　make　sense；　I　told　her；　following　her　lead。　If　it　was　friendly　to　us；　it　would　have　been　fired　upon。　My　guess　was　that　it　was　an　Invid　mand　ship…perhaps　that　orange　and　green　one　we　had　been　seeing　lately。〃

〃But　as　the　thing　came　into　view；　we　saw　that　it　was　some　kind　of　side…carred　cycle；　piloted　by　a　man　wearing　a　poncho　and　Western…style　hat。　We　were　trading　looks　with　him　when　he　suddenly　fell　off　the　bike；　obviously　shot！〃


〃The　rogue　was　hurt；　but　well　enough　to　ride。　Rook　insisted　on　seeing　what　she　could　do　for　the　wound　in　his　arm；　and　he　led　us　to　a　patch　of　forest　that　bordered　the　river　we　had　crossed　on　our　way　into　town。　He　was　tall　and　good…looking　in　a　derelict　sort　of　way。　His　hair　was　parted　in　the　center　and　fell　below　his　shoulders；　and　he　was　in　need　of　a　shave　and　a　good　scrubbing；　but　none　of　that　seemed　to　bother　Rook。　She　was　playing　nurse　to　his　silent　cowboy　and　enjoying　herself。　I　pretended　to　interest　myself　in　the　guy's　mecha；　which　was　unusual…it　had　twin　scrambler…type　exhaust　stacks　and　a　multimissile　launch　rack　（the　thing　I　had　taken　for　a　sidecar）…but　I　didn't　miss　a　word　of　their　conversation。　I　had　already　convinced　myself　that　the　guy　was　an　Invid　plant。　He　claimed　to　be　as　surprised　as　we　were　that　the　Invid　had　flown　off　without　frying　all　of　us；　but　I　wasn't　buying　any　of　it。〃

〃Rook　and　I　had　taken　off　our　battle　armor。　The　stranger　was　sitting　down　with　his　back　against　a　tree；　the　poncho　draped　over　one　shoulder；　letting　Rook　probe　around　inside　his　wound　with　a　pair　of　tweezers　from　one　of　the　Cyc's　first…aid　kits。　What　she　fished　from　his　arm　turned　out　to　be　an　old…fashioned　bullet！　But　even　this　didn't　seem　to　faze　Rook。〃

〃‘This　should　help　some；'　she　said；　dropping　the　small　projectile　on　the　ground　and　treating　the　wound　with　antiseptic　solution。〃

〃The　man　thanked　her　in　the　same　flat；　clipped　tone　I　was　already　beginning　to　dislike。　A　breeze　rustled　through　the　woods　just　then；　and　I　gazed　up　and　saw　something　that　reinforced　my　suspicions　about　the　guy。　The　wind　revealed　what　the　poncho　had　intended　to　hide：　that　his　arm　and　a　good　portion　of　his　chest　were　covered　with　some　sort　of　gleaming　alloy。　Rook　must　have　seen　it；　too；　because　I　heard　her　gasp　while　asking　the　rogue's　name。〃

〃‘Excuse　me；　mister。　I　didn't　mean　to　embarrass　you；'　she　hastened　to　add。　‘What　happened　to　you？'〃

〃‘Well；　I'm　glad　you　didn't　run　away　when　you　saw　it；'　the　stranger　drawled。　‘That's　how　most　react。。。Let's　just　say　it's　a　little　present　from　our　friends　the　Invid。　You　could　say　I'm　just　lucky　that　they　left　me　alive　at　all。'〃

〃Rook　made　a　face。　‘I　guess　it　could've　been　worse。。。　'　She　asked　the　man　to　remove　his　poncho　and　dabbed　at　the　wound　with　gauze　before　beginning　to　dress　it。　‘At　least　you　got　away　from　them。'　Rook　winked　at　him　flirtatiously。　‘Now；　I'm　no　doctor；　so　you　better　not　let　this　rest　until　you　see　one。'〃

〃The　rogue　almost　smiled…or　maybe　that　tight…lipped　grin　was　his　idea　of　a　smile。　But　in　any　case；　he　said：　‘What'd　you　say　your　name　was；　missy…Rook？　Well；　Rook；　I　just　can't　thank　you　enough　for　helping　a　stranger　out。'〃

〃Rook　had　a　blushing　response　all　ready　for　him。　I　saw　her　gesture　to　the　bullet。　‘But　this　isn't　from　any　Invid；'　she　started　to　say。　‘They　don't　have　anything　this　primitive　in　their　arsenal。'〃

〃The　stranger　was　about　to　reply；　but　I　stepped　in　with　my　Gallant　drawn　and　aimed　at　his　midsection。　‘You're　right；　Rook。　And　those　Invid　ships　didn't　just　forget　about　us；　either。　This　rogue's　a　spy。'〃

〃‘What　are　you　doing？！'　Rook　shouted　at　me。　‘Put　that　thing　away！'〃

〃‘Not　till　I　find　out　what　it　is　about　his　guy　that　makes　the　Invid　run　away；　or　how　he　ended　up　with　a　bullet　in　his　arm。'〃

〃The　rogue　just　stared；　like　he　was　sorry　for　me　or　something。　‘If　you　have　to　know；　the　bullet　came　from　my　own　gun。　It　discharged　by　accident。　Check　near　the　seat　of　the　cycle　if　you　don't　believe　me；　kid。　You'll　find　an　antique　six…gun　under…'〃

〃‘You're　an　Invid　agent；'　I　snarled；　ignoring　the　bit　about　the　gun　because　it　sounded　too　much　like　the　truth。〃

〃‘If　that　was　true；　you'd　be　dead；　kid。'〃

〃This　also　sounded　right；　but　I　ignored　it　and　motioned　with　the　blaster　for　him　to　get　up。　Rook　was　already　on　her　feet；　cursing　me。〃

〃‘He's　not　our　enemy；　Rand。　Besides…he's　hurt！'〃

〃I　told　her　to　stand　out　of　the　way　and　ordered　the　guy　to　his　feet。　He　got　up　slowly；　almost　tiredly；　and　said　we　had　helped　him　and　he　was　grateful。　‘I　don't　want　anybody　to　get　hurt。'〃

〃I　had　the　weapon　straight　out　in　front　of　me；　and　I　guess　I　really　didn't　expect　him　to　go　for　his　gun。　I　even　fired　a　warning　shot　into　the　tree　behind　him　as　his　hand　inched　toward　the　holster；　but　he　went　for　it　anyway；　confident　that　I　wasn't　about　to　kill　him　in　cold　blood；　and　caught　me　in　the　right　hand　with　a　stun　blast；　knocking　the　Gallant　from　my　two…handed　grip。〃

〃That　made　twice　when　I　should　have　fired　first　and　asked　questions　later…first　with　Wolff　and　now　with　Mr。　Clint　McGlint。　But　so　help　me；　if　I'm　ever　drawing　a　bead　on　someone　again。。。〃

〃Anyhow；　Rook　ran　over　to　me　to　take　a　look　at　my　hand；　dismissing　it　roughly　when　she　saw　that　I　was　only　mildly　burned。〃

〃‘I　hope　you're　satisfied！'　she　seethed。　〃You　could　have　been　killed！'〃

〃The　stranger　threw　me　a　look。　‘Like　I　said；　kid；　if　I　was　one　of　them；　you　woulda　never　left　the　sands　alive。'〃

〃I　looked　over　at　Rook；　trying　to　sort　through　my　feelings；　and　decided　that　it　was　all　her　fault　for　being　so。。。friendly。〃

〃Back　then　I　was　still　struggling　with　jealousy。〃


〃I　let　Rook　and　the　stranger　have　a　few　moments　of　privacy　by　the　river　while　I　nursed　my　hand　and　wounded　pride。　But　I　didn't　let　it　go　on　for　long。　The　sun　was　going　down；　and　I　was　certain　that　Scott　and　the　others　would　be　worrying　about　us。　I　had　all　but　forgotten　about　Dusty　Ayres　and　the　search　that　had　brought　us　out　here　to　begin　with。〃

〃Rook　and　her　new　hero　were　too　far　off　for　me　to；　hear；　but　I　could　tell　by　her　posturing　that　things　were　getting　a　little　too　chummy；　so　I　finally　banged　the　Cyc　into　gear　and　rode　in　to　break　it　up。〃

〃‘Sorry　to　interrupt；　but　it's　time　we　headed　back　to　town；'　I　told　her。　‘Thank　your　friend　for　his　hospitality　and　let's　get　moving。'〃

〃The　stranger　regarded　me；　then　turned　back　to　Rook。　‘I　have　to　leave　anyway。'〃

〃‘Sorry　to　hear　it；'　I　said。〃

〃He　ignored　the　ment。　I　tried　to　hurry　Rook　along　and　roared　off；　wanting　no　part　of　whatever　good…byes　the　two　planned　to　exchange。〃

〃Rook　caught　up　with　me　a　few　minutes　later；　and　we　rode　a　long　way　before　either　of　us　spoke。　She　repeated　that　I　had　been　wrong　about　the　man　from　the　start…the　man　with　no　name。　As　he　told　it；　he　had　been　used　as　a　guinea　pig　in　some　gruesome　experiments　the　Invid　had　carried　out　shortly　after　they　had　defeated　the　Earth　forces；　apparently；　the　whole　right　side　of　his　body　had　been　v