12_symphony_of_light-第22部分

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　canisters。　Rand　went　over　to　one　of　the　crates　and　pried　open　the　lid。

〃There's　enough　here　to　take　a　whole　army　to　Reflex　Point！〃　he　whispered　excitedly；　hefting　one　of　the　sodacan…sized　fuel　canisters。

〃Provided　we　can　get　it　out　without　being　spotted；〃　Lancer　said　absently。

〃Ha！　Don't　worry　about　a　thing；　sir；〃　Rand　began　to　joke。　〃Protoculture　Express　at　your　service！　We　deliver　overnight　or　you　get　your　money　back。〃

〃Guaranteed！〃　Annie　joined　in。　〃In　fact；　if　we　don't　make　good；　we　pay　you！〃

〃Now　all　we've　got　to　do　is　get　back　downtown　and　tell　Scott　about　this；〃　Rand　said。　〃Right；　Lancer？。。。Lancer；　are　you　okay？〃

Lancer　was　glancing　around　the　theater；　amazed。　〃Sorry；〃　he　said；　turning　to　his　teammates。　〃I　was　just　thinking　what　a　beautiful　place　this　used　to　be。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃This　is　Carnegie　Hall；〃　he　explained　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm。　〃I　guess　it　doesn't　mean　much　to　you；　but　before　the　Robotech　Wars　this　was　one　of　the　finest　concert　halls　in　the　world。　I　remember　reading　about　it。　The　people　who　used　to　sing　here。。。〃　He　smiled　at　the　thought。　〃I　used　to　dream　of　playing　here。　Now　there　isn't　much　chance　of　that；　I　suppose。〃

〃Culture　of　a　different　sort；〃　Rand　mused。　〃Maybe　the　Invid　will　start　holding　auditions；　huh？〃

Lancer　ignored　the　ribbing　and　allowed　himself　a　momentary　fantasy　that　featured　Yellow　Dancer　on　stage；　singing　〃Lonely　Soldier　Boy〃　to　a　packed　house。。。

I　won't　let　the　Invid　destroy　my　dreams！　he　promised　himself。


It　was　that　promise　that　enabled　Lancer　to　justify　going　along　with　Rand's　spur　of　the　moment　plan　to　take　what　they　could　get　their　hands　on　straightaway　rather　than　risk　a　second　entry　into　the　place。　It　also　made　sense　from　a　practical　point　of　view；　because　they　would　have　enough　fresh　Protoculture　to　recharge　the　Beta　and　utilize　it　in　a　follow…up　raid　if　it　came　down　to　that。

They　were　in　the　midst　of　packing　away　a　few　sixpacks　of　the　stuff　when　they　heard　loud　footsteps　echoing　in　the　hall　and　headed　in　their　direction。　They　had　already　secreted　themselves　among　the　maze　of　stacked　crates　when　one　of　the　Invid　foot　soldiers　entered；　seemingly　on　patrol。

〃Keep　under　cover；〃　Lancer　warned　as　they　made　themselves　small。　〃We　don't　want　to　fight　it　out　if　we　don't　have　to。〃　He　and　Rand　had　their　handguns　drawn。　Annie　was　wide…eyed；　trying　to　hold　on　to　the　armful　of　canisters　she　hadn't　had　time　to　set　down。

Lancer　cautiously　peered　over　the　top　of　one　of　the　crates。　He　could　see　the　soldier　moving　systematically　through　the　aisles　formed　by　the　stacks。　〃It　may　just　be　on　an　inspection　tour；〃　he　said　softly。　〃It'll　probably　go　away　if　it　doesn't　find　anything　wrong；　but　be　ready；　just　in　case。〃　Silently；　he　stole　across　the　aisle　and　repositioned　himself　for　cross　fire。

Rand　looked　over　at　Annie　and　her　precariously　balanced　load。　〃Try　not　to　move。　Don't　even　breathe　if　you　can　help　it！〃

She　shut　her　mouth　tightly　and　rearranged　the　canisters　as　judiciously　as　she　could；　but　there　was　one　that　insisted　on　sliding。　She　made　a　nervous　sound。

The　Enforcer　stomped　past　their　aisle　and　stopped；　as　though　alerted　to　something。　Rand　drew　a　bead　on　the　things　back。　Here　we　go　again；　he　told　himself。　Sitting　ducks。。。！

The　Invid　began　to　move　off；　but　Annie　was　suddenly　desperate。　〃Rand；　help　me！　They're　slipping…they're　gonna　fall！〃

And　a　moment　later　they　did；　hitting　the　floor　with　a　sound　of　toppling　bowling　pins。　Rand　managed　to　stifle　Annie's　scream　with　his　hand；　but　the　Enforcer　had　heard　enough　to　warrant　a　second　pass　along　the　aisle。

〃They　slipped；〃　Annie　explained　in　a　panic　after　Rand　took　his　hand　away。　〃I'm　sorry；　I　couldn't　help　it…〃

〃Here　es　trouble；〃　he　interrupted　her；　arming　the　Gallant。　〃Just　keep　quiet。〃

The　Invid　raised　its　rifle　as　it　began　to　retrace　its　steps；　but　its　pace　remained　unchanged。　Lancer　threw　a　quick　nod　to　Rand　and　leveled　his　own　weapon；　wondering　just　where　you　had　to　hit　these　creatures　to　have　it　count。　He　chose　the　scanner　as　a　likely　target　and　bracketed　it　in　his　sights。

〃Just　a　few　steps　closer；〃　Rand　was　whispering　to　himself　when　he　heard　the　cat。

At　least　it　sounded　like　a　cat…a　rather　large　cat　at　that。　It　growled　twice　more　and　then　launched　itself　from　wherever　it　had　been　perched。　Rand　went　up　on　tiptoe　and　just　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　animal's　shadow　as　it　leapt　from　stack　to　stack。　It　was　even　bigger　than　its　growl　had　indicated！　He　could　see　that　the　Invid　soldier　had　swung　its　snout　to　the　sound　and　was　also　tracking　the　shadow　now。　The　cat　took　a　few　more　leaps；　making　one　hell　of　a　racket　in　the　process。

Rand　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　when　he　saw　the　Enforcer's　rifle　begin　to　lower。　Obviously　it　was　satisfied　that　the　animal　had　been　responsible　for　the　noise。　It's　going　to　fall　for　it！　he　thought。

He　let　himself　collapse　in　sheer　nervous　exhaustion　when　the　Enforcer　exited　the　room；　and　Annie　came　over　to　him　thinking　he　had　been　hit　or　something。　Then　suddenly　the　cat　was　back；　snarling　a　long　meow　and　executing　an　incredible　tumble　from　the　box　seats　near　the　hall's　stage。　Only　now　Rand　was　sure　the　thing　wasn't　some　ordinary　cat。

And　in　fact　it　wasn't：　it　was　a　young；　curly…haired　Hispanic　boy　wearing　elbow　pads；　sky…blue　dancer's　tights；　pale　yellow　leg　warmers；　and　a　tank　top　emblazoned　with
a　large　J。

〃Well　that　was　easy！〃　the　boy　laughed；　one　leg　crossed　over　the　other　and　hands　behind　his　head　after　his　upright　landing。

〃Have　you　been　here　the　whole　time？〃　Lancer　said　once　he　had　gotten　over　his　amazement。

The　youth　nodded。　〃That　was　my　Persian。　Wanna　hear　my　Siamese　now？〃

Annie　still　didn't　get　it。　〃You　mean　that　was　you？　There　wasn't　any　cat？〃

〃Okay；　so　you　do　a　good　feline　impression；〃　lancer　said　warily；　gesturing　with　his　weapon。　〃What　are　you　doing　in　here？〃

The　boy's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃What　are　you　doing　here　is　more　like　it；　mano。　As　for　me；　I　hang　out　here　sometimes…but　I　know　a　lot　of　easier　ins　and　outs　than　using　the　air　ducts。〃

〃So　you　saw　us；〃　said　Rand。　〃Hope　you're　not　nursing　any　ideas　about　turning　us　in。。。〃

The　youth　laughed　again。　〃Wha'…for；　foraging　a　little　'Culture？　Be　real；　Red。　'Sides；　I'm　no　symp；　if　that's　what　you're　thinking。〃　He　motioned　to　Lancer's　blaster。　〃Look；　I'm　not　plaining　or　anything；　but　how　'bout　lowering　the　hard…tag？〃

Lancer　glanced　down　at　the　weapon　and　deactivated　it。

〃That　cop's　gonna　be　making　another　pass　pronto；〃　the　youth　warned。　〃We　better　make　tracks；　unless　you're　dying　to　use　your　juice。〃

Rand　got　up；　his　H90　casually　aimed　in　the　boy's　direction。　〃Lead　on；　Lightfoot；〃　he　told　him。　〃We're　right　behind　you。〃


There　were　indeed　quicker　ways　out　of　the　place　than　the　route　they　had　taken　in；　and　in　a　short　time　the　youth　was　leading　the　trio　down　an　east…west　street　a　few　blocks　from　the　Carnegie　Hall　storage　facility。　The　Protoculture　canisters　had　been　safely　stashed　away　for　the　time　being。

〃I　guess　we　owe　you　an　apology　and　our　thanks；〃　Lancer　was　saying。　〃What　are　you　called？〃

〃Jorge；〃　the　youth　answered　him。　〃I've　got　a　nest　in　the　balcony　back　there。〃

〃You　can　enter　that　place　at　will？〃　Rand　asked；　impressed。

Jorge　turned　a　gleaming　smile　up　at　him。　〃Shit；　man；　there's　no　place　in　this　whole　city　we　can't　go　if　we　want　to。〃

〃But　the　Invid…they're　crawling　all　over　this　place。〃

〃Yeah；　but　they　don't　bother　us　if　we　don't　bother　them。〃

〃That　was　some　display　you　put　on；〃　Lancer　said；　changing　the　subject。　〃You're　quite　an　acrobat。〃

〃A　performer；〃　Jorge　emphasized　proudly。　〃Fact　is　I　was　on　my　way　to　rehearsal　before　I　had　to　stop　and　save　your　necks。〃　He　laughed　at　their　chagrin。　〃Why　don'cha　e　with　me　and　check　us　out。〃

Lancer　looked　over　to　Rand；　who　returned　a　shrug　of　consent。

〃Well；　I'm　all　for　it；〃　said　Annie；　quick　to　take　Jorge's　arm。　〃I'm　gonna　have　some　fun　in　this　place　if　it　kills　me！〃


〃It　should　be　a　great　show；〃　Jorge　was　telling　them　a　few　minutes　later。

He　and　the　rebel　trio　were　on　a　staircase　landing　overlooking　a　small　stage；　where　a　dozen　male　and　female　dancers　were　executing　syncopated　martial　kicks　under　colored　lights。　It　was　a　kind　of　historical　piece；　harkening　back　to　the　frenzied；　kata　routines　of　the　turn　of　the　century；　with　some　break　dancing　and　pelvic　thrusts　thrown　in　for　variety。

〃They're　good；〃　Lancer　mented。　I　wonder　if　their　dreams　will　survive　this　alien　nightmare？

But　on　stage　some　of　the　performers　were　wondering　whether　they　would　survive　the　director。　He　was　nothing　if　not　the　consummate　perfectionist。　〃Hold　it！　Stop！　Stop！〃　he　was　shouting　now；　an　effeminate　curl　to　his　voice。　He　was　twice　the　age　of　the　oldest　on　stage　but　well　built　nonetheless。　He　had　a　pencil…thin　mustache　and　brown　hair；　save　for　a　section　of　bleached　forelock。　〃This　is　awful；　just　aw…ful。　Harvey；〃　he　continued；　pointing；　〃I　swear　you　dance　like　a　moose　in　heat。　And　Arabella：　You　look　like　you're　waltzing；　for　heaven's　sake。　Remember；　everyone；　this　is　supposed　to　be　1990；　not　1770！　So　could　we　please　try　not　to　embarrass　ourselves？〃

The　dancers　had　all　adopted　hangdog　expressions　by　now；　and　Jorge　took　advantage　of　the　lapse　in　the　music　to　call　out：　〃Simon！　Hey！　Up　here！〃　When　the　director　looked　up；　Jorge　gestured　to　Lancer　and　the　others。　〃I　brought　some　friends　to　watch　the　rehearsal；　okay？〃

Simon　scowled　at　him。　〃Absolutely　not！　You　know　my　rules　about　people…〃　He　broke　off　his　scolding　and　was　staring　at　Lancer。　〃Am　I　seeing　things？　Is　that　the　face　that　launched　a　thousand　slips？！　Lancer；　is　that　you？！　Or　should　I　say　Yellow　Dancer？〃

Lancer　smiled　and　went　downstairs　to　take　Simon's　hand。　Jorge；　Rand；　and　Annie　tagged　behind。

〃Lancer；　I　still　can't　believe　it；〃　Simon　exclaimed。　〃I've　thought　about　you　a　lot。。。What's　it　been；　something　like　two　years？　In　Rio；　wasn't　it？　What　are　you　doing　here？　I　want　to　hear　everything。〃

Lancer　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　Rand。　〃Well；　we're　just　passing　through。〃

〃Passing　through？〃　Simon　said；　surprised。　〃Since　when　does　anyone　enjoy　the　privilege　of　‘passing　through'　anymore？　You　can't　be　serious。〃

〃We've　got　transportation；〃　Lancer　said；　holding　back。

Simon　stepped　back　to　regard　the　trio　quizzically。　〃Perhaps　it's　not　in　good　tas