12_symphony_of_light-第26部分

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nal　realization；　the　transcendence　itself。


The　sky　above　the　western　horizon　was　drained　of　color　and　angry　with　flashes　of　intense　light；　brighter　than　the　midday　sun。　It　was　all　the　world's　lightning　in　concert；　a　blinding　stroboscopic　show　that　could　be　seen　and　felt　for　a　radius　of　one　hundred　miles。

Scott　looked　into　the　face　of　it；　hands　shielding　his　eyes　from　random　bursts　of　unearthly　whiteness。　The　assault　has　begun；　he　told　himself　with　a　mixture　of　excitement　and　terror。　Hunter's　forces　have　arrived　and　are　attacking　the　hive　plex　itself。

The　team　was　at　the　eastern　perimeter　of　Reflex　Point；　Veritechs　and　Cyclones　grounded　after　Scott's　advance　sightings　and　subsequent　mands　to　regroup。　They　were　in　an　area　that　had　seen　relatively　recent　tectonic　upheavals；　jagged　outcroppings　that　looked　as　though　they　had　been　thrust　up　from　the　bowels　of　hell　and　had　no　place　in　this　otherwise　stable　terrain　of　soft　grasslands　and　rolling　hills。

Annie　stared　at　the　sky　in　wonder。　〃Is　it　some　kind　of　storm？　A　tornado；　maybe？〃

Rand　and　Rook；　exchanged　grim　glances。　〃I　wish　it　were；〃　Rand　told　his　young　friend。　Bass　sounds　were　rumbling　across　the　sky；　seconds　late　of　the　explosions　that　birthed　them。

〃It　has　to　be　Admiral　Hunter；〃　Scott　said　behind　them。　Squinting；　he　could　discern　dark　shapes　streaking　through　that　celestial　chaos。　Hundreds　of　shapes…fighters；　mecha；　and　surely　the　Invid　ships　launched　to　engage　them。　〃Let's　move　in；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃We　can't　just　stand　here　and　watch。〃

They　kept　to　the　high　ground　and　began　a　slow　forward　advance。　Oddly　enough；　the　light　show　seemed　to　wane　as　they　approached；　and　when　at　last　they　reached　the　arena　itself…a　wooded　valley；　host　to　a　wide；　meandering　riser…they　understood　why。

〃We're　too　late；〃　Scott　informed　everyone　over　the　net。

They　could　see　for　themselves　what　he　meant　from　their　vantage　on　a　cliff　overlooking　the　battleground。　The　landscape　was　littered　with　the　smoldering　remains　of　Veritechs　and　Invid　Pincer　Ships　and　Trooper　craft。　Patches　of　forest　across　the　valley　were　burning；　and　layers　of　smoke　and　gas　hovered　above　the　valley　floor　like　some　nefarious　fog；　it　was　as　though　the　land　itself　had　belched　up　fire　and　gas　from　its　seething　nether　regions。　In　the　distance；　the　uppermost　portion　of　a　hemispherical　hive　was　visible；　squadrons　of　Invid　closing　on　it　like　wasps　returning　to　their　nest。　A　huge　gunship　crashed　and　burned　while　the　team　watched　helplessly。

〃It's　too　horrible；〃　Annie　sobbed；　putting　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　remembering　Point…K　and　similar　horrors。　Marlene　put　her　arm　around　Annie's　shoulder　and　pulled　her　close。　Lunk　turned　around　in　the　front　seat　of　the　APC　to　stroke　Annie's　back。

〃I've　never　seen　ships　like　these；〃　Lancer　said　from　the　seat　of　the　Cyclone。　Rand　and　Rook　were　nearby　on　their　mecha。　Of　the　three　VTs；　only　the　Beta　had　been　moved　in；　and　Scott　was　overhead　now；　hovering　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff。

〃They　must　be　the　latest　upgrades；〃　said　Lunk。　〃But　I　guess　there's　still　some　flaws　in　the　design；　huh？〃

Scott　heard　the　ment。　〃Can　that　talk；　Lunk；〃　he　barked　over　the　net。　〃This　was　only　an　advance　group。　The　admiral　is　probably　trying　to　ascertain　the　defensive　strength　of　the　hive　plex。　But　he'll　be　back…you　can　count　on　that　now。〃

Lunk　grunted　an　apology。

〃I'm　going　in　to　check　things　out　down　there；〃　Scott　continued；　bringing　up　the　Beta's　rear　thrusters。　〃Stay　put　until　you　receive　my　all　clear。〃

〃Somebody　wake　me　up；〃　Annie　pleaded；　rubbing　her　eyes。　〃This　has　to　be　just　some　terrible　nightmare。〃


Scott's　signal　came　an　hour　later；　and　the　seven　team　members　gathered　by　the　river　to　honor　the　dead。　Scott　had　looked　everywhere　but　hadn't　found　a　single　survivor。　The　smoky　aftermath　of　the　battle　was　beginning　to　disperse；　but　the　stench　of　death　lingered　in　the　cool　air。

〃What　now；　Scott？〃　asked　Lancer。

Annie　grabbed　hold　of　Rook's　elbow。　〃Can't　we　just　leave？　I　hate　this　place。〃

Rook　had　turned　to　answer　her；　but　the　ground　beneath　their　feet　was　suddenly　quaking　and　rending　open。　Everyone　fell　back　as　an　Invid　Pincer　Ship　pushed　itself　up　out　of　the　earth。　No　blasters　were　drawn；　however；　because　it　was　obvious　that　the　thing　was　finished；　it　had　been　lethally　shot　and　was　leaking　nutrient。

〃Back！〃　Rand　cautioned　the　others。　The　ship　pitched　forward　on　its　face；　spewing　the　viscous　green　fluid　from　its　wounds。　〃You　don't　want　to　get　any　of　that　stuff　on　you！〃

They　all　remembered　when　he　had　been　slimed　and　couldn't　get　the　smell　off　him　for　a　week。　Nevertheless；　they　were　intent　on　watching　the　puddle　spread　and　turned　away　only　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　muffled　mand　ring　out　behind　them。

〃Hold　it　right　where　you　are！　Don't　move！〃

Scott　swung　around　anyway；　hand　at　his　weapon；　but　stopped　short　of　raising　it。　The　source　of　mand　was　a　soldier　who　was　aiming　some　sort　of　shoulder…mounted　device　at　them；　but　underneath　that　shiny　black　helmet　and　gleaming　body　armor　the　soldier　was　Human；　Scott　was　certain　of　that　much。

〃Who　are　you？〃　the　soldier　demanded　in　a　curious　voice；　panning　the　device　across　the　faces　of　the　team。　There　was　no　hostility　in　the　voice　but　a　certain　intensity　Scott　couldn't　immediately　identify。

〃Are　you　with　the　Expeditionary　Force？〃　he　asked。

The　soldier　shushed　him　and　fiddled　with　the　controls　of　the　device。　Scott　realized　that　it　was　a　video　camera。

〃Let's　try　it　again…and　no　questions　this　time。　Now：　who　are　you？〃　The　soldier　swung　the　camera　on　Scott。

〃I'm　Lieutenant　Scott　Bernard；　Twenty…first　Squadron；　Mars　Division；　but…〃

〃Teeming　Tirol！〃　The　soldier　exclaimed；　pausing　the　shot。　〃Mars　Division？　And　the　rest　of　you？〃

〃These　are　my　personnel；〃　Scott　began。　〃We've　been　together…〃

〃Freedom　fighters！　I　got　it；　I　got　it！〃　the　soldier　said；　remencing　to　shoot　the　team。　〃Lieutenant…Bernard；　did　you　say？。。。Lieutenant　Bernard　and　his　ragtag　band　of　freedom　fighters；　weary　after　their　long　journey　to　Reflex　Point　and　disheartened　by　the　devastating　defeat　suffered　by　the　first　wave　of　Admiral　Hunter's　assault　group；　contemplate　their　next…〃

〃That's　about　enough　of　that；　mister！〃　Scott　interrupted；　taking　a　threatening　step　forward。　〃Just　who　are　you　and　what　the　hell　do　you　think　you're　doing？！〃

The　soldier　shut　off　the　camera　and　doffed　the　helmet。

Scott's　mouth　fell　open。　Not　because　she　was　that　beautiful…although　her　long　black　hair　and　piercing　green　eyes　had　been　known　to　stop　men　in　their　tracks…but　simply　because　he　hadn't　figured　on　confronting　a　woman。

〃My　name　is　Sue　Graham；〃　the　photographer　was　saying。　〃I'm　a　photojournalist　attached　to　the　Thirty…sixth　Squadron；　Jupiter　Division。〃

〃Then　you're　with　the　Expeditionary　Force；〃　Scott　said　excitedly。　〃When　is　the　rest　of　the　fleet　due？〃

〃Soon；〃　Graham　answered　him　absently；　training　her　camera　on　the　fallen　Invid's　leaking　wounds。　〃Maybe　I　can　get　a　shot　of　you　and　the　admiral　shaking　hands。　That's　something　that　should　be　included　in　the　archives：　Hunter　congratulates　one　of　his　officers　on　a　job　well　done。〃　Graham　looked　at　Scott。　〃You　have　been　doing　a　fine　job；　haven't　you；　Lieutenant？　Where　are　the　rest　of　the　Twenty…first？〃

〃Dead；〃　Scott　said　nastily。

Graham　glanced　at　the　nearby　wrecks　of　Veritechs　and　troop　carriers。　〃Guess　that　gives　us　something　in　mon。〃

Scott　glowered　at　her。　〃I　don't　think　so；　Graham。　I　didn't　just　stand　around　shooting　footage　while　my　rades　died。〃

〃Oh；　really？　Just　what　exactly　were　you　doing　while　your　rades　were　dying；　Bernard？〃

Rand　snarled；　〃Listen；　you；〃　and　started　to　move　in；　but　Scott　gestured　for　him　to　stay　put。

Graham　regarded　Scott　and　his　team。　〃Look；　don't　you　think　we　should　get　out　of　here　before　the　Invid　show　up？　Or　would　you　rather　stand　around　and　argue？〃

〃You　heartless　bitch；〃　Scott　seethed；　bringing　up　his　fists。

Lancer　stepped　between　Scott　and　Graham。　〃Take　it　easy；　Scott。　If　she　can　watch　her　friends　die　without　so　much　as　flinching；　there's　nothing　we　can　say　to　put　a　dent　in　her。〃

Graham　snorted。　〃Bunch　of　soft　sisters。〃

Lancer　had　to　get　Scott　in　a　full　nelson　to　restrain　him。　But　he　might　have　broken　free　anyway　had　it　not　been　for　another　of　Marlene's　early…warning…system　headaches。

〃Scott；〃　she　said；　pained。　〃They're　ing！〃

Rook　armed　her　blaster　and　looked　around　for　cover。　〃Let's　go；　boys；　let's　go。。。〃

〃Push　over　your　Cyclones；〃　Graham　shouted；　scooping　up　her　helmet　and　gesturing　to　the　mecha。　〃Deactivate　the　systems　so　the　Invid　will　think　the　pilots　have　been　killed。〃

Rand　made　a　face　at　her。　〃Jeez；　space　cadet；　you　think　we　need　to　hear　that　from　you？　We've　been　fighting　these…〃

〃Here　they　e！〃　Lunk　warned。　Everyone　turned　their　eyes　west：　The　sky　was　dotted　with　hundreds　of　alien　ships；　black　spots　on　the　face　of　the　setting　sun。

Scott　tore　himself　away　from　the　scene　and　glanced　nervously　right　and　left；　ultimately　he　fixed　his　sights　on　the　mecha。　〃We　better　do　as　she　says。　Then　make　for　the　trees；　everybody！〃


More　than　a　dozen　Invid　ships　put　down　where　Scott　and　the　team　had　stood　no　more　than　an　hour　before…Pincer　craft　mostly；　seemingly　under　the　mand　of　a　blue　leader。　Curiously　enough；　they　didn't　fan　out　to　search　the　woods　but　wandered　around　the　battle　wreckage　instead；　as　though　searching　for　something。　On　several　occasions　they　came　close　to　crushing　the　overturned　Cyclones；　and　a　mindless　pincer　swipe　almost　sent　the　APC　off　the　slope　（where　it　was　supposed　to　appear　crashed）　and　down　into　the　river　below。

From　the　edge　of　the　woods；　Scott's　team　of　irregulars　watched　the　aliens'　movements　with　growing　alarm。　The　search　party　represented　more　collective　firepower　than　any　of　them　had　yet　witnessed；　and　Scott　couldn't　help　but　wonder　about　it。　He　was　saying　as　much　to　Rand；　when　Sue　Graham　suddenly　stood　up　and　began　filming　the　Invid。

〃Graham；　what　are　you　doing？！〃　Scott　whispered　from　behind　the　fallen　tree　that　concealed　them。　〃You're　going　to　give　away　our　position！〃　It　was　getting　dark　now；　but　that　was　no　reason　to　take　chances。

〃Every　piece　of　footage　adds　to　our　knowledge；　Lieutenant；〃　she　answered　him　calmly。　〃Besides；　I　don't　have　any　decent　shots　of　these　things　on　two　feet。　Most　of　it's　aer