12_symphony_of_light-第27部分

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〃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　aerial　sequences；　and　I'm　not　about　to　lose　the　opportunity　now。〃

Scott　reached　over　and　grabbed　her　ankle；　twisting　it　and　forcing　her　to　sit　down。　〃You　do　that　on　your　own　time；　Graham；〃　he　grated。　〃Not　when　there　are　other　lives　at　stake。〃

A　short　time　later；　the　Invid　patrol　left　the　area　and　the　team　began　to　relax　somewhat。　Lunk；　Rand；　and　Lancer　stole　their　way　to　the　APC　and　returned　with　the　sleeping　gear　and　provisions。　They　made　camp　in　a　small　cabin　fifty　feet　into　the　woods。

Meanwhile；　Sue　Graham　filled　Scott　in　on　what　she　knew　about　the　Earth　forces'　imminent　invasion。　She　had　spent　the　past　year　aboard　the　SDF…3　as　Admiral　Hunter's　personal　photographer；　and　she　couldn't　say　enough　good　things　about　the　man。　She　didn't　say　what　had　made　her　join　the　ranks　of　Jupiter　Division；　but　it　was　obvious　to　Scott　that　there　was　some　intrigue　connected　to　the　move。　They　spoke　of　Tirol　and　Fantoma；　of　Rem　and　Cabell；　and　of　other　notable　people　they　both　knew。　Scott　felt　himself　growing　strangely　homesick　for　deep　space　if　not　for　Tirol　itself；　and　even　his　attitude　toward　the　journalist　was　softening　somewhat。　The　red　bodysuit　she　was　wearing　in　place　of　the　armor　helped。

〃The　third　attack　unit　is　in　preliminary　maneuvers　at　a　base　on　the　far　side　of　the　moon；〃　Graham　was　saying　now。　She　had　set　her　camera　up　to　project　some　of　the　holographic　footage　she　had　shot；　and　everyone　was　gathered　around。　〃Here's　a　shot　of　the　site；〃　she　narrated　as　views　of　deep　space　and　the　warships　of　the　Expeditionary　fleet　lit　up　the　darkness。

〃The　admiral's　fleet　is　due　to　rendezvous　with　the　advance　units　any　day　now。　Squadrons　of　new…generation　Veritechs　will　arrive　with　the　fleet。　They've　been　codenamed　Shadow　Fighters。〃

Scott；　Lunk；　and　Lancer　leaned　toward　the　holo…image　for　a　better　view。　The　craft　looked　something　like　the　standard　VTs　but　were　colored　a　nonreflective　gray…black　and　had　a　more　pronounced　delta…wing　design。

〃Why　‘Shadow　Fighter'？〃　Lunk　wanted　to　know。

Graham　changed　discs；　technical　readouts　now　filled　the　bolo…field；　replacing　the　space　footage。　〃The　Protoculture　generators　of　the　new…generation　VTs　have　been　redesigned　to　include　a　fourth…dimensional　configuration　that　renders　the　Shadow　Fighter　invisible。　The　Nichols　drive；　it's　called。〃

Scott　had　a　hundred　more　questions　in　mind；　but　once　again　it　was　Marlene　who　threw　him　off　track。　She　uttered　a　low　moan　and　began　to　sink　into　that　posture　of　agony　they　had　all　witnessed　so　often。　Sue　Graham　looked　at　the　red…haired　woman　skeptically　and　asked：　〃What's　with　this　one；　anyway？〃

Scott　ignored　her　and　crept　to　the　edge　of　the　woods　to　search　the　skies。　Sure　enough；　the　Invid　squadron　was　returning；　their　thrusters　blazing　in　the　night。　Scott　ordered　everyone　forward；　and　silently　they　made　for　the　valley　floor　to　investigate　the　enemy's　reappearance。　Marlene；　even　though　breathless　with　pain；　was　the　first　to　notice　that　the　cockpit　of　the　blue　leader　was　opening。

And　out　of　the　innards　of　the　ship　stepped　what　looked　like　a　Human　being：　a　young　man　with　long　blond　hair　in　a　tight…fitting　broadly　striped　uniform　of　black　and　green。　He　issued　a　mand　the　team　strained　to　hear；　and　two　of　the　Pincer　Ships　appeared　to　acknowledge　him　with　raised　claw　salutes。

〃Human　pilots！〃　Graham　said　in　amazement。

〃Another　turncoat；〃　said　Rand。　〃Just　like　that　woman　we　saw。。。The　Invid　must　have　a　thing　for　blondes。〃

〃Quiet！〃　Scott　told　him。　〃I'm　certain　they　know　we're　here。　〃

〃Maybe　not；　Lieutenant；〃　said　Graham　almost　casually；　the　camera　perched　on　her　shoulder。

Rook　turned　around　to　look　up　at　her。　〃Then　what？　Some　piece　of　Robotech　mecha？〃

〃Exactly。　A　syncro…cannon。〃

Scott　was　the　only　one　who　knew　what　she　was　talking　about；　the　rest　of　them　were　scratching　their　heads　while　he　cursed　Graham　for　not　telling　him　earlier　that　the　assault　group　had　been　equipped　with　such　a　weapon。

〃It's　a　particle…beam　weapon；〃　he　explained。　〃The　cannon　was　developed　by　Dr。　Lang　for　use　against　the　Invid。　〃

〃It　must　pack　one　helluva　wallop　if　the　Invid　are　bothering　to　look　for　it；〃　Rand　mented。

〃It　does；〃　Sue　told　him；　still　filming　the　aliens'　movements。　〃That's　why　I　hid　it　from　them。〃

Scott　shot　to　his　feet　and　yanked　the　camera　out　of　Graham's　grasp。　〃Where；　Graham？　And　no　games。〃

〃In　a　cave。〃　She　gestured　without　looking。　〃About　a　click　or　so　upriver。〃

Roughly；　Scott　shoved　the　camera　back　into　her　hands。

〃We've　got　to　get　that　weapon　before　they　find　it。〃

〃Count　me　out；　Lieutenant；〃　said　Graham。

〃Ever　hear　of　loyalty；　or　self…sacrifice？〃

She　smirked。　〃We've　all　got　our　jobs　to　do。　For　me；　it's　this。〃　She　patted　the　camera。

〃Please；　Scott；〃　Marlene　said；　cutting　them　off；　reaching　up　for　his　hand。　〃Don't　try　to　go　out　there。　You'll　be　killed。〃

Scott　squeezed　her　hand　and　smiled　thinly。　〃I'll　see　that　weapon　destroyed　before　I　see　it　fall　into　their　claws。〃　He　turned　to　glare　at　Sue　Graham：　〃That's　my　job。。。but　I　can't　expect　you　to　understand。〃

Graham　laughed　shortly；　patting　the　camera　again。　〃Just　give　me　some　good　footage；　hero。　I'll　make　you　a　star。〃


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

God　knows　Rick　and　I　have　had　our　share　of　difficulties；　Max；　especially　during　the　weeks　following　his　decision　to　join　the　Sentinels；　as　you　probably　recall。　But　this　is　worse　than　that；　and　it's　beginning　to　prey　on　me。　Sue's　with　him　day　and　night　lately；　and　Rick　doesn't　seem　to　mind　it　one　bit…the　lecher。　He　claims　Sue　sees　him　as　some　kind　of　father　figure；　but　just　who　does　he　think　he's　kidding？　She's　infatuated　with　him；　and　I'm　worried　that　he　is　going　to　fall　for　it　one　night…the　loneliness　of　mand　and　all　that　rot。　Max；　can't　we　just　see　about　getting　her　transferred？　Who'd　be　the　wiser？
Lisa　Hayes…Hunter　in　a　letter　to　Max　Sterling

Oddly　enough；　some　of　them　managed　to　get　a　little　sleep。　Marlene　had　made　Scott　promise　to　wait　at　least　until　morning　before　making　an　attempt　to　go　after　the　syncro…cannon。　He　had　given　his　word；　proverbial　fingers　crossed　behind　his　back；　if　only　to　calm　her　down。　She　had　appeared　especially　stressed　out　for　the　past　week；　and　Scott　was　worried　about　her；　so　he　wasn't　surprised　to　hear　her　call　out　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　He　slipped　out　of　his　sleeping　bag　and　went　to　her　side；　she　seemed　to　sense　his　presence　and　e　around；　smiling　weakly　up　at　him　in　the　moonlight。

〃I　feel　so　strange；　so　alone；　Scott。。。　〃

He　reached　out　to　stroke　her　luxuriant　hair。　〃It's　because　we're　so　close　to　Reflex　Point；　Marlene。　I　was　afraid　this　would　happen；　that's　why　I　wanted　you　to　stay　with　Simon。。。　〃　He　was　suddenly　aware　that　she　wasn't　listening　to　him　but　staring　instead　at　the　holo…locket　that　had　slipped　from　his　shirt。

〃You'll　never　forget　her；　the　woman　in　your　pendant。。。She　was　very　special；　wasn't　she？〃

Scott　held　the　heart…shaped　memento　in　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　regarded　it　for　a　moment。　〃She　was　special；　but　so　are　you；　Marlene。〃　He　placed　his　hand　against　her　cheek。　〃I　wear　this　to　remind　me。。。Sometimes　it's　the　only　thing　that　gives　me　the　strength　to　go　on。〃

〃I'm　sorry　I　brought　it　up；〃　she　said　sleepily；　and　rolled　over　in　her　bag。

Scott　heard　the　roar　of　thrusters　and　went　to　the　door　and　looked　up。　Through　the　trees　he　could　see　three　Invid　patrol　ships　streak　across　the　night　sky。　Lancer　was　beside　him　now；　he　had　the　watch　and　had　returned　to　the　cabin　at　the　sound　of　Marlene's　cries。　〃Everything　all　right？〃　he　asked。

Scott　led　him　away　from　the　doorway。　〃Nobody　has　enough　strength　left　to　hold　on　to；　Lancer。　If　we　don't　finish　this　thing　soon。。。〃　Scott　let　it　go　and　uttered　a　soft　curse　aimed　at　the　stars。　〃What's　keeping　Hunter？　Doesn't　he　realize…〃

〃Don't；　Scott；〃　Lancer　said；　cutting　him　off。　〃We　just　have　to　keep　taking　things　one　step　at　a　time。〃

〃I　suppose　you're　right。〃　Scott　turned　to　look　back　at　his　sleeping　friends　and　teammates。　〃We've　just　got　to…Lancer；　where's　Rand？！〃

Lancer　swung　around　and　saw　the　empty　bedroll…then　another。　〃Annie's　missing；　too。〃

Scott　stepped　deeper　into　the　woods　to　whisper　their　names　in　the　dark。　〃They're　with　Graham；　I'm　sure　of　it；〃　Scott　told　Lancer　angrily。　〃Wake　everyone　up。　We've　got　trouble。〃


Ten　minutes　later；　what　remained　of　the　team　was　ready　for　action；　Lunk　and　Marlene　were　helping　Scott；　Lancer；　and　Rook　into　their　battle　armor。　〃My　guess　is　that　Graham　is　leading　them　to　the　syncro…cannon；〃　Scott　was　saying　now。　They　were　gathered　at　the　edge　of　the　woods　and　could　see　that　the　Invid　were　still　patrolling　the　area。　〃We　have　no　choice…we　have　to　get　the　Veritechs　up。〃

〃I　can't　believe　Rand　would　be　foolish　enough　to　listen　to　that　woman；〃　said　Lancer。　〃And　to　take　Annie　with　him。。。〃

Rook　snorted。　〃Doesn't　surprise　me　any。　I　think　he's　hot　for　that　photographer。〃　She　disregarded　the　fact　that　Rand　had　tried　to　take　Graham's　head　off　earlier　in　the　day。

〃I　know　why　he　did　it；〃　Marlene　offered；　looking　away　from　them。　〃Because　I　made　such　a　scene　about　Scott　going。〃

Lancer　flashed　her　an　understanding　look。　〃Still；　why　would　he　take　Annie？〃

〃That　was　probably　Graham's　idea；〃　Scott　answered　him。　〃Can't　you　understand　what　she's　up　to？〃　he　continued；　seeing　their　puzzled　looks。　〃The　whole　idea　is　to　try　to　get　some　terrific　action　footage　for　herself。　Think　about　it：　Annie　and　Rand；　two　freedom　fighters　far　from　home。〃


Scott　was　correct　on　every　count；　including　his　hunch　that　Sue　Graham　had　set　the　whole　thing　in　motion。　She　and　Rand　and　Annie　were　picking　their　way　across　a　steep；　rock…strewn　incline　now；　nearing　the　place　where　Graham　claimed　to　have　hidden　the　Robotech　weapon。　Neither　Rand　nor　Annie　minded　in　the　least　that　Graham　was　getting　it　all　down　on　disc；　after　all；　this　was　a　heroic　undertaking；　and　who　along　the　long　road　they　had　traveled　had　taken　such　an　interest　in　their　actions？　And　while　it　was　true　that　Rand　had　been　affected　by　Marlene's　concern　for　Scott's　safety；　his　motivations　were　more　selfish　than　considerate。


What　Graham　had　termed　a　cave　was　actually　a　kind　of　pocket　in　the　h