12_symphony_of_light-第6部分

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Again　the　crowd　got　into　the　spirit；　laughing　and　jeering。　One　dangled　a　noose　in　front　of　Rand's　face；　while　a　second　began　to　inspect　Rand's　boots　with　an　evil　glint　in　his　eye。　There　was　what　amounted　to　a　festive　atmosphere　brewing；　so　much　so　that　no　one　took　notice　of　the　two　strange　figures　who　were　watching　the　scene　from　nearby。　One　was　perhaps　two　feet　shorter　than　his　panion；　but　both　were　clothed　alike；　in　bottletop　goggles；　helmets；　cowls；　and　full…length　cloaks。

〃Looks　as　though　these　strangers　are　going　to　be　occupied　for　a　spell；〃　said　the　taller　of　the　two。

〃Then　I　guess　they　won't　be　needin'　their　Cyclones；　huh；　Roy？〃

〃I　feel　it　only　right　that　we　see　to　it　that　no　harm　es　to　them。〃

〃The　Cyclones；　you　mean。〃

〃Now　what　else　would　I　mean？〃

〃Well；　you　coulda　meant　the　strangers。〃

Roy　made　a　face。　〃Now；　have　you　ever　heard　me　express　any　concern　for　strangers　before？〃

〃No。。。but…〃

〃And　is　it　likely　that　I　would　be　concerned　about　the　strangers？〃

〃Well；　no。　But…〃

〃Then　I　think　it　would　be　prudent　for　you　to　adhere　to　our　original　plan。〃

〃Adhere；　Roy？〃

〃As　in　‘stick　to。'〃

〃I　should　get　the　truck？〃

Roy　let　out　an　exasperated　sound。　〃Yes；　Shorty；　you　should　get　the　truck。〃


Back　at　the　camp　on　the　outskirts　of　town；　Lancer；　Lunk；　Rook；　and　Marlene　were　doing　what　they　could　to　camouflage　the　VTs　with　strategically　placed　branches　and　bunches　of　sagebrush　and　tumbleweed。　They　had　moved　the　fighters　to　a　kind　of　natural　shelter　Lancer　discovered；　a　rock　outcropping　with　plenty　of　surrounding　scrub。　It　seemed　a　senseless　task；　but　at　least　it　was　keeping　everyone　busy。

Lancer　hadn't　been　in　favor　of　Scott's　heading　off　into　town；　whenever　Scott　disappeared；　it　usually　spelled　trouble　for　the　rest　of　them。　It　was　some　fort　to　know　that　Rand　and　Annie　were　with　him；　but　not　enough　to　keep　Lancer　from　worrying。　The　major　source　of　his　concern；　however；　was　Marlene。　She　had　said　little　these　past　two　days；　and　it　was　obvious　to　Lancer　that　her　confrontation　with　the　Human　pilot　of　the　Invid　mand　ship　had　had　a　devastating　effect。　Was　it　possible；　he　asked　himself；　that　Marlene　herself　had　once　been　used　in　a　similar　fashion？　Perhaps　she　had　escaped　after　her　own　mand　ship　had　been　destroyed。　There　was　a　certain　logic　to　it；　since；　like　the　blond　pilot；　Marlene　seemed　to　have　no　recall　of　her　past　life。

I　don't　belong　with　you；　Lancer　could　hear　her　say。　I'll　just　bring　trouble。

Marlene　was　aware　of　Lancer's　concerns　and　smiled　weakly　at　him　as　she　continued　to　tug　handfuls　of　tall　grass　from　the　sandy　earth。　Then　suddenly　she　was　down　on　her　knees；　moaning　and　clutching　her　pale　hands　at　her　temples。　Lancer　jumped　down　from　the　radome　of　the　Alpha；　but　Rook　beat　him　to　Marlene's　side　and　was　already　stroking　the　tortured　woman's　long　hair　and　speaking　soothing　words　into　her　ear　by　the　time　Lancer　got　to　her。

〃She　must　be　sensing　the　Invid　again；〃　Rook　told　Lancer　and　Lunk。　〃I　told　Scott　this　would　happen　if　we　camped　too　close　to　that　munications　tower。〃

Lunk　shook　his　head。　〃We're　not　that　close　to　the　thing。　But　maybe　there's　a　Protoculture　farm　around　here。〃

Lancer　knelt　down　to　take　Marlene's　hand。　〃Marlene；　can　you　tell　us　what　you're　feeling？　Can　you　tell　from　the　pain　whether　it's　a　patrol　or　a　hive？〃

Marlene　pressed　the　heel　of　her　hand　to　her　forehead　and　made　an　agonized　sound。

〃You're　asking　a　lot　of　her；　Lancer；〃　said　Lunk。

〃Look；〃　Lancer　said；　turning　around。　〃I　know　what　I'm　asking。　But　it　could　be　that　Scott　and　Rand　are　in　danger；　and　Marlene　might　be　able　to　lead　us　to　the　source　of　it。〃

Rook　looked　at　him　as　though　he　had　just　sentenced　Marlene　to　the　rack。　〃The　closer　she　gets；　the　more　unbearable　the　pain　bees。　I　don't　have　to　tell　you　that。〃

〃No；　you　don't。　But　all　of　us　are　at　risk　here…not　just　Marlene。〃　He　touched　Marlene's　cheek　with　his　fingertips；　and　she　opened　her　eyes。　〃The　decision's　yours。　Do　you　think　you　can　lead　us　to　the　source　of　your　pain？〃

〃I　can。。。try；〃　she　responded　weakly。

Lancer　tightened　his　mouth　and　nodded。　〃Then　we're　going　out　together；〃　he　said；　getting　up。

Rook　and　Lunk　were　dead　set　against　it；　but　Lancer　convinced　them　that　there　was　really　no　other　choice。　Marlene　was　part　of　the　team；　with　strengths　and　weaknesses　just　like　the　rest　of　them。　And　it　only　made　sense　to　exploit　her　strengths；　especially　when　that　early　warning　system　of　hers　was　kicking　in。　So　an　hour　later　Lancer　and　Marlene　were　cruising　out　over　the　wastes；　side　by　side　in　the　APC　that　Lunk　had　reluctantly　given　up。

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Lancer　asked　her　after　they　had　been　driving　for　some　time。

She　nodded　without　saying　anything。

〃Is　the　pain　still　there？〃

〃Not　now。　It's　like　someone　just　switched　it　off　inside　me。〃

〃It　would　help　if　you　could　remember　something。　about　your　past。〃

〃I　feel　like　I　was　born　on　the　day　you　people　found　me；　Lancer。　There's　nothing　beyond　that…I'm　empty。〃

He　looked　over　at　her。　〃Still；　you　had　a　life。　We　just　need　to　find　out　who　you　were。〃

Marlene　shrugged。　〃How　much　do　you　remember　about　the　day　you　were　born？〃

〃Not　very　much；〃　he　started　to　say。　Then　all　at　once　there　were　two　men　on　horseback　positioned　in　front　of　the　vehicle。　Lancer　brought　the　APC　up　short；　instinctively　extending　his　right　arm　across　Marlene；　the　horses　reared；　their　riders　leveling　rifles。

〃One　false　move　and　I'll　make　a　lead　mine　outta　yer　innards！〃　warned　one　of　the　men。　〃How's　that　fer　threats？〃　he　asked　his　partner。

The　second　rider　repeated　the　warning　to　himself　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　like　it。　Too。。。cryptic。〃　He　brought　his　rifle　to　bear　on　Lancer。　〃Supposin'　you　tell　us　what　yer　doin'　in　these　here　parts；　Lavender　Locks。〃

Lancer　suppressed　a　grin。　The　man　had　on　a　bandanna　and　a　tiny　pair　of　tinted　goggles。　His　voice　sounded　like　sandpaper　on　cement。　〃We　were　just　out　driving　around；　and　we　got　lost；〃　he　told　them　sheepishly。

〃Yeah？〃　said　the　first　rider。　〃'Pears　to　me　you　had　sumthin'　on　yer　mind　'sides　yer　drivin'。〃　He　began　to　laugh　knowingly；　leering　at　Marlene。

Lancer　smiled　and　put　his　arm　around　Marlene；　pulling　her　close。　〃Well；　shucks；〃　he　mimicked　the　rider。　〃Iffen　you　have　to　know；　we're　newlywed　honeymooners。〃

〃Well；　no　wonder　yer　all　distracted；〃　the　rider　exclaimed；　lowering　his　weapon。　〃I　would　be；　too！〃

〃Stop　cackling　and　tend　to　business；　Jesse；〃　his　cohort　told　him。　〃You　folks　might　not　know　it；　but　there's　an　outlaw　gang　operatin'　out　here；　an'　yer　lucky　ya　didn't　go　and　git　yer　car　'n'　everythin'　stole　out　from　under　ya。　〃　He　disarmed　his　weapon。

〃Worse'n　that；　yer　headed　right　smack　dab　straight　into　Invid　territory。〃

〃Garldarn；〃　said　Lancer；　playing　it　up。　〃Me　and　my　little　bride　'preciate　yer　bein'　so　neighborly　as　to　warn　us　like　that。〃

The　gruff…voiced　man　seemed　to　offer　a　grin　beneath　the　bandanna。　〃Seems　we　speak　the　same　language；　stranger；　so　I　tell　ya　what　we're　gonna　do：　We're　gonna　show　ya　where　you　can　buy　some　mighty　fine　weapons　to　defend　yerselves。〃　He　tugged　at　the　reins　to　bring　his　mount　about。　〃Ya　jus'　follow　us。〃

The　two　riders　began　to　gallop　off。　Lancer　kept　the　APC　close　behind。　Their　trail　angled　east　along　the　remains　of　a　once…broad　highway。

〃Why　are　you　trusting　them？〃　Marlene　asked。

〃I'm　not。　But　I'm　curious　about　these　weapons。　Maybe　there's　a　resistance　group　operating　around　here。〃

The　highwaymen　led　them　down　into　one　of　the　devastated　crater　cities　Scott　and　Rand　had　flown　over　earlier　that　day。　Its　once…tall　towers　were　nothing　but　empty　shells　now；　burned　and　collapsed　like　fallen　layer　cakes。　Some　time　ago　a　river　had　altered　course　and　turned　most　of　the　crater　into　a　polluted　lake。　But　adjacent　to　the　resultant　waterfall；　practically　beneath　its　thunderous　flow；　was　a　massive　tunnel　that　led　to　an　arena　of　some　sort；　and　it　was　into　this　that　the　riders　disappeared。　〃Hole　in　the　wall；〃　they　called　it。　Inside；　however；　was　an　even　greater　surprise：　the　rusting　remains　of　a　Robotech　battle　fortress。　It　had　put　down　on　its　belly　and　somehow　seemed　to　be　fused　to　its　ruined　surroundings。

Lancer　couldn't　help　but　register　his　astonishment。　The　ship　was　nothing　like　the　cruisers　developed　during　the　Second　Robotech　War；　it　had　more　in　mon　with　the　organically　fashioned　Zentraedi　battlewagons　of　the　First。　And　yet　it　was　not　quite　Zentraedi；　either。　The　sleek　sharklike　bow　and　massive　triple…thrustered　stern　were　closer　to　the　hybrids　he　had　heard　about…ships　constructed　on　Tirol　and　sent　home　under　the　mand　of　a　certain　Major　John　Carpenter。　Lancer　said　as　much　to　the　two　riders。　They　had　dismounted　and　doffed　their　helmets　and　cowls；　in　place　of　the　techno…outlaws　who　had　stopped　the　APC　stood　two　silver…haired　old…timers　with　thick　mustaches　and　faces　aged　from　a　myriad　of　suns。

〃Yep；　and　she's　old　and　rusty；　just　like　her　crew；〃　said　the　one　called　Jesse；　who　affected　a　headband　and　had　a　crazed　way　of　laughing。

〃Then　you　were　part　of　Admiral　Hunter's　mand；〃　said　Lancer。

〃That's　something　we　don't　talk　about　around　here；　sonny；〃　returned　Frank；　who　may　have　had　a　few　years　on　his　saddlemate。　His　hair　was　shorter　than　Jesse's；　and　his　mustache　lacked　the　same　outlaw　droop。

Just　then　a　third　member　of　the　gang　stepped　through　an　open　hatchway　in　the　grounded　ship。　He　had　a　cooking　pot　in　one　hand　and　a　ladle　in　the　other。　With　his　clean…shaven　face　and　trimmed　black　hair　he　appeared　to　be　much　younger　than　either　of　his　panions；　moreover；　he　wore　a　sky…blue　uniform　that　bore　some　resemblance　to　Scott's。　Lancer　saw；　however；　that　there　was　no　sign　of　life　in　the　soldier's　dark　eyes。　He　tried　to　question　the　man　as　he　passed　by　the　driver's　seat　of　the　APC　but　got　no　response。

〃Don't　pay　no　attention　to　him；〃　Jesse　told　Lancer。　〃Gabby　hasn't　spoken　a　work　to　anybody　since　he　came　here。〃

Frank　motioned　them　toward　the　ramp　that　led　to　the　hold　of　the　battlecruiser。　〃e　on　in　hare；　stranger；　so's　we　can　show　you　what　we　got。〃

Lancer　and　Marlene　followed　them　in。　Piled　high　inside　were　high…tech　crates　Lancer　knew　to　contain　laser…array　ordnance　of　all　description。

Jesse　made　a　broad　sweep　with　his　arm。　〃Wele　to　the　best…stocked　tradin'　post　in　the　whole　West！〃


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