12_symphony_of_light-第7部分

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Back　in　town；　the　sheriff　was　trying　to　follow　the　rapid；　angry　flow　of　Scott's　words。　He　and　his　men　had　tossed　the　three　renegade　soldiers　into　a　cell；　but　it　hadn't　put　an　end　to　the　leader's　ranting　and　raving。

〃Just　in　case　you're　interested；　Sheriff；〃　Scott　was　saying　now；　his　hands　gripped　on　the　bars　of　the　cell；　〃I　happen　to　be　an　officer　with　Mars　Division。　We　were　sent　here　from　Tirol　by　Admiral　Hunter　to　liberate　Earth　from　the　Invid's　hold。　As　far　as　I　know　I'm　the　only　survivor　of　the　assault　group；　but　regardless；　my　orders　are　to　locate　and　destroy　the　Invid　Regis　and　the　central　hive　at　Reflex　Point。　Short　of　that　I…〃

〃Enough！〃　the　sheriff　shouted；　holding　up　his　hands。　The　man　had　been　going　on　like　this　for　more　than　an　hour；　and　he　couldn't　take　much　more　of　it…all　this　talk　about　assault　groups　and　an　attack　fleet　on　its　way　to　Earth　from　the　other　side　of　the　galaxy。。。Every　so　often　one　would　hear　this　sort　of　thing　from　people　who　had　e　wandering　in　off　the　wastes　looking　like　they　had　just　received　muniqu閟　from　the　Lord　Almighty；　but　that　didn't　mean　that　he　had　to　sit　still　and　listen　to　every　last　one　of　them。　〃You're　just　wastin'　your　breath　if　you　expect　me　to　believe　such　a　cock…and…bull　story。　Besides；　I　heard　tell　of　a　better　one　than　that　by　the　last　group　of　waste　wackos　who　showed　up　here。〃

Scott　was　about　to　take　up　the　argument…from　a　different　front　when　he　heard　a　shot　ring　out　from　outside　the　sheriff's　office。　A　moment　later　one　of　the　sheriff's　men　burst　through　the　front　door。

〃Rustlers；　Sheriff！　They　got　the　motorsickles！〃

Scott　shook　the　bars　and　cursed。

Rand　shouted：　〃Don't　let　them　get　away；　Sheriff！〃

The　sheriff　made　it　to　the　door　in　time　to　see　two　of　his　men　emptying　their　revolvers　at　a　truck　that　was　tearing　down　the　main　street。　He　could　just　discern　a　figure　in　the　open　back；　a　cloaked　and　helmeted　figure　yelling　above　the　noise　of　gunfire：　〃Much　obliged；　Sheriff！　We　never　woulda　gotten　away　with　'em　iffen　you　hadn't；　locked　away　the　strangers！〃

The　sheriff　glanced　in　at　the　jail　cell；　the　open　office　door；　then　once　more　at　the　truck。

〃You're　responsible　for　this；　Sheriff！〃　Scott　called　out；　furious。

〃You've　endangered　our　entire　mission；'〃　said　Rand。

〃You　dumb　hick！〃　Annie　added。

The　sheriff　contemplated　his　position：　the　rustlers　were　well　known　to　him；　and　he　certainly　didn't　fancy　tangling　with　them。　At　the　same　time；　he　was　responsible　for　the　strangers'　property。　So　it　only　made　sense　to　let　the　strangers　go　after　their　own　machines。　He　turned　to　one　of　his　deputies　and　said：　〃Saddle　up　a　coupla　fast　horses。〃


〃These；　must　date　clear　back　to　the　war　against　the　Robotech　Masters；〃　said　Lancer；　hefting　one　of　the　samples　from　the　opened　crate。　It　was　really　not　much　different　from　the　laser　rifles　the　team　was　used　to；　except　that　the　muzzle　was　somewhat　thicker　and　the　trigger　mechanism　more　plex。

〃Gen…yoo…wine　army　issue；〃　Jesse　said　proudly。

Lancer　brought　the　rifle　up　to　high　port　position。　〃Guess　it　wouldn't　be　considered　good　taste　to　ask　where　you　got　them；　huh？〃

〃Why　should　you　care？〃　Jesse　wanted　to　know。

〃Good　customers　don't　ask　too　many　questions；〃　cautioned　Frank；　swigging　from　a　bottle　of　whiskey。

Jesse　laughed。　〃Frank's　right；　Lavender。　But　I　reckon　there's　no　harm　in　tellin'　ya。〃

He　came　across　the　hold　to　explain　himself；　close　enough　for　Lancer　to　see　the　space　madness　in　his　eyes。

〃Way　back　when；　we　was　soldiers。　The　army　issued　these　weapons　to　us。〃

〃So　you're　part　of　this　ship's　rusty　old　crew。〃　Lancer　grinned。　〃Then　why　aren't　you　out　fighting　the　Invid　with　all　this　firepower　instead　of　playing　rustler？〃

Jesse　scowled　and　looked　away　for　a　moment。　〃We　had　our　fill　of　fightin'。　We　were　with　Admiral　Gloval　on　the　SDF…1；　after；　we　signed　up　fer　duty　with　the　Expeditionary　mission。　Traveled　clear　across　the　galaxy；　sonny；　a　godfersakin'　place　called　Tirol。　Then　we　made　one　heck　of　a　mistake　and　tied　in　with　Major　Carpenter。　'Course；　we　finally　made　it　back　all　right；　but　by　then　General　Leonard　and　his　boys　had　their　hands　full　with　the　Robotech　Masters。　So　we　jus'　kinda　retired；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　Now　we　sell　supplies　to　resistance　fighters；　so　I　reckon　we're　doin'　our　part。〃

Marlene　saw　Lancer's　face　begin　to　flush　and　did　what　she　could　to　calm　him　down　by　sliding　under　his　arm　and　laying　her　head　against　his　shoulder。　But　Lancer's　anger　was　not　so　easily　assuaged。

〃Making　a　nice　profit　for　yourselves；　aren't　you？〃

Jesse　laughed。　〃Reckon　we　are　at　that。〃

〃You're　nothing　but　a　pack　of　deserters；〃　he　started　to　say。　But　suddenly　there　were　new　sounds　wafting　in　from　outside　the　hold。　A　truck　had　pulled　up　in　the　arena。　Lancer　heard　someone　shout：　〃Look　what　we　got！〃　followed　by　a　wild　〃yaahoo！〃

Jesse　and　Frank　were　standing　by　the　hatch。　〃Wonder　where　they　stole　those？〃　Jesse　said　before　the　two　men　stepped　outside。

Lancer　heard　the　Cyclone　engines。

〃Why　don't　you　see　if　you　can　make　a　little　more　noise？〃　yelled　Frank。　〃I　don't　think　them　thangs　can　be　heard　more'n　twenty　miles　away！〃

〃Aw；　the　sheriff　didn't　even　bother　to　send　a　posse　after　us；〃　the　new　arrival　yelled　back；　laughing　as　wildly　as　Jesse　had　a　moment　before。

〃Keep　that　talk　down；　Shorty；〃　Frank　ordered。　〃We　got　pany。〃

As　Lancer　and　Marlene　were　stepping　down　the　hold　ramp；　Jesse　swung　around　to　ask　them　if　they　were　interested　in　buying　a　couple　of　Cyclones。　Lancer　saw　two　men　in　cloaks　and　helmets　astride　mecha　they　had　ridden　out　of　the　back　of　the　truck。　It　took　him　a　moment　to　recognize　the　Cycs；　and　he　had　to　quiet　Marlene　before　she　said　anything。

〃Young　folks；　meet　Roy　and　Shorty；〃　said　Frank；　gesturing　to　the　men。　Roy　was　tall；　with　a　blockish；　bald　head。　Shorty　had　crossed　eyes　and　a　pinched…up　face。　He　bristled　at　Frank's　introduction。

〃I　told　you　not　to　call　me　Shorty；　Frank！〃

〃Well；　we　gotta　call　you　something；〃　Frank　answered　him。

Jesse　leaned　across　the　Cyclone's　handlebars　to　thrust　his　chin　at　Shorty。　〃We'd　call　ya　by　your　real　name　if　ya　could　remember　what　it　was；　Shorty！〃

Shorty　raised　himself　on　the　footrests。　〃That　ain't　funny！〃

It　looked　as　though　he　might　have　taken　a　swing　at　Jesse　just　then；　but　Gabby　appeared　out　of　nowhere　with　his　pot　and　put　a　quick　end　to　it　by　ladling　some　hot　stew　onto　Shorty's　bare　hand。

Shorty　screamed　and　clutched　himself；　while　the　rest　of　the　band　had　a　good　laugh。

〃Gabby　ain't　too　fonda　Shorty；〃　Jesse　told　Lancer　and　Marlene。　〃Ain't　that　right；　Gabby？〃

Gabby　stood　still；　almost　catatonic；　oblivious　to　it　all。

〃Fact　is；　Gabby　ain't　too　fond　of　nobody；〃　Frank　chimed　in。　〃He's　a　little　funny　in　the　head。〃

Lancer　looked　over　at　the　uniformed　man　and　experienced　a　rush　of　passion。　Gabby　seemed　to　pick　up　on　it　and　walked　toward　the　hatchway；　proffering　the　pot　of　stew　to　Marlene。

〃Look　out；　folks！〃　Shorty　warned　them。　〃He　might　throw　it　at　ya！〃

But　instead；　he　simply　held　the　pot　out　until　Marlene　took　it　from　his　hand。

Frank　felt　his　chin。　〃Well；　I'll　be　hornswaggled。　He's　offerin'　it　to　you。〃

Marlene　thanked　him。

〃Well；　isn't　this　a　day　for　surprises？〃　said　Roy。

Shorty　nursed　his　burned　hand。　〃First　time　I　ever　seen　him　do　anything　nice　for　anyone。〃

〃He　tried　to　rejoin　Hunter's　outfit　when　those　kids　from　the　15th　ATACs　got　hold　of　Jonathan　Wolff's　ship；〃　Frank　explained。　〃But　his　Veritech　got　shot　down　before　he　could　make　it。〃

Jesse　snorted。　〃Darn　fool　wuz　tryin'　to　git　back　into　the　war　agin。　He's　gotta　be　crazier'n　a　bedbug。〃

The　four　old　veterans　collapsed　in　laughter。


CHAPTER　FOUR

Dr。　Lang　considered　him　an　army　brat　and　tried　on　more　than　one　occasion　to　instill　him　with　some　sense　of　objectivity；　but　Scott　was　a　lost　cause。　If　he　couldn't　persuade；　his　inclination　was　to　force。　And　this　kind　of　behavior　was　simply　nor　tolerated　in　the　lab。　Lang　would　tell　him：　〃You　can't　force　experiments　or　people　to　conform　to　your　world　view！　The　universe　just　doesn't　work　that　way！〃　Scott　heard　him　but　was　not　so　easily　convinced。　He　had　little　patience　in　those　days　and　was　often　accused　of　being　arrogant　and　judgmental。　Type　A；　all　the　way。
Xandu　Reem；　A　Stranger　at　Home：　A　Biography　of　Scott　Bernard

Lancer　asked　himself　how　Shorty　and　Roy　could　have　e　across　Scott　and　Rand's　Cyclones。　There　was　some　talk　about　a　local　sheriff　and　how　he　had　been　foolish　enough　to　leave　the　Cycs　unattended。　It　was　beginning　to　sound　like　Scott　had　gotten　himself　into　another　fix；　but　Lancer　had　yet　to　find　out　why　or　where　his　teammates　were　being　held。　He　had　barely　enough　scrip　to　purchase　one　of　the　laser　rifles；　let　alone　buy　back　the　Cyclones；　but　he　wondered　if　he　couldn't　persuade　the　Robotech　veterans　to　rescue　Scott　for　old　time's　sake。　After　all；　they　had　all　been　on　the　SDF…3　together；　and　chances　were　that　Frank　or　one　of　them　had　at　least　heard　of　Scott　Bernard；　the　Pioneer　Mission's　youngest　member。

They　had　all　moved　back　into　the　hold　of　the　cruiser；　which　functioned　as　the　group's　living　quarters　as　well　as　their　high…tech　trading　post。　Marlene　and　Lancer　had　gorged　themselves　on　Gabby's　delicious　stew。　The　shell…shocked　soldier　had　taken　to　them　and；　in　his　eerily　silent　fashion；　was　treating　them　more　like　honored　guests　than　potential　customers。　Frank；　Jesse；　Roy；　and　Shorty　were　engaged　in　a　wild　game　of　cards　that　required　two　full　decks　and　seemed　to　be　a　hybrid　of　gin　rummy　and　draw　poker。

〃e　on；　Lady　Luck；〃　Shorty　was　saying　now；　〃give　me　the　card　I　want。〃　He　took　one　from　the　facedown　stack　just　as　Jesse　was　throwing　one　faceup　beside　it。

〃You　can　have　this　one；　Shorty。〃

But　Shorty　was　too　busy　kissing　the　card　he　had　picked　to　respond　to　Jesse's　offer。　〃Jus'　the　one　I　wanted；〃　he　crowed。　〃How　'bout　that！〃

Frank　looked　at　his　hand　and　made　a　disappointed　sound。　The　cards　were　an　inverted　fan　in　his　left　hand；　his　right　gripped　a　whiskey　flask。

〃Don't　need　this　'un　either；〃　said　Jesse；　discarding　another。

〃Gentlemen；　I　fold；〃　Roy　announced　stiffly；　although　he　kept　the　cards　in　his　hand。

Shorty　started　bouncing　up　and　down　in　his　seat。　〃Frank；　y'　ole　coot；　ya　gonna　play　or　not？〃

〃Hang　on；　I'm　jus'　tryin'　to　decide　how　much　to　raise　you。〃