11_metamorphosis-第13章

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But　now；　alone　at　her　table　at　the　Club　Inca；　she　watched　Yellow　Dancer's　every　move。　She　couldn't　be　wrong！　Lancer　must　have　e　back　for　her　at　last！

Yellow　wore　one　of　her　most　stylish　outfits；　a　feminized　version　of　the　Cabaret　MC's　costume；　plete　with　vest；　bowtie；　derby　hat；　and　spats。　Very　Marlene　Dietrich。

As　promised；　the　song　was　an　old　Minmei　number；　sung　for　the　mayor　and　the　new　Mrs。　Maxwell。　The　alluring　chanteuse　broke　into　song；　acpanied　by　recorded　music　because　the　house　band　just　wasn't　up　to　her　level　of　performance。

How　could　it　all　have　turned　out　this　way？　Carla　wondered；　staring　into　her　champagne　glass　as　though　the　answer　were　there。

Her　memory　strayed　again；　back　to　a　time　just　after　the　Invid　destroyed　the　planet　Earth。

The　brunt　of　the　conquest　was　over　in　hours。　Striking　with　beam　weapons　and　energy　effects　that　humanity　still　could　not　prehend；　the　Invid　exterminated　over　eighty　percent　of　the　Human　race。　Many　more　died　as　the　Invid　mecha　descended　to　ravage　and　slay。

The　remnants　of　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross　rose　to　fight；　were　thrown　back　in　defeat；　regrouped；　tried　again　against　any　sane　hope；　and　were　shattered　beyond　repair。

Still　there　were　those　who　refused　to　surrender；　as　the　aliens　established　themselves　and　began　their　pacification　of　the　planet。　One　of　these　was　a　young　aviator　reservist　named　Lancer　who　had　just　begun　to　explore　his　love　with　a　woman　named　Carla　when　the　hordes　from　the　stars　struck。

Even　as　the　Invid　established　their　network　of　quislings；　informers；　and　assassination　squads；　Lancer　and　a　few　others　were　plotting　for　a　final　attempt　to　strike　at　the　heart　of　the　Invid　beachhead。

But　the　raid　was　a　final　disaster。　Wounded；　attempting　to　get　back　to　her；　Lancer　had　crash…landed　his　Veritech　less　than　a　mile　from　her　door。　Somehow；　Carla　had　gotten　him　to　what　was　left　of　her　home。

By　then；　most　of　the　people　still　alive　were　those　willing　to　submit　to　the　Invid。　Some　even　served　them…hunted　down　their　enemies　and　offered　them　up　to　the　triumphant　invaders。

Lancer　had　barely　e　to　in　Carla's　bed　when　the　sounds　of　the　hue　and　cry　drifted　up　from　the　streets。　Rifle　butts　were　bashing　at　doors；　hounds　bayed。

In　time；　the　manhunt　came　to　Carla's　house。


CHAPTER　TEN

If　you　hold　it　against　me　that　I　was　a　little　theatrical　in　what　I　did；　and　you　don't　care　to　consider　The　Scarlet　Pimpernel　or　Zorro；　be　kind　enough　to　keep　in　mind　what　I　acplished；　and　let　the　record　speak　for　itself。
Of　if　not；　either　walk　on　by　or　step　out　back。
Remark　attributed　to　Lancer

That　time　seemed　so　remote；　Carla　thought；　and　yet　it　remained　so　crystal…clear　in　her　mind。

Lancer　had　a　fine　record　as　a　military　officer；　but　he　had　left　the　Southern　Cross　sometime　before　the　Invid　attack　because　he　had　been　unable　to　fight　the　urge　he　felt　to　be　a　performer。　His　soft；　intimate　way　with　some　songs；　his　brassy；　crowd…pleasing　style　with　others；　made　him　a　natural；　but　there　was　another　side　to　his　art。

An　interest　in　theater　had　led　him　to　investigate　the　Japanese　traditions　of　No；　Bunraku；　Bugaku；　and　especially　Kabuki。　He　found　that　he　loved　to　perform　clownish　Saruwaka　antics　more　than　he　liked　any　Aragoto　swaggering　heroic　lead；　and　in　somewhat　the　same　way；　the　martial　juggling/acrobatics　of　the　Hoka　possessed　him。

And　he　came；　in　time；　almost　against　his　will；　to　a　fascination　with　the　revered　craft　of　the　Onna…gata…the　tradition　of　female　roles　portrayed　by　specializing　male　actors…and　the　gentle　Wagoto　style　of　acting。

Lancer　found　a　strange　understanding　of　himself　through　the　Musume；　the　ingenue　role；　and　dramatic　masters　encouraged　him　to　study　the　art。　In　the　West　there　was　still；　in　many　quarters；　a　horror　at　the　blurring　of　gender　lines。　But　in　the　Kabuki　his　talent　was　applauded；　by　men　and　women　both；　for　its　triumph　of　art　over　stereotype；　and　for　its　submersion　of　self　in　role。

Lancer　returned　to　the　Americas　with　new　thoughts　in　his　head。　He　began　to　revive　the　type　of　gender…blending　pop　music　figure　that　had　disappeared　with　the　outbreak　of　the　Global　Civil　War。

When　he　met　Carla；　she　seemed　immediately　to　understand　everything。　Carla　became　his　co…conspirator；　his　lover；　his　confidant；　his　fianc閑。　She　became　a　mainstay　of　his　life；　showing　her　affection　for　his　Musume　persona；　joining　him　in　a　world　where　conventions　and　Western　narrowness　had　no　hold。

Everything　was　fine　until　the　Invid　came。　While　Earth　passed　into　the　flames；　a　young　reserve　aviator　named　Lancer　lay　listening　to　the　tread　of　Shock　Trooper　mecha　and　the　sound　of　rifle　butts　and　hobnailed　boots　breaking　down　doors　in　the　alley　outside。

Carla　was　already　nearly　as　adept　at　some　parts　of　his　craft　as　he。　〃There's　only　one　way　you　can　survive；　and　that's　as　Yellow　Dancer；〃　she　said；　even　as　she　was　setting　out　makeup。

When　the　Invid　manhunters　came　in　they　found　only　two　frightened　women。　Their　insistent　search　turned　up　nothing…Lancer's　VT　armor　having　been　left　behind…and　they　went　away　grumbling；　the　Shock　Trooper's　optical　sensor　indicating　nothing　as　the　hulking　war　machine　turned　to　go。

Carla　leaned　to　kiss　her　lover　longingly。　〃You're　Yellow　Dancer　now。　You　must　be；　every　moment；　or　we're　dead。〃


In　retrospect；　it　seemed　a　happy　time　but　sitting　at　the　table　in　the　Club　Inca；　Carla　knew　that　it　had　been　filled　with　fear　and　travail。　By　foot　and　ox　cart　and　stolen　bike　and　a　half…dozen　other　means　that　they　took　as　the　occasion　arose；　she　and　Yellow　Dancer　moved　toward　some　hoped…for　safety。　Yellow　even　began　singing　for　their　supper；　when　the　opportunity　came　up。　Not　only　did　Yellow　Dancer's　persona　submerge　Lancer's；　Yellow　and　Carla　came　to　meld；　in　a　way。

Then　there　came　a　day　in　a　huge　rail　terminal；　both　of　them　clutching　forged　documents　from　the　Resistance　that　would　get　them　to　a　possible　place　of　safety。　The　region　they　were　in　was　somewhat　neutral；　and　Carla's　lover　was　Lancer　once　more。　Dark　thoughts　seemed　to　have　overtaken　him　once　his　male　persona　reasserted　itself；　the　halcyon　days　of　the　escape　were　over；　and　aliens　strode　the　Earth；　exterminating　Human　beings　at　will。

And　as　the　bullet　train　began　moving；　Lancer　leapt　from　it。　The　doors　shut　and　secured　automatically　behind　him。　He　crouched；　staring　at　the　surface　of　the　train　platform　so　that　he　wouldn't　have　to　meet　her　gaze。　Lancer　had　to　let　the　train　take　Carla　to　safety　so　that　he　could　join　the　Resistance　in　the　fight　against　the　Invid。


Carla　was　gone　from　the　sad　little　bridal　party　table　by　the　time　Yellow　Dancer　finished　her　encore　set。　Yellow　went　downstairs　to　her　makeshift　dressing　room。　What　point　would　there　have　been　in　seeing　Carla　alone？　The　Invid　kept　the　two　apart；　no　less　today　than　on　that　day　in　the　rail　station。

When　Yellow　Dancer　opened　the　door；　Carla　sat　waiting。

Yellow　Dancer　and　Lancer　surged　and　vied　in　a　single　mind。　Carla　seemed　small　and　frail；　sitting　with　her　hands　in　her　lap；　facing　the　door；　waiting　only　for　Yellow's　return。　〃After　three　years；〃　she　whispered。　〃You've　e　back　for　me　at　last！〃

Tears　ran　down　her　cheeks　as　she　watched　Yellow　sit　down。　〃Time　stopped　having　any　meaning　for　me；　do　you　know　what　that　feels　like？　What　happened　to　you？　I've　felt…my　life　has　been　so　empty！〃

What　Yellow　might　have　said　will　never　be　known；　at　that　moment　the　door　slammed　open　and　Annie　rushed　in。　〃Lancer！　Oops；　didn't　mean　to　interrupt；　but…I'm　in　love！〃

〃That's　all　right；　Annie；〃　Lancer　replied；　but　his　eyes　were　on　Carla。

In　love；　Carla　thought。　Lancer　was　looking　at　her　now；　not　Yellow　Dancer。　〃I…I　was　in　love　with　someone　once；〃　Carla　told　Annie　haltingly；　wondering　if　she　sounded　deranged。

Annie　appeared　not　to　notice　Carla's　despair。　〃Fall　in　love　again；　okay？　Then　you'll　be　just　as　happy　as　l　am！〃

Annie　gripped　Lancer's　hand。　〃Eddie　and　his　folks　are　getting　a　map；　an　honest　one；　that'll　tell　them　how　to　get　through　the　mountains　to　Paradise。　And　they're　taking　me　along！　They're　gonna　be　my　family！〃

It　dawned　on　her　that　neither　Yellow　Dancer　nor　Carla　seemed　very　happy　for　her。　She　jumped　off　the　couch　and　resettled　her　E。T。　cap。　〃I　just　couldn't　leave　without　saying　good…bye。　Um；　well；　my　dreamboat's　waiting…g'bye！〃　She　skipped　out　the　door；　tra…la…la…ing。

〃Good…bye；　Annie；〃　Yellow　Dancer　said　softly。

〃Love；〃　Carla　mused；　realizing　what　it　was　that　she　had　seen　in　Lancer's　eyes。　〃And　ours　is　gone　forever；　isn't　that　what　you　were　going　to　say？〃


Annie　caught　up　with　Eddie　where　he　was　waiting　for　his　father　at　the　Central　Deguello　Bank。　Mr。　Truman　came　down　the　steps　of　the　bank　with　a　briefcase　under　one　arm；　looking　up　as　he　heard　his　son　call　out　to　him。

Eddie's　father　had　been　away　for　a　few　days；　so　Eddie　said；　〃I'd　like　you　to　meet　a　very　special　friend　of　mine。〃

〃Hi；　Mr。　Truman！　My　name's　Annie　LaBelle！〃

Truman；　a　lean；　stoop…shouldered　man　with　salt…and…pepper　hair　and　mustache；　had　a　careworn　face　and　wore　much…repaired　wire…rim　glasses。　He　looked　weary　but　friendly。　〃Well；　Annie　LaBelle；　I'm　very　pleased　to　make　your　acquaintance。〃

He　thought　he　knew　why　Eddie　had　taken　a　liking　to　Annie；　she　was　so　much　like　Eddie's　little　sister；　Aly…Aly；　dead　these　eighteen　months　since　the　White　Virus　cut　its　swath　through　the　region。

To　his　son；　Truman　said；　〃Eddie；　we'll　be　leaving　soon…just　as　soon　as　I　wrap　up　a　few　things。　I　found　a　buyer　who　wants　the　shop；　and　Mrs。　Perio　upped　her　offer　for　the　house。　Make　sure　everything's　packed；　and　as　soon　as　I　get　home；　we'll　be　on　our　way。〃

Eddie　shifted　from　foot　to　foot；　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　leather　jacket。　〃Um；　Dad；　I　told　Annie　she　could　e　with　us。　〃

Truman　let　show　a　faint　smile。　〃Why；　of　course　you　did；　Son。　Don't　leave　anything　behind；　Annie；　we're　getting　out　of　here　for　good。〃

As　Mr。　Truman　walked　off；　Eddie　whooped　and　did　a　little　war　dance；　Annie　pirouetted；　giggling　deliriously。　〃Paradise；　we're　on　our　way！〃


The　ten…ounce　gold　bars；　flat　and　wide　as　candy　bars　but　much　smaller；　looked　so　insignificant　there　on　the　desk；　Mr。　Truman　thought。　And　yet　they　had　taken　so　much　time　and　sacrifice　and　work　to　accumulate。　The　sunlight　streaming　through　the　tall　windows　made　them　so　bright　that　they　made　him　squint。

Across　the　wide　desk；　Mayor　Maxwell　said；　〃You　should　be　proud；　Mr。　Truman。　I　know　what　you　had　to　go　through　to　get　this；　but　not　one　man　in　a　hundred　succeeds　like　this。〃

Truman　nodded　tiredly。　It　had　been　explained　to　him；　long　since；　why　Maxwell's　map　cost　so　much。　Certain　parts　of　the　route　had　to　be　changed　constantly；　to　reflect　new　Invid　activities　and　patrolling　patterns。　And　there　was　the　need　for　Maxwell's　Lurp　teams　to　set　up　safe　resting　places　and　resupply　caches　along　the　route。　The　cost　of　maintaining　the　teams　was　high；　not　to　mention　the　fact　that　a　cut　of　all　proceeds　went　to　the　Resistance　effort　against　the　Invid。

Or　so　Maxwell　insisted。　There　were　rumors　to　the　contrary；　but　there　were　rumors　about　everything　in　Deguello。　Reliable　people　swore　they　had　heard　from　friends　and　relatives　who　had　made　it　to　Paradise；　and　that　Maxwell　was　a　trustworthy　man。　Truman　was　too　tired　to　hesitate　anymore；　too　ground　down　by　the　loss　of　a　daughter　and　the　dead…end　of　life　in　Deguello。