11_metamorphosis-第24章

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He　hefted　the　weapon。　〃It's　time　I　became　a　man！〃　he　said。　〃I'll　prove　myself　in　battle！〃

Hollering　at　him　to　use　his　head　didn't　help。　He　sprang　away　into　the　trees；　nimble　as　a　squirrel。　Annie　stumbled　after　him；　tugging　to　free　the　hem　of　her　skirt　from　some　thorns。　When　she　saw　Magruder　next；　he　was　poised　on　a　branch　near　a　wide　trail…a　trail　that　had　been　beaten　down　by　something　a　lot　bigger　than　any　wild　game　in　the　valley。

She　hit　the　dirt　as　she　heard　the　tread　of　mecha。　When　she　lifted　her　head　again；　Magruder　was　swinging　at　the　lead　Shock　Trooper　on　a　vine；　clutching　his　spear；　yowling　a　fierce　battle　cry。

He　landed　with　remarkable　skill；　on　top　of　the　lead　alien's　head　canopy。　〃Now　they'll　stop　laughing　at　me！　I'll　show　all　of　them　that　Magruder　is　a　man！〃

Annie　was　prepared　to　see　the　spearpoint　bounce　off　and　Magruder　either　fall　to　his　death　or　be　plucked　to　bloody　shreds。　But　instead；　just　as　he　struck；　the　Invid；　apparently　oblivious　to　him；　fired　its　thrusters。　Magruder　lost　his　balance；　caught　his　spear　with　both　hands　and　fell。　The　spear　lodged　sideways　in　the　grooves　at　the　back　of　the　cranial　canopy；　Magruder　clung　to　it。

The　next　thing　Annie　knew；　her　new　flame　was　being　dragged　away　through　the　air；　feet　kicking；　atop　a　Shock　Trooper。


It　took　her　a　while　to　get　the　tribesmen　and　her　own　teammates　to　believe　it。　The　LaBelle　lower　lip　was　thrust　out　again。　〃That's　right！　This　place　is　some　kind　of　Invid　hothouse！　Magruder　took　them　on　all　by　himself！　He's　convinced　the　only　way　he'll　get　you　to　stop　laughing　at　him　is　bee　a　macho　sexist　Tarzan！〃

Silverhair　shook　his　head。　〃That　boy　will　be　the　death　of　me。〃

〃The　Invid　are　probably　looking　for　us；〃　Scott　said。

〃The　tribesmen　are　going　after　Magruder！〃　Rand　shouted。　〃Scott；　we've　got　to　help　these　guys；　the　Invid'll　wipe　out　every　last　one　of　'em。〃

〃We've　barely　enough　Protoculture　left　to　light　a　match；〃　Lancer　pointed　out；　〃let　alone　fight　a　battle。〃

Scott　was　lost　in　thought；　staring　off　at　the　dam。　〃Then；　we'll　have　to　improvise　and　maybe　get　a　little　hand　from　the　good　old　river　god。〃

Rand　and　Lancer　began　to　get　the　idea；　looking　at　their　leader　skeptically。　It　was　funny　how　Scott　wasn't　very　flexible　until　it　came　to　fighting　off　the　Invid。

〃The　trick　will　be　in　getting　the　Invid　close　enough　to　the　dam。　We　may　have　to　risk　the　last　of　our　Protoculture　reserves　to　lure　them　there。〃

Rand　added；　〃Leave　it　to　me。　Those　big　boys　just　love　to　follow　my　Cyclone。〃

〃Good。　The　rest　of　you；　I　want　enough　explosives　planted　on　that　dam　to　blow　the　whole　business　through　those　holes　in　the　roof。　Cobalt　grenades；　Tango…9…the　works。　And　we're　going　to　need　Protoculture　flares。〃

Lunk　and　Rook　were　smiling；　though　Marlene　looked　apprehensive　and　unprehending。　Annie　was　off　to　one　side；　thinking。　I　don't　like　this！　Macky　and　me're　being　left；　out　in　the　cold！　My　jungle　darlin's　just　got　to　prove　himself；　or…ahh！　Eureka！


The　Shock　Troopers　had　been　flying　a　slow　spiral　pattern；　like　searching　wasps。　They　weren't　flying　very　fast；　but　they　were　more　than　high　enough　for　the　young　would…be　warrior　to　make　an　unfavorable　impression　on　the　ground　when　he　hit。

He　held　on；　hoping　they　would　pass　over　the　reservoir　or　some　other　body　of　deep　water　soon。　That　was　his　only　hope；　and　his　hands　were　going　numb。　His　fingers　were　slipping。

Then　the　alien　mecha　flew　into　the　middle　of　a　hail　of　boulders。　The　rocks　bounced　or　broke　harmlessly　on　the　mecha。　The　Shock　Troopers　shielded　themselves　with　the　ladybug…shaped　targones　mounted　on　their　forearms。　They　landed；　looking　around　more　in　curiosity　than　in　anger　or　alarm。

The　Invid　themselves　didn't　understand　all　the　secrets　of　the　Flower　of　Life。　For　some　reason；　the　Flowers　had　chosen　to　thrive　in　this　valley；　and　it　was　critically　important　to　the　Invid　to　understand　why。　Therefore；　they　had　roofed　the　place；　in　order　to　control　study　conditions。　They　left　the　population　of　atavistic　Humans　unbothered。

At　least；　so　far。　The　Troopers　were　hit　by　a　rain　of　spears　and　arrows　that　shattered　on　or　rebounded　from　them。　Their　optical　sensors　swept　the　jungle　for　enemies。　Magruder　managed　to　drag　himself　up。　〃Hey！　Hold　your　fire！〃

Silverhair　shouted　from　the　shelter　of　a　leafy　screen。　〃Quick；　get　down！〃

But　Magruder　sprang　to　his　feet；　standing　on　the　Trooper　as　if　it　were　a　mountain　he　had　just　scaled。　〃Look　at　me；　Silverhair！　I'm　a　man；　and　I'll　prove　it　to　you！〃

Magruder　felt　that　this　was　his　moment。　He　grasped　his　spear　and　got　ready　to　thrust　it　into　the　monster's　brain。

But　a　figure　swung　out　of　nowhere；　scooping　him　off　the　Shock　Trooper's　head　just　as　the　thing　reached　up　to　find　out　what　was　irritating　it。　Alloy　claws　clashed　together　on　empty　air。

Lancer；　swinging　across　to　safety　with　Magruder　under　one　arm；　laughed。　〃Keep　trying　to　kill　yourself　and　you　won't　live　to　be　a　very　old　man。〃

Annie　saw　where　they　would　land　and　ran　to　meet　Magruder。　There　wasn't　much　time　left　to　get　her　plan　in　gear。

The　Shock　Troopers　turned　on　the　tribesmen；　who　were　pelting　them　with　arrows　and　spears　again。　The　Invid　advanced　slowly；　hoping　to　learn　what　had　caused　the　change　in　these　docile　primitives。

〃They've　taken　the　bait！〃　bellowed　Silverhair。　〃Hurry；　back　to　the　temple！〃


Rand；　leaning　on　a　log　next　to　his　Cyclone；　tossed　pebbles　at　a　leaf　aimlessly　and　yawned。　I　hate　waiting！　Let's　get　this　turkey　in　the　oven！

He　never　heard　the　bare　feet　sneaking　up　behind　him；　and　he　only　began　to　turn　when　he　heard　the　swish　of　the　creeper…wrapped　wooden　club。　Then　he　was　stretched　out　cold。


The　Shock　Troopers　lumbered　under　the　immense　trunks　of　the　deserted　tree…city　with　the　Regis's　voice　ringing　within　them。　〃The　Robotech　Rebels　are　somewhere　in　the　vicinity！　Scan　for　traces　of　Protoculture　activity！〃

It　didn't　take　them　long　to　find　it　and　hear　it。　A　Cyclone　revved　nearby　and　the　optical　sensors　swung　to　fix　on　it　at　once。

Straddling　Rand's　Cyc　with　Magruder　behind　her　holding　the　handlebars；　Annie　settled　her　goggles　and　shrilled　her　war　cry。　〃Hit　it！〃

Magruder；　it　turned　out；　wasn't　as　primitive　as　he　looked。　He　had　some　experience　with　the　two…wheeled；　battery…powered　putt…putts　that　the　dam　engineers　had　once　used　to　get　around　on。　He　gave　the　accelerator　a　twist；　and　the　Cyc　shot　off　along　the　wooden　overhead　walkway。

The　Invid　looked　up；　following　the　noise。　Rand；　lying　trussed　up　back　where　he　had　fallen；　shrieked　through　his　gag；　Those　brats　stole　my　Cyclone！

Magruder　did　a　daring　jump　from　one　level　to　the　next；　right　above　the　Invids'　heads；　and　Annie　didn't　seem　to　realize　just　what　danger　she　was　in。　〃Yeah；　there　they　are！　Yoo…hoo！　e　and　get　us！〃

The　Shock　Troopers　rocketed　after　them；　slowed　a　bit　by　the　need　to　watch　out　for　the　giant　trees。　Magruder　zoomed　down　to　the　jungle　floor　and　away；　the　aliens　began　making　up　the　distance　quickly。　〃Okay；　remember　to　hold　on　tight　now！〃　Annie　yelled。

〃I　will！〃　Annihilation　discs　began　crashing　nearby。

Annie　seemed　undisturbed　as　the　Cyc　hurtled　along；　finding　paths　through　the　dense　foliage　that　only　the　tribes…people　knew。　〃Magruder；　my　little　Ape…Guy；　we're　gonna　make　a　man　of　you　yet！〃


Rook　set　her　last　cobalt　grenade　in　place。　There　was　only　one　limpet　mine；　and　Lancer　was　placing　that　to　the　best　advantage。　The　grenades　and　Tango…9　would　have　to　do　the　rest　of　the　job。　She　didn't　want　to　think　about　what　would　happen　if　it　wasn't　enough。

Ironically；　Silverhair　and　his　people　raised　no　objection　to　the　whole　plan。　Deliverance　in　the　form　of　the　river　god　was　what　they　had　always　looked　for。　It　was　the　reason　they　had　defended　their　god's　den。　It　was　obvious　to　the　tribe　that　the　freedom　fighters　were　just　messengers　of　the　god；　sent　to　assist　him。　Rook　was　beginning　to　think　the　religion　wasn't　as　crazy　as　it　seemed。

She　listened；　for　the　two…dozenth　time；　for　the　approach　of　Rand's　Cyc。　Don't　you　dare　screw　up　this　one！　she　thought　to　him　silently。　Then　she　wondered　why　she　should　even　care　about　him。

Then　she　thought　again；　C'mon；　Rand。　C'mon！


Lancer　set　the　last　of　his　charges　and　delicately　threaded　a　lilylike　flower　in　one　of　its　adhesion　legs；　for　an　artistic　touch。　He　patted　it；　then　turned　and　dashed　for　high　ground。


The　trooper　caught　up　faster　than　Annie　had　calculated；　jostling　the　Cyc　with　near　misses　in　the　long　feeder　tunnel　that　led　to　the　dam。　Magruder　lost　control　just　as　they　shot　out　of　the　tunnel　and　mecha　and　riders　all　ended　up　plunging　through　a　screen　of　fronds　and　leaves　and　spilling　in　separate　directions　over　lush　grass。

The　Invid　appeared　a　moment　later　to　land　and　stalk　closer；　spreading　to　either　side。　This　Protoculture　motorcycle　was　similar　to　the　freedom　fighters'；　but　its　riders　seemed　to　have　no　armor；　no　weapons。　There　would　have　to　be　a　little　more　examination　before　irrevocable　disposition　of　the　Humans　was　made。

That　was　the　moment　when　Lunk　blew　the　flares；　all　Invid　heads　turned　automatically。　A　dozen　Protoculture　mini…suns　burned　on　the　dam's　concrete　face。


CHAPTER　NINETEEN

They　were　such　disparate　personalities…it's　amazing　that　anyone　could　have　believed　they　would　e　together　as　a　result　of　random　forces。
Crowell；　Remember　Our　Names！　（The　Road　to　Reflex　Point）

〃Protoculture　activity　on　the　dam！〃　The　Regis's　voice　came　to　her　children。　〃Investigate！〃

The　gleaming　purple　Shock　Troopers　boosted　away；　forgetting　Annie　and　Magruder　for　the　moment。　Lunk　came　dashing　off　the　dam　crest　roadway；　getting　clear　of　Ground　Zero。

Scott　watched　with　satisfaction　as　the　Troopers；　joined　by　the　others　who　had　been　bing　the　valley；　plummeted　down　to　the　blinding…bright　Protoculture　flares　set　along　the　dam　face。　He　pushed　the　button。

Concrete　blew　out　in　a　storm　of　conventional　and　Protoculture　shaped　charges；　as　the　dam　fractured　and　broke。　The　Invid　mecha　were　stunned　by　what　was　happening　and　then　they　were　thrown　backward　and　down　by　the　falling　concrete　cliff　and　the　freshwater　sea　behind　it。　In　a　moment；　a　squadron　of　Invid　were　wiped　away；　smashed　and　flattened　by　forces　that　not　even　Robotech　armor　could　withstand。

〃And　so　the　river　god　legend　es　true；〃　Scott　mused；　looking　down　on　the　devastation　from　the　heights。　Just　lying　on　top　of　some　Flowers　of　Life　had　given　Rand　weird　visions；　perhaps　living　in　the　midst　of　a　preserve　of　them　had　given　the　tribe　some　kind　of　altered　perception；　or　prescience

The　water　quickly　pushed　up　dirt　and　trees；　hunks　of　mecha　and　vegetation。　It　was　less　a　tidal　wave　than　a　moving　wall　of　mud　and　solid　debris　that　would　plow　down　anything　before　it。　A　lot　of　Flowers　were　doomed。　Maybe　the　Invid　would　even　lose　interest　in　the　valley。

Lunk；　Rook；　and　Lancer　had　e　up　behind　him。　Lancer　spoke　softly。　〃Did　the　tribe's　Visions　serve　us；　or。。。〃


Annie　pushed　herself　up；　realizing　that　she　had　been　lying　on　top　of　Magruder。　Nearby；　the　Cyc　rested　on　its　side；　smoking；　but　still　intact。　〃Macky！　My　little　Greystoke！　Are　you　hurt？〃

Magruder　moved；　then　sat　up；　rubbing　a　bump　on　his　head　and　knowing　that　by　all　rights　he　and　Annie　should　have　been　torn　limb　from　bough。　Then　he　heard　the　din　of　the　flood。　They　had　barely　made　it　high　enough；　a　few　yards　aw