11_metamorphosis-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


had　barely　made　it　high　enough；　a　few　yards　away　and　several　down；　the　broached　reservoir　had　left　its　high…water　mark。

Annie　was　offering　him　a　handful　of　white　silk；　her　gage　for　her　jungle　knight。　〃Need　a　hankie？〃

His　hands　closed　around　hers。　〃Hey；　we　did　it；　Annie！　Thank　you；　oh；　thank　you！〃　His　face　was　alight；　not　even　Silverhair　could　say　no　to　him　now！

Annie　sat　listening　to　the　world…shaking　noise　of　the　flood　recede。　Sunlight　came　directly　down　on　them　through　one　of　the　holes　in　the　Invid…built　roof。　It　seemed　a　perfect　moment；　the　kind　she　had　always　wanted　to　live；　the　kind　she　had　always　wanted　to　trap　in　amber。

〃Believe　me；　Macky；　it　was　my　pleasure。〃


Rand　was　beginning　to　get　a　grip　on　the　knots　that　held　him。　〃If　they've　damaged　my　Cyclone　I'll　twist　the　skin　off　their　heads　and　strangle　'em　with　it！〃

He　was　blinded　by　salt　sweat；　but　he　was　working　mostly　by　feel。　He　had　an　enormous　headache　from　the　shot　he　had　taken。　〃What　is　it　with　kids　these　days；　anyway？〃


It　was　a　holy　night　in　the　treetop　town；　both　because　the　Invid　had　been　driven　out　by　the　river　god's　righteous　wrath；　and　because　Magruder　had　at　last　proved　himself　a　man　of　the　tribe。　（The　team　noticed　that　a　number　of　people　were　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief　about　that；　since　they　wouldn't　have　put　up　with　any　more　of　Magruder's　pecadillos。）

Magruder　and　Annie；　in　the　best　raiment　of　the　village；　got　to　sit　side　by　side　in　the　high…backed　chairs　of　honor　in　the　tribe's　council　hall。　Annie　looked　a　little　punchy　but　very　happy。　In　addition　to　greeting　Magruder　as　a　man　and　a　brother；　Silverhair　offered　him　his　choice　of　any　woman　as　his　wife。

〃All　hail；　Magruder！〃


The　river　receded　quickly；　and　for　some　reason　the　tribe　didn't　seem　bothered　by　the　loss　of　the　dam；　or　the　likelihood　that　the　Invid　would　e　again。　Prophesies　had　been　served；　had　been　borne　out；　and　thus　other　prophesies　and　Visions…which　the　tribemembers　wouldn't　discuss…would　be；　too。　Therefore；　all　was　well。

With　the　tribe's　help；　the　building　of　a　string　of　rafts　went　with　surprising　ease　and　speed。　There　were　hidden　warehouses；　with　empty　oil　drums；　cordage；　and　tools。　Several　nights　later；　the　team　floated　off　downstream；　on　a　string　of　rafts　that　supported　them　and　their　mecha。

Lunk　had　gotten　a　few　powerful　heat…turbine　outboard　engines　going；　and　these　were　used　for　steering　and　minimal　propulsion…enough　to　give　the　rafts　headway。　Even　Marlene　had　to　man　a　sweep；　since　the　team　was　now　one　member　short。

The　shoreline　still　reeked　of　the　stuff　that　had　been　washed　up　onto　it　during　the　flood。　Watching　the　luminous　fairy…grove　of　the　tribe；　each　team　member　thought　about　what　Annie　had　meant　to　him　or　her。　All；　that　is；　except　for　Rand；　who　stood　by　his　outboard　and　looked　downstream　only；　refusing　to　acknowledge　that　anything　had　happened。

The　others　silently　manned　steering　engines　or　sweeps。　At　last　he　whirled　on　them。　〃Why　the　long　faces？　You　all　look　like　your　gerbil　just　died。　Try　pulling　yourselves　together；　okay？　We're　better　off！　You　didn't　have　to　look　after　her　as　much　as　I　did；　so　trust　me　on　this　one。　Now　us　big　kids　are　free　to　get　on　with　some　down　'n'　dirty　freedom　fighting！〃

Rook；　sitting　with　her　back　to　a　crate；　hiked　herself　up　a　little；　studying　him。　〃Y'know；　you're　as　transparent　as　glass。〃

Rand　made　a　blustering　objection；　then　turned　away；　his　cheeks　hot。　Then　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃Hey；　I　think　we've　arrived。〃

It　was　just　ing　into　view　around　a　bend。　The　Invid　Hive　looked　a　little　like　a　spider　straddling　the　river。　Its　nodules　were　all　alight　now；　like　blister　windows。　Its　curved　underside　glowed　like　a　belly…furnace。　As　they　watched；　a　flight　of　mecha　left　it；　ungainly　bats　making　their　way　out　into　the　night。

〃There　are　no　Hives　like　that；〃　Scott　breathed。　〃That's　the　weirdest　looking…〃　He　drew　breath。　〃All　right；　everybody；　you　know　what　to　do。〃

They　had　tarped　the　mecha　and　Lunk's　truck　with　camouflage　covers；　but　that　didn't　hold　much　promise　for　the　time　when　the　string　of　rafts　came　in　under　the　bright　undergut　of　the　Hive。　It　was　like　being　a　bug　under　a　lamp　beam；　Rand　reflected；　as　he　huddled　under　a　tarp；　staring　up　at　the　fiery　glare　of　the　thing。

But　somehow　they　weren't　noticed。　They　couldn't　decide　whether　it　was　because　the　Invid　were　in　a　turmoil　after　suffering　losses；　or　simply　that　the　aliens　were　looking　for　Protoculture　spoor　and　ignoring　everything　else。

The　stilted　Hive　made　a　bizarre　sight；　set　against　the　delicate　pink…lighted　inner　surface　of　the　tremendous　roof　shell。　At　some　point；　the　team　realized　that　the　light　had　grown　less　harsh；　that　they　had　passed　out　of　the　fortress's　immediate　area。　They　emerged　from　cover　as　the　rafts　drifted　into　darkness。

Something　crossed　the　night　sky。　It　was　the　patrol　they　had　seen　leave　the　fortress；　exiting　the　valley　through　one　of　the　giant　holes。　There　were　five　Shock　Troopers　flying　as　the　rear　two　echelons　of　a　triangle；　two　followed　by　three。　But　what　was　at　the　apex　made　the　team　gasp。

〃Hey；　look　at…〃　Rand　began。

〃I　don't　think　I've　ever　heard　of　a　Trooper　like　that　before；〃　Lancer　said；　the　last　of　the　Hive's　light　catching　his　pale　skin。

Scott　was　shaking　his　head　slowly。　He　had　memorized　every　mecha…identification　profile　there　was；　arid　he　had　never　seen　this　one。　It　was　twice　the　size　of　the　others。　〃What　could　it　be？〃

But　there　were　no　answers。


Once　again；　Rand's　Notes　on　the　Run　offers　an　enlightening　mentary　on　the　subtler　forces　affecting　the　team：

〃Another　two　days'　rafting　brought　us　to　a　deserted　city　where；　wonder　of　wonders；　we　found　a　pinch　of　Protoculture　in　an　old　Southern　Cross　underground　shelter…just　enough　to　keep　us　going。　It　should　have　made　us　rubber…kneed　with　relief；　really；　it　was　a　lucky　find。　But　we　were　all　still　a　little　depressed　about　Annie。　I　kept　expecting　her　to　start　yapping　and　pestering　me。〃

〃Unloading　the　mecha　from　the　rafts　was　a　lot　easier　once　they　were　under　power；　and　the　Beta　lifted　Lunk's　APC　off　like　it　was　a　toy。　We　decided　to　hole　up　in　the　downtown　hub　of　that　empty　burg　for　a　few　days；　to　see　what　else　there　might　be　that　we　could　use。　The　Forager　in　me　didn't　trust　the　place…those　windy　streets；　echoing　concrete　canyons…but　I　knew　there　would　be　few　other　places　to　resupply　between　there　and　the　coast。〃

〃Figuring　a　few　rest　stops；　Scott　told　us　he　estimated　another　eleven　days'　travel　to　the　Pacific　coast　of　Panama；　where　we　would　get　ready　for　that　hop　to　what　all　the　old　maps　call　Baja　California。　Most　of　Central　America　was　an　Invid　bailiwick；　and　the　Gulf　of　Mexico　was　their　bathtub；　we　didn't　have　much　choice　but　to　go　around。　Scott　said　we　might　manage　to　be　in　the　region　of　Reflex　Point　in　as　little　as　a　month　or　so。〃

〃Yippee。。。〃

〃While　Scott　and　Lancer　went　over　the　maps；　and　Marlene　sort　of　huddled　in　Rook's　old　jacket；　watching　Scott。　Rook　and　Lunk　and　I　rode　off　to　see　what　else　we　could　forage。　Our　headlights　only　made　the　city　seem　spookier　and　more　ominous。　Rook　was　grousing；　something　about　the　foolishness　of　scavenging　in　the　dark。〃

〃I　told　her；　‘We'd　be　sitting　ducks　during　the　day…not　that　I　feel　a　whole　lot　safer　now。　I'm　beginning　to　think　the　Invid　see　equally　well；　day　or　night。'〃

〃It　wasn't　much　of　a　ment；　I　suppose。　To　tell　the　truth；　I　was　still　thinking　about　Marlene；　and　the　looks　she　was　giving　Scott。　If　we　had　been　living　some　oldtime　musical；　I　would　have　said　the　two　of　them　were　about　to　burst　into　a　somber　duet。　As　for　me；　that　intimate　connectedness　I　had　felt　with　Marlene　seemed　to　be　fading。　And　my　feelings　toward　Rook　changed　from　second　to　second。〃

〃Anyway；　there　we　were　riding　among　leaning　and　teetering　buildings；　toppled　wreckage；　cracked　streets　with　weeds　growing　up　through　them…and　the　Invid　jumped　us。　A　flight　of　Pincer　Ships　were　following　either　that　giant　one　we　had　seen　back　in　the　valley　or　its　twin。〃

〃They　took　a　novel　approach；　blasting　the　top　floors　of　buildings　to　pieces；　raining　cinderblocks　and　cement　and　pieces　of　girder　and　glass　down　on　us。　We　did　some　stunt　driving　you　won't　find　in　any　books；　with　dust　coating　our　goggles　and　sticking　in　our　teeth。　A　granite　splinter　opened　a　groove　in　Lunk's　cheek。〃

〃It　seemed　like　we　fled　forever。　Then　we　zazzed　around　this　turn　and　Scott　and　Lancer　were　there；　running　neck　and　neck；　Marlene　riding　pillion　behind　Lancer。　We　had　gotten　lax；　maybe；　because　Scott　was　the　only　one　in　armor。　Wearing　that　tin　can　never　seemed　to　bother　him；　I　had　seen　him　sleep　in　it　often。〃

〃At　any　rate；　he　told　us　to　find　cover　while　he　ran　interference。　It　made　sense；　without　our　armor；　the　rest　of　us　were　just　bikers　in　a　bull's…eye。　Then　we　heard　his　fireworks；　and　we　poured　on　everything　we　had　because　as　good　as　Scott　was…and　he　was　the　best　among　us…he　couldn't　hold　'em　for　long。〃

〃I　was　in　the　lead；　and　I　spotted　a　major　subway　entrance。　We　went　down；　giving　our　kidneys　a　nice　little　massage　on　the　steps。　Scott　was　right　behind　Lunk's　truck；　and　the　Invid　rounds　were　already　melting　the　entrance　canopy。　We　ran　to　the　end　of　the　platform　and　then　hit　the　rails。〃

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it　was　dark　down　there！　Our　headlights　scared　up　rats　as　big　as　small　dogs；　and　other　things　that　didn't　fit　in　any　Audubon　book　I　ever　saw…mutations；　of　course。〃

〃I　figured　we　could　put　up　a　pretty　good　fight　down　there；　because　the　Invid　would　have　to　bunch　up　and　move　slowly。　But　I　made　a　note　to　slip　on　my　helmet　the　second　there　was　a　chance；　weapons　make　noise；　and　in　the　confinement　of　the　tunnel　a　few　shots　would　be　plenty　for　a　little　short…term　hearing　loss。〃

〃What　I　hadn't　foreseen；　though；　was　that　the　Invid　would　just　shoot　at　us　from　the　street　above。　They　had　tracked　us　by　Protoculture　emissions；　I　concluded。　I　bet　that　big　bozo　we　had　seen　was　the　one　doing　the　shooting；　Pincer　Ships　simply　didn't　have　that　kind　of　raw　power。　Even　Shock　Troopers　didn't　pack　such　a　wallop。〃

〃Sure　enough；　the　first　one　made　me　partially　deaf　and　gave　me　the　beginnings　of　a　week…long　headache。　At　every　junction　we　looked　for　a　way　to　go　deeper。〃

〃The　Invid　shots　blew　straight　down　through　ceiling　and　floor　behind　us。　The　ceiling　suddenly　collapsed　and　Lunk's　APC　was　nearly　stuck；　but　somehow　he　churned　free。　I　do　believe　that　glorious　old　wreck　listened　when　he　talked　to　it。〃

〃We　shut　down　our　Cycs　so　the　Invid　couldn't　sense　our　Protoculture；　but　they　must　have　gotten　a　final　fix　on　Lunk's　truck；　because　the　last　volley　damn　near　nailed　him。　As　it　was；　the　whole　tunnel　began　to　break　up。〃

〃We　all　wriggled　to　shelter　under　some　subway　cars；　except　for　Marlene；　who　had　taken　a　spill；　and　Scott；　who　crouched　over　her；　protecting　her　with　his　armor。　I　looked　at　the　two　of　them　and　the　way　they　looked　at　each　other　and　I　knew；　in　that　bizarre　instant　flash　you　sometimes　get；　that　they　were　what　Vonnegut　called　a　〃Duprass〃…a　bonded　pair。　Something　to　do　with　fate；　no　doubt。〃

〃It　sounded　like　they　were　knocking　whole　buildings　over　up　above；　the　tunnel　was　blocked　by　fallen　debris　and　concrete　back　the　way　we　had　e。　Lunk's　beloved　old　jalopy　was　crumpled；　too。〃

〃Then　it　got　quiet。　We　guessed　that　they　had　decided　they　had　destroyed　us。　But　there