15_death_dance- 第18部分

At　mile　eighty…five　the　team　encountered　its　first　Inorganic　patrol…a　pack　of　Hellcats　a　dozen　strong；　roaming　the　forest　like　some　fiendish　pride　of　saber…tooths。　Kami　had　spotted　them　and　passed　the　word；　the　Hovercycles　were　shut　down　and　concealed。　It　was　understood　by　now　that　the　Inorganics　were　more　than　marauders　or　Robopolice　units；　they　functioned　as　the　remote　eyes　and　ears　for　the　Invid　living　puters；　which　in　turn　directed　the　scientists　or　mand　troops。　Engagement；　therefore；　even　if　it　ended　in　victory；　would　have　only　served　to　alert　the　hive　to　the　team's　position；　so　they　lay　as　still　as　they　could；　pressed　close　to　the　chilled　ground　until　the　pack　had　moved　through。

Rick　and　Lisa　were　on　their　stomachs；　side…by…side；　environmental　suits　adjusted　to　mimic　the　colors　and　textures　of　the　area's　fernlike　ground　cover。　Rick　had　his　arm　flung　protectively　across　his　wife's　back；　and　was　gazing　at　her　through　the　helmet's　bubble…shield。　Her　eyes　returned　the　wrinkled　look　his　own　were　trying　to　convey。　It　was　the　first　time　he　and　Lisa　had　been　out　together　in　a　long　while；　and　if　this　wasn't　exactly　anyone's　idea　of　an　ideal　date　or　the　〃closeness〃　Lisa　had　in　mind　during　their　most　recent　heart…to…heart；　at　least　they　were　together。　And　somehow…though　Rick　would　have　been　at　a　loss　to　explain　it…he　felt　more　assured　with　Lisa　beside　him。　At　the　same　time　her　presence　had　a　kind　of　calming　effect；　because　no　matter　what　they　might　have　to　face；　he　was　freed　from　having　to　worry　about　where　she　was　or　what　dangers　she　might　have　otherwise　been　facing　alone。　Here；　he　had　some　measure　of　control　over　her　situation…their　situation。

Moving　more　cautiously　after　Kami　gave　the　all…clear　sign；　the　team　took　another　hour　to　cover　the　last　fifteen　miles。　They　had　portions　of　the　enormous　hive　in　sight　for　five　of　those　miles；　but　didn't　get　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　thing　until　they　were　almost　on　top　of　it。　It　sat　in　the　center　of　an　ancient　impact　crater；　in　a　veritable　forest　of　Optera　trees；　a　dome…shaped　structure　with　a　base　almost　ten　miles　around；　posed　entirely　of　what　appeared　to　be　organic　facets　or　geodesies；　in　fact；　the　hive　had　the　look　of　something　grown　rather　than　erected。　Four　mile…high　cattaillike　antenna　towers　were　positioned　at　cardinal　points　around　the　hive's　oddly　〃bubbled〃　base。

Through　field　glasses；　Rick　could　discern　Garudan　slaves　gathering　mutated　fruits　from　the　trees。　Huge　containers　of　these　were　being　conveyed　to　the　hive　itself　by　Invid　soldiers　in　specially　outfitted　suits；　often　piloting　Hovercarts　of　various　design。　Tracking　the　carts'　movements　ultimately　enabled　Rick　to　discover　one　of　the　hive's　tunnellike　transport　corridors。

〃What　happens　later　on？〃　Rick　whispered　to　Kami；　who　had　stooped　down　to　ask　for　the　binoculars。　〃Are　the　workers　taken　into　the　hive？〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　bringing　his　muzzle　close　to　the　helmet's　audio　pickups。　〃The　labor　camp　lies　about　two　miles　from　here。〃　Kami　pointed　out　the　direction。

〃Are　you　certain　there　are　no　Garudans　inside　the　hive？〃

Kami　shook　his　head。　〃Not　certain。〃　The　hives　were　the　only　places　on　the　planet　impervious　to　Garudan　Sendings　and　out…of…body　flights；　but　the　Invids'　continued　presence　on　world　in　general　had　confused　things。　The　clouds　and　wind　were　full　of　sinister　whisperings。

〃Then　we've　gotta　find　out；〃　Rick　said；　turning　around　to　motion　the　others　forward。

Jack　remained　behind　as　rear　guard；　while　the　rest　of　the　team　began　to　work　their　way　over　the　low　ridge　that　was　the　crater's　rim　and　down　into　the　basin　itself。　It　was　warmer　here；　Rick　realized　without　having　to　check　the　suit's　sensor　displays；　redolent；　too；　he　imagined；　as　the　Optera　tree　forests　on　Praxis　had　been。　They　were　closing　on　the　edge　of　the　cultivation　area　now；　and　it　was　time　for　Kami　to　go　it　alone。

〃Don't　take　any　chances；〃　Rick　cautioned　him。　He　checked　his　chronometer。　〃One　hour。　If　you're　not　back　by　then；　we're　moving　out。〃

〃I'll　get　word　back　to　you　from　the　camp　if　anything　happens。〃

The　underground；　Rick　reminded　himself。

〃Just　see　that　it　doesn't；〃　Rem　said。

Karen　and　Lisa　wished　Kami　luck；　and　he　started　to　move　off。

Then　all　at　once　a　small　mountain　was　growing　under　their　feet。　Rick　thought　for　a　moment　that　this　might　be　how　the　bulb…canopied　Optera　trees　pushed　themselves　from　the　ground。　Lisa　and　the　others　had　been　knocked　off　their　feet；　but　he　was　still　riding　the　rise　up；　arms　outstretched　like　a　high…wire　walker。　Elsewhere　he　could　see　two　more　humps　beginning　to　form。　Kami　yelled　something　inprehensible；　just　before　Rick　leaped　and　caught　hold　of　a　network　of　vinelike　tendrils　encasing　the　canopy…bulb　of　the　nearest　tree。　He　was　dangling　ten　feet　above　the　ground　now；　looking　down　on　his　teammates　and　wondering　why　they　had　their　weapons　drawn；　when　a　triple…clawed　Scout　pincer　suddenly　slammed　into　the　tree　not　a　foot　from　his　head。　The　bulb　split　open　like　an　overripe　melon；　showering　him　with　viscous　green　gop　and　what　he　took　to　be　seeds。

Lisa　and　Karen；　meanwhile；　were　firing　charges　at　the　crab…ship；　trying　to　position　themselves　for　a　shot　at　the　mecha's　scanner；　a　pouting　red　mouth　low　down　on　the　ventral　surface　of　its　armored　head。　But　the　Scouts　who　had　joined　the　first　were　advancing；　and　the　two　women　were　forced　to　hurl　themselves　out　from　under　a　pair　of　cloven　feet。　One　mecha　was　stomping　the　ground；　trying　to　pulverize　them；　even　while　Rem　and　Kami　were　stinging　its　ladybug…shaped　carapace　with　Wolverine　fire。

Rick　disentangled　himself　before　the　first　Scout　could　strike　again；　dropping；　tucking；　and　rolling　out　of　harm's　way；　and　somehow　managing　to　e　up　with　his　weapon　raised。　He　nailed　his　giant　assailant　in　the　knee　joint　and　brought　it　down　in　an　earsplitting　crash；　then　put　a　second　shot　through　its　scanner；　and　ducked　for　cover　as　the　thing　blew　up。

The　force　of　the　blast　threw　one　of　the　other　Scouts　hard　against　the　trees；　where　it　stumbled　and　fell　after　ripping　open　half…a…dozen　bulbs。　Rem　saw　to　it　that　the　ship　didn't　get　up；　lancing　it　open　from　crotch　to　scanner。　Rick　had　been　left　dazed　and　temporarily　deaf　from　the　explosion；　but　he　came　to　in　time　to　see　the　remaining　mecha　raising　its　left　foot　to　smash　Karen　and　Lisa；　who　had　also　been　leveled　by　the　blast。　He　ran　up　behind　the　Scout；　as　if　preparing　to　clip　it　behind　the　knee；　and　emptied　his　handgun　straight　up　into　the　underside　of　the　ship's　rear　tapered　head　armor；　eliciting　a　cascade　of　energy　bolts　and　a　muffled　roar　that　decapitated　the　ship；　spilling　its　Invid　pilot　to　the　ground。　Kami　and　Karen　holed　the　creature；　even　though　it　was　probably　already　dead；　and　moved　quickly　to　Lisa's　side。　Rick　did　likewise；　suddenly　terror…stricken。　Her　suit　was　torn　open；　she　was　bloodied　and　unconscious。

〃We've　got　to　get　her　back　to　the　cycs！〃　Rick　said；　looking　up　at　his　teammates。　But　all　he　got　in　return　was　a　look　of　resignation。　Rick　saw　Kami　and　Karen　toss　their　weapons　aside。　He　whirled　around；　still　in　a　crouch；　in　time　to　see　more　than　a　dozen　Invid　soldiers　emerging　from　the　orchard　to　surround　their　patch　of　green…stained　ground。

〃Throw　your　weapon　down；〃　one　of　the　Praxian…size　soldiers　said　in　Tiresian；　brandishing　an　evil…looking　rifle/cannon　and　gazing　down　at　Rick　through　an　elongated　helmet。

Rick　did　so；　just　as　an　officer　came　shouldering　its　way　through　the　circle。　It　regarded　Lisa　a　moment；　then　swung　its　snout　toward　Rick。

〃The　hive　has　been　expecting　you；〃　it　announced。


〃Our　Regent　has　said　that　he　finds　your　race　most　curious；　and　now　I　understand　why。　You　are　a　little　more　like　worms　than　I'd　imagined；　and　indeed　there　is　the　stench　of　death　about　you。〃

The　interior　of　the　hive　was　greenhouse…hot；　but　the　scientist's　voice　was　cold　and　analytical。　Rick；　Rem；　Kami；　and　Karen　had　been　marched　at　gunpoint　through　the　same　entrance　Rick　had　spied　from　the　crater　rim。　There；　their　helmets　and　transpirators　had　been　removed。　One　of　the　soldiers　had　carried　Lisa　in　over　his　shoulder。　She　was　still　unconscious；　groaning　every　so　often　in　her　delirium。　Rick　was　being　kept　from　her　side。　Kami；　already　succumbing　to　the　hive's　artificial　atmosphere；　had　been　shackled　and　dumped　in　a　corner。

〃That　smell　is　the　stink　of　your　own　soldiers'　blood；〃　Rick　snarled　at　the　scientist；　gesturing　to　his　green…smeared　suit。

〃The　cornered　creature's　final　attack；〃　the　Invid　said　to　his　white…robed　group　of　barefoot　assistants；　in　Tiresian　for　Rick's　benefit。　〃The　being　uses　words　as　weapons。〃

〃What　do　you　want　with　us？　Why　didn't　your　soldiers　kill　us？〃

The　scientist's　snout　sensors　twitched；　as　if　he　was　sniffing　the　air。　〃Perhaps　we　shall。　But　there　is　some　information　we　require　first。　It　would　save　us　much　bother　if　you'd　simply　agree　to　answer　our　questions…it　might　even　save　your　lives。〃

Rick　snorted。　〃Dream　on；　slug。〃

〃As　I　thought；〃　the　scientist　directed　over　his　shoulder。　He　studied　Rick　a　moment；　then　began　to　move　down　the　line；　pausing　in　front　of　Kami。　〃You　were　one　of　the　Garudans　selected　by　Tesla　for　the　Regent's　zoo；　were　you　not？〃

Kami　leaned　in　as　if　to　whisper　something　and　snapped　at　the　Invid's　face；　missing　it　by　inches。　Just　as　suddenly；　a　soldier　threw　a　stranglehold　on　Kami　from　behind；　in　his　weakened　state；　the　Garudan　was　easily　subdued。

The　scientist　shrugged　it　off　and　continued　his　appraisal　of　the　group；　leering；　Rick　thought；　at　Karen；　and　puzzling　for　a　moment　over　Rem。　〃Why；　you're　Tiresian。〃　he　said　at　last；　and　whirled　through　an　excited　turn　to　face　his　group。　〃We　have　a　marvelous　opportunity　here　to　acplish　something　invaluable　for　the　realm。　For　the　record；〃　he　added；　looking　to　Rick；　〃where　are　the　Robotech　Masters？〃

Rick　beetled　his　brows。　〃The　Masters？〃

〃Yes。　Where　is　the　Protoculture　matrix？〃

Rick　groaned。　The　thing　had　bee　a　thorn　in　the　galaxy's　side。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃

〃That　is　hardly　the　response　we　require　to　justify　sparing　your　lives；　Earther。　Be　reasonable；　you　have　Protoculture…fueled　ships；　Protoculture…based　weapons。。。How　did　you　e　by　these　if　not　through　contact　with　the　Masters　or　the　matrix？　Unless；　of　course；　the　Flowers　of　Life　grow　on　your　homeworld。。。〃

Rick　fought　to　keep　his　surprise　from　registering。　So　that's　what　they're　after；　he　thought；　and　recalled　something　Roy　Fokker　had　told　him　almost　ten　years　ago　about　the　warning　Lang　had　inadvertently　keyed　in　the　SDF…1…Zor's　warning　about　the　Invid！　The　Tirolian　knew！…he　knew　the　Invid　would　eventually　go　in　search　of　the　matrix。　Cabell's　words　to　Lang　rang　in　Rick's　ears：　You　must　destroy　the　Invid　here；　destroy　them　while　you　still　can！

〃I　see　something　in　your　eyes；　Human；〃　the　scientist　was　saying。　〃You　know　something。〃

Rick　tightened　his　lips　to　a　thin　line。

〃Then　perhaps　your　dreams　will　tell　us　what　we　wish　to　know。〃　The　Invid　waved　a　hand　at　the　soldiers。　〃Take　the　Humans　outside。〃

〃You　can't！〃　Kami　bit　out；　his　windpipe　pinced　in　the　soldier's　grip。　Others　had　stepped　in　to　take　hold　of　Rick；　Karen；　Rem；　and　Lisa。　〃They'll　die！〃

〃Yes；〃　the　scientist　said　matter…of…factly；　〃they　probably　will。〃


CHAPTER　TEN

The　psy　scanners　the　Invid　employed　on　Garuda　（on　Hunter　and　the　rest）　were　patterne