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！
debris； smoke； and puddles of metal。
The Praxians returned to the armory and continued their plundering。 Outside the Central Slavepen； Rick and the rest found the immediate area quiet； though the sounds of battle came from close…by。
Vowad appeared； this time on a much smaller carpet。 〃I have summoned others；〃 he said； 〃and they will take you and yours anywhere you wish。〃
High above； Rick could see； some carpets of varying sizes were lifting off； some to take the wounded to the Halls of Healing； others to descend to the street and await passengers； all manded by Haydonites unfamiliar to him。 He realized that the Haydonites had somehow subdivided the huge carpet Sarna had brought。
Maybe there's only one real carpet； it occurred to him； and all the little ones are just temporarily detached pieces！
Arla…Non's troops boarded the carpets by assigned units； to be borne off to rescue more of their Sisters。 Bela had assumed the status of her mother's second…in…mand； and Gnea was a kind of aide…de…camp。 It was odd to see the hard…driving Bela deferring to someone so readily； but Arla…Non wore an invisible cloak of authority and majesty； Jack didn't blame Bela one bit。
Vowad was still next to Rick and Lisa。 〃We have attempted to contact your Ark Angel； but the Invid still interfere with our transmissions； things beyond the Haydonite atmosphere are not always within our control。〃
〃That's all right；〃 Lisa said gently。 〃There are more immediate things to think about。〃 The raiders had heard the news of Sarna's death and Vowad's sudden conversion。 Lisa had suffered her own losses in war and knew how deeply it hurt。
〃Yes。〃 Vowad nodded。 〃Power levels are dropping； due to the Invid destruction。 Inorganic reinforcements are being airlifted into Glike； and the oute hangs in the balance。 But that is not what concerns me most。 The Regent is reported to be on his way to the starport； his ship standing ready。 Your friend Rem； the Zor…clone； is still his prisoner。
〃I fear the worst。〃
Jack Baker did not have enough time to say hello to Karen Penn when he saw her。 〃So； they finally kicked you outta sick bay； huh？〃 Then it was back to fighting for their lives as the Inorganics pressed the battle； down in the slave warrens。
Now； up on the open street； he sought her out in the chaos of battle。 Sliding around a flying squad of big； gladsome amazons off to collect some more Inorganic scalps； he skirted the smoking remains of a skirmish ship； and finally spotted her。 She was listening to the sounds of conflict； but she was staring off toward the cloud…high towers of Glike。
〃Um；〃 he began； and found himself at a loss。 〃You sure you're okay？ No aftereffects？〃
She flashed him a smile。 〃Yes。 Thanks； Jack。〃
She looked back to the skyline。 〃Well； what's wrong then？〃 he persisted。
〃Nothing's wrong； Jack。 It's just that。。。all this。。。maybe it's just as well that Glike be leveled； to start from scratch。〃
〃Huh？ Look； these're our allies now； y'know！〃
She turned a hateful expression on him。 〃Allies； hell！ They're not the first beautiful culture to put up with rot and evil in its midst； just so people could have their aesthetics and their fort and their personal peace。〃
Jack felt the color rising in his face。 She's giving me speeches now？
She looked to the city again。 〃The glory of Greece was built on slavery； did you know that？ I don't care what kind of crap they tell us about it； if I'd been there I'd have bombed the Parthenon； smashed everything slavery bought them…〃
Jack felt heat flushing his face。 〃Penn； don't you start preaching history to me！ I was just saying…〃
〃Whatever es out of the ashes of Glike will be better than what went before； even if it's Stone Age； because Haydon'll be a free planet…〃
Jack shook a fist at her。 〃Will you shut up and listen？ I'm saying I agree with…〃
〃Who抮e you telling to shut up？〃
〃Penn！ Baker！ Front 'n' center！〃
They were both breathing hard； about to mix it up again； when Rick Hunter's sharp summons cut through the gathering slugfest。 Their training kicked in； and they double…timed over to Rick； rifles at sling arms。
Veidt was standing near the Hunters； and so was Janice Em。 The Artificial Person had resumed the aspect of a Human female。 Rick quickly explained the tactical situation； and Rem's dilemma。
〃There's no time to muster a full…scale strike at the Land Cruiser；〃 Rick finished。 〃But Veidt's ready to try to get a mando team in by carpet。 Colonel Wolff； the Garudans； and the Karbarrans will be diverting the Regent's attention and providing fire support。 Well？〃
〃Count us in； S…〃 Karen had begun answering for them both； by habit； but she stopped； looking aside at the young man who was part friend； part title…fight opponent。
Jack gave a slightly insubordinate smile and touched fingertips to his forehead…more of a wave than a salute。 〃Like she says； count us in； Admiral。〃
Jack； Karen； and Veidt boarded Veidt's poker table…size carpet and lifted away。 Rick didn't even have time to turn around； Vince Grant was standing there。 〃Bad news； Rick： Tesla and Burak are gone。〃
〃What d'ya mean gone！ Gone where？〃
Vince was shaking his head。 〃Slipped off while we were getting ourselves organized。 Somebody said there's a skirmisher ship missing。〃
Vince indicated Garak and Pye with a nod of his head。 〃Those two claim they don't know。 I think they're lying； something's got them frightened； even more frightened than the Haydon defenses。 Where would Tesla and Burak go？〃
Rick blew his breath out。 〃I don't know； and we can't worry about it right now。 Just put out an all…points to pick them up。 And don't go after them yourself！ I need you right here。〃
Vince showed disappointment。 〃Aye； sir。〃
Rick returned to his wife to find her dealing with another problem。 〃New deepspace blips on the detectors；〃 a Haydonite was saying。 〃We think they're Invid。〃
The skirmisher ship flew low over the contested city； streaking toward the cluster of glowing； shadow…dappled domes that was the Invid hive on the horizon。
Burak held his breath； expecting the antibodies of Haydon IV to hurl themselves into the air at him at any second。 But the words of Veidt c