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11_metamorphosis-第32章

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en? She looked around for some other reflective surface that would serve; but could find none。

Maybe Rand and I are on our own? Maybe we'd better start improvising?


Rook activated a control; and her Cyc's tires extruded heavy snow studs。 She left her thinking cap off; letting her hair blow in the wind on the chance that the aliens might think her less of a military threat if they didn't see that she was a Cyclone warrior。

She jumped from ridges and traveled under the tree canopy as much as she could; hoping that the enemy couldn't follow her back…trail through the snow and find signs of her teammates' presence。 Then she howled out into the open; making the treacherous approach uphill toward the fortress。 It wasn't long before a flight of Pincer Ships dove at her; their shadows flickering across the snow。

Rook gave a wild; scornful laugh; elated by the thrill and risk of it all。 〃e on!〃 she called up。 〃I'll race you to the mountain top!〃

The Pincers swooped close but held fire for the moment; trying to determine just what kind of threat they faced。 Their scanners studied the racing cyclist。


In the Hive Center; sheets of light and electrical discharges raced across the heaving; visceral mass of the Sensor。 〃Patrol reports bio…energetic activity in the approaching vehicle。 Protoculture emanations registered! All available units converge and intercept!〃

Rand; watching from concealment; held Annie well back。 〃Keep your head down!〃

〃But…what's happening?〃

Rand checked his watch again。 〃It all hit the fan just at the time Rook was supposed to start her diversionary run!〃


As the Invid closed the distance; Rook hit a switch on her right handlebar and tensed herself like a coiled spring。


A change in the din and the Saint Elmo's fire along the Sensor made Annie point and tug Rand's arm。 〃Look; it's stopping! Is that bad?〃

Rook! he thought。 He felt a stab of despair and loss so powerful that it nearly staggered him。


〃Intercept and neutralize!〃 the Regis manded; as the Pincers raced to obey。

Rook concentrated everything on her timing。 Calculations meant less now than instincts and years of experience in evading the Invid。 At a certain moment she slewed around a stand of pine and laid down the bike in a spume of snow; throwing herself clear of the on…purpose grounding; diving into a snow bank。

The Cyc lay dead; its Protoculture engine off。 Rook lay doggo as the Pincers rounded the trees and went on past; following their Protoculture detectors; suddenly confused。 They raced on; splitting up; casting about like bloodhounds for a scent。

Rook pulled herself up a little and smiled at the receding Invid personal…armor mecha。 〃Ciao!〃

An instant later the smile disappeared。 Rand; get busy! Get out of there! She was frowning at the fact that she was worrying so much over him…and Annie; of course。。。

She hadn't let anybody mean anything to her since she had quit her old biker gang。 This caring for someone…especially a dumb country boy…was making her angry with herself and with him; too。


〃It can't be a coincidence;〃 Rand said tightly。 〃That heap o' guts out there…that thing is the Sensor we're looking for!〃

Annie gripped his shirt。 〃D…d'you think it knows we're here?〃

〃If it does; we're in a lot bigger trouble than I thought。〃

The obscene loops of the Sensor were dark and quiet。 Still; the quickening of Scouts went on。 Rand watched as more Controllers went to take up positions near the stinking mass of the Regis's local embodiment。

Something occurred to him; and he gazed at Annie apprehensively。 She had been possessed by an alien intelligence once before; in the Genesis Pit。 What if it should happen again? But no; she seemed to be behaving normally…quaking with fear。

Rand tried to calm himself and take in the situation。 〃The place is crawling with guards。〃

〃M…my skin's crawling; too!〃

He picked a route and led the way from cover to cover。 The Controllers were all concentrating on the quickening; gathered to one side of the Sensor。 Then the two reached the opposite side of the monstrous mound of alien bowels。 Annie skittered after Rand; quiet as a mouse; but she lost her footing and was about to go sprawling。

But Rand had turned; and he caught her。 The descent of yet another Scout ship into the floor had covered the noise。 〃Watch what you're doing!〃 he whispered fiercely; turning her around and rooting through the pink rucksack。

She was puffing; wiping the sweat from her brow; fanning herself with the E。T。 cap。 Rand mumbled; 〃Where is it…ah!〃

He drew out an instrumented cylinder the size of a pint beercan。 A shaped…charge cobalt limpet mine; something the team had been saving ever since the raid on Colonel Wolff's goodies warehouse。 〃This should do the trick。〃 And we'd better not be hanging around when it does!

Annie whispered; 〃Hey! I carried it; I think I ought to be the one to plant it…〃

She dropped her cap and stifled a squeal as she reached frantically to catch the bomb; Rand having casually tossed it to her while the Controllers inserted another drone。

It was supposed to be totally inert until it was armed; but…〃Talk about dumb;〃 she said; giving him a venomous look。 Then she turned to attach the limpet to the side of the Sensor's pool。 She set the timer's blinking numerals。 〃One minute enough?〃

He was setting a second sapper charge for sixty seconds。 〃Let's hope so。〃 They couldn't take a chance on a longer setting; one of those enemy mecha might decide to take a stroll at any second。

They nodded to each other。 No going back now! They stole off the way they had e。 They were halfway across the floor when Annie realized her head felt cold。 Even though she knew it was crazy; she looked back instinctively for her treasured cap。 It still lay where she had dropped it。

Then; somehow; her feet had tangled up and she was falling; almost cracking her chin on the floor。 From her loosened pack jounced an adjustable ordnance tool; ringing like an alarm bell。

〃Disturbance in Hive Center!〃 thundered the Sensor; in the voice of the Regis。


CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Plutarch said courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness。 Shakespeare sa
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