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Everything was going just swell； Annie figured。 In a week or two she would be running the valley。 But then her schedule was thrown out the window： with a low rumbling； a trio of Shock Troopers flew by overhead。 〃Yikes！ Invid！〃
Magruder looked up at them stonily； as the flight of Troopers disappeared in the distance。 〃The Overlords have e back to their nest here in the valley。〃
Annie turned to him。 〃‘Overlords'？〃
He nodded。 〃My people hate them。 Ever since they first came here； and made the great roof over this valley； hunting has been bad； they frighten the game。〃
He pointed downriver。 〃The strange three…in…one flowers grow thick down there； and so the Overlords built the great roof over the valley； to make this place their garden。 The legends say that someday the river god will rise up to smite them； but〃…a shrug…〃so far that day hasn't e。〃
He turned and reached for his spear。 Annie frowned； 〃Um； Macky； you're not gonna try something stupid； are you？〃
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