10_invid_invasion- 第14部分

Ringo　and　his　boys　roared　away　from　the　bar　and　regrouped　at　the　edge　of　town。　Their　cycles；　one　outfitted　with　a　sidecar；　were　well　equipped　with　weapons；　and　it　would　have　been　simple　to　blast　and　torch　the　bar；　but　that　wasn't　really　an　option：　Pops'　had　the　coldest　beer　within　three　hundred　miles。　So　they　decided　to　turn　their　frustrations　against　any　newers　who　might　wander　into　town；　a　bit　of　the　old　ultraviolence；　as　it　had　once　been　called。　Instead；　however；　they　soon　found　an　even　more　suitable　target　in　the　form　of　the　ex…soldier　named　Lunk；　who　had　been　in　town　on　and　off　for　the　past　two　months。　More　than　once　Ringo　had　attempted　to　goad　the　man　into　a　fight　with　less　than　satisfying　results。　The　attempts　had　increased　in　frequency　once　Ringo　found　out　something　about　Lunk's　recent　military　past；　but　still　he　was　unable　to　push　the　man　into　a　hand…to…hand　confrontation。

But　now；　after　his　humiliating　run…in　with　the　strangers　in　the　bar；　Ringo　was　in　no　mood　for　subtlety　or　verbal　provocation。　No　sooner　had　Lunk's　battered　six…wheel　personnel　carrier　lumbered　by　the　gang's　edge…of…town　position　than　Ringo　ordered　his　men　into　pursuit。　There　was　nothing　like　a　little　manhunting　to　pick　you　up　when　you　were　feeling　down。

Lunk　was　twenty…five；　a　huge；　barrel…chested　man　with　almost　brutish　facial　features：　a　wide；　prominent　chin；　heavy…lidded；　soulful　eyes；　and　a　broad；　flat　nose。　He　had　let　his　hair　grow　long　these　past　few　months　and　kept　it　out　of　his　face　with　a　yellow　elastic　headband。　His　size　alone　would　have　given　most　men　pause；　but　there　was　something　soft　and　secretive　about　him　that　often　allowed　smaller　aggressive　types　to　feel　they　could　have　a　free　hand　with　him。

One　look　at　Ringo's　impromptu　roadside　gathering　and　Lunk　knew　that　he　was　in　for　it；　he　told　his　panion；　Kevin；　to　hang　on　and　began　to　push　the　ancient　APC　along　the　town's　main　street　for　all　it　was　worth。

He　could　see　four　cycles　in　the　carrier's　circular　outboard　rearview　mirrors　now；　Ringo's　men　were　opening　up　with　handlebar　and　faring…mounted　weapons；　toying　with　him　as　he　swerved　the　heavy　vehicle　left　and　right。

〃How　many　of　them　are　there？！〃　Kevin　asked　in　a　panic　from　the　shotgun　seat。

〃Too　many！〃　Lunk　yelled　back　as　machine…gun　rounds　fractured　the　mirrors。

Two　rockets　exploded　in　the　street　in　front　of　the　APC；　and　Lunk　braked　hard；　losing　control。　The　vehicle　slid　off　the　roadway　and　crashed　into　an　enormous　pile　of　debris　that　had　been　'dozed　away　from　a　fallen　storefront。　The　impact　left　Lunk　and　Kevin　momentarily　stunned；　but　they　quickly　shook　themselves　out　of　it　and　scampered　out　of　the　carrier's　open　top；　taking　careless　and　crazed　giant　strides　down　the　back　side　of　the　heap。

Ringo　and　his　boys　threw　their　bikes　into　the　pile　with　equal　abandon；　launching　themselves　over　the　top　only　to　careen　down　the　rear　face；　laughing　maniacally　all　the　while。　Lunk　and　Kevin　had　taken　an　alleyway　that　led　to　the　main　street；　so　Ringo　ordered　his　gang　to　split　up；　sending　the　sidecar　cyclist　one　way　and　instructing　the　others　to　form　up　on　his　lead。

Lunk　wasn't　aware　of　the　trap　until　he　saw　the　sidecar　skid　around　a　corner　and　head　his　way。　Turning；　he　heard　Ringo　and　the　rest　of　the　bikes　behind　him。　He　shoved　Kevin　toward　the　debris…strewn　sidewalk；　hoping　they　would　be　able　to　make　it　into　one　of　the　abandoned　buildings；　but　at　the　same　moment　the　sidecar　driver　gunned　it　and　came　down　on　them。　One　of　Ringo's　gang…a　dark…skinned　dude　every　inch　as　big　as　Lunk…leaned　out　from　the　sidecar　seat　and　made　a　grab　for　Kevin。　Lunk　flattened　himself　against　the　street；　but　Kevin　sidestepped　too　late。　Ringo's　man　managed　to　get　a　handful　of　shirt　and　shoulder；　and　by　the　time　Lunk　looked　up；　Kevin　was　being　dragged　down　the　street　by　the　cycle。

Lunk　heard　him　scream　for　help　but　could　do　nothing；　Ringo's　men　were　accelerating　toward　him　now；　shouting　and　yahooing。　Lunk　spun　around　and　ran　toward　Pops'　bar。　Halfway　there；　the　sound　of　the　cycles　ringing　in　his　ears；　Lunk　noticed　that　a　group　of　men　and　women　were　gathered　out　front。　And　one　of　them　was　raising　a　weapon　of　some　kind。。。

He　dropped　himself　into　a　tuck…and…roll　seconds　before　the　weapon　fired。　The　round　impacted　against　an　unbraced　section　of　heaped…up　vehicles　and　mecha　parts　and　loosed　some　of　it　into　a　slide。　Lunk　heard　shouts　and　the　squeal　of　brakes　behind　him。　One　of　the　bikes　went　down；　sliding　uncontrolled　along　the　street　with　a　rasping；　scraping　sound。　Lunk　reached　Pops'　just　as　Ringo's　cycle　pulled　up；　but　the　gang　leader　found　himself　confronting　the　man　with　the　weapon。

〃You　again；〃　Lunk　heard　Ringo　seethe。　〃You're　really　pressing　your　luck；　robby。〃

Hearing　Ringo　use　the　derisive　slang　term　for　a　Robotech　soldier；　Lunk　turned　to　study　his　rescuer。　The　man　was　straddling　a　Cyclone　and　wearing　a　uniform　with　patches　Lunk　couldn't　identify。　Nor　was　the　weapon　familiar。

〃Put　your　hands　where　I　can　see　them；〃　the　soldier　told　Ringo。　〃Now　turn　your　cycles　around　and　get　out　of　here。　The　party's　over。〃

Ringo　adjusted　his　dark　glasses　and　flashed　one　of　his　infamous　grins。　〃Have　it　your　way。。。〃　He　looked　over　at　Lunk。　〃If　you　wanna　see　your　friend　alive；　e　on　out　to　the　ranch…if　you　have　the　guts；　that　is！〃

The　three　cycles　roared　off；　and　the　soldier　asked　about　Lunk's　friend。　Lunk　quickly　scanned　the　crowd：　mostly　locals　he　had　seen　before；　but　there　were　three　or　four　he　didn't　recognize。　Two　attractive　women　and　some　carrot…topped　kid。　Another　Cyclone　rider。　They　were　staring　at　him　expectantly。

〃Stay　out　of　it；〃　Lunk　said；　starting　to　walk　off。

Spider　stepped　out　of　the　crowd；　they　had　ridden　together　previously；　Spider；　Lunk；　and　Kevin。。。

〃Hey；　Lunk；　you're　not　going　to　just　walk　away？〃　Spider　said　to　him　questioningly。　〃We've　gotta　go　get　'im；　man。　We　can't　leave　him　with　Ringo！〃

Lunk　stopped；　hung　his　head；　then　resumed　his　heavy　steps。

〃With　a　friend　like　you；　a　guy　doesn't　need　enemies；〃　the　soldier　called　out　to　the　delight　of　the　crowd。

Lunk　spun　around；　ashamed　but　angry；　Spider　and　the　others　were　still　waiting。

〃All　right；〃　the　soldier　was　saying；　strapping　on　some　sort　of　pectoral　armor。　〃Where's　this　ranch？　How　far　is　it　from　here？〃

〃About　five　miles…〃　Pops　started　to　say；　but　the　soldier's　younger　panion　interrupted。

〃Hang　on　a　minute；　Scott；〃　the　redhead　said。　〃You　can't　keep　fighting　everybody's　battles　for　them。　You　think　you're　going　to　whip　the　whole　planet　back　into　shape　single…handed；　and　I　think　you're　nuts！〃

〃I　wouldn't　advise　tangling　with　Ringo；　stranger；〃'　Pops　added。　〃Just　take　our　thanks　and　ride　on　out　of　here。〃

But　Scott　didn't　answer　either　of　them。　He　put　his　helmet　on；　started　the　Cyclone；　and　wheelied　off。　A　woman　in　similar　armor　riding　a　red　mecha　followed　him。　Lunk　heard　the　soldier's　panion　mutter　a　curse　and　yell　for　Scott　to　slow　down；　then　he　angrily　straddled　his　own　Cyclone　and　joined　the　others。

〃Lunk。。。〃　Spider　said　leadingly。

Lunk　spun　around；　a　determined　look　on　his　face　now。　〃All　right；　let's　go。〃

〃Really？〃

〃I　won't　let　those　bums　make　a　chump　outta　me；　Spider。　Kevin's　our　friend；　and　we　can't　leave　him　out　there。〃　Lunk　turned　to　the　crowd。　〃I　need　some　wheels。　I've　got　scrip　enough　to　rent　'em。〃

〃Take　mine；〃　said　Pops；　fishing　keys　out　of　his　shirt　pocket。　〃And　don't　worry　about　paying　me；　either。〃

Lunk　caught　the　tossed　chain；　threw　a　thanks　over　his　shoulder；　and　ran　over　to　Pops'　olive…drab　tri…wheel。　Spider　straddled　the　rear　seat。　Lunk　noticed　that　the　tall　woman　singer　he　had　seen　once　or　twice　in　the　bar　was　also　headed　toward　her　vehicle。　Meanwhile；　the　little　kid　with　the　E。T。　cap　was　beside　him；　introducing　herself　as　Annie。

〃Are　you　married　by　any　chance？〃　she　asked　Lunk。

Lunk's　face　twisted　up　in　shock。　〃What；　are　you　kiddin'？〃

Annie　threw　open　her　arms　and　said；　〃You　lucky　boy！〃　as　Lunk　rode　off；　a　look　of　bewilderment　on　his　face。　〃The　man　of　my　dreams；〃　she　added　a　moment　later；　climbing　into　Yellow　Dancer's　pink　roll…barred　jeep。


Scott's　improvised　posse　of　seven　followed　the　road　out　of　town　to　a　turnoff　that　wound　up　into　the　hills。　They　stopped　once　so　that　Scott　and　Rook　could　suit　Rand　up　in　Cyclone　armor　and　run　him　quickly　through　the　basics　of　mechamorphosis。

The　ranch　sat　at　the　crest　of　a　gentle　rise　near　a　wide　stream　that　made　it　one　of　the　choicest　spots　in　the　district。　It　was　enclosed　by　a　rustic　post…and…rail　fence；　and　there　were　patches　of　grass　and　a　few　beautiful　old　trees　that　had　weathered　more　storms；　natural　and　otherwise；　than　anyone　cared　to　guess。　Scott　and　pany　rode　in　without　ceremony　and　found　Ringo's　gang　waiting　for　them　in　the　shade　of　an　immense　oak。　There　were　five　of　them：　the　knife…wielding　punk；　the　hulk；　and　two　others　who　had　been　with　Ringo　in　the　bar　earlier　that　day。　They　were　all　astride　their　bikes…the　hulk　in　his　usual　sidecar　seat…grouped　close　together　in　a　shallow　arc；　cycle　weapons　pointed　outward。　Kevin　was　behind　them；　lashed　by　thick　rope　to　the　tree　trunk。

Scott　ordered　his　group　to　a　haft　two　hundred　yards　from　the　tree。　Ringo's　group　wouldn't　have　stood　a　chance　against　the　firepower　of　one　Cyclone；　let　alone　three；　but　it　was　obvious　from　the