10_invid_invasion- 第25部分

〃‘What　d'ya　thinks　wrong　with　her？'　Lunk　asked　the　rest　of　us。〃

〃‘Women's　mood　changes　are　unpredictable；'　Lancer　said　knowledgeably　in　Yellow's　voice。　He　had　just　stepped　from　the　shower　and　was　wearing　a　long　yellow　terry　robe　and　had　his　hair　up　under　a　towel　wrapped　turban…style　around　his　head。〃

〃‘Just　leave　her　alone；'　I　suggested。　‘She'll　e　out　of　it。'　But　Scott　took　issue　with　me。〃

〃‘No。　This　is　different。'〃

〃‘Let　it　go；'　I　started　to　say；　but　Scott　was　already　on　his　feet　and　off　to　seek　her　out。　I　felt　pelled　to　tag　along　at　a　discreet　distance；　probably　because　I　was　afraid　of　Scott's　scoring　points　where　I　couldn't。〃

〃Rook　was　standing　near　the　lake。　She　didn't　even　respond　when　Scott　called　her；　I　saw　him　give　a　small　shrug　and　pull　out　that　holo…locket　he　wore　around　his　neck…the　one　Marlene　gave　him　shortly　before　she　went　down　with　her　ship。　I　wasn't　sure　just　what　he　was　thinking；　but　what　bothered　me　most　was　the　idea　that　Rook's　moodiness　was　going　to　have　a　contagious　effect　on　the　team。〃

〃In　a　moment；　however；　we　all　had　bigger　problems　to　deal　with。〃

〃I　saw　Scott　and　Rook　turn　at　the　same　moment　to　stare　at　something　off　in　the　distance；　so　I　stepped　out　from　cover　to　see　what　was　going　on　and　heard　the　telltale　approach　of　an　Invid　ship　even　before　I　saw　the　thing　appear　from　behind　one　of　the　buttes。　It　was　a　large　patrol　ship；　a　rust…brown　number　boasting　twice　the　firepower　of　a　Trooper。　I　ran　back　to　the　fire　and　started　stomping　it　out；　while　Scott　and　the　others　headed　for　the　woods。　The　Invids　hadn't　spotted　us；　and　it　wasn't　likely　that　a　simple　campfire　was　going　to　bring　it　down；　but　for　all　we　knew　the　patrol　ships　had　now　been　ordered　to　incinerate　anything　that　moved。　Rook's　Cyclone　was　my　main　concern；　she　had　thoughtlessly　left　it　by　the　lake　in　plain　view。〃

〃The　patrol　ship　swept　along　the　shore　directly　over　our　smoldering　campfire　and　headed　out　toward　the　lake；　but　suddenly　it　swung　about；　its　optic　sensor　scanning　the　woods。　I　voiced　a　silent　prayer　that　the　thing　wouldn't　spot　us；　and　what　seemed　an　eternity　later；　the　Invid　blasted　up　and　away　from　our　small　piece　of　tranquillity。〃

〃‘Close　one；'　I　said　when　the　thing　had　disappeared。　‘But　it　looks　like　we're　safe　for　the　moment。'〃

〃‘Uh　uh；'　Scott　said　worriedly；　shaking　his　head。　‘We've　got　to　assume　they　found　us。'　He　saw　the　chagrined　looked　on　my　face　and　hastened　to　add：　‘It　might　have　gone　for　reinforcements…we'd　be　foolish　to　remain　here　any　longer。'〃

〃Lunk　was　taking　stock　of　our　surroundings。　‘Bad　place　to　get　caught　if　they　mean　business。　I'm　for　splitting。'〃

〃‘Then　let's　move　it；'　Scott　said。〃

〃I　knelt　down　by　the　remains　of　our　fire　and　poked　at　the　coals。　‘So　much　for　dinner。。。'〃

〃Lancer　sauntered　by　me；　dangling　an　outstretched　limp　wrist　from　the　robe's　broad　sleeve　and　feigning　a　bored　yawn。　‘Well；　it　didn't　look　very　appetizing　anyway；'　he　minced。〃

〃Movement　was　likely　to　make　matters　worse；　but　there　was　high　ground　nearby　that　provided　substantially　more　in　the　way　of　cover。　We　rode　out　most　of　the　afternoon　looking　over　our　shoulders　and　waiting　for　Scott's　warnings　over　the　tac　net；　but　no　Invid　appeared。　It　was　beginning　to　look　as　though　we　hadn't　been　seen　after　all；　but　no　one　was　making　an　issue　of　having　abandoned　our　campsite。　The　air　in　the　highlands　was　invigorating；　and　we　found　an　expanse　of　conifer　forest　to　call　home　for　the　night。　Even　Lancer　had　to　admit　that　the　steaks　were　tasty；　and　Rook；　who　had　been　sullen　and　lone…riding　all　day；　seemed　to　be　ing　around　some。〃

〃I　woke　up　sometime　during　the　night　and　noticed　that　Rook　wasn't　in　her　bag。　I　took　a　quick　look　around；　counting　heads　and　quickly　realizing　that　Scott　had　the　watch。　（Actually；　it　turned　out　that　he　wasn't　on　watch　at　all；　but　I　imagined　him　absent；　once　again　falling　victim　to　a　kind　of　irrational　jealousy。）　I　unzippered　myself　from　the　bag；　egged　on　by　thoughts　of　Rook　and　Scott　cozying　it　up　somewhere　in　the　woods。　Just　lean　on　my　shoulder　and　tell　me　all　about　it；　Rook；　I　could　almost　hear　Scott　saying；　when　it　was　my　shoulder　she　should　have　been　leaning　on！〃

〃The　moon　was　full　and　low　in　the　west；　casting　long　shadows　across　ground　cushioned　with　pine　needles。　To　a　sound　track　of　insect　songs；　I　stole　silently　through　the　trees　and　spied　Rook；　alone；　in　a　clearing　dominated　by　a　tall　oak。　Her　Cyclone　was　parked　nearby；　obviously　she　had　wheeled　it　away　from　the　pack　while　the　rest　of　us　slept。　She　seemed　to　be　staring　transfixed　at　something　carved　into　the　trunk；　but　I　was　too　far　back　to　make　out　what　it　was。〃

〃I　heard　her　say；　‘Why…why　did　it　happen？'　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　she　was　hopping　onto　the　Cyclone　and　moving　off。　I　ran　after　her　and　thought　about　calling　her。　The　word　or　name　ROMY　was　carved　into　the　tree　trunk。　It　didn't　mean　anything　to　me；　but　it　had　obviously　touched　off　something　in　Rook。　I　went　back　for　my　Cyclone　and　pushed　it　a　good　hundred　yards　from　the　woods　before　starting　it　up　and　going　after　her。〃

〃It　wasn't　hard　to　follow　her　trail；　and　there　was　enough　ambient　moonlight　for　me　to　tail　her　without　bringing　up　the　Cyclone's　headlamp。　Straight　off；　it　was　apparent　that　she　knew　where　she　was　going。　She　cut　through　the　woods　in　the　direction　of　the　main　road；　headed　north　for　several　miles；　then　turned　east　along　a　rutted　track　that　coursed　over　a　barren；　seemingly　endless　stretch　of　land。　She　was　perhaps　a　half　a　mile　ahead　of　me　when　I　saw　her　suddenly　veer　off　sharply　to　the　right　for　no　apparent　reason。　Fortunately；　I　thought　to　cut　my　speed　some；　because　just　short　of　the　spot　where　she　had　made　her　turn　I　realized　that　the　land　dropped　steeply　away。　I　braked　and　threw　the　Cyclone　into　a　sharp　turn　that　brought　me　close　to　the　edge　of　a　narrow　chasm；　scarcely　the　width　of　a　city　block。　In　the　darkness　below　I　could　discern　two　rows　of　ruined　buildings　backed　against　the　canyon's　walls；　almost　as　tall　as　the　chasm　was　deep　and　facing　each　other　across　a　single　potholed　street。　Still　a　good　distance　ahead　of　me；　Rook　was　disappearing　into　a　kind　of　open…faced　bunker　that　projected　from　the　land　as　though　it　were　a　natural　outcropping。　Nearby　were　the　tops　of　two　massive　circular　shafts　I　guessed　were　exhaust　ports　for　the　city　below。〃

〃I　twisted　the　Cyclone's　throttle　and　accelerated　into　the　unlit　tunnel；　not　knowing　what　to　expect。〃


〃The　city　was　dark　and　deserted…looking；　claustrophobic　due　to　the　closeness　of　the　canyon　walls　but　threatening　in　a　way　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　uniqueness　of　its　location。　Rook　was　still　unaware　of　my　presence。　She　had　parked　her　Cyclone　halfway　along　the　street；　dismounted；　and　was　now　peering　into　the　permaplas　window　of　alighted　and　apparently　occupied　ground…floor　apartment。　I　think　I　came　close　to　abandoning　my　little　game　just　then；　the　sight　of　Rook　eavesdropping　on　someone　called　into　question　my　own　position。　But　I　decided　to　hang　in；　rationalizing　that　I　was　simply　keeping　an　eye　out　in　case　anyone　came　wandering　in　on　Rook's　scene。　Again；　I　was　too　far　away　to　make　out　exactly　what　was　going　on：　I　heard　Rook　say；　‘Romy；'　as　a　man　in　a　yellow　shirt　passed　by　the　window。　That　at　least　explained　the　tree　trunk　carving　and　Rook's　knowledge　of　the　area。　She　had　been　here　before；　perhaps　was　native　to　the　place。　A　moment　later　I　heard　Rook's　sharp　intake　of　breath。　She　had　turned　away　from　the　window　as　if　in　disbelief。〃

〃‘My　sister　Lilly？'　she　asked　softly。〃

〃Rook　took　a　few　backward　steps；　straddled　the　Cyclone；　and　roared　off。　I　stomped　my　mecha　into　gear　and　followed。　I　had　all　intentions　of　catching　up　to　her　now　and　having　a　heart…to…heart；　but　suddenly　there　were　three　more　vehicles　in　the　street；　tearing　out　in　front　of　Rook　from　an　alleyway　that　ended　at　the　canyon　wall。　They　were　solid…hubbed　Harley　choppers　with　twin　front　headlights；　dressed　down　for　rough　and　ready　street　riding。　The　riders　were　of　the　same　ilk…Mohawked；　shaved…skulled；　maniacal。　They　were　chasing　down　two　young　women；　taunting；　gesturing；　and　otherwise　cat…and…mousing　them。　I　saw　the　Mohawked　rider　e　alongside　and　douse　them　with　beer　from　the　bottle　he　was　carrying。　Then；　when　one　of　the　women　fell…a　cute　brunette　in　knee　boots　and　a　full　skirt…the　riders　began　to　circle　her；　revving　their　bikes　and　promising　a　wide　variety　of　injustices。　The　only　helmeted　rider　had　taken　hold　of　the　second　woman　and　was　grabbing　what　he　could；　heedless　of　the　fury　of　her　fists。

〃Rook；　meanwhile；　had　edged　her　bike　up　to　the　perimeter　of　the　riders'　circle；　now；　as　they　were　making　grabs　for　the　downed　girl；　she　switched　on　the　Cyclone's　headlight　and　brought　it　to　bear　on　the　group。　Stunned；　the　riders　brought　hands　up　to　shield　their　eyes。

〃‘You　Snakes　haven't　changed　a　bit；'　Rook　growled。　She　turned　the　front　wheel　aside　so　the　bikers　could　get　a　look　at　the　hand　blaster　she　had　trained　on　them。　‘Well；　now　don't　tell　me　you've　forgotten　my　face。。。'〃

〃The　Mohawked　rider；　who　I　now　noticed　had　a　blue　heart　tattooed　on　his　left　arm；　squinted　and　scowled。　‘Why；　it's　Rook！'〃

〃The　two　women　broke　free　of　their　pursuers　and　ran　to　stand　by　Rook's　Cyclone；　one　of　them　crying　hysterically。〃

〃‘I　suppose　you　degenerates