10_invid_invasion- 第31部分

〃I've　got　an　idea；〃　Rand　said　from　the　door。　〃Jos？　you've　put　on　a　pretty　good　act　so　far；　and　now　you're　going　to　do　some　acting　on　our　behalf。。。〃


Jos？pulled　Rand　and　Lunk　through　the　caf？s　swinging　doors　a　few　minutes　later；　leading　them　along　on　a　leather　leash。　Their　hands　were　now　bound　in　front　of　them　with　white　cloth　napkins　Maria　had　helped　to　knot；　one　of　which　dutifully　concealed　Lunk's　blaster。　The　townsmen　were　suitably　impressed　（if　somewhat　bewildered）　and　moved　in　to　retake　custody　of　their　prisoners；　but　Jos？waved　them　off。

〃Pedro　has　asked　me　to　take　them　to　him。　He　wants　you　men　to　stay　here　and　capture　their　panion　when　he　shows　up。〃

〃You're　doing　fine；〃　Lunk　plimented　him　under　his　breath。　〃Now　just　keep　walking。　Get　us　out　of　here　and　you'll　save　your　skin。　Tell　the　driver　to　take　us　to　Pedro。〃

Jos？motioned　to　the　idling　van　one　of　the　villagers　had　driven　in　from　the　bridge。　〃Is　this　their　vehicle？〃

The　man　behind　the　wheel　nodded。　Jos？shoved　his　prisoners　into　the　rear　seats　and　joined　them　there。　Maria　rode　shotgun。

〃Be　alert　for　their　rade；〃　Jos？reminded　the　men　as　he　ordered　the　van　off。

Away　from　the　caf？　Lunk　loosed　the　cloth　knot　and　brought　the　blaster　out　for　the　driver　to　see。　He　ordered　Jos？and　the　driver　out　of　the　van　when　they　reached　the　mayor's　offices。

〃Now　don't　get　any　funny　ideas　when　we　get　inside；〃　Lunk　advised　them；　making　his　point　with　the　weapon。　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　anybody；　but　I'll　do　what's　necessary。〃

〃You　want　me；　too？〃　said　the　driver；　Gomez。

〃You；　too；〃　said　Rand；　giving　him　a　light　shove。

The　building　was　a　wooden　two…story　structure　with　tall；　curved…top　entry　doors。　Lunk　and　Rand　stayed　behind　the　two　men　as　they　climbed　the　staircase　to　the　upper　floor；　but　once　at　the　office；　Jos？and　Gomez　burst　through　the　doors　shouting　warnings　to　their　friends　inside。　Lunk　was　only　a　step　behind　them；　though；　and　fired　a　shot　at　the　ceiling　to　quiet　the　room。

There　were　a　dozen　or　so　townspeople　in　the　office；　not　counting　Lancer；　Rook；　and　Annie；　who　were　bound　hand　and　foot　on　the　floor　in　the　center　of　the　spacious　room。

〃Hands　up！〃　Lunk　bellowed。

〃Well；　hello；　boys；〃　said　Rook　as　plaster　rained　down　on　her　from　Lunk's　ceiling　shot。

〃Where's　Scott？〃　Lancer　asked。

Rand　moved　in　to　free　his　friends　while　Lunk　threatened　to　air…condition　the　room　unless　someone　directed　him　to　the　mayor。

〃That's　me；〃　said　a　large　man　seated　at　a　table。

〃Be　careful；　Pedro；〃　Josh　warned　him。

Lunk　leveled　the　blaster　at　him。　〃We've　got　a　few　questions　for　you。〃

〃Like　where　you　hid　the　Cyclones；〃　Rand　said；　moving　to　Lunk's　side。　Lancer　and　Rook　had　some　nasty　bruises；　and　a　new　anger　was　evident　in　Rand's　voice。

But　the　mayor　wasn't　impressed。　〃We　have　them；　and　we　mean　to　keep　them；〃　he　told　Rand。　〃You　people　are　free　to　go；　but　we　keep　the　machines。〃

Rand　showed　his　teeth。　〃Hear　me；　mister；　and　hear　me　good：　We're　giving　the　orders　now；　not　you。〃

〃Give　all　the　orders　you　want；　but　we'll　do　what　we　have　to　do。〃

Rand　made　an　impatient　sound　and　grabbed　the　blaster　from　Lunk's　hands。　〃Talk　to　him；　Lunk；　before　I　do　something　I　might　regret。〃

The　big　man　nodded　and　stepped　forward。　〃All　right；　Mr。　Mayor；　forget　the　Cyclones　for　a　moment。　What　I　want　now　is　the　truth　about　Alfred　Nader。〃

〃I　don't　know　anyone　named　Nader；〃　Pedro　said；　meeting　Lunk's　glare。　But　the　stifled　gasps　from　others　in　the　room　told　a　different　story。

Lunk　slammed　his　fists　down　on　the　table。　〃I'm　sick　of　listening　to　lies；　pal！〃

Rand　put　a　hand　on　his　friend's　arm。　〃Hold　on　a　minute；〃　he　started　to　say。　But　suddenly　the　building　was　shaking。　Annie　pointed　at　the　window：　Rand　saw　flashes　of　brilliant　orange　light　in　the　skies　above　the　mesa。

〃Annihilation　discs！〃　said　Rand。　〃Invid　patrol　ships！〃

〃Now　at　least　we　know　where　Scott's　been；〃　Lancer　chimed　in。

Rand　turned　to　the　mayor；　furious　now。

〃Your　time　is　up；　Pedro！　We　need　those　Cyclones！〃

The　mayor　remained　tight…lipped。　〃We　don't　want　any　more　fighting　in　our　village。〃

〃If　we　don't　get　out　there　and　help　our　friend；　there　won't　be　any　more　village；〃　Lancer　pointed　out。

Pedro　scoffed　at　him。　〃Do　you　imagine　you　heroes　are　going　to　repel　an　Invid　attack　by　yourselves？〃

〃You　better　let　us　try；〃　Rand　said　as　the　sounds　of　distant　explosions　infiltrated　the　room。

〃I　mustn't　endanger　the　town！〃

〃We're　trying　to　help　your　town；〃　Rook　told　him。

Lunk　took　the　blaster　back　from　Rand　and　raised　it。　〃That　tears　it！　I'm　not　standing　by　while　my　friend　dies　for　this　stinking　excuse　for　a　town。　Pedro；　you've　got　ten　seconds！〃

〃Wait！〃　Jos？said；　stepping　into　the　projected　line　of　fire。　He　turned　to　Gomez。　〃Tell　them　where　the　Cyclones　are　hidden。〃

〃You're　responsible　for　this；　Jos？〃　the　mayor　shouted。　〃If　anything　should　happen　to　our　village…〃

〃I'll　take　the　responsibility　then；〃　Jos？answered；　whirling　on　him。

〃They're　in　the　warehouse；〃　Gomez　said　softly。


The　warehouse　was　a　barn　situated　close　to　the　bridge；　an　odds…and…ends　storage　facility　for　grain；　farming　tools；　and　rusting　examples　of　early　Robotechnology。　The　Cyclones　had　been　rolled　into　a　corner　and　covered　over　with　a　couple　of　mildewed　canvas　tarps。

Lancer；　Rook；　and　Rand　headed　straight　for　their　machines；　activated　them；　and　rode　off　to　the　sound　of　the　guns。　Annie　and　Lunk　wished　them　luck　and　watched　as　the　Cyclones　reconfigured　to　Battle　Armor　mode。　Lunk　was　heading　back　to　the　van　when　he　heard　his　name　called。　It　was　Pedro；　looking　somewhat　sheepish　and　conciliatory。

〃Lunk；　you're　determined　to　go　through　with　this？〃

Lunk　gestured　to　the　by…now…distant　Cyclones　and　said　harshly；　〃That　oughta　answer　your　question。〃

Pedro　nodded　sullenly。　〃Then　there's　something　I　want　you　to　see；〃　he　said；　leading　Lunk　back　into　the　barn。　Inside；　he　motioned　to　an　object　concealed　under　a　nylon　cloth　and　pulled　the　cover　away。

〃I　want　you　to　have　this。〃

Lunk　knew　it　by　its　slang　term…a　〃Stinger〃…a　lightweight　autocannon　no　larger　than　a　turn…of…the…century　M…70　machine　gun　that　ran　on　Protoculture　and　delivered　piercing　bursts　of　Reflex　firepower。　Stingers　were　the　weapon　of　choice　for　the　resistance　early　on；　but　with　the　Invid's　control　of　Protoculture；　the　weapon　had　passed　quickly　into　disuse。　This　one　looked　as　though　it　had　never　been　fired；　but　it　hadn't　been　well　cared　for　either。

〃This　was　given　to　our　town　by　a　group　of　freedom　fighters；〃　Pedro　began　to　explain　while　Lunk　inspected　the　gun。　〃Before　I　was　mayor；　when。。。Nader　was　alive。〃　Lunk　straightened　up　at　the　mention　of　the　name。

Pedro's　voice　took　on　a　harder　edge。　〃But　Nader　didn't　want　it　used。　He　actually　believed　we　could　make　a　separate　peace　with　the　Invid　and　hid　the　gun；　afraid　that　fighting　back　would　end　in　death　for　all　of　us。　But　many　of　the　townspeople　misinterpreted　his　concern；　they　accused　him　of　cowardice　and　worse。　When　he　still　wouldn't　reveal　where　he　had　hidden　the　thing。。。they　beat　him　to　death。　They　burned　his　home；　they。。。〃

Lunk　saw　that　Pedro　was　sobbing。　〃So　that's　your　dirty　little　secret。。。the　reason　why　those　men　attacked　us。　You're　all　ashamed　of　what　happened　here。〃

Pedro　nodded。　〃May　God　have　mercy　on　us。　By　the　time　we　found　the　gun；　it　was　too　late　to　do　anything。　The　Invid　had　overrun　everything。〃

〃And　now　you're　the　one　who　feels　responsible　for　this　place。　You've　inherited　Nader's　legacy。〃

〃You　could　say　that。〃

Lunk's　hard　look　softened。　〃Pedro；　maybe　I've　misjudged　you。〃

〃And　I；　you；〃　returned　the　mayor。　〃A　mon　enough　mistake　these　days。〃


Out　on　the　flats　things　were　looking　grim　for　Scott　and　the　team。　The　arrival　of　the　Cyclones　had　taken　the　pressure　off　him　to　some　extent；　but　the　Invid　still　outnumbered　them　three　to　one。

Shock　Troopers　again。　Scott　wasn't　sure　why　they　had　showed　up。　It　was　possible　that　one　of　the　Scouts　they　had　tangled　with　earlier　had　gotten　away。　He　had　seen　the　first　of　the　Troopers　just　as　the　team　had　been　entering　Roca　Negra　and　had　doubled　back　to　deal　with　it。　But　on　the　tail　of　the　first　came　a　second；　then　a　third　and　a　fourth；　and　before　Scott　knew　it；　he　was　in　the　midst　of　a　full　contingent　of　Pincer　units。

He　dropped　the　Alpha　in　for　a　release　run　now；　going　after　three　grounded　Invid　who　had　pinned　down　Rook　and　Rand　with　cannon　fire。　The　already　cratered　and　fused　terrain　was　being　torn　up　by　annihilation　discs；　the　air　above　superheated　and　crosshatched　by　missile　tracks　launched　from　the　Cyclones'　forearm　tubes。　Scott　loosed　a　flock　of　heat…seekers　at　the　bottom　of　his　dive　and　climbed　sharply；　looking　back　over　his　right　shoulder　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　results　of　his　run。　Two　Invid　ships　were　flaming　wrecks；　collapsed　and　bleeding　green　nutrient。　Another　was　badly　damaged　but　still　on　its　feet；　one　of　its　pincers　blown　away。

Scott　swung　his　head　as　he　thought　the　Alpha　through　a　roll　and　saw　Lunk's　van　streaking　across　the　sands；　seemingly　on　a　collision　course　with　three　more　Invid　ships。　Alert　to　the　van's　approach；　the　Troopers　lifted　off；　forming　up　in　a　triangular　pattern　to　deal　with　it。

But　in　a　moment　it　was　obvious　that　they　had　misjudged　Lunk。

Scott　caught　sight　of　a　brilliant　flash　at　the　fr