10_invid_invasion-第21章

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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　have　overrun　the　whole　place　since　I've　been　gone；'　Rook　continued。〃

〃The　outlaw　riders　looked　at　one　another　and　said　nothing。　Finally；　they　laughed　and　took　off；　warning　Rook　that　she　had　made　a　big　mistake　in　ing　back。〃

〃‘Skull's　right；'　I　heard　one　of　the　women　say　to　Rook。　‘You　better　split。　The　wars　aren't　like　before。　The　Red　Snakes　have　five　times　as　many　members　now。'〃

〃‘Five　times？。。。Is　Romy　doing　anything　about　it？　Are　the　Blue　Angels　still　around？'〃

〃‘Broken　up；'　the　other　woman　said　between　sobs。　‘They've　fallen　apart。　Romy　spends　all　his　time　with。。。'〃

〃‘Say　it；　Sue…I　already　know。'〃

〃‘Your　sister；'　Sue　said；　lowering　her　head。　‘He　can't　fight　them　alone。　No　one　can。'〃


〃The　canyon　widened　some　at　its　eastern　end；　where　there　was　a　surprisingly　well　kept　park。　Rook　spent　the　rest　of　the　night　there…what　little　there　was　left　of　it…still　unaware　that　I　wasn't　fifty　feet　away　from　her。　In　the　morning　a　small　van　drove　into　the　park；　a　nondescript…looking　guy　and　a　girl　who　couldn't　have　been　more　than　fifteen　stepped　out；　opened　up　the　back；　and；　for　an　hour　or　so；　sold　and　refilled　canisters　of　propane　gas　for　what　appeared　to　be　steady　customers。　Rook　watched　for　some　time　without　revealing　herself；　until　the　last　customer　had　been　served　and　the　duo　was　getting　ready　to　pack　up　and　leave。　Of　course　it　occurred　to　me　that　these　two　might　be　Romy　and　Rook's　sister；　Lilly；　but　I　had　no　way　of　being　sure　until　Rook　opened　her　mouth。〃

〃On　foot；　she　had　moved　her　Cyclone　to　the　top　of　a　wide　stone　staircase　that　overlooked　the　couple's　business　area　and　signaled　her　presence　by　starting　up　the　mecha。　The　man　looked　up　at　the　sound　and　said；　‘Who　the　heck。。。？'　then；　‘Rook！'　full　of　excitement。〃

〃But　she　returned　a　cold　sneer。　‘Romy；　how　the　heck　could　you　just　let　the　Snakes　take　control　of　this　place？'　she　demanded。〃

〃‘Wele　back；'　Romy　said；　nonplussed。〃

〃‘Sue　tells　me　there's　five　times　as　many　of　them　as　there　used　to　be。'〃

〃‘I　worried　about　you；　Rook。'〃

〃‘Liar！'　she　shot　back。　‘I'll　bet　you　were　real　worried　about　me　when　Atilla　and　his　Snakes　were　stomping　the　hell　out　of　me　in　a　rumble　you　and　the　rest　of　the　Angels　never　attended！'〃

〃‘Rook…'〃

〃‘How　could　you　have　done　that　to　me；　Romy？'　Rook　said；　sobbing　now。　‘If　you　only　knew　what　they　did　to　me。。。there　was　no　way　I　could　stay　here　after　that。'〃

〃While　all　this　was　going　on；　I　saw　the　girl　walk　out　from　behind　the　van；　her　hand　to　her　mouth　in　a　startled　gesture。　Now　she　spoke　to　Rook　through　sobs　of　her　own。〃

〃‘You　don't　understand…it　wasn't　like　that　at　all！'　she　began。〃

〃Rook's　younger　sister！　I　thought。　She　bore　almost　no　resemblance　to　her　blond　sibling。　Lilly　was　raven…haired　and　petite；　dressed　in　a　pleated　white　skirt　and　a　simple　burgundy…colored　sweater。〃

〃‘Romy　didn't　run　away…he　tried　to　help　you；　but　he　was　ambushed　by　the　Red　Snakes。　They　beat　him　up　so　bad；　he　couldn't　walk　for　a　month。　It　was　the　Snakes'　plan　all　along　to　make　it　seem　like　Romy　deserted　you。　They　knew　you　would　leave　the　Angels；　and　without　you；　the　Angels　were　nothing。　So　when　you　left；　everything　fell　apart。'〃

〃Rook　wore　a　confused　look　now。〃

〃‘That's　enough；'　Romy　was　telling　Lilly。〃

〃‘Please　don't　blame　him；'　said　Lilly。　‘He　searched　all　over　for　you。'〃

〃Rook　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　former　lover　to　sister。〃

〃‘Why　should　I　believe　you？'　she　asked。　‘Either　of　you！'〃

〃Lilly　took　a　step　closer。　‘Besides；　you　can't　expect　Romy　to　take　on　the　Snakes　alone。'　She　motioned　to　the　delivery　van　and　to　Romy；　who　was　tight…lipped　and；　I　think；　embarrassed　by　the　scene。　‘We're　trying　to　build　a　life　for　ourselves；　Rook。　Romy　isn't　going　to　do　the　stupid　things　he　used　to　do。　He's。。。he's　grown　up。'〃

〃I　thought　Rook　was　going　to　take　offense　at　the　remark；　but　she　didn't。　In　fact；　I　could　see　that　she　was　no　longer　angry。〃

〃‘Sure　the　Snakes　are　an　evil　bunch；'　Lilly　continued。　‘But　if　you　don't　give　them　a　reason　to　fight；　they　mind　their　own　turf。　Romy's　not　holding　back　because　he's　a　coward；　but　for　the　good　of　everyone。'〃

〃Rook　smiled。　‘So　you're　holding　back；　are　you；　Romy？'〃

〃I'm　not　sure　just　what　was　on　Rook's　mind…maybe　the　idea　that　Romy　was　also　holding　back　the　affection　he　still　had　for　her。　In　any　case；　Lilly　answered　yes　for　him；　and　Rook　said　that　she　was　beginning　to　understand。　‘I　guess　it　took　a　bookworm　to　make　him　see　the　light；'　she　directed　at　Lilly。〃

〃Lilly　was　about　to　say　something；　when　one　of　the　girls　Rook　had　rescued　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　staircase。　Sue；　if　I　recall。〃

〃‘You've　got　to　run　for　it；　Rook！'　she　said；　out　of　breath。　‘The　Red　Snakes　are　all　over　Trenchtown　looking　for　you！'〃

〃I　saw　Rook　grin。　‘Great！'　she　said；　engaging　the　Cyclone。　She　asked　Romy　if　the　Snakes　still　hung　out　at　something　she　named　‘Highways。'　Romy　nodded　warily。　‘Rook；　you're　not　thinking　of…'〃

〃‘It's　what　I've　been　waiting　for；'　she　told　him。　'Revenge！'〃

〃She　stomped　the　Cyclone　into　gear　and　raced　off；　leaving　all　of　us　wondering　if　we　would　ever　see　her　again。〃


CHAPTER　ELEVEN

〃No　one　can　dispute　the　acplishment。　The　very　fact　that　they　undertook　the　journey　！to　Reflex　Point＇　is　in　and　of　itself　a　measure　of　their　courage　and　mitment；　the　very　fact　that　they　journeyed　so　far　through　such　hostile　territory　a　testament　to　their　skills。　But　someone　needs　to　point　out　the　troubles　the　journey　stirred　up　for　those　along　the　way。　Can　anyone　name　one　Southlands　settlement　that　survived　their　＇the　Bernard　team's＇　wake？〃
Breetai　Tul；　as　quoted　in　Zeus　Bellow；　The　Road　to　Reflex　Point

〃I　decided　to　show　myself　after　Rook　split。　I　brought　the　Cyclone　to　life　and　pulled　out　from　my　place　of　concealment　in　the　bushes；　surprising　the　hell　out　of　Romy　and　Lilly。　I　popped　a　small　wheelie　for　effect　and　screeched　to　a　halt；　allowing　the　tail　end　to　slide　around　to　where　Romy　stood　with　his　mouth　half…open。

〃'Well；　don't　just　stand　there　waiting　for　flies　to　land；'　I　said　to　him。　'Hop　on　and　let's　give　her　some　backup　support。'〃

〃Romy　flashed　Lilly　a　look　that　municated　several　dozen　things　at　once　a