10_invid_invasion-第22章

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〃'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　and　climbed　on。　I　could　tell　that　Lilly　wanted　to　hold　him　back；　but　she　knew　better　than　to　try。　Romy　had　to　get　this　out　of　his　system　for　his　sake　as　well　as　Rook's。　I　mean；　nobody　likes　to　be　thought　of　as　a　Khyron；　even　if　it　was　all　a　misunderstanding。〃

〃Cavalierly；　I　nodded　to　Lilly　and　powered　the　Cyclone　up　the　staircase；　getting　a　rise　out　of　the　fact　that　Romy　was　white…knuckling　the　seat　grips　all　the　while。　I　have　to　admit　that　I　liked　impressing　would…be　motorcycle　toughs　like　Romy；　they　were　an　all　too　frequently　encountered　breed　in　the　wastes；　and　I　was　bored　to　tears　by　them。〃

〃Once　up　top；　I　asked　Romy　about　this　‘Highways'　place　Rook　had　mentioned；　he　shouted　directions　into　my　ear；　and　I　wristed　the　Cyc's　throttle；　letting　it　open　up　along　the　undamaged　sections　of　roadway　that　led　back　to　the　narrow　heart　of　the　city。〃

〃It　must　have　been　about　this　time　that　the　three　Invid　paid　a　call　on　Scott　and　the　others。　I　had　been　wondering　what　they　had　made　of　our　disappearance　from　camp。　Perhaps　they　figured　we　had　run　off　together　or　just　decided　that　individually　we　had　had　enough　of　Scott's　search　for　Reflex　Point。　As　it　came　out　later；　Annie　was　all　for　going　out　to　look　for　us；　but　Scott　felt　differently。　‘I　prefer　not　to　meddle　in　people's　private　affairs；'　is　how　Annie　told　me　he　had　put　it。　But　I　guessed　correctly　that　they　had　opted　to　hang　in　for　another　day；　thinking　that　we　would　find　our　way　back　to　them。　There　was　a　good　chance　they　would　have　literally　passed　right　over　Trenchtown　on　their　way　north；　but　strangely　enough；　Scott　found　his　own　way　to　the　city　in　the　canyon…with　a　little　help　from　the　Invid；　that　is。〃

〃They　came　swooping　down　on　the　camp　early　in　the　morning；　laying　waste　to　that　beautiful　patch　of　forest。　Whoever　was　in　charge　had　elected　to　send　in　the　big　guns　again：　bat　ships　like　the　one　we　had　seen　after　our　run…in　with　the　black　bear。　The　team　had　no　chance　to　hit　back；　only　take　cover　and　keep　their　heads　down。　The　other　thing　I　learned　afterward　was　that　neither　the　Alpha　nor　Lancer's　Cyclone　was　activated　or　otherwise　engaged　before　the　attack；　which　suggested　that　the　bat　units　had　a　means　of　zeroing　in　on　Protoculture　even　when　it　wasn't　being　tapped　for　energy。〃

〃Scott　did　manage　to　make　it　to　the　Alpha；　though。　He　brought　up　the　VT's　power　and　launched　before　the　Invid　reduced　the　camp　to　a　fiery　ruin；　but　apparently　that　was　only　the　first　of　his　woes。　The　three　aliens　formed　up　on　his　tail　and　went　after　him　with　an　unprecedented　fury；　layering　the　zone　above　the　forest　with　unforgiving　streams　of　annihilation　discs：　When　Scott　glimpsed　Trenchtown's　canyon；　he　saw　his　out；　he　led　the　Invid　down　into　the　seemingly　deserted　city；　intent　on　battling　them　there。〃

〃Closing　on　Highways；　I　heard　what　I　then　thought　was　thunder　but　later　learned　were　the　detonations　of　the　eight　heat…seekers　Scott　had　dumped　on　one　of　the　Invid　ships。〃

〃Highways　turned　out　to　be　the　headquarters　of　the　Red　Snakes。　It　was　on　the　roof　of　a　skeletal　fifteen…story　building；　reached　by　a　series　of　jerry…rigged　ramps　that　connected　it　with　an　adjacent　（and　equally　devastated）　ten…story　parking　garage。　Romy　and　I　arrived　a　few　moments　after　Rook；　who　was　braving　it　out　on　her　own　against　more　than　a　dozen　outlaw　bikers。　At　the　center　of　the　group　stood　the　Snakes'　main　man；　a　mean…looking　hulk　named　Atilla。　He　must　have　stood　six　six　and　weighed　in　at　two　eighty；　most　of　which　was　pure　muscle。　He　had　a　pot；　like　most　of　these　rogue　leaders　do；　and　affected　a　getup　that　was　part　street；　part　costume；　including　armless　goggles　no　larger　than　bottlecaps　he　had　had　stitched　to　his　eye　sockets；　black　leather　wristbands；　shin　guards　and　knee　pads　fashioned　to　resemble　poised　cobras；　and　a　kind　of　pointed；　twin…horned　Vikinglike　helmet　and　cowl　bination。　There　was　a　large　S　emblazoned　on　the　front　of　his　sleeveless　T…shirt；　and　he　had　a　face　not　even　a　mother　could　love；　with　a　nose　that　was　wide　and　flattened　from　countless　breaks。〃

〃‘I've　gotta　admit　it；　Rook；'　he　was　saying　as　we　pulled　up。　‘You　got　a　lotta　guts。　It's　just　too　bad　you　ain't　got　the　brains　that　go　along　with　it。'〃

〃At　that；　Atilla　gestured　to　his　assembled　pack；　and　they　responded　with　the　appropriate　litany　of　hoots　and　hollers。　The　implication　was　clear　enough：　Rook　was　about　to　receive　a　stomping　that　would　make　the　first　seem　like　a　love　fest。〃

〃'I　didn't　think　you　had　it　in　you；　Rook；'　Atilla　added。〃

〃But　if　Rook　was　at　all　worried　at　that　moment；　she　had　me　fooled。　Somewhere　along　the　way　she　had　suited　herself　up　in　Cyclone　battle　armor。　But　even　so；　she　looked　vulnerable；　straddling　her　bike；　glaring　right　back　at　them；　her　blond　hair　mussed　by　the　wind。〃

〃'I'd　say　you're　the　one　who's　the　coward。　Snake　Eyes；'　she　fired　back。　‘You're　nothing　without　this　army　of　slugs　you　call　a　tribe。'〃

〃During　this　little　exchange　we　were　parked　on　the　remains　of　a　roof　balcony；　above　and　behind　Rook。　Romy　was　eager　to　go　down　to　her；　but　I　told　him　to　hang　back　a　moment　more；　at　least　until　the　rules　were　laid　down。〃

〃‘You're　Mr。　Mean；'　Rook　was　saying；　'only　because　you've　got　the　odds　on　your　side；　and　not　one　of　these　rogues　has　the　balls　to　challenge　your　position。　But　I　think　you're　hollow　to　the　core；　and　I　came　back　here　to　tell　you　that。'〃

〃This　was　the　same　Rook　I　had　fallen　in　love　with　that　day　in　Pops's　biker　bar。。。And　unless　Atilla　was　a　lot　quicker　than　the　scuz　she　had　seen　to　there；　he　was　soon　to　be　one　sorry　rogue；　and　I　knew　it。〃

〃To　Rook's　taunts；　Atilla　returned　something　befitting　his　intellect…something　like：　'Oh　yeah？　Prove　it！'…before　she　got　down　to　the　challenge。〃

〃‘Just　you　and　me；'　she　told　him。　‘One　on　one；　right　here　in　front　of　all　your　boys。　And　I'll　even　make　it　easy　for　you。　We　won't　even　fight；　we'll　just　have　a　chicken　race。'〃

〃‘A　race？'　Atilla　roared　laughingly。　‘I　thought　we　were　gonna　have　some　fun。'〃

〃Rook　grinned　and　said；　‘The　beam；'　pointing　to　something　off　to　her　left。〃

〃This　brought　a　real　chorus　of　cheers　from　the　spectators。　I　didn't　understand　what　she　was　talking　about　until　Romy　showed　me　what　the　beam　was。　It　was　either　the　remains　of　a　bridge　that　had　once　linked　Highways　with　the　building　across　the　street　or　a　collapsed　structural　member　from　one　of　the　two　buildings。　In　any　case；　it　was　no　more　than　foot　wide　and　now　ran　roof　to　roof　more　than　one　hundred　and　fifty　feet　above　the　city's　main　street。　But　that　wasn't　all：　The　beam　was　not　entirely　straight。　Midway　along　was　a　bend　and　a　slight　dip…from　who　knew　what…to　test　the　mettle　of　any　rider。　Reaching　the　beam　first　was　only　part　of　the　game；　reaching　the　other　roof　was　something　else　again。　It　was　obvious　from　everyone's　reactions　that　the　beam　was　one　of　Trenchtown's　rites　of　passage；　an　initiation　that　had　certainly　ended　in　more　than　one　death。〃

〃While　I　was　taking　all　of　this　in；　Romy　was　dismounting　from　the　Cyclone。　'　We　can't　let　her　go　through　with　this；'　he　told　me；　showing　an　intense　anger　that　almost　led　me　to　reevaluate　my　initial　impression　of　him。〃

〃Atilla；　meanwhile；　was　doing　his　best　to　back　away　from　the　challenge　without　losing　face。　He　pointed　out　to　his　assembled　buddies　that　what　he　had　envisioned　was　a　genuine　physical　mix…up　with　Rook…winner　taking　all；　so　to　speak…and　they　were　buying　it。〃

〃‘Let's　pluck　this　chicken　now！'　he　shouted；　leering　at　Rook。〃

〃I　could　understand　his　misgivings；　but　if　I　were　him　I　would　have　been　pointing　out　the　fact　that　Rook's　Cyclone　was　not　only　faster　than　his　old　Kamikaze　but　capable　of　reconfiguring　and　actually　flying　across　to　the　opposite　roof　should　Rook　misjudge　the　beam　itself。　Well；　perhaps　he　had　never　seen　a　Cyclone　before；　I　thought。〃

〃Romy　and　I　were　standing　side　by　side　on　the　roof　balcony　now。　Below；　Atilla　and　his　Huns　were　beginning　to　take　a　fancy　to　the　idea　of　jumping　Rook's　bones；　so　I　decided　it　was　time　for　us　to　show　our　colors；　pulled　out　the　hand　H…90；　and　fired　off　a　quick　vertical　burst　for　the　boys　that　stopped　them　dead　in　their　tracks。

〃‘Stay　where　you　are！'　I　warned　them；　feeling　a　little　like　Atilla　with　the　blaster　backing　up　my　threats。　‘The　two　of　them　fight　it　out　alone；　just　like　the　lady　says。'　Rook　was　more　surprised　by　my　sudden　appearance　than　any　of　them。　I　figured　that　by　backing　her　I　was　doing　a　little　better　than　Romy；　who　was　now　urging　her　to　give　up　the　idea。　His　presence　elicited　as　many　ments　from　the　Snakes　as　Rook's　idea　of　riding　the　beam　had。　It　seemed　that　the　former　leader　of　the　Blue　Angels　was　not　very　well　thought　of　in　the　Snakes'　side　of　town。〃

〃‘Don't　worry；　Romy；　I　won't　blow　it；'　Rook　was　saying；　not　entirely　successful　at　hiding　her　concern。　‘Let's　just　say　my　riding　skills　have　improved　a　lot。'　She　looked　hard　at　Romy　and　thanked　him　for　standing　by　her。　‘ing　back　here　was　a　good　thing；'　she　said；　smiling。　‘I　think　it　cleared　my　head　of　a；　lot　of　bad　memories。　More　than　you'll　ever　know。。。'〃

〃‘Rook；'　Romy　started　to　say。〃

〃‘I'm　counting　on　you　to　take　care　of　Lilly；'　Rook　added；　activating　the　Cyc。〃

〃I　walked　down　the　stairs　and　casually　aimed　the　blaster　in　Atilla's　direction。　‘You　gonna　run　this　race；　or　what？'　I　asked　him；　unsure　about　my　next　move　should　he　refuse。〃

〃The　Snakes　threw　words　of　encouragement　to　their　leader；　and　Atilla　stepped　forward　to　accept　the　challenge。　Romy　ceremoniously　handed　Rook　her　helmet；　and　some　of　the　Snakes　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　roof　for　a　better　view　of　the　race。〃

〃Things　got　under　way　without　the　preliminaries　and　fanfare　that　usually　characterize　such　events；　Rook　and　Atilla　positioned　their　machines　on　either　side　of　a　flag　bearer；　maybe　a　hundred　feet　from　the　beam。　The　starter；　a　shaved…skull　Snake　in　T…shirt　and　fatigues；　jumped　up　and　brought　the　flag　down　with　a　shout。　The　two　machines　patched　out　and　headed　for　the　beam。　Again；　I　thought　I　heard　distant　thunder　but　made　nothing　of　it。〃

〃I　had　noticed　Atilla　give　the　red　Cyc　a　dismissive　once…over　before　the　flag　dropped　and　figured　he　would　be　in　for　a　surprise。　But　I　was　the　one　surprised：　The　old　Kami　was　a　real　sleeper　and　must　have　concealed　a　turbocharger　somewhere　within　its　works；　because　Atilla　beat　Rook　off　the　line　and　stayed　a　half　length　ahead　of　her　for　the　first　fifty　feet。　In　fact；　I'm　pretty　sure　Snake　Eyes　would　have　hit　the　beam　neck　and　neck　with　Rook　if　fear　hadn't　revealed　his　own　true　colors。〃

〃Just　shy　of　the　beam　he　glanced　over　at　Rook；　saw　that　she　wasn't　about　to　yield　an　inch；　and　bailed　out；　bouncing　and　sliding　all　the　way；　his　cycle　plummeting　over　the　edge　and　exploding　when　it　hit　the　street。〃

〃Rook　rode　the　beam　like　a　pro。　She　told　me　later　that　at　no　time　did　she　even　consider　using　the　mecha's　capabilities　to　save　herself　from　wiping　out。　I　ran　forward　to　the　edge　of　the　roof；　along　with　everyone　else　who　was　applauding　her　feat；　including　more　than　a　few　Snakes。　The　loyal　members　of　the　gang　were　ministering　to　their　bruised　and　road…cashed　leader；　who　knew；　I　think；　that　many　more　challenges　would