10_invid_invasion-第20部分

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　to　unite　the　members　of　the　team　and　instill　in　each　of　them　a　confidence　that　hadn't　been　there　two　days　before。　They　were　now　beginning　to　understand　and　accept　each　other's　strengths　and　weaknesses；　and　they　were　learning　to　trust　one　another　as　well。　Without　any　formal　vote　or　voiced　acknowledgment；　Scott　surfaced　as　the　leader；　which　was　only　right　given　his　training　and　resoluteness。　Lunk　was　something　of　a　sergeant　to　Scott's　lieutenant；　Annie；　everything　from　den　mother　to　mascot。　Rook　still　held　herself　separate；　but　could　always　be　counted　on　for　her　instinctive　bat　sense。　And　Rand　was　their　backwoods　provider；　fishing　and　hunting　when　he　wasn't　sitting　under　a　tree　scribbling　notes　to　himself。　That　left　only　Lancer。

Scott　still　had　misgivings　about　the　man；　but　as　he　listened　to　Lancer's　detailed　account　of　the　Invid　infrastructure　and　occupation　techniques；　he　began　to　see　him　in　a　new　light。　The　female…singer　ploy　had　yet　to　be　explained；　but　it　was　obvious　from　Lancer's　report　that　the　adopted　persona　of　Yellow　Dancer　had　opened　many　doors　to　him。　He　would　discuss　his　former　ties　with　the　resistance　only　in　a　vague　way；　but　Scott　understood　that　his　contacts　were　as　numerous　as　his　information　was　exhaustive。

The　team　had　retrieved　the　two　other　Cyclones　from　where　they　had　left　them　in　the　grass　and　spent　three　days　in　the　river　gorge　dining　on　pit　roasted　fish；　recuperating；　and　planning　the　next　move　in　their　northward　journey。　They　were　careful　about　using　the　mecha　now；　convinced　that　Rand's　theory　was　correct。　Most　of　the　time　the　Invid　Scouts　and　Troopers　were　operating　in　a　kind　of　background　net　of　Protoculture　emanations　and　couldn't　home　in　on　any　one　source。　But　when　they　were　engaged　in　a　particular　search；　their　senses　were　more　acute　at　screening　out　the　random　waves　from　the　usually　nearby　active　ones。　In　any　case；　it　was　a　moot　point　at　the　moment；　the　Alpha　was　depleted　of　charge；　and　there　was　scarcely　enough　left　in　the　Cyclones　to　power　them；　let　alone　reconfigure　or　fire　them。

That's　where　Norristown　entered　the　picture。　Located　somewhat　east　of　their　present　route；　it　was　one　of　the　Southland's　largest　cities；　transplanted　like　so　many　others　from　the　devastated　north　during　the　reign　of　Chairman　Moran　and　the　formation　of　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross。　The　city　had　prospered　throughout　and　boasted　one　of　the　continent's　few　surviving　sports　arenas。　But　most　important；　it　was　the　site　of　one　of　the　Invid's　Protoculture　storage　facilities；　a　heavily　fortified　castle　（constructed　years　ago　in　the　Hollywood　style）　that　overlooked　the　city。

Lancer　had　a　map　of　the　place。

And　a　rather　ingenious　plan。


Less　than　a　week　later；　Rook　and　Annie　were　on　one　of　the　roads　leading　into　Norristown。　They　made　an　interesting　picture…the　blonde　in　her　red　and　white　bodysuit　leaning　almost　casually　against　the　parked　Cyclone　and　Annie　in　her　military　greens　and　ever…present　cap　perched　on　the　seat　like　some　diminutive　ornament。　Not　five　miles　away　was　the　city　itself；　a　tight　cluster　of　buildings　surrounded　by　forest；　with　Drumstick　Butte　and　the　hulks　of　two　Zentraedi　ships　casting　their　giant　shadows　from　behind。　The　Protoculture　storage　facility　could　be　discerned　at　the　foot　of　the　oddly　shaped；　topheavy　butte；　linked　to　the　city　below　a　well…maintained　switchbacked　roadway。

Rook　straightened　up　at　the　sound　of　an　approaching　vehicle　and　glanced　over　at　Annie；　the　youngster　nodded　and　hopped　down　from　the　Cyclone's　seat　to　stand　alongside　her　traffic…stopping　teammate。　Up　the　road　a　truck　came　into　view；　and　Rook　threw　the　driver　a　playful　wink　and　raised　her　thumb　in　a　hitchhiker's　gesture。　Innocently　and　with　well…rehearsed　bashfulness；　Annie　pressed　her　forefingers　together　and　called　for　the　driver　to　stop　and　lend　a　hand。

The　driver　halted　the　truck　and　climbed　down　from　the　cab；　taking　in　a　long　eyeful　of　the　two　marooned　girls　and　their　red　Cyclone。　He　bent　down　to　inspect　the　mecha；　plimenting　them　on　the　fine　condition　of　the　thing；　but　was　sad　to　report　that　they　were　out　of　Protoculture　fuel。　This　was　so　mon　an　occurrence　that　the　driver　scarcely　gave　it　a　second　thought；　anyone　might　stumble　upon　some　wonderful　specimen　of　aged　Robotechnology　only　to　e　to　think　of　it　as　a　worthless　piece　of　junk　when　the　all　but　irreplaceable　Protoculture　energy　cells　were　depleted。　True；　there　was　a　black　market；　but　it　was　one　that　few　people　had　access　to。　Between　the　needs　of　the　Invid；　the　resistance；　and　your　everyday　'Culture　hounds；　Protoculture　had　bee　a　priceless　modity。

〃We　were　hoping　you　could　fix　it；〃　Annie　said　to　the　truck　driver。　〃We're　on　our　way　to　the　Yellow　Dancer　concert　in　Norristown。〃

The　driver　smiled　up　at　her。　〃Not　without　Protoculture。　There's　nothing　I　can　do。〃

〃Hey；　mister；〃　Rook　said　suddenly；　as　if　noticing　the　driver's　Invid…occupation　double…C　hard…hat　emblem　for　the　first　time。　〃You're　from　the　storage　facility；　aren't　you　？〃

〃So？〃　the　man　answered；　wary　now。

〃Couldn't　you　spare　us　some？〃　Annie　asked；　leaning　over　the　Cyclone's　seat。

The　man　snorted。　〃What're　you；　nuts；　kid？　If　anyone　found　out　I'd　shared　my　rations；　I'd　be　in　deep　trouble。〃　He　turned　his　head　at　the　sound　of　a　mechanical　click　and　buzz　and　found　himself　staring　into　the　laser　muzzle　of　a　strange…looking　disc…shaped　weapon。

Rook　grinned　and　gestured　with　the　blaster。　〃Know　what？　You're　already　in　big　trouble；　buddy。。。〃

Five　minutes　later　the　driver　had　been　dragged　to　the　side　of　the　road。　His　arms　and　legs　were　bound　with　rope；　and　his　mouth　was　sealed　by　a　piece　of　wide　tape。　He　continued　to　struggle　while　Lunk　secured　the　final　knots。

〃Relax；　buddy；〃　Rook　told　him。　〃We're　just　going　to　borrow　your　truck　for　a　while。〃　She　hastened　off　to　the　spot　in　the　woods　where　they　had　moved　the　vehicle。　Her　teammates　had　the　back　doors　opened。　〃Well；　the　first　stage　went　pretty　well；〃　Scott　was　menting　as　she　walked　up。

Rand　was　leaning　against　the　trailer　with　his　arms　crossed。　〃I　had　no　idea　that　soldiers　also　doubled　as　hijackers；　Scott。〃

Rook　looked　at　both　of　them　impatiently。　〃Are　you　guys　going　to　stand　here　and　argue；　or　are　we　going　to　get　a　move　on？〃

Scott　and　Rand　exchanged　looks。　〃Let's　do　it；〃　they　said　at　the　same　moment。


A　short　while　later　the　truck　roared　into　town　with　Lunk　at　the　wheel；　the　former　driver's　hard　hat　and　permits　now　part　of　his　disguise。　Rook；　Rand；　Scott；　and　Annie　were　in　the　rear；　but　not　yet　in　what　would　soon　be　their　hiding　place。　Originally　the　plan　had　called　for　all　of　them　to　hide　underneath　the　chassis　while　the　truck　was　cleared　through　to　the　storage　facility；　but　good　fortune　was　on　their　side　in　the　form　of　a　loft　partment　built　into　the　truck's　trailer。　They　could　only　speculate　on　what　the　partment　had　been　used　for；　but　it　was　perfectly　suited　to　their　present　needs。　Lunk　made　one　stop　along　the　way　to　the　facility　gate…just　brief　enough　to　allow　Annie　to　hop　out　and　work　her　way　into　the　crowds　that　were　already　gathering　for　Yellow　Dancer's　concert。

〃Be　sure　to　make　lots　of　noise；〃　Scott　reminded　her。

〃e　on；〃　she　returned；　as　though　insulted。　〃How　do　you　suppose　I　got　the　reputation　for　being　such　a　loudmouth？〃

Scott　grinned　and　began　to　pull　the　rear　doors　closed。　He　was　surprised　by　the　size　of　the　crowds　and　recalled　what　Rand　had　told　him　earlier：　When　people　find　out　Yellow's　ing　to　town；　they　go　pletely　berserk。　When　Annie　had　jumped　out；　Scott　had　glimpsed　a　poster　of　the　singer　pasted　to　the　side　of　a　building：　Yellow　Dancer　in　a　spaghetti…strapped　sundress；　some　sort　of　matching　turban；　low　heels；　and　a　pearl　collar。

Lancer　had　left　for　Norristown　three　days　before　the　rest　of　the　team。　The　plan　called　for　him　to　put　a　pickup　band　together　and　cut　a　deal　with　a　local　promoter；　who　would　secure　the　sports　arena　and　take　care　of　publicity　and　logistics。　The　promoter；　a　man　named　Woods；　was　an　old　friend　of　Lancer's　and　a　member　of　the　resistance。

Scott　thought　back　to　Lancer's　departure…Lancer　in　his　alter…ego　guise。　Scott　couldn't　help　feeling　that　Yellow　Dancer　wasn't　just　Lancer　in　female　attire　but　an　entirely　different　personality。　Lancer's　demeanor　changed　as　well　as　his　voice　and　carriage。　Yellow　was　a　real　entity　living　alongside　Lancer　in　the　same　body。　Scott　found　it　inprehensible　and　just　a　bit　unsettling；　but　it　didn't　detract　from　the　trust　he　had　in　Lancer。　Scott　was　wondering　how　the　second　part　of　Lancer's　plan　was　succeeding　when　he　heard　Lunk's　fist　pounding　against　the　cab　of　the　truck…the　signal　for　Scott；　Rand；　and　Rook　to　take　to　the　overhead　partment。　That　meant　the　truck　was　nearing　the　twin…towered　security　gate　on　the　road　below　the　storage　facility。


Farther　along　the　road　that　wound　up　toward　the　base　of　Drumstick　Butte　was　the　barracks　of　the　security　force　that　staffed　and　guarded　the　storage　facility。　The　chief　of　station；　Colonel　Briggs；　was　a　large；　beefy　man　with　salt…and…pepper　hair　and　a　thick　mustache。　He　was　in　his　office　in　the　barracks；　feet　up　on　the　desk；　daydreaming　over　a　color　photo　of　Yellow　Dancer　that　had　appeared　in　the　morning　edition　of　the　city's　newspaper　when　one　of　his　staff　arrived　with　good　news。

〃We've　been　asked　to　supply　s