11_metamorphosis-第16部分

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　across　the　Cosmos　to　regenerate　themselves　into　a　new　form。　They　want　to　rule　the　physical　Universe；　and　the　higher　planes　of　existence；　too！〃

〃Wow！　His　brain's　been　fried！〃　Annie　whispered。

〃Naw；　Annie；〃　Rook　countered。　〃The　boy　just　hasn't　woken　up。〃　She　gave　him　a　therapeutic　slap　on　the　cheek　that　she　tried　not　to　enjoy　too　much。　Rand　found　himself　back　in　the　real　world。

He　took　a　few　deep　breaths　and　started　again。　〃I　know　now　why　the　Invid　are　here。　They're　trying　to　survive　by　plugging　themselves　into　the　Earth's　evolutionary　system。　Don't　look　at　me　like　that；　you　can't　hardly　blame　'em！　We'd　do　it；　too；　if　we　faced　racial　extinction！〃

Which　we　do；　he　realized。

Scott　was　close　to　taking　a　swing　at　Rand。　〃I　couldn't　care　less　whether　the　Invid　survive　or　go　the　way　of　the　Zentraedi　and　the　Robotech　Masters；　just　as　long　as　they　leave　Earth。　This　is　our　planet！〃

〃Well；　I　wasn't　saying　that　we…〃

〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　you　out　there；　Rand；〃　Scott　seethed；　〃but　it　seems　to　have　knocked　your　loyalties　out　of　whack。〃

〃He　was　lying　on　a　bunch　of　Flowers　of　Life；〃　Rook　blurted。　〃A　whole　little　field　of　them。　And　the　sandstorm　hadn't　bothered　them；　not　even　a　bit。〃

While　the　others　were　thinking　about　that；　Rand　said；　〃What　about　Marlene？　Is　she　all　right？〃

Rook　looked　at　him　for　long　seconds　before　she　said；　〃She's　still　pretty　weak；　I'm　afraid。〃

Rand　went　down　on　one　knee　next　to　her。　Under　his　gaze；　she　stirred；　wakened；　smiled　up　at　him　as　she　had　hours　and　an　eternity　ago。　It　had　taken　a　look　and　a　thought；　not　a　kiss；　to　wake　the　sleeping　damsel。

Well；　Fair　Milady；　I　don't　know　if　you'll　ever　realize　it；　but　you　and　I　have　just　been　on　quite　a　spin。　And　I　wouldn't　have　missed　it　for　the　world。

Rook；　leaning　against　the　cave　wall　with　her　arms　crossed；　glowered　at　the　two。　Maybe　Marlene　was　brain…damaged；　but　that　was　no　excuse　to　gaze　up　at　a　bumpkin　like　Rand　with　liquid；　lambent　eyes。　He　was　nothing　but　a　wasteland　Forager！

〃Hi；〃　Rand　smiled　down　gently。　And　now　Scott；　too；　was　scowling。　In　true　military　style；　he　didn't　bother　to　consider　his　reasons　for　being　irked　at　Rand。　It　was　easier　than　examining　his　feelings　for　Marlene。

Rand　touched　Marlene's　cheek。　Her　gaze　gave　him　the　eerie　feeling　that　she　had　truly　been　along　on　the　all…time　championship　motocross　run。　Marlene　smiled　up　at　him。

A　thought　crossed　Rand's　mind。　What　was　it　Rook　said　he　had　been　lying　on？


Eventually；　as　Scott　had　fatalistically　expected；　a　patrol　of　Shock　Troopers　spotted　them。　The　freedom　fighters　jumped　the　Invid　right　away。

They　knew　little　about　the　Regis；　but　they　were　beginning　to　suspect　something。　The　simple　fact　was　that　the　Regis's　attention　was　often　diverted　to　matters　elsewhere　in　her　world…embracing　scheme；　and　offworld　as　well。　Although　the　whereabouts　of　her　Simulagent　and　this　persistently　bothersome　group　of　enemies　were　high　on　her　priorities　list；　the　Regis　had　a　staggering　number　of　projects　and　operations　to　control　and　guide。

All　the　freedom　fighters　knew　was　that　there　was　still　a　chance　to　avoid　disaster　if　the　team　could　act　quickly　enough。　Once　more　the　VTs　dodged　and　fired；　barrelrolled　and　spat　missiles。

This　battle　took　place　over　a　strange　landscape。　The　place　looked　like　a　jungle；　except　it　appeared　to　have　been　roofed　over。　A　translucent；　shell…like　pink　covering　stretched　over　hundreds　of　square　miles　of　river　valley。　The　roof；　or　whatever　it　was；　had　numerous　irregular　openings　in　it；　openings　so　big　that　the　VTs　could　fly　in　and　out　virtually　at　will。　But　so　could　the　Invid。

The　Humans　were　hampered　by　low　Protoculture　levels　and　ordnance　supplies；　Scott　wondered　if　they　would　even　have　enough　to　get　them　through　this　latest　mass　dogfight。　But　Lancer　was　a　tough；　precise　fighter　jock；　frugal　with　fuel　and　ammo　when　it　was　necessary；　and　he　and　Scott　had　taught　Rand　and　Rook　well。　Trooper　after　Trooper　went　tumbling；　burning；　from　the　air　under　the　weird　shell…roof。

Down　below；　Lunk；　Annie；　and　Marlene　were　having　it　a　little　tougher；　as　a　Trooper　noticed　them　and　came　swooping　down　at　them。　〃Hey；　you　fancy　fly…boys　up　there！〃　Annie　squawked　over　the　tac　net；　〃you　forgetting　your　friends　here　on　terra　firma？〃

Rand　broke　away　from　the　〃ratrace〃　and；　nearly　at　deck　level；　went　after　the　Shock　Trooper　that　was　on　the　APC。　But　suddenly　a　bunch　of　trees　came　at　him　out　of　nowhere。　I　think　I　zigged　when　I　shoulda　zagged；　he　thought；　as　retros　proved　insufficient　and　the　Beta　hung　up　in　a　treetop。

A　disc's　explosion　overturned　the　truck　and　the　Trooper　closed　in　for　the　kill；　as　the　shocked　Lunk；　Annie；　and　Marlene　watched。　All　in　an　instant；　a　bolt　from　a　heavy　VT　cannon　holed　the　enemy　through　and　through；　and　it　toppled。

The　three　looked　up　to　where　Rand's　Beta　hung　like　a　fly　in　web。　〃Some　shot；　huh？〃　he　beamed；　although　he　was　draped　over　his　instrument　panel　at　an　undignified　angle。

〃Jeepers；　what　a　dopey　landing；〃　marveled　Annie。

Above；　Scott　and　the　others　switched　from　Protoculture　to　reserve　impulse　power；　and　used　their　jamming　gear　and　spread　clouds　of　aerosol　smokescreen　behind　them。　Then　they　dived　through　one　of　the　holes　in　the　river　valley's　〃roof；〃　breaking　contact。　As　they　had　hoped；　the　Invid　went　off　in　all　directions；　apparently　mystified　as　to　where　the　prey　had　gone。


The　group　made　its　camp　and　held　council。　With　power　and　ammo　levels　so　low；　Scott　unveiled　what　he　considered　to　be　the　only　workable　plan　for　continuing　the　trip　to　Reflex　Point。

〃A　raft？〃　Rand　exclaimed。

Scott　sipped　from　his　mug。　〃There　are　two　things　to　remend　the　idea：　We'll　save　what　little　Protoculture　we　have　left；　and　we　won't　attract　the　Invid　by　activating　our　mecha。〃

Lancer　blew　on　his　coffee。　〃I　think　it's　a　brilliant　idea。　We'll　just　let　the　river　do　all　the　work。〃

Rand　looked　at　the　mecha。　〃You're　talking　about　one　helluva　raft；　there。　D'you　know　anything　about　rafts；　spaceman？〃

Annie　started　demanding　that　she　be　allowed　to　supervise　and　that　the　raft　be　named　in　her　honor。　Rook　scolded　her　and　said　that　this　wasn't　some　dumb　jungle　movie　where　all　you　need　is　a　couple　of　vines　and　a　coconut。

Things　began　to　turn　into　one　of　the　team's　signature　free…for…alls。　Lancer　rose；　stretched；　and　paced　away　toward　the　river。　〃Since　I　don't　know　the　first　thing　about　marine　engineering；　I　volunteer　for　lookout　duty。〃

〃Probably　afraid　he'll　break　a　fingernail；〃　Lunk　grunted。

Rand　was　agreeing；　〃The　guy's　just　a　lazy　bum；〃　when　something　heavy　tapped　his　shoulder。

Scott　was　handing　him　the　ax。　〃Country　boy；　it's　time　you　showed　us　your　stuff。　I　know　this　thing's　a　little　primitive；　but　at　least　it　works　without　Protoculture。　Just　think　of　a　raft　as　a　very　large　ski。〃


Lancer　drank　in　the　quiet　beauty　of　the　place。　He　found　himself　in　a　very　quiet；　serene　world。

ing　to　the　shore　of　a　fast…moving　stream；　he　decided　the　current　was　too　swift　for　predators　and　elected　to　bathe。　In　a　moment；　he　had　stripped；　taken　soap　and　personal　articles　from　his　belt　pouch；　and　plunged　in。


Several　miles　downstream　from　the　team's　landing　spot；　another　Invid　stronghold　straddled　the　river　on　five　asymmetrical　legs。　It　looked　like　a　bulbous　insect　with　a　glowing；　low…hanging　belly。

Inside　was　a　Hive　Center　like　and　yet　unlike　that　of　the　fortress。　The　Sensor　there　was　identical　to　the　other　in　its　physical　shape；　but　its　color　was　a　putrid；　lit…from…within　green。　But　in　one　particular　way；　this　was　a　very　different　scene：　The　Regis　had　manifested　herself。

An　oval　energy　flux　surrounded　by　a　blue　nimbus；　its　long　axis　vertical；　hung　over　the　Sensor。　The　mauve　flux　gave　off　solar　prominences　of　light。　Within　it　were　swirling　lights　and　within　the　swirl；　barely　discernible　in　the　brilliance；　was　the　female　form　of　the　Regis。

〃Our　Matrix　is　now　approaching　the　bio…energy　level　needed　for　transmutation。〃

Regis　and　Sensor　were　attended　by　several　Shock　Troopers。　One　of　these　the　Regis　instructed；　〃Trooper；　step　forward！〃

The　Shock　Trooper　obeyed；　somehow　seeming　subdued　despite　its　immense　size　and　armaments。　The　incandescence　played　across　its　armor　as　it　stared　at　its　ruler…deity；　the　Regis。

〃You　have　proved　yourself　time　and　again；〃　she　told　it；　〃as　both　a　soldier　and　a　shape…changer。　In　both　these　capacities　you　have　helped　ensure　the　survival　of　our　race。　Your　outstanding　achievements　won　you　the　honor　of　engaging　the　enemy　in　the　Shock　Trooper　armor　that　now　enfolds　your　being。〃

Her　face　was　little　more　than　a　blank　mask　with　shadowed　eye　sockets　and　the　ridge　of　a　nose。　〃Now　the　time　has　e　for　you　to　continue　your　evolution；　to　take　the　next　step　upward　in　the　spiral　of　Protogenetic　progress！　Are　you　ready？〃

The　Trooper；　watching　her　with　its　single　optical　sensor；　made　a　biotechnic　gurgling　and　a　kind　of　hunching　bow　of　obeisance。

〃Very　well！　As　I　have　spoken；　so　it　shall　be　done！　Prepare　yourself　for　disembodiment　and　transmutation！〃　The　Regis　flung　her　arms　wide；　and　the　green　Sensor　was　aglow。　Energy　crackled　and　sizzled　through　the　Hive　Center。

Vines　of　living　Protoculture　power　snaked　out　from　the　Sensor　to　envelope　the　Trooper。　In　another　moment　it　seemed　to　be　in　a　rictus　of　agony；　its　superhard　armor　crumbling　from　it　like　plaster；　as　it　stood　in　the　center　of　a　globe　of　transplendence。

Abruptly　the　armor　was　gone；　and　a　pulsating　egg　hung　in　the　center　of　the　solar　fury。　〃The　disembodiment　is　plete；〃　the　Regis　decreed。　〃You　are　yourself；　unadorned；　without　identity；　awaiting　transmutation　into　the　shell　that　will　make　you　invincible！〃

The　egg　beat　like　a　heart。　What　it　held　was　like　the　drone　Rand　and　Annie　had　seen；　and　yet　unlike　it；　the　product　of　a　long　evolutionary　progression。

The　Regis　gathered　her　indistinct　hands　to　her　blank　breasts；　palm　to　palm。　〃Behold　the　final　stage　in　your　evolution！　Behold　the　Enforcer！〃


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

They　had　moved　so　fast　they　had　forgotten　something。　They　were　racing　to　save　a　world；　and　particularly　the　Human　species；　but　nobody　had　ever　said　anybody　was　going　to　be　grateful。　It　was　just　as　well　that　they　started　getting　used　to　that　fact　then。
Xandu　Reem；　A　Stranger　at　Home：　A　Biography　of　Scott　Bernard

The　Invid　anome　hung　before　the　Regis；　a　minor　sun　throwing　off　streamers　of　starflare。　She　threw　her　hands　out　wide；　and　the　sunlet　was　swallowed　up　in　a　roaring　pillar　of　ravening　power。　It　burned　upward　like　a　huge　searchlight　beam；　as　something　took　shape　within。

The　light　died　and　it　was　revealed。　Twice　the　size　of　the　Shock　Troopers；　it　mounted　a　shoulder　cannon　like　theirs　but　had　a　suggestion　of　the　Controller's　long　muzzle。　Its　claws　were　proportionately　smaller；　adapted　for　finer　work；　but　much　more　powerful　than　those　of　the　mecha　standing　around　it　paying　homage。　It　held　all　the　power　of　the　Matrix　outpouring　that　had　created　it。

Its　optical　sensor　fixed　on　the　Regis；　the　Enforcer　awaited　her　mand。


The　cool；　clean　water　felt　so　good　that　Lancer　could　almost　believe　he　was　back　at　the　o…faro；　the　bath。　When　he　had　lathered　and　rinsed　himself；　he　began　a　little　Musume　exercise；　like　the　ones　his　masters　used　to　give　him。

Using　a　theatrical　depilatory；　he　removed　the　hair　from　his　chest；　legs；　armpits；　and　so　on。　Then　Yellow　Dancer　performed　a　maiden's　bathing　ritual；　abandoning　self　for　role。　Each　stylized　gesture　and　movement　would　make　an　audience　believe　in　the　demure　young　girl；　each　pose　and　motion；　handed　down　for　centuries；　contained　a　hundred　subtleties。

But　Yellow　had　bee　so　clumsy；　so　out…of…practice！　Surely　Master　Yoshida　would　have　broken　three　sticks　upon　Lancer　by　now！　Still；　the　exercise　brought　a　feeling　of　calm　serenity；　a　reminder　of　gentility　and　the　frailty　of　beauty…a　renewed　faith　in　the　high　value　and　evasive　exquisiteness　of　life　itself。

Yellow　emerged　from　the　bath；　still　moving　with　the　grace　of　the　art。　She　held　a　towel　close　for　modesty；　even　in　that　solitary　place。　She　bed　her　long　purple　hair　out　carefully　with　her　free　hand。　Then　Yellow　Dancer　stretched　out；　stomach　down；　towel　wound　around　middle；　to　nap　in　the　warm　sunlight　that　found　its　way　down　through　gaps　in　the　jungle　roof　and　the　forest　canopy。

Gradually；　Lancer　reemerged；　working　on　the　problem　of　how　to　carry　on　the　mission　to　Reflex　Point。　Had　Scott's　single…mindedness　blinded　him　to　the　drawbacks　in　his　rafting　scheme？

A　sudden　sound　made　him　look　up；　all　freedom　fighter　now。　He　couldn't　believe　someone　had　managed　to　steal　up　on　him；　it　had　never　happened　to　Lancer　before。　But　it　was　too　late；　a　knobby　branch；　padded　by　windings　of　creeper；　thumped　across　the　back　of　his　skull。


〃Tim…ber…rrr！〃

Rand　stepped　back　as　the　tree　went　down；　dragging　vines　and　creepers；　branches　from　other　trees　with　it。　It　sent　up　leaves　and　dust　and　all　sorts　of　sounds　as　the　creatures　living　in　the　tree　fled　in　panic　or　anger。

〃I'm　gettin'　pretty　good　at　this　Paul　Bunyan　stuff；　huh？〃　he　asked　his　teammates　proudly。

But　nobody　seemed　very　impressed。　Annie；　looking　up　from　where　she　and　Rook　and　Marlene　were　making　cross…members　for　the　raft；　snarled；　〃Whaddaya　want；　a　standing　ovation？〃

Marlene　giggled；　and　everyone　stared　at　her。　〃Looks　like　our　patient's　finally　starting　to　loosen　up　a　bit；〃　Scott　smiled。

But　inside；　he　was　trying　to　sort　out　his　feelings。　If　Marlene　was　improving…if　she　began　regaining　her　memory…that　might　mean　she　would　go　her　own　way　soon。　He　had　tried　not　to　think　of　that　other　life　that　she　had　obviously　left　behind。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　the　lover　or　even　the　husband　who　might　be　waiting　for　her；　but　now　that　was　less　and　less　possible。

In　the　midst　of　Scott's　thoughts　about　Marlene；　a　long　spear　with　a　gleaming；　machined…metal　head　suddenly　arced　out　of　the　treeline　and　buried　itself　in　a　forest　giant　right　next　to　him。　The　long　shaft　of　stripped；　dried　wood　bobbed　slowly。

More　spears　followed；　as　Scott　roared；　〃Follow　me！〃　and　led　the　way　back　toward　the　mecha。　The　rest　of　the　group　pounded　after　him。　Miraculously；　no　one　had　been　hit。　They　had　to　veer　from　a　direct　course；　as　a　virtual　hedgehog　of　spearpoints　was　thrust　through　a　wall　of　undergrowth。

Scott　detoured；　hoping　he　wouldn't　lose　his　bearings；　gun　in　hand。　He　yelled　for　Lancer；　but　got　no　answer；　and　feared　the　worst。　Scott　had　no　idea　who　was　attacking；　but　it　clearly　wasn't　the　Invid；　and　he　had　no　wish　to　hurt　any　Human　if　he　could　help　it。　As　the　team　members　sprinted　across　a　clearing；　leaves　and　dirt　flew　as　ropes　of　braided　grass　creaked；　and　all　six　travelers　were　hoisted　aloft　in　an　enormous　net。

They　were　squashed　in　together　against　each　other　every　which　way；　Scott　losing　his　pistol；　the　others　too　tightly　pinned　to　get　to　theirs。　The　world　spun　and　swayed　below　them；　but　after　a　moment　Scott　saw　people　e　out　of　concealment　and　into　the　open。

The　spears　had　Rand　expecting　some　lost　tribe；　a　bunch　of　Yanamamo；　perhaps；　who　had　somehow　survived　the　Wars　and　left　their　traditional　territory。　But　instead；　the　team　was　looking　down　at　men　in　factory…produced　shoes　and　boots；　albeit　tattered　and　decaying　ones；　and　trousers　made　from　machine…woven　fabric。

But　the　men　were　a　bearded　and　mustached　and　headbanded　bunch；　carrying　homemade　bows；　arrows；　and　spears；　although　the　weapon　heads　were　of　metal。