11_metamorphosis- 第13节

Annie　was　picturing　herself　in　a　victory　parade。　〃Scott；　this　is　so　exciting！　We're　going　to　have　enough　firepower　to　make　us　a　miniature　army！〃

He　looked　at　her　angrily。　〃Four　lousy　fighters？　What　difference　will　that　make　against　the　Invid？　The　people　who　died　here　were　an　army；　don't　you　understand　that；　any　of　you？　This　was　part　of　Admiral　Hunter's　handpicked　force！　And　all　we　can　do　is　end　up　just　like　them！〃　He　slammed　his　fist　against　the　torn　hull　furiously。

He　hated　himself　for　saying　it。　He　had　spent　the　morning　hating　himself　for　a　variety　of　reasons：　for　the　death　of　his　fianc閑　Marlene　in　the　initial　attack；　when　Scott　was　the　only　survivor　from　his　entire　squadron。　For　leading　the　others　along　on　this　quixotic　quest　across　a　ruined　Earth；　with　a　lunatic　vision　of　defeating　the　beings　who　had　conquered　an　entire　world。　For　the　despair　that　had　enveloped　and　disabled　him　pletely；　now　that　all　his　hopes　were　shattered。　For　the　sad　necessity　of　telling　them；　now；　that　it　had　all　been　a　mistake；　and　they　had　to　make　their　own　way　from　here　on；　as　best　they　could。。。

Annie　was　in　tears　and　Lunk's　big　fists　were　balled。　He　looked　a　little　like　an　angry　gorilla。　〃That　does　it。　Bernard！　All　right；　you　feel　bad　about　your　buddies；　we　understand；　and　we　do；　too。　But　is　that　any　reason　to　take　it　out　on　Annie？〃

Lunk　took　a　step　closer。　〃Get　up。〃　His　ham…size；　scarred　fists　were　raised。

But　Lancer　intervened；　almost　frail　and　insubstantial　next　to　Lunk；　though　they　had　all　seen　Lancer　fight　and　knew　differently。　〃Lunk；　stop。　Take　care　of　Annie；　will　you？　I'll　talk　to　Scott。〃

Lunk　hesitated；　then　obeyed。　Lancer　went　to　squat　next　to　Scott；　who　seemed　to　be　asleep。

〃Don't　say　anything；　please；　just　listen。　We're　all　with　you；　and　we're　still　ready　to　follow　you　in　the　fight　against　the　Invid；　because　you…and　we…are　the　last　chance　the　Human　race　has。　But　if　you　give　up　now；　the　team　falls　apart；　because　you're　the　only　one　with　the　know…how　to　tackle　Reflex　Point。

〃Now　I　want　you　to　remember　what　you　told　us：　we're　all　soldiers；　and　we　have　to　do　our　duty；　whatever　the　cost；　whatever　happens。〃

Scott's　eyes　had　slowly　opened；　but　he　still　stared　out　at　the　aftermath　of　the　slaughter。　Lunk；　disgusted；　led　Annie　off　to　begin　work　on　the　Alphas　Lancer　had　found。　After　a　moment　Lancer　followed　them；　leaving　Scott　alone　and　silent　once　more。

There's　no　way　to　defeat　the　Invid。　You're　insane；　and　now　you've　passed　the　insanity　on　to　others。

He　lost　track　of　time　until　a　sudden　glint　of　light　caught　his　eye。　It　was　the　sun　shining　off　the　pendant　Annie　had　tossed　aside。　It　was　a　cheap　piece　of　jewelry；　a　lot　of　people　in　Mars　Division　and　the　other　units　had　carried　it　or　something　like　it。　That　made　him　remember　something　suddenly；　and　he　dug　out　the　locket　Marlene　had　given　him　when　they　had　parted…unknowingly…for　the　final　time。　It　was　a　flat；　heart…shaped　metallic　green　locket　with　a　blood…red　holo…bead　in　the　center；　not　very　expensive　but　unutterably　dear　to　him。

He　activated　it　and　it　opened　like　a　triptych。　The　air　above　the　holo…bead　was　shot　through　with　distortions；　then　the　image　of　Marlene　hung　there；　a　Marlene　perhaps　six　inches　tall。　Her　uniform　with　its　short　skirt　and　boots　showed　off　coltish　legs。　She　was　gamine　and　graceful；　pale；　wide…eyed；　with　long　brown　hair。　Not　beautiful；　but　very　attractive。

The　brief　loop　began　playing　in　mid…message。　〃My　love；　I　accept　your　marriage　proposal　with　all　my　heart。　I　can't　tell　you　what　this　means　to　me；　or　how　long　I've　dreamt　you　would　ask。　Yes；　Scott：　I'd　be　proud　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　with　you。〃

He　had　looked　at　it　once；　in　the　cockpit；　just　after　she　had　given　it　to　him；　with　nova…bright　joy。　But　in　the　countless　other　times　he　had　opened　it；　Marlene　was　superimposed　on　a　scene　of　a　flaming；　plunging　warcraft。

He　clamped　the　locket　shut　once　more；　cutting　off　the　loop。　Marlene！　Suddenly　he　heard　the　sound　of　powerful　engines　and　looked　up。　The　APC　was　returning　with　Rook　at　the　wheel　and　Annie　crouched　nervously　in　the　back　seat。　Rand　was　playing　outrider　on　his　Cyclone。　The　Alpha　was　playing　mother　hen　to　the　bulky　Beta　Fighter。　Scott　figured　Lunk　was　babying　the　Beta　along；　the　big　ex…soldier　had　some　flight　time；　although　he　preferred　the　ground。　But　who　was　that　in　the　APC's　shotgun　seat？

He　got　a　better　look　and　leapt　to　his　feet　without　realizing　it。　Marlene！

The　hair　was　a　different　color；　but　the　face；　the　skin；　the　eyes…the　very　posture　of　her…these　things　were　those　of　his　dead　fianc閑。

It's　finally　happened。　I've　driven　myself　mad。


〃It's　like　she's　just　learning　to　talk；〃　Rook　finished　her　story；　〃but　she　learns　very　quickly。〃

〃How　terrible　the　thing　that　happened　to　her　must　have　been；〃　Lancer　said　somberly。

Annie　was　sniffling。　She　wiped　her　eyes　on　the　floppy　sleeve　of　her　battle　jacket。　〃Well；　I　think　it's　awful！〃

Rand　looked　grim。　〃The　Invid　did　this　to　her；　you　can　bet　on　that。〃

Lancer　had　assured　himself　that　there　was　nothing　obviously　wrong　with　the　young　woman。　There　were　no　signs　of　bruises；　wounds；　or　sexual　assault。　〃We'd　better　get　her　to　a　town；　somewhere　where　she　can　be　helped。〃

The　Simulagent　had　been　staring　at　Scott；　unnerving　him；　so　that　he　stole　only　intermittent　glances　at　her。　Now　though；　still　watching　him；　she　shivered　and　groaned；　then　went　down　on　one　knee。　Scott　couldn't　escape　the　feeling　that　it　had　something　to　do　with　him。　Or　maybe　I　just　want　to　believe　that？

It　seemed　impossible　that　anyone　could　be　such　a　close　match　of　another　Human　being。　He　had　no　faith　in　miracles；　but　he　was　beginning　to　think　he　would　have　to　change　his　mind；　because　there　was　no　other　logical　explanation。

But　there　was　no　time　for　insights；　seconds　later　a　deep　thrumming　vibrated　the　air；　and　the　freedom　fighters　whirled　to　see　a　flight　of　Invid　mecha　heave　into　sight　from　behind　a　crashed　battlecruiser。

The　war　machines　spread　out　into　a　skirmishing　line　and　began　their　slow　approach；　gliding　some　thirty　feet　above　the　ground。　Rand　and　Rook　sprinted　off　toward　their　Cyclones。　After　a　moment's　confusion；　Lunk　and　Annie　knelt　to　gather　up　the　young　woman；　as　Lancer　prepared　to　get　to　his　Robotech　bike　as　well。

Rand　halted　to　look　back　at　Scott；　who　still　stood　rooted。　〃e　on；　Scott！　Hurry！〃

Lancer　seized　Rand's　arm。　〃Forget　about　him　and　get　to　your　Cyclone！〃

Rand　gave　Scott　a　brief；　bitter　look。　〃Big　talker。〃　Then　he　rushed　to　battle。

Lunk　and　Annie　got　Ariel　to　take　cover　behind　an　exploded　cruiser's　hull。　The　three　Cyclones　raced　out　to　meet　the　enemy。　We're　lucky　they　didn't　simply　open　fire；　Lancer　thought。　With　all　of　us　caught　in　the　open　like　that；　it　could　have　been　a　turkey　shoot。

The　Pincer　Ships　and　Shock　Troopers　laid　down　an　advancing　barrage　of　fire；　patterning　toward　the　oning　riders。　The　annihilation　discs　from　their　shoulder　cannons　streamed　down；　fountaining　sand　and　fire　and　debris　wherever　they　hit。

Scott　watched　numbly。　Part　of　him　wanted　to　fight　and　part　of　him　simply　wanted　to　end　it　all。　He　wanted　to　give　in　to　the　seemingly　endless　weariness　and　bloodshed　and　pain；　and　accept　his　fate　then　and　there。　Then　he　realized　that　the　woman　was　on　her　feet。

She　seemed　to　be　about　to　break　down　into　tears。　She　stepped　out　of　the　cover　into　which　Lunk　had　carried　her　and　strode　like　a　sleepwalker　out　onto　the　hot　sand。　She　stared　up　at　the　oning　Invid　sortie；　and　whimpered。　Lunk　started　to　go　after　her　and　drag　her　back；　but　the　nearby　impact　of　two　discs　sent　him　falling　backward。

Scott　screamed；　〃Hey；　what　are　you　trying　to　do；　get　killed？〃　It　occurred　to　him　that　someone　else　might　as　well　ask　the　same　question　of　him；　standing　out　there　in　the　open。

Lunk　and　Annie　braved　the　alien　volleys　to　reach　her　and　try　to　carry　her　back　to　safety。　But　she　was　frozen　there；　and　the　Invid　closed　in；　their　fire　sending　up　columns　of　flame　to　all　sides。　She　put　both　hands　to　her　ears　and　screamed；　screamed。

As　Scott　watched　her　face；　it　was　as　though　Marlene　were　screaming。　The　sound　of　it　struck　through　every　cell　of　him。　It　was　the　sound　he　had　imagined　a　thousand　times…her　last　scream　as　she　died　in　the　enemy　onslaught。

Marlene！

B