10_invid_invasion-第28部分

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　below。

Rand　squinted　and　smiled　to　himself　as　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　objects　of　their　search：　crate　after　crate　of　Protoculture　canisters；　each　the　size　and　shape　of　a　squat　thermos。

〃There's　a　mountain　of　it　down　here；〃　he　reported。

Scott　gave　a　tug　on　the　rope　Rook　had　tied　to　the　conduit。　〃Feels　strong　enough；〃　he　mented　while　Rook　tied　the　other　end　around　her　waist。　〃The　security　system　down　there　is　still　operative。　You　touch　anything…the　wall；　the　ceiling；　the　floor…and　you'll　trigger　it。〃

Rook　sat　down　and　let　her　legs　dangle　through　the　opening。　Rand　and　Scott　took　hold　of　the　rope　and　signaled　their　readiness。　〃All　right；〃　she　told　them。　〃Let's　get　this　over　with　before　I　change　my　mind。〃


Yellow　Dancer's　concert　was　under　way。　She　streaked　onto　the　stage　like　a　et；　with　the　band　already　laying　down　the　intro　to　〃Look　Up！〃　and　the　audience　of　several　thousand　roaring　their　appreciation。　It　was　a　heavy　message　number　that　had　bee　something　of　an　anthem　in　the　Southlands；　and　Yellow　loved　singing　it。　She　stood　with　her　legs　spread　apart；　one　hand　on　her　hip；　holding　the　mike　like　an　upturned　glass；　her　body　accenting　the　beat。

Another　winter's　day
Another　gray　reminder　that　what　used　to　be
Has　gone　away。
It's　really　hard　to　say；
How　long　we'll　have　to　live　with　our　insanity；
We　have　to　pay　for　all　we　use；
We　never　think　before　we　light　the　fuse。。。
Look　up；　look　up；　look　up！
The　sky　is　fall…ing！
Look　up；
There's　something　up　you　have　to　know。
Before　you　try　to　go　outside；
To　take　in　the　view；
Look　up；　because　the　sky
Could　fall　on　you。。。


Yellow　looked　to　the　stage　wings；　where　the　colonel　was　eagerly　trying　to　stomp　his　foot　to　the　music；　an　ear…to…ear　grin　on　his　face；　his　men　vigilant　throughout　the　arena。


Loaded　down　with　canisters　of　Protoculture　fished　from　the　storage　room；　the　electric　cart　sped　away　from　the　maintenance　corridor　and　entered　a　stone　serviceway；　damp；　foul…smelling；　and　seemingly　unused　for　centuries。　Rook；　still　dizzy　from　her　upside…down　descent　into　the　storage　room；　had　the　map　spread　open　in　her　lap　while　Scott　drove。　In　the　dim　ambient　light；　she　tried　to　match　juncture　points　in　the　serviceway　with　the　vague　scrawls　indicated　on　the　map。　Finally　she　told　Scott　to　stop　the　cart。　He　got　out　and　began　to　inspect　the　stones　at　eye　level　along　the　right…hand　wall　of　the　corridor。

〃Should　be　over　here　somewhere；〃　Rook　heard　him　say。　She　watched　him　lay　his　hand　against　one　of　the　stones；　and　in　a　moment　the　wall　was　opening。　Another　corridor　was　revealed；　perpendicular　to　the　first　and　decidedly　downhill。

〃And　this　is　supposed　to　lead　to　the　concert　hall？〃　Rook　said　uncertainly。

〃Looks　to　me　like　it　leads　to　the　dungeon；〃　Rand　said　behind　her。

Back　at　the　wheel；　Scott　edged　the　cart　forward　into　the　dark　passageway。　〃Lancer　said　it　was　an　escape　route　constructed　by　the　man　who　originally　had　this　place　built。〃

〃Well；　let's　hope　so；〃　Rook　answered　him　as　the　stone　wall　reassembled　itself　behind　them。

The　ramp　dropped　at　a　steep　angle　that　sorely　tested　the　electric　cart's　brakes；　but　the　important　thing　was　that　they　were　leaving　the　facility　behind。

Rand　was　encouraged。　According　to　his　own　calculations　the　passageway　was　indeed　leading　them　in　the　direction　of　the　arena。　〃Piece　of　cake；〃　he　said　from　his　unfortable　position　atop　the　Protoculture　canisters　stacked　in　the　bed　of　the　cart。　〃We　should　have　taken　more　while　we　had　the　chance。〃

〃Don't　be　so　smart；〃　Scott　said　stiffly。　〃We're　not　out　of　here　yet。〃

Rand　leaned　forward　between　the　front　seats。　〃What's　there　to　worry　about　now？　The　concert's　on；　we've　got　the　'Culture；　Lunk'll　be　waiting　for　us　with　open　arms。。。〃

〃Mr。　Confidence　all　of　a　sudden；〃　Rook　snorted　from　the　shotgun　seat。　Scott　was　easing　up　on　the　brakes；　and　the　cart　was　traveling　along　at　a　good　clip　now。　Rook　was　holding　her　hair　in　place　with　one　hand　when　the　cart's　headlamp　revealed　a　solid　wall　blocking　their　exit。

〃Hold　on！〃　Scott　yelled；　pulling　up　on　the　hand　brake。

The　rear　end　of　the　cart　bounced　and　swerved　as　the　brakes　locked；　but　Scott　managed　to　remain　in　control　and　brought　the　vehicle　to　a　halt　with　room　to　spare。　The　trio　regarded　the　wall　and　began　to　wonder　whether　they　might　have　missed　a　turnoff　earlier　on。

〃I　didn't　see　any　side　tunnels；〃　said　Scott。　〃And　according　to　Lancer's　map　there's　only　supposed　to　be　this　one　passageway。〃

〃The　map's　been　accurate　up　to　now；〃　Rook　added；　running　her　fingers　through　her　tangled　hair。　〃Where'd　we　go　wrong？〃

〃Maybe　we　have　to　give　the　wall　a　push　or　something；　like　up　top；〃　Rand　suggested。

Scott　was　just　about　to　step　out　and　have　a　look；　when　he　heard　a　deep　rumbling　sound　behind　him。　The　trio　turned　to　watch　helplessly　as　a　massive　stone　partition　dropped　from　the　tunnel's　ceiling。

〃Now　what？〃　Scott　said　after　a　moment。

〃They　must　be　on　to　us　somehow！〃　Rook　said。　But　Scott　disagreed。　〃Those　a/v　scramblers　still　have　fifteen　minutes　of　life　left　in　them。　I　think　we　must　have…〃

Scott　cut　himself　off　as　a　new　sound　began　to　infiltrate　their　silent　tomb。　It　began　with　a　grating　sound　of　stone　moving　against　stone；　then　softened　to　a　sibilance　before　gushing　loud　and　clear。

〃Water！〃　Rand　yelled。　〃We're　being　flooded！〃


CHAPTER　NINE

It　was　just　a　case　of　overpensation　again：　We　went　from　having　no　plan　to　too　much　plan！
Rand；　Notes　on　the　Run

Yellow　Dancer　pranced　across　the　stage；　pointing　and　gesturing　to　the　crowd；　swinging　the　microphone　over　her　head　as　though　it　were　a　lariat。　She　was　in　the　midst　of　a　hard　driving　number　now；　a　flat…out　rocker　that　had　the　audience　dancing　in　the　aisles　and　pressing　forward　toward　the　stage。

Annie　was　helping　this　along。

〃Let's　get　this　party　under　way！〃　she　shouted　from　her　cramped　space　near　the　front。　〃Let's　get　up　on　stage！〃

Yellow　spied　Annie　in　the　crowd　and　smiled　while　she　sang。　She　threw　herself　into　an　impromptu　spin；　shaking　her　hips　and　urging　the　band　to　kick　up　the　volume　somewhat。　She　turned　again　and　launched　herself　across　the　stage　in　a　kind　of　Jagger　strut；　inching　her　way　to　ward　the　edge　with　each　pass　and　beckoning　the　fans　to　join　her。

Woods　and　the　colonel　looked　on　from　the　wings。

〃What　an　incredible　performer；〃　Briggs　was　saying。　Woods　noticed　the　glint　in　the　colonel's　eye　as　he　watched　Yellow　twirl　herself　like　some　sort　of　singing　acrobat。　〃She's　amazing。。。And　these　kids　look　like　they're　ready　to　jump　out　of　their　socks。〃

The　man　is　practically　drooling。　Woods　laughed　to　himself。　〃They　are　beginning　to　get　a　bit　out　of　hand；〃　he　told　Briggs；　a　forced　note　of　concern　in　his　voice。　He　motioned　to　the　front　ranks　of　the　audience；　where　the　crowds　were　pushing　hard　against　the　security　force's　arm…link　cordon。　〃Don't　you　think　it　would　be　wise　to　keep　a　van　ready　out　back　just　in　case　we　have　to　get　Yellow　Dancer　out　of　here　in　a　hurry？〃

Woods　saw　Briggs　blanch。　He　called　out　to　one　of　the　men　guarding　the　stage　entrance　and　told　him　bring　a　van　to　the　rear　door；　while　Woods　suppressed　a　smile　and　turned　to　watch　Yellow　strut　her　stuff。


On　the　cold　stone　floor　of　a　small；　seldom…used　room　beneath　the　stage；　Lunk　sat　c