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Eventually the pterosaurs broke off their attack； the slaughter having been too much even for them。 Scott stood on the battlefield； the smoking remains all around him； fitting a fresh charge into his H90。
He rolled a body over with his foot； inspecting his work。 〃Must've been something he tried to eat。〃
Rand appeared； Annie still clinging to his waist； the Cyc skidding to a stop。 〃Are you all right？〃
〃All right so far。〃
〃Listen； Scott； I've gotta tell you…〃
But before Rand could get out his story about the Invid power source； or control center； or whatever it was； a new chorus of sounds came to them。 They looked up to see that the sky was filled with every possible flying creature： dragonflies and other insects as well as pterosaurs。
〃Something's stirring them up；〃 Scott said。
〃Something's got 'em all on the run！〃 Annie shouted。
They peered into the haze…light and； sure enough； the whole population of the strange sanctuary seemed to be headed their way。
〃Looks like we're going to be right in the middle of rush hour；〃 Scott was saying。 Suddenly the ground began to tremble and dance beneath them。 There was nothing they could do except lurch and teeter； trying to keep their balance。
〃Earthquake！〃 Rand yelled。 This wasn't the time to tell Scott about the two rockets he put into the Invid cave installation； or of the terrific secondary blast they had set off…or of the dark silence in the cave afterward。 They could hear the grinding and cracking of uncountable tons of bedrock all around them。
A tree swayed like a giant flyswatter； and came down smack atop a Triceratops that just ignored it and kept bulldozing along。 A big conifer broke the back of a smallish Stegosaurus； passing meat…eaters ignored it； continuing their flight。 A boulder the size of a bus； falling from the ceiling； squashed an Iguanodon。
As the herd passed by； Rand and Scott changed modes and soared overhead on thrusters。 Then they fell in behind the beasts； letting them lead the way。
〃Scott； doesn't it occur to you that being in the middle of a dinosaur stampede could be bad for our health？〃
〃We don't know where we're going； Rand； maybe they do。 Any better ideas？〃
Rand muttered； 〃Oh； brother。。。〃
Clouds of dust rose from the ground and fell from the ceiling。 The haze began to grow dim。 Rand figured that the energy field was losing the last of its power。 It took every ounce of their skill to keep the Cycs going； but Scott insisted that they stay on the ground。 The air was a storm of flying things that would have blinded them and perhaps even knocked them out of the sky。
Two big Tyrannosauruses some distance in front of them simply disappeared； tails flailing； and Scott barely had time to give a warning。 There was no time to brake； and the two Cyclones went off the edge； into the abyss that had opened in the ground before them。 All three howled； Annie loudest of all。
As the armored men mechamorphosed； rising on their backpack thrusters again…the Cyc wheels repositioning up on their backs； out of the way…and Rand held Annie in his arms； something rose out of the chasm with them； flashing past。
〃Invid Shock Troopers！〃 Scott shouted。 Rand couldn't quite find the time to say； Toldja。 In the distance； a thin； incandescent pillar of light suddenly stretched from the floor of the Genesis Pit up to its ceiling and beyond。
The Invid mecha swept out and around for an attack。 〃We'll have to take 'em on；〃 Scott said grimly。 Rand zoomed off to one side； to drop Annie off to safety on some rocks。
As Scott landed； one of the big； purple alien mecha came his way； firing annihilation discs from the bulky cannon mounted on either shoulder。 Scott leapt clear with an assist from his thrusters； rolled； and came up with his H90 in his hand； firing。 The Invid dodged his shots and came in at him。
Rand was standing shoulder to shoulder with Scott by then； the two trying to aim their shots while the ground heaved and jostled under them。 Scott jumped off to the right and Rand launched himself high； barely eluding a swipe by a colossal metal pincer on a forearm the shape of a ladybug。 Rand put more rounds into it； but the trooper crouched in a defensive posture beneath him； shielding itself with the thickest parts of its panoply。
Annie was screaming； pointing to the pillar of light。 〃Look； look！ There's the exit； but it's disappearing！〃
The energy field that had blocked the way out was gone。 But the opening was shrinking； and the pillar of light was getting narrower。
〃It's our only chance！〃 Scott called to Rand。
Rand was so distracted that he was nearly mashed into the ground by a blow from an Invid。 As it was； the mighty forearm got a piece of him； sending him sprawling。 Rand managed to drive it back with wild shots from his sidearm； but the second Shock Trooper was angling for a shot of its own。
Rand back…flipped as Scott rushed in； the trooper getting off near misses； sending both men reeling back。 Scott's targeting module deployed from its external shoulder mount and swung into place before his eye； he was staring at the Invid through a sighting reticle。 He released a pair of Scorpions that missed； but drove the Invid back。
Suddenly； the invaders broke off the fight； turning and zooming off into the air； ignoring the Humans。 〃They're heading for the opening！〃 Rand saw。 〃We've gotta stop them； before they close it behind them！〃
〃Take care of Mint；〃 Scott called back； already aloft。 〃I'll go after them。〃 As he rocketed after them； he saw that the exit was closing quickly。
The Shock Troopers apparently realized they couldn't outrun their pursuer and turned to fight。 Scott dodged another pincer swipe； just as Rand caught up； having dropped Annie off again。 Scott evaded the swipe and vaulted to land atop the second Invid's crablike head。 The first Trooper was so caught up in the battle that it swung again； missing Scott； who hurtled clear； but struck its rade instead。
Scott dispatched another missile just as the first Trooper prepared to unleash its annihilation discs。 He blasted it right through the optical sensor that was its cyclops…eye。 The warhead was a dud； but the missile penetrated the glassy circle； shattering it。
Green； thick nutrient fluid poured from the Shock Trooper； and it went flailing back like a falling scarecrow and hit the ground。 The second Trooper charged at Scott； but Rand； in a close pass on raving thrusters； lashed out with his feet and smashed that one's eye； too。
〃Hurry up！〃 Annie shrilled。 〃The exit's almost closed！〃 The entire place was shaking； raining boulders and dust； cracking apart； as monsters roared and bleated。
Rand lifted her up； and the three blasted through the air toward the shrinking ray of light。 As they entered it； they were seized by the force that had drawn them into the Genesis Pit earlier； only this time it pulled them upward。
Within the Genesis Pit； the roof began to give way。 The shallow waters churned； throwing up waves and living things that would soon be dead。 The great beasts of land and sea threw their heads back and bellowed their agony to the world that had obliterated them once and was now doing it again。
The cliffs and ceiling gave w