按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A strafing Pincer chopped a line of explosions along the road； and Eddie rolled into the ditch with Annie in his arms。 Mr。 Truman and his wife fell along after； clutching one another。 The Pincer's wingmates held back while the leader came in for the kill。
Then there was an additional explosion and they saw that the leader was wobbling and tumbling through the air； like an unstrung； burning puppet。 It erupted into a balloon of energy； smoke； and shrapnel just before it struck a nearby cliff。
Annie looked up； dazed。 Suddenly there were Cyclone knights everywhere in the sky。 All at once； the Invid were getting a costly lesson in dogfight tactics and learning that the sky was still a hotly contested killing ground。
Lancer pulled up nearby； still on his Cyc； and Lunk in his truck。 〃Get them out of here while we cover！〃 Scott's voice came over the tac net。
Rook's red…and…silver armor was sleeker； more maneuverable than the others'； and had that wide…bore long…gun that was unique to it。 Scott's blue…and…silver was more heavily armed than before； with an assault…rifle module acquired in the wreckage of his strikeforce's graveyard； he stood straddle…legged； letting the Invid e at him； and held the trigger down。
Rand's armor； light…blue…and…silver； seemed more specialized for handgun…firing； and that suited him just fine； the armor wielding a bigger； more powerful version of the H90。
Then Lancer scooped up Marlene； who had dismounted in a numbed astonishment； set her behind him on his Cyclone； and started off。 Annie and Eddie helped his parents into Lunk's truck； and it accelerated to catch up。 The Cycs fell back in good order； firing； as the Invid came down at them； but then split up as the firing became too intense。
Scott jetted backward on thrusters that set the brush among the trees afire； awaiting his chance。 He could see Rand and Rook doing the same。 Trees and mounds of soil and rock exploded； the Invid lashing out at everything in their frustration。
At last the defenders were driven down to a lowermost verge。 From that spot they could either go to the open sky； where they would be shot like clay pigeons； or to the forest that lay a few hundred yards below。 Invid fire turned nearby trees into Roman candles。
Scott said； 〃We have to make them think they've won。〃 I hope Lunk and Annie and the rest have gotten far enough away！ He dismounted two missiles from a forearm pod； twisted their warheads to adjust； and waited； as the Invid rushed down。 〃On three！ One。。。〃
The armored Cycriders set up a network of fire； crisscrossing the sky with brilliant bursts； jostling the Invid as the Pincer Ships came within range。
Scott gave the warheads a final twist； then tossed the missiles down； and took up firing again。 〃Two。。。〃
He and Rand and Rook were throwing up a furious barrage； heels hanging over the edge of the cliff； the dirt and gravel they had scuffed loose falling。 The Invid's attack…pass cut the air。
〃Three！〃
The Cycs jumped back； dropped。 Invid annihilation discs hit the ledge where they had been standing； raising huge gouts of flame and debris and smoke。
Although the Regis's awareness was not in the Invid there； they spoke to one another with her voice。 They did not know that Marlene was among the prey； and that she was part of a greater plan。
Instead they heard the Regis's standing orders in their minds； Eliminate all resistance！ Neutralize rebel forces。 They must not be allowed to escape！ Kill them all！
Clinging to Lancer's armored middle； Marlene suddenly cringed。 〃The； the voices again！〃 She seemed about to faint。 〃Rand and the others…they ran！〃
Lancer had his hands full with the pitched descent of the mountain road。 But he wondered； Does she mean Scott and the rest？ And how does she know？
Then Lancer； followed by Lunk； rounded a corner and had to stop。 The way was blocked by Maxwell and a score of armed men。
They were equipped to tackle even Cyc armor； with old LAW rockets； RPGs； a few Manville X…18s； and a truck mounted with a heavy machine gun。 Lancer fought off the urge to break away and e back later。 But Maxwell might not let the others live long enough to be rescued； and above all； Carla was with the mayor； standing in the back of his staff car； her hand caught up in his。
Truman was standing up in the bed of Lunk's truck； gripping the cab frame。 〃Maxwell； you lied。〃
〃I'm a good businessman and you're not； don't e crying to me。 There is no way through the mountains。 Congratulations on being the first to ever e back。 However…〃
Maxwell showed a thin smile。 〃Now that you know my secret； you can't be allowed to return。 You understand； I'm sure。 Will you please step down and line up over there？〃
Maxwell's men had the angle on them from all sides with high…powered rifles； pump shotguns； and some Galil heavy assault pieces loaded； no doubt； with armor…piercing rounds。 The Trumans； Annie； Lunk； Lancer； and Marlene dismounted and did as they were told。 Lancer read his displays and braced himself。
Carla caught Maxwell's hand。 〃What are you doing？〃
〃They must be eliminated。〃
〃No！〃 she wrestled against him for a moment。 He threw her back against the bed of the converted truck； knocking the wind from her； ignoring her when she husked； 〃No； Donald。。。〃
The blue…and…silver Cyclone rider had gathered the captives back some distance from the trucks； Maxwell noticed； most of them sheltering behind him。 But Maxwell smiled。 〃This is the end of the road； folks。〃 He raised his arm for the signal。
〃If you move it； I'll burn it off；〃 an amplified voice promised。 Maxwell spun around just as Robotech weapons opened fire。 Many of his men dropped their guns and all of them cringed； as the dazzling rays opened the ground around them and sent novaflame curling into the air。
Annie threw her arms wide and sang； 〃Good work； Rand！〃
Maxwell ordered the rest of his men to throw down their guns； and he dismounted from the car； gaping at Lancer's H90； as Lancer advanced on him。 〃I…if you fire that thing； the Invid will be down on us immediately！〃
〃They're a little busy right now。 We killed all the ones that came after us。 Now； you've been feeding innocent people to the Invid for years； isn't that right？〃
Lancer raised his gun。 〃Time for you to get a taste of your own medicine。〃
Maxwell drew a breath and said； 〃If you pull that trigger； you'll never find out how to get through these mountains alive。 And the Invid are swarming after you。〃
The mayor met Lancer's gaze。 〃My precise map isn't just some children's story。 It shows the way through underground warrens dating back to the Global Civil War。 It leads into a camouflaged road through the mountains。 You see…〃 He gave a slight smile。 〃I serve the Resistance； too； they pay me well。 You can ask any underground contacts you want if you don't believe me。〃
Scott and Rand and the others were frisking Maxwell's henchmen。 They rearmed their friends and armed the others with captured weapons： Eddie with a Manville； Mr。 Truman with an ancient shotgun； Carla with an Ingram MAC 9。 They tossed the other weapons into Lunk's truck。
〃You spare my life and we all leave here alive；〃 Maxwell was saying。
Lancer raised his