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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。 They wore beads and feathers and shell jewelry。 Nothing made sense。
〃W…whoever they are； they look like they're honked off about something；〃 Annie observed。
An older fellow with snow…white hair and beard gestured up at them with a warclub whose head had been set with flakes of sharpened steel。 〃Bring them to the temple！〃
The way he said 〃temple〃 had Rook expecting something from one of the venerated oldtime movies； but she was wrong。 The natives marched them at spearpoint downriver to an aging； massive； hydroelectric power dam that looked to be in disrepair。
They were soon disarmed and standing out on a platform of lashed timbers on one of the dam crest piers。 The green river valley seemed to stretch out forever； and the waters of the spillway basin fought and swirled far below them。 All gates appeared to be open； and water fell in huge； white cascades； filling the area with mist。
Their hands had been tied； and each captive had been fitting with an ankle shackle rivetted to a heavy weight。 Scott was looking around for some sign of Lancer； hoping that he had gotten clear and could e to their rescue。
〃Now you will pay for your sacrilege！〃 the white…haired leader said。 〃You are outlanders and your presence in this place has offended the river god。〃
He gestured to where the open taint…or gates and lowlevel outlets were letting the level of the reservoir fall。 〃It is because of you that the river god has turned his back on us and is leaving the valley！〃
〃Oh； e on！〃 Rand shouted； and some of the spearheads wavered close to his chest。 〃You're not telling me you're going to kill us just because this friggin' dam's had a malfunction？〃
Scott already saw that that was exactly what the locals had in mind； but could make little sense of the matter。 How could such a tribal society； such a primitive belief system； spring up in a single generation？
The only answer he could think of was the fact that the team was now in the region that had bee a Zentraedi control zone； back when Khyron took refuge after the apocalyptic battle in which Dolza's force was wiped out。 The Zentraedi would certainly have found good use for the hydroelectric power； but their giant size would've made it difficult for them to operate and maintain the dam。 The answer would have been to spare a picked group of Micronian techs。
Most of the men in the group were in their mid…twenties or so； Scott judged。 If a lot of the techs had been killed； inadvertently or otherwise； upon Khyron's departure； that would have left kids and a few oldsters…like the white…haired man with the slightly unhinged look in his eye…to put together a new society of their own。 Perhaps they had borrowed elements of their crude culture from local Indians。
As to why the whole area had been roofed over； apparently by the Invid…Scott could only conclude that this was another of their experimental labs； a kind of grandiose ant farm。
〃Silence！〃 the old man was howling。 〃The only way to bring back the river god's den is to sacrifice you！〃 He gestured to the shrinking reservoir。
He must be old enough to recall the days before the Wars； Scott saw…and certainly the days before the Invid and the Robotech Masters。 But something had wrenched his mind away from the days of sanity and rational thought； and locked him into superstition。
〃My lord； I think I have an idea；〃 Scott interjected。 〃If we've sinned against your god； we plead ignorance。 But we will set things right by bringing the river god's den back to your valley。〃
The old man looked at Scott； perhaps he recalled the techs in their worksuits…not so different from Scott's uniform…who had once made the dam do their bidding。 〃You can do this？〃
〃If； in return； you let us go。〃
The old man stroked his beard with gnarled； black nailed fingers。 〃Very well； outlander。 But if you fail； your panions die！〃
Scott angled a thumb at Lunk。 〃I'll need his help。〃
And I hope it's enough。
Scott surprised himself by recalling as much about dam construction as he did from a years…ago Officer Candidate engineering class。
Lunk followed him at a dead run； and they soon reached the outlet control structure； further along the dam。 But when they got to the control room； they found a musty room of half…corroded machinery and a bewildering collection of long…outmoded technology。 Switches were frozen in place； CRTs were dark and silent。
Scott had concluded that some malfunctioning autosystem had opened the gates to release the reservoir waters。 〃We'll shut off everything until we find the right one；〃 he told Lunk。 Reopening them at a later time would be the locals' problem。
〃The outlanders have been gone a long time； Silverhair；〃 a warrior said to the white…haired chief。
〃Yes。〃 Silverhair considered that。 〃Perhaps they abandoned their panions to save themselves。〃
〃Hold on a second！〃 Rand protested。 〃If Scott says he'll do something； then he'll do it！ Just give him time！〃
The old chief nodded slowly。 〃It is hard for you to face the fact that they have deserted you。 Ulu！〃
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