09_the_final_nightmare-第21章

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ention；　and　if　they　got　into　a　situation　wherein　a　few　pistols　and　a　rifle　wouldn't　suffice；　they　weren't　likely　to　get　out　of　it　at　all。

Another　conveyor　belt　took　them　past　an　entrance　decorated　with　a　marble　arch。　They　hopped　off　there；　went　along　a　corridor　lined　with　meticulous；　hand…done　stonework。　Angelo；　walking　point；　found　himself　looking　out　on　a　scene　that　resembled　a　cross　between　the　Roman　Senate　and　the　Borgias'　waiting　room。　There　was　the　same　gorgeous　artistry；　and　gleaming　floors　underfoot。　Clones　were　moving　around　in　small　groups；　their　pastel　clothing　running　toward　togalike　affairs；　or　tights　with　short　mantles。

〃What's　it　look　like　out　there？〃　Dana　wanted　to　know；　just　behind　Angelo　but　unable　to　see　around　him。　〃Are　any　of　those　guards　nosing　around；　or　can　we　keep　moving？〃

〃All　I　can　see　are　civilians；　I　guess；〃　he　whispered　back。　He　held　his　tanker's　carbine　high　and　moved　a　step　further。

Dana　came　up　and　peered　out；　then　told　her　men；　〃They　don't　look　like　the　type　to　ask　questions；　out　there。　We'll　just　mingle；　and　make　our　way　along。〃

〃Nothing　ventured…〃　Louie　resigned　himself。

But　the　inhabitants　of　the　ship　did　seem　quiet；　subdued…almost　lethargic。　The　ATACs　moved　out　along　an　upper　thoroughfare　that　overlooked　public　gathering　places　and　quiet　quadrangles。

They　had　only　gotten　a　few　steps　when　Dana　and　Louie　saw　a　small　surface…effect　runabout　headed　their　way。

Everybody　else　caught　the　signals　and　warnings　except　Sean；　who　had　been　traipsing　along　more　or　less　on　the　heels　of　three　attractive　females　who　walked　in　a　bunch。　By　the　time　he　realized　what　was　happening；　the　others　had　taken　cover。　He　was　in　no　position　to　bolt　and　decided；　in　typical　fashion；　to　strike　up　a　casual　chat　with　the　gals。

〃Um；　'scuze　me；　Miss…〃　He　tugged　her　elbow；　all　three　turned　as　one　and　went　〃Hmm？〃　in　those　eerie；　indrawnbreath　voices。　The　runabout　of　guards　was　cruising　closer。

Sean　made　idiotic　stammerings　about　having　met　them　before　someplace；　and　maybe　they　should　all　do　lunch。　He　laughed　unconvincingly；　slipped　them　a　couple　of　winks；　sweated。

They　were　actually　quite　fetching；　triplets　with　hair　dyed　orange；　blue；　and　pink　to　differentiate　themselves。　They　looked　at　him　and　listened　for　a　few　moments。　Sean　tried　to　maintain　eye　contact　and　yet　watch　the　guards'　slow　cruising　progress。

Orange　Hair　turned　to　her　sisters。　〃This　clone's　condition　is　remarkably　degenerative；　don't　you　agree？〃

〃Note　the　spasmodic　facial　expressions：　neurological　breakdown；〃　Blue　Hair　agreed　gravely。

〃Let　us　try　to　determine　the　nature　of　his　malfunction　before　he　destabilizes　pletely；〃　Pinkie　put　in。

Before　Sean　could　get　over　his　astonishment；　they　were　gathered　around　him；　prying　open　his　mouth；　spreading　his　eye　wide　to　study　it；　thumping　his　chest…feeling　him　up。

He　had　left　his　torso　harness　back　with　his　armor；　and　the　three　Clonehealers　somehow　had　his　tunic　open　and　down　around　his　waist；　pinning　his　arms；　and　were　tripping　his　feet　out　from　under　him　in　matter…of…fact　fashion。　He　had　been　walking　point；　and　so　he　wasn't　even　carrying　a　gun。

Their　deliberate　proddings　and　pokings　sent　him　into　a　ticklish　laughing　fit。　Please；　whatever　gods　there　be：　Don't　let　Marie　find　out　about　this！

Dana　rushed　to　the　rescue；　pushing　the　women　aside。　〃All　tarts　pile　off！〃

〃These　clones　are　obviously　all　infected；〃　said　Orange　Hair。　She　raised　her　voice。　〃Guards！　Seize　these　clones　immediately！〃

The　runabout　came　end　for　end　and　the　guards　came　roaring　back。

〃Split　up！〃　Dana　cried。　〃They　can't　follow　us　all！〃　She　vaulted　a　railing　with　Bowie　and　Louie　bringing　up　the　rear。　〃Meet　back　at　the　tanks！〃　She　ran　off　down　glossy　black　steps　that　were　mirror…bright　and　five　yards　wide。

Angelo　dragged　Sean　to　his　feet；　but　realized　he　had　left　their　tanker　carbines　leaning　against　the　wall。　And　there　was　no　time　to　go　for　them；　shots　were　ranging　around　them。　They　dashed　off　along　the　upper　thoroughfare；　the　runabout　was　following　them。

〃Y'can't　palm　yourself　off　as　an　alien；　ya　ragweed！〃　Angelo　panted。

〃Aw；　write　it　home　to　your　mother；　Sergeant！〃　Sean　snarled　back。　They　ducked　into　the　first　alley　they　came　to。

The　guard　craft　stopped　and　a　cop　triumvirate　piled　out　to　continue　the　chase　on　foot。

The　cop/guards　split　up　to　search　a　loading　dock　at　the　far　end　of　the　alley。　Sean　and　Angelo　popped　out　to　jump　the　middle　one；　the　sergeant　punching　the　lone　clone　hard；　making　sure　he　wouldn't　get　up　again。　Sean　grabbed　the　guard's　short；　two…handed　weapon　to　cut　down　another　guard。　He　pivoted；　he　and　the　third　guard　drawing　a　bead　on　each　other　at　the　same　moment。


CHAPTER　ELEVEN

I　think　the　real　change　in　Dana　began　the　first　time　she　had　to　write　one　of　those　letters　that　starts；　〃As　manding　officer　of　the　15th　Squad；　ATAC；　it　is　my　sad　duty　to　inform　you。。。〃
Louie　Nichols；　Tripping　the　Light　Fantastic

Musica　caressed　the　rainbow…beam　strings　of　her　Cosmic　Harp；　evoking　from　it　sad　tonalities。　She　had　no　heart　for　the　tunes　the　Masters　would　have　her　play。　The　acoustics　of　her　darkened　hall　made　it　sound　like　a　cathedral。

Her　sisters　Allegra　and　Octavia　approached；　and　she　resigned　herself　to　yet　another　disagreement　over　her　newfound　defiance。　But　Allegra　said；　〃A　band　of　alien　soldiers　has　invaded　the　core　district。　We　thought　you　would　want　to　know。〃

Musica　caught　her　breath。　〃Have　they　been　injured？　Captured？〃

Allegra　spread　her　hands　in　a　gesture　to　show　that　she　didn't　know。　〃Karno　and　his　men　have　started　an　all…out　search　for　them。　They　will　be　found。〃

Musica　sprang　to　her　feet　and　walked　away。　〃Don't　go！〃　Octavia　called　after。　〃It's　too　dangerous！〃

〃I　must　be　alone　for　a　while；〃　Musica　said　over　her　shoulder。　She　thought；　No　harm　must　e　to　him！　Oh；　Bowie！


〃You　mean　your　units　have　permitted　the　enemy　primitives　to　get　away？〃　Mega；　androgynous　female　of　the　Politician　triumvirate；　demanded。

The　guard　group　leader　conceded；　〃Only　temporarily；　Excellency。　But　they　cannot　evade　us　for　long；　or　escape　the　ship。〃

She　gave　him　a　frigid　glare。　〃Your　inpetence　will　be　punished。　〃


Louie；　Bowie；　and　Dana　were　not　the　best　mix　of　talents　and　traits。

They　found　what　looked　like　a　dormitory；　then　had　to　dive　under　the　bedlike　furnishings　when　they　heard　voices。　Peeking　out　from　under　the　beds；　they　watched　as　the　Clonehealers　（who　had　been　accosted　by　Sean　and　had　accosted　him　in　return）　entered；　discussing　the　matter　of　the　alien　…invaders。

〃I　cannot　wait　to　sanitize　myself；〃　Spreella　said；　pulling　off　her　robes；　〃from　the　pollution　of　contact　with　them。〃　All　three　undressed；　to　the　ATACs'　vast　interest；　and　lay　down　on　beds。　Projectors　of　some　kind　automatically　swung　into　place。　Lights　beamed　down　on　the　clones　and　put　them　instantly　to　sleep。　Little　ring…auras　danced　over　them。

A　few　seconds　later；　the　troopers　were　wearing　the　togas；　hoods　pulled　up。　They　ventured　out　again；　and　moved　across　a　rotunda　in　what　looked　to　Dana　like　Romeo　and　Juliet's　old　neighborhood；　except　that　there　were　no　trellises；　no　flowers　or　plants　of　any　kind。

More　guard　runabouts　appeared。　The　three　ducked　into　the　first　door　they　came　to　and　found　themselves　in　a　place　that　made　them　think　of　a　cocktail　lounge。　It　had　softly　lit　art…shapes　of　glassy　blue　panes；　and　gently　turning；　unearthly　mobiles。　There　was　soft　music　from　something　that　reminded　Bowie　a　little　of　a　flute。　They　sat　nervously　at　a　table　and　a　female　clone　placed　a　strange　drinking　cup　before　each　of　them。

〃Drink　this；　then　step　through　that　door　to　the　bioscan　chamber；〃　she　said；　and　moved　on。　Everyone　else　was　downing　the　same　purplish　stuff；　it　smelled　fragrant。

They　were　all　thirsty；　and　hadn't　been　able　to　find　anything　like　a　public　fountain　or　even　a　tap。　They　downed　the　stuff；　it　was　delicious；　a　real　pickup。　Not　beer；　but　not　bad；　and　it　cut　their　thirst。

Dana　decided　to　have　a　look　through　that　door。　〃Bioscan　chamber〃　sounded　like　something　the　brass　hats　would　want　to　know　about。　They　went　through　the　door；　pistols　ready　in　their　belts。

A　female　nurse…technician　clone　was　there；　and　the　three　were　directed　to　put　their　feet　on　lighted　markers　inside　capsulel