09_the_final_nightmare-第18部分

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adness。

The　nurse　was　doing　something　at　a　wall　unit。　Louie　suddenly　yelled；　〃Look　out；　Lieutenant！〃

Dana　turned。　The　just…awakened　clone　was　lurching　toward　her；　arms　outstretched。　He　didn't　look　very　stabilized　to　Dana；　he　looked　like　something　out　of　a　horror　movie；　pale　and　hollow…eyed；　the　living　dead。

Their　systems　aren't　functioning　up　to　par；　I　guess；　Louie　thought。

Dana；　filled　with　revulsion；　screamed　for　the　thing　to　stay　back　and　hurled　her　drinking　vessel　at　it；　the　glass　missed　and　smashed　into　a　control　module。　Liquid　splashed；　the　module　began　sparking　and　sputtering；　and　the　lights　started　dimming　and　brightening。

〃More　trouble；〃　Louie　observed；　the　see…through　caskets'　indicators　and　controls　were　going　haywire。　The　lids　were　rising；　the　clones　rose　from　their　resting　places。

〃Oh；　great！　The　whole　graveyard's　ing　to　life！〃　Bowie　yelled。

Dana　showed　her　teeth　to　Louie　with　a　hunting　cat's　ferocious　mien。　〃Here's　your　ideal　society；　Louie！　Here's　your　machine　dream；　your　Empire　of　Unimpeded　Intellect！〃　She　seemed　about　to　pounce　on　him。　〃Well？　How　d'you　like　it？〃

The　nurse　was　shrilling　something　about　third　stage　alerts　and　out…of…control　clones。　The　three　ATACs　didn't　realize　that　she　meant　them；　not　the　late　risers。

She　must　have　put　in　a　call　already；　though；　because　the　troopers　heard　running　footsteps　ing　toward　them。　Three　guards　with　the　submachine　gun…looking　weapons　appeared　in　a　doorway。

〃Use　the　zombies　for　cover　and　head　for　that　other　doorway！〃　Dana　shouted。　Bowie　and　Louie　followed　her；　weaving　among　the　sluggish；　confused　clones。　Dana　was　hoping　the　guards　would　be　busy　rounding　up　the　blitzed…out　sleepwalkers；　but　the　cop/clones　gave　chase　instead。

The　three　ATACs　ended　up　out　on　what　appeared　to　be　a　public　transport　platform；　like　a　subway　station。　Dana；　in　the　lead；　took　a　turn　and　kept　sprinting。　They　wound　through　side　ways　and　almost　tripped　over　a　parked；　unattended　runabout。

Dana　jumped　in；　determined　to　get　it　working；　she　hit　controls　at　random　and　it　tore　away　into　the　air；　leaving　Bowie　and　Louie　behind。

Everything　she　did　seemed　to　make　it　worse；　and　in　moments　she　had　another　guard　runabout　pursuing　her。　Dana　rode　over　the　rotundas　and　through　the　passageways；　ing　close　to　crashing　every　two　or　three　seconds；　somehow　managing　not　to　kill　astonished　clones；　trying　to　get　back　to　her　squadmates。

She　heard　the　pursuing　runabout　careen　out　of　control　and　crash　into　a　wall。　As　she　zoomed　out　of　an　alley；　Dana's　own　vehicle　tried　for　a　wingover；　and　she　went　flying。　Resigned　to　death；　she　had　her　fall　broken　by　some　kind　of　awning；　and　slid　through　as　it　ripped。　She　fell　on　her　rear　end　on　some　kind　of　big　disposal　chute。　It　disposed　of　her；　down　into　a　steeply　pitched　shaft；　just　as　she　heard　her　stolen　runabout　explode　against　a　distant　ceiling。

Her　funhouse　ticket　was　good　for　another　ride；　she　went　screaming　down　into　darkness。　She　came　sliding　down　across　an　arrival　stage；　losing　speed　and　uniform　fabric　and　skin；　and　went　shooting　off；　to　bounce　off　something　soft　and　land　in　a　heap。

〃Where　did　you　e　from？〃　a　calm　male　clone　voice　asked。

Dana；　rubbing　her　butt　and　groaning；　turned　and　said；　〃You　wouldn't　believe　it。〃

She　found　herself　looking　at　a　slender；　graceful　clone　with　long；　straight；　steel…gray　hair　and　a　very　young　face。　〃I　am　Latell；　of　the　Stonecutters；〃　he　said；　rising　from　the　peculiar…looking　pallet　on　which　he　had　been　sitting　and　ing　to　kneel　by　her。　〃Are　you　badly　hurt？　Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃

She　looked　around　her。　The　room　suggested　a　Roman　bath　converted　to　use　as　a　clone　hospital；　but　here　the　beds　had　no　lids。　Around　the　room；　the　Masters'　slaves　were　lying　down　or　sitting；　looking　very　torpid。　〃Well；　you　could　tell　me　what　this　place　is。〃

〃Why；　this　is　the　district　interim　center　for　purging　and　replacement。〃

So；　she　was　at　yet　another　clone　spa。　〃Purging　of　what？〃

He　tilted　his　head；　studying　her。　〃The　personal　consciousness　of　those　who　must　be　rehabilitated；　naturally。〃

A　male　clone　nurse　appeared；　a　twin　of　the　one　who　had　tried　to　serve　Dana　the　mickey。　〃You　two！　Your　rest　period　is　now　terminated。　Resume　training。〃

Latell　snapped　to　attention；　then　drew　the　truculent　Dana　to　her　feet；　afraid　that　she　was　so　destabilized　as　to　risk　punishment。　Dana　saw　it　wasn't　time　to　start　a　dust…up；　and　let　Latell　lead　her　away。

He　took　her　to　a　chamber　where　dozens　of　people…that　was　how　she　thought　of　them…were　standing　two　or　three　apiece　at　glowing　projection　tanks。　The　clones　studied　abstract　shapes　and　symbols　and　hypnotic　patterns；　which　changed　and　shifted；　the　clones　staring　down　at　them　with　intense　concentration。

〃Why　are　you　here；　Latell？〃

〃I　was　found　guilty　of　individual　thought；〃　he　confessed　to　her。　〃And　you？〃

〃Uh；　the　same。〃

He　looked　infinitely　sad。　〃But　they've　allowed　you　to　keep　your　permanent　body；〃　he　observed；　too　polite　to　point　out　what　a　nonstandard　body　it　was…so　rounded　and　with　such　an　odd　voice。　〃Not　the　normal　procedure　at　all。〃

〃It's；　ah；　part　of　an　experiment；　Latell。〃

They　were　at　one　of　the　pool　tables。　Latell　was　gazing　down　at　the　shapes　there；　brow　furrowed。　The　shapes　began　changing；　multiplying；　going　do…si…do。　〃I'm　afraid　I　must　confess：　my　reprogramming　efforts　haven't　been　entirely　successful…oh！〃

He　was　staring　disappointedly　at　the　lightshapes。　〃The　trainer　is　having　no　effect。　I　still　have　individual　thought　patterns。〃

She　looked　him　up　and　down。　〃What's　so　bad　about　that？〃

〃You　know　as　well　as　I。　Unstable　minds　cannot　be　tolerated…〃

He　was　interrupted　as　a　nearby　female　slumped　against　her　pool　table…trainer　and　fell　to　the　floor。　Dana　rushed　to　her；　trying　to　revive　her　without　success。

She　looked　around。　〃Somebody　give　me　a　hand；　here！〃

A　female　who　was　twin　to　the　one　Dana　cradled　said　frostily；　〃That　is　forbidden。　Her　body　will　have　to　be　replaced。〃

So；　when　one　member　of　the　triumvirate　got　out　of　whack　by　the　Masters'　standards；　he　or　she　was　either　fixed；　or　replaced。　And　the　triumvirate　went　on。

Dana　showed　her　teeth　in　a　snarl。　〃What　are　you；　Human　beings　or　cattle？〃

Human？　She　could　hear　the　word　ripple　through　them　with　a　shiver　of　disgust。　The　clones　left　their　trainers　and　began　to　converge　on　her。　Latell　dragged　Dana　to　her　feet；　though　she　fought　him。

〃You've　gone　too　far；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　leave。〃

〃Idiots！〃　she　was　screaming。　〃Can't　you　see　what　they're　doing　to　you？〃　Was　this　how　Zor　would　end　his　days？　But　he　had　been　a　freethinking　Human！　To　e　to　this。。。

The　nurse　had　reappeared；　with　a　twin。　〃This　one　requires　a　body　replacement。　Yes。　You；　e　with　us。〃

The　clone　grabbed　her　and　Dana　let　out　her　rage　in　the　form　of　a　quick　footsweep　and　a　shoulder　block。　The　nurses　went　flying　in　either　direction。

She　seized　Latell's　wrist。　〃C'mon。　I'm　getting　you　outta　here。〃　He　didn't　resist。　He　was　doomed；　whatever　he　did；　and　in　addition　found　her　fascinating。


Angelo　and　Sean　had　guard　uniforms　to　wear　over　their　Southern　Cross　outfits　（though　Angelo's　was　strained　to　its　limits；　to　say　the　least）；　and　guns　and　a　runabout；　but　with　the　action　over；　they　were　at　a　loss　as　to　what　to　do　next。　Parked　in　a　deserted　upper…tier　plaza；　they　worried　and　debated。

A　plate　on　the　runabout's　dash　came　alight　and　a　voice　said；　〃Unit　thirteen；　return　to　Main　Control。　Prepare　for　Override　Guidance　to　return　you　to　Main　Control。〃

Sean　checked　over　his　stolen　weapon。　〃Get　ready；　Angie。　We　just　got　our　ticket　to　the　target。〃


Stolen　vehicles　were　the　order　of　the　day；　only　natural　for　a　stranded　Hovertank　unit。　Bowie　and　Louie　had　heisted　themselves　a　vanlike　craft；　and　techmaster　Louie　had　quickly　figured　out　how　to　drive　it。

They　cruised　slowly；　hoping　to　spot　one　of　the　others　and　to　get　their　bearings　on　either　the　control　center　or　the　tanks。　Bowie；　riding　shotgun；　abruptly　yelped；　〃Louie；　pull　over！　Stop！〃

〃Hah？　Whatsamatter？　Whatsamatter？〃　But　he　did　as　the　other　asked。　Bowie　leapt　out　and　went　running　after　Musica；　who　had　been　wandering　along　as　if　in　a　daze。

Louie　shrugged。　〃Why　not？　We　got　nothin'　better　to　do。〃

At　Musica's　direction；　the　three　drove　to　the　weirdest　place　they　had　yet　seen　in　the　mother　ship。　It　was　like　some　underground　grotto　or　an　ant's　orchard。

Glowing　spheres；　some　of　them　fifty　feet　across；　were　growing　there…at　least　that　was　what　it　looked　like。　The　spheres　were　held　by　a　network　of　vinelike　growths；　alien　lianas　four　and　five　feet　thick；　which　sprouted　dense　crops　of　translucent　hairs　the　width　of　hawsers。

The　vines　traveled　up　to　the　roof　and　down　to　the　floor　in　clusters；　where　they　were　rooted　in　the　soil。　There；　smaller　spheres　sprouted　on　single　vines；　with　spores　of　the　mature　forms　growing　in　the　middle。

Bowie　sat　and　Musica　knelt；　each　looking　off　in　the　opposite　direction　at　the　tree…broad　base　of　one　of　the　rootvines。　Louie　waited　in　the　van；　some　distance　off。

〃Everyone　is　looking　for　you；〃　she　was　saying。　〃I　was　so　afraid　you'd　been　hurt　or　captured。〃

〃It　almost　happened。　It　still　could；　but　now　I　don't　care。〃

She　turned　to　him。　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

Without　looking　at　her；　he　reached　out　to　close　his　hand　around　her　pale；　slender　forearm。　〃Now　that　I've　found　you　again；　nothing　else　matters　to　me。〃

She　said　haltingly；　〃It's　very　strange　to　me；　but　I　feel　the　same　way。　And　the　odd　yearning…that　peculiar　disquiet　in　me　is　no　longer　there　when　we　are　together。〃

〃We　belong　together。〃
〃I　would　be　happy　to　remain　this　way　for　the　rest　of　time；　Bowie。〃

He　was　about　to　reply　in　kind　when　a　harsh　voice　cut　through　the　peace。　〃Do　not　move；　Micronian！　Stand　slowly！〃

Bowie　found　himself　gaping　at　Karno　and　two　others　more　or　less　just　like　him；　and　the　big　dark　muzzles　of　their　guns。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

When　the　Robotech　Masters　first　appeared；　Earth　sent　its　only　mecha　factory　off　on　a　far；　SDF…style　orbit。　It　went　to　Code　Red　and　manned　battle　stations。　It　issued　heartening　war　bulletins。
No　wonder　the　situation　got　so　crazy。　Southern　Cross　had　forgotten　the　lessons　of　terrestrial　wars；　and　nobody　had　warned　us　that　we　might　see　the　enemy　as　Human　beings。
Louie　Nichols；　Tripping　the　Light　Fantastic

〃