09_the_final_nightmare-第38部分

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〃This　hatch　leads　to　an　assault　ship　docking　area；〃　the　clone　who　was　guiding　him　said；　crouched　on　the　ladderway　under　an　oblong　metal　slab。　〃I　think　it　is　the　one　you　wanted。〃

Dante　was　hunkered　own　next　to　him；　studying　the　hatch。　Spread　out　behind　him　on　the　ladderway　and　the　drawbridgelike　catwalks　leading　to　it　were　the　murmuring；　frightened　clones　marked　by　the　Masters　for　mass　extermination。　Nova　and　the　rest　of　the　15th　were　spread　out　through　the　crowd；　trying　desperately　to　keep　the　people　from　panicking。

People；　Dante　sighed　to　himself。　Hell；　no　denying　it：　that　was　the　way　the　ATACs　had　e　to　think　of　them。　And　ATAC…15's　line　of　work　was　not　letting　innocent　people　be　slaughtered。

Angelo　gripped　his　idle　and　awkwardly　changed　places　with　the　clone；　then　eased　the　hatch　up　for　a　look。　The　place　was　empty；　as　far　as　he　could　see；　more　to　the　point；　there　were　three　or　four　of　the　whiskbroom…shaped　assault　ships　waiting　there；　parked　in　a　row。　The　hatchway　was　in　a　passageway　leading　to　the　hangar　deck；　which　was　at　a　slightly　lower　level。

He　couldn't　believe　the　ships　hadn't　been　mitted　to　the　battle；　but　he　didn't　have　time　to　question　the　gift　from　above。　What　he　didn't　realize　was　that　the　bat　craft　ferried　in　from　the　other；　abandoned　mother　ships　were　so　many　that　the　Masters　couldn't　man　them　all　with　the　functioning　clones　and　mecha　left　to　them。　Not　much　choice；　this's　the　only　chance　we're　gonna　get。

He　couldn't　see　Sean　Phillips　around　anywhere；　though。　Maybe　this　wasn't　the　right　hangar。　Nevertheless；　it　would　have　to　do。

Angelo　knelt　in　firing　position　by　the　open　hatch；　waiting　for　the　snipers　to　smoke　him。　But　when　that　didn't　happen；　he　turned　to　face　the　anxious　clone　looking　up　at　him。

〃Get　'em　all　up　here　now；　and　start　boarding　'em。　Tell　'em　to　hurry；　but　keep　the　noise　down。〃

The　word　was　passed。　The　first　of　the　refugees　began　pouring　up　out　of　the　hatch　and　making　their　way；　at　Angelo's　direction；　down　the　passageway；　gathering　in　it　and　awaiting　the　run　for　the　ships。


He　looked　this　way　and　that　constantly；　swinging　his　rifle's　muzzle；　even　though　he　knew　an　ambush　at　this　point　would　probably　be　the　end　of　it。　And　it　would　save　the　army　at　least　one　pension；　goddammit　all！

But　as　he　tried　to　help　people　up　through　the　hatch　with　one　hand　and　guard　at　all　points　at　the　same　time；　help　arrived。　Louie　Nichols　came　up；　dark…goggled　and　very　matter…of…fact；　taking　up　a　kneeling　firing　stance　at　the　other　side　of　the　hatch。　Bowie；　having　sealed　the　lower　hatches　behind　them；　was　next；　covering　another　field　of　fire；　with　Musica　and　her　sister　Muses　flocking　after。　Angelo　began　to　feel　better。

Still　the　clones　poured　in；　filling　the　area　between　the　deck…level　hatch　and　the　much　bigger　one　through　which　they　would　have　to　race　for　the　assault　ships。　Nova　Satori　emerged；　still　clutching　the　baby；　but　with　her　pistol　in　the　hand　that　held　it；　the　other　hand　free　to　grip　the　ladder…well　railing。　Dennis　was　right　behind；　with　one　of　the　short　two…hand　weapons。

Hundreds　came　up；　Angelo　was　sweating　not　just　for　the　time　when　he　could　kick　the　hatch　shut　and　seal　it　with　a　few　shots；　and　get　the　hell　out　of　the　mother　ship；　but　for　the　moment　when　he　could　turn　his　problems　over　to　some　brass　hat。　Anybody　who　wanted　responsibility　for　this　many　lives　had　to　be　some　sorta　egomaniacal　helmet　case。

He　was　just　thinking　that　when　he　heard　the　mewing　of　alien　small　arms；　in　the　direction　of　the　large　hatch　at　the　end　of　the　passageway。

There　wasn't　much　room　for　a　stealthy　approach　in　the　bleating　press　of　the　frightened　mob；　but　Angelo　went　bulling　through　them；　holding　his　weapon　high　in　the　hope　that　it　wouldn't　be　jostled　and　torn　from　his　grip。　Forging　his　way　to　the　front　of　the　crowd；　he　noticed　that　Louie　and　the　others　were　doing　their　best　to　follow；　but　lacked　his　size　and　sheer　strength。

The　bodies　of　three　clone　refugees；　two　males　and　a　female；　lay　dead　on　the　deck。

There　were　huge　containers　and　crates　at　that　end；　and　ledges　near　the　hatch。　Now　clone　guard　riflemen　stood　all　along　those；　as　the　lights　came　up。　〃Stay　where　you　are！〃　a　clone　voice　was　saying；　in　that　trembling　single…sideband　quaver　of　the　true　Masters'　slave。

Angelo　heard　somebody　say；　〃Huh？〃　beside　him；　and　realized　that　Louie　Nichols　was　there；　somehow；　swinging　the　sights　of　his　rifle　to　cover　the　left；　leaving　the　right　to　Angelo；　just　like　a　drill。

〃Make　no　move；　or　you　will　be　shot。〃　The　lights　brightened。　A　triad　of　clones　marched　in　lockstep　from　behind　one　pile　of　cottage…sized　crates；　and　Angelo　couldn't　even　tell　which　one　was　talking…or　maybe　they　all　were…when　they　right…faced　and　glared　at　the　escapees。　〃Everyone　in　this　room；　go　back　or　be　exterminated。〃

〃Karno；〃　Bowie　heard　Musica　say。　And　Allegra　added；　〃We're　trapped　here。〃

The　Muses　looked　at　their　selected　mates：　Karno；　Darsis；　and　Sookol；　as　alike　as　they　could　be　without　being　one　person。　Musica　said；　〃Karno；　how　can　you　do　this？　We　all　have　a　right　to　live！〃

Darsis　spat；　〃How　dare　you　speak　of　rights；　you　who　have　betrayed　the　triumvirate？　Traitors　to　our　society　and　our　way　of　life！　All　of　you　will　return　to　your　appointed　places　immediately；　or　be　shot　down　where　you　stand！〃

The　crowd　let　out　a　concerted　moan　at　that；　but　they　didn't　withdraw。　They　were　creatures　who　knew　logic…at　least…thoroughly；　and　they　saw　that　there　was　no　survival　in　that　direction；　either。　The　ATACs　and　Nova　were　moved　by　something　less　subject　to　rational　analysis；　but　they　all　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR

Alpha！　Tact'l　Armored！　Corps！
Yo'　ain't　goin'　home　no　more！
Yo'　want　forts；　yo'　want　millions？
Shoulda　stayed　wit'　the　civilians！
ATAC　marching　cadence

〃No　one　will　be　leaving　here；〃　Nova　pronounced　the　words　slowly　and　carefully。　Bowie　noticed　how　open　the　words　were　to　several　different　interpretations。

Nova　patted　the　small　bundle　of　the　clone　infant。　She　had　tucked　her　sidearm　in　its　holster；　turning　her　hip　away　from　the　clones'　sight；　but　was　ready　to　grab　it　out　if　things　came　to　that。　Dennis　was　edging　her　way。

She　was　also　drawing　the　guards'　attention。　She　had　noted　that　Louie　Nichols　was　holding　a　shock　grenade　behind　his　back；　fiddling　with　it　by　feel　while　he　watched　Karno　and　the　rest；　readying　to　toss　it。　Nova　readied　herself　to　dive　for　cover；　taking　into　account　the　fact　that　no　harm　must　e　to　the　baby　if　she　could　help　it。

〃These　are　not　your　slaves！〃　Musica　cried。　〃These　are　individuals；　whose　freedom　of　choice　has　made　them　free　of　your　society。　Now；　stand　away！〃

〃Then　you　will　die；　you　who　disrupt　our　lives！〃　With　that；　Karno　brought　up　his　weapon；　as　did　Sookol　and　Darsis；　and　opened　fire。　At　that　moment；　the　young　man　who　had　acted　as　guide　for　Angelo　threw　himself　in　front　of　Musica。　He　took　the　first　five　rounds　of　the　firelight；　all　at　once　and　all　in　one　tight　group。

The　ATACs　were　standing　straddle…legged；　firing　back　at　almost　point…blank　range；　in　the　same　second…all　except　for　Louie；　who　slid　the　shock　grenade　the　guards'　way　and　hollered；　〃Get　back！〃

Refugee　clones　in　the　first　rank　fell　like　scythed　wheat；　but　the　ATACs'　fire　cut　into　the　enemy　guardsmens'　ranks　at　once；　and　all　the　clones'　accuracy　was　lost。　Enemy　shots　rebounded　from　the　troopers'　armor；　and　the　tankers　laid　down　a　suppressing　fire　that　had　the　guardsmen　ducking　for

The　detonation　of　the　shock　grenade　was　like　a　freezeframe　of　the　guards'　postures；　lasting　only　a　fraction　of　a　second。　Its　blast　sent　them　somersaulting　and　flying；　while　the　refugees　and　the　Humans　scuttled　for　cover；　and　the　ambushers　struggled　to　regain　the　offensive。

Musica；　crouched　behind　one　structural　frame；　cradled　to　her　the　youth　who　had　guided　Angelo　and　taken　the　rounds　meant　for　her。　〃Why　did　you。。。？〃

〃You　are　the　soul　of　us　all。　You　are　the　hope　of　us　all。〃　The　eyes　rolled　up　in　his　head；　showing　only　white；　and　the　breath　rattled　from　him。

She　laid　his　head　down　gently；　then　rose　and　stepped　back　into　the　passageway；　into　the　fairway　of　the　firelight；　the　various　beams　and　bolts　and　streams　of　discs　bickering　back　and　forth。　〃Karno！　Stop　this　at　once！〃

Bowie；　pinned　down；　couldn't　reach　her；　but　screamed　at　her　to　get　to　cover。　Karno；　crouched　to　fire　from　cover；　bawled；　〃Musica；　the　Micronians　have　cast　a　spell　over　you！〃

〃That's　not　true！　I've　freely　chosen　a　new　way　of　life…ahh！〃

There　was　no　telling　if　the　beam　that　seared　her　arm　was　from　friend　or　foe。　She　went　on　through　locked　teeth；　〃The　truth　is。。。we　are　all　free　beings。　With　free　will。　And　you　know　that！〃

〃You　speak　lies！〃　he　shrieked。　〃You're　bewitched！〃

〃Got　any　brilliant　inspirations？〃　Louie　asked　Angelo；　as　they　squatted　in　the　lee　of　a　huge　packing　crate。

〃We　could　send　'em　candy　and　flowers　an'　say　we　won't　never　do　it　no　more；〃　Angelo　allowed；　then　snapped　off　another　round。　〃Or；　pray　for　a　miracle…〃

Just　as　he　was　saying　that；　the　bulkhead　was　punched　inward；　one　of　the　more　curious　coincidences　of　the　war。　It　was　as　if　one　of　those　ancient　beer…car　openers　was　broaching　a　cold　one；　only　the　opener　was　a　stiff…fingered　shot　by　a　Battloid。

The　Battloid；　having　following　their　transponders；　peeled　back　the　bulkhead　like　wrapping　paper　and　stood　into　the　gap。　Smoke　curled　around　it　and　the　guard　clones　shrank　back　in　hysteria；　forgetting　their　attack。　A　voice　amplified　to　Olympian　volume　rang；　〃So　for　this　you　stood　me　up　at　our　rendezvous？〃

〃Meant　to　drop　ya　a　note；　Phillips；〃　'Dante　admitted。　〃But　I　got　real　distracted。〃

〃No　excuses！〃

Where　he　might　have　used　the　towering　mecha's　weapons　to　wipe　out　every　enemy　there；　Sean　instead　chose　to　chastise　them。　He　had　seen　enough　war；　seen　enough　slaughter　and；　more　to　the　point；　sensed　that　a　few　more　incidental　enemy　KIAs　wouldn't　influence　the　oute　of　things。　He　had　no　heightened　senses　or　Protoculture　powers；　just　simple　Human　intuition　that　the　oute　of　the　war…the　very　core　of　it…had　nothing　to…do　with　scoring　a　few　more　clone　body　counts。

The　colossal　Battloid　brushed　a　flock　of　guards　into　a　wall；　most　of　the　others　broke　and　ran；　dropping　their　weapons。　Among　those　downed　was　the　Guard　Triumvirate。

Angelo　led　the　refugees　th