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〃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　H…90　and　fired。　The　adjusted　threadfine　beam　burned　away　a　piece　of　Maxwell's　left　ear；　cauterizing　what　was　left。　His　hair　was　singed　but　it　did　not　catch　fire。　Maxwell　fell　to　the　ground；　holding　his　wound　and　swearing　in　a　monotone。

Lancer　looked　down　at　Donald　Maxwell；　〃All　right；　we'll　take　you　up　on　your　offer。　And　if　anything　goes　wrong；　you'll　be　the　first　to　die。〃

Carla　ran　after　Lancer　as　he　turned　to　go。　〃Wait！　Lancer；　wait　for　me！〃

Maxwell　lurched　to　his　feet。　〃Carla；　where　are　you　going？〃

She　looked　at　him　and　her　lip　curled。　〃I've　had　enough　of　you！〃

His　protests…that　he　had　done　it　all　for　her；　that　his　wealth　meant　nothing　without　her…couldn't　bring　her　back。

With　Veritechs　looming　around　him；　Eddie　shook　his　head　to　Annie's　cries。　〃Why　won't　you　e　on　with　us；　huh？　Why？〃　she　whined。

Eddie　heaved　a　long　breath。　〃Because　you're　going　where　there's　more　fighting；　and　that's　not　what　I　want；　Mint。　Paradise　was　just　a　lie。　My　dad's　brother　has　a　ranch　down　south；　that's　where　we'll　go。　You　can　e　with　us　if　you　want；　but　I'm　not　getting　involved　in　any　war！　Besides；　I　have　to　look　after　my　family。〃

Then　he　had　dropped　her　hand　and　run　to　jump　into　the　passenger　seat　next　to　his　mother　and　father。　〃So　long；　Annie。　Good　luck。〃

〃Eddie！　Good…bye！〃　Annie　called；　but　didn't　move。　The　truck　pulled　away　into　the　dusk。　〃l　love　you！〃

She　whirled　and　threw　herself　into　Lunk's　arms　and　wept。　Lunk　held　her　and　wept　for　her；　too。

Rand　was　sitting　on　and　patting　the　crates　of　ordnance　and　the　few　precious　Protoculture　cells　Maxwell　had　been　forced　to　give　up。　〃At　least　we　got　supplies　and　ammunition。〃

Rook　still　had　her　chin　on　her　fist。　〃The　chance　to　kill　him　against　a　few　supplies？　I　still　don't　like　the　trade。〃　Rand　knew　better　than　to　try　to　reason　with　her　in　a　mood　like　this。

Scott　turned　and　saw　the　APC　throwing　up　a　trail　of　dust；　speeding　up　out　of　Deguello。　〃We　move　out　as　soon　as　Lancer　es　back。〃

Lunk's　borrowed　APC　bounced　up　the　road　from　the　town；　Carla's　suitcase　loaded　in　the　back。　Lancer　somehow　felt　stiff　and　absurd　sitting　next　to　Carla。　He　tried　again。　〃I　simply　don't　want　you　mixed　up　in　all　this；　same　reason　as　before。〃

She　looked　across　at　him　for　an　instant；　then　ahead　through　the　windshield。　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　fight。〃

〃I　know　that。〃

But　Lancer　wasn't　so　sure　Maxwell　would　let　her　go；　despite　all　the　mayor's　assurances。　Then　the　subject　changed　from　the　abstract　to　the　immediate；　dashboard　displays　bleeped；　showing　three　flights　of　Pincer　Ships　cresting　a　ridge　nearby。

Lancer　stepped　hard　on　the　accelerator；　ignoring　the　danger　of　the　curves。　He　felt　a　coldness　right　down　at　his　center。

Good　try；　but…they've　got　us　this　time。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

How　did　the　Regis　lose　contact　with　Ariel；　such　an　important　agent？　The　technically　minded　hindsighters　will　point　out　several　reasons。　The　rest　of　us　have　learned　better　by　now。
Nichols；　Zeitgeist　Reconsidered：　Alien　Psychology　and　the　Third　Robotech　War

The　pincer　ships　swept　in；　but　there　were　abruptly　three　new　blips　on　the　dashboard's　scanners。

Maxwell's　trio　of　prized　autofighters　swooped　in　hard　at　the　Invid　armor…piercing　cannon　rounds；　loosing　missiles　and；　breaking　left；　right；　and　upward；　following　the　aero…maneuvering　programs　in　their　memories…maneuvers　the　Invid　hadn't　had　the　time　or　necessity　to　learn。。。until　now。

Lancer　stopped　for　only　a　moment；　looking　back　to　see　the　warplanes　fighting　their　last　battle。　He　saw　the　bright　fireglobes　of　exploding　Pincer　mecha　in　the　sky；　and　the　whirling；　flaring　wreckage　of　enemy　war　machines。

Go　get　'em！　Lancer　tromped　his　foot　down　hard　on　the　accelerator。


Maxwell；　in　a　secret　tech…pit；　watched　his　fighters　roll　up　a　score　and　then；　one　by　one；　be　overwhelmed　and　sent　down　in　flames。　He　liked　to　think　that　his　father　would　have　been　happy　at　this　last　stand；　even　though　it　came　late　in　the　game。

At　least　Carla　will　be　safe。　So　much　for　the　jets。　What　does　it　matter？　Not　much；　without　Carla。

He　leaned　back　in　the　control　center　chair　and　closed　his　eyes；　wishing　that　he　would　never　have　to　open　them。


Snow　had　begun　drifting　down。

Lancer　had　his　arm　around　Carla's　waist。　〃Donald　sacrificed　all　three　of　his　father's　fighters　to　save　us…no；　to　save　you。〃

He　could　see　that　she　knew　that；　she　was　looking　back　at　Deguello　rather　than　at　the　smoking　remains　of　the　warplanes　and　mecha。　Lancer　wanted　to　wrap　her　in　her　coat　and　take　her　along　with　him。

〃Why？〃　She　was　trembling。

A　core　of　honesty　made　him　answer。　〃You're　everything　to　him。　He　wanted　to　save　your　life。〃

He　was　beginning　to　shiver；　the　flakes　melting　on　his　skin　and　the　thin　bodysuit。　〃What　now；　Carla？〃　He　gripped　her　shoulders　in　strong　hands。　〃I　won't　let　him　use　you　again！〃

〃Oh；　Lancer！　I　have　to…I'm　going　back。〃　She　reached　for　the　satchel　she　had　left　in　the　APC。　〃This　time　I　guess　I'm　the　one　who's　jumping　the　train。〃

She　reached　up；　held　him　close；　kissed　him　with　hopeless　passion。　〃Good…bye　Lancer；　good…bye；　Yellow。〃

Then　she　was　going　back　down　the　road；　walking　to　the　lights　of　the　mayor's　mansion。　Lancer　walked　slowly　to　the　truck。

He　automatically　checked　for　the　weapons　the　team　had　taken　from　Maxwell's　goons　and　saw　the　pile　was　one　gun　light。　The　little　palm…size　shooter　was　gone。

Love　or　death；　what　will　it　be？

Lancer　took　a　last　look　down　the　road　at　Deguello。　As　Yellow　Dancer；　he　blew　a　last　kiss　to　Carla。　Then；　as　Lancer　once　more；　he　pulled　on　the　parka　Lunk　had　left　on　the　seat；　hardened　his　heart　to　all　that　had　gone　on　before；　and　floored　the　accelerator；　to　go　meet　the　Invid；　to　take　them　on　on　their　own　ground。


Maxwell　had　told　the　truth　in　at　least　one　matter：　the　Invid　fortress　blocked　the　only　usable　pass。

The　team　had　hoped　to　avoid　it；　the　hidden　road　was　perilous　but　had　served　for　much　of　the　way。　A　recent　quake　had　brought　the　entire　side　of　a　mountain　down；　though；　making　further　progress　impossible。　There　was　no　choice　but　to　tackle　the　fortress。

Watching　the　morning　patrol　of　Pincer　Ships　and　Shock　Troopers　return；　Scott　did　his　best　not　the　hear　Annie's　teeth　chattering　and　not　to　think　about　the　silent　shivering　of　Marlene　and　the　others。

〃It's　a　pattern；〃　Lancer　said；　still　grave　after　days　journeying　from　Deguello。　His　skin　was　paler　than　ever　from　the　high…country　snow　and　chill。　〃The　bulk　of　their　mecha　goes　out　at　sunrise。　That's　the　best　time　to　make　our　move；　Scott；　whatever　our　move　is　going　to　be。〃

They　were　still　bickering　about　the　best　way　to　deal　with　the　alien　stronghold　when　they　heard　a　cracking　and　splintering　of　wood；　and　Rand's　cry；　〃Tim…ber…rrrr！〃

By　nightfall；　they　were　sitting　around　Rand's　fire；　wearing　every　stitch　of　clothing　they　had；　and　huddling　under　cargo　pads　from　Lunk's　truck　as　well。　Under　the　draperied　shelter　of　a　rock　overhang；　Rand　used　the　molecule…thin　edge　of　a　Southern　Cross　survival　knife　to　carve　skis；　bringing　them　up　every　so　often　to　sight　down　their　lengths　critically；　while　he　explained。

〃Okay；　we　can't　get　our　me