按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a stick…in…the…mud？〃
She was about to reply that she had no idea what that meant； when Scott's face brightened suddenly and he put his hand on her shoulder。
〃Marlene； how about an unguided tour of the city…just you and me？〃
She smiled and let him take her hand but an instant later was down in the street on her butt。
〃Whoa； are you all right？〃 Scott was asking her。 He was kneeling beside her on the pavement； regarding her ankle boots and frowning。 〃We're going to have to find you some better shoes and some warmer clothes。〃
She took Scott's hand between hers and pressed it to her cheek。 〃Mmmm。。。You're not cold？〃
Scott nuzzled her hair。 〃No。 All of a sudden； I feel very warm。〃
They walked the deserted streets arm in arm； content to say little and enjoying their closeness。 Marlene spied a display of lingerie in a shop window and ran to it； fingertips to the plate glass。 Here was a pair of yellow bikini briefs with a matching spaghetti…strapped bra； a lavender； camisole； a rose…colored teddy。
〃Aren't they beautiful； Scott？〃
〃Uh； that's not quite what I had in mind；〃 he said from a safe distance； blushing all the while。 He put his arm around her shoulders to move her away。 〃Believe me； you'd freeze in those things；〃 he told her。
In a shoe store； he feigned a foreign accent and tried to interest her in a pair of low…impact approach boots； but she playfully demanded to be shown something more feminine。
〃But these things will keep you from churning in the snow。〃
〃Feminine； I said。〃
He round a pair of white pumps in her size and squatted down to place them on her feet。 〃They're not very practical；〃 he started to say； but she was already up and twirling around on one foot； laughing。
〃There；〃 she told him。 〃Much better for dancing。〃
Scott smiled up at her。 Dancing； he thought。 But the more he watched her； the more her face began to blend with memories of his lost love； and ultimately he had to look away。 She saw the sadness in his eyes and asked him to talk about it。
〃I was just dreaming of a better time； Marlene。 Of dancing。。。〃
Then all at once he was on his feet； the excitement back in his eyes； putting his hands atop her shoulders。
〃And now to plete the picture。。。〃
He led her off at a run to a dress shop and rummaged through the racks until he had found what he was after： a strapless gown cut like a mermaid's tail； pale lavender above a kind of pleated base of white skirt。
〃It was made for you。〃
She held it up to herself； flattered by his choice。
〃Go ahead； try it on；〃 he urged her。
And she was about to； but there was something vague in her memory that prevented her。 Scott picked up on it immediately； even though she hadn't a clue as to why she had stopped。
〃Stupid of me；〃 he said； smacking the heel of his hand against his head。 He scanned the shop for a dressing room and when he had located it； rushed over to station himself like a guard by its curtained entrance。
〃If you'll just step this way； mademoiselle。。。〃 he suggested with a theatrical bow。
She disappeared inside and cautioned him about peeking； recalling the way Rand had looked at her when she had innocently stripped off her clothes to swim。。。
Scott jumped back as though scalded。 She's reading my thoughts； he told himself。 He swallowed hard as he watched her discarded clothes pile up on the floor below the curtains。 And when the curtains parted； she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen。
She stood still； her hands crossed at her neck； allowing him to take her in； then she gathered her hair in one hand and turned her back to him。
〃Would you zip me up； Scott？〃
He regarded the open zipper and took halting steps toward the dressing room； his eyes fixed on the graceful curve of her back； the pale perfection of her skin。
CHAPTER SIX
Why the sudden shift from Lancer to Scott？ many have asked。 But the answer is immediately evident once we are reminded of Ariel/Marlene's original programming as Simulagent。 Then it seems entirely natural for her to seek out the leader； and； as it were； the team's weakest line of defense。
Bloom Nesterfig； Social Organization of the Invid
Rand sang to himself while his index fingers worked the machine's flippers。 Sure plays a mean pinball。。。The left paddle caught the ball just right and sent it careening around the cushioned arena； up the forward ramp； and smack into the belly dancer's navel for a bonus score of one thousand points。 But propelled free； the steel sphere fell like one of Galileo's own and shot directly through the Flipper Straits； lost to the game's mechanical bowels。
〃You Khyron！〃 Rand cursed； whacking the machine with his hands。
Beside him； Rook made a bored sound at her own machine and moved off to one of the arcade's plastiform seats。
〃Don't tell me you're giving up already？〃 he asked over his shoulder。
〃Too boring。〃 She yawned。
〃Well； how do you ever expect to improve at anything if you just keep giving up？〃
He was still angry with her for the elbow she had given him earlier while they were washing their clothes in the Laundromat。 Annie had wandered off； and Rand had spotted Scott and Marlene strolling by arm in arm。 He was leaping up to give Fearless Leader a round of applause when the gut shot had been delivered without forewarning。
Of course； it wasn't really the case…that Rook had a habit of giving up…but that was beside the point。 In any event； she ignored his ment； so he turned back to the machine； angering it just short of tilt after another ball plunged home。
〃No good piece of…〃
〃This place just makes me feel。。。lonely；〃 Rook interrupted him。
Nice； Rand said to himself。 We finally get to spend a few peaceful moments together and she feels lonely。 〃So what does that make me…part of the furniture？〃 he said without turning around。
He heard her laugh。 〃C'mon； you don't want me to answer that； do you？〃
Rand pressed his lips to a thin line。 He was going to place the next shot right between her eyes。。。
Up on the roof； Lancer and Lunk were making final repairs to the damaged Alpha。 Lancer was down on one knee operating the torque wrench。 It was a rare occasion when the two men worked side by side； Lunk was continually worried that Yellow Dancer would make some unannounced appearance； and the last thing he wanted to do was to be caught alone with her； er； him！ But today had been different； they had talked shop； and they had talked about the Invid。
〃We've really got our work cut out for us now；〃 Lunk was saying。 〃These new ships they keep throwing at us are a lot more maneuverable than the Troopers。〃
〃You're right about that；〃 Lancer said absently。
〃I mean； we were just plain lucky the last time they surprised us in the mountains。 If that ledge hadn't given way。。。〃
Lancer recalled the fall of the pink and purple ship。 And its female pilot。 He found himself wondering if he would see her again…wondering with a mixture of fear and anticipation。 But Annie's voice brought him from his musings before he had to grapple with the emotions behind them。 She came running onto the roof from the stairway cubicle dressed like a June bride。
〃Look what I found！〃
The dress was a soft pink； wit