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nd earning respect。
〃Well； you look like you might do something；〃 the sheriff answered him； putting the muzzle of the revolver close to Scott's head。
〃It's illegal！〃 Scott argued； trying to step away。
〃Yeah； you can't arrest us without charges；〃 Annie added。
The sheriff's dark eyes narrowed。 〃That so？ Well； I reckon I'll be the one to decide that； young 'un。 You renegade soldiers and your catch try to take over everything。 But we're not lettin' you take over this town。〃
〃Who'd want to； anyway？〃 said Annie。
〃But we're not renegades；〃 Scott argued。 〃I'm from Mars…〃
〃From Mars？！〃 The sheriff laughed and turned to the crowd。 〃Here that； folks？ He's from Mars！〃 The crowd started whooping it up。 〃Reckon you better tell it to the judge； robby。〃
〃Fine；〃 Scott said through gritted teeth。 〃Lead us to him。〃
The sheriff flashed a smile and pushed his hat back on his head。 〃You're lookin' at 'im。〃
Again the crowd got into the spirit； laughing and jeering。 One dangled a noose in front of Rand's face； while a second began to inspect Rand's boots with an evil glint in his eye。 There was what amounted to a festive atmosphere brewing； so much so that no one took notice of the two strange figures who were watching the scene from nearby。 One was perhaps two feet shorter than his panion； but both were clothed alike； in bottletop goggles； helmets； cowls； and full…length cloaks。
〃Looks as though these strangers are going to be occupied for a spell；〃 said the taller of the two。
〃Then I guess they won't be needin' their Cyclones； huh； Roy？〃
〃I feel it only right that we see to it that no harm es to them。〃
〃The Cyclones； you mean。〃
〃Now what else would I mean？〃
〃Well； you coulda meant the strangers。〃
Roy made a face。 〃Now； have you ever heard me express any concern for strangers before？〃
〃No。。。but…〃
〃And is it likely that I would be concerned about the strangers？〃
〃Well； no。 But…〃
〃Then I think it would be prudent for you to adhere to our original plan。〃
〃Adhere； Roy？〃
〃As in ‘stick to。'〃
〃I should get the truck？〃
Roy let out an exasperated sound。 〃Yes； Shorty； you should get the truck。〃
Back at the camp on the outskirts of town； Lancer； Lunk； Rook； and Marlene were doing what they could to camouflage the VTs with strategically placed branches and bunches of sagebrush and tumbleweed。 They had moved the fighters to a kind of natural shelter Lancer discovered； a rock outcropping with plenty of surrounding scrub。 It seemed a senseless task； but at least it was keeping everyone busy。
Lancer hadn't been in favor of Scott's heading off into town； whenever Scott disappeared； it usually spelled trouble for the rest of them。 It was some fort to know that Rand and Annie were with him； but not enough to keep Lancer from worrying。 The major source of his concern； however； was Marlene。 She had said little these past two days； and it was obvious to Lancer that her confrontation with the Human pilot of the Invid mand ship had had a devastating effect。 Was it possible； he asked himself； that Marlene herself had once been used in a similar fashion？ Perhaps she had escaped after her own mand ship had been destroyed。 There was a certain logic to it； since； like the blond pilot； Marlene seemed to have no recall of her past life。
I don't belong with you； Lancer could hear her say。 I'll just bring trouble。
Marlene was aware of Lancer's concerns and smiled weakly at him as she continued to tug handfuls of tall grass from the sandy earth。 Then suddenly she was down on her knees； moaning and clutching her pale hands at her temples。 Lancer jumped down from the radome of the Alpha； but Rook beat him to Marlene's side and was already stroking the tortured woman's long hair and speaking soothing words into her ear by the time Lancer got to her。
〃She must be sensing the Invid again；〃 Rook told Lancer and Lunk。 〃I told Scott this would happen if we camped too close to that munications tower。〃
Lunk shook his head。 〃We're not that close to the thing。 But maybe there's a Protoculture farm around here。〃
Lancer knelt down to take Marlene's hand。 〃Marlene； can you tell us what you're feeling？ Can you tell from the pain whether it's a patrol or a hive？〃
Marlene pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead and made an agonized sound。
〃You're asking a lot of her； Lancer；〃 said Lunk。
〃Look；〃 Lancer said； turning around。 〃I know what I'm asking。 But it could be that Scott and Rand are in danger； and Marlene might be able to lead us to the source of it。〃
Rook looked at him as though he had just sentenced Marlene to the rack。 〃The closer she gets； the more unbearable the pain bees。 I don't have to tell you that。〃
〃No； you don't。 But all of us are at risk here…not just Marlene。〃 He touched Marlene's cheek with his fingertips； and she opened her eyes。 〃The decision's yours。 Do you think you can lead us to the source of your pain？〃
〃I can。。。try；〃 she responded weakly。
Lancer tightened his mouth and nodded。 〃Then we're going out together；〃 he said； getting up。
Rook and Lunk were dead set against it； but Lancer convinced them that there was really no other choice。 Marlene was part of the team； with strengths and weaknesses just like the rest of them。 And it only made sense to exploit her strengths； especially when that early warning system of hers was kicking in。 So an hour later Lancer and Marlene were cruising out over the wastes； side by side in the APC that Lunk had reluctantly given up。
〃Are you all right？〃 Lancer asked her after they had been driving for some time。
She nodded without saying anything。
〃Is the pain still there？〃
〃Not now。 It's like someone just switched it off inside me。〃
〃It would help if you could remember something。 about your past。〃
〃I feel like I was born on the day you people found me； Lancer。 There's nothing beyond that…I'm empty。〃
He looked over at her。 〃Still； you had a life。 We just need to find out who you were。〃
Marlene shrugged。 〃How much do you remember about the day you were born？〃
〃Not very much；〃 he started to say。 Then all at once there were two men on horseback positioned in front of the vehicle。 Lancer brought the APC up short； instinctively extending his right arm across Marlene； the horses reared； their riders leveling rifles。
〃One false move and I'll make a lead mine outta yer innards！〃 warned one of the men。 〃How's that fer threats？〃 he asked his partner。
The second rider repeated the warning to himself and shook his head。 〃I don't like it。 Too。。。cryptic。〃 He brought his rifle to bear on Lancer。 〃Supposin' you tell us what yer doin' in these here parts； Lavender Locks。〃
Lancer suppressed a grin。 The man had on a bandanna and a tiny pair of tinted goggles。 His voice sounded like sandpaper on cement。 〃We were just out driving around； and we got lost；〃 he told them sheepishly。
〃Yeah？〃 said the first rider。 〃'Pears to me you had sumthin' on yer mind 'sides yer drivin'。〃 He began to laugh knowingly； leering at Marlene。
Lancer smiled and put his arm around Marlene； pulling her close。 〃Well； shucks；〃 he mimicked the rider。 〃Iffen you have to know； we're newlywed honeymooners。〃
〃Well； no wonder yer all d