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！
pick up a gun。
But under Veidt's guidance； the carpet began descending just before reaching the stronghold； to settle onto a landing hardtop on the roof of the building next door； overlooking the broad boulevard。 〃The next slave work party should e along just beneath us；〃 he said。
〃What； you expect the few of us； with four small arms； to eliminate Inorganics？〃 Wolff scoffed。 〃If it's so easy； why didn't you do it before？〃
〃As you know； direct physical violence is not the Haydonite forte〃 Veidt pointed out。 〃But since there is no longer any route of escape from the planet； aiding and abetting it is our only recourse。
〃And besides； the women will be guarded by Enforcers and Armored Officers； not Inorganics。 More to the point； the successes of the Sentinels have given other Haydonites the encouragement they needed to lend us aid。〃
〃It's just as well things worked out this way；〃 Lisa said； checking her pistol。 〃We couldn't leave the Praxians here； enslaved。〃
Again； that keenness in Lisa to fight took Rick somewhat by surprise。 Looks like something I'm gonna have to get used to。
〃Other things will be working in your favor as well；〃 Veidt continued； 〃and I haven't long to explain them。〃
The line of Praxians moved tiredly； after a grueling day of work in the Invid warehouses and shipyards。 The Central Slavepen loomed before them。
Of course； the Invid didn't need the labor of the tens of thousands of women they had captured in their conquest of Praxis； there were drones and automata enough to perform the work。 But it made sense to keep them busy and exhausted； and to utilize them。 Besides； the practice pointed out to the Praxians…and the Haydonites and various off…world races represented in Glike…exactly what happened to those who defied the Regent。
The Enforcers on the ground and their Armored Officer who skimmed overhead in his open； single…occupant skirmish ship kept careful watch on their captives。 Sometimes； after an eighteen…or twenty…hour work shift； the females became rebellious； unwilling to reenter their cells。 That was when it took a good jolt from the slave headbands or a nerve lash to keep them moving。
Sure enough； one of the habitual troublemakers broke from the line just as she was about to pass through the portals to the slave kennels。 She was shorter than most of them； and solid； round…faced and olive…skinned。 Heedless of the rebukes of the headband and the nerve whip； she was still defiant。
〃I'm not going back into any cage！〃
〃You have been warned；〃 the nearest Enforcer said； activating the POW/slave's headband。 Writhing in pain； she would be flung into her cage despite what she had said； and so would anyone who stood with her。 It was tedious work for the Enforcers； but they had nothing better to do anyway。 They lived； literally； to serve their Regent。
But on this bright turquoise Haydon afternoon； the timetable was suddenly thrown out。 The headband didn't respond； and the defiant one stood there； showing her white teeth in a fighting sneer； hands up in bat posture； feet positioned and ready。
The Enforcer tried again； but there was still no response。 Another amazon； with a long flame…red braid； stepped from the ranks； and two more came behind her。 The Enforcers registered the fact that there was some sort of malfunction and prepared to reestablish order in a more direct way； with sonic lashes and warning shots…or with armored blows and Protoculture blasts； if it came to that。
But as the first Enforcer raised its weapon； an Invid rifle beam hit its helmet squarely and blew it apart。 Another rifle bolt hit the next nearest Enforcer； drilling through it in a split second。 Pistol blasts peppered the skirmish ship and the Armored Officer in it； who； taken by surprise while flying low and slow； emitted smoke and flame。 The skirmish ship went off kilter and slewed toward the road surface。
The warrior women of Praxis quickly realized that an ambush had been mounted； and that the despised headbands could no longer deal out punishment。 There were people on the upper landing stage…Tiresoids； though they were wearing Haydonite robes for some reason…urging them on。
The warrior women didn't need much urging。 With a chorus of cries like angry Hellcats； they sprang at their enemies。
CHAPTER TEN
The DNA sings its four notes
Cytosine； adenine； guanine； thymine。
In infinite configurations
As though Bach were God；
Or vice…versa
Mingtao； Protoculture： Journey Beyond Mecha。
〃How do we know this isn't the demented malfunction of a berserk android？〃 Tesla bawled； plastered up against the rear wall of the travel capsule。 Garak and Pye were hunkered down near him。
Jack was checking the action of his submachine gun nervously； making sure for the tenth time that the magazine was loaded with exploding armor…piercers。 〃You don't get a vote； so it doesn't matter what you think。 And the rest of us believe Jan。〃
He tried the magazine release again； to make sure he could eject an old and insert a new one smoothly。 He was about to say something else when Bela broke in。
The big amazon turned on Tesla； holding her sword。 More than twice her height； the Invid sucked his gut in； afraid she was about to split it open。
〃Yes。 I believe my people are being held prisoner here。 Yes； I believe that Veidt and some of the others are in a conspiracy to throw your species out； and yes； I think the Regent's reign on Haydon IV will end today。〃
But she turned to Jan anxiously； in spite of that。 〃Can't this thing move any faster？〃
〃We'll be there soon；〃 Janice Em tried to reassure her。 〃But I must tell you that the battle's already being joined。〃
It was unnecessary to ask where that information had e from。 Jan's inexplicable link with the Awareness that resided in Haydon IV had already proved itself beyond doubt。 Elevators； funiculae； bucket transporters…they had all e at Jan's beck and call； speeding the raiders on their way。
And the Awareness had told her things； things the others couldn't hear。 She knew of Veidt's saboteurs' remote…canceling of the power system that energized the slave headbands； of the escape of Rick and the others； of the risky battle plan they were following。 She knew that Veidt himself was ignorant of the fact that she had tapped into the Awareness。
She had also been shown the origins of the hatred between Vowad and Veidt； and the reason Vowad was the linchpin of the entire battle。
Jan also knew things the Awareness had chosen to tell her alone； at least for now…things about its defensive systems。 Better than anyone on the planet； she knew how time was pressing on the Awareness； the rebels； her own raiding party…the entire focal point of events。
One thing she didn't quite understand was why the Awareness of the planet had accepted her。 It was barely translatable into Human terms； but in some ways the Awareness had seemed to recognize her； as if some message had been built into it to awaken at the instant when the synthetic mind of Janice Em made contact with it。 That troubled her greatly； but there was simply no time to address it right now。
The travel capsule began to slow。 〃Game time；〃 Jan said。
〃Are you sure you've got the terminus pinpoin