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！
gh they could survive in the planet's interior and rebuild on their own； in time； the Sentinels felt it their duty to help the Spherisians as much as possible before lifting off。
A partial message had been received from Max Sterling； and though Rick and Lisa were gone at the time； they were overjoyed to hear that Miriya had given birth to a baby girl the couple had named Aurora。 The tape of the transmission was fuzzy and broken up by static； but Rick thought Max looked troubled； even though mother and daughter were both reported to be doing fine。
Of more importance to the mission was the fact that the Haydonites had established intermittent contact with Karbarra。 The big ursinoids there had many of their technical problems licked； and production of REF…type mecha and smaller craft was due to start within weeks…as was construction of a prototype SDF…7 class cruiser。 That didn't change the Perytonian invasion timetable； but it heartened the Sentinels…the Human members in particular。 The fleet that would take them home was now a…building！
The Regent paced through his vaulted organic halls； followed by his faithful bodyguard。 He had lost all contact with Spheris； and could guess the rest。
He had issued orders to strip all outposts and planetary garrisons； to bring home every Invid trooper to protect the Home Hive。 But he knew that if an enemy was on its way from Spheris； there was no time for reinforcements。
He stood at last before the Special Children； the bio…manipulated embryos left behind by the Regis with the exhortation that he let them grow into what she had intended them to be； and respect the things she had designed into them。
〃Bah！ What use are they to the Invid if the Home Hive falls？〃 He had refrained from violating her wishes in the constant hope that someday she would return to him； he preserved her Special Children as a sign of his longing for her。 But what good to honor her request if it meant his defeat and death？
He swept his hand out at the ranks and ranks of silent； glistening eggs。 〃Quicken and hatch them！ Feed in the richest nutrients and do all other things to maximize their…potential！〃
He spun on his bowing entourage。 〃See to it that all defenses are prepared and on alert。 And make ready my bat armor。〃
If it was his fate to preside over the end of the Invid empire； he would see that it didn't overtake him gently or at small cost。
Once Jack was out of danger from his wounds； his love…hate relationship with Karen began swinging quickly back to its old sweet…and…sour tune。
There were a couple of days there…he was awake on and off； but in guarded condition and as weak as a kitten…when she was actually sweet to him。 Especially when he managed a little sheepishly； 〃Thanks for riding to the rescue； Lancelot。〃
However。。。
〃As soon as I'm well enough to do anything about it； y'turn back into Attila the Penn；〃 he sneered。
She eluded his embrace nimbly and threw a clean； bundled uniform in his face。 〃The doc says you're on convalescent status now； you drooling sex fiend； so you're gonna convalesce。 Veidt's flier meets us on the roof in ten minutes； so move it； Mister！〃
Jack started undoing his hospital gown； but she was out the door before he could moon her。
Actually； his first excursion out of sick bay promised to be the trip of a lifetime。 Numerous Sentinels had already made the journey； all had received heartfelt invitations from the grateful Spherisians。
It so happened that today was the first day the Hunters could get away to make the pilgrimage； and Gnea； hearing that Jack was to go； decided to e along； too； for a second visit。 Burak announced with august dignity that it was only fitting that he witness the most guarded shrine in Spheris。 Veidt； his flier repaired； felt it was a good time for a test flight。
Teal and Baldan II； learning who would be on Veidt's flier； insisted on showing the Sentinels around personally。
Veidt was perfectly fortable hovering several inches off the deck； but seats like long…legged director's chairs had been provided for others。 In addition； a picnic lunch lay in a pile of thermal canisters at the rear of the bubble…domed passenger space。
〃Still not ready for volleyball； Baker？〃 Rick asked innocently as Karen helped Jack to his seat。 Jack snorted a laugh and then groaned in pain； but he didn't plain； it was just the sort of thing he had done to other people； and he had no intention of being accused of dishing it out but not being able to take it。
Though Karen might abuse Jack； however； she wasn't about to see anybody else do so。 〃Admiral！ Unless there're enough people here with matching blood types to give Lieutenant mander Baker transfusions in the event he should rupture a gut； Sir； I respectfully suggest we go easy on him。〃
Rick coughed behind his hand to hide his grin。 〃Of course； quite right。〃 Lisa elbowed Rick； then looked out over the devastated but rebuilding Beroth； throbbing silently with laughter。
The ice…cream…cone flier took them out across the crystal countryside； to a volcanic chimney the Spherisians had opened so that their liberators could see their greatest treasure。 They descended past sights as wonderful as anything they had seen on their journeys so far。
At last they came to rest with the narrow promenade flange that encircled the little passenger dome even with a cut…glass walkway。 They were miles deep； yet the temperature was fortable； the air pressure little different from that above。 Rick wanted to ask how that could be； but he was sure the Spherisians would only confuse him again； as they had the Sentinels engineers and scientists。
The party stepped out and followed Teal and her son along； through an immense archway of lava pulled and braided like multiple strands of taffy。 On the other side； they all fell mute except for a few loud； indrawn breaths。
No outworlder had ever seen that representation of Haydon until the Sentinels were invited into the lower domains of Spheris。 It was set in the middle of a cavern from which light shone in darts bright enough to bother the eyes of the non…Spherisians。 It stood in the polished； faceted glory of the planet's most beautiful gem setting； a form a thousand feet high。
A figure of clay。
The stuff was a nondescript color； impossible to discern there where fantastic light…shows changed from instant to instant。 The matter of material strengths and the impossibility of such an immense amount of the stuff holding its shape was barely worth mentioning； because the reality was there before them。
The clay was unfired； looking like it had been molded only moments ago； yet it had stood there since the epoch of Haydon himself。 It was as if a divine artist had been called away； for a moment； from an unfinished work。 Again there was that lack of features but the definite strength and nobility of the outline。 It agreed in form with the others the Sentinels had seen。
〃Haydon was the living model for its shape；〃 Teal said in a proud； distant voice。 〃e； look closer。〃
She led the way toward an ascending path a yard or so wide which connected to a network that spiraled around and up and down the stupendous cavern。 Awed； the rest began falling in