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！
t the place had been abandoned in haste； and it was an eerie feeling to walk through it all。 There were no vehicles； and the only sound was that of the city's self…contained atmosphere being sucked toward the breach they had opened in its protective umbrella。
Annie wasn't quite as put off by the emptiness as Rand。 〃It's magical；〃 she enthused。 〃I've never seen a city this big in my whole life。〃
Rand holstered his weapon。
〃I wonder what keeps it running。 It looks like it dates back to the prewars period。〃 He caught a glimpse of Annie's look of enchantment and laughed。 〃And to think； it's been buried here just waiting for you and me to e along。〃
〃Like out of a fairy tale！〃
Rand took hold of her hand； and they ran off to explore。
Scott sent Marlene and Rook off to locate Rand while he； Lunk； and Lancer carefully disengaged the caravan and piloted each of the Veritechs to the roof of the building。 A search for tools brought them down into the lowermost of the building's subbasements； where Lunk discovered the source of the city's power： a generator that tapped thermal power deep within the Earth itself。 Lancer also came up with something that explained where they were： it was a teletype evacuation notice addressed to the residents of 〃Denver；〃 issued on the eve of Dolza's devastating barrage of death。
〃They were in such a big hurry； they forgot to turn out the lights；〃 Lunk smirked。 〃They're gonna get stuck with some utility bill。〃
Rook had managed to find Rand。 It wasn't difficult： she simply started with the toy stores； then worked her way through the supermarkets and delis。
She was off gathering supplies now； while Rand； Annie； and Marlene were sampling foodstuffs from the plastic wrapped； bottled； and canned goods smorgasbord they had spread out on the floor around them。 They had found bags of marshmallows and jars of peanut butter； cookies； dried fruits and frozen pies； cans of soda and bars of chocolate； cereals； beans； soups； and assorted sweets。
〃Mmmm； mint chocolate；〃 Annie said with her mouth full。 She tore open a second package and broke off a piece for Marlene。 〃Try it； you'll love it。 I could live off this stuff。〃
Marlene nibbled at it and raised her eyebrows。 〃It is good。〃
〃Peppermint！〃 Annie exclaimed； picking another item from the floor。 〃This is my most favorite thing in the whole world！〃 She pillowed her head against the bag and closed her eyes lovingly。
Nearby； Rand popped open a Coke。 〃You got mints on the brain； kid。〃 He gulped some down and took a bite from the hero he had defrosted。
〃I don't care what the Invid do as long as they don't take away our peppermint。〃
〃Nice attitude； Annie。 But I gotta agree with you： this is the life。 Somebody pinch me so I know I haven't died and gone to heaven。〃
Rook； pushing a cartful of supplies； came by just then to remind him。 〃How about a kick in the teeth instead？〃 She gave the three of them her best disapproving look。 〃What a mess。 We're supposed to be foraging supplies； not packing them away in our stomachs。 Ever think that Scott and Lancer might be hungry； too？〃 She shook her head at Rand。 〃Sometimes you make me wonder。〃
He showed a roguish grin in response and tossed a can over to her。 〃Ever seen these before？〃
Rook read the label。 〃Vienna sausages？ What's a ‘vienna'？〃
Rand saw Annie and Marlene's puzzled looks。 〃You mean none of you have tried these？〃
〃Are they peppermints？〃 Annie said； getting to her feet。
Rook made a face and tossed the can over her shoulder to Rand。 〃What a disgusting thought。〃
Rand shared a wink with Annie and said； 〃Let's find out。〃
She kneeled down and pulled on the can's ring…seal。 〃Oh； they're cute！〃 she laughed； fishing out sausages for Rand and Marlene。 She popped one into her mouth。 〃Ter…ri…fic。。。Not peppermints； but pretty good anyway。〃
Rook was watching them all munching away； her forefinger to her lower lip。 〃Lemme try one；〃 she said； kneeling down； hands between her knees。
Rand dangled a sausage between his fingers。 〃I don't know。。。 You think you should？〃
〃Just gimme it；〃 she barked； snatching it from his grip。 She chewed the thing up and swallowed： salty and too soft； but it tasted better than anything she had had in weeks。
Annie saw the look of delight on her face； laughed； and pointed her finger accusingly。 〃Now our food supply's really gonna be in trouble！〃
Scott had left the VT repairs to Lancer and Lunk and had gone off to look for Rand and Rook。 He couldn't blame them for wanting to explore the city； it was like some museum of prewar life； the life some of the oldest members of the Pioneer Mission had spoken of。
He was standing in front of a bridal shop now； staring at a lovely white dress in the display window。 The dress reminded him of a picture he had once seen that was taken on his mother's wedding day。 There was even something about the mannequin that reminded him of her； the short upswept brown hair adorned with a red flower。。。He was so caught up in the memory that he wasn't aware of his teammates' presence until Annie spoke。
〃Jeepers； look at that dress！ What I'd give to be married in that！〃
Embarrassed； Scott swung around； certain they had read his thoughts somehow。 Marlene and Rook were nodding in agreement。 They had three shopping carts loaded with supplies。
〃Hey； Scott； who's the lucky girl gonna be？〃 Rand joked。
But Scott saw his friend's smile quickly collapse after Rook nudged him on the arm。 Now it was Rand who was embarrassed for having forgotten about Marlene…Scott's Marlene； who had died during the Mars Division assault。
The foursome began to move off。 Scott returned to his musings for a moment more； then called out for them to stop。
〃Where do you think you're going？ I want to get these supplies to the ships。 Maybe you've forgotten； but we have an appointment to keep at Reflex Point。〃
Rand made a dismissive gesture。 〃Ah； give it a rest； Scott。 What's an hour or two gonna matter？〃 Then he softened his tone somewhat。 〃Look； I know this place might not be very important to you。。。〃
〃But we were born right here on Earth；〃 Annie filled in。 〃And leaving this place now would be like turning our backs on our heritage。〃
Even Rook chimed in。 〃We deserve a little R&R； don't we？〃
The three of them didn't wait for his answer and started off down the street。 But he didn't try to stop them； there was no denying the truth of their arguments。
〃You're such an old stick…in…the…mud sometimes；〃 Annie said over her shoulder。
Scott regarded the mannequin once again； only now it was Marlene； his fianc閑's face； that he saw there。 Oh； e on； Scott； he fantasized her saying。 Loosen up a little。 It's a beautiful dress。 And who knows； maybe they'll give us a break on the price。。。It is our wedding； after all。。。
〃Marlene；〃 he said softly。
〃I'm right here； Scott；〃 the other Marlene said behind him。 〃What are you thinking about？〃
He turned to her and stammered： 〃Uh。。。about another dress a long time ago that was similar to this one。〃 She had a sympathetic look on her face。 〃Do you think they're right about me being a stick…in…the…mud？〃
She was about to reply that she had no idea what that meant； when Scott's fa