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〃The result of some sort of artillery shell explosions； I guess。〃 Detroit said。
The black Freefighter； an expert at such things as determining the power of an explosive by its blast effect； examined the craters more carefully。 There were pieces of shrapnel and bits of bones in them … bones long calcified by the damp dankness of the cavern。
〃Whatever blew up here was aimed at some human beings。 I'd say these explosions happened a long time ago； though；〃 Detroit said。
They had proceeded less than five minutes more and were still in the wide low…ceilinged corridor when there was a whirring sound and the distinct plip…plop of a hundred tiny metal feet。
And indeed they were hearing correctly。 Caught in a half…dozen flashbeams； the slowly advancing horde of three…foot…high eight…legged walking bombs from the twentieth century approached； their white sensor antennae extended above their round headless bodies； tracking their prey。 They were beeping happily； their atomic…cell batteries feeding them the power to move their sharp clawlike legs。 They had found victims at last。
〃Prepare to fire； Freefighters。 The SCABIES are ing。〃 Rock said； crouching with his Liberator forward。
〃No。 Don't shoot。〃 implored Detroit in a hoarse whisper。 〃I've studied twentieth…century weapons … these things have hearing sensors … they are intended。 I think； for enemy tanks。 They crawl onto them and blow up。 They probably crawl up on anything that makes noises。 Like those people that they made into bone fragments back there。 In the craters。 See how they're just moving around at random？ The clunk of our boots is what attracted them to us。 If we just don't make any mechanical noises … or fire our weapons … they might stop。〃
〃Let's follow Detroit's advice； gang；〃 Rock said。 〃I have the feeling they're pretty well armored anyway。 Bullets probably wouldn't do much good。 Let's move on quietly； and see what happens。〃
Indeed the metal creature…bombs paused in their tracks once the Freefighters were silent。 Their little antennae spun this way and that； searching for a noise。
〃Who activated them？〃 Rona whispered。
〃Maybe no one。 My guess is an earthquake toppled the crates；〃 said Rock； 〃and when the crates fell； some must have rolled out and hit their power…on switches on something。 Let's slowly move out； keeping our weapons trained on them … you first； Rona。〃
But the instant she moved； so did the leader among the metal death machines。 Rona froze in her tracks。 〃What now？〃 she asked。 〃They seem to follow movement too。〃
〃No； the echo in the corridor is amplifying our footfalls；〃 Detroit said。 〃They will follow us； try to catch us … but see how slow they move？ Like crabs more than ants。 Their batteries must be run…down。 After a century； why wouldn't they be？〃
〃Yeah； maybe we can outrun them； or maybe we should just shoot 'em to pieces；〃 McCaughlin snarled out。
〃We'll try to run up the corridor。 They might not have the energy to follow。。。 Quickly； along the left wall； out of their way。 Everyone … let's go。〃
But such an easy escape was not to be。 The minute they took off； running as fast as they could； the insidious metal things took after them； bleeping and grinding on ancient gears but still moving rapidly。 They came after the humans like voracious insects that had spotted fresh meat。 Whatever powered the little metal hell…things still propelled them faster than a man … or woman … could run。
Chen； who was in the rear； tossed several exploding shurikens accurately over his shoulder as he took flight； and they made their targets。 But the metal things absorbed the explosive force of the deadly star…knives； and once they righted themselves from their fallen…over positions； they kept ing。
The most the martial…arts master's weapons did was knock several on their bellies momentarily。
〃Spread out so you don't hit each other； and fire back whenever you see one getting close to you；〃 Rockson ordered。 He crouched and； turning； himself blasted back accurately with a withering barrage of 9mm death。 Then he fired six explosive shells from his shotpistol。
The shiny metal things were blasted off their feet； but the bullets zinged off their extra…hard shells into the darkness。 And again they righted themselves and kept ing。 A quick play of the light behind showed hundreds； maybe thousands； of the tough little monsters。
〃We'll have to think of something else to stop them；〃 Rock yelled over the barrage of fire pouring out of the Freefighters' weapons。
〃I've got an idea；〃 Scheransky said。 〃We throw some of our stuff … clothes； anything； behind us。 They grab it and blow themselves up。 Let them destroy themselves if we can't do it。〃
〃I'll never say anything against borscht again。〃 Rock said。 〃A brilliant idea。 Everyone … take off up the corridor。 But discard some items of clothing … anything。〃
Chen threw down his souvenir of the battles in Death City … the odd helmet he'd snatched from the Snake Temple soldier。 It rolled toward the little beeping followers。
A flashbeam … Detroit's … shot back to reveal two of the little nasties pouncing upon it and wrapping their little steel legs about the helmet's circumference。 Then they blew up。 Pieces of metal flew everywhere； one catching Chen in the shoulder。
Rockson encouraged the runners to continue the discarding of materials。 There had to be some limit to the numbers of the metal scabies； he figured。
Within minutes the near…exhausted sprinters had nothing save their clothing and weapons to discard behind them。 And Rockson knew they couldn't keep up the pace much longer。 Danik was near his limit for sure。
Rockson； concerned for the others； should have paid more attention to his own bootheels。 A particularly well functioning scabie…bomb was suddenly upon him。 It scurried up to hold fast to his left boot； almost tripping him。 It was beeping faster and faster。 It was going to explode。
CHAPTER 21
He winced in pain as the sharp crablike legs of the ambulatory bomb seized his foot in their crushing grip。 He tore at his bootlaces and pulled out of the boot； thus leaving the death…maker behind。 He ran onward； sharp rocks on the floor of the corridor ripping at his bare foot； still he was catching up to the Freefighters； who were cheering him on； urging him to get away from the thing before …
Boom。 The thing that had grabbed his boot exploded。 And more of the beastly bugs came pouring through its smoke。
The Freefighters poured their bined fire on the little menaces that were closest to catching up to Rockson； but one of the steel…legged hell…things put on a burst of battery…driven speed and climbed onto his calf and sunk its steel…tipped legs into his flesh。 He fell； and tore at it； he could hear the soft ticking grow louder； the beeping grow more intense as he pried at the many legs of steel。
The Freefighters were hanging back； desperate to help。 〃Go on； don't wait for me。〃 It was a direct order and obeyed by all … except for Class Act。 Class Act； snarling and with its triple row of steely teeth exposed to the full； leapt out of the nearby darkness and plunged against the tenacious machine…creature。 The loyal wolf…dog furiously tore at the lethal walking