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an armory just after her split from the Blue Angels； the assault by the Snakes。。。
When it feels like tomorrow will never e
When it seems like the night will not end
Can you pretend
That you're really not alone？
You're out here on your own （Lonely soldier boy）
You're out here on your own （Lonely soldier boy）
Rook settled back in her chair to study the group's lead singer； a rocker well known in the wastes who called herself Yellow Dancer。 The song had taken an unanticipated leap to four…four； guitar and keyboards wailing； and Yellow was off to one side of the low stage； clapping in time and allowing the band their moment in the spots。 She was tall and rather broad…shouldered； Rook thought； but attractive in a way that appealed to men and women both。 Her hair was long but shagged； tinted slightly lavender and held by a green leather band that chevroned in the center of her forehead。 Yellow's stage clothes were not at all elaborate…pumps； tight…fitting slacks； and a strapless top trimmed in purple…but were well suited to her tall frame and flattering to her figure。
Yellow stepped back to the mike to acknowledge the applause。 She was modest and smiling until one of the bad boys decided to change the tempo somewhat。
〃Hey； baby face！〃 he called out； getting up from the table and approaching the stage。 〃Me and my friends don't like your music。 It stinks； y' hear？〃
Rook had expected as much。 It was the one with the pointed chin and wraparound sunglasses； the apparent gang leader。 He was wearing tight jeans tucked into suede shin boots and a short…sleeve shirt left unbuttoned。
〃It's garbage； it ain't music；〃 he insulted the singer。
Rook wondered how Yellow would handle it； the pickup band were locals； as was most of the room。 No one was exactly rising to her defense； but neither was she showing signs of concern。
〃Well； why don't you just give these people a sample of what you consider music？〃 she taunted back。
Some of the crowd found the eback amusing； which only managed to put Yellow's critic on the spot。 Rather than risk making a fool of himself； he decided to teach her a quick lesson and stepped forward swinging a lightning right。
〃I'll give 'em a sample；〃 he said at the same time。
But Yellow was even faster； still maintaining her place； she ducked to the left； leaving vacuum in her wake。 The rogue's arm sailed clean through nothingness； wrapping itself around the mike stand； and threw him pletely off balance。 The crowd howled； and Yellow smiled。 But in that instant； her assailant recollected himself； turned； and caught her across the face with an open…hand left。
Yellow's head snapped back； but not for long。 She countered with a right； open…hand also but hooked a bit to bring her nails into play。 The man took the blow full force to his temple and cheek； his glasses were knocked askew； and blood had been drawn。
〃Now we're even；〃 she said to the leader； whose back was still turned to her。 But she now had the rest of the gang to answer to as well； they had left their tables and were approaching her threateningly。 〃How about calling it quits； fellahs？〃 she told them。 〃Tag…team wrestling isn't scheduled until Saturday night； and we wouldn't want to mess up the program； would we？〃
Rook had to laugh； either she knew what she was doing or she was one of those who got her kicks facedown。 Rook had reason to believe it was the former； however。 Yellow was set like an upsprung trap； her legs slightly bent； her fists clawed。 At the same time； she was keeping an eye on the one she had already wounded and was more than ready for him when he pounced。
〃You little witch！〃 the man snarled。 〃I'll kill you！〃
He moved in and swung a roundhouse left with little of the lightning that had characterized his first swing and none of the ambivalence of the second。 But once again； Yellow was left untouched； and the momentum carried the man off the stage； practically into the arms of his henchmen。
〃I've enjoyed our little dancing lesson；〃 Yellow joked； backing away somewhat。 〃But if it's all the same to you； this place is paying me to sing。〃 Her eyes darted right and left； plotting an escape if needed。 〃Of course； we can pick up where we left off after the show…you could sure use some work on your fox…trot； you know…and if you're all nice boys； I'll teach you to rumba。。。〃
The gang was closing in on her； and Rook was beginning to rethink her earlier evaluation of Yellow Dancer。 Whatever happened now； she had some of it ing。 Meanwhile the club owner had appeared on the stage to intercede。 But Rook had to laugh again； grog making it up into her nose。 Not only was the dude pushing seventy； but he began his little speech by referring to Yellow's opponents as gentlemen！
〃If you can't control yourselves；〃 he continued； his white mustache twitching； 〃I'm going to have to ask you all to leave！〃
You and what army； Rook said to herself； quoting the punch line of an old T'sentrati joke。
One of the toughs； a mean…looking little guy in a muscle shirt； had whipped out a throwing knife during the old man's attempted reprimand。 He gave the knife a backhand toss now； sending it whizzing past the owner's head and straight into the plywood wall behind the stage。
〃Mind your manners； Gramps！〃 the youth cautioned。
Rook sighed tiredly； swallowed the last two drops of her drink； and stood up from the table。
〃Boy； you guys sure have guts；〃 she told the gathered gang members。 They turned slowly toward her as she knew they would； looks of disbelief on their faces。 〃Think you can handle her all by yourselves？〃
This brought immediate catcalls and challenges from the rest of the room。 Rook smiled for the audience's benefit and winked at the gang leader。 She had been through scenes like this too often to count； and she knew the leader's type as well as she knew herself。 She was confident she could take him； and that would eliminate the need to go one on one with the others。 All she had to do was go after the leader's pride； and she had already made a good start in that direction。。。
〃Blondie； take my advice and stay out of this or you'll be next；〃 he warned her。
Rook looked away nonchalantly。 〃Maybe if two o