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〃Blondie； take my advice and stay out of this or you'll be next；〃 he warned her。
Rook looked away nonchalantly。 〃Maybe if two of you held her down while the others ran for reinforcements。。。Then you might have a chance。〃
The catcalls increased in volume and originality。 Even the leader cracked an appreciative smile。 He steadied his shades and gave Rook the once…over。 〃A edian。〃 He sneered。 〃Too bad for you I've got such a poor sense of humor； 'cause I'm gonna make you sorry you ever walked in here。〃
The nasty little knife thrower produced a second shiv； but the leader motioned him back。 〃She's mine；〃 he told his boys； and launched himself into a charge。
Rook had plenty of time to prepare and position herself； plus she had already sized up the guy's strengths and weaknesses。 He was ing at her full force； yelling at the top of his lungs； his hands at shoulder height slightly out front。 On the balls of her feet now； Rook dropped herself into a crouch and brought her right arm in front of her face； elbow pointed outward。 When the leader was within range； she twisted back； then sprang up and took her shot； catching the man square in the larynx。
Instantly； he went down on his knees； hands clutching his throat。 〃You almost killed me；〃 he managed to rasp。
〃Well； e at me again and let's see if I can get it right this time；〃 Rook answered him。
The room was full of applause and cheers by now； even some of the gang members were laughing。
Rook heard Yellow Dancer say； 〃I think the baboon's overmatched；〃 just before the leader growled and shouted； 〃Stop laughing！〃
Then the knife wielder started to move in。。。
Outside the bar； two Cyclones were added to the long row of cycles and various hybrid vehicles that lined the town's main street。 Scott and Rand glanced at the cycles and at the bar and traded questioning looks。
〃Shall we go in？〃 Rand asked。
Scott shrugged and removed his helmet。 〃What've we got to lose？〃
〃That's not what I wanted to hear；〃 Rand started to say； but Annie was already off the Cyclone and heading for the door。
〃e on； Rand。 I'm dry enough to spit cotton。〃
Rand exhaled forcibly and dismounted wondering just how he had let things get so out of hand。 Just one more town； he had told himself。 A place where he could feel all right about leaving Annie and saying a final farewell to Scott。 Then it was going to be back to solo riding and the open road。 But that had been three days and several towns ago； not one of which suited his needs。 Nor did he have especially good feelings about this one。 Two rows of ruined high…tech prefabs split by the northern highway and squeezed between the stone walls of an arid canyon； the place had a filthy； forlorn look to it。 It seemed as though the town had surrendered long before the Invid's arrival。
〃They could at least clean the place up；〃 Rand said to Scott now。 〃Bunch of lazy slobs。。。〃
〃You country boys do things differently； I suppose；〃 Scott said in a patronizing way。
Rand scowled。 〃At least we have enough self…respect to keep our homes from being pigsties。 You wonder why I'd rather five off the land； Scott？ Well； look around。〃
〃Oh； quit arguing； you two；〃 Annie said； stepping through the barroom's swinging doors。 〃This dump isn't so bad。 What do you think they do for fun around here？〃
Inside； the first thing that greeted their eyes was a knife fight。
An attractive young woman in a red bodysuit was squaring off against a mean…looking youth wielding what looked like a hunting knife。 Onlookers were cheering and offering words of encouragement to both parties。 On the room's stage； a tall； lean female and a white…haired old man yelled for the fight to stop。
Scott stopped short。 〃It's her！？〃
〃Who？〃 said Annie。
〃She's the one who helped us out the other day…the girl on the Cyclone！〃
Rand's eyes went wide。 〃The girl on the Cyclone？ Now you tell me！。。。Well what are we waiting for？ Let's go…〃
〃No； hold up a minute。〃 Scott put his arm out to restrain Rand。 〃I'm sure she can handle herself all right。〃
〃But they'll kill her；〃 said Annie。
Scott shook his head。 〃No； I don't think so。〃
Rand decided that Scott might be right。 The woman moved like a dancer； dodging the youth's every thrust and overhand； her blond hair twirling about her face。 One of the other men in the crowd was urging the knifer on with threats of his own。
〃Stop your prancin' around！ Stick her； man！ Stick her！〃
But the woman wasn't about to let that happen。 She backed away with calculated deliberation； turning and folding at just the right moments。 Rand could see that the rogue was losing patience and getting sloppy with his cover； he also noted that this was not lost on the woman in red。 She set herself； legs wide； and waited for him to e in。 Sure enough； the youth tried an over…the…top reverse and left himself wide open； the woman spun out from under it and pleted her turn with a roundhouse kick that nailed him across the face； throwing him against one of the tables。 The knifer went down as the table collapsed under him； but a second man； a large； dark…skinned tough wearing an earflapped cap； caught the woman from behind in a full nelson。 She tried to struggle free but found herself overpowered。 At the same time a third member of the gang sauntered in and took the knife from his fallen rade。 He tapped the tip of the blade menacingly against the woman's cheek。
〃You can say good…bye to that pretty face of yours； sister；〃 Rand heard the man say。
Scott was already stepping in； as was the female singer； who had started to grab for the knife stuck in the wall behind the stage。 But Rand moved quicker than both of them。 He swept up a heavy half…empty goblet from a nearby table and hurled it； knocking the knife from the gang leader's hand。 As the youth screamed and dropped； holding his struck hand； Rand yelled； 〃Duck！〃 and launched a second glass。
Rook saw this one headed her way and stretched herself thin in the larger man's hold； arms fully extended as she slithered down。 The glass hit the man in the face； and his hold on her collapsed； he was holding his nose and moaning when Rook brought her boot down onto his instep and turned away out of r