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！
turned at the same moment： Wilson seemed to be suspended in the entrance； arms up over his head； his body shaking as energy coursed through his suit。 The ground was rumbling all of a sudden； and before they could take a step toward their two rades； an Invid Trooper erupted from the ground not twenty feet in front of them。
The shock of seeing the thing must have been enough to break the charge that held Wilson； Scott guessed； because now both he and Todd were heading back toward the woods at a run； dodging a pincer swipe along the way。 Scott and Wolff adopted a similar tactic； only to find their route back to safety blocked by a second Invid。 The Trooper emerged with enough force to throw Scott off his feet。
A third Trooper had cut off Wilson and Todd's retreat as well； and the two men were depleting their blaster charges against it。
Wolff was shouting for Scott to get up； all the while pouring energy from his handgun into the face of the alien。 Peripherally； Scott saw a flash of white light and experienced a wave of searing heat； he turned in time to see Wilson and Todd disintegrate beneath a storm of annihilation discs； their depth screams a piercing sound track through the net。
Wolff； meanwhile； had managed to chase off the Invid that had been looming over them only a minute before。 Scott couldn't figure out how he had pulled it off but didn't stop to question it。 He was on his feet now； Wolff's mands to run for it in his ears。 The tree line was only fifty feet away； and he made a mad dash for it。。。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The incident with Jonathan Wolff dealt a severe blow to the team。 Not only because the episode touched them more deeply than they thought possible…they were not as inured as they liked to think…but primarily because it seemed to shift the burden of responsibility entirely onto their shoulders： There was no resistance； except for their own meager efforts。 But they would get over Wolff's treachery。 How could they not； once confronted with the disillusionments that lay ahead？
Zeus Bellow； The Road to Reflex Point
The note Scott left for the team only made matters worse。 It read： 〃Don't anyone worry。 I can't tell you where I'm going or what I'll be doing； but I'll be back around sunset。 Scott。〃
It was the secrecy that troubled Rand most。 If Scott had simply disappeared for the day； Rand might not have given his absence a second thought； but when Scott failed to return with Colonel Wolff that afternoon； he and Rook decided to take matters into their own hands。 They didn't bother with the formalities of the chain of mand that kept Jonathan Wolff insulated from the city's rabble； they simply made their own way to his room and burst in on the man uninvited。
〃Where's Scott； Colonel？〃 Rand said； out of breath from his run down the hall。
Wolff turned puffy eyes to them。 He was seated at a table in the fetid room； a half…empty bottle of vodka in front of him。 He had barely moved when Rand and Rook had thrown open the door and was now regarding them tiredly； with little concern。
〃Scott who？〃 he said； refilling his glass。
〃Bernard；〃 said Rook。 〃We know he was with you this morning； and he hasn't returned since。〃
Wolff made a dejected sound and put down his glass。 He reached for his dark glasses and slid them on。 〃Bernard。。。〃
〃Well？〃
Tight…lipped； Wolff turned his gaze from them and shook his head。
Rand gasped。 〃You mean。。。〃
〃I can't say for sure。 The Invid surprised us； and in the confusion I didn't see if he made it out or not。 They were waiting for us； and we were overmatched。 What more can I tell you？〃
Struggling with the possible truth of it； Rand said nothing。 But a suspicious look had begun to surface on Rook's face。 〃A whole lot more；〃 she told Wolff。 〃How did you escape； Colonel？〃
Wolff shrugged。 〃I was luckier than the others。 That's the way it is。〃
Rook snorted。 〃From what I hear； that's the way it always is with you。〃
〃What are you insinuating？〃 Wolff seethed； flashing her a cold look。
Rand gestured Rook to back off。 He took two steps toward the table and slammed his hand down。 〃Just tell us where you were attacked。〃
Wolff's hand went out to steady the bottle。 〃If you're thinking about trying to go out there and find him； forget it。 You won't make it。〃
Rand showed his teeth； then relaxed。 〃Look； we've got an Alpha fighter hidden nearby。 If there's even a chance that Scott's alive； you better believe I'm going out there to find him。〃
Mention of the VT seemed to bring Wolff around somewhat。 He lifted the bottle but set it down without pouring。 〃Even a fighter might not be enough。〃 Wolff gave Rand an appraising look。 〃Yes； Scott told me that you'd seen action together。 But we're up against a hive； not a Scout patrol。〃
〃It's still worth a try。〃
Wolff thought a moment； then said： 〃All right； I'll lead you out there。〃
〃Great！〃
Wolff stood up and went for his jacket。 〃We'll leave immediately。〃
Rand swung around to Rook。 〃Let the others know what I'm up to。 We'll get Scott back！〃
With that he rushed from the room； Wolff a few paces behind him。 Rook stood dumbfounded for a moment； then followed him to the doorway。 〃What am I…your personal messenger or something？〃 she yelled to his back。 But he didn't turn around。 〃Rand！〃 she shouted again； fuming。
Rand showed Wolff where the Alpha was hidden； but the colonel insisted they recon the area on Cyclones before bringing the Veritech into play。 The fighter； Wolff insisted； would stir up the entire hive； it was simply too precious a modity to risk； even for the life of a valued friend。
Rand saw the logic of it； disturbing as it was； especially after Wolff had led him to the hive。
〃The place is a fortress！〃 Rand exclaimed； keeping his voice low。 〃I've never seen anything like it。〃
Wolff regarded him from behind the dark glasses； obviously pleased by Rand's shocked reaction。 They were at the edge of the clearing now； suited up in Cyclone armor and armed with hand blasters。 〃It's just one of many；〃 Wolff said。 〃There's a chain of these things that runs clear to Reflex Point。〃
Rand swallowed hard； discouraged。 〃It was around here that you last saw Scott？〃
Wolff nodded and l