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〃‘What d'ya thinks wrong with her？' Lunk asked the rest of us。〃
〃‘Women's mood changes are unpredictable；' Lancer said knowledgeably in Yellow's voice。 He had just stepped from the shower and was wearing a long yellow terry robe and had his hair up under a towel wrapped turban…style around his head。〃
〃‘Just leave her alone；' I suggested。 ‘She'll e out of it。' But Scott took issue with me。〃
〃‘No。 This is different。'〃
〃‘Let it go；' I started to say； but Scott was already on his feet and off to seek her out。 I felt pelled to tag along at a discreet distance； probably because I was afraid of Scott's scoring points where I couldn't。〃
〃Rook was standing near the lake。 She didn't even respond when Scott called her； I saw him give a small shrug and pull out that holo…locket he wore around his neck…the one Marlene gave him shortly before she went down with her ship。 I wasn't sure just what he was thinking； but what bothered me most was the idea that Rook's moodiness was going to have a contagious effect on the team。〃
〃In a moment； however； we all had bigger problems to deal with。〃
〃I saw Scott and Rook turn at the same moment to stare at something off in the distance； so I stepped out from cover to see what was going on and heard the telltale approach of an Invid ship even before I saw the thing appear from behind one of the buttes。 It was a large patrol ship； a rust…brown number boasting twice the firepower of a Trooper。 I ran back to the fire and started stomping it out； while Scott and the others headed for the woods。 The Invids hadn't spotted us； and it wasn't likely that a simple campfire was going to bring it down； but for all we knew the patrol ships had now been ordered to incinerate anything that moved。 Rook's Cyclone was my main concern； she had thoughtlessly left it by the lake in plain view。〃
〃The patrol ship swept along the shore directly over our smoldering campfire and headed out toward the lake； but suddenly it swung about； its optic sensor scanning the woods。 I voiced a silent prayer that the thing wouldn't spot us； and what seemed an eternity later； the Invid blasted up and away from our small piece of tranquillity。〃
〃‘Close one；' I said when the thing had disappeared。 ‘But it looks like we're safe for the moment。'〃
〃‘Uh uh；' Scott said worriedly； shaking his head。 ‘We've got to assume they found us。' He saw the chagrined looked on my face and hastened to add： ‘It might have gone for reinforcements…we'd be foolish to remain here any longer。'〃
〃Lunk was taking stock of our surroundings。 ‘Bad place to get caught if they mean business。 I'm for splitting。'〃
〃‘Then let's move it；' Scott said。〃
〃I knelt down by the remains of our fire and poked at the coals。 ‘So much for dinner。。。'〃
〃Lancer sauntered by me； dangling an outstretched limp wrist from the robe's broad sleeve and feigning a bored yawn。 ‘Well； it didn't look very appetizing anyway；' he minced。〃
〃Movement was likely to make matters worse； but there was high ground nearby that provided substantially more in the way of cover。 We rode out most of the afternoon looking over our shoulders and waiting for Scott's warnings over the tac net； but no Invid appeared。 It was beginning to look as though we hadn't been seen after all； but no one was making an issue of having abandoned our campsite。 The air in the highlands was invigorating； and we found an expanse of conifer forest to call home for the night。 Even Lancer had to admit that the steaks were tasty； and Rook； who had been sullen and lone…riding all day； seemed to be ing around some。〃
〃I woke up sometime during the night and noticed that Rook wasn't in her bag。 I took a quick look around； counting heads and quickly realizing that Scott had the watch。 （Actually； it turned out that he wasn't on watch at all； but I imagined him absent； once again falling victim to a kind of irrational jealousy。） I unzippered myself from the bag； egged on by thoughts of Rook and Scott cozying it up somewhere in the woods。 Just lean on my shoulder and tell me all about it； Rook； I could almost hear Scott saying； when it was my shoulder she should have been leaning on！〃
〃The moon was full and low in the west； casting long shadows across ground cushioned with pine needles。 To a sound track of insect songs； I stole silently through the trees and spied Rook； alone； in a clearing dominated by a tall oak。 Her Cyclone was parked nearby； obviously she had wheeled it away from the pack while the rest of us slept。 She seemed to be staring transfixed at something carved into the trunk； but I was too far back to make out what it was。〃
〃I heard her say； ‘Why…why did it happen？' and the next thing I knew she was hopping onto the Cyclone and moving off。 I ran after her and thought about calling her。 The word or name ROMY was carved into the tree trunk。 It didn't mean anything to me； but it had obviously touched off something in Rook。 I went back for my Cyclone and pushed it a good hundred yards from the woods before starting it up and going after her。〃
〃It wasn't hard to follow her trail； and there was enough ambient moonlight for me to tail her without bringing up the Cyclone's headlamp。 Straight off； it was apparent that she knew where she was going。 She cut through the woods in the direction of the main road； headed north for several miles； then turned east along a rutted track that coursed over a barren； seemingly endless stretch of land。 She was perhaps a half a mile ahead of me when I saw her suddenly veer off sharply to the right for no apparent reason。 Fortunately； I thought to cut my speed some； because just short of the spot where she had made her turn I realized that the land dropped steeply away。 I braked and threw the Cyclone into a sharp turn that brought me close to the edge of a narrow chasm； scarcely the width of a city block。 In the darkness below I could discern two rows of ruined buildings backed against the canyon's walls； almost as tall as the chasm was deep and facing each other across a single potholed street。 Still a good distance ahead of me； Rook was disappearing into a kind of open…faced bunker that projected from the land as though it were a natural outcropping。 Nearby were the tops of two massive circular shafts I guessed were exhaust ports for the city below。〃
〃I twisted the Cyclone's throttle and accelerated into the unlit tunnel； not knowing what to expect。〃
〃The city was dark and deserted…looking； claustrophobic due to the closeness of the canyon walls but threatening in a way that had nothing to do with the uniqueness of its location。 Rook was still unaware of my presence。 She had parked her Cyclone halfway along the street； dismounted； and was now peering into the permaplas window of alighted and apparently occupied ground…floor apartment。 I think I came close to abandoning my little game just then； the sight of Rook eavesdropping on someone called into question my own position。 But I decided to hang in； rationalizing that I was simply keeping an eye out in case anyone came wandering in on Rook's scene。 Again； I was too far away to make out exactly what was going on： I heard Rook say； ‘Romy；' as a man in a yellow shirt passed by the window。 That at least explained the tree trunk carving and Rook's knowledge of the area。 She had been here before； perhaps was native to the place。 A moment later I heard Rook's sharp intake of breath。 She had turned away from the window as if in disbelief。〃
〃‘My sister Lilly？' she asked softly。〃
〃Rook took a few backward steps； straddled the Cyclone； and roared off。 I stomped my mecha into gear and followed。 I had all intentions of catching up to her now and having a heart…to…heart； but suddenly there were three more vehicles in the street； tearing out in front of Rook from an alleyway that ended at the canyon wall。 They were solid…hubbed Harley choppers with twin front headlights； dressed down for rough and ready street riding。 The riders were of the same ilk…Mohawked； shaved…skulled； maniacal。 They were chasing down two young women； taunting； gesturing； and otherwise cat…and…mousing them。 I saw the Mohawked rider e alongside and douse them with beer from the bottle he was carrying。 Then； when one of the women fell…a cute b