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almost ten miles around； posed entirely of what appeared to be organic facets or geodesies； in fact； the hive had the look of something grown rather than erected。 Four mile…high cattaillike antenna towers were positioned at cardinal points around the hive's oddly 〃bubbled〃 base。
Through field glasses； Rick could discern Garudan slaves gathering mutated fruits from the trees。 Huge containers of these were being conveyed to the hive itself by Invid soldiers in specially outfitted suits； often piloting Hovercarts of various design。 Tracking the carts' movements ultimately enabled Rick to discover one of the hive's tunnellike transport corridors。
〃What happens later on？〃 Rick whispered to Kami； who had stooped down to ask for the binoculars。 〃Are the workers taken into the hive？〃
〃No；〃 he said； bringing his muzzle close to the helmet's audio pickups。 〃The labor camp lies about two miles from here。〃 Kami pointed out the direction。
〃Are you certain there are no Garudans inside the hive？〃
Kami shook his head。 〃Not certain。〃 The hives were the only places on the planet impervious to Garudan Sendings and out…of…body flights； but the Invids' continued presence on world in general had confused things。 The clouds and wind were full of sinister whisperings。
〃Then we've gotta find out；〃 Rick said； turning around to motion the others forward。
Jack remained behind as rear guard； while the rest of the team began to work their way over the low ridge that was the crater's rim and down into the basin itself。 It was warmer here； Rick realized without having to check the suit's sensor displays； redolent； too； he imagined； as the Optera tree forests on Praxis had been。 They were closing on the edge of the cultivation area now； and it was time for Kami to go it alone。
〃Don't take any chances；〃 Rick cautioned him。 He checked his chronometer。 〃One hour。 If you're not back by then； we're moving out。〃
〃I'll get word back to you from the camp if anything happens。〃
The underground； Rick reminded himself。
〃Just see that it doesn't；〃 Rem said。
Karen and Lisa wished Kami luck； and he started to move off。
Then all at once a small mountain was growing under their feet。 Rick thought for a moment that this might be how the bulb…canopied Optera trees pushed themselves from the ground。 Lisa and the others had been knocked off their feet； but he was still riding the rise up； arms outstretched like a high…wire walker。 Elsewhere he could see two more humps beginning to form。 Kami yelled something inprehensible； just before Rick leaped and caught hold of a network of vinelike tendrils encasing the canopy…bulb of the nearest tree。 He was dangling ten feet above the ground now； looking down on his teammates and wondering why they had their weapons drawn； when a triple…clawed Scout pincer suddenly slammed into the tree not a foot from his head。 The bulb split open like an overripe melon； showering him with viscous green gop and what he took to be seeds。
Lisa and Karen； meanwhile； were firing charges at the crab…ship； trying to position themselves for a shot at the mecha's scanner； a pouting red mouth low down on the ventral surface of its armored head。 But the Scouts who had joined the first were advancing； and the two women were forced to hurl themselves out from under a pair of cloven feet。 One mecha was stomping the ground； trying to pulverize them； even while Rem and Kami were stinging its ladybug…shaped carapace with Wolverine fire。
Rick disentangled himself before the first Scout could strike again； dropping； tucking； and rolling out of harm's way； and somehow managing to e up with his weapon raised。 He nailed his giant assailant in the knee joint and brought it down in an earsplitting crash； then put a second shot through its scanner； and ducked for cover as the thing blew up。
The force of the blast threw one of the other Scouts hard against the trees； where it stumbled and fell after ripping open half…a…dozen bulbs。 Rem saw to it that the ship didn't get up； lancing it open from crotch to scanner。 Rick had been left dazed and temporarily deaf from the explosion； but he came to in time to see the remaining mecha raising its left foot to smash Karen and Lisa； who had also been leveled by the blast。 He ran up behind the Scout； as if preparing to clip it behind the knee； and emptied his handgun straight up into the underside of the ship's rear tapered head armor； eliciting a cascade of energy bolts and a muffled roar that decapitated the ship； spilling its Invid pilot to the ground。 Kami and Karen holed the creature； even though it was probably already dead； and moved quickly to Lisa's side。 Rick did likewise； suddenly terror…stricken。 Her suit was torn open； she was bloodied and unconscious。
〃We've got to get her back to the cycs！〃 Rick said； looking up at his teammates。 But all he got in return was a look of resignation。 Rick saw Kami and Karen toss their weapons aside。 He whirled around； still in a crouch； in time to see more than a dozen Invid soldiers emerging from the orchard to surround their patch of green…stained ground。
〃Throw your weapon down；〃 one of the Praxian…size soldiers said in Tiresian； brandishing an evil…looking rifle/cannon and gazing down at Rick through an elongated helmet。
Rick did so； just as an officer came shouldering its way through the circle。 It regarded Lisa a moment； then swung its snout toward Rick。
〃The hive has been expecting you；〃 it announced。
〃Our Regent has said that he finds your race most curious； and now I understand why。 You are a little more like worms than I'd imagined； and indeed there is the stench of death about you。〃
The interior of the hive was greenhouse…hot； but the scientist's voice was cold and analytical。 Rick； Rem； Kami； and Karen had been marched at gunpoint through the same entrance Rick had spied from the crater rim。 There； their helmets and transpirators had been removed。 One of the soldiers had carried Lisa in over his shoulder。 She was still unconscious； groaning every so often in her delirium。 Rick was being kept from her side。 Kami； already succumbing to the hive's artificial atmosphere； had been shackled and dumped in a corner。
〃That smell is the stink of your own soldiers' blood；〃 Rick snarled at the scientist； gesturing to his green…smeared suit。
〃The cornered creature's final attack；〃 the Invid said to his white…robed group of barefoot assistants； in Tiresian for Rick's benefit。 〃The being uses words as weapons。〃
〃What do you want with us？ Why didn't your soldiers kill us？〃
The scientist's snout sensors twitched； as if he was sniffing the air。 〃Perhaps we shall。 But there is some information we require first。 It would save us much bother if you'd simply agree to answer our questions…it might even save your lives。〃
Rick snorted。 〃Dream on； slug。〃
〃As I thought；〃 the scientist directed over his shoulder。 He studied Rick a moment； then began to move down the line； pausing in front of Kami。 〃You were one of the Garudans selected by Tesla for the Regent's zoo； were you not？〃
Kami leaned in as if to whisper something and snapped at the Invid's face； missing it by inches。 Just as suddenly； a soldier threw a stranglehold on