05_force_of_arms-第21部分

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In　a　neat；　quiet　suburb　of　the　city　served　by　an　overhead　rapid…transit　system　sat　a　modest　little　prefab　cottage；　its　solar　panels；　guided　by　microprocessors；　swinging　slowly　to　follow　the　sun。　As　a　senior　flight　officer；　Rick　Hunter　rated　off　base　housing　even　though　he　was　single；　and　liked　the　idea　of　getting　away　from　the　military　when　he　could；　even　if　his　home　looked　like　modular　luggage。　As　Skull　Leader；　he　seldom　got　a　chance　to　be　there。

So　Lisa　Hayes　took　it　upon　herself　to　tidy　up　the　place　when　he　was　away。　Her　own　rather　more　spacious　quarters　were　nearby。

Neither　of　them　was　quite　sure　what　the　bond　between　them　meant　or　where　their　panionship　was　going；　but　she　had　a　key　to　his　place；　and　he　to　hers。

Now　she　hummed　happily　to　herself　as　she　put　away　the　last　of　the　just…washed　dishes。　Maybe　I　ought　to　bill　him　for　maid　services；　she　thought　wryly。

But　she　knew　better；　she　enjoyed　being　in　his　place；　touching　the　things　he　touched；　seeing　reminders　of　him　all　around。　She　hoped　that　the　extended　patrol　up　north　didn't　last　too　much　longer…that　he　would　be　home　soon　so　that　they　could　be　together　again。

Lisa　considered　the　sunlight　streaming　through　the　kitchen　window。　Polarizing　glass　was　all　well　and　good；　but　curtains　were　what　that　window　needed。

Will　you　listen　to　me？　Curtains！　Miss　Suzy　Homemaker！　She　smirked　at　the　apron　she　was　wearing。　It　was　doubly　funny　because　she　was　due　back　at　the　base　soon　for　more　meetings　and　briefings　on　the　final　construction　details　of　the　SDF…2；　the　new　successor　to　the　battle　fortress。

And　she　meant　to　have　a　berth　on　that　ship；　to　be　the　First　Officer　if　she　could；　and　go　to　the　stars。　Ol'　Suzy　Homemaker　herself。

She　snorted　a　laugh　as　she　moved　into　the　bedroom。　Seeing　it；　she　sighed。　Why　does　this　place　always　look　like　a　bear's　been　wintering　here？

She　raised　all　the　blinds；　opened　all　the　windows；　and　moved　around　the　room　slowly；　fondly。　When　she　smoothed　the　sheets　to　make　up　the　bed；　her　hands　lingered　upon　them；　and　she　touched　the　pillows　tenderly；　remembering　his　head　on　them；　and　her　own。

Her　wrist　chrono　toned；　reminding　her　she　had　to　go　soon。　When　she　straightened；　her　eye　fell　on　something　she　hadn't　seen　before。

It　lay　on　his　desk；　next　to　his　spare　flight　helmet：　a　photo　album　bound　in　creamy　imitation　leather。　Lisa　moved　toward　it　unwillingly；　knowing　she　shouldn't　do　what　she　was　about　to　do　but　unable　to　stop　herself。

The　album　was　well　worn；　had　obviously　been　leafed　through　many　times。　The　first　page　made　her　heart　sink；　There　was　a　snapshot　of　Minmei　seated　on　a　park　swing　back　in　the　Macross　within　the　SDF…1；　Rick　standing　behind　her。　The　other　picture　was　a　close…up　taken　of　Minmei　back　at　the　start　of　her　career；　a　wide…eyed　gamine　with　flowing　black　locks　framing　her　face。

Lisa　sighed　again。　What　does　he　see　in　her？　What's　she　got　except　great　looks；　the　singing　voice　that　won　the　war；　and　superstardom？

It　was　Minmei　on　every　page；　glamour　poses　and　home　snapshots；　portfolio　glossies　and　PR　photos。　Lisa　got　angrier　and　angrier　as　she　thumbed　through　them。

Why　do　I　have　the　impulse　to　strangle　this　girl？

Along　with　the　anger　came　a　pain　so　sharp　and　cold；　it　took　her　off　guard。　Lisa　had　assumed　she　and　Rick　were　solidifying　something；　strengthening　the　ties　between　them。　But　the　thought　of　his　keeping　this　album；　taking　it　out　when　Lisa　wasn't　there　and　fantasizing　over　it…that　was　too　much　to　bear。

Having　his　panionship　and　friendship　without　his　declared　love　was　something　she　had　accepted；　albeit　always　with　a　secret　hope。　But　the　photo　album　made　her　feel　she　had　been　taken　for　granted；　a　kind　of　emotional　consolation　prize。　Her　self…respect　simply　wouldn't　allow　that。

Lisa　slammed　the　album　shut；　tore　off　the　apron；　and　strode　for　the　front　door。　As　the　door　rolled　shut　to　lock；　she　tossed　Rick's　spare　house　key　onto　the　living…room　rug；　leaving　it　behind。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE

We　won？　When　you　hear　some　military　moron　say　that　to　you；　spit　on　him！　Point　out　the　graveyard　that　is　Earth！　When　he　tells　you　how　the　military's　going　to　make　all　that　well　again　too；　hold　up　the　ash　that　used　to　be　your　home。
They　won；　all　right；　and　they'd　just　love　to　win　again。　And　every　time；　it's　you　and　I　who　lose。
From　Lynn…Kyle's　tract；　Mark　of　Cain

Rick　Hunter　sat　in　the　cockpit　of　the　grounded　Guardian　and　watched　white　spores　take　to　the　wind　like　miniature　parasols。　Meanwhile；　he　wrestled　with　his　thoughts。

The　truth　was　that　Earth　was　a　dead　end　for　a　pilot。　Oh；　there　was　the　problem　of　the　rebellious　Zentraedi；　to　be　sure；　and　the　various　fractious　human　munities。　But　the　war　was　over；　and　there　were　no　flying　circuses。　Maybe　it　would　be　easier　to　put　up　with　the　growing　boredom　of　peacetime　life　if　bigger　things　weren't　brewing　out　beyond　Earth's　atmosphere。

Breetai　and　Exedore　seemed　to　be　at　the　source　of　it；　and　Gloval；　Dr。　Lang；　and　Dr。　Zand。　Only　everything　was　so　secret　that　a　mere　squadron　mander　couldn't　find　out　a　thing。　Even　Lisa　professed　not　to　know　anything。　But　scuttlebutt　and　the　few　hints　Rick　could　get　from　his　intel　debriefings　made　him　believe　that　the　SDF…2　was　slated　for　a　big；　big　mission。

He　was　pretty　sure　that　the　SDF…2；　and　such　Zentraedi　warships　as　Breetai　could　get　fully　functional　again；　were　going　to　carry　the　war　to　the　Robotech　Masters。　Humans　and　Zentraedi　would　go　out　and　end　the　threat　forever　or　die　trying。

How　could　he　not　go？　Only。。。that　was　a　voyage　and　a　military　operation　that　might　make　their　previous　campaign　look　like　a　weekend　vacation　by　parison。　It　would　probably　mean　he　would　never　see　Earth　and　Minmei　again。

Not　that　he'd　seen　much　of　Minmei　in　the　last　two　years；　but　signing　on　for　a　trip　to　far…off　star　systems　would　strip　away　any　hope。

But　what　else　was　there　for　him　except　flying？　He　wished　and　prayed　that　there　could　be　Minmei；　but　Minmei　was　so　bound　up　in　her　glittering　career　that　he　rarely　saw　or　heard　from　her。　On　the　SDF…2　mission；　at　least　he　would　be　with　Lisa；　and　he　was　being　more　and　more　convinced　that　that　was　where　he　belonged。

Of　course；　the　odds　against　surviving　would　be　very　high；　but　that　was　a　bat　pilot's　lot。　And　what　better　cause　was　there　to　serve；　and　die　for；　if　it　came　to　that？　He　had　a　sudden　vivid　recollection　of　something　Roy　Fokker　had　told　him。

An　American　president　once　said　that　the　price　of　liberty　is　eternal　vigilance；　Rick。

It　was　on　a　〃day〃　in　SDF…1；　out　someplace　by　Pluto's　orbit；　when　Rick　joined　the　RDF　There's　no　more　flying　for　fun；　Roy　told　him；　stern　and　grave。　From　now　on　you　fly　for　the　sake　of　your　home　and　loved　ones；　Rick。

〃My　home　and　loved　ones；　huh？〃　Rick　muttered　to　himself。　He　flicked　a　switch；　and　the　canopy　descended　on　whining　servos。

〃All　right；　time　to　go　flying；　then。〃　He　eased　the　throttle　forward。　The　Guardian's　foot　thrusters　blew　soil　away　and　lifted　it。　Rick　was　careful　to　skirt　the　patch　of　dandelions　as　he　rose。　But　the　backwash　sent　hundreds　of　thousands　of　spores　wafting　into　the　air　in　hopes　of　finding　some　other　kind　plot　of　ground。

Rick　tucked　a　single　dandelion　blossom　into　a　seam　of　his　instrument　panel；　mechamorphosed　his　ship　to　Fighter　mode；　and　went　ballistic；　climbing　toward　the　sun。　He　set　the　mo　rig　to　search　for　local　traffic；　part　of　the　recon　mission。　The　equipment　scanned　the　band　and　stopped　at　a　transmission　that　carried　a　female　human　voice。

…here　by　my　side；
Here　by　my　side。


He　jolted　against　his　safety　harness；　reaching　to　get　a　stronger　signal。　〃Minmei！〃

There　was　applause　in　the　background。　Another　voice　he　knew　well　came　up。　〃You're　listening　to　the　beautiful　Lynn…Minmei；　broadcasting　live　and　direct　from　Granite　City！　This　area　is　slowly　rebuilding　through　the　bined　efforts　of　many　wonderful　people　who　are　ceaselessly　devoting　their　time　and　labor　to　a　project　that　many　considered　hopeless。〃

Lynn…Kyle。　He　sounded　more　like　a　pitchman　than　a　costar　now；　but　he　still　had　that　same　hostility　in　his　tone。

Granite！　Rick　realized。　Not　far　away！　He　was　already　checking　his　nav　puters。

〃People　Helping　People　is　the　theme　of　our　tour；〃　Kyle　went　on。　〃And　we　don't　consider　the　project　hopeless　at　all！　How　do　you　people　feel　about　it？〃

Clapclapclapclap；　from　the　audience；　and　a　few　yays。　Those　shill　questions　always　worked。　Rick's　expression　hardened；　and　he　brought　his　stick　over　for　a　bank。


Granite　City　lay　in　the　shadow　of　a　Zentraedi　flagship　rammed　like　a　Jovian　bolt　into　the　red　dirt。　The　outskirts　of　the　place　were　still　haphazard　rubble　from　the　war；　but　a　few　square　blocks　in　the　center　had　been　made　livable。

There　were　weakened　foundations　and　angled　slabs　of　paving　and　fractured　concrete　everywhere；　but　at　least　the　streets　were　clear。

This　most　recent　stop　in　what　was　to　have　been　the　triumphant　Minmei　People　Helping　People　tour　had　attracted　something　under　three　hundred　people　in　Granite；　plus　several　Zentraedi　who　loomed　over　the　crowd　even　when　sitting　and　squatting。

The　crowd　was　posed　of　sad…eyed　people　doing　their　best　to　believe　they　had　a　future。　Most　were　ragged；　all　were　thin；　and　there　were　signs　of　deficiency　diseases　and　other　medical　problems　among　them。

But　at　the　urging　of　Lynn…Kyle　and　others　in　the　loose…knit　network　of　antigovernmentalists；　Granite　persisted　in　refusing　to　drop　its　status　as　an　independent　city…state　or　allow　military　relief　teams　in。

The　Zentraedi　were　in　better　shape　than　the　humans；　the　rations　in　the　spiked　ship　could　sustain　them；　though　for　some　reason　those　seemed　to　have　no　nutritive　value　for　Homo　sapiens。　There　had　been　a　fine　cordiality　and　hopefulness　among　the　people　of　Granite　at　first；　but　now　there　was　growing　despair　in　this　dissident　model　program。　Thus；　this　morale　appearance　by　Minmei。

〃Yeah！　Let's　hear　it！〃　Lynn…Kyle　yelled；　working　the　mike　at　center　stage；　making　beckoning　motions　with　his　free　hand。　The　crowd　clapped　again；　a　little　tiredly。

〃And　Granite　doesn't　need　any　outside　interference；　either！〃　he　yelled。　He　had　spent　fewer　than　four　hours　there　in　his　entire　life。

〃The　good　people　here　will　take　care　of　themselves　and　make　Granite　the　great　metropolis　she　once　was！〃

The　applause　was　even　weaker　this　time　around；　and　the　more　theatrically　knowledgeable　in　the　front　rows　could　detect　beads　of　flop…sweat　on　Kyle's　brow。

〃But　let's　forget；　for　now；　what　the　military　warmongers　have　brought　us　to；〃　he　said；　almost　scowling；　then　catching　himself　and　flashing　a　bright　smile。　〃As　we　listen　to　the　song　stylings　of　the　marvelous；　the　inparable　Lynn…Minmei！〃

Recorded　music　came　up；　and　Minmei　hit　her　mark　right　on　cue；　mike　in　hand。　She　sang　her　latest　hit。

I've　made　the　right　move　at　the　right　time！
We're　on　our　way　to　something　new！
Just　point　the　way　and　I　will　follow！
Love　feels　so　beautiful　with　you！


Rick　followed　the　song；　entranced；　until　a　transmission　cut　through　Minmei's　singing。　〃mander　Hunter；　e　in；　please。〃

It　was　Ransom。　Rick　switched　to　the　tac　net。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　all　right；　skipper？　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　for　some　time；　thought　you　might've　run　into　trouble。〃

Rick　let　a　little　impatience　slip　into　his　tone。　〃Is　anything　wrong？〃

Ransom　looked　at　him　out　of　a　display　screen　next　to　the　yellow　dandelion；　speaking　precisely。　〃Nothing　specific；　boss。　Just　wish　you'd　take　your　rover　radio　with　you　when　you　leave　your　ship　to　look　around。　I　worry；　y'　know？〃

Rick　bit　back　the　rebuke　he　had　been　putting　together。　Of　course　he　knew；　he　would　have　chewed　out　a　subordinate　for　doing　the　same。

He　sounded　contrite；　and　it　was　real。　〃Sorry；　Lieutenant。　But　I　came　across　something　miraculous　today。〃

Ransom　stared。　〃Trouble　with　renegade　Zentraedi？　Boss；　what　is　it？〃

Rick　took　the　dandelion　from　its　place　and　held　it　close　to　the　optical　pickup。　〃Look　what　I　found。　An　entire　field　of　them。〃

Ransom　considered　the　flower。　〃Wait　a　minute。　Your　zone　wasn't　inside　the　natural　recovery　planning　zone。〃

Rick　was　ecstatic。　〃That's　right！　But　lemme　tell　ya；　there　are　flowers　in　the　northwest　quadrant！〃

The　usually　morbid　Ransom　cracked　a　very　slight　smile。　〃I　suppose　we　should　have　known　the　Earth　would　be　starting　her　own　recovery　program。　Great　news；　huh；　skipper？〃

〃Roger　that。　Look；　continue　your　patrol　according　to　mission　plan；　Ted。〃

〃I　copy；　but　aren't　you　ing　with　us？〃

〃Not　right　now；〃　Rick　answered。　〃I'm　dropping　over　to　Granite　City。　If　anything　serious　es　up；　give　me　a　yell。〃

Ransom　nodded　and　hedged。　〃And；　uh；　boss。。。〃

〃Don't　sweat　it；　Lieutenant！　When　I　leave　the　ship；　I'll　take　my　rover！　Out！〃

Rick　did　a　barrel　roll　for　the　hell　of　it　and　opened　his　throttle　wide　for　Granite　City。

If　she　wonders；
It's　you　who's　on　my　mind。
It's　you　I　cannot
Leave　behind。。。


Rick　followed　Minmei's　voice　as　someone　else　might　have　trod　a　yellow　brick　road。　From　overhead　the　Zentraedi　battlewagon　dominated　the　landscape；　but　a　closer　look　at　the　ground　showed　that　the　rusting　metal　peak　was　a　monument　to　defeat　and　that　the　teeming　victors　were　still　in　turmoil。

Rick　left　his　VT　at　the　edge　of　town　under　the　care　of　the　local　militia　CO；　who　was　well　disposed　toward　RDF　fliers　even　if　the　populace　wasn't。　Rick　got　to　the　concert　and　missed；　by　a　fraction　of　a　second；　getting　flattened　by　the　hand　of　a　Zentraedi　leviathan　who　was　sitting　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd；　shifting　his　weight。

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　the　alien　tried　to　whisper　in　his　resounding　bass。　Everybody　around　them　went　Shhhh！　Rick　gave　the　big　fellow　a　nod　to　let　him　know　it　was　no　offense　taken。

It's　me　who's　lost；
The　me　who　lost　your　heart
The　you　who　tore　my　heart
Apart。。。


She's　e　a　long　way；　but　it's　the　same　girl　I　spent　those　awful；　wonderful　two　weeks　with　somewhere　in　the　belly　of　the　SDF…1。　My　Minmei。

When　the　song　was　over；　the　crowd　applauded。　Rick　applauded　loudest　of　all。


Near　a　sidewalk　cafe　in　Monument　City；　with　the　SDF…1's　shadow　ing　her　way　like　a　sundial；　Lisa　stared　dully　at　people　passing　by　and　ignored　her　cooling　demitasse。　The　meetings　had　been　delayed；　giving　her　some　unexpected　free　time。　Idle　hours　were　more　a　curse　than　a　blessing。

As　she　watched；　two　down…at…the…heels　boulevardiers　ogled　a　very　pert　young　blonde　whose　hemline　came　nearly　to　her　waist。　The　two　did　not　quite　slobber。

〃My　man；　the　women　were　dealt　all　the　aces　in　this　life。　They　can　have　anything　they　want；〃　opined　one；　a　beefy　kid　who　looked　as　if　he　stood　a　fair　chance　of　growing　up　to　be　normal。　〃They　can　have　anybody　they　wanna　have。〃

Lisa　considered　that；　her　chin　resting　on　her　interlaced　fingers。　〃That's　all　you　know　about　it；　my　fat　friend；〃　she　murmured；　watching　the　two　would…be　rakes　go　on　their　way。　〃Here's　one　woman　who'd　trade　every　other　ace；　knave；　and　king　in　the　deck　for　one　Rick　Hunter。〃

She　drew　a　sudden　breath　as　she　looked　across　Monument　City's　main　thoroughfare。　Max　Sterling　strolled　along　there；　looking　as　if　he　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world；　pushing　a　baby　carriage。　Miriya　held　his　arm。

They　stopped；　and　Max　hurried　around　the　carriage　to　scoop　up　his　daughter　and　pat　her　back；　burping　her　on　his　shoulder。　Miriya　looked　on　serenely　with　a　smile　Lisa　almost　begrudged　her。

The　very　most　secret　eyes…only　reports　boiled　down　to　the　f