16_world_killers-第20部分

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〃Ah。〃　The　enormous　liquid　black　eyes　betrayed　nothing　as　the　Regent　inspected　the　man。　〃In　that　case；　do　e　here　to　the　Home　Hive；　by　all　means！　Er；　how　many　ships　will　you　be　bringing；　and　how　many　troops？〃

Edwards's　jaw　muscles　jumped。　〃There's　been　trouble　here。　I'll　require　a　bit　of　assistance。〃

Something　moved　up　to　sit　next　to　the　Regent…a　Hellcat　of　extraordinary　size；　wearing　a　jeweled　collar。　The　ones　destroyed　in　the　Haydon　IV　battle　had　been　replaced；　Edwards　surmised。　〃How　inconvenient；〃　the　Regent　clucked。

The　Invid　threw　his　arms　wide。　〃Because；　as　you　can　see；　you're　about　to　miss　out　on　the　opportunity　to　serve　the　One　True　Ruler　of　the　Universe！　My　life　will　be　a　roll　call　of　triumphs！　All　Creation　will　grovel　at　my　feet；　as　my　courtiers　do　even　now！〃

He　lowered　his　voice　craftily。　〃And　then　won't　my　wife；　my　precious　Regis；　e　begging　for　forgiveness；　eh？〃

Edwards　saw　only　an　empty；　echoing　hall　in　the　background　behind　the　Regent。　Great　suns！　He's　mad　as　a　march　hare！

But　he　was　the　general's　only　hope　for　survival。　〃I　want　you　to　think　for　a　moment　what　will　happen　if　the　council　gets　me　now。　The　REF　will　be　reconsolidated　into　a　pure　fighting　force　with　nothing　holding　it　back；　and　there'll　be　nothing　to　stop　the　bined　forces　of　the　near　stars　to　e　after　you！　Am　I　getting　through　to　you？〃

It　seemed　he　had。　The　Regent　swayed　for　a　moment；　a　new　clarity　ing　into　his　voice。　〃We　can't　have　that；　can　we？〃

〃I　want　you　to　send　your　army　to　get　me　and　the　people　loyal　to　me；〃　Edwards　pressed　on。

The　Invid　asked　guilelessly；　〃But　why　should　I；　when　you　have　an　army　of　your　own　right　there？〃

The　Invid　Brain！　The　Inorganics！　〃Damn　you；　explain！〃　Edwards　grated。　〃There's　no　time　for　games！〃

The　Regent　wasn't　so　demented　that　he　had　missed　Edwards's　point　about　the　REF；　he　activated　controls　at　his　end　of　the　connection　that　displayed　instructions　at　Edwards's　end。

〃Do　stay　in　touch；〃　the　Regent　bade　him；　and　his　image　vanished。

But　Edwards　was　already　busy；　switching　on　the　Living　puter；　the　artificial　Brain　the　Invid　had　left　behind　under　Tirol　in　the　wake　of　their　defeat。　His　personal　guards　looked　on　uneasily　as　the　massive　globe　of　specialized　tissue　came　to　life　in　its　vat。

From　the　catab　rooms　where　the　inert　Inorganics　had；　at　his　mand；　been　stored　like　so　much　cordwood；　Edwards　heard　stirrings。

His　lips　drew　back　from　his　teeth　in　a　canine　smile；　his　good　eye　became　glassy。　He　looked　as　insane　as　the　Regent。


CHAPTER　TWENTY

Consider　humble　clay。
Small　amounts　of　it　can　speed　chemical　processes　by　a　factor　of　10；000。　Its　phenomenally　intricate　layered…sheet　structure　gives　one　pound　（Earth　norm）　of　it　as　much　total　surface　area　as　fifty　football　fields。　It　can　store　information　as　patterns　of　ions。　It's　perfectly　plausible　that　self…replicating　crystals　brought　forth　a　〃proto…organism〃　as　the　jumping…off　point　of　life　on　Spheris。
But　those　who　travel　the　Crystal　Highways　are　unimpressed　with　such　theorizing。　They　explain　it　all　with　a　name。
A。　Jow；　The　Historical　Haydon

〃Max！　Pay　attention！〃

〃Uh？〃　He　blinked。

Jean　Grant；　infinitely　patient；　still　had　a　way　of　letting　someone　know　that　she　wouldn't　put　up　with　their　shortings。

〃Just　take　it　easy；　Max；　babies've　been　getting　themselves　born　for　ages　now。　Besides；　this　is　only　a　drill；　capisch？　All　you　have　to　do　is　help　a　little。〃　She　smiled　down　at　Miriya。　〃Relax；　soldier。〃

Miriya　stopped　her　breathing　exercises　and　chuckled　tiredly。　She　was　pale　and　drawn　from　the　ordeal　that　her　second　pregnancy　had　bee。　But　she　squeezed　Max's　hand；　their　I　love　you　code。

Max　squeezed　back　twice；　but　he　was　still　worried。　This　pregnancy　shouldn't　even　have　happened。　Apparently；　conventional　birth…control　methods　didn't　apply　to　a　Human…Zentraedi　union。

Her　first　pregnancy　had　worked　changes　on　Miriya's　body　that　Jean　still　hadn't　figured　out　pletely。　The　physical　readouts　on　her　were　getting　more　and　more　peculiar；　and　nobody；　not　even　the　saintly；　floating　Haydon　IV　healers；　could　say　why。

Max　resisted　the　impulse　to　sigh；　there　where　Miriya　could　hear　it。　Instead　he　crouched　by　her；　pointing　at　the　window　that　ran　from　floor　to　ceiling　in　her　bedroom。

〃See　there？　The　urban　core's　almost　rebuilt；　and　about　seventy　percent　of　the　underground　systemry's　back　up　to　snuff。　Vowad　says　the　whole　planet'll　be　like　new　in　less　than　two　months。〃

〃It's　good　that…〃　A　sudden　spasm　of　pain　overcame　her；　and　she　clamped　down　on　Max's　hand　with　a　grip　so　hard　that　he　involuntarily　yelped　in　pain。

Jean　was　there　in　an　instant；　reading　the　bed　monitors。　The　Haydonites　had　built　Miriya's　room　so　that　it　was　a　virtual　duplicate　of　the　quarters　she　and　her　husband　had　shared　back　in　rebuilt　Macross　City…their　happiest　home…but　the　place　was　actually　a　well…camouflaged　intensive…care　unit。

〃Code　red；〃　Jean　called　into　the　empty　air；　not　two　seconds　passed　before　the　wall　slid　aside　and　Haydonite　healers　floated　in。　Miriya　was　losing　consciousness。

〃Talk　to　her；　Max；〃　Jean　whispered　to　him；　then　turned　to　her　own　job。

What　to　say？　He　wasn't　used　to　making　conversation；　that　was　one　of　the　reasons　he　had　been　a　loner　until　he　and　Miriya　found　each　other。

〃And…and；　the　interstellar　trade's　already　starting　up　again；〃　he　babbled；　squeezing　her　hand　but；　to　his　terror；　getting　no　response。　〃I've　got　a　place　all　fixed　up　for　you　and　me　and　the　kid；　outside　of　town…〃

〃Sorry；　Max。〃　Jean　moved　him　away　from　the　bedside　and　he　didn't　resist。　She　and　the　Haydonite　healers；　and　medical　machines　that　looked　like　hovering　seashells　and　airborne　spores；　all　clustered　around　his　wife。

Max　Sterling　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　〃We're　losing　her；〃　one　of　the　faceless　healers　said；　and　Max　bit　his　lower　lip　until　blood　ran；　so　that　he　wouldn't　scream。

〃Talk　to　her；　Max；〃　Jean　repeated；　without　looking　up　from　her　work。　〃Keep　her　with　us。〃

〃I。。。I。。。〃

〃You're　fixing　up　a　place　for　her；〃　Jean　prompted　him；　still　without　breaking　her　own　concentration。

He　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃We　can　stay　there　until　you're　ready　to　go　home；　Mir。〃　He　felt　like　crying；　but　Jean　gave　him　one　quick　look。

〃C'mon；　ace；〃　she　told　him；　and　went　back　to　what　she　was　doing。

C'mon；　ace。。。

〃Dana's　gonna　be　some　big　girl　when　we　get　back；　huh？〃　he　found　himself　saying。

The　lifesign　monitors　made　a　slightly　different　sound；　Miriya　managed　to　form　a　word。　〃Dana。。。〃

〃Uh…huh！　God；　she　wants　so　much　to　go　to　the　academy；　and　Emerson　says　if　she　doesn't　behave；　he's　gonna　put　her　in　a　convent；　remember？〃　He　was　wiping　the　tears　from　his　face　and　his　glasses。　〃And　Bowie　said　that　if　Dana　goes；　he　goes。〃　He　was　laughing　and　crying　at　the　same　time。

〃She'll　be。。。a　big　girl；〃　Miriya　said。

The　lifesigns　were　stabilizing。　With　effort；　Max　swallowed　and　said；　〃Think　of　all　the　things　we'll　have　to　tell　her　when　we　get　home；　Mir。　She's　gonna　be　waiting　to　hear　them。〃

Miriya　Parino　Sterling　smiled　as　she　hovered　on　the　edge　of　a　a　then　came　back　to　him。

He　stood　looking　down　on　her　as　she　slept；　after　Jean　and　the　healers　and　the　machines　left。　Miriya's　pregnancy　had　seven　months　yet　before　it　came　to　term。

But　that　was　only　by　Human　calculation。　According　to　the　lab　workups；　it　could　happen　any　time　now。


In　the　barracks　of　the　security　forces　posted　to　Dr。　Lang's　plex；　the　officer　of　the　day　lost　patience　with　pounding　on　the　door。

〃Linc？　Lincoln？　Goddamn　you；　fall　in！〃

But　Right　Officer　Isle；　REF　Service　#　666…60…937；　wasn't　there。　The　duty　OD　looked　around　and　found　the　man's　flight　suit　missing。　Oddly；　there　were　also　hair　clippings　and　shaving…lather　residue　in　the　cramped　quarters'　tiny　sink。

Isle　always　was　a　strange　one；　but　this　was　pushing　it　some。　〃Isle；　you　sumbitch；〃　the　OD　muttered。　〃What　now？〃


They　were　like　dolphins　in　the　sea；　or　eagles　cutting　the　winds。

Baldan　soared；　following　his　mother；　through　the　netherworld　of　the　Crystal　Highways。　The　mineral　lattices　stretched　away　in　every　direction；　making　their　own　landscape　for　the　beings　who　swam　in　the　bosom　of　Spheris。

Baldan　found　that　he　knew　his　way　around　there。　The　emanations　from　the　various　pounds　and　strata　were　like　signposts　and　streets…a　three…dimensional　highway　system。

He　zoomed　over　to　catch　up　with　Teal　on　a　thoroughfare　layed　down　from　the　molten　condition。　There　was　a　lot　of　veering　and　dodging　because　of　the　magma　chambers；　but　the　scenery　was　spectacular。

Disembodied；　they　flew　through　the　very　structure　of　their　world。　Baldan　found　that　he　knew　how　to　avoid　metamorphic　structures；　knew　how　to　slide　along　the　crystallographic　axes。

There　was　no　gravity；　except　as　a　somewhat　abstract　force；　electromagnetic　and　thermal　and　nuclear　imperatives　were　the　rules　of　the　road。

And　before　long；　he　could　hear　the　voices　of　his　people。

Baldan　understood　that　he　was　nothing　but　a　disembodied　intellect；　seeping　along　the　boulevards　that　molecular　forces　had　drawn。　But　it　seemed　that　he　was　corporeal；　flying　like　some　character　out　of　the　Humans　absurd　ic　books；　in　an　element　that　was　his　to　mand。

It　was　a　world　suspended　in　space：　here；　the　juttings　of　a　tectonic　rift；　there；　the　sweep　of　a　rhodonite　seam　that　virtually　girded　the　planet。　They　navigated　currents　of　chrysoberyl；　emerald　and　corundum；　rode　the　piezoelectric　waves；　fought　through　schist　and　body　surfed　in　tourmaline。

Then　he　became　aware　of　the　songs；　and　they　drew　him。　Teal　noticed　that　he　was　veering　away；　and　followed。　They　understood　through　unspoken　munication　that　the　longing　he　felt　wasn't　to　be　questioned。　She　gave　in　to　an　impulse　that　she　had　only　marginally　resisted　until　then；　and　found　she　wasn't　one　person　anymore：　she　was　two。　Herself　and　her　son。

In　a　place　like　a　cathedral　made　of　living　mineral；　or　a　megaplex　encysted　in　a　jewel　of　perfect　clarity；　he　encountered　the　first　of　his　race　he　had　ever　met　aside　from　his　mother　and　a　few　shipmates。

Their　voices　drew　him；　the　sound　resonating　through　the　world。　Baldan　found　to　his　surprise　that　emerging　from　the　warp　and　woof　of　the　planet　was　harder　than　melding　with　it；　and　understood　a　little　better　how　his　father　died。

There　was　a　tremendous　strain　as　he　fought　to　free　himself　from　the　Crystal　Highway；　it　was　as　if　Spheris　didn't　want　to　let　him　go。　Baldan　came　forth　halfway；　like　some　tormented　cameo；　he　was　sucked　back　again　and　nearly　consumed。　He　fought　and　kicked　and　flailed　his　way　clear；　reborn　once　more。

Teal　was　standing　nearby；　and　he　knew　instinctively　why　she　hadn't　been　able　to　help；　there　was　only　one　road　test　for　riders　of　the　Crystal　Highways；　and　it　was　very　Darwinian。

Their　very　substance　was　changed。　They　were　now　of　smokier　stuff；　harder　and　more　given　to　sharp　angles；　than　they　had　been　above　and　in　the　ship。　Baldan　understood　that　each　time　he　emerged　from　the　Crystal　Highways；　he　would　be　of　different　position…would　be　of　the　stuff　that　made　up　the　area　from　which　he　exited。

So；　I'm　truly　part　of　my　world　now。

Teal　and　Baldan　had　e　into　a　place　that　was　dazzling　with　shards　of　pure　light　in　a　million　shades　and　haunting　in　the　tones　that　sprang　from　every　cusp　and　facet。　It　was　like　heaven's　own　house　of　mirrors；　a　sound…and…light　show　that　no　non…Spherisian　would　ever　be　able　to　prehend。

There　were　thousands　upon　thousands　of　his　father's　people　there；　contemplating　eternity　and　the　Universe　in　small　nichelike　chambers；　or　muning　with　one　another；　or　working　to　enlarge　the　boundaries　of　their　sanctuary。　Some　looked　around　in　surprise　at　the　arrival　of　newers。

One　in　particular　dropped　a　caving　tool　that　rang　like　a　bell　on　the　vitreous　floor　of　the　place。　〃Baldan！〃

It　was　an　elderly　female　of　his　race；　Baldan　II　could　see。　Before　she　had　taken　two　more　steps；　her　posture　and　the　aura　she　emitted　changed。　Joy　and　disbelief　gave　way　to　uncertainty。　〃But…you're　not　Baldan；　are　you？〃

〃I'm　his　son。〃　On　Spheris；　it　went　without　saying　that　a　great　deal　of　the　parent　was　born　again　in　the　child。　〃Baldan　is　dead。　I　am　Baldan　II。〃

〃My　son　is　dead；〃　the　old　one　said　as　if　the　words　were　inprehensible。　〃But　then…who　shaped　you？〃

Teal　stepped　forward。　〃I　knew　you　would　want　to　meet　the　boy；　Tiffa。〃

〃You！〃　Everyone　knew　the　story：　how　a　flighty　female　of　no　discernible　talent　or　promise　had　coincidentally　been　taken　prisoner　with　Baldan；　a　champion　of　his　species。

Tiff　a　struggled　for　words；　plainly　displeased　at　having　a　new　in…law　thrust　upon　her；　and　one　who　enjoyed　no　great　prestige　or　status　at　that。

〃Do　try　to　conceal　your　joy；〃　Teal　said　dryly。

By　now；　there　were　a　lot　of　other　Spherisians　looking　on　and　listening　in。　They　saw　in　Baldan　II　the　image　of　their　fallen　resistance　leader　and　hero。

Teal　faced　them。　〃We　might　as　well　get　all　this　out　in　the　open　right　away。　This　is　Baldan's　son；　Baldan　II。　I　Shaped　him。　I　didn't　ask　for　the　obligation；　but　we　don't　always　get　to　choose　the　Shapings　of　the　Protoculture；　do　we？　I　want　it　known　that　I'm　proud　of　this　boy　and　I　love　him　very　much。

〃Now；　we've　e　back　with　allies；　to　free　Spheris　from　the　Invid。　I　know　a　lot　of　you　would　prefer　to　sit　down　here　in　safety　and　fort　and　wait　for　them　to　go　away　rather　than　fight　them；　but　I　say　to　you　that　the　Invid　won't　go　away。〃

That　had　people　murmuring　to　one　another。　They　had　hidden　in　the　bosom　of　Spheris…a　defense　that　had　never　failed　them…but　many　were　growing　restive。　No　invader　had　ever　been　as　tenacious　as　the　Regent's　hordes。

〃The　Sentinels　have　already　removed　the　Invid　from　Karbarra；　Garuda；　and　Haydon　IV；〃　Teal　went　on。　〃And　we　mean　to　do　the　same　here。　We're　not　asking　your　permission；　because　this　war　will　be　fought　to　the　death　whether　Spherisians　throw　in　their　lot　with　us　or　not。　But　the　oute　lies　in　the　balance；　and　your　help　could　make　all　the　difference。〃

Tiffa　was　looking　at　Teal　with　a　troubled　expression。　Wasn't　this　the　frivolous；　whimsical　girl　who　had　been　the　despair　of　her　parents　and　who；　most　had　agreed；　would　e　to　a　bad　and　probably　meaningless　end？

Who　are　these　〃Sentinels；〃　Tiffa　wondered；　that　their　panionship　should　bring　Teal　home　so　vested　with　wisdom　and　purpose？　Perhaps　the　Invid　had　met　their　match　at　last。

But　there　were　voices　from　the　crowd　now。　〃Leave　us　in　peace　and　go！〃　〃We　want　no　war！〃　〃We're　not　fighters！〃

〃Yes；　you　are。〃

Teal　had　been　about　to　try　to　shout　the　doubters　down；　but　Baldan　spoke　first。　Now　he　took　three　steps　forward；　so　that　they　could　all　get　a　good　look　at　him。

〃Yes；　you　are；〃　he　repeated。　〃The　memories　that　Baldan　gave　me　tell　me　that。　These　nice　safe　strongholds　in　the　planetary　womb　are　no　protection　anymore；　the　Invid　will　crack　this　world　apart　with　their　Protoculture　devices　if　it　es　to　that。

〃Spherisians　have　fought　before；　long　in　our　past。　Now　it's　time　to　fight　again…that；　or　kneel　and　wait　for　the　hammer　to　fall　on　our　naked　necks。〃

He　walked　a　few　steps　to　one　side；　to　where　a　spar　of　shimmering　agate　stood　out　from　the　wall　of　the　sanctuary。　〃I　mean　to　raise　rebellion。　I　mean　to　rally　every　Spherisian　who　remembers　how　to　fight　or　is　willing　to　learn。　I　mean　to　throw　the　Invid　off　this　world　or　die　trying。〃

Teal　went　over　to　stand　by　her　son　proudly。　A　wisecrack　of　Jack　Baker's　came　back　to　her；　and　she　decided　this　was　a　good　time　t