16_world_killers-第21部分

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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　to　use　it。　Putting　her　arm　around　her　son's　strong　young　shoulders；　she　fixed　Tiffa　with　her　gaze。

〃Maybe　we're　not　much　to　look　at；　but　we're　all　you've　got。〃

〃From　here　we　go　to　the　Great　Geode；　to　ask　for　aid　there；〃　Baldan　announced。　〃Follow　us；　any　who　are　willing；　or　carry　the　word　to　other　sanctuaries。〃　He　hesitated；　unsure　if　the　last　thing　he　wanted　to　say　was　fair；　but　the　impulse　was　too　strong　to　deny。

His　voice　dropped　an　octave　and　became　the　voice　of　Baldan　I；　a　different　look　came　into　his　eyes。　Through　him；　his　father　said；　〃It　is　good　to　see　you　this　one　last　time。　I　love　you　all。〃

Baldan　II　vibrated　a　little；　ing　back　to　himself；　then　turned　to　merge　with　the　spar　of　agate。　A　moment　later；　Teal　was　gone　too。

The　Spherisians　looked　at　one　another；　the　sanctuary　resonating　with　the　hurrahs　of　some；　the　doubts　of　others。　There　were　troubled　glances　everywhere。

That　was　when　Tiffa　stepped　to　the　outcropping　where　her　grandson　and　daughter…in…law　had　disappeared。　She　spread　her　arms　like　a　high…diver；　leaned　slowly；　and　melded　with　the　stuff　of　Spheris。

In　another　few　seconds；　people　were　thronging　to　the　walls　of　the　place；　or　lying　flat　to　dissolve　into　the　very　floor。　Those　who　doubted　or　had　other　reservations　found　themselves　in　a　dwindling　minority。　Many　remained　behind；　but　now　the　sanctuary　was　a　hollow…sounding；　mostly　deserted　place　of　more　silence　than　sound；　more　emptiness　than　life。

Out　along　the　Crystal　Highways　the　folk　of　Spheris　flew；　energized　by　a　force　before　which　piezoelectricity　and　Protoculture　and　logic　itself　must　bow。　Toward　a　thousand　destinations　on　the　planet's　crust　and　under　it　they　went；　to　free　their　homeworld。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE

This　may　sound　strange；　ing　from　me；　but　I　want　to　take　a　moment　here　to　speak　in　defense　of　the　Ghost　Riders…a　unit　with　a　long　and　proud　history　going　back　to　United　States　naval　aviation…until　those　events　on　the　SDF…3　mission。
I　believe　that　some　of　those　men　and　women　were　swayed　by　Edwards's　Faustian　lure…there　are　bad　apples　in　every　barrel。　But　I've　reviewed　the　citations　and　decorations　of　the　Ghosts；　going　back　decades；　and　I'm　convinced　that　some　force　beyond　mere　human　fallibility　had　enslaved　them　to　their　general　by　that　night。
It　would　be　a　stain　on　the　memory　of　brave　and　selfless　service　members　not　to　point　this　out：　Edwards's　greatest　crime；　among　his　many；　was　in　making　us　Banners　fight　our　own。
Justice　Justine　Huxley；　I've　Been　to　a　Marvelous　Party

The　man　whose　name　tag　read　Isle；　L。　knew　from　the　start　that　Edwards's　breakout　would　be　unstoppable　at　its　source。

Hundreds　of　Inorganic　bipeds　had　flung　open　the　doors　of　the　Royal　Hall's　underground　warren　and　poured　forth；　inflicting　terrible　casualties；　in　response　to　the　general's　silent　mand。　It　was　only　good　luck　that　an　officious　security　QIC　had　insisted　that　the　Plenipotentiary　Council　evacuate　the　building　after　Edwards's　escape…she　had　practically　been　forced　to　wrestle　some　of　the　council　members　into　armored　vehicles。

She　was　exonerated　a　few　minutes　later；　when　the　Crann；　Scrim；　and　Odeon　boiled　up　from　their　catabs；　spreading　death。　Justine　Huxley；　gazing　at　it　in　horror　through　the　rear　viewslit　of　an　APC；　wrote　later；　〃Words　will　not　serve　to　describe　the　carnage　there。　I　do　not　think　the　REF　had　a　darker　moment。〃

A　few　loyalist　VTs　brought　down　death　from　the　skies　within　minutes；　but　Edwards's　army　was　already　on　the　move。　Now　Flight　Officer　Isle　watched　them　e　toward　the　REF　HQ　plex；　as　he　knew　they　would。

Poor　rebuilt　Tiresia　was　being　razed　again；　in　a　grotesque　Mardi　Gras　of　Robotech　warfare。　Excaliber　Mark　IXs　and　Crann　whirled；　fighting　hand…to…hand　in　the　streets；　Spartans　and　Scrim　stood　flat…footed　and　shot　it　out　at　point…blank　range　in　alleys；　Battloids　and　Odeon　rolled；　locked　in　mortal　bat；　crumbling　buildings　and　tearing　each　other　to　shreds。

What　Ghost　VTs　there　were　were　primarily　occupied　keeping　Lang's　security　fliers　busy。　The　conflict　was　pretty　much　a　ground　battle。

The　man　released　the　nametag　he　had　ripped　from　his　flight　suit。　It　fluttered　down　on　the　wind　as　he　watched　the　battle　move　his　way。　Edwards　was　using　his　Invid　troops　cleverly；　feinting　and　redeploying；　subtly　opening　an　avenue　of　attack　on　the　HQ。　REF　mand　wouldn't　consider　HQ　much　of　an　objective　for　Edwards；　Flight　Officer　Isle　knew；　mand　would　consider　it　a　dead　end；　and　would　be　watching　for　an　assault　on　the　spaceport。　They　didn't　know　that　the　most　precious　thing　in　the　universe　was　in　the　headquarters　building。

No；　mand　was　busy　dealing　with　diversionary　strikes　by　Edwards's　loyal　Ghost　Riders　and　shoring　up　its　faltering　ready…reaction　groups　in　the　western　and　southern　parts　of　Tiresia。　Edwards　was　one　up　on　them。


The　council　acted　quickly　on　Lang's　plea　to　secure　SDF…3　against　mutiny。　But　what　they　weren't　prepared　for　was　a　mass　desertion　by　Ghost　elements　then　on　the　super…dimensional　fortress。　And　while　there　were　sufficient　loyal　troops　to　hold　the　bridge；　power　section；　and　other　vital　points　against　assault；　there　weren't　nearly　enough　to　stop　Edwards's　people　from　decamping。

Some　of　the　Ghosts　headed　for　the　surface　of　Tirol；　to　provide　air　support　for　their　general's　escape。　But　the　bulk　of　them　drove　directly　toward　the　new　SDF…7　ship；　sister　to　the　Tokugawa　and　the　Jutland；　that　was　just　nearing　pletion。　Since　Edwards　had　to　take　flight；　he　meant　to　do　so　in　a　ship　with　its　superluminal　drive　in　place。


Inorganics　were　already　breaking　through　onto　the　huge　square　outside　the　rocketlike　HQ　building。　The　man　who　had　called　himself　Isle　for　so　long　drew　a　deep　breath　and　leapt　from　the　parapet　on　which　he　stood。

Ten　feet　below；　he　touched　down　soundlessly　on　the　tiles　of　a　balcony；　eased　himself　onto　a　ledge　that　ran　round　the　building；　and　sidled　along　it；　back　to　the　wall。　He　negotiated　the　corner　and　saw　the　mecha　he　had　seen　fifteen　or　thirty　seconds　before：　a　Scrim　lumbering　in　behind　the　first　wave　of　Inorganics　to　assault　the　doors　of　the　HQ。

He　swung　himself　out　with　a　grip　on　the　evercrete　of　a　flying　buttress；　his　fingers；　as　strong　as　steel；　finding　purchase　where　few　other　Humans'　could　have。　When　the　Scrim　passed　under；　he　made　a　daring　deadfall；　clinging　to　a　ridge　of　armored　backplate。　The　Scrim　stopped　and　turned；　but　saw　nothing　behind　it。　It　charged　after　its　panions；　bringing　up　the　rear；　as　they　breached　the　headquarters'　main　doors。

In　another　instant；　the　man　was　inside　the　building　that　had　for　so　long　resisted　his　every　effort　to　gain　entry。

He　saw　his　chance　and　sprang；　with　nearly　superhuman　strength　and　precision；　to　a　darkened　surveillance　camera　mast；　just　as　the　Inorganic　he　had　been　riding　came　under　intense　fire　from　a　gun　emplacement。　The　fighting　in　the　lobby　and　the　halls　was　hideous　and　without　quarter；　the　Humans　as　willing　to　die　as　the　Invid。　Cool　and　capable　as　he　was；　he　was　staggered　for　a　moment　by　the　blind；　unyielding　carnage　of　it。　Edwards's　advantage　in　numbers　and　firepower　were　quickly　reduced　by　sheer　Human　stubbornness。　The　Invid　media　paid　heavily　for　every　inch　they　claimed。

But　there　were　other　things　to　think　about。　He　slid　away　like　a　flickering　shadow；　knowing　the　floor　plan　from　diligent　study。　He　had　waited　so　long　and　patiently；　so　humbly。　And　now　the　moment　was　his。


Reports　had　it　that　Wolff's　damnable　Wolff　Pack　were　advancing　to　back　up　the　loyalist　Destroids　in　repelling　the　Inorganics。　Luckily；　only　a　part　of　the　Hovertank　unit　had　been　permitted　to　make　planetfall　with　their　mander；　and　most　of　the　rest　of　the　troops　who　had　gone　to　Haydon　IV　were　still　in　orbit　aboard　ship；　too　far　away　to　be　of　any　tactical　importance。

Edwards　didn't　care；　just　as　he　didn't　care　how　many　lives　he　had　to　spend　to　take　the　HQ　citadel。　Troops　and　mecha　were　things　that　he　could　replace；　Minmei　wasn't。

Adams　was　yammering　something　in　his　ear；　Edwards　looked　aside　from　his　screens　and　readouts。　〃What？〃

〃HQ　building　partially　secured　but　still　putting　up　resistance；　sir；〃　Adams　repeated。　〃I　think　we　should　stand　fast　and　wait　till…〃

〃We're　going　in；〃　Edwards　cut　him　off。　〃Where's　that　SDF　escort？〃

Adams　told　him　calmly；　〃Rendezvous　is　still　on　schedule。　They're　beginning　orbital　insertion　now。　We　only　have　twenty…three　minutes；　General。〃

More　than　enough　time。　〃Drive　on！　Hit　hard！〃　Edwards　hollered　over　the　tac　net。　〃I　want　some　results；　people！〃　Relaying　orders　back　to　the　Living　puter　by　means　of　a　receptor　band　that　looked　something　like　an　Invid　slave　headband；　he　worked　the　Inorganics　into　a　killing　frenzy。

He　left　the　limo　behind　to　take　personal　charge　of　the　raid。　His　forces　mowed　down　all　opposition；　slew　and　demolished；　melted　superalloy　and　blew　apart　walls。　At　the　entrance　of　the　brig　section；　he　was　obliged　to　leave　his　Inorganics　and　Ghost　mecha　behind　because　the　corridors　were　too　small。　Ghost　Riders　deployed　with　rifles　leveled；　securing　the　area。


Minmei　had　imagined　the　cell　door　opening；　had　imagined　it　so　many　times　that　she　thought　her　mind　was　playing　tricks　on　her　now　that　it　was　happening。　Oh；　God！　I'd　rather　be　dead　than　crazy！

But　when　Edwards　stepped　into　the　open　doorway；　she　knew　she　wasn't　imagining　it　and　started　to　scream。　Sinking　her　fingers　into　the　black　hair　that　hung　around　her　face；　squeezing　her　eyes　shut；　she　shrieked。

Edwards　pounced　on　her　as　Adams　and　two　lesser　officers　brought　up　the　rear；　guarding　the　door。　The　general　cuffed　her　face；　back　and　forth。　〃Shut　up；　shut　up！〃

Then　he　had　her　shoulders；　shaking　her；　as　she　shuddered　with　long；　wracking　sobs。　〃Minmei；　you're　ing　with　me！　Do　you　hear？　You're　mine！〃　He　slapped　her　again。　〃Not　Hunter's！　Not　Wolff's！　Mine！

Somehow　she　stopped　crying。　Minmei　raised　her　eyes　to　Edwards　with　a　look　he　had　never　seen　from　her　before。　She　wiped　away　the　tears　and　saliva　and　mucous　with　the　back　of　her　hand。

She　looked　her　foe　in　the　eye。　〃If　you　don't　leave　me　alone　you'd　better　kill　me；　T。　R。　Or　else　I　am　going　to　kill　you。〃

He　felt　such　sudden　misgiving　that　he　raised　his　hand　to　hit　her　again；　expecting　her　to　flinch。　But　she　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　him。　〃I'm　going　to　make　you　beg　me　to　forget　what　you　just　said；〃　he　whispered。

Minmei　drew　a　deep　breath。　揘o；　you're　not。〃

A　hand　closed　around　Edwards's　upraised　wrist　from　behind；　a　voice　told　him；　揘o；　you're　not。〃

Edwards　was　pulled　aside；　his　wrist　nearly　broken。　He　was　spun　at　the　cell　wall　like　a　child's　top；　his　burnished　facemask　ringing　against　it；　his　nose　banged　so　that　he　smelled　metal　and　blood。　He　clawed　for　purchase　but　found　himself　sliding　down　the　cold　alloy；　leaving　a　red　stain。　A　foot　pressed　his　head　to　the　deck；　nearly　crushed　it；　then　relented。　Then　the　foot　was　abruptly　gone。

The　general　shook　his　head　to　clear　it；　glancing　about　drunkenly。　Adams　lay　sprawled　in　the　doorway；　perhaps　unconscious；　perhaps　dead。　Edwards　could　see　the　upturned　toes　of　one　downed　guard's　boots　in　the　corridor　beyond。　Minmei　was　on　her　feet　with　a　look　on　her　face　that　Edwards　had　always　longed　to　force　her　to　direct　at　him。　But　it　was　for　the　man　in　the　REF　flight　suit　who　had　appeared　out　of　nowhere。

Edwards　felt　numbed　in　certain　ways；　superalert　in　others。　The　light　danced　in　Minmei's　eyes　as　she　slowly　raised　her　hands　to　her　rescuer。

〃Lynn…Kyle！　Oh；　Lynn…Kyle。。。〃

Her　distant　cousin　and；　in　the　opinion　of　some；　a　reflection　of　the　dark　side　of　Minmei　herself；　her　onetime　lover　and　the　most　renowned　martial　arts　fighter　of　the　Robotech　age。　The　haunted　and　saturnine；　the　brilliantly　gifted　but　ill…starred；　the　undefeated　and　cursed　Lynn…Kyle。

Kyle's　face　was　thinner　than　when　he　had　been　a　movie　star。　The　fine；　silky　black　shag　was　showing　some　gray。　He　kissed　his　cousin's　forehead；　then　took　her　hand。　〃I'm　taking　you　home。〃　There　was　something　as　much　penitent　as　loving　in　his　voice。

Home！　She　couldn't　really　think　what　the　word　meant　anymore。　But　she　felt　weightless；　her　hand　and　her　body　and　her　soul　buoyant　beyond　belief；　as　she　entrusted　her　grip　to　his；　her　feet　seemingly　free　of　the　cell　floor。

Edwards　lurched　and　grabbed　her　ankle　with　a　failing　grip。　〃No！　I　won't　let　you　go！〃

Kyle　was　kneeling　on　Edwards's　biceps；　Edwards's　head　clamped　in　his　hands；　so　quickly　that　there　was　no　sense　of　transition。　The　general　heard　the　bones　of　his　upper　spine　creak　and　knew　that　his　life　lay　on　the　line。

The　dagger　in　Edwards's　boot；　the　energy　derringer　in　his　jacket　pocket…those　might　as　well　be　on　the　SDF…3；　or　back　on　Earth；　for　all　the　good　they　could　do　him。　Kyle　was　as　quick　as　a　lightning　bolt；　and　there　was　simply　no　defense　against　him。　He　was　more　like　an　elemental　force　than　a　man。

〃I've　never　taken　a　human　life。〃　The　words　seemed　to　e　so　slowly；　though　Edwards　knew　Lynn…Kyle　was　speaking　very　fast。　〃But　I'll　kill　you　if　you　don't　lie　still！〃　The　heel　of　Kyle's　hand　lay；　pressing　upward　in　warning；　under　the　general's　nose；　poised　to　execute　him　in　an　instant。

Edwards；　defeated；　kept　still。　In　Kyle's　place；　he　would　have　killed；　but　he　would　never　be　in　Kyle's　place；　he　knew　now。　He　had　lost。

But　he　couldn't　resist　croaking；　〃Go　ahead；　take　the　little　slut；　then。　She's　a　waste　of　time　in　bed　anyway。。。〃

Kyle　seized　a　handful　of　Edwards's　hair；　preparing　to　kill　him。　His　fist　hovered；　middle　knuckle　cocked　forth；　and　Edwards's　eyes　nearly　crossed；　focused　on　that　single　Damoclean　striking　surface　hanging　over　him。

〃Kyle；　no；〃　Minmei　said；　as　her　cousin　drew　quick　breaths　and　gathered　his　resolve。　〃Kyle；　we　need　him！〃

〃I　don't　need　him。〃　The　wrist　turned　upside　down；　the　cocked　knuckle　drawn　back　tight　and　high　under　Kyle's　right　armpit；　aimed　at　Edwards's　Adam's　apple。　The　general　squirmed；　trying　to　move　his　arms；　but　he　was　helpless。

〃Kyle；　the　war's　over。　Just　hang　onto　him；　and　we　can　end　it　all　today。〃　She　swiped　the　long；　damp　night…black　hair　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Kyle；　you're　not　a　murderer。　The　war's　over。〃

〃The　war's　over。〃　Saying　it　didn't　give　Kyle　the　satisfaction　he　thought　he　would　have　back　at　the　beginning…back　when　the　SDF…3　mission　was　recruiting；　back　before　he　and　Minmei　and　the　rest　had　passed　into　the　flames　once　more。

But　it　was　enough。　He　would　settle　for　it。　〃War's　over；　General。　You're　going　to　stand　up　and　order　your　troops　to　surrender。　We'll　strike　a　peace　with　the　Regent。　And　then　we're　all　going　home；　right？〃

Edwards's　mouth　moved；　but　he　was　unable　to　speak。　Yet　he　was　careful　to　nod　unmistakably；　his　hair　pulling　against　Kyle's　grip；　as　he　looked　up　at　that　one　single　knuckle　that　jutted　out　like　a　battering　ram。　〃Urr。　R…right。〃

Kyle　smiled；　nodding。　〃扵he　wolf　shall　dwell　with　the　lamb。'〃　He　grabbed　the　front　of　Edwards's　dress　uniform　jacket；　ready　to　lift　him　up。

〃扐nd　the　leopard　shall　lie　down　with　the　kid。'〃　Kyle　stuck　his　fist　close　to　Edwards's　face　again。　The　fist　was　like　some　gnarled　piece　of　iron　with　a　scruffy　skin…covering　on　it。　〃And　we're　all　going　to　live　happily　ever　after；　isn't　that　right？〃

Edwards　almost　said　something；　but　thought　better　of　it。　He　swallowed；　then　nodded。　Kyle　leaned　forward　to　pull　him　to　his　feet。

There　was　a　su