18_the_end_of_the_circle-第3部分

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ard　the　SDF…3　had　once　mented　in　Exedore's　presence。

〃Featureless；　yes；〃　Veidt　sent；　〃but　hardly　unfinished；　Exedore：〃

Early　on　Exedore　had　found　it　somewhat　unnerving　to　have　his　thoughts　scanned　on　a　moment…to…moment　basis；　but　he　was　long　past　concern　or　misgiving。　It　was　logical；　in　fact；　that　he　open　his　mind　to　Veidt；　if　only　to　expedite　the　unraveling　of　the　cosmic　puzzles　someone　had　seen　fit　to　send　their　way。

And　〃baffling〃　only　began　to　describe　them。

The　SDF…3　was　missing；　not　merely　disappeared　into　hyperspace　but　vanished　from　the　Quadrant。　The　ship　had　not　emerged　from　fold　anywhere　in　known　space；　nor　was　it　trapped　in　the　netherscape　of　the　hyperdomain。　Haydon　IV's　Awareness　had　told　them　that　much　already。　But　what　the　artificial　sentience　could　not　tell　them　was　where　the　ship　was　or　whether　it　existed　at　all。　The　SDF…3　had　simply　ceased　to　be；　and　yet　there　were　no　indications　that　it　had　met　with　any　of　the　thousand　ills　matter　was　heir　to。

That　the　dematerialization　had　coincided　with　a　reawakening　of　a　myriad　slumbering　puter　ponents；　Exedore　initially　read　as　a　sign　that　the　artifact　planet　had　been　in　some　sense；　responsible　for　the　event。　Subsequent　investigation；　however；　had　led　him　to　the　conclusion　that　the　Awareness　had　not　been　responding　to　the　SDF…3's　plight；　after　all；　but　to　a　concurrent　phenomenon　that　had　taken　place　clear　across　the　Quadrant：

Along　a　spacetime　curve　that　led　to　Earth。

Something　originating　there　had　sent　an　energy　pulse　through　the　fabric　of　the　continuum；　whose　destination　seemed　to　be　the　distant　collapsed　giant　the　Tiresians　knew　as　Ranaath's　Star。

Haydon…he　has　returned　to　our　world！　Veidt　had　sent　at　the　time；　and…novice　astrophysicist　that　he　was…Exedore　had　taken　him　literally。　But　literalness　was　not　something　the　Haydonites　practiced　with　regularity；　and　the　expression…for　that　was　what　it　was…was　best　translated　by　the　Terran　self　condemning　phrase　Well；　I'll　be　damned！

The　very　one　Exedore　had　used　sometime　later　when　he　bad　learned　of　the　Invid's　departure…months　ago；　Earthrelative；　after　a　series　of　mostly　interrupted　exchanges　between　Earth　and　Tirol　and　between　Tirol　and　Haydon　IV。　Since　then；　the　Awareness　had　been　spewing　out　a　steady　stream　of　mathematical　calculations　and　puzzling　data　readers；　conversing　with　itself　on　an　information　level　the　likes　of　which　Exedore　had　never　encountered。　Veidt　had　been　successful　in　eavesdropping　on　the　Awareness's　inner　dialog　and　enticing　it　to　display　some　of　its　findings…in　holographics；　projecbeam；　and　the　occasional　verbalization；　remarkably　enough；　issued　forth　in　fluent　Tiresian　（linga　franca）。　But　little　of　it　made　any　sense　to　Exedore；　on　whose　shoulders　the　search　for　the　missing　flagship　had　fallen。　The　Zentraedi　could　almost　smile；　recalling　Zor's　original　fortress；　the　SDF…1。　He　had　been　successful　in　tracing　that　one；　but　that　hardly　qualified　him　as　an　expert　in　the　field。

Cabell　had　promised　to　tear　himself　away　from　Tiresia　to　join　in　plying　the　Awareness　with　questions；　but　Exedore　thought　the　coded　outpourings　might　outdistance　even　the　master　himself。

They　needed　Emil　Lang　or　the　Zor…clone；　Rem；　who　had　contributed　so　much　to　the　facsimile　matrix　fashioned　by　the　REF　to　empower　its　fleet。　They　needed　the　bined　intellect　of　the　SDF…3's　Robotechnicians。

Better　still；　they　needed　Haydon。　〃My　thought　exactly；　Lord　Exedore。〃

Exedore　chuckled　to　himself。　〃Yes；　Veidt。　The　Earthers　have　a　saying；　I　believe。　‘Great　minds　think…'〃

The　chamber　had　begun　to　vibrate。　That　in　itself　was　nothing　unusual。　In　fact；　during　the　five　years　Exedore　had　been　on…world　he　had　known　instances　where　the　vibrations　were　strong　enough　to　rattle　the　alloy　walls　and　rumble　data　discs　out　of　their　holders。　But　the　sudden　tremor　was　more　intense　than　any　he　had　experienced。

〃Another　atmospheric　cleansing？〃　the　Zentraedi　asked　in　a　quavering　voice。　〃A　seasonal　change？　An　internal　overhaul；　the　upwelling　of　a　new　lake　or　the　damming　of　a　stream…send　something；　will　you！〃

Veidt　had　glided　back　to　his　station　by　the　central　data　pillar；　his　high…collared　cape　a　screen　for　projecbeam　schematics；　a　dizzying　light　show　of　flashing　alphanumeric　analogues　and　equational　abstracts。

〃An　intruder；　perhaps；〃　Exedore　continued；　his　stubby　hands　spread　atop　leaping　sheets　of　hard　copy　like　some　Ouija　board　reader。　〃An　unannounced　ship…〃

〃I　heard　you；〃　Veidt　sent　with　a　sting。　〃It　is　none　of　those　things。　Something　novel；　unprecedented。〃

Exedore　ceased　his　futile　efforts　to　steady　his　work　and　with　some　difficulty　swiveled　to　regard　the　strobing　databanks　of　the　Awareness；　data　scrolls　and　cards　tattooing　to　the　floor　at　his　feet。　The　information　traffic　displayed　was　enough　to　render　the　Invid　leave…taking　a　minor　itch。

〃What　is　it；　Veidt？〃　Exedore　pressed；　a　note　of　alarm　in　his　voice。　A　deep…space　view　of　Haydon　IV　advanced　through　the　3…D　field　of　a　projecbeam；　a　variegated　ball　in　time…lapse　motion。　〃Veidt；〃　he　repeated。

〃Primary　activation　sequences　have　menced；〃　the　Haydonite　sent　with　curious　detachment。　〃Atmospheric　integrity　is　constant　for　the　moment。　Surface　damage　is　projected　to　be　well　within　accepted　parameters。　Casualties　among　offworlders　are　not　expected　to　exceed　a　thousand。〃

〃Casualties？〃　Exedore　said；　up　on　shaky　legs；　bulging　eyes　darting　between　Veidt　and　the　projecbeam　field。

Veidt　rotated　to　face　him；　a　lavender　brightness　pulsating　from　the　center　of　his　smooth　forehead。　〃The　crossing　is　achieved。　The　Event　is　occurred。　Praise　Haydon。〃

Careful　not　to　be　too　literal；　Exedore　reminded　himself。　Praise　Haydon　could　mean　almost　anything。　〃The　Event？〃　he　asked　cautiously。

Veidt　nodded。　〃Haydon　IV　is　leaving　orbit。　Shortly；　we　will　depart　the　Briz'dziki　system　entirely。〃

Exedore's　mouth　fell　open。　〃Haydon；〃　he　muttered。　〃He　has　returned　to　our　world。〃


CHAPTER　THREE

The　motion　to　leave　Earth　irradiated　rather　than　leave　it　to　the　Invid　Regis　was　carried　by　a　narrow　margin。　Balloting　was　kept　secret；　and　there　has　yet　to　be　discovered　a　person…by…person　breakdown　of　the　vote。　Of　the　ten　members　of　the　＇Plenipotentiary＇　Council；　there　are　believed　to　have　been　two　abstentions　from　Stinson　and　Longchamps。　Obstat；　Huxley；　and　others　have　elsewhere　indicated　the　basis　of　their　individual　decisions。　Of　the　participating　members　of　the　REF　mand　staff；　seven　voted　in　favor　of　using　the　Neutron…S　missiles；　five　against。　It　is　altogether　ironic　that　the　decision　to　irradiate　Earth　was　arrived　at　in　Tiresia；　where；　centuries　before；　the　Robotech　Masters　had　sentenced　Optera　to　suffer　a　similar　fate。
Ahmed　Rashona；　That　Pass　in　the　Night：　The　SDF…3　and　the　Mission　to　Tirol

Lisa　dreamed　a　tunnel　in　the　sky；　a　radiant　corridor　stretching　timeless　across　the　heavens。　Warm　to　her　hands　and　bare　feet；　secure　and　enfolding；　redolent　with　aromas　of　spring　and　summer。　At　one　end　her　father　waved　good…bye；　a　smashing　figure　in　his　United　Earth　Government　tunic　with　its　breast　salad　of　ribbons　and　braid；　at　the　other　end　was　a　patch　of　scudded　sky　that　could　have　belonged　only　to　once…upon…a…time　Earth。

It　occurred　to　her　that　she　could　not　have　been　more　than　seventeen；　returning　to　Macross　Island　after　her　first　real　leave。　Was　this　carpeting　below　her；　then？　The　warm　glow　the　lights　of　some　airport　concourse　or　jetway？

But　where　were　the　flight　attendants；　then；　where　were　her　guides？　And　how　could　she　hope　to　find　her　seat　without　a　boarding　pass？　

She　slapped　the　pockets　of　her　long　coat　as　she　walked；　panic　gaining　on　her。　The　light　ahead　was　almost　too　intense　to　behold；　like　the　sun　itself　on　a　cloudless　south　Pacific　afternoon　when　there　was　not　a　breeze　in　the　world。

The　hot　sand　was　making　her　hurry　along；　but　it　was　the　voice　she　was　responding　to　now。　The　panic　evaporated；　trailing　behind　her　ghostly　and　diffuse；　and　the　warmth　returned。　Her　mother's　voice；　her　arthritic　hand　waving　in　the　light　at　the　end　of　the　corridor。　Her　guide；　to　be　sure；　a　smile　broadening　as　Lisa　outran　the　years；　the　deaths　and　disappearances　that　ruined　her　garden。　A　child　as　she　approached　the　light；　Earth　too　remote　to　touch　。。。

I'm　dead！　she　thought？

…as　noise　filled　her　up　and　air　swelled　her　lungs；　bringing　renewed　life　to　her　pounding　heart。　A　dream；　she　told　herself；　the　recurrent　one　her　mind　reserved　for　hyperspace　folds。

Everyone　had　them；　those　nightmares　and　visions；　brief　excursions　to　private　heavens　or　hells。　Space　lace；　some　of　the　crew　called　it。　With　an　ever…present　out…of…body　ponent；　an　after…life　acpaniment。

Only　this　time　she　had　died；　and　that　had　never　happened　before。　Grief　coursed　through　her；　a　profound　sense　of　loss；　a　kind　of　terminal　nostalgia。　Had　it　been　stirred　by　the　dream？　Or　did　it　emanate　from　the　nurturing　other　she　had　discovered　within　herself？

Roy　was　suddenly　on　her　mind；　her　bright　center　in　the　universe；　her　barely　five…year…old　hero。　The　thought　of　having　to　open　her　eyes　filled　her　with　fear。　But　open　them　she　would。

And　the　grief　propagated。

The　SDF…3　bridge　was　as　dark　and　silent　as　a　tomb。　Sweat　burst　from　her　palms　like　splinters　of　ice。

〃Lieutenant　Toler；〃　she　said。　〃Mister　Hakawa？〃

〃Here；　sir；〃　someone　answered　from　a　duty　station　behind　the　mand　chair。　She　called　to　the　rest…Williamson；　Price；　Martino…and　one　by　one　they　responded；　reborn　from　dreams。　Lisa　flathanded　the　…line　stud　built　into　the　arm　of　the　chair　and　called　for　Dr。　Lang　in　engineering。

〃All　systems　are　down；　Sir；〃　said　a　voice　in　the　darkness…Price；　Lisa　ventured　correctly。　〃No　response　from　any　of　the　backups：　It's　like　we're　unplugged。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　Lisa　returned。　〃We're　obviously　not　weightless；　Mister　Price。　And　unless　we've　somehow　defolded　on　Earth's　surface；　I'd　hazard　a　guess　some　systems　are　operational。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Doesn't　anyone　keep　a　damn　flashlight　up　here？〃　she　said；　cautiously　feeling　her　way　out　of　the　chair。　Off　to　her　right　she　heard　a　pneumatic　hiss；　a　tear　of　Velcro。　〃Everyone　stay　put；〃　she　called　toward　the　sound。　〃We're　still　on　full　alert；　gentlemen。　Besides；　I　don't　want　anyone　walking　into　a　bulkhead。　〃She　directed　her　voice　starboard；　toward　Toler's　station　beneath　the　threat　board。　〃Mister　Toler；　you're　the　youngest　among　us。　How's　your　vision？〃

〃Better　than　perfect；　sir；〃　Toler　told　her；　a　crack　in　his　voice　on　the　last　word。

〃Do　you　think　you　can　make　your　way　to　the　hatch　and　engage　the　override？〃

〃With　my　eyes　closed；　sir。〃

Everyone　laughed；　and　the　tension　eased　somewhat。　〃Yes；　well；　you　can　keep　your　eyes　open；　Lieutenant。　This　isn't　a　test　of　your　agility。　I　just　want　to　know　if　the　whole　ship's　in　this　fix。〃

〃I　understand；　sir。〃

Lisa　heard　Toler's　chair　swivel。　A　few　moments　later　came　the　low　thud　of　retracting　bolts。　The　air　stirred　as　the　hatch　slid　open　and　the　sound　of　half　a　dozen　voices　drifted　in　from　the　operations　room。　Toler　and　someone　else　made　startled　sounds。　〃What　happened？〃　Lisa　asked。

A　man's　voice　growled：　〃Who　is　that？〃

〃Lieutenant　Toler。　Who's　that？〃

〃mander　Forsythe；　Lieutenant。　Stand　aside。〃

〃Sir！〃　Toler　snapped。

Lisa　heard　a　hollow　meeting　of　flesh　and　bone　and　a　follow　up　wince　of　pain。　〃Damn；　boy；〃　her　bald…headed　exec　said；　〃you　don't　have　to　salute　me！〃

Just　then　the　emergency　lights　came　up；　banks　at　a　time；　red　and　somber　throughout　the　bridge。　A　slight　shudder　swept　through　the　ship；　and　Klaxons　wailed　midnote；　signaling　battle　stations。

〃That's　more　like　it；〃　Lisa　enthused。　〃Showing　up　crippled　would　send　one　hell　of　a　message　to　the　Regis。〃

Forsythe　stepped　through　the　hatch；　throwing　Toler　a　hard　look　before　joining　Price　at　one　of　the　forward　heads…up　display　screens。

〃We're　still　dead　in　space；　sir；〃　Hakawa　updated。　〃Auxiliary　power　forward　and　to　all　priority　stations；　but　all　scanning；　ECM；　and　defense　systems　are　non…op。〃

〃Can　we　determine　our　position？〃　Forsythe　asked。　〃Negative；　sir　Guidance；　telemetry；　and　astrogation　are　still　down。〃

Lisa　traded　frowns　with　Forsythe　and　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　the　watch　officer。　〃Well；　we　can　at　least　take　a　look　outside；　can't　we？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Raise　the　forward　cowl；　Mister　Hakawa；〃　Forsythe　said　impatiently。

Lisa　could　barely　contain　herself。　It　was　almost　as　though　she　could　dismiss　this　latest　snafu　the　way　a　cyclist　might　shrug　off　a　punctured　tire　after　a　thousand…mile　journey。　Earth；　after　close　to　fifteen　years。　With　nothing　unforeseen　in　store　for　them　this　time：　no　accidental　jumps　to　Pluto；　no　fold　hitchhikers　to　rescue；　no　surprise　attacks　by　alien　cruisers。　The　REF　knew　who　and　what　they　had　e　for：　the　Regis　and　the　world　they　had　lost　to　her。　They　knew；　too；　the　Shock　Troopers　and　Pincers　they　would　be　facing；　and　they　knew　how　to　engage　them。

And　best　of　all；　they　knew　they　would　succeed。

Six　years　of　effort　had　gone　into　this　one　day；　and　the　fleet　that　was　the　result　of　that　labor　would　be　spread　out　before　them；　weapons　arrays　and　bat　mecha　targeted　for　Reflex　Point。　Earth；　Lisa　said　to　herself　again　as　the　forward　view　port　shields　retracted。　Earth！

Light　of　a　sort　began　to　filter　onto　the　bridge；　only　it　was　neither　the　wele　warmth　of　Sol　nor　the　reflected　brilliance　of　their　blue…white　homeworld。

It　was　the　alien　light　at　the　end　of　Lisa's　tunnel　in　the　sky。　It　was　death　light。


On　the　mand　balcony　of　the　fortress's　cavernous　Tactical　Information　Center；　Rick　Hunter　stared　unprehendingly　at　the　monitors　affixed　to　the　portside　bulkhead。

〃I'm　sorry；　sir；〃　an　enlisted…rating　tech　stationed　at　a　nearby　console　repeated；　〃but　the　opticals　are　on…line。　This　is　the　external　view。　Sir。〃

In　the　phasing；　satanic　illumination　of　the　emergency　lights　the　room　could　have　been　a　corner　of　hell。　Rick　would　have　taken　odds　that　it　was　just　that：　the　hell　of　his　space　lace　given　shape　during　the　fold。　But　unlike　Lisa's　recurrent　tunnel；　Rick's　nightmare　vision　did　not　require　a　jump　to　ignite　it。　The　set；　the　setting；　the　thousand　separate　elements　that　posed　it　could　all　be　traced　back　to　the　Genesis　Pits　on　Optera。　Walk　away　from　it　you　might；　but　turn　around　and　the　fear　would　be　there；　waiting　for　you；　beckoning　you　back　into　its　sinister　embrace。

An　inter　buzzed　insistently　at　Rick's　back。　〃mand　One；〃　he　heard　his　adjutant　say　at　last。　〃Doctor　Lang；　Admiral；〃　the　colonel　continued；　conveying　the　mobile　over　to　him。

〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃　Rick　shouted　into　the　mouth　piece。　〃Where　are　we？〃　He　glanced　at　the　monitors　once　more　before　proceeding。　〃It　looks　like　fog　out　there；　Lang。　Is　that　possible？〃

〃I　would　like　to　humor　you；　Admiral；〃　Lang　said；　〃but；　unfortunately；　there　is　little　humor　in　the　situation。　And　if　it　is　indeed　a　fog；　as　you　suggest；　it　is　of　the　quantum　sort。　We　have　life　support；　but　little　else；　as　I'm　sure　you're　aware。　〃

Rick's　boot　continued　to　tap　the　floor　long　after　Lang　had　finished。　The　two　men　had　grown　distant　from　each　other　on　Tirol；　Lang　like　some　Prometheus　with　his　facsimile　Protoculture　matrix；　and　Rick　busy　with　Roy　more　often　than　not。　The　wizard　of　Robotechnology　kept　getting　stranger　while　Rick　just　kept　getting　grayer。

〃How　long　before　you　can　return　power　to　the　drives？〃　Rick　demanded。

It　was　to　be　the　REF's　final　battle；　he　thought；　the　one　that　was　to　decide　their