15_death_dance-第8部分

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Justine　Huxley　broke　the　unfortable　silence。　〃I　think　we're　missing　the　point　here。〃　She　motioned　to　Wolff。　〃Friends；　is　the　term　the　colonel　used。　I　ask　you　all　to　disregard　for　a　moment　the　events　of　the　past　four　months；　and　recall　our　first　meeting　with　the　Sentinels；　especially　the　pledges　that　were　exchanged　then。〃

As　the　council　members　grumbled　agreement　in　their　individual　fashions；　Wolff　caught　Exedore　and　Lang　sending　hopeful　looks　in　his　direction。

Then　Edwards　got　to　his　feet　to　address　the　twelve。

〃I'd　be　the　first　to　admit　that　the　Sentinels　are　both　our　friends　and　allies；〃　he　began；　〃but　there's　an　important　issue　here　that's　being　neglected…the　Invid。　The　Regent's　position　is　very　clear：　any　assistance　we　render　will　be　considered　a　further　act　of　war。　And　he　makes　no　distinction　between　Humans　and　XTs　in　this　matter。〃

Wolff's　heart　sank。

Edwards　waited　for　the　room　to　quiet。　〃I　don't　think　it's　necessary　for　me　to　remind　the　council　of　the　presence　of　the　Invid　fleet。　I'm　not　saying　that　if　it　came　right　down　to　mixing　it　up　with　them　we　couldn't　e　out　on　top；　but　the　results　of　an　engagement　in　any　case　would　have　disastrous　effects　on　our　long…range　goal…to　repair　our　ship　and　return　to　Earth。　I'm　sure　General　Reinhardt　and　Admiral　Forsythe　concur　in　this　matter。〃

Reluctantly；　Reinhardt　inclined　his　head；　averting　Wolff's　gaze。　Edwards；　however；　was　regarding　Wolff。

〃The　timing　couldn't　be　worse；　Wolff。　I'm　sorry。　Perhaps　if　we　wait　until　the　truce　is　signed…say；　six　months　or　so…〃

〃They　don't　have　six　months！〃　Wolff　shouted。　He　looked　to　the　council。　〃One　ship！　One　goddamned…〃

〃The　council　will　take　these　things　into　consideration　and　render　its　judgment　in　a　few　days；　Mr。　Wolff；〃　the　senator　bit　out；　his　face　flushed。

〃But…〃

〃In　a　few　days；　Wolff。〃

The　senator's　gavel　went　down。


〃It　is　fate　at　work！〃　Tesla　roared　jubilantly。　〃Do　you　see；　Burak…does　it　escape　you　how　we　came　to　be　here；　how　we　were　meant　to　be　here？〃

Burak　screwed　up　his　devil's　face　and　gestured　to　their　surroundings。　〃Here？　Meant　to　be　here？〃

Tesla　made　a　dismissive　motion。　〃In　this　ship　at　this　particular　time；〃　he　emphasized。　〃With　the　Regent　close　enough　to　touch。〃　His　hands　flexed　around　an　invisible　throat。

The　two　conspirators　were　sequestered　in　the　fortress's　confinement　area；　opposite　one　another　in　separate　laser…barred　cells。　Burak　was　sullen…faced；　perched　on　the　edge　of　an　aluminum…framed　bunk　studying　his　hands；　while　across　the　corridor　Tesla　paced　back　and　forth。

〃We　must　find　a　way　out　of　here；〃　the　Invid　said；　ing　to　a　halt。　〃I　must。。。talk　to　him；　convince　him…〃　He　whirled　to　face　Burak。　〃You　don't　think　they　would　keep　my　presence　from　him　a　secret；　do　you？〃

Burak　shrugged。

〃I　cannot　take　the　chance；〃　he　muttered；　back　in　motion　once　more。　〃Burak；　do　you　still　wish　to　see　your　planet　freed　from　its　curse？〃

〃You　know　I　do；　Tesla。　But　how　can　I　help　you　now？　They've　even　taken　your　fruits　from　my　care。〃

〃Never　mind　the　fruits。〃　Tesla　cautiously　pushed　his　hand　into　the　lasers'　field；　and　winced　at　the　resultant　burn。　〃Just　do　as　I　ask　when　the　moment　arrives。　We　have　not　e　this　far　to　be　cheated　out　of　our　victory。〃


Betrayal　of　a　different　sort　had　Minmei　in　tears　in　Edwards's　quarters。　The　general　was　lying　on　the　bed；　his　back　against　the　headboard；　hands　clasped　behind　his　head。　Minmei　was　well　within　reach　in　a　chair　by　the　bed；　but　otherwise　remote。　He　had　found　her　waiting　for　him　upon　his　return　from　the　council　chambers；　still　ruffled　from　her　impulsive　flight　to　the　fortress；　her　eyes　red…rimmed　and　swollen。　He　didn't　need　to　ask；　so　instead；　he　had　fixed　himself　a　drink；　kicked　off　his　boots；　and　settled　himself　on　the　bed　while　she　cried。

〃He's　alive；〃　Edwards　said　now；　reaching　for　the　drink。　〃Isn't　that　what　counts？〃

She　lifted　her　face　from　her　hands　to　stare　at　him。　〃That's　the　problem。〃

〃Oh；　you　wish　he　was　dead。〃

Minmei　sobbed　and　shook　her　head。　〃You　bastard；〃　she　told　him。

Edwards　laughed　derisively　and　took　a　long　pull　from　the　glass；　determined　not　to　give　in　to　her。　〃What　do　you　want　from　me；　Minmei？〃

She　wiped　her　eyes　and　glared　at　him。　〃Is　it　too　much　to　expect　some　support？〃

〃You　don't　need　my　support。　You're　feeling　guilty　because　Wolff　was　stupid　enough　to　think　you'd　just　sit　around　and　pine　for　him。　And　I　suppose　I　don't　count　anymore…I　was　just　a　shoulder　to　cry　on。〃

〃Stop　it；　T。R。…please。〃　Minmei　kneeled　by　the　bed；　resting　her　cheek　on　his　thigh。　〃What　am　I　going　to　say　to　him？〃

Edwards　made　a　harsh　sound　and　pulled　himself　away　from　her　sharply。　He　got　up　off　the　opposite　side　of　the　bed　and　walked　to　the　center　of　the　room；　turning　on　her。　〃I　don't　have　time　for　this　kind　of　nonsense。　Tell　him　whatever　you　want。　Just　quit　whining　about　it。〃

He　kept　his　back　to　her　while　he　freshened　his　drink；　but　he　could　hear　her　slipping　into　her　shoes　and　moving　toward　the　door。　〃And　tell　him　I　said　'Hi；'〃　he　managed　before　the　door　closed。

His　hand　was　shaking　as　he　downed　the　second　drink；　he　was　about　to　head　for　the　shower　when　his　　tone　sounded。　It　was　Major　Benson。

〃Some　interesting　conversation　down　in　confinement；〃　Edwards's　adjutant　reported。　〃Seems　there's　no　love　lost　between　Tesla　and　the　Regent。　He's　pretty　anxious　to　talk　to　his　mander　in　chief；　but　it　sounds　to　me　like　he's　got　murder　on　his　mind。〃

Edwards's　head　went　back　in　surprise。　〃An　unexpected　development。〃

〃He's　got　some　kind　of　deal　going　with　that　other　alien。　Can't　make　too　much　sense　of　it。　Some　payback　after　Tesla　sets　himself　up　as　number　one。〃

While　Benson　continued　to　fill　in　the　scant　details；　Edwards　concluded　that　an　assassination　might　prove　an　advantageous　event。　He　didn't　believe　the　Invid　fleet　would　go　to　guns　over　the　death　of　an　imposter…there　was　simply　too　much　at　stake…and　by　allowing　the　murder；　Edwards　would　be　sending　a　clear　message　to　the　real　Regent。　More　than　that；　Edwards　could　lay　the　blame　for　a　plete　diplomatic　breakdown　on　Wolff；　and　by　extension；　the　rest　of　the　Sentinels。

〃Anything　else　from　other　quarters？〃　He　heard　Benson　laugh　shortly。

〃You'll　love　this。　I　think　Lang　is　going　to　offer　Wolff　the　SDF…7。　Of　course　Wolff　would　have　to　make　it　look　like　he　pirated　the　thing。。。〃

Edwards　mulled　it　over。　A　murder；　the　theft　of　a　ship；　an　escape。。。and　the　council's　okay　to　hunt　the　assassins　down…a　chance　to　finish　the　job　the　Invid　had　begun。

Edwards　smiled　down　on　the　inter。　〃I'll　get　back　to　you；〃　he　told　Benson。


CHAPTER　SIX

Somewhere　along　the　line；　everyone　seemed　to　lose　sight　of　the　fact　that　love　had　won　the　First　Robotech　War。　Now　it　was　down　to　ships　and　body　counts；　it　was　no　longer　a　fight　for　survival　but　a　war　for　supremacy；　a　savage　game。
Selig　Kahler；　The　Tirolian　Campaign　

Love　is　a　battlefield。
Late　twentieth…century　song　lyric

〃It's　bad　news；　Colonel；〃　Dr。　Lang　told　Wolff　two　hours　after　the　council　had　adjourned。

They　were　in　Lang's　quarters　now；　along　with　Exedore；　Janice；　and　the　XT；　Sarna。　Wolff　had　spent　the　intervening　time　pacing　the　fortress's　corridors　like　an　expectant　father。　He　had　tried　to　locate　Minmei；　but　no　one　seemed　to　know　where　she　had　disappeared　to　after　leaving　the　docking　bay　with　Edwards　and　his　staff。

〃The　council　is　going　to　rule　against　you；〃　Lang　continued；　passing　drinks　to　everyone　but　Sarna。　〃Huxley　and　Obstat　are　on　our　side；　possibly　Stinson；　and　Reinhardt's　vote　counts　for　something；　but　we　don't　have　enough　to　sway　the　rest。〃

Wolff　scowled　and　sipped　from　his　glass。　〃You　know　what's　funny？　In　a　crazy　way　I　can　see　their　point。　You　help　us；　and　so…long　any　hopes　of　a　truce。〃

〃You're　correct；　Colonel；〃　Exedore　affirmed。　〃The　Sentinels　were　meant　to　be　our　ally；　but　instead　they've　bee　our　liability。　And　as　you　yourself　understand；　Earth's　safety　remains　the　council's　primary　concern。　A　protracted　war　with　the　Invid　will　only　diminish　our　chances　of　intercepting　the　Robotech　Masters。〃

Wolff　exchanged　looks　with　Sarna　and　Janice；　both　women　seemed　curiously　detached　from　the　scene；　almost　as　if　they　served　some　unknown；　greater　cause。　〃Look；〃　he　said；　putting　his　drink　down　in　a　gesture　of　finality；　〃now　that　we　all　understand　the　diplomatic　angles　of　this　thing；　how　in　the　hell　are　we　going　to　help　them？〃　He　shot　to　his　feet。　〃You　think　I　can　just　sit　around　here；　knowing　what　they're　going　through？　They're　stranded　out　there。〃

〃Perhaps　there　is　a　way；〃　Lang　said　after　a　brief　silence。　He　shook　his　head　back　and　forth。　〃It　could　have　disastrous　consequences；　Colonel；　disastrous。　And　you'd　have　to　prepare　yourselves　for　hardships　of　an　entirely　new　order。。。〃

Prison；　Wolff　thought。　As　an　appeasement　to　the　Regent　after　the　rescue。　Would　Rick　accept　it；　he　wondered；　or　would　they　choose　to　die　on　Praxis…outcasts？　〃A　ship；〃　Lang　was　saying　when　Wolff　looked　up…a　ship！　He　tried　to　follow　the　doctor's　nervous　movements　as　he　went　on　to　explain。

〃It's　one　of　our　prototypes…not　large；　and　not　especially　well…armed。　But　it's　capable　of　local　fold　operations；　Wolff；　and　there's　a　skeleton　crew　standing　by…volunteers；　each　one　of　them　loyal　to　the　admirals。〃

Wolff's　mouth　dropped　open；　even　Janice　and　Sarna　were　stunned　by　the　doctor's　revelation。　〃But　when　could　we　get　it？〃　he　asked。

Exedore　turned　to　him。　〃First；　Colonel；　you'll　be　required　to　steal　it。〃

Just　then　the　door　tone　to　Lang's　quarters　sounded。　Lang　looked　around　anxiously；　then　got　up　to　answer　it。　A　moment　later；　he　was　showing　Lynn…Minmei　into　everyone's　midst。

〃Janice；〃　Minmei　said；　approaching　her　former　partner。

Janice　evaded　Minmei's　embrace；　and　nodded　coolly。

〃Lynn。〃

The　singer　began　to　look　around　the　room。　Lang　cleared　his　throat　meaningfully。　〃I　think　we　should　give　Minmei　and　the　colonel　some　privacy；〃　he　said；　already　ushering　Exedore；　Janice；　and　Sarna　from　the　room。

When　the　door　slid　shut　a　moment　later；　it　was　Minmei　who　eased　out　of　Jonathan's　embrace。　〃Lynn；　what's　wrong？〃　he　said；　standing　there　with　his　arms　open。

She　fumbled　with　the　hem　of　her　jacket　and　forced　a　smile。　〃Colonel；　I　can't　tell　you　how　hap…〃

〃'Colonel'？　Lynn；　tell　me　what's　going　on。　I　saw　you　with　General　Edwards　this　morning　and　now　you're　calling　me　colonel　after　I　haven't　seen　you　in　six　months。。。〃　He　tried　to　hug　her　once　more；　but　she　deftly　took　his　hand　between　hers　and　motioned　him　to　the　couch。

〃Jonathan；〃　she　began　hesitantly；　〃I　know　you're　expecting　us　to　take　up　where　we　left　off；　but　things　have　changed。〃

〃So　I　keep　hearing。〃

Wolff　was　suddenly　defensive；　and　she　picked　up　on　his　tone。　〃You　have　to　remember；　we　only　had　a　few　days　together。　And　until　yesterday　I　thought。。。〃

〃You　thought　I　was　dead。〃

Minmei　nodded。　〃I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　was　practically　crazy　with　grief　and　anger。〃　She　met　his　gaze　and　held　it。　〃I　hated　you；　Jonathan…hated　you　for　leaving　me；　hated　you　for。。。so　many　things。〃

Wolff　considered　her　words；　then　smiled　in　sudden　realization。　〃And　you　found　someone　to　fill　in　all　those　lonely　hours。〃

Minmei's　eyes　flashed。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　you　were　married？〃

Wolff　tried　to　keep　his　face　from　registering　surprise。　〃We're　separated；〃　he　said。　〃Besides；　it　never　came　up。　I　was　going　to　tell　you。　It's　just　that　everything　got　fouled　up。〃

〃'Blame　it　on　the　Invid；'〃　Minmei　said；　almost　cracking　a　smile。　The　phrase　had　bee　something　of　a　catch…all　excuse　in　Tiresia。　Wolff　was　blushing。　〃Listen；〃　she　told　him；　〃I'm　not　angry　anymore。　I'm　just。。。happy　that　all　of　you　are　alive。　How　are　Rick　and　Lisa？　And　Max…〃

〃So　when　did　you　start　seeing　Edwards？〃

Minmei　stood　up　and　stepped　away　from　the　couch；　wringing　her　hands。　〃I　told　you：　you　weren't　there　for　me；　Jonathan。　I　needed　someone　to　turn　to。〃

〃And　you　picked　Edwards！〃　Wolff　shook　his　head　in　amazement。　〃Don't　you　realize　he's　against　everything　we　stand　for？　He's　nothing　but　a　self…serving；　egotistical　maniac。〃

〃I　won't　have　you　talking　about　him　like　that！〃　Minmei　said　angrily。　〃He　treated　me　with　kindness　and　respect；　and　what's　more；　he's　the　only　one　interested　in　making　peace　with　the　Invid　and　putting　a　stop　to　all　this　madness。　Not　like　you　and　the　rest　of　those。。。Sentinels；　tearing　around　space　stirring　things　up；　not　giving　a　damn　what　goes　on　back　here！〃

Wolff　was　too　numb　to　respond。　Edwards；　he　thought；　was　like　some　kind　of　toxic　spill；　polluting　everything　he　touched。　Minmei　had　her　arms　folded　across　her　chest；　as　though　she　were　trying　to　hold　herself　together；　her　foot　was　tapping　the　floor。　Wolff　reached　for　his　drink　and　drained　the　glass。

〃Well；　I　guess　there's　nothing　more　to　say；　is　there？〃

Her　lips　were　a　thin　line；　trembling；　then　all　at　once　she　seemed　to　relax。　〃I　want　us　to　be　friends；　Jonathan。　I've　opened　a　kind　of　canteen　in　Tiresia；　and　I'd　love　you　to　see　it。　Will　you　promise　to　stop　by？〃

He　regarded　her　as　one　would　a　memory；　mulling　over　her　performance；　the　scene　the　two　of　them　had　just　played　out。　〃Sure；〃　he　told　her　absently；　〃I'll　stop　by。〃

〃There's　a　lot　you'll　be　able　to　do　here…all　sorts　of　things。　You'll　see。〃　Minmei　seemed　excited；　like　she　had　won　a　court　case　or　something。　She　smiled　at　him　from　the　doorway。　〃See　you　soon；　okay？〃

Wolff　forced　a　smile　and　raised　his　empty　glass　to　her。　〃To　friendship；〃　he　offered。

She　threw　him　a　wink　and　stepped　out。

Applause；　Wolff　said　to　himself。


While　Wolff　and　Minmei　were　having　their　heart…to…heart　and　Exedore　and　Sarna　were　off　somewhere　discussing　Haydon　IV's　curious　history；　Lang　took　his　AI　creation　to　his　office　and　dumped　Janice's　memory　into　one　of　the　lab's　databanks。　He　scanned　the　android's　recordings；　briefly　reviewing　the　events　of　the　Karbarran　and　Praxian　campaigns；　but　focusing　in　on　Janice's　monitorings　and　evaluations　of　the　Sentinels'　personnel。　There　was　data　about　Veidt　and　Sarna；　the　beings　from　Haydon　IV；　that　justified　further　analysis；　and　some　anomalies　concerning　the　Tiresian　Rem；　but　for　the　moment　Lang's　main　concerns　were　Burak　and　Tesla。　He　had　found　the　Invid's　bio…readings　baffling；　much　different　from　those　of　the　so…called　scientists；　and　superior　in　some　respects　to　the　Regent　himself！　Moreover；　the　data　provided　suggested　that　Tesla　was　after　nothing　less　than　the　Regent's　throne。　And　apparently　the　Perytonian；　Burak；　had　been　assisting　him　in　some　unspecified　way。　Lang　reminded　himself　to　alert　Wolff　to　these　matters。


Minmei　was　gone　by　the　time　Lang　and　the　others　returned　to　the　scientist's　quarters；　and　Wolff　seemed　sullen；　just　as　Lang　had　anticipated。　There　was　a　nearly　empty　brandy　bottle　on　the　low　table　in　front　of　the　couch。

〃I　want　to　talk　about　that　ship；　Lang；〃　the　colonel　said　without　preamble。　〃When　can　we　have　it？…steal　it；　I　mean。〃

〃The　sooner　the　better。〃

Wolff　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃What's　it　going　to　mean　to　the　summit？〃

Lang　let　out　his　breath　and　traded　looks　with　Exedore。　If　Wolff　didn't　want　to　mention　Minmei；　it　was　fine　with　him。

〃We've　already　discussed　possible　scenarios　with　Reinhardt　and　Forsythe。　It　could　set　things　back　some；　of　course；　but　as　long　as　we　can　make　the　Regent　believe　that　you　acted　on　your　own；　I　don't　think　we'll　be　jeopardizing　the　truce。〃

Exedore　concurred。　〃Furthermore；　we　think　it　best　if　you　take　Janice；　Sa