02_battle_cry-第4部分

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ie！〃

He　decided　to　risk　a　full　look　and　recognized　three　of　the　women　from　this　morning's　incident　in　the　dress　shop。　One　of　them　was　saying；　〃Hold　your　skirts　down；　ladies；〃　and　Roy　was　elbowing　him　in　the　ribs。

〃What　gives；　Little　Brother？〃

〃Don't　ask；〃　Rick　said　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。

The　oldest　had　stepped　forward；　she　gave　Rick　a　look　and　turned　to　Roy。

〃mander　Fokker；　don't　tell　me　this　is　the　brilliant　new　pilot　you　were　raving　about？〃

〃One　and　the　same。　Corporal　Rick　Hunter；　this　is　the　Flight　Officer　Lisa　Hayes。　You'll　be　hearing　a　lot　from　her　from　now　on。〃

Rick　saluted　again。　The　women　were　still　needling　him　with　ments。

〃Rick　Hunter。。。〃　Lisa　Hayes　was　repeating。　〃Why　does　that　name　sound　familiar？　Have　we　met…uh；　before　this　morning；　I　mean？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　don't　think　so；　sir。〃

Lisa　tapped　her　lower　lip　with　her　forefinger。　She　knew　that　name　from　somewhere。。。and　all　at　once　she　had　it：　Hunter　was　the　civilian　pilot　who　had　shown　up　at　Macross　on　Launching　Day。　The　same　one　who　had　made　unauthorized　use　of　a　Veritech；　the　same　one　who　had　rescued　that　Chinese　girl；　the　same　one　who　had　called　her…

〃You're　that　loudmouthed　pilot；　aren't　you？〃

Rick　stared　at　her。　Yes；　unbelievable　as　it　was；　she　was　the　one　he　had　seen　on　the　Veritech　mo　screen　months　ago。

〃Then　you　must　be…〃

〃Go　ahead；　Corporal　Hunter；　say　it：　I　must　be。。。〃

〃Y…you　must　be。。。my　superior　officer；　sir！〃

Lisa　smirked　and　nodded　her　head　knowingly。　She　motioned　to　her　group；　and　they　started　off　down　the　sidewalk。　But　Lisa　turned　to　Rick　as　she　passed　him　and　added；　〃By　the　way；　I　don't　know　what　your　particular　problem　is；　but　it's　hardly　appropriate　behavior　for　a　VT　pilot　to　be　hanging　around　lingerie　shops　looking　for　a　cheap　thrill。〃

Rick　groaned。　Roy　scratched　his　head。　The　blonde　said：　〃Creep。〃

Later；　at　the　briefing；　Rick　was　still　replaying　the　incident；　but　in　light　of　what　was　being　said；　embarrassment　placed　last　on　his　list　of　concerns。　A　decoy　mission…the　VTs　were　actually　going　to　pretend　to　launch　a　counteroffensive　against　the　aliens！　Judging　by　the　murmurs　in　the　crowd；　Rick　was　not　the　only　pilot　to　be　floored　by　this　directive。　But　like　it　or　not；　they　had　their　orders。

〃I　want　you　to　be　thinking　of　one　thing　and　one　thing　only；〃　the　general　was　saying。　〃Robotech！　And　I　want　you　to　know　that　we're　all　counting　on　you。〃

If　the　general　had　let　it　go　at　that；　Rick　would　have　been　all　right…afraid　but　not　desperate。　The　general；　however；　had　then　added：　〃If　there's　anyone　you　want　to　see；　you'd　better　do　it　tonight。〃

Rick　was　in　a　panic。　What　did　he　mean　by　that…that　they　were　being　sent　out　on　some　kind　of　suicide　mission？　And　do　what　tonight…say　good…bye；　say　wish　me　well；　say　please　remember　me　always？

He　stood　on　line　to　use　the　phone　and　managed　to　reach　Minmei's　aunt　Lena。　Minmei　was　at　ballet　school；　but　yes；　Lena　would　relay　Rick's　message：　Macross　Central　Park；　their　bench　at　nine　P。m。

Rick　rode　back　into　the　city　with　a　few　of　the　other　pilots。　He　kicked　around　the　market　area　for　a　while　and　was　in　the　park　by　eight　o'clock　keeping　their　bench　warm。　Starlight　poured　in　from　the　huge　bay　in　the　hull；　lovers　held　one　another；　life　went　on　as　though　filled　with　limitless　tomorrows。　But　Rick　couldn't　see　past　the　mission；　and　he　was　frightened。

By　ten　o'clock　she　still　hadn't　showed；　the　park　was　quiet；　and　he　was　about　to　move　on。　But　just　then　she　came　running　in；　face　flushed　and　out　of　breath。

〃Rick；　I'm　sorry　I'm　so　late。〃

He　smiled　at　her。　〃At　least　you　made　it。〃

She　pushed　her　bangs　back。　Her　forehead　was　beaded　with　sweat。

〃What's　the　big　emergency；　anyway？〃

〃They're　sending　us　out　on　a　mission　tomorrow。〃

He　didn't　need　to　add　any　dramatic　accents　to　it；　the　words　just　fell　out　that　way。　But　her　reaction　was　unexpected。　She　was　practically　clapping　for　him。

〃Oh；　Rick；　that's　great！　Really；　I'm　so　happy　for　you！〃

And　for　a　moment　her　enthusiasm　almost　won　him　over。　Hey；　Rick　told　himself；　maybe　this　is　how　I'm　supposed　to　feel；　like　I'm　lucky　or　something。　The　park　fountain　was　even　gushing　in　his　honor！　It　didn't　last；　though；　despite　her　continued　exclamations。

〃Your　first　mission！　I　can't　believe　it！　I'm　so　proud　of　you！〃

Obviously　this　was　what　supporting　the　war　effort　was　all　about；　he　decided。　And　she　was　very　good　at　it。

Then　Minmei　was　suddenly　on　her　toes；　twirling　around　in　front　of　him。　〃Do　you　like　it？　Don't　you　just　love　it？〃　she　kept　asking。　He　was　puzzled　but　caught　on　fast。　The　dress！　The　salmon…colored　dress　she'd　picked　up　that　afternoon。

〃You　look　beautiful；　Minmei。〃

She　moved　in　close　and　made　him　repeat　it。

〃Do　you　mean　it；　Rick？　Am　I　really　beautiful？〃

An　idea　came　to　him　and　he　signaled　to　a　robo…camera　that　was　making　rounds　through　the　park。　The　stupid　thing　kept　moving　in　circles；　trying　to　home　in　on　Rick's　call；　and　he　finally　had　to　throw　a　stone　at　it　to　get　its　attention。　The　cam　approached　them；　asking　for　money。

〃We'll　have　a　picture　taken。　You'll　see　how　beautiful　you　are。〃

Minmei　protested　some；　and　the　cam　uttered　some　stock　phrases　to　get　them　in　the　proper　mood；　but　eventually　they　had　the　print　and　Minmei　was　pleased。　A　smile　and　a　look　of　concern；　Minmei　clinging　to　his　arm；　the　fountain　behind　them。

Afterward；　she　talked　dance　for　half　an　hour；　she　read　him　the　lyrics　of　a　song　she'd　posed。　Then　she　had　to　be　going。

〃Uncle　Max　gets　mad　when　I　stay　out　too　late。　But　I'll　see　you　when　you　get　back；　Rick。　Have　a　good　mission；　and　remember；　I'm　very　proud　of　you。〃

And　with　that　she　was　gone；　leaving　him　wondering　about　tomorrow　all　over　again。

He　power…walked　and　jogged　for　an　hour　hoping　he　would　exhaust　himself　and　fall　into　a　deep　sleep　back　in　the　barracks。　But　sleep　didn't　seem　to　be　on　tonight's　agenda；　in　fact；　he　couldn't　even　keep　his　eyes　closed。　It　was　too　hot　in　his　bunk；　then　too　cold；　there　were　too　many　noises　in　the　room；　the　pillow　just　wasn't　right。。。Finally　he　sat　up　and　switched　on　the　reading　light。　He　took　the　park　photo　and　brought　it　close　to　his　face。　Perhaps　he　could　reach　her　by　concentrating　on　her　image；　spoken　words　weren't　doing　much　good。

Minmei　was　proud　of　him；　earlier　that　day　she'd　been　upset　with　him　for　carrying　her　shopping　bag　because　the　package　hid　too　much　of　the　uniform。　Besides；　it　was　wrong　for　a　Veritech　fighter　pilot　to　involve　himself　in　such　mundane　activities。　Well；　that　much　was　encouraging　to　Rick　because　she　had　really　been　his　motivation　for　joining　up。　During　the　weeks　that　followed　their　shared　ordeal　in　that　remote　part　of　the　ship；　he　realized　that　Minmei　could　never　accept　an　ordinary　man　as　her　lover；　he　would　have　to　be　someone　who　participated　in　life　to　the　fullest。　Someone　romantic；　adventurous；　full　of　grand　dreams　and　positive　hopes　for　the　future…an　all…day…long　hero　who　would　never　fear；　never　say　die。　A　special　man；　a　dearest　man；　someone　to　share　his　life　with　you　alone；　as　Minmei　had　herself　written　it。。。She　was　like　someone　who　had　gone　from　childhood　to　maturity　without　any　of　the　intervening　periods　of　longing　or　confusion。　And　even　though　Rick　had　saved　her　life　on　two　occasions　and　spent　two　long　lost　weeks　with　her；　he　had　yet　to　prove　himself　in　her　eyes。　Without　joining　up　there　would　have　been　no　way　for　him　to　display　the　heroics　she　craved；　no　way　to　individualize　himself；　no　way　to　accept　himself　as　her　equal。

And　yet；　even　having　taken　those　steps；　he　felt　no　closer　to　her　than　before。　Her　love　had　no　fixed　center；　it　was　spread　across　the　board　and　parceled　out　in　equal　packets　for　one　and　all　to　enjoy。　A　hero　wouldn't　even　be　enough　for　her　because　she　belonged　to　everyone。　She　was　more　spirit　than　woman；　more　dream　than　reality。

Rick　slipped　into　fitful　sleep　for　a　short　while；　only　to　have　Roy　wake　him　out　of　it。　Fokker　was　just　checking　in；　reminding　him　that　they　had　to　be　up　early　tomorrow。

〃Your　first　bat　mission　is　always　the　worst；　kid。　I　sympathize　with　you。　Now；　get　some　sleep…count　fanjets　or　something。〃

Everyone　had　such　encouraging　words：　At　the　briefing　they'd　been　told　to　wrap　up　their　personal　business；　and　now　Roy　tells　him　that　tomorrow　is　going　to　be　the　worst。　Minmei　had　behaved　like　a　cheerleader；　his　manding　officer　thought　him　a　lecher。。。It　had　been　quite　a　day。

So　Rick　actually　took　Roy's　suggestion…he　began　counting　fanjets…although　it　wasn't　sleep　he　found　in　the　high　numbers　but　an　unfortable　half　state　where　mander　Hayes　and　the　three　bridge　bunnies　mocked　him；　and　the　giant　enemy　soldier　he　had　confronted　on　Macross　Island　was　reborn　to　stalk　him。

The　reveille　call　came　too　quickly。　Rick　felt　like　one　of　the　walking　dead　as　he　gathered　up　his　gear　and　zombied　his　way　through　morning　rituals　with　the　other　VT　pilots。　There　was　a　second　preflight　briefing；　more　detailed　than　the　first。　Then　the　men　were　loaded　into　personnel　carriers　and　conveyed　to　the　Prometheus。　Roy　and　Rick's　group　drove　through　Macross　City；　past　the　park　where　he　and　Minmei　had　been　together　only　hours　before。　The　city　was　asleep；　peacefully；　blessedly　unaware。

Even　before　the　transport　vehicle　had　e　to　a　halt　in　the　hangar　of　the　supercarrier；　pilots　were　hopping　out　and　rushing　toward　their　propped　Veritechs。　The　Thor…class　Prometheus…one　of　two　ships　that　had　been　caught　up　in　the　spacefold　and　had　since　been　grafted　on　to　the　main　body　of　the　SDF…1　was　like　an　active　hive；　and　every　drone　aboard　save　Rick　seemed　certain　of　his　or　her　duty。　He　lost　Roy　in　the　crowds　and　stood　by　the　transport　scanning　for　a　familiar　face　among　those　now　rushing　by　him。　He　recognized　mander　Hayes's　voice　ing　through　the　PA　system。

〃All　Veritechs　report　for　roll　call　at　Prometheus。。。All　Veritechs　report　immediately　for　roll　call　at　Prometheus。。。Orange；　Blue；　and　Red　squadrons　will　mence　flight　preparations　on　second…level　afterdeck。。。All　remaining　squadrons　prepare　for　takeoff　from　preassigned　locations。。。Reactor　control；　bridge　requests　status　report　on　first　and　third　plasma　shields。。。〃

Suddenly　Fokker　had　him　by　the　arm　and　was　propelling　him　through　the　hangar；　filling　his　ears　with　last…minute　instructions　and　words　of　advice。　He　gave　Rick　a　quick　embrace　when