03_homecoming-第13部分

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Poor　dear；　he　must　be　exhausted。　〃Oh；　well。。。〃　She　pulled　the　covers　up　over　his　shoulders；　then　turned　to　go。

〃Hey；　hold　up！〃　She　turned　to　see　Roy　sitting　up　in　bed；　blinking　the　sleep　away；　smiling。　〃You　just　gonna　run　off？〃

She　grinned　at　him。　〃I　figured　the　Skull　Leader　needs　all　the　beauty　sleep　he　can　get。〃

〃You　were　wrong。　C'mere。〃

He　grabbed　her　wrists；　his　big　hands　engulfing　hers；　and　pulled。　Claudia　gave　a　laughing　yelp　as　he　dragged　her　down　next　to　him；　then　relaxed　against　him　in　a　kiss　that　took　away　all　the　pain　and　sorrow　and　weariness　of　the　long　voyage　home。


Back　in　the　midst　of　the　festivities　on　Prometheus's　flight　deck；　Rick　Hunter　stood　waiting　next　to　an　aircraft。　He　was　wearing　his　old　flying　circus　outfit　of　orange　and　white　trimmed　with　black；　and　his　silken　scarf。

The　plane　was　the　fanliner　sport　ship　won　by　Lynn…Minmei　when　she'd　taken　the　Miss　Macross　title。　This　was　to　be　its　maiden　voyage　in　the　atmosphere　of　Earth。

It　was　a　sleek；　beautiful　propfan　design　by　the　illustrious　Ikkii　Takemi　himself；　with　powerful；　pinwheel…like　propellers　in　a　big　cowling　behind　the　cockpit。　It　reminded　Rick　very　much　of　his　own　Mockingbird；　which　depressed　him　because　that　in　turn　reminded　him　of　the　time　he'd　spent　with　Minmei；　stranded　together　in　a　remote　part　of　the　SDF…1。　During　that　time　she'd　e　to　mean　so　much　to　him；　but　now。。。

〃You're　a　lucky　guy；　Rick；　to　be　flying　Minmei　home；〃　a　ground　crewman　was　saying。　〃You　not　only　get　to　leave　the　ship；　but　you　spend　time　with　a　beautiful…huh？〃

Rick　heard　it；　too；　and　looked　around。　The　roar　of　the　crowd　had　increased；　and　there　was　cheering　and　applause。

〃Like　I　said；〃　the　ground　crewman　went　on；　〃you　get　to　spend　time　with　a　beautiful　celebrity。〃

Minmei's　entrance　was　worthy　of　her　star　status…her　superstar　status；　as　far　as　the　crew　and　passengers　of　the　SDF…1　were　concerned。　She　was　being　chauffeured　across　the　flight　deck　in　a　glittering　new　Macross　City…manufactured　limo；　the　crowd　parting　before　her。　They　held　up　signs　with　hearts　and　fond　sentiments　on　them　or　waved　autograph　books　somewhat　hopelessly。

Flower　petals　and　confetti　and　streamers　rained　down　on　her　car；　people　pressed　up　against　the　glass　to　smile；　wave；　and　call　out　her　name…to　feel　close　to　her；　if　only　for　a　moment。

〃Y'　know；　she's　the　only　one　who's　been　given　permission　to　leave　the　ship　so　far；　even　for　a　short　time；〃　the　crewman　continued。　〃Hope　you　enjoy　the　ride。〃

Minmei　sat　quietly　in　the　exact　middle　of　the　limo's　rear　seat；　hands　folded　in　her　lap；　watching　the　people　throng　around　her　car　and　pay　homage。　She　wore　her　old　school　uniform：　white　blouse　and　necktie；　brown　plaid　blazer；　plaid　skirt。　Audience　research　indicated　that　her　public　liked　to　see　her　in　attire　that　emphasized　her　youth。

Her　manager；　Vance　Hasslewood；　sat　next　to　the　chauffeur；　happily　surveying　the　crowd。　〃Well；　this　is　quite　a　turnout　for　you；　Minmei。〃

Minmei　gave　a　little　sigh。　〃Yes；　I　suppose　these　mobs　are　the　price　one　must　pay　for　fame。〃

Hasslewood　and　the　uniformed　chauffeur　exchanged　a　wry；　secret　look。

〃Could　we　go　a　little　faster？　I'm　late　as　it　is；〃　Minmei　added。　The　driver　sped　up　a　bit；　honking　his　horn；　and　Minmei's　adoring　public　had　to　move　out　of　the　way　quickly。

I　wonder　if　she's　changed　much；　Rick　thought　as　the　limo　screeched　up　beside　the　little　sport　plane。　Minmei　had　promised　that　she　and　Rick　could　still　see　a　lot　of　each　other　once　he　joined　the　Robotech　Defense　Forces；　but　between　his　duties　and　her　skyrocketing　career　as　the　SDF…1's　homegrown　media　idol；　that　promise　had　been　forgotten。

The　chauffeur　held　the　rear　door　open　for　Minmei　while　Vance　Hasslewood　went　to　confer　with　a　liaison　officer　from　the　SDF…1　Air　Group。

〃Hello；　Minmei。〃　Rick　smiled。　〃It　looked　like　you　had　a　lot　of　trouble　getting　through　that　crowd　back　there。〃

She　giggled；　her　eyes　shining　in　the　way　he　remembered。　〃Those　are　my　loyal　fans。　They　follow　me　everywhere。　I　just　love　them！〃

She　turned　to　wave　to　the　people　being　held　back　by　a　cordon　of　security　guards。　〃Hello；　hello！　Thank　you　for　ing　down　to　see　me　off！　I　love　you　all　very　much！〃

Apparently　she　was　unaware　that　a　lot　of　the　people；　the　majority　of　them　perhaps；　were　simply　there　for　the　party；　maybe　she　didn't　even　realize　that　there　was　a　celebration　going　on。　Rick　shook　his　head；　laughing；　Minmei　was　sweet　and　charming；　but　she　still　lived　very　much　in　a　world　of　her　own。

The　fans　were　clapping；　stamping；　and　whistling　for　her；　waving　their　signs　and　banners。　Vance　Hasslewood　looked　on　approvingly；　eyes　hidden　behind　tinted　glasses。

〃Thank　you！〃　she　called；　throwing　kisses。

〃Boy；　they　really　like　you；〃　Rick　remarked。

〃I　know；〃　she　said　matter…of…factly。　〃Rick；　when　can　we　take　off？　I'm　really　anxious　to　see　my　parents。〃

〃Well；　I　guess　we　can　take　off　any　time；　the　engines　are　all　warmed　up。〃

He　led　her　to　the　boarding　ladder。　〃Just　climb　into　the　rear　seat…careful；　now…and　sit　down；　strap　yourself　in。〃

She　got　into　the　fanliner　and　settled　her　shoulder　purse　next　to　her；　taking　up　the　safety　harness。　〃Thanks；　Rick。　It　seems　like　you've　bee　a　lot　nicer　now　than　when　we　first　met。〃

Huh？　Minmei　was　still　living　in　her　own　world；　he　saw…revising　her　memories　of　the　past　according　to　her　preferences；　forgetting　whatever　was　inconvenient　or　troubling　or　replacing　it　with　something　that　freed　her　from　introspection。

So　now　she'd　decided　that　Rick　had　been　unkind　to　her。　Perhaps　she'd　forgotten　that　he'd　saved　her　life　several　times。。。forgotten　that　they'd　held　a　mock　wedding　ceremony　and　she'd　worn　the　very　white　silk　scarf　that　he　now　had　around　his　neck　as　a　bridal　veil。

Perhaps　she'd　forgotten　their　kiss；　there　in　the　remotest　part　of　the　ship。　Certainly　she　was　now　surrounded　by　people　who　would　go　along　with　almost　anything　she　said　or　chose　to　think；　people　not　eager　to　remind　her　of　her　past　life　and　ties。　She　was　free　to　be　pletely　self…absorbed。

As　he　stood　on　the　boarding　ladder　looking　down　into　the　cockpit　at　her；　he　saw　her　in　a　new　light。　〃Maybe　I've　grown　up；　Minmei。〃

Her　brows　met；　and　she　was　about　to　ask　what　he　meant；　but　just　then　Vance　Hasslewood；　standing　at　the　foot　of　the　boarding　ladder；　thrust　his　face　up　into　Rick's。　〃Young　man！　Your　name；　what　is　it；　hah？

Rick　threw　him　a　sarcastic　salute。　〃Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter；　sir。〃

〃Well；　Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter；　I　expect　you　to　take　good　care　of　Minmei！　She's　a　very　busy　person；　and　she　must　get　back　to　the　ship　on　time。〃

Minmei　surprised　both　men　by　jumping　in　on　Rick's　side。　〃Don't　worry；　Vance！　I　feet　perfectly　safe！　Rick's　a　very　good　pilot！〃

Hasslewood　backed　off　a　bit。　〃Er；　yes；　I'm　sure　he　is；　but　he's　so　young；　I；　uh…〃

Rick　wondered　just　who　and　what　Hasslewood　really　was。　Certainly；　Minmei's　astounding　popularity　had　been　very　lucrative　for　the　man；　and　he　was　very　proprietary　about　her。　But　what　else　was　there　to　the　manager…client　relationship？

Nothing　romantic；　Rick　was　pretty　sure　of　that；　even　at　her　most　career…hungry；　Minmei　wouldn't　have　fallen　for　an　abrasive　hustler　like　Hasslewood。　But　how　had　Minmei　gotten　permission　for　even　a　brief　visit　to　her　parents　when　the　SDF…1　was　virtually　quarantined？

To　be　sure；　Rick's　confidential　orders　were　specific　enough：　Make　sure　that　Minmei　had　no　access　to　outside　media　interviews。　Just　the　family　visit；　and　then　right　back　to　the　SDF…1；　whatever　that　took。

Rick　had　thought　about　Minmei's　brief　liberty　privilege　and　could　only　e　up　with　one　explanation：　Her　talents　and　appeal　had　been　a　major　factor　in　keeping　up　morale　and　fighting　spirit　during　the　long　return　voyage　to　Earth。　And　no　matter　what　the　public　information　people　were　saying；　the　war　wasn't　over　and　there　was　still　a　threat　of　invasion。　If　Minmei　could　do　for　the　general　population　of　Earth　what　she'd　done　for　the　people　on　SDF…1；　she　would　be　a　tremendously　important　resource。　That　gave　her　and；　in　turn；　Hasslewood；　an　awful　lot　of　leverage。

Right　now；　though；　Rick　wasn't　worrying　about　infiuence　or　power。　He　stuck　his　face　into　Hasslewood's；　cutting　him　off。　〃How　about　standing　back？　We're　taking　off　now。〃

Hasslewood　just　about　fell　over　his　own　feet；　retreating。　〃Sure；　kid；　don't　get　touchy！　Have　a　good　trip；　Minmei！　Hurry　back！〃

Rick　pulled　on　his　goggles　and　headset；　lowering　the　cockpit's　front　and　rear　canopies。

Vance　Hasslewood　mopped　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief；　watching　as　Rick　increased　the　propfan　RPMs。　The　manager　prayed　silently　for　a　quick；　uneventful　flight；　all　his　personal　marbles　were　riding　in　that　rear　seat。

Rick　turned　the　fanliner's　nose　and　taxied。　The　sport　plane　wasn't　equipped　for　cat　launch；　but　it　was　so　little　and　light　that　there　was　more　than　enough　runway　for　a　takeoff。　With　Daedalus's　bow　turned　into　the　wind；　the　little　ship　fairly　leapt　up　off　the　deck。

Minmei　sighed　happily；　looking　down　at　the　SDF…1；　savoring　the　freedom　of　the　flight。　〃Ahhh！　It's　been　a　long　time！〃

〃It　sure　has；〃　Rick　murmured；　bringing　the　plane　onto　its　course　for　Japan。　A　vivid；　seductive　fantasy　had　begun　running　in　the　back　of　his　mind；　of　being　forced　to　land　with　Minmei…marooned　on　some　idyllic　desert　island；　perhaps；　of　things　being　the　way　they　once　were。

〃I　forgot　how　I　felt　about　her。〃

〃What？〃　Minmei　asked；　leaning　forward　to　peer　around　his　seat。

He　hadn't　meant　to　say　it　aloud。　Flustered；　he　hastened；　〃Oh；　nothing；　nothing！〃　But　his　face　was　reddening；　and　she　looked　at　him　oddly。

He　tried　to　concentrate　on　his　flying　as　she　settled　back　in　her　seat。　But　that　little　fantasy　just　wouldn't　let　him　alone。


CHAPTER　TEN

We　weren't　deaf　to　the　innuendo；　of　course。　Claudia　and　the　Terrible　Trio　and　I　heard　all　the　sniping　about　〃Gloval's　Harem；〃　though　people　were　very　careful　not　to　say　anything　around　Claudia　after　she　decked　a　cat　crewman。
There　is　a　loneliness　to　mand；　it's　no　myth。　But　there's　also　an　area　around　the　mander…where　you're　not　in　charge　but　not　part　of　the　rest　of　the　ship's　plement；　either…that's　often　a　difficult　place　to　be；　too。
Lisa　Hayes；　Recollections

The　United　Earth　Government's　mand　plex　was　like　a　landlocked　iceberg…only　a　fraction　of　it　was　visible　abovegrou