03_homecoming-第15部分

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shing　size　of　headquarters　base；　the　very　emphatic　and　yet　somehow　empty　joy　of　being　home　again　had　cast　a　certain　familiar　pall　over　her。　It　was　strangely　overwhelming；　there　was　nothing　she　could　do　but　laugh。

Lisa　Hayes　had　realized　a　long　time　before　that　a　life　in　the　military　didn't　exactly　make　for　happily…ever…after；　particularly　for　a　woman。　Nevertheless；　there　was　a　warmth　of　that　moment；　something　between　people　who'd　served　together；　something　no　outsider　could　have　ever　shared。

〃It's　good　to　hear　you　laugh　again；　mander。〃　Gloval　smiled　slowly。　〃I　think　this　is　the　first　time　I　have　heard　you　laugh　since　you　escaped　from　the　enemy；　no？〃

Lisa　said；　〃Ahh；〃　and　〃Umm；〃　trying　not　to　think　of　a　particular　VT　pilot；　trying　to　keep　the　warmth　and　the　laughter　alive；　doing　her　best　not　to　be　vulnerable　to　desires　and　attractions　and　yet　be　open　to　Gloval's　confessions。　A　small　part　of　her　wondered　if　male　subordinates　of　female　flag…rank　officers　went　through　this。

〃But　I　wonder　if　we'll　feel　much　like　laughing　after　this　meeting　with　the　governing　council；〃　Gloval　went　on。　〃It's　crucial　that　they　be　made　to　understand　that　the　aliens　are　only　interested　in　the　battle　fortress　and　its　secrets；　not　in　our　world。〃

Gloval　tilted　his　cap　forward　on　his　brow　again。　〃I　hope　you've　thoroughly　prepared　your　arguments；　mander　Hayes。〃

Her　chin　came　up；　her　eyes　shone。　〃Ready　to　go；　Captain；〃　Lisa　said；　managing　a　smile　as　she　was　reminded　of　the　loneliness　she　felt。

All　her　life；　it　had　been　so　difficult　for　her　to　establish　a　relationship　with　men　her　own　age；　even　men　in　the　military。　But　it　was　not　surprising；　really；　she　had　been　surrounded　by　men　like　Gloval；　men　like　her　father。　How　many　men　like　that　could　there　possibly　be？　One　in　a　hundred　thousand？　In　a　million？

Hard　to　match；　in　any　case。

Gloval　was　saying；　〃Mm…hmm；　that's　good。〃

Lisa　replied；　〃I'm　sure　we'll　be　able　to　convince　them。　After　all；　we're　the　only　ones　who've　had　close　contact　with　the　aliens！〃

Yes；　Gloval　reflected；　it　would　seem　so　cut　and　dried　to　her；　Lisa's　father　was　one　of　the　most　powerful　people　on　Earth；　but　despite　that…perhaps　because　of　that…Lisa　herself　was　pletely　naive　about　political　machinations。

He　knocked　a　bit　of　ash　out　of　the　bowl　of　his　pipe　and　tamped　down　some　new　tobacco；　as　was　his　habit　when　he　was　thinking。　Just　as　he　struck　one　of　the　old…fashioned　kitchen　matches　he　so　loved；　a　surveillance　eye　in　the　wall　lit　up　anti　a　feminine　puter　voice　said；　〃ATTENTION！　SMOKING　IN　THIS　CAPSULE　IS　FORBIDDEN！　PLEASE　EXTINGUISH　ALL　SMOKING　MATERIALS　IMMEDIATELY！〃

Gloval　yanked　his　briar　from　his　mouth　guiltily。　〃Ah？　Can't　I　smoke　anywhere？　If　it's　not　my　bridge　crew　warning　me；　it's　these　machines！〃

Lisa　was　clearing　her　throat　meaningfully。　〃Captain；　are　you　worried　about　the　SDF…1？　Sir；　is　something　going　to　happen　to　us？〃

Gloval's　aching　conscience　made　him　leap　on　the　question；　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃

Lisa　only　smiled　and　said；　〃When　something's　bothering　you；　I've　noticed；　you　always　pull　out　your　pipe　and　make　a　big　production　about　lighting　it。〃

Gloval　lowered　the　pipe　slowly　and；　not　caring　who　might　be　listening　on　some　bugging　device；　said；　〃Hmmph！　I　must　confess　I'm　very　worried　about　this　meeting。　I'm　not　sure　these…〃　he　made　a　gesture　with　his　head　to　indicate　his　disdain　for　anyone　who　would　protect　themselves　underground　while　ordering　brave　men　and　women　to　die　〃…not　sure　these　men　will　listen　to　us　with　open　minds。　And　Lisa；　it's　vital　to　our　future　that　they　do　so；　do　you　understand？〃　Gloval　spread　his　broad；　brown　peasant's　hands　on　his　knees　and　looked　down　at　them。

Lisa　nodded　slowly。　She　was　Admiral　Hayes's　daughter；　used　to　having　people　view　her　as　an　access　road　to　the　highest　levels　of　decision；　that　was　one　of　the　things　that　set　Lisa　Hayes　so　far　apart　from　her　contemporaries。

She'd　seen　power　politics　in　excelsis　all　her　life；　had　sickened　of　them　and　the　unspeakable　people　drawn　to　them。

After　Karl　Riber　had　died　she　felt　she　would　never　heal　from　that　hurt。　But　surely　there　were　others　out　there；　people　who　were　kind　and　patient　and　true？　The　image　of　Rick　Hunter　suddenly　came　to　her。　Though　she　refused　to　admit　it　to　herself；　Rick　Hunter　had　e　to　mean　very　much　to　her。

〃What　will　happen　if　we　can't　convince　the　Council？〃　she　asked　Gloval。

He　answered　in　a　grim；　level　voice。　〃Then　the　Earth　will　go　to　war　against　the　aliens。〃

Before；　he　had　always　spoken　of　triumph　and　the　need　to　win；　this　time；　with　only　Lisa　to　hear　his　confession；　Gloval　mentioned　nothing　about　that。　Lisa　knew　him　well　enough　to　know　what　that　meant：　Captain　Gloval's　estimation　of　the　human　race's　chances　against　the　Zentraedi　were　very　bleak　indeed。

The　tramcar　came　to　the　bottom　of　the　Y's　arm　and　began　the　vertical　descent　to　the　innermost　chambers　of　the　United　Earth　Defense　Council。


CHAPTER　ELEVEN

Did　You　Ever　See　a　Dream　Walking？
Early　twentieth…century　song　title

〃Minmei？　Minmei；　wake　up；　you're　almost　home。〃

She　stirred　a　little；　it　was　a　voice　she　liked；　she　knew；　and　it　was　a　message　that　was　wonderful　beyond　pare。　Minmei　yawned　charmingly　against　the　back　of　one　hand；　trying　to　stretch　but　restrained　by　something。　Her　head　was　filled　with　the　marvelous　images　and　memories　that　the　word　〃home〃　conjured　up。

Minmei　opened　her　eyes；　recalling　that　the　restraint　was　the　fanliner's　seat　belt。　Behind　her；　the　steady　vibration　of　the　propfan　engine　drove　them　along。　〃Look！〃　Rick　said；　pointing。

〃Mount　Fuji！〃　she　shrilled；　happy　beyond　words。　The　mountain　wore　a　crown　of　snow　despite　the　fact　that　it　was　midsummer…something　that　happened　very　rarely。　Minmei　took　it　as　a　good　omen　and　a　wele　home。

Rick　cruised　slowly　past　Fuji；　giving　Minmei　a　chance　to　look。　Air　traffic　was　being　rerouted　to　give　him　an　unobstructed　course；　he　wondered　again　what　secret　deals　had　been　struck　just　so　Minmei　could　see　her　relatives　and　wondered　too　how　soon　the　Macross　City　survivors　would　lose　patience　with　their　confinement。

He　banked　the　little　aircraft；　heading　for　Yokohama。　Though　he　was　happy　that　Minmei　would　soon　have　the　joy　of　reunion；　he　was　despondent　that　their　time　alone　together　was　nearly　half　over。　He　tried　to　picture　her　family　and　how　they　would　react　to　their　daughter's　status　as　SDF…1　superstar。

He　trimmed　the　ship　and　shook　his　head。　There　are　billions　of　people　on　this　planet。　Why　did　I　have　to　fall　in　love　with　public　property？

He　took　on　a　bit　of　altitude；　the　island　chain　lay　beneath　them　like　so　many　gemstones。


In　the　deepest　vaults　of　the　Alaskan　base；　Lisa　Hayes　and　Henry　Gloval　sat　at　a　simple；　unadorned　desk　in　the　middle　of　a　vast　hearing　chamber。　The　walls　of　the　chamber　were　several　dozen　yards　thick；　though　the　pressures　of　the　Earth　itself　were　enormous　down　there；　the　room　itself　was　as　fortable；　in　terms　of　temperature　and　air　pressure；　as　any　surface　garden。

There　was　a　multimedia　console；　perhaps　ten　yards　away；　at　the　base　of　the　wall　before　them；　and　all　around　were　display　screens　as　big　as　billboards。　Lisa　and　Gloval　were　still　arranging　documents　and　papers　on　the　table；　preparing　to　give　their　testimony。

Though　he　said　nothing　about　it　and　gave　no　outward　sign；　Lisa　knew　that　Captain　Gloval　was　absolutely　furious。　He　and　his　First　Officer　had　been　denied　the　courtesy　of　a　face…to…face　meeting　with　Earth's　governing　body　and　had　been　shown；　instead；　to　this　interrogation　chamber。

Lisa　knew　he　didn't　blame　her；　but　she　couldn't　meet　his　eye。　She　knew　that　her　own　father　was　one　of　those　responsible　for　this　shameful；　cowardly　treatment。

Suddenly　all　the　screens　came　to　life。　There　were　a　half　dozen　extremely　magnified　faces　glaring　down　Lisa　and　her　captain。　All　the　faces　were　male；　middle…aged　to　elderly；　and　all　but　two　were　in　military　uniform。

It　confirmed　Gloval's　worst　misgivings。　Lisa　had　to　remind　herself　to　breathe。　Military　running　the　government？　This　wasn't　what　we　were　fighting　for！

Before　her；　on　the　center　screen；　was　the　towering　face　of　her　father。

〃Wele　home；　Captain　Gloval；〃　said　Admiral　Hayes。　〃It's　been　a　long　time　since　you　reported　in　person。〃

Gloval　snapped　his　hand　to　his　forehead　in　salute；　and　Lisa　followed　suit。　Others　might　forget　their　vows；　their　obligations；　but　the　one　thing　that　sustained　Gloval　was　the　certainty　that　while　he　still　lived　he　would　never　renege　on　his　sworn　word。　Even　if　it　meant　rendering　military　courtesies　to　men　he　no　longer　respected。

It　was　a　code　of　conduct　few　outsiders　could　have　understood；　a　samurai　maybe。　Gloval　had　understood　and　willingly　accepted　his　oath　of　allegiance　to　the　new　United　Earth　Government；　back　when　the　alternative　was　racial　annihilation。　He　meant　to　live　up　to　that　oath　just　as　long　as　he　was　able。

So　he　rendered　military　courtesy　crisply。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Henry　Gloval。

The　huge　eyes　of　the　projected　image；　as　blue　as　Lisa's；　turned　to　her。　〃You　too；　mander。〃

〃Yes；　Admiral；〃　she　said　quietly。　She　gave　no　outward　sign　that　her　heart　was　breaking。

After　her　mother's　death；　her　father　had　been　her　only　emotional　mainstay；　until　Karl　Riber　and；　later；　Claudia；　Captain　Gloval；　and　a　very　few　others。　And　now；　Admiral　Hayes　didn't　even　deign　to　break　formality。　An　embrace　and　a　few　tears　weren't　military；　perhaps；　but　she'd　hoped　for　them；　and；　to　be　sure；　she'd　e　prepared　with　some　of　her　own。

But　instead；　the　screen　face　said；　〃Good。　Now；　why　don't　you　both　have　a　seat　and　we'll　hear　your　report？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃　Lisa　and　Gloval　cut　their　salutes　away　smartly；　precise　and　correct。　They　both　sat　while　Lisa　gathered　her　briefing　data；　then　she　stood　again。　Gloval　felt　a　sudden　burn；　since　she　would　have　to　bear　the　brunt　of　their　inquiry。　But　the　structure　of　the　meeting　was　traditional　and　dictated　by　custom：　The　First　Officer　made　the　presentation　because　the　Captain　was　sacrosanct　and　not　subject　to　cross…examination　outside　of　a　court…martial。

〃We　must　know　everything　from　the　beginning；〃　said　a　white…haired　man　with　a　snowy　handlebar　moustache。　He　was　a　former　political　hack　who　had　oiled　his　way　into　a　direct　mission　in　the　Judge　Advocate　General's　office　and　made　his　rise　from　there。　Lisa　took　one