03_homecoming-第16部分

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a　direct　mission　in　the　Judge　Advocate　General's　office　and　made　his　rise　from　there。　Lisa　took　one　look　at　the　ribbons　on　his　tunic　and　knew　he　had　never　seen　a　single　moment　of　bat。

She　had　two　decorations　for　courage　under　fire　as　well　as　numerous　other　campaign　ribbons　and　medals；　but　she　bit　her　lip　and　said；　〃Of　course；　sir。〃

Lisa　arranged　the　papers　in　her　hands　and　looked　straight　into　the　image　of　her　father's　face。　He　didn't　look　away。　All　around　her　were　august　visages；　it　was　like　being　in　an　observatory　with　televisor　screens　running　from　floor　to　ceiling　apex。

Lisa　gazed　at　her　father　coldly。

〃This　report　presumes　that　everyone　present　is　familiar　with　the　details　of　the　situation　up　to　the　time　of　the　Zentraedi's　appearance　in　the　solar　system。　Supplementary　reports　will　be　made　available　to　you。〃

She　glared　at　her　father　for　a　second；　then　went　back　to　her　report；　happy　that　Gloval　was　at　her　side　but　ashamed　of　her　own　family。　She　turned　instead　to　a　missioner　whose　face　was　displayed　to　her　right；　a　man　who　looked　like　Clark　Kent　in　those　ancient　Superman　ics。

She　cleared　her　throat；　looked　at　the　overbearing　faces　around　her；　and　suddenly　felt　strong；　strong　as　only　people　with　simple　truth　and　dedication　to　duty　on　their　side　can　feel。　She　could　stand　up　to　any　of　them。

〃The　following　are　the　abbreviated　details　of　the　miscalculated　spacefold　jump　undertaken　by　the　Super　Dimensional　Fortress　One　while　under　unprecedentedly　intense　attack　from　hostile　alien　forces　and　its　consequent　actions　in　returning　to　Terra。〃

That　was　quite　a　mouthful；　but　Lisa　took　pride　in　how　fascinated　and　intimidated　those　enormous；　concave　faces　looked。

These　were　men　who　had　used　the　emergency　of　the　Zentraedi's　appearance　to　take　control　of　Earth。　Along　the　way　they　had　evidently　forgotten　how　terrible　and　overwhelming　the　enemy　was　that　currently　prowled　the　dark　beyond　their　tiny　planet。

Lisa　let　herself　feel　a　little　vindictive；　she　figured　they　had　it　ing。　〃At　that　time；　the　strength　of　the　alien　fleet　was　estimated　at　nearly　one　million　ships　of　a　size　three　or　more　times　larger　than　our　Terran　Armor　class；〃　she　said　with　a　certain　relish。

And　before　anybody　could　say　anything；　Lisa　Hayes　added；　as　she　stared　her　father　in　the　eye；　〃That　number　has　since　increased　and　our　best　intelligence　evaluations　indicate　the　Zentraedi　mittment　to　this　war　to　be　in　excess　of　two　and　a　half　million　ships…of…the…line。〃

Nobody　said　anything；　but　there　was　clearly　a　mental　echo　running　round　the　sad　little　rabbit　hole　of　the　United　Earth　rulers：　TWO　AND　A　HALF　MILLION　SHIPS？？？！

Chew　on　that！　Lisa　thought　to　herself　as　she　went　on　to　the　next　page；　watching　out　of　one　eye　as　the　great　and　the　mighty　of　Earth　squirmed　in　their　seats。


Yokohama　was　picture…postcard　perfect　under　a　blue　sky　dotted　by　slender　wisps　of　white　cloud。

Minmei　tugged　Rick　along　by　the　hand　as　they　headed　for　her　parents'　restaurant。　She　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　esplanade；　looking　out　at　the　glittering　ocean。

〃Just　smell　that　beautiful　sea　air！〃　She　drew　in　a　great　breath　of　it。　〃Nothing　smells　as　good　as　Yokohama！〃

She　took　her　hands　from　the　guardrail；　went　on　full　point；　pirouetted；　and　then　did　a　few　jets。　〃It　makes　me　want　to　sing；　and　dance；　and　carry　on！〃

Rick；　trying　not　to　feel　like　a　secret　agent　but　aware　of　his　responsibility；　caught　her　by　the　upper　arm。　〃Minmei；　would　you　please　stop　acting　like　this？　Everybody's　looking　at　you。〃

Shaking　off　his　grip；　she　spun　on　him；　putting　her　face　up　to　his　furiously。　〃Listen；　I'm　happy　to　be　home；　and　if　I　feel　like　singing　and　dancing；　I　will！　Hmmph　！〃

Rick　was　about　to　mention　their　obligation　to　the　SDF…1　and　the　secrecy　to　which　they'd　both　been　sworn　for　this　mission；　when　Minmei　spied　a　tall；　slender　structure　nearby。

〃Look！　There's　the　New　Yokohama　Marine　Tower！〃　she　squealed；　pointing　down　the　esplanade。　She　took　on　the　reserved　voice　of　the　tour　guides　she'd　heard　so　often　while　she　was　growing　up。

〃‘When　it　was　built；　the　New　Marine　Tower；　which　replaced　the　first；　was　the　tallest　structure　in　the　world；　over　twenty…eight　hundred　feet　high！　It's　an　engineering　masterpiece。〃'

She　did　another　jet。　〃It's　the　same　age　as　me！〃

Rick's　patience　was　fading。　He　doubted　that　the　tower　had　very　much　longer　to　live　if　its　life　expectancy　was　tied　in　to　Minmei's。

〃It　looks　it；〃　he　mented。

She　thumped　him　hard　on　the　chest　with　her　fist。　〃Doesn't　anything　impress　you；　Rick　Hunter？　I　want　you　to　like　my　city！〃

It　was　another　one　of　Minmei's　masterful　emotional　flip…flops：　She　won　him　over　again　in　a　single　moment；　as　he　stared　into　those　enormous　blue　eyes　while　she　tossed　her　head；　sending　ripples　of　light　through　her　jet…dark　hair。

Does　she　know　she　has　this　effect；　or　is　it　all　unconscious？　he　wondered。　He'd　never　dared　ask　the　question。

She　had　her　hand　in　his。　〃I　just　know　you're　going　to　like　my　mother！　She's　the　nicest；　friendliest　woman　in　the　whole　world！　Rick；　I'm　not　kidding！〃

She　tugged　him　along。　〃e　on！〃

Who　am　I　to　resist？　he　thought；　yielding　to　the　inevitable。

A　few　minutes　later；　they　came　to　a　torii　that　spanned　the　street；　inscribed　with　ideographs。　〃Hey；　this　is　the　local　Chinatown！〃　Rick　remarked。

Minmei　shook　her　head　in　dismay；　how　could　such　a　brilliant　pilot　be　so　dumb　about　other　things？　〃I　know；　silly。　I'm　Chinese；　this　is　where　I　live。　e　on；　let's　go！〃

She　grabbed　his　hand　again　and　dragged　him　along；　under　the　torii　and　into　Chinatown。

People　stared　at　them　a　bit；　curious　about　the　trim　young　man　in　the　circus　flier's　outfit　and　the　enchanting　young　woman　who　seemed　to　radiate　life　and　exuberance。　〃Now；　the　grocery　store　is　right　over　there；〃　Minmei　was　saying；　〃right　next　to　the　gift　shop。　And　the　bakery　is　still…Rick；　have　you　ever　tasted　mandarin　root？　Oh；　and　I'm　so　glad　they　haven't　changed　the　street　signs！〃

The　signs　were　in　the　shape　of　smaller　torii。　〃You　haven't　been　gone　that　long；〃　he　reminded　her。　What　did　she　expect？　Funeral　bunting　on　every　corner？

〃Right；〃　she　said；　barely　having　heard　him。　〃I　hope　my　house　is　still　the　same。　Just　a　minute　now。。。〃

He'd　stopped　as　she　slowed　to　a　halt。

〃Look！〃　She　was　pointing　to　a　building　facade　covered　with　ideographs　and　intertwined　symbols；　gold　on　scarlet；　with　a　very　conspicuous　dragon　in　the　midst　of　it。　〃We're　here！〃

She　turned　to　Rick　excitedly；　and　he　found　himself　returning　her　smile　in　spite　of　himself。　〃It's　the　Golden　Dragon；　our　restaurant；　see？　Just　like　the　White　Dragon　is　Aunt　Lena's　in　Macross！〃

〃It's　very　nice；〃　was　all　Rick　could　find　to　say。

Minmei　was　close　to　tears　of　joy。　〃I　hope　everybody　remembers　my　face。〃

Rick　sighed。　〃I　keep　trying　to　tell　you；　you　haven't　been　gone　that　long！〃

〃So？　Maybe　I've　changed　a　lot。〃　She　struck　a　pose；　he　recognized　it　from　her　glamour　photos　and　feared　the　worst。

Minmei　gave　a　carefree　laugh　and　went　dashing　into　the　Golden　Dragon。　With　no　alternative；　Rick　followed　after。

〃Chang！　Chang！〃　she　was　shouting　into　the　face　of　a　startled　and　rather　nervous…looking　Chinese　gentleman　dressed　in　a　white　waiter's　tunic　and　matching　Nehru　hat。　〃D'　you　recognize　me？　Look！　Who　am　I？〃　She　twirled　before　him。

Chang；　his　eyes　the　size　of　poker　chips；　said　something　in　a　language　Rick　didn't　recognize　and　charged　off　into　the　kitchen；　crying；　〃Look！　e　look；　e　look！〃

He　was　back　in　a　moment；　dragging　a　brown…haired；　kind…faced　woman　whose　features　bore　a　resemblance　to　Minmei's。　〃Chang；　why　are　you　shoving　me？　What　in　the　world…stop　pushing…oh！〃

〃Don't　you　recognize　me；　Mother？〃

She　had　spied　Minmei　and　stopped；　wordless…perhaps　close　to　cardiac　arrest。

〃Does　that　mean　you　do？〃　Minmei　smiled。

〃Minmei。。。we　were　sure　you'd　been　killed！〃

〃No；　I'm　home；〃　she　said　brightly。

Minmei's　mother　rushed　over　to　throw　her　arms　around　her　daughter；　nearly　knocking　her　down。　〃I　can't　believe　it！　My　darling　little　girl　is　home！　She　wasn't　taken　from　us！〃　She　was　racked　with　sobs。

〃Well；　I　was；　really；〃　Minmei　said；　pulled　a　little　off　balance　by　her　mother's　tight　embrace　around　her　neck。　〃But　they　brought　me　back。〃

Her　mother　suddenly　had　her　at　arm's　length　again。　〃Back　from　where？　And　who's　this？〃

〃This　is　Rick　Hunter；　Mother。　He's　the　boy　who　saved　my　life。〃

Minmei's　mother　suddenly　clasped　Rick's　hand；　bowing　over　it　solemnly；　again　and　again。　〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　son！〃

Rick　scratched　his　head　with　his　free　hand；　not　knowing　what　to　say。　Among　other　things；　he　wasn't　at　all　sure　he　liked　being　referred　to　as　a　〃boy〃…especially　by　the　young　woman　he　cared　for　so　much。

〃Minmei！　We　thought　you　were　dead！〃　A　thick…bodied；　angry…looking　man　had　appeared　from　the　kitchen。　He　had　dark　eyes　and　hair　as　black　as　his　daughter's。

〃How　could　you　not　contact　us　and　let　us　know　you　were　alive？〃　But　even　though　he　was　scowling；　her　father　touched　her　face　tenderly。

Meanwhile；　Rick　was　having　some　very　troubling　thoughts　of　his　own。　The　G2　Security　officers　who　had　briefed　him　for　this　oddball　mission　had　been　very　emphatic　that　he　not　discuss　any　details　of　the　situation　on　the　SDF…1；　even　Minmei　had　agreed　to　be　circumspect　about　revealing　any　information　about　the　vessel　or　its　mission。

But　these　people　behaved　as　if　the　ship　had　been　lost　with　all　hands　even　though　it　had　been　back　for　over　twenty…four　hours　now。

Rick　took　the　briefing　officers'　instructions　to　heart；　deciding　to　say　as　little　as　possible…and　to　see　that　Minmei　did　the　same；　though　that　promised　to　be　a　chore…until　he　had　a　clearer　idea　of　just　what　was　going　on　here　on　Earth。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

Gloval's　ship　and　crew　had　been　tested　in　the　flame　and　e　through。　The　Robotechnology　and　the　civilian　refugees；　likewise；　had　undergone　a　make…or…break　trial。
No　one　had　foreseen　that　an　even　more　severe　strain　was　to　be　put　on　Gloval's　own　oath　of　allegiance。
〃The　Second　Front；〃　History　of　the　First　Robotech　War；　Vol。　LXVI。

The　giant　face　of　a　council　member　looked　down　at　Lisa　as　she　set　down　her　briefing　book；　her　summary　plete。

〃That　was　a　very　prehensive　report；　mander　Hayes；〃　the　Council　member；　General　Herbert；　said。　〃But　e　now；　don't　you　think　you've　overestimated　the