03_homecoming-第17部分

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〃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　enemy's　strength　by　quite　a　lot？〃

Herbert　disappeared；　and　the　image　of　Marshal　Zukav；　silver…haired　and　silver…mustached；　took　its　place。　〃Yes；　I　can't　help　but　wonder　why　these　aliens　didn't　destroy　the　battle　fortress　if　they　had　such　overwhelmingly　superior　numbers。〃

Lisa；　who'd　seated　herself；　came　to　her　feet　again。　Gloval　said　nothing；　glaring　up　at　the　magnified　faces　around　him；　content　to　let　his　First　Officer　draw　out　the　Council's　attitudes　and　arguments　before　he　made　his　stand。

〃I've　already　stated　what　we　believe　to　be　their　motives　in　my　report。〃

Herbert　was　back。　〃You　expect　us　to　accept　that　report　as　the　truth？〃

Lisa　growled；　gritting　her　teeth；　her　hands　bunching　into　fists；　trying　to　keep　her　temper。

Then　her　father；　Admiral　Hayes；　was　staring　down　at　her。　〃That　will　be　all；　mander；　we've　heard　quite　enough。　You　may　resume　your　seat。〃

〃Admiral；　I…〃

But　Gloval　was　on　his　feet　now；　with　a　calming　hand　on　her　shoulder。　She　held　her　peace。

〃Gentlemen；〃　he　addressed　the　Council；　〃what　about　the　authorization　for　the　requests　that　were　attached　to　that　report？〃

Now　Zukav　glared　down　at　him　again。　〃The　proposal　to　negotiate　with　the　enemy　and　the　plans　to　relocate　the　Macross　City　survivors？〃

Herbert　broke　in；　〃We　will　discuss　your　requests　in　private　session。　You　and　your　First　will　stand　by！〃　There　was　a　loud　tone；　and　all　screens　went　blank；　leaving　Lisa　and　Gloval　in　a　sudden　silence　in　the　dim；　domed　chamber。

Lisa's　fists　were　trembling。　〃Ohhhh！　I　can't　believe　they　treated　us　like　this！〃

Gloval　lowered　himself　into　his　chair；　head　thrown　back；　eyes　closed。　〃I　do。　I　think　we've　lost　the　fight。〃

〃But…how　can　you　know　that　already？〃

〃There's　something　going　on　here　that　we　don't　know　about；　Lisa。　Their　minds　are　made　up。〃

She　gazed　around　at　the　darkened　screens。　〃I　wonder　what　they're　planning　to　do　with　us？〃


Minmei's　father　slammed　his　fist　on　the　table；　making　the　teacups　jump。　〃No！　You're　not　going！〃

〃That's　right！〃　her　mother　added。　〃After　more　than　a　year　we　finally　discover　that　you're　not　dead；　how　can　you　think　we'd　let　you　leave？〃

〃To　go　entertain　troops　on　some　warship。〃　Her　father　sneered。

Minmei　was　on　her　feet；　hands　on　hips。　〃Hah！　Is　that　what　you　think　I'm　doing？〃　She　stamped　one　little　foot。　〃I'm　not　just　some　run…of…the…mill　USO　singer；　you　know！　I'm　an　important　person　back　there！〃

Her　father　shouted；　〃Well；　you're　not　back　there！　You're　here；　and　I'm　not　letting　you　return；　and　that's　that！〃

She　threw　her　head　back；　eyes　squeezed　shut；　shaking　her　fists。　〃No…o…o…o！〃　Then　she　went　on。　〃I've　got　to　go　back！　I'm　doing　a　TV　show；　I've　got　a　record　ing　out；　and　I'm　going　to　be　starring　in　a　film！　Isn't　that　right；　Rick？〃

Rick　was　pletely　taken　by　surprise　at　the　sudden　shift　of　focus　to　him。　〃Uh；　um…〃

〃Ridiculous！　Your　family　es　first！〃　her　father　barked。

Rick　was　wondering　about　that；　too。　When　he　and　Minmei　were　stranded；　she　had　talked　at　length　about　all　the　love　and　mutual　support　there　was　in　her　family。　It　looked　like　a　little　celebrity　could　change　a　for　of　things。

〃I　want　to　be　a　movie　star！〃　she　pouted；　stamping　both　feet　this　time；　just　as　her　cousin　Jason　did　when　he　threw　a　tantrum。

Her　mother　was　weeping　into　a　snow…white　napkin。　〃How　could　you　hurt　us　like　this？　You　know　we've　always　counted　on　you　to　get　married　and　take　over　the　Golden　Dragon　and　run　it　with　your　husband。〃

Married？　Run　the　restaurant？　Those　were　new　wrinkles！　Rick　suddenly　felt　a　little　queasy　at　the　very　thought　of　giving　up　flying；　even　for　Minmei。　Maybe　they　weren't　destined　for　each　other；　after　all。

〃What　about　you；　young　man？〃　her　father　snapped。　〃What　d'　you　think　about　all　this　hogwash；　eh？〃

〃Huh？　That　is…well…〃

Minmei　was　furious。　〃I　don't　see　why　you're　asking　him！　His　opinion　doesn't　count　here！　I'm　the　one　making　the　decision！　It's　my　life；　and　I'm　going　back　to　the　ship；　I　can't　turn　my　back　on　thousands　of　loyal　fans　and　all　the　people　I　work　with！〃

Her　mother　sniffed　and　said；　〃But　you're　turning　your　back　on　us。〃

Score　one　for　Mom；　Rick　thought；　that　shot　had　hit　home；　stopping　Minmei　in　her　tracks；　at　least　for　the　moment。

But　just　when　she　might　have　yielded；　a　new　voice　interrupted。　〃Hey；　what's　all　the　screaming　about　down　here？　I　can't　even　concentrate　on　my　studies…hey！　Minmei！〃

He　was　about　Rick's　age　or　a　little　older；　tall；　with　straight　hair　as　black　as　Minmei's　that　fell　past　his　shoulders。　He'd　stepped　down　out　of　the　stairway…a　slim；　athletic…looking　fellow；　handsome　but　somehow　sullen。　Still；　his　face　lit　up　when　he　saw　her。

She　flew　to　him；　hugging　herself　to　him。　〃Kyle！　Oh；　I　can't　believe　it！　You're　here！　I　thought　I'd　never　see　you　again！〃

He　laughed　and　held　her　close。

She　spoke　in　a　flurry。　〃We　thought　you　died　on　Macross！　We　never　found　you　in　the　shelters；　or　later　on　the　SDF…1；　so　your　parents　and　I　assumed…〃

He　shrugged。　〃After　my　father　kicked　me　out　of　the　house　for　being　in　the　peace　movement；　I　figured　it　wasn't　such　a　good　idea　to　stick　around　a　military　town。　So　I　left　the　day　before　Launching　Day。〃

Rick　was　looking　at　him　jealously。　Kyle　had　a　sort　of　inner　balance；　a　calmness…unflappable　and　very　self…possessed。

〃When　I　tried　to　get　in　touch　with　you；〃　he　was　telling　Minmei；　〃they　told　me　that　everything　on　the　island　had　been　destroyed　and　that　it　was　off　limits　for　good。　Radioactive　or　something。〃　His　face　clouded　with　the　memory；　a　sensitive　and　strong　face。

〃It　was　terrible。〃　She　nodded　sadly。

He　took　her　shoulders。　〃Well；　I'm　glad　you're　here；　I'm　glad　somebody　survived。〃

〃Oh；　but　your　mom　and　dad　are　doing　just　fine；　running　the　White　Dragon！〃

〃What？〃　His　grip　tightened　on　her　shoulders　for　a　moment；　powerful　fingers　digging　in　until　he　realized　what　he　was　doing　and　eased　off。　〃They're　alive？〃

She　gave　him　a　smile　warm　as　a　hearth　fire。　〃Sure；　silly；　they're　on　the　ship。〃

〃Ship？　What're　you　taking　about？〃

She　tched　and　explained；　〃The　spaceship。〃

〃You　mean　you　didn't　know？〃　Rick　asked；　wondering　just　how　much　covering　up　he　was　going　to　have　to　do。

Kyle　was　shaking　his　head　happily；　baffled　but　laughing。　〃No。〃

〃Most　of　us　survived；　even　though　we　lost　a　lot　of　people；〃　Minmei　told　him。　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter；　he's　one　of　the　fighter　pilots　from　the　ship。〃

Kyle　said；　〃Oh。　Hello。〃　It　sounded　like　he　was　greeting　the　lowest　known　life　form。

Rick　rose　anyway；　trying　to　be　polite。　〃Hi。〃

〃Rick；〃　Minmei　gushed；　〃this　is　my　cousin　Lynn…Kyle；　he's　been　like　a　brother　to　me。　Kyle；　Rick　is　the　one　who　saved　my　life。〃

〃It　was　a　privilege。〃　Rick　shrugged。

Kyle's　expression　was　full　of　anger　and　resentment。　〃I　thought　soldiers　were　expected　to　aid　civilians　in　times　of　emergency。〃

Rick　cocked　his　head　to　one　side；　trying　to　figure　out　what　Kyle's　beef　was。　〃Hmmm。〃

〃But　we　appreciate　your　efforts；　anyway；〃　Kyle　told　him　with　a　frown。

Minmei　slipped　an　arm　through　Kyle's　elbow。　〃No；　no：　When　Rick　saved　my　life；　he　hadn't　bee　a　soldier　yet。〃

Kyle　was　looking　him　up　and　down　with　narrowed　eyes。　〃So　you　decided　to　join　up　later；　eh？〃

Minmei's　mother　and　father　were　watching　the　whole　exchange　without　interfering；　Rick　wondered　just　what　he'd　gotten　into　the　middle　of。　〃That's　right。〃

Kyle　held　his　chin　high；　gazing　down　his　nose　at　Rick。　〃What　d'　you　think's　so　good　about　the　military？〃

Rick　showed　his　teeth　in　a　snarling　smile。　〃Free　bullets；　free　food。。。and　it　sure　beats　working　for　a　living。〃


〃It's　getting　late；〃　Gloval　said　grimly　just　as　a　tone　sounded。

Hours　had　gone　by。　In　the　interview　chamber　at　the　bottom　of　the　Alaskan　base；　the　screens　flashed　to　life　again。　Gloval　and　Lisa　looked　up　expectantly；　wondering　what　the　result　of　the　deliberation　was。　The　wall　clock　read　nearly　midnight。

General　Herbert　gazed　down　at　them。　〃Captain；　mander…sorry　to　keep　you　waiting。〃　He　didn't　sound　sorry　at　all。　〃The　Council　has　been　going　over　your　report；　and　we　have　found　most　of　it　to　be　accurate。〃

〃And　what　about　my　requests？〃

〃Captain　Gloval；　all　negotiations　with　the　aliens　for　an　end　to　hostilities　are　flatly　rejected。〃

Gloval　spat；　〃You　think　we　can　win　against　a　force　like　that？〃

〃We　don't　know　whether　we　can　win　or　not。　The　point　is；　we　don't　understand　the　invaders'　thinking。　We　scarcely　understand　their　Robotechnology。　How　can　we　begin　peace　talks　with　them？〃

Gloval　was　about　to　interrupt；　but　Herbert　pushed　on。　〃We　have　no　way　of　knowing　if　they　would　participate　in　good　faith　or　simply　ignore　any　treaty　mitments　and　attack　again　when　it　suited　them。〃

〃But…you　must　realize…〃　Gloval　began。

Then　Admiral　Hayes's　image　was　front　and　center。　〃Captain；　we　think　our　Grand　Cannon　will　protect　us　as　long　as　we　stay　prepared　and　alert。　We　will　not　negotiate　away　that　advantage。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Gloval　snapped。　〃I　understand；　sir。　But　what　about　resettling　the　fifty　thousand　or　so　Macross　survivors？〃

Herbert　fielded　that　one；　seeming　irked　that　he　would　even　ask　the　question。　〃They've　all　been　declared　dead；　so　having　them　leave　the　SDF…1　is　out　of　the　question；　Gloval。〃

Gloval　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃I　don't　understand。〃

Lisa　shot　to　her　feet。　〃Just　what　is　it　you're　saying？〃

Herbert's　answer　was　acid。　〃Do　you　think　we　made　an　official　announcement　that　we're　at　war　with　aliens？　Why；　there　would　have　been　worldwide　panic　and　probable　insurrection　by　the　peace　factions！〃

〃They'd　have　been　screaming　for　immediate　unconditional　surrender；〃　another　Council　member；　missioner　Blaine　of　US…Western；　added。

Admiral　Hayes's　image　held　the　center　spot　again。　〃We　invoked　a　strict　media　blackout　from　the　day　the　SDF…1　disappeared；　using　the　excuse　that　a　guerrilla　force　of　anti…unification　terrorists　had　attacked　Macross　Island　and　destroyed　it　after　the　ship　left　on　its　maiden　test　flight。　Now；　how　could　we　let　the　tens　of　thousands　of　Macross　inhabitants　who　know　what　a　tremendous　threat　we　face　return　to　Earth？〃

〃It's　impossible！〃　Zukav　threw　in。　〃The　government　would　be　overthrown！〃

Are　they　crazy　or　am　I？　Gl