03_homecoming-第19部分

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l　to　mention　nothing　specific　in　the　outsiders'　presence。

Sammie　took　the　cue。　〃Let's　go　into　town　and　eat　lunch！〃

Vanessa　nodded　energetically。　〃Yeah；　let's　go　down　to　the　White　Dragon；　I'm　starving。〃


At　the　White　Dragon；　the　front　doors　slid　aside。　Minmei's　aunt　Lena　quickly　went　to　greet　the　first　customers　of　the　lunch　rush；　bowing　hospitably。　The　restaurant　was　braced　for　a　busy　day；　people　were　boisterous；　in　a　mood　to　continue　their　celebrating　even　though　a　lot　of　them　were　getting　restless　and　edgy　with　the　delay　in　disembarkation。

It　didn't　disturb　her　husband　Max　very　much；　〃People　will　always　have　to　eat；〃　was　his　motto。　But　Lena　knew　a　certain　sadness。　In　spite　of　the　dreadful　things　the　SDF…1　and　Macross　had　gone　through；　the　rebuilt　restaurant　held　a　wealth　of　happy　memories。

〃Wele；〃　she　said；　〃welc…oh　！〃

A　ghost　had　e　through　the　door；　surrounded　by　a　cloud　of　brilliance　from　the　brighter　EVE　〃sunlight。〃

Her　hands　flew　to　her　mouth。　〃Oh；　Kyle；　is　it　really　you？〃

He　took　a　step　closer。　In　the　well…remembered；　soft；　clear　voice；　he　said　gently；　〃Yes；　Mother；　I'm　home。　And　I've　missed　you　very　much。〃

Dimly；　she　was　aware　of　the　traffic　passing　by　on　the　street　outside　and　of　Minmei　and　Rick　Hunter　waiting　a　few　paces　back。　Minmei　was　barely　keeping　herself　from　weeping。　Rick　was　straightfaced；　showing　no　emotion；　but　he　envied　the　Lynn　family　their　connectedness　and　their　warmth；　Minmei's　tantrums　notwithstanding。

When　he　thought　about　it；　Rick　realized　that　the　closest　thing　he　had　to　family　was　Roy　Fokker　and…to　a　slightly　lesser　extent…his　wingmen；　Max　and　Ben。　So　Rick　endeavored　not　to　think　of　it。

Lena　walked　haltingly　to　her　son。　〃Kyle；　is　this　a　dream？　I　can　hardly　believe　my　eyes！　Oh；　my　baby！〃　She　cupped　his　face　in　her　hands。

〃No；　it's　not　a　dream；　Mother；　it's　me。〃

Tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks。　〃I've　missed　you　so。〃　Lena　threw　herself　into　his　arms。

〃Gee；〃　Minmei　said；　wiping　away　moisture　from　her　eyes。　〃I'm　so　happy；　I'm　gonna　cry。〃

Lena　truly　noticed　Rick　and　her　niece　for　the　first　time。　〃Oh；　dear！　This　is　no　way　to　wele　you　two　home！〃

Minmei　was　snuffling　and　sobbing　openly　now。　〃Aw；　don't　worry　about　us；〃　Rick　said。

Lena　said；　〃Now；　now；　e　in！〃　She　kept　her　hold　on　her　son's　shoulders　as　he　took　another　step　into　the　White　Dragon。　Minmei　had　assured　him　that　in　virtually　every　detail　it　was　an　exact　duplicate　of　the　old　place；　the　one　that　had　been　destroyed　on　Macross　Island。　But　this　was　astounding！

There　was　a　clatter　of　bowls　and　a　rattle　of　chopsticks　over　by　the　pickup　counter。　Lynn…Kyle　essayed　another　of　his　gentle　smiles。　〃Father。　I've　missed　you；　too。　You're　looking　well。〃

Max　snorted　gruffly；　looking　the　boy　over。　Gathering　the　last　of　the　bowls　with　an　irritated　grunt；　he　vanished　back　into　the　kitchen。

Lena　went　to　plead　with　him。　〃Now；　dear！　Please　don't　be　so…〃

But　Kyle　had　caught　her　wrist；　pulling　her　back。　〃Mother；　don't　get　upset；　I　beg　you。　Father's　always　been　that　way　around　me；　you　know　that。〃

Washing　up　the　last　of　the　dishes；　Max　scarcely　knew　what　he　was　doing；　his　mind　was　far　away；　on　the　years　and　the　rift　between　himself　and　his　son。　〃I　always　knew　he'd　e　back；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　words　drowned　out　by　the　jetting　water　and　the　other　sounds　of　the　kitchen。　〃No　alien　sneak　attack　could've　killed　him。〃

He　had　to　stop；　to　dry　his　eyes　and　blow　his　nose。　〃What　else　could　I　think？　He　is　my　son。〃

And　he　couldn't　help　but　surrender　to　the　proud　smile　he'd　kept　hidden。


The　three　Zentraedi　spies　crouched　before　the　display　window　of　a　sushi　and　tempura　shop　not　far　away；　gazing　hungrily　at　the　appetizing　dishes　there。　Their　mouths　watered；　and　their　jaws　ached　with　hunger。　Rico's　face　and　hands　were　pressed　flat　against　the　glass。

〃So　d'　you　suppose　that　stuff　is　food？〃　Konda　asked　aloud。

Bron　had　a　hypnotized　grin　on　his　face；　eyes　never　leaving　the　display。　〃Mmm；　well；　something　sure　smells　good　here；　and　I'm　getting　pretty　hungry。〃

The　tiny　supply　of　concentrate　capsules　they'd　brought　with　them　was　long　gone；　and　they　hadn't　eaten　since　the　free　food　at　the　party　on　Daedalus's　flight　deck　the　day　before。

The　other　two　made　ravenous　sounds　of　agreement。　Thus　far；　they　hadn't　been　able　to　figure　out　how　to　requisition　food　on　the　SDF…1；　Macross　City　was　filled　with　an　astounding　variety　of　things；　all　of　which　seemed　to　change　hands　through　a　system　based　on　pieces　of　paper。

But　how　to　get　the　paper？　The　humans'　system　of　distribution　and　ration　allocation　seemed　the　maddest　thing　of　all　about　their　society。

The　three　took　a　few　steps　back　to　stare　in　fascination　at　the　window　and　consider　their　problem。　〃So　who's　goin'　in　to　get　our　rations？〃　Konda　posed　the　question。

〃That's　easy；〃　replied　Bron；　hitching　his　belt　up。　〃I'll　go。〃

〃No；　I'll　go！〃　Rico　insisted。　Before　the　other　two　could　raise　the　question　of　tactics；　the　smallest　spy　backed　up　a　few　steps　and；　with　a　running　start；　slammed　his　shoulder　into　the　plate　glass。

The　glass　heaved　and　shattered；　pieces　of　it　raining　down　inside　the　display　case　and　out　on　the　sidewalk。　By　some　chance；　Rico　wasn't　hurt　at　all。

The　owner；　a　sturdy…looking　woman　in　her　forties　wearing　flat　slippers　and　an　apron　over　her　working　clothes；　came　charging　out　onto　the　sidewalk。　She　held　a　heavy；　long…handled　ladle　in　one　formidable…looking　fist。

〃Hey；　what's　going　on　out　here…Oh！〃　She　watched　dumbfounded　as　Rico；　squatting　on　his　haunches；　claimed　his　right　as　winner　of　the　food　and　had　the　first　portion。　Konda　and　Bron　were　looking　on　avidly。

But　Rico　spit　out　the　stuff　that　was　in　his　mouth　and　spit　again；　making　horrible　faces。　〃Inedible！　Plaugh！〃

She　shook　her　ladle　at　him。　〃What's　wrong　with　you？　Of　course　it's　not　food。　Don't　you　know　the　difference　between　real　food　and　a　plastic　window　display？〃

She　took　a　step　toward　him；　and　Rico　fell　over　backward　on　the　seat　of　his　pants；　intimidated　by　the　implement　she　held…from　the　confidence　she　showed；　it　was　obviously　a　lethal　weapon；　perhaps　a　Robotech　device。　Konda　and　Bron　skipped　back；　ready　to　do　battle　but　more　inclined　to　run　from　such　a　fearsome　opponent。

She　set　her　hands　on　her　hips；　looking　down　at　Rico；　who　waited　miserably　to　be　set　upon　and　wounded　or　killed。　But　she　said；　〃If　you're　trying　to　eat　that；　I　guess　you　really　must　be　hungry。〃

She'd　thought　that　arrangements　for　feeding　everyone　in　the　SDF…1　had　missed　nothing；　but　perhaps　these　three　loonies　were　a　special　case…incapable　of　coping　with　even　the　least　contact　with　bureaucracy。　There　were　always　going　to　be　those　who　fell　through　the　social　safety　net；　she　decided；　even　on　the　SDF…1。

She　wasn't　the　kind　to　let　people　go　hungry；　and　what's　more；　she　was　filled　with　the　joy　of　the　return　to　Earth　and　the　promised　end　to　her　hardships。　She　pointed　to　the　door　of　her　restaurant。

〃C'mon　inside；　you　three；　and　I'll　fix　you　something　to　eat。　And　I　mean　real　food！〃

She　went　inside；　and　the　three　spies　looked　at　one　another。

〃She's　going　to　give　us　food？　Just　like　that？〃　Bron　said　blankly。　〃Just　because　she　sees　we're　hungry？〃

〃How　can　a　chaotic　system　like　this　possibly　function？〃　Konda　wondered；　rubbing　his　jaw。

〃I　don't　care；　just　as　long　as　it　functions　for　another　half　hour　or　so！〃　proclaimed　Rico；　scrambling　to　his　feet。

It　was　insane；　against　all　logic。　And　yet；　knowing　how　it　felt　to　be　very；　very　hungry　and　have　someone　act　toward　them　in　this　absurd　but　very　wele　manner；　they　had　to　admit　that　there　was　something　about　it…something　admirable。　Something　that　struck　a　chord　deep　within　them。

It　was　pletely　unlike　the　Zentraedi；　it　even　smacked　of　a　kind　of　weakness。　But　it　stirred　up　new　and　confusing　response　patterns。

〃Hey；　wait　for　us！〃　Rico　yelped；　scuttling　along　after　her。　Konda　and　Bron　crowded　each　other　for　second　place。


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

In　recent　years；　Karl　Riber　hadn't　e　so　often　to　mind…not　more　than　once　or　twice　a　day；　sometimes。
Occasionally；　I　wonder　why　I　stayed　in　the　service；　since　it　was　war　that　took　us　apart；　war　that　had　made　peace…loving　Karl　volunteer　for　duty　on　the　Mars　Sara　Base；　that　got　him　killed　in　that　raid。
I　was　only　a　teenager；　and　a　rather　young　one；　when　he　left。　When　he　died；　I　thought　someday　the　pain　would　go　away；　the　years　would　wear　it　out。　I　know　better　now。
Lisa　Hayes；　Recollections

Lisa　and　her　watchmates　showed　up　at　the　White　Dragon　with　Max　Sterling　bringing　up　the　rear。　Max　knew　that　Rick　claimed　to　dislike　them；　especially　mander　Hayes；　but　Max　didn't　share　his　feelings。

He　even　suspected　that　Rick　protested　too　much；　was　too　loud　in　his　denunciation　of　Lisa；　Max　had　seen　them　together　and　knew　there　was　more　there　than　met　the　eye；　more　than　either　of　them　was　willing　to　admit。　But　far　be　it　from　the　self…effacing　Max　Sterling　to　make　any　ment。

As　for　Kim；　Sammie；　and　Vanessa…the　ones　Rick　had　dubbed　the　〃bridge　bunnies〃…Max　was　delighted　to　have　their　pany。　He　thought　it　good　luck　to　have　run　into　them　and　been　invited　along　and　figured　any　VT　jock　who　wouldn't　jump　at　the　chance　to　have　four　good…looking　women　for　pany　ought　to　report　immediately　for　a　long　talk　with　the　flight　surgeon。

〃Looks　kind　of　crowded；　doesn't　it？〃　Kim　was　saying；　just　as　they　realized　someone　was　signaling　them。　He　had　a　big　roundtop　all　to　himself；　the　only　unoccupied　table　in　the　place。　The　bridge　bunnies　thought　it　was　a　sign　from　providence；　and　Lisa　made　no　objection　to　joining　him。

〃Talk　about　a　case　of　perfect　timing；〃　Rick　said　as　Max　ran　around　trying　to　hold　all　the　women's　chairs　at　once。　〃Minmei's　long…lost　cousin　Kyle　was　in　Yokohama。　And　she　wouldn't　e　back　without　him。〃

Lisa's　face　clouded　with　disapproval。　She　knew　Rick's　orders；　and　bringing　an　outsider　was　tantamount　to　disobedience。　Still；　if　that　was　the　only　way　Miss　Macross　would　rejoin　the　ship；　Rick　had　probably　done　the　right　thing；　she　admitted；　even　though　she　couldn't　see　why　the　staff　people…especially　the　civilian　affairs　and　morale　officers…were　so　determined　that　the　girl　be　catered　to。

Besides；　she　knew　from　her　visit　to　the　Alaskan　base　that　there　would　be　no　leak　of　information　about　the　SDF…1's　return　or　Minmei's　visit；　not　even