03_homecoming-第28部分

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〃Aw；　can　it；　Dixon。〃　Rick　slapped　the　thing　off。

Ben　stood　looking　bewildered　and　hurt。　〃Whatsa　matter？〃

〃I　just　like　it　quiet；　all　right？〃

Ben　wore　his　bemused；　goodnatured　look；　scratching　a　hairstyle　that　resemble　a　fuzzy　brown　turnip。　〃Absolutely！　Anything　you　say；　skipper！　You're　the　boss！〃

〃So　tell　me　something；　y'　big　loafer；〃　Roy　intervened。　〃When're　you　gonna　quit　playing　invalid？〃

〃‘Playing'　isn't　the　right　word；　Roy。〃

Max　grinned。　〃What　you　need　is　a　visit　from　someone　like　Minmei；　to　e　over　and　give　you　a　mand　performance　right　here。〃

Rick　turned　on　him　so　angrily　that　Max　clapped　a　hand　over　his　own　mouth。　Then　Rick　leaned　back　on　his　mound　of　pillows；　head　resting　on　hands。　〃I　don't　imagine　Minmei's　very　interested　in　a　washout　like　me。〃

Ben　sounded　his　heartiest。　〃Well；　then　maybe　you　oughta　introduce　her　to　a　certified　flying　ace　like　myself；　Lieutenant。〃　He　laughed　loudly。

Rick　sat　up　again；　fist　clenched。　〃How　about　a　punch　in　the　nose？〃

Roy　was　on　his　feet；　one　hand　on　Ben's　shoulder。　To　Rick；　he　said；　〃Easy；　tiger；　Ben　didn't　mean　anything。〃

Big　as　Ben　was；　Roy　lifted　him　onto　tiptoes　without　much　trouble。　〃Let's　go；　ace；　before　you　make　his　condition　any　worse。〃

As　he　dragged　Ben　off；　Roy　threw　back；　〃Glad　to　see　you're　okay；　kid！〃

Max　asked　Rick；　〃Has　Minmei　been　here？　I　thought　the　flowers…〃

〃No；　they're　from　mander　Hayes。〃

As　Roy　paused　to　open　the　door；　Ben　got　out；　〃So　what's　wrong　with　that？〃

Roy　caught　his　arm。　〃I　said　c'mon！〃

Ben　got　off　a　salute　and　a　〃See　ya　later！〃　before　Roy　yanked　him　out　of　sight。

〃Well；　it　was　nice　of　her　to　bring　flowers；　wasn't　it？〃　Max　persisted。　〃Uh；　skipper？〃　Rick　wasn't　listening；　arms　folded　and　chin　sunk　on　chest。

Max　saluted　uncertainly。　〃Well；　get　well　soon；　sir。　Be　seein'　ya。〃

Out　in　the　street；　Roy　told　Ben　and　Max；　〃At　this　rate　he'll　be　laid　up　for　months。　Guess　I'll　have　to　do　something　to　get　Little　Brother　out　of　this　depression。〃

Ben　wore　an　even　more　baffled　look　than　usual。　〃But　how；　mander？〃

Roy　wore　a　rakish　smile。　〃There's　only　one　kind　of　medicine　that　I　can　think　of　that'll　cheer　him　up。〃


Variations；　his　favorite　coffee　shop；　was　fairly　busy　for　that　time　of　day；　and　so　Claudia　had　a　little　trouble　finding　him。

She　gave　him　her　bright；　winsome　smile　as　she　joined　him　at　a　window　table　for　two。　〃Hi；　hon；　what's　the　urgent　summons　all　about？〃　She　leaned　closer　to　breathe；　〃Official　business　or　personal？〃

He　showed　a　roguish　smile。　〃A　little　of　both。〃

She　looked　him　over。　〃This　Minmei　business　you　mentioned　better　be　the　official　part。〃

〃Yep。　I　have　a　friend　who　could　use　some　cheering　up；　I　need　to　talk　to　her。〃

She　considered　that。　〃Easy　enough；　she's　making　a　motion　picture。　You'll　find　her　on　the　set　every　day。　Now；　could　we　get　to　the　personal　part；　mander　Fokker？〃

He　leered　at　her　fondly。　〃How　personal　d'　you　wanna　get？〃

〃Dinner　tonight？〃

He　was　ing　to　his　feet。　〃You　got　it；　kid；　but　only　if　you　make　your　famous　pineapple　salad。　But　I've　gotta　get　going。　See　you　about　seven；　okay？〃

She　watched　him　rush　off　again。　The　SDF…1's　new　predicament…the　work　to　reequip　and　rearm　bat　units；　train　replacements；　restock　all　supplies；　do　all　maintenance　and　repair　work　possible…still　left　them　little　time　together。

Sure；　mander　Fokker；　she　thought　calculatingly。　Dinner　tonight　and；　although　you　may　not　know　it　yet；　breakfast　tomorrow。


CHAPTER　TWENTY

So　Sammie　gave　me　this　puzzled　look　and　said；　〃But　we　know　perfectly　well　how　bad　things　look；　Claudia。　But　that's　exactly　the　time　when　we　should　go　into　town　and　have　fun！　Didn't　you　know　that？〃
All　I　could　do　was　explain　that　us　old　folks　are　often　forgetful　and　send　the　Terrible　Trio　on　their　way。　Whatever　they　have；　there're　times　when　I　could　sure　use　some。
Lt。　Claudia　Grant；　in　a　letter　to　Lt。　mdr。　Roy　Fokker

Bron；　Konda；　and　Rico　looked　down　at　the　street…corner　huckster's　portable　table；　transfixed　by　fear；　awe；　and　the　deeper　impulses　that　their　sojourns　among　the　Micronians　had　awakened。

〃Not　available　in　any　store！〃　the　huckster　ran　through　his　spiel。　〃Dancing　and　singing　just　like　the　real　thing！　Batteries　not　included。　Wouldn't　you　love　to　have　a　Minmei　doll　of　your　very　own？〃

Bron；　hands　clasped　reverently；　nodded　furiously；　proclaiming；　〃I'd　love　to　have　one　of　my　very　own！〃

He　was　squatting　now；　eyes　level　with　the　table；　as　were　his　panions。　The　little　mechanical　dolls　in　their　bright　crimson　and　gold　mandarin　robes；　black　hair　bunned　and　braided　like　Miss　Macross's；　didn't　actually　dance；　their　movements　were　more　like　penguins'。　But　that　didn't　stop　the　gathered　children　and　adolescents　from　scooping　them　up。

The　huckster；　a　black…bearded；　bald…headed；　burly　fellow；　was　doing　a　land…office　business。　Nobody　even　wanted　to　look　at　bare…chested　swordsman　dolls　or　lovable　stuffed　cutsies　anymore。　The　girls　wanted　Minmei；　the　boys　wanted　mecha…although　sometimes　it　was　just　the　opposite。

〃It　must　be　Robotechnology！〃　Rico　muttered　to　his　panions。　And　a　secret　weapon；　too；　he　suspected；　from　its　hypnotic　effect　on　him。

The　spies　had　a　hopeless　long…distance　crush　on　Minmei　and　an　all…consuming　yearning　to　have　one　of　the　dolls。　But　money　was　still　a　problem；　as　it　had　been　since　the　beginning　of　their　mission。

〃We　must　seize　one　of　them；〃　Konda　decided。　〃On　my　signal…now！〃

They　came　surging　up；　upsetting　the　table　and　knocking　the　huckster　back　off　balance　as　he　squawked；　〃Hey；　watch　it！　Ahh！〃

The　crowd　milled；　and　shoved；　Minmei　dolls　slid　or　were　lofted　all　over　the　place　as　the　huckster　landed　on　his　rear。

〃Grab　it！〃　Konda　yelled；　and　Rico　got　his　hands　on　one；　taking　it　quickly　but　lovingly。　The　fearless　espionage　agents　made　their　escape　in　the　confusion；　clutching　their　critical　item　of　enemy　technology。　They　could　hear　the　huckster　swearing　that　somebody　would　be　made　to　pay。

They　didn't　return　directly　to　the　hideout　they'd　established；　of　course；　that　would　have　been　poor　tactics。　They　had　to　make　sure　they　weren't　being　pursued。

They　couldn't　risk　having　their　refuge　promised；　it　was　filled　with　critical　pieces　of　human　instrumentation；　things　that　would　give　mander　in　Chief　Dolza　and　the　other　Zentraedi　lords　vital　intelligence　data　and　perhaps　the　key　to　overing　the　Micronians。　There　was　a　piano；　an　assortment　of　movie　posters；　a　box　of　kitchen　utensils；　radios；　TVs　and　personal　puters；　a　food　processor；　a　bicycle　wheel；　several　street　signs；　a　Miss　Macross　jigsaw　puzzle；　and　a　jumble　of　broken　toys　from　the　city's　charity　discard　bins　that　the　spies　so　loved。

Every　time　they　thought　about　their　plunder；　the　spies'　chests　swelled　with　pride。　But　this！　A　Minmei　doll！　A　crowning　achievement！


The　Terrible　Trio　paced　through　the　streets　of　Macross　City　in　the　throes　of　a　real　crisis。

Kim　groused；　〃will　you　look　at　us？　Walking　around　town　with　a　day　off　and　nothing　to　do？　No　place　to　go？　Ugh；　how　boring！〃

〃Ew；〃　Vannessa　agreed。

〃Yuck；〃　Sammie　concurred。

To　top　it　all　off；　they　were　dressed　for　a　real　good　time：　Vanessa　wore　white　slacks　and　a　Gigiwear　sport　coat　with　the　sleeves　shot　back；　Sammie　was　in　a　prim　but　cute　outfit　that　looked　like　she　belonged　in　the　Easter　parade；　and　Kim　wore　a　revealing　citypants　outfit　set　off　by　saddle　shoes　and　knee　socks。

〃And　not　a　man　in　sight！〃　Sammie　piped　up。　〃It's　a　lot　worse　than　just　boring！〃

An　abrupt　motion　off　to　one　side　drew　their　attention。　With　pounding　feet；　three　figures　came　dashing；　just　about　tumbling；　around　the　corner。　There　were　three　guys；　a　big　husky　one　and　a　tall　lean　one　and　a　small；　wiry　one；　panting　and　frantic。　They　crowded　on　top　of　one　another　as　they　hid　around　the　corner；　looking　back　the　way　they'd　e。

The　three　spies　had　recently　plugged　the　special　Protoculture　chip　given　them　by　Breetai　into　an　unguarded　portion　of　the　SDF…1's　systemry。　The　towering　mander　had　made　it　clear　that　the　chip　was　valuable；　irreplaceable；　one　of　a　very　limited　number　remaining　from　the　research　of　Zor　himself。　The　chip　would　slowly　draw　on　surrounding　ponents　and　the　ship's　power　to　create　a　pod　for　their　escape。　Exedore　had　been　loath　to　spend　the　irreplaceable　chip　even　on　so　important　a　mission；　but　Breetai　had　decided　that　the　spies'　return　must　be　assured。　And　so；　they　must　be　sure　they　weren't　pursued。

〃Anyone　following　us；　Bron？〃　the　little　one　said　between　gulps　of　air。

〃What's　the　merchant　doing？〃　the　tall；　lean　one　panted。

Gasping　for　breath；　the　husky　one　said；　〃He　seems　to　be　sitting　there；　trying　to　get　the　other　dolls　back。〃

Rico　turned；　gloating　over　their　prize；　holding　the　little　toy　up　to　inspect　it　gleefully。　〃Look：　Minmei！〃　The　other　two　bent　near；　feasting　their　eyes　on　it。　〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Rico。　〃Robotech…Robo…uhhh。〃

He'd　noticed　something；　when　Bron　and　Konda　looked　up；　they　too　saw　three　young　Micronian　females　standing　nearby；　studying　them　strangely。

Rico　was　the　one　among　them　with　a　certain　presence　of　mind。　He　stood　up　at　once；　whisking　the　doll　behind　his　back；　sweating　profusely。　〃Um；　hello！　W…w…we're　strolling！〃　The　other　two　nodded　diligently　in　agreement；　showing　their　teeth　in　unconvincing　smiles。

Sammie　pointed　at　them　and　declared。　〃Yeah？　It　looks　to　me　like　you're　playing　with　a　Minmei　doll！〃

〃D…d…dunno　what　you　mean！〃　Rico　insisted。　But　the　three　spies　were　terrified　that　their　valiant　mission　had　run　its　course；　defeated　by　the　malevolent　Micronian　genius　for　war　and　intrigue。

Sammie　shrugged。　〃It's　just　that　I've　never　seen　a　grown　man　playing　with　a　doll　before。〃

〃Adults　don't　do　it？〃　Bron　burst　out；　trading　astounded　looks　with　his　cohorts。

Sammie　sniggered。　〃Silly　man！　Only　kids　play　with　dolls。〃

The　spies　reflected　on　the　perversely　plicated；　often　contradictory　behavioral　code　the　Micronians　maintained…no　doubt　as　a　safeguard　against　infiltration　by　outsiders。　A　matter　of　warped　genius；　and　now　it　had　worked；　they　had　blundered　and　e　to　the　attention　of　what　appeared　to　be　three　patrolling　secret　police。

Vanessa　resettled　her　glasses　and　took　a　closer　look　at　the　three　nerds　she　and　her　friends　had　stumbled　across。　〃What　planet　d'　you　e　from；　anyway？〃

Bron　went；　〃Duly〃　and　almost　fainted。　Konda　blu