03_homecoming-第4部分

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th　the　girl　called　Minmei。　Max　and　Ben　had　kept　silent；　Rick's　friends　as　well　as　his　wingmates。

Lisa　finished；　〃And　I　think　this　last　part　is　very　important：　While　they　examined　and　interrogated　us；　they　constantly　made　reference　to　something　they　called　…'Protoculture。'〃

The　intel　officer　who　had　almost　been　attacked　by　Ben　Dixon　tilted　his　chair　back　arrogantly。　〃That's　pure　fantasy。〃

His　security　buddy　added；　〃And　were　there　any　little　green　men？〃

Major　Aldershot　glanced　around　at　him　stiffly；　the　ends　of　his　waxed　mustache　seeming　to　bristle。　〃I　will　point　out　that　the　mander　is　a　much…decorated　soldier。　This　insulting　levity　is　unbeing　from　someone　who　has　yet　to　prove　himself　under　fire。〃　It　was　the　most　he'd　said　all　morning。

〃What　is　this　‘Protoculture'？〃　Gloval　put　things　back　on　track。

Lisa　hesitated　before　answering。　〃It's　apparently　something　that　relates　to　their　use　of　Robotech。　I'm　not　sure；　but　they　think　that　Protoculture　is　the　highest　science　in　the　universe　and　that　somehow　we　possess　some　of　its　deepest　secrets。〃

Colonel　Maistroff　said　with　a　sly　grin　to　the　other　evaluation　team　officers；　〃Too　deep　for　me！〃　and　guffawed　at　his　own　joke。

The　intel　and　security　officers　roared　spitefully　along　with　him　as　Lisa's　cheeks　colored　and　Rick　felt　himself　flush　in　anger。

〃Silence！〃　Gloval　barked。　It　was　instantly　quiet。　〃This　is　a　very　grave　moment。　This　alien　armada　has　pursued　and　harried　us　across　the　solar　system　for　almost　a　year　and　yet　has　never　made　an　all…out　attempt　to　destroy　us；　perhaps　we　do　possess　a　power　in　the　SDF…1　that　we　don't　fully　understand。〃

That　was　a　good　bet；　the　way　Rick　saw　it。　Even　the　brilliant　Dr。　Lang　understood　only　a　fraction　of　the　alien　ship's　secrets；　and　he　was　the　one　who　had　masterminded　its　reconstruction　from　a　burned　and　battered　wreck。

Maistroff　fixed　Lisa　with　a　gimlet　stare；　red…faced　at　being　rebuked　in　front　of　junior　officers。　〃mander　Hayes；　is　that　all？〃

Lisa　met　his　glare。　〃Yes；　sir；　that's　all。〃

Ben　whispered　to　Rick；　〃I　don't　think　they　believe　us。〃　Ben　wasn't　exactly　point　man　on　the　genius　roster；　and　the　idea　that　such　a　thing　could　happen　had　never　occurred　to　him　until　the　debriefing　was　well　along。

〃It's　probably　the　dishonest　expression　on　your　face；〃　Rick　whispered　back　absently。

Maistroff　placed　both　hands　flat　on　the　table　and　turned　to　Gloval。　〃Do　you　really　believe　this　wild　tale？　It's　enemy　trickery！　Hallucinations！〃

Gloval　began　stoking　up　his　evil…smelling　briar；　tamping　the　tobacco　slowly　with　his　thumb；　pondering。　〃This　information　must　be　correlated　and　reported　to　Earth　immediately；　whether　I　believe　it　or　not…〃

Maistroff　interrupted　him；　saying　tightly　and　too　quickly；　〃I'll　send　a　coded　message　right　away…〃

〃Colonel　Maistroff。〃　It　was　Gloval's　turn　to　interrupt。　〃No；　you　won't。〃　He　lit　his　briar　while　they　all　gaped　at　him。

Gloval　said；　〃We've　got　to　break　through　the　enemy　elements　that　stand　between　the　SDF…1　and　our　homeworld。〃

The　evaluation　team　was　aghast；　Maistroff　shouting；　〃We　can't　make　it！〃

Rick　looked　around　and　saw　that　everybody　on　his　side　of　the　table　thought　it　was　a　magnificent　idea。　Gloval　rose。　〃At　our　current　speed；　we　are　only　two　days　from　Earth；　and　they　must　have　this　information。〃　He　started　for　the　hatch。

Maistroff　scowled　at　Gloval's　back。　〃And　then　what？〃

The　captain　answered　over　his　shoulder。　〃And　then　nothing。　We　just　await　orders　while　we　relax；　Colonel　Maistroff。〃

He　cut　through　all　their　protests。　〃That　will　be　all；　gentlemen。〃

Gloval　turned　to　the　escapees。　〃And　as　for　you　four。。。〃　They　all　shot　to　their　feet　at　rigid　attention。

〃At　least　for　the　time　being；　you'll　be　relieved　of　duty。　You've　earned　a　little　R　and　R。　You're　dismissed。〃

The　four　saluted　him　happily。　〃Enjoy　yourselves；〃　Gloval　said　gruffly；　puffing　his　pipe。　They　did　a　precise　right…face　and　marched　out　of　the　conference　room　in　style。　But　at　the　last　moment；　Gloval　removed　his　pipe　from　his　mouth　and　called；　〃One　moment；　Lisa。〃

The　others　continued　on。　Lisa　paused　at　the　hatch　and　turned　back　to　him。　〃Yes；　Captain？〃

〃Personally；　I　am　inclined　to　believe　that　your　report　is　accurate。　However。。。〃

〃Certainly；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you；　Captain。　I　know　you　believe　in　us；　and　I　appreciate　that。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　understand。〃

The　door　slid　open　again；　and　she　turned　and　left。　Gloval；　looking　back　to　the　debriefing　team；　saw　that　the　fact　that　he'd　chosen　to　tell　Lisa　what　he　did；　where　he　did；　wasn't　lost　on　them。


〃I'd　rather　face　the　aliens　again　than　that　bunch　of　brass；〃　Max　Sterling　told　Rick　as　they　walked　down　the　passageway。　They　were　walking　side　by　side；　with　Ben　behind。　They　could　hear　Lisa's　quick　footsteps　as　she　fell　in　at　the　rear。

〃Gloval　wasn't　so　bad；　and　that　Major　Aldershot；〃　Ben　said。

〃They're　only　doing　their　job；〃　Rick　maintained。　〃I'd　feel　the　same　way　in　their　place。〃

〃Sure　you　would；〃　Lisa　put　it；　a　little　surprised　that　Rick　Hunter　had　been　so　transformed　from　a　headstrong　discipline　problem　to　a　trained　military　man　who　understood　why　and　how　the　service　functioned。　〃And　they'd　feel　exactly　the　same　way　we　do　in　ours。〃

〃That's　right；　why　not　look　on　the　bright　side；〃　Ben　said。　Rick　looked　back　to　Ben　but　found　himself　making　eye　contact　with　Lisa。　He　looked　ahead　again　quickly；　in　turmoil；　not　sure　what　he　felt。

〃After　all；　all　of　us　were　promoted；　weren't　we？〃　Ben　went　on；　noticing　nothing；　very　jolly。　〃And　we're　going　home　to　a　big　hero's　wele！　So　why　not　relax　and　enjoy　the　rest　and　recreation　Captain　Gloval　gave　us？〃　He　clapped　Rick　on　the　shoulder；　staggering　him。

Rick　looked　back　at　him　sourly。　〃You　could　probably　relax　in　the　dentist's　chair；　Ben。〃


〃Are　you　sure　this　is　the　right　way？〃　Konda　asked　nervously；　watching　the　elevator's　floor…indicator　lights　count　down　toward　One。

〃We're　headed　for　the　area　of　greatest　activity　in　this　battle　fortress；〃　Rico　said　confidently。　〃Surely　the　most　important　concentration　of　military　secrets　will　be　there。〃

〃I　still　think　we　should　be　trying　to　reach　the　bridge；〃　Bron　grumbled。

The　elevator　stopped；　and　the　doors　parted。　A　brilliant　ray　of　light　broke　on　them。　The　three　spies　stood　rooted；　making　astounded；　strangled　sounds。

Before　them　was　Macross　City　in　all　its　glory。　The　streets　were　jammed　with　traffic；　the　sidewalks　were　crowded　with　busy；　hurrying　people。　Streetlights　and　signs　and　headlights　shone；　as　did　the　starlight　projected　by　the　Enhanced　Video　Emulation　system。　Display　windows　were　filled　with　clothing　and　appliances；　books；　furniture；　and　an　astonishing　variety　of　other　goods。

Rico　gulped　and　found　his　voice。　〃There's　so　much　to　spy　on！　Where　should　we　start？〃

Konda　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃Perhaps　we　should　just　mingle　with　the　Micronians　and　observe　their　habits。〃

They　gathered　their　courage　and　stepped　out。　Humans　were　everywhere；　alone　and　in　pairs　and　bigger　groups；　all　going　every　which　way。　Some　were　in　military　uniforms；　but　in　general　everybody　was　dressed　differently。　Reassured　that　he　and　his　panions　wouldn't　be　noticed；　Bron　pulled　up　his　knee　socks　and　smoothed　the　pleats　in　his　skirt。

It　took　all　their　self…control　not　to　shout　upon　seeing　male　and　female　Micronians　mingling　freely。　No　officers　or　overseers　were　in　immediate　evidence；　although　it　was　just　as　plain　as　could　be　to　the　Zentraedi　that　such　hivelike　activity　would　be　totally　impossible　without　some　strong　central　control。　Still；　there　were　humans　who　strode　along　purposefully　while　others　stood　idly　conversing　and　still　others　browsed　along；　glancing　through　the　gleaming　store　windows。

And　nobody；　nobody；　was　in　step　with　anybody　else。

They　started　off；　observing　carefully。　Bron　said；　〃Well；　I　think　there's　a　good　chance　we're　going　to　be　observing　them　for　a　very　long　time　before　we　figure　them　out。〃

They　came　to　a　window…shopper；　a　young　man　staring　longingly　at　a　display　in　a　music　store；　eyes　fixed　on　a　red　crystal　electric　guitar　that　had　three　necks　and　a　set　of　speakers　bigger　than　public　circuit　booths。

〃What　d'　you　suppose　he's　doing？〃　Bron　whispered。

Rico　considered；　then　smiled　in　sudden　realization。　〃Taking　inventory！〃

Bron　and　Konda　murmured；　〃Ahh！〃　and　nodded　knowingly。


CHAPTER　FOUR

Due　to　an　OVERWHELMING　NUMBER　OF　APPLICATIONS；　processing　and　mailing　of　membership　packets　for　the　MINMEI　FAN　CLUB　is　running　several　weeks　behind。
MINMEI　hopes　that　all　her　LOYAL　FANS　will　understand　this　and　wants　you　to　know　that　she　LOVES　EACH　AND　EVERY　ONE　OF　YOU！！！
Macross　City　newspaper；　magazine；　and　broadcast　ad

The　trio　of　micronized　zentraedi　came　to　an　intersection。　Before　them；　crosswalk　signals　blazed　and　traffic　lights　changed　colors。　The　movement　of　vehicles　and　people　was　orchestrated　somehow；　but　the　logic　behind　it　was　difficult　to　grasp。　Everything　was　so　disorderly；　so　unmilitary。

And　all　around　them　was　the　barrage　of　lighted　signs　and　flashing　neon　of　Macross　City's　〃downtown。〃　They　could　read　the　signs…at　least　when　the　logos　and　print　styles　weren't　too　fanciful…but　couldn't　make　any　sense　of　them。　And　there　was　so　little　uniformity！　Surely；　they　thought；　these　Micronians　must　be　mad。

And　none　of　the　three　dared　admit　to　the　others　how　oddly　appealing　he　found　it　all。

Rico　threw　his　hands　in　the　air。　〃What　military　purpose　could　all　those　indicators　possibly　serve？〃

Konda　glanced　around　at　lovers　strolling　with　arms　about　each　other's　waists；　at　parents　leading　their　children　by　the　hand；　at　old　people　enjoying　coffee　at　an　outdoor　cafe。　It　was　just　as　horrible　as　the　intelligence　reports　had　indicated。　〃You　can　be　sure　some　kind　of　sinister　force　is　at　work　here。〃

He　started　off；　the　other　two　falling　in　with　him。　〃There's　something　strange　at　the　root　of　all　this；　something　that　makes　these　creatures　so　pletely　unlike　us。　But　I　haven't　been　able　to　put　my　finger　on　it。〃

〃I　noticed　it；　too！〃　Rico　said　excitedly。　〃Like　something's　out　of　balance…something　weird　that　affects　all　of　them。〃

They　heard　laughter　and　shouting　ing　their　way；　and　the　hiss　of　small　wheels　against　the　sidewalk。　Bron　pointed。　〃　Warriors！〃

A　young　male　and　a　young　female　sped　with　easy；　athletic　grace　along　the　sidewa