03_homecoming-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ted。　〃　Warriors！〃

A　young　male　and　a　young　female　sped　with　easy；　athletic　grace　along　the　sidewalk　on　small　wheeled　contrivances　barely　big　enough　to　stand　on。

Their　hair　streamed　behind　them；　and　they　whooped　and　laughed；　tilting　and　swaying　to　steer。　From　their　merry　demeanor；　the　spies　could　see　that　the　young　Micronians　enjoyed　their　drill　and　the　prospect　of　bat。

〃Gangwaaaay！〃　called　the　boy。

〃Yahooooo！〃　sang　the　girl。

Trying　to　hide　his　dismay　at　their　bloodthirsty　war　cries；　Bron　dodged；　then　faked　the　other　way。　The　skateboarders；　unaware　that　they　were　part　of　an　interspecies　skirmish；　effortlessly　avoided　him。　Bron　mistook　their　evasive　maneuvers　for　an　attack；　reversed　field　too　quickly　in　the　unfamiliar　low…heeled　pumps；　and　ended　up　on　his　backside。

Konda　and　Rico　hurried　to　kneel　at　either　side。　〃Bron；　are　you　wounded？〃

〃No；　Konda；　but　I　think　they　suspect　something。〃

The　spies　looked　around　apprehensively。　Passersby　were　gazing　at　them　curiously；　sometimes　murmuring　to　one　another　but　not　stopping　or　making　agressive　moves。

〃Perhaps　that　was　only　a　probing　attack；〃　Rico　speculated。　His　voice　betrayed　an　unusual　lack　of　self…confidence。　If　the　Micronians　were　playing　such　a　sadistic　cat…and…mouse　game；　they　must　be　masters　of　psychological　warfare。

More　and　more　people　were　noticing　them　now；　laughing　outright　before　moving　along；　passing　ments　among　themselves。　Their　attention　seemed　to　be　focused　on　Bron　and　his　attire。

〃It　could　be　that　there's　something　wrong　with　our　uniforms；〃　Rico　hissed。

〃I　don't　see　any　difference　between　our　uniforms　and　theirs；　do　you？〃　Konda　demanded　as　he　and　Rico　each　took　one　of　Bron's　arms　and　hauled　the　bulky　warrior　to　his　feet。

Bron　pulled　up　his　white　knee　socks　and　rearranged　his　string　of　pearls。　〃I　don't　see　any　difference；　either。　But　just　the　same；　I　wish　I'd　chosen　something　a　little　less　breezy　down　around　my　legs。〃　He　flapped　the　hem　of　his　skirt　in　the　air。

People　were　stopping　now；　staring　at　them；　laughing　and　slapping　each　other　on　the　arm。　The　female　Micronians　seemed　inclined　to　look；　avert　their　eyes；　then　look　again；　blushing　and　shaking　with　laughter。

Rico　caught　a　few　words　here　and　there…〃women's　clothes；〃　for　example…and　made　a　brief；　horrified　parison　study　of　the　garments　he　saw　all　around　him；　and　their　wearers。

〃That's　it！　It's　a　female's　uniform　you're　wearing！〃

So；　they　hadn't　been　spotted　by　the　Micronians'　secret　police。　Bron　had　his　eyes　closed；　almost　collapsing　back　into　Konda's　arms　with　the　mortification　of　it。

Konda　shoved　him　upright。　〃e　on！　Let's　get　out　of　here　now！〃

Nobody　appeared　inclined　to　stop　them；　and　most　were　laughing　too　hard；　anyway。　They　dashed　off　in　a　line；　Konda　leading；　around　a　corner　and　down　a　street；　around　another　corner　and　across　to　a　park；　making　sure　not　to　bump　into　anybody。

〃Frat　initiation；〃　someone　said　sagely。

〃Another　bunch　of　drunken　performance　artists！〃　an　old　man　yelled；　waving　his　cane　at　them　vengefully。

But　other　than　that；　they　drew　a　few　puzzled　glances　and　nothing　more。　Konda　had　spotted　an　illuminated　symbol　whose　meaning　they'd　learned　on　their　earliest　explorations；　the　little　stick…figure　Micronian　near　the　lighted　sign；　MEN。

The　attendant　was　standing　outside；　whiling　away　the　time　and　watching　the　people　go　by。　He　watched　as　Konda　and　Rico　dashed　into　the　men's　room；　not　terribly　interested；　he'd　seen　guys　in　a　bigger　hurry　in　his　time。　Then　he　heard　the　pounding　of　heavy　footsteps　and　did　a　classic　double　take　as　Bron　brought　up　the　rear。

The　picture　of　offended　righteousness；　the　attendant　held　up　his　hand。　〃Just　a　second；　madam！　Nothin'　doin'！　Ladies'　room　to　th'　left！〃

〃Okayokayokay！〃　Bron　veered　off　and　ran　into　the　ladies'　room。

There　were　a　few　relatively　quiet　moments；　during　which　the　attendant　looked　up　at　the　evening　sky　synthesized　by　the　EVE　system…tonight　they　were　recreating　a　northern　hemisphere　summer　sky…and　reflected　on　the　sorry　state　of　the　human　race。　Women　in　the　mens'　room！　Boy；　if　you　weren't　on　your　toes　every　minute。。。

Distracted；　wandering　to　the　corner　of　the　little　building　to　look　up　and　philosophize；　he　failed　to　notice　the　dim　cries　of　〃A　man！〃　〃Get　out！〃　and　〃Pervert！〃　that　came　from　the　ladies'　room　along　with　shrieks　and　howls　of　outrage。

Bron　emerged　from　the　ladies'　room　a　moment　later　in　a　low　crawl；　the　shoulder　of　his　blouse　ripped；　hair　askew；　and　face　scratched　in　parallel　furrows；　several　spots　on　his　shins　promising　remarkable　bruises。

Panting；　he　took　a　moment　to　catch　his　breath；　slumped　against　a　partition；　preparing　to　move　on　quickly　before　he　was　attacked　again。

〃These。。。Micronians　certainly　have　a　warlike　culture！〃


Elsewhere　in　the　park；　in　the　Star　Bowl…the　open…air　amphitheater　where　Minmei　had　been　crowned　Miss　Macross…a　different　sort　of　ceremony　was　about　to　take　place。

None　of　it　fazed　Max　Sterling　very　much…few　things　seemed　to…but　Ben　wasn't　happy。　〃Hey；　Max；　I　thought　we　were　supposed　to　be　resting　and　relaxing。〃

Max　adjusted　his　large　aviator…style　eyeglasses；　smiling　his　serene；　mischievous　smile。　〃Aw；　what's　the　matter？　Don't　you　want　to　be　a　hero？　Didn't　you　say　you　were　looking　forward　to　it？〃

Ben　considered　Max　sourly。　Now；　here　was　this　little　guy…not　even　twenty　yet…who　wouldn't　even　be　flying　in　one　of　the　old…time　wars。　In　prewar　days；　pilot　candidates　who　needed　corrective　lenses　were　as　sought　after　as　those　with　untreatable　airsickness。

And　then　there　was　Max's　self…effacing　style；　his　quiet；　somehow　Zen　humility；　which　wouldn't　have　been　noticeable　except　that　he　was　the　hottest　pilot　who'd　ever　climbed　into　a　Veritech；　and　everybody　knew　it。　Not　Rick　Hunter；　not　even　Roy　Fokker　himself；　was　Max's　equal；　but　Max　just　went　along　like　a　goodnatured　kid　who　was　rather　surprised　at　where　fate　had　brought　him；　bashful　and　loyal　and　given　to　blushing。　Even　if　he　did　follow　the　fad　of　dying　his　hair…blue；　in　this　case。

〃Aw；　pipe　down；〃　Ben　growled　at　him；　but　in　fact　Ben　wasn't　that　unhappy。　Who　gets　tired　of　being　cheered？　Pity　them；　whoever　they　are。

Banks　of　lights　came　up　all　around　them；　until　they　were　standing　in　a　lighted　area　brighter　than　brightest　day。　Triumphant　music　soared　from　the　sound　system　as　curtains　swept　aside；　and　the　applause　and　cheering　and　whistling　began；　like　waves　hitting　a　shore。

Rick　and　Lisa；　who'd　been　conversing　haltingly　and　enjoying　a　kind　of　mutual　attraction　they　couldn't　seem　to　resist；　looked　relieved　that　the　extravaganza　had　started。　The　four　escapees；　in　full…dress　uniform；　stood　in　a　line　on　the　stage；　from　all　around　the　packed　Star　Bowl　the　outpouring　of　joy　and　admiration　came。

There'd　been　good　war　news　and　bad；　and　virtually　everyone　in　the　amphitheater　had　lost　friends　and　relatives；　besides；　many　in　the　audience　were　military。　But　these　were　four　who'd　gone　into　the　very　heart　of　the　enemy　stronghold　and　e　back；　and　returning…ing　back　home…was　something　very　much　in　the　minds　of　the　people　of　Macross　City　these　days。

The　master　of　ceremonies；　a　man　in　a　loud　suit　with　an　oily　voice；　held　the　microphone　right　up　against　his　capped　teeth。

Rick　sighed　and　made　up　his　mind　to　put　up　with　the　show　as　best　he　could。　The　music　was　still　all　trumpets　and　drums；　and　the　ovation　was　growing　louder　and　louder。　A　tech　somewhere　turned　up　the　gain　on　the　mike　so　that　the　emcee　could　be　heard。

〃And　here　are　the　four　young　champions　who　have　miraculously　escaped　the　clutches　of　our　enemy：　mander　Lisa　Hayes；　our　number　one　space　heroine…〃

Lisa　was　breathing　quickly；　eyes　on　the　floor；　Rick　saw；　by　an　iron　application　of　will；　she　forced　herself　not　to　bolt　from　the　stage；　there　was　bravery　and　there　was　bravery；　and　facing　a　crowd　took　a　great　deal　of　hers。

〃And　Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter；　whose　flying　exploits　are　already　legendary！〃

Rick　was　used　to　crowds；　was　used　to　taking　bows　and　waving　and　soaking　up　the　glory；　from　his　days　in　his　father's　air　circus。　He　could　easily　have　played　to　the　crowd；　knew　just　what　it　was　they　wanted　and　just　how　to　make　them　like　him　even　more：　the　little　tricks　of　eye　contact；　of　perhaps　singling　out　a　child　to　kiss　or　an　elderly　sort　to　shake　hands　with　or　a　good…looking　woman　to　hug。

But　he　did　none　of　that。　The　mission　that　had　landed　him　in　the　Zentraedi　ship　and　in　the　heart　of　the　mad　Zentraedi　empire　hadn't　been　undertaken　to　win　cheers。　Playing　to　the　crowd　was　a　thing　that　was　behind　him　now；　something　out　of　a　different　life。　Rick　Hunter　acknowledged　the　ovation　with　a　bow　of　his　head　and　remained　more　or　less　at　attention。

He　looked　aside　only　once；　to　see　what　Lisa　was　doing。　She　was　watching　him。

〃And　here　are　their　intrepid　panions；〃　the　emcee　went　on　in　a　voice　so　ebullient　that　the　listeners　might　have　thought　he'd　been　along　on　the　mission。　〃Max　Sterling　and　Ben　Dixon！　To　these　four；　we　express　our　deepest　gratitude。〃

The　crowd　did。　Earth　was　so　close　now；　and　there　was　a　holiday　spirit　in　the　air。　A　homeing；　a　victory；　the　sight　of　four　humans　who'd　gone　up　against　the　relentless　enemy　and　e　back　covered　with　glory…these　things　all　had　the　Macross　City　inhabitants　at　a　fever　pitch。

The　emcee　was　holding　his　hands　up。　The　uproar　died　a　little。　〃There's　more　to　e！　To　properly　demonstrate　our　high　regard　for　these　young　heroes；　we　present　that　singing　sensation；　Miss　Macross　herself；　Lynn…Minmei！〃

〃Miss　Macross？　Minmei！〃　Rick　had　almost　forgotten　about　the　Miss　Macross　contest　Minmei　had　so　recently　won　when　he'd　gone　out　on　this　last　mission。　It　felt　like　a　century　before；　but　it　was　really　only　a　few　days。

She　emerged　from　the　wings；　most　of　the　spotlights　going　to　her…followed　by　an　escort；　a　fellow　in　white　tie　and　tails　who　carried　bouquets　of　red　roses；　as　if　she　were　royalty。　And　she　was；　of　a　sort；　the　audience　went　wild；　shouting　her　name　and　whistling；　clapping。

Rick　could　see　a　cluster　of　people　waiting　in　the　wings…Minmei's　entourage；　apparently…men　in　expensive　suits　who　wore　sunglasses　at　night　and　stylish　women　with　calculating　looks　in　their　eyes。

But　Minmei。。。She　was　gorgeous　in　a　frilly　dress　whose　hem　was　gathered　up　high　on　one　side　to　show　off　long；　graceful　legs。　Her　jet…black