03_homecoming-第7部分

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　thousands　of　others。　It　began　to　dawn　on　them　what　they　were　seeing。

As　had　happened　before；　a　symbol　had　arisen；　and　Minmei　was　it；　uniquely　suited　to　the　role。　One　tiny　Micronian　female；　hoping　to　get　home；　possessed　of　a　kind　of　deathless　optimism；　and　all　that　was　set　off　by　remarkable　singing　skills　and　a　personality　that　won　over　whomever　she　encountered。　And　none　of　it　was　calculated；　people　sensed　that。　She　was　wonderful　and　straightforward；　and　Macross　City　threw　itself　at　her　feet。

She's　incredibly　dangerous　to　the　Zentraedi　cause；　Rico　mused。　Why　do　I　like　her　so　much？

〃I　feel　incredibly　primitive；〃　Bron　reported　dubiously。

〃But　it　has　a　pleasing　effect　on　the　senses；〃　Rico　was　honest　enough　to　admit。

〃It's…mass　hypnosis！〃　Bron　burst　out；　even　though　he'd　been　trained　to　recognize　mass　hypnosis　and　knew　this　wasn't　it。

〃Yeah；　but　I　kinda　like　it；〃　Konda　confessed。　They　swayed　along　with　the　music　and　laughed　at　the　people　who　swayed　and　laughed　with　them。。。

〃Stage　fright；　go　'way…
This　is　my　big　day；
This　is　my　time　to　be　a　star！
And　the　thrill　that　I　feel
Is　really　unreal：
I　can't　believe　I've　e　this　far。。。〃


In　the　midst　of　the　performance；　people　had　forgotten　about　the　four　forlorn　figures　sitting　on　their　chairs；　very　much　in　the　background　now　but　unable　to　make　an　escape。　Only　Max　Sterling　seemed　unbothered　and　happy。

Rick　shifted　the　bouquet　on　his　lap　despondently。　He　saw　it　all　now：　Minmei　had　been　elevated　to　a　different　level　of　existence。　What　they　had　gone　through　together　and　felt　for　each　other　didn't　matter　anymore。　He　had　lost　her。

Lisa　leaned　toward　him　to　ask；　〃What's　the　matter；　Rick？〃

He　shook　himself；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　〃Nothing。　The　light　bothers　my　eyes；　is　all。〃

Lisa　saw　it　wasn't　true。　She　hadn't　gotten　to　be　a　mander　and　the　SDF…1's　First　Officer　by　being　unobservant　or　slow　to　understand　what　was　going　on。　But　that　didn't　help　her　figure　out　what　she　was　feeling　as　she　looked　at　Rick　and　the　now…unreachable　Minmei：　some　plicated　mixture　of　relief　and　foreboding。

Minmei's　hands　were　high；　and　she　had　moved　the　crowd　into　a　veritable　transport　of　joy。　White　light　blazed　all　around　her；　and　it　seemed　that　every　hope　and　aspiration　was　embodied　in　her。

〃I　can't　believe　I've　e　this　far；
This　is　my　time　to　be　a　star！〃


The　hatch　to　the　battle　fortress's　bridge　slid　aside；　all　heads　turned。　Gasps　and　yells　sounded　from　all　sides。

Lisa　felt　better　already；　there　in　the　place　that　was　most　important　to　her。　〃Hi；〃　she　said　shyly；　not　recognizing　many　of　the　faces　and　wishing　only　to　get　back　to　her　station；　get　back　to　her　work。　She　would　have　died　before　admitting　that　she　wanted　to　drive　all　other　thoughts　out　of　her　mind…to　forget。

Claudia　placed　one　hand　to　her　chest　in　a　〃mercy　me〃　sort　of　pose。　〃The　prodigal　returns！〃　The　dark　face　creased　in　lines　of　real　wele；　and　Lisa　began　to　feel　better。

Gloval　was　absent　from　the　bridge。　The　relief　watch　tech　at　Lisa's　usual　station　stepped　away　from　it；　glad　to　see　Lisa　but　a　little　intimidated　before　the　omnipotent　superwoman。　〃Nice　to　see　you　again；〃　the　enlisted　rating　squeaked。

Lisa；　nervous　as　a　cat；　managed　to　meet　her　eye　for　a　moment。　〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　Lisa　got　out；　essaying　a　smile　and　then　hiding　behind　her　thick　curtian　of　brown　hair　again。　〃It's　nice　to　be　back。〃

She　ran　her　fingertips　across　the　console's　controls；　lost　in　thought。　There　had　been　so　many　times　when　she'd　never　expected　to　stand　there　again。

The　women　on　the　bridge　were　paying　her　a　kind　of　attention　that　didn't　really　conform　to　any　conventional　military　courtesy…happy　for　her　and　taking　liberties　with　standard　procedure。

〃Congratulations　on　your　promotion！〃

〃And　you're　a　real　hero！〃

〃We're　all　so　proud　of　you；　Lisa！〃　The　tech　who'd　been　watching　over　Lisa's　station　had　her　hands　clasped；　smiling　beatifically。

These　were　all　women　who　had　served　their　time　under　fire；　who　had　e　to　know　what　it　was　Lisa　Hayes　did　so　well　and　how　much　of　a　difference　her　actions　had　made　in　the　fate　of　SDF…1。　Their　few　words　meant　so　much　more　to　her　than　the　spotlights　and　crowds…she　felt　her　tension　ease；　she　was　home　again。

Now　that　she　was　back　in　familiar　surroundings；　everything　that　had　happened　came　back　to　her。　A　small　part　of　her　was　preoccupied；　sifting　through　her　emotions；　but　Lisa　just　savored　the　contentment　of　being　back　where　she　belonged。

The　things　that　had　brought　conflict　to　her…the　kiss　in　the　enemy　stronghold；　the　sight　of　Rick　and　Minmei…were；　perhaps；　aberrations。　Maybe　it　was　just　her　destiny　to　be　what　those　in　her　family　had　always　been…members　of　a　military　dynasty；　her　destiny　tied　to　that　of　the　SDF…1。

Certainly；　all　things　seemed　clear　there　on　the　battle　fortress's　bridge。　Doubts；　misgivings…they　fell　away　like　dead　flower　petals。

Then　Claudia　was　leaning　an　elbow　on　the　console；　too　good　a　friend　not　to　understand　exactly　how　Lisa　felt；　too　good　a　friend　not　to　kid　her　out　of　it。　〃Well；　how　does　it　feel　to　be　a　heroine？〃　she　purred。

Lisa's　pale　cheeks　colored。　〃Oh；　you！〃

〃e　on！　Tell　Aunt　Claudia！〃　The　dark　eyes　narrowed　mischievously。　〃Or　did　this　promotion　give　you　a　sudden　sense　of　modesty？〃

Lisa　lowered　her　gaze　to　the　deck；　avoiding　eye　contact　as　she　often　did　when　she　wasn't　on　duty。　But　she　grinned　at　Claudia's　jibe；　the　first　time　she'd　grinned　in　a　while。　She　gave　her　friend　a　bemused　smile。

〃That's　it！　My　secret's　promised！〃　Lisa　crossed　her　arms　on　her　chest　and　made　a　severe　face；　imitating　Captain　Gloval　at　his　sternest。　She　rolled　her　r's；　so　there'd　be　no　mistake。　〃So　let's　have　a　little　respect　here！〃

Somebody　Lisa　didn't　recognize　returned　from　a　coffee　run；　and　they　all　had　some。　〃It's　good　to　be　here；〃　Lisa　said　meditatively；　letting　the　cup　warm　her　palms。　Then　she　made　a　puckish　expression。　〃And　lemme　tell　ya；　the　Zentraedi　make　lousy　coffee。〃

Claudia　realized　something　and　set　her　cup　down。　〃Hold　on！　Lisa；　I　thought　you　were　supposed　to　be　on　special　furlough。〃

Lisa　lowered　her　cup；　not　wanting　to　think　too　hard　about　the　ceremonies　and　the　tangled　feelings　that　had　driven　her　back　to　the　bridge。　She　bit　her　lower　lip　for　a　moment　and　said；　〃I　wanted　to　e　home。〃

Claudia　was　about　to　say　something　to　that；　Lisa　was　both　shielding　something　and　waiting　for　someone　to　draw　her　out　about　it。　It　seemed　to　Claudia　Grant　a　good　time　to　order　the　enlisted　crew　off　the　bridge　for　chow　or　whatever　and　get　down　to　business。

But　just　then　the　hatch　slid　back　again；　and　the　Terrible　Trio　stood　there。　Sammie；　Kim；　and　Vanessa　spied　Lisa　and　charged　in；　the　dignity　of　rank　forgotten。　Lisa　forgot　it；　too；　swapping　hugs　with　them　and　loving　the　calm　and　strength　and　serenity　of　the　SDF…1's　armored　bridge。

Claudia　filed　the　subject　of　Lisa's　furlough　and　her　strange　new　introspection　away　for　discussion　in　the　near　future。　She'd　been　protective　of　Lisa　ever　since　they'd　met　and　tried　not　to　let　that　spill　over　into　nosiness；　but。。。

This　girl　needs　a　talking　to；　Claudia　decided。　And　I'm　not　even　sure　about　what！


CHAPTER　SIX

As　an　insect　seen　through　an　enlarging　imager　may　appear　a　monster；　so　these　Micronians；　magnified　by　a　few　minor　successes　and　by　an　unforgivable　timidity　among　certain　Zentraedi　leaders；　are　permitted　to　resist　us。　This　has　led　to　a　stalemate；　what　Zentraedi　worthy　of　the　name　would　permit　this？
Khyron　the　Backstabber

The　jeep　roared　down　the　empty　SDF…1　passageway；　rounding　corners　on　two　wheels；　tires　shrieking。　Ben　Dixon　enjoyed　this　kind　of　outing；　he　usually　took　a　slightly　longer　route　to　the　fighter　bays　than　he　had　to　because　he　so　missed　the　open　road。

Ben's　dragster　had　been　parked　in　an　alley　on　Macross　Island　on　the　day　of　the　fatal　spacefold　maneuver。　So　now　it　was　either　a　floating　relic　in　space　back　near　Pluto's　orbit　or　had　been　pletely　dismantled　by　the　salvage　and　reclamation　people。　Either　way；　he　didn't　like　to　think　about　it。

But　barreling　around　the　roomier　parts　of　the　dimensional　fortress　helped　ease　his　loss。　The　civilians　had　crowded…but…very…livable　Macross　City；　but　once　in　a　while　some　people　needed　to　hit　the　road；　floor　the　accelerator；　and　let　off　a　little　steam。　It　was　an　open　secret　that　some　of　the　less　traveled　regions　of　the　SDF…1　had　bee　virtual　racetracks。

Ben　took　a　corner　even　more　sharply　than　usual　and　waited　for　Rick；　who　was　sitting　in　the　seat　next　to　him；　to　make　a　perfunctory　objection。　But；　lost　in　thought；　the　Vermilion　Team　leader　didn't　say　anything。　Sprawled　in　the　back；　Max　Sterling　looked　supremely　unworried。　Ben　was　a　little　bit　offended　by　that；　Max　was　a　good　friend；　but　Ben　expected　passengers　to　be　a　little　intimidated　when　he　drove。　Yet　nothing　seemed　to　ruffle　Max　or　dim　the　boyish　cheerfulness　for　which　he'd　bee　famous。

In　fact；　a　few　guys　had　decided　that　Max's　goodnaturedness　meant　that　he　was　a　wimp　despite　his　ferocious　flying　skills。　There'd　been　a　few　fights；　and　Max　had　insisted　that　Rick　keep　Ben　from　interfering　on　his　friend's　behalf。

Help　wasn't　necessary；　anyway；　Max's　astonishing　reflexes　and　hand…eye　coordination　more　than　sufficed。　Max　always　helped　his　opponents　to　their　feet　afterward；　still　with　that　boyish　smile；　he　even　performed　first　aid　in　one　extreme　case。　After　a　while；　interest　in　bothering　Max　Sterling　waned。

Max　gave　his　blue　hair　a　toss　and　resettled　his　glasses；　turning　at　the　sound　of　another　jeep　engine。　He　leaned　forward　to　tap　Rick　and　point；　at　the　wheel；　Roy　Fokker　was　catching　up　to　them；　acpanied　by　three　of　his　Skull　Team　fliers。

〃Hey；　Rick！〃

〃Hi；　Roy。〃

〃Uh　oh。〃　Roy　came　up　very　close　alongside；　and　Ben　had　to　cut　the　wheel　to　avoid　an　accident。

〃Where　d'　you　three　think　you're　going？〃　Roy　demanded。

They　were　on　one　of　the　longest　straightaways　in　the　ship；　but　they　were　moving　fast。　Ben　knew　he　was　being　tested；　he　sweated　a　bit　but　kept　on　a　steady　course。　But　they　were　approaching　the　far　bulkhead　at　an　alarmingly　rapid　speed；　and　there　was　room　for　only　one　jeep　in　its　hatchway。

The　Skulls　in　Roy's　jeep　didn't　seemed　very　thrilled　about　the　encounter　either；　but　they　knew　better　than　to　say　anything　to　their　hotheaded　leader。

〃What'd　you　say？〃　Rick　asked　mil