09_the_final_nightmare-第23部分

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Things　were　going　fine　until　they　realize　Nova　Satori　was　standing　in　front　of　their　table。　Dana　couldn't　think　of　anything　to　do　but　invite　her　to　sit　down。

Nova　sat；　and　turned　to　Musica。　〃I　don't　believe　we've　met。　I'm　Lieutenant　Nova　Satori　of　the　GMP。　You　are。。。？〃

Musica　looked　nervously　to　Dana　for　rescue。　〃Friend　of　Bowie's；〃　Dana　replied。　〃We　haven't　been　able　to　get　her　to　say　‘boo'　all　night。　Another　musician…plays　the　ukulele　or　something　like　that；　I　think　he　said。〃

Nova　was　about　to　press　Musica　some　more；　when　Dana　interjected；　〃What　d'you　hear　from　Dennis；　Nova？〃

That　shook　Nova　off　the　track。　〃I…he's　part　of　the　force　that　went　to　ALUCE　with　General　Emerson。　He；　he　got　in　touch　on　a　back…channel　and　said　he's　all　right。〃

Before　Nova　could　go　back　to　her　interrogation；　Bowie　finished　a　number　and　the　crowd's　uproar　drowned　her　out。　Bowie　was　forced　to　do　an　encore。　Musica　floated　on　the　sounds　he　made；　but　she　couldn't　help　thinking；　If　my　sisters　were　here；　we　would　play　them　music　of　great　beauty；　too！

She　was　suddenly　filled　with　emptiness。　She　hung　her　head；　shaking　it　so　that　the　green　hair　swayed。　〃Oh；　sisters；　forgive　me！〃　She　said　it　low；　so　the　policewoman　wouldn't　hear。

〃No；　Musica；〃　Zor；　next　to　her；　countered　quietly。　〃Betrayal　cannot　be　forgiven。　I　am　beyond　forgiveness　and　so　are　you。〃

His　memories　were　merging；　surfacing；　being　available　to　his　conscious　mind。　He　was　being　the　original　Zor；　with　all　the　regrets　and　despair。　He　was　thinking；　too；　of　that　awful　final　moment；　when　he　destroyed　the　flagship；　and　the　deaths　of　uncounted　defenseless　clones…no；　people！

Angelo　didn't　interfere；　for　the　moment。　He　saw　how　living　among　Humans　was　both　a　joy　and　a　torment　to　Musica；　a　lot　like　a　kid's　story　he　remembered；　The　Little　Mermaid。　Funny　how　that　just　popped　up；　he　hadn't　thought　of　it　for　decades。

Sean　grabbed　the　shoulder　of　Zor's　torso　harness。　〃Hey；　modulate；　there；　trooper！〃　But　Zor　wrenched　himself　loose　and　strode　from　the　nightclub。

Musica；　watching　him　go；　began　to　slump　into　a　faint。　Sean　and　Louie　were　quick　to　catch　her。　As　tactical　withdrawals　went；　dropping　off　Musica　at　her　nonexistent　apartment　was　a　little　thin；　but　it　was　all　Dana　could　e　up　with。

Nova　watched　the　15th　leave；　just　barely　having　kept　them　from　sticking　her　with　the　check。　Go　ahead　and　play　out　your　hand；　Dana。　You　haven't　got　much　left。


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

Hey　Billy！
You　said　you　owed　me　one；　and　if　I　needed　a　favor；　just　ask。
Okay。
Things　are　a　little　tight　right　now；　and　living　on　deuce　private's　pay　is　tougher　than　I　remembered。　You　and　I　know　each　other；　so　you'll　forgive　me　if　I　call　the　debt　in。
Things've　gotten　strange　here；　but　when　was　it　otherwise？　By　the　way：　that　kid　they　gave　my　15th　squad　to？　She　could've　been　worse。
Anyway；　I'm　gonna　need　some　money　and　I'm　gonna　need　some　favors。　We've　got　the　Plague　of　Love　around　here。
Your　old　pal；
Sean　Phillips

Sneaking　Musica　back　onto　the　base　and　the　barracks　pound　wasn't　too　hard。　The　ATACs　were　a　little　worried　about　Nova；　but　they　forgot　about　that　when　they　saw　Bowie　and　Musica　embrace。

It's　a　good　thing　we've　got　some　vacant　quarters　available；

Dana　thought。　She　was　thinking　more　and　more　these　days　of　how　well　Sean　adjusted　to　losing　his　mission　and　hoped　she　could　be　as　upbeat　once　they　busted　her。　Bowie　and　Musica's　being　together　seemed；　against　all　expectation；　like　something　that　justified　that　risk。

Then　a　motion　off　to　one　side　had　the　rest　realizing　that　Zor　had　wandered　off　and　Angelo　had　followed。　〃What　d'ya　mean；　you　shoulda　stayed　on　the　mother　ship？〃

Zor　was　leaning　against　a　tree；　eyes　to　the　grass；　arms　folded。　He　answered　in　a　low　voice；　〃It　was　where　I　belonged。〃

〃And　you'd've　been　killed。〃　Angelo's　fists　were　on　his　hips。　He　didn't　look　aside　as　the　other　ATACs　and　Musica　came　up。

〃That's　exactly　my　point。　Besides；　then　I'd　merit　a　hero's　funeral；　isn't　that　right？　A　golden　opportunity　for　you　to　display　those　precious　emotions　of　yours…weeping　for　the　fallen　rade；　and　all　that。〃

Angelo　felt　betrayed。　He　had　doubted　Zor　from　the　beginning；　had　seen　him　turn　traitor…then　e　back　to　his　senses　and　fly　right　again。　He　had　carried　Zor　over　his　own　shoulder；　saved　Zor　as　Zor　had　saved　him。

Zor　was　one　of　the　15th；　and　it　wasn't　something　Angelo　granted　lightly。　And　now　Zor　was　spurning　that；　making　a　fool　of　the　sergeant。

But　worse；　infinitely　worse；　Zor　was　saying　that　Angelo　liked　grieving　for　dead　buddies；　got　some　kind　of　sick　charge　out　of　the　most　wrenching　pain　the　sergeant　knew。　It　insulted　Angelo　and；　more；　made　a　sham　of　the　deaths　of　brave　men　and　women。

One　minute　a　red　tide　was　rising　up　Angelos　neck　and　face；　the　next；　Zor　was　flat　on　the　ground　with　a　split　lip。

Dana　knew　words　weren't　going　to　do　much　good；　so　she　got　in　Angelos　way　and　threw　a　straight　right　to　the　sergeant's　sternum。　It　was　like　punching　a　bus　tire；　but　it　halted　him…more　through　shock　than　pain。

〃Get　up。　You　ain't　hurt。　Yet；〃　Angelo　told　Zor。

Zor　rose；　rubbing　his　jaw。　〃So　I'm　to　be　happy　that　I'm　alive　to　go　out　and　kill　or　be　killed　again　tomorrow？〃

Dana　pushed　Angelo　away　when　he　would　have　gone　at　Zor　again。　〃Back　off！　That's　an　order！〃　She　could　hear　Musica　running　off；　sobbing；　and　Bowie　going　after　her；　but　Dana　had　no　time　for　that　lesser　crisis　at　the　moment。

She　turned　to　Zor。　〃You　think　it's　going　to　make　you　feel　better　to　get　us　to　hate　you？　It　won't！　Quit　punishing　yourself　and　quit　trying　to　get　Angie　to　do　it　for　you！　Whatever's　in　your　past　is　over　with！　And　besides；　you　had　no　control　over　what　you　did；　we　all　know　that。　Zor；　it's　time　to　let　all　of　that　go；　and　begin　again。〃

He　looked　down　at　her　as　if　seeing　her　for　the　first　time：　just　an　uncivilized　Micronian；　scarcely　more　than　a　wild　animal　by　the　standards　of　the　Robotech　Masters。　Where　was　she　finding　these　words？　What　were　the　sources　of　this　wisdom？

But　his　inner　torment　gave　him　the　strength　to　resist　her。　〃Begin　what？　Dana；　it　will　always　be　the　same！　This　incarnation；　like　all　the　others。　That　is　my　punishment！　I　can't　even　trust　my　own　mind　and　I'm　tired。　I'm　so　tired　of　it　all！〃

He　didn't　even　know　why　he　had　escaped　the　flagship's　destruction　at　the　last　moment；　some　survival　reflex　had　taken　over。　He　had　begun　regretting　it　at　once。

He　brushed　past　them。　When　Angelo　snarled　some　objection；　he　shot　back；　〃Just　leave　me　alone！　It's　my　problem；　and　I'll　deal　with　it。〃


〃Bowie；　I'm　so　sorry。　I　feel　that　this　is　all　my　fault。〃　Musica　said；　tears　rolling　down　her　face。

〃Sorry　that　we　survived；　Musica？　Sorry　that　you　and　I　are　together？〃

〃Oh；　no！　But…why　am　I　so　unhappy？　Why　is　there　pain　all　around　us？〃

〃Because　our　people　are　at　war。　But　we　can't　let　that　keep　us　from　loving　each　other！〃

He　took　her　in　his　arms。　She　was　slightly　taller；　laying　her　head　on　his　shoulder。　〃You　and　I　will　be　different；〃　he　told　her。　〃We'll　be　an　island　of　peace　in　the　middle　of　all　this　hatred　and　misery。　We'll　have　each　other。〃


〃Her　name　is　Musica。　You'll　find　her　at　the　barracks　of　the　Fifteenth　ATAC　squad。〃

Nova　couldn't　believe　what　she　was　hearing；　she　looked　at　the　phone　handset　as　if　it　were　an　alien　artifact。　Around　her；　the　bustle　and　buzz　of　Global　Military　Police　HQ　seemed　to　fade。　〃You　mean　the　girl　I　saw　at　the　Moon　of　Havana？〃

〃I　suggest　you　apprehend　her　as　soon　as　possible；〃　the　firm　male　voice　said；　〃before　she　manages　to…〃

〃Just　hold　on。　Who　is　this？〃

〃Can't　you　guess；　Nova？〃

〃Zor？　Listen；　what's　this　all　ab…〃

But　he　had　hung　up。


Dana；　deciding　it　was　time　to　make　more　concrete　contingency　plans；　was　about　to　knock　at　the　door　of　her　own　quarters　when　she　stopped；　transfixed。

It　was　a　sound　so　ethereal　that　at　first　she　didn't　recognize　it　as　a　Human　voice。　Then　she　knew　Musica　was　singing；　and　that　the　Muse　herself　was　an　instrument　as　hypnotic　and　magnificent　as　the　Cosmic　Harp。　The　notes　soared；　evoking　emotions　both　familiar　and　unknown。

〃e；　let　me　show　you　our　mon　bond　it's　the　reason　that　we　live　Flower；　let　me　hold　you　we　depend　upon　Power　that　you　give。。。〃


She　sang　of　the　galaxies；　of　the　depths；　of　the　long　story　of　the　eons；　and　Dana　found　herself　seeing　stars　swarm　before　her　eyes。　Musica's　voice　moved　her　with　powerful　tidal　forces　of　feeling；　giving　her　Visions。

She　sensed　a　great　epoch　unfolding；　something　about　Zor　and　a　frightening　but　tragic　alien　race　and…things　just　beyond　the　realm　of　her　perception。

〃we　should　protect　the　seed　or　we　could　all　fade　away　Flower　of　Life　Flower　of　Life　Flower。。。〃

Outside；　Zor　turned　to　hear　the　siren　song。　Then　he　continued　on　his　way　to　await　Nova。


Dana　saw　worlds　from　other　star　systems。　She　saw　wonders　and　horrors。　It　seemed　that　the　voice　ing　from　the　other　side　of　the　door　had　split　into　three；　harmonious　and　almost　identical；　flawlessly　matched　and　perfect。

She　saw　something　from　her　own　dreams　and　visions：　a　triad　of　three…petaled　flowers　of　a　delicate　coral　color；　drifting　through　the　air；　trailing　long　stamens。　The　flowers　themselves　grew　in　a　Triumvirate。　One　drifted　past；　brushing　her　cheek。　She　looked　down　at　it　in　amazement；　where　it　rested　on　the　corridor　floor。

The　song　faded；　the　Flower　disappeared。　Even　as　Dana　blinked　herself　back　to　full　awareness；　many　of　the　things　she　had　envisioned　faded　from　her　memory；　and　she　was　left　with　vague　shadows　of　recollection。

She　lunged　into　her　quarters。　Bowie　was　still　on　the　bed；　Musica　by　the　window。

〃What　was　that？〃　Dana　burst　out。　〃Musica；　you　sang　something　about　the　Flower　of　Life；　was　that　it？〃

〃Yes；　Dana。　That　is　right。〃

Dana　turned　to　Bowie。　〃I'm　sure　that's　the　flower　we　found　in　the　ruins　of　the　SDF…1！　The　day　we　sneaked　in　there；　remember？　Those　plants　that　moved　by　themselves？〃

How　could　he　forget？　It　was　like　some　malign　greenhouse；　something　that　didn't　belong　on　Earth；　that　belonged　on　no　sane　world。　〃And　you　think　there's　a　connection？〃　He　didn't　sound　excited　about　it；　just　alarmed。

〃Could　that　be　it；　Musica？〃　Dana　asked。　〃Could　that　be　what　the　war　is　all　about？〃

〃The　Robotech　Masters　have　not　given　it　to　me　to　know　that；　Dana；　but　for　your　sake；　I　hope　there　are　no　Flow