09_the_final_nightmare-第24部分

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〃The　Robotech　Masters　have　not　given　it　to　me　to　know　that；　Dana；　but　for　your　sake；　I　hope　there　are　no　Flowers　of　Life　here。　They　are　often　acpanied　by　great　evil。〃

Louie　Nichols　burst　into　the　room。　〃Read　it　and　weep！　Nova's　downstairs　with　a　bunch　of　GMP　gorillas　and　she　wants　to　see　you；　Dana。〃

〃It'll　be　all　right；〃　Dana　told　the　frightened　Musica　and　the　grim　Bowie。　〃C'mon；　Louie；　let's　go　see　what　the　Gimps　want。〃


〃Unauthorized　person　in　the　barracks？〃　Dana　gave　Nova　her　best　wide…eyed　look。　〃What　makes　you　think　there's　one　around　here？〃

〃Zor　told　me。〃

The　odds　looked　bad。　The　GMP　apes　were　armed；　and　outnumbered　the　unarmed　ATACs。　Maybe　there'll　just　be　time　for　Angie　to　finish　what　he　started　on　Zor。

Zor；　for　his　part；　stood　studying　the　floor；　ready　to　accept　their　loathing…anticipating　it。　Dana　wondered　if　Zor's　treachery　was　mitted　to　make　it　easier　for　him　to　end　his　own　life　or　perhaps；　mit　some　even　worse　betrayal。

Dana　turned　back　to　Nova。　〃She　saved　our　lives。　When　it　es　right　down　to　it；　Musica　saved　the　whole　fleet。〃

〃Tell　it　to　the　brass。〃

〃Sure；　Nova；　while　they're　busy　sticking　electrodes　in　her　ears　and　trying　to　light　her　up　like　an　arcade　game。　Would　it　help　to　tell　you　she　and　Bowie　love　each　other？〃

Dana　knew　it　wouldn't…not　now；　with　all　the　GMP　goons　standing　around　as　witnesses。　But　she　wanted　Nova　to　know　just　how　much　harm　she　was　doing；　every　bit　of　it。

〃I　always　thought；　as　Gimps　went；　you　were　the　exception　to　the　rule；　Nova；　but　I　see　now：　you　fit　in　just　fine！　C'mon；　let's　go。〃

Dana　turned　to　lead　Nova　and　her　squad　upstairs。　She　had　hoped　she　could　hide　Musica　until　Rolf　Emerson　could　get　back　from　ALUCE　and　intercede。　All　that　was　hopeless　now。　Maybe　Dana　could　go　outside　the　chain　of　mand；　appeal　directly　to　the　UEG　council？　Her　career　was　over　either　way。

Zor　was　standing　near　the　stairs。　Dana　gave　him　one　brief；　chilly　glance。　〃You　had　the　chance　to　do　something　good　and　kind　for　a　change。　It　might　have　made　up　for　a　lot　of　the　stuff　that's　torturing　you　so；　did　you　ever　think　of　that？〃

Zor　put　on　a　sardonic　look；　but　what　she　had　said　went　through　him　like　a　dagger　of　ice。

Nova　got　her　troops　ready；　and　they　went　through　the　door　of　Dana's　quarters　in　a　SWAT…style　rush；　guns　ready。　The　balcony　door　was　open；　the　curtain　wafting　gently　on　the　night　breeze。

The　Gimps　searched　the　place　just　to　be　sure；　but　it　was　easy　to　see　their　hearts　weren't　in　it；　they　hardly　even　busted　anything　up。

Dana　stood　looking　out　at　the　night　and　wondered　where　Bowie　and　Musica　could　possibly　find　refuge　in　such　a　world。


Bowie　got　them　over　a　pound　wall　and　across　a　road；　yanking　her　into　the　bushes　out　of　the　sudden　glare　of　a　GMP　patrol's　headlights。　They　plunged　deeper　into　the　forest。

They　ran　through　the　darkness　hand　in　hand；　her　feet　were　cut　and　bruised；　branches　and　rocks　seemed　to　lie　in　wait　for　her。　But　she　didn't　plain；　Bowie　had　enough　to　worry　about　as　it　was。

Musica　had　lived　her　entire　life　in　the　confined　structures　of　the　Robotech　Masters　and　she　fought　back　the　agoraphobia　that　beset　her　now。　The　darkness　made　that　a　little　easier；　but　she　wondered　how　she　would　cope　when　the　sun　came　up　again。

An　abrupt　glare　turned　the　whole　world　black　and　harsh　white。　A　sound　like　the　end　of　the　Universe；　ing　with　a　concussion　that　shook　the　ground；　made　her　lose　balance　again。　She　was　sure　that　the　GMP　had　used　some　sort　of　ultimate　Robotech　weapon；　that　the　final　battle　with　the　Masters　had　e；　or　that　the　Earthlings　were　willing　to　wipe　out　an　entire　region　of　their　planet　to　make　sure　she　was　dead。

Bowie　helped　her　up。　〃Just　thunder　and　lightning；〃　he　j　said。　〃Harmless　electric　discharge。〃　Unless　it　hits　us；　or　a　tree　near　us；　he　amended　to　himself；　but　there　was　no　point　in　worrying　her。　They　ran　on。

A　winged　creature　of　some　sort　gave　a　hateful　caw　and　took　to　the　air　on　the　next　lightning　strike。　And　then；　astoundingly；　droplets　of　freezing…cold　water　were　falling　on　Musica　from　out　of　the　sky。　She　knew　about　condensation　in　a　cerebral　way；　but　this　was　her　first　experience　with　it。

It　seemed　a　planet　that　was　infinitely　cruel；　it　seemed　she　had　followed　Bowie　Grant　into　hell。　But　her　hand　was　in　his；　and　she　recalled　how　bleak　and　pointless　life　without　him　had　been。　She　steeled　herself　and　went　on。


〃Don't　expect　us　to　do　your　dirty　work　for　you；〃　Dana　told　Zor　in　the　unit　ready…room；　as　the　torrential　rain　struck　the　windows。　〃If　you　want　to　be　punished；　go　do　it　yourself。〃

She　didn't　know　what　to　feel　about　him　anymore。　There　was　still；　somewhere；　the　love　she　felt　for　him；　the　yearning　to　stand　by　him　and　to　take　away　the　pain。　But　he　had　shown　that　he　was　just　too　good　at　keeping　anyone　from　doing　that。　Dana　wasn't　quite　ready　to　let　him　have　the　victory　of　making　her　hate　him；　but　she　despaired；　feeling　that　soon　he　would　win。

〃At　least　he　remembered　his　duty；　Lieutenant；〃　Nova　said　as　she　entered；　shaking　rainwater　off　her　cloak。　Her　Gimps　were　still　beating　the　bushes　for　the　two　fugitives；　but　she　knew　it　was　in　vain；　this　called　for　more　extreme　measures。

Zor　took　advantage　of　the　distraction　to　wander　out；　as　Dana　and　Nova　faced　off。　Dana　was　mounting　some　good　arguments　on　Musica's　behalf；　but　Nova　cut　through　it　with　the　news　that　the　ATAC　manding　general　had　granted　Nova　temporary　operational　control　of　the　15th。

〃At　first　light；　you　and　your　unit　will　begin　search　operations；　apprehend　Grant　and　the　alien；　and　place　them　under　house　arrest；　is　that　clear　enough　for　you；　Sterling？　In　the　meantime；　I　will　consult　with　the　Judge　Advocate　General's　office　with　regard　to　court…martial　proceedings　against　you　and　your　men。〃


Just　when　Musica　had　resigned　herself　to　dying　at　Bowie's　side　in　the　endless　forest；　lights　appeared　ahead…an　outlying　army　equipment　storage　facility。　Bowie　left　her　for；　a　moment；　disappeared　into　the　rain；　and　came　back　mounted　on　a　Hovercycle。

He　pulled　her　on；　and　they　jetted　off　through　the　driving　rain；　headlights　ing　alight　behind　them　as　jeeps　took　up　a　pursuit。　It　was　a　mad　chase　over　benighted　roads　that　even　the　cycle's　headlights　couldn't　seem　to　light。　Bowie's　major　advantage　was　that　mud　and　slick　road　conditions　didn't　matter　much　to　a　surface…effect　vehicle。

But　Musica　was　unused　to　riding　and　couldn't　help　him　by　leaning　correctly　on　the　turns。　They　got　a　lead　on　the　posse；　staying　ahead　by　one　or　two　bends　in　the　road；　but　just　about　the　time　he　was　assuring　her　that　he　was　a　past　master　at　Hovercycle　racing；　he　snagged　a　branch　and　almost　rammed　a　tree。

As　it　was；　they　slewed　through　a　screen　of　bushes；　and　he　laid　the　sky…scooter　down　in　a　not…quite…controlled　fall　that　sent　them　both　tumbling。

It　turned　out　to　be　a　blessing　in　disguise；　because　the　pursuing　jeeps　roared　on　by。　Bowie　crept　over　to　where　Musica　lay　and　couldn't　breathe　until　he　saw　that　she　was　all　right。

He　got　her　under　the　shelter　of　a　tree；　the　lightning　having　stopped。　The　rain　was　letting　up　a　bit；　he　drew　her　to　him；　opening　his　jacket；　trying　to　warm　her。

〃Bowie。。。〃　She　sounded　so　exhausted。　〃Lying　here　like　this；　I　can　feel　your　heart　beating　against　mine。　It's　such　beautiful　music；　I　wish　we　could　stay　like　this　forever。〃

He　felt　such　fear　for　her；　such　apprehension　about　the　future；　the　pain　of　the　fall；　and　the　cold　and　damp　of　the　night。　It　astounded　him　how　much　of　that　suffering　and　unhappiness　she　took　away　with　a　kiss。


〃Zand；　I　haven't　the　time　for…〃

〃Yes　you　have；　Mr。　Chairman。〃　Zand　didn't　move　out　of　Moran's　way。　〃I'll　be　brief。〃

Even　with　the　flock　of　squawking　flacks　and　bureaucrats　trailing　him；　waiting　for　the　chance　to　get　the　ear　of　the　chairman　of　the　UEG；　Moran　didn't　brush　Zand　aside。

He　saw　by　the　look　in　Zand's　strange；　liquid…black　eyes　that　the　Robotech　genius　wouldn't　stand　for　it。　Moran　made　a　casual…seeming　gesture　of　the　hand；　in　seconds；　his　security　people　had　the　followers　fended　back；　and　Moran；　Zand；　and　Zand's　aide　were　ushered　into　an　empty　conference　room。

Zand　saw　no　reason　for　preamble。　〃There's　word　that　an　alien　woman　has　been　smuggled　back　to　Earth　and　that　your　people　are　looking　for　her　so　that　you　can　use　her　as　a　peace　envoy。　Don't　do　that；　Mr。　Chairman。〃

Chairman　Moran…white…haired；　white…mustached；　kind　old　Uncle　Pat；　as　some　mentators　called　him…frowned。　〃That's　not　for　you　to　say。〃

Zand's　vacuous…faced；　unobtrusive　aide　had　taken　a　seat　off　to　one　side。　Now　Zand　shot　him　a　look。　Russo　leapt　to　his　feet。　Suddenly；　instead　of　a　vacant…eyed　hound；　he　was　once　more　the　senator；　the　kingmaker　and　wheeler…dealer　he　had　been　back　in　the　days　of　the　old　UEDC；　despite　the　persona　that　fooled　younger　people。

〃'Lo；　Patrick；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　what　the　boss；　here；　wants。〃　It　was　as　if　he　were　still　wearing　pinky　rings；　and　carrying　a　long　Havana　cigar。　〃Listen：　You've　gotta　start　following　that　party　line；　fella。〃

Zand　concealed　his　own　fascination　with　Russo's　transformation。　In　the　wake　of　the　terrible　attack　of　Dolza；　at　the　end　of　the　war　with　the　Zentraedi　（but　before　the　attack　of　Khyron）；　Russo　had　simply　been　listed　as　missing　and　presumed　dead。

It　was　Zand's　good　luck　to　discover　him；　babbling　and　insane；　in　a　refugee　center：　the　man　who　knew　most　of　the　secrets　of　the　Earth's　government；　and　had　leverage　against　so　many　rulers　and　would…be　rulers。　Zand's　Protoculture　powers　put　Russo　under　his　control　with　a　mere　pulse　of　thought。

Russo　was　still　talking　in　that　back…room…boys　voice。　〃Paddy！　Patto！　We're　not　asking　you　not　to　make　the　offer；　fella！　We're　just　asking　you　man　to　man；　to　hold　off　a　while。〃

〃We　don't　have　a　while…〃　Moran　began。

〃There's　time；〃　Russo　said；　a　little　more　sternly。　〃Time　for　Doc　Zand；　here；　to　get　a　better　deal！　But　if　you　wanna　play　hardball；　we　can　play　hardball。〃

Moran　was　looking　at　him；　but　not　saying　anything。　Russo　went　on；　〃Those　fingerprints　are　probably　still　on　file　in　the　vaults　down　in　Rio；　Pat；　I　think　they　survived　the　war。　And　what　about　that　prosecutor？　D'you　think　his　skeleton　is　still　there？〃

Zand　silently　congratulated　himself　am　having　salvaged　what　was　left　of　Russo's　brain　and　the　body　it　came　in。　The　kingpin　of　prewar　pol