09_the_final_nightmare-第42部分

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Everybody　was　babbling　at　once；　but　Angelo　Dante　held　stage　center　by　dint　of　his　overwhelming　voice。　〃Even　if　you　weren't　crazy；　Dana；　there's　no　way　to　get　there！　All　the　Robotech　Masters'　starships　were　blown　to　smithereens；　and　Earth　ain't　got　no　more。〃　He　looked　toward　the　flaming　remains　of　Monument　City　and　Fokker　Base。　〃And　ain't　likely　to　for　a　long；　long　time。〃

The　Pollinator　let　out　a　playful　yip　and　he　reached　out　unconsciously　to　pet　the　thing；　barely　aware　that　Polly　was　there。

Dana　puzzled　for　a　microsecond；　but　her　new　powers　offered　up　the　answer　at　once；　like　some　unfailing　databank。　〃Before　too　long；　a　senior　officer　named　Wolfe　will　arrive　with　another　expedition；　carrying　word　from　the　SDF…3；　like　Major　Carpenter's　ships　did。

〃By　then；　I'll　be　ready　with　the　fuel　and　charts　and　everything　else　I　need　to　take　one　of　his　ships　and　find　my　family　and　the　others。　Any　of　you　who　want　to　e　are　wele。〃

They　didn't　have　to　ask　if　she　meant　to　get　the　starship　by　legal　means；　the　world　was　in　ruins　and　all　chains　of　mand　shattered。　All　the　military　certainties　were　swept　away。

And；　somehow；　nobody　thought　to　scoff　at　her；　not　even　the　aloof；　skeptical　Nova。　The　way　back　to　what　they　had　known　was　shut　to　them　forever；　within　seconds　they　were　all　telling　her　she　could　count　them　in。　All　save　one。

〃Wish　you　the　best　of　luck；〃　he　said；　then　shrugged　a　little。　〃You　follow　your　own　instincts；　Dana；　but　somehow　I　figure　my　place　is　here。　I　think　Earth's　gonna　need　me。〃

She　accepted　that；　knew　that　special　knowledge　was　given　where　it　was　needed；　and　that　she　was　far　from　unique　in　that　regard。　〃If　it's　what　you　want；　Louie。〃

Louie　Nichols　gave　his　patented　clever…funny　smirk。　〃There's　still　a　lot　of　things　I　want　to　know；　and　I　can　only　find　'em　out　here。　And　besides；　well…don't　laugh！…but　maybe　I've　got　my　own　part　to　play。〃　He　adjusted　the　big；　dark　tech　goggles　self…consciously。

Nobody　laughed。　There　would　be　months；　perhaps　years；　of　preparation　yet…in　a　world　half　in　ruins…and　only　Dana　had　any　coherent　idea　of　what　was　to　e。　But　somehow　there　was；　on　the　crest　of　the　little　hill；　a　feeling　very　much　like　what　the　sundering　of　the　Round　Table　must　have　felt　like。

ATAC　squad　15　（Hovertanks）　turned　to　get　the　refugees　formed　up　for　the　long　hike　back　to　Monument　City；　the　assault　ship　would　never　rise　again。　There　were　already　the　pairings　of　Bowie　and　Musica；　Sean　and　Marie。　And　now；　Nova　Satori　stayed　close　to　Dennis　Brown；　the　looks　they　exchanged　spoke　eloquently。

Dana；　sitting　on　a　rock；　was　stripping　off　the　armor　that　she　hoped　never　to　have　to　wear　again。　The　spores　still　drifted　everywhere。　A　sudden　loneliness　had　e　over　her；　there　was　so　very　much　to　do　yet；　and　no　one　could　possibly　share　her　knowledge　and　her　responsibilities…no　one　could　ever　understand　her　longing。　She　let　go　a　long　breath。

Something　blocked　the　low；　orange　rays　of　the　sunset　from　her。　Angelo　Dante　stood　there；　stretching　and　scratching；　having　ditched　his　own　armor；　wearing　a　pack　made　up　of　most　of　the　usable　things　he　had　managed　to　scare　up　in　the　assault　ship。　The　weight　of　it　didn't　seem　to　bother　him。　He　was　adjusting　his　rifle　sling。

He　didn't　seem　to　have　a　care　in　the　world。　〃Lieutenant…Dana…you're　still　callin'　the　shots。　I　got　'em　ready；　you　move　'em　out。〃

Before　she　knew　it；　she　was　on　her　feet；　arms　thrown　around　him。　About　her　had　spun　the　symmetries　and　vectors　of　the　Second　Robotech　War；　she　alone　had　the　powers　of　mind　that　would　let　a　leader　perform　the　job　she　had　to　do　now。　But　her　nineteenth　birthday　was　still　three　weeks　and　three　days　away。

Angelo　patted　her　back　and　spoke　more　softly　than　she　had　ever　heard　him。　〃There；　there；　now；　ma'am：　we　can't　all　be　sergeants。　But　as　officers　go；　I've　seen　worse　than　you。　Dana；　all　we　need　is　someone　to　show　us　the　way。〃

She　knew　he　didn't　mean　the　way　to　Monument；　the　flames　would　do　that。　She　surprised　herself　as　much　as　him　by　pulling　his　head　down　to　her　and　kissing　Angelo　Dante　hard。

Then　she　let　him　go；　took　the　sidearm　from　his　belt　and　stalked　off　to　the　front　of　the　disorderly　mob　while　he　was　still　recovering　and　turning　to　glower　at　the　ATACs；　who　had　seen　what　happened　but　kept　discreet　silence。


Dana　saw　that　the　15th　had　gotten　all　the　emergency　supplies　and　lights；　water　and　rations　from　the　assault　ship　and　even　from　her　own　little　escape　capsule。　She　tucked　Angelo's　pistol　into　her　belt　and　noted　with　approval　the　order　of　march；　weakened　or　older　refugees　surrounded　by　stronger　ones　who　could　help　at　need。

Not　that　she　thought　there　would　be　much　call　for　it；　the　route　was　pretty　straightforward　and　unobstructed；　and　the　clones　who　had　been　so　lethargic　before　now　seemed　somehow　more　vital。

She　was　about　to　call　for　a　start　when　there　was　a　little　yipping　sound　nearby。　Dana　had　put　Polly　down　while　stripping　off　her　armor；　she　had　assumed　that　he　had　disappeared。　But　he　was　practically　sitting　on　her　feet。

〃Polly。　In　for　the　distance；　are　you；　hmm？〃

The　Pollinator　showed　her　a　red　postage　stamp　of　tongue。　She　looked　back　to　see　that　the　15th　had　the　refugees　formed　up　for　the　march。　Angelo　winked　and　gave　her　a　look　she　hadn't　seen　from　him　before。　She　wondered　whether　or　not　she　would；　at　some　point；　return　it；　she　had　a　feeling　she　might。

Later。

First　Lieutenant　Dana　Sterling；　15th　squad；　Alpha　Tactical　Armored　Corps；　gave　hand　and　voice　signals；　and　all　the　rest　began　moving。　The　Pollinator　fell　in　to　waddle　along　beside。

ATACs　and　TASCs；　GMP　and　clone　refugees　followed　her　down　the　slope　and　the　Pollinator　capered　around　her　feet；　as　darkness　came　across　the　sky。　They　looked　for　her　to　point　the　way。