18_the_end_of_the_circle- 第21部分

〃Me？　How　so？〃

〃Well；　you've　been　having　intimate　。。。　discussions　with　her　agent；　haven't　you？〃　Nichols　asked。　〃We　thought　maybe　Marlene　had　told　you　something　in　confidence。〃

Scott's　face　went　crimson。　He　might　have　known　it　was　not　that　easy　to　get　around　the　security　cams　in　Marlene's　cell。　〃She　hasn't　told　me　anything；〃　Scott　muttered；　eyes　averted　from　the　table。

Nichols　made　a　dismissive　motion。　〃All　the　more　reason　for　municating　with　Haydon　IV；　then。〃

〃If　we　only　knew　more　about　the　descendants　of　Haydon；〃　Jean　said。

Cabell　looked　at　her。　〃Descendants　of　Haydon？　Surely　you　don't　mean　Veidt's　brethren？〃

The　expression　on　Jean's　brown　face　flattened。　〃Well；　yes；　I　did。　〃

〃The　beings　we　call　Haydonites；〃　Cabell　said；　〃bear　no　more　relation　to　Haydon　than　do　Karbarrans；　Praxians；　or　any　other　Local　Group　race。〃　He　caught　sight　of　Jean's　puzzled　look　and　added；　〃Perhaps　I　should　explain。〃

Vince　said；　〃Perhaps　you　should。〃

Cabell　rubbed　the　side　of　his　nose。　〃The　one　we　call　Haydon　is　thought　to　have　been　a　member　of　an　ancient；　highly　evolved　spacefaring　group；　whose　collective　name…if　indeed　they　possessed　one…has　not　been　passed　down　to　us。　Nor；　for　that　matter；　can　we　be　certain　that　‘Haydon'　was　the　name　applied　to　a　single　entity　or　the　group　itself。

〃Jean；　Vince；　Scott；　you　have　all　seen　some　of　the　shrines　erected　to　Haydon；　and　certainly　you　recall　how　dissimilar　they　are　to　one　another；　save　for　their　age　and　gargantuan　size。　But　not　one　is　believed　to　represent　Haydon　as　a　living　being。〃

〃But　there　has　to　be　some　record　of　him；　or　them；〃　Jean　said。　〃Instruments；　tools；　artifacts；　that　sort　of　thing。〃　Cabell　chuckled　to　himself。　〃You're　familiar　with　Garudans；　Praxians；　Karbarrans；　and　such；　are　you　not？〃

Jean　nodded。

〃Well；　Haydon's　handiwork　is　these　very　races。〃　Cabell　adjusted　the　high　collar　of　his　cloak。　〃You　see；　each　planetary　race　was　in　a　sense　‘altered'　by　Haydon。　And　each　perpetuated　Haydon　in　a　form　appropriate　to　their　own　world　view。　So　one　hears　Spherisians　speak　of　‘the　Great　Shaper'　or　Karbarrans　mention　‘the　Great　Augury；〃　when　in　effect　they　are　all　talking　about　the　same　entity　or　group。〃

Cabell　shook　his　head　in　a　self…amused　way。　〃Where　that　group　came　from　we　cannot　begin　to　guess。　But　from　myths；　legends；　and　fanciful　historical　accounts　that　have　been　handed　down　to　us　emerge　'through　a　glass　darkly；'　if　I　may　borrow　a　Terran　phrase…two　versions　of　the　final　days　of　Haydon's　race。　In　one　we　are　told　that　they　were　on　the　threshold　of　an　incredible　turning　point　in　self…generated　evolution　when　they　were　destroyed　in　some　catastrophe　their　own　tamperings　may　inadvertently　have　brought　about。〃

〃And　the　second？〃　Nichols　asked。

Cabell　let　out　his　breath。　〃In　the　light　of　recent　developments；　this　version　is　by　far　the　more　interesting。　For　it　suggests　that　the　race　did　not　vanish…though　we　are　so　led　to　believe…but　placed　itself　in　a　state　of　what　I　once　heard　Dr。　Lang　refer　to　as　suspended　animation。〃

〃We're　all　familiar　with　the　term；　Cabell；〃　Vince　assured　him。　〃But　what　are　these　。　。　。　geniuses　supposed　to　be　waiting　for？〃

〃An　event；〃　Cabell　said　with　a　faraway　look。　〃A　cosmic　event　that　would　alter　the　fabric　of　spacetime。〃

Nichols　gaped　at　the　Tiresian　from　across　the　table。　〃The　Invid；〃　he　said；　gazing　at　everyone。　〃Don't　you　get　it？　Their　mating　with　the　Protoculture；　their　transubstantiation。　That's　what　Haydon's　race　was　waiting　for。〃

He　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed。　〃They're　getting　ready　to　wake　up。　They're　figuring　on　hooking　onto　the　Invid　phoenix　and　following　it　right　off　the　map！〃


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

Of　course；　we　had　a　sizing　chamber　aboard　＇the　SDF…3＇；　but　Cabell's　suggestion　that　micronization　of　Drannin　or　the　other　Zentraedi　children　could　result　in　developmental　problems　had　naturally　filled　Kazianna　with　a　newfound　fear　of　the　device。　I　still　believe　the　suggestion　was　totally　unfounded；　but　because　it　was　taken　as　gospel　at　the　time；　it　meant　that　those　Zentraedi　who　had　elected　to　ship　with　us　had　done　so　full…size…not　to　mention　what　it　meant　for　the　work　crews　who　now　had　to　construct　the　nursery　to　acmodate　children　of　vastly　different　sizes。　Anyway；　the　experience　of　that　day　I　walked　into　the　nursery　to　check　on　the　children's　creation　left　me　convinced　that　I'd　placed　too　much　importance　on　all　this　child　bonding　and　that　maybe　it　hadn't　been　such　a　good　idea；　after　all。　In　retrospect　I　think　I　should　have　insisted　that　＇the　Zentraedi　ship＇　Valivarre　fold　with　the　rest　of　the　fleet　instead　of　remaining：　in　Tirolspace　with　its　skeleton　crew。
Lisa　Hayes；　in　Resh　N'tar's　Interviews　with　Admirals

〃Seven　worlds；〃　Exedore　said　to　himself；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back　as　he　paced　the　alloy　floor　of　his　confinement　area　quarters。　Max；　Miriya；　Dana；　and　the　Praxians　were　off　somewhere　exchanging　wall　tappings　with　the　Karbarrans。　Aurora　was　in　the　front　room；　glued　to　the　display　screen　of　their　monitor　unit　as　though　it　were　one　of　Earth's　old…fashioned　television　sets。

Seven　worlds；　Exedore　repeated　in　thought；　head　down；　eyes　on　the　floor。

The　past　dozen　hours　had　been　punctuated　by　deep　rumblings　from　Haydon　IV's　artificial　core；　the　sound　of　powerful　machines　being　reactivated　after　who　knew　how　long　a　slumber。　On…screen　schematics　flashed　by　Veidt's　device　told　him　little；　but　it　was　easy　enough　to　imagine　modules　being　hoisted　and　repositioned　by　robotic　arms；　gigantic　plates　retracting；　a　change　in　the　very　sphericity　of　the　world。　Exedore　awaited　some　word　from　Veidt。　Haydon　IV　was　surely　reconfiguring；　but　reconfiguring　into　what？　An　unassailable　battle　station；　as　the　more　nervous　of　the　Karbarran　captives　were　suggesting？　A　world　turned　inside　out？　A　factory　of　some　sort？　The　Awareness　still　had　not　made　any　external　visuals　available；　positional　data；　however；　indicated　that　the　artifact　was　well　within　three　hundred　thousand　kilometers　of　the　small　carbonaceous　moon　that　remained　the　focal　point　of　its　eccentric　orbit。　Almost　close　enough　to　touch。

A　deafening　movement　from　seemingly　underfoot　rocked　level　four　and　nearly　sent　Exedore　sprawling。　There　had　been　several　jarring　moments　already；　but　no　one　had　been　hurt。　No　power　failures；　split　seams；　broken　seals。　Buried　in　the　Awareness's　neural　programming　were　mand　codes　that　apparently　ensured　the　safety　of　Haydon　IV's　passengers　and　guests。

As　there　were　mand　codes　that　safeguarded　Haydon　IV　from　the　threat　of　attack。

But　just　what　had　the　historical　Haydon…as　individual　or　race…gone　to　such　lengths　to　protect：　the　world's　passengers　or　the　world　itself？

The　Zentraedi　perched　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　unconsciously　adopting　a　thinker's　pose。　Seven　worlds；　he　thought。

He　had　surmised　from　investigations　undertaken　during　the　Sentinels'　campaign　that　the　Awareness　had　had　dealings　with　Zor　in　the　early　stages　of　his　self…styled　rebellion　against　the　Robotech　Masters。　Later；　the　Tiresian…Protoculture's　midwife　had　for　some　unknown　reason　duplicatedthe　route　Haydon　had　taken　through　the　Quadrant　millennia　before；　using　Haydon's　chosen　worlds　as　the　objects　of　his　seeding　attempts。

Had　Zor　been　attempting　to　pick　up　where　Haydon　had　left　he　had　already　visited　Optera；　where；　assuredly；　Haydon　had　brought　Invid　and　Flower　together。

But　then　he　had　gone　to　seed　Peryton；　for　which　Haydon　had　devised　a　thought…propelled　instrument　capable　of　altering　the　rotational　axis　of　that　dying　world。

And　gone　on　to　seed　Karbarra；　which　Haydon　had　gifted　with　the　ursine…responsive　Ur…Flower。

And　Garuda；　where　Haydon　had　restructured　the　biosphere　to　facilitate　a　true　planetary　consciousness。

And　Spheris；　where　Haydon　had　experimented　with　the　evolution　of　crystalline　lifeforms。

And　Praxis；　where　biological　parenting　had　bee　a　single…gender　affair。

And…by　way　of　the　deliberately　crash…landed　SDF…1…Zor　had　seeded　Earth；　where　according　to　Dana's　accounts　the　Flower　had　taken　root　with　perplexing　tenacity。

Which　suggested　that　Haydon　had　used　Earth　for　some　purpose。

But　a　larger　question　remained：　What　had　Haydon　hoped　to　acplish　on　his　namesake　world？　What　was　Haydon　IV　that　it　should　at　all　costs　be　spared　the　injustices　visited　upon　the　rest？

〃Exedore；〃　Aurora　called　from　the　front　room。

That　she　had　said　it　just　loud　enough　to　be　heard　did　not　keep　Exedore　from　jumping　out　of　his　skin。　Miriya's　youngest　had　that　effect。

He　entered　the　room　a　shaky　step　or　so　ahead　of　Max　and　Miriya；　who　had　also　e　running。　Aurora　was　seated　in　front　of　the　monitor　screen；　one　finger　raised　to　it。

〃It's　the　reconfiguration　pattern；〃　Exedore　said　excitedly　after　a　moment's　study　of　the　displays。　〃We'll　be　able　to　see…〃　Miriya　gasped。

Haydon　IV's　northern　and　southern　hemispheres　were　separating。　The　artifact　world　was　about　to　open　up　like　a　hinged　ball！


In　newspace；　Lisa　edged　quietly　through　the　doorway　to　the　nursery。　She　told　herself　that　in　addition　to　being　a　naturally　inquisitive　mom；　she　was　being　considerate　just　now；　mindful　not　to　disturb　the　children's　play。　At　the　same　time　she　realized　that　her　inner　voice　was　not　urging　caution　but　demanding　it；　the　feeling　was　similar　to　the　fight…or…flight　hormonal　responses　that　were　triggered　every　time　she　had　to　give　the　order　to　deploy　the　fortress's　defensive　shields。

The　kids；　human　and　Zentraedi；　were　still　grouped　around　the　enormous　sphere　they　had　constructed；　pletely　absorbed　in　their　work。　The　toe　of　Lisa's　heelless　boot　touched　down　on　a　squeaky　toy；　and　a　dozen　pair　of　eyes　were　suddenly　trained　on　her。

〃Hi；　kids；〃　she　said；　pinning　a　smile　on　it。

Roy　glanced　at　his　peers；　rose　out　of　his　cross…legged　pose　on　the　deck；　and　walked　over　to　meet　her　halfway。　Lisa　squatted　down　to　his　eye　level　and　mussed　his　black　hair。　〃Hey；　that's　some　globe　you　guys　made；〃　she　began。　〃What　is　it；　some　kind　of　space　base？〃

Roy　took　a　quick　look　over　his　shoulder　at　Drannin。　〃It's　secret；　Mommie。　You　have　to　leave。〃

Lisa　adopted　a　wide…eyed　expression。　〃It's　so　secret　you　can't　even　let　your　mom　have　one　quick　peek？〃

〃No。〃

〃Oh；　sweetie；　please。〃

Roy　shook　his　head；　adamant。　Behind　him；　the　human　children　had　formed　a　guarded　line　in　front　of　the　sphere。　Lisa　straightened　up　to　her　full　height。　〃Just　one　peek；　Roy；　and　I'll　leave　you　guys　alone；〃　she　said　more　firmly。

Roy's　eyes　and　faltering　tone　of　voice　betrayed　his　ambivalence。　〃You　can't；　Mom。　We're　doing　something　secret。〃　Stern…faced；　Lisa　folded　her　arms　across　her　chest。　〃Now　listen　to　me；　young　man；　I'm　still　the　mander　of　this　ship。　Just　show　me　what　you've　built　and　I'll…〃

Abruptly；　Roy　turned　on　his　heel　and　rejoined　the　group；　leaving　Lisa　standing　in　the　center　of　the　room。　She　shook　her　head　in　disbelief　at　the　mirrored　side　of　the　observation　window　and　was　about　take　a　forward　step　when　Drannin　and　the　other　Zentraedi　children　suddenly　positioned　themselves　between　her　and　the　sphere。　It　was　like　facing　a　fifteen　foot…high　wall　of　muscle　and　bone。

Lisa　tried　to　contain　her　unease。　She　had　not　had　to　face　off　with　a　Zentraedi　in　almost　longer　than　she　could　recall；　but　some　part　of　her　remembered　and　pumped　fear　into　her　blood。

〃Drannin；〃　she　said　in　a　scolding　voice；