05_force_of_arms- 第29部分

Granite！　Rick　realized。　Not　far　away！　He　was　already　checking　his　nav　puters。

〃People　Helping　People　is　the　theme　of　our　tour；〃　Kyle　went　on。　〃And　we　don't　consider　the　project　hopeless　at　all！　How　do　you　people　feel　about　it？〃

Clapclapclapclap；　from　the　audience；　and　a　few　yays。　Those　shill　questions　always　worked。　Rick's　expression　hardened；　and　he　brought　his　stick　over　for　a　bank。


Granite　City　lay　in　the　shadow　of　a　Zentraedi　flagship　rammed　like　a　Jovian　bolt　into　the　red　dirt。　The　outskirts　of　the　place　were　still　haphazard　rubble　from　the　war；　but　a　few　square　blocks　in　the　center　had　been　made　livable。

There　were　weakened　foundations　and　angled　slabs　of　paving　and　fractured　concrete　everywhere；　but　at　least　the　streets　were　clear。

This　most　recent　stop　in　what　was　to　have　been　the　triumphant　Minmei　People　Helping　People　tour　had　attracted　something　under　three　hundred　people　in　Granite；　plus　several　Zentraedi　who　loomed　over　the　crowd　even　when　sitting　and　squatting。

The　crowd　was　posed　of　sad…eyed　people　doing　their　best　to　believe　they　had　a　future。　Most　were　ragged；　all　were　thin；　and　there　were　signs　of　deficiency　diseases　and　other　medical　problems　among　them。

But　at　the　urging　of　Lynn…Kyle　and　others　in　the　loose…knit　network　of　antigovernmentalists；　Granite　persisted　in　refusing　to　drop　its　status　as　an　independent　city…state　or　allow　military　relief　teams　in。

The　Zentraedi　were　in　better　shape　than　the　humans；　the　rations　in　the　spiked　ship　could　sustain　them；　though　for　some　reason　those　seemed　to　have　no　nutritive　value　for　Homo　sapiens。　There　had　been　a　fine　cordiality　and　hopefulness　among　the　people　of　Granite　at　first；　but　now　there　was　growing　despair　in　this　dissident　model　program。　Thus；　this　morale　appearance　by　Minmei。

〃Yeah！　Let's　hear　it！〃　Lynn…Kyle　yelled；　working　the　mike　at　center　stage；　making　beckoning　motions　with　his　free　hand。　The　crowd　clapped　again；　a　little　tiredly。

〃And　Granite　doesn't　need　any　outside　interference；　either！〃　he　yelled。　He　had　spent　fewer　than　four　hours　there　in　his　entire　life。

〃The　good　people　here　will　take　care　of　themselves　and　make　Granite　the　great　metropolis　she　once　was！〃

The　applause　was　even　weaker　this　time　around；　and　the　more　theatrically　knowledgeable　in　the　front　rows　could　detect　beads　of　flop…sweat　on　Kyle's　brow。

〃But　let's　forget；　for　now；　what　the　military　warmongers　have　brought　us　to；〃　he　said；　almost　scowling；　then　catching　himself　and　flashing　a　bright　smile。　〃As　we　listen　to　the　song　stylings　of　the　marvelous；　the　inparable　Lynn…Minmei！〃

Recorded　music　came　up；　and　Minmei　hit　her　mark　right　on　cue；　mike　in　hand。　She　sang　her　latest　hit。

I've　made　the　right　move　at　the　right　time！
We're　on　our　way　to　something　new！
Just　point　the　way　and　I　will　follow！
Love　feels　so　beautiful　with　you！


Rick　followed　the　song；　entranced；　until　a　transmission　cut　through　Minmei's　singing。　〃mander　Hunter；　e　in；　please。〃

It　was　Ransom。　Rick　switched　to　the　tac　net。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　all　right；　skipper？　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　for　some　time；　thought　you　might've　run　into　trouble。〃

Rick　let　a　little　impatience　slip　into　his　tone。　〃Is　anything　wrong？〃

Ransom　looked　at　him　out　of　a　display　screen　next　to　the　yellow　dandelion；　speaking　precisely。　〃Nothing　specific；　boss。　Just　wish　you'd　take　your　rover　radio　with　you　when　you　leave　your　ship　to　look　around。　I　worry；　y'　know？〃

Rick　bit　back　the　rebuke　he　had　been　putting　together。　Of　course　he　knew；　he　would　have　chewed　out　a　subordinate　for　doing　the　same。

He　sounded　contrite；　and　it　was　real。　〃Sorry；　Lieutenant。　But　I　came　across　something　miraculous　today。〃

Ransom　stared。　〃Trouble　with　renegade　Zentraedi？　Boss；　what　is　it？〃

Rick　took　the　dandelion　from　its　place　and　held　it　close　to　the　optical　pickup。　〃Look　what　I　found。　An　entire　field　of　them。〃

Ransom　considered　the　flower。　〃Wait　a　minute。　Your　zone　wasn't　inside　the　natural　recovery　planning　zone。〃

Rick　was　ecstatic。　〃That's　right！　But　lemme　tell　ya；　there　are　flowers　in　the　northwest　quadrant！〃

The　usually　morbid　Ransom　cracked　a　very　slight　smile。　〃I　suppose　we　should　have　known　the　Earth　would　be　starting　her　own　recovery　program。　Great　news；　huh；　skipper？〃

〃Roger　that。　Look；　continue　your　patrol　according　to　mission　plan；　Ted。〃

〃I　copy；　but　aren't　you　ing　with　us？〃

〃Not　right　now；〃　Rick　answered。　〃I'm　dropping　over　to　Granite　City。　If　anything　serious　es　up；　give　me　a　yell。〃

Ransom　nodded　and　hedged。　〃And；　uh；　boss。。。〃

〃Don't　sweat　it；　Lieutenant！　When　I　leave　the　ship；　I'll　take　my　rover！　Out！〃

Rick　did　a　barrel　roll　for　the　hell　of　it　and　opened　his　throttle　wide　for　Granite　City。

If　she　wonders；
It's　you　who's　on　my　mind。
It's　you　I　cannot
Leave　behind。。。


Rick　followed　Minmei's　voice　as　someone　else　might　have　trod　a　yellow　brick　road。　From　overhead　the　Zentraedi　battlewagon　dominated　the　landscape；　but　a　closer　look　at　the　ground　showed　that　the　rusting　metal　peak　was　a　monument　to　defeat　and　that　the　teeming　victors　were　still　in　turmoil。

Rick　left　his　VT　at　the　edge　of　town　under　the　care　of　the　local　militia　CO；　who　was　well　disposed　toward　RDF　fliers　even　if　the　populace　wasn't。　Rick　got　to　the　concert　and　missed；　by　a　fraction　of　a　second；　getting　flattened　by　the　hand　of　a　Zentraedi　leviathan　who　was　sitting　at　the　edge　of　the　crowd；　shifting　his　weight。

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　the　alien　tried　to　whisper　in　his　resounding　bass。　Everybody　around　them　went　Shhhh！　Rick　gave　the　big　fellow　a　nod　to　let　him　know　it　was　no　offense　taken。

It's　me　who's　lost；
The　me　who　lost　your　heart
The　you　who　tore　my　heart
Apart。。。


She's　e　a　long　way；　but　it's　the　same　girl　I　spent　those　awful；　wonderful　two　weeks　with　somewhere　in　the　belly　of　the　SDF…1。　My　Minmei。

When　the　song　was　over；　the　crowd　applauded。　Rick　applauded　loudest　of　all。


Near　a　sidewalk　cafe　in　Monument　City；　with　the　SDF…1's　shadow　ing　her　way　like　a　sundial；　Lisa　stared　dully　at　people　passing　by　and　ignored　her　cooling　demitasse。　The　meetings　had　been　delayed；　giving　her　some　unexpected　free　time。　Idle　hours　were　more　a　curse　than　a　blessing。

As　she　watched；　two　down…at…the…heels　boulevardiers　ogled　a　very　pert　young　blonde　whose　hemline　came　nearly　to　her　waist。　The　two　did　not　quite　slobber。

〃My　man；　the　women　were　dealt　all　the　aces　in　this　life。　They　can　have　anything　they　want；〃　opined　one；　a　beefy　kid　who　looked　as　if　he　stood　a　fair　chance　of　growing　up　to　be　normal。　〃They　can　have　anybody　they　wanna　have。〃

Lisa　considered　that；　her　chin　resting　on　her　interlaced　fingers。　〃That's　all　you　know　about　it；　my　fat　friend；〃　she　murmured；　watching　the　two　would…be　rakes　go　on　their　way。　〃Here's　one　woman　who'd　trade　every　other　ace；　knave；　and　king　in　the　deck　for　one　Rick　Hunter。〃

She　drew　a　sudden　breath　as　she　looked　across　Monument　City's　main　thoroughfare。　Max　Sterling　strolled　along　there；　looking　as　if　he　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world；　pushing　a　baby　carriage。　Miriya　held　his　arm。

They　stopped；　and　Max　hurried　around　the　carriage　to　scoop　up　his　daughter　and　pat　her　back；　burping　her　on　his　shoulder。　Miriya　looked　on　serenely　with　a　smile　Lisa　almost　begrudged　her。

The　very　most　secret　eyes…only　reports　boiled　down　to　the　fact　that　nobody　could　quite　figure　out　how　Max　and　Miriya　had　had　Dana；　their　baby　girl。　But　as　proved　by　exhaustive　tests；　the　child　was　indisputably　theirs。

No　Zentraedi　male…female　reproduction　had　ever　been　recorded；　making　the　whole　thing　that　much　more　extraordinary。　The　likelier　explanations　had　to　do　with　Miriya's　consumption　of　human…style　food　as　opposed　to　the　antiseptic　rations　of　the　Zentraedi　and　her　exposure　to　emotions　that　had　worked　subtle　biochemical　changes　on　her。　The　word　〃Protoculture〃　cropped　up　again　and　again　in　the　reports；　only　nobody　seemed　to　understand　quite　what　it　was；　at　least　nobody　outside　the　charmed；　secretive　circle　of　Lang；　Exedore；　and　a　few　others。

Like　a　lot　of　women　and　quite　a　few　men；　Lisa　sometimes　thought　all　that　was　a　crock。　Miriya　and　Max　were　in　love；　and　so：　little　Dana。

She　looked　at　the　three　of　them；　and　for　a　moment　Max　wore　Rick's　face；　and　Miriya　wore　Lisa's。　The　SDF…2　would　soon　be　ready　for　space　trials；　but　that　didn't　mean　the　First　Officer　couldn't　have　a　family。　The　starship　had　been　built　for　a　long　voyage；　for　children　as　well　as　men　and　women。

Max　and　Miriya　and　their　baby　resumed　their　way；　and　Lisa　watched　them　go。　They　look　so　happy。　If　only　I　could　make　Rick　understand！

Just　then；　though；　two　RDF　boot　trainees　wandered　up　to　the　caf？with　a　street…blaster　stereo。　The　well…remembered　voice　boomed；

And　the　thrill　that　I　feel
Is　really　unreal。


〃Hew！　That　little　mama　sure　can　sing；〃　the　first　one　said；　whistling。　〃I'd　give　a　month's　pay　to　meet　her。〃

The　other　blew　his　breath　out　sarcastically　as　the　pair　sat　down　a　few　tables　away。　〃Sure；　buddy。　Then　she　takes　you　away　and　signs　over　the　deed　to　her　diamond　mine　to　you；　right？〃

The　first　one　made　a　very　sour　face　and　signaled　the　waitress。　On　the　eardrum　agitator；　Minmei　sang；

I　can't　believe　I've　e　this　far。
This　is　my　chance　to　be　a　star！


There　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　way　I　can　avoid　you；　Minmei！

Lisa　collected　her　purse　and　left　her　money　on　the　salver；　then　rose　and　headed　off　down　the　boulevard。

She　was　so　caught　up　in　her　own　thoughts；　regrets；　and　preoccupations　that　she　didn't　realize…had　never　realized…how　many　admiring　glances　she　drew。　She　was　a　willowy；　athletic　young　woman　with　brown　hair　billowing　behind　her；　a　delicate　plexion；　and　a　distant　look　in　her　eyes。　Her　insignia　and　decorations　were　enough　to　make　any　vet；　male　or　female；　take　notice　of　her。

If　there　were　an　artistic　petition　for　the　concept　WINNER；　a　simple　photo　of　Lisa　at　that　moment　would　have　won　it。　Women　in　particular　looked　at　her；　her　sure　stride　and　air　of　confidence；　and　made　various　resolutions　to　be　more　like　this　self…confident　superwoman；　whoever　she　was。

But　that　wasn't　the　way　it　felt　to　Lisa。　She　allowed　herself　a　rueful　half　smile。　I　guess　when　the　aces　were　dealt　out；　it　just　wasn't　in　the　cards　for　me　to　get　the　one　I　want。

It　was　near　enough　to　a　joke　to　make　her　smile　cheerlessly。　She　quickened　her　pace；　off　to　report　to　the　SDF…2。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR

I've　seen　people　like　Lynn…Kyle　before。　I'm　prepared　to　believe　that　he　hates　war；　who　among　us　does　not？
But　he　has　the　attitude；　set　in　concrete；　that　virtue　is　measured　by　one's　disaffection　from　the　power　structure　under　which　one　lives。　Such　a　person　builds　a　fortress　of　self…serving　piety；　resisting　authority　of　any　kind　at　every　turn　whether　for　good　or　ill。
The　RDF　will　continue　to　defend　to　the　death　the　freedoms　that　make　this　possible。
From　the　log　of　Captain　Henry　Gloval

〃What　a　crummy　hole！〃

Lynn…Kyle　threw　his　arms　wide　to　take　in　Granite　City；　off　to　one　side；　and　the　wastelands　all　around　it。

Minmei　sat　despondently　on　a　piece　of　rotting　Zentraedi　alloy；　hugging　her　knees　to　her　chest；　a　pink　jacket　draped　over　her　shoulders　against　the　evening　chill；　watching　him　take　another　slug　from　the　bottle　of　brandy　that　seemed　to　be　his　constant　panion　these　days。

Things　had　gone　steadily