05_force_of_arms-第11章

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in；　he　catapulted　toward　the　first　knife；　which　was　still　buried　in　the　tree。

She　was　after　him　at　once。　To　kill　him　before。。。before　he　could。。。

〃It's　no　use！〃　she　cried　triumphantly；　slashing　at　him。　They　maneuvered　and　feinted；　the　other　knife's　haft　only　inches　beyond　Max's　reach。　〃You're　no　match　for　me！　Oh；　you　may　be　a　great　man；　but　what's　a　man　pared　to　a　Zentraedi？〃

He　faked　her　away　from　the　tree；　turned；　and　had　the　knife　in　his　hand　like　magic；　her　belated　cut　only　chipping　bark。

〃Now；　we'll　see。〃　He　held　the　knife　in　a　fencing　grip；　almost　hesitantly。　She　went　at　him。

Impossibly；　they　set　aside　any　sane　knife…fighting　style　to　fence　as　if　they　held　sabers。　The　knives　struck　scintillas　of　light　from　each　other。　Max　had　learned　to　fence　in　school　and　had　sharpened　his　bat　skills　in　the　Robotech　Defense　Force；　Miriya　was　a　Zentraedi…she　lived　and　breathed　warfare。

Amazingly；　Max　engaged　her　blade　in　a　bind；　whirling　it　around　and　around；　whisking　it　from　her　grip。　It　flew　high；　landing　yards　away。　The　point　buried　itself　in　the　ground；　tantalizingly　close　and　yet　so　far；　too　far。

Max　held　the　point　of　his　knife　close　to　her　throat。　She　raised　her　chin　proudly。　〃I　guess　I　win　again；〃　he　said；　yet　there　was　something　in　his　tone　that　made　him　sound　unsure。

It　was　the　moment　Miriya　Parino；　warlord　of　the　Quadrono；　had　never　thought　she　would　face。　And　yet　there　was　such　a　thing　as　dignity　in　defeat；　such　a　thing　as　her　warrior　code。　〃I've　lost　to　you。〃

This　is　a　shame　I　cannot　endure。　She　sank　to　her　knees；　pulling　the　scarf　down　and　baring　her　throat。　She　waited　for　the　cold　kiss　of　the　blade；　hoping　it　would　e　soon　to　end　her　suffering。　She　couldn't　help　it；　but　tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes…not　from　fear　or　even　anger　but　from　impulses　to　which　she　could　put　no　name。

He　was　hesitating　for　some　reason；　she　thought　that　perhaps　he　was　going　to　show　the　cruelty　a　Zentraedi　might　in　his　position。　She　didn't　blame　him　and　was　bravely　determined　to　endure　whatever　he　might　mete　out；　but　she　thought　that　perhaps　he　simply　needed　a　word　from　her　to　acknowledge　her　defeat。

〃End　my　life。〃　She　lowered　her　head；　the　long　green　tresses　hung　about　her　face。　〃Please。　Do　it　now。〃

But　what　she　felt　wasn't　the　final　cold　fire　of　the　knife's　edge。　His　fingers　were　under　her　chin；　lifting　her　face。　〃But　I　couldn't！　You're　so　beautiful。。。〃

Suddenly　everything　was　so　unreal；　so　difficult　for　her　to　understand；　that　it　came　as　only　a　minor　shock　to　see　that　he　had　let　the　knife　fall。

Miriya　looked　up　blissfully　into　a　face　that　held　confusion；　wonder；　and　a　certain　something　else　she　was　only　beginning　to　prehend。

She　never　felt　herself　e　to　her　feet；　perhaps　she　didn't；　and　the　zero…g；　flying　feeling　was　real。　One　final　spasm　of　Zentraedi　warrior　training　made　itself　felt；　telling　her　to　stop　him；　to　stop　him　before。。。before　he　could。。。

But　he　already　had；　and　they　were　kissing；　embracing；　Miriya　in　Max's　arms。　For　a　while；　in　the　little　meadow　in　Macross's　darkened　park；　there　was　a　place　apart　from　all　other　worlds。　No　word　was　said　for　a　long　time；　until　Max　got　up　his　nerve。

〃Miriya；　this　is　gonna　sound　crazy；　but…will　you　marry　me？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　wish。　Maximillian；　what's　‘marry'？〃


The　three　former　Zentraedi　spies；　Rico；　Bron；　and　Konda；　were　sitting　in　the　RDF　crew　lounge　not　far　from　the　bridge；　doing　their　best　to　show　the　Terrible　Trio　a　good　time。

Sammie；　Vanessa；　and　Kim　were　feeling　down…hearted。　It　seemed　that　the　SDF…1's　voyage　would　never　end；　that　there　was　no　refuge　for　the　starship　anywhere。

No　one　wanted　to　guess　how　much　longer　the　dimensional　fortress　could　last　against　the　Zentraedi　armada　that　hounded　them；　but　the　unspoken　consensus　was　that　it　had　pushed　its　luck　to　the　limit　and　that　they　were　all　living　on　borrowed　time。

〃D'you　think　the　Canadians　will　offer　sanctuary　to　the　SDF…1；　Konda？〃　asked　the　burly　Bron。

If　the　Canadians　could　be　persuaded　to　defy　the　united　Earth　Defense　Council　and　let　the　ship　land；　offer　her　crew　and　refugees　asylum；　there　might　be　hope。　It　would　be　the　most　strenuous　test　yet　of　the　UEDC's　authority　as　opposed　to　the　autonomous　rights　of　its　member　states；　could　perhaps　lead　to　a　new　civil　war；　but　it　was　the　SDF…1's　only　hope。

Bron's　friend　and　fellow　warrior　chewed　a　bit　of　food。　〃I'll　tell　you　one　thing：　If　our　request　is　denied；　it　means　we'll　be　stranded　out　here　in　space　forever。〃

The　three　young　women　exchanged　agonized　looks。　Little　Sammie　shook　her　head；　intense　and　frightened。　〃Konda；　please　don't　say　anything　like　that！〃

Kim；　her　coffee　cup　forgotten　in　her　hands；　suddenly　looked　lost　and　vulnerable。　〃Surely。。。someone　will　help　us！〃

Konda　didn't　contradict　her；　but　neither　did　he　agree。　The　six　usually　had　fun　when　they　were　together；　but　now　they　just　stared　gloomily　into　their　coffee。

〃We　must　have　faith；〃　Rico　said…an　odd　thing　ing　from　one　whose　only　belief　had；　until　some　months　ago；　been　the　Zentraedi　warrior　code。

None　of　them　noticed　Max　Sterling　pass　by；　looking　every　which　way　for　his　manding　officer。　〃Ah！　Just　the　man　I　want　to　see；〃　he　muttered；　spying　Rick　Hunter。

Rick　sat　alone　at　a　table　on　an　upper　level　of　the　place；　lost　in　thought；　staring　out　the　deck…to…overhead　viewports　that　had　space　on　three　sides　of　him。　He　was　exhausted　from　the　constant　flight　duty　and　the　added　burdens　of　being　a　team　leader。　He　was　worried　about　the　ship；　about　his　men；　and　about　what　he　could　possibly　do　to　set　his　love　life　straight。

Rick　looked　surprised　when　Max　broke　in　on　his　reverie；　but　he　invited　him　to　sit。　〃It's　about　last　night；〃　Max　began。　〃I　think　I'm　gonna　get　married。〃

Rick　spat　out　his　coffee　and　choked　a　bit　until　Max　patted　his　back。　〃That's　the　most　ridiculous　thing　I　ever　heard！〃　he　sputtered　at　last。　〃You　only　went　on　one　date！　Man；　you　know　she　won't　be　leaving　town；　so　why　don't　you　take　some　time？〃

Max　looked　stubborn；　struggling　a　bit　before　he　said；　〃We're　in　love。〃

Rick　plunged　into　a　lecture　that　he　never　would　have　imagined　giving　before　he　became　Skull　leader。　But　before　he　could　get　too　far　into　why　no　one　should　rush　into　matrimony　and　how　that　went　triple　for　VT　fighter　pilots；　Max　cut　him　off。

〃Lieutenant；　that's　not　the　part　that's　bothering　me。〃　He　mopped　his　brow　with　his　handkerchief。　〃Y'　see；　it's　ah；　I'm　not　sure　how　to　say　this。　She's　the　enemy。　Miriya　confessed　to　me　that　she's　a　Zentraedi。〃

Rick　stared　at　him　blankly　for　a　long　moment。　If　it　had　been　practically　anyone　else；　he　would　have　doubted　his　sanity；　but　he　was　Max's　friend；　and　besides；　he　had　seen　his　latest　psych　evaluation。　〃How　could　you　let　this　happen？〃

〃I　love　her；〃　Max　said；　a　bit　more　forcefully　than　he　usually　said　anything。

〃You're　talking　nonsense！　What　could　you　possibly　have　in　mon　with　her？〃　This；　even　though　the　three　former　spies　and　the　bridge　bunnies　were　keeping　pany　on　the　other　side　of　the　lounge。　Rick　had　been　trying　to　unsnarl　his　own　stormy　emotional　life　and　couldn't　see　why　other　people　would　want　to　plicate　theirs。

〃I'm　telling　you；　I　love　her；〃　Max　insisted。　He　suddenly　hit　the　table　with　his　fist；　making　cup　and　saucer　dance。　〃And　there's　no　problem　love　won't　solve！〃

Oh　yeah？　Rick　thought　ironically；　he　wished　that　for　just　a　moment　he　could　do　something　about　his　hopeless　yearning　for　Minmei；　could　understand　his　plex　feelings　toward　Lisa　Hayes。　Max；　you've　got　a　lot　to　learn！

〃There's　one　problem　it　won't　solve；　pal；　and　that's　your　silly　idealism。　Love　isn't　gonna　make　you　happy；　take　it　from　me。〃

Max　was　furious。　〃It　doesn't　matter　what　you　say；　Rick。　I'm　going　to　marry　this　woman　with　or　without　your　approval。〃

〃Okay；　look；　so　you're　attracted　to　her。　How　many　times　does　that　happen　to　a　guy？〃

〃She's　special！〃

〃Take　it　easy；　I'm　sorry。　I　can　tell　you　like　her　very　much。〃

Max　calmed　a　bit。　〃I　want　you　to　meet　her。〃

〃This　should　be　interesting；〃　Rick　said；　realizing　someone　had　e　up　to　the　table。

Miriya　Parino　of　the　elite　Quadrono　battalion　of　the　Zentraedi　hordes　looked　like　the　cover　of　a　fashion　magazine。　Rick　didn't　know　what　he　had　expected；　he　had　never　met　a　female　Zentraedi　and　had　seen　few　males　who　didn't　look　ugly　enough　to　stop　a　clock。

What　he　hadn't　expected　was　a　gorgeous　young　woman　in　a　simple；　graceful　pink　summer　frock　set　off　by　a　blue　sash　about　her　slim　waist。　She　wore　her　dark　green　hair　in　a　single　lush　tail　drawn　forward　over　one　white　shoulder。

〃We　were　just　talking　about　you；〃　Max　told　her　with　a　sublime；　starry…eyed　smile。

Rick　blinked；　flabbergasted；　then　got　out　haltingly；　〃You　were　right；　Max。　She　is　beautiful。　I…I　think　I　understand　now。〃

Miriya　smiled　serenely。　〃I'm　so　pleased　to　meet　you。　You　look　just　the　way　Maximillian　described　you。〃

She　was　terribly　happy　that　she　and　Max　were　to　marry；　though　this　odd；　strangely　thrilling　human　custom　was　more　a　mystery　than　anything　else。　She　suddenly　looked　and　felt　nothing　at　all　like　a　Zentraedi　mander　and　warrior；　but　she　didn't　mind。　Everything　was　so　clear　and　bright　and　wonderful。。。

Max's　decision　to　buy　her　new　clothes　had　plainly　been　a　good　one；　the　looks　she'd　drawn　from　people；　and　from　Rick　in　particular；　were　not　the　kind　one　directed　at　an　enemy。

It　was　difficult　to　believe　that　only　hours　before；　she　had　been　trying　to　kill　Max。　He　had　spent　much　of　the　intervening　time　trying　to　clarify　what　〃love〃　meant。　She　decided　she　wanted　more　clarification…a　lifetime's　worth。

〃You're　a　lucky　man；　Max；〃　Rick　told　him；　without　taking　his　eyes　off　Miriya。　Then　he　grinned。　〃And　forget　all　that　nonsense　I　told　you。〃

Max　was　all　smiles　again。　Rick　added；　〃And　to　guarantee　you　two　have　a　great　wedding　day；　I　plan　to　be　there　to　kiss　the　bride！〃

Max　shrugged　and　nodded　cheerfully；　a　little　irony　creeping　into　his　tone。　〃I　knew　I　could　count　on　you；　boss。　Only…〃

He　reached　out　to　take　Miriya's　hand。　〃You'd　better　hold　off　on　that　until　I　explain　it　all　to　the　future　Mrs。　Sterling。　The　RDF　forces　are　shorthanded　as　it　is；　and　I'd　hate　to　see　Skull　Leader　wind　up　in　intensive　care。〃


The　preparations　for　the　wedding　began　that　same　day。　Gloval　was　strangely　silent；　except　to　give　his　permission　and　authorize　the　sort　of　major　bash　the　ship's　media　moguls　hungered　and　cried　out　for。　Rick　knew　Gloval　well　enough　to　know　that　the　captain　had　good　reasons　for　a　move　like　this；　and　he　wondered　what　those　might　be。

News　of　the　ing　nuptials　had　the　entire　dimensional　fortress　abuzz。　It　galvanized　crewpeople　and　refugees　alike；　a　reason　at　last　to　celebrate　and　forget　the　war　for　a　while。　Mayor　Tommy　Luan　and　the　director　of　the　in…ship　broadcasting　system　and　a　hundred　others　threw　themselves　into　the　arrangements。

Somewhat　to　their　surprise；　they　found　that　Gloval　had　ordered　that　no　effort　be　spared　in　making　the　occasion　a　major　event。　Miriya　could　have　had　ten　thousand　bridesmaids　if　she　wanted；　the　RDF　people　and　the　Veritech　pilots　in　particular　kicked　out　the　chocks　to　mount　a　pageant　worthy　of　a　royal　wedding。

The　preparations　went　quickly；　the　marriage　became　the　center　of　existence　for　quite　a　few　people。　They　were　sewing；　cooking；　decorating；　the　RDF　personnel　rehearsed　their　drills；　and　the　engineers