05_force_of_arms-第30章

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Things　had　gone　steadily　downhill　since　Vance　Hasslewood　had　moved　up　in　the　world　to　bee　a　booking　agent　and　aspiring　theater　maven；　leaving　Minmei's　cousin；　costar；　and　lover　to　take　over　the　duties　of　manager。　Lynn…Kyle's　interests　went　far　beyond　show　business；　and　he　had　e　to　realize　that　his　own　fame　and　popularity　were　only　a　pale　reflection　of　hers。

Now　he　paused。　〃Lousiest　booking　so　far！〃　Then　he　threw　back　another　several　ounces；　making　her　wince。

Kyle　wiped　his　mouth　on　the　back　of　his　hand；　staining　the　purple　cuff　of　his　suit。　〃Let's　get　out　of　this　burg！　It's　disgusting！〃

He　was　red…eyed　and　close　to　the　edge；　but　she　said　what　was　on　her　mind　anyway；　she　had　held　it　back　long　enough。　〃Do　you　have　to　drink　so　much？〃

〃Listen；　don't　change　the　subject！〃　he　slurred。　〃We　didn't　even　get　any　money！　This　is　our　whole　paycheck！〃

He　toed　over　a　wilted　cardboard　box；　out　spilled　some　canned　goods；　bath　soap　and　so　forth；　a　few　vegetables…the　same　dole　everyone　else　in　Granite　City　was　living　on。　Even　though　Granite　refused　to　recognize　the　new　Earth　government's　authority；　the　government　gave　what　help　it　could；　without　it；　the　city　couldn't　have　kept　functioning。

〃A　stinkin'　handout　from　our　military　overlords！〃

〃And　what　else　do　we　need　for　survival？〃　she　asked　him；　watching　his　eyes。　Two　years　with　Kyle　had　made　her　older；　much　older。

〃Have　you　given　any　thought　to　taking　in　a　little　cash　for　a　change？〃　he　snarled。

She　came　to　her　feet；　the　jacket　clutched　to　her。　〃No；　I　haven't！〃

If　it　was　going　to　be　another　argument；　she　decided；　this　time　she　was　going　to　get　a　few　things　off　her　mind。　〃This　was　supposed　to　be　a　benefit　concert　for　those　poor　people　who're　trying　to　make　their　lives　work　in　Granite；　not　some　big…deal　career　move　for　Lynn…Minmei！〃

She　had　him；　and　they　both　knew　it。　All　at　once　his　ranting　sounded　like　empty　talk。　He　was　suddenly　contrite。　〃Aw；　c'mon；　Minmei。　You　know　I　didn't　mean　anything　like　that。〃　It　was　not　quite　a　whine；　but　somehow　it　only　made　her　detest　him　more。

She　knelt　and　began　picking　up　the　things　he　had　spilled；　brushing　dirt　from　them。　〃We're　getting　paid　like　everyone　else　is；　in　the　things　that　keep　us　alive。　I　think　we　should　show　a　little　appreciation。〃

That　made　him　cough　on　the　mouthful　of　brandy　he　was　chugging。　He　almost　finished　the　bottle；　and　his　mood　swung　end　for　end；　as　quick　as　his　martial…arts　moves　used　to　be。

〃Appreciation？　I　should　appreciate　the　great　military　mentality　that　brought　us　to　this？〃　He　opened　his　arms　as　if　to　embrace　the　blighted　world。

She　straightened　and　met　his　stare。　〃Earth　was　attacked；　and　it　fought　back。　I　don't　want　to　hear　anybody　knocking　the　military。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　them；　I　wouldn't　be　alive　right　now。　And　for　that　matter；　neither　would　you。〃

So；　we　e　to　the　core　of　the　matter；　he　thought　blearily。

That　moment　on　the　SDF…1；　with　a　planet　dying　at　his　feet　and　great　fleets　slaying　one　another　while　he　kissed　her；　was　two　years　behind　him。　And　yet　it　played　over　and　over　in　memory；　as　fresh　as　if　it　had　happened　that　afternoon。

The　secret　that　glowed　in　him　like　a　reflex　furnace；　the　one　Kyle　would　never　be　able　to　bring　himself　to　admit　to　her　or　even　put　into　words　to　himself；　was　that　he　had　exulted　in　that　moment　even　as　he　had　been　repulsed　by　it。

He　had　loved　it！　He　had　been　taken　by　the　drama　pletely；　swept　up　in　the　battle。　He　had　cast　aside　every　conviction　he　ever　had　and　gloried　in　what　was　happening。　He　had　hoped　with　all　his　soul　for　human　victory。

His　father　had　been　a　soldier；　both　family　restaurants　had　catered　to　the　military　trade。　Lynn…Kyle　scorned　all　of　that；　scorned　military　and　government　and　authority　in　every　form。　And　yet　when　it　had　e　down　to　a　question　of　seeing　his　planet　and　people　die；　he　had　been　out　there　rooting　for　the　home　team；　as　red　of　fang　and　claw；　as　contemptible；　as　any　of　them。

He　had　never　lost　a　fight　since　his　father　had　pummeled　and　shamed　him　into　learning　the　martial　arts。　Indeed；　he'd　bee　a　very　genius　of　unarmed　bat。　But　this　contest　with　himself　was　one　he　felt　fated　to　lose。　As　he　hated　himself；　so　he　had　e　to　make　Minmei　hate　him。

He　had　seen　that　the　military；　with　the　SDF…1　and　Macross　as　a　power　base　and　Breetai　and　his　Zentraedi　as　allies；　was　destined　to　be　the　force　that　reunited　the　planet。　Nevertheless；　he　resisted　it　every　inch　of　the　way；　going　deeper　and　deeper　into　despair　as　the　vast　egalitarian　movement　he　had　envisioned　dwindled　away　to　a　few　pitiful　holdouts。

So　if　this　was　going　to　be　the　argument　that　had　been　building　between　Minmei　and　Kyle　for　so　long；　let　it　be　so。　He　turned　his　face　to　an　ugly　mask　with　an　elaborate　sneer。　〃You're　breaking　my　heart。〃　He　swallowed　the　last　of　the　brandy。

You're　breaking　my　heart。


Twenty　yards　away；　behind　a　broken　piece　of　cornice　at　the　top　of　a　rise；　Rick　Hunter　squatted　with　his　back　against　cold　stone　and　listened　to　Minmei　and　Kyle。

He　sat　still　as　a　rock　or　one　of　the　pieces　of　dead　mecha　that　now　littered　the　world。


〃Must　you　keep　drinking？〃　Minmei　said。　〃It's　getting　out　of　hand！〃

Kyle　upended　the　bottle　and　let　the　last　few　droplets　fall　on　soil　that　hadn't　tasted　moisture　in　two　years。　Then　he　tossed　it　high；　launched　himself　through　the　air　in　a　reverse　spin　kick；　a　ki…yi　yell　ing　from　deep　within　him；　turning　twice；　and　popped　the　little　brandy　bottle　out　of　existence　like　a　trap　shooter。

Pieces　of　dark　glass　landed　at　Minmei's　feet。　She　watched　Kyle　steadily。　〃Did　that　make　you　feel　any　better　about　yourself？〃

How　can　she　wound　me　so　easily　with　just　a　word　or　two？　he　wondered　in　confusion。

His　mood　swung　again；　and　there　was　an　endless　affection　in　him　for　her。　She　was；　after　all；　the　sum　of　his　life。　All　he　had　ever　really　acplished；　Lynn…Kyle　saw　now；　was　getting　Minmei　to　love　him。

But　Minmei's　mood　was　riding　a　different　swing。　〃Whatever　you　think　of　the　RDF；　there　are　a　lot　of　fine　men　and　women　in　it；〃　she　said　levelly。　〃Much　better　people　than　you　are　right　now。〃

A　moment　that　might　have　been　a　reconciliation　and　a　new　start　was　gone　forever。　Kyle　ran　the　back　of　his　hand　across　his　mouth　again。　Al！　right；　we　might　as　well　have　it　all　out。

〃What's　that　crack　supposed　to　mean？〃

Minmei　was　actually　shaking　a　fist　at　him。　〃It　means　they're　trying　to　rebuild　Earth；　while　all　you　can　do　is　drink　and　feel　sorry　for　yourself！〃

〃Is　that　so？　Well；　I've　done　a　pretty　good　job　of　takin'　care　of　your　career；　little　Miss　Superstar！〃

She　had　been　loud　a　moment　before；　her　voice　was　quiet　now。　〃Maybe　we'd　better　split　up　then；　Kyle。　So　you　can　look　after　your　own　career。〃　She　gathered　her　pink　jacket　around　her。

She　had　been　hurt　until　her　endurance　was　all　gone；　and　now　she　only　wanted　to　hurt　in　retaliation。　〃I　didn't　realize　I　owed　it　all　to　you；　Kyle。〃

He　had　his　hands　out　in　fending…off　gestures。　〃Wait；　wait。　I　didn't　mean…didn't　mean　I　wanted　to　split　up　our　partnership。〃　〃Partnership〃　was　a　weak　word　for　what　they'd　had；　but　somehow　the　vocabulary　of　love　was　steamrollered　by　the　vocabulary　of　argument。　He　felt　something　slipping　away　even　as　he　made　the　choice　of　words。

She　drew　a　long；　deep　breath；　looking　him　in　the　eye。　〃Maybe　not；　but　it's　what　I　meant。〃

The　pass　of　Lynn…Kyle's　emotions　swung　a　last　time；　and　his　mouth　resolved　into　a　straight；　thin　line。　〃Okay；　go！　Who　needs　you？〃　He　kicked　the　empty　carton　high　into　the　air。


Rick　Hunter　didn't　know　exactly　what　to　feel。　The　fact　that　Kyle　had　alienated　Minmei　might　have　been　enjoyable　from　a　distance；　but　it　was　harrowing　to　see　at　close　range。

And　then　there　was　the　whole　question　of　going　out　and　intervening。　Rick　had　no　illusions　about　being　able　to　take　the　tall；　cobra…fast　martial…arts　expert　hand　to　hand；　and　he　had　forgotten　to　bring　along　the　survival　pistol　from　his　VT's　ejection　pack。

Suddenly　the　rover　radio　buzzed　in　its　thigh　pouch。　〃mander　Hunter；　e　in　please！〃　It　was　Vanessa's　voice；　sending　from　the　rusting；　soggy…footed　SDF…1。

He　had　turned　the　volume　down　low　when　he　came　out　to　the　edge　of　the　wastelands；　following　leads　to　find　Minmei。　Now　he　held　the　rover　up　to　his　ear。　Minmei　and　Kyle　didn't　seem　to　have　heard　a　thing。

He　thumbed　the　transmit　switch。　〃I'm　here。〃

〃Sir；　you're　directed　to　lead　your　flight　to　New　Portland。　A　residential　district　is　under　attack　by　several　Zentraedi　malcontents。〃

〃Malcontents。〃　That　was　what　the　new　world　government　was　calling　them　so　far。　But　those　who　had　sworn　the　Zentraedi　warrior　oath　and　turned　their　back　on　human　society　were　a　lot　more　than　malcontents。　They　had　only　to　walk　out　into　the　wasteland　and　keep　going；　find　the　right　wrecked　ship。　If　they　were　lucky；　they　would　find　arms；　mecha；　rations；　water；　and　shelter。

Rick　poised　for　a　moment　in　a　pain　so　precise　that　it　defied　any　random　theory　of　the　universe。　Most　of　what　he　had　e　to　believe　in　impelled　him　to　get　to　New　Portland　with　all　possible　speed。

Everything　else　told　him　to　stay　there；　because　this　was　the　moment　he　could　win　Minmei　back。

But　he　thumbed　the　rover's　transmit　button　again。　〃What　weapons？〃

〃Three　battlesuits　and　four　pods；　a　total　of　seven；〃　Vanessa's　voice　came　back。　That　wasn't　exactly　several；　the　way　Rick　saw　it；　but　he　had　to　admit　that　things　probably　looked　a　little　different　from　a　worldwide　coordinating　nerve　center　like　the　SDF…1。

These　were　Zentraedi　who　had　defected　to　the　human　side　in　the　Robotech　War。　They　were　onetime　allies。　He　held　the　rover's　voice　pickup　close　and　said　softly；　〃It'll　be　taken　care　of。　What's　the　status　on　Skull　flight？　Over。〃

〃They　are　curtailing　their　current　sweep　and　will　rendezvous　with　you　in　New　Portland。　Out。〃

He　shut　off　the　rover　before　the　sound　of　static　could　betray　him。　He　raced　off　toward　his　ship。　It　was　a　kind　of　liberation　to　have　some　crisis　so　pressing　that　he　could　forget　about　Minmei　for　a　while。　He　left　the　two　Lynns　to　their　own　devices；　and　somehow　he　couldn't　help　wishing　them　the　worst。

As　his　VT　took　off　in　Guardian　mode；　Rick　saw　the　tiny；　distant　figure　of　Kyle　go　down　on　both　knees　before　Minmei。　She　turned　and　opened　her　arms；　cradling　his　head　to　her　breast。　Rick　hit　the　throttle；　and　his　VT　left　a　trail　of　blue　fire　across　the　sky。


Lisa　stared　up　through　her　window　at　the　rotting　hulk　of　the　SDF…1。　Beneath　it　was　a　thriving；　growing　city；　but　its　presence　put　everyone　in　mind　of　the　war。

〃Hmmph！　What　a　view！〃　As　a　morale　builder；　she　was　wearing　a　tight　blouse　with　a　high；　upturned　collar。　Every　once　in　a　while　she　permitted　herself　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　herself　in　a　full…length　mirror　there　in　her　quarters　and　admit；　not　bad！

The　SDF…1　wasn't　bad　to　look　at　either；　really。　The　more　so　because　the　SDF…2　would　be　lowered　into　place；　back　to　back　with　it；　in　another　day　or　so。　Lang　and　his　disciples　had　worked　out　some　way　to　move　the　sealed　enigmatic　engines　from　one　to　the　other。　Lisa　had　heard　the　briefings；　could　sort　of　understand　the　mathematics　Lang　scrawled　all　over　every　flat　surface　that　came　to　hand；　and　had　faith　in　him；　but　she　still　thought　her　new　assignment　was　an　unknown　quantity。

The　set　birred　for　her　attention。　She　picked　up　the　handset。　In　seconds　she　had　word　o