05_force_of_arms-第32章

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He　drew　a　breath；　let　it　out；　looked　down　at　the　hardtop　beneath　his　feet。　〃Well；　I　didn't　actually　visit　with　Minmei。〃

He　started　off　again。　She　caught　up；　walking　right　behind。　She　made　it　sound　as　spiteful　as　she　could；　hating　herself　for　it　the　whole　time。　〃Was　that　because　she　was　so　surrounded　by　adoring　fans　that　you　couldn't　get　close　to　her；　Rick？〃

〃No。〃

〃Anything　happen？〃　Why　am　I　putting　us　both　through　this？　she　wondered；　and　the　answer　came　back　at　once：　Because　I　love　him！

〃What　could　happen？〃　he　growled。

〃I　don't　know！〃　She　raced　to　catch　up　with　him；　taking　a　pale　blue　envelope　from　her　uniform　pocket。　She　dashed　around　in　front　of　him；　bringing　him　up　short；　pressing　it　into　the　palm　of　one　flightsuit　glove。　She　turned　and　walked　away　from　him。

〃Lisa；　what　is　this？〃

〃Just　something　to　remember　me　by；〃　she　threw　back　over　her　shoulder；　not　trusting　herself　to　look　at　his　face　once　more。　Her　heels　clicked　away　across　the　hardtop。

The　envelope　held　photographs…Lisa　with　a　niece；　on　a　vacation；　Lisa　as　an　adorable　teenager　with　a　kitten　perched　on　her　head；　Lisa　on　the　day　of　her　graduation　from　the　Academy。

〃What　on　Earth？〃　he　mumbled；　but　he　knew。　The　album；　all　the　rest　of　it：　What　had　happened　came　to　him　in　a　flash。　He　had　left　New　Portland　feeling　like　there　was　some　good　that　he　could　do　in　the　world；　feeling　that　no　matter　how　bad　things　looked；　there　was　always　hope；　and　feeling　that　he　was　on　the　side　of　the　angels。

But　now；　holding　the　photographs　at　his　side　and　watching　her　disappear　among　the　parked　bat　mecha；　he　tried　to　ride　out　a　tide　of　regret　that　threatened　to　wash　him　away；　and　he　was　suddenly　sorry　he　had　ever　been　born。


〃mander　Hunter　reporting　as　ordered；　sir。〃

Gloval　sat　looking　out　the　sweeping　forward　viewport　of　the　SDF…1；　at　a　blue　sky　flecked　with　white　clouds。　〃Please　e　in；　Rick；〃　he　said　without　turning。

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　Rick　came　in　warily；　Gloval　did　not　often　use　his　subordinates'　first　names。

〃I'll　get　right　to　the　point。〃　Gloval　swung　around　to　face　him　and　came　to　his　feet。　〃The　aliens　among　us　are　reverting　to　their　former　ways。〃

Rick　considered　that。　He　had　friends　among　the　Zentraedi…Rico；　Bron；　and　Konda；　Karita　and　others。　〃The　New　Portland　rebels　won't　give　us　any　more　trouble；　sir。〃

〃That　incident　was　only　a　symptom；　Lieutenant　mander。〃　There　was　something　about　the　way　Gloval　pronounced　your　rank　that　let　you　know　you　were　a　part　of　a　thing　greater　than　yourself。

〃We　cannot　afford　to　have　this　occur　again；〃　Gloval　went　on；　〃or　we'll　be　risking　plete　social　breakdown。　I've　decided　to　have　some　of　the　aliens　reassigned　to　new　locations　where　we　can　keep　an　eye　on　them。〃

None　of　the　importance　of　that　was　lost　on　Rick。　We　promised　them　freedom！　It　was　all　ing　apart；　everything　that　had　seemed　so　bright　two　years　before。

The　rest　didn't　really　have　to　be　said。　Gloval　was　counting　on　Rick　to　enforce　his　directives　and　letting　him　know　what　he　would　be　in　for。

Rick　Hunter　looked　at　the　old　man　who'd　been　through　so　much　for　Earth；　and　for　the　Zentraedi；　too；　in　truth。　The　younger　man　snapped　off　a　brisk　salute。　〃Whatever　you　decide；　you　have　my　support；　you　know　that；　sir。　And　you　have　the　support　of　everyone　on　the　SDF…1。〃

〃Thank　you；　Lieutenant。〃　Gloval　acknowledged　the　salute　precisely　but　rather　tiredly。　He　didn't　look　like　he　had　gotten　any　real　sleep　in　a　long　time。

They　met　each　other's　gaze。　〃I　understand；〃　Rick　said。


Minmei　shivered　under　her　jacket；　leaning　against　a　pylon　of　Zentraedi　wreckage　and　staring　into　the　sky　as　night　came　on　Granite　City。

So　much　desolation。　And　so　much　bitterness；　even　between　people　who　should　have　learned　to　love　one　another　a　long　time　ago！

She　looked　to　the　few　lights　of　the　town。　Kyle　had　gone　off　that　way；　and　she　had　no　idea　whether　he　intended　to　stop　or　keep　on　going；　had　no　idea　whether　she　would　ever　see　him　again　and　no　clear　conviction　as　to　whether　she　wanted　to　or　not。

She　looked　up　as　the　stars　appeared。　Oh；　Rick。　Where　are　you？


THE　END