18_the_end_of_the_circle-第14部分

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Lang　traded　looks　with　Rick。　〃Why　didn't　you　report　this？〃　Rick　pressed。

Rem　shrugged。　〃There　was　nothing　to　report。　A　slight　feeling　of　dissociation；　not　altogether　unpleasant。〃

Rick　regarded　him　for　a　long　moment。　〃The　next　time　you　lend　yourself　at　the　center　of　something；　Rem；　you　e　to　tell　us　about　it。　That's　an　order。〃


Jack　gave　the　Alpha's　thinking　cap　an　angry　toss　as　he　bed　from　the　cockpit。　The　sensitive　helmet　struck　the　forward　seat　with　an　audible　thud　and　drew　the　attention　of　a　burly　flight　mechanic　who　was　standing　nearby。

〃You　wanna　watch　that；　sir；〃　the　man　said　as　Jack　dropped　to　the　deck。　〃Next　time　your　bird's　not　answerin'；　you　know　why；　right？〃

Jack　considered　making　an　issue　of　it　but　in　the　end　apologized。　〃I'll　watch　it。〃

〃That'd　be　smart；　Cap'ain。〃

Everybody's　a　goddamn　expert；　Jack　thought；　striding　away。　mand　when　they　order　you　not　to　engage；　mechies　when　they're　telling　you　how　to　care　for　your　gear。　And　Sean　and　the　rest　of　the　15th　jockeys　when　they're　telling　you　how　to　pilot　your　craft。

Captain　Phillips　was　approaching　from　across　the　hangar　bay；　Dante　and　Marie　Crystal　on　either　side。　Jack　looked　around　for　Karen；　but　she　was　nowhere　in　sight。　So　I'll　go　it　alone。

〃That　was　some　soarin'　there；　hotshot；〃　Sean　began。　〃Where'd　you　think　you　were；　in　an　air　circus？〃

〃And　I　suppose　you　had　the　whole　thing　sussed；　is　that　it；　Phillips？〃

〃At　least　we　knew　enough　to　go　to　Battloid；　Jack；〃　Marie　interjected。

Jack　glared　at　her。　〃Enough　to　go　to　Battloid？　That　was　the　most　asinine　thing　I've　ever　seen。　Even　a　VT　cadet　knows　better　than　to　go　upright　when　going　to　lasers。　It's　not　only　a　waste　of　fuel　but　a　wasted　thought。　I　don't　know　if　that　kind　of　stunt　flying　cut　it　against　the　Masters…personally；　I　doubt　it…but　this　is　null…g；　folks。　I　mean；　you　Troopers　better　get　your　exo　shit　together　if　you're　gonna　stay　with　the　program。〃

The　three　ex…tankers　exchanged　wide…eyed　looks。

〃Can　you　believe　this　guy？〃　Sean　said。　〃He　goes　in　teats　up；　belly　lasers　engaged…full　retro；　mind　you…and　he's　got　the　nerve　to　rag　us　about　stunt　flying？〃

Jack　fumed。　It　was　the　same　argument　they　had　been　having　for　two　years。　Of　course　there　had　been　no　missions　to　fly　all　that　time；　so　the　petition　had　to　be　saved　for　practice　runs　with　green　cadets　outside　Tirol's　envelope　or　the　occasional　deep…space　prototype　of　off　the　Ark　Angel。　Then　there　were　the　nights　on　leave　when　things　got　roughneck　and　rowdy　downside　in　some　Tiresian　canteen。　But　what　else　could　you　expect　from　mechamorphs　who　had　suddenly　been　plucked　from　bat　and　practically　returned　to　school　when　they　were　not　drawing　watch　assignments　in　ordnance　factories　or　on　some　Karbarran…manufactured　peat…cruisers？

〃I'm　gonna　have　to　trim　your　course　some；　Phillips；〃　Jack　said。　menacingly。

Sean　motioned　his　teammates　back　and　set　himself　in　a　bent…knee　stance。　He　curled　his　fingers　at　Jack。　〃e　on；　then；　Jack。　Make　your　move。〃

Jack　really　had　not　expected　things　to　go　that　far　but　clearly　realized　there　was　no　backing　down。　〃Suit　yourself；　Sean；〃　he　said；　about　to　raise　his　fists。

〃That'll　be　quite　enough　of　that；〃　a　voice　said　loudly　enough　to　bring　everyone　around。　Jack　thought　for　a　moment　that　Karen　was　ing　to　his　six；　but　one　look　at　her　face　told　him　he　was　flying　blind。

〃This　is　positively　the　most　pathetic　excuse　for　a　debriefing　I've　ever　witnessed。〃

〃We　weren't　exactly　debriefing；　sir；〃　Dante　started　to　say。

〃That's　right；〃　Sean　said　with　a　glowering　glance　at　Jack。　〃It　was　more　in　the　way　of　paring　styles。〃

Marie　said；　〃Look；　Karen；　we　were　just…〃

〃Maybe　you've　forgotten　that　we　lost　several　good　pilots　out　there；　is　that　it？〃　She　shook　her　head　in　disapproval。　Real　heroes；　all　of　you。〃

〃Jeez；　Karen；〃　Jack　said　with　a　hangdog　look。

〃Save　it；〃　she　told　him。

〃How　are　they　being　listed；　sir？〃　Angelo　Dante　asked　softly　as　Karen　was　about　to　walk　away。

She　turned　to　face　him。　〃A　new　classification　to　suit　our　situation；　Sergeant　Dante。　Neither　killed　in　action　nor　missing　and　presumed　dead。〃

〃How　then；　sir？〃

〃Presumed　missing；　〃　she　told　him。


Elsewhere　in　the　superdimensional　fortress；　retired　15th　Corporal　Bowie　Grant　was　making　music。

The　return　of　the　stars；　the　lightstuff　of　real　space；　had　proved　something　of　an　inspiration　for　Bowie　and　his　female　lead　singer。　Musica　and　Allegra…two　of　the　clone　population　Jonathan　Wolff's　starship　had　returned　to　Tirol…and　they　were　trying　out　their　gifts　on　a　new　position　when　Minmei's　quiet　entrance　into　the　music　room　startled　them　into　silence。

〃I…I　didn't　mean　to　disturb　you；〃　she　said。　Bowie　was　speechless。

〃I　just　wanted　to　listen　for　a　moment。〃

〃C…e　in；　please；〃　Bowie　stammered。　The　two　clones；　poised　like　museum　statuary　on　either　side　of　his　rack　of　Boards；　regarded　him　with　bemused　expressions。

Their　sister　in　the　triumvirate；　had　died　on　Earth；　Musica's　mystical　rapport　with　the　Cosmic　Harp…an　instrument　whose　melodies　had　once　given　shape　and　effect　to　the　telepathic　power　of　the　Robotech　Masters…had　died　too。　But　Musica's　voice　was　more　alive　than　ever；　as　was　Allegra's；　and　together　their　harmonies　came　close　to　recalling　for　Bowie　the　magic　of　his　first　taste　of　that　ethereal　sound。

He　had　been　a　keyboard　artist　then；　masquerading　as　a　tanker；　just　another　artist　caught　up　in　the　war。　But　he　had　been　lucky　enough　to　emerge　from　it　with　his　creative　impulses　intact；　and　love　to　boot。　Love　for　Musica：　his　pale　and　slender　green…haired　muse；　his　vocal　acpaniment；　his　very　life。　Even　limboed　in　newspace；　they　had　each　other；　the　separate　world　created　and　sustained　by　their　music。

For　years　Bowie　had　tried　with　synthesizers　and　samplers　to　play　the　part　of　their　missing　third。　But　a　rendering；　an　interpretation　was　the　best　that　had　been　achieved。　Oh；　the　harmonies　might　sound　pleasing　to　an　audience　of　untrained　ears；　but　for　those　lucky　enough　to　have　experienced　the　triumvirate　songs；　the　reconstructions　were　as　far　from　the　pure　as　Lang's　facsimile　matrix　was　from　Zor's　original　creation。

Missing　in　both　cases　was　some　immeasurable　emotional　ponent；　the　true　conjurer's　magical　touch。　Lang　lacked　it；　and　Rem　as　well。　And　Bowie；　for　all　the　love　that　went　into　his　work；　simply　could　not　push　the　positions　over　the　top。　In　the　end　what　the　trio　had　had　to　settle　for　was　virtuosity；　when　the　goal　had　been　transcendence。

What　they　lacked　was　a　voice：　powerful；　heartfelt；　sublime。　Minmei　was　possessed　of　the　gift；　and　countless　times　the　past　two　years　Bowie　had　wished　that　she　might　sing　again。　Now；　suddenly；　there　she　was　standing　in　the　music　room's　curved　hatchway。

〃You　really　want　to　listen？〃　Bowie　asked　as　the　hatch　hissed　closed。

Minmei　approached　the　keyboards　tentatively；　as　though　afraid　of　them　somehow。　〃Well；　more　than　listen；　really。〃　She　pressed　a　finger　down　on　a　black　key。　〃Is　it　true　you've　learned　to　play　some　of　Octavia's　vocal　parts？〃

Bowie　looked　up　at　her。　〃Yeah；　I　have。　Sort　of。　I　mean；　I　sampled　her　voice　before　she　。。。　died。〃　He　gestured　to　one　of　the　keyboards。　〃Electronics　do　most　of　the　real　work。　But　we　can't　get　the　harmonics　Octavia's　voice　used　to　create。〃　Minmei　paused　to　consider　that；　then　smiled　lightly　at　the　sister　clones。　〃Do　the　three　of　you　ever　。。。　well；　do　you　ever　sing　any　of　the　ancient　Tiresian　psalms？〃

〃The　Clonemasters'　songs？〃　Musica　asked。

Minmei　bit　her　lower　lip　and　shook　her　head。　〃No。　I　was　thinking　of　the　psalms　from　the　early　days；　before　the　Great　Transition。〃

Allegra　looked　surprised。　〃You　know　something　of　our　ancient　culture；　Minmei？〃

〃Some；〃　she　confessed。　〃I　read　quite　a　bit　when　I　was　in　Tiresia。〃　In　the　hospital；　she　left　unsaid。　〃And　of　course　Rem　talks　about　those　times。〃

The　sister　clones　eyed　one　another。

〃So；　you'd　like　us　to　sing　one　of　the　old　psalms？〃　Bowie　said　uncertainly　into　the　silence。

Minmei　fingered　a　minor　chord。　〃Actually；　Bowie；　I　was　wondering　if　you　could　teach　me　some　of　Octavia's　parts。〃


Lisa　hurried　through　the　ship's　corridors；　returning　salutes　when　she　was　forced　to　but　primarily　attempting　to　avoid　everyone's　gaze。　Not　that　she　heard　so　much　as　a　giggle　from　the　crew；　but　she　knew　what　they　were　all　thinking。

She　huffed　to　herself　as　she　exited　the　lift　on　the　med　deck。　One　did　not　have　to　be　a　telepath　to　read　the　expressions　of　concealed　amusement；　to　take　note　of　the　near　smiles。

She　came　through　the　hatch　to　the　nursery's　observation　room　with　fire　in　her　eyes；　the　anger　palpable　enough　to　be　seen　clear　across　the　room　by　the　on…duty　pediatric　nurse　and　child…care　staff。

〃Sir？〃　the　nurse　asked　cautiously　after　springing　to　attention。

Lisa　threw　everyone　a　cold；　appraising　look。　〃Which　one　of　you　made　the　PA　announcement？〃

A　small　hand　went　up；　and　a　corporal　stepped　sideways　into　view　from　the　rear　of　the　group。　〃I　did；　sir？〃　the　young　staffer　said　in　a　tone　that　modulated　to　falsetto。

Lisa　coughed　into　her　hand；　suppressing　a　smile。　〃Now　hear　this；　mister。　When　my　presence　is　required　or　requested；　can　send　a　courier　or　you　can　key　into　my　mand　channel。　But　I　don't　ever…repeat：　ever…want　to　hear　a　call　that　over　the　PA　again。　Is　that　understood？〃

Yes；　sir；〃　the　corporal　returned　crisply。

〃‘Admiral　wanted　in　the　nursery'〃　Lisa　muttered　to　herself。　〃Remember；　all　of　you；　we　have　to　at　least　pretend　that　I'm　running　this　ship。　That　I'm　not　just　some　working　mom　fitting　a　job　around　child　rearing。〃

〃Sir！〃　said　several　voices　in　unison。

Lisa　adopted　a　theatrically　firm　expression。　〃Good。　NOW　what's　all　this　about？〃

〃The　children；　Admiral；〃　the　nurse　said；　indicating　the　nursery's　one…way　observation　window。

Lisa　stepped　over　to　have　a　look；　a　puzzled　frown　contorting　her　features。　Roy　and　a　couple　of　human　toddlers；　along　with　Drannin　and　the　rest　of　the　Zentraedi　children；　were　assembled　in　what　was　called　the　'creative　crafts　area；'　where　a　sphere　a　good　fifteen　feet　around　had　been　fashioned　out　of　extruded　plastifoam。　Lisa　could　see　that　some　sort　of　hinges　were　inset　along　the　equator　of　the　sphere。

〃They　didn't　do　all　that　by　themselves；　did　they？〃　she　asked　in　alarm。

The　corporal　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sir。　They　asked　for　our　help　with　the　。。。　globe　or　whatever　it　is。　But　they　told　us　exactly　what　they　wanted。〃

〃I　take　it　it　opens　somehow。〃

The　head　nurse　chuckled。　〃It　does　indeed；　Admiral。〃　Lisa　regarded　the　two　of　them。

〃What's　inside？〃

〃The　most　amazing　thing；〃　the　nurse　said；　enunciating　each　word。　〃They've　been　working　on　it　all　day　long；　every　one　pitching　in。　The　Zentraedi　doing　the　heavy　work；　Roy　directing　the　other　kids　in　the　fine　work。　But　with　barely　word　exchanged　among　them。　It's　like　they　knew　from　the　start　what　they　were　after。〃

Lisa　felt　a　chill　run　through　her。　〃And　what　is　it？〃

The　nurse　looked　to　the　corporal；　who　drew　a　breath　〃Their　own　version　of　a　puzzle　block　or　a　transformable　toy。　Made　entirely　out　of　what　they　could　salvage　from　other　toys　except　for　a　few　items　they　asked　us　to　procure：　springs　cams；　lubricants；　that　sort　of　thing。〃

〃Lubricants？！　You　should　be　in　there　supervising　them。〃

〃We　tried　that；　Admiral；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃But　they　stop　playing　whenever　anyone　enters　the　nursery。　Frankly；　sir；　find　it　a　little；　well；　unnerving。　That's　why　I　asked　you　down。〃

Lisa　folded　her　arms；　considering。　〃I　think　it's　time　we　found　out　just　what　they're　up　to。〃　She　spun　on　her　heel　and　stepped　to　the　nursery　door。　〃I'm　going　inside；〃　she　told　the　staff；　one　hand　already　on　the　knob。


In　a　silent　and　deserted　corridor　on　the　recreation　deck；　Rem　pressed　an　ear　against　the　hatch　to　Bowie's　music　room。　He　had　promised　Minmei　he　would　wait　until　conditions　were　right　before　attempting　to　reachieve　the　altered　state　of　mind　that　had　gripped　him　when　the　lights　had　penetrated　the　fortress；　but　walking　past　the　music　room　had　proved　too　great　a　temptation。

Rem　understood　that　the　nucleic　memories　awakened　by　those　probing　lights　were　not　his　own　but　Zor's…Zor's　to　a　degree　he　had　never　experienced。　Not　at　the　insistence　of　the　Regent　and　Haydon　IV's　mind…bending　devices；　not　with　Cabell's　guidance；　not　under　the　influence　of　dried　Flowers　from　Optera's　regrown　gardens。　The　lights…and　whatever　intellect　animated　them…had　acplished　something　perilously　wonderful　by　unveiling　the　sensate　content　of　his　progenitor's　experiences。　And　though　the　lights　had　vanished；　perhaps　never　to　reappear；　they　had　left　an　open　frequency　to　his　other　self。

He　ventured　that　he　needed　only　attune　himself　to　that　unamon　freq　and　the　flood　of　psychoid　stuff　would　remence。　And　with　it；　answers　to　just　where　the　fortress　was　and　for　what　purpose　it　had　been　brought　there。

Reluctantly；　Minmei　had　agreed　to　assist　him。　The　clones'　songs　will　provide　the　prompt　I　require；　he　had　told　her。　But　how　much　greater　the　effect　if　the　triumvirate's　harmonies　could　be　reinstated！　For　Minmei　it　would　mean　ing　out　of　voluntary　retirement；　facing　fear；　relocating　the　voice　that　had　worked　miracles。

And　Rem　could　hear　that　voice　now；　muted　by　distance　and　inch…thick　alloy。　Bowie's　synthesizer　was　teaching　her　a　vocal　line；　a　measured；　seemingly　impossible　leap　of　octaves。　Minmei　sang　and　Rem　grinned：　Yes；　yes！

〃All　right；〃　Bowie　said。　〃Let's　see　what　happens。〃　The　three　singers　joined　voices。

And　a　spike　of　pure　light　pierced　Rem's　mind。


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

I　must　admit　that　even　I　am　somewhat　stunned　by　the　sudden　reappearance　of　this　forting　darkness　and　these　distant　stars；　because　I　cannot　help　but　recall　what　I　said　to　Hunter　that　day　in　engineering：　What　would　you　have　me　do…fashion　you　a　galaxy？　Words　to　that　effect；　at　any　rate。　Hunter；　as　usual；　didn't　know　how　to　take　the　remark。　But　could　it　be　that　I　have　actually　succeeded　in　doing　just　that？　Has　the　Protoculture　finally　endowed　me　with　the　ability　to　Shape；　as　Zand　always　maintained　it　would？　And　what；　then；　bees　my　next　move？　Do　I　impost　my　will　on　the　laws　of　this　domain　or　simply　think　into　being　a　world　for　us　to　orbit？
Dr。　Emil　Lang；　The　New　Testament

Scanners　indicate　a　profusion　of　life…forms；　m'lord；　Vard　had　told　him。　Perhaps　this　one　will　prove　out　treasure　trove；　eh？

Zor　could　not　recall　his　reply　now…a　glance；　a　glower；　some　nonmittal　sound。　It　was　true　that　treasures　were　sometimes　found　or　discovered；　but　most　often　they　were　the　end　result　of　greed；　plunder；　willful　extraction　。　。　。　〃Which　is　it　that　you　hold　in　store　for　us？〃　he　asked　an　arc　of　reflected　light　outside　the　viewport。　〃A　discovery　that　will　reward　us　with　wealth　and　fame；　the　accolades　of　our　distant　fathers？　Or　a　world　that　will　bring　out　the　worst　in　us；　a　world　for　the　taking？〃

The　planet　was　the　fifth　of　this　star　the　charts　called　Tzuptum；　a　lush　wanderer　with　a　single　oblate　moon　to　light　its　night　skies。　Zor　had　a　preference　for　such　celestial　partnerships　and　shivered　thinking　of　Tirol's　long　night；　Fantoma's　oppressive　proximity。　It　was　not　fitting　for　sentient　creatures　to　be　so　overruled；　rotated　in　the　shadow　of　something　monstrously　huge。　Thought　and　contemplation　required　a　more　subtle　interplay　of　forces：　of　winds　and　tides　and　natural　rhythms。　In　the　absence　of　that　grew　an　urge　to　dominate；　to　absorb　the　power　of　that　larger　other；　to　extend　influence