18_the_end_of_the_circle-第18部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



Limbless；　amorphous；　asexual　creatures…vaguely　mushroom…shaped　when　Zor　first　saw　them…they　lived　munally　in　conical；　hivelike　structures　from　which　they　made　daily　forays　into　the　surrounding　countryside　for　the　purpose　of　hover…gathering　fruits　and　flowers　of　the　planet's　singular　plant　life。　After　several　days　of　observing　the　creatures　in　their　routines　and　rituals…all　of　which　centered　on　the　flowers　and　trees…Zor　came　to　understand　that　the　beings　made　use　of　the　plant　for　physical　as　well　as　spiritual　nutrition。　Seemingly　oblivious　to　the　presence　of　off…worlders；　they　ingested　the　flower　petals　and　fruits　of　the　mature　crop　and　often　sipped　the　sap　of　the　seedlings；　which　Zor　had　discovered　possessed　strong　psychoactive　ingredients。

Ultimately　he　had　approached　what　he　took　to　be　the　hive　leader　and　had　learned　that　the　creatures　were　capable　of　telepathic　munication。　He　realized；　too；　that　they　had　the　capacity　to　alter　their　physical　being　to　suit　their　circumstances。　While　Zor　and　the　hive　leader　had　conversed；　the　creature　had　actually　assumed　a　semblance　of　sexually　differentiated　humanoid　form。　It　was　that　one　who　had　identified　the　race　by　the　name　Invid　and　first　used　the　term　〃Flower　of　Life。〃　This　one　who　led　the　landing　party　to　the　overlook　and　told　Zor　about　the　Queen…Mother　they　called　Regis。

Zor！　Are　you　ing；　Zor？　Vard　had　shouted　once　more；　and；　reluctantly；　Zor　had　begun　to　follow　him　down　the　steep　slope；　along　a　path　strewn　with　velvety　Flower　of　Life　petals。

And　so　had　menced　a　marvelous　journey　of　two　Tzuptum　days　through　Flower…crowned　hills　and　bustling　hive　settlements　that　weled　them　with　silent　chant　and　delivered　them　finally　to　the　lair　of　the　Queen…Mother。　。　。

Zor　stood　gazing　at　her　now；　eyes　next　to　closing　from　the　soporific　warmth　of　the　hive's　central　chamber。　She　had　conjugated　herself　in　an　approximation　of　humanoid　female　form　in　his　honor。

In　his　honor。　The　phrase　she　had　sent　to　him。

〃We　have　anticipated　your　return　to　Optera　for　so　long；　Bringer　of　Life。　Forgive　me　if　I　am　not　yet　adept　at　fully　mimicking　your　present　form。〃

You　anticipated　our　ing？　Zor　had　asked　her；　confused。

〃The　memory　is　ancient　but　deep　within　me。　The　Flowers　were　your　gift　to　us。〃

Zor　realized　that　he　was　being　mistaken　for　someone　who　had　visited　Optera　in　the　dim　past　and　was　about　to　correct　the　Regis　when　a　sudden　paralysis　gripped　his　thoughts。　The　Flowers　of　this　world　contained　a　form　of　novel　bio…energy。　They　endowed　life…indeed；　nature　and　matter　itself…with　the　power　to　shift　and　reshape；　to　wrestle　from　the　gods　themselves　the　ability　to　control　the　course　of　evolution。

Then　consider；　Zor　found　himself　thinking；　what　the　result　might　be　if　the　plant's　bio…energy　could　be　harnessed　and　directed。

Would　the　power　to　light　a　thousand　worlds　seem　too　much　to　ask？　The　power　to　drive　a　thousand　ships　across　the　sweep　of　stars？　The　power　to　shape　and　reconfigure　the　very　continuum　itself？　The　extension　of　life　。。。

And　yet　the　secret　of　municating　with　the　Flower　and　harnessing　that　energy　lay　with　the　unknown　being　that　had　brought　it　to　Optera。　And　with　this　Invid　shape　changer　who　had　fallen　heir　to　the　Flower's　fortunes。

Zor　was　intrigued。　He　realized　that　the　Regis　was　the　key　unlocking　Optera's　mysteries；　and　in　an　instant　of　mad　inspiration　he　decided　to　set　himself　the　goal　of　possessing　that　key…if　he　had　to　seduce　this　queen　to　make　that　happen！　〃Yes；　your　highness；〃　Zor　said　to　her　at　last。　〃I　have　finally　returned。〃


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

I　knew　Lisa　was　serious　the　moment　she　stepped　out　of　the　vanity；　dressed…barely！…in　that　revealing　black　camisole　Karen　Penn　gave　her　for　her　thirty…ninth　birthday。　I　was　surprised；　even　though　I　shouldn't　have　been。　I　mean；　I　remembered　the　look　in　Lisa's　eye　when　she　saw　Kaziana　with　Drannin　that　first　time；　and；　after　all；　we　had　talked　over　the　idea　some。。。Well；　Lisa　must　have　caught　the　look　on　my　face　（that　night　on　the　Ark　Angel）；　because　she　laughed　and　started　to　accuse　me　of　backing　out。　But　I　told　her　no　way。　And；　well；　let's　just　say　I　put　my　whole　heart　into　what　naturally　followed。
The　Collected　Journals　of　Admiral　Rick　Hunter

There　was　a　girl　in　Rick's　past；　a　gamine；　honey　blond　California　free　spirit　named　Jessica　Fisher；　the　eldest　daughter　of　Alice　Fisher；　an　old　friend　of　Pop's。　Rick　had　met　her　shortly　after　Pop　had　taken　the　flying　circus　to　Sacramento　in　search　of　spectators　with　a　bit　of　extra　wartime　scrip　in　their　pockets。

Rick　had　just　turned　nine；　and　he　and　Jessica　were　introduced　to　one　another　as　cousins。　It　had　not　taken　long；　however；　to　understand　that　there　was　no　actual　blood　bond　between　them；　especially　after　Pop　and　Alice　had　decided　to　bring　their　own　romance　out　from　behind　closed　doors。　Rick；　in　fact；　had　been　there　when　things　had　gotten　started　between　his　aging　dad　and　the　independent　Alice；　the　night　the　four　of　them　had　gone　into　San　Francisco　and　〃the　Visitor…the　SDF…1…had　made　its　grand　appearance。　Of　course；　very　few　people　realized　they　had　seen　a　ship　in　the　skies　that　night；　and　Russo's　government　had　managed　to　keep　the　Macross　project　under　wraps　for　the　next　five　years。　But　Pop　and　Alice　seemed　to　have　been　touched　by　something　in　the　air；　because　their　relationship　had　changed　from　that　night　on。　Rick；　too；　had　been　transfigured　by　the　event。　Youthful　flying　ace　that　he　was　fast　being；　he　had　liked　to　think　the　sky　as　his　property…even　though　Neasian　and　other　military　pilots　might　have　argued　the　claim…and　suddenly　in　that　same　sky　he　had　glimpsed　a　power　that　surpassed　all。　The　impact　on　his　young　mind　was　as　devastating　as　it　was　exhilarating；　for　while　Pop　had　done　his　best　to　keep　his　only　child　sheltered　from　the　disputes　that　had　plagued　Earth　at　the　time；　〃the　Visitor〃　had　made　it　clear　there　would　be　no　hiding　from　war's　long　reach。

Jessica；　ironically；　had　guessed　the　truth　about　what　they　had　witnessed。　I'll　bet　it　was　an　alien　spaceship；　she　had　told　Rick。　And　it's　e　down　to　show　everybody　on　Earth　that　war　isn't　the　only　way　that　things　get　changed；　that　there're　all　kinds　of　powers　in　the　universe　we'll　never　understand　if　we　keep　thinking　war's　the　answer。

She　was　almost　three　years　older　than　Rick　and　a　lot　more　concerned　about　such　things。　And　after　Pop　decided　to　remain　in　California　instead　of　taking　the　circus　elsewhere；　Rick　would　often　sit　at　Jessica's　feet　for　hours；　listening　carefully　to　what　she　had　to　say　about　hatred　and　injustice　and　greed；　and　he　would　pay　close　attention　to　the　things　she　read　aloud　from　novels　and　texts　and　some　of　Alice's　books　on　philosophy　and　religion。　Outside　the　year　of　high　school　he　had　attended　in　Sonoma；　the　time　with　Jessica　came　as　close　to　a　standard　education　as　Rick　had　received；　by　the　time　he　had　turned　fourteen；　he　was　pletely　infatuated　with　her。

That　she　was　still　almost　three　years　older　than　he　made　things　extremely　plicated；　because　by　then　older　boys　had　begun　to　show　up　at　the　Sacramento　farmhouse；　guys　who　would　stop　by　to　visit　with　Jessica　and　fill　her　head　with　a　lot　of　talk　about　what　they　were　going　to　do　when　they　joined　the　war。

Rick　had　already　tried　on　countless　occasions　to　express　his　feelings…he　had　even　gone　as　far　as　writing　her　a　poem…but　the　words　just　couldn't　make　it　past　his　lips。　At　the　same　time　he　had　tried　unsuccessfully　to　corner　her　into　confessing　her　undying　love　for　him。　There　had　been　a　bit　of　hand　holding　and　quick　kisses　but　nothing　that　approximated　the　passion　Rick　had　decided　the　two　of　them　were　meant　share。　So；　invariably；　when　any　of　Jessie's　prospective　boyfriends　were　on　hand；　Rick　could　be　found　retreating　to　his　room；　where　he　would　sulk　for　an　hour　or　two　or　stare　at　all　the　trophies　and　medals　his　flying　skills　had　earned　him　and　wonder　why　they　were　not　doing　the　trick。　But　he　certain　was　not　about　to　sit　out　there　on　the　porch　and　spew　a　lot　of　nonsense　about　how　many　enemy　planes　he　planned　to　down　when　his　turn　came。　And　what　was　Jessie　doing　listening　all　the　lies　those　characters　were　feeding　her；　anyway？

The　truth；　as　it　would　unfold；　was　that　she　had　not　been　listening。　One　night　she　had　followed　Rick　back　to　his　room　to　tell　him　just　that；　and　damned　if　she　hadn't　been　aware　of　Rick's　feelings　all　along！　But　how　could　you　even　think　for　minute　I'd　be　impressed　by　all　that　war　talk？　she　had　asked　him。　I　don't　want　that　kind　of　hero　in　my　life；　Rick。　I　want　to　fall　in　love　with　someone　who　isn't　afraid　to　look　for　different　answers。　Someone　like　you。

Over　the　next　six　months　Jessica　had　led　him　slowly　in　the　joys　of　love　and　sexual　discovery；　but　by　the　time　winter　had　rolled　around　it　was　plain　they　were　not　meant　to　be　lovers；　that　it　was　more　important　that　their　friendship　survive　than　anything　else。　So　Jessie　had　moved　on　to　the　sensitive　hero　of　her　dreams；　and　Rick　had　thrown　himself　in　stunt　flying　with　renewed　fervor。　But　lord；　how　his　hormones　had　raged　for　those　six　too…brief　months！　Not　even　Minmei　or　Lisa　would　inflame　him　the　way　Jessie　had。

And　oddly　enough；　it　was　Jessie　he　was　thinking　about　now；　laser…cutting　a　path　through　the　verdant　foliage　of　a　new　world；　staring　at　Marie　Crystal's　shapely；　jumpsuited　deriere。

What　the　hell's　ing　over　me？　Rick　asked　himself；　tearing　his　eyes　away。　He　had　not　felt　quite　so　lustful　since　Sue　Graham　had　tried　to　seduce　him　one　afternoon　in　the　Ark　Angel's　situation　room。

Rick　stopped　short　on　the　narrow　trail；　only　to　have　Karen　Penn　bump　up　against　his　back。

〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　see　you　give　a　sign　to　halt。〃

〃I；　er；　that　is；〃　Rick　began。　〃Listen；　Captain；　why　don't　you　go　on　ahead　for　a　while。〃

〃Certainly；　sir；〃　she　said；　brushing　past　him；　face　to　face。　Cripes！　he　thought。　Two　women　to　leer　at　now。

Angelo　Dante　had　the　point；　the　rest　of　the　human　and　XT　scouting　party　spread　out　behind　in　a　trailing　wedge。　The　Alpha…Beta　VTs　were　Battloid…reconfigured　on　a　flat　spot　of　ground　where　they　had　left　them　only　moments　before。　The　land　was　an　undulating　temperate　zone　forest　of　analogue　firs；　raucous　with　the　calls　of　black　birds　that　confined　themselves　to　the　upper　reaches　of　the　canopy。　The　sun　was　intense　where　it　shone　through；　the　air　was　aromatic；　rich　with　the　smell　of　life。　Scans　initiated　from　the　SDF…3　had　indicated　the　presence　of　an　intense　bio…energy　nexus　in　the　region；　but　several　low…level　passes　had　revealed　little　to　add　to　what　had　already　been　gleaned　from　the　ship's　data　readouts；　and　so　Rick　had　ordered　the　Veritechs　down。

He　was　not　sure　just　what　had　made　him　think　of　Jessie　after　all　those　years。　It　was　true　that　the　argument　with　Lisa　had　touched　off　a　cascade　of　angry　thoughts；　but　no　sooner　had　he　lowered　the　VT's　canopy　in　the　launch　bay　than　they　had　been　cleared　from　his　mind。　And　Marie　Crystal's　butt　not　been　responsible；　either；　no　matter　how　pleasing　it　was。　Because　for　all　the　lust；　Rick　was　experiencing　waves　of　nostalgia　as　well。　A　yearning　for　simpler…alternative　presents。

He　felt　certain　that　something　in　the　air　had　brought　it　on；　or　perhaps　it　was　the　trees　themselves　and　the　memories　of　northern　California　redwoods　and　home　fires　that　their　piney　aroma　elicited。

Memories　of　Earth　before　the　wars。

Jack　Baker　appeared　from　the　underbrush　a　few　steps　behind　Rick…waved；　and　came　up　alongside。　Rick　not　only　saw　a　bit　of　himself　in　the　younger　man　but　noticed　the　same　wistful　in　Baker's　green　eyes。　He　tracked　Baker's　gaze　to　Karen's　backside。

〃What's　on　your　mind；　Captain？〃

Baker　was　red…faced　when　he　turned　around。　〃Begging　the　Admiral's　pardon；　sir。　I　guess　I　was　just　daydreaming。〃

〃Daydreaminng；　Baker？〃

〃Fantasizing；　actually；　sir。〃　He　made　a　circular　motion　with　his　hand。　〃It's　this　place；　Admiral。　It　reminds　me　so　much　of　where　I　was　brought　up。　North　Carolina；　sir？　before　Dolza；　I　mean。〃

〃You're　wondering　what　it　would　have　been　like　if　things　had　gone　differently　for　Earth。〃

Jack　looked　at　him　searchingly。　〃That's　it；　sir。　I　keep　thinking　this　planet's　trying　to　remind　us　of　what　we　lost。〃


In　a　dark　corner　of　the　galaxy　lost　to　the　SDF…3；　silhouetted　against　the　swirling；　malevolent　backdrop　of　Ranaath's　Star；　floated　the　first　nearly　pleted　products　of　Haydon's　IV's　mining　and　manufacturing　efforts：　ships璵assively　proportioned…with　featureless　spherical　hulls　attended　and　ministered　to　by　hundreds　of　labor　drones。

Inside　the　Ark　Angel；　Vince；　Cabell；　Penn；　and　the　Nichols　team　were　fortifying　themselves　with　strong　caffie　when　an　unexpected　transmission　was　received　from　Haydon　IV。

〃Veldt；　is　that　you？〃　Vince　asked　in　a　rush；　eyes　riveted　to　the　situation　room's　mo　screen。　They　had　spent　part　of　the　Sentinels　campaign　together；　but　Vince　had　not　seen　the　Haydonite　in　years。　Even　so；　save　for　the　color　of　his　forehead　sensor；　a　certain　warmth　to　his　sendings；　and　definite　swagger　to　his　glide；　Veidt　was　nearly　identical　to　countless　other　〃male〃　beings　on　Haydon　IV。

A　synthesized　voice　answered　for　Veidt。　〃Yes；　mander。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。〃

〃And　you；　too；〃　Vince　said。　〃I　only　wish　it　could　be　under　different　circumstances。〃

Beneath　the　static　of　the　signal；　Veidt's　expression　conveyed　a　wry　smile。　〃You　discern　my　very　thoughts。〃

For　hours　the　Ark　Angel　had　been　hailing　the　Awareness　without　response。　The　flagship　of　the　Karbarran　flotilla　had　been　attempting　the　same　and　had　finally　issued　the　reconfigured　artifact　world　with　an　ultimatum：　Release　all　Karbarran　prisoners　by　1200　standard　hours　or　suffer　the　consequences　of　a　full　assault。　Cabell　had　appealed　to　the　Karbarran　legation　to　rethink　their　position；　but　the　threat　stood　as　delivered。

〃You　know　about　the　ultimatum？〃　Vince　asked。

〃I　have　only　just　learned　about　it；　yes。　But　you　must　convince　the　Karbarrans　to　rescind。〃

Cabell　leaned　toward　the　camera。　〃You　leave　them　no　alternative；　Veidt。　〃

〃I　will　endeavor　to　explain；〃　the　Haydonite　said　after　a　moment。　〃Be　advised；　however；　that　Vowad　and　I　have　undertaken　munication　with　you　at　great　personal　risk。　Should　my　visage　abruptly　vanish　from　the　screen；　you　will　understand　why。〃

〃Then　save　your　thoughts；〃　Vince　said。　〃We　think　we've　got　a　fair　idea　of　what's　been　going　on。〃　Quickly；　he　summarized　the　scenario　Louie　and　Cabell　had　arrived　at。　Veidt　listened　in　silence。　〃We　just　need　to　learn　where　these　ships　you're　manufacturing　are　headed；〃　Vince　concluded。　〃You　have　our　word　we　won't　interfere　with　the　Awareness　in　any　way。　We　only　want　permission　to　tag　along；　if　that's　possible。　Veidt　shook　his　head。　〃That　is　quite　impossible；　mander。　Your　ship　is　inadequate　for　such　a　journey。〃

Vince　glowered　at　the　screen。　〃Try　to　understand　our　side　of　it；　Veidt。　This　may　be　our　only　shot　at　locating　the　SDF…3。　Think　about　Rick　and　Lisa　and　the　crew。　They're　our　friends；　Veidt；　and　they're　in　trouble。〃

Veidt's　features　betrayed　little。　〃I　might　also　ask　that　you　appraise　things　from　our　vantage；　mander。　To　prehend　after　thousands　of　years　that　your　sole　purpose　had　been　to　function　as　caretakers　for　a　race　who；　if　they　did　not　create　you；　then　surely　redirected　you　from　your　evolutionary　process。〃　The　Haydonite　paused。　〃And　now；　even　in　the　face　of　this　realization；　to　be　helpless。〃

Vince　turned　away　from　the　camera　to　glance　at　Cabell