18_the_end_of_the_circle-第24部分

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s　curve；　and　the　Haydonites　took　up　a　single　piercing；　tentative　note；　a　mental　moan　of　ecstasy　and　holy　dread。

The　light　grew　brighter；　and　the　note　louder。　Then　all　at　once　brilliance　leapt　forth　from　the　maw　of　the　great　conduit；　and　the　Haydonites'　note　became　a　full…throated　telepathic　cry。　It　was　well　that　the　Elders　were　connected　and　cathetered；　they　lost　control　of　their　bodily　functions。

The　light　and　sound　grew　until　the　planet　shook。　The　winds　tore　across　the　Robotech　plain；　yet　the　Haydonites'　carpets　somehow　held　position。

And；　deep　in　the　soul　of　the　light；　something　moved。

It　came　toward　them　slowly；　unhurriedly…regally。　Nimuul；　Hepsis；　and　Fallagar；　held　fast；　eyes　threatening　to　start　from　their　heads；　watched　spellbound。

The　Haydonites'　chorus　swelled　as　if　it　would　fill　the　universe　as　Haydon　emerged　from　a　sleep　of　eons。


〃You　can't　be　serious；〃　Exedore　said；　though　he　had　known　Cabell　long　enough　to　be　aware　that　no　other　possibility　existed。

〃See　for　yourself；〃　the　sage　challenged；　presenting　the　data　caps　with　a　flourish。　〃I've　included　the　mathematics。〃　Ever　since　the　two　had　returned　to　Tiresia；　they　had　been　busy　around　the　clock；　analyzing　and　collating　their　observations　from　events　at　Ranaath's　Star。　Now　Exedore　fed　the　caps　into　a　projector；　it　took　only　a　cursory　scan　to　show　that　Cabell　was　right；　at　least　in　terms　of　the　implications。　The　sphere　ship's　plunge　into　the　black　hole　had　revealed　a　new　mathematical　world；　and　one　particular　subfunction　stood　out　glaringly。

I　don't　know　why　we　didn't　see　this　before；　Exedore　thought；　a　sure　sign　that　the　function　he　was　looking　at　was　valid。

Exedore　looked　back　to　Cabell　but　pointed　to　the　equation　in　question。　〃This　implies　。。。　Anti…Protoculture！〃

Cabell　was　nodding　almost　tiredly。　〃You're　correct；　dear　fellow；　we　should　have　realized　it　long　ago。　It's　almost　as　if　wed　been　blinded　to　this　side　of　the　mathematics。〃

Of　course　it　was　old　hat；　scientifically；　that　each　particle　had　its　mirror　image…an　antiparticle　carrying　an　opposite　electrical　charge…and　that　pairs　would　annihilate　each　other　in　a　supreme　release　of　energy　whenever　they　encountered　each　other。　But　no　one　had　ever　supposed　the　yin/yang　symmetry　extended　to　this：　a　shadowy　counterpart　force　to　Protoculture　itself；　one　whose　first　glimmerings　implied　apocalyptic　mutual　destruction　should　the　two　ever　be　brought　together。

Exedore　drew　a　breath　and　grabbed　a　calculator。　〃I　suppose　we　had　better　get　to　it；　my　friend。　There　is　much　to　learn　ago　not　very　long　to　do　it。〃

Cabell　was　still　nodding。　〃We　must　penetrate　this　frightening　new　secret　before　anyone　else　does。〃


CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE

I　figured　maybe　the　SDFs　needed　some　new　kind　of　unit　patch　say；　a　spacefold　drive　with　a　red　diagonal　through　it。
Jack　Baker；　Upwardly　Mobile

Once；　darting　down　into　a　danger　zone　in　her　powered　armor　like　a　giant　Robotech　hornet；　Kazianna　Hesh　would　have　felt　the　urge　to　howl　a　Zentraedi　battle　cry。　Foeman；　prepare　to　die！　The　Quadronos　e！

But　not　here；　not　today…if　〃today〃　meant　anything　in　what　the　humans　were　calling　newspace。　She　wasn't　free　to　throw　her　life　away　in　splendid　battle　anymore；　had　obligations　and　priorities　above　even　military　glory…a　child　to　protect。

Thus；　she　was　a　hundred　times　more　dangerous　than　the　Kazianna　of　old。

With　the　fifteen　Zentraedi　mecha　behind　her；　there　was　an　even　division　of　eight　powered　armor　suits　and　eight　Battlepods。　Eight　males；　eight　females；　even　Exedore　could　not　say　why　the　suit…configuration　mecha　responded　so　much　better　to　women；　the　pods　to　men。　It　was　simply　so。　They　descended　in　frontal…assault　formation　to　the　planet　that　had　appeared　from　nowhere。

The　humans　and　some　of　the　others　might　rhapsodize　over　the　place　and　its　forests　and　seas；　but　it　was　just　another　alien　world　to　her；　with　none　of　the　perilous　grandeur　of　Fantoma　or　the　austere　dignity　of　Tirol。　Perhaps　there　was　something　in　newspace　that　liked　the　giants　less　than　it　did　the　rest。

If　so；　let　that　something　beware；　its　foe　was　Kazianna　Hesh；　mate　of　mighty　Breetai　and　mother　of　his　son。

The　Zentraedi　squadron　homed　in　on　Rick　Hunter's　beacon；　and　Kazianna　established　contact　over　his　tactical　freq。　At　his　direction；　the　giants　dropped　in　for　a　landing　on　and　around　the　high　ground　where　the　first　party's　Battloids　had　posted　a　guard。

Groundside；　Kazianna　and　her　spitfires　remained　sealed　in　their　suits；　but　the　pods　opened　to　permit　debarkation　of　the　Sentinels'　personnel：　Baldan；　Kami　and　Learna；　Lron　and　Crysta；　and　several　of　the　Praxian　Amazons。　None　of　them　seemed　any　the　worse　for　the　ride。

Kazianna　had　taken　a　shine　to　the　warrior　women；　had　hound　a　spiritual　kinship　with　them；　as　soon　as　she　met　them。　Indeed；　the　former　Quadronos　and　the　Praxians　had　done　a　trtde　radely　drinking　in　SDF…3's　split…level　rec　club。

Now；　though；　the　Praxians　were　distraught；　almost　unsoldierly。　Kazianna　supposed　it　was　understandable　what　with　Gnea；　their　leader　and　one　of　the　great　heroines　of　the　war；　missing。　When　one　was　spoiling　for　a　fight；　it　always　made　discipline　secondary。　No　doubt　they　would　settle　down　as　soon　as　blood　began　to　flow。

Now　the　only　problem　was　to　find　someone　to　fight。　Down　below；　at　the　level　of　Kazianna's　lower　shins；　Rick　Hunter　was　finding　out　just　how　determined　the　Praxian　furies　could　get。

〃As　you　were！〃　He　bellowed　it　with　veins　standing　out　in　his　temple　and　neck；　it　finally　shut　them　up。　〃I　didn't　bring　you　down　here　so　you　could　go　charging　off　in　all　directions　and　end　up　missing；　too！　You're　here　to　observe　and　advise；　so　anybody　who　can't　follow　orders　is　going　back　upstairs　in　a　pod！〃

That　quieted　them。　Brudda；　their　section　leader；　drew　a　deep　breath　and　saluted。　〃Understood；　sir。　We　place　ourselves　at　your　mand。〃

Rick　forced　himself　to　calm　down；　too。　〃Thank　you。　Lron；　Baldin；　over　here；　please。〃　There　was　no　point　going　over　the　whole　business　twice。　〃Kazianna；　let　me　know　if　you　can't　hear　me。〃

Zentraedi　and　Sentinels　gathered　before　him；　Jack；　Karen；　and　the　rest　of　the　remaining　recon　party　formed　a　semicircle　behind。　The　mecha；　weapons　ready；　took　up　a　circle　around　the　group；　keeping　watch　in　all　directions。

〃You　know　the　main　facts。〃　Rick　pointed　out　the　route　his　recon　party　had　followed。　〃We　were　advancing　through　a　densely　wooded　area　about　a　mile　and　one…half　along　that　valley；　with　Sergeant　Dante　on　point。　Gnea　moved　up　to　walk　the　slack　position；　some　six　yards　or　so　behind　him。

〃As　we　entered　an　open　grassy　area；　both　the　sergeant　and　Gnea　were　enveloped　by　what　appeared　to　be　a　somewhat　different　version　of　the　luminous　phenomena　that…〃

Jeez。　Been　talking　bureaucratese　in　the　TIC　too　long；　Rick！　He　started　in　again。　〃From　what　we　could　see；　this　hail璼torm　of　light　swirled　down　on　them；　and　we　lost　them　from　sight。　At　the　same　time；　sensors　picked　up　an　enormous　life　reading；　but　there　were　no　large　organisms　in　sight。

〃The　light　was　gone　in　a　couple　of　seconds；　and　so　were　Angie　and　Gnea。　We　searched　the　area…no　trapdoors；　camouflaged　openings；　or　other　clues。　We　even　blew　open　the　ground　and　lasered　down　nearby　trees；　they　were　solid。

〃I'm　splitting　you　into　search　units。　Battlepods　and　Quadronos　will　deploy　on　the　ground；　Battloids　will　fly　recon　and　cover。　I'm　hoping　the　Garudans'　extended　senses；　the　Karbarrans'　hunting　and　tracking　skills；　or　the　Praxians'　scouting　procedures　turn　up　something　we　missed。〃

He　looked　to　Baldan。　〃And　I　was　thinking…maybe　if　there's　some　equivalent　of　the　Crystal　Highways　here　。　。　。〃　Baldan　nodded　his　gleaming　head。　〃I'll　do　what　I　can　do；　Admiral。〃

Rick　began　calling　off　assignments。　The　mixed　contingents　sorted　themselves　out　to　move　back　into　the　target　zone。　


〃Aw；　sca…rew！〃

Angelo　Dante　knelt　with　the　stock　of　his　rifle　pressed　to　his　cheek；　swinging　the　muzzle　this　way　and　that　in　the　milkwhite　mist。　Not　that　there　were　any　targets　around；　it　was　just　something　to　do　while　he　tried　to　sort　things　out。　〃Not　again；〃　he　grated。

Like　most　of　the　younger　Amazons；　Gnea　had　developed　a　preference　for　modern；　high…firepower　weapons　over　the　traditional　arms　of　her　Sisterhood。　Now；　though；　for　reasons　she　could　not　quite　pin　down；　she　reslung　her　submachine　gun　and　took　her　halberd　in　hand；　giving　it　a　preparatory　spin；　the　long　curved　blade　leaving　a　silver　trail　in　the　air。　〃You　mean　you've　encountered　this　phenomenon　before；　Sergeant？〃　Like　his；　her　voice　brought　no　echoes。　She　wondered　if　they　were　outdoors。

〃Naw。　It's　just…weird　stuff　like　this；　ma'am。　It　simply　ain't　military。〃

And　it　always　sounded　so　goddamn　lame　in　an　after…action　report。　Like　when　Angie　and　the　other　ATACs　went　through　all　that　crap　in　the　Masters'　spade…shaped　mother　ship。　Living　energy　nexuses　and　mindmusic　and　alien　horticulture。　Try　writing　those　up　without　having　some　G…staff　chairborne　mando　laughing　at　you！

It　was　all　too　involved　to　explain　to　some　dame　from　another　planet。

Gnea　pivoted；　spinning　her　polearm　to　hold　it　at　high　port；　and　kept　watch　in　the　opposite　direction。　〃What's　the　last　thing　you　remember？〃

〃Uh　。。。　We　were　moving　through　that　open　area；　and　I　felt　something　kinda　strange；　like　the　way　electricity　makes　your　hair　stand　up；　only　it　was　inside　my　head。　So；　that…〃

He　hated　to　hurt　a　woman's　feelings；　but…　〃So　I　gave　you　the　signal　to　pull　back；　only　you　didn't　do　it。〃　He　was　making　a　circular　motion　with　one　hand。

She　took　a　quick　glance　at　it　over　her　shoulder。　〃Oh；　yes；　your　UEG　field　signal。　It　took　me　a　moment　to　remember　what　it　meant；　in　our　army　that's　the　gesture　for　close　intervals。〃

It's　what　you　get　mixing　different　services　together；　he　thought　sourly；　but　kept　it　to　himself。　〃So　whatever　that　tinsael　blizzard　was；　it　got　you；　too。〃　He　began　trying　to　raise　somebody　on　the　tactical　freq。

Gnea　sensed　nothing　nearby；　visibility　looked　like　it　might　be　several　dozen　yards；　but　it　was　impossible　to　make　an　accurate　estimate；　lacking　any　point　of　reference。　She　set　the　spiked　butt　of　her　halberd　on　the；　floor　by　her　feet　（at　least；　she　assumed　it　was　a　floor；　it　was　glossy　and　smooth；　like　a　single　white　tile）。

〃Sergeant；　I　think　it　would've　gotten　us　no　matter　what。　And　I　don't　think　something's　gone　to　all　this　trouble　just　to　harm　us。〃

Well；　she　was　a　cool　one；　he　had　to　give　her　that。　All　frequencies　were　silent；　and　so　Angelo　came　to　his　feet；　rifle　leveled　at　waist　height；　covering　his　field　of　fire。　〃Maybe　not。　Even　though　some　aliens　I've　known　like　to　collect　specimens。〃

He　slipped　a　pencil　flare　out　of　his　belt　pouch；　struck　it　alight；　and　dropped　it　to　the　ground。　〃What　we'll　do　is　work　out　as　far　as　we　can；　keepin'　the　flare　in　sight；　and　run　a　circular　search　pattern。〃

She　frowned。　〃You　mean　split　up？〃

〃Hell　no！　What　d'　ya　think　this　is；　a　slasher　movie？〃

〃Excellent。〃　She　whipped　the　halberd　around　again；　bringing　it　en　garde。　Angie　thought；　If　this　is　a　movie；　at　least　the　slasher's　on　my　side。

〃Only；〃　Gnea　went　on；　wetting　a　forefinger　and　holding　it　up；　〃I　seem　to　feel　an　air　current　ing　from　that　direction。　Shall　we　start　there？〃

〃Good　as　any　other。〃

They　both　moved　to　take　the　point　at　the　same　moment；　then　looked　at　each　other。　There　was　no　telling　who　out　ranked　whom。　Gnea　topped　Angelo　by　half　a　head　and　more；　from　her　looks　and　reputation　and　what　he　had　seen　of　the　Praxians　already；　he　was　prepared　to　believe　she　could　handle　herself。　But　still；　she　was　carrying　that　frog　dissector　while　he　had　a　rifle　with　its　selector　switch　flicked　over　to　continuous　fire。　〃Look；　if　y'　don't　mind？〃

Gnea　nodded　with　reserved　grace。　〃By　all　means。〃　She　knew　that　some　human　males　still　harbored　strange　attitudes　about　females。　But　at　least　this　one　was　quick　to　react；　willing　to　shoulder　a　dangerous　job。　Perhaps　he　was　even　as　petent　as　he　seemed　to　think。

Angelo　found　himself　staring　into　those　inhuman　eyes　of　hers；　eyes　that　belonged　in　a　bird　of　prey。　He　forced　himself　to　look　away　from　them。　The　two　moved　out　with　Gnea　watching　behind；　going　in　a　sort　of　sideways　crab　step。　Their　footfalls　sounded　lonely　and　small。　In　thirty　paces　（fewer　for　Gnea）　the　flare　was　getting　dim　behind　them；　but　the　current　of　air　was　stronger。　〃How　long　will　it　burn？〃　she　asked。

〃Fifteen　minutes；　anyway。　Let's　keep　goin'。〃

〃Yes；　but　drop　another　flare。〃

He　did；　not　that　there　was　much　to　go　back　to。　Another　thirty　paces　and　the　air　had　a　distinct　cold　tinge　to　it。

〃An　exit；　maybe；〃　Angelo　muttered；　striking　a　third　flare。　Before　he　had　to　reach　for　a　fourth；　something　loomed　up　in　the　mist　before　them。　With　scale　so　tough　to　judge；　he　thought　at　first　that　it　was　a　city　or　at　least　a　building。

They　drew　close　enough　to　make　out　details。　When　they　finally　had　a　clear　look　at　it；　they　stopped　in　their　tracks。　Angie's　jaw　was　hanging　open。　〃Well；　tug　my　gearshift　and　call　me　Five…Speed。〃

Gnea　shouldered　her　halberd：　〃I　think　you　might　as　well　got　your　weapon　up；　Sergeant。　Whatever　did　this；　I　doubt　a　leer　means　much　to　it；　and　we　definitely　don't　want　to　offend　it。〃

Angelo　had　never　been　very　enthusiastic　about　taking　orders　from　women　except　when　they　made　overwhelming　sense。　Like　now。　He　slung　his　piece；　and　they　continued　on；　walking　side　by　side。

〃Y'　know；　this　qualifies　as　theft　of　gov'ment　property；〃　it　occurred　to　him　to　observe。

Gnea　smiled　unexpectedly。　〃And　have　you　brought　proof　of　ownership？〃

That　one　gave　him　pause。　〃I　don't　think　they　put　serial　numbers　on　spacefold　drives。〃

The　Protoculture　drives…or　rather；　the　casing　that　held　them；　what　the　engineers　called　the　housing…bulked　before　them；　big　as　a　building。　Somehow；　out　in　the　open　likethat；　they　were　less　overpowering　than　in　the　SDF…3's　drive　section。　Nevertheless；　the　two　could　not　see　the　far　end　from　where　they　stood。

Of　course；　the　trillion…dollar　question　was　how　the　hell　the　drives　had　gotten　there…wherever　〃there〃　was…and　who　or　what　had　done　it。　Angelo　figured　the　answer　to　that　one　would　go　a　long　way　toward　explaining　what　had　happened　to　the　SDF…3　and　what　the　newspace　stuff　was　all　about。

〃They're　ours；　all　right；〃　Gnea　said。　〃You　see　that　multiphaser？　Doctor　Lang's　work。〃

Hot　for　the　first　time　since　they　had　gone　on…line；　the　fold　drives　were　pletely　dark；　inert。　Like　so　many　other　Robotech　devices；　the　housing　had　had　all　Protoculture　drained　from　it。　Only　unlike　the　rest；　the　physical　structure　had　been　stolen；　too。

〃Maybe　there's　another　around　here　someplace；〃　Angelo　mused　as　he　and　Gnea　began　a　slow　tour　around　the　huge　drives　housing。　To　him　it　resembled　a　great　sealed　city　of　domes；　megablocks；　and　manifold　roadways。

〃Another　fold　drive　array？〃

He　clicked　his　tongue。　〃Yeah。　The　one　the　old　SDF…1　lost　back　in　'oh…nine；　near　Pluto。　Maybe　something　around　here　collects　'em。〃

They　pleted　a　cautious　circuit　of　the　fold　drives　housing　without　finding　anything　else。　Gnea　pointed　to　a　stairway　leading　to　the　service　catwalks。　〃We　might　be　able　to　see　something　from　up　there。〃

〃Worth　a　try。〃

They　made　their　way　to　the　little　mesa　that　was　the　top　of　the　primary　containment　casing。　But　there　was　nothing　to　see；　they　could　not　even　spot　the　flares。　Angelo　yelled　into　the　wintry　mist　through　cupped　hands；　and　Gnea　fired　three　space