18_the_end_of_the_circle-第5部分

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Rook　appraised　him　silently。　〃Talk　about　mending　fences　。。。　That　oughta　be　some　reunion；　partner。　You　plan　on　selling　tickets；　or　what？〃

Scott　worked　his　jaw。　〃Have　you　heard　from　her；　Rook？〃　Rook　goosed　the　throttle；　and　the　bike　sent　up　a　cloud　of　white　smoke。　〃Think　you　better　talk　to　Rand；　soldier　boy。　I　don't　want　to　get　in　the　middle　of　this　one。〃


Scott　recognized　examples　of　Rand's　handiwork　in　the　dilapidated　wooden　cabin　he　and　Rook　called　home。　It　was　not　much　to　look　at　on　the　outside；　but　the　two　main　rooms　were　fortable　if　Spartan　and　reflected　Rand's　utilitarian　nature。　Scott　also　recognized　the　small　notebooks　stacked　atop　the　writing　desk；　the　ones　Rand　had　guarded　with　his　life　during　the　journey　to　Reflex　Point。

〃Here　you　go；〃　Rand　said；　handing　over　a　tall　mug　of　home…brewed　beer　and　pulling　a　stool　opposite　Scott's　chair。　〃I　bottled　it　when　we　first　moved　in。〃

Rand　had　already　explained　how　Rook　had　enticed　an　REF　Alpha　pilot　to　fly　them　down　to　Norristown　after　Scott　had　taken　off　for　the　skies。

〃What's　weird　is　that　I　was　just　thinking　about　you；〃　Rand　resumed。　〃I　was　reading　in　my　notes　about　the　day　you　and　I　met。　The　time　I　saved　your　ass　from　three　blues。〃

Scott　almost　spewed　his　beer　across　the　room。　〃You　saved　my…〃　He　wiped　his　mouth　on　his　sleeve；　deciding　it　didn't　merit　an　argument。　〃Right；　I　remember　now。〃

〃Yeah；　those　were　the　days；〃　Rand　mused；　shaking　his　shaggy　mop　of　red　hair。　〃Foraging；　surviving　on　the　road　。　。　。〃　He　looked　up　at　Scott。　〃I'm　going　to　call　the　book　Notes　on　the　Run。〃

〃Your　baby；　is　that　it？〃

Rand's　thick　eyebrows　bobbed。　〃So　Rook　told　you。　She　also　give　you　that　intuition　crap　about　her　being　sure　it's　a　girl？〃

〃Maria；　I　think　she　said。〃

〃Yeah；　well；　don't　put　scrip　on　it。〃　Rand　sipped　his　grog。　〃Either　way　it　goes；　though；　I'm　going　to　make　sure　the　kid　is　raised　to　appreciate　books　and　movies　and　learning　in　general。〃　He　gestured　to　the　writing　desk。　〃Maybe　she'll　even　end　up　a　writer　like　her　old　man。〃

〃You　said　‘she；'　Rand；〃　Scott　pointed　out。

They　both　laughed；　but　it　was　not　long　before　an　unfortable　pause　crept　into　their　conversation。　When　Scott　mentioned　Marlene；　Rand's　smile　collapsed　entirely。

〃What　do　want　from　her；　Scott？〃　Rand　asked。

〃I　just　need　to　talk　to　her。　That's　all　I　can　tell　you　right　now。　〃

〃And　I　don't　suppose　you　can　tell　me　anything　about　why　most　of　the　Cyclones　have　stopped　working　either。　Lot　of　unemployed　'Culture　hounds　wandering　around　out　there　all　of　a　sudden；　amigo。〃

〃Sorry；　Rand；〃　Scott　told　him。　〃We're　all　in　the　same　dark。〃

Rand　smirked。　〃Same　ol'　soldier。　What　is　it…your　REF　people　want　to　debrief　her？〃

Scott　shot　to　his　feet。　〃Hey；　you　think　this　is　easy　for　me？　You　think　I　want　it？　I　look　at　her　and　I　see　the　Marlene　I　loved。　I　look　at　her　and　I　think　about　what　the　Invid　did　to　us。〃

Rand　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Oh；　for　chrissakes。〃

〃The　Regis　planned　to　exterminate　us；　Rand；〃　Scott　snarled。　〃You　don't　remember　that？　The　Flowers　had　hit　their　goddamned　trigger　point。　If　the　fleet　hadn't　returned；　we'd　all　be　dead。〃

Rand　stood　up。　〃Yeah；　and　if　the　Regis　hadn't　decided　to　leave　when　she　did；　your　precious　fleet…〃　He　pointed　toward　the　ceiling。　〃…your　precious　fleet　would　have　irradiated　the　lot　of　us！〃

〃You'd　rather　let　the　Invid　have　this　planet？〃

〃I'd　rather　none　of　this　happened；　Scott。　But　I　don't　see　how　dragging　Marlene　back　into　it's　going　to　serve　any　purpose　now。　She's　living　a　normal　life；　Scott。　Let　her　be。〃

〃Where　is　she；　Rand？〃　Scott　pressed。　〃It's　possible　she　knows　where　my　friends　are。〃

Rand　regarded　him。　〃The　SDF…3？　How　do　you　figure？〃

Scott　forced　out　his　breath。　〃The　ship　didn't　emerge　from　hyperspace。　Relatively　speaking；　it　vanished　at　the　same　moment　the　Invid　left　Earth。〃

〃So　you　figure　what？〃

〃That　they　may　have　ended　up　in　the　same　place。〃　Scott　held　Rand's　gaze。　〃It's　possible　Marlene　is　still　in　rapport　with　the　Regis。　That's　why　I　need　to　talk　to　her；　Rand。〃

The　smaller　man　shook　his　head。　〃You're　putting　me　between　the　proverbial　rock　and　the　hard　place；　mano。〃

〃Just　tell　me　where　she　is；　Rand。〃

Rand　took　a　long　pull　from　his　mug。　〃She's　with　Lunk　and　Annie。　They're　in　Roca　Negra。〃

Scott　tried　to　place　it。

〃Remember　the　book　Lunk　tried　to　deliver　to　Alfred　Nader？〃

〃Of　course；〃　Scott　said　in　sudden　realization。　〃That's　where　you'll　find　them。〃

〃Thanks；　Rand。　〃

Reluctantly；　Rand　accepted　the　proffered　hand。　〃One　thing；　Scott；〃　he　said　when　they　were　seated　again。　〃Lunk's　not　going　to　be　as　easy　on　you　as　I　was。〃


CHAPTER　FIVE

TO：　NILES　OBSTAT　EYES　ONLY
FROM：　SCIENCE　AND　TECHNOLOGY　DIRECTORATE　RE：　PROJECT　STARCHILD
DNA　ANALYSIS　OF　BLOOD　AND　TISSUE　SAMPLES　TAKEN　FROM　INVID　SIMULAGENT　（A。K。A　〃MARLENE；〃　〃ARIEL〃）　PROVE　UNEQUIVOCAL　MATCH　TO　ON…FILE　DNA　PROFILES　OF　MARS　DIVISION　E。R。　TECH　MARLENE　RUSH　（SEE　APPENDED　NOTES）。　SUGGEST　THAT　REGIS　EXTRACTED　RUSH　TISSUE　FROM　WRECKAGE　OF　MARS　GROUP　AND　USED　FIND　AS　TEMPLATE　FOR　HER　HUMANOID　CREATIONS。　IT　IS　YET　TO　BE　LEARNED　WHETHER　USE　OF　RUSH　TEMPLATE　WAS　DELIBERATE　OR　COINCIDENTAL。　QUERY：　IS　COLONEL　BERNARD　TO　BE　INFORMED？　SUGGESTION：　WITHHOLD　ALL　KNOWLEDGE　OF　CLONING　UNTIL　FULL　DISCLOSURE　IS　WARRANTED　OR　DEEMED　ADVISABLE。
G2　dispatch；　quoted　in；　Sara　Lemole's　Improper　Council：　An　Analysis　of　the　Plenipotentiary　Council

〃She's　got　the　right　dynamic　for　the　New　Frontier。〃
Twentieth…century　song　lyric　

Under　Reflex　power；　the　Ark　Angel　left　geosynch　and　inserted　itself　into　orbit　where　the　Robotech　factory　satellite　had　once　played　the　role　of　Earth's　inner　moon。　The　departure　point　for　the　trial　jump　to　Luna's　far　side　was　the　very　same　spatial　coordinates　the　SDF…3　had　used　in　its　fold　to　Fantomaspace。

Vince　had　been　elsewhere　when　the　SDF…1　had　jumped　from　Macross；　but　he　was　well　acquainted　with　the　accounts　of　that　fateful　day　logged　by　Henry　Gloval；　Emil　Lang；　and　countless　others。　The　far　side　had　been　targeted　for　the　position　jump；　but　the　fortress　had　missed　the　mark　by　what　amounted　to　the　radius　of　the　solar　system。　Gloval　had　given　the　mand；　but　Lang　had　borne　the　burden　of　the　blame。　Inexperience；　pilot　error　。。。　An　official　inquiry　was　never　performed。　Years　later；　though；　while　Breetai's　ship　was　undergoing　its　face…lift　in　the　factory　satellite's　null…g　core；　the　then…micronized　Zentraedi　mander　had　shown　Lang　where　he　had　gone　wrong。　Yet　in　spite　of　that；　the　feeling　remained　that　Lang　was　innocent　of　any　technical　oversight　or　wrongdoing。　Human　control　was　considered　a　moot　point　where　Protoculture　was　involved。

So；　cinched　into　the　Ark　Angel's　mand　chair…a　well璸added　motorized　affair　similar　to　the　one　he　had　had　designed　for　the　GMU　a　lifetime　ago…Vince　Grant　had　to　ask　himself　just　what　Protoculture　might　have　in　mind　for　the　day's　fold。

Seated　at　duty　stations　to　the　left　and　right　of　him；　techs　and　bridge　officers　were　running　through　a　final　series　of　system　checks　as　the　ship　counted　down　from　double　digits。　Jean；　steadfast　in　her　refusal　to　remain　planetside　for　the　test；　was　with　her　med　group　elsewhere　in　the　ship。　Vince　was　on　file　as　insisting　on　a　skeleton　crew　for　the　test；　but　he　was　secretly　thankful　that　the　Plenipotentiary　Council　members　had　overruled　him。　When　it　came　right　down　to　it；　no　one　wanted　to　be　left　behind。

Even　if　the　Protoculture　had　a　surprise　destination　already　picked　out。

In　truth；　the　Ark　Angel's　drives　were　Sekiton…fueled…a　peat　derived　from　Karbarra's　abundant　Ur…Flower　crop。　Vince　supposed　the　distinction　was　a　minor　one；　but　that　belief　was　not　shared　by　the　half　dozen　Karbarrans　who　headed　up　the　ship's　engineering　section。　Protoculture；　the　ursinoids　were　fond　of　pointing　out；　could　be　handled　by　almost　anyone；　but　Sekiton　responded　to　Karbarrans　only；　a　condition　Haydon　the　Enigmatic　had　been　responsible　for；　or　so　Vince　had　been　given　to　understand。

〃Ten　seconds　and　counting；　General　Grant；〃　a　young　female　tech　reported。

Vince's　hand　elongated　the　noble　features　of　his　broad　brown　face。　He　considered　the　recent　transmission　the　ship　had　received　from　Cabell。

〃Seven　。。。　six　。　。　。〃

Exedore；　still　on　Haydon　IV；　was　of　the　opinion　that　the　Awareness　held　some　key　to　the　SDF…3's　disappearance。　〃Five　。。。　four　。　。　。〃

Dr。　Penn；　Jean；　and　several　others　were　of　the　same　mind。　〃Three　。。。　two　。　。　。　〃

Now　if　the　Ark　Angel　could　only　get　there。　〃One。　Fold　generators　engaged。〃

Vince　sent　a　silent　prayer　to　the　ship's　drives　and　their　Karbarran　overseers。

A　lunar　crescent　suddenly　filled　the　forward　viewport。　The　bridge　crew　applauded　wildly。　Exuberant　cheers　filtered　in　from　distant　quarters　of　the　ship。

〃Yirrbisst　has　blessed　on　us　this　day；　mander；　〃　one　of　the　ursinoids　gutturally　announced　over　the　…line；　invoking　the　name　of　his　homeworld's　primary。　〃Praise　Haydon。〃

Vince　thanked　everyone　for　a　job　well　done。　Two　or　three　Council　members　had　suggested　a　second　trial　jump；　to　Mars　perhaps；　if　the　first　succeeded；　but　Vince　had　renewed　confidence　in　the　ship　and　saw　no　need　for　further　tests。

Earth　ascended　into　view　as　the　Ark　Angel's　attitude　thrusters　repositioned　the　ship　for　the　return　jump。

Vince　turned　to　his　munications　officer。　〃Inform　Cabell　that　we'll　soon　be　folding　for　Haydon　IV。〃


Lunk　was　standing　in　the　center　of　a　small　patch　of　cleared　ground　a　kilometer　east　of　Roca　Negra　proper；　attacking　a　stump　of　hardwood　with　a　heavy　ax。　He　was　shirtless　in　the　morning　heat；　long　black　hair　tied　back；　brutish　features　determined；　barrel…chested　torso　glistening　with　sweat。　He　checked　his　swing　momentarily　to　monitor　Scott's　approach…ax　handle　resting　on　his　shoulder　and　a　hand　to　his　brow…then　resumed　his　work；　putting　increased　effort　into　each　blow。

〃Good　to　see　you；　Lunk；〃　Scott　said；　keeping　what　he　determined　to　be　a　safe　distance。

The　former　Southern　Cross　soldier　stopped　only　to　mop　his　face　with　a　Paisley　bandanna。　〃I　guessed　it　was　you　when　I　saw　the　jet　e　down；〃　Lunk　grunted　after　the　blade　bit　wood。　〃The　way　I　read　it；　you　must　be　on　leave　or　undercover。　You　land　on　the　old　highway？〃

〃Just。〃

Lunk　took　another　swing。　〃A　Lear；　isn't　it？〃

Scott's　boot　tip　drew　a　shallow　trench　in　the　tilled　ground。　〃I　suppose　so。　Pre…Wars。　But　I　almost　lost　it　this　time。〃

〃Yeah；　well　you'll　be　lucky　if　the　thing's　still　there　when　you　get　back。〃

〃It's　being　looked　after；　Lunk；〃　Scott　assured　him。

The　big　man　went　back　to　chopping。　〃So　how'd　you　find　us；　Lieutenant？〃

Scott　squatted；　waving　insects　away　from　his　face。　〃I　found　Rand。　But　I　think　I'm　supposed　to　mention　that　he　wasn't　exactly　eager　to　tell　me。〃

〃Sure；〃　Lunk　said。

〃So　you're　homesteading；　huh？〃

Lunk　turned　to　face　him。　〃The　townspeople　gave　us　a　place　to　live　and　a　bit　of　land　to　work。　The　Invid　came　down　hard　on　everyone　after　we　passed　through　last　year；　but　the　town's　rebuilding。　They're　good　folk；　Lieutenant。　What's　past　is　past。　We're　all　making　new　lives　for　ourselves。〃

Scott　caught　the　warning　in　Lunk's　baritone　voice　and　decided　not　to　mention　the　promotion。　〃I　can　see　that；〃　he　said；　glancing　about。　Well…tended　fields　of　grain　stretched　emerald　to　distant　hills。　On　nearby　terraces；　men　and　women　were　harvesting　and　threshing　golden　stalks　of　rice。　〃Annie　around？〃　he　asked　after　a　moment。

Lunk　threw　the　ax　into　the　wood　and　gave　a　twist　to　the　blade。　〃She　left　right　after　we　got　here。　The　idea　of　settling　down　didn't　suit　her　too　well。　Went　off　to　find　that　guy　Magruder。　The　kid's　still　got　stars　in　her　eyes。〃

Scott　smiled　to　himself；　picturing　Annie　in　her　〃E。T。〃　cap　and　faded　green　jumpsuit。

〃What　d'　ya　say　we　skip　the　small　talk　and　e　to　the　point；　Lieutenant；〃　Lunk　said　suddenly。

Scott　contemplated　the　line　his　boot　had　drawn；　then　raised　his　eyes。　〃All　right；　Lunk。　The　fact　is；　I'm　looking　for　Marlene。〃

Lunk　spit。　〃I　thought　so。　What　happened；　Lieutenant　got　lonely　for　you　up　there？〃　He　motioned　with　his　chin　to　the　cloudless　sky。　〃Figured　maybe　you'd　passed　on　a　good　thing　down　here；　a　girl　that　was　only　trying　to　love　you　the　best　she　knew　how？〃

That　from　the　guy　who　had　called　Marlene　a　traitor　that　day　in　Reflex　Point；　Scott　thought；　getting　to　his　feet。　〃It's　nothing　like　that；　Lunk。〃

〃Think　you　can　just　fly　in　here　with　your　little　jet　and　pick　up　where　you　left　off；　huh？〃　Lunk　held　the　ax　like　a　hatchet　and　shook　it　in　Scott's　face。　〃Lemme　tell　you；　you're　way　off　the　mark；　Lieutenant。　Marlene's　had　a　rough　time　of　it；　but　I've　been　helping　her。　She's　kinda　e　to　rely　on　me；　and　I　think　your　showing　up　is　just　gonna　gum　up　the　works；　understand　me？〃

〃Look；　Lunk；　I　just　want　to　talk　to　her。〃

〃I'm　tellin'　ya　how　it　is；　Lieutenant。〃

Scott　left　a　brief　empty　space　in　the　exchange；　waiting　for　Lunk　to　cool　down。　〃Back　at　mand　everyone's　still　scratching　their　heads　about　what　happened　at　Reflex　Point；〃　he　menced　on　a　casual　note。　〃There's　a　possibility　the　SDF…3　got　itself　caught　up　in　the　Regis's　exit。〃　He　looked　at　Lunk。　〃I　think　Marlene　can　help　out。〃

Lunk　glared　at　him；　then　threw　the　ax　down　into　the　stump　and　left　it　there。　〃e　on；〃　he　said；　storming　off　across　the　field　in　the　direction　of　Roca　Negra。

Scott　fell　in　behind　him　for　a　silent　walk　that　delivered　them　fifteen　minutes　later　to　two　spacious　freestanding　tents　erected　side　by　side　on　a　small　parcel　of　land　dotted　with　olive　trees。　Lunk's　battered　APC　was　parked　off　to　one　side。

〃Marlene；〃　Lunk　bellowed；　rustling　the　mosquito…netting　front　flap　of　the　larger　tent。

〃Lunk？〃　Marlene　responded　from　somewhere　inside。　〃You're　back　early。〃

Scott's　heart　broke　at　the　sound　of　her　voice；　save　for　a　hint　of　Southlands　Forager　accent；　it　might　as　well　have　been　that　of　Marlene　Rush。

As　the　Invid　simulagent　stepped　into　the　sunlight；　luxurious　red　hair　shorn　to　her　shoulders　and　skin　as　pale　as　a　Tiresian's；　Scott　thought：　She　is　Marlene！

The　Regis's　daughter　took　a　moment　to　absorb　the　scene　before　she　collapsed　into　Scott's　slapdash　embrace；　sighing。　〃I　knew　you'd　return　for　me；　Scott；　I　knew　you'd　return。〃

Lunk　quickly　turned　his　back　to　the　two　of　them；　afraid　they　would　see　his　tears。


Scott　immediately　realized　that　Marlene　had　undergone　a　profound　change　since　they　had　last　embraced。　Marlene　then　had　been　alive　and　vital　to　his　confused　thoughts　and　anxious　hands；　a　woman　of　human　lusts　and　needs；　nothing　like　the　insubstantial　being　he　cradled　in　his　arms　now。　It　was　something　he　could　not　articulate；　but　it　was　obvious　to　all　who　dared　to　look　deep　enough　into　her　eyes。

Scott　led　her　into　the　shade；　to　a　canvas…backed　chair　at　the　head　of　a　split…log　longtable。　Lunk　positioned　himself　behind　the　chair；　his　large　callused　hands　resting　on　Marlene's　frail　shoulders。　〃I　told　ya　she　was　having　a　rough　time　of　it；　Lieutenant。　Ya　never　shoulda　e　back。〃

Marlene　patted　Lunk's　hand　and　gazed　up　at　him　fondly。　〃I'm　all　right；　Lunk。　Really。〃

Scott　felt　her　eyes　return　to　him　and　swallowed　hard　as　he　perched　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　table：　〃Marlene；〃　he　began；　〃how　much　do　you　remember　about　those　last　few　days　at　Reflex　Point？〃

〃Only　some　of　it；　Scott。　I　remember　when　we　were　all　inside　the　central　chamber　together。　With　Sera　and　Corg　and　the　Queen…Mother。〃

〃What　made　the　horde…er；　the　Queen…Mother　leave；　Marlene？　I　mean；　I'm　sure　she　rea