18_the_end_of_the_circle-第7部分

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　aimlessly　through　the　pandemonium。　The　Haydonites　themselves；　however；　were　unhurt；　it　was　as　though　they　had　known　beforehand　which　areas　to　avoid。

〃Move　quickly　and　orderly　if　you　wish　to　avoid　injury；〃　Llan　sent　to　the　Sterlings；　attempting　to　hurry　them　along　by　hovering　at　their　backs　a　yard　off　the　plaza's　adamantine　smooth　surface。

〃They　need　help；〃　Dana　said；　indicating　a　small　group　of　Karbarrans　who；　heedless　of　the　dangers　overhead；　were　attempting　to　dig　out　their　trapped　panions。

〃Move！〃　Anad　sent　sharply　in　response。

Max　could　not　fail　to　notice　the　change　in　Anad　and　Llan　and　was　about　to　protest；　when　a　series　of　blindingly　blue　energy　bolts　tore　up　into　the　sky　from　the　outlying　sectors　of　the　city。　From　somewhere　deep　outside　Glike's　obscuring　haze　came　scattered　reports　of　explosive　light　that　reached　the　surface　like　heated　thunder。

〃It　is　an　invasion！〃　Dana　exclaimed。

　But　even　as　she　said　it；　she　noted　something　inexplicable　going　on　around　her：　Individual　Haydonites　had　begun　to　employ　some　sort　of　energy　weapon　to　herd　the　plaza's　off　worlders　toward　the　subwaylike　entrances　to　the　city's　subsurface　maze　of　transport　corridors　and　multilevel　shelters。　On　closer　inspection；　Dana　saw　that　the　light…prods　were　emanating　from　the　Haydonites'　foreheads；　from　the　cabochonlike　organs　centered　there；　which　Veidt　had　once　called　dzentile。　The　English　term　that　came　closest　was　governor；　but　Dana　suddenly　understood　that　those　regulators　could　be　made　to　serve　a　double…edged　function。

She　took　a　quick　head　count；　calculating　just　how　many　Haydonites　she　would　have　to　take　down　to　clear　a　path　out　of　the　plaza。　Beginning　with　Llan；　who　was　still　hovering　at　her　back；　although　he　had　yet　to　demonstrate　any　light…prod　capability。　Answering　to　Anad's　telepathic　insistence；　Max；　Miriya；　and　Aurora　were　already　halfway　across　the　square。

〃Move！〃　Llan　sent　with　sufficient　force　to　make　Dana's　eyes　cross。

Oh；　you're　gonna　get　yours；　she　promised　herself；　mentally　forging　her　spin　kick。　But　no　sooner　had　she　menced　her　turn　than　Max　grabbed　her　around　the　shoulders　and　swung　her　off　her　feet。　〃Dana；　we　don't　have　a　chance；〃　he　told　her。

Dana　watched　a　nascent　glow　center　itself　above　Llan's　expressionless　visage。　〃Well；　we　certainly　don't　now；〃　she　said；　shrugging　out　of　Max's　restraining　hold。

Llan　and　Anad　were　more　vigilant　after　that；　making　certain　to　keep　the　entire　family　between　them　for　the　rest　of　the　dash　across　the　plaza；　relaxing　their　guard　only　after　the　Sterlings　were　well　inside　the　accessway；　dwarfed　by　several　dozen　Karbarrans　who　had　been　funneled　in　from　the　collapsed　mercial　center。

〃That　was　a　foolish　thing　to　do；〃　Max　said　in　a　lecturing　tone；　loud　enough　to　be　heard　above　the　ursinoids'　unnerving　growls　and　grumblings。

〃Maybe　it　was；〃　Dana　conceded；　〃but　I　don't　like　it　when　somebody　says　they're　concerned　for　my　safety　and　then　aims　a　weapon　at　me。〃

The　incident　only　pointed　up　the　differences　between　them。　Dana　had　had　reservations　about　returning　to　Haydon　IV　with　her　parents　as　early　as　those　first　few　weeks　in　Tiresia；　but　it　had　meant　so　much　to　them　that　she　get　to　know　Aurora　and　give　peace　a　chance。　And　then；　when　she　had　learned　that　Rem　had　assigned　himself　to　the　SDF…3；　she　saw　no　alternative　but　to　give　Haydon　IV　a　try。　Oh；　she　supposed　she　could　have　signed　aboard　the　Ark　Angel　or　any　one　of　the　ships　of　the　fleet；　but　she　saw　little　purpose　to　it。

It　had　e　as　quite　a　shock　to　find　yet　another　Zor…clone　waiting　on　Tirol　after　she　had　just　finished　her　brief　go…round　with　one　on　Earth。　Rem　and　Zor　Prime　were　more　like　twins　separated　at　birth　than　clones；　but　there　were　enough　underlying　similarities　to　make　her　feel　as　though　she　were　dealing　with　the　same　person。　She　thought　the　original　Zor　must　have　been　one　mixed…up　character；　another　trickster　in　a　galaxy　full　of　them。

She　still　couldn't　explain　just　what　it　was　about　the　slender；　elfin…featured　clones　that　drew　her　to　them。　But　it　seemed　obvious　that　the　attraction　arose　from　the　Zentraedi；　biogenetically　engineered　side　of　her　personality。

Those　thoughts　were　with　her　for　the　duration　of　the　short　descent　to　Llan's　〃level　four；〃　where；　she　imagined；　luxuriously　appointed　shelters　awaited　them。　She　had　even　begun　to　feel　guilty　about　her　perhaps　misguided　outburst　in　the　plaza　and　was　about　to　apologize　to　Max；　when　from　up　ahead　in　the　corridor…the　recycled　air　thick　with　the　musky　smell　of　Karbarran　fur　and　fear…came　cries　of　protest　in　trader's　tongue。

〃You　limbless　mechanoids！〃　one　Karbarran　yelled。　〃May　Haydon　curse　the　lot　of　you！〃

Dana　went　up　on　tiptoe　in　an　attempt　to　discern　what　all　the　motion　was　about；　but　all　she　could　see　was　the　backs　of　massive　shoulders　and　knob…horned　heads。　It　was　not　until　the　group　reached　the　terminus　of　the　corridor；　where　it　opened　into　a　vast；　domed　chamber　lit　by　an　unseen　source；　that　she　glimpsed　the　reason　for　the　Karbarrans'　distress：　A　police　force　of　black…cloaked　Haydonites　a　meter　taller　than　the　norm　were　using　their　enabled　light…prods　to　segregate　the　confused　crowd　into　planetary　types；　shepherding　each　into　separate　rooms　similar　to　ones　Dana　knew　had　been　used　by　the　Invid　Regis　to　contain　the　Sisters　of　the　Praxian　diaspora。

〃port　yourselves　in　a　manner　befitting　the　intelligence　of　your　race　and　no　harm　will　e　to　you；〃　the　police　line　sent　to　everyone　in　frightening　telepathic　discord。　〃Your　nutritional　and　medical　needs　will　be　attended　to。　Haydon　IV　will　strive　to　make　you　as　fortable　as　possible　in　your　containment。〃

〃Imprisonment；　I'd　say；〃　said　an　all…too…familiar　voice　off　to　the　left　of　the　Sterling　family。　Dana　caught　sight　of　Exedore　peeking　out　from　behind　the　high…collared　cloak　of　one　of　the　hovering　jailers。

〃Yes；〃　he　added；　folding　his　arms　and　glancing　around。　〃I　suggest　that　we　consider　ourselves　under　arrest。〃


As　expected；　their　individual　cells　were　splendidly　designed　affairs　with　all　the　necessary　conveniences　and　furnishings；　all　the　more　sinister　in　their　homeyness。　Exedore　and　the　Sterlings　found　themselves　lodged　with　the　four　Praxians　whose　very　size　dictated　that　they　be　given　the　largest　of　the　four　rooms。　Their　section　of　the　jail　was　flanked　by　Karbarran　and　Spherisian　quarters　but　was　effectively　sealed　off　from　them；　with　access　to　the　central　portion　of　the　domed　chamber　barred　by　laser　fence。　Thoughts　of　escape　were　not　only　difficult　to　entertain　but　periodically　discouraged　by　squads　of　the　now　obsequious　jailers　who　glided　through　sweeps　of　the　area。

Dana；　however；　had　not　yet　given　up　on　the　idea　and　sat　timing　the　patrols　while　Exedore　filled　everyone　in　on　the　details　of　his　own　arrest。

〃One　moment　Veidt　and　I　were　interpreting　the　results　of　our　latest　calculations；　and　the　next　I　was　being　hurried　out　of　the　data　room　by　two　of　these　black…cloaked　fellows；　with　Veidt　warning　me　to　obey　their　every　mand。〃

〃Our　advocates　acted　the　same　way；〃　Max　said。　〃Turned　on　us　without　warning。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　it　safe　to　assume　they　were　acting　at　all；〃　Exedore　cautioned。　〃It's　my　belief　that　the　Awareness　sent　a　mand　to　each　and　every　Haydonite…a　telepathic　stirring；　if　you　will；　analogous　to　that　which　prompted　the　planet　to　reorient　itself　in　space。〃

〃Then　we　are　。　。　。　moving？〃　Miriya　asked。

Exedore　nodded。　〃Most　definitely　moving。〃

〃But　we　saw　a　salvo　of　energy　bolts；　Exedore；〃　Dana　interjected。　〃The　planet's　probably　moving　because　it's　under　attack。〃

Exedore　shook　his　head。　〃There's　been　no　attack；　although　what　you　witnessed　was　certainly　defensive　fire。　It　seems　that　the　mander　of　one　of　the　Karbarran　cargo　ships　armed　his　weapons　array　when　planetary　realignment　menced。　The　Awareness　registered　this　and　responded　as　programmed。　I'm　afraid　several　ships　were　destroyed　in　the　process。　This　much　I　was　able　to　learn　from　Veidt。〃

〃Then　our　lives　are　in　danger；〃　Miriya　said；　hugging　Aurora　to　her。

〃No；　child。　Haydon　IV　is　not　only　abandoning　its　orbit　around　this　system's　primary　but　shedding　its　atmosphere　as　it　accelerates。　That's　precisely　why　we've　all　been　brought　down　here。

〃For　all　this　sudden　militant　posturing；　they　do　seem　to　have　our　safety　in　mind。　Haydon　knows　they　require　no　true　atmosphere　for　themselves；　nor　any　need　of　Glike；　for　that　matter。〃　The　Zentraedi　snorted。　〃A　surface　paradise；　indeed；　for　that's　all　that　it　was…a　veneer；　to　borrow　a　Terran　word。

〃It　only　confirms　what　I've　been　saying　all　along：　that　Haydon　IV　is　not　a　planet　transformed　by　ultratech　wonders　but　a　ship。　Its　very　name　suggests　as　much。　Haydon　IV；　and　yet　it　occupies　the　third　place　in　the　Briz'dziki　system。　〃　Exedore　adopted　a　puzzled　frown。　〃No。　It　has　e　to　be　known　as　Haydon　IV　because　it　was　Haydon's　fourth。〃

〃Haydon's…　fourth　what？〃　Max　wanted　to　know。

Exedore　threw　up　his　hands。　〃Any　answer　I　give　you　would　be　pure　speculation。　Much　as　my　guess　as　to　exactly　where　it　is　that　we're　headed。〃

〃We'll　know　when　we　get　there；　is　that　it？〃　Dana　said。　〃Well　put。〃

Max　looked　from　Exedore　to　Dana　and　back　again。　〃But　what　about　these　calculations　of　yours？　You　still　think　this　has　something　to　do　with　the　SDF…3？〃

〃I'm　certain　of　it；〃　Exedore　affirmed。　〃And　with　the　Invid　departure　as　well。　A　pulse　of　novel　energy　has　been　sent　into　the　known　universe。　Our　calculations　prove　beyond　a　shadow　of　a　doubt　that　the　focus　of　this　outpouring　is　the　dead　star　we　Zentraedi　know　as　Ranaath's。〃　
Miriya　sucked　in　her　breath。　〃Exedore！〃

〃Yes；　Miriya；　I'm　afraid　so。　But　there's　more：　This　pulse　has　also　caused　subtle　but　potentially　dangerous　quantum　and　gravitational　shifts　throughout　the　continuum。　All　standard　measurements　seem　to　have　been　infinitesimally　affected。〃　〃Meaning　what？〃　Max　said。

〃Meaning　that　something　unprecedented　has　occurred；　Max。　It's　as　though　everything　is　suddenly　drawing　closer　and　closer　together。〃


CHAPTER　SEVEN

Eventually；　Rem　saw　the　logic　of　the　REF's　arguments　＇that　a　Protoculture　matrix　was　essential　to　ensure　certain　victory　against　the　Invid　Regis＇…or　at　least　he　gave　Lang　every　impression　of　being　convinced。　Just　as　Zor　had　once　given　sway　to　the　Robotech　Masters'　conviction　that　knowledge　went　hand　in　hand　with　power　and　that　all　real　power　sprang　from　the　conquest　of　life　itself　。　。　。　This　tendency　to　submit；　this　plasticity；　was　a　character　flaw　inherited　by　both　clones…Rem　and　Zor　Prime　and　taken　advantage　of　by　yet　new　generations　of　masters。　〃Zor；　the　reshaped；〃　as　Lang　himself　once　thought　to　describe　Rem　in　his　notes。　Who　else　could　have　enticed　Protoculture　from　the　secret　places　of　the　Flower　but　one　of　equal　lability？
Adrian　Mizner；　Rakes　and　Rogues：　The　True　Story　of　the　SDF…3　Mission

Even　with　the　knowledge　they　had　been　able　to　amass　during　the　voyages　of　the　SDFs…1　and　…3　and　with　what　little　they　had　been　able　to　beg；　borrow；　and　steal　from　the　Sentinels；　the　fortress's　chief　astrogators　still　considered　themselves　among　the　Quadrant's　least　experienced　travelers。　So　while　the　void　they　had　been　folded　into　presented　a　novel　challenge；　there　was　no　sure　way　of　ascertaining　whether　this　〃newspace〃…as　it　had　been　termed…was　not　just　some　monplace　occurrence　among　the　more　well　traveled。　To　this　end；　interviews　with　those　Sentinels　aboard…Kami；　Learna；　Lron；　Crysta；　Baldan；　Gnea；　and　others…had　thus　far　proved　unenlightening；　a　not　entirely　unexpected　development　given　that　the　original　crew　of　the　starship　Farrago　had　never　been　top…notch　spacefarers　to　begin　with。

Lang　nevertheless　had　gone　about　his　investigation　of　the　ship's　environment　with　unflagging　confidence　and　textbook　determination。　The　results　of　Jack　Baker's　brief　extravehicular　recon　were　in。　Exterior　background　temperatures　and　the　velocity　of　light　had　been　measured　and　found　to　be　constant；　the　fortress　chronometers　were　still　functioning。　Physical　laws　inside　the　ship…and　within　a　radius　of　a　half　million　kilometers　from　it…were　in　fact　operating　much　as　they　should　have。　It　was　simply　that　the　stars…indeed；　space　itself…had　disappeared。

The　SDF…3's　reflex　engines　were　functioning；　but　there　was　still　nowhere　for　the　fortress　to　go。

〃I'm　inclined　to　favor　the　hyperspace　hypothesis；〃　Lang　was　saying；　eyes　glued　to　an　immense　tabletop　display　screen　in　his　office。　Rem　stood　behind　him；　just　off　to　one　side；　the　handsome　features　of　his　pale　face　highlighted　by　the　screen's　intermittent　flashings。　〃We've　somehow　bee　trapped　in　the　fold　corridor　itself。〃

Rem　grunted　nonmittally。　〃You're　dismissing　the　popular　notion；　then…the　one　circulating　through　the　ship？〃

〃What；　that　we're　all　actually　dead？　I　certainly　am。〃　No　one　knew　just　how　the　rumor　got　started；　but　it　seemed　that　the　results　of　a　survey　taken　of　some　two　hundred　crew　persons　had　revealed　remarkable　similarities　in　their　fold；　space　lace　experiences。　These　included　feelings　of　tranquillity；　out…of…body　experience；　the　encountering　of　a　presence　or　a　deceased　relative　in　a　dark　tunnel；　a　sudden　urge　to　review　one's　life；　a　warm　and　accepting　light　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel；　and　a　brief　merging　with　that　light　prior　to　an　immediate　return　to　physicality。

〃If　we　were　all　dead；〃　Lang　continued；　〃we　probably　wouldn't　have　returned　at　all。〃

〃And　how　to　prove　it　in　any　case？〃　Rem　said；　smiling。　〃Against　what　can　we　measure　nonexistence？〃

Lang　turned　to　regard　the　Tiresian；　pleased　that　he　had　finally　succeeded　in　spiriting　him　away　from　Minmei；　if　only　for　a　short　while。　One　would　have　thought　the　strangeness　of　the　ship's　predicament　alone　would　have　been　enough　to　pique　Rem's　interest；　but　the　Zor…clone　had　agreed　to　a　conference　only　after　Lang　had　made　mention　of　the　vanished　Protoculture。

Lang　had　reminded　himself　later　that　he　should　have　known　better；　Protoculture　was　the　only　thing　that　ever　brought　Rem　around。　But　Rem　did　not　share　Lang's　enthusiasm　for　Protoculture's　application　to　mechamorphosis　or　astrogation。　In　fact；　the　REF　had　had　to　coerce　him　into　lending　his　brilliant　talents　to　the　creation　of　the　facsimile　matrix　by　painting　lurid　scenarios　of　what　was　bound　to　occur　throughout　the　Quadrant　should　the　Invid　Regis　have　her　way　with　Earth。　How　long；　they　asked　him　to　consider；　before　the　Queen…Mother　would　decide　to　spread　her　vengeful　horde　across　the　stars　as　her　husband　had　done？　How　long　before　her　armies　would　return　to　the　Local　Group　for　what　they　had　been　forced　to　surrender…Optera　itself？　And　what　of　the　Praxians；　then；　who　had　made　that　tortured　world　their　own？　And　what　of　Tirol　and　Spheris　and　the　rest；　so　recently　liberated　from　the　claw　hold　of　that　very　race？

Rem　could　be　infuriating　at　times；　but　how　Lang　enjoyed　the　few　discourses　they　had　shared！　How　thrilling　it　was　to　converse　with　an　intellect　as　powerful　as　his　own。　What　they　might　be　able　to　achieve　together；　he　often　thought；　were　it　not　for　Rem's　preoccupation　with　the　biotransmutational　aspects　of　Protoculture　or　his　inexplicable　attachment　to　Lynn　Minmei。

Lang　swung　back　to　the　tablescreen。　〃Oh；　I'll　admit　there's　something　to　this　afterlife　speculation　that's　worth　pursuing；〃　he　said　abruptly；　〃but　for　the　present　there　are　more　tangible　enigmas　to　grapple　with。〃　He　motioned　to　the　displays。　〃These　are　the　latest　readouts。〃

Rem　leaned　over　the　table。

〃Either　t