18_the_end_of_the_circle-第8部分

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otioned　to　the　displays。　〃These　are　the　latest　readouts。〃

Rem　leaned　over　the　table。

〃Either　this　void　has　yet　to　decide　which　set　of　physical　laws　it　plans　to　subscribe　to；　or　our　scanners　are　in　over　their；　artificial　heads。〃　The　Terran　scientist's　voice　was　a　mixture　of　apprehension　and　excitement。　〃I　haven't　seen　anything　like　it　since　my　supercollider　days　thirty　years　ago。　But　at　least　I　knew　then　that　our　accelerators　were　manufacturing　all　those　weakly　interacting　massive　particles。　Here；　there's　no　rhyme　or　reason　to　it。　One　could　almost　believe　we've　entered　a　kind　of　dark…matter　universe。〃

〃I　doubt　we　could　exist　in　such　a　place；　Lang。〃

〃Precisely　my　point。　The　findings　are　more　consistent　with　fold　anomalies　than　anything　else。〃

Rem　nodded。　〃Then　the　real　question　we　should　be　asking　ourselves　is　whether　the　ship　is　still　on　its　way　to　somewhere　or　whether　it　has　in　fact　arrived。〃

Lang　threw　him　a　skeptical　look。　〃I　don't　see　how　we　can　possibly　be　on　our　way　to　something　without　the　fold　drives。〃　Rem　made　a　dismissive　motion　with　his　hand。　〃The　Protoculture　is　only　essential　for　initiating　a　fold；　Lang；　it　has　little　to　do　with　destination。〃

〃But　how　are　we　to　emerge；　then？〃

Rem's　gaze　grew　unfocused。　〃You　fail　to　see　the　potential；　Doctor。〃

〃Perhaps　I　do；　Rem；　but…〃

〃When　all　you　need　do　is　think　back　to　your　experiences　inside　the　ship　you　called　SDF…1…when　it　crash…landed　on　Earth。〃

Lang's　face　went　blank。

〃Your　own　notes　state　that　you　were　at　a　loss　to　explain　the　time　displacement　you　and　your　team　experienced　inside　the　ship。〃

〃Yes。。。〃

〃And　so　you　postulated　that　some　'quantum'…your　word；　Doctor…some　quantum　of　hyperspace　had　adhered　to　the　ship。〃

〃And　the　team　was　actually　walking　through　a　kind　of　hyperspace　dimension；〃　Lang　finished　in　a　rush。　〃Yes；　of　course；　I　remember　now。〃

Rem　laughed。　〃Ah；　what　tricks　the　overmind　plays　with　us！〃　He　offered　Lang　a　tight…lipped　smile。　〃Listen　to　your　words；　Doctor：　‘I　remember　now。'　That's　what　the　SDF…3　is　doing。　Zor's　ship　captured　a　quantum　of　hyperspace　and　conveyed　it　into　the　world　of　time。　Our　ship　has　captured　a　quantum　of　time　and　carried　it　into　hyperspace。　〃

Lang　glanced　at　the　mathematical　constructs　assembling　themselves　on　the　tablescreen　as　if　to　confirm　something。

〃I　don't　know　why　the　Protoculture　chose　this　particular　moment　to　abandon　us；〃　Rem　resumed；　〃or　just　what　Shapings　are　to　be　inferred　from　it。　But　I　do　know　that　the　SDF…3　is　remembering　now…now；　Lang。〃　He　gestured　toward　the　exterior　bulkheads。　〃And　what　I　think　we're　seeing　out　there　is　a　universe　in　the　making。〃


〃Remember　when　he　was　just　learning　to　walk？〃　Rick　asked；　regarding　his　five…year…old　raven…haired　son　from　the　transparent　side　of　the　nursery's　one…way　mirror。　〃It　was　like　he　wanted　to　start　off　running。　Always　in　a　hurry　to　get　somewhere。〃

Lisa's　eyes　narrowed　somewhat。　〃No　thanks　to　you。　Walking　must　have　seemed　awfully　tame　after　all　the　aerial　acrobatics　you　put　him　through。〃

Rick　laughed。　〃Guilty　as　charged。　But　I　didn't　have　anything　to　do　with　turning　him　into　a　whiz　kid。　That's　gotta　be　your　doing。〃

Lisa　patted　the　bun　of　gray…streaked　hair　at　the　back　of　her　head　and　laughed　with　him。

In　meeting　at　the　nursery；　the　two　proud　parents　had　agreed　to　call　a　moratorium　on　discussing　the　fortress's　present　circumstance；　at　least　until　Lang　and　Rem　could　sort　out　whether　they　had　punched　themselves　into　some　misty　uncharted　corner　of　hyperspace　or　were　simply　on　line　in　limbo；　waiting　for　judgment。　Morale　was　low　in　all　sections；　and　so　Lisa　had　ordered　most　of　the　ship　to　secure　from　battle　stations。

She　returned　her　eyes　to　Roy　and　to　the　transformable　puzzle　block　one　of　the　ship's　child…care　specialists　had　handed　him。　Silently；　as　she　watched　Roy　rotate　the　alloy　block　in　his　tiny　hand；　she　applauded　his　analytical　powers：　the　way；　he　seemed　to　size　it　up　before　making　a　move；　the　way　the　expression　on　his　sweet　face　mirrored　his　intense　concentration。　At　the　same　time　she　marveled　at　the　dexterity　he　demonstrated　as　he　began　to　expose　one　after　another　of　the　block's　hidden　forms；　nimble　fingers　prying　open　doors；　separating　sections；　twisting　others；　extending　telescoping　parts。　And　just　as　silently　she　worried。

Up　until　a　few　months　ago　Roy　had　seemed　just　an　ordinary　child　to　her；　perhaps　too　ordinary；　if　anything。　For　all　her　efforts　at　keeping　him　as　far　from　the　SDF…3　as　she　could　manage；　at　seeking　to　raise　him　as　someone　other　than　the　son　of　two　career　officers；　Roy　had　been　going　through　the　same　action/adventure　stages　as　his　peers　aboard　the　fortress。　One　could　take　the　child　away　from　Earth；　but　one　apparently　could　not　take　Earth　away　from　the　child。　Airplanes；　action　figures；　toy　guns　。。。　even　an　invisible　friend　who　still　showed　up　every　so　often。

But　things　had　changed　once　she　and　Rick　had　pleted　their　transfer　to　the　SDF…3。　Suddenly　it　was　puzzles　that　fascinated　him；　both　manual　and　puter…generated。　And　then　there　was　the　look　he　would　give　her　sometimes；　as　if　to　say：　I　know　exactly　what　you're　thinking。　To　hear　Kazianna　tell　it；　her　son　Drannin　and　some　of　the　other　Zentraedi　children　were　behaving　likewise；　and　there　had　been　occasions　when　Lisa　had　had　to　drag　Roy　screaming　from　his　oversize　〃play　mates。〃　She　still　didn't　know　whether　to　feel　forted　by　all　the　youthful　bonding　or　even　more　worried　than　she　already　was。　More　than　anything　she　wished　Miriya　were　there　to　tell　her　what　it　was　like　to　nurture　a　genius；　what　the　Praxians　sometimes　called　a　Wyrdling。

And　how　much　of　it；　Lisa　wondered；　could　be　traced　to　the　ship　itself？

She　felt　Rick's　arm　go　around　her　shoulder；　and　she　rested　her　head　against　his。

〃We've　had　some　good　days；　haven't　we？〃　Rick　said　softly。　〃Especially　these　past　few　years。〃

She　knew　what　he　meant：　how　good　it　had　been　to　absent　themselves　from　the　endless　tasks　they　had　overseen　during　Reconstruction　and　again　after　the　destruction　of　New　Macross。

Rick　turned　to　face　her。　〃I've　been　missing　them　lately。　Really　feeling　at　a　loss。〃

Lisa　recalled　her　postfold　malaise　and　shot　him　a　look。　〃You；　too；　Rick？　Like　you've　lost　something　important？〃

He　nodded。　〃First　I　thought　it　was　just　leaving　Tirol；　but　it's　more　than　that。　Lately　I've　been　thinking　about　Pop's　air　circus；　Macross　Island；　even　the　Mockingbird。〃

〃But　it's　pervasive；　isn't　it？〃　Lisa　said。　〃Like　you　can't　pin　it　down。〃

Rick　bit　his　lower　lip。　〃I　think　I　know　what　it　is　now；〃　he　began　with　a　nervous　laugh。　〃I'm　willing　to　lay　odds　it's　the　Proto…〃

〃Begging　your　pardon；　sirs；〃　Rick's　adjutant　interrupted；　stepping　through　the　observation　room　hatch。　〃Tactical　Center　requests　the　admiral's　immediate　presence。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　Lisa　asked；　hurrying　to　the　room's　inter。

〃We've　got　a　screenful　of　bogies；　sir。〃　〃Signatures？〃　Rick　said。

〃Not　yet；　sir。　Radar's　silent。　The　ship's　bio…sensors　made　the　call。〃

Rick　and　Lisa　traded　looks。　〃Bio…sensors？〃

〃TIC　patched　the　system　into　IFF；　sir；　but　couldn't　raise　a　signature　or　profile。〃

〃Invid？〃　Lisa　said；　cocking　her　head　to　one　side。　〃Some　self…mutated　form？〃

Rick　met　his　adjutant　at　the　hatch。　〃Maybe　someone's　shown　up　to　lead　us　home；〃　he　suggested；　and　was　gone。


Belowdecks　in　one　of　the　fortress's　mecha　bays；　Captain　Jack　Baker　gave　a　downward　tug　to　his　flight　jacket　as　he　paced　back　and　forth　in　front　of　his　small　audience　of　veteran　pilots　and　mechamorph　aces。

And　not　one　of　them　had　soared　where　he　had　now。　〃You　may　think　the　background　stuff's　unimportant；　Captain　Phillips；〃　Jack　was　continuing　after　a　bothersome　interruption；　〃but　what　I'm　trying　to　do　is　give　you　a　sense　of　the　experience。〃

Sean　Phillips　threw　an　imploring　look　to　the　high　ceiling。　〃No　offense；　Baker；　but　I　think　we've　all　heard　about　what　happened　when　you　piloted　the　VT　down　to　Haydon　IV。　I　just　don't　see　the　relevance。〃

Jack's　innocent　face　reddened。　With　so　many　heavy　hitters　to　choose　from；　he　still　could　not　figure　out　why　the　admiral　had　singled　him　out　for　the　void　recon。　He　hoped；　of　course；　that　Hunter's　finger　had　simply　gone　right　to　the　top　of　the　list；　but　then；　he　supposed　that　list　could　have　been　alphabetical。　Jack　nevertheless　was　determined　to　make　the　most　of　the　distinction　while　it　lasted。

〃I'm　talking　about　the　unknown；　Captain；〃　he　told　Sean。　〃The　importance　of　state　of　mind。〃

〃Like　going　against　the　Robotech　Masters　was　a　given？〃　Sean　asked。

Jack　grew　flustered。　〃I'm　not　saying　that。　I'm　just　saying　that　what　Haydon　IV　threw　at　us　was　totally　unlike　anything　we'd　faced。〃

〃Did　we　ever　tell　you　about　the　spade　fortress　that　put　down　just　outside　of　Monument　City？〃　Sergeant　Angelo　Dante　asked　in　a　conversational　tone；　the　only　one　of　the　group　who　had　refused　to　accept　a　mission。　He　swung　around　to　face　everyone；　elbows　flared；　large　hands　on　wide　spread　knees。　〃The　Fifteenth　ATAC　was　ordered　to　recon　the　ship；　see。　So　we　tank　out　there　and…〃

〃Now　who's　being　irrelevant？〃　Jack　cut　in。　〃I　mean；　why　don't　we　just　invite　some　of　the　Karbarrans　in　here　to　entertain　us　with　their　war　stories？　Or　how　'bout　getting　Gnea　in　here　to　talk　about　hand…to…hand。〃

〃Yeah；　I'll　bet　you'd…enjoy　that；　Jack；〃　Marie　Crystal　laughed；　affectionately　nudging　Karen　Penn　with　an　elbow。　Black　Lion　leader　during　the　Second　Robotech　War；　she　was　just　another　officer　here。　Sean；　who　had　been　her　fiance　three　times　over　the　past　year；　was　being　his　usual　arrogant　self；　and　while　she　rarely　approved　of　his　teasing　sarcasm；　Baker　was　so　easy　to　put　off　balance。　〃What　d'　you　think；　Karen？　Shall　we　call　the　Praxians　in？〃　she　contributed。

Karen　smiled　and　regarded　Jack　from　her　seat。　Lithesome　and　honey…blond；　she　appeared　to　be　every　bit　Marie's　opposite；　but　in　fact　the　two　had　grown　to　be　close　friends。　〃That's　up　to　Captain　Baker；〃　she　said。　〃It's　his　show。〃

〃Jeez；〃　Jack　muttered；　brushing　back　a　recently　styled　silver…tinted　pompadour；　〃et　too？〃　He　spread　his　hands　in　a　conciliatory　gesture。　〃All　right；　for　cryin'　out　loud；　I'll　get　on　with　it。〃

The　pilots　applauded　wildly　as　Jack　called　up　memories　of　his　brief　EVA。
〃It's　like　flying　through　a　cloud；〃　he　began　on　a　serious　note。　〃Only　there's　no　vapor　around　you；　no　droplets　streaking　your　canopy。　Other　times　it's　like　moving　toward　a　cloud　you　can't　seem　to　reach。　I　had　a　hard　time　looking　forward；　because　everything　started　to　go　solid　on　me。　But　watching　your　displays　doesn't　help；　because　there's　absolutely　nothing　happening　on…screen。　I　kept　feeling　like　I　was　close　to　punching　through　it；　but　it　just　went　on　and　on。　And　it　never　changed；　no　matter　which　heading　I　took。　The　SDF…3　is　your　whole　world；　the　only　game　in　town。〃

He　blew　out　his　breath　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　what　more　to　tell　you；　really。　The　VT　performed　well；　no　glitches　in　any　of　the　systems。　I　thought　it　through　a　couple　of　reconfigurations；　and　there　were　no　problems。　Weapons　systems　seemed　to　be　fully　operational；　but　I　was　under　orders　not　to　enable。　Dr。　Lang's　thinking　is　that　missile　propulsion　isn't　affected。〃

〃When　do　we　get　a　crack　at　it？〃　Sean　said；　rising　to　his　feet　for　added　effect。

As　soon　as　Admiral　Hunter　figures　you're　ready；　Jack　was　about　to　tell　him；　when　hooters　drowned　out　the　thought。　The　ship　was　returning　to　full…alert　status。　A　female　voice；　boomed　from　the　flight　bay's　overhead　speakers：

〃We　have　uncorrelated　targets　closing　on　the　fortress　in　all　sectors。　Captains　Baker；　Phillips；　Penn；　and　Crystal　report　with　your　teams　to　assigned　launch　bays　immediately。　Substations　November；　Romeo；　Tango；　Zebra；　prepare　for。　。　。　〃

Jack　let　the　rest　of　it　pass　right　through　him。　Phillips　and　his　15th　cohorts　were　already　up　and　hurrying　toward　their　VTs；　pale…faced　but　eager　wingmen…bat　virgins　the　lot　of　them…falling　in　behind。

Jack…stepped　down　from　the　missile　pallet　that　had　been　his　temporary　stage；　Karen　was　waiting　for　him；　a　grin　forming。

〃Cheer　up；　flyboy；〃　she　said；　linking　arms　with　him　as　he　approached。　〃For　what　it's　worth；　you'll　still　go　on　file　as　being　the　first　out。〃

Jack　snorted　sullenly。　〃Fame's　a　damned　fleeting　thing　these　days。〃


CHAPTER　EIGHT

The　elderly　spokesperson　for　what　remained　of　the　planetside　contingent　of　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross　introduced　herself　tome　as　'Regina　Newhope。'　The　woman's　associate…as　facially　scarred　and　ghoulish…locking　a　creature　as　I　have　ever　encountered…went　simply　by　the　name　‘Farnham。'　I　recall　thinking　at　the　time　that　there　was　something　strangely　familiar　about　the　pair　of　them；　something　I　wanted　to　connect　to　the　deceased　Lazlo　Zand。　Then；　when　I　subsequently　learned　that　Newhope's　real　name…her　pre…Invid　name…was　Millicent　Edgewick；　I　realized　that　the　Zand　connection　was　a　sound　one。　And　even　now　I'm　certain　that　‘Farnham'　was　none　other　than　the　First　Robotech　War's　most　wanted　political　criminal；　Senator　Alfonse　Napoleon　Russo。
Dr。　Harold　Penn；　quoted　in　Justine　Huxley's　I've　Been　to　a　Marvellous　Party　

The　REF　pilots　who　had　escorted　Scott　Bernard　to　New　York　were　ordered　to　return　the　colonel　and　his　alien　charge　directly　to　Norristown　rather　than　to　the　launch　pad　in　Venezuela。　The　Southlands　city…where　tech　crews　ferried　down　from　the　orbiting　Ark　Angel　had　been　working　overtime　to　clear　a　landing　zone　for　the　soon…to…be…arriving　dignitaries…had　been　selected　as　the　temporary　site　of　the　reunited　Earth　governments。

No　sooner　had　the　VT　set　down　than　Marlene　was　whisked　away　to　the　REF's　planetside　HQ　by　three　sinister…looking　men　from　G2　dressed　in　dark　suits　and　opaque　glasses。　Scott；　too；　was　hurried　off　to　yet　another　debriefing；　but　this　time　at　the　hands　of　the　intel　directorate　chief　himself；　former　Plenipotentiary　Councilman　Niles　Obstat；　the　balding　and　stoop…shouldered　old…guard　ally　of　Emil　Lang。　Unlike　the　neurometric　specialists　whose　job　it　had　been　to　evaluate　Scott's　psychological　state；　Obstat　was　interested　in　learning　all　he　could　about　the　political　climate　of　the　Southlands。　Which　towns　had　impressed　Scott　most？　Who　seemed　to　be　in　charge？　Who　controlled　the　wealth；　the　distribution　of　goods；　the　private　armies　and　fringe　groups？　Who　had　been　partisans；　and　who　had　been　sympathizers？　And　who　headed　up　the　quasi…religious　movements　like　the　Church　of　Recurrent　Tragedy　or　the　so…called　Interstellar　Retributionists？

Scott　answered　as　best　as　he　could；　covering　much　of　the　same　ground　he　had　covered　months　earlier。　Obstat　pursued　oblique　lines　of　questioning；　ever　on　the　alert　for　nuance；　personal　impressions；　the　recollection　of　some　seemingly　trivial　episode。

The　sessions　continued　for　two　days。　Scott　was　asked　to　thumb…print　oaths　and　papers　and　was　instructed　not　to　discuss　anything　about　the　SDF…3　or　the　returning　REF　with　〃downsiders；〃　which　he　understood　to　mean　planet…bound　Terrans　of　all　varieties。

Afterward　he　was　left　pretty　much　to　himself；　and　more　than　a　week　slipped　by。　Marlene　was　kept　inmunicado；　as　far　as　anyone　in　G2　was　concerned；　the　Invid　simulagent　was　military　property。　Besides；　as　someone　had　suggested　to　Scott；　she　was　a　lot　better　off　than　she　would　have　been　on　the　streets；　where　if　word　of　her　background　got　out　she　wouldn't　have　lasted　a　day。

He　didn't　fully　understand　the　reasons　for　all　the　secrecy　about　the　m