05_force_of_arms-第19部分

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m　her　tray。

〃If　you　insist；〃　he　said　lightly。

Gloval　was　rubbing　his　dark　mustache。　To　Maistroff；　he　said；　〃I　think　we're　missing　some　people；　aren't　we？〃

〃Some。〃　The　colonel　nodded。　〃But　they　should　be　arriving　any　minute　now。　In　fact；　this　may　be　them。〃

He　was　indicating　the　door　signal。　Max　and　Miriya　entered；　both　in　RDF　uniform。　Max　snapped　off　a　sharp　salute。　〃Sir。　Reporting　as　ordered。〃

Exedore　was　on　his　feet；　the　drink　put　aside。　〃Ah！　Hello；　Quadrono　Leader！〃

She　gasped　as　she　turned　to　him　and　saluted　by　reflex。　〃I'm　sorry；　sir；　I　didn't　realize　you　were　the　emissary。〃

He　shrugged　to　say　it　was　unimportant。　〃I　found　your　pairing　ritual…marriage？…quite。。。provocative。〃

She　didn't　know　what　to　say。　〃You　are　probably　wondering　why　we　did　it。〃

〃Yes；　just　as　you're　no　doubt　wondering　what　1　am　doing　here。　And　this　must　be　the　male　half　of　your　pair。〃

Suddenly　Miriya　looked　young　and　a　little　forlorn；　standing　before　the　great　genius　of　her　race；　the　Eldest；　the　repository　of　all　Zentraedi　lore。　〃Ah；　that's　right；　sir。〃

〃Gee；　y'　don't　sound　too　thrilled　about　it；〃　Max　murmured。　He　almost　gave　in　to　his　impulse　to　take　her　in　his　arms　and　kiss　her；　top　brass　or　no；　and　remind　her　emphatically　of　what　their　pairing　really　meant。

But　just　then　Rick　Hunter　reported　as　ordered；　saluting。　Then　he　spied　Max；　who　was　in　a　bit　of　a　snit。　〃Hey；　you　don't　look　so　good；〃　Rick　confided。

Exedore　was　still　on　his　feet。　Now；　he　pointed　at　Rick　and　Max；　yelling；　〃That's　it！〃　He　clucked　to　himself。　〃The　micronization　process　must　have　affected　my　memory！　You're　two　of　the　hostages　from　Dolza's　flagship；　aren't　you？〃

〃Does　somebody　want　to　tell　me　what's　going　on　here？〃　Rick　asked　slowly。

〃This　time　the　circumstances　are　a　bit　different；〃　Exedore　rattled　on　excitedly。　〃But　tell　me：　How　did　you　and　the　others　manage　to　escape？　Was　it　some　hidden　Micronian　power？〃

What　had　really　happened　was　that　Max　had　e　aboard　in　a　Battloid　disguised　in　a　Zentraedi　uniform；　but　Rick　wasn't　sure　he　should　let　that　particular　cat　out　of　the　bag。　He　didn't　see　Gloval　or　the　others　giving　him　any　help；　so　he　improvised；　〃Uh；　I　guess　you　could　say　that。〃

The　frail　little　emissary　sat；　fingering　his　jaw。　〃Hm；　another　one　of　your　military　secrets。〃　It　was　all　so　confusing　and　illogical；　even　to　him。　Who　knew　what　eons　of　eating　live　food　had　done　to　these　creatures？

The　door　signaled　again；　and　Gloval　said；　〃Here　are　the　others　now。〃　Rico；　Bron；　and　Konda　filed　into　the　hearing　chamber。　They　caught　sight　of　him　and　cringed　as　he　gave　them　a　death's…head　smile。

〃It's　Minister　Exedore！〃　they　all　yelped　at　once；　looking　like　mice　facing　a　hungry　lynx。

〃I　did　not　expect　to　see　the　instigators　of　our　mass　defection　show　up　here　today；〃　he　remarked。

Trembling；　Rico　drew　himself　up。　〃Your　Excellency；　it　wasn't　our　fault！〃

〃That's　right！　It　was　just　something　that　we　couldn't　help！〃　Konda　put　in。　And　the　stout　Bron　maintained；　〃We　had　no　control；　sir！〃

Exedore　brushed　that　aside　with　a　prim　flick　of　his　fingers。　〃You　may　relax。　I　have　no　intention　of　harming　you。〃

The　breath　they　let　out　was　audible　as　they　wilted　with　relief。　When　everyone　was　seated；　Colonel　Maistroff　said；　〃Captain　Gloval；　the　ship's　puter　will　record　the　proceedings。〃

Gloval　squared　his　cap　away。　〃Very　good；　let　us　begin。〃　To　Exedore　he　said；　〃Minister；　we　are　unclear　as　to　the　exact　purpose　of　your　mission　here。　You've　told　us　very　little　so　far。　Won't　you　please　enlighten　us？〃

Exedore's　eyes　swept　across　them。　〃Your　curiosity　is　understandable；　but…not　everyone　is　present　yet；　Captain。〃

〃What？〃　Maistroff　growled　under　his　breath。

〃We　would　like　to　know　more　about　two　of　your　kind；　gentlemen。　The　first　possesses　powers　and　fighting　skills　that　are　truly　extraordinary；　and　there　is　a　female　who　is　the　core　of　your　psychological　assault。〃

〃Incredible；〃　mumbled　Gloval；　watching　Exedore。

Colonel　Maistroff　had　read　some　of　the　defector　debriefing　reports。　In　an　aside　to　Gloval　he　said；　〃I　think　he　means　that　movie；　Little　White　Dragon。　They　must've　seen　it　too；　and　think　Lynn…Kyle's　movie　stunts　were　for　real。〃

Little　White　Dragon　was　the　first　feature　film　produced　on　the　SDF…1。　It　featured　Lynn…Kyle　in　some　spectacular　stunts　and　fights；　downing　ferocious　giants　with　his　fighting　arts　and　using　a　death　beam　that　he　could　shoot　from　his　hand　thanks　to　an　enchanted　medallion。

〃There　is　clearly　a　misunderstanding　here；〃　Gloval　told　Maistroff。　To　Exedore　he　declared；　〃I　can't　think　of　anyone　who　would　be　at　the　core　of　a　psychological　assault。　It　would　be　helpful　if　you　could　be　more　specific　about　this　female。〃

Exedore　blinked　at　him　with　bulging；　pinpoint…pupiled　eyes。　〃She　appears　to　be　performing　some　kind　of　ritual。　A　strange　little　chant。〃

Bron　leaned　over　to　his　fellow　ex…spies。　〃Do　you　think　he　means…〃

〃No！　He　couldn't！〃　Konda　whispered。

〃Sure　he　could！〃　snarled　Rico。

〃You　know；〃　Exedore　said　impatiently。　And　he　rose　to　stand　next　to　the　witness　chair；　strike　a　coquettish　pose；　and　sing：

Stage　fright；　go　'way；
This　is　my　big　day！


Rick　groaned；　not　wanting　to　be　the　first　to　say　anything。　If　he　wasn't　seeing　what　he　thought　he　was　seeing；　Colonel　Maistroff　would　probably　report　him　to　the　flight　surgeon　and　get　him　grounded　on　a　mental。

But　the　three　spies　burst　out；　〃He　is　talking　about　Minmei！〃

Exedore　went　on　singing　〃Stage　Fright〃　with　a　terrible；　cracking　falsetto　that　was　seriously　off　key。　He　struck　poses　and　postures　that　looked　like　he　was　auditioning　for　Yum…Yum　in　an　amateur　production　of　The　Mikado。

Gloval　drew　his　head　down　into　his　high；　rolled　jacket　collar　like　a　turtle；　making　a　low　sound。　〃I　do　not　believe　this。〃

〃They　must　think　Minmei's　singing　is　a　weapon　of　some　kind；〃　Maistroff　observed。

〃Have　the　girl　brought　here；〃　Gloval　ordered。　〃And　her　cousin　as　well。〃　Then　he　tried　to　figure　out　what　the　most　direct　and　yet　diplomatic　method　would　be　for　asking　the　emissary　to　please　stop　singing。


As　soon　as　Minmei　appeared　in　the　doorway；　Exedore　cried；　〃That's　her！　Yes！〃

She　stood　looking　around　like　a　startled　deer。　A　moment　later；　Kyle　slouched　into　the　room；　sulking　and　hostile；　saying；　〃I'm　getting　tired　of　being　pushed　around　by　the　military。〃

〃Now；〃　Minmei　said　in　a　tired　voice；　〃would　someone　mind　explaining　why　it　was　so　important　for　us　to　e　here？〃

She　was　as　beautiful　as　ever；　delicate　and　haunting　as　a　princess　from　a　fairy　tale；　try　as　he　would；　Rick　couldn't　keep　the　familiar　longing　from　welling　up　in　him。

Kyle　stepped　before　her　as　if　to　shield　her　from　harm；　glaring　all　around。　〃Don't　expect　any　answers　from　them。　They　only　care　about　their　fascist　war　schemes；　they　don't　care　about　people；　and　they…〃

〃Enough　of　this　nonsense！〃　Gloval　thundered；　and　even　the　truculent　Lynn…Kyle　was　a　bit　intimidated。　Exedore　thought　how　like　the　great　Breetai　this　Micronian　mander　was。

〃You　will　answer　our　questions；〃　Gloval　said　to　the　two　of　them。　〃These　proceedings　are　strictly　classified；　and　if　you　mention　them　to　anyone；　I　will　personally　see　that　you　rue　this　day。　You　will　give　us　your　total　cooperation。　Do　you　both　understand？〃

〃Yes。〃　Minmei　nodded。　When　Kyle　stood　unspeaking；　unresponsive；　she　put　a　hand　to　his　shoulder。　〃They　need　our　cooperation。　Hostility　won't　do　us　any　good；　don't　you　see？〃

Gloval　had　turned　to　Exedore；　he　let　his　irritation　show　in　his　voice。　〃Now；　Mr。　Minister；　if　you　would　kindly　tell　us　what　your　mission　here　is　all　about？〃　He　began　stoking　up　a　favorite　meerschaum。

〃All　in　its　proper　sequence；〃　Exedore　said　earnestly。　〃But　I　assure　you：　My　reason　for　being　here　is　of　crucial　importance　for　you　as　well　as　for　the　Zentraedi。〃

Gloval　puffed　out　a　blue　cloud　that　his　officers　tried　to　ignore。　Reading　this　alien's　mind　is　impossible；　he　reflected。　The　song　and　dance　had　convinced　him　of　that。　I'll　just　have　to　wait　and　hear　him　out。


In　the　UEDC's　subterranean　plex；　Lisa　Hayes　sat　at　the　end　of　long　rows　of　techs　who　were　manning　monitor　screens。　All　attention　was　focused　on　the　SDF…1；　Lisa　had　gotten　the　impression；　in　subtle　ways；　that　the　world　rulers　were　chewing　their　nails；　waiting　to　see　what　would　happen。

She　had　stopped　wishing　that　she　was　back　onboard　to　help　in　what　was　going　on；　it　hurt　too　much。　The　emergency；　the　shortage　of　good　officers；　the　dangers　of　space　travel　during　the　current　hostilities；　the　fact　that　she　had　had　access　to　classified　UEDC　information；　her　value　as　an　intelligence　source…her　father　had　a　dozen　justifications　for　keeping　her　right　where　she　was；　and　there　was　little　she　could　do　about　it。

Now；　she　stared　up　at　her　own　master　console。　The　more　she　learned　about　the　Grand　Cannon；　the　more　convinced　she　was　that　it　would　serve　little　purpose　except　to　get　the　Zentraedi　angrier。

She　started；　realizing　that　her　father　had　e　in　to　bend　down　near　her。　The　other　technical　officers　and　enlisted　ratings　kept　diligently　at　their　work；　it　was　unwise　to　be　seen　letting　one's　attention　stray　when　Admiral　Hayes　was　around。

She　was　beginning　to　understand　that　her　father　wasn't　a　popular　officer。　She　had　never　found　it　easy　to　make　friends；　and　now　that　she　was　known　as　the　admiral's　daughter；　she　was　effectively　frozen　out。

She　removed　her　headset　in　time　to　hear　him　say；　〃How　do　you　like　your　new　job？　Everything　okay？〃

〃Fine；　fine；〃　she　lied；　and　attempted　to　smile。　〃I　understand　that　the　SDF…1　and　the　Zentraedi　fleet　have　reached　a　cease…fire　agreement。〃

〃That's　what　I　hear；〃　her　father　said　nonmittally。

She　tried　to　sound　as　upbeat　as　she　could。　〃Well；　if　things　keep　going　this　way；　maybe　we　won't　have　to　use　the　Grand　Cannon；　after　all。

〃It's　possible；　but　I　doubt　it。〃

She　turned　away；　dropping　her　eyes　in　discouragement。　They　were　all　so　blind　down　here　in　their　little　rabbit　warren！　Then　she　felt　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Listen；　Lisa。　We　can't　trust　the　Zentraedi；　we　have　to　prove　what　we　can　do。〃

It　would　do　no　good　to　tell　him　again　that　the　SDF…1's　main　gun　was　easily　a　match　for　the　Grand　Cannon；　and　it　hadn't　kept　the　Zentraedi　from　waging　their　war。　The　UEDC　planners；　engineers；　and　rulers　had　too　much　at　stake　and　only　scoffe