05_force_of_arms-第46部分

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th　a　smile　Lisa　almost　begrudged　her。

The　very　most　secret　eyes…only　reports　boiled　down　to　the　fact　that　nobody　could　quite　figure　out　how　Max　and　Miriya　had　had　Dana；　their　baby　girl。　But　as　proved　by　exhaustive　tests；　the　child　was　indisputably　theirs。

No　Zentraedi　male…female　reproduction　had　ever　been　recorded；　making　the　whole　thing　that　much　more　extraordinary。　The　likelier　explanations　had　to　do　with　Miriya's　consumption　of　human…style　food　as　opposed　to　the　antiseptic　rations　of　the　Zentraedi　and　her　exposure　to　emotions　that　had　worked　subtle　biochemical　changes　on　her。　The　word　〃Protoculture〃　cropped　up　again　and　again　in　the　reports；　only　nobody　seemed　to　understand　quite　what　it　was；　at　least　nobody　outside　the　charmed；　secretive　circle　of　Lang；　Exedore；　and　a　few　others。

Like　a　lot　of　women　and　quite　a　few　men；　Lisa　sometimes　thought　all　that　was　a　crock。　Miriya　and　Max　were　in　love；　and　so：　little　Dana。

She　looked　at　the　three　of　them；　and　for　a　moment　Max　wore　Rick's　face；　and　Miriya　wore　Lisa's。　The　SDF…2　would　soon　be　ready　for　space　trials；　but　that　didn't　mean　the　First　Officer　couldn't　have　a　family。　The　starship　had　been　built　for　a　long　voyage；　for　children　as　well　as　men　and　women。

Max　and　Miriya　and　their　baby　resumed　their　way；　and　Lisa　watched　them　go。　They　look　so　happy。　If　only　I　could　make　Rick　understand！

Just　then；　though；　two　RDF　boot　trainees　wandered　up　to　the　caf？with　a　street…blaster　stereo。　The　well…remembered　voice　boomed；

And　the　thrill　that　I　feel
Is　really　unreal。


〃Hew！　That　little　mama　sure　can　sing；〃　the　first　one　said；　whistling。　〃I'd　give　a　month's　pay　to　meet　her。〃

The　other　blew　his　breath　out　sarcastically　as　the　pair　sat　down　a　few　tables　away。　〃Sure；　buddy。　Then　she　takes　you　away　and　signs　over　the　deed　to　her　diamond　mine　to　you；　right？〃

The　first　one　made　a　very　sour　face　and　signaled　the　waitress。　On　the　eardrum　agitator；　Minmei　sang；

I　can't　believe　I've　e　this　far。
This　is　my　chance　to　be　a　star！


There　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　way　I　can　avoid　you；　Minmei！

Lisa　collected　her　purse　and　left　her　money　on　the　salver；　then　rose　and　headed　off　down　the　boulevard。

She　was　so　caught　up　in　her　own　thoughts；　regrets；　and　preoccupations　that　she　didn't　realize…had　never　realized…how　many　admiring　glances　she　drew。　She　was　a　willowy；　athletic　young　woman　with　brown　hair　billowing　behind　her；　a　delicate　plexion；　and　a　distant　look　in　her　eyes。　Her　insignia　and　decorations　were　enough　to　make　any　vet；　male　or　female；　take　notice　of　her。

If　there　were　an　artistic　petition　for　the　concept　WINNER；　a　simple　photo　of　Lisa　at　that　moment　would　have　won　it。　Women　in　particular　looked　at　her；　her　sure　stride　and　air　of　confidence；　and　made　various　resolutions　to　be　more　like　this　self…confident　superwoman；　whoever　she　was。

But　that　wasn't　the　way　it　felt　to　Lisa。　She　allowed　herself　a　rueful　half　smile。　I　guess　when　the　aces　were　dealt　out；　it　just　wasn't　in　the　cards　for　me　to　get　the　one　I　want。

It　was　near　enough　to　a　joke　to　make　her　smile　cheerlessly。　She　quickened　her　pace；　off　to　report　to　the　SDF…2。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR

I've　seen　people　like　Lynn…Kyle　before。　I'm　prepared　to　believe　that　he　hates　war；　who　among　us　does　not？
But　he　has　the　attitude；　set　in　concrete；　that　virtue　is　measured　by　one's　disaffection　from　the　power　structure　under　which　one　lives。　Such　a　person　builds　a　fortress　of　self…serving　piety；　resisting　authority　of　any　kind　at　every　turn　whether　for　good　or　ill。
The　RDF　will　continue　to　defend　to　the　death　the　freedoms　that　make　this　possible。
From　the　log　of　Captain　Henry　Gloval

〃What　a　crummy　hole！〃

Lynn…Kyle　threw　his　arms　wide　to　take　in　Granite　City；　off　to　one　side；　and　the　wastelands　all　around　it。

Minmei　sat　despondently　on　a　piece　of　rotting　Zentraedi　alloy；　hugging　her　knees　to　her　chest；　a　pink　jacket　draped　over　her　shoulders　against　the　evening　chill；　watching　him　take　another　slug　from　the　bottle　of　brandy　that　seemed　to　be　his　constant　panion　these　days。

Things　had　gone　steadily　downhill　since　Vance　Hasslewood　had　moved　up　in　the　world　to　bee　a　booking　agent　and　aspiring　theater　maven；　leaving　Minmei's　cousin；　costar；　and　lover　to　take　over　the　duties　of　manager。　Lynn…Kyle's　interests　went　far　beyond　show　business；　and　he　had　e　to　realize　that　his　own　fame　and　popularity　were　only　a　pale　reflection　of　hers。

Now　he　paused。　〃Lousiest　booking　so　far！〃　Then　he　threw　back　another　several　ounces；　making　her　wince。

Kyle　wiped　his　mouth　on　the　back　of　his　hand；　staining　the　purple　cuff　of　his　suit。　〃Let's　get　out　of　this　burg！　It's　disgusting！〃

He　was　red…eyed　and　close　to　the　edge；　but　she　said　what　was　on　her　mind　anyway；　she　had　held　it　back　long　enough。　〃Do　you　have　to　drink　so　much？〃

〃Listen；　don't　change　the　subject！〃　he　slurred。　〃We　didn't　even　get　any　money！　This　is　our　whole　paycheck！〃

He　toed　over　a　wilted　cardboard　box；　out　spilled　some　canned　goods；　bath　soap　and　so　forth；　a　few　vegetables…the　same　dole　everyone　else　in　Granite　City　was　living　on。　Even　though　Granite　refused　to　recognize　the　new　Earth　government's　authority；　the　government　gave　what　help　it　could；　without　it；　the　city　couldn't　have　kept　functioning。

〃A　stinkin'　handout　from　our　military　overlords！〃

〃And　what　else　do　we　need　for　survival？〃　she　asked　him；　watching　his　eyes。　Two　years　with　Kyle　had　made　her　older；　much　older。

〃Have　you　given　any　thought　to　taking　in　a　little　cash　for　a　change？〃　he　snarled。

She　came　to　her　feet；　the　jacket　clutched　to　her。　〃No；　I　haven't！〃

If　it　was　going　to　be　another　argument；　she　decided；　this　time　she　was　going　to　get　a　few　things　off　her　mind。　〃This　was　supposed　to　be　a　benefit　concert　for　those　poor　people　who're　trying　to　make　their　lives　work　in　Granite；　not　some　big…deal　career　move　for　Lynn…Minmei！〃

She　had　him；　and　they　both　knew　it。　All　at　once　his　ranting　sounded　like　empty　talk。　He　was　suddenly　contrite。　〃Aw；　c'mon；　Minmei。　You　know　I　didn't　mean　anything　like　that。〃　It　was　not　quite　a　whine；　but　somehow　it　only　made　her　detest　him　more。

She　knelt　and　began　picking　up　the　things　he　had　spilled；　brushing　dirt　from　them。　〃We're　getting　paid　like　everyone　else　is；　in　the　things　that　keep　us　alive。　I　think　we　should　show　a　little　appreciation。〃

That　made　him　cough　on　the　mouthful　of　brandy　he　was　chugging。　He　almost　finished　the　bottle；　and　his　mood　swung　end　for　end；　as　quick　as　his　martial…arts　moves　used　to　be。

〃Appreciation？　I　should　appreciate　the　great　military　mentality　that　brought　us　to　this？〃　He　opened　his　arms　as　if　to　embrace　the　blighted　world。

She　straightened　and　met　his　stare。　〃Earth　was　attacked；　and　it　fought　back。　I　don't　want　to　hear　anybody　knocking　the　military。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　them；　I　wouldn't　be　alive　right　now。　And　for　that　matter；　neither　would　you。〃

So；　we　e　to　the　core　of　the　matter；　he　thought　blearily。

That　moment　on　the　SDF…1；　with　a　planet　dying　at　his　feet　and　great　fleets　slaying　one　another　while　he　kissed　her；　was　two　years　behind　him。　And　yet　it　played　over　and　over　in　memory；　as　fresh　as　if　it　had　happened　that　afternoon。

The　secret　that　glowed　in　him　like　a　reflex　furnace；