18_the_end_of_the_circle-第46部分

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〃But　more　importantly；　destroying　the　Awareness　will　not　guarantee　that　Haydon　is　powerless；　far　from　it。　I　implore　you　all　to　hold　back。　Exedore　and　I　are　trying　to　develop　some　kind　of　defense　to　keep　the　artificial　planet　at　bay。〃

What　he　did　not　tell　them　was　that　if　worse　came　to　worst；　he　and　the　micronized　Zentraedi　meant　to　destroy　the　matrix　utterly。　The　residents　of　the　Local　Group　looked　to　it　as　their　only　hope　of　salvation。

Captain　Prah；　the　Spherisian；　answered。　Her　ship；　the　Quartzstar；　was　the　newest；　smallest；　and　most　beautiful　of　all　the　Local　Group　vessels。　Spheris　was　perhaps　the　least　warlike　of　the　allies；　and　so　Cabell　hoped　for　some　word　of　moderation　from　her。

But　she　said　in　a　voice　that　had　a　high　crystal　ring　to　it；　〃We　cannot　risk　Haydon's　gaining　the　ultimate　power　of　the　matrix；　nor　can　we　gamble　the　lives　of　Tirol's　people。　Therefore；　unless　this　weapon　of　yours　is　forthing；　the　flotilla　will　advance　and　engage　Haydon　IV　as　soon　as　it　appears　in　this　system。〃

〃I　am　Zentraedi；〃　Exedore　said；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　〃I　understand　your　feelings。　Nonetheless；　I　beg　you　to　reconsider。　〃

The　captains'　silence　was　as　emphatic　as　any　spoken　refusal。

〃Go；　then；〃　Cabell　told　the　captains。　〃Exedore　and　I　will　see　if　Protoculture　has　any　secrets　left　to　teach　us。〃


Over　and　over；　during　the　headlong　days　of　the　Flower　harvest；　her　hand　went　to　her　sidearm　and　she　drew　a　breath　to　summon　those　guardswomen　who　were　still　faithful　to　her；　to　go　out　and　stop　the　collection；　prevent　the　delivery　to　orbit；　or　die　trying。

But　each　time；　Bela's　hand　unwillingly　released　the　gun's　grip。　To　do　that　would　mean　fighting　and　killing　her　Sisters　and　make　her　worse　than　Haydon；　worse　than　an　Invid。　What　was　to　happen　now　was　beyond　her　power　to　control。

In　time　the　cargo　ship　lifted　off；　climbing　to　orbit　on　its　antiproton…power　trail。　It　was　gone　for　more　than　ten　hours；　off…loading　its　Flower　cargo　and　taking　aboard　the　promised　modules。　When　it　made　planetfall　again；　it　seemed　as　though　every　childless　woman　on　the　planet　was　waiting　to　greet　it；　to　help　in　assembling　the　modules。

Haydon　and　Her　works　remained　an　enigma；　the　modules；　once　activated；　shifted　position　and　assembled　themselves；　the　Amazons　not　daring　to　interfere　or　try　to　probe　the　secrets　of　Her　devices。

Still　Bela　sat　in　her　aerie；　glaring　down　the　central　boulevard　of　Zanshar。　Dawn　rose　on　a　plaza　from　which　the　cloning　facility　had　vanished；　replaced　by　a　Whaashi。　A　lottery　was　being　held　in　the　open　square　for　a　fair　and　orderly　allocation　of　access　to　the　place　of　miracles。

When　the　first　woman　entered　the　Whaashi；　Bela　rose　from　her　place　and　went　to　her　palace's　mand　center。　There　she　watched　on　a　projecbeam　screen　as　Haydon　IV　got　under　way　again。

She　expected　to　see　a　planet　restored　to　high…sheen；　flawless　max…function；　but　it　was　not　so。　It　looked　as　if　there　had　been　some　repairs；　and　certainly　the　artificial　world　was　maneuvering　powerfully　and　quickly；　but　signs　of　damage　were　still　to　be　seen。

Then　Haydon　IV　was　gone；　superluminal。　Bela　manded　her　techs　to　make　yet　another　attempt　to　establish　contact　with　Tirol　despite　the　interference　that　had　been　frustrating　them　thus　far。

Curse　the　Shapings！


With　Aurora's　hand　on　the　tiller　or　rather；　her　mind　guiding　the　Peter　Pan　through　a　modified　〃thinking　cap〃　（she　refused　to　have　anything　to　do　with　Louie's　cyber…sockets；　and　Max　and　Miriya　would　not　have　permitted　it；　anyway）　the　sphere　ship　emerged　into　newspace。

It　was　as　if　an　encasing　bubble　had　popped；　all　around　them　were　stars　and　nebulas；　and　nearby　the　Super　Dimensional　Fortress　swung　in　orbit　over　a　world　swathed　in　the　white　clouds　indicative　of　a　living　planet。

〃We　took　longer　to　get　here　than　the　SDF…3；〃　she　explained；　〃because　our　drive　is　so　different；　and　so　was　our　route　through　Ranaath's　Star。〃　Dr。　Penn；　Louie；　and　the　rest　did　not　get　to　find　out　why；　because　Lisa　Hunter's　face　appeared　on　the　main　projecbeam　imager　and　her　voice　rang　from　the　speakers。

〃Attention；　unknown　vessel。　Attention　Aurora！　Vince！　Max；　Miriya條ord；　it's　good　to　see　you　all！〃

A　lot　of　people　on　the　Peter　Pan　were　trying　to　talk　at　the　same　time；　Aurora　being　a　notable　exception。　Vince　silenced　them　with　one　stern　mand。　〃At　ease！〃

Lisa　went　on。　〃The　children　said　you　were　ing。　Vince；　I　have　to　warn　you：　There's　no　guarantee　you　won't　be　stranded　here；　too；　unless　you　get　out　of　newspace　now；　this　moment。〃

Louie　Nichols　had　crowded　up　next　to　Vince；　recognizing　Lisa　from　old　newscasts；　tapes；　and　having　seen　her　once　in　person　during　the　SDF…3　launch　ceremonies。　〃I　think　we've　got　a　handle　on　that；　Admiral。〃

Vince　frowned　at　Louie　but　tolerated　the　intrusion。　〃Lisa；　d'　you　have　maneuvering　power？〃

〃Barely；　Vince。〃

〃No　problem。　If　you'll　hold　your　present　orbit；　I'll　match　up　with　you。〃　Harry　Penn　was　studying　his　instruments　and　giving　Vince　a　can…do　nod。

〃Very　good。　I'll　convene　an　emergency　conference。　We　can　begin　transferring　personnel　to　your　ship　right　away。〃　Vince　drew　a　deep　breath　but　decided　not　to　contradict　her　quite　so　publicly。　It　might　cause　serious　morale　problems　maybe　even　a　breakdown　in　discipline…to　announce　that　nobody　was　going　anywhere　for　a　while。

The　main　delay　in　docking　ships　was　necessitated　by　Peter　Pan's　techs　having　to　fit　external　securing　gear　on　the　outer　hull。　But　two　hours　later　the　mated　air　locks　opened；　and　despite　the　strain　of　the　crisis；　there　was　a　reunion　that　made　the　bulkheads　rattle。

Lisa　had　left　Forsythe　in　mand　of　the　bridge。　She　waited　on　the　SDF…3's　side　of　the　lock；　since　it　was　roomier。　Vince　stepped　through　from　Peter　Pan；　they　saluted　each　other；　and　then　he　swept　her　up　in　a　laughing　hug。　Rick　did　not　bother　with　salutes；　throwing　his　arms　around　Jean　and　bussing　her　soundly。

Restraint　and　order　broke　down；　with　more　hugging；　joy；　and　laughter　than　any　of　them　could　recall　in　a　long　time。　Vince　was　in　no　position　to　object；　since　he　no　sooner　released　Lisa　than　he　was…confronted　by　his　son。　Bowie　held　out　a　hand　shyly。　〃Hello；　Dad。〃

Vince　took　it　and　shook　it；　but　Jean　threw　her　arms　around　Bowie　and　kissed　him　over　and　over；　laughing　even　though　there　were　tears　streaming　from　her　eyes。　Musica　and　Allegra　watched　from　one　side；　fascinated。　Then　Jean　embraced　them。

The　two　groups　met　and　mingled　in　individual　encounters　that　varied　greatly。　Dana　managed　to　clutch　both　Sean　and　Marie　to　her　and　at　the　same　time　kiss　a　strangely　blushing　Angelo　Dante；　while　Gnea　looked　on　dubiously。　Harry　Penn　embraced　his　daughter　and　spared　a　handclasp；　albeit　a　cool　one；　for　Jack　Baker。　Scott　Bernard　led　Marlene　over　by　the　hand　to　meet　Lang；　who　seemed　subdued；　even　shy；　out　in　public　like　that。　Kazianna　sat　to　one　side；　not　wanting　to　trample　anybody；　but　knelt　to　exchange　kisses；　like　humans；　with　her　old　rade…in…arms　Miriya。　Angie　saw　Dana's　face　go　blank　and　distant　as　she　caught　sight　of　Rem。

Minutes　went　by　before　Miriya　realized　that　Aurora　was　not　anywhere　to　be　seen。　She　mouthed　the　name　to　Max；　and　he　shrugged　helplessly　while　Rick　Hunter　pumped　his　hand　and　pounded　him　on　the　back。　Then　Miriya　realized　that　there　was　a　spreading　pool　of　silence　over　by　Peter　Pan's　lock　and　another　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　partment。　The　crowd　went　silent　by　degrees；　being　aware　that　Aurora　waited　on　one　side；　Roy　and　Drannin　and　the　SDF…3　children　on　the　other。

Some　had　not　seen　the　children's　glowing；　otherworldly　eyes　before；　there　were　murmurings　and　uneasy　shiftings　in　the　crowd。　People　instinctively　made　way　until　the　children　and　Aurora　were　staring　at　each　other　over　a　gap　of　empty　deck。　Aurora　and　Roy　moved　at　the　same　time；　drawing　close　like　kids　in　a　pretend　wedding。

When　they　came　together；　they　took　each　other's　hands；　and　a　crackle　of　blue　radiance　startled　the　grown…ups。　Aurora　informed　her　parents；　〃The　others　and　I　must　talk。〃

Roy　led　her　over　into　the　circle　of　lamp…eyed　youngsters；　and　the　group　headed　for　the　lock。　Lisa　wanted　to　haul　them　back；　but　Jean　put　a　restraining　hand　on　her　arm。　〃We　need　to　talk；　too；　Lisa。〃

With　some　difficulty；　Lisa　cut　the　core　leadership　people　out　of　the　herd　and　got　them　across　the　passageway　to　the　conference　partment。　Vince　and　his　essential　people　came；　too；　while　the　rest　of　the　celebrants　repaired　to　a　nearby　rec　hall　to　carry　on　with　the　reunion。

〃We've　run　some　calculations；〃　Lisa　began　before　everyone　was　seated。　〃I　want　to　get　all　personnel　evacuated…in　one　hop　if　you　have　sufficient　deck　space。　Even　if　that　means　we'll　be　sitting　on　each　other　and　take　only　the　clothes　on　our　backs。　〃

Rick　had　been　watching　the　troubled　look　on　Vince's　face　and　braced　himself　as　the　general　spoke。　〃Lisa；　I'm　not　sure　we　have　any　place　to　go　back　to。　Whatever　it　is　that　happened　when　you　were　drawn　here；　it's　affecting　the　universe。　Louie；　maybe　you'd　better　take　over。〃

Louie　rose；　adjusting　his　black　goggles；　his　grin　ing　and　going　in　tics。　He　launched　into　a　recap　of　what　had　happened；　the　SDFers　interrupting　with　intermittent　questions　but　for　the　most　part　listening。

The　transcendence　of　the　Regis　and　her　race；　the　appearance　of　Ark　Angel　in　Earthspace；　the　search　expedition　for　the　SDF…3　and　the　battle　at　Ranaath's　Star…Louie　recounted　it　all　succinctly；　although　Lisa　noticed　that　he　described　the　strange　psi…contact　between　the　SDF…3's　children　and　Aurora　in　oddly　neutral　terms；　apparently　not　wanting　to　offer　much　theory　about　that　just　yet。

Lang　watched　Nichols；　that　Robotech　up…and…er。　The　scientist；　having　studied　some　of　Louie's　brilliantly　insightful　work；　became　convinced　nonetheless　that　Louie　saw　the　solving　of　the　mysteries　of　Protoculture　not　as　a　holy　pursuit　and　the　search　for　the　Grail　but　rather　as　some　immense　and　rather　elite　game。

So：　there　was　Rem　the　reborn　template；　and　Nichols　the　secular　adept；　along　with　all　the　others…half…breeds；　Wyrdlings；　mind…savants；　and　the　rest…gathered　in　one　place　at　last。　But　none　of　them　could　occupy　the　place　in　the　Shapings　that　Lang　could。

If　only　he　had　the　strength　to　seize　it。


CHAPTER　THIRTY

In　that　happy…yet…sad　reunion　with　the　people　from　Peter　Pan；　I　felt　one　special　pang