15_death_dance-第12部分

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tire　of　the　game。　Would　this　Tesla　be　able　to　confirm　his　suspicions？　he　wondered；　making　a　note　to　have　the　returnees　monitored　at　all　times。　〃Now；　what　was　it　you　were　saying　before？〃

The　simulagent　tore　himself　from　concerns　about　the　possible　consequences　of　encountering　Tesla。　〃I…I　was　about　to　make　you　an　offer；　I　think。〃

Edwards　waited　for　him　to　continue；　then　laughed。　〃Well；　go　ahead…let's　lay　our　cards　on　the　table。〃

The　simulagent　held　up　a　hand。　〃Three　planets…yours　for　the　choosing。　Free　access　to　all　the　other　worlds　I　control…a　limited　partnership…and　last；　my　help　in　realizing　your；　dreams；　shall　we　say。〃

Edwards　felt　his　jaw。　〃In　exchange　for　the　brain。。。〃

〃And　Tesla。。。〃

〃And　Tesla。〃

〃And　one　thing　more。〃

Edwards's　brow　went　up。

〃I　want　Minmei。〃


Wolff　and　pany　stepped　out　of　the　module　and　onto　the　deck　of　the　SDF…3　docking　bay　to　the　sound　of　cheers…a　few；　at　any　rate；　from　a　section　led　on　by　Emil　Lang；　Lord　Exedore；　and　several　staff　officers。　And　it　was　Lang　who　clasped　Wolff's　hand　and　wrist；　as　if　he　had　never　been　so　happy　to　see　someone。　Behind　him；　Janice　was　getting　the　same　treatment；　Sarna；　Burak；　and　Tesla　were　all　but　ignored。

〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃　Wolff　asked　the　scientist　straightaway。　〃You've　got　half　the　Invid　fleet　out　there！〃

〃There's　much　to　discuss；〃　Lang　shouted　as　press　and　officers　jostled　one　another　to　get　close。　〃But　tell　me…the　others…Rick　and　Lisa…〃

〃They're　alive；〃　Wolff　returned；　buffeted　about　by　the　crowd。　〃But　they　won't　be　much　longer　if　we　don't　get　a　rescue　ship　to　Praxis。〃

Lang　frowned。　〃Well；　we　have　to　see　about　that。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　'see　about　that'？〃　Wolff　gestured　back　to　the　module。　〃We　didn't　have　enough　fuel　to　jump　back；　but　Praxis…〃

〃Things　have　changed；〃　Lang　told　him；　just　loud　enough　to　be　heard。　〃We　have　to　talk。〃

Wolff　felt　something　acidic　wash　through　him。　All　the　while　he　had　been　answering　Lang's　questions；　his　eyes　had　been　darting　around　the　hold；　searching　for　some　sign　of　Minmei。　Now；　after　seeing　a　hundred　Invid　ships　anchored　in　Fantomaspace；　and　with　Lang's　portentous　whisperings　in　his　ear；　he　found　her；　and　the　sight　only　served　to　double　his　dread。　She　was　standing　alongside　Edwards；　among　that　unresponsive　group；　offering　him　a　weak　and　pathetic　smile。

〃e；　Colonel；〃　Lang　was　saying；　one　hand　at　Wolff's　elbow；　〃we　must　hurry。〃

Wolff　pulled　away　and　craned　his　neck　to　catch　another　sight　of　Minmei；　but　Edwards's　contingent　was　already　leaving　the　bay；　and　she　was　lost　in　the　crowd。

〃Listen；　Lang；　I　need　a　minute；〃　Wolff　said；　up　on　his　toes　now。

Lang　turned　around　to　track　Wolff's　gaze；　then　he　took　hold　of　him　more　firmly；　more　urgently。　〃The　council　is　ready　to　hear　you。　Everything　hinges　on　this。〃

〃Look；　I　just　wanted　to…〃

〃I　know。　I　understand；〃　Lang　added　after　a　moment。　〃But　things　have　changed；　man。　Aren't　you　listening　to　me？　Think　about　your　friends。〃

Wolff　started　to　say　something　rash；　but　checked　himself；　slicking　back　his　hair　in　a　gesture　of　exhaustion。　〃I'm　sorry；　Lang。〃　He　turned　and　motioned　Janice　and　Sarna　forward；　then　pointed　to　Burak　and　Tesla。　〃I　want　these　two　placed　in　lockup。〃　Peripherally；　Wolff　caught　Lang's　look。　〃I'll　explain；〃　he　told　him。

As　everyone　began　to　move　off；　Lang　mentioned　that　the　Regent　had　e　to　Tirol　of　his　own　volition；　that　he　was　in　fact　on　the　fortress　at　that　very　moment。

Wolff　made　a　surprised　sound…but　not　half　the　one　Tesla　uttered　at　overhearing　the　statement。　Wolff　was　too　wrapped　up　in　Lang's　subsequent　remarks　to　hear　it；　however；　but　had　he　turned；　he　would　have　seen　the　look　of　near　rapture　on　the　Invid's　suffused　face。


The　Plenipotentiary　Council　convened　in　extraordinary　session　to　listen　to　Colonel　Wolff's　report　and　hear　out　his　requests。　Because　both　Janice　and　Sarna　were　〃civilians〃　according　to　the　council's　guidelines；　Wolff　had　to　face　the　twelve　alone。　The　session　was　held　in　the　council's　private　chambers　aboard　the　fortress；　with　the　usual　secretaries　and　officials　in　attendance。　Representing　the　RDF　were　Generals　Reinhardt　and　Edwards。　Wolff　had　yet　to　learn　about　Edwards's　relationship　with　Minmei；　but　he　loathed　the　man　nonetheless。　Lang　had　instructed　Wolff　before　the　session　convened　to　meet　with　him　afterward　in　the　scientist's　quarters。　〃No　matter　what　the　oute；〃　Lang　had　said。　And　those　words　were　repeating　themselves　now　as　Wolff　stood　before　the　council　recapping　the　events　of　the　past　four　months。

〃。。。But　it　appears　that　the　Praxians　abandoned　their　world　for　good　reason；〃　Wolff　was　concluding　a　short　time　later。　〃Praxis　is　unstable。　Admiral　Hunter…〃

〃I　would　caution　Mr。　Wolff　from　using　any　honorifics；〃　one　of　the　council　members　said。　〃The　council　no　longer　recognizes　you　as　members　of　the　Robotech　Defense　Force。〃

〃Some　of　the　council；〃　Niles　Obstat　objected。

〃Most　of　us。〃

Wolff　scowled　at　the　woman。　〃Then　why　aren't　Janice　and　Sarna　here；　if　we're　all　civilians？〃

〃Mr。　Wolff；〃　Senator　Longchamps　cut　in；　〃we　are　just　trying　to　set　things　straight　for　the　record。　You　and　the　Hunters；　Sterlings；　and　Grants　are　understood　to　be　a　part　of　the　Expeditionary　mission。　The　extraterrestrial　Sentinels　are　another　matter。　And　as　for　Ms。　Em；　she　has　never　been　affiliated　with　the　RDF…or　the　mission；　for　that　matter；　if　I'm　not　putting　too　fine　a　point　on　it。〃

Wolff　fought　down　an　explosive　urge　to　tear　the　man's　throat　out。　〃I　apologize　to　the　council　if　I　may　seem　impatient；〃　he　continued　more　calmly；　〃but　the　fact　is　that　our　friends　are　out　there；　marooned　on　a　planet　that　for　all　I　know　is　just　a　memory　by　now！　All　I'm　asking　you　for　is　one　ship　with　a　skeleton　crew。〃

〃To　do　what；　Mr。　Wolff？〃　Thurgood　Stinson　asked。　〃To　rescue　your　friends；　to　be　sure。　But　what　then…continue　on　your　campaign；　or　return　to　Tirol？〃

Wolff　tightened　his　lips。　〃I　don't　think　I'm　qualified　to　answer　that；　Senator。〃

〃And　we're　not　certain　we　can　spare　a　ship　just　now；　Mr。　Wolff。〃

Justine　Huxley　broke　the　unfortable　silence。　〃I　think　we're　missing　the　point　here。〃　She　motioned　to　Wolff。　〃Friends；　is　the　term　the　colonel　used。　I　ask　you　all　to　disregard　for　a　moment　the　events　of　the　past　four　months；　and　recall　our　first　meeting　with　the　Sentinels；　especially　the　pledges　that　were　exchanged　then。〃

As　the　council　members　grumbled　agreement　in　their　individual　fashions；　Wolff　caught　Exedore　and　Lang　sending　hopeful　looks　in　his　direction。

Then　Edwards　got　to　his　feet　to　address　the　twelve。

〃I'd　be　the　first　to　admit　that　the　Sentinels　are　both　our　friends　and　allies；〃　he　began；　〃but　there's　an　important　issue　here　that's　being　neglected…the　Invid。　The　Regent's　position　is　very　clear：　any　assistance　we　render　will　be　considered　a　further　act　of　war。　And　he　makes　no　distinction　between　Humans　and　XTs　in　this　matter。〃

Wolff's　heart　sank。

Edwards　waited　for　the　room　to　quiet。　〃I　don't　think　it's　necessary　for　me　to　remind　the　council　of　the　presence　of　the　Invid　fleet。　I'm　not　saying　that　if　it　came　right　down　to　mixing　it　up　with　them　we　couldn't　e　out　on　top；　but　the　results　of　an　engagement　in　any　case　would　have　disastrous　effects　on　our　long…range　goal…to　repair　our　ship　and　return　to　Earth。　I'm　sure　General　Reinhardt　and　Admiral　Forsythe　concur　in　this　matter。〃

Reluctantly；　Reinhardt　inclined　his　head；　averting　Wolff's　gaze。　Edwards；　however；　was　regarding　Wolff。

〃The　timing　couldn't　be　worse；　Wolff。　I'm　sorry。　Perhaps　if　we　wait　until　the　truce　is　signed…say；　six　months　or　so…〃

〃They　don't　have　six　months！〃　Wolff　shouted。　He　looked　to　the　council。　〃One　ship！　One　goddamned…〃

〃The　council　will　take　these　things　into　consideration　and　render　its　judgment　in　a　few　days；　Mr。　Wolff；〃　the　senator　bit　out；　his　face　flushed。

〃But…〃

〃In　a　few　days；　Wolff。〃

The　senator's　gavel　went　down。


〃It　is　fate　at　work！〃　Tesla　roared　jubilantly。　〃Do　you　see；　Burak…does　it　escape　you　how　we　came　to　be　here；　how　we　were　meant　to　be　here？〃

Burak　screwed　up　his　devil's　face　and　gestured　to　their　surroundings。　〃Here？　Meant　to　be　here？〃

Tesla　made　a　dismissive　motion。　〃In　this　ship　at　this　particular　time；〃　he　emphasized。　〃With　the　Regent　close　enough　to　touch。〃　His　hands　flexed　around　an　invisible　throat。

The　two　conspirators　were　sequestered　in　the　fortress's　confinement　area；　opposite　one　another　in　separate　laser…barred　cells。　Burak　was　sullen…faced；　perched　on　the　edge　of　an　aluminum…framed　bunk　studying　his　hands；　while　across　the　corridor　Tesla　paced　back　and　forth。

〃We　must　find　a　way　out　of　here；〃　the　Invid　said；　ing　to　a　halt。　〃I　must。。。talk　to　him；　convince　him…〃　He　whirled　to　face　Burak。　〃You　don't　think　they　would　keep　my　presence　from　him　a　secret；　do　you？〃

Burak　shrugged。

〃I　cannot　take　the　chance；〃　he　muttered；　back　in　motion　once　more。　〃Burak；　do　you　still　wish　to　see　your　planet　freed　from　its　curse？〃

〃You　know　I　do；　Tesla。　But　how　can　I　help　you　now？　They've　even　taken　your　fruits　from　my　care。〃

〃Never　mind　the　fruits。〃　Tesla　cautiously　pushed　his　hand　into　the　lasers'　field；　and　winced　at　the　resultant　burn。　〃Just　do　as　I　ask　when　the　moment　arrives。　We　have　not　e　this　far　to　be　cheated　out　of　our　victory。〃


Betrayal　of