16_world_killers-第32部分

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He　felt　such　sudden　misgiving　that　he　raised　his　hand　to　hit　her　again；　expecting　her　to　flinch。　But　she　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　him。　〃I'm　going　to　make　you　beg　me　to　forget　what　you　just　said；〃　he　whispered。

Minmei　drew　a　deep　breath。　揘o；　you're　not。〃

A　hand　closed　around　Edwards's　upraised　wrist　from　behind；　a　voice　told　him；　揘o；　you're　not。〃

Edwards　was　pulled　aside；　his　wrist　nearly　broken。　He　was　spun　at　the　cell　wall　like　a　child's　top；　his　burnished　facemask　ringing　against　it；　his　nose　banged　so　that　he　smelled　metal　and　blood。　He　clawed　for　purchase　but　found　himself　sliding　down　the　cold　alloy；　leaving　a　red　stain。　A　foot　pressed　his　head　to　the　deck；　nearly　crushed　it；　then　relented。　Then　the　foot　was　abruptly　gone。

The　general　shook　his　head　to　clear　it；　glancing　about　drunkenly。　Adams　lay　sprawled　in　the　doorway；　perhaps　unconscious；　perhaps　dead。　Edwards　could　see　the　upturned　toes　of　one　downed　guard's　boots　in　the　corridor　beyond。　Minmei　was　on　her　feet　with　a　look　on　her　face　that　Edwards　had　always　longed　to　force　her　to　direct　at　him。　But　it　was　for　the　man　in　the　REF　flight　suit　who　had　appeared　out　of　nowhere。

Edwards　felt　numbed　in　certain　ways；　superalert　in　others。　The　light　danced　in　Minmei's　eyes　as　she　slowly　raised　her　hands　to　her　rescuer。

〃Lynn…Kyle！　Oh；　Lynn…Kyle。。。〃

Her　distant　cousin　and；　in　the　opinion　of　some；　a　reflection　of　the　dark　side　of　Minmei　herself；　her　onetime　lover　and　the　most　renowned　martial　arts　fighter　of　the　Robotech　age。　The　haunted　and　saturnine；　the　brilliantly　gifted　but　ill…starred；　the　undefeated　and　cursed　Lynn…Kyle。

Kyle's　face　was　thinner　than　when　he　had　been　a　movie　star。　The　fine；　silky　black　shag　was　showing　some　gray。　He　kissed　his　cousin's　forehead；　then　took　her　hand。　〃I'm　taking　you　home。〃　There　was　something　as　much　penitent　as　loving　in　his　voice。

Home！　She　couldn't　really　think　what　the　word　meant　anymore。　But　she　felt　weightless；　her　hand　and　her　body　and　her　soul　buoyant　beyond　belief；　as　she　entrusted　her　grip　to　his；　her　feet　seemingly　free　of　the　cell　floor。

Edwards　lurched　and　grabbed　her　ankle　with　a　failing　grip。　〃No！　I　won't　let　you　go！〃

Kyle　was　kneeling　on　Edwards's　biceps；　Edwards's　head　clamped　in　his　hands；　so　quickly　that　there　was　no　sense　of　transition。　The　general　heard　the　bones　of　his　upper　spine　creak　and　knew　that　his　life　lay　on　the　line。

The　dagger　in　Edwards's　boot；　the　energy　derringer　in　his　jacket　pocket…those　might　as　well　be　on　the　SDF…3；　or　back　on　Earth；　for　all　the　good　they　could　do　him。　Kyle　was　as　quick　as　a　lightning　bolt；　and　there　was　simply　no　defense　against　him。　He　was　more　like　an　elemental　force　than　a　man。

〃I've　never　taken　a　human　life。〃　The　words　seemed　to　e　so　slowly；　though　Edwards　knew　Lynn…Kyle　was　speaking　very　fast。　〃But　I'll　kill　you　if　you　don't　lie　still！〃　The　heel　of　Kyle's　hand　lay；　pressing　upward　in　warning；　under　the　general's　nose；　poised　to　execute　him　in　an　instant。

Edwards；　defeated；　kept　still。　In　Kyle's　place；　he　would　have　killed；　but　he　would　never　be　in　Kyle's　place；　he　knew　now。　He　had　lost。

But　he　couldn't　resist　croaking；　〃Go　ahead；　take　the　little　slut；　then。　She's　a　waste　of　time　in　bed　anyway。。。〃

Kyle　seized　a　handful　of　Edwards's　hair；　preparing　to　kill　him。　His　fist　hovered；　middle　knuckle　cocked　forth；　and　Edwards's　eyes　nearly　crossed；　focused　on　that　single　Damoclean　striking　surface　hanging　over　him。

〃Kyle；　no；〃　Minmei　said；　as　her　cousin　drew　quick　breaths　and　gathered　his　resolve。　〃Kyle；　we　need　him！〃

〃I　don't　need　him。〃　The　wrist　turned　upside　down；　the　cocked　knuckle　drawn　back　tight　and　high　under　Kyle's　right　armpit；　aimed　at　Edwards's　Adam's　apple。　The　general　squirmed；　trying　to　move　his　arms；　but　he　was　helpless。

〃Kyle；　the　war's　over。　Just　hang　onto　him；　and　we　can　end　it　all　today。〃　She　swiped　the　long；　damp　night…black　hair　out　of　her　eyes。　〃Kyle；　you're　not　a　murderer。　The　war's　over。〃

〃The　war's　over。〃　Saying　it　didn't　give　Kyle　the　satisfaction　he　thought　he　would　have　back　at　the　beginning…back　when　the　SDF…3　mission　was　recruiting；　back　before　he　and　Minmei　and　the　rest　had　passed　into　the　flames　once　more。

But　it　was　enough。　He　would　settle　for　it。　〃War's　over；　General。　You're　going　to　stand　up　and　order　your　troops　to　surrender。　We'll　strike　a　peace　with　the　Regent。　And　then　we're　all　going　home；　right？〃

Edwards's　mouth　moved；　but　he　was　unable　to　speak。　Yet　he　was　careful　to　nod　unmistakably；　his　hair　pulling　against　Kyle's　grip；　as　he　looked　up　at　that　one　single　knuckle　that　jutted　out　like　a　battering　ram。　〃Urr。　R…right。〃

Kyle　smiled；　nodding。　〃扵he　wolf　shall　dwell　with　the　lamb。'〃　He　grabbed　the　front　of　Edwards's　dress　uniform　jacket；　ready　to　lift　him　up。

〃扐nd　the　leopard　shall　lie　down　with　the　kid。'〃　Kyle　stuck　his　fist　close　to　Edwards's　face　again。　The　fist　was　like　some　gnarled　piece　of　iron　with　a　scruffy　skin…covering　on　it。　〃And　we're　all　going　to　live　happily　ever　after；　isn't　that　right？〃

Edwards　almost　said　something；　but　thought　better　of　it。　He　swallowed；　then　nodded。　Kyle　leaned　forward　to　pull　him　to　his　feet。

There　was　a　sudden　scuffling　behind　him　and　Kyle　whirled；　rising。　Edwards's　eyes　flickered　that　way　at　the　same　time；　to　see　Adams　grappling　with　Minmei；　the　bright　edge　of　a　bat　knife　reflecting　the　light。

〃Kill　her！　Kill　her！〃　Edwards　screamed；　not　because　he　thought　Adams　would　necessarily　follow　orders；　but　rather　because　it　would　keep　Lynn…Kyle　diverted。　It　was　no　surprise　that　Kyle　unthinkingly　sprang　to　Minmei's　aid。　Edwards　was　digging　for　his　gun；　even　as　he　thought；　Kyle　must　know　I'm　armed！　Why。。。

Adams's　eyes　opened　wide；　the　edge　of　his　blade　drawing　a　trickle　of　blood　from　Minmei's　neck。　Kyle　came　at　him；　unstoppable　and　almost　too　fast　to　see；　with　a　strength　like　something　out　of　Robotechnology。

Adams　felt　himself　horribly　hurt　and　sent　pinwheeling；　but　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　it；　he　was　propelled　into　a　corner；　black…red　blood　bubbling　on　his　lips；　knowing　he　had　only　a　few　moments　of　life　left。　Minmei　was　safe；　except　for　the　shallow　cut　on　her　throat。

Kyle　spun　on　Edwards；　but　the　general　already　had　his　derringer　in　his　hand。　It　didn't　make　any　difference；　Kyle　leapt　at　him　anyway。

The　gun　was　small；　only　good　for　two　rounds；　but　graphically　effective　at　short　range。　Edwards　shot　Kyle　twice　while　he　was　in　the　air；　the　body　that　landed　on　the　general　was　almost　dead。

Edwards　pushed　Kyle　off；　while　Minmei　came　to　her　cousin's　side；　knelt；　and　brushed　his　raven's…wing　forelock　out　of　his　eyes。　She　took　his　head　into　her　lap　tenderly；　as　Edwards　labored　to　regain　his　breath　and　get　to　his　feet。

Kyle's　eyelids　fluttered。　〃Minmei。。。〃

〃Shh…hh。〃

There　was　no　saving　him；　she　kept　her　trembling　hand　at　his　chin；　so　he　couldn't　see　the　melted　fabric　and　bloody　mess　that　was　his　chest。　Kyle　coughed；　〃The　war　was　almost　over。　We'd　won。〃

〃We'd　won。〃　She　nodded。　〃You　won　it　for　us；　Kyle。〃　She　was　about　to　faint；　holding　a　human　body　that　was　half　blown　open；　but　she　found　reserves　of　courage　from　someplace　she　had　never　delved　into　before；　and　smiled　down　at　him　instead。

There　was　a　final；　galvanic　bit　of　life　to　him。　〃Tell　me　you　love　me；　Minmei。　Let　it　be　the　last　thing　I　hear。　Please。〃

Once；　she　would　have　hung　back　from　conceding　that；　but　she　had　suffered　so　much　since　joining　the　Sentinels。。。it　seemed　that　last　words　were　all　she　knew　anymore。

〃I　love　you；　Lynn…Kyle。　Now　and　forever。〃

Minmei　locked　her　mouth　to　his；　and　felt　Kyle　go　cold　and　lifeless。　She　held　him　close；　rocking　as　she　embraced　his　head；　crooning　a　little　children's　song　he　had　taught　her　a　thousand　eons　ago。

There　was　the　sudden　grip　of　bloody　hands；　and　Edwards　dragged　her　away　from　Lynn…Kyle's　corpse。　He　was　speaking　into　a　rover　mo　unit　through　his　smashed　face。　〃Rally　here！　Rally　here！　Make　pickup　at　this　location　at　once！〃

There　was　a　burst　of　static　as　someone　acknowledged　from　the　assault　units。　Minmei　knew　she　was　still　a　captive　and　that　Edwards　might　still　win　the　day；　but　all　of　that　was　unimportant　to　her　now。

I'm　not　a　prisoner　anymore。　I　have　my　own　part　to　play　now。

She　glanced　around　the　room；　and　everything　she　saw　seemed　to　be　an　edged　weapon　or　a　bludgeon。　Edwards；　still　trying　to　arrange　for　a　rendezvous；　was　suddenly　troubled　when　he　saw　Minmei's　slow　smile。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…TWO

Strange；　that　the　〃Loki〃　of　the　Sentinels　campaign　should　have　a　namesake　so　renowned　in　Earth's　scientific　history。　But　the　Human　Tesla　invented　polyphase　systems；　dynamos；　oscillators；　and　so　much　more；　whereas　there　is　no　record　of　his　Invid　counterpart　making　any　contribution　whatsoever…beyond　the　abominations　that　are　already　so　notorious。
Simon　Kujawa；　Against　All　Worlds：　A　Biography　of　Tesla　the　Infamous

〃What's　your　hurry；　Jack？〃

Karen　tried　to　make　it　sound　joking；　but　some　of　her　concern　slipped　through　nevertheless。　Jack　paused；　there　in　the　Ark　Angel　passageway；　to　face　her。

〃Tesla's　due　to　speak　to　the　leaders；〃　he　said　in　an　emotionless　voice。　〃I'm　making　final　arrangements；　and　I'm　very　pressed　for　time；　so　if　you　don't　mind…〃

〃What　are　you　now；　that　big　slug's　errand　boy？？she　sneered。　〃Does　he　keep　you　busy　kissing　his　feet？　Is　that　why　you　and　Gnea　are　holed　up　down　in　that　partment　with　him　all　the　time？〃

Wrong　tone；　girl；　she　told　herself。　But　she　couldn't　help　it。　She　was　angry　at　him　for　avoiding　her；　she　was　suspicious　of　all　the　time　he　was　spending　together　with　Miss　Teenage　Amazon；　and　she　was　worried　about　what　Tesla　might　be　cooking　up。　And　she　was　PO'd　at　herself　for　caring　so　much　about　Jack　Baker。

He　had　that　same　distant；　dispassionate　look　he　had　been　wearing　lately；　studying　her　like　she　was　something　on　a　microscope　slide。　〃You're　an　idiot；〃　he　said；　and　about…faced　and　marched　off　on　his　way。

She　fought　the　urge　to　go　after　him　and　put　his　lights　out。　Violence　never　solves　anything　unless　you　happen　to　live　in　certain　parts　of　New　Jersey；　as　someone…W。　C。　Fields？…put　it。

There　was　some　slight　reassurance　in　the　fact　that　Tesla　was　about　to　make　his　long…postponed　appearance　before　the　Sentinels　elite。　Rick　Hunter　had　decided　he　wasn't　going　to　put　up　with　any