18_the_end_of_the_circle-第54章

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y　chants　had　brought　them　Wagnerian　visions　of　doom。　The　Garudans'　hin　sendings　had　the　lupine　XTs　fatalistic　and　despairing。　Baldan　had　had　ghostly　encounters　on　the　Crystal　Highways　of　Omphalos　and　at　length　had　been　ejected　by　them。　

Even　the　music　of　the　Muses　and　the　Cosmic　Harp　had　taken　on　a　doleful　sound　they　seemed　helpless　to　rise　above。

The　libidinous　climate　of　the　past　few　days　had　changed；　and　the　only　possible　explanation　was　that　something　about　the　Regis　had　changed。

And　what　if　Her　Highness　doesn't　feel　like　granting　us　an　audience？　Rick　was　asking　himself　at　the　same　moment。　Do　we　sacrifice　a　few　oxen；　blow　on　a　ram's　horn；　or　what？

But　as　he　pushed　through　the　last　screen　of　bush；　he　saw　that　there　was　reason　to　hope　for　an　audience　with　the　Regis；　after　all：　The　field　had　changed；　even　though　nobody　from　the　SDF…3　or　the　recon　flights　had　seen　it。

Where　the　swaying　grasses　had　grown　to　midcalf　height；　there　was　a　structure　that　brought　a　sinister　grunt　from　Scott。　〃Invid　hive。　Huh。　Looks　like　a　miniature　Reflex　Point。〃

It　did　indeed；　but　it　was　far　smaller　than　the　sprawling　stronghold/nerve　center　that　had　been　the　Regis's　seat　of　power　on　Terra。　It　was　a　dome　with　the　same　organic　look；　the　same　glowings　in　orange　and　red　and　yellow；　like　a　super…high…speed　photograph　of　a　thermonuclear　explosion。　Around　it　was　the　strange　foam　of　bubblelike　objects　suggesting　concentric　waves　ing　in　at　the　dome；　as　at　Reflex　Point；　there　were　the　same　smaller　peripheral　nodes；　much　like　the　central　structure；　all　of　them　interlinked　by　a　network　of　conduits　or　accessways　as　brilliant　as　tubes　of　flowing　lava。

〃Maybe　we　should　send　in　a　recon　team；〃　Lisa　said。

〃I　don't　even　see　a　way　in。　Scott？〃

But　before　the　Invid　invasion　veteran　could　answer；　there　was　a　motion　from　farther　back　in　the　line。　It　was　Drannin　and　the　other　Zentraedi　children；　followed　by　Roy　and　the　humans；　pushing　to　get　through　and　head　for　the　miniature　hive。

〃Roy；　wait！〃　Lisa　dodged　around　Payton；　another　Zentraedi　giant…youngster；　to　try　to　stop　her　son。　Just　then；　knocking　small　trees　aside；　Kazianna　and　a　Zentraedi　male　caught　up　to　head　off　their　kids。

Roy　did　not　push　Lisa　away；　but　he　writhed　〃in　her　grasp。　〃Mommy；　please！　She's　waiting　to　talk　to　us。　But　we　haveta　hurry！〃
Lang　had　left　his　place　in　line；　too；　with　Louie　Nichols　and　his　cyber…whiz　disciples　in　his　wake。　〃I　understand　your　reticence；　Admiral；　but　the　lad　is　right。　Right　now　our　chief　jeopardy　lies　in　delay。〃

〃But　how　do　we　get…〃　Rick　swallowed　the　question　when　he　turned　back　to　the　mini…hive。　There　was　a　dark　semicircular　opening　directly　in　front　of　them。

His　lips　became　two　thin　lines；　and　he　turned　back　to　his　little　mand。　〃Listen　up！　We're　going　in。　Remember　your　orders；　and　I　want　all　weapons　on　safety　and　either　holstered　or　slung。〃

The　door　was　high　enough　even　for　Zentraedi。　The　party　filed　into　the　unfortably　warm　darkness　under　the　dome；　smelling　again　the　strange　aromas　and　alien　odors…some　pleasant；　others　not…of　an　Invid　hive。

It　was　like　being　inside　a　cathedral　of　dark　stained　glass。　Most　of　the　space　enclosed　under　the　dome　was　occupied　by　a　veined　bronze　sphere　that　shone　dimly。　There　was　room　for　even　the　tallest　Zentraedi　to　stand　erect。　The　contingent　from　the　SDF…3　ranged　themselves　along　the　wall；　waiting　to　see　what　would　e　next。

Rick　felt　sweat　trickling　down　his　uniform　collar　and　soaking　his　shirt。　He　had　faced　Zentraedi　and　the　Regent；　but　he　had　never　felt　the　misgiving　he　felt　there　in　the　shrine　of　an　entity　that　was　close　enough　to　a　deity　as　to　make　no　difference。

The　children　looked　at　one　another　with　their　lambent　eyes；　then　stepped　closer　to　the　sphere；　joining　hands…the　Zentraedi　sitting　in　lotus　position　so　that　the　humans　could　reach　them；　Aurora　stood　in　the　middle　of　their　line；　a　nimbus　of　whirling　scintillas　welling　up　from　her。

Without　warning；　a　zigzag　bolt　of　incandescence　broke　from　somewhere　overhead　to　smite　the　bronze　globe；　turning　it　into　a　ball　of　deep　amber　light。　Shadows　moved　within　it；　and　then　they　saw　the　face　of　the　Regis；　exalted　and　endowed　with　a　terrible　beauty；　gazing　back　at　them。

They　heard　her　voice　in　their　minds：　AT　LAST；　THROUGH　YOUR　EVOLVED　CHILDREN；　YOU　HAVE　TOUCHED　THE　PLANE　UPON　WHICH　WE　CAN　MUNICATE。　KNOW　THEN　THAT　THE　CUSP　IS　NEARING　IN　WHICH　ALL　THAT　EXISTS　WILL　E　TOGETHER　IN　THIS；　MY　CREATION；　MY　NEWSPACE。

Rick　realized　that　he　had　been　waiting　for　Aurora　to　speak；　after　all；　the　children　were　the　ones　in　contact　with　the　higher　mental　realms　where　the　Regis　moved。　He　saw　his　mistake：　The　children　might　have　powers　of　munication　and　perception；　but　they　lacked　their　elders'　experience　and　training；　their　grasp　of　the　situation　and　ability　to　deal　with　it。　Despite　the　kids'　astounding　powers；　the　oute　of　the　crisis　would　still　hinge　on　the　adults'　actions。

He　was　the　leader　of　the　ground　unit；　and　it　was　his　place　to　speak　up；　but　before　he　could；　Lang's　voice　broke　the　silence。

〃Mother　of　the　Invid　race！　Why　have　you　brought　us　here？　Why　is　the　universe　we　know　being　drawn　into　this　one？　Haven't　the　Shapings　been　fulfilled？〃

Rick　saw　that　Lang　was　not　addressing　what　was　to　him　a　critical　point：　getting　the　fold　drives　back　and　getting　the　SDF…3　and　Peter　Pan　out　of　newspace。　But　before　he　could　interject　that　matter；　the　Regis　answered。

KNOW　THEN　THAT　I　WHO　AM　THE　REGIS　AND　ALL　OF　THE　INVID　RACE　IN　ONE　ENTITY　BROUGHT　YOUR　VESSEL　HERE　IN　MY　TRANSUBSTANTIATION　BY　MY　DOMINION　OVER　THE　PROTOCULTURE。　YOUR　SDF…3　WAS　SELECTED　BECAUSE　ITS　ENGINES　WERE　BEST　SUITED　TO　SUCH　A　CONTINUUM　FOLD。　YOU　MADE　THE　FIRST　TINY　PUNCTURE　THAT　HAS　BEE　A　MIGHTY　RIFT　IN　THE　BARRIERS　BETWEEN　THE　REAL　UNIVERSE　AND　NEWSPACE　BUT　MORE　IMPORTANTLY　YOU　ARE　HERE　BECAUSE　YOU　NUMBER　AMONG　YOU　SO　MANY　WHO　LED　THE　WAR　ON　THE　INVID　AND　WHO　HAVE　STRONG　TIES　TO　THE　PROTOCULTURE　AND　THE　SHAPINGS…THE　GREAT；　INELUCTABLE　CYCLE　OF　COSMIC　EVENTS。

Looking　about　her；　Lisa　thought　how　true　that　was。　Oh；　a　few　like　Exedore　and　Cabell　were　absent；　but　of　the　survivors　of　the　Robotech　Wars；　most　of　the　principals　had　been　snatched　is　the　dimensional　fortress　or　drawn　hither　in　Peter　Pan。

And　if　the　Regis　could　assert　her　will　so　thoroughly　over　events；　what　hope　could　mortals　have　of　prevailing　against　her？

AS　ONCE　UPON　EARTH　I　SOUGHT　TO　FIND；　THROUGH　EXPERIMENTS　IN　MY　GENESIS　PITS；　THE　IDEAL　FORM　THAT　MY　RACE　WOULD　ASSUME　FOR　ITS　EXISTENCE　ON　THAT　PLANET；　SO　I　HAVE　BROUGHT　YOU　HERE　FOR　MY　STUDY。　BY　SIFTING　THROUGH　YOUR　PSYCHES　AND　WHAT　SOME　OF　YOU　CALL　YOUR　SOULS；　I　WILL　DECIDE　THE　NEW　MENTAL　AND　EMOTIONAL　CLIMATE　OF　THIS　CREATION　OF　MINE；　THIS　MALLEABLE　DOMAIN；　THIS　NEWSPACE。

Lang　seemed　to　have　assumed　the　role　of　speaker；　and　he　showed　a　pronounced　vexation　when　Louie　Nichols　butted　in。

〃Hey；　retro　back　a　second！　You　mated　with　the　Protoculture；　you　went　through　your　transcendence。　What　more　d'　you　want？〃

TRANSUBSTANTIATION　IS　A　MOCKERY；　A　PRISON！　I　WAS　DRIVEN　TO　SEEK　IT　BY　YOU　HUMANS！　THE　SHAPINGS　ARE　A　HOLLOW　JOKE；　A　CELL　WITH　NO　EXIT。

The　Karbarrans　were　growling　as　if　they　might　utter　some　defiant　roar；　and　so　Rick　hastened　to　say；　〃But　what　do　you　want？〃

A　harsh　beam　of　light　sprang　from　some　unseen　source　to　pin　Rem　squarely。　It　was　not　a　weapon；　and　yet　he　cried　out；　throwing　an　arm　across　his　face。

I　WISH　ONLY　A　RETURN　TO　THAT　STATE　MY　INVID　AND　I　ENJOYED　WHEN　ZOR　CAME　LIKE　A　THIEF　IN　THE　NIGHT。　I　WISH　OPTERA　TO　BE　AS　IT　WAS　AGAIN　AND　FOR　THE　INVID　TO　REVERT　TO　THE　FORM　WE　KNEW　THEN。

〃Then　why　don't　you　do　it？〃　Louie　shouted。　〃You　have　total　control　over　newspace。〃

BUT　NOT　CONTROL　OF　THE　SHAPINGS！　AND　BECAUSE　THE　INVID　LEFT　THEIR　FORMER　STATE　BEHIND　TO　WAGE　WAR　AND　STRIVE　AGAINST　THE　SHAPINGS；　CLOSING　CERTAIN　CONFIGURATIONS　BEHIND　THEM；　A　REVERSION　TO　OUR　ORIGINAL　STATE　IS　THE　ONE　THING　I　CANNOT　DO；　EVEN　HERE。

NEITHER　DO　I　WISH　TO　LIVE　IN　THE　CHAOTIC　NOT璍AWS　THAT　ARE　THE　NATURAL　STATE　OF　NEWSPACE。　THEREFORE；　I　WILL　PERMIT　THE　REAL　UNIVERSE　TO　BLEED　INTO　THIS　SPACETIME；　AND　WHEN　ALL　MY　RAW　MATERIALS　ARE　AT　HAND；　I　SHALL　REFASHION　ALL　THE　COSMOS　IN　THE　IMAGE　I　DEEM　FIT。

〃No！〃　With　help　from　Minmei；　Rem　was　struggling　to　rise。　〃It's　not　their　fault！　You　can't　banish　away　their　entire　existence！〃

AND　WAS　IT　MY　FAULT　WHEN　THE　FIRST　OF　YOUR　BLOOD；　ZOR；　CAME　LIKE　A　POISONOUS　VIPER　TO　OPTERA？　WAS　IT　MY　FAULT　THAT　YOUR　ROBOTECH　MASTERS　DECREED　THE　RAZING　OF　OPTERA？　THE　UNIVERSE　CARES　NOTHING　FOR　JUSTICE　。。。　NOR　DO　THE　SHAPINGS。

It　was　Learna；　mate　to　Kami　and　at　one　with　the　hin；　who　spoke　then。　She　stood　erect；　and　even　though　she　was　of　smaller　stature　than　anyone　else　there　but　the　children；　her　foxlike　appearance　gave　her　a　certain　nobility　that　struck　the　others　with　an　undeniable　poignancy。

〃Then　why　spare　us？　Why　not　obliterate　us　and　make　a　clean　beginning？〃

No　one　else　had　been　brave　enough　to　call　out　the　question。　The　Regis　hesitated　long　seconds　before　replying。　BECAUSE　I　NEED　TO　STUDY　YOU。　I　MUST　DECIDE　WHETHER　THERE　SHALL　BE　IN　THIS　NEWSPACE　THE　ONLY　THING　YOU　MORTAL　RACES　HAVE　DEVELOPED　THAT　IS　OF　ANY　SIGNIFICANCE：　LOVE。

〃In　spite　of　what　it　did　to　her；〃　Lisa　heard　Rick　murmur；　she　had　been　thinking　the　same　thing。

Lo