18_the_end_of_the_circle-第7章

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ng　to　resume　control　after　a　fifteen…year　absence。

Under　the　circumstances；　Scott's　small　jet　was　less　a　product　of　choice　than　of　sheer　necessity。　And　the　same　held　true　for　his　civilian　attire。

Mention　of　the　Invid　sister　simulagents　had　dropped　him　right　back　into　the　lap　of　the　REF's　intel　people　for　two　more　weeks　of　memory　probes　and　debriefings。　Ultimately；　however；　Scott's　inquisitors　had　e　to　accept　that　Marlene's　present　whereabouts　were　unknown　and　that　Scott　himself　stood　the　best　chance　of　finding　her。　That　he　had　agreed　to　do；　under　the　condition　that　he　be　given　an　opportunity　to　undertake　the　search　alone　and　in　his　own　fashion。

G2　had　acquiesced；　figuring　that　it　would　prove　a　simple　matter　to　assign　a　team　of　agents　to　the　colonel；　but　Vince　Grant　had　received　word　of　the　operation　and　vetoed　it　before　a　single　operative　had　been　assigned。　Back　on　the　surface；　meanwhile；　Scott　had　been　quizzing　migrants；　bribing　local　officials；　and　bartering　with　foragers　for　a　line　on　any　one　of　his　six　former　teammates…counting　one　for　Lancer；　and　Marlene　among　them。　He　had　concentrated　on　Rand；　who　months　ago　at　Yellow　Dancer's　final　concert　had　said　something　about　heading　for　the　outskirts　of　Norristown；　where　he　planned　to　write　his　memoirs。

A　downside　week　had　gone　by　before　Scott　locked　onto　what　seemed　a　worthy　lead；　and　that　lead　had　now　brought　him　and　the　toy　jet　to　Xochil；　a　pueblo　not　far　off　the　route　the　team　had　taken　through　Trenchtown；　in　the　heart　of　the　Southlands。

A　tatterdemalion　crowd　of　vacant…eyed　townspeople　and　rough…trade　foragers　was　gathered　around　the　craft　by　the　time　Scott　raised　the　canopy　and　climbed　out。　He　answered　a　few　questions　about　the　state　of　things　on　the　north　coast　in　exchange　for　information　on　Rand　and；　for　five　hundred　New　Scrip　（with　a　promise　of　that　much　again　when　he　returned　from　town）；　enlisted　the　services　of　a　couple　of　locals　sporting　turn…of…the…century　military…issue　projectile　rifles　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　jet。

Twenty　minutes　later　he　was　negotiating　a　narrow　alley　off　Xochil's　earthen　main　street；　zeroing　in　on　the　throaty　revvings　of　what　he　took　to　be　a　fossil…fueled　motorcycle　engine。

Rook　Bartley　was　standing　alongside　the　chopped　machine；　twisting　the　handlebar　throttle　with　her　right　hand　while　her　left　ponytailed　her　long　strawberry…blond　hair。　Seeing　her；　Scott　smiled　genuinely　for　the　first　time　in　weeks。

She　was　dressed　in　mechanic's　coveralls；　back　and　rolled　up　sleeves　emblazoned　with　motorcycle　brand…name　patches。　She　was　also　quite　a　few　pounds　heavier　than　when　they　had　exchanged　good…byes；　her　hands　and　one　cheek　smeared　with　grease　and　grime。　Scott　waited　for　the　bike's　growling　sounds　to　die　down　before　he　called　her　name。

Someone's　metal…rock　rendition　of　〃Look　Up〃　was　blasting　from　stereo　speakers。　The　song　had　bee　something　of　an　anthem　in　the　Southlands；　much　as　Lynn…Minmei's　〃We　Will　Win〃　had　captured　the　spirit　of　the　First　Robotech　War。

Rook　turned；　startled；　and　regarded　him　quizzically　for　a　good　ten　seconds　before　a　smile　split　her　freckled　face。　〃Well；　now　maybe　all　this　exhaust　is　getting　to　me；　but　I'd　swear　that's　Scott　Bernard　standing　in　the　doorway。〃

〃Hello；　Rook；〃　he　told　her　over　the　music　and　the　rumbling　sound　of　the　idling　machine。

She　shook　her　head　in　disbelief；　wiped　her　hands　on　a　scrap　of　towel；　and　sauntered　over　to　embrace　him；　kissing　him　lightly　on　the　mouth　and　then　jabbing　a　fist　into　his　upper　arm。

〃I　thought　you　were　off　looking　for　your　friends；　soldier　boy。　Figured　you'd　be　halfway　to　Tirol　by　now。〃　Rook's　blue　eyes　gave　him　a　quick　once…over。　〃And　look　at　you…what'd　the　REF　boot　you　back　into　real　life　or　something？〃

〃You　look　great；〃　he　said；　beaming。

Rook　took　a　step　back　and　pinched　out　the　coveralls'　pants　legs　as　though　she　were　wearing　a　skirt。　〃You　think　so；　huh？〃

Scott　nodded。　〃Guess　you're　eating　better　now。〃

Rook　laughed。　〃Figures　you'd　notice；　Scott。　Fact　is；　I'm　pregnant。　〃

〃Pregnant？　Jeez；　I　thought　there　was　something　different；　but…〃

〃Six　months；〃　she　said。　〃She's　going　to　be　a　Virgo　if　I've　puted　it　right。　But　then　I　figure　it's　about　time　they　changed　the　signs　of　the　zodiac；　don't　you？〃

〃She？〃　Scott　said。

Rook　smiled　broadly。　〃Call　it　woman's　intuition。　Rand's　skeptical；　but　I've　even　got　her　name　picked　out…Maria。　Maria　Bartley。　What　d'　you　think？〃

Scott　ran　it　through　and　nodded。　〃I　like　the　sound　of　it。　So　this　place　is　yours？〃　he　asked　after　a　pause。　In　the　naked　glare　of　generator　fed　incandescents　sat　a　score　of　partly　restored　bikes。　There　were　perhaps　a　dozen　engines　resting　on　blocks；　spoked　wheels　hanging　from　the　rafters；　rusted　frames　and　spare　parts　piled　in　corners　or　littering　the　top　of　thick　wooden　worktables。　The　air　reeked　of　solvents　and　exhaust　fumes。

〃Will　be　someday；〃　Rook　said；　looking　around。　〃Right　now　I'm　only　helping　out。〃　She　caressed　her　stomach。　〃Gotta　keep　the　family　fed。〃

〃Why　here；　of　all　places？〃

Rook　tugged　at　her　lower　lip。　〃Trenchtown；　mostly。〃　Scott　recalled　something　about　rival　motorcycle　gangs　in　Rook's　past；　the　Blue　Angels　and　the　Red　Snakes。　〃You've　got　family　there；　don't　you？〃

〃Mom　and　a　sister。　Guess　I'm　thinking　about　mending　fences　one　of　these　days。〃

Scott　grinned。　〃What　about　Rand？〃

Rook　screwed　up　her　face。　〃The　Great　mentator；　you　mean？〃　She　jerked　a　thumb　over　her　shoulder。　〃We　found　a　place　a　couple　clicks　west　of　town。　All　he　does　is　write　morning；　noon；　and　night。　Like　there's　going　to　be　an　audience　for　his　book　or　something。〃

〃Have　you　read　any　of　it？〃

〃Yeah；　I　have；〃　she　said；　moving　back　to　the　cycle　she　had　been　working　on。　〃And　it's　actually　not　bad。　'Course　I　have　to　straighten　him　out　on　a　lot　of　the　facts。　To　hear　him　tell　it；　you'd　think　he　won　the　war　single…handed。〃　Rook　was　quiet　for　a　moment。　〃So　what　brings　you　around；　Scott？　I　don't　figure　you　just　happened　to　be　in　the　neighborhood。〃

〃I'm　not；〃　Scott　confessed。　〃I'm　looking　for　Marlene；　Rook。〃

Rook　appraised　him　silently。　〃Talk　about　mending　fences　。。。　That　oughta　be　some　reunion；　partner。　You　plan　on　selling　tickets；　or　what？〃

Scott　worked　his　jaw。　〃Have　you　heard　from　her；　Rook？〃　Rook　goosed　the　throttle；　and　the　bike　sent　up　a　cloud　of　white　smoke。　〃Think　you　better　talk　to　Rand；　soldier　boy。　I　don't　want　to　get　in　the　middle　of　this　one。〃


Scott　recognized　examples　of　Rand's　handiwork　in　the　dilapidated　wooden　cabin　he　and　Rook　called　home。　It　was　not　much　to　look　at　on　the　outside；　but　the　two　main　rooms　were　fortable　if　Spartan　and　reflected　Rand's　utilitarian　nature。　Scott　also　recognized　the　small　notebooks　stacked　atop　the　writing　desk；　the　ones　Rand　had　guarded　with　his　life　during　the　journey　to　Reflex　Point。

〃Here　you　go；〃　Rand　said；　handing　over　a　tall　mug　of　home…brewed　beer　and　pulling　a　stool　opposite　Scott's　chair。　〃I　bottled　it　when　we　first　moved　in。〃

Rand　had　already　explained　how　Rook　had　enticed　an　REF　Alpha　pilot　to　fly　them　down　to　Norristown　after　Scott　had　taken　off　for　the　skies。

〃What's　weird　is　that　I　was　just　thinking　about　you；〃　Rand　resumed。　〃I　was　reading　in　my　notes　about　the　day　you　and　I　met。　The　time　I　saved　your　ass　from　three　blues。〃

Scott　almost　spewed　his　beer　across　the　room。　〃You　saved　my…〃　He　wiped　his　mouth　on　his　sleeve；　deciding　it　didn't　merit　an　argument。　〃Right；　I　remember　now。〃

〃Yeah；　those　were　the　days；〃　Rand　mused；　shaking　his　shaggy　mop　of　red　hair。　〃Foraging；　surviving　on　the　road　。　。　。〃　He　looked　up　at　Scott。　〃I'm　going　to　call　the　book　Notes　on　the　Run。〃

〃Your　baby；　is　that　it？〃

Rand's　thick　eyebrows　bobbed。　〃So　Rook　told　you。　She　also　give　you　that　intuition　crap　about　her　being　sure　it's　a　girl？〃

〃Maria；　I　think　she　said。〃

〃Yeah；　well；　don't　put　scrip　on　it。〃　Rand　sipped　his　grog。　〃Either　way　it　goes；　though；　I'm　going　to　make　sure　the　kid　is　raised　to　appreciate　books　and　movies　and　learning　in　general。〃　He　gestured　to　the　writing　desk。　〃Maybe　she'll　even　end　up　a　writer　like　her　old　man。〃

〃You　said　‘she；'　Rand；〃　Scott　pointed　out。

They　both　laughed；　but　it　was　not　long　before　an　unfortable　pause　crept　into　their　conversation。　When　Scott　mentioned　Marlene；　Rand's　smile　collapsed　entirely。

〃What　do　want　from　her；　Scott？〃　Rand　asked。

〃I　just　need　to　talk　to　her。　That's　all　I　can　tell　you　right　now。　〃

〃And　I　don't　suppose　you　can　tell　me　anything　about　why　most　of　the　Cyclones　have　stopped　working　either。　Lot　of　unemployed　'Culture　hounds　wandering　around　out　there　all　of　a　sudden；　amigo。〃

〃Sorry；　Rand；〃　Scott　told　him。　〃We're　all　in　the　same　dark。〃

Rand　smirked。　〃Same　ol'　soldier。　What　is　it…your　REF　people　want　to　debrief　her？〃

Scott　shot　to　his　feet。　〃Hey；　you　think　this　is　easy　for　me？　You　think　I　want　it？　I　look　at　her　and　I　see　the　Marlene　I　loved。　I　look　at　her　and　I　think　about　what　the　Invid　did　to　us。〃

Rand　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Oh；　for　chrissakes。〃

〃The　Regis　planned　to　exterminate　us；　Rand；〃　Scott　snarled。　〃You　don't　remember　that？　The　Flowers　had　hit　their　goddamned　trigger　point。　If　the　fleet　hadn't　returned；　we'd　all　be　dead。〃

Rand　stood　up。　〃Yeah；　and　if　the　Regis　hadn't　decided　to　leave　when　she　did；　your　precious　fleet…〃　He　pointed　toward　the　ceili