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〃‘When it was built； the New Marine Tower； which replaced the first； was the tallest structure in the world； over twenty…eight hundred feet high！ It's an engineering masterpiece。〃'
She did another jet。 〃It's the same age as me！〃
Rick's patience was fading。 He doubted that the tower had very much longer to live if its life expectancy was tied in to Minmei's。
〃It looks it；〃 he mented。
She thumped him hard on the chest with her fist。 〃Doesn't anything impress you； Rick Hunter？ I want you to like my city！〃
It was another one of Minmei's masterful emotional flip…flops： She won him over again in a single moment； as he stared into those enormous blue eyes while she tossed her head； sending ripples of light through her jet…dark hair。
Does she know she has this effect； or is it all unconscious？ he wondered。 He'd never dared ask the question。
She had her hand in his。 〃I just know you're going to like my mother！ She's the nicest； friendliest woman in the whole world！ Rick； I'm not kidding！〃
She tugged him along。 〃e on！〃
Who am I to resist？ he thought； yielding to the inevitable。
A few minutes later； they came to a torii that spanned the street； inscribed with ideographs。 〃Hey； this is the local Chinatown！〃 Rick remarked。
Minmei shook her head in dismay； how could such a brilliant pilot be so dumb about other things？ 〃I know； silly。 I'm Chinese； this is where I live。 e on； let's go！〃
She grabbed his hand again and dragged him along； under the torii and into Chinatown。
People stared at them a bit； curious about the trim young man in the circus flier's outfit and the enchanting young woman who seemed to radiate life and exuberance。 〃Now； the grocery store is right over there；〃 Minmei was saying； 〃right next to the gift shop。 And the bakery is still…Rick； have you ever tasted mandarin root？ Oh； and I'm so glad they haven't changed the street signs！〃
The signs were in the shape of smaller torii。 〃You haven't been gone that long；〃 he reminded her。 What did she expect？ Funeral bunting on every corner？
〃Right；〃 she said； barely having heard him。 〃I hope my house is still the same。 Just a minute now。。。〃
He'd stopped as she slowed to a halt。
〃Look！〃 She was pointing to a building facade covered with ideographs and intertwined symbols； gold on scarlet； with a very conspicuous dragon in the midst of it。 〃We're here！〃
She turned to Rick excitedly； and he found himself returning her smile in spite of himself。 〃It's the Golden Dragon； our restaurant； see？ Just like the White Dragon is Aunt Lena's in Macross！〃
〃It's very nice；〃 was all Rick could find to say。
Minmei was close to tears of joy。 〃I hope everybody remembers my face。〃
Rick sighed。 〃I keep trying to tell you； you haven't been gone that long！〃
〃So？ Maybe I've changed a lot。〃 She struck a pose； he recognized it from her glamour photos and feared the worst。
Minmei gave a carefree laugh and went dashing into the Golden Dragon。 With no alternative； Rick followed after。
〃Chang！ Chang！〃 she was shouting into the face of a startled and rather nervous…looking Chinese gentleman dressed in a white waiter's tunic and matching Nehru hat。 〃D' you recognize me？ Look！ Who am I？〃 She twirled before him。
Chang； his eyes the size of poker chips； said something in a language Rick didn't recognize and charged off into the kitchen； crying； 〃Look！ e look； e look！〃
He was back in a moment； dragging a brown…haired； kind…faced woman whose features bore a resemblance to Minmei's。 〃Chang； why are you shoving me？ What in the world…stop pushing…oh！〃
〃Don't you recognize me； Mother？〃
She had spied Minmei and stopped； wordless…perhaps close to cardiac arrest。
〃Does that mean you do？〃 Minmei smiled。
〃Minmei。。。we were sure you'd been killed！〃
〃No； I'm home；〃 she said brightly。
Minmei's mother rushed over to throw her arms around her daughter； nearly knocking her down。 〃I can't believe it！ My darling little girl is home！ She wasn't taken from us！〃 She was racked with sobs。
〃Well； I was； really；〃 Minmei said； pulled a little off balance by her mother's tight embrace around her neck。 〃But they brought me back。〃
Her mother suddenly had her at arm's length again。 〃Back from where？ And who's this？〃
〃This is Rick Hunter； Mother。 He's the boy who saved my life。〃
Minmei's mother suddenly clasped Rick's hand； bowing over it solemnly； again and again。 〃Thank you； thank you； son！〃
Rick scratched his head with his free hand； not knowing what to say。 Among other things； he wasn't at all sure he liked being referred to as a 〃boy〃…especially by the young woman he cared for so much。
〃Minmei！ We thought you were dead！〃 A thick…bodied； angry…looking man had appeared from the kitchen。 He had dark eyes and hair as black as his daughter's。
〃How could you not contact us and let us know you were alive？〃 But even though he was scowling； her father touched her face tenderly。
Meanwhile； Rick was having some very troubling thoughts of his own。 The G2 Security officers who had briefed him for this oddball mission had been very emphatic that he not discuss any details of the situation on the SDF…1； even Minmei had agreed to be circumspect about revealing any information about the vessel or its mission。
But these people behaved as if the ship had been lost with all hands even though it had been back for over twenty…four hours now。
Rick took the briefing officers' instructions to heart； deciding to say as little as possible…and to see that Minmei did the same； though that promised to be a chore…until he had a clearer idea of just what was going on here on Earth。
CHAPTER TWELVE
Gloval's ship and crew had been tested in the flame and e through。 The Robotechnology and the civilian refugees； likewise； had undergone a make…or…break trial。
No one had foreseen that an even more severe strain was to be put on Gloval's own oath of allegiance。
〃The Second Front；〃 History of the First Robotech War； Vol。 LXVI。
The giant face of a council member looked down at Lisa as she set down her briefing book； her summary plete。
〃That was a very prehensive report； mander Hayes；〃 the Council member； General Herbert； said。 〃But e now； don't you think you've overestimated the enemy's strength by quite a lot？〃
Herbert disappeared； and the image of Marshal Zukav； silver…haired and silver…mustached； took its place。 〃Yes； I can't help but wonder why these aliens didn't destroy the battle fortress if they had such overwhelmingly superior numbers。〃
Lisa； who'd seated herself； came to her feet again。 Gloval said nothing； glaring up at the magnified faces around him； content to let his First Officer draw out the Council's attitudes and arguments before he made his stand。
〃I've already stated what we believe to be their motives in my report。〃
Herbert was back。 〃You expect us to accept that report as the truth？〃
Lisa growled； gritting her teeth； her hands bunching into fists； trying to keep her temper。
Then her father； Admiral Hayes； was staring down at her。 〃That will be all； mander； we've heard quite enough。 You may resume your seat。〃
〃Admiral； I…〃
But Gloval was on his feet now； with a calming hand on her shoulder。 She held her p