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〃Gee；〃 Minmei said； wiping away moisture from her eyes。 〃I'm so happy； I'm gonna cry。〃
Lena truly noticed Rick and her niece for the first time。 〃Oh； dear！ This is no way to wele you two home！〃
Minmei was snuffling and sobbing openly now。 〃Aw； don't worry about us；〃 Rick said。
Lena said； 〃Now； now； e in！〃 She kept her hold on her son's shoulders as he took another step into the White Dragon。 Minmei had assured him that in virtually every detail it was an exact duplicate of the old place； the one that had been destroyed on Macross Island。 But this was astounding！
There was a clatter of bowls and a rattle of chopsticks over by the pickup counter。 Lynn…Kyle essayed another of his gentle smiles。 〃Father。 I've missed you； too。 You're looking well。〃
Max snorted gruffly； looking the boy over。 Gathering the last of the bowls with an irritated grunt； he vanished back into the kitchen。
Lena went to plead with him。 〃Now； dear！ Please don't be so…〃
But Kyle had caught her wrist； pulling her back。 〃Mother； don't get upset； I beg you。 Father's always been that way around me； you know that。〃
Washing up the last of the dishes； Max scarcely knew what he was doing； his mind was far away； on the years and the rift between himself and his son。 〃I always knew he'd e back；〃 he muttered to himself； words drowned out by the jetting water and the other sounds of the kitchen。 〃No alien sneak attack could've killed him。〃
He had to stop； to dry his eyes and blow his nose。 〃What else could I think？ He is my son。〃
And he couldn't help but surrender to the proud smile he'd kept hidden。
The three Zentraedi spies crouched before the display window of a sushi and tempura shop not far away； gazing hungrily at the appetizing dishes there。 Their mouths watered； and their jaws ached with hunger。 Rico's face and hands were pressed flat against the glass。
〃So d' you suppose that stuff is food？〃 Konda asked aloud。
Bron had a hypnotized grin on his face； eyes never leaving the display。 〃Mmm； well； something sure smells good here； and I'm getting pretty hungry。〃
The tiny supply of concentrate capsules they'd brought with them was long gone； and they hadn't eaten since the free food at the party on Daedalus's flight deck the day before。
The other two made ravenous sounds of agreement。 Thus far； they hadn't been able to figure out how to requisition food on the SDF…1； Macross City was filled with an astounding variety of things； all of which seemed to change hands through a system based on pieces of paper。
But how to get the paper？ The humans' system of distribution and ration allocation seemed the maddest thing of all about their society。
The three took a few steps back to stare in fascination at the window and consider their problem。 〃So who's goin' in to get our rations？〃 Konda posed the question。
〃That's easy；〃 replied Bron； hitching his belt up。 〃I'll go。〃
〃No； I'll go！〃 Rico insisted。 Before the other two could raise the question of tactics； the smallest spy backed up a few steps and； with a running start； slammed his shoulder into the plate glass。
The glass heaved and shattered； pieces of it raining down inside the display case and out on the sidewalk。 By some chance； Rico wasn't hurt at all。
The owner； a sturdy…looking woman in her forties wearing flat slippers and an apron over her working clothes； came charging out onto the sidewalk。 She held a heavy； long…handled ladle in one formidable…looking fist。
〃Hey； what's going on out here…Oh！〃 She watched dumbfounded as Rico； squatting on his haunches； claimed his right as winner of the food and had the first portion。 Konda and Bron were looking on avidly。
But Rico spit out the stuff that was in his mouth and spit again； making horrible faces。 〃Inedible！ Plaugh！〃
She shook her ladle at him。 〃What's wrong with you？ Of course it's not food。 Don't you know the difference between real food and a plastic window display？〃
She took a step toward him； and Rico fell over backward on the seat of his pants； intimidated by the implement she held…from the confidence she showed； it was obviously a lethal weapon； perhaps a Robotech device。 Konda and Bron skipped back； ready to do battle but more inclined to run from such a fearsome opponent。
She set her hands on her hips； looking down at Rico； who waited miserably to be set upon and wounded or killed。 But she said； 〃If you're trying to eat that； I guess you really must be hungry。〃
She'd thought that arrangements for feeding everyone in the SDF…1 had missed nothing； but perhaps these three loonies were a special case…incapable of coping with even the least contact with bureaucracy。 There were always going to be those who fell through the social safety net； she decided； even on the SDF…1。
She wasn't the kind to let people go hungry； and what's more； she was filled with the joy of the return to Earth and the promised end to her hardships。 She pointed to the door of her restaurant。
〃C'mon inside； you three； and I'll fix you something to eat。 And I mean real food！〃
She went inside； and the three spies looked at one another。
〃She's going to give us food？ Just like that？〃 Bron said blankly。 〃Just because she sees we're hungry？〃
〃How can a chaotic system like this possibly function？〃 Konda wondered； rubbing his jaw。
〃I don't care； just as long as it functions for another half hour or so！〃 proclaimed Rico； scrambling to his feet。
It was insane； against all logic。 And yet； knowing how it felt to be very； very hungry and have someone act toward them in this absurd but very wele manner； they had to admit that there was something about it…something admirable。 Something that struck a chord deep within them。
It was pletely unlike the Zentraedi； it even smacked of a kind of weakness。 But it stirred up new and confusing response patterns。
〃Hey； wait for us！〃 Rico yelped； scuttling along after her。 Konda and Bron crowded each other for second place。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
In recent years； Karl Riber hadn't e so often to mind…not more than once or twice a day； sometimes。
Occasionally； I wonder why I stayed in the service； since it was war that took us apart； war that had made peace…loving Karl volunteer for duty on the Mars Sara Base； that got him killed in that raid。
I was only a teenager； and a rather young one； when he left。 When he died； I thought someday the pain would go away； the years would wear it out。 I know better now。
Lisa Hayes； Recollections
Lisa and her watchmates showed up at the White Dragon with Max Sterling bringing up the rear。 Max knew that Rick claimed to dislike them； especially mander Hayes； but Max didn't share his feelings。
He even suspected that Rick protested too much； was too loud in his denunciation of Lisa； Max had seen them together and knew there was more there than met the eye； more than either of them was willing to admit。 But far be it from the self…effacing Max Sterling to make any ment。
As for Kim； Sammie； and Vanessa…the ones Rick had dubbed the 〃bridge bunnies〃…Max was delighted to have their pany。 He thought it good luck to have run into them and been invited along and figured any VT jock who wouldn't jump at the chance to have four good…looki