按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t planet d' you e from； anyway？〃
Bron went； 〃Duly〃 and almost fainted。 Konda blurted； 〃We e from right around here！〃 and Rico did the best he could； although he was sure they were about to be apprehended and tortured。 〃Yeah； we work right across the street。〃 He'd heard somebody say it a day or two before； and it seemed to be some kind of verification or identity…establishing phrase。
The spies had learned about 〃work；〃 a nonbat function considered demeaning and suitable only for slaves among the Zentraedi yet somehow desirable and even admirable among the deviate Micronians。
The Terrible Trio looked where he was pointing。 It was one of the loudest； most garish spots in Macross City； ablaze with lights and raucous music。 The sign over it said； Disco BAMBOO HOUSE。
Kim clapped her hands。 〃You mean you work at the disco？ We go to the Bamboo House all the time！〃
Sammie gave them an even closer look。 〃I wonder why we've never seen any of you there？〃
Bron began； 〃Uh； what is a dis…〃 before Rico got an elbow into his middle and he subsided。
Sammie grabbed Rico's wrist。 These three guys might be slightly strange； but what the heck？ Weird as they were； they worked at the disco； and that would at least mean that they could dance。
〃I've got an idea；〃 she said； batting her eyelashes。 〃Why don't we all check it out together？〃
〃What a wonderful idea！〃 Kim threw a fist in the air in elation。
Vanessa figured it was better than another few hours of trudging around town。 〃I want the big； handsome one；〃 she said； winking at Bron。 All the color left his face； and his knees knocked。
Sammie was towing Rico into the street； he didn't dare to resist too much or put up a fight。
〃e with me；〃 she pouted。
〃Can't we talk this over？〃 Rico bleated。
Was this as innocent as the females were making it out to be； or were they superlatively well trained counterespionage agents with a clever plan to drive the Zentraedi spies into paranoid madness and thus make them easier to interrogate？
Bron whispered to Konda； 〃D' you suppose this disco thing is some Micronian method of torture？〃
Kim and Vanessa were looking at them expectantly。 Konda hissed； 〃We must perform our duty as Zentraedi！〃
Their chins came up； and their mouths became ruled lines； they advanced bravely to endure whatever sadistic； ultimate torment the experience called 〃disco〃 might hold in store。
The cruiser that had been pletely destroyed was only a minor part of Khyron's titanic flagship； a part that was now slowly being replaced by the organic growth characteristics of Protoculture。
In the mand post bubble overlooking the flagship's bridge； Khyron stood alone； raging at the figure on the projecbeam screen。 He'd driven out all his subordinates； even the faithful Grel； determined that they would not witness his helpless fury before the mockery of the woman warrior Miriya。
〃How dare you question my leadership abilities？〃 he railed at her。 〃Just who do you think you are？〃
She stood projected before him； erect and lithe； a tall woman with a flowing mane of green…black hair。 She drew herself up even taller。 〃I am the backbone of the Quadrono Battalion； and the finest bat pilot in all the Zentraedi forces。〃
Khryon snarled； 〃Your ego will one day cause your destruction； Miriya。〃
One corner of her mouth tugged upward。 〃Just as yours caused you to be defeated by the Micronians yet again and made you an object of ridicule to all those whom you mand； Backstabber？〃
He pointed a finger at her。 〃Because you have never faced a capable opponent； you believe you're something special。 But take care； little Miriya！ For there is one aboard the alien ship whom you cannot best！〃
She heard the would…be taunt with calm interest。 〃So！ A superior pilot； a super…ace； aboard the SDF…1？ Interesting！〃
She smiled just the slightest bit； dimples appearing at the sides of her mouth； giving her a beautifully hungry； dangerously feline look。 〃I'd like to meet him！〃
Huh！ Everything's phony！ Roy thought； looking around the movie set。 Somehow he'd never believed it even though that was what people had always said。 But the little Shao…lin temple and its shrine and the trees； plants； and grass were all a variety of cunningly fabricated plastic and other synthetics from the ship's protean Robotech minifactories。
People were running around yelling； mostly being rude to one another。 You could tell who was more important； because the other person would just have to stand there and take it。 Roy heard things that would have started major fistfights in a barracks； differences in rank notwithstanding。
A man he recognized as Vance Hasslewood； Minmei's personal manager and now codirector of her movie； was running around being important。 〃Let's set up for the next shot！〃 〃Minmei； Kyle： Relax for a few minutes！〃 〃Wardrobe？ Listen； sweetie； those blouses are awful！〃
Roy tuned him out； strolling around a phony corner and glancing up a phony staircase。 〃Well； hey！〃
Minmei squealed。 〃mander Fokker！〃 and came racing down the steps to him。 She wore a Chinese peasant…style tunic and trousers bination； her hair gathered tightly and done up in a long braid in back。
He looked down on her fondly from his rangy height。 〃How's everybody's favorite recording star？〃
She gestured around at the lights and all the other equipment。 〃Trying to be an actress。 I get to play the cute little heroine。〃
〃Sounds like fun；〃 Roy lied； it looked like appalling drudgery； but then； it was probably tolerable to people who couldn't fly。
〃Oh； it is！〃 she enthused。 〃But…where's Rick？ Is he hiding？〃 She glanced around。
〃'Fraid Rick couldn't make it this time。〃
Her hand flew to her mouth。 〃He's not hurt； is he？〃
〃Not seriously； but he's gonna have to spend some time in the hospital； and I thought you might like to stop in and see him。〃
Roy's voice took on a slightly harder edge。 〃That is； if you can spare time from all this。〃 He indicated the overturned anthill confusion of the movie set with a disdainful toss of his shaggy blond head。 〃I'm convinced a visit from you would be worth more than all the medicine in the world。〃
Minmei had discovered that life on a movie set was a lot less exciting than she'd pictured it…tedious and time…consuming and endlessly repetitive； just the opposite of what she'd envisioned。 She still aspired to superstardom； but the movies' hold over her was less now。
Besides； even though she was flighty； she wasn't blind to the things she owed Rick Hunter。 The news that he had been wounded brought out the very best in her…so winning that few people could resist it…and perhaps a sense of real drama。
〃Of course I will！ If it weren't for Rick Hunter； I wouldn't even be alive！〃
Roy gave her a broad conspiratorial smile。 〃Atta girl！〃
〃mander！〃
Roy and Minmei turned together to see Lynn…Kyle striding their way。 He glowered at them； an angry young man in a black； white…trimmed jacket and trouser costume。 〃If you're through wasting Minmei's time； I wonder if we could get back to work？〃
Roy took his time staring down his nose at Kyle。 He'd heard all the stories about the fight at the White Dragon； He wondered if Kyle had heard the adage that