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People were stopping now； staring at them； laughing and slapping each other on the arm。 The female Micronians seemed inclined to look； avert their eyes； then look again； blushing and shaking with laughter。
Rico caught a few words here and there…〃women's clothes；〃 for example…and made a brief； horrified parison study of the garments he saw all around him； and their wearers。
〃That's it！ It's a female's uniform you're wearing！〃
So； they hadn't been spotted by the Micronians' secret police。 Bron had his eyes closed； almost collapsing back into Konda's arms with the mortification of it。
Konda shoved him upright。 〃e on！ Let's get out of here now！〃
Nobody appeared inclined to stop them； and most were laughing too hard； anyway。 They dashed off in a line； Konda leading； around a corner and down a street； around another corner and across to a park； making sure not to bump into anybody。
〃Frat initiation；〃 someone said sagely。
〃Another bunch of drunken performance artists！〃 an old man yelled； waving his cane at them vengefully。
But other than that； they drew a few puzzled glances and nothing more。 Konda had spotted an illuminated symbol whose meaning they'd learned on their earliest explorations； the little stick…figure Micronian near the lighted sign； MEN。
The attendant was standing outside； whiling away the time and watching the people go by。 He watched as Konda and Rico dashed into the men's room； not terribly interested； he'd seen guys in a bigger hurry in his time。 Then he heard the pounding of heavy footsteps and did a classic double take as Bron brought up the rear。
The picture of offended righteousness； the attendant held up his hand。 〃Just a second； madam！ Nothin' doin'！ Ladies' room to th' left！〃
〃Okayokayokay！〃 Bron veered off and ran into the ladies' room。
There were a few relatively quiet moments； during which the attendant looked up at the evening sky synthesized by the EVE system…tonight they were recreating a northern hemisphere summer sky…and reflected on the sorry state of the human race。 Women in the mens' room！ Boy； if you weren't on your toes every minute。。。
Distracted； wandering to the corner of the little building to look up and philosophize； he failed to notice the dim cries of 〃A man！〃 〃Get out！〃 and 〃Pervert！〃 that came from the ladies' room along with shrieks and howls of outrage。
Bron emerged from the ladies' room a moment later in a low crawl； the shoulder of his blouse ripped； hair askew； and face scratched in parallel furrows； several spots on his shins promising remarkable bruises。
Panting； he took a moment to catch his breath； slumped against a partition； preparing to move on quickly before he was attacked again。
〃These。。。Micronians certainly have a warlike culture！〃
Elsewhere in the park； in the Star Bowl…the open…air amphitheater where Minmei had been crowned Miss Macross…a different sort of ceremony was about to take place。
None of it fazed Max Sterling very much…few things seemed to…but Ben wasn't happy。 〃Hey； Max； I thought we were supposed to be resting and relaxing。〃
Max adjusted his large aviator…style eyeglasses； smiling his serene； mischievous smile。 〃Aw； what's the matter？ Don't you want to be a hero？ Didn't you say you were looking forward to it？〃
Ben considered Max sourly。 Now； here was this little guy…not even twenty yet…who wouldn't even be flying in one of the old…time wars。 In prewar days； pilot candidates who needed corrective lenses were as sought after as those with untreatable airsickness。
And then there was Max's self…effacing style； his quiet； somehow Zen humility； which wouldn't have been noticeable except that he was the hottest pilot who'd ever climbed into a Veritech； and everybody knew it。 Not Rick Hunter； not even Roy Fokker himself； was Max's equal； but Max just went along like a goodnatured kid who was rather surprised at where fate had brought him； bashful and loyal and given to blushing。 Even if he did follow the fad of dying his hair…blue； in this case。
〃Aw； pipe down；〃 Ben growled at him； but in fact Ben wasn't that unhappy。 Who gets tired of being cheered？ Pity them； whoever they are。
Banks of lights came up all around them； until they were standing in a lighted area brighter than brightest day。 Triumphant music soared from the sound system as curtains swept aside； and the applause and cheering and whistling began； like waves hitting a shore。
Rick and Lisa； who'd been conversing haltingly and enjoying a kind of mutual attraction they couldn't seem to resist； looked relieved that the extravaganza had started。 The four escapees； in full…dress uniform； stood in a line on the stage； from all around the packed Star Bowl the outpouring of joy and admiration came。
There'd been good war news and bad； and virtually everyone in the amphitheater had lost friends and relatives； besides； many in the audience were military。 But these were four who'd gone into the very heart of the enemy stronghold and e back； and returning…ing back home…was something very much in the minds of the people of Macross City these days。
The master of ceremonies； a man in a loud suit with an oily voice； held the microphone right up against his capped teeth。
Rick sighed and made up his mind to put up with the show as best he could。 The music was still all trumpets and drums； and the ovation was growing louder and louder。 A tech somewhere turned up the gain on the mike so that the emcee could be heard。
〃And here are the four young champions who have miraculously escaped the clutches of our enemy： mander Lisa Hayes； our number one space heroine…〃
Lisa was breathing quickly； eyes on the floor； Rick saw； by an iron application of will； she forced herself not to bolt from the stage； there was bravery and there was bravery； and facing a crowd took a great deal of hers。
〃And Lieutenant Rick Hunter； whose flying exploits are already legendary！〃
Rick was used to crowds； was used to taking bows and waving and soaking up the glory； from his days in his father's air circus。 He could easily have played to the crowd； knew just what it was they wanted and just how to make them like him even more： the little tricks of eye contact； of perhaps singling out a child to kiss or an elderly sort to shake hands with or a good…looking woman to hug。
But he did none of that。 The mission that had landed him in the Zentraedi ship and in the heart of the mad Zentraedi empire hadn't been undertaken to win cheers。 Playing to the crowd was a thing that was behind him now； something out of a different life。 Rick Hunter acknowledged the ovation with a bow of his head and remained more or less at attention。
He looked aside only once； to see what Lisa was doing。 She was watching him。
〃And here are their intrepid panions；〃 the emcee went on in a voice so ebullient that the listeners might have thought he'd been along on the mission。 〃Max Sterling and Ben Dixon！ To these four； we express our deepest gratitude。〃
The crowd did。 Earth was so close now； and there was a holiday spirit in the air。 A homeing； a victory； the sight of four humans who'd gone up against the relentless enemy and e back covered with glory…these things all had the Macross Ci