02_battle_cry-第3章

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ty　areas　were　well　marked　in　the　event　of　modular　transformation。　Each　resident　now　had　a　bed　to　sleep　in；　a　job　to　perform。　Food　and　water　rationing　was　accepted　as　part　of　the　routine。　The　system　of　waivers；　ration　coupons；　and　military　scrip　had　proved　manageable。　Most　people　had　navigated　the　psychological　crossings　successfully。　There　would　soon　be　a　television　station；　and　a　lottery　was　in　the　works。　In　general　the　city　was　not　unlike　a　turn…of…the…century　shopping　mall；　except　in　size　and　population。　Remarkably；　the　residents　of　Macross　had　made　the　adjustment…they　were　a　special　lot　from　the　start…and　the　general　feeling　there　was　a　cross　between　that　found　in　an　experimental　prototype　munity　and　that　found　in　any　of　the　wartime　cities　of　the　last　era。

Nearing　the　market　now；　Rick　began　to　focus　his　thoughts　on　Minmei　and　how　the　day　as　he　imagined　it　would　unfold。　She　would　be　knocked　out　by　the　sight　of　him　in　uniform；　she　wouldn't　be　able　to　keep　her　hands　off　him；　he　would　suggest　the　park；　and　she　would　eagerly　agree…

〃Rick！〃

Minmei　was　running　toward　him；　a　full　shopping　bag　cradled　in　one　arm；　her　free　hand　waving　like　mad。　She　was　wearing　a　tight　sleeveless　sweater　over　a　white　blouse；　and　a　skirt　that　revealed　too　much。　Her　hair　was　down；　lustrous　even　in　the　city's　artificial　light；　her　blue　eyes　were　bright；　fixed　on　his　as　she　kissed　him　once　and　stepped　back　to　give　him　the　once…over。

Inside　the　cool　and　crisp　cadet　Rick　was　projecting；　his　heart　was　running　wild。　She　was　already　talking　a　blue　streak；　filling　him　in　on　her　eight　weeks；　asking　questions　about　〃spacic　training；〃　plimenting　him；　the　uniform；　the　Defense　Force；　the　mayor；　and　everyone　else　connected　with　the　war　effort。　Rick；　however；　was　so　drawn　to　her　beauty　that　he　scarcely　heard　the　news　or　pliments；　he　was　suddenly　quiet　and　worried。　Minmei　drew　stares　from　everyone　they　passed；　and　she　appeared　to　know　half　of　Macross　personally。　What　had　she　been　doing　these　past　eight　weeks…introducing　herself　on　street　corners？　And　what　was　all　this　about　singing　lessons；　dance　lessons；　and　an　uping　beauty　pageant？　Rick　wanted　to　tell　her　about　the　hardships　of　training；　the　new　friends　he'd　made；　his　unvoiced　fears；　he　wanted　to　hold　her　and　tell　her　how　much　he　had　missed　her；　tell　her　how　their　two…week　ordeal　together　had　been　one　of　the　most　precious　times　in　his　life。　But　she　wasn't　letting　him　get　a　word　in。

A　short　distance　down　the　block；　Minmei　stopped　in　midsentence　and　dragged　Rick　over　to　one　of　the　storefronts。　In　the　window　was　a　salmon…colored　belted　dress　that　had　suddenly　bee　the　most　important　thing　in　the　world　to　her。

〃e　on；　Rick；　just　for　a　minute；　okay？〃

〃Minmei；〃　he　resisted；　〃I'm　not　going　to　spend　my　leave　shopping。〃

〃I　promise　I'll　only　be　a　second。〃

〃It　always　starts　out　that　way　and；　and。。。〃

Minmei　already　had　her　hand　on　the　doorknob。　〃Just　what　else　did　you　have　in　mind　for　today；　Rick？〃

She　disappeared　into　the　woman's　shop；　leaving　him　standing　on　the　sidewalk；　feeling　somehow　guilty　for　even　thinking　about　going　to　the　park。

By　the　time　he　entered；　Minmei　had　the　hangered　dress　draped　over　one　arm　and　was　going　through　the　racks；　pulling　out　belts；　blouses；　patterned　stockings；　skirts；　sweaters；　and　lingerie。　Rick　checked　his　watch　and　calculated　that　he'd　be　AWOL　long　before　she　finished　trying　everything　on。　She　had　entered　the　dressing　room　and　was　throwing　the　curtain　closed。

〃And　no　peeking；　Rick；〃　she　called　out。

Fortunately　there　were　no　other　customers　in　the　store　at　the　time；　but　the　saleswoman　standing　silently　behind　Rick　had　found　Minmei's　warning　just　about　the　funniest　thing　she　had　heard　all　week。　Her　squeal　of　delight　took　Rick　pletely　by　surprise。　He　thought　an　early…warning　signal　had　just　gone　off…and　in　the　middle　of　squatting　down　for　cover；　he　managed　to　lose　some　of　the　items　from　the　top　of　the　shopping　bag。　In　stooping　over　to　recover　these；　he　tipped　the　bag；　spilling　half　the　contents　across　the　floor。

The　woman　was　laughing　like　a　maniac　now；　the　door　buzzer　was　signaling　the　entry　of　three　additional　shoppers；　and　Minmei　was　peeking　over　the　top　of　the　dressing　room　curtain　asking　what　had　happened。　Rick；　meanwhile；　was　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　crawling　under　tables　in　search　of　the　goods…bottles　of　shampoo；　creme　rinse；　body　lotion；　baby　oil；　lipsticks；　and　sundry　makeup　containers…all　of　which　had　bee　covered　in　some　sort　of　slippery　wash　from　a　container　of　liquid　face　soap　that　had　partially　opened。　Each　time　Rick　grabbed　hold　of　one　of　the　items；　it　would　jump　from　his　hand　like　a　wet　fish。　But　he　soon　got　the　hang　of　it　and　had　almost　everything　rebagged　in　a　short　time。　Only　one　thing　left　to　retrieve：　a　tube　of　tricolored　toothpaste　just　out　of　reach；　bathing　in　a　puddle　of　the　face　soap。　Rick　gave　it　a　shot；　stretching　out　and　making　a　grab　for　it。　Sure　enough；　the　tube　propelled　itself　and　ended　up　under　another　table。

It　was　time　to　get　serious。　Rick　set　the　bag　aside　and　crawled　off　stealthily　after　his　prey；　as　though　the　tube　had　taken　on　a　will　of　its　own　and　was　on　the　verge　of　scurrying　off；　like　some　of　Macross　City's　robo…dispenser　units。　He　squinted；　held　the　tube　in　his　gaze；　and　when　he　was　near　enough；　pounced。

The　tube　seemed　to　scream　in　his　hands　and　immediately　worked　itself　into　a　vertical　launch。　But　Rick　had　prepared　himself　for　this；　he　lifted　his　head；　eyes　fixed　on　the　tube's　ascent。

The　one　thing　he　hadn't　taken　into　account　was　the　height　of　the　table。　His　head　connected　hard　with　the　underside；　the　tube　made　its　escape；　and　Rick　collapsed　back　to　the　floor；　rolling　over　onto　his　back　and　holding　his　head。

When　he　opened　his　eyes；　he　was　staring　up　at　a　rain　of　brassieres　and　three　pairs　of　silken　female　legs。　The　women　owners　of　these　were　backing　away　from　the　table；　high　heels　clicking　against　the　floor；　hands　tugging　at　the　hems　of　their　skirts　as　though　they'd　just　seen　a　rodent　on　the　loose。

Rick　pushed　himself　out　and　got　to　his　feet；　facing　the　three　women　from　across　the　table。　They　were　still　backing　away　from　the　tabletop　lingerie　display　with　looks　of　indignation　on　their　faces。　Rick　was　stammering　apologies　to　them　as　they　exited　the　shop；　the　saleswoman　was　once　again　laughing　hysterically；　and　Minmei　was　suddenly　behind　him；　tapping　him　on　the　shoulder；　soliciting　his　opinion　of　the　dress　she　was　trying　on。　He　stood　shell…shocked　for　a　minute；　laughter　in　one　ear；　Minmei's　questions　in　the　other；　and　left　the　store　without　a　word。

Minmei　remained　inside　for　well　over　an　hour。　She　had　two　additional　shopping　bags　with　her　when　she　came　out。　Undaunted；　Rick　once　again　tried　to　suggest　a　walk　in　the　park；　but　she　had　already　made　other　plans　for　the　two　of　them。　Her　surrogate　family；　who　ran　Macross　City's　most　popular　Chinese　restaurant；　the　White　Dragon；　had　been　asking　for　Rick；　and　this　would　be　a　perfect　time　to　visit…he　looked　so　〃gallant　and　dashing〃　in　his　uniform。

Rich　could　hardly　refuse。　Minmei's　aunt　and　uncle　were　almost　like　family　to　him；　in　fact；　he　had　lived　with　them　above　the　restaurant　before　joining　the　Defense　Forces。

They　were　an　odd　couple…Max；　short　and　portly；　and　Lena；　Minmei's　tall　and　gracious　inspiration。　They　had　a　son　back　on　Earth；　Lynn…Kyle；　whom　Lena　missed　and　Max　preferred　not　to　think　about；　for　reasons　Rick　hadn't　learned。　Although　there　was　little　else　that　either　kept　from　him。　As　Rick　entered　the　restaurant　they　pretended　surprise；　but　within　minutes　they　had　his　favorite　meal　spread　out　before　him。　While　wolfing　down　the　stir…fried　shrimp；　he　regaled　them　with　the　barracks　stories　he　had　been　saving　for　Minmei。　They　wanted　to　know　all　about　the　Veritech　fighters…how　they　handled　in　deep　space；　how　they　were　able　to　switch　from　Fighter　to　Guardian　or　Battloid　mode。　And　they　asked　about　the　war：　Had　Gloval　managed　to　contact　Earth　headquarters？　Did　his　manders　believe　that　the　enemy　would　continue　their　attacks？　Was　Rick　worried　about　his　first　mission？　How　long　it　would　be　before　the　SDF…1　returned　to　Earth？

Rick　did　his　best　to　answer　them；　sidestepping　issues　he　was　not　permitted　to　discuss　and　at　other　times　exaggerating　his　impor