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！
He watched her go and said very softly to himself； 〃Wow。〃
Rick sat； watching Earth again。 The way he had it figured； the SDF…1's orbit would bring Alaska into view in a little while。 He went over the message he had flashed to Lisa by prosign dots and dashes。
He wished he had said more。
CHAPTER SEVEN
The myths of selfless humility and humble allegiance to ideals aside； there is no warrior culture； not that of Japanese samurai； medieval knight； or any other； that does not； upon close scrutiny； have a ruthless； entirely practical side to it。 Also universal are egotism and a hypocritical willingness to dispense with all the high…flown language and poetic vows when the grim business of life and death is at hand。
How much more so； then； among the cloned； bred…for…battle Zentraedi？ In the case of Miriya Parino； female warlord of the Quadronos and arguably the greatest fighter of her race； the matter is certain： Her soaring pride and utter self…confidence had been her hallmark until she was bested both in the air and on the ground by Max Sterling。 Her emotional ferment was such that the law of her kind； the vendetta； was the only road open to her…vengeance； by any means possible。
Is it any wonder； then； that what happened next has provided fuel for songs； arguments； dissertations； and grand opera for generations since？
Altaira Heimel； Butterflies in Winter： Human Relations and the Robotech War
The super dimensional fortress prowled cautiously through the void； vigilant against attack and yet resigned to battle as only a seasoned veteran can be。
The Zentraedi had e pressing battle upon the ship many times before； would e again。 Life in between clashes was； therefore； to be lived that much more fully。 Death was all around…the war had gone on for years； nobody aboard thought； any longer； that it couldn't as easily be their number that would e up the next time around。
In the center of Macross was a park； lovingly and carefully put together by the inhabitants almost blade of grass by blade of grass。 Overhead was an Earthly summertime evening； courtesy of the EVE system。 There was even the sound of crickets…descendants of good…luck pets who had somehow survived the war。
Max Sterling paced fitfully under a streetlamp near the Peace Fountain that trickled and gurgled a few yards away。 He checked his watch for the seventh time in two minutes。
〃Jeez； it's almost nine。 I hope she's all right。〃
He was worried that Miriya wouldn't show up…worried even more； really； that she would。 Just an average…looking young man straightening his necktie and hoping his only sports jacket didn't look too shabby； and recalling with a sudden sinking feeling that he had forgotten to pick up the flowers he had ordered。
He didn't know that death hunted afoot and that the pounce was near； he wouldn't know for several seconds yet that cruel eyes were watching him from the shadows。
〃I can't believe I asked her to meet me in the park…a girl； at night！〃 he muttered。 〃She could get mugged or something。〃
In fact； street crime in Macross was all but nonexistent。 And punishments were such that recidivism was just about nil； but that sort of reasoning meant nothing to a young man waiting for a woman who had him mesmerized； entranced； enraptured。 A woman he had met only a few hours before。
A woman who stood in the dark poised； to kill him。
Then he heard running footsteps behind him； and her voice。 〃Maximillian； prepare for your doom！〃 It was a literal translation of a Quadrono war cry。
Miriya had gotten to the spot well in advance； seen him arrive； watched him。 She had been set to kill him precisely at their appointed meeting time； a quarter hour before。 But she had only watched him； hating him all the more but feeling strange…feeling drawn to him in some mysterious way she couldn't fathom。
She told herself she was merely studying her enemy's movements and possible vulnerabilities and fought down the liking she had for seeing him in motion。 She told herself that she was merely waiting for the most opportune moment； yet though that part of the park was absolutely deserted； she let the minutes slide by。
Miriya observed his eyes； his lips； the way he moved。 She felt a trembling in herself that no military mind /body discipline known to her could quiet。 But at last； by a tremendous application of will； she hurled herself into battle。
Max was unaware of all of that； of course。 At first he thought it was some kind of joke。
He saw her charging at him with the quick grace of a panther； a gleaming knife held high。 Miriya's heavy waves of green…dyed hair snapped and flew behind her like a flag。 She still wore the brown body suit； the kneehigh boots of blue…dyed leather； and the yellow scarf at her throat。
Her eyes started madly。 She was Quadrono； a Zentraedi warrior； and yet this miserable human had somehow made her vacillate…made her feel weakness where once there had been only strength！ But that would end； Sterling would die； to expiate his sin of defeating her； and she would once more be Miriya the unconquerable。
Max was fumbling through a little greeting he had been rehearsing； his habitual whimsical half smile appearing on his face。 〃Miriya； it's nice to see you。。。glad you could。。。uh。。。〃
This； while she bore down on him； the blade gleaming。 The knife was a kind of hybrid cross between a Japanese…style tanto and one of the midlength Randall hunting models； with a circular guard。 She saw that she had a lot of ground yet to cover and； afraid that he might elude her； hurled it at him； clawing in the meantime for her second blade。
The knives weren't quite like the Zentraedi weapons she was used to； but the balance and heft weren't too different。 Although a firearm would have been faster； her incandescent need for revenge had made Miriya choose a more traditional weapon。 It had to be reflexes； muscle； eye…to…eye confrontation； and cold steel that settled her score with the hated human。
And in that moment Max Sterling proved that all those dogfight kills weren't some kind of fluke。 His psychomotor responses were the fastest the SDF…1 meds had ever measured…his coordination and reflexes were unprecedented。
M