18_the_end_of_the_circle-第44章

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！



They　were　not　far　from　the　right　arm's　juncture　to　the　body；　but　from　their　viewpoint　it　was　more　like　a　curve　in　the　world；　vanishing　away；　with　another　even　greater　bulge　rising　out　of　sight　far　beyond。　They　were　too　small　to　have　any　sense　of　the　planet's　new　shape。

A　yawning　opening　appeared　in　the　surface　of　the　planet；　and　Haydon　entered　in　serene；　floating　fashion。　The　carpet　trailed　obediently　after。　Haydon　IV　reverberated　to　the　shocks　of　the　final　reconfigurations。　As　it　did；　the　first　maximum　range　salvos　began　to　blossom　around　it。

The　war　machine　waited　in　space　as　the　flotilla　of　Local　Group　ships　rushed　to　the　attack。


PART　IV

FINALE　AND　OVERTURE

CHAPTER　THIRTY…NINE

It's　been　said　that　we're　all　three　people：　the　one　we　see　ourselves　as　being；　the　one　others　see　us　as　being；　and　the　one　we　really　are。
The　Regis　seemed　determined　to　explore　all　of　those；　and　I　don't　know　which　frightened　me　most。
Dr。　Harold　Penn；　The　Brief　but　Timeless　Voyage　of　the　Peter　Pan

Because　Dante　and　Gnea　had　been　accosted　there　by　the　Regis's　strange　luminous　effects；　it　was　decided　that　the　attempt　to　establish　contact　with　her　should　be　initiated　on　the　planet；　which　some　scholar　in　the　SDF…3　crew　had　dubbed　Omphalos。

Most　of　the　mand　people　were　all　for　it；　since　it　was　seemingly　the　only　course　of　action　open　to　them。　Rick　and　Lisa　were　more　hesitant；　since　the　experts　felt　the　only　plausible　method　of　municating　with　the　vanished　racial　entity/queen　lay　in　Roy　and　the　other　children；　everything　that　had　happened　regarding　newspace　thus　far　indicated　that　it　was　a　domain　with　a　special　affinity　for　psi…phenomena。　Certainly　the　Regis　had　not　responded　to　any　conventional　attempts　at　munication。

Calculations　showed　that　the　breach　draining　the　substance　of　the　universe　into　newspace　was　widening；　though。　There　was　a　growing　faction　among　the　theorists；　lining　up　behind　Lang；　who　believed　that　real　spacetime　would　be　altogether　sucked　into　the　adjunct　province　of　newspace　and　find　itself　under　the　dominion　of　the　Regis。　Thus；　the　children's　lives　were　already　horribly　at　risk；　and　the　perils　of　contact　with　the　Regis　must　be　borne。

A　lot　of　people　in　G2　and　G3　wanted　to　make　a　landing　in　force　to　secure　the　area　against　any　possible　hostile　action　by　the　Regis…post　Battlepods；　hovertanks；　Veritechs；　and　the　rest　in　a　layered　defense。　But　cooler　heads　prevailed；　mecha　firepower　probably　would　not　amount　to　much　against　the　entity　that　controlled　newspace。

So；　two　shuttles　flanked　by　one　Alpha　and　one　Beta　descended　as　if　on　a　diplomatic　mission；　slow　and　steady；　followed　by　two　pods　and　two　suits　of　powered　armor。　Once　down　on　Omphalos；　the　party　formed　up　on　the　ground　and　moved　out　for　the　field　where　Angelo　and　Gnea　had　disappeared。

They　could　have　dropped　in　for　a　landing　directly　in　the　field；　of　course；　but　it　was　felt　that　going　in　on　foot　would　help　re…create　the　circumstances　of　the　first　encounter　and　look　much　less　belligerent。　The　Alpha　was　sent　back　aloft　to　patrol；　and　the　ground　party　started　walking。

Rick　and　Lisa　led　the　way。　Roy　was　farther　back；　with　the　children　and　most　of　the　other　parents。　Scott　Bernard　was　following　close　behind　the　Hunters。　Marlene　came　after　him；　a　part　of　the　group　at　her　own　insistence　and　over　his　objections。　The　Hunters　and　the　rest　weled　her　presence；　she　was　the　closest　thing　the　expedition　had　to　an　expert　on　the　Regis。

The　landing　party　was　armed；　but　it　did　little　to　assuage　Rick's　nervousness。　He　did　not　really　think　guns　would　do　much　good　against　the　dangers　that　menaced　his　ship；　friends；　and　family。

Lisa　cast　a　glance　back　to　make　sure　the　kids　were　all　right　and　to　see　if　the　other　parents　were　coping　emotionally。　All　of　them　were　under　stress；　but　she　was　particularly　worried　about　Max。　If　the　Veritechs'　top　gun　was　starting　to　see　things　that　weren't　there；　anybody　could　lose　his　grip。

In　the　last　few　hours　others　had　begun　falling　prey　to　the　insidious　effects　of　the　new　continuum。　Word　had　it　that　the　Karbarrans'　morose　augury　chants　had　brought　them　Wagnerian　visions　of　doom。　The　Garudans'　hin　sendings　had　the　lupine　XTs　fatalistic　and　despairing。　Baldan　had　had　ghostly　encounters　on　the　Crystal　Highways　of　Omphalos　and　at　length　had　been　ejected　by　them。　

Even　the　music　of　the　Muses　and　the　Cosmic　Harp　had　taken　on　a　doleful　sound　they　seemed　helpless　to　rise　above。

The　libidinous　climate　of　the　past　few　days　had　changed；　and　the　only　possible　explanation　was　that　something　about　the　Regis　had　changed。

And　what　if　Her　Highness　doesn't　feel　like　granting　us　an　audience？　Rick　was　asking　himself　at　the　same　moment。　Do　we　sacrifice　a　few　oxen；　blow　on　a　ram's　horn；　or　what？

But　as　he　pushed　through　the　last　screen　of　bush；　he　saw　that　there　was　reason　to　hope　for　an　audience　with　the　Regis；　after　all：　The　field　had　changed；　even　though　nobody　from　the　SDF…3　or　the　recon　flights　had　seen　it。

Where　the　swaying　grasses　had　grown　to　midcalf　height；　there　was　a　structure　that　brought　a　sinister　grunt　from　Scott。　〃Invid　hive。　Huh。　Looks　like　a　miniature　Reflex　Point。〃

It　did　indeed；　but　it　was　far　smaller　than　the　sprawling　stronghold/nerve　center　that　had　been　the　Regis's　seat　of　power　on　Terra。　It　was　a　dome　with　the　same　organic　look；　the　same　glowings　in　orange　and　red　and　yellow；　like　a　super…high…speed　photograph　of　a　thermonuclear　explosion。　Around　it　was　the　strange　foam　of　bubblelike　objects　suggesting　concentric　waves　ing　in　at　the　dome；　as　at　Reflex　Point；　there　were　the　same　smaller　peripheral　nodes；　much　like　the　central　structure；　all　of　them　interlinked　by　a　network　of　conduits　or　accessways　as　brilliant　as　tubes　of　flowing　lava。

〃Maybe　we　should　send　in　a　recon　team；〃　Lisa　said。

〃I　don't　even　see　a　way　in。　Scott？〃

But　before　the　Invid　invasion　veteran　could　answer；　there　was　a　motion　from　farther　back　in　the　line。　It　was　Drannin　and　the　other　Zentraedi　children；　followed　by　Roy　and　the　humans；　pushing　to　get　through　and　head　for　the　miniature　hive。

〃Roy；　wait！〃　Lisa　dodged　around　Payton；　another　Zentraedi　giant…youngster；　to　try　to　stop　her　son。　Just　then；　knocking　small　trees　aside；　Kazianna　and　a　Zentraedi　male　caught　up　to　head　off　their　kids。

Roy　did　not　push　Lisa　away；　but　he　writhed　〃in　her　grasp。　〃Mommy；　please！　She's　waiting　to　talk　to　us。　But　we　haveta　hurry！〃
Lang　had　left　his　place　in　line；　too；　with　Louie　Nichols　and　his　cyber…whiz　disciples　in　his　wake。　〃I　understand　your　reticence；　Admiral；　but　the　lad　is　right。　Right　now　our　chief　jeopardy　lies　in　delay。〃

〃But　how　do　we　get…〃　Rick　swallowed　the　question　when　he　turned　back　to　the　mini…hive。　There　was　a　dark　semicircular　opening　directly　in　front　of　them。

His　lips　became　two　thin　lines；　and　he　turned　back　to　his　little　mand。　〃Listen　up！　We're　going　in。　Remember　your　orders；　and　I　want　all　weapons　on　safety　and　either　holstered　or　slung。〃

The　door　was　high　enough　even　for　Zentraedi。　The　party　filed　into　the　unfortably　warm　darkness　under　the　dome；　smelling　again　the　strange　aromas　and　alien　odors…some　pleasant；　others　not…of　an　Invid　hive。

It　was　like　being　inside　a　cathedral　of　dark　stained　glass。　Most　of　the　space　enclosed　under　the　dome　was　occupied　by　a　veined　bronze　sphere　that　shone　dimly。　There　was　room　for　even　the　tallest　Zentraedi　to　stand　erect。　The　contingent　from　the　SDF…3　ranged　themselves　along　the　wall；　waiting　to　see　what　would　e　next。

Rick　felt　sweat　trickling　down　his　uniform　collar　and　soaking　his　shirt。　He　had　faced　Zentraedi　and　the　Regent；　but　he　had　never　felt　the　misgiving　he　felt　there　in　the　shrine　of　an　entity　that　was　close　enough　to　a　deity　as　to　make　no　difference。

The　children　looked　at　one　another　with　their　lambent　eyes；　then　stepped　closer　to　the　sphere；　joining　hands…the　Zentraedi　sitting　in　lotus　position　so　that　the　humans　could　reach　them；　Aurora　stood　in　the　middle　of　their　line；　a　nimbus　of　whirling　scintillas　welling　up　from　her。

Without　warning；　a　zigzag　bolt　of　incandescence　broke　from　somewhere　overhead　to　smite　the　bronze　globe；　turning　it　into　a　ball　of　deep　amber　light。　Shadows　moved　within　it；　and　then　they　saw　the　face　of　the　Regis；　exalted　and　endowed　with　a　terrible　beauty；　gazing　back　at　them。

They　heard　her　voice　in　their　minds：　AT　LAST；　THROUGH　YOUR　EVOLVED　CHILDREN；　YOU　HAVE　TOUCHED　THE　PLANE　UPON　WHICH　WE　CAN　MUNICATE。　KNOW　THEN　THAT　THE　CUSP　IS　NEARING　IN　WHICH　ALL　THAT　EXISTS　WILL　E　TOGETHER　IN　THIS；　MY　CREATION；　MY　NEWSPACE。

Rick　realized　that　he　had　been　waiting　for　Aurora　to　speak；　after　all；　the　children　were　the　ones　in　contact　with　the　higher　mental　realms　where　the　Regis　moved。　He　saw　his　mistake：　The　children　might　have　powers　of　munication　and　perception；　but　they　lacked　their　elders'　experience　and　training；　their　grasp　of　the　situation　and　ability　to　deal　with　it。　Despite　the　kids'　astounding　powers；　the　oute　of　the　crisis　would　still　hinge　on　the　adults'　actions。

He　was　the　leader　of　the　ground　unit；　and　it　was　his　place　to　speak　up；　but　before　he　could；　Lang's　voice　broke　the　silence。

〃Mother　of　the　Invid　race！　Why　have　you　brought　us　here？　Why　is　the　universe　we　know　being　drawn　into　this　one？　Haven't　the　Shapings　been　fulfilled？〃

Rick　saw　that　Lang　was　not　addressing　what　was　to　him　a　critical　point：　getting　the　fold　drives　back　and　getting　the　SDF…3　and　Peter　Pan　out　of　newspace。　But　before　he　could　interject　that　matter；　the　Regis　answered。

KNOW　THEN　THAT　I　WHO　AM　THE　REGIS　AND　ALL　OF　THE　INVID　RACE　IN　ONE　ENTITY　BROUGHT　YOUR　VESSEL　HERE　IN　MY　TRANSUBSTANTIATION　BY　MY　DOMINION　OVER　THE　PROTOCULTURE。　YOUR　SDF…3　WAS　SELECTED　BECAUSE　ITS　ENGINES　WERE　BEST　SUITED　TO　SUCH　A　CONTINUUM　FOLD。　YOU　MADE　THE　FIRST　TINY　PUNCTURE　THAT　HAS　BEE　A　MIGHTY　RIFT　IN　THE　BARRIERS　BETWEEN　THE　REAL　UNIVERSE　AND　NEWSPACE　BUT　MORE　IMPORTANTLY　YOU　ARE　HERE　BECAUSE　YOU　NUMBER　AMONG　YOU　SO　MANY　WHO　LED　THE　WAR　ON　THE　INVID　AND　WHO　HAVE　STRONG　TIES　TO　THE　PROTOCULTURE　AND　THE　SHAPINGS…THE　GREAT；　INELUCTABLE　CYCLE　OF　COSMIC　EVENTS。

Looking　about　her；　Lisa　thought　how　true　that　was。　Oh；　a　few　like　Exedore　and　Cabell　were　absent；　but　of　the　survivors　of　the　Robotech　Wars；　most　of　the　principals　had　been　snatched　is　the　dimensional　fortress　or　drawn　hither　in　Peter　Pan。

And　if　the　Regis　could　assert　her　will　so　thoroughly　over　events；　what　hope　could　mortals　have　of　prevailing　against　her？

AS　ONCE　UPON　EARTH　I　SOUGHT　TO　FIND；　THROUGH　EXPERIMENTS　IN　MY　GENESIS　PITS；　THE　IDEAL　FORM　THAT　MY　RACE　WOULD　ASSUME　FOR　ITS　EXISTENCE　ON　THAT　PLANET；　SO　I　HAVE　BROUGHT　YOU　HERE　FOR　MY　STUDY。　BY　SIFTING　THROUGH　YOUR　PSYCHES　AND　WHAT　SOME　OF　YOU　CALL　YOUR　SOULS；　I　WILL　DECIDE　THE　NEW　MENTAL　AND　EMOTIONAL　CLIMATE　OF　THIS　CREATION　OF　MINE；　THIS　MALLEABLE　DOMAIN；　THIS　NEWSPACE。

Lang　seemed　to　have　assumed　the　role　of　speaker；　and　he　showed　a　pronounced　vexation　when　Louie　Nichols　butted　in。

〃Hey；　retro　back　a　second！　You　mated　with　the　Protoculture；　you　went　through　your　transcendence。　What　more　d'　you　want？〃

TRANSUBSTANTIATION　IS　A　MOCKERY；　A　PRISON！　I　WAS　DRIVEN　TO　SEEK　IT　BY　YOU　HUMANS！　THE　SHAPINGS　ARE　A　HOLLOW　JOKE；　A　CELL　WITH　NO　EXIT。

The　Karbarrans　were　growling　as　if　they　might　utter　some　defiant　roar；　and　so　Rick　hastened　to　say；　〃But　what　do　yo