第五章
TO: NILES OBSTAT EYES ONLY
FROM: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE
RE: PROJECT STARCHILD
DNA ANALYSIS OF BLOOD AND TISSUE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM INVID SIMULAGENT (A.K.A "MARLENE," "ARIEL") PROVE UNEQUIVOCAL MATCH TO ON-FILE DNA PROFILES OF MARS DIVISION E.R. TECH MARLENE RUSH (SEE APPENDED NOTES). SUGGEST THAT REGIS EXTRACTED RUSH TISSUE FROM WRECKAGE OF MARS GROUP AND USED FIND AS TEMPLATE FOR HER HUMANOID CREATIONS. IT IS YET TO BE LEARNED WHETHER USE OF RUSH TEMPLATE WAS DELIBERATE OR COINCIDENTAL. QUERY: IS COLONEL BERNARD TO BE INFORMED? SUGGESTION: WITHHOLD ALL KNOWLEDGE OF CLONING UNTIL FULL DISCLOSURE IS WARRANTED OR DEEMED ADVISABLE.
G2 dispatch, quoted in, Sara Lemole's Improper Council: An Analysis of the Plenipotentiary Council
收件人：奈尔斯•奥博斯坦
发件人：科技理事会
回复：星级儿童项目
从 因维模拟人（也叫做“玛琳”“艾丽尔”）的血液和组织样品的DNA分析表明，她的DNA组成与有记录的火星师技师玛琳•拉什的DNA档案完全相同（请参见 附加记录）。我们认为雷吉斯从火星师的废墟中提取了拉什的组织样品用于创造她的类人类孩子的样板。我们还不能确定采用拉什作为样板究竟是经过深思熟虑的还 是一种巧合。疑问：是否要通知伯纳德上校？建议：在所有的发现有了合理的解释或者被认为是合理的时候之前不向外界透露任何关于克隆研究的信息。
G2的某封急件，引自莎拉•勒摩尔《错误的委员会：全权大使委员会》
"She's got the right dynamic for the New Frontier."
Twentieth-century song lyric
“她获得了正确迈向新边界的动力”
20世纪的歌词
Under Reflex power, the Ark Angel left geosynch and inserted itself into orbit where the Robotech factory satellite had once played the role of Earth's inner moon. The departure point for the trial jump to Luna's far side was the very same spatial coordinates the SDF-3 had used in its fold to Fantomaspace.
利用反射能量，大天使号离开了地球同步轨道，进入了洛波特卫星工厂曾经驻留成为地球大气层内部月亮的新轨道。目的地定位在月球阴面而进行的尝试跳跃出发点与SDF-3折叠进入阴影空间时的空间坐标是完全一样的。
Vince had been elsewhere when the SDF-1 had jumped from Macross, but he was well acquainted with the accounts of that fateful day logged by Henry Gloval, Emil Lang, and countless others. The far side had been targeted for the position jump, but the fortress had missed the mark by what amounted to the radius of the solar system. Gloval had given the command, but Lang had borne the burden of the blame. Inexperience, pilot error ... An official inquiry was never performed. Years later, though, while Breetai's ship was undergoing its face-lift in the factory satellite's null-g core, the then-micronized Zentraedi commander had shown Lang where he had gone wrong. Yet in spite of that, the feeling remained that Lang was innocent of any technical oversight or wrongdoing. Human control was considered a moot point where Protoculture was involved.
当SDF-1跳离麦克罗斯岛的时候，文斯并不在SDF-1上面，但是他非常熟悉亨利•格罗 弗，埃米尔•朗以及许多其他人关于那决定命运一天的描述和记录。月球的阴面是位置跳跃的目的地，但是太空堡垒错过了组成太阳系半径的标志。格罗弗下达的命 令，但是朗却背负了所有的罪责：无知，导航错误，等等，等等……从来没有对此进行过一次正式的调查。然而，直到许多年以后，当布里泰的飞船在卫星工厂的零 重力内核进行表面漂浮，然后这位天顶星人指挥官进行微缩后告诉朗他在何处出了错。尽管这样，人们还是认为朗不应该对任何技术失误或者错误的行为负责。当利 用了事前能量之后，人工控制就被认为没有意义了。
So, cinched into the Ark Angel's command chair-a well璸added motorized affair similar to the one he had had designed for the GMU a lifetime ago-Vince Grant had to ask himself just what Protoculture might have in mind for the day's fold.
因此，文斯紧紧地靠坐在大天使号的指挥座椅上（这是一种类似于60年前为陆基机动部队设计的机械化座椅），而且不得不问自己史前能量究竟对那天的折叠产生了什么作用。
Seated at duty stations to the left and right of him, techs and bridge officers were running through a final series of system checks as the ship counted down from double digits. Jean, steadfast in her refusal to remain planetside for the test, was with her med group elsewhere in the ship. Vince was on file as insisting on a skeleton crew for the test, but he was secretly thankful that the Plenipotentiary Council members had overruled him. When it came right down to it, no one wanted to be left behind.
他左右的执行站上，技师和舰桥军官们正在执行最后一系列的系统检查，同时飞船内部开始了倒计时。吉音一直坚持反对在地球 的近地空间进行这样的测试，这时候正带领着她的医疗队在飞船的某个地方。在记录中，文斯坚持要派遣一支骷髅小队进行测试，但是他暗地里感谢全权大使委员会 拒绝了他的建议。当这些被证实为正确之后，没有人希望被遗忘。
Even if the Protoculture had a surprise destination already picked out.
尽管人们已经知道史前文化曾经给出了一个令人吃惊的目的地（SDF-1到冥王星）。
In truth, the Ark Angel's drives were Sekiton-fueled-a peat derived from Karbarra's abundant Ur-Flower crop. Vince supposed the distinction was a minor one, but that belief was not shared by the half dozen Karbarrans who headed up the ship's engineering section. Protoculture, the ursinoids were fond of pointing out, could be handled by almost anyone, but Sekiton responded to Karbarrans only, a condition Haydon the Enigmatic had been responsible for, or so Vince had been given to understand.
事实上，大天使号的引擎是靠塞基顿技术（一种从卡巴拉人大量种植的乌尔之花中获取的动力块）驱动的。文斯认为史前文化与塞 基顿技术两者之间的区别是很微小的，但是即便在飞船工程舱的12个卡巴拉人中也只有6个不到的相信这一点。可以指出的是，几乎每一个人都可以操纵史前文 化，但是只有卡巴拉人才能够使用塞基顿技术，这件那一理解的事情只有海顿能够了解，文斯也是从他那儿知道的。
"Ten seconds and counting, General Grant," a young female tech reported.
“十秒钟倒计时开始，格兰特将军。”一位年轻女技师报告到。
Vince's hand elongated the noble features of his broad brown face. He considered the recent transmission the ship had received from Cabell.
文斯用手拉长了他那张褐色的脸，考虑着从卡贝尔接收到的最后的信息。
"Seven ... six . . ."
“7……6……”
Exedore, still on Haydon IV, was of the opinion that the Awareness held some key to the SDF-3's disappearance. "Five ... four . . ."
艾克西多这时候还在海顿4号上面，并开始了解到爱威尼斯是揭开SDF-3消失的关键。“5……4……”
Dr. Penn, Jean, and several others were of the same mind. "Three ... two . . . "
潘博士，吉因以及其他的一些人也这么认为。“3……2……”
Now if the Ark Angel could only get there. "One. Fold generators engaged."
现在不知道大天使号能否到达那里。“1。折叠引擎发动。”
Vince sent a silent prayer to the ship's drives and their Karbarran overseers.
文斯默默的为飞船的那些引擎和卡巴拉操作员祈祷。
A lunar crescent suddenly filled the forward viewport. The bridge crew applauded wildly. Exuberant cheers filtered in from distant quarters of the ship.
一轮弯月出现在前方的视窗中。舰桥中的全体机组成员都热烈的鼓掌，而飞船的其他地方也传来此起彼伏的欢呼。
"Yirrbisst has blessed on us this day, Commander, " one of the ursinoids gutturally announced over the com-line, invoking the name of his homeworld's primary. "Praise Haydon."
“伊尔比斯（Yirrbisst）今天保佑我们，指挥官。”一位卡巴拉人用喉音在通信频道中说道，并用了他们星球一位神砥的名字。“歌颂海顿。”
Vince thanked everyone for a job well done. Two or three Council members had suggested a second trial jump, to Mars perhaps, if the first succeeded, but Vince had renewed confidence in the ship and saw no need for further tests.
文斯感谢出色完成了工作的每一位成员。议会的两三成员建议当第一次跳跃成功后就进行目的地为火星的第二次跳跃，但是文斯已经对飞船重新树立了信心，不认为需要进行更多的尝试。
Earth ascended into view as the Ark Angel's attitude thrusters repositioned the ship for the return jump.
大天使号的姿态推进器重新将飞船定位到返回跳跃的位置时，地球进入了人们的视野。
Vince turned to his communications officer. "Inform Cabell that we'll soon be folding for Haydon IV."
文斯转向他的通信联络官：“通知卡贝尔我们很快就会折叠到海顿4号。”
Lunk was standing in the center of a small patch of cleared ground a kilometer east of Roca Negra proper, attacking a stump of hardwood with a heavy ax. He was shirtless in the morning heat, long black hair tied back, brutish features determined, barrel-chested torso glistening with sweat. He checked his swing momentarily to monitor Scott's approach-ax handle resting on his shoulder and a hand to his brow-then resumed his work, putting increased effort into each blow.
伦克站在罗卡尼格拉（Roca Negra）东边一公里处的一块儿空地中央，正在用一柄重斧劈着一捆硬木。在清晨的热气中他赤裸着上身，长长的头发披在身后，表情严峻，强壮的躯干淌着汗 水。他不时地回头，把斧柄靠在自己的肩上，用另一只手举到额头上看着斯科特走过来，然后继续手头的活儿，每一劈都不断加力。
"Good to see you, Lunk," Scott said, keeping what he determined to be a safe distance.
“真高兴见到你，伦克。”斯科特说到，保持着安全的距离。
The former Southern Cross soldier stopped only to mop his face with a Paisley bandanna. "I guessed it was you when I saw the jet come down," Lunk grunted after the blade bit wood. "The way I read it, you must be on leave or undercover. You land on the old highway?"
这位前南十字军战士停下来，用佩斯利涡旋纹花呢的大手帕抹去脸上的汗水。“那架喷气机降落的时候，我猜想应该是你。”伦克又劈了一片木头，咕隆道：“你是在休假还是搞间谍活动。你的飞机降落在旧的高速公路上面？”
"Just."
“很正确。”
Lunk took another swing. "A Lear, isn't it?"
伦克又挥了一下斧头。“李尔式喷气机，是吗？”
Scott's boot tip drew a shallow trench in the tilled ground. "I suppose so. Pre-Wars. But I almost lost it this time."
斯科特用靴子尖在地上划了一道浅痕，“我也这样认为。战前的。但是我这次几乎连它都不能使用。”
"Yeah, well you'll be lucky if the thing's still there when you get back."
“是啊，但是如果你回去后发现它还在哪儿的话，你真应该觉得幸运。”
"It's being looked after, Lunk," Scott assured him.
“有人帮我看着呢，伦克。”斯科特让他相信。
The big man went back to chopping. "So how'd you find us, Lieutenant?"
伦克这个大块头继续劈木头。“那你是怎样找到我们的，中尉？”
Scott squatted, waving insects away from his face. "I found Rand. But I think I'm supposed to mention that he wasn't exactly eager to tell me."
斯科特蹲下来，拂去脸上的飞虫，“我找到了兰德，但是我想他并不愿意告诉我你们的信息。”
"Sure," Lunk said.
“当然。”伦克说到。
"So you're homesteading, huh?"
“你现在开始种田了，哈？”
Lunk turned to face him. "The townspeople gave us a place to live and a bit of land to work. The Invid came down hard on everyone after we passed through last year, but the town's rebuilding. They're good folk, Lieutenant. What's past is past. We're all making new lives for ourselves."
伦克转向他。“镇上的人为我们提供了定居的地方和一小块儿田地耕种。因维人在过去对每一个人都造成了巨大的伤害，但是人们正在重建家园。他们都是好人，中尉。过去的已经是过去的了。我们正在开始新的生活。”
Scott caught the warning in Lunk's baritone voice and decided not to mention the promotion. "I can see that," he said, glancing about. Well-tended fields of grain stretched emerald to distant hills. On nearby terraces, men and women were harvesting and threshing golden stalks of rice. "Annie around?" he asked after a moment.
斯科特从伦克的声音中听出了警告，所以没有告诉他自己晋升的事情。“我知道，”他说到，并四处瞥了瞥。种植良好的绿色谷地伸向远处的山脉。附近的一个露台上，男人们和女人们正在收割金色的稻米。“安妮在吗？”过了一会儿他问道。
Lunk threw the ax into the wood and gave a twist to the blade. "She left right after we got here. The idea of settling down didn't suit her too well. Went off to find that guy Magruder. The kid's still got stars in her eyes."
伦克把斧头劈向木头并扭动着刀锋。“我们到这儿后不久她就离开了。在这里定居并不适合她。她去寻找马格鲁德了。那个孩子还是充满幻想。”
Scott smiled to himself, picturing Annie in her "E.T." cap and faded green jumpsuit.
斯科特笑着回想起带着“E.T.”帽子穿着绿色跳伞服的安妮。
"What d' ya say we skip the small talk and come to the point, Lieutenant," Lunk said suddenly.
“不说那些了，我们言归正传吧，中尉”伦克突然说到。
Scott contemplated the line his boot had drawn, then raised his eyes. "All right, Lunk. The fact is, I'm looking for Marlene."
斯科特注视着自己用靴子划出的那条线，然后抬起头来说：“好吧，伦克，事实上我在寻找玛琳。”
Lunk spit. "I thought so. What happened, Lieutenant got lonely for you up there?" He motioned with his chin to the cloudless sky. "Figured maybe you'd passed on a good thing down here, a girl that was only trying to love you the best she knew how?"
伦克吐了一口痰。“我也这么想。发生了什么事情了，我们的中尉感到一个人在太空中孤独了？”他把下巴抬向晴朗的天空。“你是不是想起来自己忘记了一个重要的东西，忘记了一个用尽自己的办法来爱你的女孩？”
That from the guy who had called Marlene a traitor that day in Reflex Point, Scott thought, getting to his feet. "It's nothing like that, Lunk."
这句话竟然出自伦克口中，而在反射点他还指责玛琳是叛徒，斯科特想着蹲下来。“事情不是那样的，伦克。”
"Think you can just fly in here with your little jet and pick up where you left off, huh?" Lunk held the ax like a hatchet and shook it in Scott's face. "Lemme tell you, you're way off the mark, Lieutenant. Marlene's had a rough time of it, but I've been helping her. She's kinda come to rely on me, and I think your showing up is just gonna gum up the works, understand me?"
“你认为自己能这么简简单单的开着那架小飞机到这儿来取走曾经舍弃的，是吗？”伦克像握着一把战斧般在斯科特面前晃动着斧头。“让我告诉你吧，中尉。你离开后，玛琳经过了一段痛苦的时期，但是我陪着她熬过来了。她开始慢慢信赖我了，而你的出现又会把一切弄糟，知道吗？”
"Look, Lunk, I just want to talk to her."
“听着，伦克，我只想跟她聊聊。”
"I'm tellin' ya how it is, Lieutenant."
“我已经告诉你发生的一切了，中尉。”
Scott left a brief empty space in the exchange, waiting for Lunk to cool down. "Back at Command everyone's still scratching their heads about what happened at Reflex Point," he commenced on a casual note. "There's a possibility the SDF-3 got itself caught up in the Regis's exit." He looked at Lunk. "I think Marlene can help out."
斯科特在两人中间留出了一些距离，等着伦克冷静下来。“在指挥部里，每一个人都想象不出来那天在反射点究竟发生了些什么事情，”他用一种随意的语气说道：“SDF-3很可能在雷吉斯离开的时候出了问题。”他看着伦克：“我想玛琳能帮忙。”
Lunk glared at him, then threw the ax down into the stump and left it there. "Come on," he said, storming off across the field in the direction of Roca Negra.
伦克瞪着他，然后把斧头丢在了木头堆里。“来吧。”他朝着罗卡尼格拉的方向咆哮到。
Scott fell in behind him for a silent walk that delivered them fifteen minutes later to two spacious freestanding tents erected side by side on a small parcel of land dotted with olive trees. Lunk's battered APC was parked off to one side.
斯科特默默的跟在伦克后面，15分钟后来到了橄榄树丛下面两顶宽敞独立靠在一起的帐篷前面。伦克那辆损坏的装甲车停放在一旁。
"Marlene," Lunk bellowed, rustling the mosquito-netting front flap of the larger tent.
“玛琳”伦克吼道，拉开了较大的那顶帐篷前面的蚊帐。
"Lunk?" Marlene responded from somewhere inside. "You're back early."
“伦克吗？”从里面传来玛琳的声音，“你今天提前回来了。”
Scott's heart broke at the sound of her voice; save for a hint of Southlands Forager accent, it might as well have been that of Marlene Rush.
听到她的声音，斯科特感到心都碎了；除了那苏格兰的口音，这完全就是玛琳•拉什。
As the Invid simulagent stepped into the sunlight, luxurious red hair shorn to her shoulders and skin as pale as a Tiresian's, Scott thought: She is Marlene!
当因维模拟人出现在阳光下的时候，她那长长的红色头发披在肩上，皮肤苍白的如同泰雷西亚人。斯科特想：她是玛琳！
The Regis's daughter took a moment to absorb the scene before she collapsed into Scott's slapdash embrace, sighing. "I knew you'd return for me, Scott, I knew you'd return."
雷吉斯的女儿吃惊的看着眼前发生的一切，倒向了斯科特仓促的拥抱，叹息着：“我知道你会回来找我的，斯科特，我知道你会回来。”
Lunk quickly turned his back to the two of them, afraid they would see his tears.
伦克迅速背转身去，不愿他们看到自己流泪。
Scott immediately realized that Marlene had undergone a profound change since they had last embraced. Marlene then had been alive and vital to his confused thoughts and anxious hands, a woman of human lusts and needs, nothing like the insubstantial being he cradled in his arms now. It was something he could not articulate, but it was obvious to all who dared to look deep enough into her eyes.
斯科特很快发现从他们最近的那次拥抱以来玛琳改变了很多。对他而言，玛琳实实在在的存在在他的怀抱中，对爱充满了渴望和需要，而不再是一个脆弱的生命了。斯科特不能言明，但是只要看着她的眼睛就会知道那到底是什么。
Scott led her into the shade, to a canvas-backed chair at the head of a split-log longtable. Lunk positioned himself behind the chair, his large callused hands resting on Marlene's frail shoulders. "I told ya she was having a rough time of it, Lieutenant. Ya never shoulda come back."
斯科特领着她进到荫凉处，坐在圆木长桌北面的一张帆布靠背椅子上面。伦克站在椅子后面，并将自己那双巨大而又长满老茧的手放在玛琳虚弱的肩膀上。“我已经告诉你了她经历过一段痛苦的时光，中尉。你永远都不应该回来。”
Marlene patted Lunk's hand and gazed up at him fondly. "I'm all right, Lunk. Really."
玛琳轻轻拍着伦克的手，抬起头温柔的凝视着他说：“我已经好了，伦克。真的。”
Scott felt her eyes return to him and swallowed hard as he perched himself on the edge of the table: "Marlene," he began, "how much do you remember about those last few days at Reflex Point?"
斯科特看着玛琳的目光转向自己，坐在桌边咽了口气。“玛琳”他说到：“关于在反射点的那几天的事情，你还记得多少？”
"Only some of it, Scott. I remember when we were all inside the central chamber together. With Sera and Corg and the Queen-Mother."
“只有一些，斯科特。我记得我们所有的人都在蜂房的中央大房中，还有希拉，考克和女王母亲。”
"What made the horde-er, the Queen-Mother leave, Marlene? I mean, I'm sure she realized the fleet had plans to irradiate the area, but it seemed like she'd decided to leave before the neutron missiles were launched."
“是什么促使整个部族，嗯，女王母亲离开的，玛琳？我的意思是，我相信她知道远征军舰队要摧毁地球，但是当中子S导弹发射前她就已经决定要离开了。”
Marlene nodded and reached across the table for a water bottle. "It's true, Scott. And something vital left me when she departed." She took a long pull from the bottle. "I know you sensed it when you held me. I feel as though I'm only half-here, as though if I breathe too deeply I'll fade from sight. But I have a knowledge of things, Scott, a knowledge: that seems undreamed of by any race."
玛琳一边点头一边伸手去构桌子另一边的水壶。“是的，斯科特。她离开的时候我 的生命也跟着离开了。”她把水壶远远地拖了过来。“我知道你那时候抱着我能够感觉到，我觉得自己只剩下了一半了，而且如果我做深呼吸的话我会从你们的视野 中消失。但是我能够对事物进行感知，斯科特，感知：这是其它种族不能想象的。”
"Don't worry," Lunk said, "I'm not about to let you fade. Marlene squeezed his hand. "You see, Scott, the Queen Mother finally understood, the reasons for all that had happened on Optera, Tirol, and Earth, and that knowledge liberated her."
“别担心，”伦克说到，“我不会让你消失的。”玛琳紧握着他的手说：“知道了吧，斯科特，女王母亲终于明白了那些曾经发生在奥普特拉，泰洛以及地球上面的事情后面的真相，那种感知使她顿悟了。”
"But what was it she understood?" Scott asked.
“但，她究竟明白了什么呢？”斯科特问到。
Marlene quivered. "I can't tell you, Scott."
玛琳发抖了：“我不能说，斯科特。”
"Please, Marlene," Scott snapped.
“告诉我吧，玛琳。”斯科特抓住玛琳。
Lunk stepped out from behind the chair. "I'm warning you, Lieutenant."
伦克从椅子后面走出来。“我警告你，中尉。”
Marlene put a hand on his balled-up fist. "No, Lunk, Scott doesn't understand. It's not that I'm keeping something from you, Scott. I only mean that you're asking the wrong person."
玛琳用一只手放在他握起来的拳头上。“不，伦克，斯科特不明白。我并不想对你隐瞒什么，斯科特。我只是想说你问错了对象。”
"Sera," Scott said after a moment's reflection.
“希拉，”斯科特沉思了一会儿。
"Yes. She was more closely bound to the Regis than I was. But I fear that bond has affected her more than it has me."
“是的。她比我更加了解雷吉斯。但是我担心那种了解对她造成了更大的影响。”
"Do you know where she is?"
“你知道她在哪儿吗？”
Marlene closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. "I can sense where she is. Sometimes I can almost see through her eyes and feel her suffering."
玛琳闭上眼睛，进行了一次颤栗的呼吸。“我能感觉到她在哪儿。有时候我甚至能够看穿她的眼睛，也能够体会她的痛苦。”
Scott edged closer to her. "Where, Marlene?"
斯科特靠近玛琳：“在哪儿，玛琳？”
"The city of tall towers in the Northlands. The one Sera and Corg were to rule."
“在北大陆那座有很多高楼的城市，也就是希拉和考克曾经统治的那座城市。”
Scott and Lunk exchanged looks and simultaneously said: "Mannatan."
斯科特和伦克交换了一下眼神，同时说道：“曼拿昙。”
"Yes. She is with Lancer."
“是的。她与兰瑟在一起。”
Scott was already on his feet. "Will you come with me, Marlene? You, too, Lunk," he was quick to add. "Just until we locate her."
斯科特战了起来。“玛琳，我们一起去？伦克也一起去。”他马上加了一句，“只是在找到她之前。”
"Forget it, Lieutenant," Lunk said. "Marlene's not going anywhere. "
“算了吧，中尉，”伦克说到，“玛琳哪儿都不去。”
Marlene stood up and gently swung Lunk around to face her. "But I am, Lunk. Don't you see that I have to go?" Lunk's face fell. "No, Marlene, no. You can just stay here and let me take care of you. You said yourself you were all right. I could just-"
玛琳站起来，轻柔的拉转伦克面对她。“但是我要去，伦克。你不认为我必须去吗？”伦克的脸沉了下来：“不，玛琳，不。你应该留在这里让我来照顾你。你虽然说你已经完全好了。我只是……”
"No, Lunk, it's no good this way," she cut him off. "Remember who and what I am."
“不，伦克。这样不行，”她推开伦克，“记得我到底是谁吗？”
Lunk stiffened. "You're Marlene, that's it."
伦克生硬的说：“你是玛琳，就这么简单。”
Marlene shook her head. "I am Invid, Lunk." She reached up to stroke his face. "But that doesn't mean I haven't loved you."
玛琳摇摇头：“我是因维人，伦克。”她伸手抚摸伦克的脸，“但那不代表我没有爱过你。”
Lunk steeled himself, holding back his anger and grief. "You'll come back to me?" he asked softly.
伦克强忍着愤怒与悲伤。“你会回到我身边吗？”他轻轻的问。
"Nothing can take away these past few months, Lunk."
“没有什么能够改变过去几个月的经历，伦克。”
It was Scott's turn to avert his gaze.
这下轮到斯科特移开他注视的目光了。
He swore to himself he would never love again.
他对自己发誓不再去爱了。
With Marlene in the copilot's seat, Scott returned the jet to the REF's provisional planetside base on the Venezuelan coast and apprised Vince Grant of his plans to continue on to the Northlands. The general informed him of the successful position jump undertaken by the Ark Angel and the rapidly approaching launch window for the fold to Haydon IV. To speed Scott and Marlene on their way, Grant ordered that they be escorted to and from the Northlands city in one of the ship's few remaining reconfigurable Veritechs.
玛琳坐在副驾驶员舱随着斯科特返回了位于委内瑞拉海岸的远征军临时地球 基地，斯科特将自己打算去北大陆的计划告诉了文斯•格兰特。将军告知他关于大天使号那次成功的定位跳跃，并将很开进行向海顿4号的折叠。为了加快斯科特和 玛琳的北大陆之旅，格兰特命令飞船中剩下的为数不多的变形战机中的一架为他们进行护航。
From what Scott could gather, Mannatan-recently returned to its original name of New York-was fast becoming a population center once again. The narrow island city had miraculously escaped saturation by Dolza's deathbolts, only to suffer disastrously some twenty years later at the hands of the Regis's power-mad "son," Corg. But by then the city had already fallen into the hands of street crazies `who had' somehow survived a radiation pall that had hung over the city for more than fifteen years' and roving gangs of Foragers and rough-trade Southern Cross deserters. A scarcity of food and arable land had kept the population numbers low, but now that New York had become a kind of raw-materials depot for developing towns to the south and west, a barter system for foodstuffs had been implemented.
从已知的信息中斯科特知道曼拿坦（最近又改回到它以前的名字纽约了）又迅速的成为了一个人口密集中心。这座狭长的岛屿城 市奇迹般的躲过了多扎的死亡清洗，只是在其后20年遭到了雷吉斯那个疯狂的儿子考克的残忍统治。到现在，这座城市里面充满了逃过曾经罩在城市上空长达15 年之久的辐射罩伤害的那些疯狂的居民，四处游荡的抢劫者和匪徒，还有进行强买强卖的南十字军逃兵。尽管食物和可耕种土地的缺乏使得人口数量低下，但是纽约 还是成为了为那些发展中的南部和西部城镇提供原材料的仓库，同时一种粮食交易系统正在建设中。
The Veritech put down west of the Hudson River, leaving Scott and Marlene to negotiate the rest of the journey on foot, along with hundreds of other migrants who were talking or buying passage through checkpoints on the single bridge that linked city and mainland. Scott saw the end result of Corg's fiery campaign to bring the city to its knees: huge leveled tracts where tall brick and stone buildings had once stood, gridded by the scorched remains of asphalt and concrete roadways.
变形战机降落在哈得孙河的西 岸，斯科特和玛琳将步行走完剩余的路程，与他们同行的还有其他成百上千的移居者。在连接城市和大陆的那座独桥的关卡处，人们在谈论或者购买通行证。斯科特 看着脚下这座经历了考克凶残统治的城市：曾经的高楼大厦如今只剩下巨大的残横断垣，矗立在纵横交错的被烧焦的沥青和水泥马路中间。
Marlene acted as guide, drawing on her recently enhanced psychic talents-to close on her sister simulagent's where璦bouts. In a certain sense she seemed more the Terran than Scott. But Scott refused to be fooled by the human guise the Invid Queen-Mother had fashioned for her, and so their conversations were strictly of the pragmatic sort. Scott, after all, was on a military mission.
玛琳利用自己近来不断增强的心灵感知能力扮演了向导的角色，去探知她那因维人形 妹妹的所在之地。从某种角度而言，她比斯科特更像一个地球人。但是斯科特拒绝接受因维女王为玛琳创造的人形外观，因此他们之间的谈话完全局限于无关痛痒的 实际问题之中。对斯科特来说，他毕竟是为了来完成一项军事任务的。
Marlene led them ultimately to a refurbished theater in the city's midtown district, where a young Hispanic named Jorge greeted them at the door and affirmed that Lancer was in fact part of a troupe of actors, singers, and musicians.
玛琳最后带着斯科特来到了市中心一座重新粉刷过的剧院处，一个年轻的西班牙少年乔治接待了他们，也向他们确认兰瑟正是一个由演员，歌唱家和音乐家组成的剧团的成员。
After the less than warm reunions with Rand and Lunk, Scott was expecting more of the same from Lancer, but-the former stage gender-bender surprised him by running up the broad aisle after Jorge's announcement and embracing the two of them like family.
在经历了与兰德和伦克不十分愉快地见面后，斯科特对与兰瑟的相见也不抱有太多的期望，但是出乎他意料之外的是以前扮演双重性别的兰瑟接到乔治通之后飞快的穿过长长的走道，并给了他们两个人亲人般的拥抱。
"Scott, I can't believe it!" Lancer said, gripping him by the arms. "God, it's great to see you again." He had equal enthusiasm for Marlene, along with a bear hug that went on for well over a minute.
“斯科特，真不敢相信！”兰瑟说到，紧紧地握着斯科特的手臂。“上帝啊，再次见到你太好了。”他对玛琳也报以同样的热情，拥抱着她几乎一分钟。
Lancer looked lean and limber in tight-fitting trousers and a sleeveless shirt, but Scott noted dark circles under the singer's dyes and a somberness beneath the cheeriness of the moment. The natural color of Lancer's hair was growing in. Scott thought briefly of Yellow Dancer and wondered whether she was gone for good.
兰瑟穿着宽松的裤子和无袖的衬衫，看上去清瘦而敏捷，但是斯科特看出了他的黑眼圈和片刻欢愉外表之下的忧伤。兰瑟的头发慢慢恢复到了原本的颜色。斯科特想到了黄衣舞者，不知道她是否已经不会再次出现了。
"You don't know how I need you guys right now," Lancer continued, taking hold of their hands.
“你们真不知道我现在多么需要你们。”兰瑟继续说，同时紧紧握住他们的手。
"What is it, Lancer?" Marlene asked.
“怎么啦，兰瑟？”玛琳问道。
"Your sister," he said, favoring Marlene's hand. "I'm afraid she's dying."
“你妹妹，”他抓紧玛琳的手说：“我担心她快死了。”
Sera was bedridden in Lancer's backstage room, a tight, cluttered space that apparently served as living quarters and dressing room. A man named Simon was ministering to her, but he exited as Lancer entered, stopping only to introduce himself to Scott and Marlene in an affected, slightly effeminate manner.
希拉躺在后台兰瑟的房间里不能起身，这是一间狭小混乱同时用作起居室和化装间的小空间。一个叫西蒙的人正在照料她，当兰瑟他们进来时，他仅仅用一种造作而略带女人气的语气与斯科特和玛琳打了个照面，介绍了一下自己，然后就退出了房间。
Fetally curled beneath the bed's threadbare blankets, Sera seemed hardly more than a specter. "I've been waiting for you to come, Ariel," she said as Marlene kneeled beside the bed and laid a comforting hand on her heaving breast. "Sister-"
希拉躺在破旧的毯子下面，头发凌乱，面容憔悴，看上去就象个幽灵。“我一直在等着你来，艾丽尔，”她说到，玛琳走近跪在床边伸出一支温柔的手放在她起伏不定的胸膛上面：“妹妹……”
Sera pressed a finger against Marlene's lips to quiet her. "Do not weep for me, Ariel. I am to rejoin the Queen Mother. "
希拉用食指放到玛琳的嘴唇示意她先不要说话。“别为我哭泣，艾丽尔。我要重新回到母亲身边了。”
"Then I'll return with you, sister."
“那么我也要跟你一起去，妹妹。”
Sera shook her head. "No, Ariel, your destiny lies along a different path. And what a wonderful one it is."
希拉摇摇头说：“不，艾丽尔，你的命运与我的不同。你的命运是很美的。”
Marlene leaned closer to her sister, her eyes brimming with tears. "Tell me, Sera."
玛琳倾向她的妹妹，眼中含着泪水：“告诉我发生了什么事，希拉。”
"You need know only this, Ariel: that the world can be remade. The Queen-Mother learned this when she mated with the Protoculture-the goal of the Great Work, the transmutation of our race."
“艾丽尔，你只需要知道：世界可以重建。当母亲与史前文化结合的时候，她知道了这一点。我们种族的演变这一伟大的工程，是可以重新开始的。”
"The Protoculture!"
“史前文化！”
"Yes, Scott," Sera said, looking at him. "Your people will understand what to make of this."
“是的，斯科特，”希拉看着他说：“你们的人也将会知道如何利用它。”
"Stay, sister," Marlene pleaded with her. "Love has the power to keep you here."
“等等，妹妹，”玛琳恳求道：“爱的力量会让你留在这里。”
Sera smiled. "No, Ariel. Love has the power to release me..."
希拉笑着说：“不，艾丽尔。爱的力量使我升华了……”
With that, the Invid simulagent shut her eyes and surrendered her all too brief life.
说完了以后，希拉闭上眼睛，放弃了她那全部短暂的生命。
Scott watched horrified but transfixed as Sera grew subtle and translucent, then slowly faded from sight. An eerie breeze caressed his cheek as the blankets dropped empty and silent to the foam mattress.
斯科特震惊而又呆呆的看着希拉慢慢变得隐隐约约然后变得透明，又慢慢从所有人的眼中消失。当毯子中空而静静的滑落到床垫上时，斯科特感觉到一阵怪异的微风拂过他的面颊。
Lancer clutched desperately for what was no longer there. "This is my fate also," Marlene said, turning to Scott with tears coursing down her cheeks. "You were right to promise you would never love again!"
兰瑟拼命而无望想去抓住消失的希拉。“这也是我的命运。”玛琳泪流满面地转向斯科特说：“你发誓不再去爱是对的！”
《沙丘》六部曲合集
《波西杰克逊》系列合集
《猎魔人》合集
FROM: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE
RE: PROJECT STARCHILD
DNA ANALYSIS OF BLOOD AND TISSUE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM INVID SIMULAGENT (A.K.A "MARLENE," "ARIEL") PROVE UNEQUIVOCAL MATCH TO ON-FILE DNA PROFILES OF MARS DIVISION E.R. TECH MARLENE RUSH (SEE APPENDED NOTES). SUGGEST THAT REGIS EXTRACTED RUSH TISSUE FROM WRECKAGE OF MARS GROUP AND USED FIND AS TEMPLATE FOR HER HUMANOID CREATIONS. IT IS YET TO BE LEARNED WHETHER USE OF RUSH TEMPLATE WAS DELIBERATE OR COINCIDENTAL. QUERY: IS COLONEL BERNARD TO BE INFORMED? SUGGESTION: WITHHOLD ALL KNOWLEDGE OF CLONING UNTIL FULL DISCLOSURE IS WARRANTED OR DEEMED ADVISABLE.
G2 dispatch, quoted in, Sara Lemole's Improper Council: An Analysis of the Plenipotentiary Council
收件人：奈尔斯•奥博斯坦
发件人：科技理事会
回复：星级儿童项目
从 因维模拟人（也叫做“玛琳”“艾丽尔”）的血液和组织样品的DNA分析表明，她的DNA组成与有记录的火星师技师玛琳•拉什的DNA档案完全相同（请参见 附加记录）。我们认为雷吉斯从火星师的废墟中提取了拉什的组织样品用于创造她的类人类孩子的样板。我们还不能确定采用拉什作为样板究竟是经过深思熟虑的还 是一种巧合。疑问：是否要通知伯纳德上校？建议：在所有的发现有了合理的解释或者被认为是合理的时候之前不向外界透露任何关于克隆研究的信息。
G2的某封急件，引自莎拉•勒摩尔《错误的委员会：全权大使委员会》
"She's got the right dynamic for the New Frontier."
Twentieth-century song lyric
“她获得了正确迈向新边界的动力”
20世纪的歌词
Under Reflex power, the Ark Angel left geosynch and inserted itself into orbit where the Robotech factory satellite had once played the role of Earth's inner moon. The departure point for the trial jump to Luna's far side was the very same spatial coordinates the SDF-3 had used in its fold to Fantomaspace.
利用反射能量，大天使号离开了地球同步轨道，进入了洛波特卫星工厂曾经驻留成为地球大气层内部月亮的新轨道。目的地定位在月球阴面而进行的尝试跳跃出发点与SDF-3折叠进入阴影空间时的空间坐标是完全一样的。
Vince had been elsewhere when the SDF-1 had jumped from Macross, but he was well acquainted with the accounts of that fateful day logged by Henry Gloval, Emil Lang, and countless others. The far side had been targeted for the position jump, but the fortress had missed the mark by what amounted to the radius of the solar system. Gloval had given the command, but Lang had borne the burden of the blame. Inexperience, pilot error ... An official inquiry was never performed. Years later, though, while Breetai's ship was undergoing its face-lift in the factory satellite's null-g core, the then-micronized Zentraedi commander had shown Lang where he had gone wrong. Yet in spite of that, the feeling remained that Lang was innocent of any technical oversight or wrongdoing. Human control was considered a moot point where Protoculture was involved.
当SDF-1跳离麦克罗斯岛的时候，文斯并不在SDF-1上面，但是他非常熟悉亨利•格罗 弗，埃米尔•朗以及许多其他人关于那决定命运一天的描述和记录。月球的阴面是位置跳跃的目的地，但是太空堡垒错过了组成太阳系半径的标志。格罗弗下达的命 令，但是朗却背负了所有的罪责：无知，导航错误，等等，等等……从来没有对此进行过一次正式的调查。然而，直到许多年以后，当布里泰的飞船在卫星工厂的零 重力内核进行表面漂浮，然后这位天顶星人指挥官进行微缩后告诉朗他在何处出了错。尽管这样，人们还是认为朗不应该对任何技术失误或者错误的行为负责。当利 用了事前能量之后，人工控制就被认为没有意义了。
So, cinched into the Ark Angel's command chair-a well璸added motorized affair similar to the one he had had designed for the GMU a lifetime ago-Vince Grant had to ask himself just what Protoculture might have in mind for the day's fold.
因此，文斯紧紧地靠坐在大天使号的指挥座椅上（这是一种类似于60年前为陆基机动部队设计的机械化座椅），而且不得不问自己史前能量究竟对那天的折叠产生了什么作用。
Seated at duty stations to the left and right of him, techs and bridge officers were running through a final series of system checks as the ship counted down from double digits. Jean, steadfast in her refusal to remain planetside for the test, was with her med group elsewhere in the ship. Vince was on file as insisting on a skeleton crew for the test, but he was secretly thankful that the Plenipotentiary Council members had overruled him. When it came right down to it, no one wanted to be left behind.
他左右的执行站上，技师和舰桥军官们正在执行最后一系列的系统检查，同时飞船内部开始了倒计时。吉音一直坚持反对在地球 的近地空间进行这样的测试，这时候正带领着她的医疗队在飞船的某个地方。在记录中，文斯坚持要派遣一支骷髅小队进行测试，但是他暗地里感谢全权大使委员会 拒绝了他的建议。当这些被证实为正确之后，没有人希望被遗忘。
Even if the Protoculture had a surprise destination already picked out.
尽管人们已经知道史前文化曾经给出了一个令人吃惊的目的地（SDF-1到冥王星）。
In truth, the Ark Angel's drives were Sekiton-fueled-a peat derived from Karbarra's abundant Ur-Flower crop. Vince supposed the distinction was a minor one, but that belief was not shared by the half dozen Karbarrans who headed up the ship's engineering section. Protoculture, the ursinoids were fond of pointing out, could be handled by almost anyone, but Sekiton responded to Karbarrans only, a condition Haydon the Enigmatic had been responsible for, or so Vince had been given to understand.
事实上，大天使号的引擎是靠塞基顿技术（一种从卡巴拉人大量种植的乌尔之花中获取的动力块）驱动的。文斯认为史前文化与塞 基顿技术两者之间的区别是很微小的，但是即便在飞船工程舱的12个卡巴拉人中也只有6个不到的相信这一点。可以指出的是，几乎每一个人都可以操纵史前文 化，但是只有卡巴拉人才能够使用塞基顿技术，这件那一理解的事情只有海顿能够了解，文斯也是从他那儿知道的。
"Ten seconds and counting, General Grant," a young female tech reported.
“十秒钟倒计时开始，格兰特将军。”一位年轻女技师报告到。
Vince's hand elongated the noble features of his broad brown face. He considered the recent transmission the ship had received from Cabell.
文斯用手拉长了他那张褐色的脸，考虑着从卡贝尔接收到的最后的信息。
"Seven ... six . . ."
“7……6……”
Exedore, still on Haydon IV, was of the opinion that the Awareness held some key to the SDF-3's disappearance. "Five ... four . . ."
艾克西多这时候还在海顿4号上面，并开始了解到爱威尼斯是揭开SDF-3消失的关键。“5……4……”
Dr. Penn, Jean, and several others were of the same mind. "Three ... two . . . "
潘博士，吉因以及其他的一些人也这么认为。“3……2……”
Now if the Ark Angel could only get there. "One. Fold generators engaged."
现在不知道大天使号能否到达那里。“1。折叠引擎发动。”
Vince sent a silent prayer to the ship's drives and their Karbarran overseers.
文斯默默的为飞船的那些引擎和卡巴拉操作员祈祷。
A lunar crescent suddenly filled the forward viewport. The bridge crew applauded wildly. Exuberant cheers filtered in from distant quarters of the ship.
一轮弯月出现在前方的视窗中。舰桥中的全体机组成员都热烈的鼓掌，而飞船的其他地方也传来此起彼伏的欢呼。
"Yirrbisst has blessed on us this day, Commander, " one of the ursinoids gutturally announced over the com-line, invoking the name of his homeworld's primary. "Praise Haydon."
“伊尔比斯（Yirrbisst）今天保佑我们，指挥官。”一位卡巴拉人用喉音在通信频道中说道，并用了他们星球一位神砥的名字。“歌颂海顿。”
Vince thanked everyone for a job well done. Two or three Council members had suggested a second trial jump, to Mars perhaps, if the first succeeded, but Vince had renewed confidence in the ship and saw no need for further tests.
文斯感谢出色完成了工作的每一位成员。议会的两三成员建议当第一次跳跃成功后就进行目的地为火星的第二次跳跃，但是文斯已经对飞船重新树立了信心，不认为需要进行更多的尝试。
Earth ascended into view as the Ark Angel's attitude thrusters repositioned the ship for the return jump.
大天使号的姿态推进器重新将飞船定位到返回跳跃的位置时，地球进入了人们的视野。
Vince turned to his communications officer. "Inform Cabell that we'll soon be folding for Haydon IV."
文斯转向他的通信联络官：“通知卡贝尔我们很快就会折叠到海顿4号。”
Lunk was standing in the center of a small patch of cleared ground a kilometer east of Roca Negra proper, attacking a stump of hardwood with a heavy ax. He was shirtless in the morning heat, long black hair tied back, brutish features determined, barrel-chested torso glistening with sweat. He checked his swing momentarily to monitor Scott's approach-ax handle resting on his shoulder and a hand to his brow-then resumed his work, putting increased effort into each blow.
伦克站在罗卡尼格拉（Roca Negra）东边一公里处的一块儿空地中央，正在用一柄重斧劈着一捆硬木。在清晨的热气中他赤裸着上身，长长的头发披在身后，表情严峻，强壮的躯干淌着汗 水。他不时地回头，把斧柄靠在自己的肩上，用另一只手举到额头上看着斯科特走过来，然后继续手头的活儿，每一劈都不断加力。
"Good to see you, Lunk," Scott said, keeping what he determined to be a safe distance.
“真高兴见到你，伦克。”斯科特说到，保持着安全的距离。
The former Southern Cross soldier stopped only to mop his face with a Paisley bandanna. "I guessed it was you when I saw the jet come down," Lunk grunted after the blade bit wood. "The way I read it, you must be on leave or undercover. You land on the old highway?"
这位前南十字军战士停下来，用佩斯利涡旋纹花呢的大手帕抹去脸上的汗水。“那架喷气机降落的时候，我猜想应该是你。”伦克又劈了一片木头，咕隆道：“你是在休假还是搞间谍活动。你的飞机降落在旧的高速公路上面？”
"Just."
“很正确。”
Lunk took another swing. "A Lear, isn't it?"
伦克又挥了一下斧头。“李尔式喷气机，是吗？”
Scott's boot tip drew a shallow trench in the tilled ground. "I suppose so. Pre-Wars. But I almost lost it this time."
斯科特用靴子尖在地上划了一道浅痕，“我也这样认为。战前的。但是我这次几乎连它都不能使用。”
"Yeah, well you'll be lucky if the thing's still there when you get back."
“是啊，但是如果你回去后发现它还在哪儿的话，你真应该觉得幸运。”
"It's being looked after, Lunk," Scott assured him.
“有人帮我看着呢，伦克。”斯科特让他相信。
The big man went back to chopping. "So how'd you find us, Lieutenant?"
伦克这个大块头继续劈木头。“那你是怎样找到我们的，中尉？”
Scott squatted, waving insects away from his face. "I found Rand. But I think I'm supposed to mention that he wasn't exactly eager to tell me."
斯科特蹲下来，拂去脸上的飞虫，“我找到了兰德，但是我想他并不愿意告诉我你们的信息。”
"Sure," Lunk said.
“当然。”伦克说到。
"So you're homesteading, huh?"
“你现在开始种田了，哈？”
Lunk turned to face him. "The townspeople gave us a place to live and a bit of land to work. The Invid came down hard on everyone after we passed through last year, but the town's rebuilding. They're good folk, Lieutenant. What's past is past. We're all making new lives for ourselves."
伦克转向他。“镇上的人为我们提供了定居的地方和一小块儿田地耕种。因维人在过去对每一个人都造成了巨大的伤害，但是人们正在重建家园。他们都是好人，中尉。过去的已经是过去的了。我们正在开始新的生活。”
Scott caught the warning in Lunk's baritone voice and decided not to mention the promotion. "I can see that," he said, glancing about. Well-tended fields of grain stretched emerald to distant hills. On nearby terraces, men and women were harvesting and threshing golden stalks of rice. "Annie around?" he asked after a moment.
斯科特从伦克的声音中听出了警告，所以没有告诉他自己晋升的事情。“我知道，”他说到，并四处瞥了瞥。种植良好的绿色谷地伸向远处的山脉。附近的一个露台上，男人们和女人们正在收割金色的稻米。“安妮在吗？”过了一会儿他问道。
Lunk threw the ax into the wood and gave a twist to the blade. "She left right after we got here. The idea of settling down didn't suit her too well. Went off to find that guy Magruder. The kid's still got stars in her eyes."
伦克把斧头劈向木头并扭动着刀锋。“我们到这儿后不久她就离开了。在这里定居并不适合她。她去寻找马格鲁德了。那个孩子还是充满幻想。”
Scott smiled to himself, picturing Annie in her "E.T." cap and faded green jumpsuit.
斯科特笑着回想起带着“E.T.”帽子穿着绿色跳伞服的安妮。
"What d' ya say we skip the small talk and come to the point, Lieutenant," Lunk said suddenly.
“不说那些了，我们言归正传吧，中尉”伦克突然说到。
Scott contemplated the line his boot had drawn, then raised his eyes. "All right, Lunk. The fact is, I'm looking for Marlene."
斯科特注视着自己用靴子划出的那条线，然后抬起头来说：“好吧，伦克，事实上我在寻找玛琳。”
Lunk spit. "I thought so. What happened, Lieutenant got lonely for you up there?" He motioned with his chin to the cloudless sky. "Figured maybe you'd passed on a good thing down here, a girl that was only trying to love you the best she knew how?"
伦克吐了一口痰。“我也这么想。发生了什么事情了，我们的中尉感到一个人在太空中孤独了？”他把下巴抬向晴朗的天空。“你是不是想起来自己忘记了一个重要的东西，忘记了一个用尽自己的办法来爱你的女孩？”
That from the guy who had called Marlene a traitor that day in Reflex Point, Scott thought, getting to his feet. "It's nothing like that, Lunk."
这句话竟然出自伦克口中，而在反射点他还指责玛琳是叛徒，斯科特想着蹲下来。“事情不是那样的，伦克。”
"Think you can just fly in here with your little jet and pick up where you left off, huh?" Lunk held the ax like a hatchet and shook it in Scott's face. "Lemme tell you, you're way off the mark, Lieutenant. Marlene's had a rough time of it, but I've been helping her. She's kinda come to rely on me, and I think your showing up is just gonna gum up the works, understand me?"
“你认为自己能这么简简单单的开着那架小飞机到这儿来取走曾经舍弃的，是吗？”伦克像握着一把战斧般在斯科特面前晃动着斧头。“让我告诉你吧，中尉。你离开后，玛琳经过了一段痛苦的时期，但是我陪着她熬过来了。她开始慢慢信赖我了，而你的出现又会把一切弄糟，知道吗？”
"Look, Lunk, I just want to talk to her."
“听着，伦克，我只想跟她聊聊。”
"I'm tellin' ya how it is, Lieutenant."
“我已经告诉你发生的一切了，中尉。”
Scott left a brief empty space in the exchange, waiting for Lunk to cool down. "Back at Command everyone's still scratching their heads about what happened at Reflex Point," he commenced on a casual note. "There's a possibility the SDF-3 got itself caught up in the Regis's exit." He looked at Lunk. "I think Marlene can help out."
斯科特在两人中间留出了一些距离，等着伦克冷静下来。“在指挥部里，每一个人都想象不出来那天在反射点究竟发生了些什么事情，”他用一种随意的语气说道：“SDF-3很可能在雷吉斯离开的时候出了问题。”他看着伦克：“我想玛琳能帮忙。”
Lunk glared at him, then threw the ax down into the stump and left it there. "Come on," he said, storming off across the field in the direction of Roca Negra.
伦克瞪着他，然后把斧头丢在了木头堆里。“来吧。”他朝着罗卡尼格拉的方向咆哮到。
Scott fell in behind him for a silent walk that delivered them fifteen minutes later to two spacious freestanding tents erected side by side on a small parcel of land dotted with olive trees. Lunk's battered APC was parked off to one side.
斯科特默默的跟在伦克后面，15分钟后来到了橄榄树丛下面两顶宽敞独立靠在一起的帐篷前面。伦克那辆损坏的装甲车停放在一旁。
"Marlene," Lunk bellowed, rustling the mosquito-netting front flap of the larger tent.
“玛琳”伦克吼道，拉开了较大的那顶帐篷前面的蚊帐。
"Lunk?" Marlene responded from somewhere inside. "You're back early."
“伦克吗？”从里面传来玛琳的声音，“你今天提前回来了。”
Scott's heart broke at the sound of her voice; save for a hint of Southlands Forager accent, it might as well have been that of Marlene Rush.
听到她的声音，斯科特感到心都碎了；除了那苏格兰的口音，这完全就是玛琳•拉什。
As the Invid simulagent stepped into the sunlight, luxurious red hair shorn to her shoulders and skin as pale as a Tiresian's, Scott thought: She is Marlene!
当因维模拟人出现在阳光下的时候，她那长长的红色头发披在肩上，皮肤苍白的如同泰雷西亚人。斯科特想：她是玛琳！
The Regis's daughter took a moment to absorb the scene before she collapsed into Scott's slapdash embrace, sighing. "I knew you'd return for me, Scott, I knew you'd return."
雷吉斯的女儿吃惊的看着眼前发生的一切，倒向了斯科特仓促的拥抱，叹息着：“我知道你会回来找我的，斯科特，我知道你会回来。”
Lunk quickly turned his back to the two of them, afraid they would see his tears.
伦克迅速背转身去，不愿他们看到自己流泪。
Scott immediately realized that Marlene had undergone a profound change since they had last embraced. Marlene then had been alive and vital to his confused thoughts and anxious hands, a woman of human lusts and needs, nothing like the insubstantial being he cradled in his arms now. It was something he could not articulate, but it was obvious to all who dared to look deep enough into her eyes.
斯科特很快发现从他们最近的那次拥抱以来玛琳改变了很多。对他而言，玛琳实实在在的存在在他的怀抱中，对爱充满了渴望和需要，而不再是一个脆弱的生命了。斯科特不能言明，但是只要看着她的眼睛就会知道那到底是什么。
Scott led her into the shade, to a canvas-backed chair at the head of a split-log longtable. Lunk positioned himself behind the chair, his large callused hands resting on Marlene's frail shoulders. "I told ya she was having a rough time of it, Lieutenant. Ya never shoulda come back."
斯科特领着她进到荫凉处，坐在圆木长桌北面的一张帆布靠背椅子上面。伦克站在椅子后面，并将自己那双巨大而又长满老茧的手放在玛琳虚弱的肩膀上。“我已经告诉你了她经历过一段痛苦的时光，中尉。你永远都不应该回来。”
Marlene patted Lunk's hand and gazed up at him fondly. "I'm all right, Lunk. Really."
玛琳轻轻拍着伦克的手，抬起头温柔的凝视着他说：“我已经好了，伦克。真的。”
Scott felt her eyes return to him and swallowed hard as he perched himself on the edge of the table: "Marlene," he began, "how much do you remember about those last few days at Reflex Point?"
斯科特看着玛琳的目光转向自己，坐在桌边咽了口气。“玛琳”他说到：“关于在反射点的那几天的事情，你还记得多少？”
"Only some of it, Scott. I remember when we were all inside the central chamber together. With Sera and Corg and the Queen-Mother."
“只有一些，斯科特。我记得我们所有的人都在蜂房的中央大房中，还有希拉，考克和女王母亲。”
"What made the horde-er, the Queen-Mother leave, Marlene? I mean, I'm sure she realized the fleet had plans to irradiate the area, but it seemed like she'd decided to leave before the neutron missiles were launched."
“是什么促使整个部族，嗯，女王母亲离开的，玛琳？我的意思是，我相信她知道远征军舰队要摧毁地球，但是当中子S导弹发射前她就已经决定要离开了。”
Marlene nodded and reached across the table for a water bottle. "It's true, Scott. And something vital left me when she departed." She took a long pull from the bottle. "I know you sensed it when you held me. I feel as though I'm only half-here, as though if I breathe too deeply I'll fade from sight. But I have a knowledge of things, Scott, a knowledge: that seems undreamed of by any race."
玛琳一边点头一边伸手去构桌子另一边的水壶。“是的，斯科特。她离开的时候我 的生命也跟着离开了。”她把水壶远远地拖了过来。“我知道你那时候抱着我能够感觉到，我觉得自己只剩下了一半了，而且如果我做深呼吸的话我会从你们的视野 中消失。但是我能够对事物进行感知，斯科特，感知：这是其它种族不能想象的。”
"Don't worry," Lunk said, "I'm not about to let you fade. Marlene squeezed his hand. "You see, Scott, the Queen Mother finally understood, the reasons for all that had happened on Optera, Tirol, and Earth, and that knowledge liberated her."
“别担心，”伦克说到，“我不会让你消失的。”玛琳紧握着他的手说：“知道了吧，斯科特，女王母亲终于明白了那些曾经发生在奥普特拉，泰洛以及地球上面的事情后面的真相，那种感知使她顿悟了。”
"But what was it she understood?" Scott asked.
“但，她究竟明白了什么呢？”斯科特问到。
Marlene quivered. "I can't tell you, Scott."
玛琳发抖了：“我不能说，斯科特。”
"Please, Marlene," Scott snapped.
“告诉我吧，玛琳。”斯科特抓住玛琳。
Lunk stepped out from behind the chair. "I'm warning you, Lieutenant."
伦克从椅子后面走出来。“我警告你，中尉。”
Marlene put a hand on his balled-up fist. "No, Lunk, Scott doesn't understand. It's not that I'm keeping something from you, Scott. I only mean that you're asking the wrong person."
玛琳用一只手放在他握起来的拳头上。“不，伦克，斯科特不明白。我并不想对你隐瞒什么，斯科特。我只是想说你问错了对象。”
"Sera," Scott said after a moment's reflection.
“希拉，”斯科特沉思了一会儿。
"Yes. She was more closely bound to the Regis than I was. But I fear that bond has affected her more than it has me."
“是的。她比我更加了解雷吉斯。但是我担心那种了解对她造成了更大的影响。”
"Do you know where she is?"
“你知道她在哪儿吗？”
Marlene closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. "I can sense where she is. Sometimes I can almost see through her eyes and feel her suffering."
玛琳闭上眼睛，进行了一次颤栗的呼吸。“我能感觉到她在哪儿。有时候我甚至能够看穿她的眼睛，也能够体会她的痛苦。”
Scott edged closer to her. "Where, Marlene?"
斯科特靠近玛琳：“在哪儿，玛琳？”
"The city of tall towers in the Northlands. The one Sera and Corg were to rule."
“在北大陆那座有很多高楼的城市，也就是希拉和考克曾经统治的那座城市。”
Scott and Lunk exchanged looks and simultaneously said: "Mannatan."
斯科特和伦克交换了一下眼神，同时说道：“曼拿昙。”
"Yes. She is with Lancer."
“是的。她与兰瑟在一起。”
Scott was already on his feet. "Will you come with me, Marlene? You, too, Lunk," he was quick to add. "Just until we locate her."
斯科特战了起来。“玛琳，我们一起去？伦克也一起去。”他马上加了一句，“只是在找到她之前。”
"Forget it, Lieutenant," Lunk said. "Marlene's not going anywhere. "
“算了吧，中尉，”伦克说到，“玛琳哪儿都不去。”
Marlene stood up and gently swung Lunk around to face her. "But I am, Lunk. Don't you see that I have to go?" Lunk's face fell. "No, Marlene, no. You can just stay here and let me take care of you. You said yourself you were all right. I could just-"
玛琳站起来，轻柔的拉转伦克面对她。“但是我要去，伦克。你不认为我必须去吗？”伦克的脸沉了下来：“不，玛琳，不。你应该留在这里让我来照顾你。你虽然说你已经完全好了。我只是……”
"No, Lunk, it's no good this way," she cut him off. "Remember who and what I am."
“不，伦克。这样不行，”她推开伦克，“记得我到底是谁吗？”
Lunk stiffened. "You're Marlene, that's it."
伦克生硬的说：“你是玛琳，就这么简单。”
Marlene shook her head. "I am Invid, Lunk." She reached up to stroke his face. "But that doesn't mean I haven't loved you."
玛琳摇摇头：“我是因维人，伦克。”她伸手抚摸伦克的脸，“但那不代表我没有爱过你。”
Lunk steeled himself, holding back his anger and grief. "You'll come back to me?" he asked softly.
伦克强忍着愤怒与悲伤。“你会回到我身边吗？”他轻轻的问。
"Nothing can take away these past few months, Lunk."
“没有什么能够改变过去几个月的经历，伦克。”
It was Scott's turn to avert his gaze.
这下轮到斯科特移开他注视的目光了。
He swore to himself he would never love again.
他对自己发誓不再去爱了。
With Marlene in the copilot's seat, Scott returned the jet to the REF's provisional planetside base on the Venezuelan coast and apprised Vince Grant of his plans to continue on to the Northlands. The general informed him of the successful position jump undertaken by the Ark Angel and the rapidly approaching launch window for the fold to Haydon IV. To speed Scott and Marlene on their way, Grant ordered that they be escorted to and from the Northlands city in one of the ship's few remaining reconfigurable Veritechs.
玛琳坐在副驾驶员舱随着斯科特返回了位于委内瑞拉海岸的远征军临时地球 基地，斯科特将自己打算去北大陆的计划告诉了文斯•格兰特。将军告知他关于大天使号那次成功的定位跳跃，并将很开进行向海顿4号的折叠。为了加快斯科特和 玛琳的北大陆之旅，格兰特命令飞船中剩下的为数不多的变形战机中的一架为他们进行护航。
From what Scott could gather, Mannatan-recently returned to its original name of New York-was fast becoming a population center once again. The narrow island city had miraculously escaped saturation by Dolza's deathbolts, only to suffer disastrously some twenty years later at the hands of the Regis's power-mad "son," Corg. But by then the city had already fallen into the hands of street crazies `who had' somehow survived a radiation pall that had hung over the city for more than fifteen years' and roving gangs of Foragers and rough-trade Southern Cross deserters. A scarcity of food and arable land had kept the population numbers low, but now that New York had become a kind of raw-materials depot for developing towns to the south and west, a barter system for foodstuffs had been implemented.
从已知的信息中斯科特知道曼拿坦（最近又改回到它以前的名字纽约了）又迅速的成为了一个人口密集中心。这座狭长的岛屿城 市奇迹般的躲过了多扎的死亡清洗，只是在其后20年遭到了雷吉斯那个疯狂的儿子考克的残忍统治。到现在，这座城市里面充满了逃过曾经罩在城市上空长达15 年之久的辐射罩伤害的那些疯狂的居民，四处游荡的抢劫者和匪徒，还有进行强买强卖的南十字军逃兵。尽管食物和可耕种土地的缺乏使得人口数量低下，但是纽约 还是成为了为那些发展中的南部和西部城镇提供原材料的仓库，同时一种粮食交易系统正在建设中。
The Veritech put down west of the Hudson River, leaving Scott and Marlene to negotiate the rest of the journey on foot, along with hundreds of other migrants who were talking or buying passage through checkpoints on the single bridge that linked city and mainland. Scott saw the end result of Corg's fiery campaign to bring the city to its knees: huge leveled tracts where tall brick and stone buildings had once stood, gridded by the scorched remains of asphalt and concrete roadways.
变形战机降落在哈得孙河的西 岸，斯科特和玛琳将步行走完剩余的路程，与他们同行的还有其他成百上千的移居者。在连接城市和大陆的那座独桥的关卡处，人们在谈论或者购买通行证。斯科特 看着脚下这座经历了考克凶残统治的城市：曾经的高楼大厦如今只剩下巨大的残横断垣，矗立在纵横交错的被烧焦的沥青和水泥马路中间。
Marlene acted as guide, drawing on her recently enhanced psychic talents-to close on her sister simulagent's where璦bouts. In a certain sense she seemed more the Terran than Scott. But Scott refused to be fooled by the human guise the Invid Queen-Mother had fashioned for her, and so their conversations were strictly of the pragmatic sort. Scott, after all, was on a military mission.
玛琳利用自己近来不断增强的心灵感知能力扮演了向导的角色，去探知她那因维人形 妹妹的所在之地。从某种角度而言，她比斯科特更像一个地球人。但是斯科特拒绝接受因维女王为玛琳创造的人形外观，因此他们之间的谈话完全局限于无关痛痒的 实际问题之中。对斯科特来说，他毕竟是为了来完成一项军事任务的。
Marlene led them ultimately to a refurbished theater in the city's midtown district, where a young Hispanic named Jorge greeted them at the door and affirmed that Lancer was in fact part of a troupe of actors, singers, and musicians.
玛琳最后带着斯科特来到了市中心一座重新粉刷过的剧院处，一个年轻的西班牙少年乔治接待了他们，也向他们确认兰瑟正是一个由演员，歌唱家和音乐家组成的剧团的成员。
After the less than warm reunions with Rand and Lunk, Scott was expecting more of the same from Lancer, but-the former stage gender-bender surprised him by running up the broad aisle after Jorge's announcement and embracing the two of them like family.
在经历了与兰德和伦克不十分愉快地见面后，斯科特对与兰瑟的相见也不抱有太多的期望，但是出乎他意料之外的是以前扮演双重性别的兰瑟接到乔治通之后飞快的穿过长长的走道，并给了他们两个人亲人般的拥抱。
"Scott, I can't believe it!" Lancer said, gripping him by the arms. "God, it's great to see you again." He had equal enthusiasm for Marlene, along with a bear hug that went on for well over a minute.
“斯科特，真不敢相信！”兰瑟说到，紧紧地握着斯科特的手臂。“上帝啊，再次见到你太好了。”他对玛琳也报以同样的热情，拥抱着她几乎一分钟。
Lancer looked lean and limber in tight-fitting trousers and a sleeveless shirt, but Scott noted dark circles under the singer's dyes and a somberness beneath the cheeriness of the moment. The natural color of Lancer's hair was growing in. Scott thought briefly of Yellow Dancer and wondered whether she was gone for good.
兰瑟穿着宽松的裤子和无袖的衬衫，看上去清瘦而敏捷，但是斯科特看出了他的黑眼圈和片刻欢愉外表之下的忧伤。兰瑟的头发慢慢恢复到了原本的颜色。斯科特想到了黄衣舞者，不知道她是否已经不会再次出现了。
"You don't know how I need you guys right now," Lancer continued, taking hold of their hands.
“你们真不知道我现在多么需要你们。”兰瑟继续说，同时紧紧握住他们的手。
"What is it, Lancer?" Marlene asked.
“怎么啦，兰瑟？”玛琳问道。
"Your sister," he said, favoring Marlene's hand. "I'm afraid she's dying."
“你妹妹，”他抓紧玛琳的手说：“我担心她快死了。”
Sera was bedridden in Lancer's backstage room, a tight, cluttered space that apparently served as living quarters and dressing room. A man named Simon was ministering to her, but he exited as Lancer entered, stopping only to introduce himself to Scott and Marlene in an affected, slightly effeminate manner.
希拉躺在后台兰瑟的房间里不能起身，这是一间狭小混乱同时用作起居室和化装间的小空间。一个叫西蒙的人正在照料她，当兰瑟他们进来时，他仅仅用一种造作而略带女人气的语气与斯科特和玛琳打了个照面，介绍了一下自己，然后就退出了房间。
Fetally curled beneath the bed's threadbare blankets, Sera seemed hardly more than a specter. "I've been waiting for you to come, Ariel," she said as Marlene kneeled beside the bed and laid a comforting hand on her heaving breast. "Sister-"
希拉躺在破旧的毯子下面，头发凌乱，面容憔悴，看上去就象个幽灵。“我一直在等着你来，艾丽尔，”她说到，玛琳走近跪在床边伸出一支温柔的手放在她起伏不定的胸膛上面：“妹妹……”
Sera pressed a finger against Marlene's lips to quiet her. "Do not weep for me, Ariel. I am to rejoin the Queen Mother. "
希拉用食指放到玛琳的嘴唇示意她先不要说话。“别为我哭泣，艾丽尔。我要重新回到母亲身边了。”
"Then I'll return with you, sister."
“那么我也要跟你一起去，妹妹。”
Sera shook her head. "No, Ariel, your destiny lies along a different path. And what a wonderful one it is."
希拉摇摇头说：“不，艾丽尔，你的命运与我的不同。你的命运是很美的。”
Marlene leaned closer to her sister, her eyes brimming with tears. "Tell me, Sera."
玛琳倾向她的妹妹，眼中含着泪水：“告诉我发生了什么事，希拉。”
"You need know only this, Ariel: that the world can be remade. The Queen-Mother learned this when she mated with the Protoculture-the goal of the Great Work, the transmutation of our race."
“艾丽尔，你只需要知道：世界可以重建。当母亲与史前文化结合的时候，她知道了这一点。我们种族的演变这一伟大的工程，是可以重新开始的。”
"The Protoculture!"
“史前文化！”
"Yes, Scott," Sera said, looking at him. "Your people will understand what to make of this."
“是的，斯科特，”希拉看着他说：“你们的人也将会知道如何利用它。”
"Stay, sister," Marlene pleaded with her. "Love has the power to keep you here."
“等等，妹妹，”玛琳恳求道：“爱的力量会让你留在这里。”
Sera smiled. "No, Ariel. Love has the power to release me..."
希拉笑着说：“不，艾丽尔。爱的力量使我升华了……”
With that, the Invid simulagent shut her eyes and surrendered her all too brief life.
说完了以后，希拉闭上眼睛，放弃了她那全部短暂的生命。
Scott watched horrified but transfixed as Sera grew subtle and translucent, then slowly faded from sight. An eerie breeze caressed his cheek as the blankets dropped empty and silent to the foam mattress.
斯科特震惊而又呆呆的看着希拉慢慢变得隐隐约约然后变得透明，又慢慢从所有人的眼中消失。当毯子中空而静静的滑落到床垫上时，斯科特感觉到一阵怪异的微风拂过他的面颊。
Lancer clutched desperately for what was no longer there. "This is my fate also," Marlene said, turning to Scott with tears coursing down her cheeks. "You were right to promise you would never love again!"
兰瑟拼命而无望想去抓住消失的希拉。“这也是我的命运。”玛琳泪流满面地转向斯科特说：“你发誓不再去爱是对的！”