我的美母教师 | 乡村精品合集 | 乡村活寡 | 乡村欲爱 | 乡村春潮 | 乡村花医 | 欲望乡村（未删） | 乡村艳福 | 乡村春事 | 人妻四部曲

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

self。

She　was　surprised　at　how　much　lowland　food　and　other　goods　were　available　in　this　mountain　outpost。　Maybe　somebody　had　discovered　an　emerald　mine　or　something？

The　fact　that　most　of　the　people　living　in　Deguello　were　from　somewhere　else　wasn't　so　unusual；　the　first　two　Robotech　wars　and　the　Invid　conquest　had　set　most　of　the　world　adrift。　And　the　fact　that　the　team　was　in　what　had　once　been　South　America　didn't　really　mean　that　much　anymore；　either。　All　nations　were　long　since　extinct；　all　cultures　had　been　thrown　together。　Everyone　was　engaged　in　the　struggle　for　survival。

But　what　struck　Annie　was　strange　was　that　so　many　folks　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　something。　She　saw　people　holding　furtive　negotiations　in　taverns　and　alleys；　and　others　marking　time　in　the　square；　looking　this　way　and　that　as　if　expecting　someone。　Annie　also　noticed　that　people　were　selling　or　trading　their　personal　possessions　in　return　for　gold　or　gems…apparently　the　only　currency　that　counted　here。

In　some　ways；　it　reminded　her　of　a　romantic　oldtime　motion　picture　that　was　one　of　her　favorites；　but　there　was　no　Rick's　Cafe　in　Deguello；　although　she　prided　herself　on　looking　just　a　little　like　a　young　Ingrid　Bergman；　when　the　light　hit　her　just　right；　though　Lunk　and　the　others　scoffed。

Still；　it　was　nice　to　dream；　her　dreams　were　the　only　things　she　really　owned。。。

She　scuffed　her　sneaker　at　a　bit　of　garbage　that　lay　on　the　pitted　cobblestone　sidestreet；　aware　that　many　eyes　were　following　her。　Brother！　I've　been　in　some　creepy　places　in　my　time；　but　this　one　takes　the　booby　prize。　What　a　slimebucket　zoo！

She　was　thinking　that　while　watching　a　coughing；　apparently　tubercular　man　shuffling　along　and　gagging　in　to　a　disgusting…looking　rag。　She　was　so　distracted　that　she　bumped　right　into　somebody。

〃Hey；　ya　little　geek；　why'n'cha　watch　where　yer　goin'？〃

He　was　definitely　one　of　the　Bad　Boys；　a　snake…lean；　rat…faced　guy　in　a　dark；　greasy　jumpsuit　open　to　his　shrunken　waist。　There　was　a　scorpion　tattoo　on　his　cheek。　He　wore　a　chain　belt　of　massive　links；　and　a　blue　Chi　Army…style　cap；　with　a　red　bandanna　tied　around　his　thin　left　bicep。　He　had　werewolf　sideburns；　a　sawed…off　12gauge　side…by…side　（a　popular　weapon　in　Deguello）　in　a　shoulder　rig；　and　there　were　fishhooks　stitched　to　the　knuckles　of　his　fingerless　black　leather　gloves。

Her　street　instincts　resurfaced；　and　she　realized　that　she　had　been　traveling　in　the　charmed　pany　of　Robotech　heroes　for　so　long　that　she　had　forgotten　how　vulnerable　she　herself　was。

Uh…oh；　Annie　thought。　It　was　her　considerable　luck　that　he　merely　clapped　a　hand　down　on　her　cap　and　shoved；　to　send　her　stumbling；　arms　thrashing。　But　quick　hands　caught　her；　saving　her　from　landing　on　her　derriere　in　the　gutter。

〃You　should　be　more　careful；　little　boy。〃　She　found　herself　looking　up　at　a　clean…cut；　handsome　face…a　young　man　who　couldn't　be　more　than　eighteen　or　so。　He　had　big　blue　eyes；　wavy　black　hair；　and　a　blinding　smile。

She　squirmed　to　break　free　of　his　grip。　〃I　am　not　a　little　boy！　What're　you；　blind？　I'm　a　woman！〃

He　let　her　go；　surprised；　plainly　upset　that　he　had　hurt　her　feelings。　〃I'm　terribly　sorry！　Forgive　me。　Um；　my　name　is　Eddie。〃

She　took　a　closer　look　at　him　and　noticed　that　he　resembled…let's　see。。。James　Dean！　Only　nicer！　He　was　a　dreamboat　in　a　white　T…shirt　and　a　leather　jacket！

She　swayed　toward　him；　almost　melting。　〃Oboy！　I；　I　mean；　I'm　Annie！　Eddie's　my　favorite　name！　You　can　call　me　Mint！〃

She　vaguely　recalled　that　she　was　supposed　to　be　on　a　mission　of　espionage　and　derring…do。　〃Um；　d'you　live　up　in　those　mountains；　by　any　chance？〃

He　chuckled；　she　sighed。　〃No；　Annie。　Only　the　Invid　live　up　there。　But　beyond　them　is　Paradise。〃

Her　eyes　were　the　size　of　poker　chips。　〃You　mean　all　that　stuff　is　true？〃

He　nodded；　pointing　at　the　distant　mountains。　She　thought　he　was　as　beautiful　as　a　hood　ornament；　〃Paradise　is　a　city　that　was　set　up　by　the　old　United　Earth　Government　and　the　Southern　Cross　Army；　so　that　if　there　was　an　invasion　or　a　catastrophe；　the　Human　race　would　be　able　to　go　on。　A　kind　of　New　Macross；　I　guess　you　could　say。〃

〃Paradise　is　like　Earth　used　to　be　before　the　Invid；　or　the　Robotech　Masters；　or　the　Zentraedi！　People　are　free　there；　and　safe。〃

Annie　felt　faint。　A　place　where　people　were　safe　and　free　and　happy！　But　what　was　Eddie　saying？

〃…the　place　for　me。　It's　taken　us　a　long　time；　but　that's　where　my　family's　going。　I…I　wish　the　whole　world　could　be　like　Paradise。〃

Annie　launched　herself　straight。　up；　throwing　her　arms　around　his　neck；　clinging　there；　swinging　her　feet。　〃Oh；　Eddie！　That's　so　beautiful！　I　love　you！　Please　take　me　with　you？　Pleasepleaseplease？〃


The　mayor　of　Deguello's　mansion　was　as　grand　as　a　small　palace。　The　place　had　fallen　into　extreme　disrepair　in　the　latter　twentieth　century；　especially　with　the　privations　of　the　Global　Civil　War；　and　the　First　and　Second　Robotech　Wars。　But　now　there　were　signs　of　a　revivification。　The　reflecting　pool　and　formal　gardens　had　regained　much　of　their　glory；　the　mansion　shone　with　light　and　elegance。

The　mayor；　son　of　the　previous　mayor　and　descendent　of　many；　sat　in　the　ballroom；　holding　the　hand　of　a　beautiful　woman　who　in　turn　owned　his　heart。　Donald　Maxwell；　so　used　to　manding　the　obedience　of　others；　of　navigating　his　way　through　the　treacherous　political　waters　of　Deguello　and　the　post…invasion　world；　thought　there　was　a　cosmic　symmetry　to　it：　everyone　had　their　Achilles'　heel；　and　his　was　love。

Under　the　ballroom's　chandeliers；　brilliant　even　in　daytime；　and　the　paintings　as　big　as　barn　doors；　portraits　of　a　score　of　ancestors；　he　sat　in　his　Louis　XIV　chair　and　she　in　hers。　In　its　time　the　ballroom　had　been　the　most　splendid　and　celebrated　in　a　hundred　mile　radius。　Now；　though；　its　decor　was　stranger　than　anything　its　original　builders　could　ever　have　envisioned。

〃But　we　must　talk　about　our　wedding；　Carla；〃　he　was　saying。　〃It's　long　past　time。

〃Have　you　tired　of　my　lovetalk？　Then　think　about　what　you　have　to　gain　if　you　marry　me！　I've　always　given　you　everything；　anything　you　wanted。　But　this　I　need　from　you！　And　when　you're　my　wife；　my　only　thought　will　be　to　make　you　happy！〃

Maxwell's　Northern　European　and　North　American　bloodlines　were　evident　in　his　blond　hair；　pale　skin；　and　Anglo　features。　His　meticulously　tailored　three…piece　pinstripe　suit…a　traditional　costume；　as　he　regarded　it…only　served　to　set　them　off。

Carla；　too；　was　fair…skinned。　She　was　slim　and　willowy；　a　brown…haired；　angel…faced　young　woman　with　a　permanent　air　of　sadness　and　a　far…away　look　in　her　green　eyes。　She　seemed　about　to　speak；　but　then　hesitant。

A　servant　entered　and　spoke　softly。　〃Your　pardon；　sir；　but　your　visitor　has　arrived。〃

Maxwell's　hold　on　Carla's　hand　loosened　a　bit。　Without　turning　he　manded；　〃Show　her　in。〃　The　servant　bowed　and　left。　To　Carla　he　whispered；　〃Please！　I　need　you　so！〃

She　steeled　herself。　〃Why？　Donald；　why　do　you　insist　on　possessing　me？　Why　can't　you　just　accept　what　I'm　willing　to　give？〃

He　rose；　hearing　the　door　open　again；　releasing　her　hand。　〃Because　you　can　be　much　more　than　that；〃　he　whispered　again；　more　harshly。

Then　he　turned　away；　and　his　fine；　handmade　shoes　clicked　on　the　polished　dance　floor。　〃Ah！　The　famous　Miss　Yellow　Dancer！　You　honor　us！　Please　do　e　in；　I'm　Donald　Maxwell；　Mayor　of　Deguello；　very　pleased　to　make　your　acquaintance！〃

〃You　are　so　very　kind；〃　said　Yellow　Dancer　with　a　shy　lowering　of　her　chin；　her　voice　melodious　and　soft。　She　looked　out　at　the　ballroom　in　some　wonder；　through　thick　lashes。

Parked　there　were　three　fighter　planes　of　Global　Civil　War　vintage：　a　red　Vampire　jumpjet；　a　needle…nose　Vandal　all…weather　fighter…bomber；　and　a　Peregrine　interceptor　wearing　the　famous　skull…and…crossbones　insignia　of　the　American　VF…84　Squadron…the　Jolly　Rogers。

Maxwell　had　caught　the　look；　was　expecting　it。　〃You　find　my　old　relics　interesting？　Maintaining　them　is　something　of　an　extravagance；　of　course；　but…it's　something　of　a　matter　of　family　pride；　you　see。〃

No　visitor　had　failed　to　be　astounded　at　the　sight。　Maxwell　drew　a　certain　sensual　pleasure　from　seeing　the　sculpted　brows　of　the　renow