r vows。 Rick wondered if any of that was passing through Minmei's beautiful head or if she had dismissed it from her mind as she seemed to dismiss anything that didn't fit with her desires and attitudes of the moment。
He told himself that he would probably never get a clearer sign。 It was finally time to put her out of his thoughts and try to get back to living his life。
In other quarters； the micronized Zentraedi defectors were gathered around a screen； utterly enthralled as they gazed at Minmei。
They were dressed in ordinary work clothes and came in the assortment of sizes and shapes that any random group of human males might include。 Except for a few skin tones that seemed a little odd…mauve； albino…white； a pale； pale green…there was nothing to mark them as alien。 Since the incident with Karita and the muggers； they all took great pains to avoid trouble。 The military's decision to keep them all confined to their quarters chafed but was accepted。
The SDF…1 authorities had provided them with quarters and rations and so forth and were spending long hours debriefing them； though as low…ranking warriors there was little of strategic value the defectors could tell。 No one had yet begun a systematic orientation program to familiarize them with human life； since the military believed there was always the chance they might return to the Zentraedi fold； the less they knew； for now at least； the better。
But they could watch Minmei and listen to her voice…the voice that had enticed them away from war making。
Now； one of them said； 〃Rico； what do they mean by 'marriage'？ Why do they keep talking about it？〃
There was some grumbling； as others were troubled by the enigma； too。 Rico considered his answer。 He understood only a little more about human existence than the others； but they looked to him for answers； and he didn't want to seem at a loss。
〃Um； because marriage is something important。 When two people get married； they go off someplace private and spend their time pressing their lips together。〃
This business of pressing lips had been mentioned before among the Zentraedi； had been one of the prime matters of fascination that had led to the defections。 But still； the thought of such unbridled contact between the sexes sent the erstwhile warriors into a tizzy。
〃Maybe they won't make us do it？〃 〃My lips aren't ready for that sort of thing！〃 〃I dunno； something tells me it might feel good。〃 〃Lemma at 'er！〃
Some babbled and exclaimed to one another； others started shaking visibly or gnawing their fingernails。 A few tried rubbing their top and bottom lips together and concluded that they were doing it wrong somehow。 At least one swooned。
At the interview； Kyle found another microphone shoved into his face。 〃Tell the truth： have you proposed marriage to Minmei？〃
He was calm； unflappable； on the outside。 〃No； I haven't。〃
He and Minmei were not close by blood； although their families had kept close bonds due to friendships and shared business investments in the White Dragon and Golden Dragon restaurants。 He had grown up with Minmei very much like an adoring little sister to him。
But that had changed over time； as much as he'd fought it。 It was the tremendous battle inside him pared to which mere physical fights were children's antics。 Everyone thought the self…discipline he brought to the martial arts was a reflection of his inner calm； in fact； it was a reflection of the iron will that barely kept him from yielding to temptation。 He'd spent all his young adulthood locked in fierce battle against his own impulses。
And most difficult of all were the movies they made together； the shared work and intensity of their scenes； especially the love scenes。 It was so easy for acting to slide over into the real thing。 The impulses were very patient and unrelenting。 He drove them off each day； only to have them return fresher and stronger than ever the next。
But no more。 Being with Minmei aboard the SDF…1； seeing the others who coveted her； had decided Kyle。 No one else could have her。
〃Sounds like a pretty weak denial。〃 The interviewer grinned at him。 〃Maybe you just haven't had the chance； right？〃
Kyle said in his calm； measured tones； 〃No； I've been thinking about； um。。。〃
The newsman was watching him like a ferret。 〃Yes？〃
〃Thinking about how I'd actually say it to her。 Because I don't mind telling you； it's something I've considered。〃
He heard Minmei's gasp next to him； and the mass intake of breath by the reporters。 Flashbulbs began popping； and everyone began talking at once。
〃Minmei； what d' you have to say？〃 〃Have you set the date？〃 〃Tell our viewers： Would you accept if he proposes？〃 〃Give us a shot of you two holding hands！〃 〃Kiss 'er； Kyle！〃 〃Where d' you two plan to honeymoon？〃
But they paid the reporters no attention。 〃Kyle； are you serious？〃 Her eyes looked enormous。 They sat there； gazing at each other； while the furor boiled around them。
His screen switched off； Rick lay with head pillowed on elbows； feeling utterly wretched。 I can't believe it。 All this time she's been waiting for Kyle to propose to her。
There was a knock at the door； and Max showed up； dressed in civvies： sports jacket； slacks； sweater； and tie。 He wore a cheerful； eager look that made him seem sixteen or so。
〃Sorry to bother you； boss。 But I'm thinking of wearing this tie to meet Miriya。 And I wondered if it made me look too sophisticated； you know？ Or maybe I should go the other way； wear a gold chain。。。〃
After Rick got rid of Max； he decided to get some fresh air。 He wandered up to a parklike area on one of the observation decks and stared out a viewport as high as a billboard and longer than two。
Earth swung by above him； a crescent of swirling blue and white in the darkness。 He sat and tried to spot Alaska。
After a while a familiar voice； holding a trace of mischief； said； 〃Well； if it isn't Lieutenant Hunter； as I live and breathe！〃
He looked up to see Claudia standing nearby。 〃Oh。 Hi； how're you？〃
They hadn't seen each other a great deal lately； partly because they had been so busy and partly because they both still ached with the grief of Roy Fokker's death； and seeing each other brought it up all over again。
But now she came over to sit next to him。 〃Not bad。 But what're you doing up here at this hour？〃
〃Couldn't stand my quarters anymore。〃
〃Ah。 You saw the press conference。〃
〃Mm…hm。〃
She sat down； crossing her knees； resting her chin on her hand； helping him watch Earth。 〃You could get along without her。 She isn't that terrific。〃
〃She is to me！〃 Rick wouldn't have taken that from anyone else now that Roy was gone。 But Claudia had an honesty that was hard not to respect and give its due。 And she was quite capable of getting mad right back at you if she felt it was warranted。 Claudia was not someone you wanted to be mad at you if you could avoid it。
〃You're bright； you should be with somebody else；〃 she said after a bit。
〃I don't know that I want to be。 I'm stuck on her。〃
〃Why； Rick？〃
〃I don't know why！ Maybe she's just my type。〃
Claudia put one finger to her chin； eyeing him sidelong。 〃I don't know。 I sorta picture you being with somebody more mature。 You know： someone more experienced？ Who's been through a big romance and a broken heart？〃
Oh； great； just what I need！ Rick thought。 Some other walking wounded to hang around with！ But he couldn't help listening very closely。
〃It'd be good for you to be with someone who can appreciate a relationship。 Those people're around； y' know。 Sometimes they turn out to be your next door neighbor。 Or even。。。your superior officer。〃
〃Huh？〃
She rose。 〃Gotta go。〃
〃Claudia； you mean Lisa； don't you？〃
She glanced back over her shoulder at him。 〃Did you hear me mention anybody by name？ I only said people like that are around。 Sometimes they've been known to pass by so close； you can't even see them。〃
She started off once more； throwing back over her shoulder； 〃Now； don't stay up too late。 Things will look a lot better in the morning。〃
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