"Jack McKinney - Robotech 02 - Battle cry" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

And for a moment her enthusiasm almost won him over. Hey, Rick told himself, maybe this is
how I'm supposed to feel, like I'm lucky or something. The park fountain was even gushing in his
honor! It didn't last, though, despite her continued exclamations.

"Your first mission! I can't believe it! I'm so proud of you!"

Obviously this was what supporting the war effort was all about, he decided. And she was
very good at it.



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Then Minmei was suddenly on her toes, twirling around in front of him. "Do you like it?
Don't you just love it?" she kept asking. He was puzzled but caught on fast. The dress! The salmon-
colored dress she'd picked up that afternoon.

"You look beautiful, Minmei."

She moved in close and made him repeat it.

"Do you mean it, Rick? Am I really beautiful?"

An idea came to him and he signaled to a robo-camera that was making rounds through the
park. The stupid thing kept moving in circles, trying to home in on Rick's call, and he finally
had to throw a stone at it to get its attention. The cam approached them, asking for money.

"We'll have a picture taken. You'll see how beautiful you are."

Minmei protested some, and the cam uttered some stock phrases to get them in the proper
mood, but eventually they had the print and Minmei was pleased. A smile and a look of concern;
Minmei clinging to his arm; the fountain behind them.

Afterward, she talked dance for half an hour; she read him the lyrics of a song she'd
composed. Then she had to be going.

"Uncle Max gets mad when I stay out too late. But I'll see you when you get back, Rick.
Have a good mission, and remember, I'm very proud of you."

And with that she was gone, leaving him wondering about tomorrow all over again.

He power-walked and jogged for an hour hoping he would exhaust himself and fall into a
deep sleep back in the barracks. But sleep didn't seem to be on tonight's agenda; in fact, he
couldn't even keep his eyes closed. It was too hot in his bunk, then too cold, there were too many
noises in the room, the pillow just wasn't right...Finally he sat up and switched on the reading
light. He took the park photo and brought it close to his face. Perhaps he could reach her by
concentrating on her image; spoken words weren't doing much good.

Minmei was proud of him; earlier that day she'd been upset with him for carrying her