[科幻]宿主-第33部分

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　Jeb　shrugged；　the　gun　stayed　steady　in　his　hands；　pointed　at　Kyle。　“There　are　things　to　be　discussed。”

　“The　doctor　might　be　able　to　learn　something　from　it；”　a　female　voice　offered　gruffly。

　I　cringed　at　the　words；　hearing　in　them　my　worst　fears。　When　Jeb　had　called　me　his　niece　just　now；　I’d　
foolishly　let　a　spark　of　hope　flame　to　life—perhaps　there　would　be　pity。　I’d　been　stupid　to　think　that；　
even　for　a　second。　Death　would　be　the　only　pity　I　could　hope　for　from　these　creatures。

　I　looked　at　the　woman　who’d　spoken；　surprised　to　see　that　she　was　as　old　as　Jeb；　maybe　older。　Her　
hair　was　dark　gray　rather　than　white；　which　is　why　I　hadn’t　noticed　her　age　before。　Her　face　was　a　mass　
of　wrinkles；　all　of　them　turning　down　into　angry　lines。　But　there　was　something　familiar　about　the　features　
behind　the　lines。

　Melanie　made　the　connection　between　this　ancient　face　and　another；　smoother　face　in　her　memory。

　“Aunt　Maggie？　You’re　here？　How？　Is　Sharon　—”　The　words　were　all　Melanie；　but　they　gushed　from　
my　mouth；　and　I　was　unable　to　stop　them。　Sharing　for　so　long　in　the　desert　had　made　her　stronger；　or　me　

weaker。　Or　maybe　it　was　just　that　I　was　concentrating　on　which　direction　the　deathblow　was　going　to　fall　
from。　I　was　bracing　for　our　murder；　and　she　was　having　a　family　reunion。

　Melanie　got　only　halfway　through　her　surprised　exclamation。　The　much…aged　woman　named　Maggie　

　

　My　head　snapped　back　and　then　forward。　She　slapped　me　again。　
“You　won’tfool　us；　you　parasite。　We　know　how　you　work。　We　know　how　well　you　can　mimic　us。”　
I　tasted　blood　inside　my　cheek。　
Don’t　do　that　again；I　scolded　Melanie。I　told　you　what　they’d　think。　
Melanie　was　too　shocked　to　answer。　
“Now；　Maggie；”　Jeb　began　in　a　soothing　tone。　
“Don’t　you　‘Now；　Maggie’　me；　you　old　fool！　She’s　probably　led　a　legion　of　them　down　on　us。”　She　


backed　away　from　me；　her　eyes　measuring　my　stillness　as　if　I　were　a　coiled　snake。　She　stopped　beside　
her　brother。　
“I　don’t　see　anyone；”　Jeb　retorted。“Hey！”　he　yelled；　and　I　flinched　in　surprise。　I　wasn’t　the　only　one。　


Jeb　waved　his　left　hand　over　his　head；　the　gun　still　clenched　in　the　right。“Over　here！”　
“Shut　up；”　Maggie　growled；　shoving　his　chest。　Though　I　had　good　reason　to　know　she　was　strong；　Jeb　
didn’t　wobble。


　“She’s　alone；　Mag。　She　was　pretty　much　dead　when　I　found　her—she’s　not　in　such　great　shape　now。　
The　centipedes　don’t　sacrifice　their　own　that　way。　They　would　have　e　for　her　much　sooner　than　I　
did。　Whatever　else　she　is；　she’s　alone。”

　I　saw　the　image　of　the　long；　many…legged　insect　in　my　head；　but　I　didn’t　make　the　connection。　
He’s　talking　aboutyou；　Melanie　translated。　She　placed　the　picture　of　the　ugly　bug　next　to　my　memory　
of　a　bright　silver　soul。　I　didn’t　see　a　resemblance。　
I　wonder　how　he　knows　what　you　look　like；Melanie　wondered　absently。　My　memories　of　a　soul’s　
true　appearance　had　been　new　to　her　in　the　beginning。

　I　didn’t　have　time　to　wonder　with　her。　Jeb　was　walking　toward　me；　and　the　others　were　close　behind。　
Kyle’s　hand　hovered　at　Jeb’s　shoulder；　ready　to　restrain　him　or　throw　him　out　of　the　way；　I　couldn’t　tell。　
Jeb　put　his　gun　in　his　left　hand　and　extended　the　right　to　me。　I　eyed　it　warily；　waiting　for　it　to　hit　me。　
“C’mon；”　he　urged　gently。　“If　I　could　carry　you　that　far；　I　woulda　brought　you　home　last　night。　You’re　

gonna　have　to　walk　some　more。”　
“No！”　Kyle　grunted。　
“I’m　takin’　her　back；”　Jeb　said；　and　for　the　first　time　there　was　a　harsher　tone　to　his　voice。　Under　his　

beard；　his　jaw　flexed　into　a　stubborn　line。　

　

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“’S　my　place；　Mag。　I’ll　do　what　I　want。”　
“Old　fool！”　she　snapped　again。　
Jeb　reached　down　and　grabbed　my　hand　from　where　it　lay　curled　into　a　fist　against　my　thigh。　He　yanked　


me　to　my　feet。　It　was　not　cruelty；　it　was　merely　as　if　he　was　in　a　hurry。　Yet　was　it　not　the　very　worst　form　


of　cruelty　to　prolong　my　life　for　the　reasons　he　had？　
I　rocked　unsteadily。　I　couldn’t　feel　my　legs　very　well—just　prickles　like　needle　points　as　the　blood　
flowed　down。

　There　was　a　hiss　of　disapproval　behind　him。　It　came　from　more　than　one　mouth。　
“Okay；　whoever　you　are；”　he　said　to　me；　his　voice　still　kind。　“Let’s　get　out　of　here　before　it　heats　up。”　
The　one　who　must　have　been　Kyle’s　brother　put　his　hand　on　Jeb’s　arm。　
“You　can’t　just　show　it　where　we　live；　Jeb。”　
“I　suppose　it　doesn’t　matter；”　Maggie　said　harshly。　“It　won’t　get　a　chance　to　tell　tales。”　
Jeb　sighed　and　pulled　a　bandanna—all　but　hidden　by　his　beard—from　around　his　neck。　
“This　is　silly；”　he　muttered；　but　he　rolled　the　dirty　fabric；　stiff　with　dry　sweat；　into　a　blindfold。　
I　kept　perfectly　still　as　he　tied　it　over　my　eyes；　fighting　the　panic　that　increased　when　I　couldn’t　see　my　


enemies。　
I　couldn’t　see；　but　I　knew　it　was　Jeb　who　put　one　hand　on　my　back　and　guided　me；　none　of　the　others　
would　have　been　so　gentle。　
We　started　forward；　toward　the　north；　I　thought。　No　one　spoke　at　first—there　was　just　the　sound　of　
sand　grinding　under　many　feet。　The　ground　was　even；　but　I　stumbled　on　my　numb　legs　again　and　again。　
Jeb　was　patient；　his　guiding　hand　was　almost　chivalrous。　
I　felt　the　sun　rise　as　we　walked。　Some　of　the　footsteps　were　faster　than　others。　They　moved　ahead　of　us　
until　they　were　hard　to　hear。　It　sounded　like　it　was　the　minority　that　stayed　with　Jeb　and　me。　I　must　not　

have　looked　like　I　needed　many　guards—I　was　faint　with　hunger；　and　I　swayed　with　every　step；　my　head　
felt　dizzy　and　hollow。　
“You　aren’t　planning　to　tell　him；　are　you？”　
It　was　Maggie’s　voice；　it　came　from　a　few　feet　behind　me；　and　it　sounded　like　an　accusation。　
“He’s　got　a　right　to　know；”　Jeb　replied。　The　stubborn　note　was　back　in　his　voice。　
“It’s　an　unkind　thing　you　are　doing；　Jebediah。”　
“Life　is　unkind；　Magnolia。”　

　

　We　walked　in　silence　again　for　a　few　hours。　When　my　legs　buckled；　Jeb　lowered　me　to　the　ground　and　

held　a　canteen　to　my　lips　as　he　had　in　the　night。

　“Let　me　know　when　you’re　ready；”　Jeb　told　me。　His　voice　sounded　kind；　though　I　knew　that　was　a　false　
interpretation。

　Someone　sighed　impatiently。

　“Why　are　you　doing　this；　Jeb？”　a　man　asked。　I’d　heard　the　voice　before；　it　was　one　of　the　brothers。　
“For　Doc？　You　could　have　just　told　Kyle　that。　You　didn’t　have　to　pull　a　gun　on　him。”

　“Kyle　needs　a　gun　pulled　on　him　more　often；”　Jeb　muttered。

　“Please　tell　me　this　wasn’t　about　sympathy；”　the　man　continued。　“After　all　you’ve　seen…”

　“After　all　I’ve　seen；　if　I　hadn’t　learned　passion；　I　wouldn’t　be　worth　much。　But　no；　it　was　not　about　

sympathy。　If　I　had　enough　sympathy　for　this　poor　creature；　I　would　have　let　her　die。”

　I　shivered　in　the　oven…hot　air。

　“What；　then？”　Kyle’s　brother　demanded。

　There　was　a　long　silence；　and　then　Jeb’s　hand　touched　mine。　I　grasped　it；　needing　the　help　to　get　back　

on　my　feet。　His　other　hand　pressed　against　my　back；　and　I　started　forward　again。

　“Curiosity；”　Jeb　said　in　a　low　voice。

　No　one　replied。

　As　we　walked；　I　considered　a　few　sure　facts。　One；　I　was　not　the　first　soul　they’d　captured。　There　was　

already　a　set　routine　here。　This　“Doc”　had　tried　to　get　his　answer　from　others　before　me。

　Two；　he　had　tried　unsuccessfully。　If　any　soul　had　forgone　suicide　only　to　crack　under　the　humans’　
torture；　they　would　not　need　me　now。　My　death　would　have　been　mercifully　swift。

　Oddly；　I　couldn’t　bring　myself　to　hope　for　a　quick　end；　though；　or　to　try　to　effect　that　oute。　It　would　
be　easy　to　do；　even　without　doing　the　deed　myself。　I　would　only　have　to　tell　them　a　lie—pretend　to　be　a　

Seeker；　tell　them　my　colleagues　were　tracking　me　right　now；　bluster　and　threaten。　Or　tell　them　the　
truth—that　Melanie　lived　on　inside　me；　and　that　she　had　brought　me　here。

　They　would　see　another　lie；　and　one　so　richly　irresistible—the　idea　that　the　human　could　live　on　after　
implantation—so　tempting　to　believe　from　their　perspective；　so　insidious；　that　they　would　believe　I　was　a　
Seeker　more　surely　than　if　I　claimed　it。　They　would　assume　a　trap；　get　rid　of　me　quickly；　and　find　a　new　
place　to　hide；　far　away　from　here。

　You’re　probably　right；Melanie　agreed。It’s　what　I　would　do。　

　

　Last　night　Melanie　and　I　had　wished　for　death；　but　death　had　been　only　inches　away　at　the　time。　It　was　
different　now　that　I　was　on　my　feet　again。

　I　don’t　want　to　die；　either；Melanie　whispered。But　maybe　you’re　wrong。　Maybe　that’s　not　why　
they’re　keeping　us　alive。　I　don’t　understand　why　they　would。…　She　didn’t　want　to　imagine　the　things　
they　might　do　to　us—I　was　sure　she　could　e　up　with　worse　than　I。What　answer　would　they　want　
from　you　that　bad？

　I’ll　never　tell。　Not　you；　not　any　human。

　A　bold　declaration。　But　then；　I　wasn’t　in　pain　yet。…

　Another　hour　had　passed—the　sun　was　directly　overhead；　the　heat　of　it　like　a　crown　of　fire　on　my　
hair—when　the　sound　changed。　The　grinding　steps　that　I　barely　heard　anymore　turned　to　echoes　ahead　
of　me。　Jeb’s　feet　still　crunched　against　the　sand　like　mine；　but　someone　in　front　of　us　had　reached　a　new　
terrain。

　“Careful；　now；”　Jeb　warned　me。　“Watch　your　head。”

　I　hesitated；　not　sure　what　I　was　watching　for；　or　how　to　watch　with　no　eyes。　His　hand　left　my　back　and　
pressed　down　on　my　head；　telling　me　to　duck。　I　bent　forward。　My　neck　was　stiff。

　He　guided　me　forward　again；　and　I　heard　our　footsteps　make　the　same　echoing　sound。　The　ground　
didn’t　give　like　sand；　didn’t　feel　loose　like　rock。　It　was　flat　and　solid　beneath　my　feet。

　The　sun　was　gone—I　could　no　longer　feel　it　burn　my　skin　or　scorch　my　hair。

　I　took　another　step；　and　a　new　air　touched　my　face。　It　was　not　a　breeze。　This　was　stagnant—Imoved　
intoit。　The　dry　desert　wind　was　gone。　This　air　was　still　and　cooler。　There　was　the　faintest　hint　of　moisture　
to　it；　a　mustiness　that　I　could　both　smell　and　taste。

　There　were　so　many　questions　in　my　mind；　and　in　Melanie’s。　She　wanted　to　ask　hers；　but　I　kept　silent。　
There　was　nothing　either　of　us　could　say　that　would　help　us　now。

　“Okay；　you　can　straighten　up；”　Jeb　told　me。

　I　raised　my　head　slowly。

　Even　with　the　blindfold；　I　could　tell　that　there　was　no　light。　It　was　utterly　black　around　the　edges　of　the　
bandanna。　I　could　hear　the　others　behind　me；　shuffling　their　feet　impatiently；　waiting　for　us　to　move　
forward。

　“This　way；”　Jeb　said；　and　he　was　guiding　me　again。　Our　footsteps　echoed　back　from　close　by—the　
space　we　were　in　must　have　been　quite　small。　I　found　myself　ducking　my　head　instinctively。　

　

　We　took　another　turn；　and　then　the　floor　started　to　climb　upward。　My　legs　were　so　numb　and　wooden　
that　as　the　path　got　steeper；　Jeb　had　to　half　drag　me　up　the　incline。　The　air　got　mustier　and　moister　the　
farther　we　went；　but　the　blackness　didn’t　change。　The　only　sounds　were　our　footsteps　and　their　nearby　
echoes。

　The　pathway　flattened　out　and　began　to　turn　and　twist　like　a　serpent。

　Finally；　finally；　there　was　a　brightness　around　the　top　and　bottom　of　my　blindfold。　I　wished　that　it　would　
slip；　as　I　was　too　frightened　to　pull　it　off　myself。　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　wouldn’t　be　so　terrified　if　I　could　
justsee　where　I　was　and　who　was　with　me。

　With　the　light　came　noise。　Strange　noise；　a　low　murmuring　babble。　It　sounded　almost　like　a　waterfall。

　The　babble　got　louder　as　we　moved　forward；　and　the　closer　it　got；　the　less　it　sounded　like　water。　It　was　
too　varied；　low　and　high　pitches　mingling　and　echoing。　If　it　had　not　been　so　discordant；　it　might　have　
sounded　like　an　uglier　version　of　the　constant　music　I’d　heard　and　sung　on　the　Singing　World。　The　
darkness　of　the　blindfold　suited　that　memory；　the　memory　of　blindness。

　Melanie　understood　the　cacophony　before　I　did。　I’d　never　heard　the　sound　because　I’d　never　been　with　
humans　before。

　It’s　an　argument；she　realized。It　sounds　like　so　many　people　arguing。

　She　was　drawn　by　the　sound。　Were　there　more　people　here；　then？　That　there　were　even　eight　had　
surprised　us　both。　What　was　this　place？

　Hands　touched　the　back　of　my　neck；　and　I　shied　away　from　them。

　“Easy　now；”　Jeb　said。　He　pulled　the　blindfold　off　my　eyes。

　I　blinked　slowly；　and　the　shadows　around　me　settled　into　shapes　I　could　understand：　rough；　uneven　
walls；　a　pocked　ceiling；　a　worn；　dusty　floor。　We　were　underground　somewhere　in　a　natural　cave　
formation。　We　couldn’t　be　that　deep。　I　thought　we’d　hiked　upward　longer　than　we’d　slid　downward。

　The　rock　walls　and　ceiling　were　a　dark　purpley　brown；　and　they　were　riddled　with　shallow　holes　like　
Swiss　cheese。　The　edges　of　the　lower　holes　were　worn　down；　but　over　my　head　the　circles　were　more　
defined；　and　their　rims　looked　sharp。

　The　light　came　from　a　round　hole　ahead　of　us；　its　shape　not　unlike　the　holes　that　peppered　the　cavern；　
but　larger。　This　was　an　entrance；　a　doorway　to　a　brighter　place。　Melanie　was　eager；　fascinated　by　the　
concept　of　more　humans。　I　held　back；　suddenly　worried　that　blindness　might　be　better　than　sight。

　Jeb　sighed。　“Sorry；”　he　muttered；　so　low　that　I　was　certainly　the　only　one　to　hear。

　I　tried　to　swallow　and　could　not。　My　head　started　to　spin；　but　that　might　have　been　from　hunger。　My　

　

　The　tunnel　opened　into　a　chamber　so　vast　that　at　first　I　couldn’t　accept　what　my　eyes　told　me。　The　
ceiling　was　too　bright　and　too　high—it　was　like　an　artificial　sky。　I　tried　to　see　what　brightened　it；　but　it　
sent　down　sharp　lances　of　light　that　hurt　my　eyes。

　I　was　expecting　the　babble　to　get　louder；　but　it　was　abruptly　dead　quiet　in　the　huge　cavern。

　The　floor　was　dim　pared　to　the　brilliant　ceiling　so　far　above。　It　took　a　moment　for　my　eyes　to　make　
sense　of　all　the　shapes。

　A　crowd。　There　was　no　other　word　for　it—there　was　a　crowd　of　humans　standing　stock…still　and　silent；　
all　staring　at　me　with　the　same　burning；　hate…filled　expressions　I’d　seen　at　dawn。

　Melanie　was　too　stunned　to　do　anything　more　than　count。　Ten；　fifteen；　twenty…　twenty…five；　twenty…six；　
twenty…seven…

　I　didn’t　care　how　many　there　were。　I　tried　to　tell　her　how　little　it　mattered。　It　wouldn’t　take　twenty　of　
them　to　kill　me。　To　kill　us。　I　tried　to　make　her　see　how　precarious　our　position　was；　but　she　was　beyond　
my　warnings　at　the　moment；　lost　in　this　human　world　she’d　never　dreamed　was　here。

　One　man　stepped　forward　from　the　crowd；　and　my　eyes　darted　first　to　his　hands；　looking　for　the　
weapon　they　would　carry。　His　hands　were　clenched　in　fists　but　empty　of　any　other　threat。　My　eyes；　
adjusting　to　the　dazzling　light；　made　out　the　sun…gilded　tint　of　his　skin　and　then　recognized　it。

　Choking　on　the　sudden　hope　that　dizzied　me；　I　lifted　my　eyes　to　the　man’s　face。

　CHAPTER　14

　Disputed

　It　was　too　much　for　both　of　us；　seeing　him　here；　now；　after　already　accepting　that　we’d　never　see　him　
again；　after　believing　that　we’d　lost　him　forever。　It　froze　me　solid；　made　me　unable　to　react。　I　wanted　to　
look　at　Uncle　Jeb；　to　understand　his　heartbreaking　answer　in　the　desert；　but　I　couldn’t　move　my　eyes。　I　
stared　at　Jared’s　face；　unprehending。

　Melanie　reacted　differently。

　“Jared；”　she　cried