[科幻]宿主-第43部分

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　“Show’s　over；”　Jeb　said　gruffly；　looking　at　Ian　and　the　doctor。　“Go　do　something　useful。”

　Ian　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　doctor；　but　they　both　turned　good…naturedly　enough　and　made　their　way　
toward　the　biggest　exit—the　one　that　led　to　the　kitchen；　I　remembered。　Jamie　hesitated；　looking　after　
them　but　not　moving。

　“You　e　with　me；”　Jeb　told　him；　slightly　less　gruff　this　time。　“I’ve　got　a　job　for　you。”

　“Okay；”　Jamie　said。　I　could　see　that　he　was　pleased　to　have　been　chosen。

　Jamie　walked　beside　me　again　as　we　headed　back　toward　the　sleeping…quarters　section　of　the　caves。　I　
was　surprised；　as　we　chose　the　third　passageway　from　the　left；　that　Jamie　seemed　to　know　exactly　where　
we　were　going。　Jeb　was　slightly　behind　us；　but　Jamie　stopped　at　once　when　we　reached　the　green　screen　

　

in；　not　sure　what　to　do　with　myself。　Melanie　remembered　that　there　were　books　here；　but　I　reminded　her　

of　my　vow　to　not　touch　anything。　
“I　got　things　to　do；　kid；”　Jeb　said　to　Jamie。　“Food　ain’t　gonna　fix　itself；　you　know。　You　up　to　guard　
duty？”

　“Sure；”　Jamie　said　with　a　bright　smile。　His　thin　chest　swelled　with　a　deep　breath。　
My　eyes　widened　in　disbelief　as　I　watched　Jeb　place　the　rifle　in　Jamie’s　eager　hands。　
“Are　youcrazy？　”　I　shouted。　My　voice　was　so　loud　that　I　didn’t　recognize　it　at　first。　It　felt　like　I’d　been　


whispering　forever。　
Jeb　and　Jamie　looked　up　at　me；　shocked。　I　was　out　in　the　hallway　with　them　in　a　second。　
I　almost　reached　for　the　hard　metal　of　the　barrel；　almost　ripped　it　from　the　boy’s　hands。　What　stopped　


me　wasn’t　the　knowledge　that　a　move　like　that　would　surely　get　me　killed。　What　stopped　me　was　the　fact　
that　I　was　weaker　than　the　humans　in　this　way；　even　to　save　the　boy；　I　could　not　make　myself　touch　the　
weapon。

　I　turned　on　Jeb　instead。　
“What　are　you　thinking？　Giving　the　weapon　to　a　child？　He　could　kill　himself！”　
“Jamie’s　been　through　enough　to　be　called　a　man；　I　think。　He　knows　how　to　handle　himself　around　a　


gun。”　
Jamie’s　shoulders　straightened　at　Jeb’s　praise；　and　he　gripped　the　gun　tighter　to　his　chest。　
I　gaped　at　Jeb’s　stupidity。　“What　if　they　e　for　me　with　him　here？　Did　you　think　of　what　could　


happen？　This　isn’t　a　joke！　They’ll　hurt　him　to　get　to　me！”　
Jeb　remained　calm；　his　face　placid。　“Don’t　think　there’ll　be　any　trouble　today。　I’d　bet　on　it。”　
“Well；　I　wouldn’t！”　I　was　yelling　again。　My　voice　echoed　off　the　tunnel　walls—someone　was　sure　to　


hear；　but　I　didn’t　care。　Better　they　e　while　Jeb　was　still　here。　“If　you’re　so　sure；　then　leave　me　here　


alone。　Let　what　happens　happen。　But　don’t　put　Jamie　in　danger！”　
“Is　it　the　kid　you’re　worried　about；　or　are　you　just　afraid　that　he’ll　turn　the　gun　on　you？”　Jeb　asked；　his　
voice　almost　languid。

　I　blinked；　my　anger　derailed。　That　thought　had　not　even　occurred　to　me。　I　glanced　blankly　at　Jamie；　met　

his　surprised　gaze；　and　saw　that　the　idea　was　shocking　to　him；　too。　
It　took　me　a　minute　to　recover　my　side　of　the　argument；　and　by　the　time　I　did；　Jeb’s　expression　had　
changed。　His　eyes　were　intent；　his　mouth　pursed—as　if　he　were　about　to　fit　the　last　piece　into　a　

　

boy　out　of　this。”

　Jeb’s　sudden　face…wide　grin　reminded　me；　strangely；　of　a　pouncing　cat。

　“It’s　my　house；　kid；　and　I’ll　do　what　I　want。　I　always　do。”

　Jeb　turned　his　back　and　ambled　away　down　the　hall；　whistling　as　he　went。　I　watched　him　go；　my　mouth　

hanging　open。　When　he　disappeared；　I　turned　to　Jamie；　who　was　watching　me　with　a　sullen　expression。

　“I’m　not　a　child；”　he　muttered　in　a　deeper　tone　than　usual；　his　chin　jutting　out　belligerently。　“Now；　you　
should…　you　should　go　in　your　room。”

　The　order　was　less　than　severe；　but　there　was　nothing　else　I　could　do。　I’d　lost　this　disagreement　by　a　
large　margin。

　I　sat　down　with　my　back　against　the　rock　that　formed　one　side　of　the　cave　opening—the　side　where　I　
could　hide　behind　the　half…opened　screen　but　still　watch　Jamie。　I　wrapped　my　arms　around　my　legs　and　
began　doing　what　I　knew　I　would　be　doing　as　long　as　this　insane　situation　continued：　I　worried。

　I　also　strained　my　eyes　and　ears　for　some　sound　of　approach；　to　be　ready。　No　matter　what　Jeb　said；　I　

would　prevent　anyone　from　challenging　Jamie’s　guard。　I　would　give　myself　up　before　they　asked。

　Yes；Melanie　agreed　succinctly。

　Jamie　stood　in　the　hallway　for　a　few　minutes；　the　gun　tight　in　his　hands；　unsure　as　to　how　to　do　his　job。　
He　started　pacing　after　that；　back　and　forth　in　front　of　the　screen；　but　he　seemed　to　feel　silly　after　a　
couple　of　passes。　Then　he　sat　down　on　the　floor　beside　the　open　end　of　the　screen。　The　gun　eventually　
settled　on　his　folded　legs；　and　his　chin　into　his　cupped　hands。　After　a　long　time；　he　sighed。　Guard　duty　
was　not　as　exciting　as　he’d　been　expecting。

　I　did　not　get　bored　watching　him。

　After　maybe　an　hour　or　two；　he　started　looking　at　me　again；　flickering　glances。　His　lips　opened　a　few　

times；　and　then　he　thought　better　of　whatever　he　was　going　to　say。

　I　laid　my　chin　on　my　knees　and　waited　as　he　struggled。　My　patience　was　rewarded。

　“That　planet　you　were　ing　from　before　you　were　in　Melanie；”　he　finally　said。　“What　was　it　like　there？　

Was　it　like　here？”

　The　direction　of　his　thoughts　caught　me　off　guard。　“No；”　I　said。　With　only　Jamie　here；　it　felt　right　to　
speak　normally　instead　of　whispering。　“No；　it　was　very　different。”

　“Will　you　tell　me　what　it　was　like？”　he　asked；　cocking　his　head　to　one　side　the　way　he　used　to　when　he　
was　really　interested　in　one　of　Melanie’s　bedtime　stories。

　So　I　told　him。　

　

　He　listened　with　wide　eyes　and　a　fascinated　smile。

　“Is　that　the　only　other　place？”　he　asked　when　I　fell　silent；　trying　to　think　of　anything　I’d　missed。　“Are　the　
See　Weeds”—he　laughed　once　at　the　pun—“the　only　other　aliens？”

　I　laughed；　too。　“Hardly。　No　more　than　I’m　the　only　alien　on　this　world。”

　“Tell　me。”

　So　I　told　him　about　the　Bats　on　the　Singing　World—how　it　was　to　live　in　musical　blindness；　how　it　was　
to　fly。　I　told　him　about　the　Mists　Planet—how　it　felt　to　have　thick　white　fur　and　four　hearts　to　keep　warm；　
how　to　give　claw　beasts　a　wide　berth。

　I　started　to　tell　him　about　the　Planet　of　the　Flowers；　about　the　color　and　the　light；　but　he　interrupted　me　
with　a　new　question。

　“What　about　the　little　green　guys　with　the　triangle　heads　and　the　big　black　eyes？　The　ones　who　crashed　
in　Roswell　and　all　that。　Was　that　you　guys？”

　“Nope；　not　us。”

　“Was　it　all　fake？”

　“I　don’t　know—maybe；　maybe　not。　It’s　a　big　universe；　and　there’s　a　lot　of　pany　out　there。”

　“How　did　you　e　here；　then—if　you　weren’t　the　little　green　guys；　who　were　you？　You　had　to　have　
bodies　to　move　and　stuff；　right？”

　“Right；”　I　agreed；　surprised　at　his　grasp　of　the　facts　at　hand。　I　shouldn’t　have　been　surprised—I　knew　
how　bright　he　was；　his　mind　like　a　thirsty　sponge。　“We　used　our　Spider　selves　in　the　very　beginning；　to　
get　things　started。”

　“Spiders？”

　I　told　him　about　the　Spiders—a　fascinating　species。　Brilliant；　the　most　incredible　minds　we’d　ever　e　
across；　and　each　Spider　had　three　of　them。　Three　brains；　one　in　each　section　of　their　segmented　bodies。　
We’d　yet　to　find　a　problem　they　couldn’t　solve　for　us。　And　yet　they　were　so　coldly　analytical　that　they　
rarely　came　up　with　a　problem　they　were　curious　enough　to　solve　for　themselves。　Of　all　our　hosts；　the　
Spiders　weled　our　occupation　the　most。　They　barely　noticed　the　difference；　and　when　they　did；　they　
seemed　to　appreciate　the　direction　we　provided。　The　few　souls　who　had　walked　on　the　surface　of　the　
Spiders’　planet　before　implantation　told　us　that　it　was　cold　and　gray—no　wonder　the　Spiders　only　saw　in　
black　and　white　and　had　a　limited　sense　of　temperature。　The　Spiders　lived　short　lives；　but　the　young　were　
born　knowing　everything　their　parent　had；　so　no　knowledge　was　lost。

　I’d　lived　out　one　of　the　short　life　terms　of　the　species　and　then　left　with　no　desire　to　return。　The　amazing　
clarity　of　my　thoughts；　the　easy　answers　that　came　to　any　question　almost　without　effort；　the　march　and　
dance　of　numbers　were　no　substitute　for　emotion　and　color；　which　I　could　only　vaguely　understand　when　

　

　I　started　to　tell　Jamie　how　the　offensive　had　been　launched　here。　The　Spiders　were　our　best　
engineers—the　ships　they　made　for　us　danced　nimbly　and　undetectably　through　the　stars。　The　Spiders’　
bodies　were　almost　as　useful　as　their　minds：　four　long　legs　to　each　segment—from　which　they’d　earned　
their　nickname　on　this　planet—and　twelve…fingered　hands　on　each　leg。　These　six…jointed　fingers　were　as　
slender　and　strong　as　steel　threads；　capable　of　the　most　delicate　procedures。　About　the　mass　of　a　cow；　
but　short　and　lean；　the　Spiders　had　no　trouble　with　the　first　insertions。　They　were　stronger　than　humans；　
smarter　than　humans；　and　prepared；　which　the　humans　were　not。…

　I　stopped　short；　midsentence；　when　I　saw　the　crystalline　sparkle　on　Jamie’s　cheek。

　He　was　staring　straight　ahead　at　nothing；　his　lips　pressed　in　a　tight　line。　A　large　drop　of　salt　water　rolled　
slowly　down　the　cheek　closest　to　me。

　Idiot；Melanie　chastised　me。Didn’t　you　think　what　your　story　would　mean　to　him？

　Didn’tyouthink　of　warning　me　sooner？

　She　didn’t　answer。　No　doubt　she’d　been　as　caught　up　in　the　storytelling　as　I　was。

　“Jamie；”　I　murmured。　My　voice　was　thick。　The　sight　of　his　tear　had　done　strange　things　to　my　throat。　
“Jamie；　I’m　so　sorry。　I　wasn’t　thinking。”

　Jamie　shook　his　head。　“’S　okay。　I　asked。　I　wanted　to　know　how　it　happened。”　His　voice　was　gruff；　
trying　to　hide　the　pain。

　It　was　instinctive；　the　desire　to　lean　forward　and　wipe　that　tear　away。　I　tried　at　first　to　ignore　it；　I　was　not　
Melanie。　But　the　tear　hung　there；　motionless；　as　if　it　would　never　fall。　Jamie’s　eyes　stayed　fixed　on　the　
blank　wall；　and　his　lips　trembled。

　He　wasn’t　far　from　me。　I　stretched　my　arm　out　to　brush　my　fingers　against　his　cheek；　the　tear　spread　thin　
across　his　skin　and　disappeared。　Acting　on　instinct　again；　I　left　my　hand　against　his　warm　cheek；　cradling　
his　face。

　For　a　short　second；　he　pretended　to　ignore　me。

　Then　he　rolled　toward　me；　his　eyes　closed；　his　hands　reaching。　He　curled　into　my　side；　his　cheek　against　
the　hollow　of　my　shoulder；　where　it　had　once　fit　better；　and　sobbed。

　These　were　not　the　tears　of　a　child；　and　that　made　them　more　profound—made　it　more　sacred　and　
painful　that　he　would　cry　them　in　front　of　me。　This　was　the　grief　of　a　man　at　the　funeral　for　his　entire　
family。

　My　arms　wound　around　him；　not　fitting　as　easily　as　they　used　to；　and　I　cried；　too。

　“I’m　sorry；”　I　said　again　and　again。　I　apologized　for　everything　in　those　two　words。　That　we’d　ever　
found　this　place。　That　we’d　chosen　it。　That　I’d　been　the　one　to　take　his　sister。　That　I’d　brought　her　back　
here　and　hurt　him　again。　That　I’d　made　him　cry　today　with　my　insensitive　stories。　

　

　“I　know　I’ve　taught　you　better　than　that；　kid。”

　We　jumped　apart。　Jamie　lurched　to　his　feet；　but　I　curled　closer　to　the　ground；　cringing　into　the　wall。

　Jeb　leaned　down　and　picked　up　the　gun　we’d　both　forgotten　from　the　floor。　“You’ve　got　to　mind　a　gun　
better　than　this；　Jamie。”　His　tone　was　very　gentle—it　softened　the　criticism。　He　reached　out　to　tousle　
Jamie’s　shaggy　hair。

　Jamie　ducked　under　Jeb’s　hand；　his　face　scarlet　with　mortification。

　“Sorry；”　he　muttered；　and　turned　as　if　to　flee。　He　stopped　after　just　a　step；　though；　and　swiveled　back　to　
look　at　me。　“I　don’t　know　your　name；”　he　said。

　“They　called　me　Wanderer；”　I　whispered。

　“Wanderer？”

　I　nodded。

　He　nodded；　too；　then　hurried　away。　The　back　of　his　neck　was　still　red。

　When　he　was　gone；　Jeb　leaned　against　the　rock　and　slid　down　till　he　was　seated　where　Jamie　had　been。　
Like　Jamie；　he　kept　the　gun　cradled　in　his　lap。

　“That’s　a　real　interesting　name　you’ve　got　there；”　he　told　me。　He　seemed　to　be　back　to　his　chatty　mood。　
“Maybe　sometime　you’ll　tell　me　how　you　got　it。　Bet　that’s　a　good　story。　But　it’s　kind　of　a　mouthful；　don’t　
you　think？　Wanderer？”

　I　stared　at　him。

　“Mind　if　I　call　you　Wanda；　for　short？　It　flows　easier。”

　He　waited　this　time　for　a　response。　Finally；　I　shrugged。　It　didn’t　matter　to　me　whether　he　called　me　“kid”　
or　some　strange　human　nickname。　I　believed　it　was　meant　kindly。

　“Okay；　then；　Wanda。”　He　smiled；　pleased　at　his　invention。　“It’s　nice　to　have　a　handle　on　you。　Makes　me　
feel　like　we’re　old　friends。”

　He　grinned　that　huge；　cheek…stretching　grin；　and　I　couldn’t　help　grinning　back；　though　my　smile　was　
more　rueful　than　delighted。　He　was　supposed　to　be　my　enemy。　He　was　probably　insane。　And　hewas　my　
friend。　Not　that　he　wouldn’t　kill　me　if　things　turned　out　that　way；　but　he　wouldn’t　like　doing　it。　With　
humans；　what　more　could　you　ask　of　a　friend？　

　

　Cracked

　Jeb　put　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　looked　up　at　the　dark　ceiling；　his　face　thoughtful。　His　chatty　mood　
had　not　passed。

　“I’ve　wondered　a　lot　what　it’s　like—getting　caught；　you　know。　Saw　it　happen　more　than　once；　e　
close　a　few　times　myself。　What　would　it　be　like；　I　wondered。　Would　it　hurt；　having　something　put　in　your　
head？　I’ve　seen　it　done；　you　know。”

　My　eyes　widened　in　surprise；　but　he　wasn’t　looking　at　me。

　“Seems　like　you　all　use　some　kind　of　anesthetic；　but　that’s　just　a　guess。　Nobody　was　screaming　in　agony　
or　anything；　though；　so　it　couldn’t　be　too　torturous。”

　I　wrinkled　my　nose。　Torture。　No；　that　was　the　humans’　specialty。

　“Those　stories　you　were　telling　the　kid　were　real　interesting。”

　I　stiffened　and　he　laughed　lightly。　“Yeah；　I　was　listening。　Eavesdropping；　I’ll　admit　it。　I’m　not　sorry—it　
was　great　stuff；　and　you　won’t　talk　to　me　the　way　you　do　with　Jamie。　I　really　got　a　kick　out　of　those　bats　
and　the　plants　and　spiders。　Gives　a　man　lots　to　think　about。　Always　liked　to　read　crazy；　out…there　stuff；　
science　fiction　and　whatnot。　Ate　that　stuff　up。　And　the　kid’s　like　me—he’s　read　all　the　books　I’ve　got；　
two；　three　times　apiece。　Must　be　a　treat　for　him　to　get　some　new　stories。　Sure　is　for　me。　You’re　a　good　
storyteller。”

　I　kept　my　eyes　down；　but　I　felt　myself　softening；　losing　my　guard　a　bit。　Like　anyone　inside　these　
emotional　bodies；　I　was　a　sucker　for　flattery。

　“Everyone　here　thinks　you　hunted　us　out　to　turn　us　over　to　the　Seekers。”

　The　word　sent　a　shock　jolting　through　me。　My　jaw　stiffened　and　my　teeth　cut　my　tongue。　I　tasted　blood。

　“What　other　reason　could　there　be？”　he　went　on；　oblivious　to　my　reaction　or　ignoring　it。　“But　they’re　just　
trapped　in　fixed　notions；　I　think。　I’m　the　only　one　with　questions。…　I　mean；　what　kind　of　a　plan　was　that；　
to　wander　off　into　the　desert　without　any　way　to　get　back？”　He　chuckled。　“Wandering—guess　that’s　
your　specialty；　eh；　Wanda？”

　He　leaned　toward　me　and　nudged　me　with　one　elbow。　Wide　with　uncertainty；　my　eyes　flickered　to　the　
floor；　to　his　face；　and　back　to　the　floor。　He　laughed　again。

　“That　trek　was　just　a　few　steps　shy　of　a　successful　suicide；　in　my　opinion。　Definitely　not　a　Seeker’s　MO；　
if　you　know　what　I　mean。