[科幻]宿主-第81部分

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lifted　it；　silver　and　gleaming；　wet　with　blood　that　was　quickly　shed　from　the　smooth　casing；　and　cradled　it　
in　my　hand。

　It　was　beautiful。　The　soul　whose　name　I’d　never　known　billowed　like　a　silver　wave　in　my　hand…　a　
lovely　feathered　ribbon。

　I　couldn’t　hate　the　Seeker　in　this　form。　An　almost　maternal　love　swept　through　me。

　“Sleep　well；　little　one；”　I　whispered。

　I　turned　toward　the　faint　hum　of　the　cryotank；　just　to　my　left。　Jared　held　it　low　and　angled；　so　it　was　a　
simple　matter　for　me　to　ease　the　soul　into　the　shockingly　cold　air　that　gusted　from　the　opening。　I　let　it　slide　
into　the　small　space　and　then　carefully　relatched　the　lid。　

　

and　then　I　hugged　it　to　my　chest。　The　outside　of　the　tank　was　the　same　temperature　as　the　warm　room。　I　

cradled　it　to　my　body；　protective　as　any　mother。

　I　looked　back　at　the　stranger　on　the　table。　Doc　was　already　dust…ing　Smooth　over　the　sealed　wound。　

We　made　a　good　team：　one　attending　to　the　soul；　the　other　to　the　body。　Everyone　was　taken　care　of。

　Doc　looked　up　at　me；　his　eyes　full　of　exhilaration　and　wonder。　“Amazing；”　he　murmured。　“That　was　

incredible。”　
“Good　job；”　I　whispered　back。　
“When　do　you　think　she’ll　wake　up？”　Doc　asked。　
“That　depends　on　how　much　chloroform　she　inhaled。”　
“Not　much。”　
“And　if　she’s　still　there。　We’ll　have　to　wait　and　see。”　
Before　I　could　ask；　Jared　lifted　the　nameless　woman　tenderly　from　the　cot；　rolled　her　face…up；　and　laid　

her　on　another；　cleaner　resting　place。　This　tenderness　did　not　move　me。　This　tenderness　was　for　the　

human；　for　Melanie。…　
Doc　went　with　him；　checking　her　pulse；　peeking　under　her　lids。　He　shone　a　flashlight　into　her　

unconscious　eyes　and　watched　the　pupils　constrict。　No　light　reflected　back　to　blind　him。　He　and　Jared　

exchanged　a　long　glance。　
“She　really　did　it；”　Jared　said；　his　voice　low。　
“Yes；”　Doc　agreed。　
I　didn’t　hear　Jeb　sidle　up　next　to　me。　
“Pretty　slick；　kid；”　he　murmured。　
I　shrugged。　
“Feeling　a　smidge　conflicted？”　
I　didn’t　answer。　
“Yeah。　Me；　too；　hon。　Me；　too。”　
Aaron　and　Brandt　were　talking　behind　me；　their　voices　rising　with　excitement；　answering　each　other’s　

thoughts　before　the　questions　were　spoken。　
No　conflict　there。　
“Wait　till　the　others　hear！”　

　

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”　
“We　should　go　get　some　—”　
“Right　now；　I’m　ready　—”　
“Hold　up；”　Jeb　cut　Brandt　off。　“No　soul　snatching　until　that　cryotank　is　safely　on　its　way　into　outer　


space。　Right；　Wanda？”　
“Right；”　I　agreed　in　a　firmer　voice；　hugging　the　tank　tighter　to　my　chest。　
Brandt　and　Aaron　exchanged　sour　glances。　
I　was　going　to　need　more　allies。　Jared　and　Jeb　and　Doc　were　only　three；　though　certainly　the　most　


influential　three　here。　Still；　they　would　need　support。　
I　knew　what　this　meant。　
It　meant　talking　to　Ian。　
Others；　too；　of　course；　but　Ian　would　have　to　be　one　of　them。　My　heart　seemed　to　slump　lower　in　my　


chest；　to　curl　limply　in　on　itself。　I’d　done　many　things　I　had　not　wanted　to　do　since　joining　the　humans；　but　
I　couldn’t　remember　any　this　sharply　and　pointedly　painful。　Even　deciding　to　trade　my　life　for　the　
Seeker’s—that　was　a　huge；　vast　hurt；　a　wide　field　of　ache；　but　it　was　almost　manageable　because　it　was　
so　tied　up　in　the　bigger　picture。　Telling　Ian　goodbye　was　a　razor…sharp　piercing；　it　made　the　greater　vision　
hard　to　see。　I　wished　there　was　some　way；　any　way；　to　save　him　from　the　same　pain。　There　wasn’t。

　The　only　thing　worse　would　be　telling　Jared　goodbye。　That　one　would　burn　and　fester。　Because　he　
wouldn’t　feel　pain。　His　joy　would　far　outweigh　any　small　regret　he　might　feel　over　me。　
As　for　Jamie；　well；　I　wasn’t　planning　on　facing　that　goodbye　at　all。


　“Wanda！”　Doc’s　voice　was　sharp。　
I　hurried　to　the　bed　Doc　was　hovering　over。　Before　I　got　there；　I　could　see　the　tiny　olive　hand　fisting　and　
unfisting　where　it　hung　over　the　edge　of　the　cot。


　“Ah；”　the　Seeker’s　familiar　voice　moaned　from　the　human　body。　“Ah。”　
The　room　went　utterly　silent。　Everyone　looked　at　me；　as　if　I　were　the　expert　on　humans。　
I　elbowed　Doc；　my　hands　still　wrapped　around　the　tank。　“Talk　to　her；”　I　whispered。　
“Um…　Hello？　Can　you　hear　me…　miss？　You’re　safe　now。　Do　you　understand　me？”　
“Ah；”　she　groaned。　Her　eyes　fluttered　open；　focused　quickly　on　Doc’s　face。　There　was　no　disfort　in　


her　expression—the　No　Pain　would　be　making　her　feel　wonderful；　of　course。　Her　eyes　were　onyx　black。　
They　darted　around　the　room　until　she　found　me；　and　recognition　was　quickly　followed　by　a　scowl。　She　
looked　away；　back　to　Doc。　

　

　CHAPTER　53

　Condemned

　The　Seeker’s　host　body　was　named　Lacey；　a　dainty；　soft；　feminine　name。Lacey。　As　inappropriate　as　the　

size；　in　my　opinion。　Like　naming　a　pit　bull　Fluffy。

　Lacey　was　just　as　loud　as　the　Seeker—and　still　a　plainer。

　“You’ll　have　to　forgive　me　for　going　on　and　on；”　she　insisted；　allowing　us　no　other　options。　“I’ve　been　

shouting　away　in　there　for　years　and　never　getting　to　speak　for　myself。　I’ve　got　a　lot　to　say　all　stored　up。”

　How　lucky　for　us。　I　could　almost　make　myself　glad　that　I　was　leaving。

　In　answer　to　my　earlier　question　to　myself；　no；　the　face　was　not　less　repugnant　with　a　different　

awareness　behind　it。　Because　the　awareness　was　not　so　very　different；　in　the　end。

　“That’s　why　we　don’t　like　you；”　she　told　me　that　first　night；　making　no　change　from　the　present　tense　or　
the　plural　pronoun。　“When　she　realized　that　you　were　hearing　Melanie　just　the　way　she　was　hearing　me；　it　
made　her　frightened。　She　thought　you　might　guess。　I　was　her　deep；　dark　secret。”　A　grating　laugh。　“She　
couldn’t　make　me　shut　up。　That’s　why　she　became　a　Seeker；　because　she　was　hoping　to　figure　out　some　
way　to　better　deal　with　resistant　hosts。　And　then　she　requested　being　assigned　to　you；　so　she　could　
watch　how　you　did　it。　She　was　jealous　of　you；　isn’t　that　pathetic？　She　wanted　to　be　strong　like　you。　It　

gave　us　a　real　kick　when　we　thought　Melanie　had　won。　I　guess　that　didn’t　happen；　though。　I　guess　you　
did。　So　why　did　you　e　here？　Why　are　you　helping　the　rebels？”

　I　explained；　unwillingly；　that　Melanie　and　I　were　friends。　She　didn’t　like　that。

　“Why？”　she　demanded。

　“She’s　a　good　person。”

　“But　why　does　she　likeyou？　”

　Same　reason。

　“She　says；　for　the　same　reason。”

　Lacey　snorted。　“Got　her　brainwashed；　huh？”

　Wow；　she’s　worse　than　the　first　one。

　Yes；I　agreed。I　can　see　why　the　Seeker　was　so　obnoxious。　Can　you　imagine　having　that　in　your　
head　all　the　time？

　I　wasn’t　the　only　thing　Lacey　objected　to。

　“Do　you　have　anywhere　better　to　live　than　these　caves？　It’s　sodirty　here。　Isn’t　there　a　house　
somewhere；　maybe？　What　do　you　mean　we　have　to　share　rooms？　Chore　schedule？　I　don’t　understand。　I　

　

　Jeb　had　given　her　the　usual　tour　the　next　day；　trying　to　explain；　through　clenched　teeth；　the　way　we　all　
lived　here。　When　they’d　passed　me—eating　in　the　kitchen　with　Ian　and　Jamie—he　threw　me　a　look　that　
clearly　asked　why　I　hadn’t　let　Aaron　shoot　her　while　that　was　still　an　option。

　The　tour　was　more　crowded　than　mine。　Everyone　wanted　to　see　the　miracle　for　themselves。　It　didn’t　
even　seem　to　matter　to　most　of　them　that　she　was…　difficult。　She　was　wele。　More　than　wele。　
Again；　I　felt　a　little　of　that　bitter　jealousy。　But　that　was　silly。　She　was　human。　She　represented　hope。　She　
belonged　here。　She　would　be　here　long　after　I　was　gone。

　Lucky　you；Mel　whispered　sarcastically。

　Talking　to　Ian　and　Jamie　about　what　had　happened　was　not　as　difficult　and　painful　as　I’d　imagined。

　This　was　because　they　were；　for　different　reasons；　entirely　clueless。　Neither　grasped　that　this　new　
knowledge　meant　I　would　be　leaving。

　With　Jamie；　I　understood　why。　More　than　anyone　else；　he　had　accepted　me　and　Mel　as　the　package　
deal　we　were。　He　was　able；　with　his　young；　open　mind；　to　grasp　the　reality　of　our　dual　personalities。　He　
treated　us　like　two　people　rather　than　one。　Mel　was　so　real；　so　present　to　him。　The　same　way　she　was　to　
me。　He　didn’t　miss　her；　because　he　had　her。　He　didn’t　see　the　necessity　of　our　separation。

　I　wasn’t　sure　why　Ian　didn’t　understand。　Was　he　too　caught　up　in　the　potential？　The　changes　this　would　
mean　for　the　human　society　here？　They　were　all　boggled　by　the　idea　that　getting　caught—the　end—was　
no　longer　a　finality。　There　was　a　way　to　e　back。　It　seemed　natural　to　him　that　I　had　acted　to　save　the　
Seeker；　it　was　consistent　with　his　idea　of　my　personality。　Maybe　that　was　as　far　as　he’d　considered　it。

　Or　maybe　Ian　just　didn’t　have　a　chance　to　think　it　all　through；　to　see　the　glaring　eventuality；　before　he　
was　distracted。　Distracted　and　enraged。

　“I　should　have　killed　him　years　ago；”　Ian　ranted　as　we　packed　what　we　needed　for　our　raid。　My　final　
raid；　I　tried　not　to　dwell　on　that。　“No；　our　mother　should　have　drowned　him　at　birth！”

　“He’s　your　brother。”

　“I　don’t　know　why　you　keep　saying　that。　Are　you　trying　to　make　me　feel　worse？”

　Everyone　was　furious　with　Kyle。　Jared’s　lips　were　welded　into　a　tight　line　of　rage；　and　Jeb　stroked　his　
gun　more　than　usual。

　Jeb　had　been　excited；　planning　to　join　us　on　this　landmark　raid；　his　first　since　I’d　e　to　live　here。　He　
was　particularly　keen　to　see　the　shuttle　field　up　close。　But　now；　with　Kyle　putting　us　all　in　danger；　he　felt　
he　had　to　stay　behind　just　in　case。　Not　getting　his　way　put　Jeb　in　a　foul　mood。

　“Stuck　behind　with　that　creature；”　he　muttered　to　himself；　rubbing　the　rifle　barrel　again—he　wasn’t　
getting　any　happier　about　the　new　member　of　his　munity。　“Missin’　all　the　fun。”　He　spit　on　the　floor。

　We　all　knew　where　Kyle　was。　As　soon　as　he’d　grasped　how　the　Seeker…worm　had　magically　
transformed　into　the　Lacey…human　in　the　night；　he’d　slipped　out　the　back。　I’d　been　expecting　him　to　lead　
the　party　demanding　the　Seeker’s　death　（I　kept　the　cryotank　always　cradled　in　my　arms；　I　slept　lightly；　

　

　Jared　was　the　one　to　realize　the　jeep　was　gone。　And　Ian　had　been　the　one　to　link　the　two　absences。

　“He’s　gone　after　Jodi；”　Ian　had　groaned。　“What　else？”

　Hope　and　despair。　I　had　given　them　one；　Kyle　the　other。　Would　he　betray　them　all　before　they　could　
even　make　use　of　the　hope？

　Jared　and　Jeb　wanted　to　put　off　the　raid　until　we　knew　if　Kyle　was　successful—it　would　take　him　three　
days　under　the　best　circumstances；if　his　Jodi　still　lived　in　Oregon。　If　he　could　find　her　there。

　There　was　another　place；　another　cave　we　could　evacuate　to。　A　much　smaller　place；　with　no　water；　so　
we　couldn’t　hide　there　long。　They’d　debated　whether　they　should　move　everyone　now　or　wait。

　But　I　was　in　a　hurry。　I’d　seen　the　way　the　others　eyed　the　silver　tank　in　my　arms。　I’d　heard　the　whispers。　
The　longer　I　kept　the　Seeker　here；　the　better　chance　that　someone　would　kill　her。　Having　met　Lacey；　I’d　
begun　to　pity　the　Seeker。　She　deserved　a　mild；　pleasant　new　life　with　the　Flowers。

　Ironically　enough；　Ian　was　the　one　who　took　my　side　and　helped　hurry　the　raid　along。　He　still　didn’t　see　
where　this　would　lead。

　But　I　was　grateful　that　he　helped　me　convince　Jared　there　was　time　to　make　the　raid　and　get　back　
before　a　decision　was　made　about　Kyle。　Grateful　also　that　he　was　back　to　playing　bodyguard。　I　knew　I　
could　trust　Ian　with　the　shiny　cryotank　more　than　anyone　else。　He　was　the　only　one　I　would　let　hold　it　
when　I　needed　my　arms。　He　was　the　only　one　who　could　see；　in　the　shape　of　that　small　container；　a　life　
to　be　protected。　He　could　think　of　that　shape　as　a　friend；　something　that　could　be　loved。　He　was　the　best　
ally　of　all。　I　was　so　grateful　for　Ian；　and　so　grateful　for　the　obliviousness　that　saved　him；　for　the　moment；　
from　pain。

　We　had　to　be　fast；　in　case　Kyle　ruined　everything。　We　went　to　Phoenix　again；　to　one　of　the　many　
munities　that　spun　out　from　the　hub。　There　was　a　big　shuttle　field　to　the　southeast；　in　a　town　called　
Mesa；　with　several　Healing　facilities　nearby。　That　was　what　I　wanted—I　would　give　them　as　much　as　I　
could　before　I　left。　If　we　took　a　Healer；　then　we　might　be　able　to　preserve　the　Healer’s　memory　in　the　
host　body。　Someone　who　understood　all　the　medicines　and　their　uses。　Someone　who　knew　the　best　
ways　to　get　to　unattended　stashes。　Doc　would　love　that。　I　could　imagine　all　the　questions　he’d　be　dying　
to　ask。

　First　the　shuttle　field。

　I　was　sad　that　Jeb　was　missing　this；　but　he’d　have　so　many　other　chances　in　the　future。　Though　it　was　
dark；　a　long　line　of　small　snub…nosed　shuttles　drifted　in　to　land　while　others　took　flight　in　an　endless　
stream。

　I　drove　the　old　van　while　the　others　rode　in　the　back—Ian　in　charge　of　the　tank；　of　course。　I　circled　the　
field；　staying　clear　of　the　busy　local　terminal。　It　was　easy　to　spot　the　vast；　sleek　white　vessels　that　left　the　
planet。　They　did　not　depart　with　the　frequency　of　the　smaller　ships。　All　I　saw　were　docked；　none　
preparing　to　leave　immediately。

　“Everything’s　labeled；”　I　reported　to　the　others；　invisible　in　the　dark　back。　“Now；　this　is　important。　

　

　I　drove　slowly；　close　to　the　crafts。

　“This　will　be　easy。　They’ve　got　all　kinds　of　delivery　vehicles　out　here；　and　we　blend　in。　Oh！　I　can　see　a　
tank　truck—it’s　just　like　the　one　we　saw　them　unloading　at　the　hospital；　Jared。　There’s　a　man　looking　
over　the　stacks…　He’s　putting　them　onto　a　hover　cart。　He’s　going　to　load　them…”　I　drove　even　slower；　
trying　to　get　a　good　look。　“Yes；　ontothis　ship。　Right　into　the　open　hatch。　I’ll　circle　back　and　make　my　
move　when　he’s　in　the　ship。”　I　pulled　past；　examining　the　scene　in　my　mirrors。　There　was　a　lit　sign　beside　
the　tube　that　connected　the　head　of　the　ship　to　the　terminal。　I　smiled　as　I　read　the　words　backward。　This　
ship　was　going　to　the　Flowers。　It　was　meant　to　be。

　I　made　a　slow　turn　as　the　man　disappeared　into　the　hull　of　the　ship。

　“Get　ready；”　I　whispered　as　I　pulled　into　the　shadow　made　by　the　cylindrical　wing　of　the　next　enormous　
ship　over。　I　was　only　three　or　four　yards　from　the　tank　truck。　There　were　a　few　technicians　working　near　
the　front　of　the　Flower…bound　vessel　and　others；　farther　away；　out　on　the　old　runway。　I　would　be　just　
another　figure　in　the　night。

　I　cut　the　engine　and　hopped　down　from　the　driver’s　seat；　trying　to　look　casual；　like　I　was　only　doing　my　
job。　I　went　around　to　the　back　of　the　van　and　opened　the　door　a　crack。　The　tank　was　right　at　the　edge；　
the　light　on　top　glowing　dull　red；　signifying　that　it　was　occupied。　I　lifted　it　carefully　and　closed　the　door。

　I　kept　up　an　easy　rolling　pace　as　I　walked　to　the　open　end　of　the　truck。　But　my　breathing　sped　up。　This　
felt　more　dangerous　than　the　hospital；　and　that　worried　me。　Could　I　expect　my　humans　to　risk　their　lives　
this　way？

　I’ll　be　there。　I’ll　do　it　myself；　just　like　you　would。　On　the　off　chance　you　get　your　way；　that　is。

　Thanks；　Mel。

　I　had　to　force　myself　not　to　keep　glancing　over　my　shoulder　at　the　open　hatch　where　the　man　had　
disappeared。　I　placed　the　tank　gently　atop　the　closest　column　in　the　truck。　The　addition；　one　among　
hundreds；　was　not　noticeable。

　“Goodbye；”　I　whispered。　“Better　luck　with　your　next　ho