[科幻]宿主-第39部分

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was　not　the　white　brilliance　of　the　biggest　cavern。　It　was　muted；　pale　and　silvery。　But　the　narrow　crevice　
we’d　had　to　pass　through　seemed　the　same。…　It　wasn’t　until　I　was　inside　the　giant；　echoing　space　that　I　
realized　what　caused　the　difference。

　It　was　nighttime；　the　light　that　shone　dimly　from　above　mimicked　the　light　of　the　moon　rather　than　the　
sun。　I　used　the　less…blinding　illumination　to　examine　the　ceiling；　trying　to　ferret　out　its　secret。　High；　so　very　
high　above　me；　a　hundred　tiny　moons　shone　their　diluted　light　toward　the　dim；　distant　floor。　The　little　
moons　were　scattered　in　patternless　clusters；　some　farther　away　than　others。　I　shook　my　head。　Even　
though　I　could　look　directly　at　the　light　now；　I　still　didn’t　understand　it。

　“C’mon；”　Jared　ordered　angrily　from　several　paces　ahead。

　I　flinched　and　hurried　to　follow。　I　was　sorry　I’d　let　my　attention　wander。　I　could　see　how　much　it　irritated　
him　to　have　to　speak　to　me。

　I　didn’t　expect　the　help　of　a　flashlight　when　we　reached　the　room　with　the　rivers；　and　I　didn’t　receive　it。　
It　was　dimly　lit　now；　too；　like　the　big　cave；　but　with　only　twenty…odd　miniature　moons　here。　Jared　
clenched　his　jaw　and　stared　at　the　ceiling　while　I　walked　hesitantly　into　the　room　with　the　inky　pool。　I　
guessed　that　if　I　stumbled　into　the　fierce　underground　hot　spring　and　disappeared；　Jared　would　probably　
see　it　as　a　kind　intervention　of　fate。

　I　think　he　would　be　sad；Melanie　disagreed　as　I　edged　my　way　around　the　black　bathing　room；　hugging　
the　wall。If　we　fell。　

　

　Because　he　doesn’t　know　you；Melanie　whispered；　and　then　faded　away　as　if　she　were　suddenly　

exhausted。

　I　stood　frozen　where　I　was；　surprised。　I　wasn’t　sure；　but　it　felt　as　though　Melanie　had　just　given　me　a　
pliment。

　“Move　it；”　Jared　barked　from　the　other　room。

　I　hurried　as　fast　as　the　darkness　and　my　fear　would　allow。

　When　we　returned；　Jeb　was　waiting　by　the　blue　lamp；　at　his　feet　were　two　lumpy　cylinders　and　two　

uneven　rectangles。　I　hadn’t　noticed　them　before。　Perhaps　he’d　gone　to　get　them　while　we　were　away。

　“Are　you　sleeping　here　tonight　or　am　I？”　Jeb　asked　Jared　in　a　casual　tone。

　Jared　looked　at　the　shapes　by　Jeb’s　feet。

　“I　am；”　he　answered　curtly。　“And　I　only　need　one　bedroll。”

　Jeb　raised　a　thick　eyebrow。

　“It’s　not　one　of　us；　Jeb。　You　left　this　on　me—so　butt　out。”

　“She’s　not　an　animal；　either；　kid。　And　you　wouldn’t　treat　a　dog　this　way。”

　Jared　didn’t　answer。　His　teeth　ground　together。

　“Never　figured　you　for　a　cruel　man；”　Jeb　said　softly。　But　he　picked　up　one　of　the　cylinders；　put　his　arm　

through　a　strap；　and　slung　it　over　his　shoulder；　then　stuffed　one　rectangle—a　pillow—under　his　arm。

　“Sorry；　honey；”　he　said　as　he　passed　me；　patting　my　shoulder。

　“Cut　that　out！”　Jared　growled。

　Jeb　shrugged　and　ambled　away。　Before　he　was　out　of　sight；　I　hurried　to　disappear　into　my　cell；　I　hid　in　

its　darkest　reaches；　coiling　myself　into　a　tight　ball　that　I　hoped　was　too　small　to　see。

　Instead　of　lurking　silently　and　invisibly　in　the　outside　tunnel；　Jared　spread　his　bedroll　directly　in　front　of　
the　mouth　of　my　prison。　He　plumped　his　pillow　a　few　times；　possibly　trying　to　rub　it　in　that　he　had　one。　
He　lay　down　on　the　mat　and　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　That　was　the　piece　of　him　that　I　could　see　
through　the　hole—just　his　crossed　arms　and　half　of　his　stomach。

　His　skin　was　that　same　dark　gold　tan　that　had　haunted　my　dreams　for　the　last　half　year。　It　was　very　
strange　to　have　that　piece　of　my　dream　in　solid　reality　not　five　feet　from　me。　Surreal。

　“You　won’t　be　able　to　sneak　past　me；”　he　warned。　His　voice　was　softer　than　before—sleepy。　“If　you　
try…”　He　yawned。　“Iwill　kill　you。”　

　

　I　could　tell　when　he　was　deeply　asleep　because　he　started　twitching　the　way　Melanie　remembered　he　
occasionally　did。　He　only　slept　so　restlessly　when　he　was　upset。　I　watched　his　fingers　clench　and　
unclench；　and　I　wondered　if　he　was　dreaming　that　they　were　wrapped　around　my　neck。

　The　days　that　followed—perhaps　a　week　of　them；　it　was　impossible　to　keep　track—were　very　quiet。　
Jared　was　like　a　silent　wall　between　me　and　everything　else　in　the　world；　good　or　bad。　There　was　no　
sound　but　that　of　my　own　breathing；　my　own　movements；　there　were　no　sights　but　the　black　cave　around　
me；　the　circle　of　dull　light；　the　familiar　tray　with　the　same　rations；　the　brief；　stolen　glimpses　of　Jared；　there　
were　no　touches　but　the　pitted　rocks　against　my　skin；　there　were　no　tastes　but　the　bitter　water；　the　hard　
bread；　the　bland　soup；　the　woody　roots；　over　and　over　again。

　It　was　a　very　strange　bination：　constant　terror；　persistent　aching　physical　disfort；　and　
excruciating　monotony。　Of　the　three；　the　killer　boredom　was　the　hardest　to　take。　My　prison　was　a　
sensory…deprivation　chamber。

　Together；　Melanie　and　I　worried　that　we　were　going　to　go　mad。

　We　both　hear　a　voice　in　our　head；she　pointed　out。That’s　never　a　good　sign。

　We’re　going　to　forget　how　to　speak；I　worried。How　long　has　it　been　since　anyone　talked　to　us？

　Four　days　ago　you　thanked　Jeb　for　bringing　us　food；　and　he　said　you　were　wele。　Well；　I　think　
it　was　four　days　ago。　Four　long　sleeps　ago；　at　least。She　seemed　to　sigh。Stop　chewing　your　nails—it　
took　me　years　to　break　that　habit。

　But　the　long；　scratchy　nails　bothered　me。I　don’t　really　think　we　need　to　worry　about　bad　habits　in　
the　long　term。

　Jared　didn’t　let　Jeb　bring　food　again。　Instead；　someone　brought　it　to　the　end　of　the　hall　and　Jared　
retrieved　it。　I　got　the　same　thing—bread；　soup；　and　vegetables—twice　every　day。　Sometimes　there　were　
extra　things　for　Jared；　packaged　foods　with　brand　names　I　recognized—Red　Vines；　Snickers；　
Pop…Tarts。　I　tried　to　imagine　how　the　humans　had　gotten　their　hands　on　these　delicacies。

　I　didn’t　expect　him　to　share—of　course　not—but　I　wondered　sometimes　if　he　thought　I　was　hoping　he　
would。　One　of　my　few　entertainments　was　hearing　him　eat　his　treats；　because　he　always　did　so　
ostentatiously；　perhaps　rubbing　it　in　the　way　he　had　with　the　pillow　that　first　night。

　Once；　Jared　slowly　ripped　open　a　bag　of　Cheetos—showy　about　it　as　usual—and　the　rich　smell　of　fake　
powdered　cheese　rolled　through　my　cave…　delicious；　irresistible。　He　ate　one　slowly；　letting　me　hear　each　
distinct　crunch。

　My　stomach　growled　loudly；　and　I　laughed　at　myself。　I　hadn’t　laughed　in　so　long；　I　tried　to　remember　the　
last　time　and　couldn’t—just　that　strange　bout　of　macabre　hysteria　in　the　desert；　which　really　didn’t　count　

　

　But　this　seemed　hilarious　to　me　for　some　reason—my　stomach　yearning　after　that　one　small　
Cheeto—and　I　laughed　again。　A　sign　of　madness；　surely。

　I　didn’t　know　how　my　reaction　offended　him；　but　he　got　up　and　disappeared。　After　a　long　moment；　I　
could　hear　him　eating　the　Cheetos　again；　but　from　farther　away。　I　peeked　out　of　the　hole　to　see　that　he　
was　sitting　in　the　shadows　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　his　back　to　me。　I　pulled　my　head　inside；　afraid　he　
might　turn　and　catch　me　watching。　From　then　on；　he　stayed　down　at　that　end　of　the　hall　as　much　as　
possible。　Only　at　night　did　he　stretch　out　in　front　of　my　prison。

　Twice　a　day—or　rather　twice　a　night；　as　he　never　took　me　when　the　others　were　about—I　got　to　walk　
to　the　room　with　the　rivers；　it　was　a　highlight；　despite　the　terror；　as　it　was　the　only　time　I　was　not　hunched　
into　the　unnatural　shapes　my　small　cave　forced　on　me。　Each　time　I　had　to　crawl　back　inside　was　harder　

than　the　last。

　Three　times　that　week；　always　during　the　sleeping　hours；　someone　came　to　check　on　us。

　The　first　time　it　was　Kyle。

　Jared’s　sudden　lunge　to　his　feet　woke　me。　“Get　out　of　here；”　he　warned；　holding　the　gun　ready。

　“Just　checking；”　Kyle　said。　His　voice　was　far　away　but　loud　and　rough　enough　that　I　was　sure　it　was　not　

his　brother。　“Someday　you　might　not　be　here。　Someday　you　might　sleep　too　soundly。”

　Jared’s　only　answer　was　to　cock　the　gun。

　I　heard　Kyle’s　laughter　trailing　behind　him　as　he　left。

　The　other　two　times　I　didn’t　know　who　it　was。　Kyle　again；　or　maybe　Ian；　or　maybe　someone　whose　
name　I　hadn’t　learned。　All　I　knew　was　that　twice　more　I　was　woken　by　Jared　jumping　to　his　feet　with　the　
gun　pointed　at　the　intruder。　No　more　words　were　spoken。　Whoever　wasjust　checking　didn’t　bother　to　
make　conversation。　When　they　were　gone；　Jared　went　back　to　sleep　quickly。　It　took　me　longer　to　quiet　
my　heart。

　The　fourth　time　was　something　new。

　I　was　not　quite　asleep　when　Jared　started　awake；　rolling　to　his　knees　in　a　swift　movement。　He　came　up　
with　the　gun　in　his　hands　and　a　curse　on　his　lips。

　“Easy；”　a　voice　murmured　from　the　distance。　“I　e　in　peace。”

　“Whatever　you’re　selling；　I’m　not　buying；”　Jared　growled。

　“I　just　want　to　talk。”　The　voice　came　closer。　“You’re　buried　down　here；　missing　the　important　

discussions。…　We　miss　your　take　on　things。”

　“I’m　sure；”　Jared　said　sarcastically。

　“Oh；　put　the　gun　down。　If　I　was　planning　to　fight　you；　I　would　have　e　with　four　guys　this　time。”　

　

　My　neck　ached；　seeming　to　prehend　that　the　hands　that　had　crushed　and　bruised　it　were　very　close　
by。

　“He’s　still　fuming　about　his　nose；”　Ian　said。　“Oh；　well—it’s　not　the　first　time　it’s　been　broken。　I’ll　tell　him　
you　said　you　were　sorry。”

　“I’m　not。”

　“I　know。　No　one　is　ever　sorry　for　hitting　Kyle。”

　They　laughed　quietly　together；　there　was　a　sense　of　camaraderie　in　their　amusement　that　seemed　wildly　
out　of　place　while　Jared　held　a　gun　loosely　pointed　in　Ian’s　direction。　But　then；　the　bonds　that　were　
forged　in　this　desperate　place　must　have　been　very　strong。　Thicker　than　blood。

　Ian　sat　down　on　the　mat　next　to　Jared。　I　could　see　his　profile　in　silhouette；　a　black　shape　against　the　blue　
light。　I　noticed　that　his　nose　was　perfect—straight；　aquiline；　the　kind　of　nose　that　I’d　seen　in　pictures　of　
famous　sculptures。　Did　that　mean　that　others　found　him　more　bearable　than　the　brother　whose　nose　was　
often　broken？　Or　that　he　was　better　at　ducking？

　“So　what　do　you　want；　Ian？　Not　just　an　apology　for　Kyle；　I　imagine。”

　“Did　Jeb　tell　you？”

　“I　don’t　know　what　you’re　talking　about。”

　“They’ve　given　up　the　search。　Even　the　Seekers。”

　Jared　didn’t　ment；　but　I　could　feel　the　sudden　tension　in　the　air　around　him。

　“We’ve　been　keeping　a　close　watch　for　some　change；　but　they　never　seemed　overly　anxious。　The　search　
never　strayed　from　the　area　where　we　abandoned　the　car；　and　for　the　past　few　days　they　were　clearly　
looking　for　a　body　rather　than　a　survivor。　Then　two　nights　ago　we　caught　a　lucky　break—the　search　
party　left　some　trash　in　the　open；　and　a　pack　of　coyotes　raided　their　base　camp。　One　ofthem　was　
ing　back　late　and　surprised　the　animals。　The　coyotes　attacked　and　dragged　the　Seeker　a　good　
hundred　yards　into　the　desert　before　the　rest　of　them　heard　its　screams　and　came　to　the　rescue。　The　
other　Seekers　were　armed；　of　course。　They　scared　the　coyotes　off　easily；　and　the　victim　wasn’t　seriously　
hurt；　but　the　event　seems　to　have　answered　any　questions　they　might　have　had　about　what　happened　to　
our　guest　here。”

　I　wondered　how　they　were　able　to　spy　on　the　Seekers　who　searched　for　me—to　see　so　much。　I　felt　
strangely　exposed　by　the　idea。　I　didn’t　like　the　picture　in　my　head：　the　humans　invisible；　watching　the　
souls　they　hated。　The　thought　made　the　skin　on　the　back　of　my　neck　prickle。

　“So　they　packed　up　and　left。　The　Seekers　gave　up　the　search。　All　the　volunteers　went　home。　No　one　is　
looking　for　it。”　His　profile　turned　toward　me；　and　I　hunched　down；　hoping　it　was　too　dark　to　see　me　in　
here—that；　like　his　face；　I　would　appear　as　only　a　black　shape。　“I　imagine　it’s　been　declared　officially　

　

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who’ll　stand　still　long　enough　to　hear　it。”　
Jared　grumbled　something　incoherent；　I　could　only　pick　out　Jeb’s　name。　Then　he　inhaled　a　sharp　breath；　
blew　it　out；　and　said；　“All　right；　then。　I　guess　that’s　the　end　of　it。”


　“That’s　what　it　looks　like。”　Ian　hesitated　for　a　moment　and　then　added；　“Except…　Well；　it’s　probably　
nothing　at　all。”　
Jared　tensed　again；　he　didn’t　like　having　his　intelligence　edited。　“Go　on。”　
“No　one　but　Kyle　thinks　much　of　it；　and　you　know　how　Kyle　is。”


　Jared　grunted　his　assent　to　that。　
“You’ve　got　the　best　instincts　for　this　kind　of　thing；　I　wanted　your　opinion。　That’s　why　I’m　here；　taking　
my　life　into　my　hands　to　infiltrate　the　restricted　area；”　Ian　said　dryly；　and　then　his　voice　was　utterly　serious　
again。　“You　see；　there’s　this　one…　a　Seeker；　no　doubt　about　that—it　packs　a　Glock。”


　It　took　me　a　second　to　understand　the　word　he　used。　It　wasn’t　a　familiar　part　of　Melanie’s　vocabulary。　
When　I　understood　that　he　was　talking　about　a　kind　of　gun；　the　wistful；　envious　tone　in　his　voice　made　
me　feel　slightly　ill。


　“Kyle　was　the　first　to　notice　how　this　one　stood　out。　It　didn’t　seem　important　to　the　rest—certainly　not　
part　of　the　decision…making　process。　Oh；　it　had　suggestions　enough；　from　what　we　could　see；　but　no　one　
seemed　to　listen　to　it。　Wish　we　could’ve　heard　what　it　was　saying。…”


　My　skin　prickled　anxiously　again。　
“Anyway；”　Ian　continued；　“when　they　called　off　the　search；　this　one　wasn’t　happy　with　the　decision。　You　
know　how　the　parasites　are　always　so…　verypleasant？　This　was　weird—it’s　the　closest　I’ve　ever　seen　
them　e　to　an　argument。　Not　a　real　argument；　because　none　of　the　others　argued　back；　but　the　
unhappy　one　sure　looked　like　it　was　arguing　withthem。　The　core　group　of　Seekers　disregarded　


it—they’re　all　gone。”　
“But　the　unhappy　one？”　Jared　asked。　
“It　got　in　a　car　and　drove　halfway　to　Phoenix。　Then　it　drove　back　to　Tucson。　Then　it　drove　west　again。”　
“Still　searching。”　
“Or　very　confused。　It　stopped　at　that　convenience　store　by　the　peak。　Talked　to　the　parasite　that　worked　

there；　though　that　one　had　already　been　questioned。”　
“Huh；”　Jared　grunted。　He　was　interested　now；　concentrating　on　the　puzzle。　
“Then　it　went　for　a　hike　up　the　peak—stupid　little　thing。　Had　to　be　burning　alive；　wearing　black　from　

head　to　toe。”　
A　spasm　rocked　through　my　body；　I　found　myself　off　the　floor；　cringing　against　the　back　wall　of　my　cell。　
My　hands　flew　up　instinctively　to　protect　my　face。　I　heard　a　hiss　echo　through　the　small　space；　and　only　

　

　“What　wasthat？　”　Ian　asked；　his　voice　shocked。

　I　peeked　through　my　fingers　to　see　both　of　their　faces　leaning　through　the　hole　toward　me。　Ian’s　was　

black；　but　part　of　Jared’s　was　lit；　his　features　hard　as　stone。

　I　wanted　to　be　still；　invisible；　but　tremors　I　couldn’t　control　were　shaking　violently　down　my　spine。

　Jared　leaned　away　and　came　back　with　the　lamp　in　his　hands。

　“Look　at　its　eyes；”　Ian　muttered。　“It’s　frightened。”

　I　could　see　both　their　expressions　now；　but　I　looked　only　at　Jared。　His　gaze　was　tightly　focused　on　me；　

calculating。　I　guessed　he　was　thinking　through　what　Ian　had　said；　looking　for　the　trigger　to　my　behavior。

　My　body　wouldn’t　stop　shaking。

　She’ll　never　give　up；Melanie　moaned。

　I　know；　I　kn