[科幻]宿主-第32部分

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them？”

　“Luckily；　the　host　was　unable　to　stay　conscious　long　enough　to　inflict　real　damage。　Kevin　was　relocated；　
into　an　immature　host　this　time。　The　troublesome　host　was　in　poor　repair；　and　it　was　decided　there　
wasn’t　much　point　in　saving　him。

　“Kevin　is　seven　human　years　old　now　and　perfectly　normal…　aside　from　the　fact　that　he　kept　the　name　
Kevin；　that　is。　His　guardians　are　taking　great　care　that　he　is　heavily　exposed　to　music；　and　that　is　ing　
along　well。…”　The　last　was　added　as　if　it　were　good　news—news　that　could　somehow　cancel　out　the　
rest。

　“Why？”　I　cleared　my　throat　so　that　my　voice　could　gain　some　volume。　“Why　have　these　risks　not　been　
shared？”

　“Actually；”　the　Seeker　broke　in；　“it　is　very　clearly　stated　in　all　recruitment　propaganda　that　assimilating　
the　remaining　adult　human　hosts　is　much　more　challenging　than　assimilating　a　child。　An　immature　host　is　
highly　remended。”

　“The　wordchallenging　does　not　quite　cover　Kevin’s　story；”　I　whispered。

　“Yes；　well；　you　preferred　to　ignore　the　remendation。”　She　held　up　her　hands　in　a　peacemaking　
gesture　when　my　body　tensed；　causing　the　stiff　fabric　on　the　narrow　bed　to　crackle　softly。　“Not　that　I　
blame　you。　Childhood　is　extraordinarily　tedious。　And　you　are　clearly　not　the　average　soul。　I　have　every　
confidence　that　this　is　well　within　your　abilities　to　handle。　This　is　just　another　host。　I’m　sure　you　will　have　
full　access　and　control　shortly。”

　By　this　point　in　my　observations　of　the　Seeker；　I　was　surprised　that　she’d　had　the　patience　to　wait　for　
any　delay；　even　my　personal　acclimatization。　I　sensed　her　disappointment　in　my　lack　of　information；　and　it　
brought　back　some　of　the　unfamiliar　feelings　of　anger。　

　

　She　stiffened。　“I’m　no　skipper。”

　My　eyebrows　pulled　up　automatically。

　“Another　nickname；”　the　Healer　explained。　“For　those　who　do　not　plete　a　life　term　in　their　host。”

　I　nodded　in　understanding。　We’d　had　a　name　for　it　on　my　other　worlds。　On　no　world　was　it　smiled　
upon。　So　I　quit　quizzing　the　Seeker　and　gave　her　what　I　could。

　“Her　name　was　Melanie　Stryder。　She　was　born　in　Albuquerque；　New　Mexico。　She　was　in　Los　Angeles　
when　the　occupation　became　known　to　her；　and　she　hid　in　the　wilderness　for　a　few　years　before　
finding…　Hmmm。　Sorry；　I’ll　try　that　one　again　later。　The　body　has　seen　twenty　years。　She　drove　to　
Chicago　from…”　I　shook　my　head。　“There　were　several　stages；　not　all　of　them　alone。　The　vehicle　was　
stolen。　She　was　searching　for　a　cousin　named　Sharon；　whom　she　had　reason　to　hope　was　still　human。　
She　neither　found　nor　contacted　anyone　before　she　was　spotted。　But…”　I　struggled；　fighting　against　
another　blank　wall。　“I　think…　I　can’t　be　sure…　I　think　she　left　a　note…　somewhere。”

　“So　she　expected　someone　would　look　for　her？”　the　Seeker　asked　eagerly。

　“Yes。　She　will　be…　missed。　If　she　does　not　rendezvous　with…”　I　gritted　my　teeth；　truly　fighting　now。　
The　wall　was　black；　and　I　could　not　tell　how　thick　it　was。　I　battered　against　it；　sweat　beading　on　my　
forehead。　The　Seeker　and　the　Healer　were　very　quiet；　allowing　me　to　concentrate。

　I　tried　thinking　of　something　else—the　loud；　unfamiliar　noises　the　engine　of　the　car　had　made；　the　jittery　
rush　of　adrenaline　every　time　the　lights　of　another　vehicle　drew　near　on　the　road。　I　already　had　this；　and　
nothing　fought　me。　I　let　the　memory　carry　me　along；　let　it　skip　over　the　cold　hike　through　the　city　under　
the　sheltering　darkness　of　night；　let　it　wind　its　way　to　the　building　where　they’d　found　me。

　Not　me；her。　My　body　shuddered。

　“Don’t　overextend　—”　the　Healer　began。

　The　Seeker　shushed　him。

　I　let　my　mind　dwell　on　the　horror　of　discovery；　the　burning　hatred　of　the　Seekers　that　overpowered　
almost　everything　else。　The　hatred　was　evil；　it　was　pain。　I　could　hardly　bear　to　feel　it。　But　I　let　it　run　its　
course；　hoping　it　would　distract　the　resistance；　weaken　the　defenses。

　I　watched　carefully　as　she　tried　to　hide　and　then　knew　she　could　not。　A　note；　scratched　on　a　piece　of　
debris　with　a　broken　pencil。　Shoved　hastily　under　a　door。　Not　just　any　door。

　“The　pattern　is　the　fifth　door　along　the　fifth　hall　on　the　fifth　floor。　Her　munication　is　there。”

　The　Seeker　had　a　small　phone　in　her　hand；　she　murmured　rapidly　into　it。

　“The　building　was　supposed　to　be　safe；”　I　continued。　“They　knew　it　was　condemned。　She　doesn’t　know　
how　she　was　discovered。　Did　they　find　Sharon？”　

　

　The　question　was　not　mine。

　The　question　wasn’t　mine；　but　it　flowed　naturally　through　my　lips　as　if　it　were。　The　Seeker　did　not　notice　
anything　amiss。

　“The　cousin？　No；　they　found　no　other　human；”　she　answered；　and　my　body　relaxed　in　response。　“This　
host　was　spotted　entering　the　building。　Since　the　building　was　known　to　be　condemned；　the　citizen　who　
observed　her　was　concerned。　He　called　us；　and　we　watched　the　building　to　see　if　we　could　catch　more　
than　one；　and　then　moved　in　when　that　seemed　unlikely。　Can　you　find　the　rendezvous　point？”

　I　tried。

　So　many　memories；　all　of　them　so　colorful　and　sharp。　I　saw　a　hundred　places　I’d　never　been；　heard　their　
names　for　the　first　time。　A　house　in　Los　Angeles；　lined　with　tall　fronded　trees。　A　meadow　in　a　forest；　with　
a　tent　and　a　fire；　outside　Winslow；　Arizona。　A　deserted　rocky　beach　in　Mexico。　A　cave；　the　entrance　
guarded　by　sheeting　rain；　somewhere　in　Oregon。　Tents；　huts；　rude　shelters。　As　time　went　on；　the　names　
grew　less　specific。　She　did　not　know　where　she　was；　nor　did　she　care。

　My　name　was　now　Wanderer；　yet　her　memories　fit　it　just　as　well　as　my　own。　Except　that　my　wandering　
was　by　choice。　These　flashes　of　memory　were　always　tinged　with　the　fear　of　the　hunted。　Not　wandering；　
but　running。

　I　tried　not　to　feel　pity。　Instead；　I　worked　to　focus　the　memories。　I　didn’t　need　to　see　where　she’d　been；　
only　where　she　was　going。　I　sorted　through　the　pictures　that　tied　to　the　wordChicago；　but　none　seemed　
to　be　anything　more　than　random　images。　I　widened　my　net。　What　was　outside　Chicago？　Cold；　I　thought。　
It　was　cold；　and　there　was　some　worry　about　that。

　Where？　I　pushed；　and　the　wall　came　back。

　I　exhaled　in　a　gust。　“Outside　the　city—in　the　wilderness…　a　state　park；　away　from　any　habitations。　It’s　
not　somewhere　she’d　been　before；　but　she　knew　how　to　get　there。”

　“How　soon？”　the　Seeker　asked。

　“Soon。”　The　answer　came　automatically。　“How　long　have　I　been　here？”

　“We　let　the　host　heal　for　nine　days；　just　to　be　absolutely　sure　she　was　recovered；”　the　Healer　told　me。　
“Insertion　was　today；　the　tenth　day。”

　Ten　days。　My　body　felt　a　staggering　wave　of　relief。

　“Too　late；”　I　said。　“For　the　rendezvous　point…　or　even　the　note。”　I　could　feel　the　host’s　reaction　to　
this—could　feel　it　much　too　strongly。　The　host　was　almost…smug。　I　allowed　the　words　she　thought　to　
be　spoken；　so　that　I　could　learn　from　them。　“He　won’t　be　there。”

　“He？”　The　Seeker　pounced　on　the　pronoun。　“Who？”

　The　black　wall　slammed　down　with　more　force　than　she’d　used　before。　She　was　the　tiniest　fraction　of　a　

　

　Again；　the　face　filled　my　mind。　The　beautiful　face　with　the　golden　tan　skin　and　the　light…flecked　eyes。　The　
face　that　stirred　a　strange；　deep　pleasure　within　me　while　I　viewed　it　so　clearly　in　my　mind。

　Though　the　wall　slapped　into　place　with　an　acpanying　sensation　of　vicious　resentment；　it　was　not　fast　
enough。

　“Jared；”　I　answered。　As　quickly　as　if　it　had　e　from　me；　the　thought　that　was　not　mine　followed　the　
name　through　my　lips。　“Jared　is　safe。”

　CHAPTER　4

　Dreamed

　It　is　too　dark　to　be　so　hot；　or　maybe　too　hot　to　be　so　dark。　One　of　the　two　is　out　of　place。

　I　crouch　in　the　darkness　behind　the　weak　protection　of　a　scrubby　creosote　bush；　sweating　out　all　the　
water　left　in　my　body。　It’s　been　fifteen　minutes　since　the　car　left　the　garage。　No　lights　have　e　on。　The　
arcadia　door　is　open　two　inches；　letting　the　swamp　cooler　do　its　job。　I　can　imagine　the　feel　of　the　moist；　
cool　air　blowing　through　the　screen。　I　wish　it　could　reach　me　here。

　My　stomach　gurgles；　and　I　clench　my　abdominal　muscles　to　stifle　the　sound。　It　is　quiet　enough　that　the　
murmur　carries。

　I　am　so　hungry。

　There　is　another　need　that　is　stronger—another　hungry　stomach　hidden　safely　far　away　in　the　darkness；　
waiting　alone　in　the　rough　cave　that　is　our　temporary　home。　A　cramped　place；　jagged　with　volcanic　rock。　
What　will　he　do　if　I　don’t　e　back？　All　the　pressure　of　motherhood　with　none　of　the　knowledge　or　
experience。　I　feel　so　hideously　helpless。　Jamie　is　hungry。

　There　are　no　other　houses　close　to　this　one。　I’ve　been　watching　since　the　sun　was　still　white　hot　in　the　
sky；　and　I　don’t　think　there　is　a　dog；　either。

　I　ease　up　from　my　crouch；　my　calves　screaming　in　protest；　but　keep　hunched　at　the　waist；　trying　to　be　
smaller　than　the　bush。　The　way　up　the　wash　is　smooth　sand；　a　pale　pathway　in　the　light　of　the　stars。　There　
are　no　sounds　of　cars　on　the　road。

　I　know　what　they　will　realize　when　they　return；　the　monsters　who　look　like　a　nice　couple　in　their　early　
fifties。　They　will　know　exactly　what　I　am；　and　the　search　will　begin　at　once。　I　need　to　be　far　away。　I　really　
hope　they　are　going　out　for　a　night　on　the　town。　I　think　it’s　Friday。　They　keep　our　habits　so　perfectly；　it’s　
hard　to　see　any　difference。　Which　is　how　they　won　in　the　first　place。

　The　fence　around　the　yard　is　only　waist　high。　I　get　over　easily；　noiselessly。　The　yard　is　gravel；　though；　
and　I　have　to　walk　carefully　to　keep　my　weight　from　shifting　it。　I　make　it　to　the　patio　slab。

　The　blinds　are　open。　The　starlight　is　enough　to　see　that　the　rooms　are　empty　of　movement。　This　couple　
goes　for　a　spartan　look；　and　I’m　grateful。　It　makes　it　harder　for　someone　to　hide。　Of　course；　that　leaves　
no　place　for　me　to　hide；　either；　but　if　it　es　to　hiding　for　me；　it’s　too　late　anyway。　

　

　The　cool　air　feels　like　heaven。

　The　kitchen　is　to　my　left。　I　can　see　the　gleam　of　granite　counters。

　I　pull　the　canvas　bag　from　my　shoulder　and　start　with　the　refrigerator。　There　is　a　moment　of　anxiety　as　
the　light　es　on　when　the　door　opens；　but　I　find　the　button　and　hold　it　down　with