[科幻]宿主-第46部分

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among　souls。　Maybe　your　Uncle　Jeb　—

　She　rejected　that　thought　harshly。No　one　could　survive　out　in　the　open　like　this。　Your　kind　would　
have　searched　any　habitation　thoroughly。　Whoever　lived　here　ran　or　became　one　of　you。　Uncle　
Jeb　would　have　a　better　hiding　place。

　And　if　whoever　lived　here　became　one　of　us；I　assured　her；then　they　left　this　place。　Only　a　human　
would　live　this　way。…　I　trailed　off；　suddenly　afraid；　too。

　What？She　reacted　strongly　to　my　fright；　freezing　us　in　place。　She　scanned　my　thoughts；　looking　for　
something　I’d　seen　to　upset　me。

　But　I’d　seen　nothing　new。Melanie；　what　if　there　are　humans　out　here—not　Uncle　Jeb　and　Jared　
and　Jamie？　What　if　someone　elsefound　us？

　She　absorbed　the　idea　slowly；　thinking　it　through。You’re　right。　They’d　kill　us　immediately。　Of　course。

　I　tried　to　swallow；　to　wash　the　taste　of　terror　from　my　dry　mouth。

　There　won’t　be　anyone　else。　How　could　there　be？she　reasoned。Your　kind　are　far　too　thorough。　
Only　someone　already　in　hiding　would　have　had　a　chance。　So　let’s　go　check　it　out—you’re　sure　
there　are　none　of　you；　and　I’m　sure　there　are　none　of　me。　Maybe　we　can　find　something　helpful；　
something　we　can　use　as　a　weapon。

　I　shuddered　at　her　thoughts　of　sharp　knives　and　long　metal　tools　that　could　be　turned　into　clubs。No　
weapons。

　Ugh。　How　did　such　spineless　creaturesbeatus？

　Stealth　and　superior　numbers。　Any　one　of　you；　even　your　young；　is　a　hundred　times　as　dangerous　
as　one　of　us。　But　you’re　like　one　termite　in　an　anthill。　There　are　millions　of　us；　all　working　
together　in　perfect　harmony　toward　our　goal。

　Again；　as　I　described　the　unity；　I　felt　the　dragging　sense　of　panic　and　disorientation。　Who　was　I？

　We　kept　to　the　creosote　as　we　approached　the　little　structure。　It　looked　to　be　a　house；　just　a　small　
shack　beside　the　road；　with　no　hint　at　all　of　any　other　purpose。　The　reason　for　its　location　here　was　a　
mystery—this　spot　had　nothing　to　offer　but　emptiness　and　heat。

　There　was　no　sign　of　recent　habitation。　The　door　frame　gaped；　doorless；　and　only　a　few　shards　of　glass　

　

　I　was　able　to　contain　my　anxiety　as　I　walked　hesitantly　to　the　vacant　door　frame；　we　must　be　just　as　
alone　here　as　we　had　been　all　day　and　all　yesterday。

　The　shade　the　dark　entry　promised　drew　me　forward；　trumping　my　fears　with　its　appeal。　I　still　listened　
intently；　but　my　feet　moved　ahead　with　swift；　sure　steps。　I　darted　through　the　doorway；　moving　quickly　to　
one　side　so　as　to　have　a　wall　at　my　back。　This　was　instinctual；　a　product　of　Melanie’s　scavenging　days。　I　
stood　frozen　there；　unnerved　by　my　blindness；　waiting　for　my　eyes　to　adjust。

　The　little　shack　was　empty；　as　we’d　known　it　would　be。　There　were　no　more　signs　of　occupation　inside　
than　out。　A　broken　table　slanted　down　from　its　two　good　legs　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　with　one　rusted　
metal　chair　beside　it。　Patches　of　concrete　showed　through　big　holes　in　the　worn；　grimy　carpet。　A　
kitchenette　lined　the　wall　with　a　rusted　sink；　a　row　of　cabinets—some　doorless—and　a　waist…high　
refrigerator　that　hung　open；　revealing　its　moldy　black　insides。　A　couch　frame　sat　against　the　far　wall；　all　
the　cushions　gone。　Still　mounted　above　the　couch；　only　a　little　crooked；　was　a　framed　print　of　dogs　
playing　poker。

　Homey；Melanie　thought；　relieved　enough　to　be　sarcastic。It’s　got　more　decor　than　your　apartment。

　I　was　already　moving　for　the　sink。

　Dream　on；Melanie　added　helpfully。

　Of　course　it　would　be　wasteful　to　have　water　running　to　this　secluded　place；　the　souls　managed　details　
like　that　better　than　to　leave　such　an　anomaly　behind。　I　still　had　to　twist　the　ancient　knobs。　One　broke　off　
in　my　hand；　rusted　through。

　I　turned　to　the　cupboards　next；　kneeling　on　the　nasty　carpet　to　peek　carefully　inside。　I　leaned　away　as　I　
opened　the　door；　afraid　I　might　be　disturbing　one　of　the　venomous　desert　animals　in　its　lair。

　The　first　was　empty；　backless；　so　that　I　could　see　the　wooden　slats　of　the　outside　wall。　The　next　had　no　
door；　but　there　was　a　stack　of　antique　newspapers　inside；　covered　with　dust。　I　pulled　one　out；　curious；　
shaking　the　dirt　to　the　dirtier　floor；　and　read　the　date。

　From　human　times；I　noted。　Not　that　I　needed　a　date　to　tell　me　that。

　“Man　Burns　Three…Year…Old　Daughter　to　Death；”　the　headline　screamed　at　me；　acpanied　by　a　
picture　of　an　angelic　blond　child。　This　wasn’t　the　front　page。　The　horror　detailed　here　was　not　so　hideous　
as　to　rate　priority　coverage。　Beneath　this　was　the　face　of　a　man　wanted　for　the　murders　of　his　wife　and　
two　children　two　years　before　the　print　date；　the　story　was　about　a　possible　sighting　of　the　man　in　
Mexico。　Two　people　killed　and　three　injured　in　a　drunk…driving　accident。　A　fraud　and　murder　
investigation　into　the　alleged　suicide　of　a　prominent　local　banker。　A　suppressed　confession　setting　an　
admitted　child　molester　free。　House　pets　found　slaughtered　in　a　trash　bin。

　I　cringed；　shoving　the　paper　away　from　me；　back　into　the　dark　cupboard。

　Those　were　the　exceptions；　not　the　norm；Melanie　thought　quietly；　trying　to　keep　the　fresh　horror　of　
my　reaction　from　seeping　into　her　memories　of　those　years　and　recoloring　them。　

　

　Her　answer　was　acidic。If　you　wanted　to　cleanse　the　planet；　you　could　have　blown　it　up。

　Despite　what　your　science　fiction　writers　dream；　we　simply　don’t　have　the　technology。

　She　didn’t　think　my　joke　was　funny。

　Besides；I　added；that　would　have　been　such　a　waste。　It’s　a　lovely　planet。　This　unspeakable　desert　
excepted；　of　course。

　That’s　how　we　realized　you　were　here；　you　know；she　said；　thinking　of　the　sickening　news　headlines　
again。When　the　evening　news　was　nothing　but　inspiring　human…interest　stories；　when　pedophiles　
and　junkies　were　lining　up　at　the　hospitals　to　turn　themselves　in；　when　everything　morphed　into　
Mayberry；　that’s　when　you　tipped　your　hand。

　“What　an　awful　alteration！”　I　said　dryly；　turning　to　the　next　cupboard。

　I　pulled　the　stiff　door　back　and　found　the　mother　lode。

　“Crackers！”　I　shouted；　seizing　the　discolored；　half…smashed　box　of　Saltines。　There　was　another　box　
behind　it；　one　that　looked　like　someone　had　stepped　on　it。　“Twinkies！”　I　crowed。

　Look！Melanie　urged；　pointing　a　mental　finger　at　three　dusty　bottles　of　bleach　at　the　very　back　of　the　
cupboard。

　What　do　you　want　bleach　for？I　asked；　already　ripping　into　the　cracker　box。To　throw　in　someone’s　
eyes？　Or　to　brain　them　with　the　bottle？

　To　my　delight；　the　crackers；　though　reduced　to　crumbs；　were　still　inside　their　plastic　sleeves。　I　tore　one　
open　and　started　shaking　the　crumbs　into　my　mouth；　swallowing　them　half　chewed。　I　couldn’t　get　them　
into　my　stomach　fast　enough。

　Open　a　bottle　and　smell　it；she　instructed；　ignoring　my　mentary。That’s　how　my　dad　used　to　store　
water　in　the　garage。　The　bleach　residue　kept　the　water　from　growing　anything。

　In　a　minute。I　finished　one　sleeve　of　crumbs　and　started　on　the　next。　They　were　very　stale；　but　
pared　to　the　taste　in　my　mouth；　they　were　ambrosia。　When　I　finished　the　third；　I　became　aware　that　
the　salt　was　burning　the　cracks　in　my　lips　and　at　the　corners　of　my　mouth。

　I　heaved　out　one　of　the　bleach　bottles；　hoping　Melanie　was　right。　My　arms　felt　weak　and　noodley；　
barely　able　to　lift　it。　This　concerned　us　both。　How　much　had　our　condition　deteriorated　already？　How　
much　farther　would　we　be　able　to　go？

　The　bottle’s　cap　was　so　tight；　I　wondered　if　it　had　melted　into　place。　Finally；　though；　I　was　able　to　twist　
it　off　with　my　teeth。　I　sniffed　at　the　opening　carefully；　not　especially　wanting　to　pass　out　from　bleach　
fumes。　The　chemical　scent　was　very　faint。　I　sniffed　deeper。　It　was　water；　definitely。　Stagnant；　musty　
water；　but　water　all　the　same。　I　took　a　small　mouthful。　Not　a　fresh　mountain　stream；　but　wet。　I　started　
guzzling。　

　

　The　last　cupboard　was　empty。

　As　soon　as　the　hunger　pangs　had　eased　slightly；　Melanie’s　impatience　began　to　leak　into　my　thoughts。　
Feeling　no　resistance　this　time；　I　quickly　loaded　my　spoils　into　my　pack；　pitching　the　empty　water　bottles　
into　the　sink　to　make　room。　The　bleach　jugs　were　heavy；　but　theirs　was　a　forting　weight。　It　meant　I　
wouldn’t　stretch　out　to　sleep　on　the　desert　floor　thirsty　and　hungry　again　tonight。　With　the　sugar　energy　
beginning　to　buzz　through　my　veins；　I　loped　back　out　into　the　bright　afternoon。

　CHAPTER　12

　Failed

　It’s　impossible！　You’ve　got　it　wrong！　Out　of　order！　That　can’t　be　it！”

　I　stared　into　the　distance；　sick　with　disbelief　that　was　turning　quickly　to　horror。

　Yesterday　morning　I’d　eaten　the　last　mangled　Twinkie　for　breakfast。　Yesterday　afternoon　I’d　found　the　
double　peak　and　turned　east　again。　Melanie　had　given　me　what　she　promised　was　the　last　formation　to　
find。　The　news　had　made　me　nearly　hysterical　with　joy。　Last　night；　I’d　drunk　the　last　of　the　water。　That　
was　day　four。

　This　morning　was　a　hazy　memory　of　blinding　sun　and　desperate　hope。　Time　was　running　out；　and　I’d　
searched　the　skyline　for　the　last　milestone　with　a　growing　sense　of　panic。　I　couldn’t　see　any　place　where　
it　could　fit；　the　long；　flat　line　of　a　mesa　flanked　by　blunt　peaks　on　either　end；　like　sentinels。　Such　a　thing　
would　take　space；　and　the　mountains　to　the　east　and　north　were　thick　with　toothy　points。　I　couldn’t　see　
where　the　flat　mesa　could　be　hiding　between　them。

　Midmorning—the　sun　was　still　in　the　east；　in　my　eyes—I’d　stopped　to　rest。　I’d　felt　so　weak　that　it　
frightened　me。　Every　muscle　in　my　body　had　begun　to　ache；　but　it　was　not　from　all　the　walking。　I　could　
feel　the　ache　of　exertion　and　also　the　ache　from　sleeping　on　the　ground；　and　these　were　different　from　the　
new　ache。　My　body　was　drying　out；　and　this　ache　was　my　muscles　protesting　the　torture　of　it。　I　knew　
that　I　couldn’t　keep　going　much　longer。

　I’d　turned　my　back　on　the　east　to　get　the　sun　off　my　face　for　a　moment。

　That’s　when　I’d　seen　it。　The　long；　flat　line　of　the　mesa；　unmistakable　with　the　bordering　peaks。　There　it　
was；　so　far　away　in　the　distant　west　that　it　seemed　to　shimmer　above　a　mirage；　floating；　hovering　over　the　
desert　like　a　dark　cloud。　Every　step　we’d　walked　had　been　in　the　wrong　direction。　The