mc.prey-第39部分

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e　shed；　I　still　failed　to　grasp　that　the　swarms　were　evolving　faster　than　our　ability　to　keep　pace　with　them。　I　should　have　realized　what　I　was　up　against　when　the　swarms　demonstrated　a　new　strategy…making　the　floor　slippery　to　disable　their　prey；　and　to　move　them。　Among　ants；　that　would　be　called　collective　transport；　the　phenomenon　was　well　known。　But　for　these　swarms；　it　was　unprecedented；　newly　evolved　behavior。　Yet　at　the　time　I　was　too　horrified　to　recognize　its　true　significance。　Now；　sitting　in　the　hot　car；　it　wasn't　useful　to　blame　Ricky；　but　I　was　scared；　and　tired；　and　I　wasn't　thinking　clearly。
　〃Jack。〃　Mae　nudged　my　shoulder；　and　pointed　to　Charley's　car。
　Her　face　was　grim。
　The　swarm　by　the　taillight　of　Charley's　car　was　now　a　black　stream　that　curved　high　in　the　air；　and　then　disappeared　in　the　seam　where　the　red　plastic　joined　the　metal。　Over　the　headset　I　said；　〃Hey；　Charley　。。。　I　think　it's　found　a　way。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　see　it。　Fuck　a　duck。〃
　Charley　was　scrambling　into　the　backseat。　Already　particles　were　beginning　to　fill　the　inside　of　the　car；　making　a　gray　fog　that　rapidly　darkened。　Charley　coughed。　I　couldn't　see　what　he　was　doing；　he　was　down　below　the　window。　He　coughed　again。
　〃Charley？〃
　He　didn't　answer。　But　I　heard　him　swearing。
　〃Charley；　you　better　get　out。〃
　〃Fuck　these　guys。〃
　And　then　there　was　an　odd　sound；　which　at　first　I　couldn't　place。　I　turned　to　Mae；　who　was　pressing　her　headset　to　her　ear。　It　was　a　strange；　rhythmic　rasping。　She　looked　at　me　questioningly。
　〃Charley？〃
　〃I'm…spray　these　little　bastards。　Let's　see　how　they　do　when　they're　wet。〃
　Mae　said；　〃You're　spraying　the　isotope？〃
　He　didn't　answer。　But　a　moment　later　he　appeared　in　the　window　again；　spraying　in　all　directions　with　the　Windex　bottle。　Liquid　streaked　across　the　glass；　and　dripped　down。　The　interior　of　the　car　was　growing　darker　as　more　and　more　particles　entered。　Soon　we　couldn't　see　him　at　all。　His　hand　emerged　from　the　black；　pressed　against　the　glass；　then　disappeared　again。　He　was　coughing　continuously。　A　dry　cough。
　〃Charley；〃　I　said；　〃run　for　it。〃
　〃Ah　fuck。　What's　the　point？〃
　Bobby　Lembeck　said；　〃Wind's　ten　knots。　Go　for　it。〃
　Ten　knots　wasn't　enough　but　it　was　better　than　nothing。
　〃Charley？　You　hear？〃
　We　heard　his　voice　from　the　black　interior。　〃Yeah；　okay　。。。　I'm　looking…can't　find…fucking　door　handle；　can't　feel　。。。　Where's　the　goddamn　door　handle　on　this…〃　He　broke　into　a　spasm　of　coughing。
　Over　the　headset；　I　heard　voices　inside　the　lab；　all　speaking　rapidly。　Ricky　said；　〃He's　in　the　Toyota。　Where's　the　handle　in　the　Toyota？〃
　Bobby　Lembeck：　〃I　don't　know；　it's　not　my　car。〃
　〃Whose　car　is　it？　Vince？〃
　Vince：　〃No；　no。　It's　that　guy　with　the　bad　eyes。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　engineer。　The　guy　who　blinks　all　the　time。〃
　〃David　Brooks？〃
　〃Yeah。　Him。〃
　Ricky　said；　〃Guys？　We　think　it's　David's　car。〃
　I　said；　〃That's　not　going　to　do　us　any…〃
　And　then　I　broke　off；　because　Mae　was　pointing　behind　her　to　the　backseat　of　our　car。　From　the　seam　where　the　seat　cushion　met　the　back；　particles　were　hissing　into　the　car　like　black　smoke。
　I　looked　closer；　and　saw　a　blanket　on　the　floor　of　the　backseat。　Mae　saw　it；　too；　and　threw　herself　bodily　into　the　back；　diving　between　the　seats。　She　kicked　me　in　the　head　as　she　went；　but　she　had　the　blanket　and　began　stuffing　it　into　the　crack。　My　headset　came　off；　and　caught　on　the　steering　wheel　as　I　tried　to　climb　back　to　help　her。　It　was　cramped　in　the　car。　I　heard　a　tinny　voice　from　the　earpieces。
　〃e　on；〃　Mae　said。　〃e　on。〃
　I　was　bigger　than　she　was；　there　wasn't　room　for　me　back　there；　my　body　jackknifed　over　the　driver's　seat　as　I　grabbed　the　blanket　and　helped　her　stuff　it。　I　was　vaguely　aware　that　the　passenger　door　banged　open　on　the　Toyota；　and　I　saw　Charley's　foot　emerge　from　the　black。　He　was　going　to　try　his　luck　outside。　Maybe　we　should；　too；　I　thought；　as　I　helped　her　with　the　blanket。　The　blanket　wouldn't　do　any　good；　it　was　just　a　delaying　tactic。　Already　I　sensed　the　particles　were　sifting　right　through　the　cloth；　the　car　was　continuing　to　fill。　The　air　was　getting　darker　and　darker。　I　felt　the　pinpricks　all　over　my　skin。　〃Mae；　let's　run。〃
　She　didn't　answer；　she　just　kept　pushing　the　blanket　harder　into　the　cracks。　Probably　she　knew　we'd　never　make　it　if　we　went　outside。　The　swarms　would　run　us　down；　get　in　our　path；　make　us　slip　and　fall。　And　once　we　fell；　they　would　suffocate　us。　Just　as　they　did　to　the　others。　The　air　was　thicker。　I　started　to　cough。　In　the　semidarkness　I　kept　hearing　a　tinny　voice　from　the　headsets。　I　couldn't　tell　where　it　was　ing　from。　Mae's　headset　had　fallen　off；　too；　and　I　thought　I　had　seen　it　on　the　front　seat；　but　now　it　was　being　too　dark　to　see。　My　eyes　burned。　I　coughed　continuously。　Mae　was　coughing；　too。　I　didn't　know　if　she　was　still　stuffing　the　blanket。　She　was　just　a　shadow　in　the　fog。
　I　squeezed　my　eyes　against　the　sharp　pain。　My　throat　was　tightening；　and　my　cough　was　dry。　I　felt　dizzy　again。　I　knew　we　couldn't　survive　more　than　a　minute　or　so；　perhaps　less。　I　looked　back　at　Mae；　but　couldn't　see　her。　I　heard　her　coughing。　I　waved　my　hand；　trying　to　clear　the　fog　so　I　could　see　her。　It　didn't　work。　I　waved　my　hand　in　front　of　the　windshield；　and　it　cleared　momentarily。
　Despite　my　fit　of　coughing；　I　saw　the　lab　in　the　distance。　The　sun　was　shining。　Everything　looked　normal。　It　was　infuriating　that　it　should　appear　so　normal　and　peaceful　while　we　coughed　ourselves　to　death。　I　couldn't　see　what　happened　to　Charley。　He　wasn't　in　front　of　me　anywhere。　In　fact…I　waved　my　hand　again…all　I　saw　was…
　Blowing　sand。
　Jesus；　blowing　sand。
　The　wind　was　back　up。
　〃Mae。〃　I　coughed。　〃Mae。　The　door。〃
　I　don't　know　if　she　heard　me。　She　was　coughing　hard。　I　reached　for　the　driver's　side　door；　fumbling　for　the　handle。　I　felt　confused　and　disoriented。　I　was　coughing　continuously。　I　touched　hot　metal；　jerked　it　down。
　The　door　swung　open　beside　me。　Hot　desert　air　rushed　in；　swirling　the　fog。　The　wind　had　definitely　e　up。　〃Mae。〃
　She　was　racked　with　coughing。　Perhaps　she　couldn't　move。　I　lunged　for　the　passenger　door　opposite　me。　My　ribs　banged　on　the　gearshift。　The　fog　was　thinner　now；　and　I　saw　the　handle；　twisted　it；　and　shoved　the　door　open。　It　banged　shut　in　the　wind。　I　pushed　forward；　twisted；　shoved　it　open　again；　holding　it　open　with　my　hand。
　Wind　blew　through　the　car。
　The　black　cloud　vanished　in　a　few　seconds。　The　backseat　was　still　dark。　I　crawled　forward；　out　the　passenger　door；　and　opened　the　back　door。　She　reached　to　me；　and　I　hauled　her　out。　We　were　both　coughing　hard。　Her　legs　buckled。　I　threw　her　arm　over　my　shoulder　and　half　carried　her　out　into　the　open　desert。
　Even　now；　I　don't　know　how　I　made　it　back　to　the　laboratory　building。　The　swarms　had　vanished；　the　wind　was　blowing　hard。　Mae　was　a　dead　weight　on　my　shoulders；　her　body　limp；　her　feet　dragging　over　the　sand。　I　had　no　energy。　I　was　racked　with　spasms　of　coughing；　which　often　forced　me　to　stop。　I　couldn't　get　my　breath。　I　was　dizzy；　disoriented。　The　glare　of　the　sun　had　a　greenish　tinge　and　I　saw　spots　before　my　eyes。　Mae　was　coughing　weakly；　her　breaths　shallow。　I　had　the　feeling　she　wouldn't　survive。　I　trudged　on；　putting　one　foot　ahead　of　the　other。　Somehow　the　door　loomed　in　front　of　me；　and　I　got　it　open。　I　brought　Mae　into　the　black　outer　room。　On　the　other　side　of　the　glass　airlock；　Ricky　and　Bobby　Lembeck　were　waiting。　They　were　cheering　us　on；　but　I　couldn't　hear　them。　My　headset　was　back　in　the　car。　The　airlock　doors　hissed　open；　and　I　got　Mae　inside。　She　managed　to　stand；　though　she　was　doubled　over　coughing。　I　stepped　away。　The　wind　began　to　blow　her　clean。　I　leaned　against　the　wall；　out　of　breath；　dizzy。
　I　thought；　Haven't　I　done　this　before？
　I　looked　at　my　watch。　It　was　just　three　hours　since　I　had　narrowly　escaped　the　last　attack。　I　bent　over　and　put　my　hands　on　my　knees。　I　stared　at　the　floor　and　waited　for　the　airlock　to　bee　free。　I　glanced　over　at　Ricky　and　Bobby。　They　were　yelling；　pointing　to　their　ears。　I　shook　my　head。
　Couldn't　they　see　I　didn't　have　a　headset？
　I　said；　〃Where's　Charley？〃
　They　answered；　but　I　couldn't　hear　them。
　〃Did　he　make　it？　Where's　Charley？〃
　I　winced　at　a　harsh　electronic　squeal；　and　then　over　the　inter　Ricky　said；　〃…not　much　you　can　do。〃
　〃Is　he　here？〃　I　said。　〃Did　he　make　it？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃
　〃Back　at　the　car；〃　Ricky　said。　〃He　never　got　out　of　the　car。　Didn't　you　know？〃
　〃I　was　busy；〃　I　said。　〃So　he's　back　there？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃Is　he　dead？〃
　〃No；　no。　He's　alive。〃
　I　was　still　breathing　hard；　still　dizzy。　〃What？〃
　〃It's　hard　to　tell　on　the　video　monitor；　but　it　looks　like　he　is　alive　。。。〃
　〃Then　why　the　fuck　don't　you　guys　go　get　him？〃
　Ricky's　voice　was　calm。　〃We　can't；　Jack。　We　have　to　take　care　of　Mae。〃
　〃Someone　here　could　go。〃
　〃We　don't　have　anyone　to　spare。〃
　〃I　can't　go；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　in　no　shape　to　go。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　Ricky　said；　turning　on　his　soothing　voice。　The　undertaker's　voice。　〃All　this　must　be　a　terrible　shock　to　you；　Jack；　all　you've　gone　through…〃
　〃Just　。。。　tell　me　。。。　who's　going　to　get　him；　Ricky？〃
　〃To　be　brutally　honest；〃　Ricky　said；　〃I　don't　think　there's　any　point。　He　had　a　convulsion。　A　bad　one。　I　don't　think　he　has　much　left。〃
　I　said；　〃Nobody's　going？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　there's　no　point；　Jack。〃
　Inside　the　airlock；　Bobby　was　helping　Mae　out　and　leading　her　down　the　corridor。　Ricky　was　standing　there。　Watching　me　through　the　glass。
　〃Your　turn；　Jack。　e　on　in。〃
　I　didn't　move。　I　stayed　leaning　against　the　wall。　I　said；　〃Somebody　has　to　go　get　him。〃
　〃Not　right　now。　The　wind　isn't　stable；　Jack。　It'll　fall　again　any　minute。〃
　〃But　he's　alive。〃
　〃Not　for　long。〃
　〃Somebody　has　to　go；〃　I　said。
　〃Jack；　you　know　as　well　as　I　do　what　we're　up　against；〃　Ricky　said。　He　was　doing　the　voice　of　reason　now；　calm　and　logical。　〃We've　had　terrible　losses。　We　can't　risk　anybody　else。　By　the　time　somebody　gets　to　Charley；　he'll　be　dead。　He　may　be　dead　already。　e　on　and　get　in　the　airlock。〃
　I　was　taking　stock　of　my　body；　feeling　my　breathing；　my　chest；　my　deep　fatigue。　I　couldn't　go　back　out　right　now。　Not　in　the　condition　I　was　in。
　So　I　got　into　the　airlock。
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