mc.prey-第50部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　was　in　truth　more　beautiful　than　I　remembered。　Her　ankle　was　bandaged　and　she　had　a　cast　on　her　wrist。　She　threw　her　arms　around　me　and　buried　her　head　in　my　shoulder。　Her　hair　smelled　of　lavender。　〃Oh；　Jack；　Jack。　Thank　God　you're　all　right。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　I　said　hoarsely。　〃I'm　okay。〃
　〃I'm　so　glad　。。。　so　glad。〃
　I　just　stood　there；　feeling　her　hug　me。　Then　I　hugged　her　back。　I　didn't　know　how　to　react。　She　was　so　energized；　but　I　was　exhausted；　flat。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　Jack？〃　she　said；　still　hugging　me。
　〃Yeah；　Julia。〃　I　said；　just　above　a　whisper。　〃I　am。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　your　voice？〃　she　said；　pulling　back　to　look　at　me。　She　scanned　my　face。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　〃He　probably　burned　his　vocal　cords；〃　Mae　said。　She　was　hoarse；　too。　Her　face　was　blackened　with　soot。　She　had　a　cut　on　her　cheek；　and　another　on　her　forehead。　Julia　embraced　me　again；　her　fingers　touched　my　shirt。　〃Darling；　you're　hurt　。。。〃
　〃Just　my　shirt。〃
　〃Jack；　are　you　sure　you're　not　hurt？　I　think　you're　hurt　。。。〃
　〃No；　I'm　okay。〃　I　stepped　away　from　her　awkwardly。
　〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃how　grateful　I　am　for　what　you　did　tonight；　Jack。　What　all　of　you　did；〃　she　added；　turning　to　the　others。　〃You；　Mae；　and　Bobby　too。　I'm　only　sorry　I　wasn't　here　to　help。　I　know　this　is　all　my　fault。　But　we're　very　grateful。　The　pany　is　grateful。〃　I　thought；　The　pany？　But　all　I　said　was；　〃Yeah；　well；　it　had　to　be　done。〃
　〃It　did；　yes；　it　certainly　did。　Quickly　and　decisively。　And　you　did　it；　Jack。　Thank　God。〃　Ricky　was　standing　in　the　background；　head　bobbing　up　and　down。　He　was　like　one　of　those　mechanical　birds　that　drinks　from　a　water　glass。　Bobbing　up　and　down。　I　felt　unreal；　as　if　I　was　in　a　play。
　〃I　think　we　should　all　have　a　drink　to　celebrate；〃　Julia　was　saying；　as　we　went　down　the　corridor。　〃There　must　be　some　champagne　around　here。　Ricky？　Is　there？　Yes？　I　want　to　celebrate　what　you　guys　have　done。〃
　〃I　just　want　to　sleep；〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　e　on；　just　one　glass。〃
　It　was　typical　Julia；　I　thought。　Involved　in　her　own　world；　not　noticing　how　anyone　around　her　was　feeling。　The　last　thing　any　of　us　wanted　to　do　right　now　was　drink　champagne。　〃Thanks　anyway；〃　Mae　said；　shaking　her　head。
　〃Are　you　sure？　Really？　It'd　be　fun。　How　about　you；　Bobby？〃
　〃Maybe　tomorrow；〃　Bobby　said。
　〃Oh　well；　okay；　after　all；　you're　the　conquering　heroes！　We'll　do　it　tomorrow；　then。〃　I　noticed　how　fast　she　was　talking；　how　quick　her　body　movements　were。　I　remembered　Ellen's　ment　about　her　taking　drugs。　It　certainly　seemed　like　she　was　on　something。　But　I　was　so　tired　I　just　didn't　give　a　damn。
　〃I've　told　the　news　to　Larry　Handler；　the　head　of　the　pany；〃　she　said；　〃and　he's　very　grateful　to　you　all。〃
　〃That's　nice；〃　I　said。　〃Is　he　going　to　notify　the　Army？〃
　〃Notify　the　Army？　About　what？〃
　〃About　the　runaway　experiment。〃
　〃Well；　Jack；　that's　all　taken　care　of　now。　You've　taken　care　of　it。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　we　have；〃　I　said。　〃Some　of　the　swarms　might　have　escaped。　Or　there　might　be　another　nest　out　there。　To　be　safe；　I　think　we　should　call　in　the　Army。〃　I　didn't　really　think　we　had　missed　anything；　but　I　wanted　to　get　outsiders　in　here。　I　was　tired。　I　wanted　somebody　else　to　take　over。
　〃The　Army？〃　Julia's　eyes　flicked　to　Ricky；　then　back　to　me。　〃Jack；　you're　absolutely　right；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃This　is　an　extremely　serious　situation。　If　there　is　the　slightest　chance　something　was　missed；　we　must　notify　them　at　once。〃
　〃I　mean　tonight。〃
　〃Yes；　I　agree；　Jack。　Tonight。　In　fact；　I'll　do　it　right　now。〃　I　glanced　back　at　Ricky。　He　was　walking　along；　still　nodding　in　that　mechanical　way。　I　didn't　get　it。　What　about　Ricky's　earlier　panic？　His　fear　that　the　experiment　would　be　made　public？　Now　it　seemed　he　didn't　care。
　Julia　said；　〃You　three　can　get　some　sleep；　and　I'll　call　my　contacts　at　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　I　said。
　〃It's　really　not　necessary。〃
　〃I　want　to；〃　I　said。
　She　glanced　at　me　and　smiled。　〃You　don't　trust　me？〃
　〃It's　not　that；〃　I　said。　〃But　they　might　have　questions　I　could　answer　for　them。〃
　〃Okay；　fine。　Good　idea。　Excellent　idea。〃
　I　felt　sure　that　something　was　wrong。　I　felt　as　if　I　were　in　a　play；　and　everyone　was　acting　a　part。　Except　I　didn't　know　what　the　play　was。　I　glanced　over　at　Mae。　She　was　frowning　slightly。　She　must　have　sensed　it；　too。
　We　passed　through　the　airlocks　into　the　residential　unit。　Here　the　air　felt　unfortably　cold　to　me；　I　shivered。　We　went　into　the　kitchen　and　Julia　reached　for　the　phone。　〃Let's　make　that　call；　Jack；〃　she　said。
　I　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　got　a　ginger　ale。　Mae　had　an　iced　tea。　Bobby　had　a　beer。　We　were　all　thirsty。　I　noticed　a　bottle　of　champagne　sitting　in　the　fridge；　waiting。　I　touched　it；　it　was　cold。　There　were　six　glasses　in　there；　too；　being　chilled。　She'd　already　planned　the　party。　Julia　pushed　the　speakerphone　button。　We　heard　a　dial　tone。　She　punched　in　a　number。　But　the　call　didn't　go　through。　The　line　just　went　dead。
　〃Huh；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　try　that　again　。。。〃
　She　dialed　a　second　time。　Again；　the　call　failed　to　go　through。
　〃That's　funny。　Ricky；　I'm　not　getting　an　outside　line。〃
　〃Try　one　more　time；〃　Ricky　said。
　I　sipped　my　ginger　ale　and　watched　them。　There　was　no　question　that　this　was　all　an　act；　a　performance　for　our　benefit。　Julia　dutifully　dialed　a　third　time。　I　wondered　what　number　she　was　calling。　Or　did　she　know　the　number　for　the　Pentagon　by　heart？　〃Huh；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing。〃
　Ricky　picked　up　the　phone；　looked　at　the　base；　put　it　down　again。　〃Should　be　okay；〃　he　said；　acting　puzzled。
　〃Oh　for　Christ's　sake；〃　I　said。　〃Let　me　guess。　Something　has　happened　and　we　can't　dial　out。〃
　〃No；　no；　we　can；〃　Ricky　said。
　〃I　was　just　calling　a　few　minutes　ago；〃　Julia　said。　〃Just　before　you　got　back。〃
　Ricky　pushed　away　from　the　table。　〃I'll　check　the　m　lines。〃
　〃You　do　that；〃　I　said；　glowering。
　Julia　was　staring　at　me。　〃Jack；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　worried　about　you。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃You're　angry。〃
　〃I'm　being　fucked　with。〃
　〃I　promise　you；〃　she　said　quietly；　meeting　my　eyes。　〃You're　not。〃　Mae　got　up　from　the　table；　saying　she　was　going　to　take　a　shower。　Bobby　wandered　into　the　lounge　to　play　a　video　game；　his　usual　way　to　unwind。　Soon　I　heard　the　sound　of　machine…gun　fire；　and　the　cries　of　dead　bad　guys。　Julia　and　I　were　alone　in　the　kitchen。　She　leaned　over　the　table　toward　me。　She　spoke　in　a　low；　earnest　voice。　〃Jack；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　I　owe　you　an　explanation。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't。〃
　〃I　mean；　for　my　behavior。　My　decisions　these　past　days。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃
　〃It　does　to　me。〃
　〃Maybe　later；　Julia。〃
　〃I　need　to　tell　you　now。　You　see；　the　thing　is；　I　just　wanted　to　save　the　pany；　Jack。　That's　all。　The　camera　failed　and　we　couldn't　fix　it；　we　lost　our　contract；　and　the　pany　was　falling　apart。　I've　never　lost　a　pany　before。　I　never　had　one　shot　out　from　underneath　me；　and　I　didn't　want　Xymos　to　be　the　first。　I　was　invested；　I　had　a　stake；　and　I　guess　I　had　my　pride。　I　wanted　to　save　it。　I　know　I　didn't　use　good　judgment。　I　was　desperate。　It's　nobody　else's　fault。　They　all　wanted　to　stop　it。　I　pushed　them　to　go　on。　It　was　。。。　it　was　my　crusade。〃　She　shrugged。　〃And　it　was　all　for　nothing。　The　pany's　going　to　fold　in　a　matter　of　days。　I've　lost　it。〃　She　leaned　closer。　〃But　I　don't　want　to　lose　you；　too。　I　don't　want　to　lose　my　family。　I　don't　want　to　lose　us。〃
　She　dropped　her　voice　lower；　and　stretched　her　hand　across　the　table　to　cover　mine。　〃I　want　to　make　amends；　Jack。　I　want　to　make　things　right；　and　get　us　back　on　track　again。〃　She　paused。　〃I　hope　you　do；　too。〃
　I　said；　〃I'm　not　sure　how　I　feel。〃
　〃You're　tired。〃
　〃Yes。　But　I'm　not　sure；　anymore。〃
　〃You　mean；　about　us？〃
　I　said；　〃I　hate　this　fucking　conversation。〃　And　I　did。　I　hated　that　she　would　start　this　when　I　was　exhausted；　when　I　had　just　gone　through　an　ordeal　that　nearly　got　me　killed　and　that　was；　ultimately；　all　her　doing。　I　hated　that　she　dismissed　her　involvement　as　〃bad　judgment〃　when　it　was　considerably　worse　than　that。
　〃Oh　Jack；　let's　go　back　to　the　way　we　were；〃　she　said；　and　suddenly　she　leaned　the　rest　of　the　way　across　the　table　and　tried　to　kiss　me　on　the　lips。　I　pulled　back；　turned　my　head　away。　She　stared　at　me；　eyes　pleading。　〃Jack；　please。〃
　〃This　is　not　the　time　or　the　place；　Julia；〃　I　said。
　A　pause。　She　didn't　know　what　to　say。　Finally：　〃The　kids　miss　you。〃
　〃I'm　sure　they　do。　I　miss　them；　too。〃
　She　burst　into　tears。　〃And　they　don't　miss　me　。。。〃　she　sobbed。　〃They　don't　even　care　about　me　。。。　about　their　mother　。。。〃　She　reached　for　my　hand　again。　I　let　her　hold　it。　I　tried　to　take　stock　of　my　feelings。　I　just　felt　tired；　and　very　unfortable。　I　wanted　her　to　stop　crying。　〃Julia　。。。〃
　The　inter　clicked。　I　heard　Ricky's　voice；　amplified。　〃Hey；　guys？　We　have　a　problem　with　the　m　lines。　You　better　e　here　right　away。〃
　The　m　room　consisted　of　a　large　closet　in　one　corner　of　the　maintenance　room。　It　was　sealed　with　a　heavy　security　door；　with　a　small　tempered　glass　window　set　in　the　upper　half。　Through　this　window；　I　could　see　all　the　wiring　panels　and　switch　racks　for　the　telemunications　in　the　lab。　I　also　saw　that　great　chunks　of　wiring　had　been　yanked　out。　And　slumped　in　a　corner　of　the　closet　I　saw　Charley　Davenport。　He　appeared　to　be　dead。　His　mouth　hung　open；　his　eyes　stared　into　space。　His　skin　was　purple…gray。　A　black　buzzing　swarm　swirled　around　his　head。
　〃I　can't　imagine　how　this　happened；〃　Ricky　was　saying。　〃He　was　fast　asleep　when　I　checked　on　him　。。。〃
　〃When　was　that？〃　I　said。
　〃Maybe　half　an　hour　ago。〃
　〃And　the　swarm？　How'd　it　get　there？〃
　〃I　can't　imagine；〃　Ricky　said。　〃He　must　have　carried　it　with　him；　from　outside。〃
　〃How？〃　I　said。　〃He　went　through　all　the　airlocks。〃
　〃I　know；　but　。。。〃
　〃But　what；　Ricky？　How's　it　possible？〃
　〃Maybe　。。。　I　don't　know；　maybe　it　was　in　his　throat　or　something。〃
　〃In　his　throat？〃　I　said。　〃You　mean；　just　hanging　out　between　his　tonsils？　These　things　kill　you；　you　know。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　know。　Of　course　I　know。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Beats　me。〃
　I　stared　at　Ricky；　trying　to　understand　his　demeanor。　He　had　just　discovered　that　his　lab　was　invaded　by　a　lethal　nanoswarm；　and　he　didn't　appear　to　be　upset　at　all。　He　was　taking　it　all　very　casually。
　Mae　came　h