mc.prey-第57部分

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ished；　what　was　left　behind…what　I　still　held　in　my　arms…was　a　pale　and　cadaverous　form。　Julia's　eyes　were　sunk　deep　in　her　cheeks。　Her　mouth　was　thin　and　cracked；　her　skin　translucent。　Her　hair　was　colorless；　brittle。　Her　collarbones　protruded　from　her　bony　neck。　She　looked　like　she　was　dying　of　cancer。　Her　mouth　worked。　I　heard　faint　words；　hardly　more　than　breathing。　I　leaned　in；　turned　my　ear　to　her　mouth　to　hear。
　〃Jack；〃　she　whispered。　〃It's　eating　me。〃
　I　said；　〃I　know。〃
　Her　voice　was　just　a　whisper。　〃You　have　to　do　something。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃Jack　。。。　the　children　。。。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　She　whispered；　〃I　。。。　kissed　them　。。。〃
　I　said　nothing。　I　just　closed　my　eyes。
　〃Jack　。。。　Save　my　babies　。。。　Jack　。。。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。
　I　glanced　up　at　the　walls　and　saw；　all　around　me；　Julia's　face　and　body　stretched　and　fitted　to　the　room。　The　particles　retained　her　appearance；　but　were　now　flattened　onto　the　walls。　And　they　were　still　moving；　coordinating　with　the　movement　of　her　lips；　the　blink　of　her　eyes。　As　I　watched；　they　began　to　drift　back　from　the　walls　toward　her　in　a　flesh…colored　haze。　Outside　the　room；　I　heard　Ricky　shouting；　〃Julia！　Julia！〃　He　kicked　the　door　a　couple　of　times；　but　he　didn't　e　in。　I　knew　he　wouldn't　dare。　I　had　waited　a　full　minute　so　the　capacitors　were　charged。　He　couldn't　stop　me　from　pulsing　the　magnet　now。　I　could　do　it　at　will…at　least；　until　the　charge　ran　out。　I　didn't　know　how　long　that　would　be。　〃Jack　。。。〃
　I　looked　at　her。　Her　eyes　were　sad；　pleading。
　〃Jack；〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　know　。。。〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　I　said。　The　particles　were　drifting　back；　reassembling　her　face　before　my　eyes。　Julia　was　being　solid；　and　beautiful　again。
　I　kicked　the　knee　plate。
　Whang！
　The　particles　shot　away；　flying　back　to　the　walls；　though　not　so　swiftly　this　time。　And　I　had　the　cadaverous　Julia　in　my　arms　again；　her　deep…set　eyes　pleading　with　me。　I　reached　into　my　pocket；　and　pulled　out　one　of　the　vials　of　phage。　〃I　want　you　to　drink　this；〃　I　said。
　〃No　。。。　no　。。。〃　She　was　agitated。　〃Too　late　。。。　for　。。。〃
　〃Try；〃　I　said。　I　held　the　vial　to　her　lips。　〃e　on；　darling。　I　want　you　to　try。〃
　〃No　。。。　please　。。。　Not　important　。。。〃
　Ricky　was　yelling：　〃Julia！　Julia！〃　He　pounded　on　the　door。　〃Julia；　are　you　all　right？〃　The　cadaver　eyes　rolled　toward　the　door。　Her　mouth　worked。　Her　skeleton　fingers　plucked　at　my　shirt；　scratching　the　cloth。　She　wanted　to　tell　me　something。　I　turned　my　head　again；　so　I　could　hear。
　She　breathed　shallowly；　weakly。　I　couldn't　catch　the　words。　And　then　suddenly　they　were　clear。
　She　said；　〃They　have　to　kill　you　now。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　let　them　。。。　Children　。。。〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　Her　bony　hand　touched　my　cheek。　She　whispered；　〃You　know　I　always　loved　you；　Jack。　I　would　never　hurt　you。〃
　〃I　know；　Julia。　I　know。〃
　The　particles　on　the　walls　were　drifting　free　once　more。　Now　they　seemed　to　telescope　back；　returning　to　her　face　and　body。　I　kicked　the　knee　plate　once　again；　hoping　for　more　time　with　her；　but　there　was　only　a　dull　mechanical　thunk。
　The　capacitor　was　drained。
　And　suddenly；　in　a　whoosh；　all　the　particles　returned；　and　Julia　was　full　and　beautiful　and　strong　as　before；　and　she　pushed　me　away　from　her　with　a　contemptuous　look　and　said　in　a　loud；　firm　voice；　〃I'm　sorry　you　had　to　see　that；　Jack。〃
　〃So　am　I；〃　I　said。
　〃But　it　can't　be　helped。　We're　wasting　time。　I　want　the　bottle　of　virus；　Jack。　And　I　want　it　right　now。〃
　In　a　way　it　made　everything　easier。　Because　I　understood　I　wasn't　dealing　with　Julia　anymore。　I　didn't　have　to　worry　about　what　might　happen　to　her。　I　just　had　to　worry　about　Mae…assuming　she　was　still　alive…and　me。
　And　assuming　I　could　stay　alive　for　the　next　few　minutes。
　　
　DAY　7　
　7：12　A。M。
　〃Okay；〃　I　said　to　her。　〃Okay。　I'll　get　you　the　virus。〃
　She　frowned。　〃You've　got　that　look　on　your　face　again　。。。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　done。　I'll　take　you。〃
　〃Good。　We'll　start　with　those　vials　in　your　pocket。〃
　〃What；　these　here？〃　I　said。　I　reached　into　my　pocket　for　them　as　I　went　through　the　door。　Outside；　Ricky　and　Vince　were　waiting　for　me。
　〃Very　fucking　funny；〃　Ricky　said。　〃You　know　you　could　have　killed　her。　You　could　have　killed　your　own　wife。〃
　〃How　about　that；〃　I　said。
　I　was　still　fumbling　in　my　pocket；　as　if　the　test　tubes　were　stuck　in　the　cloth。　They　didn't　know　what　I　was　doing；　so　they　grabbed　me　again；　Vince　on　one　side　and　Ricky　on　the　other。
　〃Guys；〃　I　said；　〃I　can't　do　this　if　you…〃
　〃Let　him　go；〃　Julia　said；　ing　out　of　the　room。
　〃Like　hell；〃　Vince　said。　〃He'll　pull　something。〃
　I　was　still　struggling；　trying　to　bring　the　tubes　out。　Finally　I　had　them　in　my　hand。　While　we　struggled；　I　threw　one　onto　the　ground。　It　smashed　on　the　concrete　floor；　and　brown　sludge　spattered　up。
　〃Jesus！〃　They　all　jumped　away；　releasing　me。　They　stared　at　the　floor；　and　bent　over　to　look　at　their　feet；　making　sure　none　of　it　had　touched　them。
　And　in　that　moment；　I　ran。
　*　*　*
　I　grabbed　the　jug　from　its　hiding　place；　and　kept　going　across　the　fabrication　room。　I　had　to　get　all　the　way　across　the　room　to　the　elevator；　and　ride　it　up　to　the　ceiling　level；　where　all　the　basic　system　equipment　was　located。　Up　there；　where　the　air　handlers　were；　and　the　electrical　junction　boxes…and　the　tank　for　the　sprinkler　system。　If　I　could　reach　the　elevator　and　ride　it　just　seven　or　eight　feet　in　the　air；　then　they　couldn't　touch　me。　If　I　could　do　that；　then　my　plan　would　work。
　The　elevator　was　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet　away。
　I　ran　hard；　vaulting　over　the　lowest　arms　of　the　octopus；　ducking　beneath　the　chest…high　sections。　I　glanced　back　and　couldn't　see　them　through　the　maze　of　arms　and　machinery。　But　I　heard　the　three　of　them　shouting；　and　I　heard　running　feet。　I　heard　Julia　say；　〃He's　going　for　the　sprinklers！〃　Ahead；　I　saw　the　yellow　open　cage　of　the　elevator。　I　was　going　to　make　it；　after　all。
　At　that　moment；　I　stumbled　over　one　of　the　arms　and　went　sprawling。　The　jug　skidded　across　the　floor；　came　to　rest　against　a　support　beam。　I　scrambled　quickly　to　my　feet　again；　and　retrieved　the　jug。　I　knew　they　were　right　behind　me。　I　didn't　dare　look　back　now。　I　ran　for　the　elevator；　ducking　beneath　one　final　pipe；　but　when　I　looked　again；　Vince　was　already　there。　He　must　have　known　a　shortcut　through　the　octopus　arms；　somehow　he　had　beaten　me。　Now　he　stood　in　the　open　cage；　grinning。　I　looked　back　and　saw　Ricky　just　a　few　yards　behind　me；　closing　fast。
　Julia　called；　〃Give　it　up；　Jack！　It's　no　good。〃
　She　was　right　about　that；　it　was　no　good　at　all。　I　couldn't　get　past　Vince。　And　I　couldn't　outrun　Ricky　now；　he　was　much　too　close。　I　jumped　over　a　pipe；　stepped　around　a　standing　electrical　box；　and　ducked　down。　As　Ricky　jumped　the　pipe；　I　slammed　my　elbow　upward　between　his　legs。　He　howled　and　went　down；　rolling　on　the　floor　in　agony。　I　stopped　and　kicked　him　in　the　head　as　hard　as　I　could。　That　was　for　Charley。
　I　ran。
　At　the　elevator；　Vince　stood　in　a　half…crouch；　fists　bunched。　He　was　relishing　a　fight。　I　ran　straight　toward　him　and　he　grinned　broadly　in　anticipation。
　And　at　the　last　moment；　I　swerved　left。　I　jumped。
　And　started　climbing　the　ladder　on　the　wall。
　Julia　screamed；　〃Stop　him！　Stop　him！〃
　It　was　difficult　climbing；　because　I　had　my　thumb　hooked　through　the　jug；　the　bottle　kept　banging　painfully　against　the　back　of　my　right　hand　as　I　went　up。　I　focused　on　the　pain。　I　panic　at　heights　and　I　didn't　want　to　look　down。　And　so　I　couldn't　see　what　was　dragging　at　my　legs；　pulling　me　back　toward　the　floor。　I　kicked；　but　whatever　it　was　held　on　to　me。　Finally；　I　turned　to　look。　I　was　ten　feet　above　the　ground；　and　two　rungs　beneath　me；　Ricky　had　his　free　arm　locked　around　my　legs；　his　hand　clutching　my　ankle。　He　jerked　at　my　feet；　and　yanked　them　off　the　rung。　I　slid　for　an　instant　and　then　felt　a　burst　of　searing　pain　in　my　hands。　But　I　held　on。
　Ricky　was　smiling　grimly。　I　kicked　my　legs　backward；　trying　to　hit　his　face；　but　to　no　avail；　he　had　both　legs　locked　tight　against　his　chest。　He　was　immensely　strong。　I　kept　trying　until　I　realized　that　I　could　pull　one　leg　up　and　free。　I　did；　and　stomped　down　on　his　hand　that　was　holding　on　to　the　rung。　He　yelled；　and　released　my　legs　to　hold　on　to　the　ladder　with　his　other　hand。　I　stomped　again…and　kicked　straight　back；　catching　him　right　under　the　chin。　He　slid　down　five　rungs；　then　caught　himself。　He　hung　there；　near　the　bottom　of　the　ladder。　I　climbed　again。
　Julia　was　running　across　the　floor。　〃Stop　him！〃
　I　heard　the　elevator　grind　as　Vince　rode　up　past　me；　heading　toward　the　top。　He　would　wait　for　me　there。
　I　climbed。
　I　was　fifteen　feet　above　the　floor；　then　twenty。　I　looked　down　to　see　Ricky　pursuing　me　but　he　was　far　behind；　I　didn't　think　he　could　catch　me；　and　then　Julia　came　swirling　up　through　the　air　toward　me；　spiraling　like　a　corkscrew…and　grabbed　the　ladder　right　alongside　me。　Except　she　wasn't　Julia；　she　was　the　swarm；　and　for　a　moment　the　swarm　was　disorganized　enough　that　I　could　see　right　through　her　in　places；　I　could　see　the　swirling　particles　that　posed　her。　I　looked　down　and　saw　the　real　Julia；　deathly　pale；　standing　and　looking　up　at　me；　her　face　a　skull。　By　now　the　swarm　alongside　me　became　solid…appearing；　as　I　had　seen　it　bee　solid　before。　It　looked　like　Julia。　The　mouth　moved　and　I　heard　a　strange　voice　say　〃Sorry；　Jack。〃　And　the　swarm　shrank；　being　denser　still；　collapsing　into　a　small　Julia；　about　four　feet　tall。
　I　turned　to　climb　again。
　The　small　Julia　swung　back；　and　slammed　hard　against　my　body。　I　felt　like　I　was　hit　by　a　sack　of　cement；　the　wind　knocked　out　of　me。　My　grip　loosened　from　the　ladder；　and　I　barely　managed　to　hang　on；　as　the　Julia　swarm　smashed　against　me　again。　I　ducked　and　dodged；　grunting　in　pain；　and　kept　going　despite　the　impacts。　The　swarm　had　enough　mass　to　hurt　me；　but　not　enough　to　knock　me　off　the　ladder。
　The　swarm　must　have　realized　it；　too；　because　now　the　small　Julia　swarm　pressed　itself　into　a　sphere；　and　slid　smoothly　forward　to　envelop　my　head　in　a　buzzing　cloud。　I　was　totally　blind。　I　could　see　nothing　at　all。　It　was　as　if　I　was　in　a　dust　storm。　I　groped　for　the　next　rung　on　the　ladder；　and　the　next　after　that。　Pinpricks　stung　my　face　and　hands；