mc.prey-第59部分

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ervously。
　〃Jack；〃　she　said。　〃You　disappoint　me。〃
　〃You　said　that　already。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　am　still　not　sure　。。。〃
　As　if　on　some　unspoken　cue　the　men　all　began　to　walk　in　circles。　They　were　moving　in　concentric　circles　around　me。　Was　this　some　kind　of　scanning　procedure？　Or　did　it　mean　something　else？
　I　was　trying　to　guess　the　time。　I　figured　five　minutes　had　elapsed。
　〃e；　Jack。　I　want　to　look　more　closely。〃
　She　put　her　arm　on　my　shoulder　and　led　me　over　to　one　of　the　big　octopus　arms。　It　was　easily　six　feet　across；　and　mirrored　on　its　surface。　I　could　see　Julia　standing　next　to　me。　Her　arm　over　my　shoulder。
　〃Don't　we　make　a　handsome　couple？　It's　a　shame。　We　could　have　such　a　future。〃
　I　said；　〃Yeah；　well　。。。〃
　And　the　moment　I　spoke；　a　river　of　pale　particles　streamed　off　Julia；　curved　in　the　air；　and　came　down　like　a　shower　all　over　my　body　and　into　my　mouth。　I　clamped　my　mouth　shut；　but　it　didn't　matter；　because　in　the　mirror　my　body　seemed　to　dissolve　away；　to　be　replaced　by　Julia's　body。　It　was　as　if　her　skin　had　left　her；　flowed　into　the　air；　and　slid　down　over　me。　Now　there　were　two　Julias　standing　side　by　side　in　front　of　the　mirror。　I　said；　〃Cut　it　out；　Julia。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Why？　I　think　it's　fun。〃
　〃Stop　it；〃　I　said。　I　sounded　like　myself；　even　though　I　looked　like　Julia。　〃Stop　it。〃
　〃Don't　you　like　it？　I　think　it's　amusing。　You　get　to　be　me；　for　a　while。〃
　〃I　said；　stop　it。〃
　〃Jack；　you're　just　no　fun　anymore。〃
　I　pulled　at　the　Julia…image　on　my　face；　trying　to　tear　it　away　like　a　mask。　But　I　felt　only　my　own　skin　beneath　my　fingertips。　When　I　scratched　at　my　cheek；　the　Julia…cheek　showed　scratches　in　the　mirror。　I　reached　back　and　touched　my　own　hair。　In　my　panic；　I　dropped　the　cigarette　lighter。　It　clattered　on　the　concrete　floor。
　〃Get　it　off　me；〃　I　said。　〃Get　it　off。〃
　I　heard　a　whoosh　in　my　ears；　and　the　Julia…skin　was　gone；　sweeping　into　the　air；　then　descending　onto　Julia。　Except　that　she　now　looked　like　me。　Now　there　were　two　Jacks；　side　by　side　in　the　mirror。
　〃Is　this　better？〃　she　said。
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　trying　to　prove。〃　I　took　a　breath。
　I　bent　over　and　picked　up　the　lighter。
　〃I'm　not　trying　to　prove　anything；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　just　feeling　you　out；　Jack。　And　you　know　what　I　found？　You've　got　a　secret；　Jack。　And　you　thought　I　wouldn't　find　it　out。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃But　I　did；〃　she　said。
　I　didn't　know　how　to　take　her　words。　I　wasn't　sure　where　I　was　anymore；　and　the　changes　in　appearance　had　so　unnerved　me　that　I　had　lost　track　of　the　time。　〃You're　worried　about　the　time；　aren't　you；　Jack；〃　she　said。　〃You　needn't　be。　We　have　plenty　of　time。　Everything　is　under　control　here。　Are　you　going　to　tell　us　your　secret？　Or　do　we　have　to　make　you　tell？〃
　Behind　her；　I　could　see　the　stacked　monitor　screens　of　the　control　station。　The　corner　ones　had　a　flashing　bar　along　the　top；　with　lettering　that　I　couldn't　read。　I　could　see　that　some　of　the　graphs　were　rising　steeply；　their　lines　turning　from　blue　to　yellow　to　red　as　they　climbed。　I　did　nothing。
　Julia　turned　to　the　men。　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃Make　him　tell。〃
　The　three　men　converged　toward　me。　It　was　time　to　show　them。　It　was　time　to　spring　my　trap。　〃No　problem；〃　I　said。　I　raised　my　lighter；　flicked　the　flame；　and　held　it　under　the　nearest　sprinkler　head。
　The　men　stopped　in　their　tracks。　They　watched　me。
　I　held　the　lighter　steady。　The　sprinkler　head　blackened　with　the　smoke。
　And　nothing　happened。
　*　*　*
　The　flame　was　melting　the　soft　metal　tab　beneath　the　sprinkler　head。　Splotches　of　silver　were　dripping　on　the　ground　at　my　feet。　And　still　nothing　happened。　The　sprinklers　didn't　e　on。　〃Oh　shit；〃　I　said。
　Julia　was　watching　me　thoughtfully。　〃It　was　a　nice　try。　Very　inventive；　Jack。　Good　thinking。　But　you　forgot　one　thing。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃There's　a　safety　system　for　the　plant。　And　when　we　saw　you　going　for　the　sprinklers；　Ricky　turned　the　system　off。　Safeties　off；　sprinklers　off。〃　She　shrugged。　〃Guess　you're　out　of　luck；　Jack。〃
　I　flicked　the　lighter　off。　There　was　nothing　for　me　to　do。　I　just　stood　there；　feeling　foolish。　I　thought　I　smelled　a　faint　odor　in　the　room。　A　kind　of　sweetish；　nauseating　odor。　But　I　couldn't　be　sure。
　〃It　was　a　nice　try；　though；〃　Julia　said。　〃But　enough　is　enough。〃　She　turned　to　the　men；　and　jerked　her　head。　The　three　of　them　walked　toward　me。　I　said；　〃Hey　guys；　e　on　。。。〃　They　didn't　react。　Their　faces　were　impassive。　They　grabbed　me　and　I　started　to　struggle。　〃Hey；　e　on　now　。。。〃　I　pulled　free　of　them。　〃Hey！〃　Ricky　said；　〃Don't　make　it　any　harder　for　us；　Jack；〃　and　I　said；　〃Fuck　you；　Ricky；〃　and　I　spit　in　his　face　just　as　they　threw　me　to　the　floor。　I　was　hoping　the　virus　would　get　in　his　mouth。　I　was　hoping　I　would　delay　him；　that　we　would　have　a　fight。　Anything　for　a　delay。　But　they　threw　me　to　the　floor；　and　then　they　all　fell　on　me　and　began　to　strangle　me。　I　could　feel　their　hands　on　my　neck。　Bobby　had　his　hands　over　my　mouth　and　nose。　I　tried　to　bite　him。　He　just　kept　his　hands　firmly　in　place　and　stared　at　me。　Ricky　smiled　distantly　at　me。　It　was　as　if　he　didn't　know　me；　had　no　feeling　for　me。　They　were　all　strangers；　killing　me　efficiently　and　quickly。　I　pounded　on　them　with　my　fists；　until　Ricky　got　his　knee　on　one　of　my　arms；　pinning　it　down；　and　Bobby　got　the　other　arm。　Now　I　couldn't　move　at　all。　I　tried　to　kick　my　legs；　but　Julia　was　sitting　on　my　legs。　Helping　them　out。　I　saw　the　world　start　to　turn　misty　before　my　eyes。　A　faint　and　misty　gray。
　Then　there　was　a　faint　popping　sound；　almost　like　popcorn；　or　glass　cracking；　and　then　Julia　screamed；　〃What　is　that？〃
　The　three　men　released　me；　and　got　to　their　feet。　They　walked　away　from　me。　I　lay　on　the　ground；　coughing。　I　didn't　even　try　to　get　up。
　〃What　is　that？〃　Julia　yelled。
　The　first　of　the　octopus　tubes　burst　open；　high　above　us。　Brown　liquid　steam　hissed　out。　Another　tube　popped　open；　and　another。　The　sound　of　hissing　filled　the　room。　The　air　was　turning　dark　foggy　brown；　billowing　brown。
　Julia　screamed　〃What　is　that？〃
　〃It's　the　assembly　line；〃　Ricky　said。　〃It's　overheated。　And　it's　blowing。〃
　〃How？　How　can　that　happen？〃
　I　sat　up；　still　coughing；　and　got　to　my　feet。　I　said；　〃No　safety　systems；　remember？　You　turned　them　off。　Now　it's　blowing　virus　all　through　this　room。〃
　〃Not　for　long；〃　Julia　said。　〃We'll　have　the　safeties　back　in　two　seconds。〃　Ricky　was　already　standing　at　the　control　board；　frantically　hitting　keys。
　〃Good　thinking；　Julia；〃　I　said。　I　lit　my　cigarette　lighter；　and　held　it　under　the　sprinkler　head。
　Julia　screamed；　〃Stop！　Ricky；　stop！〃
　Ricky　stopped。
　I　said；　〃Damned　if　you　do；　damned　if　you　don't。〃
　Julia　turned　in　fury　and　hissed；　〃I　hate　you。〃
　Already　her　body　was　turning　shades　of　gray；　fading　to　a　kind　of　monochrome。　So　was　Ricky；　the　color　washing　out　of　him。　It　was　the　virus　in　the　air；　already　affecting　their　swarms。　There　was　a　brief　crackle　of　sparks；　from　high　in　the　octopus　arms。　Then　another　short　lightning　arc。　Ricky　saw　it　and　yelled；　〃Forget　it；　Julia！　We　take　our　chances！〃　He　hit　the　keys　and　turned　the　safety　system　back　on。　Alarms　started　to　sound。　The　screens　flashed　red　with　the　excess　concentrations　of　methane　and　other　gases。　The　main　screen　showed：　safety　systems　on。　And　the　sprinklers　burst　into　cones　of　brown　spray。
　*　*　*
　They　screamed　as　the　water　touched　them。　They　were　writhing　and　beginning　to　shrink；　to　shrivel　right　before　my　eyes。　Julia's　face　was　contorted。　She　stared　at　me　with　pure　hatred。　But　already　she　was　starting　to　dissolve。　She　fell　to　her　knees；　and　then　onto　her　back。　The　others　were　all　rolling　on　the　floor；　screaming　in　pain。
　〃e　on；　Jack。〃　Someone　was　tugging　at　my　sleeve。　It　was　Mae。　〃e　on；〃　she　said。　〃This　room　is　full　of　methane。　You　have　to　go。〃
　I　hesitated；　still　looking　at　Julia。　Then　we　turned　and　ran。
　　
　DAY　7　
　9：11　A。M。
　The　helicopter　pilot　pushed　the　doors　open　as　we　ran　across　the　pad。　We　jumped　in。　Mae　said；　〃Go！〃
　He　said；　〃I'll　have　to　insist　you　get　your　harnesses　on　before…〃
　〃Fly　this　fucking　thing！〃　I　yelled。
　〃Sorry；　it's　a　regulation；　and　it's　not　safe…〃
　Black　smoke　started　to　pour　out　of　the　power　station　door　we　had　just　e　out　of。　It　billowed　into　the　blue　desert　sky。
　The　pilot　saw　it　and　said；　〃Hang　on！〃
　We　lifted　off　and　headed　north；　swinging　wide　of　the　building。　Now　there　was　smoke　ing　from　all　the　exhaust　vents　near　the　roof。　A　black　haze　was　rising　into　the　air。　Mae　said；　〃Fire　burns　the　nanoparticles　and　the　bacteria；　too。　Don't　worry。〃
　The　pilot　said；　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃Home。〃
　He　headed　west；　and　within　minutes　we　had　left　the　building　behind。　It　disappeared　below　the　horizon。　Mae　was　sitting　back　in　her　seat；　eyes　closed。　I　said　to　her；　〃I　thought　it　was　going　to　blow　up。　But　they　turned　the　safety　system　back　on　again。　So　I　guess　it　won't。〃　She　said　nothing。
　I　said；　〃So　what　was　the　big　rush　to　get　out　of　there？　And　where　were　you；　anyway？　Nobody　could　find　you。〃
　She　said；　〃I　was　outside；　in　the　storage　shed。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃Looking　for　more　thermite。〃
　〃Find　any？〃
　There　was　no　sound。　Just　a　flash　of　yellow　light　that　spread　across　the　desert　horizon　for　an　instant；　and　then　faded。　You　could　almost　believe　it　never　happened。　But　the　helicopter　rocked　and　jolted　as　the　shock　wave　passed　us。
　The　pilot　said；　〃Holy　Mother　of　God；　what　was　that？〃
　〃Industrial　accident；〃　I　said。　〃Very　unfortunate。〃
　He　reached　for　his　radio。　〃I　better　report　it。〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃You　better　do　that。〃
　We　flew　west；　and　I　saw　the　green　line　of　the　forest　and　the　rolling　foothills　of　the　Sierras；　as　we　crossed　into　California。
　　
　DAY　7　
　11：57　P。M。
　It's　late。
　Almost　midnight。　The　house　is　silent　around　me。　I　am　not　sure　how　this　will　turn　out。　The　kids　are　all　desperately　sick；　throwing　up　after　I　gave　them　the　virus。　I　can　hear　my　son　and　daughter　retching　in　separate　bathrooms。　I　went　in　to　check　on　them　a　few　minutes　ago；　to　see　what　was　ing　up。　Their　faces　were　deathly　pale。　I　can　see　they're　afraid；　because　they　know　I'm　afraid。　I　haven't　told　them　about　Julia　yet。　They　haven't　asked。　They're　too　sick　to　ask　right　now。
　I'm　worried　most　about　the　baby；　because　I　had　to　give　her　the　viru