jefflong.yearzero-第50部分

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s　of　men。　Their　murmured　words　could　have　been　just　so　many　neural　twitches；　a　jumble　of　ancient　syllables　and　nonsense。　Maybe　they　were　just　animals　with　names。
　Except　for　the　fallen　man's　mindless　sobbing　out　there　in　the　parking　lot；　their　silence　stretched　on　for　another　ten　long　minutes。　Nathan　Lee　looked　from　Isaiah　to　Matthew　and　the　tall　John　and　the　John　with　thick　ankles　and　wrists；　and　at　all　the　rest　of　them。　Except　for　the　mutilated　fugitive；　they　had　not　seen　the　sun　nor　smelled　a　forest　nor　felt　the　heat　of　a　fire　in　two　thousand　years。
　At　last　Nathan　Lee　couldn't　bear　listening　to　the　man's　groaning　and　weeping。　It　wasn't　his　pain　or　self…pity　that　was　so　disturbing；　but　the　indignity　of　his　situation。　Maybe　he　didn't　have　any　conception　of　dignity　anymore；　but　it　still　bothered　Nathan　Lee。　The　man　was　weak；　that　was　all；　as　blameless　as　the　lepers　who　had　once　taken　care　of　him。　If　for　no　other　reason　than　that；　a　bit　of　sentimental　payback；　he　stepped　away　from　the　gathering。
　Nathan　Lee　knew　it　would　make　him　conspicuous；　but　he　walked　across　the　parking　lot　anyway。　He　placed　a　hand　on　the　man's　back。　His　cheekbone　was　scraped　raw。　A　puddle　of　urine　surrounded　his　body。　His　eyes　rolled　at　the　touch。
　〃e　on；　let's　get　you　on　your　feet；〃　Nathan　Lee　murmured　in　English。　He　got　his　hands　under　the　man's　armpits　and　hoisted　him　off　the　ground。　The　clone　began　moaning；　then　flailing。　Maybe　he'd　fallen　asleep。　To　him；　all　of　this　was　probably　a　bad　dream；　awake　or　not。　Either　way　he　didn't　want　to　be　rescued。　He　fought；　feebly。
　From　behind；　Nathan　Lee　clutched　at　the　slippery　body。　The　man　twisted　in　his　embrace。　He　spit　and　bucked　and　babbled。　Nathan　Lee　heard　laughter　from　the　fire。　He　was　part　of　the　spectacle。　He'd　created　the　spectacle。　This　whole　thing　was　his　doing；　the　yard；　the　sun；　the　taste　of　freedom。　A　dumb　mistake。　Just　the　same；　he　held　on。
　Finally　the　man　quit　struggling。　He　rested　his　head　on　Nathan　Lee's　shoulder　and　began　crying　softly。　Nathan　Lee　got　one　arm　over　his　shoulder　and　they　finished　the　walk　to　the　fire。　The　others　didn't　make　room　at　first。　It　wasn't　hostile；　more　bovine；　herdlike；　unthinking。　He　shoved　at　them　and　they　separated。　Holding　his　passenger　upright；　Nathan　Lee　stood　in　the　sweet；　white　smoke。　He　looked　around　and　some　of　the　men　were　eyeing　him；　weighing　his　act。　Plainly　they　thought　he　was　a　fool。　Now　he　was　soiled　with　a　madman's　spit　and　urine。　The　fugitive　stared　at　him　with　that　seamed　monster　mask。　There　was　no　reading　his　serpent　smile。
　Nathan　Lee　lifted　his　chin　and　squinted　into　the　smoke　and　fire。Screw　these　guys。　He　was　angry　with　himself。　Already　they　had　him　pegged　as　a　bleeding　heart。
　But　they　seemed　to　e　alive　after　that。　One　of　them　picked　up　a　green　pine　needle　with　his　fingertips；　and　broke　it。　He　smelled　it；　and　touched　it　to　his　tongue。
　A　second　man　passed　his　hands　through　the　fire。　Soon　others　were　doing　it；　too；　singeing　the　hairs　on　their　wrists。　Burning　themselves　back　to　consciousness。
　〃Shaa！〃the　tall　John　suddenly　declared。　He　raised　his　hand　out。　The　word　hardly　needed　translation；　though　Izzy　provided　it　in　a　whisper。The　sun！
　Men　looked　at　John。　They　lifted　their　heads　to　the　light。　Another　man　shouted　out；〃Look；　the　sky！　The　sky　is　good！〃　He　was　Ezra；　who　would　lie　facing　the　wall　of　his　cell　for　hours；　humming　under　his　breath。
　〃Khee…rroo…taa；〃said　another。Freedom。　That　broke　the　ice。　Murmurs　greeted　this　opinion；　maybe　yes；　maybe　no。　Even　if　they　didn't　speak；　their　faces　thawed。　Foreheads　wrinkled　or　knit。　Mouths　made　shapes。　Their　nostrils　flared；　sampling　the　air。　Eyes　came　alive。　You　could　see　the　wheels　beginning　to　turn　again。
　〃I　died；〃　a　man　stated。
　〃Is　this　Rome？〃　one　asked。
　Nathan　Lee　had　thought　about　it。　In　their　shoes；　or　shower　sandals　as　it　were；　Rome　would　have　been　his　own　explanation。
　One　of　the　silent；　nameless　men　spoke　sharply。　He　was　of　medium　height　with　olive　skin　and　quick　eyes。　〃Egypt。〃　He　said　it　with　plete　certainty。
　They　looked　at　him。　〃No；〃　said　Matthew。　He　had　little　hair。　〃I　have　been　to　Egypt。　This　is　not　Egypt。〃
　The　nameless　man　made　a　long；　stern　reply；　and　Nathan　Lee's　Aramaic　was　suddenly　depleted。　He　understood　none　of　it。　He　glanced　at　Izzy；　who　was　intent　on　the　words。　Whatever　was　said；　it　had　a　sobering　effect　on　the　rest　of　them。　Their　optimism　turned　cold。　Faces　darkened。
　Nathan　Lee　made　a　signal　to　the　cameras。　The　steel　door　opened　behind　them。　A　cart　wheeled　into　view；　and　the　door　closed。
　On　top　of　the　cart　lay　a　lamb；　spit…roasted　whole　by　one　of　the　Captain's　guards。
　The　feast　was　more　than　a　way　for　the　men　to　break　the　ice。　It　came　straight　out　of　Nathan　Lee's　bag　of　anthro　tricksmensality；　it　was　called；　or　munal　tabling。　Once　you　saw　how　people　ate　together；　how　they　pulled　rank　or　shared；　you　had　most　of　the　tribe　figured　out。
　From　the　fire；　the　group　stared　at　the　lamb　suspiciously。　It　sat　there　in　the　sun；　head　erect　like　a　Sphinx。　The　smell　of　cooked　meat　overcame　most　of　their　doubts。
　〃Why？〃　questioned　one　man。
　〃They　feed　us；〃　said　another。
　A　small　band　walked　over　to　examine　the　food。
　Izzy　hung　back　with　Nathan　Lee。
　〃What　was　that　Egypt　thing　all　about？〃　Nathan　Lee　asked　in　a　whisper。
　〃I'm　not　certain；〃　said　Izzy。　〃He　said　something　about　how　they've　been　brought　out　of　Jordan；　down　into　Egypt。　Into　the　iron　furnace。　Where　the　sky　is　made　of　bronze。〃
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？　The　metal　walls　in　their　cells；　maybe？〃
　〃No　idea。　You　want　me　to　ask　him？〃
　〃Too　soon；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃Just　keep　your　ears　open。　It　looks　like　the　feast　is　about　to　begin。〃
　After　some　discussion；　the　men　decided　to　transport　the　food　back　to　the　fire。　Several　of　them　carried　the　lamb　over　by　hand。　Others　toted　plastic　jugs　of　water　and　sacks　of　food　from　under　the　cart。　They　stoked　the　fire　higher…the　guards　had　left　plenty　of　logs…and　sat　in　a　large；　crowded　circle。
　The　food　rallied　them。　Nathan　Lee　had　scrounged　jars　of　cocktail　olives　and　bags　of　dried　dates。　One　of　the　bakeries　had　mitted　some　bread。　The　loaves　steamed　when　the　men　broke　them　open。　Soon　they　were　all　pulling　meat　from　the　lamb　with　their　fingers。
　The　meal　went　on　for　hours。
　The　sky　and　food　worked　magic　on　them。　With　greasy　chins　and　full　stomachs；　the　clones　began　to　talk；　at　first　quietly；　then　with　more　clarity　and　excitement。　Even　two　thousand　years　ago；　they　would　have　been　unknown　to　each　other。　Jerusalem　in　the　first　century　had　probably　contained　fifty　thousand　people　or　more。　At　the　height　of　religious　festivals；　thousands　more　from　throughout　the　land　had　poured　through　the　gates。　For　the　time　being；　though　they　had　Jerusalem…and　now　their　captivity…in　mon；　everyone　was　equally　a　stranger。
　Men　stood　to　walk　off　their　fullness。　The　cameras　jinked　right　and　left；　their　remote　operators　trying　to　follow　everyone。　The　drowsy　ones　pillowed　their　heads　on　their　arms　and　took　naps　beneath　the　tree。
　The　sight　of　human　faces　and　the　sound　of　their　own　language　revived　them　with　amazing　speed。　The　inconsolable　ones　who　howled　at　night　were　pacified。　Men　held　each　other's　hands　and　walked　in　the　sunlight。　Some　chattered　like　long…lost　cousins；　Izzy　eavesdropping　at　their　heels。　Matthew　and　others　wandered　about　with　tears　running　down　their　faces。　Ezra　and　Jacob　kept　bursting　into　great　laughs　hailing　God　in　the　heavens。
　Sitting　on　his　heels；　Nathan　Lee　let　the　rhythm　of　the　yard　gather　around　him。　Several　clones　had　begun　aggressively　striding　around　the　perimeter　in　clockwise　circles；　their　sandals　slapping。　A　man　faced　each　of　the　walls　and　proclaimed　his　name　with　a　thump　of　his　chest。　Two　others；　philosophers　ormagi　perhaps；　entered　some　deep　discussion　about　the　meaning　of　the　parking　stripes。
　The　man　who　held　his　attention　most　was　the　fugitive。　He　kept　apart　from　the　rest；　quietly　circling　the　walls。　There　was　no　impatience　in　him。　He　didn't　look　up　at　the　sky。　He　didn't　examine　the　walls。　Nathan　Lee　could　tell　he　was　already　thinking　of　escape。
　Now　that　they　were　mixed　together；　the　clones'　differences　became　more　apparent。　In　their　steel　cells；　they　were　mainly　distinct　because　of　their　behavioral　tics。　But　out　here　in　the　open　air；　moving　about；　you　could　see　the　variety　of　men　whose　remains…for　one　reason　or　another…had　e　to　litter　the　roadside　beyond　the　walls　of　old　Jerusalem。　There　were　tall　men；　squat　men；　lively　men；　wary　introverts。　Soon　their　words　and　the　way　they　walked　were　revealing　the　men　they　had　been；　bullies；　sorcerers；　merchants；　herders；　sycophants；　slaves；　and　peasants。　They　had　e　from　many　places　before　ending　up　at　Golgotha。
　Not　everyone　entered　into　the　pany。　One　poor　fellow　stood　in　place；　hooting　over　his　shoulder；　possessed。　Another　developed　the　sudden　urge　to　publicly　masturbate；　and　was　driven　away　with　annoyed　shouts。　But　aside　from　these　broken　misfits；　there　was　remarkably　little　mental　illness。　For　men　who　had　been　so　badly　abused；　they　had　done　a　remarkable　job　at　holding　onto　their　dignity。
　A　bark　of　recognition　suddenly　echoed　in　the　courtyard。　Two　of　the　clones　embraced　and　began　shouting　excitedly。　Izzy　lingered　by　them；　then　came　over　and　squatted　beside　Nathan　Lee。　Apparently　one　of　the　men　was　the　great…grandfather　of　the　other。　They　had　died　ninety　years　apart；　but　looked　like　identical　twins；　both　of　them　twenty…five　years　old　and　with　hawk　noses　and　tight　black　curls。　They　kept　touching　each　other's　faces。
　Another　shout　of　recognition：　Izzy　listened。　Two　of　the　men　had　been　crucified　back　to　back。　They　had　never　seen　each　other's　faces；　but　somehow　recognized　each　other's　voices。　With　great　animated　disbelief；　each　felt　the　other's　limbs　and　checked　for　the　lash　wounds　and　broken　bones　that　had　marked　their　last　days　together。　Weeping；　one　told　of　the　other's　final　breaths。　He　said　it　had　been　like　watching　his　own　child　die。
　　
　ALL　AFTERNOONtheir　discoveries　unfolded。　More　and　more；　they　began　to　piece　together　family　ties　or　identify　neighboring　villages　or　shared　trades。　Before　Nathan　Lee's　eyes；　they　were　being　a　tribe；　fused　by　their　lost　worlds　and　this　strange　new　heaven　or　hell。
　Like　a　bird　of　prey；　Izzy　cast　off　and　came　back；　bearing　new　stories。　〃It's　t