jefflong.yearzero-第59部分

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t　there's　no　place　in　the　Bible　where　he　ever　called　himself　Messiah。　Do　you　see？　If　he　calls　himself　Christ　then　he's　not　Christ。　It's　simple。　The　clone's　an　impostor。　Someone　set　him　up。　He's　not　real。〃
　〃Why　would　someone　do　that？〃　said　Miranda。
　〃I　don't　know。　A　prank？〃
　〃Who　could　have　gotten　to　him；　though？〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃We've　been　so　careful。〃
　〃Not　that　careful。　Somebody　got　into　the　yard　and　left　that　crucifix　in　the　tree；　remember？　For　all　we　know　it　could　be　the　same　merry　prankster。　Somebody　with　access　to　the　place。　Somebody　inside。〃
　They　looked　at　Ross　again。　〃What　about　it；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃Did　you　put　the　cross　in　the　tree？　Did　you　put　the　clone　up　to　this？〃
　〃No；　sir；〃　Ross　swore。　Then　he　added；　〃Not　that　I　see　the　harm。〃
　〃Why　is　that；　Ross？〃
　Ross　looked　at　Nathan　Lee　like　he　was　a　little　slow。　〃They　are　Christians。〃
　Nathan　Lee　slapped　his　knees。　〃Right；〃　he　said。
　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　who　leaked　this　nonsense？〃　said　Miranda。　〃Look　at　that　crowd　out　there。〃
　Ross　fell　silent。　Joe　provided。〃Pendejo；〃　he　rumbled。
　〃Is　that　true？〃　Miranda　demanded。
　Ross　confessed。　〃I　called　my　wife。　I　told　her　not　to　call　her　sister。〃
　〃But　he's　not　real；〃　Miranda　groaned。
　Ross　glanced　up　at　her。　〃Why　not？〃　he　said。
　〃We　just　told　you。〃
　Ross　thought　about　that。　His　jaw　looked　like　petrified　wood。　Nathan　Lee　sighed。
　The　Captain　said；　〃Get　him　out　of　here。〃
　〃Where　to；　Captain？〃　Joe　said。
　〃Give　him　a　mop。　Have　him　change　lightbulbs。　I　don't　know。　Just　keep　him　away　from　the　Pound。　And　any　telephones。　And　do　not　let　him　go　out　there。　Those　people　do　not　need　anymore　of　this　brilliant　display。〃
　After　the　two　guards　left；　Miranda　said；　〃Unbelievable。〃
　They　went　to　the　window。　The　vigil　had　grown　from　a　few　dozen　to　several　hundred。　Candle　flames　glittered　in　the　night。
　〃But　these　are　sophisticated　people；〃　Izzy　protested。　〃They　can't　honestly　believe　we've　got　the　son　of　God　in　our　basement。〃
　Miranda　gestured　at　the　window。　〃Then　what　are　they　doing　out　there？〃
　〃Human　curiosity。〃
　〃It's　three　in　the　morning。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　the　Captain　said。　〃These　things　can　blow　up。　I　want　some　breathing　room。〃　He　picked　up　his　phone　and　called　Pro　Force。　They　were　the　shock　troops；　armed　and　menacing。　〃Keep　it　polite；〃　he　ordered。　〃Ask　them　to　disperse。　They　probably　won't；　so　just　escort　the　crowd　down　the　hill。　Let's　set　our　perimeter　at　the　road。　They　need　to　know　our　borders。〃
　The　event　was　escalating　before　their　eyes。　People　saw　their　lighted　window　and　waved　at　them　expectantly。　They　started　singing　〃Rock　of　Ages。〃
　〃They're　harmless；〃　Izzy　insisted。　〃We　know　those　people。〃
　They　did　look　peaceful　enough　standing　there。　Mostly　they　were　intent　on　keeping　their　candles　from　blowing　out。
　〃Mobs　aren't　people；〃　the　Captain　said。
　〃It　doesn't　make　sense；〃　Izzy　said。　〃That's　all　I'm　saying。〃
　Miranda　rubbed　her　temples。
　〃Pro　Force；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃They're　going　to　give　it　the　stamp　of　reality；　you　know。　Just　their　presence　will　legitimize　the　event。〃
　The　Captain　puffed　out　his　cheeks。　He　looked　out　the　window。　〃Damned　if　I　do；　damned　if　I　don't。　It's　running　out　of　control。　Walking。　Whatever　it's　doing。〃
　〃The　Captain's　right；〃　Miranda　said　to　Nathan　Lee。　〃He　has　his　job。　You　have　yours。　We　need　damage　control。　Fast。〃
　Nathan　Lee　got　to　his　feet。　〃All　right；〃　he　said　to　Izzy。　〃Let's　go　to　the　source。〃
　　
　JOE　WAS　BACKon　duty　in　the　monitor　booth。　Ross　was　hanging　by　his　thumbs　somewhere；　out　of　sight。　Joe　pointed　at　one　of　the　screens。　〃Him；〃　he　said。
　Nathan　Lee　pulled　up　a　chair　and　leaned　close　to　the　screen。　〃So；〃　he　said；　〃finally。〃　It　was　the　clone　who'd　cried　Egypt。　He　never　had　given　a　name。
　The　man　was　sitting　erect　on　the　edge　of　his　bed；　as　if　awaiting　visitors。　His　shoulder　bones　were　set　wide　like　a　yoke；　but　he　was　thin。　He　had　long　feet　and　big　hands；　and　his　burr　of　hair　and　beard　were　black。　He　had　seemed　tentative　and　withdrawn　ever　since　his　outburst　about　the　bronze　sky；　as　if　he'd　misstepped。　But　his　eyes　were　perfectly　ferocious　now。　He'd　made　his　move；　no　going　back。
　〃What　do　you　know　about　him？〃　Nathan　Lee　asked　Izzy。
　〃Bit　of　a　prig；　you　ask　me。　Keeps　his　own　pany。　Put　me　off　the　few　times　I　tried　to　chat　him　up。〃　Izzy　summarized。　〃Don't　know　a　thing　about　him。〃
　〃Let's　play　back　the　tape；〃　Nathan　Lee　said　to　Joe。　〃I　want　to　hear　that　'string　of　stuff'　Ross　mentioned。〃
　They　watched　the　replay。　There　was　Ross；　opening　the　door。　He　entered　the　cell　timidly；　and　crossed　himself。　〃Perfect；〃　said　Izzy。　The　clone　stood　watching　him。　Studying　him。　He　didn't　appear　distressed　or　anguished；　though　only　a　minute　earlier　he'd　groaned　about　God　forsaking　him。Are　you　Jesus？　Ross　asked　in　English。　Very　clearly；　the　clone　answeredJesus　Christ。
　Ross　was　right　about　the　string　of　stuff。　It　was　delivered　so　rapidly　in　Aramaic　that　Nathan　Lee　didn't　catch　a　word　of　it。　Then　Joe　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　frame；　in　the　open　doorway；　and　Ross　was　yanked　from　the　cell。　The　door　slammed　shut。
　〃Again；〃　said　Izzy。　After　the　second　replay；　he　said；　〃Oh；　you'll　love　this。　Straight　from　Revelation。I　am　the　alpha　and　the　omega；　the　beginning　and　the　end；　who　is　and　who　was　and　who　is　to　e。　Then　he　goes　on　with　something　about　suffering　and　repentance。〃
　Nathan　Lee　tried　to　remember　the　history　of　the　New　Testament。　〃Revelation；〃　he　said。　〃But　that　wasn't　written　until　near　the　second　century。　This　guy's　all　over　the　place。　Egypt。　Revelation。　Old　Testament。　New。〃
　〃Doesn't　look　like　a　Jesus　to　me　anyhow；〃　said　Izzy。
　Nathan　Lee　knew　what　he　meant。　Jesus　was　an　idol；　a　Shroud　negative；　a　movie　star。。。not　a　man。　He　had　long　blond　tresses　with　a　faint　goatee；　or　dark　curlicue　forelocks　and　a　ZZ　Top　beard。　He　came　with　blue　eyes　or　black　ones；　with　a　straight　nose　and　a　crown　of　thorns。　He　belonged　in　Christmas　mangers　and　Byzantine　mosaics　and　on　Mexican　prayer　cards；　in　stained　glass；　in　marble　statues。　He　was　a　figment　of　art；　a　creature　of　monks　and　Michelangelo　and　Mapplethorpe。　Intellectually　Nathan　Lee　knew　this　could　not　be　the　Christian　godhead。　But　a　deep；　prehistoric　part　of　him　could　not　shake　the　outside　chance　of　it。What　if　this　was　God　in　a　burr　cut？
　〃Fishing　for　attention；〃　said　Izzy。　〃A　stunt。〃
　Nathan　Lee　agreed。　〃But　why　now？〃
　〃That　crucifix　in　the　tree；　I'd　say。　Nothing　to　lose？〃
　Nathan　Lee　frowned。　〃Looking　back；　that　crucifix　in　the　tree　seems　almost　like　a　signal。　Like　a　green　light　to　go　into　action。〃
　〃Well；　he's　e　out　of　the　closet　now；〃　said　Izzy。
　〃Let's　finish　him　off；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃This　won't　take　long。　Then　everybody　can　go　back　to　bed　again。〃
　They　entered　the　cell。　The　clone　remained　sitting。〃Shlaa…ma　umook；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。Peace　be　with　you。
　The　clone　was　not　friendly。　〃Ishmael　and　Nathaniel。　Why　do　they　send　you？〃　he　demanded。　They：　their　captors　and　keepers。
　〃They　sent　us。〃　Nathan　Lee　kept　it　blunt。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　the　clone　demanded。　That　was　supposed　to　be　their　question。　〃You're　not　who　you　seem　to　be。〃
　Too　true；　thought　Nathan　Lee。　They　were　a　roomful　of　fakes。
　〃Tell　us　your　name；〃　said　Izzy。
　〃You're　one　of　them；〃　the　clone　realized。
　〃Name；〃　repeated　Izzy。
　〃Eesho；〃　the　clone　said。　〃Yeshua；　they　call　me。　Jesus；　you　say。　Themeshiah。〃
　〃Christ？〃　said　Izzy。
　〃That；　too。〃
　〃There　are　many　people　named　Jesus；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃Are　you　the　one　they　call　Jesus　Barabbas？〃
　It　was　a　trick　question。　If　this　Eesho　was　simply　repeating　whatever　was　given　to　him；　he　would　agree　to　being　the　wrong　Jesus；　the　one　who　wasn't　crucified。　The　hoax　could　end　right　here。
　Eesho　was　contemptuous。　〃Would　you　be　honoring　me　if　I　were　alestai？〃
　〃Honoring　him！〃　Izzy　barked　in　English。　〃Is　that　what　he　thinks？〃
　〃What's　alestai？〃　said　Nathan　Lee。
　Izzy　frowned。　〃Never　heard　the　word。〃
　〃Let's　start　there　then；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃Pick　him　to　pieces。　Use　his　own　words。〃
　Izzy　fired　off　a　burst　of　Aramaic。　They　spoke　for　a　minute。　〃It's　something　like　an　assassin；〃　Izzy　said。　〃A　political　terrorist。〃　He　listened　as　the　clone　went　on　talking。　〃That's　it。Sicarri；　another　term。　Like　Judas　Iscariot。　Judas　the　Sicarri。　A　Zealot。〃
　〃Watch　it；〃　breathed　Nathan　Lee。　〃Don't　give　him　more　names。　He's　creating　himself　out　of　our　mistakes。〃
　〃I　didn't；〃　said　Izzy。　〃He　came　up　with　the　name　Judas　himself。〃
　The　clone　saw　Nathan　Lee　hesitate。　A　look　of　satisfaction　came　over　his　face。
　〃Oh；　boy；〃　Nathan　Lee　muttered。　Eesho；　if　that　was　his　name；　knew　more　of　the　story　than　he'd　feared。
　For　the　next　two　hours；　they　worked　through　the　logical　questions。　Where　were　you　born？　Who　were　your　family　members？　Name　your　neighbors。　Who　was　the　governor？　Who　were　your　teachers？　Describe　your　travels。　Did　you　ever　visit　Jerusalem？　How　many　times？　Why？
　The　clone　answered　dutifully；　even　mechanically。　He　had　been　born　in　Bethlehem；　he　claimed。　In　a　cave。　His　father　was　a　carpenter；　descended　from　King　David　who　was　descended　from　Abraham。　To　prove　it；　he　delivered　a　long　list　of　names　from　memory；　linking　his　father　generation　by　generation　to　the　great　prophets。　The　names　echoed　off　the　stainless　steel　walls。
　〃Are　you　the　son　of　David；　then；〃　Nathan　Lee　asked；　〃or　the　son　of　God？〃
　〃I　am　the　Nazarene；〃　the　clone　declared　simply。　He　was　perfectly　at　ease。　Any　contradictions　were　his　interrogator's　to　unravel。
　〃But　you　said　you　were　born　in　Bethlehem；〃　he　said。
　Eesho　answered。　〃The　Lord　spoke　through　the　prophet　Hosea。　He　said；'Out　of　Egypt　I　called　my　Son。'〃
　There；thought　Nathan　Lee。　The　Egypt　reference　again。　〃Clever；〃　he　said　to　Izzy。　〃He's　been　setting　us　up　from　the　start。〃
　〃How　do　you　mean？〃　said　Izzy。
　〃He　prophesied　his　own　ing。　He　called　this　place　Egypt　that　first　day　in　the　yard。　The　Son　was　called　from　Egypt。　Therefore；　he's　the　Son。〃
　〃But　who　gave　him　the　Bible　references？〃
　〃Keep　digging；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃We'll　catch　him　out。〃
　Eesho　said　he'd　had　four　brothers　named　James；　Joset；　Simon；　and　Jude；　and　three　sisters　whom　he　didn't　bother　naming。　His　teachers　had　included　John　the　Baptist。　He'd　spent　years　wandering　the　banks　of　the　Dead　Sea。　He　once　meditated　in　the　desert。　Yes；　it　was　true；　he　had　attacked　the　merchants　and　money