jefflong.yearzero-第71部分

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　Nathan　Lee　turned　the　question　back　on　her。　〃No　big　mystery。　The　same　thing　you　want。〃
　〃Clarify；〃　she　said。
　〃Ochs　wants　what　we　all　want。　Not　right　this　minute；　in　this　warm　room　with　our　good　health　and　clean　clothes。　In　the　middle　of　the　night；　I　mean。〃
　She　didn't　write　anything。　She　thought　it　was　a　munication　problem。　〃But　you　see；　we　have　to　give　him　something。　This　is　a　negotiation。〃　The　negotiator　asked　Nathan　Lee　to　go　through　the　dossier　again。　〃If　it　jogs　any　memories；　anything；　I'll　be　right　over　there。〃　She　left　him。
　While　Nathan　Lee　went　through　Ochs's　resumes；　photos；　diplomas；　and　other　documents；　he　heard　three　generals　talking。　〃We've　got　snipers；〃　said　one。
　〃God；　don't　martyr　the　bastard。〃
　〃Would　decapitation　even　work？〃　said　the　third。　〃What　if　he's　not　really　their　leader？〃
　At　ten　before　the　hour；　they　miked　Miranda　and　arranged　her　at　the　table。　The　shouting　stopped。　Their　queen　was　ready。
　〃We　link　up　at　the　top　of　the　hour；〃　the　FBI　woman　was　briefing　her。　〃Here's　a　set　of　talking　points　we've　worked　up。　Set　a　reasonable　tone。　Treat　him　as　an　equal。　Don't　talk　down　to　him。　Don't　be　submissive。　Impress　on　Professor　Ochs　that　we're　working　on　his　behalf。　Ask　him　what　they　want。　More　food？　Medicine？　The　messiah　clone？〃
　〃Negative；　the　clone；〃　snapped　the　general　with　whom　Miranda　had　been　arguing。　They'd　already　fought　like　dogs　over　this。　〃He's　a　ransom　asset。　Call　it　mutual　assured　destruction。　Ochs　knows　the　score。　He's　one　of　us；　or　used　to　be。〃　Heads　nodded　at　the　Cold　Warrior　wisdom。
　〃They　want　the　monster？〃　one　of　the　civilian　deputies　argued。　〃Give　him　to　them。　Wrap　him　up　in　a　big　red　bow。　Send　him　down。〃
　〃He　would　never　go；〃　Nathan　Lee　interrupted。
　〃But　they're　his　people。〃
　〃He's　not　the　one　they　want；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃He's　a　fake。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter。　Send　them　any　of　the　clones。　Put　a　crown　of　thorns　on　him。　They'll　never　know　the　difference。〃
　〃Ochs　would　know。〃
　〃Ochs。〃　It　came　back　to　that；　to　trying　to　cut　a　deal　with　the　unknown。
　Miranda　straightened　in　her　chair。　She　folded　her　hands　and　raised　her　chin。　The　negogiator　went　down　her　list。　〃Tell　them　we're　close　to　the　cure；〃　the　woman　said。
　〃But　there　is　no　cure；〃　Miranda　said。　〃They　know　that。　If　there　was；　we'd　be　down　there　inoculating　them　all。〃
　Nathan　Lee　watched　the　group。　They　thought　she　was　offering　a　gambit。　〃We　could　try　that；〃　someone　considered。
　〃Too　late　for　that　anyway；〃　said　a　lab　chief。　〃They're　not　going　away。　They　can't。　These　are　very　sick　people。　They　have　no　shelter；　no　food；　no　sanitation。　The　secondary　infections　are　rampant　down　there。　The　die…off's　happening　already。　For　them；　this　is　the　end　of　the　road。〃
　〃Stick　with　the　cure；〃　said　the　negotiator。　〃We　promised　them　a　miracle。　It's　supposed　to　happen　here；　on　this　hill；　in　our　labs。　We　just　need　time。　They'll　respect　that。〃
　〃If　we　can　just　keep　them　stalled　another　two　weeks；　attrition　will　do　the　rest；〃　the　lab　chief　said。
　〃Two　weeks？〃　a　man　protested。　〃They　could　attack　in　two　hours。　We　don't　know　what　we're　dealing　with。〃
　The　room　fell　quiet。
　〃We　shouldn't　be　here；〃　a　man　called　out。　〃You　have　to　order　the　evacuation。　Immediately。〃
　Another　voice　spoke。　〃We　should　have　been　evacuated　a　long　time　ago。〃
　Miranda's　face　was　grey。　Her　eyes　darted　around　the　room；　searching　for　Nathan　Lee。　She　hesitated。　Nathan　Lee　saw　a　frightened　girl。　She　was　afraid　for　them；　afraid　of　herself；　afraid　she　might　be　wrong。
　The　general　charged　into　her　indecision。　〃Negative；　the　evacuation；〃　he　said。　〃The　encampment　covers　I…84　all　the　way　to　Santa　Fe。〃
　A　scientist　stood　up。　〃Offer　them　the　city。　They　can　have　everything。　All　they　need　to　do　is　let　us　pass。〃
　〃While　we　save　ourselves？〃　said　the　general。　〃Not　one　truck　would　make　it　through。〃
　〃Then　use　the　back　road；〃　someone　said。
　〃That　was　built　for　light　traffic。　We're　talking　about　a　convoy　of　heavily　loaded；　16…wheel　trucks。　The　back　road　can't　handle　us。〃
　〃We　can't　be　evacuated？〃　It　was　Miranda。　She　had　argued　against　evacuation　for　months；　and　yet　was　as　shocked　as　the　rest　of　them。
　〃That　option　is　injudicious　at　this　time；〃　said　the　general。
　〃Injudicious？〃　she　said。
　Around　the　room；　the　other　generals　glanced　at　one　another。　〃It　is　not　timely；〃　said　the　general；　〃at　this　time。〃
　〃Thirty　seconds；〃　said　a　man　behind　one　of　the　cameras。
　Ochs　appeared　on　their　multiple　screens；　pacing　back　and　forth；　hairy；　backlit　by　a　fire。　Izzy　wasn't　doing　a　good　job　following　him　with　the　camera。　Ochs　kept　sliding　in　and　out　of　view。　The　camera　seemed　fixed　in　place。　The　one　constant　was　a　cluster　ofpenitente　crosses　in　the　distance。
　〃Just　get　him　talking；〃　the　negotiator　told　Miranda。　〃Roll　with　any　punches。　Don't　provoke　him。　Remember；　dialogue。　Engagement。　Today；　tonight；　tomorrow；　next　week。　As　often　as　possible。　We're　here　for　him；　24/7。　Whatever　he　needs。〃
　People　scattered　on　every　side　as　if　Miranda　were　in　the　line　of　fire。　Her　solitary　image　flashed　on　the　screens；　then　it　was　back　to　Ochs　stabbing　at　the　earth　with　his　metal　post。
　〃Five；　four；　three；〃　said　the　cameraman。　Two　fingers；　one。　He　pointed　at　Miranda。
　〃Ochs；〃　she　said　loudly。　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃
　Ochs　stalked　closer。　He　peered　at　a　TV　set　beside　Izzy's　camera。　〃Mystery；〃　he　declared。　〃Is　that　you？〃
　Miranda　was　thrown　off　balance。　She　looked　around　the　table。　〃Mystery？〃　someone　murmured。
　〃The　mother　of　harlots　and　the　abominations　of　the　earth；〃　said　Ochs。
　They　had　given　Nathan　Lee　a　slate　to　write　messages　on。　He　wroteBook/Revelation；　and　held　it　for　her　to　see。
　〃You　can　use　plain　English；〃　she　said。　〃We've　had　enough　Bible…speak　up　here。〃　The　negotiator　winced。　〃You've　been　busy；〃　Miranda　continued。
　〃Lots　to　do；〃　Ochs　boomed。
　〃We've　been　busy　here；　too。〃
　〃The　things　I've　seen；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Did　you　hurt　your　leg？〃
　〃That；〃　he　dismissed。
　〃Let　us　help。　Your　people　are　suffering。〃
　Ochs　glanced　around　him。　〃Seasoning；〃　he　said。　〃They're　not　afraid。　Just　making　themselves　ready　for　the　big　day。〃
　Eyes　locked　on　eyes　around　the　room。Judgment　Day。　They　held　their　collective　breath。
　〃When's　the　big　day？〃　Miranda　asked。
　〃Soon；〃　he　smiled。
　〃What　happens　then？〃
　〃You　just　told　me；　no　Bible　talk。〃
　〃Knock　yourself　out。〃
　His　eyes　gleamed。　〃Doot　eighteen；〃　he　said。
　Some　people　looked　at　their　watches；　like　he'd　given　a　time。　Nathan　Lee　reached　for　a　Bible。
　〃Are　you　going　to　cross　the　river？〃　Miranda　asked　pointblank。
　One　of　the　generals　frantically　cut　a　finger　across　his　throat　to　shut　her　up。　The　negotiator　muttered；　〃Don't　provoke　him。〃Too　late　for　that；　thought　Nathan　Lee。　Ochs　had　made　up　his　mind　to　raise　this　army　the　day　they'd　exiled　him。　Then　he　remembered　Miranda's　father　predicting　Ochs's　return。　They　had　known　he　would　go　preaching。　They'd　calculated　the　arc　of　his　circle。　It　made　no　sense。　Why　set　a　madman　loose　in　the　wilderness　if　he　was　going　to　e　back　to　haunt　you？
　〃The　spirit　guides　us　down　here；〃　Ochs　answered。
　〃You　guide　the　spirit；〃　said　Miranda。　〃I　understand　why　you　hate　us。　But　these　are　your　people。　Show　them　a　little　mercy。　Why　burn　their　food？〃
　Ochs　bent　and　looked　into　the　lens。　〃You've　got　the　wrong　idea；　Miranda。　Tempting　us　is　a　waste　of　time。　The　sword　has　fallen　on　my　people。　Now　they　are　the　sword。　Keep　your　food。　And　your　spies；　too。〃
　Abruptly　Ochs　was　finished　with　them。　He　didn't　say　another　word；　simply　walked　off　camera。　〃Ochs？〃　called　Miranda。
　His　suddenness　stunned　them。　Everyone　began　talking　at　once。
　〃He　didn't　even　ask　about　the　Jesus　clone；〃　someone　objected。
　〃We　were　going　to　offer　him　amnesty；〃　another　said。
　〃What　spies？　We　approached　him　in　good　faith。　What　about　good　faith？〃
　What　about　Izzy？thought　Nathan　Lee。　They　had　rolled　the　dice　with　him　and　didn't　like　the　roll；　and　now　Izzy　was　seemingly　forgotten。
　〃I　think　we're　okay；〃　a　woman　was　saying。　〃The　man's　Stage　One。　Functional　delirium。　He's　probably　already　forgotten　he　talked　with　us。〃
　Round　and　round　they　went；　analyzing　the　short；　bizarre　encounter。
　〃Doot…eighteen；〃　Nathan　Lee　spoke　up。　They　looked　at　him。　The　room　hushed。　He　abbreviated　it　for　them。
　〃When　you　e　into　the　land　which　God　is　giving　you；　you　shall　not　follow　the　abominations　of　those　nations。　There　shall　not　be　found　among　you　anyone　who　practices　witchcraft；　or　is　a　sorcerer；　or　who　calls　up　the　dead。　For　all　who　do　these　things　are　an　abomination　to　the　Lord。〃
　Foreheads　wrinkled　in　thought。　〃But　we're　scientists；〃　someone　protested。
　〃Mumbo　jumbo；〃　snapped　a　general。
　〃Apocalyptic　mindset；〃　the　FBI　negotiator　declared。　〃He's　raving。　There's　probably　a　thousand　others　just　like　him　down　there。　I　think　we're　in　the　clear。　They'll　talk　themselves　to　death。〃
　The　camera　continued　staring　ahead。　The　sounds　of　the　camp　fed　over　the　video　microphone：　the　crunch　of　footsteps；　the　clink　of　metal；　a　rock　hammering　at　a　piece　of　wood。　People　walked　back　and　forth　as　if　the　camera　didn't　exist。
　It　took　another　few　minutes　to　spot　what　they'd　missed。　Nathan　Lee　knew　what　to　look　for。　He　knew　Ochs。　The　professor　was　chain…reacting。　Nathan　Lee　kept　staring　at　the　screen。
　〃There；〃　he　said。　The　clue　to　their　fate　was　in　plain　sight。
　The　camera　wasn't　randomly　positioned。　Using　a　remote　control；　one　of　the　technicians　slowly　zoomed　the　lens。　The　crosses　drew　nearer。　Smoke　fouled　the　long　distance；　but　then　the　sun　broke　through。　The　crosses　lit　up。
　They　were　empty；　except　for　one。　A　man　was　trying　to　get　fortable　up　there。　It　was　a　delicate　task。　He　was　in　such　pain。　There　were　no　rope　straps　to　slip　his　arms　and　feet　into。　This　was　nopenitente。　They　had　nailed　him　to　the　wood。
　〃Izzy；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。
　The　room　fell　silent。　They　stared　at　the　awful；　miniature　spectacle。　A　woman　began　weeping。　The　minister　with　white　hair　crossed　himself。
　〃Animals；〃　hissed　a　cell　biologist　from　Miranda's　lab。
　〃Ochs；〃　said　a　man。
　The　FBI　negotiator　was　perplexed。　〃I　don't　understand；〃　she　said。　〃Is　he　making　way　for　the　messiah；　or　does　he　think　he　is　the　messiah？　He's　playing　out　the　crucifixion。　But　he's　not　the　one　being　crucified。　By　punishing　the　other；　he　transfers　the　messiah's　power　to　his　victim。　Is　tha