cp.reddice-第18部分

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ion。〃　He　glances　my　way；　finally；　his　long　black　hair　blowing　in　the　soft　wind。　The　stars　shimmer　in　the　depths　of　his　dark　eyes。　The　entire　creation　is　there。　His　smile　is　kind；　the　feeling　of　love　that　pours　from　him　overwhelming。　〃You　have　already　been　to　earth。　You　are　home　now。〃
　　〃Is　this　possible？〃　I　whisper；　straining　to　remember。　Faint　recollections　of　being　on　earth　e　to　me。　I　recall　a　husband；　a　daughter…I　can　see　her　smile。　Yet　a　dark　film　covers　them。　I　view　them　from　a　peculiar　perspective；　from　a　mind　I　can　scarcely　believe　is　connected　to　me。　In　front　of　them　many　centuries　stretch　out；　choked　with　endless　days；　and　nights；　suffering　people；　all　awash　in　blood。　Blood　that　I　have　spilled。　I　have　to　force　the　question　from　my　lips。　〃What　did　I　do　on　earth；　my　Lord？〃
　　〃You　wanted　to　be　different…you　were　different。　It　doesn't　matter。　This　creation　is　a　stage；　and　we　all　play　roles　as　heroes　and　villains　alike。　It　is　all　maya…　illusion。〃
　　〃But　did　I…sin？〃
　　My　question　amuses　him。　〃It　is　not　possible。〃
　　I　glance　toward　the　waiting　vessel。　It　is　almost　full。　〃Then　I　don't　have　to　leave　you？〃
　　He　laughs。　〃Sita。　You　have　not　heard　me。　You　cannot　leave　me。　I　am　always　with　you；　even　when　you　think　you　are　on　earth。〃　He　changes　his　tone…he　bees　more　of　a　friend　than　a　master。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　a　story？〃
　　I　have　to　smile；　although　I　am　more　confused　than　ever。
　　〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　I　say。
　　He　considers。　〃There　was　once　a　fisherman　and　his　wife；　who　lived　in　a　small　town　by　the　ocean。　Every　day　the　fisherman　would　go　out　to　sea　in　his　boat；　and　his　wife　would　stay　behind　and　care　for　the　house。　Their　life　was　simple；　but　happy。　They　loved　each　other　very　much。
　　〃The　wife　had　only　one　plaint　about　her　husband…he　would　eat　only　fish。　For　breakfast；　lunch；　and　dinner；　he　would　eat　only　what　he　caught。　It　didn't　matter　what　she　cooked　and　baked：　bread　or　pastries；　rice　or　potatoes…he　would　have　none　of　it。　Fish　was　his　food；　he　said；　and　that　was　the　way　it　had　to　be。　From　an　early　age；　he　had　been　this　way；　he　had　taken　a　vow　his　wife　could　not　understand。
　　〃It　came　to　pass　one　day　that　his　wife　finally　got　fed　up　with　his　limited　diet　She　decided　to　trick　him；　to　mix　a　piece　of　cooked　lamb　in　with　his　fish。　She　did　this　cleverly；　so　that　from　the　outside　the　fish　looked　as　if　it　had　e　straight　from　the　sea。　But　hidden　beneath　the　scales　of　the　fish　was　the　red　meat。　When　he　returned　home　that　evening　and　sat　down　at　the　table；　the　fish　was　waiting　for　him。
　　〃At　first　he　ate　his　meal　with　great　relish；　noticing　nothing　amiss。　His　wife　sat　beside　him；　eating　the　same　food。　But　when　he　was　halfway　through；　he　began　to　cough　and　choke。　He　couldn't　catch　his　breath。　It　was　only　then　he　smelled　something　odd　on　his　plate。　He　turned　to　his　wife；　eyes　blazing　with　anger。
　　〃　'What　have　you　done？'　he　demanded。　'What　is　in　this　fish？'
　　〃The　wife　sat　back；　scared。　'Only　a　little　lamb。　I　thought　you　might　enjoy　the　change。'
　　〃At　these　words　the　fisherman　wiped　the　plate　from　the　table　and　onto　the　floor。　His　anger　knew　no　bounds。　Still；　he　could　not　catch　his　breath。　It　was　as　if　the　lamb　had　caught　in　his　windpipe　and　refused　to　shake　loose。
　　〃　'You've　poisoned　me！'　he　cried。　'My　own　wife　has　poisoned　me！'
　　〃　'No！　I　only　wanted　to　feed　you　something　different。'　She　stood　and　slapped　him　on　the　back；　but　it　did　not　help。　'Why　are　you　choking　like　this？'
　　〃The　fisherman　fell　onto　the　floor；　turning　blue。
　　'Don't　you　know？〃　he　gasped。　'Don't　you　know　who　I　am？'
　　'〃You　are　my　husband；'　the　wife　cried；　kneeling　beside　him。
　　〃　'I　am　。。。'　the　fisherman　whispered。　'I　am　what　I　am。'
　　〃Those　were　his　last　words。　The　fisherman　died；　and　as　he　did；　his　body　changed。　His　legs　turned　into　a　large　flipper。　His　skin　became　covered　with　silver　scales。　His　face　bulged　out　and　his　eyes　became　blank　and　cold。　Because；　you　see；　he　was　not　a　person。　He　was　a　fish；　which　is　what　he　had　been　all　along。　As　a　big　fish；　he　could　eat　only　smaller　fish。　Everything　else　was　poison　to　him。〃　Krishna　paused。　〃Do　you　understand；　Sita？〃
　　〃No；　my　Lord。〃
　　〃It　doesn't　matter。　You　are　what　you　are。　I　am　what　I　am。　We　are　the　same…when　you　take　the　time　to　remember　me。〃　Krishna　raises　his　flute　to　his　lips。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　a　song？〃
　　〃Very　much；　my　Lord。〃
　　〃Close　your　eyes；　listen　closely。　The　song　is　always　the　same；　Sita。　But　it　is　always　changing；　too。　That　is　the　mystery；　that　is　the　paradox。　The　truth　is　always　simpler　than　you　can　imagine。〃
　　I　close　my　eyes　and　Lord　Krishna　begins　to　play　his　magical　flute。　For　a　time；　outside　of　time；　that　is　all　matters。　The　music　of　his　enchanted　notes　floats　a　wind　that　blows　from　the　heart　of　the　galaxy；　lead　the　stars　shine　down　on　us　as　the　universe　slowly　revolves　and　the　ages　pass。　I　do　not　need　to　see　my　Lord　to　know　that　he　is　present　everywhere。　I　do　not　need　to　touch　him　to　feel　his　hand　on　my　heart。　I　do　not　need　anything；　except　his　love。　After　a　while；　that　is　all　there　is…his　divine　love　pouring　through　the　center　of　my　divine　being。　Truly；　we　are　one　and　the　same。
　　　
　　　13
　　I　lie　flat　on　my　back　in　the　trunk　of　Andy's　car。　My　hearing　is　acute…up　ahead　I　hear　the　noises　of　the　pound；　the　guards　talking　at　the　gate。　The　blackness　in　the　trunk　is　not　totally　dark　to　me。　I　clearly　see　the　white　lab　coat　I　have　donned；　the　fake　security　badge　pinned　to　my　breast　pocket。　The　badge　is　an　old　one　of　Andy's。　I　have　cleverly　put　my　picture　over　his；　and　changed　the　name。　I　am　Lieutenant　Lara　Adams；　Ph。D。；　a　microbiologist　on　loan　from　the　Pentagon。　Andy　says　a　large　number　of　scientists　have　arrived　from　Back　East。　My　makeup　makes　me　look　older。　I　should　be　able　to　blend　in。
　　We　stop　at　the　security　gate。　I　hear　Andy　speak　to　the　guards。
　　〃Another　long　night；　Harry？〃　Andy　asks。
　　〃Looks　like　it；〃　the　guard　replies。　〃Are　you　working　till　dawn？〃
　　〃Close。　This　night　shift　is　a　bear…1　don't　know　whether　I'm　ing　or　going；〃　Andy　hands　something　to　the　guard；　a　pass　that　must　be　electronically　scanned。　He　has　to　have　one　to　leave　the　pound　as　well。　I　have　one　in　my　back　pocket。　Andy　continues　in　a　natural　voice；　〃I　just　wish　I　could　do　a　little　better　at　the　tables；　and　quit　this　stupid　job。〃
　　〃I　hear　you；〃　the　guard　says。　〃How's　your　luck　been　holding　out？〃
　　〃I　won　a　couple　of　grand　last　night。〃
　　The　guard　laughs。　〃Yeah；　but　how　much　did　you　lose？〃
　　Andy　laughs　with　him。　〃Three　grand！〃
　　The　guard　hands　the　pass　back。　〃Have　a　good　night。　Don't　piss　off　the　man。〃
　　I　hear　Andy　nod。　〃It's　a　little　late　for　that。〃
　　We　drive　into　the　pound。　Andy　has　promised　he'll　park　between　two　sheds；　out　of　sight　of　the　manned　towers。　From　my　earlier　examination　of　the　place；　I　am　familiar　with　the　spot。　As　the　car　moves；　I　feel　confident　we　are　heading　straight　for　it。　Especially　when　Andy　turns　to　the　left；　stops；　and　turns　off　the　engine。　He　climbs　out　of　his　car；　shutting　the　door　behind　him；　and　walks　away。　I　listen　to　his　steps　as　he　enters　the　main　lab。　So　far　so　good。
　　I　pop　open　the　trunk　and　carefully　peer　out。
　　The　car　sits　in　shadow。　No　one　is　around。　After　slipping　out　of　the　car；　I　silently　close　the　trunk。　I　　smooth　my　lab　coat　over　my　slim　body；　adjust　my　red　hair。　My　thick　glasses　make　me　look　almost　nerdy　but　smart。
　　〃Lara　Adams　from　Back　East；〃　I　whisper。　Back　East　means　the　Pentagon；　Andy　said。　They　never　called　the　place　by　name。
　　〃You　have　to　get　to　the　general。　You　have　to　control　him。〃
　　Seymour's　advice　remains　with　me。　Resisting　the　temptation　to　follow　Andy　into　the　main　lab…where　I　know　Joel　is　being　held　captive…I　turn　instead　in　the　direction　of　a　small　house　located　behind　the　lab。　This　is　the　general's　private　quarters。　I　move　onto　his　front　steps；　then　pause。　I　don't　press　the　doorbell；　I　know　without　knocking　that　there　is　no　one　at　home。　Andy　warned　me　of　this。　In　fact；　he　said　the　general　was　seldom　at　home。　Andy　wants　me　to　get　Joel　and　get　the　hell　out　of　the　place；　as　quickly　as　I　can。　He　doesn't；　of　course；　know　I　need　to　control　the　general　in　order　to　blow　the　place　up。　But　I　have　warned　him　that　when　the　fireworks　start；　he　should　get　out　of　the　pound　as　quickly　as　possible。
　　For　a　moment；　I　stand　undecided。
　　〃The　general　knows　you'll　e　for　Joel。〃
　　Seymour　is　wise；　but　I　still　think　he　overestimates　the　intelligence　of　the　man。　For　example；　I　tell　myself；　look　how　easily　I　entered　the　pound。　The　general　couldn't　know　that　I　was　on　my　way。　Certainly；　I　can't　search　the　entire　pound　for　him。
　　I　decide　to　have　a　peek　at　Joel。　After　seeing　exactly　where　he　is；　I'll　be　in　a　better　position　to　figure　out　what　to　do　next。　I　head　back　to　the　front　entrance　of　the　lab；　where　Andy　disappeared。
　　The　interior　of　the　lab　is　a　plex　maze　of　halls　and　offices。　It　seems　clear　the　real　work　of　dissecting　and　analyzing　is　done　downstairs。　Men　and　women　in　lab　coats　mill　about。　There　is　an　occasional　armed　soldier。　No　one　pays　any　attention　to　me。　Listening　for　an　elevator；　I　hear　the　sound　of　people　going　up　and　down　steps。　I　prefer　a　stairway　to　an　elevator。　The　latter　can　be　a　death　trap　for　an　invading　vampire。
　　I　find　the　stairs　and　go　down　a　couple　of　flights。　Andy　told　me　Joel　is　being　held　two　stories　below　the　surface；　and　that　his　cell　is　at　the　east　end　of　the　building；　farthest　from　the　main　gate。　On　this　lower　floor　there　are　fewer　people；　they　speak　in　soft　tones。　Moving　like　the　sharp　professional　I'm　supposed　to　be；　I　make　my　way　down　a　narrow　hall　toward　the　rear　of　the　building。　Faintly；　I　smell　Joel's　scent。　But　I　cannot　hear　his　heart　beating；　his　breathing。　The　walls　of　his　cell　must　be　thick。　The　scent　is　my　pass　and　I　follow　it　carefully；　sensitive　to　the　way　it　is　spread　by　the　ventilation　ducts；　the　passage　of　people。
　　I　e　to　a　security　center；　equipped　with　monitors　and　two　armed　soldiers。　I　hear　everything　inside　the　closed　room。　Cracking　the　door；　I　peer　inside　and　see　Joel　on　one　of　the　screens。　He　sits　in　the　corner　of　a　brightly　lit　cage；　pinned　to　the　corner　by　a　metallic　wrist　chain。
　　I　do　not　see　another　vampire　on　a　separate　monitor。　Odd。
　　I　dose　the　door　and　knock。　One　of　the　guards　answers。