wt.theyearofthequietsun-第35部分

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　　He　said　at　last：　〃Do　you　know　the　date？〃
　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　Hesitation；　then：　〃I　think　you　were　waiting　for　me。〃
　　Arthur　Saltus　nodded；　and　there　was　the　barest　hint　of　affirmation　from　the　woman。
　　〃My　father　said　you　would　be　here…sometime。　He　was　certain　you　would　e；　you　were　the　last　of　the　three。〃
　　Surprise：　〃No　one　else；　after　us？〃
　　〃No　one。〃
　　Chaney　touched　the　grave　a　last　time；　and　their　eyes　followed　his　hand。　He　had　one　more　question　to　ask　before　he　would　risk　getting　to　his　feet。
　　〃Who　lies　here？〃
　　Arthur　Saltus　said：　〃My　father。〃
　　Chaney　wanted　to　cry　out：　how？　when？　why？　but　embarrassment　held　his　tongue；　embarrassment　and　pain　and　depression；　he　bitterly　regretted　the　day　he'd　accepted　Katrina's　offer　and　stepped　into　this　unhappy　position。　He　climbed　to　his　feet；　avoiding　sudden　moves　that　could　be　misinterpreted；　and　was　thankful　he　hadn't　taken　a　picture　of　the　grave…thankful　he　wouldn't　have　to　tell　Katrina；　or　Saltus；　or　Seabrooke；　what　he'd　found　here。　He　would　make　no　mention　of　the　grave　at　all。
　　Standing；　Chaney　searched　the　area　carefully；　looking　over　their　heads　at　the　weedy　garden；　the　parking　lot；　the　pany　street　beyond　the　lot　and　all　of　the　station　open　to　his　eye。　He　saw　no　one　else。
　　Sharp　question：　〃Are　you　two　alone　here？〃
　　The　woman　had　jumped　at　his　tone　and　seemed　about　to　flee；　but　her　brother　held　his　ground。
　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　A　pause；　and　then：　〃Where　is　Katrina？〃
　　〃She　is　waiting　in　the　place；　Mr。　Chaney。〃
　　〃Does　she　know　I　am　here？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃She　knew　I　would　ask　about　her？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　She　thought　you　would。〃
　　Chaney　said：　〃I'm　going　to　break　a　rule。〃
　　〃She　thought　you　would　do　that；　too。〃
　　〃But　she　didn't　object？〃
　　〃She　gave　us　instructions；　sir。　If　you　asked；　we　were　to　say　that　she　told　you　where　she　would　wait。〃
　　Chaney　nodded　his　wonder。　〃Yes…she　did　that。　She　did　that　twice。〃　He　moved　back　along　the　path　by　way　of　the　cistern　and　they　carefully　retreated　before　him；　still　uncertain　of　him。　〃Did　you　do　this？〃
　　〃My　father　and　I　dug　it；　Mr。　Chaney。　We　had　your　book。　The　descriptions　were　very　clear。〃
　　〃I'd　tell　Haakon；　if　I　dared。〃
　　Arthur　Saltus　stepped　aside　when　they　reached　the　parking　lot　and　allowed　Chaney　to　go　ahead　of　him。　The　woman　had　darted　off　to　one　side　and　now　kept　a　prudent　distance。　She　continued　to　stare　at　him；　a　stare　that　might　have　been　rude　under　other　circumstances；　and　Chaney　was　very　sure　she'd　seen　no　other　man　for　too　many　years。　He　was　equally　certain　she'd　never　seen　a　man　like　him　inside　the　protective　fence：　that　was　her　apprehension。
　　He　ignored　the　rifle　resting　in　the　cart。
　　Brian　Chaney　fitted　the　keys　into　the　twin　locks　and　swung　the　heavy　door。　His　two　lanterns　rested　on　the　top　step；　and　as　before　a　rush　of　musty　air　fell　out　into　the　waning　afternoon　sunlight。　Chaney　paused　awkwardly　on　the　doorsill　wondering　what　to　say…wondering　how　to　say　goodbye　to　these　people。　Only　a　damned　fool　would　say　something　flippant　or　vacuous　or　inane；　only　a　damned　fool　would　utter　one　of　the　meaningless　cliches　of　his　age；　but　only　a　stupid　fool　would　simply　walk　away　from　them　without　saying　anything。
　　He　glanced　again　at　the　sky　and　at　the　golden　fleece　about　the　sun；　at　the　new　grass　and　leaves　and　then　at　the　aging　mound　of　yellow　clay。　At　length　his　gaze　swung　back　to　the　man　and　woman　who　waited　on　him。
　　He　said：　〃Thank　you　for　trusting　me。〃
　　Saltus　nodded。　〃They　said　you　could　be　trusted。〃
　　Chaney　studied　Arthur　Saltus　and　almost　saw　again　the　unruly　sandy　hair　and　the　peculiar　set　to　his　eyes…　the　eyes　of　a　man　long　accustomed　to　peering　against　the　sun…bright　sea。　He　looked　long　at　Kathryn　Saltus　but　could　not　see　the　transparent　blouse　or　the　delta　pants：　on　her　those　garments　would　be　obscene。　Those　garments　belonged　to　a　world　long　gone。　He　searched　her　face　for　a　moment　too　long；　and　was　falling　head　over　heels　when　reality　brought　him　up　short。
　　Harsh　reality：　she　lived　here　but　he　belonged　back　there。　It　was　folly　to　entertain　even　dreams　about　a　woman　living　a　hundred　years　ahead　of　him。　Hurtful　reality。
　　His　conscience　hurt　when　he　closed　the　door　because　he　had　no　more　to　say　to　them。　Chaney　turned　away　and　went　down　the　steps；　putting　behind　him　the　quiet　sun；　the　chill　world　of　2000…plus；　the　unknown　survivors　beyond　the　fence　who　had　fled　in　terror　at　sight　and　sound　of　him；　and　the　half…familiar　survivors　within　the　fence　who　were　sharp　reminders　of　his　own　loss。　His　conscience　hurt；　but　he　didn't　turn　back。
　　The　time　was　near　sunset　on　an　unknown　day。
　　It　was　the　longest　day　of　his　life。
　　
　　
　　SEVENTEEN
　　
　　The　briefing　room　was　subtly　different　from　that　one　he'd　first　entered　weeks　or　years　or　centuries　ago。
　　He　remembered　the　military　policeman　who'd　escorted　him　from　the　gate　and　then　opened　the　door　for　him；　he　remembered　his　first　glance　into　the　room…his　lukewarm　reception；　his　tardy　entrance。　He'd　found　Kathryn　van　Hise　critically　eyeing　him；　assessing　him；　wondering　if　he　would　measure　up　to　some　task　ahead；　he'd　found　Major　Moresby　and　Arthur　Saltus　playing　cards；　bored；　impatiently　awaiting　his　arrival；　he'd　found　the　long　steel　table　positioned　under　lights　in　the　center　of　the　room…all　waiting　on　him。
　　He　had　given　his　name　and　started　an　apology　for　his　tardiness　when　the　first　hurtful　sound　stopped　him；　chopped　him　off　in　mid…sentence　and　hammered　his　ears。　He　had　seen　them　turn　together　to　watch　the　clock：　sixty…one　seconds。　All　that　only　a　week　or　two　ago…a　century　or　two　ago…before　the　bulky　envelopes　were　opened　and　a　hundred　flights　of　fancy　loosed。　The　long　journey　from　the　Florida　beach　had　brought　him　twice　to　this　room；　but　this　time　the　lantern　poorly　illuminated　the　place。
　　Katrina　was　there。
　　The　aged　woman　was　sitting　in　her　accustomed　chair　to　one　side　of　the　oversized　steel　table…sitting　quietly　in　the　darkness　beneath　the　extinct　ceiling　lights。　As　always；　her　clasped　hands　rested　on　the　tabletop　in　repose。　Chaney　put　the　lantern　on　the　table　between　them　and　the　poor　light　fell　on　her　face。
　　Katrina。
　　Her　eyes　were　bright　and　alive；　as　sharply　alert　as　he　remembered　them；　but　time　had　not　been　lenient　with　her。　He　read　lines　of　pain；　of　unknown　troubles　and　grief；　the　lines　of　a　tenacious　woman　who　had　endured　much；　had　suffered　much；　but　had　never　surrendered　her　courage。　The　skin　was　drawn　tight　over　her　cheekbones；　pulled　tight　around　her　mouth　and　chin　and　appeared　sallow　in　lantern　light。　The　lustrous；　lovely　hair　was　entirely　gray。　Hard　years；　unhappy　years；　lean　years。
　　Despite　all　that　he　knew　a　familiar　spark　within　him：　she　was　as　beautiful　in　age　as　in　youth。　He　was　pleased　to　find　that　loveliness　so　enduring。
　　Chaney　pulled　out　his　own　chair　and　slid　down；　never　taking　his　eye　off　her。　The　old　woman　sat　without　moving；　without　speaking；　watching　him　intently　and　waiting　for　the　first　word。
　　He　thought：　she　might　have　been　sitting　there　for　centuries　while　the　dust　and　the　darkness　grew　around　her；　waiting　patiently　for　him　to　e　forward　to　the　target；　waiting　for　him　to　explore　the　station；　fulfill　his　last　mission；　end　the　survey；　and　then　e　opening　doors　to　find　the　answers　to　questions　raised　above　ground。　Chaney　would　not　have　been　too　surprised　to　find　her　waiting　in　ancient　Jericho　if　he'd　gone　back　ten　thousand　years。　She　would　have　been　there；　placidly　waiting　in　some　temple　or　hovel；　waiting　in　a　place　where　he　would　find　her　when　he　began　opening　doors。
　　The　dusty　briefing　room　was　as　chill　as　the　cellar　had　been；　as　chill　as　the　air　outside；　and　she　was　bundled　in　one　of　the　heavy　coats。　Her　hands　were　encased　in　a　pair　of　large　mittens　intended　for　a　man…and　if　he　bent　to　look；　he　would　find　the　oversize　boots。　She　appeared　bent　over；　small　in　the　chair　and　terribly　tired。
　　Katrina　waited　on　him。
　　Chaney　struggled　for　something　to　say；　something　that　wouldn't　sound　foolish　or　melodramatic　or　carry　a　ring　of　false　heartiness。　She　would　despise　him　for　that。　Here　again　was　the　struggle　of　the　outer　door；　and　here　again　he　was　fearful　of　losing　the　struggle。　He　had　left　her　here　in　this　room　only　hours　ago；　left　her　with　that　sense　of。　dry　apprehension　as　he　prepared　himself　for　the　third…now　final…probe　into　the　future。　She　had　been　sitting　in　the　same　chair　in　the　same　attitude　of　repose。
　　Chaney　said：　〃I'm　still　in　love　with　you；　Katrina。〃
　　He　watched　her　eyes；　and　thought　they　were　quickly　filled　with　humor　and　a　pleasurable　laughter。
　　〃Thank　you；　Brian。〃
　　Her　voice　had　aged　as　well：　it　sounded　more　husky　than　he　remembered　and　it　reflected　her　weariness。
　　〃I　found　patches　of　wild　strawberries　at　the　old　barracks；　Katrina。　When　do　strawberries　ripen　in　Illinois？〃
　　There　was　laughter　in　her　eyes。　〃In　May　or　June。　The　summers　have　been　quite　cold；　but　May　or　June。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　the　year？　The　number？〃
　　A　minute　movement　of　her　head。　〃The　power　went　out　many　years　ago。　I'm　sorry；　Brian；　but　I　have　lost　the　count。〃
　　〃I　don't　suppose　it　really　matters…not　now；　not　with　what　we've　already　learned。　I　agree　with　Pindar。〃
　　She　looked　her　question。
　　He　said：　〃Pindar　lived　about　twenty…five　hundred　years　ago　but　he　was　wiser　than　a　lot　of　men　alive　today。　He　warned　man　of　peering　too　far　into　the　future；　he　warned　of　not　liking　what　would　be　found。〃　An　apologetic　gesture；　a　grin。　〃Bartlett　again：　my　vice。　The　mander　was　always　teasing　me　about　my　affair　with　Bartlett。〃
　　〃Arthur　waited　long　to　see　you。　He　hoped　you　would　e　early；　that　he　might　see　you　again。〃
　　〃I　would　have　liked…　Didn't　anyone　know？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃But　why　not？　That　gyroscope　was　tracking　me。〃
　　〃No　one　knew　your　arrival　date；　no　one　would　guess。　The　gyroscope　device　could　not　measure　your　progress　after　the　power　failed　here。　We　knew　only　the　date　of　failure；　when　the　TDV　suddenly　stopped　transmitting　signals　to　the　puter　there。　You　were　wholly　lost　to　us；　Brian。〃
　　〃Sheeg！　Those　goddam　infallible　engineers　and　their　goddam　infallible　inventions！〃　He　caught　himself　and　was　embarrassed　at　the　outburst。　〃Excuse　me；　Katrina；〃　Chaney　reached　across　the　table　and　closed　h