[科幻]宿主-第106部分

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done　and　do　it　fast。　I　heard　the　steely　sound　of　the　knife　ing　out　of　the　sheath。

　“Be　very　careful。　Not　too　deep。”

　“You　want　to　do　it？”

　He　inhaled　sharply。　“No。”

　“Okay。”

　I　took　the　ugly　knife。　It　had　a　heavy　handle　and　was　very　sharp；　it　came　to　a　tapered　point　at　the　tip。

　I　didn’t　let　myself　think　about　it。　I　didn’t　want　to　give　myself　a　chance　to　be　a　coward。　The　arm；　not　the　

leg—that’s　all　I　paused　to　decide。　My　knees　were　scarred。　I　didn’t　want　to　have　to　hide　that；　too。

　I　held　my　left　arm　out；　my　hand　was　shaking。　I　braced　it　against　the　door　and　then　twisted　my　head　so　
that　I　could　bite　down　on　the　headrest。　I　held　the　knife’s　handle　awkwardly　but　tightly　in　my　right　hand。　I　

pressed　the　point　against　the　skin　of　my　forearm　so　I　wouldn’t　miss。　Then　I　closed　my　eyes。

　Jared　was　breathing　too　hard。　I　had　to　be　fast　or　he　would　stop　me。

　Just　pretend　it’s　a　shovel　opening　the　ground；I　told　myself。

　I　jammed　the　knife　into　my　arm。

　The　headrest　muffled　my　scream；　but　it　was　still　too　loud。　The　knife　fell　from　my　hand—jerking　

sickeningly　out　from　the　muscle—and　then　clunked　against　the　floor。

　“Wanda！”　Jared　rasped。

　I　couldn’t　answer　yet。　I　tried　to　choke　back　the　other　screams　I　felt　ing。　I’d　been　right　not　to　do　this　

before　driving。

　“Let　me　see！”

　“Stay　there；”　I　gasped。　“Don’t　move。”

　I　heard　the　blanket　rustling　behind　me　despite　my　warning。　I　pulled　my　left　arm　against　my　body　and　
yanked　the　door　open　with　my　right　hand。　Jared’s　hand　brushed　my　back　as　I　half　fell　out　the　door。　It　
wasn’t　a　restraint。　It　was　fort。　

　

“Healer　Knits！　I　need　you　in　reception！　This　is　an　emergency！”　
“No。”　I　tried　to　speak　calmly；　but　I　swayed　in　place。　“I’m　okay。　Just　an　accident。”　
She　put　the　microphone　down　and　hurried　around　to　where　I　stood　swaying。　Her　arm　went　around　my　

waist。　
“Oh；　honey；　what　happened　to　you？”　
“So　careless；”　I　muttered。　“I　was　hiking。…　I　fell　down　the　rocks。　I　was…　cleaning　up　after　dinner。　A　

knife　was　in　my　hand。…”　
My　hesitations　seemed　like　part　of　the　shock　to　her。　She　didn’t　look　at　me　with　suspicion—or　humor；　

the　way　Ian　sometimes　did　when　I　lied。　Only　concern。　
“You　poor　dear！　What’s　your　name？”　
“Glass　Spires；”　I　told　her；　using　the　rather　generic　name　of　a　herd　member　from　my　time　with　the　Bears。　
“Okay；　Glass　Spires。　Here　es　the　Healer。　You’ll　be　fine　in　just　a　moment。”　
I　didn’t　feel　panicked　at　all　anymore。　The　kindly　woman　patted　my　back。　So　gentle；　so　caring。　She　

would　never　harm　me。　
The　Healer　was　a　young　woman。　Her　hair；　skin；　and　eyes　were　all　a　similar　shade　of　light　brown。　It　

made　her　unusual　looking—monochromatic。　She　wore　tan　scrubs　that　only　added　to　that　impression。　
“Wow；”　she　said。　“I’m　Healer　Knits　Fire。　I’ll　get　you　fixed　up　directly。　What　happened？”　
I　told　my　story　again　as　the　two　women　led　me　down　a　hallway　and　then　through　the　very　first　door。　

They　had　me　lie　down　on　the　paper…covered　bed。　
The　room　was　familiar。　I’d　been　in　only　one　place　like　this；　but　Melanie’s　childhood　was　full　of　such　

memories。　The　short　row　of　double　cabinets；　the　sink　where　the　Healer　was　washing　her　hands；　the　
bright；　clean　white　walls…　
“First　things　first；”　Knits　Fire　said　cheerfully。　She　pulled　a　cabinet　open。　I　tried　to　focus　my　eyes；　


knowing　this　was　important。　The　cabinet　was　full　of　rows　and　rows　of　stacked　white　cylinders。　She　took　


　

　I　saw　the　label　again　as　she　twisted　the　lid　off。　Two　short　words。No　Pain？　Was　that　what　it　said？

　“Open　your　mouth；　Glass　Spires。”

　I　obeyed。　She　took　a　small；　thin　square—it　looked　like　tissue　paper—and　laid　it　on　my　tongue。　It　
dissolved　at　once。　There　was　no　flavor。　I　swallowed　automatically。

　“Better？”　the　Healer　asked。

　And　it　was。　Already。　My　my　head　was　clear—I　could　concentrate　without　difficulty。　The　pain　had　
melted　away　with　the　tiny　square。　Disappeared。　I　blinked；　shocked。

　“Yes。”

　“I　know　you　feel　fine　now；　but　please　don’t　move。　Your　injuries　are　not　treated　yet。”

　“Of　course。”

　“Cerulean；　could　you　get　us　some　water？　Her　mouth　seems　dry。”

　“At　once；　Healer　Knits。”

　The　older　woman　left　the　room。

　The　Healer　turned　back　to　her　cabinets；　opening　a　different　one　this　time。　This；　too；　was　filled　with　white　

containers。　“Here　we　are。”　She　pulled　one　from　the　top　of　a　stack；　then　took　another　from　the　other　side。

　Almost　as　if　she　were　trying　to　help　me　fulfill　my　mission；　she　listed　the　names　as　she　reached　for　them。

　“Clean—inside　and　out…　Heal…　Seal…　And　where　is…　ah；　Smooth。　Don’t　want　a　scar　on　that　pretty　

face；　do　we？”

　“Ah…　no。”

　“Don’t　worry。　You’ll　be　perfect　again。”

　“Thank　you。”

　“You’re　very　wele。”

　She　leaned　over　me　with　another　white　cylinder。　The　top　of　this　one　came　off　with　a　pop；　and　there　was　

an　aerosol　spray　nozzle　underneath。　She　sprayed　my　forearm　first；　coating　the　wound　with　clear；　odorless　

mist。

　“Healing　must　be　a　fulfilling　profession。”　My　voice　sounded　just　right。　Interested；　but　not　unduly　so。　“I　
haven’t　been　in　a　Healing　facility　since　insertion。　This　is　very　interesting。”

　“Yes；　I　like　it。”　She　started　spraying　my　face。　

　

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”　
She　smiled。　I　guessed　that　I　was　not　the　first　curious　soul。　“This　is　Clean。　It　will　make　sure　nothing　


foreign　stays　in　the　wound。　It　kills　off　any　of　the　microbes　that　might　infect　the　wound。”　
“Clean；”　I　repeated　to　myself。　
“And　the　Inside　Clean；　just　in　case　anything　has　snuck　into　your　system。　Inhale　this；　please。”　
She　had　a　different　white　cylinder　in　her　hand；　a　thinner　bottle　with　a　pump　rather　than　an　aerosol　top。　


She　puffed　a　cloud　of　mist　into　the　air　above　my　face。　I　sucked　in　a　breath。　The　mist　tasted　like　mint。　
“And　this　is　Heal；”　Knits　Fire　continued；　twisting　the　cap　off　the　next　canister；　revealing　a　small　pouring　
spout。　“It　encourages　your　tissues　to　rejoin；　to　grow　the　way　they　should。”　
She　dribbled　a　tiny　bit　of　the　clear　liquid　into　the　wide　cut　on　my　arm；　then　she　pushed　the　edges　of　the　
wound　together。　I　could　feel　her　touch；　but　there　was　no　pain。　
“I’ll　seal　this　up　before　I　move　on。”　She　opened　another　container；　this　one　a　pliable　tube；　and　then　
squeezed　out　a　line　of　thick；　clear　jelly　onto　her　finger。　“Like　glue；”　she　told　me。　“It　holds　everything　

together　and　lets　the　Heal　do　its　job。”　She　wiped　it　over　my　arm　in　one　swift　pass。　“Okay；　you　can　move　
that　now。　Your　arm　is　fine。”　
I　held　it　up　to　look。　A　faint　pink　line　was　visible　under　the　shiny　gel。　The　blood　was　still　wet　on　my　arm；　


but　there　was　no　source　anymore。　As　I　watched；　the　Healer　cleaned　my　skin　with　one　quick　pass　of　a　


damp　towel。　
“Turn　your　face　this　way；　please。　Hmm；　you　must　have　hit　those　rocks　just　exactly　wrong。　What　a　
mess。”


　“Yes。　It　was　a　bad　fall。”　
“Well；　thank　goodness　you　were　able　to　drive　yourself　here。”　
She　was　lightly　dripping　Heal　onto　my　cheek；　smearing　it　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers。　“Ah；　I　love　to　watch　


it　work。　Looks　much　better　already。　Okay…　around　the　edges。”　She　smiled　to　herself。　“Maybe　one　
more　coat。　I　want　this　to　be　erased。”　She　worked　for　a　minute　longer。　“Very　nice。”　
“Here’s　some　water；”　the　older　woman　said　as　she　came　through　the　door。　
“Thank　you；　Cerulean。”　
“Let　me　know　if　you　need　anything　more。　I’ll　be　up　front。”


　“Thanks。”　
Cerulean　left。　I　wondered　if　she　was　from　the　Flower　Planet。　Blue　flowers　were　rare—one　might　take　a　
name　from　that。


　“You　can　sit　now。　How　do　you　feel？”　


　

　“That’s　just　how　it　should　be。　Okay；　let’s　dust　on　a　little　Smooth。”　
She　twisted　the　last　cylinder’s　top　and　shook　an　iridescent　powder　into　her　hand。　She　patted　it　into　my　
cheek；　then　patted　another　handful　onto　my　arm。


　“You’ll　always　have　a　small　line　on　your　arm；”　she　said　apologetically。　“Like　your　neck。　A　deep　
wound…”　She　shrugged。　Absentmindedly；　she　brushed　the　hair　back　from　my　neck　and　examined　the　
scar。　“This　was　nicely　done。　Who　was　your　Healer？”

　“Um…　Faces　Sunward；”　I　said；　pulling　the　name　from　one　of　my　old　students。　“I　was　in…　Eureka；　
Montana。　I　didn’t　like　the　cold。　I　moved　south。”

　So　many　lies。　I　felt　a　twist　of　anxiety　in　my　stomach。　
“I　started　out　in　Maine；”　she　said；　not　noticing　anything　amiss　in　my　voice。　As　she　spoke；　she　cleaned　the　
blood　from　my　neck。　“It　was　too　cold　for　me；　too。　What’s　your　Calling？”


　“Um…　I　serve　food。　In　a　Mexican　restaurant　in…　Phoenix。　I　like　spicy　food。”　
“Me；　too。”　She　wasn’t　looking　at　me　funny。　She　was　wiping　my　cheek　now。　
“Very　nice。　No　worries；　Glass　Spires。　Your　face　looks　great。”　
“Thank　you；　Healer。”　
“Of　course。　Would　you　like　some　water？”　
“Yes；　please。”　I　kept　a　grip　on　myself。　It　wouldn’t　do　to　bolt　the　glass　down　the　way　I　wanted　to。　I　


wasn’t　able　to　stop　myself　from　finishing　it　all；　though。　It　tasted　too　good。　
“Would　you　like　more？”　
“I…　yes；　that　would　be　nice。　Thank　you。”　
“I’ll　be　right　back。”　
The　second　she　was　out　the　door；　I　slid　off　the　mattress。　The　paper　crackled；　freezing　me　in　place。　She　


didn’t　dart　back　in。　I　had　only　seconds。　It　had　taken　Cerulean　a　few　minutes　to　get　the　water。　Maybe　it　


would　take　the　Healer　just　as　long。　Maybe　the　cool；　pure　water　was　far　away　from　this　room。　Maybe。　
I　ripped　the　pack　off　my　shoulders　and　wrenched　the　drawstrings　open。　I　started　with　the　second　
cabinet。　There　was　the　stacked　column　of　Heal。　I　grabbed　the　whole　column　and　let　it　clatter　quietly　into　
the　bottom　of　my　pack。

　What　would　I　say　if　she　caught　me？　What　lie　could　I　tell？　
I　took　the　two　kinds　of　Clean　next；　from　the　first　cabinet。　There　was　a　second　stack　behind　the　first　of　


　

the　Seal；　when　the　label　of　the　next　row　of　cylinders　caught　my　attention。　
Cool。　For　fevers？　There　were　no　instructions；　just　the　label。　I　took　the　stack。　Nothing　here　would　hurt　a　
human　body。　I　was　sure　of　that。

　I　grabbed　all　the　Seal　and　two　cans　of　Smooth。　I　couldn’t　press　my　luck　any　further。　I