[科幻]宿主-第122部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　“He’s　gone　after　Jodi；”　Ian　had　groaned。　“What　else？”

　Hope　and　despair。　I　had　given　them　one；　Kyle　the　other。　Would　he　betray　them　all　before　they　could　
even　make　use　of　the　hope？

　Jared　and　Jeb　wanted　to　put　off　the　raid　until　we　knew　if　Kyle　was　successful—it　would　take　him　three　
days　under　the　best　circumstances；if　his　Jodi　still　lived　in　Oregon。　If　he　could　find　her　there。

　There　was　another　place；　another　cave　we　could　evacuate　to。　A　much　smaller　place；　with　no　water；　so　
we　couldn’t　hide　there　long。　They’d　debated　whether　they　should　move　everyone　now　or　wait。

　But　I　was　in　a　hurry。　I’d　seen　the　way　the　others　eyed　the　silver　tank　in　my　arms。　I’d　heard　the　whispers。　
The　longer　I　kept　the　Seeker　here；　the　better　chance　that　someone　would　kill　her。　Having　met　Lacey；　I’d　
begun　to　pity　the　Seeker。　She　deserved　a　mild；　pleasant　new　life　with　the　Flowers。

　Ironically　enough；　Ian　was　the　one　who　took　my　side　and　helped　hurry　the　raid　along。　He　still　didn’t　see　
where　this　would　lead。

　But　I　was　grateful　that　he　helped　me　convince　Jared　there　was　time　to　make　the　raid　and　get　back　
before　a　decision　was　made　about　Kyle。　Grateful　also　that　he　was　back　to　playing　bodyguard。　I　knew　I　
could　trust　Ian　with　the　shiny　cryotank　more　than　anyone　else。　He　was　the　only　one　I　would　let　hold　it　
when　I　needed　my　arms。　He　was　the　only　one　who　could　see；　in　the　shape　of　that　small　container；　a　life　
to　be　protected。　He　could　think　of　that　shape　as　a　friend；　something　that　could　be　loved。　He　was　the　best　
ally　of　all。　I　was　so　grateful　for　Ian；　and　so　grateful　for　the　obliviousness　that　saved　him；　for　the　moment；　
from　pain。

　We　had　to　be　fast；　in　case　Kyle　ruined　everything。　We　went　to　Phoenix　again；　to　one　of　the　many　
munities　that　spun　out　from　the　hub。　There　was　a　big　shuttle　field　to　the　southeast；　in　a　town　called　
Mesa；　with　several　Healing　facilities　nearby。　That　was　what　I　wanted—I　would　give　them　as　much　as　I　
could　before　I　left。　If　we　took　a　Healer；　then　we　might　be　able　to　preserve　the　Healer’s　memory　in　the　
host　body。　Someone　who　understood　all　the　medicines　and　their　uses。　Someone　who　knew　the　best　
ways　to　get　to　unattended　stashes。　Doc　would　love　that。　I　could　imagine　all　the　questions　he’d　be　dying　
to　ask。

　First　the　shuttle　field。

　I　was　sad　that　Jeb　was　missing　this；　but　he’d　have　so　many　other　chances　in　the　future。　Though　it　was　
dark；　a　long　line　of　small　snub…nosed　shuttles　drifted　in　to　land　while　others　took　flight　in　an　endless　
stream。

　I　drove　the　old　van　while　the　others　rode　in　the　back—Ian　in　charge　of　the　tank；　of　course。　I　circled　the　
field；　staying　clear　of　the　busy　local　terminal。　It　was　easy　to　spot　the　vast；　sleek　white　vessels　that　left　the　
planet。　They　did　not　depart　with　the　frequency　of　the　smaller　ships。　All　I　saw　were　docked；　none　
preparing　to　leave　immediately。

　“Everything’s　labeled；”　I　reported　to　the　others；　invisible　in　the　dark　back。　“Now；　this　is　important。　

　

　I　drove　slowly；　close　to　the　crafts。

　“This　will　be　easy。　They’ve　got　all　kinds　of　delivery　vehicles　out　here；　and　we　blend　in。　Oh！　I　can　see　a　
tank　truck—it’s　just　like　the　one　we　saw　them　unloading　at　the　hospital；　Jared。　There’s　a　man　looking　
over　the　stacks…　He’s　putting　them　onto　a　hover　cart。　He’s　going　to　load　them…”　I　drove　even　slower；　
trying　to　get　a　good　look。　“Yes；　ontothis　ship。　Right　into　the　open　hatch。　I’ll　circle　back　and　make　my　
move　when　he’s　in　the　ship。”　I　pulled　past；　examining　the　scene　in　my　mirrors。　There　was　a　lit　sign　beside　
the　tube　that　connected　the　head　of　the　ship　to　the　terminal。　I　smiled　as　I　read　the　words　backward。　This　
ship　was　going　to　the　Flowers。　It　was　meant　to　be。

　I　made　a　slow　turn　as　the　man　disappeared　into　the　hull　of　the　ship。

　“Get　ready；”　I　whispered　as　I　pulled　into　the　shadow　made　by　the　cylindrical　wing　of　the　next　enormous　
ship　over。　I　was　only　three　or　four　yards　from　the　tank　truck。　There　were　a　few　technicians　working　near　
the　front　of　the　Flower…bound　vessel　and　others；　farther　away；　out　on　the　old　runway。　I　would　be　just　
another　figure　in　the　night。

　I　cut　the　engine　and　hopped　down　from　the　driver’s　seat；　trying　to　look　casual；　like　I　was　only　doing　my　
job。　I　went　around　to　the　back　of　the　van　and　opened　the　door　a　crack。　The　tank　was　right　at　the　edge；　
the　light　on　top　glowing　dull　red；　signifying　that　it　was　occupied。　I　lifted　it　carefully　and　closed　the　door。

　I　kept　up　an　easy　rolling　pace　as　I　walked　to　the　open　end　of　the　truck。　But　my　breathing　sped　up。　This　
felt　more　dangerous　than　the　hospital；　and　that　worried　me。　Could　I　expect　my　humans　to　risk　their　lives　
this　way？

　I’ll　be　there。　I’ll　do　it　myself；　just　like　you　would。　On　the　off　chance　you　get　your　way；　that　is。

　Thanks；　Mel。

　I　had　to　force　myself　not　to　keep　glancing　over　my　shoulder　at　the　open　hatch　where　the　man　had　
disappeared。　I　placed　the　tank　gently　atop　the　closest　column　in　the　truck。　The　addition；　one　among　
hundreds；　was　not　noticeable。

　“Goodbye；”　I　whispered。　“Better　luck　with　your　next　host。”

　I　walked　back　to　the　van　as　slowly　as　I　could　stand　to。

　It　was　silent　in　the　van　as　I　reversed　out　from　under　the　big　ship。　I　started　back　the　way　we’d　e；　my　
heart　hammering　too　fast。　In　my　mirrors；　the　hatch　remained　empty。　I　didn’t　see　the　man　emerge　before　
the　ship　was　out　of　sight。

　Ian　climbed　into　the　passenger　seat。　“Doesn’t　look　too　hard。”

　“It　was　very　good　luck　with　the　timing。　You　might　have　to　wait　longer　for　an　opportunity　next　time。”

　Ian　reached　over　to　take　my　hand。　“You’re　the　good…luck　charm。”　

　

Generated　by　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　processtext/abclit。html　
。　
“Do　you　feel　better　now　that　she’s　safe？”　
“Yes。”　
I　saw　his　head　turn　sharply　as　he　heard　the　unexpected　sound　of　a　lie　in　my　voice。　I　didn’t　meet　his　gaze。　
“Let’s　go　catch　some　Healers；”　I　muttered。　
Ian　was　silent　and　thoughtful　as　we　drove　the　short　distance　to　the　small　Healing　facility。　
I’d　thought　the　second　task　would　be　the　challenge；　the　danger。　The　plan　was　that　I　would—if　the　


conditions　and　numbers　were　right—try　to　lead　a　Healer　or　two　out　of　the　facility　under　the　pretext　that　I　
had　an　injured　friend　in　my　van。　An　old　trick；　but　one　that　would　work　only　too　well　on　the　unsuspecting；　
trusting　Healers。

　As　it　turned　out；　I　didn’t　even　have　to　go　in。　I　pulled　into　the　lot　just　as　two　middle…aged　Healers；　a　man　
and　a　woman　wearing　purple　scrubs；　were　getting　into　a　car。　Their　shift　over；　they　were　heading　home。　
The　car　was　around　the　corner　from　the　entrance。　No　one　else　was　in　sight。

　Ian　nodded　tensely。　
I　stopped　the　van　right　behind　their　car。　They　looked　up；　surprised。　
I　opened　my　door　and　slid　out。　My　voice　was　thick　with　tears；　my　face　twisted　with　remorse；　and　that　


helped　to　fool　them。　
“My　friend　is　in　the　back—I　don’t　know　what’s　wrong　with　him。”　
They　responded　with　the　instant　concern　I　knew　they　would　show。　I　hurried　to　open　the　back　doors　for　


them；　and　they　followed　right　behind。　Ian　went　around　the　other　side。　Jared　was　ready　with　the　
chloroform。

　I　didn’t　watch。　
It　took　just　seconds。　Jared　hauled　the　unconscious　bodies　into　the　back；　and　Ian　slammed　the　doors　
shut。　Ian　stared　at　my　tear…swollen　eyes　for　just　a　second；　then　took　the　driver’s　seat。


　I　rode　shotgun。　He　held　my　hand　again。　
“Sorry；　Wanda。　I　know　this　is　hard　for　you。”　
“Yes。”　He　had　no　idea　how　hard；　and　for　how　many　different　reasons。　
He　squeezed　my　fingers。　“But　that　went　well；　at　least。　You　make　an　excellent　charm。”　
Too　well。　Both　missions　had　gone　too　perfectly；　too　fast。　Fate　was　rushing　me。　
He　drove　back　toward　the　freeway。　After　a　few　minutes；　I　saw　a　bright；　familiar　sign　in　the　distance。　I　


took　a　deep　breath　and　wiped　my　eyes　clear。　


　

Generated　by　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　processtext/abclit。html　
”　
“Anything　you　want。”　
“I　want　fast　food。”　
He　laughed。　“No　problem。”　
We　switched　seats　in　the　parking　lot；　and　I　drove　up　to　the　ordering　box。　
“What　do　you　want？”　I　asked　Ian。　
“Nothing。　I’m　getting　a　kick　out　of　watching　you　do　something　for　yourself。　This　has　to　be　a　first。”　
I　didn’t　smile　at　his　joke。　To　me；　this　was　sort　of　a　last　meal—the　final　gift　to　the　condemned。　I　wouldn’t　


leave　the　caves　again。　
“Jared；　how　about　you？”　
“Two　of　whatever　you’re　having。”　
So　I　ordered　three　cheeseburgers；　three　bags　of　fries；　and　three　strawberry　shakes。　
After　I　got　my　food；　Ian　and　I　switched　again　so　I　could　eat　while　he　drove。　
“Eew；”　he　said；　watching　me　dip　a　french　fry　into　the　shake。　
“You　should　try　it。　It’s　good。”　I　offered　him　a　well…coated　fry。　
He　shrugged　and　took　it。　He　popped　it　into　his　mouth　and　chewed。　“Interesting。”　
I　laughed。　“Melanie　thinks　it’s　gross；　too。”　That’s　why　I’d　cultivated　the　habit　in　the　beginning。　It　was　


funny　now　to　think　how　I’d　gone　out　of　my　way　to　annoy　her。　
I　wasn’t　really　hungry。　I’d　just　wanted　some　of　the　flavors　I　particularly　remembered；　one　more　time。　Ian　
finished　off　half　my　burger　when　I　was　full。　
We　made　it　home　without　incident。　We　saw　no　sign　of　the　Seekers’　surveillance。　Perhaps　they’d　
accepted　the　coincidence。　Maybe　they　thought　it　inevitable—wander　the　desert　alone　long　enough；　and　
something　bad　would　happen　to　you。　We’d　had　a　saying　like　that　on　the　Mists　Planet：　Cross　too　many　

ice　fields　alone；　and　wind　up　a　claw　beast’s　meal。　That　was　a　rough　translation。　It　sounded　better　in　Bear。　
There　was　a　large　reception　waiting　for　us。　
I　smiled　halfheartedly　at　my　friends：　Trudy；　Geoffrey；　Heath；　and　Heidi。　My　true　friends　were　dwindling。　

No　Walter；　no　Wes。　I　didn’t　know　where　Lily　was。　This　made　me　sad。　Maybe　I　didn’t　want　to　live　on　

this　sad　planet　with　so　much　death。　Maybe　nothingness　was　better。　
It　also　made　me　sad；　petty　as　it　was；　to　see　Lucina　standing　beside　Lacey；　with　Reid　and　Violetta　on　the　
other　side。　They　were　talking　animatedly；　asking　questions；　it　looked　like。　Lacey　was　holding　Freedom　

　

　I’d　never　been　allowed　near　the　child；　but　Lacey　was　already　one　of　them。　Trusted。

　We