[科幻]宿主-第70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！


ladder　while　Jeb　and　I　tried　to　keep　the　base　steady。　It　was　a　difficult　task；　given　Ian’s　weight　and　the　
homemade　ladder’s　poor　balance。　By　the　end　of　the　day；　my　arms　were　limp　and　aching。　
I　didn’t　even　notice　until　we　were　done　and　heading　for　the　kitchen　that　the　improvised　holster　Jeb　

always　wore　was　empty。　
I　gasped　out　loud；　my　knees　locking　like　a　startled　colt’s。　My　body　tottered　to　a　halt。　
“What’s　wrong；　Wanda？”　Jeb　asked；　too　innocent。　
I　would　have　answered　if　Ian　hadn’t　been　right　beside　him；　watching　my　strange　behavior　with　

fascination　in　his　vivid　blue　eyes。　
So　I　just　gave　Jeb　a　wide…eyed　look　of　mingled　disbelief　and　reproach；　and　then　slowly　began　walking　

beside　him　again；　shaking　my　head。　Jeb　chuckled。　
“What’s　that　about？”　Ian　muttered　to　Jeb；　as　if　I　were　deaf。　
“Beats　me；”　Jeb　said；　he　lied　as　only　a　human　could；　smooth　and　guileless。　
He　was　a　good　liar；　and　I　began　to　wonder　if　leaving　the　gun　behind　today；　and　leaving　me　alone　

yesterday；　and　all　this　effort　forcing　me　into　human　pany　was　his　way　of　getting　me　killed　without　
doing　the　job　himself。　Was　the　friendship　all　in　my　head？　Another　lie？

　This　was　my　fourth　day　eating　in　the　kitchen。　
Jeb；　Ian；　and　I　walked　into　the　long；　hot　room—into　a　crowd　of　humans　chatting　in　low　voices　about　the　
day’s　events—and　nothing　happened。


　Nothing　happened。　
There　was　no　sudden　silence。　No　one　paused　to　stare　daggers　at　me。　No　one　seemed　to　notice　us　at　all。　
Jeb　steered　me　to　an　empty　counter　and　then　went　to　get　enough　bread　for　three。　Ian　lounged　next　to　


　

　“How　are　things　going？　How　are　you　holding　up　with　Andy　gone？”　he　asked　her。

　“I’d　be　fine　if　I　weren’t　so　worried；”　she　told　him；　biting　her　lip。

　“He’ll　be　home　soon；”　Ian　assured　her。　“Jared　always　brings　everyone　home。　He’s　got　a　real　talent。　

We’ve　had　no　accidents；　no　problems　since　he　showed　up。　Andy　will　be　fine。”

　My　interest　sparked　when　he　mentioned　Jared—and　Melanie；　so　somnolent　these　days；　stirred—but　Ian　
didn’t　say　anything　else。　He　just　patted　Paige’s　shoulder　and　turned　to　take　his　food　from　Jeb。

　Jeb　sat　next　to　me　and　surveyed　the　room　with　a　deep　sense　of　satisfaction　plain　on　his　face。　I　looked　
around　the　room；　too；　trying　to　see　what　he　saw。　This　must　have　been　what　it　was　usually　like　here；　when　

I　wasn’t　around。　Only　today　I　didn’t　seem　to　bother　them。　They　must　have　been　tired　of　letting　me　
interrupt　their　lives。

　“Things　are　settling　down；”　Ian　mented　to　Jeb。

　“Knew　they　would。　We’re　all　reasonable　folks　here。”

　I　frowned　to　myself。

　“That’s　true；　at　the　moment；”　Ian　said；　laughing。　“My　brother’s　not　around。”

　“Exactly；”　Jeb　agreed。

　It　was　interesting　to　me　that　Ian　counted　himself　among　the　reasonable　folks。　Had　he　noticed　that　Jeb　

was　unarmed？　I　was　burning　with　curiosity；　but　I　couldn’t　risk　pointing　it　out　in　case　he　hadn’t。

　The　meal　continued　as　it　had　begun。　My　novelty　had　apparently　worn　off。

　When　the　meal　was　over；　Jeb　said　I　deserved　a　rest。　He　walked　me　all　the　way　to　my　door；　playing　the　

gentleman　again。

　“Afternoon；　Wanda；”　he　said；　tipping　his　imaginary　hat。

　I　took　a　deep　breath　for　bravery。　“Jeb；　wait。”

　“Yes？”

　“Jeb…”　I　hesitated；　trying　to　find　a　polite　way　to　put　it。　“I…　well；　maybe　it’s　stupid　of　me；　but　I　sort　of　

thought　we　were　friends。”　
I　scrutinized　his　face；　looking　for　any　change　that　might　indicate　that　he　was　about　to　lie　to　me。　He　only　

looked　kind；　but　what　did　I　know　of　a　liar’s　tells？

　“Of　course　we　are；　Wanda。”

　“Then　why　are　you　trying　to　get　me　killed？”　

　

Generated　by　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　processtext/abclit。html　
”　
I　listed　my　evidence。　“You　didn’t　take　the　gun　today。　And　yesterday　you　left　me　alone。”　
Jeb　grinned。　“I　thought　you　hated　that　gun。”　
I　waited　for　an　answer。　
“Wanda；　if　I　wanted　you　dead；　you　wouldn’t　have　lasted　that　first　day。”　
“I　know；”　I　muttered；　starting　to　feel　embarrassed　without　understanding　why。　“That’s　why　it’s　all　so　


confusing。　”　
Jeb　laughed　cheerfully。　“No；　I　don’t　want　you　dead！　That’s　the　whole　point；　kid。　I’ve　been　getting　them　
all　used　to　seeing　you　around；　getting　them　to　accept　the　situation　without　realizing　it。　It’s　like　boiling　a　

frog。”　
My　forehead　creased　at　the　eccentric　parison。　
Jeb　explained。　“If　you　throw　a　frog　in　a　pot　of　boiling　water；　it　will　hop　right　out。　But　if　you　put　that　frog　

in　a　pot　of　tepid　water　and　slowly　warm　it；　the　frog　doesn’t　figure　out　what’s　going　on　until　it’s　too　late。　

Boiled　frog。　It’s　just　a　matter　of　working　by　slow　degrees。”　
I　thought　about　that　for　a　second—remembered　how　the　humans　had　ignored　me　at　lunch　today。　Jeb　
had　gotten　them　used　to　me。　The　realization　made　me　feel　strangely　hopeful。　Hope　was　a　silly　thing　in　my　
situation；　but　it　seeped　into　me　anyway；　coloring　my　perceptions　more　brightly　than　before。

　“Jeb？”　
“Yeah？”　
“Am　I　the　frog　or　the　water？”　
He　laughed。　“I’ll　leave　that　one　for　you　to　puzzle　over。　Self…examination　is　good　for　the　soul。”　He　


laughed　again；　louder　this　time；　as　he　turned　to　leave。　“No　pun　intended。”　
“Wait—can　I　ask　one　more？”　
“Sure。　I’d　say　it’s　your　turn　anyway；　after　all　I’ve　asked　you。”　
“Whyare　you　my　friend；　Jeb？”　
He　pursed　his　lips　for　a　second；　considering　his　answer。　
“You　know　I’m　a　curious　man；”　he　began；　and　I　nodded。　“Well；　I　get　to　watch　your　souls　a　lot；　but　I　


never　get　to　talk　with　’em。　I’ve　had　so　many　questions　just　piling　up　higher　and　higher。…　Plus；　I’ve　
always　thought　that　if　a　person　wants　to；　he　can　get　along　with　just　about　anybody。　I　like　putting　my　
theories　to　the　test。　And　see；　here　you　are；　one　of　the　nicest　gals　I　ever　met。　It’s　real　interesting　to　have　a　
soul　as　a　friend；　and　it　makes　me　feel　super　special　that　I’ve　managed　it。”

　He　winked　at　me；　bowed　from　the　waist；　and　walked　away。　

　

　He　never　took　the　gun　anywhere　anymore。　I　didn’t　know　where　it　was；　but　I　was　grateful　that　Jamie　
wasn’t　sleeping　with　it；　at　least。　It　made　me　a　little　nervous　to　have　Jamie　with　me　unprotected；　but　I　
decided　he　was　actually　in　less　danger　without　the　gun。　No　one　would　feel　the　need　to　hurt　him　when　he　
wasn’t　a　threat。　Besides；　no　one　came　looking　for　me　anymore。

　Jeb　started　sending　me　on　little　errands。　Run　back　to　the　kitchen　for　another　roll；　he　was　still　hungry。　Go　
fetch　a　bucket　of　water；　this　corner　of　the　field　was　dry。　Pull　Jamie　out　of　his　class；　Jeb　needed　to　speak　
with　him。　Were　the　spinach　sprouts　up　yet？　Go　and　check。　Did　I　remember　my　way　through　the　south　
caves？　Jeb　had　a　message　for　Doc。

　Every　time　I　had　to　carry　out　one　of　these　simple　directives；　I　was　in　a　sweaty　haze　of　fear。　I　
concentrated　on　being　invisible　and　walked　as　quickly　as　I　could　without　running　through　the　big　rooms　
and　the　dark　corridors。　I　tended　to　hug　the　walls　and　keep　my　eyes　down。　Occasionally；　I　would　stop　
conversation　the　way　I　used　to；　but　mostly　I　was　ignored。　The　only　time　I　felt　in　immediate　danger　of　
death　was　when　I　interrupted　Sharon’s　class　to　get　Jamie。　The　look　Sharon　gave　me　seemed　designed　to　
be　followed　by　hostile　action。　But　she　let　Jamie　go　with　a　nod　after　I　choked　out　my　whispered　request；　
and　when　we　were　alone；　he　held　my　shaking　hand　and　told　me　Sharon　looked　the　same　way　at　anyone　
who　interrupted　her　class。

　The　very　worst　was　the　time　I　had　to　find　Doc；　because　Ian　insisted　on　showing　me　the　way。　I　could　
have　refused；　I　suppose；　but　Jeb　didn’t　have　a　problem　with　the　arrangement；　and　that　meant　Jeb　trusted　
Ian　not　to　kill　me。　I　was　far　from　fortable　with　testingthat　theory；　but　it　seemed　the　test　was　
inevitable。　If　Jeb　was　wrong　to　trust　Ian；　then　Ian　would　find　his　opportunity　soon　enough。　So　I　went　with　
Ian　through　the　long　black　southern　tunnel　as　if　it　were　a　trial　by　fire。

　I　lived　through　the　first　half。　Doc　got　his　message。　He　seemed　unsurprised　to　see　Ian　tagging　along　
beside　me。　Perhaps　it　was　my　imagination；　but　I　thought　they　exchanged　a　significant　glance。　I　half　
expected　them　to　strap　me　to　one　of　Doc’s　gurneys　at　that　point。　These　rooms　continued　to　make　me　
feel　nauseated。

　But　Doc　just　thanked　me　and　sent　me　on　my　way　as　if　he　were　busy。　I　couldn’t　really　tell　what　he　was　
doing—he　had　several　books　open　and　stacks　and　stacks　of　papers　that　seemed　to　contain　nothing　but　
sketches。

　On　the　way　back；　curiosity　overcame　my　fear。

　“Ian？”　I　asked；　having　a　bit　of　difficulty　saying　the　name　for　the　first　time。

　“Yes？”　He　sounded　surprised　that　I’d　addressed　him。

　“Why　haven’t　you　killed　me　yet？”

　He　snorted。　“That’s　direct。”

　“You　could；　you　know。　Jeb　might　be　annoyed；　but　I　don’t　think　he’d　shoot　you。”　What　was　I　saying？　It　
sounded　like　I　was　trying　to　convince　him。　I　bit　my　tongue。

　“I　know；”　he　said；　his　tone　placent。　

　

　“It　doesn’t　seem　fair；”　Ian　finally　said。　“I’ve　been　thinking　about　it　a　lot；　and　I　can’t　see　how　killing　you　
would　make　anything　right。　It　would　be　like　executing　a　private　for　a　general’s　war　crimes。　Now；　I　don’t　
buy　all　of　Jeb’s　crazy　theories—it　would　be　nice　to　believe；　sure；　but　just　because　you　want　something　to　
be　true　doesn’t　make　it　that　way。　Whether　he’s　right　or　wrong；　though；　you　don’t　appear　to　mean　us　any　
harm。　I　have　to　admit；　you　seem　honestly　fond　of　that　boy。　It’s　very　strange　to　watch。　Anyway；　as　long　
as　you　don’t　put　us　in　danger；　it　seems…cruel　to　kill　you。　What’s　one　more　misfit　in　this　place？”

　I　thought　about　the　wordmisfit　for　a　moment。　It　might　have　been　the　truest　description　of　me　I’d　ever　
heard。　Where　had　I　ever　fit　in？

　How　strange　that　Ian；　of　all　the　humans；　should　have　such　a　surprisingly　gentle　interior。　I　didn’t　realize　
thatcruelty　would　seem　a　negative　to　him。

　He　waited　in　silence　while　I　considered　all　this。

　“If　you　don’t　want　to　kill　me；　then　why　did　you　e　with　me　today？”　I　asked。

　He　paused　again　before　answering。

　“I’m　not　sure　that…”　He　hesitated。　“Jeb　thinks　things　have　calmed　down；　but　I’m　not　pletely　sure　
about　that。　There’re　still　a　few　p