dk.coldfire-第47章

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ere；　you　see；　that's　what　I'm　talking　about。　How　do　you　know　it's　from　another　galaxy？　Because　you　believe　what　it　told　you。　How　do　you　know　there's　a　spaceship　under　the　pond？　Because　you　believe　what　it　told　you。〃　
　Jim　was　getting　impatient　now。　〃Why　would　it　lie　to　us；　what　would　it　have　to　gain　from　lies？〃　〃I　don't　know。　But　we　can't　be　sure　that　it　isn't　manipulating　us。　
　And　when　it　es　back；　like　it　promised；　I　want　to　be　ready　for　it。　I　want　to　spend　the　next　hour　or　two　or　three…however　long　we've　got…making　a　list　of　questions；　so　we　can　put　it　through　a　carefully　planned　inquisition。　
　We've　got　to　have　a　strategy　for　squeezing　real　information　from　it；　facts　not　fantasies；　and　our　questions　have　to　support　that　strategy。〃　
　When　he　frowned；　she　hastened　on　before　he　could　interrupt。　
　〃Okay；　all　right；　maybe　it's　incapable　of　lying；　maybe　it's　noble　and　pure；　maybe　everything　it's　told　us　is　the　gospel　truth。　But　listen；　Jim；　this　is　not　an　epiphany。　The　Friend　set　the　rules　by　influencing　you　to　buy　the　tablets　and　pen。　It　established　the　question…and…answer　format。　If　it　didn't　want　us　to　make　the　best　of　that　format；　it　would've　just　told　you　to　shut　up　and　would've　blabbered　at　you　from　a　burning　bush！〃　He　stared　at　her。　He　chewed　his　lip　thoughtfully。　
　He　shifted　his　gaze　to　the　walls　where　the　creature　of　light　had　swum　in　the　stone。　
　Pressing　her　point；　Holly　said；　〃You　never　even　asked　it　why　it　wants　you　to　save　people's　lives；　or　why　some　people　and　not　others。〃　
　He　looked　at　her　again；　obviously　surprised　to　realize　that　he　had　not　pursued　the　answer　to　the　most　important　question　of　all。　In　the　lactescent　glow　of　the　softly　hissing　gas　lantern；　his　eyes　were　blue　again；　not　green　as　the　amber　light　had　temporarily　made　them。　And　troubled。　
　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃You're　right。　I　guess　I　was　just　swept　away　by　it　all。　I　mean；　Holly；　whatever　the　hell　it　is…it's　astounding。〃　
　〃It's　astounding；〃　she　acknowledged。　
　〃We'll　do　what　you　want；　make　up　a　list　of　carefully　thought…out　questions。　And　when　it　es　back；　you　should　be　the　one　to　ask　all　of　them；　'cause　you'll　be　better　at　ad…libbing　other　questions　if　it　says　anything　that　needs　follow…up。〃　
　〃I　agree；〃　she　said；　relieved　that　he　had　suggested　it　without　being　pressured。　
　She　was　better　schooled　at　interviewing　than　he　was；　but　she　was　also　more　trustworthy　in　this　particular　situation　than　Jim　could　ever　be。　
　The　Friend　had　a　long　past　relationship　with　him　and　had；　admittedly；　already　messed　with　his　memory　by　making　him　forget　about　the　encounters　they'd　had　twenty…five　years　ago。　Holly　had　to　assume　that　Jim　was　coopted；　to　one　degree　or　another　corrupted；　though　he　could　not　realize　it。　
　The　Friend　had　been　in　his　mind　perhaps　on　scores　or　hundreds　of　occasions；　when　he　had　been　at　a　formative　age；　and　when　he　had　been　particularly　vulnerable　due　to　the　loss　of　his　parents；　therefore　even　more　susceptible　to　manipulation　and　control　than　most　ten…year…old　boys。　On　a　subconscious　level；　Jim　Ironheart　might　be　programmed　to　protect　The　Friend's　secrets　rather　than　help　to　reveal　them。　
　Holly　knew　she　was　walking　a　thread…thin　line　between　judicious　precaution　and　paranoia；　might　even　be　treading　more　on　the　side　of　the　latter　than　the　former。　Under　the　circumstances；　a　little　paranoia　was　a　prescription　for　survival。　
　When　he　said　he　was　going　outside　to　relieve　himself；　however；　she　much　preferred　to　be　with　him　than　alone　in　the　high　room。　She　followed　him　downstairs　and　stood　by　the　Ford　with　her　back　to　him　while　he　peed　against　the　split…rail　fence　beside　the　cornfield。　
　She　stared　out　at　the　deep　black　pond。　
　She　listened　to　the　toads；　which　were　singing　again。　So　were　the　cicadas。　
　The　events　of　the　day　had　rattled　her。　Now　even　the　sounds　of　nature　seemed　malevolent。　
　She　wondered　if　they　had　e　up　against　something　too　strange　and　too　powerful　to　be　dealt　with　by　just　a　failed　reporter　and　an　ex…schoolteacher。　She　wondered　if　they　ought　to　leave　the　farm　right　away。　She　wondered　if　they　would　be　allowed　to　leave。　
　Since　the　departure　of　The　Friend；　Holly's　fear　had　not　abated。　If　anything；　it　had　increased。　She　felt　as　if　they　were　living　under　a　thousand…ton　weight　that　was　magically　suspended　by　a　single　human　hair；　but　the　magic　was　weakening　and　the　hair　was　stretched　as　taut　and　brittle　as　a　filament　of　glass。　
　By　midnight；　they　had　eaten　six　chocolate　doughnuts　and　posed　seven　pages　of　questions　for　The　Friend。　Sugar　was　an　energizer　and　a　consolation　in　times　of　trouble；　but　it　was　no　help　to　already…frayed　nerves。　
　Holly's　anxiety　had　a　sharp　refined…sugar　edge　to　it　now；　like　a　wellstropped　razor。　
　Pacing　with　the　tablet　in　her　hand；　Holly　said；　〃And　we're　not　going　to　let　it　get　away　with　written　answers　this　time。　That　just　slows　down　the　give　and　take　between　interviewer　and　interviewee。　We're　going　to　insist　that　it　talk　to　us。〃　
　Jim　was　lying　on　his　back；　his　hands　folded　behind　his　head。　〃It　can't　talk。〃　
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　〃Well；　I'm　assuming　it　can't；　or　otherwise　it　would've　talked　right　from　the　start。〃　
　〃Don't　assume　anything；〃　she　said。　〃If　it　can　mix　its　molecules　with　the　wall；　swim　through　stone…through　anything；　if　it's　to　be　believed…and　if　it　can　assume　any　form　it　wishes；　then　it　can　sure　as　hell　form　a　mouth　and　vocal　cords　and　talk　like　any　self　respecting　higher　power。〃　
　〃I　guess　you're　right；〃　he　said　uneasily。　
　〃It　already　said　that　it　could　appear　to　us　as　a　man　or　woman　if　it　wanted；　didn't　it？〃　〃Well；　yeah。〃　
　〃I'm　not　even　asking　for　a　flashy　materialization。　Just　a　voice；　a　disembodied　voice；　a　little　sound　with　the　old　lightshow。〃　
　Listening　to　herself　as　she　talked；　Holly　realized　that　she　was　using　her　edginess　to　pump　herself；　to　establish　an　aggressive　tone　that　would　serve　her　well　when　The　Friend　returned。　It　was　an　old　trick　she　had　learned　when　she　had　interviewed　people　whom　she　found　imposing　or　intimidating。　
　Jim　sat　up。　〃Okay；　it　could　talk　if　it　wanted　to；　but　maybe　it　doesn't　want　to。〃　
　〃We　already　decided　we　can't　let　it　set　all　the　rules；　Jim。〃　
　〃But　I　don't　understand　why　we　have　to　antagonize　it。〃　
　〃I'm　not　antagonizing　it。〃　
　〃I　think　we　should　be　at　least　a　little　respectful。〃　
　〃Oh；　I　respect　the　hell　out　of　it。〃　
　〃You　don't　seem　to。〃　
　〃I'm　convinced　it　could　squash　us　like　bugs　if　it　wanted　to；　and　that　gives　me　tremendous　respect　for　it。〃　
　〃That's　not　the　kind　of　respect　I　mean。〃　
　〃That's　the　only　kind　of　respect　it's　earned　from　me　so　far；〃　she　said；　pacing　around　him　now　instead　of　back　and　forth。　〃When　it　stops　trying　to　manipulate　me；　stops　trying　to　scare　the　crap　out　of　me；　starts　giving　me　answers　that　ring　true；　then　maybe　I'll　respect　it　for　other　reasons。〃　
　〃You're　getting　a　little　spooky；〃　he　said。　
　〃Me？〃　〃You're　so　hostile。〃　
　〃I　am　not。〃　
　He　was　frowning　at　her。　〃Looks　like　blind　hostility　to　me。〃　
　〃It's　adversarial　journalism。　It's　the　modern　reporter's　tone　and　theme。　
　You　don't　question　your　subject　and　later　explain　him　to　readers；　you　attack　him。　You　have　an　agenda；　a　version　of　the　truth　you　want　to　report　regardless　of　the　full　truth；　and　you　fulfill　it。　I　never　approved　of　it；　never　indulged　in　it；　which　is　why　I　was　always　losing　out　on　stories　and　promotions　to　other　reporters。　Now；　here；　tonight；　I'm　all　for　the　attack　part。　
　The　big　difference　is；　I　do　care　about　getting　to　the　truth；　not　shaping　it；　and　I　just　want　to　twist　and　yank　some　real　facts　out　of　this　alien　of　ours。〃　
　〃Maybe　he　won't　show　up。〃　
　〃He　said　he　would。〃　
　Jim　shook　his　head。　〃But　why　should　he　if　you're　going　to　be　like　this？〃　〃You're　saying　he　might　be　afraid　of　me？　What　kind　of　higher　power　is　that？〃　The　bells　rang；　and　she　jumped　in　alarm。　
　Jim　got　to　his　feet。　〃Just　take　it　easy。〃　
　The　bells　fell　silent；　rang　again；　fell　silent。　When　they　rang　a　third　time；　a　sullen　red　light　appeared　at　one　point　in　the　wall。　It　grew　more　intense；　assumed　a　brighter　shade；　then　suddenly　burst　across　the　domed　room　like　a　blazing　fireworks　display；　after　which　the　bells　stopped　ringing　and　the　multitude　of　sparks　coalesced　into　the　pulsing；　constantly　moving　amoebalike　forms　that　they　had　seen　before。　
　〃Very　dramatic；〃　Holly　said。　As　the　light　swiftly　progressed　from　red　through　orange　to　amber；　she　seized　the　initiative。　〃We　would　like　you　to　dispense　with　the　cumbersome　way　you　answered　our　questions　previously　and　simply　speak　to　us　directly。〃　
　The　Friend　did　not　reply。　
　〃Will　you　speak　to　us　directly？〃　No　response。　
　Consulting　the　tablet　that　she　held　in　one　hand；　she　read　the　first　question。　〃Are　you　the　higher　power　that　has　been　sending　Jim　on　life…saving　missions？〃　She　waited。　
　Silence。　
　She　tried　again。　
　Silence。　
　Stubbornly；　she　repeated　the　question。　
　The　Friend　did　not　speak；　but　Jim　said；　〃Holly；　look　at　this。〃　
　She　turned　and　saw　him　examining　the　other　tablet。　He　held　it　toward　her；　flipping　through　the　first　ten　or　twelve　pages。　The　eerie　and　inconstant　light　from　the　stone　was　bright　enough　to　show　her　that　the　pages　were　filled　with　The　Friend's　familiar　printing。　
　Taking　the　tablet　from　him；　she　looked　at　the　first　line　on　the　top　page：　YES。　I　AM　THAT　POWER。　
　Jim　said；　〃He's　already　answered　every　one　of　the　questions　we've　pre　pared。〃　
　Holly　threw　the　tablet　across　the　room。　It　hit　the　far　window　without　breaking　the　glass；　and　clattered　to　the　floor。　
　〃Holly；　you　can't〃　She　cut　him　off　with　a　sharp　look。　
　The　light　moved　through　the　transmuted　limestone　with　greater　agitation　than　before。　
　To　The　Friend；　Holly　said；　〃God　gave　Moses　the　Ten　mandments　on　tablets　of　stone；　yeah；　but　He　also　had　the　courtesy　to　talk　to　him。　
　If　God　can　humble　Himself　to　speak　directly　with　human　beings；　then　so　can　you。〃　
　She　did　not　look　to　see　how　Jim　was　reacting　to　her　adversarial　tactics。　
　All　she　cared　about　was　that　he　not　interrupt　her。　
　When　The　Friend　remained　silent；　she　repeated　the　first　question　on　her　list。　〃Are　you　the　higher　power　that　has　been　sending　Jim　on　life…saving　missions？〃　〃Yes。　I　am　that　power〃　The　voice　was　a　soft；　mellifluous　baritone。　Like　the　ringing　of　the　bells；　it　seemed　to　e　from　all　sides　of　them。　The　Friend　did　not　materialize　out　of　the　wall　in　human　form；　did　not　sculpt　a　face　from　the　limestone；　but　merely　produced　its　voice　out　of　thin　air。　
　She　asked　the　second　question　on　her　list。　〃How　can　you　know　these　people　are　about　to　die？〃　〃I　am　an　entity　that　lives　in　all　aspects　of　time。　〃　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　〃Past　present；　and　future。〃　
　〃You　can　foresee　the　future？〃　〃I　live　in　the　future　as　well　as　in　the　past　and　present〃　The　light　was　coruscating　through　the　walls　with　less　agitation　now；　as　if　the　alien　presence　had　accepted　her　conditions　and　was　mellow　again。　
　Jim　moved　to　her　side。　He　put　a　hand　on　her　arm　and　squeezed　gently；　as　if　to　say　〃good　work。〃　
　She　decided　not　to　ask　for　any　more　clarification　on　the　issue　of　its　ability　to　see　the　future；　for　fear　they　would　be　off　on　a　tangent　and　never　get　back　on　track　before　the　creature　next　announced　that　it　was　depart。　She　returned　to　the　prepared　questions。　〃Why　do　you　want　these　particular　people