mc.prey-第29章

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　Destroying　the　swarms　would　be　more　difficult　with　each　passing　hour。　〃Okay；〃　I　said　to　David。　〃If　the　swarms　are　ing　back；　then　we　better　get　ready　for　them。〃　I　got　to　my　feet；　wincing　at　the　headache；　and　headed　for　the　door。　〃What　do　you　have　in　mind？〃　David　said。
　〃What　do　you　think　I　have　in　mind？〃　I　said。　〃We've　got　to　kill　these　things　cold　stone　dead。　We　have　to　wipe　them　off　the　face　of　the　planet。　And　we　have　to　do　it　right　now。〃　David　shifted　in　his　chair。　〃Fine　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　don't　think　Ricky's　going　to　like　it。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　David　shrugged。　〃He's　just　not。〃
　I　waited；　and　said　nothing。
　David　fidgeted　in　his　chair；　more　and　more　unfortable。　〃The　thing　is；　he　and　Julia　are；　uh；　in　agreement　on　this。〃
　〃They're　in　agreement。〃
　〃Yes。　They　see　eye　to　eye。　I　mean；　on　this。〃
　I　said；　〃What　are　you　trying　to　say　to　me；　David？〃
　〃Nothing。　Just　what　I　said。　They　agree　the　swarms　should　be　kept　alive。　I　think　Ricky's　going　to　oppose　you；　that's　all。〃
　I　needed　to　talk　to　Mae　again。　I　found　her　in　the　biology　lab；　hunched　over　a　puter　monitor；　looking　at　images　of　white　bacterial　growth　on　dark　red　media。　I　said；　〃Mae；　listen；　I've　talked　to　David　and　I　need　to…uh；　Mae？　Have　you　got　a　problem？〃　She　was　looking　fixedly　at　the　screen。
　〃I　think　I　do；〃　she　said。　〃A　problem　with　the　feedstock。〃
　〃What　kind　of　problem？〃
　〃The　latest　Theta…d　stocks　aren't　growing　properly。〃　She　pointed　to　an　image　in　the　upper　corner　of　the　monitor；　which　showed　bacteria　growing　in　smooth　white　circles。　〃That's　normal　coliform　growth；〃　she　said。　〃That's　how　it's　supposed　to　look。　But　here　。。。〃　She　brought　up　another　image　in　the　center　of　the　screen。　The　round　forms　appeared　moth…eaten；　ragged　and　misshapen。　〃That's　not　normal　growth；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃I'm　afraid　it's　phage　contamination。〃
　〃You　mean　a　virus？〃　I　said。　A　phage　was　a　virus　that　attacked　bacteria。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Coli　are　susceptible　to　a　very　large　number　of　phages。　T4　phage　is　of　course　the　most　mon；　but　Theta…d　was　engineered　to　be　T4…resistant。　So　I　suspect　it's　a　new　phage　that's　doing　this。〃
　〃A　new　phage？　You　mean　it's　newly　evolved？〃
　〃Yes。　Probably　a　mutant　of　an　existing　strain；　that　somehow　gets　around　the　engineered　resistance。　But　it's　bad　news　for　manufacturing。　If　we　have　infected　bacterial　stocks；　we'll　have　to　shut　down　production。　Otherwise　we'll　just　be　spewing　viruses　out。〃
　〃Frankly；〃　I　said；　〃shutting　down　production　might　be　a　good　idea。〃
　〃I'll　probably　have　to。　I'll　try　to　isolate　it；　but　it　looks　aggressive。　I　may　not　be　able　to　get　rid　of　it　without　scrubbing　the　kettle。　Starting　over　with　fresh　stock。　Ricky's　not　going　to　like　it。〃
　〃Have　you　told　him　about　this？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　think　he　needs　more　bad　news　right　now。　And　besides　。。。〃　She　stopped；　as　if　she　had　thought　better　of　what　she　was　going　to　say。　〃Besides　what？〃
　〃Ricky　has　a　huge　stake　in　the　success　of　this　pany。〃　She　turned　to　face　me。　〃Bobby　heard　him　on　the　phone　the　other　day；　talking　about　his　stock　options。　And　sounding　worried。　I　think　Ricky　sees　Xymos　as　his　last　big　chance　to　score。　He's　been　here　five　years。　If　this　doesn't　work　out；　he'll　be　too　senior　to　start　over　at　a　new　pany。　He's　got　a　wife　and　baby；　he　can't　gamble　another　five　years；　waiting　to　see　if　the　next　pany　clicks。　So　he's　really　trying　to　make　this　happen；　really　driving　himself。　He's　up　all　night；　working；　figuring。　He　isn't　sleeping　more　than　three　or　four　hours。　Frankly；　I　worry　it's　affecting　his　judgment。〃
　〃I　can　imagine；〃　I　said。　〃The　pressure　must　be　terrible。〃
　〃He's　so　sleep…deprived　it　makes　him　erratic；〃　Mae　said。　〃I'm　never　sure　what　he'll　do；　or　how　he'll　respond。　Sometimes　I　get　the　feeling　he　doesn't　want　to　get　rid　of　the　swarms　at　all。　Or　maybe　he's　scared。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　I　said。
　〃Anyway；　he's　erratic。　So　if　I　were　you　I'd　be　careful；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　go　after　the　swarms。　Because　that's　what　you're　going　to　do；　isn't　it？　Go　after　them？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃That's　what　I'm　going　to　do。〃
　　
　DAY　6　
　1：12　P。M。
　They　had　all　gathered　in　the　lounge；　with　the　video　games　and　pinball　machines。　Nobody　was　playing　them　now。　They　were　watching　me　with　anxious　eyes　as　I　explained　what　we　had　to　do。　The　plan　was　simple　enough…the　swarm　itself　was　dictating　what　we　had　to　do；　although　I　was　skipping　that　unfortable　truth。
　Basically；　I　told　them　we　had　a　runaway　swarm　we　couldn't　control。　And　the　swarm　exhibited　self…organizing　behavior。　〃Whenever　you　have　a　high　SO　ponent；　it　means　the　swarm　can　reassemble　itself　after　an　injury　or　disruption。　Just　as　it　did　with　me。　So　this　swarm　has　to　be　totally；　physically　destroyed。　That　means　subjecting　the　particles　to　heat；　cold；　acid；　or　high　magnetic　fields。　And　from　what　I've　seen　of　its　behavior；　I'd　say　our　best　chance　to　destroy　it　is　at　night　when　the　swarm　loses　energy　and　sinks　to　the　ground。〃
　Ricky　whined；　〃But　we　already　told　you；　Jack；　we　can't　find　it　at　night…〃
　〃That's　right；　you　can't；〃　I　said。　〃Because　you　didn't　tag　it。　Look；　it's　a　big　desert　out　there。　If　you　want　to　trace　it　back　to　its　hiding　place；　you've　got　to　tag　it　with　something　so　strong　you　can　follow　its　trail　wherever　it　goes。〃
　〃Tag　it　with　what？〃
　〃That's　my　next　question；〃　I　said。　〃What　kind　of　tagging　agents　have　we　got　around　here？〃　I　was　greeted　with　blank　looks。　〃e　on；　guys。　This　is　an　industrial　facility。　You　must　have　something　that　will　coat　the　particles　and　leave　a　trail　we　can　follow。　I'm　talking　about　a　substance　that　fluoresces　intensely；　or　a　pheromone　with　a　characteristic　chemical　signature；　or　something　radioactive　。。。　No？〃
　More　blank　looks。　Shaking　their　heads。
　〃Well；〃　Mae　said；　〃of　course；　we　have　radioisotopes。〃
　〃All　right；　fine。〃　Now　we　were　getting　somewhere。
　〃We　use　them　to　check　for　leaks　in　the　system。　The　helicopter　brings　them　out　once　a　week。〃
　〃What　isotopes　do　you　have？〃
　〃Selenium…72　and　Rhenium…186。　Sometimes　Xenon…133　as　well。　I'm　not　sure　what　we've　got　on　hand　right　now。〃
　〃What　kind　of　half…lives　are　we　talking　about？〃　Certain　isotopes　lost　radioactivity　very　rapidly；　in　a　matter　of　hours　or　minutes。　If　so；　they　wouldn't　be　useful　to　me。　〃Half…life　averages　about　a　week；〃　Mae　said。　〃Selenium's　eight　days。　Rhenium's　four　days。　Xenon…133　is　five　days。　Five　and　a　quarter。〃
　〃Okay。　Any　of　them　should　do　fine　for　our　purposes；〃　I　said。　〃We　only　need　the　radioactivity　to　last　for　one　night；　after　we　tag　the　swarm。〃
　Mae　said；　〃We　usually　put　the　isotopes　in　FDG。　It's　a　liquid　glucose　base。　You　could　spray　it。〃
　〃That　should　be　fine；〃　I　said。　〃Where　are　the　isotopes　now？〃
　Mae　smiled　bleakly。　〃In　the　storage　unit；〃　she　said。
　〃Where　is　that？〃
　〃Outside。　Next　to　the　parked　cars。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Then　let's　go　out　and　get　them。〃
　〃Oh；　for　Christ's　sake；〃　Ricky　said；　throwing　up　his　hands。　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？　You　nearly　died　out　there　this　morning；　Jack。　You　can't　go　back　out。〃
　〃There　isn't　any　choice；〃　I　said。
　〃Sure　there　is。　Wait　until　nightfall。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Because　that　means　we　can't　spray　them　until　tomorrow。　And　we　can't　trace　and　destroy　them　until　tomorrow　night。　That　means　we　wait　thirty…six　hours　with　an　organism　that　is　evolving　fast。　We　can't　risk　it。〃
　〃Risk　it？　Jack；　if　you　go　out　now；　you'll　never　survive。　You're　fucking　crazy　even　to　consider　it。〃
　Charley　Davenport　had　been　staring　at　the　monitor。　Now　he　turned　to　the　group。　〃No；　Jack's　not　crazy。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　〃And　I'm　going　with　him。〃　Charley　began　to　hum：　〃Born　to　Be　Wild。〃
　〃I'm　going；　too；〃　Mae　said。　〃I　know　where　the　isotopes　are　stored。〃
　I　said；　〃It's　not　really　necessary；　Mae；　you　can　tell　me…〃
　〃No。　I'm　ing。〃
　〃We'll　need　to　improvise　a　spray　apparatus　of　some　kind。〃　David　Brooks　was　rolling　up　his　sleeves　carefully。　〃Presumably；　remotely　controlled。　That's　Rosie's　specialty。〃
　〃Okay；　I'll　e；　too；〃　Rosie　Castro　said；　looking　at　David。　〃You're　all　going？〃　Ricky　stared　from　one　to　another　of　us；　shaking　his　head。　〃This　is　extremely　risky；〃　he　said。　〃Extremely　risky。〃
　Nobody　said　anything。　We　all　just　stared　at　him。
　Then　Ricky　said；　〃Charley；　will　you　shut　the　fuck　up？〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃I　don't　think　I　can　allow　this；　Jack　。。。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　have　a　choice；〃　I　said。
　〃I'm　in　charge　here。〃
　〃Not　now；〃　I　said。　I　felt　a　burst　of　annoyance。　I　felt　like　telling　him　he'd　screwed　the　pooch　by　allowing　a　swarm　to　evolve　in　the　environment。　But　I　didn't　know　how　many　critical　decisions　Julia　had　made。　In　the　end；　Ricky　was　obsequious　to　management；　trying　to　please　them　like　a　child　pleasing　a　parent。　He　did　it　charmingly；　that　was　how　he　had　moved　ahead　in　life。　That　was　also　his　greatest　weakness。
　But　now　Ricky　stuck　out　his　chin　stubbornly。　〃You　just　can't　do　it；　Jack；〃　he　said。　〃You　guys　can't　go　out　there　and　survive。〃
　〃Sure　we　can；　Ricky；〃　Charley　Davenport　said。　He　pointed　to　the　monitor。　〃Look　for　yourself。〃
　The　monitor　showed　the　desert　outside。　The　early　afternoon　sun　was　shining　on　scrubby　cactus。　One　stunted　juniper　in　the　distance；　dark　against　the　sun。　For　a　moment　I　didn't　understand　what　Charley　was　talking　about。　Then　I　saw　the　sand　blowing　low　on　the　ground。　And　I　noticed　the　juniper　was　bent　to　one　side。
　〃That's　right；　folks；〃　Charley　Davenport　said。　〃We　got　a　high　wind　out　there。　High　wind；　no　swarms…remember？　They　have　to　hug　the　ground。〃　He　headed　toward　the　passageway　leading　to　the　power　station。　〃Time's　a…wasting。　Let's　do　it；　guys。〃　Everybody　filed　out。　I　was　the　last　to　leave。　To　my　astonishment；　Ricky　pulled　me　aside；　blocked　the　door　with　his　body。　〃I'm　sorry；　Jack；　I　didn't　want　to　embarrass　you　in　front　of　the　others。　But　I　just　can't　let　you　do　this。〃
　〃Would　you　rather　have　somebody　else　do　it？〃　I　said。
　He　frowned。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃You　better　face　facts；　Ricky。　This　is　already　a　disaster。　And　if　we　can't　get　it　under　control　right　away；　then　we　have　to　call　for　help。〃
　〃Help？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean；　call　the　Pentagon。　Call　the　Army。　We　have　to　call　somebody　to　get　these　swarms　under　control。〃
　〃Jesus；　Jack。　We　can't　do　that。〃
　〃We　have　no　choice。〃
　〃But　it　would　destroy　the　pany。　We'd　never　get　funding　again。〃
　〃That　wouldn't　bother　me　one　bit；〃　I　said。　I　was　feeling　angry　about　what　had　happened　in　the　desert。　A　chain　of　bad　decisions；　errors　and　fuckups　extending　over　weeks　and　months。　It　seemed　as　if　everyone　at　Xymos　was　doing　short…term　solutions；　patch…and…fix；　quick　and　dirty。　No　one　was　paying　attention　to　the　long…term　consequences。
　〃Look；〃　I　said；　〃you've　got　a　runaway　swarm　that's　apparently　lethal。　You　can't　screw　around　with　this　anymore。〃
　〃But；　Julia…〃
　〃Julia　isn't　here。〃
　〃But　she　said…〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　she　said；　Ricky。〃
　〃But　the　pany…〃
　〃Fuck　the　pany。　Ricky。〃　I　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulders；　shook　him　once　hard。　〃Don't　you　get　it？　You　won't　go　outside。　You're　afraid　of　this　thing；　Ricky。　We　have　to　kill　it。　And　if　we　can't　kill　it　soon；　we　have　to　call　for　help。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Yes；　Ricky。〃
　〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　he　snarled。　His　body　tensed；　his　eyes　flared。　He　grabbed　my　shirt　collar。　I　just　stood　there；　staring　at　him。　I　didn't　move。　Ricky　glared　at　me　for　a　moment；　and　then　released　his　gri