mc.prey-第39章

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　That　was；　in　the　end；　why　I　was　so　angry　with　Ricky。
　He　should　have　known　the　dangers；　when　he　found　he　couldn't　control　the　swarms。　It　was　insanity　to　sit　back　and　allow　them　to　evolve　on　their　own。　Ricky　was　bright；　he　knew　about　genetic　algorithms；　he　knew　the　biological　background　for　current　trends　in　programming。　He　knew　that　self…organization　was　inevitable。
　He　knew　that　emergent　forms　were　unpredictable。
　He　knew　that　evolution　involved　interaction　with　n　forms。
　He　knew　all　that；　and　he　did　it　anyway。
　He　did；　or　Julia　did。
　*　*　*
　I　checked　on　Charley。　He　was　still　asleep　in　his　room；　sprawled　out　on　the　bed。　Bobby　Lembeck　walked　by。　〃How　long　has　he　been　asleep？〃
　〃Since　you　got　back。　Three　hours　or　so。〃
　〃Do　you　think　we　should　wake　him　up；　check　on　him？〃
　〃Nah；　let　him　sleep。　We'll　check　him　after　dinner。〃
　〃When　is　that？〃
　〃Half　an　hour。〃　Bobby　Lembeck　laughed。　〃I'm　cooking。〃
　That　reminded　me　I　was　supposed　to　call　home　around　dinnertime；　so　I　went　into　my　room　and　dialed。
　Ellen　answered　the　phone。　〃Hello？　What　is　it！〃　She　sounded　harried。　I　heard　Amanda　crying　and　Eric　yelling　at　Nicole　in　the　background。　Ellen　said；　〃Nicole；　do　not　do　that　to　your　brother！〃
　I　said；　〃Hi；　Ellen。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　God；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　to　speak　to　your　daughter。〃
　〃What's　going　on？〃
　〃Just　a　minute。　Nicole；　it's　your　father。〃　I　could　tell　she　was　holding　out　the　phone　to　her。
　A　pause；　then；　〃Hi；　Dad。〃
　〃What's　going　on；　Nic？〃
　〃Nothing。　Eric　is　being　a　brat。〃　Matter…of…factly。
　〃Nic；　I　want　to　know　what　you　did　to　your　brother。〃
　〃Dad。〃　She　lowered　her　voice　to　a　whisper。　I　knew　she　was　cupping　her　hand　over　the　phone。　〃Aunt　Ellen　is　not　very　nice。〃
　〃I　heard　that；〃　Ellen　said；　in　the　background。　But　at　least　the　baby　had　stopped　crying；　she'd　been　picked　up。
　〃Nicole；〃　I　said。　〃You're　the　oldest　child；　I'm　counting　on　you　to　help　keep　things　together　while　I'm　gone。〃
　〃I'm　trying；　Dad。　But　he　is　a　majorly　turkey　butt。〃
　From　the　background：　〃I　am　not！　Up　yours；　weasel　poop！〃
　〃Dad。　You　see　what　I'm　up　against。〃
　Eric：　〃Up　your　hole　with　a　ten…foot　pole！〃
　I　looked　at　the　monitor　in　front　of　me。　It　showed　views　of　the　desert　outside；　rotating　images　from　all　the　security　cameras。　One　camera　showed　my　dirt　bike；　lying　on　its　side；　near　the　door　to　the　power　station。　Another　camera　showed　the　outside　of　the　storage　shed；　with　the　door　swinging　open　and　shut；　revealing　the　outline　of　Rosie's　body　inside。　Two　people　had　died　today。　I　had　almost　died。　And　now　my　family；　which　yesterday　had　been　the　most　important　thing　in　my　life；　seemed　distant　and　petty。
　〃It's　very　simple；　Dad；〃　Nicole　was　saying　in　her　most　reasonable　grown…up　voice。　〃I　came　home　with　Aunt　Ellen　from　the　store；　I　got　a　very　nice　blouse　for　the　show；　and　then　Eric　came　into　my　room　and　knocked　all　my　books　on　the　floor。　So　I　told　him　to　pick　them　up。　He　said　no　and　called　me　the　b…word；　so　I　kicked　him　in　the　butt；　not　very　hard；　and　took　his　G。I。　Joe　and　hid　it。　That's　all。〃
　I　said；　〃You　took　his　G。I。　Joe？〃　G。I。　Joe　was　Eric's　most　important　possession。　He　talked　to　G。I。　Joe。　He　slept　with　G。I。　Joe　on　the　pillow　beside　him。
　〃He　can　have　it　back；〃　she　said；　〃as　soon　as　he　cleans　up　my　books。〃
　〃Nic　。。。〃
　〃Dad；　he　called　me　the　b…word。〃
　〃Give　him　his　G。I。　Joe。〃
　The　images　on　the　screen　were　rotating　through　the　various　cameras。　Each　image　only　stayed　on　screen　for　a　second　or　two。　I　waited　for　the　image　of　the　shed　to　e　back　up。　I　had　a　nagging　feeling　about　it。　Something　bothered　me。
　〃Dad；　this　is　humiliating。〃
　〃Nic；　you're　not　the　mother…〃
　〃Oh　yeah；　and　she　was　here　for　maybe　five　seconds。〃
　〃She　was　at　the　house？　Mom　was　there？〃
　〃But　then；　big　surprise；　she　had　to　go。　She　had　a　plane　to　catch。〃
　〃Uh…huh。　Nicole；　you　need　to　listen　to　Ellen…〃
　〃Dad；　I　told　you　she's　being…〃
　〃Because　she's　in　charge　until　I　get　back。　So　if　she　says　to　do　something；　you　do　it。〃
　〃Dad。　I　feel　this　is　unreasonable。〃　Her　members…of…the…jury　voice。
　〃Well；　honey；　that's　how　it　is。〃
　〃But　my　problem…〃
　〃Nicole。　That's　how　it　is。　Until　I　get　back。〃
　〃When　are　you　ing　home？〃
　〃Probably　tomorrow。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃So。　We　understand　each　other？〃
　〃Yes；　Dad。　I'll　probably　have　a　nervous　breakdown　here　。。。〃
　〃Then　I　promise　I'll　visit　you　in　the　mental　hospital；　as　soon　as　I　get　back。〃
　〃Very　funny。〃
　〃Let　me　speak　to　Eric。〃
　I　had　a　short　conversation　with　Eric；　who　told　me　several　times　that　it　was　not　fair。　I　told　him　to　put　Nicole's　books　back。　He　said　he　didn't　knock　them　down；　it　was　an　accident。　I　said　to　put　them　back　anyway。　Then　I　talked　to　Ellen　briefly。　I　encouraged　her　as　best　I　could。　Sometime　during　this　conversation；　the　security　camera　showing　the　outside　of　the　shed　came　up　again。　And　I　again　saw　the　swinging　door；　and　the　outside　of　the　shed。　In　this　elevation　the　shed　was　slightly　above　grade；　there　were　four　wooden　steps　leading　from　the　door　down　to　ground　level。　But　it　all　looked　the　way　it　should。　I　did　not　know　what　had　bothered　me。　Then　I　realized。
　David's　body　wasn't　there。　It　wasn't　in　the　frame。　Earlier　in　the　day；　I　had　seen　his　body　slide　out　the　door　and　disappear　from　view；　so　it　should　be　lying　outside。　Given　the　slight　grade；　it　might　have　rolled　a　few　yards　from　the　door；　but　not　more　than　that。　No　body。
　But　perhaps　I　was　mistaken。　Or　perhaps　there　were　coyotes。　In　any　case　the　camera　image　had　now　changed。　I'd　have　to　sit　through　another　cycle　to　see　it　again。　I　decided　not　to　wait。　If　David's　body　was　gone；　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　it　now。　It　was　about　seven　o'clock　when　we　sat　down　to　eat　dinner　in　the　little　kitchen　of　the　residential　module。　Bobby　brought　out　plates　of　ravioli　with　tomato　sauce；　and　mixed　vegetables。　I　had　been　a　stay…at…home　dad　long　enough　to　recognize　the　brands　of　frozen　food　he　was　using。　〃I　really　think　that　Contadina　is　better　ravioli。〃
　Bobby　shrugged。　〃I　go　to　the　fridge；　I　find　what's　there。〃
　I　was　surprisingly　hungry。　I　ate　everything　on　my　plate。
　〃Couldn't　have　been　that　bad；〃　Bobby　said。
　Mae　was　silent　as　she　ate；　as　usual。　Beside　her；　Vince　ate　noisily。　Ricky　was　at　the　far　end　of　the　table；　away　from　me；　looking　down　at　his　food　and　not　meeting　my　eyes。　It　was　all　right　with　me。　Nobody　wanted　to　talk　about　Rosie　and　David；　but　the　empty　stools　around　the　table　were　pretty　obvious。　Bobby　said　to　me；　〃So；　you're　going　to　go　out　tonight？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃When　is　it　dark？〃
　〃Sunset　should　be　around　seven…twenty；〃　Bobby　said。　He　flicked　on　a　monitor　on　the　wall。　〃I'll　get　you　the　exact　time。〃
　I　said；　〃So　we　can　go　out　three　hours　after　that。　Sometime　after　ten。〃
　Bobby　said；　〃And　you　think　you　can　track　the　swarm？〃
　〃We　should。　Charley　sprayed　one　swarm　pretty　thoroughly。〃
　〃As　a　result　of　which；　I　glow　in　the　dark；〃　Charley　said；　laughing。　He　came　into　the　room　and　sat　down。
　Everyone　greeted　him　enthusiastically。　If　nothing　else；　it　felt　better　to　have　another　body　at　the　table。　I　asked　him　how　he　felt。
　〃Okay。　A　little　weak。　And　I　have　a　fucking　headache　from　hell。〃
　〃I　know。　Me　too。〃
　〃And　me；〃　Mae　said。
　〃It's　worse　than　the　headache　Ricky　gives　me；〃　Charley　said；　looking　down　the　table。　〃Lasts　longer；　too。〃
　Ricky　said　nothing。　Just　continued　eating。
　〃Do　you　suppose　these　things　get　into　your　brain？〃　Charley　said。　〃I　mean；　they're　nanoparticles。　They　can　get　inhaled；　cross　the　blood…brain　barrier　。。。　and　go　into　the　brain？〃
　Bobby　pushed　a　plate　of　pasta　in　front　of　Charley。　He　immediately　ground　pepper　all　over　it。
　〃Don't　you　want　to　taste　it？〃
　〃No　offense。　But　I'm　sure　it　needs　it。〃　He　started　to　eat。
　〃I　mean；〃　he　continued；　〃that's　what　everybody's　worried　about　nanotechnology　polluting　the　environment；　right？　Nanoparticles　are　small　enough　to　get　places　nobody's　ever　had　to　worry　about　before。　They　can　get　into　the　synapses　between　neurons。　They　can　get　into　the　cytoplasm　of　cardiac　cells。　They　can　get　into　cell　nuclei。　They're　small　enough　to　go　anywhere　inside　the　body。　So　maybe　we're　infected；　Jack。〃
　〃You　don't　seem　that　worried　about　it；〃　Ricky　said。
　〃Hey；　what　can　I　do　about　it　now？　Hope　I　give　it　to　you；　is　about　all。　Hey；　this　spaghetti's　not　bad。〃
　〃Ravioli；〃　Bobby　said。
　〃Whatever。　Just　needs　a　little　pepper。〃　He　ground　some　more　over　the　top。　〃Sundown　is　seven…twenty…seven；〃　Bobby　said；　reading　the　time　off　the　monitor。　He　went　back　to　eating。　〃And　it　does　not　need　pepper。〃
　〃Fucking　does。〃
　〃I　already　put　in　pepper。〃
　〃Needs　more。〃
　I　said；　〃Guys？　Are　we　missing　anybody？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；　why？〃
　I　pointed　to　the　monitor。　〃Who's　that　standing　out　in　the　desert？〃
　　
　DAY　6　
　7：12　P。M。
　〃Oh　shit；〃　Bobby　said。　He　jumped　up　from　the　table　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　Everyone　else　did；　too。　I　followed　the　others。
　Ricky　was　holding　his　radio　as　he　went：　〃Vince；　lock　us　down。　Vince？〃
　〃We're　locked　down；〃　Vince　said。　〃Pressure　is　five　plus。〃
　〃Why　didn't　the　alarm　go　off？〃
　〃Can't　say。　Maybe　they've　learned　to　get　past　that；　too。〃
　I　followed　everybody　into　the　utility　room；　where　there　were　large　wall…mounted　liquid　crystal　displays　showing　the　outside　video　cameras。　Views　of　the　desert　from　all　angles。　The　sun　was　already　below　the　horizon；　but　the　sky　was　a　bright　orange；　fading　into　purple　and　then　dark　blue。　Silhouetted　against　this　sky　was　a　young　man　with　short　hair。　He　was　wearing　jeans　and　a　white　T…shirt　and　looked　like　a　surfer。　I　couldn't　see　his　face　clearly　in　the　failing　light；　but　even　so；　watching　the　way　he　moved；　I　thought　there　was　something　familiar　about　him。
　〃We　got　any　floodlights　out　there？〃　Charley　said。　He　was　walking　around；　holding　his　bowl　of　pasta；　still　eating。
　〃Lights　ing　up；〃　Bobby　said；　and　a　moment　later　the　young　man　stood　in　glaring　light。　Now　I　could　see　him　clearly…
　And　then　it　hit　me。　It　looked　like　the　same　kid　who　had　been　in　Julia's　car　last　night　after　dinner；　when　she　drove　away；　just　before　her　accident。　The　same　blond　surfer　kid　who；　now　that　I　saw　him　again；　looked　like…
　〃Jesus；　Ricky；〃　Bobby　said。　〃He　looks　like　you。〃
　〃You're　right；〃　Mae　said。　〃It's　Ricky。　Even　the　T…shirt。〃
　Ricky　was　getting　a　soft　drink　out　of　the　dispensing　machine。　He　turned　toward　the　display　screen。　〃What're　you　guys　talking　about？〃
　〃He　looks　like　you；〃　Mae　said。　〃He　even　has　your　T…shirt　with　I　Am　Root　on　the　front。〃　Ricky　looked　at　his　own　T…shirt；　then　back　at　the　screen。　He　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃I'll　be　damned。〃
　I　said；　〃You've　never　been　out　of　the　building；　Ricky。　How　e　it's　you？〃
　〃Fucking　beats　me；〃　Ricky　said。　He　shrugged　casually。　Too　casually？
　Mae　said；　〃I　can't　make　out　the　face　very　well。　I　mean　the　features。〃　Charley　moved　closer　to　the　largest　of　the　screens　and　squinted　at　the　image。　〃The　reason　you　can't　see　features；〃　he　said；　〃is　because　there　aren't　any。〃
　〃Oh；　e　on。〃
　〃Charley；　it's　a　resolution　artifact；　that's　all。〃
　〃It's　not；〃　Charley　said。　〃There're　no　fucking　features。　Zoom　it　in　and　see　for　yourself。〃　Bobby　zoomed。　The　image　of　the　blond　head　enlarged。　The　figure　was　moving　back　and　forth；　in　and　out　of　the　frame；　but　it　was　immediately　clear　that　Charley　was　right。　There　were　no　features。　There　was　an　oval　patch　of　p