mc.prey-第41章

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ight；　except　they　weren't　silvered。
　And　then　I　thought；　Was　it　only　last　night？　It　was。　Hardly　twenty…four　hours　had　passed。
　It　felt　to　me　like　a　month。
　Mae　was　dividing　everything　into　the　three　backpacks。　Watching　her；　I　realized　that　she　was　the　only　one　of　us　with　actual　field　experience。　In　parison；　we　were　all　stay…at…homes；　theoreticians。　I　was　surprised　how　dependent　on　her　I　felt　tonight。　Bobby　hefted　the　nearest　pack　and　grunted。　〃You　really　think　we　need　all　this　stuff；　Mae？〃
　〃It's　not　like　you　have　to　carry　it；　we're　driving。　And　yes；　better　safe　than　sorry。〃
　〃Okay；　fine；　but　I　mean…a　field　radio？〃
　〃You　never　know。〃
　〃Who　you　gonna　call？〃
　〃The　thing　is；　Bobby；〃　she　said；　〃if　it　turns　out　you　need　any　of　this　stuff；　you　really　need　it。〃
　〃Yeah；　but　it's…〃
　Mae　picked　up　the　second　backpack；　and　slung　it　over　her　shoulder。　She　handled　the　weight　easily。　She　looked　at　Bobby。　〃You　were　saying？〃
　〃Never　mind。〃
　I　picked　up　the　third　backpack。　It　wasn't　bad。　Bobby　was　plaining　because　he　was　scared。　It　was　true　that　the　oxygen　bottle　was　a　little　larger　and　heavier　than　I　would　have　liked；　and　it　fitted　awkwardly　into　the　backpack。　But　Mae　insisted　we　have　extra　oxygen。　Bobby　said　nervously；　〃Extra　oxygen？　How　big　do　you　guys　think　this　hiding　place　is？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Mae　said。　〃But　the　most　recent　swarms　are　much　larger。〃　She　went　to　the　sink；　and　picked　up　the　radiation　counter。　But　when　she　unplugged　it　from　the　wall；　she　saw　the　battery　was　dead。　We　had　to　hunt　for　a　new　battery；　unscrew　the　case；　replace　the　battery。　I　was　worried　the　replacement　would　be　dead；　too。　If　it　was；　we　were　finished。
　Mae　said；　〃We　better　be　careful　with　the　night…vision　goggles；　too。　I　don't　know　how　good　any　of　the　batteries　are　for　the　stuff　we　have。〃
　But　the　counter　clicked　loudly。　The　battery　indicator　glowed。　〃Full　power；〃　she　said。　〃It'll　last　four　hours。〃
　〃Let's　get　started；〃　I　said。
　It　was　10：43　P。M。
　The　radiation　counter　went　crazy　when　we　came　to　the　Toyota；　clicking　so　rapidly　the　sound　was　continuous。　Holding　the　wand　in　front　of　her；　Mae　left　the　car；　walked　into　the　desert。　She　turned　west　and　the　clicks　diminished。　She　went　east　and　they　picked　up　again。　But　as　she　continued　east；　the　clicks　slowed。　She　turned　north；　and　they　increased。　〃North；〃　she　said。
　I　got　on　the　bike；　gunned　the　engine。
　Bobby　rumbled　out　of　the　shed　on　the　All…Terrain　Vehicle；　with　its　fat　rear　tires　and　bicycle　handlebars。　The　ATV　looked　ungainly　but　I　knew　it　was　probably　better　suited　to　night　travel　in　the　desert。
　Mae　got　on　the　back　of　my　bike；　leaned　over　to　hold　the　wand　near　the　ground；　and　said；　〃Okay。　Let's　go。〃
　We　started　off　into　the　desert；　under　a　cloudless　night　sky。
　The　headlight　on　the　bike　bounced　up　and　down；　jerking　the　shadows　on　the　terrain　ahead；　making　it　difficult　to　see　what　was　ing。　The　desert　that　had　looked　so　flat　and　featureless　in　daylight　was　now　revealed　to　have　sandy　dips；　rock…filled　beds；　and　deep　arroyos　that　came　up　without　warning。　It　took　all　my　attention　to　keep　the　bike　upright…particularly　since　Mae　was　continuously　calling　to　me；　〃Go　left　。。。　now　right　。。。　now　right　。。。　okay；　too　much；　left　。。。〃　Sometimes　we　had　to　make　a　full　circle　until　she　could　be　certain　of　the　right　path。　If　anybody　followed　our　track　in　daylight；　they'd　think　the　driver　must　be　drunk；　it　twisted　and　turned　so　much。　The　bike　jumped　and　swerved　on　rough　ground。　We　were　now　several　miles　from　the　lab；　and　I　was　starting　to　worry。　I　could　hear　the　counter　clicks；　and　they　were　being　less　frequent。　It　was　getting　hard　to　distinguish　the　swarm　trail　from　the　background　radiation。　I　didn't　understand　why　that　should　happen　but　there　was　no　question　it　was。　If　we　didn't　locate　the　swarm　hiding　place　soon；　we'd　lose　the　trail　entirely。　Mae　was　worried；　too。　She　kept　bending　over　closer　and　closer　to　the　ground；　with　one　hand　on　the　wand　and　one　hand　around　my　waist。　And　I　had　to　go　slower；　because　the　trail　was　being　so　faint。　We　lost　the　trail；　found　it；　went　off　it　again。　Under　the　black　canopy　of　stars；　we　backtracked；　turned　in　circles。　I　caught　myself　holding　my　breath。　And　at　last　I　was　going　around　and　around　in　the　same　spot；　trying　not　to　feel　desperate。　I　made　the　circle　three　times；　then　four；　but　to　no　avail：　the　counter　in　Mae's　hand　just　clicked　randomly。　And　suddenly　it　was　clear　to　us　that　the　trail　was　truly　lost。　We　were　out　here　in　the　middle　of　nowhere；　driving　in　circles。
　We　had　lost　the　trail。
　Exhaustion　hit　me　suddenly；　and　hard。　I　had　been　running　on　adrenaline　all　day　and　now　that　I　was　finally　defeated　a　deep　weariness　came　over　my　body。　My　eyes　drooped。　I　felt　as　if　I　could　go　to　sleep　standing　on　the　bike。
　Behind　me；　Mae　sat　up　and　said；　〃Don't　worry；　okay？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　said　wearily。　〃My　plan　has　totally　failed；　Mae。〃
　〃Maybe　not　yet；〃　she　said。
　Bobby　pulled　up　close　to　us。　〃You　guys　look　behind　you？〃　he　said。
　〃Why？〃
　〃Look　back；〃　he　said。　〃Look　how　far　we've　e。〃
　I　turned　and　looked　over　my　shoulder。　To　the　south；　I　saw　the　bright　lights　of　the　fabrication　building；　surprisingly　close。　We　couldn't　be　more　than　a　mile　or　two　away。　We　must　have　traveled　in　a　big　semicircle；　eventually　turning　back　toward　our　starting　point。　〃That's　weird。〃
　Mae　had　got　off　the　bike；　and　stepped　in　front　of　the　headlamp。　She　was　looking　at　the　LCD　readout　on　the　counter。　She　said；　〃Hmmm。〃
　Bobby　said　hopefully；　〃So；　what　do　you　say；　Mae？　Time　to　go　back？〃
　〃No；〃　Mae　said。　〃It's　not　time　to　go　back。　Take　a　look　at　this。〃　Bobby　leaned　over；　and　we　both　looked　at　the　LCD　readout。　It　showed　a　graph　of　radiation　intensity；　stepping　progressively　downward；　and　finally　dropping　quickly。　Bobby　frowned。　〃And　this　is？〃
　〃Time　course　of　tonight's　readings；〃　she　said。　〃The　machine's　showing　us　that　ever　since　we　started；　the　intensity　of　the　radiation　has　declined　arithmetically…it's　a　straight…line　decrease；　a　staircase；　see　there？　And　it's　stayed　arithmetic　until　the　last　minute　or　so；　when　the　decrease　suddenly　became　exponential。　It　just　fell　to　zero。〃
　〃So？〃　Bobby　looked　puzzled。　〃That　means　what？　I　don't　get　it。〃
　〃I　do。〃　She　turned　to　me；　climbed　back　on　the　bike。　〃I　think　I　know　what　happened。　Go　forward…slowly。〃
　I　let　out　the　clutch；　and　rumbled　forward。　My　bouncing　headlight　showed　a　slight　rise　in　the　desert；　scrubby　cactus　ahead　。。。
　〃No。　Slower；　Jack。〃
　I　slowed。　Now　we　were　practically　going　at　a　walk。　I　yawned。　There　was　no　point　in　questioning　her；　she　was　intense；　focused。　I　was　just　tired　and　defeated。　We　continued　up　the　desert　rise　until　it　flattened；　and　then　the　bike　began　to　tilt　downward…
　〃Stop。〃
　I　stopped。
　Directly　ahead；　the　desert　floor　abruptly　ended。　I　saw　blackness　beyond。
　〃Is　that　a　cliff？〃
　〃No。　Just　a　high　ridge。〃
　I　edged　the　bike　forward。　The　land　definitely　fell　away。　Soon　we　were　at　the　edge　and　I　could　get　my　bearings。　We　were　at　the　crest　of　a　ridge　fifteen　feet　high；　which　formed　one　side　of　a　very　wide　streambed。　Directly　beneath　me　I　saw　smooth　river　rocks；　with　occasional　boulders　and　clumps　of　scraggly　brush　that　stretched　about　fifty　yards　away；　to　the　far　side　of　the　riverbed。　Beyond　the　distant　bank；　the　desert　was　flat　again。　〃I　understand　now；〃　I　said。　〃The　swarm　jumped。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃it　became　airborne。　And　we　lost　the　trail。〃
　〃But　then　it　must　have　landed　somewhere　down　there；〃　Bobby　said；　pointing　to　the　streambed。
　〃Maybe；〃　I　said。　〃And　maybe　not。〃
　I　was　thinking　it　would　take　us　many　minutes　to　find　a　safe　route　down。　Then　we　would　spend　a　long　time　searching　among　the　bushes　and　rocks　of　the　streambed；　before　picking　up　the　trail　again。　It　might　take　hours。　We　might　not　find　it　at　all。　From　our　position　up　here　on　top　of　the　ridge；　we　saw　the　daunting　expanse　of　desert　stretching　out　before　us。　I　said；　〃The　swarm　could　have　touched　down　in　the　streambed。　Or　it　could　have　e　down　just　beyond　the　bed。　Or　it　could　have　gone　quarter　mile　beyond。〃　Mae　was　not　discouraged。　〃Bobby；　you　stay　here；〃　she　said。　〃You'll　mark　the　position　where　it　jumped。　Jack　and　I　will　find　a　path　down；　go　out　into　that　plain；　and　run　in　a　straight　line　east…west　until　we　pick　up　the　trail　again。　Sooner　or　later；　we'll　find　it。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Bobby　said。　〃Got　you。〃
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　We　might　as　well　do　it。　We　had　nothing　to　lose。　But　I　had　very　little　confidence　we　would　succeed。
　Bobby　leaned　forward　over　his　ATV。　〃What's　that？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃An　animal。　I　saw　glowing　eyes。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　that　brush　over　there。〃　He　pointed　to　the　center　of　the　streambed。　I　frowned。　We　both　had　our　headlights　trained　down　the　ridge。　We　were　lighting　a　fairly　large　arc　of　desert。　I　didn't　see　any　animals。
　〃There！〃　Mae　said。
　〃I　don't　see　anything。〃
　She　pointed。　〃It　just　went　behind　that　juniper　bush。　See　the　bush　that　looks　like　a　pyramid？　That　has　the　dead　branches　on　one　side？〃
　〃I　see　it；〃　I　said。　〃But　。。。〃　I　didn't　see　an　animal。
　〃It's　moving　left　to　right。　Wait　a　minute　and　it'll　e　out　again。〃　We　waited；　and　then　I　saw　a　pair　of　bright　green；　glowing　spots。　Close　to　the　ground；　moving　right。　I　saw　a　flash　of　pale　white。　And　almost　immediately　I　knew　that　something　was　wrong。　So　did　Bobby。　He　twisted　his　handlebars；　moving　his　headlamp　to　point　directly　to　the　spot。　He　reached　for　binoculars。
　〃That's　not　an　animal　。。。〃　he　said。
　Moving　among　the　low　bushes；　we　saw　more　white…flesh　white。　But　we　saw　only　glimpses。　And　then　I　saw　a　flat　white　surface　that　I　realized　with　a　shock　was　a　human　hand；　dragging　along　the　ground。　A　hand　with　outstretched　fingers。
　〃Jesus；〃　Bobby　said；　staring　through　the　binoculars。
　〃What？　What　is　it？〃
　〃It's　a　body　being　dragged；〃　he　said。　And　then；　in　a　funny　voice；　he　said；　〃It's　Rosie。〃
　　
　DAY　6　
　10：58　P。M。
　Gunning　the　bike；　I　took　off　with　Mae；　running　along　the　edge　of　the　ridge　until　it　sloped　down　toward　the　streambed　floor。　Bobby　stayed　where　he　was；　watching　Rosie's　body。　In　a　few　minutes　I　had　crossed　the　streambed　to　the　other　bank；　and　was　moving　back　toward　his　light　on　the　hill。
　Mae　said；　〃Let's　slow　down；　Jack。〃
　So　I　slowed　down；　leaning　forward　over　my　handlebars；　trying　to　see　the　ground　far　ahead。　Suddenly　the　radiation　counter　began　to　chatter　again。
　〃Good　sign；〃　I　said。
　We　moved　ahead。　Now　we　were　directly　across　from　Bobby　on　the　ridge　above。　His　headlamp　cast　a　faint　light　on　the　ground　all　around　us；　sort　of　like　moonlight。　I　waved　for　him　to　e　down。　He　turned　his　vehicle　and　headed　west。　Without　his　light；　the　ground　was　suddenly　darker；　more　mysterious。
　And　then　we　saw　Rosie　Castro。
　Rosie　lay　on　her　back；　her　head　tilted　so　she　appeared　to　be　looking　backward；　directly　at　me；　her　eyes　wide；　her　arm　outstretched　toward　me；　her　pale　hand　open。　There　was　an　expression　of　pleading…or　terror…on　her　face。　Rigor　mortis　had　set　in；　and　her　body　jerked　stiffly　as　it　moved　over　low　shrubs　and　desert　cactus。
　She　was　being　dragged　away…but　no　animal　was　dragging　her。
　〃I　think　you　should　turn　your　light　off；〃　Mae　said。
　〃But　I　don't　see　what's　doing　it　。。。　there's　like　a　shadow　underneath　her　。。。〃
　〃That's　not　a　shadow；〃　Mae　said。　〃It's　them。〃
　〃They're　dragging　her？〃
　She　nodded。　〃Turn　your　l