mc.prey-第42章

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　〃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　light　off。〃
　I　flicked　off　the　headlamp。　We　stood　in　darkness。　I　said；　〃I　thought　swarms　couldn't　maintain　power　more　than　three　hours。〃
　〃That's　what　Ricky　said。〃
　〃He's　lying　again？〃
　〃Or　they've　overe　that　limitation　in　the　wild。〃
　The　implications　were　unsettling。　If　the　swarms　could　now　sustain　power　through　the　night；　then　they　might　be　active　when　we　reached　their　hiding　place。　I　was　counting　on　finding　them　collapsed；　the　particles　spread　on　the　ground。　I　intended　to　kill　them　in　their　sleep；　so　to　speak。　Now　it　seemed　they　weren't　sleeping。
　We　stood　there　in　the　cool　dark　air；　thinking　things　over。　Finally　Mae　said；　〃Aren't　these　swarms　modeled　on　insect　behavior？〃
　〃Not　really；〃　I　said。　〃The　programming　model　was　predator…prey。　But　because　the　swarm　is　a　population　of　interacting　particles；　to　some　degree　it　will　behave　like　any　population　of　interacting　particles；　such　as　insects。　Why？〃
　〃Insects　can　execute　plans　that　take　longer　than　the　lifespan　of　a　single　generation。　They　can　build　nests　that　require　many　generations。　Isn't　that　true？〃
　〃I　think　so　。。。〃
　〃So　maybe　one　swarm　carried　the　body　for　a　while；　and　then　another　took　over。　Maybe　there　have　been　three　or　four　swarms　so　far。　That　way　none　of　them　has　to　go　three　hours　at　night。〃　I　didn't　like　the　implications　of　that　idea　any　better。　〃That　would　mean　the　swarms　are　working　together；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　mean　they're　coordinated。〃
　〃They　clearly　are；　by　now。〃
　〃Except　that's　not　possible；〃　I　said　to　her。　〃Because　they　don't　have　the　signaling　capability。〃
　〃It　wasn't　possible　a　few　generations　ago；〃　Mae　said。　〃Now　it　is。　Remember　the　V　formation　that　came　toward　you？　They　were　coordinated。〃
　That　was　true。　I　just　hadn't　realized　it　at　the　time。　Standing　there　in　the　desert　night；　I　wondered　what　else　I　hadn't　realized。　I　squinted　into　the　darkness；　trying　to　see　ahead。　〃Where　are　they　taking　her？〃　I　said。
　Mae　unzipped　my　backpack；　and　pulled　out　a　set　of　night　goggles。　〃Try　these。〃　I　was　about　to　help　her　get　hers；　but　she'd　deftly　taken　her　pack　off；　opened　it；　and　pulled　out　her　own　goggles。　Her　movements　were　quick；　sure。
　I　slipped　on　the　headset；　adjusted　the　strap；　and　flipped　the　lenses　down　over　my　eyes。　These　were　the　new　Gen　4　goggles　that　showed　images　in　muted　color。　Almost　immediately；　I　saw　Rosie　in　the　desert。　Her　body　was　disappearing　behind　the　scrub　as　she　moved　farther　and　farther　away。
　〃Okay；　so　where　are　they　taking　her？〃　I　said　again。　Even　as　I　spoke；　I　raised　the　goggles　higher；　and　at　once　I　saw　where　they　were　taking　her。
　From　a　distance　it　looked　like　a　natural　formation…a　mound　of　dark　earth　about　fifteen　feet　wide　and　six　feet　high。　Erosion　had　carved　deep；　vertical　clefts　so　that　the　mound　looked　a　little　like　a　huge　gear　turned　on　edge。　It　would　be　easy　to　overlook　this　formation　as　natural。　But　it　wasn't　natural。　And　erosion　hadn't　produced　its　sculpted　look。　On　the　contrary；　I　was　seeing　an　artificial　construction；　similar　to　the　nests　made　by　African　termites　and　other　social　insects。
　Wearing　the　second　pair　of　goggles；　Mae　looked　for　a　while　in　silence；　then　said；　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　me　that　is　the　product　of　self…organized　behavior？　That　the　behavior　to　make　it　just　emerged　all　by　itself？〃
　〃Actually；　yes；〃　I　said。　〃That's　exactly　what　happened。〃
　〃Hard　to　believe。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　Mae　was　a　good　biologist；　but　she　was　a　primate　biologist。　She　was　accustomed　to　studying　small　populations　of　highly　intelligent　animals　that　had　dominance　hierarchies　and　group　leaders。　She　understood　plex　behavior　to　be　the　result　of　plex　intelligence。　And　she　had　trouble　grasping　the　sheer　power　of　self…organized　behavior　within　a　very　large　population　of　dumb　animals。
　In　any　case；　this　was　a　deep　human　prejudice。　Human　beings　expected　to　find　a　central　mand　in　any　organization。　States　had　governments。　Corporations　had　CEOs。　Schools　had　principals。　Armies　had　generals。　Human　beings　tended　to　believe　that　without　central　mand；　chaos　would　overwhelm　the　organization　and　nothing　significant　could　be　acplished。　From　this　standpoint；　it　was　difficult　to　believe　that　extremely　stupid　creatures　with　brains　smaller　than　pinheads　were　capable　of　construction　projects　more　plicated　than　any　human　project。　But　in　fact；　they　were。
　African　termites　were　a　classic　example。　These　insects　made　earthen　castlelike　mounds　a　hundred　feet　in　diameter　and　thrusting　spires　twenty　feet　into　the　air。　To　appreciate　their　acplishment；　you　had　to　imagine　that　if　termites　were　the　size　of　people；　these　mounds　would　be　skyscrapers　one　mile　high　and　five　miles　in　diameter。　And　like　a　skyscraper；　the　termite　mound　had　an　intricate　internal　architecture　to　provide　fresh　air；　remove　excess　CO2　and　heat；　and　so　on。　Inside　the　structure　were　gardens　to　grow　food；　residences　for　royalty；　and　living　space　for　as　many　as　two　million　termites。　No　two　mounds　were　exactly　the　same；　each　was　individually　constructed　to　suit　the　requirements　and　advantages　of　a　particular　site。　All　this　was　acplished　with　no　architect；　no　foreman；　no　central　authority。　Nor　was　a　blueprint　for　construction　encoded　in　the　termite　genes。　Instead　these　huge　creations　were　the　result　of　relatively　simple　rules　that　the　individual　termites　followed　in　relation　to　one　another。　（Rules　like；　〃If　you　smell　that　another　termite　has　been　here；　put　a　dirt　pellet　on　this　spot。〃）　Yet　the　oute　was　arguably　more　plex　than　any　human　creation。　Now　we　were　seeing　a　new　construction　made　by　a　new　creature；　and　it　was　again　difficult　to　conceive　how　it　might　have　been　made。　How　could　a　swarm　make　a　mound；　anyway？　But　I　was　beginning　to　realize　that　out　here　in　the　desert；　asking　how　something　happened　was　a　fool's　errand。　The　swarms　were　changing　fast；　almost　minute　to　minute。　The　natural　human　impulse　to　figure　it　out　was　a　waste　of　time。　By　the　time　you　figured　it　out；　things　would　have　changed。
　Bobby　rumbled　up　in　his　ATV；　and　cut　his　light。　We　all　stood　there　under　the　stars。　Bobby　said；　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　〃Follow　Rosie；〃　I　said。
　〃Looks　like　Rosie　is　going　into　that　mound；〃　he　said。　〃You　mean　we　follow　her　there？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　At　Mae's　suggestion；　we　walked　the　rest　of　the　way。　Lugging　our　backpacks；　it　took　us　the　better　part　of　ten　minutes　to　reach　the　vicinity　of　the　mound。　We　paused　about　fifty　feet　away。　There　was　a　nauseating　smell　in　the　air；　a　putrid　odor　of　rotting　and　decay。　It　was　so　strong　it　made　my　stomach　turn。　Then　too；　a　faint　green　glow　seemed　to　be　emanating　from　inside　the　mound。
　Bobby　whispered；　〃You　really　want　to　go　in　there？〃
　〃Not　yet；〃　Mae　whispered。　She　pointed　off　to　one　side。　Rosie's　body　was　moving　up　the　slope　of　the　mound。　As　she　came　to　the　rim；　her　rigid　legs　pointed　into　the　air　for　a　moment。　Then　her　body　toppled　over；　and　she　fell　into　the　interior。　But　she　stopped　before　she　disappeared　entirely；　for　several　seconds；　her　head　remained　above　the　rim；　her　arm　outstretched；　as　if　she　were　reaching　for　air。　Then；　slowly；　she　slid　the　rest　of　the　way　down；　and　vanished。　Bobby　shivered。
　Mae　whispered；　〃Okay。　Let's　go。〃
　She　started　forward　in　her　usual　noiseless　way。　Following　her；　I　tried　to　be　as　quiet　as　I　could。　Bobby　crunched　and　crackled　his　way　along　the　ground。　Mae　paused；　and　gave　him　a　hard　look。
　Bobby　held　up　his　hands　as　if　to　say；　what　can　I　do？
　She　whispered；　〃Watch　where　you　put　your　feet。〃
　He　whispered；　〃I　am。〃
　〃You're　not。〃
　〃It's　dark；　I　can't　see。〃
　〃You　can　if　you　try。〃
　I　couldn't　recall　ever　seeing　Mae　show　irritation　before；　but　we　were　all　under　pressure　now。　And　the　stench　was　terrible。　Mae　turned　and　once　again　moved　forward　silently。　Bobby　followed；　making　just　as　much　noise　as　before。　We　had　only　gone　a　few　steps　before　Mae　turned；　held　up　her　hand；　and　signaled　for　him　to　stay　where　he　was。　He　shook　his　head；　no。　He　clearly　didn't　want　to　be　left　alone。
　She　gripped　his　shoulder；　pointed　firmly　to　the　ground；　and　whispered；　〃You　stay　here。〃
　〃No　。。。〃
　She　whispered；　〃You'll　get　us　all　killed。〃
　He　whispered；　〃I　promise。〃
　She　shook　her　head；　pointed　to　the　ground。　Sit。
　Finally；　Bobby　sat　down。
　Mae　looked　at　me。　I　nodded。　We　set　out　again。　By　now　we　were　twenty　feet　from　the　mound　itself。　The　smell　was　almost　overpowering。　My　stomach　churned；　I　was　afraid　I　might　be　sick。　And　this　close；　we　began　to　hear　the　deep　thrumming　sound。　More　than　anything　it　was　that　sound　that　made　me　want　to　run　away。　But　Mae　kept　going。
　We　crouched　down　as　we　climbed　the　mound；　and　then　lay　flat　along　the　rim。　I　could　see　Mae's　face　in　the　green　glow　ing　from　inside。　For　some　reason　the　stench　didn't　bother　me　anymore。　Probably　because　I　was　too　frightened。
　Mae　reached　into　the　side　pouch　of　her　pack；　and　withdrew　a　small　thumb…sized　camera　on　a　thin　telescoping　stick。　She　brought　out　a　tiny　LCD　screen　and　set　it　on　the　ground　between　us。　Then　she　slid　the　stick　over　the　rim。
　On　the　screen；　we　saw　a　green　interior　of　smooth　undulating　walls。　Nothing　seemed　to　be　moving。　She　turned　the　camera　this　way　and　that。　All　we　saw　were　green　walls。　There　was　no　sign　of　Rosie。
　Mae　looked　at　me；　pointed　to　her　eyes。　Want　to　take　a　look　now？
　I　nodded。
　We　inched　forward　slowly；　until　we　could　look　over　the　rim。
　It　wasn't　what　I　expected　at　all。
　The　mound　simply　narrowed　an　existing　opening　that　was　huge…twenty　feet　wide　or　more；　revealing　a　rock　slide　that　sloped　downward　from　the　rim　and　ended　at　a　gaping　hole　in　the　rock　to　our　right。　The　green　light　was　ing　from　somewhere　inside　this　gaping　hole。　What　I　was　seeing　was　the　entrance　to　a　very　large　cave。　From　our　position　on　the　rim；　we　couldn't　see　into　the　cave　itself；　but　the　thrumming　sound　suggested　activity　within。　Mae　opened　the　telescoping　stick　to　its　full　length；　and　gently　lowered　the　camera　into　the　hole。　Soon　we　could　see　farther　into　the　cave。　It　was　undoubtedly　natural；　and　large：　perhaps　eight　feet　high；　ten　feet　wide。　The　rock　walls　were　pale　white；　and　appeared　to　be　covered　with　the　milky　substance　we'd　seen　on　Rosie。
　And　Rosie's　body　was　only　a　short　distance　inside。　We　could　see　her　hand　sticking　out　around　a　bend　in　the　rock　wall。　But　we　could　see　nothing　beyond　the　bend。　Mae　signaled　me：　want　to　go　down？
　I　nodded　slowly。　I　didn't　like　how　this　felt；　I　didn't　like　that　I　had　no　idea　what　was　beyond　the　bend。　But　we　really　had　no　choice。
　She　pointed　back　toward　Bobby。　Get　him？
　I　shook　my　head；　no。　He　wouldn't　help　us　here。
　She　nodded；　and　started　very　slowly　to　slide　out　of　her　backpack；　making　no　sound　at　all；　when　she　suddenly　froze。　Literally　froze：　she　didn't　move　a　muscle。　I　looked　at　the　screen。　And　I　froze；　too。
　A　figure　had　walked　from　behind　the　bend；　and　now　stood　alertly　at　the　entrance　of　the　cave；　looking　around。
　It　was　Ricky。
　*　*　*
　He　was　behaving　as　if　he　had　heard　a　sound；　or　had　been　alerted　for　some　other　reason。　The　video　camera　still　dangled　down　the　rim　of　the　mound。　It　was　pretty　small；　I　didn't　know　if　he　would　see　it。
　I　watched　the　screen　tensely。
　The　camera　didn't　ha