mc.prey-第43章

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　I　watched　the　screen　tensely。
　The　camera　didn't　have　good　resolution　and　the　screen　was　the　size　of　my　palm；　but　it　was　still　clear　that　the　figure　was　Ricky。　I　didn't　understand　what　he　was　doing　here…or　even　how　he　had　gotten　here。　Then　another　man　came　around　the　bend。
　He　was　also　Ricky。
　I　glanced　at　Mae；　but　she　remained　utterly　still；　a　statue。　Only　her　eyes　moved。　I　squinted　at　the　screen。　Within　the　limits　of　video　resolution；　the　two　figures　appeared　to　be　identical　in　every　respect。　Same　clothes；　same　movements；　same　gestures　and　shrugs。　I　couldn't　see　the　faces　well；　but　I　had　the　impression　they　were　more　detailed　than　before。　They　didn't　seem　to　notice　the　camera。
　They　looked　up　at　the　sky；　and　then　at　the　rock　slide　for　a　while；　and　then　they　turned　their　backs　on　us；　and　returned　to　the　interior　of　the　cave。
　Still　Mae　did　not　move。　She　had　been　motionless　for　almost　a　minute　already　and　in　that　time　she　hadn't　even　blinked。　Now　the　men　were　gone；　and…
　Another　figure　came　around　the　corner。　It　was　David　Brooks。　He　moved　awkwardly；　stiffly　at　first；　but　he　quickly　became　more　fluid。　I　had　the　feeling　I　was　watching　a　puppeteer　perfect　his　moves；　animating　the　figure　in　a　more　lifelike　way。　Then　David　became　Ricky。　And　then　David　again。　And　the　David　figure　turned　and　went　away。
　Still　Mae　waited。　She　waited　fully　two　more　minutes；　and　then　finally　withdrew　the　camera。　She　jerked　her　thumb；　indicating　we　should　go　back。　Together；　we　crept　away　from　the　rim；　back　down　the　mound；　and　moved　away　silently　into　the　desert　night。　We　gathered　a　hundred　yards　to　the　west；　near　our　vehicles。　Mae　was　rummaging　in　her　backpack；　she　pulled　out　a　clipboard　with　a　felt　marker。　She　flicked　on　her　penlight　and　began　to　draw。
　〃This　is　what　you're　up　against；〃　she　said。　〃The　cave　has　an　opening　like　this；　which　you　saw。　Past　the　bend；　there's　a　big　hole　in　the　floor；　and　the　cave　spirals　downward　for　maybe　a　hundred　yards。　That　brings　you　into　one　large　chamber　that　is　maybe　a　hundred　feet　high；　and　a　couple　of　hundred　feet　wide。　Single　big　room；　that's　all。　There　are　no　passages　leading　off；　at　least　none　that　I　saw。〃
　〃That　you　saw？〃
　〃I've　been　in　there；〃　she　said；　nodding。
　〃When？〃
　〃A　couple　of　weeks　ago。　Back　when　we　first　started　looking　for　the　swarm's　hiding　place。　I　found　that　cave　and　went　in　there　in　day…light。　I　didn't　find　any　indication　of　a　swarm　then。〃　She　explained　that　the　cave　was　filled　with　bats；　the　whole　ceiling　covered　with　them；　packed　together　in　a　pink　squirming　mass；　all　the　way　out　to　the　entrance。　〃Ugh；〃　Bobby　said。　〃I　hate　bats。〃
　〃I　didn't　see　any　bats　there　tonight。〃
　〃You　think　they've　been　driven　away？〃
　〃Eaten；　probably。〃
　〃Jesus；　guys；〃　Bobby　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃I'm　just　a　programmer。　I　don't　think　I　can　do　this。　I　don't　think　I　can　go　in　there。〃
　Mae　ignored　him。　She　said　to　me；　〃If　we　go　in；〃　she　said；　〃we'll　have　to　set　off　thermite；　and　keep　doing　it　all　the　way　down　to　the　chamber。　I'm　not　sure　we　have　enough　thermite　to　do　that。〃
　〃Maybe　not；〃　I　said。　I　had　a　different　concern。　〃We're　wasting　our　time　unless　we　destroy　all　the　swarms；　and　all　the　assemblers　that　are　making　them。　Right？〃　They　both　nodded。
　〃I'm　not　sure　that'll　be　possible；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　the　swarms　would　be　powered　down　at　night。　I　thought　we　could　destroy　them　on　the　ground。　But　they're　not　powered　down…at　least　not　all　of　them。　And　if　just　one　of　them　gets　past　us；　if　it　escapes　from　the　cave　。。。〃　I　shrugged。　〃Then　this　has　all　been　a　waste　of　time。〃
　〃Right；〃　Bobby　said；　nodding。　〃That's　right。　It'd　be　a　waste　of　time。〃
　Mae　said；　〃We　need　some　way　to　trap　them　in　the　cave。〃
　〃There　isn't　any　way；〃　Bobby　said。　〃I　mean；　they　can　just　fly　out；　whenever　they　want。〃　Mae　said；　〃There　might　be　a　way。〃　She　started　rummaging　in　her　backpack　again；　looking　for　something。　〃Meanwhile；　the　three　of　us　better　spread　out。〃
　〃Why？〃　Bobby　said；　alarmed。
　〃Just　do　it；〃　Mae　said。　〃Now　get　moving。〃
　I　tightened　my　backpack；　and　adjusted　the　straps　so　it　wouldn't　rattle。　I　locked　the　night…vision　goggles　up　on　my　forehead；　and　I　started　forward。　I　had　gotten　about　halfway　to　the　mound　when　I　saw　a　dark　figure　climb　out　into　the　night。
　I　dropped　down　as　quietly　as　I　could。　I　was　in　a　thick　patch　of　sagebrush　three　feet　high；　so　I　was　reasonably　well　concealed。　I　looked　over　my　shoulder；　but　I　didn't　see　either　Mae　or　Bobby；　they'd　dropped　to　the　ground；　too。　I　didn't　know　if　they'd　separated　yet。　Cautiously；　I　pushed　aside　a　plant　in　front　of　me；　and　looked　toward　the　mound。　The　legs　of　the　figure　were　silhouetted　against　the　faint　green　glow。　The　upper　body　was　black　against　the　night　stars。　I　flipped　down　the　goggles；　and　waited　a　moment　while　they　flared　blue；　and　then　saw　the　image　resolve。
　This　time　it　was　Rosie。　Walking　around　in　the　night；　looking　in　all　directions；　her　body　vigilant　and　alert。　Except　that　she　didn't　move　like　Rosie；　she　moved　more　like　a　man。　Then　after　a　moment；　the　silhouette　changed　into　Ricky。　And　it　moved　like　Ricky。　The　figure　crouched　down；　and　appeared　to　be　looking　over　the　tops　of　the　sage。　I　wondered　what　had　brought　it　out　of　the　mound。　I　didn't　have　to　wait　long　to　find　out。　Behind　the　figure；　a　white　light　appeared　on　the　western　horizon。　It　grew　rapidly　in　brilliance；　and　soon　I　heard　the　thumping　of　helicopter　blades。　That　would　be　Julia　ing　from　the　Valley；　I　thought。　I　wondered　what　was　so　urgent　that　she　had　had　to　leave　the　hospital　against　orders；　and　fly　out　here　in　the　middle　of　the　night。
　As　the　helicopter　approached；　it　switched　on　its　searchlight。　I　watched　the　circle　of　blue…white　light　as　it　rippled　over　the　ground　toward　us。　The　Ricky　figure　watched；　too；　then　slid　down　out　of　sight。
　And　then　the　helicopter　roared　over　me；　blinding　me　for　a　moment　in　the　halogen　light。　Almost　immediately　it　banked　sharply；　and　circled　back。
　What　the　hell　was　going　on？
　The　helicopter　made　a　slow　arc；　passing　over　the　mound　but　not　stopping；　then　ing　to　a　stop　right　above　where　I　was　hiding。　I　was　caught　in　the　blue　glow。　I　rolled　onto　my　back　and　waved　to　the　helicopter；　pointing　repeatedly　toward　the　lab。　I　mouthed　〃Go！〃　and　pointed　away。
　The　helicopter　descended；　and　for　a　moment　I　thought　it　was　going　to　land　right　beside　me。　Then　it　abruptly　banked　again；　and　moved　away　low　to　the　ground；　heading　south　toward　the　concrete　pad。　The　sound　faded。
　I　decided　I　had　better　change　my　position　fast。　I　got　to　my　knees　and　in　a　crouch；　moved　crabwise　thirty　yards　to　the　left。　Then　I　dropped　down　again。　When　I　looked　back　at　the　mound；　I　saw　three…no；　four　figures　ing　out　of　the　interior。　They　moved　apart；　each　heading　to　a　different　area　of　the　mound。　They　all　looked　like　Ricky。　I　watched　as　they　went　down　the　slope　of　the　mound；　and　moved　out　into　the　bush。　My　heart　began　to　pound　in　my　chest。　One　of　the　figures　was　ing　in　my　direction。　As　it　approached；　I　saw　it　veer　off　to　the　right。　It　was　going　to　the　place　where　I　had　been　before。　When　it　reached　my　last　hiding　place；　it　stopped；　and　turned　in　all　directions。　It　was　not　far　from　me　at　all。　I　could　see　through　the　goggles　that　this　new　Ricky　figure　now　had　a　plete　face；　and　the　clothing　was　much　more　detailed。　In　addition；　this　figure　moved　with　the　sensation　of　real　body　weight。　It　might　be　an　illusion；　of　course；　but　I　guessed　that　the　swarm　had　increased　mass；　and　now　weighed　fifty　pounds；　maybe　more。　Maybe　twice　that。　If　so；　then　the　swarm　now　had　enough　mass　to　jolt　you　with　a　physical　impact。　Even　knock　you　off　your　feet。
　Through　the　goggles　I　saw　the　figure's　eyes　move；　and　blink。　The　surface　of　the　face　now　had　the　texture　of　skin。　The　hair　appeared　to　be　posed　of　individual　strands。　The　lips　moved；　the　tongue　licked　nervously。　All　in　all　this　face　looked　very　much　like　Ricky…disturbingly　like　Ricky。　When　the　head　turned　in　my　direction；　I　felt　that　Ricky　was　staring　right　at　me。　And　I　suppose　it　was；　because　the　figure　began　to　move　directly　toward　me。　I　was　trapped。　My　heart　was　thumping　in　my　chest。　I　hadn't　planned　for　this；　I　had　no　protection；　no　sort　of　defense。　I　could　get　up　and　run；　of　course；　but　there　was　nowhere　to　go。　I　was　surrounded　by　miles　of　desert；　and　the　swarms　would　hunt　me　down。　In　a　few　moments　I　would　be…
　With　a　roar；　the　helicopter　came　back。　The　Ricky　figure　looked　toward　it　as　it　came；　and　then　turned　and　fled；　literally　flying　over　the　ground；　not　bothering　any　longer　to　animate　the　legs　and　feet。　It　was　creepy　to　see　this　human　replica；　suddenly　floating　over　the　desert。　But　the　other　three　Ricky　figures　were　running；　too。　Running　hard；　conveying　a　distinct　sense　of　panic。　Did　the　swarms　fear　the　helicopter？　It　seemed　they　did。　And　as　I　watched；　I　understood　why。　Even　though　the　swarms　were　now　heavier　and　more　substantial；　they　were　still　vulnerable　to　strong　winds。　The　helicopter　was　a　hundred　feet　in　the　air　but　the　downdraft　was　powerful　enough　to　deform　the　running　figures；　flattening　them　partially　as　they　fled。　It　was　as　if　they　were　being　hammered　down。
　The　figures　vanished　into　the　mound。
　I　looked　back　at　Mae。　She　was　standing　up　in　the　streambed　now；　talking　on　her　radio　to　the　helicopter。　She'd　needed　that　radio；　all　right。　She　yelled　to　me；　〃Let's　go！〃　and　began　running　toward　me。　I　was　dimly　aware　of　Bobby；　running　away　from　the　mound；　back　to　his　ATV。　But　there　was　no　time　to　worry　about　him。　The　helicopter　hung　poised　right　above　the　mound　itself。　Dust　whipped　up；　stinging　my　eyes。
　Then　Mae　was　beside　me。　Removing　our　goggles；　we　pulled　on　our　oxygen　masks。　She　turned　me；　twisted　the　tank　valve　behind　me。　I　did　the　same　for　her。　Then　we　put　the　night　goggles　back　on。　It　seemed　like　a　lot　of　contraptions　jiggling　and　rattling　around　my　face。　She　clipped　a　halogen　flashlight　to　my　belt；　and　another　to　her　own。　She　leaned　close；　shouted：　〃Ready？〃
　〃I'm　ready！〃
　〃Okay；　let's　go！〃
　There　was　no　time　to　think。　It　was　better　that　way。　The　helicopter　downdraft　roared　in　my　ears。　Together　we　clawed　our　way　up　the　slope　of　the　mound；　our　clothes　whipping　around　us。　We　arrived　at　the　edge；　barely　visible　in　the　thick　swirling　dust。　We　couldn't　see　anything　beyond　the　rim。　We　couldn't　see　what　was　below。
　Mae　took　my　hand；　and　we　jumped。
　　
　DAY　6　
　11：22　P。M。
　I　landed　on　loose　stones；　and　half　stumbled；　half　slid　down　the　slope　toward　the　cave　entrance。　The　thumping　of　the　helicopter　blades　above　us　was　loud。　Mae　was　right　beside　me；　but　I　could　hardly　see　her　in　the　thick　dust。　There　were　no　Ricky　figures　anywhere　in　sight。　We　came　to　the　cave　entrance　and　stopped。　Mae　pulled　out　the　thermite　capsules。　She　gave　me　the　magnesium　fuses。　She　tossed　me　a　plastic　cigarette　lighter。　I　thought；　that's　what　we're　using？　Her　face　was　already　partly　clouded　behind　the　mask。　Her　eyes　were　hidden　behind　the　night…vision　goggles。　She　pointed　to　the　interior　of　the　cave。　I　nodded。
　She　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder；　pointed　to　my　goggles。　I　didn't　understand；　so　she　reached　forward　by　my　cheek　and　flicked　a　switch。
　〃…me　now？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　I　hear。〃
　〃Okay　then；　let's　go。〃
　We　started　into　the　cave。　The　green　glow　had　vanished　in　the　thick　dust。　We　had　only　the　infrared　light　mounted　on　top　of　our　night…vision　goggle