mc.prey-第45章

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　〃It's　all　right；〃　Mae　said。　In　the　darkness　I　felt　her　hand　gripping　my　arm。　Apparently　she　could　see　me。　She　said；　〃The　flashlight's　on　your　belt。〃　She　guided　my　hand。　I　fumbled　in　the　darkness；　feeling　for　the　clip。　I　found　it；　but　I　couldn't　get　it　open。　It　was　a　spring　clip　and　my　fingers　kept　slipping　off。　I　began　to　hear　a　thrumming　sound；　low　at　first；　but　starting　to　build。　My　hands　were　sweating。　Finally　the　clip　opened；　and　I　flicked　the　flashlight　on　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　I　saw　Mae　in　the　cold　halogen　beam；　she　still　had　her　goggles；　and　looked　away。　I　swung　the　beam　around　the　cave。　It　had　been　transformed　by　the　explosion。　Many　of　the　clusters　had　broken　apart　and　the　spikes　were　all　over　the　floor。　Some　substance　on　the　floor　was　beginning　to　burn。　Acrid；　foul　smoke　was　billowing　up。　The　air　was　thick　and　dark。　。。。　I　stepped　backward；　and　felt　something　squishy。
　I　looked　down　and　saw　David　Brooks's　shirt。　Then　I　realized　I　was　standing　on　what　was　left　of　David's　torso；　which　had　turned　into　a　kind　of　whitish　jelly。　My　foot　was　right　in　his　abdomen。　His　rib　cage　scraped　against　my　shin；　leaving　a　white　streak　on　my　pants。　I　looked　back　and　saw　David's　face；　ghostly　white　and　eroded；　his　features　eaten　away　until　he　looked　as　featureless　as　the　faces　on　the　swarms。　I　felt　instant　nausea；　and　tasted　bile。　〃e　on；〃　Mae　said；　grabbing　my　arm；　squeezing　it　hard。　〃e　on；　Jack。〃　With　a　sucking　sound；　my　foot　pulled　free　of　the　body。　I　tried　to　scrape　my　shoe　on　the　floor；　to　get　clean　of　the　white　muck。　I　was　not　thinking　anymore；　I　was　just　fighting　nausea　and　an　overpowering　sense　of　horror。　I　wanted　to　run。　Mae　was　talking　to　me　but　I　didn't　hear　her。　I　saw　only　glimpses　of　the　room　around　me；　and　was　only　dimly　aware　that　the　swarms　were　emerging　all　around　us；　swarm　after　swarm　after　swarm。　They　were　buzzing　everywhere。　〃I　need　you；　Jack；〃　Mae　said；　holding　out　four　caps；　and　somehow；　fumbling　with　the　flashlight；　I　managed　to　light　them　and　she　flung　them　in　all　directions。　I　threw　my　hands　over　my　eyes　as　the　hot　spheres　exploded　around　me。　When　I　looked　again；　the　swarms　were　gone。　But　in　only　a　few　moments；　they　began　to　reemerge。　First　one　swarm；　then　three；　then　six；　then　ten…and　then　too　many　to　count。　They　were　converging；　with　an　angry　buzz；　toward　us。　〃How　many　caps　have　we　got　left？〃　I　said。
　〃Eight。〃
　I　knew　then　that　we　were　not　going　to　make　it。　We　were　too　deep　in　the　cave。　We　would　never　get　out。　I　had　no　idea　how　many　swarms　were　around　us…my　halogen　beam　swung　back　and　forth　across　what　seemed　like　an　army。
　〃Jack　。。。〃　Mae　said；　holding　out　her　hand。　She　never　seemed　to　lose　confidence。　I　lit　three　more　caps　and　Mae　threw　them；　retracing　her　steps　toward　the　entrance　as　she　did　so。　I　stayed　close　to　her；　but　I　knew　our　situation　was　hopeless。　Each　blast　scattered　the　swarms　for　just　a　moment。　Then　they　quickly　regrouped。　There　were　far　too　many　swarms。　〃Jack。〃　More　thermite　in　her　hands。
　Now　I　could　see　the　entrance　to　the　chamber；　just　a　few　yards　ahead。　My　eyes　were　watering　from　all　the　acrid　smoke。　My　halogen　light　was　just　a　narrow　beam　cutting　through　the　dust。　The　air　was　getting　thicker　and　thicker。
　A　final　series　of　white…hot　blasts；　and　we　came　to　the　entrance。　I　saw　the　ramp　leading　back　toward　the　surface。　I　never　thought　we'd　get　this　far。　But　I　wasn't　thinking　anymore；　everything　was　impressions。
　〃How　many　left？〃　I　said。
　Mae　didn't　answer　me。　I　heard　the　rumble　of　an　engine　from　somewhere　above　us。　Looking　up　I　saw　a　wobbling　white　light　in　the　cave　higher　up。　The　rumble　became　very　loud…I　heard　an　engine　gunned…and　then　I　saw　the　ATV　poised　on　the　ramp　above。　Bobby　was　up　there；　shouting　〃Get　outttttt！〃
　Mae　turned　and　ran　up　the　ramp；　and　I　scrambled　to　follow　her。　I　was　vaguely　aware　of　Bobby　lighting　something　that　burst　into　orange　flame；　and　then　Mae　pushed　me　against　the　wall　as　the　riderless　ATV　roared　down　the　ramp　toward　the　chamber　below；　with　a　flaming　cloth　hanging　from　its　gas　tank。　It　was　a　motorized　Molotov　cocktail。
　As　soon　as　it　passed；　Mae　shoved　me　hard　in　the　back。　〃Run！〃　I　sprinted　the　last　few　yards　up　the　ramp。　Bobby　was　reaching　down　for　us；　hauling　us　up　over　the　lip　to　the　level　above。　I　fell　and　scraped　my　knee　but　hardly　felt　it　as　he　dragged　me　onto　my　feet　again。　Then　I　was　running　hard　toward　the　cave　entrance　and　had　almost　reached　the　opening　when　a　fiery　blast　knocked　us　off　our　feet；　and　I　went　tumbling　through　the　air；　and　smashed　against　one　of　the　cave　walls。　I　got　to　my　feet；　head　ringing。　My　flashlight　was　gone。　I　heard　a　kind　of　strange　screaming　sound　from　somewhere　behind　me；　or　thought　I　did。　I　looked　at　Mae　and　Bobby。　They　were　getting　to　their　feet。　With　the　helicopter　still　thumping　above　us；　we　clambered　up　the　incline　and　collapsed　over　the　lip　of　the　mound；　and　tumbled　down　the　slopes；　out　into　the　cool；　black　desert　night。
　The　last　thing　I　saw　was　Mae　waving　the　helicopter　away；　gesturing　for　it　to　go；　go；　go…
　And　then　the　cave　exploded。
　The　ground　jumped　beneath　my　feet；　knocking　me　over。　I　fell　to　the　ground　just　as　the　shock　wave　caused　sharp　pain　in　my　ears。　I　heard　the　deep　rumble　of　the　explosion。　From　the　mouth　of　the　cave　an　enormous　angry　fireball　billowed　upward；　orange　laced　in　black。　I　felt　a　wave　of　heat　rolling　down　toward　me；　and　then　it　was　gone；　and　everything　was　suddenly　quiet；　and　the　world　around　me　was　black。
　How　long　I　lay　there　beneath　the　stars　I　am　not　sure。　I　must　have　lost　consciousness；　because　the　next　thing　I　remember　was　Bobby　pushing　me　up　into　the　backseat　of　the　helicopter。　Mae　was　already　inside；　and　she　leaned　over　to　buckle　me　in。　They　were　both　looking　at　me　with　expressions　of　concern。　I　wondered　dully　if　I　had　been　injured。　I　didn't　feel　any　pain。　The　door　slammed　beside　me；　and　Bobby　got　in　the　front　next　to　the　pilot。　We　had　done　it。　We　had　succeeded。
　I　could　hardly　believe　it　was　over。
　The　helicopter　rose　into　the　air　and　I　saw　the　lights　of　the　lab　in　the　distance。
　
　PREY
　
　　DAY　7　
　12：12　A。M。
　〃Jack。〃
　Julia　rushed　toward　me　as　I　came　down　the　corridor。　In　the　overhead　light　her　face　looked　beautiful　in　a　lean；　elegant　way。　She　was　in　truth　more　beautiful　than　I　remembered。　Her　ankle　was　bandaged　and　she　had　a　cast　on　her　wrist。　She　threw　her　arms　around　me　and　buried　her　head　in　my　shoulder。　Her　hair　smelled　of　lavender。　〃Oh；　Jack；　Jack。　Thank　God　you're　all　right。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　I　said　hoarsely。　〃I'm　okay。〃
　〃I'm　so　glad　。。。　so　glad。〃
　I　just　stood　there；　feeling　her　hug　me。　Then　I　hugged　her　back。　I　didn't　know　how　to　react。　She　was　so　energized；　but　I　was　exhausted；　flat。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　Jack？〃　she　said；　still　hugging　me。
　〃Yeah；　Julia。〃　I　said；　just　above　a　whisper。　〃I　am。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　your　voice？〃　she　said；　pulling　back　to　look　at　me。　She　scanned　my　face。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　〃He　probably　burned　his　vocal　cords；〃　Mae　said。　She　was　hoarse；　too。　Her　face　was　blackened　with　soot。　She　had　a　cut　on　her　cheek；　and　another　on　her　forehead。　Julia　embraced　me　again；　her　fingers　touched　my　shirt。　〃Darling；　you're　hurt　。。。〃
　〃Just　my　shirt。〃
　〃Jack；　are　you　sure　you're　not　hurt？　I　think　you're　hurt　。。。〃
　〃No；　I'm　okay。〃　I　stepped　away　from　her　awkwardly。
　〃I　can't　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃how　grateful　I　am　for　what　you　did　tonight；　Jack。　What　all　of　you　did；〃　she　added；　turning　to　the　others。　〃You；　Mae；　and　Bobby　too。　I'm　only　sorry　I　wasn't　here　to　help。　I　know　this　is　all　my　fault。　But　we're　very　grateful。　The　pany　is　grateful。〃　I　thought；　The　pany？　But　all　I　said　was；　〃Yeah；　well；　it　had　to　be　done。〃
　〃It　did；　yes；　it　certainly　did。　Quickly　and　decisively。　And　you　did　it；　Jack。　Thank　God。〃　Ricky　was　standing　in　the　background；　head　bobbing　up　and　down。　He　was　like　one　of　those　mechanical　birds　that　drinks　from　a　water　glass。　Bobbing　up　and　down。　I　felt　unreal；　as　if　I　was　in　a　play。
　〃I　think　we　should　all　have　a　drink　to　celebrate；〃　Julia　was　saying；　as　we　went　down　the　corridor。　〃There　must　be　some　champagne　around　here。　Ricky？　Is　there？　Yes？　I　want　to　celebrate　what　you　guys　have　done。〃
　〃I　just　want　to　sleep；〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　e　on；　just　one　glass。〃
　It　was　typical　Julia；　I　thought。　Involved　in　her　own　world；　not　noticing　how　anyone　around　her　was　feeling。　The　last　thing　any　of　us　wanted　to　do　right　now　was　drink　champagne。　〃Thanks　anyway；〃　Mae　said；　shaking　her　head。
　〃Are　you　sure？　Really？　It'd　be　fun。　How　about　you；　Bobby？〃
　〃Maybe　tomorrow；〃　Bobby　said。
　〃Oh　well；　okay；　after　all；　you're　the　conquering　heroes！　We'll　do　it　tomorrow；　then。〃　I　noticed　how　fast　she　was　talking；　how　quick　her　body　movements　were。　I　remembered　Ellen's　ment　about　her　taking　drugs。　It　certainly　seemed　like　she　was　on　something。　But　I　was　so　tired　I　just　didn't　give　a　damn。
　〃I've　told　the　news　to　Larry　Handler；　the　head　of　the　pany；〃　she　said；　〃and　he's　very　grateful　to　you　all。〃
　〃That's　nice；〃　I　said。　〃Is　he　going　to　notify　the　Army？〃
　〃Notify　the　Army？　About　what？〃
　〃About　the　runaway　experiment。〃
　〃Well；　Jack；　that's　all　taken　care　of　now。　You've　taken　care　of　it。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　we　have；〃　I　said。　〃Some　of　the　swarms　might　have　escaped。　Or　there　might　be　another　nest　out　there。　To　be　safe；　I　think　we　should　call　in　the　Army。〃　I　didn't　really　think　we　had　missed　anything；　but　I　wanted　to　get　outsiders　in　here。　I　was　tired。　I　wanted　somebody　else　to　take　over。
　〃The　Army？〃　Julia's　eyes　flicked　to　Ricky；　then　back　to　me。　〃Jack；　you're　absolutely　right；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃This　is　an　extremely　serious　situation。　If　there　is　the　slightest　chance　something　was　missed；　we　must　notify　them　at　once。〃
　〃I　mean　tonight。〃
　〃Yes；　I　agree；　Jack。　Tonight。　In　fact；　I'll　do　it　right　now。〃　I　glanced　back　at　Ricky。　He　was　walking　along；　still　nodding　in　that　mechanical　way。　I　didn't　get　it。　What　about　Ricky's　earlier　panic？　His　fear　that　the　experiment　would　be　made　public？　Now　it　seemed　he　didn't　care。
　Julia　said；　〃You　three　can　get　some　sleep；　and　I'll　call　my　contacts　at　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　I　said。
　〃It's　really　not　necessary。〃
　〃I　want　to；〃　I　said。
　She　glanced　at　me　and　smiled。　〃You　don't　trust　me？〃
　〃It's　not　that；〃　I　said。　〃But　they　might　have　questions　I　could　answer　for　them。〃
　〃Okay；　fine。　Good　idea。　Excellent　idea。〃
　I　felt　sure　that　something　was　wrong。　I　felt　as　if　I　were　in　a　play；　and　everyone　was　acting　a　part。　Except　I　didn't　know　what　the　play　was。　I　glanced　over　at　Mae。　She　was　frowning　slightly。　She　must　have　sensed　it；　too。
　We　passed　through　the　airlocks　into　the　residential　unit。　Here　the　air　felt　unfortably　cold　to　me；　I　shivered。　We　went　into　the　kitchen　and　Julia　reached　for　the　phone。　〃Let's　make　that　call；　Jack；〃　she　said。
　I　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　got　a　ginger　ale。　Mae　had　an　iced　tea。　Bobby　had　a　beer。　We　were　all　thirsty。　I　noticed　a　bottle　of　champagne　sitting　in　the　fridge；　waiting。　I　touched　it；　it　was　cold。　There　were　six　glasses　in　there；　too；　being　chilled。　She'd　already　planned　the　party。　Julia　pushed　the　speakerphone　button。　We　heard　a　dial　tone。　She　punched　in　a　number。　But　the　call　didn't　go　through。　The　line　just　went　dead。
　〃Huh；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　try　that　again　。。。〃
　She　dialed　a　second　time。　Again；　the　call　failed　to　go　through。
　〃That'