cp.reddice-第16章

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　　〃If　I　help　you　into　the　pound；　they　will　lock　me　away　for　the　rest　of　my　life。〃
　　〃Vehicles　go　in　and　out　of　the　pound　all　day。　I've　observed　them　from　a　distance。　You　can　bring　me　ride　in　your　trunk。　When　no　one　is　looking；　I　will　climb　out；　and　no　one　will　blame　you。〃
　　Andy's　not　convinced。　〃Your　friend　is　in　a　cell　in　a　basement　of　our　main　lab。　The　walls　of　the　cell　are　of　a　special　metal　alloy…even　you　couldn't　walk　through。　I　know　for　a　fact　your　partner　can't；　watched　him　try。　Also；　your　friend　is　under　at　surveillance。　Cameras　watch　him　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Then；　there　is　the　security　of　the　camp　itself。　It　is　surrounded　by　towers。　The　soldiers　inside　these　towers　are　well　armed。　The　place　is　a　fortress。　There　are　tanks　and　missiles　behind　every　building。〃　He　pauses。　〃You　won't　be　able　to　break　him　out。〃
　　〃This　special　cell　where　Joel　is　being　held…how　does　the　door　to　it　open？〃
　　〃There　is　a　button　on　a　control　panel　just　outside　the　cell。　Push　it　and　the　door　swings　aside。　But　it　is　a　long　way　from　my　car　trunk　to　that　button。　It　is　a　longer　way　back　outside　the　pound。　To　escape　with　your　friend；　you'll　have　to　bee　invisible。〃
　　I　nod。　〃We　can　go　over；　point　by　point；　the　security　of　the　camp。　But　for　now；　answer　my　earlier　question。　Is　there　another　vampire　in　the　place？〃
　　He　hesitates；　lowers　his　head。　〃Yes。〃
　　〃How　long　has　he　been　there？　A　month？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Was　he　captured　in　Los　Angeles？〃
　　〃Yes。　He's　a　black　youth。　He　lived　in　South　Central　L。A。　before　he　was　changed。〃　Andy　looks　up。　〃But　he　never　said　anything　about　an　Eddie。　The　person　who　changed　him　was　someone　else。　I　forget　the　name　right　now。〃
　　My　theory　was　correct。　〃That　other　person　was　changed　by　Eddie。　Trust　me…I　know　the　ultimate　source　of　this　other　vampire。　Where　is　he　located　in　relation　to　Joel？〃
　　〃In　the　cell　beside　Joel's。　But　he's　virtually　atose。　He　has　the　same　disease　as　your　friend…cramps　and　fever。〃　Andy　shakes　his　head。　〃We　didn't　know　what　to　do　for　him。　He　never　asked　for　blood。〃
　　〃Your　people　must　have　captured　him　right　after　he　was　changed。　No　one　told　him　what　he　is　now。〃　It　isn't　pleasant　to　contemplate　the　pain　this　poor　soul　is　going　through。　〃I'll　have　to　take　him　out　as　well。〃
　　〃You'll　have　to　carry　him　then。〃
　　〃I　can　do　that；　if　I　have　to。〃
　　Andy　studies　me。　〃You　say　you　are　so　old。　That　must　mean　you're　smarter　than　we　short…lived　mortals。　If　you　are；　you　must　know　how　the　odds　are　stacked　against　you。〃
　　〃I　have　always　managed　to　beat　the　odds。　Look　how　well　I　do　at　the　dice　tables。〃
　　〃You　will　probably　die　if　you　do　this。〃
　　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　die。〃
　　He　is　impressed。　〃You　really　aren't　a　monster。　You're　much　braver　than　I　am。〃
　　I　take　his　hand。　〃I　was　wrong　a　minute　ago　when　I　said　your　helping　me　would　not　put　you　at　risk。　It　will　take　a　brave　man　to　sneak　me　inside　the　pound　in　the　trunk　of　his　car。〃
　　He　squeezes　my　hand。　〃What's　your　real　name？〃
　　〃Sita。〃　I　add；　〃Few　people　have　known　me　by　that　name。〃
　　He　touches　my　red　hair。　〃I　was　wrong　only　to　say　your　blood　scares　me。　It　fascinates　me　as　well。〃　He　pauses　and　a　sly　grin　crosses　his　face。　〃Sex　is　not　enough　to　make　me　immortal？〃
　　〃It　hasn't　worked　in　the　past。　But　these　days　are　filed　with　mysterious　portents。〃　An　unexpected　　warmth　for　him　flows　over　me。　His　eyes…they　have　me　hypnotized；　with　their　uncanny　depth；　their　gentle　kindness。　Smiling；　I　lean　over　and　hug　him　and　whisper　in　his　ear；　〃The　dawn　is　at　hand。　In　ancient　times；　it　was　considered　a　time　of　transformation；　of　alchemy。　I'll　stay　with　you；　for　now。〃　I　pause。　〃Who　knows　what　may　happen？〃
　　　
　　　12
　　I　dream　a　dream　I've　had　before。　A　dream　that　seems　to　go　on　forever。　It　takes　place　in　eternity；　at　least；　my　idea　of　such　a　place。
　　I　stand　on　a　vast　grassy　plain　with　a　few　gently　sloping　hills　in　the　far　distance。　It　is　night；　yet　the　sky　is　bright。　There　is　no　sun；　but　a　hundred　blue　stars　blaze　overhead；　shimmering　in　a　long　nebulous　river。　The　place　feels　familiar　to　me。　The　air　is　warm；　saturated　with　sweet　aromas。　Miles　away　a　large　number　of　people　walk　into　a　vessel…a　violet…colored　spaceship　of　gigantic　proportions。　The　vessel　shines　from　the　inside　with　divine　radiance；　almost　blinding　in　its　brilliance。　I　know　it　is　about　to　depart　and　that　I　am　supposed　to　be　on　it。　Yet　I　cannot　leave　until　I　have　finished　speaking　with　Lord　Krishna。
　　He　stands　beside　me　on　the　wide　plain；　his　gold　flute　in　his　right　hand；　a　red　lotus　flower　in　his　left。　We　both　have　on　long　blue　gowns。　He　wears　an　exquisite　jewel　around　his　neck…the　Kaustubha　gem；　in　which　the　destiny　of　every　soul　can　be　seen。　He　stares　up　at　the　sky；　waiting　for　me　to　speak。　But　I　cannot　remember　what　we　were　discussing。
　　〃My　Lord；〃　I　whisper。　〃I　feel　lost。〃
　　His　eyes　remain　fixed　on　the　stars。　〃You　feel　separate　from　me。〃
　　〃Yes。　I　don't　want　to　leave　you。　I　don't　want　to　go　to　earth。〃
　　〃No。　You　misunderstand。　You　are　not　lost。　The　entire　creation　belongs　to　me…it　is　a　part　of　me。　How　can　you　be　lost？　Your　feeling　of　separation　gives　rise　to　your　confusion。〃　He　glances　my　way；　finally；　his　long　black　hair　blowing　in　the　soft　wind。　The　stars　shimmer　in　the　depths　of　his　dark　eyes。　The　entire　creation　is　there。　His　smile　is　kind；　the　feeling　of　love　that　pours　from　him　overwhelming。　〃You　have　already　been　to　earth。　You　are　home　now。〃
　　〃Is　this　possible？〃　I　whisper；　straining　to　remember。　Faint　recollections　of　being　on　earth　e　to　me。　I　recall　a　husband；　a　daughter…I　can　see　her　smile。　Yet　a　dark　film　covers　them。　I　view　them　from　a　peculiar　perspective；　from　a　mind　I　can　scarcely　believe　is　connected　to　me。　In　front　of　them　many　centuries　stretch　out；　choked　with　endless　days；　and　nights；　suffering　people；　all　awash　in　blood。　Blood　that　I　have　spilled。　I　have　to　force　the　question　from　my　lips。　〃What　did　I　do　on　earth；　my　Lord？〃
　　〃You　wanted　to　be　different…you　were　different。　It　doesn't　matter。　This　creation　is　a　stage；　and　we　all　play　roles　as　heroes　and　villains　alike。　It　is　all　maya…　illusion。〃
　　〃But　did　I…sin？〃
　　My　question　amuses　him。　〃It　is　not　possible。〃
　　I　glance　toward　the　waiting　vessel。　It　is　almost　full。　〃Then　I　don't　have　to　leave　you？〃
　　He　laughs。　〃Sita。　You　have　not　heard　me。　You　cannot　leave　me。　I　am　always　with　you；　even　when　you　think　you　are　on　earth。〃　He　changes　his　tone…he　bees　more　of　a　friend　than　a　master。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　a　story？〃
　　I　have　to　smile；　although　I　am　more　confused　than　ever。
　　〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　I　say。
　　He　considers。　〃There　was　once　a　fisherman　and　his　wife；　who　lived　in　a　small　town　by　the　ocean。　Every　day　the　fisherman　would　go　out　to　sea　in　his　boat；　and　his　wife　would　stay　behind　and　care　for　the　house。　Their　life　was　simple；　but　happy。　They　loved　each　other　very　much。
　　〃The　wife　had　only　one　plaint　about　her　husband…he　would　eat　only　fish。　For　breakfast；　lunch；　and　dinner；　he　would　eat　only　what　he　caught。　It　didn't　matter　what　she　cooked　and　baked：　bread　or　pastries；　rice　or　potatoes…he　would　have　none　of　it。　Fish　was　his　food；　he　said；　and　that　was　the　way　it　had　to　be。　From　an　early　age；　he　had　been　this　way；　he　had　taken　a　vow　his　wife　could　not　understand。
　　〃It　came　to　pass　one　day　that　his　wife　finally　got　fed　up　with　his　limited　diet　She　decided　to　trick　him；　to　mix　a　piece　of　cooked　lamb　in　with　his　fish。　She　did　this　cleverly；　so　that　from　the　outside　the　fish　looked　as　if　it　had　e　straight　from　the　sea。　But　hidden　beneath　the　scales　of　the　fish　was　the　red　meat。　When　he　returned　home　that　evening　and　sat　down　at　the　table；　the　fish　was　waiting　for　him。
　　〃At　first　he　ate　his　meal　with　great　relish；　noticing　nothing　amiss。　His　wife　sat　beside　him；　eating　the　same　food。　But　when　he　was　halfway　through；　he　began　to　cough　and　choke。　He　couldn't　catch　his　breath。　It　was　only　then　he　smelled　something　odd　on　his　plate。　He　turned　to　his　wife；　eyes　blazing　with　anger。
　　〃　'What　have　you　done？'　he　demanded。　'What　is　in　this　fish？'
　　〃The　wife　sat　back；　scared。　'Only　a　little　lamb。　I　thought　you　might　enjoy　the　change。'
　　〃At　these　words　the　fisherman　wiped　the　plate　from　the　table　and　onto　the　floor。　His　anger　knew　no　bounds。　Still；　he　could　not　catch　his　breath。　It　was　as　if　the　lamb　had　caught　in　his　windpipe　and　refused　to　shake　loose。
　　〃　'You've　poisoned　me！'　he　cried。　'My　own　wife　has　poisoned　me！'
　　〃　'No！　I　only　wanted　to　feed　you　something　different。'　She　stood　and　slapped　him　on　the　back；　but　it　did　not　help。　'Why　are　you　choking　like　this？'
　　〃The　fisherman　fell　onto　the　floor；　turning　blue。
　　'Don't　you　know？〃　he　gasped。　'Don't　you　know　who　I　am？'
　　'〃You　are　my　husband；'　the　wife　cried；　kneeling　beside　him。
　　〃　'I　am　。。。'　the　fisherman　whispered。　'I　am　what　I　am。'
　　〃Those　were　his　last　words。　The　fisherman　died；　and　as　he　did；　his　body　changed。　His　legs　turned　into　a　large　flipper。　His　skin　became　covered　with　silver　scales。　His　face　bulged　out　and　his　eyes　became　blank　and　cold。　Because；　you　see；　he　was　not　a　person。　He　was　a　fish；　which　is　what　he　had　been　all　along。　As　a　big　fish；　he　could　eat　only　smaller　fish。　Everything　else　was　poison　to　him。〃　Krishna　paused。　〃Do　you　understand；　Sita？〃
　　〃No；　my　Lord。〃
　　〃It　doesn't　matter。　You　are　what　you　are。　I　am　what　I　am。　We　are　the　same…when　you　take　the　time　to　remember　me。〃　Krishna　raises　his　flute　to　his　lips。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　a　song？〃
　　〃Very　much；　my　Lord。〃
　　〃Close　your　eyes；　listen　closely。　The　song　is　always　the　same；　Sita。　But　it　is　always　changing；　too。　That　is　the　mystery；　that　is　the　paradox。　The　truth　is　always　simpler　than　you　can　imagine。〃
　　I　close　my　eyes　and　Lord　Krishna　begins　to　play　his　magical　flute。　For　a　time；　outside　of　time；　that　is　all　matters。　The　music　of　his　enchanted　notes　floats　a　wind　that　blows　from　the　heart　of　the　galaxy；　lead　the　stars　shine　down　on　us　as　the　universe　slowly　revolves　and　the　ages　pass。　I　do　not　need　to　see　my　Lord　to　know　that　he　is　present　everywhere。　I　do　not　need　to　touch　him　to　feel　his　hand　on　my　heart。　I　do　not　need　anything；　except　his　love。　After　a　while；　that　is　all　there　is…his　divine　love　pouring　through　the　center　of　my　divine　being。　Truly；　we　are　one　and　the　same。
　　　
　　　13
　　I　lie　flat　on　my　back　in　the　trunk　of　Andy's　car。　My　hearing　is　acute…up　ahead　I　hear　the　noises　of　the　pound；　the　guards　talking　at　the　gate。　The　blackness　in　the　trunk　is　not　totally　dark　to　me。　I　clearly　see　the　white　lab　coat　I　have　donned；　the　fake　security　badge　pinned　to　my　breast　pocket。　The　badge　is　an　old　one　of　Andy's。　I　have　cleverly　put　my　picture　over　his；　and　changed　the　name。　I　am　Lieutenant　Lara　Adams；　Ph。D。；　a　microbiologist　on　loan　from　the　Pentagon。　Andy　says　a　large　number　of　scientists　have　arrived　from　Back　East。　My　makeup　makes　me　look　older。　I　should　be　able　to　blend　in。
　　We　stop　at　the　security　gate。　I　hear　Andy　speak　to　the　guards。
　　〃Another　long　night；　Harry？〃　Andy　asks。
　　〃Looks　like　it；〃　the　guard　replies。　〃Are　you　working　till　dawn？〃
　　〃Close。　This　night　shift　is　a　bear…1　don't　know　whether　I'm　ing　or　going；〃　Andy　hands　something　to　the　guard；　a　pass　that　must　be　electronically　scanned。　He　has　to　have　one　to　leave　the　pound　as　well。　I　have