cp.reddice-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


He　has　to　have　one　to　leave　the　pound　as　well。　I　have　one　in　my　back　pocket。　Andy　continues　in　a　natural　voice；　〃I　just　wish　I　could　do　a　little　better　at　the　tables；　and　quit　this　stupid　job。〃
　　〃I　hear　you；〃　the　guard　says。　〃How's　your　luck　been　holding　out？〃
　　〃I　won　a　couple　of　grand　last　night。〃
　　The　guard　laughs。　〃Yeah；　but　how　much　did　you　lose？〃
　　Andy　laughs　with　him。　〃Three　grand！〃
　　The　guard　hands　the　pass　back。　〃Have　a　good　night。　Don't　piss　off　the　man。〃
　　I　hear　Andy　nod。　〃It's　a　little　late　for　that。〃
　　We　drive　into　the　pound。　Andy　has　promised　he'll　park　between　two　sheds；　out　of　sight　of　the　manned　towers。　From　my　earlier　examination　of　the　place；　I　am　familiar　with　the　spot。　As　the　car　moves；　I　feel　confident　we　are　heading　straight　for　it。　Especially　when　Andy　turns　to　the　left；　stops；　and　turns　off　the　engine。　He　climbs　out　of　his　car；　shutting　the　door　behind　him；　and　walks　away。　I　listen　to　his　steps　as　he　enters　the　main　lab。　So　far　so　good。
　　I　pop　open　the　trunk　and　carefully　peer　out。
　　The　car　sits　in　shadow。　No　one　is　around。　After　slipping　out　of　the　car；　I　silently　close　the　trunk。　I　　smooth　my　lab　coat　over　my　slim　body；　adjust　my　red　hair。　My　thick　glasses　make　me　look　almost　nerdy　but　smart。
　　〃Lara　Adams　from　Back　East；〃　I　whisper。　Back　East　means　the　Pentagon；　Andy　said。　They　never　called　the　place　by　name。
　　〃You　have　to　get　to　the　general。　You　have　to　control　him。〃
　　Seymour's　advice　remains　with　me。　Resisting　the　temptation　to　follow　Andy　into　the　main　lab…where　I　know　Joel　is　being　held　captive…I　turn　instead　in　the　direction　of　a　small　house　located　behind　the　lab。　This　is　the　general's　private　quarters。　I　move　onto　his　front　steps；　then　pause。　I　don't　press　the　doorbell；　I　know　without　knocking　that　there　is　no　one　at　home。　Andy　warned　me　of　this。　In　fact；　he　said　the　general　was　seldom　at　home。　Andy　wants　me　to　get　Joel　and　get　the　hell　out　of　the　place；　as　quickly　as　I　can。　He　doesn't；　of　course；　know　I　need　to　control　the　general　in　order　to　blow　the　place　up。　But　I　have　warned　him　that　when　the　fireworks　start；　he　should　get　out　of　the　pound　as　quickly　as　possible。
　　For　a　moment；　I　stand　undecided。
　　〃The　general　knows　you'll　e　for　Joel。〃
　　Seymour　is　wise；　but　I　still　think　he　overestimates　the　intelligence　of　the　man。　For　example；　I　tell　myself；　look　how　easily　I　entered　the　pound。　The　general　couldn't　know　that　I　was　on　my　way。　Certainly；　I　can't　search　the　entire　pound　for　him。
　　I　decide　to　have　a　peek　at　Joel。　After　seeing　exactly　where　he　is；　I'll　be　in　a　better　position　to　figure　out　what　to　do　next。　I　head　back　to　the　front　entrance　of　the　lab；　where　Andy　disappeared。
　　The　interior　of　the　lab　is　a　plex　maze　of　halls　and　offices。　It　seems　clear　the　real　work　of　dissecting　and　analyzing　is　done　downstairs。　Men　and　women　in　lab　coats　mill　about。　There　is　an　occasional　armed　soldier。　No　one　pays　any　attention　to　me。　Listening　for　an　elevator；　I　hear　the　sound　of　people　going　up　and　down　steps。　I　prefer　a　stairway　to　an　elevator。　The　latter　can　be　a　death　trap　for　an　invading　vampire。
　　I　find　the　stairs　and　go　down　a　couple　of　flights。　Andy　told　me　Joel　is　being　held　two　stories　below　the　surface；　and　that　his　cell　is　at　the　east　end　of　the　building；　farthest　from　the　main　gate。　On　this　lower　floor　there　are　fewer　people；　they　speak　in　soft　tones。　Moving　like　the　sharp　professional　I'm　supposed　to　be；　I　make　my　way　down　a　narrow　hall　toward　the　rear　of　the　building。　Faintly；　I　smell　Joel's　scent。　But　I　cannot　hear　his　heart　beating；　his　breathing。　The　walls　of　his　cell　must　be　thick。　The　scent　is　my　pass　and　I　follow　it　carefully；　sensitive　to　the　way　it　is　spread　by　the　ventilation　ducts；　the　passage　of　people。
　　I　e　to　a　security　center；　equipped　with　monitors　and　two　armed　soldiers。　I　hear　everything　inside　the　closed　room。　Cracking　the　door；　I　peer　inside　and　see　Joel　on　one　of　the　screens。　He　sits　in　the　corner　of　a　brightly　lit　cage；　pinned　to　the　corner　by　a　metallic　wrist　chain。
　　I　do　not　see　another　vampire　on　a　separate　monitor。　Odd。
　　I　dose　the　door　and　knock。　One　of　the　guards　answers。
　　〃Yes？　Can　I　help　you？〃
　　〃Yes。　My　name　is　Dr。　Lara　Adams。〃　I　nod　to　Joel　on　the　screen。　〃I　am　here　to　talk　to　our　patient。〃
　　The　guard　glances　at　his　buddy；　back　to　me。　〃You　mean；　over　the　speaker；　right？〃
　　〃I　would　prefer　to　talk　to　him　in　person；〃　I　say。
　　The　guard　shakes　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　what　you've　been　told；　but　no　one　talks　to　the…to　the　patient　directly。　Only　over　the　speaker。〃　He　pauses；　glances　at　my　badge；　my　breasts。　Boys　will　be　boys。　〃Who　gave　you　clearance　to　interview　this　guy？〃
　　〃General　Havor；〃
　　The　guy　raises　an　eyebrow。　〃He　told　you　himself？〃
　　〃Yes。　You　can　check　with　him　if　you　like。〃　I　nod　to　the　interior　of　the　room。　〃May　I　e　in？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　The　guard　stands　aside。　〃What　did　you　say　your　name　was？〃
　　〃Dr。　Lara　Adams。〃　I　gesture　to　the　monitor。　〃I　see　this　guy　but　where　is　he　really？　Nearby？〃
　　〃He's　just　around　the　corner；〃　the　other　guard　answers；　while　his　buddy　reaches　for　the　phone。　〃He's　in　a　box　so　thick　an　atomic　bomb　couldn't　blast　through　it。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　I　say。　That　is　useful　information。
　　My　hands　lash　out；　my　fingers　cutting　the　air　like　knives。
　　Both　guards　crumple　on　the　floor；　unconscious；　not　dead。
　　I　hang　up　the　phone。　Around　the　corner　I　go。
　　I　push　the　large　red　button　to　open　the　cage。
　　There　is　a　hiss　of　air。　A　door　as　thick　as　a　man's　body　swings　aside。
　　〃Joel；〃　I　cry　softly；　seeing　him　huddled　in　the　corner；　chained　to　the　wall；　burning　like　a　dying　coal　as　he　shakes。　1　rush　toward　him。　〃I'm　going　to　get　you　out　of　here。〃
　　〃Sita；〃　he　gasps。　〃Don't！〃
　　The　door　slams　shut　at　my　back。　Locking　me　in。
　　Overhead；　a　TV　monitor　es　to　life。
　　Andy　stares　down　at　me。　Behind　him　stands　the　cruel…faced　General　Havor；　wearing　a　barely　disguised　smirk。　Yet　there　is　no　joy　in　Andy's　expression　as　he　slowly　shakes　his　head　and　sighs。　It　is　strange；　but　it　is　only　then　that　I　see　my　adversary　clearly。　The　many　years　have　reshapen　his　face；　dulled　his　eyes；　bruised　his　soft　voice。　Yet　it　is　no　excuse；　not　for　a　vampire　as　supposedly　careful　as　I　am。　Right　from　the　start　I　should　have　known　who　it　was　I　was　dealing　with。
　　〃Sita；〃　he　says　sadly　with　a　faint　Italian　accent。　〃E'passato　tanto　tempo　datt'　Inquisizione。〃
　　〃Sita。　It's　been　a　long　time　since　the　Inquisition。〃
　　In　a　single　horrifying　instant；　I　understand　everything。
　　〃Arturo；〃　I　whisper。
　　　
　　　14
　　Several　hours　have　elapsed　since　my　capture。　I　have　spent　the　majority　of　it　sitting　on　the　floor　with　my　eyes　closed；　like　a　meditating　yogi。　But　I　enjoy　no　blissful　nirvana。　Inside；　I　seethe　with　rage：　at　General　Havor；　at　Arturo；　and　most　of　all　at　myself。　Arturo　left　signs　for　me　everywhere；　and　I　missed　them　all。　Again　and　again　my　mind　forces　me　to　review　the　list。
　　1。　When　Joel　was　captured；　he　was　brought　before　Andy。　It　was　Andy　who　confirmed　the　special　nature　of　Joel　to　General　Havor。　But　rather　than　stay　to　examine　Joel；　Andy　left　the　pound　and　went　gambling。　What　an　odd　thing　to　do　right　after　the　catch　of　the　century！　Of　course　Andy　was　not　out　for　fun。　He　knew　I　would　be　watching。　He　knew　I　could　be　lured　in。
　　2。　I　never　saw　Andy　out　in　the　sun；　and　it　wasn't　just　because　he　worked　the　night　shift。　He　was　sensitive　to　the　sun　as　a　vampire　should　be。　Yet　he　is　not　a　pure　vampire。
　　3。　Andy　talked　about　his　highly　classified　work…　to　me；　a　total　stranger。　I　hardly　had　to　prod　it　out　of　him。　He　planted　all　the　right　clues　for　a　person　dissatisfied　with　his　job…not　enough　pay；　a　totalitarian　boss；　a　lousy　work　schedule。　He　tricked　me　in　the　most　insidious　way…by　handing　me　all　the　ammunition　I　needed　to　think　I　could　trick　him。
　　4。　He　protested　when　I　asked　him　to　help　me　break　into　the　pound。　He　put　on　a　great　show　of　defiance。　But　the　fact　that　he　helped　me　at　all；　without　my　having　to　manipulate　his　brain；　was　peculiar。
　　5。　Andy　had　Arturo's　model　of　vampire　DNA。　I　passed　it　off；　figuring　he　had　already　examined　another　vampire　and　broken　the　genetic　code。　The　only　problem　was…there　was　no　other　vampire。　I　had　destroyed　all　of　Eddie's　bastards。　The　only　one　the　government　had　was　Joel。
　　〃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。〃
　　In　my　dream；　Krishna　had　been　trying　to　tell　me　that　the　hidden　truth　was　the　most　obvious　truth。
　　Andy　was　able　to　construct　Arturo's　model　because　he　was　Arturo！
　　Why　did　he　leave　it　out　for　me　to　see？　To　taunt　me；　no　doubt。
　　I　open　my　eyes。　〃Damn；〃　I　whisper。
　　Joel　looks　over。　I　have　broken　his　chains；　he　is　no　longer　pinned　to　the　wall；　but　is　able　to　lie　down　properly　and　rest。　The　chains　have　acplished　their　purpose；　however。　Had　Joel　been　at　the　door；　I　would　not　have　walked　into　the　cage。　I　have　tested　the　strength　of　the　walls。　The　guard　was　right…a　nuclear　bomb　couldn't　blast　through　them。
　　The　walls　of　the　cell　are　a　flat　white　color；　metallic。　The　space　is　square…twenty　feet　by　twenty　feet。　A　seatless　toilet　is　attached　to　one　wall；　a　single　cot　to　the　opposite　one。　Joel　lies　on　the　thin　mattress。
　　〃We　all　make　mistakes；〃　he　says。
　　〃Some　make　more　than　others。〃
　　〃I　appreciate　your　trying　to　rescue　me。　You　should　have　left　me　to　die　after　Eddie　opened　my　veins。〃
　　〃You're　probably　right。　But　then　I　wouldn't　have　the　pleasure　of　your　pany　right　now。〃　I　pause。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃
　　The　first　thing　I　did　after　being　captured；　before　sitting　down　to　berate　myself；　was　let　Joel　drink　a　pint　of　my　blood。　The　transfusion　alleviated　his　more　severe　symptoms　but　he　still　looked　gaunt。　Yet　I　am　reluctant　to　give　him　more　nourishment。　We　both　know　I　need　to　be　at　full　strength　if　we　are　to　break　out。
　　〃I　feel　fine。〃　He　adds；　〃Better　than　I　have　in　days。〃
　　I　reach　out　and　squeeze　his　hand。　〃It　must　have　been　hard　for　you。　Have　they　been　examining　you　inside　out？〃
　　〃That's　a　literal　way　of　putting　the　question。〃　He　gestures　to　the　screen。　I　have　told　him　nothing　of　Arturo。　〃I　take　it　he　is　an　old　friend？〃
　　I　know　our　every　word　is　being　recorded。　I　don't　know　what　can　and　will　be　used　against　me　in　a　court　of　law。　But　I　do　know　I　don't　have　the　right　to　remain　silent。　I　wonder　if　they　will　try　to　torture　information　out　of　me。　It　will　be　a　waste　of　their　time。　I　doubt　they're　going　to　let　me　call　a　lawyer。
　　〃We　go　way　back〃　is　all　I　say。
　　〃How　was　Vegas？〃
　　〃Fine。　Won　a　lot　of　money　at　craps。〃
　　〃That's　great。　Where　did　you　stay？〃
　　〃At　the　Mirage。〃　I　sigh。　〃I'm　sorry；　Joel。　Neither　of　us　should　be　in　here。　I　messed　up。〃
　　〃Don't　be　so　hard　on　yourself。　After　all；　you　stopped　Eddie。〃
　　〃Yeah。　Only　to　set　up　a　situation　where　there　might　be　a　thousand　Eddies。〃　I　abruptly　raise　my　voice　and　yell　at　the　monitor。　〃Did　you　hear　that；　Arturo？　A　thousand　Ralphes　running　loose！　Is　that　what　you　want？〃　My　voice　sinks　to　a　whisper。　〃That's　what　you're　going　to　get。〃
　　I　don't　expect　to　get　a　response　to　my　outburst；　but　a　minute　later　the　TV　monitor　es　back　to　life。
　　Arturo　is　alone；　sitting　at　a　desk　in　the　security　r