cp.reddice-第19章

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　　〃You　know；　everybody　looks　at　the　quarterback；〃　Guard　Two　says。　〃But　I　think　when　you　got　the　receivers；　you　got　all　you　need：　Even　a　lousy　pro　quarterback　can　look　good　throwing　to　players　who　are　wide　open。〃
　　〃I　think　it's　the　other　way　around；〃　Guard　Three　says。　〃You　got　a　great　quarterback；　he　can　hit　a　player　who's　totally　covered。　Not　many　teams　win　the　Super　Bowl　with　an　average　quarterback。〃
　　〃Not　many　teams　win　the　Super　Bowl；　period；〃　Guard　One　says。
　　〃Only　one　a　year；〃　Guard　Two　says。
　　〃Wouldn't　be　a　Super　Bowl　if　everyone　could　win　it；〃　Guard　Three　says。
　　Beyond　their　chattering；　I　sense　their　thoughts。　The　gift　of　Yaksha's　blood　grows　stronger　the　more　still　I　bee。　Guard　One　is　contemplating　his　sour　stomach。　He　has　an　ulcer；　and　when　he　pulls　an　all…night　shift；　it　always　hurts。　He　wonders　if　he　should　go　to　his　car　on　the　next　break　and　get　his　bottle　of　Maalox。　But　he　needs　to　drink　it　in　private。　The　other　guys　always　kid　him　about　having　a　stomachache　like　a　little　kid。　Actually；　Guard　One　has　a　lot　of　guts　going　into　work　in　the　pain　he's　in。
　　Guard　Two's　thoughts　are　dull。　He　is　thinking　about　his　wife；　his　current　mistress；　and　a　woman　he　just　met　in　the　cafeteria　two　hours　earlier…all　of　them　naked　together　in　bed　with　him。　He　drank　a　large　Coke　before　starting　his　last　shift。　He　has　to　pee　real　bad。
　　Guard　Three　is　interesting。　Unknown　to　his　buddies；　he　writes　science…fiction　in　his　spare　time。　His　brother…in…law；　who's　a　lawyer；　just　read　his　last　book　and　told　him　to　forget　about　being　a　writer。　But　Guard　Three　thinks　that　just　because　his　brother…in…law　has　a　law　degree；　it　doesn't　mean　he　can　spot　talent。　And　he's　right…Guard　Three's　mind　is　rich　in　creative　ideas。
　　I　need　to　concentrate　hard　to　sense　their　thoughts。　I　can　only　read　one　at　a　time。　Since　ancient　times　I　have　been　able　to　influence　people's　thoughts　by　staring　hard　at　them　and　whispering　suggestions　in　their　ears。　But　in　here　I　am　deprived　of　the　power　of　my　gaze；　of　the　soothing　allure　of　my　velvety　voice。　Yet　the　longer　I　concentrate　on　these　guys；　the　more　certain　I　am　that　I　can　introduce　thoughts　into　their　minds。　I　focus　in　on　Guard　Three…he's　the　most　sensitive。　Creating　a　strong　image　in　my　mind；　I　send　it　through　the　wall。
　　〃This　girl　is　real　dangerous。　She　can　kill　us　all。〃
　　Guard　Three　is　saying　something　that　he　suddenly　breaks　off　in　midsentence。　I　hear　him　shift　uneasily　in　his　chair。　〃Hey；　guys；〃　he　says。
　　〃What？〃　the　other　two　ask。
　　〃That　chick　in　there　is　dangerous。　We　have　to　be　careful　with　her。　You　saw　what　she　did　to　Sam　and　Charlie。〃
　　〃She　knocked　them　out　cold；〃　Guard　Two　agrees。　〃But　I'd　like　to　see　her　try　it　on　me。　She　wouldn't　get　far。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　you　want　to　mess　with　her；〃　Guard　One　says。　〃She's　supposed　to　be　super　strong。〃
　　〃Yeah；　but　they　don't　tell　us　why　she's　strong；〃　Guard　Three　says。　〃They　just　tell　us　to　watch　her。　But　what　if　she　gets　out？　She　could　kill　us　all。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　I　whisper　softly　to　myself。
　　〃Relax；〃　Guard　One　says。　〃There's　no　way　she's　getting　out　of　that　box。〃
　　〃Even　if　she　does　break　out；〃　Guard　Two　says。　〃We　can　stop　her。　I　don't　care　about　orders；　I'm　opening　fire。〃
　　〃I　hear　bullets　can't　stop　her；〃　Guard　Three　says；　continuing　to　dwell　on　how　dangerous　I　am。
　　I　shift　my　focus　to　Guard　One　and　send　out　another　suggestion。
　　〃We　mustn't　lose　sight　of　her。〃
　　〃We'll　keep　an　eye　on　her；〃　Guard　One　says。
　　I　place　the　same　thought　in　Guard　Three's　mind。
　　〃Yeah；〃　Guard　Three　echoes；　〃We　have　to　be　alert；　keep　watching　her。〃
　　I　try　to　put　the　thought　in　Guard　Two's　mind。
　　〃I've　got　to　take　a　piss；〃　Guard　Two　says。
　　〃Oh；　well；〃　I　whisper　to　myself。　〃Two　out　of　three　ain't　bad。〃
　　Over　the　next　thirty　minutes…pausing　only　when　Guard　Two　goes　to　the　bathroom…I　steadily　build　up　their　paranoia　about　how　dangerous　I　am　and　how　bad　things　will　be　if　they　don't　keep　me　under　constant　surveillance。　Pretty　soon　Guards　One　and　Three　are　talking　paranoid　gibberish。　Guard　Two　is　not　sure　how　to　calm　them　down；　or　even　why　they　need　to　be　calmed　down。
　　〃If　we　don't　watch　her　every　second；〃　Guard　One　says。　〃She'll　escape。〃
　　〃And　if　she　escapes；〃　Guard　Three　says。　〃She'll　rip　our　hearts　out　and　eat　them。〃
　　〃Stop！〃　Guard　Two　yells。　〃She's　not　going　to　escape。〃
　　〃We　know　that；〃　Guard　One　says。　〃If　we　don't　blink；　if　we　keep　the　lights　on　her；　she　won't　escape。〃
　　〃But　if　the　lights　go　out；　we're　doomed；〃　Guard　Three　says。
　　〃Why　would　the　lights　go　out？〃　Guard　Two　wants　to　know。
　　Taking　a　few　deep　breaths；　I　slowly　ease　out　of　my　deep　state　of　concentration。　I　reach　over　and　gently　shake　Joel。　He　opens　his　eyes　and　smiles　at　me。　In　all　the　confusion　I　have　forgotten　how　handsome　he　is。　His　dark　blue　eyes　are　filled　with　affection。
　　〃What　a　pleasant　sight　to　wake　up　to；〃　he　whispers。
　　〃Thank　you。〃
　　〃Did　you　sleep？〃
　　I　lean　over　and　whisper　directly　into　his　ear。　〃No。　I've　been　planting　the　seeds　of　our　escape。　The　guards　outside　are　now　terrified　of　losing　sight　of　us。〃
　　He's　curious。　〃You　know　this　for　a　fact？〃
　　〃Yes。　I'm　going　to　break　the　lights　in　here；　which　will　cause　them　to　panic　and　call　for　help。　I'm　sure　General　Havor　himself　will　e。〃
　　〃Then　what？〃
　　〃I　have　a　plan　of　sorts；　but　it's　not　set　in　stone。　Just　follow　my　lead。　Get　up…get　ready　to　act　when　I　say　the　word。〃
　　Joel　moves　to　the　wall　closest　to　the　door。　Standing　in　the　center　of　the　cell；　staring　at　the　overhead　cameras；　I　give　the　guards　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall　one　last　thing　to　think　about。
　　〃I'm　ing　for　you　now；〃　I　say　in　a　wicked　voice。
　　〃You'd　better　run；　you'd　better　hide。〃　I　lick　my　lips。　〃Because　I'm　very　hungry。〃
　　Then；　in　a　series　of　blindingly　fast　moves；　I　shatter　every　light　on　the　ceiling　and　plunge　the　cell　into　darkness。　I　see　perfectly；　but　Joel　has　to　reach　for　the　wall　to　get　his　bearings。　At　the　security　station；　I　hear　Guard　One　and　Guard　Three　screaming　in　terror。　Guard　Two　fumbles　for　his　weapon；　yelling　at　his　partners　to　stop。　I　suppress　a　giggle。
　　〃e　to　me；　General；〃　I　whisper。　〃e；　Arturo。〃
　　Five　minutes　later　I　hear　Arturo　and　Havor　pounding　down　the　narrow　hall；　speaking　heatedly。　Although　I　have　not　heard　the　general's　voice　before；　I　recognize　it　by　the　authority　it　mands。　Arturo　has　influence　within　the　confines　of　the　pound；　but　the　man　with　the　star　on　his　shoulder　is　in　charge。　I　wonder　about　the　details　of　their　relationship。　All　about　them；　clutching　machine　guns　and　trying　not　to　panic；　are　dozens　of　soldiers。
　　〃She's　not　a　danger　as　long　as　we　keep　the　lock　in　place；〃　Arturo　says　to　the　general。　〃This　is　a　stunt　she's　pulling　to　get　us　to　open　the　door。〃
　　〃I　don't　like　it　that　we　can't　see　her；〃　General　Havor　snaps　back。　〃You　heard　what　she　told　you。　We　don't　know　the　full　extent　of　her　powers。　For　all　we　know　she's　cutting　through　a　wall　of　the　cell　as　we　talk。〃
　　〃She's　a　master　of　manipulation；〃　Arturo　counters。　〃She　talked　about　her　unknown　powers　to　plant　a　seed　of　doubt　in　our　minds…for　just　this　occasion。　If　you　　open　the　door　to　check　on　her；　she'll　be　on　you　in　a　second。　You'll　have　to　kill　her　to　stop　her　and　you　can't　kill　her。〃
　　〃We'll　wait　and　see　what　she　does　next；〃　General　Havor　says。
　　〃What's　happening？〃　Joel　hisses　in　the　dark。
　　I　whisper　softly　so　that　only　he　can　hear。　〃The　general　and　Arturo　are　ing。　They　don't　want　to　open　the　door；　but　I　think　I　can　do　something　to　inspire　them　to　relent。　There　will　be　a　lot　of　noise　in　a　few　minutes。　Besides　creating　the　racket；　I　will　be　mentally　projecting　into　the　general's　mind。　Please　don't　speak　to　me　during　this　time。　I　need　to　concentrate。　Then；　when　they　start　to　open　the　door；　I　need　you　to　wedge　yourself　in　the　corner　behind　the　door。　But　don't　do　it　until　I　give　the　signal。　There'll　be　gunfire；　and　the　space　behind　the　door　will　be　the　safest。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃Yes。　You　really　think　they'll　open　the　door？〃
　　〃Yes。　I'll　make　them。〃
　　Once　more　I　sit　cross…legged　on　the　floor；　this　time　in　the　center　of　the　room。　Quieting　my　thoughts　with　several　deep　breaths；　I　project　myself　into　the　general's　mind。　It　is　easy　to　locate…the　psychic　energy　that　emanates　from　him　is　like　molten　lava　from　an　erupting　volcano。　Yet　his　resolve　will　not　be　so　easily　manipulated　with　a　few　implanted　thoughts。　With　a　strong　individual；　even　when　I　can　look　him　in　the　eye　and　whisper　in　his　ear；　I　have　trouble　getting　him　to　do　what　I　want。　Now；　I　have　neither　of　those　options　at　my　disposal。　What　I　am　attempting　to　do　is　set　up　several　conditions　that　will　work　on　the　general　and　prompt　him　to　give　the　order　to　open　the　door。　Getting　the　guards　nervous　and　knocking　out　the　lights　were　the　first　of　my　conditional　steps。　The　next　ones　will　be　more　difficult。
　　I　slip　into　General　Haver's　mind。
　　It　is　a　black　cavern；　draped　with　the　webs　of　poisonous　spiders。　When　he　does　get　my　power；　I　see；　General　Havor　fantasizes　about　raping　me。　He　also　plans　to　kill　Arturo；　as　soon　as　the　alchemist　pletes　his　experiments。　There　is　no　trust　between　the　two。　General　Havor　fears　Arturo　will　alter　his　own　DNA　and　then　kill　the　general。　But　what　Arturo　thinks　I　cannot　read。　His　mind　is　heavily　cloaked…　not　unexpected　in　a　partial　hybrid。　Anyway；　I　must　concentrate　on　the　man　who　gives　the　orders。　General　Havor　must　push　the　button　that　opens　the　door…this　is　all　that　matters。
　　I　reach　out　with　my　mental　claw。
　　〃The　witch　will　break　down　the　door。〃
　　I　hear　the　general　speak　to　Arturo。
　　〃Are　you　positive　she　cannot　break　down　the　door？〃　he　asks。
　　〃Even　she　cannot　destroy　this　alloy；〃　Arturo　reassures　him。
　　〃The　blood　of　a　dead　witch　is　as　good　as　the　blood　of　a　living　witch。〃
　　General　Havor　does　not　speak　this　thought　aloud　to　Arturo。　But　I　know　he　fantasizes　about　shooting　me　in　the　head；　killing　me；　and　immediately　injecting　my　blood　into　his　veins。　It　is　an　attractive　idea　to　him；
　　Arturo　will　not　be　able　to　stop　him；　or　to　e　back　at　him　later　at　an　unexpected　time；　with　an　unseen　dagger　in　his　hand。　It　is　this　latter　point　that　is　the　general's　primary　worry。　My　suggestion　hits　home；　and　I　watch　as　my　mental　implant　expands　and　warps。　General　Havor　can　almost　feel　what　it　will　be　like　to　have　my　blood　flow　through　his　veins　in　the　next　few　minutes。　I　give　the　idea　another　nudge。
　　〃Why　wait　for　the　witch's　blood？〃
　　Again；　General　Havor　does　not　share　this　idea　aloud　with　Arturo。
　　Still；　he　is　not　ready　to　open　the　door。
　　Stretching　and　breathing　normally；　I　slowly　e　out　of　my　trance。　Enough　for　mental　gymnastics。　It　is　time　for　brutal　force。　Climbing　to　my　feet；　I　study　the　supposedly　impenetrable　door；　then　launch　my　attack。　I　leap　into　the　air　and　plant　three　extremely　powerful　kicks　on　the　hard　metal　with　my　feet。　In　quick　succession　I　leap　again　and　again；　alternately　pounding　the　door　with　first　my　right　then　my　left　foot。　The　door　doesn't　give；　but　the　noise　I　create　is　deafening。　Outside　I　can　hear　them　shouting　to　one　another；　and　I　know　what　the　general　is　thinking。　The　witch　is　going　to　break　out。　I　may　as　well　open　the　door　and　kill　her　while　I　have　her　cornered。　To　hell　with　Arturo。
　　I　k