[科幻]宿主-第103章

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y’re　
following。　They’re　focused　on　the　road。”


　“No；　they　won’t　follow。”　I　was　sure　of　this。　
“Let’s　go　home；　then。”　
“Home；”　I　agreed　wholeheartedly。　


　

　We　would　take　both　vehicles　right　to　the　caves　and　unload　quickly　so　they　could　be　hidden　before　
morning。　The　little　overhang　by　the　entrance　would　not　hide　them　from　view。

　I　rolled　my　eyes　as　I　thought　of　the　way　into　and　out　of　the　caves。　Thebig　mystery　I　hadn’t　been　able　to　
solve　for　myself。　Jeb　was　so　tricky。

　Tricky—just　like　the　directions　he’d　given　Mel；　the　lines　he’d　carved　onto　the　back　of　her　photo　album。　
They　didn’t　lead　to　his　cave　hideout　at　all。　No；　instead　they　made　the　person　following　them　parade　back　
and　forth　in　front　of　his　secret　place；　giving　him　ample　opportunity　to　decide　whether　or　not　to　extend　an　

invitation　inside。

　“What　do　you　think　happened？”　Jared　asked；　interrupting　my　thoughts。

　“What　do　you　mean？”

　“The　recent　disappearance　the　Seeker　mentioned。”

　I　stared　ahead　blankly。　“Wouldn’t　that　be　me？”

　“I　don’t　think　you　would　count　asrecent；　Wanda。　Besides；　they　weren’t　watching　the　freeway　before　we　

left。　That’s　new。　They’re　looking　for　us。　Here。”

　His　eyes　narrowed；　while　mine　widened。

　“What　have　they　been　doing？”　Jared　suddenly　exploded；　slapping　his　hand　loudly　against　the　dashboard。　

I　jumped。

　“You　think　Jeb　and　the　others　did　something？”

　He　didn’t　answer　me；　he　just　stared　out　across　the　star…bright　desert　with　furious　eyes。

　I　didn’t　understand。　Why　would　the　Seekers　be　looking　for　humans　just　because　someone　had　

disappeared　in　the　desert？　Accidents　did　happen。　Why　would　they　jump　to　that　particular　conclusion？　
And　why　was　Jared　angry？　Our　family　in　the　caves　wouldn’t　do　anything　to　draw　attention　to　

themselves。　They　knew　better　than　that。　They　wouldn’t　go　outside　unless　there　was　an　emergency　of　
some　kind。

　Or　something　theyfelt　was　urgent。　Necessary。

　Had　Doc　and　Jeb　been　taking　advantage　of　my　absence？

　Jeb　had　only　agreed　to　stop　slaughtering　people　and　souls　while　I　was　under　the　same　roof。　Was　this　

their　promise？

　“You　okay？”　Jared　asked。

　My　throat　was　too　thick　to　answer。　I　shook　my　head。　Tears　streamed　down　my　cheeks　and　fell　from　my　

chin　to　my　lap。　

　

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”　
I　shook　my　head　again。　I　could　see　well　enough。　
He　didn’t　argue　with　me。　
I　was　still　crying　silently　when　we　got　to　the　little　mountain　that　hid　our　vast　cave　system。　It　was　actually　


just　a　hill—an　insignificant　outcropping　of　volcanic　rock；　like　so　many　others；　sparsely　decorated　with　
spindly　creosote　and　flat…bladed　prickly　pears。　The　thousands　of　tiny　vents　were　invisible；　lost　in　the　
jumble　of　loose　purple　rocks。　Somewhere；　smoke　would　be　rising；　black　on　black。

　I　got　out　of　the　van　and　leaned　against　the　door；　wiping　my　eyes。　Jared　came　to　stand　beside　me。　He　
hesitated；　then　put　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。　
“Sorry。　I　didn’t　know　they　were　planning　this。　I　had　no　idea。　They　shouldn’t　have…”


　But　he　only　thought　that　because　they’d　somehow　gotten　caught。　
The　moving　truck　rumbled　to　a　stop　behind　us。　Two　doors　slammed　shut；　and　then　feet　were　running　
toward　us。


　“What　happened？”　Kyle　demanded；　there　first。　
Ian　was　right　behind　him。　He　took　one　look　at　my　expression；　at　the　tears　still　running　down　my　cheeks；　
at　Jared’s　hand　on　my　shoulder；　and　then　rushed　forward　and　threw　his　arms　around　me。　He　pulled　me　
into　his　chest。　I　didn’t　know　why　this　made　me　cry　harder。　I　clung　to　him　while　my　tears　leaked　onto　his　


shirt。　
“It’s　okay。　You　did　great。　It’s　over。”　
“Seeker’s　not　the　problem；　Ian；”　Jared　said；　voice　strained；　his　hand　still　touching　me；　though　he　had　to　

lean　forward　to　preserve　that　point　of　contact。　
“Huh？”　
“They　were　watching　the　road　for　a　reason。　Sounds　like　Doc’s　been…　working　in　our　absence。”　
I　shuddered；　and　for　a　moment；　it　seemed　like　I　could　taste　silver　blood　in　the　back　of　my　throat。　
“Why；　those　—！”　Ian’s　fury　robbed　him　of　speech。　He　couldn’t　finish　his　sentence。　
“Nice；”　Kyle　said　in　a　disgusted　tone。　“Idiots。　We’re　gone　for　a　few　weeks；　and　they’ve　got　the　Seekers　

on　patrol。　They　could　have　just　asked　us　to　—”　
“Shut　up；　Kyle；”　Jared　said　harshly。　“That’s　neither　here　nor　there　at　the　moment。　We’ve　got　to　get　this　
all　unloaded　fast。　Who　knows　how　many　are　watching　for　us？　Let’s　grab　a　load　and　then　get　some　more　
hands。”　
I　shook　Ian　off　so　that　I　could　help。　The　tears　did　not　stop　running。　Ian　stayed　close　to　my　side；　taking　
the　heavy　flat　of　canned　soup　I　picked　up　and　replacing　it　with　a　big　but　light　box　of　pasta。　

　

didn’t　know　this　path　well；　but　it　wasn’t　difficult。　Straight　down；　then　straight　up。　
We　were　halfway　there　when　a　familiar　voice　called　out　from　a　distance。　It　echoed　down　the　tunnel；　
fracturing。

　“They’re　back…　ack…　back！”　Jamie　was　shouting。　
I　tried　to　dry　my　tears　on　my　shoulder；　but　I　couldn’t　get　them　all。　
A　blue　light　approached；　bouncing　as　the　carrier　ran。　Then　Jamie　bounded　into　view。　
His　face　threw　me。　
I　was　trying　to　pose　myself　to　greet　him；　assuming　he　would　be　joyful　and　not　wanting　to　upset　him。　


But　Jamie　was　already　upset。　His　face　was　white　and　tense；　his　eyes　rimmed　in　red。　His　dirty　cheeks　had　
rivulets　through　the　dust　there；　tracks　made　by　tears。　
“Jamie？”　Jared　and　I　said　together；　dropping　our　boxes　to　the　floor。　
Jamie　ran　straight　for　me　and　threw　his　arms　around　my　waist。　
“Oh；　Wanda！　Oh；　Jared！”　he　sobbed。　“Wes　is　dead！　He’sdead！　The　Seeker　killed　him！”

　CHAPTER　49

　Interrogated

　Ikilled　Wes。

　My　hands；　scratched　and　bruised　and　painted　with　purple　dust　in　the　course　of　the　frantic　unloading；　
might　as　well　have　been　painted　red　with　his　blood。　
Wes　was　dead；　and　it　was　as　much　my　fault　as　if　I’d　pulled　the　trigger　myself。　
All　of　us　but　five　were　gathered　in　the　kitchen　now　that　the　truck　was　unloaded；　eating　some　of　the　

perishables　we’d　picked　up　on　the　final　shopping　trip—cheese　and　fresh　bread　with　milk—and　listening　

to　Jeb　and　Doc　as　they　explained　everything　to　Jared；　Ian；　and　Kyle。　
I　sat　a　little　space　away　from　the　others；　my　head　in　my　hands；　too　numb　with　grief　and　guilt　to　ask　
questions　the　way　they　did。　Jamie　sat　with　me。　He　patted　my　back　now　and　then。

　Wes　was　already　buried　in　the　dark　grotto　beside　Walter。　He　had　died　four　days　ago；　the　night　that　
Jared　and　Ian　and　I　had　sat　watching　the　family　in　the　park。　I　would　never　see　my　friend　again；　never　hear　
his　voice…

　Tears　splashed　on　the　stone　beneath　me；　and　Jamie’s　pats　increased　in　tempo。　
Andy　and　Paige　were　not　here。　

　

　Lily　was　not　here。

　“She’s　not…　doing　so　well；”　Jamie　had　murmured　when　he’d　caught　me　scanning　the　room　for　her。　I　
didn’t　want　to　know　any　more。　I　could　imagine　well　enough。

　Aaron　and　Brandt　were　not　here。

　Brandt　now　bore　a　smooth；　pink；　circular　scar　in　the　hollow　space　beneath　his　left　collarbone。　The　bullet　
had　missed　his　heart　and　lungs　by　a　hair　and　then　burrowed　halfway　through　his　shoulder　blade　trying　to　
escape。　Doc　had　used　most　of　the　Heal　getting　it　out　of　him。　Brandt　was　fine　now。

　Wes’s　bullet　had　been　better　aimed。　It　had　pierced　his　high　olive…skinned　forehead　and　blown　out　the　
back　of　his　head。　There　was　nothing　Doc　could　have　done；　even　if　he’d　been　right　there　with　them；　a　
gallon　of　Heal　at　his　disposal。

　Brandt；　who　now　carried　in　a　holster　on　his　hip　a　boxy；　heavy　trophy　from　the　encounter；　was　with　
Aaron。　They　were　in　the　tunnel　where　we　would　have　stored　our　spoils　if　it　had　not　been　occupied。　If　it　
was　not　being　used　as　a　prison　again。

　As　if　losing　Wes　was　not　enough。

　It　seemed　hideously　wrong　to　me　that　the　numbers　remained　the　same。　Thirty…five　living　bodies；　just　like　
before　I’d　e　to　the　caves。　Wes　and　Walter　were　gone；　but　I　was　here。

　And　now　so　was　the　Seeker。

　My　Seeker。

　If　I’d　just　gone　straight　to　Tucson。　If　I　had　just　stayed　in　San　Diego。　If　I　had　just　skipped　this　planet　and　
gone　somewhere　entirely　different。　If　I’d　given　myself　as　a　Mother　like　anyone　else　would　have　after　five　
or　six　planets。　If；　if；　if…　If　I　had　not　e　here；　if　I　had　not　given　the　Seeker　the　clues　she　needed　to　
follow；　then　Wes　would　be　alive。　It　had　taken　her　longer　than　me　to　figure　them　out；　but　when　she　did；　
she　didn’t　have　to　pursue　them　with　caution。　She’d　barreled　through　the　desert　in　an　all…terrain　SUV；　
leaving　bright　new　scars　across　the　fragile　desert　landscape；　each　pass　getting　closer。

　They　had　to　do　something。　They　had　to　stop　her。

　I　had　killed　Wes。

　They　still　would　have　caught　me　in　the　first　place；　Wanda。　I　led　them　here；　not　you。

　I　was　too　miserable　to　answer　her。

　Besides；　if　we　hadn’t　e　here；　Jamie　would　be　dead。　And　maybe　Jared；　too。　He　would　have　
died　tonight；　without　you。

　Death　on　every　side。　Death　everywhere　I　looked。　

　

　Why　did　they　keep　her？Mel　snarled。Why　didn’t　they　kill　her　right　away？　Or　kill　her　slow—I　don’t　
care　how！　Why　is　she　still　alive？

　Fear　fluttered　in　my　stomach。　The　Seeker　was　alive；　the　Seeker　was　here。

　I　shouldn’t　have　been　afraid　of　her。

　Of　course；　it　made　sense　to　be　afraid　that　her　disappearance　would　bring　the　other　Seekers　down　on　us。　
Everyone　was　afraid　of　that。　Spying　on　the　search　for　my　body；　the　humans　had　seen　how　vocal　she　was　
about　her　convictions。　She’d　been　trying　to　convince　the　other　Seekers　that　there　were　humans　hiding　in　
this　desert　wasteland。　None　seemed　to　take　her　seriously。　They　had　gone　home；　she　was　the　only　one　
who　kept　looking。

　But　now　she’d　vanished　in　the　middle　of　her　search。　That　changed　everything。

　Her　vehicle　had　been　moved　far　away；　left　in　the　desert　on　the　other　side　of　Tucson。　It　looked　as　though　
she’d　disappeared　in　the　same　way　it　was　believed　I　had：　pieces　of　her　bag　left　torn　nearby；　the　snacks　
she’d　carried　with　her　chewed　open　and　scattered。　Would　the　other　souls　accept　such　a　coincidence？

　We　already　knew　they　would　not。　Not　entirely。　They　were　looking。　Would　the　search　bee　more　
intense？

　But　to　be　afraid　of　the　Seeker　herself…　That　didn’t　make　much　sense。　She　was　physically　insignificant；　
probably　smaller　than　Jamie。　I　was　stronger　and　faster　than　she　was。　I　was　surrounded　by　friends　and　
allies；　and　she；　inside　these　caves　at　least；　was　all　alone。　Two　guns；　the　rifle　and　her　own　Glock—the　
very　gun　Ian　had　once　envied；　the　gun　that　had　killed　my　friend　Wes—were　trained　on　her　at　every　
moment。　Only　one　thing　had　kept　her　alive　until　now；　and　it　couldn’t　save　her　for　long。

　Jeb　had　thought　I　might　want　to　talk　to　her。　That　was　all。

　Now　that　I　was　back；　she　was　condemned　to　die　within　hours　whether　I　spoke　to　her　or　not。

　So　why　did　I　feel　as　though　I　was　at　the　disadvantage？　Why　this　strange　premonition　thatshe　would　be　
the　one　to　walk　away　from　our　confrontation？

　I　hadn’t　decided　if　I　wanted　to　talk　to　her。　At　least；　that　was　what　I’d　told　Jeb。

　Without　a　doubt；　I　didnot　want　to　talk　to　her。　I　was　terrified　to　ever　see　her　face　again—a　face　that；　no