[科幻]宿主-第111章
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“He’s gone after Jodi；” Ian had groaned。 “What else？”
Hope and despair。 I had given them one； Kyle the other。 Would he betray them all before they could
even make use of the hope？
Jared and Jeb wanted to put off the raid until we knew if Kyle was successful—it would take him three
days under the best circumstances；if his Jodi still lived in Oregon。 If he could find her there。
There was another place； another cave we could evacuate to。 A much smaller place； with no water； so
we couldn’t hide there long。 They’d debated whether they should move everyone now or wait。
But I was in a hurry。 I’d seen the way the others eyed the silver tank in my arms。 I’d heard the whispers。
The longer I kept the Seeker here； the better chance that someone would kill her。 Having met Lacey； I’d
begun to pity the Seeker。 She deserved a mild； pleasant new life with the Flowers。
Ironically enough； Ian was the one who took my side and helped hurry the raid along。 He still didn’t see
where this would lead。
But I was grateful that he helped me convince Jared there was time to make the raid and get back
before a decision was made about Kyle。 Grateful also that he was back to playing bodyguard。 I knew I
could trust Ian with the shiny cryotank more than anyone else。 He was the only one I would let hold it
when I needed my arms。 He was the only one who could see； in the shape of that small container； a life
to be protected。 He could think of that shape as a friend； something that could be loved。 He was the best
ally of all。 I was so grateful for Ian； and so grateful for the obliviousness that saved him； for the moment；
from pain。
We had to be fast； in case Kyle ruined everything。 We went to Phoenix again； to one of the many
munities that spun out from the hub。 There was a big shuttle field to the southeast； in a town called
Mesa； with several Healing facilities nearby。 That was what I wanted—I would give them as much as I
could before I left。 If we took a Healer； then we might be able to preserve the Healer’s memory in the
host body。 Someone who understood all the medicines and their uses。 Someone who knew the best
ways to get to unattended stashes。 Doc would love that。 I could imagine all the questions he’d be dying
to ask。
First the shuttle field。
I was sad that Jeb was missing this； but he’d have so many other chances in the future。 Though it was
dark； a long line of small snub…nosed shuttles drifted in to land while others took flight in an endless
stream。
I drove the old van while the others rode in the back—Ian in charge of the tank； of course。 I circled the
field； staying clear of the busy local terminal。 It was easy to spot the vast； sleek white vessels that left the
planet。 They did not depart with the frequency of the smaller ships。 All I saw were docked； none
preparing to leave immediately。
“Everything’s labeled；” I reported to the others； invisible in the dark back。 “Now； this is important。
I drove slowly； close to the crafts。
“This will be easy。 They’ve got all kinds of delivery vehicles out here； and we blend in。 Oh！ I can see a
tank truck—it’s just like the one we saw them unloading at the hospital； Jared。 There’s a man looking
over the stacks… He’s putting them onto a hover cart。 He’s going to load them…” I drove even slower；
trying to get a good look。 “Yes； ontothis ship。 Right into the open hatch。 I’ll circle back and make my
move when he’s in the ship。” I pulled past； examining the scene in my mirrors。 There was a lit sign beside
the tube that connected the head of the ship to the terminal。 I smiled as I read the words backward。 This
ship was going to the Flowers。 It was meant to be。
I made a slow turn as the man disappeared into the hull of the ship。
“Get ready；” I whispered as I pulled into the shadow made by the cylindrical wing of the next enormous
ship over。 I was only three or four yards from the tank truck。 There were a few technicians working near
the front of the Flower…bound vessel and others； farther away； out on the old runway。 I would be just
another figure in the night。
I cut the engine and hopped down from the driver’s seat； trying to look casual； like I was only doing my
job。 I went around to the back of the van and opened the door a crack。 The tank was right at the edge；
the light on top glowing dull red； signifying that it was occupied。 I lifted it carefully and closed the door。
I kept up an easy rolling pace as I walked to the open end of the truck。 But my breathing sped up。 This
felt more dangerous than the hospital； and that worried me。 Could I expect my humans to risk their lives
this way？
I’ll be there。 I’ll do it myself； just like you would。 On the off chance you get your way； that is。
Thanks； Mel。
I had to force myself not to keep glancing over my shoulder at the open hatch where the man had
disappeared。 I placed the tank gently atop the closest column in the truck。 The addition； one among
hundreds； was not noticeable。
“Goodbye；” I whispered。 “Better luck with your next host。”
I walked back to the van as slowly as I could stand to。
It was silent in the van as I reversed out from under the big ship。 I started back the way we’d e； my
heart hammering too fast。 In my mirrors； the hatch remained empty。 I didn’t see the man emerge before
the ship was out of sight。
Ian climbed into the passenger seat。 “Doesn’t look too hard。”
“It was very good luck with the timing。 You might have to wait longer for an opportunity next time。”
Ian reached over to take my hand。 “You’re the good…luck charm。”
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。
“Do you feel better now that she’s safe？”
“Yes。”
I saw his head turn sharply as he heard the unexpected sound of a lie in my voice。 I didn’t meet his gaze。
“Let’s go catch some Healers；” I muttered。
Ian was silent and thoughtful as we drove the short distance to the small Healing facility。
I’d thought the second task would be the challenge； the danger。 The plan was that I would—if the
conditions and numbers were right—try to lead a Healer or two out of the facility under the pretext that I
had an injured friend in my van。 An old trick； but one that would work only too well on the unsuspecting；
trusting Healers。
As it turned out； I didn’t even have to go in。 I pulled into the lot just as two middle…aged Healers； a man
and a woman wearing purple scrubs； were getting into a car。 Their shift over； they were heading home。
The car was around the corner from the entrance。 No one else was in sight。
Ian nodded tensely。
I stopped the van right behind their car。 They looked up； surprised。
I opened my door and slid out。 My voice was thick with tears； my face twisted with remorse； and that
helped to fool them。
“My friend is in the back—I don’t know what’s wrong with him。”
They responded with the instant concern I knew they would show。 I hurried to open the back doors for
them； and they followed right behind。 Ian went around the other side。 Jared was ready with the
chloroform。
I didn’t watch。
It took just seconds。 Jared hauled the unconscious bodies into the back； and Ian slammed the doors
shut。 Ian stared at my tear…swollen eyes for just a second； then took the driver’s seat。
I rode shotgun。 He held my hand again。
“Sorry； Wanda。 I know this is hard for you。”
“Yes。” He had no idea how hard； and for how many different reasons。
He squeezed my fingers。 “But that went well； at least。 You make an excellent charm。”
Too well。 Both missions had gone too perfectly； too fast。 Fate was rushing me。
He drove back toward the freeway。 After a few minutes； I saw a bright； familiar sign in the distance。 I
took a deep breath and wiped my eyes clear。
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”
“Anything you want。”
“I want fast food。”
He laughed。 “No problem。”
We switched seats in the parking lot； and I drove up to the ordering box。
“What do you want？” I asked Ian。
“Nothing。 I’m getting a kick out of watching you do something for yourself。 This has to be a first。”
I didn’t smile at his joke。 To me； this was sort of a last meal—the final gift to the condemned。 I wouldn’t
leave the caves again。
“Jared； how about you？”
“Two of whatever you’re having。”
So I ordered three cheeseburgers； three bags of fries； and three strawberry shakes。
After I got my food； Ian and I switched again so I could eat while he drove。
“Eew；” he said； watching me dip a french fry into the shake。
“You should try it。 It’s good。” I offered him a well…coated fry。
He shrugged and took it。 He popped it into his mouth and chewed。 “Interesting。”
I laughed。 “Melanie thinks it’s gross； too。” That’s why I’d cultivated the habit in the beginning。 It was
funny now to think how I’d gone out of my way to annoy her。
I wasn’t really hungry。 I’d just wanted some of the flavors I particularly remembered； one more time。 Ian
finished off half my burger when I was full。
We made it home without incident。 We saw no sign of the Seekers’ surveillance。 Perhaps they’d
accepted the coincidence。 Maybe they thought it inevitable—wander the desert alone long enough； and
something bad would happen to you。 We’d had a saying like that on the Mists Planet： Cross too many
ice fields alone； and wind up a claw beast’s meal。 That was a rough translation。 It sounded better in Bear。
There was a large reception waiting for us。
I smiled halfheartedly at my friends： Trudy； Geoffrey； Heath； and Heidi。 My true friends were dwindling。
No Walter； no Wes。 I didn’t know where Lily was。 This made me sad。 Maybe I didn’t want to live on
this sad planet with so much death。 Maybe nothingness was better。
It also made me sad； petty as it was； to see Lucina standing beside Lacey； with Reid and Violetta on the
other side。 They were talking animatedly； asking questions； it looked like。 Lacey was holding Freedom
I’d never been allowed near the child； but Lacey was already one of them。 Trusted。
We went straight to the south tunnel； Jared and Ian laboring under the weight of the Healers。 Ian had the
heavier one； the man； and sweat ran down his fair face。 Jeb shooed the others back at the tunnel entrance
and then followed us。
Doc was waiting for us in the hospital； rubbing his hands together absently； as if washing them。
Time continued to speed up。 The brighter lamp was lit。 The Healers were given No Pain and laid out
facedown on the cots。 Jared showed Ian how to activate the tanks。 They held them ready； Ian wincing at
the stunning cold。 Doc stood over the female； scalpel in hand and medicines laid out in a row。
“Wanda？” he asked。
My heart squeezed inward painfully。 “Do you swear； Doc？All of my terms？ Do you promise me on your
own life？”
“I do。 I will meet all of your terms； Wanda。 I swear it。”
“Jared？”
“Yes。 Absolutely no killing； ever。”
“Ian？”
“I’ll protect them with my own life； Wanda。”
“Jeb？”
“It’s my house。 Anyone who can�
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