[科幻]宿主-第57章

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case。　I　could　feel　my　body　tensing　to　run　for　it；　though　where　I　would　run；　I　didn’t　know。

　Against　both　sides　of　the　hallway；　there　were　long　piles　of　rock。　Mostly　rough；　purple　volcanic　stone；　
with　some　lighter…colored　substance—cement？—running　between　them；　creating　seams；　holding　them　
together。　On　top　of　these　piles　were　different　stones；　browner　in　color；　and　flat。　They　were　glued　
together　with　the　light　gray　grout　as　well。　The　final　product　was　a　relatively　even　surface；　like　a　counter　or　
a　table。　It　was　clear　that　they　were　used　for　both。

　The　humans　sat　on　some；　leaned　on　others。　I　recognized　the　bread　rolls　they　held　suspended　between　
the　table　and　their　mouths；　frozen　with　disbelief　as　they　took　in　Jeb　and　his　one…person　tour。

　Some　of　them　were　familiar。　Sharon；　Maggie；　and　the　doctor　were　the　closest　group　to　me。　Melanie’s　
cousin　and　aunt　glared　at　Jeb　furiously—I　had　an　odd　conviction　that　I　could　have　stood　on　my　head　and　
bellowed　songs　out　of　Melanie’s　memory　at　the　top　of　my　lungs　and　they　still　would　not　have　looked　at　
me—but　the　doctor　eyed　me　with　a　frank　and　almost　friendly　curiosity　that　made　me　feel　cold　deep　
inside　my　bones。

　At　the　back　end　of　the　hall…shaped　room；　I　recognized　the　tall　man　with　ink　black　hair　and　my　heart　
stuttered。　I’d　thought　Jared　was　supposed　to　take　the　hostile　brothers　with　him　to　make　Jeb’s　job　of　
keeping　me　alive　slightly　easier。　At　least　it　was　the　younger　one；　Ian；　who　had　belatedly　developed　a　
conscience—not　quite　as　bad　as　leaving　Kyle　behind。　That　consolation　did　not　slow　my　racing　pulse；　
however。　

　

　“Lost　our　appetites；”　Maggie　muttered。

　“How　’bout　you；”　he　said；　turning　to　me。　“You　hungry？”

　A　quiet　groan　went　through　our　audience。

　I　shook　my　head—a　small　but　frantic　motion。　I　didn’t　even　know　whether　I　was　hungry；　but　I　knew　I　
couldn’t　eat　in　front　of　this　crowd　that　would　gladly　have　eaten　me。

　“Well；　I　am；”　Jeb　grumbled。　He　walked　down　the　aisle　between　the　counters；　but　I　did　not　follow。　I　
couldn’t　stand　the　thought　of　being　within　easy　reach　of　the　rest。　I　stayed　pressed　against　the　wall　where　I　
stood。　Only　Sharon　and　Maggie　watched　him　go　to　a　big　plastic　bin　on　one　counter　and　grab　a　roll。　
Everyone　else　watched　me。　I　was　certain　that　if　I　moved　an　inch；　they　would　pounce。　I　tried　not　to　
breathe。

　“Well；　let’s　just　keep　on　movin’；”　Jeb　suggested　around　a　mouthful　of　bread　as　he　ambled　back　to　me。　
“Nobody　seems　able　to　concentrate　on　their　lunch。　Easily　distracted；　this　set。”

　I　was　watching　the　humans　for　sudden　movements；　not　really　seeing　their　faces　after　that　first　moment　
when　I　recognized　the　few　I　could　put　names　to。　So　it　wasn’t　until　Jamie　stood　up　that　I　noticed　him　
there。

　He　was　a　head　shorter　than　the　adults　beside　him；　but　taller　than　the　two　smaller　children　who　perched　
on　the　counter　on　his　other　side。　He　hopped　lightly　off　his　seat　and　followed　behind　Jeb。　His　expression　
was　tight；　pressed；　like　he　was　trying　to　solve　a　difficult　equation　in　his　head。　He　examined　me　
through　narrow　eyes　as　he　approached　on　Jeb’s　heels。　Now　I　wasn’t　the　only　one　in　the　room　holding　
my　breath。　The　others’　gazes　shifted　back　and　forth　between　Melanie’s　brother　and　me。

　Oh；　Jamie；Melanie　thought。　She　hated　the　sad；　adult　expression　on　his　face；　and　I　probably　hated　it　
even　more。　She　didn’t　feel　as　guilty　as　I　did　for　putting　it　there。

　If　only　we　could　take　it　away。She　sighed。

　It’s　too　late。　What　could　we　do　to　make　it　better　now？

　I　didn’t　mean　the　question　more　than　rhetorically；　but　I　found　myself　searching　for　an　answer；　and　
Melanie　searched；　too。　We　found　nothing　in　the　brief　second　we　had　to　consider　the　matter；　there　was　
nothing　to　be　found；　I　was　sure。　But　we　both　knew　we　would　be　searching　again　when　we　were　done　
with　this　asinine　tour　and　had　a　chance　to　think。　If　we　lived　that　long。

　“Whatcha　need；　kid？”　Jeb　asked　without　looking　at　him。

　“Just　wondering　what　you’re　doing；”　Jamie　answered；　his　voice　striving　for　nonchalance　and　only　just　
failing。

　Jeb　stopped　when　he　got　to　me　and　turned　to　look　at　Jamie。　“Takin’　her　for　a　tour　of　the　place。　Just　like　
I　do　for　any　newer。”　

　

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“Can　I　e？”　Jamie　asked。　
I　saw　Sharon　shake　her　head　feverishly；　her　expression　outraged。　Jeb　ignored　her。　
“Doesn’t　bother　me…　if　you　can　mind　your　manners。”　
Jamie　shrugged。　“No　problem。”　
I　had　to　move　then—to　knot　my　fingers　together　in　front　of　me。　I　wanted　so　badly　to　push　Jamie’s　untidy　


hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　then　leave　my　arm　around　his　neck。　Something　that　would　not　go　over　well；　I　was　


sure。　
“Let’s　go；”　Jeb　said　to　us　both。　He　took　us　back　out　the　way　we　had　e。　Jeb　walked　on　one　side　of　
me；　Jamie　on　the　other。　Jamie　seemed　to　be　trying　to　stare　at　the　floor；　but　he　kept　glancing　up　at　my　
face—just　like　I　couldn’t　help　glancing　down　at　his。　Whenever　our　eyes　met；　we　looked　away　again　
quickly。

　We　were　about　halfway　down　the　big　hall　when　I　heard　the　quiet　footsteps　behind　us。　My　reaction　was　
instantaneous　and　unthinking。　I　skittered　to　one　side　of　the　tunnel；　sweeping　Jamie　along　with　one　arm　so　
that　I　was　between　him　and　whatever　was　ing　for　me。

　“Hey！”　he　protested；　but　he　did　not　knock　my　arm　away。　
Jeb　was　just　as　quick。　The　gun　twirled　out　of　its　strap　with　blinding　speed。　
Ian　and　the　doctor　both　raised　their　hands　above　their　heads。　
“We　can　mind　our　manners；　too；”　the　doctor　said。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　this　soft…spoken　man　with　


the　friendly　expression　was　the　resident　torturer；　he　was　all　the　more　terrifying　to　me　because　his　exterior　
was　so　benign。　A　person　would　be　on　her　guard　on　a　dark　and　ominous　night；　a　person　would　be　ready。　
But　on　a　clear；　sunny　day？　How　would　she　know　to　flee　when　she　couldn’t　see　any　place　for　danger　to　
hide？

　Jeb　squinted　at　Ian；　the　barrel　of　the　gun　shifting　to　follow　his　gaze。　
“I　don’t　mean　any　trouble；　Jeb。　I’ll　be　just　as　mannerly　as　Doc。”　
“Fine；”　Jeb　said　curtly；　stowing　his　gun。　“Just　don’t　test　me。　I　haven’t　shot　anybody　in　a　real　long　time；　


and　I　sort　of　miss　the　thrill　of　it。”　
I　gasped。　Everyone　heard　that　and　turned　to　see　my　horrified　expression。　The　doctor　was　the　first　one　to　
laugh；　but　even　Jamie　joined　in　briefly。　
“It’s　a　joke；”　Jamie　whispered　to　me。　His　hand　strayed　from　his　side；　almost　as　if　he　was　reaching　for　


mine；　but　he　quickly　shoved　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　shorts。　I　let　my　arm—still　stretched　protectively　in　
front　of　his　body—drop；　too。　
“Well；　the　day’s　wasting；”　Jeb　said；　still　a　little　surly。　“You’ll　all　have　to　keep　up；　’cause　I’m　not　waiting　

on　you。”　He　stalked　forward　before　he　was　done　speaking。　

　

　Named

　Ikept　tight　to　Jeb’s　side；　a　little　in　front　of　him。　I　wanted　to　be　as　far　as　possible　from　the　two　men　
following　us。　Jamie　walked　somewhere　in　the　middle；　not　sure　of　where　he　wanted　to　be。

　I　wasn’t　able　to　concentrate　much　on　the　rest　of　Jeb’s　tour。　My　attention　was　not　focused　on　the　second　
set　of　gardens　he　led　me　through—one　with　corn　growing　waist…high　in　the　blistering　heat　of　the　brilliant　
mirrors—or　the　wide　but　low…ceilinged　cavern　he　called　the　“rec　room。”　That　one　was　pitch…black　and　
deep　underground；　but　he　told　me　they　brought　in　lights　when　they　wanted　to　play。　The　wordplay　didn’t　
make　sense　to　me；　not　here　in　this　group　of　tense；　angry　survivors；　but　I　didn’t　ask　him　to　explain。　There　
was　more　water　here；　a　tiny；　noxiously　sulfurous　spring　that　Jeb　said　they　sometimes　used　as　a　second　
latrine　because　it　was　no　good　for　drinking。

　My　attention　was　divided　between　the　men　walking　behind　us　and　the　boy　at　my　side。

　Ian　and　the　doctor　did　mind　their　manners　surprisingly　well。　No　one　attacked　me　from　behind—though　I　
thought　my　eyes　might　get　lodged　in　the　back　of　my　head　from　trying　to　see　if　they　were　about　to。　They　
just　followed　quietly；　sometimes　talking　to　each　other　in　low　voices。　Their　ments　revolved　around　
names　I　didn’t　know　and　nicknames　for　places　and　things　that　might　or　might　not　have　been　inside　these　
caves。　I　couldn’t　understand　any　of　it。

　Jamie　said　nothing；　but　he　looked　at　me　a　lot。　When　I　wasn’t　trying　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　others；　I　was　
often　peeking　at　him；　too。　This　left　little　time　to　admire　the　things　Jeb　showed　me；　but　he　didn’t　seem　to　
notice　my　preoccupations。

　Some　of　the　tunnels　were　very　long—the　distances　hidden　beneath　the　ground　here　were　mind…boggling。　
Often　they　were　pitch…black；　but　Jeb　and　the　others　never　so　much　as　paused；　clearly　familiar　with　their　
whereabouts　and　long　since　accustomed　to　traveling　in　darkness。　It　was　harder　for　me　than　it　was　when　
Jeb　and　I　were　alone。　In　the　dark；　every　noise　sounded　like　an　attack。　Even　the　doctor’s　and　Ian’s　casual　
chatter　seemed　like　a　cover　for　some　nefarious　move。

　Paranoid；Melanie　mented。

　If　that’s　what　it　takes　to　keep　us　alive；　so　be　it。

　I　wish　you　would　pay　more　attention　to　Uncle　Jeb。　This　is　fascinating。

　Do　what　you　want　with　your　time。

　I　can　only　hear　and　see　what　you　hear　and　see；　Wanderer；she　told　me。　Then　she　changed　the　
subject。Jamie　looks　okay；　don’t　you　think？　Not　too　unhappy。

　He　looks…　wary。

　We　were　just　ing　into　some　light　after　the　longest　trek　so　far　in　the　humid　blackness。

　“This　here　is　the　southernmost　spur　of　the　tube　system；”　Jeb　explained　as　we　walked。　“Not　super　
convenient；　but　it　gets　good　light　all　day　long。　That’s　why　we　made　it　the　hospital　wing。　This　is　where　Doc　

　

　The　moment　Jeb　announced　where　we　were；　my　body　froze　and　my　joints　locked；　I　skidded　to　a　halt；　
my　feet　planted　against　the　rock　floor。　My　eyes；　wide　with　terror；　flickered　between　Jeb’s　face　and　the　
face　of　the　doctor。

　Had　this　all　been　a　ruse；　then？　Wait　for　stubborn　Jared　to　be　out　of　the　picture　and　then　lure　me　back　

here？　I　couldn’t　believe　I’d　walked　to　this　place　under　my　own　power。　How　stupid　I　was！

　Melanie　was　just　as　aghast。We　might　as　well　have　gift…wrapped　ourselves　for　them！

　They　stared　back　at　me；　Jeb　expressionless；　the　doctor　looking　as　surprised　as　I　felt—though　not　as　

horrified。

　I　would　have　flinched；　ripped　myself　away　from　the　touch　of　a　hand　on　my　arm；　if　the　hand　had　not　been　
so　familiar。

　“No；”　Jamie　said；　his　hand　hesitantly　resting　just　below　my　elbow。　“No；　it’s　okay。　Really。　Right；　Uncle　

Jeb？”　Jamie　looked　trustingly　at　the　old　man。　“It’s　okay；　right？”

　“Sure　it　is。”　Jeb’s　faded　blue　eyes　were　calm　and　clear。　“Just　showing　you　my　place；　kid；　that’s　all。”

　“What　are　you　talking　about？”　Ian　grumbled　from　behind　us；　sounding　annoyed　that　he　didn’t　

understand。　
“Did　you　think　we　brought　you　here　on　purpose；　for　Doc？”　Jamie　said　to　me　instead　of　answering　Ian。　

“Because　we　wouldn’t　do　that。　We　promised　Jared。”

　I　stared　at　his　earnest　face；　trying　to　believe。

　“Oh！”　Ian　said　as　he　understood；　and　then　he　laughed。　“That　wasn’t　a　bad　plan。　I’m　surprised　I　didn’t　

think　of　it。”

　Jamie　scowled　at　the　big　man　and　patted　my　arm　before　removing　hi