[科幻]宿主-第62章

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“Oh；　don’t　give　me　the　silent　treatment　again；”　he　plained；　scowling。　
“Sorry；”　I　murmured。　“I　slept　well；　thank　you。”　
Jamie　stirred　at　the　sound　of　my　voice。　

　

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I　was　ridiculously　touched　that　it　was　my　silly　nickname　that　he　spoke　on　the　edge　of　sleep。　
“Yes？”　
Jamie　blinked　and　pulled　his　tangled　hair　out　of　his　eyes。　“Oh；　hey；　Uncle　Jeb。”　
“My　room　not　good　enough　for　you；　kid？”　
“You　snore　real　loud；”　Jamie　said；　and　then　yawned。　
“Haven’t　I　taught　you　anything？”　Jeb　asked　him。　“Since　when　do　you　let　a　guest　and　a　lady　sleep　on　the　


floor？”　
Jamie　sat　up　suddenly；　staring　around；　disoriented。　He　frowned。　
“Don’t　upset　him；”　I　told　Jeb。　“He　insisted　on　taking　the　mat。　I　moved　him　when　he　was　asleep。”　
Jamie　snorted。　“Mel　always　used　to　do　that；　too。”　
I　widened　my　eyes　slightly　at　him；　trying　to　convey　a　warning。　
Jeb　chuckled。　I　looked　up　at　him；　and　he　had　that　same　pouncing…cat　expression　he’d　had　yesterday。　


The　solved…puzzle　expression。　He　walked　over　and　kicked　the　edge　of　the　mattress。　
“You’ve　already　missed　your　morning　class。　Sharon’s　bound　to　be　testy　about　that；　so　get　a　move　on。”　
“Sharon　isalways　testy；”　Jamie　plained；　but　he　got　to　his　feet　quickly。　
“On　your　way；　boy。”　
Jamie　looked　at　me　again；　then　he　turned　and　disappeared　into　the　hall。　
“Now；”　Jeb　said　as　soon　as　we　were　alone。　“I　think　all　this　baby…sitting　nonsense　has　gone　on　long　


enough。　I’m　a　busy　man。　Everyone　is　busy　here—too　busy　to　sit　around　playin’　guard。　So　today　you’re　
going　to　have　to　e　along　with　me　while　I　get　my　chores　done。”　
I　felt　my　mouth　pop　open。


　He　stared　at　me；　no　smile。　
“Don’t　look　so　terrified；”　he　grumbled。　“You’ll　be　fine。”　He　patted　his　gun。　“My　house　is　no　place　for　
babies。”


　I　couldn’t　argue　withthat。　I　took　three　quick；　deep　breaths；　trying　to　steady　my　nerves。　Blood　pulsed　so　
loudly　in　my　ears　that　his　voice　seemed　quiet　in　parison　when　he　spoke　again。　
“C’mon；　Wanda。　Day’s　wasting。”　
He　turned　and　stomped　out　of　the　room。　


　

　“’Bout　time　that　northeast　field　was　planted。　We’ll　have　to　work　the　soil　first。　Hope　you　don’t　mind　
getting　your　hands　dirty。　After　we’re　done；　I’ll　see　that　you　get　a　chance　to　clean　yourself　up。　You　need　
it。”　He　sniffed　pointedly；　then　laughed。

　I　felt　the　back　of　my　neck　get　hot；　but　I　ignored　the　last　part。　“I　don’t　mind　getting　my　hands　dirty；”　I　
murmured。　As　I　recalled；　the　empty　northeastern　field　was　out　of　the　way。　Perhaps　we　would　be　able　to　
work　alone。

　Once　we　got　to　the　big　plaza　cave；　we　started　passing　humans。　They　all　stared；　infuriated；　as　usual。　I　
was　beginning　to　recognize　most　of　them：　the　middle…aged　woman　with　the　long　salt…and…pepper　braid　I　
had　seen　with　the　irrigation　team　yesterday。　The　short　man　with　the　round　belly；　thinning　sandy　hair；　and　
ruddy　cheeks　had　been　with　her。　The　athletic…looking　woman　with　the　caramel　brown　skin　had　been　the　
one　bent　to　tie　her　shoe　the　first　time　I’d　e　out　here　during　the　day。　Another　dark…skinned　woman　
with　thick　lips　and　sleepy　eyes　had　been　in　the　kitchen；　near　the　two　black…haired　children—perhaps　she　
was　their　mother？　Now　we　passed　Maggie；　she　glowered　at　Jeb　and　turned　her　face　away　from　me。　We　
passed　a　pale；　sick…looking　man　with　white　hair　whom　I　was　sure　I’d　never　seen　before。　Then　we　passed　
Ian。

　“Hey；　Jeb；”　he　said　cheerfully。　“Whatcha　up　to？”

　“Turning　the　soil　in　the　east　field；”　Jeb　grunted。

　“Want　some　help？”

　“Oughtto　make　yourself　useful；”　Jeb　muttered。

　Ian　took　this　as　an　assent　and　fell　into　step　behind　me。　It　gave　me　goose　bumps；　feeling　his　eyes　on　my　
back。

　We　passed　a　young　man　who　couldn’t　have　been　many　years　older　than　Jamie—his　dark　hair　stood　up　
from　his　olive…toned　forehead　like　steel　wool。

　“Hey；　Wes；”　Ian　greeted　him。

　Wes　watched　in　silence　as　we　passed。　Ian　laughed　at　his　expression。

　We　passed　Doc。

　“Hey；　Doc；”　Ian　said。

　“Ian。”　Doc　nodded。　In　his　hands　was　a　big　wad　of　dough。　His　shirt　was　covered　with　dark；　coarse　flour。　
“Morning；　Jeb。　Morning；　Wanda。”

　“Morning；”　Jeb　answered。　

　

　“See　you　’round；”　Doc　said；　hurrying　off　with　his　burden。

　“Wanda；　huh？”　Ian　asked。

　“My　idea；”　Jeb　told　him。　“Suits　her；　I　think。”

　“Interesting”　was　all　Ian　said。

　We　finally　made　it　to　the　northeastern　field；　where　my　hopes　were　dashed。

　There　were　more　people　here　than　there　had　been　in　the　passageways—five　women　and　nine　men。　They　
all　stopped　what　they　were　doing　and　scowled；　naturally。

　“Pay　’em　no　mind；”　Jeb　murmured　to　me。

　Jeb　proceeded　to　follow　his　own　advice；　he　went　to　a　jumbled　pile　of　tools　against　the　closest　wall；　
shoved　his　gun　through　the　strap　at　his　waist；　and　grabbed　a　pick　and　two　shovels。

　I　felt　exposed；　having　him　so　far　away。　Ian　was　just　a　step　behind　me—I　could　hear　him　breathing。　The　
others　in　the　room　continued　to　glower；　their　tools　still　in　their　hands。　I　didn’t　miss　the　fact　that　the　picks　
and　hoes　that　were　breaking　the　earth　could　easily　be　used　to　break　a　body。　It　seemed　to　me；　in　reading　
a　few　of　their　expressions；　that　I　wasn’t　the　only　one　with　that　idea。

　Jeb　came　back　and　handed　me　a　shovel。　I　gripped　the　smooth；　worn　wooden　handle；　feeling　its　weight。　
After　seeing　the　bloodlust　in　the　humans’　eyes；　it　was　hard　not　to　think　of　it　as　a　weapon。　I　didn’t　like　the　
idea。　I　doubted　I　could　raise　it　as　one；　even　to　block　a　blow。

　Jeb　gave　Ian　the　pick。　The　sharp；　blackened　metal　looked　deadly　in　his　hands。　It　took　all　my　willpower　
not　to　skip　out　of　range。

　“Let’s　take　the　back　corner。”

　At　least　Jeb　took　me　to　the　least　crowded　spot　in　the　long；　sunny　cave。　He　had　Ian　pulverize　the　
hard…baked　dirt　ahead　of　us；　while　I　flipped　the　clods　over　and　he　followed　behind；　crushing　the　chunks　
into　usable　soil　with　the　edge　of　his　shovel。

　Watching　the　sweat　run　down　Ian’s　fair　skin—he’d　removed　his　shirt　after　a　few　seconds　in　the　dry　
scorch　of　the　mirror　light—and　hearing　Jeb’s　grunted　breaths　behind　me；　I　could　see　that　I　had　the　
easiest　job。　I　wished　I　had　something　more　difficult　to　do；　something　that　would　keep　me　from　being　
distracted　by　the　movements　of　the　other　humans。　Their　every　motion　had　me　cringing　and　flinching。

　I　couldn’t　do　Ian’s　job—I　didn’t　have　the　thick　arm　and　back　muscles　needed　to　really　chew　into　the　
hard　soil。　But　I　decided　to　do　what　I　could　of　Jeb’s；　prechopping　the　clods　into　smaller　bits　before　I　
moved　on。　It　helped　a　little　bit—kept　my　eyes　busy　and　tired　me　out　so　that　I　had　to　concentrate　on　
making　myself　work。

　Ian　brought　us　water　now　and　then。　There　was　a　woman—short　and　fair；　I’d　seen　her　in　the　kitchen　
yesterday—who　seemed　to　have　the　job　of　bringing　water　to　the　others；　but　she　ignored　us。　Ian　brought　
enough　for　three　every　time。　I　found　his　about…face　in　regard　to　me　unsettling。　Was　he　really　no　longer　

　

　I　was　working　hard　enough　to　keep　my　eyes　busy　and　my　mind　numb；　I　didn’t　notice　when　we　hit　the　
end　of　the　last　row。　I　stopped　only　when　Ian　did。　He　stretched；　pulling　the　pick　overhead　with　two　hands　
and　popping　his　joints。　I　shied　away　from　the　raised　pick；　but　he　didn’t　see。　I　realized　that　everyone　else　
had　stopped；　too。　I　looked　at　the　fresh…turned　dirt；　even　across　the　entire　floor；　and　realized　that　the　field　
was　plete。

　“Good　work；”　Jeb　announced　in　a　loud　voice　to　the　group。　“We’ll　seed　and　water　tomorrow。”

　The　room　was　filled　with　soft　chatter　and　clanks　as　the　tools　were　piled　against　the　wall　once　more。　
Some　of　the　talk　was　casual；　some　was　still　tense　because　of　me。　Ian　held　his　hand　out　for　my　shovel；　
and　I　handed　it　to　him；　feeling　my　already　low　mood　sink　right　to　the　floor。　I　had　no　doubt　that　I　would　
be　included　in　Jeb’s　“we。”　Tomorrow　would　be　just　as　hard　as　today。

　I　looked　at　Jeb　mournfully；　and　he　was　smiling　in　my　direction。　There　was　a　smugness　to　his　grin　that　
made　me　believe　he　knew　what　I　was　thinking—not　only　did　he　guess　my　disfort；　but　he　was　
enjoying　it。

　He　winked　at　me；　my　crazy　friend。　I　realized　again　that　this　was　the　best　to　be　expected　from　human　
friendship。

　“See　you　tomorrow；　Wanda；”　Ian　called　from　across　the　room；　and　laughed　to　himself。

　Everyone　stared。

　CHAPTER　24

　Tolerated

　It　was　true　that　I　did　not　smell　good。

　I’d　lost　count　of　how　many　days　I’d　spent　here—was　it　more　than　a　week　now？　more　than　two？—and　
all　of　them　sweating　into　the　same　clothes　I’d　worn　on　my　disastrous　desert　trek。　So　much　salt　had　dried　
into　my　cotton　shirt　that　it　was　creased　into　rigid　accordion　wrinkles。　It　used　to　be　pale　yellow；　now　it　
was　a　splotchy；　diseased…looking　print　in　the　same　dark　purple　color　as　the　cave　floor。　My　short　hair　was　
crunchy　and　gritty；　I　could　feel　it　standing　out　in　wild　tangles　around　my　head；　with　a　stiff　crest　on　top；　
like　a　cockatoo’s。　I　hadn’t　seen　my　face　recently；　but　I　imagined　it　in　two　shades　of　purple：　cave…dirt　
purple　and　healing…bruise　purple。

　So　I　could　understand　Jeb’s　point—yes；　I　needed　a　bath。　And　a　change　of　clothes　as　well；　to　make　the　
bath　worth　the　effort。　Jeb　offered　me　some　of　Jamie’s　clothes　to　wear　while　mine　dried；　but　I　didn’t　want　
to　ruin　Jamie’s　few　things　by　stretching　them。　Thankfully；　he　didn’t　try　to　offer　me　anything　of　Jared’s。　I　
ended　up　with　an　old　but　clean　flannel　shirt　of　Jeb’s　that　had　the　sleeves　ripped　off；　and　a　pair　of　faded；　
holey　cutoff　sweatpants　that　had　gone　unclaimed　for　months。　These　were　draped　over　my　arm—and　a　
bumpy　mound　of　vile…smelling；　loosely　molded　chunks　that　Jeb　claimed　was　homemade　cactus　soap　was　
in　my　hand—as　I　followed　Jeb　to　the　room　with　the　two　rivers。

　Again　we　were　not　alone；　and　again　I　was　miserably　disappointed　that　this　was　the　case。　Three　men　and　
one　woman—the　salt…and…pepper　braid—were　filling　buckets　with　water　from　the　smaller　stream。　A　loud　

　

　“We’ll　just　wait　our　turn；”　Jeb　told　me。

　He　leaned　against　the　wall。　I　stood　stiffly　beside　him；　unfortably　conscious　of　the　four　pairs　of　eyes　
on　me；　though　I　kept　my　own　on　the　dark　hot　spring　rushing　by　underneath　the　porous　floor。

　After　a　short　wait；　three　women　exited　the　bathing　room；　their　wet　hair　dripping　down　the　backs　of　their　
shirts—the　athletic　caramel…skinned　woman；　a　young　blonde　I　didn’t　remember　seeing　before；　and　
Melanie’s　cousin　Sharon。　Their　laughter　stopped　abruptly　as　soon　as　they　caught　sight　of　us。

　“Afternoon；　ladies；”　Jeb　said；　touching　his　forehead　as　if　it　were　the　brim　of　a　hat。

　“Jeb；”　the　caramel　woman　acknowledged　dryly。

　Sharon　and　the　other　girl　ignored　us。

　“Okay；　Wanda；”　he　said　when　they’d　passed。　“It’s　all　yours。”

　I　gave　him　a　glum　look；　then　made　my　way　carefully　into　the　black　room。

　I　tried　to　remember　how　the　floor　went—I　was　sure　I　had　a　few　feet　before　the　edge　of　the　water。　I　
took　off　my　shoes　first；　so　that　I　could　feel　for　the　water　with　my　toes。

　It　was　just　so　dark。　I　remembered　the　inky　appearance　of　the　pool—ripe　with　suggestions　of　what　might　
lurk　bene