mc.prey-第20节

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　〃I'm　her　husband。〃
　〃You　want　to　e？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Hop　in。〃
　I　got　into　the　ambulance　first；　then　they　slid　the　stretcher　in；　one　of　the　rescue　team　got　in　and　slammed　the　doors　shut。　We　started　down　the　road；　siren　moaning。　I　was　immediately　moved　aside　by　the　two　paramedics；　working　on　her。　One　was　recording　notes　on　a　handheld　device　and　the　other　was　starting　a　second　IV　in　her　other　arm。　They　were　worried　about　her　blood　pressure；　which　was　dropping。　That　was　a　great　cause　for　concern。　During　all　this　I　couldn't　really　see　Julia；　but　I　heard　her　murmuring。　I　tried　to　move　forward；　but　the　medics　pushed　me　back。　〃Let　us　work；　sir。　Your　wife's　got　injuries。　We　have　to　work。〃
　For　the　rest　of　the　way；　I　sat　on　a　little　jump　seat　and　gripped　a　wall　handle　as　the　ambulance　careened　around　curves。　By　now　Julia　was　clearly　delirious；　babbling　nonsense。　I　heard　something　about　〃the　black　clouds；〃　that　were　〃not　black　anymore。〃　Then　she　shifted　into　a　kind　of　lecture；　talking　about　〃adolescent　rebellion。〃　She　mentioned　Amanda　by　name；　and　Eric；　asking　if　they　were　all　right。　She　seemed　agitated。　The　medics　kept　trying　to　reassure　her。　And　finally　she　lapsed　into　repeating　〃I　didn't　do　anything　wrong；　I　didn't　mean　to　do　anything　wrong〃　as　the　ambulance　sped　through　the　night。
　Listening　to　her；　I　couldn't　help　but　worry。
　The　examination　suggested　Julia's　injuries　might　be　more　extensive　than　they　first　thought。　There　was　a　lot　to　rule　out：　possible　pelvic　fracture；　possible　hematoma；　possible　fracture　of　a　cervical　vertebra；　left　arm　broken　in　two　places　and　might　need　to　be　pinned。　The　doctors　seemed　most　worried　about　her　pelvis。　They　were　handling　her　much　more　gingerly　when　they　put　her　into　intensive　care。
　But　Julia　was　conscious；　catching　my　eye　and　smiling　at　me　from　time　to　time；　until　she　fell　asleep。　The　doctors　said　there　was　nothing　for　me　to　do；　they　would　wake　her　up　every　half　hour　during　the　night。　They　said　that　she　would　be　in　the　hospital　at　least　three　days；　probably　a　week。
　They　told　me　to　get　some　rest。　I　left　the　hospital　a　little　before　midnight。　I　took　a　taxi　back　to　the　crash　site；　to　pick　up　my　car。　It　was　a　cold　night。　The　police　cars　and　rescue　ambulances　were　gone。　In　their　place　was　a　big　flatbed　tow　truck；　which　was　winching　Julia's　car　up　the　hill。　A　skinny　guy　smoking　a　cigarette　was　running　the　winch。　〃Nothing　to　see；〃　he　said　to　me。　〃Everybody's　gone　to　the　hospital。〃
　I　said　it　was　my　wife's　car。
　〃Can't　drive　it；〃　he　said。　He　asked　me　for　my　insurance　card。　I　got　it　out　of　my　wallet　and　handed　it　to　him。　He　said；　〃I　heard　your　wife's　okay。〃
　〃So　far。〃
　〃You're　a　lucky　guy。〃　He　jerked　his　thumb；　pointing　across　the　road。　〃Are　they　with　you？〃　Across　the　street　a　small　white　van　was　parked。　The　sides　were　bare；　with　no　markings　or　pany　logo。　But　low　on　the　front　door　I　saw　a　serial　number；　in　black。　And　underneath　it　said　SSVT　unit。
　I　said；　〃No；　they're　not　with　me。〃
　〃Been　here　an　hour；〃　he　said。　〃Just　sitting　there。〃
　I　couldn't　see　anyone　inside　the　van；　the　front　windows　were　dark。　I　started　across　the　street　toward　them。　I　heard　the　faint　crackle　of　a　radio。　When　I　was　about　ten　feet　away　the　lights　came　on；　the　engine　started；　and　the　van　roared　past　me；　and　drove　down　the　highway。　As　it　passed；　I　had　a　glimpse　of　the　driver。　He　was　wearing　a　shiny　suit　of　some　kind；　like　silvery　plastic；　and　a　tight　hood　of　the　same　material。　I　thought　I　saw　some　funny；　silver　apparatus　hanging　around　his　neck。　It　looked　like　a　gas　mask；　except　it　was　silver。　But　I　wasn't　sure。
　As　the　car　drove　away；　I　noticed　the　rear　bumper　had　two　green　stickers；　each　with　a　big　X。　That　was　the　Xymos　logo。　But　it　was　the　license　plate　that　really　caught　my　eye。　It　was　a　Nevada　plate。
　That　van　had　e　from　the　fabrication　plant；　out　in　the　desert。
　I　frowned。　It　was　time　for　me　to　visit　the　fab　plant；　I　thought。　I　pulled　out　my　cell　phone；　and　dialed　Tim　Bergman。　I　told　him　I　had　reconsidered　his　offer　and　I　would　take　the　consulting　job；　after　all。
　〃That's　great；〃　Tim　said。　〃Don　will　be　very　happy。〃
　〃Great；〃　I　said。　〃How　soon　can　I　start？〃
　
　DESERT
　
　DAY　6　
　7：12　A。M。
　With　the　vibration　of　the　helicopter；　I　must　have　dozed　off　for　a　few　minutes。　I　awoke　and　yawned；　hearing　voices　in　my　headphones。　They　were　all　men　speaking：
　〃Well；　what　exactly　is　the　problem？〃　A　growling　voice。
　〃Apparently；　the　plant　released　some　material　into　the　environment。　It　was　an　accident。　Now；　several　dead　animals　have　been　found　out　in　the　desert。　In　the　vicinity　of　the　plant。〃　A　reasonable；　organized　voice。
　〃Who　found　them？〃　Growly。
　〃Couple　of　nosy　environmentalists。　They　ignored　the　keep…out　signs；　snooped　around　the　plant。　They've　plained　to　the　pany　and　are　demanding　to　inspect　the　plant。〃
　〃Which　we　can't　allow。〃
　〃No；　no。〃
　〃How　do　we　handle　this？〃　said　a　timid　voice。
　〃I　say　we　minimize　the　amount　of　contamination　released；　and　give　data　that　show　no　untoward　consequence　is　possible。〃　Organized　voice。
　〃Hell；　I　wouldn't　play　it　that　way；〃　said　growling　voice。　〃We're　better　off　flatly　denying　it。　Nothing　was　released。　I　mean；　what's　the　evidence　anything　was　released？〃
　〃Well；　the　dead　animals。　A　coyote；　some　desert　rats。　Maybe　a　few　birds。〃
　〃Hell；　animals　die　in　nature　all　the　time。　I　mean；　remember　the　business　about　those　slashed　cows？　It　was　supposed　to　be　aliens　from　UFOs　that　were　slashing　the　cows。　Finally　turned　out　the　cows　were　dying　of　natural　causes；　and　it　was　deposing　gas　in　the　carcasses　that　split　them　open。　Remember　that？〃
　〃Vaguely。〃
　Timid　voice：　〃I'm　not　sure　we　can　just　deny…〃
　〃Fuck　yes；　deny。〃
　〃Aren't　there　pictures？　I　think　the　environmentalists　took　pictures。〃
　〃Well；　who　cares？　What　will　the　pictures　show；　a　dead　coyote？　Nobody　is　going　to　get　worked　up　about　a　dead　coyote。　Trust　me。　Pilot？　Pilot；　where　the　fuck　are　we？〃　I　opened　my　eyes。　I　was　sitting　in　the　front　of　the　helicopter；　alongside　the　pilot。　The　helicopter　was　flying　east；　into　the　glare　of　low　morning　sun。　Beneath　my　feet　I　saw　mostly　flat　terrain；　with　low　clumps　of　cactus；　juniper；　and　the　occasional　scraggly　Joshua　tree。　The　pilot　was　flying　alongside　the　power…line　towers　that　marched　in　single　file　across　the　desert；　a　steel　army　with　outstretched　arms。　The　towers　cast　long　shadows　in　the　morning　light。　A　heavyset　man　leaned　forward　from　the　backseat。　He　was　wearing　a　suit　and　tie。　〃Pilot？　Are　we　there　yet？〃
　〃We　just　crossed　the　Nevada　line。　Another　ten　minutes。〃
　The　heavyset　man　grunted　and　sat　back。　I'd　met　him　when　we　took　off；　but　I　couldn't　remember　his　name　now。　I　glanced　back　at　the　three　men；　all　in　suits　and　ties；　who　were　traveling　with　me。　They　were　all　PR　consultants　hired　by　Xymos。　I　could　match　their　appearance　to　their　voices。　A　slender；　nervous　man；　twisting　his　hands。　Then　a　middle…aged　man　with　a　briefcase　on　his　lap。　And　the　heavyset　man；　older　and　growly；　obviously　in　charge。　〃Why　the　hell　did　they　put　it　in　Nevada；　anyway？〃
　〃Fewer　regulations；　easier　inspections。　These　days　California　is　sticky　about　new　industry。　There　was　going　to　be　a　year's　delay　just　for　environmental…impact　statements。　And　a　far　more　difficult　permitting　process。　So　they　came　here。〃
　Growly　looked　out　the　window　at　the　desert。　〃What　a　shithole；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　give　a　fuck　what　goes　on　out　here；　it's　not　a　problem。〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃What　do　you　do？〃
　〃I'm　a　puter　programmer。〃
　〃You　covered　by　an　NDA？〃　He　meant；　did　I　have　a　non…disclosure　agreement　that　would　prevent　me　from　discussing　what　I　had　just　heard。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃You　ing　out　to　work　at　the　plant？〃
　〃To　consult；〃　I　said。　〃Yes。〃
　〃Consulting's　the　way　to　go；〃　he　said；　nodding　as　if　I　were　an　ally。　〃No　responsibility。　No　liability。　Just　give　your　opinion；　and　watch　them　not　take　it。〃　With　a　crackle；　the　pilot's　voice　broke　in　over　the　headsets。　〃Xymos　Molecular　Manufacturing　is　dead　ahead；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　just　see　it　now。〃
　Twenty　miles　in　front　of　us；　I　saw　an　isolated　cluster　of　low　buildings　silhouetted　on　the　horizon。　The　PR　people　in　the　back　all　leaned　forward。
　〃Is　that　it？〃　said　Growly。　〃That's　all　it　is？〃
　〃It's　bigger　than　it　looks　from　here；〃　the　pilot　said。
　As　the　helicopter　came　closer；　I　could　see　that　the　buildings　were　interlocked；　featureless　concrete　blocks；　all　whitewashed。　The　PR　people　were　so　pleased　they　almost　burst　into　applause。　〃Hey；　it's　beautiful！〃
　〃Looks　like　a　fucking　hospital。〃
　〃Great　architecture。〃
　〃It'll　photograph　great。〃
　I　said；　〃Why　will　it　photograph　great？〃
　〃Because　it　has　no　projections；〃　the　man　with　the　briefcase　said。　〃No　antennas；　no　spikes；　no　things　poking　up。　People　are　afraid　of　spikes　and　antennas。　There　are　studies。　But　a　building　that's　plain　and　square　like　this；　and　white…perfect　color　choice；　associations　to　virginal；　hospital；　cure；　pure…a　building　like　this；　they　don't　care。〃
　〃Those　environmentalists　are　fucked；〃　said　Growly；　with　satisfaction。　〃They　do　medical　research　here；　right？〃
　〃Not　exactly　。。。〃
　〃They　will　when　I　get　through；　trust　me。　Medical　research　is　the　way　to　go　on　this。〃
　The　pilot　pointed　out　the　different　buildings　as　he　circled　them。　〃That　first　concrete　block；　that's　p