mc.prey-第36节

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means　we　wait　thirty…six　hours　with　an　organism　that　is　evolving　fast。　We　can't　risk　it。〃
　〃Risk　it？　Jack；　if　you　go　out　now；　you'll　never　survive。　You're　fucking　crazy　even　to　consider　it。〃
　Charley　Davenport　had　been　staring　at　the　monitor。　Now　he　turned　to　the　group。　〃No；　Jack's　not　crazy。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　〃And　I'm　going　with　him。〃　Charley　began　to　hum：　〃Born　to　Be　Wild。〃
　〃I'm　going；　too；〃　Mae　said。　〃I　know　where　the　isotopes　are　stored。〃
　I　said；　〃It's　not　really　necessary；　Mae；　you　can　tell　me…〃
　〃No。　I'm　ing。〃
　〃We'll　need　to　improvise　a　spray　apparatus　of　some　kind。〃　David　Brooks　was　rolling　up　his　sleeves　carefully。　〃Presumably；　remotely　controlled。　That's　Rosie's　specialty。〃
　〃Okay；　I'll　e；　too；〃　Rosie　Castro　said；　looking　at　David。　〃You're　all　going？〃　Ricky　stared　from　one　to　another　of　us；　shaking　his　head。　〃This　is　extremely　risky；〃　he　said。　〃Extremely　risky。〃
　Nobody　said　anything。　We　all　just　stared　at　him。
　Then　Ricky　said；　〃Charley；　will　you　shut　the　fuck　up？〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃I　don't　think　I　can　allow　this；　Jack　。。。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　have　a　choice；〃　I　said。
　〃I'm　in　charge　here。〃
　〃Not　now；〃　I　said。　I　felt　a　burst　of　annoyance。　I　felt　like　telling　him　he'd　screwed　the　pooch　by　allowing　a　swarm　to　evolve　in　the　environment。　But　I　didn't　know　how　many　critical　decisions　Julia　had　made。　In　the　end；　Ricky　was　obsequious　to　management；　trying　to　please　them　like　a　child　pleasing　a　parent。　He　did　it　charmingly；　that　was　how　he　had　moved　ahead　in　life。　That　was　also　his　greatest　weakness。
　But　now　Ricky　stuck　out　his　chin　stubbornly。　〃You　just　can't　do　it；　Jack；〃　he　said。　〃You　guys　can't　go　out　there　and　survive。〃
　〃Sure　we　can；　Ricky；〃　Charley　Davenport　said。　He　pointed　to　the　monitor。　〃Look　for　yourself。〃
　The　monitor　showed　the　desert　outside。　The　early　afternoon　sun　was　shining　on　scrubby　cactus。　One　stunted　juniper　in　the　distance；　dark　against　the　sun。　For　a　moment　I　didn't　understand　what　Charley　was　talking　about。　Then　I　saw　the　sand　blowing　low　on　the　ground。　And　I　noticed　the　juniper　was　bent　to　one　side。
　〃That's　right；　folks；〃　Charley　Davenport　said。　〃We　got　a　high　wind　out　there。　High　wind；　no　swarms…remember？　They　have　to　hug　the　ground。〃　He　headed　toward　the　passageway　leading　to　the　power　station。　〃Time's　a…wasting。　Let's　do　it；　guys。〃　Everybody　filed　out。　I　was　the　last　to　leave。　To　my　astonishment；　Ricky　pulled　me　aside；　blocked　the　door　with　his　body。　〃I'm　sorry；　Jack；　I　didn't　want　to　embarrass　you　in　front　of　the　others。　But　I　just　can't　let　you　do　this。〃
　〃Would　you　rather　have　somebody　else　do　it？〃　I　said。
　He　frowned。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃You　better　face　facts；　Ricky。　This　is　already　a　disaster。　And　if　we　can't　get　it　under　control　right　away；　then　we　have　to　call　for　help。〃
　〃Help？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean；　call　the　Pentagon。　Call　the　Army。　We　have　to　call　somebody　to　get　these　swarms　under　control。〃
　〃Jesus；　Jack。　We　can't　do　that。〃
　〃We　have　no　choice。〃
　〃But　it　would　destroy　the　pany。　We'd　never　get　funding　again。〃
　〃That　wouldn't　bother　me　one　bit；〃　I　said。　I　was　feeling　angry　about　what　had　happened　in　the　desert。　A　chain　of　bad　decisions；　errors　and　fuckups　extending　over　weeks　and　months。　It　seemed　as　if　everyone　at　Xymos　was　doing　short…term　solutions；　patch…and…fix；　quick　and　dirty。　No　one　was　paying　attention　to　the　long…term　consequences。
　〃Look；〃　I　said；　〃you've　got　a　runaway　swarm　that's　apparently　lethal。　You　can't　screw　around　with　this　anymore。〃
　〃But；　Julia…〃
　〃Julia　isn't　here。〃
　〃But　she　said…〃
　〃I　don't　care　what　she　said；　Ricky。〃
　〃But　the　pany…〃
　〃Fuck　the　pany。　Ricky。〃　I　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulders；　shook　him　once　hard。　〃Don't　you　get　it？　You　won't　go　outside。　You're　afraid　of　this　thing；　Ricky。　We　have　to　kill　it。　And　if　we　can't　kill　it　soon；　we　have　to　call　for　help。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Yes；　Ricky。〃
　〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　he　snarled。　His　body　tensed；　his　eyes　flared。　He　grabbed　my　shirt　collar。　I　just　stood　there；　staring　at　him。　I　didn't　move。　Ricky　glared　at　me　for　a　moment；　and　then　released　his　grip。　He　patted　me　on　the　shoulder　and　smoothed　out　my　collar。　〃Ah　hell；　Jack；〃　he　said。　〃What　am　I　doing？〃　And　he　gave　me　his　self…deprecating　surfer　grin。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　think　the　pressure　must　be　getting　to　me。　You're　right。　You're　absolutely　right。　Fuck　the　pany。　We　have　to　do　this。　We　have　to　destroy　those　things　right　away。〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　still　staring　at　him。　〃We　do。〃
　He　paused。　He　took　his　hand　away　from　my　collar。　〃You　think　I'm　acting　weird；　don't　you？　Mary　thinks　I'm　acting　weird；　too。　She　said　so；　the　other　day。　Am　I　acting　weird？〃
　〃Well　。。。〃
　〃You　can　tell　me。〃
　〃Maybe　on　edge　。。。　You　getting　any　sleep？〃
　〃Not　much。　Couple　of　hours。〃
　〃Maybe　you　should　take　a　pill。〃
　〃I　did。　Doesn't　seem　to　help。　It's　the　damn　pressure。　I've　been　here　a　week　now。　This　place　gets　to　you。〃
　〃I　imagine　it　must。〃
　〃Yeah。　Well；　anyway。〃　He　turned　away；　as　if　suddenly　embarrassed。　〃Look；　I'll　be　on　the　radio；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　with　you　every　step　of　the　way。　I'm　very　grateful　to　you；　Jack。　You've　brought　sanity　and　order　here。　Just　。。。　just　be　careful　out　there；　okay？〃
　〃I　will。〃
　Ricky　stepped　aside。
　I　went　out　the　door　past　him。
　Going　down　the　hallway　to　the　power　station；　with　the　air　conditioners　roaring　full　blast；　Mae　fell　into　step　beside　me。　I　said　to　her；　〃You　really　don't　need　to　go　out　there；　Mae。　You　could　tell　me　over　the　radio　how　to　handle　the　isotopes。〃
　〃It's　not　the　isotopes　I'm　concerned　with；〃　she　said；　her　voice　low；　so　it　would　be　buried　in　the　roar。　〃It's　the　rabbit。〃
　I　wasn't　sure　I'd　heard　her。　〃The　what？〃
　〃The　rabbit。　I　need　to　examine　the　rabbit　again。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃You　remember　that　tissue　sample　I　cut　from　the　stomach？　Well；　I　looked　at　it　under　the　microscope　a　few　minutes　ago。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　we　have　big　problems；　Jack。〃
　　
　DAY　6　
　2：52　P。M。
　I　was　the　first　one　out　the　door；　squinting　in　the　desert　sunlight。　Even　though　it　was　almost　three　o'clock；　the　sun　seemed　as　bright　and　hot　as　ever。　A　hot　wind　ruffled　my　trousers　and　shirt。　I　pulled　my　headset　mouthpiece　closer　to　my　lips　and　said；　〃Bobby；　you　reading？〃
　〃I　read　you；　Jack。〃
　〃Got　an　image？〃
　〃Yes；　Jack。〃
　Charley　Davenport　came　out　and　laughed。　He　said；　〃You　know；　Ricky；　you　really　are　a　stupid　shmuck。　You　know　that？〃
　Over　my　headset；　I　heard　Ricky　say；　〃Save　it。　You　know　I　don't　like　pliments。　Just　get　on　with　it。〃
　Mae　came　through　the　door　next。　She　had　a　backpack　slung　over　one　shoulder。　She　said　to　me；　〃For　the　isotopes。〃
　〃Are　they　heavy？〃
　〃The　containers　are。〃
　Then　David　Brooks　came　out；　with　Rosie　close　behind　him。　She　made　a　face　as　she　stepped　onto　the　sand。　〃Jesus；　it's　hot；〃　she　said。
　〃Yeah；　I　think　you'll　find　deserts　tend　to　be　that　way；〃　Charley　said。
　〃No　shit；　Charley。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　shit　you；　Rosie。〃　He　belched。
　I　was　busy　scanning　the　horizon；　but　I　saw　nothing。　The　cars　were　parked　under　a　shed　about　fifty　yards　away。　The　shed　ended　in　a　square　white　concrete　building　with　narrow　windows。　That　was　the　storage　unit。
　We　started　toward　it。　Rosie　said；　〃Is　that　place　air…conditioned？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Mae　said。　〃But　it's　still　hot。　It's　poorly　insulated。〃
　〃Is　it　airtight？〃　I　said。
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃That　means　no；〃　Davenport　said；　laughing。　He　spoke　into　his　headset。　〃Bobby；　what　wind　do　we　have？〃
　〃Seventeen　knots；〃　Bobby　Lembeck　said。　〃Good　strong　wind。〃
　〃And　how　long　until　the　wind　dies？　Sunset？〃
　〃Probably；　yeah。　Another　three　hours。〃
　I　said；　〃That'll　be　plenty　of　time。〃
　I　noticed　that　David　Brooks　was　not　saying　anything。　He　just　trudged　toward　the　building。　Rosie　followed　close　behind　him。
　〃But　you　never　know；〃　Davenport　said。　〃We　could　all　be　toast。　Any　minute　now。〃　He　laughed　again；　in　his　irritating　way。
　Ricky　said；　〃Charley；　why　don't　you　shut　the　fuck　up？〃
　〃Why　don't　you　e　out　and　make　me；　big　boy？〃　Charley　said。　〃What's　the　matter；　your　veins　clogged　with　chicken　shit？〃
　I　said；　〃Let's　stay　focused；　Charley。〃
　〃Hey；　I'm　focused。　I'm　focused。〃
　The　wind　was　blowing　sand；　creating　a　brownish　blur　just　above　the　ground。　Mae　walked　beside　me。　She　looked　across　the　desert　and　said　abruptly；　〃I　want　to　have　a　look　at　the　rabbit。　You　all　go　ahead　if　you　want。〃
　She　headed　off　to　the　right；　toward　the　carcass。　I　went　with　her。　And　the　others　turned　in　a　group　and　followed　us。　It　seemed　everybody　wanted　to　stay　together。　The　wind　was　still　strong。　Charley　said；　〃Why　do　you　want　to　see　it；　Mae？〃
　〃I　want　to　check　something。〃　She　was　pulling　on　gloves　as　she　walked。
　The　headset　crackled。　Ricky　said；　〃Would　somebody　please　tell　me　what　the　hell　is　going　on？〃
　〃We're　going　to　see　the　rabbit；〃　Charley　said。
　〃What　for？〃
　〃Mae　wants　to　see　it。〃
　〃She　saw　it　before。　Guys；　you're　very　exposed　out　there。　I　wouldn't　be　waltzing　around。〃
　〃Nobody's　waltzing　around；　Ricky。〃
　By　now　I　could　see　the　rabbit　in　the　distance；　partially　obscured　by　the　blowing　sand。　In　a　few　moments；　we　were　all　standing　over　the　carcass。　The　wind　had　blown　the　body　over　on　its　side。　Mae　crouched　down；　turned　it　on　its　back；　laid　open　the　carcass。
　〃Jeez；〃　Rosie　said。
　I　was　startled　to　see　that　the　exposed