mc.prey-第42节

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　I　turned　toward　the　door　behind　me。
　And　we　went　outside。
　　
　DAY　6　
　4：12　P。M。
　Beneath　the　corrugated　roof；　the　air　was　hot　and　still。　The　line　of　cars　stretched　away　from　us。　I　heard　the　whirr　of　a　video　camera　motor　up　by　the　roof。　Ricky　must　have　seen　us　ing　out　on　the　monitors。　Static　hissed　in　my　headset。　Ricky　said；　〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃
　〃Nothing　good；〃　I　said。　Beyond　the　line　of　shade；　the　afternoon　sun　was　still　bright。
　〃Where　are　the　others？〃　Ricky　said。　〃Is　everybody　okay？〃
　〃No。　Everybody　is　not。〃
　〃Well　tell　me…〃
　〃Not　now。〃　In　retrospect；　we　were　all　numb　from　what　had　happened。　We　didn't　have　any　reaction　except　to　try　and　get　to　safety。
　The　lab　building　stood　across　the　desert　a　hundred　yards　to　our　right。　We　could　reach　the　power　station　door　in　thirty　or　forty　seconds。　We　set　off　toward　it　at　a　brisk　jog。　Ricky　was　still　talking；　but　we　didn't　answer　him。　We　were　all　thinking　about　the　same　thing：　in　another　half　a　minute　we　would　reach　the　door；　and　safety。
　But　we　had　forgotten　the　fourth　swarm。
　〃Oh　fuck；〃　Charley　said。
　The　fourth　swarm　swirled　out　from　the　side　of　the　lab　building；　and　started　straight　toward　us。　We　stopped；　confused。　〃What　do　we　do？〃　Mae　said；　〃Flock？〃
　〃No。〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃There's　only　three　of　us。〃　We　were　too　small　a　group　to　confuse　a　predator。　But　I　couldn't　think　of　any　other　strategy　to　try。　All　the　predator…prey　studies　I　had　ever　read　began　to　play　back　in　my　head。　Those　studies　agreed　on　one　thing。　Whether　you　modeled　warrior　ants　or　Serengeti　lions；　the　studies　confirmed　one　major　dynamic：　left　to　their　own　devices；　predators　would　kill　all　the　prey　until　none　remained…unless　there　was　a　prey　refuge。　In　real　life　the　prey　refuge　might　be　a　nest　in　a　tree；　or　an　underground　den；　or　a　deep　pool　in　a　river。　If　the　prey　had　a　refuge；　they'd　survive。　Without　a　refuge；　the　predators　would　kill　them　all。
　〃I　think　we're　fucked；〃　Charley　said。
　We　needed　a　refuge。　The　swarm　was　bearing　down　on　us。　I　could　almost　feel　the　pinpricks　on　my　skin；　and　taste　the　dry　ashen　taste　in　my　mouth。　We　had　to　find　some　kind　of　shelter　before　the　swarm　reached　us。　I　turned　full　circle；　looking　in　all　directions；　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　see；　except…
　〃Are　the　cars　locked？〃
　My　headset　crackled。　〃No；　they　shouldn't　be。〃
　We　turned　and　ran。
　The　nearest　car　was　a　blue　Ford　sedan。　I　opened　the　driver's　door；　and　Mae　opened　the　passenger　side。　The　swarm　was　right　behind　us。　I　could　hear　the　thrumming　sound　as　I　slammed　the　door　shut；　as　Mae　slammed　hers。　Charley；　still　holding　the　Windex　spray；　was　trying　to　open　the　rear　passenger　door；　but　it　was　locked。　Mae　twisted　in　the　seat　to　unlock　the　door；　but　Charley　had　already　turned　to　the　next　car；　a　Land　Cruiser；　and　climbed　inside。　And　slammed　the　door。
　〃Yow！〃　he　said。　〃Fucking　hot！〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　The　inside　of　the　car　was　like　an　oven。　Mae　and　I　were　both　sweating。　The　swarm　rushed　toward　us；　and　swirled　over　the　front　windshield；　pulsating；　shifting　back　and　forth。
　Over　the　headset；　a　panicked　Ricky　said；　〃Guys？　Where　are　you？　Guys？〃
　〃We're　in　the　cars。〃
　〃Which　cars？〃
　〃What　fucking　difference　does　it　make？〃　Charley　said。　〃We're　in　two　of　the　fucking　cars；　Ricky。〃
　The　black　swarm　moved　away　from　our　sedan　over　to　the　Toyota。　We　watched　as　it　slid　from　one　window　to　another；　trying　to　get　in。　Charley　grinned　at　me　through　the　glass。　〃It's　not　like　the　shed。　These　cars　are　airtight。　So　。。。　fuck　'em。〃
　〃What　about　the　air　vents？〃　I　said。
　〃I　shut　mine。〃
　〃But　they　aren't　airtight；　are　they？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃But　you'd　have　to　go　under　the　hood　to　begin　to　get　in。　Or　maybe　through　the　trunk。　And　I'm　betting　this　overbred　buzzball　can't　figure　that　out。〃　Inside　our　car；　Mae　was　snapping　closed　the　dashboard　air　ducts　one　after　another。　She　opened　the　glove　partment；　glanced　inside；　shut　it　again。　I　said；　〃You　find　any　keys？〃
　She　shook　her　head；　no。
　Over　the　headset；　Ricky　said；　〃Guys？　You　got　more　pany。〃
　I　turned　to　see　two　additional　swarms　ing　around　the　shed。　They　immediately　swirled　over　our　car；　front　and　back。　I　felt　like　we　were　in　a　dust　storm。　I　looked　at　Mae。　She　was　sitting　very　still；　stony…faced；　just　watching。
　The　two　new　clouds　finished　circling　the　car；　then　came　to　the　front。　One　was　positioned　just　outside　Mae's　passenger　door　window。　It　pulsed；　glinting　silver。　The　other　was　on　the　hood　of　the　car；　moving　back　and　forth　from　Mae　to　me。　From　time　to　time；　it　would　rush　the　windshield；　and　disperse　itself　over　the　glass。　Then　it　would　coalesce　again；　back　away　down　the　hood；　and　rush　again。
　Charley　cackled　gleefully。　〃Trying　to　get　in。　I　told　you：　they　can't　do　it。〃　I　wasn't　so　sure。　I　noticed　that　with　each　charge；　the　swarm　would　move　farther　back　down　the　hood；　taking　a　longer　run。　Soon　it　would　back　itself　up　to　the　front　grill。　And　if　it　started　inspecting　the　grill；　it　could　find　the　opening　to　the　air　vents。　And　then　it　would　be　over。　Mae　was　rummaging　in　the　utility　partment　between　the　seats。　She　came　up　with　a　roll　of　tape　and　a　box　of　plastic　sandwich　baggies。　She　said；　〃Maybe　we　can　tape　the　vents　。。。〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃There's　no　point；〃　I　said。　〃They're　nanoparticles。　They're　small　enough　to　pass　right　through　a　membrane。〃
　〃You　mean　they'd　e　through　the　plastic？〃
　〃Or　around；　through　small　cracks。　You　can't　seal　it　well　enough　to　keep　them　out。〃
　〃Then　we　just　sit　here？〃
　〃Basically；　yes。〃
　〃And　hope　they　don't　figure　it　out。〃
　I　nodded。　〃That's　right。〃
　Over　the　headset；　Bobby　Lembeck　said；　〃Wind's　starting　to　pick　up　again。　Six　knots。〃　It　sounded　like　he　was　trying　to　be　encouraging；　but　six　knots　wasn't　anywhere　near　enough　force。　The　swarms　outside　the　windshield　moved　effortlessly　around　the　car。　Charley　said；　〃Jack？　I　just　lost　my　buzzball。　Where　is　it？〃
　I　looked　over　at　Charley's　car；　and　saw　that　the　third　swarm　had　slid　down　to　the　front　tire　well；　where　it　was　swirling　in　circles　and　moving　in　and　out　through　the　holes　in　the　hubcap。　〃Checking　your　hubcaps；　Charley；〃　I　said。
　〃Umm。〃　He　sounded　unhappy；　and　with　good　reason。　If　the　swarm　started　exploring　the　car　thoroughly；　it　might　stumble　on　a　way　in。　He　said；　〃I　guess　the　question　is；　how　big　is　their　SO　ponent；　really？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　I　said。
　Mae　said；　〃In　English？〃
　I　explained。　The　swarms　had　no　leader；　and　no　central　intelligence。　Their　intelligence　was　the　sum　of　the　individual　particles。　Those　particles　self…organized　into　a　swarm；　and　their　self…organizing　tendency　had　unpredictable　results。　You　really　didn't　know　what　they　would　do。　The　swarms　might　continue　to　be　ineffective；　as　they　were　now。　They　might　e　upon　the　solution　by　chance。　Or　they　might　start　searching　in　an　organized　way。　But　they　hadn't　done　that　so　far。
　My　clothes　were　heavy；　soaked　in　sweat。　Sweat　was　dripping　from　my　nose　and　chin。　I　wiped　my　forehead　with　the　back　of　my　arm。　I　looked　at　Mae。　She　was　sweating；　too。　Ricky　said；　〃Hey；　Jack？〃
　〃What。〃
　〃Julia　called　a　while　ago。　She's　checked　out　of　the　hospital　and…〃
　〃Not　now；　Ricky。〃
　〃She's　ing　out　here　tonight。〃
　〃We'll　talk　later；　Ricky。〃
　〃I　just　thought　you'd　want　to　know。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Charley　said；　exploding。　〃Someone　tell　this　asshole　to　shut　up。　We're　busy！〃
　Bobby　Lembeck　said；　〃Eight　knots　of　wind　now。　No；　sorry　。。。　seven。〃
　Charley　said；　〃Jesus；　the　suspense　is　killing　me。　Where's　my　swarm　now；　Jack？〃
　〃Under　the　car。　I　can't　see　what　it's　doing　。。。　No；　wait　。。。　It's　ing　up　behind　you；　Charley。　Looks　like　it's　checking　out　your　taillights。〃
　〃Some　kind　of　car　freak；〃　he　said。　〃Well；　it　can　check　away。〃
　I　was　looking　over　my　shoulder　at　Charley's　swarm　when　Mae　said；　〃Jack。　Look。〃　The　swarm　outside　her　window　on　the　passenger　side　had　changed。　It　was　almost　entirely　silver　now；　shimmering　but　pretty　stable；　and　on　this　silver　surface　I　saw　Mae's　head　and　shoulders　reflected　back。　The　reflection　wasn't　perfect；　because　her　eyes　and　mouth　were　slightly　blurred；　but　basically　it　was　accurate。
　I　frowned。　〃It's　a　mirror　。。。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃It's　not。〃　She　turned　away　from　the　window　to　look　at　me。　Her　image　on　the　silver　surface　did　not　change。　The　face　continued　to　stare　into　the　car。　Then；　after　a　moment　or　two；　the　image　shivered；　dissolved　and　re…formed　to　show　the　back　of　her　head。　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　Mae　said。
　〃I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea；　but…〃
　The　swarm　on　the　front　hood　was　doing　the　same　thing；　except　that　its　silver　surface　showed　the　two　of　us　sitting　side　by　side　in　the　car；　looking　very　frightened。　Again；　the　image　was　somewhat　blurred。　And　now　it　was　clear　to　me　that　the　swarm　was　not　a　literal　mirror。　The　swarm　itself　was　generating　the　image　by　the　precise　positioning　of　individual　particles；　which　meant…
　〃Bad　news；〃　Charley　said。
　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　〃They're　innovating。〃
　〃What　do　you　figure；　is　it　one　of　the　presets？〃
　〃Basically；　yes。　I　assume　it's　imitation。〃
　Mae　shook　her　head；　not　understanding。
　〃The　program　presets　certain　strategies　to　help　attain　goals。　The　strategies　model　what　real　predators　do。　So　one　preset　strategy　is　to　freeze　where　you　are　and　wait；　to　ambush。　Another　is　to　random…walk　until　you　stumble　on　your　prey；　and