mc.prey-第56节

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　She　dialed　a　second　time。　Again；　the　call　failed　to　go　through。
　〃That's　funny。　Ricky；　I'm　not　getting　an　outside　line。〃
　〃Try　one　more　time；〃　Ricky　said。
　I　sipped　my　ginger　ale　and　watched　them。　There　was　no　question　that　this　was　all　an　act；　a　performance　for　our　benefit。　Julia　dutifully　dialed　a　third　time。　I　wondered　what　number　she　was　calling。　Or　did　she　know　the　number　for　the　Pentagon　by　heart？　〃Huh；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing。〃
　Ricky　picked　up　the　phone；　looked　at　the　base；　put　it　down　again。　〃Should　be　okay；〃　he　said；　acting　puzzled。
　〃Oh　for　Christ's　sake；〃　I　said。　〃Let　me　guess。　Something　has　happened　and　we　can't　dial　out。〃
　〃No；　no；　we　can；〃　Ricky　said。
　〃I　was　just　calling　a　few　minutes　ago；〃　Julia　said。　〃Just　before　you　got　back。〃
　Ricky　pushed　away　from　the　table。　〃I'll　check　the　m　lines。〃
　〃You　do　that；〃　I　said；　glowering。
　Julia　was　staring　at　me。　〃Jack；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　worried　about　you。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃You're　angry。〃
　〃I'm　being　fucked　with。〃
　〃I　promise　you；〃　she　said　quietly；　meeting　my　eyes。　〃You're　not。〃　Mae　got　up　from　the　table；　saying　she　was　going　to　take　a　shower。　Bobby　wandered　into　the　lounge　to　play　a　video　game；　his　usual　way　to　unwind。　Soon　I　heard　the　sound　of　machine…gun　fire；　and　the　cries　of　dead　bad　guys。　Julia　and　I　were　alone　in　the　kitchen。　She　leaned　over　the　table　toward　me。　She　spoke　in　a　low；　earnest　voice。　〃Jack；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　I　owe　you　an　explanation。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃You　don't。〃
　〃I　mean；　for　my　behavior。　My　decisions　these　past　days。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃
　〃It　does　to　me。〃
　〃Maybe　later；　Julia。〃
　〃I　need　to　tell　you　now。　You　see；　the　thing　is；　I　just　wanted　to　save　the　pany；　Jack。　That's　all。　The　camera　failed　and　we　couldn't　fix　it；　we　lost　our　contract；　and　the　pany　was　falling　apart。　I've　never　lost　a　pany　before。　I　never　had　one　shot　out　from　underneath　me；　and　I　didn't　want　Xymos　to　be　the　first。　I　was　invested；　I　had　a　stake；　and　I　guess　I　had　my　pride。　I　wanted　to　save　it。　I　know　I　didn't　use　good　judgment。　I　was　desperate。　It's　nobody　else's　fault。　They　all　wanted　to　stop　it。　I　pushed　them　to　go　on。　It　was　。。。　it　was　my　crusade。〃　She　shrugged。　〃And　it　was　all　for　nothing。　The　pany's　going　to　fold　in　a　matter　of　days。　I've　lost　it。〃　She　leaned　closer。　〃But　I　don't　want　to　lose　you；　too。　I　don't　want　to　lose　my　family。　I　don't　want　to　lose　us。〃
　She　dropped　her　voice　lower；　and　stretched　her　hand　across　the　table　to　cover　mine。　〃I　want　to　make　amends；　Jack。　I　want　to　make　things　right；　and　get　us　back　on　track　again。〃　She　paused。　〃I　hope　you　do；　too。〃
　I　said；　〃I'm　not　sure　how　I　feel。〃
　〃You're　tired。〃
　〃Yes。　But　I'm　not　sure；　anymore。〃
　〃You　mean；　about　us？〃
　I　said；　〃I　hate　this　fucking　conversation。〃　And　I　did。　I　hated　that　she　would　start　this　when　I　was　exhausted；　when　I　had　just　gone　through　an　ordeal　that　nearly　got　me　killed　and　that　was；　ultimately；　all　her　doing。　I　hated　that　she　dismissed　her　involvement　as　〃bad　judgment〃　when　it　was　considerably　worse　than　that。
　〃Oh　Jack；　let's　go　back　to　the　way　we　were；〃　she　said；　and　suddenly　she　leaned　the　rest　of　the　way　across　the　table　and　tried　to　kiss　me　on　the　lips。　I　pulled　back；　turned　my　head　away。　She　stared　at　me；　eyes　pleading。　〃Jack；　please。〃
　〃This　is　not　the　time　or　the　place；　Julia；〃　I　said。
　A　pause。　She　didn't　know　what　to　say。　Finally：　〃The　kids　miss　you。〃
　〃I'm　sure　they　do。　I　miss　them；　too。〃
　She　burst　into　tears。　〃And　they　don't　miss　me　。。。〃　she　sobbed。　〃They　don't　even　care　about　me　。。。　about　their　mother　。。。〃　She　reached　for　my　hand　again。　I　let　her　hold　it。　I　tried　to　take　stock　of　my　feelings。　I　just　felt　tired；　and　very　unfortable。　I　wanted　her　to　stop　crying。　〃Julia　。。。〃
　The　inter　clicked。　I　heard　Ricky's　voice；　amplified。　〃Hey；　guys？　We　have　a　problem　with　the　m　lines。　You　better　e　here　right　away。〃
　The　m　room　consisted　of　a　large　closet　in　one　corner　of　the　maintenance　room。　It　was　sealed　with　a　heavy　security　door；　with　a　small　tempered　glass　window　set　in　the　upper　half。　Through　this　window；　I　could　see　all　the　wiring　panels　and　switch　racks　for　the　telemunications　in　the　lab。　I　also　saw　that　great　chunks　of　wiring　had　been　yanked　out。　And　slumped　in　a　corner　of　the　closet　I　saw　Charley　Davenport。　He　appeared　to　be　dead。　His　mouth　hung　open；　his　eyes　stared　into　space。　His　skin　was　purple…gray。　A　black　buzzing　swarm　swirled　around　his　head。
　〃I　can't　imagine　how　this　happened；〃　Ricky　was　saying。　〃He　was　fast　asleep　when　I　checked　on　him　。。。〃
　〃When　was　that？〃　I　said。
　〃Maybe　half　an　hour　ago。〃
　〃And　the　swarm？　How'd　it　get　there？〃
　〃I　can't　imagine；〃　Ricky　said。　〃He　must　have　carried　it　with　him；　from　outside。〃
　〃How？〃　I　said。　〃He　went　through　all　the　airlocks。〃
　〃I　know；　but　。。。〃
　〃But　what；　Ricky？　How's　it　possible？〃
　〃Maybe　。。。　I　don't　know；　maybe　it　was　in　his　throat　or　something。〃
　〃In　his　throat？〃　I　said。　〃You　mean；　just　hanging　out　between　his　tonsils？　These　things　kill　you；　you　know。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　know。　Of　course　I　know。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Beats　me。〃
　I　stared　at　Ricky；　trying　to　understand　his　demeanor。　He　had　just　discovered　that　his　lab　was　invaded　by　a　lethal　nanoswarm；　and　he　didn't　appear　to　be　upset　at　all。　He　was　taking　it　all　very　casually。
　Mae　came　hurrying　into　the　room。　She　took　in　the　situation　with　a　glance。　〃Did　anyone　check　the　video　playback？〃
　〃We　can't；〃　Ricky　said。　He　pointed　to　the　closet。　〃The　controls　are　disabled…in　there。〃
　〃So　you　don't　know　how　he　got　in　there？〃
　〃No。　But　he　evidently　didn't　want　us　calling　out。　At　least　。。。　that's　how　it　looks。〃
　Mae　said；　〃Why　would　Charley　go　in　there？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　I　had　no　idea。
　Julia　said；　〃It's　airtight。　Maybe　he　knew　he　was　infected　and　wanted　to　seal　himself　off。　I　mean；　he　locked　the　door　from　the　inside。〃
　I　said；　〃He　did？　How　do　you　know　that？〃
　Julia　said；　〃Um　。。。　I　just　assumed　。。。　uh　。。。〃　She　peered　through　the　glass。　〃And；　uh；　you　can　see　the　lock　reflected　in　that　chrome　fitting　。。。　see　that　one　there？〃　I　didn't　bother　to　look。　But　Mae　did；　and　I　heard　her　say；　〃Oh　yes；　Julia；　you're　right。　Good　observation。　I　missed　that　myself。〃　It　sounded　very　phony；　but　Julia　didn't　seem　to　react。　So　everybody　was　playacting；　now。　Everything　was　staged。　And　I　didn't　understand　why。　But　as　I　watched　Mae　with　Julia；　I　noticed　that　she　was　being　extremely　careful　with　my　wife。　Almost　as　if　she　was　afraid　of　her；　or　at　least　afraid　of　offending　her。
　That　was　odd。
　And　a　little　alarming。
　I　said　to　Ricky；　〃Is　there　a　way　to　unlock　the　door？〃
　〃I　think　so。　Vince　probably　has　a　skeleton　key。　But　nobody's　unlocking　that　door　now；　Jack。　Not　as　long　as　that　swarm　is　in　there。〃
　〃So　we　can't　call　anywhere？〃　I　said。　〃We're　stuck　here？　Inmunicado？〃
　〃Until　tomorrow；　yes。　Helicopter　will　be　back　tomorrow　morning；　on　its　regular　run。〃　Ricky　peered　in　through　the　glass　at　the　destruction。　〃Jeez。　Charley　really　did　a　job　on　those　switching　panels。〃
　I　said；　〃Why　do　you　think　he　would　do　that？〃
　Ricky　shook　his　head。　〃Charley　was　a　little　crazy；　you　know。　I　mean　he　was　colorful。　But　all　that　farting　and　humming　。。。　he　was　a　few　fries　short　of　a　Happy　Meal；　Jack。〃
　〃I　never　thought　so。〃
　〃Just　my　opinion；〃　he　said。
　I　stood　beside　Ricky　and　looked　through　the　glass。　The　swarm　was　buzzing　around　Charley's　head；　and　I　was　starting　to　see　the　milky　coating　form　on　his　body。　The　usual　pattern。　I　said；　〃What　about　pumping　liquid　nitrogen　in　there？　Freezing　the　swarm？〃
　〃We　could　probably　do　that；〃　Ricky　said；　〃but　I'm　afraid　we'd　damage　the　equipment。〃
　〃Can　you　turn　the　air　handlers　up　enough　to　suck　the　particles　out？〃
　〃Handlers　are　going　full…bore　now。〃
　〃And　you　wouldn't　want　to　use　a　fire　extinguisher　。。。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Extinguishers　are　Halon。　Won't　affect　the　particles。〃
　〃So　we're　effectively　kept　out　of　that　room。〃
　〃Far　as　I　can　tell；　yes。〃
　〃Cell　phones？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Antennas　route　through　that　room。　Every　form　of　munication　we　have…cells；　Internet；　high…speed　data　trunks…everything　goes　through　that　room。〃　Julia　said；　〃Charley　knew　that　room　was　airtight。　I　bet　he　went　there　to　protect　the　rest　of　us。　It　was　a　selfless　act。　A　courageous　act。〃
　She　was　developing　her　theory　about　Charley；　fleshing　it　out；　adding　details。　It　was　a　little　distracting；　considering　the　main　problem　was　still　unanswered…how　to　unlock　the　door；　and　disable　the　swarm。　I　said；　〃Is　there　another　window　in　that　closet？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃This　window　in　the　door　is　the　only　one？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Okay；　then；〃　I　said；　〃let's　black　out　the　window；　and　turn　the　lights　out　in　there。　And　wait　a　few　hours；　until　the　swarm　loses　power。〃
　〃Jeez；　I　don't　know；〃　Ricky　said　doubtfully。
　〃What　do　you　mean；　Ricky？〃　Julia　said。　〃I　think　it's　a　great　idea。　It's　certainly　worth　a　try。　Let's　do　it　right　now。〃
　〃Okay；　fine；〃　Ricky　said；　immediately　deferring　to　her。　〃But　you're　going　to　have　to　wait　six　hours。〃
　I　said；　〃I　thought　it　was　three　hours。〃
　〃It　is；　but　I　want　extra　hours　before　I　open　that　door。　If　that　swarm　gets　loose　in　here；　we've　all　had　it。〃
　In　the　end；　that　was　what　we　decided　to　do。　We　got　black　cloth　and　taped　it　over　the　window；　and　put　black　cardboard　over　that。　We　turned　out　the　lights　an