[科幻]宿主-第62部分

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　“Brilliant；”　I　whispered。　“Astonishing。”

　Jeb　grinned　and　nodded；　enjoying　my　reaction。

　“Let’s　keep　on；”　he　suggested。　“Got　a　lot　to　do　today。”

　He　led　me　to　a　new　tunnel；　a　wide；　naturally　shaped　tube　that　ran　off　from　the　big　cave。　This　was　new　

territory。　My　muscles　all　locked　up；　I　moved　forward　with　stiff　legs；　unbending　knees。

　Jeb　patted　my　hand　but　otherwise　ignored　my　nerves。　“This　is　mostly　sleeping　quarters　and　some　
storage。　The　tubes　are　closer　to　the　surface　here；　so　it　was　easier　to　get　some　light。”

　He　pointed　up　at　a　bright；　slender　crack　in　the　tunnel　ceiling　overhead。　It　threw　a　hand…sized　spot　of　
white　onto　the　floor。

　We　reached　a　broad　fork—not　really　a　fork；　because　there　were　too　many　tines。　It　was　an　octopus…like　

branching　of　passageways。

　“Third　from　the　left；”　he　said；　and　looked　at　me　expectantly。

　“Third　from　the　left？”　I　repeated。

　“That’s　right。　Don’t　forget。　It’s　easy　to　get　lost　around　here；　and　that　wouldn’t　be　safe　for　you。　Folks’d　

just　as　soon　stab　you　as　send　you　in　the　right　direction。”

　I　shuddered。　“Thanks；”　I　muttered　with　quiet　sarcasm。

　He　laughed　as　if　my　answer　had　delighted　him。　“No　point　in　ignoring　the　truth。　Doesn’t　make　it　worse　to　

have　it　said　out　loud。”

　It　didn’t　make　it　better；　either；　but　I　didn’t　say　that。　I　was　beginning　to　enjoy　myself　just　a　little。　It　was　so　
nice　to　have　someone　talk　to　me　again。　Jeb　was；　if　nothing　else；　interesting　pany。

　“One；　two；　three；”　he　counted　off；　then　he　led　me　down　the　third　hallway　from　the　left。　We　started　
passing　round　entrances　covered　by　a　variety　of　makeshift　doors。　Some　were　curtained　off　with　
patterned　sheets　of　fabric；　others　had　big　pieces　of　cardboard　duct…taped　together。　One　hole　had　two　
real　doors—one　red…painted　wood；　one　gray　metal—leaning　over　the　opening。　

　

　“This　is　the　only　space　I　can　think　of　for　now。　The　only　one　that’s　fitted　up　decent　for　human　habitation。　
It　will　be　empty　for　a　few　weeks；　and　we’ll　figure　something　better　out　for　you　by　the　time　it’s　needed　
again。”

　He　folded　the　screen　aside；　and　a　light　that　was　brighter　than　that　in　the　hallway　greeted　us。

　The　room　he　revealed　gave　me　a　strange　feeling　of　vertigo—probably　because　it　was　so　much　taller　than　
it　was　wide。　Standing　inside　it　was　like　standing　in　a　tower　or　a　silo；　not　that　I　had　ever　been　in　such　
places；　but　those　were　the　parisons　Melanie　made。　The　ceiling；　twice　as　high　as　the　room　was　wide；　
was　a　maze　of　cracks。　Like　vines　of　light；　the　cracks　circled　around　and　almost　met。　This　seemed　
dangerous　to　me—unstable。　But　Jeb　showed　no　fear　of　cave…ins　as　he　led　me　farther　in。

　There　was　a　double…sized　mattress　on　the　floor；　with　about　a　yard　of　space　on　three　sides　of　it。　The　two　
pillows　and　two　blankets　twisted　into　two　separate　configurations　on　either　half　of　the　mattress　made　it　
look　as　if　this　room　housed　a　couple。　A　thick　wooden　pole—something　like　a　rake　handle—was　braced　
horizontally　against　the　far　wall　at　shoulder　height　with　the　ends　lodged　in　two　of　the　Swiss　cheese　holes　
in　the　rock。　Over　it　were　draped　a　handful　of　T…shirts　and　two　pairs　of　jeans。　A　wooden　stool　was　flush　
with　the　wall　beside　the　makeshift　clothes　rack；　and　on　the　floor　beneath　it　was　a　stack　of　worn　
paperback　books。

　“Who？”　I　said　to　Jeb；　whispering　again。　This　space　so　obviously　belonged　to　someone　that　I　no　longer　
felt　like　we　were　alone。

　“Just　one　of　the　guys　out　on　the　raid。　Won’t　be　back　for　a　while。　We’ll　find　you　something　by　then。”

　I　didn’t　like　it—not　the　room；　but　the　idea　of　staying　in　it。　The　presence　of　the　owner　was　strong　despite　
the　simple　belongings。　No　matter　who　he　was；　he　would　not　be　happy　to　have　me　here。　He　would　hate　it。

　Jeb　seemed　to　read　my　mind—or　maybe　the　expression　on　my　face　was　clear　enough　that　he　didn’t　
have　to。

　“Now；　now；”　he　said。　“Don’t　worry　about　that。　This　ismy　house；　and　this　is　just　one　of　my　many　guest　
rooms。　I　say　who　is　and　isn’t　my　guest。　Right　now；　you　are　my　guest；　and　I　am　offering　you　this　room。”

　I　still　didn’t　like　it；　but　I　wasn’t　going　to　upset　Jeb；　either。　I　vowed　that　I　would　disturb　nothing；　if　it　
meant　sleeping　on　the　floor。

　“Well；　let’s　keep　moving。　Don’t　forget：　third　from　the　left；　seventh　in。”

　“Green　screen；”　I　added。

　“Exactly。”

　Jeb　took　me　back　through　the　big　garden　room；　around　the　perimeter　to　the　opposite　side；　and　through　
the　biggest　tunnel　exit。　When　we　passed　the　irrigators；　they　stiffened　and　turned；　afraid　to　have　me　behind　
their　backs。　

　

　“We　go　even　closer　to　the　surface　now。　It　gets　drier；　but　it　gets　hotter；　too。”

　I　noticed　that　almost　immediately。　Instead　of　being　steamed；　we　were　now　being　baked。　The　air　was　less　
stuffy　and　stale。　I　could　taste　the　desert　dust。

　There　were　more　voices　ahead。　I　tried　to　steel　myself　against　the　inevitable　reaction。　If　Jeb　insisted　on　
treating　me　like…　like　a　human；　like　a　wele　guest；　I　was　going　to　have　to　get　used　to　this。　No　reason　
to　let　it　make　me　nauseous　over　and　over　again。　My　stomach　began　an　unhappy　rolling　anyway。

　“This　way’s　the　kitchen；”　Jeb　told　me。

　At　first　I　thought　we　were　in　another　tunnel；　one　crowded　with　people。　I　pressed　myself　against　the　wall；　
trying　to　keep　my　distance。

　The　kitchen　was　a　long　corridor　with　a　high　ceiling；　higher　than　it　was　wide；　like　my　new　quarters。　The　
light　was　bright　and　hot。　Instead　of　thin　crevices　through　deep　rock；　this　place　had　huge　open　holes。

　“Can’t　cook　in　the　daytime；　of　course。　Smoke；　you　know。　So　we　mainly　use　this　as　the　mess　hall　until　
nightfall。”

　All　conversation　had　e　to　an　abrupt　halt；　so　Jeb’s　words　were　clear　for　everyone　to　hear。　I　tried　to　
hide　behind　him；　but　he　kept　walking　farther　in。

　We’d　interrupted　breakfast；　or　maybe　it　was　lunch。

　The　humans—almost　twenty　at　a　quick　estimate—were　very　close　here。　It　wasn’t　like　the　big　cavern。　I　
wanted　to　keep　my　eyes　on　the　floor；　but　I　couldn’t　stop　them　from　flashing　around　the　room。　Just　in　
case。　I　could　feel　my　body　tensing　to　run　for　it；　though　where　I　would　run；　I　didn’t　know。

　Against　both　sides　of　the　hallway；　there　were　long　piles　of　rock。　Mostly　rough；　purple　volcanic　stone；　
with　some　lighter…colored　substance—cement？—running　between　them；　creating　seams；　holding　them　
together。　On　top　of　these　piles　were　different　stones；　browner　in　color；　and　flat。　They　were　glued　
together　with　the　light　gray　grout　as　well。　The　final　product　was　a　relatively　even　surface；　like　a　counter　or　
a　table。　It　was　clear　that　they　were　used　for　both。

　The　humans　sat　on　some；　leaned　on　others。　I　recognized　the　bread　rolls　they　held　suspended　between　
the　table　and　their　mouths；　frozen　with　disbelief　as　they　took　in　Jeb　and　his　one…person　tour。

　Some　of　them　were　familiar。　Sharon；　Maggie；　and　the　doctor　were　the　closest　group　to　me。　Melanie’s　
cousin　and　aunt　glared　at　Jeb　furiously—I　had　an　odd　conviction　that　I　could　have　stood　on　my　head　and　
bellowed　songs　out　of　Melanie’s　memory　at　the　top　of　my　lungs　and　they　still　would　not　have　looked　at　
me—but　the　doctor　eyed　me　with　a　frank　and　almost　friendly　curiosity　that　made　me　feel　cold　deep　
inside　my　bones。

　At　the　back　end　of　the　hall…shaped　room；　I　recognized　the　tall　man　with　ink　black　hair　and　my　heart　
stuttered。　I’d　thought　Jared　was　supposed　to　take　the　hostile　brothers　with　him　to　make　Jeb’s　job　of　
keeping　me　alive　slightly　easier。　At　least　it　was　the　younger　one；　Ian；　who　had　belatedly　developed　a　
conscience—not　quite　as　bad　as　leaving　Kyle　behind。　That　consolation　did　not　slow　my　racing　pulse；　
however。　

　

　“Lost　our　appetites；”　Maggie　muttered。

　“How　’bout　you；”　he　said；　turning　to　me。　“You　hungry？”

　A　quiet　groan　went　through　our　audience。

　I　shook　my　head—a　small　but　frantic　motion。　I　didn’t　even　know　whether　I　was　hungry；　but　I　knew　I　
couldn’t　eat　in　front　of　this　crowd　that　would　gladly　have　eaten　me。

　“Well；　I　am；”　Jeb　grumbled。　He　walked　down　the　aisle　between　the　counters；　but　I　did　not　follow。　I　
couldn’t　stand　the　thought　of　being　within　easy　reach　of　the　rest。　I　stayed　pressed　against　the　wall　where　I　
stood。　Only　Sharon　and　Maggie　watched　him　go　to　a　big　plastic　bin　on　one　counter　and　grab　a　roll。　
Everyone　else　watched　me。　I　was　certain　that　if　I　moved　an　inch；　they　would　pounce。　I　tried　not　to　
breathe。

　“Well；　let’s　just　keep　on　movin’；”　Jeb　suggested　around　a　mouthful　of　bread　as　he　ambled　back　to　me。　
“Nobody　seems　able　to　concentrate　on　their　lunch。　Easily　distracted；　this　set。”

　I　was　watching　the　humans　for　sudden　movements；　not　really　seeing　their　faces　after　that　first　moment　
when　I　recognized　the　few　I　could　put　names　to。　So　it　wasn’t　until　Jamie　stood　up　that　I　noticed　him　
there。

　He　was　a　head　shorter　than　the　adults　beside　him；　but　taller　than　the　two　smaller　children　who　perched　
on　the　counter　on　his　other　side。　He　hopped　lightly　off　his　seat　and　followed　behind　Jeb。　His　expression　
was　tight；　pressed；　like　he　was　trying　to　solve　a　difficult　equation　in　his　head。　He　examined　me　
through　narrow　eyes　as　he　approached　on　Jeb’s　heels。　Now　I　wasn’t　the　only　one　in　the　room　holding　
my　breath。　The　others’　gazes　shifted　back　and　forth　between　Melanie’s　brother　and　me。

　Oh；　Jamie；Melanie　thought。　She　hated　the　sad；　adult　expression　on　his　face；　and　I　probably　hated　it　
even　more。　She　didn’t　feel　as　guilty　as　I　did　for　putting　it　there。

　If　only　we　could　take　it　away。She　sighed。

　It’s　too　late。　What　could　we　do　to　make　it　better　now？

　I　didn’t　mean　the　question　more　than　rhetorically；　but　I　found　myself　searching　for　an　answer；　and　
Melanie　searched；　too。　We　found　nothing　in　the　brief　second　we　had　to　consider　the　matter；　there　was　
nothing　to　be　found；　I　was　sure。　But　we　both　knew　we　would　be　searching　again　when　we　were　done　
with　this　asinine　tour　and　had　a　chance　to　think。　If　we　lived　that　long。

　“Whatcha　need；　kid？”　Jeb　asked　without　looking　at　him。

　“Just　wondering　what　you’re　doing；”　Jamie　answered；　his　voice　striving　for　nonchalance　and　only　just　
failing。

　Jeb