[科幻]宿主- 第63部分

failing。

　Jeb　stopped　when　he　got　to　me　and　turned　to　look　at　Jamie。　“Takin’　her　for　a　tour　of　the　place。　Just　like　
I　do　for　any　newer。”　

　

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。　
“Can　I　e？”　Jamie　asked。　
I　saw　Sharon　shake　her　head　feverishly；　her　expression　outraged。　Jeb　ignored　her。　
“Doesn’t　bother　me…　if　you　can　mind　your　manners。”　
Jamie　shrugged。　“No　problem。”　
I　had　to　move　then—to　knot　my　fingers　together　in　front　of　me。　I　wanted　so　badly　to　push　Jamie’s　untidy　


hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　then　leave　my　arm　around　his　neck。　Something　that　would　not　go　over　well；　I　was　


sure。　
“Let’s　go；”　Jeb　said　to　us　both。　He　took　us　back　out　the　way　we　had　e。　Jeb　walked　on　one　side　of　
me；　Jamie　on　the　other。　Jamie　seemed　to　be　trying　to　stare　at　the　floor；　but　he　kept　glancing　up　at　my　
face—just　like　I　couldn’t　help　glancing　down　at　his。　Whenever　our　eyes　met；　we　looked　away　again　
quickly。

　We　were　about　halfway　down　the　big　hall　when　I　heard　the　quiet　footsteps　behind　us。　My　reaction　was　
instantaneous　and　unthinking。　I　skittered　to　one　side　of　the　tunnel；　sweeping　Jamie　along　with　one　arm　so　
that　I　was　between　him　and　whatever　was　ing　for　me。

　“Hey！”　he　protested；　but　he　did　not　knock　my　arm　away。　
Jeb　was　just　as　quick。　The　gun　twirled　out　of　its　strap　with　blinding　speed。　
Ian　and　the　doctor　both　raised　their　hands　above　their　heads。　
“We　can　mind　our　manners；　too；”　the　doctor　said。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　this　soft…spoken　man　with　


the　friendly　expression　was　the　resident　torturer；　he　was　all　the　more　terrifying　to　me　because　his　exterior　
was　so　benign。　A　person　would　be　on　her　guard　on　a　dark　and　ominous　night；　a　person　would　be　ready。　
But　on　a　clear；　sunny　day？　How　would　she　know　to　flee　when　she　couldn’t　see　any　place　for　danger　to　
hide？

　Jeb　squinted　at　Ian；　the　barrel　of　the　gun　shifting　to　follow　his　gaze。　
“I　don’t　mean　any　trouble；　Jeb。　I’ll　be　just　as　mannerly　as　Doc。”　
“Fine；”　Jeb　said　curtly；　stowing　his　gun。　“Just　don’t　test　me。　I　haven’t　shot　anybody　in　a　real　long　time；　


and　I　sort　of　miss　the　thrill　of　it。”　
I　gasped。　Everyone　heard　that　and　turned　to　see　my　horrified　expression。　The　doctor　was　the　first　one　to　
laugh；　but　even　Jamie　joined　in　briefly。　
“It’s　a　joke；”　Jamie　whispered　to　me。　His　hand　strayed　from　his　side；　almost　as　if　he　was　reaching　for　


mine；　but　he　quickly　shoved　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　shorts。　I　let　my　arm—still　stretched　protectively　in　
front　of　his　body—drop；　too。　
“Well；　the　day’s　wasting；”　Jeb　said；　still　a　little　surly。　“You’ll　all　have　to　keep　up；　’cause　I’m　not　waiting　

on　you。”　He　stalked　forward　before　he　was　done　speaking。　

　

　Named

　Ikept　tight　to　Jeb’s　side；　a　little　in　front　of　him。　I　wanted　to　be　as　far　as　possible　from　the　two　men　
following　us。　Jamie　walked　somewhere　in　the　middle；　not　sure　of　where　he　wanted　to　be。

　I　wasn’t　able　to　concentrate　much　on　the　rest　of　Jeb’s　tour。　My　attention　was　not　focused　on　the　second　
set　of　gardens　he　led　me　through—one　with　corn　growing　waist…high　in　the　blistering　heat　of　the　brilliant　
mirrors—or　the　wide　but　low…ceilinged　cavern　he　called　the　“rec　room。”　That　one　was　pitch…black　and　
deep　underground；　but　he　told　me　they　brought　in　lights　when　they　wanted　to　play。　The　wordplay　didn’t　
make　sense　to　me；　not　here　in　this　group　of　tense；　angry　survivors；　but　I　didn’t　ask　him　to　explain。　There　
was　more　water　here；　a　tiny；　noxiously　sulfurous　spring　that　Jeb　said　they　sometimes　used　as　a　second　
latrine　because　it　was　no　good　for　drinking。

　My　attention　was　divided　between　the　men　walking　behind　us　and　the　boy　at　my　side。

　Ian　and　the　doctor　did　mind　their　manners　surprisingly　well。　No　one　attacked　me　from　behind—though　I　
thought　my　eyes　might　get　lodged　in　the　back　of　my　head　from　trying　to　see　if　they　were　about　to。　They　
just　followed　quietly；　sometimes　talking　to　each　other　in　low　voices。　Their　ments　revolved　around　
names　I　didn’t　know　and　nicknames　for　places　and　things　that　might　or　might　not　have　been　inside　these　
caves。　I　couldn’t　understand　any　of　it。

　Jamie　said　nothing；　but　he　looked　at　me　a　lot。　When　I　wasn’t　trying　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　others；　I　was　
often　peeking　at　him；　too。　This　left　little　time　to　admire　the　things　Jeb　showed　me；　but　he　didn’t　seem　to　
notice　my　preoccupations。

　Some　of　the　tunnels　were　very　long—the　distances　hidden　beneath　the　ground　here　were　mind…boggling。　
Often　they　were　pitch…black；　but　Jeb　and　the　others　never　so　much　as　paused；　clearly　familiar　with　their　
whereabouts　and　long　since　accustomed　to　traveling　in　darkness。　It　was　harder　for　me　than　it　was　when　
Jeb　and　I　were　alone。　In　the　dark；　every　noise　sounded　like　an　attack。　Even　the　doctor’s　and　Ian’s　casual　
chatter　seemed　like　a　cover　for　some　nefarious　move。

　Paranoid；Melanie　mented。

　If　that’s　what　it　takes　to　keep　us　alive；　so　be　it。

　I　wish　you　would　pay　more　attention　to　Uncle　Jeb。　This　is　fascinating。

　Do　what　you　want　with　your　time。

　I　can　only　hear　and　see　what　you　hear　and　see；　Wanderer；she　told　me。　Then　she　changed　the　
subject。Jamie　looks　okay；　don’t　you　think？　Not　too　unhappy。

　He　looks…　wary。

　We　were　just　ing　into　some　light　after　the　longest　trek　so　far　in　the　humid　blackness。

　“This　here　is　the　southernmost　spur　of　the　tube　system；”　Jeb　explained　as　we　walked。　“Not　super　
convenient；　but　it　gets　good　light　all　day　long。　That’s　why　we　made　it　the　hospital　wing。　This　is　where　Doc　

　

　The　moment　Jeb　announced　where　we　were；　my　body　froze　and　my　joints　locked；　I　skidded　to　a　halt；　
my　feet　planted　against　the　rock　floor。　My　eyes；　wide　with　terror；　flickered　between　Jeb’s　face　and　the　
face　of　the　doctor。

　Had　this　all　been　a　ruse；　then？　Wait　for　stubborn　Jared　to　be　out　of　the　picture　and　then　lure　me　back　

here？　I　couldn’t　believe　I’d　walked　to　this　place　under　my　own　power。　How　stupid　I　was！

　Melanie　was　just　as　aghast。We　might　as　well　have　gift…wrapped　ourselves　for　them！

　They　stared　back　at　me；　Jeb　expressionless；　the　doctor　looking　as　surprised　as　I　felt—though　not　as　

horrified。

　I　would　have　flinched；　ripped　myself　away　from　the　touch　of　a　hand　on　my　arm；　if　the　hand　had　not　been　
so　familiar。

　“No；”　Jamie　said；　his　hand　hesitantly　resting　just　below　my　elbow。　“No；　it’s　okay。　Really。　Right；　Uncle　

Jeb？”　Jamie　looked　trustingly　at　the　old　man。　“It’s　okay；　right？”

　“Sure　it　is。”　Jeb’s　faded　blue　eyes　were　calm　and　clear。　“Just　showing　you　my　place；　kid；　that’s　all。”

　“What　are　you　talking　about？”　Ian　grumbled　from　behind　us；　sounding　annoyed　that　he　didn’t　

understand。　
“Did　you　think　we　brought　you　here　on　purpose；　for　Doc？”　Jamie　said　to　me　instead　of　answering　Ian。　

“Because　we　wouldn’t　do　that。　We　promised　Jared。”

　I　stared　at　his　earnest　face；　trying　to　believe。

　“Oh！”　Ian　said　as　he　understood；　and　then　he　laughed。　“That　wasn’t　a　bad　plan。　I’m　surprised　I　didn’t　

think　of　it。”

　Jamie　scowled　at　the　big　man　and　patted　my　arm　before　removing　his　hand。　“Don’t　be　scared；”　he　said。

　Jeb　took　up　where　he’d　left　off。　“So　this　big　room　here　is　fitted　up　with　a　few　cots　in　case　anyone　gets　
sick　or　hurt。　We’ve　been　pretty　lucky　on　that　count。　Doc　doesn’t　have　much　to　work　with　in　an　
emergency。”　Jeb　grinned　at　me。　“Your　folks　threw　out　allour　medicines　when　they　took　over　things。　Hard　
to　get　our　hands　on　what　we　need。”

　I　nodded　slightly；　the　movement　was　absentminded。　I　was　still　reeling；　trying　to　get　my　bearings。　This　
room　looked　innocent　enough；　as　if　it　were　only　used　for　healing；　but　it　made　my　stomach　twist　and　
contract。

　“What　do　you　know　about　alien　medicine？”　the　doctor　asked　suddenly；　his　head　cocked　to　the　side。　He　
watched　my　face　with　expectant　curiosity。

　I　stared　at　him　wordlessly。

　“Oh；　you　can　talk　to　Doc；”　Jeb　encouraged　me。　“He’s　a　pretty　decent　guy；　all　things　considered。”　

　

　“She’s　not　giving　away　any　trade　secrets；”　Ian　said　sourly。　“Are　you；　sweetheart？”

　“Manners；　Ian；”　Jeb　barked。

　“Is　it　a　secret？”　Jamie　asked；　guarded　but　clearly　curious。

　I　shook　my　head　again。　They　all　stared　at　me　in　confusion。　Doc　shook　his　head；　too；　slowly；　baffled。

　I　took　a　deep　breath；　then　whispered；　“I’m　not　a　Healer。　I　don’t　know　how　they—the　
medications—work。　Only　that　theydo　work—　they　heal；　rather　than　merely　treating　symptoms。　No　trial　
and　error。　Of　course　the　human　medicines　were　discarded。”

　All　four　of　them　stared　with　blank　expressions。　First　they　were　surprised　when　I　didn’t　answer；　and　now　
they　were　surprised　when　I　did。　Humans　were　impossible　to　please。

　“Your　kind　didn’t　change　too　much　of　what　we　left　behind；”　Jeb　said　thoughtfully　after　a　moment。　“Just　
the　medical　stuff；　and　the　spaceships　instead　of　planes。　Other　than　that；　life　seems　to　go　on　just　the　same　
as　ever…　on　the　surface。”

　“We　e　to　experience；　not　to　change；”　I　whispered。　“Health　takes　priority　over　that　philosophy；　
though。”

　I　shut　my　mouth　with　an　audible　snap。　I　had　to　be　more　careful。　The　humans　hardly　wanted　a　lecture　on　
soul　philosophy。　Who　knew　what　would　anger　them？　Or　what　would　snap　their　fragile　patience？

　Jeb　nodded；　still　thoughtful；　and　then　ushered　us　onward。　He　wasn’t　as　enthusiastic　as　he　continued　my　
tour　through　the　few　connecting　caves　here　in　the　medical　wing；　not　as　involved　in　the　presentation。　When　
we　turned　around　and　headed　back　into　the　black　corridor；　he　lapsed　into　silence。　It　was　a　long；　quiet　
walk。　I　thought　through　what　I’d　said；　looking　for　something　that　might　have　offended。　Jeb　was　too　
strange　for　me　to　guess　if　that　was　the　case。　The　other　humans；　hostile　and　suspicious　as　they　were；　at　
least　made　sense。　How　could　I　hope　to　make　sense　of　Jeb？

　The　tour　ended　abruptly　when　we　reentered　the　huge　garden　cavern　where　the　carrot　sprouts　made　a　
bright　green　carpet　across　the　dark　floor。

　“Show’s　over；”　Jeb　said　gruffly；　looking　at　Ian　and　the　doctor。　“Go　do　something　useful。”

　Ian　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　doctor；　but　they　both　turned　good…naturedly　enough