[科幻]宿主-第138章

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collecting　at　every　store。

　“You　should　probably　clean　up；　too；”　Jared　said　with　a　sigh。　“Guess　that　means　a　hotel　tonight。”

　Keeping　up　appearances　was　not　something　they’d　worried　about　before。　Of　course；　I　was　the　only　one　
who　had　to　look　as　if　I　were　a　part　of　civilization　from　close　up。　The　men　wore　jeans　and　dark　T…shirts　
now；　things　that　didn’t　show　dirt　or　attract　attention　in　the　brief　moments　they　might　be　seen。

　They　all　hated　sleeping　in　the　roadside　inns—succumbing　to　unconsciousness　inside　the　very　mouth　of　
the　enemy。　It　scared　them　more　than　anything　else　we　did。　Ian　said　he’d　rather　charge　an　armed　Seeker。

　Kyle　simply　refused。　He　mostly　slept　in　the　van　during　the　day　and　then　sat　up　at　night；　acting　as　sentry。

　For　me；　it　was　as　easy　as　shopping　in　the　stores。　I　checked　us　in；　made　conversation　with　the　clerk。　Told　
the　story　about　my　photographer　partner　and　the　friend　who　was　traveling　with　us　（just　in　case　someone　
saw　all　three　of　us　enter　the　room）。　I　used　generic　names　from　unremarkable　planets。　Sometimes　we　
were　Bats：　Word　Keeper；　Sings　the　Egg　Song；　and　Sky　Roost。　Sometimes　we　were　See　Weeds：　
Twisting　Eyes；　Sees　to　the　Surface；　and　Second　Sunrise。　I　changed　the　names　every　time；　not　that　
anyone　was　trying　to　trace　our　path。　It　just　made　Melanie　feel　safer　to　do　that。　All　this　made　her　feel　like　
a　character　in　a　human　movie　about　espionage。

　The　hard　part；　the　part　I　really　minded—not　that　I　would　say　this　in　front　of　Kyle；　who　was　so　quick　to　
doubt　my　intentions—was　all　the　taking　without　giving　anything　back。　It　had　never　bothered　me　to　shop　
in　San　Diego。　I　took　what　I　needed　and　nothing　more。　Then　I　spent　my　days　at　the　university　giving　back　
to　the　munity　by　sharing　my　knowledge。　Not　a　taxing　Calling；　but　one　I　took　seriously。　I　took　my　
turns　at　the　less…appealing　chores。　I　did　my　day　collecting　garbage　and　cleaning　streets。　We　all　did。

　And　now　I　took　so　much　more　and　gave　nothing　in　return。　It　made　me　feel　selfish　and　wrong。

　It’s　not　for　yourself。　It’s　for　others；Mel　reminded　me　when　I　brooded。

　It　still　feels　wrong。　Even　you　can　feel　that；　can’t　you？

　Don’t　think　about　itwas　her　solution。　

　

　Home　again。　At　last。

　When　we　slept　in　hotels　rather　than　in　the　crowded　van；　we　usually　checked　in　after　dark　and　left　before　
dawn　to　keep　the　souls　from　getting　a　good　look　at　us。　Not　really　necessary。

　Jared　and　Ian　were　beginning　to　realize　that。　This　night；　because　we’d　had　such　a　successful　day—the　
van　was　pletely　full；　Kyle　would　have　little　space—and　because　Ian　thought　I　looked　tired；　we　
stopped　early。　The　sun　had　not　set　when　I　returned　to　the　van　with　the　plastic　key　card。

　The　little　inn　was　not　very　busy。　We　parked　close　to　our　room；　and　Jared　and　Ian　went　straight　from　the　
van　to　the　room　in　a　matter　of　five　or　six　steps；　their　eyes　on　the　ground。　On　their　necks；　small；　faint　pink　
lines　provided　camouflage。　Jared　carried　a　half…empty　suitcase。　No　one　looked　at　them　or　me。

　Inside；　the　room…darkening　curtains　were　drawn；　and　the　men　relaxed　a　little　bit。

　Ian　lounged　on　the　bed　he　and　Jared　would　use；　and　flipped　on　the　TV。　Jared　put　the　suitcase　on　the　
table；　took　out　our　dinner—cooled　greasy　breaded　chicken　strips　I’d　ordered　from　the　deli　in　the　last　
store—and　passed　it　around。　I　sat　by　the　window；　peeking　through　the　corner　at　the　falling　sun　as　I　ate。

　“You　have　to　admit；　Wanda；　we　humans　had　better　entertainment；”　Ian　teased。

　On　the　television　screen；　two　souls　were　speaking　their　lines　clearly；　their　bodies　held　with　perfect　
posture。　It　wasn’t　hard　to　pick　up　what　was　happening　in　the　story　because　there　wasn’t　a　lot　of　variety　
in　the　scripts　souls　wrote。　In　this　one；　two　souls　were　reconnecting　after　a　long　separation。　The　male’s　
stint　with　the　See　Weeds　had　e　between　them；　but　he’d　chosen　to　be　human　because　he　guessed　his　
partner　from　the　Mists　Planet　would　be　drawn　to　these　warm…blooded　hosts。　And；　miracle　of　miracles；　
he’d　found　her　here。

　They　all　had　happy　endings。

　“You　have　to　consider　the　intended　audience。”

　“True。　I　wish　they’d　run　old　human　shows　again。”　He　flipped　through　the　channels　and　frowned。　“Used　
to　be　a　few　of　them　on。”

　“They　were　too　disturbing。　They　had　to　be　replaced　with　things　that　weren’t　so…　violent。”

　“The　Brady　Bunch？”

　I　laughed。　I’d　seen　that　show　in　San　Diego；　and　Melanie　knew　it　from　her　childhood。　“It　condoned　
aggression。　I　remember　one　where　a　little　male　child　punched　a　bully；　and　that　was　portrayed　as　being　the　
right　thing　to　do。　There　was　blood。”

　Ian　shook　his　head　in　disbelief　but　returned　to　the　show　with　the　former　See　Weed。　He　laughed　at　the　
wrong　parts；　the　parts　that　were　supposed　to　be　touching。　

　

　Across　the　two…lane　road　from　the　inn　was　a　small　park；　bordered　on　one　side　by　a　school　and　on　the　
other　by　a　field　where　cows　grazed。　There　were　a　few　young　trees；　and　an　old…fashioned　playground　
with　a　sandbox；　a　slide；　a　set　of　monkey　bars；　and　one　of　those　hand…pulled　merry…go…rounds。　Of　course　
there　was　a　swing　set；　too；　and　that　was　the　only　equipment　being　used　currently。

　A　little　family　was　taking　advantage　of　the　cooler　evening　air。　The　father　had　some　silver　in　his　dark　hair　
at　the　temples；　the　mother　looked　many　years　his　junior。　Her　red　brown　hair　was　pulled　back　in　a　long　
ponytail　that　bobbed　when　she　moved。　They　had　a　little　boy；　no　more　than　a　year　old。　The　father　pushed　
the　child　in　the　swing　from　behind；　while　the　mother　stood　in　front；　leaning　in　to　kiss　his　forehead　when　he　
swung　her　way；　making　him　giggle　so　hard　that　his　chubby　little　face　was　bright　red。　This　had　her　
laughing；　too—I　could　see　her　body　shake　with　it；　her　hair　dancing。

　“What　are　you　staring　at；　Wanda？”

　Jared’s　question　wasn’t　anxious；　because　I　was　smiling　softly　at　the　surprising　scene。

　“Something　I’ve　never　seen　in　all　my　lives。　I’m　staring　at…　hope。”

　Jared　came　to　stand　behind　me；　peeking　out　over　my　shoulder。　“What　do　you　mean？”　His　eyes　swept　
across　the　buildings　and　the　road；　not　pausing　on　the　playing　family。

　I　caught　his　chin　and　pointed　his　face　in　the　right　direction。　He　didn’t　so　much　as　flinch　at　my　unexpected　
touch；　and　that　gave　me　a　strange　jolt　of　warmth　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach。　“Look；”　I　said。

　“What　am　I　looking　at？”

　“The　only　hope　for　survival　I’ve　ever　seen　for　a　host　species。”

　“Where？”　he　demanded；　bewildered。

　I　was　aware　of　Ian　close　behind　us　now；　listening　silently。

　“See？”　I　pointed　at　the　laughing　mother。　“See　how　she　loves　her　human　child？”

　At　that　moment；　the　woman　snatched　her　son　from　the　swing　and　squeezed　him　in　a　tight　embrace；　
covering　his　face　with　kisses。　He　cooed　and　flailed—just　a　baby。　Not　the　miniature　adult　he　would　have　
been　if　he　carried　one　of　my　kind。

　Jared　gasped。　“The　baby　ishuman？　How？　Why？　For　how　long？”

　I　shrugged。　“I’ve　never　seen　this　before—I　don’t　know。　She　has　not　given　him　up　for　a　host。　I　can’t　
imagine　that　she　would　be…　forced。　Motherhood　is　all　but　worshipped　among　my　kind。　If　she　is　
unwilling…”　I　shook　my　head。　“I　have　no　idea　how　that　will　be　handled。　This　doesn’t　happen　elsewhere。　
The　emotions　of　these　bodies　are　so　much　stronger　than　logic。”

　I　glanced　up　at　Jared　and　Ian。　They　were　both　staring　openmouthed　at　the　interspecies　family　in　the　
park。　

　

　The　father　had　his　arms　around　both　the　mother　and　the　child　now。　He　looked　down　at　his　host　body’s　
biological　son　with　staggering　tenderness　in　his　eyes。

　“Aside　from　ourselves；　this　is　the　first　planet　we’ve　discovered　with　live　births。　Yours　certainly　isn’t　the　
easiest　or　most　prolific　system。　I　wonder　if　that’s　the　difference…　or　if　it’s　the　helplessness　of　your　
young。　Everywhere　else；　reproduction　is　through　some　form　of　eggs　or　seeds。　Many　parents　never　even　
meet　their　young。　I　wonder…”　I　trailed　off；　my　thoughts　full　of　speculation。

　The　mother　lifted　her　face　to　her　partner；　and　he　kissed　her　lips。　The　human　child　crowed　with　delight。

　“Hmm。　Perhaps；　someday；　some　of　my　kind　and　some　of　yours　will　live　in　pe