[科幻]宿主-第152章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


me。　He　didn’t　miss　her；　because　he　had　her。　He　didn’t　see　the　necessity　of　our　separation。

　I　wasn’t　sure　why　Ian　didn’t　understand。　Was　he　too　caught　up　in　the　potential？　The　changes　this　would　
mean　for　the　human　society　here？　They　were　all　boggled　by　the　idea　that　getting　caught—the　end—was　
no　longer　a　finality。　There　was　a　way　to　e　back。　It　seemed　natural　to　him　that　I　had　acted　to　save　the　
Seeker；　it　was　consistent　with　his　idea　of　my　personality。　Maybe　that　was　as　far　as　he’d　considered　it。

　Or　maybe　Ian　just　didn’t　have　a　chance　to　think　it　all　through；　to　see　the　glaring　eventuality；　before　he　
was　distracted。　Distracted　and　enraged。

　“I　should　have　killed　him　years　ago；”　Ian　ranted　as　we　packed　what　we　needed　for　our　raid。　My　final　
raid；　I　tried　not　to　dwell　on　that。　“No；　our　mother　should　have　drowned　him　at　birth！”

　“He’s　your　brother。”

　“I　don’t　know　why　you　keep　saying　that。　Are　you　trying　to　make　me　feel　worse？”

　Everyone　was　furious　with　Kyle。　Jared’s　lips　were　welded　into　a　tight　line　of　rage；　and　Jeb　stroked　his　
gun　more　than　usual。

　Jeb　had　been　excited；　planning　to　join　us　on　this　landmark　raid；　his　first　since　I’d　e　to　live　here。　He　
was　particularly　keen　to　see　the　shuttle　field　up　close。　But　now；　with　Kyle　putting　us　all　in　danger；　he　felt　
he　had　to　stay　behind　just　in　case。　Not　getting　his　way　put　Jeb　in　a　foul　mood。

　“Stuck　behind　with　that　creature；”　he　muttered　to　himself；　rubbing　the　rifle　barrel　again—he　wasn’t　
getting　any　happier　about　the　new　member　of　his　munity。　“Missin’　all　the　fun。”　He　spit　on　the　floor。

　We　all　knew　where　Kyle　was。　As　soon　as　he’d　grasped　how　the　Seeker…worm　had　magically　
transformed　into　the　Lacey…human　in　the　night；　he’d　slipped　out　the　back。　I’d　been　expecting　him　to　lead　
the　party　demanding　the　Seeker’s　death　（I　kept　the　cryotank　always　cradled　in　my　arms；　I　slept　lightly；　

　

　Jared　was　the　one　to　realize　the　jeep　was　gone。　And　Ian　had　been　the　one　to　link　the　two　absences。

　“He’s　gone　after　Jodi；”　Ian　had　groaned。　“What　else？”

　Hope　and　despair。　I　had　given　them　one；　Kyle　the　other。　Would　he　betray　them　all　before　they　could　
even　make　use　of　the　hope？

　Jared　and　Jeb　wanted　to　put　off　the　raid　until　we　knew　if　Kyle　was　successful—it　would　take　him　three　
days　under　the　best　circumstances；if　his　Jodi　still　lived　in　Oregon。　If　he　could　find　her　there。

　There　was　another　place；　another　cave　we　could　evacuate　to。　A　much　smaller　place；　with　no　water；　so　
we　couldn’t　hide　there　long。　They’d　debated　whether　they　should　move　everyone　now　or　wait。

　But　I　was　in　a　hurry。　I’d　seen　the　way　the　others　eyed　the　silver　tank　in　my　arms。　I’d　heard　the　whispers。　
The　longer　I　kept　the　Seeker　here；　the　better　chance　that　someone　would　kill　her。　Having　met　Lacey；　I’d　
begun　to　pity　the　Seeker。　She　deserved　a　mild；　pleasant　new　life　with　the　Flowers。

　Ironically　enough；　Ian　was　the　one　who　took　my　side　and　helped　hurry　the　raid　along。　He　still　didn’t　see　
where　this　would　lead。

　But　I　was　grateful　that　he　helped　me　convince　Jared　there　was　time　to　make　the　raid　and　get　back　
before　a　decision　was　made　about　Kyle。　Grateful　also　that　he　was　back　to　playing　bodyguard。　I　knew　I　
could　trust　Ian　with　the　shiny　cryotank　more　than　anyone　else。　He　was　the　only　one　I　would　let　hold　it　
when　I　needed　my　arms。　He　was　the　only　one　who　could　see；　in　the　shape　of　that　small　container；　a　life　
to　be　protected。　He　could　think　of　that　shape　as　a　friend；　something　that　could　be　loved。　He　was　the　best　
ally　of　all。　I　was　so　grateful　for　Ian；　and　so　grateful　for　the　obliviousness　that　saved　him；　for　the　moment；　
from　pain。

　We　had　to　be　fast；　in　case　Kyle　ruined　everything。　We　went　to　Phoenix　again；　to　one　of　the　many　
munities　that　spun　out　from　the　hub。　There　was　a　big　shuttle　field　to　the　southeast；　in　a　town　called　
Mesa；　with　several　Healing　facilities　nearby。　That　was　what　I　wanted—I　would　give　them　as　much　as　I　
could　before　I　left。　If　we　took　a　Healer；　then　we　might　be　able　to　preserve　the　Healer’s　memory　in　the　
host　body。　Someone　who　understood　all　the　medicines　and　their　uses。　Someone　who　knew　the　best　
ways　to　get　to　unattended　stashes。　Doc　would　love　that。　I　could　imagine　all　the　questions　he’d　be　dying　
to　ask。

　First　the　shuttle　field。

　I　was　sad　that　Jeb　was　missing　this；　but　he’d　have　so　many　other　chances　in　the　future。　Though　it　was　
dark；　a　long　line　of　small　snub…nosed　shuttles　drifted　in　to　land　while　others　took　flight　in　an　endless　
stream。

　I　drove　the　old　van　while　the　others　rode　in　the　back—Ian　in　charge　of　the　tank；　of　course。　I　circled　the　
field；　staying　clear　of　the　busy　local　terminal。　It　was　easy　to　spot　the　vast；　sleek　white　vessels　that　left　the　
planet。　They　did　not　depart　with　the　frequency　of　the　smaller　ships。　All　I　saw　were　docked；　none　
preparing　to　leave　immediately。

　“Everything’s　labeled；”　I　reported　to　the　others；　invisible　in　the　dark　back。　“Now；　this　is　important。　

　

　I　drove　slowly；　close　to　the　crafts。

　“This　will　be　easy。　They’ve　got　all　kinds　of　delivery　vehicles　out　here；　and　we　blend　in。　Oh！　I　can　see　a　
tank　truck—it’s　just　like　the　one　we　saw　them　unloading　at　the　hospital；　Jared。　There’s　a　man　looking　
over　the　stacks…　He’s　putting　them　onto　a　hover　cart。　He’s　going　to　load　them…”　I　drove　even　slower；　
trying　to　get　a　good　look。　“Yes；　ontothis　ship。　Right　into　the　open　hatch。　I’ll　circle　back　and　make　my　
move　when　he’s　in　the　ship。”　I　pulled　past；　examining　the　scene　in　my　mirrors。　There　was　a　lit　sign　beside　
the　tube　that　connected　the　head　of　the　ship　to　the　terminal。　I　smiled　as　I　read　the　words　backward。　This　
ship　was　going　to　the　Flowers。　It　was　meant　to　be。

　I　made　a　slow　turn　as　the　man　disappeared　into　the　hull　of　the　ship。

　“Get　ready；”　I　whispered　as　I　pulled　into　the　shadow　made　by　the　cylindrical　wing　of　the　next　enormous　
ship　over。　I　was　only　three　or　four　yards　from　the　tank　truck。　There　were　a　few　technicians　working　near　
the　front　of　the　Flower…bound　vessel　and　others；　farther　away；　out　on　the　old　runway。　I　would　be　just　
another　figure　in　the　night。

　I　cut　the　engine　and　hopped　down　from　the　driver’s　seat；　trying　to　look　casual；　like　I　was　only　doing　my　
job。　I　went　around　to　the　back　of　the　van　and　opened　the　door　a　crack。　The　tank　was　right　at　the　edge；　
the　light　on　top　glowing　dull　red；　signifying　that　it　was　occupied。　I　lifted　it　carefully　and　closed　the　door。

　I　kept　up　an　easy　rolling　pace　as　I　walked　to　the　open　end　of　the　truck。　But　my　breathing　sped　up。　This　
felt　more　dangerous　than　the　hospital；　and　that　worried　me。　Could　I　expect　my　humans　to　risk　their　lives　
this　way？

　I’ll　be　there。　I’ll　do　it　myself；　just　like　you　would。　On　the　off　chance　you　get　your　way；　that　is。

　Thanks；　Mel。

　I　had　to　force　myself　not　to　keep　glancing　over　my　shoulder　at　the　open　hatch　where　the　man　had　
disappeared。　I　placed　the　tank　gently　atop　the　closest　column　in　the　truck。　The　addition；　one　among　
hundreds；　was　not　noticeable。

　“Goodbye；”　I　whispered。　“Better　luck　with　your　next　host。”

　I　walked　back　to　the　van　as　slowly　as　I　could　stand　to。

　It　was　silent　in　the　van　as　I　reversed　out　from　under　the　big　ship。　I　started　back　the　way　we’d　e；　my　
heart　hammering　too　fast。　In　my　mirrors；　the　hatch　remained　empty。　I　didn’t　see　the　man　emerge　before　
the　ship　was　out　of　sight。

　Ian　climbed　into　the　passenger　seat。　“Doesn’t　look　too　hard。”

　“It　was　very　good　luck　with　the　timing。　You　might　have　to　wait　longer　for　an　opportunity　next　time。”

　Ian　reached　over　to　take　my　hand。　“You’re　the　good…luck　charm。”　

　

Generated　by　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　processtext/abclit。html　
。　
“Do　you　feel　better　now　that　she’s　safe？”　
“Yes。”　
I　saw　his　head　turn　sharply　as　he　heard　the　unexpected　sound　of　a　lie　in　my　voice。　I　didn’t　meet　his　gaze。　
“Let’s　go　catch　some　Healers；”　I　muttered。　
Ian　was　silent　and　thoughtful　as　we　drove　the　short　distance　to　the　small　Healing　facility。　
I’d　thought　the　second　task　would　be　the　challenge；　the　danger。　The　plan　was　that　I　would—if　the　


conditions　an