[科幻]宿主-第69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！


cavern；　the　light　frightened　me。

　“Here　we　are；”　Jeb　said　enthusiastically；　pulling　me　through　the　archway。　“What　do　you　think？”

　CHAPTER　17

　Visited

　The　heat　hit　me　first—like　a　wall　of　steam；　the　moist；　thick　air　rolled　over　me　and　dewed　on　my　skin。　My　
mouth　opened　automatically　as　I　tried　to　pull　a　breath　from　the　abruptly　denser　air。　The　smell　was　
stronger　than　before—that　same　metallic　tang　that　clung　in　my　throat　and　flavored　the　water　here。

　The　murmuring　babble　of　bass　and　soprano　voices　seemed　to　issue　from　every　side；　echoing　off　the　
walls。　I　squinted　anxiously　through　the　swirling　cloud　of　moisture；　trying　to　make　out　where　the　voices　
came　from。　It　was　bright　here—the　ceiling　was　dazzling；　like　in　the　big　room　but　much　closer。　The　light　
danced　off　the　vapor；　creating　a　shimmering　curtain　that　almost　blinded　me。　My　eyes　struggled　to　adjust；　
and　I　clutched　at　Jeb’s　hand　in　panic。

　I　was　surprised　that　the　strangely　fluid　babble　did　not　respond　in　any　way　to　our　entrance。　Perhaps　they　
couldn’t　see　us　yet；　either。

　“It’s　a　bit　close　in　here；”　Jeb　said　apologetically；　fanning　at　the　steam　in　front　of　his　face。　His　voice　was　
relaxed；　conversational　in　tone；　and　loud　enough　to　make　me　jump。　He　spoke　as　if　we　were　not　
surrounded。　And　the　babble　continued；　oblivious　to　his　voice。

　“Not　that　I’m　plaining；”　he　continued。　“I’d　be　dead　several　times　over　if　this　place　didn’t　exist。　The　
very　first　time　I　got　stuck　in　the　caves；　of　course。　And　now；　we’d　never　be　able　to　hide　out　here　without　
it。　With　no　hiding　place；　we’re　all　dead；　right？”

　He　nudged　me　with　his　elbow；　a　conspiratorial　gesture。　

　

　His　laugh　cleared　a　section　of　mist；　and　I　saw　the　room　for　the　first　time。

　Two　rivers　flowed　through　the　dank；　high…domed　space。　This　was　the　chatter　that　filled　my　ears—the　
water　gushing　over　and　under　the　purple　volcanic　rock。　Jeb　spoke　as　if　we　were　alone　because　we　were。

　It　was　really　only　one　river　and　one　small　stream。　The　stream　was　closest；　a　shallow　braided　ribbon　of　
silver　in　the　light　from　above；　coursing　between　low　stone　banks　that　it　seemed　constantly　in　danger　of　
overrunning。　A　feminine；　high…pitched　murmur　purred　from　its　gentle　ripples。

　The　male；　bass　gurgle　came　from　the　river；　as　did　the　thick　clouds　of　vapor　that　rose　from　the　gaping　
holes　in　the　ground　by　the　far　wall。　The　river　was　black；　submerged　under　the　floor　of　the　cavern；　
exposed　by　wide；　round　erosions　along　the　length　of　the　room。　The　holes　looked　dark　and　dangerous；　
the　river　barely　visible　as　it　rushed　powerfully　toward　an　invisible　and　unfathomable　destination。　The　
water　seemed　to　simmer；　such　was　the　heat　and　steam　it　produced。　The　sound　of　it；　too；　was　like　that　of　
boiling　water。

　From　the　ceiling　hung　a　few　long；　narrow　stalactites；　dripping　toward　the　stalagmites　beneath　each　one。　
Three　of　them　had　met；　forming　thin　black　pillars　between　the　two　bodies　of　flowing　water。

　“Got　to　be　careful　in　here；”　Jeb　said。　“Quite　a　current　in　the　hot　spring。　If　you　fall　in；　you’re　gone。　
Happened　once　before。”　He　bowed　his　head　at　the　memory；　his　face　sober。

　The　swift　black　eddies　of　the　subterranean　river　were　suddenly　horrible　to　me。　I　imagined　being　caught　in　
their　scalding　current　and　shuddered。

　Jeb　put　his　hand　lightly　on　my　shoulder。　“Don’t　worry。　Just　watch　your　step　and　you’ll　be　fine。　Now；”　he　
said；　pointing　to　the　far　end　of　the　cavern；　where　the　shallow　stream　ran　into　a　dark　cave；　“the　first　cave　
back　there　is　the　bathing　room。　We’ve　dug　the　floor　out　to　make　a　nice；　deep　tub。　There’s　a　schedule　for　
taking　baths；　but　privacy’s　not　usually　an　issue—it’s　black　as　pitch。　The　room’s　nice　and　warm　so　close　
to　the　steam；　but　the　water　won’t　burn　you　like　the　hot　spring　here。　There’s　another　cave　just　past　that　
one；　through　a　crevice。　We’ve　widened　the　entrance　up　to　a　fortable　size。　That　room　is　the　farthest　
we　can　follow　the　stream—it　drops　underground　there。　So　we’ve　got　that　room　fixed　up　as　the　latrine。　
Convenient　and　sanitary。”　His　voice　had　assumed　a　placent　tone；　as　if　he　felt　credit　was　due　to　him　
for　nature’s　creations。　Well；　he　had　discovered　and　improved　the　place—I　supposed　some　pride　was　
justified。

　“We　don’t　like　to　waste　batteries；　and　most　of　us　know　the　floor　here　by　heart；　but　since　it’s　your　first　
time；　you　can　find　your　way　with　this。”

　Jeb　pulled　a　flashlight　from　his　pocket　and　held　it　out。　The　sight　of　it　reminded　me　of　the　moment　he’d　
found　me　dying　in　the　desert；　when　he’d　checked　my　eyes　and　known　what　I　was。　I　didn’t　know　why　the　
memory　made　me　sad。

　“Don’t　get　any　crazy　ideas　about　maybe　the　river　taking　you　out　of　here　or　something。　Once　that　water　
goes　underground；　it　doesn’t　e　back　up；”　he　cautioned　me。

　Since　he　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　some　acknowledgment　of　his　warning；　I　nodded　once。　I　took　the　
flashlight　from　his　hand　slowly；　being　careful　not　to　make　any　quick　movements　that　might　startle　him。　

　

　I　followed　his　directions　quickly—the　sound　of　the　rushing　water　was　not　making　my　disfort　any　
easier　to　bear。　It　felt　very　strange　to　be　out　of　his　sight。　What　if　someone　had　hidden　in　these　caves；　
guessing　I　would　have　to　e　here　eventually？　Would　Jeb　hear　the　struggle　over　the　cacophony　of　the　
rivers？

　I　shone　the　flashlight　all　around　the　bathing　room；　looking　for　any　sign　of　an　ambush。　The　odd　flickering　
shadows　it　made　were　not　forting；　but　I　found　no　substance　to　my　fears。　Jeb’s　tub　was　more　the　size　
of　a　small　swimming　pool　and　black　as　ink。　Under　the　surface；　a　person　would　be　invisible　as　long　as　they　
could　hold　their　breath。…　I　hurried　through　the　slender　crack　at　the　back　of　the　room　to　escape　my　
imaginings。　Away　from　Jeb；　I　was　nearly　overwhelmed　with　panic—I　couldn’t　breathe　normally；　I　could　
barely　hear　over　the　sound　of　my　pulse　racing　behind　my　ears。　I　was　more　running　than　walking　when　I　
made　my　way　back　to　the　room　with　the　rivers。

　To　find　Jeb　standing　there；　still　in　the　same　pose；　still　alone；　was　like　a　balm　to　my　splintered　nerves。　My　
breathing　and　my　heartbeat　slowed。　Why　this　crazy　human　should　be　such　a　fort　to　me；　I　couldn’t　
understand。　I　supposed　it　was　like　Melanie　had　said；desperate　times。

　“Not　too　shabby；　eh？”　he　asked；　a　grin　of　pride　on　his　face。

　I　nodded　once　again　and　returned　the　flashlight。

　“These　caves　are　a　great　gift；”　he　said　as　we　started　back　toward　the　dark　passageway。　“We　wouldn’t　
be　able　to　survive　in　a　group　like　this　without　them。　Magnolia　and　Sharon　were　getting　along　real　
well—shockingly　well—up　there　in　Chicago；　but　they　were　pushing　their　luck　hiding　two。　It’s　mighty　nice　
to　have　a　munity　again。　Makes　me　feel　downright　human。”

　He　took　my　elbow　once　more　as　we　climbed　the　rough　stair…case　out。

　“I’m　sorry　about　the；　um；　acmodations　we’ve　got　you　in。　It　was　the　safest　place　I　could　think　of。　I’m　
surprised　those　boys　found　you　as　quick　as　they　did。”　Jeb　sighed。　“Well；　Kyle　gets　real…　motivated。　But　
I　suppose　it’s　all　for　the　best。　Might　as　well　get　used　to　how　things　are　going　to　be。　Maybe　we　can　find　
something　more　hospitable　for　you。　I’ll　think　on　it。…　While　I’m　with　you；　at　least；　you　don’t　really　have　
to　cram　yourself　into　that　little　hole。　You　can　sit　in　the　hall　with　me　if　you　prefer。　Though　with　Jared…”　
He　trailed　off。

　I　listened　to　his　apologetic　words　in　wonder；　this　was　so　much　more　kindness　than　I’d　hoped　for；　more　
passion　than　I’d　thought　this　species　was　capable　of　giving　their　enemies。　I　patted　the　hand　on　my　
elbow　lightly；　hesitantly；　trying　to　convey　that　I　understood　and　wouldn’t　cause　a　problem。　I　was　sure　
Jared　much　preferred　to　have　me　out　of　sight。

　Jeb　had　no　trouble　translating　my　wordless　munication。　“That’s　a　good　girl；”　he　said。　“We’ll　figure　
this　all　out　somehow。　Doc　can　just　concentrate　on　healin’　human　folks。　You’re　much　more　interesting　
alive；I　think。”

　Our　bodies　were　close　enough　that　he　was　able　to　feel　me　tremble。

　“Don’t　worry。　Doc’s　not　going　to　bother　you　now。”　

　

　You　never　know　how　much　time　you’ll　have；Melani