jefflong.yearzero-第67节

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　〃I　cried　out　because　I　am　upon　my　cross；〃　Eesho　replied　mildly；　〃and　I　am　in　my　misery。〃
　Nathan　Lee　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃What　is　it　you　want？〃
　It　was　a　stupid　question；　really。　The　man　was　a　prisoner。　He　would　want　what　any　prisoner　wants。　Freedom。
　Abruptly　Eesho　squeezed　his　eyes　shut。　He　held　out　his　opened　palms　and　began　rocking　forward　in　quick　bounds；　mumbling　prayers。　Nathan　Lee　had　seen　it　before；　elsewhere；　from　the　Wailing　Wall　to　Rongbuk。　It　was　the　kind　of　rapid…fire　chanting　that　ascetics　around　the　world　used　to　erase　demons　from　a　busy　mind。　Nathan　Lee　was；　to　him；　nothing　more　than　background　noise。
　　
　IT　WAS　JUST　AFTER　DAWNwhen　Nathan　Lee　emerged　from　the　basements　of　Alpha　Lab。　He　went　to　the　rooftop；　and　sunlight　was　creasing　the　edges　of　the　mesa。　A　crowd　of　several　thousand　was　gathered　on　the　street。
　They　stood　quietly　on　the　road；　very　civil；　no　jostling。　Here　and　there　people　were　chatting　across　the　yellow　Crime　Scene　tape　with　the　Pro　Force　troops　in　black　uniforms。　A　lady　was　handing　Styrofoam　cups　of　coffee　across　the　tape。　They　were　all　on　the　same　side　out　there。　They　were　neighbors。
　Miranda　came　up　behind　him。　〃It's　posted　all　over　the　Net。　Everyone's　talking。　It's　taking　on　a　life　of　its　own。　How　did　it　go　in　the　dungeons？〃　She　saw　his　face。　〃You　look。。。defeated。〃
　〃Tired；　that's　all。　He　gets　stronger　by　the　word。　More　plicated。〃
　〃You　didn't　put　a　dent　in　him；〃　she　summarized。
　〃He's　a　piece　of　work；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃He　didn't　go　off　message　once。　If　you　buy　the　Book；　you'd　buy　him。〃
　〃Do　you？〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　he　said。　〃This　guy　doesn't　buy　himself。　He　seems　astounded　by　all　our　attention。　I　think　Jesus　Christ　is　a　total　alien　to　him。　The　real　messiah　was　supposed　to　be　a　military　leader　rising　up　from　among　the　people　and　striking　down　their　conquerors；　sort　of　like　Conan　the　Barbarian。　He　acts　amused　that　we're　even　listening　to　this　myth　of　a　wandering　healer　who　got　nailed　to　a　cross。　He's　got　the　whole　routine　down；　mastered　all　the　parts。　But　he's　all　Word；　no　gritty　reality。　His　story's　too　perfect。　Somebody　rehearsed　him。　I'm　convinced　of　it。〃
　〃Convince　them；〃　Miranda　said；　gesturing　at　the　crowd。　〃It's　Wednesday　morning。　They're　supposed　to　be　going　to　work。〃
　〃It's　not　that　simple。〃
　〃We　don't　need　a　white　paper　with　footnotes。　We're　at　risk　from　an　illusion；〃　Miranda　said。　〃Unplug　him。〃
　〃I　doubt　very　many　of　them　believe　a　bit　of　it。〃
　〃My　lab　is　surrounded　by　a　police　line；〃　she　fumed。　The　crowd　offended　her；　Nathan　Lee　saw。　Or　threatened　her。　It　wasn't　their　numbers；　which　were　manageable；　nor　their　fervor；　which　was　meek；　nor　the　hour；　which　was　breakfast。　For　most　of　them；　work　didn't　start　until　eight。　But　they　were　scientists。　They　simply　didn't　belong　out　there。
　〃He's　wearing　a　mask；　Miranda。　I　can't　take　it　off。　He's　going　to　have　to　take　it　off　himself。〃
　〃You're　going　too　easy　on　him。　They've　bee　your　rades。〃
　Nathan　Lee　didn't　know　what　they　were　to　him；　not　patients；　not　subjects。　But　not　rades。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Especially　not　this　one。　Before　this　morning；　I　never　spoke　to　him。〃
　〃You're　too　close　to　see　it；〃　she　said。　〃It's　like　the　Stockholm　syndrome；　only　in　reverse。　Instead　of　the　captive　identifying　with　his　captor；　you've　made　yourself　one　of　them。〃
　〃That　was　the　whole　strategy。　It's　how　Izzy　and　I　got　inside。〃
　〃It's　gone　on　too　long。〃　She　headed　for　the　door。　〃I　want　this　over　with。〃
　〃What　are　you　doing；　Miranda？〃
　〃We're　making　a　mistake；　dealing　with　him　at　his　level；〃　she　said。　〃Let　him　deal　with　us　at　ours。〃
　By　the　time　he　reached　the　elevators；　she　had　already　descended。　He　went　to　the　cells；　but　Miranda　had　taken　Eesho；　with　Izzy；　to　the　cloning　floor。　Nathan　Lee　returned　to　the　elevator　and　punched　the　button。
　They　were　in　the　incubation　chamber　when　he　arrived。　Eesho　was　in　shock。　His　world…the　steel　cell　and　their　yard　of　plain　walls…was　suddenly　stripped　away。　In　the　blue　light　of　this　birth　factory；　he　was　faced　with　a　genesis　beyond　his　imagination。
　Nathan　Lee　hadn't　visited　the　incubation　chamber　in　months。　The　cloning　had　largely　stopped。　Only　one　of　the　chamber　tanks　was　occupied。　The　fetus…a　nearly　plete　man…hung　suspended　in　fluid。
　〃Tell　him；〃　Miranda　was　saying　to　Izzy。　She　had　hold　of　Eesho's　arm；　forcing　him　up　against　the　Plexiglas。　She　was　ferocious。　This　was　personal。　Nathan　Lee　had　never　seen　her　like　this。
　〃Tell　him　what；　Miranda？〃　Nathan　Lee　said　quietly。　〃He's　already　terrified。〃
　Eesho　was　staring　into　the　tank。　Humidity　streaked　his　face。　Upside　down　in　his　fetal　sac；　the　unborn　clone　was　waking　to　them。　The　lids　of　his　eyes　opened。　He　stared　at　Eesho。
　〃God　didn't　make　him；〃　Miranda　said　to　Eesho。　She　stood　a　head　taller　than　the　clone。　〃And　God　didn't　make　you。　I　did。〃
　But　still　Eesho　would　not　renounce　his　words。
　　
　THAT　SAME　AFTERNOON；　Nathan　Lee　got　a　call。　〃Pack　your　mule　bag；〃　the　voice　instructed。
　Time　collapsed。　Years　had　passed；　but　it　could　have　been　yesterday。Pack　your　mule　bag。　The　call　to　arms。
　〃Ochs？〃　Nathan　Lee　ground　the　phone　against　his　ear；　as　if　to　trap　the　words。　Years　of　being　crowded　with　rage。　Nathan　Lee　had　given　up　trying　not　to　be　changed　by　his　hatred；　half　hoping　the　fire　would　burn　itself　cold。　The　plastic　made　a　snapping　noise。　He　loosened　his　grip　on　the　phone。　〃Where　are　you？〃
　〃Nowhere　you　can　reach　me；〃　Ochs　said。
　〃South　Sector；〃　Nathan　Lee　told　him。
　〃Do　you　know　how　unpleasant　it　is　to　have　you　lurking　out　there？〃　Ochs　asked。
　Nathan　Lee　backed　off。　He　took　a　breath。　〃We　need　to　talk；　David。〃
　Ochs　wasn't　fooled。　〃You　need　to　listen。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃　Nathan　Lee　snarled。
　〃All　things　in　their　season。〃
　What　season？　〃The　plague　is　everywhere；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　taking　over；〃　Ochs　told　him。
　〃Taking　over　what？〃
　〃Your　inquisition。　Your　enquiry；　whatever　it　is　you're　doing　to　the　prisoner。　You're　leaving；　and　I'm　ing　out　of　the　bushes。　I'm　taking　over　your　job。　You're　not　qualified。〃
　Nathan　Lee　was　taken　off　guard。　All　these　months　he'd　been　waiting　to　find　the　man；　and　now　the　man　had　found　him。　The　muddy　waters　began　to　clear。　The　professor　of　Biblical　antiquities　wanted　the　clone；　of　course。　Ochs　must　have　been　chewing　his　liver　all　these　months；　watching　while　Nathan　Lee　brought　the　Year　Zero　tribe　to　life。　The　Jesus　controversy　would　be　irresistible　to　him。　Then　another　thought　occurred　to　Nathan　Lee。　〃You're　the　one；〃　he　said。
　Ochs　faltered。　〃The　one？〃
　〃You　stuffed　his　head　with　this　craziness。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃It　was　your　voice　pouring　scripture　into　his　ear。〃
　〃Why　would　I　do　that？〃　For　a　moment；　Ochs　sounded。。。humble。
　Nathan　Lee　didn't　put　another　thought　into　it。　He　didn't　care。　They　were　trading　places；　the　inside　for　the　outside。　Ochs　could　have　the　clone。　〃Where　is　she？〃　Nathan　Lee　said。
　〃Everything's　arranged；〃　said　Ochs。　〃You　only　need　to　go。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃She　never　really　knew　you　existed；　you　know。　She　was　only　four　when　you　disappeared。　Lydia　got　rid　of　any　pictures　of　you。〃
　〃Have　you　spoken　with　her？〃
　〃Trust　me。〃　And　because　he　knew　that　was　ludicrous；　Ochs　added；　〃You'll　be　bringing　Lydia　in　with　you。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　sooner？〃
　〃It　was　too　soon。　Conditions　weren't　right。　I　had　to　hold　you　in　reserve。〃　Ochs　made　no　sense。
　〃So　Grace　is　alive；〃　Nathan　Lee's　voice　flattened。　It　was　like　sediment　ing　to　rest。
　Ochs　heard　his　dead　calm。　〃Good；〃　he　approved。　〃I　think　it's　finally　time　for　your　journey；　Nathan　Lee。　It's　time　to　bring　them　in　from　the　storm。〃
　
　
　29
　Grace
　
　OCTOBER　10
　Nathan　Lee　had　heard　of　deck　sweeps。　They　were　legend；　and　the　raiders　who　descended　to　the　ground　level…or　deck…lived　in　their　own　camp　on　the　furthest　edge　of　South　Sector。　You　never　saw　them　in　Los　Alamos。　It　was　said　they　were　too　brutal　to　mingle　with　ordinary　people。
　Floodlights　lit　the　airfield。　By　the　time　Nathan　Lee　joined　them；　most　of　the　three　platoons　were　in　their　moon　suits　and　variously　armed。　Some　carried　rifles　or　shotguns。　Others　had　nets；　chains；　aluminum　baseball　bats；　and　collapsible　poles。　They　eyed　him　coldly。　Their　hair　was　white　from　the　decon　chemicals。
　Nathan　Lee　understood　their　hostility。　He　didn't　belong。　They　had　their　own　code。　He　was　nothing　to　them。　He　didn't　mind。　He　was　going　to　bring　his　daughter　home。
　Suiting　up　was　plicated。　Riggers　helped　with　the　equipment。　A　wiry　man　with　quick　fingers　worked　on　Nathan　Lee。　He　rattled　off　the　factoids。　〃This　is　your　second　skin　for　today；　a　Tevlek　biohazard　rig；　fourth　generation；　brand　new。　Use　once；　throw　away。　We　don't　recycle　around　here。〃
　Nathan　Lee　pulled　a　pair　of　steel…toed　fireman　boots　over　the　outside　of　his　plastic…wrapped　feet。　They　came　up　to　his　knees。　〃It's　mean　down　there；〃　the　rigger　said。　〃Avoid　the　sharps。　Broken　glass。　Pieces　of　metal。　Bone　tips；　they're　the　worst；　auto…contagious；　right？　Think　fast。　Move　slow。　Place　your　feet。　Anything　that　can　put　a　hole　in　your　rig；　keep　away　from　it。〃
　〃How　many　times　have　you　gone　down？〃　asked　Nathan　Lee。
　〃Me？　Are　you　kidding？〃
　Nathan　Lee　triple…gloved：　latex　under　latex；　under　ribbed　Kevlar。　The　rigger　fitted　him　with　a　headset　to　wear　inside　his　hood。　The　band　w