jefflong.yearzero-第69节

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　Together　they　reached　a　cozy　neighborhood　landscaped　with　poplars　and　Japanese　blood　grasses。　pared　to　the　tangle　of　highway　metal　and　burned　malls；　this　was　a　quiet　haven。　A　car　lay　overturned　on　one　lawn。　Another　stuck　partway　out　of　a　closed　garage　door。　To　the　very　end；　men　had　needed　the　feel　of　a　steering　wheel　in　their　hands。　If　they　couldn't　drive　fate；　at　least　they　could　drive　a　Ford。
　〃1020　Lakeridge　Road；〃　Ochs　spoke　in　his　ear。　〃Used　brick；　split　level。　A　weathervane　with　a　rooster。〃
　〃There　it　is。〃
　〃Tell　me　what　you're　seeing；〃　said　Ochs。　〃You're　my　eyes。〃
　Nathan　Lee　was　grim。　〃What　am　I　doing　here？〃　In　two　hours　of　tortuous　driving；　there　had　not　been　one　sign　of　healthy　survivors。　Carcasses　and　wandering　angels；　yes。　Otherwise；　it　was　a　wild　goose　chase。　Or　a　trap。
　〃Go　inside；〃　Ochs　said。　〃Talk　to　me。　I　want　to　know　everything。〃
　Nathan　Lee　turned　the　voice　off。　He　went　to　the　front　door　between　waist…high　Kentucky　bluegrass。　A　nylon　flag　with　a　butterfly　jutted　from　a　porch　mount。　A　terracotta　sun　hung　by　the　door。　Wind　chimes　rustled。Home　Sweet　Home；　said　the　mat。
　He　knocked　on　the　door。　His　gloved　fist　didn't　make　a　sound。　His　motions　were　dense　and　slow。　He　heard　himself　breathing。
　The　door　was　unlocked。　Inside；　the　house　looked　ready　forBetter　Homes　and　Gardens。　Lydia's　touch。　Flower　petals　had　fallen　to　colorful　powder　on　the　white　doily　under　a　vase。　The　house　looked　lived　in；　but　not　lived　in　enough。　It　was　too　tidy。　There　were　no　daily　messes。　No　temporary　piles。　No　pairs　of　little　sneakers　shucked　by　the　door。　Everything　was　arranged。　Like　a　shrine。
　The　Suzuki　book　on　the　piano　had　Grace's　name　printed　on　the　cover。　Her　fingers　had　touched　the　keys。　Nathan　Lee　could　barely　hear　the　notes　under　his　gloved　fingers。
　The　evidence　mounted。　Artwork　from　Alameda　Elementary　was　taped　to　the　refrigerator：　a　bird；　a　tree；　a　house　with　little　girls　watering　flowers。　Her　signature　in　capital　letters。　The　freezer　held　melted　popsicles。
　Nathan　Lee's　breathing　grew　louder。　He　tried　not　to　think。　She　had　been　here。
　A　bulletin　board　on　the　wall：　family　snapshots。　There　was　Lydia　beaming　her　100…watt　smile　beside　a　sturdy　burgher　of　a　man　with　a　prosperous　belly。　Lydia　had　landed　herself　a　provider；　no　more　globe　hoppers。　No　more　losers。　The　husband　even　resembled　her　brother。　They　looked　self…content。　Nathan　Lee　scanned　lower。
　Grace　was　missing　two　lower　teeth。　A　straw　hat　shadowed　her　eyes。　Nathan　Lee's　hand　moved　over　the　snapshots；　finding　all　the　Graces；　speaking　her　name　each　time　inside　his　helmet。　By　a　waterfall；　at　the　swimming　pool；　on　a　mountain　trail　with　a　basket　of　tiny　strawberries。　She　had　her　mother's　smile　and　Nathan　Lee's　narrow　face。　For　the　most　part；　she　was　her　own　woman。
　He　stood　by　the　bulletin　board。　His　heart　felt　caved　in。　It　should　have　been　him　in　those　photos。　Those　should　have　been　his　shoulders　she　was　sitting　on；　his　hand　receiving　the　bouquet　of　dandelions。　That　should　have　been　his　head　bearing　the　silly　pointed　birthday　cap。　It　was　the　one　reality　he'd　really　ever　wanted；　and　here　he　was　viewing　another　man　who　had　lived　his　life。
　Nathan　Lee　went　into　the　basement。　That　would　be　the　most　logical　hideout。　He　would　have　taken　her　into　the　mountains　or　desert。　But　if　you　were　going　to　stay；　you　would　probably　burrow　deep。　Absurdly；　he　imagined　a　whole　warren　of　tunnels　connecting　the　suburbs；　and　families　of　survivors　faring　happily　beneath　his　feet。
　The　basement　was　finished　with　flowered　wallpaper　and　a　tiled　floor。　There　were　no　trap　doors；　no　mounds　of　dug　dirt。　He　climbed　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor　and　found　Lydia's　husband　in　the　master　bedroom。
　The　suicide　was　nothing　ugly。　The　man　had　overdosed　himself；　laid　down　on　the　coral　and　beige　down　forter；　and　gone　to　sleep。　Lydia　was　not　with　him。　She　was　a　mother。　She　would　be　with　her　child。
　Nathan　Lee　went　down　the　hallway　and　came　to　the　last　door。　It　was　going　to　be　her　bedroom。　Full　of　dread；　he　saw　his　hand　reach　for　the　knob。　The　door　opened。
　The　bed　was　empty。　It　was　her　room；　but　Grace　was　not　here。　His　hopes　zigzagged。　She'd　done　it　again！　he　thought。　Lydia　had　cheated　her　man。　He　could　see　her　fleeing　with　Grace；　leaving　the　dumb　husband　to　put　himself　down。　For　the　first　time；　he　was　grateful　for　Lydia's　treacherous　ways。　She　just　may　have　saved　Grace。　His　quest　was　not　over。
　He　sat　on　the　bed。　Her　walls　were　pink。　There　were　dozens　of　dolls　neatly　ranked　on　shelves；　mostly　blond。　He　reached　for　a　hairbrush　on　a　small　vanity　and　unwound　a　long　golden　strand　from　the　bristles。　Slowly　his　eyes　strayed　back　to　the　dolls；　and　their　unnatural　tidiness。　Not　one　thing　was　out　of　place。　Not　one　doll　was　missing。　He　went　to　the　window　and　looked　into　the　backyard。
　It　was　like　dying。
　From　the　kitchen　window；　he　had　been　unable　to　see　them；　hidden　by　the　high　grass。　But　from　here；　the　two　white　crosses　were　prominent。　Lydia's　husband　had　buried　them　before　taking　his　own　life。
　Nathan　Lee　found　himself　among　the　grasses　with　no　recall　of　descending　the　stairs　nor　leaving　the　house。　He　knelt　by　the　cross　that　said；　〃Grace。〃　He　turned　on　his　radio。
　Ochs　was　livid。　〃Where　have　you　been？〃
　〃I　found　them；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃I　found　their　graves。〃
　〃Graves？　Thank　God。〃
　〃They're　dead；　Ochs。〃
　〃Of　course　they're　dead；〃　Ochs　said。　〃It's　Denver。　But　they　were　buried。　That's　the　important　thing。〃　He　sounded　overjoyed。
　〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃　Nathan　Lee　shouted。　His　rage　welled　up。　Ochs　was　the　least　of　it。God。　The　cold　lizard。　This　abyss。
　〃How　do　you　know　it's　them？〃　Ochs　calmly　asked。
　〃The　markers。　He　woodburned　their　names。〃　Nathan　Lee　could　scarcely　hear　his　own　words。
　〃You've　done　it！〃　Ochs　said。　〃Easy；　now。　We're　almost　home。〃
　Lydia's　husband　had　placed　the　graves　on　a　slight　rise　in　the　backyard。　It　had　a　view　of　the　Rockies。　He　had　mounded　the　graves　and　seeded　them　with　flowers。　Nathan　Lee's　jealousy　dwindled。　The　man　had　been　a　good　father　to　his　daughter。　He　had　done　a　credible　job　here。
　〃Are　you　still　there？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Listen　to　me；　Nathan　Lee。　Are　you　listening？〃
　〃I'm　here。〃
　〃Do　you　love　Grace　more　than　anything　in　the　world？〃
　How　long　ago　had　they　died？　Nathan　Lee　wondered。　The　paint　on　the　crosses　was　blistered　from　the　elements。　But　the　sunflowers　and　daisies　were　immature。　They　had　not　gotten　a　full　season　to　grow。　The　seeds　must　have　been　planted　midsummer　or　later。　August；　he　guessed。　There　would　have　been　time　for　him　to　reach　her；　if　only　he　had　known。
　〃You　need　to　love　her　with　all　your　heart；〃　Ochs　was　saying。
　〃You　could　have　just　told　me；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。　〃I　wasn't　after　you。〃　Now　he　saw　it。　Ochs　had　baited　him　to　his　death。　The　soldiers　would　leave　without　him。　Ochs　was　free。
　〃I　told　you；　it　was　too　soon；〃　Ochs　said。　〃I　didn't　want　to　waste　you。〃
　〃Waste　me？〃
　〃I　tried　to　bring　them　in。　Six　months　ago。　I　did　everything　possible。　I　bribed。　I　threatened。　I　begged；〃　said　Ochs。　〃My　own　sister。　And　niece。　But　the　council　said　no。　Miranda；　I'm　sure　of　it。　Revenge。　And　then　you　showed　up。〃
　August；thought　Nathan　Lee。　He　could　have　held　her　one　last　time。　He　had　no　strength　to　be　angry；　though。
　〃Don't　fade　on　me；　Nathan　Lee。　We're　almost　home。〃
　Nathan　Lee　felt　like　a　leaf　ready　to　fall。
　Ochs's　voice　was　stern。　〃Go　find　a　shovel；　Nathan　Lee。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃We're　going　to　bring　them　inside。　It's　safe　inside　the　fence。　But　you　need　to　work　fast；〃　Ochs　said。　〃The　helicopters　leave　in　three　hours。〃
　What　was　he　talking　about？
　〃Nathan　Lee？〃
　〃Dig　her　up？
　〃I　know；〃　said　Ochs。　〃But　you　have　to　be　strong。　We're　going　to　bring　them　back。　You've　seen　the　technology。〃
　That's　what　this　was　all　about？　〃You　mean　clone　them？〃
　〃It's　the　only　way。〃
　〃Grace？〃
　〃You　know　what　we'll　need。　It　won't　be　pleasant；　but　it's　nothing　you　haven't　done　before。　A　finger　from　each　of　them。　Or　teeth。　Look　for　some　garden　shears。〃
　Nathan　Lee　tried　to　recoil；　but　the　voice　was　inside　his　head。
　〃There　was　no　other　way　to　get　them　inside；〃　Ochs　said。　〃They　had　to　die　in　order　to　live。　Now　we　can　offer　them　a　place　in　the　sanctuary。　My　sister。　Your　daughter。　Out　from　the　storm。　Talk　to　me；　man。〃
　Nathan　Lee　was　numb。　Ochs　had　sent　him　to　root　up　his　own　child？
　〃You're　the　only　one　who　can　save　her；〃　coaxed　the　voice。　〃She　needs　you。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Nathan　Lee。
　〃Yes；〃　argued　Ochs。　〃Or　else　you　kill　her。〃
　〃She's　already　dead。〃
　〃Dig　down；　Nathan　Lee。　Dig　into　your　heart。　Find　the　strength。　Bring　me　what　I　say。　Miranda　will　raise　them　up。〃
　〃She　won't　do　that。〃
　〃For　you；　Miranda　will　do　anything。〃
　For　a　moment；　Nathan　Lee　saw　the　grave　open　and　her　little　body　lift　from　the　dirt。　He　saw　her　straw　hat。　The　outstretched　bouquet。　He　groaned。
　〃It's　late；〃　snapped　Ochs。　〃The　helicopters　will　go　without　you。　After　that；　you're　dog　food。〃　He　went　back　and　forth；　from　threats　to　temptation。　〃You　have　the　power　of　life　over　death。　There's　no　reason　Grace　has　to　end　like　this。　She　was　the　sweetest　girl。　A　second　chance。　You　have　the　power。〃
　Nathan　Lee's　horror　mounted。　How　could　he　open　her　grave？　How　could　he　not？
　〃Do　it；〃　snarled　Ochs。
　Nathan　Lee　searched　through　the　wreck　of　his　memory。　He　r