jefflong.yearzero-第85节
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The rooftop was bright with floodlights。 The snow sparkled like jewels。 It was piled to her knees； deeper than she'd thought。 The air swirled with heavy white flakes。 On the edge of the dark forest； tall phantom pines came and went in the gusts。
Miranda went to the edge of the building and looked across at the glittering city。 It was beautiful； all decorated with holiday lights。 Big snow plows with flashing blue lights were blading clean the roads。 Columns of soldiers were filing through the streets。 The air raid sirens went on howling at them； waking the city； waking the dead。
The generals； she thought。 They weren't finished yet。
NATHANLEElifted his head。 He heard the song。 He opened his eyes。
The world was pitch black。 He had been nearing the bottom。 Hypothermia was its own realm。 Now he floated back to consciousness。
Who could be singing？ It was so beautiful。
He took a long minute to remember where he was。 He didn't see the snow。 He didn't feel the weight across his legs。 His arms were stone。 He felt rooted to the earth。 Ancient as a relic。
He thought；I'm blind。 Then he lifted his head a little more； and there was the faintest glow on the far horizon。Dawn； he smiled。 Night was passing。
The singing had no words。 He listened more intently。 It came to him。The throats of angels。
Then there was light。
36
Exodus
The valley lit white。
Miranda stepped back from the flash。
The far mountains went dark。 Abruptly they surged to orange and red in the gathering fireball。 That suddenly the air raid sirens fell silent。
The only thing she knew about such things came from movies。 Next would e a tidal wave of wind and fire。 Buildings would ignite； glass fly； forests bend。 Their flesh would melt。
The Captain thought so； too。 〃Get down！〃 he yelled。 They fell into the snow on top of the roof。
But the aftershock never reached them。 Not a breeze。
The weaponeers must have been planning it for days。 The bomb was perfectly planted； sized just right。 She could picture it from above。 With the base of the mesa for its anchor wall； the nuclear wind had cast out across the valley； east and south and north。。。away from the city。
At last the sound of a thunderclap cracked above the city。 It passed over them to the west； into the night。
On her elbows； Miranda crawled through the snow to the edge of the roof。 The mushroom cloud was flowering to the south and east； midway to Santa Fe。 It was pink。 The head reached their height； then went on growing； a long； skinny stalk poking at the stars。 The stars showed。 The blast had melted a hole in the very sky。
The Captain joined her。 Side by side； they peered off toward the valley。
〃What have you done？〃 murmured Miranda。
〃I had no idea；〃 said the Captain。 His voice was full of shock。
She closed her eyes。 〃Not you；〃 she said。 〃God damn my father。〃
Everything stood revealed。 Ochs had been released to preach。 He had unwittingly brought the hordes of faithful into one place。 Her father had wielded the people's faith against them。 He had dangled the city as bait； then struck with one swift blow。 Their enemy was abolished。
〃Don't；〃 the Captain stopped her quietly。 〃He's your father。〃
She vomited。 Onto her arms； into the snow； over the edge。
〃It was self…defense；〃 said the Captain。 But his voice was hollow。
〃They were leaving。〃
〃I know；〃 he whispered。
〃A nuclear bomb。 Against children？〃
The Captain searched for justification。 〃What did they expect？ This is Los Alamos。〃
〃They had no warning。〃
〃It wouldn't have mattered。〃
〃For some it might have。〃
〃They were already dead；〃 he said。 〃All of them。〃
〃That's monstrous。〃
〃They were done with the world。 They'd said their prayers。 For them the siege was just another way to die。 A quicker way。〃
〃The bomb was a mercy？〃
〃We're spared；〃 said the Captain。 〃It's not pleasant how we're spared。 But now they won't e。〃
〃A million people。〃
〃Now we have a future；〃 he reminded her。 〃The future you wanted。〃
〃Not like this。〃
She looked at the Captain and his horror was explicit。 He looked old。 He didn't believe his own words。 She got to her knees。 〃e inside。〃
〃Yes。〃 But he seemed so fragile。 He was shivering。 She had to help him to his feet。
They descended the stairs。
Up and down the hallways； every phone was ringing。 It was the signal。 The authorities were reversing the 911 emergency call system。 Every phone in every office and home in Los Alamos was getting the same recorded message。
The exodus was beginning。
She went into an office and picked up one of the phones。 A pleasant voice was saying； 〃。。。to your designated evacuation depot。 This is not a test。 Please go。。。。〃
〃This can't be real；〃 said Miranda。 〃They've just incinerated every last person in the valley。〃
Then suddenly shedid understand。 The generals' words came back to her。When the time es； we will part the waters。 While they still had the enemy in their sights； they had taken their shot。 Now her father was ready for them。
〃I have to go；〃 said the Captain。 〃My wife。。。。〃
〃Of course；〃 she said。
Miranda advanced down the hallway in a daze。 There was no panic。 Doors stood open。 Scientists were quietly shaking hands and taking last…minute group snapshots by their bench labs and cubicles。 They calmly hung up their lab jackets and safety goggles； and walked away。 She could read their thinking。 They had resisted this moment for years； but now that it was here； they were relieved。 The virus hunt would continue； but more reasonably； in safety； with time on their side for a change。
A man patted her arm。 〃It was a good fight；〃 he said。
〃It's not over；〃 she said。 〃Nothing's changed。〃
He gave her a funny look； and hurried off。
She went outside and crossed the bridge to the city。 It was one in the morning。 The streets were filling with people bustling home to their families。 There were small details to attend； she knew。 Some had decided to poison their pets； others to free them。 Through windows with opened curtains； she saw people making their beds； straightening pictures on the wall； looking around to make sure all was neat。 They left their Christmas trees and electric Hanukkah candles on。 They'd packed their bags long ago。 There was no need to say goodbye to anyone。 They would all be seeing each other down below。 That was the plan。 She saw people locking their doors for the last time； and then； unlocking them。。。letting go。
The snow had stopped。 The sky had cleared。 It was chilly。 Pulled from sleep； children were crying。 Block by block； the exodus took shape。 They had practiced for this event once every month for the past two years。 The shock of the bomb seemed offset by the shock of evacuation。 Their faces were laced with fear and wonder。
Miranda felt like a ghost as she passed through their lines。 Citizens were orderly； if excited。 The air was freezing。 Under their parkas and fleece jackets； many wore vacation clothes： Hawaiian print shirts； sun…dresses； tank tops； blue jeans。 The carved…out salt chamber beckoned to them like a tropical paradise。
Each had their 〃tenner〃 in hand or strapped to little airline carts； or in backpacks； the ten kilos of personal possessions which every man； woman； and child was allowed to bring。 You could take anything at all： books； software； teddy bears； clean socks。 Whiskey； or psychedelics。 Whatever might get you through the next ten or twenty or forty years sealed twenty…one hundred feet inside the earth。 For as long as Miranda had been here； the contents of one's tenner were a subject of conversation； gossip； even jokes。 Your choices weren't simply a matter of taste。 They reflected what kind of human being you were。 Grave goods； Nathan Lee had called them。 Relics that people took into the next world。
Each neighborhood and mesa finger had its own boarding sites。 The passengers waited politely for their transportation； stamping in the cold。 The clear mountain air was fouled by diesel fumes as sixteen…and eighteen…wheelers backed up to the docks。 The trailers were sheathed in triple…layers of black quarter…inch rubber membrane normally used for roofing。 Every rivet was epoxy sealed。 The cabs were armored against guerrilla attacks； the windshields bullet…proofed。 The drivers wore moon suits。 The vehicles looked more like submarines than Peterbilts。
Straps hung from the ceiling like meat hooks。 There were no windows； no seats； no snack bars。 It was going to be standing room only for the next twelve or twenty or thirty hours。 Soldiers piled their tenners in growing mountains to one side。
At one depot after another； people called out to Miranda。 〃You can e in our truck；〃 they offered。 Everyone wanted her with them。
〃I'm staying；〃 she said。
They were appalled。 〃But you can't。 It's too late for that。〃
〃It's just beginning；〃 she assured them。 She didn't ask anyone to stay。 They were afraid。 The bomb had spoken to their mortality。 So far Miranda had heard no one speak about it out loud； the holocaust her father had unleashed。 You could see it in their eyes； though。 This was final。 No atheists in the foxholes； she thought。 All the brave talk of drawing a line in the sand； holding the fort； making a stand。。。gone。 She didn't blame
