cp.reddice-第19节

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a　society　where　everyone　has　our　vampire　strength　and　appetites。〃
　　The　visions　I　conjure　make　him　sick。　〃You　really　drink　human　blood？〃
　　〃Yes。　I　need　it　to　live。　But　I　do　not　need　to　kill　or　even　harm　the　person　I　drink　from。　Usually；　they　don't　even　know　what　has　happened。　They　just　wake　up　the　next　day　with　a　headache。〃
　　My　remark　causes　him　to　smile　unexpectedly。　〃I　woke　up　with　a　headache　this　evening。　Did　you　drink　some　of　my　blood　without　my　knowing？〃
　　I　chuckle　softly。　〃No。　Your　headaches　are　your　problem。　Unless　you　cut　down　on　the　booze；　your　liver　is　going　to　give　out。　Listen　to　the　advice　of　a　five…thousand…year…old　doctor。〃
　　He　finally　looks　at　me；　〃You're　not　really　that　old；　are　you？〃
　　〃I　was　alive　when　Krishna　walked　the　earth。　I　met　him　in　fact。〃
　　〃What　was　he　like？〃
　　〃Cool。〃
　　〃Krishna　was　cool？〃
　　〃Yes。　He　didn't　kill　me。　He　mustn't　have　thought　I　was　a　monster。〃
　　Andy　is　calming　down。　〃I'm　sorry　I　called　you　that。　It's　just…well；　I've　never　met　a　vampire　before；　I　mean；　I　was　never　in　a　hotel　room　with　one。〃
　　〃Aren't　you　glad　you　didn't　sleep　with　me　last　night？〃
　　He　obviously　forgot　that　small　point　〃Would　I　have　been　changed　into　a　vampire？〃
　　〃It　takes　more　than　sex　with　an　immortal　to　make　you　immortal。〃　I　speak　delicately。　〃But　you　may　know　that。〃
　　He　is　grim。　〃There　has　to　be　a　blood　transfer　to　bring　about　the　change。　I　imagine　a　lot　of　blood　is　involved。〃
　　〃Yes；　that　is　correct。　Have　your　experiments　established　that？〃
　　〃We　have　established　a　few　things。　But　the　human　immune　system　reacts　violently　to　this　kind　of　blood。　It　embraces　it　and　at　the　same　time　tries　to　destroy　it。　We　have　postulated　that　a　large　infusion　of　this　DNA　code　would　transform　the　entire　system。　Actually；　we　think　your　DNA　would　just　take　over；　and　replicate　itself　throughout　every　cell　in　the　body。〃　He　pauses。　〃Is　that　what　happened　when　Yaksha　changed　you？〃
　　I　hesitate。　I　don't　want　to　give　him　information　that　could　be　used　later。
　　〃When　he　changed　me；　I　was　young。　I　cried　through　most　of　it。〃
　　〃He　is　dead　now？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃When　did　he　die？〃
　　〃A　few　days　ago。〃　I　add；　〃He　wanted　to　die。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　I　smile　faintly；　sadly。　〃He　wanted　to　be　with　Krishna。　That　was　all　that　mattered　to　him。　He　was　evil　when　he　changed　me。　But　when　he　died…he　was　a　saint。　He　loved　God　very　much。〃
　　Andy　stares　at　me；　mystified。　〃You're　telling　me　the　truth。〃
　　I　nod　weakly。　The　thought　of　Krishna　always　shakes　me。
　　〃Yes。　Maybe　I　should　have　told　you　from　the　beginning。　You　see；　I　was　going　to　try　to　hypnotize　you。　I　was　going　to　seduce　you　and　offer　you　money　and　set　your　head　spinning…until　you　didn't　know　what　you　were　doing。〃　I　touch　his　leg　gently。　〃But　none　of　that　is　necessary　now。　You　are　a　true　scientist。　You　seek　the　truth。　You　don't　want　to　harm　people。　And　you　know　that　this　blood　can　harm　many　people。　Give　it　back　to　me。　I　know　how　to　care　for　it；　to　keep　it　out　of　harm's　way。〃
　　〃If　I　help　you　into　the　pound；　they　will　lock　me　away　for　the　rest　of　my　life。〃
　　〃Vehicles　go　in　and　out　of　the　pound　all　day。　I've　observed　them　from　a　distance。　You　can　bring　me　ride　in　your　trunk。　When　no　one　is　looking；　I　will　climb　out；　and　no　one　will　blame　you。〃
　　Andy's　not　convinced。　〃Your　friend　is　in　a　cell　in　a　basement　of　our　main　lab。　The　walls　of　the　cell　are　of　a　special　metal　alloy…even　you　couldn't　walk　through。　I　know　for　a　fact　your　partner　can't；　watched　him　try。　Also；　your　friend　is　under　at　surveillance。　Cameras　watch　him　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Then；　there　is　the　security　of　the　camp　itself。　It　is　surrounded　by　towers。　The　soldiers　inside　these　towers　are　well　armed。　The　place　is　a　fortress。　There　are　tanks　and　missiles　behind　every　building。〃　He　pauses。　〃You　won't　be　able　to　break　him　out。〃
　　〃This　special　cell　where　Joel　is　being　held…how　does　the　door　to　it　open？〃
　　〃There　is　a　button　on　a　control　panel　just　outside　the　cell。　Push　it　and　the　door　swings　aside。　But　it　is　a　long　way　from　my　car　trunk　to　that　button。　It　is　a　longer　way　back　outside　the　pound。　To　escape　with　your　friend；　you'll　have　to　bee　invisible。〃
　　I　nod。　〃We　can　go　over；　point　by　point；　the　security　of　the　camp。　But　for　now；　answer　my　earlier　question。　Is　there　another　vampire　in　the　place？〃
　　He　hesitates；　lowers　his　head。　〃Yes。〃
　　〃How　long　has　he　been　there？　A　month？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Was　he　captured　in　Los　Angeles？〃
　　〃Yes。　He's　a　black　youth。　He　lived　in　South　Central　L。A。　before　he　was　changed。〃　Andy　looks　up。　〃But　he　never　said　anything　about　an　Eddie。　The　person　who　changed　him　was　someone　else。　I　forget　the　name　right　now。〃
　　My　theory　was　correct。　〃That　other　person　was　changed　by　Eddie。　Trust　me…I　know　the　ultimate　source　of　this　other　vampire。　Where　is　he　located　in　relation　to　Joel？〃
　　〃In　the　cell　beside　Joel's。　But　he's　virtually　atose。　He　has　the　same　disease　as　your　friend…cramps　and　fever。〃　Andy　shakes　his　head。　〃We　didn't　know　what　to　do　for　him。　He　never　asked　for　blood。〃
　　〃Your　people　must　have　captured　him　right　after　he　was　changed。　No　one　told　him　what　he　is　now。〃　It　isn't　pleasant　to　contemplate　the　pain　this　poor　soul　is　going　through。　〃I'll　have　to　take　him　out　as　well。〃
　　〃You'll　have　to　carry　him　then。〃
　　〃I　can　do　that；　if　I　have　to。〃
　　Andy　studies　me。　〃You　say　you　are　so　old。　That　must　mean　you're　smarter　than　we　short…lived　mortals。　If　you　are；　you　must　know　how　the　odds　are　stacked　against　you。〃
　　〃I　have　always　managed　to　beat　the　odds。　Look　how　well　I　do　at　the　dice　tables。〃
　　〃You　will　probably　die　if　you　do　this。〃
　　〃I'm　not　afraid　to　die。〃
　　He　is　impressed。　〃You　really　aren't　a　monster。　You're　much　braver　than　I　am。〃
　　I　take　his　hand。　〃I　was　wrong　a　minute　ago　when　I　said　your　helping　me　would　not　put　you　at　risk。　It　will　take　a　brave　man　to　sneak　me　inside　the　pound　in　the　trunk　of　his　car。〃
　　He　squeezes　my　hand。　〃What's　your　real　name？〃
　　〃Sita。〃　I　add；　〃Few　people　have　known　me　by　that　name。〃
　　He　touches　my　red　hair。　〃I　was　wrong　only　to　say　your　blood　scares　me。　It　fascinates　me　as　well。〃　He　pauses　and　a　sly　grin　crosses　his　face。　〃Sex　is　not　enough　to　make　me　immortal？〃
　　〃It　hasn't　worked　in　the　past。　But　these　days　are　filed　with　mysterious　portents。〃　An　unexpected　　warmth　for　him　flows　over　me。　His　eyes…they　have　me　hypnotized；　with　their　uncanny　depth；　their　gentle　kindness。　Smiling；　I　lean　over　and　hug　him　and　whisper　in　his　ear；　〃The　dawn　is　at　hand。　In　ancient　times；　it　was　considered　a　time　of　transformation；　of　alchemy。　I'll　stay　with　you；　for　now。〃　I　pause。　〃Who　knows　what　may　happen？〃
　　　
　　　12
　　I　dream　a　dream　I've　had　before。　A　dream　that　seems　to　go　on　forever。　It　takes　place　in　eternity；　at　least；　my　idea　of　such　a　place。
　　I　stand　on　a　vast　grassy　plain　with　a　few　gently　sloping　hills　in　the　far　distance。　It　is　night；　yet　the　sky　is　bright。　There　is　no　sun；　but　a　hundred　blue　stars　blaze　overhead；　shimmering　in　a　long　nebulous　river。　The　place　feels　familiar　to　me。　The　air　is　warm；　saturated　with　sweet　aromas。　Miles　away　a　large　number　of　people　walk　into　a　vessel…a　violet…colored　spaceship　of　gigantic　proportions。　The　vessel　shines　from　the　inside　with　divine　radiance；　almost　blinding　in　its　brilliance。　I　know　it　is　about　to　depart　and　that　I　am　supposed　to　be　on　it。　Yet　I　cannot　leave　until　I　have　finished　speaking　with　Lord　Krishna。
　　He　stands　beside　me　on　the　wide　plain；　his　gold　flute　in　his　right　hand；　a　red　lotus　flower　in　his　left。　We　both　have　on　long　blue　gowns。　He　wears　an　exquisite　jewel　around　his　neck…the　Kaustubha　gem；　in　which　the　destiny　of　every　soul　can　be　seen。　He　stares　up　at　the　sky；　waiting　for　me　to　speak。　But　I　cannot　remember　what　we　were　discussing。
　　〃My　Lord；〃　I　whisper。　〃I　feel　lost。〃
　　His　eyes　remain　fixed　on　the　stars。　〃You　feel　separate　from　me。〃
　　〃Yes。　I　don't　want　to　leave　you。　I　don't　want　to　go　to　earth。〃
　　〃No。　You　misunderstand。　You　are　not　lost。　The　entire　creation　belongs　to　me…it　is　a　part　of　me。　How　can　you　be　lost？　Your　feeling　of　separation　gives　rise　to　your　confusion。〃　He　glances　my　way；　finally；　his　long　black　hair　blowing　in　the　soft　wind。　The　stars　shimmer　in　the　depths　of　his　dark　eyes。　The　entire　creation　is　there。　His　smile　is　kind；　the　feeling　of　love　that　pours　from　him　overwhelming。　〃You　have　already　been　to　earth。　You　are　home　now。〃
　　〃Is　this　possible？〃　I　whisper；　straining　to　remember。　Faint　recollections　of　being　on　earth　e　to　me。　I　recall　a　husband；　a　daughter…I　can　see　her　smile。　Yet　a　dark　film　covers　them。　I　view　them　from　a　peculiar　perspective；　from　a　mind　I　can　scarcely　believe　is　connected　to　me。　In　front　of　them　many　centuries　stretch　out；　choked　with　endless　days；　and　nights；　suffering　people；　all　awash　in　blood。　Blood　that　I　have　spilled。　I　have　to　force　the　question　from　my　lips。　〃What　did　I　do　on　earth；　my　Lord？〃
　　〃You　wanted　to　be　different…you　were　different。　It　doesn't　matter。　This　creation　is　a　stage；　and　we　all　play　roles　as　heroes　and　villains　alike。　It　is　all　maya…　illusion。〃
　　〃But　did　I…sin？〃
　　My　question　amuses　him。　〃It　is　not　possible。〃
　　I　glance　toward　the　waiting　vessel。　It　is　almost　full。　〃Then　I　don't　have　t