mc.prey-第53节

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elicopter；　pointing　repeatedly　toward　the　lab。　I　mouthed　〃Go！〃　and　pointed　away。
　The　helicopter　descended；　and　for　a　moment　I　thought　it　was　going　to　land　right　beside　me。　Then　it　abruptly　banked　again；　and　moved　away　low　to　the　ground；　heading　south　toward　the　concrete　pad。　The　sound　faded。
　I　decided　I　had　better　change　my　position　fast。　I　got　to　my　knees　and　in　a　crouch；　moved　crabwise　thirty　yards　to　the　left。　Then　I　dropped　down　again。　When　I　looked　back　at　the　mound；　I　saw　three…no；　four　figures　ing　out　of　the　interior。　They　moved　apart；　each　heading　to　a　different　area　of　the　mound。　They　all　looked　like　Ricky。　I　watched　as　they　went　down　the　slope　of　the　mound；　and　moved　out　into　the　bush。　My　heart　began　to　pound　in　my　chest。　One　of　the　figures　was　ing　in　my　direction。　As　it　approached；　I　saw　it　veer　off　to　the　right。　It　was　going　to　the　place　where　I　had　been　before。　When　it　reached　my　last　hiding　place；　it　stopped；　and　turned　in　all　directions。　It　was　not　far　from　me　at　all。　I　could　see　through　the　goggles　that　this　new　Ricky　figure　now　had　a　plete　face；　and　the　clothing　was　much　more　detailed。　In　addition；　this　figure　moved　with　the　sensation　of　real　body　weight。　It　might　be　an　illusion；　of　course；　but　I　guessed　that　the　swarm　had　increased　mass；　and　now　weighed　fifty　pounds；　maybe　more。　Maybe　twice　that。　If　so；　then　the　swarm　now　had　enough　mass　to　jolt　you　with　a　physical　impact。　Even　knock　you　off　your　feet。
　Through　the　goggles　I　saw　the　figure's　eyes　move；　and　blink。　The　surface　of　the　face　now　had　the　texture　of　skin。　The　hair　appeared　to　be　posed　of　individual　strands。　The　lips　moved；　the　tongue　licked　nervously。　All　in　all　this　face　looked　very　much　like　Ricky…disturbingly　like　Ricky。　When　the　head　turned　in　my　direction；　I　felt　that　Ricky　was　staring　right　at　me。　And　I　suppose　it　was；　because　the　figure　began　to　move　directly　toward　me。　I　was　trapped。　My　heart　was　thumping　in　my　chest。　I　hadn't　planned　for　this；　I　had　no　protection；　no　sort　of　defense。　I　could　get　up　and　run；　of　course；　but　there　was　nowhere　to　go。　I　was　surrounded　by　miles　of　desert；　and　the　swarms　would　hunt　me　down。　In　a　few　moments　I　would　be…
　With　a　roar；　the　helicopter　came　back。　The　Ricky　figure　looked　toward　it　as　it　came；　and　then　turned　and　fled；　literally　flying　over　the　ground；　not　bothering　any　longer　to　animate　the　legs　and　feet。　It　was　creepy　to　see　this　human　replica；　suddenly　floating　over　the　desert。　But　the　other　three　Ricky　figures　were　running；　too。　Running　hard；　conveying　a　distinct　sense　of　panic。　Did　the　swarms　fear　the　helicopter？　It　seemed　they　did。　And　as　I　watched；　I　understood　why。　Even　though　the　swarms　were　now　heavier　and　more　substantial；　they　were　still　vulnerable　to　strong　winds。　The　helicopter　was　a　hundred　feet　in　the　air　but　the　downdraft　was　powerful　enough　to　deform　the　running　figures；　flattening　them　partially　as　they　fled。　It　was　as　if　they　were　being　hammered　down。
　The　figures　vanished　into　the　mound。
　I　looked　back　at　Mae。　She　was　standing　up　in　the　streambed　now；　talking　on　her　radio　to　the　helicopter。　She'd　needed　that　radio；　all　right。　She　yelled　to　me；　〃Let's　go！〃　and　began　running　toward　me。　I　was　dimly　aware　of　Bobby；　running　away　from　the　mound；　back　to　his　ATV。　But　there　was　no　time　to　worry　about　him。　The　helicopter　hung　poised　right　above　the　mound　itself。　Dust　whipped　up；　stinging　my　eyes。
　Then　Mae　was　beside　me。　Removing　our　goggles；　we　pulled　on　our　oxygen　masks。　She　turned　me；　twisted　the　tank　valve　behind　me。　I　did　the　same　for　her。　Then　we　put　the　night　goggles　back　on。　It　seemed　like　a　lot　of　contraptions　jiggling　and　rattling　around　my　face。　She　clipped　a　halogen　flashlight　to　my　belt；　and　another　to　her　own。　She　leaned　close；　shouted：　〃Ready？〃
　〃I'm　ready！〃
　〃Okay；　let's　go！〃
　There　was　no　time　to　think。　It　was　better　that　way。　The　helicopter　downdraft　roared　in　my　ears。　Together　we　clawed　our　way　up　the　slope　of　the　mound；　our　clothes　whipping　around　us。　We　arrived　at　the　edge；　barely　visible　in　the　thick　swirling　dust。　We　couldn't　see　anything　beyond　the　rim。　We　couldn't　see　what　was　below。
　Mae　took　my　hand；　and　we　jumped。
　　
　DAY　6　
　11：22　P。M。
　I　landed　on　loose　stones；　and　half　stumbled；　half　slid　down　the　slope　toward　the　cave　entrance。　The　thumping　of　the　helicopter　blades　above　us　was　loud。　Mae　was　right　beside　me；　but　I　could　hardly　see　her　in　the　thick　dust。　There　were　no　Ricky　figures　anywhere　in　sight。　We　came　to　the　cave　entrance　and　stopped。　Mae　pulled　out　the　thermite　capsules。　She　gave　me　the　magnesium　fuses。　She　tossed　me　a　plastic　cigarette　lighter。　I　thought；　that's　what　we're　using？　Her　face　was　already　partly　clouded　behind　the　mask。　Her　eyes　were　hidden　behind　the　night…vision　goggles。　She　pointed　to　the　interior　of　the　cave。　I　nodded。
　She　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder；　pointed　to　my　goggles。　I　didn't　understand；　so　she　reached　forward　by　my　cheek　and　flicked　a　switch。
　〃…me　now？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　I　hear。〃
　〃Okay　then；　let's　go。〃
　We　started　into　the　cave。　The　green　glow　had　vanished　in　the　thick　dust。　We　had　only　the　infrared　light　mounted　on　top　of　our　night…vision　goggles。　We　saw　no　figures。　We　heard　nothing　but　the　thumping　of　the　helicopter。　But　as　we　went　deeper　into　the　cave；　the　sound　began　to　fade。
　And　as　the　sound　faded；　so　did　the　wind。
　Mae　was　focused。　She　said；　〃Bobby？　Do　you　hear　me？〃
　〃Yes；　I　hear　you。〃
　〃Get　your　ass　in　here。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to…〃
　〃Don't　try。　Get　in　here；　Bobby。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　If　I　knew　Bobby　Lembeck；　he　was　never　ing　into　this　pit。　We　rounded　the　bend；　and　saw　nothing　but　suspended　dust；　the　vague　outlines　of　cave　walls。　The　walls　seemed　smooth　here；　with　no　place　to　hide。　Then　from　the　gloom　directly　ahead　I　saw　a　Ricky　figure　emerge。　He　was　expressionless；　just　walking　toward　us。　Then　another　figure　from　the　left；　and　another。　The　three　formed　a　line。　They　marched　toward　us　at　a　steady　pace；　their　faces　identical　and　expressionless。
　〃First　lesson；〃　Mae　said；　holding　out　the　thermite　cap。
　〃Let's　hope　they　don't　learn　it；〃　I　said；　and　I　lit　the　fuse。　It　sputtered　white…hot　sparks。　She　tossed　the　cap　forward。　It　landed　a　few　feet　in　front　of　the　advancing　group。　They　ignored　it；　staring　forward　at　us。
　Mae　said；　〃It's　a　three　count　。。。　two　。。。　one　。。。　and　turn　away。〃　I　twisted　away；　ducking　my　head　under　my　arm　just　as　a　sphere　of　blinding　white　filled　the　tunnel。　Even　though　my　eyes　were　closed；　the　glare　was　so　strong　that　I　saw　spots　when　I　opened　my　eyes　again。　I　turned　back。
　Mae　was　already　moving　forward。　The　dust　in　the　air　had　a　slightly　darker　tint。　I　saw　no　sign　of　the　three　figures。
　〃Did　they　run？〃
　〃No。　Vaporized；〃　she　said。　She　sounded　pleased。
　〃New　situations；〃　I　said。　I　was　feeling　encouraged。　If　the　programming　assumptions　still　held；　the　swarms　would　be　weak　when　reacting　to　genuinely　new　situations。　In　time　they　would　learn；　in　time　they　would　evolve　strategies　to　deal　with　the　new　conditions。　But　initially　their　response　would　be　disorganized；　chaotic。　That　was　a　weakness　of　distributed　intelligence。　It　was　powerful；　and　it　was　flexible；　but　it　was　slow　to　respond　to　unprecedented　events。　〃We　hope；〃　Mae　said。
　We　came　to　the　gaping　hole　in　the　cave　floor　she　had　described。　In　the　night　goggles；　I　saw　a　sort　of　sloping　ramp。　Four　or　five　figures　were　ing　up　toward　us；　and　there　seemed　to　be　more　behind。　They　all　looked　like　Ricky；　but　many　of　them　were　not　so　well　formed。　And　those　in　the　rear　were　just　swirling　clouds。　The　thrumming　sound　was　loud。　〃Second　lesson。〃　Mae　held　out　a　cap。　It　sizzled　white　when　I　lit　it。　She　rolled　it　gently　down　the　ramp。　The　figures　hesitated　when　they　saw　it。
　〃Damn；〃　I　said；　but　then　it　was　time　to　duck　away；　and　shield　my　eyes　from　the　explosive　flash。　Inside　the　confined　space；　there　was　a　roar　of　expanding　gas。　I　felt　a　burst　of　intense　heat　on　my　back。　When　I　looked　again；　most　of　the　swarms　beneath　us　had　vanished。　But　a　few　hung　back；　apparently　undamaged。
　They　were　learning。
　Fast。
　〃Next　lesson；〃　Mae　said；　holding　two　caps　this　time。　I　lit　both　and　she　rolled　one；　and　threw　the　second　one　deeper　down　the　ramp。　The　explosions　roared　simultaneously；　and　a　huge　gust　of　hot　air　rolled　upward　past　us。　My　shirt　caught　fire。　Mae　pounded　it　out　with　the　flat　of　her　hand；　smacking　me　with　rapid　strokes。
　When　we　looked　again；　there　were　no　figures　in　sight；　and　no　dark　swarms。
　We　went　down　the　ramp；　heading　deeper　into　the　cave。
　We　had　started　with　twenty　thermite　caps。　We　had　sixteen　left；　and　we　had　gone　only　a　short　distance　down　the　ramp　toward　the　large　room　at　the　bottom。　Mae　moved　quickly　now…I　had　to　hurry　to　catch　up　with　her…but　her　instincts　were　good。　The　few　swarms　that　materialized　before　us　all　quickly　backed　away　at　our　approach。
　We　were　herding　them　into　the　lower　room。
　Mae　said；　〃Bobby；　where　are　you？〃
　The　headset　crackled。　〃…trying…get…〃
　〃Bobby；　e　on；　damn　it。〃
　But　all　the　while　we　were　moving　deeper　into　the　cave；　and　soon　we　heard　only　static。　Down　here；　dust　hung　suspended　in　the　air；　diffusing　the　infrared　beams。　We　could　see　clearly　the　walls　and　ground　directly　ahead　of　us；　but　beyond　that；　there　was　total　blackness。　The　sense　of　darkness　and　isolatio