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第62节

[科幻]宿主-第62节

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 I followed his directions quickly—the sound of the rushing water was not making my disfort any 
easier to bear。 It felt very strange to be out of his sight。 What if someone had hidden in these caves; 
guessing I would have to e here eventually? Would Jeb hear the struggle over the cacophony of the 
rivers?

 I shone the flashlight all around the bathing room; looking for any sign of an ambush。 The odd flickering 
shadows it made were not forting; but I found no substance to my fears。 Jeb’s tub was more the size 
of a small swimming pool and black as ink。 Under the surface; a person would be invisible as long as they 
could hold their breath。… I hurried through the slender crack at the back of the room to escape my 
imaginings。 Away from Jeb; I was nearly overwhelmed with panic—I couldn’t breathe normally; I could 
barely hear over the sound of my pulse racing behind my ears。 I was more running than walking when I 
made my way back to the room with the rivers。

 To find Jeb standing there; still in the same pose; still alone; was like a balm to my splintered nerves。 My 
breathing and my heartbeat slowed。 Why this crazy human should be such a fort to me; I couldn’t 
understand。 I supposed it was like Melanie had said;desperate times。

 “Not too shabby; eh?” he asked; a grin of pride on his face。

 I nodded once again and returned the flashlight。

 “These caves are a great gift;” he said as we started back toward the dark passageway。 “We wouldn’t 
be able to survive in a group like this without them。 Magnolia and Sharon were getting along real 
well—shockingly well—up there in Chicago; but they were pushing their luck hiding two。 It’s mighty nice 
to have a munity again。 Makes me feel downright human。”

 He took my elbow once more as we climbed the rough stair…case out。

 “I’m sorry about the; um; acmodations we’ve got you in。 It was the safest place I could think of。 I’m 
surprised those boys found you as quick as they did。” Jeb sighed。 “Well; Kyle gets real… motivated。 But 
I suppose it’s all for the best。 Might as well get used to how things are going to be。 Maybe we can find 
something more hospitable for you。 I’ll think on it。… While I’m with you; at least; you don’t really have 
to cram yourself into that little hole。 You can sit in the hall with me if you prefer。 Though with Jared…” 
He trailed off。

 I listened to his apologetic words in wonder; this was so much more kindness than I’d hoped for; more 
passion than I’d thought this species was capable of giving their enemies。 I patted the hand on my 
elbow lightly; hesitantly; trying to convey that I understood and wouldn’t cause a problem。 I was sure 
Jared much preferred to have me out of sight。

 Jeb had no trouble translating my wordless munication。 “That’s a good girl;” he said。 “We’ll figure 
this all out somehow。 Doc can just concentrate on healin’ human folks。 You’re much more interesting 
alive;I think。”

 Our bodies were close enough that he was able to feel me tremble。

 “Don’t worry。 Doc’s not going to bother you now。” 

 

 You never know how much time you’ll have;Melanie had said so many days ago; when my world was 
still under control。

 Her words echoed in my head as we reentered the big room; the main plaza of Jeb’s human munity。 
It was full; like the first night; everyone there to glare at us with eyes that blazed anger and betrayal when 
they looked at him and murder when they looked at me。 I kept my gaze down on the rock under my feet。 
From the corner of my eye; I could see that Jeb held his gun ready again。

 It was only a matter of time; indeed。 I could feel it in the atmosphere of hate and fear。 Jeb could not 
protect me long。

 It was a relief to scrape back through the narrow crevice; to look forward to the winding black labyrinth 
and my cramped hiding place; I could hope to be alone there。

 Behind me; a furious hissing; like a nest of goaded snakes; echoed in the big cavern。 The sound made 
me wish Jeb would lead me through the labyrinth at a quicker pace。

 Jeb chuckled under his breath。 He seemed to get stranger the longer I was around him。 His sense of 
humor mystified me as much as his motivations did。

 “It gets a bit tedious down here sometimes; you know;” he murmured to me; or to himself。 With Jeb; it 
was hard to tell。 “Maybe when they get over being cheesed off at me; they’ll realize they appreciate all 
the excitement I’m providing。”

 Our path through the dark twisted in a serpentine fashion。 It didn’t feel at all familiar。 Perhaps he took a 
different route to keep me lost。 It seemed to take more time than before; but finally I could see the dim 
blue light of the lamp shining from around the next curve。

 I braced myself; wondering if Jared would be there again。 If he was; I knew he would be angry。 I was 
sure he wouldn’t approve of Jeb taking me for a field trip; no matter how necessary it might have been。

 As soon as we rounded the corner; I could see that therewas a figure slumped against the wall beside 
the lamp; casting a long shadow toward us; but it was obviously not Jared。 My hand clutched at Jeb’s 
arm; an automatic spasm of fear。

 And then I really looked at the waiting figure。 It was smaller than me—that was how I’d known it was 
not Jared—and thin。 Small; but also too tall and too wiry。 Even in the dim light of the blue lamp; I could 
see that his skin was dyed to a deep brown by the sun; and that his silky black hair now fell unkempt past 
his chin。

 My knees buckled。

 My hand; grasping Jeb’s arm in panic; held on for support。

 “Well; for Pete’s sake!” Jeb exclaimed; obviously irritated。 “Can’t nobody keep a secret around this 
place for more’n twenty…four hours? Gol’ durn; this burns me up! Bunch of gossipmongers…” He trailed 

 

 I didn’t even try to understand the words Jeb was saying; I was locked in the fiercest battle of my 
life—of every life I’d ever lived。

 I could feel Melanie in each cell of my body。 My nerve endings tingled in recognition of her familiar 
presence。 My muscles twitched in anticipation of her direction。 My lips trembled; trying to open。 I leaned 
forward toward the boy in the hall; my body reaching because my arms would not。

 Melanie had learned many things the few times I’d ceded or lost my mand to her; and I truly had to 
struggle against her—so hard that fresh sweat beaded on my brow。 But I was not dying in the desert 
now。 Nor was I weak and dizzy and taken off guard by the appearance of someone I’d given up for lost; 
I’d known this moment might e。 My body was resilient; quick to heal—I was strong again。 The 
strength of my body gave strength to my control; to my determination。

 I drove her from my limbs; chased her from every hold she’d found; thrust her back into the recesses of 
my mind; and chained her there。

 Her surrender was sudden and total。Aaah; she sighed; and it was almost a moan of pain。

 I felt strangely guilty as soon as I’d won。

 I’d already known that she was more to me than a resistant host who made life unnecessarily difficult。 
We’d bee panions; even confidantes during our past weeks together—ever since the Seeker 
had united us against a mon enemy。 In the desert; with Kyle’s knife over my head; I’d been glad that 
if Ihad to die I would not be the one to kill Melanie; even then; she was more than a body to me。 But 
now it seemed like something beyond that。 I regretted causing her pain。

 It was necessary; though; and she didn’t seem to grasp that。 Any word we said wrong; any poorly 
considered action would mean a quick execution。 Her reactions were too wild and emotional。 She would 
get us into trouble。

 You have to trust me now;I told her。I’m just trying to keep us alive。 I know you don’t want to 
believe your humans could hurt us…

 But it’s Jamie;she whispered。 She yearned for the boy with an emotion so strong that it weakened my 
knees again。

 I tried to look at him impartially—this sullen…faced teenager slumped against the tunnel wall with his arms 
folded tightly across his chest。 I tried to see him as a stranger and plan my response; or lack of response; 
accordingly。 I tried; but I failed。 He was Jamie; he was beautiful; and my arms—mine; not 
Melanie’s—longed to hold him。 Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my face。 I could only hope they 
were invisible in the dim light。

 “Jeb;” Jamie said—a gruff greeting。 His eyes passed swiftly over me and away。

 His voice was so deep! Could he really be so old? I realized with a double pang of guilt that I’d just 
missed his fourteenth birthday。 Melanie showed me the day; and I saw that it was the same day as the 
first dream with Jamie。 She’d struggled so hard all through the waking hours to keep her pain to herself; 
to cloud her memories in order to protect the boy; that he’d e out in her dream。 And I’d e…mailed the 
Seeker。 

 

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter; processtext/abclit。html 
。 
“Whatcha doing here; kid?” Jeb demanded。 
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jamie demanded back。 
Jeb went silent。 
“Was that Jared’s idea?” Jamie pressed。 

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