dk.solesurvivor-第48部分

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oint　in　history　when　everything　is　going　to　change　radically　and　forever　。　。　。　then　we　are　your　natural　allies。'
　　'I　think　you　are；'　she　agreed。
　　Gently　but　persistently　selling　her　on　this　alliance；　Mark　said；　'Doctor；　we　both　have　set　ourselves　against　those　forces　of　ignorance　and　fear　and　self…interest　that　want　to　keep　the　world　in　darkness。'
　　'Remember；　I　once　worked　for　them。'
　　'But　turned。'
　　A　car　swung　off　Pacific　Coast　Highway　and　paused　to　pick　up　Joshua。　It　was　followed　through　the　gate　and　along　the　driveway　by　a　second　car。
　　Rose；　Mark；　and　Joe　got　to　their　feet　as　the　two　vehicles…a　Ford　trailed　by　a　Mercedes…circled　the　fountain　and　stopped　in　front　of　them。
　　Joshua　stepped　from　the　passenger　door　of　the　Ford；　and　a　young　brunette　woman　got　out　from　behind　the　steering　wheel。　The　Mercedes　was　driven　by　an　Asian　man　of　about　thirty。
　　They　all　gathered　before　Rose　Tucker；　and　for　a　moment　everyone　stood　in　silence。
　　The　steadily　escalating　wind　no　longer　spoke　merely　through　the　rustling　foliage　of　the　trees；　through　the　cricket…rasping　branches　of　the　shrubbery；　and　through　the　hollow　flutelike　music　issuing　from　the　eaves　of　the　mansion；　for　now　it　also　enjoyed　a　voice　of　its　own：　a　haunted　keening　that　curled　chillingly　in　listening　ears；　akin　to　the　muted　but　frightful　ululant　crying　of　coyote　packs　chasing　down　prey　in　some　far　canyon　of　the　night。
　　In　the　landscape　lights；　the　shuddering　greenery　cast　nervous　shadows；　and　the　gradually　paling　moon　gazed　at　itself　in　the　shiny　surfaces　of　the　automobiles。
　　Watching　these　four　people　as　they　watched　Rose；　Joe　realized　that　they　regarded　the　scientist　not　solely　with　curiosity　but　with　wonder；　perhaps　even　with　awe；　as　though　they　stood　in　the　presence　of　someone　transcendent。　Someone　holy。
　　'I'm　surprised　to　see　every　one　of　you　in　mufti；'　Rose　said。
　　They　smiled；　and　Joshua　said；　'Two　years　ago；　when　we　first　set　out　on　this　mission；　we　were　reasonably　quiet　about　it。　Didn't　want　to　excite　a　lot　of　media　interest。　。　。　because　we　thought　we'd　largely　be　misunderstood。　What　we　didn't　expect　was　that　we'd　have　enemies。　And　enemies　so　violent。'
　　'So　powerful；'　Mark　said。
　　'We　thought　everyone　would　want　to　know　the　answers　we　were　seeking…if　we　ever　found　them。　Now　we　know　better。'
　　'Ignorance　is　a　bliss　that　some　people　will　kill　for；'　said　the　young　woman。
　　'So　a　year　ago；'　Joshua　continued；　'we　adopted　the　robes　as　a　distraction。　People　understand　us　as　a　cult…or　think　they　do。　We're　more　acceptable　when　we're　viewed　as　fanatics；　neatly　labelled　and　confined　to　a　box。　We　don't　make　people　quite　so　nervous。'
　　Robes。
　　Astonished；　Joe　said；　'You　wear　blue　robes；　shave　your　heads。'
　　Joshua　said；　'Some　of　us　do；　yes；　as　of　a　year　ago…and　those　in　the　uniform　pretend　to　be　the　entire　membership。　That's　what　I　meant　when　I　said　the　robes　are　a　distraction…the　robes；　the　shaved　heads；　the　earrings；　the　visible　munal　enclaves。　The　rest　of　us　have　gone　underground；　where　we　can　do　the　work　without　being　spied　on；　subjected　to　harassment；　and　easily　infiltrated。'
　　'e　with　us；'　the　young　woman　said　to　Rose。　'We　know　you　may　have　found　the　way；　and　we　want　to　help　you　bring　it　to　the　world…without　interference。'
　　Rose　moved　to　her　and　put　a　hand　against　her　cheek；　much　as　she　had　touched　Joe　in　the　cemetery。　'I　might　be　with　you　soon；　but　not　tonight。　I　need　more　time　to　think；　to　plan。　And　I'm　in　a　hurry　to　see　a　young　girl；　a　child；　who　is　at　the　centre　of　what　is　happening。'
　　Nina；　Joe　thought；　and　his　heart　shuddered　like　the　shadows　of　the　wind…shaken　trees。
　　Rose　moved　to　the　Asian　man　and　touched　him　too。　'I　can　tell　you　this　much　。　。　。　we　stand　on　the　threshold　you　foresaw。　We　will　go　through　that　door；　maybe　not　tomorrow　or　the　day　after　tomorrow　or　next　week；　but　in　the　years　ahead。'
　　She　went　to　Joshua。　'Together　we　will　see　the　world　change　forever；　bring　the　light　of　knowledge　into　the　great　dark　loneliness　of　human　existence。　In　our　time。'
　　And　finally　she　approached　Mark。　'I　assume　you　brought　two　cars　because　you　were　prepared　to　give　one　to　Joe　and　me。'
　　'Yes。　But　we　hoped…'
　　She　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　'Soon　but　not　tonight。　I've　got　urgent　business；　Mark。　Everything　we　hope　to　achieve　hangs　in　the　balance　right　now；　hangs　so　precariously…until　I　can　reach　the　little　girl　I　mentioned。'
　　'Wherever　she　is；　we　can　take　you　to　her。'
　　'No。　Joe　and　I　must　do　this　alone…and　quickly。'
　　'You　can　take　the　Ford。'
　　'Thank　you。'
　　Mark　withdrew　a　folded　one…dollar　bill　from　his　pocket　and　gave　it　to　Rose。　'There　are　just　eight　digits　in　the　serial　number　on　this　bill。　Ignore　the　fourth　digit；　and　the　other　seven　are　a　phone　number　in　the　three…one…oh　area　code。'
　　Rose　tucked　the　bill　into　her　jeans。
　　'When　you're　ready　to　join　us；'　Mark　said；　'or　if　you're　ever　in　trouble　you　can't　'get　out　of；　ask　for　me　at　that　number。　We'll　e　for　you　no　matter　where　you　are。'
　　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　'We've　got　to　go。'　She　turned　to　Joe；　'Will　you　drive？'
　　'Yes。'
　　To　Joshua；　she　said；　'May　I　take　your　cell　phone？'
　　He　gave　it　to　her。
　　Wings　of　furious　wind　beat　around　them　as　they　got　into　the　Ford。　The　keys　were　in　the　ignition。
　　As　Rose　pulled　the　car　door　shut；　she　said；　'Oh；　Jesus；'　and　leaned　forward；　gasping　for　breath。
　　'You　are　hurt。'
　　'Told　you。　I　got　knocked　around。'
　　'Where's　it　hurt？'
　　'We've　got　to　get　across　the　city；'　Rose　said；　'but　I　don't　want　to　go　back　past　Mahalia's。'
　　'You　could　have　a　broken　rib　or　two。'
　　Ignoring　him；　she　sat　up　straight；　and　her　breathing　improved　as　she　said；　'The　creeps　won't　want　to　risk　setting　up　a　roadblock　and　a　traffic　check　without　cooperation　from　the　local　authorities；　and　they　don't　have　time　to　get　that。　But　you　can　bet　your　ass　they'll　be　watching　passing　cars。'
　　'If　you've　got　a　broken　rib；　it　could　puncture　a　lung。'
　　'Joe；　damn　it；　we　don't　have　time。　We've　got　to　move　if　we're　going　to　keep　our　girl　alive。'
　　He　stared　at　her。　'Nina？'
　　She　met　his　eyes。　She　said；　'Nina；'　but　then　a　fearful　look　came　into　her　face；　and　she　turned　from　him。
　　'We　can　head　north　from　here　on　PCH；'　he　said；　'then　inland　on　Kanan…Dume　Road。　That's　a　county　route　up　to　Augora　Hills。　There　we　can　get　the　one…oh…one　east　to　the　two…ten。'
　　'Go　for　it。'
　　Faces　powdered　by　moonlight；　hair　wind…tossed；　the　four　who　would　leave　in　the　Mercedes　stood　watching；　back　dropped　by　leaping　stone　dolphins　and　thrashing　trees。
　　This　tableau　struck　Joe　as　both　exhilarating　and　ominous…and　he　could　not　identify　the　basis　of　either　perception；　other　than　to　admit　that　the　night　was　charged　with　an　uncanny　power　that　was　beyond　his　understanding。　Everything　his　gaze　fell　upon　seemed　to　have　monumental　significance；　as　if　he　were　in　a　state　of　heightened　consciousness；　and　even　the　moon　appeared　different　from　any　moon　that　he　had　ever　seen　before。
　　As　Joe　put　the　Ford　in　gear　and　began　to　pull　away　from　the　fountain；　the　young　woman　came　forward　to　place　her　hand　against　the　window　beside　Rose　Tucker's　face。　On　this　side　of　the　glass；　Rose　matched　her　palm　to　the　other。　The　young　woman　was　crying；　her　lovely　face　glimmering　with　moon…bright　tears；　and　she　moved　with　the　car　along　the　driveway；　hurrying　as　it　picked　up　speed；　matching　her　hand　to　Rose's　all　the　way　to　the　gate　before　at　last　pulling　back。
　　Joe　felt　almost　as　if　somewhere　earlier　in　the　night　he　had　stood　before　a　mirror　of　madness　and；　closing　his　eyes；　had　passed　through　his　own　reflection　into　lunacy。　Yet　he　did　not　want　to　return　through　the　silvered　surface　to　that　old　grey　world。　This　was　a　lunacy　that　he　found　increasingly　agreeable；　perhaps　because　it　offered　him　the　one　thing　he　desired　most　and　could　find　only　on　this　side　of　the　looking　glass…hope。
　　Slumped　in　the　passenger　seat　beside　him；　Rose　Tucker　said：　'Maybe　all　this　is　more　than　I　can　handle；　Joe。　I'm　so　tired…and　so　scared。　I'm　nobody　special　enough　to　do　what　needs　done；　not　nearly　special　enough　to　carry　a　weight　like　this。'
　　'You　seem　pretty　special　to　me；'　he　said。
　　'I'm　going　to　screw　it　up；'　she　said　as　she　entered　a　phone　number　on　the　keypad　of　the　cellular　phone。　'I'm　scared　shitless　that　I'm　not　going　to　be　strong　enough　to　open　that　door　and　take　us　all　through　it。'　She　pushed　the　Send　button。
　　'Show　me　the　door；　tell　me　where　it　goes；　and　I'll　help　you；'　he　said；　wishing　she　would　stop　speaking　in　metaphors　and　give　him　the　hard　facts。　'Why　is　Nina　so　important　to　whatever's　happening？　Where　is　she；　Rose？'
　　Someone　answered　the　cellular　call；　and　Rose　said；　'It's　me。　Move　Nina。　Move　her　now。'
　　Nina。
　　Rose　listened　for　a　moment　but　then　said　firmly；　'No；　now；　move　her　right　now；　in　the　next　five　minutes；　even　sooner　if　you　can。　They　linked　Mahalia　to　me　。　。　。　yeah；　and　in　spite　of　all　the　precautions　we'd　taken。　It's　only　a　matter　of　time　now…and　not　very　much　time…until　they　make　the　connection　to　you。'
　　Nina。
　　Joe　turned　off　the　Pacific　Coast　Highway　onto　the　county　road　to　Augora　Hills；　driving　up　through　a　rumpled　bed　of　dark　land　from　which　the　Santa　Ana　wind　flung　sheets　of　pale　dust。
　　'Take　her　to　Big　Bear；'　Rose　told　the　person　on　the　phone。
　　Big　Bear。　Since　Joe　had　talked　to　Mercy　Ealing　in　Colorado　…could　it　be　less　than　nine　hours　ago？…Nina　had　been　back　in　the　world；　miraculously　returned；　but　in　some　corner　where　he　could　not　find　her。　Soon；　however；　she　would　be　in　the　town　of　Big　Bear　on　the　shores　of　Big　Bear　Lake；　a　resort　in　the　nearby　San　Bernardino　Mountains；　a　place　he　knew　well。　Her　return　was　more　real　to　him　now　that　she　was　in　a　place　that　he　could　name；　the　byways　of　which　he　had　walked；　and　he　was　flooded　with　such　sweet　anticipation　that　he　wanted　to　shout　to　relieve　the　pressure　of　it。　He　kept　his　silence；　however；　and　he　rolled　the　name　between　the　fingers　of　his　mind；　rolled　it　over　and　over　as　if　it　were　a　shiny　coin：　Big　Bear。
　　Rose　spoke　into　the　phone：　'If　I　can。　。　。　I'm　going　to　be　there　in　a　couple　of　hours。　I　love　you。　Go。　Go　now。'
　　She　terminated　the　call；　put　the　phone　on　the　seat　between　her　legs；　closed　her　eyes；　and　leaned　against　the　door。
　　Joe　realized　that　she　was　not　making　much　use　of　her　left　hand。
　　It　was　curled　in　her　lap。　Even　in　the　dim　light　from　the　instrument　panel；　he　could　see　that　her　hand　was　shaking　uncontrollably。
　　'What's　wrong　with　your　arm？'
　　'Give　it　a　rest；　Joe。　It's　sweet　of　you　to　be　concerned；　but　you're　getting　to　be　a　nag。　I'll　be　fine　once　we　get　to　Nina。'
　　He　was　silent　for　half　a　mile。　Then：　'Tell　me　everything。　I　deserve　to　know。'
　　'You　do；　yes。　It's　not　a　long　story。。。　but　where　do　I　begin？'
　　
　　　4
　　Great　bristling　balls　of　tumbleweed；　robbed　of　their　green　by　the　merciless　Western　sun；　cracked　from　their　roots　by　the　withering　dryness　of　the　California　summer；　torn　from　their　homes　in　the　earth　by　the　shrieking　Santa　Ana　wind；　now　bounded　out　of　the　steep　canyons　and　across　the　narrow　highway；　silver…grey　in　the　headlights；　a　curiously　melancholy　sight；　families　of　thistled　skeletons　like　starved　and　harried　refugees　fleeing　worse　torment。
　　Joe　said；