mc.prey-第14章

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　is　in　contrast　to　certain　gene　technologies　that　currently　charge　two　to　three　thousand　dollars　a　test。　But　at　a　mere　twenty　dollars；　we　expect　worldwide　revenues　to　exceed　four　hundred　million　dollars　in　the　first　year。　And　once　the　procedure　is　established；　those　figures　will　triple。　We　are　talking　about　a　technology　that　generates　one　point　two　billion　dollars　a　year。　Now　if　there　are　questions　。。。〃　I　yawned；　and　flicked　the　TV　off。　It　was　impressive；　and　her　argument　was　pelling。　In　fact；　I　couldn't　understand　why　Xymos　was　having　trouble　getting　their　next　round　of　funding。　For　investors；　this　should　be　a　slam　dunk。
　But　then；　she　probably　wasn't　having　trouble。　She　was　probably　just　using　the　funding　crisis　as　an　excuse　to　stay　late　every　night。　For　her　own　reasons。
　I　turned　out　the　light。　Lying　in　bed；　staring　at　the　ceiling　in　the　dark；　I　began　to　see　fleeting　images。　Julia's　thigh；　over　another　man's　leg。　Julia's　back　arched。　Julia　breathing　heavily；　her　muscles　tensed。　Her　arm　reaching　up　to　push　against　the　headboard。　I　found　I　couldn't　stop　the　images。
　I　got　out　of　bed；　and　went　to　check　the　kids。　Nicole　was　still　up；　emailing　her　friends。　I　told　her　it　was　time　for　lights　out。　Eric　had　kicked　off　his　covers。　I　pulled　them　back　up。　The　baby　was　still　purple；　but　she　slept　soundly；　her　breathing　gentle　and　regular。
　I　got　back　into　bed。　I　willed　myself　to　go　to　sleep；　to　think　of　something　else。　I　tossed　and　turned；　adjusted　the　pillow；　got　up　for　a　glass　of　milk　and　cookies。　Eventually；　finally；　I　fell　into　a　restless　sleep。
　And　I　had　a　very　strange　dream。
　Sometime　during　the　night；　I　rolled　over　to　see　Julia　standing　by　the　bed；　undressing。　She　was　moving　slowly；　as　if　tired　or　very　dreamy；　unbuttoning　her　blouse。　She　was　turned　away　from　me；　but　I　could　see　her　face　in　the　mirror。　She　looked　beautiful；　almost　regal。　Her　features　looked　more　chiseled　than　I　remembered；　though　perhaps　it　was　just　the　light。　My　eyes　were　half…closed。　She　hadn't　noticed　I　was　awake。　She　continued　to　slowly　unbutton　her　blouse。　Her　lips　were　moving；　as　if　she　were　whispering　something；　or　praying。　Her　eyes　seemed　vacant；　lost　in　thought。
　Then　as　I　watched；　her　lips　turned　dark　red；　and　then　black。　She　didn't　seem　to　notice。　The　blackness　flowed　away　from　her　mouth　across　her　cheeks　and　over　her　lower　face；　and　onto　her　neck。　I　held　my　breath。　I　felt　great　danger。　The　blackness　now　flowed　in　a　sheet　down　her　body　until　she　was　entirely　covered；　as　if　with　a　cloak。　Only　the　upper　half　of　her　face　remained　exposed。　Her　features　were　posed；　in　fact　she　seemed　oblivious；　just　staring　into　space；　dark　lips　silently　moving。　Watching　her；　I　felt　a　chill　that　ran　deep　into　my　bones。　Then　a　moment　later　the　black　sheet　slid　to　the　floor　and　vanished。
　Julia；　normal　again；　finished　removing　her　blouse；　and　walked　into　the　bathroom。　I　wanted　to　get　up　and　follow　her；　but　I　found　I　could　not　move。　A　heavy　fatigue　held　me　down　on　the　bed；　immobilizing　me。　I　was　so　exhausted　I　could　hardly　breathe。　This　oppressive　sense　of　fatigue　grew　rapidly；　and　overwhelmed　my　consciousness。　Losing　all　awareness；　I　felt　my　eyes　close；　and　I　slept。
　　
　DAY　4　
　6：40　A。M。
　The　next　morning　the　dream　was　still　fresh　in　my　mind；　vivid　and　disturbing。　It　felt　utterly　real；　not　like　a　dream　at　all。
　Julia　was　already　up。　I　got　out　of　bed　and　walked　around　to　where　I　had　seen　her　the　night　before。　I　looked　down　at　the　rug；　the　bedside　table；　the　creased　sheets　and　pillow。　There　was　nothing　unusual；　nothing　out　of　order。　No　dark　lines　or　marks　anywhere。　I　went　into　the　bathroom　and　looked　at　her　cosmetics；　in　a　neat　line　on　her　side　of　the　sink。　Everything　I　saw　was　mundane。　However　disturbing　my　dream　had　been；　it　was　still　a　dream。　But　one　part　of　it　was　true　enough：　Julia　was　looking　more　beautiful　than　ever。　When　I　found　her　in　the　kitchen；　pouring　coffee；　I　saw　that　her　face　did　indeed　look　more　chiseled；　more　striking。　Julia　had　always　had　a　chubby　face。　Now　it　was　lean；　defined。　She　looked　like　a　high…fashion　model。　Her　body；　too…now　that　I　looked　closely…appeared　leaner；　more　muscular。　She　hadn't　lost　weight；　she　just　looked　trim；　tight；　energetic。
　I　said；　〃You　look　great。〃
　She　laughed。　〃I　can't　imagine　why。　I'm　exhausted。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　get　in？〃
　〃About　eleven。　I　hope　I　didn't　wake　you。〃
　〃No。　But　I　had　a　weird　dream。〃
　〃Oh　yes？〃
　〃Yes；　it　was…〃
　〃Mommy！　Mommy！〃　Eric　burst　into　the　kitchen。　〃It's　not　fair！　Nicole　won't　get　out　of　the　bathroom。　She's　been　in　there　for　an　hour。　It's　not　fair！〃
　〃Go　use　our　bathroom。〃
　〃But　I　need　my　socks；　Mommy。　It's　not　fair。〃
　This　was　a　familiar　problem。　Eric　had　a　couple　of　pairs　of　favorite　socks　that　he　wore　day　after　day　until　they　were　black　with　grime。　For　some　reason；　the　other　socks　in　his　drawer　were　not　satisfactory。　I　could　never　get　him　to　explain　why。　But　putting　on　socks　in　the　morning　was　a　major　problem　with　him。
　〃Eric；〃　I　said；　〃we　talked　about　this；　you're　supposed　to　wear　clean　socks。〃
　〃But　those　are　my　good　ones！〃
　〃Eric。　You　have　plenty　of　good　socks。〃
　〃It's　not　fair；　Dad。　She's　been　in　there　an　hour；　I'm　not　kidding。〃
　〃Eric；　go　choose　other　socks。〃
　〃Dad　。。。〃
　I　just　pointed　my　finger　toward　his　bedroom。
　〃Shees。〃　He　walked　off　muttering　about　how　it　wasn't　fair。
　I　turned　back　to　Julia　to　resume　our　conversation。　She　was　staring　at　me　coldly。　〃You　really　don't　get　it；　do　you？〃
　〃Get　what？〃
　〃He　came　in　talking　to　me；　and　you　just　took　over。　You　took　over　the　whole　thing。〃
　Immediately；　I　realized　she　was　right。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。
　〃I　don't　get　to　see　the　children　very　much　these　days；　Jack。　I　think　I　should　be　able　to　have　my　interaction　without　your　taking　control。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　handle　this　kind　of　thing　all　day；　and　I　guess…〃
　〃This　really　is　a　problem；　Jack。〃
　〃I　said　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　know　that's　what　you　said；　but　I　don't　think　you　are　sorry；　because　I　don't　see　you　doing　anything　to　change　your　controlling　behavior。〃
　〃Julia；〃　I　said。　Now　I　was　trying　to　control　my　temper。　I　took　a　breath。　〃You're　right。　I'm　sorry　it　happened。〃
　〃You're　just　shutting　me　out；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　are　keeping　me　from　my　children…〃
　〃Julia；　God　damn　it；　you're　never　here！〃
　A　frosty　silence。　Then：
　〃I　certainly　am　here；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　you　dare　say　I　am　not。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；　wait　a　minute。　When　are　you　here？　When　was　the　last　time　you　made　it　for　dinner；　Julia？　Not　last　night；　not　the　night　before；　not　the　night　before　that。　Not　all　week；　Julia。　You　are　not　here。〃
　She　glared　at　me。　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　trying　to　do；　Jack。　I　don't　know　what　kind　of　game　you　are　playing。〃
　〃I'm　not　playing　any　game。　I'm　asking　you　a　question。〃
　〃I'm　a　good　mother；　and　I　balance　a　very　demanding　job；　a　very　demanding　job；　and　the　needs　of　my　family。　And　I　get　absolutely　no　help　from　you。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　I　said；　my　voice　rising　still　higher。　I　was　starting　to　have　a　sense　of　unreality　here。
　〃You　undercut　me；　you　sabotage　me；　you　turn　the　children　against　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　see　what　you're　doing。　Don't　think　I　don't。　You　are　not　supportive　of　me　at　all。　After　all　these　years　of　marriage；　I　must　say　it's　a　lousy　thing　to　do　to　your　wife。〃　And　she　stalked　out　of　the　room；　fists　clenched。　She　was　so　angry；　she　didn't　see　that　Nicole　was　standing　back　from　the　door；　listening　to　the　whole　thing。　And　staring　at　me；　as　her　mother　swept　past。
　Now　we　were　driving　to　school。　〃She's　crazy；　Dad。〃
　〃No；　she's　not。〃
　〃You　know　that　she　is。　You're　just　pretending。〃
　〃Nicole；　she's　your　mother；〃　I　said。　〃Your　mother　is　not　crazy。　She's　working　very　hard　right　now。〃
　〃That's　what　you　said　last　week；　after　the　fight。〃
　〃Well；　it　happens　to　be　true。〃
　〃You　guys　didn't　used　to　fight。〃
　〃There's　a　lot　of　stress　right　now。〃
　Nicole　snorted；　crossed　her　arms；　stared　forward。　〃I　don't　know　why　you　put　up　with　her。〃
　〃And　I　don't　know　why　you　were　listening　to　what　is　none　of　your　business。〃
　〃Dad；　why　do　you　pull　that　crap　with　me？〃
　〃Nicole　。。。〃
　〃Sor…ry。　But　why　can't　you　have　a　real　conversation；　instead　of　defending　her　all　the　time？　It's　not　normal；　what　she's　doing。　I　know　you　think　she's　craz