jefflong.yearzero-第79章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
During the first week Nathan Lee's sole clothing was a pair of tiny goggles for the radiation。 They fasted him with juice； electrolytes； and antibiotics for five days。 He grew weaker before he could grow stronger。 The second week； he was given paper garments； which were burned twice daily。
Nathan Lee kept things tight。 They hollowed you out in this place； but not hollow enough。 He gave them his body； but not his mind。 For the asking； they would have slipped hallucinogenics or sedatives into his IV。 Altering reality was a way for the deck sweep troops to survive their dead time。
But Nathan Lee feared losing his tenuous hold。 He was glad there were no windows in here； and that the walls were steel； and the corners were squared so precisely。 Everything was contained and neat。 He took it one second at a time。 He glued himself to the moment。 He began to fear the end of decon； because it meant entering the world on its own terms again。
It went like that for two weeks。 Their doors were locked from the outside； their bodies were poisoned； and they were isolated like serial killers。 Over the ceiling inter； the medical staff apologized for each indignity and pain demanded of him。 They thanked him for drawing his own blood and injecting himself with chemicals and bioengineered poisons which were passed to him through an air lock。 They were grateful for his sanity； or at least his obedience。 Through the walls； he could hear men screaming； and understood that not all the soldiers had returned from the horrors whole。
Through a puter console built into the wall； he had access to e…books； movies； video games； even skin flicks。 Instead he did his Buddha thing； empty mind； empty heart。 When bursts of energy overcame him； he did pushups。 The rest of the time； he lay still。 He felt suspended in light。
A physician started up a running dialog over the wall speaker。 He knew who Nathan Lee was； but didn't offer his name。 He said he was Nathan Lee's designated psychiatrist； though Nathan Lee already had one during the daytime。 Double…teaming him； Nathan Lee decided。 They monitored more than your physical health in here。 The man's voice came like talk radio； usually deep in the night。
He told Nathan Lee about the weather； his favorite books； and other things。 He asked about Denver。 He was fascinated by the destruction。
〃Do you have a family？〃 asked Nathan Lee。
〃Why do you ask？〃
〃You should take them far away。 To the mountains or the desert；〃 said Nathan Lee。 〃Now。〃
〃Really？〃 the psychiatrist said。 〃What about E…Day？〃 Evacuation Day。 It was everybody's idea of salvation； holing up in the salt dome。
〃Have they finally announced a date？〃
〃It got pushed back；〃 said the psychiatrist。 〃Extenuating circumstances。〃
〃What happened？〃
〃The excavators hit a water pocket。 It wasn't supposed to be there。 Water and salt； not a good bination。 They almost lost the whole place。〃 He sounded almost upbeat。 〃As it is； the two lowest levels melted out。 They're pumping out the water； slaving to save the rest。〃
〃People must be panicked。〃
〃No one knows。〃
〃You do；〃 said Nathan Lee。
〃Secrets are my business。〃
〃Now what？〃
〃We wait； I suppose。 There's always the Sera…III。 The silver bullet。〃
Another secret。 〃I don't know what that is；〃 said Nathan Lee。
〃Miranda hasn't told you？〃
Nathan Lee frowned。 Who was this man？ 〃What about Miranda？〃
〃She's been at work on it for months。 Clone blood； essentially。 Sera loaded with antibodies。〃
〃Miranda's found the cure？〃
〃No。 The antibodies only work for three years。 That's the three in Sera…III。 It's not really a silver bullet。 More like slow suicide。 You have to infect yourself in order to be saved。 And then you're not saved anyway。 Three years down the road； the Grim Reaper is still waiting。〃
〃So the sanctuary chambers are flooded； and there is no cure。 You sound fine with that；〃 said Nathan Lee。
〃I wonder about just desserts； is all；〃 the voice said。
〃You think we deserve to die？〃
〃We take so much for granted；〃 the psychiatrist answered。 〃The question is do we deserve to live？〃
Another time； they talked about the pilgrims。 The little gathering of locals that Nathan Lee had seen along the Rio Grande had been dispersed。 The military had dropped leaflets warning them to go back to their homes； and afterwards killed the valley floor with Agent Orange。 〃But they're ing back；〃 said the physician。 〃It's different this time。 They're starting to show up from faraway。 People are afraid of them。〃
〃Why； are they dangerous？〃
〃We don't know。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃The last Americans。 A lot of them have guns。〃
〃Everyone has guns。〃 Nathan Lee had seen it on his way across the country。 It was little more than gang warfare out there。 〃They'll use them on each other。 They're fragmented。〃
〃Not anymore。〃
〃Why's that？〃
〃Have you ever looked up the word 'apocalypse'？〃 the physician riffed。 〃So many people think it's just another way of saying total destruction。〃
Nathan Lee let him ramble。
〃In fact there's a whole philosophy behind it； the idea of a chosen people having special knowledge and being spared the cosmic end。 The righteous will live happily ever after here on earth。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Nathan Lee。 〃The kingdom movement。〃 Where was the man going with this？
〃It's very appealing。 Very American。 Egalitarian。 Inclusive。 Revolutionary。 Just the sort of thing to bring the ragtag barbarians together。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃
〃This Jesus thing of yours。〃
Nathan Lee sat up。 His scalp prickled。 Suddenly he realized these midnight visits had not been random。 The physician had been insinuating himself into Nathan Lee's head。 He was here for a reason。 〃Of mine？〃
〃Please；〃 said the physician。 〃You unleashed it。 Without him； they'd still just be scattered across the wilds。 Now they've found a center。〃
〃Do you mean the clone？〃 That was still going on？
〃Yes。〃
〃But he's not Jesus Christ。〃
〃He is now。〃
〃That's crazy。 He's a counterfeit。〃
〃Tell him that。〃
〃I did。 I tried。〃 What had been going on in his absence？
〃I thought you might try to disown him。〃
〃He's not mine；〃 said Nathan Lee。
〃But you helped create him。 The clones were speechless animals； at least most of them；〃 said the physician。 〃You gave them a voice。 You built them a stage。 I never imagined anyone would go so far for them。〃
〃They're harmless。 The messiah is somebody's idea of a practical joke。〃
〃The city was so safe； just one more spot on the map；〃 said the physician。 〃Everything was fine。 But now the mob is ing。〃 And yet he didn't sound resentful。
〃The soldiers will protect us。〃 Nathan Lee felt trapped。 He was at the man's mercy； locked in here。 What did he want with him？
〃What if it's too late？〃 The question was rhetorical； not bitter。
〃Who are you？〃 Nathan Lee demanded。
〃I just wanted to say thank you； Nathan Lee。〃
〃For what？〃
〃For doing your part。〃
〃My part of what？〃
〃As you put it； the joke；〃 said the voice。
The voice departed。 Nathan Lee called to the ceiling speaker for the man to e back； but there was only silence。 He hammered at his door； and the staff ignored him。
Next morning； when a nurse spoke to him over the inter； Nathan Lee demanded to know who the physician was that had been talking to him each night。 She checked their records； and there was no such physician； no nighttime psychiatrists； no midnight calls。 By her tone of voice； Nathan Lee could tell she thought he was imagining things。 A lot of their patients did that。
ON THE EVEof his release； Miranda was allowed to place a call。 You were supposed to be inmunicado in here。 The stated reason was that decon was a period of debriefing。 Contact with family and friends might contaminate your information。 In fact； Nathan Lee suspected； the authorities feared letting people see their loved ones so raw and wild。 Tucked away in decon； the psychiatrists had time to tame you。
Nathan Lee's puter screen flickered to life and Miranda's face appeared on the wall。 The camera softened her cheeks。 She looked different； even healthy。 He couldn't put his finger on it。
〃Your two weeks are almost up；〃 she announced brightly。
He sat up； dull and heavy。 His
