[科幻]宿主- 第108部分

　“Yes；　I　am。”

　“Because　it’s　the　right　thing　to　do？”　he　guessed。

　“That’s　one　reason。”

　He　was　silent　for　a　moment。

　“You　know　how　to　get　the　soul　out　without　hurting　the　body？”

　My　heart　thumped　hard　once；　and　I　had　to　swallow　before　I　could　answer。　“Yes。　I’ve　done　it　before。　In　

an　emergency。　Not　here。”

　“Where？”　he　asked。　“What　was　the　emergency？”

　It　was　a　story　I’d　never　told　them　before；　for　obvious　reasons。　It　was　one　of　my　best。　Lots　of　action。　

Jamie　would　have　loved　it。　I　sighed　and　began　in　a　low　voice。　
“On　the　Mists　Planet。　I　was　with　my　friend　Harness　Light　and　a　guide。　I　don’t　remember　the　guide’s　

name。　They　called　me　Lives　in　the　Stars　there。　I　already　had　a　bit　of　a　reputation。”

　Jared　chuckled。

　“We　were　making　a　pilgrimage　across　the　fourth　great　ice　field　to　see　one　of　the　more　celebrated　crystal　

cities。　It　was　supposed　to　be　a　safe　route—that’s　why　there　were　only　three　of　us。

　“Claw　beasts　like　to　dig　pits　and　bury　themselves　in　the　snow。　Camouflage；　you　know。　A　trap。

　“One　moment；　there　was　nothing　but　the　flat；　endless　snow。　Then；　the　next　moment；　it　seemed　like　the　

entire　field　of　white　was　exploding　into　the　sky。

　“An　average　adult　Bear　has　about　the　mass　of　a　buffalo。　A　full…grown　claw　beast　is　closer　to　the　mass　of　
a　blue　whale。　This　one　was　bigger　than　most。　

　

　A　car　drove　slowly　down　the　side　of　the　parking　lot。　We　sat　silent　until　it　had　passed。

　“I　hesitated。　I　should　have　started　running；　but…　my　friend　was　dying　there　on　the　ice。　Because　of　that　
hesitation；　I　would　have　died；　too；　if　the　claw　beast　hadn’t　been　distracted。　I　found　out　later　that　our　
guide—I　wish　I　could　remember　his　name！—had　attacked　the　claw　beast’s　tail；　hoping　to　give　us　a　
chance　to　run。　The　claw　beast’s　attack　had　stirred　up　enough　snow　that　it　was　like　a　blizzard。　The　lack　of　
visibility　would　help　us　escape。　He　didn’t　know　it　was　already　too　late　for　Harness　Light　to　run。

　“The　claw　beast　turned　on　the　guide；　and　his　second　left　leg　kicked　us；　sending　me　flying。　Harness　
Light’s　upper　body　landed　beside　me。　His　blood　melted　the　snow。”

　I　paused　to　shudder。

　“My　next　action　made　no　sense；　because　I　had　no　body　for　Harness　Light。　We　were　midway　between　
cities；　much　too　far　to　run　to　either。　It　was　probably　cruel；　too；　to　take　him　out　with　no　painkillers。　But　I　
couldn’t　stand　to　let　him　die　inside　the　broken　half　of　his　Bear　host。

　“I　used　the　back　of　my　hand—the　ice…cutting　side。　It　was　too　wide　a　blade…　It　caused　a　lot　of　damage。　
I　could　only　hope　that　Harness　Light　was　far　gone　enough　that　he　wouldn’t　feel　the　extra　pain。

　“Using　my　soft　inside　fingers；　I　coaxed　Harness　Light　from　the　Bear’s　brain。

　“He　was　still　alive。　I　barely　paused　to　ascertain　this。　I　shoved　him　into　the　egg　pocket　in　the　center　of　my　
body；　between　the　two　hottest　hearts。　This　would　keep　him　from　dying　of　cold；　but　he　would　only　last　a　
few　short　minutes　without　a　body。　And　where　would　I　find　a　host　body　in　this　empty　waste？

　“I　thought　of　trying　to　share　my　host；　but　I　doubted　I　could　stay　conscious　through　the　procedure　to　
insert　him　into　my　own　head。　And　then；　having　no　healing　medicine；　I　would　die　quickly。　With　all　those　
hearts；　Bears　bled　very　fast。

　“The　claw　beast　roared；　and　I　felt　the　ground　shake　as　its　huge　paws　thudded　down。　I　didn’t　know　
where　our　guide　was；　or　if　he　lived。　I　didn’t　know　how　long　it　would　take　the　claw　beast　to　find　us　
half…buried　in　the　snow。　I　was　right　beside　the　severed　Bear。　The　bright　blood　would　draw　the　monster’s　
eyes。

　“And　then　I　got　this　crazy　idea。”

　I　paused　to　laugh　quietly　to　myself。

　“I　didn’t　have　a　Bear　host　for　Harness　Light。　I　couldn’t　use　my　body。　The　guide　was　dead　or　had　fled。　
But　there　wasone　other　body　on　the　ice　field。

　“It　was　insanity；　but　all　I　could　think　of　was　Harness　Light。　We　weren’t　even　close　friends；　but　I　knew　he　
was　slowly　dying；　right　between　my　hearts。　I　couldn’t　endure　that。　

　

　“I　made　it　to　the　beast’s　back　and　ran　up　the　double　spine；　digging　in　with　my　knives　so　that　it　couldn’t　
shake　me　off。

　“It　only　took　seconds　to　get　up　to　the　beast’s　head。　But　that　was　where　the　greatest　difficulty　waited。　
My　ice　cutters　were　only…　about　as　long　as　your　forearm；　maybe。　The　claw　beast’s　hide　was　twice　as　
thick。　I　swung　my　arm　down　as　hard　as　I　could；　slashing　through　the　first　layer　of　fur　and　membrane。　The　
claw　beast　screamed　and　reared　back　on　its　hindmost　legs。　I　almost　fell。

　“I　lodged　four　of　my　hands　into　its　hide—it　screamed　and　thrashed。　With　the　other　two；　I　took　turns　
cutting　at　the　gash　I’d　made。　The　skin　was　so　thick　and　tough；　I　didn’t　know　if　I　would　be　able　to　saw　
through。

　“The　claw　beast　went　berserk。　It　shook　so　hard　that　it　was　all　I　could　do　to　hold　on　for　a　moment。　But　
time　was　running　out　for　Harness　Light。　I　shoved　my　hands　into　the　hole　and　tried　to　rip　it　open。

　“Then　the　claw　beast　threw　itself　backward　onto　the　ice。

　“If　we　hadn’t　been　over　its　lair；　the　pit　it　had　dug　to　hide　in；　that　would　have　crushed　me。　As　it　was；　
though　it　knocked　me　silly；　the　fall　actually　helped。　My　knives　were　already　in　the　beast’s　neck。　When　I　
hit　the　ground；　the　weight　of　the　beast　drove　my　cutters　deep　through　its　skin。　Deeper　than　I　needed。

　“We　were　both　stunned；　I　was　half　smothered。　I　knew　I　had　to　do　something　right　away；　but　I　couldn’t　
remember　what　it　was。　The　beast　started　to　roll；　dazed。　The　fresh　air　cleared　my　head；　and　I　
remembered　Harness　Light。

　“Protecting　him　from　the　cold　as　well　as　I　could　in　the　soft　side　of　my　hands；　I　moved　him　from　my　egg　
pocket　into　the　claw　beast’s　neck。

　“The　beast　got　to　its　feet　and　bucked　again。　This　time　I　flew　off。　I’d　let　go　of　my　hold　to　insert　Harness　
Light；　you　see。　The　claw　beast　was　infuriated。　The　wound　on　its　head　wasn’t　nearly　enough　to　kill　it—just　
annoy　it。

　“The　snow　had　settled　enough　that　I　was　in　plain　sight；　especially　as　I　was　painted　with　the　beast’s　
blood。　It’s　a　very　bright　color；　a　color　you　don’t　have　here。　It　raised　its　pincers；　and　they　swung　toward　
me。　I　thought　that　was　it；　and　I　was　forted　a　little　that　at　least　I　would　dietrying。

　“And　then　the　pincers　hit　the　snow　beside　me。　I　couldn’t　believe　it　had　missed！　I　stared　up　at　the　huge；　
hideous　face；　and　I　almost　had　to…　well；　not　laugh。　Bears　don’t　laugh。　But　that　was　the　feeling。　Because　
that　ugly　face　was　torn　with　confusion　and　surprise　and　chagrin。　No　claw　beast　had　ever　worn　such　an　
expression　before。

　“It　had　taken　Harness　Light　a　few　minutes　to　bind　himself　to　the　claw　beast—it　was　such　a　big　area；　he　
really　had　to　extend　himself。　But　then　he　was　in　control。　He　was　confused　and　slow—he　didn’t　have　
much　of　a　brain　to　work　with；　but　it　was　enough　that　he　knew　I　was　his　friend。

　“I　had　to　ride　him　to　the　crystal　city—to　hold　the　wound　closed　on　his　neck　until　we　could　reach　a　

　

　I’d　been　staring　ahead；　toward　the　lights　of　the　hospital　and　the　figures　of　the　souls　crossing　in　front　of　
those　lights；　as　I　told　the　story。　Now　I　looked　at　Jared　for　the　first　time。　He　was　gaping　at　me；　his　eyes　
wide　and　his　mouth　hanging　open。

　It　reallywas　one　of　my　best　stories。　I’d　have　to　get　Mel　to　promise　that　she’d　tell　it　to　Jamie　when　I　
was…

　“They’re　probably　finished　unloading；　don’t　you　think？”　I　said　quickly。　“Let’s　finish　this　and　get　back　
home。”

　He　stared　at　me　for　one　more　moment；　and　then　shook　his　head　slowly。

　“Yes；　let’s　finish　this；　Wanderer；　Lives　in　the　Stars；　Rides　the　Beast。　Stealing　a　few　unguarded　crates　
won’t　present　much　of　a　challenge　foryou；　will　it？”

　CHAPTER　52

　Separated

　We　brought　our　plunder　in　through　the　south　vent；　though　this　meant　that　the　jeep　would　have　to　be　
moved　before　dawn。　My　main　concern　with　using　the　bigger　entrance　was　that　the　Seeker　would　hear　the　
motion　our　arrival　was　sure　to　cause。　I　wasn’t　sure　if　she　had　any　idea　of　what　I　was　going　to　do；　
and　I　didn’t　want　to　give　her　any　reason　to　kill　her　host　and　herself。　The　story　Jeb　had　told　me　about　one　
of　their　captives—the　man　who　had　simply　collapsed；　leaving　no　external　evidence　on　the　outside　of　the　
havoc　wreaked　inside　his　skull—haunted　my　thoughts。

　The　hospital　was　not　empty。　As　I　squeezed　myself　through　the　last　tight　bubble　of　space　out　into　the　
main　room；　I　found　Doc　preparing　for　the　operation。　His　desk　was　laid　out；　on　it；　a　propane　lantern—the　
brightest　illumination　we　had　available—waited　to　be　lit。　The　scalpels　glinted　in　the　duller　blue　light　of　the　
solar　lamp。

　I　had　known　that　Doc　would　agree　to　my　terms；　but　seeing　him　thus　occupied　sent　a　wave　of　nervous　
nausea　through　me。　Or　maybe　it　was　just　the　memory　of　that　other　day　that　sickened　me；　the　day　I’d　
caught　him　with　blood　on　his　hands。

　“You’re　back；”　he　said　with　relief。　I　realized　that　he’d　been　worried　about　us；　just　as　everyone　worried　
when　someone　left　the　safety　of　the　caves。

　“We　brought　you　a　gift；”　Jared　said　as　he　pushed　himself　free　behind　me。　He　straightened　up　and　
reached　back　for　a　box。　With　a　flourish；　he　held　it　up；　displaying　the　label　on　the　side。

　“Heal！”　Doc　crowed。　“How　much　did　you　get？”

　“Two　cases。　And　we’ve　found　a　much　better　way　to　renew　our　stores　than　to　have　Wanda　stabbing　
herself。”

　Doc　did　not　laugh　at　Jared’s　joke。　Instead　he　turned　to　stare　at　me　piercingly。　We　both　must　have　been　
thinking　the　same　thing：Convenient；　since　Wanda　won’t　be　around。　

　

Generated　by　ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter；　processtext/abclit。html　
。　
Jared　noticed　the　look　and　the　tension。　He　glanced　at　me；　his　expression　impossible　to　read。　
“Yes；”　I　answered。　“Ten　of　them。　It　was　all　the　car　could　hold。”　
While　I　spoke；　Jared　yanked　on　the　rope　behind　him。　With　a　clatter　of　loose　rock；　the　second　box　of　


Heal；　followed　by　the　tanks；　tumbled　onto　the　floor　behind　him。　The　tanks　clanked　like　metal；　though　they　
were　built　of　no　element　that　existed　on　this　planet。　I’d　told　him　it　was　fine　to　treat　the　empty　cryotanks　
roughly；　they　were　built　to　withstand　much　worse　abuse　than　being　tugged　through　a　stone　channel。　They　
glinted　on　the　floor　now；　looking　shiny　and　pristine。

　Doc　picked　one　up；　freeing　it　from　the　rope；　and　turned　it　around　in　his　hands。

　“Ten？”　The　number　seemed　to　surprise　him。　Did　he　think　it　too　many？　Or　not　enough？　“Are　they　difficult　
to　use？”　
“No。　Extremely　easy。　I’ll　show　you　how。”　
Doc　nodded；　his　eyes　examining　the　alien　construction。　I　could　feel　Jared　watching　me；　but　I　kept　my　

eyes　on　Doc。　
“What　did　Jeb；　Brandt；　and　Aaron　say？”　I　asked。　
Doc　looked　up；　locked　his　eyes　on　mine。　“They’re…　in　agreement　with　your　terms。”　
I　nodded；　not　convinced。　“I　won’t　show　you　unless　I　believe　that。”　
“That’s　fair。”　
Jared　glared　at　us；　confused　and　frustrated。　
“What　did　you　tell　him？”　Doc　asked　me；　being　cautious。　
“Just　that　I　was　going　to　save　the　Seeker。”　I　turned　to　look　in　Jared’s　general　direction　without　meeting　

his　gaze。　“Doc　has　promised　me　that　if　I　show　him　how　to　perform　the　separation；　you　will