jefflong.yearzero-第76部分

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；　a　few　seconds　past　real　time；　however　long　it　took　to　transmit　from　the　valley　to　space　and　back　down　to　this　room。
　His　luminous；　hollow…eyed　head　turned　to　one　side；　then　bent　over　Izzy　again。　She　touched　the　screen。　If　only　she'd　known　what　he　was　thinking。　She　would　have　wrapped　her　arms　around　him；　paralyzed　him　with　her　love；　ordered　his　arrest。　But　in　saving　him；　she　would　have　doomed　the　city。　He　had　given　her　what　she　wanted。
　Los　Alamos　was　aware　of　his　sacrifice。　Whatever　he　had　done　down　there；　he　had　done　for　them。　Whether　that　was　true　or　not；　they　believed　it　was　so。　They　had　chosen　Nathan　Lee　to　mark　the　epicenter。　It　was　a　sort　of　cartographic　honor。　All　their　bull's…eye　overlays　centered　on　him。　They　measured　their　new　hope　outwards　from　where　he　sat。
　She　placed　her　chair　sideways　to　the　monitor　so　that　her　back　was　to　the　room。　She　sat　next　to　him；　inches　from　the　screen。　They'd　tightened　down　on　him　to　the　maximum　resolution；　but　he　still　looked　so　tiny。　His　skull　was　a　matter　of　pixels。　Sitting　there；　he　fit　under　her　fingertip。　The　image　pulsed。
　He　had　not　self…infected　with　the　Sera…III。　Miranda　had　checked　the　freezer；　and　all　the　samples　were　accounted　for。　She　understood。　By　the　end　of　forty…eight　hours；　Izzy　would　have　been　dead。　Ochs　might　have　invaded。　The　generals　might　have　made　their　move。　By　going　immediately；　Nathan　Lee　had　preempted　the　alternate　realities；　or　at　least　some　of　them。
　Izzy　had　died。　She　wasn't　sure　Nathan　Lee　even　knew。　For　several　hours　she'd　been　watching　darkness　creep　through　Izzy's　limbs　and　into　his　core。　Now　he　was　little　more　than　a　shadow　on　Nathan　Lee's　lap。
　Beside　her；　a　puter's　screen　saver　showed　clouds　whisking　past　the　Matterhorn。　The　scene　switched：　the　Grand　Canyon　at　dawn。　A　Hawaiian　waterfall。　Fields　of　red　poppies。　Mount　Everest　at　sunset。　It　was　a　box　full　of　dreams。　At　last　she　figured　out　the　screen　theme。　There　were　no　people　in　the　pretty　places。　The　puter　was　showing　her　the　Garden　before　man。　She　reached　over　and　turned　it　off。
　They　had　supplies　to　last　a　decade。　With　care；　there　seemed　no　reason　they　could　not　last　forever。　If　the　plague　approached　again；　they　could　always　self…infect。　Three　years；　Nathan　Lee　had　argued　with　her。　A　whole　lifetime。
　She　returned　to　the　monitor；　to　her　spectral　lover。How　long　are　you　going　to　sit　there？　His　hands　were　losing　light。　She　could　see　it。　He　was　freezing。　She　resented　that。　He　knew　how　to　take　care　of　himself。　If　he　could　make　it　across　Tibet　in　the　dead　of　winter；　this　should　be　a　snap。　But　he　just　sat　there。
　Finally　she　could　not　bear　to　simply　watch。　She　got　to　her　feet。　Her　jaw　was　set。　Her　decision　was　made。
　Nathan　Lee　would　be　hot　with　the　virus　now；　but　she　could　wear　a　biohazard　suit。　The　roads　were　piling　up　with　snow；　but　she　could　take　one　of　the　big　Army　trucks　with　chains。　For　that　matter；　she　could　walk。　It　was　only　twelve　miles。　The　snow　couldn't　be　that　deep。
　The　Captain　intercepted　her　at　the　door。　She　hadn't　even　been　aware　he　was　here。　〃Forget　it；〃　he　said。　〃One　sacrifice　is　enough。〃
　〃I'm　bringing　him　back；〃　she　told　him。　〃He　can　live　out　what's　left　in　a　warm　bed　in　South　Sector。〃
　〃That's　not　what　he　wants。〃
　〃Oh；　he　told　you？〃
　〃I　have　eyes。〃
　〃Well　I'm　not　giving　up　on　him。〃
　〃We　need　you　here；　Miranda；〃　he　said。
　〃Then　send　a　team　of　men　for　him。〃
　〃Don't　spoil　it；〃　said　the　Captain。
　She　felt　skinned；　she　was　so　raw。　〃Spoil　it？〃　she　shouted。　People　looked。　She　lowered　her　voice。　〃He's　throwing　himself　away。〃
　〃You　know　better。〃　He　crooked　one　arm　around　her　shoulders。
　She　thought　he　was　going　to　offer　a　sympathy　hug。　〃Save　your　pity；〃　she　said。
　But　with　a　motion；　he　swept　her　to　face　the　wall　like　a　naughty　child。　He　put　his　head　next　to　hers。　〃The　man's　doing　his　job；〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。　He　was　stern。　〃Do　yours。〃
　The　reprimand　took　her　breath。　He　wasn't　finished。　He　laid　one　hand　on　her　stomach。　On　her　womb。
　She　flushed。　He'd　learned　her　secret。　〃He　told　you　before　he　went；〃　she　whispered。
　〃No；〃　said　the　Captain。　〃Like　I　said；　I　have　eyes。　My　wife；　she　knew　you　were　pregnant　a　long　time　ago。　I　wasn't　so　sure。　But　I　am　now。〃
　She　fought　with　her　joy；　fought　with　her　sorrow；　which　was　it？
　〃You　need　to　be　thinking；〃　the　Captain　said。　〃What　will　you　tell　the　city　in　the　morning？　They'll　want　to　hear　where　things　go　from　here。〃
　That　hadn't　occurred　to　her。　She　would　have　to　go　public　with　something。　Their　victory　needed　enunciation。　〃What　am　I　supposed　to　say？〃　she　murmured。
　〃Give　them　a　story。　Tell　them　about　the　future。　Make　it　up。　A　new　land。　Wherever　it　is　you　see　us　going。〃
　He　let　go　of　her　shoulder；　and　it　felt　like　she　was　tumbling　through　empty　space。　She　put　her　hands　against　the　wall　to　steady　herself。　She　laid　her　forehead　against　the　hardness　and　breathed　out。　Tears　began　burning　down　her　cheeks；　her　first　tears。　She　was　shaking。　Now　was　the　time　for　the　Captain　to　give　her　his　shoulder。　But　he　didn't。　No　pity。　He　just　stood　beside　her；　faced　out　to　the　room；　and　guarded　her　tears。
　Then；　for　some　reason；　the　sirens　began。
　Swiping　at　her　tears；　Miranda　glanced　around。　All　through　the　room；　heads　were　lifting　from　monitors。　People　stood　hesitantly；　half　certain　the　wailing　would　shut　off。　But　it　went　on。
　〃What's　happening？〃　Miranda　asked。　〃Are　we　under　attack？〃
　She　looked　for　the　generals'　staffers。　Maybe　they　could　explain。　But　they　had　left。
　Men　and　women　had　begun　checking　each　other's　screens；　confused。　〃It's　got　to　be　a　false　alarm；〃　someone　insisted。　〃There's　no　movement　in　the　valley。〃　Even　so；　people　began　drifting　to　the　doorway；　reluctant　to　leave　their　stations；　and　yet　tugged　by　the　sirens。　They　didn't　know　what　to　trust。
　Out　in　the　hallway；　men　and　women　were　streaming　for　the　exits；　shrugging　on　jackets；　grumbling　about　the　bother。　Miranda　pushed　through　them；　making　for　the　stairway　to　the　roof。　The　Captain　was　at　her　heels。　She　climbed　the　stairs　two　at　a　time。
　The　rooftop　was　bright　with　floodlights。　The　snow　sparkled　like　jewels。　It　was　piled　to　her　knees；　deeper　than　she'd　thought。　The　air　swirled　with　heavy　white　flakes。　On　the　edge　of　the　dark　forest；　tall　phantom　pines　came　and　went　in　the　gusts。
　Miranda　went　to　the　edge　of　the　building　and　looked　across　at　the　glittering　city。　It　was　beautiful；　all　decorated　with　holiday　lights。　Big　snow　plows　with　flashing　blue　lights　were　blading　clean　the　roads。　Columns　of　soldiers　were　filing　through　the　streets。　The　air　raid　sirens　went　on　howling　at　them；　waking　the　city；　waking　the　dead。
　The　generals；　she　thought。　They　weren't　finished　yet。
　　
　NATHANLEElifted　his　head。　He　heard　the　song。　He　opened　his　eyes。
　The　world　was　pitch　black。　He　had　been　nearing　the　bottom。　Hypothermia　was　its　own　realm。　Now　he　floated　back　to　consciousness。
　Who　could　be　singing？　It　was　so　beautiful。
　He　took　a　long　minute　to　remember　where　he　was。　He　didn't　see　the　snow。　He　didn't　feel　the　weight　across　his　legs。　His　arms　were　stone。　He　felt　rooted　to　the　earth。　Ancient　as　a　relic。
　He　thought；I'm　blind。　Then　he　lifted　his　head　a　little　more；　and　there　was　the　faintest　glow　on　the　far　horizon。Dawn；　he　smiled。　Night　was　passing。
　The　singing　had　no　words。　He　listened　more　intently。　It　came　to　him。The　throats　of　angels。
　Then　there　was　light。
　
　36
　Exodus
　
　The　valley　lit　white。
　Miranda　stepped　back　from　the　flash。
　The　far　mountains　went　dark。　Abruptly　they　surged　to　orange　and　red　in　the　gathering　fireball。　That　suddenly　the　air　raid　sirens　fell　silent。
　The　only　thing　she　knew　about　such　things　came　from　movies。　Next　would　e　a　tidal　wave　of　wind　and　fire。　Buildings　would　ignite；　glass　fly；　forests　bend。　Their　flesh　would　melt。
　The　Captain　thought　so；　too。　〃Get　down！〃　he　yelled。　They　fell　into　the　snow　on　top　of　the　roof。
　But　the　aftershock　never　reached　them。　Not　a　breeze。
　The　weaponeers　must　have　been　planning　it　for　days。　The　bomb　was　perfectly　planted；　sized　just　right。　She　could　picture　it　from　above。　With　the　base　of　the　mesa　for　its　anchor　wall；　the　nuclear　wind　had　cast　out　across　the　valley；　east　and　south　and　north。。。away　from　the　city。
　At　last　the　sound　of　a　thunderclap　cracked　above　the　city。　It　passed　over　them　to　the　west；　into　the　night。
　On　her　elbows；　Miranda　crawled　through　the　snow　to　the　edge　of　the　roof。　The　mushroom　cloud　was　flowering　to　the　south　and　east；　midway　to　Santa　Fe。　It　was　pink。　The　head　reached　their　height；　then　went　on　growing；　a　long；　skinny　stalk　poking　at　the　stars。　The　stars　showed。　The　blast　had　melted　a　hole　in　the　very　sky。
　The　Captain　joined　her。　Side　by　side；　they　peered　off　toward　the　valley。
　〃What　have　you　done？〃　murmured　Miranda。
　〃I　had　no　idea；〃　said　the　Captain。　His　voice　was　full　of　shock。
　She　closed　her　eyes。　〃Not　you；〃　she　said。　〃God　damn　my　father。〃
　Everything　stood　revealed。　Ochs　had　been　released　to　preach。　He　had　unwittingly　brought　the　hordes　of　faithful　into　one　place。　Her　father　had　wielded　the　people's　faith　against　them。　He　had　dangled　the　city　as　bait；　then　struck　with　one　swift　blow。　Their　enemy　was　abolished。
　〃Don't；〃　the　Captain　stopped　her　quietly。　〃He's　your　father。〃
　She　vomited。　Onto　her　arms；　into　the　snow；　over　the　edge。
　〃It　was　self…defense；〃　said　the　Captain。　But　his　voice　was　hollow。
　〃They　were　leaving。〃
　〃I　know；〃　he　whispered。
　〃A　nuclear　bomb。　Against　children？〃
　The　Captain　searched　for　justification。　〃What　did　they　expect？　This　is　Los　Alamos。〃
　〃They　had　no　warning。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　have　mattered。〃
　〃For　some　it　might　have。〃
　〃They　were　already　dead；〃　he　said。　〃All　of　them。〃
　〃That's　monstrous。〃
　〃They　were　done　with　the　world。　They'd　said　their　prayers。　For　them　the　siege　was　just　another　way　to　die。　A　quicker　way。〃
　〃The　bomb　was　a　mercy？〃
　〃We're　spared；〃　said　the　Captain。　〃It's　not　pleasant　how　we're　spared。　But　now　they　won't　e。〃
　〃A　million　people。〃
　〃Now　we　have　a　future；〃　he　reminded　her。　〃The　future　you　wanted。〃
　〃Not　like　this。〃
　She　looked　at　the　Captain　and　his　horror　was　explicit。　He　looked　old。　He　didn't　believe　his　own　words。　She　got　to　her　knees。　〃e　inside。〃
　〃Yes。〃　But　he　seemed　so　fragile。　He　was　shivering。　She　had　to　help　him　to　his　feet。