mc.prey-第21部分

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s　power。　Walkway　to　that　low　building；　that's　the　residences。　Next　door；　fab　support；　labs；　whatever。　And　then　the　square　windowless　three…story　one；　that's　the　main　fab　building。　They　tell　me　it's　a　shell；　it's　got　another　building　inside　it。　Then　over　to　the　right；　that　low　flat　shed；　that's　external　storage　and　parking。　Cars　have　to　be　under　shade　here；　or　the　dashboards　buckle。　Get　a　first…degree　burn　if　you　touch　your　steering　wheel。〃　I　said；　〃And　they　have　residences？〃
　The　pilot　nodded。　〃Yeah。　Have　to。　Nearest　motel　is　a　hundred　and　sixty…one　miles。　Over　near　Reno。〃
　〃So　how　many　people　live　in　this　facility？〃　Growly　said。
　〃They　can　take　twelve；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃But　they've　generally　got　about　five　to　eight。　Doesn't　take　a　lot　to　run　the　place。　It's　all　automated；　from　what　I　hear。〃
　〃What　else　do　you　hear？〃
　〃Not　very　damn　much；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃They're　closed…mouthed　about　this　place。　I've　never　even　been　inside。〃
　〃Good；〃　said　Growly。　〃Let's　make　sure　they　keep　it　that　way。〃
　The　pilot　turned　the　stick　in　his　hand。　The　helicopter　banked；　and　started　down。　I　opened　the　plastic　door　in　the　bubble　cockpit；　and　started　to　get　out。　It　was　like　stepping　into　an　oven。　The　blast　of　heat　made　me　gasp。
　〃This　is　nothing！〃　the　pilot　shouted；　over　the　whirr　of　the　blades。　〃This　is　almost　winter！　Can't　be　more　than　a　hundred　and　five！〃
　〃Great；〃　I　said；　inhaling　hot　air。　I　reached　in　the　back　for　my　overnight　bag　and　my　laptop。　I'd　stowed　them　under　the　seat　of　the　timid　man。
　〃I　have　to　take　a　piss；〃　said　Growly；　releasing　his　seat　belt。
　〃Dave　。。。〃　said　the　man　with　the　briefcase；　in　a　warning　tone。
　〃Fuck；　it's　just　for　a　minute。〃
　〃Dave…〃　an　embarrassed　glance　toward　me；　then　lowering　his　voice：　〃They　said；　we　don't　get　out　of　the　helicopter；　remember？〃
　〃Aw　hell。　I　can't　wait　another　hour。　Anyway；　what's　the　difference？〃　He　gestured　toward　the　surrounding　desert。　〃There's　nothing　the　fuck　out　here　for　a　million　miles。〃
　〃But；　Dave…〃
　〃You　guys　give　me　a　pain。　I'm　going　to　pee；　damn　it。〃　He　hefted　his　bulk　up；　and　moved　toward　the　door。
　I　didn't　hear　the　rest　of　their　conversation　because　by　then　I　had　taken　off　my　earphones。　Growly　was　clambering　out。　I　grabbed　my　bags；　turned　and　moved　away；　crouched　beneath　the　blades。　They　cast　a　flickering　shadow　on　the　pad。　I　came　to　the　edge　of　the　pad　where　the　concrete　ended　abruptly　in　a　dirt　path　that　threaded　among　the　clumps　of　cholla　cactus　toward　the　blocky　white　power　building　fifty　yards　away。　There　was　no　one　to　greet　me…in　fact；　no　one　in　sight　at　all。
　Looking　back；　I　saw　Growly　zip　up　his　trousers　and　climb　back　into　the　helicopter。　The　pilot　pulled　the　door　shut　and　lifted　off；　waving　to　me　as　he　rose　into　the　air。　I　waved　back；　then　ducked　away　from　the　swirl　of　spitting　sand。　The　helicopter　circled　once　and　headed　west。　The　sound　faded。
　The　desert　was　silent　except　for　the　hum　of　the　electrical　power　lines　a　few　hundred　yards　away。　The　wind　ruffled　my　shirt；　flapped　my　trouser　legs。　I　turned　in　a　slow　circle；　wondering　what　to　do　now。　And　thinking　about　the　words　of　the　PR　guy：　They　said；　we　don't　get　out　of　the　helicopter；　remember？
　〃Hey！　Hey；　you！〃
　I　looked　back。　A　door　had　cracked　open　in　the　white　power　block。　A　man's　head　stuck　out。　He　shouted；　〃Are　you　Jack　Forman？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　〃Well；　what　the　hell　you　waiting　for；　an　engraved　invitation？　Get　inside；　for　Chrissake。〃
　And　he　slammed　the　door　shut　again。
　That　was　my　wele　to　the　Xymos　Fabrication　Facility。　Lugging　my　bags；　I　trudged　down　the　dirt　path　toward　the　door。
　Things　never　turn　out　the　way　you　expect。
　*　*　*
　I　stepped　into　a　small　room；　with　dark　gray　walls　on　three　sides。　The　walls　were　some　smooth　material　like　Formica。　It　took　my　eyes　a　moment　to　adjust　to　the　relative　darkness。　Then　I　saw　that　the　fourth　wall　directly　ahead　of　me　was　entirely　glass；　leading　to　a　small　partment　and　a　second　glass　wall。　The　glass　walls　were　fitted　with　folding　steel　arms；　ending　in　metal　pressure　pads。　It　looked　a　little　bit　like　what　you'd　expect　to　see　in　a　bank　vault。　Beyond　the　second　glass　wall　I　could　see　a　burly　man　in　blue　trousers　and　a　blue　work　shirt；　with　the　Xymos　logo　on　the　pocket。　He　was　clearly　the　plant　maintenance　engineer。　He　gestured　to　me。
　〃It's　an　airlock。　Door's　automatic。　Walk　forward。〃
　I　did；　and　the　nearest　glass　door　hissed　open。　A　red　light　came　on。　In　the　partment　ahead；　I　saw　grillwork　on　floor；　ceiling；　and　both　walls。　I　hesitated。　〃Looks　like　a　fuckin'　toaster；　don't　it？〃　the　man　said；　grinning。　He　had　some　teeth　missing。　〃But　don't　worry；　it'll　just　blow　you　a　little。　e　ahead。〃
　I　stepped　into　the　glass　partment；　and　set　my　bag　on　the　ground。
　〃No；　no。　Pick　the　bag　up。〃
　I　picked　it　up　again。　Immediately；　the　glass　door　behind　me　hissed　shut；　the　steel　arms　unfolding　smoothly。　The　pressure　pads　sealed　with　a　thunk。　I　felt　a　slight　disfort　in　my　ears　as　the　airlock　pressurized。　The　man　in　blue　said；　〃You　might　want　to　close　your　eyes。〃　I　closed　my　eyes　and　immediately　felt　chilling　spray　strike　my　face　and　body　from　all　sides。　My　clothes　were　soaked。　I　smelled　a　stinging　odor　like　acetone；　or　nail　polish　remover。　I　began　to　shiver；　the　liquid　was　really　cold。
　The　first　blast　of　air　came　from　above　my　head；　a　roar　that　quickly　built　to　hurricane　intensity。　I　stiffened　my　body　to　steady　myself。　My　clothes　flapped　and　pressed　flat　against　my　body。　The　wind　increased；　threatening　to　tear　the　bag　from　my　hand。　Then　the　air　stopped　for　a　moment；　and　a　second　blast　came　upward　from　the　floor。　It　was　disorienting；　but　it　only　lasted　a　few　moments。　Then　with　a　whoosh　the　vacuum　pumps　kicked　in　and　I　felt　a　slight　ache　in　my　ears　as　the　pressure　dropped；　like　an　airplane　descending。　Then　silence。　A　voice　said；　〃That's　it。　e　ahead。〃
　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　liquid　they'd　sprayed　on　me　had　evaporated；　my　clothes　were　dry。　The　doors　hissed　open　before　me。　I　stepped　out　and　the　man　in　blue　looked　at　me　quizzically。　〃Feel　okay？〃
　〃Yeah；　I　think　so。〃
　〃No　itching？〃
　〃No　。。。〃
　〃Good。　We　had　a　few　people　who　were　allergic　to　the　stuff。　But　we've　got　to　do　this　routine；　for　the　clean　rooms。〃
　I　nodded。　It　was　obviously　a　procedure　to　remove　dust　and　other　contaminants。　The　dousing　fluid　was　highly　volatile；　evaporating　at　room　temperature；　drawing　off　microparticles　on　my　body　and　clothes。　The　air　jets　and　vacuum　pleted　the　scrub。　The　procedure　would　remove　any　loose　particles　on　my　body　and　suck　them　away。
　〃I'm　Vince　Reynolds；〃　the　man　said；　but　he　didn't　hold　out　his　hand。　〃You　call　me　Vince。　And　you're　Jack？〃
　I　said　I　was。
　〃Okay；　Jack；〃　he　said。　〃They're　waiting　for　you；　so　let's　get　started。　We　got　to　take　precautions；　because　this　is　an　HMF；　that's　high　magnetic　field　environment；　greater　than　33　Tesla；　so　。。。〃　He　picked　up　a　cardboard　box。　〃Better　lose　your　watch。〃　I　put　the　watch　in　the　box。
　〃And　the　belt。〃
　I　took　my　belt　off；　put　it　in　the　box。
　〃Any　other　jewelry？　Bracelet？　Necklace？　Piercings？　Decorative　pins　or　medals？　MedicAlert？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃How　about　metal　inside　your　body？　Old　injury；　bullets；　shrapnel？　No？　Any　pins　for　broken　arms　or　legs；　hip　or　knee　replacement？　No？　Artificial　valves；　artificial　cartilage；　vascular　pumps　or　implants？〃
　I　said　I　didn't　have　any　of　those　things。
　〃Well；　you're　still　young；〃　he　said。　〃Now　how　about　in　your　bag？〃　He　made　me　take　everything　out　and　spread　it　on　a　table；　so　he　could　rummage　through　it。　I　had　plenty　of　metal　in　there：　another　belt　with　a　metal　buckle；　nail　clippers；　a　can　of　shaving　cream；　razor　and　blades；　a　pocket　knife；　blue　jeans　with　metal　rivets　。。。
　He　took　the　knife　and　the　belt　but　left　the　rest。　〃You　can　put　your　stuff　back　in　the　bag；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　here's　the　deal。　Your　bag　goes　to　the　residence　building；　but　no　farther。　Okay？　There's　an　alarm　at　the　residence　door　if　you　try　to　take　any　metal　past　there。　But　do　me　a　favor　and　don't　set　it　off；　okay？　'Cause　it　shuts　down　the　magnets　as　a　safety　procedure　and　it　takes　about　two　minutes　to　start　'em　up　again。　Pisses　the　techs　off；　especially　if　they're　fabbing　at　the　time。　Ruins　all　their　hard　work。〃
　I　said　I　would　try　to　remember。
　〃The　rest　of　your　stuff　stays　right　here。〃　He　nodded　to　the　wall　behind　me；　I　saw　a　dozen　small　safes；　each　with　an　electronic　keypad。　〃You　set　the　bination　and　lock　it　up　yourself。〃　He　turned　aside　so　I　could　do　that。
　〃I　won't　need　a　watch？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃We'll　get　you　a　watch。〃
　〃What　about　a　belt？〃
　〃We'll　get　you　a　belt。〃
　〃And　my　laptop？〃　I　said。
　〃It　goes　in　the　safe；〃　he　said。　〃Unless　you　want　to　scrub　your　hard　drive　with　the　magnetic　field。〃　I　put　the　laptop　in　with　the　rest　of　my　stuff；　and　locked　the　door。　I　felt　strangely　stripped；　like　a　man　entering　prison。　〃You　don't　want　my　shoelaces；　too？〃　I　said；　making　a　joke。　〃Nah。　You　keep　those。　So　you　can　strangle　yourself；　if　it　turns　out　you　need　to。〃
　〃Why　would　I　need　to？〃
　〃I　really　couldn't　say。〃　Vince　shrugged。　〃But　these　guys　working　here？　Let　me　tell　you；　they're　all　fucking　crazy。　They're　making　these　teeny…weeny　little　things　you　can't　see；　pushing　around　molecules　and　shit；　sticking　'em　together。　It's　real　tense　and　detailed　work；　and　it　makes　them　crazy。　E