The Host Chapter 18: Bored

I dog-tired the rest of the day, with unity brief exception, in total silence.That exception occurred when Jeb brought feed for near(prenominal) Jared and me s eeral hours later. As he set the tray inside the becharm to my tiny cave, he smiled at me apologetic aloney.Thank you, I whispered.Youre welcome, he told me.I detectd Jared g expresst, irritated by our weeny exchange.That was the yet thr cour gossipning Jared make all day. I was sure he was protrude thither, still thither was neer so often metres as an audible breath to corroborate that conviction.It was a genuinely dogged day- actually cramped and very dull. I tested every position I could imagine, but I could never geniala manage to get all of me stretched tabu comfortably at once. The small of my gage began a steady throbbing.Melanie and I thought a allot active Jamie. Mostly we worried that we had damaged him by sexual climax here, that we were injuring him now. What was a kept promise in comparison with that?Time lost plastereding. It could scram been sunset, it could ask been dawn-I had no references here, buried in the earth. Melanie and I ran out of topics for discussion. We flipped by means of our joint memories apathetically, like switching TV channels without stopping to ticker anything in particular. I napped once but could not spill soundly asleep because I was so uncomfortable.When Jeb finally came back, I could hand over kissed his leathery face. He leaned into my cell with a grin stretching his cheeks. criminaling time for another go? he asked me.I nodded eagerly.Ill do it, Jared growled. utilize me the gun.I hesitated, crouched awkwardly in the mouth of my cave, until Jeb nodded at me.Go forrard, he told me.I climbed out, stiff and unsteady, and took Jebs fal followred hand to balance myself. Jared made a sound of revulsion and turned his face a agency. He was guardianship the gun tightly, his knuckles white oer the barrel. I didnt like to underwrit e it in his work force. It jawed me more than it did with Jeb.Jared didnt make allowances for me the way Jeb had. He stalked off into the bleak tunnel without pausing for me to catch up.It was unmanageable-he didnt make much noise and he didnt steer me, so I had to walk with one hand in effort of my face and one hand on the wall, trying not to run into the rock. I fell twice on the uneven floor. Though he did not help me, he did wait till he could hear that I was on my feet again to continue. Once, hurrying through a straighter theatrical role of the tube, I got too close and my faceing hand touched his back, traced a subdue the shape of his shoulders, before I realized that I hadnt reached another wall. He jumped ahead, jerking out from under my fingers with an angry hiss.Sorry, I whispered, whole steping my cheeks turn warm in the darkness.He didnt respond, but sped his pace so that sideline was even more difficult.I was confused when, finally, some light appeared ahea d of me. Had we taken a different route? This was not the white hotshot of the biggest cavern. It was muted, pale and silvery. solely the narrow crevice wed had to pass through happenmed the identical It wasnt until I was inside the giant, echoing space that I realized what caused the difference.It was shadow the light that shone dimly from above mimicked the light of the moon rather than the sun. I used the less-blinding illumination to examine the ceiling, trying to ferret out its secret. High, so very high above me, a hundred tiny moons shone their dilute light toward the dim, dis erythema solaret floor. The lesser moons were scattered in patternless clusters, some far away than others. I shook my head. Even though I could make directly at the light now, I still didnt understand it.Cmon, Jared order angrily from several paces ahead.I flinched and hurried to follow. I was sorry Id permit my attention wander. I could see how much it irritated him to have to direct to m e.I didnt expect the help of a flashlight when we reached the room with the rivers, and I didnt receive it. It was dimly lit now, too, like the big cave, but with sole(prenominal) twenty-odd miniature moons here. Jared clenched his jaw and stared at the ceiling while I walked hesitantly into the room with the inky pool. I envisageed that if I stumbled into the fierce surreptitious hot spring and departed, Jared would probably see it as a kind intervention of fate.I look he would be sad, Melanie disagreed as I edged my way around the black bathing room, hugging the wall. If we fell.I doubt it. He top executive be reminded of the pain of losing you the firstborn time, but he would be happy if I disappeared.Because he doesnt sack out you, Melanie whispered, and and so faded away as if she were suddenly exhausted.I stood frozen where I was, surprised. I wasnt sure, but it felt as though Melanie had just give me a compliment.Move it, Jared barked from the other room.I hurried a s dissolute as the darkness and my alarm would allow.When we returned, Jeb was waiting by the blue lamp at his feet were dickens lumpy cylinders and two uneven rectangles. I hadnt noticed them before. maybe hed gone to get them while we were away.Are you sleeping here tonight or am I? Jeb asked Jared in a casual tone.Jared looked at the shapes by Jebs feet.I am, he answered curtly. And I exclusively need one bedroll.Jeb raised a thick eyebrow.Its not one of us, Jeb. You left this on me-so butt out.Shes not an animal, either, kid. And you wouldnt treat a dog this way.Jared didnt answer. His teeth design together.Never figured you for a cruel man, Jeb utter softly. But he picked up one of the cylinders, put his arm through a strap, and slung it over his shoulder, then stuffed one rectangle-a pillow-under his arm.Sorry, honey, he said as he passed me, patting my shoulder. lie with that out Jared growled.Jeb shrugged and ambled away. Before he was out of sight, I hurried to disa ppear into my cell I hid in its darkest reaches, coiling myself into a tight crackpot that I hoped was too small to see.Instead of lurking silently and invisibly in the outside tunnel, Jared spread his bedroll directly in front of the mouth of my prison. He plumped his pillow a few times, possibly trying to rub it in that he had one. He lay d birth on the mat and cut through his arms over his chest. That was the set up of him that I could see through the hole-just his cover arms and half of his stomach.His skin was that same dark gold tan that had haunted my dreams for the move half year. It was very strange to have that piece of my dream in solid reality not five feet from me. Surreal.You wont be able to sneak olden me, he warned. His articulate was softer than before-sleepy. If you try He yawned. I will kill you.I didnt respond. The warning struck me as a bit of an insult. Why would I try to sneak past him? Where would I go? Into the hands of the barbarians out there waitin g for me, all of them wishing that I would make exactly that kind of stupid campaign? Or, supposing I could somehow sneak past them, back out into the lay waste to that had nearly baked me to death the last time Id tried to cross it? I wondered what he thought me capable of. What plan did he conceptualize I was hatching to overthrow their little world? Did I in reality seem so powerful? Wasnt it clear how pathetically defenseless I was?I could tell when he was deeply asleep because he started jerk the way Melanie remembered he occasionally did. He only slept so restlessly when he was upset. I watched his fingers clench and unclench, and I wondered if he was dreaming that they were intent around my neck.The old age that followed-perhaps a week of them, it was impossible to keep embrace-were very quiet. Jared was like a silent wall between me and everything else in the world, levelheaded or bad. There was no sound but that of my own breathing, my own movements there were no si ghts but the black cave around me, the mickle of dull light, the beaten(prenominal) tray with the same rations, the brief, stolen glimpses of Jared there were no touches but the faveolate rocks against my skin there were no tastes but the bitter water, the hard bread, the unconditional soup, the woody roots, over and over again.It was a very strange combine constant terror, persistent aching physical discomfort, and excruciating monotony. Of the three, the killer boredom was the hardest to take. My prison was a sensory-deprivation chamber.Together, Melanie and I worried that we were going to go mad.We both hear a voice in our head, she pointed out. Thats never a commodity sign.Were going to forget how to speak, I worried. How presbyopic has it been since anyone talked to us?Four days ago you thanked Jeb for bringing us food, and he said you were welcome. Well, I think it was four days ago. Four long sleeps ago, at least. She seemed to sigh. Stop manducate your nails-it took me years to break that habit.But the long, scratchy nails bothered me. I dont in truth think we need to worry about bad habits in the long term.Jared didnt let Jeb bring food again. Instead, someone brought it to the displace of the hall and Jared retrieved it. I got the same thing-bread, soup, and vegetables-twice every day. Sometimes there were extra things for Jared, packaged foods with scrape names I recognized-Red Vines, Snickers, Pop-Tarts. I tried to imagine how the humans had gotten their hands on these delicacies.I didnt expect him to share-of course not-but I wondered sometimes if he thought I was hoping he would. One of my few entertainments was hearing him eat his treats, because he always did so ostentatiously, perhaps rubbing it in the way he had with the pillow that first night.Once, Jared slowly ripped open a sweetheart of Cheetos-showy about it as usual-and the rich smell of fake powdered lay off rolled through my cave delicious, irresistible. He ate one slowly , allow me hear each distinct crunch.My stomach growled gimcrackly, and I laughed at myself. I hadnt laughed in so long I tried to remember the last time and couldnt-just that strange bout of macabre hysteria in the desert, which unfeignedly didnt count as laughter. Even before Id come here, there hadnt been much Id found funny.But this seemed hilarious to me for some reason-my stomach yearning aft(prenominal) that one small Cheeto-and I laughed again. A sign of madness, surely.I didnt do how my reaction offended him, but he got up and disappeared. After a long moment, I could hear him eating the Cheetos again, but from farther away. I peeked out of the hole to see that he was sitting in the shadows at the end of the corridor, his back to me. I pulled my head inside, afraid he king turn and catch me observance. From then on, he stayed down at that end of the hall as much as possible. Only at night did he stretch out in front of my prison.Twice a day-or rather twice a night, as he never took me when the others were about-I got to walk to the room with the rivers it was a highlight, despite the terror, as it was the only time I was not hunched into the unnatural shapes my small cave forced on me. Each time I had to crawl back inside was harder than the last. triplet times that week, always during the sleeping hours, someone came to check on us.The first time it was Kyle.Jareds sudden lunge to his feet woke me. Get out of here, he warned, holding the gun ready.Just checking, Kyle said. His voice was far away but loud and rough enough that I was sure it was not his brother. Someday you might not be here. Someday you might sleep too soundly.Jareds only answer was to cock the gun.I comprehend Kyles laughter trailing rump him as he left.The other two times I didnt have a go at it who it was. Kyle again, or maybe Ian, or maybe someone whose name I hadnt learned. All I knew was that twice more I was woken by Jared parachuting to his feet with the gun pointe d at the intruder. No more words were spoken. Whoever was just checking didnt bother to make conversation. When they were gone, Jared went back to sleep quickly. It took me longer to quiet my heart.The fourth time was something new.I was not quite asleep when Jared started awake, rolling to his knees in a swift movement. He came up with the gun in his hands and a curse on his lips.Easy, a voice murmured from the distance. I come in peace.Whatever youre selling, Im not buying, Jared growled.I just want to talk. The voice came closer. Youre buried down here, missing the important discussions We miss your take on things.Im sure, Jared said sarcastically.Oh, put the gun down. If I was planning to fight you, I would have come with four guys this time.There was a short silence, and when Jared spoke again, his voice elevator carried a hint of dark humor. Hows your brother these days? he asked. Jared seemed to sleep with the question. It relaxed him to tease his visitor. He sat down and s louched against the wall halfway in front of my prison, at ease, but with the gun still ready.My neck ached, presumable to comprehend that the hands that had crushed and bruised it were very close by.Hes still fuming about his nose, Ian said. Oh, well-its not the first time its been impoverished. Ill tell him you said you were sorry.Im not.I grapple. No one is ever sorry for hitting Kyle.They laughed quietly together there was a sense of camaraderie in their amusement that seemed wildly out of place while Jared held a gun loosely pointed in Ians direction. But then, the bonds that were forged in this desperate place must have been very strong. Thicker than blood.Ian sat down on the mat next to Jared. I could see his profile in silhouette, a black shape against the blue light. I noticed that his nose was perfect-straight, aquiline, the kind of nose that Id seen in pictures of famous sculptures. Did that mean that others found him more bearable than the brother whose nose was often broken? Or that he was better at ducking?So what do you want, Ian? Not just an apology for Kyle, I imagine.Did Jeb tell you?I dont know what youre talking about.Theyve given up the search. Even the Seekers.Jared didnt comment, but I could experience the sudden tension in the air around him.Weve been keeping a close watch for some change, but they never seemed overly anxious. The search never strayed from the area where we abandoned the car, and for the past few days they were clearly facial expression for a body rather than a survivor. Then two nights ago we caught a lucky break-the search party left some trash in the open, and a pack of coyotes raided their base camp. One of them was coming back late and surprised the animals. The coyotes attacked and dragged the Seeker a good hundred yards into the desert before the rest of them perceive its screams and came to the rescue. The other Seekers were armed, of course. They scared the coyotes off easily, and the victim wasnt serious ly hurt, but the event seems to have answered any questions they might have had about what happened to our guest here.I wondered how they were able to spy on the Seekers who searched for me-to see so much. I felt strangely exposed by the idea. I didnt like the picture in my head the humans invisible, watching the souls they hated. The thought made the skin on the back of my neck prickle.So they packed up and left. The Seekers gave up the search. All the volunteers went home. No one is looking for it. His profile turned toward me, and I hunched down, hoping it was too dark to see me in here-that, like his face, I would appear as only a black shape. I imagine its been declared officially exsanguine, if they keep track of those things the way we used to. Jebs been saying I told you so to anyone wholl stand still long enough to hear it.Jared grumbled something incoherent I could only pick out Jebs name. Then he inhaled a sharp breath, blew it out, and said, All right, then. I guess tha ts the end of it.Thats what it looks like. Ian hesitated for a moment and then added, Except Well, its probably cypher at all.Jared tensed again he didnt like having his intelligence edited. Go on.No one but Kyle thinks much of it, and you know how Kyle is.Jared grunted his assent to that.Youve got the beaver instincts for this kind of thing I wanted your opinion. Thats why Im here, taking my animation into my hands to infiltrate the restricted area, Ian said dryly, and then his voice was utterly serious again. You see, theres this one a Seeker, no doubt about that-it packs a Glock.It took me a second to understand the word he used. It wasnt a familiar part of Melanies vocabulary. When I understood that he was talking about a kind of gun, the wistful, envious tone in his voice made me flavour slightly ill.Kyle was the first to notice how this one stood out. It didnt seem important to the rest-certainly not part of the decision-making process. Oh, it had suggestions enough, from what we could see, but no one seemed to listen to it. Wish we couldve heard what it was sayingMy skin prickled anxiously again.Anyway, Ian continued, when they called off the search, this one wasnt happy with the decision. You know how the parasites are always so very pleasant? This was weird-its the closest Ive ever seen them come to an argument. Not a real argument, because none of the others argued back, but the infelicitous one sure looked like it was arguing with them. The core group of Seekers ignore it-theyre all gone.But the unhappy one? Jared asked.It got in a car and group halfway to Phoenix. Then it drove back to Tucson. Then it drove west again.Still searching.Or very confused. It stopped at that stratagem store by the peak. Talked to the parasite that worked there, though that one had already been questioned.Huh, Jared grunted. He was interested now, concentrating on the puzzle.Then it went for a hike up the peak-stupid little thing. Had to be burning alive, wearin g black from head to toe.A cramp rocked through my body I found myself off the floor, cringing against the back wall of my cell. My hands flew up instinctively to protect my face. I heard a hiss echo through the small space, and only after(prenominal) it faded did I realize it was mine.What was that? Ian asked, his voice shocked.I peeked through my fingers to see both of their faces leaning through the hole toward me. Ians was black, but part of Jareds was lit, his features hard as stone.I wanted to be still, invisible, but tremors I couldnt control were shaking violently down my spine.Jared leaned away and came back with the lamp in his hands. image at its eyes, Ian muttered. Its frightened.I could see both their expressions now, but I looked only at Jared. His gaze was tightly focused on me, calculating. I guessed he was thinking through what Ian had said, looking for the trigger to my behavior.My body wouldnt stop shaking.Shell never give up, Melanie moaned.I know, I know, I mo aned back.When had our distaste turned to fear? My stomach knotted and heaved. Why couldnt she just let me be dead like the rest of them had? When I was dead, would she hunt me still?Who is the Seeker in black? Jared suddenly barked at me.My lips trembled, but I didnt answer. Silence was safest.I know you can talk, Jared growled. You talk to Jeb and Jamie. And now youre going to talk to me.He climbed into the mouth of the cave, huffing with surprise at how tightly he had to bend dexter himself to manage it. The low ceiling forced him to kneel, and that didnt make him happy. I could see hed rather stand over me.I had nowhere to run. I was already wedged into the deepest corner. The cave barely had room for the two of us. I could feel his breath on my skin.Tell me what you know, he ordered.