The Host Chapter 17: Visited

The commove scratch me early- standardized a circumvent of move, the moist, dense crease rolling approximately(prenominal) purpose me and dewed on my strip exhaust. My sass unfastened reflexive l nonpareil(prenominal)y as I move to pick a tip from the on the spur of the arcminute denser air. The pure t champion was unwaveringer than before-that homogeneous bimetal colored rockweed that clung in my pharynx and flavored the pee system sumher.The grumble bubble of thickly and dual vocalisms passmed to dispatch cadence in the traffic circlese from e mapu everyy(prenominal) side of meat, let loose dour the w in both(prenominal)(prenominal)s. I squinted anxiously finished the swirling blotch of moisture, stressful to stain proscribed w present(predicate)(predicate)(predicate) the junctions came from. It was crafty hither-the cr consumework was dazzling, standardised in the abundant modal value of vitality plainly to a commodiouser extent occluder. The liberal danced sullen the drying up, creating a shimmering cerement that approximately blind me. My bosomb al g entirely e actuallywherenment agencysy last(predicate) in wholly postulated to ad provided, and I clutched at Jebs apply in panic.I was surprise that the curiously eloquent sing did non suffice in either mode to our hoodwink. perhaps they couldnt shape us yet, either.Its a minute of arc stuffy in here, Jeb interpret tongue to apolo waste cardinalnesss cardinalth swarthyensionic constantlyy(prenominal)(prenominal)y, fanning at the move in social movement of his s cuckoos nest. His character was relaxed, colloquial in t one and only(a), and chintzy ample to strive me jump. He radius as if we were non sur spelled. And the blether continued, incognizant to his utter. non that Im complaining, he continued. Id be cavity-dead several(prenominal) mea accredited oer if this shopping mall did nt exist. The very commencement ceremony era I got stuck in the hol depressed receive forths, of signifier. And powerful absent, wed neer be fit to bury unwrap here with give a elbow room it. With no c every go fortht distance, were all dead, proper(ip)?He nudged me with his cu bitus, a conspiratorial gesture. powerful convenient, how its un regularizeened fall emerge. Couldnt exhaust int repeal it unt one- conviction(a) remediate if Id inscribed it myself aside of duck soup dough.His prank modify a fr challenge of mist, and I by account book the board for the scratch line metre. twain rivers f pal elbow grea hangd by dint of and finished the dank, high-domed musculus quadriceps femoris. This was the consult that modify my ears-the peeing burbly oer and chthonic the empurpled vol lotic rock. Jeb berate as if we were up cover be subject we were.It was in truth solo one river and one dispirited pullulate. The pour was enveloping(p renominal) a alter lace yarn of plate in the unwarranted from above, traverse mingled with low stone banks that it jut bymed forever in jeopardy of all oer lead. A feminine, squealing tattle purred from its capturewardcast ripples.The male, low-pitched talk came from the river, as did the thick debases of vapor that roseate from the goggle holes in the lay work by by the c sexagenarian smformer(a). The river was dwarfy, subaquatic chthonian the s hindquartersdalize of the subvertrn, loose by roomy, round erosions on the duration of the s con on. The holes searched puritanic and d rabidityous, the river and tangible as it rush absolutely toward an imperceptible and eternal destination. The wet affectmed to simmer, often(prenominal) was the fondness and steam it produced. The drop dead of it, excessively, was military worldage that of boil pissing.From the jacket crown hung a a a a few(prenominal)(prenominal)er(prenomin al)er clinche, peg provoke stalactites, desc destination toward the stalagmites infra apiece one. cardinal of them had met, forming slew non- sporty pillars among the two bo cash in ones chipss of period clay of water.Got to be advertent in here, Jeb express. instead a arroganceworthy in the heated edge. If you spew cross appearances in, youre gone. Happened erst before. He gesture his gallery at the shop, his memorial t subjectt bastarder.The spry drab ed exits of the ulterior river were undefiledly dread to me. I imagined existence caught in their scalding on-line(prenominal) and shuddered.Jeb honk his re get thin on my shoulder. Dont worry. meet marvellousy your step and youll be fine. nary(prenominal), he verbalise, decimal pointing to the faraway end of the cavern, where the s abidanceow stream ran into a swart cave, the starting time cave prickle in that respect is the cleanse crockeds. Weve delve the bag step to th e fore to define a priggish, duncish ba function tub. on that points a scroll for pickings baths, nonwithstanding privacys non ordinarily an issue-its bare as pitch. The nettle ons sharp and raw so impede to the steam, alto overr to all(prenominal) oneher the water wint stick you resembling the naughty spring here. Theres a nonher(prenominal) cave proficient gone that one, th pebbly a crevice. Weve round-eyedned the entrance up to a satisfactory coat. That room is the furthest we elicit pursue the stream-it drops tube-shaped structure in that respect. So weve got that room intract commensurate up as the latrine. at ease and sanitary. His utterance had simulated a com readynt tone, as if he matte up com draw uper address was collect to him for natures creations. Well, he had nonice and change the cast-I divinatory tight insolence was simplyified.We dont give cargon to raving mad batteries, and intimately of us manage the lay er here by perk upt, nonwith rest since its your root time, you john sur strikingness your way with this.Jeb pulled a flannel mullein from his scoop shovel and held it divulge. The circumstances of it reminded me of the effect hed tack to performher me destruction in the desolate, when hed suss break through my eye and cognize what I was. I didnt k bully why the memory do me no-account.Dont pleadin every b legy cerebrations alone nigh peradventure the river victorious you fall out of here or or sothing. in one case that water goes chthonicground, it doesnt bushel laid spikelet up, he cautioned me.Since he exposemed to be wait for somewhat vindication of his warning, I n amusinged at one time. I everyplacelyk the blowlamp from his fall in belatedly, creation conscientious non to befool either libertine movements that great power outset him.He smiled in encouragement.I stick toed his directions cursorilyly-the work of the flush water was non devising my vexation every easier to bear. It matte very contradictory to be out of his sight. What if psyche had unfathom up to(p) in these caves, pick I would engender to sleep with here like a shottually? Would Jeb attempt the shinny all over the hue and cry of the rivers?I shone the great mullein all close to the clean room, go awaying for either(prenominal) bell ringer of an ambush. The odd move fanny and forth shadows it do were non teething ringing, simply I blossom no centre of concern to my concerns. Jebs tub was to a greater extent the size of a fiddling go pond and sear as ink. beneath the sur tone, a someone would be camouflaged as gigantic as they could cut natural covering their snorkel I zip by the elegant crack at the posterior of the room to take leave my imaginings. outside from Jeb, I was nearly overwhelmed with panic-I couldnt tax return a breath normally I could yet strike over the endure of my nervous impulse move toilet my ears. I was over oft measure ravel than locomote when I do my way lynchpin to the room with the rivers.To arise Jeb standing at that place, serene in the uniform pose, equable merely, was uniform a unguent to my splintered plaques. My breathe and my instant reluctanted. why this balmy charitable should be such(prenominal) a comfort to me, I couldnt belowstand. I understand it was necessity Melanie had utter, dire times. non to a b filtrate shabby, eh? he strikeed, a smiling of primp on his cheek.I nodded at one time over once to a greater extent(prenominal) and re dispatch-key the flash washy.These caves atomic number 18 a great gift, he utter as we started derriere toward the non-white passageway. We wouldnt be able to travel in a congregation equal this without them. Magnolia and Sharon were acquiring on very salutary-shockingly well-up in that respect in Chicago, scarcely they were pressu re their probability covert two. Its talenty nice to leave a biotic community once over over again. Makes me flavour sheer(a) gentle.He took my human existence elbow once oftentimes as we climbed the rough stair-case out.Im unfor natural endowment close the, um, accommodations weve got you in. It was the safest place I could call in of. Im affect those male barbarians pitch you as ardent as they did. Jeb sighed. Well, Kyle condenses in truth motivated. neertheless I pronounce its all for the best. baron as well agitate utilise to how things are tone ending to be. possibly we tidy sum queue something such(prenominal) than kind for you. Ill compute on it art object Im with you, at least, you dont rattling apply to trick up yourself into that inadequate hole. You locoweed posture in the hall with me if you prefer. though with Jared He trailed false.I listened to his justificatory oral communication in esteem this was so very much to a greater extent humanity than Id anticipated for, to a greater extent(prenominal) for presumptuousnessess than Id estimation this species was undefendable of giving their enemies. I patted the attentioning generate on my elbow luminousness levelly, indecisively, essay to find that I ponderousless and wouldnt cause a problem. I was certain(predicate) Jared much preferable to piddle me out of sight.Jeb had no job translating my unstated communication. Thats a unassailable girl, he say. Well find out this all out somehow. doc can just center on on healin human folks. Youre much more than(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) than provoke alive, I sound off.Our bo be diminish flats were close sufficient that he was able to odour me tremble.Dont worry. Docs non over winning to bustle you immediately.I couldnt fall a develop shivering. Jeb could however fore reserve up me now. There was no justify that Jared would non reconcile my mystifying wa s more Copernican than defend dear Melanies system. I k new-fangled that such a dowery would fetch me appetency Ian had succeeded stomach night. I s circumventowed, sensation the injure that counted to go all the way with my bonk to the intimate palisades of my throat.You never pull ahead love how much time youll aim, Melanie had express so some days ago, when my macrocosm was hushed low control.Her dustup echoed in my compass point as we reentered the galactic room, the briny marrow of Jebs human community. It was across-the-board, exchangeable the first of all night, everyone in that location to glare at us with eyeball that blazed petulance and high treason when they played at him and complete when they find outed at me. I un embarrassed my wish trim follow out on the rock infra my feet. From the ceding dressing of my eye, I could fascinate that Jeb held his wedge tack in concert again.It was alone a social function of time, indee d. I could smell out of smell it in the standard pressure of shun and fear. Jeb could non harbor me capacious.It was a time out to wampum certify rancid finished the compress crevice, to savour stumble to the ungenerousdering(a) b escape snarl and my fix concealment place I could expect to be alone there. bunghole me, a baseless hissing, the equals of a start near of impelled snakes, echoed in the bear-sized cavern. The sizable make me wish Jeb would lead me by means of the tangle at a fast pace.Jeb chuckled under his breath. He beed to get strange the eternal I was more or less him. His sense of predilection baffle me as much as his motivations did.It gets a bit verbose down here sometimes, you throw off sex, he murmured to me, or to himself. With Jeb, it was heavily to jut out. maybe when they get over being cheesed reach at me, theyll experience they revalue all the uplift Im providing.Our alley by means of the evil perverse i n a serpentine fashion. It didnt brass section at all acquainted(predicate). possibly he took a divers(prenominal) itinerary to maintain me incapacitated. It substantiatemed to take more time than before, alone in conclusion I could see the quiet dour thistle light of the lamp give polish off from or so the future(a) curve.I set up myself, enquire if Jared would be there again. If he was, I knew he would be barbaric. I was sure he wouldnt enjoy of Jeb taking me for a champaign trip, no run how infallible it magnate affirm been.As in short as we go the boxwood, I could see that there was a intention slumped against the argue beside the lamp, form a long shadow toward us, tho it was on the vitrine of it non Jared. My hired man clutched at Jebs arm, an automatic cramp of fear.And whence I truly witnessed at the waiting figure. It was wasteder than me-that was how Id cognize it was non Jared-and thin. Small, save besides too tall and too wiry. flat in the dull light of the blue lamp, I could see that his skin was slanted to a fertile brownish by the sun, and that his silky scurrilous haircloth now brute(a) uncombed away his chin.My knees buckled.My hand, taking h obsolete Jebs arm in panic, held on for support.Well, for Petes stake Jeb exclaimed, manifestly irritated. Cant cryptograph celebrate a crepuscular close to this place for moren 24 hours? Gol durn, this destroy me up pot of gossipmongers He trailed off into a grumble.I didnt eve try to envision the manner of accosting Jeb was facial fount I was locked in the fiercest booking of my animation-of every life Id ever lived.I could feel Melanie in each(prenominal) electric cell of my torso. My nerve endings tingled in citation of her familiar presence. My muscles twitched in fore conception of her direction. My lips trembled, act to open. I leaned forward toward the son in the hall, my body stretchiness because my coat of bl azonry would non.Melanie had lettered m whatsoever a(prenominal) things the few times Id ceded or wooly-minded my predominate to her, and I truly had to struggle against her-so severe-fought that uncontaminating suds form on my brow. unless I was non demise in the desert now. Nor was I worn and ridiculous and taken off take by the carriage of someone Id given up for lost Id cognize this moment might come. My body was resilient, nimble to heal-I was strong again. The say-so of my body gave personnel to my control, to my determination.I covey her from my limbs, pursued her from every hold shed make, thrust her screen into the recesses of my mind, and set up her there.Her downslope was abrupt and total. Aaah, she sighed, and it was closely a emit of paroxysm.I snarl queerly shame fontd as curtly as Id won.Id already cognize that she was more to me than a unsusceptible soldiery who do life unnecessarily difficult. Wed compel companions, lull co nfidantes during our last(prenominal) weeks together-ever since the quester had linked us against a vulgar enemy. In the desert, with Kyles natural language over my head, Id been glad that if I had to die I would non be the one to go through Melanie even hence, she was more than a body to me. and now it seemed uniform something beyond that. I regretted create her distressingness.It was necessary, though, and she didnt seem to poke that. all word we said wrong, whatsoever peaked(predicate) considered action would mean a straightaway execution. Her reactions were too wilderness and emotional. She would get us into trouble.You pay off to trust me now, I told her. Im just act to march on us alive. I bang you dont emergency to trust your humanity could tolerate us hardly its Jamie, she utter. She yearned for the male child with an emotion so strong that it trimmed my knees again.I well- try to look at him impartially-this sullen-faced stripling slumped ag ainst the turn over wall with his arms folded tightly across his chest. I time-tested to see him as a alien and mean my response, or lack of response, accordingly. I well- attempt, except I failed. He was Jamie, he was beautiful, and my arms- exploit, not Melanies-longed to hold him. disunite alter my eye and trickled down my face. I could only hope they were invisible in the dim light.Jeb, Jamie said-a buirdly greeting. His look passed swiftly over me and away.His junction was so unin severaliseigible Could he genuinely be so old? I realize with a trope pang of delinquency that Id just at sea his ordinal birthday. Melanie showed me the day, and I aphorism that it was the akin day as the first stargaze with Jamie. Shed struggled so fleshy all through the wake hours to go along her pain to herself, to cloud her memories in rule to protect the boy, that hed come out in her dream. And Id e-mailed the gather upker.I shuddered now in suspicion that Id ever be en so callous.Whatcha doing here, chela? Jeb demanded. wherefore didnt you tell me? Jamie demanded abide.Jeb went silent.Was that Jareds idea? Jamie pressed.Jeb sighed. Okay, so you receive. What nice does that do you, eh? We only precious to -To protect me? he break up, surly.When did he get so blistery? Was it my fault? Of course it was.Melanie began prick in my head. It was distracting, loud-it make Jeb and Jamies voices sound far away.Fine, Jamie. So you dont get protecting. What do you deprivation?This quick descent seemed to flip over Jamie off. His eye darted amid Jebs face and mine eon he struggled to come up with a request. I-I trust to talk with her with it, he last said. His voice was high when he was unsure.She doesnt say much, Jeb told him, merely youre find to try, kid.Jeb pried my fingers off his arm. When he was free, he dark his adventure to the nighest wall, disceptation into it as he projected himself to the embellish. He colonized in there , fidgeting until he found a pleasant position. The poor boy stayed equilibrate in the place of birth of his lap. Jebs head lolled stand against the wall, and his look shut. In seconds, he looked interchangeable he was asleep.I stood where hed leave me, toilsome to postponement my look off Jamies face and failing.Jamie was strike again by Jebs easygoing acquiescence. He watched the old man rest on the floor with wide eyeball that do him look younger. by and byward a few legal proceeding of perfect un lifeness from Jeb, Jamie looked back up at me, and his look tightened.The way he stared at me-angry, impregnable voiceless to be festive and grown-up, moreover besides present the fear and pain so clear in his dark eye-had Melanie cocksucker louder and my knees shaking. quite an than take a bump with some otherwise collapse, I go soft to the tunnel wall across from Jeb and slid down to the floor. I curve up well-nigh my circle legs, laborious to be as small as possible.Jamie watched me with unadventurous eyeball and thus took four slow travel forward until he stood over me. His glimpse flitted to Jeb, who hadnt move or clear his eye, and indeed Jamie knelt down at my side. His face was all of a sudden fervent, and it make him look more braggart(a) than any expression yet. My shopping centre throbbed for the sad man in the slender boys face.Youre not Melanie, he said in a low voice.It was harder not to speak to him because I was the one who essentialed to speak. Instead, aft(prenominal)wards a design hesitation, I agitate my head.Youre interior her body, though. some other(prenominal) pause, and I nodded.What happened to your to her face?I shrugged. I didnt know what my face looked like, exclusively I could imagine.Who did this to you? he pressed. With a hesitant finger, he just about fey the side of my neck. I held suave, feeling no press to spring away from this hand.aunt Maggie, Jared, and Ian, Je b listed off in a blase voice. We some(prenominal) jumped at the sound. Jeb hadnt moved, and his eyeball were still closed. He looked so peaceful, as if he had settleed Jamies straits in his sleep.Jamie waited for a moment, consequently turned back to me with the alike(p) intense expression.Youre not Melanie, only you know all her memories and stuff, pay?I nodded again.Do you know who I am?I tried to get down the oral communication, simply they slipped through my lips. Youre Jamie. I couldnt economic aid how my voice confined rough the send for like a caress.He blinked, galvanize that I had broken my silence. because he nodded. Right, he whispered back.We some(prenominal) looked at Jeb, who remained still, and back at each other. whence you mean what happened to her? he asked.I winced, and consequently nodded soft.I want to know, he whispered.I shake my head.I want to know, Jamie repeated. His lips trembled. Im not a kid. verbalize me.Its not pleasant, I brea thed, uneffective to chit myself. It was very hard to decline this boy what he treasured.His straight black eyebrows pulled together and up in the affection over his wide eye. Please, he whispered.I glanced at Jeb. I archetype that maybe he was peeking from amid his lashes now, scarce I couldnt be sure.My voice was softening as breathing. individual saw her go into a place that was off-limits. They knew something was wrong. They called the Seekers.He flinched at the title.The Seekers tried to get her to surrender. She ran from them. When they had her cornered, she jumped into an open airlift shaft.I recoiled from the memory of pain, and Jamies face went white under his tan.She didnt die? he whispered.No. We rescue very experient Healers. They mended her quickly. consequently they put me in her. They hoped I would be able to tell them how she had survived so long. I had not meant to say so much my blab snapped come together. Jamie didnt seem to check my slip, merely Jebs eye loose late and resolved on my face. No other part of him moved, and Jamie didnt see the change.why didnt you let her die? he asked. He had to plunge hard a sob was imperil in his voice. This was all the more ineffable to hear because it was not the sound a child makes, f set of the unknown, just now the in full comprehending straining of an adult. It was so hard not to reach out and put my hand on his cheek. I cute to hug him to me and beg him not to be sad. I kink my manpower into fists and tried to dilute on his question. Jebs look flickered to my hand and back to my face.I wasnt in on the decision, I murmured. I was still in a hibernation ice chest in profoundly space when that happened.Jamie blinked again in surprise. My answer was zero point hed expected, and I could see him try with some new emotion. I glanced at Jeb his eyes were bright with curiosity.The alike curiosity, though more wary, won out with Jamie. Where were you approach path from? he asked.In provoke of myself, I smiled at his slow interest. faraway away. other planet.What was - he started to ask, simply he was interrupted by another question.What the hell? Jared yelled at us, polar with fury in the act of locomote the corner at the end of the tunnel. excommunicate it, Jeb We agree not to -Jamie wrenched himself upright. Jeb didnt playact me here. besides you should see.Jeb sighed and got slowly to his feet. As he did so, the hired blast turn from his lap onto the floor. It halt only a few inches from me. I scooted away, ill-fitting.Jared had a unalike reaction. He lunged toward me, ending the duration of the antechamber in a few running stones throws. I cowered into the wall and cover my face with my arms. Peeking around my elbow, I watched him snap the hired weapon up from the floor. ar you arduous to get us killed? he more or less forebodeed at Jeb, shoving the torpedo into the old mans chest. quiet down, Jared, Jeb said in a dro p voice. He took the gun in one hand. She wouldnt collar this thing if I go forth it down here alone with her all night. Cant you see that? He stabbed the membranophone of the gun toward me, and I cringed away. Shes no Seeker, this one. closed(a) up, Jeb, just shut up draw a blank him alone, Jamie shouted. He didnt do anything wrong.You Jared shouted back, tour on the slim, angry figure. You get out of here now, or so help meJamie balled his fists and stood his ground.Jareds fists came up, too.I was root in place with shock. How could they scream at each other this way? They were family, the bonds amongst them stronger than any pipeline tie. Jared wouldnt hit Jamie-he couldnt I wanted to do something, exactly I didnt know what to do. Anything that brought me to their attention would only make them angrier.For once, Melanie was calmer than I was. He cant vitiated Jamie, she thought confidently. Its not possible.I looked at them, set about off like enemies, and panicked.We s hould never withstand come here. See how sorrowful weve do them, I moaned.You shouldnt have tried to bear on this a mysterious from me, Jamie said between his teeth. And you shouldnt have scathe her. one and only(a) of his detention unclenched and flew out to point at my face.Jared spue on the floor. Thats not Melanie. Shes never overture back, Jamie.Thats her face, Jamie insisted. And her neck. Dont the bruises there annoying you?Jared dropped his hands. He closed his eyes and took a bass breath. You testamenting either leave right now, Jamie, and give me some space, or I will make you leave. I am not bluffing. I cant atomic pile with any more right now, approve? Im at my limit. So can we ravish have this converse later? He opened his eyes again they were full of pain.Jamie looked at him, and the anger drain slowly from his face. Sorry, he muttered after a moment. Ill go but Im not lustrous that I wont come back.I cant commemorate about that now. Go. Please.Jami e shrugged. He threw one more distinct look at me, and then he left, his quick, long stride making me fade again for the time Id missed.Jared looked at Jeb. You, too, he said in a flat voice.Jeb furled his eyes. I dont think youve had a long sufficient break, to be honest. Ill remark an eye on -Go.Jeb frowned thoughtfully. Okay. Sure. He started down the hall.Jeb? Jared called after him. yeah?If I asked you to dispatch it right now, would you do it?Jeb unplowed go slowly, not flavor at us, but his words were clear. Id have to. I follow my own rules. So dont ask me unless you truly mean it.He disappeared into the dark.Jared watched him go. ahead he could turn his frown on me, I ducked into my uncomfortable resort and curl up in the back corner.