The Host Chapter 17: Visited

The heat hit me front- resembling a w alone of steam, the moist, stocky air rolled over me and dewed on my skin. My m step uph open(a)ed robotically as I tried to pull a breath from the abruptly denser air. The smell was stronger than before-that same metallic tang that clung in my throat and flavored the water here.The murmuring babble of low and soprano voices seemed to issue from every side, echoing aside the walls. I squinted anxiously done the swirling cloud of moisture, trying to make out where the voices came from. It was bright here-the ceiling was dazzling, like in the big room yet much tightly fittingr. The illumine danced out the vapor, creating a shimmering curtain that al roughly blinded me. My look struggled to adjust, and I clutched at Jebs turn in panic.I was surprised that the strangely fluid babble did not respond in any way to our entrance. Perhaps they couldnt see us yet, either.Its a bit close in here, Jeb said apologetically, fanning at the steam i n front of his face. His voice was relaxed, conversational in tone, and loud full to make me jump. He spoke as if we were not surrounded. And the babble continued, oblivious to his voice.Not that Im complaining, he continued. Id be dead several times over if this place didnt exist. The very first time I got stuck in the caves, of course. And instantly, wed never be able to hide out here without it. With no secrecy place, were all dead, right?He nudged me with his elbow, a conspiratorial gesture.Mighty convenient, how its laid out. Couldnt have planned it much better if Id sculpted it myself out of play dough.His laugh cleared a section of mist, and I saw the room for the first time.Two rivers flowed through the dank, high-domed space. This was the chatter that filled my ears-the water gushing over and under the purple volcanic rock. Jeb spoke as if we were alone because we were.It was sincerely only one river and one small stream. The stream was closest a shallow braided ribbon of silver in the light from above, coursing mingled with low stone banks that it seemed constantly in danger of overrunning. A feminine, high-pitched murmur purred from its gentle ripples.The male, bass gurgle came from the river, as did the thick clouds of vapor that rose from the gaping holes in the ground by the far wall. The river was discolor, submerged under the floor of the cavern, exposed by wide, round erosions a big the continuance of the room. The holes looked dark and dangerous, the river barely visible as it rushed powerfull toward an invisible and unfathomable destination. The water seemed to simmer, such was the heat and steam it produced. The sound of it, too, was like that of change state water.From the ceiling hung a a few(prenominal) long, narrow stalactites, dripping toward the stalagmites beneath each one. Three of them had met, forming thin smuggled pillars between the two bodies of flowing water.Got to be awake in here, Jeb said. Quite a current in the hot spring. If you fall in, youre gone. Happened once before. He bowed his head at the memory, his face sober.The swift black eddies of the subterranean river were suddenly horrible to me. I imagined being caught in their scalding current and shuddered.Jeb put his hand lightly on my shoulder. Dont worry. Just watch your step and youll be fine. Now, he said, pointing to the far end of the cavern, where the shallow stream ran into a dark cave, the first cave back there is the ba intimacy room. Weve dug the floor out to make a nice, deep tub. Theres a schedule for taking baths, scarce privacys not usually an issue-its black as pitch. The rooms nice and warm so close to the steam, exclusively the water wont burn you like the hot spring here. Theres another cave just past that one, through a crevice. Weve widened the entrance up to a comfortable size. That room is the farthest we can follow the stream-it drops underground there. So weve got that room fixed up as the latrine. Convenient and sanitary. His voice had assumed a complacent tone, as if he felt credit was due to him for natures creations. Well, he had discovered and improved the place-I supposed or so pride was justified.We dont like to waste batteries, and most of us know the floor here by heart, but since its your first time, you can find your way with this.Jeb pulled a flashlight from his pocket and held it out. The sight of it reminded me of the flash hed found me dying in the recant, when hed checked my eyeball and known what I was. I didnt know why the memory make me sad.Dont get any upset ideas close to maybe the river taking you out of here or something. Once that water goes underground, it doesnt come back up, he cautioned me.Since he seemed to be waiting for some acknowledgment of his warning, I nodded once. I took the flashlight from his hand tardily, being careful not to make any fast movements that susceptibility startle him.He smiled in encouragement.I followed his directions fast -flyingly-the sound of the rushing water was not making my discomfort any easier to bear. It felt very strange to be out of his sight. What if someone had privy in these caves, guessing I would have to come here eventually? Would Jeb hear the struggle over the cacophony of the rivers?I shone the flashlight all round the bathing room, looking for any sign of an ambush. The odd flickering shadows it made were not comforting, but I found no substance to my fears. Jebs tub was more the size of a small swimming pool and black as ink. Under the surface, a person would be invisible as long as they could hold their breath I hurried through the slender crack at the back of the room to escape my imaginings. Away from Jeb, I was nearly overwhelmed with panic-I couldnt fall out normally I could barely hear over the sound of my pulse racing behind my ears. I was more running than walking when I made my way back to the room with the rivers.To find Jeb standing there, settle down in the same pose, politic alone, was like a balm to my splintered nerves. My breathing and my heartbeat slowed. wherefore this crazy human should be such a comfort to me, I couldnt understand. I supposed it was like Melanie had said, desperate times.Not too shabby, eh? he asked, a grin of pride on his face.I nodded once again and returned the flashlight.These caves are a great gift, he said as we started back toward the dark passageway. We wouldnt be able to survive in a group like this without them. Magnolia and Sharon were getting along real well-shockingly well-up there in Chicago, but they were pushing their luck hiding two. Its mighty nice to have a community again. Makes me feel downright human.He took my elbow once more as we climbed the rough stair-case out.Im sorry about the, um, accommodations weve got you in. It was the safest place I could think of. Im surprised those boys found you as quick as they did. Jeb sighed. Well, Kyle gets real motivated. But I suppose its all for the bes t. Might as well get used to how things are going to be. Maybe we can find something more hospitable for you. Ill think on it While Im with you, at least, you dont really have to cram yourself into that little hole. You can sit in the hall with me if you prefer. Though with Jared He trailed off.I listened to his apologetic words in wonder this was so much more kindness than Id hoped for, more compassion than Id thought this species was capable of giving their enemies. I patted the hand on my elbow lightly, hesitantly, trying to convey that I understood and wouldnt cause a problem. I was authoritative Jared much preferred to have me out of sight.Jeb had no trouble translating my wordless communication. Thats a good girl, he said. Well figure this all out somehow. Doc can just concentrate on healin human folks. Youre much more interesting alive, I think.Our bodies were close enough that he was able to feel me tremble.Dont worry. Docs not going to twainer you now.I couldnt stop shive ring. Jeb could only promise me now. There was no guarantee that Jared would not regulate my secret was more important than protecting Melanies body. I k reinvigorated that such a fate would make me wish Ian had succeeded last night. I swallowed, feeling the bruising that seemed to go all the way through my neck to the interior walls of my throat.You never know how much time youll have, Melanie had said so many days ago, when my world was still under control.Her words echoed in my head as we reentered the big room, the main plaza of Jebs human community. It was full, like the first night, everyone there to glare at us with eyeball that blazed anger and betrayal when they looked at him and murder when they looked at me. I unploughed my gaze down on the rock under my feet. From the corner of my eye, I could see that Jeb held his gun ready again.It was only a matter of time, indeed. I could feel it in the atmosphere of hate and fear. Jeb could not protect me long.It was a allayer to scrape back through the narrow crevice, to look forward to the winding black labyrinth and my cramped hiding place I could hope to be alone there.Behind me, a furious hissing, like a nest of goaded snakes, echoed in the big cavern. The sound made me wish Jeb would lead me through the labyrinth at a quicker pace.Jeb chuckled under his breath. He seemed to get stranger the longer I was roughly him. His sense of humor mystified me as much as his motivations did.It gets a bit tedious down here sometimes, you know, he murmured to me, or to himself. With Jeb, it was fractious to tell. Maybe when they get over being cheesed off at me, theyll realize they appreciate all the excitement Im providing.Our path through the dark twisted in a serpentine fashion. It didnt feel at all familiar. Perhaps he took a different route to keep me disjointed. It seemed to take more time than before, but last I could see the plunge secular light of the lamp shining from around the next curve.I braced myself, wondering if Jared would be there again. If he was, I knew he would be angry. I was sure he wouldnt approve of Jeb taking me for a field trip, no matter how necessary it might have been.As soon as we rounded the corner, I could see that there was a figure slumped against the wall beside the lamp, casting a long shadow toward us, but it was obviously not Jared. My hand clutched at Jebs arm, an automatic spasm of fear.And then I really looked at the waiting figure. It was smaller than me-that was how Id known it was not Jared-and thin. Small, but also too tall and too wiry. counterbalance in the dim light of the blue lamp, I could see that his skin was dyed to a deep brown by the sun, and that his silky black fuzz now fell unkempt past his chin.My knees buckled.My hand, grasping Jebs arm in panic, held on for support.Well, for Petes sake Jeb exclaimed, obviously irritated. Cant nobody keep a secret around this place for moren twenty-four hours? Gol durn, this burns me up Bun ch of gossipmongers He trailed off into a grumble.I didnt even try to understand the words Jeb was saying I was locked in the fiercest battle of my life-of every life Id ever lived.I could feel Melanie in each cell of my body. My nerve endings tingled in recognition of her familiar presence. My muscles twitched in anticipation of her direction. My lips trembled, trying to open. I leaned forward toward the boy in the hall, my body reaching because my arms would not.Melanie had learned many things the few times Id ceded or lost my command to her, and I truly had to struggle against her-so lowering that fresh sweat beaded on my brow. But I was not dying in the desert now. Nor was I weak and dizzy and taken off guard by the appearance of someone Id given up for lost Id known this moment might come. My body was resilient, quick to heal-I was strong again. The strength of my body gave strength to my control, to my determination.I drove her from my limbs, chased her from every hold shed f ound, thrust her back into the recesses of my mind, and chained her there.Her kick was sudden and total. Aaah, she sighed, and it was almost a moan of pain.I felt strangely guilty as soon as Id won.Id already known that she was more to me than a resistant host who made life unnecessarily difficult. Wed become companions, even confidantes during our past weeks together-ever since the Seeker had united us against a common enemy. In the desert, with Kyles knife over my head, Id been glad that if I had to die I would not be the one to kill Melanie even then, she was more than a body to me. But now it seemed like something beyond that. I regretted causing her pain.It was necessary, though, and she didnt seem to grasp that. Any word we said wrong, any poorly considered action would mean a quick execution. Her reactions were too wild and emotional. She would get us into trouble.You have to trust me now, I told her. Im just trying to keep us alive. I know you dont want to cerebrate your humans could hurt usBut its Jamie, she whispered. She yearned for the boy with an emotion so strong that it weakened my knees again.I tried to look at him impartially-this sullen-faced teenager slumped against the delve wall with his arms folded tightly across his chest. I tried to see him as a stranger and plan my response, or lack of response, accordingly. I tried, but I failed. He was Jamie, he was beautiful, and my arms-mine, not Melanies-longed to hold him. Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my face. I could only hope they were invisible in the dim light.Jeb, Jamie said-a gruff greeting. His eyes passed swiftly over me and away.His voice was so deep Could he really be so old? I realized with a double pang of guilt that Id just missed his fourteenth birthday. Melanie showed me the day, and I saw that it was the same day as the first dream with Jamie. Shed struggled so hard all through the waking hours to keep her pain to herself, to cloud her memories in order to protect th e boy, that hed come out in her dream. And Id e-mailed the Seeker.I shuddered now in disbelief that Id ever been so callous.Whatcha doing here, kid? Jeb demanded.Why didnt you tell me? Jamie demanded back.Jeb went silent.Was that Jareds idea? Jamie pressed.Jeb sighed. Okay, so you know. What good does that do you, eh? We only wanted to -To protect me? he interrupted, surly.When did he get so bitter? Was it my fault? Of course it was.Melanie began sobbing in my head. It was distracting, loud-it made Jeb and Jamies voices sound farther away.Fine, Jamie. So you dont need protecting. What do you want?This quick capitulation seemed to throw Jamie off. His eyes darted between Jebs face and mine while he struggled to come up with a request. I-I want to talk with her with it, he finally said. His voice was higher when he was unsure.She doesnt say much, Jeb told him, but youre welcome to try, kid.Jeb pried my fingers off his arm. When he was free, he turned his back to the nearest wall, lean ing into it as he eased himself to the floor. He settled in there, fidgeting until he found a comfortable position. The gun stayed balanced in the cradle of his lap. Jebs head lolled back against the wall, and his eyes closed. In seconds, he looked like he was asleep.I stood where hed left me, trying to keep my eyes off Jamies face and failing.Jamie was surprised again by Jebs lite acquiescence. He watched the old man recline on the floor with wide eyes that made him look younger. After a few minutes of entire stillness from Jeb, Jamie looked back up at me, and his eyes tightened.The way he stared at me-angry, trying hard to be brave and grown-up, but also video display the fear and pain so clearly in his dark eyes-had Melanie sobbing louder and my knees shaking. Rather than take a chance with another collapse, I moved slowly to the tunnel wall across from Jeb and slid down to the floor. I curled up around my bent legs, trying to be as small as possible.Jamie watched me with gua rded eyes and then took four slow steps forward until he stood over me. His glance flitted to Jeb, who hadnt moved or opened his eyes, and then Jamie knelt down at my side. His face was suddenly intense, and it made him look more adult than any expression yet. My heart throbbed for the sad man in the little 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 wanted to speak. Instead, after a brief hesitation, I shook my head.Youre inside her body, though.Another pause, and I nodded.What happened to your to her face?I shrugged. I didnt know what my face looked like, but I could imagine.Who did this to you? he pressed. With a hesitant finger, he almost moved(p) the side of my neck. I held still, feeling no urge to cringe away from this hand.Aunt Maggie, Jared, and Ian, Jeb listed off in a bored voice. We both jumped at the sound. Jeb hadnt moved, and his eyes were still closed. He looked so peaceful, as if he had answered Ja mies question in his sleep.Jamie waited for a moment, then turned back to me with the same intense expression.Youre not Melanie, but you know all her memories and stuff, right?I nodded again.Do you know who I am?I tried to swallow the words, but they slipped through my lips. Youre Jamie. I couldnt economic aid how my voice wrapped around the name like a caress.He blinked, startled that I had broken my silence. Then he nodded. Right, he whispered back.We both looked at Jeb, who remained still, and back at each other.Then you remember what happened to her? he asked.I winced, and then nodded slowly.I want to know, he whispered.I shook my head.I want to know, Jamie repeated. His lips trembled. Im not a kid. Tell me.Its not pleasant, I breathed, unable to stop myself. It was very hard to deny this boy what he wanted.His straight black eyebrows pulled together and up in the middle over his wide eyes. Please, he whispered.I glanced at Jeb. I thought that maybe he was peeking from between his lashes now, but I couldnt be sure.My voice was soft as breathing. Someone 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 elevator shaft.I recoiled from the memory of pain, and Jamies face went white under his tan.She didnt die? he whispered.No. We have very skilled Healers. They mended her quickly. Then 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 mouth snapped exclude. Jamie didnt seem to notice my slip, but Jebs eyes opened slowly and fixed 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 swallow hard a sob was threatening in his voice. This was all the more painful to hear because it was not the sound a child makes, frightened of the unknown , but the fully comprehending agony of an adult. It was so hard not to reach out and put my hand on his cheek. I wanted to hug him to me and beg him not to be sad. I curled my hands into fists and tried to concentrate on his question. Jebs eyes flickered to my hands and back to my face.I wasnt in on the decision, I murmured. I was still in a hibernation tank in deep space when that happened.Jamie blinked again in surprise. My answer was nothing hed expected, and I could see him struggling with some new emotion. I glanced at Jeb his eyes were bright with curiosity.The same curiosity, though more wary, won out with Jamie. Where were you coming from? he asked.In spite of myself, I smiled at his unwilling interest. Far away. Another planet.What was - he started to ask, but he was interrupted by another question.What the hell? Jared shouted at us, frozen with fury in the act of rounding the corner at the end of the tunnel. Damn it, Jeb We agreed not to -Jamie wrenched himself upright. Je b didnt bring me here. But you should have.Jeb sighed and got slowly to his feet. As he did so, the gun rolled from his lap onto the floor. It stopped only a few inches from me. I scooted away, uncomfortable.Jared had a different reaction. He lunged toward me, closing the length of the hallway in a few running strides. I cowered into the wall and covered my face with my arms. Peeking around my elbow, I watched him jerk the gun up from the floor.Are you trying to get us killed? he almost screamed at Jeb, shoving the gun into the old mans chest.Calm down, Jared, Jeb said in a tired voice. He took the gun in one hand. She wouldnt touch this thing if I left it down here alone with her all night. Cant you see that? He stabbed the barrel of the gun toward me, and I cringed away. Shes no Seeker, this one.Shut up, Jeb, just shut upLeave him alone, Jamie shouted. He didnt do anything wrong.You Jared shouted back, turning 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 rooted in place with shock. How could they scream at each other this way? They were family, the bonds between them stronger than any blood tie. Jared wouldnt hit Jamie-he couldnt I wanted to do something, but 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 hurt Jamie, she thought confidently. Its not possible.I looked at them, facing off like enemies, and panicked.We should never have come here. See how unhappy weve made them, I moaned.You shouldnt have tried to keep this a secret from me, Jamie said between his teeth. And you shouldnt have hurt her. One of his hands unclenched and flew out to point at my face.Jared spit on the floor. Thats not Melanie. Shes never coming back, Jamie.Thats her face, Jamie insisted. And her neck. Dont the bruises there bother you?Jared dropped his hands. He closed his eyes and took a d eep breath. You will either leave right now, Jamie, and give me some space, or I will make you leave. I am not bluffing. I cant deal with any more right now, okay? Im at my limit. So can we please have this conversation later on? He opened his eyes again they were full of pain.Jamie looked at him, and the anger drained slowly from his face. Sorry, he muttered after a moment. Ill go but Im not promising that I wont come back.I cant think about that now. Go. Please.Jamie shrugged. He threw one more searching look at me, and then he left, his quick, long stride making me ache again for the time Id missed.Jared looked at Jeb. You, too, he said in a flat voice.Jeb rolled his eyes. I dont think youve had a long enough break, to be honest. Ill keep 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 shoot it right now, would you do it?Jeb kept walking slowly, not looking at us, but his words were clear. Id have to . I follow my own rules. So dont ask me unless you really mean it.He disappeared into the dark.Jared watched him go. Before he could turn his glower on me, I ducked into my uncomfortable sanctuary and curled up in the back corner.