Текст книги "The Scorch Trials"
Автор книги: James Dashner
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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 18 страниц)
Maybe for the first time since entering the Glade weeks earlier, Thomas felt no fear. He didn’t know if he’d ever feel it again. He didn’t know why, but something had changed. Lightning exploded around him, someone screamed, the rain intensified. Wind tore through the air, pelting him with small rocks and drops of water that hurt equally. The creatures swiped their blades through the air, screaming their disturbing roar as they waited for battle. Thomas ran on, knife held above his head.
No fear.
Three feet from the center creature he jumped into the air, kicking forward, both legs held tightly together. He slammed his feet into one of the orange bulbs protruding from the middle of the monster’s chest. It burst and sizzled; the creature wailed something hideous and fell backward, slamming to the ground.
Thomas landed in the mud and rolled to the side. Immediately jumped up and danced around the creature, slashing and poking, bursting the glowing growths.
Pop, pop, pop.
Dodging and jumping away from the futile slashes of the creature’s blades. Retaliating, stabbing. Pop, pop, pop. Only three bulbs were left; it could barely move. Thomas straddled the thing in a burst of confidence and quickly threw down the final vicious thrusts to end it.
The last bulb burst and fizzled out. Dead.
Thomas got up, spun around to see if someone else needed help. Teresa had finished off hers. Minho and Jorge as well. Newt was there, favoring his bad leg, Brenda helping him stab out the remaining bulbs on his foe.
A few seconds later it ended. No creature moved. No orange lights shone. It was over.
Thomas, breathing heavily, looked up at the entrance to the ship, only twenty feet away. Even as he did, its thrusters ignited and the ship started to lift off the ground.
“It’s leaving!” Thomas screamed as loudly as he could, pointing frantically at their only means of escape. “Hurry!”
The word had barely escaped his mouth when Teresa grabbed him by the arm, pulling as she ran for the ship. Thomas stumbled, then righted himself, pounding his feet in the mud. He heard the crack of thunder behind them, saw a flash of lightning fill the sky. Another scream. Others beside him, around him, in front of him now, all running. Newt with his limp, Minho next to him, eyeing him to make sure he didn’t fall.
The Berg had reached a point three feet off the ground, slowly rising and turning at the same time, ready at any second to shift those thrusters and zip away. A couple of Gladers and three girls reached it first, dove onto the platform of the open cargo door. Still it rose. Others reached it, climbed on, scrambled inside.
Then Thomas made it with Teresa. The open hatch was chest-high now. He jumped and pushed his hands down on the flat metal, arms stiff, stomach pressed against the thick edge. Swung his right leg up, got leverage, rolled his body fully onto the door. The ship, still rising. Others climbing on, reaching to pull others up. Teresa, halfway on, trying to find a handhold.
Thomas reached out and grabbed her hand, pulled her in. She collapsed on top of him, shared a brief look of victory. Then she was off, and both of them approached the edge of the door to see if anyone needed help.
The Berg was now six feet above the ground, starting to tilt. Three people still hung from the edge. Harriet and Newt were pulling a girl in. Minho was helping Aris. But Brenda held on only with her hands, her body dangling as she kicked her feet and tried to pull herself up.
Thomas dropped to his stomach and scooted closer, reached out and grabbed her right arm. Teresa got the other one. The metal of the cargo door was wet and slick; when Thomas pulled on Brenda he started sliding out, but then stopped abruptly. A quick look behind him revealed that Jorge had planted his butt and feet, holding tightly to both Thomas and Teresa.
Thomas looked back at Brenda, started pulling again. With Teresa’s help, she finally came over the edge enough for her stomach to gain purchase; it was easy from there. As she crawled on and farther in, Thomas took another look outside at the ground, slowly moving away. Nothing but those horrific creatures, lifeless and wet, full of saggy pockets of flesh that had once been full and brightly lit. A few dead human bodies, but not many, and no one Thomas was close to.
He scooted backward, away from the edge, feeling an immense amount of relief. They’d made it, most of them. They’d made it through Cranks and lightning and hideous monsters. They’d made it. He bumped into Teresa, turned toward her, pulled her in and hugged her tightly, forgetting what had happened for a second. They’d made it.
“Who are these two people?”
Thomas jerked away from Teresa to see who’d shouted-it was a man with short red hair, holding a black pistol pointed at Brenda and Jorge, who sat next to each other, shivering and wet and bruised.
“Somebody answer me!” the man yelled again.
Thomas spoke up before he could think about it. “They helped us get through the city-we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”
The man snapped his head toward Thomas. “You… picked them up along the way?”
Thomas nodded, not liking where this was going. “We made a deal with them. Promised they’d get the cure, too. We still have fewer people than we started with.”
“Doesn’t matter,” the man said. “We didn’t say you could bring citizens!”
The Berg continued to climb higher in the sky, but the gaping door didn’t close. Wind whipped through the wide hole; any one of them could go tumbling to their death if they hit turbulence.
Thomas got to his feet anyway, determined to defend the pact he’d made. “Well, you told us to come here, and we did what we had to do!”
Their gun-toting host paused, seemed to consider this line of reasoning. “Sometimes I forget how little you people understand what’s going on. Fine, you can keep one of ’em. The other goes.”
Thomas tried not to show the jolt this gave him. “What do you mean… the other goes?”
The man clicked something on the gun, then held its end closer to Brenda’s head. “We don’t have time for this! You have five seconds to choose the one who stays. Don’t choose and they both die. One.”
“Wait!” Thomas looked at Brenda, at Jorge. They both stared at the floor, said nothing. Their faces pale with fear.
“Two.”
Thomas suppressed the rising panic, closed his eyes. There was nothing new here. No, he understood things now. Knew what he had to do.
“Three.”
No more fear. No more shock. No more questioning. Take what comes. Play along. Pass the tests. Pass the Trials.
“Four!” The man’s face reddened. “Choose right now or they both die!”
Thomas opened his eyes and stepped forward. Then he pointed at Brenda and said the two most foul words to ever pass through his lips.
“Kill her.”
Because of the odd pronouncement that only one could stay, Thomas thought he understood, thought he knew what would happen. That it was yet another Variable and they’d take whomever he didn’t choose. But he was wrong.
The man jammed his gun into the waistband of his pants, then reached down and grabbed Brenda’s shirt with two hands, yanking the girl to her feet. Without a word, he moved toward open air, taking her with him.
CHAPTER 62
Brenda looked at Thomas with panicked eyes, her face full of pain as the stranger dragged her across the metal floor of the Berg. Toward the hatch and certain death.
When he was halfway there, Thomas acted.
He jumped forward and slammed into the man’s knees, tackling him to the floor; the gun clattered on the ground next to him. Brenda fell to the side, but Teresa was there to catch her, pull her back from the dangerous edge of the door. Thomas put his left forearm against the man’s throat and reached for the gun with his other hand. His fingers found it, gripped it, pulled it close to him. He jumped up and away and held the pistol with both hands, pointing it at the stranger sprawled on his back.
“No one else dies,” Thomas said, breathing heavily, somewhat shocked at himself. “If we haven’t done enough to pass your stupid tests, then we fail. The tests are over.” As he said it, he wondered if this was supposed to happen. But even that didn’t matter-he meant every word he’d said. The senseless killing and dying had to end.
The stranger’s face softened into the slightest hint of a smile and he sat up and scooted backward until he bumped into the wall. As he did so, the large cargo door began closing, the squeak of its hinges like squealing pigs. No one said anything until it clanked shut, one last rush of wind surging through before it did.
“My name’s David,” the man said, his voice loud in the new silence, broken only by the low hum of the ship’s engines and thrusters. “And don’t worry, you’re right. It’s over. It’s all over.”
Thomas nodded mockingly. “Yeah, we’ve heard that before. This time we mean it. We’re not going to sit back and let you treat us like rats anymore. We’re done.”
David took a moment to scan the large cargo hold, maybe seeing whether the others agreed with what Thomas had just said. Thomas didn’t dare break his gaze, though. He had to believe that they were all behind him.
Finally, David looked back at Thomas, then slowly got to his feet, raising a hand in conciliation as he did so. Once he was standing, he put both hands in his pockets. “What you don’t understand is that everything has gone and will continue to go as planned. But you’re right, the Trials are complete. We’re taking you to a place of safety-a real place of safety. No more tests, no more lies, no more setups. No more pretending.”
He paused. “I can only promise one thing. When you hear why we’ve put you through this, and why it’s so important that so many of you survived, you’ll understand. I promise you’ll understand.”
Minho snorted. “That’s the biggest bunch of klunk I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Thomas couldn’t help but feel a little relief that his friend hadn’t lost his fire. “And what about the cure? We were promised. For us and the two who helped us get here. How can we believe anything you tell us?”
“Think what you want for now,” David said. “Things will change from here out, and you’ll get the cure, just like you were told. As soon as we get back to headquarters. You can keep that gun, by the way-we’ll even give you some more, if you’d like. There’ll be nothing else for you to fight against, no tests or trials to ignore or refuse. Our Berg will land, you’ll see that you’re safe and cured, and then you can do what you want. The only thing we’ll ever ask you to do again is to listen. Only to listen. I’m sure you’re at least intrigued by what’s behind all this?”
Thomas wanted to scream at the man but knew it’d serve no point. Instead he answered in as calm a voice as possible. “No more games.”
“First sign of trouble,” Minho added, “we start fighting. If that means we die, then so be it.”
David smiled fully this time. “You know, that’s exactly what we predicted you’d do at this point.” He motioned with an arm toward a small door at the back of the cargo hold. “Shall we?”
Newt spoke up this time. “What’s next on the bloody agenda?”
“Just thought you’d like to eat something, maybe take a shower. Sleep.” He started walking around the crowd of Gladers and girls. “It’s a very long flight.”
Thomas and the others spent a few seconds exchanging glances. But in the end they followed. They really had no other option.
CHAPTER 63
Thomas tried hard not to think about things as the next couple of hours passed.
He’d made a stand, but then all that tension and courage and victory kind of trickled away as the group went through the motions of the most ordinary of activities. Hot food. Cold drinks. Medical attention. Wonderfully long showers. Fresh clothes.
Through it all, Thomas recognized the chance that it was all happening again. That he and the others were being pacified, slowly being led to another shock like the one they’d had when they awakened in the dormitory after being rescued from the Maze. But really, what else was there to do? David and the others on his staff made no threats, did nothing to raise alarm.
Refreshed and full of food, Thomas ended up sitting on a couch that ran along the narrow middle section of the Berg, a vast room full of mismatched drab-colored furniture. He’d been avoiding Teresa, but she came over and sat next to him. He still had a hard time being near her, a hard time talking to her or anyone else. His insides burned with turmoil.
But he put it all away because there was nothing else to do. He didn’t know how to fly a Berg and wouldn’t know where to go even if he could take it over. They’d go wherever WICKED took them, they’d listen, they’d make their decision.
“What’re you thinkin’ about?” Teresa finally asked.
Thomas was glad she’d spoken aloud-he wasn’t sure he wanted to communicate telepathically with her anymore. “What am I thinking about? Mostly trying not to.”
“Yeah. Maybe we should just enjoy the peace and quiet for a while.”
Thomas looked at Teresa. She sat next to him as if nothing had changed between them at all. As if they were still best friends. And he couldn’t stand it anymore.
“I hate that you’re acting like nothing happened.”
Teresa looked down. “I’m trying to forget just as much as you probably are. Look, I’m not stupid. I know that we can never be the same. But I still wouldn’t change anything. It was the plan and it worked. You’re not dead and that’s worth it to me. Maybe you’ll forgive me someday.”
Thomas almost hated her for sounding so reasonable. “Well, all I care about right now is stopping these people. It’s not right what they’ve done to us. It doesn’t matter how much I was a part of it. It’s wrong.”
Teresa stretched out a little so she could rest her head against the arm of the couch. “Come on, Tom. They might’ve erased our memories, but they didn’t remove our brains. We were both part of this, and when they tell us everything-when we remember why we put ourselves through this-we’re going to do whatever they tell us to.”
Thomas thought about that for a second and realized he couldn’t possibly have disagreed more. Maybe at one time he’d felt that way, but not now. Though discussing it with Teresa was the last thing he wanted to do. “Maybe you’re right,” he murmured.
“When’s the last time we slept?” she asked. “I swear I can’t remember.”
Again with the act that all was well. “I do. For me, anyway. It had something to do with a gas chamber and you whacking me over the head with a big spear.”
Teresa stretched. “I can only say sorry so many times. At least you got some rest. I didn’t sleep for one second while you were out. I think I’ve been awake for two full days.”
“Poor baby.” Thomas yawned. He couldn’t help himself-he was tired, too.
“Mmmm?”
He looked over to see her eyes closed, her breathing slowed. She’d fallen asleep just like that. He glanced around at the other Gladers and Group Bs. Most of them were zonked out, also. Except Minho-he was trying to talk to some cute girl, but her eyes were closed. Jorge and Brenda were nowhere to be found-something that struck Thomas as strange, not to mention at least a bit worrisome.
It was then that he realized he missed Brenda terribly, but his own eyelids began to droop, and weariness and fatigue crept in. As he sank deeper into the couch, he decided he’d have time to look for her later. Then he finally gave in and allowed the sweet darkness of unconsciousness to take him.
CHAPTER 64
He awoke, blinked, wiped his eyes and saw nothing but pure white. No shapes, no shadows, no variation, nothing. Just white.
A flicker of panic until he realized he must be dreaming. Strange, but a dream for sure. He could feel his body, feel his fingers against his skin. Feel himself breathing. Hear himself breathing. Yet he was surrounded by a complete and seamless world of bright nothing.
Tom.
A voice. Her voice. Could she talk to him while he was dreaming? Had she done it before? Yes.
Hey, he responded.
Are you… okay? She sounded troubled. No, felt troubled.
Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Why?
Just thought you’d be a little surprised right now.
He felt a stab of confusion. What are you talking about?
You’re about to understand more. Very soon now.
For the first time, Thomas realized the voice wasn’t quite right. There was something off about it.
Tom?
He didn’t answer. Fear had crept into his gut. A horrible, sickening, toxic fear.
Tom?
Who… who are you? he finally asked, terrified of the answer.
A pause before she answered.
It’s me, Tom. It’s Brenda. Things are about to get bad for you.
Thomas screamed before he knew what he was doing. He screamed and screamed and screamed until it finally woke him up.
CHAPTER 65
He sat straight up, covered in sweat. Even before he could fully compute his surroundings, before all the information traveled through the nerve wires and cognitive functions of his brain, he knew that everything was wrong. That everything had been taken from him all over again.
He lay on the ground, alone, in a room. The walls, the ceiling, the floor-everything was white. The floor beneath him was spongy, hard and smooth but with enough give to be comfortable. He looked at the walls-they were padded, with large buttoned indentations across them, about four feet apart. Bright light shone down from a rectangle in the ceiling, too high for him to reach. The place had a clean smell to it, like ammonia and soap. Thomas looked down to see that even his clothes had no color: a T-shirt, cotton pants, socks.
A brown desk sat about a dozen feet in front of him. It was the only thing in the entire room that wasn’t white. Old and battered and scratched, it had a bare wooden chair pushed into the sitting well on the other side. Behind that was the door, padded like the walls.
Thomas felt a strange calm. Instinct told him he should be on his feet, screaming for help. He should be banging on the door. But he knew that door wouldn’t open. He knew no one would listen.
He was in the Box all over again, should’ve known better than to get his hopes up.
I’m not going to panic, he told himself. It had to be another phase of the Trials, and this time he’d fight to change things-to end it all. It was strange, but just knowing he had a plan, that he’d do whatever it took to find freedom, caused a surprising calm to pass over him.
Teresa? he called out. He knew that at this point she and Aris were his only hope for communication with the outside. Can you hear me? Aris? You there?
No one responded. Not Teresa. Not Aris. Not… Brenda.
But that had only been a dream. It had to have been. Brenda couldn’t be working with WICKED, couldn’t be speaking in his mind.
Teresa? he said again, throwing hard mental effort into it. Aris?
Nothing.
He stood and walked over to the desk, but two feet in front of it he ran into an invisible wall. A barrier, just like back in the dormitory.
Thomas didn’t let the panic rise. Didn’t let fear overcome him. He took a deep breath, walked back toward the corner of the room, then sat down and leaned into it. Closed his eyes and relaxed.
Waited. Fell asleep.
Tom? Tom!
He didn’t know how many times she said it before he finally responded. Teresa? He woke with a jolt, looked around and remembered the white room. Where are you?
They put us in another dormitory after the Berg landed. We’ve been here a few days, just sitting around doing nothing. Tom, what happened to you?
Teresa was worried-scared, even. That much he knew for sure. As for himself, he mostly felt confused. A few days? What They took you away as soon the Berg landed. They keep telling us it was too late-that the Flare is too rooted in you. They said you’ve gotten crazy and violent.
Thomas tried to hold it together, tried not to think about how WICKED could wipe memories. Teresa… it’s just another part of the Trials. They’ve got me locked up in this white room. But… you’ve been there for days? How many?
Tom, it’s been almost a week.
Thomas couldn’t respond. Almost wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard what Teresa had just said. The fear he’d been holding back began to slowly seep into his chest. Could he trust her? She’d lied to him so much already. And how did he even know this was really her? It was high time to cut off ties with Teresa.
Tom? Teresa called to him again. What’s going on here? I’m really confused.
Thomas felt a rush of emotion, a burning inside him that almost brought tears to his eyes. He had once considered Teresa his best friend. But it could never be like that again. Now all he felt when he thought of her was anger.
Tom! Why aren’t you Teresa, listen to me.
Hello? That’s what I’m trying to No, just… listen. Don’t say anything else, okay? Just listen to me.
She paused. Okay. A quiet, scared voice in his mind.
Thomas couldn’t control it anymore. Rage pulsed inside of him. Luckily, he only had to think the words, because he could never have spoken them aloud.
Teresa. Go away.
Tom No. Don’t say another word. Just… leave me alone. And you can tell WICKED that I’m done playing their games. Tell them I’m done!
She waited a few seconds before responding. Okay. Another pause. Okay. Then I just have one thing left to say to you.
Thomas sighed. I can’t wait.
She didn’t say it right away, and he would’ve thought she’d left him except that he still felt her presence. Finally, she spoke again.
Tom?
What?
WICKED is good.
And then she was gone.
EPILOGUE
WICKED Memorandum, Date 232.2.13, Time 21:13
TO: My Associates
FROM: Ava Paige, Chancellor
RE: SCORCH TRIALS, Groups A and B
This is not a time to let emotions interfere with the task at hand. Yes, some events have gone in a direction we didn’t foresee. Not all is ideal-things have gone wrong-but we’ve made tremendous progress and have collected many of the needed patterns. I feel a great amount of hope.
I expect all of us to maintain our professional demeanor and remember our purpose. The lives of so many people rest in the hands of so few. This is why it’s an especially important time for vigilance and focus.
The days to come are fundamental to this study, and I have every confidence that when we restore their memories, every one of our subjects will be ready for what we plan to ask of them. We still have the Candidates we need. The final pieces will be found and put into place.
The future of the human race outweighs all. Every death and every sacrifice are well worth the ultimate outcome. The end of this monumental effort is coming, and I believe that the process will work. That we’ll have our patterns. That we’ll have our blueprint. That we’ll have our cure.
The Psychs are deliberating even now. When they say the time is right, we’ll remove the Swipe and tell our remaining subjects if they are-or are not-immune to the Flare.
That’s all for now.
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