按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
going to happen with the uranium – what was it General Groves had said？ Light； some heat and
a lot of radiation if the two pieces were brought together。 Was that what Kestrel was waiting for；
a flash of light that would startle Vanessa？ He felt Kestrel’s sweat where their legs were bound
together。
“I hope you know what you’re doing；” he said； as though talking to Vanessa。
“Shut up！” – Ana took the smaller parcel and began to unwrap it。 The soft foil； battered by
rough handling； fell away in pieces beneath her fingers。 The uranium she uncovered had a
nacreous shine in the moonlight。 She reached for the second piece。
Finn and Kestrel stood as one man； poised； waiting for an opening。 They watched each layer fall
away from the larger piece of uranium。 As Ana worked off the last layer； the heavy rounded
metal slipped from her hands。 It fell on top of its mate with a metallic clang。 It did not roll away。
Blue light leaped from the union； a primal flash of energy that was as deadly as it was
unexpected。
“What？” Instinctively Vanessa raised her hand to shield herself from the uncanny blue light。
Finn and Kestrel leaped for her。 Finn’s handful of sand scoured across Vanessa’s face； ruining
her aim as she brought her gun up。 The shot passed over their heads。 Before she could fire again；
the two men were on her。
Finn grabbed her right wrist as she went down beneath them。 He forced her pistol up and away
from his face； trying to break her wrist at the same time。 Her free hand dug at his shoulder
wound； agony weakened his grip。 Kestrel’s thumbs hooked upward； seeking her eyes。 She threw
back her head and his thumbnails gouged across her cheekbones。
Off…balance； the three of them sprawled on the sand。 The pistol fired again； a vicious spitting
sound。 They rolled and kicked； each clawing for leverage； an opening； the single instant needed
to deliver a killing blow。
Kestrel’s weight yanked Finn aside。 The knot binding them slipped； allowing the scarf to drop
below their knees。 The edge of Kestrel’s hand chopped at Vanessa’s throat。 She twisted aside；
taking the blow on her shoulder and throwing Kestrel off…balance。 He fell； knocking Finn’s hand
off Vanessa’s wrist； freeing the pistol。 Finn clawed at the ground； seeing another handful of sand
to blind her with。
His fingers closed around something hard and heavy and warm。 Even as he picked it up； arm
straight and swinging like a club； he knew he was holding the smaller piece of uranium。 The
pistol spat in the same second that Vanessa’s skull fragmented beneath the smashing force of the
uranium in Finn’s hand。
Kestrel jerked once and groaned。 Vanessa did not move at all。 Finn rolled away immediately；
going after Kestrel； his hands seeking Kestrel’s throat。 The Japanese did not respond。 Finn’s
fingers met slick warm blood。 He tore free of the scarf that bound him to Kestrel and came to
his feet； the uranium still in his hand。 It had been less than thirty seconds since the uranium had
leaped with blue light。
The uranium in his hand showed a black rime in the moonlight – Vanessa’s blood。 She lay on her
back； her eyes open and empty as the wind。 The first primitive exhilaration of survival swept
through Finn。 The battle to control the world had been fought here； in the desert； using fists and
fingernails – and he had won。
Ana moaned； a sound neither male nor female； fear and pain rending the silence。 She crawled to
Kestrel’s side； unaware of the blood welling from her scalp where a fragment of bullet had split
flesh to the bone。
Finn took Vanessa’s gun from her slack fingers and walked over to Ana。 She did not look up；
simply held Kestrel and cried； blood mingling with tears on her face。 Finn knelt and pressed his
fingers against Kestrel’s neck； seeking a pulse。 He thought he found one； but could not be
certain； his own heart was beating so violently。
Slowly； Finn got to his feet； still holding the small piece of uranium。 He put it in one pail； then
picked up the larger piece and put it in the second pail。 For a moment he stood motionless；
wrapped ín wind； listening to Ana weep。 The intoxication of victory began to ebb； leaving room
for pain。 His wounded shoulder burned and his body ached from blows he did not remember
receiving。 He bent over and took the weight of the buckets。 They were heavier than he had
expected； unreasonably heavy。 The metal handles cut into his flesh。
“I’ll come back；” he said。
Ana neither looked up nor answered。
Finn turned away and walked toward Manzanar； carrying thousands of deaths and 2 million lives
in his hands。
（The End）
。 … 。………【gzbysh】整理