克拉克靠在飞机的坐椅上，一天的情形又出现在他的脑海里。他想起了贝特·道格拉斯公司那个业务员说的话，“我们从不搞什么克隆，那种办法太原始。我们只是把人们细胞核里的基因，按照样本的顺序重新排列而已。然后，那么一变就大功告成了。”这句话的可信度到底有多少呢？难道他们真的找到了一条更便捷的途径？

Chapter 13 The Missing(A)

Clark was against the seat on the plane. The situation of the day appeared in his mind. He remembered Bethe Douglas Company that sale**an said, ‘We never to clone body, because the way is too original. We only put the people of the genes in the nucleus to rearrange in accordance as the sample.’ How much is the trust about this sentence? Are they really found a more convenient way?

他的眼睛一直盯着一个地方，脑子里仔细地思考着这个问题。在很多场合之下，往往没有时间来仔细地分析情况，全靠直觉做出决定，经验告诉他，他的直觉正确率在百分之八十以上。从今天的感觉来说，他认为那家伙在胡说八道。他的眼前又浮现出那个业务员说话时，暗地里观察他的神色。

一个人在说谎的时候常常特别留意对方的反应，因为他很关心自己的谎话是不是起了作用。

His eyes were staring at one place, and carefully think through the question in his head. On many occasions, he often does not have time to ****yze the situation cautiously, so all rely on intuition to decide, and the experience tells him that his instincts accuracy above eighty percent. From today's feeling, he thought the guy talking nonsense. When the sale**an was talking, his facial expression was watching to Clark secretly, this scenario was in front of eyes of Clark.

When a person is fabrication lying, often special attention to the reaction of the other party, because he is very concerned about whether his own lies to play an effect.

克拉克仿佛遇到的就是这种情形；经过反复对比，他还是倾向于自己原有的设想,他需要搜集更多的证据来证明这一点。至于他在二十一层楼上遇到的事情，有的一时还无法找到答案，有的还需要再费些脑子想一想。

这时，他感到有些累了，便闭上眼睛打起盹来。

After repeated comparison, Clark encountered as if this kind of situation, so he still tended to his original idea, and he needs to collect more evidence to prove the point. As for the things that he met in the 21st floors, some can't find the answer for a while, some need to take of the brain to think yet.

At this time, he felt a little tired, then closed his eyes and started to nap.

经过几个小时的飞行，“挑战者”降落了。当它在跑道的一侧渐渐停下来时，从飞机的舷窗里，克拉克看到两辆黑色的轿车已经在那里等待。

那位克拉克不曾相识的先生，自从把他引上飞机以来，一直坐在另一排坐位上，一句话也没说。这时，他站起来走到克拉克面前说：“看来我的任务已经完成了，”他说着伸出手来和克拉克握了一下，“祝你好运。”他把舱门打开，放下了舷梯。

After several hours of flight, the "challenger" landed. When it stopped gradually in the side of the runway, from the window at the plane, Clark saw two cars in black already there waiting.

The man who Mr Clark never met, since put him on the plane, had been sitting in a seat that is another row, without saying a word. At this time, he stood up and went to the front of Clark. ‘It seems my task has been completed,’ he said to Clark and held out his hand shook, ‘wish you good luck.’ He opened the door, down the ramp.

对于这次枯燥的飞行，克拉克早就厌烦了，尽管如此，他还是礼貌地冲那人微笑着点了一下头，随后钻出了机舱。站在舷梯上，他望着镶嵌着繁星的夜空，深深地吸了一口气，看来，还是美国的空气更新鲜。

“克拉克先生，请上车。”一位总部的工作人员指着早已打开的车门说。

For this boring flight, Clark has been tired already, in spite of this, he yet toward to the man **iled and to a brief nod politely, then drill out of the cabin. Standing on the ladder, he looked to the sky studded with stars, took a deep breath, it seems fresher about the air of the United States.

‘Mr.Clark, please get into the car.’ A headquarters staff said, pointing to the opened door.

刚刚获得自由的克拉克又被困了起来，他觉得自己像是一件被转运的货物，从一个地方塞到另一个地方，没有任何选择的余地。对于这样的安排，他感到十分不舒服，但是他无法拒绝。车门刚一关上，汽车便已经发动起来，从机场的侧门飞快地驶了出去。

克拉克想：到底是什么事情，这么风风火火地把我抓来？

Just to be free of Clark trapped again, he felt that he to like some transported goods which from one place to another to be no choice. For such arrangements, he felt very uncomfortable, but he cannot refuse. The car had warmed up as soon as the door closed, and from the airport quickly drove out of a side door of airport.

Clark thought: exactly what it is, so to rush to catch me?

奈特先生喜欢抽烟，医生多次告戒说：再不停止吸烟，当心生命危险。他已经戒过无数次烟，始终不能达到目的，前不久还跟克拉克讨论过戒烟最有效的方法呢！

奈特先生还有一条产自英国的种狗，现在它怀孕了，如何照料它呢？奈特先生有些为难。难道就是为了这些事吗？克拉克否定地摇摇头。

Mr Knight like **oking, but doctors warned him: if it doesn't stop **oking to beware of mortal danger. He had left the cigarette many times and still cannot achieve the goal, not long ago also discuss with Clark the most effective way to quit **oking!

Mr. Knight has a British breed of dog who she is pregnant now. How to take care of her? Mr Knight felt of the dilemma. It's hard to believe that only for these things? Clark denied shook his head.

上个月曾有一起UFO[1]侵入华盛顿的传说，据说还有记者给外星人拍了照片，也许真有此事。不过，克拉克觉得必须向奈特先生声明，他从来没有处理星际事物的经验，请别强人所难。除此以外，克拉克再也想不出还有什么别的事了。

几下轻微的颠簸之后，小轿车缓缓地驶进了总部的大门。像是害怕把克拉克弄丢了似的，两名工作人员一直陪同他进入了大楼。

There was a legend that the UFO last month had intruded in Washington, it is said that a reporter took some photos for the aliens, perhaps really have it. However, Mr. Clark thought to send Mr. Knight a statement. He never has experience about interstellar things, please don't impose. In addition, Clark didn't think of anything else anymore.

After a few minor bumps, the car slowly pulled into the headquarters of the gate. Like to fear losing Clark, two workers had been accompanying him into the building.

办公室里很忙，文件从一个办公桌传到另一个办公桌。每个工作人员都不得不抬着沉重的眼皮忙碌着，本来这个时候早该进入梦乡了。

看样子真的出事了。

There was the file from a desk to another one successively in the office to be very busy. Each staff carried the heavy eyelid have to be occupied, originally should have to sleep by this time.

It looks like something really wrong.

“快点，克拉克，”奈特先生的秘书斯威特小姐看见他时说，“每个人都在找你。”

“找我吗？也许我是个值钱的宝贝。”克拉克说。

“你不必再找奈特副局长了，直接到局长办公室去，他也在那里。”斯威特小姐说。

‘Hurry Clark,’the Sweet lady who is secretary of Mr.Knight saw him and said, ‘ everyone is looking for you.’

‘Who is looking for me? Maybe I am a valuable treasure.’ Clark said.

‘You don't have to find deputy director Knight, directly to the office of the director, he was there.’ Sweet lady said.

“直接到局长办公室去？”克拉克的神经抽得更紧了。按照以往的经验，局长并不直接出面处理危机，除非事态非常紧急。

克拉克走进局长办公室。里面的气氛并不太紧张，泰勒局长正面坐在办公桌后面，奈特先生坐在一旁。看到克拉克进来，两位局长一起站起来。局长说：“你来得正好，埃德蒙，请这边坐吧？”三位先生分别坐在沙发里，开始了他们的谈话。

‘Go direct to the director of the office?’ Clark's nerve bundled more tightly. On the basis of experience, director does not directly to deal with the crisis, unless the situation is very urgent.

Clark got into the office of the director. The atmosphere was not too nervous, and Taylor of the director was behind a desk, and Mr. Knight sat on a side. Clark came in, director of two after seen him and stood up together. Director Taylor said: ‘You are coming just, Edmund, please sit here.’ Three gentlemen were sitting on the sofa beginning their talks.

“究竟发生了什么事？”克拉克不安地问。

“是这样，今天上午十点……不，”泰勒局长看了一眼墙上的挂钟，它正指着半夜一点钟，“应该说是昨天上午十点左右，总统的女儿梅丽突然失踪了。”

“总统的女儿失踪了？”克拉克简直不相信自已的耳朵。

“总统非常担心梅丽落入国际恐怖主义犯罪集团，对于他来说，这跟扔***同样糟糕,第一夫人点名要你来处理此事，因为她对你很信任。”局长说。

‘What the heck is going on?’Mr. Clark asked nervously.

‘Situation is this morning at ten o'clock... no," director Taylor took one look at the wall clock that it was pointed at one o'clock in the middle night, ‘It should be said that at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, the President's daughter Merry suddenly disappeared.’

‘The President's daughter was missing?’ Clark can't believe his ears.

‘The President is very worried about whether Merry falls into the international terrori** gangs, it is bad to him as throwing the atomic bomb, the first lady wants you by name to dispose of the matter, because she trusts to you.’ The chief said.

“我？……但愿不会让她失望吧！”

“拿出智慧和勇气来，你一定行的。”奈特先生在一旁给他打气。

“事情发生时，白宫的保镖在哪儿？”

‘Me?... I hope won't let her down!’

‘With wisdom and courage, you must be successful.’ Mr. Knight encouraged him on the side.

‘When this case happened, where was the bodyguard of White House?’

“本来也许事情不会发生，”泰勒局长说，“梅丽由于不能忍受让保镖跟着的种种不便，她突然躲开保安系统的监控和自己的女伴偷偷出去干什么，后来，据一家杂货店的老板说，她可能被劫持了。”

‘Original maybe things won't happen,’ chief Taylor said, ‘Merry unable to endure the inconvenience to let as bodyguards with, she avoided security systems of monitoring suddenly and with her partner who is another girl secretly go out, then after according to the owner of a grocery store said that she might have been hijacked.’

很多意外就是这样发生的，被保护者常常不尊重保镖们的意见，骄傲自大，自行其事，给保卫工作造成许多麻烦，一旦出了事，又惊慌失措。克拉克这时反而倒很同情那些白宫保卫人员，他们此时正像热锅上的蚂蚁一般。

“她的女伴呢？”

“一起失踪了。”

“没有电话吗？比如说绑架者有什么条件？”

A lot of accidents happened as such of the protected often don't respect the opinions of the bodyguards, arrogant, to go his own way, to cause of a lot of troubles to the security work, once an accident, panic and lose the head. Clark at this point, it is sympathetic to the White House security guards who at this time like a cat on hot bricks.

‘Where is her companion?’

‘Her was missing with Merry together.’

‘Is there no telephone? For example, the kidnappers have what conditions?’

“到现在为止，还没有任何消息，正是这一点特别让人不安。如果是被流氓团伙劫去的，后果也将很严重。”

克拉克扳着指头算了一下，从梅丽失踪到现在已经有十五个小时，如果是敲诈勒索，现在也该有消息了，也许这是另外一种情况。

克拉克问道：“这件事有多少人知道？”

“除了保镖以外，只有总统夫妇、部分白宫高级官员以及联邦调查局和我们局少数人知道。”泰勒局长说。

‘So far, there has been no news, but just this is particularly unsettling. If a rogue gang to cause, the consequences will be serious yet.’

Clark calculated to pull the finger that from Merry was missing to now have 15 hours, if it is extortion, now should also have the news, maybe this is another case.

Clark asked: ‘how many people know this matter?’

‘Besides the bodyguards, only the presidential couple, part of senior White House officials as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and our people of the few superior officials know.’ Chief Taylor said.

“请严格保密，绑架者很可能并不知道她的身份。”克拉克说。

“如果不是有目的的绑架，那么是不是可以排除政治性勒索的可能？”奈特副局长说。

“是的，我认为政治性绑架的可能性已经不大。”泰勒局长说。

“如果不是政治性绑架，那又是为了什么呢？性犯罪？”奈特问。

‘Please strictly to keep secret, kidnappers probably don't know her identity.’ Clark said.

‘If it hadn't been for kidnapping, so if we can rule out the possibility of the political blackmail?’ Deputy director of the Knight said.

‘Yes, I think the possibility of the political kidnapping has not.’ Taylor's director said.

‘If not political kidnapping, what is that for the sake? Rape?’ Knight asked.

“有这种可能。”泰勒说。

“在南亚，不是有黑帮组织将儿童**，把他们的内脏器官走私到发达国家来吗？但愿他们不会直接到美国来做这种事。”奈特副局长说。

“在美国干这个，对于那些人来说风险太大。”泰勒局长摇摇头。这时，他发现克拉克半天没做声，便转向克拉克问道：“埃德蒙，谈谈你的看法？”

‘There is the possibility.’ Taylor said.

‘In South Asia, are there a few gangster organizations, they di**embered children and put their internal organ **uggling to developed countries? I wish they will not directly to the United States to do such a thing.’ Deputy director of the Knight said.

‘In the US to do this, for those people were too risky.’ Chief Taylor shook his head. At this moment, he found a long-time Clark didn't be voiced, then turned to Clark asked: ‘Edmund, talk about your opinion?’

克拉克独自思考着这件事，没有参与两位局长的讨论。这时，一个大胆的猜想在他的脑海里渐渐形成了。他说：“我想是不是有这种可能，”他把从贝特·道格拉斯公司得到的印刷品，从口袋里掏出来，详细地叙述了他在拿骚遇见的一切，特别是在那个公司的总部里。两位局长听过以后，感到十分惊讶。

“你认为这些与梅丽的失踪有关系，是吗？”奈特先生问道。

Clark was alone thinking about this matter, not involved in the discussion of the two chiefs. There is a bold guess what it gradually formed within his mind. He said: ‘Whether I think to be there this possibility,’ he took the prints from pocket, that was from Bethe Douglas Company, described in detail everything he met in Nassau, especially in the headquarters of the company. Two chiefs heard later, felt very surprised.

‘You think these are associated with the disappearance of Merry, is it?’ Mr. Knight asked.

“是的，”克拉克颇有信心地说，“我是这样想的，如果该公司的服务是以一个新的躯壳去替换老的身体，那么，他们就必须准备许多‘样本’供客户挑选。这些样本从哪儿来呢？一个途径是自己制造，很难说现在没有人在克隆人体，比如A类服务与B类服务。另一个途径很可能是到其他地方去掠取。请看，”克拉克指着费用表说，“A类服务的费用是三十万美圆，B类服务的费用是四十万美圆，而C类却只有十万美圆。为什么？是不是C 类‘样本’的成本很便宜？这儿有个可能，那就是这些C类样本是从社会上直接掠取的，所以成本很低。有统计表明，仅美国每年失踪的儿童就达数万人，很难说该公司不会从这方面入手。”

‘Yes,’ Clark said with some confidence, ‘this is what I think, if the company's service is based on a new body to replace the old one, so they have to prepare many samples for the customer to choose. Where did you get the samples from? One way is to build, and now it is hard to say no one in the cloned human body, such as class A, and class B services. Another way is likely to plunder in other places. Please have a look at,’ Clark said, pointing to fee schedule, ‘A kind of service fee is 300,000 dollar, B class service fee is 400,000 dollar, and the class C is only 100,000 dollar. Why? Is it class C 'samples' cost very cheap? Here's a possibility, what there is the class C sample directly taken from the society, so the cost is very low. The statistics show that only in the United States the missing children every year tens of thousands of people, it's hard to say the company would not be from these aspects to do.’

听完了克拉克的分析，两位局长面面相觑，他们不愿意相信这是真的，但是又没有理由不相信。

泰勒局长说：“这么说，梅丽是被掠去作‘样本’了？”

“我觉得有这种可能，”克拉克说，“至少在既没有勒索电话，又没有进一步消息的情况下，不能排除这一点。”

After hearing the Clarks' ****ysis, the two chiefs looked at each other, they don't want to believe that this is true, but there is no reason to don't believe it.

Director Taylor said: ‘ To say so, was Merry captured to regard as a sample?’

‘I think there are the possibilities,’ Clark said, ‘at least not blackmail phone, and without further news, cannot be ruled out of this.’

两位局长交换了意见以后，泰勒先生做了最后的决定。他立即起身准备前往白宫，他将向总统提出如下建议：

第一、严密监视机场、海港、以及美国的南部沿海，寻找一切可疑的线索。

第二、扩大对各种失踪案的调查。

第三、立即与巴哈马当局联系，求得合作。

第四、尽快查清贝特·道格拉斯公司的情况。

克拉克这时一声不吭，泰勒和奈特回过头来看了他一眼，不禁全都愣住了，原来，克拉克歪在沙发上已经睡着了。

“让他睡吧，他太累了。”泰勒局长拿起一件上衣，轻轻地盖在他的身上。

After the chiefs exchanged views, Mr.Taylor made a final decision. He immediately got up and prepares to visit the White House, and he will show the President put forward the following suggestions:

1, Closely monitor the airport and seaport, and the southern coast, to find all suspicious clues.

2, Expand the investigation of the disappearance of all kinds.

3,Immediately contact the Bahamas of the authorities to get cooperation.

4, Verify the Bethe Douglas Company.

Clark, however, without saying a word, Taylor and Knight gave him a looking back, can't help was all shocked, it turns out that Clark had fell asleep upon the sofa.

‘He is too tired to let him sleep.’ Director of Taylor, picked up a coat and gently put on him.

离开华盛顿市区，一条高速公路向西南延伸而去。大约在距市区十公里之处有一条岔路，沿着这条岔路向前再开十几分钟，便可以看到一幢废弃的楼房。本来很少有人到这儿来，可是近一个时期却忙碌起来，不时有些车辆在这儿进进出出。

利亚姆·刘易斯和他的妹妹弗雷德被人反绑着，蒙着眼睛扔在一辆伏特牌箱式车的后座上，他们的嘴被塑胶纸紧紧地贴着。几部摩托车簇拥着这辆箱式车在高速公路上行驶了一段时间以后，便拐进了这条岔路。

Leave Washington, a highway extends to the south-west. About ten kilometers away from downtown of the place there is a fork on the road, along the fork on the road ahead to drive more than ten minutes, then you can see an abandoned building. Few people come here, but busy over a period from time to time some of the vehicles in and out of here.

Liam Lewis and his sister, Fred was tied up, and threw on the back of box car that is Ford motor in a blindfolded，their mouths tightly to adhibit with plastic paper. Surrounded by several motorcycles of this box car driving along the highway after a period of time, then turned down the fork lane.

利亚姆是个十五岁的大男孩，他长着深褐色的头发、长脸形、面貌一般。本来，他可以是个身体健全的小伙子，但是一次意外事故使他的左腿有一点跛。

他的妹妹弗雷德十四岁，个儿比同龄女孩要高大一些，看上去已经有些成熟。她长着一头金色的长发，眼睛大大的，是个挺引人注目的姑娘。

Liam is a big boy of 15 years old, and he has dark-brown hair, long face, general appearance. Originally, he can be an able-bodied young man, but an accident, his left leg is a little lame.

His sister who Fred fourteen years old and taller than the girl of the same age, she seems to have some maturing. She has a head of golden hair, big eyes, is a very attractive girl.

几个月前，他们的爸爸妈妈失业了，整天争吵不停。弗雷德的后父常常酗酒，甚至还想强奸她。

他们实在忍受不了这种生活的折磨，有一天，利亚姆对弗雷德说：“我们离开这个家，我找工作养活你。”于是，他们就逃出了那个灾难的家庭。由于利亚姆年纪还很轻，找不到合法的工作，他们只得四处流浪，不是躲在遗弃的破房子里过夜，便是蜷缩在公园的长凳上。这样的生活只过了不到一个月，便被一伙黑衣帮掳上了汽车。

A few months ago, their mom and dad lost his job and quarreled all day. Fred, her stepfather often drank, and even to want to rape her.

They really can't stand this life, one day, Liam to Fred said: ‘We leave this house, I am looking for a job to support you.’ Then, they escape from the disaster of family. Due to Liam is still very young, cannot find a legal job, they had to wander hiding in the abandoned house during the night, or curled up on a bench in the park. The days that only less than a month passed then by a group of black clothes caught captives on the car.

注释： [1] UFO，飞碟。