Lemmings, de Richard Matheson
"Everywhere," said Carmack.
They were standing on the coast highway. As far
as they could see there was nothing but cars. Thousands of cars were jammed
bumper to bumper and pressed side to side. The highway was solid with them.
"There come some more," said Carmack.
The two policemen looked at the crowd of people
walking toward the beach. Many of them talked and laughed. Some of them were
very quiet and serious. But they all walked toward the beach.
Reordon shook his head. "I don't get
it," he said for the hundredth time that week. "I just don't get
it."
Carmack shrugged.
"Don't think about it," he said.
"It's happening. What else is there?"
"But it's crazy."
"Well, there they go." said
Carmack.
As the two policemen watched, the crowd of
people moved across the gray sands of the beach and walked into the water. Some
of them started swimming. Most of them couldn't because of their clothes.
Carmack saw a young woman flailing at the water and dragged down by the fur
coat she was wearing.
In several minutes they were all gone. The two
policemen stared at the place where the people had walked into the water.
"How long does it go on?" Reordon
asked.
"Until they're gone, I guess," said
Carmack.
"But why?"
"You ever read about the Lemmings?"
Carmack asked.
"No."
"They're rodents who live in the Scandinavian countries. They keep breeding until all their food supply is gone. Then they move across the country, ravaging everything in their way. When they reach the sea the keep going. They swim until their strength is gone. Millions of them."
"They're rodents who live in the Scandinavian countries. They keep breeding until all their food supply is gone. Then they move across the country, ravaging everything in their way. When they reach the sea the keep going. They swim until their strength is gone. Millions of them."
"You think that's what this is?"
asked Reordon.
"Maybe," said Carmack.
"People aren't rodents!" Reordon said
angrily.
Carmack didn't answer.
They stood on the edge of the highway waiting
but nobody appeared.
"Where are they?" asked Reordon.
"Maybe they've all gone in," Carmack
said.
"All of them?"
"It's been going on for more than a
week," Carmack said. "People could have gotten here from all over.
Then there are the lakes."
Reordon shuddered. "All of them," he
said.
"I don't know," said Carmack,
"but they've been coming right along until now."
"Oh, God," said Reordon.
Carmack took out a cigarette and lit it.
"Well," he said, "what now?"
Reordon sighed. "Us?" he said.
"You go," Carmack said. "I'll
wait a while and see if there's anyone else."
"All right." Reordon put his hand
out. "Good-by, Carmack," he said.
They shook hands. "Good-by, Reordon,"
Carmack said.
He stood smoking his cigarette and watching his
friend walk across the gray sand of the beach and into the water until it was
over his head. He saw Reordon swim a few dozen yards before he disappeared.
After a while he put out his cigarette and
looked around. Then we walked into the water too.
A million cars stood empty along the beach.
—¿De dónde vienen?
—preguntó Reordon.
—De todas partes
—replicó Carmack.
Ambos hombres
permanecían junto a la carretera de la costa, y, hasta donde alcanzaban sus
miradas, no podían ver más que coches. Miles de automóviles se encontraban
embotellados, costado contra costado y paragolpe contra paragolpe. La carretera
formaba una sólida masa con ellos.
—Ahí vienen unos
cuantos más —señaló Carmack.
Los dos policías
miraron a la multitud que caminaba hacia la playa. Muchos charlaban y reían.
Algunos permanecían silenciosos y serios. Pero todos iban hacia la playa.
—No lo comprendo —dijo
Reordon, meneando la cabeza. En aquella semana debía de ser la centésima vez
que hacía el mismo comentario—. No puedo comprenderlo.
Carmack se encogió de
hombros.
—No pienses en ello.
Ocurre. Eso es todo.
—¡Pero es una locura!
—Sí, pero ahí van
—replicó Carmack.
Mientras los dos
policías observaban, el gentío atravesó las grises arenas de la playa y comenzó
a adentrarse en las aguas del mar. Algunos empezaron a nadar. La mayor parte no
pudo, ya que sus ropas se lo impidieron. Carmack observó a una joven que
luchaba con las olas y que se hundió al fin a causa de su abrigo de pieles.
Pocos minutos más tarde
todos habían desaparecido. Los dos policías observaron el punto en que la gente
se había metido en el agua.
—¿Durante cuánto tiempo
seguirá esto? —preguntó Reordon.
—Hasta que todos se
hayan ido, supongo —replicó Carmack.
—Pero..., ¿por qué?
—¿Nunca has leído nada
acerca de los Lemmings?
—No.
—Son unos roedores que
viven en los Países Escandinavos. Se multiplican incesantemente hasta que
acaban con toda su reserva de comida. Entonces comienzan una migración a lo
largo del territorio, arrasando cuanto se encuentran a su paso. Al llegar al
océano, siguen su marcha. Nadan hasta agotar sus energías. Y son millones y
millones.
—¿Y crees que eso es lo
que ocurre ahora?
—Es posible —replicó
Carmack.
—¡Las personas no son
roedores! —gritó Reordon, airado.
Carmack no respondió.
Permanecieron esperando al borde de la carretera, pero no llegó nadie más.
—¿Dónde están?
—preguntó Reordon.
—Tal vez se hayan ido.
—¿Todos?
—Esto viene ocurriendo
desde hace más de una semana. Es posible que la gente se haya dirigido al mar
desde todas partes. Y también están los lagos. Reordon se estremeció. Volvió a
repetir:
—Todos...
—No lo sé; pero hasta
ahora no habían cesado de venir.
—¡Dios mío...! —murmuró
Reordon.
Carmack sacó un
cigarrillo y lo encendió.
—Bueno —dijo—. Y ahora,
¿qué?
Reordon suspiró:
—¿Nosotros?
—Ve tú primero —replicó
Carmack—. Yo esperaré un poco, por si aparece alguien más.
—De acuerdo —Reordon
extendió su mano—. Adiós, Carmack —dijo.
Los dos hombres
cambiaron un apretón de manos.
—Adiós, Reordon —se
despidió Carmack.
Y permaneció fumando su
cigarrillo mientras observaba cómo su amigo cruzaba la gris arena de la playa y
se metía en el agua hasta que ésta le cubrió la cabeza. Antes de desaparecer,
Reordon nadó unas docenas de metros.
Tras unos momentos,
Carmack apagó su cigarrillo y echó un vistazo a su alrededor. Luego él también
se metió en el agua.
A lo largo de la costa
se alineaban un millón de coches vacíos.
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