sk.thewastelands-第6部分

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　　〃Can't！〃　Roland　shouted。　〃The　angle's　bad！　You　have　to　do　it；　Susan…nah！　This　is　the　real　test；　and　you'd　better　pass　it！〃
　　〃Roland…〃
　　〃It　means　to　snap　the　top　of　the　tree　off！〃　he　roared　at　her。　〃Can't　you　see　that？〃
　　She　looked　at　the　revolver　in　her　hand。　Looked　across　the　clearing；　at　the　gigantic　bear　obscured　in　the　clouds　and　sprays　of　green　needles。　Looked　at　Eddie；　swaying　back　and　forth　like　a　metronome。　Eddie　proba…bly　had　Roland's　other　gun；　but　Susannah　could　see　no　way　he　could　use　it　without　being　shaken　from　his　perch　like　an　over…ripe　plum。　Also；　he　might　not　shoot　at　the　right　thing。
　　She　raised　the　revolver。　Her　stomach　was　thick　with　dread。　〃Hold　me　still；　Roland；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　don't…〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　me！〃
　　She　fired　twice；　squeezing　the　shots　as　Roland　had　taught　her。　The　heavy　reports　cut　across　the　sound　of　the　bear　shaking　the　tree　like　the　cracks　of　a　bullwhip。　She　saw　both　bullets　strike　home　in　the　left　cheek　of　the　bear's　rump；　less　than　two　inches　apart。
　　It　shrieked　in　surprise；　pain；　and　outrage。　One　of　its　huge　front　paws　came　out　of　the　dense　screen　of　branches　and　needles　and　slapped　at　the　hurt　place。　The　hand　came　away　dripping　scarlet　and　rose　back　out　of　sight。　Susannah　could　imagine　it　up　there；　examining　its　bloody　palm。　Then　there　was　a　rushing；　rustling；　snapping　sound　as　the　bear　turned；　bending　down　at　the　same　time；　dropping　to　all　fours　in　order　to　achieve　maximum　speed。　For　the　first　time　she　saw　its　face；　and　her　heart　quailed。　Its　muzzle　was　lathered　with　foam；　its　huge　eyes　glared　like　lamps。　Its　shaggy　head　swung　to　the　left　。　。　。　back　to　the　right　。　。　。　and　centered　upon　Roland；　who　stood　with　his　legs　apart　and　Susannah　Dean　balanced　on　his　shoulders。
　　With　a　shattering　roar；　the　bear　charged。
　　
　　　7
　　SAY　YOUR　LESSON；　Susannah　Dean；　and　be　true。
　　The　bear　came　at　them　in　a　rumbling　lope；　it　was　like　watching　a　runaway　factory　machine　over　which　someone　had　thrown　a　huge；　moth…eaten　rug。
　　It　looks　like　a　hat！　A　little　steel　hat！
　　She　saw　it　。。。　but　it　didn't　look　like　a　hat　to　her。　It　looked　like　a　radar…dish…a　much　smaller　version　of　the　kind　she　had　seen　in　Movie　Tone　newsreel　stories　about　how　the　DEW…line　was　keeping　everyone　safe　from　a　Russian　sneak　attack。　It　was　bigger　than　the　pebbles　she　had　shot　off　the　boulder　earlier；　but　the　distance　was　greater。　Sun　and　shadow　ran　across　it　in　deceiving　dapples。
　　I　do　not　aim　with　my　hand；　she　who　aims　with　her　hand　has　forgotten　the　face　of　her　father。
　　I　can't　do　it！
　　I　do　not　shoot　with　my　hand；　she　who　shoots　with　her　hand　has　forgotten　the　face　of　her　father。
　　I'll　miss！　I　know　I'll　miss！
　　I　do　not　kill　with　my　gun；　she　who　kills　with　her　gun…
　　〃Shoot　it！〃　Roland　roared。　〃Susannah；　shoot　it！〃
　　With　the　trigger　as　yet　unpulled；　she　saw　the　bullet　go　home；　guided　from　muzzle　to　target　by　nothing　more　or　less　than　her　heart's　fierce　desire　that　it　should　fly　true。　All　fear　fell　away。　What　was　left　was　a　feeling　of　deep　coldness　and　she　had　time　to　think：　This　is　what　he　feels。　My　God…how　does　he　stand　it？
　　〃I　kill　with　my　heart；　motherfucker；〃　she　said；　and　the　gunslinger's　revolver　roared　in　her　hand。
　　　
　　　8
　　THE　SILVERY　THING　SPUN　on　a　steel　rod　planted　in　the　bear's　skull。　Susannah's　bullet　struck　it　dead　center　and　the　radar…dish　blew　into　a　hundred　glittering　fragments。　The　pole　itself　was　suddenly　engulfed　in　a　burst　of　crackling　blue　fire　which　reached　out　in　a　net　and　seemed　to　grasp　the　sides　of　the　bear's　face　for　a　moment。
　　It　rose　on　its　rear　legs　with　a　whistling　howl　of　agony；　its　front　paws　boxing　aimlessly　at　the　air。　It　turned　in　a　wide；　staggering　circle　and　began　to　flap　its　arms；　as　if　it　had　decided　to　fly　away。　It　tried　to　roar　again　but　what　came　out　instead　was　a　weird　warbling　sound　like　an　air…raid　siren。
　　〃It　is　very　well。〃　Roland　sounded　exhausted。　〃A　good　shot；　fair　and　true。〃
　　〃Should　I　shoot　it　again？〃　she　asked　uncertainly。　The　bear　was　still　blundering　around　in　its　mad　circle　but　now　its　body　had　begun　to　tilt　sidewards　and　inwards。　It　struck　a　small　tree；　rebounded；　almost　fell　over；　and　then　began　to　circle　again。
　　〃No　need；〃　Roland　said。　She　felt　his　hands　grip　her　waist　and　lift　her。　A　moment　later　she　was　sitting　on　the　ground　with　her　thighs　folded　beneath　her。　Eddie　was　slowly　and　shakily　descending　the　pine；　but　she　didn't　see　him。　She　could　not　take　her　eyes　from　the　bear。
　　She　had　seen　the　whales　at　the　Seaquarium　near　Mystic；　Connecti…cut；　and　believed　they　had　been　bigger　than　this…much　bigger；　proba…bly…but　this　was　certainly　the　largest　land　creature　she　had　ever　seen。　And　it　was　clearly　dying。　Its　roars　had　bee　liquid　bubbling　sounds；　and　although　its　eyes　were　open；　it　seemed　blind。　It　flailed　aimlessly　about　the　camp；　knocking　over　a　rack　of　curing　hides；　stamping　flat　the　little　shelter　she　shared　with　Eddie；　caroming　off　trees。　She　could　see　the　steel　post　rising　from　its　head。　Tendrils　of　smoke　were　rising　around　it；　as　if　her　shot　had　ignited　its　brains。
　　Eddie　reached　the　lowest　branch　of　the　tree　which　had　saved　his　life　and　sat　shakily　astride　it。　〃Holy　Mary　Mother　of　God；　he　said。　〃I'm　looking　right　at　it　and　I　still　don　t　beli…〃
　　The　bear　wheeled　back　toward　him。　Eddie　leaped　nimbly　from　the　tree　and　streaked　toward　Susannah　and　Roland。　The　bear　took　no　notice；　it　marched　drunkenly　to　the　pine　which　had　been　Eddie's　refuge；　tried　to　grasp　it；　failed；　and　sank　to　its　knees。　Now　they　could　hear　other　sounds　ing　from　inside　it；　sounds　that　made　Eddie　think　of　some　huge　truck　engine　stripping　its　gears。
　　A　spasm　convulsed　it；　bowed　its　back。　Its　front　claws　rose　and　gored　madly　at　its　own　face。　Worm…infested　blood　flew　and　splattered。　Then　it　fell　over；　making　the　ground　tremble　with　its　fall；　and　lay　still。　After　all　its　strange　centuries；　the　bear　the　Old　People　had　called　Mir…the　world　beneath　the　world…was　dead。
　　　
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　　EDDIE　PICKED　SUSANNAH　UP；　held　her　with　his　sticky　hands　locked　together　at　the　small　of　her　back；　and　kissed　her　deeply。　He　reeked　of　sweat　and　pine…tar。　She　touched　his　cheeks；　his　neck；　she　ran　her　hands　through　his　wet　hair。　She　felt　an　insane　urge　to　touch　him　everywhere　until　she　was　absolutely　sure　of　his　reality。
　　〃It　almost　had　me；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　like　being　on　some　crazy　carni…val　ride。　What　a　shot！　Jesus；　Suze…what　a　shot！'
　　〃I　hope　I　never　have　to　do　anything　like　that　again；〃　she　said　。　。　。but　a　small　voice　at　the　center　of　her　demurred。　That　voice　suggested　that　she　could　not　wait　to　do　something　like　that　again。　And　it　was　cold；　that　voice。　Cold。
　　〃What　was…〃　he　began；　turning　toward　Roland；　but　Roland　was　no　longer　standing　there。　He　was　walking　slowly　toward　the　bear；　which　now　lay　on　the　ground　with　its　shaggy　knees　up。　From　within　it　came　a　series　of　muffled　gasps　and　gurgles　as　its　strange　guts　continued　to　slowly　run　down。
　　Roland　saw　his　knife　planted　deep　in　a　tree　near　the　scarred　veteran　that　had　saved　Eddie's　life。　He　pulled　it　free　and　wiped　it　clean　on　the　soft　deerskin　shirt　which　had　replaced　the　tatters　he　had　been　wearing　when　the　three　of　them　had　left　the　beach。　He　stood　by　the　bear；　looking　down　at　it　with　an　expression　of　pity　and　wonder。
　　Hello；　stranger；　he　thought。　Hello；　old　friend。　I　never　believed　in　you；　not　really。　I　believe　Alain　did；　and　I　know　that　Cuthbert　did…Cuthbert　believed　in　everything…but　I　was　the　hardheaded　one。　I　thought　you　were　only　a　tale　for　children　。　。　。　another　wind　which　blew　around　in　my　old　nurse's　hollow　head　before　finally　escaping　her　jab…bering　mouth。　But　you　were　here　all　along；　another　refugee　of　the　old　times；　like　the　pump　at　the　way　station　and　the　old　machines　under　the　mountains。　Are　the　Slow　Mutants　who　worshipped　those　broken　remnants　the　final　descendents　of　the　people　who　once　lived　in　this　forest　and　finally　fled　your　wrath？　I　don't　know；　will　never　know　。　。　。　but　it　feels　right。　Yes。　And　then　I　came　with　my　friends…my　deadly　new　friends；　who　are　being　so　much　like　my　deadly　old　friends。　We　came；　weaving　our　magic　circle　around　us　and　around　everything　we　touch；　strand　by　poi…sonous　strand；　and　now　here　you　lie；　at　our　feet。　The　world　has　moved　on　again；　and　this　time；　old　friend；　it's　you　who　have　been　left　behind。
　　The　monster's　body　still　radiated　a　deep；　sick　heat。　Parasites　were　leaving　its　mouth　and　tattered　nostrils　in　hordes；　but　they　died　almost　at　once。　Waxy…white　piles　of　them　were　growing　on　either　side　of　the　bear's　head。
　　Eddie　approached　slowly。　He　had　shifted　Susannah　over　to　one　hip；　carrying　her　as　a　mother　might　carry　a　baby。　〃What　was　it；　Roland？　Do　you　know？〃
　　〃He　called　it　a　Guardian；　I　think；〃　Susannah　said。
　　〃Yes。〃　Roland's　voice　was　slow　with　amazement。　〃I　thought　they　were　all　gone；　must　all　be　gone　。。。　if　they　ever　existed　outside　of　the　old　wives'　tales　in　the　first　place。〃
　　〃Whatever　it　was；　it　was　one　crazy　mother；〃　Eddie　said。
　　Roland　smiled　a　little。　〃If　you'd　lived　two　or　three　thousand　years；　you'd　be　one　crazy　mother；　too。〃
　　〃Two　or　three　thousand　。　。　。　Christ！〃
　　Susannah　said；　〃Is　it　a　bear？　Really？　And　what's　that？〃　She　was　pointing　at　what　appeared　to　be　a　square　metal　tag　set　high　on　one　of　the　bear's　thick　rear　legs。　It　was　almost　overgrown　with　tough　tangles　of　hair；　but　the　afternoon　sun　had　pricked　out　a　single　starpoint　of　light　on　its　stainless　steel　surface；　revealing　it。
　　Eddie　knelt　and　reached　hesitantly　toward　the　tag；　aware　that　strange　muffled　clicks　and　clacks　were　still　ing　from　deep　inside　the　fallen　giant。　He　looked　at　Roland。
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　the　gunslinger　told　him。　〃It's　finished。〃
　　Eddie　pushed　a　clump　of　hair　aside　and　leaned　closer。　Words　had　been　stamped　into　the　metal。　They　were　quite　badly　eroded；　but　he　found　that　with　a　little　effort　he　could　read　them。
　　
　　NORTH　CENTRAL　POSITRONICS；　LTD。
　　Granite　City　Northeast　Corridor
　　Design　4　GUARDIAN
　　Serial　#　AA　24123　CX　755431297　L　14
　　Type/Species　BEAR
　　SHARDIK
　　**NR**SUBNUCLEAR　CELLS　MUST　NOT　BE　REPLACED**NR**
　　
　　〃Holy　Jesus；　this　thing　is　a　robot；〃　Eddie　said　softly。
　　〃It　can't　be；〃　Susannah　said。　〃When　I　shot　it；　it　bled。〃