sk.thewastelands-第76部分

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hat　was　written　there　might　be　knowledge　worth　having。　Under　these　circumstances；　however；　there　was　no　time　to　spare。
　　A　wide　red　strip　had　been　painted　across　the　pavement　at　the　point　where　The　Street　of　the　Turtle　emptied　into　The　Plaza　of　the　Cradle。　Maud　and　the　fellow　Eddie　called　Jeeves　the　Butler　stopped　a　prudent　distance　from　the　red　mark。
　　〃This　far　and　no　farther；〃　Maud　told　them　flatly。　〃You　may　take　us　to　our　deaths；　but　each　man　and　woman　owes　one　to　the　gods　anyway；　and　I'll　die　on　this　side　of　the　dead…line　no　matter　what。　I'll　not　dare　Blaine　for　outlanders。〃
　　〃Nor　will　I；〃　Jeeves　said。　He　had　taken　off　his　dusty　bowler　and　was　holding　it　against　his　naked　chest。　On　his　face　was　an　expression　of　fearful　reverence。
　　〃Fine；〃　Susannah　said。　〃Now　scat　on　out　of　here；　both　of　you。〃
　　〃Ye'll　backshoot　us　the　second　we　turn　from　ye；〃　Jeeves　said　in　a　trembling　voice。　〃I'll　take　my　watch　and　warrant　on　it；　so　I　will。〃
　　Maud　shook　her　head。　The　blood　on　her　face　had　dried　to　a　gro…tesque　maroon　stippling。　〃There　never　were　a　backshooting　gunslinger…that　much　I　will　say。〃
　　〃We　only　have　their　word　for　it　that　that's　what　they　are。〃
　　Maud　pointed　to　the　big　revolver　with　the　worn　sandalwood　grip　which　Susannah　held　in　her　hand。　Jeeves　looked　。　。　。　and　after　a　moment　he　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　woman。　When　Maud　took　it；　Susannah's　image　of　them　as　dangerous　killers　collapsed。　They　looked　more　like　Hansel　and　Gretel　than　Bonnie　and　Clyde；　tired；　frightened；　confused；　and　lost　so　long　in　the　woods　that　they　had　grown　old　there。　Her　hate　and　fear　of　them　departed。　What　replaced　it　was　pity　and　a　deep；　aching　sadness。
　　〃Fare　you　well；　both　of　you；〃　she　said　softly。　〃Walk　as　you　will；　and　with　no　fear　of　harm　from　me　or　my　man　here。〃
　　Maud　nodded。　〃I　believe　you　mean　us　no　harm；　and　I　forgive　you　for　shooting　Winston。　But　listen　to　me；　and　listen　well：　stay　out　of　the　Cradle。　Whatever　reasons　you　think　you　have　for　going　in；　they're　not　good　enough。　To　enter　Blaine's　Cradle　is　death。〃
　　〃We　don't　have　any　choice；〃　Eddie　said；　and　thunder　banged　over…head　again；　as　if　in　agreement。　〃Now　let　me　tell　you　something。　I　don't　know　what's　underneath　Lud　and　what　isn't；　but　I　do　know　those　drums　you're　so　whacked　out　about　are　part　of　a　recording…a　song…that　was　made　in　the　world　my　wife　and　I　came　from。〃　He　looked　at　their　un…prehending　faces　and　raised　his　arms　in　frustration。　〃Jesus　Pumpkin…Pie　Christ；　don't　you　get　it？　You're　killing　each　other　over　a　piece　of　music　that　was　never　even　released　as　a　single！〃
　　Susannah　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　murmured　his　name。　He　ignored　her　for　the　moment；　his　eyes　flicking　from　Jeeves　to　Maud　and　then　back　to　Jeeves　again。
　　〃You　want　to　see　monsters？　Take　a　good　look　at　each　other；　then。　And　when　you　get　back　to　whatever　funhouse　it　is　you　call　home；　take　a　good　look　at　your　friends　and　relatives。〃
　　〃You　don't　understand；〃　Maud　said。　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　somber。　〃But　you　will。　Ay…you　will。〃
　　〃Go　on；　now；〃　Susannah　said　quietly。　〃Talk　between　us　is　no　good；　the　words　only　drop　dead。　Just　go　your　way　and　try　to　remember　the　faces　of　your　fathers；　for　I　think　you　lost　sight　of　those　faces　long　ago。〃
　　The　two　of　them　walked　back　in　the　direction　from　which　they　had　e　without　another　word。　They　did　look　back　over　their　shoulders　from　time　to　time；　however；　and　they　were　still　holding　hands：　Hansel　and　Gretel　lost　in　the　deep　dark　forest。
　　〃Lemme　outta　here；〃　Eddie　said　heavily。　He　made　the　Ruger　safe；　stuck　it　back　in　the　waistband　of　his　pants；　and　then　rubbed　his　red　eyes　with　the　heels　of　his　hands。　〃Just　lemme　out；　that's　all　I　ask。〃
　　〃I　know　what　you　mean；　handsome。〃　She　was　clearly　scared；　but　her　head　had　that　defiant　tilt　he　had　e　to　recognize　and　love。　He　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　bent　down；　and　kissed　her。　He　did　not　let　either　their　surroundings　or　the　oning　storm　keep　him　from　doing　a　thorough　job。　When　he　pulled　back　at　last；　she　was　studying　him　with　wide；　dancing　eyes。　〃Wow！　What　was　that　about？〃
　　〃About　how　I'm　in　love　with　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　guess　that's　about　all。　Is　it　enough？〃
　　Her　eyes　softened。　For　a　moment　she　thought　about　telling　him　the　secret　she　might　or　might　not　be　keeping；　but　of　course　the　time　and　place　were　wrong…she　could　no　more　tell　him　she　might　be　pregnant　now　than　she　could　pause　to　read　the　words　written　on　the　sculpted　Portal　Totems。
　　〃It's　enough；　Eddie；〃　she　said。
　　〃You're　the　best　thing　that　ever　happened　to　me。〃　His　hazel　eyes　were　totally　focused　on　her。　〃It's　hard　for　me　to　say　stuff　like　that…living　with　Henry　made　it　hard；　I　guess…but　it's　true。　I　think　I　started　loving　you　because　you　were　everything　Roland　took　me　away　from…in　New　York；　I　mean…hut　it's　a　lot　more　than　that　now；　because　I　don't　want　to　go　hack　anymore。　Do　you？〃
　　She　looked　at　the　Cradle。　She　was　terrified　of　what　they　might　find　in　there；　but　all　the　same　。　。　。　she　looked　back　at　him。　〃No；　I　don't　want　to　go　back。　I　want　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　going　forward。　As　long　as　you're　with　me；　that　is。　It's　funny；　you　know；　you　saying　you　started　loving　me　because　of　all　the　things　he　took　you　away　from。〃
　　〃Funny　how？〃
　　〃I　started　loving　you　because　you　set　me　free　of　Detta　Walker。〃　She　paused；　thought；　then　shook　her　head　slightly。　〃No…it　goes　further　than　that。　I　started　loving　you　because　you　set　me　free　of　both　those　bitches。　One　was　a　foul…mouthed；　cock…teasing　thief；　and　the　other　was　a　self…righteous；　pompous　prig。　es　down　to　six　of　one　and　half　a　dozen　of　the　other；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。　I　like　Susannah　Dean　better　than　either　one　。　。　。　and　you　were　the　one　who　set　me　free。〃
　　This　time　it　was　she　who　did　the　reaching；　pressing　her　palm　to　his　stubbly　cheeks；　drawing　him　down；　kissing　him　gently。　When　he　put　a　light　hand　on　her　breast；　she　sighed　and　covered　it　with　her　own。
　　〃I　think　we　better　get　going；〃　she　said；　〃or　we're　apt　to　be　laying　right　here　in　the　street　。　。　。　and　getting　wet；　from　the　look。〃
　　Eddie　stared　around　at　the　silent　towers；　the　broken　windows；　the　vine…encrusted　walls　a　final　time。　Then　he　nodded。　〃Yeah。　I　don't　think　there's　any　future　in　this　town；　anyway。〃
　　He　pushed　her　forward；　and　they　both　stiffened　as　the　wheels　of　the　chair　passed　over　what　Maud　had　called　the　dead…line；　fearful　that　they　would　trip　some　ancient　protective　device　and　die　together。　But　nothing　happened。　Eddie　pushed　her　into　the　plaza；　and　as　they　approached　the　steps　leading　up　to　the　Cradle；　a　cold；　wind…driven　rain　began　to　fall。
　　Although　neither　of　them　knew　it；　the　first　of　the　great　autumn　storms　of　Mid…World　had　arrived。
　　
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　　ONCE　THEY　WERE　IN　the　smelly　darkness　of　the　sewers；　Gasher　slowed　the　killing　pace　he'd　maintained　aboveground。　Jake　didn't　think　it　was　because　of　the　darkness；　Gasher　seemed　to　know　every　twist　and　turn　of　the　route　he　was　following；　just　as　advertised。　Jake　believed　it　was　because　his　captor　was　satisfied　that　Roland　had　been　squashed　to　jelly　by　the　deadfall　trap。
　　Jake　himself　had　begun　to　wonder。
　　If　Roland　had　spotted　the　tripwires…a　far　more　subtle　trap　than　the　one　which　followed…was　it　really　likely　that　he　had　missed　seeing　the　fountain？　Jake　supposed　it　was　possible；　but　it　didn't　make　much　sense。　Jake　thought　it　more　likely　that　Roland　had　tripped　the　fountain　on　purpose；　to　lull　Gasher　and　perhaps　slow　him　down。　He　didn't　believe　Roland　could　follow　them　through　this　maze　under　the　streets…the　total　darkness　would　defeat　even　the　gunslinger's　tracking　abilities…but　it　cheered　his　heart　to　think　that　Roland　might　not　have　died　in　an　attempt　to　keep　his　promise。
　　They　turned　right；　left；　then　left　again。　As　Jake's　other　senses　sharp…ened　in　an　attempt　to　pensate　for　his　lack　of　sight；　he　had　a　vague　perception　of　other　tunnels　around　him。　The　muffled　sounds　of　ancient；　laboring　machinery　would　grow　loud　for　a　moment；　then　fade　as　the　stone　foundations　of　the　city　drew　close　around　them　again。　Drafts　blew　intermittently　against　his　skin；　sometimes　warm；　sometimes　chilly。　Their　splashing　footfalls　echoed　briefly　as　they　passed　the　intersecting　tunnels　from　which　these　stenchy　breaths　blew；　and　once　Jake　nearly　brained　himself　on　some　metal　object　jutting　down　from　the　ceiling。　He　slapped　at　it　with　one　hand　and　felt　something　that　might　have　been　a　large　valve…wheel。　After　that　he　waved　his　hands　as　he　trotted　along　in　an　attempt　to　read　the　air　ahead　of　him。
　　Gasher　guided　him　with　taps　to　the　shoulders；　as　a　waggoner　might　have　guided　his　oxen。　They　moved　at　a　good　clip；　trotting　but　not　run…ning。　Gasher　got　enough　of　his　breath　back　to　first　hum　and　then　begin　singing　in　a　low；　surprisingly　tuneful　tenor　voice。
　　
　　〃Bibble…ti…tibble…ti…ting…ting…ting；
　　I'll　get　a　job　and　buy　yer　a　ring；
　　When　I　get　my　…mitts
　　On　yerjiggly　tits；
　　Ribble…ti…tibble…ti…ting…ting…ting！
　　
　　O　ribble…ti…tibble；
　　I　just　wanter　fiddle；
　　Fiddle　around　with　your　ting…ting…ting！〃
　　
　　There　were　five　or　six　more　verses　along　this　line　before　Gasher　quit。　〃Now　you　sing　somethin；　squint。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　anything；〃　Jake　puffed。　He　hoped　he　sounded　more　out　of　breath　than　he　actually　was。　He　didn't　know　if　it　would　do　him　any　good　or　not；　but　down　here　in　the　dark　any　edge　seemed　worth　trying　for。
　　Gasher　brought　his　elbow　down　in　the　center　of　Jake's　back；　almost　hard　enough　to　send　him　sprawling　into　the　ankle…high　water　running　sluggishly　through　the　tunnel　they　were　traversing。　〃Yon　better　know　sominat；　'less　you　want　me　to　rip　your　ever…lovin　spine　right　outcher　back。〃　He　paused；　then　added：　〃There's　haunts　down　here；　boy。　They　live　inside　the　fuckin　machines；　so　they　do。　Singin　keeps　em　off　。　。　。　don't　you　know　that？　Now　sing！〃
　　Jake　thought　hard；　not　wanting　to　earn　another　love…tap　from　Gasher；　and　came　up　with　a　song　he'd　learned　in　summer　day　camp　at　the　age　of　seven　or　eight。　He　opened　his　mouth　and　began　to　bawl　it　into　the　darkness；　listening　to　the　echoes　bounce　back　amid　the　sounds　of　running　water；　falling　water；　and　ancient　thudding　machinery。
　　
　　〃My　girl's　a　corker；　she's　a　New　Yorker；
　　I　buy　her　everything　to　keep　her　in　style；