dk.watchers-第88部分

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long　the　Coast　Highway　where　we　could　pull　over；　wait　until　there's　no　traffic；　drag　him　out　of　the　bed　of　the　truck；　and　toss　him　over　the　side。　If　we　pick　a　place　where　the　sea　es　in　right　to　the　base　of　the　slope；　it'll　carry　him　out；　move　him　away；　before　anyone　notices　him　down　there。〃
　As　Nora　finished　the　bandage；　Einstein　abruptly　got　up；　whined。　He　sniffed　the　air。　He　went　to　the　back　door；　stood　staring　at　it　for　a　moment；　then　disappeared　into　the　living　room。
　〃I'm　afraid　he's　hurt　worse　than　he　seems　to　be；〃　Nora　said；　applying　a　final　strip　of　adhesive　tape。
　〃Maybe；〃　Travis　said。　〃But　maybe　not。　He's　just　been　acting　peculiar　all　day；　ever　since　you　left　this　morning。　He　told　me　it　smelled　like　a　bad　day。〃
　〃He　was　right；〃　she　said。
　Einstein　returned　from　the　living　room　at　a　run　and　went　straight　to　the　pantry；　switching　on　the　lights　and　pumping　the　pedals　that　released　lettered　tiles。
　〃Maybe　he　has　an　idea　about　disposing　of　the　body；〃　Nora　said。
　As　Nora　gathered　up　the　leftover　iodine；　alcohol；　gauze；　and　tape；　Travis　painfully　pulled　on　his　shirt　and　went　to　the　pantry　to　see　what　Einstein　had　to　say。
　THE　OUTSIDER　IS　HERE。
　　　
　Travis　slammed　a　new　magazine　into　the　butt　of　the　Uzi　carbine；　put　an　extra　in　one　pocket；　and　gave　Nora　one　of　the　Uzi　pistols　that　was　kept　in　the　pantry。
　Judging　by　Einstein's　sense　of　urgency；　they　had　no　time　to　go　through　the　house；　closing　and　bolting　shutters。
　The　clever　scheme　to　gas　The　Outsider　in　the　barn　had　been　built　upon　the　certainty　that　it　would　approach　at　night　and　reconnoiter。　Now　that　it　had　e　in　daylight　and　had　reconnoitered　while　they　were　distracted　by　Vince；　that　plan　was　useless。
　They　stood　in　the　kitchen；　listening；　but　nothing　could　be　heard　above　the　relentless　roar　of　the　rain。
　Einstein　was　not　able　to　give　them　a　more　precise　fix　on　their　adversary's　location。　His　sixth　sense　was　still　not　working　up　to　par。　They　were　just　lucky　that　he　had　sensed　the　beast　at　all。　His　morning…long　anxiety　had　evidently　not　been　related　to　any　presentiment　about　the　man　who　had　e　home　with　Nora　but　had　been；　even　without　his　knowledge；　caused　by　the　approach　of　The　Outsider。
　〃Upstairs；〃　Travis　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　Down　here；　the　creature　could　enter　by　doors　or　windows；　but　on　the　second　floor　they　would　at　least　have　only　windows　to　worry　about。　And　maybe　they　could　get　shutters　closed　over　some　of　those。
　Nora　climbed　the　stairs　with　Einstein。　Travis　brought　up　the　rear；　moving　backward；　keeping　the　Uzi　aimed　down　at　the　first　floor。　The　ascent　made　him　dizzy。　He　was　acutely　aware　that　the　pain　and　weakness　in　his　injured　shoulder　was　slowly　spreading　outward　through　his　entire　body　like　an　ink　stain　through　a　blotter。
　On　the　second　floor；　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　he　said；　〃If　we　hear　it　e　in；　we　can　back　off；　wait　until　it　starts　to　climb　toward　us；　then　step　forward　and　catch　it　by　surprise；　blow　it　away。〃
　She　nodded。
　。　They　had　to　be　silent　now；　give　it　a　chance　to　creep　into　the　downstairs；　give　it　time　to　decide　they　were　on　the　second　floor；　let　it　gain　confidence；　let　it　approach　the　stairs　with　a　sense　of　security。
　A　strobe…flash　of　lightning…the　first　of　the　storm…pulsed　at　the　window　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　and　thunder　cracked。　The　sky　seemed　to　have　been　shattered　by　the　blast；　and　all　the　rain　stored　in　the　heavens　collapsed　upon　the　earth　in　one　tremendous　fall。
　At　the　end　of　the　hallway；　one　of　Nora's　canvases　flew　out　of　her　studio　and　crashed　against　the　wall。
　Nora　cried　out　in　surprise；　and　for　an　instant　all　three　of　them　stared　stupidly　at　the　painting　lying　on　the　hall　floor；　half　thinking　that　its　poltergeist…like　flight　had　been　related　to　the　great　crash　of　thunder　and　the　lightning。
　A　second　painting　sailed　out　of　her　studio；　hit　the　wall；　and　Travis　saw　the　canvas　was　shredded。
　The　Outsider　was　already　in　the　house。
　They　were　at　one　end　of　the　short　hall。　The　master　bedroom　and　future　nursery　were　on　the　left；　the　bathroom　and　then　Nora's　studio　on　the　right。　The　thing　was　just　two　doors　away；　in　Nora's　studio；　demolishing　her　paintings。
　Another　canvas　flew　into　the　hallway。
　Rain…soaked；　muddied；　battered；　still　somewhat　weak　from　his　battle　with　distemper；　Einstein　nevertheless　barked　viciously；　trying　to　warn　off　The　Outsider。
　Holding　the　Uzi；　Travis　moved　one　step　down　the　hall。　Nora　grabbed　his　arm。　〃Let's　not。　Let's　get　out。〃
　〃No。　We've　got　to　face　it。〃
　〃On　our　terms；〃　she　said。
　〃These　are　the　best　terms　we're　going　to　get。〃
　Two　more　paintings　flew　out　of　the　studio　and　clattered　down　on　top　of　the　growing　pile　of　wrecked　canvases。
　Einstein　was　no　longer　barking　but　growling　deep　in　his　throat。
　Together；　they　moved　along　the　hall；　toward　the　open　door　of　Nora's　studio。
　Travis's　experience　and　training　told　him　they　ought　to　split　up；　spread　out；　instead　of　grouping　into　a　single　target。　But　this　was　not　Delta　Force。　And　their　enemy　was　not　a　mere　terrorist。　If　they　spread　out；　they　would　lose　some　of　the　courage　they　needed　to　face　the　thing。　Their　very　closeness　gave　them　strength。
　They　were　halfway　to　the　studio　door　when　The　Outsider　shrieked。　It　was　an　icy　sound　that　stabbed　right　through　Travis　and　quick…froze　his　bone　marrow。　He　and　Nora　halted；　but　Einstein　took　two　more　steps　before　stopping。
　The　dog　was　shuddering　violently。
　Travis　realized　he；　too；　was　shaking。　The　tremors　aggravated　the　pain　in　his　shoulder。
　Breaking　fear's　hold；　he　rushed　to　the　open　door；　treading　on　ruined　canvases；　spraying　bullets　into　the　studio。　The　weapon's　recoil；　though　minimal；　was　like　a　chisel　chipping　into　his　wound。
　He　hit　nothing；　heard　nothing　scream；　saw　no　sign　of　the　enemy。
　The　floor　in　there　was　littered　with　a　dozen　mangled　paintings　and　glass　from　the　broken　window　by　which　the　thing　had　entered　after　climbing　ontO　the　front　porch　roof。
　Waiting；　Travis　stood　with　his　legs　spread　wide。　The　gun　in　both　hands。　Blinking　sweat　out　of　his　eyes。　Trying　to　ignore　the　seething　pain　in　his　right　shoulder。　Waiting。
　The　Outsider　must　be　to　the　left　of　the　door…or　behind　it　on　the　right；
　crouched；　ready　to　spring。　If　he　gave　it　time；　maybe　it　would　grow　tired　of　waiting　and　would　rush　him；　and　he　could　cut　it　down　in　the　doorway。
　No；　it's　as　smart　as　Einstein；　he　told　himself。　Would　Einstein　be　so　dumb　as　to　rush　me　through　a　narrow　doorway？　No。　No；　it'll　do　something　more　intelligent；　unexpected。
　The　sky　exploded　with　thunder　so　powerful　it　vibrated　the　windows　and　shook　the　house。　Chain　lightning　sizzled　through　the　day。
　e　on　you　bastard；　show　yourself。
　He　glanced　at　Nora　and　Einstein；　who　stood　a　few　steps　away　from　him；　with　the　master　bedroom　on　one　side　of　them　and　the　bathroom　on　the　other　side；　the　stairs　behind　them。
　He　looked　again　through　the　doorway；　at　the　window　glass　among　the　debris　on　the　floor。　Suddenly　he　was　certain　that　The　Outsider　was　no　longer　in　the　studio；　that　it　had　gone　out　through　the　window；　onto　the　roof　of　the　front　porch；　and　that　it　was　ing　at　them　from　another　part　of　the　house；　through　another　door；　perhaps　out　of　one　of　the　bedrooms；　or　from　the　bathroom…or　maybe　it　would　explode　at　them；　shrieking；　from　the　top　of　the　steps。
　He　motioned　Nora　forward；　to　his　side。　〃Cover　me。〃
　Before　she　could　object；　he　went　through　the　doorway；　into　the　studio；　moving　in　a　crouch。　He　nearly　fell　in　the　rubble；　but　stayed　on　his　feet　and　spun　around；　ready　to　open　fire　if　the　thing　was　looming　over　him。
　It　was　gone。
　The　closet　door　was　open。　Nothing　in　there。
　He　went　to　the　broken　window　and　cautiously　looked　out　onto　the　roof　of　the　rain…washed　porch。　Nothing。
　Wind　keened　over　the　dangerously　sharp　shards　of　glass　still　bristling　from　the　window　frame。
　He　started　back　toward　the　upstairs　hail。　He　could　see　Nora　out　there；　looking　in　at　him；　scared；　but　gamely　clutching　her　Uzi。　Behind　her；　the　door　to　the　future　nursery　opened；　and　it　was　there；　yellow　eyes　aglow。　Its　monstrous　jaws　cracked　wide；　full　of　teeth　far　sharper　than　the　wicked　glass　shards　in　the　window　frame。
　She　was　aware　of　it；　started　to　turn；　but　it　struck　at　her　before　she　had　a　chance　to　fire。　It　tore　the　Uzi　out　of　her　hands。
　It　had　no　chance　to　gut　her　with　its　razor…edged　six…inch　claws　because；　even　as　the　beast　was　tearing　the　pistol　out　of　her　hands；　Einstein　charged　it；　snarling。　With　catlike　quickness；　The　Outsider　shifted　its　attention　from　Nora　to　the　dog。　It　whipped　around　on　him；　lashed　out　as　if　its　long　arms　Were　constructed　with　more　than　one　elbow　joint。　It　snatched　Einstein　up　in　both　horrendous　hands。
　Crossing　the　studio　to　the　hall　door；　Travis　had　no　clear　shot　at　The　Outsider　because　Nora　was　between　him　and　that　hateful　thing。　As　Travis　reached　the　doorway；　he　cried　out　for　her　to　fall　down；　to　give　him　a　line　of　fire；　and　she　did；　immediately；　but　too　late。　The　Outsider　scooped　Einstein　into　the　nursery　and　slammed　the　door；　as　if　it　were　an　evil　nightmare…spawned　jack…in…the…
　box　that　had　popped　out　and　popped　back　in　with　its　prey；　all　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。
　Einstein　squealed；　and　Nora　rushed　the　nursery　door。
　〃No！〃　Travis　shouted；　pulling　her　aside。
　He　aimed　the　automatic　carbine　at　the　closed　door　and　emptied　the　rest　of　the　magazine　into　it；　punching　at　least　thirty　holes　in　the　wood；　crying　out　through　clenched　teeth　as　pain　flared　through　his　shoulder。　There　was　some　risk　of　hitting　Einstein；　but　the　retriever　would　be　in　worse　danger　if　Travis　did　not　open　fire。　When　the　gun　stopped　spitting　bullets；　he　ripped　out　the　empty　magazine；　took　a　full　magazine　from　his　pocket　and　slammed　that　into　the　gun。　Then　he　kicked　open　the　ruined　door　and　went　into　the　nursery。
　The　window　stood　open；　curtains　blowing　in　the　wind。
　The　Outsider　was　gone。
　Einstein　was　on　the　floor；　against　one　wall；　motionless；　covered　with　blood。
　Nora　made　a　wrenching　sound　of　grief　when　she　saw　the　retriever。
　At　the　window；　Travis　spotted　splashes　of　blood　leading　across　the　porch　roof。　Rain　was　swiftly　washing　the　gore　away。
　Movement　caught　his　eye；　and　he　looked　toward　the　barn；　where　The　Outsider　disappeared　through　the　big　door。
　Crouching　over　the　dog；　Nora　said；　〃Oh　my