rm.thenightboat-第46部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rage and blood…lust； take the U…boat prowling for the freighters in the shipping lanes。 But what if they were too late； what if the boat had slipped through the teeth； what if there was no stopping that grisly crew of horrors？
In about forty minutes the boat was buttoned down tight。 A throaty rumble grew from belowdecks； white smoke churned briefly at the exhausts； the hatch was secured。 Some of the Caribs leaped over to the wharf and began to throw off lines。 There was an empty wooden crate at Moore's feet； with the word CAUTION stenciled across it in faded lettering； he kicked it aside。 The other Caribs left the wheelhouse； those at the bow came aft。 As he watched； they left the trawler and stood in the rain watching the Pride leave the wharf when the stern lines were cast off。 One of them raised a hand in a farewell gesture。
〃Cheyne's leaving them！〃 Moore said to Jana。 He made his way to the wheelhouse。
Inside was a roomy cabin with dark…varnished plank bulkheads and a chart table； there was a lighted oil lamp set in a gimbaled fixture at the rear of the wheelhouse。 Overhead were thick； exposed wooden beams； Cheyne's head almost touched them。 The Carib stood over a polished eight…spoked wheel； before a dimly lit instrumentation panel。 A radio receiver sat on a shelf at shoulder level。 Moore said； loudly over the noise of the twin diesels； 〃What about the others？〃
Cheyne did not take his eyes off the sea； which he watched through a wooden…framed windshield。 He moved the wheel a few points to port and foam specked the glass。 〃They are staying behind with their families。 You and the woman asked to e； Moore。 If you've changed your minds you can swim back； both of you。〃
〃You'll need those men！〃
〃I don't ask of any man more than he is willing to give；〃 Cheyne said。 〃Their places are in Caribville with their families。 They helped me prepare and that's all I required of them。〃
〃You can't do this alone；〃 Moore said。
〃I'm not alone。〃
Jana came into the wheelhouse and glanced quizzically at Moore。
A flurry of rain and seawater smashed against glass； the bow rose high； dropped sharply。 Jana grasped an exposed roof beam for support。
〃If you're having second thoughts。。。〃 Cheyne said。
〃I'm not；〃 Moore replied。 He turned to Jana。 〃You shouldn't be here。〃
〃I can take care of myself。〃
Cheyne snorted。 〃Either get off my boat now or get to the bow and watch for bommies。〃
Moore saw the sea swirling beyond the glass； the sky was turning from black to gray now； as morning fast approached。 The cloud ceiling was low and moved before a rapid wind； opening up holes though which a dank yellowish light appeared。 Moore went out onto the deck； into the wind's bite； and saw a black column of smoke scrawled in the sky。 It hung directly over the Coquina village； and instantly his heart rose to his throat。
〃Cheyne；〃 he called； motioning toward it。 The Carib peered out； his powerful hands clamped about the wheel。 〃The village is burning；〃 he said； a lump of rage rising to his throat。 Cheyne turned the trawler very slowly to keep the rising sea from smashing over the port side； he pulled back on his twin throttles and the diesel's noise quieted。 His gaze was cold and grim； the eyes unmoving。
In a few minutes Moore could see well enough to make out the ruins of the fishermen's shanties。 Cheyne's trawler moved through green…slimed bommies into the smoother harbor water。 The smell of smoke was thick and acrid； and Moore was consumed with rage。 As the trawler neared the mercial wharf Moore saw a group of ragged…looking islanders and shouted to them； throwing a line。 Without waiting for Cheyne to cut his engines he had jumped across to the wharf； moving through the knot of men toward the shanties。
Cheyne came out on deck； 〃Moore！〃 he roared。 〃There's no time。。。！〃
But he had already gone； the rage burning within him； his feet sinking in wet sand。 The scorched smell hung across the harbor and it sickened him。 Bodies were being pulled from the ruins； and lay on the street； charred black； it was hard to tell that many of them had ever been walking； living； breathing human beings。 Moore clenched his teeth； looking to see if he knew any of them but not being able to recognize the faces。 Someone working with another crew of men farther along Front Street cried out； 〃Here's one！〃 and a woman wailed。
Moore walked forward； dazed； the faces around him were weary； filthy。 Some he recognized； some he did not； but in all he saw a pain； a numbness； a horror。 A woman rocked the corpse of a child while a man stood over her； eyes darting madly in all directions。 The man knew he must do something but was unable to think。 〃Go sleep；〃 the woman whispered through her tears。 〃Sweet baby go sleep。。。〃 A wailing pierced the dim light； he saw the burned hulks of the bars； the smoke still rising。 Other buildings had caught fire again now that the rain had almost stopped； and he could see bucket brigades working feverishly。 The Indigo Inn stood unscathed； at the top of the hill； too far away to be touched by the fire but empty and dead nevertheless。
He was stunned by the carnage。 〃Moore！〃 he heard Cheyne shout from the harbor。 〃Goddamn you。。。！〃
There were corpses lying in rows on Front Street covered with sheets； he caught a glimpse of Dr。 Maxwell and one of the nurses from the clinic bandaging the injured。 With his next step he almost tripped over a body curled before him； he made himself look down； and saw it was the old man who'd spoken reverentially of jumbies。 Now his skull was crushed and his eyes were glazed； sunken。
He shook his head； forcing his breath out between his teeth。 God； no。。。 no。。。 no。。。 History repeating itself； he thought； the Nazis have e； the sea…wolves； the conquerors； and they have been cunning and merciless。 Horror upon horror； death upon death。 And on the seas now the Night Boat； moving toward the shipping lanes to carry out a timeless mission of destruction。
And then Moore saw Reynard。 The man's forehead was gashed； his clothes smeared with ashes。 One of his hands was badly burned； the flesh puffing up in yellow blisters。 He stepped forward； making a choking noise； and grasped at Moore's collar。 〃You did this。。。〃 he rasped hoarsely。 〃Look what you've brought upon us。 LOOK AT IT； DAMN YOU！〃
Moore blinked； unable to move or push the man away。
Heads turned toward them。 〃You brought that Hell's boat up；〃 Reynard hissed。 〃You brought that thing from the Abyss！〃
〃No；〃 Moore said。 〃I didn't know。。。〃
〃Open your eyes and look at the dead！〃 Reynard shrieked； tears streaming down his cheeks。 〃YOU BROUGHT IT TO THE ISLAND！〃
〃It was the white man did this！〃 someone else； a thin； wild…eyed black shouted。 〃He killed my wife and babies； burned my house！ He brung that boat up from the sea！ He brung it up！〃
Moore felt the electricity closing in； he shook away from Reynard and the man sprawled face forward into the sand。 Another came forward； the hatred palpable： 〃FILTHY BROTHER TO THEM THINGS！〃 it shrieked。 〃YOU KILLED HER！〃
A hand appeared； holding an extra finger of slim silver。 Someone else shouted； a knot of people surrounding Moore； nowhere to go。 Their breath hot on him； dried blood on the faces； the eyes gone mad with fury。
〃Spill his blood！〃 a woman cried out。 The group of men moved closer； someone bent down； broke a beer bottle against a stone； and held out the glittering weapon。 Moore backed away from it； tripped over charred timbers； and fell onto his injured shoulder。 He cried out in pain； and then they were upon him； hauling him up； other hands groping for him； Reynard shouting in a broken voice。 He was pulled forward； through a cloud of ashes； and he tried to fight them but there were too many。
The black with the knife was moving in； Moore caught a glimpse of enraged eyes； a flash of metal。 The knife arm went back in a short； brutal arc； poised for an instant； and started to drive home through Moore's rib cage。
There was a blur of motion and bodies； an abrupt cry of pain； a piece of timber came crashing down across the head of the man with the knife； and he groaned in agony as he toppled forward； the knife spinning from his grip。
The timber swung out； caught another man in the chest； and drove him to his knees。 They all stood back from Moore； breathing heavily。
Cheyne held the jagged piece of wood ready to strike again。 His gaze flickered across the maddened faces； then he said quietly to Moore； 〃Step away from them。〃
Moore； nursing his throbbing shoulder； moved nearer the Carib。 Knives glittered around them。
〃e on；〃 Cheyne muttered defiantly。 〃Let's make short work of it。〃
One of the men； larger than the others； stepped from the group； a broken bottle gripped in a hamlike hand； another followed close behind。 But a sharp click！ froze them in their tracks。
〃I swear before God I'll shoot the first one of you who lays a hand on those two men；〃 Kip said； holding a rifle into their midst。 There were sunken hollows beneath his eyes and he blinked sluggishly； fighting exhaustion。 Behind him stood Myra； her clothes dirty and a bandage wrapped around one arm； she held their little girl； Mindy； whose eyes were glazed in shock。 〃Do any of you think this is going to bring back a wife； a child； or a husband？ If we start killing each other we'll be finishing the job those things began。。。！〃
The men watched Kip； their faces still eager for revenge。
〃There's nothing you can do now；〃 he told them。 〃They're gone。。。〃
〃AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO？〃 It was Reynard； struggling through the knot of men； sweat shining on his face。 〃You're the law here； there must be something you can do； some way you can。。。〃
〃When the weather clears we can use the radio to get help；〃 Kip said calmly。 〃Until then； no。〃
Reynard shook his head。 〃That's not enough！ Look at these people； mon！ Look at those bodies on the ground！ What we going to do if they e back？ How we going to fight？〃
〃Here are your friends；〃 Cheyne said to Moore。 〃See them as they are。〃 He raised his voice。 〃I'll tell you how we'll fight； old man！ I'm going to sea after the boat； I'm going to try to run it across Jacob's Teeth。〃 He gla
