sk.thetalisman-第24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！


　　Osmond　whirled　to　the　dandy；　who　took　a　step　back；　his　thick　red　mouth　working。
　　'Was　it　the　Kingsland？'　Osmond　panted。
　　'Osmond；　you　shouldn't　tax　yourself　so…'
　　Osmond　flicked　his　left　wrist　upward；　the　whip's　steel…tipped　rawhide　tails　clattered　against　the　dandy's　boots。　The　dandy　took　another　step　backward。
　　'Don't　tell　me　what　I　should　or　shouldn't　do；'　he　said。　'Only　answer　my　questions。　I'm　vexed；　Stephen；　I'm　most　intolerably；　indubitably　vexed。　Was　it　the　Kingsland？'
　　'Yes；'　Stephen　said。　'I　regret　to　say　it；　but…'
　　'On　the　Outpost　Road？'
　　'Osmond…'
　　'On　the　Outpost　Road；　you　dripping　penis？'
　　'Yes；'　Stephen　gulped。
　　'Of　course；'　Osmond　said；　and　his　thin　face　was　split　by　a　hideous　white　grin。　'Where　is　All…Hands'　Village；　if　not　on　the　Outpost　Road？　Can　a　village　fly？　Huh？　Can　a　village　somehow　fly　from　one　road　to　another；　Stephen？　Can　it？　Can　it？'
　　'No；　Osmond；　of　course　not。'
　　'No。　And　so　there　are　barrels　all　over　the　Outpost　Road；　is　that　correct？　Is　it　correct　for　me　to　assume　that　there　are　barrels　and　an　overturned　ale…wagon　blocking　the　Outpost　Road　while　the　best　ale　in　the　Territories　soaks　into　the　ground　for　the　earthworms　to　carouse　on？　Is　that　correct？'
　　'Yes　。　。　。　yes。　But…'
　　'Morgan　is　ing　by　the　Outpost　Road！'　Osmond　screamed。　'Morgan　is　ing　and　you　know　how　he　drives　his　horses！　If　his　diligence　es　around　a　bend　and　upon　that　mess；　his　driver　may　not　have　time　to　stop！　He　could　be　overturned！　He　could　be　killed！'
　　'Dear…God；'　Stephen　said；　all　as　one　word。　His　pallid　face　went　two　shades　whiter。
　　Osmond　nodded　slowly。　'I　think；　if　Morgan's　diligence　were　to　overturn；　we　would　all　do　better　to　pray　for　his　death　than　for　his　recovery。'
　　'But…but…'
　　Osmond　turned　from　him　and　almost　ran　back　to　where　the　Captain　of　the　Outer　Guards　stood　with　his　'son。'　Behind　Osmond；　the　hapless　carter　still　writhed　in　the　mud；　bubbling　My　Lords。
　　Osmond's　eyes　touched　Jack　and　then　swept　over　him　as　if　he　weren't　there。　'Captain　Farren；'　he　said。　'Have　you　followed　the　events　of　the　last　five　minutes？'
　　'Yes；　Osmond。'
　　'Have　you　followed　them　closely？　Have　you　gleaned　them？　Have　you　gleaned　them　most　closely？'
　　'Yes。　I　think　so。'
　　'Do　you　think　so？　What　an　excellent　Captain　you　are；　Captain！　We　will　talk　more；　I　think；　about　how　such　an　excellent　Captain　could　produce　such　a　frog's　testicle　of　a　son。'
　　His　eyes　touched　Jack's　face　briefly；　coldly。
　　'But　there's　no　time　for　that　now；　is　there？　No。　I　suggest　that　you　summon　a　dozen　of　your　brawniest　men　and　that　you　double…time　them…no；　triple…time　them…out　to　the　Outpost　Road。　You'll　be　able　to　follow　your　nose；　to　the　site　of　the　accident；　won't　you？'
　　'Yes；　Osmond。'
　　Osmond　glanced　quickly　at　the　sky。　'Morgan　is　expected　at　six　of　the　clock…perhaps　a　little　sooner。　It　is　now…two。　I　would　say　two。　Would　you　say　two；　Captain？'
　　'Yes；　Osmond。'
　　'And　what　would　you　say；　you　little　turd？　Thirteen？　Twenty…three？　Eighty…one　of　the　clock？'　
　　Jack　gaped。　Osmond　grimaced　contemptuously；　and　Jack　felt　the　clear　tide　of　his　hate　rise　again。
　　You　hurt　me；　and　if　I　get　the　chance…！
　　Osmond　looked　back　at　the　Captain。　'Until　five　of　the　clock；　I　suggest　that　you　be　at　pains　to　save　whatever　barrels　may　still　be　whole。　After　five；　I　suggest　you　simply　clear　the　road　as　rapidly　as　you　can。　Do　you　understand？'
　　'Yes；　Osmond。'
　　'Then　get　out　of　here。'
　　Captain　Farren　brought　a　fist　to　his　forehead　and　bowed。　Gaping　stupidly；　still　hating　Osmond　so　fiercely　that　his　brains　seemed　to　pulse；　Jack　did　the　same。　Osmond　had　whirled　away　from　them　before　the　salute　was　even　fairly　begun。　He　was　striding　back　toward　the　carter；　popping　his　whip；　making　it　cough　out　those　Daisy　air　rifle　sounds。
　　The　carter　heard　Osmond's　approach　and　began　to　scream。
　　'e　on；'　the　Captain　said；　pulling　Jack's　arm　for　the　last　time。　'You　don't　want　to　see　this。'
　　'No；'　Jack　managed。　'God；　no。'　
　　But　as　Captain　Farren　pushed　the　right…hand　gate　open　and　they　finally　left　the　pavillion；　Jack　heard　it…and　he　heard　it　in　his　dreams　that　night：　one　whistling　carbine…crack　after　another；　each　followed　by　a　scream　from　the　doomed　carter。　And　Osmond　was　making　a　sound。　The　man　was　panting；　out　of　breath；　and　so　it　was　hard　to　tell　exactly　what　that　sound　was；　without　turning　around　to　look　at　his　face…something　Jack　did　not　want　to　do。
　　He　was　pretty　sure　he　knew；　though。　
　　He　thought　Osmond　was　laughing。
　　　
　　　5
　　
　　They　were　in　the　public　area　of　the　pavillion　grounds　now。　The　strollers　glanced　at　Captain　Farren　from　the　corners　of　their　eyes　。　。　。　and　gave　him　a　wide　berth。　The　Captain　strode　swiftly；　his　face　tight　and　dark　with　thought。　Jack　had　to　trot　in　order　to　catch　up。
　　'We　were　lucky；'　the　Captain　said　suddenly。　'Damned　lucky。　I　think　he　meant　to　kill　you。'　Jack　gaped　at　him；　his　mouth　dry　and　hot。
　　'He's　mad；　you　know。　Mad　as　the　man　who　chased　the　cake。'　Jack　had　no　idea　what　that　might　mean；　but　he　agreed　that　Osmond　was　mad。
　　'What…'
　　'Wait；'　the　Captain　said。　They　had　e　back　around　to　the　small　tent　where　the　Captain　had　taken　Jack　after　seeing　the　shark's　tooth。　'Stand　right　here　and　wait　for　me。　Speak　to　no　one。'　
　　The　Captain　entered　the　tent。　Jack　stood　watching　and　waiting。　A　juggler　passed　him；　glancing　at　Jack　but　never　losing　his　rhythm　as　he　tossed　half　a　dozen　balls　in　a　plex　and　airy　pattern。　A　straggle　of　dirty　children　followed　him　as　the　children　followed　the　Piper　out　of　Hamelin。　A　young　woman　with　a　dirty　baby　at　one　huge　breast　told　him　she　could　teach　him　something　to　do　with　his　little　man　besides　let　piss　out　of　it；　if　he　had　a　coin　or　two。　Jack　looked　unfortably　away；　his　face　hot。
　　The　girl　cawed　laughter。　'Oooooo；　this　pretty　young　man's　SHY！　e　over　here；　pretty！　e…'
　　'Get　out；　slut；　or　you'll　finish　the　day　in　the　under…kitchens。'　
　　It　was　the　Captain。　He　had　e　out　of　the　tent　with　another　man。　This　second　fellow　was　old　and　fat；　but　he　shared　one　characteristic　with　Farren…he　looked　like　a　real　soldier　rather　than　one　from　Gilbert　and　Sullivan。　He　was　trying　to　fasten　the　front　of　his　uniform　over　his　bulging　gut　while　holding　a　curly；　French　horn…like　instrument　at　the　same　time。
　　The　girl　with　the　dirty　baby　scurried　away　with　never　another　look　at　Jack。　The　Captain　took　the　fat　man's　horn　so　he　could　finish　buttoning；　and　passed　another　word　with　him。　The　fat　man　nodded；　finished　with　his　shirt；　took　his　horn　back；　and　then　strode　off；　blowing　it。　It　was　not　like　the　sound　Jack　had　heard　on　his　first　flip　into　the　Territories；　that　had　been　many　horns；　and　their　sound　had　been　somehow　showy：　the　sound　of　heralds。　This　was　like　a　factory　whistle；　announcing　work　to　be　done。
　　The　Captain　returned　to　Jack。
　　'e　with　me；'　he　said。
　　'Where？'
　　'Outpost　Road；'　Captain　Farren　said；　and　then　he　cast　a　wondering；　half…fearful　eye　down　on　Jack　Sawyer。　'What　my　father's　father　called　Western　Road。　It　goes　west　through　smaller　and　smaller　villages　until　it　reaches　the　Outposts。　Beyond　the　Outposts　it　goes　into　nowhere　。　。　。　or　hell。　If　you're　going　west；　you'll　need　God　with　you；　boy。　But　I've　heard　it　said　He　Himself　never　ventures　beyond　the　Outposts。　e　on。'
　　Questions　crowded　Jack's　mind…a　million　of　them…but　the　Captain　set　a　killer　pace　and　he　didn't　have　the　spare　breath　to　ask　them。　They　breasted　the　rise　south　of　the　great　pavillion　and　passed　the　spot　where　he　had　first　flipped　back　out　of　the　Territories。　The　rustic　fun…fair　was　now　close…Jack　could　hear　a　barker　cajoling　patrons　to　try　their　luck　on　Wonder　the　Devil…Donkey；　to　stay　on　two　minutes　was　to　win　a　prize；　the　barker　cried。　His　voice　came　on　the　sea…breeze　with　perfect　clarity；　as　did　the　mouthwatering　smell　of　hot　food…roast　corn　as　well　as　meat　this　time。　Jack's　stomach　rumbled。　Now　safely　away　from　Osmond　the　Great　and　Terrible；　he　was　ravenous。
　　Before　they　quite　reached　the　fair；　they　turned　right　on　a　road　much　wider　than　the　one　which　led　toward　the　great　pavillion。　Outpost　Road；　Jack　thought；　and　then；　with　a　little　chill　of　fear　and　anticipation　in　his　belly；　he　corrected　himself：　No　。　。　。　Western　Road。　The　way　to　the　Talisman。
　　Then　he　was　hurrying　after　Captain　Farren　again。
　　　
　　　6
　　
　　Osmond　had　been　right；　they　could　have　followed　their　noses；　if　necessary。　They　were　still　a　mile　outside　the　village　with　that　odd　name　when　the　first　sour　tang　of　spilled　ale　came　to　them　on　the　breeze。
　　Eastward…bearing　traffic　on　the　road　was　heavy。　Most　of　it　was　wagons　drawn　by　lathered　teams　of　horses　（none　with　two　heads；　however）。　The　wagons　were；　Jack　supposed；　the　Diamond　Reos　and　Peterbilts　of　this　world。　Some　were　piled　high　with　bags　and　bales　and　sacks；　some　with　raw　meat；　some　with　clacking　cages　of　chickens。　On　the　outskirts　of　All…Hands'　Village；　an　open　wagon　filled　with　women　swept　by　them　at　an　alarming　pace。　The　women　were　laughing　and　shrieking。　One　got　to　her　feet；　raised　her　skirt　all　the　way　to　her　hairy　crotch；　and　did　a　tipsy　bump　and　grind。　She　would　have　tumbled　over　the　side　of　the　wagon　and　into　the　ditch…probably　breaking　her　neck…if　one　of　her　colleagues　hadn't　grabbed　her　by　the　back　of　the　skirt　and　pulled　her　rudely　back　down。
　　Jack　blushed　again：　he　saw　the　girl's　white　breast；　its　nipple　in　the　dirty　baby's　working　mouth。　Oooooo；　this　pretty　young　man's　SHY！
　　'God！'　Farren　muttered；　walking　faster　than　ever。　'They　were　all　drunk！　Drunk　on　spilled　Kingsland！　Whores　and　driver　both！　He's　apt　to　wreck　them　on　the　road　or　drive　them　right　off　the　sea…cliffs…no　great　loss。　Diseased　sluts！'
　　'At　least；'　Jack　panted；　'the　road　must　be　fairly　clear；　if　all　this　traffic　can　get　through。　Mustn't　it？'　
　　They　were　in　All…Hands'　Village　now。　The　wide　Western　Road　had　been　oiled　here　to　lay　the　dust。　Wagons　came　and　went；　groups　of　people　crossed　the　street；　and　everyone　seemed　to　be　talking　too　loudly。　Jack　saw　two　men　arguing　outside　what　might　have　been　a　restaurant。　Abruptly；　one　of　them　threw　a　punch。　A　moment　later；　both　men　were　rolling　on　the　ground。　Those　whores　aren't　the　only　ones　drunk　on　Kings…land；　Jack　thought。　I　think　everyone　in