sk.thetalisman-第55部分

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only　they　had　been　heading　east　instead　of　west　（'Tell　you　the　truth；　you're　just　about　the　only　human　I've　ever　seen　this　far　west　who　was　still　going　west；'　Wolf　said）。
　　They　had　been　jolly　enough　pany；　both　of　them。　It　was　only　later　that　there　had　been　trouble　。　。　。　trouble　with　Orris。　That　had　been　after　the　partner　of　Jack's　father　had　'made　himself　a　place　in　this　world；'　Wolf　told　Jack　again　and　again…only　now　he　seemed　to　mean　Sloat；　in　the　physical　guise　of　Orris。　Wolf　said　that　Morgan　had　stolen　one　of　his　litter…sisters　（'My　mother　bit　her　hands　and　toes　for　a　month　after　she　knew　for　certain　that　he　took　her；'　Wolf　told　Jack　matter…of…factly）　and　had　taken　other　Wolfs　from　time　to　time。　Wolf　dropped　his　voice　and；　with　an　expression　of　fear　and　superstitious　awe　on　his　face；　told　Jack　that　the　'limping　man'　had　taken　some　of　these　Wolfs　into　the　other　world；　the　Place　of　the　Strangers；　and　had　taught　them　to　eat　of　the　herd。
　　'That's　very　bad　for　guys　like　you；　isn't　it？'　Jack　asked。
　　'They're　damned；'　Wolf　replied　simply。
　　Jack　had　thought　at　first　that　Wolf　was　speaking　of　kidnapping…the　verb　Wolf　had　used　in　connection　with　his　litter…sister；　after　all；　was　the　Territories　version　of　take。　He　began　to　see　now　that　kidnapping　wasn't　what　was　going　on　at　all…unless　Wolf；　with　unconscious　poetry；　had　been　trying　to　say　that　Morgan　had　kidnapped　the　minds　of　some　of　the　Wolf　family。　Jack　now　thought　that　Wolf　was　really　talking　about　werewolves　who　had　thrown　over　their　ancient　allegiance　to　the　Crown　and　the　herd　and　had　given　it　to　Morgan　instead　。　。　。　Morgan　Sloat　and　Morgan　of　Orris。
　　Which　led　naturally　enough　to　thoughts　of　Elroy。
　　A　Wolf　who　eats　of　his　herd　must　be　put　to　death。
　　To　thoughts　of　the　men　in　the　green　car　who　had　stopped　to　ask　him　directions；　and　offered　him　a　Tootsie　Roll；　and　who　had　then　tried　to　pull　him　into　their　car。　The　eyes。　The　eyes　had　changed。
　　They're　damned。
　　He　made　himself　a　place　in　this　world。
　　Until　now　he　had　felt　both　safe　and　delighted：　delighted　to　be　back　in　the　Territories　where　there　was　a　nip　in　the　air　but　nothing　like　the　dull；　cold　gray　bite　of　western　Ohio；　safe　with　big；　friendly　Wolf　beside　him；　way　out　in　the　country；　miles　from　anything　or　anyone。
　　Made　himself　a　place　in　this　world。
　　He　asked　Wolf　about　his　father…Philip　Sawtelle　in　this　world…but　Wolf　only　shook　his　head。　He　had　been　a　God…pounding　good　guy；　and　a　Twinner…thus　obviously　a　Stranger…but　that　was　all　Wolf　seemed　to　know。　Twinners；　he　said；　was　something　that　had　something　to　do　with　litters　of　people；　and　about　such　business　he　could　not　presume　to　say。　Nor　could　he　describe　Philip　Sawtelle…he　didn't　remember。　He　only　remembered　the　smell。　All　he　knew；　he　told　Jack；　was　that；　while　both　of　the　Strangers　had　seemed　nice；　only　Phil　Sawyer　had　really　been　nice。　Once　he　had　brought　presents　for　Wolf　and　his　litter…sisters　and　litter…brothers。　One　of　the　presents；　unchanged　from　the　world　of　the　Strangers；　had　been　a　set　of　bib　overalls　for　Wolf。
　　'I　wore　em　all　the　time；'　Wolf　said。　'My　mother　wanted　to　throw　em　away　after　I'd　wore　em　for　five　years　or　so。　Said　they　were　worn　out！　Said　I　was　too　big　for　them！　Wolf！　Said　they　were　only　patches　holding　more　patches　together。　I　wouldn't　give　em　up；　though。　Finally；　she　bought　some　cloth　from　a　drummer　headed　out　toward　the　Outposts。　I　don't　know　how　much　she　paid；　and　Wolf！　I'll　tell　you　the　truth；　Jack；　I'm　afraid　to　ask。　She　dyed　it　blue　and　made　me　six　pairs。　The　ones　your　father　brought　me；　I　sleep　on　them　now。　Wolf！　Wolf！　It's　my　God…pounding　pillow；　I　guess。'　Wolf　smiled　so　openly…and　yet　so　wistfully…that　Jack　was　moved　to　take　his　hand。　It　was　something　he　never　could　have　done　in　his　old　life；　no　matter　what　the　circumstances；　but　that　now　seemed　like　his　loss。　He　was　glad　to　take　Wolf's　warm；　strong　hand。
　　'I'm　glad　you　liked　my　dad；　Wolf；'　he　said。　
　　'I　did！　I　did！　Wolf！　Wolf！'　
　　And　then　all　hell　broke　loose。
　　　
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　　Wolf　stopped　talking　and　looked　around；　startled。
　　'Wolf　？　What's　wr…'
　　'Shhhh！'
　　Then　Jack　heard　it。　Wolf's　more　sensitive　ears　had　picked　the　sound　up　first；　but　it　swelled　quickly；　before　long；　a　deaf　man　would　have　heard　it；　Jack　thought。　The　cattle　looked　around　and　then　began　to　move　away　from　the　source　of　the　sound　in　a　rough；　uneasy　clot。　It　was　like　a　radio　sound…effect　where　someone　is　supposed　to　be　ripping　a　bedsheet　down　the　middle；　very　slowly。　Only　the　volume　kept　going　up　and　up　and　up　until　Jack　thought　he　was　going　to　go　crazy。
　　Wolf　leaped　to　his　feet；　looking　stunned　and　confused　and　frightened。　That　ripping　sound；　a　low；　ragged　purr；　continued　to　grow。　The　bleating　of　the　cattle　became　louder。　Some　were　backing　into　the　stream；　and　as　Jack　looked　that　way　he　saw　one　go　down　with　a　splash　and　a　clumsy　flailing　of　legs。　It　had　been　pushed　over　by　its　milling；　retreating　rades。　It　let　out　a　shrill；　baaa…ing　cry。　Another　cow…sheep　stumbled　over　it　and　was　likewise　trampled　into　the　water　by　the　slow　retreat。　The　far　side　of　the　stream　was　low　and　wet；　green　with　reeds；　muddy…marshy。　The　cow…sheep　who　first　reached　this　muck　quickly　became　mired　in　it。
　　'Oh　you　God…pounding　good…for…nothing　cattle！'　Wolf　bellowed；　and　charged　down　the　hill　toward　the　stream；　where　the　first　animal　to　fall　over　now　looked　as　if　it　were　in　its　death…throes。
　　'Wolf！'　Jack　shouted；　but　Wolf　couldn't　hear　him。　Jack　could　barely　hear　himself　over　that　ragged　ripping　sound。　He　looked　a　little　to　the　right；　on　this　side　of　the　stream；　and　gaped　with　amazement。　Something　was　happening　to　the　air。　A　patch　of　it　about　three　feet　off　the　ground　was　rippling　and　blistering；　seeming　to　twist　and　pull　at　itself。　Jack　could　see　the　Western　Road　through　this　patch　of　air；　but　the　road　seemed　blurry　and　shimmery；　as　if　seen　through　the　heated；　rippling　air　over　an　incinerator。
　　Something's　pulling　the　air　open　like　a　wound…something's　ing　through…from　our　side？　Oh　Jason；　is　that　what　I　do　when　I　e　through？　But　even　in　his　own　panic　and　confusion　he　knew　it　was　not。
　　Jack　had　a　good　idea　who　would　e　through　like　this；　like　a　rape　in　progress。
　　Jack　began　to　run　down　the　hill。
　　　
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　　The　ripping　sound　went　on　and　on　and　on。　Wolf　was　down　on　his　knees　in　the　stream；　trying　to　help　the　second　downed　animal　to　its　feet。　The　first　floated　limply　downstream；　its　body　tattered　and　mangled。
　　'Get　up！　God　pound　you；　get　up！　Wolf！'
　　Wolf　shoved　and　slapped　as　best　he　could　at　the　cow…sheep　who　milled　and　backed　into　him；　then　got　both　arms　around　the　drowning　animal's　midriff　and　pulled　upward。　'WOLF！　HERE　AND　NOW！'　he　screamed。　The　sleeves　of　his　shirt　split　wide　open　along　the　biceps；　reminding　Jack　of　David　Banner　having　one　of　the　gamma…ray…inspired　tantrums　that　turned　him　into　The　Incredible　Hulk。　Water　sprayed　everywhere　and　Wolf　lurched　to　his　feet；　eyes　blazing　orange；　blue　overalls　now　soaked　black。　Water　streamed　from　the　nostrils　of　the　animal；　which　Wolf　held　clutched　against　his　chest　as　if　it　were　an　overgrown　puppy。　Its　eyes　were　turned　up　to　sticky　whites。
　　'Wolf！'　Jack　screamed。　'It's　Morgan！　It's…'
　　'The　herd！'　Wolf　screamed　back。　'Wolf！　Wolf！　My　God…pounding　herd！　Jack！　Don't　try…'
　　The　rest　was　drowned　out　by　a　grinding　clap　of　thunder　that　shook　the　earth。　For　a　moment　the　thunder　even　covered　that　maddening；　monotonous　ripping　sound。　Almost　as　confused　as　Wolf's　cattle；　Jack　looked　up　and　saw　a　clear　blue　sky；　innocent　of　clouds　save　for　a　few　puffy　white　ones　that　were　miles　away。
　　The　thunder　ignited　outright　panic　in　Wolf's　herd。　They　tried　to　bolt；　but　in　their　exquisite　stupidity；　many　of　them　tried　to　do　it　by　backing　up。　They　crashed　and　splashed　and　were　rolled　underwater。　Jack　heard　the　bitter　snap　of　a　breaking　bone；　followed　by　the　baaaa…ing　scream　of　an　animal　in　pain。　Wolf　bellowed　in　rage；　dropped　the　cow…sheep　he　had　been　trying　to　save；　and　floundered　toward　the　muddy　far　bank　of　the　stream。
　　Before　he　could　get　there；　half　a　dozen　cattle　struck　him　and　bore　him　down。　Water　splashed　and　flew　in　thin；　bright　sprays。　Now；　Jack　saw；　Wolf　was　the　one　in　danger　of　being　simultaneously　trampled　and　drowned　by　the　stupid；　fleeing　animals。
　　Jack　pushed　into　the　stream；　which　was　now　dark　with　roiling　mud。　The　current　tried　continually　to　push　him　off…balance。　A　bleating　cow…sheep；　its　eyes　rolling　madly；　splashed　past　him；　almost　knocking　him　down。　Water　sprayed　into　his　face　and　Jack　tried　to　wipe　it　out　of　his　eyes。
　　Now　that　sound　seemed　to　fill　the　whole　world：　RRRRRII…IPPPP…Wolf。　Never　mind　Morgan；　at　least　not　for　the　moment。　Wolf　was　in　trouble。
　　His　shaggy；　drenched　head　was　momentarily　visible　above　the　water；　and　then　three　of　the　animals　ran　right　over　him　and　Jack　could　only　see　one　waving；　fur…covered　hand。　He　pushed　forward　again；　trying　to　weave　through　the　cattle；　some　still　up；　others　floundering　and　drowning　underfoot。
　　'Jack！'　a　voice　bellowed　over　that　ripping　noise。　It　was　a　voice　Jack　knew。　Uncle　Morgan's　voice。
　　'Jack！'
　　There　was　another　clap　of　thunder；　this　one　a　huge　oaken　thud　that　rolled　through　the　sky　like　an　artillery　shell。
　　Panting；　his　soaked　hair　hanging　in　his　eyes；　Jack　looked　over　his　shoulder　。　。　。　and　directly　into　the　rest　area　on　I…70　near　Lewisburg；　Ohio。　He　was　seeing　it　as　if　through　ripply；　badly　made　glass　。　。　。　but　he　was　seeing　it。　The　edge　of　the　brick　toilet　was　on　the　left　side　of　that　blistered；　tortured　patch　of　air。　The　snout　of　what　looked　like　a　Chevrolet　pick…up　truck　was　on　the　right；　floating　three　feet　above　the　field　where　he　and　Wolf　had　been　sitting　peacefully　and　talking　not　five　minutes　ago。　And　in　the　center；　looking　like　an　extra　in　a　film　about　Admiral　Byrd's　assault　on　the　South　Pole；　was　Morgan　Sloat；　his　thick　red　face　twisted　with　murderous　rage。　Rage；　and　something　else。　Triumph？　Yes。　Jack　thought　that　was　what　it　was。
　　He　stood　at　midstream　in　water　that　was　crotch…deep；　cattle　passing　on　either　side　of　him；　baa…ing　and　bleating；　staring　at　that　window　which　had　been　torn　in　the　very　fabric　of　reality；　his　eyes　wide；　his　mouth　wider。
　　He's　found　me；　oh　dear　God；　he's　found　m