lh.narcissusinchains-第66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！


d　on。　Later；　later；　we'd　worry　about　other　things。　I'd　let　Richard　climb　down　first；　but　I'd　still　be　going　down；　and　I　wanted　that　small　warm　hope　inside　my　chest　along　with　the　fear。
　
　27
　
　RICHARD'S　WEIGHT　ON　the　rope　ladder　kept　it　tight　under　my　hands。　He'd　put　his　flashlight　on　a　strap　around　his　wrist。　I　watched　the　pool　of　yellow　light　vanishing　down　into　that　narrow　darkness　and　realized　that　I　was　still　barely　on　the　ladder；　my　head　still　aboveground。
　Micah　was　kneeling　beside　the　hole。　〃It'll　be　alright；〃　he　said。
　I　swallowed　and　looked　at　him；　knowing　my　eyes　were　just　a　little　wide；　〃I　know；〃　but　my　voice　came　out　breathy。
　〃You　really　don't　have　to　do　this；〃　he　said；　voice　soft；　and　as　neutral　as　he　could　make　it。
　I　frowned　at　him。　〃Don't　you　start。〃
　〃Then　you　better　catch　up　with　him。〃　His　voice　was　a　little　less　neutral；　but　I　couldn't　tell　what　tone　it　held。
　I　started　climbing　down　the　soft　roughness　of　the　rope　ladder；　moving　quickly；　angrily。　I　wasn't　angry　with　Micah；　not　really。　I　was　angry　with　me。　The　anger　got　me　well　down　into　the　dark　where　the　light　from　the　flashlight　below　me　seemed　very　yellow　and　very　stark　against　the　earthen　walls。
　I　clung　there　for　a　second　or　two；　staring　at　that　hard…packed　earth。　I　gazed　up　slowly　and　found　Micah　staring　down　at　me　from　a　distance　so　far　away　that　I　couldn't　tell　what　color　his　eyes　or　hair　were。　I　knew　it　was　him　from　the　shape　of　his　face　and　shoulders。　My　God；　how　deep　did　this　pit　go？
　It　seemed　like　the　earthen　walls　were　curving　in　towards　me；　like　a　hand　about　to　close　into　a　fist　and　crush　me；　so　that　I　couldn't　breath　enough　of　the　stale；　flat　air　to　fill　my　lungs。　I　closed　my　eyes　and　forced　myself　to　move　one　hand　off　the　ladder　and　touch　the　wall。　It　was　farther　away　than　I'd　thought；　and　when　I　finally　touched　it；　it　startled　me。　The　earth　was　surprisingly　cool　against　my　hand；　and　I　realized　it　was　cool　in　the　pit；　even　with　early　summer　heat　up　above。　I　opened　my　eyes；　and　the　walls　were　still　about　six　feet　circular；　just　like　they'd　always　been。　The　earth　wasn't　closing　in　around　me；　only　my　phobia　was　doing　that。
　I　started　climbing　down　again；　and　this　time　I　didn't　stop　until　I　felt　the　ladder　loosen　under　my　body　and　it　was　suddenly　harder　to　climb　down　without　bumping　into　the　dirt　walls。　Richard's　weight　was　no　longer　steadying　the　ladder　for　me。　If　I　hadn't　been　such　a　pain　in　the　ass；　I　might　have　asked　for　him　to　hold　it　steady　until　I　got　down　to　the　end。　Instead　I　hugged　the　ladder　frantically　and　kept　moving　downward。　It's　hard　to　cling　to　something　while　you're　climbing　down　it；　but　I　managed。
　The　world　narrowed　down　to　the　feel　of　the　rope　under　my　hands；　my　feet　trying　to　find　purchase　　just　the　simple　act　of　moving　downward。　It　got　to　the　point　that　I　stopped　jumping　every　time　my　body　bumped　the　walls。　Hands　touched　my　waist；　and　I　let　out　that　little　yip　that　is　only　a　girl　sound。　I　always　hated　when　I　did　it。
　They　were　Richard's　hands　around　my　waist；　of　course。　He　steadied　me　the　last　few　feet；　while　my　heart　tried　to　jump　out　of　my　chest。　I　stepped　down　onto　a　floor　that　crunched　and　rolled　with　bones。　They　were　deep　yet　you　didn't　sink　into　them；　rather　walked　on　top　of　them　like　a　saint　treading　on　water。
　The　narrow　shaft　opened　into　a　small；　cramped；　cave…like　hole　in　the　earth。　Richard　had　to　stand　bent　almost　in　two。　I　could　stand　up　if　I　was　careful；　though　the　top　of　my　hair　brushed　the　ceiling　solidly　enough　that　ducking　a　little　was　a　good　idea。
　Micah　called　from　way；　way　above　us；　〃Are　you　alright？〃
　It　took　me　two　tries　to　be　able　to　say；　〃Fine；　we're　fine。〃
　Micah　pulled　back　from　the　opening；　a　dark　dot　against　the　paler　grayness。　〃My　God；　how　far　down　are　we？〃
　〃Sixty　feet；　give　or　take。〃　There　was　something　in　his　voice　that　made　me　turn　to　him。
　He　shook　his　head　and　looked　to　one　side；　shining　the　flashlight　on　something　small　and　hunched。　It　was　Gregory。
　He　was　on　his　stomach；　hog…tied；　his　arms　and　legs　at　such　acute　angles　that　I　couldn't　imagine　lying　there　like　that　for　three　days。　He　was　nude；　a　white　cloth　blindfold　cutting　across　his　face；　knotted　in　a　tangle　of　long　blond　hair；　as　if　even　that　had　been　done　to　hurt；　and　not　merely　to　blind。　As　Richard's　light　played　over　Gregory's　body；　he　made　small　helpless　sounds。　He　could　see　the　light　through　the　cloth；　if　nothing　else。　I　knelt　beside　him；　seeing　where　the　silver　chains　had　dug　into　his　wrists　and　ankles。　The　wounds　were　raw　and　bloody　where　he'd　struggled　against　them。
　〃The　chains　have　rubbed　him　raw；〃　Richard　said；　voice　soft。
　〃He　struggled；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　he's　not　powerful　enough　to　take　this　much　silver　against　his　skin。　The　chains　ate　their　way　into　his　skin。〃
　I　stared　at　the　raw　wounds　and　didn't　know　what　to　say。　I　touched　Gregory's　shoulder；　and　he　screamed　through　the　gag　I　hadn't　seen。　His　hair　had　hidden　it。　But　there　was　a　dark　rag　stuffed　in　his　mouth。　He　screamed　again　and　tried　to　worm　away　from　me。
　〃Gregory；　Gregory；　it's　Anita。〃　I　touched　him　as　gently　as　I　could；　and　he　screamed　once　more。　I　looked　up　at　Richard。　〃He　doesn't　seem　to　hear　me。〃
　Richard　knelt　and　raised　a　tangle　of　Gregory's　hair。　Gregory　struggled　harder；　and　Richard　handed　me　the　flashlight　so　he　could　use　one　hand　to　steady　the　smaller　man's　face　and　the　other　to　keep　the　hair　out　of　the　way。　There　was　more　cloth　stuffed　in　his　ears。　Richard　pulled　out　the　cloth　and　found　a　black　earplug　deeper　in　the　channel。　They　were　never　meant　to　be　pushed　in　that　far；　and　when　Richard　pulled　it　free；　fresh　blood　trickled　from　his　ear。
　I　just　stared；　my　mind　frozen　for　a　second；　not　wanting　to　understand。　But　finally；　I　heard　myself　say　it。　〃They　burst　his　eardrums。　Why；　for　God's　sake？　Wasn't　the　blindfold　and　gag　enough　sensory　deprivation？〃
　Richard　held　the　earplug　up　to　the　light。　I　had　to　shine　the　flashlight　directly　on　it　to　see　that　it　had　a　metal　point。
　〃What　is　that？〃
　〃Silver；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh；　God；　they　were　designed　for　this？〃
　〃Remember；　Marcus　was　a　doctor。　He　knew　all　kinds　of　medical　supply　places。　Places　that　would　make　things。〃　The　look　on　Richard's　face　told　me　he　was　lost　in　memory　and　something　darker。
　I　glanced　back　at　the　marks　on　Gregory's　arms　and　legs。　〃Dear　God；　did　the　silver　tear　up　his　ear　canals　the　way　it　did　his　skin？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　It's　good　that　it's　still　bleeding。　It　means　if　he　shapeshifts　soon；　he'll　probably　heal。〃　Richard's　voice　was　thick。
　I　wasn't　close　to　crying；　the　horror　too　overwhelming　for　tears。　I　wanted　Jacob　down　here；　and　whoever　had　helped　him；　because　you　didn't　do　this　to　a　shapeshifter　without　help；　not　one…on…one。
　Richard　tried　to　take　off　the　blindfold；　but　it　was　tied　so　tight　he　couldn't　get　a　good　hold　on　it。　I　handed　him　the　flashlight　and　drew　the　knife　from　my　left　wrist　sheath。　〃Hold　him；　the　knives　are　sharp；　I　don't　want　to　cut　him　if　he　struggles。〃
　Richard　held　Gregory's　head　between　his　two　hands　like　a　vise；　and　Gregory　struggled　harder；　screaming　through　the　gag。　But　Richard　held　him　firm　while　I　slid　the　knife　carefully　between　the　cloth　and　Gregory's　hair。　One　quick　slice　downward　and　the　blindfold　eased　away　from　his　skin；　but　it　had　been　tied　so　tight　for　so　long　that　Richard　had　to　peel　it　away。
　Gregory　blinked　at　the　light　and　saw　Richard　and　screamed　more。　Something　died　on　Richard's　face　when　he　did　it；　like　it　had　killed　something　inside　him　to　have　anyone　be　that　terrified　of　him。
　I　leaned　over；　placing　my　hand　carefully　on　the　pile　of　bones　and　watched　Gregory's　eyes　finally　see　me。　He　stopped　screaming；　but　he　didn't　look　relieved　enough。　I　pulled　the　gag　out　of　his　mouth；　and　it　peeled　away；　taking　bits　of　lip　skin　with　it。　He　worked　his　mouth　slowly；　and　for　some　odd　reason　I　was　reminded　of　the　scene　from　The　Wizard　of　Oz　where　Dorothy　puts　oil　on　the　Tin　Man's　jaw　after　he'd　been　rusted。　The　image　should　have　made　me　smile；　but　it　didn't。
　There　was　a　padlock　on　the　chains　around　each　of　his　limbs。　Richard　crawled　around　me；　letting　me　stay　where　Gregory　could　see　me。　I　was　saying　over　and　over　again；　〃It's　going　to　be　alright。　It's　going　to　be　alright。〃　He　couldn't　hear　me；　but　it　was　the　best　I　knew　how　to　do。
　Richard　snapped　the　lock　on　one　wrist；　and　pain　showed　on　Gregory's　face　like　it　hurt　for　the　arm　to　move　at　all。　Richard　freed　both　wrists　and　then　began　to　slowly　uncurl　Gregory's　body。
　Gregory　screamed；　but　not　from　fear　this　time；　from　pain。　I　tried　to　cradle　him；　but　moving　at　all　seemed　to　hurt。　It　took　both　of　us　crawling　around　to　get　him　unbent　enough　to　lay　in　my　lap。　He　was　never　going　to　be　able　to　climb　the　ladder。
　The　bends　of　both　of　his　arms　were　covered　in　needle　marks；　none　of　them　had　healed。　〃The　needle　marks；　why　haven't　they　healed？〃
　〃Silver　needles　in　direct　contact　with　the　bloodstream。　A　sedative　to　keep　the　adrenaline　low　so　you　can't　change；　but　not　so　much　that　you　can't　feel；　or　know　where　you　are；　and　what's　happening。　That's　how　Raina　used　to　do　it。〃
　〃This　is　how　she　used　to　tie　them　up　and　exactly　what　she　used　to　do　to　them。　How　did　Jacob　know　that？〃　I　asked。
　〃One　of　my　people　told　him；〃　Richard　said。　He　stayed　on　his　knees　rather　than　stand　bent　over。　His　face　was　calm；　almost　serene。
　〃I　want　them　down　here。　Whoever　helped　Jacob。　Whoever　brought　out　those　damn　earplugs。　I　want　them　down　here。〃
　He　turned　those　calm　eyes　to　me；　and　I　saw　the　anger　at　the　bottom　of　that　calm。　〃Could　you　do　this　to　someone？　Could　you　plunge　these　things　in　their　ears？　Could　you　do　all　this　to　anyone？〃
　I　thought　about　that；　really　thought　about　it。　I　was　angry；　sickened。　I　wanted　to　punish　someone；　but　。。。　〃No；　no；　I　could　shoot　them；　kill　them；　but　I　couldn't　do　this。〃
　〃Neither　could　I；〃　he　said。
　〃You　knew　Gregory　was　in　the　oubliette；　but　you　didn't　know　what　they'd　done　to　him；　did　you？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　kneeling　on　the　bones；　still　staring　down　at　the　bloody　earplug；　like　it　held　answers　to　questions　too　hard　to　ask　out　loud。　〃Jacob　knew。〃
　〃You're　Ulfric；　Richard；　you　should　know　what's　done　in　your　pack's　name。〃
　The　anger　flared　so　hot　and　tight　that　it　filled　the　little　cave　like　water　just　this　side　of　boiling。　Grego