cb.coldheart canyon-第54部分

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ave。　It　was　an　utterly　bewildering　spectacle；　but　its　paradoxical　beauty　enthralled　her。　All　thought　of　Zeffer's　summons；　or　indeed　his　safety；　were　forgotten：　it　was　as　though　she　was　watching　a　piece　of　film　for　the　first　time；　not　knowing　how　the　mechanism　worked　upon　her。　She　felt　Todd　throw　her　a　sideways　glance。　〃Time　to　go；〃　he　said。
　 The　earth　beneath　their　feet　reverberated　as　the　horsemen　approached。　They'd　be　at　the　door　in　thirty　or　forty　seconds。　〃e　on；〃　he　said。　
　 〃Yes。。。〃　she　murmured。　〃I'm　ing。〃
　 She　didn't　move。　It　wasn't　until　Todd　caught　hold　of　her　arm　and　pulled　her　back　towards　the　door　that　she　eventually　obeyed　the　instruction　and　went。　Even　then　she　kept　looking　back　over　her　shoulder；　astonished。　〃I　don't　believe　what　I'm　seeing；〃　she　said。
　 〃It's　all　real。　Trust　me　on　that；〃　he　said。　〃They　can　do　you　harm。〃　They　had　reached　the　threshold　now；　and　she　reluctantly　allowed　herself　to　be　coaxed　back　over　it　and　into　the　passageway。　She　was　amazed　at　the　speed　with　which　the　room　had　caught　her　attention；　made　itself　the　center　of　her　thoughts。
　 Even　now；　it　was　still　difficult　to　focus　her　attention　on　anything　but　the　scene　beyond　the　door；　but　finally　she　dragged　her　eyes　away　from　the　approaching　horsemen　and　sought　out　Zeffer。
　 He　had　fallen　to　his　knees　three　or　four　yards　from　the　door；　putting　up　no　defense　against　Katya's　assault。
　 〃I　told　you；　didn't　I？〃　she　said；　slapping　his　head。　〃I　never　wanted　to　see　you　in　this　house　ever　again。　You　understand　me？　Ever　again。〃
　 〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said；　his　head　bowed。　〃I　just　brought…〃
　 〃I　don't　care　who　you　brought。　This　house　is　forbidden　to　you。〃
　 〃Yes。。。I　know。〃
　 His　acquiescence　did　nothing　to　placate　her。　The　reverse；　in　fact：　it　seemed　to　inflame　her。　She　kicked　him。　〃You　revolt　me；〃　she　said。
　 He　bent　over；　as　though　to　present　a　smaller　target　to　her。　She　pushed　him；　hard；　and　he　fell。　She　moved　in　to　kick　him　again；　aiming　for　his　face；　but　at　that　moment　Tammy　saw　what　she　was　about　to　do；　and　let　out　a　cry　of　protest。
　 〃Leave　him　alone！〃　she　said。
　 Katya　turned。　〃What？〃
　 〃You　heard　me。　Leave　him　alone！〃
　 Katya's　beauty　was　disfigured　by　the　naked　contempt　on　her　face。　She　was　breathing　heavily；　and　her　face　was　flushed。
　 〃I'll　do　what　it　suits　me　to　do　in　my　own　house；〃　she　said；　her　lip　curling。　〃And　no　fat；　ugly　bitch　like　you　is　going　to　tell　me　otherwise。〃
　 Tammy　knew　plenty　about　Katya　Lupi　by　now；　of　course；　her　intimidating　reputation　went　before　her。　But　at　that　moment；　seeing　Zeffer　lying　on　the　floor；　and　hearing　what　the　woman　had　just　said；　any　trace　of　intimidation　was　burned　away　by　a　blaze　of　anger。　Even　the　glories　of　the　Devil's　Country　were　forgotten　at　that　moment。
　 She　walked　straight　towards　Katya　and　pushed　her　hard；　laying　her　hands　against　the　bitch's　little　breasts　to　do　so。　Katya　was　clearly　not　used　to　being　manhandled。　She　came　back　at　Tammy　in　an　instant。
　 〃Don't　you　dare　touch　me！〃　she　shrieked。　Then　she　back…handed　Tammy；　a　clean；　wide　strike。
　 Tammy　fell　back；　the　metallic　tang　of　blood　in　her　mouth。　There　were　three　sickening　heartbeats　when　she　feared　the　force　of　Katya's　blow　was　going　to　knock　her　unconscious。　Darkness　pulsed　at　the　corners　of　her　vision。　But　she　was　determined　not　to　be　floored　by　one　blow；　even　if　it　did　have　something　more　than　ordinary　human　force　behind　it；　as　she　suspected　it　did。
　 She　reached　out　for　something　to　steady　her；　and　her　hand　found　the　door…jamb。　As　she　caught　hold　of　it；　she　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder；　remembering　her　proximity　to　the　strange　beauty　of　the　Devil's　Country。　But　the　power　of　the　room's　illusion　had　been　momentarily　knocked　from　her　head。　The　walls　were　simply　covered　in　tiles　now。　There　were　trees　and　rocks　and　a　painted　river　on　those　tiles；　but　none　of　it　was　so　finely　rendered　that　it　could　have　been　mistaken　for　reality。　The　only　part　of　the　scene　before　her　that　was　real　was　Todd；　who　was　still　lingering　at　the　threshold。　Apparently　he　could　see　what　Tammy　could　not　because　at　that　moment　he　threw　himself　over　the　threshold　like　a　man　in　fear　of　something　ing　close　on　his　heels。　He　caught　hold　of　the　doorhandle；　and　started　to　pull　the　door　closed；　but　as　he　did　so　Katya　came　back　into　view　and　blocked　the　door　with　her　foot。
　 〃Don't　close　it！〃　she　told　Todd。
　 Todd　obeyed　her。　He　let　go　of　the　handle。　The　door　struck　Katya's　leg　and　bounced　open　again。
　 Now　the　machinations　of　the　room　began　to　work　on　Tammy　afresh。　The　gloomy　air　seethed；　and　the　shapes　of　four　horsemen　appeared　out　of　the　murk；　still　riding　towards　the　door。
　 The　leader…the　Duke；　Tammy　thought；　this　is　the　Duke…pulled　hard　on　the　reins　to　slow　his　mount。　The　animal　made　a　din；　as　though　its　primitive　gaze　was　failing　to　make　sense　of　what　it　was　ahead　of　it。　Rather　than　advance　any　further　it　came　to　a　panicked　halt；　throwing　up　clods　of　dirt　as　it　did　so。　Goga　jumped　from　the　saddle；　shouting　a　number　of　inprehensible　orders　back　at　his　men；　who　had　also　brought　their　animals　to　a　stop。　They　proceeded　to　dismount。　There　were　whispers　of　superstitious　doubt　between　the　men：　plainly　whatever　they　were　witnessing　（the　door；　the　passageway）　they　could　make　little　or　no　sense　of　it。　That　fact　didn't　slow　their　advance；　however。　They　dutifully　followed　their　leader　towards　the　door；　swords　drawn。
　 By　now　Tammy　had　recovered　sufficiently　to　grab　hold　of　Todd's　arm　and　pull　him　back　from　the　threshold。
　 〃e　away；〃　she　urged　him。
　 He　looked　round　at　her。　She　was　probably　more　familiar　with　his　face；　and　with　his　limited　palette　of　expressions；　than　she　was　with　her　own。　But　she'd　never　seen　the　look　of　stupefaction　he　wore　right　now。　The　veins　at　his　temples　were　throbbing；　his　mouth　was　slack；　his　blood…shot　eyes　seemed　to　have　difficulty　focusing　on　her。
　 She　tugged　harder　on　his　arm；　in　the　hope　of　shaking　him　out　of　his　stupor。　Behind　him　she　could　see　the　horsemen　approaching　the　door；　their　step　more　cautious　now　that　they　were　almost　at　the　threshold。　Having　stopped　the　door　from　being　closed　Katya　had　stepped　away　from　it；　leaving　Todd　the　closest　of　them　all　to　the　horsemen。　So　close；　in　fact；　that　had　the　Duke　so　chosen；　he　could　have　lunged　from　where　he　stood；　and　killed　Todd　with　a　single　stroke。
　 He　did　not　do　so；　however。　He　hung　back　from　the　door；　eyeing　it　with　suspicion　and　awe。　Though　none　of　the　light　from　the　hallway　seemed　to　illuminate　the　world　on　the　other　side　of　the　doorway；　Tammy　could　see　the　man's　face　quite　clearly：　his　severely　angular　features；　his　long；　braided　beard；　black　shot　through　with　streaks　of　gray；　his　dark；　heavy…lidded　eyes。　He　was　by　no　means　as　beautiful　as　Todd　had　once　been；　but　there　was　a　gravitas　in　his　physiognomy　which　Todd's　corn…fed　charm　could　never　have　approached。　No　doubt　he　was　responsible　for　all　manner　of　crimes…in　such　a　landscape　as　he'd　ridden　who　would　not　lay　claim　to　their　share　of　felonies？…but　in　that　moment；　in　the　midst　of　a　dark　journey　of　her　own；　Tammy　would　have　instinctively　preferred　the　eloquence　of　this　face　for　pany　than　Todd's　easy　beauty。
　 Indeed；　if　she　had　ever　been　in　love　with　Todd　Pickett…which　by　many　definitions　she　had…she　fell　out　of　love　with　him　at　that　moment；　paring　his　face　with　that　of　Duke　Goga；　and　finding　it　wanting。
　 That　was　not　to　say　that　she　didn't　want　Todd　safe　from　this　place；　from　the　house　and　all　its　inhabitants；　especially　Katya。　So　she　hauled　on　his　arm　again；　yelling　for　him　to　get　away　from　the　door；　and　this　time　her　message　got　through　to　him。
　 Todd　retreated；　and　as　he　did　so　Katya　caught　hold　of　Zeffer　by　the　hair　and　lifted　him　up。　Tammy　was　too　concerned　with　reclaiming　Todd　from　the　threshold　to　do　anything　to　save　Zeffer。　And　Zeffer　in　turn　did　nothing　to　save　himself。　He　simply　let　the　woman　he　had　adored　pick　him　up；　and　with　the　same　nearly　supernatural　strength　Tammy　herself　had　felt　just　moments　before；　Katya　pitched　Zeffer　through　the　open　door。
　 The　horsemen　were　waiting　on　the　other　side；　swords　at　the　ready。
　 Only　now；　as　he　stumbled　across　the　ground　before　them；　did　Zeffer　raise　his　arms　to　protect　himself　against　the　swordsmen。　Whether　the　Duke　took　this　harmless　motion　as　some　attempt　at　aggression；　and　reacted　to　protect　himself；　or　whether　he　simply　wanted　to　do　harm　Tammy　would　never　know。　The　Duke　lifted　his　sword　and　brought　it　down　in　a　great　swooping　arc　that　cut　through　the　meat　of　Zeffer's　right　hand；　taking　off　all　four　of　his　fingers；　and　the　top　half　of　his　thumb。　Blood　spurted　out　from　the　wounds；　and　Zeffer　let　out　a　cry　that　was　one　part　disbelief　to　two　of　agony。　He　stared　at　his　maimed　hand　for　a　moment；　then　he　turned　from　his　mutilator　and　stumbled　back　towards　the　door。
　 For　an　instant；　he　lifted　his　eyes；　and　his　eyes　met　Tammy's。　They　had　a　moment　only　to　look　at　one　another。　Then　Duke　Goga　came　at　Zeffer　again　and　drove　his　sword　through　the　middle　of　his　back。
　 There　was　a　terrible　cracking　sound；　as　the　blade　cracked　Zeffer's　breastbone　and　then　the　point　emerged　from　the　middle　of　his　chest。
　 Zeffer　threw　back　his　head；　and　caught　hold　of　the　edge　of　the　door　with　his　unmaimed　hand。　He　had　his　eyes　fixed　on　Tammy　as　he　did　so；　as　though　he　was　drawing　the　power　to　do　whatever　he　was　planning　to　do　from　her。　There　was　a　long　moment　when　in　fact　he　did　nothing；　only　teetered　on　the　threshold；　his　eyelids　growing　lazy。　Then…summoning　one　last　Herculean　effort　of　will…he　gave　Tammy　a　tiny　smile　and　closed　the　door　in　her　face。
　 It　was　like　being　woken　from　a　dream。　One　moment　Tammy　had　been　staring　into　Zeffer's　stricken　face；　while　the　men　closed　in　on　him　from　behind；　and　the　sky　seethed　overhead。　The　next　the　door　had　shut　this　terrible　vision　out；　and　she　was　back　in　the　little　hallway　with　Todd　at　her　side。
　 The　sight　of　Zeffer's　execution　had　momentarily　distracted　Katya　from　any　further　mischief。　She　was　simply　staring　at　the　door　as　though　she　could　see　through　it　to　the　horror　on　the　other　side。
　 Tammy　didn't　give　her　a　chance　to　snap　out　of　the　trance。　She　started　up　the　stairs；　pulling　Todd　after　her。
　 〃Christ。。。〃　Todd　muttered　to　himself。　〃Christ　oh　Christ　oh　Christ。。。〃
　 Five　stairs　up；　Tammy　chanced　a　backward　glance；　but　Katya　was　still　standing　in　front　of　the　door。
　 What　was　she　thinking；　Tammy　wondered。　What　have　I　done？　Did　a　woman　like　that　ever　think…'what　have　I　done'？　With　Zeffer　gone；　she　would　be　alone　in　Coldheart　Canyon。　Alone　with　the　dead。　Not　a　pretty　prospect。
　 Perhaps　she　was　regretting。　Just　a　little。
　 And　while　she　regretted；　（if　regretting　was　what　she　was　doing）　Tammy　continued　to　haul　Todd　after　her　up　the　stairs。

　 Six　steps　now；　seven；　eight；　nine。
　 Now　the　escapees　were　on　the　half…landing。　Through　the　window　off　to　their　left　Tammy　could　see　the　sight　that　had　held　Zeffer's　attention　just　minutes　before：　the　occupants　of　Coldheart　Canyon　pressing　against　the　glass。
　 Why　didn't　they　simply　break　in；　she　wondered？　They　weren't；　after　all；　insubstantial。　They　had　weight；　they　had　force。　If　they　wanted　to　get　in　so　badly；　why　didn't　they　simply　break　the　glass　or　splinter　the　doors？
　 The　question　went　from　her　head　the　next　instant；　driven　out　by　a　wail　of　demand　fro