cb.booksofblood-第17部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　　Redman　chose　his　moment；　and　delivered　a　crippling　blow　to　Slape's　knee；　the　weak　leg；　he　guessed。　He　guessed　correctly。
　　Slape　screamed；　and　staggered　back；　reeling　round　and　hitting　the　wall　face　on。　Redman　followed　through；　pressing　Slape's　back。　Too　late；　he　realized　what　he'd　done。　Slape's　body　relaxed　as　his　knife　hand；　crushed　between　wall　and　body；　slid　out；　bloody　and　weapon　less。　Slape　exhaled　death…air；　and　collapsed　heavily　against　the　wall；　driving　the　knife　still　deeper　into　his　own　gut。　He　was　dead　before　he　touched　the　ground。
　　Redman　turned　him　over。　He'd　never　bee　used　to　the　suddenness　of　death。　To　be　gone　so　quickly；　like　the　image　on　the　television　screen。　Switched　off　and　blank。　No　message。
　　The　utter　silence　of　the　corridors　became　overwhelming　as　he　walked　back　towards　the　vestibule。　The　cut　on　his　stomach　was　not　significant；　and　the　blood　had　made　its　own　scabby　bandage　of　his　shirt；　knitting　cotton　to　flesh　and　sealing　the　wound。　It　scarcely　hurt　at　all。　But　the　cut　was　the　least　of　his　problems：　he　had　mysteries　to　unravel　now；　and　he　felt　unable　to　face　them。　The　used；　exhausted　atmosphere　of　the　place　made　him　feel；　in　his　turn；　used　and　exhausted。　There　was　no　health　to　be　had　here；　no　goodness；　no　reason。
　　He　believed；　suddenly；　in　ghosts。
　　In　the　vestibule　there　was　a　light　burning；　a　bare　bulb　suspended　over　the　dead　space。　By　it；　he　read　Lacey's　crumpled　letter。　The　smudged　words　on　the　paper　were　like　matches　set　to　the　tinder　of　his　panic。
　　
　　Mama；　They　fed　me　to　the　pig。　Don't　believe　them　if　they　said　I　never　loved　you；　or　if　they　said　I　ran　away。　I　never　did。　They　fed　me　to　the　pig。　I　love　you。
　　Tommy。
　　
　　He　pocketed　the　letter　and　began　to　run　out　of　the　building　and　across　the　field。　It　was　well　dark　now：　a　deep；　starless　dark；　and　the　air　was　muggy。　Even　in　daylight　he　wasn't　sure　of　the　route　to　the　farm；　it　was　worse　by　night。　He　was　very　soon　lost；　somewhere　between　the　playing…field　and　the　trees。　It　was　too　far　to　see　the　outline　of　the　main　building　behind　him；　and　the　trees　ahead　all　looked　alike。
　　The　night…air　was　foul；　no　wind　to　freshen　tired　limbs。　It　was　as　still　outside　as　inside；　as　though　the　whole　world　had　bee　an　interior：　a　suffocating　room　bounded　by　a　painted　ceiling　of　cloud。
　　He　stood　in　the　dark；　the　blood　thumping　in　his　head；　and　tried　to　orient　himself。
　　To　his　left；　where　he　had　guessed　the　out…houses　to　be；　a　light　glimmered。　Clearly　he　was　pletely　mistaken　about　his　position。　The　light　was　at　the　sty。　It　threw　the　ramshackle　chicken　run　into　silhouette　as　he　stared　at　it。
　　There　were　figures　there；　several；　standing　as　if　watching　a　spectacle　he　couldn't　yet　see。
　　He　started　towards　the　sty；　not　knowing　what　he　would　do　once　he　reached　it。　If　they　were　all　armed　like　Slape；　and　shared　his　murderous　intentions；　then　that　would　be　the　end　of　him。　The　thought　didn't　worry　him。　Somehow　tonight　to　get　off　of　this　closed…down　world　was　an　attractive　option。　Down　and　out。
　　And　there　was　Lacey。　There'd　been　a　moment　of　doubt；　after　speaking　to　Leverthal；　when　he'd　wondered　why　he　cared　so　much　about　the　boy。　That　accusation　of　special　pleading；　it　had　a　certain　truth　to　it。　Was　there　something　in　him　that　wanted　Thomas　Lacey　naked　beside　him？　Wasn't　that　the　sub…text　of　Leverthal's　remark？　Even　now；　running　uncertainly　towards　the　lights；　all　he　could　think　of　was　the　boy's　eyes；　huge　and　demanding；　looking　deep　into　his。
　　Ahead　there　were　figures　in　the　night；　wandering　away　from　the　farm。　He　could　see　them　against　the　lights　of　the　sty。　Was　it　all　over　already？　He　made　a　long　curve　around　to　the　left　of　the　buildings　to　avoid　the　spectators　as　they　left　the　scene。　They　made　no　noise：　there　was　no　chatter　or　laughter　amongst　them。　Like　a　congregation　leaving　a　funeral　they　walked　evenly　in　the　dark；　each　apart　from　the　other；　heads　bowed。　It　was　eerie；　to　see　these　godless　delinquents　so　subdued　by　reverence。
　　He　reached　the　chicken…run　without　encountering　any　of　them　face　to　face。
　　There　were　still　a　few　figures　lingering　around　the　pig…house。　The　wall　of　the　sow's　partment　was　lined　with　candles；　dozens　and　dozens　of　them。　They　burned　steadily　in　the　still　air；　throwing　a　rich　warm　light　on　to　brick；　and　on　to　the　faces　of　the　few　who　still　stared　into　the　mysteries　of　the　sty。
　　Leverthal　was　among　them；　as　was　the　warder　who'd　knelt　at　Lacey's　head　that　first　day。　Two　or　three　boys　were　there　too；　whose　faces　he　recognized　but　could　put　no　name　to。
　　There　was　a　noise　from　the　sty；　the　sound　of　the　sow's　feet　on　the　straw　as　she　accepted　their　stares。　Somebody　was　speaking；　but　he　couldn't　make　out　who。　An　adolescent's　voice；　with　a　lilt　to　it。　As　the　voice　halted　in　its　monologue；　the　warder　and　another　of　the　boys　broke　rank；　as　if　dismissed；　and　turned　away　into　the　dark。　Redman　crept　a　little　closer。　Time　was　of　the　essence　now。　Soon　the　first　of　the　congregation　would　have　crossed　the　field　and　be　back　in　the　Main　Building。　They'd　see　Slape's　corpse：　raise　the　alarm。　He　must　find　Lacey　now；　if　indeed　Lacey　was　still　to　be　found。
　　Leverthal　saw　him　first。　She　looked　up　from　the　sty　and　nodded　a　greeting；　apparently　unconcerned　by　his　arrival。　It　was　as　if　his　appearance　at　this　place　was　inevitable；　as　if　all　routes　led　back　to　the　farm；　to　the　straw　house　and　the　smell　of　excrement。　It　made　a　kind　of　sense　that　she'd　believe　that。　He　almost　believed　it　himself。
　　〃Leverthal；〃　he　said。
　　She　smiled　at　him；　openly。　The　boy　beside　her　raised　his　head　and　smiled　too。
　　〃Are　you　Henessey？〃　he　asked；　looking　at　the　boy。
　　The　youth　laughed；　and　so　did　Leverthal。
　　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃No。　No。　No。　Henessey　is　here。〃　She　pointed　into　the　sty。
　　Redman　walked　the　few　remaining　yards　to　the　wall　of　the　sty；　expecting　and　not　daring　to　expect；　the　straw　and　the　blood　and　the　pig　and　Lacey。
　　But　Lacey　wasn't　there。　Just　the　sow；　big　and　beady　as　ever；　standing　amongst　pats　of　her　own　ordure；　her　huge；　ridiculous　ears　flapping　over　her　eyes。
　　〃Where's　Henessey？〃　asked　Redman；　meeting　the　sow's　gaze。
　　〃Here；〃　said　the　boy。
　　〃This　is　a　pig。〃
　　〃She　ate　him；〃　said　the　youth；　still　smiling。　He　obviously　thought　the　idea　delightful。　〃She　ate　him：　and　he　speaks　out　of　her。〃　Redman　wanted　to　laugh。　This　made　Lacey's　tales　of　ghosts　seem　almost　plausible　by　parison。　They　were　telling　him　the　pig　was　possessed。
　　〃Did　Henessey　hang　himself；　as　Tommy　said？〃　Leverthal　nodded。
　　〃In　the　sty？〃　Another　nod。
　　Suddenly　the　pig　took　on　a　different　aspect。　In　his　imagination　he　saw　her　reaching　up　to　sniff　at　the　feet　of　Henessey's　twitching　body；　sensing　the　death　ing　over　it；　salivating　at　the　thought　of　its　flesh。　He　saw　her　licking　the　dew　that　oozed　from　its　skin　as　it　rotted；　lapping　at　it；　nibbling　daintily　at　first；　then　devouring　it。　It　wasn't　too　difficult　to　understand　how　the　boys　could　have　made　a　mythology　of　that　atrocity：　inventing　hymns　to　it；　attending　upon　the　pig　like　a　god。　The　candles；　the　reverence；　the　intended　sacrifice　of　Lacey：　it　was　evidence　of　sickness；　but　it　was　no　more　strange　than　a　thousand　other　customs　of　faith。　He　even　began　to　understand　Lacey's　lassitude；　his　inability　to　fight　the　powers　that　overtook　him。
　　Mama；　they　fed　me　to　the　pig。
　　Not　Mama；　help　me；　save　me。　Just：　they　gave　me　to　the　pig。
　　All　this　he　could　understand：　they　were　children；　many　of　them　under…educated；　some　verging　on　mental　instability；　all　susceptible　to　superstition。　But　that　didn't　explain　Leverthal。　She　was　staring　into　the　sty　again；　and　Redman　registered　for　the　first　time　that　her　hair　was　unclipped；　and　lay　on　her　shoulders；　honey…coloured　in　the　candlelight。
　　〃It　looks　like　a　pig　to　me；　plain　and　simple；〃　he　said。
　　〃She　speaks　with　his　voice；〃　Leverthal　said；　quietly。　〃Speaks　in　tongues；　you　might　say。　You'll　hear　him　in　a　while。　My　darling　boy。〃　Then　he　understood。　〃You　and　Henessey？〃
　　〃Don't　look　so　horrified；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　eighteen：　hair　blacker　than　you've　ever　seen。　And　he　loved　me。〃
　　〃Why　did　he　hang　himself？〃
　　〃To　live　forever；〃　she　said；　〃so　he'd　never　be　a　man；　and　die。〃
　　〃We　didn't　find　him　for　six　days；〃　said　the　youth；　almost　whispering　it　in　Redman's　ear；　〃and　even　then　she　wouldn't　let　anybody　near　him；　once　she　had　him　to　herself。　The　pig；　I　mean。　Not　the　Doctor。　Everyone　loved　Kevin；　you　see；〃　he　whispered　intimately。　〃He　was　beautiful。〃
　　〃And　where's　Lacey？〃　Leverthal's　loving　smile　decayed。
　　〃With　Kevin；〃　said　the　youth；　〃where　Kevin　wants　him。〃　He　pointed　through　the　door　of　the　sty。　There　was　a　body　lying　on　the　straw；　back　to　the　door。
　　〃If　you　want　him；　you'll　have　to　go　and　get　him；〃　said　the　boy；　and　the　next　moment　he　had　the　back　of　Redman's　neck　in　a　vice…like　grip。
　　The　sow　responded　to　the　sudden　action。　She　started　to　stamp　the　straw；　showing　the　whites　of　her　eyes。
　　Redman　tried　to　shrug　off　the　boy's　grip；　at　the　same　time　delivering　an　elbow　to　his　belly。　The　boy　backed　off；　winded　and　cursing；　only　to　be　replaced　by　Leverthal。
　　〃Go　to　him；〃　she　said　as　she　snatched　at　Redman's　hair。　〃Go　to　him　if　you　want　him。〃　Her　nails　raked　across　his　temple　and　nose；　just　missing　his　eyes。
　　〃Get　off　me！〃　he　said；　trying　to　shake　the　woman　off；　but　she　clung；　her　head　lashing　back　and　forth　as　she　tried　to　press　him　over　the　wall。
　　The　rest　happened　with　horrid　speed。　Her　long　hair　brushed　through　a　candle　flame　and　her　head　caught　fire；　the　flames　climbing　quickly。　Shrieking　for　help　she　stumbled　heavily　against　the　gate。　It　failed　to　support　her　weight；　and　gave　inward。　Redman　watched　helplessly　as　the　burning　woman　fell　amongst　the　straw。　The　flames　spread　enthusiastically　across　the　forecourt　towards　the　sow；　lapping　up　the　kindling。
　　Even　now；　in　extremis；　the　pig　was　still　a　pig。　No　miracles　here：　no　speaking；　or　pleading；　in　tongues。　The　animal　panicked　as　the　blaze　surrounded　her；　cornering　her　stamping　bulk　and　licking　at　her　flanks。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　stench　of　singeing　bacon　as　the　flames　ran　up　her　sides　and　over　her　head；　chasing　through　her　bristles　like　a　grass…fire。
　　Her　voice　was　a　pig's　voice；　her　plaints　a　pig's　plaints。　Hysterical　grunts　escaped　her　lips　and　she　hurtled　across　the　forecourt　of　the　sty　and　out　of　the　broken　gate；　trampling　Leverthal。
　　The　sow's　body；　still　burning；　was　a　magic　thing　in　the　night　as　she　careered　across　the　field；　weaving　about　in　her　pain。　Her　cries　did　not　diminish　as　the　dark　ate　her　up；　they　seemed　just　to　echo　back　and　forth　across　the　field；　unable　to　find　a　way　out　of　the　locked　room。
　　Redman　stepped　over　Leverthal's　fire…ridden　corpse　and　into　the　sty。　The　straw　was　burning　on　every　side；　and　the　fire　was　creeping　towards　the　door。　He　half…shut　his　eyes　against　the　stinging　smoke　and　ducked　into　the　pig…house。
　　Lacey　was　lying　as　he　had　been　all　along；　back　to　the　door。　Redman　turned　the　boy　over。　He　was　alive。　He　was　awake。　His　face；　bloated　with　tears　and　terror；　stared　up　off　his　straw　pillow；　eyes　so　wide　they　looked　fit　to　leap　from　his　head。
　　〃Get　up；〃　said　Redman；　leaning　over　the　boy。
　　His　small　body　was　rigid；　and　it　was　all　Redman　could　do　to　prize　his　li