cb.booksofblood-第7部分

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　　Kaufman　looked　down　the　abattoir　at　Mahogany。　He　was　not　terribly　fearsome；　just　another　balding；　overweight　man　of　fifty。　His　face　was　heavy　and　his　eyes　deep…set。　His　mouth　was　rather　small　and　delicately　lipped。　In　fact　he　had　a　woman's　mouth。
　　Mahogany　could　not　understand　where　this　intruder　had　appeared　from；　but　he　was　aware　that　it　was　another　oversight；　another　sign　of　increasing　inpetence。　He　must　dispatch　this　ragged　creature　immediately。　After　all　they　could　not　be　more　than　a　mile　or　two　from　the　end　of　the　line。　He　must　cut　the　little　man　down　and　have　him　hanging　up　by　his　heels　before　they　reached　their　destination。
　　He　moved　into　Car　Two。
　　〃You　were　asleep；〃　he　said；　recognizing　Kaufman。　〃I　saw　you。
　　Kaufman　said　nothing。
　　〃You　should　have　left　the　train。　What　were　you　trying　to　do？　Hide　from　me？〃　Kaufman　still　kept　his　silence。
　　Mahogany　grasped　the　hand　of　the　cleaver　hanging　from　his　well…used　leather　belt。　It　was　dirty　with　blood；　as　was　his　chain…mail　apron；　his　hammer　and　his　saw。
　　〃As　it　is；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　have　to　do　away　with　you。〃　Kaufman　raised　the　knife。　It　looked　a　little　small　beside　the　Butcher's　paraphernalia。
　　〃Fuck　it；〃　he　said。
　　Mahogany　grinned　at　the　little　man's　pretensions　to　defence。
　　〃You　shouldn't　have　seen　this：　it's　not　for　the　likes　of　you；〃　he　said；　taking　another　step　towards　Kaufman。　〃It's　secret。〃　Oh；　so　he's　the　divinely…inspired　type　is　he？　thought　Kaufman。　That　explains　something。
　　〃Fuck　it；〃　he　said　again。
　　The　Butcher　frowned。　He　didn't　like　the　little　man's　indifference　to　his　work；　to　his　reputation。
　　〃We　all　have　to　die　some　time；〃　he　said。　〃You　should　be　well　pleased：　you're　not　going　to　be　burnt　up　like　most　of　them：　I　can　use　you。　To　feed　the　fathers。〃　Kaufman's　only　response　was　a　grin。　He　was　past　being　terrorized　by　this　gross；　shambling　hulk。
　　The　Butcher　unhooked　the　cleaver　from　his　belt　and　brandished　it。
　　〃A　dirty　little　Jew　like　you；〃　he　said；　〃should　be　thankful　to　be　useful　at　all：　meat's　the　best　you　can　aspire　to。〃　Without　warning；　the　Butcher　swung。　The　cleaver　divided　the　air　at　some　speed；　but　Kaufman　stepped　back。　The　cleaver　sliced　his　coat…arm　and　buried　itself　in　the　Puerto　Rican's　shank。　The　impact　half…severed　the　leg　and　the　weight　of　the　body　opened　the　gash　even　further。　The　exposed　meat　of　the　thigh　was　like　prime　steak；　succulent　and　appetizing。
　　The　Butcher　started　to　drag　the　cleaver　out　of　the　wound；　and　in　that　moment　Kaufman　sprang。　The　knife　sped　towards　Mahogany's　eye；　but　an　error　of　judgement　buried　it　instead　in　his　neck。　It　transfixed　the　column　and　appeared　in　a　little　gout　of　gore　on　the　other　side。　Straight　through。　In　one　stroke。　Straight　through。
　　Mahogany　felt　the　blade　in　his　neck　as　a　choking　sensation；　almost　as　though　he　had　caught　a　chicken　bone　in　his　throat。　He　made　a　ridiculous；　half…hearted　coughing　sound。　Blood　issued　from　his　lips；　painting　them；　like　lipstick　on　his　woman's　mouth。　The　cleaver　clattered　to　the　floor。
　　Kaufman　pulled　out　the　knife。　The　two　wounds　spouted　little　arcs　of　blood。
　　Mahogany　collapsed　to　his　knees；　staring　at　the　knife　that　had　killed　him。　The　little　man　was　watching　him　quite　passively。　He　was　saying　something；　but　Mahogany's　ears　were　deaf　to　the　remarks；　as　though　he　was　under　water。
　　Mahogany　suddenly　went　blind。　He　knew　with　a　nostalgia　for　his　senses　that　he　would　not　see　or　hear　again。　This　was　death：　it　was　on　him　for　certain。
　　His　hands　still　felt　the　weave　of　his　trousers；　however；　and　the　hot　splashes　on　his　skin。　His　life　seemed　to　totter　on　its　tiptoes　while　his　fingers　grasped　at　one　last　sense。
　　Then　his　body　collapsed；　and　his　hands；　and　his　life；　and　his　sacred　duty　folded　up　under　a　weight　of　grey　flesh。
　　The　Butcher　was　dead。
　　Kaufman　dragged　gulps　of　stale　air　into　his　lungs　and　grabbed　one　of　the　straps　to　steady　his　reeling　body。　Tears　blotted　out　the　shambles　he　stood　in。　A　time　passed：　he　didn't　know　how　long；　he　was　lost　in　a　dream　of　victory。
　　Then　the　train　began　to　slow。　He　felt　and　heard　the　brakes　being　applied。　The　hanging　bodies　lurched　forward　as　the　careering　train　slowed；　its　wheels　squealing　on　rails　that　were　sweating　slime。
　　Curiosity　overtook　Kaufman。
　　Would　the　train　shunt　into　the　Butcher's　underground　slaughterhouse；　decorated　with　the　meats　he　had　gathered　through　his　career？　And　the　laughing　driver；　so　indifferent　to　the　massacre；　what　would　he　do　once　the　train　had　stopped？　Whatever　happened　now　was　academic。　He　could　face　anything　at　all；　watch　and　see。
　　The　tannoy　crackled。　The　voice　of　the　driver：　〃We're　here　man。　Better　take　your　place　eh？〃　Take　your　place？　What　did　that　mean？
　　The　train　had　slowed　to　a　snail's　pace。　Outside　the　windows；　everything　was　as　dark　as　ever。　The　lights　flickered；　then　went　out。　This　time　they　didn't　e　back　on。
　　Kaufman　was　left　in　total　darkness。
　　〃We'll　be　out　in　half…an…hour；〃　the　tannoy　announced；　so　like　any　station　report。
　　The　train　had　e　to　a　stop。　The　sound　of　its　wheels　on　the　tracks；　the　rush　of　its　passage；　which　Kaufman　had　grown　so　used　to；　were　suddenly　absent。　All　he　could　hear　was　the　hum　of　the　tannoy。　He　could　still　see　nothing　at　all。
　　Then；　a　hiss。　The　doors　were　opening。　A　smell　entered　the　car；　a　smell　so　caustic　that　Kaufman　clapped　his　hand　over　his　face　to　shut　it　out。
　　He　stood　in　silence；　hand　to　mouth；　for　what　seemed　a　lifetime。　See　no　evil。　Hear　no　evil。　Speak　no　evil。
　　Then；　there　was　a　flicker　of　light　outside　the　window。　It　threw　the　door　frame　into　silhouette；　and　it　grew　stronger　by　degrees。　Soon　there　was　sufficient　light　in　the　car　for　Kaufman　to　see　the　crumpled　body　of　the　Butcher　at　his　feet；　and　the　sallow　sides　of　meat　hanging　on　every　side　of　him。
　　There　was　a　whisper　too；　from　the　dark　outside　the　train；　a　gathering　of　tiny　noises　like　the　voices　of　beetles。　In　the　tunnel；　shuffling　towards　the　train；　were　human　beings。　Kaufman　could　see　their　outlines　now。　Some　of　them　carried　torches；　which　burned　with　a　dead　brown　light。　The　noise　was　perhaps　their　feet　on　the　damp　earth；　or　perhaps　their　tongues　clicking；　or　both。
　　Kaufman　wasn't　as　naive　as　he'd　been　an　hour　before。　Could　there　be　any　doubt　as　to　the　intention　these　things　had；　ing　out　of　the　blackness　towards　the　train？　The　Butcher　had　slaughtered　the　men　and　women　as　meat　for　these　cannibals；　they　were　ing；　like　diners　at　the　dinner…gong；　to　eat　in　this　restaurant　car。
　　Kaufman　bent　down　and　picked　up　the　cleaver　the　Butcher　had　dropped。　The　noise　of　the　creatures〃　approach　was　louder　every　moment。　He　backed　down　the　car　away　from　the　open　doors；　only　to　find　that　the　doors　behind　him　were　also　open；　and　there　was　the　whisper　of　approach　there　too。
　　He　shrank　back　against　one　of　the　seats；　and　was　about　to　take　refuge　under　them　when　a　hand；　thin　and　frail　to　the　point　of　transparency　appeared　around　the　door。
　　He　could　not　look　away。　Not　that　terror　froze　him　as　it　had　at　the　window。　He　simply　wanted　to　watch。
　　The　creature　stepped　into　the　car。　The　torches　behind　it　threw　its　face　into　shadow；　but　its　outline　could　be　clearly　seen。
　　There　was　nothing　very　remarkable　about　it。
　　It　had　two　arms　and　two　legs　as　he　did；　its　head　was　not　abnormally　shaped。　The　body　was　small；　and　the　effort　of　climbing　into　the　train　made　its　breath　coarse。　It　seemed　more　geriatric　than　psychotic；　generations　of　fictional　man…eaters　had　not　prepared　him　for　its　distressing　vulnerability。
　　Behind　it；　similar　creatures　were　appearing　out　of　the　darkness；　shuffling　into　the　train。　In　fact　they　were　ing　in　at　every　door。
　　Kaufman　was　trapped。　He　weighed　the　cleaver　in　his　hands；　getting　the　balance　of　it；　ready　for　the　battle　with　these　antique　monsters。　A　torch　had　been　brought　into　the　car；　and　it　illuminated　the　faces　of　the　leaders。
　　They　were　pletely　bald。　The　tired　flesh　of　their　faces　was　pulled　tight　over　their　skulls；　so　that　it　shone　with　tension。　There　were　stains　of　decay　and　disease　on　their　skin；　and　in　places　the　muscle　had　withered　to　a　black　pus；　through　which　the　bone　of　cheek　or　temple　was　showing。　Some　of　them　were　naked　as　babies；　their　pulpy；　syphilitic　bodies　scarcely　sexed。　What　had　been　breasts　were　leathery　bags　hanging　off　the　torso；　the　genitalia　shrunken　away。
　　Worse　sights　than　the　naked　amongst　them　were　those　who　wore　a　veil　of　clothes。　It　soon　dawned　on　Kaufman　that　the　rotting　fabric　slung　around　their　shoulders；　or　knotted　about　their　midriffs　was　made　of　human　skins。　Not　one；　but　a　dozen　or　more；　heaped　haphazardly　on　top　of　each　other；　like　pathetic　trophies。
　　The　leaders　of　this　grotesque　meal…line　had　reached　the　bodies　now；　and　the　gracile　hands　were　laid　upon　the　shanks　of　meat；　and　were　running　up　and　down　the　shaved　flesh　in　a　manner　that　suggested　sensual　pleasure。　Tongues　were　dancing　out　of　mouths；　flecks　of　spittle　landing　on　the　meat。　The　eyes　of　the　monsters　were　flickering　back　and　forth　with　hunger　and　excitement。
　　Eventually　one　of　them　saw　Kaufman。
　　Its　eyes　stopped　flickering　for　a　moment；　and　fixed　on　him。　A　look　of　enquiry　came　over　the　face；　making　a　parody　of　puzzlement。
　　〃You；〃　it　said。　The　voice　was　as　wasted　as　the　lips　it　came　from。
　　Kaufman　raised　the　cleaver　a　little；　calculating　his　chances。　There　were　perhaps　thirty　of　them　in　the　car　and　many　more　outside。　But　they　looked　so　weak；　and　they　had　no　weapons；　but　their　skin　and　bones。
　　The　monster　spoke　again；　its　voice　quite　well　modulated；　when　it　found　itself；　the　piping　of　a　once…cultured；　once…charming　man。
　　〃You　came　after　the　other；　yes？〃　It　glanced　down　at　the　body　of　Mahogany。　It　had　clearly　taken　in　the　situation　very　quickly。
　　〃Old　anyway；〃　it　said；　its　watery　eyes　back　on　Kaufman；　studying　him　with　care。
　　〃Fuck　you；〃　said　Kaufman。
　　The　creature　attempted　a　wry　smile；　but　it　had　almost　forgotten　the　technique　and　the　result　was　a　grimace　which　exposed　a　mouthful　of　teeth　that　had　been　systematically　filed　into　points。
　　〃You　must　now　do　this　for　us；〃　it　said　through　the　bestial　grin。
　　〃We　cannot　survive　without　food。〃　The　hand　patted　the　rump　of　human　flesh。　Kaufman　had　no　reply　to　the　idea。　He　just　stared　in　disgust　as　the　fingernails　slid　between　the　cleft　in　the　buttocks；　feeling　the　swell　of　tender　muscle。
　　〃It　disgusts　us　no　less　than　you；〃　said　the　creature。　〃But　we're　bound　to　eat　this　meat；　or　we　die。　God　knows；　I　have　no　appetite　for　it。〃　The　thing　was　drooling　nevertheless。
　　Kaufman　found　his　voice。　It　was　small；　more　with　a　confusion　of　feelings　than　with　fear。
　　〃What　are　you？〃　He　remembered　the　bearded　man　in　the　Deli。
　　〃Are　you　accidents　of　some　kind？〃
　　〃We　are　the　City　fathers；〃　the　thing　said。　〃And　mothers；　and　daughters　and　sons。　The　builders；　the　law…makers。　We　made　this　city。〃
　　〃New　York？〃　said　Kaufman。　The　Palace　of　Delights？　〃Before　you　were　born；　before　anyone　living　was　born。〃　As　it　spoke　the　creature's　fingernails　were　running　up　under　the　skin　of　the　split　body；　and　were　peeling　the　thin　elastic　layer　off　the　luscious　brawn。　Behind　Kaufman；　the　other　creatures　had　begun　to　unhook　the　bodies　from　the　straps；　their　hands　laid　in　that　same　delighting　ma