dk.nightchills-第39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！


　'When　he　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs；　Paul　got　on　his　hands　and　knees。　People　seldom　looked　up　as　they　hurried　about　their　business；　especially　when　they　were　in　a　familiar　place；　however；　there　was　no　reason　to　risk　being　seen。　He　crawled　around　the　bell　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　platform。
　Jenny　and　Rya　were　sitting　on　the　floor；　their　back　to　the　half…wall。　The　。22　rifle　lay　at　Jenny's　side。　She　was　talking　to　the　girl　in　a　low　voice；　telling　her　a　joke　or　a　story；　trying　to　help
　her　ease　her　tensions　and　overe　some　of　her　grief。　Jenny　glanced　at　Paul；　smiled；　but　kept　her　attention　focused　on　Rya。
　That　should　be　my　job；　Paul　thought。　Helping　Rya。　Reassuring　her　and　forting　her；　being　with　her。
　And　then　he　thought；　No。　For　the　time　being；　your　job　is　to　prepare　yourself　to　kill　at　least　one　man。　Maybe　two　or　three。　Maybe　as　many　as　half　a　dozen。
　Suddenly　he　wondered　how　the　violence　past　and　the　violence　yet　to　e　would　affect　his　relationship　with　his　daughter。　Knowing　he　had　killed　several　men；　would　Rya　fear　him　as　she　now　feared　Bob　Thorp？　Knowing　he　was　capable　of　the　ultimate　brutal　act；　would　she　ever　be　at　ease　with　him　again？　Death　had　taken　his　wife　and　his　son。　Would　alienation　take　his　daughter　from　him？
　Sam　was　on　his　knees；　peering　over　the　belfry　wall。
　Deeply　disturbed　but　aware　that　this　wasn't　the　time　to　worry　about　more　than　a　few　hours　of　the　future；　easing　in　beside　Sam；　Paul　looked　eastward；　to　his　left。　He　could　see　Edison's　General　Store　half　a　block　away。　Karkov's　service　station　and　garage。　The　houses　in　the　last　section　of　town。　The　baseball　diamond　on　the　meadow　near　the　river。　At　the　end　of　the　valley；　near　the　bend　in　the　highway；　a　police　car　was　angled　across　both　lanes。
　〃Roadblock。〃
　Sam　said；　〃I've　seen　it。〃
　〃Salsbury　does　have　us　penned　up。〃
　〃And　right　now　he's　probably　wondering　why　the　hell　we　haven't　tried　to　call　the　cops　or　leave　Black　River。〃
　To　Paul's　right　was　the　main　part　of　town。　The　square。　Ultman's　Cafe　with　its　pair　of　enormous　black　oak　trees。　The　municipal　building。　Beyond　the　square；　more　lovely　houses：
　brick　houses　and　stone　houses　and　white　gingerbread　Gothic　houses　and　trim　little　bungalows。　A　couple　of　shops　with　striped　awnings　out　in　front。　The　telephone　pany　office。　St。　Margaret　Mary's。　The　cemetery。　The　Union　Theater　with　its　old　fashioned　marquee。　And　then　the　road　to　the　mill。　The　entire　panorama；　so　recently　scrubbed　by　the　storm；　looked　crisp　and
　bright　and　quaint…and　too　innocent　to　contain　the　evil　that　he　knew　it　harbored。
　〃You　still　think　Salsbury's　holed　up　in　the　municipal　building？〃　Paul　asked。
　〃Where　else？〃
　〃I　guess　so。〃
　〃The　chief's　office　is　the　logical　mand　center。〃
　Paul　looked　at　his　watch。　〃A　quarter　past　five。〃
　〃We'll　wait　here　until　dark；〃　Sam　said。　〃Nine　o'clock　or　thereabouts。　Then　we'll　sneak　across　the　street；　get　past　his　guards　with　the　code　phrase；　and　reach　him　before　he's　seen　us　ing。〃
　〃It　sounds　so　easy。〃
　〃It　will　be；〃　Sam　said。
　Lightning　flashed　like　a　fuse　and　thunder　exploded　and　rain　like　shrapnel　clattered　on　the　tower　roof　and　on　the　streets　below。
　5：20　P。M。
　Smiling　as　he　had　been　told　to　smile；　his　arms　folded　across　his　broad　chest；　Bob　Thorp　leaned　casually　against　the　window　sill　and　watched　Salsbury；　who　was　working　at　Bob's　desk
　The　infinity　transmitter　was　connected　to　the　office　telephone。　The　line　was　open　to　Sam　Edison's　place…or　at　least　the　number　had　been　dialed；　and　the　line　should　have　been　open。
　Salsbury　hunched　over　the　chief's　desk；　the　receiver　gripped　so　tightly　in　his　right　hand　that　his　knuckles　appeared　to　be　about　to　slice　through　the　pale　skin　that　sheathed　them。　He　listened　closely　for　some　sound；　some　insignificant　tiny　little　sound　of　human　origin；　from　the　general　store　or　from　the　living　quarters　on　the　two　floors　above　the　store。
　Nothing。
　〃e　on；〃　he　said　impatiently。
　Silence。
　Cursing　the　infinity　transmitter；　telling　himself　that　the　damned　thing　hadn't　worked；　that　it　was　a　piece　of　crappy　Belgian…made　hardware　and　so　what　could　you　expect；　he　hung　up。　He　checked　to　see　if　the　wires　were　attached　to　the　proper　terminals；　then　dialed　the　Edisons'　number　again。
　The　line　opened：　hissing；　a　soft　roar　not　unlike　the　echo　of　your　own　circulation　when　you　held　a　seashell　to　your　ear。
　In　the　background　at　the　Edison's　place；　a　clock　ticked　rather　noisily；　hollowly。
　He　looked　at　his　watch。　5：24
　Nothing。　Silence。
　5：26
　He　hung　up；　dialed　again。
　He　heard　the　ticking　clock。
　5：28
　5：29
　5：30
　　
　No　one　spoke　over　there。　No　one　cried　or　laughed　or　sighed　or　coughed　or　yawned　or　moved。
　5：32
　5：33
　Salsbury　pressed　the　receiver　to　his　ear　as　hard　as　he　could；　concentrated；　strained　with　his　whole　body　and　attention　to　hear　Edison　or　Annendale　or　one　of　the　others。
　5：34
　5：35
　They　were　over　there。　Dammit；　they　were！
　5：36
　He　slammed　the　receiver　into　its　cradle。
　The　bastards　know　I'm　listening　to　them；　he　thought。　They're　trying　to　be　quiet；　trying　to　worry　me。　That's　it。　That　has　to　be
　it。
　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　dialed　the　Edisons'　number。
　A　ticking　clock。　Nothing　else。
　5：39
　5：40
　　
　〃Bastards！〃
　He　hung　up　the　phone　with　a　bang！
　Suddenly　he　was　drenched　with　perspiration。
　Clammy　and　unfortable；　he　got　to　his　feet。　But　he　was　frozen　by　rage；　he　couldn't　move。
　He　said　to　Thorp；　〃Even　if　they　did　get　out　of　the　store　some　way；　somehow；　they　can't　have　left　town。　That's　absolutely　impossible。　None　of　them's　a　magician。　They　can't　have　done　it。　I've　got　it　all　sewed　up。　Haven't　I？〃
　Thorp　smiled　at　him。　He　was　still　operating　under　the　previous　orders　Salsbury　had　given　him。
　〃Answer　me；　damn　you！〃
　Thorp's　smile　vanished。
　Salsbury　was　livid　and　greasy　with　sweat。　〃Haven't　I　got　this　fucking　town　sewed　up　tight？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Thorp　said　obediently。
　〃No　one　can　get　out　of　this　crummy　burg　unless　I　let　them　out　of　it。　Isn't　that　right？〃
　〃Yes。　You've　got　it　sewn　up。〃
　Salsbury　was　shaking。　Dizzy。　〃Even　if　they　slipped　out　of　the　store；　I　can　find　them。　I　can　find　them　any　damned　time　I　want　to。　Can't　I？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　can　tear　this　goddamned　town　apart；　rip　it　wide　open　and　find　those　sonsofbitches。〃
　〃Any　time　you　want。〃
　〃They　can't　escape。〃
　Abruptly　sitting　down；　almost　as　if　he　had　collapsed；　Salsbury　said；　〃But　that　doesn't　matter。　They　haven't　left　the　store。　They　can't　have　left　it。　It's　guarded。　Closely　guarded。　It's　a　damned　prison。　So　they're　still　in　the　place。　Being　quiet　as　mice。　They　know　I'm　listening。　They're　dying　to　trick　me。　That's　what　it　is。　A　trick。　That's　precisely　what　it　is。〃
　He　dialed　the　Edisons'　number。
　He　heard　the　familiar　ticking　of　the　clock　in　one　of　the　rooms　where　there　was　a　receiver。
　5：44
　5：45
　He　hung　up。
　Dialed　again。
　Ticking。。。
　5：46
　5：47
　He　hung　up。
　Grinning　at　the　chief　of　police；　he　said；　〃Do　you　realize　what　they　want　me　to　do？〃
　Thorp　shook　his　head：　no。
　〃They　want　me　to　panic。　They　want　me　to　order　you　to　make　a　house…to…house　search　for　them。〃　He　giggled。　〃I　could　do　that。　I　could　make　everyone　in　town　cooperate　in　a　house…to…house　search。　But　that　would　take　hours。　And　then　I'd　have　to　erase　the　memory　of　it　from　everyone's　mind；　Four　hundred　minds。　That　would　take　a　couple　of　hours　more。　They　want　me　to　waste　my　time。　Precious　time。　They　want　me　to　panic　and　waste　hours　and　maybe　give　them　a　chance　to　slip　by　me　in　the　confusion。　Isn't　that　what　they　want？〃
　Salsbury　giggled。　〃Well；　I'm　not　playing　their　game。　I'm　going　to　wait　for　Dawson　and　Klinger。　I'm　not　going　to　panic。　Not　me。　I　am　in　control　of　the　situation…and　I'll　stay　that　way。〃
　Ti…under　boomed　over　the　valley　and　reverberated　in　the　two　office　windows。
　He　dialed　the　general　store。
　5：50
　5：51
　He　giggled　and　hung　up。
　Then　he　had　a　startling　thought：　if　the　Edisons　and　the　Annendales　knew　he　was　listening　to　them；　that　meant　they　knew　the　entire　story；　the　truth；　knew　who　he　was；　really　was；　and　what　be　was　doing　here　in　Black　River。　。　。　And　that　was　impossible。
　He　dialed　again。
　5：52
　Nothing。　Silence。
　He　put　down　the　receiver　and　turned　to　Thorp。　〃Well；　I　guess　it　doesn't　matter　if　they　do　know。　They　can't　get　away。　I've　got　them　where　I　want　them。　I　have　the　power　。　。　。〃　He　stared　at　the　infinity　transmitter　for　a　while；　then　looked　back　at　Thorp。　〃What　do　you　think　Miriam　will　do　when　she　finds　out　about　the　power　I've　got？〃
　〃Who's　Miriam？〃
　〃You　know　Miriam。〃
　〃I　don't　know　her。〃
　〃She's　my　ex…wife。〃
　〃A　rotten　bitch。〃
　Thorp　said　nothing。
　〃Frigid　as　a　Popsicle。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　know　what　she'll　do；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃She'll　e　crawling　to　me。　Old　Miriam。　Crawling　to　me；　Bob。　On　her　hands　and　knees。　She　will。　Won't　she？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Thorp　said。
　The　power。。。
　〃You　know　what　I'll　do？〃
　Thorp　said；　〃No。〃
　〃You　know　what　the　hell　I'll　do　when　that　rotten　bitch　es　on　her　hands　and　knees；　crawling　on　her　hands　and　knees　to　me？〃
　〃Kick　her　in　the　face。〃
　〃That's　assault；〃　Thorp　said。
　〃Same　for　Dawson。　Kick　him　in　the　face。〃
　〃That's　assault。　You'll　wind　up　in　jail。〃
　〃I'll　get　Dawson；〃　Salsbury　said　solemnly。　Then　he　giggled。　〃I'll　get　that　sanctimonious　old　bastard。〃
　Thorp　frowned。
　〃Think　I　could　find　a　pair　of　jackboots；　Bob？〃
　〃A　pair　of　what？〃
　〃Maybe　there　are　a　few　people；　just　a　few　people；　not　many　mind　you；　that　I'd　want　jackboots　for。〃
　6：30　P。M。
　　
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Mrs。　Wolinski？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　〃Is　your　husband　there？〃　〃He's　upstairs　right　now。〃
　〃Is　he　alone　upstairs？〃　〃Alone？　Yes。〃　〃Are　you　alone　downstairs？〃　〃Yes。〃
　〃Do　you　know　Sam　Edison？〃　〃Oh；　sure。〃
　〃Is　he　at　your　house　now？〃　〃Sam？　No。〃
　〃Is　Jenny　Edison　at　your　house？〃　〃No。　Why　should　she　be？〃
　〃Haven't　you　seen　either　of　the　Edisons　today？〃
　〃No。　Look　here；　I…〃
　〃Mrs。　Wolinski；　when　you　hang　up　your　telephone；　you'll　forget　every　word　of　this　conversation。　You'll　only　remember　that　someone　called　and　tried　to　sell　you　life　insurance。　Someone　from　Bexford。　Is　that　understood？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Hang　up；　Mrs。　Wolinski。〃
　　
　6：45　P。M。
　〃St。　Margaret　Mary's。〃
　〃Is　this　the　rectory？〃　〃Yes；　it　is。〃　〃Father　O'Hara？〃　〃Speaking。〃
　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　〃Are　you　alone；　father？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What　about　your　housekeeper？〃
　〃She's　gone　home　for　the　day。〃
　〃Do　you　know　Sam　and　Jenny　Edison？〃
　〃Certainly。　Fine　people。〃　〃Is　either　of　them　with　you　now？〃
　〃Here　at　the　rectory？　No。〃
　〃In　the　church　perhaps？〃　〃No。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Have　you　seen　either　of　the　Edisons　today？〃
　〃No。　I…〃
　〃Do　you　know　Paul　Annendale？〃
　〃I　don't　believe　so。　If　there's　some　sort　of　emergency…〃　〃Shut　up；　O'Hara。　When　you　hang　up　your　telephone；　you'll　forget　every　word　of　this　conversation。　You'll　only　remember　that　someone　dialed　a　wrong　number。　Is　that　understood？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Hang　up；　O'Hara。〃
　　
　7：00　P。M。
　　
　　
　either　of　the　Edisons　today？〃　〃I　saw　Sam。　Down　at　the　store。〃　〃When　was　that；　Mrs。　Jamison？〃　〃This　morning。　Around　nine。〃　〃You　haven't　seen　him　since？〃
　〃Mrs。　Jamison；　I　don't　want　you　to　go　away　from　the　phone。　You　stand　right　there。　But　give　the　receiver　to　you