dk.nightchills-第25章

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　Picard　fell　against　Holbrook。
　Holbrook　stepped　back。
　Picard　went　to　his　knees。
　His　hands　were　still　at　his　sides。　He　was　making　no　effort　to　save　himself。
　〃Jesus　jump　to　hell；〃　Klinger　said；　amazed；　numbed；　unable　to　speak　above　a　whisper。
　Shuddering；　convulsing；　Picard　lost　control　of　his　bladder　and　bowels。
　Salsbury　was　pleased　that　he　had　thought　to　provide　the　canvas　dropcloth。
　Seconds　later　Holbrook　stepped　away　from　Picard；　his　task　pleted。　The　garrote　had　made　deep；　angry　red　impressions　in　the　palms　of　his　hands。
　Salsbury　took　another　length　of　cord　from　another　pocket　in　his　smock　and　gave　it　to　Rossner。　〃Do　you　know　what　that　is；　Glenn？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　had　watched　impassively　as　Holbrook　murdered　the　Frenchman。
　〃Glenn；　I　want　you　to　give　the　cord　to　Peter。〃　Without　even　pausing　to　think　about　it；　Rossner　placed　the　second　garrote　in　the　Englishman's　hands。
　〃Now　turn　your　back　to　Peter。〃
　Rossner　turned。
　〃Are　you　relaxed；　Glenn？〃
　〃Relax。　Be　calm。　Don't　worry　about　anything　at　all。　That's　an　order。〃
　The　lines　in　Rossner's　face　softened。
　〃How　do　you　feel；　Glenn？〃
　〃Relaxed。〃
　〃Good。　You　won't　try　to　keep　Peter　from　obeying　the　orders　I　give　him；　regardless　of　what　those　orders　are。〃
　〃I　won't　interfere；〃　Rossner　said。
　Salsbury　turned　to　the　Englishman。　〃Loop　that　cord　around　Glenn's　neck　as　you　did　with　Michel。〃
　With　an　expert　flip　and　twist　of　the　garrote；　Holbrook　was　in　position。　He　waited　for　orders。
　〃Glenn；〃　Salsbury　said；　〃are　you　tense？〃
　〃No。　I'm　relaxed。〃
　〃That's　fine。　Just　fine。　You　will　continue　to　be　relaxed。　Now；　I'm　going　to　tell　Peter　to　kill　you…and　you　are　going　to　permit　him　to　do　that。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Yes。　I　understand。〃　His　placid　expression　didn't　waver。
　Don　t　you　want　to　live？
　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　want　to　live。〃
　〃Then　why　are　you　willing　to　die？〃
　〃I…I…〃　He　looked　confused。
　〃You　are　willing　to　die　because　refusal　to　obey　the　key　means　pain　and　death　anyway。　Isn't　that　right；；　Glenn？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　Salsbury　watched　the　two　men　closely　for　signs　of　panic。　There　were　none。　Nor　even　any　of　stress。
　The　stench　from　Michel　Picard's　fouled　body　was　nearly　overpowering　and　getting　worse。
　Rossner　surely　knew　what　was　about　to　happen　to　him。　He　had　seen　Michel　die；　had　been　told　he　would　die　in　the　same　way。　Yet　he　stood　unmoving；　apparently　unafraid。
　He　was　willing　to　mit　what　amounted　to　suicide　rather　than　disobey　the　key。　In　fact　disobedience　was　literally　inconceivable　to　him。
　〃Total　control；〃　the　general　said。　〃Yet　they　don't　look　or　behave　like　zombies。〃
　〃Because　they　aren't。　There's　nothing　supernatural　involved。　Just　the　ultimate　in　behavior　modification　techniques。〃　Salsbury　was　elated。　〃Peter；　give　me　the　cord。　Thank　you。　You　have　both　done　well。　Exceptionally　well。　Now；　I　want　you　to　wrap　Michel's　body　in　the　canvas　and　move　it　to　the　next　room。　Wait　there　until　I　have　additional　orders　for　you。〃
　As　if　they　were　a　pair　of　ordinary　laborers　talking　about　how　to　move　a　load　of　bricks　from　here　to　there；　Rossner　and　Holbrook　quickly　discussed　the　job　at　hand。　When　they　had　decided　on　the　best　way　to　roll　and　carry　the　corpse；　they　set　to　work。
　〃Congratulations；〃　Klinger　said。　He　was　perspiring。　Cool；　dry；　steady…eyed　Ernst　Klinger　was　sweating　like　a　pig。
　What　do　you　think　of　the　puter　lights　now？　Salsbury
　wondered。　Do　they　look　as　Christmasy　as　they　did　ten　minutes　ago？
　The　puter　room　smelled　of　lemons。　Salsbury　had　used　an　aerosol　spray　to　get　rid　of　the　odor　of　feces　and　urine。
　He　took　a　bottle　of　whiskey　from　his　desk　drawer　and　poured　himself　a　shot　to　celebrate。
　Klinger　had　a　double　shot　to　steady　his　nerves。　When　he　had　tossed　it　back　he　said；　〃And　now　what？〃
　〃The　field　test。〃
　〃You've　mentioned　that　before。　But　why？　Why　can't　we　go　ahead　with　the　Middle　East　plan　as　Leonard　outlined　it　in　Tahoe；　nearly　two　years　ago？　We　know　the　drug　works；　don't　we？　And　we　know　the　subliminals　work。〃
　〃I　achieved　the　desired　results　with　Holbrook；　Rossner；　and　poor　Picard；〃　Salsbury　said；　sipping　his　whiskey。　〃But　it　doesn't　necessarily　follow　that　everyone　will　react　as　they　have。　I　can't　possibly　have　plete　confidence　in　the　program　until　I've　treated　and　observed　and　tested　a　few　hundred　subjects　of　both　sexes　and　of　all　ages。　Furthermore；　our　three　mercenaries　were　treated　and　responded　in　controlled　lab　situations。　Before　we　can　take　the　extraordinary　risks　involved　with　something　like　the　Middle　East　plan…where　we've　got　to　create　a　new　subliminal　series　for　another　culture　and　in　another　language…。　we've　simply　got　to　know　what　the　results　will　be　in　the　field。〃
　Klinger　poured　himself　another　shot　of　whiskey。　As　he　lifted　the　glass　to　his　lips；　a　look　of　fear　flitted　across　his　face。　It　lasted　no　more　than　a　second　or　two。　Pretending　to　be　thinking　about　the　field　test；　he　stared　at　the　liquor　in　his　glass　and　then　at　the　bottle　on　the　desk　and　then　at　Salsbury's　glass。
　Laughing；　Salsbury　said；　〃Don't　worry；　Ernst。　I　wouldn't　slip　the　drug　into　my　own　Jack　Daniels。　Besides；　you're　not　a　potential　subject。　You're　my　partner。〃
　Klinger　nodded。　Nevertheless；　he　put　his　glass　down　without　tasting　the　whiskey。　〃Where　would　you　run　a　field　test　like　this？〃
　〃Black　River；　Maine。　It's　a　small　town　near　the　Canadian　border。〃
　〃Why　there？〃
　Salsbury　went　to　the　nearest　programming　console　and　typed　out　an　order　to　the　puter。　As　he　typed　he　said；　〃Two　months　ago　I　drew　a　list　of　the　basic　requirements　for　the　ideal　test　site。〃
　All　of　the　screens　began　to　present　the　same　information：
　KEY/LOCK　FIELD　TEST　DATA；　AS　FOLLOWS：
　1A。　SITE　SHOULD　BE　SMALL　TOWN；　YET　PROVIDE　SUFFICIENT　NUMBER　OF　SUBJECTS　FOR　STATISTICAL　ACCURACY
　1B。　BLACK　RIVER；　MAINEPOPULATION　402　LUMBER　CAMPPOPULATION　188
　ADDITIONAL　POPULATION　WITHIN　5　MILESNONE
　〃Lumber　camp？〃　Klinger　asked。
　〃It's　a　pany　town　for　Big　Union　Supply。　Nearly　everyone　in　Black　River　works　for　Big　Union　or　services　the　people　who　do。　The　pany　maintains　a　full…scale　camp…barracks；　mess　hail；　recreation　facilities；　the　whole　works…near　their　planned　forests　for　unmarried　loggers　who　don't　want　to　go　to　the　expense　of　renting　a　room　or　an　apartment　in　the　village。〃
　2A。　SITE　SHOULD　BE　GEOGRAPHICALLY　ISOLATED　BY　CURRENT　SOCIAL　STANDARDS
　2B。　FIRST　NEAREST　TOWN　TO　BLACK　RIVER30　MILES
　SECOND　NEAREST　TOWN　TO　BLACK　RIVER62　MILES
　LAND　ROUTES　TO　BLACK　RIVER1　STATE　HIGHWAY；　2…LANE
　1　RAILROAD　LINE；　ONLY　INDUSTRIAL　TRAFFIC
　RIVER　ROUTES　TO　BLACK　RIVERRIVER　NAVIGABLE；　NO　REGULAR　TRAFFIC
　AIRFIELD　FACILITIES　AT　BLACK　RIVERNONE
　3A。　SITE　SHOULD　BE　WITHIN　RECEPTION　RANGE　OF　ONE　OR　MORE　TELEVISION　STATIONS
　3B。　STATIONS　RECEIVED　IN　BLACK　RIVER1　AMERICAN
　1　CANADIAN
　〃There's　an　interesting　bit　of　additional　data　that　goes　with　that　one；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃The　American　station　is　owned　by　a　subsidiary　of　Futurex。　It　plays　a　lot　of　old　movies　at　night　and　on　weekends。　We'll　be　able　to　get　copies　of　the　station's　program　schedules　well　in　advance。　We　can　prepare　subliminally　augmented　prints　of　the　movies　they're　going　to　show　and　switch　those　for　the　original　prints　in　the　station's　film　library。〃
　〃That's　a　bit　of　luck。〃
　〃Saves　us　some　time。　Otherwise；　Futurex　would　have　had　to　acquire　one　of　the　stations；　and　that　could　take　years。〃
　〃But　how　can　you　be　certain　the　people　in　Black　River　will　watch　these　movies　you've　doctored？〃
　〃They're　going　to　be　inundated　with　subliminals　in　a　variety　of　media　that　will　mand　them　to　watch。　For　instance；　the　Dawson　Foundation　for　Christian　Ethics　will　run　dozens　of　public　service　mercials　on　both　the　Canadian　and　American　stations；　two　days　in　advance　of　the　movies。　Each　of　these　mercials　will　harbor　very　strong　subliminal　mands　directing　the　people　in　town　and　in　the　lumber　camp　to　tune　in　at　the　right　time　on　the　right　channel。　We'll　also　do　direct　mail　advertising　for　several　of　Leonard's　panies…as　a　means　of　getting　even　more　subceptive　messages　to　them。　Everyone　in　town　will　receive　ads　in　the　mail　and　some　free　gifts　like　soap　samples；　shampoo　samples；　and　free　rolls　of　photographic　film。　The　advertisements　and　the　samples　will　be　packaged　in　wrappers　rich　in　subliminal　mands　to　watch　。a　certain　television　station　at　a　certain　hour　on　a　certain　day。　Even　if　the　subject　throws　the　piece　of　mail　away　without　opening　it；　he'll　be　affected；　because　the　envelopes　will　also　be　printed　over　with　subliminal　messages。　The　major　magazines　and　newspapers　entering　Black　River　during　the　period　of　programming　will　carry　ads　full　of　subceptive　mands　that　direct　the　people　to　watch　the　movies。〃　He　was　getting　a　bit　breathless　in　his　recital。　〃A　motion　picture　theater　could　not　ordinarily　prosper　in　a　town　the　size　of　Black　River。　But　Big　Union　runs　one　as　a　service　to　the　town。　During　the　summer；　every　day　but　Sunday；　there's　a　matinee　show　for　children。　The　prints　of　the　films　shown　at　those　matinees　will　be　our　prints；　with　subliminals　urging　the　children　to　watch　the　television　movies　that　will　contain　the　key…lock　program。　All　radio　stations　reaching　the　area　will　carry'　special　thirty…second　spot　ads；　hundreds　of　them；　with　subaudial　subliminal　directives。　These　account　for　only　half　our　methods。　By　the　time　all　of　this　washes　through　the　munity；　everyone　will　be　in　front　of　a　television　set　at　the　right　time。〃
　〃What　about　the　people　who　don't　have　television　sets？〃　Klinger　asked。
　〃There's　not　much　to　do　in　a　place　as　isolated　as　Black　River；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃The　recreation　hall　in　the　camp　has　ten　sets。　Virtually　everyone　in　town　owns　a　set。　Those　who　don't　will　be　directed；　by　the　first　wave　of　preliminary　subliminals；　to　watch　the　movies　at　a　friend's　house。　Or　with　a　relative　or　neighbor。〃
　For　the　first　time；　Klinger　looked　at　Salsbury　with　respect。　〃Incredible。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃What　about　the　drug？　How　will　that　be　introduced？〃
　Salsbury　finished　his　whiskey。　He　felt　wonderful。　〃There　are　only　two　sources　of　food　and　beverage　within　the　site。　The　lumber　camp　men　get　what　they　want　from　the　mess　hall。　In　town　everyone　buys　from　Edison's　General　Store。　Edison　has　no　petition。　He　even　supplies　the　town's　only　diner。　Now；　both　the　mess　hall　and　the　general　store　receive　their　goods　from　the　same　food　wholesaler　in　Augusta。〃
　〃Ahhh；〃　the　general　said。　He　smiled。
　〃It's　a　perfect　mando　operation　for　Holbrook　and　Rossner。　They　can　break　into　the　wholesaler's　warehouse　at　night　and　quickly　contaminate　several　different　items　set　aside　for　shipment　to　Black　River。〃　He　pointed　to　the　cathode…ray　tubes　where　the　list　of　requirements　for　an　ideal　site　was　being　reprinted。　〃Number　four。〃
　Klinger　looked　at　the　screen　to　his　left。
　4A。　SITE　SHOULD　HAVE　RESERVOIR　THAT　SERVES　NO　LESS　THAN
　90　PERCENT　OF　TOTAL　POPULATION
　4B。　BLACK　RIVER　RESERVOIR　SERVES100　PERCENT　OF　TOWN　RESIDENTS
　100　PERCENT　OF　LUMBER
　CAMP　RESIDENTS
　　
　〃Ordinarily；　in　a　backwoods　village　like　this；〃　Salsbury　said；　〃each　house　would　have　its　own　fresh…water　well。　But　the　mill　needs　a　reservoir　for　industrial　purposes；　so　the　town　benefits。〃
　〃How　did　you　choose　Black　River？　Where　did　you　learn　all　of　this　stuff？〃
　Salsbury　depressed　a　tab　on　the　programming　keyboard　and　cleared　the　screen。　〃In　19