dk.nightchills-第37章

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　for　a　moment。　On　occasion；　washing　his　hands　before　dinner　or　after　treating　a　sick　animal；　he　would　flash　back　to　the　war；　back　to　Southeast　Asia。　He　would　hear　the　guns　and　see　the　blood　again　in　his　memory。　In　these　almost　psychic　moments；　he　was　both　amazed　and　dismayed　that　the　same　hands　were　accustomed　to　mundane　and　horrible　acts；　that　they　could　heal　or　injure；　make　love　or　kill；　and　look　no　different　after　the　task　was　done。　Codified　morality；　he　thought；　was　indeed　a　blessing　but　also　a　curse　of　civilization。　A　blessing　because　it　permitted　men　to　live　in　harmony　most　of　the　time。　A　curse　because…　when　the　Jaws　of　nature　and　especially　of　human　nature　made　it　necessary　for　a　man　to　wound　or　kill　another　man　in　order　to　save　himself　and　his　family…it　spawned　remorse　and　guilt　even　if　the　violence　was　unwanted　and　unavoidable。
　Besides；　he　reminded　himself；　these　are　the　1970s。　This　is　the　age　of　science　and　technology　when　a　man　often　is　required　to　act　with　the　implacable　and　unemotional　savagery　of　the　machine。　For　better　or　worse；　in　these　times　gentility　is　being　less　and　less　a　sign　of　the　civilized　man　and　is；　in　fact；　very　nearly　an　obsolescent　quality。　You　see　gentility；　most　often；　in　those　who　are　least　likely　to　survive　wave　after　wave　of　future　shock。
　Lowering　his　hands　he　said；　〃In　the　classic　paranoid　vein；　it's　us　against　them。　Except　that　this　isn't　a　delusion　or　an　illusion；　it's　real。〃
　Jenny　seemed　to　accept　the　need　for　murder　as　quickly　as　he　had　accepted　the　fact　that　he　might　be　called　upon　to　mit　it。　By　this　point　in　her　life；　she　had　experienced；　as　had　all　but　the　most　gentle　people；　at　least　the　flickering　of　a　homicidal　urge　in　a　moment　of　despair　or　great　frustration。　She　hadn't　accepted　it　as　the　solution　to　whatever　problem　had　inspired　it。　But　she　was　not　incapable　of　conceiving　of　a　situation　in　which　homicide　was　the　most　reasonable　response　to　a　threat。　In　spite　of　the　overprotected；　sheltered　upbringing　of　which　she'd　spoken　last　Monday；　she　could　adapt　to　even　the　most　unpleasant　truths。　Perhaps；　Paul　thought；　the　ordeal　with　her　first　husband
　had　made　her　stronger；　tougher；　and　more　resilient　than　she　realized。
　She　said；　〃Even　if　we　could　bring　ourselves　to　kill　in　order　to　stop　this　thing。　。　。　Well；　it's　still　too　much。　To　stop　Salsbury；　we　need　to　know　more　about　him。　And　how　do　we　learn　anything？　He's　got　hundreds　of　bodyguards。　Or　if　he　wants；　he　can　turn　everyone　in　town　into　killers　and　send　them　after　us。　Do　we　just　sit　here；　pass　the　time；　wait　for　him　to　stop　around　for　a　chat？〃
　Returning　the　hardbound　volume　of　essays　to　the　shelf　from　which　he'd　taken　it；　Sam　said；　〃Wait　a　minute。。　。　Suppose。　。　。〃　He　faced　them。　He　was　excited。　All　three　of　them　were　tense；　twisted　as　tight　as　watch　springs。　But　now　a　glimmer　of　pleasurable　excitement　was　in　his　Santa　Claus…like　features。　〃When　Salsbury　saw　Rya　standing　in　the　kitchen　doorway　at　the　Thorp　house；　what　do　you　imagine　he　did；　very　first　thing？〃
　〃Grabbed　for　her；〃　Jenny　said。
　〃Wrong。〃
　Bitterly；　Paul　said；　〃Ordered　Bob　to　kill　her。〃
　〃Not　that　either。　Remember；　he　would　expect　her　to　be　another　one　of　his…zombies。〃
　Sucking　in　her　breath；　Jenny　said；　〃He　would　use　the　code　phrase　on　her；　the　system　he　talks　about　in　the　article。　He'd　try　to　open　her　up　and　take　control　of　her　before　she　ran　away。　So　。　。　。　Rya　must　have　heard　the　code　phrase！〃
　〃And　if　she　can　recall　it；〃　Sam　said；　〃we'll　have　control　of　everyone　in　Black　River；　the　same　as　Salsbury。　He　won't　be　able　to　send　them　after　us。　He　won't　have　hundreds　of　bodyguards　to　hide　behind。　It　won't　be　us　against　them。　It'll　be　us　against　him。〃
　6
　3：15　P。M。
　　
　DR。　WALTER　TROUTMAN　entered　the　police　chief's　office。　He　was　carrying　his　black　leather　satchel　in　his　right　hand　and　a　chocolate　candy　bar　with　almonds　in　his　left。　He　appeared　to　be　delighted　with　the　world　and　with　himself。　〃You　wanted　to　see　me；　Bob？〃
　Before　Thorp　could　answer；　Salsbury　stepped　away　from　the　windows　and　said；　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　〃Buddy　Pellineri　is　waiting　in　the　room　across　the　hail；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃You　know　him；　don't　you？〃
　〃Buddy？〃　Troutman　asked；　wrinkling　his　fleshy　face。　〃Well；　of　course　I　know　him。〃
　〃I've　told　him　that　we're　afraid　he's　picked　up　a　very　bad　germ　and　that　you're　going　to　give　him　a　vaccination　so　he　won't　get　sick。　As　you　know；　he's　not　especially　bright。　He　believed　me。　He's　waiting　for　you。〃
　〃Vaccination？〃　Troutman　said；　perplexed。
　〃That's　what　I　told　him　to　keep　him　here。　Instead；　you'll　inject　an　air　bubble　into　his　bloodstream。〃
　Troutman　was　shocked。　〃That　would　cause　an　embolism。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃It　would　kill　him！〃
　Salsbury　smiled　and　nodded。　〃It　had　better。　That's　the　whole　idea；　doctor。〃
　Looking　at　Bob　Thorp；　who　was　seated　behind　the　desk；　then　back　at　Salsbury；　Troutman　said　miserably；　〃But　I　can't　do　a　thing　like　that。　I　can't　possibly。〃
　am　I；　doctor？〃　〃You're…the　key。〃
　〃Very　good。　And　who　are　your'
　〃I'm　the　lock。〃
　〃All　right。　You　will　go　across　the　hail　to　the　room　where　Buddy　is　waiting。　You'll　chat　with　him；　be　very　pleasant；　give　him　no　cause　to　be　suspicious。　You'll　tell　him　that　you're　going　to　give　him　a　vaccination；　and　you'll　inject　an　air　bubble　into　his　bloodstream。　You　won't　mind　killing　him。　You　won't　hesitate。　As　soon　as　he　is　dead；　you'll　leave　the　room…and　you　will　remember　only　that　you　gave　him　a　shot　of　penicillin。　You　won't　remember　killing　him　when　you　leave　that　room。　You　will　e　back　here；　look　in　the　door；　and　say　to　Bob；　'He'll　be　better　in　the　morning。'　Then　you'll　go　back　to　your　house；　having　forgotten　entirely　about　these　instructions。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Go　do　it。〃
　Troutman　left　the　room。
　Ten　minutes　ago　Salsbury　had　decided　to　eliminate　Buddy　Pellineri。　Although　the　man　had　experienced　the　night　chills　and　nausea；　and　although　he　had　been　partially　brainwashed　by　by　the　subceptive　program；　he　was　not　a　good　subject。　He　could　not　be　fully　and　easily　controlled。　When　told　to　erase　from　his　memory　the　men　he　had　seen　ing　down　from　the　reservoir　on　the　morning　of　August　sixth；　he　might　forget　them　forever…　or　only　for　a　few　hours。　Or　not　at　all。　Had　he　been　been　a　genius；　the　drug　and　the　subliminals　would　have　transformed　him　into　the　ideal　slave。　Ironically；　however；　his　ignorance　condemned　him。
　It　was　a　pity　that　Buddy　had　to　die。　In　his　own　way　he　was　a　likable　brute。
　But　I've　got　the　power；　Salsbury　thought。　And　I'm　going　to
　keep　it。　I'm　going　to　eliminate　as　many　people　as　have　to　be　eliminated　for　me　to　keep　the　power。　I'll　show　them。　All　of　them。　Dawson；　good　old　Miriam；　the　bitches；　the　holier…than…thou　college　professors　with　their　snotty　questions　and　self…righteous　denunciations　of　my　work；　the　whores；　my　mother；　the　bitches　。　。　。　Tat…tat…tat…tat。　。　。　No　one　is　going　to　take　this　away　from　me。　No　one。　Not　ever。　Never。
　3：20　P。M。
　Rya　sat　up　in　bed；　yawning　and　smacking　her　lips。　She　looked　from　Jenny　to　Sam　to　Paul…but　she　didn't　seem　to　know　for　certain　who　they　were。
　〃Do　you　remember　what　he　said？〃　Paul　asked　again。　〃The　man　with　the　thick　glasses。　Do　you　remember？〃
　Squinting　at　him；　scratching　her　head；　she　said；　〃Who　。　。　。　am　this？〃
　〃She's　still　dopey；〃　Jenny　said；　〃and　will　be　for　a　while　yet。〃　Studying　the　girl　from　the　foot　of　the　bed；　Sam　said；　〃Salsbury　knows　he's　got　to　deal　with　us。　As　soon　as　he's　decided　how；　he'll　e　here。　We　don't　have　time　to　wait　for　the　sedative　to　wear　off。　We've　got　to　help　her　e　out　of　it。〃　He　looked　at　Jenny。　〃You　give　her　a　cold　shower。　A　long　one。　I'll　make　some　fresh　coffee。〃
　〃Don't　like　coffee；〃　Rya　said　sullenly。
　〃You　like　tea；　don't　you？〃
　〃S'okay。〃　She　yawned。
　Sam　hurried　downstairs　to　make　a　pot　of　tea。
　Jenny　hustled　Rya　out　of　bed　and　into　the　bathroom　at　the　end　of　the　hallway。
　Left　alone；　Paul　went　to　the　living　room　to　sit　with　Mark's　body　until　Rya　was　ready　to　be　questioned。
　'When　you　decide　to　meet　that　big；　bright；　shiny；　chrome…edged　American　world　on　its　own　terms；　he　thought；　things　start　to　move。　Faster　and　faster　and　faster。
　3：26　P。M。
　Dr。　Troutman　leaned　in　the　open　doorway　and　said；　〃He'll　be　better　in　the　morning。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　Bob　Thorp　said。　〃You　go　along　home　now。〃　Popping　the　last　piece　of　his　chocolate…almond　bar　into　his　mouth；　the　doctor　said；　〃Take　care。〃　He　walked　away。
　To　Thorp；　Salsbury　said；　〃Get　some　help。　Move　the　body　into　one　of　the　cells。　Stretch　him　out　on　the　bunk　so　that　he　looks　like　he's　sleeping。〃
　4：16　P。M。
　Rain　gurgled　noisily　down　the　leader　beside　the　kitchen　window。
　The　room　smelled　of　lemons。
　Steam　rose　from　the　spout　of　the　teapot　and　from　the　china　cup。
　Rya　wiped　away　her　tears；　blinked　in　sudden　recollection；　and　said；　〃Oh。　Oh；　yes　。　。　。　'I　am　the　key。'〃
　4：45　P。M。
　The　downpour　dwindled　abruptly　to　a　drizzle。　Soon　the　rain　stopped　altogether。
　Salsbury　raised　one　of　the　Venetian　blinds　and　looked　out　at　North　Union　Road。　The　gutters　were　overflowing。　A　miniature　lake　had　formed　down　toward　the　square　where　a　drainage　grating　was　clogged　with　leaves　and　grass。　The　trees　dripped　like　melting　candles。
　He　was　glad　to　see　it　end。　He　had　begun　to　worry　about　the　turbulent　flying　conditions　that　Dawson's　helicopter　pilot　would　have　to　face。
　One　way　or　another；　Dawson　had　to　get　to　Black　River　to…
　night。　Salsbury　didn't　actually　need　help　to　deal　with　the　situation；　but　he　did　need　to　be　able　to　share　the　blame　if　the　field　test　went　even　further　awry。
　Neither　of　his　current　options　was　without　risk。　He　could　send　Bob　Thorp　and　a　couple　of　deputies　to　the　general　store　to　arrest　the　Edisons　and　the　Annendales。　Of　course　there　might　be　trouble；　violence；　even　a　shoot…out。　Every　additional　corpse　or　missing　person　that　had　to　be　explained　to　the　authorities　outside　of　Black　River　increased　the　chance　of　discovery。　On　the　other　hand；　if　he　had　to　maintain　the　roadblock　through　tomorrow；　keep　control　of　the　town；　and　perpetuate　the　state　of　siege；　his　chances　of　ing　out　on　top　of　this　would　be　less　promising　than　they　were　now。
　What　in　the　devil　was　happening　at　Edison's　place？　They　had　found　the　boy's　body。　He　knew　that。　He　had　assigned　several　guards　to　cover　the　store。　Why　hadn't　they　e　here　to　see　Bob　Thorp？　Why　hadn't　they　tried　to　leave　town？　Why　hadn't　they；　in　short；　acted　like　anyone　else　would　have　done？　Surely；　even　with　Buddy's　story　to　build　from；　they　couldn't　have　reconstructed　the　truth　behind　the　events　of　the　past　few　weeks。　They　couldn't　know　who　he　really　was。　They　probably　didn't　know　about　subliminal　advertising　in　general…and　certainly　not　about　his　research　in　specific。　He　suddenly　wished　that　he　had　brought　his　briefcase　with　the　infinity　transmitter　from　Pauline　Vicker's　rooming　house。
　〃Everything　looks　so　crisp　and　fresh　after　a　summer　rain；　doesn't　it？〃　Bob　Thorp　asked。
　〃I'm　glad　it's　over；〃　Salsbury　said。
　〃It　isn't。　Not　by　a　long　shot。〃
　Salsbury　turned　from　the　windows。　〃What？〃
　Smiling；　as　amiable　as　Salsbury　had　ordered　him　to　be；　Bob　Thorp　said；　〃These　summer　storms　start　and　stop　half　a　dozen　times　before　they're　finished。　That's　because　they　bounce　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth　between　the　mountains　until　they　fi