dk.nightchills-第38章

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ck　and　forth　between　the　mountains　until　they　finally　find　a　way　out。〃
　Thinking　of　Dawson's　helicopter；　Salsbury　said；　〃Since　when　are　you　a　meteorologist？〃
　〃Well；　I've　lived　here　all　my　life；　except　for　my　hitch　in　the　service。　I've　seen　hundreds　of　storms　like　this　one；　and　they…〃
　〃I　said　it's　over！　The　storm　is　over；　Finished。　Done　with。　Do　you　understand？〃
　Frowning；　Thorp　said；　〃The　storm　is　over。〃
　〃I　want　it　to　be　over；〃　Salsbury　said。　〃So　it　is。　It's　over　if　I　say　it　is。　isn't　it？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃It's　over。〃
　〃Dumb　cop。〃
　Thorp　said　nothing。
　〃Aren't　you　a　dumb　cop？〃
　〃I'm　not　dumb。〃
　〃I　say　you　are。　You're　dumb。　Stupid。　Stupid　as　an　ox。　Aren't　you；　Bob？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Say　it。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃That　you're　as　stupid　as　an　ox。〃
　〃I'm　as　stupid　as　an　ox。〃
　Returning　to　the　window；　Salsbury　stared　angrily　at　the　lowering　cobalt　clouds。
　Eventually　he　said；　〃Bob；　I　want　you　to　go　to　Pauline　Vicker's　house。〃
　Thorp　stood　up　at　once。
　〃I've　got　a　room　on　the　second　floor；　the　first　door　on　the　right　at　the　head　of　the　stairs。　You'll　find　a　leather　briefcase　beside　the　bed。　Fetch　it　for　me。〃
　4：55　P。M。
　The　four　of　them　went　through　the　crowded　stockroom　and　onto　the　rear　porch　of　the　general　store。
　Immediately；　twenty　yards　away　on　the　wet　emerald…green
　lawn；　a　man　moved　out　of　the　niche　formed　by　two　angled　rows　of　lilac　bushes。　He　was　a　tall；　hawk…faced　man　in　horn…rimmed　glasses。　He　was　wearing　a　dark　raincoat　and　holding　a　double…barreled　shotgun。
　〃Do　you　know　him？〃　Paul　asked。
　〃Harry　Thurston；〃　Jenny　said。　〃He's　a　foreman　at　the　mill。　Lives　next　door。〃
　With　one　hand　Rya　clutched　Paul's　shirt。　Her　self…confidence　and　her　faith　in　people　had　been　seriously　eroded　by　what　she　had　seen　Bob　Thorp　do　to　her　brother。　Watching　the　man　with　the　shotgun；　trembling；　her　voice　pitched　slightly　higher　than　it　normally　was；　she　said；　〃Is　he　。　。　。　going　to　shoot　US？〃
　Paul　placed　one　hand　on　her　shoulder；　squeezed　gently；　reassuringly。　〃Nobody's　going　to　be　shot。〃
　As　he　spoke　he　ardently　wished　that　he　could　believe　what　he　was　telling　her。
　Fortunately；　Sam　Edison　sold　a　line　of　firearms　in　addition　to　groceries；　dry　goods；　drugs；　notions　and　sundries；　therefore；　they　weren't　defenseless。　Jenny　had　a　。22　rifle。　Sam　and　Paul　were　both　carrying　Smith　&　Wesson　bat　Magnum　revolvers　loaded　with　。38　Special　cartridges　which　would　produce　only　half　of　the　fierce　kick　of　Magnum　ammunition。　However；　they　didn't　want　to　use　the　guns；　for　they　were　trying　to　leave　the　house　secretly；　they　kept　the　guns　at　their　sides；　barrels　aimed　at　the　porch　floor。
　〃I'll　handle　this；〃　Sam　said。　He　went　across　the　porch　to　the　wooden　steps　and　started　down。
　〃Hold　it　right　there；〃　said　the　man　with　the　shotgun。　He　came　ten　yards　closer。　He　pointed　the　weapon　at　Sam's　chest；　kept　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　and　watched　all　of　them　with　unconcealed　anxiety　and　distrust。
　Paul　glanced　at　Jenny。
　She　was　biting　her　lower　lip。　She　looked　as　if　she　wanted　to　swing　up　her　rifle　and　level　it　at　Harry　Thurston's　head。
　That　might　set　off　a　meaningless　but　disastrous　exchange　of　gunfire。
　He　had　a　mental　image　of　the　shotgun　booming。　Booming　again。　。　。　Flame　blossoming　from　the　muzzles　。　。
　〃Calm；〃　he　said　quietly。
　Jenny　nodded。
　At　the　bottom　of　the　steps；　still　twenty…five　feet　from　the　man　with　the　shotgun；　Sam　held　out　a　hand　in　greeting。　When　Thurston　ignored　it；　Sam　said；　〃Harry？〃
　Thurston's　shotgun　didn't　waver。　Neither　did　his　expression。　But　he　said；　〃Hello；　Sam。〃
　〃What　are　you　doing　here；　Harry？〃
　〃You　know；〃　Thurston　said。
　〃I'm　afraid　I　don't。〃
　〃Guarding　you；〃　Thurston　said。
　〃From　what？〃
　〃From　escaping。〃
　〃You're　here　to　keep　us　from　escaping　from　our　own　house？〃　Sam　grimaced。　〃Why　would　we　want　to　escape　from　our　own　house？　Harry；　you　aren't　talking　sense。〃
　Thurston　frowned。　〃I'm　guarding　you；〃　he　said　stubbornly。
　〃For　whom？〃
　〃The　police。　I've　been　deputized。〃　〃Deputized？　By　whom？〃
　〃Bob　Thorp。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃An　hour。。　。　hour　and　a　half。〃
　〃Why　does　Bob　want　you　to　keep　us　in　the　house？〃
　〃You　know　why；〃　Thurston　said　again。
　〃I've　already　told　you　that　I　don't　know。〃
　〃You've　done　something。〃　〃What　have　we　done？〃　〃Something　wrong。　Illegal。〃　〃You　know　us　better　than　that。〃　Thurston　said　nothing。　〃Don't　you；　Harry？〃　Silence。
　〃What　have　we　done？〃　Sam　insisted。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Bob　didn't　tell　you？〃
　〃I'm　just　an　emergency　deputy。〃
　The　shotgun　looks　nonetheless　deadly　for　that；　Paul　thought。
　〃You　don't　know　what　we're　supposed　to　have　done？〃　Sam　asked。　〃But　you're　willing　to　shoot　us　if　we　try　to　leave？〃
　〃Those　are　my　orders。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　known　me？〃
　〃Twenty　years　anyway。〃
　〃And　Jenny？〃
　〃A　long　time。〃
　〃You're　willing　to　kill　old　friends　just　because　someone　tells　you　to？〃　Sam　asked。　He　was　probing；　trying　to　discover　the　breadth　and　depth　of　Salsbury's　control。
　Thurston　couldn't　answer　that　question。　His　eyes　flicked　from　one　to　the　other　of　them；　and　he　shuffled　his　feet　in　the　wet　grass。　He　was　exceedingly　nervous；　confused；　and　exasperated…　but　he　was　determined　to　do　what　the　chief　of　police　had　asked　of　him。
　Unable　to　take　his　eyes　off　the　finger　that　was　curled　tightly　around　the　shotgun　trigger；　unable　to　look　at　Sam　when　he　spoke　to　him；　Paul　said；　〃We　better　get　on　with　this。　I　think　maybe　you've　pushed　him　far　enough。〃
　〃I　think　so　too；〃　Sam　said　tensely。　And　then　to　Thurston：　〃I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　〃Lower　the　gun；　Harry。〃　Thurston　obeyed。
　〃Thank　God；〃　Jenny　said。　〃e　here；　Harry。〃
　Thurston　went　to　Sam。
　〃I'll　be　damned；〃　Jenny　said。
　A　perfect　zombie；　Paul　thought。　A　regular　little　tin　soldier。。　A　chill　passed　along　his　spine。
　Sam　said；　〃Harry；　who　really　told　you　to　e　over　here　and　keep　a　watch　on　us？〃
　〃Bob　Thorp。〃
　〃Tell　me　the　truth。〃
　〃It　was　Bob　Thorp；〃　Thurston　said；　perplexed。
　〃It　wasn't　a　man　named　Salsbury？〃
　〃Salsbury？　No。〃
　〃Haven't　you　met　Salsbury？〃
　〃No。　Who　are　you　talking　about？〃　〃Maybe　he　called　himself　Albert　Deighton。〃　〃Who　did？〃　Thurston　asked。　〃Salsbury。〃
　〃I　don't　know　anyone　named　Deighton。〃
　Jenny；　Rya；　and　Paul　came　down　the　rain…slick　steps　and　joined　the　two　men。
　〃Salsbury's　obviously　working　through　Bob　Thorp；〃　Jenny　said；　〃one　way　or　another。〃
　〃What　are　you　people　talking　about？〃　Thurston　asked。
　Sam　said；　〃Harry；　I　am　the　key。〃
　〃I　am　the　lock。〃
　Taking　a　moment　to　study　Thurston　and　to　decide　upon　his　approach；　Sam　finally　said；　〃Harry；　we　are　going　for　a　walk　up　toward　Hattie　Lange's　house。　You　won't　try　to　stop　us。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃I　won't　stop　you。〃
　〃You　won't　shoot　us。〃
　〃No。　Of　course　not。〃
　〃You　won't　call　out　or　make　trouble　of　any　kind。〃
　Thurston　shook　his　head：　no。
　〃When　we　leave　here；〃　Sam　said；　〃you'll　go　back　to　the　lilac　bush。　You'll　forget　that　we　ever　came　out　of　the　house。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　forget　that　we've　had　this　little　talk。　When　the　four　of　us　leave　here；　I　want　you　to　forget　every　word　that's　been　spoken　between　us。　Can　you　do　that；　Harry？〃
　〃Sure。　I'll　forget　that　we　talked；　that　I　saw　any　of　you　just　now；　all　of　it；　like　a　you　said。〃
　For　a　human　robot；　for　an　honest…to…God　zombie；　Paul　thought；　he　seemed　damned　relaxed。
　〃You'll　think　we're　still　inside；〃　Sam　said。
　Thurston　stared　at　the　back　of　the　general　store。
　〃You'll　guard　the　place　exactly　as　you　were　doing　a　few　minutes　ago；〃　Sam　said。
　〃Guard　it。。　。　That's　what　Bob　told　me　to　do。〃
　〃Then　do　it；〃　Sam　said。　〃And　forget　you've　seen　us。〃
　Obediently；　Harry　Thurston　returned　to　the　man…size　niche　in　the　wall　of　lilac　bushes。　He　stood　with　his　feet　apart。　He　held　the　shotgun　in　both　hands；　parallel　to　the　ground；　prepared　to　raise　it　and　fire　within　a　second　if　faced　with　a　sudden　threat。
　〃Incredible；〃　Jenny　said。
　〃Looks　like　a　storm　trooper；〃　Sam　said　wearily。　〃e　on。　Let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　Jenny　followed　him。
　Paul　took　hold　of　Rya's　icy　hand。
　Her　face　drawn；　a　haunted　look　in　her　eyes；　she　squeezed　his　hand　and　said；　〃Will　it　be　all　right　again？〃
　〃Sure。　Everything　will　be　fine　before　much　longer；〃　he　told　her；　not　certain　if　that　was　the　truth　or　another　lie。
　They　went　west；　across　the　rear　lawns　of　the　neighboring　houses；　walking　fast　and　hoping　they　wouldn't　be　seen。
　With　every　step　Paul　expected　someone　to　shout　at　them。　And　in　spite　of　the　manner　in　which　Harry　Thurson　had　behaved；　he　also　expected　to　hear　a　shotgun　blast　close　behind　him；　much　too　close　behind　him；　inches　from　his　shoulder　blades：　one　sudden　apocalyptic　roar　and　then　an　endless　silence。
　Halfway　down　the　block　they　came　to　the　back　of　St。　Luke's；　the　town's　all…denominational　church。　It　was　a　freshly　painted；　neatly　kept　rectangular　white　frame　structure　on　a　brick…faced　foundation。　There　was　a　five…story…high　bell　tower　at　the　front　of　the　building；　out　on　the　Main　Street　side。
　Sam　tried　the　rear　door　and　found　it　unlocked。　They　slipped　inside；　one　at　a　time。
　For　two　or　three　minutes　they　stood　in　the　narrow；　musty；　windowless　foyer；　and　waited　to　see　if　Harry　Thurston　or　anyone　else　would　follow　them。
　No　one　did。
　〃Small　blessings；〃　Jenny　said。
　Sam　led　them　into　the　chamber　behind　the　altar。　That　room　was　even　darker　than　the　foyer。　They　accidentally　knocked　over　a　rack　full　of　choir　gowns…and　stood　very　still　until　the　echo
　of　the　crash　had　faded　away；　until　they　were　certain　that　they　hadn't　revealed　themselves。
　Holding　hands；　forming　a　human　chain；　they　stumbled　out　of　that　room　and　onto　the　altar　platform。　Because　the　storm　clouds　filtered　the　day　into　twilight　before　it　was　filtered　again　by　the　leaded　stained…glass　windows；　the　church　proper　was　only　marginally　brighter　than　the　room　behind　it；　Nevertheless；　there　was　sufficient　light　to　allow　them　to　break　the　chain；　and　they　followed　Sam　along　the　center　aisle；　between　the　two　ranks　of　pews；　without　having　to　feel　their　way　as　if　they　were　blind　people　in　a　strange　house。
　At　the　rear　of　the　nave；　on　the　left…hand　side；　Sam　pulled　open　a　door。　Beyond　lay　an　enclosed　spiral　staircase。　Sam　went　first；　Jenny　went　next；　then　Rya。
　Paul　stood　on　the　bottom　step；　staring　out　at　the　shadowy　church　for　a　minute　or　two。　His　revolver　was　ready　in　his　right　hand。　When　the　big　room　remained　silent　and　deserted；　he　closed　the　stairwell　door　and　went　up　to　join　the　others。
　The　top　of　the　bell　tower　was　a　nine…foot…square　platform。　The　bell…one　yard　wide　at　the　mouth…was　at　the　center　of　the　platform；　of　course；　suspended　from　the　highest　point　of　the　arched　ceiling。　A　chain　was　welded　to　the　rim　of　the　bell　and　trailed　through　a　small　hole　in　the　floor；　down　to　the　base　of　the　tower　where　the　toiler　could　tug　on　it。　The　walls　were　only　four　feet　high；　open　from　there　to　the　ceiling。　A　white　pillar　rose　at　each　corner；　supporting　the　peaked；　slate…shingled　roof。　Because　the　roof　overhung　the　wails　by　four　feet　on　all　sides；　the　rain　hadn't　e　in　through　the　open　spaces；　and　the　belfry　platform　was　dry。
　'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；