dk.nightchills-第41章

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le　and　a　half　from　one　end　to　the　other…yet　each　man　will　have　only　a　small　area　of　ground　to　cover。　The　Edisons　and　the　Annendales　won't　be　able　to　get　by　them。〃
　〃It'll　work；〃　Klinger　said　admiringly。
　〃But　what　if　they　aren't　up　there　in　the　mountains？〃　Salsbury　said。　〃What　if　they're　right　here　in　town？〃
　〃Then　we've　nothing　to　worry　about；〃　Dawson　said。　〃They　can't　get　to　you　because　you're　surrounded　by　Bob　Thorp　and　his　deputies。　They　can't　get　out　of　town　because　every　exit　is　blocked。　All　they　can　do　is　wait。〃　He　smiled　wolfishly。　〃If　we　don't　find　them　in　the　mountains　by　three　or　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　we'll　begin　a　house…to…house　search　here　in　town。　One　way　or　another；　I　want　this　whole　affair　wrapped　up　by　noon　tomorrow。〃
　〃That's　asking　a　lot；〃　the　general　said。
　〃I　don't　care；〃　Dawson　said。　〃It　isn't　asking　too　much。　I　want　the　four　of　them　dead　by　noon。　I　want　to　restructure　the　memories　of　everyone　in　this　town　to　cover　our　trail　pletely。　By
　noon。〃
　〃Dead？〃　Salsbury　said；　confused。　He　pushed　his　glasses　up　on　his　nose。　〃But　I　need　to　study　the　Edisons。　You　can　kill　the　Annendales　if　you　want。　But　I've　got　to　know　why　the　Edisons　weren't　affected。　I've　got…〃
　〃Forget　that；〃　Dawson　said　brusquely。　〃If　we　attempted　to　capture　them　and　take　them　back　to　the　laboratory　at　Greenwich；　there's　a　good　chance　they'd　escape　along　the　way。　We　Can't　risk　that。　They　know　too　much。　Much　too　much。〃
　〃But　we'll　have　so　damned　many　corpses！〃　Salsbury　said。　〃For　God's　sake；　there's　already　the　boy。　And　Buddy　Pellineri。　Four　more。　。　…　And　If　they　fight　back；　we　may　have　as　many　as　a　dozen　to　bury。　How　are　we　going　to　account　for　so　many？〃
　Obviously　pleased　with　himself；　Dawson　said；　〃We'll　put　the　lot　of　them　in　the　Union　Theater。　Then　we'll　stage　a　tragic　fire。　We've　got　Dr。　Troutman　to　issue　death　certificates。　And　we　can　use　the　key…lock　program　to　keep　the　relatives　from　requesting　autopsies。〃
　〃Excellent；〃　Klinger　said；　grinning；　lightly　clapping　his　hands。　Sycophant　to　the　court　of　King　Leonard　the　First；　Salsbury　thought　sourly。
　〃Really　excellent；　Leonard；〃　Klinger　said。
　〃Thank　you；　Ernst。〃
　〃Christ　on　a　crutch；〃　Salsbury　said　weakly。
　Dawson　gave　him　a　nasty　look。　He　was　displeased　with　such　strong　profanity。　〃For　every　sin　that　we　mit；　the　Lord　will　have　His　awful　retribution　one　day。　There's　no　escaping　that。〃
　Salsbury　said　nothing。
　〃There　is　a　hell。〃
　Looking　at　Klinger；　finding　no　support　nor　even　a　wink　of　sympathy；　Salsbury　managed　to　keep　quiet。　There　was　something　in　Dawson's　voice…like　a　well…honed　knife　hidden　in　the　soft　folds　of　a　priest's　gown…something　hard　and　sharp　that　frightened　him。
　Dawson　glanced　at　his　watch　and　said；　〃Time　to　be　moving；　gentlemen。　Let's　get　this　over　with。〃
　
　10：12　P。M
　The　helicopter　rose　from　the　parking　lot　behind　the　municipal　building。　It　swung　gracefully　over　the　town　square　where　several　people　stood　watching　it；　and　then　it　clattered　westward　toward　the　mountain；　into　the　darkness。
　In　a　moment　it　was　gone。
　Sam　turned　away　from　the　street　and　slumped　with　his　back　to　the　belfry　wall。　〃On　their　way　to　the　mill？〃
　〃Looks　like　it；〃　Paul　said。　〃But　why？〃
　〃Good　question。　I　would　have　asked　the　same　thing　myself　if　you　hadn't。〃
　〃Another　thing；〃　Paul　said。　〃What　if　they've　figured　out　how　we　escaped？　What　if　they　realize　we　know　the　code　phrase？〃
　〃That's　not　very　likely。〃
　〃But　if　it's　the　case？〃　
　〃I　wish　I　knew；〃　Sam　said　worriedly。　He　sighed。　〃But　remember　that　even　under　the　worst　circumstances；　it's　just　us　against　them。　If　they　realize　how　much　we　know；　we　lose　the　advantage　of　surprise。　But　they've　lost　the　advantage　of　an　army　of　programmed　bodyguards。　So　it　balances　out。〃
　Jenny　said；　〃Do　you　think　both　of　Salsbury's　friends　are　aboard　the　helicopter？〃
　Sam　held　his　revolver　before　him。　He　was　unable　to　see　more　than　the　outline　of　it　in　the　darkness。　Nevertheless；　studying　it　with　dread　fascination；　he　said；　〃Well　now；　that's　another　thing　I　sure　wish　I　knew。〃
　Paul's　hands　were　shaking。　His　own　Smith　&　Wesson　felt　as　if　it　weighed　a　hundred　pounds。　He　said；　〃I　guess　we　go　after　Salsbury　now。〃
　〃It's　past　time　we　did。〃
　Jenny　touched　her　father's　hand；　the　one　that　held　the　gun。　〃But　what　if　one　of　those　men　did　stay　with　Salsbury？〃
　〃Then　it's　two　against　two；〃　Sam　said。　〃And　we　sure　as　hell　can　handle　that。〃
　〃If　I　went　along；〃　she　said；　〃it　would　be　three　against　two；　and　that　would　have　to　improve　the　odds。〃
　〃Rya　needs　you；〃　Sam　said。　He　hugged　her；　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　〃We'll　be　okay；　Jen。　I　know　we　will。　You　just　watch　after　Rya　while　we're　gone。〃
　And　if　you　don't　e　back？〃
　We　will。
　〃If　you　don't？〃　she　insisted。
　〃Then…you're　on　your　own；〃　Sam　said；　his　voice　almost　breaking。　If　there　were　tears　in　the　corners　of　his　eyes；　the　darkness　hid　them。　〃There's　nothing　more　I　can　do　for　you。〃
　〃Look；〃　Paul　said；　〃even　if　Salsbury　does　know　how　much
　we've　learned；　he　doesn't　know　where　we　are。　But　we　know　exactly　where　he　is。　So　we　still　have　some　advantage。〃
　Rya　clung　to　Paul。　She　didn't　want　to　let　him　go。　She　spoke　in　a　quiet　but　fierce　voice；　and　she　virtually　demanded　that　he　not　leave　her　in　the　tower。
　He　stroked　her　dark　hair；　held　her　tight；　spoke　softly　to　her；　calmed　and　reassured　her　as　best　he　could。
　And　at　10：20　he　followed　Sam　down　the　tower　stairs。
　8
　10：20　P。M
　　
　PHIL　KARKOV；　the　proprietor　of　Black　River's　only　service　station　and　garage；　and　his　girl　friend；　Lolah　Tayback；　tried　to　leave　town　a　few　minutes　past　ten　o'clock。　As　programmed；　the　deputies　who　manned　the　roadblock　sent　them　to　the　municipal　building　to　have　a　talk　with　Bob　Thorp。
　The　mechanic　was　soft…spoken；　courteous；　and　obviously　liked　to　think　of　himself　as　a　model　citizen。　He　was　a　tall；　broad…shouldered；　red…haired　man　in　his　middle　thirties。　His　good　looks　were　marred　only　by　a　bulbous　and　somewhat　misshapen　nose　that　appeared　to　have　been　broken　in　more　than　one　fight。　He　was　an　amicable　man　with　a　ready　smile；　and　he　was　most　anxious　to　help　the　chief　of　police　in　any　way　that　he　could。
　After　he　opened　the　two　of　them　with　the　code　phrase　and　spent　a　minute　interrogating　them；　Salsbury　was　satisfied　that　Karkov　and　Lolah　Tayback　were　fully；　properly　programmed。　They　hadn't　been　trying　to　escape。　They　hadn't　seen　anything　out　of　the　ordinary　in　town　today。　They　had　only　been　going　to　a　bar　in　Bexford　for　beer　and　sandwiches。
　He　sent　the　mechanic　home　and　told　him　to　stay　there　for　the　rest　of　the　night。
　The　woman　was　another　matter　altogether。
　〃Child…woman〃　was　a　better　word　for　her；　he　thought。　Her　Silvery…blond　hair　hung　to　her　narrow　shoulders　and　framed　a
　face　of　childlike　beauty：　crystalline　green　eyes；　a　perfectly　clear　and　milky　plexion　with　a　light；　cinnamon　like　dusting　of　freckles　across　her　cheekbones；　an　upturned　pixie　nose；　dimples；　a　blade…straight　jaw　line　and　round　little　chin　。　。　。　Every　feature　was　delicate　and　somehow　bespoke　na？veté。　She　stood　perhaps　five　feet　two　and　weighed　no　more　than　one　hundred　pounds。　She　seemed　fragile。　Yet　in　her　red…and…white…striped　T…shirt　（sans　bra）　and　blue　jean　shorts；　she　presented　a　strikingly　desirable；　quite　womanly　figure。　Her　breasts　were　small；　high　set；　accentuated　by　an　extremely　thin　waistline；　the　nipples　delectably　silhouetted　through　the　thin　material　of　the　T…shirt。　Her　legs　were　sleek；　supple；　shapely。　As　he　stood　in　front　of　her；　looking　her　up　and　down；　she　regarded　him　shyly。　She　was　unable　to　meet　his　eyes。　She　fidgeted。　If　appearance　could　count　for　anything；　she　ought　to　have　been　one　of　the　most　malleable；　vulnerable　women　he　had　ever　met。
　However；　even　if　she　were　a　fighter；　a　real　hellcat；　she　was　now　vulnerable。　As　vulnerable　as　he　wished　her　to　be。　Because　he　had　the　power。。。
　〃Lolah？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　old　are　you？〃
　〃Twenty…six。〃
　〃Are　you　engaged　to　Phil　Karkov？〃
　〃No。〃　Softly。
　〃Going　steady　with　him？〃
　〃More　or　less。〃
　〃Are　you　sleeping　with　him？〃　She　blushed。　Fidgeted。
　Lovely　little　animal　。　Screw　you；　Dawson。　You　too；　Ernst。
　He　giggled。
　〃Are　you　sleeping　with　him；　Lolah？〃　Almost　inaudibly：　〃Do　I　have　to　say？〃　〃You　must　tell　me　the　truth。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　whispered。
　〃You're　sleeping　with　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　often？〃
　〃Oh　。　。　。　Every　week。〃
　〃Speak　up。〃
　〃Every　week。〃
　〃Little　minx。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　hurt　me？〃
　He　laughed。　〃Once　a　week？　Twice？〃
　〃Twice；〃　she　said。　〃Sometimes　three。　。　。〃
　Salsbury　turned　to　Bob　Thorp。　〃Get　the　hell　out　of　here。　Go　down　to　the　end　of　the　hail　and　wait　with　the　guard　there　until　I　call　you。〃
　〃Sure。〃　Thorp　closed　the　door　as　he　left。
　〃Lolah？〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃What　does　Phil　do　to　you？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃In　bed。〃
　She　stared　at　her　sandaled　feet。
　The　power　filled　him；　pulsed　within　him；　leaped　across　tens　of　thousands　of　terminals　in　his　flesh：　sparked；　flashed；　crackled。　He　was　exhilarated。　This　was　what　the　key…lock　program　was　all　about：　this　power；　this　mastery；　this　unlimited　mand　of　other　people's　souls。　No　one　could　ever　touch　him　again。　No　one　could　ever　use　him。　He　was　the　user　now。　Always　would　be。　From　here　on　out。　Now　and　forever；　amen。　Amen；　Dawson。　Did　you　hear　that？　Amen。　Thank　you；　God；　for　sending　along　this　cute　little　piece　of　ass；　amen。　He　was　happy　again　for　the　first　time　since　this　morning；　since　he　had　touched　Thorp's　wife。
　〃I'll　bet　Phil　does　everything　to　you；〃　be　said。
　She　said　nothing。　Shuffled　her　feet。
　〃Doesn't　he？　Doesn't　he　do　everything　to　you；　Lolah？　Admit　it。　Say　it。　I　want　to　hear　you　say　it。〃
　〃He　does…everything。〃
　He　put　his　hand　under　her　chin；　lifted　her　head。
　She　gazed　at　him。　Timid。　Frightened。
　〃I'm　going　to　do　everything　to　you；〃　he　said。
　〃Don't　hurt　me。〃
　〃Lovely；　lovely　little　bitch；〃　he　said。　He　was　excited　as　he　had　never　been　in　his　life。　Breathing　hard。　Yet　everything　so　clear。　So　in　control。　Firmly　in　control。　Her　absolute　master。　Everyone's　absolute　master。　That　was　Howard　Parker's　phrase；　flashing　back　to　him　across　the　decades；　much　as　a　bizarre　hallucination　erupting　in　an　acidhead's　mind　years　after　his　last　tab　of　LSD：　absolute　master。　〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　going　to　do　to　you；〃　he　told　Lolah　Tayback。　〃I'm　going　to　hurt　you；　just　like　I　hurt　the　others。　Make　you　pay。　Make　you　bleed。　I'm　your　absolute　master。　You're　going　to　take　everything　I　dish　out　to　you。　Everything。　Maybe　even　like　it。　Learn　to　like　it。　Maybe。。　。〃
　His　hands　curled　into　fists　at　his　sides。
　The　pilot　flew　the　helicopter　in　a　wide　circle　around　the　logging　camp；　searching　for　the　best　place　to　set　down　between　the　scattered　lights　from　the　buildings。
　In　the　passenger　cabin；　Dawson　broke　an　extended　silence。　〃Ogden　has　to　be　eliminated。〃
　Klinger　had　no　difficulty　accepting　that　judgment。　〃Of　course。　He's　untrustworthy。〃
　〃Unstable。〃
　〃But　if　we　eliminate　him；〃　the　general　said；　〃can　we　continue　with　the　plan？〃
　〃Everything　that　Ogden　has　learned　is　in　the　Greenwich　puter；〃　Dawson　said。　〃The　research　was　beyond　us。　But　we　can　use　the　finished　product　well　enough。〃
　〃Hasn't　he　encoded　his　data？〃
　〃Naturally。　But　the　day　after　the　puter　was　installed；　long　before　Ogden　began　to　use　it；　I　had　my　people　program　it　to