dk.intensity-第52章

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　Instead；　she　spotted　the　safety　goggles　and；　making　no　ment；　got　up　and　put　them　on　the　girl。　Ariel　submitted　without　objection。
　Chyna　returned　to　the　stool　and　waited。　A　frown　surfaced　in　the　placid　pool　of　Ariel's　face。　It　didn't　subside　again　but　floated　there。
　The　girl　pressed　the　trigger　of　the　drill　experimentally。　The　motor　shrieked；　and　the　bit　whirled。　She　released　the　trigger　and　watched　the　bit　spin　to　a　stop。
　Chyna　realized　that　she　was　holding　her　breath。　She　let　it　out；　inhaled　deeply；　and　the　air　was　sweeter　than　before。　She　adjusted　the　position　of　her　hands　on　the　workbench　to　present　Ariel　with　the　left　cuff。
　Behind　the　goggles；　Ariel's　eyes　slowly　shifted　from　the　point　of　the　drill　bit　to　the　keyhole。　She　was　definitely　looking　at　things　now；　but　she　still　appeared　detached。
　Trust。　Chyna　closed　her　eyes。　As　she　waited；　the　silence　grew　so　deep　that　she　began　to　hear　distant　imaginary　noises；　analogue　to　the　phantom　lights　that　play　faintly　behind　closed　eyelids：　the　soft　solemn　tick　of　the　mantel　clock　upstairs；　the　restless　movement　of　vigilant　Dobermans　in　the　night　outside。
　Something　pressed　against　the　left　manacle。　Chyna　opened　her　eyes。　The　bit　was　in　the　keyway。　She　didn't　look　up　at　the　girl　but　closed　her　eyes　again；　more　tightly　this　time　than　previously；　to　protect　them　from　flying　metal　shavings。　She　turned　her　head　to　one　side。
　Ariel　bore　down　on　the　drill　to　prevent　it　from　popping　out　of　the　keyway；　just　as　Chyna　had　instructed。　The　steel　manacle　pressed　hard　against　Chyna's　wrist。
　Silence。　Stillness。　Gathering　courage。　Suddenly　the　drill　motor　whined。　Steel　squealed　against　steel；　and　the　sound　was　followed　by　the　thin；　acrid　odor　of　hot　metal。　Vibrations　in　Chyna's　wrist　bones　spread　up　her　arm；　exacerbating　all　the　aches　and　pains　in　her　muscles。　A　clatter；　a　hard　ping；　and　the　left　man…acle　fell　open。
　She　could　have　fimctioned　reasonably　well　with　the　pair　of　cuffs　dangling　from　her　right　hand。　Perhaps　it　didn't　make　sense　to　risk　injury　for　the　relatively　small　additional　advantage　of　being　free　of　the　manacles　altogether。　But　this　wasn't　about　logic。　It　wasn't　about　a　rational　parison　of　risks　and　advantages。　It　was　about　faith。
　The　bit　clicked　against　the　keyway　as　it　was　inserted　into　the　right　manacle。　The　drill　shrieked；　and　steel　jittered…spun　against　steel。　A　spray　of　tiny　shavings　spattered　across　the　side　of　Chyna's　face；　and　the　lock　cracked。
　Ariel　released　the　trigger　and　lifted　the　drill　away。　With　a　laugh　of　relief　and　delight；　Chyna　shook　off　the　manacles　and　raised　her　hands；　gazing　at　them　in　wonder。　Both　of　her　wrists　were　abraded…actually　raw　and　seeping　in　places。　But　that　pain　was　less　severe　than　many　others　that　afflicted　her；　and　no　pain　could　diminish　the　exhilaration　of　being　free　at　last。
　As　if　not　sure　what　to　do　next；　Ariel　stood　with　the　drill　in　both　hands。
　Chyna　took　the　tool　and　set　it　aside　on　the　workbench。
　〃Thank　you；　honey。　That　was　terrific。　You　did　great；　really　great；　you　were　perfect。〃
　The　girl's　arms　hung　at　her　sides　again；　and　her　delicate　pale　hands　were　no　longer　hooked　like　claws　but　were　as　slack　as　those　of　a　sleeper。
　Chyna　slipped　the　goggles　off　Ariel's　head；　and　they　made　eye　contact；　real　contact。　Chyna　saw　the　girl　who　lived　behind　the　lovely　face；　the　true　girl　inside　the　safe　fortress　of　the　skull；　where　Edgler　Vess　could　get　at　her　only　with　tremendous　effort　if　ever。
　Then；　in　an　instant；　Ariel's　gaze　traveled　from　this　world　to　the　sanctuary　of　her　Elsewhere。
　Chyna　said；　〃Nooooo；〃　because　she　didn't　want　to　lose　the　girl　whom　she　had　so　briefly　glimpsed。　She　put　her　arms　around　Ariel　and　held　her　tight　and　said；　〃e　back；　honey。　It's　okay。　e　back　to　me；　talk　to　me。〃
　But　Ariel　did　not　e　back。　After　pulling　herself　pletely　into　the　world　of　Edgler　Vess　long　enough　to　drill　out　the　locks　on　the　manacles；　she　had　exhausted　her　courage。
　〃Okay；　I　don't　blame　you。　We're　not　out　of　here　yet；〃　Chyna　said。　〃But　now　we　only　have　the　dogs　to　worry　about。〃
　Though　still　living　in　a　far　realm；　Ariel　allowed　Chyna　to　take　her　hand　and　lead　her　to　the　stairs。
　〃We　can　handle　a　bunch　of　damn　dogs；　kid。　Better　believe　it；〃　Chyna　said；　though　she　was　not　sure　if　she　believed　it　herself。
　Free　of　manacles　and　shackles；　no　longer　carrying　a　chair　on　her　back；　with　a　stomach　full　of　coffeecake；　and　with　a　gloriously　empty　bladder；　she　had　nothing　to　think　about　except　the　dogs。　Halfway　up　the　stairs　toward　the　laundry　room；　she　remembered　something　that　she　had　seen　earlier；　it　had　been　puzzling　then；　but　it　was　clear　nowand　vitally　important。
　〃Wait。　Wait　here；〃　she　told　Ariel；　and　pressed　the　girl's　limp　hand　around　the　railing。
　She　plunged　back　down　the　stairs；　went　to　the　metal　cabinets；　and　pulled　open　the　door　behind　which　she　had　seen　the　strange　pads　trailing　black　leather　straps　with　chrome…plated　buckles。　She　pulled　them　out；　scattering　them　on　the　floor　around　her；　until　the　cabinet　was　empty。
　They　weren't　pads。　They　were　heavily　padded　garments。　A　jacket　with　a　dense　foam　outer　layer　under　a　man…made　fabric　that　appeared　to　be　a　lot　tougher　than　leather。　Especially　thick　padding　around　both　arms。　A　pair　of　bulky　chaps　featured　hard　plastic　under　the　padding；　body…armor　quality；　the　plastic　was　segmented　and　hinged　at　the　knees　to　allow　the　wearer　flexibility。　Another　pair　of　chaps　protected　the　backs　of　the　legs　and　came　with　a　hard…plastic　butt　shield；　a　waist　belt；　and　buckles　that　connected　them　to　the　front　chaps。
　Behind　the　garments　were　gloves　and　an　odd　padded　helmet　with　a　clear　Plexiglas　face　shield。　She　also　found　a　vest　that　was　labeled　KEVLAR；　which　looked　exactly　like　the　bulletproof　garments　worn　by　members　of　police　SWAT　teams。
　A　few　small　tears　marred　the　garments…and　in　many　places　other　rips　had　been　sewn　shut　with　black　thread　as　heavy　as　fishing　line。　She　recognized　the　same　neat　stitches　that　she　had　seen　in　the　young　hitchhiker's　lips　and　eyelids。　Here　and　there　in　the　padding　were　unrepaired　punctures。　Tooth　marks。
　This　was　the　protective　gear　that　Vess　wore　when　he　worked　with　the　Dobermans。
　Apparently　he　layered　on　enough　padding　and　armor　to　walk　safely　through　a　pride　of　hungry　lions。　For　a　man　who　liked　to　take　risks；　who　believed　in　living　life　on　the　edge；　he　seemed　to　take　excessive　precautions　when　putting　his　pack　of　Dobermans　through　their　training　sessions。
　Vess's　extraordinary　safeguards　told　Chyna　everything　that　she　needed　to　know　about　the　savagery　of　the　dogs。
　Less　than　twenty…two　hours　since　the　first　cry　in　the　Templeton　house　in　Napa。　A　lifetime。　And　now　toward　another　midnight　and　into　whatever　lay　beyond。
　Two　lamps　were　aglow　in　the　living　room。　Chyna　no　longer　cared　about　keeping　the　house　dark。　As　soon　as　she　went　out　the　front　door　and　confronted　the　dogs；　there　would　be　no　hope　of　lulling　Vess　into　a　false　sense　of　security　if　he　came　home　early。
　According　to　the　mantel　clock；　it　was　ten…thirty。　Ariel　sat　in　one　of　the　armchairs。　She　was　hugging　herself　and　rocking　slowly　back　and　forth；　as　if　suffering　from　a　stomachache；　although　she　made　no　sound　and　remained　expressionless。
　Protective　gear　designed　for　Vess　was　huge　on　Chyna；　and　she　vacillated　between　feeling　ridiculous　and　worrying　that　she　would　be　dangerously　impeded　by　the　bulky　garb。　She　had　rolled　up　the　bottoms　of　the　chaps　and　fixed　them　in　place　with　large　safety　pins　that　she'd　found　in　a　sewing　kit　in　the　laundry　room。　The　belts　of　the　chaps　featured　loops　and　long　Velcro　closures；　so　she　was　able　to　cinch　them　tight　enough　to　keep　them　from　sliding　down　over　her　hips。　The　cuffs　of　the　padded　sleeves　were　folded　back　and　pinned　too；　and　the　Kevlar　vest　helped　to　bulk　her　up；　so　she　wasn't　quite　swimming　in　the　jacket。　She　wore　a　segmented　plastic…armor　collar　that　encircled　her　neck　and　prevented　the　dogs　from　tearing　out　her　throat。　She　couldn't　have　been　more　cumbersomely　dressed　if　she'd　been　cleaning　up　nuclear　waste　in　a　post…meltdown　reactor。
　Nevertheless；　she　was　vulnerable　in　places；　especially　at　her　feet　and　ankles。　Vess's　training　togs　included　a　pair　of　leather　bat　boots　with　steel　toes；　but　they　were　much　too　big　for　her。　As　protection　against　attack　dogs；　her　soft　Rockports　were　hardly　more　effective　than　bedroom　slippers。　In　order　to　get　to　the　motor　home　without　being　severely　bitten；　she　would　have　to　be　quick　and　aggressive。
　She　had　considered　carrying　a　club　of　some　kind。　But　with　her　agility　impaired　by　the　layers　of　protective　gear；　she　couldn't　use　it　effectively　enough　to　hurt　any　of　the　Dobermans　or　even　dissuade　them　from　attacking。
　Instead；　Chyna　was　equipped　with　two　lever…action　spray　bottles　that　she'd　found　in　a　laundry…room　cabinet。　One　had　been　filled　with　a　liquid　glass　cleaner　and　the　other　with　a　spot　remover　for　use　o'Ta　carpets　and　upholstery。　She　had　emptied　both　bottles　into　the　kitchen　sink；　rinsed　them　out；　considered　filling　them　with　bleach；　but　chose　pure　ammonia；　of　which　the　fastidious　Vess；　the　keeper　of　a　spotless　house；　possessed　two　one…quart　containers。　Now　the　plastic　spray　bottles　stood　beside　the　front　door。　The　nozzle　on　each　could　be　adjusted　to　produce　a　spray　or　a　stream；　and　both　were　set　at　STREAM。
　In　the　armchair；　Ariel　continued　to　hug　herself　and　to　rock　back　and　forth　in　silence；　gazing　down　at　the　carpet。
　Although　it　was　unlikely　that　the　catatonic　girl　would　get　up　from　the　chair　and　go　anywhere　on　her　own；　Chyna　said；　〃Now；　you　stay　right　where　you　are；　honey。　Don't　move；　okay？　I'll　be　back　for　you　soon。〃
　Ariel　didn't　reply。
　〃Don't　move。〃
　Chyna's　layers　of　protective　clothing　were　beginning　to　weigh　painfully　on　her　bruised　muscles　and　sore　joints。　Minute　by　minute；　the　disfort　was　going　to　make　her　slower　mentally　and　physically。　She　had　to　act　while　she　was　still　reasonably　sharp。
　She　put　on　the　visored　helmet。　She　had　lined　the　interior　with　a　folded　towel　so　it　wouldn't　sit　loosely　on　her　head；　and　the　chin　strap　helped　to　keep　it　secure。　The　curved　shield　of　Plexiglas　came　two　inches　below　her　chin；　but　the　underside　was　open　to　allow　air　to　flow　in　freely　and　there　were　six　small　holes　across　the　center　of　the　pane　for　additional　ventilation。
　She　stepped　to　one　front　window　and　then　to　the　other；　looking　onto　the　porch；　which　was　visible　in　the　light　that　spilled　out　from　the　living…room　lamps。　There　were　no　Dobermans　in　sight。
　The　yard　beyond　the　porch　was　dark；　and　the　meadow　beyond　the　yard　seemed　as　black　as　the　far　side　of　the　moon。　The　dogs　might　be　standing　out　there；　watching　her　silhouette　in　the　lighted　windows。
　In　fact；　they　might　be　waiting　just　beyond　the　porch　balustrade；　crouched　and　ready　to　spring。
　She　glanced　at　the　clock。　Ten　thirty…eight。
　〃Oh；　God；　1　don't　want　to　do　this；〃　she　murmured。
　Curiously；　she　remembered　a　cocoon　that　she'd　found　when　she　and　her　mother　had　been　staying　with　some　people　in　Pennsylvania　fourteen　or　fifteen　years　before。　The　chrysalis　had　been　hanging　from　a　twig　on　a　birch　tree；　semitransparent　and　backlit　by　a　beam　of　sunlight；　so　she　had　been　able　to　see　the　insect　within。　It　was　a　butterfly　that　had　passed　all　the　way　through　the　pupa　stage；　a　fully　mature　imago。　Its　metamorphosis　ple