dk.intensity-第56章

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　The　girl　picked　up　her　pace　but　still　seemed　to　be　plodding。　Leaping；　desperate；　to　the　top　of　the　second　flight；　Chyna　said；　'Wuny！〃　Vicious　barking　rose　in　the　stairwell　below。
　Chyna　entered　the　upstairs　hall；　holding　tightly　to　the　girl's　hand。　She　could　hear　the　galloping　thunder　of　ascending　dogs　louder　even　than　her　own　heart。
　To　the　door　on　the　left。　Into　Vess's　bedroom。　She　dragged　Ariel　after　her；　across　the　threshold；　and　slammed　the　door。　There　was　no　lock；　just　the　spring　latch　activated　by　the　knob。
　They're　dogs；　for　God　sake；　just　dogs；　mean　as　hell；　hut　they　can't　operate　a　doorknob。
　A　dog　threw　itself　against　the　door；　which　rattled　in　its　frame　but　seemed　secure。
　Chyna　led　Ariel　to　the　open　window；　where　she　propped　the　mop　against　the　wall。
　Barking；　barking；　the　dogs　clawed　at　the　door。　With　both　hands；　Chyna　clasped　the　girl's　face；　leaned　close；　and　peered　hopefully　into　her　beautiful　blue　but　vacant　eyes。
　〃Honey；　please；　I　need　you　again；　like　I　needed　you　with　the　power　drill　and　the　handcuffs。　I　need　you　a　lot　worse　now；　Ariel；　because　we　don't　have　much　time；　not　much　time　at　all；　and　we're　so　close；　we　really　are；　so　damn　close。〃
　Though　their　eyes　were　at　most　three　inches　apart；　Ariel　seemed　not　to　see　Chyna。
　〃Listen　to　me；　listen；　honey；　wherever　you　are；　wherever　you're　hiding　out　there　in　the　Wild　Wood　or　beyond　the　wardrobe　door　there　in　Narnia…is　that　where　you　are；　baby？　…　or　maybe　Oz；　but　wherever　you　are；　please　listen　to　me　and　do　what　I　tell　you。　We've　got　to　go　out　on　the　porch　roof。　It's　not　steep；　you　can　do　it；　but　you　have　to　be　careful。　I　want　you　to　go　out　the　window　and　then　take　a　couple　of　steps　to　the　left。　Not　to　the　right。　There's　not　much　roof　to　the　right；　you'll　fall　off。　Take　a　couple　steps　to　the　left　and　stop　and　just　wait　there　for　me。　I'll　be　right　behind　you；　just　wait；　and　I'll　take　you　on　from　there。〃
　She　let　go　of　the　girl's　face　and　hugged　her　fiercely；　loving　her　as　she　would　have　loved　a　sister　if　she'd　had　one；　as　she　wished　she　had　been　able　to　love　her　mother；　loving　her　for　what　she　had　been　through；　for　having　suffered　and　survived。
　〃I　am　your　guardian；　honey。　I'm　your　guardian。　Vess　is　never　going　to　touch　you　again；　the　freak；　the　hateful　bastard。　He's　never　going　to　touch　you　again。　I'm　going　to　get　you　out　of　this　stinking　place；　and　away　from　him　forever；　but　you　have　to　work　with　me；　you　have　to　help　and　listen　and　be　careful；　so　careful。〃
　She　let　go　of　the　girl　and　met　her　eyes　again。　Ariel　was　still　Elsewhere。　There　was　no　flicker　of　recognition　as　there　had　been　for　a　split　second　in　the　cellar；　after　the　girl　had　used　the　drill。
　The　barking　had　stopped。　From　the　far　side　of　the　room　came　a　new　and　disturbing　sound。　Not　the　clatter　of　the　door　shaking　in　its　frame。　A　harder　rattling　noise。　Metallic。
　The　knob　was　jiggling　back　and　forth。　One　of　the　dogs　must　be　pawing　industriously　at　it。
　The　door　wasn't　well　fitted。　Chyna　could　see　a　half…inch　gap　between　the　edge　of　it　and　the　jamb。　In　the　gap　was　a　gleam　of　shiny　brass：　the　tongue　of　the　simple　latch。　If　the　latch　was　not　seated　deeply　in　the　jamb；　even　the　dog's　fumbling　might；　by　purest　chance；　spring　it　open。
　〃Wait；〃　she　told　Ariel。
　She　crossed　the　room　and　tried　to　pull　the　dresser　in　front　of　the　door。
　The　dogs　must　have　sensed　that　she'd　drawn　nearer；　because　they　began　barking　again。　The　old　black　iron　knob　rattled　more　furiously　than　before。
　The　dresser　was　heavy。　But　there　was　no　straight…backed　chair　that　she　could　wedge　under　the　knob；　and　the　nightstand　didn't　seem　bulky　enough　to　prevent　the　dogs　from　shoving　the　door　open　if；　in　fact；　the　spring　latch　popped　out　of　the　jamb。
　Heavy　as　it　was；　she　nevertheless　dragged　the　dresser　halfway　across　the　bedroom　door。　That　seemed　good　enough。
　The　Dobermans　were　going　crazy；　barking　more　ferociously　than　ever；　as　if　they　knew　that　she　had　foiled　them。　When　Chyna　turned　to　Ariel　again；　the　girl　was　gone。　〃No。〃
　Panicked；　she　ran　to　the　window　and　looked　outside。　Radiant　in　moonlight；　hair　silver　now　instead　of　blond；　Ariel　waited　on　the　porch　roof　exactly　two　short　steps　to　the　left　of　the　window；　where　she'd　been　told　to　go。　Her　back　was　pressed　to　the　log　wall。　of　the　house；　and　she　was　staring　at　the　sky；　though　she　was　probably　still　focused　on　something　infinitely　farther　away　than　mere　stars。
　Chyna　pushed　the　sponge　mop　onto　the　roof　and　then　went　out　through　the　window　while　the　infuriated　Dobermans　raged　in　the　house　behind　her。
　Outside；　blinded　dogs　were　no　longer　wailing　miserably　in　the　distance。
　Chyna　reached　for　the　girl。　Ariel's　hand　was　not　stiff　and　clawlike　as　it　had　been　before。　It　was　still　cold　but　now　limp。　〃That　was　good；　honey；　that　was　good。　You　did　just　what　I　said。　But　always　wait　for　me；　okay？　Stay　with　me。〃
　She　picked　up　the　mop　with　her　free　hand　and　led　Ariel　to　the　edge　of　the　porch　roof　The　gap　between　them　and　the　motor　home　was　less　than　a　foot　wide；　but　it　was　potentially　dangerous　for　someone　in　Ariel's　condition。　〃Let's　step　across　together。　Okay；　honey？〃
　Ariel　was　still　gazing　at　the　sky。　In　her　eyes　were　cataracts　of　moonlight　that　made　her　look　like　a　milky…eyed　corpse。
　Chilled　as　if　the　dead　moonlight　eyes　were　an　omen；　Chyna　let　go　of　her　panion's　hand　and　gently　forced　her　to　tilt　her　head　down　until　she　was　looking　at　the　gap　between　the　porch　roof　and　the　motor　home。　〃Together。　Here；　give　me　your　hand。　Be　careful　to　step　across。　It's　not　wide；　you　don't　even　have　to　jump　it；　no　strain。　But　if　you　step　into　it；　you　might　fall　through　to　the　ground；　where　the　dogs　could　get　you。　And　even　if　you　don't　fall　through；　you're　sure　to　be　hurt。〃
　Chyna　stepped　across；　but　Ariel　didn't　follow。　Turning　to　the　girl；　still　holding　her　slack　hand；　Chyna　tugged　gy；ently。　〃e　on；　baby；　let's　go；　let's　get　out　of　here。　We'll　turn　him　in　to　the　cops；　and　he'll　never　be　able　to　hurt　anybody　again；　not　ever；　not　you　or　me　or　anyone。〃
　After　a　hesitation；　Ariel　stepped　across　the　gap　onto　the　roof　of　the　motor　home…and　slipped　on　the　dew…wet　metal。　Chyna　dropped　the　mop；　grabbed　the　girl；　and　kept　her　from　falling。　〃Almost　there；　baby。〃
　She　picked　up　the　mop　again　and　led　Ariel　to　the　open　skylight；　where　she　encouraged　her　to　kneel。
　〃That's　good。　Now　wait。　Almost　there。〃
　Chyna　stretched　out　on　her　stomach；　leaned　into　the　skylight；　and　used　the　mop　to　push　the　stepstool　toward　the　back　of　the　hall　and　out　of　the　way。　Dropping　down　onto　it；　one　of　them　might　have　broken　a　leg。
　They　were　so　close　to　escape。　They　couldn't　take　any　chances。　Chyna　got　to　her　feet　and　threw　the　mop　into　the　yard。
　Bending　down；　putting　one　hand　on　the　girl's　shoulder；　she　said；　〃Okay；　now　slide　along　here　and　put　your　legs　through　the　skylight。　e　on；　honey。　Sit　on　the　edge；　watch　the　sharp　pieces　of　plastic；　yeah；　that's　it；　let　your　legs　dangle。　Okay；　now　just　drop　to　the　floor　inside；　and　then　go　forward。　Okay？　Do　you　understand？　Go　forward　toward　the　cockpit；　honey；　so　I　won't　fall　on　you　when　I　e　through。〃
　Chyna　gave　the　girl　a　gentle　push；　which　was　all　she　required。　Ariel　dropped　into　the　motor　home；　landed　on　her　feet；　stumbled　on　the　hammer　that　Chyna　had　discarded　earlier；　and　put　one　hand　against　the　wall　to　steady　herself。
　〃Go　forward；〃　Chyna　urged。
　Behind　her；　a　second…story　window　shattered　onto　the　porch　roof。　One　of　the　two　study　windows。　The　door　to　Vess's　office　had　not　been　closed；　and　the　dogs　had　gotten　into　it　from　the　upstairs　hall　after　the　bedroom　door　had　frustrated　them。
　She　turned　and　saw　a　Doberman　ing　straight　at　her　across　the　roof；　leaping　toward　her　with　such　velocity　that；　when　it　hit　her；　it　would　carry　her　off　the　top　of　the　motor　home　and　into　the　yard。
　She　twisted　aside；　but　the　dog　was　a　lot　quicker　than　she　was；　correcting　its　trajectory　even　as　it　bounded　onto　the　vehicle。　When　it　landed；　however；　it　slipped　on　the　dewy　surface；　skidded；　claws　screeching　on　the　metal；　and　to　Chyna's　astonishment；　it　tumbled　past　her；　slid　off　the　roof；　and　left　her　untouched。
　Howling；　the　dog　fell　into　the　yard；　squealed　when　it　hit　the　ground；　and　tried　to　scramble　to　its　feet。　Something　was　wrong　with　its　hindquarters。　It　couldn't　stand　up。　Perhaps　it　had　broken　its　pelvis。　It　was　in　pain　but　still　so　furious　that　it　remained　focused　on　Chyna　rather　than　itself。　The　dog　sat　barking　up　at　her；　its　hind　legs　twisted　to　one　side　at　an　unnatural　angle。
　Not　barking；　wary　and　watchful；　the　other　Doberman　also　had　e　through　the　broken　study　window　onto　the　porch　roof。　This　was　the　one　that　she'd　squirted　twice　with　ammonia；　hitting　the　muzzle　both　times；　for　even　now　it　shook　its　head　and　snorted　as　if　plagued　by　lingering　fumes。　It　had　learned　to　respect　her；　and　it　wasn't　going　to　rush　at　her　as　rashly　as　the　other　dog　had　done。
　Sooner　or　later；　of　course；　it　would　realize　that　she　no　longer　had　the　spray　bottle；　that　she　was　holding　nothing　that　might　be　used　as　a　weapon。　Then　it　would　regain　its　courage。
　What　to　do？
　She　wished　that　she　hadn't　thrown　the　sponge　mop　into　the　yard。　She　could　have　jabbed　at　the　Doberman　with　the　wooden　handle　when　it　attacked。　She　might　even　have　been　able　to　hurt　it　if　she　poked　hard　enough。　But　the　mop　was　beyond　reach。
　Think。　Instead　of　approaching　her　across　the　porch　roof；　the　Doberman　slunk　along　the　front　wall　of　the　house；　its　shoulders　hunched　and　its　head　low；　away　from　her　but　glancing　back。　It　reached　the　open　window　of　Vess's　bedroom；　and　then　it　slowly　returned；　alternately　looking　down　at　the　shards　of　moonlight…silvered　glass　among　which　it　carefully　placed　its　feet　and　glaring　at　her　from　under　its　brow。
　Chyna　tried　to　think　of　something　in　the　motor　home　that　could　be　used　as　a　weapon。　The　girl　could　pass　it　up　to　her。
　She　said　softly；　〃Ariel。〃　The　dog　halted　at　the　sound　of　her　voice。　〃Ariel。〃　But　the　girl　didn't　reply。　Hopeless。　Ariel　could　not　be　coaxed　into　action　fast　enough　to　be　of　any　help。
　When　finally　the　Doberman　attacked；　Chyna　wouldn't　be　lucky　again；　either。　This　one　would　not　hurtle　across　the　porch　roof　and　slide　off　the　motor　home　without　getting　its　teeth　in　her。　When　it　leaped　at　her；　she　would　have　nothing　to　fight　with　except　her　bare　hands。
　The　dog　stopped　pacing。　It　raised　its　tapered　black　head　and　stared　at　her；　ears　pricked；　panting。
　Chyna's　mind　raced。　She　had　never　before　been　able　to　think　quite　this　clearly　and　quickly。
　Although　loath　to　take　her　eyes　off　the　Doberman；　she　glanced　down　through　the　skylight。
　Ariel　was　not　in　the　short　hallway　below。　She'd　gone　forward　as　she'd　been　instructed。　Good　girl。
　The　dog　was　no　longer　panting。　It　stood　rigid　and　vigilant。　As　Chyna　watched；　its　ears　twitched　and　then　flattened　against　its　skull。
　Chyna　said；　〃Screw　it；〃　and　she　jumped　through　the　broken…out　skylight　into　the　motor　home。　Pain　exploded　through　her　bitten　foot。
　The　stepstool；　which　she　had　pushed　aside　with　the　sponge　mop；　was　against　the　closed　bedroom　door。　She　grabbed　it　and　dragged　it　forward；　out　from　under　the　skylight。
　Paws　thumped　on　the　metal　roof。
　Chyna　snatched　the　hammer　from　the　floor　and　slipped　the　handle　under　the　waistband　of　her　blue　jeans。　Even　through　her　red　cotton　sweater；