gns.throwback-第22章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　
　　'No；'　he　snapped；　pointed　at　the　Winder　farm　insistently。　'We　can　go　there。　That　is　my　home。'
　　
　　She　didn't　understand；　was　being　frantic；　pulling　at　his　arm；　making　little　grunting　noises。　We　must　hurry。
　　
　　And　that　was　when　he　hit　her。　A　stinging　slap　across　the　face　that　jerked　her　head　sideways；　brought　a　yelp　of　shock　and　pain　from　her　lips。　Anger　had　him　yelling；　'That's　my　bloody　home　down　there　and　if　I　want　to　go　back　I　will　and　you　can　go　your　own　way。1　I　don't　want　to　go　home；　I　walked　out　because　of　what　happened　there；　but　since　I　found　out　about　the　outside　world　I'm　running　back。　To　hide。　To　die。
　　
　　Guilt　and　remorse　came　fast　on　the　heels　of　his　unleashed　fury。　'Oh　Christ；　I'm　sorry；　I　didn't　mean　to　hit　you。'　I　did；　I　just　wish　I　hadn't。
　　
　　He　saw　the　tears　in　her　eyes；　the　way　her　body　trembled。　
　　
　　She　was　trying　to　cry　but　it　didn't　e　easy　because　out　here　crying　was　a　weakness　that　your　own　kind　took　advantage　of。　If　only　he　could　made　her　understand；　point　down　there　to　that　farmhouse；　tap　your　chest。　My　home。　It　might　get　through。
　　
　　He　didn't　need　to　because　her　hand　had　found　his　again；　a　squeeze　this　time　instead　of　an　insistent　tug。　I'm　sorry；　it　was　not　my　place　to　protest　against　your　will　because　you　are　now　my　man。
　　
　　It　was　settled　then　and　he　knew　that　she　would　follow　him　down　the　Hill。
　　
　　He　had　to　keep　reminding　himself　that　it　was　only　yesterday　that　he　had　left　the　farm。　It　seemed　an　age；　like　returning　home　for　the　summer　vacation；　wondering　what　had　changed　in　his　absence。
　　
　　Jackie's　grip　tightened　on　his　arm　but　she　wasn't　trying　to　dissuade　him　from　going　into　the　house；　only　showing　her　own　fear　of　an　unfamiliar　dwelling…place。　He　saw　her　amazement　at　things　like　doors　and　windows；　the　smoothness　of　the　stonework　on　the　walls。　Starting　in　alarm　as　the　latch　clicked；　clinging　to　him　like　a　child。
　　
　　Phil　glanced　around；　thought　perhaps　his　mother　and　father　might　have　returned。　But　they　hadn't。　Once　you　turned　feral　you　didn't　e　back。
　　
　　Jackie　stood　there　watching　him　as　he　went　to　the　kitchen　cupboard；　reached　down　a　can　of　beans　and　a　small　square　tin　of　corned　beef；　began　to　open　them。　He　filled　the　kettle；　discovered　to　his　relief　that　there　was　still　power　ing　from　the　generator。　Jackie　backed　away　a　step　as　the　kettle　began　an　increasing　hum　up　towards　the　boil。　He　gave　a　little　laugh；　the　first　time　he　had　seen　the　funny　side　of　all　this　since　he　had　e　up　from　the　mine。　How　the　fuck　do　you　explain　coffee　to　an　Ancient　Brit？
　　
　　His　first　task　was　to　work　at　putting　her　at　her　ease。　After　they　had　eaten　he　would　look　out　some　clothes　for　himself；　he　didn't　need　them　but　it　would　boost　his　morale。　Then　they　would　need　to　rest。　He　had　not　slept　for　thirty…six　hours　and　he　doubted　if　she　had　either。
　　
　　Once　again　his　inhibitions　surfaced。　Where　and　how　were　they　going　to　sleep？　There　were　three　bedrooms　upstairs；　his　own；　his　parents'；　and　the　spare　room　which　was　full　of　lumber。　He　didn't　want　to　sleep　in　his　parents'　because　。　。　。　well；　not　after　that；　certainly。　His　own　then；　just　a　single　bed。
　　
　　'We'd　better　get　some　sleep。'　He　closed　his　eyes；　made　a　pillow　out　of　his　pressed　hands。
　　
　　She　nodded；　took　his　arm　again。　Where　you　go；　I　go。
　　
　　New　fears　troubled　him　as　they　mounted　the　stairs；　Jackie　viewing　her　surroundings　with　undisguised　awe。　They　were　going　to　share　a　bed；　his　own　single　bed；　which　meant　that　they　would　be　crushed　up　tightly　together。　He　should　have　been　aroused；　mankind's　strongest　urge　taking　over。　Instead；　his　stomach　rolled　and　he　felt　sick；　perhaps　she　was　aware　of　his　trembling；　misinterpreted　it　for　eagerness。
　　
　　Phil　Winder　had　often　wondered　if　he　was　gay。　No；　not　really；　he　just　had　a　very　low　sex　drive；　and　he　was　naturally　shy　of　girls。　He　had　had　only　one　real　date　in　his　life；　Julie　who　worked　in　the　cafe　at　Pontypridd；　the　one　that　most　of　the　students　used。　It　had　taken　him　six　weeks　before　he　had　been　able　to　stammer　out　a　request　to　take　her　out　and　it　had　been　a　real　shock　to　him　when　she　had　nodded　her　assent　and　replied；　'Yes；　that　would　be　nice。'
　　
　　Christ；　it　had　to　be　his　biggest　anti…climax；　an　evening　of　embarrassment　and　overwhelming　inhibitions。　He　hadn't　even　kissed　her　goodnight；　knew　she　didn't　want　to　see　him　again；　knew　it　would　happen　again　with　any　girl　he　dated。　Later　he　got　an　erection　but　it　was　too　late　then。
　　
　　Maybe　he　wasn't　exactly　gay；　just　bi…sexual。　He　hadn't　had　a　homosexual　relationship　as　such；　just　little　things　that　had　happened　between　himself　and　Hugh　during　the　time　they　had　shared　digs。　Two　of　a　kind　really；　and　there　had　to　be　an　outlet　for　their　frustrations　somewhere。
　　
　　It　was　Hugh　who　had　begun　it；　and　looking　back　it　seemed　relatively　harmless。　Or　was　it？　Was　it　just　the　beginning　of　something　which　had　never　had　the　opportunity　to　e　to　fruition？　The　most　thrilling　moment　of　his　life　had　been　that　night　when　he　had　been　disturbed　from　a　doze　by　Hugh　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　bed。　Phil　knew　even　before　the　other's　hand　began　to　creep　beneath　the　sheets　exactly　what　was　going　to　happen。　A　moment　of　electrification　and　this　time　there　was　no　embarrassment；　no　inhibitions　because　he　knew　Hugh　felt　the　same　way。
　　
　　It　had　never　ever　gone　further　than　gentle　mutual　masturbation；　had　lasted　for　over　a　year　until　Hugh　graduated。　Then　Phil's　loneliness　came　seeping　back。　Now　he　had　a　woman　and　his　fears　were　beginning　all　over　again。
　　
　　'I'm　Phil。'　He　tapped　his　bare　chest；　wished　that　he　could　keep　her　eyes　elevated。　'Phil。　。　。　Phil　。　。　。'　'Jac；'　she　smiled。
　　
　　He　wondered　why　they　had　not　got　around　to　introductions　before。　It　was　the　situation；　of　course。　Names　counted　for　nothing　in　a　primitive　classless　society。
　　
　　She　crossed　to　the　bed；　lowered　herself　on　to　it；　stretched　herself　out；　eyes　closed；　legs　slightly　apart。　Oh　Christ；　now　it's　me　who's　doing　the　looking；　he　thought；　let　his　gaze　sweep　over　her；　e　to　rest　on　that　slit　of　pink　soft　flesh。　I'd　better　look　out　some　clothes；　some　pyjamas　maybe。
　　
　　Her　eyes　flickered　open；　caught　him　staring　at　her；　smiled　softly。　She　had　no　inhibitions；　only　civilisation　bred　inhibitions。　Society　was　gone；　it　was　back　to　the　basics　now。　He　didn't　need　clothes　because　it　was　stifling　hot　in　here。　Right　now　they　didn't　need　anything　except　each　other。
　　
　　It　was　fully　dark　when　Phil　Winder　awoke；　lay　there　and　let　everything　e　back　to　him　in　its　own　time。　His　parents；　his　capture　and　escape；　the　flight　。　。　。　Jac！　He　could　hear　her　faint　breathing；　felt　the　warmth　of　her　naked　body　against　his　own。　So　forting。
　　
　　Euphoria　because　they　had　made　love。　She　had　clung　to　him；　wanted　him；　and　now　they　were　together。　He　did　not　ever　want　things　to　change　and　spoil　all　this。　He　didn't　want　his　parents　to　e　back；　they　wouldn't；　he　knew　that。　They　might　even　be　dead　and　he　wasn't　a　bit　sorry　because　they　had　made　him　like　he　was；　given　him　a　sheltered　upbringing　in　every　respect。　They　had　sent　him　to　a　private　school；　not　for　his　benefit　but　as　a　boost　to　their　own　status；　wealthy　farmers　who　bought　only　the　best　in　life　for　themselves　and　their　only　son。　Bullshit！　They　scraped　a　living；　spent　their　money　on　building　up　a　facade　for　the　benefit　of　this　scattered　munity；　went　without　a　lot　of　things　that　ordinary　folks　took　for　granted。　And　this　is　what　they　had　done　to　him。　God；　he　hated　them　for　it；　but　he'd　had　the　last　laugh。　This　place　was　his　now；　every　damned　piece　of　stone；　every　field；　every　item　of　machinery。　No　bloody　good　to　him　but　it　was　his　and　he　still　had　his　mind　and　body　intact　which　was　more　than　either　of　them　had。　It　was　bloody　funny。　He　laughed　to　himself　at　the　memory　of　his　parents　as　he　had　last　seen　them；　two　mindless　wretches　fleeing　from　their　own　son　because　he　was　the　Master　Species　and　they　knew　it。　He　hoped　they　were　dead；　it　would　be　better　for　them　and　for　himself。　That　way　a　lot　of　problems　were　solved。
　　
　　That　just　left　himself　and　the　girl　who　called　herself　Jac。　They　would　live　on　here；　build　their　own　life；　cut　themselves　off　from　the　rest　of　the　world　and　the　remnants　of　its　festering　existence。　Keep　away；　we　don't　need　you。
　　
　　Phil's　euphoria　took　a　nosedive。　It　wouldn't　be　quite　as　easy　as　that　because　he　and　Jac　were　the　hunted；　fugitives　on　the　run。　He　had　stolen　another　man's　woman；　enraged　those　awful　creatures　in　human　shape　and　they　would　track　him　down。　They　wouldn't　give　up。
　　
　　Phil　Winder's　sweat　chilled　on　his　body　at　the　thought。　If　they　found　him　it　would　be　a　fight　to　the　death。　But　he　and　Jac　could　not　keep　on　running　for　ever。
　　
　　Up　in　the　hills　the　wild　dogs　were　howling　again。　They；　too；　scented　death　in　the　sultry　night　air。
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　　
　　ERIC　ATKINSON　had　never　been　the　gregarious　type；　as　he　had　frequently　sought　to　impress　upon　Sylvia。　He　didn't　like　parties；　dancing；　mixing　with　people。　And　even　in　this　reversion　to　his　most　basic　existence　this　trait　had　not　changed。　He　and　Marlene　had　fled　the　town；　headed　for　wild　open　countryside。　On　the　way　others　had　joined　them；　a　mass　exodus；　but　he　had　never　envisaged　it　being　this　way　once　they　arrived　at　wherever　they　were　going。　Safety　in　numbers　now　but　later　they　would　all　split　up。
　　
　　He　did　not　like　munity　life；　it　was　in　contrast　to　his　nature。　A　dwelling…place　somewhere　for　himself　and　Marlene；　away　from　the　others。　But　suddenly　they　were　caught　up　in　village　life；　expected　to　play　their　part。　You　built　houses；　hunted　game；　fished　the　river。
　　
　　He　told　Marlene　that　they　should　be　moving　on；　was　both　surprised　and　angered　by　her　reluctance。　She　liked　it　here》　she　wanted　to　stay。　The　other　men　liked　her；　too；　and　that　worried　him。　But　there　was　something　else　disturbing　him；　too。　It　came　and　went　and　once　it　was　gone　his　limited　power　of　reasoning　was　unable　to　recall　it；　creating　an　unease　which　unsettled　him；　made　him　moody；　truly　the　brooding　loner。
　　
　　But　whilst　the　feeling　lasted　it　was　veFy　strong。　Up　until　now　it　had　always　e　upon　him　at　night；　waking　him　out　of　the　deepest　slumber；　already　fully　aroused　but　Marlene　by　his　side　was　ignored。　Sliding　out　of　the　bed　they　shared；　a　naked　hairy　being　that　smoothed　his　hands　over　his　own　body；　felt　the　pulsing　that　drove　him　like　pistons　hammering　inside　him。　Alert；　sleep　forgotten；　going　outside　and　sniffing　the　night　air　with　dilated。nostrils。　He　smelled　her；　oh　how　he　smelled　her；　her　musky　scent　wafted　to　him　on　the　breeze；　filling　him　with　a　desire　that　transcended　lust；　the　dog　scenting　a　bitch　on　heat；　two　or　three　miles　away；　maybe　even　further。　Inexplicable　but　pelling；　a　calling　stronger　than　anything　else　that　the　forces　of　Nature　could　engender。　One　mate　and　one　mate　alone　that　mattered；　and　it　was　not　Marlene。
　　
　　The　first　time　he　had　followed　the　scent；　left　the　settlement　and　keeping　the　wind　in　his　face　had　gone　where　it　led。　Steep　and　treacherous　slopes；　forced　to　travel　on　hands　and　knees　in　places；　wanting　to　answer　the　call　but　not　knowing　whom　or　where；　only　that　it　was　intended　for　him　and　n