sk.dreamcatcher-第105章

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　　　　The　television　is　on；　and　although　the　screen　is　overgrown　with　byrus；　a　ghostly　black…and…white　image　es　straining　through。　A　man　is　dragging　the　corpse　of　a　dog　across　a　concrete　floor。　Dusty　and　strewn　with　dead　autumn　leaves；　it's　like　a　tomb　in　one　of　the　fifties　horror　flicks　Jonesy　still　likes　to　watch　on　his　VCR。　But　this　isn't　a　tomb；　it　is　filled　with　the　hollow　sound　of　rushing　water。
　　　　In　the　center　of　the　floor　there　is　a　rusty　circular　cover　with　MWRA　stamped　on　it：　Massachusetts　Water　Resources　Authority。　Even　through　the　reddish　serum　on　the　TV　screen；　these　letters　stand　out。　Of　course　they　do。　To　Mr　Gray　…　who　died　as　a　physical　being　all　the　way　back　at　Hole　in　the　Wall　…　they　mean　everything。
　　　　They　mean；　quite　literally；　the　world。
　　　　The　shaft…lid　has　been　partly　pushed　aside；　revealing　a　crescent　shape　of　absolute　darkness。　The　man　dragging　the　dog　is　himself；　Jonesy　realizes；　and　the　dog　isn't　quite　dead。　It　is　leaving　a　trail　of　frothy　pink　blood　behind　on　the　concrete；　and　its　back　legs　are　twitching。　Almost　paddling。
　　　　Never　mind　the　movie；　Henry　almost　snarls；　and　Jonesy　turns　his　attention　to　the　figure　in　the　bed；　the　gray　thing　with　the　byrus…speckled　sheet　pulled　up　to　its　chest；　which　is　a　plain　gray　expanse　of　poreless；　hairless；　nippleless　flesh。　Although　he　can't　see　now　because　of　the　sheet；　Jonesy　knows　there　is　no　navel；　either；　because　this　thing　was　never　born。　It　is　a　child's　rendering　of　an　alien；　trolled　directly　from　the　subconscious　minds　of　those　who　first　came　in　contact　with　the　byrum。　They　never　existed　as　actual　creatures；　aliens；　ETs。　The　grays　as　physical　beings　were　always　created　out　of　the　human　imagination；　out　of　the　dreamcatcher；　and　knowing　this　affords　Jonesy　a　measure　of　relief。　He　wasn't　the　only　one　who　got　fooled。　At　least　there　is　that。　　　
　　　　Something　else　pleases　him：　the　look　in　those　horrid　black　eyes。
　　　　It's　fear。


16

'I'm　locked　and　loaded；'　Freddy　said　quietly；　drawing　to　a　stop　behind　the　Humvee　they　had　chased　all　these　miles。
　　　　'Outstanding；'　Kurtz　said。　'Recon　that　HMW。　I'll　cover　you。'　'Right。'　Freddy　looked　at　Perlmutter；　whose　belly　was　swelling　again；　then　at　Owen's　Hummer。　The　reason　for　the　rifle…fire　they'd　heard　earlier　was　clear　now：　the　Hummer　had　been　shot　up　pretty　good。　The　only　question　left　to　be　answered　was　who　had　been　on　the　giving　end　and　who　on　the　receiving。　Tracks　led　away　from　the　Hummer；　growing　indistinct　under　the　rapid　snowfall；　but　for　now　clear　enough　to　read。　A　single　set。　Boots。　Probably　Owen。
　　　　'Go　on　now；　Freddy！'
　　　　Freddy　got　out　into　the　snow。　Kurtz　slid　out　behind　him　and　Freddy　heard　him　rack　the　slide　of　his　personal。　Depending　on　the　nine…millimeter。　Well；　maybe　that　was　all　right；　he　was　good　with　it；　no　question　of　that。
　　　　Freddy　felt　a　momentary　coldness　down　his　spine；　as　if　Kurtz　had　the　nine　leveled　there。　Right　there。　But　that　was　ridiculous；　wasn't　it？　Owen；　yes；　but　Owen　was　different。　Owen　had　crossed　the　line。
　　　　Freddy　hurried　to　the　Hummer；　bent　low；　carbine　held　at　chest　level。　He　didn't　like　having　Kurtz　behind　him；　that　was　undeniable。　No；　he　didn't　like　that　at　all。


17

As　the　two　boys　advance　on　the　overgrown　bed；　Mr　Gray　begins　to　push　the　CALL　button　repeatedly；　but　nothing　happens。　I　think　the　works　must　be　choked　with　byrus；　Jonesy　thinks。　Too　bad；　Mr　Gray　…　too　bad　for　you。　He　glances　up　at　the　TV　and　sees　that　his　film　self　has　gotten　the　dog　to　the　edge　of　the　shaft。　Maybe　they're　too　late　after　all；　maybe　not。　There's　no　way　to　tell。　The　wheel　is　still　spinning。
　　　　Hello；　Mr　Gray；　I've　so　much　wanted　to　meet　you；　Henry　says。　As　he　speaks；　he　removes　the　byrus…splotched　pillow　from　beneath　Mr　Gray's　narrow；　earless　head。　Mr　Gray　tries　to　wriggle　toward　the　other　side　of　the　bed；　but　Jonesy　holds　him　in　place；　grasping　the　alien's　child…thin　arms。　The　skin　in　his　hands　is　neither　hot　nor　cold。　It　doesn't　feel　like　skin　at　all；　not　really。　It　feels　like…
　　　　Like　nothing；　he　thinks。　Like　a　dream。
　　　　Mr　Gray？　Henry　asks。　7his　is　how　we　say　wele　to　Planet　Earth。　And　he　puts　the　pillow　over　Mr　Gray's　face。
　　　　Beneath　Jonesy's　hands；　Mr　Gray　be　ins　to　struggle　and　thrash。　　　　
　　　　Somewhere　a　monitor　begins　to　beep　frantically；　as　if　this　creature　actually　has　a　heart；　and　that　it　has　now　stopped　beating。
　　　　Jonesy　looks　down　at　the　dying　monster　and　wishes　only　for　this　to　be　over。


18

Mr　Gray　got　the　dog　to　the　side　of　the　shaft　he　had　partially　uncovered。　ing　up　through　the　narrow　black　semicircle　was　the　steady　hollow　rush　of　running　water　and　a　waft　of　dank；　cold　air。
　　　　If　it　were　done　when　'tis　done；　then　'twere　well　it　were　done　quickly　…　that　from　a　box　marked　SHAKESPEARE。　The　dog's　rear　legs　were　bicycling　rapidly；　and　Mr　Gray　could　hear　the　wet　sound　of　tearing　flesh　as　the　byrum　thrust　with　one　end　and　chewed　with　the　other；　forcing　itself　out。　Beneath　the　dog's　tail；　the　chattering　had　started；　a　sound　like　an　angry　monkey。　He　had　to　get　it　into　the　shaft　before　it　could　emerge；　it　did　not　absolutely　have　to　be　born　the　water；　but　its　odds　of　survival　would　be　much　higher　if　it　was。
　　　　Mr　Gray　tried　to　shove　the　dog's　head　into　the　gap　between　the　cover　and　the　concrete　and　couldn't　get　it　through。　The　neck　bent　and　the　dog's　senselessly　grinning　snout　twisted　upward。　Although　still　sleeping　（or　perhaps　it　was　now　unconscious）　it　began　to　utter　a　series　of　low；　choked　barks。
　　　　And　it　wouldn't　go　through　the　gap。
　　　　'Fuck　me　Freddy！'　Mr　Gray　screamed。　He　was　barely　aware　of　the　snarling　ache　in　Jonesy's　hip　now；　certainly　not　aware　that　Jonesy's　face　was　strained　and　pale；　the　hazel　eyes　wet　with　tears　of　effort　and　frustration。　He　was　aware　…　terribly　aware　…　that　something　was　going　on。　Going　on　behind　my　back；　Jonesy　would　have　said。　And　who　else　could　it　be？　Who　else　but　Jonesy；　his　reluctant　host？　　　　
　　　　'Fuck　YOU！'　he　screamed　at　the　damned；　hateful；　stubborn；　just…a…little…too…big　dog。　'You're　going　down；　do　you　hear　me？　DO　YOU…'
　　　　The　words　stopped　in　his　throat。　All　at　once　he　couldn't　yell　anymore；　although　he　dearly　wanted　to；　how　he　loved　to　yell；　and　pound　his　fists　on　things　（even　a　dying　pregnant　dog）！　All　at　once　he　couldn't　breathe；　let　alone　yell。　What　was　Jonesy　doing　to　him？
　　　　He　expected　no　answer；　but　one　came　…　a　stranger's　voice；　full　of　cold　rage：　This　is　how　we　say　wele　to　Planet　Earth。


19

The　flailing；　three…fingered　hands　of　the　gray　thing　in　the　hospital　bed　e　up　and　actually　push　the　pillow　aside　for　a　moment。　The　black　eyes　starting　from　the　otherwise　featureless　face　are　frantic　with　fear　and　rage。　It　gasps　for　breath。　Considering　that　it　doesn't　really　exist　at　all　…　not　even　in　Jonesy's　brain；　at　least　as　a　physical　artifact　…　it　is　fighting　furiously　for　its　life。　Henry　cannot　sympathize；　but　he　understands。　It　wants　what　Jonesy　wants；　what　Duddits　wants　。　。　。　what　even　Henry　himself　wants；　for　in　spite　of　all　his　black　thoughts；　has　his　heart　not　gone　on　beating？　Has　his　liver　not　gone　on　washing　his　blood？　Has　his　body　not　gone　on　fighting　its　unseen　wars　against　everything　from　the　mon　cold　to　cancer　to　the　byrus　itself？　The　body　is　either　stupid　or　infinitely　wise；　but　in　either　case　it　is　spared　the　terrible　witchery　of　thought；　it　only　knows　how　to　stand　its　ground　and　fight　until　it　can　fight　no　more。　If　Mr　Gray　was　ever　any　different；　he　is　different　no　longer。　He　wants　to　live。
　　　　But　I　don't　think　you　will；　Henry　says　in　a　voice　that　is　calm；　almost　soothing。　I　don't　think　so；　my　friend。　And　once　more　puts　the　pillow　over　Mr　Gray's　face。


20

Mr　Gray's　airway　opened。　He　got　one　breath　of　the　cold　shaft…house　air　。　。　。　two　。　。　。　and　then　the　airway　closed　up　again。　They　were　smothering　him；　stifling　him；　killing　him。
　　　　No！！　Kiss　my　bender！　Kiss　my　fucking　bender！　YOU　CAN'T　DO　THIS！　　　　
　　　　He　yanked　the　dog　back　and　turned　it　sideways；　it　was　almost　like　watching　a　man　already　late　for　his　plane　trying　to　make　one　last　bulky　article　fit　into　his　suitcase。
　　　　It'li　go　through　this　way；　he　thought。
　　　　Yes。　It　would。　Even　if　he　had　to　collapse　the　dog's　bulging　middle　with　Jonesy's　hands　and　allow　the　byrum　to　squirt　free。　One　way　or　another；　the　damned　thing　would　go　through。　　　　
　　　　Face　swelling；　eyes　bulging；　breath　stopped；　a　single　fat　vein　swelling　in　the　middle　of　Jonesy's　forehead；　Mr　Gray　shoved　Lad　deeper　into　the　crack　and　then　began　to　thump　the　dog's　chest　with　Jonesy's　fists。
　　　　Go　through；　damn　you；　go　through。
　　　　GO　THROUGH！


21

Freddy　Johnson　pointed　his　carbine　inside　the　abandoned　Hummer　while　Kurtz；　stationed　shrewdly　behind　him　（in　that　way　it　was　like　the　attack　on　the　grayboy　ship　all　over　again）；　waited　to　see　what　would　develop。
　　　　'Two　guys；　boss。　Looks　like　Owen　decided　to　put　out　the　trash　before　moving　on。'
　　　　'Dead？'
　　　　'They　look　pretty　dead　to　me。　Got　to　be　Devlin　and　the　other　one；　the　one　they　stopped　for。'　　　　
　　　　Kurtz　joined　Freddy；　took　a　brief　glance　in　through　the　shattered　window；　and　nodded。　They　looked　pretty　dead　to　him；　too；　a　pair　of　white　moles　lying　entwined　in　the　back　seat；　covered　with　blood　and　shattered　glass。　He　raised　his　nine…millimeter　to　make　sure　of　them　one　each　in　the　head　couldn't　hurt　…　then　lowered　it　again。　Owen　might　not　have　heard　their　engine。　The　snow　was　amazingly　heavy　and　wet；　an　acoustical　blanket；　and　that　was　very　possible。　But　he　would　hear　gunshots。　He　turned　toward　the　path　instead。
　　　　'Lead　the　way；　buck；　and　mind　the　footing　…　looks　slippery。　And　we　may　still　have　the　element　of　surprise。　I　think　we　should　bear　that　in　mind；　don't　you？'
　　　　Freddy　nodded。
　　　　Kurtz　smiled。　It　turned　his　face　into　a　skull's　face。　'With　any　luck；　buck；　Owen　Underhill　will　be　in　hell　before　he　even　knows　he's　dead。'


22

The　TV　remote；　a　rectangle　of　black　plastic　covered　with　byrus；　is　lying　on　Mr　Gray's　bedtable。　Jonesy　grabs　it。　In　a　voice　that　sounds　eerily　like　Beaver's；　he　says　'Fuck　this　shit'　and　slams　it　down　as　hard　as　he　can　on　the　table's　edge；　like　a　man　cracking　the　shell　of　a　hardboiled　egg。　The　controller　shatters；　spilling　its　batteries　and　leaving　a　jagged　plastic　wand　in　Jonesy's　hand。　He　reaches　below　the　pillow　Henry　is　holding　over　the　thrashing　thing's　face。　He　hesitates　for　just　a　moment；　remembering　his　first　meeting　with　Mr　Gray　his　only　meeting。　The　bathroom　knob　ing　free　in　his　hand　as　the　rod　snapped。　The　sense　of　darkness　which　was　the　creature's　shadow　falling　over　him。　It　had　been　real　enough　then；　real　as　roses；　real　as　raindrops。　Jonesy　had　turned　and　seen　him。　。　。　it　。　。　。　whatever　Mr　Gray　had　been　before　he　was　Mr　Gray。　。　。　standing　there　in　the　big　central　room。　The　stuff　of　a　hundred　movies　and　'unexplained　mysteries'　documentaries；　only　old。　Old　and　sick。　Ready　even　then　for　this　hospital　bed　in　the　Intensive　Care　Unit。　Marcy；　it　had　said；　plucking　the　word　straight　out　of　Jonesy's　brain。　Pulling　it　like　a　cork。　Making　the　hole　through　which　it　could　enter。　Then　it　had　exploded　like　a　noisemaker　on　New　Year's　Eve；　spraying　byrus　instead　of　confetti；　and　。　。　。
　　　　。　。　。　and　I　imagined　the　rest。　That　was　it；　wasn't　it？　Just　another　case　of　intergalactic　schizophrenia。　Basically；　that　was　it。
　　　　Jonesy！　Henry　shouts。　If　you're　goin