p&c.thunderhead-第69章

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　Sloane　raised　the　gun　in　her　direction；　then　lowered　it　again。　Nora　had　not　approached　the　tent；　after　all。　So　what　had　she　shot？　
　As　she　slowly　circled　the　camp　with　her　light；　something　resolved　itself　against　the　farthest　row　of　tents。　Sloane　staggered　in　disbelief。　
　The　cold　light　had　fallen　across　a　terrifying　apparition。　It　stood；　humped　and　ragged；　staring　silently　back　at　her。　Red　eyes　bored　like　dots　of　fire　through　holes　cut　into　a　buckskin　mask。　Wild　painted　designs　of　white　along　the　legs　and　arms　were　spattered　crimson　with　blood。　Its　pelt　steamed　in　the　humid　air。　
　Instinctively；　Sloane　took　a　step　backward；　panic　and　disbelief　struggling　within　her。　This　was　what　she　had　shot。　She　could　see　the　great　wound　in　its　midriff；　the　blood　shining　black　in　the　moonlight。　And　yet　it　remained　standing。　More　than　that：　as　its　chest　heaved　slowly；　she　could　see　that　it　was　very　much　alive。　
　Though　the　revelation　took　only　a　split　second；　to　Sloane　it　seemed　as　if　time　had　e　to　a　standstill。　She　could　hear　her　heart　beating　a　frantic　cadence　in　her　ribs。　
　And　then；　with　terrifying；　deliberate　malevolence；　the　creature　took　a　step　toward　her。　
　Instantly；　panic　took　over。　Dropping　the　flashlight；　Sloane　wheeled　and　ran。　For　a　moment；　the　kiva；　the　flood；　everything　was　forgotten　in　her　desire　to　escape　this　monstrous　vision。　This　was　the　thing　that　massacred　the　horses；　desecrated　Holroyd's　body　。　。　。　then　she　thought　of　Swire　and　Bonarotti；　and　suddenly　her　legs　were　churning　even　faster；　the　night　air　tearing　in　and　out　of　her　lungs。　
　Now　she　could　barely　make　out　Nora；　climbing　toward　the　city。　Desperately；　Sloane　veered　to　follow；　keeping　her　eyes　locked　on　the　ladder；　running　with　reckless　abandon；　trying　with　all　the　power　of　her　will　to　ignore　the　awful；　low；　flapping　sounds　of　the　pelted　thing　as　it　came　racing　up　the　darkness　behind　her。　
　
　
65
　
　NORA　HEAVED　HERSELF　OVER　THE　RIM；　scrambled　to　her　feet；　and　sprinted　away　from　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　Vaulting　over　the　retaining　wall；　she　dashed　across　the　central　plaza　into　the　deeper　darkness　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　roomblocks。　
　She　came　to　a　stop；　leaning　against　a　wall；　sobbing；　sides　heaving。　As　if　from　a　great　distance；　she　heard　the　steady　beating　of　rain。　She　paid　it　no　heed。　A　single；　fleeting　image　was　burned　into　her　mind：　Sloane；　standing　outside　the　door　to　Smithback's　tent　after　the　sound　of　that　terrible　shot。　She　had　found　Bill；　and　killed　him。　For　a　moment；　the　pain　and　despair　were　so　overwhelming　that　Nora　considered　simply　walking　out　into　the　plaza　and　letting　Sloane　gun　her　down。　
　A　peal　of　thunder　boomed；　echoing　again　and　again　beneath　the　vast　dome。　Just　being　in　the　city　made　her　feel　sick。　Her　gaze　traveled　first　to　the　far　wall　of　the　plaza；　then　back　toward　the　roomblocks　and　the　granaries。　There；　black　upon　black；　yawned　the　maw　of　the　Crawlspace。　She　flitted　toward　the　rear　of　the　plaza；　careful　not　to　raise　any　dust。　Perhaps　she　could　lure　Sloane　inside　the　Crawlspace；　then　ambush　her；　take　the　gun　。　。　。　
　She　pulled　up　short；　breathing　hard。　This　was　stupid；　she　was　panicking；　making　bad　decisions。　Not　only　was　the　Crawlspace　a　potentially　deadly　bottleneck；　it　was　loaded　with　fungal　dust。　
　There　was　a　fresh　slash　of　lightning；　and　she　turned　back　to　see　Sloane　scramble　over　the　top　of　the　rope　ladder；　pistol　in　hand。　
　〃Nora！〃　she　heard　Sloane　call　out　wildly。　〃Nora；　for　God's　sake；　wait！〃　
　Nora　wheeled；　diving　away　from　the　plaza；　back　toward　the　curved　rear　wall　of　the　city。　
　Another　tongue　of　lightning　ripped　the　distant　landscape；　briefly　illuminating　the　ancient　city　in　indigo　chiaroscuro。　A　second　later；　there　was　a　crack　of　thunder；　followed　almost　immediately　by　a　second　sound；　shockingly　loud　in　the　close　confines：　the　sound　of　gunfire。　
　Keeping　to　the　darkest　shadows；　moving　as　swiftly　as　she　dared；　Nora　crept　along　the　stone　wall　toward　the　old　midden　heap。　Careful　not　to　trip　over　Black's　tarps；　she　moved　along　the　edge　of　the　city；　approaching　the　dark　bulk　of　the　first　tower。　
　The　sound　of　running　footsteps　rang　out　against　stone。　Nora　shrank　quickly　behind　the　pole　ladder　propped　against　the　tower；　trying　to　make　herself　as　inconspicuous　as　possible。　In　the　darkness；　it　was　impossible　to　tell　where　the　footsteps　had　e　from。　She　needed　time　to　think；　to　determine　a　plan　of　action。　Now　that　Sloane　was　in　the　city；　perhaps　there　was　a　way　for　her　to　sneak　back　to　the　ladder；　descend　into　the　valley；　get　Smithback；　and　。　。　。　
　Footsteps　again；　much　louder　now；　gasping　breath；　and　then；　ing　around　from　the　front　side　of　the　tower；　was　Sloane。　
　Nora　glanced　around　in　fresh　desperation：　the　midden　heap；　the　back　alley　leading　to　the　Crawlspace；　the　benchland　trail　that　led　out　to　the　narrow　circuit　above　the　valley。　Every　one　was　a　dead　end。　There　was　nowhere　left　to　run。　Slowly；　she　turned　back　toward　Sloane；　steeling　herself　for　the　inevitable：　the　roar　of　the　gun；　the　sudden　lance　of　pain。　
　But　Sloane　was　crouched　at　the　base　of　the　tower；　peering　cautiously　around　its　front　edge。　Her　left　hand　was　clenched　against　her　heaving　chest；　her　gun　hand　was　pointed；　not　at　Nora；　but　out　into　the　darkness　of　the　plaza。　
　〃Nora；　listen；〃　Sloane　gasped　over　her　shoulder。　〃There's　something　after　us。〃　
　〃Something？〃　Nora　echoed。　
　〃Something　horrible。〃　
　Nora　stared　at　Sloane。　What　kind　of　a　trick　is　this？　she　wondered。　
　Sloane　remained　crouched；　gun　pointed　out　into　the　plaza。　She　glanced　back　at　Nora　for　a　moment；　and　even　in　the　darkness　Nora　could　see　fear；　disbelief；　nascent　panic　in　the　almond　eyes。　
　〃For　God's　sake；　watch　behind　us！〃　Sloane　begged；　returning　her　own　gaze　to　the　plaza。　
　Nora　looked　quickly　back　down　the　direction　from　which　she'd　run。　Her　mouth　had　gone　dry。　
　〃Listen；　Nora；　please；〃　she　heard　Sloane　whisper；　struggling　to　get　her　breathing　under　control。　〃Swire　and　Bonarotti　have　disappeared。　I　think　we're　the　only　ones　left。　And　now；　it's　after　us。〃　
　〃What's　after　us？〃　Nora　asked。　But　even　as　she　phrased　the　question；　she　realized　she　already　knew　the　answer。　
　〃If　we　separate；　we're　dead；〃　Sloane　said。　〃The　only　chance　we　have　is　to　stick　together。〃　
　Nora　stared　out　into　the　darkness；　past　the　midden　heap；　toward　the　granaries　and　the　hidden　maw　of　the　Crawlspace。　She　struggled　to　keep　the　panic　from　clamping　down　and　freezing　her　limbs。　The　woman　at　her　back；　she　knew；　had　brought　tragedy　to　the　expedition；　caused　Aragon's　death；　murdered　Smithback　in　cold　blood。　But　right　now；　she　could　not　afford　to　think　about　that。　Now；　she　could　think　only　of　the　dreadful　apparition　that；　at　any　moment；　could　e　scuttling　toward　her　out　of　the　black。　
　The　city　was　full　of　recesses　in　which　they　could　hide。　But　hiding　in　the　dark　was　not　the　answer。　It　would　be　just　a　matter　of　time　until　the　skinwalker　tracked　them　down。　What　they　needed　was　some　defensible　place　where　they　could　hold　out　for　at　least　a　while。　Daybreak　might　afford　a　fresh　set　of　options。　。　。　。　
　In　that　instant；　she　realized　that　there　was　nowhere　to　go。　Nowhere；　except　up。　
　〃The　tower；〃　she　said。　
　Sloane　turned　quickly　to　her。　The　question　in　her　eyes　disappeared　as　she　followed　Nora's　gaze　toward　the　structure　that　reared　above　them。　
　Grasping　the　pole　ladder；　Nora　scrambled　up　to　the　small　second…story　rooftop。　Sloane　followed；　kicking　the　ladder　away　behind　her。　They　dashed　through　the　low　crumbling　doorway　and　into　the　enfolding　darkness　of　the　great　tower。　
　Nora　paused　within；　digging　out　her　flashlight　and　shining　it　into　the　rectangle　of　darkness　above　them。　The　sight　was　terrifying：　a　series　of　rickety　pole　ladders；　balanced　on　ledges　of　projecting　stone；　rising　into　the　darkness。　To　climb；　she　would　have　to　place　one　foot　on　a　series　of　projecting　stones　that　ascended　the　inside　wall；　and　the　other　foot　on　the　notches　of　the　poles。　There　were　three　series　of　ladders；　one　above　the　other；　separated　by　the　narrow　stone　shelves　that　ran　around　the　inner　walls　of　the　tower。　It　had　been　deliberately　designed　to　be　the　most　precarious　climb　possible。　
　On　the　other　hand；　if　they　could　just　reach　the　redoubt　at　the　top；　they　might　be　able　to　hold　the　skinwalker　off。　The　Anasazi　had　built　this　tower　for　a　single　purpose：　defense。　Sloane　had　a　gun。　And　they　might　even　find　a　cache　of　stones　at　the　top　that　could　be　lobbed　down　into　the　tower。　
　〃Go　on！〃　Sloane　whispered　urgently。　
　Nora　checked　her　flashlight。　Its　beam　was　growing　feeble。　But　she　had　no　choice：　they　could　not　make　the　climb　in　total　darkness。　Sliding　the　lit　flashlight　into　her　shirt　pocket；　she　reached　for　the　first　pole；　testing　its　sturdiness。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　she　placed　a　foot　in　the　first　notch。　Her　other　foot　went　on　the　first　small　stump　of　rock；　projecting　from　the　tower　wall　across　from　the　notch。　She　hoisted　herself　up；　spreadeagled　over　open　space。　She　climbed　as　fast　as　she　dared；　trying　not　to　think　of　the　swaying　of　the　pole　under　her　weight；　creaking　with　dry　rot　and　shedding　powdered　wood。　Sloane　followed　behind；　her　frantic　climbing　shaking　the　brittle　structure　still　further。　
　Reaching　the　first　platform；　Nora　stopped　to　catch　her　breath。　As　she　crouched；　gasping；　she　heard　a　faint　clatter　from　outside　the　tower：　the　sound　of　a　pole　ladder　being　thrust　up　against　adobe　walls。　
　Instantly；　Nora　leaped　for　the　second　pole；　Sloane　following。　She　scrambled　upward；　vaulting　up　the　swaying　pole；　listening　to　the　crackling　and　splitting　of　wood　beneath　her　feet。　This　ladder　felt　much　less　secure　than　the　first。　As　she　neared　the　top；　she　felt　its　supports　beginning　to　give　way。　She　threw　herself　onto　the　second　shelf；　gasping　and　crying。　
　Just　then；　she　heard　the　patter　of　footsteps　below。　A　dark　form　momentarily　blotted　out　the　dim　rectangle　of　light　at　the　entrance　to　the　tower。　Beside　her；　Sloane　cursed　under　her　breath。　
　For　an　instant；　Nora　found　herself　unable　to　move；　as　the　terror　of　the　encounter　in　the　abandoned　ranch　house　returned　to　her　in　full　force。　Then　she　was　shocked　back　to　the　present　by　the　deafening　blast　of　a　pistol　shot。　The　echoes　died　crazily　within　the　confines　of　the　tower。　Heart　in　her　mouth；　Nora　angled　the　flashlight　downward。　The　figure　was　swarming　up　the　first　ladder；　swift　and　sure。　Sloane　raised　her　weapon　again。　
　〃Save　your　bullets　for　the　top！〃　Nora　cried。　She　urged　Sloane　onto　the　third　and　final　ladder；　its　ancient　geometry　faint　in　the　beam　of　her　light。　
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃　Sloane　whispered。　
　But　Nora　simply　pushed　her　up　the　ladder　without　a　word。　It　was　time　to　take　a　desperate　chance。　
　Taking　a　firm　hold　on　the　stone　shelf；　she　drew　her　leg　back　and　kicked　at　the　bracing　of　the　second　pole　as　hard　as　she　could。　She　felt　it　shudder　with　the　impact。　She　kicked　at　it　a　second　time；　then　a　third。　Below；　she　could　hear　a　desperate　scrabbling　as　the　figure　rode　the　shaking　structure。　Summoning　all　her　strength；　Nora　kicked　at　the　pole　once　again。　With　a　shriek　of　rending　wood；　the　pole　lurched　outward　about　six　inches；　whipsawing　itself　into　a　notch　of　rock。　Nora　heard　a　muffled　roar　from　below。　Chancing　another　look　down；　she　saw　the　skinwalker　lose　its　grip　and　begin　to　fall　away　toward　the　base　of　the