p&c.brimstone-第69章

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　〃And　thank　you；　Mr。　Harriman。　Won't　you　stay　a　few　minutes　to　hear　my　message　to　the　people？　As　you　say；　something　is　about　to　happen。　And　as　a　result；　my　sermon　this　evening　will　be　somewhat　different。〃　
　The　reporter　hesitated。　He　had　to　be　up　at　five；　ready　to　go。　He　was　pretty　sure　the　cops　were　going　to　do　their　thing　tomorrow；　and　it　might　begin　early。　〃What's　it　on？〃　
　〃Hell。〃　
　〃In　that　case；　I'll　stay。〃　
　Buck　rose　and　signaled　one　of　his　men；　who　came　over；　helped　him　don　a　simple　vestment；　and　then　acpanied　him　out　of　the　tent。　Harriman　followed　in　their　wake；　pulling　his　recorder　out　of　one　pocket；　trying　to　ignore　the　heavy　reek　of　the　encampment。　They　were　headed；　he　knew；　to　a　huge　glacial　erratic　that　reared　out　of　the　earth　to　the　west　of　the　tent　city　and　which　was　now　universally　called　the　〃preaching　rock。〃　
　The　bustle　of　the　camp　died　away　as　Buck　went　out　of　sight　behind　the　massive　boulder；　climbed　the　grassy　hummock　to　the　rear；　then　reappeared　on　its　lofty　crag。　He　raised　his　hands　slowly。　Watching　from　below；　Harriman　found　hundreds　of　people　drifting　in　out　of　the　darkness　to　surround　him。　
　〃My　friends；〃　he　began。　〃Good　evening。　Once　again　I　thank　you　for　joining　me　on　this　spiritual　quest。　It's　been　my　custom；　in　these　evening　talks；　to　speak　to　you　of　this　quest：　to　explain　why　we　are　here　and　what　it　is　we　must　do。　But　tonight　my　subject　will　be　different。　
　〃Brothers　and　sisters；　you　will　soon　face　a　trial。　A　great　trial。　We　won　a　mighty　victory　here　yesterday；　thanks　be　to　God。　But　the　agents　of　darkness　are　not　easily　turned　back。　Therefore；　you　must　be　strong。　Be　strong；　and　acceptthe　will　of　God　。〃　
　Harriman；　listening　with　recorder　raised；　was　surprised　by　Buck's　tone　and　manner。　His　voice　was　quiet；　but　it　rang　with　an　iron　conviction　he'd　never　heard　before；　even　in　the　very　first　sermon　delivered　outside　Cutforth's　building。　There　was　a　strange　look　in　Buck's　bright　eyes：　a　look　of　anticipation　mingled　with　an　almost　stoic　resignation。　
　〃I　have　spoken　to　you　many　times　about　what　we　have　e　here　to　achieve。　Now；　on　the　eve　of　your　trial　to　end　all　trials；　I　must　take　a　moment　to　remind　you　of　what　we　are　up　against　and　who　your　enemy　is。　Remember　my　words　even　when　I　am　no　longer　among　you。〃　
　The　eve　ofyourtrial。　Who　yourenemy　is。　No　longer　among　you。　Since　his　last　meeting　in　Buck's　tent；　Harriman　had　begun　reading　the　Bible…just　a　little；　here　and　there…and　the　words　of　Jesus　came　back　to　him　now：Whither　I　go；　thou　canst　not　follow　me　now；　but　thou　shalt　follow　me　afterwards。　
　〃Why；　my　friends　and　my　brothers；　were　our　medieval　ancestors…unsophisticated　and　unlettered　in　other　ways…so　much　more　God…fearing　than　people　today？　But　I　speak　the　answer　even　as　I　ask　the　question。　Because　they　had　thefear　of　God。　They　knew　what　rewards　awaited　the　chosen　few　in　heaven。　And　they　also　knew　what　awaited　the　sinful；　the　wicked；　the　lazy　and　unbelieving。　
　〃The　fault　lies　not　just　with　the　people。　Today's　clergy　are　even　more　at　fault。　They　sugarcoat　the　word　of　God；　make　light　of　his　warnings；　tell　their　flocks　that　hell　is　merely　a　metaphor　or　an　antique　concept　with　no　actual　reality。　God's　love　is　expansive　and　forgiving；　they　tell　us。　They　lull　their　flocks　into　a　false　sense　of　entitlement。　As　if　a　baptism　here；　a　few　good　deeds　there；　a　munion　or　two；　is　a　ticket　to　heaven。　My　friends；　this　is　a　tragic　mistake。〃　
　Buck　paused　to　glance　around　at　the　hushed　multitude。　
　〃God's　love　is　a　tough　love。　In　this　city；　as　in　all　great　cities；　people　die　every　day。　They　die　by　the　hundreds。　At　what　point　do　you　suppose　all　those　poor　souls　begin　to　realize　thereal　fate　that　lies　in　store　for　them？　At　what　point　do　the　scales　fall　from　their　eyes　and　they　learn　their　entire　life　has　been　a　lie…that　they've　spent　it　running　from　the　light　ever　deeper　into　the　darkness…and　that　they　now　have　nothing　but　unimaginable　torment　to　look　forward　to？　There　is　no　way　to　know　for　sure。　But　I　believe　at　least　some　peoplehave　a　glimpse　of　it　in　their　last　moments。　I　believe　that；　for　these　people；　there　is　a　creeping　sense　that　something　is　terribly　wrong：　something　far；　far　worse　than　the　act　of　dying　itself。　In　those　last　moments；　as　the　soul　begins　to　separate　from　the　body；　the　fabric　of　everyday　reality　is　ripped　asunder。　And　suddenly　they　can　see　into　the　void　beyond。　Then　es　a　terrible　oppression；　overwhelming　fear；　rising　heat。　They　cannot　scream；　they　cannot　flee。　This　is　no　panic　attack　that　will　pass；　this　is　merely　the　foretaste　of　what　is　to　e。　This　is　a　step　onto　the　first　tread　of　the　long　stairway　down　into　hell。　
　〃And　what　is　hell　itself　like？　Our　ancestors　were　told　it　was　a　burning　lake　of　fire；　of　sulfur　and　brimstone；　in　which　one　was　eternally　submerged。　A　terrible　furnace　whose　flames　bring　no　light；　but　merely　darkness　made　visible。　And　in　a　simpler　time；　such　a　depiction　was　enough。〃　
　He　stopped　again　to　look　around；　fixing　first　one；　then　another；　with　his　eyes。　
　〃Mind　you；　I　do　believe　this　is　hell　for　some。　But　it　is　not　the　only　hell。　There　are　countless　hells；　my　brothers　and　sisters。　There　is　a　hell　foreach　of　us。　Lucifer　may　be　no　match　for　our　God。　Yet　he　was　a　very　mighty　angel　indeed；　and　as　such；　has　powers　far　beyond　our　poor　prehension。　
　〃You　must　remember　something；　and　remember　it　always：　Lucifer；　the　devil；　was　cast　out　of　heaven　because　of　his　overmastering　envy　and　evil。　In　his　implacable　jealousy；　his　unquenchable　thirst　for　revenge；　he　now　uses　us　as　his　pawns。　Just　as　the　rejected　child　hates　a　favored　rival；　he　hates　us　for　what　we　are：　beloved　children　of　God。　And　which　of　us　can　hope　to　prehend　the　depths　of　his　bottomless　rage？　Each　human　he　corrupts；　each　soul　he　takes；　is　for　him　a　victory：　a　fist　shaken　up　at　God。　
　〃He　knows　our　individual　weaknesses；　our　petty　desires；　he　knows　what　triggers　our　vanity　or　our　greed　or　our　lust　or　our　cruelty。　We　have　no　secrets　from　him。　He　has　handcrafted　temptations　for　each　one　of　us；　he　has　strewn　our　path　with　a　thousand　ways　to　veer　into　darkness。　And　once　he　has　successfully　lured　a　soul　into　his　kingdom…once　he　has　won；　yet　again…do　you　think　Satan　will　be　content　to　leave　that　soul　in　ageneric　hell？　Think　again；　my　friends：　think　again。　He　who　knows　all　our　weaknesses　also　knows　all　our　fears。　Even　those　we　may　not　know　ourselves。　And　to　plete　his　victory；　to　make　his　victim's　sufferingsupreme　；　he　will　fashion　each　individual　hell　to　be　the　most　unendurable　for　its　particular　inhabitant。　And　worst　of　all；　it　will　be　a　hell　that　lasts　forever。　And　ever。And　ever。　For　some；　that　may　well　mean　a　burning　lake　of　fire。　For　others；　it　may　mean　an　eternity　nailed　up　in　a　black　coffin；　motionless；　lightless；　speechless；　as　insanity　doubles　and　redoubles　over　long　eons。　For　others；　it　might　mean；　say；　eternal　suffocation。　Imagine　that　for　a　moment；　my　friends。　Imagine　that　you've　held　your　breath　for　two　minutes；　maybe　three。　Imagine　the　desperate　need　for　oxygen；　the　exquisite　torture。　And　yet　in　hell；　there　is　no　release　of　breath；　no　drawing　in　of　good　sweet　air。　Nor　is　there　the　blankness　of　oblivion。　There　is　simply　that　moment　of　maximal　agony；　prolonged　forever。〃　
　Maximal　agony；　prolonged　forever。Despite　himself；　Harriman　shivered　in　the　warm　night。　
　〃Other　hells　might　be　more　subtle。　Imagine　the　man　who　always　feared　going　crazy；　doing　so　over　decades　or　even　slow　centuries。　And　then　beginning　the　process　over。　And　over。　Or　imagine　the　doting　mother；　forced　to　watch…again　and　again　and　again…how　after　her　own　passing　her　children　slide　into　poverty　and　neglect；　drug　addiction；　depression；　maltreatment；　and　death。〃　
　Here　he　stopped；　and　stepped　up　to　the　very　edge　of　the　rock。　
　〃Take　a　moment　to　think　of　the　very　worst　hell　you　could　imagine　for　yourself。　And　then　realize　that　Satan；　who　knows　you　even　better　than　you　know　yourself；　could　fashion　one　far　worse。　And　he　will。He　already　has。　In　anticipation。　Because　he　has　only　one　salve　for　his　bitter　pain：　the　despair；　the　desperate　pleadings；　the　cries　and　sufferings　of　his　victims。〃　
　Buck　paused　again。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　then　another。　Then；　in　an　even　lower　voice；　he　went　on。　
　〃I've　said　there　was　a　hell　for　each　of　us。　That　hell　is　there；　waiting　for　each　one　of　you。　Satan　has　made　your　hell　so　very　easy　to　find；　with　a　wide　and　fortable　road　leading　straight　to　it。　It　is　far；　far　easier　for　us　to　go　with　the　flow；　to　stroll　unthinking　down　that　broad　pleasant　avenue；　far　easier　than　to　search　for　the　rough；　hidden　turnoff　that　leads　to　heaven。　We　must　fight　against　the　lure　of　the　easy　road。　It　is　a　fight；　my　friends；　a　fight　to　the　death。　Because　that　is　the　only　way…the　only　way…we　are　going　to　discover　that　difficult　trail　to　heaven。　I　ask　you　to　remember　this　in　the　trials　we　are　about　to　face。〃　
　And　then　he　turned　and　stepped　down　out　of　sight。　
　　　
　74　
　
　When　D'Agosta　entered　Pendergast's　hotel　suite；　he　found　theagent　at　breakfast。　The　table　was　set　with　assorted　fruits；　breakfast　rolls；　and　the　inescapable　and　inevitable　tiny　espresso。　Pendergast　was　nibbling　daintily　at　poached　eggs　and　reading　what　looked　like　a　set　of　faxed　documents。　For　a　brief　moment；　D'Agosta　thought　of　the　earlier　meal　they'd　shared；　back　in　Southampton；　when　this　case　was　still　brand…new。　It　seemed　a　distant　memory　indeed。　
　〃Ah；　Vincent；〃　Pendergast　said。　〃e　in。　Would　you　care　to　order　something？〃　
　〃No；　thanks。〃　Although　it　was　a　beautiful　morning　and　sunlight　gilded　the　rooms；　D'Agosta　felt　as　if　a　threatening　cloud　was　hanging　over　them　both。　〃I'm　surprised　you've　got　an　appetite。〃　
　〃It's　important　I　take　some　refreshment　now。　I'm　not　sure　how　long　it　will　be　until　my　next　meal。　But　that　shouldn't　stop　you：　e；　have　a　croissant。　These　Alsatian　plum　preserves　from　Fauchon　are　delightful。〃　He　put　the　faxes　aside　and　picked　upLa　Nazione　。　
　〃What's　that　you　were　reading？〃　
　〃Some　faxes　from　Constance。　I'll　need　all　the；　ah；　ammunition　I　can　gather　for　what's　to　e。　She　has　proven　most　helpful。〃　
　D'Agosta　stepped　forward。　〃I'm　ing　with　you；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　want　to　get　that　straight　here　and　now　so　there　won't　be　any　questions　later。〃　
　Pendergast　lowered　the　paper。　〃I　assumed　you'd　make　such　a　demand。　Let　me　remind　you　the　invitation　was　for　me　alone。〃　
　〃I　doubt　that　fat…assed　count　would　have　any　objections。〃　
　〃You're　probably　right。〃　
　〃I've　e　all　this　way。　I've　been　shot　at　more　than　once；　lost　the　end　of　a　finger；　almost　been　pushed　off　a　cliff；　almost　beendriven　off　a　cliff。〃　
　〃Right　again。〃　
　〃So　don't　expect　me　to　spend　the　evening　relaxing　by　the　pool　with　a　few　cold　ones　while　you're　in　Fosco's　lair。〃　
　Pendergast　smiled　faintly。　〃I　have　one　more　errand　to　run　before　leaving　Florence。　Let's　discuss　it　then。〃　
　And　he　raised　the　paper　once　again。　
　Two　hours　later；　their　car　stopped　on　a　narrow　street　in　Florence；　outside　a　vast；　austere　building　of　rough　stone。　
　〃The　Palazzo　Maffei；〃　Pendergast　said　from　behind　the　wheel。　〃If　you　wouldn't　mind　waiting　here　a　moment？　I　won't　be　long。〃　He　got　out　of　the　car；　approached　a　brass　plaque　of　door　buzzers　set　into　the　facade；　scanned　the　names；　and　pressed　one。　A　moment　later；　a　muffled　voice　rasped　over　the　inter。　Pendergast　ans