cb.booksofblood2-第21章

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er。
　'Look；'　he　piped　up；　'I've　told　you　all　I　know。　Why　don't　I　just　let　you　folks　get　on　with　it。'
　'You　ain't　leaving；'　said　Packard；　'if　that's　what　you're　rooting　after。'
　'I'm　just　saying　…'
　'We　know　what　you're　saying　son；　and　I　ain't　listening。　If　I　see　you　hitch　up　your　britches　to　leave　I'll　string　you　up　by　your　balls。　If　you've　got　any。'
　The　bastard　would　try　it　too；　thought　Davidson；　even　if　he　only　had　one　hand　to　do　it　with。　Just　go　with　the　flow；　he　told　himself；　trying　to　stop　his　lip　curling。　If　Packard　went　out　to　find　the　monsters　and　his　damn　bazooka　backfired；　that　was　his　business。　Let　it　be。
　'There's　a　whole　tribe　of　them；'　Lou　was　quietly　pointing　out。　'According　to　this　man。　So　how　do　we　take　out　so　many　of　them？'
　'Strategy；'　said　Packard。
　'We　don't　know　their　positions。'
　'Surveillance；'　replied　Packard。
　'They　could　really　fuck　us　up　Sheriff；'　Jebediah　observed；　picking　a　collapsed　gum…bubble　from　his　mous…tache。
　'This　is　our　territory；'　said　Eleanor。　'We　got　it：　we　keep　it。'
　Jebediah　nodded。
　'Yes；　ma；'　he　said。
　'Suppose　they　just　disappeared？　Suppose　we　can't　find　them　no　more？'　Lou　was　arguing。　'Couldn't　we　just　let　'em　go　to　ground？'
　'Sure；'　said　Packard。　'And　then　we're　left　waiting　around　for　them　to　e　out　again　and　devour　the　women　folk。'
　'Maybe　they　mean　no　harm　…'　Lou　replied。
　Packard's　reply　was　to　raise　his　bandaged　hand。
　'They　done　me　harm。'
　That　was　incontestable。
　Packard　continued；　his　voice　hoarse　with　feeling。
　'Shit；　I　want　them　e…bags　so　bad　I'm　going　out　there　with　or　without　help。　But　we've　got　to　out…think　them；　out　manoeuvre　them；　so　we　don't　get　anybody　hurt。'
　The　man　talks　some　sense；　thought　Davidson。　Indeed；　the　whole　room　seemed　impressed。　Murmurs　of　approval　all　round；　even　from　the　mantelpiece。
　Packard　rounded　on　the　deputy　again。
　'You　get　your　ass　moving；　son。　I　want　you　to　call　up　that　bastard　Crumb　out　of　Caution　and　get　his　boys　down　here　with　every　goddam　gun　and　grenade　they've　got。　And　if　he　asks　what　for　you　tell　him　Sheriff　Packard's　declaring　a　State　of　Emergency；　and　I'm　requisitioning　every　asshole　weapon　in　fifty　miles；　and　the　man　on　the　other　end　of　it。　Move　it；　son。'
　Now　the　room　was　positively　glowing　with　admiration；　and　Packard　knew　it。
　'We'll　blow　the　fuckers　apart；'　he　said。
　For　a　moment　the　rhetoric　seemed　to　work　its　magic　on　Davidson；　and　he　half…believed　it　might　be　possible；　then　he　remembered　the　details　of　the　procession；　tails；　teeth　and　all；　and　his　bravado　sank　without　trace。
　
　They　came　up　to　the　house　so　quietly；　not　intending　to　creep；　just　so　gentle　with　their　tread　nobody　heard　them。
　Inside；　Eugene's　anger　had　subsided。　He　was　sitting　with　his　legs　up　on　the　table；　an　empty　bottle　of　whisky　in　front　of　him。　The　silence　in　the　room　was　so　heavy　it　suffocated。
　Aaron；　his　face　puffed　up　with　his　father's　blows；　was　sitting　beside　the　window。　He　didn't　need　to　look　up　to　see　them　ing　across　the　sand　towards　the　house；　their　approach　sounded　in　his　veins。　His　bruised　face　wanted　to　light　up　with　a　smile　of　wele；　but　he　repressed　the　instinct　and　simply　waited；　slumped　in　beaten　resignation；　until　they　were　almost　upon　the　house。　Only　when　their　massive　bodies　blocked　out　the　sunlight　through　the　window　did　he　stand　up。　The　boy's　movement　woke　Eugene　from　his　trance。
　'What　is　it；　boy？'
　
　The　child　had　backed　off　from　the　window；　and　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　sobbing　quietly　with　anticipation。　His　tiny　hands　were　spread　like　sun…rays；　his　fingers　jittering　and　twitching　in　his　excitement。
　'What's　wrong　with　the　window；　boy？'
　Aaron　heard　one　of　his　true　father's　voices　eclipse　Eugene's　mumblings。　Like　a　dog　eager　to　greet　his　master　after　a　long　separation；　the　boy　ran　to　the　door　and　tried　to　claw　it　open。　It　was　locked　and　bolted。
　'What's　that　noise；　boy？'
　Eugene　pushed　his　son　aside　and　fumbled　with　the　key　in　the　lock；　while　Aaron's　father　called　to　his　child　through　the　door。　His　voice　sounded　like　a　rush　of　water；　counter　pointed　by　soft；　piping　sighs。　It　was　an　eager　voice；　a　loving　voice。
　All　at　once；　Eugene　seemed　to　understand。　He　took　hold　of　the　boy's　hair　and　hauled　him　away　from　the　door。
　Aaron　squealed　with　pain。
　'Papa！'　he　yelled。
　Eugene　took　the　cry　as　addressed　to　himself；　but　Aaron's　true　father　also　heard　the　boy's　voice。　His　answering　call　was　threaded　with　piercing　notes　of　concern。
　Outside　the　house　Lucy　had　heard　the　exchange　of　voices。　She　came　out　of　the　protection　of　her　shack；　knowing　what　she'd　see　against　that　sheening　sky；　but　no　less　dizzied　by　the　monumental　creatures　that　had　gathered　on　every　side　of　the　house。　An　anguish　went　through　her；　remembering　the　lost　joys　of　that　day　six　years　previous。　They　were　all　there；　the　unforgettable　creatures；　an　incredible　selection　of　forms　…Pyramidal　heads　on　rose　coloured；　classically　propor…tioned　torsos；　that　umbrellaed　into　shifting　skirts　of　lace　flesh。　A　headless　silver　beauty　whose　six　mother　of　pearl　arms　sprouted　in　a　circle　from　around　its　purring；　pulsating　mouth。　A　creature　like　a　ripple　on　a　fast…running　stream；　constant　but　moving；　giving　out　a　sweet　and　even　tone。　Creatures　too　fantastic　to　be　real；　too　real　to　be　disbelieved；　angels　of　the　hearth　and　threshold。　One　had　a　head；　moving　back　and　forth　on　a　gossamer　neck；　like　some　preposterous　weather…vane；　blue　as　the　early　night　sky　and　shot　with　a　dozen　eyes　like　so　many　suns。　Another　father；　with　a　body　like　a　fan；　opening　and　closing　in　his　excitement；　his　orange　flesh　flushing　deeper　as　the　boy's　voice　was　heard　again。
　'Papa！'
　At　the　door　of　the　house　stood　the　creature　Lucy　remembered　with　greatest　affection；　the　one　who　had　first　touched　her；　first　soothed　her　fears；　first　entered　her；　infinitely　gentle。　It　was　perhaps　twenty　feet　tall　when　standing　at　its　full　height。　Now　it　was　bowed　towards　the　door；　its　mighty；　hairless　head；　like　that　of　a　bird　painted　by　a　schizophrenic；　bent　close　to　the　house　as　it　spoke　to　the　child。　It　was　naked；　and　its　broad；　dark　back　sweated　as　it　crouched。
　Inside　the　house；　Eugene　drew　the　boy　close　to　him；　as　a　shield。
　'What　do　you　know；　boy？'
　'Papa？'
　'I　said　what　do　you　know？'
　'Papa！'
　Jubilation　was　in　Aaron's　voice。　The　waiting　was　over。
　The　front　of　the　house　was　smashed　inwards。　A　limb　like　a　flesh　hook　curled　under　the　lintel　and　hauled　the　door　from　its　hinges。　Bricks　flew　up　and　showered　down　again；　wood…splinters　and　dust　filled　the　air。　Where　there　had　once　been　safe　darkness；　cataracts　of　sunlight　now　poured　onto　the　dwarfed　human　figures　in　the　ruins。
　
　Eugene　peered　up　through　the　veil　of　dust。　The　roof　was　being　peeled　back　by　giant　hands；　and　there　was　sky　where　there　had　been　beams。　Towering　on　every　side　he　saw　the　limbs；　bodies　and　faces　of　impossible　beasts。　They　were　teasing　the　remaining　walls　down；　destroying　his　house　as　casually　as　he　would　break　a　bottle。　He　let　the　boy　slip　from　his　grasp　without　realizing　what　he'd　done。
　Aaron　ran　towards　the　creature　on　the　threshold。
　'Papa！'
　It　scooped　him　up　like　a　father　meeting　a　child　out　of　school；　and　its　head　was　thrown　back　in　a　wave　of　ecstasy。　A　long；　indescribable　noise　of　joy　was　uttered　out　of　its　length　and　breadth。　The　hymn　was　taken　up　by　the　other　creatures；　mounting　in　celebration。　Eugene　covered　his　ears　and　fell　to　his　knees。　His　nose　had　begun　to　bleed　at　the　first　notes　of　the　monster's　music；　and　his　eyes　were　full　of　stinging　tears。　He　wasn't　frightened。　He　knew　they　were　not　capable　of　doing　him　harm。　He　cried　because　he　had　ignored　this　eventuality　for　six　years；　and　now；　with　their　mystery　and　their　glory　in　front　of　him；　he　sobbed　not　to　have　had　the　courage　to　face　them　and　know　them。　Now　it　was　too　late。　They'd　taken　the　boy　by　force；　and　reduced　his　house；　and　his　life；　to　ruins。　Indifferent　to　his　agonies；　they　were　leaving；　singing　their　jubilation；　his　boy　in　their　arms　forever。
　
　In　the　township　of　Wele　organization　was　the　by…word　of　the　day。　Davidson　could　only　watch　with　admiration　the　way　these　foolish；　hardy　people　were　attempting　to　confront　impossible　odds。　He　was　strangely　enervated　by　the　spectacle；　like　watching　settlers；　in　some　movie；　preparing　to　muster　paltry　weaponry　and　simple　faith　to　meet　the　pagan　violence　of　the　savage。　But；　unlike　the　movie；　Davidson　knew　defeat　was　pre…ordained。　He'd　seen　these　monsters：　awe…inspiring。　Whatever　the　rightness　of　the　cause；　the　purity　of　the　faith；　the　savages　trampled　the　settlers　underfoot　fairly　often。　The　defeats　just　make　it　into　the　movies。
　
　Eugene's　nose　ceased　to　bleed　after　half　an　hour　or　so；　but　he　didn't　notice。　He　was　dragging；　pulling；　cajoling　Lucy　towards　Wele。　He　wanted　to　hear　no　explanations　from　the　slut；　even　though　her　voice　was　babbling　ceaselessly。　He　could　only　hear　the　sound　of　the　monsters'　churning　tones；　and　Aaron's　repeated　call　of　'Papa'；　that　was　answered　by　a　house…wrecking　limb。
　Eugene　knew　he　had　been　conspired　against；　though　even　in　his　most　tortured　imaginings　he　could　not　grasp　the　whole　truth。
　Aaron　was　mad；　he　knew　that　much。　And　somehow　his　wife；　his　ripe…bodied　Lucy；　who　had　been　such　a　beauty　and　such　a　fort；　was　instrumental　in　both　the　boy's　insanity　and　his　own　grief。
　She'd　sold　the　boy：　that　was　his　half…formed　belief。　In　some　unspeakable　way　she　had　bargained　with　these　things　from　the　underworld；　and　had　exchanged　the　life　and　sanity　of　his　only　son　for　some　kind　of　gift。　What　had　she　gained；　for　this　payment？　Some　trinket　or　other　that　she　kept　buried　in　her　shack？　My　God；　she　would　suffer　for　it。　But　before　he　made　her　suffer；　before　he　wrenched　her　hair　from　its　holes；　and　tarred　her　flashing　breasts　with　pitch；　she　would　confess。　He'd　make　her　confess；　not　to　him　but　to　the　people　of　Wele　…　the　men　and　women　who　scoffed　at　his　drunken　ramblings；　laughed　when　he　wept　into　his　beer。　They　would　hear；　from　Lucy's　own　lips；　the　truth　behind　the　nightmares　he　had　endured；　and　learn；　to　their　horror；　that　demons　he　talked　about　were　real。　Then　he　would　be　exonerated；　utterly；　and　the　town　would　take　him　back　into　its　bosom　asking　for　his　forgiveness；　while　the　feathered　body　of　his　bitch…wife　swung　from　a　telephone　pole　outside　the　town's　limits。
　They　were　two　miles　outside　Wele　when　Eugene　stopped。
　'Something's　ing。'
　A　cloud　of　dust；　and　at　its　swirling　heart　a　multitude　of　burning　eyes。
　He　feared　the　worst。
　'My　Christ！'
　He　loosed　his　wife。　Were　they　ing　to　fetch　her　too？　Yes；　that　was　probably　another　part　of　the　bargain　she'd　made。
　'They've　taken　the　town；'　he　said。　The　air　was　full　of　their　voices；　it　was　too　much　to　bear。
　They　were　ing　at　him　down　the　road　in　a　whining　horde；　driving　straight　at　him　…　Eugene　turned　to　run；　letting　the　slut　go。　They　could　have　her；　as　long　as　they　left　him　alone；　Lucy　was　smiling　into　the　dust。
　'It's　Packard；'　she　said。
　Eugene　glanced　back　along　the　road　and　narrowed　his　eyes。　The　cloud　of　divils　was　resolving　itself。　The　eyes　at　its　heart　were　headlights；　the　voices　were　sirens；　there　was　an　army　of　cars　and　motorcycles；　led　by　Packard's　howling　vehicle；　careering　down　the　road　from　Wele。
　Eugene　was　confounded。　What　was　this；　a　mas