bl.necroscope2-第32章

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t　was　like　a　plague；　and　Yulian　thrilled　to　the　thought　that　he　was　the　source；　the　carrier。
　And　then　there　was　a　third　reason　why　Lake　must　die。　Somewhere　out　there…in　the　sunlight；　in　the　woods　and　fields；　lanes　and　villages…somewhere　there　were　people　who　watched　the　house　even　now。　Yulian's　senses；　his　vampire　powers；　were　weaker　by　day；　but　still　he　could　feel　the　presence　of　the　silent　watchers。　They　were　there；　and　he　feared　them。　A　little。
　That　man　last　night；　for　instance。　Yulian　had　sent　VIad　to　fetch　him；　but　Viad　had　failed。　Who　had　he　been；　that　man？　And　why　did　he　watch？　Perhaps　George's　return　had　not　gone　entirely　unnoticed。　Was　it　possible　that　someone　had　seen　him　emerge　from　his　grave？　No；　Yulian　doubted　that；　the　police；　in　their　innocence；　would　have　mentioned　it。　Or　then　again；　perhaps　the　police　had　not　been　satisfied　with　his　reaction　that　day　they　came　here　with　their　report　of　vile　grave…robbing。
　And　George　with　his　bloodlust：　what　if　he　should　break　out　one　night？　He　was　a　vampire　now；　George；　and　growing　stronger。　How　long　could　VIad　contain　him？　No；　better　far　if　George　died。　Gone　without　a　trace；　leaving　no　shred　of　evidence；　no　jot　of　proof　of　the　evil　at　work　here。　He　would　die　a　vampire's　death　this　time；　from　which　there'd　be　no　returning。
　At　the　back　of　the　house　a　great　stone　chimney　rose　from　earth　to　sky；　buttressed　at　the　bottom　and　flaring　up　through　the　gable　end。　Its　source　was　a　huge　iron　furnace　in　the　cellars；　a　relic　of　older　generations。　Though　the　house　was　centrally　heated　now；　a　heap　of　dusty　coke　still　lay　in　the　furnace　room　down　there；　nesting　place　for　mice　and　spiders。　Twice；　when　the　winters　had　been　especially　cold；　Yulian　had　stoked　up　the　fire　and　watched　the　iron　flue　glow　red　where　its　fat　cylindrical　conduit　joined　the　furnace　to　the　chimney's　firebrick　base。　It　had　served　to　heat　the　back　of　the　house　admirably。　Now　he　would　go　down　there　and　sweat　a　little　and　fire　the　thing　up　again；　albeit　for　a　different　purpose。　But　his　sweat　would　be　well　worth　the　effort。

　There　was　a　trapdoor　under　one　of　the　back　rooms　which；　since　George　had　been　down　there；　Yulian　had　kept　boarded　up。　That　left　only　the　entrance　from　the　side　of　the　house；　where　Viad　kept　his　vigil　as　usual。　Yuiian　took　a　steak；　thick　and　dripping　blood；　from　the　kitchen　out　to　the　dog　where　he　guarded　the　cellars；　left　him　growling　and　tearing　at　his　food　while　he　descended　the　narrow　steps　down　one　side　of　the　ramp　and　shoved　open　the　door。
　Then；　as　he　stepped　into　darkness。。。　he　had　maybe　a　half…second's　warning　of　what　was　waiting　for　him；　but　it　was　enough。
　George　Lake's　mind　was　a　bubbling　pit　of　crimson　hatred。　Many　emotions　were　trapped　in　there；　controlled　until　that　last　half…second：　lust；　self…loathing；　a　hunger　beyond　human　hunger；　which　was　so　intense　it　was　in　fact　an　emotion；　disgust；　jealousy　so　strong　it　burned；　but　mainly　hatred。　For　Yulian。　And　in　the　moment　before　George　struck；　the　bile　of　his　mind　touched　Yulian's　like　acid；　so　that　he　cried　out　as　he　avoided　the　blow　in　the　dark。
　For　darkness　had　been　Yulian's　element　long　before　George　discovered　it；　a　fact　which　the　new；　half…mad　vampire　had　failed　to　take　into　account。　Yulian　saw　him　crouching　behind　the　door；　saw　the　arc　of　the　mattock　as　it　swung　towards　him。　He　ducked　under　the　rushing；　rusty；　vicious　head　of　the　tool；　came　up　inside　the　circle　of　its　swing　and　closed　fingers　like　steel　on　George's　throat。　At　the　same　time；　with　his　free　hand；　he　wrenched　the　mattock　away　from　him　and　hurled　it　aside；　and　drove　his　knee　again　and　again　up　into　George's　groin。
　For　any　ordinary　man　the　fight　would　have　been　over　there　and　then；　but　George　Lake　was　no　longer　ordinary；　and　no　longer　merely　a　man。　Forced　to　his　knees　as　Yulian's　fingers　tightened　on　his　throat；　he　glared　back　at　the　youth　through　eyes　like　coals　under　a　bellows'　blast。　A　vampire；　his　grey　undead　flesh　shrugged　off　the　pain；　found　strength　to　fight　back。　His　legs　straightened　against　all　Yulian's　weight；　and　he　smashed　at　Yulian's　forearm　to　break　his　grip。　Astonished；　the　youth　found　himself　tossed　back；　saw　the　other　springing　at　him　to　tear　his　throat　out。
　And　again　Yulian　knew　fear；　for　he　saw；　now　that　his　uncle〃　was　almost　as　strong　as　he　himself。　He　feinted　before　George's　charge；　thrust　him　sprawling；　snatched　up　the　mattock　from　the　stone　floor。　He　hefted　the　tool　murderously　in　his　powerful　hands；　advancing　on　George　where　he　came　surging　to　his　feet。　At　which　moment　Anne…Yulian's　dear　〃Auntie〃　Anne…came　ghosting　and　gibbering　out　of　the　shadows　and　the　darkness　to　throw　herself　between　Yulian　and　her　undead　husband。
　〃Oh；　Yulian！〃　she　wailed。　〃Yulian；　no。　Please　don't　kill　him。　Not。。。　again！〃　Naked　and　grimy　she　crouched　there；　her　eyes　full　of　animal　pleading；　her　hair　wild。　Yulian　thrust　her　aside　just　as　George　made　his　second　spring。
　〃George；〃　he　grated　through　clenched　teeth；　〃that's　twice　you've　gone　for　me　with　this。　Now　let's　see　how　you　like　it！〃
　Flakes　of　rust　splintered　from　the　sharp　point　of　the　mattock　as　it　slammed　into　George's　forehead　and　punched　a　neat　hole　one　and　a　half　inches　square　just　above　the　triangle　formed　of　eyes　and　nose。　The　sheer　force　of　the　blow　checked　George's　forward　impetus；　snapping　him　upright　like　a　puppet　on　a　string。
　〃Gak！〃　he　said；　as　his　eyes　filled　with　blood　and　his　nose　spurted　crimson。　His　arms　rose　up　at　forty…five　degrees；　his　hands　fluttering　as　if　he'd　been　plugged　into　a　live　electric　socket。　〃Gug…ak…arghh！〃　he　gurgled。　Then　his　bottom　jaw　fell　open　and　he　toppled　backwards　like　a　felled　tree；　crashing　to　the　floor　on　his　back；　mattock　still　fixed　firmly　in　his　head。
　Anne　came　scrambling；　threw　herself　down　wailing　on　top　of　George's　twitching　body。　She　was　in　thrall　to　Yulian　but　George　had　been　her　husband。　What　he　had　bee　was　Yulian's　fault；　not　his　own。　〃George；　oh　George！〃　she　wailed。　〃Oh；　my　poor　dear　George！〃
　〃Get　off　him！〃　Yulian　spat　at　her。　〃Help　me。〃
　They　dragged　George　by　his　ankles　to　the　furnace　room；　the　mattock's　handle　clattering　on　the　uneven　floor。　In　front　of　the　cold　furnace；　Yulian　put　a　foot　on　the　vampire's　throat　and　wrenched　the　mattock　free　of　his　head。　Blood　and　greyish…yellow　pulp　welled　up　to　fill　the　crater　in　his　forehead　and　overflow　the　rim；　but　his　eyes　stayed　open；　his　hands　continued　to　flutter；　and　one　heel　thumped　the　floor　in　a　continuous　series　of　galvanic　spasms。
　〃Oh；　he'll　die；　he'll　die！〃　Anne　wrung　her　grimy　hands；　sobbed　and　cradled　George's　shattered　head。
　〃No　he　won't。〃　Yulian　worked　to　get　the　furnace　going。　〃That's　just　it；　you　stupid　creature。　He　can't　die…not　like　that；　anyway。　What's　in　him　will　heal　him。　It's　working　on　his　crushed　brain　even　now。　He　could　be　good　as　new；　maybe　even　better…except　that's　something　I　can't　allow。〃
　The　fire　was　set。　Yulian　struck　a　match；　held　it　to　paper；　opened　the　iron　draught　grid　squealingly　so　that　the　flames　would　draw；　and　closed　the　furnace　door。　As　he　turned　from　the　furnace；　he　heard　Anne　gasp：
　〃George？〃
　The　hammering　of　George's　spastic　heel　on　the　stone　floor　had　been　absent　for　some　little　time　。
　Yulian　spun　on　his　heel…and　the　Thing　he　had　made　crashed　into　him　and　forced　him　back　against　the　furnace　door！　As　of　yet　there　was　no　heat；　but　the　wind　was　driven　from　Yulian's　lungs　in　a　huge　gasp。　He　drew　air　painfully；　held　the　other　at　bay。　George's　feral　eyes　glared　through　blood　and　mucus　from　the　hole　in　his　head；　his　teeth；　like　small　daggers；　chomped　in　his　twisted　face；　his　hands　flopped　against　Yulian　like　blind　things。　His　ruptured　brain　was　functioning；　barely；　but　already　the　vampire　in　him　was　mending　his　wound。　And　his　hatred　was　as　strong　as　ever。
　Yulian　gathered　his　strength；　hurled　George　from　him。　Unable　to　control　the　impaired　functions　of　his　limbs；　he　crashed　down　on　to　the　pile　of　coke。　Before　he　could　rise　again　Yulian　glared　all　about　in　the　gloom；　moved　to　take　up　the　mattock。
　〃Yulian！　Yulian！〃　Anne　went　to　intercede。
　〃Get　out　of　my　way！〃　He　thrust　her　aside。
　Ignoring　George　where　he　crawled　after　him；　hooked　hands　reaching；　he　loped　to　the　arched　entrance　where　the　stone　walls　were　massively　thick。　And　there　without　pause　he　swung　the　shaft　of　the　mattock　against　the　stonework。　The　hardwood　shaft　broke；　splintering　diagonally　across　its　grain；　and　the　rusty　head　went　clattering　into　darkness。　Yulian's　hands　were　left　numb　where　they　clutched　a　near…perfect　stake：　eighteen　inches　of　hardwood；　narrowing　down　to　an　uneven　but　deadly　sharppoint。
　Well；　and　it　had　been　his　intention　to　discover　the　full　range　of　a　vampire's　vitality；　hadn't　it？
　George　had　somehow　managed　to　lurch　to　his　feet。　Eyes　sulphurous　in　the　near…darkness；　he　came　after　Yulian　like　some　demoniac　robot。
　Yulian　glanced　at　the　floor。　Here　there　were　thick　stone　paving　slabs；　pushed　up　a　little　in　places　by　some　force　from　below。　The　Other；　of　course；　in　its　mindless　burrowing。　George　was　closer；　stumbling　spastically；　mouthing　thick；　phlegmy　noises　unrecognisable　as　words。　Yulian　waited　until　the　crippled　vampire　took　another　lurching　pace　towards　him；　then　stepped　forward　and　slammed　the　stake　into　George's　chest　slightly　left　of　centre。
　The　hardwood　point　ripped　through　George's　linen　burial　shift　and　grated　between　his　ribs；　shedding　splinters　as　it　went。　It　skewered　his　heart　and　almost　severed　it。　George　gasped　like　a　speared　fish；　fumbled　at　the　stake　with　useless　hands。　There　was　no　way　he　was　going　to　pull　it　out。　Yulian　watched　him　staggering　there…watched　in　disbelief；　astonishment；　almost　in　admiration…and　wondered：　would　it　be　this　hard　for　someone　to　kill　me？　He　supposed　it　would。　After　all；　George　had　tried　hard　enough。
　Then　he　kicked　George's　jelly　legs　out　from　under　him　and　went　in　search　of　the　broken　mattock　head。　A　moment　later　and　he　returned；　and　still　George　squirmed　and　gagged　and　wrestled　with　the　stake　in　his　chest。　Yulian　grabbed　one　of　his　twitching　legs；　dragged　him　to　a　spot　where　black　soil　showed　between　the　broken　jointing　of　displaced　flags。　He　got　down　on　his　knees　beside　him；　used　the　mattock　head　as　a　hammer　to　drive　the　stake　right　through　him　and　into　the　floor。　Finally；　jammed　between　two　of　the　flags；　the　stake　would　go　no　further。　George　was　pinned　like　some　exotic　beetle　on　a　board。　Only　two　or　three　inches　of　the　stake　stood　up　from　his　chest；　but　there　was　little　blood　to　be　seen。　His　eyes　were　still　open；　wide　as　doors；　and　there　was　white　froth　on　his　lips；　but　no　more　movement　in　him。
　Yulian　stood　up；　wiped　his　hands　down　his　trousers；　went　in　search　of　Anne。　He　found　her　crouching　in　a　dark　corner；　whimpering　and　shivering；　looking　for　all　the　world　like　a　discarded　doll。　He　dragged　her　to　the　furnace　room　and　pointed　to　a　shovel。　〃Stoke　that　fire；〃　he　ordered。　〃I　want　it　hotter　than　hell；　and　if　you　don't　know　now　how　hot　hell　is；　I'm　the　one　to　show　you！　I　want　that　flue　glowing　red。　And　whatever　else　you　do；　don't　go　near　George。　Leave　him　pletely　alone。　Do　you　understand？〃
　She　nodded；　whimpered；　shrank　back　away　from　him。　〃I'll　be　back；〃　he　told　her；　leaving　her　there　by　the　furnace；　which　was　now　just　beginning　to　roar。
　On　his　way　out；　Yulian　spoke　to　VIad。　〃Stay；　watch。〃　Then　he