bl.necroscope2-第75章

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　〃Idiot！〃　Gerenko　muttered；　turning　away　from　Dolgikh。　〃Dolt！　Why；　if　you'd　been　at　the　Chateau　that　night　I'd　suspect　you　of　being　involved　in　that　mess；　too！　You're　too　bloody　good　at　blowing　things　up；　Theo！〃
　Dolgikh　caught　his　slender　arm；　turned　him　about。　Gerenko's　talent　was　alerted。。。　but　so　far　the　KGB　man　intended　no　real　harm。　〃Listen；　you　spindly　thing；〃　Dolgikh　spat　the　words　out。　〃You　think　you're　so　high　and　mighty；　but　you　forget　that　I've　still　got　enough　on　you　to　put　you　away　for　the　rest　of　your　days！〃
　Back　in　the　ruins；　his　movements　covered　by　their　arguing；　Mikhail　Volkonsky　got　to　his　knees　and　then　dragged　himself　to　his　feet。　He'd　lost　an　arm　and　shoulder　and　most　of　his　face；　but　the　rest　of　him　still　worked。　He　shuffled　awkwardly　into　the　shadow　of　the　cliff；　drew　closer　to　the　three　live　ones。
　〃But　it's　mutual；　Theo；　it's　mutual！〃　Gerenko　mocked　the　KGB　agent。　〃And　it　isn't　only　you　I　can　damage　but　your　boss；　too。　How　would　Andropov　fare　if　I　let　it　out　that　he'd　been　trying　to　interfere　with　branch　work　again？　And　how　would　you　fare　after　that？　Overseer　in　a　salt　mine；　that's　where　you'd　be；　Theo！〃
　〃Why　you　runt！〃　Dolgikh　swelled　up　huge。　He　raised　his　fist。。。　and　a　strange　expectant　something　filled　the　air。　However　blunt　his　senses；　Dolgikh　felt　it　too。　〃Why；　I　could　…〃
　Gerenko　faced　him　squarely。　〃But　that's　just　the　point；　Theo。　You　couldn't！　Neither　you　nor　any　other　man。　Try　it　and　see　for　yourself。　It's　waiting　for　you　to　try；　Theo。　Go　on；　strike　me　if　you　dare。　You'll　be　lucky　if　you　merely　miss；　fall　over　in　the　stones　and　break　your　arm。　But　if　you're　unlucky　this　wall　could　fall　on　you　and　crush　you。　Your　superior　physical　strength？　Pah！　I。。。〃　He　paused　and　the　sneer　fell　from　his　face。　〃What　was　that？〃
　Dolgikh　lowered　his　threatening　hand；　listened。　There　was　only　the　keening　of　the　wind。　〃I　heard　nothing；〃　he　said。
　〃I　did；〃　said　Zek　F？ener；　shivering。　〃Rocks　falling　into　the　gorge。　e　on；　let's　get　out　of　here。　The　shadows　are　lengthening；　and　that　ledge　back　there　was　bad　enough　in　full　daylight。　Why　are　you　arguing；　anyway？　What's　done　is　done。〃
　〃Shh〃　said　Dolgikh；　his　eyes　going　wide。　He　leaned　forward；　pointing。　〃Now　I　hear　it…from　over　there。　Sliding　shale；　maybe　。　。
　At　the　rim　of　the　gorge；　back　along　the　track　and　hidden　by　the　undergrowth；　blunt　grey　fingers　came　up　from　the　depths。　Sergei　Gulharov's　shattered　head　came　up　slowly　and　stiffly；　then　a　shoulder；　and　an　arm　thrown　far　forward　to　take　the　strain　and　give　him　leverage。　Silent　as　a　shadow　now；　he　drew　himself　up　onto　firm；　flat　ground。
　〃The　temperature　is　falling　fast；〃　said　Gerenko　with　a　shudder；　perhaps　feeling　the　chill。　〃I've　had　enough　for　tonight。　Tomorrow　we'll　take　another　look；　and　if　it's　quite　hopeless　we　can　decide　what　to　do　then。〃　Wheezing　with　the　effort　and　gritting　his　small　teeth；　he　started　back　down　the　trail。　〃But　this　is　all　a　great　pity。　I　had　hoped　to　salvage　something；　if　only　a　little　face　。　。
　Dolgikh　grinned　after　him；　calling　out：　〃We're　pretty　close　to　the　border；　rade。　Have　you　ever　thought　of　defecting？〃　When　Gerenko　failed　to　answer；　he　muttered；　〃Shrivelled　little　shit！〃　Then　he　put　his　hand　on　Zek's　shoulder　and　she　felt　his　fingers　bite。　〃Well；　Zek；　shall　we　join　him；　or　perhaps　we'll　hang　back　a　little　and　do　some　stargazing；　eh？〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　first　in　astonishment；　then　outrage。　〃My　God！〃　she　said。　〃I'd　prefer　the　pany　of　pigs！〃
　Before　he　could　reply　she'd　turned　away。　She　started　after　Gerenko…then　jerked　to　a　halt；　freezing　in　her　tracks。　Someone　was　ing　up　the　trail　towards　them；　closing　on　Gerenko。　And　even　in　the　failing　light　it　was　obvious　that　the　someone　was　a　dead　man。　Lord　God　…he　had　only　half　a　head！
　Dolgikh　saw　him；　too；　and　knew　him。　He　recognised　his　fouled　clothing；　the　damage　a　snub…nosed　bullet　had　done　to　his　head。　〃Mother！〃　he　gulped。　〃Oh；　mother！〃
　Zek　screamed。　Screamed　again　as　a　huge　bloody　hand　passed　over　her　shoulder；　grabbed　Theo　Dolgikh　by　the　collar　and　spun　him　round。　Dolgikh's　eyes　stood　out　in　his　face。　Behind　the　girl　he　saw　a　second　corpse：　Mikhail　Volkonsky。　And；　God…Volkonsky　had　taken　hold　of　him　with　his　one　remaining　arm！
　Like　a　startled　cat；　Zek　bounded　out　from　between　them；　fleeing　after　Gerenko。　She　didn't　hear　the　mental　voices　of　the　dead；　saying：
　Oh；　yes；　these　are　the　ones；　Harry！　But　she　did　hear　his　answer：
　Then　1　can't　stop　you　taking　your　revenge。　And　she　knew　who　was　speaking；　and　guessed　who　he　was　speaking　to。
　〃Harry　Keogh！〃　she　screamed；　flinging　herself　breakneck　down　the　track。　〃God；　oh；　God；　you're　worse　than　all　of　us　together！〃
　Until　a　moment　ago　Harry　had　been　beyond　Zek's　reach　both　mental　and　physical；　hidden　in　the　metaphysical　M？bius　continuum。　Now　he　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　directly　in　her　path；　so　that　she　flew　gasping　into　his　arms。　For　a　moment　she　thought　he　was　another　dead　man　and　pounded　at　his　chest；　but　then　she　felt　his　warmth；　the　beat　of　his　heart　against　her　breast；　and　heard　his　voice。　〃Easy；　Zek；　easy。〃
　
　Wild…eyed；　she　pulled　back　from　him。　He　held　her　arms。　〃Easy；　I　said。　If　you　go　running　like　that　you'll　hurt　yourself。〃
　〃You。。。　you're　manding　them！〃　she　accused。
　He　shook　his　head　in　denial。　〃No；　I　only　called　them　up。　I'm　not　calling　the　shots。　What　they　do　is　for　themselves。〃
　〃What　they　do？〃　Breathlessly　she　looked　back　towards　the　ruined　castle；　where　mad；　frenzied　shadows　fought　and　tore。　She　glanced　down　the　track：　Gerenko　had　somehow　avoided　Gulharov's　lunges；　（his　talent；　of　course）　but　the　dead　man　was　limping　after　him。　Winds　tugged　at　Gulharov；　threatening　to　blow　him　back　into　the　gorge；　and　thorns　tore　at　his　legs　trying　to　trip　him　…but　still　he　pursued。
　〃Nothing　can　hurt　that　one；〃　Zek　gasped。　〃Living　or　dead；　men　are　only　men。　They　can't　touch　him。〃
　〃But　he　can　be　hurt；〃　said　Harry。　〃He　can　be　frightened；　too；　made　incautious。　And　it's　growing　dark；　the　ledge　back　there　is　narrow　and　dangerous；　there　can　easily　be　an　accident。　That's　what　my　friends　are　hoping；　that　there'll　be　an　accident。〃
　〃Your。。。　friends！〃　Hysteria　lifted　her　voice。
　Gunshots　sounded　from　the　ruins；　and　Dolgikh's　hoarse　screaming。　He　wasn't　simply　shouting　but　screaming；　like　a　terrified　animal；　for　he'd　just　discovered　that　you　can't　kill　the　dead。　Harry　covered　Zek's　ears；　drew　her　head　to　his　shoulder；　her　face　buried　in　his　neck。　He　didn't　want　her　to　see　or　hear。　He　didn't　want　to　see　or　hear；　and　so　stared　out　over　the　gorge　instead。
　Weaker　than　he'd　ever　been　before　in　his　life；　weak　with　terror；　Theo　Dolgikh　was　being　dragged　towards　the　rim　of　the　almost　sheer　drop。　Mikhail　Volkonsky；　on　the　other　hand；　was　as　strong　as　he'd　ever　been　in　life；　and　he　no　longer　felt　pain。　With　his　one　good　arm　round　Dolgikh's　neck；　the　huge　ganger　had　him　in　a　necklock　which　he　wouldn't　release　until　the　man　was　dead。　And　now　they　were　almost　there；　battling　ferociously　on　the　very　edge　of　the　gorge。　Which　was　when　Felix　Krakovitch　and　Carl　Quint　showed　up。
　Blown　to　pieces；　the　two　hadn't　been　able　to　do　much　until　now；　but　finally　Quint's　arms…only　his　arms…had　dragged　themselves　up　from　below；　and　Felix's　upper　torso；　limbless；　had　wriggled　its　way　out　of　the　castle's　debris。　As　the　arms　of　Quint　came　up　over　the　rim　and　grabbed　Dolgikh；　and　as　Felix's　severed；　sluglike　cadaver　wriggled　into　view　and　began　to　bite　at　him；　so　he　gave　up。　He　drew　air　for　one　last　scream；　filled　his　lungs　to　brimming…and　the　scream　simply　died　on　his　lips；　the　merest　gurgle　of　sound。　Then　he　closed　his　eyes　and　sighed；　and　all　of　the　air　whooshed　out　of　him。
　But　they　made　sure　anyway；　and　with　one　last　effort　dragged　him　over　the　edge　into　space。　His　body　pin…wheeled　down　the　face　of　the　cliff；　bounding　from　one　projection　to　the　next；　all　the　way　to　the　bottom。
　Harry　uncovered　Zek's　head；　said；　〃He's　finished　…Dolgikh；　I　mean。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　answered　with　a　half…sob。　〃I　read　it　in　your　mind。　And　Harry；　it's　cold　in　there　。　。
　He　gave　a　grim　nod。
　Haarrry？　A　distant　voice　came　to　him　as　he　released　her…one　that　only　he　and　the　dead　could　hear…one　he　knew　and　had　thought　never　to　hear　again。　Do　you　hear　me；　Haarrry？
　1　hear　you；　Faethor　of　the　Wamphyri；　he　answered。　What　is　it　you　want？
　Noooo…it's　what　you　want；　Haarrry。　You　want　Ivan　Gerenko　dead。　Well；　now　I　give　you　his　life。
　Harry　was　puzzled。　I　haven't　asked　any　favours　of　you；　not　this　time。
　But　they　did。　Faethor's　voice　was　a　grim　chuckle。　The　dead！
　
　Now　Felix　Krakovitch　spoke　up　from　the　bottom　of　the　gorge：　I　asked　him　to　help；　Harry。　I　knew　you　couldn't　kill　Gerenko；　no　more　than　we　can。　Not　directly。　But　indirectly。　。
　I　don't　understand。　Harry　shook　his　head。
　Then　look　up　at　the　ridge　there；　over　the　ledge；　said　Faethor。
　Harry　looked。　Silhouetted　against　the　dying　day；　a　straggling　line　of　scarecrow　figures　stood　silent　on　the　high；　precarious　ridge。　They　were　fretted；　skeletal；　crumbling…but　they　stood　there　and　awaited　the　Old　Ferengi's　mand。　My　ever　faithful；　my　Szgany！　said　Faethor；　that　once…mightiest　of　all　the　Wamphyri。　They　have　been　ing　here　for　centuries…ing　here；　waiting　for　me；　dying　and　being　buried　here…but　I　never　returned。　Over　them；　whose　blood　is　my　blood；　my　power　is　as　great　as　yours　is　over　the　moner　dead；　Harry　Keogh。　And　so　I　have　called　them　up。
　But　why？　Harry　demanded。　You　owe　me　nothing　now；　Faethor。
　I　loved　these　lands；　the　vampire　answered。　Perhaps　you　cannot　understand　that；　but　if　I　ever　loved　it　was　this　land；　this　place。　Thibor　could　tell　you　how　much　I　loved　it。
　Now　Harry　understood。　Gerenko。。。　invaded　your　territory！
　The　vampire's　growl　was　deep　and　merciless。　He　sent　a　man　here　who　was　responsible　for　reducing　my　house　to　dust！　My　last　vestige　on　earth！　And　now　there　is　nothing　to　show　that　I　ever　existed　at　all！　How　then　shall　I　reward　him？　Ahhh！　But　how　did　I　reward　Thibor？
　Harry　saw　what　was　ing。　You　buried　Thibor；　he　answered。
　So　be　it！　cried　Faethor。　And　he　gave　the　Szgany　on　the　ridge　his　final　mand…that　they　throw　themselves　down！
　Half…way　along　the　ledge；　Ivan　Gerenko　heard　the　clattering　of　ancient；　leather…clad　bones　and　fearfully　looked　up。　Down　from　that　high　place　they　fell；　breaking　up　as　they　came；　skulls　and　scraps　of　bone　and　flaps　of　fretted　flesh；　a　rain　of　dead　things　that　might　drown　him　in　mummied　remains。
　〃You　can't　hurt　me！〃　Gerenko　gibbered；　covering　his　wrinkled　head　as　the　first　ghastly　fragments　thudded　down　onto　the　ledge。　〃Not　even　dead　men。。。　can。。。　hurt　me？〃
　But　it　wasn't　their　intention　to　hurt　him；　they　didn't　even　know　he　was　there；　they'd　simply　obeyed　Faethor　and　hurled　themselves　down。　And　after　that　it　was　out　of　their　hands；　those　of　them　who　had　hands。　The　clattering　cascade　continued；　echoing　loudly；　and　over　and　above　the　pelting　of　gristly　bones；　now　there　swelled　a　new　sound：　a　terrible　grumbling　and　groaning；　but　in　no　way　the　groaning　of　the　dead。　They　were　the　groans　of　riven　rock；　of　sliding　shale　and　scree　and　accumulated　debris。　Avalanche！
　And　even　as　that　fact　dawned　on　Gerenko；　so　the　face　of　the　cliff　fell　on　him　and　he　was　swept　away　。
　
　Long　after　the　dust　had　settled　and　the　last　rumbling　echo　faded　away；　Harry　Keogh　stood　with　Z