p&c.thunderhead-第2节

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　Was　that　the　crunch　of　glass　underfoot？　
　She　waited；　motionless　in　the　dim　light。　There　was　no　sound　but　the　faint　susurrus　of　wind。　If　a　car　had　driven　up；　she'd　have　heard　it。　She　continued　up　the　stairs。　
　It　was　even　darker　up　here；　all　the　windowboards　still　in　place。　She　turned　right　on　the　landing　and　shone　the　flashlight　into　her　old　bedroom。　Again　she　felt　the　familiar　pang　as　her　eyes　moved　over　the　pink　wallpaper；　now　hanging　in　strips　and　stained　like　an　old　map。　The　mattress　was　one　giant　packrat's　nest；　the　music　stand　for　her　oboe　broken　and　rusted；　the　floorboards　sprung。　A　bat　squeaked　overhead；　and　Nora　remembered　the　time　she'd　been　caught　trying　to　make　a　pet　out　of　one　of　them。　Her　mother　had　never　understood　her　childish　fascination　for　the　creatures。　
　She　moved　across　the　hall　to　her　brother's　room；　also　a　wreck。　Not　so　different　from　his　current　place。　But　over　the　smell　of　ruin；　she　thought　she　detected　the　faintest　scent　of　crushed　flowers　in　the　night　air。　Strange…the　windows　are　all　shuttered　up　here。　She　moved　down　the　hall　toward　her　parents'　bedroom。　
　This　time；　there　was　no　mistaking　it：　the　faint　tinkle　of　broken　glass　from　below。　She　stopped　again。　Was　it　a　rat；　scuttling　across　the　living　room　floor？　
　She　moved　silently　back　to　the　top　of　the　landing；　then　paused。　There　was　another　sound　from　below：　a　faint　thud。　As　she　waited　in　the　darkness；　she　heard　another　crunch；　sharper　this　time；　as　something　heavy　stepped　on　broken　glass。　
　Nora　exhaled　slowly；　a　tight　knot　of　muscle　squeezing　her　chest。　What　had　begun　as　an　irritating　errand　now　felt　like　something　else　entirely。　
　〃Who　is　it？〃　she　called　out。　
　Only　the　wind　answered。　
　She　swung　the　flashlight　beam　into　the　empty　stairwell。　Usually；　kids　would　run　at　the　first　sight　of　her　truck。　Not　this　time。　
　〃This　is　private　property！〃　she　yelled　in　her　steadiest　voice。　〃And　you're　trespassing。　The　police　are　on　their　way。〃　
　In　the　ensuing　silence；　there　came　another　footpad；　closer　to　the　stairwell。　
　〃Teresa？〃　Nora　called　again；　in　a　desperate　hope。　
　And　then　she　heard　something　else：　a　throaty；　menacing　sound　that　was　almost　a　growl。　
　Dogs；　she　thought　with　a　sudden　flood　of　relief。　There　were　feral　dogs　out　there；　and　they'd　been　using　the　house　as　a　shelter。　She　chose　not　to　think　about　why　this　was　somehow　a　forting　thought。　
　〃Yah！〃　she　cried；　waving　the　light。　〃Get　on　out　of　here！　Go　home！〃　
　Again；　silence　was　the　only　reply。　
　Nora　knew　how　to　handle　stray　dogs。　She　stomped　down　the　stairs；　speaking　loudly　and　firmly。　Reaching　the　bottom；　she　swept　the　beam　across　the　living　room。　
　It　was　empty。　The　dogs　must　have　run　at　the　sound　of　her　approach。　
　Nora　took　a　deep　breath。　Even　though　she　hadn't　inspected　her　parents'　bedroom；　she　decided　it　was　time　to　go。　
　As　she　headed　for　the　door；　she　heard　another　careful　footstep；　then　another；　excruciatingly　slow　and　deliberate。　
　She　flashed　her　light　toward　the　sounds　as　something　else　registered：　a　faint；　breathy　wheeze；　a　low；　monotonous　purring　mutter。　That　same　scent　of　flowers　wafted　through　the　heavy　air；　this　time　stronger。　
　She　stood　motionless；　paralyzed　by　the　unfamiliar　feeling　of　menace；　wondering　if　she　should　switch　off　the　flashlight　and　hide　herself　or　simply　make　a　run　for　it。　
　And　then　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　she　saw　a　huge；　pelted　form　racing　along　the　wall。　She　turned　to　confront　it　as　a　stunning　blow　landed　across　her　back。　
　She　fell　sprawling；　feeling　coarse　fur　at　the　nape　of　her　neck。　There　was　a　maniacal　wet　growling；　like　the　slavered　fighting　of　rabid　hounds。　She　lashed　into　the　figure　with　a　vicious　kick。　The　figure　snarled　but　relaxed　its　grip　slightly；　giving　Nora　a　moment　to　wrench　free。　Just　as　she　jumped　up；　a　second　figure　slammed　into　her　and　threw　her　to　the　ground；　landing　atop　her。　Nora　twisted；　feeling　broken　glass　digging　into　her　skin　as　the　dark　form　pinned　her　to　the　ground。　She　glimpsed　a　naked　belly；　covered　with　glowing　spots；　jaguar　stripes；　claws　of　horn　and　hair；　a　midriff；　dank　and　matted…wearing　a　belt　of　silver　conchos。　Narrow　eyes；　terrifyingly　red　and　bright；　stared　at　her　from　grimy　slits　in　a　buckskin　mask。　
　〃Where　is　it？〃　a　voice　rasped　in　her　face；　washing　her　in　the　cloyingly　sweet　stench　of　rotten　meat。　
　She　could　not　find　the　voice　to　reply。　
　〃Where　is　it？〃　the　voice　repeated；　crude；　imperfect；　like　a　beast　aping　human　speech。　Vicelike　claws　grasped　her　roughly　around　the　neck　and　right　arm。　
　〃What…〃　she　croaked。　
　〃The　letter；〃　it　said；　claws　tightening。　〃Or　we　rip　your　head　off。〃　
　She　jerked　in　sudden　fevered　struggle；　but　the　grip　on　her　neck　grew　stronger。　She　began　to　choke　in　pain　and　terror。　
　Suddenly；　a　flash　of　light　and　a　deafening　blast　cut　through　the　darkness。　She　felt　the　grip　slacken；　and　in　a　frenzy　she　twisted　free　of　the　claws。　She　rolled　over　as　a　second　blast　ripped　a　hole　in　the　ceiling　overhead；　showering　her　with　bits　of　lathe　and　plaster。　She　scrambled　desperately　to　her　feet；　shards　of　glass　skittering　across　the　floor。　Her　flashlight　had　rolled　away；　and　she　spun　around；　disoriented。　
　〃Nora？〃　she　heard。　〃That　you；　Nora？〃　Framed　in　the　dim　light　of　the　front　door；　a　plump　figure　was　standing；　shotgun　hanging　forward。　
　〃Teresa！〃　Nora　sobbed。　She　stumbled　toward　the　light。　
　〃You　okay？〃　Teresa　asked；　grabbing　Nora's　arm；　steadying　her。　
　〃I　don't　know。〃　
　〃Let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here。〃　
　Outside；　Nora　sank　to　the　ground；　gulping　the　cool　twilight　air　and　fighting　down　her　pounding　heart。　〃What　happened？〃　she　heard　Teresa　ask。　〃I　heard　noises；　some　kind　of　scuffle；　saw　your　light。〃　
　Nora　simply　shook　her　head；　gasping。　
　〃Those　were　some　hellacious…looking　wild　dogs。　Big　as　wolves；　almost。〃　
　Nora　shook　her　head　again。　〃No。　Not　dogs。　One　of　them　spoke　to　me。〃　
　Teresa　peered　at　her　more　closely。　〃Hey；　your　arm　looks　bitten。　Maybe　you'd　better　let　me　drive　you　to　the　hospital。〃　
　〃Absolutely　not。〃　
　But　Teresa　was　scanning　the　dim　outlines　of　the　house；　eyebrows　knitted。　〃They　sure　did　leave　in　a　hurry。　First　kids；　now　wild　dogs。　But　what　kind　of　dogs　could　vanish　so…〃　
　〃Teresa；　one　of　them　spoke　to　me。〃　
　Teresa　looked　at　her；　more　searchingly　this　time；　a　skeptical　look　creeping　into　her　eyes。　〃Must've　been　pretty　terrifying；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃You　should've　told　me　you　were　ing　out。　I'd　have　met　you　down　here　with　Se？or　Winchester。〃　She　patted　the　gun　fondly。　
　Nora　looked　at　her　solid　figure；　her　rattled　but　capable　face。　She　knew　the　woman　didn't　believe　her；　but　she　didn't　have　the　energy　to　argue。　〃Next　time　I　will；〃　she　said。　
　〃I　hope　there　won't　be　a　next　time；〃　said　Teresa　gently。　〃You　need　to　either　tear　this　place　down；　or　sell　it　and　let　someone　else　tear　it　down　for　you。　It's　being　a　problem；　and　not　just　for　you。〃　
　〃I　know　it's　an　eyesore。　But　I　just　hate　to　think　of　letting　it　go。　I'm　sorry　it's　caused　trouble　for　you。〃　
　〃I　would've　thought　this　might　change　your　mind。　Want　to　e　in　for　a　bite　of　something？〃　
　〃No　thanks；　Teresa；〃　Nora　said　as　firmly　as　she　could。　〃I'm　all　right。〃　
　〃Maybe；〃　came　the　reply。　〃But　you　better　get　a　rabies　shot　anyway。〃　
　Nora　watched　as　her　neighbor　turned　onto　the　narrow　trail　that　headed　back　up　the　hill。　Then　she　eased　into　the　driver's　seat　of　her　truck　and　locked　all　the　doors　with　a　shaking　hand。　She　sat　quietly；　feeling　the　air　move　in　and　out　of　her　lungs；　watching　Teresa's　dim　form　merge　slowly　with　the　dark　bulk　of　the　hillside。　When　at　last　she　felt　in　full　control　of　her　limbs；　she　reached　for　the　ignition；　wincing　at　a　sudden　stab　of　pain　in　her　neck。　
　She　turned　over　the　engine；　unsuccessfully；　and　cursed。　She　needed　a　new　vehicle；　along　with　a　new　everything　else　in　her　life。　
　She　tried　it　again；　and　after　a　sputtering　protest　the　engine　coughed　into　life。　She　punched　off　the　headlights　to　conserve　the　battery　and；　slouching　back　against　the　seat；　gently　pumped　the　accelerator；　waiting　for　the　engine　to　clear。　
　To　one　side；　a　flash　of　silver　winked　briefly。　She　turned　to　see　a　huge　shape；　black　and　furred；　bounding　toward　her　against　the　last　twilight　in　the　western　sky。　
　Nora　slammed　the　old　truck　into　gear；　punched　on　the　headlights；　and　gunned　the　engine。　It　roared　in　response　and　she　went　fishtailing　out　of　the　yard。　As　she　careened　through　the　inside　gate；　she　saw　with　consummate　horror　that　the　thing　was　racing　alongside　her。　
　She　jammed　the　accelerator　to　the　floor　as　the　truck　slewed　across　the　ranch　road；　spraying　mad　patterns　of　dirt；　whacking　a　cholla。　And　then；　the　thing　was　gone。　But　she　continued　to　accelerate　down　the　road　to　the　outer　gate；　wheels　pounding　the　washboard。　After　an　unbearably　long　moment；　her　headlights　finally　picked　up　the　outer　cattle　guard　looming　from　the　darkness　ahead；　the　row　of　old　mailboxes　nailed　to　a　long　horizontal　board　beside　it。　Too　late；　Nora　jammed　on　the　brakes；　the　truck　struck　the　cattle　guard　and　was　airborne。　She　landed　heavily　and　skidded　in　the　sand；　striking　the　old　board。　There　was　the　crunch　of　splintering　wood　and　the　boxes　were　flung　to　the　ground。　
　She　sat　in　the　truck；　breathing　hard；　dust　smoking　up　around　her　lights。　She　dropped　into　rev