cb.booksofblood-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


g　up　the　path　towards　the　gate。　Escaping。　Escaping。
　　The　Yattering　howled　again；　forgetting　its　years　of　training。　Every　lesson　it　had　learned；　every　rule　of　battle　engraved　on　its　skull　was　submerged　by　the　simple　desire　to　have　Polo's　life。
　　It　stepped　over　the　threshold　and　gave　chase。　It　was　an　unpardonable　transgression。　Somewhere　in　Hell；　the　powers　（long　may　they　hold　court；　long　may　they　shit　light　on　the　heads　of　the　damned）　felt　the　sin；　and　knew　the　war　for　Jack　Polo's　soul　was　lost。
　　Jack　felt　it　too。　He　heard　the　sound　of　boiling　water；　as　the　demon's　footsteps　melted　to　steam　the　snow　on　the　path。　It　was　ing　after　him！　The　thing　had　broken　the　first　rule　of　its　existence。　It　was　forfeit。　He　felt　the　victory　in　his　spine；　and　his　stomach。
　　The　demon　overtook　him　at　the　gate。　Its　breath　could　clearly　be　seen　in　the　air；　though　the　body　it　emanated　from　had　not　yet　bee　visible。
　　Jack　tried　to　open　the　gate；　but　the　Yanering　slammed　it　shut。
　　〃Che　sera；　sera；〃　said　Jack。
　　The　Yattering　could　bear　it　no　longer。　He　took　Jack's　head　in　his　hands；　intending　to　crush　the　fragile　bone　to　dust。
　　The　touch　was　its　second　sin；　and　it　agonized　the　Yattering　beyond　endurance。　It　bayed　like　a　banshee　and　reeled　away　from　the　contact；　sliding　in　the　snow　and　falling　on　its　back。
　　It　knew　its　mistake。　The　lessons　it　had　had　beaten　into　it　came　hurtling　back。　It　knew　the　punishment　too；　for　leaving　the　house；　for　touching　the　man。　It　was　bound　to　a　new　lord；　enslaved　to　this　idiot…creature　standing　over　it。
　　Polo　had　won。
　　He　was　laughing；　watching　the　way　the　outline　of　the　demon　formed　in　the　snow　on　the　path。　Like　a　photograph　developing　on　a　sheet　of　paper；　the　image　of　the　fury　came　clear。　The　law　was　taking　its　toll。　The　Yattering　could　never　hide　from　its　master　again。　There　it　was；　plain　to　Polo's　eyes；　in　all　its　charmless　glory。　Maroon　flesh　and　bright　lidless　eye；　arms　flailing；　tail　thrashing　the　snow　to　slush。
　　〃You　bastard；〃　it　said。　Its　accent　had　an　Australian　lilt。
　　〃You　will　not　speak　unless　spoken　to；〃　said　Polo；　with　quiet；　but　absolute；　authority。　〃Understood？〃　The　lidless　eye　clouded　with　humility。
　　〃Yes；〃　the　Yattering　said。
　　〃Yes；　Mister　Polo。〃
　　〃Yes；　Mister　Polo。〃　Its　tail　slipped　between　its　legs　like　that　of　a　whipped　dog。
　　〃You　may　stand。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mr　Polo。〃　It　stood。　Not　a　pleasant　sight；　but　one　Jack　rejoiced　in　nevertheless。
　　〃They'll　have　you　yet；〃　said　the　Yattering。
　　〃Who　will？〃
　　〃You　know；〃　it　said；　hesitantly。
　　〃Name　them。〃
　　〃Beelzebub；〃　it　answered；　proud　to　name　its　old　master。　〃The　powers。　Hell　itself。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Polo　mused。　〃Not　with　you　bound　to　me　as　proof　of　my　skills。　Aren't　I　the　better　of　them？〃　The　eye　looked　sullen。
　　〃Aren't　I？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　it　conceded　bitterly。　〃Yes。　You　are　the　better　of　them。〃　It　had　begun　to　shiver。
　　〃Are　you　cold？〃　asked　Polo。
　　It　nodded；　affecting　the　look　of　a　lost　child。
　　〃Then　you　need　some　exercise；〃　he　said。　〃You'd　better　go　back　into　the　house　and　start　tidying　up。〃　The　fury　looked　bewildered；　even　disappointed；　by　this　instruction。
　　〃Nothing　more？〃　it　asked　incredulously。　〃No　miracles？　No　Helen　of　Troy？　No　flying？〃　The　thought　of　flying　on　a　snow…spattered　afternoon　like　this　left　Polo　cold。　He　was　essentially　a　man　of　simple　tastes：　all　he　asked　for　in　life　was　the　love　of　his　children；　a　pleasant　home；　and　a　good　trading　price　for　gherkins。
　　〃No　flying；〃　he　said。
　　As　the　Yattering　slouched　down　the　path　towards　the　door　it　seemed　to　alight　upon　a　new　piece　of　mischief。　It　turned　back　to　Polo；　obsequious；　but　unmistakably　smug。
　　〃Could　I　just　say　something？〃　it　said。
　　〃Speak。〃
　　〃It's　only　fair　that　I　inform　you　that　it's　considered　ungodly　to　have　any　contact　with　the　likes　of　me。　Heretical　even。〃
　　〃Is　that　so？〃
　　〃Oh　yes；〃　said　the　Yattering；　warming　to　its　prophecy。　〃People　have　been　burned　for　less。〃
　　〃Not　in　this　day　and　age；〃　Polo　replied。
　　〃But　the　Seraphim　will　see；〃　it　said。　〃And　that　means　you'll　never　go　to　that　place。〃
　　〃What　place？〃　The　Yattering　fumbled　for　the　special　word　it　had　heard　Beelzebub　use。
　　〃Heaven；〃　it　said；　triumphant。　An　ugly　grin　had　e　on　to　its　face；　this　was　the　cleverest　manoeuvre　it　had　ever　attempted；　it　was　juggling　theology　here。
　　Jack　nodded　slowly；　nibbling　at　his　bottom　lip。
　　The　creature　was　probably　telling　the　truth：　association　with　it　or　its　like　would　not　be　looked　upon　benignly　by　the　Host　of　Saints　and　Angels。　He　probably　was　forbidden　access　to　the　plains　of　paradise。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　what　I　have　to　say　about　that；　don't　you？〃　The　Yattering　stared　at　him；　frowning。　No；　it　didn't　know。　Then　the　grin　of　satisfaction　it　had　been　wearing　died；　as　it　saw　just　what　Polo　was　driving　at。
　　〃What　do　I　say？〃　Polo　asked　it。
　　Defeated；　the　Yattering　murmured　the　phrase。
　　〃Che　sera；　sera。〃　Polo　smiled。　〃There's　a　chance　for　you　yet；〃　he　said；　and　led　the　way　over　the　threshold；　closing　the　door　with　something　very　like　serenity　on　his　face。
　　
　　
　　
　　　PIG　BLOOD　BLUES
　　
　　
　　YOU　COULD　SMELL　the　kids　before　you　could　see　them；　their　young　sweat　turned　stale　in　corridors　with　barred　windows；　their　bolted　breath　sour；　their　heads　musty。　Then　their　voices；　subdued　by　the　rules　of　confinement。
　　Don't　run。　Don't　shout。　Don't　whistle。　Don't　fight。
　　They　called　it　a　Remand　Centre　for　Adolescent　Offenders；　but　it　was　near　as　damn　it　a　prison。　There　were　locks　and　keys　and　warders。　The　gestures　of　liberalism　were　few　and　far　between　and　they　didn't　disguise　the　truth　too　well；　Tetherdowne　was　a　prison　by　sweeter　name；　and　the　inmates　knew　it。
　　Not　that　Redman　had　any　illusions　about　his　pupils…to…be。　They　were　hard；　and　they　were　locked　away　for　a　reason。　Most　of　them　would　rob　you　blind　as　soon　as　look　at　you；　cripple　you　if　it　suited　them；　no　sweat。　He　had　too　many　years　in　the　force　to　believe　the　sociological　lie。　He　knew　the　victims；　and　he　knew　the　kids。　They　weren't　misunderstood　morons；　they　were　quick　and　sharp　and　amoral；　like　the　razors　they　hid　under　their　tongues。　They　had　no　use　for　sentiment；　they　just　wanted　out。
　　〃Wele　to　Tetherdowne。〃　Was　the　woman's　name　Leverton；　or　Leverfall；　or…〃I'm　Doctor　Leverthal〃　Leverthal。　Yes。　Hard…bitten　bitch　he'd　met　at…〃We　met　at　the　interview。〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃We're　glad　to　see　you；　Mr　Redman。〃
　　〃Neil；　please　call　me　Neil。〃
　　〃We　try　not　to　go　on　a　first　name　basis　in　front　of　the　boys；　we　find　they　think　they've　got　a　finger　into　your　private　life。　So　I'd　prefer　you　to　keep　Christian　names　purely　for　off…duty　hours。〃　She　didn't　offer　hers。　Probably　something　flinty。
　　Yvonne。　Lydia。　He'd　invent　something　appropriate。
　　She　looked　fifty；　and　was　probably　ten　years　younger。
　　No　make…up；　hair　tied　back　so　severely　he　wondered　her　eyes　didn't　pop。
　　〃You'll　be　beginning　classes　the　day　after　tomorrow。　The　Governor　asked　me　to　wele　you　to　the　Centre　on　his　behalf；　and　apologise　to　you　that　he　can't　be　here　himself。　There　are　funding　problems。〃
　　〃Aren't　there　always？〃
　　〃Regrettably　yes。　I'm　afraid　we're　swimming　against　the　tide　here；　the　general　mood　of　the　country　is　very　Law　and　Order　orientated。〃　What　was　that　a　nice　way　of　saying？　Beat　the　shit　out　of　any　kid　caught　so　much　as　jay…walking？　Yes；　he'd　been　that　way　himself　in　his　time；　and　it　was　a　nasty　little　cul…de…sac；　every　bit　as　bad　as　being　sentimental。
　　〃The　fact　is；　we　may　lose　Tetherdowne　altogether；〃　she　said；　〃which　would　be　a　shame。　I　know　it　doesn't　look　like　much　。　。　。〃
　　〃…but　it's　home；〃　he　laughed。　The　joke　fell　among　thieves。　She　didn't　even　seem　to　hear　it。
　　〃You；〃　her　tone　hardened；　〃you　have　a　solid　（did　she　say　sullied？）　background　in　the　Police　Force。　Our　hope　is　that　your　appointment　here　will　be　weled　by　the　funding　authorities。〃　So　that　was　it。　Token　ex…policeman　brought　in　to　appease　the　powers　that　be；　to　show　willing　in　the　discipline　department。　They　didn't　really　want　him　here。　They　wanted　some　sociologist　who'd　write　up　reports　on　the　effect　of　the　class…system　on　brutality　amongst　teenagers。　She　was　quietly　telling　him　that　he　was　the　odd　man　out。
　　〃I　told　you　why　I　left　the　force。〃
　　〃You　mentioned　it。　Invalided　out。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　take　a　desk　job；　it　was　as　simple　as　that；　and　they　wouldn't　let　me　do　what　I　did　best。　Danger　to　myself　according　to　some　of　them。〃　She　seemed　a　little　embarrassed　by　his　explanation。　Her　a　psychologist　too；　she　should　have　been　devouring　this　stuff；　it　was　his　private　hurt　he　was　making　public　here。　He　was　ing　clean；　for　Christ's　sake。
　　〃So　I　was　out　on　my　backside；　after　twenty…four　years。〃　He　hesitated；　then　said　his　piece。　〃I'm　not　a　token　policeman；　I'm　not　any　kind　of　policeman。　The　force　and　I　parted　pany。　Understand　what　I'm　saying？〃
　　〃Good；　good。〃　She　didn't　understand　a　bloody　word。　He　tried　another　approach。
　　〃I'd　like　to　know　what　the　boys　have　been　told。〃
　　〃Been　told？〃
　　〃About　me。〃
　　〃Well；　something　of　your　background。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　They'd　been　warned。　Here　e　the　pigs。
　　〃It　seemed　important。〃　He　grunted。
　　〃You　see；　so　many　of　these　boys　have　real