sk.thegunslinger-第8节

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Sylvia　Pittston　reached　down　and　grasped　his　head。　The　man's　cry　ceased　as　her　fingers；　strong　and　white；　unblemished　and　gentle；　worked　through　his　hair。　He　looked　up　at　her　dumbly。
〃Who　was　with　you　in　sin？〃　She　asked。　Her　eyes　looked　into　his；　deep　enough；　gentle　enough；　cold　enough　to　drown　in。
〃The。。　。　the　Interloper。〃
〃Called　who？〃
〃Called　Satan。〃　Raw；　oozing　whisper。
〃Will　you　renounce？〃
Eagerly：　〃Yes！　Yes！　Oh；　my　Jesus　Savior！〃
She　rocked　his　head；　he　stared　at　her　with　the　blank；　shiny　eyes　of　the　zealot。　〃If　he　walked　through　that　door
　〃　she　hammered　a　finger　at　the　vestibule　shadows　where　the　gunslinger　stood　　〃would　you　renounce　him　to　his　face？〃
〃On　my　mother's　name！〃
〃Do　you　believe　in　the　eternal　love　of　Jesus？〃
He　began　to　weep。　〃Your　fucking…A　I　do　　〃
〃He　forgives　you　that；　Jonson。〃
〃Praise　God；〃　Jonson　said；　still　weeping。
〃I　know　he　forgives　you　just　as　I　know　he　will　cast　out　the　unrepentant　from　his　palaces　and　into　the　place　of　burning　darkness。　〃
〃Praise　God。　〃　The　congregation　drained；　spoke　it　solemnly。
〃Just　as　I　know　this　Interloper；　this　Satan；　this　Lord　of　Flies　and　Serpents　will　be　cast　down　and　crushed。　。　。　will　you　crush　him　if　you　see　him；　Jonson？〃
〃Yes　and　praise　God！〃　Jonson　wept。
〃Will　you　crush　him　if　you　see　him；　brothers　and　sisters？〃
〃Yess。。。　〃　Sated。
〃If　you　see　him　sashaying　down　Main　St　tomorrow？〃
〃Praise　God。。。　〃
The　gunslinger；　unsettled；　at　the　same　time；　faded　back　out　the　door　and　headed　for　town。　The　smell　of　the　desert　was　clear　in　the　air。　Almost　time　to　move　on。　Almost
　
　
XIII
　
　
In　bed　again。
〃She　won't　see　you；〃　Allie　said。　She　sounded　frightened。　〃She　doesn't　see　anybody。　She　only　es　out　on　Sunday　evenings　to　scare　the　hell　out　of　everybody。〃
〃How　long　has　she　been　here？〃
〃Twelve　years　or　so。　Let's　not　talk　about　her。〃
〃Where　did　she　e　from？　Which　direction？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃　Lying。
〃Allie？〃
〃I　don't　know！〃
〃Allie？〃
〃All　right！　All　right！　She　came　from　the　dwellers！　From　the　desert！〃
〃I　thought　so。〃　He　relaxed　a　little。　〃Where　does　she　live？〃
Her　voice　dropped　a　notch。　〃If　I　tell　you；　will　you　make　love　to　me？〃
〃You　know　the　answer　to　that。〃
She　sighed。　It　was　an　old；　yellow　sound；　like　turning　pages。　〃She　has　a　house　over　the　knoll　in　back　of　the　church。　A　little　shack。　It's　where　the　。　。　。　the　real　minister　used　to　live　until　he　moved　out。　Is　that　enough？　Are　you　satisfied？〃
〃No。　Not　yet。〃　And　he　rolled　on　top　of　her。
　
　
XIV
　
　
It　was　the　last　day；　and　he　knew　it。
The　sky　was　an　ugly；　bruised　purple；　weirdly　lit　from　above　with　the　first　fingers　of　dawn。　Allie　moved　about　like　a　wraith；　lighting　lamps；　tending　the　corn　fritters　that　spluttered　in　the　skillet。　He　had　loved　her　hard　after　she　had　told　him　what　he　had　to　know；　and　she　had　sensed　the　ing　end　and　had　given　more　than　she　had　ever　given；　and　she　had　given　it　with　desperation　against　the　ing　of　dawn；　given　it　with　the　tireless　energy　of　sixteen。　But　she　was　pale　this　morning；　on　the　brink　of　menopause　again。
She　served　him　without　a　word。　He　ate　rapidly；　chewing；　swallowing；　chasing　each　bite　with　hot　coffee。　Allie　went　to　the　batwings　and　stood　staring　out　at　the　morning；　at　the　silent　battalions　of　slow…moving　clouds。
〃It's　going　to　dust　up　today。　〃
〃I'm　not　surprised。〃
〃Are　you　ever？〃　She　asked　ironically；　and　turned　to　watch　him　get　his　hat。　He　clapped　it　on　his　head　and　brushed　past　her。
〃Sometimes；〃　he　told　her。　He　only　saw　her　once　more　alive。
　
　
XV
　
　
By　the　time　he　reached　Sylvia　Pittston's　shack；　the　wind　had　died　utterly　and　the　whole　world　seemed　to　wait。　He　had　been　in　desert　country　long　enough　to　know　that　the　longer　the　lull；　the　harder　the　wind　would　blow　when　it　finally　decided　to　start　up。　A　queer；　flat　light　hung　over　everything。
There　was　a　large　wooden　cross　nailed　to　the　door　of　the　place；　which　was　leaning　and　tired。　He　rapped　and　waited。　No　answer。　He　rapped　again。　No　answer。　He　drew　back　and　kicked　in　the　door　with　one　hard　shot　of　his　right　boot。　A　small　bolt　on　the　inside　ripped　free。　The　door　banged　against　a　haphazardly　planked　wall　and　scared　rats　into　skittering　flight　Sylvia　Pittston　sat　in　the　hall；　sat　in　a　mammoth　darkwood　rocker；　and　looked　at　him　calmly　with　those　great　and　dark　eyes。　The　stormlight　fell　on　her　cheeks　in　terrifying　halftones。　She　wore　a　shawl。　The　rocker　made　tiny　squeaking　noises。
They　looked　at　each　other　for　a　long；　clockless　moment。
〃You　will　never　catch　him；〃　she　said。　〃You　walk　in　the　way　of　evil。〃
〃He　came　to　you；〃　the　gunslinger　said。
〃And　to　my　bed。　He　spoke　to　me　in　the　Tongue。　He　　〃
〃He　screwed　you。　〃
She　did　not　flinch。　〃You　walk　an　evil　way；　gunslinger。　You　stand　in　shadows。　You　stood　in　the　shadows　of　the　holy　place　last　night　Did　you　think　I　couldn't　see　you？〃
〃Why　did　he　heal　the　weedeater？〃
〃He　was　an　angel　of　God。　He　said　so。〃
〃I　hope　he　smiled　when　he　said　it。〃
She　drew　her　lip　back　from　her　teeth　in　an　unconsciously　feral　gesture。　〃He　told　me　you　would　follow。　He　told　me　what　to　do。　He　said　you　are　the　Antichrist〃
The　gunslinger　shook　his　head。　〃He　didn't　say　that。〃
She　smiled　up　at　him　lazily。　〃He　said　you　would　want　to　bed　me。　Do　you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃The　price　is　your　life；　gunslinger。　He　has　got　me　with　child。。。　the　child　of　an　angel。　If　you　invade　me　　〃　She　let　the　lazy　smile　plete　her　thought　At　the　same　time　she　gestured　with　her　huge；　mountainous　thighs。　They　stretched　beneath　her　garment　like　pure　marble　slabs。　The　effect　was　dizzying。
The　gunslinger　dropped　his　hands　to　the　butts　of　his　pistols。　〃You　have　a　demon；　woman。　I　can　remove　it〃
The　effect　was　instantaneous。　She　recoiled　against　the　chair；　and　a　weasel　look　flashed　on　her　face。　〃Don't　touch　me！　Don't　e　near　me！　You　dare　not　touch　the　Bride　of　God！〃
〃Want　to　bet？〃　the　gunslinger　said；　grinning。　He　stepped　toward　her。
The　flesh　on　the　huge　frame　quaked。　Her　face　had　bee　a　caricature　of　crazed　terror；　and　she　stabbed　the　sign　of　the　Eye　at　him　with　pronged　fingers。
〃The　desert；〃　the　gunslinger　said。　〃What　after　the　desert？〃
〃You'll　never　catch　him！　Never！　Never！　You'll　burn！　He　told　me　so！〃
〃I'll　catch　him；〃　the　gunslinger　said。　〃We　both　know　it。　What　is　beyond　the　desert？〃
〃No！〃
〃Answer　me！〃
〃No！〃
He　slid　forward；　dropped　to　his　knees；　and　grabbed　her　thighs。　Her　legs　locked　like　a　vise。　She　made　strange；　lustful　keening　noises。
〃The　demon；　then；〃　he　said。
〃No　　〃
He　pried　the　legs　apart　and　upholstered　one　of　his　guns。
〃No！　No！　No！〃　Her　breath　came　in　short；　savage　grunts。
〃Answer　me。　〃
She　rocked　in　the　chair　and　the　floor　trembled。　Prayers　and　garbled　bits　of　jargon　flew　from　her　lips。
He　rammed　the　barrel　of　the　gun　forward。　He　could　feel　the　terrified　wind　sucked　into　her　lungs　more　than　he　could　hear　it　Her　hands　beat　at　his　head；　her　legs　drummed　against　the　floor。　And　at　the　same　time　the　huge　body　tried　to　take　the　invader　and　enwomb　it。　Outside　nothing　watched　them　but　the　bruised　sky。
She　screamed　something；　high　and　inarticulate。
〃What？〃
〃Mountains！〃
〃What　about　them？〃
〃He　stops。。。　on　the　other　side。。。　sssweet　Jesus！。。。　to　inmake　his　strength。　Medinmeditation；　do　you　understand？　Oh　。　。。　I'm　。　。。　I'm　。　。　。　〃
The　whole　huge　mountain　of　flesh　suddenly　strained　forward　and　upward；　yet　he　was　careful　not　to　let　her　secret　flesh　touch　him。
Then　she　seemed　to　wilt　and　grow　smaller；　and　she　wept　with　her　hands　in　her　lap。
〃So；〃　he　said；　getting　up。　〃The　demon　is　served；　eh？〃
〃Get　out。　You've　killed　the　child。　Get　out　Get　out。〃
He　stopped　at　the　door　and　looked　back。　〃No　child；〃　he　said　briefly。　〃No　angel；　no　demon。〃
〃Leave　me　alone。〃
He　did。
　
　
XVI
　
　
By　the　time　he　arrived　at　Kennerly's；　a　queer　obscurity　had　e　over　the　northern　horizon　and　he　knew　it　was　dust。　Over　Tull　the　air　was　still　dead　quiet。
Kennerly　was　waiting　for　him　on　the　chaffstrewn　stage　that　was　the　floor　of　his　barn。　〃Leaving？〃　He　grinned　abjectly　at　the　gunslinger。
〃Yes。〃
〃Not　before　the　storm？〃
〃Ahead　of　it〃
〃The　wind　goes　faster　than　a　man　on　a　mule。　In　the　open　it　can　kill　you。〃
〃I'll　want　the　mule　now；〃　the　gunslinger　said　simply。
〃Sure。〃　But　Kennerly　did　not　turn　away；　merely　stood　as　if　searching　for　something　further　to　say；　grinning　his　groveling；　hatefilled　grin；　and　his　eyes　flicked　up　and　over　the　gunslinger's　shoulder。
The　gunslinger　sidestepped　and　turned　at　the　same　time；　and　the　heavy　stick　of　stovewood　that　the　girl　Soobie　held　swished　through　the　air；　grazing　his　elbow　only。　She　lost　hold　of　it　with　the　force　of　her　swing　and　it　clattered　over　the　floor。　In　the　explosive　height　of　the　loft；　barn　swallows　took　shadowed　wing。
The　girl　looked　at　him　bovinely。　Her　breasts　thrust　with　overripe　grandeur　at　the　washfaded　shirt　she　wore。　One　thumb　sought　the　haven　of　her　mouth　with　dreamlike　slowness。
The　gunslinger　turned　back　to　Kennerly。　Kennerly's　grin　was　huge。　His　skin　was　waxy　yellow。　His　eyes　rolled　in　their　sockets。　〃I　　〃　he　began　in　a　phlegmfilled　whisper　and　could　not　continue。
〃The　mule；〃　the　gunslinger　prodded　gently。
〃Sure；　sure；　sure；〃　Kennerly　whispered；　the　grin　now　touched　with　incredulity。　He　shuffled　after　it。
He　moved　to　where　he　could　watch　Kennerly；　The　hostler　brought　the　mule　back　and　handed　him　the　bridle。
〃You　get　in　an　tend　your　sister；〃　he　said　to　Soo