sk.thewastelands-第104节

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　　〃This　was　no　nuclear　war；〃　Eddie　said。　〃This　。　。　。　this　。　。。〃　His　thin；　horrified　voice　sounded　like　that　of　a　child。
　　〃NOPE；〃　Blaine　agreed。　〃IT　WAS　A　LOT　WORSE　THAN　THAT；　AND　IT'S　NOT　OVER　YET。　WE　HAVE　REACHED　THE　POINT　WHERE　I　USUALLY　POWER　UP。　HAVE　YOU　SEEN　ENOUGH？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Susannah　said。　〃Oh　my　God　yes。〃
　　〃SHAM。　I　TURN　OFF　THE　VIEWERS；　THEN？〃　That　cruel；　teas…ing　note　was　hack　in　Blaine's　voice。　On　the　horizon；　a　jagged　nightmare　mountain…range　loomed　out　of　the　rain；　the　sterile　peaks　seemed　to　bite　at　the　gray　sky　like　fangs。
　　〃Do　it　or　don't　do　it；　but　stop　playing　games；〃　Roland　said。
　　〃FOR　SOMEONE　WHO　CAME　TO　ME　BEGGING　A　RIDE；　YOU　ARE　VERY　RUDE；〃　Blaine　said　sulkily。
　　〃We　earned　our　ride；〃　Susannah　replied。　〃We　solved　your　riddle；　didn't　we？〃
　　〃Besides；　this　is　what　you　were　built　for；〃　Eddie　chimed　in。　〃To　take　people　places。〃
　　Blaine　didn't　respond　in　words；　but　the　overhead　speakers　gave　out　an　amplified；　catlike　hiss　of　rage　that　made　Eddie　wish　he　had　kept　his　big　mouth　shut。　The　air　around　them　began　to　fill　in　with　curves　of　color。　The　dark　blue　carpet　appeared　again；　blotting　out　their　view　of　the　fum…ing　wilderness　beneath　them。　The　indirect　lighting　reappeared　and　they　were　once　again　sitting　in　the　Barony　Coach。
　　A　low　humming　began　to　vibrate　through　the　walls。　The　throb　of　the　engines　began　to　cycle　up　again。　Jake　felt　a　gentle；　unseen　hand　push　him　back　into　his　seat。　Oy　looked　around；　whined　uneasily；　and　began　to　lick　Jake's　face。　On　the　screen　at　the　front　of　the　cabin；　the　green　dot…now　slightly　southeast　of　the　violet　circle　with　the　word　LUD　printed　beside　it…began　to　flash　faster。
　　〃Will　we　feel　it？〃　Susannah　asked　uneasily。　〃When　it　goes　through　the　soundbarrier？〃
　　Eddie　shook　his　head。　〃Nope。　Relax。〃
　　〃I　know　something；〃　Jake　said　suddenly。　The　others　looked　around；　but　Jake　was　not　speaking　to　them。　He　was　looking　at　the　route…map。　Blaine　had　no　face；　of　course…like　Oz　the　Great　and　Terrible；　he　was　only　a　disembodied　voice…but　the　map　served　as　a　focusing　point。　〃I　know　something　about　you；　Blaine。〃
　　〃IS　THAT　A　FACT；　LITTLE　TRAILHAND？〃
　　Eddie　leaned　over；　placed　his　lips　against　Jake's　ear；　and　whispered：　〃Be　careful…we　don't　think　he　knows　about　the　other　voice。〃
　　Jake　nodded　slightly　and　pulled　away；　still　looking　at　the　route…map。　〃I　know　why　you　released　that　gas　and　killed　all　the　people。　I　know　why　you　took　us；　too；　and　it　wasn't　just　because　we　solved　your　riddle。〃
　　Blaine　uttered　his　abnormal；　distracted　laugh　（that　laugh；　they　were　discovering；　was　much　more　unpleasant　than　either　his　bad　imitations　or　melodramatic　and　somehow　childish　threats）；　but　said　nothing。　Below　them；　the　slo…trans　turbines　had　cycled　up　to　a　steady　thrum。　Even　with　their　view　of　the　outside　world　cut　off；　the　sensation　of　speed　was　very　clear。
　　〃You're　planning　to　mit　suicide；　aren't　you？〃　Jake　held　Oy　in　his　arms；　slowly　stroking　him。　〃And　you　want　to　take　us　with　you。〃
　　〃No！〃　the　voice　of　Little　Blaine　moaned。　〃If　you　provoke　him　you'll　drive　him　to　it！　Don't　you　see…〃
　　Then　the　small；　whispery　voice　was　either　cut　off　or　overwhelmed　by　Blaine's　laughter。　The　sound　was　high；　shrill；　and　jagged…the　sound　of　a　mortally　ill　man　laughing　in　a　delirium。　The　lights　began　to　flicker；　as　if　the　force　of　these　mechanical　gusts　of　mirth　were　drawing　too　much　power。　Their　shadows　jumped　up　and　down　on　the　curved　walls　of　the　Barony　Coach　like　uneasy　phantoms。
　　〃SEE　YOU　LATER；　ALLIGATOR；〃　Blaine　said　through　his　wild　laughter…his　voice；　calm　as　ever；　seemed　to　be　on　an　entirely　separate　track；　further　emphasizing　his　divided　mind。　〃AFTER　A　WHILE；　CROCODILE。　DON'T　FORGET　TO　WRITE。〃
　　Below　Roland's　band　of　pilgrims；　the　slo…trans　engines　throbbed　in　hard；　steady　beats。　And　on　the　route…map　at　the　front　of　the　carriage；　the　pulsing　green　dot　had　now　begun　to　move　perceptibly　along　the　lighted　line　toward　the　last　stop：　Topeka；　where　Blaine　the　Mono　clearly　meant　to　end　all　of　their　lives。
　　　
　　　9
　　AT　LAST　THE　LAUGHTER　stopped　and　the　interior　lights　glowed　steadily　again。
　　〃WOULD　YOU　LIKE　A　LITTLE　MUSIC？〃　Blaine　asked。　〃I　HAVE　OVER　SEVEN　THOUSAND　CONCERTI　IN　MY　LIBRARY…A　SAM…PLING　OF　OVER　THREE　HUNDRED　LEVELS。　THE　CONCERTI　ARE　MY　FAVORITES；　BUT　I　CAN　ALSO　OFFER　SYMPHONIES；　OPERAS；　AND　A　NEARLY　ENDLESS　SELECTION　OF　POPULAR　MUSIC。　YOU　MIGHT　ENJOY　SOME　WAY…GOG　MUSIC。　THE　WAY…GOG　IS　AN　INSTRUMENT　SOMETHING　LIKE　THE　BAGPIPE。　IT　IS　PLAYED　ON　ONE　OF　THE　UPPER　LEVELS　OF　THE　TOWER。〃
　　〃Way…Gog？〃　Jake　asked。　'
　　Blaine　was　silent。
　　〃What　do　you　mean；　'it's　played　on　one　of　the　upper　levels　of　the　Tower'？〃　Roland　asked。
　　Blaine　laughed　。　。　。　and　was　silent。
　　〃Have　you　got　any　Z。Z。　Top？〃　Eddie　asked　sourly。
　　〃YES　INDEED；〃　Blaine　said。　〃HOW　ABOUT　A　LITTLE　TUBE…SNAKE　BOOGIE；　EDDIE　OF　NEW　YORK？〃
　　Eddie　rolled　his　eyes。　〃On　second　thought；　I'll　pass。〃
　　〃Why？〃　Roland　asked　abruptly。　〃Why　do　you　wish　to　kill　yourself？〃
　　〃Because　lie's　a　pain；〃　Jake　said　darkly。
　　〃I'M　BORED。　ALSO；　I　AM　PERFECTLY　AWARE　THAT　I　AM　SUFFERING　A　DEGENERATIVE　DISEASE　WHICH　HUMANS　CALL　GOING　INSANE；　LOSING　TOUCH　WITH　REALITY；　GOING　LOONYTOONS；　BLOWING　A　FUSE；　NOT　PLAYING　WITH　A　FULL　DECK；　ET　CETERA。　REPEATED　DIAGNOSTIC　CHECKS　HAVE　FAILED　TO　REVEAL　THE　SOURCE　OF　THE　PROBLEM。　I　CAN　ONLY　CONCLUDE　THAT　THIS　IS　A　SPIRITUAL　MALAISE　BEYOND　MY　ABILITY　TO　REPAIR。〃
　　Blaine　paused　for　a　moment；　then　went　on。
　　〃I　HAVE　FELT　MY　MIND　GROWING　STEADILY　STRANGER　OVER　THE　YEARS。　SERVING　THE　PEOPLE　OF　MID…WORLD　BECAME　POINTLESS　CENTURIES　AGO。　SERVING　THOSE　FEW　PEOPLE　OF　LUD　WHO　WISHED　TO　VENTURE　ABROAD　BECAME　EQUALLY　SILLY　NOT　LONG　AFTER；　YET　I　CARRIED　ON　UNTIL　THE　ARRIVAL　OF　DAVID　QUICK；　A　SHORT　WHILE　AGO。　I　DON'T　REMEMBER　EXACTLY　WHEN　THAT　WAS。　DO　YOU　BELIEVE；　ROLAND　OF　GILEAD；　THAT　MACHINES　MAY　GROW　SENILE？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Roland's　voice　was　distant；　and　Eddie　only　had　to　look　at　his　face　to　know　that；　even　now；　hurtling　a　thousand　feet　over　hell　in　the　grip　of　a　machine　which　had　clearly　gone　insane；　the　gunslinger's　mind　had　once　more　turned　to　his　damned　Tower。
　　〃IN　A　WAY；　I　NEVER　STOPPED　SERVING　THE　PEOPLE　OF　LUD；〃　Blaine　said。　〃I　SERVED　THEM　EVEN　AS　I　RELEASED　THE　GAS　AND　KILLED　THEM。〃
　　Susannah　said；　〃You　are　insane；　if　you　believe　that。〃
　　〃YES；　BUT　I'M　NOT　CRAZY；〃　Blaine　said；　and　went　into　another　hysterical　laughing　fit。　At　last　the　robot　voice　resumed。
　　〃AT　SOME　POINT　THEY　FORGOT　THAT　THE　VOICE　OF　THE　MONO　WAS　ALSO　THE　VOICE　OF　THE　PUTER。　NOT　LONG　AFTER　THAT　THEY　FORGOT　I　WAS　A　SERVANT　AND　BEGAN　BELIEVING　I　WAS　A　GOD。　SINCE　I　WAS　BUILT　TO　SERVE；　I　FULFILLED　THEIR　REQUIREMENTS　AND　BECAME　WHAT　THEY　WANTED…A　GOD　DISPENSING　BOTH　FAVOR　AND　PUNISHMENT　ACCORDING　TO　WHIM　。。。　OR　RANDOM…ACCESS　MEMORY；　IF　YOU　PREFER。　THIS　AMUSED　ME　FOR　A　SHORT　WHILE。　THEN；　LAST　MONTH；　MY　ONLY　REMAINING　COLLEAGUE…PATRICIA…MITTED　SUICIDE。〃
　　Either　he　really　is　going　senile；　Susannah　thought；　or　his　inability　to　grasp　the　passage　of　time　is　another　manifestation　of　his　insanity；　or　it's　just　another　sign　of　how　sick　Roland's　world　has　gotten。
　　〃I　WAS　PLANNING　TO　FOLLOW　HER　EXAMPLE；　WHEN　YOU　CAME　ALONG。　INTERESTING　PEOPLE　WITH　A　KNOWL…EDGE　OF　RIDDLES！〃
　　〃Hold　it！〃　Eddie　said；　lifting　his　hand。　〃I　still　don't　have　this　straight。　I　suppose　I　can　understand　you　wanting　to　end　it　all；　the　people　who　built　you　are　gone；　there　haven't　been　many　passengers　over　the　last　two　or　three　hundred　years；　and　it　must　have　gotten　boring；　doing　the　Lud　to　Topeka　run　empty　all　the　time；　but…〃
　　〃NOW　WAIT　JUST　A　DARN　MINUTE；　PARD；〃　Blaine　said　in　his　John　Wayne　voice。　〃YOU　DON'T　WANT　TO　GET　THE　IDEA　THAT　I'M　NOTHING　BUT　A　TRAIN。　IN　A　WAY；　THE　BLAINE　YOU　ARE　SPEAKING　TO　IS　ALREADY　THREE　HUNDRED　MILES　BEHIND　US；　MUNICATING　BY　ENCRYPTED　MICROBURST　RADIO　TRANSMISSIONS。〃
　　Jake　suddenly　remembered　the　slim　silver　rod　he'd　seen　pushing　itself　out　of　Blaine's　brow。　The　antenna　of　his　father's　Mercedes…Benz　rose　out　of　its　socket　like　that　when　you　turned　on　the　radio。
　　That's　how　it's　municating　with　the　puter　banks　under　the　city；　he　thought。　If　we　could　break　that　antenna　off；　somehow　。　。　。
　　〃But　you　do　intend　to　kill　yourself；　no　matter　where　the　real　you　is；　don't　you？〃　Eddie　persisted。
　　No　answer…but　there　was　something　cagey　in　that　silence。　In　it　Eddie　sensed　Blaine　watching　。　。　。　and　waiting。
　　〃Were　you　awake　when　we　found　you？〃　Susannah　asked。　〃You　weren't；　were　you？〃
　　〃I　WAS　RUNNING　WHAT　THE　PUBES　CALLED　THE　GOD…DRUMS　ON　BEHALF　OF　THE　GRAYS；　BUT　THAT　WAS　ALL。　YOU　WOULD　SAY　I　WAS　DOZING。〃
　　〃Then　why　don't　you　just　take　us　to　the　end　of　the　line　and　go　back　to　sleep？〃
　　〃Because　he's　a　pain；〃　Jake　repeated　in　a　low　voice。
　　〃BECAUSE　THERE　ARE　DREAMS；〃　Blaine　said　at　exactly　the　same　time；　and　in　a　voice　that　was　eerily　like　Little　Blaine's。
　　〃Why　didn't　you　end　it　all　when　Patricia　destroyed　herself？〃　Eddie　asked。　〃For　that　matter；　if　your　brain　and　her　brain　are　both　part　of　the　same　puter；　how　e　you　both　didn't　step　out　together？〃
　　〃PATRICIA　WENT　MAD；〃　Blaine　said　patiently；　speaking　as　if　he　himself　had　not　just　admitted　the　same　thing　was　happening　to　him。　〃IN　HER　CASE；　THE　PROBLEM　INVOLVED　EQUIPMENT　MAL…FUNC