sk.thewastelands-第7节

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uck　a　small　tree；　rebounded；　almost　fell　over；　and　then　began　to　circle　again。
　　〃No　need；〃　Roland　said。　She　felt　his　hands　grip　her　waist　and　lift　her。　A　moment　later　she　was　sitting　on　the　ground　with　her　thighs　folded　beneath　her。　Eddie　was　slowly　and　shakily　descending　the　pine；　but　she　didn't　see　him。　She　could　not　take　her　eyes　from　the　bear。
　　She　had　seen　the　whales　at　the　Seaquarium　near　Mystic；　Connecti…cut；　and　believed　they　had　been　bigger　than　this…much　bigger；　proba…bly…but　this　was　certainly　the　largest　land　creature　she　had　ever　seen。　And　it　was　clearly　dying。　Its　roars　had　bee　liquid　bubbling　sounds；　and　although　its　eyes　were　open；　it　seemed　blind。　It　flailed　aimlessly　about　the　camp；　knocking　over　a　rack　of　curing　hides；　stamping　flat　the　little　shelter　she　shared　with　Eddie；　caroming　off　trees。　She　could　see　the　steel　post　rising　from　its　head。　Tendrils　of　smoke　were　rising　around　it；　as　if　her　shot　had　ignited　its　brains。
　　Eddie　reached　the　lowest　branch　of　the　tree　which　had　saved　his　life　and　sat　shakily　astride　it。　〃Holy　Mary　Mother　of　God；　he　said。　〃I'm　looking　right　at　it　and　I　still　don　t　beli…〃
　　The　bear　wheeled　back　toward　him。　Eddie　leaped　nimbly　from　the　tree　and　streaked　toward　Susannah　and　Roland。　The　bear　took　no　notice；　it　marched　drunkenly　to　the　pine　which　had　been　Eddie's　refuge；　tried　to　grasp　it；　failed；　and　sank　to　its　knees。　Now　they　could　hear　other　sounds　ing　from　inside　it；　sounds　that　made　Eddie　think　of　some　huge　truck　engine　stripping　its　gears。
　　A　spasm　convulsed　it；　bowed　its　back。　Its　front　claws　rose　and　gored　madly　at　its　own　face。　Worm…infested　blood　flew　and　splattered。　Then　it　fell　over；　making　the　ground　tremble　with　its　fall；　and　lay　still。　After　all　its　strange　centuries；　the　bear　the　Old　People　had　called　Mir…the　world　beneath　the　world…was　dead。
　　　
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　　EDDIE　PICKED　SUSANNAH　UP；　held　her　with　his　sticky　hands　locked　together　at　the　small　of　her　back；　and　kissed　her　deeply。　He　reeked　of　sweat　and　pine…tar。　She　touched　his　cheeks；　his　neck；　she　ran　her　hands　through　his　wet　hair。　She　felt　an　insane　urge　to　touch　him　everywhere　until　she　was　absolutely　sure　of　his　reality。
　　〃It　almost　had　me；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　like　being　on　some　crazy　carni…val　ride。　What　a　shot！　Jesus；　Suze…what　a　shot！'
　　〃I　hope　I　never　have　to　do　anything　like　that　again；〃　she　said　。　。　。but　a　small　voice　at　the　center　of　her　demurred。　That　voice　suggested　that　she　could　not　wait　to　do　something　like　that　again。　And　it　was　cold；　that　voice。　Cold。
　　〃What　was…〃　he　began；　turning　toward　Roland；　but　Roland　was　no　longer　standing　there。　He　was　walking　slowly　toward　the　bear；　which　now　lay　on　the　ground　with　its　shaggy　knees　up。　From　within　it　came　a　series　of　muffled　gasps　and　gurgles　as　its　strange　guts　continued　to　slowly　run　down。
　　Roland　saw　his　knife　planted　deep　in　a　tree　near　the　scarred　veteran　that　had　saved　Eddie's　life。　He　pulled　it　free　and　wiped　it　clean　on　the　soft　deerskin　shirt　which　had　replaced　the　tatters　he　had　been　wearing　when　the　three　of　them　had　left　the　beach。　He　stood　by　the　bear；　looking　down　at　it　with　an　expression　of　pity　and　wonder。
　　Hello；　stranger；　he　thought。　Hello；　old　friend。　I　never　believed　in　you；　not　really。　I　believe　Alain　did；　and　I　know　that　Cuthbert　did…Cuthbert　believed　in　everything…but　I　was　the　hardheaded　one。　I　thought　you　were　only　a　tale　for　children　。　。　。　another　wind　which　blew　around　in　my　old　nurse's　hollow　head　before　finally　escaping　her　jab…bering　mouth。　But　you　were　here　all　along；　another　refugee　of　the　old　times；　like　the　pump　at　the　way　station　and　the　old　machines　under　the　mountains。　Are　the　Slow　Mutants　who　worshipped　those　broken　remnants　the　final　descendents　of　the　people　who　once　lived　in　this　forest　and　finally　fled　your　wrath？　I　don't　know；　will　never　know　。　。　。　but　it　feels　right。　Yes。　And　then　I　came　with　my　friends…my　deadly　new　friends；　who　are　being　so　much　like　my　deadly　old　friends。　We　came；　weaving　our　magic　circle　around　us　and　around　everything　we　touch；　strand　by　poi…sonous　strand；　and　now　here　you　lie；　at　our　feet。　The　world　has　moved　on　again；　and　this　time；　old　friend；　it's　you　who　have　been　left　behind。
　　The　monster's　body　still　radiated　a　deep；　sick　heat。　Parasites　were　leaving　its　mouth　and　tattered　nostrils　in　hordes；　but　they　died　almost　at　once。　Waxy…white　piles　of　them　were　growing　on　either　side　of　the　bear's　head。
　　Eddie　approached　slowly。　He　had　shifted　Susannah　over　to　one　hip；　carrying　her　as　a　mother　might　carry　a　baby。　〃What　was　it；　Roland？　Do　you　know？〃
　　〃He　called　it　a　Guardian；　I　think；〃　Susannah　said。
　　〃Yes。〃　Roland's　voice　was　slow　with　amazement。　〃I　thought　they　were　all　gone；　must　all　be　gone　。。。　if　they　ever　existed　outside　of　the　old　wives'　tales　in　the　first　place。〃
　　〃Whatever　it　was；　it　was　one　crazy　mother；〃　Eddie　said。
　　Roland　smiled　a　little。　〃If　you'd　lived　two　or　three　thousand　years；　you'd　be　one　crazy　mother；　too。〃
　　〃Two　or　three　thousand　。　。　。　Christ！〃
　　Susannah　said；　〃Is　it　a　bear？　Really？　And　what's　that？〃　She　was　pointing　at　what　appeared　to　be　a　square　metal　tag　set　high　on　one　of　the　bear's　thick　rear　legs。　It　was　almost　overgrown　with　tough　tangles　of　hair；　but　the　afternoon　sun　had　pricked　out　a　single　starpoint　of　light　on　its　stainless　steel　surface；　revealing　it。
　　Eddie　knelt　and　reached　hesitantly　toward　the　tag；　aware　that　strange　muffled　clicks　and　clacks　were　still　ing　from　deep　inside　the　fallen　giant。　He　looked　at　Roland。
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　the　gunslinger　told　him。　〃It's　finished。〃
　　Eddie　pushed　a　clump　of　hair　aside　and　leaned　closer。　Words　had　been　stamped　into　the　metal。　They　were　quite　badly　eroded；　but　he　found　that　with　a　little　effort　he　could　read　them。
　　
　　NORTH　CENTRAL　POSITRONICS；　LTD。
　　Granite　City　Northeast　Corridor
　　Design　4　GUARDIAN
　　Serial　#　AA　24123　CX　755431297　L　14
　　Type/Species　BEAR
　　SHARDIK
　　**NR**SUBNUCLEAR　CELLS　MUST　NOT　BE　REPLACED**NR**
　　
　　〃Holy　Jesus；　this　thing　is　a　robot；〃　Eddie　said　softly。
　　〃It　can't　be；〃　Susannah　said。　〃When　I　shot　it；　it　bled。〃
　　〃Maybe　so；　but　your　ordinary；　garden…variety　bear　doesn't　have　a　radar…dish　growing　out　of　its　head。　And；　so　far　as　I　know；　your　ordinary；　garden…variety　bear　doesn't　live　to　be　two　or　three　th…〃　He　broke　off　suddenly；　looking　at　Roland。　When　he　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　revolted。　〃Roland；　what　are　you　doing？〃
　　Roland　did　not　reply；　did　not　need　to　reply。　What　he　was　doing…gouging　out　one　of　the　bear's　eyes　with　his　knife…was　perfectly　obvious。　The　surgery　was　quick；　neat；　and　precise。　When　it　was　pleted　he　bal…anced　an　oozing　brown　ball　of　jelly　on　the　blade　of　his　knife　for　a　moment　and　then　flicked　it　aside。　A　few　more　worms　made　their　way　out　of　the　staring　hole；　tried　to　squirm　their　way　down　the　bear's　muzzle；　and　died。
　　The　gunslinger　leaned　over　the　eyesocket　of　Shardik；　the　great　Guardian　bear；　and　peered　inside。　〃e　and　look；　both　of　you；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　show　you　a　wonder　of　the　latter　days。〃
　　〃Put　me　down；　Eddie；〃　Susannah　said。
　　He　did　so；　and　she　moved　swiftly　on　her　hands　and　upper　thighs　to　where　the　gunslinger　was　hunkered　down　over　the　bear's　wide；　slack　face。　Eddie　joined　them；　looking　between　their　shoul…ders。　The　three　of　them　gazed　in　rapt　silence　for　nearly　a　full　minute；　the　only　noise　came　from　the　crows　which　still　circled　and　scolded　in　the　sky。
　　Blood　oozed　from　the　socket　in　a　few　thick；　dying　trickles。　Yet　it　was　not　just　blood；　Eddie　saw。　There　was　also　a　clear　fluid　which　gave　off　an　identifiable　scent…bananas。　And；　embedded　in　the　delicate　criss…cross　of　tendons　which　shaped　the　socket；　he　saw　a　webwork　of　what　looked　like　strings。　Beyond　them；　at　the　back　of　the　socket；　was　a　red　spark；　blinking　on　and　off。　It　illuminated　a　tiny　square　board　marked　with　silvery　squiggles　of　what　could　only　be　solder。
　　〃It　isn't　a　bear；　it's　a　fucking　Sony　Walkman；〃　he　muttered。
　　Susannah　looked　around　at　him。　〃What？〃
　　〃Nothing。〃　Eddie　glanced　at　Roland。　〃Do　you　think　it's　safe　to　reach　in？〃
　　Roland　shrugged。　〃I　think　so。　If　there　was　a　demon　in　this　creature；　it's　fled。〃
　　Eddie　reached　in　with　his　little　finger；　nerves　set　to　draw　back　if　he　felt　even　a　tickle　of　electricity。　He　touched　the　cooling　meat　inside　the　eyesocket；　which　was　nearly　the　size　of　a　baseball；　and　then　one　of　those　strings。　Except　it　wasn't　a　string；　it　was　a　gossamer…thin　strand　of　steel。　He　withdrew　his　finger　and　saw　the　tiny　red　spark　blink　once　more　before　going　out　forever。
　　〃Shardik；〃　Eddie　murmured。　〃I　know　that　name；　but　I　can't　place　it。　Does　it　mean　anything　to　you；　Suze？〃
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃The　thing　is　。　。　。〃　Eddie　laughed　helplessly。　〃I　associate　it　with　rabbits。　Isn't　that　nuts？〃
　　Roland　stood　up。　His　knees　popped　like　gunshots。　〃We'll　have　to　move　camp；〃　he　said。　〃The　ground　here　is　spoiled。　The　other　clearing；　the　one　where　we　go　to　shoot；　will…〃
　　He　took　two　trembling　steps　and　then　collapsed　to　his　knees；　palms　pressed　to　the　sides　of　his　sagging　head。
　　
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　　EDDIE　AND　SUSANNAH　EXCHANGED　a　single　frightened　glance　and　then　Eddie　leaped　to　Roland's　side。　〃What　is　it？　Roland；　what's　wrong？〃
　　〃There　was