sk.thewastelands-第86节

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　　He　let　go　of　the　button　and　looked　impatiently　at　the　door。　The　valve…wheel　didn't　turn。　Instead　a　flat；　drawling　voice　came　out　of　the　inter　speaker：　〃What's　the　password？〃
　　Gasher　frowned　horribly；　scratched　his　chin　with　his　long；　dirty　nails；　then　lifted　his　eyepatch　and　swabbed　out　another　clot　of　yellow…green　goo。　〃Tick…Tock　and　his　passwords！〃　he　said　to　Jake。　He　sounded　worried　as　well　as　irritated。　〃He's　a　trig　cove；　but　that's　takin　it　a　deal　too　far　if　you　ask　me；　so　it　is。〃
　　He　pushed　the　button　and　yelled；　〃e　on；　Tick…Tock！　If　you　don't　reckergnize　the　sound　of　my　voice；　you　need　a　heary…aid！〃
　　〃Oh；　I　recognize　it；〃　the　drawling　voice　returned。　To　Jake　it　sounded　like　Jerry　Reed；　who　played　Burt　Reynolds's　sidekick　in　Smokey　and　the　Bandit。　〃But　I　don't　know　who's　with　you；　do　I？　Or　have　you　forgotten　that　the　camera　out　there　went　tits…up　last　year？　You　give　the　password；　Gasher；　or　you　can　rot　out　there！〃
　　Gasher　stuck　a　finger　up　his　nose；　extracted　a　chunk　of　snot　the　color　of　mint　jelly；　and　squashed　it　into　the　grille　of　the　speaker。　Jake　watched　this　childish　display　of　ill　temper　in　silent　fascination；　feeling　unwele；　hysterical　laughter　bubbling　around　inside　him。　Had　they　e　all　this　way；　through　the　boobytrapped　mazes　and　lightless　tunnels；　to　be　balked　here　at　this　watertight　door　simply　because　Gasher　couldn't　remember　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　password？
　　Gasher　looked　at　him　balefully；　then　slid　his　hand　across　his　skull；　peeling　off　his　sweat…soaked　yellow　scarf。　The　skull　beneath　was　bald；　except　for　a　few　straggling　tufts　of　black　hair　like　porcupine　quills；　and　deeply　dented　above　the　left　temple。　Gasher　peered　into　the　scarf　and　plucked　forth　a　scrap　of　paper。　〃Gods　bless　Hoots；〃　he　muttered。　〃Hoots　takes　care　of　me　a　right　proper；　he　does。〃
　　He　peered　at　the　scrap；　turning　it　this　way　and　that；　and　then　held　it　out　to　Jake。　He　kept　his　voice　pitched　low；　as　if　the　Tick…Tock　Man　could　hear　him　even　though　the　TALK　button　on　the　inter　wasn't　depressed。
　　〃You're　a　proper　little　gennelman；　ain't　you？　And　the　very　first　thing　they　teach　a　gennelman　to　do　after　he's　been　lamed　not　to　eat　the　paste　and　piss　in　the　ers　is　read。　So　read　me　the　word　on　this　paper；　cully；　for　it's　gone　right　out　of　my　head…so　it　has。〃
　　Jake　took　the　paper；　looked　at　it；　then　looked　up　at　Gasher　again。　〃What　if　I　won't？〃　he　asked　coolly。
　　Gasher　was　momentarily　taken　aback　at　this　response　。　。　。　and　then　he　began　to　grin　with　dangerous　good　humor。　〃Why；　I'll　grab　yer　by　the　throat　and　use　yer　head　for　a　doorknocker；〃　he　said。　〃I　doubt　if　it'll　conwince　old　Ticky　to　let　me　in…for　he's　still　nervous　of　your　hardcase　friend；　so　he　is…but　it'll　do　my　heart　a　world　of　good　to　see　your　brains　drippin　off　that　wheel。〃
　　Jake　considered　this；　the　dark　laughter　still　bubbling　away　inside　him。　The　Tick…Tock　Man　was　a　trig　enough　cove；　all　right…he　had　known　that　it　would　be　difficult　to　persuade　Gasher；　who　was　dying　anyway；　to　speak　the　password　even　if　Roland　had　taken　him　prisoner。　What　Tick…Tock　hadn't　taken　into　account　was　Gasher's　defective　memory。
　　Don't　laugh。　If　you　do；　he　really　will　beat　your　brains　out。
　　In　spite　of　his　brave　words；　Gasher　was　watching　Jake　with　real　anxiety；　and　Jake　realized　a　potentially　powerful　fact：　Gasher　might　not　be　afraid　of　dying　。　。　。　but　he　was　afraid　of　being　humiliated。
　　〃All　right；　Gasher；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃The　word　on　this　piece　of　paper　is　bountiful。〃
　　〃Gimme　that。〃　Gasher　snatched　the　paper　back；　returned　it　to　his　scarf；　and　quickly　wrapped　the　yellow　cloth　around　his　head　again。　He　thumbed　the　inter　button。　〃Tick…Tock？　Yer　still　there？〃
　　〃Where　else　would　I　be？　The　West　End　of　the　World？〃　The　drawl…ing　voice　now　sounded　mildly　amused。
　　Gasher　stuck　his　whitish　tongue　out　at　the　speaker；　but　his　voice　was　ingratiating；　almost　servile。　〃The　password's　bountyful；　and　a　fine　word　it　is；　too！　Now　let　me　in；　gods　cuss　it！〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　the　Tick…Tock　Man　said。　A　machine　started　up　some…where　nearby；　making　Jake　jump。　The　valve…wheel　in　the　center　of　the　door　spun。　When　it　stopped；　Gasher　seized　it；　yanked　it　outward；　grabbed　Jake's　arm；　and　propelled　him　over　the　raised　lip　of　the　door　and　into　the　strangest　room　he　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。
　　
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　　ROLAND　DESCENDED　INTO　DUSKY　pink　light。　Oy's　bright　eyes　peered　out　from　the　open　V　of　his　shirt；　his　neck　stretched　to　the　limit　of　its　considerable　length　as　he　sniffed　at　the　warm　air　that　blew　through　the　ventilator　grilles。　Roland　had　had　to　depend　pletely　on　the　bumbler's　nose　in　the　dark　passages　above；　and　he　had　been　terribly　afraid　the　animal　would　lose　Jake's　scent　in　the　running　water　。　。　。　but　when　he　had　heard　the　sound　of　singing…first　Gasher；　then　Jake…echoing　back　through　the　pipes；　he　had　relaxed　a　little。　Oy　had　not　led　them　wrong。
　　Oy　had　heard　it；　too。　Up　until　then　he　had　been　moving　slowly　and　cautiously；　even　backtracking　every　now　and　again　to　be　sure　of　himself；　but　when　he　heard　Jake's　voice　he　began　to　run；　straining　the　rawhide　leash。　Roland　was　afraid　he　might　call　after　Jake　in　his　harsh　voice…Ake！　Ake！…but　he　hadn't　done　so。　And；　just　as　they　reached　the　shaft　which　led　to　the　lower　levels　of　this　Dycian　Maze；　Roland　had　heard　the　sound　of　some　new　machine…a　pump　of　some　sort；　perhaps…followed　by　the　metallic；　echoing　crash　of　a　door　being　slammed　shut。
　　He　reached　the　foot　of　the　square　tunnel　and　glanced　briefly　at　the　double　line　of　lighted　tubes　which　led　off　in　either　direction。　They　were　lit　with　swamp…fire；　he　saw；　like　the　sign　outside　the　place　which　had　belonged　to　Balazar　in　the　city　of　New　York。　He　looked　more　closely　at　the　narrow　chrome　ventilation　strips　running　along　the　top　of　each　wall；　and　the　arrows　below　them；　then　slipped　the　rawhide　loop　off　Oy's　neck。　Oy　shook　his　head　impatiently；　clearly　glad　to　be　rid　of　it。
　　〃We're　close；〃　he　murmured　into　the　bumbler's　cocked　ear；　〃and　so　we　have　to　be　quiet。　Do　you　understand；　Oy？　Very　quiet。〃
　　〃I…yet；〃　Oy　replied　in　a　hoarse　whisper　that　would　have　been　funny　under　other　circumstances。
　　Roland　put　him　down　and　Oy　was　immediately　off　down　the　tunnel；　neck　out；　muzzle　to　the　steel　floor。　Roland　could　hear　him　muttering　Ake…Ake！　Ake…Ake！　under　his　breath。　Roland　unholstered　his　gun　and　followed　him。
　　
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　　EDDIE　AND　SUSANNAH　LOOKED　up　at　the　vastness　of　Blaine's　Cradle　as　the　skies　opened　and　the　rain　began　to　fall　in　torrents。
　　〃It's　a　hell　of　a　building；　but　they　forgot　the　handicap　ramps！〃　Eddie　yelled；　raising　his　voice　to　be　heard　over　the　rain　and　thunder。
　　〃Never　mind　that；〃　Susannah　said　impatiently；　slipping　out　of　the　wheelchair。　〃Let's　get　up　there　and　out　of　the　rain。〃
　　Eddie　looked　dubiously　up　the　incline　of　steps。　The　risers　were　shallow　。　。　。　but　there　were　a　lot　of　them。　〃You　sure；　Suze？〃
　　〃Race　you；　white　boy；〃　she　said；　and　began　to　wriggle　upward　with　uncanny　ease；　using　hands；　muscular　forearms；　and　the　stumps　of　her　legs。
　　And　she　almost　did　beat　him；　Eddie　had　the　ironmongery　to　contend　with；　and　it　slowed　him　down。　Both　of　them　were　panting　when　they　reached　the　top；　and　tendrils　of　steam　were　rising　from　their　wet　clothes。　Eddie　grabbed　her　under　the　arms；　swung　her　up；　and　then　just　held　her　with　his　hands　locked　together　in　the　small　of　her　back　instead　of　dropping　her　back　into　the　chair；　as　he　had　meant　to　do。　He　felt　randy　and　half…crazy　without　the　slightest　idea　why。
　　Oh；　give　me　a　break；　he　thought。　You've　gotten　this　far　alive；　that's　what's　got　your　glands　pumped　up　and　ready　to　party。
　　Susannah　licked　her　full　lower　lip　and　wound　her　strong　fingers　into　his　hair。　She　pulled。　It　hurt　。　。　。　and　at　the　same　time　it　felt　wonderful。　〃Told　you　I'd　beat　you；　white　boy；〃　she　said　in　a　low；　husky　voice。
　　〃Get　outta　here…I　had　you　。。。　by　half　a　step。〃　He　tried　to　sound　less　out　of　breath　than　he　was　and　found　it　was　impossible。
　　〃Maybe　。　。　。　but　it　blew　you　out；　didn't　it？〃　One　hand　left　his　hair；　slid　downward；　and　squeezed　gently。　A　smile　gleamed　in　her　eyes。　〃Somethin　ain't　blown　out；　though。〃
　　Thunder　rumbled　across　the　sky。　They　flinched；　then　laughed　together。
　　〃e　on；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　nuts。　The　time's　all　wrong。〃
　　She　didn't　contradict　him；　but　she　squeezed　him　again　before　returning　her　hand　to　his　shoulder。　Eddie　felt　a　pang　of　regret　as　he　swung　her　back　into　her　chair　and　ran　her　across　vast　flagstones　and　under　cover　of　the　roof。　He　thought　he　saw　the　same　regret　in　Susannah's　eyes。
　　When　they　were　out　of　the　downpour；　Eddie　paused　and　they　looked　back。　The　Plaza　of　the　Cradle；　The　Street　of　the　Turtle；　and　all　the　city　beyond　was　rapidly　disappearing　into　a　shifting　gray　curtain。　Eddie　wasn't　a　bit　sorry。　Lud　hadn't　earned　itself　a　place　in　his　mental　scrapbook　of　fond　memories。
　　〃Look；〃　Susannah　murmured。　She　was　pointing　at　a　nearby　down…spout。　It　ended　in　a　large；　scaly　fish…head　that　looked　like　a　close　relation　to　the　dragon…gargoyles　which　decorated　the　corners　of　the　Cradle。　Water　ran　from　its　mouth　in　a　silver　torrent。
　　〃This　isn't　just　a　passing　shower；　is　it？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　〃Nope。　It's　gonna　rain　until　it　gets　tired　of　it；　and　then　it's　gonna　rain