sk.thewastelands-第93节

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　　The　red　lights　reappeared　at　once。
　　〃DID　ONE　OF　YOU　SPEAK？〃　Blaine's　voice　was　cold　and…Eddie　could　have　sworn　it　was　so…suspicious。
　　He　looked　at　Susannah。　Susannah　looked　back　with　the　wide；　fright…ened　eyes　of　a　little　girl　who　has　heard　something　unnameable　moving　slyly　beneath　the　bed。
　　〃I　cleared　my　throat；　Blaine；〃　Eddie　said。　He　swallowed　and　armed　sweat　from　his　forehead。　〃I'm　。　。　。　shit；　tell　the　truth　and　shame　the　devil。　I'm　scared　to　death。〃
　　〃THAT　IS　VERY　WISE　OF　YOU。　THESE　RIDDLES　OF　WHICH　YOU　SPEAK…ARE　THEY　STUPID？　I　WON'T　HAVE　MY　PATIENCE　TRIED　WITH　STUPID　RIDDLES。〃
　　〃Most　are　smart；〃　Susannah　said；　but　she　looked　anxiously　at　Eddie　as　she　said　it。
　　〃YOU　LIE。　YOU　DON'T　KNOW　THE　QUALITY　OF　THESE　RIDDLES　AT　ALL。〃
　　〃How　can　you　say…〃
　　〃VOICE　ANALYSIS。　FRICTIVE　PATTERNS　AND　DIPH…THONG　STRESS…EMPHASIS　PROVIDE　A　RELIABLE　QUOTIENT　OF　TRUTH/UNTRUTH。　PREDICTIVE　RELIABILITY　IS　97　PER　CENT；　PLUS　OR　MINUS　。5　PER　CENT。〃　The　voice　fell　silent　for　a　moment；　and　when　it　spoke　again；　it　did　so　in　a　menacing　drawl　that　Eddie　found　very　familiar。　It　was　the　voice　of　Humphrey　Bogart。　〃I　SHUGGEST　YOU　SHTICK　TO　WHAT　YOU　KNOW；　SHWEET…HEART。　THE　LAST　GUY　THAT　TRIED　SHADING　THE　TRUTH　WITH　ME　WOUND　UP　AT　THE　BOTTOM　OF　THE　SEND　IN　A　PAIR　OF　SHEMENT　COWBOY　BOOTS。〃
　　〃Christ；〃　Eddie　said。　〃We　walked　four　hundred　miles　or　so　to　meet　the　puter　version　of　Rich　Little。　How　can　you　imitate　guys　like　John　Wayne　and　Humphrey　Bogart；　Blaine？　Guys　from　our　world？〃
　　Nothing。
　　〃Okay；　you　don't　want　to　answer　that　one。　How　about　this　one…if　a　riddle　was　what　you　wanted；　why　didn't　you　just　say　so？〃
　　Again　there　was　no　answer；　but　Eddie　discovered　that　he　didn't　really　need　one。　Blaine　liked　riddles；　so　he　had　asked　them　one。　Susannah　had　solved　it。　Eddie　guessed　that　if　she　had　failed　to　do　so；　the　two　of　them　would　now　look　like　a　couple　of　giant…economy…size　charcoal　bri…quets　lying　on　the　floor　of　the　Cradle　of　Lud。
　　〃Blaine？〃　Susannah　asked　uneasily。　There　was　no　answer。　〃Blaine；　are　you　still　there？〃
　　〃YES。　TELL　ME　ANOTHER　ONE。〃
　　〃When　is　a　door　not　a　door？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　〃WHEN　IT'S　AJAR。　YOU'LL　HAVE　TO　DO　BETTER　THAN　THAT　IF　YOU　REALLY　EXPECT　ME　TO　TAKE　YOU　SOME…WHERE。　CAN　YOU　DO　BETTER　THAN　THAT？〃
　　〃If　Roland　gets　here；　I'm　sure　we　can；〃　Susannah　said。　〃Regardless　of　how　good　the　riddles　in　Jake's　book　may　be；　Roland　knows　hundreds…he　actually　studied　them　as　a　child。〃　Having　said　this；　she　realized　she　could　not　conceive　of　Roland　as　a　child。　〃Will　you　take　us；　Blaine？〃
　　〃I　MIGHT；〃　Blaine　said；　and　Eddie　was　quite　sure　he　heard　a　dim　thread　of　cruelty　running　through　that　voice。　〃BUT　YOU'LL　HAVE　TO　PRIME　THE　PUMP　TO　GET　ME　GOING；　AND　MY　PUMP　PRIMES　BACKWARD。〃
　　〃Meaning　what？〃　Eddie　asked；　looking　through　the　bars　at　the　smooth　pink　line　of　Blaine's　back。　But　Blaine　did　not　reply　to　this　or　any　of　the　other　questions　they　asked。　The　bright　orange　lights　stayed　on；　but　both　Big　Blaine　and　Little　Blaine　seemed　to　have　gone　into　hiberna…tion。　Eddie；　however；　knew　better。　Blaine　was　awake。　Blaine　was　watch…ing　them。　Blaine　was　listening　to　their　frictive　patterns　and　diphthong　stress…emphasis。
　　He　looked　at　Susannah。
　　〃　'You'll　have　to　prime　the　pump；　but　my　pump　primes　backward；'　〃　he　said　bleakly。　〃It's　a　riddle；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　She　looked　at　the　triangular　window；　so　like　a　half…lidded；　mocking　eye；　and　then　pulled　him　close　so　she　could　whisper　in　his　ear。　〃It's　totally　insane；　Eddie…schizophrenic；　paranoid；　probably　delusional　as　well。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　he　breathed　back。　〃What　we've　got　here　is　a　lunatic　genius　ghost…in…the…puter　monorail　that　likes　riddles　and　goes　faster　than　the　speed　of　sound。　Wele　to　the　fantasy　version　of　One　Flew　Over　the　Cuckoo's　Nest。〃
　　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　the　answer　is？〃
　　Eddie　shook　his　head。　〃You？〃
　　〃A　little　tickle；　way　back　in　my　mind。　False　light；　probably。　I　keep　thinking　about　what　Roland　said：　a　good　riddle　is　always　sensible　and　always　solvable。　It's　like　a　magician's　trick。〃
　　〃Misdirection。〃
　　She　nodded。　〃Go　fire　another　shot；　Eddie…let　em　know　we're　still　here。〃
　　〃Yeah。　Now　if　we　could　only　be　sure　that　they're　still　there。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　they　are；　Eddie？〃
　　Eddie　had　started　away；　and　he　spoke　without　stopping　or　looking　back。　〃I　don't　know…that's　a　riddle　not　even　Blaine　could　answer。〃
　　
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　　〃COULD　I　HAVE　SOMETHING　to　drink？〃　Jake　asked。　His　voice　came　out　sounding　furry　and　nasal。　Both　his　mouth　and　the　tissues　in　his　abused　nose　were　swelling　up。　He　looked　like　someone　who　has　gotten　the　worst　of　it　in　a　nasty　street…fight。
　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Tick…Tock　replied　judiciously。　〃You　could。　I'd　say　you　certainly　could。　We　have　lots　to　drink；　don't　we；　Copperhead？〃
　　〃Ay；〃　said　a　tall；　bespectacled　man　in　a　white　silk　shirt　and　a　pair　of　black　silk　trousers。　He　looked　like　a　college　professor　in　a　turn…of…the…century　Punch　cartoon。　〃No　shortage　of　po…ter…bulls　here。〃
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man；　once　more　seated　at　ease　in　his　throne…like　chair；　looked　humorously　at　Jake。　〃We　have　wine；　beer；　ale；　and；　of　course；　good　old　water。　Sometimes　that's　all　a　body　wants；　isn't　it？　Cool；　clear；　sparkling　water。　How　does　that　sound；　cully？〃
　　Jake's　throat；　which　was　also　swollen　and　as　dry　as　sandpaper；　prick…led　painfully。　〃Sounds　good；〃　he　whispered。
　　〃It's　woke　my　thirsty　up；　I　know　that；〃　Tick…Tock　said。　His　lips　spread　in　a　smile。　His　green　eyes　sparkled。　〃Bring　me　a　dipper　of　water；　Tilly…I'll　be　damned　if　I　know　what's　happened　to　my　manners。〃
　　Tilly　stepped　through　the　hatchway　on　the　far　side　of　the　room…it　was　opposite　the　one　through　which　Jake　and　Gasher　had　entered。　Jake　watched　her　go　and　licked　his　swollen　lips。
　　〃Now；〃　Tick…Tock　said；　returning　his　gaze　to　Jake；　〃you　say　the　American　city　you　came　from…this　New　York…is　much　like　Lud。〃
　　〃Well　。　。　。　not　exactly　。。。〃
　　〃But　you　do　recognize　some　of　the　machinery；　Tick…Tock　pressed。　〃Valves　and　pumps　and　such。　Not　to　mention　the　firedim　tubes。〃
　　〃Yes。　We　call　it　neon；　but　it's　the　same。〃
　　Tick…Tock　reached　out　toward　him。　Jake　cringed；　but　Tick…Tock　only　patted　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃Yes；　yes；　close　enough。〃　His　eyes　gleamed。　〃And　you've　heard　of　puters？〃
　　〃Sure；　but…〃
　　Tilly　returned　with　the　dipper　and　timidly　approached　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　throne。　He　took　it　and　held　it　out　to　Jake。　When　Jake　reached　for　it；　Tick…Tock　pulled　it　back　and　drank　himself。　As　Jake　watched　the　water　trickle　from　Tick…Tock's　mouth　and　roll　down　his　naked　chest；　he　began　to　shake。　He　couldn't　help　it。
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man　looked　over　the　dipper　at　him；　as　if　just　remem…bering　that　Jake　was　still　there。　Behind　him；　Gasher；　Copperhead；　Bran…don；　and　Hoots　were　grinning　like　schoolyard　kids　who　have　just　heard　an　amusing　dirty　joke。
　　〃Why；　I　got　thinking　about　how　thirsty　I　was　and　forgot　all　about　you！〃　Tick…Tock　cried。　〃That's　mean　as　hell；　gods　damn　my　eyes！　But；　of　course；　it　looked　so　good　。　。　。　and　it　is　good　。　。　。　cold　。　。　。　clear　。。。〃
　　He　held　the　dipper　out　to　Jake。　When　Jake　reached　for　it；　Tick…Tock　pulled　it　back。
　　〃First；　cully；　tell　me　what　you　know　about　dipolar　puters　and　transitive　circuits；〃　he　said　coldly。
　　〃What　。。。〃　Jake　looked　toward　the　ventilator　grille；　but　the　golden　eyes　were　still　gone。　He　was　beginning　to　think　he　had　imagined　them　after　all。　He　shifted　his　gaze　back　to　the　Tick…Tock　Man；　understanding　one　thing　clearly：　he　wasn't　going　to　get　any　water。　He　had　been　stupid　to　even　dream　he　might。　〃What　are　dipolar　puters？〃
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man's　face　contorted　with　rage；　he　threw　the　remain…der　of　the　water　into　Jake's　bruised；　puffy　face。　〃Don't　you　play　it　light　with　me！〃　he　shrieked。　He　stripped　off　the　Seiko　watch　and　shook　it　in　front　of　Jake。　〃When　I　asked　you　if　this　ran　on　a　dipolar　circuit；　you　said　it　didn't！　So　don't　tell　me　you　don't　know　what　I'm　talking　about　when　you　already　made　it　clear　that　you　do！〃
　　〃But　。　。　。　but　。。。〃　Jake　couldn't　go　on。　His　head　was　whirling　with　fear　and　confusion。　He　was　aware；　in　some　far…off　fashion；　that　he　was　licking　as　much　water　as　he　could　off　his　lips。
　　〃There's　a　thousand　of　those　ever…fucking　dipolar　puters　right　under　the　ever…fucking　city；　maybe　a　HUNDRED　thousand；　and　the　only　one　that　still　works　don't　do　a　thing　except　play　Watch　Me　and　run　those　drums！　I　want　those　puters！　I　want　them　working　for　ME！〃
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man　bolted　forward　on　his　throne；　seized　Jake；　shook　him　back　and　forth；　and　then　threw　him　to　the　floor。　Jake　struck　one　of　the　lamps；　knocking　it　over；　and　the　bulb　blew　with　a　hollow　coughing　sound。　Tilly　gave　a　little　shriek　and　stepped　backward；　her　eyes　wide　and　frightened。　Copperhead　and　Brandon　looked　at　each　other　uneasily。
　　Tick…Tock　leaned　forward；　elbows　on　his　thighs；　and　screamed　into　Jake's　face：　〃I　want　them　AND　I　MEAN　TO　HAVE　THEM！〃
　　Silence　fell　in　the　room；　broken　only　by　the　soft　whoosh　of　warm　air　pouring　from　the　ventilators。　Then　the　twisted　rage　on　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　face　disappeared　so　suddenly　it　might　never　have　existed　at　all。　It　was　replaced　by　another　charming　smile。　He　leaned　further　forward　and　helped　Jake　to　his　feet。
　　〃Sorry