sk.thewastelands-第98节

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　the　moving　belt　stopped。　Beyond　it　was　a　steep；　narrow　escalator；　leading　up　into　that　orange　light。
　　
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　　EDDIE　AND　SUSANNAH　HEARD　heavy　motors　start　up　almost　directly　beneath　them。　A　moment　later；　a　wide　strip　of　the　marble　floor　began　to　pull　slowly　back；　revealing　a　long　lighted　slot　below。　The　floor　was　disappearing　in　their　direction。　Eddie　seized　the　handles　of　Susannah's　chair　and　rolled　it　rapidly　backward　along　the　steel　barrier　between　the　monorail　platform　and　the　rest　of　the　Cradle。　There　were　several　pillars　along　the　course　of　the　growing　rectangle　of　light；　and　Eddie　waited　for　them　to　tumble　into　the　hole　as　the　floor　upon　which　they　stood　disap…peared　from　beneath　their　bases。　It　didn't　happen。　The　pillars　went　on　serenely　standing；　seeming　to　float　on　nothing。
　　〃I　see　an　escalator！〃　Susannah　shouted　over　the　endless；　pulsing　alarm。　She　was　leaning　forward；　peering　into　the　hole。
　　〃Uh…huh；〃　Eddie　shouted　back。　〃We　got　the　el　station　up　here；　so　it　must　be　notions；　perfume；　and　ladies'　lingerie　down　there。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Never　mind！〃
　　〃Eddie！〃　Susannah　screamed。　Delighted　surprise　burst　over　her　face　like　a　Fourth　of　July　firework。　She　leaned　even　further　forward；　pointing；　and　Eddie　had　to　grab　her　to　keep　her　from　tumbling　out　of　the　chair。　〃It's　Roland！　It's　both　of　them！〃
　　There　was　a　shuddery　thump　as　the　slot　in　the　floor　opened　to　its　maximum　length　and　stopped。　The　motors　which　had　driven　it　along　its　hidden　tracks　cut　out　in　a　long；　dying　whine。　Eddie　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　hole　and　saw　Roland　riding　on　one　of　the　escalator　steps。　Jake…white…faced；　bruised；　bloody；　but　clearly　Jake　and　clearly　alive…was　standing　next　to　him　and　leaning　on　the　gunslinger's　shoulder。　And　sitting　on　the　step　right　behind　them；　looking　up　with　his　bright　eyes　was　Oy。
　　〃Roland！　Jake！〃　Eddie　shouted。　He　leaped　up；　waving　his　hands　over　his　head；　and　came　down　dancing　on　the　edge　of　the　slot。　If　he　had　been　wearing　a　hat；　he　would　have　thrown　it　in　the　air。
　　They　looked　up　and　waved。　Jake　was　grinning；　Eddie　saw；　and　even　old　long　tall　and　ugly　looked　as　if　he　might　break　down　and　crack　a　smile　before　long。　Wonders；　Eddie　thought；　would　never　cease。　His　heart　suddenly　felt　too　big　for　his　chest　and　he　danced　faster；　waving　his　arms　and　whooping；　afraid　that　if　he　didn't　keep　moving；　his　joy　and　relief　might　actually　cause　him　to　burst。　Until　this　moment　he　had　not　realized　how　positive　his　heart　had　bee　that　they　would　never　see　Roland　and　Jake　again。
　　〃Hey；　guys！　All　RIGHT！　Far　fucking　out！　Get　your　asses　up　here！〃
　　〃Eddie；　help　me！
　　He　turned。　Susannah　was　trying　to　struggle　out　of　her　chair；　but　a　fold　of　the　deerskin　trousers　she　was　wearing　had　gotten　caught　in　the　brake　mechanism。　She　was　laughing　and　weeping　at　the　same　time；　her　dark　eyes　blazing　with　happiness。　Eddie　lifted　her　from　the　chair　so　violently　that　it　crashed　over　on　its　side。　He　danced　her　around　in　a　circle。　She　clung　to　his　neck　with　one　hand　and　waved　strenuously　with　the　other。
　　〃Roland！　Jake！　Get　on　up　here！　Shuck　your　butts；　you　hear　me？〃
　　When　they　reached　the　top；　Eddie　embraced　Roland；　pounding　him　on　the　back　while　Susannah　covered　Jake's　upturned；　laughing　face　with　kisses。　Oy　ran　around　in　tight　figure　eights；　barking　shrilly。
　　〃Sugar！〃　Susannah　said。　〃You　all　right？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Jake　said。　He　was　still　grinning；　but　tears　stood　in　his　eyes。　〃And　glad　to　be　here。　You'll　never　know　how　glad。〃
　　〃I　can　guess；　sugar。　You　c'n　bet　on　that。〃　She　turned　to　look　at　Roland。　〃What'd　they　do　to　him？　His　face　look　like　somebody　run　over　it　with　a　bulldozer。〃
　　〃That　was　mostly　Gasher；〃　Roland　said。　〃He　won't　be　bothering　Jake　again。　Or　anyone　else。〃
　　〃What　about　you；　big　boy？　You　all　right？〃
　　Roland　nodded；　looking　about。　〃So　this　is　the　Cradle。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Eddie　said。　He　was　peering　into　the　slot。　〃What's　down　there？〃
　　〃Machines　and　madness。〃
　　〃Loquacious　as　ever；　I　see。〃　Eddie　looked　at　Roland；　smiling。　〃Do　you　know　how　happy　I　am　to　see　you；　man？　Do　you　have　any　idea？〃
　　〃Yes…I　think　I　do。〃　Roland　smiled　then；　thinking　of　how　people　changed。　There　had　been　a　time；　and　not　so　long　ago；　when　Eddie　had　been　on　the　edge　of　cutting　his　throat　with　the　gunslinger's　own　knife。
　　The　engines　below　them　started　up　again。　The　escalator　came　to　a　stop。　The　slot　in　the　floor　began　to　slide　closed　once　more。　Jake　went　to　Susannah's　overturned　chair；　and　as　he　was　righting　it；　he　caught　sight　of　the　smooth　pink　shape　beyond　the　iron　bars。　His　breath　stopped；　and　the　dream　he　had　had　after　leaving　River　Crossing　returned　full　force：　the　vast　pink　bullet　shape　slicing　across　the　empty　lands　of　western　Mis…souri　toward　him　and　Oy。　Two　big　triangular　windows　glittering　high　up　in　the　blank　face　of　that　oning　monster；　windows　like　eyes　。　。　。　and　now　his　dream　was　being　reality；　just　as　he　had　known　it　eventually　would。
　　It's　just　an　awful　choo…choo　train；　and　its　name　is　Blaine　the　Pain。
　　Eddie　walked　over　and　slung　an　arm　around　Jake's　shoulders。　〃Well；　there　it　is；　champ…just　as　advertised。　What　do　you　think　of　it？〃
　　〃Not　too　much；　actually。〃　This　was　an　understatement　of　colossal　size；　but　Jake　was　too　drained　to　do　any　better。
　　〃Me；　either；〃　Eddie　said。　〃It　talks。　And　it　likes　riddles。〃
　　Jake　nodded。
　　Roland　had　Susannah　planted　on　one　hip；　and　together　they　were　examining　the　control　box　with　its　diamond…pattern　of　raised　number…pads。　Jake　and　Eddie　joined　them。　Eddie　found　he　had　to　keep　looking　down　at　Jake　in　order　to　verify　that　it　wasn't　just　his　imagination　or　wishful　thinking；　the　boy　was　really　here。
　　〃What　now？〃　he　asked　Roland。
　　Roland　slipped　his　finger　lightly　over　the　numbered　buttons　which　made　up　the　diamond　shape　and　shook　his　head。　He　didn't　know。
　　〃Because　I　think　the　mono's　engines　are　cycling　faster；〃　Eddie　said。　〃I　mean；　it's　hard　to　tell　for　sure　with　that　alarm　blatting；　but　I　think　it　is　。。。　and　it's　a　robot；　after　all。　What　if　it；　like；　leaves　without　us？〃
　　〃Blaine！〃　Susannah　shouted。　〃Blaine；　are　you…〃
　　〃LISTEN　CLOSELY；　MY　FRIENDS；〃　Blaine's　voice　boomed。　〃THERE　ARE　LARGE　STOCKPILES　OF　CHEMICAL　AND　BIO…LOGICAL　WARFARE　CANNISTERS　UNDER　THE　CITY。　I　HAVE　STARTED　A　SEQUENCE　WHICH　WILL　CAUSE　AN　EXPLOSION　AND　RELEASE　THIS　GAS。　THIS　EXPLOSION　WILL　OCCUR　IN　TWELVE　MINUTES。〃
　　The　voice　fell　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　voice　of　Little　Blaine；　almost　buried　by　the　steady；　pulsing　whoop　of　the　alarm；　came　to　them：　〃。　。　。　/　was　afraid　of　something　like　this　。　。　。　you　must　hurry　。。。〃
　　Eddie　ignored　Little　Blaine；　who　wasn't　telling　him　a　damned　thing　he　didn't　already　know。　Of　course　they　had　to　hurry；　but　that　fact　was　running　a　distant　second　at　the　moment。　Something　much　larger　occu…pied　most　of　his　mind。　〃Why？〃　he　asked。　〃Why　in　God's　name　would　you　do　that？〃
　　〃I　SHOULD　THINK　IT　OBVIOUS。　I　CAN'T　NUKE　THE　CITY　WITHOUT　DESTROYING　MYSELF；　AS　WELL。　AND　HOW　COULD　I　TAKE　YOU　WHERE　YOU　WANT　TO　GO　IF　I　WERE　DESTROYED？〃
　　〃But　there　are　still　thousands　of　people　in　the　city；〃　Eddie　said。　〃You'll　kill　them。〃
　　〃YES；〃　Blaine　said　calmly。　〃SEE　YOU　LATER　ALLIGATOR；　AFTER　A　WHILE　CROCODILE；　DON'T　FORGET　TO　WRITE。〃
　　〃Why？〃　Susannah　shouted。　〃Why；　goddam　you？〃
　　〃BECAUSE　THEY　BORE　ME。　YOU　FOUR；　HOWEVER；　I　FIND　RATHER　INTERESTING。　OF　COURSE；　HOW　LONG　I　CONTINUE　TO　FIND　YOU　INTERESTING　WILL　DEPEND　ON　HOW　GOOD　YOUR　RIDDLES　ARE。　AND　SPEAKING　OF　RIDDLES；　HADN'T　YOU　BETTER　GET　TO　WORK　SOLVING　MINE？　YOU　HAVE　EXACTLY　ELEVEN　MINUTES　AND　TWENTY　SECONDS　BEFORE　THE　CANNISTERS　RUPTURE。〃
　　〃Stop　it！〃　Jake　yelled　over　the　blatting　siren。　〃It　isn't　just　the　city…gas　like　that　could　float　anywhere！　It　could　even　kill　the　old　people　in　River　Crossing！〃
　　〃TOUGH　TITTY；　SAID　THE　KITTY；〃　Blaine　responded　unfeel…ingly。　〃ALTHOUGH　I　BELIEVE　THEY　CAN　COUNT　ON　MEASUR…ING　OUT　THEIR　LIVES　IN　COFFEE…SPOONS　FOR　A　FEW　MORE　YEARS；　THE　AUTUMN　STORMS　HAVE　BEGUN；　AND　THE　PRE…VAILING　WINDS　WILL　CARRY　THE　GASES　AWAY　FROM　THEM。　THE　SITUATION　OF　YOU　FOUR　IS；　HOWEVER；　VERY　DIFFER…ENT。　YOU　BETTER　PUT　ON　YOUR　THINKING　CAPS；　OR　IT'S　SEE　YOU　LATER　ALLIGATOR；　AFTER　A　WHILE　CROCODILE；　DON'T　FORGET　TO　WRITE。〃　The　voice　paused。　〃ONE　PIECE　OF　ADDI…TIONAL　INPUT：　THIS　GAS　IS　NOT　PAINLESS。〃
　　〃Take　it　back！〃　Jake　said。　〃We'll　still　tell　you　riddles；　won't　we；　Roland？　We'll　tell　all　the　riddles　you　want！　Just　take　it　back！〃
　　Blaine　began　to　laugh。　He　laughed　for　a　long　time；　pealing　shrieks　of　electronic　mirth　into　the　wide　empty　space　of　the　Cradle；　where　it　mingled　with　the　monotonous；　drilling　beat　of　the　alarm。
　　〃Stop　it！〃　Susannah　shouted。　〃Stop　it！　Stop　it！　Stop　it！〃
　　Blaine　did。　A　moment　later　the　alarm　cut　off　in　mid…blat。　The　ensu…ing　silence…broken　only　by　the　pounding　rain…was　deafening。
　　Now　the　voice　issuing　from　the　speaker　was　very　soft；　thoughtful；　and　utterly　without　mercy。　〃YOU　NOW　HAVE　TEN　MINUTES；〃　Blaine　said。　〃LET'S　SEE　JUST　HOW　INTERESTING　YOU　REALLY　ARE。〃
　　
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　　〃ANDREW。〃
　　There　is　no　Andrew　here；　stranger；　he　thought。　Andrew　is　long　gone；　Andrew　is　no　more；　as　I　shall　soon　be　no　more。
　　〃Andrew！〃　the　voice　insisted。
　　It　came　from　far　away。　It　came　from　outside　the　cider…press　that　had　once