sk.thewastelands-第92部分

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　　With　all　you　know　about　our　world；　Jake　thought；　how　e　you　don't　know　that　some　lady　wrote　a　book　about　you；　Blaine？　Was　it　the　name…change？　Was　something　that　simple　enough　to　fool　a　plicated　machine　like　you　into　overlooking　your　own　biography？　And　what　about　Beryl　Evans；　the　woman　who　supposedly　wrote　Charlie　the　Choo…Choo？　Did　you　know　her；　Blaine？　And　where　is　she　now？
　　Good　questions　。　。　。　but　Jake　somehow　didn't　think　this　would　be　a　good　time　to　ask　them。
　　The　throb　of　the　engines　became　steadily　stronger。　A　faint　thud…not　nearly　as　strong　as　the　explosion　which　had　shaken　the　Cradle　as　they　boarded…ran　through　the　floor。　An　expression　of　alarm　crossed　Susannah's　face。　〃Oh　shit！　Eddie！　My　wheelchair！　It's　back　there！〃
　　Eddie　put　an　arm　around　her　shoulders。　〃Too　late　now；　babe；〃　he　said　as　Blaine　the　Mono　began　to　move；　sliding　toward　its　slot　in　the　Cradle　for　the　first　time　in　ten　years　。　。　。　and　for　the　last　time　in　its　long；　long　history。
　　　
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　　〃THE　BARONY　CABIN　HAS　A　PARTICULARLY　FINE　VISUAL　MODE；〃　Blaine　said。　〃WOULD　YOU　LIKE　ME　TO　ACTIVATE　IT？〃
　　Jake　glanced　at　Roland；　who　shrugged　and　nodded。
　　〃Yes；　please；〃　Jake　said。
　　What　happened　then　was　so　spectacular　that　it　stunned　all　of　them　to　silence。。。although　Roland；　who　knew　little　of　technology　but　who　had　spent　his　entire　life　on　fortable　terms　with　magic；　was　the　least　wonder…struck　of　the　four。　It　was　not　a　matter　of　windows　appearing　in　the　partment's　curved　walls；　the　entire　cabin…floor　and　ceiling　as　well　as　walls…grew　milky；　grew　translucent；　grew　transparent；　and　then　disappeared　pletely。　Within　a　space　of　five　seconds；　Blaine　the　Mono　seemed　to　be　gone　and　the　pilgrims　seemed　to　be　zooming　through　the　lanes　of　the　city　with　no　aid　or　support　at　all。
　　Susannah　and　Eddie　clutched　each　other　like　small　children　in　the　path　of　a　charging　animal。　Oy　barked　and　tried　to　jump　down　the　front　of　Jake's　shirt。　Jake　barely　noticed；　he　was　clutching　the　sides　of　his　seat　and　looking　from　side　to　side；　his　eyes　wide　with　amazement。　His　initial　alarm　was　being　replaced　by　amazed　delight。
　　The　furniture　groupings　were　still　here；　he　saw；　so　was　the　bar；　the　piano…harpsichord；　and　the　ice…sculpture　Blaine　had　created　as　a　party…favor；　but　now　this　living…room　configuration　appeared　to　be　cruising　seventy　feet　above　Lud's　rain…soaked　central　district。　Five　feet　to　Jake's　left；　Eddie　and　Susannah　were　floating　along　on　one　of　the　couches；　three　feet　to　his　right；　Roland　was　sitting　in　a　powder…blue　swivel　chair；　his　dusty；　battered　boots　resting　on　nothing；　flying　serenely　over　the　rubble…strewn　urban　waste　land　below。
　　Jake　could　feel　the　carpet　beneath　his　moccasins；　but　his　eyes　insisted　that　neither　the　carpet　nor　the　floor　beneath　it　was　still　there。　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　the　dark　slot　in　the　stone　flank　of　the　Cradle　slowly　receding　in　the　distance。
　　〃Eddie！　Susannah！　Check　it　out！〃
　　Jake　got　to　his　feet；　holding　Oy　inside　his　shirt；　and　began　to　walk　slowly　through　what　looked　like　empty　space。　Taking　the　initial　step　required　a　great　deal　of　willpower；　because　his　eyes　told　him　there　was　nothing　at　all　between　the　floating　islands　of　furniture；　but　once　he　began　to　move；　the　undeniable　feel　of　the　floor　beneath　him　made　it　easier。　To　Eddie　and　Susannah；　the　boy　appeared　to　be　walking　on　thin　air　while　the　battered；　dingy　buildings　of　the　city　slid　by　on　either　side。
　　〃Don't　do　that；　kid；〃　Eddie　said　feebly。　〃You're　gonna　make　me　sick　up。〃
　　Juke　lilted　Oy　carefully　out　of　his　shirt。　〃It's　okay；'　he　said；　and　set　him　down。　〃See？〃
　　〃Oy！〃　the　humbler　agreed；　but　after　one　look　between　his　paws　at　the　city　park　currently　unrolling　beneath　them；　he　attempted　to　crawl　onto　Jake's　feet　and　sit　on　his　moccasins。
　　Jake　looked　forward　and　saw　the　broad　gray　stroke　of　the　monorail　track　ahead　of　them；　rising　slowly　but　steadily　through　the　buildings　and　disappearing　into　the　rain。　He　looked　down　again　and　saw　nothing　but　the　street　and　floating　membranes　of　low　cloud。
　　〃How　e　I　can't　see　the　track　underneath　us；　Blaine？〃
　　〃THE　IMAGES　YOU　SEE　ARE　PUTER…GENERATED；〃　Blaine　replied。　〃THE　PUTER　ERASES　THE　TRACK　FROM　THE　LOWER…QUADRANT　IMAGE　IN　ORDER　TO　PRESENT　A　MORE　PLEASING　VIEW；　AND　ALSO　TO　REINFORCE　THE　ILLU…SION　THAT　THE　PASSENGERS　ARE　FLYING。〃
　　〃It's　incredible；〃　Susannah　murmured。　Her　initial　fear　had　passed　and　she　was　looking　around　eagerly。　〃It's　like　being　on　a　flying　carpet。　I　keep　expecting　the　wind　to　blow　back　my　hair…〃
　　〃I　CAN　PROVIDE　THAT　SENSATION；　IF　YOU　LIKE；〃　Blaine　said。　〃ALSO　A　LITTLE　MOISTURE；　WHICH　WILL　MATCH　CUR…RENT　OUTSIDE　CONDITIONS。　IT　MIGHT　NECESSITATE　A　CHANGE　OF　CLOTHES；　HOWEVER。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；　Blaine。　There's　such　a　thing　as　taking　an　illusion　too　far。〃
　　The　track　slipped　through　a　tall　cluster　of　buildings　which　reminded　Jake　a　little　of　the　Wall　Street　area　in　New　York。　When　they　cleared　these；　the　track　dipped　to　pass　under　what　looked　like　an　elevated　road。　That　was　when　they　saw　the　purple　cloud；　and　the　crowd　of　people　fleeing　before　it。
　　　
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　　〃BLAINE；　WHAT'S　THAT？〃　JAKE　asked；　but　he　already　knew。
　　Blaine　laughed　。　。　。　but　made　no　other　reply。
　　The　purple　vapor　drifted　from　gratings　in　the　sidewalk　and　the　smashed　windows　of　deserted　buildings；　but　most　of　it　seemed　to　be　ing　from　manholes　like　the　one　Gasher　had　used　to　get　into　the　tunnels　below　the　streets。　Their　iron　covers　had　been　blown　clear　by　the　explosion　they　had　felt　as　they　were　boarding　the　mono。　They　watched　in　silent　horror　as　the　bruise…colored　gas　crept　down　the　avenues　and　spread　into　the　debris…lit…tered　side…streets。　It　drove　those　inhabitants　of　Lud　still　interested　in　survival　before　it　like　cattle。　Most　were　Pubes；　judging　from　their　scarves；　but　Jake　could　see　a　few　splashes　of　bright　yellow；　as　well。　Old　animosities　had　been　forgotten　now　that　the　end　was　finally　upon　them。
　　The　purple　cloud　began　to　catch　up　with　the　stragglers…mostly　old　people　who　were　unable　to　run。　They　fell　down；　clawing　at　their　throats　and　screaming　soundlessly；　the　instant　the　gas　touched　them。　Jake　saw　an　agonized　face　staring　up　at　him　in　disbelief　as　they　passed　over；　saw　the　eyesockets　suddenly　fill　up　with　blood；　and　closed　his　eyes。
　　Ahead；　the　monorail　track　disappeared　into　the　oning　purple　fog。　Eddie　winced　and　held　his　breath　as　they　plunged　in；　but　of　course　it　parted　around　them；　and　no　whiff　of　the　death　engulfing　the　city　came　to　them。　Looking　into　the　streets　below　was　like　looking　through　a　stained…glass　window　into　hell。
　　Susannah　put　her　face　against　his　chest。
　　〃Make　the　walls　e　back；　Blaine；〃　Eddie　said。　〃We　don't　want　to　see　that。〃
　　Blaine　made　no　reply；　and　the　transparency　around　and　below　them　remained。　The　cloud　was　already　disintegrating　into　ragged　purple　streamers。　Beyond　it；　the　buildings　of　the　city　grew　smaller　and　closer　together。　The　streets　of　this　section　were　tangled　alleyways；　seemingly　without　order　or　coherence。　In　some　places；　whole　blocks　appeared　to　have　burned　flat　。　。　。　and　a　long　time　ago；　for　the　plains　were　reclaiming　these　areas；　burying　the　rubble　in　the　grasses　which　would　some　day　swallow　all　of　Lud。　The　way　the　jungle　swallowed　the　great　civilizations　of　the　Incas　and　Mayas；　Eddie　thought。　The　wheel　of　ka　turns　and　the　world　moves　on；
　　Beyond　the　slums…that；　Eddie　felt　sure；　was　what　they　had　been　even　before　the　evil　days　came…was　a　gleaming　wall。　Blaine　was　moving　slowly　in　that　direction。　They　could　see　a　deep　square　notch　cut　in　the　white　stone。　The　monorail　track　passed　through　it。
　　〃LOOK　TOWARD　THE　FRONT　OF　THE　CABIN；　PLEASE；〃　Blaine　invited。
　　They　did；　and　the　forward　wall　reappeared…a　blue…upholstered　cir…cle　that　seemed　to　float　in　empty　space。　It　was　unmarked　by　a　door；　if　there　was　a　way　to　get　into　the　operator's　room　from　the　Barony　Cabin；　Eddie　couldn't　see　it。　As　they　watched；　a　rectangular　area　of　this　front　wall　darkened；　going　from　blue　to　violet　to　black。　A　moment　later；　a　bright　red　line　appeared　on　the　rectangle；　squiggling　across　its　surface。　Violet　dots　appeared　at　irregular　intervals　along　the　line；　and　even　before　names　appeared　beside　the　dots；　Eddie　realized　he　was　looking　at　a　route…map；　one　not　much　different　from　those　which　were　mounted　in　New　York　subway　stations　and　on　the　trains　themselves。　A　flashing　green　dot　appeared　at　Lud；　which　was　Blaine's　base　of　operations　as　well　as　his　terminating　point。
　　
　　
　　
　　〃YOU　ARE　LOOKING　AT　OUR　ROUTE　OF　TRAVEL。　ALTHOUGH　THERE　ARE　SOME　TWISTS　AND　TURNS　ALONG　THE　BUNNY…TRAIL；　YOU　WILL　NOTE　THAT　OUR　COURSE　KEEPS　FIRMLY　TO　THE　SOUTHWEST…ALONG　THE　PATH　OF　THE　BEAM。　THE　TOTAL　DISTANCE　IS　JUST　OVER　EIGHT　THOUSAND　WHEELS…OR　SEVEN　THOUSAND　MILES；　IF　YOU　PREFER　THAT　UNIT　OF　MEASURE。　IT　WAS　ONCE　MUCH　LESS；　BUT　THAT　WAS　BEFORE　ALL　TEMPORAL　SYNAPSES　BEGAN　TO　MELT　DOWN。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean；　temporal　synapses？〃　Susannah　asked。
　　Blaine　laughed　his　nasty　laugh　。　。　。　but　did　not　answer　her　question。
　　〃AT　MY　TOP　SPEED；　WE　WILL　REACH　THE　TERMINATING　POINT　OF　MY　RUN　IN　EIGHT　HOURS　AND　FORTY…FIVE　MINUTES。〃
　　〃Eight　hundred…plus　miles　an　hour　over　the　ground；〃　Susannah　said。　Her　voice　was　soft　with　awe。　〃Jesus…God。〃
　　〃I　AM；　OF　COURSE；　MAKING　THE　ASSUMPTION　THAT　ALL　TRACKAGE　ALONG　MY　ROUTE　REMAINS　INTACT。　IT　HAS　BEEN　NINE　YEARS　AND　FIVE　MONTHS　SINCE　I'VE　BOTHERED　TO　MAKE　THE　RUN；　SO　I　CAN'T　SAY　FOR　SURE。〃
　　Ahead；　the　wall　at　the　southeastern　edge　of　the　city　was　drawing　closer。　It　was　high　and　thick　and　eroded　to　rubble　at　the　top。　It　also　appeared　to　be　lined　with　skeletons…thousands　upon　thousands　of　dead　Luddites。　The　notch　toward　which　Blaine　was　slowly　moving　appeared　to　be　at　least　two　hundred　feet　deep；　and　here　the　trestle　which　bore　the　track　was　very　dark；　as　if　someone　had　tried　to　burn　it　or　blow　it　up。
　　〃What　happens　if　we　e　to　a　place　where　the　track　is　gone？〃　Eddie　asked。　He　realized　he　kept　raising　his　voice　to　talk　to　Blaine；　as　if　he　were　speaking　to　somebody　on　the　telephone　and　had　a　bad　connection。
　　〃AT　EIGHT　HUNDRED　MILES　AN　HOUR？〃　Blaine　sounded　amused。　〃SEE　YOU　LATER；　ALLIGATOR；　AFTER　A　WHILE；　CROC…ODILE；　DONT　FORGET　TO　WRITE。〃
　　〃e　on！〃　Eddie　said。　〃Don't　tell　me　a