rm.thenightboat-第16部分

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t　of　his　past　he　had　closed　tight；　to　a　place　of　fearful　memories　and　grinning　faces　hanging　from　straw　walls。　Boniface　turned　and　draped　the　writhing　snake　around　the　woman's　shoulders　like　a　rippling　coat；　and　she　cried　aloud　and　stroked　its　body。　The　reverend　put　aside　his　gourd　rattle；　lifted　the　object　wrapped　in　papers　over　his　head　and　began　to　spin　in　front　of　the　fire；　shouting　out　in　French。　The　old　woman　let　the　snake　slide　from　arm　to　arm。　She　played　with　it；　teasing　it　with　a　tetettetette　noise。　Boniface　lifted　a　bottle　of　clear　liquid；　poured　it　into　his　mouth　and　held　it　there　while　he　unwrapped　the　object。　In　the　light　of　the　fire　Kip　saw　it　was　a　crude　wax　image　of　the　submarine；　Boniface　tossed　the　paper　into　the　flames　and　sprayed　the　image　with　the　liquid　from　his　mouth；　and　as　the　others　shouted　and　urged　him　on　he　held　his　hands　out　to　the　fire；　his　eyes　wild　and　his　teeth　bared　in　a　grimace。　In　another　moment　the　heat　began　to　melt　the　wax；　and　Boniface　began　to　knead　the　image　until　wax　dripped　down　his　hands　and　arms。　When　nothing　was　left　but　a　misshapen　blob；　he　cast　it　into　the　fire　and　stepped　back。　The　others　screamed　louder　and　danced　like　possessed　souls。　Boniface　spat　into　the　fire。
　　The　old　woman　stared　into　the　face　of　the　snake；　then　lifted　her　chin　and　let　it　explore　her　lips　with　its　questing　tongue。　She　met　the　tongue　with　her　own；　they　seemed　like　nightmarish　lovers。　When　she　opened　her　mouth　to　let　the　reptile　probe　within；　Kip　could　take　no　more　and　stepped　out　into　the　light。
　　One　of　the　drummers　saw　him　first；　the　man　gaped　and　faltered　in　his　rhythm。　The　others　noticed　at　once；　heads　turned；　and　someone　shrieked　as　if　in　pain。　A　few　of　the　dancers　leaped　up　from　the　edge　of　the　fire　and　ran　for　the　jungle。　The　Kephas　woman　looked　at　Kip　in　horror；　the　snake　slithering　from　her　arms　into　the　grass；　and　then　she　too　ran　away；　her　skirts　billowing　behind　her。　The　rest　of　them　were　gone　almost　at　once；　the　jungle　closing　behind　them；　the　darkness　swallowing　them　up。
　　And　in　the　silence；　still　echoing　with　the　beat　of　the　drums　and　the　shouting；　Boniface　stood　framed　against　the　fire；　staring　across　the　clearing　at　the　constable。　〃You　fool；〃　he　said；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　〃It　wasn't　yet　plete！〃
　　Kip　said　nothing；　but　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　fire。　He　examined　the　assortment　of　bottles。　One　of　them　looked　as　if　it　were　half…filled　with　blood。
　　〃IT　WASN'T　YET　PLETE！〃　Boniface　shouted；　his　hands　curled　into　fists　at　his　sides。
　　There　was　another　pot　filled　with　water；　Kip　picked　it　up　and　poured　it　over　the　blaze。　The　timbers　hissed　and　smoke　twisted　toward　the　sky。　〃I've　let　you　carry　out　your　ceremonies；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　haven't　raised　a　finger　to　interfere。　But；　by　God〃…he　turned　to　face　the　other　man…〃I'll　not　have　you　making　something　out　of　that　boat　and　the　old　man's　death。〃
　　〃You　young　ass！〃　Boniface　said；　wiping　beads　of　sweat　away　from　his　eyes。　〃You　don't　understand；　you　could　never　begin　to　understand！　You　fool！〃
　　〃I　asked　for　your　help。〃　He　kicked　at　the　embers　and　dropped　the　pot　to　one　side。　〃Is　this　how　you're　helping　me？〃
　　〃OUI！〃　Boniface　said；　the　anger　white…hot　in　his　eyes。　He　held　Kip's　gaze　a　few　seconds　longer；　then　looked　back　into　the　remains　of　the　fire。　His　shoulders　were　stooped；　as　if　he　had　been　drained　of　all　strength。　〃You　can't　see；　can　you？〃　he　asked；　in　a　tired　whisper。
　　〃What　was　the　Kephas　woman　doing　here？〃
　　〃It。。。　was　necessary。〃
　　〃God；　what　a　shambles；〃　Kip　said；　looking　around　the　clearing。
　　〃All　necessary。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　any　trouble；　Boniface。　I　thought　I　made　that　clear。。。〃
　　Boniface　glared　at　him　sharply；　his　eyes　narrowing。　〃You　and　the　white　man　are　to　blame。　Both　of　you　brought　that　thing　into　the　boatyards。　Now　you　are　to　blame！〃
　　〃For　what！〃
　　〃For　what　may　take　place　if　I'm　not　allowed　to　take　a　hand　against　it！〃
　　Kip　looked　down　into　the　glowing　remains　of　the　fire　and　saw　the　clump　of　wax　there；　blackened　by　the　heat　and　ashes。　He　kicked　it　out　into　the　grass　and　looked　across　at　the　reverend。　〃What　kind　of　madness　is　this？〃
　　〃I　expected　better　from　you；〃　Boniface　said　bitterly。　〃I　expected　you　to　be　able　to　see。　The　white　man；　no；　but　you；　Kip。。。　you　could　open　your　mind　if　you　wished；　you　could　feel　it。。。〃
　　〃What　are　you　saying；　old　man？〃　the　constable　asked　him　harshly。
　　〃I　know　about　you；　you　think　you　can　hide　it　but　you're　mistaken！〃
　　Kip　took　a　step　forward。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　　Boniface　stood　his　ground；　was　about　to　explain　but　then　thought　better　of　it。　He　bent　down　and　began　to　gather　up　the　bottles　that　stood　along　the　lines　of　the　geometric　figure。　He　put　them　down　into　the　white　pot　that　had　contained　the　snake；　and　they　rattled　together。
　　〃What　do　you　know　about　me？〃　Kip　asked　very　quietly。
　　The　reverend　began　to　smear　the　geometric　lines　with　his　foot。　〃I　know；〃　he　said　without　looking　up；　〃who　you　could　have　been。〃　His　head　came　up；　and　he　stared　fiercely　into　the　constable's　eyes。　A　strange；　almost　tangible　power　riveted　the　other　man　where　he　stood。　He　could　not　have　moved　even　if　he'd　wished。
　　〃Listen　to　me　well；〃　Boniface　told　him。　〃If　you　refuse　to　take　the　boat　to　deep　water；　you　must　do　these　things：　Lock　that　shelter　securely。　Let　no　man　go　near　it。　Let　no　man　touch　his　hand　against　that　iron。　And　for　all　our　sakes　do　not　try　to　break　the　hatches　open。　Do　you　understand　what　I　say？〃
　　Kip　wanted　to　say　no；　that　Boniface　was　a　raving　fool；　that　the　man　didn't　know　what　he　was　talking　about；　but　when　he　spoke　he　heard　himself　say；　〃Yes。〃
　　And　in　the　next　instant　the　reverend　was　gone；　melting　away　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　circles　of　torchlight。　Kip　had　not　seen　him　turn　to　go；　nor　did　he　hear　the　man　making　his　way　through　the　underbrush；　he　had　simply　vanished。
　　Gradually　the　night　sounds　returned；　filling　in　the　spaces　left　when　the　drums　and　the　shouting　had　stopped。　Insects　called　to　each　other　across　the　jungle；　and　the　cries　of　the　nocturnal　birds　sounded　like　the　voices　of　old　men。　Kip　covered　the　embers　with　dirt　until　he　had　pletely　extinguished　the　fire；　then　clicked　his　light　back　on　and　retraced　his　path　to　the　jeep。　There　was　a　yellow　glimmer　of　a　light　behind　a　window　shutter　at　the　church　and　a　shadow　moving　about　within。
　　He　climbed　behind　the　wheel　and　started　the　engine。　He　was　actually　eager　to　get　away　from　this　part　of　the　island；　it　was　Boniface's　kingdom；　a　place　of　shadows；　jumbies　and　duppies；　faceless　things　that　walked　the　night　seeking　souls。　He　drove　back　toward　the　harbor；　along　Front　Street　and　through　the　village。　Still　no　lights；　no　sounds。　And　before　he　realized　it；　he　had　passed　the　road　leading　toward　his　house　and　was　driving　to　the　boatyard　as　if　drawn　there　by　something　beyond　his　control。　There　was　a　sheen　of　sweat　on　his　temples　and　he　hastily　wiped　it　away。　He　couldn't　shake　the　image　of　Boniface；　standing　before　him；　touched　with　amber　light　that　glittered　in　his　thick　glasses。　I　know；　the　man　had　said；　who　you　could　have　been。
　　And　then　Kip's　foot　came　down　hard　on　the　brakes。
　　The　jeep　started　to　spin　in　the　sand；　but　Kip　let　the　wheel　turn　and　then　corrected　its　direction；　the　jeep　straightened；　whipping　grit　up　behind　it；　and　then　stopped　abruptly　as　the　engine　rattled　and　died。　Kip　sat　and　looked　straight　ahead　for　a　long　time。
　　The　boatyard　gates　were　shattered；　the　weathered　timbers　broken　and　lying　splintered　on　the　ground。　The　timbers　that　still　remained　in　the　gate　sagged　forward；　like　bones　in　a　broken　rib　cage；　their　edges　raw　and　jagged。
　　An　ax；　Kip　thought。　Some　bastard　has　taken　an　ax　to　Langstree's　gates。
　　He　picked　up　his　light；　climbed　out　of　the　jeep；　and　went　through　into　the　yard。　Nothing　else　seemed　to　be　wrecked；　though　in　the　disarray　it　was　difficult　for　him　to　tell。　He　swept　his　light　in　an　arc。　Nothing　moved。　There　was　no　noise　but　for　the　sea　and　the　slow　creaking　of　a　boat　moored　to　the　wharf。　This　would　be　the　right　time　for　someone　to　break　in；　with　Langstree　away。　Why　the　hell　didn't　the　man　hire　a　watchman？　That　cheap　old　bastard！　he　thought　angrily；　knowing　it　was　his　own　responsibility　if　someone　had　made　off　with　something　valuable。
　　As　he　moved　deeper　into　the　yard；　he　tried　to　keep　his　mind　off　the　U…boat　ahead　in　the　naval　shelter。　The　image　of　the　rotting　thing　was　a　searing　flame　in　his　mind。　He　moved　past　a　great　heaping　tangle　of　ropes　and　cables　and　walked　faster；　heading　directly　for　the　shelter。
　　He　saw　immediately　that　the　door　was　open；　he　stopped　in　his　tracks；　shining　the　light　about；　and　then　slipped　through　into　the　stench　of　decay。　He　moved　his　light　slowly　along　the　hulk；　not　knowing　what　to　expect；　not　even　knowing　what　he　was　looking　for。　And　when　the　beam　picked　out　the　form　of。　the　cylinder　truck　on　the　forward　deck　he　swore　and　let　his　breath　out　in　a　hiss。
　　As　he　crossed　the　gangplank　he　shined　the　light　down　onto　the　deck；　and　then　he　saw　the　gaping；　smooth…edged　void　where　the　hatch　had　been　burned　out。　The　hatch　itself；　the　bottom　of　it　encrusted　with　some　kind　of　yellow　fungus；　lay　several　feet　away　on　the　deck。　Kip　thrust　the　light　down　toward　the　hole；　aware　that　his　heartbeat　had　picked　up；　that　there　was　something。。。　something。。。　something。。。
　　Aware　that　blood　was　splattered　around　the　yawning　opening。
　　At　once　Kip　sucked　in　his　breath；　stunned。　He　bent　down　and　touched　a　hand　to　the　thick　globs　of　blood。　He　wiped　it　off　on　his　trouser　leg。　The　blood　was　so　dark　it　was　almost　black；　and　he　realized　he　was　standing　in　it。　Puddles　had　collected　around　the　hatch　opening　like　oil　seepage。　And　now　he　smelled　it　as　well；　like　a　thick；　coppery　taste　in　his　mouth。　There　was　a　larger　lump　of　something　beside　him；　and　it　was　only　when　Kip　had　bent　to　examine　it　that　he　realized　it　was　a　piece　of　black　flesh。
　　The　U…boat　moaned　softly；　and　a　timber　creaked；　the　echoes　filling　the　inside　of　the　shelter。　He　turned；　played　the　light　up　the　conning…tower　bulwark　and　toward　the　stern。　A　sharp；　piercing　fear　was　inside　him；　jabbing　at　his　guts；　and　he　fought　to　keep　hold　of　his　sanity。　He　backed　away　from　the　hatch；　keeping　his　light　on　it；　until　he'd　reached　the