rm.thenightboat-第23部分

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　the　tension　in　those　who　looked　at　him；　and　somehow　he　felt　ashamed　under　those　hard　gazes。　Moore　was　beginning　to　understand　the　fear　in　their　faces　after　what　he　imagined　he'd　seen　down　in　the　U…boat。　Imagined？　Was　it　imagination　after　all；　or　the　effect　of　the　gases　in　that　airless　tomb？　The　entire　thing　had　been　like　the　nightmares　he　experienced　over　the　deaths　of　his　wife　and　son；　didn't　he　awaken　shuddering　and　sweating　from　those；　ready　to　curse　God　yet　again　for　allowing　it　to　happen？　But　it　had　been　so　very　real　in　the　U…boat：　the　sounds；　the　smells；　the　apparitions　rising　toward　him　with　gaping；　awful　faces。　Stop　it！　he　told　himself；　pretending　to　inspect　a　bunch　of　green　bananas。
　　He　had　sat　up　half　the　night　in　the　hotel's　front　room；　drinking　one　dark　rum　after　the　next；　holding　the　scorpion　paperweight　in　his　left　hand　and　turning　it　before　the　bulb　of　a　desk　lamp。　The　colors　of　the　spectrum　had　gleamed　through　the　newly　polished　glass；　and　the　imprisoned　scorpion　was　outlined　in　a　dark；　bloodlike　red　glow。　Sitting　there；　staring　at　the　glass；　feeling　the　warmth　of　the　rum　deep　in　his　belly；　he　wondered　what　kind　of　a　man　had　held　it　before　him；　in　the　cavernous　darkness　of　the　U…boat。　Inescapable　fate；　Moore　thought；　it　had　been　inescapable　fate　that　those　men　had　gone　down　together　into　the　Abyss；　inescapable　fate　that　he　had　discovered　the　U…boat　some　forty　years　later。　And　now　he　realized　his　destiny　had　bee　strangely　interlocked　with　theirs；　through　time　and　circumstance。　He　had　raised　the　submarine　from　the　dead；　drawn　to　that　ledge　beneath　the　glimmering　blue　surface　as　surely　as　if　there　had　been　a　path　cut　for　him　dropping　down　into　the　curling　waves。　It　was　after　three　when　he　had　finished　the　rum　and　put　the　paperweight　aside；　hoping　he　would　sleep。　The　terrible　images　still　danced　inside　his　head。
　　And　this　morning；　as　he　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　of　islanders；　he　understood　their　fear　of　the　dark　things　they　associated　with　the　boat's　decaying　mass。　They　held　him　responsible　for　its　being　on　the　island；　as　if　he　had　brought　up　some　kind　of　Pandora's　box　filled　with。。。　what？　The　things　he'd　seen　in　his　hallucinations？　Jumbies；　duppies；　monstrous　forms　that　crawled　through　brackish　water　like　huge　dark　spiders？　He　shook　the　visions　off。　Voodoo　superstitions；　Moore　thought；　and　not　worth　a　damn。
　　There　was　some　kind　of　motion　on　one　edge　of　the　Square；　Moore　could　see　several　of　the　islanders　stepping　aside　as　if　to　make　way　for　someone。　Heads　turned；　conversations　stopped。　The　wild　clatter　of　laughter　and　talking　began　to　die；　slowly　at　first；　from　that　edge　of　the　Square　outward；　and　was　replaced　by　a　low　whispering　and　murmuring。　Moore　couldn't　see　what　was　happening　because　there　were　too　many　people　around　him；　so　he　walked　toward　a　clear　spot　over　by　the　hut　where　the　fish　were　being　stored。　A　group　of　islanders　parted　and　Moore　saw　Boniface　approaching；　walking　slowly；　guided　by　his　cane　and　dressed　in　a　black　suit。　The　glass　eye　around　his　throat　caught　the　sunlight。　The　man　looked　straight　ahead；　not　even　acknowledging　the　others　but　seemingly　walking　directly　toward　Moore。　Finally　the　outer　fringes　of　the　crowd　grew　silent　in　anticipation；　and　the　drummers　stopped　their　rhythms。
　　Boniface　narrowed　his　eyes　slightly；　staring　into　Moore's　face；　and　did　not　slow　his　pace　until　he　was　standing　a　few　feet　away　from　the　white　man。　Moore　saw　that　the　whites　of　Boniface's　eyes　were　bloodshot；　as　if　he'd　been　either　drinking　or　smoking　ganja。　Beneath　the　eyeglasses　they　appeared　as　inflamed；　deep　circles　in　the　ebony　face。　Boniface　leaned　forward　on　his　cane；　both　hands　clasped　at　its　hilt；　and　studied　Moore　in　silence。　Other　eyes　were　on　him；　from　all　across　the　Square；　and　in　the　distance　he　could　hear　a　woman　hushing　a　group　of　children。
　　〃You've　been　inside　it；〃　Boniface　said　quietly。
　　〃That's　right；〃　Moore　replied；　meeting　the　man's　gaze。
　　〃Are　you　a　fool？　A　madman；　to　disdain　what　I　say？　God　help　you！　Ah；　oui。　You　see　it　as　historical；　a　curiosity　perhaps。　Would　you　so　peer　at　the　fangs　of　a　snake？　And　now　it　sits　opened　behind　those　frail　wooden　walls。　And　tell　me；　what　did　you　find　inside？〃
　　〃Nothing。　We　found　nothing　at　all。〃
　　〃Liar！〃　Boniface　hissed；　his　expression　fierce。　He　looked　around　at　the　knot　of　people　behind　him；　and　when　he　returned　his　gaze　to　the　white　man　he　had　regained　his　control。　He　said　in　a　voice　just　above　a　whisper；　〃I　know　what　you　found　there；　Moore。　Do　you　hear　me？　I　know！　And　you　thought　yourself　dreaming；　or　mad；　or　cursed　with　the　sight　of　something　you　could　never　begin　to　understand。　Do　not　return　to　that　place。　Leave　the　boat　alone；　I　warn　you！〃
　　〃What　did　I　see；　Boniface？　You　tell　me。〃
　　The　man　paused　for　a　few　seconds；　and　when　he　spoke　the　voice　came　from　the　corridors　of　his　soul。　〃You　glimpsed　Hades；　Moore。　You　saw　the　place　of　eternal　torture　and　damnation。　And　yet　you　are　a　fool　to　think　it　was　a　nightmare；　to　think　you　are　safe　because　the　things　you　fail　to　understand　cannot　reach　you。　But　I　tell　you　they　can！〃　Boniface　abruptly　turned　from　Moore；　sweeping　his　gaze　across　the　faces　around　him。　He　stepped　into　the　crowd　and　it　parted　for　him；　backing　away。
　　〃Listen！〃　he　said；　his　voice　ringing　through　the　silence　that　had　fallen　in　the　Square。　〃Hear　me　well；　all　of　you！　Some　of　you　heed　my　word；　some　of　you　despise　my　teachings；　but　now　I　beg　all　of　you　to　listen！〃　He　looked　from　face　to　face；　his　own　hard　gaze　unyielding。　〃There　is　a　great　and　terrible　danger　on　Coquina；　and　I　urge　all　who　can　to　pack　belongings　and　get　away　from　this　place　now；　quickly！〃　There　was　a　startled　murmur　across　the　Square。
　　Boniface　held　up　a　hand。　〃Wait！　Hear　me　out！　If　you　cannot　do　as　I　ask；　then　do　these　things！　Board　your　windows；　keep　your　shutters　and　doors　locked！　If　you　have　guns；　keep　them　close　at　hand！〃　The　crowd's　uneasiness　increased　and　several　people　moved　about　nervously；　but　none　dared　turn　his　back　or　drop　his　eyes。　〃Stay　off　the　streets　at　night；〃　Boniface　continued。　〃Watch　your　wives　and　children；　and　do　not　allow　them　to　stray　off　the　paths　into　the　jungle。。。〃
　　There　was　a　chorus　of　angered；　fearful　responses　from　some　of　the　men。　Several　of　them　stepped　forward；　as　if　to　challenge　Boniface。　A　woman　fell　to　her　knees　and　began　to　mutter　wildly；　her　hands　clasped　before　her。
　　〃LISTEN　TO　ME；　YOU　FOOLS！〃　Boniface　shouted；　the　veins　standing　out　in　his　neck。　Immediately　all　noise　ceased；　the　men　stood　where　they　were；　glowering。　The　reverend　continued　softly；　〃If　you　value　your　lives；　you　will　not　go　down　into　the　boatyard。。。〃
　　This　last　warning　held　them　breathless。　The　breeze　swept　over　them　and　on　inland；　at　the　rear　of　the　crowd　a　metal　pot　was　knocked　over。　An　elderly　man　came　past　Moore　and　picked　up　a　bucket；　he　glanced　at　the　white　man；　his　eyes　pools　of　fear；　and　then　vanished。　In　another　moment　the　rest　of　the　islanders　had　begun　to　gather　up　their　goods　in　silence。　The　musicians　carried　their　steel　drums　off；　women　grasped　for　their　children's　hands　and　pulled　them　along；　ignoring　their　crying。　The　Square　began　to　empty　rapidly。
　　〃Are　you　crazy？〃　Moore　asked　Boniface；　stepping　beside　him。　〃This　is　exactly　what　the　constable　didn't　want！　You've　started　a　goddamned　panic！〃
　　〃I've　told　them　the　truth；〃　Boniface　said。　〃Kip　lies　to　himself。　I'll　have　no　blood　on　my　hands！〃
　　Moore　held　back　the　urge　to　grab　the　frail　old　man　and　shake　him　until　he　cracked　open；　spilling　out　his　bilious　secrets　into　the　sand。　〃Tell　me　what　it　means；〃　he　said　after　a　while。
　　〃It　may　save　their　lives。　It　may　save　yours　as　well。〃
　　〃But　why　won't　you　just　explain？〃　Moore　was　infuriated。　The　islanders　had　been　overpowered　by　Boniface's　voodoo。　There　was　nothing　Kip　could　do。
　　Moore；　knowing　that　now　the　islanders　had　been　overpowered　by　Boniface's　voodoo；　watched　the　few　people　still　left　carrying　away　their　goods。　One　of　the　farmers　began　to　drag　his　unwilling　hogs　along；　his　wife　and　children　switching　at　their　flanks　with　sticks。　Another　bent　to　gather　up　armloads　of　sugarcane　and　throw　them　into　a　wheelbarrow。
　　〃Remember；〃　Boniface　said；　holding　Moore's　eyes。　〃Stay　away　from　that　boat。〃
　　〃What　in　God's　name　is　this　all　about？〃　Moore　asked　again；　but　the　reverend　had　turned　away　without　a　word；　retracing　the　path　by　which　he'd　e；　moving　through　the　rapidly　emptying　Square　toward　Front　Street's　sand　ribbon。　〃WHAT　IS　IT？〃　Moore　shouted；　but　the　man　didn't　stop。　He　watched　Boniface　disappear　among　the　clapboard　houses。
　　Moore　saw　now　who　held　the　power；　he　had　seen　Mayor　Reynard's　face　among　the　crowd；　and　a　dozen　others　he　knew。　None　of　them　had　moved；　none　had　spoken；　they'd　been　frozen　under　Boniface's　gaze。　And　the　man's　words　had　swept　the　Square；　begging；　manding；　pleading。　None　of　his　believers　could　dare　to　disobey。
　　In　another　few　moments　Moore　was　alone　in　the　Square　except　for　a　couple　of　thin　dogs　searching　for　scraps。　And　above　their　low；　growling　challenges　Moore　thought　he　heard　something；　very　distant　and　difficult　to　define。　It　was　a　distant　buzzing　sound；　like　a　fly　circling　his　head；　slowly　the　noise　became　the　whirring　of　a　cricket；　then　the　close　droning　of　a　bee。　Moore　lifted　his　face　into　the　sun；　shielding　his　eyes　with　a　hand；　and　searched　the　sky。　He　found　it；　and　the　large　winged　shadow　passed　close　over　the　village　roofs；　sending　whorls　of　sand　dancing　past　him。
　　
　　Steven　Kip　drove　a　narrow；　rutted　goat…track　of　a　road　through　the　greenish…black　jungles；　the　studded　tires　bounced　and　crashed　over　stones　and　the　remnants　of　uprooted　trees。　Kip　braked　the　jeep　when　he　came　to　a　crossroads　to　get　his　bearings　as　to　which　way　to　drive。　He　had　been　at　this　point　on　Coquina　only　twice　before；　and　one　of　those　times　he　had　bee　hopelessly　lost　for　hours　on　a　road　that　wound　around　and　around　before　dropping　off　into　the　sea。　He　lifted　his　arm　and　wiped　sweat　from　his　forehead。　The　air　was　thick　and　wet　here；　and　the　dampness　had　worked　its　way　beneath　his　clothes；　clinging　to　his　skin　in　beads。　Light　streamed　through　the　thick　overhang　of　trees　and　vines　like　golden；　liquid　columns；　but　in　places　the　darkness　was　like　the　bottom　of　the　ocean。　Birds　scree