rm.thenightboat-第41部分

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ing　of　timber。　A　light　switched　on；　almost　at　the　farthest　fringe　of　the　village；　and　he　could　hear　someone…a　man's　voice…shouting　in　a　high；　frantic　pitch。　A　noise　like　a　pistol　shot　echoed　across　the　roofs；　and　there　was　the　sound　of　more　glass　cracking；　another　square　of　yellow　light　appeared；　nearer　to　them；　and　Moore　saw　a　shadow　dart　by　the　window。　In　a　blue　lightning　flash　he　thought　he　could　make　out　figures　in　the　streets；　but　then　the　darkness　claimed　the　earth　again。　A　coil　was　winding　within　him；　tightening　his　muscles。　He　turned　from　the　railing；　went　inside　to　the　dresser　drawer；　and　withdrew　the　automatic。
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Jana　asked　him；　framed　on　the　terrace；　the　fear　creeping　across　her　face。
　　〃I'm　going　downstairs　to　check　the　doors　and　windows。〃　He　put　the　automatic　on　safety　and　stuck　it　into　his　waistband。　〃I　want　you　to　stay　in　your　room　and　be　sure　the　terrace　doors　are　bolted。〃
　　〃They're　ing；　aren't　they？〃　It　was　more　of　a　statement　than　a　question；　the　voice　cold　behind　it。
　　〃Go　on。〃
　　〃No。　I'm　staying　with　you。〃
　　〃You'll　be　safer　up　here。〃
　　〃No；〃　she　repeated；　holding　his　eyes　with　her　own。
　　He　shrugged；　there　was　no　time　for　argument。　Moore　and　Jana　went　into　the　hallway　and　were　about　to　descend　the　stairs　when　Moore　saw　a　sliver　of　light　beneath　the　German's　door。
　　He　knocked；　waited；　heard　movement　inside；　knocked　again。　Schiller　opened　the　door　and　stood　bleary…eyed；　his　tie　loosened　and　the　top　buttons　of　his　shirt　undone。　A　chair　had　been　positioned　before　the　open　terrace　doors；　and　the　bed　was　still　made。　Schiller　rubbed　his　eyes　and　yawned。　〃I　fell　asleep；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　listening　to　the　thunder。〃　Then　he　noticed　the　pistol　at　Moore's　waistband；　and　he　was　instantly　alert。　〃What。。。　is　going　on？〃　he　asked；　looking　quizzically　into　their　faces。
　　Moore　stalked　past　the　man；　grasping　the　terrace　doors；　he　was　shutting　them　when　another　streak　of　lightning　cut　the　sky　in　half；　and　the　thunder　echoed。　He　saw　that　a　few　more　lights　had　e　on；　a　scattering　of　fireflies　across　Coquina　village。
　　〃The　gun；〃　the　German　was　saying　behind　him。　〃What　is　it　for？〃　He　took　a　step　toward　the　other　man。　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　And　before　Moore　could　reply　there　was　a　crack！　near　Front　Street；　from　the　fishermen's　shanties。　Whether　it　was　a　gunshot　or　the　noise　of　glass　being　broken　he　couldn't　tell；　but　then　there　came　an　eerie；　ragged　wail；　one　of　terrified　desperation。　Moore's　mouth　was　dry；　his　mind　racing。　The　lightning　flashed　again　and　in　that　brief　light　he　saw　figures。。。　the　things。。。　moving　through　the　streets　below。　The　scream　ceased　abruptly；　then　came　a　man's　voice；　shouting；　and　a　woman's　shrill　and　hysterical。　Moore　threw　the　bolt　on　the　doors　and；　turning　away；　saw　Schiller's　face　a　drawn；　pale　mask。
　　〃What　was　that　scream？〃　the　German　asked；　his　face　was　ashen；　a　blue　vein　throbbing　rapidly　at　his　temple。
　　Moore　pushed　past　Schiller　and　Jana　into　the　hallway；　descended　the　stairs　three　at　a　time　in　the　dark。　In　the　distance　he　heard　another　voice；　shouting　incoherently；　then　drowned　in　a　wave　of　thunder。　A　nameless　dread　had　gripped　him；　and　he　couldn't　move　fast　enough。　Check　the　windows；　the　doors。　The　shutters…some　of　the　shutters　are　weak；　the　storm　damage　not　yet　replaced…get　them　bolted。　He　felt　the　way　he　had　inside　the　submarine；　his　legs　out　of　control；　functioning　crazily　in　slow　motion；　as　if　he　were　inside　a　stranger's　body。
　　He　reached　the　front　door　and　shook　the　knob　to　test　the　lock。　It　was　secure。　One　of　the　windows　facing　the　porch　hadn't　been　pushed　down　flush　to　the　frame；　Moore　cursed　himself；　reached　it　in　two　strides；　and　grasped　the　window's　top　to　push　it　into　place　and　lock　it。
　　Lightning　streaked；　a　thin　white　thread。　And　in　its　light　Moore　saw　the　forms　that　stood　on　the　porch；　groping　from　the　darkness　at　the　doorway。
　　Moore　caught　his　breath；　slammed　the　window　down；　locked　it。
　　From　the　rear　of　the　Indigo　Inn　there　was　the　sudden；　electrifying　sound　of　shattering　glass。
　　He　heard　the　screen　door　open；　heard　the　wood　splinter　as　it　was　ripped　from　its　hinges　by　a　dozen　hands。　Someone　in　the　village　screamed　again；　and　someone　else　called　out　for　God。　The　rear　windows　were　being　broken　out；　he　could　hear　something　hammering　at　the　back　door；　trying　to　get　through。　Moore　whirled　around；　slammed　and　locked　the　door　that　connected　the　kitchen　with　the　rest　of　the　hotel。　He　dragged　a　table　across　it；　at　the　same　time　bringing　out　the　automatic　and　switching　off　the　safety。
　　And　then　silence；　broken　only　by　his　own　rapid　breathing　and　the　noise　of　chaos　in　the　village：　screams　and　shouts；　a　gun　firing；　a　cry　of　pain。
　　Someone　was　ing　down　the　stairs：　Schiller　and　Jana；　feeling　their　way　in　the　dark。
　　〃SCHILLER！〃　Moore　shouted。　〃WATCH　THAT　REAR　DOOR。。。！〃
　　Something　suddenly　pounded　against　the　front　door。。。　wham！　wham！　wham！。。。　with　a　tremendous　force。　A　hammer；　Moore　thought；　ice　flowing　in　his　veins。　The　things　have　a　hammer。
　　He　heard　the　door　at　the　back　of　the　hotel　e　off　its　frame；　there　was　a　wild　crash　of　glass　and　crockery　from　the　kitchen。
　　A　front　window　shattered；　the　glass　exploding　into　the　room　along　with　pieces　of　the　aged　shutter。　Jana　cried　out；　and　Moore　saw　the　black　outline　of　a　figure　throw　back　a　powerful　arm　to　break　out　the　rest　of　the　wood。　The　door　was　struck；　again　and　again；　there　was　a　sharp　splintering　sound。
　　Moore　raised　the　gun；　aimed　directly　at　the　thing　that　tore　at　the　shutter；　and　fired。
　　A　gout　of　flame　spewed　from　the　automatic's　muzzle；　the　gun's　roar　momentarily　deafened　him。　The　dark　figure　was　thrown　backward；　and　glass　tinkled　from　the　broken　frame。
　　〃You　killed　it。。。〃　Schiller　said；　sweat　glistening　on　his　face。
　　〃Wait；〃　Moore　told　him；　not　moving。　〃Keep　your　eye　on　that　back　door；　for　God's　sake！〃
　　A　heavy　blow　struck　the　door　that　sealed　off　the　kitchen；　glass　broke　on　the　other　side　of　it。　Moore　jerked　around　and　fired　through　the　wood；　filling　the　air　with　splinters　and　the　acrid　odor　of　gunpowder。　At　the　same　time；　that　hammer　blow　struck　the　front　door　again；　and　Jana　could　see　it　slowly　bending　inward；　she　grabbed　a　chair　and　wedged　it　under　the　knob。　The　shutter　at　another　window　was　being　attacked；　the　claws　scratching　their　way　in。　Moore　brought　his　arm　up　and　fired；　the　things　ducked　away　on　either　side　of　the　frame。
　　Schiller　saw　a　split　growing　in　the　center　of　the　rear　door；　he　backed　away　from　it；　watching　the　wood　being　broken　with　a　horrified　fascination。
　　A　window　on　the　room's　far　side　buckled　inward　in　a　shower　of　slats　and　glass。　One　of　them　had　thrown　itself　partway　through　and　now　grasped　the　window's　ledges　to　pull　itself　the　rest　of　the　way　in。　Jana　reached　to　her　side　for　the　decanter　of　rum　and　threw　it；　but　the　bottle　broke　just　above　the　thing's　head；　Moore　stepped　forward；　firing　point…blank。
　　The　muzzle　flame　exposed　a　face　cancerous　with　rot　and　fungus；　a　lipless　mouth　gaped；　the　eyes　holes　of　hate。　Moore　fired　again；　and　again；　seeing　the　face　explode　into　bits　of　bone　and　dried　flesh；　it　hissed　and　fell　back　through　the　window。
　　Now　the　rear　door　was　buckling。　Schiller　forced　his　legs　to　move；　putting　his　hands　against　the　wood　to　hold　the　things　back。　He　could　feel　the　incredible　force　of　whatever　was　behind　the　door。
　　A　window　breaking；　another；　two　more。　A　skeleton's　shoulders　pushed　forward；　the　grisly　brown　scalp　glistening　with　glass。　Jana　hefted　a　wicker　chair　and　struck　at　it；　but　then　the　arms　were　in　and　it　was　too　late。
　　Three　more　bullets　remained　in　the　automatic。　They　were　fighting　their　way　in　now　through　all　the　windows；　and　it　was　only　moments　before　the　doors　would　give　way。　Moore　felt　the　wild　touch　of　panic　grip　him；　shook　it　off；　felt　it　return　with　a　vengeance。　There　was　no　time　to　get　those　shells　from　upstairs；　but　was　there　a　chance　they　could　make　it　to　a　terrace　and　leap　from　the　porch　before　the　zombies　reached　them？
　　He　turned　and　fired　at　the　one　Jana　was　trying　to　fight　back。　It　shrieked　and　collapsed；　sliding　through　the　window。
　　The　rear　door　split；　Schiller　stepped　away　from　a　gnarled　claw　that　had　burst　through。　But　others　reached　through　as　well；　and　they　would　be　inside　within　seconds。
　　With　a　tremendous　noise　of　cracking　wood　the　front　door　caved　in；　and　hideous　shapes　came　through　the　jagged　aperture；　the　one　in　the　lead　wielding　a　hammer；　others　carrying　crowbars　and　wrenches。　Moore　fired　into　their　midst　and　knew　he'd　hit　one　of　them；　but　even　as　he　prepared　to　fire　his　final　bullet；　he　heard　Schiller　shout　that　the　rear　door　was　down　as　well。　A　stench　of　rot　wafted　over　him；　and　a　shadow　loomed　up；　striking　a　blunt　object　down　on　Moore's　right　shoulder。　He　cried　out　in　pain；　the　gun　slipped　from　his　numbed　fingers。
　　Then　they　engulfed　him；　clawing　and　biting；　the　teeth　grinning　and　terrible；　a　hand　flashed　out；　clubbing　him　across　the　forehead；　and　he　fought　back；　his　teeth　clenched；　not　willing　to　let　them　take　him　without　a　battle。　He　was　thrown　backward　over　a　chair　and　lay　sprawled　on　his　back。　They　huddled　over　Jana　in　a　corner；　their　claws　and　fangs　flashing；　Moore　crawled　toward　her　as　one　of　them　grasped　his　throat　and　began　to　twist　his　head　to　one　side；　about　to　rip　it　from　the　neck。
　　〃GOD　HAVE　MERCY！〃　Schiller　shrieked　in　German；　backing　against　a　wall　at　their　approach。　〃GOD　HAVE　MERCY！〃
　　And　a　voice　hissed；　〃Stopppppppp。。。〃　The　sound　was　as　cold　as　the　touch　of　the　grave。
　　The　thing　strangling　Moore　released　its　grip　and　stood　up。　Moore　coughed　violently；　shaking　his　head　from　side　to　side；　a　black　curtain　still　obscuring　the　field　of　his　vision。　They　released　Jana；　she　crumpled　to　the　floor　in　a　heap。
　　Schiller　stood　where　he　was；　pinned　to　the　wall；　his　mouth　making　whimpering　sounds。
　　The　things　stood　motionless；　waiting；　eager　for　blood。
　　A　shadow　moved；　the　clatter　of　boots　across　the　floor；　lightning　flashed；　illuminating　a　face　destroyed　by　the　ruin　of　rot；　a　face　that　had　seen　its　own　horror　in　a　mirror。　One　arm；　wrapped　in　a　tattered　brown　sleeve；　slowly　rose；　the　finger　pointing。　The　hand　came　out；　almost　touching　Schiller's　chin；　but　when　Schiller　reco