rm.thenightboat-第42部分

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ose；　the　finger　pointing。　The　hand　came　out；　almost　touching　Schiller's　chin；　but　when　Schiller　recoiled　in　stark　terror　the　thing　paused。　Its　head　cocked　to　one　side；　it　examined　Schiller　with　burning　eyes。
　　Moore　crawled　toward　Jana；　she　was　semiconscious；　her　face　gashed　and　her　clothing　in　shreds。　He　huddled　beside　her　and　watched。
　　〃Nein。。。〃　Schiller　whispered。　〃Nein。。。〃
　　The　figure　before　him　breathed　heavily；　the　stare　penetrating。　Then；　with　a　tremendous　effort；　the　gray　lips　moved。　〃Schillerrrr。。。？〃
　　The　German　shrank　back；　his　shoulders　pressed　into　the　wall。
　　〃Mein　Gott。。。〃　the　thing　whispered；　its　voice　a　dry　rasp　that　made　Moore's　skin　crawl。
　　Schiller　blinked；　screams　of　madness　echoing　within　his　head。　He　couldn't　believe　it；　wouldn't　believe　it；　but　he　seemed　to　recognize　the　man…or　what　had　once　been　a　man…from　a　long　time　ago。　Another　life。　〃Nein。。。〃　he　rasped；　shaking　his　head。　〃Not　you！　You　should　be。。。　dead。。。　all　of　you　should　BE　DEAD！〃
　　Korrin　held　Schiller's　eyes　for　a　moment　more；　then　slowly　moved　his　gaze　to　Moore　and　Jana。　He　raised　the　arm　again；　flesh　hanging　in　strings　from　the　exposed　bone；　and　pointed　toward　them。　〃Feindlich　Teufel。。。〃　he　whispered。
　　〃Nein；〃　Schiller　breathed。　〃Nein；　nein。。。〃
　　Korrin　turned　from　Schiller；　as　he　approached；　Moore　pulled　Jana　back　against　him；　trying　to　shield　her　body　with　his　own。　The　living　corpse　towered　over　them；　and　Moore　could　feel　the　touch　of　its　fetid　breath。
　　〃ALL　OF　YOU　ARE　DEAD！〃　Schiller　shrieked；　his　voice　breaking；　slithering　into　a　moan。
　　Korrin's　eyes　were　flaming　slithering　whorls　of　destruction。　They　seared　through　Moore's　flesh　and　muscles；　into　the　bone　and　the　brain。　The　arm　extended；　and　the　hand；　with　its　long；　filthy　nails；　came　down　for　Moore's　throat。　He　held　his　own　arms　up　weakly　to　ward　it　off；　but　he　was　powerless　to　move。
　　And　then　suddenly；　in　a　blur　of　motion；　Schiller　had　picked　up　the　gun　lying　on　the　floor。　He　fired　without　aiming；　a　tongue　of　orange　pierced　the　shadows。
　　Moore　saw　Korrin's　head　jerk　to　one　side；　saw　the　lower　jaw　hang　on　threads　for　an　instant　before　being　ripped　away；　leaving　a　ragged　edge　of　flesh。　Korrin　staggered　backward；　almost　falling；　but　then　regaining　his　balance。　He　put　his　hands　to　his　face；　and　the　scream　roaring　through　that　broken　mouth　cast　Schiller　over　the　brink　of　insanity。　Still　screaming；　Korrin　moved　forward；　his　claws　rising；　Schiller　squeezed　the　trigger　again；　aiming　between　the　eyes；　but　the　hammer　fell　on　an　empty　clip。
　　At　once　the　other　crewmen　had　turned　on　Schiller；　one　of　them　struck　out　with　a　crowbar　that　smashed　across　the　German's　chest；　and　then　they　were　on　him；　going　for　his　eyes。　Korrin　reached　him；　bending　down　toward　the　offered　throat。
　　〃RUN！〃　Schiller　screamed；　his　eyes　glinting　as　the　things　covered　him　over。　〃RUN！〃
　　Moore　hesitated；　Schiller　had　saved　them；　but　now　the　man　was　beyond　hope；　and　the　instant　they　finished　with　him　they'd　crave　more　blood　and　fluids。　He　pulled　Jana　up；　shaking　her　to　make　her　move；　and　dragged　her　through　the　shattered　rear　door　toward　the　kitchen。　Beyond　the　broken　opening　where　the　back　door　had　been　was　the　jungle's　blackness。
　　Moore　turned　back。　They　were　shredding　the　flesh　from　Schiller's　body。
　　Then　he　pulled　Jana　after　him　into　the　thick；　clinging　underbrush。　She　was　still　dazed　and　tripped　across　vines。　He　picked　her　up；　ignoring　the　sharp　protest　of　his　injured　shoulder；　and　struggled　into　the　walls　of　foliage；　feeling　thorns　grasp　at　his　trousers　and　scrape　across　his　arm。
　　There　was　no　time　to　think；　no　time　to　let　his　nerves　feel　the　pain；　he　had　to　get　them　as　far　away　from　the　hotel　as　he　could。　The　terror　still　throbbed　within　him　like　the　beating　of　a　second　heart。　He　moved　deeper　into　darkness；　heedless　of　their　direction；　only　knowing　they　had　to　find　a　place　of　safety。　His　feet　sank　into　the　soft　earth；　slipping　in　standing　puddles　of　water。　On　the　next　step　he　lost　his　footing　and　crashed　to　the　ground　with　Jana　still　in　his　arms；　the　shock　on　his　injured　shoulder　made　him　cry　out　in　pain。　Jana　shook　her　head　dazedly；　the　scratches　livid　on　her　face。　She　tried　to　crawl　away　but　Moore　reached　out　and　caught　her。
　　And　he　heard　the　terrifying　noises　he　had　expected　all　along。　They　were　following；　he　could　hear　brush　being　crushed　down　beneath　boots。　Closer。　Closer。
　　He　pulled　her　up　and　went　on；　as　though　he　were　running　headlong　into　a　deep　pit　from　which　there　was　no　escape。　He　tore　frantically　at　the　vines　which　blocked　their　way。　A　wild　bird　cried　out　and　burst　from　the　brush　just　in　front　of　them。　The　things　were　still　ing；　assisted　by　the　path　that　Moore　was　breaking。　When　he　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　he　thought　he　could　see　a　dozen　or　more　of　them　approaching；　shadows　moving　among　other　shadows。　The　entire　jungle　was　a　morass　of　shadows；　which　burst　through　the　foliage；　reaching　out　for　him　with　shapeless；　spidery　fingers。　Panic　exploded　within　him　and　he　fought　on；　dragging　the　girl　with　him；　the　muscles　of　his　injured　arm　numb　and　useless。　There　was　nowhere　to　go；　nowhere　to　hide；　nowhere　to　find　safety。
　　The　things　were　almost　on　them；　only　a　few　yards　behind　and　closing　quickly。　Don't　stop！　Don't　weaken！　DON'T　STOP！　He　lost　his　footing；　staggered　to　his　knees；　pulled　himself　up；　grasping　Jana's　wrist　in　a　fierce　grip。　Thorns　whipped　into　his　face；　his　chest　heaving　with　the　exertion；　around　him　birds　screeched　in　a　wild；　loud　cacophony；　and　through　their　piercing　clamor　Moore　could　hear　a　horribly　familiar　harsh；　rasping　breath。　His　skin　crawled；　already　sensing　the　claws　that　would　reach　for　the　back　of　his　neck。
　　And　then　the　shadows　rose　up　in　front　of　him。
　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　scream；　but　the　scream　was　drowned　out　by　the　ear…splitting　roar　of　a　shotgun　blast。
　　The　muzzle　flare　exploded　past　Moore　and　Jana　into　the　shapes　that　reached　toward　them。　Shrieking　in　pain；　they　split　their　closed　ranks　and　fought　back　the　way　they'd　e。　The　man　with　the　shotgun　raised　his　weapon　again；　bracing　it　against　his　bare　shoulder；　the　gun　bucked　again；　but　the　forms　had　already　vanished　into　the　all…consuming　night。
　　Moore　collapsed　to　his　knees；　his　body　racked　with　pain；　and　retched　into　the　brush。　When　he　looked　up　he　saw　perhaps　six　or　seven　men；　a　few　of　them　holding　torches。　A　firm　hand　reached　down　and　caught　Moore's　wrist；　drawing　him　to　his　feet。
　　The　man　who　stood　over　him　cradled　the　smoking　shotgun　in　the　crook　of　his　muscular　arm。　He　was　pletely　bald　but　had　a　full　white　beard　and　mustache。　A　small　gold　ring　in　the　lobe　of　an　ear　glittered　in　the　light　of　a　torch；　and　a　golden　amulet　hung　about　his　thick　neck。　But　it　was　the　face　that　both　manded　Moore's　attention　and　repelled　him；　it　was　actually　repellent　to　him…black；　deep…set　eyes　glowered　from　beneath　a　high　forehead；　and　the　nose　was　as　hooked　as　an　eagle's　beak。　One　side　of　the　face　was　terribly　scarred　and　thickened；　the　scars　streaking　pink　across　the　tawny　skin；　crisscrossing　that　side　of　the　neck；　as　well　as　a　large　gouge　across　a　shoulder。　He　wore　a　T…shirt　and　dark　trousers　which　had　been　ripped　in　numerous　places　by　thorns。　The　man　motioned　silently　to　several　of　the　others；　who　began　to　move　off　in　pursuit　of　the　fleeing　shapes。　They　all　carried　guns　or　wicked…looking　knives。
　　The　man　turned　his　attention　to　Moore　and　Jana。　〃Follow；〃　he　ordered；　and　without　waiting　for　them　he　began　tracking　back　into　the　jungle　from　the　direction　he'd　e。
　　　
　　　Twenty…two
　　
　　SMOKE　WHIRLED　ACROSS　the　Coquina　roofs　in　the　grip　of　a　rising　storm　wind。　A　lamp　had　been　thrown　over　in　a　tinderbox　shack　near　the　wharfs；　and　red　tendrils　of　flame　greedily　consumed　the　roof。　The　dancing　sparks　spread；　rapidly　devouring　other　dwellings；　leaping　from　roof　to　roof；　caving　in　fiery　timbers　on　the　bodies　that　lay　beneath。
　　The　fires　took　hold；　strengthened　by　the　wind；　and　began　to　gnaw　away　at　the　semicircle　of　shanties　clustered　around　the　harbor。　The　reddish　light　in　the　sky　grew　in　intensity；　the　sea　mirroring　the　flames。　A　silence　had　fallen　across　the　village；　broken　only　by　the　noise　of　wood　giving　way　beneath　the　fires　and　the　thrashing　of　the　ocean　against　Kiss　Bottom。　Still；　there　remained　the　echoes　of　chaos；　the　screams　that　had　filled　the　streets；　the　moaning　and　crying　that　had　spilled　through　windows　and　doorways。
　　Kip　roared　through　the　smoke　in　his　jeep；　his　eyes　red　and　wild；　his　shirt　hanging　in　tatters　around　his　chest；　ashes　all　over　him；　ragged　scratches　on　his　throat　and　cheeks。　His　eyebrows　had　been　singed；　the　flesh　around　them　puffed　from　the　heat。　He　gripped　the　wheel；　swerving　to　avoid　the　bodies　littering　High　Street　as　he　headed　down　for　the　harbor。　A　corpse　lay　in　a　doorway　frame…a　woman；　her　face　mangled　beyond　recognition…and　another…a　man　in　a　pool　of　blood…alongside。　A　body　sprawled　directly　in　his　path；　a　mass　of　torn　flesh　he　had　known　as　James　Davis；　he　wrenched　the　wheel　to　one　side　and　whipped　past。　More　bodies；　more　pools　of　blood。　A　child；　arms　and　legs　spread…eagled；　eyes　lifted　to　the　sky；　the　man　called　Youngblood；　the　head　almost　torn　from　the　body。　Windows　above　the　Landfall　Tavern　had　been　shattered；　and　he　saw　the　heavyset　woman　who　had　worked　there　sprawled　out　with　sightless　eyes。　There　was　a　rotting　corpse　crumpled　in　a　heap…one　of　the　things　from　the　U…boat…grinning　even　in　death；　a　young　girl…yes；　the　high　yellow　on　her　way　to　Trinidad…now　beaten　and　torn；　her　beauty　ravaged。　He　shuddered；　looked　away；　was　forced　to　look　back　to　keep　from　running　over　a　corpse。
　　He　had　reached　the　village　just　before　they　attacked　in　full　force；　he　had　fired　his　rifle　at　them；　struck　some　of　them　down　with　his　jeep；　shouted　until　he　was　hoarse　to　alert　the　sleeping　islanders。　But　he　had　known　he　was　too　late。　He　heard　the　screaming　begin；　saw　them　crashing　through　glass　and　doors。　There　were　too　many。。。　too　many。。。　too　many。。。　the　streets　crawling　with　death。　He'd　fought　them　away　even　as　they　rushed　him；　trying　to　pull　him　from　his　jeep；　and　then　he　had　raced　to　protect　his　own　family。
　　And　there　he　had　found　his　house　a　shambles；　windows　broken；　the　doors　caved　in。　Tears　stinging　his　eyes；　he　had　rushed