rm.thenightboat-第43部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　And　there　he　had　found　his　house　a　shambles；　windows　broken；　the　doors　caved　in。　Tears　stinging　his　eyes；　he　had　rushed　inside。　His　wife　and　daughter　were　gone。　There　was　a　smear　of　blood　across　a　wall；　a　bullet　hole　in　a　door；　another　in　a　window　frame；　the　sight　made　him　freeze　in　shock。　He　had　fought　his　way　out　of　there；　sobbing；　not　knowing　if　they　were　alive　or　slaughtered。
　　Kip　saw　figures　struggling　through　the　pall　of　smoke　as　he　neared　the　harbor。　He　tensed；　slammed　on　his　brakes；　and　reached　for　the　rifle　on　the　seat　beside　him。　The　forms　emerging　from　the　darkness　were　islanders；　terrified　people　running　wildly　past　him　toward　the　jungle　beyond。　He　saw　their　glazed；　mad　eyes　and　knew　there　was　nothing　he　could　do。
　　Except　one　thing。
　　He　jammed　his　foot　to　the　floor；　blared　the　horn　to　avoid　a　man　who　staggered　through　a　doorway　into　the　street。　The　jeep　roared　along　the　harbor　through　the　blazing　heat。　A　bucket　brigade　had　been　started；　the　men　moving　in　slow　motion；　their　clothes　smoking。　Wet　wood　whined　and　shrilled；　to　Kip　it　sounded　like　what　he　imagined　a　shell　from　a　U…boat's　deck　gun；　screaming　from　the　sea；　might　sound　like。
　　〃WHERE　ARE　YOU！〃　he　shouted；　his　throat　raw。　〃WHERE　ARE　YOU！〃　Smoke　whirled　before　him；　stinging　his　eyes；　filling　his　mouth。　But　he　knew　where　they　were。
　　It　was　war。　War；　just　as　it　had　been　in　1942。　Time　had　stood　still　for　the　U…boat's　crew；　and　now　it　was　frozen　for　the　villagers　as　well。　But　this　was　not　war。　It　was　a　massacre；　a　hideous　and　inhuman　massacre　of　the　innocents。　But；　that　was　the　way　it　was　done；　wasn't　it？　War　always　took　the　innocents　first；　and　then　the　things　that　had　done　the　killing　slipped　back　into　the　shadows　to　wait　and　plan　for　another　day。　By　all　that　was　holy；　he　swore　he　would　kill　as　many　as　he　could　with　his　bare　hands　if　need　be。　He　left　the　burning　village　behind；　sweat　and　tears　mingling　on　his　face；　his　pulse　pounding　with　the　knowledge　of　what　was　to　e。
　　And　then　he　was　at　the　boatyard；　crashing　through　the　remnants　of　the　gates；　swerving　past　the　junk　piles；　one　hand　guiding　the　wheel　and　the　other　gripping　his　rifle。　The　naval　shelter　lay　before　him；　a　streak　of　lightning　illuminating　it　for　an　instant。　The　doorway　was　open。　He　stopped　the　jeep；　leaped　over　its　side；　and　ran　toward　the　shelter　with　the　rifle　clasped　in　his　arms。
　　But　before　he　reached　it　there　came　a　hollow　rumbling　noise　that　seemed　to　make　the　earth　tremble　beneath　his　feet。
　　He　stood　where　he　was；　listening；　new　sweat　beading　up　on　his　face。　The　noise　came　again；　harsher；　shaking　the　shelter's　walls。　The　distant　sound　of　thunder；　yes；　thunder。
　　〃Noooooooo；〃　Kip　hissed　through　clenched　teeth；　his　mind　reeling。　〃NO！〃　He　took　a　step　forward。
　　The　noise　died　away；　came　back；　growing；　growing；　growing；　making　the　ground　tremble。　With　a　shriek　of　metal　the　huge　sliding　bulkhead　crumpled。
　　Kip　forced　himself　to　move；　one　sluggish　step　at　a　time。　〃I　won't　let　you　get　away。。。！〃　he　shouted　against　the　brittle　wind；　the　words　flying　out　to　all　directions。　〃GODDAMN　YOU；　I　WON'T　LET　YOU　GET。。。〃
　　The　bulkhead　bent　outward；　a　blister　of　metal。　It　collapsed　into　the　water　with　a　metallic　ripping　noise。
　　And　from　the　shelter；　inch　by　inch；　the　U…boat's　stern　emerged。
　　The　battered　propellors　churned　oily　water；　the　boat's　aft　deck　slid　out；　then　the　conning　tower。　Kip　could　see　formless　shapes　on　the　dark　bridge。　He　raised　the　rifle　and　fired；　hearing　the　bullet　ricochet　off　iron。　The　U…boat　emerged　like　a　reptile　slithering　from　its　den；　and　the　entire　length　of　it　shuddered　from　the　straining　power　of　the　engines。　It　moved　free　of　the　shelter　and　began　to　turn；　gradually；　the　iron　protesting；　toward　the　reef　passage　with　foam　streaking　along　its　bow。
　　The　U…boat　ground　itself　over　a　skiff；　rammed　broadside　into　a　small　trawler　at　anchor　and　cast　it　away。　The　sea　was　already　filling　the　trawler's　shattered　port　deck。　Lightning　jabbed　the　sky；　and　Kip　saw　the　iron　monster　cross　the　harbor；　veering　away　from　the　sandbars；　the　boat　gained　the　passage　and　began　to　move；　sluggishly　against　the　surge　of　white…capped　breakers。　Kip　ran　past　the　water's　edge　and　on　into　the　sea；　bringing　the　rifle　up；　firing　without　aiming；　again　and　again。　The　gun　jammed；　the　U…boat　was　out　of　the　harbor　now；　the　ocean　thundering　against　its　hull；　and　when　the　next　sheet　of　lightning　came　it　was　gone；　swept　away　into　the　night；　on　a　final　and　terrifying　voyage。
　　The　waves　thrashed　around　his　knees；　almost　throwing　him　off　balance。　Wind　sucked　at　him；　howling　within　the　empty　shelter。　The　Night　Boat；　Boniface　had　said。　The　Night　Boat；　the　most　terrible　of　all　creatures　of　the　deep。　〃Nooooo；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　won't　let　you　get　away。。。〃
　　Lightning　flashed　overhead；　and　the　thunder's　boom　sounded　like　the　laugh　of　a　war　god；　savage　and　victorious。
　　Rain　began　to　fall；　first　in　single　heavy　drops；　then　in　sheets　that　rippled　across　the　sea。　Kip　stood　in　the　downpour；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　limitless　blackness。　Very　slowly　he　made　his　way　out　of　the　water　and　when　he　reached　shore　he　crumpled　to　his　knees　in　the　sand；　driven　down　by　the　weight　of　the　storm。
　　
　　Moore　and　Jana　clung　to　each　other；　following　the　men　through　the　curtains　of　rain。　They　were　Caribs；　Moore　realized；　although　he　didn't　recognize　any　of　them。　They　were　moving　across　a　high…grassed　clearing　into　a　part　of　Coquina　he　didn't　know。　He　could　see　the　glimmer　of　lights　in　the　distance。　The　crowded　shacks　took　shape　out　of　the　rain；　and　he　saw　the　outline　of　the　muddy　street　stretching　down　to　the　north　harbor。　Caribville。　One　of　the　Indians　stepped　from　the　path　into　thicket　and　sat　on　his　haunches；　facing　back　the　way　they'd　e；　with　a　rifle　across　his　knees。　Another　took　his　position　a　few　yards　away。
　　The　streets　were　empty。　The　heavy　raindrops　on　tin　roofs　sounded　like　gunshots。　The　man　with　the　shotgun　spoke　quietly　to　the　others　and　the　group　split　in　different　directions；　he　motioned　with　his　head　for　Moore　and　Jana　to　follow；　and　he　led　them　to　a　shack　where　an　oil　lamp　burned　behind　a　window　screen。　He　opened　the　door　and　waved　them　in　with　an　impatient　gesture。
　　Inside　there　was　a　dim　glow　of　low…burning　lamps；　the　faint　smell　of　tar　and　tobacco　and　food。　An　emaciated　old　woman　in　a　patchwork　gown　sat　rocking　in　a　chair　in　front　of　a　cast…iron　stove。　Her　hair　was　knotted　behind　her　head；　her　leathery　flesh　was　stretched　tight　over　her　prominent　facial　bones。　Another　woman；　perhaps　in　her　late　thirties；　stepped　away　from　the　door　as　they　came　through。
　　They　stood　in　a　large　room；　Moore　could　see　another　in　the　back。　There　were　a　few　chairs；　a　sun…faded　wooden　table　with　a　lamp　set　at　its　center；　cane　blinds　across　the　windows；　a　mat　of　intricately　woven　sea…grass　on　the　floor。　Framed　pictures　that　had　obviously　been　scissored　from　travel　magazines　hung　from　nails　around　the　room。　On　one　wall　was　a　gun　rack；　now　empty；　near　it　hung　a　beautifully　carved　and　smoothed　wooden　tribal　mask；　light　gleaming　on　its　oiled　surface。　Its　triangular　teeth　were　bared；　the　eyes　set　in　a　fierce；　warriorlike　glare。
　　Moore　put　his　arm　protectively　around　Jana；　supporting　her　as　the　man　closed　and　bolted　the　door　behind　them。　As　she　swept　her　wet　hair　from　her　face；　Moore　saw　an　angry　red　welt　on　one　cheek。
　　The　man　shook　his　head　like　a　dog；　spraying　droplets　of　water　from　his　beard　and　shoulders；　and　placed　his　shotgun　in　the　rack。　At　once　the　younger　woman　was　at　his　side；　speaking　to　him　in　the　Carib　language。　He　didn't　reply；　but　waved　her　back　to　her　place。　Across　the　room　the　old　woman　rocked　back　and　forth；　her　hands　clenched　in　her　lap；　her　gaze　boring　through　Moore's　skull。　She　muttered　something　and　laughed　abruptly。
　　The　man　took　up　one　of　the　lamps　in　his　large　hand　and　stepped　toward　Moore。　With　the　light　falling　directly　upon　them；　Moore　could　see　his　horribly　ravaged　face。　The　eyes　were　as　hard　and　cold　as　chunks　of　new　granite。
　　〃Who　are　you？〃　Moore　asked　him。
　　The　man　ignored　him　and　spoke　to　the　young　woman；　who　hurried　from　the　room。　She　returned　a　moment　later　with　a　brown　blanket　and　offered　it　to　Moore；　but　he　could　see　no　charity　in　her　face；　he　took　it　and　wrapped　it　gently　around　Jana's　shoulders。
　　The　Carib　held　the　lamp　steady；　its　light　painting　his　flesh　the　color　of　waxed　mahogany。　He　held　Moore's　gaze　and　motioned　with　the　lamp　toward　a　window。　〃Rain　before　wind；〃　he　said　in　English；　his　voice　like　the　rumble　of　a　diesel　engine。　〃The　storm　will　follow。〃
　　〃You　saved　our　lives；〃　Moore　said。　〃If　you　hadn't。。。〃
　　〃There　are　many　who　are　beyond　saving　now；〃　the　Carib　said。　His　speech　pattern　had　a　mixture　of　British　and　West　Indian　rhythms；　and　he　sounded　as　if　he　might　be　fairly　well　educated。　〃Your　name　is　David　Moore；　you're　the　one　who　bought　the　hotel；　aren't　you？〃　He　stood　like　a　massive　tree　rooted　to　the　floor。
　　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃What　happened　to　your　shoulder？〃
　　〃I　can't　remember。　I　think　one　of　them　hit　me　with　something。〃
　　〃Broken　bone？〃
　　Moore　shook　his　head。
　　The　man　grunted；　played　the　light　across　Jana's　face。　Behind　him　the　old　woman　muttered　on；　her　voice　rising　and　falling。
　　〃What　place　is　this？〃　Jana　asked。
　　〃My　village。　My　house。〃　He　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃I　am　Cheyne；　Chief　Father　of　the　Caribs。〃
　　And　now　Moore　made　the　connection：　The　man　reminded　him　of　that　statue　in　the　Square。　Cheyne；　a　distant　ancestor　of　the　chieftain　who'd　battled　pirates？
　　〃Those　things。。。〃　Jana　said　softly。　She　picked　at　the　dried　blood　on　her　lower　lip　and　then　raised　her　face　to　Moore's。　〃What　about　Schiller？〃
　　〃Dead；〃　he　replied；　his　mind　sheering　away　from　the　image　of　Schiller　pinned　to　the　floor。　He　weaved　back　and　forth；　the　pain　now　flaming　under　his　flesh。　Cheyne　spoke　to　the　woman；　who　left　the　room　again。　He　clamped　a　firm　hand　around　Moore's　arm　and　eased　him　into　a　chair。　Cheyne　motioned　for　Jana　to　sit　on　the　mat　beside　Moore　and　she　did；　drawing　her　knees　up　to　her　chin　and　pulling　the　blanket　around　her。　Then　Cheyne　withdrew　a　gleaming；　jagged…edged　blade　from　his　waistband。　He　picked　up　a　flat　black　whetting　stone　from　the　table　and　began　to　draw　the　blade　slowly　ac