rm.thenightboat-第45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！


d　have　made　it　through　the　passage；　and　it　would　be　lost　to　me。　No！　It's　mine；　damn　it！　I've　waited　a　long　time　to　meet　it；　on　the　open　seas　where　I'd　have　a　fighting　chance；　and　by　all　that's　holy　in　this　world　I　mean　to　follow　it！〃
　　〃I　saw　those　trawlers　down　in　the　harbor；〃　she　said。　〃If　you're　going　after　it　in　one　of　those　you're　mad！　That　U…boat　will　make　matchsticks　out　of。。。〃
　　〃That's　enough。〃　Cheyne's　voice　was　hard。　〃Go　away　from　here。　Both　of　you　go　tend　to　your　dead　in　Coquina　village。　I　don't　want　you　around　Caribville；　there's　an　hour　until　dawn　light　and　I　have　much　work　to　do。〃
　　He　held　Jana's　gaze　for　a　few　seconds；　then　abruptly　turned　back　to　the　old　woman；　he　knelt　before　her；　looking　into　her　eyes；　and　kissed　her　cheek。　She　ran　a　withered　hand　along　the　unscarred　side　of　his　face。　When　he　stood　up　again　she　clutched　at　his　legs；　but　then　he　went　to　stand　beside　his　wife　and　the　baby。　He　took　the　child　in　his　arms　and　held　it　close。
　　〃My　son；〃　he　said　softly；　speaking　to　Moore。　〃He'll　be　the　next　Chief　Father；　after　I'm　gone。　He'll　rule　justly　and　fairly；　and　he'll　be　strong；　and　he'll　never　know　fear　because　fear　eats　the　insides　out　of　a　man　and　leaves　him　weak　and　crying　out　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　No。　Keth　will　be　free　and　unafraid；　and　he'll　grow　straight　and　unscarred。〃　He　returned　the　baby　to　his　mother；　whispered　to　her；　and　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　When　he　drew　back；　Jana　saw　a　solitary　tear　streaking　his　wife's　face；　but　her　eyes　remained　strong　and　cool；　full　of　courage。　Without　looking　at　her　again；　Cheyne　took　up　the　shotgun；　picked　up　one　of　the　oil　lamps；　and　strode　through　the　door。
　　His　wife　ran　out　after　him。　The　old　woman　struggled　from　her　chair　and　stood　balanced　precariously；　like　a　frail　thing　of　straw；　in　the　doorway。　She　turned　her　head　toward　Moore；　her　eyes　swimming。　〃Help　him；〃　she　whispered。
　　Moore　stood　up　and　made　his　way　out　the　door。　The　rain　was　still　falling；　but　not　as　heavily　as　before。　The　Carib　woman　stood　watching　her　man　disappear　toward　the　harbor。　Moore　could　see　dozens　of　lanterns　and　flashlights　moving　down　there；　each　one　a　spot　of　yellow　in　the　rain's　veil。　He　wiped　the　drops　from　his　eyes。
　　After　another　moment　Jana　joined　him；　the　old　woman；　her　clothes　soaked；　came　and　put　her　arm　around　the　wife's　waist；　pulling　at　her。　Widows　of　the　sea；　he　thought；　watching　them。　Widows？　No；　no。　Not　yet。　They　began　to　walk　back　through　the　mud　to　the　chief's　house。　〃Why？〃　Moore　asked　the　old　woman　as　they　passed　him。
　　There　was　a　hard　certainty；　perhaps　even　a　wisdom　on　her　face；　that　rooted　him　to　the　spot。　〃His　destiny；〃　she　answered；　and　then　she　and　Cheyne's　wife　were　gone。
　　Destiny。　Destiny。　Destiny。　The　word　drove　into　his　brain；　exploded　into　a　thousand　steel　fragments　there。　He　remembered　the　transom　of　a　broken　boat　thrashed　by　the　sea：　Destiny's　Child。　There　was　nothing　he　could　have　done　then　except　be　pulled　along　by　the　swift　and　hidden　currents　of　his　own　destiny；　no　matter　how　hard　he　fought　against　it；　not　understanding　why。　He　was　unable　to　win　the　fight　because　life　is　like　the　sea；　and　its　powers　pull　a　man　into　the　deep　and　mysterious　Abyss　of　his　own　future。
　　Perhaps　the　Night　Boat's　returning　to　the　surface　had　only　been　a　matter　of　time；　perhaps　he　had　only　speeded　the　inevitable。　Now　as　he　looked　back　on　the　chain　of　deaths　and　destruction；　he　saw　them　as　part　of　the　chain　of　events　that　had　brought　him　around　the　world　and　left　him　here；　in　this　place　of　all　places；　standing　in　a　harsh　tropical　rain。　Cheyne　was　right；　he　realized：　There　was　nothing　to　prevent　the　things　from　returning　for　more　supplies　and　more　lives。　Years　ago；　on　another　day　of　storm；　when　the　earth　had　closed　over　him；　something　inside　had　given　way。　Part　of　him　had　died　then；　making　him　like　those　tortured　things　that　crewed　the　boat；　out　of　place　and　time；　caught　in　the　clutch　of　a　destiny　that　had　hidden　itself　until　now。　Only　in　the　past　few　days　had　it　given　him　a　sharp；　terrifying　look　at　what　lay　ahead。
　　He　loved　this　island；　these　people；　for　good　or　for　bad。　He　loved　them　like　the　family　he　had　lost。　And　with　God's　help　or　without　it；　he　must　not；　could　not；　would　not　lose　another　to　the　dark；　sudden　upheaval　of　his　fate。
　　〃I'm　going　to　help　him；〃　he　heard　himself　say。
　　Jana　clutched　at　his　arm　as　he　started　to　push　past　her。　She　wiped　the　rain　out　of　her　eyes　and　shook　her　head。　〃He's　out　of　his　mind；　David！　If　he　finds　the　U…boat　they'll　cut　his　trawler　in　two！　He　won't　e　back；　and　he　knows　he　won't！〃
　　A　white…hot　flame　had　begun　to　burn　in　his　muscles。　We　are　born　alone　and　we　must　face　death　alone。　Who　said　that？　A　philosophy　instructor；　ages　ago；　in　a　college　classroom　of　another　world。　Everyone　must　die；　Cheyne　had　said；　whether　in　pain　or　at　peace。　He　knew　there　was　a　high　chance　of　losing　his　life；　but　he　accepted　it。　He　would　take　that　chance；　clench　it　in　his　fist；　dare　the　dark　gods；　because　he　had　seen　the　end　of　his　voyage；　a　brief　vision　that　had　filled　his　head　and　then　vanished。　He　had　seen　the　knife…blade　bow　of　the　Night　Boat　waiting。
　　He　pulled　free　of　Jana　and　began　to　walk　through　the　mud　down　the　winding　road　to　the　harbor；　where　he　could　still　see　the　flashlights　moving。
　　Cheyne's　weather…beaten　fishing　trawler　rubbed　up　against　a　tire…browed　wharf。　It　was　the　largest　of　the　Carib　fleet；　perhaps　a　shade　more　than　fifty　feet　from　stem　to　stern；　with　a　wide；　low…slung　hull。　Most　of　the　hull　paint　had　been　flayed　off　and　there　were　some　patches；　but　they　were　all　well　above　the　marked　discoloration　of　the　waterline。　A　broad　cabin；　painted　maroon；　with　several　metal…rimmed　portholes　stood　just　aft　of　amidships。　Naked　masts；　their　sails　tightly　furled；　pointed　at　the　sky　as　the　rain　dripped　off　the　rigging。　At　the　stern　there　were　booms　and　hoists；　a　pile　of　nets；　and　a　few　metal　drums　strewn　about。　It　seemed　a　stocky；　seaworthy　boat；　with　her　spoon　bow　and　pulpit　giving　her　a　clean；　sharp　line。
　　As　Moore　approached　he　could　see　the　faded　image　of　a　name　that　had　once　been　painted　in　red　on　the　transom　board：　Pride。　The　sea　swelled　underneath　it；　lifting　the　boat　up　and　nuzzling　the　tires；　timbers　creaked　and　groaned　and　there　was　a　dull　thud　as　water　broke　under　the　bow。
　　Several　bare…chested　Caribs　moved　on　the　after　deck；　some　of　them　clearing　nets　and　cables　away。　Water　spilled　from　a　duct　at　the　stern；　the　pumps　had　been　started　up。　One　of　the　men　carried　a　bundle　of　something　wrapped　in　clear　plastic　but　Moore　couldn't　see　what　it　was。　He　waited　as　another　man　opened　the　cabin　doorway　and　vanished　within。
　　〃Where's　Cheyne？〃　Moore　shouted　to　the　man　nearest　him。
　　The　Carib　looked　up　with　a　sullen　expression；　then　turned　his　back　on　Moore　and　continued　moving　a　heavy　metal　drum。
　　〃Hey！〃　Moore　grasped　a　wharf　piling　and　leaned　over；　speaking　to　another　man　further　down　the　deck。　〃Hey！　Get　Cheyne　out　here！〃
　　But　then　the　cabin　doorway　opened　again；　the　man　who　had　carried　in　the　bundle　came　out；　followed　by　Cheyne；　who　was　giving　him　orders　in　a　clipped；　brusque　tone。　Cheyne　saw　Moore　and　came　over　to　the　starboard　gunwale。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked；　his　gaze　dangerous。　〃I　told　you　to　get　away！〃
　　〃I　want　to　go　with　you；〃　Moore　told　him。
　　Cheyne　was　silent　for　a　few　seconds。　Then　he　said；　〃Go　back　home；　white　man。　This　isn't　for　you。〃　He　turned　away。
　　Moore　gestured　wildly。　〃Wait！　Please。　You　won't　understand；　but　it's　important　to　me。　I　won't　be　in　the　way；　and　I　can　hold　my　own　with　any　of　your　crew；　I　used　to　be　a　sailor。　I　can　handle　myself。〃
　　〃Why？〃　the　Carib　asked　him。
　　〃I。。。　want　to　be　there；〃　Moore　said。　〃I　want　to　make　sure　the　boat　doesn't　e　back。　Let　me　go。〃
　　〃You're　crazy；〃　Cheyne　said。
　　〃No。　I　found　the　bastard　and　caused　it　to　e　up。　If　it　wasn't　for　me　there'd　be　no　death　on　Coquina　tonight。　Don't　you　see？　I've　got　to　be　there；　and　I　have　a　right　to　help　stop　that　thing。。。　maybe　even　more　than　you。〃
　　Cheyne　grunted。　〃No；　not　more　than　me。〃
　　〃How　about　it？〃　Moore　persisted；　disregarding　the　Carib's　remark。
　　Cheyne　examined　him　cautiously。　He　reached　out　and　grasped　Moore's　wrist；　pulling　him　over　the　side　before　the　trawler　could　heave　again。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃But　stay　out　of　my　way。〃
　　The　Pride　lurched　again；　a　wash　of　wild　foam　breaking　underneath；　and　settled　back。　When　it　did；　a　figure　leaped　from　the　wharf；　landing　solidly　on　the　deck。　Cheyne　twisted　around　and　a　few　of　the　other　men　gaped。
　　Jana　pushed　her　hair　back　from　her　face；　it　lay　sodden　and　stringy　across　her　shoulders。　〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　she　said　forcefully　to　the　two　men。
　　Before　Cheyne　could　speak　she　had　stepped　forward；　and　he　was　forced　back。　〃Hear　me　out。　What　you　want　to　do　is　insane；　I　want　you　to　know　that　first　of　all。　I'm　a　crazy　fool　for　being　here；　but　you'll　need　me　if　you're　going　to　try　to　get　the　U…boat；　even　to　slow　it　enough　to　make　a　difference。　I　know　the　U…boat　inside　and　out；　I　know　where　the　armor　is　weakest；　I　know　where　you　might　be　able　to　ram　it　to　knock　out　its　maneuverability。　I　know　also　that　a　trawler　matched　against　a　U…boat；　even　one　that　old　and　slow；　is　suicide。　And　don't　start　that　bullshit　about　a　woman　being　bad　luck　aboard　a　boat；　because　I　won't　stand　for　it　and　you'd　only　be　wasting　time。〃
　　Cheyne　stared　at　her；　his　mouth　half…open。　Rain　streamed　down　the　scarred　side　of　his　face。　〃If　either　one　of　you　gets　in　my　way　you're　going　over　the　side；　do　you　understand？　If　you're　so　anxious；　help　those　men　with　the　drums　of　diesel　fuel。　Go　on！〃　He　threw　Jana　a　withering　glance　and　then　made　his　way　back　into　the　wheelhouse。
　　A　hatch　into　the　hold　had　been　thrown　open；　Moore　helped　a　Carib　haul　one　of　the　drums　across　the　deck　and　down　into　the　hold　while　Jana　cast　heavy　cables　out　of　the　way。　It　was　a　nightmare；　he　thought　as　he　worked；　rolling　three　more　drums　across　the　deck；　what　if　they　were　wrong；　and　the　U…boat　wasn't　headed　for　Jamaica　after　all；　but　instead　toward　Trinidad　and　South　America？　No；　no；　he　felt　certain　that　the　monstrosity　who　had　once　been　a　military　man　would；　in　his　rage　and　blood…lust；　take　the　U…boat　prowling　for　the　freighters　in　the　shipping　lanes。　But　what　if