rm.thenightboat-第48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！


ough　the　glass　because　I　am　afraid　of　what　I　see。　I　want　to　destroy　that　creature　because　I　know　someday　its　vision　will　destroy　me。　This　is　no　longer　the　face　of　a　man；　but　the　face　of　anacri；　a　demon；　and　what　is　inside　is　no　longer　bravery　but　doglike　cowardice。〃
　　Cheyne　glanced　at　Moore；　his　face　was　drawn　tight；　the　sweat　standing　out　in　relief。　〃When　the　Nazis　shelled　Caribville　from　their　boat；　my　house　was　the　first　hit。　My　mother　was　driven　to　the　edge　of　madness。　You　saw　her。　My　father　and　a　few　of　the　others　armed　themselves　with　rifles　and　harpoons　and　went　out　in　a　small　fishing　boat　to　seek　the　monster。　And　that　was　the　last　I　saw　of　him。　The　creatures　in　that　Hell…spawned　boat　took　away　my　life；　Moore。　They　took　away　something　good　and　replaced　it　with　part　of　themselves；　they're　still　reaching　for　me；　in　each　hour　of　my　waking；　in　every　moment　of　my　sleep。　They　keep　returning　to　rip　pieces　of　my　soul　away；　and　they　won't　stop　until　they　have　the　all　of　me。　I　fear　them　as　no　man　ever　feared　anything　on　this　earth；　Moore。　Even　now　I　tremble　and　sweat；　and　I　despise　myself　for　it。　To　a　Carib；　courage　is　life；　and　if　I　die　as　a　coward　my　soul　will　never　find　peace。〃
　　He　paused　a　moment；　licked　his　lips；　his　eyes　judging　the　width　of　the　sea's　corridors。　〃I　left　Caribville　for　ten　years；　I　went　to　South　America　and　worked　as　a　hand　on　one　of　the　coffee　plantations　in　Brazil；　later　in　the　Colombia　stone　quarries；　where　I　learned　how　to　blast　rock　with　dynamite。　I　was　shunned　and　cursed　by　all　as　a　symbol　of　bad　luck；　as　a　man　with　two　faces；　one　good；　the　other　twisted。　A　British　woman　was　my　only　friend…the　widow　of　a　freighter　captain　killed　in　a　wreck；　who　lived　near　the　quarries　and　worked　as　a　cook　for　the　men。　She　was　maybe　twenty　years　older　than　me；　she　showed　an　interest；　taught　me　how　to　read　and　write。
　　〃When　I　returned　to　Coquina　to　take　on　my　responsibilities　as　Chief　Father　I　knew　I　wasn't　fit　for　the　position。　But　someone　had　to　do　it；　and　I　have　the　royal　blood。　For　years；　I　managed　to　lead　my　people　as　best　I　could。　I　tried　to　exert　some　influence；　tried　to　change　enough　of　the　old　ways　to　allow　us　to　live　in　peace　with　the　white　man。　But　then　one　day；　as　I　stood　on　the　point；　I　saw　that　huge　boat　rise　from　the　Abyss。　I　trembled　as　I　watched。　The　rage；　the　fear；　the　weakness：　All　of　it　flooded　over　me　again。　I　forced　myself　to　go　down　to　the　boatyard。　I　stood　outside　the　shelter　for　a　long　time；　but　I　couldn't　make　myself　cross　the　threshold。　In　my　arms　I　held　a　crate　of　dynamite：　I　was　going　to　blow　it　to　pieces。　Instead　I　ran　from　that　place；　shaking　like　a　cur。　If　I　had　destroyed　it　that　night；　if　I　had　set　the　caps　and　fuses　and　lit　them；　none　of　what's　happened　on　Coquina　would　have　e　about。　There　is　much　on　my　soul　now。　But　I　have　a　last　chance。　One　last　chance　to　find　them；　to　destroy　them　before　they　slip　away。　I　don't　know　if　I　can。　But　by　God。。。　by　God；　I　must　try。〃
　　The　men　were　silent　for　a　long　time。　Then　Kip　said；　〃Where'd　you　get　that　crate　of　dynamite？〃
　　〃When　they　were　building　their　hotel　and　marina；〃　Cheyne　said。　〃We　stole　it　from　them　by　the　crateload　and　hid　it　in　a　shack　out　in　the　jungle。　Most　of　it's　rotted　now；　but　there's　still　some　fit　for　use。〃
　　Ahead　the　sky　was　a　mass　of　rolling　clouds；　yellow　with　black；　swollen　underbellies。　The　sea　thundered　against　the　hull；　bursting　around　the　bow　and　making　the　entire　boat　shudder。　Cheyne　pointed　at　the　radio　receiver。　〃Moore；　see　what　you　can　pick　up　on　that。〃
　　Moore　switched　it　on　and　turned　the　dial；　there　was　nothing　but　the　loud　crackle　and　blare　of　static。　A　voice　faded　in；　then　evaporated。　The　trawler　was　being　rocked　from　side　to　side；　the　noise　of　a　giant's　fist　pounding　the　keel。　Moore　turned　away　from　the　radio　and　looked　toward　Jana。　〃You　should　be　back　on　Coquina；〃　he　told　her。
　　〃I　can　make　it；〃　she　said。　〃I've　spent　most　of　my　life　researching　sunken　wrecks；　U…boats；　and　otherwise。　Now；　to　see　a　boat　like　this　one　e　back　to　life；　riding　the　high　seas。。。　it　may　be　evil；　yes；　it　may　destroy　us。。。　but　I　have　to　see　it。〃
　　Moore　shook　his　head。　〃You're　either　a　fool　or　the　gutsiest　damn　woman　I　ever　met。〃　Something　in　her　eyes　kept　him　from　saying　anything　else；　although　he　couldn't　for　the　life　of　him　figure　out　what　it　was。　There　seemed　to　be　a　thin　wall　of　mist　between　them；　as　lazy　and　serpentine　as　the　deep　Caribbean　tides。　He　wanted　to　reach　through；　to　pierce　it　with　his　fingers；　to　lay　a　hand　against　her　cheek　and　feel　the　warmth　of　her　flesh　coursing　through　him。　He　was　glad　they　were　together　but　was　deeply　afraid　for　her　as　well。　She　was　a　beautiful　woman；　filled　with　life　and　hope；　and　he　did　not　even　attempt　to　raise　his　hand　to　reach　for　her。　He　knew　it　couldn't　be。　What　was　that　about　being　of　two　different　worlds？　One　of　them　was　dark；　the　other　light；　and　she　was　not　part　of　what　lay　before　him。
　　〃Bommies　ahead；〃　Cheyne　said　quietly。
　　Moore　turned　to　look；　Kip　joined　them。
　　The　sea　just　beyond　was　a　boiling　maelstrom　of　black。　When　the　waters　parted　for　an　instant　Moore　caught　the　glimpse　of　the　green　and　brown　hooks　of　a　surface…grazing　reef。　Cheyne　twisted　the　wheel　to　starboard；　and　as　he　did　a　wave　struck　the　side；　shaking　them　roughly。　He　brought　the　wheel　back　quickly；　and　began　to　zigzag　through　the　waves　that　now　lifted　in　all　directions；　swamping　the　foredeck　and　streaming　through　the　scuppers。　Something　scraped　noisily　along　the　port　side；　just　below　the　waterline。　Cheyne　hissed　the　breath　out　between　his　teeth。　〃We're　in　the　midst　of　it；〃　he　said。　〃I　need　a　watch　at　the　bow。〃　He　eased　back　on　the　throttles；　cutting　his　speed。
　　Moore　glanced　over。　〃I'll　go；〃　he　said。
　　〃There's　a　coil　of　rope　on　the　flooring　back　there。　Tie　it　around　your　waist　good　and　tight。　Kip；　you　take　the　other　end　of　it　and　do　the　same。　When　Moore　goes　out　that　doorway　you　hold　yourself　firm　to　one　of　those　beams　and　let　him　have　slack　real　slow。　Keep　the　rope　taut　between　you。〃
　　Kip　helped　Moore　secure　the　rope；　then　slipped　the　other　end　beneath　his　arms　and　knotted　it　around　his　chest。　〃Be　damned　careful　out　there；　David；〃　he　said；　raising　his　voice　over　the　noise　of　the　sea。
　　Moore　nodded　and　then　went　out　the　doorway　into　the　weather。　A　surge　of　spray　slapped　against　him；　almost　knocking　him　back；　but　he　clenched　his　teeth　and　began　to　move；　hanging　on　to　the　starboard　gunwale；　creeping　inch　by　inch　toward　the　prow。　Kip　grasped　the　overhead　beam　behind　him　with　one　hand；　bracing　his　feet　against　the　door　frame　and　letting　out　the　line。　A　wave　pounded　diagonally　across　the　Pride；　hammering　at　Moore；　he　clung　against　a　capstan　for　balance；　the　trawler　pitching　beneath　him。
　　He　watched　for　the　telltale　coral　swirls。　A　plateau　of　growth　lay　to　port；　Moore　motioned　in　a　starboard　direction　and　the　Pride　responded。　Other　reefheads　were　exposed　beyond；　as　the　sea　rose　away　from　them；　Moore　waved　his　arm　frantically。　One　of　the　bommies　ground　up　under　the　hull　with　a　long　grating　noise；　but　then　they　were　through　and　Moore；　straining　his　eyes；　couldn't　see　any　others。　He　stayed　where　he　was；　his　arms　aching　and　his　lungs　heaving　to　draw　in　air　through　the　bitter　salt　spray。　The　trawler　suddenly　bucked　upward　as　a　green…veined　wave　crashed　beneath；　and　Moore　was　driven　to　his　knees；　feeling　the　rope　gnaw　at　his　waist。　With　a　shriek　that　was　unlike　anything　he　had　ever　heard　before；　the　sea　parted；　sending　the　Pride　racing　down　into　a　black　gully　before　tossing　it　high　again。
　　Moore　hung　on；　suddenly　he　was　wearing　his　yellow　slicker。　Around　him　the　crashing　and　grinding　of　water；　the　wind　screaming　in　a　high　wail。　He　lay　at　the　stern；　fighting　to　control　the　rudder；　hoping　beyond　all　hope　he　could　make　harbor　before　this　freak　storm　consumed　his　boat。　Panic　welled　up　within　him：　Don't　lose　control；　he　shouted　to　himself。　For　God's　sake；　don't　lose　control！
　　〃DAVID！〃　his　wife　screamed　from　the　cabin　panionway。　And　there　they　stood；　both　of　them　watching；　their　eyes　frozen　in　white　faces。
　　〃GET　BACK　INSIDE！〃　he　shouted；　the　words　twisted　and　hurled　over　his　head。
　　〃PLEASE。。。！〃　she　cried　hopelessly。
　　Ice　filled　his　veins；　he　had　seen　it　over　her　head：　a　wave　that　blocked　out　the　sky；　staining　it　deepest　black；　a　churning　wall　of　water　that　was　going　to　sweep　over　them。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　because　he　knew　she　hadn't　seen；　but　nothing　came　from　his　throat。　Don't　lose　control！　he　shouted　mentally。　Let　the　wave　break　over　the　bow；　let　it　break　and　keep　control　of　this　boat！　It　will　lift　the　boat　high　and　send　it　tumbling　across　its　huge　precipice；　but　KEEP　YOUR　HAND　ON　THIS　TILLER！
　　He　watched　it　ing；　could　not　speak；　could　not　breathe；　could　not　think。　He　saw　their　eyes　fixed　on　him。
　　An　instant　before　the　wave　hit　he　took　his　hand　away　from　the　tiller；　a　self…protective　instinct；　throwing　an　arm　over　his　face　and　screaming　even　as　he　knew　it　was　a　fatal；　senseless　mistake。
　　A　single　cry　tore　at　his　heart　before　the　water　twisted　the　boat；　before　the　black　wave　crashed　broadside　and　covered　Destiny's　Child：　〃DAVID。。。！〃
　　When　he　reached　back　for　the　tiller　it　was　gone；　he　was　sealed　in　a　coffin　of　water；　twisted　and　mauled　by　the　sheer　force　of　the　wave。　He　went　down　choking；　hands　gripping　emptiness；　around　him　the　tangled　timbers　that　had　been　Destiny's　Child。　He'd　lost　control　for　one　instant；　it　had　been　enough　to　sweep　them　away　from　him　forever。　He'd　failed　them；　failed　them　even　as　they　trusted　him　with　their　lives。
　　And　now；　on　the　Pride's　pitching　forward　deck；　Moore　forced　himself　back　from　a　voyage　through　rage　and　bitterness　through　the　dark　caverns　of　his　own　soul。　He　clutched　at　the　capstan；　his　muscles　aching；　he　ignored　the　sharp　pulling　at　the　line　around　him。　He　was　afraid　to　move。　The　storm…swept　sky　and　sea；　the　wind　now　building　and　hitting　his　face；　the　waves　dancing　madly　before　the　bow　all　bined　to　haunt　him　with　fragmented；　horrible　images　of　the　past。　Water　crashed　over　him；　streaming　around　his　feet　and　threatening　to　suck　him　away　from　his　hold。
　　Yes；　yes。　Why　not　let　go？　Why　not　let　the　sea　take　you？　This　is　the　time　you've　waited　for；　this　is　the　moment；　the　second；　the　place。　When　the　next　white　sheet