cb.booksofblood2-第25部分

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ing；　their　headlights　on；　and　drove　straight　towards　the　knot　of　celebrants。　From　one　or　two　of　the　cars　terrified　cops　let　out　spontaneous　howls　of　tenor　when　the　full　spectacle　came　into　view；　but　by　that　time　the　attack　force　was　mitted。　Shots　were　fired。　Aaron　felt　his　fathers　close　around　him　protectively；　their　flesh　now　darkening　with　anger　and　fear。
　Packard　knew　instinctively　that　these　things　were　capable　of　fear；　he　could　smell　it　off　them。　It　was　part　of　his　job　to　recognize　fear；　to　play　on　it；　to　use　it　against　the　miscreant。　He　screeched　his　orders　into　his　microphone　and　led　the　cars　into　the　circle　of　demons。　In　the　back　of　one　of　the　following　cars　Davidson　closed　his　eyes　and　offered　up　a　prayer　to　Yahweh；　Buddha　and　Groucho　Marx。　Grant　me　power；　grant　me　indifference；　grant　me　a　sense　of　humour。　But　nothing　came　to　assist　him：　his　bladder　still　bubbled；　and　his　throat　still　throbbed。
　Ahead；　the　shriek　of　brakes。　Davidson　opened　his　eyes　（just　a　slit）　and　caught　sight　of　one　of　the　creatures　wrapping　its　purple…black　arm　around　Packard's　car　and　lifting　it　into　the　air。　One　of　the　back　doors　flung　open　and　a　figure　he　recognized　as　Eleanor　Kooker　fell　the　few　feet　to　the　ground　followed　closely　by　Eugene。　Leaderless；　the　cars　were　in　a　frenzy　of　collisions　…　the　whole　scene　partially　eclipsed　by　smoke　and　dust。　There　was　the　sound　of　breaking　windscreens　as　cops　took　the　quick　way　out　of　their　cars；　the　shrieks　of　crumpling　hoods　and　sheered　off　doors。　The　dying　howl　of　a　crushed　siren；　the　dying　plea　of　a　crushed　cop。
　Packard's　voice　was　clear　enough；　however；　howling　orders　from　his　car　even　as　it　was　lifted　higher　into　the　air；　its　engine　revving；　its　wheels　spinning　foolishly　in　space。　The　demon　was　shaking　the　car　as　a　child　might　a　toy　until　the　driver's　door　opened　and　Jebediah　fell　to　the　ground　at　the　creature's　skirt　of　skin。　Davidson　saw　the　skirt　envelop　the　broken…backed　deputy　and　appear　to　suck　him　into　its　folds。　He　could　see　too　how　Eleanor　was　standing　up　to　the　towering　demon　as　it　devoured　her　son。
　'Jebediah；　e　out　of　there！'　she　shrieked；　and　fired　shot　after　shot　into　his　devourer's　featureless；　cylindrical　head。
　Davidson　got　out　of　the　car　to　see　better。　Across　a　clutter　of　crashed　vehicles　and　blood…splattered　hoods　he　could　make　the　whole　scene　out　more　plainly。　The　demons　were　sloping　away　from　the　battle；　leaving　this　one　extraordinary　monster　to　hold　the　bridgehead。　Quietly　Davidson　offered　up　a　prayer　of　thanks　to　any　passing　deity。　The　divils　were　disappearing。　There's　be　no　pitched　battle：　no　hand…to…tentacle　fight。　The　boy　would　be　simply　eaten　alive；　or　whatever　they　planned　for　the　poor　little　bastard。　Indeed；　couldn't　he　see　Aaron　from　where　he　stood？　Wasn't　that　his　frail　form　the　retreating　demons　were　holding　so　high；　like　a　trophy？
　With　Eleanor's　curses　and　accusations　in　their　ears　the　sheltering　cops　began　to　emerge　from　their　hiding…places　to　surround　the　remaining　demon。　There　was；　after　all；　only　one　left　to　face；　and　it　had　their　Napoleon　in　its　slimy　grip。　They　let　off　volley　upon　volley　into　its　creases　and　tucks；　and　against　the　impartial　geometry　of　its　head；　but　the　divil　seemed　unconcerned。　Only　when　it　had　shaken　Packard's　car　until　the　Sheriff　rattled　like　a　dead　frog　in　a　tin　can　did　it　lose　interest　and　drop　the　vehicle。　A　smell　of　gasoline　filled　the　air；　and　turned　Davidson's　stomach。
　Then　a　cry：　'Heads　down！'
　A　grenade？　Surely　not；　not　with　so　much　gasoline　on　the　…Davidson　fell　to　the　floor。　A　sudden　silence；　in　which　an　injured　man　could　be　heard　whimpering　somewhere　in　the　chaos；　then　the　dull；　earth…rocking　thud　of　the　erupting
　grenade。
　Somebody　said　Jesus　Christ　…　with　a　kind　of　victory　in　his　voice。
　Jesus　Christ。　In　the　name　of。　。　。　for　the　glory　of。　。
　The　demon　was　ablaze。　The　thin　tissue　of　its　gasoline…　soaked　skirt　was　burning；　one　of　its　limbs　had　been　blown　off　by　the　blast；　another　partially　destroyed；　thick；　colourless　blood　splashed　from　the　wounds　and　the　stump。　There　was　a　smell　in　the　air　like　burnt　candy：　the　creature　was　clearly　in　an　agony　of　cremation。　Its　body　reeled　and　shuddered　as　the　flames　licked　up　to　ignite　its　empty　face；　and　it　stumbled　away　from　its　tormentors；　not　sounding　its　pain。　Davidson　got　a　kick　out　of　seeing　it　burn：　like　the　simple　pleasure　he　had　from　putting　the　heel　of　his　boot　in　the　centre　of　a　jelly…fish。　Favourite　summer…time　occupation　of　his　childhood。　In　Maine：　hot　afternoons：　spiking　men…o'…war。
　Packard　was　being　dragged　out　of　the　wreckage　of　his　car。　My　God；　that　man　was　made　of　steel：　he　was　standing　upright　and　calling　his　men　to　advance　on　the　enemy。　Even　in　his　finest　hour；　a　flake　of　fire　dropped　from　the　flowering　demon；　and　touched　the　lake　of　gasoline　Packard　was　standing　in。　A　moment　later　he；　the　car；　and　two　of　his　saviours　were　enveloped　in　a　billowing　cloud　of　white　fire。　They　stood　no　chance　of　survival：　the　flames　just　washed　them　away。　Davidson　could　see　their　dark　forms　being　wasted　in　the　heart　of　the　inferno；　wrapped　in　folds　of　fire；　curling　in　on　themselves　as　they　perished。
　Almost　before　Packard's　body　had　hit　the　ground　Davidson　could　hear　Eugene's　voice　over　the　flames。
　'See　what　they've　done？　See　what　they've　done？'
　The　accusation　was　greeted　by　feral　howls　from　the　cops。　'Waste　them！'　Eugene　was　screaming。　'Waste　them！'
　
　Lucy　could　hear　the　noise　of　the　battle；　but　she　made　no　attempt　to　go　in　the　direction　of　the　foothills。　Something　about　the　way　the　moon　was　suspended　in　the　sky；　and　the　smell　on　the　breeze；　had　taken　all　desire　to　move　out　of　her。　Exhausted；　and　enchanted；　she　stood　in　the　open　desert；　and　watched　the　sky。
　When；　after　an　age；　she　brought　her　gaze　back　down　to　fix　on　the　horizon；　she　saw　two　things　that　were　of　mild　interest。　Out　of　the　hills；　a　dirty　smudge　of　smoke；　and　the　edge　of　her　vision　in　the　gentle　night　light；　a　line　of　creatures；　hurrying　away　from　the　hills。　She　suddenly　began　to　run。
　It　occurred　to　her；　as　she　ran；　that　her　gait　was　sprightly　as　a　young　girl's；　and　that　she　had　a　young　girl's　motive：　that　is；　she　was　in　pursuit　of　her　lover。
　
　In　an　empty　stretch　of　desert；　the　convocation　of　demons　simply　disappeared　from　sight。　From　where　Lucy　was　standing；　panting　in　the　middle　of　nowhere；　they　seemed　to　have　been　swallowed　up　by　the　earth。　She　broke　into　a　run　again。　Surely　she　could　see　her　son　and　his　fathers　once　more　before　they　left　forever？　Or　was　she；　after　all　her　years　of　anticipation；　to　be　denied　even　that？
　In　the　lead　car　Davidson　was　driving；　mandeered　to　do　so　by　Eugene；　who　was　not　at　present　a　man　to　be　argued　with。　Something　about　the　way　he　carried　his　rifle　suggested　he'd　shoot　first　and　ask　questions　later；　his　orders　to　the　straggling　army　that　followed　him　were　two　parts　incoherent　obscenities　to　one　part　sense。　His　eyes　gleamed　with　hysteria：　his　mouth　dribbled　a　little。　He　was　a　wild　man；　and　he　terrified　Davidson。　But　it　was　too　late　now　to　turn　back：　he　was　in　cahoots　with　the　man　for　this　last；　apocalyptic　pursuit。
　'See；　them　black…eyed　sons　of　bitches　don't　have　no　fucking　heads；'　Eugene　was　screaming　over　the　tortured　roar　of　the　engine。　'Why　you　taking　this　track　so　slow；　boy？'
　He　jabbed　the　rifle　in　Davidson's　crotch。
　'Drive；　or　I'll　blow　your　brains　out。'
　'I　don't　know　which　way　they've　gone；'　Davidson　yelled　back　at　Eugene。
　'What　you　mean？　Show　me！'
　'I　can't　show　you　if　they've　disappeared。'
　Eugene　just　about　appreciated　the　sense　of　the　response。　'Slow　down；　boy。'　He　waved　out　of　the　car　window　to　slow　the　rest　of　the　army。
　'Stop　the　car　…　stop　the　car！'
　Packard　brought　the　car　to　a　halt。
　'And　put　those　fucking　lights　out。　All　of　you！'　The　headlights　were　quenched。　Behind；　the　rest　of　the　entourage　followed　suit。
　A　sudden　dark。　A　sudden　silence。　There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　or　heard　in　any　direction。　They'd　disappeared；　the　whole　cacophonous　tribe　of　demons　had　simply　vanished　into　the　air；　chimerical。
　The　desert　vista　brightened　as　their　eyes　became　accus…tomed　to　the　gleam　of　the　moonlight。　Eugene　got　out　of　the　car；　rifle　still　at　the　ready；　and　stared　at　the　sand；　willing　it　to　explain。
　'Fuckers；'　he　said；　very　softly。
　Lucy　had　stopped　running。　Now　she　was　walking　towards　the　line　of　cars。　It　was　all　over　by　now。　They　had　all　been　tricked：　the　disappearing　act　was　a　trump　card　no…one　could　have　anticipated。
　Then；　she　heard　Aaron。
　She　couldn't　see　him；　but　his　voice　was　as　clear　as　a　bell；　and　like　a　bell；　it　summoned。　Like　a　bell；　it　rang　out：　this　is　a　time　of　festival：　celebrate　with　us。
　Eugene　heard　it　too；　he　smiled。　They　were　near　after　all。
　'Hey！'　the　boy's　voice　said。　'Where　is　he？　You　see　him；　Davidson？'　Davidson　shook　his　head。　Then　…'Wait！　Wait！　I　see　a　light　…　look；　straight　ahead　awhile。'
　'I　see　it。'
　With　exaggerated　caution；　Eugene　motioned　Davidson　back　into　the　driver's　seat。
　'Drive；　boy。　But　slowly。　And　no　lights。'
　Davidson　nodded。　More　jelly…fish　for　the　spiking；　he　thought；　they　were　going　to　get　the　bastards　after　all；　and　wasn't　that　worth　a　little　risk？　The　convoy　started　up　again；　creeping　forward　at　a　snail's　pace。
　Lucy　began　to　run　once　more：　she　could　see　the　tiny　figure　of　Aaron　now；　standing　on　the　lip　of　a　slope　that　led　under　the　sand。　The　cars　were　moving　towards　it。
　Seeing　them　approaching；　Aaron　stopped　his　calls　and　began　to　walk　away；　back　down　the　slope。　There　was　no　need　to　wait　any　longer；　they　were　following　for　certain。　His　naked　feet　made　scarcely　a　mark　in　the　soft…sanded　incline　that　led　away　from　the　idiocies　of　the　world。　In　the　shadows　of　the　earth　at　the　end　of　that　slope；　fluttering　and　smiling　at　him；　he　could　see　his　family。
　'He's　going　in；'　said　Davidson。
　'Then　follow　the　little　bastard；'　said　Eugene。　'Maybe　the　kid　doesn't　know　what　he's　doing。　And　get　some　light　on　him。'
　The　headlights　illuminated　Aaron。　His　clothes　were　in　tatters；　and　his　body　was　slumped　with　exhaustion　as　he　walked。
　A　few　yards　off　to　the　right　of　the　slope　Lucy　watched　as　the　lead　car　drove　over　the　lip　of　the　earth　and　followed　the　boy　down；　into　…'No；'　she　said　to　herself；　'don't。'
　Davidson　was　suddenly　scared。　He　began　to　slow　the　car。