sk.dreamcatcher-第66部分

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　please　don't；　you　can　have　a　ride　if　you　want　a　ride；　just　don't　hurt　me　anymore；　my　head…'
　　　　Something　suddenly　rushed　through　Andy　Janas's　mind。　It　was　like　a　whirlwind　with　eyes。　He　felt　it　prying　into　his　current　orders；　his　expected　arrival　time　at　Blue　Base　。　。　。　and　what　he　knew　of　Derry；　which　was　nothing。　His　orders　had　taken　him　through　Bangor；　he'd　never　been　to　Derry　in　his　life。
　　　　He　felt　the　whirlwind　pull　back　and　had　one　moment　of　delirious　relief　…　I　don't　have　what　it　needs；　it's　going　to　let　me　go　…　and　then　understood　that　the　thing　in　his　mind　had　no　intention　of　letting　him　go。　It　needed　the　truck；　for　one　thing。　It　needed　to　shut　his　mouth；　for　another。
　　　　Janas　put　up　a　brief　but　bitterly　energetic　struggle。　It　was　this　unexpected　resistance　that　allowed　Jonesy　time　to　remove　at　least　one　stack　of　the　boxes　marked　DERRY。　Then　Mr　Gray　once　more　resumed　his　place　at　Janas's　motor　controls。
　　　　Janas　saw　his　hand　shoot　out　and　up　to　the　driver's…side　visor。　His　hand　gripped　the　ballpoint　pen　and　yanked　it　free；　snapping　the　rubber　band　which　held　it。　　　　
　　　　No！　Janas　shouted；　but　it　was　too　late。　He　caught　a　shiny　zipping　glitter　as　his　hand；　which　was　gripping　the　ballpoint　like　a　dagger；　plunged　the　pen　into　his　staring　eye。　There　was　a　popping　sound　and　he　jittered　back　and　forth　behind　the　wheel　like　a　badly　managed　puppet；　his　fist　digging　the　pen　in　deeper　and　deeper；　up　to　the　halfway　mark；　then　to　the　three…quarter　mark；　his　split　eyeball　now　running　down　the　side　of　his　face　like　a　freakish　tear。　The　tip　struck　something　that　felt　like　thin　gristle；　bound　up　for　a　moment；　then　passed　through　into　the　meat　of　his　brain。
　　　　You　bastard；　he　thought；　what　are　you；　you　bas…
　　　　There　was　a　final　brilliant　flash　of　light　inside　his　head　and　then　everything　went　dark。　Janas　slumped　forward　over　the　wheel。　The　pickup's　horn　began　to　blow。


5
　　　　
Mr　Gray　hadn't　gotten　much　from　Janas　…　mostly　that　unexpected　struggle　for　control　at　the　end　…　but　one　thing　which　came　through　clearly　was　that　Janas　wasn't　on　his　own。　The　transport　column　of　which　he　had　been　a　part　had　strung　out　because　of　the　storm；　but　they　were　all　headed　to　the　same　place；　which　Janas　had　identified　in　his　mind　as　both　Blue　Base　and　Gosselin's。　There　was　a　man　there　that　Janas　had　been　afraid　of；　the　man　in　charge；　but　Mr　Gray　could　not　have　cared　less　about　Creepy　Kurtz/the　boss/Crazy　Abe。　Nor　did　he　have　to　care；　since　he　had　no　intention　of　going　anywhere　near　Gosselin's　store。　This　place　was　different　and　this　species；　although　only　semi…sentient；　posed　mostly　of　emotions；　was　different；　too。　They　fought。　Mr　Gray　had　no　idea　why；　but　they　did。
　　　　Best　to　finish　it　quickly。　And　to　that　end；　he　had　discovered　an　excellent　delivery　system。
　　　　Using　Jonesy's　hands；　Mr　Gray　pulled　Janas　from　behind　the　wheel　and　carried　him　to　the　guardrails。　He　threw　the　body　over　the　side；　not　bothering　to　watch　as　it　tumbled　down　the　slope　to　the　frozen　streambed。　He　went　back　to　the　truck；　looked　fixedly　at　the　two　plastic…wrapped　bundles　in　the　back；　and　nodded。　The　animal　corpses　were　good　for　nothing。　The　other；　though　。　。　。　that　would　be　useful。　It　was　rich　with　what　he　needed。
　　　　He　looked　up　suddenly；　Jonesy's　eyes　widening　in　the　blowing　snow。　The　owner　of　this　body　was　out　of　its　hiding　place。　Vulnerable。　Good；　because　that　consciousness　was　starting　to　annoy　him；　a　constant　muttering　（sometimes　rising　to　a　panicky　squeal）　on　the　lower　level　of　his　thought…process。
　　　　Mr　Gray　paused　a　moment　longer；　trying　to　make　his　mind　blank；　not　wanting　Jonesy　to　have　the　slightest　warning　。　。　。　and　then　he　pounced。
　　　　He　didn't　know　what　he　had　expected；　but　not　this。　Not　this　dazzling　white　light。


6

Jonesy　was　nearly　caught　out。　Would　have　been　caught　out　if　not　for　the　fluorescents　with　which　he　had　lit　his　mental　storeroom。　This　place　might　not　actually　exist；　but　it　was　real　enough　to　him；　and　that　made　it　real　enough　to　Mr　Gray　when　Mr　Gray　arrived。
　　　　Jonesy；　who　was　pushing　the　dolly　filled　with　boxes　marked　DERRY；　saw　Mr　Gray　appear　like　magic　at　the　head　of　a　corridor　of　high…stacked　cartons。　It　was　the　rudimentary　humanoid　that　had　been　standing　behind　him　at　Hole　in　the　Wall；　the　thing　he　had　visited　in　the　hospital。　The　dull　black　eyes　were　finally　alive；　hungry。　It　had　crept　up；　caught　him　outside　his　office　refuge；　and　it　meant　to　have　him。
　　　　But　then　its　bulge　of　a　head　recoiled；　and　before　its　three…fingered　hand　shielded　its　eyes　（it　had　no　lids；　not　even　any　lashes）；　Jonesy　saw　an　expression　on　its　gray　sketch　of　a　face　that　had　to　be　bewilderment。　Maybe　even　pain。　It　had　been　out　there；　in　the　snowy　dark；　disposing　of　the　driver's　body。　It　had　e　in　here　unprepared　for　the　discount…mart　glare。　He　saw　something　else；　too：　The　invader　had　borrowed　its　expression　of　surprise　from　the　host。　For　a　moment；　Mr　Gray　was　a　horrible　caricature　of　Jonesy　himself。
　　　　Its　surprise　gave　Jonesy　just　enough　time。　Pushing　the　dolly　ahead　of　him　almost　without　realizing　it　and　feeling　like　the　imprisoned　princess　in　some　fucked…up　fairy…tale；　he　ran　into　the　office。　He　sensed　rather　than　saw　Mr　Gray　reaching　out　for　him　with　his　three…fingered　hands　（the　gray　skin　was　raw…looking；　like　very　old　uncooked　meat）；　and　slammed　the　office　door　just　ahead　of　their　clutch。　He　bumped　the　dolly　with　his　bad　hip　as　he　spun　around　…　he　accepted　that　he　was　inside　his　own　head；　but　all　of　this　was　nevertheless　pletely　real　…　and　just　managed　to　run　the　bolt　before　Mr　Gray　could　turn　the　knob　and　force　his　way　in。　Jonesy　engaged　the　thumb…lock　in　the　center　of　the　doorknob　for　good　measure。　Had　the　thumb…lock　been　there　before；　or　had　he　added　it？　He　couldn't　remember。
　　　　Jonesy　stepped　back；　sweating；　and　this　time　ran　his　butt　into　the　handle　of　the　dolly。　In　front　of　him；　the　doorknob　turned　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth。　Mr　Gray　was　out　there；　in　charge　of　the　rest　of　his　mind　…　and　his　body；　as　well　…　but　he　couldn't　get　in　here。　Couldn't　force　the　door；　didn't　have　the　heft　to　break　it　down；　didn't　have　the　wit　to　pick　the　lock。
　　　　Why？　How　could　that　be？
　　　　'Duddits；'　he　whispered。　'No　bounce；　no　play。'
　　　　The　doorknob　rattled。　'Let　me　in！'　Mr　Gray　snarled；　and　to　Jonesy　he　didn't　sound　like　an　emissary　from　another　galaxy　but　like　anyone　who　has　been　denied　what　he　wants　and　is　pissed　off　about　it。　Was　that　because　he　was　interpreting　Mr　Gray's　behavior　in　terms　which　he；　Jonesy；　understood？　Humanizing　the　alien？　Translating　him？
　　　　'Let　。　。　。　me　。　。　。　IN！'
　　　　Jonesy　responded　without　thinking：　'Not　by　the　hair　of　my　chinny…chin…chin。'　And　thought：　To　which　you　say；　'Then　I'll　huff。　。　。　and　I'll　PUFF　。　。　。　and　I'll　BLO　W　your　house　in！'
　　　　　But　Mr　Gray　only　rattled　the　knob　harder　than　ever。　He　was　not　used　to　being　balked　in　this　manner　（or　in　any　manner；　Jonesy　guessed）　and　was　very　pissed。　Janas's　momentary　resistance　had　startled　him；　but　this　was　resistance　on　a　whole　other　level。　　　　
　　　'Where　are　you？'　Mr　Gray　called　angrily。　'How　can　you　be　in　there？　e　out！'
　　　　Jonesy　didn't　reply；　only　stood　among　the　tumbled　boxes；　listening。　He　was　almost　positive　Mr　Gray　couldn't　get　in；　but　it　would　be　just　as　well　not　to　provoke　him。
　　　　And　after　a　little　more　knob…rattling；　he　sensed　Mr　Gray　leaving　him。
　　　　Jonesy　went　to　the　window；　stepping　over　the　tumbled　boxes　marked　DUDDITS　and　DERRY　to　get　there；　and　stared　out　into　the　snowy　night。


7

Mr　Gray　climbed　Jonesy's　body　back　behind　the　wheel　of　the　truck；　slammed　the　door；　and　pushed　the　accelerator。　The　truck　bolted　forward；　then　lost　purchase。　All　four　wheels　spun；　and　the　truck　skidded　into　the　guardrails　with　a　jarring　bang。
　　　　'Fuck！'　Mr　Gray　cried；　accessing　Jonesy's　profanity　almost　without　being　aware　of　it。　'Jesus…Christ…bananas！　Kiss　my　bender！　Doodlyfuck！　Bite　my　bag！'
　　　　Then　he　stopped　and　accessed　Jonesy's　driving　skills　again。　Jonesy　had　some　information　on　driving　in　weather　like　this；　but　nowhere　near　as　much　as　Janas　had　possessed。　Janas　was　gone；　however；　his　files　erased。　What　Jonesy　knew　would　have　to　do。　The　important　thing　was　to　get　beyond　what　Janas　had　thought　of　as　the　'q…zone'。　Beyond　the　q…zone　he　would　be　safe。　Janas　had　been　clear　about　that。
　　　　Jonesy's　foot　pressed　down　on　the　gas　pedal　again；　much　more　gently　this　time。　The　truck　started　to　move。　Jonesy's　hands　steered　the　Chevrolet　back　into　the　fading　path　left　by　the　plow。
　　　　Under　the　dash；　the　radio　crackled　to　life。　'Tubby　One；　this　is　Tubby　Four。　I　got　a　rig　off　the　road　and　turned　over　on　the　median。　Do　you　copy？'
　　　　Mr　Gray　consulted　the　files。　What　Jonesy　knew　about　military　munication　was　skimpy；　mostly　gleaned　from　books　and　something　called　the　movies；　but　it　might　do。　He　took　the　mike；　felt　for　the　button　Jonesy　seemed　to　think　would　be　on　the　side；　found　it；　pushed　it。　'I　copy；'　he　said。　Would　Tubby　Four　be　able　to　tell　that　Tubby　One　was　no　longer　Andy　Janas？　Based　on　Jonesy's　files；　Mr　Gray　doubted　it。
　　　　'A　bunch　of　us　are　going　to　get　him　up；　see　if　we　can　get　him　back　on　the　road。　He's　got　the　goddam　food；　you　copy？'
　　　　Mr　Gray　pushed　the　button。　'Got　the　goddam　food；　copy。'
　　　　A　longer　pause；　long　enough　for　him　to　wonder　if　he'd　said　something　wrong；　stepped　in　some　kind　of　a　trap；　and　then　the　radio　said：　'We'll　have　to　wait　for　the　next　bunch　of　plows；　I　guess。　You　might　as　well　keep　rolling；　over？'　Tubby　Four　sounded　disgusted。　Jonesy's　files　suggested　that　might　be　because　Janas；　with　his　superior　driving　skills；　had　gotten　too　far　ahead　to　help。　All　this　was　good。　He　would've　kept　moving　in　any　case；　but　it　was　good　to　have　Tubby　Four's　official　sanction；　if　that's　what　it　was。
　　　　He　checked　Jonesy's　files　（which　he　now　saw　as　Jonesy　saw　them　…　boxes　in　a　vast　room）　and　said；　'Copy。　Tubby　One；　over　and　out。'　And；　as　an　afterthought：　'Have　a　nice　night。'
　　　　The　white　stuff　was　horrible。　Treacherous。　Nonetheless；　Mr　Gray　risked　driving　a　little　faster。　As　long　as　he　was　in　the　area　controlled　by　Creepy　Kurtz's　armed　force；　he　might　be　vulnerable。　Once　out　of　the　net；　however；　he　would　be　able　to　plete　his　business　very　quickly。
　　　　What　he　needed　had　to　do　with　a　place　called　Derry；　and　when　Mr　Gray　went　into　the　big　stor