pzb.lostsouls-第33部分

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　　He　had　never　expected　anything　bad　to　happen　in　this　house；　had　vaguely　thought　it　had　a　magic　circle　around　it　or　something。　But　he　hadn't　been　willing　to　stake　his　life　on　it；　so　he　kept　a　taped…up　Louisville　Slugger　next　to　his　bed。　It　reassured　him；　along　with　the　claw　hammer　under　the　driver's　seat　of　the　T…bird　and　the　sock　full　of　pennies　he　kept　behind　the　cash　register　at　the　record　store。　Steve　hyperaware　of　the　possibility　that　violence　could　erupt　anywhere　at　any　time；　he　supposed　that　meant　he　was　really　the　one　with　the　violent　nature。　But　he　was　glad　of　it　now。
　　He　grabbed　the　bat；　hefted　it；　and　stepped　out　into　the　hall。
　　Right　into　the　path　of　Zillah。
　　〃Who　the　fuck　are　you？〃　he　had　time　to　get　out；　and　then　the　crazy　green…eyed　apparition　was　lunging　at　him；　all　bared　teeth　and　hooked　claw…hands；　so　Steve　pulled　the　Slugger　back　and　swung　it　straight　into　the　fucker's　face。　The　crunch　of　bone　and　cartilage　reverberated　through　the　wood　into　Steve's　hands。　It　wasn't　a　bad　feeling。
　　Green…eyes　staggered　back　and　hit　the　wall　hard；　but　didn't　go　down　even　with　the　fountain　of　blood　pouring　between　his　cupped　hands。　His　mouth　and　nose　were　erupting　blood；　Steve　had　felt　the　bat　take　several　teeth　out。　Two　taller；　bulkier　figures　were　ing　down　the　hall。
　　Steve　was　afraid　somebody　might　be　in　Ghost's　room　too；　he　had　to　get　in　there　first。　He　grabbed　the　bleeding　figure　by　its　long　hair　and　one　shoulder　and　with　all　his　strength　shoved　it　down　the　hall　toward　the　approaching　strangers。　It　crashed　into　them；　spraying　blood；　and　all　three　staggered　and　nearly　went　down。
　　Steve　ran　into　Ghost's　room；　slammed　the　door　behind　him；　and　locked　it。
　　
　　As　Nothing　approached　the　bed；　Ghost　went　limp　and　collapsed　back　into　the　tangle　of　bedclothes。　Reality　did　another　slow　giddy　roll　as　Nothing　stood　looking　down　at　the　fair　dreaming　face；　gone　tranquil　now。　This　was　Ghost；　the　lost　soul　of　all　lost　souls。　This　was　his　secret　brother…some　part　of　Nothing's　mind　still　clung　dimly　to　that　wish；　though　he　knew　now　that　it　was　not　true。　There　was　a　deep　scarlet　rose　in　the　lapel　of　Ghost's　rumpled　army　jacket；　full　blown　and　fragrant。
　　Then　he　noticed　the　stain　at　the　corner　of　Ghost's　mouth。　Not　much　blood；　not　much　at　all。　Just　a　drop。　Ghost　must　have　bitten　his　lip　or　his　tongue。　Nothing　bent　without　thinking　to　lick　the　blood　away；　and　Ghost's　eyes　flew　open　and　stared　straight　up　into　Nothing's。
　　〃Born　in　blood；〃　Ghost　whispered。　〃Born　in　blood　and　pain…〃
　　Then　the　door　burst　open　and　slammed　shut　again；　and　strong　hands　seized　the　back　of　Nothing's　raincoat　and　yanked　him　up。　All　at　once　he　was　flying　toward　the　wall。　His　forehead　caught　the　edge　of　something　sharp。　Tiny　colored　stars　exploded　through　blackness。　Blue；　red；　silver。　All　the　stars　from　Ghost's　ceiling　were　showering　down　on　him。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　let　them　land　on　his　eyelids；　tingling。
　　
　　Steve's　adrenaline　rose　another　notch　at　the　sight　of　the　strange　kid　bending　over　Ghost's　bed。　But　he　couldn't　bring　himself　to　bash　the　kid's　skull　in；　not　from　behind。　Instead　he　grabbed　the　kid　by　the　back　of　his　coat　and　threw　him　across　the　room。　He　did　not　know　that　he　was　screaming　Ghost's　name；　but　later　his　throat　would　be　sore。
　　He　turned；　weighing　the　bat　in　both　hands；　keeping　it　between　him　and　the　kid；　keeping　himself　between　the　kid　and　the　bed。　〃What　did　he　do　to　you？〃　he　asked　Ghost；　who　was　looking　dazed；　not　quite　awake。
　　〃I　didn't　do　anything；〃　the　kid　said。　〃I　wouldn't　hurt　him；　honest。　Or　you　either；　Steve。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know　my　name？〃
　　〃I　like　your　music　and…〃
　　〃Yeah？　This　how　you　usually　show　your　appreciation　for　art？　Breaking　into　people's　houses？〃
　　The　kid　looked　so　sad　and　shamefaced　that　Steve　almost　felt　sorry　for　him。　Not　quite；　though。　The　kid　didn't　seem　dangerous；　didn't　seem　to　have　any　fight　in　him；　and　he　was　locked　in　here　with　Steve　and　the　baseball　bat。　This　kid　might　be　the　only　weapon　he　had　against　those　three　creeps　in　the　hall　if　Steve　handled　it　right。
　　〃Ghost。　Wake　up；　Ghost；　WAKE　UP；　YOU　DUMB…FUCK。〃　Ghost　would　be　worse　than　useless　in　your　typical　barroom　brawl；　but　in　mortal　danger　Steve　suspected　he　could　hold　his　own　if　he　was　fully　awake。
　　Ghost　blinked　and　rubbed　his　eyes；　trying　to　shake　off　the　last　shreds　of　nightmare。　Steve　edged　closer　to　the　kid；　who　was　still　sprawled　on　the　floor　staring　miserably　up　at　him。　He　had　enormous　street…orphan　eyes　and　that　phony　dyed　black　hair　that　so　many　kids　wore　and　Steve　hated。　
　　〃What's　your　name；　kid？〃　
　　〃Nothing。　I…〃
　　〃Nothing？〃　said　Ghost。　〃Did　you　send　a…〃
　　Something　crashed　against　the　door。　It　shuddered　in　its　frame。　The　kid　looked　toward　the　source　of　the　sudden　noise。　Steve　reached　down；　hauled　him　up　by　his　coat　collar；　and　pinned　his　arms　behind　his　back。　It　must　have　hurt；　but　he　didn't　cry　out；　he　was　a　tough　little　kid。　Steve　didn't　really　want　to　hurt　him。　But　he　would　if　he　had　to。　He　got　a　good　grip　on　the　baseball　bat　and　pulled　Nothing　back　toward　the　bed。
　　The　object　crashed　against　the　door　again…they　must　be　using　the　big　piece　of　quartz　that　sat　in　the　hall；　nothing　else　could　make　that　much　noise…and　Steve　saw　the　doorknob　splinter　loose　from　its　moorings。　Another　crash　and　the　door　swung　halfway　open。　From　the　er　of　his　eye　Steve　saw　Ghost　scrambling　up　in　bed；　pressing　his　back　against　the　headboard。
　　The　two　larger　figures　appeared　in　the　doorway；　supporting　the　smaller　one　between　them。　The　entire　lower　half　of　the　small　one's　face　was　a　mask　of　bruise　and　blood。　His　hands　dangled　at　his　sides；　bloodied；　the　fingers　clenching　and　unclenching。　When　he　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　Steve　saw　with　grim　satisfaction　that　he　had　taken　out　most　of　the　bastard's　front　teeth。
　　〃'You　hurt　my　face；〃　said　Green…eyes。　Through　the　mush　of　blood　and　ruined　tissue；　his　voice　was　low　and　smooth；　smoother　than　it　should　have　been　considering　how　much　he　must　be　hurting。　〃I　don't　like　it　when　people　hurt　my　face。　We're　going　to　tear　you　up。〃
　　〃Try　it　if　you　want　your　ugly　face　smashed　in　worse；〃　Steve　said。　He　hoped　he　sounded　more　confident　than　he　felt。　To　pull　this　off；　he　could　not　show　an　iota　of　fear　in　the　presence　of　these　creeps；　even　though　they　smelled　as　if　they'd　been　eating　roadkill　for　breakfast。　Steve　jerked　his　arm　tight　across　the　kid's　throat。　He　saw　the　light…colored　roots　of　the　kid's　hair　and　the　tender　scalp　beneath；　and　knew　that　be　could　bring　the　Slugger　down　on　it　if　he　had　to。
　　Green…eyes　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　considering。　〃Let　him　go；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　do；　we'll　just　settle　our　score　with　you。　But　if　I　have　to　take　him　away　from　you；　I'll　rip　open　your　pretty　friend　and　have　his　intestines　for　breakfast。〃
　　〃Yeah；　fucker。　I'm　real　eager　to　make　deals　with　a　bag　of　pus　like　you。〃　Steve　throttled　the　kid　a　little　harder　and　heard　him　choke；　though　he　had　not　struggled　or　cried　out。
　　〃Not　'fucker；'〃　said　Green…eyes。　〃Zillah。　Remember　the　name。　Remember　it　when　you　feel　my　teeth　sink　into　your　heart。〃
　　〃Well；　if　you're　gonna　sink　'em　into　my　heart；　you　better　go　pick　'em　out　of　the　hall　runner　first。〃　Steve　thought　he　felt　the　kid　stifle　a　helpless　laugh；　of　all　things。　He　eased　up　on　the　boy's　throat　a　little。
　　Zillah　glanced　right　and　left　at　his　cohorts。　They　were　poised　like　springs；　like　big　cats　on　the　prowl。　〃Molochai…Twig…take　him　down；〃　he　said。　〃Save　the　boy　if　you　can。〃
　　Steve　knew　his　shaky　bargaining　chip　was　gone。　He　thrust　Nothing　as　far　away　from　him　as　he　could　and　started　swinging　the　bat　as　Molochai　and　Twig　closed　in。
　　One　came　at　him　high；　one　low。　He　brought　the　bat　down　on　a　shaggy　head　and　felt　it　thunk　against　a　cushion　of　hair。　The　owner　of　the　hair　staggered　but　recovered　fast。　Then　one　long　pair　of　arms　was　wrapped　around　his　legs　and　one　slobbering　feral　face　was　pushed　up　close　to　his；　and　he　lost　his　balance　and　went　back　onto　the　bed　with　both　of　them　crushing　him。
　　Sharp　nails　raked　across　his　chest；　drawing　beads　of　blood。　Sharper　teeth　sank　deep　into　the　meat　of　his　hand；　and　he　screamed　and　lost　his　grip　on　the　bat。　It　clattered　to　the　floor　and　rolled　under　the　bed。　In　an　instant　Zillah　had　darted　across　the　room　and　retrieved　it。
　　A　snorting；　snuffling　head　burrowed　in　between　Steve's　neck　and　shoulder。　The　filthy　dishevelled　hair　tickled　horribly。　Steve　whipped　his　head　around；　tried　to　bring　his　chin　down　tight　against　his　chest。　He　felt　hot　drool　on　his　neck。　Teeth　found　his　skin　and　nipped。
　　〃Don't　do　him　just　yet；〃　said　Zillah　mildly；　and　the　teeth　went　away。　One　creep　had　Steve　pinned　on　the　bed；　sitting　on　his　chest　and　trapping　his　arms。　Molochai　and　Twig　were　heavy　and　bulky　and　amazingly　strong；　and　Steve　couldn't　catch　his　breath　with　the　full　weight　of　whichever　one　it　was　on　top　of　him。　Ghost　hadn't　even　had　time　to　struggle　before　the　other　creep　had　pinned　him。　Steve　aimed　a　useless　kick　at　Zillah；　who　stepped　gracefully　away。
　　Nothing　pushed　himself　away　from　the　wall；　flung　his　arms　out　in　a　pleading　gesture。　〃Don't　hurt　them。〃
　　Zillah　snorted　and　hawked　a　bright　pink　gob　of　blood　to　the　floor。　〃Why　not？〃　he　said；　dangerously　quiet。　
　　〃Because　they　know　me。　Ghost　knows　who　I　am。　He　said　so。〃
　　〃Yesss？〃'　Zillah's　smashed　face　convulsed　in　what　might　have　been　a　smile。　〃I　know　who　you　are　too。　You're　a　pretty　little　boy　who　hasn't　learned　his　place　yet。　You're　a　pest　who　is　going　to　have　his　throat　ripped　out　in　about　two　minutes　if　he　doesn't　SHUT　THE　FUCK　UP！〃　Zillah　rounded　on　Nothing；　jabbed　him　hard　in　the　stomach　with　the　baseball　bat。　The　boy　staggered　backward；　the　wind　knocked　out　of　him。
　　〃I　want　him　to　watch；〃　Zillah　continued。　He　held　the　bat　up；　waved　its　broad　end　in　front　of　Steve's　face。　〃I　don't　need　this；　you　know。　I　could　kill　both　of　you　with　one　hand　while　I　jerked　off　with　the　other。　But　since　you　used　it　on　me　。　。　。〃
　　Zillah　moved　to　the　head　of　the　bed；　stood　over　Ghost's　prone　form。　By　craning　his　head　back；　Steve　could　just　see　him。　Zillah　shoved　the　bat　into　Ghost's　face；　and　Steve's　mouth　went　dry。　〃Such　a　fine；　straight；　hard　piece　of　wood。　But　so　plain。　It　needs　brightening　up；　don't　you　thi