gc.shadowslinger-第15部分

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He　had　to　weather　this。　One　or　the　other　would　die；　and　either　way　he　would　be　off　the　hook。
　　He　was　in　the　middle　now。　He　hated　Krage。　Krage　had　humiliated　him　for　years；　keeping　him　in　debt；　stealing　food　from　his　mouth　with　ridiculous　interest　rates。　On　the　other　hand；　Raven　could　connect　him　with　the　black　castle　and　crimes　in　the　Enclosure。
　　The　Custodians　were　on　the　hunt；　looking　for　somebody　spending　a　lot　of　old　money。　Little　had　been　said　publicly；　but　Bullock　being　on　the　case　told　Shed　just　how　seriously　they　were　taking　the　case　up　the　hill。　He'd　nearly　had　a　stroke　when　Bullock　walked　into　the　Lily。
　　What　had　bee　of　the　passage　money？　Shed　hadn't　seen　any　of　it。　He　supposed　Raven　still　had　it。　He　and　Raven　were　partners　now。　。　。　。
　　〃What　did　Krage　say？〃　Raven　asked　when　Shed　reached　the　Lily。
　　〃Wants　me　to　help　kill　you。〃
　　〃I　thought　so。　Shed；　it's　late　in　the　season。　It's　time　to　send　Krage　up　the　hill。　Which　way　are　you　leaning；　partner？　Him　or　me？''
　　〃I。　。　。　。　Uh。　。　。　。〃
　　〃In　the　long　run　you're　better　off　getting　rid　of　Krage。　He'd　find　a　way　to　get　the　Lily　eventually。〃
　　True；　Shed　reflected。　〃All　right。　What　do　we　do？〃
　　〃Tomorrow；　go　tell　him　you　think　I've　been　selling　bodies。　That　you　think　Asa　was　my　partner。　That　you　think　I　did　Asa　in。　Asa　was　your　friend　and　you're　upset。　It'll　all　be　just　near　enough　reality　to　confuse　him。　。　。　。　What's　the　matter？〃
　　Always　a　trap。　Raven　was　right。　Krage　would　believe　the　story。　But　Shed　had　hoped　for　a　less　direct　role。　If　Raven　screwed　up；　Marron　Shed　would　be　found　in　a　gutter　with　his　throat　cut。
　　〃Nothing。〃
　　〃All　right。　Night　after　tomorrow　night；　I'll　go　out。　You　run　to　tell　Krage。　I'll　let　his　men　track　me。　Krage　will　want　to　be　in　at　the　kill。　I'll　ambush　him。〃
　　〃You　did　that　before；　didn't　you？〃
　　〃He'll　e　anyway。　He's　stupid。〃
　　Shed　swallowed。　〃That　isn't　a　plan　that　does　much　for　my　nerves。〃
　　〃Your　nerves　aren't　my　problem；　Shed。　They're　yours。　You　lost　them。　Only　you　can　find　them　again。〃
　　Krage　bought　Shed's　story。　He　was　ecstatic　because　Raven　was　such　a　villain。　〃If　I　didn't　want　him　myself；　I'd　yell　for　the　Custodians。　You　did　good；　Shed。　I　should　have　suspected　Asa。　He　never　brought　no　news　worth　hearing。〃
　　Shed　whined；　〃Who　would　buy　bodies；　Krage？〃　Krage　grinned。　〃Don't　worry　your　ugly　head。　Let　me　know　next　time　he　goes　on　one　of　his　jaunts。　We'll　rig　up　a　little　surprise。〃
　　Next　night　Shed　reported　according　to　plan。　And　suffered　all　the　disappointment　he　expected　of　life。　Krage　insisted　he　join　the　hunt。
　　〃What　good　would　I　be；　Krage？　I'm　not　even　armed。　And　he's　one　tough　nut。　You　won't　take　him　without　a　fight。〃
　　〃I　don't　expect　to。　You're　ing　along　just　in　case。〃
　　〃In　case？〃
　　〃In　case　there's　a　trap　in　this　and　I　want　to　lay　hands　on　you　fast。〃
　　Shed　shuddered；　whined；　〃I　done　right　by　you。　Don't　I　always　do　right　by　you？〃
　　〃You　always　do　what　a　coward　would。　Which　is　why　I　don't　trust　you。　Anybody　can　scare　you。　And　you　had　all　that　money。　It　occurs　to　me　you　might　be　in　the　racket　with　Raven。〃
　　Shed　went　cold。　Krage　donned　his　coat。　〃Let's　go；　Shed。　Stay　right　beside　me。　You　try　to　wander　off；　I'll　kill　you。〃
　　Shed　started　shaking。　He　was　dead。　All　he　had　gone　through　to　get　Krage　off　his　back。　。。。　It　wasn't　fair。　It　just　wasn't　fair。　Nothing　ever　worked　for　him。　He　stumbled　into　the　street；　wondering　what　he　could　do　and　knowing　there　was　no　escape。　
　　Tears　froze　on　his　cheeks。
　　No　exit。　If　he　fled；　Krage　would　be　warned。　If　he　did　not；　Krage　would　kill　him　when　Raven　sprang　his　ambush。　What　was　his　mother　going　to　do？
　　He　had　to　do　something。　Had　to　find　some　guts；　make　a　decision；　act。　He　couldn't　surrender　to　fate　and　hope　for　luck。　That　meant　the　Catabs　or　black　castle　before　dawn。
　　He　had　lied　to　Krage。　He　had　a　butcher　knife　up　his　left　sleeve。　He　had　put　it　there　out　of　sheer　bravado。　Krage　hadn't　searched　him。　Old　Shed　armed？　Ha！　Not　likely。　He　might　get　himself　hurt。
　　Old　Shed　did　go　armed　sometimes；　but　he　never　advertised　the　fact。　The　knife　did　wonders　for　his　confidence。
　　He　could　tell　himself　he　would　use　it；　and　he'd　believe　the　lie　long　enough　to　get　by；　but　in　any　tight　spot　he　would　let　fate　run　its　course。
　　His　fate　was　sealed。　。　。　。　Unless　he　whipped　it　heads…up；　no　holds　barred。
　　How？
　　Krage's　men　were　amused　by　his　terror。　There　were　six　of　them。　。　。　。　Then　there　were　seven　。　。　。　and　eight；　as　those　tracking　Raven　reported　in。　Could　he　hope　to　beat　those　odds？　Raven　himself　didn't　stand　a　chance。
　　You　are　a　dead　man；　a　tiny　voice　whispered；　over　and　over。　Dead　man。　Dead　man。
　　〃He's　working　his　way　down　Chandler's；〃　a　shadow　reported。　〃Going　into　all　the　little　alleyways。〃
　　Krage　asked　Shed；　〃Think　he'll　find　anything　this　late　in　the　winter？　The　weaklings　have　all　died。〃
　　Shed　shrugged。　〃I　wouldn't　know。〃　He　rubbed　his　left　arm　against　his　side。　The　knife's　presence　helped；　but　not　much。
　　His　terror　peaked　and　began　to　recede。　His　mind　cooled　to　an　unemotional　numbness。　Fear　in　abeyance；　he　tried　to　find　the　unseen　exit。
　　Again　someone　loomed　out　of　the　darkness；　reported　they　were　a　hundred　feet　from　Raven's　wagon。　Raven　had　gone　into　an　alley　ten　minutes　ago。　He　hadn't　e　out。
　　〃He　spot　you？〃　Krage　growled。
　　〃I　don't　think　so。　But　you　never　know。〃
　　Krage　eyed　Shed。　〃Shed；　would　he　abandon　his　team　and　wagon？〃
　　〃How　would　I　know？〃　Shed　squeaked。　〃Maybe　he　found　something。〃
　　〃Let's　take　a　look。〃　They　moved　to　the　alley；　one　of　countless　dead…end　breezeways　opening　off　Chandler's　Lane。　Krage　stared　into　the　darkness；　head　canted　slightly。　〃Quiet　as　the　Catabs。　Check　it　out；　Luke。〃
　　〃Boss？〃
　　〃Take　it　easy；　Luke。　Old　Shed　is　going　to　be　right　behind　you。　Won't　you；　Shed？〃
　　〃Krage。　。　。　。〃
　　〃Move　out！〃
　　Shed　shambled　forward。　Luke　advanced　cautiously；　wicked　knife　probing　the　darkness。　Shed　tried　to　talk　to　him。　〃Shut　up！〃　he　snarled。　〃Don't　you　have　a　weapon？〃
　　〃No；〃　Shed　lied。　He　glanced　back。　It　was　just　the　two　of　them。　They　reached　the　dead　end。　No　Raven。　〃I'll　be　damned；〃
　　Luke　said。　〃How　did　he　get　out？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　　Let's　find　out。〃　This　might　be　his　chance。
　　〃Here　we　go；〃　Luke　said。　〃He　climbed　this　downspout。〃
　　Shed's　guts　knotted。　His　throat　tightened。　〃Give　it　a　try。　Maybe　we　can　follow　him；〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　Luke　started　up。
　　Shed　didn't　think　about　it。　The　butcher　knife　materialized　in　his　hand。　His　hand　slammed　forward。　Luke　arched　back；　dropped。　Shed　jumped　on　him；　jammed　a　palm　against　his　mouth；　held　on　for　the　minute　it　took　him　to　die。　He　backed　away；　unable　to　believe　he'd　done　it。　〃What's　going　on　back　there？〃　Krage　demanded。　〃Can't　find　anything；〃　Shed　yelled。　He　dragged　Luke　against　a　wall；　buried　him　under　trash　and　snow；　ran　to　the　down…spout。
　　Krage's　approach　made　a　marvelous　incentive。　He　grunted；　strained；　popped　a　muscle；　reached　the　roof。　It　consisted　of　a　skirt　two　feet　wide　set　at　a　shallow　angle；　then　twelve　feet　rising　at　forty…five　degrees；　above　which　the　roof　was　flat。　Shed　leaned　against　the　steep　slate；　panting；　still　unable　to　believe　that　he　had　killed　a　man。　He　heard　voices　below；　began　moving　sideways。
　　Someone　snarled；　〃They're　gone；　Krage。　No　Raven。　No　Luke　and　no　Shed；　either。〃
　　〃That　bastard。　I　knew　he　was　setting　me　up。〃
　　〃Why　did　Luke　go　with　him；　then？〃
　　〃Hell；　I　don't　know。　Don't　stand　there。　Look　around　They　got　out　of　here　somehow。〃
　　〃Hey。　Over　here。　Somebody　went　up　this　spout。　Maybe　they're　after　Raven。〃
　　〃Climb　the　damned　thing。　Find　out。　Luke！　Shed！〃
　　〃Over　here；〃　a　voice　called。　Shed　froze。　What　the　hell？　Raven？　Had　to　be　Raven。
　　He　inched　along；　trying　to　fake　himself　into　believing　there　wasn't　thirty…five　feet　of　nothing　behind　his　heels。　He　reached　a　ridged　corner　where　he　could　clamber　up　to　the　flat　top。
　　〃Over　here。　I　think　we　got　him　cornered。〃
　　〃Get　up　there；　you　bastards！〃　Krage　raged。
　　Lying　motionless　on　the　cold；　icy　tar；　Shed　watched　two　shadows　appear　on　the　skirt　and　begin　easing　toward　the　voice。　A　squeal　of　metal　and　vicious　cursing　proclaimed　the　fate　of　a　third　climber。　〃Twisted　my　ankle；　Krage；〃　the　man　plained。
　　〃e　on；〃　Krage　growled。　〃We'll　find　another　way　up。〃
　　Run　while　you　got　the　chance；　Shed　thought。　Go　home　and　hole　up　till　it's　over。　But　he　could　not。　He　slid　down　to　the　skirt　and　crept　after　Krage's　men。
　　Someone　cried　out；　scrabbled　for　a　hold；　plunged　into　the　darkness　between　buildings。　Krage　shouted。　Nobody　answered。
　　Shed　crossed　to　the　roof　next　door。　It　was　flat　and　forested　with　chimneys。　〃Raven？〃　he　called　softly。　〃It's　me。　Shed。〃　He　touched　the　knife　in　his　sleeve；　still　unable　to　believe　that　he'd　used　it。
　　A　shape　materialized。　Shed　settled　into　a　sitting　position；　arms　around　his　knees。　〃What　now？〃　he　asked。
　　〃What're　you　doing　here？〃
　　〃Krage　dragged　me　along。　I　was　supposed　to　be　the　first　one　dead　if　it　was　a　trap。''　He　told　Raven　what　he　had　done。
　　〃Damn！　You've　got　guts　after　all。〃
　　〃He　backed　me　into　a　corner。　What　now？〃
　　〃The　odds　are　getting　better。　Let　me　think　about　it。〃
　　Krage　shouted　out　in　Chandler's　Lane。　Raven　yelled　back；　〃Over　here！　We're　right　behind　him。〃　He　told　Shed：　〃I　don't　know　how　long　I　can　fool　him。　I　was　going　to　pick　them　off　one　at　a　time。　I　didn't　know　he'd　bring　an
army。〃
　　〃My　nerves　are　shot；〃　Shed　said。　Heights　were　another　of　the　thousand　things　that　terrified　him。
　　〃Hang　on。　It's　a　long　way　from　over。〃　Raven　yelled；　〃Cut　him　off；　why　don't　you？〃　He　took　off。　〃e　on；
Shed。〃
　　Shed　could　not　keep　up。　He　wasn't　as　nimble　as　Raven。
　　A　shape　loomed　out　of　the　darkness。　He　squeaked。
　　〃That　you；　Shed？〃　It　was　one　of　Krage's　men。　Shed's　heartbeat　doubled。
　　〃Yeah。　You　seen　Raven？〃
　　〃No。　Where's　Luke？〃
　　〃H…he　was　headed　right　at　you。　How　could　you　miss　him？　Look　here。〃　Shed　indicated　disturbances　in
traces　of　snow。
　　〃Look；　man；　I　didn't　see　him。　Don't　e　on　at　me　like　you　was　Krage。　I'll　kick　your　ass　up　around　your　ears。〃
　　〃All　right。　All　right。　Calm　down。　I'm　scared　and　I　want　to　get　it　over。　Luke　fell　off。　Back　there。　Slipped　on　some　ice　or　somethin