p&c.brimstone-第69部分

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　〃Defend　the　reverend！　The　police　are　here　to　arrest　him！　Arise！〃　
　Now　came　the　boiling。　Suddenly；　hundreds　of　people　were　up　and　out　of　their　tents；　pulling　on　shirts；　moving　toward　them。　
　Hayward　leaned　in　toward　Grable。　〃Captain？　We　got　trouble。　Just　be　cool。〃　
　Grable's　mouth　sagged　but　no　sound　came　out。　
　The　crowd　was　pressing　in；　a　wall　of　people　quickly　forming　at　the　front；　others　streaming　in　from　every　direction；　ringing　the　tent；　a　babble　of　angry　voices。　
　Shit。She　turned　to　face　the　crowd。　〃Look；　friends；　we're　not　here　to　cause　trouble。〃　
　〃Liar！〃　
　The　cry　went　up。　〃Blasphemers！〃　
　They　pressed　in。　Buck　said　nothing；　did　nothing；　he　just　stood　there；　the　picture　of　dignity。　
　〃Look；〃　said　Hayward；　holding　out　her　hands；　keeping　her　voice　calm；　〃there's　just　the　two　of　us。　Nothing　to　get　excited　about。〃　
　〃Godless　soldiers　of　Rome！〃　
　〃Keep　your　filthy　hands　off　the　reverend！〃　
　This　was　even　uglier　than　she　thought。　Grable　was　backing　up　instinctively；　eyes　roaming　for　an　escape　route　that　did　not　exist。　
　The　crowd　surged　forward；　growing　angrier。　
　〃Touch　either　one　of　us　and　it's　assault；〃　Hayward　said；　loudly　but　calmly。　
　This　paused　the　front　of　the　crowd；　but　with　others　behind　pressing　forward；　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　they　were　overwhelmed。　
　Grable　dropped　the　handcuffs　and　went　for　his　gun。　
　〃Grable；no　！〃　Hayward　yelled。　
　Immediately；　a　roar　went　up。〃He's　going　to　shoot！　Murderer！　Judas！〃　The　front　wall　surged　forward。　
　Whang！went　the　gun　into　the　air；　the　reaction　to　the　sudden　sound　rippling　through　the　crowd。　And　in　that　instant；　Buck；　standing　only　a　few　feet　behind　Grable；　knocked　the　gun　from　his　hand　with　one　swift；　sure　motion。　
　Thank　God；thought　Hayward；　keeping　her　hands　in　sight　and　well　away　from　her　own　piece。　Something　had　to　be　done　right　away；　or　they　were　toast。　She　turned　and　spoke　to　Buck。　〃You　better　do　something；　Reverend。　It's　all　in　your　hands。〃　
　Buck　stepped　forward；　raising　his　hands。　There　was　silence　from　the　crowd；　an　instant　stillness。　
　He　let　a　moment　pass；　and　then　slowly　lowered　his　arm　and　aimed　a　steady　finger　at　Grable。　〃This　man　came　here　under　the　cloak　of　the　Prince　of　Darkness　to　arrest　me。　But　God　has　exposed　his　deceit。〃　
　Grable　appeared　speechless。　
　〃These　centurions；　these　soldiers　of　Rome；　entered　our　encampment　like　skulking　snakes；　on　the　devil's　own　errand。　And　they　have　been　defeated　by　their　own　shame　and　cowardice。〃　
　〃Shame；　cowards！〃　
　Hayward　took　advantage　of　a　lull　to　speak　quietly　to　Buck。　〃We'd　like　to　go　now。〃　
　Another　roar　erupted　from　the　crowd。〃Shame！〃　
　A　stick　flew　out　of　the　crowd；　landing　in　the　dust　by　their　feet。　She　could　see　others　being　brandished　above　the　crowd。　People　on　the　fringes　had　begun　to　hunt　among　the　shrubbery　for　rocks。　
　Hayward　leaned　forward；　speaking　again　in　a　low　voice　she　hoped　only　Buck　could　hear。　〃Reverend　Buck？　What's　going　to　happen　to　you　and　your　followers　if　we　get　injured？　Or　taken　hostage？　How　do　you　think　the　NYPD　will　react　to　that？〃　She　smiled　coldly。　〃It'll　make　Waco　look　like　a　Sunday　barbecue。〃　
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Then；　not　even　acknowledging　he'd　heard；　Buck　raised　his　hands　again　and　bowed　his　head。　Once　more　a　silence　immediately　fell。　
　〃My　people；〃　he　said。　〃My　people。　We　are　Christians。　They　may　e　with　malice；　but　we　must　show　them　passion　and　forgiveness。〃　He　turned　to　his　aide…de…camp。　〃Open　a　way　for　the　unclean　ones；　Todd。　Let　them　go　in　peace。〃　
　Slowly；　the　sticks　were　lowered。　A　lane　appeared　amidst　the　shuffling　throng。　Hayward　bent　forward；　face　burning；　picked　up　Grable's　gun；　tucked　it　into　her　belt。　She　turned　away　only　to　realize　Grable　wasn't　following。　He　was　still　rooted　in　place。　
　〃You　ing；Captain　？〃　
　He　started；　looked　around；　then　walked　past　without　looking　at　her。　After　a　moment；　he　broke　into　a　trot。　A　great　cheer　rose　up　from　the　crowd。　Hayward　followed　at　a　dignified　walk；　eyes　straight　ahead；　struggling　not　to　betray　in　any　way…through　expression；　posture；　voice…that　she　was　enduring　the　worst　humiliation　of　her　entire　career。　
　　　
　67　
　
　A　gunshot；　terribly　loud；　sounded　in　D'Agosta's　ear。　It　wasPendergast；　firing　over　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　
　The　assassin　turned　and　saw　them　approaching。　He　glanced　back　down　at　the　crumpled　figure　at　his　feet；　looked　quickly　around　him；　then　turned　and　fled。　Monks　in　brown　robes　were　clustered　around　their　fallen　brother；　some　praying；　others　crying　out　and　gesticulating。　
　A　number　of　monks　were　pointing　to　the　back　of　the　church。〃Da　questa　parte！　è　scappato　di　là！〃　
　Pendergast　shot　them　a　glance。　〃Vincent；　after　him！〃　He　had　his　cell　phone　out　and　was　already　calling　for　a　medevac　helicopter。　
　A　monk　leaped　up　and　grasped　D'Agosta's　arm。　〃I　help　you；〃　he　said　in　broken　English。　〃Follow　me。〃　
　They　ran　together　through　a　door　to　the　right　of　the　altar；　down　a　dark　passageway　and　into　an　inner　cloister；　then　across　its　courtyard　and　through　a　second　stone　passageway　that　abruptly　terminated　in　the　cliff　face　itself。　Here　they　stopped。　A　lateral　passage　crossed　their　path；　arches　and　pillars　carved　out　of　the　living　stone。　
　〃He　went　this　way。〃　The　monk　turned　and　raced　down　the　ancient；　frescoed　corridor。　There　was　an　iron　door　at　its　end；　hanging　ajar；　and　the　monk　threw　it　wide。　Sunlight　flooded　the　dark　passage。　D'Agosta　followed　the　monk　through　the　doorway　and　into　open　air。　A　dizzying　stone　staircase　fell　away　below　them；　carved　directly　into　the　cliff　face；　no　protection　from　a　breathtaking　drop　save　for　a　rotten　iron　railing。　
　D'Agosta　leaned　away　from　the　cliff　face；　glanced　over　the　railing。　For　a　moment；　vertigo　overwhelmed　him。　Then　he　glimpsed　the　red…suited　figure　below；　scrambling　down　the　stone　pathway。　
　〃Eccolo！〃The　monk　resumed　the　chase；　robes　flapping　behind　him。　D'Agosta　followed　as　quickly　as　he　dared：　the　stairs　were　so　polished　by　time；　so　damp　with　humidity；　they　felt　as　slippery　as　ice。　The　staircase　was　old　and　disused；　so　eroded　in　places　they　had　to　step　over　yawning　blue　space。　
　〃You　know　where　he's　headed？〃　D'Agosta　asked　between　gasps。　
　〃To　the　forest　below。〃　
　The　stairway　leveled　off　briefly；　and　they　moved　slowly　over　another　gap。　The　iron　railing　had　rotted　away　at　this　spot；　and　rough　handholds　were　their　only　protection。　A　stiff；　cold　wind　buffeted　them。　
　A　shot　rang　out　from　below。　The　monk　slipped；　clutched　at　a　handhold；　scrambled　to　regain　his　balance。　D'Agosta　pressed　himself　against　the　rock　face。　He　was　pletely　exposed；　unable　to　help；　unable　even　to　move　forward。　With　both　hands　clutching　the　rock　he　could　not　even　unholster　his　gun。　
　Another　shot　rang　out。　D'Agosta　felt　a　spray　of　rock　slash　his　face。　Glancing　down；　he　could　make　out　the　killer　a　hundred　yards　farther　down　the　stairway；　pointing　his　handgun　directly　at　them。　
　There　was　no　help　for　it：　he　couldn't　just　stand　here；　waiting　to　get　shot。　D'Agosta　let　go　with　one　hand；　desperately　bracing　himself　against　the　cliff　edge　with　his　feet　and　his　knees；　and　drew　out　his　gun。　Aiming　as　best　he　could；　he　fired　once；　twice。　
　Two　close　shots；　missing　by　inches。　The　man　gave　a　cry　and　ducked　out　of　sight　below。　Meanwhile；　the　monk　had　recovered　and　moved　on　to　a　safer　spot。　D'Agosta　felt　himself　slipping；　he　was　going　to　have　to　drop　his　gun。　
　〃A　me！〃said　the　monk。　
　D'Agosta　tossed　him　the　Glock；　which　the　monk　deftly　caught。　Then　he　pulled　himself　back　into　position　and　leaped　over　the　gap。　Just　as　he　got　to　the　far　side；　another　shot　rang　out。　
　〃Down！〃　
　They　crouched　on　the　stone　walkway；　in　the　feeble　cover　of　a　small　projecting　rock。　Another　shot；　another　spray　of　rock。　
　Christ；　thought　D'Agosta；we're　pinned　。　Unable　to　move　forward；　unable　to　go　back。　He　would　have　to　return　fire　again。　
　The　monk　handed　him　his　gun。　
　D'Agosta　slid　out　the　magazine；　checked　it。　Eight　rounds　left。　He　slapped　it　back　in　place。　
　〃When　I　shoot；　you　go。Capisci？　〃　
　The　monk　nodded。　
　In　one　motion；　D'Agosta　rose；　aimed；　squeezed　off　a　string　of　suppressing　fire；　just　clipping　the　top　of　the　rock　behind　which　the　shooter　was　crouching；　keeping　him　down；　unable　to　fire。　The　monk　scrambled　across　the　open　section　of　trail；　finding　good　cover　at　the　far　end　where　the　pathway　once　again　began　to　descend　a　crude　staircase。　
　Magazine　spent；　D'Agosta　ducked　back　behind　the　rocky　projection。　He　slapped　in　his　spare　magazine；　then　ran　across　the　open　area　until　he　reached　the　monk　and　the　safety　of　the　staircase；　pausing　to　peer　over　a　rocky　wall。　The　shooter　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　
　Quickly；　he　rose　and　resumed　the　pursuit；　the　monk　at　his　heels。　Down　and　down　they　descended　until；　quite　suddenly；　they　reached　the　bottom。　There　was　a　small　vineyard　here　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　Beyond　rose　a　dense　wall　of　forest。　
　〃Which　way？〃　D'Agosta　asked。　
　The　monk　shrugged。　〃He　is　gone。〃　
　〃No。　We'll　follow　him　into　the　forest。〃　
　D'Agosta　took　off　again；　half　crouching；　down　the　row　of　vines　toward　the　trees。　Within　moments；　they　were　inside　the　forest；　the　cathedral…like　trunks　surrounding　them；　silent　and　smelling　of　resin　and　cold；　stretching　ahead　into　darkness。　D'Agosta　scanned　the　ground；　but　there　was　no　indication　of　footsteps　in　the　thick　bed　of　pine　needles。　
　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　which　way　he　went？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Not　possible　to　know。　Need　dogs。〃　
　〃Does　the　monastery　have　dogs？〃　
　〃No。〃　
　〃We　can　call　the　police。〃　
　The　monk　shrugged　again。　〃Takes　time。　For　dogs；　two；　three　days　maybe。〃　
　D'Agosta　looked　back　into　the　endless　forest。　〃Shit。〃　
　Back　at　the　chapel；　the　scene　remained　one　of　confusion。　Pendergast　was　bending　over　the　prostrate　form　of　the　monk；　applying　heart　massage　and　artificial　respiration。　Several　of　the　monks　were　kneeling　in　a　half…circle；　apparently　led　by　the　head　of　the　order；　others　were　standing　well　back；　murmuring　in　low；　shocked　tones。　As　D'Agosta　walked　across　the　chapel；　utterly　winded；　he　could　hear　the　distant　beat　of　a　chopper。　
　He　knelt　and　took　the　old　priest's　frail　hand。　The　man's　eyes　were　closed；　his　face　gray。　In　the　background；　the　steady　murmur　of　prayers　continued；　soothing　in　its　measured　cadence。　
　〃I　think