sk.thegunslinger-第20章

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in　Tull；　had　been　able　to　bring　to　the　fore。　Sensuality　and　fucking　are；　after　all；　cousins　of　the　most　tenuous　relation。　He　chalked　it　up　to　the　sudden　blinding　change　from　the　desert。　The　softness　of　the　dark　seemed　nearly　decadent
He　returned　to　the　camp　and　skinned　the　rabbit　while　water　boiled　over　the　fire。　Mixed　with　the　last　of　their　canned　food；　the　rabbit　made　an　excellent　stew。　He　woke　Jake　and　watched　him　as　he　ate；　bleary　but　ravenous。
〃We　stay　here　tomorrow；〃　the　gunslinger　said。
〃But　that　man　you're　after。。；　that　priest〃
〃He's　no　priest　And　don't　worry。　We've　got　him。〃
〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
The　gunslinger　could　only　shake　his　head。　The　knowledge　was　strong　in　him。。；　but　it　was　not　a　good　knowledge。
After　the　meal；　he　rinsed　the　cans　they　had　eaten　from　（marveling　again　at　his　own　water　extravagance）；　and　when　he　turned　around；　Jake　was　asleep　again。　The　gunslinger　felt　the　now…familiar　rising　and　falling　in　his　chest　that　he　could　only　identify　with　Cuthbert。　Cuthbert　had　been　Roland's　own　age；　but　he　had　seemed　so　much　younger。
His　cigarette　drooped　toward　the　grass；　and　he　tossed　it　into　the　fire。　He　looked　at　it；　the　clear　yellow　burn　so　different；　so　much　cleaner；　from　the　way　the　devil…grass　burned。　The　air　was　wonderfully　cool；　and　he　lay　down　with　his　back　to　the　fire。　Far　away；　through　the　gash　that　led　the　way　into　the　mountains；　he　heard　the　thick　mouth　of　the　perpetual　thunder。　He　slept　And　dreamed。
Susan；　his　beloved；　was　dying　before　his　eyes：
As　he　watched；　his　arms　held　by　two　villagers　on　each　side；　his　neck　dog…caught　in　a　huge；　rusty　iron　collar；　she　was　dying。　Even　through　the　thick　stench　of　the　fire　Roland　could　smell　the　dankness　of　the　pit。。。　and　he　could　see　the　color　of　his　own　madness。　Susan；　lovely　girl　at　the　window；　horse…drover's　daughter。
She　was　turning　black　in　the　flames；　her　skin　cracking　open。
〃The　boy！〃　She　was　screaming。　〃Roland；　the　boy！〃
He　whirled；　pulling　his　captors　with　him。　The　collar　ripped　at　his　neck　and　he　heard　the　hitching；　strangled　sounds　that　were　ing　from　his　own　throat。　There　was　a　sickish…sweet　smell　of　barbecuing　meat　on　the　air。
The　boy　was　looking　down　at　him　from　a　window　high　above　the　courtyard；　the　same　window　where　Susan；　who　had　taught　him　to　be　a　man；　had　once　sat　and　sung　the　old　songs；　〃Hey　Jude〃　and　〃Ease　on　Down　the　Road〃　and　〃A　Hundred　Leagues　to　Ban…berry　Cross。　〃He　looked　out　from　the　window　like　the　statue　of　an　alabaster　saint　in　a　cathedral。　His　eyes　were　marble。　A　spike　had　been　driven　through　fake　's　forehead。
The　gunslinger　felt　the　strangling　ripping　scream　that　signaled　the　beginning　of　his　lunacy　pull　up　from　the　root　of　his　belly。
〃Nnnnnnnnnn　Roland　grunted　a　cry　as　he　felt　the　fire　singe　him。　He　sat　bolt　upright　in　the　dark；　still　feeling　the　dream　around　him；　strangling　him　like　the　collar　he　had　worn。　In　his　twistings　and　turnings　he　had　thrown　one　hand　against　the　dying　coals　of　the　fire。　He　put　the　hand　to　his　face；　feeling　the　dream　flee；　leaving　only　the　stark　picture　of　Jake；　plaster…white；　a　saint　for　demons。
〃Nnnnnnnnnn　He　glared　around　at　the　mystic　darkness　of　the　willow　grove；　both　guns　out　and　ready。　His　eyes　were　red　loopholes　in　the　last　glow　from　the　fire。
〃Nnnnnn…nnn　Jake。
The　gunslinger　was　up　and　on　the　run。　A　bitter　circle　of　moon　had　risen　and　he　could　follow　the　boy's　track　in　the　dew。　He　ducked　under　the　first　of　the　willows；　splashed　through　the　spring；　and　legged　up　the　far　bank；　skidding　in　the　dampness　（even　now　his　body　could　relish　it）。　Willow　withes　slapped　at　his　face。　The　trees　were　thicker　here；　and　the　moon　was　blotted　out　Tree　trunks　rose　in　lurching　shadows。　The　grass；　now　knee…high；　slapped　against　him。　Half　rotted　dead　branches　reached　for　his　shins；　his　cojones。　He　paused　for　a　moment；　lifting　his　head　and　scenting　at　the　air。　A　ghost　of　a　breeze　helped　him。　The　boy　did　not　smell　good；　of　course；　neither　of　them　did。　The　gunslinger's　nostrils　flared　like　those　of　an　ape。　The　odor　of　sweat　was　faint；　oily；　unmistakable。　He　crashed　over　a　deadfall　of　grass　and　bramble　and　downed　branches；　sprinted　down　a　tunnel　of　overhanging　willow　and　sumac。　Moss　struck　his　shoulders。　Some　clung　in　sighing　gray　tendrils。
He　clawed　through　a　last　barricade　of　willows　and　came　to　a　clearing　that　looked　up　at　the　stars　and　the　highest　peak　of　the　range；　gleaming　skull…white　at　an　impossible　altitude。
There　was　a　ring　of　tall；　black　stones　which　looked　like　some　sort　of　surreal　animal…trap　in　the　moonlight　In　the　center　was　a　table　of　stone。。。　an　altar。　Very　old；　rising　out　of　the　ground　on　a　powerful　arm　of　basalt
The　boy　stood　before　it；　trembling　back　and　forth。　His　hands　shook　at　his　sides　as　if　infused　with　static　electricity。　The　gunslinger　called　his　name　sharply；　and　Jake　responded　with　that　inarticulate　sound　of　negation。　The　faint　smear　of　face；　almost　hidden　by　the　boy's　left　shoulder；　looked　both　terrified　and　exalted。　And　there　was　something　else。
The　gunslinger　stepped　inside　the　ring　and　Jake　screamed；　recoiling　and　throwing　up　his　arms。　Now　his　face　could　be　seen　clearly；　and　indexed。　The　gunslinger　saw　fear　and　terror　warring　with　an　almost　excruciating　grimace　of　pleasure。
The　gunslinger　felt　it　touch　him　　the　spirit　of　the　oracle；　the　succubus。　His　loins　were　suddenly　filled　with　rose　light；　a　light　that　was　soft　yet　hard。　He　felt　his　head　twisting；　his　tongue　thickening　and　being　excruciatingly　sensitive　to　even　the　spittle　that　coated　it
He　did　not　think　when　he　pulled　the　half…rotted　jawbone　from　the　pocket　where　he　had　carried　it　since　he　found　it　in　the　lair　of　the　Speaking　Demon　at　the　way　station。　He　did　not　think；　but　it　did　not　frighten　him　to　operate　on　pure　instinct　He　held　the　jawbone's　frozen；　prehistoric　grin　up　in　front　of　him；　holding　his　other　arm　out　stiffly；　first　and　last　fingers　poked　out　in　the　ancient　forked　talisman；　the　ward　against　the　evil　eye。
The　current　of　sensuality　was　whipped　away　from　him　like　a　drape。
Jake　screamed　again。
The　gunslinger　walked　to　him；　and　held　the　jawbone　in　front　of　Jake's　warring　eyes。　A　wet　sound　of　agony。　The　boy　tried　to　pull　his　gaze　away；　could　not　And　suddenly　both　eyes　rolled　up　to　show　the　whites。　Jake　collapsed。　His　body　struck　the　earth　limply；　one　hand　almost　touching　the　altar。　The　gunslinger　dropped　to　one　knee　and　picked　him　up。　He　was　amazingly　light；　as　dehydrated　as　a　November　leaf　from　their　long　walk　through　the　desert
Around　him　Roland　could　feel　the　presence　that　dwelt　in　the　circle　of　stones；　whirring　with　a　jealous　anger　　its　prize　had　been　taken　from　it　When　the　gunslinger　passed　out　of　the　circle；　the　sense　of　frustrated　jealousy　faded。　He　carried　Jake　back　to　their　camp。　By　the　time　they　got　there；　the　boy's　twitching　unconsciousness　had　bee　deep　sleep。　The　gunslinger　paused　for　a　moment　above　the　gray　ruin　of　the　fire。　The　moonlight　on　Jake's　face　reminded　him　again　of　a　church　saint；　alabaster　purity　all　unknown。　He　suddenly　hugged　the　boy；　knowing　that　he　loved　him。　And　it　seemed　that　he　could　almost　feel　the　laughter　from　the　man　in　black；　someplace　far　above　them。
Jake　was　calling　him；　that　was　how　he　awoke。　He　had　tied　the　boy　firmly　to　one　of　the　tough　bushes　that　grew　nearby；　and　the　boy　was　hungry　and　upset　By　the　sun；　it　was　almost　nine…thirty。
〃Why'd　you　tie　me　up？〃　Jake　asked　indignantly　as　the　gunslinger　loosened　the　thick　knots　in　the　blanket　〃I　wasn't　going　to　run　away！〃
〃You　did　run　away；〃　the　gunslinger　said；　and　the　expression　on　Jake's　face　made　him　smile。　〃I　had　to　go　out　and　get　you。　You　were　sleepwalking。〃
〃I　was？〃　Jake　looked　at　him　suspiciously。
The　gunslinger　nodded　and　suddenly　produced　the　jawbone。　He　held　it　in　front　of　Jake's　face　and　Jake　flinched　away　from　it；　raising　his　arm。
〃See？〃
Jake　nodded；　bewildered。
〃I　have　to　go　off　for　a　while　now。　I　may　be　gone　the　whole　day。　So　listen　to　me；　boy。　It's　important　If　sunset　es　and　I'm　not　back　　〃
Fear　flashed　on　Jake's　face。　〃You're　leaving　me！〃
The　gunslinger　only　looked　at　him。
〃No；〃　Jake　said　after　a　moment　〃I　guess　you're　not。〃
〃I　want　you　to　stay　right　here　while　I'm　gone。　And　if　you　feel　strange　　funny　in　any　way　　you　pick　up　this　bone　and　hold　it　in　your　hands。〃
Hate　and　disgust　crossed　Jake's　face