cb.damnationgame-第57章
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〃Where are you going？〃 somebody asked him； as he traipsed the hall； or did he just imagine the words？ He'd taken a few pills before the party…that always loosened him up…but it tended to put voices in his head； mostly his mother's。 Whether somebody had asked the question or not； he chose not to answer； he just wandered down the corridor； calling for Stephanie。 The woman was extraordinary； or so his drugged libido had decided。 She had superb buttocks。 He wanted to be smothered by those cheeks； to die under them。
〃Stephanie；〃 he demanded。 She didn't reappear。 〃e on；〃 he reassured her； 〃it's only me。〃 There was a smell in the corridor： just a hint of sewer。 He inhaled it。 〃Foul；〃 he announced； not unappreciatively。 The smell was getting stronger； as though its source was close by； and approaching。 〃Lights；〃 he told himself and peered along the wall looking for a switch。
A few yards down the corridor something started to move toward him。 The light was too dim to see properly by； but it was a man； and the man was not alone。 There were other shapes； knee…high； mustering in the darkness。 The smell was being overpowering。 Dwoskin's head had started to dance with color； disgraceful images flickered in the air to acpany the smell。 It took him a moment to grasp that this air graffiti was not his doing。 It was ing from the man ahead of him。 Dashes and dots of light flared and whirled away into the air。
〃Who are you？〃 Dwoskin demanded。 In answer； the graffiti ignited into a full…blown literature。 Not certain if any sound was ing out； the Troll…King began to screech。
Stephanie dropped the eyeliner into the sink as the scream reached her。 She didn't recognize the voice。 It was high enough to be a woman's； but it was neither Emily nor Oriana。
The shakes suddenly worsened。 She held on to the edge of the sink to steady herself as the noises multiplied： howls now； and running feet。 Somebody was shouting； all but incoherent orders。 It was Ottaway； she thought； but she wasn't going out to check。 Whatever was going on beyond the door…pursuit； capture； murder even…she needed none of it。 She turned off the light in the bathroom in case it spilled under the door。 Somebody ran by； calling on God： now there was desperation。 Feet thudded down the stairs； somebody fell。 Doors slammed： screams mounted。
She backed away from the door and sat on the edge of the bath。 There； in the darkness； she started to sing 〃Abide with Me〃…or what little she could remember of it…very quietly。
Marty heard the screams too； though he didn't want to。 Even at such a distance； they carried a freight of blind panic that made him clammy。
He knelt down in the dirt between the trees and stopped his ears。 The earth smelled ripe beneath him； and his mind seethed with unwele thoughts of lying faceup in the ground； dead perhaps； but anticipating resurrection。 Like a sleeper on the verge of waking； nervous of the day。
After a while the din became intermittent。 Soon； he told himself； he must open his eyes； stand up and go back to the house to see the hows and the whys of all this motion。 Soon； but not yet。
When the noise in the hallway and on the stairs had long stopped； Stephanie crept to the bathroom door； unlocked it and peered out。 The corridor was in plete darkness now。 The lamps had either been turned off or shattered。 But her eyes； accustomed to the blackness of the bathroom； soon pierced the feeble light from the stairwell。 The gallery was empty in both directions。 There was just a smell in the air like a bad butcher's shop on a hot day。
She slipped off her shoes； and started to the top of the stairs。 The contents of a handbag were scattered down the steps； and there was something wet underfoot。 She looked down： the carpet was stained： either wine or blood。 She hurried on down into the hallway。 It was chilly； both front and vestibule doors were wide open。 Again； there was no sign of life。 The cars had gone from the driveway； the downstairs rooms…library； reception rooms； kitchen…all were forsaken。 She rushed back upstairs to collect her belongings from the white room and leave。
As she retraced her steps along the gallery she heard a soft padding behind her。 She turned。 There was a dog at the top of the stairs； it had presumably followed her up。 She could scarcely make it out in the bad light； but she wasn't afraid。 〃Good boy；〃 she said； glad of its living presence in the abandoned house。
It didn't growl； nor did it wag its tail； it simply hobbled towards her。 Only then did she realize her error in weling it。 The butcher's shop was here； on all fours： she backed off。
〃No 。 。 。〃 she said； 〃I don't 。 。 。 oh； Christ 。 。 。 leave me alone。〃 Still it came； and with every step it took toward her she saw more of its condition。 The innards that looped from its underside。 The decayed face； all teeth and putrescence。 She headed toward the white room； but it covered the distance between them in three strides。 Her hands slid on its body as it leaped at her； and to her disgust fur and flesh separated； her grasp skinning the creature's flanks。 She fell back； it advanced； head rocking uneasily on its scrappy neck； its jaws closing around her throat and shaking her。 She couldn't scream…it was devouring her voice…but her arm thrust up into the cold body and found its spine。 Instinct made her grasp the column； muscle dividing in slimy threads； and the beast let her go； arching back as her grip snapped one vertabrae from the next。 It let out a prolonged hiss as she dragged her arm out。 Her other hand cupped her throat： blood was hitting the carpet with thudding sounds： she must get help or bleed to death。
She started to crawl back toward the top of the stairs。 Miles away from her； somebody opened a door。 Light fell across her。 Too numb to feel pain； she looked around。 Whitehead was silhouetted in a distant doorway。 Between them stood the dog。 Somehow； it had got up； or rather its front portion had； and it was dragging itself across the shining carpet toward her； most of its bulk useless now； its head barely raised from the ground。 But still moving； as it would move until its resurrector granted it rest。
She raised her arm to signal her presence to Whitehead。 If he saw her in the gloom he made no sign。
She had reached the top of the stairs。 She had no strength lift in her。 Death was ing quickly。 Enough； her body said； enough。 Her will conceded； and she slumped down； the blood； loosed from her wounded neck； flowing down the stairs as her darkening eyes watched。 One step； two steps。
Counting games were a perfect cure for insomnia。
Three steps； four。
She didn't see the fifth step； or any other in the creeping descent。
Marty was loath to go back into the house； but whatever had happened there was surely over； and he was getting chilly where he knelt。 His expense…account suit was dirtied beyond reclamation； his shirt was stained and torn； his immaculate shoes clay…caked。 He looked like a derelict。 The thought almost pleased him。
He meandered back across the lawn。 He could see the lights of the house somewhere ahead。 They burned reassuringly； though he knew such reassurance was delusion。 Not every house was a refuge。 Sometimes it was safer to be out in the world； under the sky； where no one could e knocking and looking for you； where no roof could fall on your trusting head。
Halfway between house and trees a jet growled overhead； high up； its lights twin stars。 He stood and watched it pass over him at his zenith。 Perhaps it was one of the monitoring planes that he'd read passed perpetually over Europe…one American； one Russian…their electric eyes scanning the sleeping cities； judgmental twins upon whose benevolence the lives of millions depended。 The sound of the jet diminished to a murmur； and then to silence。 Gone to spy on other heads。 The sins of England would not prove fatal tonight； it seemed。
He began to walk toward the house with fresh resolution； taking a route that would lead him around to the front and into the false day of the floodlights。 As he crossed the stage toward the front door the European stepped out of the house。
There was no way to avoid being
