ib.thewaspfactory-第41章

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d　you；　Dad。　They've　caught　Eric。　I　heard。　I'll　be　right　in。　Where'll　I　meet　you；　at　the　police　station？'
　　
　　'Naw；　naw；　son。　Naw；　mee'　me　ou'side　the。。。　ou'side　the　。。。　lib'ary。　Yeah；　the　lib'ary。　Mee'　me　therr。'
　　
　　'The　library？'　I　said。　'Why　there？'
　　
　　'Righ'；　see　y'；　son。　Mon　hurry　up；　eh？'　I　heard　him　clatter　the　receiver　for　a　few　seconds；　then　the　line　went　quiet。　I　put　the　phone　down　slowly；　feeling　a　sharpness　in　my　lungs；　a　steely　sensation　that　went　with　the　thudding　of　my　heart　and　my　lightened　head。
　　
　　I　stood　for　a　while；　then　went　back　up　the　stairs　to　the　loft　to　close　the　skylight　and　turn　the　radio　off。　My　legs　were　a　little　sore　and　tired；　I　realised　；　perhaps　I　had　been　overdoing　things　a　bit　recently。
　　
　　The　breaks　in　the　cloud　overhead　were　moving　slowly　inland　as　I　walked　back　up　the　path　towards　the　town。　It　was　dark　for　half…seven；　a　summery　gloom　of　soft　light　everywhere　over　the　dry　land。　A　few　birds　stirred　themselves　lethargically　as　I　went　past。　Quite　a　few　were　perching　on　the　wires　of　the　telephone　line　snaking　its　way　to　the　island　on　skinny　poles。　Sheep　made　their　ugly；　broken　noises；　little　lambs　bleated　back。　Birds　sat　on　barbed…wire　fences　farther　on；　where　the　snagged　tufts　of　dirty　wool　showed　the　sheep　trails　underneath。　Despite　all　the　water　I　had　drunk　during　the　day；　my　head　was　starting　to　ache　dully　again。　I　sighed　and　kept　on　walking；　through　the　slowly　diminishing　dunes　and　past　the　rough　fields　and　straggly　pastureland。
　　
　　I　sat　down；　back　against　sand；　just　before　I　left　the　dunes　entirely；　and　wiped　my　brow。　I　flicked　a　little　sweat　from　my　fingers；　looked　out　over　the　static　sheep　and　the　perched　birds。　In　the　town　I　could　hear　bells；　probably　from　the　Catholic　chapel。　Or　maybe　the　word　had　spread　their　bloody　dogs　were　safe。　I　sneered；　snorted　through　my　nose　in　a　sort　of　half…laugh；　and　looked　over　the　grass　and　scrub　and　weed　to　the　steeple　of　the　Church　of　Scotland。　I　could　almost　see　the　library　from　here。　I　felt　my　feet　plain；　and　knew　that　I　shouldn't　have　sat　down。　They'd　be　sore　when　I　started　walking　again。　I　knew　damn　well　that　I　was　just　delaying　getting　to　the　town；　just　as　I　had　delayed　leaving　the　house　after　my　father　had　telephoned。　I　looked　back　at　the　birds；　strung　like　notes　along　the　same　wires　which　had　brought　the　news。　They　were　avoiding　one　section；　I　noticed。
　　
　　I　frowned；　looked　closer；　frowned　again。　I　felt　for　my　binoculars；　but　I　touched　my　own　chest；　I　had　left　them　back　at　the　house。　I　got　up　and　started　walking　across　the　rough　ground；　away　from　the　path；　then　I　jogged；　then　I　ran；　finally　sprinting　across　the　weeds　and　rushes；　vaulting　a　fence　on　to　the　pasture　where　the　sheep　rose　and　scattered；　cackling　plaintively。
　　
　　I　was　breathless　by　the　time　I　got　to　the　telephone　line。
　　
　　And　it　was　down。　The　freshly　cut　wire　hung　against　the　wood　of　the　land…side　pole。　I　looked　up；　made　sure　I　wasn't　seeing　things。　A　few　of　the　birds　nearby　had　flown　off；　and　they　circled；　calling　in　their　dark　voices　through　the　almost　still　air　over　the　parched　grass。　I　ran　down　to　the　island…side　pole　on　the　other　side　of　the　break。　An　ear；　covered　in　short　white　and　black　fur；　and　still　bleeding；　was　nailed　to　the　wood。
　　
　　I　touched　it　and　I　smiled。　I　looked　round　wildly；　then　calmed　myself　again。　I　set　my　face　to　the　town　where　the　steeple　pointed　like　a　finger；　accusatory。
　　
　　'You　lying　bastard；　；　I　breathed；　then　took　off　for　the　island　again；　gathering　pace　as　I　went；　hitting　the　path　and　letting　rip；　pounding　down　its　beaten　surface；　careering　down　to　the　Jump　and　sailing　over　it。　I　shouted　and　whooped；　then　I　shut　up；　and　kept　my　precious　breath　for　running。
　　
　　I　got　back　to　the　house；　yet　again；　and　raced　up　lathered　in　sweat　to　the　loft；　stopping　briefly　at　the　telephone　to　check　it。
　　
　　Sure　enough；　it　was　quite　dead。　I　ran　on　upstairs；　back　to　the　loft　and　the　skylight；　took　a　quick　look　round　with　the　glasses；　then　got　myself　together；　arming　and　checking。　I　settled　back　into　the　chair；　switched　the　radio　back　on；　and　kept　looking。
　　
　　He　was　out　there　somewhere。　Thank　God　for　the　birds。　My　stomach　thrilled；　sending　a　wave　of　gut…joy　through　me；　making　me　shiver　despite　the　heat。　That　lying　old　shit；　trying　to　lure　me　away　from　the　house　just　because　he　was　too　frightened　to　face　Eric。　My　God；　I　had　been　stupid　not　to　hear　the　sheer　mendacity　in　his　sodden　voice。　And　he　had　the　nerve　to　shout　at　me　for　drinking。　At　least　I　did　it　when　I　knew　I　could　afford　to；　not　when　I　knew　I'd　need　all　my　faculties　at　their　peak　to　deal　with　a　crisis。　The　shit。　Call　himself　a　man！
　　
　　I　had　a　few　more　drinks　from　the　still　cool　jug　of　orange；　ate　an　apple　and　some　bread　and　cheese；　went　on　scanning。　The　evening　darkened　quickly　as　the　sun　dipped　and　the　cloud　closed　up。　The　thermals　which　had　opened　the　holes　over　the　land　were　dying；　and　the　blanket　hanging　over　the　hills　and　the　plain　reasserted　itself；　grey　and　featureless。　After　a　while　I　heard　thunder　again；　and　something　in　the　air　turned　sharp　and　threatening。　I　was　keyed　up；　and　couldn't　help　waiting　for　the　phone　to　ring；　though　I　knew　that　it　wouldn't。　How　long　would　it　take　for　my　father　to　realise　I　was　late？　Had　he　expected　me　to　e　by　bike？　Had　he　fallen　down　in　a　gutter　somewhere；　or　was　he　already　staggering　at　the　head　of　some　posse　of　townies　heading　for　the　island　with　burning　torches　to　apprehend　the　Dog　Killer　？
　　
　　No　matter。　I　would　see　anybody　ing；　even　in　this　light；　and　could　go　out　to　wele　my　brother　or　escape　the　house　to　hide　out　on　the　island　if　the　vigilantes　appeared。　I　turned　the　radio　off　so　I　could　hear　any　shouts　from　the　mainland；　and　strained　my　eyes　to　search　through　the　fading　light。　After　a　while　I　raced　down　to　the　kitchen　and　got　a　small　packed　meal　together　and　stuffed　it　into　a　canvas　bag　in　the　loft。　It　was　just　in　case　I　did　have　to　leave　the　house　and　did　meet　Eric。　He　might　be　hungry。　I　settled　into　the　seat；　scanning　the　shadows　over　the　darkening　land。　In　the　far　distance；　at　the　base　of　the　hills；　lights　moved　on　the　road；　glittering　in　the　dusk；　flashing　like　irregular　lighthouses　through　the　trees；　round　corners；　over　hills。　I　rubbed　my　eyes　and　stretched；　trying　to　get　the　weariness　out　of　my　system。
　　
　　I　thought　ahead；　added　some　painkillers　to　the　bag　I　would　take　out　of　the　house　if　I　had　to。　This　sort　of　weather　might　bring　on　Eric's　migraine；　and　he　might　need　some　relief。　I　hoped　he　didn't　have　one。
　　
　　I　yawned；　widened　my　eyes；　ate　another　apple。　The　vague　shadows　under　the　clouds　turned　darker。
　　
　　I　woke　up。
　　
　　It　was　dark；　I　was　still　in　the　chair；　arms　crossed　under　my　head；　resting　on　the　metal　surround　of　the　skylight。　And　something；　a　noise　inside　the　house；　had　woken　me。　I　sat　for　a　second；　feeling　my　heart　race；　feeling　my　back　plain　about　the　position　it　had　been　in　for　so　long。　Blood　made　its　painful　way　into　the　parts　of　my　arms　the　weight　of　my　head　had　restricted　the　supply　to。　I　spun　round　in　the　chair；　quickly　and　quietly。　The　loft　was　black；　but　I　didn't　sense　anything。　I　touched　a　button　on　my　watch；　discovered　it　was　after　eleven。　I　had　slept　for　hours。　Idiot！　Then　I　heard　somebody　moving　about　downstairs；　indistinct　footsteps；　a　door　closing；　other　noises。　Glass　smashed。　I　felt　the　hair　on　the　back　of　my　neck　go　up；　the　second　time　in　one　week。　I　clenched　my　jaw；　told　myself　to　stop　taking　fright　and　do　something：　It　might　be　Eric　or　it　might　be　my　father。　I　would　go　down　and　find　out。　To　be　safe；　I　would　take　my　knife。
　　
　　I　got　off　the　seat；　went　carefully　to　where　the　door　was；　feeling　my　way　round　the　roughness　of　the　chimney　bricks。　I　stopped　there；　took　the　tail　of　my　shirt　out　and　let　it　hang　over　my　cords；　concealing　the　knife　where　it　hung　from　my　belt。　I　eased　myself　silently　down　into　the　dark　landing。　A　light　was　on　in　the　hall；　right　at　the　bottom；　and　it　cast　strange　sets　of　shadows；　yellow　and　dim；　up　over　the　landing　walls。　I　went　along　to　the　banisters；　looked　over　the　rail。　I　couldn't　see　anything。　The　noises　had　stopped。　I　sniffed　the　air。
　　
　　I　could　smell　the