cb.booksofblood-第21章
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urer than the night because wanting。
The boys knelt at the gate； their heads bowed in supplication； the plate they both held lightly covered with a piece of stained muslin。
〃Well？〃 she said。 The voice was unmistakable in their ears。 His voice； out of the mouth of the pig。
The elder boy； a black kid with a cleft palate； spoke quietly to the shining eyes； making the best of his fear： 〃It's not what you wanted。 We're sorry。〃 The other boy； unfortable in his crowded trousers； murmured his apology too。
〃We'll get him for you though。 We will； really。 We'll bring him to you very soon； as soon as we possibly can。〃
〃Why not tonight？〃 said the pig。
〃He's being protected。〃
〃A new teacher。 Mr Redman。〃 The sow seemed to know it all already。 She remembered the confrontation across the wall； the way he'd stared at her as though she was a zoological specimen。 So that was her enemy； that old man。 She'd have him。 Oh yes。
The boys heard her promise of revenge； and seemed content to have the matter taken out of their hands。
〃Give her the meat；〃 said the black boy。
The other one stood up； removing the muslin cloth。 The bacon smelt bad； but the sow nevertheless made wet noises of enthusiasm。 Maybe she had forgiven them。
〃Go on； quickly。〃 The boy took the first strip of bacon between finger and thumb and proffered it。 The sow turned her mouth sideways up to it and ate； showing her yellowish teeth。 It was gone quickly。 The second； the third； fourth； fifth the same。
The sixth and last piece she took with his fingers； snatched with such elegance and speed the boy could only cry out as her teeth champed through the thin digits and swallowed them。 He withdrew his hand from over the sty wall； and gawped at this mutilation。 She had done only a little damage； considering。 The top of his thumb and half his index finger had gone。 The wounds bled quickly； fully； splashing on to his shirt and his shoes。 She grunted and snorted and seemed satisfied。
The boy yelped and ran。
〃Tomorrow；〃 said the sow to the remaining supplicant。 〃Not this old pig…meat。 It must be white。 White and lacy。〃 She thought that was a fine joke。
〃Yes；〃 the boy said； 〃yes； of course。〃
〃Without fail；〃 she ordered。
〃Yes。〃
〃Or I e for him myself。 Do you hear me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I e for him myself； wherever he's hiding。 I will eat him in his bed if I wish。 In his sleep I will eat off his feet； then his legs； then his balls； then his hips…； 〃Yes； yes。〃
〃I want him；〃 said the sow； grinding her trotter in the straw。
〃He's mine。〃
〃Henessey dead？〃 said Leverthal； head still down as she wrote one of her interminable reports。 〃It's another fabrication。 One minute the child says he's in the Centre； the next he's dead。 The boy can't even get his story straight。〃 It was difficult to argue with the contradictions unless one accepted the idea of ghosts as readily as Lacey。 There was no way Redman was going to try and argue that point with the woman。 That part was a nonsense。 Ghosts were foolishness； just fears made visible。 But the possibility of Henessey's suicide made more sense to Redman。 He pressed on with his argument。
〃So where did Lacey get this story from； about Henessey's death？ It's a funny thing to invent。〃 She deigned to look up； her face drawn up into itself like a snail in its shell。
〃Fertile imaginations are par for the course here。 If you heard the tales I've got on tape： the exoticism of some of them would blow your head open。〃
〃Have there been suicides here？〃
〃In my time？〃 She thought for a moment； pen poised。 〃Two attempts。 Neither； I think； intended to succeed。 Cries for help。〃
〃Was Henessey one？〃 She allowed herself a little sneer as she shook her head。
〃Henessey was unstable in a pletely different direction。 He thought he was going to live forever。 That was his little dream： Henessey the Nietzchean Superman。 He had something close to contempt for the mon herd。 As far as he was concerned； he was a breed apart。 As far beyond the rest of us mere mortals as he was beyond that wretched…〃 He knew she was going to say pig； but she stopped just short of the word。
〃Those wretched animals on the farm；〃 she said； looking back down at her report。
〃Henessey spent time at the farm？〃
〃No more than any other boy；〃 she lied。 〃None of them like farm duties； but it's part of the work rota。 Mucking out isn't a very pleasant occupation。 I can testify to that。〃 The lie he knew she'd told made Redman keep back Lacey's final detail： that Henessey's death had taken place in the pig…sty。
He shrugged； and took an entirely different tack。
〃Is Lacey under any medication？〃
〃Some sedatives。〃
〃Are the boys always sedated when they've been in a fight？〃
〃Only if they try to make escapes。 We haven't got enough staff to supervise the likes of Lacey。 I don't see why you're so concerned。〃
〃I want him to trust me。 I promised him。 I don't want him let down。〃
〃Frankly； all this sounds suspiciously like special pleading。 The boy's one of many。 No unique problems； and no particular hope of redemption。〃
〃Redemption？〃 It was a strange word。
〃Rehabilitation； whatever you choose to call it。 Look； Redman； I'll be frank。 There's a general feeling that you're not really playing ball here。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃We all feel； I think this includes the Governor； that you should let us go about our business the way we're used to。 Learn the ropes before you start…〃
〃Interfering。〃 She nodded。 〃It's as good a word as any。 You're making enemies。〃
〃Thank you for the warning。〃
〃This job's difficult enough without enemies； believe me。〃 She attempted a conciliatory look； which Redman ignored。
Enemies he could live with； liars he couldn't。
The Governor's room was locked； as it had been for a full week now。 Explanations differed as to where he was。 Meetings with funding bodies was a favourite reason touted amongst the staff； though the Secretary claimed she didn't exactly know。 There were Seminars at the University he was running； somebody said； to bring some research to bear on the problems of Remand Centres。 Maybe the Governor was at one of those。 If Mr Redman wanted； he could leave a message； the Governor would get it。
Back in the workshop； Lacey was waiting for him。 It was almost seven…fifteen： classes were well over。
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃Waiting； sir。〃
〃What for？〃
〃You； sir。 I wanted to give you a letter； sir。 For me mam。 Will you get it to her？〃
〃You can send it through the usual channels； can't you？ Give it to the Secretary； she'll forward it。 You're allowed two letters a week。〃 Lacey's face fell。
〃They read them； sir： in case you write something you shouldn't。 And if you do； they burn them。〃
〃And you've written something you shouldn't？〃 He nodded。
〃What？〃
〃About Kevin。 I told her all about Kevin； about what happened to him。〃
〃I'm not sure you've got your facts right about Henessey。〃 The boy shrugged。 〃It's true； sir；〃 he said quietly； apparently no longer caring if he convinced Redman or not 〃It's true。 He's there； sir。 In her。〃
〃In who？ What are you talking about？〃 Maybe Lacey was speaking； as Leverthal had suggested； simply out of his fear。 There had to be a limit to his patience with the boy； and this was just about it。
A knock on the door； and a spotty individual called Slape was staring at him through the wired glass。
〃e in。〃
〃Urgent telephone call for you； sir。 In the Secretary's Office。〃 Redman hated the telephone。 Unsavoury machine： it never brought good tidings。
〃Urgent。 Who from？〃 Slape shrugged and picked at his face。
〃Stay with Lacey； will you？〃 Slape looked unhappy with the prospect。
〃Here； sir？〃 he asked。
〃Here。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I'm relying on you； so don't let me down。〃
〃No； sir。〃 Redman turned to Lacey。 The bruised look was a wound now open； as he wept。
〃Give me your letter。 I'll take it to the Office。〃 Lacey had thrust the envelope into his pocket。 He retrieved it unwillingly； and handed it across to Redman。
〃Say thank you。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
The corridors were empty。
