cb.booksofblood-第24部分
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〃To live forever；〃 she said； 〃so he'd never be a man； and die。〃
〃We didn't find him for six days；〃 said the youth； almost whispering it in Redman's ear； 〃and even then she wouldn't let anybody near him； once she had him to herself。 The pig； I mean。 Not the Doctor。 Everyone loved Kevin； you see；〃 he whispered intimately。 〃He was beautiful。〃
〃And where's Lacey？〃 Leverthal's loving smile decayed。
〃With Kevin；〃 said the youth； 〃where Kevin wants him。〃 He pointed through the door of the sty。 There was a body lying on the straw； back to the door。
〃If you want him； you'll have to go and get him；〃 said the boy； and the next moment he had the back of Redman's neck in a vice…like grip。
The sow responded to the sudden action。 She started to stamp the straw； showing the whites of her eyes。
Redman tried to shrug off the boy's grip； at the same time delivering an elbow to his belly。 The boy backed off； winded and cursing； only to be replaced by Leverthal。
〃Go to him；〃 she said as she snatched at Redman's hair。 〃Go to him if you want him。〃 Her nails raked across his temple and nose； just missing his eyes。
〃Get off me！〃 he said； trying to shake the woman off； but she clung； her head lashing back and forth as she tried to press him over the wall。
The rest happened with horrid speed。 Her long hair brushed through a candle flame and her head caught fire； the flames climbing quickly。 Shrieking for help she stumbled heavily against the gate。 It failed to support her weight； and gave inward。 Redman watched helplessly as the burning woman fell amongst the straw。 The flames spread enthusiastically across the forecourt towards the sow； lapping up the kindling。
Even now； in extremis； the pig was still a pig。 No miracles here： no speaking； or pleading； in tongues。 The animal panicked as the blaze surrounded her； cornering her stamping bulk and licking at her flanks。 The air was filled with the stench of singeing bacon as the flames ran up her sides and over her head； chasing through her bristles like a grass…fire。
Her voice was a pig's voice； her plaints a pig's plaints。 Hysterical grunts escaped her lips and she hurtled across the forecourt of the sty and out of the broken gate； trampling Leverthal。
The sow's body； still burning； was a magic thing in the night as she careered across the field； weaving about in her pain。 Her cries did not diminish as the dark ate her up； they seemed just to echo back and forth across the field； unable to find a way out of the locked room。
Redman stepped over Leverthal's fire…ridden corpse and into the sty。 The straw was burning on every side； and the fire was creeping towards the door。 He half…shut his eyes against the stinging smoke and ducked into the pig…house。
Lacey was lying as he had been all along； back to the door。 Redman turned the boy over。 He was alive。 He was awake。 His face； bloated with tears and terror； stared up off his straw pillow； eyes so wide they looked fit to leap from his head。
〃Get up；〃 said Redman； leaning over the boy。
His small body was rigid； and it was all Redman could do to prize his limbs apart。 With little words of care； he coaxed the boy to his feet as the smoke began to swirl into the pig…house。
〃e on； it's all right； e on。〃 He stood upright and something brushed his hair。 Redman felt a little rain of worms across his face and glanced up to see Henessey； or what was left of him； still suspended from the crossbeam of the pig…house。 His features were inprehensible； blackened to a drooping mush。 His body was raggedly gnawed off at the hip； and his innards hung from the foetid carcass； dangling in wormy loops in front of Redman's face。
Had it not been for the thick smoke the smell of the body would have been overpowering。 As it was Redman was simply revolted； and his revulsion gave strength to his arm。 He hauled Lacey out of the shadow of the body and pushed him through the door。
Outside the straw was no longer blazing as brightly； but the light of fire and candles and burning body still made him squint after the dark interior。
〃e on lad；〃 he said； lifting the kid through the flames。 The boy's eyes were button…bright； lunatic…bright。 They said futility。
They crossed the sty to the gate； skipping Leverthal's corpse； and headed into the darkness of the open field。
The boy seemed to be stirring from his stricken state with every step they took away from the farm。 Behind them the sty was already a blazing memory。 Ahead； the night was as still and impenetrable as ever。
Redman tried not to think of the pig。 It must be dead by now； surely。
But as they ran； there seemed to be a noise in the earth as something huge kept pace with them； content to keep its distance； wary now but relentless in its pursuit。
He dragged on Lacey's arm； and hurried on； the ground sun baked beneath their feet。 Lacey was whimpering now； no words as yet； but sound at least。 It was a good sign； a sign Redman needed。
He'd had about his fill of insanity。
They reached the building without incident。 The corridors were as empty as they'd been when he'd left an hour ago。 Perhaps nobody had found Slape's corpse yet。 It was possible。 None of the boys had seemed in a fit mood for recreation。 Perhaps they had slipped silently to their dormitories； to sleep off their worship。
It was time to find a phone and call the Police。
Man and boy walked down the corridor towards the Governor's Office hand in hand。 Lacey had fallen silent again； but his expression was no longer so manic； it looked as though cleansing tears might be close。 He sniffed； made noises in his throat。
His grip on Redman's hand tightened； then relaxed pletely。
Ahead； the vestibule was in darkness。 Somebody had smashed the bulb recently。 It still rocked gently on its cable； illuminated by a seepage of dull light from the window。
〃e on。 There's nothing to be afraid of。 e on； boy。〃 Lacey bent to Redman's hand and bit the flesh。 The trick was so quick he let the boy go before he could prevent himself； and Lacey was showing his heels as he scooted away down the corridor away from the vestibule。
No matter。 He couldn't get far。 For once Redman was glad the place had walls and bars。
Redman crossed the darkened vestibule to the Secretary's Office。 Nothing moved。 Whoever had broken the bulb was keeping very quiet； very still。
The telephone had been smashed too。 Not just broken； smashed to smithereens。
Redman doubled back to the Governor's room。 There was a telephone there； he'd not be stopped by vandals。
The door was locked； of course； but Redman was prepared for that。 He smashed the frosted glass in the window of the door with his elbow； and reached through to the other side。 No key there。
To hell with it； he thought； and put his shoulder to the door。 It was sturdy； strong wood； and the lock was good quality。 His shoulder ached and the wound in his stomach had reopened by the time the lock gave； and he gained access to the room。
The floor was littered with straw； the smell inside made the sty seem sweet。 The Governor was lying behind his desk； his heart eaten out。
〃The pig；〃 said Redman。 〃The pig。 The pig。〃 And saying； 〃the pig〃； he reached for the phone。
A sound。 He turned； and met the blow full…face。 It broke his cheek…bone and his nose。 The room mottled； and went white。
The vestibule was no longer dark。 Candles were burning； it seemed hundreds of them； in every corner； on every edge。 But then his head was swimming； his eyesight blurred with concussion。 It could have been a single candle； multiplied by senses that could no longer be trusted to tell the truth。
He stood in the middle of the arena of the vestibule； not quite knowing how he could be standing； for his legs felt numb and useless beneath him。 At the periphery of his vision； beyond the light of the candles； he could hear people talking。 No； not really talking。 They weren't proper words。 They were nonsense sounds； made by people who may or may not have been there。
Then he heard the grunt； the low； asthmatic grunt of the sow； and straight ahead she emerged from the swimming light of the candles。 She was br
