gc.shadowslinger-第35部分

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　　〃Going　to　have　to　follow　him；〃　he　muttered。　〃There　isn't　any　choice。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Just　muttering；　girl。　You　win。　Let's　get　to　work　on　Gilbert。〃
　　〃Good。　Stay　sober　and　get　up　early　tomorrow。　You'll　need　to　watch　the　Lily　while　I　check　something　out。〃
　　〃All　right。〃
　　〃Time　you　pulled　your　own　weight　again；　anyway。〃
　　〃Probably　so。〃
　　Lisa　eyed　him　suspiciously。　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Shed。〃　
　　Lisa　told　Shed：　〃It's　set　up。　He'll　meet　me　at　my　place　tonight。　Alone。　You　bring　your　wagon。　I'll　make　sure　my　dad　isn't　around。〃
　　〃I　hear　Gilbert　won't　go　anywhere　without　a　bodyguard　now。〃
　　〃He　will　tonight。　He's　supposed　to　pay　me　ten　leva　to　help　get　control　of　the　Lily。　I　let　him　think　he's　going　to　get　something　else；　too。〃
　　Shed's　stomach　growled。　〃What　if　he　catches　on？〃
　　〃There's　two　of　us　and　one　of　him。　How　did　such　a　chicken…shit　manage　everything　you　have？〃
　　He　had　dealt　with　the　lesser　fear。　But　he　kept　that　thought　to　himself。　There　was　no　point　giving　Lisa　more　handles　than　she　had。　It　was　time　to　find　handles　on　her。　〃Aren't　you　scared　of　anything；　child？〃
　　〃Poverty。　Especially　of　being　old　and　poor。　I　get　the　grey　shakes　whenever　I　see　the　Custodians　haul　some　poor　old　stiff　out　of　an　alley。〃
　　〃Yeah。　That　I　can　understand。〃　Shed　smiled　thinly。　That　was　a　beginning。
　　Shed　stopped　the　wagon；　glanced　at　the　window　of　a　downstairs　rear　apartment。　No　candle　burning　there。　Lisa　hadn't　yet　arrived。　He　snapped　the　traces；　rolled　on。　Gilbert　might　have　scouts　out。　He　was　not　stupid。
　　Shed　pulled　around　a　kink　in　the　alleyway；　strolled　back　pretending　to　be　a　drunk。　Before　long　someone　lighted　a　candle　in　the　apartment。　Heart　hammering；　Shed　slunk　to　the　rear　door。
　　It　was　unlocked。　As　promised。　Maybe　Gilbert　was　stupid。　Gently；　he　eased　inside。　His　stomach　was　a　mess　of　knots。　His　hands　shook。　A　scream　lay　coiled　in　his　throat。
　　This　was　not　the　Matron　Shed　who　had　fought　Krage　and　his　troops。　That　Shed　had　been　trapped　and　fighting　for　his　life。　He　had　had　no　time　to　think　himself　into　a　panic。　This　Shed　did。　He　was　convinced　he　would　foul　up。
　　The　apartment　consisted　of　two　tiny　rooms。　The　first；　behind　the　door；　was　dark　and　empty。　Shed　moved　through　carefully；　eased　to　a　ragged　curtain。　A　man　murmured　beyond　the　doorway。　Shed　peeked。
　　Gilbert　had　disrobed　and　was　resting　a　knee　on　a　bedraggled　excuse　of　a　bed。　Lisa　was　in　it；　covers　pulled　to　her　neck；　pretending　second　thoughts。　Gilbert's　withered；　wrinkled；　blue…veined　old　body　contrasted　bizarrely　with　her　youth。
　　Gilbert　was　angry。
　　Shed　cursed　mutely。　He　wished　Lisa　would　stop　playing　games。　Always　she　had　to　do　more　than　go　directly　to　her　goal。　She　had　to　manipulate　along　the　way；　just　to　satisfy　something　within　herself。　He　wanted　to　get　it　over。
　　Lisa　pretended　surrender；　made　room　for　Gilbert　beside　her。
　　The　plan　was　for　Shed　to　strike　once　Lisa　enwrapped　Gilbert　in　arms　and　legs。　He　decided　to　play　a　game　of　his　own。　He　let　it　wait。　He　stood　there　grinning　while　her　face　betrayed　her　thoughts；　while　Gilbert　sated　himself　upon　her。
　　Finally；　Shed　moved　in。
　　Three　quick；　quiet　steps。　He　looped　a　garotte　around　Gilbert's　skinny　neck；　leaned　back。　Lisa　tightened　her　grip。　How　small　and　mortal　the　moneylender　appeared。　How　unlike　a　man　feared　by　half　the　Buskin。　Gilbert　struggled；　but　could　not　escape。　Shed　thought　it　would　never　end。　He　hadn't　realized　it　took　so　long　to　strangle　a　man。　Finally；　he　stepped　back。　His　shakes　threatened　to　overe　him。　〃Get　him　off！〃　Lisa　squealed。
　　Shed　rolled　the　corpse　aside。　〃Get　dressed。　e　on。　Let's　get　out　of　here。　He　might　have　some　men　hanging　around。　I'll　get　the　wagon。〃　He　swept　to　the　door；　peeped　into　the　alleyway。　Nobody　around。　He　recovered　the　wagon　fast。
　　〃e　on！〃　he　snapped　when　he　returned　and　found　Lisa　still　undressed。　〃Let's　get　him　out　of　here。〃　She　could　not　tear　herself　away。　Shed　shoved　clothing　into　her　arms；　slapped　her　bare　behind。　〃Get　moving；　damn　it。〃
　　She　dressed　slowly。　Shed　fluttered　to　the　door；　checked　the　alley。　Still　no　one　around。　He　scooted　back　to　the　body；　hustled　it　to　the　wagon　and　covered　it　with　a　tarp。　Funny　how　they　seemed　lighter　when　they　were　dead。
　　Back　inside：　〃Will　you　e　on？　I'll　drag　you　out　the　way　you　are。〃
　　The　threat　had　no　effect。　Shed　grabbed　her　hand；　dragged　her　out　the　door。　〃Up。〃　He　hoisted　her　onto　the　seat；　jumped　up　himself。
　　He　flicked　the　traces。　The　mules　plodded　forward。　Once　he　crossed　the　Port　River　bridge；　they　knew　where　they　were　headed　and　needed　little　guidance。　Idly；　he　wondered　how　many　times　they　had　made　the　journey。
　　The　wagon　was　halfway　up　the　hill　before　he　calmed　down　enough　to　study　Lisa。　She　seemed　to　be　in　shock。　Suddenly；　murder　was　not　just　talk。　She　had　helped　kill。　Her　neck　was　in　a　noose。　〃Not　as　easy　as　you　thought；　eh？〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　it　would　be　like　that。　I　was　holding　him。　I　felt　the　life　go　out。　It。　。。。　It　wasn't　what　I　expected。〃
　　〃And　you　want　to　make　a　career　of　it。　I'll　tell　you　something。　I'm　not　killing　my　customers。　You　want　it　done　that　way；　you　do　it　yourself。〃
　　She　tried　a　feeble　threat。
　　〃You　don't　have　any　power　over　me　anymore。　Go　to　the　Inquisitors。　They'll　take　you　to　a　truth…sayer。　Partner。〃
　　Lisa　shivered。　Shed　held　his　tongue　till　they　neared　the　black　castle。　〃Let's　not　play　games　anymore。〃　He　was　considering　selling　her　along　with　Gilbert；　but　decided　he　could　not　muster　the　hatred；　anger　or　downright　meanness　to　do　it。
　　He　stopped　the　mules。　〃You　stay　here。　Don't　get　off　the　wagon　no　matter　what。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　Lisa's　voice　was　small　and　distant。　Terrified；　he　thought。
　　He　knocked　on　the　black　gate。　It　swung　inward。　He　resumed　his　seat　and　drove　inside；　stepped　down；　swung　Gilbert　onto　a　stone　slab。　The　tall　creature　came　forth；　examined　the　body；　looked　at　Lisa。
　　〃Not　this　one；〃　Shed　said。　〃She's　a　new　partner。〃
　　The　creature　nodded。　〃Thirty。〃
　　〃Done。〃
　　〃We　need　more　bodies；　Marron　Shed。　Many　bodies。　Our　work　is　nearing　pletion。　We　grow　eager　to　finish。〃
　　Shed　shuddered　at　its　tone。　〃There'll　be　more　soon。〃
　　〃Good。　Very　good。　You　shall　be　rewarded　richly。〃
　　Shed　shuddered　again；　looked　around。　The　thing　asked；　〃You　seek　the　woman？　She　has　not　yet　bee　one　with　the　portal。〃　It　snapped　long；　yellow　fingers。
　　Feet　scuffed　in　the　darkness。　Shadows　came　forth。　They　held　the　arms　of　a　naked　Sue。　Shed　swallowed　hard。　She　had　been　used　badly。　She　had　lost　weight；　and　her　skin　was　colorless　where　not　marked　with　bruises　or　abrasions。　One　of　the　creatures　raised　her　chin；　made　her　look　at　Shed。　Her　eyes　were　hollow　and　vacant。　〃The　walking　dead；〃　he　whispered。
　　〃Is　the　revenge　sweet　enough？〃　the　tall　creature　asked。　〃Take　her　away！　I　don't　want　to　see　her。〃　The　tall　being　snapped　its　fingers。　Its　patriots　retreated　into　the　shadows。　〃My　money！〃　Shed　snarled。
　　Chuckling；　the　being　counted　coins　at　Gilbert's　feet。　Shed　scooped　them　into　his　pocket。　The　being　said。　〃Bring　us　more　live　ones；　Marron　Shed。　We　have　many　uses　for　live　ones。〃
　　A　scream　echoed　from　the　darkness。　Shed　thought　he　heard　his　name　called。
　　〃She　recognized　you；　friend。〃
　　A　whimper　crawled　out　of　Shed's　throat。　He　vaulted　onto　the　wagon　seat；　snarled　at　his　mules。
　　The　tall　creature　eyed　Lisa　with　unmistakable　meaning。　Lisa　read　it。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；　Mr。　Shed。　Please？〃
　　〃Git　up；　mules。〃　The　wagon　creaked　and　groaned　and　seemed　to　take　forever　getting　through　the　gate。　Screams　continued　echoing　from　somewhere　deep　inside　the　castle。
　　Outside；　Lisa　looked　at　Shed　with　a　decidedly　odd　expression。　Shed　thought　he　detected　relief；　fear；　and　a　little　loathing。　Relief　seemed　foremost。　She　sensed　how　vulnerable　she　had　been。　Shed　smiled　enigmatically；　nodded；　and　said　nothing。　Like　Raven；　he　recalled。
　　He　grinned。　Like　Raven。
　　Let　her　think。　Let　her　worry。
　　The　mules　halted。　〃Eh？〃
　　Men　materialized　out　of　the　darkness。　They　held　naked　weapons。　Military…type　weapons。
　　A　voice　said；　〃I'll　be　damned。　It's　the　innkeeper。〃
　　
　　　Chapter　Thirty：　JUNIPER：　MORE　TROUBLE
　　
　　Otto　rolled　in　out　of　the　night。　〃Hey！　Croaker！　We