cb.booksofblood-第13章

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hey　were　quick　and　sharp　and　amoral；　like　the　razors　they　hid　under　their　tongues。　They　had　no　use　for　sentiment；　they　just　wanted　out。
　　〃Wele　to　Tetherdowne。〃　Was　the　woman's　name　Leverton；　or　Leverfall；　or…〃I'm　Doctor　Leverthal〃　Leverthal。　Yes。　Hard…bitten　bitch　he'd　met　at…〃We　met　at　the　interview。〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃We're　glad　to　see　you；　Mr　Redman。〃
　　〃Neil；　please　call　me　Neil。〃
　　〃We　try　not　to　go　on　a　first　name　basis　in　front　of　the　boys；　we　find　they　think　they've　got　a　finger　into　your　private　life。　So　I'd　prefer　you　to　keep　Christian　names　purely　for　off…duty　hours。〃　She　didn't　offer　hers。　Probably　something　flinty。
　　Yvonne。　Lydia。　He'd　invent　something　appropriate。
　　She　looked　fifty；　and　was　probably　ten　years　younger。
　　No　make…up；　hair　tied　back　so　severely　he　wondered　her　eyes　didn't　pop。
　　〃You'll　be　beginning　classes　the　day　after　tomorrow。　The　Governor　asked　me　to　wele　you　to　the　Centre　on　his　behalf；　and　apologise　to　you　that　he　can't　be　here　himself。　There　are　funding　problems。〃
　　〃Aren't　there　always？〃
　　〃Regrettably　yes。　I'm　afraid　we're　swimming　against　the　tide　here；　the　general　mood　of　the　country　is　very　Law　and　Order　orientated。〃　What　was　that　a　nice　way　of　saying？　Beat　the　shit　out　of　any　kid　caught　so　much　as　jay…walking？　Yes；　he'd　been　that　way　himself　in　his　time；　and　it　was　a　nasty　little　cul…de…sac；　every　bit　as　bad　as　being　sentimental。
　　〃The　fact　is；　we　may　lose　Tetherdowne　altogether；〃　she　said；　〃which　would　be　a　shame。　I　know　it　doesn't　look　like　much　。　。　。〃
　　〃…but　it's　home；〃　he　laughed。　The　joke　fell　among　thieves。　She　didn't　even　seem　to　hear　it。
　　〃You；〃　her　tone　hardened；　〃you　have　a　solid　（did　she　say　sullied？）　background　in　the　Police　Force。　Our　hope　is　that　your　appointment　here　will　be　weled　by　the　funding　authorities。〃　So　that　was　it。　Token　ex…policeman　brought　in　to　appease　the　powers　that　be；　to　show　willing　in　the　discipline　department。　They　didn't　really　want　him　here。　They　wanted　some　sociologist　who'd　write　up　reports　on　the　effect　of　the　class…system　on　brutality　amongst　teenagers。　She　was　quietly　telling　him　that　he　was　the　odd　man　out。
　　〃I　told　you　why　I　left　the　force。〃
　　〃You　mentioned　it。　Invalided　out。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　take　a　desk　job；　it　was　as　simple　as　that；　and　they　wouldn't　let　me　do　what　I　did　best。　Danger　to　myself　according　to　some　of　them。〃　She　seemed　a　little　embarrassed　by　his　explanation。　Her　a　psychologist　too；　she　should　have　been　devouring　this　stuff；　it　was　his　private　hurt　he　was　making　public　here。　He　was　ing　clean；　for　Christ's　sake。
　　〃So　I　was　out　on　my　backside；　after　twenty…four　years。〃　He　hesitated；　then　said　his　piece。　〃I'm　not　a　token　policeman；　I'm　not　any　kind　of　policeman。　The　force　and　I　parted　pany。　Understand　what　I'm　saying？〃
　　〃Good；　good。〃　She　didn't　understand　a　bloody　word。　He　tried　another　approach。
　　〃I'd　like　to　know　what　the　boys　have　been　told。〃
　　〃Been　told？〃
　　〃About　me。〃
　　〃Well；　something　of　your　background。〃
　　〃I　see。〃　They'd　been　warned。　Here　e　the　pigs。
　　〃It　seemed　important。〃　He　grunted。
　　〃You　see；　so　many　of　these　boys　have　real　aggression　problems。　That's　a　source　of　difficulty　for　so　very　many　of　them。　They　can't　control　themselves；　and　consequently　they　suffer。〃　He　didn't　argue；　but　she　looked　at　him　severely；　as　though　he　had。
　　〃Oh　yes；　they　suffer。　That's　why　we're　at　such　pains　to　show　some　appreciation　of　their　situation；　to　teach　them　that　there　are　alternatives。〃　She　walked　across　to　the　window。　From　the　second　storey　there　was　an　adequate　view　of　the　grounds。　Tetherdowne　had　been　some　kind　of　estate；　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　land　attached　to　the　main　house。　A　playing…field；　its　grass　sere　in　the　midsummer　drought。　Beyond　it　a　cluster　of　out…houses；　some　exhausted　trees；　shrubbery；　and　then　rough　wasteland　off　to　the　wall。　He'd　seen　the　wall　from　the　other　side。　Alcatraz　would　have　been　proud　of　it。
　　〃We　try　to　give　them　a　little　freedom；　a　little　education　and　a　little　sympathy。　There's　a　popular　notion；　isn't　there；　that　delinquents　enjoy　their　criminal　activities？　This　isn't　my　experience　at　all。　They　e　to　me　guilty；　broken。　。
　　One　broken　victim　flicked　a　vee　at　Leverthal's　back　as　he　sauntered　along　the　corridor。　Hair　slicked　down　and　parted　in　three　places。　A　couple　of　home…grown　tattoos　on　his　fore…arm；　unfinished。
　　〃They　have　mitted　criminal　acts；　however；〃　Redman　pointed　out。
　　〃Yes；　but…；　〃And　must；　presumably；　be　reminded　of　the　fact。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　they　need　any　reminding；　Mr　Redman。　I　think　they　burn　with　guilt。〃　She　was　hot　on　guilt；　which　didn't　surprise　him。　They'd　taken　over　the　pulpit；　these　analysts。　They　were　up　where　the　Bible…thumpers　used　to　stand；　with　the　threadbare　sermons　on　the　fires　below；　but　with　a　slightly　less　colourful　vocabulary。　It　was　fundamentally　the　same　story　though；　plete　with　the　promises　of　healing；　if　the　rituals　were　observed。　And　behold；　the　righteous　shall　inherit　the　Kingdom　of　Heaven。
　　There　was　a　pursuit　on　the　playing　field；　he　noticed。　Pursuit；　and　now　a　capture。　One　victim　was　laying　into　another　smaller　victim　with　his　boot；　it　was　a　fairly　merciless　display。
　　Leverthal　caught　the　scene　at　the　same　time　as　Redman。
　　〃Excuse　me。　I　must…〃　She　started　down　the　stairs。
　　〃Your　workshop　is　third　door　on　the　left　if　you　want　to　take　a　look；〃　she　called　over　her　shoulder；　〃I'll　be　right　back。〃　Like　hell　she　would。　Judging　by　the　way　the　scene　on　the　field　was　progressing；　it　would　be　a　three　crowbar　job　to　prize　them　apart。
　　Redman　wandered　along　to　his　workshop。　The　door　was　locked；　but　through　the　wired　glass　he　could　see　the　benches；　the　vices；　the　tools。　Not　bad　at　all。　He　might　even　teach　them　some　wood…work；　if　he　was　left　alone　long　enough　to　do　it。
　　A　bit　frustrated　not　to　be　able　to　get　in；　he　doubled　back　along　the　corridor；　and　followed　Leverthal　downstairs；　finding　his　way　out　easily　on　to　the　sun…lit　playing　field。　A　little　knot　of　spectators　had　grown　around　the　fight；　or　the　massacre；　which　had　now　ceased。　Leverthal　was　standing；　staring　down　at　the　boy　on　the　ground。　One　of　the　warders　was　kneeling　at　the　boy's　head；　the　injuries　looked　bad。
　　A　number　of　the　spectators　looked　up　and　stared　at　the　new　face　as　Redman　approached。　There　were　whispers　amongst　them；　some　smiles。
　　Redman　looked　at　the　boy。　Perhaps　sixteen；　he　lay　with　his　cheek　to　the　ground；　as　if　listening　for　something　in　the　earth。
　　〃Lacey〃；　Leverthal　named　the　boy　for　Redman。
　　〃Is　he　badly　hurt？〃　The　man　kneeling　beside　Lacey　shook　his　head。
　　〃Not　too　bad。　Bit　of　a　fall。　Nothing　broken。〃　There　was　blood　on　the　boy's　face　from　his　mashed　nose。　His　eyes　were　closed。　Peaceful。　He　could　have　been　dead。
　　〃Where's　the　bloody　stretcher？〃　said　the　warder。　He　was　clearly　unfortable　on　the　drought…hardened　ground。
　　〃They're　ing；　Sir；〃　said　someone。　Redman　thought　it　was　the　aggressor。　A　thin　lad：　about　nineteen。　The　sort　of　eyes　that　could　sour　milk　at　twenty　paces。
　　Indeed　a　small　posse　of　boys　was　emerging　from　the　main　building；　carrying　a　stretcher　and　a　red　blanket。　They　were　all　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。
　　The　band　of　spectators　had　begun　to　disperse；　now　that　the　best　of　it　was　over。　Not　much　fun　picking　up　the　pieces。
　　〃Wait；　wait；〃　said　Redman；　〃don't　we　need　some　witnesses　here？　Who　did　this？〃　There　were　a　few　casual　shrugs；　but　most　of　them　played　deaf。　They　sauntered　away　as　if　nothing　had　been　said。
　　Redman　said：　〃We　saw　it。　From　the　window。〃　Leverthal　was　offering　no　support。
　　〃Didn't　we？〃　he　demanded　of　her。
　　〃It　was　too　far　to　lay　any　blame；　I　think。　But　I　don't　want　to　see　any　more　of　this　kind　of　bullying；　do　you　all　understand　me？〃　She'd　seen　Lacey；　and　recognized　him　easily　from　that　distance。　Why　not　the　attacker　too？　Redman　kicked　himself　for　not　concentrating；　without　names　and　personalities　to　go　with　the　faces；　it　was　difficult　to　distinguish　between　them。　The　risk　of　making　a　misplaced　accusation　was　high；　even　though　he　was　almost　sure　of　the　curdling　eyed　boy。　This　was　no　time　to　make　mistakes；　he　decided；　this　time　he'd　have　to　let　the　issue　drop。
　　Leverthal　seemed　unmoved　by　the　whole　thing。
　　〃Lacey；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃it's　always　Lacey。〃
　　〃He　asks　for　it；〃　said　one　of　the　boys　with　the　stretcher；　brushing　a　sheaf　of　blond…white　hair　from　his　eyes；　〃he　doesn't　know　no　better。〃　Ignoring　the　observation；　Leverthal　supervised　Lacey's　transfer　to　the　stretcher；　and　started　to　walk　back　to　the　main　building；　with　Redman　in　tow。　It　was　all　so　casual。
　　〃Not　exactly　wholesome；　Lacey；〃　she　said　cryptically；　almost　by　way　of　explanation；　and　that　was　all。　So　much　for　passion。
　　Redman　glanced　back　as　they　tucked　the　red　blanket　around　Lacey's　still　form。　Two　things　happened；　almost　simultaneously。
　　The　first：　Somebody　in　the　group　said；　〃That's　the　pig〃。　The　second：　Lacey's　eyes　opened　and　looked　straight　into　Redman's；　wide；　clear　and　true。
　　
　　Redman　spent　a　good　deal　of　the　next　day　putting　his　workshop　in　order。　Many　of　the　tools　had　been　broken　or　rendered　useless　by　untrained　handling：　saws　without　teeth；　chisels　that　were　chipped　and　edgeless；　broken　vices。　He'd　need　money　to　re…supply　the　shop　with　the　basics　of　the　trade；　but　now　wasn't　the　time　to　start　asking。　Wiser　to　wait；　and　be　seen　to　do　a　decent　job。　He　was　quite　used　to　the　politics　of　institutions；　the　force　was　full　of　it。
　　About　four…thirty　a　bell　started　to　ring；　a　good　way　from　the　workshop。　He　ignored　it；　but　after　a　time　his　instincts　got　the　better　of　him。　Bells　were　alarms；　and　alarms　were　sounded　to　alert　people。　He　left　his　tidying；　locked　the　workshop　door　behind　him；　and　followed　his　ears。
　　The　bell　was　ringing　in　what　was　laughingly　called　the　Hospital　Unit；　two　or　three　rooms　closed　off　from　the　main　block　and　prettied　up　with　a　few　pictures　and　curtains　at　the　windows。　There　was　no　sign　of　smoke　in　the　air；　so　it　clearly　wasn't　a　fire。　There　was　shouting　though。　More　than　shouting。　A　howl。
　　He　quickened　his　pace　along　the　interminable　corridors；　and　as　he　turned　a　corner　towards　the　Unit　a　small　figure　ran　straight　into　him。　The　impact　winded　both　of　them；　but　Redman　grabbed　the　lad　by　the　arm　before　he　could　make　off　again。　The　captive　was　quick　to　respond；　lashing　out　with　his　shoeless　feet　against　Redman's　shin。　But　he　had　him　fast。
　　〃Let　me　go　you　fucking…〃
　　〃Calm　down！　Calm　down！〃　His　pursuers　were　almost　there。　〃Hold　him！〃
　　〃Fucker！　Fucker！　Fucker！　Fucker！〃
　　〃Hold　him！〃　It　was　like　wrestling　a　crocodile：　the　kid　had　all　the　strength　of　fear。　But　the　best　of　his　fury　was　spent。
　　Tears　were　springing　into　his　bruised　eyes　as　he　spat　in　Redman's　face。　It　was　Lacey　in　his　arms；　unwholesome　Lacey。
　　〃OK。　We　got　him。〃　Redman　stepped　back　as　the　warder　took　over；　putting　Lacey　in　a　hold　that　looked　fit　to　break　the　boy's　arm。　Two　or　three　others　were　appearing　round　the　corner。　Two　boys；　and　a　nurse；　a　very　unlovely　creature。
　　〃Let　me　go　。　。　。　Let　me　go　。　。　。〃　Lacey　was　yelling；　but　any　stomach　for　the　fight　had　gone　out　of　him。　A　pout　came　to　his　face　in　defeat；　and　still　the　cow…like　eyes　turned　up　accusingly　at　Redman；　big　and　brown。　He　looked　younger　than　his