cb.booksofblood-第15章

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　　〃Are　you　well？〃　The　boy　nodded。
　　〃Do　you　like　being　alone？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You'll　have　to　go　back　to　the　dormitory　eventually。〃　Lacey　shook　his　head。
　　〃You　can't　stay　here　forever；　you　know。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　know　that；　sir。〃
　　〃You'll　have　to　go　back。〃　Lacey　nodded。　Somehow　the　logic　didn't　seem　to　have　got　through　to　the　boy。　He　turned　up　the　corner　of　a　Superman　ic　and　stared　at　the　splash…page　without　scanning　it。
　　〃Listen　to　me；　Lacey。　I　want　you　and　I　to　understand　each　other。　Yes？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃I　can't　help　you　if　you　lie　to　me。　Can　I？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Why　did　you　mention　Kevin　Henessey's　name　to　me　last　week？　I　know　that　he　isn't　here　any　longer。　He　escaped；　didn't　he？〃　Lacey　stared　at　the　three…colour　hero　on　the　page。
　　〃Didn't　he？〃
　　〃He's　here；〃　said　Lacey；　very　quietly。　The　kid　was　suddenly　distraught。　It　was　in　his　voice；　and　in　the　way　his　face　folded　up　on　itself。
　　〃If　he　escaped；　why　should　he　e　back？　That　doesn't　really　make　much　sense　to　me；　does　it　make　much　sense　to　you？〃　Lacey　shook　his　head。　There　were　tears　in　his　nose；　that　muffled　his　words；　but　they　were　clear　enough。
　　〃He　never　went　away。〃
　　〃What？　You　mean　he　never　escaped？〃
　　〃He's　clever　sir。　You　don't　know　Kevin。　He's　clever。〃　He　closed　the　ic；　and　looked　up　at　Redman。　〃In　what　way　clever？〃
　　〃He　planned　everything；　sir。　All　of　it。〃
　　〃You　have　to　be　clear。〃
　　〃You　won't　believe　me。　Then　that's　the　end；　because　you　won't　believe　me。　He　hears　you　know；　he's　everywhere。　He　doesn't　care　about　walls。　Dead　people　don't　care　about　nothing　like　that。〃　Dead。　A　smaller　word　than　alive；　but　it　took　the　breath　away。
　　〃He　can　e　and　go；〃　said　Lacey；　〃any　time　he　wants。〃
　　〃Are　you　saying　Henessey　is　dead？〃　said　Redman。　〃Be　careful；　Lacey。〃　The　boy　hesitated：　he　was　aware　that　he　was　walking　a　tight　rope；　very　close　to　losing　his　protector。
　　〃You　promised；〃　he　said　suddenly；　cold　as　ice。
　　〃Promised　no　harm　would　e　to　you。　It　won't。　I　said　that　and　I　meant　it。　But　that　doesn't　mean　you　can　tell　me　lies；　Lacey。〃
　　〃What　lies；　sir？〃
　　〃Henessey　isn't　dead。〃
　　〃He　is；　sir。　They　all　know　he　is。　He　hanged　himself。　With　the　pigs。〃　Redman　had　been　lied　to　many　times；　by　experts；　and　he　felt　he'd　bee　a　good　judge　of　liars。　He　knew　all　the　tell…tale　signs。　But　the　boy　exhibited　none　of　them。　He　was　telling　the　truth。　Redman　felt　it　in　his　bones。
　　The　truth；　the　whole　truth；　nothing　but。
　　That　didn't　mean　that　what　the　boy　was　saying　was　true。　He　was　simply　telling　the　truth　as　he　understood　it。　He　believed　Henessey　was　deceased。　That　proved　nothing。
　　〃If　Henessey　were　dead…〃
　　〃He　is；　sir。〃
　　〃If　he　were；　how　could　he　be　here？〃　The　boy　looked　at　Redman　without　a　trace　of　guile　in　his　face。
　　〃Don't　you　believe　in　ghosts；　sir？〃　So　transparent　a　solution；　it　flummoxed　Redman。　Henessey　was　dead；　yet　Henessey　was　here。　Hence；　Henessey　was　a　ghost。
　　〃Don't　you；　sir？〃　The　boy　wasn't　asking　a　rhetorical　question。　He　wanted；　no；　he　demanded；　a　reasonable　answer　to　his　reasonable　question。
　　〃No；　boy；〃　said　Redman。　〃No；　I　don't。〃　Lacey　seemed　unruffled　by　this　conflict　of　opinion。　〃You'll　see；〃　he　said　simply。　〃You'll　see。〃
　　
　　In　the　sty　at　the　perimeter　of　the　grounds　the　great；　nameless　sow　was　hungry。
　　She　judged　the　rhythm　of　the　days；　and　with　their　progression　her　desires　grew。　She　knew　that　the　time　for　stale　slops　in　a　trough　was　past。　Other　appetites　had　taken　the　place　of　those　piggy　pleasures。
　　She　had　a　taste；　since　the　first　time；　for　food　with　a　certain　texture；　a　certain　resonance。　It　wasn't　food　she　would　demand　all　the　time；　only　when　the　need　came　on　her。　Not　a　great　demand：　once　in　a　while；　to　gobble　at　the　hand　that　fed　her。
　　She　stood　at　the　gate　of　her　prison；　listless　with　anticipation；　waiting　and　waiting。　She　snaffled；　she　snorted；　her　impatience　being　a　dull　anger。　In　the　adjacent　pen　her　castrated　sons；　sensing　her　distress；　became　agitated　in　their　turn。　They　knew　her　nature；　and　it　was　dangerous。　She　had；　after　all；　eaten　two　of　their　brothers；　living；　fresh　and　wet　from　her　own　womb。
　　Then　there　were　noises　through　the　blue　veil　of　twilight；　the　soft　brushing　sound　of　passage　through　the　nettles；　acpanied　by　the　murmur　of　voices。
　　Two　boys　were　approaching　the　sty；　respect　and　caution　in　every　step。　She　made　them　nervous；　and　understandably　so。　The　tales　of　her　tricks　were　legion。
　　Didn't　she　speak；　when　angered；　in　that　possessed　voice；　bending　her　fat；　porky　mouth　to　talk　with　a　stolen　tongue？　Wouldn't　she　stand　on　her　back　trotters　sometimes；　pink　and　imperial；　and　demand　that　the　smallest　boys　be　sent　into　her　shadow　to　suckle　her；　naked　like　her　farrow？　And　wouldn't　she　beat　her　vicious　heels　upon　the　ground；　until　the　food　they　brought　for　her　was　cut　into　petit　pieces　and　delivered　into　her　maw　between　trembling　finger　and　thumb？　All　these　things　she　did。
　　And　worse。
　　Tonight；　the　boys　knew；　they　had　not　brought　what　she　wanted。　It　was　not　the　meat　she　was　due　that　lay　on　the　plate　they　carried。　Not　the　sweet；　white　meat　that　she　had　asked　for　in　that　other　voice　of　hers；　the　meat　she　could；　if　she　desired；　take　by　force。　Tonight　the　meal　was　simply　stale　bacon；　filched　from　the　kitchens。　The　nourishment　she　really　craved；　the　meat　that　had　been　pursued　and　terrified　to　engorge　the　muscle；　then　bruised　like　a　hammered　steak　for　her　delectation；　that　meat　was　under　special　protection。　It　would　take　a　while　to　coax　it　to　the　slaughter。
　　Meanwhile　they　hoped　she　would　accept　their　apologies　and　their　tears；　and　not　devour　them　in　her　anger。
　　One　of　the　boys　had　shit　his　pants　by　the　time　he　reached　the　sty…wall；　and　the　sow　smelt　him。　Her　voice　took　on　a　different　timbre；　enjoying　the　piquancy　of　their　fear。
　　Instead　of　the　low　snort　there　was　a　higher；　hotter　note　out　of　her。　It　said：　I　know；　I　know。　e　and　be　judged。
　　I　know；　I　know。
　　She　watched　them　through　the　slats　of　the　gate；　her　eyes　glinting　like　jewels　in　the　murky　night；　brighter　than　the　night　because　living；　purer　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　str