cc.vixen03-第13章

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　〃It's　not　the　whisky　that　turns　my　guts。　It's　Operation　Wild　Rose。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　Fawkes　looked　furtively　around　the　room　and　then　leaned　across　the　bar。　〃What　if　I　was　to　tell　you　I　met　with　the　Minister　of　Defence　right　down　the　street　at　the　station；　in　his　private　railroad　car；　not　more　than　three　hours　ago？〃
　A　smug　smile　curled　the　bartender's　lips。　〃The　Minister　must　be　one　hell　of　a　wizard；　Mr。　Fawkes。〃
　〃Wizard？〃
　〃To　be　in　two　places　at　the　same　time。〃
　〃Make　your　point；　man。〃
　The　bartender　reached　under　a　shelf　and　threw　a　newspaper　on　the　bar　in　front　of　Fawkes。　He　pointed　to　an　article　on　the　front　page　and　read　aloud　the　caption。
　〃　'Defence　Minister　Pieter　De　Vaal　enters　Port　Elizabeth　Hospital　for　surgery。'　〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃That's　this　evening's　paper；〃　said　the　bartender。　〃You　have　to　admit…not　only　does　the　Minister　have　extraordinary　powers　of　recu…peration；　but　one　fast　train　as　well。　Port　Elizabeth　is　over　a　thousand　kilometers　to　the　south。〃
　Fawkes　snatched　up　the　paper；　shook　the　fuzziness　from　his　vision；　put　on　his　glasses；　and　read　the　story。　It　was　true。　Clumsily；　he　threw　a　wad　of　bills　at　the　bartender　and　staggered　through　the　doorway；　through　the　hotel　lobby；　and　into　the　street。
　When　he　reached　the　railroad　station；　it　was　deserted。　The　moon's　light　glinted　on　empty　rails。　De　Vaal's　train　was　gone。
　
　15
　
　They　came　with　the　rising　sun。　Somala　counted　at　least　thirty　of　them；　clothed　in　the　same　type　of　field　uniform　he　wore。　He　watched　as　they　crept　out　of　the　bush　like　shadows　and　disappeared　into　the　sugarcane。
　He　swept　the　acacia　tree　with　his　binoculars。　The　scout　in　the　blind　was　gone。　Probably　slipped　away　to　join　his　unit；　Somala　surmised。　But　who　were　they？　None　of　the　raiding　force　looked　familiar　to　him。　Could　they　be　members　of　another　insurgent　movement？　If　so；　why　did　they　wear　the　distinctive　black　beret　of　the　AAR？
　Somala　was　sorely　tempted　to　leave　his　hiding　place　inside　the　baobab　tree　and　approach　the　intruders；　but　he　thought　better　of　it　and　remained　motionless。　He　would　watch　and　observe。　Those　were　his　orders；　and　he　would　obey　them。
　The　Fawkes　farm　was　slowly　ing　to　life。　The　workers　in　the　pound　were　beginning　to　spread　out　and　mence　their　daily　chores。　Patrick　Fawkes；　Jr。；　passed　through　the　electricity…wired　gate　and　went　off　to　the　great　stone　barn；　where　he　began　tinkering　with　a　tractor。　The　guards　were　changing　at　the　gate；　and　the　fellow　who　had　manned　the　night　shift　was　standing　half　in；　half　out　of　the　enclosure；　swapping　small　talk　with　his　relief；　when　abruptly　and　silently　he　fell　to　the　ground。　Simultaneously；　the　other　guard　slumped　and　dropped。
　Somala　gaped　in　awe　as　a　wave　of　raiders　sprinted　out　of　the　sugar…cane　field　in　a　loose　skirmish　line　and　advanced　toward　the　house。　Most　were　carrying　Chinese　CK…88　assault　weapons；　but　two　of　their　number　knelt　and　aimed　long…barreled　rifles　with　scopes　and　silencers。
　The　CK…88s　opened　up　and　Fawkes　Junior　seemed　to　snap　to　attention　as　at　least　ten　slugs　ripped　through　his　body。　His　hands　splayed　and　clawed　at　empty　air；　and　then　he　crumpled　across　the　tractor's　unhooded　engine。　The　thunder　of　the　volley　alerted　Jenny　and　she　ran　to　an　upstairs　window。
　〃Oh　God；　Mama！〃　she　screamed。　〃There's　soldiers　in　the　yard　and　they've　shot　Pat。〃
　Myrna　Fawkes　grabbed　the　Holland　&　Holland　and　ran　to　the　front　door。　One　look　was　all　she　needed　to　see　that　the　defenses　had　been　breached。　Already　Africans　in　green　and　brown　mottled　uniforms　were　surging　through　the　open　gate　left　useless　by　the　broken　electrical　circuit。　She　slammed　the　door；　threw　the　lock；　and　yelled　up　the　stairs　to　Jenny。
　〃Get　on　the　radio　and　call　the　constable。〃
　Then　she　calmly　sat　down；　shoved　two　shells　containing　double…O　buckshot　into　the　breech　of　the　twelve…gauge；　and　waited。
　The　crackle　of　the　rifle　fire　suddenly　increased　and　the　shrill　cries　of　women　and　frightened　children　began　ing　from　the　pound。　Even　the　Fawkeses'　prize　cattle　were　not　spared。　Myrna　shut　out　the　bellows　of　their　dying　agony；　choking　off　a　dry　sob　at　the　waste　of　it　all。　She　lifted　the　twin　barrels　as　the　first　attacker　crashed　his　way　through　the　door。
　He　was　the　handsomest　African　Myrna　had　ever　seen。　His　features　were　distinctly　Caucasian；　and　yet　his　skin　was　nearly　a　perfect　blue…black。　He　lifted　his　rifle　as　if　to　smash　out　her　brains　with　the　butt　and　lunged　across　the　room。　Myrna　pulled　both　triggers　and　old　Lucifer　spat　fire。
　The　blast　at　such　close　range　nearly　tore　the　African's　head　off。　His　face　dissolved　in　a　spray　of　bone　and　reddish…gray　tissue；　and　he　jerked　backward　against　the　door　frame　and　melted　to　the　floor；　his　torso　quivering　in　spastic　pulsations。
　Almost　casually；　as　though　she　were　at　a　skeet　tournament；　Myrna　reloaded　the　gun。　She　had　just　snapped　shut　the　breech　when　two　more　men　hurtled　through　the　door。　Old　Lucifer　took　the　first　squarely　in　the　chest；　dropping　him　instantly。　The　other　attacker　leaped　over　his　fallen　rade's　body；　a　move　that　threw　Myrna's　aim　a　trifle　low。　The　discharge　from　the　other　barrel　hit　her　attacker　in　the　groin。　He　screamed；　cast　his　weapon　aside；　and　clutched　himself。　He　grunted　incoherently　and　staggered　back　outside　to　the　veranda；　pitching　for…ward　with　his　booted　feet　still　in　the　room。
　Myrna　reloaded　again。　A　window　shattered　and　holes　suddenly　ap…peared　in　the　wallpaper　beside　her　chair。　She　felt　no　stabbing　pain；　no　stinging　sensation。　She　looked　down。　Blood　was　beginning　to　seep　through　the　blue　denim　of　her　jeans。
　A　heavy　booming　sound　erupted　from　upstairs　and　she　knew　Jenny　was　shooting　down　into　the　yard　with　the　captain's　。44　Magnum。
　The　next　African　was　more　cautious。　He　fired　a　quick　burst　around　the　door　and　waited　before　he　entered。　Not　receiving　any　return　fire；　he　became　overconfident　and　ventured　inside。　The　double…O　buckshot　blew　away　his　left　arm。　For　several　moments　he　stared　dazedly　at　the　limb　lying　at　his　feet；　the　fingers　still　twitching。　The　blood　pumped　from　his　empty　sleeve　and　spilled　on　the　carpet。　Still　in　a　trance；　the　soldier　slowly　sank　to　his　knees　and　knelt　there；　moaning　softly　as　his　life's　fluids　leaked　away。
　With　one　hand　Myrna　fumbled　with　Lucifer。　Three　bullets　from　her　last　assailant　had　shattered　her　right　forearm　and　wrist。　Awkwardly；　she　broke　open　the　breech　and　ejected　the　spent　shells。　Her　every　movement　seemed　immersed　in　glue。　The　new　shells　slipped　between　her　sweating　fingers　and　fell　past　her　reach。
　〃Mama？〃
　Myrna　looked　up。　Jenny　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　stairway；　the　revolver　hanging　loosely　in　one　hand；　the　front　of　her　blouse　soaked　with　crimson。
　〃Mama　。　。　。　I'm　hurt。〃
　Before　Myrna　could　reply；　another　figure　entered　the　room。　Jenny　tried　to　raise　her　gun。　Her　effort　came　slowly　and　too　late。　The　new…er　fired　first　and　she　sagged　and　rolled　down　the　stairs　like　a　ragged；　cast…off　doll。
　Myrna　could　only　sit　there　and　grip　Lucifer。　The　loss　of　blood　was　sapping　her　energy　and　blurring　her　vision。　She　gazed　vacantly　at　the　man　standing　over　her。　Through　the　growing　fog　she　could　see　him　place　the　tip　of　the　rifle　an　inch　from　her　forehead。
　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said。
　〃Why？〃　she　asked　vaguely。　〃Why　did　you　do　this　terrible　thing？〃
　The　cold　dark　eyes　held　no　answer。　For　Myrna；　the　bougainvillea　blossoms　outside　on　the　veranda　exploded　in　a　blaze　of　fuchsia　and　then　blinked　into　blackness。
　Somala　walked　among　the　dead；　staring　numbly　at　the　faces　forever　frozen　in　shock　and　confusion。　The　raiders　had　ruthlessly　killed　nearly　all　the　workers　and　their　families　in　the　pound。　No　more　than　a　handful　could　have　escaped　into　the　bush。　The　feed　in　the　barn　and　the　equipment　housed　in　the　shed　had　been　set　on　fire；　and　flames　were　already　flickering　orange　fingers　from　the　upstairs　window　of　the　Fawkes　house。
　How　strange；　Somala　thought。　The　raiders　policed　the　battleground　and　retrieved　their　own　dead　as　quietly　as　ghosts。　The　movements　had　been　efficient　and　deliberate。　There　was　no　hint　of　panic　at　the　distant　sound　of　the　approaching　helicopter　units　of　the　South　African　Defence　Forces。　The　raiders　simply　melted　into　the　surrounding　brush　as　stealth…ily　as　they　came。
　Somala　returned　to　the　baobab　tree　for　his　gear　and　began　trotting　toward　the　township。　His　only　thoughts　were　focused　on　rounding　up　the　men　of　his　section　and　reporting　back　to　their　camp　across　the　Mozambique　border。　He　did　not　look　back　at　the　dead　strewn　about　the　form。　He　did　not　see　the　gathering　vultures。　Nor　did　he　hear　the　shot　from　the　gun　whose　bullet　tore　into　the　flesh　of　his　back。
　
　16
　
　The　drive　from　Pembroke　back　to　Umkono　was　a　total　blank　to　Patrick　Fawkes。　His　hands　turned　the　wheel　and　his　feet　worked　the　pedals　in　stiff　mechanical　movements。　His　eyes　were　unblinking　and　glazed　as　he　assaulted　the　steep　grades　and　on　blind　instinct　hurled　the　four…wheel…drive　around　the　hairpin　curves。
　He　had　been　in　a　small　chemist's　shop；　buying　Jenny's　bath　oil；　when　a　sergeant　from　the　Pembroke　constabulary　tracked　him　down　and　stam…mered　out　a　sketchy　outline　of　the　tragedy。　At　first　Fawkes　refused　to　believe　it。　Only　after　he　reached　Shawn　Francis；　the　Irish…born　consta…ble　of　Umkono；　over　the　Bushmaster's　mobile　radio　did　he　e　to　accept　the　worst。
　〃You'd　better　e　home；　Patrick；〃　Francis's　strained　voice　crackled　over　the　speaker。　The　constable　spared　Fawkes　the　details；　and　Fawkes　did　not　demand　them。
　The　sun　was　still　high　when　Fawkes　came　within　sight　of　his　farm。　Little　remained　of　the　house。　Only　the　fireplace　and　a　section　of　the　veranda　still　stood。　The　rest　was　no　more　than　a　pile　of　cinders。　Across　the　yard；　rubber　tires　on　the　tractors　smoldered　on　their　steel　rims　and　emitted　thick　black　smoke。　The　farm　workers　still　lay　where　they'd　fallen　in　the　pound。　Vultures　were　picking　at　the　carcasses　of　his　prize　cattle。
　Shawn　Francis　and　several　Defence　Force　soldiers　were　huddled　around　three　forms　lying　under　blankets　when　Fawkes　braked　to　a　stop　in　the　yard。　Francis　came　over　to　him　as　he　leaped　out　of　the　mud…streaked　Bushmaster。　The　constable's　face　was　pale　granite。
　〃God　in　hell！〃　cried　Fawkes。　He　gazed　into　Francis's　eyes；　searching　for　a　small　ray　of　light。　〃My　family。　What　of　my　family？〃
　Francis　fought　to　get　the　words　out；　then　gave　up　and　dipped　his　head　in　the　direction　of　the　blanket…covered　bodies。　Fawkes　pushed　past　him　and　stumbled　across　the　yard　but　was　caught　short　by　the　stout　arms　of　the　constable；　which　suddenly　encircled　him　about　the　chest。
　〃Leave　them　be；　Patrick。　I've　already　identified　them。〃
　〃Dammit；　Shawn；　that's　my　family　lying　there。〃
　〃I　beg　you；　my　friend；　do　not　look。〃
　〃Let　me　go。　I　must　see　for　myself。〃
　〃No！〃　said　Francis；　grimly　hanging　on；　knowing　he　was　no　match　for　Fawkes's　massive　strength。　〃Myrna　and　Jenny　were　badly　burned　in　the　fire。　They're　gone；　Patrick。　The　loved　ones　you　knew　are　no　more。　Remember　them　alive；　not　as　they　are　in　death。〃
　Francis　could　feel　the　tenseness　slowly　drain　from　Fawkes's　muscles　and　the　constable　loosened　his　hold。
　〃How　did　it　happen？〃　asked　Fawkes　quietly。
　〃No　way　of　describing　in　detail。　All　your　workers　have　either　been　driven　off　or　killed。　There　are　no　wounded　to　t