sk.dreamcatcher-第74章

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；　THE　BARN　AND　EVERYONE　IN　IT；　AND　THE　WOODS　ARE　YOUR　ONLY　CHANCE！　NOW；　NOW！
　　　　Deep　in　the　well　of　his　own　imagination；　flying　on　the　pills　Owen　had　given　him　and　sending　with　all　his　strength　…　images　of　possible　safety　there；　of　certain　death　here；　images　as　simple　as　those　in　a　child's　picture…book　…　he　was　only　distantly　aware　that　he　had　begun　chanting　aloud：　'Now；　now；　now。'
　　　　Marsha　Chiles　picked　it　up；　then　her　brother…in…law；　then　Charles；　the　man　with　the　overgrown　solar　sex…panel。
　　　　'Now！　Now！　Now！'
　　　　Although　immune　to　the　byrus　and　thus　no　more　telepathic　than　the　average　bear；　Darren　was　not　immune　to　the　growing　vibe；　and　he　also　joined　in。
　　　　'Now！　Now！　Now！'
　　　　It　'umped　from　person　to　person　and　group　to　group；　a　panic…induced　infection　more　catching　than　the　byrus：　'Now！　Now！　Now！'　
　　　　The　barn　shook　with　it。　Fists　were　pumping　in　unison；　like　fists　at　a　rock　concert。
　　　　'NOW！　NOW！　NOW！'
　　　　Henry　let　them　take　it　over　and　build　it；　pumping　his　own　fist　without　even　realizing　it；　flinging　his　hand　into　the　air　to　the　farthest　reach　of　his　aching　arm　even　as　he　reminded　himself　not　to　be　caught　up　in　the　cyclone　of　the　mass　mind　he　had　created：　when　they　went　north；　he　was　going　south。　He　was　waiting　for　some　point　of　no　return　to　be　reached　…　the　point　of　ignition　and　spontaneous　bustion。
　　　　It　came。
　　　　'Now；'　he　whispered。
　　　　He　gathered　Marsha's　mind；　Bill's；　Charlie's　。　。　。　and　then　the　others　that　were　close　and　particularly　locked　in。　He　merged　them；　pressed　them；　and　then　flung　that　single　word　like　a　silver　bullet　into　the　heads　of　the　three　hundred　and　seventeen　people　in　Old　Man　Gosselin's　barn：
　　　　NOW。
　　　　There　was　a　moment　of　utter　silence　before　hell's　door　flew　open。


8

Just　before　dusk；　a　dozen　two…man　sentry　huts　（they　were　actually　Porta…Potties　with　the　urinals　and　toilet…seats　yanked　out）　had　been　set　up　at　intervals　along　the　security　fence。　These　came　equipped　with　heaters　that　threw　a　stuporous　glow　in　the　small　spaces；　and　the　guards　had　no　interest　in　going　outside　them。　Every　now　and　then　one　of　them　would　open　a　door　to　allow　in　a　snowy　swirl　of　fresh　air；　but　that　was　the　extent　of　the　guards'　exposure　to　the　outside　world。　Most　of　them　were　peacetime　soldiers　with　no　gut　understanding　of　how　high　the　current　stakes　were；　and　so　they　swapped　stories　about　sex　cars；　postings；　sex；　their　families；　their　future；　sex；　drinking　and　drugging　expeditions；　and　sex。　They　had　missed　Owen　Underhill's　two　visits　to　the　shed　（he　would　have　been　clearly　visible　from　both　Post　9　and　Post　10）　and　they　were　the　last　to　be　aware　that　they　had　a　full…scale　revolt　on　their　hands。
　　　　Seven　other　soldiers；　boys　who　had　been　with　Kurtz　a　little　longer　and　thus　had　a　little　more　salt　on　their　skins；　were　in　the　back　of　the　store　near　the　woodstove；　playing　five…card　stud　in　the　same　office　where　Owen　had　played　Kurtz　the　ne　nous　blessez　pas　tapes　roughly　two　centuries　ago。　Six　of　the　card…players　were　sentries。　The　seventh　was　Dawg　Brodsky's　colleague　Gene　Cambry。　Cambry　hadn't　been　able　to　sleep。　The　reason　was　concealed　by　a　stretchy　cotton　wristlet。　He　didn't　know　how　long　the　wristlet　would　serve；　however；　because　the　red　stuff　under　it　was　spreading。　If　he　wasn't　careful；　someone　would　see　it　。　。　。　and　then；　instead　of　playing　cards　in　the　office；　he　might　be　out　there　in　the　barn　with　the　John　Q's。
　　　　And　would　he　be　the　only　one？　Ray　Parsons　had　a　big　wad　of　cotton　in　one　ear。　He　said　it　was　an　earache；　but　who　knew　for　sure？　Ted　Trezewski　had　a　bandage　on　one　meaty　forearm　and　claimed　he'd　gouged　himself　stringing　pound　barbed　wire　much　earlier　in　the　day。　Maybe　it　was　true。　George　Udall；　the　Dawg's　immediate　superior　in　more　normal　times；　was　wearing　a　knitted　cap　over　his　bald　head；　damn　thing　made　him　look　like　some　kind　of　elderly　white　rapper。　Maybe　there　was　nothing　under　there　but　skin；　but　it　was　warm　in　here　for　a　cap；　wasn't　it？　Especially　a　knitted　one。
　　　　'Kick　a　buck；'　Howie　Everett　said。
　　　　'Call；'　said　Danny　O'Brian。
　　　　Parsons　Called；　so　did　Udall。　Cambry　barely　heard。　In　his　mind　there　rose　an　image　of　a　woman　with　a　child　cradled　in　her　arms。　As　she　struggled　across　the　drifted…in　paddock；　a　soldier　turned　her　into　a　napalm　road…flare。　Cambry　winced；　horrified；　thinking　this　image　had　been　served　up　by　his　own　guilty　conscience。
　　　　'Gene？'　Al　Coleman　asked。　'Are　you　going　to　call；　or…'
　　　　'What's　that？'　Howie　asked；　frowning。
　　　　'What's　what？'　Ted　Trezewski　said。
　　　　'If　you　listen；　you'll　hear　it；'　Howie　replied。　Dumb　Polack：　Cambry　heard　this　unspoken　corollary　in　his　head；　but　paid　it　no　mind。　Once　it　had　been　called　to　their　attention；　the　chant　was　clear　enough；　rising　above　the　wind；　quickly　taking　on　strength　and　urgency。
　　　　'Now！　Now！　Now！　Now！　NOW！'
　　　　It　was　ing　from　the　barn；　directly　behind　them。
　　　　'What　in　the　blue　hell？'　Udall　asked　in　a　musing　voice；　blinking　over　the　folding　table　with　its　scatter　of　cards；　ashtrays；　chips；　and　money。　Gene　Cambry　suddenly　understood　that　there　was　nothing　under　the　stupid　woolen　cap　but　skin；　after　all。　Udall　was　nominally　in　charge　of　this　little　group；　but　he　didn't　have　a　clue。　He　couldn't　see　the　pumping　fists；　couldn't　hear　the　strong　thought…voice　that　was　leading　the　chant。
　　　　Cambry　saw　alarm　on　Parsons's　face；　on　Everett's；　on　Coleman's。　They　were　seeing　it；　too。　Understanding　leaped　among　them　while　the　uninfected　ones　only　looked　puzzled。
　　　　'Fuckers're　gonna　break　out；'　Cambry　said。
　　　　'Don't　be　stupid；　Gene；'　George　Udall　said。　'They　don't　know　what's　ing　down。　Besides；　they're　civilians。　They're　just　letting　off　a　little　st…'
　　　　Cambry　lost　the　rest　as　a　single　word　…　NOW　…　ripped　through　his　brain　like　a　buzzsaw。　Ray　Parsons　and　Al　Coleman　winced。　Howie　Everett　cried　out　in　pain；　his　hands　going　to　his　temples；　his　knees　connecting　with　the　underside　of　the　table　and　sending　chips　and　cards　everywhere。　A　dollar　bin　landed　atop　the　hot　stove　and　began　to　bum。
　　　　'Aw；　fuck　a　duck；　look　what　you　d…'　Ted　began。
　　　　'They're　ing；'　Cambry　said。　'They're　ing　at　us。'
　　　　Parsons；　Everett；　and　Coleman　lunged　for　the　M…4　carbines　leaning　beside　Old　Man　Gosselin's　coatrack。　The　others　looked　at　them；　surprised；　still　three　steps　behind　。　。　。　and　then　there　was　a　vast　thud　as　sixty　or　more　of　the　internees　struck　the　barn　doors。　Those　doors　had　been　locked　from　the　outside　…　big　steel　locks；　Army　issue。　They　held；　but　the　old　wood　gave　with　a　splintering　crack。
　　　　The　prisoners　charged　through　the　gap；　yelling　'Now！　Now！'　into　the　snowy　mouth　of　the　wind　and　trampling　several　of　their　number　underfoot。
　　　　Cambry　also　lunged；　got　one　of　the　pact　assault　rifles；　then　had　it　snatched　out　of　his　hands。　'That's　mine；　muhfuh；'　Ted　Trezewski　snarled。
　　　　There　was　less　than　twenty　yards　between　the　shattered　barn　doors　and　the　back　of　the　store。　The　mob　swept　across　the　gap；　shouting　NOW！　NOW！　NOW！
　　　　The　poker…table　went　over　with　a　crash；　spilling　crap　everywhere。　The　perimeter　alarm　went　off　as　the　first　internees　struck　the　double…strung　fence　and　were　either　fried　or　hooked　like　fish　on　the　oversized　bundles　of　barbs。　Moments　later　the　alarm's　honking；　pulsing　bray　was　joined　by　a　whooping　siren；　the　General　Quarters　alert　which　was　sometimes　referred　to　as　Situation　Triple　Six；　the　end　of　the　world。　In　the　plastic　Porta…Potty　sentry　huts；　surprised　and　frightened　faces　peered　out　dazedly。
　　　　'The　barn！'　someone　shouted。　'Collapse　in　on　the　barn！　It's　an　escape！'
　　　　The　sentries　trotted　out　into　the　snow；　many　of　them　bootless；　moving　along　the　outside　of　the　fence；　unaware　that　it　had　been　shorted　out　by　the　weight　of　more　than　eighty　kamikaze　deerhunters；　all　screaming　NOW　at　the　top　of　their　lungs；　even　as　they　jittered　and　fried　and　died。
　　　　No　one　noticed　the　single　man　…　tall；　skinny；　wearing　a　pair　of　old…fashioned　horn…rim　specs　…　who　left　from　the　back　of　the　barn　and　set　out　diagonally　across　the　drifts　filling　the　paddock。　Although　Henry　could　neither　see　nor　sense　anyone　paying　attention　to　him；　he　began　to　run。　He　felt　horribly　exposed　under　the　brilliant　lights；　and　the　cacophony　of　the　siren　and　the　perimeter　alarm　made　him　feel　panicky　and　half…crazy　。　。　。　made　him　feel　the　way　Duddits's　crying　had；　that　day　behind　Tracker　Brothers。
　　　　He　hoped　to　God　Underhill　was　waiting　for　him。　He　couldn't　tell；　the　snow　was　too　thick　to　see　the　far　end　of　the　paddock；　but　he　would　be　there　soon　enough　and　then　he　would　know。


9

Kurtz　had　everything　on　but　one　boot　when　the　alarm　went　off　and　the　emergency　lights　went　on；　flooding　this　godforsaken　piece　of　ground　with　even　more　glare。　He　felt　no　surprise；　no　dismay；　only　a　mixture　of　relief　and　chagrin。　Relief　that　whatever　had　been　chewing　on　his　nerve…endings　was　now　out　in　the　open。　Chagrin　that　this　fucking　mess　hadn't　held　off　for　another　two　hours。　Another　two　hours　and　he　could　have　balanced　the　books　on　the　whole　deal。
　　　　He　jerked　open　the　door　of　the　Winnebago　with　his　right　hand；　still　holding　his　other　boot　in　his　left。　A　savage　roaring　came　from　the　barn；　the　sort　of　warrior's　cry　to　which　his　heart　responded　in　spite　of　everything。　The　gale…force　wind　thinned　it　a　little；　but　not　much；　they　were　all　in　it　together；　it　seemed。　From　somewhere　in　their　well…fed；　timorous；　it…can't…happen…here　ranks；　a　Spartacus　had　arisen　…　who　would　have　thunk　it？
　　　　It's　the　goddam　telepathy；　he　thought。　His　instincts；　always　superb；　told　him　this　was　serious　trouble；　that　he　was　watching　an　operation　go　tits…up　on　a　truly　grand　scale；　but　he　was　smiling　in　spite　of　that。　Got　to　be　the　goddam　telepathy。　They　smelled　out　what　was　ing　。　。　。　and　someone　decided　to　do　something　about　it。
　　　　As　he　watched；　a　motley　mob　of　men；　most　in　parkas　and　orange　hats；　came　moiling　through　the　sagging；　shattered　barn　doors。　One　fell　on　a　splintered　board　and　was　impaled　like　a　vampire。　Some　stumbled　in　the　snow　and　were　trampled　under。　AR　the　lights　were　on　now。　Kurtz　felt　like　a　man　with　a　ringside　seat　at　a　prizefight。　He　could　see　everything。
　　　　Wings　of　escapees；　fifty　or　sixty　in　each　plement；　peeled　off　as　neatly　as　squads　in　a　drill…team　and　charged　at　the　fence　on　either　side　of　the　ratty　little　store。　Either　they　didn't　know　there　was　a　lethal　dose　of　electricity　coursing　through　the　smoothwire　or　they　didn't　care。　The　rest　of　them；　the　main　body；　charged　directly　at　the　back　of　the　store。　That　was　the　weakest　point　in　the　perimeter；　but　it　didn't　matter。　Kurtz　thought　it　was　all　going　to　go。
　　　　Never　in　any　of　his　contingency　plans　had　he　so　much　as　considered　this　scenario：　two　or　three　hundred　overweight　November　warriors　mounting　a　no…guts…no…glory　banzai　charge。　He　had　never　expected　them　to　do　anything　but　stay　put；　clamoring　for　due　process　right　up　to　the　point　where　they　were　barbecued。
　　　　'Not　bad；　boys；'　Kurtz　said。　He　smelled　something　else　starting　to　burn　…　probably　his　goddam　career　…　but　the　end　had　been　ing　anyway；　and　he'd　picked　one　hell　of　an　operation　to　go　out　on；　hadn't　he？　As　far　as　Kurtz　was　concerned；　the　little　gray　men　from　space　were　strictly　secondary。　If　he　ran　the　news；　the　headline　above　the　fold　would　read：　SURPRISE！　NEW…AGE　AMERICANS　SHOW　SOME　BACKBONE！　Outstanding。　I