cb.coldheart canyon-第36章

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ecause　people　believed　her；　the　panic　ceased　and　everything　was　fine。　It　was　a　kind　of　self…fulfilling　prophecy。
　 So　now；　sitting　in　the　thicket；　in　the　midst　of　this　fever　dream；　with　its　voices　and　its　faces　and　its　stink；　she　repeated　Ma　Edie's　mantra　to　herself；　over　and　over：　Everything's　fine；　everything's　fine；　everything's　fine；　waiting　for　it　to　turn　out　true。
　 Her　head　still　throbbed　from　the　white　light　that　had　wiped　out　the　world　before　her　abduction；　and　her　stomach　was　certainly　in　need　of　filling；　but　she　still　had　all　her　limbs；　for　which　she　was　grateful；　and　a　voice　in　her　throat。　So；　once　she'd　calmed　herself　down；　she　started　to　talk　to　whatever　it　was　that　had　e　after　her；　（and　was　still　there；　in　the　vicinity）　her　volume　quiet；　but　her　tone　insistent　enough　that　she　would　not　be　mistaken　for　somebody　who　was　afraid。
　 〃I'd　like　to　get　back　to　the　house　now；〃　she　said　to　them；　〃so　will　one　of　you　please　escort　me？〃　She　scanned　the　bushes。　They　were　watching　her。　She　could　see　the　glitter　of　their　eyes；　the　gleam　of　their　teeth。　What　were　they？　They　didn't　seem　quite　substantial；　she　had　the　feeling　that　their　flesh　was　not　as　solid　as　hers；　as　real　perhaps；　yet　they'd　possessed　enough　strength　to　remove　her　from　the　vicinity　of　Zeffer's　cage　to　this　corner　of　nowhere；　so　they　weren't　to　be　disrespected。
　 〃Do　you　understand　me？〃　she'd　said；　keeping　her　tone　even。　〃I　need　to　go　back　to　the　house。〃
　 Off　to　her　left　she　saw　a　motion　in　the　thicket；　and　one　of　the　creatures　approached　her；　ing　close　enough　that　for　the　first　time　she'd　had　a　proper　view　of　one　of　the　abductors。　It　was　a　female；　no　doubt　of　that；　and　vaguely　related　to　a　human　being。　The　creature's　naked　body　was　scrawny；　her　ribs　showing　through　flesh　that　seemed　to　be　covered　with　light　gray…silver　hair。　The　front　limbs　were　extremely　delicate；　and　she　surely　had　hands　and　fingers　not　pads　and　claws。　But　the　back　legs　were　as　crooked　as　a　dog's；　and　rather　too　large　for　the　rest　of　her　anatomy；　so　that　squatting　her　proportions　were　almost　frog…like。
　 But　the　head：　that　was　the　worst　of　her。　Her　mouth　was　nearly　human；　as　was　her　nose；　but　then　the　skull　curved　and　suddenly　flattened　so　that　her　eyes；　which　were　devoid　of　whites；　and　set　to　either　side　of　the　skull；　like　the　eyes　of　a　sheep；　stuck　out；　black　and　shiny　and　stupid。
　 She　turned　her　head　and　stared　at　Tammy　with　her　shiny　eyes。　Then；　from　those　human　lips　came　the　scraps　of　a　voice。　〃It's　no　use　to　beg；〃　she　told　Tammy。　〃We　eat　you。〃
　 Tammy　took　this　in　her　stride；　or　at　least　did　all　she　could　to　give　that　impression。　〃I'm　not　begging　you　for　anything；〃　she　said；　very　calmly。　〃And　you're　not　going　to　eat　me。〃
　 〃Oh？〃　said　another　voice；　this　time　over　to　her　right。
　 Tammy　moved　slowly；　so　as　not　to　invite　anything　precipitous。　She　looked　at　the　second　speaker；　who…like　the　female…had　e　closer　to　her。　She　guessed　this　was　a　male；　one　of　the　creatures　who'd　snatched　her　away　from　between　the　cages。　He　had　a　head　of　ungainly　size　and　shape；　his　nose　flattened　out　like　the　nose　of　a　bat；　his　mouth　wide　and　lipless。　Only　his　eyes　were　human；　and　they　were　unexpectedly　and　exquisitely　blue。
　 〃What　shall　we　do　with　you　then？〃　he　said　to　Tammy；　the　slits　of　his　nostrils　flattening　as　he　inhaled　her　scent。
　 〃Help　me；〃　she　said。　The　male　lowered　his　lumpen　head；　and　stared　at　her　from　under　the　weight　of　his　brow。　〃I　need　to　get　back　to　the　house；〃　Tammy　said。
　 〃You　know　the　Lady？〃　said　the　female。　〃What　Lady？〃
　 〃In　the　house？〃
　 A　third　voice　now；　a　thin；　reedy　voice　in　the　darkness　behind　the　female。　〃Kat。　Ee。　A。〃　the　voice　said。
　 〃Katya？〃　Tammy　said。
　 〃Yes；〃　said　the　male。　〃Katya。〃
　 He　had　e　closer　to　her；　and　was　now　sniffing　around　her　hair。　She　didn't　protect　herself；　even　though　flecks　of　his　cold　phlegm　were　hitting　her　neck　and　face。　She　just　kept　her　focus；　as　best　she　could。　Perhaps　these　freaks；　for　all　their　bizarrity；　knew　something　about　why　Todd　was　here。　If　she　was　going　to　free　him　she　had　to　know　what　she　was　freeing　him　from。
　 〃What　do　you　want　with　Katya？〃　Tammy　said；　keeping　her　options　open　as　to　whether　she　knew　the　woman　or　not。
　 At　the　mention　of　Katya's　name　a　series　of　little　convulsions　had　taken　over　the　female。　She　threw　back　her　head；　showing　a　throat　as　lovely　as　Garbo's。　After　a　moment；　the　convulsions　subsided。　Once　they　were　governed；　the　woman　gave　Tammy　her　answer。
　 〃She　is　the　one　who　has　the　Hunt。〃
　 There　wasn't　much　illumination　to　be　had　from　this。　But　Tammy　pursued　the　questioning；　not　hoping　for　much。　〃What　hunt？〃　she　asked；　keeping　her　voice　low　and　even。
　 〃The　Devil's　Hunt；〃　said　the　male；　still　close　to　her。
　 〃You　seen　it？〃　the　female　said。

　 〃No；〃　Tammy　replied。
　 〃Liar。〃
　 〃If　I'd　seen　it　I'd　tell　you　I'd　seen　it。　But　I　haven't。〃
　 〃You　been　in　the　house？〃
　 〃No　I　haven't；〃　Tammy　said。　〃Why；　is　this　hunt　you're　talking　about　in　the　house？〃
　 〃The　Hunt's　in　the　house。〃
　 This　part　was　even　more　puzzling　than　the　earlier　stuff。　Plainly　her　sources　were　not　terribly　reliable。　Were　they　referring　to　some　sort　of　game　that　Katya　played？
　 〃Have　you　ever　been　in　the　house？〃　she　asked　them。
　 〃No；〃　said　the　female。
　 〃But　you　want　to　go？〃
　 〃Oh　yes；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　see　how　it　is。〃
　 〃Well。。。〃　Tammy　said；　〃Perhaps　I　could　help　you　get　in。。。to　the　house。〃
　 The　female　regarded　her　warily；　moving　her　head　back　and　forth　to　assess　Tammy　with　both　eyes。
　 〃It's　not　possible；〃　she　said。
　 〃Why　not？〃
　 It　was　the　male　who　answered；　and　the　phrase　he　used　was　powerful　but　inprehensible。　〃Death　at　the　threshold。〃　he　said。
　 There　were　mutters　and　growls　from　others　in　the　undergrowth　at　the　mention　of　the　threshold。　She　had　no　doubt　that　for　all　their　apparent　strength　these　creatures　were　deathly　afraid　of　the　house；　and；　no　doubt；　of　its　mistress。
　 〃Has　this　woman　Katya　done　you　some　harm？〃　she　asked　the　female。　The　creature　shook　its　wretched　head。
　 〃Kill　her　one　day。〃
　 〃You　want　to　kill　her？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃Why？〃
　 The　woman　just　stared；　her　stare　containing　a　profound　distrust。　Not　just　of　Tammy；　or　indeed　of　Katya：　of　the　world；　but　of　being　alive。　It　was　as　though　every　breathing　moment　was　conditional；　an　agony。　And　despite　the　brutal　foulness　of　the　thing's　appearance；　Tammy　felt　some　measure　of　sympathy　for　it。
　 〃Maybe　I　could　get　this　Katya　to　e　out；〃　Tammy　suggested。
　 The　male　growled；　deep　in　his　chest。　〃You'd　do　that？〃　Tammy　was　ready　to　make　any　promise　right　now；　to　get　out　of　her　present　predicament。　She　nodded。
　 There　was　a　long　moment；　in　which　the　freaks　did　not　reply。　Then；　glancing　around　the　pany　of　her　fellows；　as　if　to　check　that　she　would　not　be　challenged；　the　female　caught　hold　of　Tammy's　wrist；　and　pulled　her　up　out　of　the　thicket。
　 〃We're　going？〃　Tammy　said。
　 〃Yes！　Yes！〃　the　female　replied。　〃Quickly；　though。　Quickly。〃　She　didn't　get　any　argument　from　Tammy；　who　was　happy　to　be　on　her　way。　Whatever　dangers　the　house　held　they　could　hardly　be　worse　than　staying　out　here　in　the　open。　The　day　was　quickly　passing　away。　It　would　soon　be　dark。　And　judging　by　the　repeated　glances　the　woman　gave　the　sky；　she　too　was　cognizant　of　the　failing　light。　After　the　third　or　fourth　glance　Tammy　couldn't　help　but　ask　her　what　she　was　so　nervous　about。　〃Peacock；〃　she　said。　A　peacock？　There　had　been　peacocks　here？　It　wasn't　so　surprising；　on　second　thoughts。　It　fitted　with　the　extravagance　of　the　place。　But　they　belonged　on　well…clipped　lawns；　not　in　this　jungle　of　thorns　and　flowers。　And　even　assuming　the　bird　could　push　its　way　through　the　thicket　without　being　stripped　of　all　its　finery；　what　could　it　do　if　did　catch　up　with　them？　They　had　bad　tempers；　she　remembered　reading　once；　but　they　were　nervous　things。　She'd　just　shoo　it　away。

　 〃Nothing　to　be　scared　of；〃　Tammy　said。
　 The　woman　gave　her　another　disconcerting　sideways　look。　The　male；　meanwhile；　came　up　beside　Tammy　and　stared　at　her　breasts。　Not　about　to　be　intimidated；　Tammy　she　stared　back。　There　was　something　vaguely　recognizable　in　this　freak；　a　cast　to　his　features　which　reminded　her　of　somebody　famous。　Who　the　hell　was　it？　Some　movie　star。　Was　it　Victor　Mature？　Yes；　it　was。　Victor　Mature。　It　was　uncanny。
　 The　lookalike；　meanwhile；　leaned　forward；　hooked　a　long　cold　finger　through　a　hole　in　Tammy's　blouse　and　before　she　could　do　a　damn　thing　about　it；　tore　the　light　cotton　blouse　away　from　her　skin。
　 〃You　keep　away　from　me；〃　she　told　the　offender。
　 He　bared　his　teeth　at　her。　〃Pretty　boobies；〃　he　said。
　 〃What？〃
　 The　forbidding　grimace　had　transformed　into　a　weird　version　of　a　smile。　〃Titties；〃　he　said。
　 He　reached　out　and　touched　the　side　of　her　breast　with　his　open　palm；　stroking　it。　〃Jugs。　Knockers…〃
　 〃Baby　feeders；〃　Tammy　added；　figuring　it　was　better　to　play　along　with　the　joke；　however　witless。
　 〃Fun　bags；〃　he　grinned；　almost　moronically。
　 She　wondered　just　for　a　moment　if　that　was　the　answer　to　this　mystery：　that　these　pitiful　remnants　of　humanity　were　cretins；　mongols；　retards；　the　children　of　Hollywood　parents　who　could　not　bear　the　idea　that　they'd　produced　such　freaks；　and　given　them　over　to　somebody　who'd　simply　dumped　them　in　the　empty　Canyon。　No；　that　was　ridiculous。　Atrocities　like　that　didn't　happen　in　this　day　and　age；　it　was　unthinkably　callous。　But　it　did　go　some　way　to　explaining　the　curious　passages　of　starry　flesh　and　bone　she　kept　seeing：　Garbo's　throat　on　the　woman；　Victor　Mature　in　this　breast…obsessed　male。
　 〃Udders；〃　he　said。
　 〃Jigglies；〃　she　countered。　〃Chi…chis。　Kazooms…〃
　 Oh；　she　had　a　million。　So　presumably　did　every　woman　with　larger　than　average　breasts　in　America。　It　had　started　when　she　was　twelve；　when　thanks　to　an　unfortunate　hormonal　trick　she　was　walking　around　with　a　bosom　that　would　have　looked　just　fine　on　a　big…boned　twenty…two…year…old。　Suddenly　men　were　looking　at　her；　and　the　dirty　words　just　came　tumbling　out　of　their　mouths。　She　went　through　a　phase　when　she　thought　every　man　in　Sacramento　had　Tourette's　Syndrome。　Never　mind　that　the　girl　with　the　hooters　was　twelve；　men　got　diarrhea　of　the　mouth　at　the　sight　of　large　breasts。　She　had　them　called　everything：　'the　twins'；　'skin…pillows'；　her　'rack'；　her　'set'；　her　'mounds'；　her　'missiles'；　her　'melons'；　her　'milk…makers'。　At　first　it　upset　her　to　be　the　object　of　fun；　but　after　a　while　she　learned　not　to　listen　to　it　anymore；　unless　some　unusual　name　came　along　to　swell　the　lexicon；　like　'global　superstars'；　or　'bodacious　ta…tas'；　both　of　which　had　brought　a　despairing　smile　to　her　face。　Of　course　in　two　years　time　all　her　girlfriends　had　got　bosoms　of　their　own…
　 〃Wait。〃
　 The　female　had　halted；　its　body　suddenly　besieged　by　nervous　tics。
　 〃What's　wrong？〃　Tammy　said。
　 The　woman　governed　her　little　spasms　and　stood　still；　listening。　Then　pointed；　off　to　her　right；　and　having　pointed　she　quickly　bounded　away；　dragging　Tammy　after　her。
　 As　they　fled…and　that's　what　it　was　suddenly；　fleeing…Tammy　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder。　They　were　not　taking　this　journey　unacpanied。　There　was　a　contingent　of　freaks　ing　after　them；　though　they　were　keeping　their　distance。　But　it　was　not　the　freaks；　however；　that　the　female　was　so