cb.coldheart canyon-第50章

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　 As　Katya　told　her　story；　Todd　glanced　at　the　dark　mass　of　trees　into　which　Goga　and　his　men　had　just　ridden。　Was　that　the　Deep　Wood　she　had　just　described？　Surely　it　was。　The　same　horsemen。　The　same　trees。　In　other　words；　he　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　Katya's　story。
　 〃So。。。the　Duke　kept　riding；　and　riding；　driving　his　poor　horse　as　he　followed　the　leaping　goat　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　forest；　until　they　were　in　a　place　where　there　were　certain　no　human　being　had　ever　ventured　before。　By　now；　all　the　men；　even　the　most　loyal；　the　bravest　of　them；　were　begging　the　Duke　to　let　them　turn　back。　The　air　was　bitter　and　sulfurous；　and　in　the　ground　beneath　the　horses'　hooves　the　men　could　hear　the　sound　of　people　sobbing；　as　though　living　souls　had　been　buried　alive　in　the　black；　smoking　dirt。
　 〃But　the　Duke　would　not　be　moved　from　his　ambition。　'What　kind　of　hunters　do　you　call　yourselves？'　he　said　to　his　men；　'If　you　won't　go　after　a　goat？　Where's　your　faith　in　God？　There's　no　danger　to　us　here；　if　our　hearts　are　pure。'〃
　 〃So　on　they　went；　the　men　quietly　offering　up　prayers　for　the　safety　of　their　souls　as　they　rode。
　 〃And　eventually；　after　a　long　chase；　their　quarry　came　in　sight　again。　The　goat　was　standing　in　a　grove　of　trees　so　old　they　had　been　planted　before　the　Flood；　in　the　tangled　roots　of　which　grew　mushrooms　that　gave　off　the　smell　of　dead　flesh。　The　Duke　got　off　his　horse；　drew　his　sword　and　approached　the　goat。
　 〃'Whatever　thing　you　are；'　he　said　to　the　animal；　'breathe　your　last。'〃
　 〃Nice　line；〃　Todd　remarked。
　 〃The　animal　reared　up；　as　though　it　was　going　to　strike　the　Duke　with　its　hoof　a　third　time；　but　Goga　didn't　give　it　the　opportunity。　He　quickly　drove　his　sword　up　into　the　belly　of　the　animal。〃
　 〃As　soon　as　it　felt　the　sword　entering　its　flesh　the　goat　opened　its　mouth　and　let　out　a　pitiful　wail。。。〃
　 Katya　paused　here；　watching　Todd；　waiting　for　him　to　put　the　pieces　together。
　 〃Oh　Christ；〃　he　said。　〃Like　a　baby？〃
　
　 〃Exactly　like　a　baby。　And　hearing　this　pitiful　human　sound　escaping　the　animal；　Goga　pulled　his　sword　from　the　goat's　body；　because　he　knew　something　unholy　was　in　the　air。　Have　you　ever　seen　an　animal　slaughtered？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃Well　there's　a　lot　of　blood。　A　lot　more　than　you　think　there's　going　to　be。〃
　 〃It　was　like　that　now？〃
　 〃Yes。　The　goat　was　thrashing　around　in　a　pool　of　red；　its　back　legs　kicking　up　the　wet　dirt；　so　that　it　spattered　Goga　and　his　men。　And　as　it　did　so；　it　started　to　change。〃
　 〃Into　what？〃
　 Katya　smiled　the　smile　of　a　storyteller　who　had　her　audience　hooked　by　some　unexpected　change　of　direction。
　 〃Into　a　little　child；〃　she　said。　〃A　boy；　a　naked　little　boy；　with　a　nub　of　a　tail　and　yellow　eyes　and　goat's　ears。　So　now　the　Duke　is　looking　down　at　this　goat…boy；　twitching　in　the　mud　made　of　dirt　and　blood；　and　the　superstitious　terror　which　his　men　had　felt　finally　seizes　hold　of　him　too。　He　starts　to　speak　a　prayer。
　 〃T？tal　Nostru　care　ne　e？ti　in　Ceruri；　sfin_easca…se　numele　T？u。　Fie　Imp？r？tia　Ta；　fac？…se　voia　Ta；　precum　？n　cer　a？a　si　pe　p？m？nt。〃
　 Todd　listened　to　the　unfamiliar　words；　knowing　in　the　cadence　that　what　Katya　was　reciting　was　not　just　any　prayer；　it　was　the　Lord's　Prayer。
　 〃Painea　noastr？　cea　de　toate　zilele　d？ne…o　nou？　azi　si　ne　iart？　nou？　greselile　noa？tre。〃
　 He　scanned　the　landscape　as　he　heard　the　prayer　repeated；　nothing　had　changed　since　he'd　first　set　eyes　on　the　place。　The　light　of　the　eclipse　held　everything　in　suspension：　the　trees；　the　ships；　the　lynchers　at　their　tree。
　 The　rush　of　pleasure　he'd　experienced　when　he　first　arrived　had　diminished　somewhere　in　the　midst　of　Katya's　tale…telling。　In　its　place　there　was　now　a　profound　unease。　He　wanted　to　stop　her　telling　her　story；　but　what　reason　could　he　give　that　didn't　sound　cowardly？
　 So　she　continued。
　 〃The　Duke　retreated；　leaving　his　sword　stuck　deep　in　the　body　of　the　goat…boy。　He　intended　to　climb　back　onto　his　horse　and　ride　away；　but　his　steed　had　already　bolted　in　terror。　He　called　to　one　of　his　men　to　dismount；　so　that　he　might　have　the　man's　horse；　but　before　the　fellow　could　obey　the　rock　beneath　their　feet　began　to　shake　violently；　and　a　great　chasm　opened　up　in　the　ground　in　front　of　them。〃
　 〃The　men　knew　what　they　were　witnessing。　This　was　the　very　mouth　of　Hell；　gaping　in　the　earth　beneath　their　feet。　It　was　thirty；　forty　feet　wide；　and　the　roots　of　those　ancient　trees　lined　it　like　the　veins　of　a　skinned　body。　Smoke　rose　up　out　of　the　maw；　stinking　of　every　foul　thing　imaginable；　and　a　good　deal　that　was　not。　It　was　such　a　bitter　stench　that　the　Duke　and　his　men　began　to　weep　like　children。〃
　 〃Half…blinded　by　his　own　tears；　and　without　a　horse；　Goga　had　no　choice　but　to　stay　where　he　was；　on　the　lip　of　the　Hell's　Mouth；　close　to　where　his　victim　lay。　He　tore　his　gloves　from　his　hands　and　did　his　best　to　clear　the　tears　from　his　eyes。〃
　 〃As　he　did　so　he　saw　somebody　ing　up　out　of　the　earth。　It　was　a　woman；　he　saw；　with　hair　so　long　it　trailed　the　ground　fully　six　feet　behind　her。　She　was　naked；　except　for　a　necklace　of　white　fleas　with　eyes　that　burned　like　fires　in　their　tiny　heads。　Thousands　of　them；　moving　back　and　forth　around　the　woman's　neck　and　up　over　her　face；　busy　about　the　business　of　prettifying　her。〃
　 〃She　was　not　looking　at　the　Duke。　Her　black…red　eyes；　which　had　neither　lashes　nor　brows；　were　on　the　goat…boy。　In　the　time　it　had　taken　for　the　mouth　of　Hell　to　open；　the　last　of　the　boy's　life　had　poured　out　of　him。　Now　the　child's　corpse　lay　still　in　the　wet　dirt。〃
　 〃'You　killed　my　child；'　the　woman　said　as　she　emerged　from　the　infernal　mouth。　'My　beautiful　Qwaftzefoni。　Look　at　him。　Barely　a　boy。　He　was　perfect。　He　was　my　joy。　How　could　you　do　such　a　heartless　thing？'〃
　 〃At　that　moment　one　of　the　horsemen　behind　the　Duke　attempted　to　make　an　escape；　spurring　his　horse。　But　the　goat…boy's　mother　raised　her　hand　and　at　her　instruction　a　gust　of　wind　came　up　out　of　the　depths　of　Hell；　so　strong　that　it　drew　her　hair　around　her　and　forward；　like　a　thousand　filament　fingers　pointing　towards　the　escaping　man。　He　didn't　get　very　far。　The　wind　she'd　summoned　was　filled　with　barbs；　like　the　vicious　seedlings　of　ten　thousand　flowers。　They　spiraled　as　they　flew；　and　they　caught　the　Duke's　man　in　a　whirling　of　tiny　hooks。　Blinded　by　the　assault；　the　man　toppled　from　his　horse；　and　attempted　to　outrun　the　barbs。　But　they　were　fastened　onto　him；　and　their　motion　continued；　circling　his　body；　so　that　the　man's　flesh　was　unraveled　like　a　ball　of　red　twine。　He　screamed　as　the　first　circling　took　off　his　skin；　and　redoubled　his　shrieks　when　a　second　cloud　of　barbs　caught　his　naked　muscle；　and　repeated　the　terrible　cycle。　Having　drawn　off　a　length　of　the　man's　tissue；　they　described　a　descending　spiral　around　him；　leaving　the　victim　clear　for　a　third　and　fourth　assault。　His　bone　was　showing　now；　his　screams　had　ceased。　He　dropped　to　his　knees　and　fell　forward　in　his　own　shreddings；　dead。〃
　 〃Overhead　carrion　birds　circled；　ready　to　gorge　themselves　as　soon　as　the　body　was　abandoned。〃
　 〃'This　man　is　the　lucky　one　amongst　you；'　the　woman　said　to　the　Duke。　'He　has　escaped　lightly。　The　rest　of　you　will　suffer　long　and　hard　for　what　you　have　done　today。'〃
　 〃She　looked　down　at　the　goat…boy's　corpse；　her　hair　crawling　around　her　heels　to　fondly　touch　the　body　of　the　child。〃
　 〃The　Duke　fell　to　his　knees；　knotting　his　hands　together　to　make　his　plea。　'Lady；'　he　said　to　her；　in　his　native　tongue。　〃This　was　an　accident。　I　believed　the　boy　to　be　an　animal。　He　was　running　from　me　in　the　form　of　a　goat。'〃
　 〃'That　is　his　father's　chosen　form；　on　certain　nights；'　the　woman　replied。　Goga　knew；　of　course；　what　was　signified　by　this。　Only　the　Devil　himself　took　the　form　of　a　goat。　The　woman　was　telling　him　that　she　was　Lilith；　the　Devil's　wife；　and　that　the　child　he　had　killed　was　the　Devil's　own　offspring。　To　say　this　was　not　good　news　was　an　understatement。　The　Duke　concealed　his　terror　as　best　he　could；　but　it　was　terror　he　felt。　To　be　standing　on　the　lip　of　Hell；　accused　of　the　crime　before　him；　was　a　terrifying　prospect。　His　soul　would　be　forfeit；　he　feared。　All　he　could　do　was　repeat　what　he'd　said：　'I　took　the　boy　to　be　a　goat。　This　was　a　grievous　error　on　my　part；　and　I　regret　it　with　all　my　heart…'〃
　 〃The　woman　raised　her　hand　to　silence　him。〃
　 〃'My　husband　has　seventy…seven　children　by　me。　Qwaftzefoni　was　his　favorite。　What　am　I　supposed　to　tell　him　when　he　calls　for　his　beloved　boy；　and　the　child　does　not　e　as　he　used　to？'〃
　 〃The　Duke　had　barely　any　spittle　in　his　throat。　But　he　used　what　little　he　had　to　reply。　'I　don't　know　what　you　will　say。'〃
　 〃'You　know　who　my　husband　is；　don't　you？　And　don't　insult　me　by　pretending　innocence。'〃
　 〃'I　think　he　is　the　Devil；　ma'am；'　the　Duke　Goga　replied。〃
　 〃That　he　is；〃　the　woman　said；　'And　I　am　Lilith；　his　first　wife。　So　now；　what　do　you　think　your　life　is　worth？'〃
　 〃Goga　mused　on　this　for　a　moment。　Then　he　said：　'Christ　save　my　soul。　I　fear　my　life　is　worth　nothing。'〃
　
　 〃So；〃　said　Zeffer；　〃Goga's　Hunt　was　painted　on　every　wall　of　this　room。
　 Not　just　the　walls。　The　ceiling；　too。　And　the　floor。　Every　inch　of　the　place　was　covered　with　the　genius　of　painter　and　tile…maker。　It　was　astonishing。　And　I　thought…〃
　 〃You'd　give　this　astonishing　thing　to　the　woman　you　idolized。〃
　 〃Yes。　That's　exactly　what　I　thought。　After　all；　it　was　utterly　unique。　Something　strange　and　wonderful。　But　that　wasn't　the　only　reason　I　wanted　to　buy　it；　now　I　look　back。　The　place　had　a　power　over　me。　I　felt　stronger　when　I　was　in　that　room。　I　felt　more　alive。　It　was　a　trick；　of　course。　The　room　wanted　me　to　liberate　it…〃
　 〃How　can　a　room　want　anything？〃　Tammy　said。　〃It's　just　four　walls。〃
　 〃Believe　me；　this　was　no　ordinary　room；〃　Zeffer　said。　He　lowered　his　voice；　as　though　the　house　itself　might　be　listening　to　him。　〃It　was　missioned；　I　believe；　by　a　woman　known　as　the　Lady　Lilith。　The　Devil's　wife。〃
　 This　was　a　different　order　of　information　entirely；　and　it　left　Tammy　speechless。　In　her　experience　so　far；　she'd　found　the　Canyon　a　repository　of　grotesqueries；　no　doubt；　but　they'd　all　been　derived　from　the　human；　however　muddied　the　route。　But　the　Devil？　That　was　another　story；　deeper　than　anything　she'd　encountered　so　far。　And　yet　perhaps　his　presence　or　the　echo　of　his　presence；　was　not　so　inappropriate。　Wasn't　he　sometimes　called　the　Father　of　Lies？　If　he　and　his　works　belonged　anywhere；　Hollywood　was　probably　as　good　a　place　as　any。
　 〃Did　you　have　any　idea　what　you　were　buying？〃　she　said　to　Zeffer。
　 〃I　had　a　very　vague　notion；　but　I　didn't　really　believe　it。　Father　Sandru　had　talked　about　a　woman　who'd　occupied　the　Fortress　for　several　years　while　the　room　was　made。〃
　 〃And　you　think　this　woman　was　Lilith？〃
　 〃I　believe　it　was；〃　Zeffer　said。　〃She　made　a　place　to　trap　the　Duke　in；　you　see。〃
　 〃No；　I　don't　see；〃
　 〃The　Duke　had　killed　her　beloved　child。　She　wanted　revenge；　and　she　wanted　it　to　be　a　long；　agonizing　revenge。〃
　 〃But　it　had　been　an　accident…an　honest　error　on　the　Duke's　part…and　she　knew　the　law　would　not　allow　her　to　take　the　soul　of　a　man　who　killed　her　child。〃
　 〃Why　would　she　care　about　the　law？〃
　 〃It　wasn't　our　hu