cb.coldheart canyon-第53章

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　The　instant　he　made　contact；　the　illusion　of　the　painters'　trompe　l'oeil　was　broken。　He　could　not　believe　he　had　been　so　easily　deceived。　What　had　looked　like　infinite；　penetrable　reality　two　strides　before　now　looked　absurdly　fake：　stylish　marks　on　pieces　of　antiquated　tile；　plastered　on　a　wall。　How　could　his　eyes　have　been　misled　for　an　instant？
　 Then　he　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　to　call　Katya　over；　and　the　illusion　in　which　she　stood　was　still　pletely　intact…the　expanse　of　open　ground　between　where　they　stood　and　the　galloping　horsemen　apparently　a　quarter　mile　or　more；　the　trees　beyond　them　twice　that；　the　sky　limitless　above。　Illusion；　he　told　himself；　all　illusion。　But　it　meant　nothing　in　the　face　of　the　trick　before　him；　which　refused　to　bow　to　his　doubt。　He　gave　up　trying　to　make　it　concede；　and　instead　turned　back　to　the　wall。　His　hands　were　still　upon　it；　the　tiles　still　laid　out　under　his　palms。　Which　direction　did　the　door　lie　in？
　 〃Right　or　left？〃　he　called　to　Katya。
　 〃What？〃
　 〃The　door！　Is　it　to　the　right　or　left？〃
　 She　took　her　eyes　off　the　riders；　and　scanned　the　wall　he　was　clinging　to。　〃Left；〃　she　said；　casually。
　 〃Hurry　then…〃
　 〃They　didn't　find　the　child。〃
　 〃Forget　about　them！〃　he　told　her。
　 If　she　was　attempting　to　impress　him　with　her　fearlessness　she　was　doing　a　poor　job。　He　was　simply　irritated。　She'd　shown　him　the　way　the　room　worked　for　God's　sake；　now　it　was　time　to　get　out。
　 〃e　on！〃　he　cried。
　 As　he　called　to　her　he　moved　along　the　wall；　a　step　to　his　left；　then　another　step；　keeping　his　palms　flat　to　the　tiles　every　inch　of　the　way；　as　though　defying　them　to　play　some　new　trick　or　other。　But　it　seemed　that　as　long　as　he　had　his　hands　on　the　tiles…as　long　as　he　could　keep　uppermost　in　his　mind　the　idea　that　this　was　a　painted　world；　it　could　not　start　its　trickeries　afresh。　And　on　the　third；　or　was　it　fourth？　step　along　the　wall　his　extended　hand　found　the　door…jamb。　He　breathed　out　a　little　sigh　of　relief。　The　door…jamb　was　right　there　under　his　hand。　He　moved　his　palm　over　it　onto　the　door　itself　which；　like　the　jamb；　was　tiled　so　that　there　was　no　break　in　the　illusion。　He　fumbled　for　the　handle；　found　it　and　tried　to　turn　it。
　 On　the　other　side；　Tammy　had　found　her　way　along　the　passageway　and　chosen　that　precise　moment　to　turn　the　handle　in　the　opposite　direction。
　 〃Oh　Jesus…〃　Todd　said。　〃It's　locked。〃
　 〃You　hear　that？〃　Tammy　gasped。　〃That's　Todd？　Todd！〃
　 〃Yeah　it's　me。　Who's　this？〃
　 〃Tammy。　It's　Tammy　Lauper。　Are　you　turning　the　handle？〃
　 〃Yeah。〃
　 〃Well　let　go　of　it。　Let　me　try。〃
　 Todd　let　go。　Tammy　turned　the　handle。　Before　she　opened　the　door　she　glanced　back　at　Zeffer。　He　was　still　one　flight　up　the　stairs；　staring　out　of　the　window。
　 〃The　dead。。。〃　she　heard　him　say。
　 〃What　about　them？〃
　 〃They're　all　around　the　house。　I've　never　seen　them　this　close　before。　They　know　there　are　people　passing　back　and　forth　through　the　door；　that's　why。〃
　 〃Do　I　open　the　door？　Todd's　on　the　other　side。〃
　 〃Are　you　sure　it's　Todd？〃
　 〃Yes　it's　Todd。〃
　 Hearing　his　name　called；　Todd　impatiently　yelled　from　the　other　side。　〃Yes；　it's　me。　And　Katya。　Will　you　please　open　the　fucking　door？〃
　 Tammy's　hands　were　sweaty；　and　her　muscles　weary；　the　handle　slid　through　her　palm。　〃I　can't　open　it。　You　try。〃
　 Todd　struggled　with　the　handle　from　his　side；　but　what　had　seemed　as　though　it　was　going　to　be　the　easiest　part　of　the　procedure　（opening　the　door）　was　proving　the　most　intractable。　It　was　almost　as　though　the　room　didn't　want　him　to　leave；　as　though　it　wanted　to　hold　on　to　him　for　as　long　as　possible；　to　exercise　the　greatest　amount　of　influence　over　him；　to　addict　him；　second　by　second；　sight　by　sight。
　 He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　Katya　was　staring　up　at　the　sky；　moving　her　hands　down　over　her　body；　as　though　she　was　luxuriating　in　the　curious　luminosity　of　this　enraptured　world。　For　a　moment　he　imagined　her　naked；　cradled　in　the　heavenly　luminescence；　but　he　caught　himself　in　the　midst　of　the　fantasy。　It　was　surely　just　another　of　the　room's　tricks　to　keep　him　from　departing。　The　damn　place　probably　had　a　thousand　such　sleights…of…mind：　sexual；　philosophical；　murderous。
　 He　closed　his　eyes　hard　against　the　seductions　of　the　Country　and　put　his　head　against　the　door。　The　tile　was　clammy；　like　a　living　thing。　〃Tammy？〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　still　here？〃
　 〃Yes？〃
　 〃When　I　count　three；　I　want　you　to　push。　Got　it？〃
　 〃Got　it。〃
　 〃Okay。　Ready？〃
　 〃Ready。〃
　 〃One。　Two。　Three！〃
　 She　pushed。　He　pulled。　And　the　door　fell　open；　presenting　Todd　with　one　of　the　odder　juxtapositions　he'd　witnessed　in　his　life。　In　the　hallway　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　stood　a　woman　who　looked　as　though　she'd　gone　several　rounds　with　a　heavy…weight　boxer。　There　were　bloody　scratches　on　her　face；　neck　and　arms；　her　hair　and　clothes　were　in　disarray。　In　her　eyes　she　had　a　distinctly　panicked　look。
　 He　recognized　her　instantly。　She　was　the　leader　of　his　Fan　Club；　a　woman　called　Tammy　Lauper。　Yes！　The　missing　Tammy　Lauper！　How　the　hell　had　she　got　up　here？　Never　mind。　She　was　here；　thank　God。
　 〃I　thought　something　terrible　had　happened　to　you；〃　Lauper　said。
　 〃Give　it　time；〃　he　quipped。
　 Behind　him；　he　heard　the　horsemen　approaching。　He　glanced　around；　calling　again　to　Katya。
　 〃Hurry　up；　will　you？〃
　 When　he　returned　his　gaze　to　Tammy　it　was　clear　that　she'd　taken　in；　as　best　her　disbelief　would　allow；　the　incredible　sight　over　his　shoulder。　Her　eyes　were　wide　with　astonishment；　her　jaw　slack。
　 〃So　this　is　what　it　looks　like。〃
　 〃Yes；〃　he　said　to　her。　〃This　is　it。〃
　 Tammy　threw　a　look　back　at　a　stooped；　older　man　standing　on　the　stairs　behind　her。　He　looked　almost　incapacitated　with　fear。　But　unlike　Tammy；　whose　expression　was　that　of　someone　who　had　never　seen　anything　like　this　before；　it　was　Todd's　sense　that　her　panion　knew　exactly　what　he　was　seeing；　and　would　have　liked　nothing　better　than　to　have　turned　right　there　and　fled。
　 Then　Todd　heard　Katya　calling　from　behind　him；　naming　the　man。
　 〃Zeffer；〃　she　said；　the　word　freezing　the　man　where　he　stood。
　 〃Katya。。。〃　he　said；　inclining　his　head。
　 Katya　came　up　behind　Todd；　pressing　him　aside　in　order　to　cross　over　the　threshold。　She　pointed　at　the　trespasser　as　she　did　so。
　 〃I　told　you　never　to　e　back　into　this　house！〃　she　yelled　at　Zeffer。　〃Didn't　I？〃
　 He　flinched　at　this；　though　it　was　difficult　to　believe　she　posed　much　physical　threat　to　him。
　 She　summoned　him　down　the　stairs。　〃e　here；〃　she　said。　〃You　worthless　piece　of　shit！　I　said：　e　here！〃
　 Before　he　could　obey　her；　Tammy　intervened。　〃It's　not　his　fault；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　the　one　who　asked　him　to　bring　me　down　here。〃
　 Katya　have　her　a　look　of　plete　contempt；　as　though　anything　she　might　have　to　contribute　to　the　conversation　was　worthless。
　 〃Whoever　the　hell　you　are；〃　she　said；　〃this　is　none　of　your　business。〃
　 She　pushed　Tammy　aside　and　reached　out　to　catch　hold　of　Zeffer。　He　had　dutifully　approached　at　her　summons；　but　now　avoided　her　grasp。　She　came　after　him　anyway；　striking　his　chest　with　the　back　of　her　hand；　a　solid　blow；　and　another；　and　another。　As　she　struck　him　she　said：　〃I　told　you　to　stay　outside；　didn't　I？〃
　 The　blows　were　relatively　light；　but　they　carried　strength　out　of　all　proportion　to　their　size。　They　knocked　the　breath　out　of　him；　for　one　thing；　and　she'd　e　back　with　a　second　blow　before　he'd　drawn　breath　from　the　first；　which　quickly　weakened　him。　Tammy　was　horrified；　but　she　didn't　want　to　interfere；　in　case　she　simply　made　the　matter　worse。　Nor　was　her　attention　entirely　devoted　to　the　sight　of　Todd；　or　to　the　assault　upon　Zeffer。　Her　gaze　was　increasingly　claimed　by　the　sight　visible　through　the　open　door。　It　was　astonishing。　Despite　the　fact　that　Zeffer　had　told　her　the　place　was　an　illusion；　her　eyes　and　her　mind　were　wholly　enamoured　by　what　she　saw：　the　rolling　forest；　the　rocks　with　their　thickets　of　thorn　bushes；　the　delta　and　the　distant　sea。　It　all　looked　so　real。　And　what　was　that？
　 Some　creature　that　looked　like　a　feathered　lizard；　its　coxb　yellow　and　black；　scuttled　into　view；　and　out　again。
　 It　halted；　seeming　to　look　back　through　the　door　at　her：　a　beast　that　belonged　in　some　book　of　medieval　monsters　than　in　such　proximity　to　her。
　 She　glanced　back　at　Zeffer；　who　was　still　being　lectured　by　Katya。　With　the　door　open；　and　the　visions　beyond　presented　to　her；　she　saw　no　reason　not　to　step　over　the　threshold；　just　for　a　moment；　and　see　the　place　more　plainly。　After　all；　she　was　protected　against　its　beguilements。　She　knew　it　was　a　beautiful　lie；　and　as　long　as　she　remembered　that；　then　it　couldn't　do　her　any　harm；　could　it？
　 The　only　thing　in　the　landscape　that　was　real　was　Todd；　and　it　was　to　him　that　she　now　went；　crossing　the　dirt　and　the　windblown　grass　to　go　to　him。　The　feathered　reptile　lowered　its　coxb　as　she　crossed　the　ground；　and　slunk　away；　disappearing　into　a　crack　between　two　boulders。　But　Todd　wasn't　watching　animal…life。　He　had　his　eyes　on　several　horsemen　who　were　approaching　along　a　road　that　wound　through　a　dense　stand　of　trees。　They　were　approaching　at　speed；　kicking　up　clods　of　earth　as　they　came。　Were　they　real；　Tammy　wondered；　or　just　part　of　the　landscape？　She　wasn't　sure；　nor　was　she　particularly　eager　to　put　the　question　to　the　test。
　 Yet　with　every　passing　second　she　was　standing　in　this　world　the　more　she　felt　the　power　of　the　room　to　unknit　her　doubts。　She　felt　its　influence　seeping　through　her　sight　and　her　skin　into　her　mind　and　marrow。　Her　head　grew　giddy；　as　though　she'd　downed　two　or　three　glasses　of　wine　in　quick　succession。
　 It　wasn't　an　unpleasant　sensation　by　any　means；　especially　given　the　extreme　disfort　of　the　last　few　hours。　She　felt　almost　forted　by　the　room；　as　though　it　understood　how　she'd　suffered　of　late；　and　was　ready　to　soothe　her　hurts　and　humiliations　away。　It　would　distract　her　with　its　beauty　and　its　strangeness；　if　she　would　only　trust　it　for　a　while。
　 〃Tammy。。。〃　she　heard　Zeffer　say　behind　her。　His　voice　was　weak；　and　the　effect　his　summons　had　on　her　was　inconsequential。　She　didn't　even　acknowledge　it。　She　just　let　her　eyes　graze　contentedly　on　the　scene　before　her；　the　trees；　the　horsemen；　the　road；　the　rocks。
　 Soon；　she　knew；　the　riders　would　make　a　turn　in　that　road；　and　it　would　be　interesting　to　see　how　their　image　changed　when　they　were　no　longer　moving　in　profile；　but　were　ing　towards　her。
　 She　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder。　It　wasn't　far　to　the　door：　just　a　few　yards。　Her　eyes　didn't　even　focus　on　whatever　was　going　on　in　the　passageway。　It　seemed　very　remote　from　her　at　that　moment。
　 She　looked　back　towards　the　horsemen。　They　had　turned　the　corner　in　the　road；　and　were　now　ing　directly　towards　the　spot　where　Todd　and　she　stood。　It　was　the　oddest　visual　spectacle　she'd　ever　witnessed；　to　see　them　growing　larger　as　they　approached；　like　illustrations　emerging　from　a　book。　The　landscape　around　them　seemed　to　both　recede　and　advance　at　the　same　moment　as　they　approached；　its　motion　throwing　them　forward　as　the　ground　beneath　their　horses　drew　back　like　a　retreating　wave。　It　was　an　utterly　bewildering　spectacle；　but　its　paradoxical　beauty　enthralled　her。　All　thought