dk.solesurvivor-第69节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


es；　shouting　the　girl's　name；　one　arm　raised　to　ward　off　any　pine　boughs　that　might　be　drooping　low　enough　to　lash　his　eyes。
　　From　the　night　behind　him　came　Louis　Tucker's　voice；　slurred　by　the　damage　that　the　spreading　flames　had　already　done　to　his　lips　but　nevertheless　recognizable；　the　chanted　words　of　a　childish　challenge：　'Here　I　e；　here　I　e；　here　I　e；　ready　or　not；　here　I　e；　ready　or　not！'
　　A　narrow　break　in　the　trees　admitted　a　cascade　of　moonbeams；　and　Joe　spotted　the　girl's　cap　of　wind…whipped　blond　hair　glowing　with　pale　fire；　the　reflection　of　reflected　light；　to　his　right　and　only　six　or　eight　yards　ahead。　He　stumbled　over　a　rotting　log；　slipped　on　something　slimy；　kept　his　balance；　flailed　through　prickly　waist…high　brush；　and　discovered　that　Nina　had　found　the　beaten…clear　path　of　a　deer　trail。
　　As　he　caught　up　with　the　girl；　the　darkness　around　them　abruptly　brightened。　Salamanders　of　orange　light　slithered　up　the　trunks　of　the　trees　and　whipped　their　tails　across　the　glossy　bows　of　pines　and　spruces。
　　Joe　turned　and　saw　the　possessed　hulk　of　Louis　Tucker　thirty　feet　away；　ablaze　from　head　to　foot　but　still　standing；　hitching　and　jerking　through　the　woods；　caroming　from　tree　to　tree；　twenty　feet　away；　barely　alive；　setting　fire　to　the　carpet　of　dry　pine　needles　over　which　he　shambled　and　to　the　bristling　weeds　and　to　the　trees　as　he　passed　them。　Now　fifteen　feet　away。　The　stench　of　burning　flesh　on　the　wind。　The　boy…thing　shouted　gleefully；　but　the　words　were　garbled　and　unintelligible。
　　Even　in　a　two…hand　grip；　the　pistol　shook；　but　Joe　squeezed　off　one；　two；　four；　six　rounds；　and　at　least　four　of　them　hit　the　seething　spectre。　It　pitched　backward　and　fell　and　didn't　move；　didn't　even　twitch；　dead　from　fire　and　gunfire。
　　Louis　Tucker　was　not　a　person　now　but　a　burning　corpse。　The　body　no　longer　harboured　a　mind　that　the　boy　could　saddle　and　ride　and　torment。
　　Where？
　　Joe　turned　to　Nina…and　felt　a　familiar　icy　pressure　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　an　insistent　probing；　not　as　sharp　as　it　had　been　when　he　was　almost　caught　on　the　threshold　of　the　Delmann　house；　perhaps　blunted　now　because　the　boy's　power　was　indeed　diminishing　here　in　the　open。　But　the　psychic　syringe　was　not　yet　blunt　enough　to　be　ineffective。　It　still　stung。　It　pierced。
　　Joe　screamed。
　　The　girl　seized　his　hand。
　　The　iciness　tore　out　its　fangs　and　flew　from　him；　as　though　it　were　a　bat　taking　wing。
　　Reeling；　Joe　clamped　a　hand　to　the　nape　of　his　neck；　certain　that　he　would　find　his　flesh　ripped　and　bleeding；　but　he　was　not　wounded。　And　his　mind　had　not　been　violated；　either。
　　Nina's　touch　had　saved　him　from　possession。
　　With　a　banshee　shriek；　a　hawk　exploded　out　of　the　high　branches　of　a　tree　and　dive…bombed　the　girl；　striking　at　her　head；　pecking　at　her　scalp；　wings　flapping；　beak　click…click…clicking。　She　screamed　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　Joe　batted　at　the　assailant　with　one　arm。　The　crazed　bird　swooped　up　and　away；　but　it　wasn't　an　ordinary　bird；　of　course；　and　it　wasn't　merely　crazed　by　the　wind　and　the　churning　fire　that　swelled　rapidly　through　the　woods　behind　them。
　　Here　it　came　again；　with　a　fierce　skreeeek；　the　latest　host　for　the　visitant　from　Virginia；　arrowing　down　through　the　moonlight；　its　rapier　beak　as　deadly　as　a　stiletto；　too　fast　to　be　a　target　for　the　gun。
　　Joe　let　go　of　the　pistol　and　dropped　to　his　knees　on　the　deer　trail　and　pulled　the　girl　protectively　against　him。　Pressed　her　face　against　his　chest。　The　bird　would　want　to　get　at　her　eyes。　Peck　at　her　eyes。　Jab…jab…jab　through　the　vulnerable　sockets　at　the　precious　brain　beyond。　Damage　the　brain；　and　her　power　cannot　save　her。　Tear　her　specialness　right　out　of　her　grey　matter　and　leave　her　in　spasms　on　the　ground。
　　The　hawk　struck；　sank　one　set　of　talons　into　the　sleeve　of　Joe's　coat；　through　the　corduroy；　piercing　the　skin　of　his　forearm；　planting　the　other　set　of　talons　in　Nina's　blond　hair；　wings　drumming　as　it　pecked　her　scalp；　pecked；　angry　because　her　face　was　concealed。　Pecking　now　at　Joe's　hand　as　he　tried　to　knock　it　away；　holding　fast　to　sleeve　and　hair；　determined　not　to　be　dislodged。　Pecking；　pecking　at　his　face　now；　going　for　his　eyes；　Jesus；　a　flash　of　pain　as　it　tore　open　his　cheek。　Seize　it。　Stop　it。　Crush　it　quickly。　Peck；　the　darting　head；　the　bloody　beak；　peck；　and　it　got　his　brow　this　time；　above　his　right　eye；　sure　to　blind　him　with　the　next　thrust。　He　clenched　his　hand　around　it；　and　its　talons　tore　at　the　cuff　of　his　coat　sleeve　now；　tore　at　his　wrist；　wings　beating　against　his　face；　and　it　bobbed　its　head；　the　wicked　beak　darting　at　him；　but　he　held　it　off；　the　hooked　yellow　point　snapping　an　inch　short　of　a　blinding　wound；　the　beady　eyes　glaring　fiercely　and　blood…red　with　reflections　of　fire。　Squeeze　it；　squeeze　the　life　out　of　it；　with　its　racing　heart　stuttering　against　his　relentless　palm。　Its　bones　were　thin　and　hollow；　which　made　it　light　enough　to　fly　with　grace…but　which　also　made　it　easier　to　break。　Joe　felt　its　breast　crumple；　and　he　threw　it　away　from　the　girl；　watched　it　tumble　along　the　deer　trail；　disabled　but　still　alive；　wings　flapping　weakly　but　unable　to　lift　into　the　night。
　　Joe　pushed　Nina's　tangled　hair　away　from　her　face。　She　was　all　right。　Her　eyes　had　not　been　hit。　In　fact；　she　was　unmarked；　and　he　was　overe　by　a　rush　of　pride　that　he　had　prevented　the　hawk　from　getting　at　her。
　　Blood　oozed　from　his　slashed　brow；　around　the　curve　of　the　socket；　and　into　the　corner　of　his　eye；　blurring　his　vision。　Blood　streamed　from　the　wound　in　his　cheek；　dripped　from　his　pecked　and　stinging　hand；　from　his　gouged　wrist。
　　He　retrieved　the　pistol；　engaged　the　safety；　and　jammed　the　weapon　under　his　waistband　again。
　　From　out　of　the　surrounding　woods　issued　a　bleat　of　animal　terror；　which　abruptly　cut　off；　and　then　across　the　mountainside；　over　the　howling　of　the　wind；　a　sharp　shriek　sliced　through　the　night。　Something　was　ing。
　　Maybe　the　boy　had　gained　more　control　of　his　talent　during　the　year　that　Rose　had　been　on　the　run；　and　maybe　now　he　was　more　capable　of　remoting　someone　in　the　outdoors。　Or　perhaps　the　coalesced　power　of　his　psychogeist　was　radiating　away　like　the　heat　from　a　rock；　as　Rose　had　explained；　but　just　wasn't　dispersing　fast　enough　to　bring　a　quick　end　to　this　assault。
　　Because　of　the　blustery　wind　and　the　express…train　roar　of　the　wildfire；　Joe　couldn't　be　certain　from　which　direction　the　cry　had　arisen；　and　now　the　boy；　clothed　in　the　flesh　of　his　host；　was　ing　silently。
　　Joe　scooped　the　girl　off　the　deer　trail；　cradling　her　in　his　arms。　They　needed　to　keep　moving；　and　until　his　energy　faded；　he　could　move　faster　through　the　woods　if　he　carried　her　than　if　he　led　her　by　the　hand。
　　She　was　so　small。　He　was　scared　by　how　small　she　was；　nearly　as　breakable　as　the　avian　bones　of　the　hawk。
　　She　clung　to　him；　and　he　tried　to　smile　at　her。　In　the　hellish　leaping　light；　his　flaring　eyes　and　strained　grin　were　probably　more　frightening　than　reassuring。
　　The　mad　boy　in　his　new　incarnation　was　not　the　only　threat　they　faced。　The　explosive　Santa　Ana　wind　threw　bright　rags；　threw　sheets；　threw　great　billowing　sails　of　fire　across　the　flank　of　the　mountain。　The　pines　were　dry　from　the　hot　rainless　summer；　their　hark　rich　with　turpentine；　and　they　burst　into　flame　as　though　they　were　made　of　gasoline…soaked　rags。
　　Ramparts　of　fire　at　least　three　hundred　feet　across　blocked　the　way　back　to　the　cabin。　They　could　not　get　around　the　blaze　and　behind　it；　because　it　was　spreading　laterally　faster　than　they　could　hike　through　the　underbrush　and　across　the　rugged　terrain。
　　At　the　same　time；　the　fire　was　ing　toward　them。　Fast。
　　Joe　stood　with　Nina　in　his　arms；　riveted　and　dismayed　by　the　sight　of　the　towering　wall　of　fire；　and　he　realized　that　they　had　no　choice　but　to　abandon　the　car。　They　would　have　to　make　the　trip　out　of　the　mountains　entirely　on　foot。
　　With　a　hot　whoosh；　roiling　gouts　of　wind…harried　flames　spewed　through　the　treetops　immediately　overhead；　like　a　deadly　blast　from　a　futuristic　plasma　weapon。　The　pine　boughs　exploded；　and　burning　masses　of　needles　and　cones　tumbled　down　through　lower　branches；　igniting　everything　as　they　descended；　and　suddenly　Joe　and　Nina　were　in　a　tunnel　of　fire。
　　He　hurried　with　the　girl　in　his　arms；　away　from　the　cabin；　along　the　narrow　deer　trail；　remembering　stories　of　people　caught　in　California　brushfires　and　unable　to　outrun　them；　sometimes　not　even　able　to　out　drive　them　when　the　wind　was　particularly　fierce。　Maybe　the　flames　couldn't　accelerate　through　this　density　of　trees　as　quickly　as　through　dry　brush。　Or　maybe　the　pines　were　even　more　acmodating　fuel　than　mesquite　and　manzanita　and　grass。
　　Just　as　they　escaped　the　tunnel　of　fire；　more　rippling　flags　of　flames　unfurled　across　the　sky　overhead；　and　again　the　treetops　in　front　of　them　ignited。　Burning　needles　swarmed　down　like　bright　bees；　and　Joe　was　afraid　his　hair　would　catch　fire；　Nina's　hair；　their　clothes。　The　tunnel　was　growing　in　length　as　fast　as　they　could　run　through　it。
　　Smoke　plagued　him　now。　As　the　blaze　rapidly　intensified；　it　generated　winds　of　its　own；　adding　to　the　force　of　the　Santa　Anas；　bu