sk.thewastelands-第73节

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　was　a　small…very　small…splash　when　it　hit　the　river。　The　freshening　wind　gusted　and　stuck　his　shirt　against　his　sweaty　skin。　The　bridge　groaned　and　swayed。　Eddie　tried　to　remove　his　hands　from　the　side…rail；　but　they　seemed　frozen　to　the　pitted　metal　in　a　deathgrip。
　　He　closed　his　eyes　for　a　moment。　You're　not　going　to　freeze。　You're　not。　I　。。。　I　forbid　it。　If　you　need　something　to　look　at；　make　it　long　tall　and　ugly。　Eddie　opened　his　eyes　again；　fixed　them　on　the　gunslinger；　forced　his　hands　to　open；　and　began　to　move　forward　again。
　　
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　　ROLAND　REACHED　THE　GAP　and　looked　back。　Jake　was　five　feet　behind　him。　Oy　was　at　his　heels。　The　bumbler　was　crouched　down　with　his　neck　stretched　forward。　The　wind　was　much　stronger　over　the　river…cut；　and　Roland　could　see　it　rippling　Oy's　silky　fur。　Eddie　was　about　twenty…five　feet　behind　Jake。　His　face　was　tightly　drawn；　but　he　was　still　shuffling　grimly　along　with　Susannah's　collapsed　wheelchair　in　his　left　hand。　His　right　was　clutching　the　rail　like　grim　death。
　　〃Susannah？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　responded　at　once。　〃Fine。〃
　　〃Jake？〃
　　Jake　looked　up。　He　was　still　grinning；　and　the　gunslinger　saw　there　was　going　to　be　no　problem　there。　The　boy　was　having　the　time　of　his　life。　His　hair　blew　back　from　his　finely　made　brow　in　waves；　and　his　eyes　sparkled。　He　jerked　one　thumb　up。　Roland　smiled　and　returned　the　gesture。
　　〃Eddie？〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　me。〃
　　Eddie　appeared　to　be　looking　at　Roland；　but　the　gunslinger　decided　he　was　really　looking　past　him；　at　the　windowless　brick　buildings　which　crowded　the　riverbank　at　the　far　end　of　the　bridge。　That　was　all　right；　given　his　obvious　fear　of　heights；　it　was　probably　the　best　thing　he　could　do　to　keep　his　head。
　　〃All　right；　I　won't；〃　Roland　murmured。　〃We're　going　to　cross　the　hole　now；　Susannah。　Sit　easy。　No　quick　movements。　Understand？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃If　you　want　to　adjust　your　position；　do　it　now。〃
　　〃I'm　fine；　Roland；〃　she　said　calmly。　〃I　just　hope　Eddie　will　be　all　right。〃
　　〃Eddie's　a　gunslinger　now。　He'll　behave　like　one。〃
　　Roland　turned　to　the　right；　so　he　was　facing　directly　downriver；　and　grasped　the　handrail。　Then　he　began　to　edge　out　across　the　hole；　shuffling　his　boots　along　the　rusty　cable。
　　
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　　JAKE　WAITED　UNTIL　ROLAND　and　Susannah　were　part　of　the　way　across　the　gap　and　then　started　himself。　The　wind　gusted　and　the　bridge　swayed　back　and　forth；　but　he　felt　no　alarm　at　all。　He　was；　in　fact；　totally　buzzed。　Unlike　Eddie；　he'd　never　had　any　fear　of　heights；　he　liked　being　up　here　where　he　could　see　the　river　spread　out　like　a　steel　ribbon　under　a　sky　which　was　beginning　to　cloud　over。
　　Halfway　across　the　hole　in　the　bridge　（Roland　and　Susannah　had　reached　the　place　where　the　uneven　walkway　resumed　and　were　watching　the　others）；　Jake　looked　back　and　his　heart　sank。　They　had　forgotten　one　member　of　the　party　when　they　were　discussing　how　to　cross。　Oy　was　crouched；　frozen　and　clearly　terrified；　on　the　far　side　of　the　hole　in　the　walkway。　He　was　sniffing　at　the　place　where　the　concrete　ended　and　the　rusty；　curved　support　took　over。
　　〃e　on；　Oy！〃　Jake　called。
　　〃Oy！〃　the　bumbler　called　back；　and　the　tremble　in　his　hoarse　voice　was　almost　human。　He　stretched　his　long　neck　forward　toward　Jake　but　didn't　move。　His　gold…ringed　eyes　were　huge　and　dismayed。
　　Another　gust　of　wind　struck　the　bridge；　making　it　sway　and　squall。　Something　twanged　beside　Jake's　head…the　sound　of　a　guitar　string　which　has　been　tightened　until　it　snaps。　A　steel　thread　had　popped　out　of　the　nearest　vertical　hanger；　almost　scratching　his　cheek。　Ten　feet　away；　Oy　crouched　miserably　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　Jake。
　　〃e　on！〃　Roland　shouted。　〃Wind's　freshening！　e　on；　Jake！〃
　　〃Not　without　Oy！〃
　　Jake　began　to　shuffle　back　the　way　he　had　e。　Before　he　had　gone　more　than　two　steps；　Oy　stepped　gingerly　onto　the　support　rod。　The　claws　at　the　ends　of　his　stiffly　braced　legs　scratched　at　the　rounded　metal　surface。　Eddie　stood　behind　the　bumbler　now；　feeling　helpless　and　scared　to　death。
　　〃That's　it；　Oy！〃　Jake　encouraged。　〃e　to　me！〃
　　〃Oy…Oy！　Ake…Ake！〃　the　bumbler　cried；　and　trotted　rapidly　along　the　rod。　He　had　almost　reached　Jake　when　the　traitorous　wind　gusted　again。　The　bridge　swung。　Oy's　claws　scratched　madly　at　the　support　rod　for　purchase；　but　there　was　none。　His　hindquarters　slued　off　the　edge　and　into　space。　He　tried　to　cling　with　his　forepaws；　but　there　was　nothing　to　cling　to。　His　rear　legs　ran　wildly　in　midair。
　　Jake　let　go　of　the　rail　and　dived　for　him；　aware　of　nothing　but　Oy's　gold…ringed　eyes。
　　〃No；　Jake！〃　Roland　and　Eddie　bellowed　together；　each　from　his　own　side　of　the　gap；　each　too　far　away　to　do　anything　but　watch。
　　Jake　hit　the　cable　on　his　chest　and　belly。　His　pack　bounced　against　his　shoulderblades　and　he　heard　his　teeth　click　together　in　his　head　with　the　sound　of　a　cueball　breaking　a　tight　rack。　The　wind　gusted　again。　He　went　with　it；　looping　his　right　hand　around　the　support　rod　and　reaching　for　Oy　with　his　left　as　he　swayed　out　into　space。　The　bumbler　began　to　fall；　and　clamped　his　jaws　on　Jake's　reaching　hand　as　he　did。　The　pain　was　immediate　and　excruciating。　Jake　screamed　but　held　on；　head　down；　right　arm　clasping　the　rod；　knees　pressing　hard　against　its　wretchedly　smooth　surface。　Oy　dangled　from　his　left　hand　like　a　circus　acrobat；　staring　up　with　his　gold…ringed　eyes；　and　Jake　could　now　see　his　own　blood　flowing　along　the　sides　of　the　bumbler's　head　in　thin　streams。
　　Then　the　wind　gusted　again　and　Jake　began　to　slip　outward。
　　
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　　EDDIE'S　FEAR　LEFT　HIM　in　its　place　came　that　strange　yet　wele　coldness。　He　dropped　Susannah's　wheelchair　to　the　cracked　cement　with　a　clatter　and　raced　nimbly　out　along　the　support　cable；　not　even　both…ering　with　the　handrail。　Jake　hung　head…down　over　the　gap　with　Oy　swinging　at　the　end　of　his　left　hand　like　a　furry　pendulum。　And　the　boy's　right　hand　was　slipping。
　　Eddie　opened　his　legs　and　seat…dropped　to　a　sitting　position。　His　undefended　balls　smashed　painfully　up　into　his　crotch；　but　for　the　moment　even　this　exquisite　pain　was　news　from　a　distant　country。　He　seized　Jake　by　the　hair　with　one　hand　and　one　strap　of　his　pack　with　the　other。　He　felt　himself　beginning　to　tilt　outward；　and　for　a　nightmarish　moment　he　thought　all　three　of　them　were　going　to　go　over　in　a　daisy…chain。
　　He　let　go　of　Jake's　hair　and　tightened　his　grip　on　the　packstrap；　praying　the　lad　hadn't　bought　the　pack　at　one　of　the　cheap　discount　outlets。　He　flailed　above　his　head　for　the　handrail　with　his　free　hand。　After　an　interminable　moment　in　which　their　bined　outward　slide　continued；　he　found　it　and　seized　it。
　　〃ROLAND！〃　he　bawled。　〃I　COULD　USE　A　LITTLE　HELP　HERE！〃
　　But　Roland　was　already　there；　with　Susannah　still　perched　on　his　back。　When　he　bent；　she　locked　her　arms　around　his　neck　so　she　wouldn't　drop　headfirst　from　the　sling。　The　gunslinger　wrapped　an　arm　around　Jake's　chest　and　pulled　him　up。　When　his　feet　were　on　the　support　rod　again；　Jake　put　his　right　arm　around　Oy's　trembling　body。　His　left　hand　was　an　agony　of　fire　and　ice。
　　〃Let　go；　Oy；〃　he　gasped。　〃You　can　let　go　now　we're…safe。〃
　　For　a　terrible　moment　he　didn't　think　the　billy…bumbler　would。　Then；　slowly；　Oy's　jaws　relaxed　and　Jake　was　able　to　pull　his　hand　free。　It　was　covered　with　blood　and　dotted　with　a　ring　of　dark　holes。
　　〃Oy；〃　the　bumbler　said　feebly；　and　Eddie　saw　with　wonder　that　the　animal's　strange　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　He　stretched　his　neck　and　licked　Jake's　face　with　his　bloody　tongue。
　　〃That's　okay；〃　Jake　said；　pressing　his　face　into　the　warm　fur。　He　was　crying　himself；　his　face　a　mask　of　shock　and　pain。　〃Don't　worry；　that's　okay。　You　couldn't　help　it　and　I　don't　mind。〃
　　Eddie　was　getting　slowly　to　his　feet。　His　face　was　dirty　gray；　and　he　felt　as　if　someone　had　driven　a　bowling　ball　into　his　guts。　His　left　hand　stole　slowly　to　his　crotch　and　investigated　the　damage　there。
　　〃Cheap　fucking　vasectomy；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　　〃Are　you　going　to　faint；　Eddie？〃　Roland　asked。　A　fresh　gust　of　wind　flipped　his　hat　from　his　head　and　into　Susannah's　face。　She　grabbed　it　and　jammed　it　down　all　the　way　to　his　ears；　giving　Roland　the　look　of　a　half…crazed　hillbilly。
　　〃No；〃　Eddie　said。　〃I　almost　wish　I　could；　but…〃
　　〃Take　a　look　at　Jake；〃　Susannah　said。　〃He's　really　bleeding。〃
　　〃I'm　fine；〃　Jake　said；　and　tried　to　hide　his　hand。　Roland　took　it　gently　in　his　own　hands　before　he　could。　Jake　had　sustained　at　least　a　dozen　puncture…wounds　in　the　back　of　his　hand；　his　palm；　and　his　fingers。
　　Most　of　them　were　deep。　It　would　be　impossible　to　tell　if　bones　had　been　broken　or　tendons　severed　until　Jake　tried　to　flex　the　hand；　and　this　wasn't　the　time　or　place　for　such　experiments。
　　Roland　looked　at　Oy。　The　billy…bumbler　looked　back；　his　expressive　eyes　sad　and　frightened。　He　had　made　no　effort　to　lick　Jake's　blood　from　his　chops；　although　it　would　have　been　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world　for　him　to　have　done　so。
　　〃Leave　him　alone；〃　Jake　said；　and　wrapped　the　encircling　arm　more　tightly　about　Oy's　body。　〃It　wasn't　his　fault。　It　was　my　fault　for　forgetting　him。　The　wind　blew　him　off。〃
　　〃I'm　not　going　to　hurt　him；〃　Roland　said。