sk.thewastelands-第94节

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his　feet。
　　〃Sorry。　I　get　thinking　about　the　potential　of　this　place　and　sometimes　I　get　carried　away。　Please　accept　my　apology；　cully。〃　He　picked　up　the　overturned　dipper　and　threw　it　at　Tilly。　〃Fill　this　up；　you　useless　bitch！　What's　the　matter　with　you？〃
　　He　turned　his　attention　back　to　Jake；　still　smiling　his　TV　game…show　host　smile。
　　〃All　right；　you've　had　your　little　joke　and　I've　had　mine。　Now　tell　me　everything　you　know　about　dipolar　puters　and　transitive　circuits。　Then　you　can　have　a　drink。〃
　　Jake　opened　his　mouth　to　say　something…he　had　no　idea　what…and　then；　incredibly；　Roland's　voice　was　in　his　mind；　filling　it。
　　Distract　them；　Jake…and　if　there's　a　button　that　opens　the　door；　get　close　to　it。
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man　was　watching　him　closely。　〃Something　just　came　into　your　mind；　didn't　it；　cully？　I　always　know。　So　don't　keep　it　a　secret；　tell　your　old　friend　Ticky。〃
　　Jake　caught　movement　in　the　corner　of　his　eye。　Although　he　did　not　dare　glance　up　at　the　ventilator　panel…not　with　all　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　notice　bent　upon　him…he　knew　that　Oy　was　back；　peering　down　through　the　louvers。
　　Distract　them　。　。　。　and　suddenly　Jake　knew　just　how　to　do　that。
　　〃I　did　think　of　something；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　wasn't　about　puters。　It　was　about　my　old　pal　Gasher。　And　his　old　pal；　Hoots。〃
　　〃Here！　Here！〃　Gasher　cried。　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　boy？〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　tell　Tick…Tock　who　really　gave　you　the　password；　Gasher？　Then　I　can　tell　Tick…Tock　where　you　keep　it。〃
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man's　puzzled　gaze　shifted　from　Jake　to　Gasher。　〃What's　he　talking　about？〃
　　〃Nothin！〃　Gasher　said；　but　he　could　not　forbear　a　quick　glance　at　Hoots。　〃He's　just　runnin　his　gob；　tryin　to　get　off　the　hot…seat　by　puttin　me　on　it；　Ticky。　I　told　you　he　was　pert！　Didn't　I　say…〃
　　Take　a　look　in　his　scarf；　why　don't　you？〃　Jake　asked。　〃He's　got　a　scrap　of　paper　with　the　word　written　on　it。　I　had　to　read　it　to　him　because　he　couldn't　even　do　that。〃
　　There　was　no　sudden　rage　on　Tick…Tock's　part　this　time；　his　face　darkened　gradually　instead；　like　a　summer　sky　before　a　terrible　thunderstorm。
　　〃Let　me　see　your　scarf；　Gasher；〃　he　said　in　a　soft；　thick　voice。　〃Let　your　old　pal　sneak　a　peek。〃
　　〃He's　lyin；　I　tell　you！〃　Gasher　cried；　putting　his　hands　on　his　scarf　and　taking　two　steps　backward　toward　the　wall。　Directly　above　him；　Oy's　gold…ringed　eyes　gleamed。　〃All　you　got　to　do　is　look　in　his　face　to　see　lyin's　what　a　pert　little　cull　like　him　does　best！〃
　　The　Tick…Tock　Man　shifted　his　gaze　to　Hoots；　who　looked　sick　with　fear。　〃What　about　it？〃　Tick…Tock　asked　in　his　soft；　terrible　voice。　〃What　about　it；　Hooterman？　I　know　you　and　Gasher　was　butt…buddies　of　old；　and　I　know　you've　the　brains　of　a　hung　goose；　but　surely　not　even　you　could　be　stupid　enough　to　write　down　a　password　to　the　inner　chamber　。　。　。　could　you？　Could　you？〃
　　〃I　。。。　I　oney　thought　。　。　。〃　Hoots　began。
　　〃Shut　up！〃　Gasher　shouted。　He　shot　Jake　a　look　of　pure；　sick　hate。　〃I'll　kill　you　for　this；　dearie…see　if　I　don't。〃
　　〃Take　off　your　scarf；　Gasher；〃　the　Tick…Tock　Man　said。　〃I　want　a　look　inside　it。〃
　　Jake　sidled　a　step　closer　to　the　podium　with　the　burtons　on　it。
　　〃No！〃　Gasher's　hands　returned　to　the　scarf　and　pressed　against　it　as　if　it　might　fly　away　of　its　own　accord。　〃Be　damned　if　I　will！〃
　　〃Brandon；　grab　him；〃　Tick…Tock　said。
　　Brandon　lunged　for　Gasher。　Gasher's　move　wasn't　as　quick　as　Tick…Tock's　had　been；　but　it　was　quick　enough；　he　bent；　yanked　a　knife　from　the　top　of　his　boot；　and　buried　it　in　Brandon's　arm。
　　〃Oh；　you　barstard！〃　Brandon　shouted　in　surprise　and　pain　as　blood　began　to　pour　out　of　his　arm。
　　〃Lookit　what　you　did！〃　Tilly　screamed。
　　〃Do　I　have　to　do　everything　around　here　myself？〃　Tick…Tock　shouted；　more　exasperated　than　angry；　it　seemed；　and　rose　to　his　feet。　Gasher　retreated　from　him；　weaving　the　bloody　knife　back　and　forth　in　front　of　his　face　in　mystic　patterns。　He　kept　his　other　hand　planted　firmly　on　top　of　his　head。
　　〃Draw　back；〃　he　panted。　〃I　loves　you　like　a　brother；　Ticky；　but　if　you　don't　draw　back；　I'll　hide　this　blade　in　your　guts…so　I　will。〃
　　〃You？　Not　likely；〃　the　Tick…Tock　Man　said　with　a　laugh。　He　removed　his　own　knife　from　its　scabbard　and　held　it　delicately　by　the　bone　hilt。　All　eyes　were　on　the　two　of　them。　Jake　took　two　quick　steps　to　the　podium　with　its　little　cluster　of　buttons　and　reached　for　the　one　he　thought　the　Tick…Took　man　had　pushed。
　　Gasher　was　backing　along　the　curved　wall；　the　tubes　of　light　painting　his　mandrus…riddled　face　in　a　succession　of　sick　colors：　bile…green；　fever…red；　jaundice…yellow。　Now　it　was　the　Tick…Tock　Man　standing　below　the　ventilator　grille　where　Oy　was　watching。

　　〃Put　it　down；　Gasher；〃　Tick…Tock　said　in　a　reasonable　tone　of　voice。　〃You　brought　the　boy　as　I　asked；　if　anyone　else　gets　pricked　over　this；　it'll　be　Hoots；　not　you。　Just　show　me…〃
　　Jake　saw　Oy　crouching　to　spring　and　understood　two　things：　what　the　humbler　meant　to　do　and　who　had　put　him　up　to　it。
　　〃Oy；　no！〃　he　screamed。
　　All　of　them　turned　to　look　at　him。　At　that　moment　Oy　leaped；　hitting　the　flimsy　ventilator　grille　and　knocking　it　free。　The　Tick…Tock　Man　wheeled　toward　die　sound；　and　Oy　fell　onto　his　upturned　face；　biting　and　slashing。
　　
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　　ROLAND　HEARD　IT　FAINTLY　even　through　the　twin　doors…Oy；　no！…and　his　heart　sank。　He　waited　for　the　valve…wheel　to　turn；　but　it　did　not。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　sent　with　all　his　might：　The　door；　Jake！　Open　the　door！
　　He　sensed　no　response；　and　the　pictures　were　gone。　His　munica…tion　line　with　Jake；　flimsy　to　begin　with；　had　now　been　severed。
　　
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　　THE　TICK…TOCK　MAN　blundered　backward；　cursing　and　screaming　and　grabbing　at　the　writhing；　biting；　digging　thing　on　his　face。　He　felt　Oy's　claws　punch　into　his　left　eye；　popping　it；　and　a　horrible　red　pain　sank　into　his　head　like　a　flaming　torch　thrown　down　a　deep　well。　At　that　point；　rage　overwhelmed　pain。　He　seized　Oy；　tore　him　off　his　face；　and　held　him　over　his　head；　meaning　to　twist　him　like　a　rag。
　　〃No！〃　Jake　wailed。　He　forgot　about　the　button　which　unlocked　the　doors　and　seized　the　gun　hanging　from　the　back　of　the　chair。
　　Tilly　shrieked。　The　others　scattered。　Jake　levelled　the　old　German　machine…gun　at　the　Tick…Tock　Man。　Oy；　upside　down　in　those　huge；　strong　hands　and　bent　almost　to　the　snapping　point；　writhed　madly　and　slashed　his　teeth　into　the　air。　He　shrieked　in　agony…a　horribly　human　sound。
　　〃Leave　him　alone；　you　bastard！〃　Jake　screamed；　and　pressed　the　trigger。
　　He　had　enough　presence　of　mind　left　to　aim　low。　The　roar　of　the　Schmeisser　。40　was　ear…splitting　in　the　enclosed　space；　although　it　fired　only　five　or　six　rounds。　One　of　the　lighted　tubes　popped　in　a　burst　of　cold　orange　fire。　A　hole　appeared　an　inch　above　the　left　knee　of　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　tight…fitting　trousers；　and　a　dark　red　stain　began　to　spread　at　once。　Tick…Tock's　mouth　opened　in　a　shocked　O　of　surprise；　an　expression　which　said　more　clearly　than　words　could　have　done　that；　for　all　his　intelligence；　Tick…Tock　had　expected　to　live　a　long；　happy　life　where　he　shot　people　but　was　never　shot　himself。　Shot　at；　perhaps；　but　actually　hit？　That　surprised　expression　said　that　just　wasn't　supposed　to　be　in　the　cards。
　　Wele　to　the　real　world；　you　fuck；　Jake　thought。
　　Tick…Tock　dropped　Oy　to　the　iron　grillework　floor　to　grab　at　his　wounded　leg。　Copperhead　lunged　at　Jake；　got　an　arm　around　his　throat；　and　then　Oy　was　on　him；　barking　shrilly　and　chewing　at　Copperhead's　ankle　through　the　black　silk　pants。　Copperhead　screamed　and　danced　away；　shaking　Oy　back　and　forth　at　the　end　of　his　leg。　Oy　clung　like　a　limpet。　Jake　turned　to　see　the　Tick…Tock　Man　crawling　toward　him。　He　had　retrieved　his　knife　and　the　blade　was　now　clamped　between　his　teeth。
　　〃Goodbye；　Ticky；〃　Jake　said；　and　pressed　the　Schmeisser's　trigger　again。　Nothing　happened。　Jake　didn't　know　if　it　was　empty　or　jammed；　and　this　was　hardly　the　time　to　speculate。　He　took　two　steps　backward　before　finding　further　retreat　blocked　by　the　big　chair　which　had　served　the　Tick…Tock　Man　as　a　throne。　Before　he　could　slip　around；　putting　the　chair　between　them；　Tick…Tock　had　grabbed　his　ankle。　His　other　hand　went　to　the　hilt　of　his　knife。　The　ruins　of　his　left　eye　lay　on　his　cheek　like　a　glob　of　mint　jelly；　the　right　eye　glared　up　at　Jake　with　insane　hatred。
　　Jake　tried　to　pull　away　from　the　clutching　hand　and　went　sprawling　on　the　Tick…Tock　man's　throne。　His　eye　fell　on　a　pocket　which　had　been　sewn　into　the　right…hand　arm…rest。　Jutting　from　the　elasticized　top　was　the　cracked　pearl　handle　of　a　revolver。
　　〃Oh；　cully；　how　you'll　suffer！〃　the　Tick…Tock　Man　whispered　ecstati…cally。　The　O　of　surprise　had　been　replaced　by　a　wide；　trembling　grin。　〃Oh　how　you'll　suffer！　And　how　happy　I'll　be　to　。。。　What…？〃
　　The　grin　slackened　and　the　surprised　O　began　to　reappear　as　Jake　pointed　the　cheesy　nickel…plated　revolver　at　him　and　thumbed　back　the　hammer。　The　grip　on　Jake's　ankle　tightened　until　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　bones　there　must　snap。
　　〃You　dasn't！〃　Tick…Tock　said　in　a　screamy　whisper。
　　〃Yes　I　do；〃　Jake　said　grimly；　and　pulled　the　trigger　of　the　Tick…Tock　Man's　runout　gun。　There　was　a　Hat　crack；