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！
e grass and looked across at the reverend。 〃What kind of madness is this？〃
〃I expected better from you；〃 Boniface said bitterly。 〃I expected you to be able to see。 The white man； no； but you； Kip。。。 you could open your mind if you wished； you could feel it。。。〃
〃What are you saying； old man？〃 the constable asked him harshly。
〃I know about you； you think you can hide it but you're mistaken！〃
Kip took a step forward。 〃What are you saying？〃
Boniface stood his ground； was about to explain but then thought better of it。 He bent down and began to gather up the bottles that stood along the lines of the geometric figure。 He put them down into the white pot that had contained the snake； and they rattled together。
〃What do you know about me？〃 Kip asked very quietly。
The reverend began to smear the geometric lines with his foot。 〃I know；〃 he said without looking up； 〃who you could have been。〃 His head came up； and he stared fiercely into the constable's eyes。 A strange； almost tangible power riveted the other man where he stood。 He could not have moved even if he'd wished。
〃Listen to me well；〃 Boniface told him。 〃If you refuse to take the boat to deep water； you must do these things： Lock that shelter securely。 Let no man go near it。 Let no man touch his hand against that iron。 And for all our sakes do not try to break the hatches open。 Do you understand what I say？〃
Kip wanted to say no； that Boniface was a raving fool； that the man didn't know what he was talking about； but when he spoke he heard himself say； 〃Yes。〃
And in the next instant the reverend was gone； melting away into the darkness beyond the circles of torchlight。 Kip had not seen him turn to go； nor did he hear the man making his way through the underbrush； he had simply vanished。
Gradually the night sounds returned； filling in the spaces left when the drums and the shouting had stopped。 Insects called to each other across the jungle； and the cries of the nocturnal birds sounded like the voices of old men。 Kip covered the embers with dirt until he had pletely extinguished the fire； then clicked his light back on and retraced his path to the jeep。 There was a yellow glimmer of a light behind a window shutter at the church and a shadow moving about within。
He climbed behind the wheel and started the engine。 He was actually eager to get away from this part of the island； it was Boniface's kingdom； a place of shadows； jumbies and duppies； faceless things that walked the night seeking souls。 He drove back toward the harbor； along Front Street and through the village。 Still no lights； no sounds。 And before he realized it； he had passed the road leading toward his house and was driving to the boatyard as if drawn there by something beyond his control。 There was a sheen of sweat on his temples and he hastily wiped it away。 He couldn't shake the image of Boniface； standing before him； touched with amber light that glittered in his thick glasses。 I know； the man had said； who you could have been。
And then Kip's foot came down hard on the brakes。
The jeep started to spin in the sand； but Kip let the wheel turn and then corrected its direction； the jeep straightened； whipping grit up behind it； and then stopped abruptly as the engine rattled and died。 Kip sat and looked straight ahead for a long time。
The boatyard gates were shattered； the weathered timbers broken and lying splintered on the ground。 The timbers that still remained in the gate sagged forward； like bones in a broken rib cage； their edges raw and jagged。
An ax； Kip thought。 Some bastard has taken an ax to Langstree's gates。
He picked up his light； climbed out of the jeep； and went through into the yard。 Nothing else seemed to be wrecked； though in the disarray it was difficult for him to tell。 He swept his light in an arc。 Nothing moved。 There was no noise but for the sea and the slow creaking of a boat moored to the wharf。 This would be the right time for someone to break in； with Langstree away。 Why the hell didn't the man hire a watchman？ That cheap old bastard！ he thought angrily； knowing it was his own responsibility if someone had made off with something valuable。
As he moved deeper into the yard； he tried to keep his mind off the U…boat ahead in the naval shelter。 The image of the rotting thing was a searing flame in his mind。 He moved past a great heaping tangle of ropes and cables and walked faster； heading directly for the shelter。
He saw immediately that the door was open； he stopped in his tracks； shining the light about； and then slipped through into the stench of decay。 He moved his light slowly along the hulk； not knowing what to expect； not even knowing what he was looking for。 And when the beam picked out the form of。 the cylinder truck on the forward deck he swore and let his breath out in a hiss。
As he crossed the gangplank he shined the light down onto the deck； and then he saw the gaping； smooth…edged void where the hatch had been burned out。 The hatch itself； the bottom of it encrusted with some kind of yellow fungus； lay several feet away on the deck。 Kip thrust the light down toward the hole； aware that his heartbeat had picked up； that there was something。。。 something。。。 something。。。
Aware that blood was splattered around the yawning opening。
At once Kip sucked in his breath； stunned。 He bent down and touched a hand to the thick globs of blood。 He wiped it off on his trouser leg。 The blood was so dark it was almost black； and he realized he was standing in it。 Puddles had collected around the hatch opening like oil seepage。 And now he smelled it as well； like a thick； coppery taste in his mouth。 There was a larger lump of something beside him； and it was only when Kip had bent to examine it that he realized it was a piece of black flesh。
The U…boat moaned softly； and a timber creaked； the echoes filling the inside of the shelter。 He turned； played the light up the conning…tower bulwark and toward the stern。 A sharp； piercing fear was inside him； jabbing at his guts； and he fought to keep hold of his sanity。 He backed away from the hatch； keeping his light on it； until he'd reached the gangplank。
The flashlight beam played across the murky green water： A Coke can floated against the hull； and beside it a beer can。 The water； pulled in through the sea bulkhead； was dotted with cigarette butts； and his light touched the staring eye of a white； bloated fish。 Something else was there as well； floating just under the gangplank at Kip's feet。
A welder's mask。
Kip got to his knees； reaching down with one hand to pull it from the water。 And as he did and the mask came free； the body underneath it rose to the surface。 The eyes were wide and terror…stricken； the open mouth was filled with water。 Beneath the battered face the throat had been torn open。 Bare bone glittered in a red； pulpy mass that had been a larynx and jugular vein。 Half the face was peeled back； the teeth broken off or ripped from the mouth。 The arms floated stiffly at the corpse's sides； and already tiny fish were darting in to taste the blood at the mangled throat。
Kip cried out involuntarily and pulled his han