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kly； sullen people before him tried to run。 Whatever his head thought about this gunslinging business； his hands had discovered they liked it just fine。
〃Stand where you are； beautiful。 Officer Friendly says play it safe。〃 He glanced at Susannah and was disturbed by the grayish quality of her plexion。 〃Suze； you all right？〃 he asked in a lower voice。
〃Yes。〃
〃You're not going to faint or anything； are you？ Because…〃
〃No。〃 She looked at him with eyes so dark they were like caves。 〃It's just that I never shot anyone before 。 。 。 okay？〃
Well； you better get used to it rose to his lips。 He bit it back and returned his gaze to the five people who remained before them。 They were looking at him and Susannah with a species of sullen fear which nevertheless stopped well short of terror。
Shit； most of them have forgotten what terror is； he thought。 Joy； sadness； love 。 。 。 same thing。 I don't think they feel much of anything； anymore。 They've been living in this purgatory too long。
Then he remembered the laughter； the excited cries； the lounge…act applause； and revised his thinking。 There was at least one thing that still got their motors running； one thing that still pushed their buttons。 Spanker could have testified to that。
〃Who's in charge here？〃 Eddie asked。 He was watching the intersec…tion behind the little group very carefully in case the others should get their courage back。 So far he saw and heard nothing alarming from that direction。 He thought that the others had probably left this ragged crew to its fate。
They looked at each other uncertainly； and finally the woman with the blood…spattered face spoke up。 〃Spanker was； but when the god…drums started up this time； it was Spanker's stone what e out of the hat and we set him to dance。 I guess Winston would have e next； but you did for him with your god…rotted guns； so you did。〃 She wiped blood deliberately from her cheek； looked at it； and then returned her sullen glance to Eddie。
〃Well； what do you think Winston was trying to do to me with his god…rotted spear？〃 Eddie asked。 He was disgusted to find the woman had actually made him feel guilty about what he had done。 〃Trim my sideburns？〃
〃Killed Frank 'n Luster； too；〃 she went on doggedly； 〃and what are you？ Either Grays； which is bad； or a couple of god…rotted outlanders； which is worse。 Who's left for the Pubes in City North？ Topsy； I sup…pose…Topsy the Sailor…but he ain't here； is he？ Took his boat and went off downriver； ay； so he did； and god rot him； too； says I！〃
Susannah had ceased listening； her mind had fixed with horrified fascination on something the woman had said earlier。 It was Spanker's stone what e out of the hat and we set him to dance。 She remembered reading Shirley Jackson's story 〃The Lottery〃 in college and understood that these people； the degenerate descendents of the original Pubes； were living Jackson's nightmare。 No wonder they weren't capable of any strong emotion when they knew they would have to participate in such a grisly drawing not once a year； as in the story； but two or three times each day。
〃Why？〃 she asked the bloody woman in a harsh； horrified voice。 〃Why do you do it？〃
The woman looked at Susannah as if she was the world's biggest fool。 〃Why？ So the ghosts what live in the machines won't take over the bodies of those who have died here…Pubes and Grays alike…and send them up through the holes in the streets to eat us。 Any fool knows that。〃
〃There are no such things as ghosts；〃 Susannah said； and her voice sounded like so much meaningless quacking to her own ears。 Of course there were。 In this world； there were ghosts everywhere。 Nevertheless； she pushed ahead。 〃What you call the god…drums is only a tape stuck in a machine。 That's really all it is。〃 Sudden inspiration struck her and she added： 〃Or maybe the Grays are doing it on purpose…did you ever think of that？ They live in the other part of the city； don't they？ And under it； as well？ They've always wanted you out。 Maybe they've just hit on a really efficient way of getting you guys to do their work for them。〃
The bloody woman was standing next to an elderly gent wearing what looked like the world's oldest bowler hat and a pair of frayed khaki shorts。 Now he stepped forward and spoke to her with a patina of good manners that turned his underlying contempt into a dagger with razor…sharp edges。 〃You are quite wrong； Madam Gunslinger。 There are a great many machines under Lud； and there are ghosts in all of them…demonous spirits which bear only ill will to mortal men and women。 These demon…ghosts are very capable of raising the dead 。 。 。 and in Lud； there are a great many dead to raise。〃
〃Listen；〃 Eddie said。 〃Have you ever seen one of these zombies with your own eyes； Jeeves？ Have any of you？〃
Jeeves curled his lip and said nothing…but that lip…curl really said it all。 What else could one expect； it asked； from outlanders who used guns as a substitute for understanding？
Eddie decided it would be best to close off the whole line of discus…sion。 He had never been cut out for missionary work； anyway。 He wag…gled the Ruger at the bloodstained woman。 〃You and your friend there…the one who looks like an English butler on his day off…are going to take us to the railroad station。 After that； we can all say goodbye； and I'll tell you the truth： that's going to make my fuckin day。〃
〃Railroad station？〃 the guy who looked like Jeeves the Butler asked。 〃What is a railroad station？〃
〃Take us to the cradle；〃 Susannah said。 〃Take us to Blaine。〃
This finally rattled Jeeves； an expression of shocked horror replaced the world…weary contempt with which he had thus far treated them。 〃You can't go there！〃 he cried。 〃The cradle is forbidden ground； and Blaine is the most dangerous of all Lud's ghosts！〃
Forbidden ground？ Eddie thought。 Great。 If it's the truth； at least we'll be able to stop worrying about you assholes。 It was also nice to hear that there still was a Blaine 。。。 or that these people thought there was； anyway。
The others were staring at Eddie and Susannah with expressions of unprehending amazement； it was as if the interlopers had suggested to a bunch of born…again Christians that they hunt up the Ark of the Covenant and turn it into a pay toilet。
Eddie raised the Ruger until the center of Jeeves's forehead lay in the sight。 〃We're going；〃 he said； 〃and if you don't want to join your ancestors right here and now； I suggest you stop pissing and moaning and take us there。〃
Jeeves and the bloodstained woman exchanged an uncertain glance； but when the man in the bowler hat looked back at Eddie and Susannah； his face was firm and set。 〃Shoot us if you like；〃 he said。 〃We'd sooner die here than there。〃
〃You folks are a bunch of sick motherfuckers with dying on the brain！〃 Susannah cried at them。 〃Nobody has to die！ Just take us where we want to go； for the love of God！〃
The woman said somberly； 〃But it is death to enter Blaine's cradle； mum； so it is。 For Blaine sleeps； and he who disturbs his rest must pay a high price。〃
〃e on； beautiful；〃 Eddie snapped。 〃You can't smell the coffee with your head up your ass。〃