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！
mber…most of them； at least。 A few began to moan； rocking themselves from side to side。 Several lay huddled against the wall； sobbing with the tearing agony of total despair。 Now and again one sprang to his feet with a scream； arms windmilling as he fought invisible demons。 The two warders were at his side almost before the first long scream was ended； hedging him in and keeping pace with him as he turned； so he couldn't harm his neighbors； until the spasm passed and the patient sank into a sobbing puddle。
It was a night of nightmare； lit only by the flickering rays of one feeble lamp； filled with wails and the howling of demons…and Gar reached over to slap Dirk on the arm。
〃Talk…anything！ Give me bits； anything to chew on。〃
Dirk stared。
Then he shook himself； he could remember when he'd needed distraction。 〃Okay。 Obviously there's no psychology here； not even an attempt to understand any of what's in their minds； the authorities stick on the label 'mad；' and don't question any further。 After all； everyone knows there's absolutely no understanding of a madman's mind； right？〃
Gar nodded。 〃Right But…mon sense； at least？ Her！〃
He jabbed a finger out into the gloom； Dirk looked across the way； and saw a girl； maybe twenty； who would have been beautiful anywhere else…hair golden under the crust of filth； heart…shaped face； high； full breasts and a tapering waist； which were easy to see； because her gray tunic was ripped in a dozen places； shredded。 Her eyes were glazed； vacant； and Dirk might have been wrong； but he thought Gar winced as he looked at her。 〃Don't they wonder why a beautiful girl would despair？〃 Gar grated。 〃Can't they see why…？〃
The girl erupted in a sudden； soundless fury； her face contorted in a silent scream； ripping and tearing at her clothes as though they were on fire。
Gar snapped his head down； huge fingers digging into his scalp； yes squeezed shut； body rolled into a tight ball balanced on the balls of his feet； until the girt had relaxed into silent； shuddering sobs。 Then； slowly； he looked up； breathing hoarsely。
〃What's the matter？〃 Dirk said gently。 〃Couldn't you even stand the sight of her？〃
Gar shook his head； looking up wide…eyed； gasping。 〃No。 It was。。。 what was going on in her mind。〃
Dirk frowned。 What kind of figure of speech was that？
〃It gets worse。〃 Gar waved vaguely toward the right； past Dirk； not looking。 〃There's a man down that way who's watching her like a gorgon； and his tongue is thick in his dripping mouth。〃
Dirk turned and looked； frowning。 He could just barely make out the humped body of a Merchant who sat tailor fashion； leaning elbows on knees； staring at the girl in rapt fascination； lips parted； a thin thread of saliva hanging from his lower lip。 Gar hadn't even looked。 How had he known？ Noticed the guy earlier； probably。
〃Don't they see what she's doing to him？〃 Gar rasped。 〃The fantasies he's building around her； the constant tension she keeps him at？〃
Dirk turned back to him； scowling。 〃How do you know that？〃
Gar shook his head impatiently； went on as though he hadn't heard。 〃And there's one down beyond him； gene damage…from inbreeding？…with only the stump of a leg； and it's not amputation； born that way…and with a piece of his mind missing； too； born without a left frontal lobe。〃
Dirk peered through the murk； but this one he couldn't see at all。 Could Gar have that much sharper eyes？
No。 Impossible。
He tamed back to Gar。 〃You can hear their thoughts； can't you？ And you can't shut them out…not this many； this strong。〃
Gar shook his head； staring； glassy…eyed。 〃That's not what's doing it。 Not just that much； alone。 It's the stones； you see。〃
He rose into a crouch； shifting from foot to foot； picking first one off the floor； then the other； in a sort of shuffling dance。 〃It's been stored in the stones of this place； year upon year； agony and despair； piling up into centuries； and I can't get away from them！〃
Dirk glanced nervously at the warders。 〃Keep your voice down。〃
〃If I just didn't have to touch them； if I could get something between me and them； a good thick board maybe； but no； that wouldn't help； they're ing at me from all sides； pushing and shoving into my head； and I can't。。。 can't。。。 can't take it！〃 He whirled about； clutching at his head； spinning around against the chain。 〃Stop them； damn it； stop them； shut them； can't take it！ I've got to get。。。 out of here！〃 He grabbed the chain in both hands and set his foot against the wall。 〃I can't take it！〃
Dirk jumped to his feet； remembering the bars in the arena； as the warders came running up。 Gar's body convulsed； straightening out against the chain； metal groaned； screeched…and the warders piled onto him。 One threw an arm around his throat； the other bear…hugged his arms to his sides。 The giant whirled about； roaring； shaking them like a terrier with rats； then three more warders out of the bunkroom piled on； bearing him down under sheer body…weight Dirk plastered himself back against the wall； staring； horrified。 Then he shook himself； and dived into the churning mass of bodies； throwing his arms around a warder； yanked him loose…and Gar surged up with a bellow； spewing warders out like a volcano； blasting out one huge； blood…congealing shriek that lanced through Dirk's ears down his spine。 It echoed； and faded； but the dim light showed a huge； stiff silhouette bowed over backward； mouth gaping； vacant eyes staring up。 Then； slowly； the human spring uncoiled； and slowly； slowly； folded in on itself； crumbling； then； in a sudden cascade； collapsed； sprawling trembling limbs and bowed head to the floor。
The warders stood back； watching； faces locked in lugubrious tragedy。
Dirk stepped forward； knelt； reached out a hand toward the huge body。
〃Does he live？〃 one of the warders rasped。
Dirk touched the massive shoulder tentatively； then grasped； shook it。
The huge body lifted itself up agonizingly； one leg straight out； the other folded under him。 The torso lifted up； leaned back； backward； until shoulders and head fell back against the wall。 The great arms lay limp； hands upturned and empty on the floor。 The eyes stared upward； blank。
The warders stood in a silent semicircle； their faces grave。 Then one frowned； leaning down； and slapped Gar's face。 〃Now； then； answer…do you hear me？〃
The face rocked to the side with the blow； the eyes stayed empty。
〃Gone；〃 another warder muttered thickly。 All their faces seemed to gel； they turned away； slowly； back toward the light。 The warder who had spoken stood over Gar； then turned to Dirk。 〃He's gone； then； lad。 Do you know what that means？〃
Dirk remembered he was supposed to be mad。 His eyebrows shot up in surprise； he managed a smile。 〃Aye； Nuncle！ Why； 'tis my brother。〃
For a moment die warder's face seemed to soften。 〃Aye； poor idiot。 But is he here； still？〃
Dirk turned to look at Gar in surprise。 〃Why； wherefore not？ He is as he has always been； since the day of his birth。 Except。。。〃 He rolled forward onto his knees； thrusting his face to w