p&c.thunderhead-第22部分

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　like　any　dog　Teresa　had　heard；　either。　It　sounded　like　a　wolf；　if　you　got　right　down　to　it。　But　Teddy　would　never　have　retreated　like　that　from　a　lone　wolf；　or　even　a　cougar。　Perhaps　it　was　a　whole　pack　of　wolves。　
　The　muttered　low　howl　was　answered　by　another；　a　little　closer。　The　dog　whined　again；　louder；　and　pressed　itself　back　into　the　darkness　under　the　table。　There　was　a　dribbling　sound；　and　Teresa　saw　he　was　urinating　in　his　fright。　
　She　paused；　hand　on　the　doorframe。　Until　two　years　ago；　there　had　been　no　wolves　in　New　Mexico。　Then　the　Game　and　Fish　Department　introduced　some　into　the　Pecos　Wilderness。　Guess　a　few　have　wandered　down　from　the　mountains；　she　thought。　
　Teresa　went　back　to　her　room；　peeled　off　her　nightgown；　slid　on　her　jeans；　shirt；　and　boots；　then　walked　across　the　room　and　opened　the　gun　locker。　The　weapons　gleamed　dully　against　the　darkness。　She　reached　for　her　current　favorite；　a　Winchester　Defender；　with　its　181/2…inch　barrel　and　extended　magazine　tube。　It　was　a　good；　light　gun；　billed　as　a　defensive　weapon　with　unparalleled　stopping　power。　Just　another　way　of　saying　it　was　very　good　at　killing　people。　Or　wolves；　for　that　matter。　
　She　slid　in　a　magazine：　eight　Federal　ammo　casings　of　12…gauge　double…ought　lead　buck。　This　wasn't　the　first　time　since　the　attack　on　Nora　that　she'd　heard　sounds　from　the　Kelly　ranch。　And　once；　driving　back　from　Santa　Fe；　she'd　seen　a　low；　dark　shape　skulking　around　the　old　mailbox　rack。　Had　to　be　wolves；　nothing　else　made　sense。　They'd　confronted　Nora　in　the　farmhouse　that　night。　Must　have　rattled　her　so　badly　she　thought　she　heard　them　speak。　Teresa　shook　her　head。　Not　like　Nora　to　wig　out　like　that。　
　Wolves　that　didn't　fear　humans　could　be　dangerous；　and　Teresa　didn't　want　to　meet　up　with　them　without　a　gun。　Better　to　deal　with　the　problem　directly。　If　Game　and　Fish　wanted　to　make　a　stink；　let　them。　She　had　a　ranch　to　run。　
　She　tucked　the　shotgun　under　her　arm；　shoved　a　flashlight　into　her　back　pocket；　and　crept　back　to　the　kitchen　door；　careful　not　to　turn　on　any　lights。　She　heard　Teddy　whining　and　snuffling　as　she　left；　but　he　made　no　move　to　follow　her。　
　She　stepped　onto　the　back　porch　and　eased　the　door　shut　behind　her。　There　was　a　faint　creaking　of　floorboards　as　she　moved　down　the　steps。　Then　she　angled　toward　the　wellhouse　and　the　trail　that　began　just　beyond。　Teresa　was　a　large；　heavy…boned　woman；　but　she　had　the　natural　stealthy　movements　of　a　feline。　At　the　wellhouse　she　inhaled　deeply；　steadied　the　gun；　then　eased　down　the　trail　in　the　inky　blackness。　She　had　descended　the　trail　countless　times　to　play　with　Nora　when　they　were　children；　and　her　feet　remembered　the　way。　
　Soon　she　was　on　the　flat。　The　Kelly　ranch　house　stood　across　the　draw；　just　on　the　side　of　the　rise；　its　low　roof　outlined　against　the　night。　In　the　faintest　starlight；　she　could　see　the　front　door　was　open。　
　She　waited　for　what　seemed　a　long　time；　listening；　but　there　was　only　the　susurrus　of　wind　in　the　pi？on　trees。　The　shotgun　felt　cold　and　reassuring　in　her　hands。　
　She　sampled　the　breeze：　she　was　downwind　of　the　house；　which　meant　the　wolves　couldn't　scent　her。　There　was　a　strange　odor　in　the　air　that　reminded　her　of　morning　glories；　but　nothing　else。　Perhaps　the　animals　had　heard　her　and　run　off。　Or　perhaps　they　were　still　in　the　house。　
　She　snapped　off　the　safety　and　gripped　the　flashlight　tight　against　the　Winchester's　barrel。　Then　she　moved　toward　the　front　of　the　house。　The　building　was　striped　in　wavy　starlight；　looking　strangely　like　a　drowned；　abandoned　temple。　She　could　use　the　light　to　freeze　any　animal　that　came　into　view；　giving　her　a　stationary　target。　
　And　then　Teresa　heard　something；　at　the　edge　of　audibility；　that　was　not　a　wolf。　She　stopped　to　listen。　It　was　a　low；　monotonous　chanting　drone；　a　hoarse；　guttural　cadence；　dry　and　faint　as　parched　leaves。　
　It　came　from　inside　the　house。　
　Teresa　licked　her　dry　lips　and　took　a　deep　breath。　She　stepped　onto　the　front　porch　and　waited　for　a　minute；　then　two。　As　quietly　as　she　could；　she　took　two　more　steps　forward；　covered　the　inside　of　the　house　with　her　gun；　and　switched　on　the　flashlight。　
　The　house　was　as　she　remembered　it　from　the　previous　week：　a　hurricane　of　ruin；　dust；　and　old　decay。　The　smell　of　flowers　was　stronger　here。　Quickly；　she　probed　the　corners　and　doorways　with　the　light；　seeing　nothing。　Through　a　broken　rectangle　of　window；　the　night　wind　gently　swelled　the　stained　curtains。　The　chanting　was　louder　now；　and　it　seemed　to　be　ing　from　upstairs。　
　She　crept　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　switching　off　the　light。　These　were　obviously　not　animals。　Perhaps　Nora　had　been　right　after　all：　she'd　been　attacked　by　men　wearing　masks；　rapists　perhaps。　She　remembered　how　uncharacteristically　frightened　Teddy　Bear　had　been。　Perhaps　it　would　be　better　for　her　to　creep　quietly　home　and　telephone　the　cops。　
　But　no…by　the　time　the　cops　arrived；　with　their　flashing　lights　and　clomping　boots；　these　bastards　would　have　slipped　away　into　the　shadows。　And　Teresa　would　be　left　with　the　nagging　worry　about　when　they　might　show　up　again。　Perhaps　they'd　try　her　house　next　time。　Or　perhaps　they'd　catch　her　out　away　from　home；　when　she　was　unarmed　。　。　。　
　Her　grip　tightened　on　the　shotgun。　The　time　to　act　was　now；　while　she　could。　Her　father　had　taught　her　how　to　hunt；　she　was　an　expert　stalker。　She　had　a　weapon　that　she　knew　how　to　use。　And　she　had　the　advantage　of　surprise。　With　infinite　caution；　she　began　to　ascend　the　stairs。　She　moved　instinctively；　shifting　her　weight　from　foot　to　foot　with　extreme　deliberation。　
　She　paused　again　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　The　starlight　filtering　through　the　windows　below　was　too　faint　here　to　make　out　anything　but　the　vaguest　of　shapes；　but　her　ears　told　her　that　the　sound　was　ing　from　Nora's　old　room。　She　took　two　steps；　then　paused　to　take　several　breaths；　check　her　control。　Whoever　it　was；　she　was　taking　no　chances。　
　She　braced　herself；　gun　in　both　hands；　the　flashlight　firm　against　the　barrel。　Then　with　one　smooth；　swift　motion　she　stepped　forward；　kicked　the　door　fully　open；　swivelled　the　gun　into　position；　and　snapped　on　the　flashlight。　
　It　took　a　moment　for　her　brain　to　register　what　her　eyes　saw。　Two　figures；　covered　head　to　toe　in　heavy；　dank　pelts；　crouched　in　the　center　of　the　room。　Their　red　eyes　turned　toward　the　light；　unblinking；　feral。　Between　them　rested　a　human　skull；　its　top　missing。　Inside　the　skull　was　a　small　collection　of　objects…a　doll's　head；　some　hair；　a　girl's　barrette…Nora's　old　things；　Teresa　realized；　frozen　with　horror。　
　Suddenly　one　of　the　forms　leaped　up；　moving　faster　than　she　thought　possible。　It　passed　out　of　the　beam　of　her　flashlight　as　she　jerked　the　trigger。　The　shotgun　bucked　in　her　hands　and　the　deafening　roar　seemed　to　shake　the　house　itself。　
　She　blinked；　straining　to　see　through　the　dust　and　smoke。　There　was　nothing　but　a　ragged；　smoking　hole　in　the　bedroom　wall。　Both　figures　had　now　vanished。　
　She　pumped　another　round　into　the　chamber　and　pivoted；　covering　the　room　with　the　yellow　pool　of　light。　Her　breath　rasped　in　and　out　as　the　noise　fell　away　and　the　dust　settled　back　into　the　gloom。　People　didn't　move　like　that。　Here；　by　herself；　behind　the　flashlight；　she　felt　suddenly；　terribly　vulnerable。　She　had　a　momentary　impulse　to　turn　off　the　light；　find　shelter　in　the　darkness。　But　she　sensed　that　darkness　alone　would　not　protect　her　from　these　creatures。　
　Teresa　had　grown　up　a　brave　girl；　big　and　strong　for　her　age。　She'd　had　no　older　brothers　to　keep　her　in　line；　and　she　had　been　able　to　beat　up　anybody　in　her　class；　boy　or　girl。　Now…standing　in　the　darkened　doorway；　breathing　hard；　eyes　alert　to　any　movement…Teresa　felt　an　unfamiliar　sense　of　panic　threaten　to　envelope　her。　
　She　tore　her　gaze　from　the　dark　emptiness　of　the　room；　pivoted　again；　and　scanned　the　hallway。　The　house　was　utterly　silent　except　for　her　breathing。　Other　darkened　bedroom　doors；　black　on　black；　opened　to　the　wrecked　hall。　
　She　had　to　get　downstairs；　she　realized。　There；　she　could　switch　off　the　light；　let　the　starlight　aid　her。　She　glanced　toward　the　stairs；　imprinting　their　location　in　her　mind。　Then　she　switched　off　the　light　and　darted　forward。　
　A　black　shape　lunged　diagonally　out　from　a　far　bedroom。　With　an　involuntary　cry；　Teresa　turned　and　jerked　the　trigger。　Eyes　blinded　by　the　muzzle　flare；　she　stumbled　backward　and　half　rolled；　half　fell　down　the　stairs；　shotgun　clattering　away　into　the　darkness。　She　scrambled　to　her　knees　at　the　bottom　step；　a　sharp　pain　spiking　through　one　ankle。　
　At　the　top　of　the　stairs　a　large　shape　crouched；　staring　silently　down　at　her。　Teresa　whirled；　searching　in　the　faint　starlight　for　her　weapon。　But　instead　of　the　shotgun；　her　gaze　fell　upon　the　second　shape；　framed　in　the　kitchen　doorway；　ing　toward　her　with　a　slow　confidence　that　was　somehow　terrible。　
　Teresa　stared　at　the　figure　for　a　moment；　paralyzed　with　terror。　Then　she　turned　and　limped　toward　the　door；　scattering　glass；　a　low　whimper　escaping　her　throat。　
　
　
16
　
　THE　NEXT　MORNING；　NORA　AWAKENED　TO　A　marvelous　smell。　She　stretched　luxuriously；　still　wrapped　within　a　wonderful；　receding　dream。　Then；　heari