gns.throwback-第49部分

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the　bottom　of　the　slope。　But　she　had　to　get　home；　that　was　a　priority。　Her　one　chance　to　put　things　right。
　　
　　She　loaded　her　bags　with　food　and　went　back　outside　into　the　street。　A　milling　throng；　the　traffic　all　snarled　up；　people　hurrying；　clambering　over　abandoned　vehicles　in　their　haste。
　　
　　Jackie　fought　her　way　through；　joined　a　stream　going　the　other　way。　Don't　go　to　First　Terrace　this　time。　Ignore　everybody　else。　You're　on　your　own。　Head　south。
　　
　　She　kept　going；　recognised　landmarks；　lost　them　again　but　knew　she　was　going　in　the　right　direction。　People　lay　in　the　road；　on　the　pavements；　some　of　them　dead；　not　because　of　their　awful　affliction　but　simply　because　they　had　been　trampled　by　the　crowds。　A　crying　child　came　towards　her；　its　features　beginning　to　peel　and　harden　but　she　ignored　it。　Don't　stop　for　anybody；　you　can't　help　them。　Head　for　home　whilst　you　still　know　where　home　is。　South　。　。　。　south　。　。　。　south　。　。　。
　　
　　Days　of　burning　sunshine；　cool　nights　that　brought　relief。　Sleeping　in　long　grass；　heather；　the　air　filled　with　strange　grunts　and　cries；　people　incessantly　on　the　move。　She　hid；　they　must　not　find　her；　this　time　there　must　be　no　Kuz。
　　
　　Walking；　sleeping；　eating　wild　fruit　and　herbs　after　her　own　food　had　run　out；　raiding　the　larders　of　deserted　cottages　whenever　she　came　upon　an　isolated　dwelling。　Mile　after　mile　each　day　but　never　seeming　to　arrive　anywhere；　knowing　that　she　was　heading　in　the　right　direction。
　　
　　A　long　trek　throughout　a　summer　that　waned　and　eased　into　autumn。　Always　on　the　move。　The　hills　were　full　of　restless　people；　some　of　them　congregating　into　groups　which　built　stone　structures；　prepared　for　the　onset　of　winter。　Fools；　you　will　not　survive　when　the　cold　es；　head　south　whilst　there　is　still　time　or　else　seek　the　protection　of　proper　dwellings　built　to　resist　the　blizzards。
　　
　　And　that　was　how　she　had　arrived　at　this　cottage　in　the　hills；　alive　and　warm　whilst　everybody　else　was　either　dead　or　gone。　Waking；　only　the　figments　of　those　strange　dreams　lingering　on；　frightening　her　because　she　was　all　alone。　She　should　be　dead　like　everybody　else　who　had　been　caught　out　by　the　winter。　Perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　that　way。　But　she　still　had　the　will　to　fight　and　live。
　　
　　No　longer　did　that　face　evade　her。　Now　she　knew　it；　saw　its　every　detail　as　clearly　as　though　she　had　only　gazed　upon　it　yesterday。　Jon！　And　only　the　snow　was　preventing　her　from　going　to　him。
　　
　　Endless　days　spent　in　keeping　the　fire　going；　fortunately　the　shed　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden　was　well　stocked　with　coal。　Surviving。
　　
　　And　at　nights　the　dreams　came　again。　Always　Jon；　how　it　had　once　been　between　them　and　how　it　would　be　when　they　were　together　again。
　　
　　A　bright　sunny　morning；　the　snow　crisped　by　a　severe　overnight　frost。　Jackie　had　stoked　up　the　fire；　opened　the　door　and　looked　out　upon　an　arctic　world。　She　tested　the　drift　that　smothered　the　lean…to　and　it　bore　her　weight。　The　snow　was　walkable。
　　
　　Jubilation；　fears　crowding　in　on　her。　If　she　left　would　she　find　her　way　in　this　white　wilderness？　If　she　did　not　then　she　faced　certain　death　once　night　fell　and　the　temperature　dropped。　She　shivered；　her　skin　goose　pim…pling。　And　then　she　heard　the　approaching　helicopter。
　　
　　She　was　familiar　with　the　big　sky…birds；　the　way　they　flew　deafeningly　across　the　countryside；　hovered；　sometimes　landed　and　men　got　out。　Men　with　guns；　searching。　For　what？
　　
　　She　fled　back　inside；　forced　the　warped　door　closed。　The　helicopter　would　pass　over；　soon　be　gone。　Its　roar　vibrated　some　ornaments　on　the　mantelshelf　and　she　knew　that　it　was　directly　overhead；　maybe　barely　higher　than　the　roof。　Whining　angrily；　sending　a　stab　of　stark　fear　into　her　palpitating　heart。　As　if　it　scented　her。
　　
　　It　wasn't　going　away！　Even　louder。　She　clasped　her　hands　to　her　ears；　stumbled　for　the　cover　of　the　old　sofa　which　had　been　her　bed　for　so　long；　flung　herself　full…length　behind　it；　could　not　shut　out　the　noise。
　　
　　Louder　and　still　louder；　the　glass　in　the　rotted　window　frames　rattling；　threatening　to　fall　out。　Wind　gusting；　icy　unnatural　blasts　finding　their　way　in　under　the　ill…fitting　door。　Then　silence。
　　
　　Jackie　cringed；　moaned　softly　to　herself；　aware　that　the　machine　had　landed　as　she　had　seen　others　do　from　time　to　time　when　she　had　been　living　in　the　settlement。　Noises；　something　slammed；　echoed　mechanically。　Voices。　The　awful　realisation　that　the　men　were　ing　here；　that　they　had　spied　the　smoke　from　the　chimney　and　had　put　down　to　investigate。
　　
　　Footsteps。　She　heard　the　door　being　forced　back；　curled　herself　up　into　a　ball；　shut　her　eyes　tightly。　Please　don't　see　me；　don't　take　me　away。　If　that　happened　she　would　never　ever　see　Jon　again；　months　of　hoping　and　surviving　all　for　nothing。
　　
　　There's　gotta　be　somebody　around。'　The　man　who　entered　was　dressed　in　thick　flying　clothes；　still　wore　his　goggles　which　hid　most　of　his　rather　weak　features　and　gave　him　a　sinister　appearance。　'It's　like　they　say；　there's　no　smoke　without　fire。'
　　
　　'And　there's　a　fire　all　right。'　The　second　man　pointed　to　the　fireplace　with　the　barrel　of　his　。357　Magnum。　'Let's　check　upstairs。'
　　
　　Jackie　heard　their　heavy　footsteps　on　the　stairs；　across　the　small　landing　and　into　the　bedroom　directly　above。　A　moment's　silence　and　then　they　were　ing　back　downstairs。　That　bugger's　been　dead　for　some　time。'　The　speaker　wrinkled　his　nose　beneath　his　goggles。　'So　there's　gotta　be　somebody　around　to　have　lit　that　fire。　Hey　。　。　。　look　there！'
　　
　　Jackie's　brain　spun　as　the　sofa　was　dragged　roughly　to　one　side；　found　herself　looking　up　into　the　barrel　of　the　Magnum　and　knew　only　too　well　what　it　could　do。　One　blast　and　she　would　be　dead　instantly。　She　had　seen　a　youth　shot　once　who　had　foolishly　stoned　a　search　party　of　soldiers。　Please　don't　kill　me。　I　don't　want　to　die　any　more。
　　
　　'Jeez！'　The　first　man　let　a　slow　grin　spread　across　his　face。　'D'you　see　what　I　see；　Bill？'
　　
　　'For　one　o'them　she's　fuckin'　beautiful；'　his　panion　replied。　'Now　fancy　findin'　her　in　a　land　where　everybody　else　is　dead。'
　　
　　Jackie　Quinn　cringed；　knew　only　too　well　what　they　were　thinking；　remembered　the　expressions　on　the　faces　of　the　throwbacks　who　had　broken　into　the　house　in　First　Terrace　that　night　so　long　ago。　Certain　aspects　of　behaviour　did　not　change　even　over　a　four…thousand…year　gap。　She　knew　male　lust　when　she　saw　it；　knew　what　she　would　have　to　endure。　And　afterwards　they　would　either　kill　her　or　take　her　away　with　them。
　　
　　They　pulled　her　roughly　to　her　feet　and　she　felt　the　coldness　of　the　automatic　barrel　against　her　neck；　their　hands　smoothing　over　her；　loosening　the　ties　on　her　hide　dress；　baring　her　breasts；　feeling　at　them。
　　
　　'See　this？'　The　one　who　had　pushed　his　goggles　up　on　to　his　forehead　tapped　the　solid　steel　of　the　Magnum。　'Any　trouble　and　BANG。　Get　it？'
　　
　　She　understood；　nodded。　The　second　one　forced　the　door　shut；　poked　at　the　fire。　They　weren't　in　any　hurry。　She　let　the　other　one　undress　her；　didn't　resist。　The　sooner　it　was　over；　the　better。　She　lay　back；　watched　as　they　began　to　take　off　their　heavy　clothing；　saw　how　aroused　they　were。　She　turned　her　head　away；　did　not　want　to　watch。
　　
　　Then　they　took　her。　And　throughout　the　pistol　was　not　far　from　her　head。　She　closed　her　eyes；　shuddered　as　they　pawed　at　her；　changed　over；　changed　back　again；　kept　going　until　they　were　spent。
　　
　　Finally　they　were　dressing；　throwing　her　clothing　at　her。　'Get　dressed；　you　stinking　whore；　you're　ing　with　us。　And　when　our　boffins　get　doing　things　to　you；　you'll　wish　you　were　back　here　with　us　having　the　arse　fucked　off　you！'
　　
　　Jackie　cried；　the　first　time　she　had　cried　since　。　。　。　she　could　not　remember　the　last　time。　Physical　and　mental　hurt　that　had　built　up　inside　her　for　months　suddenly　bursting　its　dam。　Sobbing；　trembling；　trying　to　fasten　the　thongs　on　her　hide　garments　with　shaking　fingers。
　　
　　'She　cries。'　The　pilot　gave　a　guttural　laugh。　'Make　a　note　of　that　for　the　files；　Bill。　We've　heard'em　scream　but　we've　never　yet　found　one　that　cried。　Don't　look　so　worried；　Bill；　they　can't　talk。　But　even　if　she　did　manage　to　squeal　nobody　would　give　a　shit。　They're　animals。'
　　
　　They　pushed　her　ahead　of　them　out　through　the　door；　the　gun　jabbing　into　her　back。　She　saw　the　helicopter　standing　on　a　flat　piece　of　ground　that　the　gales　which　had　brought　the　blizzards　had　swept　clear；　a　huge　silent　metal　bird　of　prey。　And　it　had　found　its　prey。
　　
　　Please　let　me　go；　you've　had　what　you　want。　Please！　She　stopped　and　something　hard　struck　her　across　the　back　of　the　head　so　that　she　stumbled　and　nearly　fell。　She　almost　blacked　out　and　then　they　were　forcing　her　up　the　rungs　of　the　short　ladder　into　the　helicopter；　shoving　her　into　the　rear　seat。
　　
　　'Let's　go　out　of　this　God…awful　place；'　the　co…pilot　muttered。　'I　can't　wait　to　get　back　to　base。　Hell；　imagine　anybody　living　out　here。'
　　
　　The　chassis　vibrated　and　Jackie　clung　to　her　seat。　The　man　called　Bill　still　had　the　pistol　trained　on　her；　maybe　though