《刀锋战士》Blade

1、刀锋战士Bladeblade-bydavids.goyerdarkness,blood-curdlingscreams.presentationcreditsrollaswefadeupon:int.hospital,inner-citytraumaward-nightits1967,thesummerofloveand-boom!entrydoorsswingopenasparamedicswheelinafemalebleeder,vanessa(20s,black,ninemonthspregnant).shesdeathlypale,spewingfountsofbloodfromas

2、avagelyslashedthroat-ashock-traumateamswarmsoverher,insertingavacutainerintoanarterytodrawblood,wrappingabloodpressurecuffaroundherarm-nurse#1(withstethoscope)shesnotbreathing!seniorresidentintubateher!therespiratorytherapistfeedsanendotrachealtubedownthewomansruinedthroat,attachesthattoanamblubag-r

3、esidentblood-pressuresfortyandfalling-thewomanstartsspasmingviolently.ittakesthreestaffmembersjusttoholdherdown.seniorresidentjesus,herwatersbroken-(callingforhelp)shesgoingintouterinecontractions-camerapushesinonthewomanassheboltsupright,screamingtowakethedead.weplungeintothedarknessofhermouthandfi

4、ndourselves-insideherbloodstreamthesoundofaheartbeating,poundingaswewhip-snakethrough-corpusclesfloatinginamberplasma.erythrocytes,leukocytes,neutrophilsandeosinophils.therhythmicexpansionofthearterywalls,pulsingwitheachsuccessivesurgeofbloodastheheartbeatsfasterandfaster,takingus-inutero,achild,ali

5、vebutunborn,shiftinginaseaofamnioticfluid,surroundedbythewhite,protectivesubstanceknownasvernixcaseosa.theheartbeatraceslikealocomotivenow.theunbornchildshifts,turnsitsheadtowardsus-andopensitseyes.cutto:aswordbladecleavingthedarkness,radiantlightslicingacrossgleamingdamascussteel.wordsacid-etchedin

6、theweaponsfine-temperedsurface:blademaincreditsend.ext.innercity,industrialghetto-nightadecayingnomanslandpopulatedbycondemnedbuildingsandhungryhomeless.steamrisesfrommanholecovers,driftingacrossthelitter-linedstreets.suddenly-ablackmercedes850appearsoverthecrestofahill,roaringpastus,stereosystembel

7、.mercedes-nightraquel,awasp-wastedwoman,sitsbehindthewheel.20s,rich,sickeninglyattractive.hungryeyes.squirmingaroundinthepassengerseatisdennis,amodel/actorboy-toywithasub-zeroiqandafuckmesidewaysgrin.dennissowherewegoing?raquelitsasurprise.dennisilikessurprises.raqueleyeballsdennis-

8、iflookscoulddevour.raquelwhatdoyouhavedownthere,littleman?dennisheat-seeker.raquelillbet.raquelslidesamanicuredhanduphisthigh,squeezeshisgroin.dennismoans.shepullsherhandaway,downshifts.ext.vacantlot-nightthe850threadsanarrowalleyintoavacantlot,brakeshard.raquelanddennisclimbout.sheleadshiminto-ext.

9、meatpackingplant-nightindustryneversleeps,andcertainlynotthisgrislyfacility.raquelleadsdennisaroundthebackoftheplant,whereahostofworkersareloadingrefrigeratedtruckswithproduct.denniswhatthefuckarewedoinghere?raqueljustsmiles,.meatpackingplant

10、-nightdennisfollowsraquelthroughthebowelsoftheplant,catchingglimpseshereandthereofcarcassesbeingrenderedorhackedapart.throughonepartiallyopendoorweseewhatmightbealineofbodybagsbeingtrundledintothebackofatruckviaahookandchainpulley-system.butdennisdoesnthaveenoughtimetobedisturbedbythevision,becauseh

11、esbeingpulledawaybyraquel,leddown-astairwellweareinthebasementnow.attheendofthehallisasteeldoor,withperhaps,justthefaintesthintofmusicheardcomingfrombeyond.raquelknocks.apeep-holeslatopensandablacklightshinesintoraquelseyes.avoicebehindthedooroffersaverbalchallenge,speakingalanguageweveneverheard,la

12、cedwithadevilishcadence.raquelrespondsinkind.thedooropens.raquelgivesdennisaknowingwink,.club-nightraquelanddennismovepastahulkingdoorman,makingtheirwaydownanarrowstairway.dennisissuitablyimpressed.theclubiselite,underground-anabattoir-chicversionofanold-timejukejointwithagre

13、asy,dangerousvibe.white-tiledwallsandfloorsforeasyhosing,chromedfittings,run-offgutters,drains.nobar.bodieswritheonthestrobe-litdancefloor.aheavysmscene.leather.latex.tattoos.body-piercings.ad.j.wearinghead-mountedspotlightsorchestratesthetunesontwin-decks.musicassaultsus-abeatsoheavyitcouldjarthefi

14、llingsfromyourteeth.brutaldarkcorealongthelinesofprodigyorunderground.raquelpullsdennisoutontothedancefloor.theysway.alupine-featuredgaultiergirlwithastreakofwhiterunningthroughherravenhairmovesinbehinddennis,pressingupagainsthim.rachelwilliamsastheangelofdeath-wellcallhermercury.mercuryflicksherton

15、gueagainstdennisear-itsbeenpiercedwithasilverpostwhichclicksagainstherteeth.tattooedacrossherbackinblackisaswirling,tribalvortex.dennisisnowsandwichedbetweenraquelandmercury,thethreeofthemdry-humpingtheirwaytoeverymansglory.thebeatgetslouder.theactionheavier.theatmospheremorenarcotic.peoplearestripp

16、ingofftheirclothes,sweatinglikefiends.itsavirtualorgy.dennislaughs,revelinginthehedonism.everythingrisestoafeverpitch-dennis(overthemusic)fuck,ineedadrink!raqueljustsmiles-thendennisnoticesadropofsomethingspatterhishand.itlookslikeblood.dennislooksup,concerned-moreblooddropletsarefalling.raquelsface

17、issprinkledwiththemnow.dennisstopsdancing.whatisthis?somekindoffuckedupperformanceart?raquelturnsherfacetowardtheceiling,asifwashingherselfinasummershower,nowtheotherclubgoersarelookinguptoo-bloodshowersdownfromsprinklerheadsintheceiling,drenchingthedancers.theclubgoersloveit,thrustingtheirheadsback

18、,mouthsopenwidetoreceivethecrimsonoffering.horrified,dennisrecoils,turningtowards-raquel,whosefacemorphsintoapreternaturalsnarl.hercaninesextend,taperingtorazor-sharppoints.hertongueflicks,lizard-likeasfingernailssharpenintoclaws.allthiswhilethewhitesofhereyesbleedred,pupilsoscillatinghypnotically.r

19、aquelwhatswrong,baby?dennisscreams,pushesawayfromraquel,only-mercuryhasfangsnowtoo.infact,everyoneintheclubdoes,withtheexceptionofpoordennis.thatsbecausetheyreallvampires.dennistriestorun,buttheburlydoormanblockshisexit,brutallysmashinghisfistintodennisface.dennisfalls,dazed.theclub-goerscloseinarou

20、ndhim.theymakeagameofit,shovinghimfromonepersontoanother,theirpalefacesleeringliketwistedjack-o-lanterns.thestrobelightsquickentoaseizure-inducingintensity.dennisspins,tumblingintoraquelsarms.sheshoveshimforward-dennislandsonthefloor,fallingatsomeonesboot-cladfeet.helooksup.adarkfiguresitsintheshado

21、ws,unnoticeduntilthismoment.thefigurestands,movesintothelightastimescreechestoahalt-ablackman,towersabovedennis,wearingdarkglassesandaleatherlongcoat-asneerofcruelcontemptetcheduponafacetemperedbyalifetimeofhorror.hisnameisblade.bladewhipsopenhislongcoat,shruggingitoff,revealinganarsenalofhigh-techw

22、eaponsstrappedtohisbody:6-pointadjustablebodyarmor,amodifiedcar-15assaultriflewithanultra-violetentrylight,twocasull.454revolvers,ademonautomaticcross-bow,abandoleerofmahoganystakes,anindian-stylekatarpunchingdagger-andlast,butcertainlynotleast,hisnamesake-asilverswordwhichissecuredinaback-scabbard.

23、closeonbladeagazeascoldandpitilessasamidnightsun.thevampireclub-goersstareback.nuclearsilence.andthen-allhellbreaksloose.withasnarl,raquelchargesatblade,movingatsuperhumanspeed,practicallyablur-bladedrawshiscasulls,firesinmultipledirections-macrobulletshotasaroundroarsthroughtheairtowardsraquel.asil

24、ver-tippeddum-dumbulletwhichexplodesoncontact.wham!theroundpunchesafist-sizedholethroughraquelschest,continuingonintothevampbehindher!vampirebloodfountains.bothcreaturestumbleforward,theirbodiesliquefyingintopuddlesofblackoilwhichgogurglingdowntherun-offdrains.bladecontinuesfiring,then-click!-magazi

25、nesempty.next.heholstersthecasulls,swingsuphisassaultrifle,calmlyflicksontheuventrylightmountedabove-mercuryleapstwentyfeetstraightupintotheair.weveneverseenanythingmovesofast.shecrashesthroughaglassskylight,disappearingintothenightjustas-ashaftofblindinguvsunlightcutsacrossthevampires.theyrearback,

26、skinsmokingfromthelightscorrosiveeffects.bladeopensfire,pumpingroundafterroundofwoodenfragmentationbulletsintothecrowd-vampiregenocide.thestrobelightsflickerasthemayhemmounts.someofthevampirestrytoflee,scurryingupthestairs,buttheexitquicklybecomescloggedwithliquefyingbodies-thenbladescar-15jams.ther

27、emainingclub-goersseetheiropening,surgeforwardenmasse-bladedropstherifle,reachesoverhisshoulderand-schinggg!-unsheatheshisswordwithadouble-handedgrip.theswordfouracid-etchedfeetofblood-soakeddamascussteel.anedgesosharpitcouldcleaveashadowintwo.blademoveslikelightning,hackinghiswayintotwochargingvamp

28、ires.bladespinsagain,cutsanothervampirecleaninhalf-onthefarendoftheclub,alatex-cladvampmakesabreakforit.bladeflingshissword,sendingitspinningendoverend-thunk!theswordpunchesintothevampiresheart.thehellishcreatureconvulses,dies.beat.bladeretrieveshissword,thensenses-somethingbigrisingupbehindhim.inaf

29、lash,bladeswingshissworddownward,cuttingoffthevampiresrighthandattheelbow.theseveredlimbfallstothefloor-butitdoesntslowthehulkingcreaturedown.itslamsintoblade.bladefliesbackwardsthirtyfeet,tumblingovertables,slammingintotherearwallsohardthatplasterrainsdownfromtheceiling.bladesuddenlyfindshimselfwre

30、stlingwithaferal-facedsix-foot-somethingnightmarenamedquinn.thevampirerearsbackitshead,jawsstretchingwide.everyinchofhisfaceiscoveredwithritualscarificationpatternsandmaori-liketribaltattoos.bladeforcesanelbowagainstquinnsthroat,tryingtokeephimatbay.withhisotherhandhereachestohisbandoleer,pullsoutas

31、take-crunch!bladeshovesthestakethroughthevampireslarynx.quinngurgles,clutchesathisthroat.bladerollsoutfromunder,unholstersthecross-bowsecuredtohisleg.withaflickofaswitchthearmsofthebow-snap!-open,drawingthebow-stringtaut.bladefires-thebolthitsquinnintheshoulder,throwinghimbackwardsandnailinghimtothe

32、wall.asquinnreachesoverwithhisotherhandtopulloutthestake-bladefiresagain.asecondboltslamsintoquinnsotherarm,effectivelypinninghimlikeabutterflytoaboard.upabove,mountedinoneofthecorners,isasecuritycamera.bladefiresacross-bowboltstraightintothelens.bladestridesover,placinghisswordagainstquinnschest.bl

33、adewhereisdeaconfrost?quinnglares,tryingtospeak,gaggingonthestakestilllodgedinhistrachea-bladegotsomethinginyourthroat.bladeyanksthestakefree.thevampirelaughs,airwhistlingthroughhisruinedlarynx.quinnfuckyou,day-walker,iaintsayingshit-bladefrost.quinnrespondswithaslewofrapid-firevampireinvectives.bla

34、deseeshesgettingnowherefast,calmlysheatheshissword.heunclipsawhitephosphorousgrenadefromhiscombatharness-quinnyouwontstophim,blade.thetidesrising,thesleepersgonna-bladeshovesthegrenadeinquinnsmouth,pullsthepin.whoosh!quinngoesuplikearomancandle.bladeturns,surveyinghiswork,ignoringthehowlingpyrebehin

35、dhim:allevidenceofthevampiresisgone-withtheexceptionofafewoily-blackpuddles.clothes,jewelry-itsallbeenburnedawaybytheacidicprocessofthecreaturesaccelerateddecomposition.dennissitshuddledinacorner,havingpissedhispants.asbladeapproaches,hecringesback-dennispleasedont-bladesimplygrabsdennisbythejaw,til

36、tinghisheadupward,rotatingitfromsidetoside-lookingforbitemarks.therearentany.blademoveson,leavingdennisaloneamidstthecarnage.asbladestartsupthestairs,hepausesinmid-step-acockroachscurriesoutfromunderfoot.bladeadjustshisfootfall,sparingtheroach.hecontinuesonupthestairs,disappearinginthesmokyhaze.cutt

37、o:int.cityhospital,autopsyroom-nightcamerafollowsabaggedcorpseasitsrolledintotheautopsyroombyanassistant.assistantbroughtyouabakedpotato,niceandcrispy.stillwarm,too.curtiswebb,theforensicpathologist(30s,whitebread,alittleonthesmarmyside)stepsforward,unzipsthebag-itsquinn,whatsleftofhim,anyway.burntt

38、oacharcoalbriquette,limbstwistedhorribly,oozingfluids.curtisturnshishead,grimacing,waftingtheair.curtisjesus,thatsrank-curtisturnsback,makesnoteoftheblackenedstumpwherequinnsarmusedtobe,theruinedthroat-curtiswhatshisstory?assistantparamedicssaidhewasstillscreamingwhentheyfoundhim.lookslikesomejokerh

39、adstapledhimtoawall.curtispretty.cutto:int.hospital,hematologylab-nightmicroscopepovofaslide-mountedbloodsmearstainedwithwrightstain(blueink).whatweseeisacollectionofdonut-shapedpinkthings(redbloodcells)intermingledwithsomesmallbluespecks(platelets)andtheoccasionallarger,light-blueblobs(whitebloodce

40、lls).karenjansen(20s),afine-featuredhematologistwithasociallifeinsuspendedanimation,sitsbackfromthemicroscope,stumped.nexttoherisjuliewhitaker,acheerfulchemtech.karenyoutookthisoffadoa?curtissitsonastoolnearby,slowlynodding.karenthisisnthumanblood.curtisthenwhatisit?karenidontknow-(re:microscope)loo

41、katthisbloodsmear-curtistakesalookforhimself.karentheredbloodcellsarebiconvex,whichistheoreticallyimpossible.theyrehypochromic,theresvirtuallynohemoglobininthem.(shakingherhead)lookatthepmns,theyrebinucleated,theyshouldbemononucleated.curtiswhataboutthechemistrypanel?karenlookstojulie,whoreachesfora

42、computerprint-out.juliebloodsugarlevelisthreetimesthenorm,phosphorousanduricacidareoffthescales.(shrugs)likethewomansaid,impossible.karenremovesherglasses,rubbingthebridgeofhernose.karencurtis,itsthreeinthemorning.imreallynotinthemoodforoneofyourpracticaljokes.curtis(insistent)itsnotajoke.ivegotthes

43、tiffsittinginthemorguerightnow-look,justcomeupandseehim,okay?fiveminutes,thatsalliask.karenithoughtyoupromisedtogivemesomedistance?curtisthisispurelyprofessionalcuriosity,karen,iswear.karenrollshereyes,letslooseatiredsigh.karenfiveminutes,notasecondmore.andidontwanttohearawordaboutus.curtisnoproblem

44、.int.hospitalmorgue-nightthedeadofnight,notamouseinthehouse.curtisandkaren,eachgarbedinamask,standoneithersideofquinnsbody,whichnowrestsontheautopsytable.quinnsbodyapreliminaryexploratoryy-incisionhasbeenmadeacrossthechest,stretchingfromshouldertoshoulder,thencontinuingondowntheabdomen.ribsandcartil

45、agehavebeencutopentoexposetheheartandlungs.karenyouhaventstartedinontheinternalorgans?curtisjustthebloodsamplefromthepericardialsac.curtispauses,studyingquinnsdisfiguredface-thefeaturesseemmuchlessdamagednow-almostasifthecorpsewerehealingitself.curtisthatsweird-karenwhat?curtishelooksdifferentnow,bu

46、rnsarelessextreme,someofthesewoundshaveclosedup-curtispullsoutapenlight,flicksiton.heleansoverquinn,shiningthelightintooneofhiseyes.curtistellmesomething,honestly,youeverhavesecondthoughtsaboutus?karen(grudgingly)sometimes-curtislooksupfromthecorpse,grinningbeneathhismask.karen-butthenirememberwhata

47、nass-holeyouwereandimsnappedbacktoreality.curtisjesus,karen,yourebreakingmyhearthere-quinnsuddenlyboltsupfromtheautopsytable,sinkinghisfangsintocurtisjugular.hesnapsthemansneckintwoforeasieraccess,suckinginbloodlikealivingvacuum.karenstumblesbackwards,sendingautopsytoolsclattering.quinnrisesfromthet

48、able,flingingcurtistwitchingbodyaside.hecurlshisblood-soakedlipsback,baringviper-likefangs,emittingagutturalgrowl-quinn(crazedbythirst)-more-blood-karenbacksintothecorpsedrawers,butquinnisuponherinahalf-second,wrappingahandaboutherthroat.hismouthopens/morphsdisturbinglywideasiftoswallowherheadwhole,

49、causticsalivadrippingfromhiscanines-karentriestoturnherheadaway,butquinnsgripisvise-like.shefindsherselfstaringintohiseyes-pupilspulsingrapid-fire,openingandclosing,hypnotic-asquinnsinksthetipsofhisfangsintokarenscarotidarteryandstartstonurse-bang!aloadofmahoganybuckshotchewsintoquinnsside.hehowlsin

50、pain.anotherloadcatcheshimfullintheface.hedropskaren.shefallstothefloor-karenspovthesoundofrushingbloodpoundingthroughherskull.everythingspinning.shestrugglestomove,turnsherhead,findsherselfeyetoeyewithcurtiscorpse.onquinnrising,hisfacetornup,smoking.whippanto-blade,standingattheentrancetothemorgue,

51、astreetsweeperauto-shotguninhand,sizingquinnup.bladenowdontwelookdapper?quinnbellowswithrage,rippingoneoftheheavysteelrefrigerationdoorsfromitshinges,flingingitatbladelikeitwaslawnfurniture-bladerollstothesideasthedoorcrashesagainstthewall.quinnruns,movingthroughthemorguelikeahumantornado,headingfor

52、thewindowsattheendoftheroom-smash!outgoesquinn,takinghalfthewallwithhim.bladerushestothedecimatedwindow,looksdown-bladespovquinnlandsontheroofofanambulanceparkedfourstoriesbelow,cavingitin.hespringsoff,lopingacrossthetarmaconthreelimbs,then-screech!-thwump!-rollingupontothehoodofanoncomingcar,before

53、disappearingintothenight-backupabove,bladespins,seeskarenbleedingherlifeawayonthefloor.shereachesahandouttohim,beseeching-bladepullsawayfromhergrasp,takesasteptowardstheexit-thenhesitates.aflickerofdoubtwashesacrossbladesface.helooksdownatkarenoncemore,wrestlingwithhisconscience,finallymakingadecisi

54、on.hekneels,scoopskarenupintohisarms.justthen,twopolicemenrushintothemorgue,weaponsdrawn-uniform#1holdit,ass-hole!bladeignoresthem,turningtofacethewindowbeforehim.itsagoodthirtyfeettotheroofoftheadjacentbuilding,aparkingstructure-anddamnedifbladedoesntseemtobeconsideringthejump.thepoliceclosein,agitated.bladecrouches,switcheskarentoaone-handedgrip-uniform#1isaidholdit!-andjumps.ext.hospital/rooftopparkingstructure-nightbladeclearstheimpossibledistance-almost.hesnagstheledgeoftheadjacentparkingstructurewithhislefthandeve