dk.nightchills-第29章

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　The　entrance　foyer　of　St。　Margaret　Mary's　Roman　Catholic　Church　was　quiet　and　nearly　lightless。　The　entire　interior　was　done　in　dark　pine…pegged　pine　floors；　dark　pine　walls；　open…beam　ceilings；　an　intricately　carved　twelve…foot…high　crucifix…as　befitted　the　major　house　of　worship　in　a　lumber　mill　town。　A　five…watt　bulb　burned　above　the　holy　water　font　twelve　feet　away。　At　the　far　end　of　the　auditorium；　votive　candles　flickered　in　ruby…colored　glass　cups；　and　soft　lights　shone　at　the　base　of　the　altar。　However；　little　of　this　ghostly　illumination　filtered　through　the　open　archway　into　the　foyer。
　Cloaked　in　these　shadows　and　in　the　holy　silence；　Jeremy　Thorp　leaned　against　one　of　the　two　heavy；　brass…fitted　front　doors　of　the　church。　He　opened　it　only　two　or　three　inches　and　held　it　in　place　with　his　hip。　Beyond　lay　a　set　of　brick　steps；　the　sidewalk；　a　pair　of　birch　trees；　and　then　the　western　end　of　Main　Street。　The　Union　Theater　was　directly　across　the　street；　he　had　an　adequate　view　of　it　in　spite　of　the　birches。
　Jeremy　looked　at　his　watch　in　the　blade　of　light　that　sliced　through　the　narrow　crack　between　the　doors。　10：20。
　As　they　approached　the　traffic　light　at　the　town　square；　Paul　switched　on　the　right…hand　turn　signal。
　Jenny　said；　〃The　store's　to　the　left。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃To　the　basketball　court　behind　the　theater。〃
　〃To　check　up　on　Emma？〃
　〃No。　I'm　sure　she's　telling　the　truth。〃
　〃Why；　then？〃
　〃I　want　to　ask　Mark　exactly　what　did　happen　this　morning；〃　he　said；　tapping　his　fingers　on　the　steering　wheel　as　he　waited　impatiently　for　the　light　to　change。
　〃Emma　told　us　what　happened。　Nothing。〃
　He　said；　〃Emma's　eyes　were　red　and　puffy；　as　if　she'd　been
　crying。　Maybe　she　and　Bob　had　an　argument　while　Mark　was　there。　Rya　might　have　e　to　the　door　at　the　height　of　the　shouting。　She　might　have　misunderstood　what　was　happening；　she　panicked　and　ran。〃
　〃Emma　would　have　told　us。〃
　〃She　might　have　been　too　embarrassed。〃
　As　the　traffic　light　turned　green；　Jenny　said；　〃Panic？　That　sure　doesn't　sound　like　Rya。〃
　〃I　know。　But　is　it　more　in　character　for　her　to　fabricate　extravagant　lies？〃
　She　nodded。　〃You're　right。　As　unlikely　as　it　is；　it's　more　likely　that　she　was　confused　and　that　she　panicked。〃
　〃We'll　ask　Mark。〃
　According　to　Jeremy　Thorp's　wrist　watch　it　was　10：22　when　Paul　Annendale　drove　his　station　wagon　up　Main　Street　and　into　the　alleyway　beside　the　theater。　As　soon　as　the　car　was　out　of　sight；　the　boy　left　the　church。　He　went　down　the　front　steps；　stood　at　the　curb；　and　waited　for　the　station　wagon　to　reappear。
　During　the　last　hour　the　sky　had　e　closer　to　the　earth。　From　horizon　to　horizon；　a　solid　mass　of　lowering　gray…black　clouds　rolled　eastward；　driven　by　a　strong　high…altitude　wind。　Some　of　that　wind　had　begun　to　sweep　the　streets　of　Black　River；　just　enough　of　it　to　turn　the　leaves　on　the　trees…a　sign；　according　to　folklore；　of　oning　rain。
　No　rain；　please；　Jeremy　thought。　We　don't　want　any　damn　rain。　At　least　not　before　tonight。　This　summer　a　dozen　kids　had　organized　a　series　of　bicycle　races　to　be　held　every　Friday。　Last　week　he　had　placed　second　in　the　main　event；　the　cross…town　dash。　But　I'll　be　first　this　week；　he　thought。　I've　been　in　training。　Heavy　training。　Not　wasting　my　time　like　those　other　kids。　I'm　sure　to　be　the　first　this　week…if　it　doesn't　rain。
　He　glanced　at　his　watch　again。　10：26。
　A　few　seconds　later；　when　he　saw　the　station　wagon　ing　back　down　the　alley；　Jeremy　started　walking　east　along　Main　Street　at　a　brisk　pace。
　*　*　*
　As　the　car　nosed　out　of　the　alley；　just　as　Paul　was　about　to　turn　right　onto　Main　Street；　Jenny　said；　〃There's　Jeremy。〃
　Paul　tapped　the　brakes。　〃Where？〃
　〃Across　the　street。〃
　〃Mark's　not　with　him。〃　He　blew　the　horn；　put　down　his　window；　and　motioned　for　the　boy　to　e　to　him。
　After　he　had　looked　both　ways；　Jeremy　crossed　the　street。　〃Hi；　Mr。　Annendale。　Hi；　Jenny。〃
　Paul　said；　〃Your　mother　told　me　you　and　Mark　were　playing　basketball　behind　the　theater。〃
　〃We　started　to。　But　it　wasn't　much　fun；　so　we　went　up　to　Gordon's　Woods。〃
　〃Where's　that？〃
　They　were　in　the　final　block　of　Main　Street；　but　the　road　continued　to　the　west。　It　rose　with　the　land；　rounded　a　bluff；　and　went　on　until　it　reached　the　mill　and　after　that　the　logging　camp。
　Jeremy　pointed　to　the　forest　atop　the　bluff。　〃That's　Gordon's　Woods。〃
　〃Why　would　you　want　to　go　up　there？〃　Paul　asked。　〃We've　got　a　tree　house　in　Gordon's　Woods。〃　The　boy　read　Paul's　expression　accurately；　and　he　quickly　said；　〃Oh；　don't　worry；　Mr。　Annendale。　It's　not　a　rickety　old　place。　It's　pletely　safe。　Some　of　our　fathers　built　it　for　all　the　kids　in　town。〃
　〃He's　right；〃　Jenny　said。　〃It's　safe。　Sam　was　one　of　the　fathers　who　built　it。〃　She　smiled。　〃Even　though　his　daughter　is　a　bit　too　old　for　treehouses。〃
　Jeremy　grinned。　He　wore　braces。　Those　and　the　freckles　that　peppered　his　face　disarmed　Paul。　The　boy　clearly　didn't　have　the　guile；　the　dark　personality；　or　the　experience　to　take　part　in　a　murder　conspiracy。
　Paul　felt　somewhat　relieved。　When　he　hadn't　found　Jeremy　and　Mark　at　the　basketball　court；　that　icy　hand　had　settled　once　more；　if　briefly；　on　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　said；　〃Is　Mark　up　at　the　treehouse　now？〃
　Yeah。
　〃Why　aren't　you　there？〃
　〃Me　and　Mark　and　a　couple　of　other　kids　want　to　play　Monopoly。　So　I'm　going　home　to　get　my　set。〃
　〃Jeremy。　。　。〃　How　could　he　possibly　find　out　what　he　wanted　to　know？　〃Did　anything…happen　in　your　kitchen　this　morning？〃
　The　boy　blinked；　a　bit　perplexed　by　the　question。　〃We　had　breakfast。〃
　Feeling　more　foolish　than　ever；　Paul　said；　〃Well　。　。　。　You　better　get　your　Monopoly　set。　The　other　kids　are　waiting。〃
　Jeremy　said　good…by　to　Jenny　and　Paul　and　to　Buster；　turned；　looked　both　ways；　and　crossed　the　street。
　Paul　watched　him　until　he　turned　the　corner　at　the　square。
　〃Now　what？〃　Jenny　asked。
　〃Rya　probably　ran　to　Sam　for　sympathy　and　protection。〃　He　sighed。　〃She's　had　time　to　calm　down。　Maybe　she　realizes　that　she　panicked。　We'll　see　what　her　story　is　now。〃
　〃If　she　didn't　run　to　Sam？〃
　〃Then　there's　no　use　looking　for　her　all　over　town。　If　she　wants　to　hide　from　us；　she　can　with　little　trouble。　Sooner　or　later　she'll　e　to　the　store。〃
　Sitting　at　the　kitchen　table；　across　from　his　mother；　Jeremy　recounted　the　conversation　he'd　had　with　Paul　Annendale　a　few　minutes　ago。
　When　the　boy　finished；　Salsbury　said；　〃And　he　believed　it？〃
　Jeremy　frowned。　〃Believed　what？〃
　〃He　believed　that　Mark　was　at　the　treehouse？〃
　〃Well；　sure。　Isn't　he？〃
　Okay。　Okay；　okay；　Salsbury　thought。　This　isn't　the　end　of　the　crisis。　You've　bought　some　time　to　think。　An　hour　or　two。　Maybe　three　hours。　Eventually　Annendale　will　go　looking　for　his　son。　Two　or　three　hours。　You've　no　time　to　waste。　Be　decisive。　You've　been　wonderfully　decisive　so　far。　What　you've　got　to　do　is　be　decisive　and　get　this　straightened　out　before　you　have　to　tell　Dawson　about　it。
　Earlier；　within　twenty　minutes　of　the　boy's　death；　he　had
　edited　the　Thorp　family's　memories；　had　erased　all　remembrance　of　the　killing　from　their　minds。　That　editing　took　no　longer　than　two　or　three　minutes…but　it　was　only　the　first　stage　of　a　plan　to　conceal　his　involvement　in　the　murder。　If　the　situation　were　any　less　desperate；　if　a　capital　offense　hadn't　been　mitted；　if　the　entire　key…lock　program　didn't　hang　in　the　balance；　he　could　have　left　the　Thorps　with　blank　spots　in　their　memories；　and　he　would　have　felt　perfectly　safe　in　spite　of　that。　But　the　circumstances　were　such　that　he　knew　he　should　not　merely　wipe　out　the　truth　but　that　he　should　also　replace　it　with　a　detailed　set　of　false　memories；　recollections　of　routine　events　which　might　have　happened　that　morning　but　which　in　reality　did　not。
　He　decided　to　begin　with　the　woman。　To　the　boy　he　said；　〃Go　into　the　living　room　and　sit　on　the　couch。　Don't　move　from　there　until　I　call　for　you。　Understood？〃
　〃Yeah。〃　Jeremy　left　the　room。
　Salsbury　thought　for　a　minute　about　how　to　proceed。
　Emma　watched　him；　waited。
　Finally　he　said；　〃Emma；　what　time　is　it？〃
　She　looked　at　the　clock…radio。　〃Twenty　minutes　of　eleven。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said　softly。　〃That's　wrong。　it's　twenty　minutes　of　nine。　Twenty　minutes　of　nine　this　'morning。〃
　〃It　is？〃
　〃Look　at　the　clock；　Emma。〃
　〃Twenty　of　nine；〃　she　said。
　〃Where　are　you；　Emma？〃
　〃In　my　kitchen。〃
　〃Who　else　is　here？〃
　〃Just　you。〃
　〃No。〃　He　sat　in　Jeremy's　chair。　〃You　can't　see　me。　You　can't　see　me　at　all。　Can　you；　Emma？〃
　〃No。　I　can't　see　you。〃
　〃You　can　hear　me。　But　you　know　what？　Whenever　our　little　Conversation　is　over；　you　won't　remember　we've　had　it。　Every　event　that　I　describe　to　you　in　the　next　couple　of　minutes　will　bee　a　part　of　your　memories。　You　won't　remember　that　you
　were　told　these　things。　You　will　think　that　you　actually　experienced　them。　Is　that　clear；　Emma？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Her　eyes　glazed。　Her　facial　muscles　went　slack。
　〃All　right。　What　time　is　it？〃
　〃Twenty　minutes　of　nine。〃　〃Where　are　you？〃
　〃In　my　kitchen。〃
　〃Who　else　is　here？〃
　〃No　one。〃
　〃Bob　and　Jeremy　are　here。〃　〃Bob　and　Jeremy　are　here；〃　she　said。　〃Bob's　in　that　chair。〃
　She　smiled　at　Bob。
　〃Jeremy's　sitting　there。　The　three　of　you　are　eating　breakfast。〃
　〃Yes。　Breakfast。〃
　〃Fried　eggs。　Toast；　Orange　juice。〃
　〃Fried　eggs。　Toast。　Orange　juice。〃
　〃Pick　up　that　glass；　Emma。〃
　She　lifted　the　empty　glass　in　front　of　her。
　〃Drink；　Emma。〃
　She　stared　doubtfully　at　the　tumbler。
　〃It's　filled　to　the　top　with　cold；　sweet　orange　juice。　Do　you　see　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Doesn't　it　look　good？〃　〃Yes。〃
　〃Drink　some　of　it；　Emma。〃　She　drank　from　the　empty　glass。
　He　laughed　aloud。　The　power。　。　。　It　was　going　to　work。　He　could　make　her　remember　whatever　he　wished。　〃How　does　it　taste？〃
　She　licked　her　lips。　〃Delicious。〃
　Lovely　animal；　he　thought；　suddenly　giddy。　Lovely；　lovely　little　animal。
　　
　3
　NOON　IN　BUDDY'S　NIGHTMARE　two　men　were　filling　the　town's　reservoir　with　cats。　In　the　deepest　shadows　of　the　night；　just　before　sunrise；　they　were　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　pool；　opening　cages　and　pitching　the　animals　into　the　water。　The　felines　squalled　about　this　assault　on　their　dignity　and　fort。　Soon　the　reservoir　was　teeming　with　cats：　alley　cats；　Siamese　cats；　Angora　cats；　Persian　cats；　black　cats　and　gray　cats　and　white　cats　and　yellow　cats；　striped　cats；　spotted　cats；　old　cats　and　kittens。　Below　the　reservoir；　in　Black　River；　Buddy　innocently　turned　on　the　cold　water　tap　in　his　kitchen…and　cats；　dozens　upon　dozens　of　fiercely　angry　cats；　began　to　spill　into　the　sink；　full…sized　cats　that　had　somehow；　miraculously；　passed　through　the　plumbing；　through　narrow…gauge　pipe　and　rat　traps　and　elbow　joints　and　filter　screens。　Screeching；　wailing；　hissing；　biting；　scratching　cats　fell　over　one　another　and　clawed　the　porcelain　and　scrambled　inexorably　out　of　the　sink　as　new　streams　of　cats　poured　in　behind　them。　Cats　on　the　counter。　Cats　on　the　breadbox。　Cats　in　the　dish　rack。　They　leapt　to　the　floor　and　clambered　atop　the　cupboards。　One　of　them　jumped　on　Buddy's　back　as　he　turned　to　run。　He　tore　it　loose　and　threw　it　against　the　wall。　The　other　cats　were　outraged　by　this　cruelty。　They　Swarmed　after　Buddy；　all　of　them　spitting　and　sna