sk.petsematary-第16章

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　　…made　him　nervous。　He　had　never　had　an　episode　of　somnambulism　before；　and　there　was　no　way　to　be　sure　it　was　an　isolated　incident。　。　。　until　it　did　or　didn't　happen　again。
　　He　heard　Rachel　get　out　of　bed；　and　then　she　called　down　softly；　〃Lou？　Hon？　You　ing　up？〃
　　〃Just　was；〃　he　said；　turning　out　the　lamp　over　his　study　desk　and　getting　up。
　　It　took　a　good　deal　longer　than　seven　minutes　to　shut　the　machine　down　that　night。　Listening　to　Rachel　draw　the　long；　calm　breaths　of　deep　sleep　beside　him；　the　apparition　of　Victor　Pascow　seemed　less　dreamlike。　He　would　close　his　eyes　and　see　the　door　crashing　open　and　there　he　was；　Our　Special　Guest　Star；　Victor　Pascow；　standing　there　in　his　jogging　shorts；　pallid　under　his　summer　tan；　his　collarbone　poking　up。
　　He　would　slide　down　toward　sleep；　think　about　how　it　would　be　to　e　fully；　coldly　awake　in　the　Pet　Sematary；　to　see　those　roughly　concentric　circles　litten　by　moonlight；　to　have　to　walk　back；　awake；　along　the　path　through　the　woods。　He　would　think　these　things　and　then　snap　fully　awake　again。
　　It　was　sometime　after　midnight　when　sleep　finally　crept　up　on　his　blind　side　and　bagged　him。　There　were　no　dreams。　He　woke　up　promptly　at　seven…thirty；　to　the　sound　of　cold　autumn　rain　beating　against　the　window。　He　threw　the　sheets　back　with　some　apprehension。　The　ground　sheet　on　his　bed　was　flawless。　No　purist　would　describe　his　feet；　with　their　rings　of　heel　calluses；　that　way；　but　they　were　at　least　clean。
　　Louis　caught　himself　whistling　in　the　shower。
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　　Missy　Dandridge　kept　Gage　while　Rachel　ran　Winston　Churchill　to　the　vet's　office。　That　night　Ellie　stayed　awake　until　after　eleven；　plaining　querulously　that　she　couldn't　sleep　without　Church　and　calling　for　glass　after　glass　of　water。　Finally　Louis　refused　to　let　her　have　any　more　on　the　grounds　that　she　would　wet　the　bed。　This　caused　a　crying　tantrum　of　such　ferocity　that　Rachel　and　Louis　stared　at　each　other　blankly；　eyebrows　raised。
　　〃She's　scared　for　Church；〃　Rachel　said。　〃Let　her　work　it　out；　Lou。〃
　　〃She　can't　keep　it　up　at　that　pitch　for　long；〃　Louis　said。　〃I　hope。〃
　　He　was　right。　Ellie's　hoarse；　angry　cries　became　hitches　and　hiccups　and　moans。　Finally　there　was　silence。　When　Louis　went　up　to　check　on　her；　he　found　she　was　sleeping　on　the　floor　with　her　arms　wrapped　tightly　around　the　cat　bed　that　Church　hardly　even　deigned　to　sleep　in。
　　He　removed　it　from　her　arms；　put　her　back　in　bed；　brushed　her　hair　back　from　her　sweaty　brow　gently；　and　kissed　her；　On　impulse　he　went　into　the　small　room　that　served　as　Rachel's　office；　wrote　a　quick　note　in　large　block　letters　on　a　sheet　of　paper…　I　WILL　BE　BACK　TOMORROW；　LOVE；　CHURCH…and　pinned　it　to　the　cushion　on　the　bottom　of　the　cat　bed。　Then　he　went　into　his　bedroom；　looking　for　Rachel。　Rachel　was　there。　They　made　love　and　fell　asleep　in　each　other's　arms。
　　Church　returned　home　on　the　Friday　of　Louis's　first　full　week　of　work；　Ellie　made　much　of　him；　used　part　of　her　allowance　to　buy　him　a　box　of　cat　treats；　and　nearly　slapped　Gage　once　for　trying　to　touch　him。　This　made　Cage　cry　in　a　way　mere　parental　discipline　could　never　have　done。　Receiving　a　rebuke　from　Ellie　was　like　receiving　a　rebuke　from　Cod。
　　Looking　at　Church　made　Louis　feel　sad。　It　was　ridiculous；　but　that　didn't　change　the　emotion。　There　was　no　sign　of　Church's　former　feistiness。　No　more　did　he　walk　like　a　gunslinger；　now　his　walk　was　the　slow；　careful　walk　of　the　convalescent。　He　allowed　Ellie　to　hand…feed　him。　He　showed　no　sign　of　wanting　to　go　outside；　not　even　to　the　garage。　He　had　changed。　Perhaps　it　was　ultimately　for　the　better　that　he　had　changed。
　　Neither　Rachel　nor　Ellie　seemed　to　notice。
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　　Indian　summer　came　and　went。　Brazen　color　came　into　the　trees；　rioted　briefly；　and　then　faded。　After　one　cold；　driving　rain　in　mid…October；　the　leaves　started　to　fall。　Ellie　began　to　arrive　home　laden　with　Halloween　decorations　she　had　made　at　school　and　entertained　Gage　with　the　story　of　the　Headless　Horseman。　Gage　spent　that　evening　babbling　happily　about　somebody　named　Itchybod　Brain。　Rachel　got　giggling　and　couldn't　stop。　It　was　a　good　time　for　them；　that　early　autumn。
　　Louis's　work　at　the　university　had　settled　into　a　demanding　but　pleasant　routine。　He　saw　patients；　he　attended　meetings　of　the　Council　of　Colleges；　he　wrote　the　obligatory　letters　to　the　student　newspaper；　advising　the　university's　co…ed　population　of　the　confidentiality　of　the　infirmary's　treatment　for　VD　and　exhorting　the　student　population　to　get　flu　boosters；　as　the　A…type　was　apt　to　be　prevalent　again　that　winter。　He　sat　on　panels。　He　chaired　panels。　During　the　second　week　in　October；　he　went　to　the　New　England　Conference　on　College　and　University　Medicine　in　Providence　and　presented　a　paper　on　the　legal　ramifications　of　student　treatment。　Victor　Pascow　was　mentioned　in　his　paper　under　the　fictitious　name　of　〃Henry　Montez。〃　The　paper　was　well　received。　He　began　working　up　the　infirmary　budget　for　the　next　academic　year。
　　His　evenings　fell　into　a　routine：　kids　after　supper；　a　beer　or　two　with　Jud　Crandall　later。　Sometimes　Rachel　came　over　with　him　if　Missy　was　available　to　sit　for　an　hour；　and　sometimes　Norma　joined　them；　but　mostly　it　was　just　Louis　and　Jud。　Louis　found　the　old　man　as　fortable　as　an　old　slipper；　and　he　would　talk　about　Ludlow　history　going　back　three　hundred　years　almost　as　though　he　had　lived　all　of　it。　He　talked　but　never　rambled。　He　never　bored　Louis；　although　he　had　seen　Rachel　yawning　under　her　hand　on　more　than　one　occasion。
　　He　would　cross　the　road　to　his　house　again　before　ten　on　most　evenings；　and；　like　as　not；　he　and　Rachel　would　make　love。　Never　since　the　first　year　of　their　marriage　had　they　made　love　so　often；　and　never　so　successfully　and　pleasurably。　Rachel　said　she　believed　it　was　something　in　the　artesian　well　water；　Louis　opted　for　the　Maine　air。
　　The　nasty　death　of　Victor　Pascow　on　the　first　day　of　the　fall　semester　began　to　fade　in　the　memory　of　the　student　body　and　in　Louis's　own；　Pascow's　family　no　doubt　still　grieved。　Louis　had　spoken　to　the　tearful；　mercifully　faceless　voice　of　Pascow's　father　on　the　telephone；　the　father　had　only　wanted　assurance　that　Louis　had　done　everything　he　could；　and　Louis　had　assured　him　that　everyone　involved　had。　He　did　not　tell　him　of　the　confusion；　the　spreading　stain　on　the　carpet；　and　how　his　son　had　been　dead　almost　from　the　instant　he　was　brought　in；　although　these　were　things　that　Louis　thought　he　himself　would　never　forget。　But　for　those　to　whom　Pascow　was　only　a　casualty；　he　had　already　dimmed。
　　Louis　still　remembered　the　dream　and　the　sleepwalking　incident　that　had　acpanied　it；　but　it　now　seemed　almost　as　if　it　had　happened　to　someone　else；　or　on　a　television　show　he　had　once　watched。　His　one　visit　to　a　whore　in　Chicago　six　years　ago　seemed　like　that　flow；　they　were　equally　unimportant；　side　trips　which　held　a　false　resonance；　like　sounds　produced　in　an　echo　chamber。
　　He　did　not　think　at　all　about　what　the　dying　Pascow　had　or　had　not　said。
　　There　was　a　hard　frost　on　Halloween　night。　Louis　and　Ellie　began　at　the　Crandalls'。　Ellie　cackled　satisfyingly；　pretended　to　ride　her　broom　around　Norma's　kitchen；　and　was　duly　pronounced　〃Just　the　cutest　thing　I　ever　saw。　。　。　isn't　she；　Jud？〃
　　Jud　agreed　that　she　was　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Where's　Gage；　Louis？　Thought　you'd　have　him　dressed　up　too。〃
　　They　had　indeed　planned　on　taking　Gage　around…Rachel　in　particular　had　been　looking　forward　to　it　because　she　and　Missy　Dandridge　had　whomped　together　a　sort　of　bug　costume　with　twisted　coat　hangers　wrapped　in　crepe　paper　for　feelers…but　Gage　had　e　down　with　a　troublesome；　bronchial　cold；　and　after　listening　to　his　lungs；　which　sounded　a　bit　ratfly；　and　consulting　the　thermometer　outside　the　window；　which　read　only　forty　degrees　at　six　o'clock；　Louis　had　nixed　it。　Rachel；　although　disappointed；　had　agreed。
　　Ellie　had　promised　to　give　Gage　some　of　her　candy；　but　the　exaggerated　quality　of　her　sorrow　made　Louis　wonder　if　she　wasn't　just　a　bit　glad　that　Gage　wouldn't　be　along　to　slow　her　down　or　steal　part　of　the　limelight。
　　〃Poor　Gage；〃　she　had　said　in　tones　usually　reserved　for　those　suffering　terminal　illness。　Gage；　unaware　of　what　he　was　missing；　sat　on　the　sofa　watching　〃Zoom〃　with　Church　snoozing　beside　him。
　　〃Ellie…witch；〃　Gage　had　replied　without　a　great　deal　of　interest　and　went　back　to　the　TV。
　　〃Poor　Gage；〃　Ellie　had　said　again；　fetching　another　sigh。　Louis　thought　of　crocodile　tears　and　grinned。　Ellie　grabbed　his　hand　and　started　pulling　him。　〃Let's　go；　Daddy。　Let's　go…let's　go…let's　go。
　　〃Gage　has　got　a　touch　of　the　croup；〃　Louis　said　to　Jud　now。
　　〃Well；　that's　a　real　shame；〃　Norma　said；　〃but　it　will　mean　more　to　him　next　year。　Hold　out　your　bag；　Ellie　。　。　。　whoops！〃
　　She　had　taken　an　apple　and　a　bite…sized　Snickers　bar　out　of　the　treat　bowl　on　the　table；　but　both　of　them　had　fallen　out　of　her　hand。　Louis　was　a　little　shocked　at　how　clawlike　that　hand　looked。　He　bent　over　and　picked　up　the　apple　as　it　rolled　across　the　floor。　Jud　got　the　Snickers　and　dropped　it　into　Ellie's　bag。
　　〃Oh；　let　me　get　you　another　apple；　honey；〃　Norma　said。　〃That　one　will　bruise。〃
　　〃It's　fine；〃　Louis　said；　trying　to　drop　it　into　Ellie's　bag；　but　Ellie　stepped　away；　holding　her　bag　protectively　shut。
　　〃I　don't　want　a　bruised　apple；　Daddy；〃　she　said；　looking　at　her　father　as　if　he　might　have　gone　mad。　〃Brown　spots　。　。　。　yuck！〃
　　〃Ellie；　that's　damned　impolite！〃
　　〃Don't　scold　her　for　telling　the　truth；　Louis；〃　Norma　said。
　　〃Only　children　tell　the　whole　truth；　you　know。　That's　what　makes　them　children。　The　brown　spots　are　yucky。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mrs。　Crandall；〃　Ellie　said；　casting　a　vindicated　eye　on　her　father。
　　〃You're　very　wele；　honey；〃　Norma　said。
　　Jud　escorted　them　out　to　the　porch。　Two　little　ghosts　were　ing　up　the　walk；　and　Ellie　recognized　them　both　as　friends　from　school。　She　took　them　back　to　the　kitchen；　and　for　a　moment　Jud　and　Louis　were　alone　on　the　porch。
　　〃Her　arthritis　has　gotten　worse；〃　Louis　said。
　　Jud　nodded　and　pinched　out　his　cigarette　over　an　ashtray。　〃Yeah。　It's　e　down　harder　on　her　every　fall　and　winter；　but　this　is　the　worst　it's　ever　been。〃
　　〃What　does　her　doctor　say？〃
　　〃Nothing。　He　can't　say　nothing　because　Norma　hasn't　been　back　to　see　him。〃
　　〃What？　Why　not？〃
　　Jud　looked　at　Louis；　and　in　the　light　cast　by　the　headlamps　of　the　station　wagon　waiting　for　the　ghosts；　he　looked　oddly　defenseless。　〃I'd　meant　to　ask　you　this　at　a　better　time；　Louis；　but　I　guess　there　isn't　no　good　time　to　impose　on　a　friendship。　Would　you　examine　her？〃
　　From　the　kitchen；　Louis　could　hear　the　two　ghosts　booo…ing　and　Ellie　going　into　her　cackles…which　she　had　been　practicing　all　week…again。　It　all　sounded　very　fine　and　Halloweenish。
　　〃What　else　is　wrong　with　Norma？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　she　afraid　of　something　else；　Jud？〃
　　〃She's　been　having　pains　in　her　chest；〃　Jud　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃She　won't　go　see　Dr。　Weybridge　anymore。　I'm　a　little　worried。〃
　　〃Is　Norma　worried？〃
　　Jud　hesitated　and　then　said；　〃I　think　she's　scared。　I　think　that's　why　she　doesn't　want　to　go　to　the　doctor。　One　of　her　oldest　friends；　Betty　Coslaw；　died　i