sk.petsematary-第21章

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　to　assure　himself　that　he　was　in　the　right　place；　Jud　started　up。　He　did　not　scramble；　he　did　not　climb　bent　over；　the　way　a　man　will　climb　a　rocky　hillside　or　a　sandy　slope。　He　simply　mounted；　as　if　climbing　a　set　of　stairs。　He　walked　like　a　man　who　knows　exactly　where　his　next　step　is　ing　from。
　　Louis　followed　in　the　same　way。
　　He　did　not　look　down　or　search　for　footholds。　It　came　to　him　with　a　strange　but　total　surety　that　the　deadfall　could　not　harm　him　unless　he　allowed　it　to。　It　was　a　piece　of　utter　assholery　of　course；　like　the　stupid　confidence　of　a　man　who　believes　it's　safe　to　drive　when　totally　shitfaced　as　long　as　he's　wearing　his　St。　Christopher's　medallion。
　　But　it　worked；
　　There　was　no　pistol…shot　snap　of　an　old　branch　giving　way；　no　sickening　plunge　into　a　hole　lined　with　jutting；　weather…whitened　splinters；　each　one　ready　to　cut　and　gore　and　mangle。　His　shoes
　　（Hush　Puppy　loafers…hardly　remended　for　climbing　dead…falls）　did　not　slip　on　the　old　dry　moss　which　had　overgrown　many　of　the　fallen　trees。　He　pitched　neither　forward　nor　backward。　The　wind　sang　wildly　through　the　fir　trees　all　around　them。
　　For　a　moment　he　saw　Jud　standing　on　top　of　the　deadfall；　and　then　he　began　down　the　far　side；　calves　dropping　out　of　sight；　then　thighs；　then　hips　and　waist。　The　light　bounced　randomly　off　the　whipping　branches　of　the　trees　on　the　other　side　of　the　barrier。　Yes；　that's　what　it　was…why　try　to　pretend　it　wasn't？　The　barrier。
　　Louis　reached　the　top　himself　and　paused　there　momentarily；　right　foot　planted　on　an　old　fallen　tree　that　was　canted　up　at　a　thirty…five…degree　angle；　left　foot　on　something　springier…a　mesh　of　old　fir　branches？　He　didn't　look　down　to　see；　but　only　switched　the　heavy　trashbag　with　Church's　body　in　it　from　his　right　hand　to　his　left；　exchanging　it　for　the　lighter　shovel。　He　turned　his　face　up　into　the　wind　and　felt　it　sweep　past　him　in　an　endless　current；　lifting　his　hair。　It　was　so　cold；　so　clean　。　。　。　so　constant。
　　Moving　casually；　almost　sauntering；　he　started　down　again。　Once　a　branch　that　felt　to　be　the　thickness　of　a　brawny　man's　wrist　snapped　loudly　under　his　foot；　but　he　felt　no　concern　at　all
　　…and　his　plunging　foot　was　stopped　firmly　by　a　heavier　branch　some　four　inches　down。　Louis　hardly　staggered。　He　supposed　that　now　he　could　understand　how　pany　manders　in　World　War　I　had　been　able　to　stroll　along　the　top　of　the　trenches　with　bullets　snapping　all　around　them；　whistling　〃Tipperary。〃　It　was　crazy；　but　the　very　craziness　made　it　tremendously　exhilarating。
　　He　walked　down；　looking　straight　ahead　at　the　bright　circle　of　Jud's　light。　Jud　was　standing　there；　waiting　for　him。　Then　he　reached　the　bottom；　and　the　exhilaration　flared　up　in　him　like　a　shot　of　coal　oil　on　embers。
　　〃We　made　it！〃　he　shouted。　He　put　the　shovel　down　and　clapped　Jud　on　the　shoulder。　He　remembered　climbing　an　apple　tree　to　the　top　fork　where　it　swayed　in　the　wind　like　a　ship's　mast。　He　had　not　felt　so　young　or　so　viscerally　alive　in　twenty　years　or　more。　〃Jud；　we　made　it！〃
　　〃Did　you　think　we　wouldn't？〃　Jud　asked。
　　Louis　opened　his　mouth　to　say　something…Think　we　wouldn't？
　　We're　damn　lucky　we　didn't　kill　ourselves！…and　then　he　shut　it　again。　He　had　never　really　questioned　at　all；　not　from　the　moment　Jud　approached　the　deadfall。　And　he　was　not　worried　about　getting　back　over　again。
　　〃I　guess　not；〃　he　said。
　　〃e　on。　Cot　a　piece　to　walk　yet。　Three　miles　or　more。〃
　　They　walked。　The　path　did　indeed　go　on。　In　places　it　seemed　very　wide；　although　the　moving　light　revealed　little　clearly；　it　was　mostly　a　feeling　of　space；　a　feeling　that　the　trees　had　drawn　back。　Once　or　twice　Louis　looked　up　and　saw　stars　wheeling　between　the　massed　dark　border　of　trees。　Once　something　loped　across　the　path　ahead　of　them；　and　the　light　picked　up　the　reflection　of　greenish　eyes…there　and　then　gone。
　　At　other　times　the　path　closed　in　until　underbrush　scratched　stiff　fingers　across　the　shoulders　of　Louis's　coat。　He　switched　the　bag　and　the　shovel　more　often；　but　the　ache　in　his　shoulders　was　now　constant。　He　fell　into　a　rhythm　of　walking　and　became　almost　hypnotized　with　it。　There　was　power　here；　yes；　he　felt　it。　He　remembered　a　time　when　he　had　been　a　senior　in　high　school。　He　and　his　girl　and　some　other　couple　had　gone　way　out　in　the　boonies　and　had　ended　up　necking　at　the　end　of　a　dead…end　dirt　road　near　a　power　station。　They　hadn't　been　there　long　before　Louis's　girl　said　that　she　wanted　to　go　home；　or　at　least　to　another　place；　because　all　her　teeth　（all　the　ones　with　fillings；　anyway；　and　that　was　most　of　them）　were　aching。　Louis　had　been　glad　to　leave　himself。　The　air　around　the　power　station　had　made　him　feel　nervous　and　too　awake。　This　was　like　that；　but　it　was　stronger。　Stronger　but　not　unpleasant　at　all。　It　was…　Jud　had　stopped　at　the　base　of　a　long　slope。　Louis　ran　into　him。
　　Jud　turned　toward　him。　〃We're　almost　where　we're　going　now；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃This　next　bit　is　like　the　deadfall…you　got　to　walk　steady　and　easy。　Just　follow　me　and　don't　look　down。　You　felt　us　going　downhill？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃This　is　the　edge　of　what　the　Micmacs　used　to　call　Little　Cod　Swamp。　The　fur　traders　who　came　through　called　it　Dead　Man's　Bog；　and　most　of　them　who　came　once　and　got　out　never　came　gain。〃
　　〃Is　there　quicksand？〃
　　〃Oh；　ayuh；　quicksand　aplenty！　Streams　that　bubble　up　through　a　big　deposit　of　quartz　sand　left　over　from　the　glacier。　Silica　sand；　we　always　called　it；　although　there's　probably　a　proper　name　for　it。〃
　　Jud　looked　at　him；　and　for　a　moment　Louis　thought　he　saw　something　bright　and　not　pletely　pleasant　in　the　old　man's　eyes。
　　Then　Jud　shifted　the　flashlight　and　that　look　was　gone。
　　〃There's　a　lot　of　funny　things　down　this　way；　Louis。　The　air's　heavier。　。　。　more　electrical。　。　。　or　somethin。〃
　　Louis　started。
　　〃What's　wrong？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　Louis　said；　thinking　of　that　night　on　the　dead…end　road。
　　〃You　might　see　St。　Elmo's　fire…what　the　sailors　call　foo…lights。　It　makes　funny　shapes；　but　it's　nothing。　If　you　should　see　some　of　those　shapes　and　they　bother　you；　just　look　the　other　way。　You　may　hear　sounds　like　voices；　but　they　are　the　loons　down　south　toward　Prospect。　The　sound　carries。　It's　funny。〃
　　〃Loons？〃　Louis　said　doubtfully。　〃This　time　of　year？〃
　　〃Oh；　ayuh；〃　Jud　said　again；　and　his　voice　was　terribly　bland　and　totally　unreadable。　For　a　moment　Louis　wished　desperately　he　could　see　the　old　man's　face　again。　That　look…　〃Jud；　where　are　we　going？　What　the　hell　are　we　doing　out　here　in　the　back　of　the　beyond？〃
　　〃I'll　tell　you　when　we　get　there。〃　Jud　turned　away。　〃Mind　the　tussocks。〃
　　They　began　to　walk　again；　stepping　from　one　broad　hummock　to　the　next。　Louis　did　not　feel　for　them。　His　feet　seemed　to　find　them　automatically；　with　no　effort　from　him。　He　slipped　only　once；　his　left　shoe　breaking　through　a　thin　scum　of　ice　and　dipping　into　cold　and　somehow　slimy　standing　water。　He　pulled　it　out　quickly　and　went　on；　following　Jud's　bobbing　light。　That　light；　floating　through　the　woods；　brought　back　memories　of　the　pirate　tales　he　had　liked　to　read　as　a　boy。　Evil　men　off　to　bury　gold　doubloons　by　the　dark　of　the　moon。　。　。　and　of　course　one　of　them　would　be　tumbled　into　the　pit　on　top　of　the　chest；　a　bullet　in　his　heart；　because　the　pirates　had　believed…or　so　the　authors　of　these　lurid　tales　solemnly　attested…that　the　dead　rade's　ghost　would　remain　there　to　guard　the　swag。
　　Except　it's　not　treasure　we've　e　to　bury。　Just　my　daughter's　castrated　cat。
　　He　felt　wild　laughter　bubble　up　inside　and　stifled　it。
　　He　did　not　hear　any　〃sounds　like　voices；〃　nor　did　he　see　any　St。　Elmo's　fire；　but　after　stepping　over　half　a　dozen　tussocks；　he　looked　down　and　saw　that　his　feet；　calves；　knees；　and　lower　thighs　had　disappeared　into　a　ground　fog　that　was　perfectly　smooth；　perfectly　white；　and　perfectly　opaque。　It　was　like　moving　through　the　world's　lightest　drift　of　snow。
　　The　air　seemed　to　have　a　quality　of　light　in　it　now；　and　it　was　warmer；　he　could　have　sworn　it。　He　could　see　Jud　before　him；　moving　steadily　along；　the　blunt　end　of　the　pick　hooked　over　his　shoulder。　The　pick　enhanced　the　illusion　of　a　man　intent　on　burying　treasure。
　　That　crazy　sense　of　exhilaration　persisted；　and　he　suddenly　wondered　if　maybe　Rachel　was　trying　to　call　him；　if；　back　in　the　house；　the　phone　was　ringing　and　ringing；　making　its　rational；　prosaic　sound。　If…　He　almost　walked　into　Jud's　back　again。　The　old　man　had　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　path。　His　head　was　cocked　to　one　side。　His　mouth　was　pursed　and　tense。
　　〃Jud？　What's…〃
　　〃Shhh！〃
　　Louis　hushed；　looking　around　uneasily。　Here　the　ground　mist　was　thinner；　but　he　still　couldn't　see　his　own　shoes。　Then　he　heard　crackling　underbrush　and　breaking　branches。　Something　was　moving　out　there…something　big。
　　He　opened　his　mouth　to　ask　Jud　if　it　was　a　moose　（bear　was　the　thought　that　actually　crossed　his　mind）；　and　then　he　closed　it　again。　The　sound　carries；　Jud　had　said。
　　He　cocked　his　head　to　one　side　in　unconscious　imitation　of　Jud；　unaware　that　he　was　doing　it；　and　listened。　The　sound　seemed　at　first　distant；　then　very　close；　moving　away　arid　then　moving　ominously　toward　them。　Louis　felt　the　sweat　on　his　forehead　begin　to　trickle　down　his　chapped　cheeks。　He　shifted　the　Hefty　Bag　with　Church's　body　in　it　from　one　hand　to　the　other。　His　palm　had　dampened；　and　the　green　plastic　seemed　greasy；　wanting　to　slide　through　his　fist。　Now　the　thing　out　there　seemed　so　close　that　Louis　expected　to　see　its　shape　at　any　moment；　rising　up　on　two　legs；　perhaps；　blotting　out　the　stars　with　some　unthought…of；　immense　and　shaggy　body。
　　Bear　was　no　longer　what　he　was　thinking　of。
　　Now　he　didn't　know　just　what　he　was　thinking　of。
　　Then　it　moved　away　and　disappeared。
　　Louis　opened　his　mouth　again；　the　words　What　was　that？　already　on　his　tongue。　Then　a　shrill；　maniacal　laugh　came　out　of　the　darkness；　rising　and　falling　in　hysterical　cycles；　loud；　piercing；　chilling。　To　Louis　it　seemed　that　every　joint　in　his　body　had　frozen　solid　and　that　he　had　somehow　gained　weight；　so　much　weight　that　if　he　turned　to　run　he　would　plunge　down　and　out　of　sight　in　the　swampy　ground。
　　The　laughter　rose；　split　into　dry　cackles　like　some　rottenly　friable　chunk　of　rock　along　many　fault　lines；　it　reached　the　pitch　of　a　scream；　then　sank　into　a　guttural　chuckling　that　might　have　bee　sobs　before　it　faded　out　altogether。
　　Somewhere　there　was　a　drip　of　water　and　above　them；　like　a　steady　river　in　a　bed　of　sky；　the　monotonous　whine　of　the　wind。　Otherwise　Little　God　Swamp　was　silent。
　　Louis　began　to　shudder　all　over。　His　flesh…particularly　that　of　his　lower　belly…began　to　creep。　Yes；　creep　was　the　right　word；　his　flesh　actually　seemed　to　be　moving　on　his　body。　His　mouth　was　totally　dry。　There　seemed　to　be　no　spit　at　all　left　in　it。　Yet　that　feeling　of　exhilaration　persisted；　an　unshakable　lunacy。
　　〃What　in　Christ's　name？〃　he　whispered　hoarsely　to　Jud。
　　Jud　turned　to　look　at　him；　and　in　the　dim　light　Louis　thought　the　old　man　looked　a　hundred　and　twenty。　There　was　no　sign　of　that　odd；　dancing　light　in　his　eyes　now。　His　face　was　drawn；　and　there　was　stark　terror　in　his　eyes。　But　when　he　spoke；　his　voice　was