sk.petsematary-第26章

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　　〃He　was　going　to　kill　the　dog？〃
　　〃He　knew　how　tenderly　I　felt　about　Spot；　so　he　sent　me　away　while　he　did　it。　I　saw　about　the　chickenfeed；　and　while　old　Yorky　set　it　out　for　me　I　went　around　back　and　sat　down　on　the　old　grindstone　that　used　to　be　there　and　just　bawled。〃
　　Jud　shook　his　head　slowly　and　gently；　still　smiling　a　little。
　　〃And　along　es　old　Stanny　B。；〃　he　said。　〃Half　the　people　in　town　thought　he　was　soft；　and　the　other　half　thought　he　might　be　dangerous。　His　grandfather　was　a　big　fur　trapper　and　trader　in　the　early　1800s。　Stanny's　grandda　would　go　all　the　way　from　the　Maritimes　to　Bangor　and　Derry；　sometimes　as　far　south　as　Skowhegan　to　buy　pelts；　or　so　I've　heard。　He　drove　a　big　wagon　covered　with　rawhide　strips　like　something　out　of　a　medicine　show。　He　had　crosses　all　over　it；　for　he　was　a　proper　Christian　and　would　preach　on　the　Resurrection　when　he　was　drunk　enough…　this　is　what　Stanny　said；　he　loved　to　talk　about　his　grandda…but　he　had　pagan　Indian　signs　all　over　it　as　well　because　he　believed　that　all　Indians；　no　matter　what　the　tribe；　belonged　to　one　big　tribe…that　lost　one　of　Israel　the　Bible　talks　about。　He　said　he　believed　all　Indians　were　hellbound；　but　that　their　magic　worked　because　they　were　Christians　all　the　same；　in　some　queer；　damned　way。
　　〃Stanny's　grandda　bought　from　the　Micmacs　and　did　a　good　business　with　them　long　after　most　of　the　other　trappers　and　traders　had　given　up　or　gone　west　because　he　traded　with　them　at　a　fair　price　and　because；　Stanny　said；　he　knew　the　whole　Bible　by　heart；　and　the　Micmacs　liked　to　hear　him　speak　the　words　the　blackrobes　had　spoken　to　them　in　the　years　before　the　buckskin　men　and　woodsmen　came。〃
　　He　fell　silent。　Louis　waited。
　　〃The　Micmacs　told　Stanny　B。's　grandda　about　the　burying　ground　which　they　didn't　use　anymore　because　the　Wendigo　had　soured　the　ground；　and　about　Little　God　Swamp；　and　the　steps；　and　all　the　rest。
　　〃The　Wendigo　story；　now；　that　was　something　you　could　hear　in　those　days　all　over　the　north　country。　It　was　a　story　they　had　to　have；　the　same　way　I　guess　we　have　to　have　some　of　our　Christian　stories。　Norma　would　damn　me　for　a　profaner　if　she　heard　me　say　that；　but　Louis；　it's　true。　Sometimes；　if　the　winter　was　long　and　hard　and　the　food　was　short；　there　were　north　country　Indians　who　would　finally　get　down　to　the　bad　place　where　it　was　starve　or。　。　。　or　do　something　else。〃
　　〃Cannibalism？〃
　　Jud　shrugged。　〃Maybe。　Maybe　they'd　pick　out　someone　who　was　old　and　used　up；　and　then　there　would　be　stew　for　a　while。　And　the　story　they　worked　out　would　be　that　the　Wendigo　had　walked　through　their　village　or　encampment　while　they　were　sleepin　and　touched　them。　And　the　Wendigo　was　supposed　to　give　those　it　touched　a　taste　for　the　flesh　of　their　own　kind。〃
　　Louis　nodded。　〃Saying　the　devil　made　them　do　it。〃
　　〃Sure。　My　own　guess　is　that　the　Micmacs　around　here　had　to　do　it　at　some　point　and　that　they　buried　the　bones　of　whoever　they　ate…one　or　two；　maybe　even　ten　or　a　dozen…up　there　in　their　burying　ground。〃
　　〃And　then　decided　the　ground　had　gone　sour；〃　Louis　muttered。
　　〃So　here's　Stanny　B。；　e　out　in　back　of　the　livery　to　get　his　jug；　I　guess；〃　Jud　said；　〃already　half…crocked；　he　was。　His　grandfather　was　worth　maybe　a　million　dollars　when　he　died…or　so　people　said…and　Stanny　B。　was　nothing　but　the　local　ragman。　He　asked　me　what　was　wrong；　and　I　told　him。　He　saw　I'd　been　bawling；　and　he　told　me　there　was　a　way　it　could　be　fixed　up；　if　I　was　brave　and　sure　I　wanted　it　fixed　up。
　　〃I　said　I'd　give　anything　to　have　Spot　well　again；　and　I　asked　him　if　he　knew　a　vet　that　could　do　it。　'Don't　know　no　vet；　me；'　Stanny　said；　'but　I　know　how　to　fix　your　dog；　boy。　You　go　home　now　and　tell　your　dad　to　put　that　dog　in　a　grain　sack；　but　you　ain't　gonna　bury　him；　no！　You　gonna　drag　him　up　to　the　Pet　Sematary　and　you　gonna　put　him　in　the　shade　by　that　big　deadfall。　Then　you　gonna　e　back　and　say　it's　done。'
　　〃I　asked　him　what　good　that　would　do；　and　Stanny　told　me　to　stay　awake　that　night　and　e　out　when　he　threw　a　stone　against　my　window。　'And　it　be　midnight；　boy；　so　if　you　forget　Stanny　B。　and　go　to　sleep；　Stanny　B。　gonna　forget　you；　and　it's　goodbye　dog；　let　him　go　straight　to　Hell！〃
　　Jud　looked　at　Louis　and　lit　another　cigarette。
　　〃It　went　just　the　way　Stanny　set　it　up。　When　I　got　back；　my　dad　said　he'd　put　a　bullet　in　Spot's　head　to　spare　him　any　more　suffering。　I　didn't　even　have　to　say　anything　about　the　Pet　Sematary；　my　dad　asked　me　if　I　didn't　think　Spot　would　want　me　to　bury　him　up　there；　and　I　said　I　guessed　he　would。　So　off　I　went；　dragging　my　dog　in　a　grain　sack。　My　dad　asked　me　if　I　wanted　help；　and　I　said　no　because　I　remembered　what　Stanny　B。　said。
　　〃I　laid　awake　that　night…forever；　seemed　like。　You　know　how　time　is　for　kids。　It　would　seem　to　me　I　must　have　stayed　awake　right　around　until　morning；　and　then　the　clock　would　only　chime　ten　or　eleven。　A　couple　of　times　I　almost　nodded　off；　but　each　time　I　snapped　wide　awake　again。　It　was　almost　as　if　someone　had　shaken　me　and　said；　'Wake　up；　Jud！　Wake　up！'　Like　something　wanted　to　make　sure　I　stayed　awake。〃
　　Louis　raised　his　eyebrows　at　that；　and　Jud　shrugged。
　　〃When　the　clock　in　the　downstairs　hall　chimed　twelve；　I　got　right　up　and　sat　there　dressed　on　my　bed　with　the　moon　shinin　in　the　window。　Next　I　know；　the　clock　is　chimin　the　half…hour；　then　one　o'clock；　and　still　no　Stanny　B。　He's　forgot　all　about　me；　that　dumb　Frenchman；　I　think　to　myself；　and　I'm　gettin　ready　to　take　my　clothes　off　again　when　these　two　pebbles　whap　off　the　window；　damn　near　hard　enough　to　break　the　glass。　One　of　them　did　put　a　crack　in　a　pane；　but　I　never　noticed　it　until　the　next　morning；　and　my　mother　didn't　see　it　until　the　next　winter；　and　by　then　she　thought　the　frost　done　it。
　　〃I　just　about　flew　across　to　that　window　and　heaved　it　up。　It　grated　and　rumbled　against　the　frame；　the　way　they　only　seem　to　do　when　you're　a　kid　and　you　want　to　get　out　after　midnight…〃　Louis　laughed；　even　though　he　could　not　remember　ever　having　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　house　at　some　dark　hour　when　he　was　a　boy　of　ten。　Still；　if　he　had　wanted　to；　he　was　sure　that　windows　which　had　never　creaked　in　the　daytime　would　creak　then。
　　〃I　figured　my　folks　must　have　thought　burglars　were　trying　to　break　in；　but　when　my　heart　quieted　down　I　could　hear　my　dad　still　sawin　wood　in　the　bedroom　on　the　first　floor。　I　looked　out　and　there　was　Stanny　B。；　standin　in　our　driveway　and　lookin　up；　swayin　like　there　was　a　high　wind　when　there　wasn't　so　much　as　a　puff　of　breeze。　I　don't　think　he　ever　would　have　e；　Louis；　except　that　he'd　gotten　to　that　stage　of　drunkenness　where　you're　as　wide　awake　as　an　owl　with　diarrhea　and　you　just　don't　give　a　care　about　anything。　And　he　sort　of　yells　up　at　me…only　I　guess　he　thought　he　was　whispering…'You　in　down；　boy；　or　am　I　in　up　to　get　you？'
　　〃Shh！'　I　says；　scared　to　death　now　that　my　dad　will　wake　up　and　give　me　the　whopping　of　my　young　life。　'What'd　you　say？'　Stanny　says；　even　louder　than　before。　If　my　parents　had　been　around　on　the　road　side　of　this　house；　Louis；　I　would　have　been　a　goner。　But　they　had　the　bedroom　that　belongs　to　Norma　and　me　now；　with　the　river　view。〃
　　〃I　bet　you　got　down　those　stairs　in　one　hell　of　a　hurry；〃　Louis　said。　〃Have　you　got　another　beer；　Jud？〃　He　was　already　two　past　his　usual　limit；　but　tonight　that　seemed　okay。　Tonight　that　seemed　almost　mandatory。
　　〃I　do；　and　you　know　where　they're　kept；〃　Jud　said　and　lit　a　fresh　smoke。　He　waited　until　Louis　was　seated　again。　〃No；　I　wouldn't　have　dared　to　try　the　stairs。　They　went　past　my　parents'　bedroom。　I　went　down　the　ivy　trellis；　hand　over　hand；　just　as　quick　as　I　could。　I　was　some　scared；　I　can　tell　you；　but　I　think　I　was　more　scared　of　my　dad　just　then　than　I　was　of　going　up　to　the　Pet　Sematary　with　Stanny　B。〃
　　He　crushed　out　his　smoke。
　　〃We　went　up　there；　the　two　of　us；　and　I　guess　Stanny　B。　must　have　fallen　down　half　a　dozen　times　if　he　fell　down　once。　He　was　really　far　gone；　smelled　like　he'd　fallen　into　a　vat　of　corn。　One　time　he　damn　near　put　a　stick　through　his　throat。　But　he　had　a　pick　and　shovel　with　him。　When　we　got　to　the　Pet　Sematary；　I　kind　of　expected　he'd　sling　me　the　pick　and　shovel　and　just　pass　out　while　I　dug　the　hole。
　　〃Instead　he　seemed　to　sober　up　a　little。　He　told　me　we　was　goin　on；　up　over　the　deadfall　and　deeper　into　the　woods；　where　there　was　another　burial　place。　I　looked　at　Stanny；　who　was　so　drunk　he　could　barely　keep　his　feet；　and　I　looked　at　that　deadfall；　and　I　said；　'You　can't　climb　that；　Stanny　B。；　you'll　break　your　neck。'
　　〃And　he　said；　'I　ain't　gonna　break　my　neck；　me；　and　neither　are　you。　I　can　walk　and　you　can　lug　your　dog。'　And　he　was　right。　He　sailed　up　over　that　deadfall　just　as　smooth　as　silk；　never　even　looking　down；　and　I　lugged　Spot　all　the　way　up　there；　although　he　must　have　weighed　thirty…five　pounds　or　so　and　I　only　went　about　ninety　myself。　I　want　to　tell　you；　though；　Louis；　I　was　some　sore　and　sprung　the　next　day。　How　do　you　feel　today？〃
　　Louis　didn't　answer；　only　nodded。
　　〃We　walked　and　we　walked；〃　Jud　said。　〃It　seemed　to　me　we　was　gonna　walk　forever。　The　woods　were　spookier　in　those　days。　More　birds　calling　from　the　trees；　and　you　didn't　know　what　any　of　em　was。　Animals　moving　around　out　there。　Deer；　most　likely；　but　back　then　there　were　moose　too　and　bears　and　catamounts。　I　dragged　Spot。　After　a　while　I　started　to　get　the　funny　idea　that　old　Stanny　B。　was　gone　and　I　was　following　an　Indian。　Following　an　Indian　and　somewhere　farther　along　he'd　turn　around；　all　grinning　and　black…eyed；　his　face　streaked　up　with　that　stinking　paint　they　made　from　bearfat；　that　he'd　have　a　tommyhawk　made　out　of　a　wedge　of　slate　and　a　hake　of　ashwood　all　tied　together　with　rawhide；　and　he'd　grab　me　by　the　back　of　the　neck　and　whack　off　my　hair…along　with　the　top　of　my　skull。　Stanny　wasn't　staggerin　or　fallin　anymore；　he　just　walked　straight　and　easy；　with　his　head　up；　and　that　sort　of　helped　to　feed　the　idea。　But　when　we　got　to　the　edge　of　the　Little　God　Swamp　and　he　turned　around　to　talk　to　me；　I　seen　it　was　Stanny；　all　right；　and　the　reason　he　wasn't　staggerin　or　fallin　anymore　was　because　he　was　scared。　Scairt　himself　sober；　he　did。
　　〃He　told　me　the　same　things　I　told　you　last　night…about　the　loons；　and　the　St。　Elmo's　fire；　and　how　I　wasn't　to　take　any　notice　of　anything　I　saw　or　heard。　Most　of　all；　he　said；　don't　speak　to　anything　if　it　should　speak　to　you。　Then　we　started　across　the　swamp。　And　I　did　see　something。　I　ain't　going　to　tell　you　what；　only　that　I've　been　up　there　maybe　five　times　since　that　time　when　I　was　ten；　and　I've　never　seen　anything　like　it　again。　Nor　will　I；　Louis；　because　my　trip　to　the　Micmac　burial　place　last　night　was　my　last　trip。〃
　　I'm　not　sitting　here　believing　all　of　this；　am　I？　Louis　asked　himself　almost　conversationally…the　three　beers　helped　him　to　sound　conversational；　at　least　to　his　own　mind's　ear。　I　am　not　sitting　here　believing　this　story　of　old　Frenchmen　and　Indian　burying　grounds　and　something　called　the　Wendigo　and　pets　that　e　back　to　life；　am　I？　For　Christ's　sake；　the　cat　was　stunned；　that's　all；　a　car　hit　it　and　stunned　it…no　big　deal。　This　is　a　senile　old　man's　maunderings。
　　Ex