sk.petsematary-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


when　he　thought　of　Church　sleeping　on　Ellie's　bed。
　　She's　going　to　know　that　something's　wrong　and　Church　was　better　before。
　　He　had　put　the　cat　out；　but　when　be　went　in；　Ellie　was　sitting　up　in　bed；　more　asleep　than　awake；　and　Church　was　spread　out　on　the　counterpane；　a　batlike　shadow。　The　cat's　eyes　were　open　and　stupidly　gleaming　in　the　light　from　the　hail。
　　〃Daddy；　put　him　out；〃　Ellie　almost　groaned。　〃He　stinks　so　bad。〃
　　〃Shhh；　Ellie；　go　to　sleep；〃　Louis　said；　astounded　by　the　calmness　of　his　own　voice。　It　made　him　think　of　the　morning　after　his　sleepwalking　incident；　the　day　after　Pascow　had　died。　Getting　to　the　infirmary　and　ducking　into　the　bathroom　to　look　at　himself　in　the　mirror；　convinced　that　he　must　look　like　hell。　But　he　had　looked　pretty　much　all　right。　It　was　enough　to　make　you　wonder　how　many　people　were　going　around　with　dreadful　secrets　bottled　up　inside。
　　It's　not　a　secret；　goddammit！　It's　just　the　cat！
　　But　Ellie　was　right。　It　stank　to　high　heaven。
　　He　took　the　cat　out　of　her　room　and　carried　it　downstairs；　trying　to　breathe　through　his　mouth。　There　were　worse　smells；　shit　was　worse；　if　you　wanted　to　be　perfectly　blunt。　A　month　ago　they'd　had　a　go…round　with　the　septic　tank；　and　as　Jud　had　said　when　he　came　over　to　watch　Puffer　and　Sons　pump　the　tank；　〃That　ain't　Chanel　Number　Five；　is　it；　Louis？〃　The　smell　of　a　gangrenous　wound…what　old　Doctor　Bracermunn　at　med　school　had　called　〃hot　flesh〃…was　worse　too。　Even　the　smell　which　came　from　the　Civic's　catalytic　converter　when　it　had　been　idling　in　the　garage　for　a　while　was　worse。
　　But　this　smell　was　pretty　damn　bad。　And　how　had　the　cat　gotten　in；　anyway？　He　had　put　it　out　earlier；　sweeping　it　out　with　the　broom　while　all　three　of　them…his　people…were　upstairs。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　actually　held　the　cat　since　the　day　it　had　e　back；　almost　a　week　ago。　It　lay　hotly　in　his　arms；　like　a　quiescent　disease；　and　Louis　wondered；　What　bolthole　did　you　find；　you　bastard？
　　He　thought　suddenly　of　his　dream　that　other　night…Pascow　simply　passing　through　the　door　between　the　kitchen　and　the　garage。
　　Maybe　there　was　no　bolthole。　Maybe　it　had　just　passed　through　the　door；　like　a　ghost。
　　〃Bag　that；〃　he　whispered　aloud；　and　his　voice　was　slightly　hoarse。
　　Louis　became　suddenly　sure　that　the　cat　would　begin　to　struggle　in　his　arms；　that　it　would　scratch　him。　But　Church　lay　totally　still；　radiating　that　stupid　heat　and　that　dirty　stink；　looking　at　Louis's　face　as　if　it　could　read　the　thoughts　going　on　behind　Louis's　eyes。
　　He　opened　the　door　and　tossed　the　cat　out　into　the　garage；　maybe　a　little　too　hard。　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃Kill　another　mouse　or　something。〃
　　Church　landed　awkwardly；　its　hindquarters　bunching　beneath　it　and　momentarily　collapsing。　It　seemed　to　shoot　Louis　a　look　of　green；　ugly　hate。　Then　it　strolled　drunkenly　off　and　was　gone。
　　Christ；　Jud；　he　thought；　but　I　wish　you'd　kept　your　mouth　shut。　He　went　to　the　sink　and　washed　his　hands　and　forearms　vigorously；　as　if　scrubbing　for　an　operation。　You　do　it　because　it　gets　hold　of　you。　。　。　you　make　up　reasons。　。　。　they　seem　like　good　reasons　。　。　。　but　mostly　you　do　it　because　once　you've　been　up　there；　it's　your　place；　and　you　belong　to　it。　。　。　and　you　make　up　the　sweetest…smelling　reasons　in　the　world。
　　No；　he　couldn't　blame　Jud。　He　had　gone　of　his　own　free　will　and　he　couldn't　blame　Jud。
　　He　turned　off　the　water　and　began　to　dry　his　hands　and　arms。　Suddenly　the　towel　stopped　moving　and　he　stared　straight　ahead；　looking　out　into　the　little　piece　of　night　framed　in　the　window　over　the　sink。
　　Does　that　mean　it's　my　place　now？　That　it's　mine　too？
　　No。　Not　if　I　don't　want　it　to　be。
　　He　slung　the　towel　over　the　rack　and　went　upstairs。
　　Rachel　was　in　bed；　the　covers　pulled　up　to　her　chin；　and　Gage　was　tucked　in　neatly　beside　her。　She　looked　at　Louis　apologetically。　〃Would　you　mind；　hon？　Just　for　tonight？　I'd　feel　better　having　him　with　me。　He's　so　hot。〃
　　〃No；〃　Louis　said。　〃That's　fine。　I'll　pull　out　the　hide…a…bed　downstairs。〃
　　〃You　really　don't　mind？〃
　　〃No。　It　won't　hurt　Cage；　and　it'll　make　you　feel　better。〃　He　paused；　then　smiled。　〃You're　going　to　pick　up　his　virus；　though。　That　es　almost　guaranteed。　I　don't　suppose　that　changes　your　mind；　does　it？〃
　　She　smiled　back　and　shook　her　head。　〃What　was　Ellie　fussing　about？〃
　　〃Church。　She　wanted　me　to　take　Church　away。〃
　　〃Ellie　wanted　Church　taken　away？　That's　a　switch。〃
　　〃Yeah；　it　is；〃　Louis　agreed　and　then　added；　〃She　said　he　smelled　bad；　and　I　did　think　he　was　a　little　fragrant。　Maybe　he　rolled　in　a　pile　of　someone's　mulch；　or　something。〃
　　〃That's　too　bad；〃　Rachel　said；　rolling　over　on　her　side。　〃I　really　think　Ellie　missed　Church　as　much　as　she　missed　you。〃
　　〃Uh…huh；〃　Louis　said。　He　bent　and　kissed　her　mouth　softly。　'Go　to　sleep；　Rachel。〃
　　〃I　love　you；　Lou。　I'm　glad　to　be　home。　And　I'm　sorry　about　the　couch。〃
　　〃It's　okay；〃　Louis　said；　and　turned　out　the　light。
　　Downstairs；　he　stacked　the　couch　cushions；　pulled　out　the　hide…a…bed；　and　tried　to　prepare　himself　mentally　for　a　night　of　having　the　rod　under　the　thin　mattress　dig　into　the　small　of　his　back。　The　bed　was　sheeted；　at　least；　he　wouldn't　have　to　make　it　up　from　scratch。　Louis　got　two　blankets　from　the　top　shelf　in　the　front　hail　closet　and　spread　them　on　the　bed。　He　began　to　undress；　then　paused。
　　You　think　Church　is　in　again？　Fine。　Take　a　walk　around　and　have　a　look。　As　you　told　Rachel；　it　won't　hurt。　May　even　help。　And　checking　to　make　sure　all　the　doors　are　on　the　latch　won't　even　catch　you　a　virus。
　　He　took　a　deliberate　tour　of　the　entire　downstairs；　checking　the　locks　on　doors　and　windows。　He　had　done　everything　right　the　first　time；　and　Church　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　　〃There；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　see　you　get　in　tonight；　you　dumb　cat。〃　He　followed　this　with　a　mental　wish　that　Church　would　freeze　its　balls　off。　Except　that　Church　of　course　no　longer　had　any。
　　He　switched　off　the　lights　and　got　into　bed。　The　rod　started　to　press　into　his　back　almost　immediately；　and　Louis　was　thinking　he　would　be　awake　half　the　night　when　he　fell　asleep。　He　fell　asleep　resting　unfortably　on　his　side　in　the　hide…a…bed；　but　when　he　woke　up　he　was　in　the　burying　ground　beyond　the　Pet　Sematary　again。　This　time　he　was　alone。　He　had　killed　Church　himself　this　time　and　then　had　decided　for　some　reason　to　bring　him　back　to　life　a　second　time。　God　knew　why；　Louis　didn't。　He　had　buried　Church　deeper　this　time；　though；　and　Church　couldn't　dig　his　way　out。　Louis　could　hear　the　cat　crying　somewhere　under　the　earth；　making　a　sound　like　a　weeping　child。　The　sound　came　up　through　the　pores　of　the　ground；　through　its　stony　flesh…the　sound　and　the　smell；　that　awful　sickish…sweet　smell　of　rot　and　decay。　Just　breathing　it　in　made　his　chest　feel　heavy；　as　if　a　weight　was　on　it。　The　crying。　。　。　the　crying。　。　。　the　crying　was　still　going　on。　。　。　and　the　weight　was　still　on　his　chest。
　　〃Louis！〃　It　was　Rachel；　and　she　sounded　alarmed。　〃Louis；　can　you　corner
　　She　sounded　more　than　alarmed；　she　sounded　scared；　and　the　crying　had　a　choked；　desperate　quality　to　it。　It　was　Cage。
　　He　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　into　Church's　greenish…yellow　eyes。　They　were　less　than　four　inches　from　his　own。　The　cat　was　on　his　chest；　neatly　curled　up　there　like　something　from　an　old　wives'　tale　of　breath…stealing。　The　stink　came　off　it　in　slow；　noxious　waves。　It　was　purring。
　　Louis　uttered　a　cry　of　disgust　and　surprise。　He　shot　both　hands　out　in　a　primitive　warding…off　gesture。　Church　thumped　off　the　bed；　landed　on　its　side；　and　walked　away　in　that　stumbling　lurch。
　　Jesus！　Jesus！　It　was　on　me！　Oh　God；　it　was　right　on　me！
　　His　disgust　could　not　have　been　greater　if　he　had　awakened　to　find　a　spider　in　his　mouth。　For　a　moment　he　thought　he　was　going　to　throw　up。
　　〃Louis！〃
　　He　pushed　the　blankets　back　and　stumbled　to　the　stairs。　Faint　light　spilled　from　their　bedroom。　Rachel　was　standing　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　in　her　nightgown。
　　〃Louis；　he's　vomiting　again。　。　。　choking　on　ft。　。　。　I'm　scared。〃
　　〃I'm　here；〃　he　said　and　came　up　to　her；　thinking：　It　got　in。　Somehow　it　got　in。　From　the　cellar；　probably。　Maybe　there's　a　broken　cellar　window。　In　fact　there　must　be　a　broken　window　down　there。　I'll　check　it　tomorrow　when　1　get　home。　Hell；　before　I　go　to　work。　I'll…　Gage　stopped　crying　and　began　to　make　an　ugly；　gargling　choking　sound。
　　〃Louis！〃　Rachel　screamed。
　　Louis　moved　fast。　Gage　was　on　his　side　and　vomit　was　trickling　out　of　his　mouth　onto　an　old　towel　Rachel　had　spread　beside　him。　He　was　vomiting；　yes；　but　not　enough。　Most　of　it　was　inside；　and　Gage　was　blushing　with　the　onset　of　asphyxiation。
　　Louis　grabbed　the　boy　under　the　arms；　aware　in　a　distant　way　of　how　hot　his　son's　armpits　were　under　the　Dr。　Denton　suit；　and　put　him　up　on　his　shoulder　as　if　to　burp　him。　Then　Louis　snapped　himself　backward；　jerking　Cage　with　him。　Gage's　neck　whip…lashed。　He　uttered　a　loud　bark　that　was　not　quite　a　belch；　and　an　amazing　flag　of　almost　solid　vomit　flew　from　his　mouth　and　spattered　on　the　floor　and　the　dresser。　Cage　began　to　cry　again；　a　solid；　bawling　sound　that　was　music　to　Louis's　ears。　To　cry　like　that　you　had　to　be　getting　an　unlimited　supply　of　oxygen。
　　Rachel's　knees　buckled　and　she　collapsed　onto　the　bed；　head　supported　in　her　hands。　She　was　shaking　violently。　〃He　almost　died；　didn't　he；　Louis？　He　almost　ch…ch…ch…oh　my　God…〃
　　Louis　walked　around　the　room　with　his　son　in　his　arms。　Gage's　cries　were　tapering　off　to　whimperings；　he　was　already　almost　asleep　again。
　　〃The　chances　are　fifty　to　one　he　would　have　cleared　it　himself；　Rachel。　I　just　gave　him　a　hand。〃
　　〃But　he　was　close；〃　she　said。　She　looked　up　at　him；　and　her　white…ringed　eyes　were　stunned　and　unbelieving。　〃Louis；　he　was　so　close。〃
　　Suddenly　he　remembered　her　shouting　at　him　in　the　sunny　kitchen：　He's　not　going　to　die；　no　one　is　going　to　die　around　here。
　　〃Honey；〃　Louis　said；　〃we're　all　close。　All　the　time。〃
　　It　was　milk　that　had　almost　surely　caused　the　fresh　round　of　vomiting。　Gage　had　awakened　around　midnight；　she　said；　an　hour　or　so　after　Louis　had　gone　to　sleep；　with　his　〃hungry　cry；〃　and　Rachel　had　gotten　him　a　bottle。　She　had　drowsed　off　again　herself　while　he　was　still　taking　it。　About　an　hour　later；　the　choking　spell　began。
　　No　more　milk；　Louis　said；　and　Rachel　had　agreed；　almost　humbly。　No　more　milk。
　　Louis　got　back　downstairs　at　around　a　quarter　of　two　and　spent　fifteen　minutes　hunting　up　the　cat。　During　his　search；　he　found　the　door　which　municated　between　the　kitchen　and　basement　standing　ajar；　as　he　suspected　he　would。　He　remembered　his　mother　telling　him　about　a　cat　that　had　gotten　quite　good　at　pawing　open　old…fashioned　latches；　such　as　the　one　on　their　cellar　door。　The　cat　would　just　climb　the　edge　of　the　door；　she'd　said；　and　pat　the　thumb　plate　of　the　latch　with　its　paw　until　the　door　opened。　A　cute　enough　trick；　Louis　thought；　but　not　one　he　intended　to　allow　Church　to　practice　often。　There　was；　after　all；　a　lock　on　the　cellar　door；　too。　He　found　Church　dozing　under　the　stove　and　tossed　it　out　the　front　door　without　ceremony。　On　his　way　back　to　the　hide…a…bed；　he　closed　the　cellar　door　again。