sk.petsematary-第4章

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m；　and　in　the　dream　Gage　was　at　least　ten　years　old。　Church　was　on　the　white　van's　dashboard；　looking　at　Louis　with　his　bright　green　eyes；　and　out　on　Main　Street　by　the　l890s　train　station；　Mickey　Mouse　was　shaking　hands　with　the　children　clustered　around　him；　his　big　white　cartoon　gloves　swallowing　their　small；　trusting　hands。
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　　The　next　two　weeks　were　busy　ones　for　the　family。　Little　by　little　Louis's　new　job　began　to　shake　down　for　him　（how　it　would　be　when　ten　thousand　students；　many　of　them　drug　and　liquor　abusers；　some　afflicted　with　social　diseases；　some　anxious　about　grades　or　depressed　about　leaving　home　for　the　first　time；　a　dozen　of　them…girls；　mostly…anorexic。。。　how　it　would　be　when　all　of　them　converged　on　the　campus　at　once　would　be　something　else　again）。　And　while　Louis　began　getting　a　handle　on　his　job　as　head　of　University　Medical　Services；　Rachel　began　to　get　a　handle　on　the　house。
　　Gage　was　busy　taking　the　bumps　and　spills　that　went　with　getting　used　to　his　new　environment；　and　for　a　while　his　nighttime　schedule　was　badly　out　of　whack；　but　by　the　middle　of　their　second　week　in　Ludlow；　he　had　begun　to　sleep　through　again。　Only　Ellie；　with　the　prospect　of　beginning　kindergarten　in　a　new　place　before　her；　seemed　always　overexcited　and　on　a　hair…trigger。　She　was　apt　to　go　into　prolonged　giggling　fits　or　periods　of　almost　menopausal　depression　or　temper　tantrums　at　the　drop　of　a　word。　Rachel　said　Ellie　would　get　over　it　when　she　saw　that　school　was　not　the　great　red　devil　she　had　made　it　out　to　be　in　her　own　mind；　and　Louis　thought　Rachel　was　right。　Most　of　the　time；　Ellie　was　what　she　had　always　been…a　dear。
　　His　evening　beer　or　two　with　Jud　Crandall　became　something　of　a　habit。　Around　the　time　Gage　began　sleeping　through　again；　Louis　began　bringing　his　own　six…pack　over　every　second　or　third　night。　He　met　Norma　Crandall；　a　sweetly　pleasant　woman　who　had　rheumatoid　arthritis…filthy　old　rheurnatoid　arthritis；　which　kills　so　much　of　what　could　be　good　in　the　old　ages　of　men　and　women　who　are　otherwise　healthy…　but　her　attitude　was　good。　She　would　not　surrender　to　the　pain；　there　would　be　no　white　flags。　Let　it　take　her　if　it　could。　Louis　thought　she　might　have　another　five　to　seven　productive　if　not　terribly　fortable　years　ahead　of　her。
　　Going　pletely　against　his　own　established　customs；　he　examined　her　at　his　own　instigation；　inventoried　the　prescriptions　her　own　doctor　had　given　her；　and　found　them　to　be　pletely　in　order。　He　felt　a　nagging　disappointment　that　there　was　nothing　else　he　could　do　or　suggest　for　her；　but　her　Dr。　Weybridge　had　things　as　under　control　as　they　were　ever　going　to　be　for　Norma　Crandall…barring　some　sudden　breakthrough；　which　was　possible　but　not　to　be　counted　upon。　You　learned　to　accept；　or　you　ended　up　in　a　small　room　writing　letters　home　with　Crayolas。
　　Rachel　liked　her；　and　they　had　sealed　their　friendship　by　exchanging　recipes　the　way　small　boys　trade　baseball　cards；　beginning　with　Norma　Crandall's　deep…dish　apple　pie　for　Rachel's　beef　stroganoff。　Norma　was　taken　with　both　of　the　Creed　children…particularly　with　Ellie；　who；　she　said；　was　going　to　be　〃an　old…time　beauty。〃　At　least；　Louis　told　Rachel　that　night　in　bed；　Norma　hadn't　said　Ellie　was　going　to　grow　into　a　real　sweet　coon。　Rachel　laughed　so　hard　she　broke　explosive　wind；　and　then　both　of　them　laughed　so　long　and　loudly　that　they　woke　up　Gage　in　the　next　room。
　　The　first　day　of　kindergarten　arrived。　Louis；　who　felt　pretty　well　in　control　of　the　infirmary　and　the　medical…support　facilities　now；　took　the　day　off。　（Besides；　the　infirmary　was　currently　dead　empty；　the　last　patient；　a　summer　student　who　had　broken　her　leg　on　the　Student　Union　steps；　had　been　discharged　a　week　before。）　He　stood　on　the　lawn　beside　Rachel　with　Gage　in　his　arms；　as　the　big　yellow　bus　made　the　turn　from　Middle　Drive　and　lumbered　to　a　stop　in　front　of　their　house。　The　doors　at　the　front　folded　open；　the　babble　and　squawk　of　many　children　drifted　out　on　the　mild　September　air。
　　Ellie　cast　a　strange；　vulnerable　glance　back　over　her　shoulder；　as　if　to　ask　them　if　there　might　not　yet　be　time　to　abort　this　inevitable　process；　and　perhaps　what　she　saw　on　the　faces　of　her　parents　convinced　her　that　the　time　was　gone；　and　everything　which　would　follow　this　first　day　was　simply　inevitable…　like　the　progress　of　Norma　Crandall's　arthritis。　She　turned　away　from　them　and　mounted　the　steps　of　the　bus。　The　doors　folded　shut　with　a　gasp　of　dragon's　breath。　The　bus　pulled　away。　Rachel　burst　into　tears。
　　〃Don't；　for　Christ's　sake；〃　Louis　said。　He　wasn't　crying。　Only　damn　near。　〃It's　only　half　a　day。〃
　　〃Half　a　day　is　bad　enough；〃　Rachel　answered　in　a　scolding　voice　and　began　to　cry　harder。　Louis　held　her；　and　Gage　slipped　an　arm　fortably　around　each　parent's　neck。　When　Rachel　cried；　Gage　usually　cried　too。　But　not　this　time。　He　has　us　to　himself。　Louis　thought；　and　he　damn　well　knows　it。
　　They　waited　with　some　trepidation　for　Ellie　to　return；　drinking　too　much　coffee；　speculating　on　how　it　was　going　for　her。　Louis　went　out　into　the　back　room　that　was　going　to　be　his　study　and　messed　about　idly；　moving　papers　from　one　place　to　another　but　not　doing　much　else。　Rachel　began　lunch　absurdly　early。
　　When　the　phone　rang　at　a　quarter　past　ten；　Rachel　raced　for　it　and　answered　with　a　breathless　〃Hello？〃　before　it　could　ring　a　second　time。　Louis　stood　in　the　doorway　between　his　office　and　the　kitchen；　sure　it　would　be　Ellis's　teacher　telling　them　that　she　bad　decided　Ellie　couldn't　hack　it；　the　stomach　of　public　education　had　found　her　indigestible　and　was　spitting　her　back。　But　it　was　only　Norma　Crandall；　calling　to　tell　them　that　Jud　had　picked　the　last　of　the　corn　and　they　were　wele　to　a　dozen　ears　if　they　wanted　it。　Louis　went　over　with　a　shopping　bag　and　scolded　Jud　for　not　letting　him　help　pick　it。
　　〃Most　of　it　ain't　worth　a　tin　shit　anyway；〃　Jud　said。
　　〃You'll　kindly　spare　that　talk　while　I'm　around；〃　Norma　said。　She　came　out　on　the　porch　with　iced　tea　on　an　antique　Coca…Cola　tray。
　　〃Sorry；　my　Love。〃
　　〃He　ain't　sorry　a　bit；〃　Norma　said　to　Louis　and　sat　down　with　a　wince。
　　〃Saw　Ellie　get　on　the　bus；〃　Jud　said；　lighting　a　Chesterfield。　〃She'll　be　fine；〃　Norma　said。　〃They　almost　always　are。〃　Almost；　Louis　thought　morbidly。
　　But　Ellie　was　fine。　She　came　home　at　noon　smiling　and　sunny；　her　blue　first…day…of…school　dress　belling　gracefully　around　her　scabbed　shins　（and　there　was　a　new　scrape　on　one　knee　to　marvel　over）；　a　picture　of　what　might　have　been　two　children　or　perhaps　two　walking　gantries　in　one　hand；　one　shoe　untied；　one　ribbon　missing　from　her　hair；　shouting；　〃We　sang　'Old　MacDonald'！　Mommy！　Daddy！　We　sang　'Old　MacDonald'！　Same　one　as　in　the　Carstairs　Street　School！〃
　　Rachel　glanced　over　at　Louis；　who　was　sitting　in　the　window　seat　with　Gage　on　his　lap。　The　baby　was　almost　asleep。　There　was　something　sad　in　Rachel's　glance；　and　although　she　looked　away　quickly；　Louis　felt　a　moment　of　terrible　panic。　We're　really　going　to　get　old；　be　thought。　It's　really　true。　No　one's　going　to　make　an　exception　for　us。　She's　on　her　way。　。　。　and　so　are　we。
　　Ellie　ran　over　to　him；　trying　to　show　him　her　picture；　her　new　scrape；　and　tell　him　about　〃Old　MacDonald〃　and　Mrs。　Berryman　all　at　the　same　time。　Church　was　twining　in　and　out　between　her　legs；　purring　loudly；　and　Ellie　was　somehow；　almost　miraculously；　not　tripping　over　him。
　　〃Shh；〃　Louis　said　and　kissed　her。　Gage　had　gone　to　sleep；　unmindful　of　all　the　excitement。　〃Just　let　me　put　the　baby　to　bed　and　then　I'll　listen　to　everything。〃
　　He　took　Gage　up　the　stairs；　walking　through　hot　slanting　September　sunshine；　and　as　he　reached　the　landing；　such　a　premonition　of　horror　and　darkness　struck　him　that　he　stopped…　stopped　cold…and　looked　around　in　surprise；　wondering　what　could　possibly　have　e　over　him。　He　held　the　baby　tighter；　almost　clutching　him；　and　Gage　stirred　unfortably。　Louis's　arms　and　back　had　broken　out　in　great　rashes　of　gooseflesh。
　　What's　wrong？　he　wondered；　confused　and　frightened。　His　heart　was　racing；　his　scalp　felt　cool　and　abruptly　too　small　to　cover　his　skull；　he　could　feel　the　surge　of　adrenaline　behind　his　eyes。　Human　eyes　really　did　bug　out　when　fear　was　extreme；　he　knew；　they　did　not　just　widen　but　actually　bulged　as　blood　pressure　climbed　and　the　hydrostatic　pressure　of　the　cranial　fluids　increased。　What　the　hell　is　it？　Ghosts？　Christ；　it　really　feels　as　if　something　just　brushed　by　me　in　this　hallway；　something　I　almost　saw。
　　Downstairs　the　screen　door　whacked　against　its　frame。
　　Louis　Creed　jumped；　almost　screamed；　and　then　laughed。　It　was　simply　one　of　those　psychological　cold　pockets　people　Sometimes　passed　through…no　more；　no　less。　A　momentary　fugue。　They　happened；　that　was　all。　What　had　Scrooge　said　to　the　ghost　of　Jacob　Marley？　You　may　be　no　more　than　an　underdone　bit　of　potato。　There's　more　gravy　than　grave　to　you。　And　that　was　more　correct…physiologically　as　well　as　psychologically…than　Charles　Dickens　had　probably　known。　There　were　no　ghosts；　at　least　not　in　his　experience。　He　had　pronounced　two　dozen　people　dead　in　his　career　and　had　never　once　felt　the　passage　of　a　soul。
　　He　took　Gage　into　his　room　and　laid　him　in　his　crib。　As　he　pulled　the　blanket　up　over　his　son；　though；　a　shudder　twisted　up　his　back；　and　he　thought　suddenly　of　his　Uncle　Carl's　〃showroom。〃　No　new　cars　there；　no　televisions　with　all　the　modem　features；　no　dishwashers　with　glass　fronts　so　you　could　watch　the　magical　sudsing　action。　Only　boxes　with　their　lids　up；　a　carefully　hidden　spotlight　over　each。　His　father's　brother　was　an　undertaker。
　　Good　God；　what　gave　you　the　horrors？　Let　it　go！　Dump　it！
　　He　kissed　his　son　and　went　down　to　listen　to　Ellie　tell　about　her　first　day　at　the　big　kid's　school。
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　　That　Saturday；　after　Ellie　had　pleted　her　first　week　of　school　and　just　before　the　college　kids　came　back　to　campus；　Jud　Crandall　came　across　the　road　and　walked　over　to　where　the　Creed　family　sat　on　their　lawn。　Ellie　had　gotten　off　her　bike　and　was　drinking　a　glass　of　iced　tea。　Gage　was　crawling　in　the　grass；　examining　bugs；　perhaps　even　eating　a　few；　Gage　was　not　particular　where　his　protein　camó　from。
　　〃Jud；〃　Louis　said；　getting　up。　〃Let　me　get　you　a　chair。〃
　　〃No　need。〃　Jud　was　wearing　jeans；　an　open…throated　work　shirt；　and　a　pair　of　green　boots。　He　looked　at　Ellie。　〃You　still　want　to　see　where　yon　path　goes；　Ellie？〃
　　〃Yes！〃　Ellie　said；　getting　up　immediately。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　〃George　Buck　at　school　told　me　it　was　the　pet　cemetery；　and　I　told　Mommy；　but　she　said　to　wait　for　you　because　you　knew　where　it　was。〃
　　〃I　do；　too；〃　Jud　said。　〃If　it's　okay　with　your　folks；　we'll　take　us　a　stroll　up　there。　You'll　want　a　pair　of　boots　though。　Ground's　a　bit　squishy　in　places。〃
　　Ellie　rushed　into　the　house。
　　Jud　looked　after　her　with　amused　affection。　〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　e　too；　Louis。〃
　　〃I　would；〃　Louis　said。　He　looked　at　Rachel。　〃You　want　to　e；　honey？〃
　　〃What　about　Gage？　I　thought　it　was　a　mile。〃
　　〃I'll　put　him　in　the　Gerrypack。〃
　　Rachel　laughed。　〃Okay　。　。　。　but　it's　your　back；　mister。〃
　　They　started　off　ten　minutes　later；　all　of　them　but　Gage　wearing　boots。　Gage　was　sitting　up　in　the　Gerrypack　and　l