sk.petsematary-第5章

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　　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　looking　at　everything　over　Louis's　shoulder；　goggle…eyed。　Ellie　ranged　ahead　constantly；　chasing　butterflies　and　picking　flowers。
　　The　grass　in　the　back　field　was　almost　waist　high；　and　now　there　was　goldenrod；　that　late…summer　gossip　which　es　to　tattle　on　autumn　every　year。　But　there　was　no　autumn　in　the　air　today；　today　the　sun　was　still　all　August；　although　calendar　August　was　almost　two　weeks　gone。　By　the　time　they　had　reached　the　top　of　the　first　hill；　walking　strung　out　along　the　mown　path；　there　were　big　patches　of　sweat　under　Louis's　arms。
　　Jud　paused。　At　first　Louis　thought　it　might　be　because　the　old　man　was　winded…then　he　saw　the　view　that　had　opened　Out　behind　them。
　　〃Pretty　up　here；〃　Jud　said；　putting　a　piece　of　timothy　grass　between　his　teeth。　Louis　thought　he　had　just　heard　the　quintessential　Yankee　understatement。
　　〃It's　gorgeous；〃　Rachel　breathed　and　then　turned　to　Louis；　almost　accusingly。　〃How　e　you　didn't　tell　me　about　this？〃
　　〃Because！　didn't　know　it　was　here；〃　Louis　said；　and　was　a　little　ashamed。　They　were　still　on　their　own　property；　he　had　just　never　found　time　to　climb　the　hill　in　back　of　the　house　until　today。
　　Ellie　had　been　a　good　way　ahead。　Now　she　came　back　also　gazing　with　frank　wonder。　Church　padded　at　her　heels。
　　The　hill　was　not　a　high　one；　but　it　did　not　need　to　be。　To　the　east；　heavy　woods　blocked　any　view；　but　looking　this　way；　west；　the　land　fell　away　in　a　golden　and　dozy　late　summer　dream。　Everything　was　still；　hazed；　silent。　There　was　not　even　an　Orinco　tanker　on　the　highway　to　break　the　quiet。
　　It　was　the　river　valley　they　were　looking　into；　of　course；　the　Penobscot；　where　loggers　had　once　floated　their　timber　from　the　northeast　down　to　Bangor　and　Derry。　But　they　were　south　of　Bangor　and　a　bit　north　of　Deny　here。　The　river　flowed　wide　and　peacefully；　as　if　in　its　own　deep　dream。　Louis　could　make　out　Hampden　and　Winterport　on　the　far　side；　and　over　here　he　fancied　he　could　trace　the　black；　river…paralleling　snake　of　Route　15　nearly　all　the　way
　　Bucksport。　They　looked　over　the　river；　its　lush　hem　of　trees；　the　roads；　the　fields。　The　spire　of　the　North　Ludlow　Baptist　Church。　poked　through　one　canopy　of　old　elms；　and　to　the　right　he　could　see　the　square　brick　sturdiness　of　Ellie's　school。
　　Overhead；　white　clouds　moved　slowly　toward　a　horizon　the　color　of　faded　denim。　And　everywhere　were　the　late…summer　fields；　used　up　at　the　end　of　the　cycle；　dormant　but　not　dead；　an　incredible　tawny　color。
　　〃Gorgeous　is　the　right　word；〃　Louis　said　finally。
　　〃They　used　to　call　it　Prospect　Hill　back　in　the　old　days；〃　Jud　said。　He　put　a　cigarette　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth　but　did　not　light　it。　〃There's　a　few　that　still　do；　but　now　that　younger　people　have　moved　into　town；　it's　mostly　been　forgot。　I　don't　think　there's　very　many　people　that　even　e　up　here。　It　don't　look　like　you　could　see　much　because　the　hill's　not　very　high。　But　you　can　see…〃　He　gestured　with　one　hand　and　fell　silent。
　　〃You　can　see　everything；〃　Rachel　said　in　a　low；　awed　voice。　She　turned　to　Louis。　〃Honey；　do　we　own　this？〃
　　And　before　Louis　could　answer；　Jud　said：　〃It's　part　of　the　property；　oh　yes。〃
　　Which　wasn't；　Louis　thought；　quite　the　same　thing。
　　It　was　cooler　in　the　woods；　perhaps　by　as　much　as　eight　or　ten　degrees。　The　path；　still　wide　and　occasionally　marked　with　flowers　in　pots　or　in　coffee　cans　（most　of　them　wilted）；　was　now　floored　with　dry　pine　needles。　They　had　gone　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile；　moving　downhill　now；　when　Jud　called　Ellie　back。
　　〃This　is　a　good　walk　for　a　little　girl；〃　Jud　said　kindly；　〃but　I　want　you　to　promise　your　mom　and　dad　that　if　you　e　up　here；　you'll　always　stay　on　the　path。〃
　　〃I　promise；〃　Ellie　said　promptly　〃Why？〃
　　He　glanced　at　Louis；　who　had　stopped　to。　rest。　Toting　Gage；　even　in　the　shade　of　these　old　pines　and　spruces；　was　heavy　work。　〃Do　you　know　where　you　are？〃　Jud　asked　Louis。
　　Louis　considered　and　rejected　answers：　Ludlow；　North　Ludlow；　behind　my　house；　between　Route　15　and　Middle　Drive。　He　shook　his　head。
　　Jud　jerked　a　thumb　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Plenty　of　stuff　that　way；〃　he　said。　〃That's　town。　This　way；　nothing　but　woods　for　fifty　miles　or　more。　The　North　Ludlow　Woods　they　call　it　here；　but　it　hits　a　little　corner　of　Orrington；　then　goes　over　to　Rockford。　Ends　up　going　onto　those　state　lands　I　told　you　about；　the　ones　the　Indians　want　back。　I　know　it　sounds　funny　to　say　your　nice　little　house　there　on　the　main　road；　with　its　phone　and　electric　lights　and　cable　TV　and　all；　is　on　the　edge　of　a　wilderness；　but　it　is。〃　He　looked　back　at　Ellie。　〃All　I'm　saying　is　that　you　don't　want　to　get　messing　around　in　these　woods；　Ellie。　You　might　lose　the　path；　and　God　knows　where　you　might　end　up　then。〃
　　〃I　won't；　Mr。　Crandall。〃　Ellie　was　suitably　impressed；　even　awed；　but　not　afraid；　Louis　saw。　Rachel；　however；　was　looking　at　Jud　uneasily；　and　Louis　felt　a　little　uneasy　himself。　It　was；　he　supposed；　the　city…bred's　almost　instinctive　fear　of　the　woods。　Louis　hadn't　held　a　pass　in　his　hand　since　Boy　Scouts；　twenty　years　before；　and　his　memories　of　how　to　find　your　way　by　things　like　the　North　Star　or　which　side　of　the　trees　moss　grew　on　were　as　vague　as　his　memories　of　how　to　tie　a　sheepshank　or　a　half　hitch。
　　Jud　looked　them　over　and　smiled　a　little。　〃Now；　we　ain't　lost　nobody　in　these　woods　since　1934；〃　he　said。　〃At　least；　nobody　local。　The　last　one　was　Will　Jeppson…no　great　loss。
　　Except　for　Stanny　Bouchard；　I　guess　Will　was　the　biggest　tosspot　this　side　of　Bucksport。〃
　　〃You　said　nobody　local；〃　Rachel　remarked　in　a　voice　that　was　not　quite　casual；　and　Louis　could　almost　read　her　mind：
　　We're　not　local。　At　least；　not　yet。
　　Jud　paused　and　then　nodded。　〃We　do　lose　one　of　the　tourists　every　two　or　three　years　because　they　think　you　can't　get　lost　right　off　the　main　road。　But　we　never　lost　even　one　of　them　for　good；　missus。　Don't　you　fret。〃
　　〃Are　there　moose？〃　Rachel　asked　apprehensively；　and　Louis　smiled。　If　Rachel　wanted　to　fret；　she　would　jolly　well　fret。
　　〃Well；　you　might　see　a　moose；〃　Jud　said；　〃but　he　wouldn't　give　you　any　trouble；　Rachel。　During　mating　season　they　get　a　little　irritated；　but　otherwise　they　do　no　more　than　look。　Only　people　they　take　after　out　of　their　rutting　time　are　people　from　Massachusetts。　I　don't　know　why　that's　so；　but　it　is。〃　Louis　thought　the　man　was　joking　but　could　not　be　sure；　Jud　looked　utterly　serious。　〃I've　seen　it　time　and　time　again。　Some　fella　from　Saugus　or　Milton　or　Weston　up　a　tree；　yelling　about　a　herd　of　moose；　every　damn　one　of　em　as　big　as　a　motorhome。　Seems　like　moose　can　smell　Massachusetts　on　a　man　or　a　woman。　Or　maybe　it's　just　all　those　new　clothes　from　L。　L。　Bean's　they　smell…I　dunno。　I'd　like　to　see　one　of　those　animal　husbandry　students　from　the　college　do　a　paper　on　it；　but　I　s'pose　none　ever　will。〃
　　〃What's　rutting　time？〃　Ellie　asked。
　　〃Never　mind；〃　Rachel　said。　〃I　don't　want　you　up　here　unless　you're　with　a　grown…up；　Ellie。〃　Rachel　moved　a　step　closer　to　Louis。
　　Jud　looked　pained。　〃I　didn't　want　to　scare　you；　Rachel…you　or　your　daughter。　No　need　to　be　scared　in　these　woods。　This　is　a　good　path；　it　gets　a　little　buggy　in　the　spring　and　it's　a　little　sloppy　all　the　time…except　for　'55；　which　was　the　driest　summer　I　can　remember…but　hell；　there…isn't　even　any　poison　ivy　or　poison　oak；　which　there　is　at　the　back　of　the　schoolyard；　and　you　want　to　stay　away　from　it；　Ellie；　if　you　don't　want　to　spend　three　weeks　of　your　life　takin　starch　baths。〃
　　Ellie　covered　her　mouth　and　giggled。
　　〃It's　a　safe　path；〃　Jud　said　earnestly　to　Rachel；　who　still　didn't　look　convinced。　〃Why；　I　bet　even　Gage　could　follow　it；　and　the　town　kids　e　up　here　a　lot；　I　already　told　you　that。　They　keep　it　nice。　Nobody　tells　them　to；　they　just　do　it。　I　wouldn't　want　to　spoil　that　for　Ellie。〃　He　bent　over　her　and　winked。　〃It's　like　many　other　things　in　life；　Ellie。　You　keep　on　the　path　and　all's　well。　You　get　off　it　and　the　next　thing　you　know　you're　lost　if　you're　not　lucky。　And　then　someone　has　to　send　out　a　searchin　party。〃
　　They　walked　on。　Louis　began　to　get　a　dull　cramp　of　pain　in　his　back　；from　the　baby　carrier。　Every　now　and　then　Gage　would　grab　a　double　handful　of　his　hair　and　tug　enthusiastically　or　administer　a　cheerful　kick　to　Louis's　kidneys。　Late　mosquitoes　cruised　around　his　face　and　neck；　making　their　eye…watering　hum。
　　The　path　curved　down；　bending　in　and　out　between　very　old　firs；　and　then　cut　widely　through　a　brambly；　tangled　patch　of　undergrowth。　The　going　was　soupy　here；　and　Louis's　boots　squelched　in　mud　and　some　standing　water。　At　one　point　they　stepped　over　a　marshy　spot　using　a　pair　of　good…sized　tussocks　as　stepping　stones。　That　was　the　worst　of　it。　They　started　to　climb　again　and　the　trees　reasserted　themselves。　Gage　seemed　to　have　magically　put　on　ten　pounds；　and　the　day　had；　with　some　similar　magic；　warmed　up　ten　degrees。　Sweat　poured　down　Louis's　face。
　　〃How　you　doing；　hon？〃　Rachel　asked。　〃Want　me　to　carry　him　for　a　while？〃
　　〃No；　I'm　fine；〃　he　said；　and　it　was　true；　although　his　heart　was　larruping　along　at　a　good　speed　in　his　chest。　He　was　more　used　to　prescribing　physical　exercise　than　he　was　to　doing　it。
　　Jud　was　walking　with　Ellie　by　his　side；　her　lemon…yellow　slacks　and　red　blouse　were　bright　splashes　of　color　in　the　shady　brown…green　gloom。
　　〃Lou；　does　he　really　know　where　he's　going；　do　you　think？〃　Rachel　asked　in　a　low；　slightly　worried　tone。
　　〃Sure；〃　Louis　said。
　　Jud　called　back　cheerily　over　his　shoulder：　〃Not　much　farther　now。　。　。　you　bearin　up；　Louis？〃
　　My　God；　Louis　thought；　the　man's　well　past　eighty；　but　I　don't　think　he's　even　broken　a　sweat。
　　〃I'm　fine；〃　he　called　back　a　little　aggressively。　Pride　probably　would　have　led　him　to　say　the　same　thing　even　if　he　had　felt　the　onset　of　a　coronary。　He　grinned；　hitched　the　straps　of　the　Gerrypack　up　a　bit；　and　went　on。
　　They　topped　the　second　hill；　and　then　the　path　sloped　through　a　head…high　swatch　of　bushes　and　tangled　underbrush。　It　narrowed　and　then；　just　ahead；　Louis　saw　Ellie　and　Jud　go　under　an　arch　made　of　old　weather　stained　boards。　Written　on　these　in　faded　black　paint；　only　just　legible；　were　the　words
　　PET　SEMATARY。
　　He　and　Rachel　exchanged　an　amused　glance　and　stepped　under　the　arch；　instinctively　reaching　out　and　grasping　each　other's　hands　as　they　did　so；　as　if　they　had　e　here　to　be　married。
　　For　the　second　time　that　morning　Louis　was　surprised　into　wonder。…
　　There　was　no　carpet　of　needles　here。　Here　was　an　almost　perfect　circle　of　mown　grass；　perhaps　as　large　as　forty　feet　in　diameter。　It　was　bounded　by　thickly　interlaced　underbrush　on　three　sides　and　an　old　blowdown　on　the　fourth；　a　jackstraw　jumble　of　fallen　trees　that　looked　both　sinister　and　dangerous。　A　man　trying　so　pick　his　way　through　that　or　to　climb　over　it　would　do　well　to　put　on　a　steel　jock；　Louis　thought。　The　clearing　was　crowded　with　markers；　obviously　made　by　children　from　whatever　materials　they　could　beg　or　borrow…the　slats　of　crates；　scrapwood；　pieces　of　beaten　…tin