sk.petsematary-第56章

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　Johnson's　dining　room。
　　The　food　was　plentiful　and　dull…exactly　what　his　body　seemed　to　want。　Outside　it　had　grown　dark。　The　headlights　of　the　passing　cars　probed　like　fingers。　He　shoveled　the　food　in。　A　steak。　A　baked　potato。　A　side　dish　of　beans　which　were　a　bright　green　nature　had　never　intended。　A　wedge　of　apple　pie　with　a　scoop　of　ice　cream　on　top　of　it　melting　into　a　soft　drool。　He　ate　at　a　corner　table；　watching　people　e　and　go；　wondering　if　he　might　not　see　someone　he　knew。　In　a　vague　way；　he　rather　hoped　that　would　happen。　It　would　lead　to　questions…where's　Rachel；　what　are　you　doing　here；　how's　it　going？　…and　perhaps　the　questions　would　lead　to　plications；　and　maybe　plications　were　what　he　really　wanted。　A　way　out。
　　And　as　a　matter　of　fact；　a　couple　that　he　did　know　came　in　just　as　he　was　finishing　his　apple　pie　and　his　second　cup　of　coffee。　Rob　Grinnell；　a　Bangor　doctor；　and　his　pretty　wife　Barbara。　He　waited　for　them　to　see　him；　sitting　here　in　the　corner　at　his　table　for　one；　but　the　hostess　led　them　to　the　booths　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　and　Louis　lost　sight　of　them　entirely　except　for　an　occasional　glimpse　of　Grinnell's　prematurely　graying　hair。
　　The　waitress　brought　Louis　his　check。　He　signed　for　it；　jotting　his　room　number　under　his　signature；　and　left　by　the　side　door。
　　Outside　the　wind　had　risen　to　near…gale　force。　It　was　a　steady　droning　presence；　making　the　electrical　wires　hum　oddly。　He　could　see　no　stars　but　had　a　sense　of　clouds　rushing　past　overhead　at　high　speed。　Louis　stood　on　the　walk　for　a　moment；　hands　in　pockets；　face　tilted　into　that　wind。　Then　he　turned　back　and　went　up　to　his　room　and　turned　on　the　television。　It　was　too　early　to　do　anything　serious；　and　that　nightwind　was　too　full　of　possibilities。　It　made　him　nervous。
　　He　watched　four　hours　of　TV；　eight　back…to…back　half…hour　edy　programs。　He　realized　it　had　been　a　very　long　time　since　he　had　watched　so　much　TV　in　a　steady；　uninterrupted　stream。　He　thought　that　all　the　female　leads　on　the　sits　were　what　he　and　his　friends　had　called　〃cockteasers〃　back　in　high　school。
　　In　Chicago；　Dory　Goldman　was　wailing；　〃Fly　back？　Honey；　why　do　you　want　to　fly　back？　You　just　got　here！〃
　　In　Ludlow；　Jud　Crandall　sat　by　his　bay　window；　smoking　and　drinking　beer；　motionless；　examining　the　mental　scrapbook　of　his　own　past　and　waiting　for　Louis　to　e　home。　Sooner　or　later　Louis　would　e　home；　just　like　Lassie　in　that　old　movie。　There　were　other　ways　up　to　the　Pet　Sematary　and　the　place　beyond；　but　Louis　didn't　know　them。　If　he　intended　to　do　it；　he　would　begin　from　his　own　dooryard。
　　Unaware　of　these　other　happenings；　like　slow…moving　projectiles　aimed　not　at　where　he　was；　but　rather　in　the　best　ballistics　tradition　at　the　place　where　he　would　be；　Louis　sat　and　watched　the　HoJo　color　television　set。　He　had　never　seen　any　of　these　programs　before；　but　he　had　heard　vague　rumors　of　them：　a　black　family；　a　white　family；　a　little　kid　who　was　smarter　than　the　rich　grown…ups　he　lived　with；　a　woman　who　was　single；　a　woman　who　was　married；　a　woman　who　was　divorced。　He　watched　it　all；　sitting　in　the　HoJo　chair　and　glancing　out　every　now　and　then　at　the　blowy　night。
　　When　the　eleven　o'clock　news　came　on；　he　turned　the　television　set　off　and　went　out　to　do　what　he　had　decided　to　do　perhaps　at　the　very　moment　he　had　seen　Gage's　baseball　cap　lying　in　the　road；　full　of　blood。　The　coldness　was　on　him　again；　stronger　than　ever；　but　there　was　something　beneath　it…an　ember　of　eagerness；　or　passion；　or　perhaps　lust。　No　matter。　It　warmed　him　against　the　cold　and　kept　him　together　in　the　wind。　As　he　started　the　Honda's　engine；　he　thought　that　perhaps　Jud　was　right　about　the　growing　power　of　that　place；　for　surely　he　felt　it　around　him　now；　leading　（or　pushing）　him　on；　and　he　wondered：
　　Could　I　stop？　Could　I　stop　even　if　I　wanted　to？
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　　〃You　want　to　what？〃　Dory　asked　again。　〃Rachel　。　。　。　you're　upset。　。　。　a　night's　sleep。　。
　　Rachel　only　shook　her　head。　She　could　not　explain　to　her　mother　why　she　had　to　go　back。　The　feeling　had　risen　in　her　the　way　a　wind　rises…an　early　stirring　of　the　grasses；　hardly　noticed；　then　the　air　begins　to　move　faster　and　harder；　and　there　is　no　calm　left；　then　the　gusts　bee　hard　enough　to　make　eerie　screaming　noises　around　the　eaves；　then　they　are　shaking　the　house　and　you　realize　that　this　is　something　like　a　hurricane　and　if　the　wind　gets　much　higher；　things　are　going　to　fall　down。
　　It　was　six　o'clock　in　Chicago。　In　Bangor；　Louis　was　just　sitting　down　to　his　big；　tasteless　meal。　Rachel　and　Ellie　'had　done　no　more　than　pick　at　their　dinners。　Rachel　kept　raising　her　eyes　from　her　plate　to　find　her　daughter's　dark　glance　upon　her；　asking　her　what　she　was　going　to　do　about　whatever　trouble　Daddy　was　in；　asking　her　what　she　was　going　to　do。
　　She　waited　for　the　telephone　to　ring；　for　Jud　to　call　and　tell　her　that　Louis　had　e　home；　and　once　it　did　ring…she　jumped；　and　Ellie　almost　spilled　her　glass　of　milk…but　it　was　only　a　lady　from　Dory's　bridge　club；　wanting　to　know　if　she　had　gotten　home　all　right。
　　They　were　having　their　coffee　when　Rachel　had　abruptly　tossed　down　her　napkin　and　said；　〃Daddy　。　。　。　Mom　。　。　。　I'm　sorry；　but　I　have　to　go　home。　If　I　can　get　a　plane；　I'm　going　tonight。〃
　　Her　mother　and　father　had　gaped　at　her；　but　Ellie　had　closed　her　eyes　in　an　adult　expression　of　relief…it　would　have　been　funny　if　not　for　the　waxy；　stretched　quality　of　her　skin。
　　They　did　not　understand；　and　Rachel　could　no　more　explain　than　she　could　have　explained　how　those　tiny　puffs　of　wind；　so　faint　they　can　barely　stir　the　tips　of　short　grass；　can　gradually　grow　in　power　until　they　can　knock　a　steel　building　flat。　She　did　not　believe　that　Ellie　had　heard　a　news　item　about　the　death　of　Victor　Pascow　and　ified　it　away　in　her　subconscious。
　　〃Rachel。　Honey。〃　Her　father　spoke　slowly；　kindly；　the　way　one　might　speak　to　someone　in　the　grip　of　a　transitory　but　dangerous　hysteria。　〃This　is　all　just　a　reaction　to　your　son's　death。　You　and　Ellie　are　both　reacting　strongly　to　that；　and　who　could　blame　you？　But　you'll　just　collapse　if　you　try　to…〃
　　Rachel　did　not　answer　him。　She　went　to　the　telephone　in　the　hall；　found　AIRLINES　in　the　Yellow　Pages　and　dialed　Delta's　number　while　Dory　stood　close　by；　telling　her　they　ought　to　just　think　about　this；　didn't　she　think；　they　ought　to　talk　about　it；　perhaps　make　a　list。　。　。　and　beyond　her　EWe　stood；　her　face　stifi　dark…　but　now　it　was　lit　by　enough　hope　to　give　Rachel　some　courage。
　　〃Delta　Airlines；〃　the　voice　on　the　other　end　said　brightly。　〃This　is　Kim；　may　I　help　you？〃
　　〃I　hope　so；〃　Rachel　said。　〃It's　extremely　important　that　I　get　from　Chicago　to　Bangor　tonight。　It's　。　。　。　it's　a　bit　of　an　emergency；　I'm　afraid。　Can　you　check　the　connections　for　me？〃
　　Dubiously：　〃Yes；　ma'am；　but　this　is　very　short　notice。〃
　　〃Well；　please　check；〃　Rachel　said；　her　voice　cracking　a　little。　〃I'll　take　standby；　anything。〃
　　〃All　right；　ma'am。　Please　hold。〃　The　line　became　smoothly　silent。
　　Rachel　closed　her　eyes；　and　after　a　moment　she　felt　a　cool　hand　on　her　arm。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　saw　that　Ellie　had　moved　next　to　her。　Irwin　and　Dory　stood　together；　talking　quietly　and　looking　at　them。　The　way　you　look　at　people　you　suspect　of　being　lunatics；　Rachel　thought　wearily。　She　mustered　a　smile　for　Ellie。
　　〃Don't　let　them　stop　you；　Mommy；〃　Ellie　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Please。〃
　　〃No　way；　big　sister；〃　Rachel　said　and　then　winced…it　was　what　they　had　called　her　ever　since　Gage　had　been　born。　But　she　was　no　one's　big　sister　anymore；　was　she？
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Ellie　said。
　　〃It's　very　important；　isn't　it？〃
　　Ellie　nodded。
　　〃Honey；　I　believe　that　it　is。　But　you　could　help　me　if　you　could　tell　me　more。　Is　it　just　the　dream？〃
　　〃No；〃　Ellie　said。　〃It's　。　。　。　it's　everything　now。　It's　running　all　through　me　now。　Can't　you　feel　it；　Mommy？　Something　like　a…〃
　　〃Something　like　a　wind。〃
　　Ellie　sighed　shakily。
　　〃But　you　don't　know　what　it　is？　You　don't　remember　anything　more　about　your　dream？〃
　　Ellie　thought　hard　and　then　shook　her　head　reluctantly。　〃Daddy。　Church。　And　Gage。　That's　all　I　remember。　But　I　don't　remember　how　they　go　together；　Mommy！〃
　　Rachel　hugged　her　tightly。　〃It　will　be　all　right；〃　she　said；　but　the　weight　on　her　heart　did　not　lessen。
　　〃Hello；　ma'am；〃　the　reservations　clerk　said。
　　〃Hello？〃　Rachel　tightened　her　grip　on　both　Ellie　and　the　phone。
　　〃I　think　I　can　get　you　to　Bangor；　ma'am…but　you're　going　to　be　getting　in　very　late。〃
　　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　Rachel　said。
　　〃Do　you　have　a　pen？　It's　plicated。〃
　　〃Yes；　right　here；〃　Rachel　said；　getting　a　stub　of　pencil　out　of　the　drawer。　She　found　the　back　of　an　envelope　to　write　on。
　　Rachel　listened　carefully；　writing　down　everything。　When　the　airline　clerk　finished；　Rachel　smiled　a　little　and　made　an　〃0〃　with　her　thumb　and　forefinger　to　show　Ellie　that　it　was　going　to　work。　Probably　going　to　work；　she　amended。　Some　of　the　connections　looked　very；　very　tight。　。　。　especially　in　Boston。
　　〃Please　book　it　all；〃　Rachel　said。　〃And　thank　you。〃
　　Kim　took　Rachel's　name　and　credit　card　number。　Rachel　hung　up　at　last；　limp　but　relieved。　She　looked　at　her　father。　〃Daddy；　will　you　drive　me　to　the　airport？〃
　　〃Maybe　I　ought　to　say　no；〃　Goldman　said。　〃I　think　I　might　have　a　responsibility　to　put　a　stop　to　this　craziness。〃
　　〃Don't　you　dare！〃　Ellie　cried　shrilly。　〃It's　not　crazy！　It's　not！〃　Goldman　blinked　and　stepped　back　at　this　small　but　ferocious　outburst。
　　〃Drive　her；　Irwin；〃　Dory　said　quietly　into　the　silence　that　followed。　〃I've　begun　to　feel　nervous　too。　I'll　feel　better　if　I　know　Louis　is　all　right。〃
　　Goldman　stared　at　his　wife　and　at　last　turned　to　Rachel。　〃I'll　drive　you；　if　it　is　what　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃I　。　。　。　Rachel；　I'll　e　with　you；　if　you　want　that。〃
　　Rachel　shook　her　head。　〃Thank　you；　Daddy；　but　I　got　all　the　last　seats。　It's　as　if　Cod　saved　them　for　me。〃
　　Irwin　Goldman　sighed。　At　that　moment　he　looked　very　old；　and　it　suddenly　occurred　to　Rachel　that　her　father　looked　like　Jud　Crandall。
　　〃You　have　time　to　pack　a　bag；　if　you　want；〃　be　said。　〃We　can　be　at　the　airport　in　forty　minutes；　if　I　drive　the　way　I　used　to　when　your　mother　and　I　were　first　married。　Find　her　your　tote　bag；　Dory。〃
　　〃Mommy；〃　Ellie　said。　Rachel　turned　toward　her。　Ellie's　face　was　now　sheened　with　light　sweat。
　　〃What；　honey？〃
　　〃Be　careful；　Mommy；〃　Ellie　said。
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　　The　trees　were　only　moving　shapes　against　a　cloudy　sky　backlit　by　the　glow　from　the　airport　not　too　far　distant。　Louis　parked　the　Honda　on　Mason　Street。　Mason　bordered　Pleasantview　on　its　south　side；　and　here　the　wind　was　almost　strong　enough　to　rip　the　car　door　out　of　his　hand。　He　had　to　push　hard　to　shut　it。　The　wind　rippled　at　his　jacket　as　he　opened　the　Honda's　hatch　and　took　out　the　piece　of　tarpaulin　he　had　cut　and　wrapped　around　his　tools。
　　He　was　in　a　wing　of　darkness　between　two　streetlights；　standing　on　the　curb　with　the　canvas…wrapped　bundle　cradled　in　his　arms；　looking　carefully　for　traffic　before　crossing　to　the　wrought…iron　fence　which　marked　the　boundary　of　the　graveyard。　He　did　not　want　to　be　seen　at　all；　if　he　could　help　it；　not　even　by　someone　who　would　notice　hi