sk.petsematary-第65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！


　　〃Gage？〃
　　The　sounds　had　died　away。
　　Not　yet；　it's　too　early。　Don't　ask　me　how　I　know；　but　I　do。　That　isn't　Gage　over　there。　That's。　。　。　something　else。
　　He　suddenly　thought　of　Ellie　telling　him；　He　called　〃Lazarus；　e　forth〃　。　。　。　because　if　He　hadn't　called　for　Lazarus　by　name；　everyone　in　that　graveyard　would　have　risen。
　　On　the　other　side　of　the　deadfall；　those　sounds　had　begun　again。　On　the　other　side　of　the　barrier。　Almost…but　not　quite…　hidden　under　the　wind。　As　if　something　blind　were　stalking　him　with　ancient　instincts。　His　dreadfully　overstimulated　brain　conjured　horrible；　sickening　pictures：　a　giant　mole；　a　great　bat　that　flopped　through　the　underbrush　rather　than　flying。
　　Louis　backed　out　of　the　Pet　Sematary；　not　turning　his　back　to　the　deadfall…that　ghostlike　glimmer；　a　livid　scar　on　the　dark…until　he　was　well　down　the　path。　Then　he　began　to　hurry；　and　perhaps　a　quarter　of　a　mile　before　the　path　ran　out　of　the　woods　and　into　the　field　behind　his　house；　he　found　enough　left　inside　him　to　run。
　　Louis　slung　the　pick　and　shovel　indifferently　inside　the　garage　and　stood　for　a　moment　at　the　head　of　his　driveway；　looking　first　back　the　way　he　had　e　and　then　up　at　the　sky。　It　was　quarter　past　four　in　the　morning；　and　he　supposed　dawn　could　not　be　so　far　away。　Light　would　already　be　three　quarters　of　the　way　across　the　Atlantic；　but　for　now；　here　in　Ludlow；　the　night　held　hard。　The　wind　blew　steadily。
　　He　went　into　the　house；　feeling　his　way　along　the　side　of　the　garage　and　unlocking　the　back　door。　He　went　through　the　kitchen　without　turning　on　a　light　and　stepped　into　the　small　bathroom　between　the　kitchen　and　the　dining　room。　Here　he　did　snap　on　a　light；　and　the　first　thing　he　saw　was　Church；　curled　up　on　top　of　the　toilet　tank；　staring　at　him　with　those　muddy　yellow…green　eyes。
　　〃Church；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　someone　put　you　out。〃
　　Church　only　looked　at　him　from　atop　the　toilet　tank。　Yes；　someone　had　put　Church　out；　he　had　done　it　himself。　He　remembered　that　very　clearly。　Just　as　he　remembered　replacing　the　window　pane　down…cellar　that　time　and　then　telling　himself　that　that　had　taken　care　of　the　problem。　But　exactly　whom　had　he　been　kidding？　When　Church　wanted　to　get　in；　church　got　in。　Because　Church　was　different　now。
　　It　didn't　matter。　In　this　dull；　exhausted　aftermath；　nothing　seemed　to　matter。　He　felt　like　something　less　than　human　now；　one　of　George　Romero's　stupid；　lurching　movie…zombies；　or　maybe　someone　who　had　escaped　from　T。　S。　Eliot's　poem　about　the　hollow　men。　I　should　have　been　a　pair　of　ragged　claws；　scuttling　through　Little　God　Swamp　and　up　to　the　Micmac　burying　ground；　he　thought　and　uttered　a　dry　chuckle。
　　〃Headpiece　full　of　straw；　Church；〃　he　said　in　his　croaking　voice。　He　was　unbuttoning　his　shirt　now。　〃That's　me。　You　better　believe　it。〃
　　There　was　a　nice　bruise　ing　on　his　left　side；　about　halfway　up　his　ribcage；　and　when　he　shucked　his　pants　he　saw　that　the　knee　he　had　banged　on　the　gravestone　was　swelling　up　like　a　balloon。　It　had　already　turned　a　rotten　purple…black；　and　he　supposed　that　as　soon　as　he　stopped　flexing　it；　the　joint　would　bee　stiff　and　painfully　obdurate…as　if　it　had　been　dipped　in　cement。　It　looked　like　one　of　those　injuries　that　might　want　to　converse　with　him　on　rainy　days　for　the　rest　of　his　life。
　　He　reached　out　a　hand　to　stroke　Church；　wanting　some　sort　of　fort；　but　the　cat　leaped　down　from　the　toilet　tank；　staggering　in　that　drunken　and　weirdly　unfeline　way；　and　left　for　some　other　place。　It　spared　Louis　one　flat；　yellow　glance　as　it　went。
　　There　was　Ben…Gay　in　the　medicine　cabinet。　Louis　lowered　the　toilet　seat；　sat　down；　and　smeared　a　gob　on　his　bad　knee。　Then　he　rubbed　some　more　on　the　small　of　his　back…a　clumsy　operation。
　　He　left　the　toilet　and　walked　into　the　living　room。　He　turned　on　the　hall　light　and　stood　there　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　for　a　moment；　looking　stupidly　around。　How　strange　it　all　seemed！　Here　was　where　he　had　stood　on　Christmas　Eve　when　he　had　given　Rachel　the　sapphire。　It　had　been　in　the　pocket　of　his　robe。　There　was　his　chair；　where　he　had　done　his　best　to　explain　the　facts　of　death　to　Ellie　after　Norma　Crandall's　fatal　heart　attack…facts　he　had　found　ultimately　unacceptable　to　himself。　The　Christmas　tree　had　stood　in　that　corner；　Ellie's　construction…paper　turkey…　the　one　that　had　reminded　Louis　of　some　sort　of　futuristic　crow…　had　been　Scotch…taped　in　that　window；　and　much　earlier　the　entire　room　had　been　empty　except　for　the　United　Van　Lines　boxes；　filled　with　their　family　possessions　and　trucked　across　half　the　country　from　the　Midwest。　He　remembered　thinking　that　their　things　looked　very　insignificant；　boxed　up　like　that…a　small　enough　bulwark　between　his　family　and　the　coldness　of　all　the　outer　world　where　their　names　and　their　family　customs　were　not　known。
　　How　strange　it　all　seemed　。　。　。　and　how　he　wished　they　had　never　heard　of　the　University　of　Maine；　or　Ludlow；　or　Jud　and　Norma　Crandall；　or　any　of　it。
　　He　went　upstairs　in　his　skivvies；　and　in　the　bathroom　at　the　top　he　got　the　stool；　stood　on　it；　and　took　down　the　small　black　bag　from　on　top　of　the　medicine　cabinet。　He　took　this　into　the　master　bedroom；　sat　down；　and　began　to　rummage　through　it。　Yes；　there　were　syringes　in　case　he　needed　one；　and　amid　the　rolls　of　surgical　tape　and　surgical　scissors　and　neatly　wrapped　papers　of　surgical　gut　were　several　ampules　of　very　deadly　stuff。
　　If　needed。
　　Louis　snapped　the　bag　shut　and　put　it　by　the　bed。　He　turned　off　the　overhead　light；　then　lay　down；　hands　behind　his　head。　To　lie　here　on　his　back；　at　rest；　was　exquisite。　His　thoughts　turned　to　Disney　World　again。　He　saw　himself　in　a　plain　white　uniform；　driving　a　white　van　with　the　mouse…ears　logo　on　itnothing　to　indicate　it　was　a　rescue　unit　on　the　outside；　of　course；　nothing　to　scare　the　paying　customers。
　　Gage　was　sitting　beside　him；　his　skin　deeply　tanned；　the　whites　of　his　eyes　bluish　with　health。　Here；　just　to　the　left；　was　Goofy；　shaking　hands　with　a　little　boy；　the　kid　was　in　a　trance　of　wonder。　Here　was　Winnie　the　Pooh　posing　with　two　laughing　grandmas　in　pants　suits　so　a　third　laughing　grandma　could　snap　their　pictures；　here　was　a　little　girl　in　her　best　dress　crying；　〃I　love　you；　Tigger！　I　love　you；　Tigger！〃
　　He　and　his　son　were　on　patrol。　He　and　his　son　were　the　sentries　in　this　magic　land；　and　they　cruised　endlessly　in　their　white　van　with　the　red　dashboard　flasher　neatly　and　sensibly　covered。　They　were　not　looking　for　trouble；　not　they；　but　they　were　ready　for　it　should　it　show　its　face。　That　it　was　lurking　even　here；　in　a　place　dedicated　to　such　innocent　pleasures；　could　not　be　denied；　some　grinning　man　buying　film　along　Main　Street　could　clutch　his　chest　as　the　heart　attack　struck；　a　pregnant　woman　might　suddenly　feel　the　labor　pains　start　as　she　walked　down　the　steps　from　the　Sky　Chariot；　a　teenage　girl　as　pretty　as　a　Norman　Rockwell　cover　might　suddenly　collapse　in　a　flopping　epileptic　fit；　loafers　rattling　out　a　jagged　backbeat　on　the　cement　as　the　signals　in　her　brain　suddenly　jammed　up。　There　were　sunstroke　and　heatstroke　and　brainstroke；　and　perhaps　at　the　end　of　some　sultry　Orlando　summer　afternoon　there　might　even　be　a　stroke　of　light…fling；　there　was；　even；　Oz　the　Gweat　and　Tewwible　himself　here
　　…he　might　be　glimpsed　walking　around　near　the　monorail's　point　of　egress　into　the　Magic　Kingdom　or　peering　down　from　one　of　the　flying　Dumbos　with　his　flat　and　stupid　gaze…down　here　Louis　and　Gage　had　e　to　know　him　as　just　another　amusement　park　figure　like　Goofy　or　Mickey　or　Tigger　or　the　estimable　Mr。　D。　Duck。　He　was　the　one；　however；　with　whom　no　one　wanted　his　or　her　picture　taken；　the　one　to　whom　no　one　wanted　to　introduce　his　son　or　daughter。　Louis　and　Gage　knew　him；　they　had　met　him　and　faced　him　down　in　New　England；　some　time　ago。　He　was　waiting　to　choke　you　on　a　marble；　to　smother　you　with　a　dry…cleaning　bag；　to　sizzle　you　into　eternity　with　a　fast　and　lethal　boogie　of　electricity…Available　at　Your　Nearest　Switchplate　or　Vacant　Light　Socket　Right　Now。　There　was　death　in　a　quarter　bag　of　peanuts；　an　aspirated　piece　of　steak；　the　next　pack　of　cigarettes。　He　was　around　all　the　time；　he　monitored　all　the　checkpoints　between　the　mortal　and　the　eternal。　Dirty　needles；　poison　beetles；　downed　live　wires；　forest　fires。　Whirling　roller　skates　that　shot　nurdy　little　kids　into　busy　intersections。　When　you　got　into　the　bathtub　to　take　a　shower；　Oz　got　right　in　there　too…Shower　with　a　Friend。　When　you　got　on　an　airplane；　Oz　took　your　boarding　pass。　He　was　in　the　water　you　drank；　the　food　you　ate。　Who's　out　there？　you　howled　into　the　dark　when　you　were　frightened　and　all　alone；　and　it　was　his　answer　that　came　back：　Don't　be　afraid；　it's　just　me。　Hi；　howaya？　You　got　cancer　of　the　bowel；　what　a　bummer；　so　solly；　Cholly！　Septicemia！　Leukemia！　Atherosclerosis！　Coronary　thrombosis！　Encephalitis！　Osteomyelitis！　Hey…ho；　let's　go！　Junkie　in　a　doorway　with　a　knife。　Phone　call　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　Blood　cooking　in　battery　acid　on　some　exit　ramp　in　North　Carolina。　Big　handfuls　of　pills；　munch　em　up。　That　peculiar　blue　cast　of　the　fingernails　following　asphyxiation…in　its　final　grim　struggle　to　survive　the　brain　takes　all　the　oxygen　that　is　left；　even　that　in　those　living　cells　under　the　nails。　Hi；　folks；　my　name's　Oz　the　Gweat　and　Tewwible；　but　you　can　call　me　Oz　if　you　want…hell；　we're　old　friends　by　now。　Just　stopped　by　to　whop　you　with　a　little　congestive　heart　failure　or　a　cranial　blood　clot　or　something；　can't　stay；　got　to　see　a　woman　about　a　breach　birth；　then　I've　got　a　little　smoke…inhalation　job　to　do　in　Omaha。
　　And　that　thin　voice　is　crying；　〃I　love　you；　Tigger！　I　love　you！　I　believe　in　you；　Tigger！　I　will　always　love　you　and　believe　in　you；　and　I　will　stay　young；　and　the　only　Oz　to　ever　live　in　my　heart　will　be　that　gentle　faker　from　Nebraska！　I　love　you。　。
　　We　cruise。　。　。　my　son　and　I。　。　。　because　the　essence　of　it　isn't　war　or　sex　but　only　that　sickening；　noble；　hopeless　battle　against　Oz　the　Gweat　and　Tewwible。　He　and　I；　in　our　white　van　under　this　bright　Florida　sky；　we　cruise。　And　the　red　flasher　is　hooded；　but　it　is　there　if　we　need　it。　。　。　and　none　need　know　but　us　because　the　soil　of　a　man's　heart　is　stonier；　a　man　grows　what　he　can。　。　。　and　tends　it。
　　Thinking　such　troubled　half…dreaming　thoughts；　Louis　Creed　slipped　away；　unplugging　his　connections　to　waking　reality　line　by　line；　until　all　thoughts　ceased　and　exhaustion　dragged　him　down　to　black　dreamless　unconsciousness。
　　Just　before　the　first　signs　of　dawn　touched　the　sky　in　the　east；　there　were　footsteps　on　the　stairs。　They　were　slow　and　clumsy　but　purposeful。　A　shadow　moved　in　the　shadows　of　the　hail。　A　smell　came　with　it…a　stench。　Louis；　even　in　his　thick　sleep；　muttered　and　turned　away　from　that　smell。　There　was　the　steady　pull　and　release　of　respiration。
　　The　shape　stood　outside　the　master　bedroom　door　for　some　little　time；　not　moving。　Then　it　came　inside。　Louis's　face　was　buried　in　his　pillow。　White　hands　reached　out；　and　there　was　a　click　as　the　black　doctor's　bag　by　the　bed　was　opened。
　　A　low　clink　and　shift　as　the　things　inside　were　moved。
　　The　hands　explored；　pushing　aside　drugs　and　ampules　and　syringes　with　no