sk.petsematary-第66章

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　　The　hands　explored；　pushing　aside　drugs　and　ampules　and　syringes　with　no　interest　at　all。　Now　they　found　something　and　held　it　up。　In　the　first　dim　light　there　was　a　gleam　of　silver。
　　The　shadowy　thing　left　the　room。
　　
　　
　　　PART　THREE
　　　OZ　THE　GWEAT　AND　TEWWIBLE
　　
　　Jesus　therefore；　groaning　inside　of　himself　and　full　of　trouble；　came　to　the　grave。　It　was　a　cave；　and　a　stone　had　been　raised　against　the　mouth。　〃Roll　away　the　stone；〃　Jesus　said。
　　Martha　said；　〃Lord；　by　this　time　he　will　have　begun　to　rot。　He　has　been　dead　four　days。〃。
　　And　when　he　had　prayed　awhile；　Jesus　raised　his　voice　and　cried；　〃Lazarus；　e　forth！〃　And　he　that　was　dead　came　forth；　bound　hand　and　foot　with　graveclothes；　and　his　face　was　bound　about　with　a　napkin。
　　Jesus　said　to　them；　〃Loose　him　and　let　him　go。〃
　　…JOHN'S　GOSPEL　（paraphrase）
　　
　　〃I　only　just　thought　of　it；〃　she　said　hysterically。　〃Why　didn't　I　think　of　it　before？　Why　didn't　you　think　of　it？〃
　　〃Think　of　what？〃　he　questioned。
　　〃The　other　two　wishes；〃　she　replied　rapidly。　〃We've　only　had　one。
　　〃Was　that　not　enough？〃　he　demanded　fiercely。
　　〃No；〃　she　cried　triumphantly：　〃we'll　have　one　more。　Co　down　and　get　it　quickly；　and　wish　our　boy　alive　again。〃
　　…w。　w。　JACOBS　（〃The　Monkey's　Paw〃）
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　　Jud　Crandall　came　awake　with　a　sudden　jerk；　almost　falling　out　of　his　chair。　He　had　no　idea　how　long　he　had　slept；　it　could　have　been　fifteen　minutes　or　three　hours。　He　looked　at　his　watch　and　saw　that　it　was　five　minutes　of　five。　There　was　a　feeling　that　everything　in　the　room　had　been　subtly　shifted　out　of　position；　and　there　was　a　line　of　pain　across　his　back　from　sleeping　sitting　up。
　　Oh　you　stupid　old　man；　look　what　you　gone　and　done！
　　But　he　knew　better；　in　his　heart；　he　knew　better。　It　wasn't　just　him。　He　hadn't　simply　fallen　asleep　on　watch；　he　had　been　put　to　sleep。
　　That　frightened　him；　but　one　thing　frightened　him　more：　what　had　awakened　him？　He　was　under　the　impression　that　there　had　been　some　sound；　some…　He　held　his　breath；　listening　over　the　papery　rustle　of　his　heart。
　　Here　was　a　sound…not　the　same　one　that　had　awakened　him；　but　something。　The　faint　creak　of　hinges。
　　Jud　knew　every　sound　in　this　house…which　floorboards　creaked；　which　stair　levels　squeaked；　where　along　the　gutters　the　wind　was　apt　to　hoot　and　sing　when　it　was　drunkenly　high；　as　it　had　been　last　night。　He　knew　this　sound　as　well　as　any　of　those。　The　heavy　front　door；　the　one　that　municated　between　his　porch　and　the　front　hail；　had　just　swung　open。　And　with　that　information　to　go　on；　his　mind　was　able　to　remember　the　sound　that　had　awakened　him。　It　had　been　the　slow　expansion　of　the　spring　on　the　screen　door　municating　between　the　porch　and　the　front　walk。
　　〃Louis？〃　he　called　but　with　no　real　hope。　That　wasn't　Louis　out　there。　Whatever　was　out　there　had　been　sent　to　punish　an　old　man　for　his　pride　and　vanity。
　　Footsteps　moved　slowly　up　the　hail　toward　the　living　room。
　　〃Louis？〃　he　tried　to　call　again；　but　only　a　faint　croak　actually　emerged　because　now　he　could　smell　the　thing　which　had　e　into　his　house　here　at　the　end　of　the　night。　It　was　a　dirty；　low　smell…the　smell　of　poisoned　tidal　flats。
　　Jud　could　make　out　bulking　shapes　in　the　gloom…Norma's　armoire；　the　Welsh　dresser；　the　highboy…but　no　details。　He　tried　to　get　to　his　feet　on　legs　that　had　gone　to　water；　his　mind　screaming　that　he　needed　more　time；　that　he　was　too　old　to　face　this　again　without　more　time；　Timmy　Baterman　had　been　bad　enough；　and　Jud　had　been　young　then。
　　The　swing　door　opened　and　let　in　shadows。　One　of　the　shadows　was　more　substantial　than　the　others。
　　Dear　God；　that　stink。
　　Shuffling　steps　in　the　darkness。
　　〃Gage？〃　Jud　gained　his　feet　at　last。　From　one　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　the　neat　roll　of　cigarette　ash　in　the　Jim　Beam　ashtray。　〃Gage；　is　that　y…〃
　　A　hideous　mewling　sound　now　arose；　and　for　a　moment　all　of　Jud's　bones　turned　to　white　ice。　It　was　not　Louis's　son　returned　from　the　grave　but　some　hideous　monster。
　　No。　It　was　neither。
　　It　was　Church；　crouched　in　the　hail　doorway；　making　that　sound。　The　cat's　eyes　flared　like　dirty　lamps。　Then　his　eyes　moved　in　the　other　direction　and　fixed　on　the　thing　which　had　e　in　with　the　cat。
　　Jud　began　to　back　up；　trying　to　catch　at　his　thoughts；　trying　to　hold　on　to　his　reason　in　the　face　of　that　smell。　Oh；　it　was　cold　in　here…the　thing　had　brought　its　chill　with　it。
　　Jud　rocked　unsteadily　on　his　feet…it　was　the　cat；　twining　around　his　legs；　making　him　totter。　It　was　purring。　Jud　kicked　at　it；　driving　it　away。　It　bared　its　teeth　at　him　and　hissed。
　　Think！　Oh；　think；　you　stupid　old　man；　it　mayn't　be　too　late；　even　yet　it　mayn't　be　too　late　。　。　。　it's　back　but　it　can　he　killed　again。　。　。　if　you　can　only　do　it。　。　。　if　you　can　only　think。　。
　　He　backed　away　toward　the　kitchen；　and　he　suddenly　remembered　the　utensil　drawer　beside　the　sink。　There　was　a　meat　cleaver　in　that　drawer。
　　His　thin　shanks　struck　the　swinging　door　that　led　into　the　kitchen　and　he　pushed　it　open。　The　thing　that　had　e　into　his　house　was　still　indistinct；　but　Jud　could　hear　it　breathing。　He　could　see　one　white　hand　swinging　back　and　forth…there　was　something　in　that　hand；　but　he　could　not　make　out　what。　The　door　swung　back　as　he　entered　the　kitchen；　and　Jud　at　last　turned　his　back　and　ran　to　the　utensil　drawer。　He　jerked　it　open　and　found　the　cleaver's　worn　hardwood　handle。　He　snatched　it　up　and　turned　toward　the　door　again；　he　even　took　a　step　or　two　toward　it。　Some　of　his　courage　had　e　back。
　　Remember；　it　ain't　a　kid。　It　may　scream　or　somethin　when　it　sees　you've　got　its　number；　it　may　cry。　But　you　ain't　gonna　be　fooled。　You　been　fooled　too　many　times　already；　old　man。　This　is　your　last　chance。
　　The　swing　door　opened　again；　but　at　first　only　the　cat　came　through。　Jud's　eye　followed　it　for　a　moment　and　then　he　looked　up　again。
　　The　kitchen　faced　east；　and　dawn's　first　light　came　in　through　the　windows；　faint　and　milky　white。　Not　much　light　but　enough。　Too　much。
　　Gage　Creed　came　in；　dressed　in　his　burial　suit。　Moss　was　growing　on　the　suit's　shoulders　and　lapels。　Moss　had　fouled　his　white　shirt。　His　fine　blond　hair　was　caked　with　dirt。　One　eye　had　gone　to　the　wall；　it　stared　off　into　space　with　terrible　concentration。　The　other　was　fixed　on　Jud。
　　Gage　was　grinning　at　him。
　　〃Hello；　Jud；〃　Gage　piped　in　a　babyish　but　perfectly　understandable　voice。　〃I've　e　to　send　your　rotten；　stinking　old　soul　straight　to　hell。　You　fucked　with　me　once。　Did　you　think　I　wouldn't　e　back　sooner　or　later　and　fuck　with　you？〃
　　Jud　raised　the　cleaver。　〃e　on　and　get　your　pecker　out　then；　whatever　you　are。　We'll　see　who　fucks　with　who。〃
　　〃Norma's　dead；　and　there'll　be　no　one　to　mourn　you；〃　Gage　said。　〃What　a　cheap　slut　she　was。　She　fucked　every　one　of　your　friends；　Jud。　She　let　them　put　it　up　her　ass。　That's　how　she　liked　it　best。　She's　burning　down　in　hell；　arthritis　and　all。　I　saw　her　there；　Jud。　I　saw　her　there。〃
　　It　lurched　two　steps　toward　him；　shoes　leaving　muddy　tracks　on　the　worn　linoleum。　It　held　one　hand　out　in　front　of　it　as　if　to　shake　with　him；　the　other　hand　was　curled　behind　its　back。
　　〃Listen；　Jud；〃　it　whispered…and　then　its　mouth　hung　open；　baring　small　milk　teeth；　and　although　the　lips　did　not　move；　Norma's　voice　issued　forth。
　　〃I　laughed　at　you！　We　all　laughed　at　you！　How　we　laaaaaauuughed…〃
　　〃Stop　it！〃　The　cleaver　jittered　in　his　hand。
　　〃We　did　it　in　our　bed；　Herk　and　I　did　it；　I　did　it　with　George；　I　did　it　with　all　of　them；　I　knew　about　your　whores　but　you　never　knew　you　married　a　whore　and　how　we　laughed；　Jud！　We　rutted　together　and　we　laaaaaaaaaughed　at…〃
　　〃STOP　IT！〃　Jud　screamed。　He　sprang　at　the　tiny；　swaying　figure　in　its　dirty　burial　suit；　and　that　was　when　the　cat　arrowed　out　of　the　darkness　under　the　butcher　block　where　it　had　been　crouched。　It　was　hissing；　its　ears　laid　back　along　the　bullet　of　its　skull；　and　it　tripped　Jud　up　just　as　neat　as　you　please。　The　cleaver　flew　out　of　his　hand。　It　skittered　across　the　humped　and　faded　linoleum；　blade　and　handle　swiftly　changing　places　as　it　whirled。　It　struck　the　baseboard　with　a　thin　clang　and　slid　under　the　refrigerator。
　　Jud　realized　that　he　had　been　fooled　again；　and　the　only　consolation　was　that　it　was　for　the　final　time。　The　cat　was　on　his　legs；　mouth　open；　eyes　blazing；　hissing　like　a　teakettle。　And　then　Gage　was　on　him；　grinning　a　happy　black　grin；　eyes　moon…shaped；　rimmed　with　red；　and　his　right　hand　came　out　from　behind　his　back；　and　Jud　saw　that　what　he　had　been　holding　when　he　came　in　was　a　scalpel　from　Louis's　black　bag。
　　〃Oh　m'　dear　Jesus；〃　Jud　managed　and　put　his　right　hand　up　to　block　the　blow。　And　here　was　an　optical　illusion；　surely　his　mind　had　snapped　because　it　appeared　that　the　scalpel　was　on　both　sides　of　his　palm　at　the　same　time。　Then　something　warm　began　to　drizzle　down　on　his　face；　and　he　understood。
　　〃I'm　gonna　fuck　with　you；　old　man！〃　the　Gage…thing　chortled；　blowing　its　poisoned　breath　in　his　face。　〃I'm　gonna　fuck　with　you/I'm　gonna　fuck　with　you　all　want！〃
　　Jud　flailed　and　got　hold　of　Gage's　'wrist。　Skin　peeled　off　like　parchment　in　his　hand。
　　The　scalpel　was　yanked　out　of　his　hand；　leaving　a　vertical　mouth。
　　〃All。。。I。。。WANT！〃
　　The　scalpel　came　down　again。
　　And　again。
　　And　again。
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　　〃Try　it　now；　ma'am；〃　the　truck　driver　said。　He　was　looking　into　the　engine　cavity　of　Rachel's　rented　car。
　　She　turned　the　key。　The　Chevette's　engine　roared　into　life。　The　truck　driver　slammed　the　hood　down　and　came　around　to　her　window；　wiping　his　hands　on　a　big　blue　handkerchief。　He　had　a　pleasant；　ruddy　face。　A　Dysart's　Truck…Stop　cap　was　tilted　back　on　his　head。
　　〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　Rachel　said；　on　the　verge　of　tears。　〃I　just　didn't　know　what　I　was　going　to　do。〃
　　〃Aw；　a　kid　could　have　fixed　that；〃　the　trucker　said。　〃But　it　was　funny。　Never　seen　something　like　that　go　wrong　on　such　a　new　car；　anyway。〃
　　〃Why？　What　was　it？〃
　　〃One　of　your　battery　cables　e　right　off。　Wasn't　nobody　frigging　with　it；　was　there？〃
　　〃No；〃　Rachel　said；　and　she　thought　again　of　that　feeling　she'd　had；　that　feeling　of　running　into　the　rubber　band　of　the　world's　biggest　slingshot。
　　〃Must　have　jogged　her　loose　just　ridin　along；　I　guess。　But　you　won't　have　no　more　trouble　with　your　cables　anyway。　I　tightened　em　up　real　good。〃
　　〃Could　I　give　you　some　money？〃　Rachel　asked　timidly。
　　The　trucker　roared　with　laughter。　〃Not　me；　lady；〃　he　said。　〃Us　guys　are　the　knights　of　the　road；　remember？〃
　　She　smiled。　〃Well。　。　。　thank　you。〃
　　〃More'n　wele。〃　He　gave　her　a　good　grin；　incongruously　full　of　sunshine　at　this　hour　of　the　morning。
　　Rachel　smiled　back　and　drove　carefully　across　the　parking　lot　to　the　feeder　road。　She　glanced　both　ways　for　traffic　and　five　minutes　later　was　back　on　the　turnpike　again；　headed　north。　The　coffee　had　helped　more　than　she　would　have　believed。　She　felt　totally　awake　now；　not　the　slightest　bit　dozy；　her　eyes　as　big　as　doorknobs；　That　feather　of　unease　touched　her　again；　that　absurd　feeling　that　she　was　being　manipulated。　The　battery　cable　ing　off　the　terminal　post　like　that。
　　So　she　could　be　held　up　just　long　enough　for。
　　She　l