sk.carrie-第26章

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es　fell　into　the　streets　in　pick…up…sticks　tangles　and　some　of　them　ran；　and　that　was　bad　for　them　because　now　the　whole　street　was　littered　with　wires　and　the　stink　began；　the　burning　began。　People　began　to　scream　and　back　away　and　touched　the　cables　and　went　into　jerky　electrical　dances。　Some　had　already　slumped　into　the　street；　their　robes　and　pyjamas　smouldering。
Carrie　turned　back　and　looked　fixedly　at　the　church　she　had　just　left。　The　heavy　door　suddenly　swung　shut；　as　if　in　a　hurricane　wind。
Carrie　turned　towards　home。
From　the　sworn　testimony　of　Mrs　Cora　Simard；　taken　before　The　State　Investigatory　Board　（from　The　White　mission　Report）。　pp。　217…218：
Q。　Mrs　Simard；　the　Board；　understands　that　you　lost　your　daughter　on　Prom　Night；　and　we　sympathise　with　you　deeply。　We　will　make　this　as　brief　as　possible。
A。　Thank　you。　I　want　to　help　if　I　can；　of　course。
Q。　Were　you　on　Carlin　Street　at　approximately　12。12　when　Carietta　White　came　out　of　the　First　Congregational　Church　on　that　street？
A。　Yes。
Q。　Why　were　you　there？
A。　My　husband　had　to　be　in　Boston　over　the　weekend　on　business　and　Rhonda　was　at　the　Spring　Ball。　I　was　home　alone　watching　TV　and　waiting　up　for　her。　I　was　watching　the　Friday　Night　Movie　when　the　town　hall　whistle　went　off；　but　I　didn't　connect　that　with　the　dance。　But　then　the　explosion　。。。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　tried　to　call　the　police　but　got　a　busy　signal　after　the　first　three　numbers。　I　。。。　I。。。Then　。。。
Q。　Take　your　time；　Mrs　Simard。　All　the　time　you　need。
A。　I　was　getting　frantic。　There　was　a　second　explosion　…　Teddy's　Amoco　station；　I　know　now　…　And　I　decided　to　go　downtown　and　see　what　was　happening。　There　was　a　glow　in　the　sky；　an　awful　glow。　That　was　when　Mrs　Shyres　pounded　on　the　door。
Q。　Mrs　Georgette　Shyres？
A。　Yes；　they　live　around　the　corner。　217　Willow。　That's　just　of　Carlin　Street。　She。　was　pounding　and　calling：　'Cora；　are　you　in　there？　Are　you　in　there？'　I　went　to　the　door。　She　was　in　her　bath…robe　and　slippers。　Her　feet　looked　cold。　She　said　they　had　called　Auburn　to　see　if　they　knew　anything　and　they　told　her　the　school　was　on　fire。　I　said：　'Oh　dear　God；　Rhonda's　at　the　dance。'
Q。　Is　this　when　you　decided　to　go　downtown　with　Mrs　Shyres？
A。　We　didn't　decide　anything。　We　just　went。　I　put　on　a　pair　of　slippers　…　Rhonda's；　I　think。　They　had　little　white　puffballs　on　them。　I　should　have　worn　my　shoes；　but　I　wasn't　thinking。　I　guess　I'm　not　thinking　now。　What　do　you　want　to　hear　about　my　shoes　for？
Q。　You　tell　it　in　your　own　way；　Mrs　Simard。
A。　T…Thank　you。　I　gave　Mrs　Shyres　some　old　jacket　that　was　around；　and　we　went。
Q。　Were　there　many　people　walking　down　Carlin　street？
A。　I　don't　know。　I　was　too　upset。　Maybe　thirty。　Maybe　more。
Q。　What　happened？
A。　Georgette　and　I　were　walking　toward　Main　Street；　holding　hands　just　like　two　little　girls　walking　across　a　meadow　after　dark。　Georgette's　teeth　were　clicking。　I　remember　that。　I　wanted　to　ask　her　to　stop　clicking　her　teeth；　but　I　thought　it　would　be　impolite。　A　block　and　a　half　from　the　Congo　Church；　I　saw　the　door　open　and　I　thought：　Someone　has　gone　in　to　ask　God's　help。　But　a　second　later　I　knew　that　wasn't　true。
Q。　How　did　you　know？　It　would　be　logical　to　assume　just　what　you　first　assumed；　wouldn't　it？
A。　I　just　knew。
Q。　Did　you　know　the　person　who　came　out　of　the　church？
A。　Yes。　It　was　Carrie　White。
Q。　Had　you　ever　seen　Carrie　White　before？
A。　No。　She　was　not　one　of　my　daughter's　friends。
Q。　Had　you　ever　seen　a　picture　of　Carrie　White？
A。　No。
Q。　And　in　any　case；　it　was　dark　and　you　were　a　block　and　a　half　from　the　church。
A。　Yes；　sir。
Q。　Mrs　Simard；　how　did　you　know　it　was　Carrie　White？
A。　I　just　knew。
Q。　This　knowing；　Mrs　Simard：　was　it　like　a　light　going　on　in　your　head？
A。　No；　sir。
Q。　What　way　it
A。　I　can't　tell　you。　It　faded　away　the　way　a　dream　does。　An　hour　after　you　get　up　you　can　only　remember　you　had　a　dream。　But　I　knew。
Q。　Was　there　an　emotional　feeling　that　went　with　this　knowledge？
A。　Yes。　Horror。
Q。　What　did　you　do　then？
A。　I　turned　to　Georgette　and　said：　'There　she　is。　Georgette　said：　'Yes；　that's　her。'　She　started　to　say　something　else；　and　then　the　whole　street　was　lit　up　by　a　bright　glow　and　there　were　crackling　noises　and　then　the　power　lines　started　to　fall　into　the　street；　some　of　them　spitting　live　sparks。　One　of　them　hit　a　man　in　front　of　us　and　he　b…burst　into　flames。　Another　man　started　to　run　and　he　stepped　on　one　of　them　and　his　body　just　arched　backward；　as　if　his　back　had　turned　into　elastic。　And　then　he　fell　down。　Other　people　were　screaming　and　running；　just　running　blindly；　and　more　and　more　cables　fell。　They　were　strung　all　over　the　place　like　snakes。　And　she　was　glad　about　it。　Glad！　I　could　feel　her　being　glad。　I　knew　I　had　to　keep　my　head。　The　people　who　were　running　were　getting　electrocuted。　Georgette　said：　'Quick；　Cora。　Oh　God；　I　don't　want　to　get　burned　alive。'　I　said；　'Stop　that。　We　have　to　use　our　heads；　Georgette；　or　we'll　never　use　them　again。'　Something　foolish　like　that。　But　she　wouldn't　listen。　She　let　go　of　my　hand　and　started　to　ran　for　the　sidewalk。　I　screamed　at　her　to　stop　…　there　was　one　of　those　heavy　main　cables　broken　off　right　in　front　of　us　…　but　she　didn't　listen。　And　she　。。。　she。。。　oh；　I　could　smell　her　when　she　started　to　burn。　Smoke　just　seemed　to　burst　out　of　her　clothes　and　I　thought：　that's　what　it　must　be　like　when　someone　gets　electrocuted。　The　smell　was　sweet　like　pork。　Have　any　of　you　ever　smelled　that？　Sometimes　I　smell　it　in　my　dreams。　I　stood　still；　watching　Georgette　Shyres　turn　black。　There　was　a　big　explosion　over　in　the　West　End…the　gas　main；　I　suppose　…　but　I　never　even　noticed　it。　I　looked　around　and　I　was　all　alone。　Everyone　else　had　either　run　away　or　was　burning。　I　saw　maybe　six　bodies。　They　were　like　piles　of　old　rags。　One　of　the　cables　had　fallen　on　to　the　porch　of　a　house　to　the　left；　and　it　was　catching　on　fire。　I　could　hear　the　old…fashioned　shake　shingles　popping　like　Corn。　it　seemed　like　I　stood　there　a　long　time；　telling　myself　to　keep　my　head。　It　seemed　like　hours。　I　began　to　be　afraid　that　I　would　faint　and　fall　on　one　of　the　cables；　or　that　I　would　panic　and　start　to　run。　Like　。。。　like　Georgette。　So　then　I　started　to　walk。　One　step　at　a　time。　'Me　street　got　even　brighter；　because　of　the　burning　house。　I　stepped　over　two　live　wires　and　went　around　a　body　that　wasn't　much　more　than　a　puddle。　I…I…I　had　to　look　to　see　where　I　was　going。　There　was　a　wedding　ring　on　the　body's　hand；　but　it　was　all　black。　All　black。　Jesus；　I　was　Oh　dear　Lord。　I　stepped　over　another　one　and　then　there　were　three；　all　at　once。　I　just　stood　there　looking　at　them。　I　thought　if　I　got　over　those　I'd　be　all　right　but　。。。　I　didn't　dare。　Do　you　know　what　I　kept　thinking　of？　That　game　you　play　when　you're　kids；　Giant　Step。　A　voice　in　my　mind　was　saying；　Cora；　take　one　giant　step　over　the　live　wires　in　the　street。　And　I　was　thinking　May　P　May　P　One　of　them　was　still　spitting　a　few　sparks；　but　the　other　two　looked　dead。　But　you　can't　tell。　The　third　rail　looks　dead　too。　So　I　stood　there；　waiting　for　someone　to　e　and　nobody　did。　The　house　was　still　burning　and　the　flames　had　spread　to　the　lawn　and　the　trees　and　the　hedge　beside　it。　But　no　fire　trucks　came。　Of　course　they　didn't。　The　whole　west　side　was　burning　up　by　that　time。　And　I　felt　so　faint。　And　at　last　I　knew　it　was　take　the　giant　step　or　faint　and　so　I　took　it；　as　big　a　giant　step　as　I　could；　and　the　heel　of　my　slipper　came　down　not　an　inch　from　the　last　wire。　Then　I　got　over　and　went　around　the　end　of　one　more　wire　and　then　I　started　to　run。　And　that's　all　I　remember。　When　morning　came　I　was　lying　on　a　blanket　in　the　police　station　with　a　lot　of　other　people。　Some　of　them　…　a　few…were　kids　in　their　prom　get…ups　and　I　started　to　ask　them　if　they　had　seen　Rhonda。　And　said　。。。　they　s…s…said　。。。
（A　short　recess）
Q。　You　are　personally　sure　that　Carrie　White　did　this？　A。　Yes。
Q。　Thank　you；　Mrs　Simard。
A。　I'd　like　to　ask　a　question；　if　you　please。　
Q。　Of　course。
A。　What　happens　if　there　are　others　like　her？　What　happens　to　the　world？　
From　The　Shadow　Exploded　（p。　15　1）：
By　12：45　on　the　morning　of　May　28；　the　situation　in　Chamberlain　was　critical。　The　school　had　burned　itself　out　on　a　fairly　isolated　piece　of　ground；　but　the　entire　downtown　area　was　ablaze。　Almost　all　the　city　water　in　that　area　had　been　tapped；　but　enough　was　available　（at　low　pressure）　from　Deighan　Street　water　mains　to　save　the　business　buildings　below　the　intersection　of　Main　and　Oak　a~。
The　explosion　of　Tony's　Citgo　on　upper　Summer　Street　had　resulted　in　a　ferocious　fire　that　was　not　to　be　controlled　until　nearly　ten　o'clock　that　morning。　There　was　water　on　Summer　Street；　there　simply　were　no　firemen　or　fire…fighting　equipment　to　utilize　it。　Equipment　was　then　on　its　way　from　Lewiston；　Auburn；　Lisbon　and　Brunswick；　but　nothing　arrived　until　one　o'clock。
On　Carlin　Street；　an　electrical　fire；　caused　by　downed　power　lines；　had　begun。　It　was　eventually　to　gut　the　entire　north　side　of　the　street；　including　the　bungalow　where　Margaret　White　gave　birth　to　her　daughter。
On　the　west　end　of　town；　just　below　what　is　monly　caned　Brickyard　Hill；　the　worst　disaster　had　taken　place。　The　explosion　of　a　gas　main　and　a　resulting　fire　that　raged　out　of　control　through　most　of　the　next　day。
And　if　we　look　at　these　flash　points　on　a　municipal　map　（see　page　facing）；　we　can　pick　out　Carrie's　route　…　a　wandering；　looping　path　of　destruction　through　the　town；　but　one　with　an　almost　certain　destination：　home　。。。
Something　toppled　over　in　the　living　room；　and　Margaret　White　straightened　up；　cocking　her　head　to　one　side。　The　butcher　knife　glittered　dully　in　the　light　of　the　flames。　The　electric　power　had　gone　off　sometime　before；　and　the　only　fight　in　the　house　came　from　the　fire　up　the　street。
One　of　the　pictures　fell　from　the　wall　with　a　thump。　A　moment　later　the　Black　Forest　cuckoo　clock　fell。　The　mechanical　bird　gave　a　small；　strangled　squawk　and　was　still。
From　the　town　the　sirens　whooped　endlessly；　but　she　could　still　hear　the　footsteps　when　they　turned　up　the　walk。
The　door　blew　open。　Steps　in　the　hall。
She　heard　the　plaster　plaques　in　the　living　room　（CHRIST；　THE　UNSEEN　GUEST；　WHAT　WOULD　JESUS　DO；　THE　HOUR　DRAWETH　NIGH；　IF　TONIGHT　BECAME　JUDGMENT；　WOULD　YOU　BE　READY）　explode　one　after　the　other；　like　plaster　birds　in　a　shooting　gallery。
（o　i've　been　there　and　seen　the　harlots　shimmy　on　wooden　stages）
She　sat　up　on　her　stool　like　a　very　bright　scholar　who　has　gone　to　the　head　of　the　class；　but　her　eyes　were　deranged。
The　living…room　windows　blew　outward。
The　kitchen　door　dammed　and　Carrie　walked　in。
Her　body　seemed　to　have　bee　twisted；　shrunken；　cronelike。　The　prom　dress　was　in　tatters　and　flaps；　and　the　pig　blood　had　began　to　clot　and　streak。　There　was　a　smudge　of　grease　on　her　forehead　and　both　knees　were　scraped　and　raw…looking。
'Momma；'　she　whispered。　Her　eyes　were　preternaturally　bright；　hawklike；　but　her　mouth　was　trembling。　If　someone　had　been　them　to　watch；　he　would　have　been　struck　by　the　resemblance　between　them。
Margaret　White　sat　on　her　kitchen　stool；　the　carving　knife　hidden　among　the　folds　of　her　dress　in　her　lap。
'I　should　have　killed　myself　when　he　put　it　in　me；'　she　said　clearly。　'After　the　first　time；　before　we　were　mar