白噪音(White Noise) (英文版)作者:唐·德里罗(Don DeLillo)-第18章

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　　〃They're　all　over　the　place；〃　he　said。　〃But　it　looks　to　me　like　they're　not　getting　too　close。　It　must　be　pretty　toxic　or　pretty　explosive　stuff；　or　both。〃
　　〃It　won't　e　this　way。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　〃It　just　won't。　The　point　is　you　shouldn't　be　standing　on　icy　ledges。　It　worries　Baba。〃
　　〃You　think　if　you　tell　me　it　worries　her；　I'll　feel　guilty　and　not　do　it。　But　if　you　tell　me　it　worries　you；　I'll　do　it　all　the　time。〃
　　〃Shut　the　window；〃　I　told　him。
　　We　went　down　to　the　kitchen。　Steffie　was　looking　through　the　brightly　colored　mail　for　coupons；　lotteries　and　contests。　This　was　the　last　day　of　the　holiday　break　for　the　grade　school　and　high　school。　Classes　on　the　Hill　would　resume　in　a　week。　I　sent　Heinrich　outside　to　clear　snow　from　the　walk。　I　watched　him　stand　out　there；　utterly　still；　his　head　turned　slightly；　a　honed　awareness　in　his　stance。　It　took　me　a　while　to　realize　he　was　listening　to　the　sirens　beyond　the　river。
　　An　hour　later　he　was　back　in　the　attic；　this　time　with　a　radio　and　highway　map。　I　climbed　the　narrow　stairs；　borrowed　the　glasses　and　looked　again。　It　was　still　there；　a　slightly　larger　accumulation；　a　towering　mass　in　fact；　maybe　a　little　blacker　now。
　　〃The　radio　calls　it　a　feathery　plume；〃　he　said。　〃But　it's　not　a　plume。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Like　a　shapeless　growing　thing。　A　dark　black　breathing　thing　of　smoke。　Why　do　they　call　it　a　plume？〃
　　〃Air　time　is　valuable。　They　can't　go　into　long　tortured　descriptions。　Have　they　said　what　kind　of　chemical　it　is？〃
　　〃It's　called　Nyodene　Derivative　or　Nyodene　D。　It　was　in　a　movie　we　saw　in　school　on　toxic　wastes。　These　videotaped　rats。〃
　　〃What　does　it　cause？〃
　　'The　movie　wasn't　sure　what　it　does　to　humans。　Mainly　it　was　rats　growing　urgent　lumps。〃
　　〃That's　what　the　movie　said。　What　does　the　radio　say？〃
　　〃At　first　they　said　skin　irritation　and　sweaty　palms。　But　now　they　say　nausea；　vomiting；　shortness　of　breath。〃
　　〃This　is　human　nausea　we're　talking　about。　Not　rats。〃
　　〃Not　rats；〃　he　said。
　　I　gave　him　the　binoculars。
　　〃Well　it　won't　e　this　way。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃　he　said。
　　〃I　just　know。　It's　perfectly　calm　and　still　today。　And　when　there's　a　wind　at　this　time　of　year；　it　blows　that　way；　not　this　way。〃
　　〃What　if　it　blows　this　way？〃
　　〃It　won't。〃
　　〃Just　this　one　time。〃
　　〃It　won't。　Why　should　it？〃
　　He　paused　a　beat　and　said　in　a　flat　tone；　'They　just　closed　part　of　the　interstate。〃
　　'They　would　want　to　do　that；　of　course。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　'They　just　would。　A　sensible　precaution。　A　way　to　facilitate　movement　of　service　vehicles　and　such。　Any　number　of　reasons　that　have　nothing　to　do　with　wind　or　wind　direction。〃
　　Babette's　head　appeared　at　the　top　of　the　stairway。　She　said　a　neighbor　had　told　her　the　spill　from　the　tank　car　was　thirty…five　thousand　gallons。　People　were　being　told　to　stay　out　of　the　area。　A　feathery　plume　hung　over　the　site。　She　also　said　the　girls　were　plaining　of　sweaty　palms。
　　'There's　been　a　correction；〃　Heinrich　told　her。　'Tell　them　they　ought　to　be　throwing　up。〃
　　A　helicopter　flew　over；　headed　in　the　direction　of　the　accident。　The　voice　on　the　radio　said：　〃Available　for　a　limited　time　only　with　optional　megabyte　hard　disk。〃
　　Babette's　head　sank　out　of　sight。　I　watched　Heinrich　tape　the　road　map　to　two　posts。　Then　I　went　down　to　the　kitchen　to　pay　some　bills；　aware　of　colored　spots　whirling　atomically　somewhere　to　the　right　and　behind　me。
　　Steffie　said；　〃Can　you　see　the　feathery　plume　from　the　attic　window？〃
　　〃It's　not　a　plume。〃
　　〃But　will　we　have　to　leave　our　homes？〃
　　〃Of　course　not。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　〃I　just　know。〃
　　〃Remember　how　we　couldn't　go　to　school？〃
　　'That　was　inside。　This　is　outside。〃
　　We　heard　police　sirens　blowing。　I　watched　Steffie's　lips　form　the　sequence：　wow　wow　wow　wow。　She　smiled　in　a　certain　way　when　she　saw　me　watching；　as　though　gently　startled　out　of　some　absent…minded　pleasure。
　　Denise　walked　in；　rubbing　her　hands　on　her　jeans。
　　〃They're　using　snow…blowers　to　blow　stuff　onto　the　spill；〃　she　said。
　　〃What　kind　of　stuff？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　but　it's　supposed　to　make　the　spill　harmless；　which　doesn't　explain　what　they're　doing　about　the　actual　plume。〃
　　〃They're　keeping　it　from　getting　bigger；〃　I　said。　〃When　do　we　eat？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　but　if　it　gets　any　bigger　it'll　get　here　with　or　without　a　wind。〃
　　〃It　won't　get　here；〃　I　said。
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　〃Because　it　won't。〃
　　She　looked　at　her　palms　and　went　upstairs。　The　phone　rang。　Babette　walked　into　the　kitchen　and　picked　it　up。　She　looked　at　me　as　she　listened。　I　wrote　two　checks；　periodically　glancing　up　to　see　if　she　was　still　looking　at　me。　She　seemed　to　study　my　face　for　the　hidden　meaning　of　the　message　she　was　receiving。　I　puckered　my　lips　in　a　way　I　knew　she　disliked。
　　'That　was　the　Stovers；〃　she　said。　〃They　spoke　directly　with　the　weather　center　outside　Glassboro。　They're　not　calling　it　a　feathery　plume　anymore。〃
　　〃What　are　they　calling　it？〃
　　〃A　black　billowing　cloud。〃
　　〃That's　a　little　more　accurate；　which　means　they're　ing　to　grips　with　the　thing。　Good。〃
　　〃There's　more；〃　she　said。　〃It's　expected　that　some　sort　of　air　mass　may　be　moving　down　from　Canada。〃
　　〃There's　always　an　air　mass　moving　down　from　Canada。〃
　　'That's　true；〃　she　said。　'There's　certainly　nothing　new　in　that。　And　since　Canada　is　to　the　north；　if　the　billowing　cloud　is　blown　due　south；　it　will　miss　us　by　a　fortable　margin。〃
　　〃When　do　we　eat？〃　I　said。
　　We　heard　sirens　again；　a　different　set　this　time；　a　larger　sound—　not　police；　fire；　ambulance。　They　were　air…raid　sirens；　I　realized；　and　they　seemed　to　be　blowing　in　Sawyersville；　a　small　munity　to　the　northeast。
　　Steffie　washed　her　hands　at　the　kitchen　sink　and　went　upstairs。　Babette　started　taking　things　out　of　the　refrigerator。　I　grabbed　her　by　the　inside　of　the　thigh　as　she　passed　the　table。　She　squirmed　deliciously；　a　package　of　frozen　corn　in　her　hand。
　　〃Maybe　we　ought　to　be　more　concerned　about　the　billowing　cloud；〃　she　said。　〃It's　because　of　the　kids　we　keep　saying　nothing's　going　to　happen。　We　don't　want　to　scare　them。〃
　　〃Nothing　is　going　to　happen。〃
　　〃I　know　nothing's　going　to　happen；　you　know　nothing's　going　to　happen。　But　at　some　level　we　ought　to　think　about　it　anyway；　just　in　case。〃
　　〃These　things　happen　to　poor　people　who　live　in　exposed　areas。　Society　is　set　up　in　such　a　way　that　it's　the　poor　and　the　uneducated　who　suffer　the　main　impact　of　natural　and　man…made　disasters。　People　in　low…lying　areas　get　the　floods；　people　in　shanties　get　the　hurricanes　and　tornados。　I'm　a　college　professor。　Did　you　ever　see　a　college　professor　rowing　a　boat　down　his　own　street　in　one　of　those　TV　floods？　We　live　in　a　neat　and　pleasant　town　near　a　college　with　a　quaint　name。　These　things　don't　happen　in　places　like　Blacksmith。〃
　　She　was　sitting　on　my　lap　by　now。　The　checks；　bills；　contest　forms　and　coupons　were　scattered　across　the　table。
　　〃Why　do　you　want　dinner　so　early？〃　she　said　in　a　sexy　whisper。
　　〃I　missed　lunch。〃
　　〃Shall　I　do　some　chili…fried　chicken？〃
　　〃First…rate。〃
　　〃Where　is　Wilder？〃　she　said；　thick…voiced；　as　I　ran　my　hands　over　her　breasts；　trying　with　my　teeth　to　undo　her　bra　clip　through　the　blouse。
　　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　Murray　stole　him。〃
　　〃I　ironed　your　gown；〃　she　said。
　　〃Great；　great。〃
　　〃Did　you　pay　the　phone　bill？〃
　　〃Can't　find　it。〃
　　We　were　both　thick…voiced　now。　Her　arms　were　crossed　over　my　arms　in　such　a　way　that　I　could　read　the　serving　suggestions　on　the　box　of　corn　niblets　in　her　left　hand。
　　〃Let's　think　about　the　billowing　cloud。　Just　a　little　bit；　okay？　It　could　be　dangerous。〃
　　〃Everything　in　tank　cars　is　dangerous。　But　the　effects　are　mainly　long…range　and　all　we　have　to　do　is　stay　out　of　the　way。〃
　　〃Let's　just　be　sure　to　keep　it　in　the　back　of　our　mind；〃　she　said；　getting　up　to　smash　an　ice　tray　repeatedly　on　the　rim　of　the　sink；　dislodging　the　cubes　in　groups　of　two　and　three。
　　I　puckered　my　lips　at　her。　Then　I　climbed　to　the　attic　one　more　time。　Wilder　was　up　there　with　Heinrich；　whose　fast　glance　in　my　direction　contained　a　certain　practiced　accusation。
　　〃They're　not　calling　it　the　feathery　plume　anymore；〃　he　said；　not　meeting　my　eyes；　as　if　to　spare　himself　the　pain　of　my　embarrassment。
　　〃I　already　knew　that。〃
　　'They're　calling　it　the　black　billowing　cloud。〃　〃Good。〃
　　〃Why　is　that　good？〃
　　〃It　means　they're　looking　the　thing　more　or　less　squarely　in　the　eye。　They're　on　top　of　the　situation。〃
　　With　an　air　of　weary　decisiveness；　I　opened　the　window；　took　the　binoculars　and　climbed　onto　the　ledge。　I　was　wearing　a　heavy　sweater　and　felt　fortable　enough　in　the　cold　air　but　made　certain　to　keep　my　weight　tipped　against　the　building；　with　my　son's　outstretched　hand　clutching　my　belt。　I　sensed　his　support　for　my　little　mission；　even　his　hopeful　conviction　that　I　might　be　able　to　add　the　balanced　weight　of　a　mature　and　considered　judgment　to　his　pure　observations。　This　is　a　parent's　task；　after　all。
　　I　put　the　glasses　to　my　face　and　peered　through　the　gathering　dark。　Beneath　the　cloud　of　vaporized　chemicals；　the　scene　was　one　of　urgency　and　operatic　chaos。　Floodlights　swept　across　the　switching　yard。　Army　helicopters　hovered　at　various　points；　shining　additional　lights　down　on　the　scene。　Colored　lights　from　police　cruisers　crisscrossed　these　wider　beams。　The　tank　car　sat　solidly　on　tracks；　fumes　rising　from　what　appeared　to　be　a　hole　in　one　end。　The　coupling　device　from　a　second　car　had　apparently　pierced　the　tank　car。　Fire　engines　were　deployed　at　a　distance；　ambulances　and　police　vans　at　a　greater　distance。　I　could　hear　sirens；　voices　calling　through　bullhorns；　a　layer　of　radio　static　causing　small　warps　in　the　frosty　air。　Men　raced　from　one　vehicle　to　another；　unpacked　equipment；　carried　empty　stretchers。　Other　men　in　bright　yellow　Mylex　suits　and　respirator　masks　moved　slowly　through　the　luminous　haze；　carrying　death…measuring　instruments。　Snow…blowers　sprayed　a　pink　substance　toward　the　tank　car　and　the　surrounding　landscape。　This　thick　mist　arched　through　the　air　like　some　grand　confection　at　a　concert　of　patriotic　music。　The　snow…blowers　were　the　type　used　on　airport　runways；　the　police　vans　were　the　type　to　transport　riot　casualties。　Smoke　drifted　from　red　beams　of　light　into　darkness　and　then　into　the　breadth　of　scenic　white　floods。　The　men　in　Mylex　suits　moved　with　a　lunar　caution。　Each　step　was　the　exercise　of　some　anxiety　not　provided　for　by　instinct。　Fire　and　explosion　were　not　the　inherent　dangers　here。　This　death　would　penetrate；　seep　into　the　genes；　show　itself　in　bodies　not　yet　born。　They　moved　as　if　across　a　swale　of　moon　dust；　bulky　and　wobbling；　trapped　in　the　idea　of　the　nature　of　time。
　　I　crawled　back　inside　with　some　difficulty。
　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　said。
　　〃It's　still　hanging　there。　Looks　rooted　to　the　spot。〃
　　〃So　you're　saying　you　don't　think　it'll　e　this　way。〃
　　〃I　can　tell　by　your　voice　that　you　know　something　I　don't　know。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　it'll　e　this　way　or　not？〃
　　〃You　want　me　to　say　it　won't　e　this　way　in　a　million　years。　Then　you'll　attack　with　your　littl