sk.petsematary-第35部分

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　　How　about　a　hand　right　now　to　lead　me　to　my　kitchen　door？　he　thought。　。　。　and　abruptly　shuddered。
　　If　a　hand　came　out　of　the　darkness　now　to　lead　him；　how　he　would　scream…scream　and　scream　and　scream。
　　He　stood　still；　heart　thudding。　e　on；　he　told　himself。　Stop　this　shit；　e　on；　e　on…　Where　was　that　fucking　cat？
　　Then　he　did　slam　into　something；　the　rear　bumper　of　the　station　wagon；　and　the　pain　sang　up　his　body　from　his　barked　shin；　making　his　eyes　water。　He　grabbed　his　leg　and　rubbed　it；　standing　one…legged　like　a　heron；　but　at　least　he　knew　where　he　was　now；　the　geography　of　the　garage　fixed　firmly　in　his　mind　again；　and　besides；　his　night　vision　was　ing；　good　old　visual　purple。　He　had　left　the　cat　in；　he　remembered　that　now；　hadn't　really　wanted　to　touch　it；　to　pick　it　up　and　put　it　out　and…　And　that　was　when　Church's　hot；　furry　body　oiled　against　his　ankle　like　a　low　eddy　of　water；　followed　by　its　loathsome　tail；　curling　against　his　calf　like　a　clutching　snake；　and　then　Louis　did　scream；　he　opened　his　mouth　wide　and　screamed。
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　　〃Daddy！〃　Ellie　screamed。
　　She　ran　up　the　jet　way　toward　him；　weaving　in　and　out　between　deplaning　passengers　like　a　quarterback　on　a　keeper　play。　Most　of　them　stood　aside；　grinning。　Louis　was　a　little　embarrassed　by　her　ardor；　but　he　felt　a　large；　stupid　grin　spreading　across　his　own　face　just　the　same。
　　Rachel　was　carrying　Gage　in　her　arms；　and　he　saw　Louis　when　Ellie　shouted。　〃Dayeee！〃　he　yelled　exuberantly　and　began　to　wriggle　in　Rachel's　arms。　She　smiled　（a　trifle　wearily；　Louis　thought）　and　set　him　on　his　feet。　He　began　to　run　after　Ellie；　his　legs　pumping　busily。　〃Dayeee！　Dayeee！〃
　　Louis　had　time　to　notice　that　Gage　was　wearing　a　jumper　he　had　never　seen　before…it　looked　like　more　of　Grandda's　work　to　Louis。　Then　Ellie　hurtled　into　him　and　shinnied　up　him　like　a　tree。
　　〃Hi；　Daddy！〃　she　bellowed　and　smacked　his　cheek　heartily。
　　〃Hi；　hon；〃　he　said　and　bent　over　to　catch　Gage。　He　pulled　him　up　into　the　crook　of　his　arm　and　hugged　them　both。　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you　back。〃
　　Rachel　came　up　then；　her　traveling　bag　and　pocketbook　slung　over　one　arm；　Gage's　diaper　bag　slung　over　the　other。　I'LL　BE　A　BIG　BOY　SOON　was　printed　on　the　side　of　the　diaper　bag；　a　sentiment　probably　meant　more　to　cheer　up　the　parents　than　the　diaper…wearing　child。　She　looked　like　a　professional　photographer　at　the　end　of　a　long；　grueling　assignment。
　　Louis　bent　between　his　two　kids　and　planted　a　kiss　on　her　mouth。　〃Hi。〃
　　〃Hi；　Doe；〃　she　said；　and　smiled。
　　〃You　look　beat。〃
　　〃I　am　beat。　We　got　as　far　as　Boston　with　no　problem。　We　changed　planes　with　no　problem。　We　took　off　with　no　problem。　But　as　the　plane　is　banking　over　the　city；　Gage　looks　down　and　says；　'Pretty；　pretty；'　and　then　whoopses　all　over　himself。〃
　　〃Oh；　Jesus。〃
　　〃I　got　him　changed　in　the　toilet；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　think　it's　a　virus　or　anything。　He　was　just　airsick。〃
　　〃e　on　home；〃　Louis　said。　〃I've　got　chili　on　the　stove。〃
　　〃Chili！　Chili！〃　Ellie　screamed　in　Louis's　ear；　transported　with　delight　and　excitement。
　　〃Chiwwi！　Chiwwi！〃　Gage　screamed　in　Louis's　other　ear；　which　at　least　equalized　the　ringing　on；〃　Louis　said。　〃Let's　get　your　suitcases　and　blow　this　joint。
　　〃Daddy；　how's　Church？〃　Ellie　asked　as　he　set　her　down。　It　was　a　question　Louis　had　expected；　but　not　Ellie's　anxious　face；　and　the　deep　worry　line　that　appeared　between　her　dark　blue　eyes。　Louis　frowned　and　then　glanced　at　Rachel。
　　〃She　woke　up　screaming　over　the　weekend；〃　Rachel　said　quietly。　〃She　had　a　nightmare。〃
　　〃I　dreamed　that　Church　got　run　over；〃　Ellie　said。
　　〃Too　many　turkey　sandwiches　after　the　big　day；　that's　my　guess；〃　Rachel　said。　〃She　had　a　bout　of　diarrhea　too。　Set　her　mind　at　rest；　Louis；　and　let's　get　out　of　this　airport。　I've　seen　enough　airports　in　the　last　week　to　last　me　for　at　least　five　years。〃
　　〃Why；　Church　is　fine；　honey；〃　Louis　said　slowly。
　　Yes；　he's　fine。　He　lies　around　the　house　all　day　long　and　looks　at　me　with　those　strange；　muddy　eyes…as　if　he'd　seen　something　that　had　blasted　away　most　of　whatever　intelligence　a　cat　has。　He's　just　great。　1　put　him　out　with　a　broom　at　night　because　I　don't　like　to　touch　him。　I　just　kind　of　sweep　at　him　with　it　and　he　goes。　And　the　other　day　when　1　opened　the　door；　Ellie；　he　had　a　mouse…or　what　was　left　of　it。　He'd　strewed　the　guts　hell　to　breakfast。　And　speaking　of　breakfast；　I　skipped　mine　that　morning。　Otherwise…　〃He's　just　fine。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　Ellie　said；　and　that　furrow　between　her　eyes　smoothed　out。　〃Oh；　that's　good。　When　I　had　that　dream；　I　was　sure　he　was　dead。〃
　　〃Were　you？〃　Louis　asked；　and　smiled。　〃Dreams　are　funny；　aren't　they？〃
　　〃Dweems！〃　Cage　hollered…he　had　reached　the　parrot　stage　that　Louis　remembered　from　Ellie's　development。　〃Dweeeeeems！〃　He　gave　Louis's　hair　a　hearty　tug。
　　〃e　on；　gang；〃　Louis　said；　and　they　started　down　to　the　baggage　area。
　　They　had　gotten　as　far　as　the　station　wagon　in　the　parking　lot　when　Gage　began　saying　〃Pretty；　pretty；〃　in　a　strange；　hiccupping　voice。　This　time　he　whoopsed　all　over　Louis；　who　had　put　on　a　new　pair　of　double…knit　slacks　for　the　plane…meeting　occasion。　Apparently　Gage　thought　pretty　was　the　code　word　for　I've　got　to　throw　up　now；　so　sorry；　stand　clear。
　　It　turned　out　to　be　a　virus　after　all。
　　By　the　time　they　had　driven　the　seventeen　miles　from　the　Bangor　airport　to　their　house　in　Ludlow；　Gage　had　begun　to　show　signs　of　fever　and　had　fallen　into　an　unfortable　doze。　Louis　backed　into　the　garage；　and　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　Church　slink　along　one　wall；　tail　up；　strange　eyes　fixed　on　the　car。　It　disappeared　into　the　dying　glow　of　the　day；　and　a　moment　later　Louis　saw　a　disemboweled　mouse　lying　beside　a　stack　of　four　summer　tires…he　had　had　the　snows　put　on　while　Rachel　and　the　kids　were　gone。　The　mouse's　innards　glowed　pink　and　raw　in　the　garage's　gloom。
　　Louis　got　out　quickly　and　purposely　bumped　against　the　pile　of　tires；　which　were　stacked　up　like　black　checkers。　The　top　two　fell　over　and　covered　the　mouse。　〃Ooops；〃　he　said。
　　〃You're　a　spaz；　Daddy；〃　Ellie　said；　not　unkindly。
　　〃That's　right；〃　Louis　said　with　a　kind　of　hectic　cheer。　He　felt　a　little　like　saying　Pretty；　pretty　and　blowing　his　groceries　all　over　everything。　〃Daddy's　a　spaz。〃　He　could　remember　Church　killing　only　a　single　rat　before　his　queer　resurrection；　he　sometimes　cornered　mice　and　played　with　them　in　that　deadly　cat　way　that　ultimately　ended　in　destruction；　but　he　or　Ellie　or　Rachel　had　always　intervened　before　the　end。　And　once　cats　were　fixed；　he　knew；　few　of　them　would　do　more　than　give　a　mouse　an　interested　stare；　at　least　as　long　as　they　were　well…fed。
　　〃Are　you　going　to　stand　there　dreaming　or　help　me　with　this　kid？〃　Rachel　asked。　〃e　back　from　Planet　Mongo；　Dr。　Creed。　Earth　people　need　you。〃　She　sounded　tired　and　irritable。
　　〃I'm　sorry；　babe；〃　Louis　said。　He　came　around　to　get　Gage；　who　was　now　as　hot　as　the　coals　in　a　banked　stove。
　　So　only　the　three　of　them　ate　Louis's　famous　South　Side　Chili　that　night；　Gage　reclined　on　the　living　room　sofa；　feverish　and　apathetic；　drinking　a　bottle　filled　with　lukewarm　chicken　broth　and　watching　a　cartoon　show　on　TV。
　　After　dinner　Ellie　went　to　the　garage　door　and　called　Church。　Louis；　who　was　doing　the　dishes　while　Rachel　unpacked　upstairs；　hoped　the　cat　wouldn't　e；　but　he　did…he　came　in　walking　in　his　new　slow　lurch；　and　he　came　almost　at　once；　as　if　he…as　if　it…　had　been　lurking　out　there。　Lurking。　The　word　came　immediately　to　mind。
　　〃Church！〃　Ellie　cried。　〃Hi；　Church！〃　She　picked　the　cat　up　and　hugged　it。　Louis　watched　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　his　hands；　which　had　been　groping　on　the　bottom　of　the　sink　for　any　leftover　silverware；　were　still。　He　saw　Ellie's　happy　face　change　slowly　to　puzzlement。　The　cat　lay　quiet　in　her　arms；　its　ears　laid　back；　its　eyes　on　hers。
　　After　a　long　moment…it　seemed　very　long　to　Louis…she　put　Church　down。　The　cat　padded　away　toward　the　dining　room　without　looking　back。　Executioner　of　small　mice；　Louis　thought　randomly。　Christ；　what　did　we　do　that　night？
　　He　tried　honestly　to　remember；　but　it　already　seemed　far　away；　dim　and　distant；　like　the　messy　death　of　Victor　Pascow　on　the　floor　of　the　infirmary's　reception　room。　He　could　remember　carriages　of　wind　passing　in　the　sky　and　the　white　glimmer　of　snow　in　the　back　field　which　rose　to　the　woods。　That　was　all。
　　〃Daddy？〃　Ellie　said　in　a　low；　subdued　voice。
　　'What；　Ellie？〃
　　〃Church　smells　funny。〃
　　〃Does　he？〃　Louis　asked；　his　voice　carefully　neutral。
　　〃Yes！〃　Ellie　said；　distressed。　〃Yes；　he　does！　He　never　smelled　funny　before！　He　smells　like。　。　。　he　smells　like　ka…ka！〃
　　〃Well；　maybe　he　rolled　in　something　bad；　honey；〃　Louis　said。　〃Whatever　that　bad　smell　is；　he'll　lose　it。〃
　　〃I　certainly　hope　so；〃　Ellie　said　in　a　ical　dowager's　voice。　She　walked　off。
　　Louis　found　the　last　fork；　washed　it；　and　pulled　the　plug。　He　stood　at　the　sink；　looking　out　into　the　night　while　the　soapy　water　ran　down　the　drain　with　a　thick　chuckling　sound。
　　When　the　sound　from　the　drain　was　gone　he　could　hear　the　wind　outside；　thin　and　wild；　ing　from　the　north；　bringing　down　winter；　and　he　realized　he　was　afraid；　simply；　s