sk.petsematary-第69部分

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　　Rachel　closed　her　eyes；　and　after　a　moment　she　felt　a　cool　hand　on　her　arm。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　saw　that　Ellie　had　moved　next　to　her。　Irwin　and　Dory　stood　together；　talking　quietly　and　looking　at　them。　The　way　you　look　at　people　you　suspect　of　being　lunatics；　Rachel　thought　wearily。　She　mustered　a　smile　for　Ellie。
　　〃Don't　let　them　stop　you；　Mommy；〃　Ellie　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Please。〃
　　〃No　way；　big　sister；〃　Rachel　said　and　then　winced…it　was　what　they　had　called　her　ever　since　Gage　had　been　born。　But　she　was　no　one's　big　sister　anymore；　was　she？
　　〃Thank　you；〃　Ellie　said。
　　〃It's　very　important；　isn't　it？〃
　　Ellie　nodded。
　　〃Honey；　I　believe　that　it　is。　But　you　could　help　me　if　you　could　tell　me　more。　Is　it　just　the　dream？〃
　　〃No；〃　Ellie　said。　〃It's　。　。　。　it's　everything　now。　It's　running　all　through　me　now。　Can't　you　feel　it；　Mommy？　Something　like　a…〃
　　〃Something　like　a　wind。〃
　　Ellie　sighed　shakily。
　　〃But　you　don't　know　what　it　is？　You　don't　remember　anything　more　about　your　dream？〃
　　Ellie　thought　hard　and　then　shook　her　head　reluctantly。　〃Daddy。　Church。　And　Gage。　That's　all　I　remember。　But　I　don't　remember　how　they　go　together；　Mommy！〃
　　Rachel　hugged　her　tightly。　〃It　will　be　all　right；〃　she　said；　but　the　weight　on　her　heart　did　not　lessen。
　　〃Hello；　ma'am；〃　the　reservations　clerk　said。
　　〃Hello？〃　Rachel　tightened　her　grip　on　both　Ellie　and　the　phone。
　　〃I　think　I　can　get　you　to　Bangor；　ma'am…but　you're　going　to　be　getting　in　very　late。〃
　　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　Rachel　said。
　　〃Do　you　have　a　pen？　It's　plicated。〃
　　〃Yes；　right　here；〃　Rachel　said；　getting　a　stub　of　pencil　out　of　the　drawer。　She　found　the　back　of　an　envelope　to　write　on。
　　Rachel　listened　carefully；　writing　down　everything。　When　the　airline　clerk　finished；　Rachel　smiled　a　little　and　made　an　〃0〃　with　her　thumb　and　forefinger　to　show　Ellie　that　it　was　going　to　work。　Probably　going　to　work；　she　amended。　Some　of　the　connections　looked　very；　very　tight。　。　。　especially　in　Boston。
　　〃Please　book　it　all；〃　Rachel　said。　〃And　thank　you。〃
　　Kim　took　Rachel's　name　and　credit　card　number。　Rachel　hung　up　at　last；　limp　but　relieved。　She　looked　at　her　father。　〃Daddy；　will　you　drive　me　to　the　airport？〃
　　〃Maybe　I　ought　to　say　no；〃　Goldman　said。　〃I　think　I　might　have　a　responsibility　to　put　a　stop　to　this　craziness。〃
　　〃Don't　you　dare！〃　Ellie　cried　shrilly。　〃It's　not　crazy！　It's　not！〃　Goldman　blinked　and　stepped　back　at　this　small　but　ferocious　outburst。
　　〃Drive　her；　Irwin；〃　Dory　said　quietly　into　the　silence　that　followed。　〃I've　begun　to　feel　nervous　too。　I'll　feel　better　if　I　know　Louis　is　all　right。〃
　　Goldman　stared　at　his　wife　and　at　last　turned　to　Rachel。　〃I'll　drive　you；　if　it　is　what　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃I　。　。　。　Rachel；　I'll　e　with　you；　if　you　want　that。〃
　　Rachel　shook　her　head。　〃Thank　you；　Daddy；　but　I　got　all　the　last　seats。　It's　as　if　Cod　saved　them　for　me。〃
　　Irwin　Goldman　sighed。　At　that　moment　he　looked　very　old；　and　it　suddenly　occurred　to　Rachel　that　her　father　looked　like　Jud　Crandall。
　　〃You　have　time　to　pack　a　bag；　if　you　want；〃　be　said。　〃We　can　be　at　the　airport　in　forty　minutes；　if　I　drive　the　way　I　used　to　when　your　mother　and　I　were　first　married。　Find　her　your　tote　bag；　Dory。〃
　　〃Mommy；〃　Ellie　said。　Rachel　turned　toward　her。　Ellie's　face　was　now　sheened　with　light　sweat。
　　〃What；　honey？〃
　　〃Be　careful；　Mommy；〃　Ellie　said。
　　　49
　　The　trees　were　only　moving　shapes　against　a　cloudy　sky　backlit　by　the　glow　from　the　airport　not　too　far　distant。　Louis　parked　the　Honda　on　Mason　Street。　Mason　bordered　Pleasantview　on　its　south　side；　and　here　the　wind　was　almost　strong　enough　to　rip　the　car　door　out　of　his　hand。　He　had　to　push　hard　to　shut　it。　The　wind　rippled　at　his　jacket　as　he　opened　the　Honda's　hatch　and　took　out　the　piece　of　tarpaulin　he　had　cut　and　wrapped　around　his　tools。
　　He　was　in　a　wing　of　darkness　between　two　streetlights；　standing　on　the　curb　with　the　canvas…wrapped　bundle　cradled　in　his　arms；　looking　carefully　for　traffic　before　crossing　to　the　wrought…iron　fence　which　marked　the　boundary　of　the　graveyard。　He　did　not　want　to　be　seen　at　all；　if　he　could　help　it；　not　even　by　someone　who　would　notice　him　and　forget　him　the　next　second。　Beside　him；　the　branches　of　an　old　elm　groaned　restlessly　in　the　wind；　making　Louis　think　of　jackleg　necktie　parties。　God；　he　was　so　scared。　This　wasn't　wild　work；　it　was　mad　work。
　　No　traffic。　On　the　Mason　Street　side；　the　streetlamps　marched　away　in　perfect　white　circles；　casting　spotlights　on　the　sidewalk　where；　during　the　days　after　Fairmount　Grammar　School　let　out；　boys　would　ride　bikes　and　girls　would　jump　rope　and　play　hopscotch；　never　noticing　the　nearby　graveyard；　except　perhaps　at　Halloween；　when　it　would　acquire　a　certain　spooky　charm。　Perhaps　they　would　dare　to　cross　their　suburban　street　and　hang　a　paper　skeleton　on　the　wrought…iron　bars　of　the　high　fence；　giggling　at　the　old　jokes：　it's　the　most　popular　place　in　town；　people　are　dying　to　get　in。　Why　is　it　wrong　to　laugh　in　the　grave　yard？　Because　everyone　who　lives　there　is　always　in　a　grave　mood。
　　〃Gage；〃　he　muttered。　Gage　was　in　there；　behind　that　wrought…iron　fence；　unjustly　imprisoned　under　a　blanket　of　dark　earth；　and　that　was　no　joke。　Gonna　break　you　out；　Gage；　he　thought。　Gonna　break　you　out；　big　guy；　or　die　trying。
　　Louis　crossed　the　street　with　his　heavy　bundle　in　his　arms；　stepped　up　on　the　other　curb；　glanced　both　ways　again；　and　tossed　the　canvas　roll　over　the　fence。　It　clinked　softly　as　it　struck　the　ground　on　the　far　side。　Dusting　his　hands；　Louis　walked　away。　He　had　marked　the　place　in　his　mind。　Even　if　he　forgot；　all　he　really　had　to　do　was　follow　the　fence　on　the　inside　until　he　was　standing　opposite　his　Civic；　and　he　would　fall　over　it。
　　But　would　the　gate　be　open　this　late？
　　He　walked　down　Mason　Street　to　the　stop　sign；　the　wind　chasing　him　and　worrying　his　heels。　Moving　shadows　danced　and　twined　on　the　roadway。
　　He　turned　the　corner　onto　Pleasant　Street；　still　following　the　fence。　Car　headlights　splashed　up　the　street；　and　Louis　stepped　casually　behind　an　elm　tree。　It　wasn't　a　cop　car；　he　saw；　only　a　van　moving　toward　Hammond　Street　and；　probably；　the　turnpike。　When　it　was　well　past　him；　Louis　walked　on。
　　Of　course　it　will　be　unlocked。　It's　got　to　be。
　　He　reached　the　gate；　which　formed　a　cathedral　shape　in　wrought　iron；　slim　and　graceful　in　the　moving　wind　shadows　thrown　by　the　streetlights。　He　reached　out　and　tried　it。
　　Locked。
　　You　stupid　fool；　of　course　it's　locked…did　you　really　think　anyone　would　leave　a　cemetery　inside　the　municipal　city　limits　of　any　American　city　unlocked　after　eleven　o'clock？　No　one　is　that　trusting；　dear　man；　not　anymore。　So　what　do　you　do　now？
　　Now　he　would　have　to　climb　and　just　hope　no　one　happened　to　glance　away　from　the　Carson　Show　long　enough　to　see　him　monkeying　up　the　wrought　iron　like　the　world's　oldest；　slowest　kid。
　　Hey；　police？　I　just　saw　the　world's　oldest；　slowest　kid　climbing　into　Pleasantview　Cemetery。　Looked　like　he　was　dying　to　get　in。　Yeah；　looked　like　a　grave　matter　to　me。　Kidding？　Oh　no；　I'm　in　dead　earnest。　Maybe　you　ought　to　dig　into　it。
　　Louis　continued　up　Pleasant　Street　and　turned　right　at　the　next　intersection。　The　high　iron　fence　marched　along　beside　him　relentlessly。　The　wind　cooled　and　evaporated　the　drops　of　sweat　on　his　forehead　and　in　the　hollows　of　his　temples。　His　shadow　waxed　and　waned　in　the　streetlights。　Every　now　and　then　he　glanced　at　the　fence；　and　then　he　stopped　and　forced　himself　to　really　look　at　it。
　　You're　going　to　climb　that　baby？　Don't　make　me　laugh。
　　Louis　Creed　was　a　fairly　tall　man；　standing　a　bit　over　six…two；　but　the　fence　was　easily　nine　feet　high；　each　wrought…iron　stave　ending　in　a　decorative；　arrowlike　point。　Decorative；　that　is；　until　you　happened　to　slip　while　swinging　your　leg　over　and　the　force　of　your　suddenly　dropping　two　hundred　pounds　drove　one　of　those　arrow　points　into　your　groin；　exploding　your　testicles。　And　there　you　would　be；　skewered　like　a　pig　at　a　barbecue；　hollering　until　someone　called　for　the　police　and　they　came　and　pulled　you　off　and　took　you　to　the　hospital。
　　The　sweat　continued　to　flow；　sticking　his　shirt　to　his　back。　All　was　silent　except　for　the　faint　hum　of　late　traffic　on　Hammond　Street。
　　There　had　to　be　a　way　to　get　in　there。
　　Had　to　be。
　　e　on；　Louis；　face　the　facts。　You　may　be　crazy；　hut　you're　not　that　crazy。　Maybe　you　could　shinny　up　to　the　top　of　that　fence；　but　it　would　take　a　trained　gymnast　to　swing　over　those　points　without　sticking　himself　on　them。　And　even　supposing　you　can　get　in；　how　are　you　going　to　get　yourself　and　Gage's　body　out？
　　He　went　on　walking；　vaguely　aware　that　he　was　circling　the　cemetery　but　not　doing　anything　constructive。
　　All　right；　here's　the　answer。　I'll　just　go　on　home　to　Ludlow　tonight　and　e　back　tomorrow；　in　the　late　afternoon。。　I'll　go　in　through　the　gate　around　four　o'clock　and　find　a　place　to　hole　up　until　it's　midnight　or　a　little　later。　I　will；　in　other　words；　put　off　until　tomorrow　what　I　should　have　been　smart　enough　to　think　of　today。
　　Good　idea；　0　Great　Swami　Louis。　。　。　and　in　the　meantime；　what