sk.petsematary-第39部分

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ed　really　old　and　infirm　to　Louis　Creed；　as　if　he　were　standing　somewhere　in　the　neighborhood　of　his　own　freshly　prepared　grave。
　　And　later；　at　home；　something　else　occurred　to　him　about　how　Jud　had　looked　at　that　moment。
　　He　had　looked　like　he　was　lying。
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　　Louis　didn't　really　know　he　was　drunk　until　he　got　back　in　his　own　garage。
　　Outside　there　was　starlight　and　a　chilly　rind　of　moon。　Not　enough　light　to　cast　a　shadow；　but　enough　to　see　by。　Once　he　got　in　the　garage；　he　was　blind。　There　was　a　light　switch　somewhere；　but　he　was　damned　if　he　could　remember　anymore　just　where　it　was。　He　felt　his　way　along　slowly；　shuffling　his　feet；　his　head　swimming；　anticipating　a　painful　crack　on　the　knee　or　a　toy　that　he　would　stumble　over；　frightening　himself　with　its　crash；　perhaps　falling　over　himself。　Ellie's　little　Schwinn　with　its　red　training　wheels。　Gage's　Crawly…Gator。
　　Where　was　the　eat？　Had　he　left　him　in？
　　Somehow　he　sailed　off　course　and　ran　into　the　wall。　A　splinter　whispered　into　one　palm　and　he　cried　out　〃Shit！〃　to　the　darkness；　realizing　after　the　word　was　out　that　it　sounded　more　seared　than　mad。　The　whole　garage　seemed　to　have　taken　a　stealthy　half…turn。　Now　it　wasn't　just　the　light　switch；　now　he　didn't　know　where　the　fuck　anything　was；　and　that　included　the　door　into　the　kitchen。
　　He　began　walking　again；　moving　slowly；　his　palm　stinging。　This　is　what　it　would　be　like　to　be　blind；　he　thought；　and　that　made　him　think　of　a　Stevie　Wonder　concert　he　and　Rachel　had　gone　to…when？　Six　years　ago？　As　impossible　as　it　seemed；　it　had　to　be。　She　had　been　pregnant　with　Ellie　then。　Two　guys　had　led　Wonder　to　his　synthesizer；　guiding　him　over　the　cables　that　snaked　across　the　stage　so　he　wouldn't　stumble。　And　later；　when　he　had　gotten　up　to　dance　with　one　of　the　back…up　singers；　she　had　led　him　carefully　to　a　clear　place　on　the　floor。　He　had　danced　well；　Louis　remembered　thinking。　He　had　danced　well；　but　he　had　needed　a　hand　to　lead　him　to　the　space　where　he　could　do　it。
　　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