pzb.lostsouls-第33部分

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　　Now　Ghost　was　trying　to　talk　to　him。　The　guy　had　some　nerve。　Steve　glowered　across　the　kitchen　table。　〃You　want　to　go　where？〃
　　〃Miz　Catlin's。　You　remember　her；　my　grandmother's　friend？　She　has　her　own　store　now。　It's　out　on　Forty…two　toward　Corinth。　Just　down　the　road；　west。〃
　　〃West；〃　said　Steve　stupidly。　He　poked　at　his　banana　pancakes；　then　sipped　the　beer　Ghost　had　given　him。　Hair　of　the　dog　he　told　himself。　Hair　of　the　dog　that　bit　me。　Who　says　there　aren't　nerves　in　the　brain？　He　pressed　his　hands　to　his　temples；　winced；　lifted　the　beer　again。　That　was　all　the　exercise　he　planned　on　getting　this　morning。　〃What　do　you　want　to　go　out　there　for？〃
　　〃She　makes　herb　remedies。　I　want　to　get　some　balm　of　angelica。〃　Ghost　shovelled　in　a　forkful　of　pancake；　licked　honey　off　his　lips。　〃I　got　a　wisdom　tooth　ing　in。〃
　　〃I'll　take　you　down　to　the　7…Eleven。　You　can　get　a　bottle　of　Tylenol。〃
　　Ghost　pulled　his　hair　in　front　of　his　face　and　looked　disdainful。　〃That's　no　good。　I　can't　use　any　of　that　stuff…it　makes　me　sick。　e　on；　you　ought　to　get　out　of　the　house。〃
　　〃Where　is　this　place　again？〃
　　〃West；〃　said　Ghost　patiently。　〃You　know。　Like　California；　only　not　as　far。〃
　　Steve　lifted　his　middle　finger；　but　the　effort　was　too　much　for　him；　and　he　took　another　swig　of　beer。　〃I'm　supposed　to　go　to　work　at　four。〃
　　〃'We'll　be　back　by　then。　e　on；　Steve。　It　might　not　be　warm　much　longer。〃
　　Steve　cast　a　suspicious　look　at　Ghost。　〃You　drank　as　much　as　I　did。　How　e　you　don't　have　a　hangover？〃
　　Ghost　smiled。　〃Miz　Catlin　gave　me　a　potion。　Want　some？〃
　　
　　One　of　the　four　roads　that　led　out　of　Missing　Mile；　Firehouse　Street；　crossed　N。C。　42　a　ways　out　of　town。　Steve　turned　the　T…bird　onto　the　highway　and　leaned　out　the　window；　letting　the　wind　rush　past　his　face。　The　air　smelled　of　the　long　sweet　death　of　summer　and　the　gaudy　return　of　autumn。　Dandelions；　creekwater；　woodsmoke　from　an　early　bonfire。　Steve　breathed　them　all　in。
　　He　felt　better　now；　had　felt　better　ever　since　Ghost　made　him　drink　some　bittersweet　anise…flavored　liquid　from　a　tiny　blue　bottle。　Steve　had　heard　all　the　arguments　against　herbal　medicine…it　was　dangerous；　it　was　inaccurate；　it　was　better　left　to　real　scientists　with　real　Ph。D。's…but　growing　up　around　Ghost　and　Miz　Deliverance；　he　had　seen　folk　remedies　in　action　a　hundred　times　over。　They　could　be　a　damn　sight　more　powerful　than　anything　available　at　the　local　pharmacy。
　　Ghost　had　dug　an　old　five…stringed　guitar　out　of　the　T…bird's　trunk。　He　sprawled　in　the　backseat　strumming　random　chords　that　sounded　like　crystal　being　smashed　by　a　rusty　hammer；　singing　as　loud　as　he　could　over　the　wind　and　the　hum　of　the　tires　on　the　road。　〃Sold　in　the　market　down　in　New　Orleeeeens　。　。　。　I　bet　your　momma　was　a　voodoo　queen　。　。　。　owhoooo；　how　e　you　dance　so　gooood？〃
　　Ghost's　voice　always　reminded　Steve　of　Hank　Williams　before　the　speed　and　the　whiskey　got　him；　and　in　it　Steve　thought　he　could　hear　the　beat　of　dusky　blood　and　the　roar　of　the　Mississippi。　But　he　only　said；　〃That's　not　how　that　song　goes。〃
　　Under　Ghost's　enthusiastic　fingers；　the　guitar　strings　protested；　then　succumbed　and　sang　their　cacophonous　song。　The　G…string　pinged　out　a　tiny　death　knell　as　it　snapped。　Ghost　sang　more　softly；　mourning　it。　In　the　front　seat　Steve　grinned；　shook　his　head；　and　pushed　the　speed　up　a　notch。　The　sun　was　warm；　and　the　road　rose　and　fell　smoothly　away；　and　they　almost　drove　past　the　place　before　Ghost　stopped　playing　and　said；　〃That's　it！〃
　　Steve　slowed；　looked　around。　〃Where？〃
　　Ghost　pointed　at　a　little　house　set　back　from　the　road。　It　was　painted　green　and　sat　on　a　big　lawn　still　speckled　yellow　and　white　with　late　dandelions。　Out　back；　Steve　thought　he　saw　the　gleam　of　a　pond。　Sure　enough；　as　he　watched；　a　fat　white　goose　came　around　the　house　and　marched　up　the　porch　steps。　At　the　end　of　the　driveway；　a　carefully　stencilled　sign　read：　CATLIN'S　COUNTRY　STORE。　PICKLES；　PIES；　PRESERVES。　CLOSED　SUNDAYS
　　〃No　way；〃　said　Steve。
　　〃Sure；　this　is　it。　Go　on　up　the　drive。〃
　　Steve　twisted　around　to　look　at　Ghost。　〃You're　tryin'　to　tell　me　a　witch　owns　this　place？〃
　　Ghost　looked　hurt；　〃Miz　Catlin's　not　a　witch。　She　was　friends　with　my　grandmother。　You　think　my　grandmother　was　a　witch？〃
　　Steve　remained　tactfully　silent。
　　Ghost　scowled。　〃Well；　anyway。　Miz　Catlin　just　knows　about　medicine；　that's　all。〃
　　Steve　maneuvered　the　T…bird　into　a　wide　circle　of　gravel　at　the　top　of　the　driveway；　trying　not　to　run　over　any　of　the　chrysanthemums　that　nodded　in　the　sun　behind　a　tiny　white　picket　fence。　As　he　got　out；　another　goose　pecked　at　the　toe　of　his　boot；　then　flapped　up　onto　the　hood　of　the　ear　and　fixed　him　with　a　baleful　eye。
　　〃Stare　at　him；〃　Ghost　said。　〃They　won't　bite　you　if　you　keep　staring　at　them。〃
　　Steve　backed　away。　〃They　bite？〃
　　〃Not　really。　They　hiss　at　you；　mostly。　The　only　lime　geese　are　ever　dangerous　is　when　you　happen　to　be　standing　on　the　edge　of　a　cliff。　I　heard　about　a　guy　who　almost　got　killed　that　way。
　　〃By　geese？〃
　　〃Yeah；　there　was　a　whole　flock　of　them　ing　after　him。　All　hissing　and　cackling　and　stabbing　at　his　ankles　with　their　big　o1'　beaks。　He　didn't　know　you　had　to　stare　them　right　in　the　eye；　and　he　panicked。　They　backed　him　right　over　a　fifty…foot　cliff。〃
　　〃So　how　e　he　didn't　die？〃
　　〃This　guy　had　wings；〃　said　Ghost。　〃He　flew　away。〃　
　　Steve　sighed　with　the　air　of　one　long…suffering　but　patient。
　　〃Miz　Catlin？〃　Ghost　said；　putting　his　head　around　the　screen　door。　〃You　here；　Miz　Catlin？〃
　　〃GHOST…CHILD！〃
　　A　tiny　old　lady　came　barrelling　out　of　the　store's　dimness　and　launched　herself　into　Ghost's　outstretched　arms。　Ghost　lifted　her　off　the　floor　and　hugged　her　hard；　knocking　her　big　flowered　hat　off。　Steve　picked　it　up　and　held　it　awkwardly　until　Miz　Catlin's　little　sneakered　feet　were　on　the　floor　again。
　　She　adjusted　the　hat　over　her　long　gray　hair；　smiling　up　at　Ghost。　〃How　the　hell　did　you　ever　get　so　big；　child？　You　grow　another　inch　every　time　I　see　you。〃　She　turned　to　Steve。　〃I　was　there　when　this　kid　saw　his　first　light。　My　sister　Lexy　delivered　him。　I　gave　his　mama　a　spoonful　of　mother…wort　in　wine；　but　there　weren't　no　need。　He　was　the　easiest　baby　I　ever　seen。　Once　I　pulled　his　caul　off；　he　just　laid　there　and　watched　us　all　with　them　holy　blue　eyes。　I　gave　him　a　decoction　of　pomegranate　rind　for　the　runs　once。　Ate　too　many　of　my　fresh　green　apples　and　couldn't　stay　off　the　pot　for　ten　minutes　at　a　time。　He　weren't　but　this　high。〃　Miz　Catlin　held　her　hand　a　couple　of　feet　off　the　floor。
　　The　little　lady　herself　wasn't　much　taller；　the　top　of　her　flowered　hat　reached　about　to　Steve's　rib　cage。　Steve　thought　he　remembered　hearing　this　story　before；　but　he　smiled　at　Miz　Catlin。　Ghost　was　studying　the　ceiling；　the　rose…and…vine…patterned　wallpaper；　the　jars　of　bright　penny　candy　on　the　shelves。　He　saw　Steve　looking　at　him　and　scuffed　his　toe　on　the　wooden　floor。
　　Miz　Catlin　disengaged　herself　from　Ghost's　arms。　〃You　and　your　good…looking　friend　just　e　out　to　brighten　up　an　old　lady's　day；　or　you　need　some　medicine？〃
　　〃It's　my　wisdom　teeth。〃
　　〃O　Lord。　Let　me　see　'em。〃　She　peered　into　Ghost's　mouth；　prodded　his　gums　with　a　wrinkled　forefinger。　〃You're　lucky。　Got　a　big　mouth。　You　won't　have　to　get　'em　pulled。　I'll　make　up　that　balm　directly。　You　want　to　poke　around　in　the　back　room　like　you　used　to？〃
　　A　crazy　light　came　into　Ghost's　eyes。　〃Shit；　yeah！　Steve；　wait　till　you　see　what's　back　there。〃
　　Miz　Catlin's　dried…apple　face　registered　astonishment。　〃This　isn't　Steve？　That　skinny　kid　who　used　to　hang　around　with　you　all　the　time？　Well；　age　surely　made　you　handsome；　Mister　Steve　Finn。〃　The　old　lady　stared　at　Steve　with　such　frankness　that　he　wanted　to　look　away；　but　he　thought　that　might　be　rude。　Finally　Miz　Catlin　giggled　like　a　little　girl　and　waved　her　hand　at　them。　〃Listen　to　me…I　never　could　give　up　flirtin'。　Anyway；　you　kids　take　a　good　look　back　there。〃　She　indicated　the　contents　of　the　front　room：　baskets　of　hand…dipped　candles；　patchwork　quilts；　potpourris。　〃All　this　stuff；　it's　for　the　tourists。　Back　in　the　back…that's　my　real　stock。　Ghost'll　show　you。　He　kno