sk.misery-第51部分

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was　just　this：　Dead　cows　don't　bawl。
　〃I　have　a　driveway　chain。　I'm　going　to　use　it。　If　the　police　e；　it　may　raise　suspicion；　but　I'd　rather　have　them　suspicious　than　have　them　drive　up　to　the　house　and　hear　you　making　a　big　cockadoodie　fuss。　I　thought　of　gagging　you；　but　gags　are　dangerous；　especially　if　you're　taking　drugs　that　affect　respiration。　Or　you　might　vomit。　Or　your　sinuses　might　close　up　because　it's　so　damp　down　here。　If　your　sinuses　closed　up　tight　and　you　couldn't　breathe　through　your　mouth　。　。　。　〃　She　looked　away；　unplugged；　as　silent　as　one　of　the　stones　in　the　cellar　wall；　as　empty　as　the　first　bottle　of　Pepsi　she　had　drunk。　Make　ya　want　to　holler　hi…de…ho。　And　had　Annie　hollered　hi…de…ho　today？　Bet　your　ass。　O　brethren；　Annie　had　yelled　hi…de…ho　until　the　whole　yard　was　oogy。　He　laughed。　She　made　no　sign　she　had　heard　him。
　Then；　slowly；　she　began　to　e　back。
　She　looked　around　at　him；　blinking。
　〃I'm　going　to　stick　a　note　through　one　of　the　links　in　the　fence；〃　she　said　slowly；　re…gathering　her　thoughts。　〃There's　a　town　about　thirty…five　miles　from　here。　It's　called　Steamboat　Heaven；　isn't　that　a　funny　name　for　a　town？　They're　having　what　they　call　The　World's　Biggest　Flea　Market　this　week。　They　have　it　every　summer。　There's　always　lots　of　people　there　who　sell　ceramics。　I'll　write　in　my　note　that　I'm　there；　in　Steamboat　Heaven；　looking　at　ceramics。　I'll　say　I'm　staying　overnight。　And　if　anyone　asks　me　later　where　I　stayed；　so　they　can　check　the　register；　I'll　say　there　were　no　good　ceramics　so　I　started　back。　Only　I　got　tired。　That's　what　I'll　say。　I'll　say　I　pulled　over　to　take　a　nap　because　I　was　afraid　I　might　fall　asleep　behind　the　wheel。　I'll　say　I　only　meant　to　take　a　short　nap　but　I　was　so　tired　from　working　around　the　place　that　I　slept　all　night。〃　Paul　was　dismayed　by　the　depth　of　this　slyness。　He　suddenly　realized　that　Annie　was　doing　exactly　what　he　could　not：　she　was　playing　Can　You？　in　real　life。　Maybe；　he　thought；　that's　why　she　doesn't　write　books。　She　doesn't　have　to。
　〃I'll　get　back　just　as　soon　as　I　can；　because　policemen　will　e　here；〃　she　said。　The　prospect　did　not　seem　to　disturb　Annie's　weird　serenity　in　the　least；　although　Paul　could　not　believe　that；　in　some　part　of　her　mind；　she　did　not　realize　how　close　to　the　end　of　the　game　they　had　now　e。　〃I　don't　think　they'll　e　tonight　…　except　maybe　to　cruise　by　…　but　they　will　e。　As　soon　as　they　know　for　sure　he's　really　missing。　They'll　go　all　along　his　route；　looking　for　him　and　trying　to　find　out　where　he　stopped；　you　know；　showing　up。　Don't　you　think　so；　Paul？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　should　be　back　before　they　e。　If　I　start　out　on　the　bike　at　first　light；　I　might　even　be　able　to　make　it　back　before　noon。　I　should　he　able　to　beat　them。　Because　if　he　started　from　Sidewinder；　be　would。　have　stopped　at　lots　of　places　before　he　got　here。
　〃By　the　time　they　e；　you　should　be　back　in　your　own　room；　snug　as　a　bug　in　a　rug。　I'm　not　going　to　tie　you　up；　or　gag　you；　or　anything　like　that；　Paul。　You　can　even　peek　when　I　go　out　to　talk　to　them。　Because　it　will　be　two　next　time；　I　think。　At　least　two；　don't　you　think　so？〃　Paul　did。
　She　nodded；　satisfied。　〃But　I　can　handle　two；　if　I　have　to。〃　She　patted　the　khaki　purse。　〃I　want　you　to　remember　that　kid's　gun　while　you're　peeking；　Paul。　I　want　you　to　remember　that　it's　going　to　be　in　here　all　the　time　I'm　talking　to　those　police　when　they　e　tomorrow　or　the　next　day。　The　bag　won't　be　zipped。　It's　all　right　for　you　to　see　them；　but　if　they　see　you；　Paul　…　either　by　accident　or　because　you　try　something　tomorrow　like　you　did　today　…　if　that　happens；　I'm　going　to　take　the　gun　out　of　the　bag　and　start　shooting。　You're　already　responsible　for　that　kid's　death。〃
　〃Bullshit；〃　Paul　said；　knowing　she　would　hurt　him　for　it　but　not　caring。
　She　didn't；　though。　She　only　smiled　her　serene；　maternal　smile。
　〃Oh；　you　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　kid　myself　that　you　care；　I　don't　kid　myself　about　that　at　all；　but　you　know。　I　don't　kid　myself　that　you'd　care　about　getting　another　two　people　killed；　if　it　would　help　you　。　。　。　but　it　wouldn't；　Paul。　Because　if　I　have　to　do　two；　I'll　do　four。　Them　。　。　。　and　us。　And　do　you　know　what？　I　think　you　still　care　about　your　own　skin。〃
　〃Not　much；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　the　truth；　Annie　…　everyday　that　passes；　my　skin　feels　more　and　more　like　something　I　want　to　get　out　of。〃　She　laughed。
　〃Oh；　I've　heard　that　one　before。　But　let　them　see　you　put　one　hand　on　their　oogy　old　respirators！　Then　it's　a　different　story！　Yes！　When　they　see　that；　they　yell　and　cry　and　turn　into　a　bunch　of　real　brats！〃　Not　that　you　ever　let　that　stop　you；　right；　Annie？
　〃Anyway；〃　she　said；　〃I　just　wanted　you　to　know　how　things　are。　If　you　really　don't　care；　yell　your　head　off　when　they　e。　It's　entirely　up　to　you。〃　Paul　said　nothing。
　〃When　they　e　I'll　stand　right　out　there　in　the　driveway　and　say　yes；　there　was　a　state　trooper　that　came　by　here。　I'll　say　he　came　just　when　I　was　getting　ready　to　leave　for　Steamboat　Heaven　to　look　at　the　ceramics。　I'll　say　he　showed　me　your　picture。　I'll　say　I　hadn't　seen　you。　Then　one　of　them　will　ask　me；　〃This　was　last　winter；　Miss　Wilkes；　how　could　you　be　so　positive？〃　And　I'll　say；　〃If　Elvis　Presley　was　still　alive　and　you　saw　him　last　winter；　would　you　remember　seeing　him？〃　And　he'll　say　yes；　probably　so；　but　what　does　that　have　to　do　with　the　price　of　coffee　in　Borneo；　and　I'll　say　Paul　Sheldon　is　my　favorite　writer　and　I've　seen　his　picture　lots　of　times。　I　have　to　say　that；　Paul。　Do　you　know　why？〃　He　knew。　Her　slyness　continued　to　astound　him。　He　supposed　it　shouldn't；　not　anymore；　but　it　did。　He　remembered　the　caption　below　the　picture　of　Annie　in　her　detainment　cell；　the　picture　taken　in　the　caesura　between　the　end　of　the　trial　and　the　return　of　the　jury。　He　remembered　it　word　for　word。　IN　MISERY？　NOT　THE　DRAGON　LADY。　Annie　reads　calmly　as　she　waits　for　the　verdict。
　〃So　then；〃　she　continued；　〃I'll　say　the　policeman　wrote　it　all　down　in　his　book　and　thanked　me。　I'll　say　I　asked　him　in　for　a　cup　of　coffee　even　though　I　was　in　a　hurry　to　be　on　my　way　and　they'll　ask　me　why。　I'll　say　he　probably　knew　about　my　trouble　before；　and　I　wanted　to　satisfy　his　mind　that　everything　was　on　the　up…and…up　here。　But　he　said　no；　he　had　to　move　along。　So　I　asked　if　he'd　like　to　take　a　cold　Pepsi　along　with　him　because　the　day　was　so　hot　and　he　said　yes；　thanks；　that　was　very　kind。〃　She　drained　her　second　Pepsi　and　held　the　empty　plastic　bottle　between　her　and　him。　Seen　through　the　plastic　her　eye　was　huge　and　wavering；　the　eye　of　a　Cyclops。　The　side　of　her　head　took　on　a　ripply；　hydrocephalic　bulge。
　〃I'm　going　to　stop　and　put　this　bottle　in　the　ditch　about　two　miles　up　the　road；〃　she　said。　〃But　first　I'll　put　his　fingers　on　it；　of　course。〃　She　smiled　at　him　…　a　dry；　spitless　smile。
　〃Fingerprints；〃　she　said。　〃They'll　know　he　went　past　my　house　then。　Or　they'll　think　they　do；　and　that's　just　as　good；　isn't　it；　Paul？〃　His　dismay　deepened。
　〃So　they'll　go　up　the　road　and　they　won't　find　him。　He'll　just　be　gone。　Like　those　swamis　who　toot　their　flutes　until　ropes　e　out　of　baskets　and　they　climb　the　ropes　and　disappear。　Poof！〃
　〃Poof；〃　Paul　said。
　〃It　won't　take　them　long　to　e　back。　I　know　that。　After　all；　if　they　can't　find　any　trace　of　him　except　that　one　bottle　after　here；　they'll　decide　they　better　think　some　more　about　me。　After　all；　I'm　crazy；　aren't　I？　All　the　papers　said　so。　Nutty　as　a　fruitcake！
　〃But　they'll　believe　me　at　first。　I　don't　think　they'll　actual　want　to　e　in　and　search　the　house　…　not　at　first。　They　look　in　other　places　and　try　to　think　of　other　things　before　they　e　back。　We'll　have　some　time。　Maybe　as　much　as　a　week。〃　She　looked　at　him　levelly。
　〃You're　going　to　have　to　write　faster；　Paul；〃　she　said。
　
　
　19
　
　Dark　fell　and　no　police　came。　Annie　did　not　spend　the　time　before　it　did　with　Paul；　however；　she　wanted　to　re…glaze　his　bedroom　window；　and　pick　up　the　paper…clips　and　broken　glass　scattered　on　the　lawn。　When　the　police　e　tomorrow　looking　for　their　missing　lamb；　she　said；　we　don't　want　the　to　see　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　do　we；　Paul？
　Just　let　them　look　under　the　lawnmower；　kiddo。　Just　let　them　look　under　there　and　they'll　see　plenty　out　of　the　ordinary。
　But　no　matter　how　hard　he　tried　to　make　his　vivid　imagination　work；　he　could　not　make　it　e　up　with　a　scenario　which　would　lead　up　to　that。
　〃Do　you　wonder　why　I　told　you　all　of　this；　Paul？〃　she　asked　before　going　upstairs　to　see　what　she　could　do　with　the　window。　〃Why　I　went　into　my　plans　for　dealing　with　this　in　such　great　detail？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said　wanly。
　〃Partly　because　I　wanted　you　to　know　exactly　what　the　stakes　are；　and　exactly　what　you'll　have　to　do　to　stay　alive。　I　also　wanted　you　to　know　that　I'd　end　it　right　now。　Except　for　the　book。　I　still　care　about　the　book。〃　She　smiled。　It　was　a　smile　which　was　both　radiant　and　strangely　wistful。　〃It　really　is　the　best　Misery　story　of　them　all；　and　I　do　so　much　want　to　know　how　it　all　es　out。〃
　〃So　do　I；　Annie；〃　he　said。
　She　looked　at　him；　startled。　〃Why　。　。　。　you　know　don't　you？〃
　〃When　I　start　a　book　I　always　think　I　know　how　things　will　turn　out；　but　I　never　actually　had　one　end　exactly　that　way。　It　isn't　even　that　surprising；　once　you　stop　to　think　about　it。　Writing　a　book　is　a　little　like　firing　an　ICBM　。　。　。　only　it　travels　over　time　instead　of　space。　The　book…time　the　characters　spend　living　in　the　story　and　the　real　time　the　novelist　spends　writing　it　all　down。　Having　a　novel　end　exactly　the　way　you　thought　it　would　when　you　started　out　would　be　like　shooting　a　Titan　missile　halfway　around　the　world　and　having　the　payload　drop　through　a　basketball　hoop。　It　looks　good　on　paper；　and　there　are　people　who　build　those　things　who'd　tell　you　it　was　easy　as　pie　…　and　even　keep　a　straight　face　while　they　said　it　…　but　the　odds　are　always　against。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Annie　said。　〃I　see。〃
　〃I　must　have　a　pretty　good　navigation　system　built　into　the　equipment；　because　I　usually　get　close；　and　if　you　have　enough　high　explosive　packed　into　the　nosecone；　close　is　good　enough。　Right　now　I　see　two　possible　endings　to　the　book。　One　is　very　sad。　The　other；　while　not　your　standard　Hollywood　happy　ending；　at　least　holds　out　some　hop