jg.skippingchristmas-第15部分

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　Scanlon　hesitated；　then　said；　〃Seventy…five　bucks。〃
　〃Why　not　fifteen？〃
　〃Supply　and　demand。〃
　〃It's　a　rip…off。〃
　〃It's　for　the　Boy　Scouts。〃
　〃I'll　give　you　fifty。〃
　〃Seventy…five；　take　it　or　leave　it。〃
　Luther　handed　over　the　cash　and　the　Boy　Scout　placed　a　flattened　cardboard　box　on　top　of　Luther's　Lexus。　They　wrestled　the　tree　up　and　onto　the　car；　then　secured　it　with　rope。　Luther　watched　them　carefully；　glancing　at　his　watch　every　two　minutes。
　When　the　tree　was　in　place；　the　hood　and　trunk　were　already　accumulating　dead　pine　needles；　lots　of　them。　〃It　needs　water；〃　said　the　Scout。
　〃I　thought　you　weren't　doing　Christmas；〃　Scanlon　said。
　〃Merry　Christmas；〃　Luther　said　gruffly；　getting　in　his　car。
　〃I　wouldn't　drive　too　fast。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Those　pine　needles　are　awfully　brittle。〃
　Back　in　traffic；　Luther　sat　low　behind　the　wheel　and　stared　straight　ahead　as　he　crept　along。　At　a　traffic　light；　a　soft　drink　delivery　truck　eased　next　to　him　and　stopped。　He　heard　someone　yell；　looked　up　to　his　left；　then　cracked　his　window。　A　couple　of　rednecks　were　staring　down；　grinning。
　〃Hey　buddy；　that's　the　ugliest　tree　I've　ever　seen！〃　yelled　one。
　〃It's　Christmas；　e　on；　spend　some　money！〃　yelled　the　other；　and　they　roared　with　laughter。
　〃That　tree's　shedding　faster　than　a　dog　with　mange；〃　yelled　one　of　them；　and　Luther　raised　his　window。　Still；　he　could　hear　them　laughing。
　As　he　neared　Hemlock；　his　pulse　quickened。　With　a　little　luck；　maybe　he　could　make　it　home　without　being　seen。　Luck？　How　could　he　hope　for　good　luck？
　But　it　happened。　He　roared　past　his　neighbors'　homes；　hit　his　driveway　on　two　wheels；　and　came　to　a　sliding　stop　in　the　garage；　All　this　without　seeing　a　soul。　He　jumped　from　the　car　and　was　pulling　at　the　ropes　when　he　stopped；　and　stared；　in　disbelief。　The　tree　was　pletely　bare…nothing　but　crooked　limbs　and　branches；　no　greenery　whatsoever。　The　brittle　pine　needles　Scanlon　had　warned　him　about　were　still　blowing　in　the　wind　between　the　Kroger　and　Hemlock　Street。
　The　tree　was　a　pitiful　sight　lying　there　on　the　flattened　cardboard；　dead　as　driftwood。
　Luther　looked　around；　scanned　the　street；　then　yanked　the　tree　off　the　car　and　pulled　it　through　the　garage　door　and　into　the　backyard　where　no　one　could　see　it。　He　toyed　with　the　idea　of　lighting　a　match　and　putting　it　out　of　its　misery；　but　there　was　no　time　for　ceremonies。
　Thankfully；　Nora　had　already　left。　Luther　stomped　into　the　house　and　almost　crashed　into　a　wall　of　boxes　she'd　hauled　from　the　attic…boxes　carefully　marked：　new　ornaments；　old　ornaments；　garland；　tree　lights；　outside　lights。　Nine　boxes　in　all；　and　he'd　been　left　with　the　chore　of　emptying　their　contents　and　decorating　the　tree。　It　would　take　days。
　What　tree！
　On　the　wall　by　the　phone　she'd　tacked　a　message　with　the　names　of　four　couples　for　him　to　call。　All　were　very　close　friends；　the　kind　you　could　confess　to　and　say；　〃Look；　we've　screwed　up。　Blair's　ing　home。　Please　forgive　us　and　e　to　our　party。〃
　He'd　call　them　later。　But　the　note　said　do　it　now。　So　he　dialed　the　number　for　Gene　and　Annie　Laird；　perhaps　their　oldest　friends　in　town。　Gene　answered　the　phone　and　had　to　yell　because　a　riot　was　under　way。　〃Grandkids！〃　he　said。　〃All　four　of　them。　Got　an　extra　spot　on　the　cruise　ship；　old　boy？〃
　Luther　gritted　his　teeth　and　plowed　through　a　quick　narrative；　then　gave　the　invitation。　〃What　a　bummer！〃　Gene　yelled。　〃She's　ing　home　now？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃And　bringing　a　Peruvian？〃
　〃You　got　it。　Quite　a　shock；　really。　Can　you　guys　help　us　out？〃
　〃Sorry；　pal。　We　got　family　in　from　five　states。〃
　〃Oh；　they're　invited　too。　We　need　a　crowd。〃
　〃Let　me　check　with　Annie。〃
　Luther　slammed　down　the　phone；　looked　at　the　nine　large　boxes；　and　was　hit　with　an　idea。　Probably　a　bad　idea；　but　at　the　moment　good　ones　were　scarce。　He　ran　into　the　garage　and　gazed　across　the　street　at　the　Trogdon　house。　The　van　was　packed　with　luggage　and　skis　were　strapped　across　the　top　of　it。　Wes　Trogdon　emerged　from　his　garage　with　a　backpack　to　throw　on　board；　Luther　stepped　quickly　across　the　Beckers'　front　lawn　and　yelled；　〃Hey；　Wes！〃
　〃Hello；　Luther；〃　he　said　hurriedly。　〃Merry　Christmas。〃
　〃Yeah；　Merry　Christmas　to　you。〃　They　met　behind　Trogdon's　van。　Luther　knew　he　had　to　be　quick。
　〃Look；　Wes；　I'm　in　a　bit　of　a　jam。〃
　〃Luther；　we're　late。　We　should've　been　on　the　road　two　hours　ago。〃　A　small　Trogdon　darted　around　the　van；　firing　a　space　gun　at　an　unseen　target。
　〃Just　take　a　minute；〃　Luther　said；　trying　to　be　cool　but　hating　the　fact　that　he　was　begging。　〃Blair　called　an　hour　ago。　She'll　be　home　tonight。　I　need　a　Christmas　tree。〃
　The　hurried　and　stressed　look　on　Wes's　face　relaxed；　then　a　smile　broke　out。　Then　he　laughed。
　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Luther　said；　defeated。
　〃What're　you　going　to　do　with　that　tan？〃　Wes　asked　between　laughs。
　〃Okay；　okay。　Look；　Wes；　I　need　a　tree。　There　are　no　more　trees　for　sale。　Can　I　borrow　yours？〃
　Trish　screamed　from　somewhere　inside　the　garage；　〃Wes！　Where　are　you？〃
　〃Out　here！〃　he　yelled　back。　〃You　want　my　tree？〃
　〃Yes；　I'll　return　it　before　you　get　home。　I　swear。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous。〃
　〃Yes；　it　is；　but　I　have　no　choice。　Everybody　else'll　be　using　their　trees　tonight；　and　tomorrow。〃
　〃You're　serious；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Dead　serious。　e　on；　Wes。〃
　Wes　pulled　a　key　ring　from　his　pocket　and　removed　the　ones　to　the　garage　door　and　the　house。　〃Don't　tell　Trish；〃　he　said。
　〃I　swear　I　won't。〃
　〃And　if　you　break　an　ornament　then　we're　both　dead。〃
　〃Shell　never　know　it；　Wes；　I　promise。〃
　〃This　is　funny；　you　know。〃
　〃Why　am　I　not　laughing？〃
　They　shook　hands；　and　Luther　hurried　back　to　his　house。　He'd　almost　made　it　when　Spike　Frohmeyer　wheeled　into　his　driveway　on　his　bike。　〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　he　demanded。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　Luther　said。
　〃You　and　Mr。　Trogdon。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　mind　your　own…〃Luther　caught　himself；　and　saw　opportunity。　He　needed　allies　at　the　moment；　not　enemies；　and　Spike　was　just　the　type。
　〃Hey；　Spike　buddy；〃　he　said　warmly；　〃I　need　a　little　help。〃
　〃What's　the　deal？〃
　〃The　Trogdons　are　leaving　home　for　a　week；　and　I'm　going　to　keep　their　tree　for　them。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Trees　catch　on　fire　a　lot；　especially　ones　loaded　with　lights。　Mr。　Trogdon　is　worried　about　the　tree　getting　too　hot；　so　I'm　going　to　move　it　over　to　my　house　for　a　few　days。〃
　〃Just　turn　the　lights　off。〃
　〃Still　got　all　those　wires　and　stuff。　It's　pretty　dangerous。　Think　you　could　give　me　a　hand？　I'll　pay　you　forty　bucks。〃
　〃Forty　bucks！　You　gotta　deal。〃
　〃We　need　a　small　wagon。〃
　〃I'll　borrow　Clem's。〃
　〃Hurry。　And　don't　tell　anybody。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃It's　part　of　the　deal；　okay？〃
　〃Sure。　Whatever。〃
　Spike　sped　away；　off　on　a　mission。　Luther　took　a　deep　breath　and　gazed　up　and　down　Hemlock。　Eyes　were　watching　him；　he　felt　sure；　the　way　they'd　been　peeking　at　him　for　weeks　now。　How　did　he　bee　such　a　villain　in　his　own　neighborhood？　Why　was　it　so　hard　to　dance　to　his　own　beat　once　in　a　great　while？　To　do　something　no　one　had　dared？　Why　all　this　resentment　from　people　he'd　known　and　liked　for　years？
　Regardless　of　what　happened　in　the　next　few　hours；　he　vowed　that　he　would　not　be　reduced　to　begging　his　neighbors　to　e　to　the　party。　First；　they　wouldn't　e　because　they　were　ticked　off。　Second；　he　wouldn't　give　them　the　satisfaction　of　saying　no。
　
　
　Fourteen
　
　His　second　call　was　to　the　Albrittons；　old　friends　from　church　who　lived　an　hour　away。　Luther　spilled　his　guts；　and　by　the　time　he　finished　Riley　Albritton　was　roaring　with　laughter。　〃It's　Luther；〃　Riley　said　to　someone　in　the　background；　probably　Doris。　〃Blair　just　called。　She'll　be　home　tonight。〃　And　with　that；　Doris　or　whoever　it　was　broke　into　hysterics。
　Luther　wished　he　hadn't　called。　〃Help　me　out　here；　Riley；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Can　you　guys　stop　by？〃
　〃Sorry；　bud。　We're　going　to　the　MacIlvaines　for　dinner。　They　invited　us　a　bit　earlier；　you　know。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Luther　said　and　hung　up。　
　The　phone　rang　immediately。　It　was　Nora；　her　voice　as　edgy　as　Luther'd　ever　heard　it。　〃Where　are　you？〃　she　demanded。
　〃Well；　I'm　in　the　kitchen。　Where　are　you？〃
　〃I'm　sitting　in　traffic　on　Broad；　near　the　mall。〃
　〃Why　are　you　going　to　the　mall？〃
　〃Because　I　couldn't　park　at　the　District；　couldn't　even　get　in　off　the　street。　I've　bought　nothing。　Do　you　have　a　tree？〃
　〃Yes；　a　real　beauty。〃
　〃Are　you　decorating　it？〃
　〃Yes；　I　have　Perry　o　crooning　'Jingle　Bells'　in　the　background　while　I'm　sipping　eggnog　and　trimming　our　tree。　Wish　you　were　here？〃
　〃Have　you　called　anyone？〃
　〃Yes；　the　Lairds　and　Albrittons；　neither　can　make　it。〃
　〃I've　called　the　Pinkertons；　Harts；　Malones；　and　Burklands。　They're　all　busy。　Pete　Hart　laughed　at　me；　the　bore。〃
　〃I'll　beat　him　up　for　you。〃　Spike　was　knocking　on　the　door。　〃I　gotta　get　busy。〃
　〃I　guess　you'd　better　start　calling　the　neighbors；〃　she　said；　her　hyper　voice　faltering。
　〃Why？〃　
　〃To　invite　them。〃
　〃Not　in　a　million　years；　Nora。　I'm　hanging　up　now。〃
　〃No　word　from　Blair。〃
　〃She's　on　an　airplane；　Nora。　Call　me　later。〃
　Spike's　borrowed　wagon　was　a　red　Radio　Flyer　that　had　seen　its　better　years。　With　one　look；　Luther　deemed　it　too　small　and　too　old；　but　they　had　no　choice。　〃I'll　go　over　first；〃　he　explained；　as　if　he　knew　exactly　what　he　was　doing。　〃Wait　five　minutes；　then　bring　the　wagon　over。　Don't　let　anyone　see　you；　okay？〃
　〃Where's　my　forty　bucks？〃
　Luther　handed　him　a　twenty。　〃Half　now；　half　when　the　job　is　done。〃
　He　entered　the　Trogdon　home　through　the　side　door　of　the　garage；　and　felt　like　a　burglar　for　the　first　time　in　memory。　When　he　opened　the　door　to　the　house；　an　alarm　beeped　for　a　few　seconds；　very　long　seconds　in　which　Luther's　heart　froze　and　his　entire　life　and　career　flashed　before　him。　Caught；　arrested；　convicted；　his　license　revoked；　banished　by　Wiley　&　Beck；　disgraced。　Then　it　stopped；　and　he　waited　another　few　seconds　before　he　could　breathe。　A　panel　by　the　rear　door　said　things　were　Clear。
　What　a　mess。　The　house　was　a　landfill　with　debris　strewn　everywhere；　clear　evidence　of　another　successful　visit　by　Ole　St。　Nick。　Trish　Trogdon　would　choke　her　husband　if　she　knew　he'd　given　Luther　the　keys。　In　the　living　room；　he　stopped　and　stared　at