sk.thetalisman-第124部分

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　　'Get　on　my　back　again。'　He　turned　around　and　nearly　flattened　out　on　the　sand。　Richard's　arms　came　over　his　shoulders　and　feebly　joined。
　　Jack　peered　around　the　edge　of　the　rock。　Down　the　beach　road；　Sunlight　Gardener　stroked　his　hair　into　place　as　he　strode　toward　the　front　door　of　the　Kingsland　Motel。　The　black　hotel　reared　up　awesomely。　The　Talisman　opened　its　throat　and　called　for　Jack　Sawyer。　Gardener　hesitated　outside　the　door　of　the　motel；　swept　both　hands　over　his　hair；　shook　his　head；　and　turned　smartly　about　and　began　walking　much　more　rapidly　back　up　the　long　line　of　limousines。　The　bull…horn　lifted。　'REPORTS　EVERY　FIFTEEN　MINUTES！'　he　screeched。　'YOU　POINT　MEN…TELL　ME　IF　YOU　SEE　A　BUG　MOVE！　I　MEAN　IT；　YES　I　DO！'　
　　Gardener　was　walking　away；　everybody　else　watched　him。　It　was　time。　Jack　kicked　off　away　from　his　shelter　of　rock　and；　bending　over　while　he　clasped　Richard's　skimpy　forearms；　raced　down　the　beach。　His　feet　kicked　up　scallops　of　damp　sand。　The　three　joined　pillars　of　rocks；　which　had　seemed　so　close　while　he　talked　to　Speedy；　now　appeared　to　be　half　a　mile　away…the　open　space　between　himself　and　them　would　not　close。　It　was　as　if　the　rocks　receded　while　he　ran。　Jack　expected　to　hear　the　crack　of　a　shot。　Would　he　feel　the　bullet　first；　or　would　he　hear　the　report　before　the　bullet　knocked　him　down？　At　last　the　three　rocks　grew　larger　and　larger　in　his　vision；　and　then　he　was　there；　falling　onto　his　chest　and　skidding　behind　their　protection。
　　'Speedy！'　he　said；　almost　laughing　in　spite　of　everything。　But　the　sight　of　Speedy；　who　was　sitting　down　beside　a　colorful　little　blanket　and　leaning　against　the　middle　pillar　of　rock；　killed　the　laughter　in　his　throat…killed　at　least　half　of　his　hope；　too。
　　　
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　　For　Speedy　Parker　looked　worse　than　Richard。　Much　worse。　His　cracked；　leaking　face　gave　Jack　a　weary　nod；　and　the　boy　thought　that　Speedy　was　confirming　his　hopelessness。　Speedy　wore　only　a　pair　of　old　brown　shorts；　and　all　of　his　skin　seemed　horribly　diseased；　as　if　with　leprosy。
　　'Settle　down　now；　ole　Travellin　Jack；'　Speedy　whispered　in　a　hoarse；　crackling　voice。　'There's　lots　you　got　to　hear；　so　open　your　ears　up　good。'
　　'How　are　you？'　Jack　asked。　'I　mean　。　。　。　Jesus；　Speedy　。　。　。　is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you？'　
　　He　gently　placed　Richard　down　on　the　sand。
　　'Open　your　ears；　like　I　said。　Don't　you　go　worryin　bout　Speedy。　I　ain't　too　'fable；　the　way　you　see　me　now；　but　I　can　be　'fable　again；　if　you　does　the　right　thing。　Your　little　friend's　dad　put　this　hurtin　on　me…on　his　own　boy；　too；　looks　like。　Old　Bloat　don't　want　his　child　in　that　hotel；　no　sir。　But　you　got　to　take　him　there；　son。　There　ain't　but　one　way　about　it。　You　got　to　do　it。'　
　　Speedy　seemed　to　be　fading　in　and　out　as　he　talked　to　Jack；　who　wanted　to　scream　or　wail　more　than　he　had　at　any　time　since　the　death　of　Wolf。　His　eyes　smarted；　and　he　knew　he　wanted　to　cry。　'I　know；　Speedy；'　he　said。　'I　figured　that　out。'
　　'You　a　good　boy；'　the　old　man　said。　He　cocked　his　head　back　and　regarded　Jack　carefully。　'You　the　one；　all　right。　The　road　laid　its　mark　on　you；　I　see。　You　the　one。　You　gonna　do　it。'
　　'How's　my　mom；　Speedy？'　Jack　asked。　'Please　tell　me。　She's　still　alive；　isn't　she？'
　　'You　can　call　her　soon's　you　can；　find　out　she's　okay；'　Speedy　answered。　'But　first　you　got　to　get　it；　Jack。　Because　if　you　don't　get　it；　she　be　dead。　And　so　be　Laura；　the　Queen。　She　be　dead；　too。'　Speedy　hitched　himself　up；　wincing；　to　straighten　his　back。　'Let　me　tell　you。　Most　everybody　at　the　court　gave　up　on　her…gave　her　up　for　dead　already。'　His　face　expressed　his　disgust。　'They　all　afraid　of　Morgan。　Because　they　know　Morgan'll　take　they　skin　off　they　backs　if　they　don't　swear　allegiance　to　him　now。　While　Laura　still　got　a　few　breaths　in　her。　But　out　in　the　far　Territories；　two…legged　snakes　like　Osmond　and　his　gang　been　goin　around；　tellin　folks　she　already　dead。　And　if　she　dies；　Travellin　Jack；　if　she　dies　。　。　。'　He　levelled　his　ruined　face　at　the　boy。　'Then　we　got　black　horror　in　both　worlds。　Black　horror。　And　you　can　call　your　momma。　But　first　you　has　to　get　it。　You　has　to。　It's　all　that's　left；　now。'　
　　Jack　did　not　have　to　ask　him　what　he　meant。
　　'I'm　glad　you　understand；　son。'　Speedy　closed　his　eyes　and　leaned　his　head　back　against　the　stone。
　　A　second　later　his　eyes　slowly　opened　again。　'Destinies。　That's　what　all　this　is　about。　More　destinies；　more　lives；　than　you　know。　You　ever　hear　the　name　Rushton？　I　suspect　you　might　have；　all　this　time　gone　by。'　
　　Jack　nodded。
　　'All　those　destinies　be　the　reason　your　momma　brought　you　all　the　way　to　the　Alhambra　Hotel；　Travellin　Jack。　I　was　just　sittin　and　waitin；　knowin　you'd　show　up。　The　Talisman　pulled　you　here；　boy。　Jason。　That's　a　name　you　heard；　too；　I　spect。'
　　'It's　me；'　Jack　said。
　　'Then　get　the　Talisman。　I　brought　this　l'il　thing　along；　he'p　you　out　some。'　He　wearily　picked　up　the　blanket；　which；　Jack　saw；　was　of　rubber　and　therefore　not　a　blanket　after　all。
　　Jack　took　the　bundle　of　rubber　from　Speedy's　charred…looking　hand。　'How　can　I　get　into　the　hotel；　though？'　he　asked。　'I　can't　get　over　the　fence；　and　I　can't　swim　in　with　Richard。'
　　'Blow　it　up。'　Speedy's　eyes　had　closed　again。
　　Jack　unfolded　the　object。　It　was　an　inflatable　raft　in　the　shape　of　a　legless　horse。
　　'Recognize　her？'　Speedy's　voice；　ruined　as　it　was；　bore　a　nostalgic　lightness。　'You　and　me　picked　her　up；　sometime　back。　I　explained　about　the　names。'　
　　Jack　suddenly　remembered　ing　to　Speedy；　that　day　that　seemed　filled　with　slashes　of　black　and　white；　and　finding　him　sitting　inside　a　round　shed；　repairing　the　merry…go…round　horses。　You　be　takin　liberties　with　the　Lady；　but　I　guess　she　ain't　gonna　mind　if　you're　helpin　me　get　her　back　where　she　belongs。　Now　that；　too；　had　a　larger　meaning。　Another　piece　of　the　world　locked　into　place　for　Jack。　'Silver　Lady；'　he　said。
　　Speedy　winked　at　him；　and　again　Jack　had　the　eerie　sense　that　everything　in　his　life　had　conspired　to　get　him　to　precisely　this　point。　'Your　friend　here　all　right？'　It　was…almost…a　deflection。
　　'I　think　so。'　Jack　looked　uneasily　at　Richard　who　had　rolled　on　his　side　and　was　breathing　shallowly；　his　eyes　shut。
　　'Then　long's　you　think　so；　blow　up　ole　Silver　Lady　here。　You　gotta　bring　that　boy　in　with　you　no　matter　what。　He's　a　part　of　it；　too。'　
　　Speedy's　skin　seemed　to　be　getting　worse　as　they　sat　on　the　beach…it　had　a　sickly　ash…gray　tinge。　Before　Jack　put　the　air　nozzle　to　his　mouth　he　asked；　'Can't　I　do　anything　for　you；　Speedy？'
　　'Sure。　Go　to　the　Point　Venuti　drugstore　and　fetch　me　a　bottle　of　Lydia　Pinkham's　ointment。'　Speedy　shook　his　head。
　　'You　know　how　to　he'p　Speedy　Parker；　boy。　Get　the　Talisman。　That's　all　the　he'p　I　need。'　
　　Jack　blew　into　the　nozzle。
　　　
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　　A　very　short　time　later　he　was　pushing　in　the　stopper　located　beside　the　tail　of　a　raft　shaped　like　a　four…foot…long　rubber　horse　with　an　abnormally　broad　back。
　　'I　don't　know　if　I'll　be　able　to　get　Richard　on　this　thing；'　he　said；　not　plaining　but　merely　thinking　out　loud。
　　'He　be　able　to　follow　orders；　ole　Travellin　Jack。　Just　sit　behind　him；　kind　of　he'p　hold　him　on。　That's　all　he　needs。'　
　　And　in　fact　Richard　had　pulled　himself　into　the　lee　of　the　standing　rocks　and　was　breathing　smoothly　and　regularly　through　his　open　mouth。　He　might　have　been　either　asleep　or　awake；　Jack　could　not　tell　which。
　　'All　right；'　Jack　said。　'Is　there　a　pier　or　something　out　behind　that　place？'
　　'Better　than　a　pier；　Jacky。　Once　you　gets　out　beyond　the　break…water；　you'll　see　big　pilins…they　built　part　of　the　hotel　right　out　over　the　water。　You'll　see　a　ladder　down　in　them　pilins。　Get　Richard　there　up　the　ladder　and　you　be　on　the　big　deck　out　back。　Big　windows　right　there…the　kind　of　windows　that　be　doors；　you　know？　Open　up　one　of　them　window…doors　and　you　be　in　the　dinin　room。'　He　managed　to　smile。　'Once　you　in　the　dinin　room；　I　reckon　you'll　be　able　to　sniff　out　the　Talisman。　And　don't　be　afraid　of　her；　sonny。　She's　been　waitin　for　you…she'll　e　to　your　hand　like　a　good　hound。'
　　'What's　to　stop　all　these　guys　from　ing　in　after　me？'
　　'Shoo；　they　can't　go　in　the　black　hotel。'　Disgust　with　Jack's　stupidity　was　printed　in　every　line　on　Speedy's　face。
　　'I　know；　I　mean　in　the　water。　Why　wouldn't　they　e　after　me　with　a　boat　or　something？'　
　　Now　Speedy　managed　a　painful　but　genuine　smile。　'I　think　you　gonna　see　why；　Travellin　Jack。　Ole　Bloat　and　his　boys　gotta　steer　clear　of　the　water；　hee　hee。　Don't　worry　bout　that　now…just　remember　what　I　told　you　and　get　to　gettin；　hear？'
　　'I'm　already　there；'　Jack　said；　and　edged　toward　the　rocks　to　peer　around　at　the　beach　road　and　the　hotel。　He　had　managed　to　get　across　the　road　and　to　Speedy's　cover　without　being　seen：　surely　he　could　drag　Richard　the　few　feet　down　to　the　water　and　get　him　on　the　raft。　With　any　luck　at　all；　he　should　be　able　to　make　it　unseen　all　the　way　to　the　pilings…Gardener　and　the　men　with　binoculars　were　concentrating　on　the　town　and　the　hillside。
　　Jack　peeked　around　the　side　of　one　of　the　tall　columns。　The　limousines　still　stood　before　the　hotel。　Jack　put　his　head　out　an　inch　or　two　farther　to　look　across　the　street。　A　man　in　a　black　suit　was　just　stepping　through　the　door　of　the　wreck　of　the　Kingsland　Motel…he　was　trying；　Jack　saw；　to　keep　from　looking　at　the　black　hotel。
　　A　whistle　began　to　shrill；　as　high　and　insistent　as　a　woman's　scream。
　　'Move！'　Speedy　whispered　hoarsely。
　　Jack　jerked　his　head　up　and　saw　at　the　top　of　the　grassy　rise　behind　the　crumbling　houses　a　black…suited　man　blasting　away　at　the　whistle　and　pointing　straight　downhill　at　him。　The　man's　dark　hair　swayed　around　his　shoulders…hair；　black　suit；　and　sunglasses；　he　looked　like　the　Angel　of　Death。
　　'FOUND　HIM！　FOUND　HIM！'　Gardener　bawled。　'SHOOT　HIM！　A　THOUSAND　DOLLARS　TO　THE　BROTHER　WHO　BRINGS　ME　HIS　BALLS！'　
　　Jack　recoiled　back　into　the　safety　of　the　rocks。　A　half…second　later　a　bullet　spanged　off　the　front　of　the　middle　pillar　just　before　the　sound　of　the　shot　reached　them。　So　now　I　know；　Jack　thought　as　he　grabbed　Richard's　arm　and　pulled　him　toward　the　raft。　First　you　get　knocked　down；　then　you　hear　t