sk.thetalisman-第13部分

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　　'But　I　don't　know　what　to　do！'　Jack　said　as　Speedy　swung　up　into　the　cab　of　the　old　truck。
　　'You　know　enough　to　get　movin；'　Speedy　said。　'You'll　go　to　the　Talisman；　Jack。　She'll　draw　you　to　her。'
　　'I　don't　even　know　what　a　Talisman　is！'　
　　Speedy　laughed　and　keyed　the　ignition。　The　truck　started　up　with　a　big　blue　blast　of　exhaust。　'Look　it　up　in　the　dictionary！'　he　shouted；　and　threw　the　truck　into　reverse。
　　He　backed　up；　turned　around；　and　then　the　truck　was　rattling　back　toward　Arcadia　Funworld。　Jack　stood　by　the　curb；　watching　it　go。　He　had　never　felt　so　alone　in　his　life。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　5
　　　Jack　and　Lily
　　　
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　　When　Speedy's　truck　turned　off　the　road　and　disappeared　beneath　the　Funworld　arch；　Jack　began　to　move　toward　the　hotel。　A　Talisman。　In　another　Alhambra。　On　the　edge　of　another　ocean。　His　heart　seemed　empty。　Without　Speedy　beside　him；　the　task　was　mountainous；　so　huge；　vague；　too…while　Speedy　had　been　talking；　Jack　had　had　the　feeling　of　almost　understanding　that　macaroni　of　hints　and　threats　and　instructions。　Now　it　was　close　to　just　being　macaroni。　The　Territories　were　real；　though。　He　hugged　that　certainty　as　close　as　he　could；　and　it　both　warmed　and　chilled　him。　They　were　a　real　place；　and　he　was　going　there　again。　Even　if　he　did　not　really　understand　everything　yet…even　if　he　was　an　ignorant　pilgrim；　he　was　going。　Now　all　he　had　to　do　was　to　try　to　convince　his　mother。　'Talisman；'　he　said　to　himself；　using　the　word　as　the　thing；　and　crossed　empty　Boardwalk　Avenue　and　jumped　up　the　steps　onto　the　path　between　the　hedges。　The　darkness　of　the　Alhambra's　interior；　once　the　great　door　had　swung　shut；　startled　him。　The　lobby　was　a　long　cave…you'd　need　a　fire　just　to　separate　the　shadows。　The　pale　clerk　flickered　behind　the　long　desk；　stabbing　at　Jack　with　his　white　eyes。　A　message　there：　yes。　Jack　swallowed　and　turned　away。　The　message　made　him　stronger；　it　increased　him；　though　its　intention　was　only　scornful。
　　He　went　toward　the　elevators　with　a　straight　back　and　an　unhurried　step。　Hang　around　with　blackies；　huh？　Let　them　put　their　arms　around　you；　huh？　The　elevator　whirred　down　like　a　great　heavy　bird；　the　doors　parted；　and　Jack　stepped　inside。　He　turned　to　punch　the　button　marked　with　a　glowing　4。　The　clerk　was　still　posed　spectrally　behind　the　desk；　sending　out　his　dumdum's　message。　Niggerlover　Niggerlover　Niggerlover　（like　it　that　way；　hey　brat？　Hot　and　black；　that's　for　you；　hey？）。　The　doors　mercifully　shut。　Jack's　stomach　fell　toward　his　shoes；　the　elevator　lurched　upward。
　　The　hatred　stayed　down　there　in　the　lobby：　the　very　air　in　the　elevator　felt　better　once　it　had　risen　above　the　first　floor。　Now　all　Jack　had　to　do　was　to　tell　his　mother　that　he　had　to　go　to　California　by　himself。
　　Just　don't　let　Uncle　Morgan　sign　any　papers　for　you
　　As　Jack　stepped　out　of　the　elevator；　he　wondered　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　whether　Richard　Sloat　understood　what　his　father　was　really　like。
　　　
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　　Down　past　the　empty　sconces　and　paintings　of　little　boats　riding　foamy；　corrugated　seas；　the　door　marked　408　slanted　inward；　revealing　a　foot　of　the　suite's　pale　carpet。　Sunlight　from　the　living…room　windows　made　a　long　rectangle　on　the　inner　wall。　'Hey　Mom；'　Jack　said；　entering　the　suite。　'You　didn't　close　the　door；　what's　the　big…'　He　was　alone　in　the　room。　'Idea？'　he　said　to　the　furniture。　'Mom？'　Disorder　seemed　to　ooze　from　the　tidy　room…an　overflowing　ashtray；　a　half…full　tumbler　of　water　left　on　the　coffee　table。
　　This　time；　Jack　promised　himself；　he　would　not　panic。　
　　He　turned　in　a　slow　circle。　Her　bedroom　door　was　open；　the　room　itself　as　dark　as　the　lobby　because　Lily　had　never　pulled　open　the　curtains。
　　'Hey；　I　know　you're　here；'　he　said；　and　then　walked　through　her　empty　bedroom　to　knock　at　her　bathroom　door。　No　reply。　Jack　opened　this　door　and　saw　a　pink　toothbrush　beside　the　sink；　a　forlorn　hairbrush　on　the　dressing　table。　Bristles　snarled　with　light　hairs。　Laura　DeLoessian；　announced　a　voice　in　Jack's　mind；　and　he　stepped　backward　out　of　the　little　bathroom…that　name　stung　him。
　　'Oh；　not　again；'　he　said　to　himself。　'Where'd　she　go？'　
　　Already　he　was　seeing　it。
　　He　saw　it　as　he　went　to　his　own　bedroom；　saw　it　as　he　opened　his　own　door　and　surveyed　his　rumpled　bed；　his　flattened　knapsack　and　little　stack　of　paperback　books；　his　socks　balled　up　on　top　of　the　dresser。　He　saw　it　when　he　looked　into　his　own　bathroom；　where　towels　lay　in　oriental　disarray　over　the　floor；　the　sides　of　the　tub；　and　the　Formica　counters。
　　Morgan　Sloat　thrusting　through　the　door；　grabbing　his　mother's　arms　and　hauling　her　downstairs　。　。　。
　　Jack　hurried　back　into　the　living　room　and　this　time　looked　behind　the　couch。
　　。　。　。　yanking　her　out　a　side　door　and　pushing　her　into　a　car；　his　eyes　beginning　to　turn　yellow　。　。　。　
　　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　punched　0。　'This　is；　ah；　Jack　Sawyer；　and　I'm　in；　ah；　room　four…oh…eight。　Did　my　mother　leave　any　message　for　me？　She　was　supposed　to　be　here　and　。　。　。　and　for　some　reason　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　'
　　'I'll　check；'　said　the　girl；　and　Jack　clutched　the　phone　for　a　burning　moment　before　she　returned。　'No　message　for　four…oh…eight；　sorry。'
　　'How　about　four…oh…seven？'
　　'That's　the　same　slot；'　the　girl　told　him。
　　'Ah；　did　she　have　any　visitors　in　the　last　half　hour　or　so？　Anybody　e　this　morning？　To　see　her；　I　mean。'
　　'That　would　be　Reception；'　the　girl　said。　'I　wouldn't　know。　Do　you　want　me　to　check　for　you？'
　　'Please；'　Jack　said。
　　'Oh；　I'm　happy　to　have　something　to　do　in　this　morgue；'　she　told　him。　'Stay　on　the　line。'　Another　burning　moment。　When　she　came　back　to　him；　it　was　with　'No　visitors。　Maybe　she　left　a　note　somewhere　in　your　rooms。'
　　'Yes；　I'll　look；'　Jack　said　miserably　and　hung　up。　Would　the　clerk　tell　the　truth？　Or　would　Morgan　Sloat　have　held　out　a　hand　with　a　twenty…dollar　bill　folded　like　a　stamp　into　his　meaty　palm？　That；　too；　Jack　could　see。
　　He　dropped　himself　on　the　couch；　stifling　an　irrational　desire　to　look　under　the　cushions。　Of　course　Uncle　Morgan　could　not　have　e　to　the　rooms　and　abducted　her…he　was　still　in　California。　But　he　could　have　sent　other　people　to　do　it　for　him。　Those　people　Speedy　had　mentioned；　the　Strangers　with　a　foot　in　each　world。
　　Then　Jack　could　stay　in　the　room　no　longer。　He　bounced　off　the　couch　and　went　back　into　the　corridor；　closing　the　door　after　him。　When　he　had　gone　a　few　paces　down　the　hall；　he　twirled　around　in　mid…step；　went　back；　and　opened　the　door　with　his　own　key。　He　pushed　the　door　an　inch　in；　and　then　trotted　back　toward　the　elevators。　It　was　always　possible　that　she　had　gone　out　without　her　key…to　the　shop　in　the　lobby；　to　the　newsstand　for　a　magazine　or　a　paper。
　　Sure。　He　had　not　seen　her　pick　up　a　newspaper　since　the　beginning　of　summer。　All　the　news　she　cared　about　came　over　an　internal　radio。
　　Out　for　a　walk；　then。
　　Yeah；　out　exercising　and　breathing　deeply。　Or　jogging；　maybe：　maybe　Lily　Cavanaugh　had　suddenly　gone　in　for　the　hundred…yard　dash。　She'd　set　up　hurdles　down　on　the　beach　and　was　in　training　for　the　next　Olympics　When　the　elevator　deposited　him　in　the　lobby　he　glanced　into　the　shop；　where　an　elderly　blond　woman　behind　a　counter　peered　at　him　over　the　tops　of　her　glasses。　Stuffed　animals；　a　tiny　pile　of　thin　newspapers；　a　display　rack　of　flavored　Chap　Stick。　Leaning　out　of　pockets　in　a　wallstand　were　People　and　Us　and　New　Hampshire　Magazine。
　　'Sorry；'　Jack　said；　and　turned　away。
　　He　found　himself　staring　at　the　bronze　plaque　beside　a　huge；　dispirited　fern　。　。　。　has　begun　to　sicken　and　must　soon　die。
　　The　woman　in　the　shop　cleared　her　throat。　Jack　thought　that　he　must　have　been　staring　at　those　words　of　Daniel　Webster's　for　entire　minutes。　'Yes？'　the　woman　said　behind　him。
　　'Sorry；'　Jack　repeated；　and　pulled　himself　into　the　center　of　the　lobby。　The　hateful　clerk　lifted　an　eyebrow；　then　turned　sideways　to　stare　at　a　deserted　staircase。　Jack　made　himself　approach　the　man。
　　'Mister；'　he　said　when　he　stood　before　the　desk。　The　clerk　was　pretending　to　try　to　remember　the　capital　of　North　Carolina　or　the　principal　export　of　Peru。　'Mister。'　The　man　scowled　to　himself：　he　was　nearly　there；　he　could　not　be　disturbed。
　　All　of　this　was　an　act；　Jack　knew；　and　he　said；　'I　wonder　if　you　can　help　me。'　
　　The　man　decided　to　look　at　him　after　all。　'Depends　on　what　the　help　is；　sonny。'　
　　Jack　consciously　decided　to　ignore　the　hidden　sneer。　'Did　you　see　my　mother　go　out　a　little　while　ago？'
　　'What's　a　little　while？'　Now　the　sneer　was　almost　visible。
　　'Did　you　see　her　go　out？　That's　all　I'm　asking。'
　　'Afraid　she　saw　you　and　your　sweetheart　holding　hands　out　there？'
　　'God；　you're　such　a　creep；'　Jack　startled　himself　by　saying。　'No；　I'm　not　afraid　of　that。　I'm　just　wondering　if　she　went　out；　and　if　you　weren't　such　a　creep；　you'd　tell　me。'　His　face　had　grown　hot；　and　he　realized　that　his　hands　were　bunched　into　fists。
　　'Well　okay；　she　went　out；'　the　clerk　said；　drifting　away　toward　the　bank　of　pigeonholes　behind　him。　'But　you'd　better　watch　your　tongue；　boy。　You　better　apologize　to　me；　fancy　little　Master　Sawyer。　I　got　eyes；　too。　I　know　things。'
　　'You　run　your　mouth　and　I　run　my　business；'　Jack　said；　dredging　the　phrase　up　from　one　of　his　father's　old　records…perhaps　it　did　not　quite　fit　the　situation；　but　it　felt　right　in　his　mouth；　and　the　clerk　blinked　satisfactorily。
　　'Maybe　she's　in　the　gardens；　I　don't　know；'　the　man　said　gloomily；　but　Jack　was　already　on　his　way　toward　the　door。
　　The　Darling　of　the　Drive…ins　and　Queen　of　the　Bs　was　nowhere　in　the　wide　gardens　before　the　hotel；　Jack　saw　immediately…and　he　had　known　that　she　would　not　be　in　the　gardens；　for　he　would　have　seen　her　on　his　way　into　the　hotel。　Besides；　Lily　Cavanaugh　did　not　dawdle　through　gardens：　that　suited　her　as　little　as　did　setting　up　hurdles　on　the　beach。
　　A　few　cars　rolled　down　Boardwalk　Avenue。　A　gull　screeched　far　overhead；　and　Jack's　heart　tightened。
　　The　boy　pushed　his　fingers　through　his　hair　and　looked　up　and　down　the　bright　street。　Maybe　she　had　been　curious　about　Speedy…maybe　she'd　wanted　to　check　out　this　unusual　new　pal　of　her　son's　and　had　wandered　down　t