sk.thetalisman-第14部分

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maybe　she'd　wanted　to　check　out　this　unusual　new　pal　of　her　son's　and　had　wandered　down　to　the　amusement　park。　But　Jack　could　not　see　her　in　Arcadia　Funworld　any　more　than　he　could　see　her　lingering　picturesquely　in　the　gardens。　He　turned　in　the　less　familiar　direction；　toward　the　town　line。
　　Separated　from　the　Alhambra's　grounds　by　a　high　thick　hedge；　the　Arcadia　Tea　and　Jam　Shoppe　stood　first　in　a　row　of　brightly　colored　shops。　It　and　New　England　Drugs　were　the　only　shops　in　the　terrace　to　remain　open　after　Labor　Day。　Jack　hesitated　a　moment　on　the　cracked　sidewalk。　A　tea　shop；　much　less　shoppe；　was　an　unlikely　situation　for　the　Darling　of　the　Drive…ins。　But　since　it　was　the　first　place　he　might　expect　to　find　her；　he　moved　across　the　sidewalk　and　peered　in　the　window。
　　A　woman　with　piled…up　hair　sat　smoking　before　a　cash　register。　A　waitress　in　a　pink　rayon　dress　leaned　against　the　far　wall。　Jack　saw　no　customers。　Then　at　one　of　the　tables　near　the　Alhambra　end　of　the　shop　he　saw　an　old　woman　lifting　a　cup。　Apart　from　the　help；　she　was　alone。　Jack　watched　the　old　woman　delicately　replace　the　cup　in　the　saucer；　then　fish　a　cigarette　from　her　bag；　and　realized　with　a　sickening　jolt　that　she　was　his　mother。　An　instant　later；　the　impression　of　age　had　disappeared。
　　But　he　could　remember　it…and　it　was　as　if　he　were　seeing　her　through　bifocals；　seeing　both　Lily　Cavanaugh　Sawyer　and　that　fragile　old　woman　in　the　same　body。
　　Jack　gently　opened　the　door；　but　still　he　set　off　the　tinkle　of　the　bell　that　he　had　known　was　above　it。　The　blond　woman　at　the　register　nodded；　smiling。　The　waitress　straightened　up　and　smoothed　the　lap　of　her　dress。　His　mother　stared　at　him　with　what　looked　like　genuine　surprise；　and　then　gave　him　an　open　smile。
　　'Well；　Wandering　Jack；　you're　so　tall　that　you　looked　just　like　your　father　when　you　came　through　that　door；'　she　said。　'Sometimes　I　forget　you're　only　twelve。'
　　　
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　　'You　called　me　'Wandering　Jack；'　'　he　said；　pulling　a　chair　out　and　dropping　himself　into　it。
　　Her　face　was　very　pale；　and　the　smudges　beneath　her　eyes　looked　almost　like　bruises。
　　'Didn't　your　father　call　you　that？　I　just　happened　to　think　of　it…you've　been　on　the　move　all　morning。'
　　'He　called　me　Wandering　Jack？'
　　'Something　like　that　。　。　。　sure　he　did。　When　you　were　tiny。　Travelling　Jack；'　she　said　firmly。　'That　was　it。　He　used　to　call　you　Travelling　Jack…you　know；　when　we'd　see　you　tearing　down　the　lawn。　It　was　funny；　I　guess。　I　left　the　door　open；　by　the　way。　Didn't　know　if　you　remembered　to　take　your　key　with　you。'
　　'I　saw；'　he　said；　still　tingling　with　the　new　information　she　had　so　casually　given　him。
　　'Want　any　breakfast？　I　just　couldn't　take　the　thought　of　eating　another　meal　in　that　hotel。'　
　　The　waitress　had　appeared　beside　them。　'Young　man？'　she　asked；　lifting　her　order　pad。
　　'How　did　you　know　I'd　find　you　here？'
　　'Where　else　is　there　to　go？'　his　mother　reasonably　asked；　and　told　the　waitress；　'Give　him　the　three…star　breakfast。　He's　growing　about　an　inch　a　day。'　
　　Jack　leaned　against　the　back　of　his　chair。　How　could　he　begin　this？
　　His　mother　glanced　at　him　curiously；　and　he　began…he　had　to　begin；　now。　'Mom；　if　I　had　to　go　away　for　a　while；　would　you　be　all　right？'
　　'What　do　you　mean；　all　right？　And　what　do　you　mean；　go　away　for　a　while？'
　　'Would　you　be　able…ah；　would　you　have　trouble　from　Uncle　Morgan？'
　　'I　can　handle　old　Sloat；'　she　said；　smiling　tautly。　'I　can　handle　him　for　a　while；　anyhow。　What's　this　all　about；　Jacky？　You're　not　going　anywhere。'
　　'I　have　to；'　he　said。　'Honest。'　Then　he　realized　that　he　sounded　like　a　child　begging　for　a　toy。　Mercifully；　the　waitress　arrived　with　toast　in　a　rack　and　a　stubby　glass　of　tomato　juice。　He　looked　away　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　looked　back；　his　mother　was　spreading　jam　from　one　of　the　pots　on　the　table　over　a　triangular　section　of　toast。
　　'I　have　to　go；'　he　said。　His　mother　handed　him　the　toast；　her　face　moved　with　a　thought；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　'You　might　not　see　me　for　a　while；　Mom；'　he　said。　'I'm　going　to　try　to　help　you。　That's　why　I　have　to　go。'
　　'Help　me？'　she　asked；　and　her　cool　incredulity；　Jack　reckoned；　was　about　seventy…five　percent　genuine。
　　'I　want　to　try　to　save　your　life；'　he　said。
　　'Is　that　all？'
　　'I　can　do　it。'
　　'You　can　save　my　life。　That's　very　entertaining；　Jacky…boy；　it　ought　to　make　prime　time　someday。　Ever　think　about　going　into　network　programming？'　She　had　put　down　the　red…smeared　knife　and　was　widening　her　eyes　in　mockery：　but　beneath　the　deliberate　inprehension　he　saw　two　things。　A　flare…up　of　her　terror；　a　faint；　almost　unrecognized　hope　that　he　might　after　all　be　able　to　do　something。
　　'Even　if　you　say　I　can't　try；　I'm　going　to　do　it　anyhow。　So　you　might　as　well　give　me　your　permission。'
　　'Oh；　that's　a　wonderful　deal。　Especially　since　I　don't　have　any　idea　of　what　you're　talking　about。'
　　'I　think　you　do；　though…I　think　you　do　have　some　idea；　Mom。　Because　Dad　would　have　known　exactly　what　I'm　talking　about。'　
　　Her　cheeks　reddened；　her　mouth　thinned　into　a　line。　'That's　so　unfair　it's　despicable；　Jacky。　You　can't　use　what　Philip　might　have　known　as　a　weapon　against　me。'
　　'What　he　did　know；　not　what　he　might　have　known。'
　　'You're　talking　total　horseshit；　sonny　boy。'　
　　The　waitress；　setting　a　plate　of　scrambled　eggs；　home　fries；　and　sausages　before　Jack；　audibly　inhaled。
　　After　the　waitress　had　paraded　off；　his　mother　shrugged。　'I　don't　seem　able　to　find　the　right　tone　with　the　help　around　here。　But　horseshit　is　still　horseshit　is　still　horseshit；　to　quote　Gertrude　Stein。'
　　'I'm　going　to　save　your　life；　Mom；'　he　repeated。　'And　I　have　to　go　a　long　way　away　and　bring　something　back　to　do　it。　And　so　that's　what　I'm　going　to　do。'
　　'I　wish　I　knew　what　you　were　talking　about。'　
　　Just　an　ordinary　conversation；　Jack　told　himself：　as　ordinary　as　asking　permission　to　spend　a　couple　of　nights　at　a　friend's　house。　He　cut　a　sausage　in　half　and　popped　one　of　the　pieces　in　his　mouth。　She　was　watching　him　carefully。　Sausage　chewed　and　swallowed；　Jack　inserted　a　forkful　of　egg　into　his　mouth。　Speedy's　bottle　lumped　like　a　rock　against　his　backside。
　　'I　also　wish　you'd　act　as　though　you　could　hear　the　little　remarks　I　send　your　way；　as　obtuse　as　they　may　be。'　Jack　stolidly　swallowed　the　eggs　and　inserted　a　salty　wad　of　the　crisp　potatoes　into　his　mouth。
　　Lily　put　her　hands　in　her　lap。　The　longer　he　said　nothing；　the　more　she　would　listen　when　he　did　talk。　He　pretended　to　concentrate　on　his　breakfast；　eggs　sausage　potatoes；　sausage　potatoes　eggs；　potatoes　eggs　sausage；　until　he　sensed　that　she　was　near　to　shouting　at　him。
　　My　father　called　me　Travelling　Jack；　he　thought　to　himself。　This　is　right；　this　is　as　right　as　I'll　ever　get。
　　'Jack…'
　　'Mom；'　he　said；　'sometimes　didn't　Dad　call　you　up　from　a　long　way　away；　and　you　knew　he　was　supposed　to　be　in　town？'　
　　She　raised　her　eyebrows。
　　'And　sometimes　didn't　you；　ah；　walk　into　a　room　because　you　thought　he　was　there；　maybe　even　knew　he　was　there…but　he　wasn't？'　
　　Let　her　chew　on　that。
　　'No；'　she　said。
　　Both　of　them　let　the　denial　fade　away。　
　　'Almost　never。'
　　'Mom；　it　even　happened　to　me；'　Jack　said。
　　'There　was　always　an　explanation；　you　know　there　was。'
　　'My　father…this　is　what　you　know…was　never　too　bad　at　explaining　things。　Especially　the　stuff　that　really　couldn't　be　explained。　He　was　very　good　at　that。　That's　part　of　the　reason　he　was　such　a　good　agent。'　
　　Now　she　was　silent　again。
　　'Well；　I　know　where　he　went；'　Jack　said。　'I've　been　there　already。　I　was　there　this　morning。　And　if　I　go　there　again；　I　can　try　to　save　your　life。'
　　'My　life　doesn't　need　you　to　save　it；　it　doesn't　need　anyone　to　save　it；'　his　mother　hissed。　Jack　looked　down　at　his　devastated　plate　and　muttered　something。　'What　was　that？'　she　drilled　at　him。
　　'I　think　it　does；　I　said。'　He　met　her　eyes　with　his　own。　
　　'Suppose　I　ask　how　you　propose　to　go　about　saving　my　life；　as　you　put　it。'
　　'I　can't　answer。　Because　I　don't　really　understand　it　yet。　Mom；　I'm　not　in　school；　anyhow　。　。　。　give　me　a　chance。　I　might　only　be　gone　a　week　or　so。'　
　　She　raised　her　eyebrows。
　　'It　could　be　longer；'　he　admitted。
　　'I　think　you're　nuts；'　she　said。　But　he　saw　that　part　of　her　wanted　to　believe　him；　and　her　next　words　proved　it。　'If…if…I　were　mad　enough　to　allow　you　to　go　off　on　this　mysterious　errand；　I'd　have　to　be　sure　that　you　wouldn't　be　in　any　danger。'
　　'Dad　always　came　back；'　Jack　pointed　out。
　　'I'd　rather　risk　my　life　than　yours；'　she　said；　and　this　truth；　too；　lay　hugely　between　them　for　a　long　moment。
　　'I'll　call　when　I　can。　But　don't　get　too　worried　if　a　couple　of　weeks　go　by　without　my　calling。　I'll　e　back；　too；　just　like　Dad　always　did。'
　　'This　whole　thing　is　nuts；'　she　said。　'Me　included。　How　are　you　going　to　get　to　this　place　you　have　to　go　to？　And　where　is　it？　Do　you　have　enough　money？'
　　'I　have　everything　I　need；'　he　said；　hoping　that　she　would　not　press　him　on　the　first　two　questions。　The　silence　stretched　out　and　out；　and　finally　he　said；　'I　guess　I'll　mainly　walk。　I　can't　talk　about　it　much；　Mom。'
　　'Travelling　Jack；'　she　said。　'I　can　almost　believe　。　。　。　'
　　'Yes；'　Jack　said。　'Yes。'　He　was　nodding。　And　maybe；　he　thought；　you　know　some　of　what　she　knows；　the　real　Queen；　and　that's　why　you　are　letting　go　this　easily。　'That's　right。　I　can　believe；　too。　That's　what　makes　it　right。'
　　'Well　。　。　。　since　you　say　you'll　go　no　matter　what　I　say　。　。　。　'
　　'I　will；　too。'
　　'　。　。　。　then　I　guess　it　doesn't　matter　what　I　say。'　She　looked　at　him　bravely。　'It　does　matter；　though。　I　know。　I　want　you　to　get　back　here　as　quick　as　you　can；　sonny　boy。　You're　not　going　right　away；　are　you？'
　　'I　have　to。'　He　inhaled　deeply。　'Yes。　I　am　going　right　away。　As　soon　as　I　leave　you。'
　　'I　could　almost　believe　in　this　rigamarole。　You're　Phil　Sawyer's　son；　all　right。　You　haven't　found　a　girl　somewhere　in　this　place；　have　you　。　。　。　？'　She　looked　at　him　very　sharply。　'No。　No　girl。　Okay。　Save　my　life。　Off　with　you。'　She　shook　her　head；　and　he　thought　he　saw　an　extra　brightness　in　her　eyes。　'If　you're