sk.thetalisman-第59部分

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　carriages　'cars；'　and　'Chevys；'　and　'Jartrans；'　and　'station…wagons'　（these　latter；　Wolf　thought；　must　be　like　the　coaches　in　the　Territories　which　carried　passengers　from　one　coach…station　to　the　next）。　Might　the　bellowing；　stinking　carriages　also　be　called　'movies'？　It　sounded　very　possible。
　　'Well；'　Jack　said；　'it's　easier　to　show　you　than　to　tell　you。　I　think　you'll　like　it。　e　on。'
　　Jack　stumbled　ing　out　of　the　ditch　and　went　briefly　to　his　knees。　'Jack；　are　you　okay？'　Wolf　asked　anxiously。
　　Jack　nodded。　They　started　across　the　parking　lot；　which　smelled　just　as　bad　as　Wolf　had　known　it　would。
　　　
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　　Jack　had　e　a　good　part　of　the　thirty…five　miles　between　Arcanum；　Ohio；　and　Muncie；　Indiana；　on　Wolf's　broad　back。　Wolf　was　frightened　of　cars；　terrified　of　trucks；　nauseated　by　the　smells　of　almost　everything；　apt　to　howl　and　run　at　sudden　loud　noises。　But　he　was　also　almost　tireless。　As　far　as　that　goes；　you　can　strike　the　'almost；'　Jack　thought　now。　So　far　as　I　know；　he　is　tireless。
　　Jack　had　moved　them　away　from　the　Arcanum　ramp　as　fast　as　he　could；　forcing　his　wet；　aching　legs　into　a　rusty　trot。　His　head　had　been　throbbing　like　a　slick；　flexing　fist　inside　his　skull；　waves　of　heat　and　cold　rushing　through　him。　Wolf　moved　easily　to　his　left；　his　stride　so　long　that　he　was　keeping　up　with　Jack　easily　by　doing　no　more　than　a　moderately　fast　walk。　Jack　knew　that　he　had　maybe　gotten　paranoid　about　the　cops；　but　the　man　in　the　CASE　FARM　EQUIPMENT　hat　had　looked　really　scared。　And　pissed。
　　They　hadn't　gone　even　a　quarter　of　a　mile　when　a　deep；　burning　stitch　settled　into　his　side　and　he　asked　Wolf　if　he　could　give　him　a　piggyback　for　a　while。
　　'Huh？'　Wolf　asked。
　　'You　know；'　Jack　said；　and　pantomimed。
　　A　big　grin　had　overspread　Wolf's　face。　Here　at　last　was　something　he　understood；　here　was　something　he　could　do。
　　'You　want　a　horseyback！'　he　cried；　delighted。　'Yeah；　I　guess　。　。　。　'
　　'Oh；　yeah！　Wolf！　Here　and　now！　Used　to　give　em　to　my　litter…brothers！　Jump　up；　Jack！'　Wolf　bent　down；　holding　his　curved　hands　ready；　stirrups　for　Jack's　thighs。
　　'Now　when　I　get　too　heavy；　just　put　me　d…'
　　Before　he　could　finish；　Wolf　had　swept　him　up　and　was　running　lightly　down　the　road　with　him　into　the　dark…really　running。　The　cold；　rainy　air　flipped　Jack's　hair　back　from　his　hot　brow。
　　'Wolf；　you'll　wear　yourself　out！'　Jack　shouted。
　　'Not　me！　Wolf！　Wolf！　Runnin　here　and　now！'　For　the　first　time　since　they　had　e　over；　Wolf　sounded　actually　happy。　He　ran　for　the　next　two　hours；　until　they　were　west　of　Arcanum　and　travelling　along　a　dark；　unmarked　stretch　of　two…lane　black…top。　Jack　saw　a　deserted　barn　standing　slumped　in　a　shaggy；　untended　field；　and　they　slept　there　that　night。
　　Wolf　wanted　nothing　to　do　with　downtown　areas　where　the　traffic　was　a　roaring　flood　and　the　stinks　rose　up　to　heaven　in　a　noxious　cloud；　and　Jack　didn't　want　anything　to　do　with　them；　either。　Wolf　stuck　out　too　much。　But　he　had　forced　one　stop；　at　a　roadside　store　just　across　the　Indiana　line；　near　Harrisville。　While　Wolf　waited　nervously　out　by　the　road；　hunkering　down；　digging　at　the　dirt；　getting　up；　walking　around　in　a　stiff　little　circle；　then　hunkering　again；　Jack　bought　a　newspaper　and　checked　the　weather　page　carefully。　The　next　full　moon　was　on　October　31st…Halloween；　that　was　fitting　enough。　Jack　turned　back　to　the　front　page　so　he　could　see　what　day　it　was　today　。　。　。　yesterday；　that　had　been　now。　It　had　been　October　26th。
　　　
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　　Jack　pulled　open　one　of　the　glass　doors　and　stepped　inside　the　lobby　of　the　Town　Line　Sixplex。　He　looked　around　sharply　at　Wolf；　but　Wolf　looked…for　the　moment；　at　least…pretty　much　okay。　Wolf　was；　in　fact；　cautiously　optimistic　。　。　。　at　least　for　the　moment。　He　didn't　like　being　inside　a　building；　but　at　least　it　wasn't　a　car。　There　was　a　good　smell　in　here…light　and　sort　of　tasty。　Or　would　have　been；　except　for　a　bitter；　almost　rancid　undersmell。　Wolf　looked　left　and　saw　a　glass　box　full　of　white　stuff。　That　was　the　source　of　the　good　light　smell。
　　'Jack；'　he　whispered。
　　'Huh？'
　　'I　want　some　of　that　white　stuff；　please。　But　none　of　the　pee。'
　　'Pee？　What　are　you　talking　about？'　
　　Wolf　searched　for　a　more　formal　word　and　found　it。　'Urine。'　He　pointed　at　a　thing　with　a　light　going　off　and　on　inside　it。　BUTTERY　FLAVORING；　it　read。　'That's　some　kind　of　urine；　isn't　it？　It's　got　to　be；　the　way　it　smells。'
　　Jack　smiled　tiredly。　'A　popcorn　without　the　fake　butter；　right；'　he　said。　'Now　pipe　down；　okay？'
　　'Sure；　Jack；'　Wolf　said　humbly。　'Right　here　and　now。'　
　　The　ticket…girl　had　been　chewing　a　big　wad　of　grape…flavored　bubble　gum。　Now　she　stopped。　She　looked　at　Jack；　then　at　Jack's　big；　hulking　panion。　The　gum　sat　on　her　tongue　inside　her　half…open　mouth　like　a　large　purple　tumor。　She　rolled　her　eyes　at　the　guy　behind　the　counter。
　　'Two；　please；'　Jack　said。　He　took　out　his　roll　of　bills；　dirty；　tag…eared　ones　with　an　orphan　five　hiding　in　the　middle。
　　'Which　show？'　Her　eyes　moved　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth；　Jack　to　Wolf　and　Wolf　to　Jack。　She　looked　like　a　woman　watching　a　hot　table…tennis　match。
　　'What's　just　starting？'　Jack　asked　her。
　　'Well　。　。　。　'　She　glanced　down　at　the　paper　Scotch…taped　beside　her。　'There's　The　Flying　Dragon　in　Cinema　Four。　It's　a　kung…fu　movie　with　Chuck　Norris。'　Back　and　forth　went　her　eyes；　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth。　'Then；　in　Cinema　Six；　there's　a　double　feature。　Two　Ralph　Bakshi　cartoons。　Wizards　and　The　Lord　of　the　Rings。'　
　　Jack　felt　relieved。　Wolf　was　nothing　but　a　big；　overgrown　kid；　and　kids　loved　cartoons。　This　could　work　out　after　all。　Wolf　would　maybe　find　at　least　one　thing　in　the　Country　of　Bad　Smells　that　would　amuse　him；　and　Jack　could　sleep　for　three　hours。
　　'That　one；'　he　said。　'The　cartoons。'
　　'That'll　be　four　dollars；'　she　said。　'Bargain　Matinee　prices　end　at　two。'　She　pushed　a　button　and　two　tickets　poked　out　of　a　slot　with　a　mechanical　ratcheting　noise。　Wolf　flinched　backward　with　a　small　cry。
　　The　girl　looked　at　him；　eyebrows　raised。
　　'You　jumpy；　mister？'
　　'No；　I'm　Wolf；'　Wolf　said。　He　smiled；　showing　a　great　many　teeth。　Jack　would　have　sworn　that　Wolf　showed　more　teeth　now　when　he　smiled　than　he　had　a　day　or　two　ago。　The　girl　looked　at　all　those　teeth。　She　wet　her　lips。
　　'He's　okay。　He　just…'　Jack　shrugged。　'He　doesn't　get　off　the　farm　much。　You　know。'　He　gave　her　the　orphan　five。　She　handled　it　as　if　she　wished　she　had　a　pair　of　tongs　to　do　it　with。
　　'e　on；　Wolf。'
　　As　they　turned　away　to　the　candy…stand；　Jack　stuffing　the　one　into　the　pocket　of　his　grimy　jeans；　the　ticket…girl　mouthed　to　the　counterman：　Look　at　his　nose！
　　Jack　looked　at　Wolf　and　saw　Wolf's　nose　flaring　rhythmically。
　　'Stop　that；'　he　muttered。
　　'Stop　what；　Jack？'
　　'Doing　that　thing　with　your　nose。'
　　'Oh。　I'll　try；　Jack；　but…'
　　'Shh。'
　　'Help　you；　son？'　the　counterman　asked。
　　'Yes；　please。　A　Junior　Mints；　a　Reese's　Pieces；　and　an　extra…large　popcorn　without　the　grease。'　
　　The　counterman　got　the　stuff　and　pushed　it　across　to　them。　Wolf　got　the　tub　of　popcorn　in　both　hands　and　immediately　began　to　snaffle　it　up　in　great　jaw…cracking　chomps。
　　The　counterman　looked　at　this　silently。
　　'Doesn't　get　off　the　farm　much；'　Jack　repeated。　Part　of　him　was　already　wondering　if　these　two　had　seen　enough　of　sufficient　oddness　to　get　them　thinking　that　a　call　to　the　police　might　be　in　order。　He　thought…not　for　the　first　time…that　there　was　a　real　irony　in　all　this。　In　New　York　or　L。A。；　probably　no　one　would　have　given　Wolf　a　second　look　。　。　。　or　if　a　second　look；　certainly　not　a　third。　Apparently　the　weirdness…toleration　level　was　a　lot　lower　out　in　the　middle　of　the　country。　But；　of　course；　Wolf　would　have　flipped　out　of　his　gourd　long　since　if　they　had　been　in　New　York　or　L。A。
　　'I'll　bet　he　don't；'　the　counterman　said。　'That'll　be　two…eighty。'　
　　Jack　paid　it　with　an　inward　wince；　realizing　he　had　just　laid　out　a　quarter　of　his　cash　for　their　afternoon　at　the　movies。
　　Wolf　was　grinning　at　the　counterman　through　a　mouthful　of　popcorn。　Jack　recognized　it　as　Wolf's　A　#1　Friendly　Smile；　but　he　somehow　doubted　that　the　counterman　was　seeing　it　that　way。　There　were　all　those　teeth　in　that　smile　。　。　。　hundreds　of　them；　it　seemed。
　　And　Wolf　was　flaring　his　nostrils　again。
　　Screw　it；　let　them　call　the　cops；　if　that's　what　they　want　to　do；　he　thought　with　a　weariness　that　was　more　adult　than　child。　It　can't　slow　us　down　much　more　than　we're　slowed　down　already。　He　can't　ride　in　the　new　cars　because　he　can't　stand　the　smell　of　the　catalytic　convertors　and　he　can't　ride　in　old　cars　because　they　smell　like　exhaust　and　sweat　and　oil　and　beer　and　he　probably　can't　ride　in　any　cars　because　he's　so　goddam　claustrophobic。　Tell　the　truth；　Jack…O；　even　if　it's　only　to　yourself。　You're　going　along　telling　yourself　he's　going　to　get　over　it　pretty　soon；　but　it's　probably　not　going　to　happen。　So　what　are　we　going　to　do？　Walk　across　Indiana；　I　guess。　Correction；　Wolf　is　going　to　walk　across　Indiana。　Me；　I'm　going　to　cross　Indiana　riding　horseyback。　But　first　I'm　going　to　take　Wolf　into　this　damn　movie　theater　and　sleep　either　until　both　pictures　are　over　or　until　the　cops　arrive。　And　that　is　the　end　of　my　tale；　sir。
　　'Well；　enjoy　the　show；'　the　counterman　said。
　　'You　bet；'　Jack　replied。　He　started　away　and　then　realized　Wolf　wasn't　with　him。　Wolf　was　staring　at　something　over　the　counterman's　head　with　vacant；　almost　superstitious　wonder。　Jack　looked　up　and　saw　a　mobile　advertising　the　re…issue　of　Steven　Spielberg's　Close　Encounters　floating　around　on　drafts　of　convection。
　　'e　on；　Wolf；'　he　said。
　　　
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　　Wolf　knew　it　wasn't　going　to　work　as　soon　as　they　went　through　the　door。
　　The　room　was　small；　dim；　and　dank。　The　smells　in　here　were　terrible。　A　poet；　smelling　what　Wolf　was　smelling　at　that　moment；　might　have　called　it　the　stink　of　sour　dreams。　Wolf　was　no　poet。　He　only　knew　that　the　smell　of　the　popcorn…urine　predominated；　and　that　he　felt　suddenly　like　throwing　up。
　　Then　the　lights　began　to　dim　even　further；　turning　the　room　into　a　cave。
　　'Jack；'　he　moaned；　clutching　at　Jack's　arm。　'Jack；　we　oughtta　g