sk.thetalisman-第66部分

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k　and　pulling　in　his　neck　like　a　turtle。　His　ears　seemed　flattened　against　his　head。　The　wad　of　food　stuck　in　Jack's　throat　like　a　golfball；　and　when　he　swallowed　convulsively；　it　dropped　down　another　notch。
　　Wolf　glanced　at　him　out　of　the　side　of　his　eye；　and　visibly　relaxed。　A　tall　blue…jeaned　man　in　his　twenties　opened　the　door　of　a　battered　red　pick…up　five　or　six　feet　away　down　the　curb；　leaned　against　the　cab；　and　watched；　smiling。　'Have　a　burger；　Wolf；'　Jack　said　as　carelessly　as　he　could。　He　handed　Wolf　the　box；　which　Wolf　sniffed。　Then　Wolf　lifted　his　head　and　took　a　huge　bite　out　of　the　box。　He　began　methodically　to　chew。　The　children；　astounded　and　fascinated；　stepped　nearer。　A　few　of　them　were　giggling。　'What　is　he？'　asked　a　little　girl　with　blond　pigtails　tied　with　fuzzy　pink　gift…wrapping　yarn。　'Is　he　a　monster？'　A　crewcut　boy　of　seven　or　eight　shoved　himself　in　front　of　the　girl　and　said；　'He's　the　Hulk；　isn't　he？　He's　really　the　Hulk。　Hey？　Hey？　Huh？　Right？'　
　　Wolf　had　managed　to　extract　what　was　left　of　his　Whopper　from　its　cardboard　container。　He　pushed　the　whole　thing　into　his　mouth　with　his　palm。　Shreds　of　lettuce　fell　between　his　upraised　knees；　mayonnaise　and　meat　juices　smeared　over　his　chin；　his　cheek。　Everything　else　became　a　brownish　pulp　smacked　to　death　between　Wolf's　enormous　teeth。　When　he　swallowed　he　started　to　lick　the　inside　of　the　box。
　　Jack　gently　took　the　container　out　of　his　hands。　'No；　he's　just　my　cousin。　He's　not　a　monster；　and　he's　not　the　Hulk。　Why　don't　you　kids　get　away　and　leave　us　alone；　huh？　Go　on。　Leave　us　alone。'　
　　They　continued　to　stare。　Wolf　was　now　licking　his　fingers。
　　'If　you　keep　on　gawping　at　him　like　that；　you　might　make　him　mad。　I　don't　know　what　he'd　do　if　he　got　mad。'　
　　The　boy　with　the　crewcut　had　seen　David　Banner's　transformation　often　enough　to　have　an　idea　of　what　anger　might　do　to　this　monstrous　Burger　King　carnivore。　He　stepped　back。　Most　of　the　others　moved　back　with　him。
　　'Go　on；　please；'　Jack　said；　but　the　children　had　frozen　again。
　　Wolf　rose　up　mountainously；　his　fists　clenched。　'GOD　POUND　YOU；　DON'T　LOOK　AT　ME！'　he　bellowed。　'DON'T　MAKE　ME　FEEL　FUNNY！　EVERYBODY　MAKES　ME　FEEL　FUNNY！'　
　　The　children　scattered。　Breathing　hard；　red…faced；　Wolf　stood　and　watched　them　disappear　up　Daleville's　Main　Street　and　around　the　corner。　When　they　were　gone；　he　wrapped　his　arms　around　his　chest　and　looked　dartingly　at　Jack。　He　was　miserable　with　embarrassment。　'Wolf　shouldn't　have　yelled；'　he　said。　'They　were　just　little　ones。'
　　'Big　fat　scare'll　do　them　a　lot　of　good；'　a　voice　said；　and　Jack　saw　that　the　young　man　from　the　red　pick…up　was　still　leaning　against　his　cab；　smiling　at　them。　'Never　saw　anything　like　that　before　myself。　Cousins；　are　you？'　
　　Jack　nodded　suspiciously。
　　'Hey；　I　didn't　mean　to　get　personal　or　anything。'　He　stepped　forward；　an　easy；　dark…haired　young　man　in　a　sleeveless　down　vest　and　a　plaid　shirt。　'I　especially　don't　want　to　make　anybody　feel　funny　now；　ya　know。'　He　paused；　lifted　his　hands；　palm…out。　'Really。　I　was　just　thinking　that　you　guys　look　like　you've　been　on　the　road　awhile。'　
　　Jack　glanced　at　Wolf；　who　was　still　hugging　himself　in　embarrassment　but　also　glowering　through　his　round　glasses　at　this　figure。
　　'I've　been　there　myself；'　the　man　said。　'Hey；　dig　it…the　year　I　got　out　of　good　old　DHS…Daleville　High；　you　know…I　hitched　all　the　way　to　northern　California　and　all　the　way　back。　Anyhow；　if　you're　sort　of　going　west；　I　can　give　you　a　lift。'
　　'Can't；　Jacky。'　Wolf　spoke　in　a　thunderous　stage　whisper。
　　'How　far　west？'　Jack　asked。　'We're　trying　to　make　it　to　Springfield。　I　have　a　friend　in　Springfield。'
　　'Hey；　no　probleema；　seenyor。'　He　raised　his　hands　again。　'I'm　going　just　this　side　of　Cayuga；　right　next　to　the　Illinois　border。　You　let　me　scarf　a　burger；　we　gone。　Straight　shot。　An　hour　and　a　half；　maybe　less…you'll　be　about　halfway　to　Springfield。'
　　'Can't；'　Wolf　rasped　again。
　　'There's　one　problem；　okay？　I　got　some　stuff　on　the　front　seat。　One　of　you　guys'll　have　to　ride　behind。　It's　gonna　be　windy　back　there。'
　　'You　don't　know　how　great　that　is；'　Jack　said；　speaking　nothing　more　than　the　truth。　'We'll　see　you　when　you　e　back　out。'　Wolf　began　to　dance　in　agitation。　'Honest。　We'll　be　out　here；　mister。　And　thanks。'　
　　He　turned　to　whisper　to　Wolf　as　soon　as　the　man　went　through　the　doors。
　　
　　And　so　when　the　young　man…Bill　'Buck'　Thompson；　for　that　was　his　name…returned　to　his　pick…up　carrying　the　containers　for　two　more　Whoppers；　he　found　a　sedate…looking　Wolf　kneeling　in　the　open　back；　his　arms　resting　on　the　side　panel；　mouth　open；　nose　already　lifting。　Jack　was　in　the　passenger　seat；　crowded　by　a　stack　of　bulky　plastic　bags　which　had　been　taped；　then　stapled　shut；　and　then　sprayed　extensively　with　room　freshener；　to　judge　by　the　smell。　Through　the　translucent　sides　the　bags　were　visible　long　frondlike　cuttings；　medium　green。　Clusters　of　buds　grew　on　these　amputated　fronds。
　　'I　reckoned　you　still　looked　a　little　hungry；'　he　said；　and　tossed　another　Whopper　to　Wolf。　Then　he　let　himself　in　on　the　driver's　side；　across　the　pile　of　plastic　bags　from　Jack。　'Thought　he　might　catch　it　in　his　teeth；　no　reflection　on　your　cousin。　Here；　take　this　one；　he　already　pulverized　his。'　
　　And　a　hundred　miles　west　they　went；　Wolf　delirious　with　joy　to　have　the　wind　whipping　past　his　head；　half…hypnotized　by　the　speed　and　variety　of　the　odors　which　his　nose　caught　in　flight。　Eyes　blazing　and　glowing；　registering　every　nuance　of　the　wind；　Wolf　twitched　from　side　to　side　behind　the　cab；　shoving　his　nose　into　the　speeding　air。
　　Buck　Thompson　spoke　of　himself　as　a　farmer。　He　talked　nonstop　during　the　seventy…five　minutes　he　kept　his　foot　near　the　floor；　and　never　once　asked　Jack　any　questions。　And　when　he　swung　off　onto　a　narrow　dirt　road　just　outside　the　Cayuga　town　line　and　stopped　the　car　beside　a　cornfield　that　seemed　to　run　for　miles；　he　dug　in　his　shirt　pocket　and　brought　out　a　faintly　irregular　cigarette　rolled　in　almost　tissuelike　white　paper。　'I've　heard　of　red…eye；'　he　said。　'But　your　cousin's　ridiculous。'　He　dropped　the　cigarette　into　Jack's　hand。　'Have　him　take　some　of　this　when　he　gets　excited；　willya？　Doctor's　orders。'　
　　Jack　absently　stuffed　the　joint　into　his　shirt　pocket　and　climbed　out　of　the　cab。　'Thanks；　Buck；'　he　called　up　to　the　driver。
　　'Man；　I　thought　I'd　seen　something　when　I　saw　him　eat；'　Buck　said。　'How　do　you　get　him　to　go　places？　Yell　mush！　mush！　at　him？'　
　　Once　Wolf　realized　that　the　ride　was　over；　he　bounded　off　the　back　of　the　truck。
　　The　red　pick…up　rolled　off；　leaving　a　long　plume　of　dust　behind　it。
　　'Let's　do　that　again！'　Wolf　sang　out。　'Jacky！　Let's　do　that　again！'
　　'Boy；　I　wish　we　could；'　Jack　said。　'e　on；　let's　walk　for　a　while。　Someone　will　probably　e　along。'　
　　He　was　thinking　that　his　luck　had　turned；　that　in　no　time　at　all　he　and　Wolf　would　be　over　the　border　into　Illinois…and　he'd　always　been　certain　that　things　would　go　smoothly　once　he　got　to　Springfield　and　Thayer　School　and　Richard。　But　Jack's　mind　was　still　partially　in　shed…time；　where　what　is　unreal　bloats　and　distorts　whatever　is　real；　and　when　the　bad　things　started　to　happen　again；　they　happened　so　quickly　that　he　was　unable　to　control　them。　It　was　a　long　time　before　Jack　saw　Illinois；　and　during　that　time　he　found　himself　back　in　the　shed。
　　　
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　　The　bewilderingly　rapid　series　of　events　which　led　to　the　Sunlight　Home　began　ten　minutes　after　the　two　boys　had　walked　past　the　stark　little　roadsign　telling　them　that　they　were　now　in　Cayuga；　pop。　23；568。　Cayuga　itself　was　nowhere　visible。　To　their　right　the　endless　cornfield　rolled　across　the　land；　to　their　left　a　bare　field　allowed　them　to　see　how　the　road　bent；　then　arrowed　straight　toward　the　flat　horizon。　Just　after　Jack　had　realized　that　they　would　probably　have　to　walk　all　the　way　into　town　to　get　their　next　ride；　a　car　appeared　on　this　road；　travelling　fast　toward　them。
　　'Ride　in　back？'　Wolf　yelled；　joyfully　raising　his　arms　up　over　his　head。　'Wolf　ride　in　back！　Right　here　and　now！'
　　'It's　going　the　wrong　way；'　Jack　said。　'Just　be　calm　and　let　it　pass　us；　Wolf。　Get　your　arms　down　or　he'll　think　you're　signalling　him。'　
　　Reluctantly　Wolf　lowered　his　arms。　The　car　had　e　nearly　to　the　bend　in　the　road　which　would　take　it　directly　past　Jack　and　Wolf。　'No　ride　in　the　back　now？'　Wolf　asked；　pouting　almost　childishly。
　　Jack　shook　his　head。　He　was　staring　at　an　oval　medallion　painted　on　the　car's　dusty　white　doorpanel。　County　Parks　mission；　this　might　have　said；　or　State　Wildlife　Board。　It　might　have　been　anything　from　the　vehicle　of　the　state　agricultural　agent　to　the　property　of　the　Cayuga　Maintenance　Department。　But　when　it　turned　into　the　bend；　Jack　saw　it　was　a　police　car。
　　'That's　a　cop；　Wolf。　A　policeman。　Just　keep　walking　and　stay　nice　and　loose。　We　don't　want　him　to　stop。'
　　'What's　a　coppiceman？'　Wolf's　voice　had　dropped　into　a　dark　brown　range；　he　had　seen　that　the　speeding　car　was　now　ing　straight　toward　him。　'Does　a　coppiceman　kill　Wolfs？'
　　'No；'　Jack　said；　'they　absolutely　never　kill　Wolfs；'　but　it　did　no　good。　Wolf　captured　Jack's　hand　in　his　own；　which　trembled。
　　'Let　go　of　me；　please；　Wolf；'　Jack　pleaded。　'He'll　think　it's　funny。'　
　　Wolf's　hand　dropped　away。
　　As　the　police　car　advanced　toward　them；　Jack　glanced　at　the　figure　behind　the　wheel；　and　then　turned　around　and　walked　back　a　few　paces　so　that　he　could　watch　Wolf。　What　he　had　seen　was　not　encouraging。　The　policeman　driving　the　car　had　a　wide　doughy　domineering　face　with　livid　slabs　of　fat　where　he'd　once　had　cheekbones。　And　Wolf's　terror　was　plain　on　his　face。　Eyes；　nostrils　flared；　he　was　showing　his　teeth。
　　'You　really　liked　riding　in　the　back　of　that　truck；　didn't　you？'　Jack　asked　him。
　　Some　of　the　terror　disappeared；　and　Wolf　nearly　managed　a　smile。　The　police　car　roared　past…Jack　was　conscious　of　the　driver　turning　his　head　to　inspect　them。　'All　right；'　Jack　said。　'He's　on　his　way。　We're　okay；　Wolf。'　
　　He　had　turned　around　again　when　he　heard　the　sound　of　the　police　car　suddenly　begin　to　grow　louder　again。
　　'Coppiceman's　ing　back！'
　　'Probably　just