sk.thetalisman-第67部分

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　　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　going　back　to　Cayuga；'　Jack　said。　'Turn　around　and　just　act　like　me。　Don't　stare　at　him。'　
　　Wolf　and　Jack　trudged　along；　pretending　to　ignore　the　car；　which　seemed　to　hang　behind　them　deliberately。　Wolf　uttered　a　sound　that　was　half…moan；　half…howl。
　　The　police　car　swung　out　into　the　road；　passed　them；　flashed　its　brake　lights；　and　then　cut　in　diagonally　before　them。　The　officer　pushed　open　his　door　and　got　his　feet　planted　on　the　ground。　Then　he　hoisted　himself　out　of　the　seat。　He　was　roughly　Jack's　height；　and　all　his　weight　was　in　his　face　and　his　stomach…his　legs　were　twig…skinny；　his　arms　and　shoulders　those　of　a　normally　developed　man。　His　gut；　trussed　in　the　brown　uniform　like　a　fifteen…pound　turkey；　bulged　out　on　both　sides　of　the　wide　brown　belt。
　　'I　can't　wait　for　it；'　he　said；　and　cocked　an　arm　and　leaned　on　the　open　door。　'What's　your　story；　anyhow？　Give。'　
　　Wolf　padded　up　behind　Jack　and　hunched　his　shoulders；　his　hands　shoved　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　overalls。
　　'We're　going　to　Springfield；　officer；'　Jack　said。　'We've　been　hitching…I　guess　maybe　we　shouldn't。'
　　'You　guess　maybe　you　shouldn't。　Hol…eee　shit。　What's　this　guy　tryinna　disappear　behind　you；　a　Wookie？'
　　'He's　my　cousin。'　Jack　thought　frantically　for　a　moment…the　Story　had　to　be　bent　far　enough　to　acmodate　Wolf。　'I'm　supposed　to　be　taking　him　home。　He　lives　in　Springfield　with　his　Aunt　Helen；　I　mean　my　Aunt　Helen；　the　one　who's　a　schoolteacher。　In　Springfield。'
　　'What'd　he　do；　escape　from　somewhere？'
　　'No；　no；　nothing　like　that。　It　was　just　that…'　
　　The　cop　looked　at　him　neutrally；　his　face　sizzling。　'Names。'　
　　Now　the　boy　met　a　dilemma：　Wolf　was　certain　to　call　him　Jack；　no　matter　what　name　he　gave　the　cop。　'I'm　Jack　Parker；'　he　said。　'And　he's…'
　　'Hold　it。　I　want　the　feeb　to　tell　me　himself。　e　on；　you。　You　remember　your　name；　basket　case？'　
　　Wolf　squirmed　behind　Jack；　digging　his　chin　into　the　top　of　his　overalls。　He　muttered　something。
　　'I　couldn't　hear　you；　sonny。'
　　'Wolf；'　he　whispered。
　　'Wolf。　Prob'ly　I　should　have　guessed。　What's　your　first　name；　or　did　they　just　give　you　a　number？'　
　　Wolf　had　squeezed　his　eyes　shut；　and　was　twisting　his　legs　together。
　　'e　on；　Phil；'　Jack　said；　thinking　that　it　was　one　of　the　few　names　Wolf　might　remember。
　　But　he　had　just　finished　it　when　Wolf　pulled　up　his　head　and　straightened　his　back　and　yelled；　'JACK！　JACK！　JACK　WOLF！'
　　'We　call　him　Jack　sometimes；'　the　boy　put　in；　knowing　it　was　already　too　late。　'It's　because　he　likes　me　so　much；　sometimes　I'm　the　only　one　who　can　do　anything　with　him。　I　might　even　stay　there　in　Springfield　a　few　days　after　I　get　him　home；　just　to　make　sure　he　settles　down　okay。'
　　'I　sure　am　sick　of　the　sound　of　your　voice；　Jack　boy。　Why　don't　you　and　good　old　Phil…Jack　get　in　the　back　seat　here　and　we'll　go　into　town　and　straighten　everything　out？'　When　Jack　did　not　move；　the　policeman　put　a　hand　on　the　butt　of　the　enormous　pistol　which　hung　from　his　straining　belt。　'Get　in　the　car。　Him　first。　I　want　to　find　out　why　you're　a　hundred　miles　from　home　on　a　school　day。　In　the　car。　Right　now。'
　　'Ah；　officer；'　Jack　began；　and　behind　him　Wolf　rasped；　'No。　Can't。'
　　'My　cousin　has　this　problem；'　Jack　said。　'He's　claustrophobic。　Small　spaces；　especially　the　insides　of　cars；　drive　him　crazy。　We　can　only　get　rides　in　pick…ups；　so　he　can　be　in　the　back。'
　　'Get　in　the　car；'　the　policeman　said。　He　stepped　forward　and　opened　the　back　door。
　　'CAN'T！'　Wolf　wailed。　'Wolf　CAN'T！　Stinks；　Jacky；　it　stinks　in　there。'　His　nose　and　lip　had　wrinkled　into　corrugations。
　　'You　get　him　in　the　car　or　I　will；'　the　cop　said　to　Jack。　
　　'Wolf；　it　won't　be　for　long；'　Jack　said；　reaching　for　Wolf's　hand。　Reluctantly；　Wolf　allowed　him　to　take　it。　Jack　pulled　him　toward　the　back　seat　of　the　police　car；　Wolf　literally　dragging　his　feet　across　the　surface　of　the　road。
　　For　a　couple　of　seconds　it　looked　as　though　it　would　work。　Wolf　got　close　enough　to　the　police　car　to　touch　the　door…frame。　Then　his　entire　body　shook。　He　clamped　both　hands　onto　the　top　of　the　doorframe。　It　looked　as　though　he　were　going　to　try　to　rip　the　top　of　the　car　in　half；　as　a　circus　strong…man　tears　a　telephone　book　in　two。
　　'Please；'　Jack　said　quietly。　'We　have　to。'
　　But　Wolf　was　terrified；　and　too　disgusted　by　whatever　he　had　smelled。　He　shook　his　head　violently。　Slobber　ran　from　his　mouth　and　dripped　onto　the　top　of　the　car。
　　The　policeman　stepped　around　Jack　and　released　something　from　a　catch　on　his　belt。　Jack　had　time　only　to　see　that　it　was　not　his　pistol　before　the　cop　expertly　whapped　his　blackjack　into　the　base　of　Wolf's　skull。　Wolf's　upper　body　dropped　onto　the　top　of　the　car；　and　then　all　of　Wolf　slid　gracefully　down　onto　the　dusty　road。
　　'You　get　on　his　other　side；'　the　cop　said；　fastening　the　sap　to　his　belt。　'We're　gonna　finally　get　this　big　bag　of　shit　into　the　vehicle。'　
　　Two　or　three　minutes　later；　after　they　had　twice　dropped　Wolf's　heavy　unconscious　body　back　onto　the　road；　they　were　speeding　toward　Cayuga。　'I　already　know　what's　gonna　happen　to　you　and　your　feeb　cousin；　if　he　is　your　cousin；　which　I　doubt。'　The　cop　looked　up　at　Jack　in　his　rear…view　mirror；　and　his　eyes　were　raisins　dipped　in　fresh　tar。
　　All　the　blood　in　Jack's　body　seemed　to　swing　down；　down　in　his　veins；　and　his　heart　jumped　in　his　chest。　He　had　remembered　the　cigarette　in　his　shirt　pocket。　He　clapped　his　hand　over　it；　then　jerked　his　hand　away　before　the　cop　could　say　anything。
　　'I　gotta　put　his　shoes　back　on；'　Jack　said。　'They　sort　of　fell　off。'
　　'Forget　it；'　the　cop　said；　but　did　not　object　further　when　Jack　bent　over。　Out　of　sight　of　the　mirror；　he　first　shoved　one　of　the　split…seamed　loafers　back　up　on　Wolf's　bare　heel；　then　quickly　snatched　the　joint　out　of　his　pocket　and　popped　it　in　his　mouth。　He　bit　into　it；　and　dry　crumbly　particles　with　a　oddly　herbal　taste　spilled　over　his　tongue。　Jack　began　to　grind　them　between　his　teeth。　Something　scratched　down　into　his　throat；　and　he　convulsively　jerked　upright；　put　his　hand　in　front　of　his　mouth；　and　tried　to　cough　with　his　lips　together。　When　his　throat　was　clear；　he　hurriedly　swallowed　all　of　the　dampened；　now　rather　sludgy　marijuana。　Jack　ran　his　tongue　over　his　teeth；　collecting　all　the　flecks　and　traces。
　　'You　got　a　few　surprises　ahead　of　you；'　the　policeman　said。　'You're　gonna　get　a　little　sunlight　in　your　soul。'
　　'Sunlight　in　my　soul？'　Jack　asked；　thinking　that　the　cop　had　seen　him　stuff　the　joint　into　his　mouth。
　　'A　few　blisters　on　your　hands；　too；'　the　cop　said；　and　glared　happily　at　Jack's　guilty　image　in　the　rear…view　mirror。
　　
　　The　Cayuga　Municipal　Building　was　a　shadowy　maze　of　unlighted　hallways　and　narrow　staircases　that　seemed　to　wind　unexpectedly　upward　alongside　equally　narrow　rooms。　Water　sang　and　rumbled　in　the　pipes。　'Let　me　explain　something　to　you　kids；'　the　policeman　said；　ushering　them　toward　the　last　staircase　to　their　right。　'You're　not　under　arrest。　Got　that？　You　are　being　detained　for　questioning。　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　bullshit　about　one　phone　call。　You're　in　limbo　until　you　tell　us　who　you　are　and　what　you're　up　to；'　the　cop　went　on。　'You　hear　me？　Limbo。　Nowhere。　We're　gonna　see　Judge　Fairchild；　he's　the　magistrate；　and　if　you　don't　tell　us　the　truth；　you're　gonna　pay　some　big　fuckin　consequences。　Upstairs。　Move　it！'　
　　At　the　top　of　the　stairs　the　policeman　pushed　a　door　open。　A　middle…aged　woman　in　wire　glasses　and　a　black　dress　looked　up　from　a　typewriter　placed　sideways　against　the　far　wall。　'Two　more　runaways；'　the　policeman　said。　'Tell　him　we're　here。'　
　　She　nodded；　picked　up　her　telephone；　and　spoke　a　few　words。　'You　may　go　in；'　the　secretary　said　to　them；　her　eyes　wandering　from　Wolf　to　Jack　and　back　again。
　　The　cop　pushed　them　across　the　anteroom　and　opened　the　door　to　a　room　twice　as　large；　lined　with　books　on　one　long　wall；　framed　photographs　and　diplomas　and　certificates　on　another。　Blinds　had　been　lowered　across　the　long　windows　opposite。　A　tall　skinny　man　in　a　dark　suit；　a　wrinkled　white　shirt；　and　a　narrow　tie　of　no　discernible　pattern　stood　up　behind　a　chipped　wooden　desk　that　must　have　been　six　feet　long。　The　man's　face　was　a　relief　map　of　wrinkles；　and　his　hair　was　so　black　it　must　have　been　dyed。　Stale　cigarette　smoke　hung　visibly　in　the　air。　'Well；　what　have　we　got　here；　Franky？'　His　voice　was　startlingly　deep；　almost　theatrical。
　　'Kids　I　picked　up　on　French　Lick　Road；　over　by　Thompson's　place。'　
　　Judge　Fairchild's　wrinkles　contorted　into　a　smile　as　he　looked　at　Jack。　'You　have　any　identification　papers　on　you；　son？'
　　'No　sir；'　Jack　said。
　　'Have　you　told　Officer　Williams　here　the　truth　about　everything？　He　doesn't　think　you　have；　or　you　wouldn't　be　here。'
　　'Yes　sir；'　Jack　said。
　　'Then　tell　me　your　story。'　He　walked　around　his　desk；　disturbing　the　flat　layers　of　smoke　just　over　his　head；　and　half…sat；　half…leaned　on　the　front　corner　nearest　Jack。　Squinting；　he　lit　a　cigarette…Jack　saw　the　Judge's　recessed　pale　eyes　peering　at　him　through　the　smoke　and　knew　there　was　no　charity　in　them。
　　It　was　the　pitcher　plant　again。
　　Jack　drew　in　a　large　breath。　'My　name　is　Jack　Parker。　He's　my　cousin；　and　he's　called　Jack；　too。　Jack　Wolf。　But　his　real　name　is　Philip。　He　was　staying　with　us　in　Daleville　because　his　dad's　dead　and　his　mother　got　sick。　I　was　just　taking　him　back　to　Springfield。'
　　'Simple…minded；　is　he？'
　　'A　little　slow；'　Jack　said；　and　glanced　up　at　Wolf。　His　friend　seemed　barely　conscious。
　　'What's　your　mother's　name？'　the　Judge　asked　Wolf。　Wolf　did　not　respond　in　any　way。　His　eyes　were　clamped　shut　and　his　hands　stuffed　into　his　pockets。
　　'She's　named　Helen；'　Jack　said。　'Helen　Vaughan。'　
　　The　Judge　eased　himself　off　the　desk　and　walked　slowly　over　to　Jack。　'Have　you　been　drinking；　son？　You're　a　little　unsteady。'
　　'No。'　
　　Judge　Fairchild　came　to　within　a　foot　of　Jack　and　bent　down。　'Let　me　smell　your　breath。'　
　　Jack　opened　his　mouth　and　exhaled。
　　'Nope。　No　booze。'　The　Judge　straig