sk.thetalisman-第8部分

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losets　with　half…open　doors；　shadowy　streets；　empty　rooms。
　　The　events　of　that　aimless　summer　afternoon　in　1976　had　murdered　this　temporary　peace。　After　it；　Jack　slept　with　his　light　on　for　six　months；　nightmares　roiled　his　sleep。
　　The　car　pulled　across　the　street　just　a　few　houses　up　from　the　Sawyers'　white　three…story　Colonial。　It　had　been　a　green　car；　and　that　was　all　that　Jack　had　known　about　it　except　that　it　was　not　a　Mercedes…Mercedes　was　the　only　kind　of　automobile　he　knew　by　sight。　The　man　at　the　wheel　had　rolled　down　his　window　and　smiled　at　Jack。　The　boy's　first　thought　had　been　that　he　knew　this　man…the　man　had　known　Phil　Sawyer；　and　wanted　just　to　say　hello　to　his　son。　Somehow　that　was　conveyed　by　the　man's　smile；　which　was　easy　and　unforced　and　familiar。　Another　man　leaned　forward　in　the　passenger　seat　and　peered　toward　Jack　through　blind…man　glasses…round　and　so　dark　they　were　nearly　black。　This　second　man　was　wearing　a　pure　white　suit。　The　driver　let　his　smile　speak　for　him　a　moment　longer。
　　Then　he　said；　'Sonny；　do　you　know　how　we　get　to　the　Beverly　Hills　Hotel？'　So　he　was　a　stranger　after　all。　Jack　experienced　an　odd　little　flicker　of　disappointment。
　　He　pointed　straight　up　the　street。　The　hotel　was　right　up　there；　close　enough　so　that　his　father　had　been　able　to　walk　to　breakfast　meetings　in　the　Loggia。
　　'Straight　ahead？'　the　driver　asked；　still　smiling。　
　　Jack　nodded。
　　'You're　a　pretty　smart　little　fellow；'　the　man　told　him；　and　the　other　man　chuckled。　'Any　idea　of　how　far　up　it　is？'　Jack　shook　his　head。　'Couple　of　blocks；　maybe？'
　　'Yeah。'　He　had　begun　to　get　unfortable。　The　driver　was　still　smiling；　but　now　the　smile　looked　bright　and　hard　and　empty。　And　the　passenger's　chuckle　had　been　wheezy　and　damp；　as　if　he　were　sucking　on　something　wet。
　　'Five；　maybe？　Six？　What　do　you　say？'
　　'About　five　or　six；　I　guess；'　Jack　said；　stepping　backward。　
　　'Well；　I　sure　do　want　to　thank　you；　little　fellow；'　the　driver　said。　'You　don't　happen　to　like　candy；　do　you？'　He　extended　a　closed　fist　through　the　window；　turned　it　palm…up；　and　opened　his　fingers：　a　Tootsie　Roll。　'It's　yours。　Take　it。'
　　　Jack　tentatively　stepped　forward；　hearing　in　his　mind　the　words　of　a　thousand　warnings　involving　strange　men　and　candy。　But　this　man　was　still　in　his　car；　if　he　tried　anything；　Jack　could　be　half　a　block　away　before　the　man　got　his　door　open。　And　to　not　take　it　somehow　seemed　a　breach　of　civility。　Jack　took　another　step　nearer。　He　looked　at　the　man's　eyes；　which　were　blue　and　as　bright　and　hard　as　his　smile。　Jack's　instincts　told　him　to　lower　his　hand　and　walk　away。　He　let　his　hand　drift　an　inch　or　two　nearer　the　Tootsie　Roll。　Then　he　made　a　little　stabbing　peck　at　it　with　his　fingers。
　　The　driver's　hand　clamped　around　Jack's；　and　the　passenger　in　blind…man　glasses　laughed　out　loud。　Astonished；　Jack　stared　into　the　eyes　of　the　man　gripping　his　hand　and　saw　them　start　to　change…thought　he　saw　them　start　to　change…from　blue　to　yellow。
　　But　later　they　were　yellow。
　　The　man　in　the　other　seat　pushed　his　door　open　and　trotted　around　the　back　of　the　car。　He　was　wearing　a　small　gold　cross　in　the　lapel　of　his　silk　suit　coat。　Jack　pulled　frantically　away；　but　the　driver　smiled　brightly；　emptily；　and　held　him　fast。　'NO！'　Jack　yelled。　'HELP！'
　　The　man　in　dark　glasses　opened　the　rear　door　on　Jack's　side。
　　'HELP　ME！'　Jack　screamed。
　　The　man　holding　him　began　to　squeeze　him　down　into　a　shape　that　would　fit　into　the　open　door。　Jack　bucked；　still　yelling；　but　the　man　effortlessly　tightened　his　hold。　Jack　struck　at　his　hands；　then　tried　to　push　the　hands　off　him。　With　horror；　he　realized　that　what　he　felt　beneath　his　fingers　was　not　skin。　He　twisted　his　head　and　saw　that　clamped　to　his　side　and　protruding　from　the　black　sleeve　was　a　hard；　pinching　thing　like　a　claw　or　a　jointed　talon。　Jack　screamed　again。
　　From　up　the　street　came　a　loud　voice：　'Hey；　stop　messin　with　that　boy！　You！　Leave　that　boy　alone！'　
　　Jack　gasped　with　relief；　and　twisted　as　hard　as　he　could　in　the　man's　arms。　Running　toward　them　from　the　end　of　the　block　was　a　tall　thin　black　man；　still　shouting。　The　man　holding　him　dropped　Jack　to　the　sidewalk　and　took　off　around　the　back　of　the　car。　The　front　door　of　one　of　the　houses　behind　Jack　slammed　open…another　witness。
　　'Move；　move；'　said　the　driver；　already　stepping　on　the　accelerator。　White　Suit　jumped　back　into　the　passenger　seat；　and　the　car　spun　its　wheels　and　squealed　diagonally　across　Rodeo　Drive；　barely　missing　a　long　white　Clenet　driven　by　a　suntanned　man　in　tennis　whites。　The　Clenet's　horn　blared。
　　Jack　picked　himself　up　off　the　sidewalk。　He　felt　dizzy。　A　bald　man　in　a　tan　safari　suit　appeared　beside　him　and　said；　'Who　were　they？　Did　you　get　their　names？'　
　　Jack　shook　his　head。
　　'How　do　you　feel？　We　ought　to　call　the　police。'
　　'I　want　to　sit　down；'　Jack　said；　and　the　man　backed　away　a　step。
　　'You　want　me　to　call　the　police？'　he　asked；　and　Jack　shook　his　head。
　　'I　can't　believe　this；'　the　man　said。　'Do　you　live　around　here？　I've　seen　you　before；　haven't　I？'
　　'I'm　Jack　Sawyer。　My　house　is　just　down　there。'
　　'The　white　house；'　the　man　said；　nodding。　'You're　Lily　Cavanaugh's　kid。　I'll　walk　you　home；　if　you　like。'
　　'Where's　the　other　man？'　Jack　asked　him。　'The　black　man…the　one　who　was　shouting。'　He　took　an　uneasy　step　away　from　the　man　in　the　safari　suit。　Apart　from　the　two　of　them；　the　street　was　empty。
　　Lester　Speedy　Parker　had　been　the　man　running　toward　him。　Speedy　had　saved　his　life　back　then；　Jack　realized；　and　ran　all　the　harder　toward　the　hotel。
　　　
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　　'You　get　any　breakfast？'　his　mother　asked　him；　spilling　a　cloud　of　smoke　out　of　her　mouth。　She　wore　a　scarf　over　her　hair　like　a　turban；　and　with　her　hair　hidden　that　way；　her　face　looked　bony　and　vulnerable　to　Jack。　A　half…inch　of　cigarette　smouldered　between　her　second　and　third　fingers；　and　when　she　saw　him　glance　at　it；　she　snubbed　it　out　in　the　ashtray　on　her　dressing　table。
　　'Ah；　no；　not　really；'　he　said；　hovering　in　the　door　of　her　bedroom。
　　'Give　me　a　clear　yes　or　no；'　she　said；　turning　back　to　the　mirror。　'The　ambiguity　is　killing　me。'　Her　mirror…wrist　and　mirror…hand；　applying　the　makeup　to　Lily's　face；　looked　stick…thin。
　　'No；'　he　said。
　　'Well；　hang　on　for　a　second　and　when　your　mother　has　made　herself　beautiful　she'll　take　you　downstairs　and　buy　you　whatever　your　heart　desires。'
　　'Okay；'　he　said。　'It　just　seemed　so　depressing；　being　there　all　alone。'
　　'I　swear；　what　you　have　to　be　depressed　about　。　。　。　'　She　leaned　forward　and　inspected　her　face　in　the　mirror。　'I　don't　suppose　you'd　mind　waiting　in　the　living　room；　Jacky？　I'd　rather　do　this　alone。　Tribal　secrets。'　
　　Jack　wordlessly　turned　away　and　wandered　back　into　the　living　room。
　　When　the　telephone　rang；　he　jumped　about　a　foot。　
　　'Should　I　get　that？'　he　called　out。
　　'Thank　you；'　her　cool　voice　came　back。　
　　Jack　picked　up　the　receiver　and　said　hello。
　　'Hey　kid；　I　finally　got　you；'　said　Uncle　Morgan　Sloat。　'What　in　the　world　is　going　on　in　your　momma's　head？　Jesus；　we　could　have　a　real　situation　here　if　somebody　doesn't　start　paying　attention　to　details。　Is　she　there？　Tell　her　she　has　to　talk　to　me…I　don't　care　what　she　says；　she　has　to　talk　to　me。　Trust　me；　kiddo。'　
　　Jack　let　the　phone　dangle　in　his　hand。　He　wanted　to　hang　up；　to　get　in　the　car　with　his　mother　and　drive　to　another　hotel　in　another　state。　He　did　not　hang　up。　He　called　out；　'Mom；　Uncle　Morgan's　on　the　phone。　He　says　you　have　to　talk　to　him。'　
　　She　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　he　wished　he　could　have　seen　her　face。　Finally　she　said；　'I'll　take　it　in　here；　Jacky。'　
　　Jack　already　knew　what　he　was　going　to　have　to　do。　His　mother　gently　shut　her　bedroom　door；　he　heard　her　walking　back　to　the　dressing　table。　She　picked　up　the　telephone　in　her　bedroom。　'Okay；　Jacky；'　she　called　through　the　door。　'Okay；'　he　called　back。　Then　he　put　the　telephone　back　to　his　ear　and　covered　the　mouthpiece　with　his　hand　so　that　no　one　would　hear　him　breathing。
　　'Great　stunt；　Lily；'　Uncle　Morgan　said。　'Terrific。　If　you　were　still　in　pictures；　we　could　probably　get　a　little　mileage　out　of　this。　Kind　of　a　'Why　Has　This　Actress　Disappeared？'　thing。　But　don't　you　think　it's　time　you　started　acting　like　a　rational　person　again？'
　　'How　did　you　find　me？'　she　asked。
　　'You　think　you're　hard　to　find？　Give　me　a　break；　Lily；　I　want　you　to　get　your　ass　back　to　New　York。　It's　time　you　stopped　running　away。'
　　'Is　that　what　I'm　doing；　Morgan？'
　　'You　don't　exactly　have　all　the　time　in　the　world；　Lily；　and　I　don't　have　enough　time　to　waste　to　chase　you　all　over　New　England。　Hey；　hold　on。　Your　kid　never　hung　up　his　phone。'
　　'Of　course　he　did。'　
　　Jack's　heart　had　stopped　some　seconds　earlier。
　　'Get　off　the　line；　kid；'　Morgan　Sloat's　voice　said　to　him。　
　　'Don't　be　ridiculous；　Sloat；'　his　mother　said。
　　'I'll　tell　you　what's　ridiculous；　lady。　You　holing　up　in　some　seedy　resort　when　you　ought　to　be　in　the　hospital；　that's　ridiculous。　Jesus；　don't　you　know　we　have　about　a　million　business　decisions　to　make？　I　care　about　your　son's　education；　too；　and　it's　a　damn　good　thing　I　do。　You　seem　to　have　given　up　on　that。'
　　'I　don't　want　to　talk　to　you　anymore；'　Lily　said。
　　'You　don't　want　to；　but　you　have　to。　I'll　e　up　there　and　put　you　in　a　hospital　by　force　if　I　have　to。　We　gotta　make　arrangements；　Lily。　You　own　half　of　the　pany　I'm　trying　to　run…and　Jack　gets　your　half　after　you're　gone。　I　want　to　make　sure　Jack's　taken　care　of。　And　if　you　think　that　taking　care　of　Jack　is　what　you're　doing　up　there　in　goddam　New　Hampshire；　then　you're　a　lot　sicker　than　you　know。'
　　'What　do　you　want；　Sloat？'　Lily　asked　in　a　tired　voice。
　　'You　know　what　I　want…I　want　everybody　taken　care　of。　I　want　what's　fair。　I'll　take　care　of　Jack；　Lily。　I'll　give　him　fifty　thousand　dollars　a　year…you　think　about　that；　Lily。　I'll　see　he　goes　to　a　good　college。　You　can't　even　keep　him　in　school。'
　　'Noble　Sloat；'　his　mother　said。
　　'Do　you　think　that's　an　answer？　Lily；　you　need　help　and　I'm　the　only　one　offering。'
　　'What's　your　cut；　Sloat？'　his　mother　asked。
　　'You　know　damn　well。　I　get　w