sk.thetalisman-第9部分

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　　'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　what's　fair。　I　get　what's　ing　to　me。　Your　interest　in　Sawyer　and　Sloat…I　worked　my　ass　off　for　that　pany；　and　it　ought　to　be　mine。　We　could　get　the　paperwork　done　in　a　morning；　Lily；　and　then　concentrate　on　getting　you　taken　care　of。'
　　'Like　Tommy　Woodbine　was　taken　care　of；'　she　said。　'Sometimes　I　think　you　and　Phil　were　too　successful；　Morgan。　Sawyer　and　Sloat　was　more　manageable　before　you　got　into　real…estate　investments　and　production　deals。　Remember　when　you　had　only　a　couple　of　deadbeat　ics　and　a　half…dozen　hopeful　actors　and　screenwriters　as　clients？　I　liked　life　better　before　the　megabucks。'
　　'Manageable；　who　are　you　kidding？'　Uncle　Morgan　yelled。　'You　can't　even　manage　yourself！'　Then　he　made　an　effort　to　calm　himself。　'And　I'll　forget　you　mentioned　Tom　Woodbine。　That　was　beneath　even　you；　Lily。'
　　'I'm　going　to　hang　up　now；　Sloat。　Stay　away　from　here。　And　stay　away　from　Jack。'
　　'You　are　going　into　a　hospital；　Lily；　and　this　running　around　is　going　to…'　
　　His　mother　hung　up　in　the　middle　of　Uncle　Morgan's　sentence；　Jack　gently　put　down　his　own　receiver。　Then　he　took　a　couple　of　steps　closer　to　the　window；　as　if　not　to　be　seen　anywhere　near　the　living…room　phone。　Only　silence　came　from　the　closed　bedroom。
　　'Mom？'　he　said。
　　'Yes；　Jacky？'　He　heard　a　slight　wobble　in　her　voice。　
　　'You　okay？　Is　everything　all　right？'
　　'Me？　Sure。'　Her　footsteps　came　softly　to　the　door；　which　cracked　open。　Their　eyes　met；　his　blue　to　her　blue。　Lily　swung　the　door　all　the　way　open。　Again　their　eyes　met；　for　a　moment　of　unfortable　intensity。　'Of　course　everything's　all　right。　Why　wouldn't　it　be？'　Their　eyes　disengaged。　Knowledge　of　some　kind　had　passed　between　them；　but　what？　Jack　wondered　if　she　knew　that　he　had　listened　to　her　conversation；　then　he　thought　that　the　knowledge　they　had　just　shared　was…for　the　first　time…the　fact　of　her　illness。
　　'Well；'　he　said；　embarrassed　now。　His　mother's　disease；　that　great　unspeakable　subject；　grew　obscenely　large　between　them。　'I　don't　know；　exactly。　Uncle　Morgan　seemed　。　。　。　'　He　shrugged。
　　Lily　shivered；　and　Jack　came　to　another　great　recognition。　His　mother　was　afraid…at　least　as　afraid　as　he　was。
　　She　plugged　a　cigarette　in　her　mouth　and　snapped　open　her　lighter。　Another　stabbing　look　from　her　deep　eyes。　'Don't　pay　any　attention　to　that　pest；　Jack。　I'm　just　irritated　because　it　really　doesn't　seem　that　I'll　ever　be　able　to　get　away　from　him。　Your　Uncle　Morgan　likes　to　bully　me。'　She　exhaled　gray　smoke。　'I'm　afraid　that　I　don't　have　much　appetite　for　breakfast　anymore。　Why　don't　you　take　yourself　downstairs　and　have　a　real　breakfast　this　time？'
　　'e　with　me；'　he　said。
　　'I'd　like　to　be　alone　for　a　while；　Jack。　Try　to　understand　that。'
　　Try　to　understand　that。　
　　Trust　me。
　　These　things　that　grown…ups　said；　meaning　something　else　entirely。
　　'I'll　be　more　panionable　when　you　e　back；'　she　said。　'That's　a　promise。'　
　　And　what　she　was　really　saying　was　I　want　to　scream；　I　can't　take　any　more　of　this；　get　out；　get　out！
　　'Should　I　bring　you　anything？'
　　She　shook　her　head；　smiling　toughly　at　him；　and　he　had　to　leave　the　room；　though　he　no　longer　had　any　stomach　for　breakfast　either。　Jack　wandered　down　the　corridor　to　the　elevators。　Once　again；　there　was　only　one　place　to　go；　but　this　time　he　knew　it　before　he　ever　reached　the　gloomy　lobby　and　the　ashen；　censorious　desk　clerk。
　　　
　　　4
　　
　　Speedy　Parker　was　not　in　the　small　red…painted　shack　of　an　office；　he　was　not　out　on　the　long　pier；　in　the　arcade　where　the　two　old　boys　were　back　playing　Skee…Ball　as　if　it　were　a　war　they　both　knew　they　would　lose；　he　was　not　in　the　dusty　vacancy　beneath　the　roller　coaster。　Jack　Sawyer　turned　aimlessly　in　the　harsh　sunlight；　looking　down　the　empty　avenues　and　deserted　public　places　of　the　park。　Jack's　fear　tightened　itself　up　a　notch。　Suppose　something　had　happened　to　Speedy？　It　was　impossible；　but　what　if　Uncle　Morgan　had　found　out　about　Speedy　（found　out　what；　though？）　and　had　。　。　。　Jack　mentally　saw　the　WILD　CHILD　van　careening　around　a　corner；　grinding　its　gears　and　picking　up　speed。
　　He　jerked　himself　into　motion；　hardly　knowing　which　way　he　meant　to　go。　In　the　bright　panic　of　his　mood；　he　saw　Uncle　Morgan　running　past　a　row　of　distorting　mirrors；　turned　by　them　into　a　series　of　monstrous　and　deformed　figures。　Horns　grew　on　his　bald　brow；　a　hump　flowered　between　his　fleshy　shoulders；　his　wide　fingers　became　shovels。　Jack　veered　sharply　off　to　the　right；　and　found　himself　moving　toward　an　oddly　shaped；　almost　round　building　of　white　slatlike　boards。
　　From　within　it　he　suddenly　heard　a　rhythmic　tap　tap　tap。　The　boy　ran　toward　the　sound…a　wrench　hitting　a　pipe；　a　hammer　striking　an　anvil；　a　noise　of　work。　In　the　midst　of　the　slats　he　found　a　doorknob　and　pulled　open　a　fragile　slat…door。
　　Jack　went　forward　into　striped　darkness；　and　the　sound　grew　louder。　The　darkness　changed　form　around　him；　altered　its　dimensions。　He　stretched　out　his　hands　and　touched　canvas。　This　slid　aside；　instantly；　glowing　yellow　light　fell　about　him。　'Travellin　Jack；'　said　Speedy's　voice。
　　Jack　turned　toward　the　voice　and　saw　the　custodian　seated　on　the　ground　beside　a　partially　dismantled　merry…go…round。　He　held　a　wrench　in　his　hand；　and　before　him　a　white　horse　with　a　foamy　mane　lay　impaled　by　a　long　silver　stake　from　pommel　to　belly。　Speedy　gently　put　the　wrench　on　the　ground。　'Are　you　ready　to　talk　now；　son？'　he　asked。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　4
　　　Jack　Goes　Over
　　　
　　　1
　　
　　'Yes；　I'm　ready　now；'　Jack　said　in　a　perfectly　calm　voice；　and　then　burst　into　tears。
　　'Say；　Travellin　Jack；'　Speedy　said；　dropping　his　wrench　and　ing　to　him。　'Say；　son；　take　her　easy；　take　her　easy　now　。　。　。　'
　　But　Jack　couldn't　take　her　easy。　Suddenly　it　was　too　much；　all　of　it；　too　much；　and　it　was　cry　or　just　sink　under　a　great　wave　of　blackness…a　wave　which　no　bright　streak　of　gold　could　illuminate。　The　tears　hurt；　but　he　sensed　the　terror　would　kill　him　if　he　did　not　cry　it　out。
　　'You　do　your　weepin；　Travellin　Jack；'　Speedy　said；　and　put　his　arms　around　him。　Jack　put　his　hot；　swollen　face　against　Speedy's　thin　shirt；　smelling　the　man's　smell…something　like　Old　Spice；　something　like　cinnamon；　something　like　books　that　no　one　has　taken　out　of　the　library　in　a　long　time。　Good　smells；　forting　smells。　He　groped　his　arms　around　Speedy；　his　palms　felt　the　bones　in　Speedy's　back；　close　to　the　surface；　hardly　covered　by　scant　meat。
　　'You　weep　if　it　put　you　easy　again；'　Speedy　said；　rocking　him。　'Sometimes　it　does。　I　know。　Speedy　knows　how　far　you　been；　Travellin　Jack；　and　how　far　you　got　to　go；　and　how　you　tired。　So　you　weep　if　it　put　you　easy。'　
　　Jack　barely　understood　the　words…only　the　sounds　of　them；　soothing　and　calming。
　　'My　mother's　really　sick；'　he　said　at　last　against　Speedy's　chest。　'I　think　she　came　here　to　get　away　from　my　father's　old　partner。　Mr。　Morgan　Sloat。'　He　sniffed　mightily；　let　go　of　Speedy；　stepped　back；　and　rubbed　at　his　swollen　eyes　with　the　heels　of　his　hands。　He　was　surprised　at　his　lack　of　embarrassment…always　before；　his　tears　had　disgusted　and　shamed　him　。　。　。　it　was　almost　like　peeing　your　pants。　Was　that　because　his　mother　had　always　been　so　tough？　He　supposed　that　was　part　of　it；　all　right；　Lily　Cavanaugh　had　little　use　for　tears。
　　'But　that　ain't　the　only　reason　she　e　here；　was　it？'
　　'No；'　Jack　said　in　a　low　voice。　'I　think　。　。　。　she　came　here　to　die。'　His　voice　rose　impossibly　on　the　last　word；　making　a　squeak　like　an　unoiled　hinge。
　　'Maybe；'　Speedy　said；　looking　at　Jack　steadily。　'And　maybe　you　here　to　save　her。　Her　。　。　。　and　a　woman　just　like　her。'
　　'Who？'　Jack　said　through　numb　lips。　He　knew　who。　He　didn't　know　her　name；　but　he　knew　who。
　　'The　Queen；'　Speedy　said。　'Her　name　is　Laura　DeLoessian；　and　she　is　the　Queen　of　the　Territories。'
　　　
　　　2
　　
　　'Help　me；'　Speedy　grunted。　'Catch　ole　Silver　Lady　right　under　the　tail。　You　be　takin'　liberties　with　the　Lady；　but　I　guess　she　ain't　gonna　mind　if　you're　helpin　me　get　her　back　where　she　belong。'
　　'Is　that　what　you　call　her？　Silver　Lady？'
　　'Yeah　bob；'　Speedy　said；　grinning；　showing　perhaps　a　dozen　teeth；　top　and　bottom。　'All　carousel　horses　is　named；　don't　you　know　that？　Catch　on。　Travellin　Jack！'　
　　Jack　reached　under　the　white　horse's　wooden　tail　and　locked　his　fingers　together。　Grunting；　Speedy　wrapped　his　big　brown　hands　around　the　Lady's　forelegs。　Together　they　carried　the　wooden　horse　over　to　the　canted　dish　of　the　carousel；　the　pole　pointing　down；　its　far　end　sinister　with　layers　of　Quaker　State　oil。
　　'Little　to　the　left　。　。　。　'　Speedy　gasped。　'Yeah　。　。　。　now　peg　her；　Travellin　Jack！　Peg　her　down　good！'　
　　They　seated　the　pole　and　then　stood　back；　Jack　panting；　Speedy　grinning　and　gasping　wheezily。　The　black　man　armed　sweat　from　his　brow　and　then　turned　his　grin　on　Jack。
　　'My；　ain't　we　cool？'
　　'If　you　say　so；'　Jack　answered；　smiling。
　　'I　say　so！　Oh　yes！'　Speedy　reached　into　his　back　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　dark　green　pint　bottle。　He　unscrewed　the　cap；　drank…and　for　a　moment　Jack　felt　a　weird　certainty：　he　could　see　through　Speedy。　Speedy　had　bee　transparent；　as　ghostly　as　one　of　the　spirits　on　the　Topper　show；　which　they　showed　on　one　of　the　indy　stations　out　in　L。A。　Speedy　was　disappearing。　Disappearing；　Jack　thought；　or　going　someplace　else？　But　that　was　another　nutty　thought；　it　made　no　sense　at　all。
　　Then　Speedy　was　as　solid　as　ever。　It　had　just　been　a　trick　his　eyes　had　played；　a　momentary…
　　No。　No　it　wasn't。　For　just　a　second　he　almost　wasn't　here！
　　…hallucination。
　　Speedy　was　looking　shrewdly　at　him。　He　started　to　hold　the　bottle　out　to　Jack；　then　shook　his　head　a　little。　He　recapped　it　instead；　and　then　slid　it　into　his　back　pocket　again。　He　turned　to　study　the　Silver　Lady；　back　in　her　place　on　the　carousel；　now　needing　only　to　have　her　post　bolted　securely　into　place。　He　was　smiling。　'We　just　as　cool　as　we　can　be；　Travellin　Jack。'
　　'Speedy…'
　　'All　of　em　is　named；'　Speedy　said；　walking　slowly　around　the　canted　dis