sk.petsematary-第20节

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　spoken　to　the　tearful；　mercifully　faceless　voice　of　Pascow's　father　on　the　telephone；　the　father　had　only　wanted　assurance　that　Louis　had　done　everything　he　could；　and　Louis　had　assured　him　that　everyone　involved　had。　He　did　not　tell　him　of　the　confusion；　the　spreading　stain　on　the　carpet；　and　how　his　son　had　been　dead　almost　from　the　instant　he　was　brought　in；　although　these　were　things　that　Louis　thought　he　himself　would　never　forget。　But　for　those　to　whom　Pascow　was　only　a　casualty；　he　had　already　dimmed。
　　Louis　still　remembered　the　dream　and　the　sleepwalking　incident　that　had　acpanied　it；　but　it　now　seemed　almost　as　if　it　had　happened　to　someone　else；　or　on　a　television　show　he　had　once　watched。　His　one　visit　to　a　whore　in　Chicago　six　years　ago　seemed　like　that　flow；　they　were　equally　unimportant；　side　trips　which　held　a　false　resonance；　like　sounds　produced　in　an　echo　chamber。
　　He　did　not　think　at　all　about　what　the　dying　Pascow　had　or　had　not　said。
　　There　was　a　hard　frost　on　Halloween　night。　Louis　and　Ellie　began　at　the　Crandalls'。　Ellie　cackled　satisfyingly；　pretended　to　ride　her　broom　around　Norma's　kitchen；　and　was　duly　pronounced　〃Just　the　cutest　thing　I　ever　saw。　。　。　isn't　she；　Jud？〃
　　Jud　agreed　that　she　was　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Where's　Gage；　Louis？　Thought　you'd　have　him　dressed　up　too。〃
　　They　had　indeed　planned　on　taking　Gage　around…Rachel　in　particular　had　been　looking　forward　to　it　because　she　and　Missy　Dandridge　had　whomped　together　a　sort　of　bug　costume　with　twisted　coat　hangers　wrapped　in　crepe　paper　for　feelers…but　Gage　had　e　down　with　a　troublesome；　bronchial　cold；　and　after　listening　to　his　lungs；　which　sounded　a　bit　ratfly；　and　consulting　the　thermometer　outside　the　window；　which　read　only　forty　degrees　at　six　o'clock；　Louis　had　nixed　it。　Rachel；　although　disappointed；　had　agreed。
　　Ellie　had　promised　to　give　Gage　some　of　her　candy；　but　the　exaggerated　quality　of　her　sorrow　made　Louis　wonder　if　she　wasn't　just　a　bit　glad　that　Gage　wouldn't　be　along　to　slow　her　down　or　steal　part　of　the　limelight。
　　〃Poor　Gage；〃　she　had　said　in　tones　usually　reserved　for　those　suffering　terminal　illness。　Gage；　unaware　of　what　he　was　missing；　sat　on　the　sofa　watching　〃Zoom〃　with　Church　snoozing　beside　him。
　　〃Ellie…witch；〃　Gage　had　replied　without　a　great　deal　of　interest　and　went　back　to　the　TV。
　　〃Poor　Gage；〃　Ellie　had　said　again；　fetching　another　sigh。　Louis　thought　of　crocodile　tears　and　grinned。　Ellie　grabbed　his　hand　and　started　pulling　him。　〃Let's　go；　Daddy。　Let's　go…let's　go…let's　go。
　　〃Gage　has　got　a　touch　of　the　croup；〃　Louis　said　to　Jud　now。
　　〃Well；　that's　a　real　shame；〃　Norma　said；　〃but　it　will　mean　more　to　him　next　year。　Hold　out　your　bag；　Ellie　。　。　。　whoops！〃
　　She　had　taken　an　apple　and　a　bite…sized　Snickers　bar　out　of　the　treat　bowl　on　the　table；　but　both　of　them　had　fallen　out　of　her　hand。　Louis　was　a　little　shocked　at　how　clawlike　that　hand　looked。　He　bent　over　and　picked　up　the　apple　as　it　rolled　across　the　floor。　Jud　got　the　Snickers　and　dropped　it　into　Ellie's　bag。
　　〃Oh；　let　me　get　you　another　apple；　honey；〃　Norma　said。　〃That　one　will　bruise。〃
　　〃It's　fine；〃　Louis　said；　trying　to　drop　it　into　Ellie's　bag；　but　Ellie　stepped　away；　holding　her　bag　protectively　shut。
　　〃I　don't　want　a　bruised　apple；　Daddy；〃　she　said；　looking　at　her　father　as　if　he　might　have　gone　mad。　〃Brown　spots　。　。　。　yuck！〃
　　〃Ellie；　that's　damned　impolite！〃
　　〃Don't　scold　her　for　telling　the　truth；　Louis；〃　Norma　said。
　　〃Only　children　tell　the　whole　truth；　you　know。　That's　what　makes　them　children。　The　brown　spots　are　yucky。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Mrs。　Crandall；〃　Ellie　said；　casting　a　vindicated　eye　on　her　father。
　　〃You're　very　wele；　honey；〃　Norma　said。
　　Jud　escorted　them　out　to　the　porch。　Two　little　ghosts　were　ing　up　the　walk；　and　Ellie　recognized　them　both　as　friends　from　school。　She　took　them　back　to　the　kitchen；　and　for　a　moment　Jud　and　Louis　were　alone　on　the　porch。
　　〃Her　arthritis　has　gotten　worse；〃　Louis　said。
　　Jud　nodded　and　pinched　out　his　cigarette　over　an　ashtray。　〃Yeah。　It's　e　down　harder　on　her　every　fall　and　winter；　but　this　is　the　worst　it's　ever　been。〃
　　〃What　does　her　doctor　say？〃
　　〃Nothing。　He　can't　say　nothing　because　Norma　hasn't　been　back　to　see　him。〃
　　〃What？　Why　not？〃
　　Jud　looked　at　Louis；　and　in　the　light　cast　by　the　headlamps　of　the　station　wagon　waiting　for　the　ghosts；　he　looked　oddly　defenseless。　〃I'd　meant　to　ask　you　this　at　a　better　time；　Louis；　but　I　guess　there　isn't　no　good　time　to　impose　on　a　friendship。　Would　you　examine　her？〃
　　From　the　kitchen；　Louis　could　hear　the　two　ghosts　booo…ing　and　Ellie　going　into　her　cackles…which　she　had　been　practicing　all　week…again。　It　all　sounded　very　fine　and　Halloweenish。
　　〃What　else　is　wrong　with　Norma？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　she　afraid　of　something　else；　Jud？〃
　　〃She's　been　having　pains　in　her　chest；〃　Jud　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃She　won't　go　see　Dr。　Weybridge　anymore。　I'm　a　little　worried。〃
　　〃Is　Norma　worried？〃
　　Jud　hesitated　and　then　said；　〃I　think　she's　scared。　I　think　that's　why　she　doesn't　want　to　go　to　the　doctor。　One　of　her　oldest　friends；　Betty　Coslaw；　died　in　the　EMMC　just　last　month。　Cancer。　She　and　Norma　were　of　an　age。　She's　scared。〃
　　〃I'd　be　happy　to　examine　her；〃　Louis　said。　〃No　problem　at　all。〃
　　〃Thanks；　Louis；〃　Jud　said　gratefully。　〃If　we　catch　her　one　night；　gang　up　on　her；　I　think…〃
　　Jud　broke　off；　head　cocking　quizzically　to　one　side。　His　eyes　met　Louis's。
　　Louis　couldn't　remember　later　exactly　how　one　emotion　slipped　into　the　next。　Trying　to　analyze　it　only　made　him　feel　dizzy。　All　he　could　remember　for　sure　was　that　curiosity　changed　swiftly　into　a　feeling　that　somewhere　something　had　gone　badly　wrong。　His　eyes　met　Jud's；　both　unguarded。　It　was　a　moment　before　he　could　find　a　way　to　act。
　　〃Hoooo…hoooo；〃　the　Halloween　ghosts　in　the　kitchen　chanted。　〃Hooo…hooo。〃　And　then　suddenly　the　h…sound　was　gone　arid　the　cry　rose　louder；　genuinely　frightening：　〃oooo…000000…〃
　　And　then　one　of　the　ghosts　began　to　scream。
　　〃Daddy！〃　Ellie's　voice　was　wild　and　tight　with　alarm。　〃Daddy！　Missus　Crandall　fell　down！〃
　　〃Ah；　Jesus；〃　Jud　almost　moaned。
　　Ellie　came　running　out　onto　the　porch；　her　black　dress　flapping。　She　clutched　her　broom　in　one　hand。　Her　green　face；　now　pulled　long　in　dismay；　looked　like　the　face　of　a　pygmy　wino　in　the　last　stages　of　alcohol　poisoning。　The　two　little　ghosts　followed　her；　crying。
　　Jud　lunged　through　the　door；　amazingly　spry　for　a　man　of　over　eighty。　No；　more　than　spry。　Again；　almost　lithe。　He　was　calling　his　wife's　name。
　　Louis　bent　and　put　his　hands　on　Ellie's　shoulders。　〃Stay　right　here　on　the　porch；　Ellie。　Understand？〃
　　〃Daddy；　I'm　scared；〃　she　whispered。
　　The　two　ghosts　barrelled　past　them　and　ran　down　the　walk；　candy　bags　rattling；　screaming　their　mother's　name。
　　Louis　ran　down　the　front　hall　and　into　the　kitchen；　ignoring　Ellie；　who　was　calling　for　him　to　e　back。
　　Norma　lay　on　the　hilly　linoleum　by　the　table　in　a　litter　of　apples　and　small　Snickers　bars。　Apparently　she　had　caught　the　bowl　with　her　hand　going　down　and　had　overturned　it。　It　lay　nearby　like　a　small　Pyrex　flying　saucer。　Jud　was　chafing　one　of　her　wrists；　and　he　looked　up　at　Louis　with　a　strained　face。
　　〃Help　me；　Louis；〃　he　said。　〃Help　Norma。　She's　dying；　I　think。〃
　　〃Move　to　one　side；〃　Louis　said。　He　kneeled　and　came　down　on　a　Spy；　crushing　it。　He　felt　juice　bleed　through　the　knee　of　his　old　cords；　and　the　cidery　smell　of　apple　suddenly　filled　the　kitchen。
　　Here　it　is；　Pascow　all　over　again；　Louis　thought　and　then　shoved　the　thought　out　of　his　mind　so　fast　that　it　might　have　been　on　wheels。
　　He　felt　for　her　pulse　and　got　something　that　was　weak；　thready；　and　rapid…not　really　a　beat　but　only　simple　spasms。　Extreme　arrhythmia；　well　on　the　way　to　full　cardiac　arrest。　You　and　Elvis　Presley；　Norma；　he　thought。
　　He　opened　her　dress；　exposing　a　creamy　yellow　silk　slip。　Moving　with　his　own　rhythm　now；　he　turned　her　head　to　one　side　and　began　administering　CPR。
　　〃Jud；　listen　to　me；〃　he　said。　Heel　of　the　left　hand　one　third　of　the　way　up　the　breastbone…four　centimeters　above　the　xyphoid　process。　Right　hand　gripping　the　left　wrist；　bracing；　lending　pressure。　Keep　it　firm；　but　let's　take　it　easy　on　the　old　ribs…no　need　to　panic　yet。　And　for　Christ's　sake；　don't　collapse　the　old　lungs。
　　〃I'm　here；〃　Jud　said。
　　〃Take　Ellie；〃　he　said。　〃Go　across　the　street。　Carefully…don't　get　hit　by　a　car。　Tell　Rachel　what's　happened。　Tell　her　I　want　my　bag。　Not　the　one　in　the　study；　but　the　one　on　the　high　shelf　in　the　upstairs　bathroom。　She'll　know　the　one。　Tell　her　to　call　Bangor　MedCu　and　to　send　an　ambulance。〃
　　〃Bucksport's　closer；〃　Jud　said。
　　〃Bangor's　faster。　Go。　Don't　you　call；　let　Rachel　do　that。　I　need　that　bag。〃　And　once　she　knows　the　situation　here；　Louis　thought；　I　don't　think　she'll　bring　it　over。
　　Jud　went。　Louis　heard　the　screen　door　bang。　He　was　alone　with　Norma　Crandall　and　the　smell　of　apples。　From　the　living　room　came　the　steady　tick　of　the　seven…day　clock。
　　Norma　suddenly　uttered　a　long；　snoring　breath。　Her　eyelids　fluttered。　And　Louis　was　suddenly　doused　with　a　cold；　horrid　certainty。