sk.thetalisman-第14节

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three　nights　ago…a　man　picking　up　goodies　at　a　deli　buffet　some　thirty…five　thousand　feet　in　the　air；　just　as　cool　as　a　cucumber。　Jack　had　flown　from　one　coast　to　another　with　his　mother　a　good　two　dozen　times；　and　was　always　secretly　delighted　by　the　fact　that　when　you　flew　from　New　York　to　L。A。　you　could　have　sixteen　hours　of　daylight。　It　was　like　cheating　time。　And　it　was　easy。
　　'Can　I　fly？'　he　asked　Speedy。
　　'No！'　Speedy　almost　yelled；　his　eyes　widening　in　consternation。　He　gripped　Jack's　shoulder　with　one　strong　hand。　'Don't　you　let　nuthin　git　you　up　in　the　sky！　You　dassn't！　If　you　happened　to　flip　over　into　the　Territories　while　you　was　up　there…'　He　said　no　more；　he　didn't　have　to。　Jack　had　a　sudden；　appalling　picture　of　himself　tumbling　out　of　that　clear；　cloudless　sky；　a　screaming　boy…projectile　in　jeans　with　a　red…and…white…striped　rugby　shirt；　a　sky…diver　with　no　parachute。
　　'You　walk；'　Speedy　said。　'And　thumb　what　rides　you　think　you　can　。　。　。　but　you　got　to　be　careful；　because　there's　strangers　out　there。　Some　are　just　crazy　people；　sissies　that　would　like　to　touch　you　or　thugs　that　would　like　to　mug　you。　But　some　are　real　Strangers；　Travellin　Jack。　They　people　with　a　foot　in　each　world…they　look　that　way　and　this　like　a　god…dam　Janus…head。　I'm　afraid　they　gonna　know　you　in　before　too　long　has　passed。　And　they'll　be　on　the　watch。'
　　'Are　they'…he　groped…'Twinners？'
　　'Some　are。　Some　aren't。　I　can't　say　no　more　right　now。　But　you　get　across　if　you　can。　Get　across　to　the　other　ocean。　You　travel　in　the　Territories　when　you　can　and　you'll　get　across　faster。　You　take　the　juice…'
　　'I　hate　it！'
　　'Never　mind　what　you　hate；'　Speedy　said　sternly。　'You　get　across　and　you're　gonna　find　a　place…another　Alhambra。　You　got　to　go　in　that　place。　It's　a　scary　place；　a　bad　place。　But　you　got　to　go　in。'
　　'How　will　I　find　it？'
　　'It　will　call　you。　You'll　hear　it　loud　and　clear；　son。'
　　'Why？'　Jack　asked。　He　wet　his　lips。　'Why　do　I　have　to　go　there；　if　it's　so　bad？'
　　'Because；'　Speedy　said；　'that's　where　the　Talisman　is。　Somewhere　in　that　other　Alhambra。'
　　'I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about！'
　　'You　will；'　Speedy　said。　He　stood　up；　then　took　Jack's　hand。　Jack　rose。　The　two　of　them　stood　face…to…face；　old　black　man　and　young　white　boy。
　　'Listen；'　Speedy　said；　and　his　voice　took　on　a　slow；　chanting　rhythm。　'Talisman　be　given　unto　your　hand；　Travellin　Jack。　Not　too　big；　not　too　small；　she　look　just　like　a　crystal　ball。　Travellin　Jack；　ole　Travellin　Jack；　you　be　goin　to　California　to　bring　her　back。　But　here's　your　burden；　here's　your　cross：　drop　her；　Jack；　and　all　be　lost。'
　　'I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；'　Jack　repeated　with　a　scared　kind　of　stubbornness。　'You　have　to…'
　　'No；'　Speedy　said；　not　unkindly。　'I　got　to　finish　with　that　carousel　this　morning；　Jack；　that's　what　I　got　to　do。　Got　no　time　for　any　more　jaw…chin。　I　got　to　get　back　and　you　got　to　get　on。　Can't　tell　you　no　more　now。　I　guess　I'll　be　seein　you　around。　Here　。　。　。　or　over　there。'
　　'But　I　don't　know　what　to　do！'　Jack　said　as　Speedy　swung　up　into　the　cab　of　the　old　truck。
　　'You　know　enough　to　get　movin；'　Speedy　said。　'You'll　go　to　the　Talisman；　Jack。　She'll　draw　you　to　her。'
　　'I　don't　even　know　what　a　Talisman　is！'　
　　Speedy　laughed　and　keyed　the　ignition。　The　truck　started　up　with　a　big　blue　blast　of　exhaust。　'Look　it　up　in　the　dictionary！'　he　shouted；　and　threw　the　truck　into　reverse。
　　He　backed　up；　turned　around；　and　then　the　truck　was　rattling　back　toward　Arcadia　Funworld。　Jack　stood　by　the　curb；　watching　it　go。　He　had　never　felt　so　alone　in　his　life。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　5
　　　Jack　and　Lily
　　　
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　　When　Speedy's　truck　turned　off　the　road　and　disappeared　beneath　the　Funworld　arch；　Jack　began　to　move　toward　the　hotel。　A　Talisman。　In　another　Alhambra。　On　the　edge　of　another　ocean。　His　heart　seemed　empty。　Without　Speedy　beside　him；　the　task　was　mountainous；　so　huge；　vague；　too…while　Speedy　had　been　talking；　Jack　had　had　the　feeling　of　almost　understanding　that　macaroni　of　hints　and　threats　and　instructions。　Now　it　was　close　to　just　being　macaroni。　The　Territories　were　real；　though。　He　hugged　that　certainty　as　close　as　he　could；　and　it　both　warmed　and　chilled　him。　They　were　a　real　place；　and　he　was　going　there　again。　Even　if　he　did　not　really　understand　everything　yet…even　if　he　was　an　ignorant　pilgrim；　he　was　going。　Now　all　he　had　to　do　was　to　try　to　convince　his　mother。　'Talisman；'　he　said　to　himself；　using　the　word　as　the　thing；　and　crossed　empty　Boardwalk　Avenue　and　jumped　up　the　steps　onto　the　path　between　the　hedges。　The　darkness　of　the　Alhambra's　interior；　once　the　great　door　had　swung　shut；　startled　him。　The　lobby　was　a　long　cave…you'd　need　a　fire　just　to　separate　the　shadows。　The　pale　clerk　flickered　behind　the　long　desk；　stabbing　at　Jack　with　his　white　eyes。　A　message　there：　yes。　Jack　swallowed　and　turned　away。　The　message　made　him　stronger；　it　increased　him；　though　its　intention　was　only　scornful。
　　He　went　toward　the　elevators　with　a　straight　back　and　an　unhurried　step。　Hang　around　with　blackies；　huh？　Let　them　put　their　arms　around　you；　huh？　The　elevator　whirred　down　like　a　great　heavy　bird；　the　doors　parted；　and　Jack　stepped　inside。　He　turned　to　punch　the　button　marked　with　a　glowing　4。　The　clerk　was　still　posed　spectrally　behind　the　desk；　sending　out　his　dumdum's　message。　Niggerlover　Niggerlover　Niggerlover　（like　it　that　way；　hey　brat？　Hot　and　black；　that's　for　you；　hey？）。　The　doors　mercifully　shut。　Jack's　stomach　fell　toward　his　shoes；　the　elevator　lurched　upward。
　　The　hatred　stayed　down　there　in　the　lobby：　the　very　air　in　the　elevator　felt　better　once　it　had　risen　above　the　first　floor。　Now　all　Jack　had　to　do　was　to　tell　his　mother　that　he　had　to　go　to　California　by　himself。
　　Just　don't　let　Uncle　Morgan　sign　any　papers　for　you
　　As　Jack　stepped　out　of　the　elevator；　he　wondered　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　whether　Richard　Sloat　understood　what　his　father　was　really　like。
　　　
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　　Down　past　the　empty　sconces　and　paintings　of　little　boats　riding　foamy；　corrugated　seas；　the　door　marked　408　slanted　inward；　revealing　a　foot　of　the　suite's　pale　carpet。　Sunlight　from　the　living…room　windows　made　a　long　rectangle　on　the　inner　wall。　'Hey　Mom；'　Jack　said；　entering　the　suite。　'You　didn't　close　the　door；　what's　the　big…'　He　was　alone　in　the　room。　'Idea？'　he　said　to　the　furniture。　'Mom？'　Disorder　seemed　to　ooze　from　the　tidy　room…an　overflowing　ashtray；　a　half…full　tumbler　of　water　left　on　the　coffee　table。
　　This　time；　Jack　promised　himself；　he　would　not　panic。　
　　He　turned　in　a　slow　circle。　Her　bedroom　door　was　open；　the　room　itself　as　dark　as　the　lobby　because　Lily　had　never　pulled　open　the　curtains。
　　'Hey；　I　know　you're　here；'　he　said；　and　then　walked　through　her　empty　bedroom　to　knock　at　her　bathroom　door。　No　reply。　Jack　opened　this　door　and　saw　a　pink　toothbrush　beside　the　sink；　a　forlorn　hairbrush　on　the　dressing　table。　Bristles　snarled　with　light　hairs。　Laura　DeLoessian；　announced　a　voice　in　Jack's　mind；　and　he　stepped　backward　out　of　the　little　bathroom…that　name　stung　him。
　　'Oh；　not　again；'　he　said　to　himself。　'Where'd　she　go？'　
　　Already　he　was　seeing　it。
　　He　saw　it　as　he　went　to　his　own　bedroom；　saw　it　as　he　opened　his　own　door　and　surveyed　his　rumpled　bed；　his　flattened　knapsack　and　little　stack　of　paperback　books；　his　socks　balled　up　on　top　of　the　dresser。　He　saw　it　when　he　looked　into　his　own　bathroom；　where　towels　lay　in　oriental　disarray　over　the　floor；　the　sides　of　the　tub；　and　the　Formica　counters。
　　Morgan　Sloat　thrusting　through　the　door；　grabbing　his　mother's　arms　and　hauling　her　downstairs　。　。　。
　　Jack　hurried　back　into　the　living　room　and　this　time　looked　behind　the　couch。
　　。　。　。　yanking　her　out　a　side　door　and　pushing　her　into　a　car；　his　eyes　beginning　to　turn　yellow　。　。　。　
　　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　punched　0。　'This　is；　ah；　Jack　Sawyer；　and　I'm　in；　ah；　room　four…oh…eight。　Did　my　mother　leave　any　message　for　me？　She　was　supposed　to　be　here　and　。　。　。　and　for　some　reason　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　'
　　'I'll　check；'　said　the　girl；　and　Jack　clutched　the　phone　for　a　burning　moment　before　she　returned。　'No　message　for　four…oh…eight；　sorry。'
　　'How　about　four…oh…seven？'
　　'That's　the　same　slot；'　the　girl　told　him。
　　'Ah；　did　she　have　any　visitors　in　the　last　half　hour　or　so？　Anybody　e　this　morning？　To　see　her；　I　mean。'
　　'That　would　be　Reception；'　the　girl　said。　'I　wouldn't　know。　Do　you　want　me　to　check　for　you？'
　　'Please；'　Jack　said。
　　'Oh；　I'm　happy　to　have　something　to　do　in　this　morgue；'　she　told　him。　'Stay　on　the　line。'　Another　burning　moment。　When　she　came　back　to　him；　it　was　with　'No　visitors。　Maybe　she　left　a　note　somewhere　in　your　rooms。'
　　'Yes；　I'll　look；'　Jack　said　miserably　and　hung　up。　Would　the　clerk　tell　the　truth？　Or　would　Morgan　Sloat　have　held　out　a　hand　with　a　twenty…dollar　bill　folded　like　a　stamp　into　his　meaty　palm？　That；　too；　Jack　could　see。
　　He　dropped　himself　on　the　couch；　stifling　an　irrational　desire　to　look　under　the　cushions。　Of　course　Uncle　Morgan　could　not　have　e　to　the　rooms　and　abducted　her…he　was　still　in　California。　But　he　could　have　sent　other　pe