sk.thetalisman-第15节

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not　have　e　to　the　rooms　and　abducted　her…he　was　still　in　California。　But　he　could　have　sent　other　people　to　do　it　for　him。　Those　people　Speedy　had　mentioned；　the　Strangers　with　a　foot　in　each　world。
　　Then　Jack　could　stay　in　the　room　no　longer。　He　bounced　off　the　couch　and　went　back　into　the　corridor；　closing　the　door　after　him。　When　he　had　gone　a　few　paces　down　the　hall；　he　twirled　around　in　mid…step；　went　back；　and　opened　the　door　with　his　own　key。　He　pushed　the　door　an　inch　in；　and　then　trotted　back　toward　the　elevators。　It　was　always　possible　that　she　had　gone　out　without　her　key…to　the　shop　in　the　lobby；　to　the　newsstand　for　a　magazine　or　a　paper。
　　Sure。　He　had　not　seen　her　pick　up　a　newspaper　since　the　beginning　of　summer。　All　the　news　she　cared　about　came　over　an　internal　radio。
　　Out　for　a　walk；　then。
　　Yeah；　out　exercising　and　breathing　deeply。　Or　jogging；　maybe：　maybe　Lily　Cavanaugh　had　suddenly　gone　in　for　the　hundred…yard　dash。　She'd　set　up　hurdles　down　on　the　beach　and　was　in　training　for　the　next　Olympics　When　the　elevator　deposited　him　in　the　lobby　he　glanced　into　the　shop；　where　an　elderly　blond　woman　behind　a　counter　peered　at　him　over　the　tops　of　her　glasses。　Stuffed　animals；　a　tiny　pile　of　thin　newspapers；　a　display　rack　of　flavored　Chap　Stick。　Leaning　out　of　pockets　in　a　wallstand　were　People　and　Us　and　New　Hampshire　Magazine。
　　'Sorry；'　Jack　said；　and　turned　away。
　　He　found　himself　staring　at　the　bronze　plaque　beside　a　huge；　dispirited　fern　。　。　。　has　begun　to　sicken　and　must　soon　die。
　　The　woman　in　the　shop　cleared　her　throat。　Jack　thought　that　he　must　have　been　staring　at　those　words　of　Daniel　Webster's　for　entire　minutes。　'Yes？'　the　woman　said　behind　him。
　　'Sorry；'　Jack　repeated；　and　pulled　himself　into　the　center　of　the　lobby。　The　hateful　clerk　lifted　an　eyebrow；　then　turned　sideways　to　stare　at　a　deserted　staircase。　Jack　made　himself　approach　the　man。
　　'Mister；'　he　said　when　he　stood　before　the　desk。　The　clerk　was　pretending　to　try　to　remember　the　capital　of　North　Carolina　or　the　principal　export　of　Peru。　'Mister。'　The　man　scowled　to　himself：　he　was　nearly　there；　he　could　not　be　disturbed。
　　All　of　this　was　an　act；　Jack　knew；　and　he　said；　'I　wonder　if　you　can　help　me。'　
　　The　man　decided　to　look　at　him　after　all。　'Depends　on　what　the　help　is；　sonny。'　
　　Jack　consciously　decided　to　ignore　the　hidden　sneer。　'Did　you　see　my　mother　go　out　a　little　while　ago？'
　　'What's　a　little　while？'　Now　the　sneer　was　almost　visible。
　　'Did　you　see　her　go　out？　That's　all　I'm　asking。'
　　'Afraid　she　saw　you　and　your　sweetheart　holding　hands　out　there？'
　　'God；　you're　such　a　creep；'　Jack　startled　himself　by　saying。　'No；　I'm　not　afraid　of　that。　I'm　just　wondering　if　she　went　out；　and　if　you　weren't　such　a　creep；　you'd　tell　me。'　His　face　had　grown　hot；　and　he　realized　that　his　hands　were　bunched　into　fists。
　　'Well　okay；　she　went　out；'　the　clerk　said；　drifting　away　toward　the　bank　of　pigeonholes　behind　him。　'But　you'd　better　watch　your　tongue；　boy。　You　better　apologize　to　me；　fancy　little　Master　Sawyer。　I　got　eyes；　too。　I　know　things。'
　　'You　run　your　mouth　and　I　run　my　business；'　Jack　said；　dredging　the　phrase　up　from　one　of　his　father's　old　records…perhaps　it　did　not　quite　fit　the　situation；　but　it　felt　right　in　his　mouth；　and　the　clerk　blinked　satisfactorily。
　　'Maybe　she's　in　the　gardens；　I　don't　know；'　the　man　said　gloomily；　but　Jack　was　already　on　his　way　toward　the　door。
　　The　Darling　of　the　Drive…ins　and　Queen　of　the　Bs　was　nowhere　in　the　wide　gardens　before　the　hotel；　Jack　saw　immediately…and　he　had　known　that　she　would　not　be　in　the　gardens；　for　he　would　have　seen　her　on　his　way　into　the　hotel。　Besides；　Lily　Cavanaugh　did　not　dawdle　through　gardens：　that　suited　her　as　little　as　did　setting　up　hurdles　on　the　beach。
　　A　few　cars　rolled　down　Boardwalk　Avenue。　A　gull　screeched　far　overhead；　and　Jack's　heart　tightened。
　　The　boy　pushed　his　fingers　through　his　hair　and　looked　up　and　down　the　bright　street。　Maybe　she　had　been　curious　about　Speedy…maybe　she'd　wanted　to　check　out　this　unusual　new　pal　of　her　son's　and　had　wandered　down　to　the　amusement　park。　But　Jack　could　not　see　her　in　Arcadia　Funworld　any　more　than　he　could　see　her　lingering　picturesquely　in　the　gardens。　He　turned　in　the　less　familiar　direction；　toward　the　town　line。
　　Separated　from　the　Alhambra's　grounds　by　a　high　thick　hedge；　the　Arcadia　Tea　and　Jam　Shoppe　stood　first　in　a　row　of　brightly　colored　shops。　It　and　New　England　Drugs　were　the　only　shops　in　the　terrace　to　remain　open　after　Labor　Day。　Jack　hesitated　a　moment　on　the　cracked　sidewalk。　A　tea　shop；　much　less　shoppe；　was　an　unlikely　situation　for　the　Darling　of　the　Drive…ins。　But　since　it　was　the　first　place　he　might　expect　to　find　her；　he　moved　across　the　sidewalk　and　peered　in　the　window。
　　A　woman　with　piled…up　hair　sat　smoking　before　a　cash　register。　A　waitress　in　a　pink　rayon　dress　leaned　against　the　far　wall。　Jack　saw　no　customers。　Then　at　one　of　the　tables　near　the　Alhambra　end　of　the　shop　he　saw　an　old　woman　lifting　a　cup。　Apart　from　the　help；　she　was　alone。　Jack　watched　the　old　woman　delicately　replace　the　cup　in　the　saucer；　then　fish　a　cigarette　from　her　bag；　and　realized　with　a　sickening　jolt　that　she　was　his　mother。　An　instant　later；　the　impression　of　age　had　disappeared。
　　But　he　could　remember　it…and　it　was　as　if　he　were　seeing　her　through　bifocals；　seeing　both　Lily　Cavanaugh　Sawyer　and　that　fragile　old　woman　in　the　same　body。
　　Jack　gently　opened　the　door；　but　still　he　set　off　the　tinkle　of　the　bell　that　he　had　known　was　above　it。　The　blond　woman　at　the　register　nodded；　smiling。　The　waitress　straightened　up　and　smoothed　the　lap　of　her　dress。　His　mother　stared　at　him　with　what　looked　like　genuine　surprise；　and　then　gave　him　an　open　smile。
　　'Well；　Wandering　Jack；　you're　so　tall　that　you　looked　just　like　your　father　when　you　came　through　that　door；'　she　said。　'Sometimes　I　forget　you're　only　twelve。'
　　　
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　　'You　called　me　'Wandering　Jack；'　'　he　said；　pulling　a　chair　out　and　dropping　himself　into　it。
　　Her　face　was　very　pale；　and　the　smudges　beneath　her　eyes　looked　almost　like　bruises。
　　'Didn't　your　father　call　you　that？　I　just　happened　to　think　of　it…you've　been　on　the　move　all　morning。'
　　'He　called　me　Wandering　Jack？'
　　'Something　like　that　。　。　。　sure　he　did。　When　you　were　tiny。　Travelling　Jack；'　she　said　firmly。　'That　was　it。　He　used　to　call　you　Travelling　Jack…you　know；　when　we'd　see　you　tearing　down　the　lawn。　It　was　funny；　I　guess。　I　left　the　door　open；　by　the　way。　Didn't　know　if　you　remembered　to　take　your　key　with　you。'
　　'I　saw；'　he　said；　still　tingling　with　the　new　information　she　had　so　casually　given　him。
　　'Want　any　breakfast？　I　just　couldn't　take　the　thought　of　eating　another　meal　in　that　hotel。'　
　　The　waitress　had　appeared　beside　them。　'Young　man？'　she　asked；　lifting　her　order　pad。
　　'How　did　you　know　I'd　find　you　here？'
　　'Where　else　is　there　to　go？'　his　mother　reasonably　asked；　and　told　the　waitress；　'Give　him　the　three…star　breakfast。　He's　growing　about　an　inch　a　day。'　
　　Jack　leaned　against　the　back　of　his　chair。　How　could　he　begin　this？
　　His　mother　glanced　at　him　curiously；　and　he　began…he　had　to　begin；　now。　'Mom；　if　I　had　to　go　away　for　a　while；　would　you　be　all　right？'
　　'What　do　you　mean；　all　right？　And　what　do　you　mean；　go　away　for　a　while？'
　　'Would　you　be　able…ah；　would　you　have　trouble　from　Uncle　Morgan？'
　　'I　can　handle　old　Sloat；'　she　said；　smiling　tautly。　'I　can　handle　him　for　a　while；　anyhow。　What's　this　all　about；　Jacky？　You're　not　going　anywhere。'
　　'I　have　to；'　he　said。　'Honest。'　Then　he　realized　that　he　sounded　like　a　child　begging　for　a　toy。　Mercifully；　the　waitress　arrived　with　toast　in　a　rack　and　a　stubby　glass　of　tomato　juice。　He　looked　away　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　looked　back；　his　mother　was　spreading　jam　from　one　of　the　pots　on　the　table　over　a　triangular　section　of　toast。
　　'I　have　to　go；'　he　said。　His　mother　handed　him　the　toast；　her　face　moved　with　a　thought；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　'You　might　not　see　me　for　a　while；　Mom；'　he　said。　'I'm　going　to　try　to　help　you。　That's　why　I　have　to　go。'
　　'Help　me？'　she　asked；　and　her　cool　incredulity；　Jack　reckoned；　was　about　seventy…five　percent　genuine。
　　'I　want　to　try　to　save　your　life；'　he　said。
　　'Is　that　all？'
　　'I　can　do　it。'
　　'You　can　save　my　life。　That's　very　entertaining；　Jacky…boy；　it　ought　to　make　prime　time　someday。　Ever　think　about　going　into　network　programming？'　She　had　put　down　the　red…smeared　knife　and　was　widening　her　eyes　in　mockery：　but　beneath　the　deliberate　inprehension　he　saw　two　things。　A　flare…up　of　her　terror；　a　faint；　almost　unrecognized　hope　that　he　might　after　all　be　able　to　do　something。
　　'Even　if　you　say　I　can't　try；　I'm　going　to　do　it　anyhow。　So　you　might　as　well　give　me　your　permission。'
　　'Oh；　that's　a　wonderful　deal。　Especially　since　I　don't　have　any　idea　of　what　you're　talking　about。'
　　'I　think　you　do；　though…I　think　you　do　have　some　idea；　Mom。　Because　Dad　would　have　known　exactly　what　I'm　talking　about。'　
　　Her　cheeks　reddened；　her　mouth　thinned　into　a　line。　'That's　so　unfair　it's　despicable；　Jacky。