sk.thetalisman-第75节

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his　teeth。　Something　scratched　down　into　his　throat；　and　he　convulsively　jerked　upright；　put　his　hand　in　front　of　his　mouth；　and　tried　to　cough　with　his　lips　together。　When　his　throat　was　clear；　he　hurriedly　swallowed　all　of　the　dampened；　now　rather　sludgy　marijuana。　Jack　ran　his　tongue　over　his　teeth；　collecting　all　the　flecks　and　traces。
　　'You　got　a　few　surprises　ahead　of　you；'　the　policeman　said。　'You're　gonna　get　a　little　sunlight　in　your　soul。'
　　'Sunlight　in　my　soul？'　Jack　asked；　thinking　that　the　cop　had　seen　him　stuff　the　joint　into　his　mouth。
　　'A　few　blisters　on　your　hands；　too；'　the　cop　said；　and　glared　happily　at　Jack's　guilty　image　in　the　rear…view　mirror。
　　
　　The　Cayuga　Municipal　Building　was　a　shadowy　maze　of　unlighted　hallways　and　narrow　staircases　that　seemed　to　wind　unexpectedly　upward　alongside　equally　narrow　rooms。　Water　sang　and　rumbled　in　the　pipes。　'Let　me　explain　something　to　you　kids；'　the　policeman　said；　ushering　them　toward　the　last　staircase　to　their　right。　'You're　not　under　arrest。　Got　that？　You　are　being　detained　for　questioning。　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　bullshit　about　one　phone　call。　You're　in　limbo　until　you　tell　us　who　you　are　and　what　you're　up　to；'　the　cop　went　on。　'You　hear　me？　Limbo。　Nowhere。　We're　gonna　see　Judge　Fairchild；　he's　the　magistrate；　and　if　you　don't　tell　us　the　truth；　you're　gonna　pay　some　big　fuckin　consequences。　Upstairs。　Move　it！'　
　　At　the　top　of　the　stairs　the　policeman　pushed　a　door　open。　A　middle…aged　woman　in　wire　glasses　and　a　black　dress　looked　up　from　a　typewriter　placed　sideways　against　the　far　wall。　'Two　more　runaways；'　the　policeman　said。　'Tell　him　we're　here。'　
　　She　nodded；　picked　up　her　telephone；　and　spoke　a　few　words。　'You　may　go　in；'　the　secretary　said　to　them；　her　eyes　wandering　from　Wolf　to　Jack　and　back　again。
　　The　cop　pushed　them　across　the　anteroom　and　opened　the　door　to　a　room　twice　as　large；　lined　with　books　on　one　long　wall；　framed　photographs　and　diplomas　and　certificates　on　another。　Blinds　had　been　lowered　across　the　long　windows　opposite。　A　tall　skinny　man　in　a　dark　suit；　a　wrinkled　white　shirt；　and　a　narrow　tie　of　no　discernible　pattern　stood　up　behind　a　chipped　wooden　desk　that　must　have　been　six　feet　long。　The　man's　face　was　a　relief　map　of　wrinkles；　and　his　hair　was　so　black　it　must　have　been　dyed。　Stale　cigarette　smoke　hung　visibly　in　the　air。　'Well；　what　have　we　got　here；　Franky？'　His　voice　was　startlingly　deep；　almost　theatrical。
　　'Kids　I　picked　up　on　French　Lick　Road；　over　by　Thompson's　place。'　
　　Judge　Fairchild's　wrinkles　contorted　into　a　smile　as　he　looked　at　Jack。　'You　have　any　identification　papers　on　you；　son？'
　　'No　sir；'　Jack　said。
　　'Have　you　told　Officer　Williams　here　the　truth　about　everything？　He　doesn't　think　you　have；　or　you　wouldn't　be　here。'
　　'Yes　sir；'　Jack　said。
　　'Then　tell　me　your　story。'　He　walked　around　his　desk；　disturbing　the　flat　layers　of　smoke　just　over　his　head；　and　half…sat；　half…leaned　on　the　front　corner　nearest　Jack。　Squinting；　he　lit　a　cigarette…Jack　saw　the　Judge's　recessed　pale　eyes　peering　at　him　through　the　smoke　and　knew　there　was　no　charity　in　them。
　　It　was　the　pitcher　plant　again。
　　Jack　drew　in　a　large　breath。　'My　name　is　Jack　Parker。　He's　my　cousin；　and　he's　called　Jack；　too。　Jack　Wolf。　But　his　real　name　is　Philip。　He　was　staying　with　us　in　Daleville　because　his　dad's　dead　and　his　mother　got　sick。　I　was　just　taking　him　back　to　Springfield。'
　　'Simple…minded；　is　he？'
　　'A　little　slow；'　Jack　said；　and　glanced　up　at　Wolf。　His　friend　seemed　barely　conscious。
　　'What's　your　mother's　name？'　the　Judge　asked　Wolf。　Wolf　did　not　respond　in　any　way。　His　eyes　were　clamped　shut　and　his　hands　stuffed　into　his　pockets。
　　'She's　named　Helen；'　Jack　said。　'Helen　Vaughan。'　
　　The　Judge　eased　himself　off　the　desk　and　walked　slowly　over　to　Jack。　'Have　you　been　drinking；　son？　You're　a　little　unsteady。'
　　'No。'　
　　Judge　Fairchild　came　to　within　a　foot　of　Jack　and　bent　down。　'Let　me　smell　your　breath。'　
　　Jack　opened　his　mouth　and　exhaled。
　　'Nope。　No　booze。'　The　Judge　straightened　up　again。　'But　that's　the　only　thing　you　were　telling　the　truth　about；　isn't　it？　You're　trying　to　string　me　along；　boy。'
　　'I'm　sorry　we　were　hitching；'　Jack　said；　aware　that　he　had　to　speak　with　great　caution　now。　Not　only　might　what　he　said　determine　whether　he　and　Wolf　were　to　be　let　free；　but　he　was　having　a　little　trouble　forming　the　words　themselves…everything　seemed　to　be　happening　with　great　slowness。　As　in　the　shed；　the　seconds　had　wandered　off　the　metronome。　'In　fact；　we　hardly　ever　hitch　because　Wolf…Jack；　that　is…hates　being　in　cars。　We'll　never　do　it　again。　We　haven't　done　anything　wrong；　sir；　and　that　really　is　the　truth。'
　　'You　don't　understand；　sonny；'　the　Judge　said；　and　his　far…off　eyes　gleamed　again。　He's　enjoying　this；　Jack　understood。　Judge　Fairchild　moved　slowly　back　behind　his　desk。　'Hitching　rides　isn't　the　issue。　You　two　boys　are　out　on　the　road　by　yourself；　ing　from　nowhere；　going　nowhere…real　targets　for　trouble。'　His　voice　was　like　dark　honey。　'Now　we　have　here　in　this　country　what　we　think　is　a　most　unusual　facility…state…approved　and　state…funded；　by　the　way…which　might　have　been　set　up　expressly　for　the　benefit　of　boys　like　yourselves。　It's　called　the　Sunlight　Gardener　Scripture　Home　for　Wayward　Boys。　Mr。　Gardener's　work　with　young　fellows　in　trouble　has　been　nothing　short　of　miraculous。　We've　sent　him　some　tough　cases；　and　in　no　time　at　all　he　has　those　boys　on　their　knees　begging　Jesus　for　forgiveness。　Now　I'd　say　that　was　pretty　special；　wouldn't　you？'　
　　Jack　swallowed。　His　mouth　felt　drier　than　it　had　been　in　the　shed。　'Ah；　sir；　it's　really　urgent　that　we　get　to　Springfield。　Everybody's　going　to　wonder…'
　　'I　very　much　doubt　that；'　said　the　Judge；　smiling　with　all　his　wrinkles。　'But　I'll　tell　you　what。　As　soon　as　you　two　wags　are　on　your　way　to　the　Sunlight　Home；　I'll　telephone　Spring…field　and　try　to　get　the　number　of　this　Helen　。　。　。　Wolf；　is　it？　Or　is　it　Helen　Vaughan？'
　　'Vaughan；'　Jack　said；　and　a　red…hot　blush　covered　his　face　like　a　fever。
　　'Yes；'　the　Judge　said。
　　Wolf　shook　his　head；　blinking；　and　then　put　a　hand　on　Jack's　shoulder。
　　'ing　around　are　you；　son？'　the　Judge　asked。　'Could　you　tell　me　your　age？'　Wolf　blinked　again；　and　looked　at　Jack。
　　'Sixteen；'　Jack　said。　'And　you？'
　　'Twelve。'
　　'Oh。　I　would　have　taken　you　for　several　years　older。　All　the　more　reason　for　seeing　you　get　help　now　before　you　get　in　real　deep　trouble；　wouldn't　you　say；　Franky？'
　　'Amen；'　the　policeman　said。
　　'You　boys　e　back　here　in　a　month；'　said　the　Judge。　'Then　we'll　see　if　your　memory　is　any　better。　Why　are　your　eyes　so　bloodshot？'
　　'They　feel　kind　of　funny；'　Jack　said；　and　the　policeman　barked。　He　had　laughed；　Jack　realized　a　second　later。
　　'Take　them　away；　Franky；'　the　Judge　said。　He　was　already　picking　up　the　telephone。　'You're　going　to　be　different　boys　thirty　days　from　now。　Depend　on　it。'
　　
　　While　they　walked　down　the　steps　of　the　redbrick　Municipal　Building；　Jack　asked　Franky　Williams　why　the　Judge　had　asked　for　their　ages。　The　cop　paused　on　the　bottom　step　and　half…turned　to　glare　up　at　Jack　out　of　his　blazing　face。　'Old　Sunlight　generally　takes　em　in　at　twelve　and　turns　em　loose　at　nineteen。'　He　grinned。　'You　tellin　me　you　never　heard　him　on　the　radio？　He's　about　the　most　famous　thing　we　got　around　here。　I'm　pretty　sure　they　heard　of　old　Sunlight　Gardener　even　way　over　in　Daleville。'　His　teeth　were　small　discolored　pegs；　irregularly　spaced。
　　　
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　　Twenty　minutes　later　they　were　in　farmland　again。
　　Wolf　had　climbed　into　the　back　seat　of　the　police　car　with　surprisingly　little　fuss。　Franky　Williams　had　pulled　his　sap　from　his　belt　and　said；　'You　want　this　again；　you　fuckin　freak？　Who　knows；　it　might　make　you　smart。'　Wolf　had　trembled；　Wolf's　nose　had　wrinkled　up；　but　he　had　followed　Jack　into　the　car。　He　had　immediately　clapped　his　hand　over　his　nose　and　begun　breathing　through　his　mouth。　'We'll　get　away　from　this　place；　Wolf；'　Jack　had　whispered　into　his　ear。　'A　couple　of　days；　that's　all；　and　we'll　see　how　to　do　it。'　'No　chatter'　came　from　the　front　seat。
　　Jack　was　strangely　relaxed。　He　was　certain　that　they　would　find　a　way　to　escape。　He　leaned　back　against　the　plastic　seat；　Wolf's　hand　wrapped　around　his；　and　watched　the　fields　go　by。
　　'There　she　is；'　Franky　Williams　called　from　the　front　seat。　'Your　future　home。'　
　　Jack　saw　a　meeting　of　tall　brick　walls　planted　surrealistically　amidst　the　fields。　Too　tall　to　see　over；　the　walls　around　the　Sunlight　Home　were　topped　with　three　strands　of　barbed　wire　and　shards　of　broken　glass　set　in　cement。　The　car　was　now　driving　past　exhausted　fields　bordered　with　fences　in　which　strands　of　barbed　and　smooth　wire　alternated。
　　'Got　sixty　acres　out　here；'　Williams　said。　'And　all　of　it　is　either　walled　or　fenced…you　better　believe　it。　Boys　did　it　themselves。'　
　　A　wide　iron　gate　interrupted　the　expanse　of　wall　where　the　drive　turned　into　the　Home's　property。　As　soon　as　the　police　car　turned　into　the　drive　the　gates　swung　open；　triggered　by　some　electronic　signal。　'TV　camera；'　the　policeman　explained。　'They're　a…wai