stephen king - mist-第14节

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　〃No；　of　course　it　isn't。〃
　〃And　that　thud　we　felt？〃
　〃No；　but；　David…〃
　He's　scared；　I　kept　reminding　myself。　Don't　blow　up　at　him；　you've　treated　yourself　to　one　blowup　this　morning　and　that's　enough。　Don't　blow　up　at　him　just　because　this　is　the　way　he　was　during　that　stupid　property…line　dispute　。。。　first　patronizing；　then　sarcastic；　and　finally；　when　it　became　clear　he　was　going　to　lose；　ugly。　Don't　blow　up　at　him　because　you're　going　to　need　him。　He　may　not　be　able　to　start　his　own　chainsaw；　but　he　looks　like　the　father　figure　of　the　Western　world；　and　if　he　tells　people　not　to　panic；　they　won't。　So　don't　blow　up　at　him。
　〃You　see　those　double　doors　up　there　beyond　the　beer　cooler？〃
　He　looked；　frowning。　〃Isn't　one　of　those　men　drinking　beer　the　other　assistant　manager？　Weeks？　If　Brown　sees　that；　I　can　promise　you　that　man　will　be　looking　for　a　job　very　soon。
　〃Brent；　will　you　listen　to　me？〃
　He　glanced　back　at　me　absently。　〃What　were　you　saying；　Dave？　I'm　sorry。〃
　Not　as　sorry　as　he　was　going　to　be。　〃Do　you　see　those　doors？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course　I　do。　What　about　them？〃
　〃They　give　on　the　storage　area　that　runs　all　the　way　along　the　west　face　of　the　building。　Billy　fell　asleep　and　I　went　back　there　to　see　if　I　could　find　something　to　cover　him　up　with。
　I　told　him　everything；　only　leaving　out　the　argument　about　whether　or　not　Norm　should　have　gone　out　at　all。　I　told　him　what　had　e　in　。。。　and　finally；　what　had　gone　out；　screaming。　Brent　Norton　refused　to　believe　it。　No…he　refused　to　even　entertain　it。　I　took　him　over　to　Jim；　Ollie；　and　Myron。　All　three　of　them　verified　the　story；　although　Jim　and　Myron　the　flower　were　well　on　their　way　to　getting　drunk。
　Again；　Norton　refused　to　believe　or　even　to　entertain　it。　He　simply　balked。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃No；　no；　no。　Forgive　me；　gentlemen；　but　it's　pletely　ridiculous。　Either　you're　having　me　on〃　…　he　patronized　us　with　his　gleaming　smile　to　show　that　he　could　take　a　joke　as　well　as　the　next　fellow…〃　or　you're　suffering　from　some　form　of　group　hypnosis。〃
　My　temper　rose　again；　and　I　controlled　it　…　with　difficulty。　I　don't　think　that　I'm　ordinarily　a　quick…tempered　man；　but　these　weren't　ordinary　circumstances。　I　had　Billy　to　think　about；　and　what　was　happening…or　what　had　already　happened…to　Stephanie。　Those　things　were　constantly　gnawing　at　the　back　of　my　mind。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　go　back　there。　There's　a　chunk　of　tentacle　on　the　floor。　The　door　cut　it　off　when　it　came　down。　And　you　can　hear　them。　They're　rustling　all　over　that　door。　It　sounds　like　the　wind　in　ivy。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said　calmly。
　〃What？〃　I　really　did　believe　I　had　misheard　him。　〃What　did　you　say？''
　〃I　said　no；　I'm　not　going　back　there。　The　joke　has　gone　far　enough。〃
　〃Brent；　I　swear　to　you　it's　no　joke。〃
　〃Of　course　it　is；〃　he　snapped。　His　eyes　ran　over　Jim；　Myron；　rested　briefly　on　Ollie　Weeks…who　held　his　glance　with　calm　impassivity…and　at　last　came　back　to　me。　〃It's　what　you　locals　probably　call　'a　real　belly…buster。'　Right；　David？〃
　〃Brent　。。。　look…〃
　〃No；　you　look！〃　His　voice　began　to　rise　toward　a　courtroom　shout。　It　carried　very；　very　well；　and　several　of　the　people　who　were　wandering　around；　edgy　and　aimless；　looked　over　to　see　what　was　going　on。　Norton　jabbed　his　finger　at　me　as　he　spoke。　〃It's　a　joke。　It's　a　banana　skin　and　I'm　the　guy　that's　supposed　to　slip　on　it。　None　of　you　people　are　exactly　crazy　about　out…of…towners；　am　I　right？　You　all　pretty　much　stick　together。　The　way　it　happened　when　I　hauled　you　into　court　to　get　what　was　rightfully　mine。　You　won　that　one；　all　right。　Why　not？　Your　father　was　the　famous　artist；　and　it's　your　town。　I　only　pay　my　taxes　and　spend　my　money　here！〃
　He　was　no　longer　performing；　hectoring　us　with　the　trained　courtroom　shout；　he　was　nearly　screaming　and　on　the　verge　of　losing　all　control。　Ollie　Weeks　turned　and　walked　away；　clutching　his　beer。　Myron　and　his　friend　Jim　were　staring　at　Norton　with　frank　amazement。
　〃Am　I　supposed　to　go　back　there　and　look　at　some　ninety…eight…cent　rubber…joke　novelty　while　these　two　hicks　stand　around　and　laugh　their　asses　off？〃
　〃Hey；　you　want　to　watch　who　you're　calling　a　hick；〃　Myron　said。
　〃I'm　glad　that　tree　fell　on　your　boathouse；　if　you　want　to　know　the　truth。　Glad。〃　Norton　was　grinning　savagely　at　me。　〃Stove　it　in　pretty　well；　didn't　it？　Fantastic。　Now　get　out　of　my　way。〃
　He　tried　to　push　past　me。　I　grabbed　him　by　the　arm　and　threw　him　against　the　beer　cooler。　A　woman　cawed　in　surprise。　Two　six…packs　of　Bud　fell　over。
　〃You　dig　out　your　ears　and　listen；　Brent。　There　are　lives　at　stake　here。　My　kid's　is　not　the　least　of　them。　So　you　listen；　or　I'll　swear　I'll　knock　the　shit　out　of　you。〃
　〃Go　ahead；〃　Norton　said；　still　grinning　with　a　kind　of　insane　palsied　bravado。　His　eyes；　bloodshot　and　wide；　bulged　from　their　sockets。　〃Show　everyone　how　big　and　brave　you　are；　beating　up　a　man　with　a　heart　condition　who　is　old　enough　to　be　your　father。〃
　〃Sock　him　anyway！〃　Jim　exclaimed。　〃Fuck　his　heart　condition。　I　don't　even　think　a　cheap　New　York　shyster　like　him　has　got　a　heart。〃
　〃You　keep　out　of　it；〃　I　said　to　Jim；　and　then　put　my　face　down　to　Norton's。　I　was　kissing　distance；　if　that　had　been　what　I　had　in　mind。　The　cooler　was　off；　but　it　was　still　radiating　a　chill。　〃Stop　throwing　up　sand。　You　know　damn　well　I'm　telling　the　truth。〃
　〃I　know　。。。　no　。。。　such　thing；〃　he　panted。
　〃If　it　was　another　time　and　place；　I'd　let　you　get　away　with　it。　I　don't　care　how　scared　you　are；　and　I'm　not　keeping　score。　I'm　scared；　too。　But　I　need　you；　goddammit！　Does　that　get　through？　I　need　you！〃
　〃Let　me　go！　〃
　I　grabbed　him　by　the　shirt　and　shook　him。　〃Don't　you　understand　anything？　People　are　going　to　start　leaving　and　walk　right　into　that　thing　out　there！　For　Christ's　sake；　don't　you　understand　？〃
　〃Let　me　go！〃
　〃Not　until　you　e　back　there　with　me　and　see　for　yourself。〃
　〃I　told　you；　no！　It's　all　a　trick；　a　joke；　I'm　not　as　stupid　as　you　take　me　for…〃
　〃Then　I'll　haul　you　back　there　myself。〃
　I　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulder　and　the　scruff　of　his　neck。　The　scam　of　his　shirt　under　one　arm　tore　with　a　soft　purring　sound。　I　dragged　him　toward　the　double　doors。　Norton　let　out　a　wretched　scream。　A　knot　of　people；　fifteen　or　eighteen；　had　gathered；　but　they　kept　their　distance。　None　showed　any　signs　of　wanting　to　interfere。
　〃Help　me！〃　Norton　cried。　His　eyes　bulged　behind　his　glasses。　His　styled　hair　had　gone　awry　again；　sticking　up　in　the　same　two　little　tufts　behind　his　ears。　People　shuffled　their　feet　and　watched。
　〃What　are　you　screaming　for？〃　I　said　in　his　ear。　〃It's　just　a　joke；　right？　That's　why　I　took　you　to　town　when　you　asked　to　e　and　why　I　trusted　you　to　cross　Billy　in　the　parking　lot…because　I　had　this　handy　fog　all　manufactured；　I　rented　a　fog　machine　from　Hollywood；　it　cost　me　fifteen　thousand　dollars　and　another　eight　thousand　dollars　to　ship　it；　all　so　I　could　play　a　joke　on　you。　Stop　bullshitting　yourself　and　open　your　eyes！〃
　〃Let。。。　me　。。。　go！〃　Norton　bawled。　We　were　almost　at　the　doors。
　〃Here；　here！　What　is　this？　What　are　you　doing？〃
　It　was　Brown。　He　bustled　and　elbowed　his　way　through　the　crowd　of　watchers。
　〃Make　him　let　me　go；〃　Norton　said　hoarsely。　〃He's　crazy。
　〃No。　He's　not　crazy。　I　wish　he　were；　but　he　isn't。〃　That　was　Ollie；　and　I　could　have　blessed　him。　He　came　around　the　aisle　behind　us　and　stood　there　facing　Brown。
　Brown's　eyes　dropped　to　the　beer　Ollie　was　holding。　〃You're　drinking！〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　surprised　but　not　totally　devoid　of　pleasure。　〃You'll　lose　your　job　for　this。〃
　〃e　on；　Bud；〃　I　said；　letting　Norton　go。　〃This　is　no　ordinary　situation。〃
　〃Regulations　don't　change；〃　Brown　said　smugly。　〃I'll　see　that　the　pany　hears　of　it。　That's　my　responsibility。〃
　Norton；　meanwhile；　had　skittered　away　and　stood　at　some　distance；　trying　to　straighten　his　shirt　and　smooth　back　his　hair。　His　eyes　darted　between　Brown　and　me　nervously。
　〃Hey！〃　Ollie　cried　suddenly；　raising　his　voice　and　producing　a　bass　thunder　I　never　would　have　suspected　from　this　large　but　soft　and　unassuming　man。　〃Hey！　Everybody　in　the　store！　You　want　to　e　up　back　and　hear　this！　It　concerns　all　of　you！〃　He　looked　at　me　levelly；　ignoring　Brown　altogether。　〃Am　I　doing　all　right？〃
　〃Fine。〃
　People　began　to　gather。　The　original　knot　of　spectators　to　my　argument　with　Norton　doubled；　then　trebled。
　〃There's　something　you　all　had　better　know…〃　Ollie　began。
　〃You　put　that　beer　down　right　now；〃　Brown　said。
　〃You　shut　up　right　now；〃　I　said；　and　took　a　step　toward　him。
　Brown　took　a　pensatory　step　back。　〃I　don't　know　what　some　of　you　think　you　are　doing；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　can　tell　you　it's　going　to　be　reported　to　the　Federal　Foods　pany！　All　of　it！　And　I　want　you　to　understand…there　may　be　charges！〃　His　lips　drew　nervously　back　from　his　yellowed　teeth；　and　I　could　feel　sympathy　for　him。　Just　trying　to　cope；　that　was　all　he　was　doing。　As　Norton　was　by　imposing　a　mental　gag　order　on　himself。　Myron　and　Jim　had　tried　by　turning　the　whole　thing　into　a　macho　charade…if　the　generator　could　be　fixed；　the　mist　would　blow　over。　This　was　Brown's　way。　He　was　。。。　Protecting　the　Store。
　〃Then　you　go　ahead　and　take　down　the　names；〃　I　said。　〃But　please　don't　talk。〃
　〃I'll　tak