dk.nightchills-第15节

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　Paul　had　said　they　could　whisper；　breaking　their　rule　of　silence；　if　the　squirrel　had　gained　courage　since　yesterday　and　managed　to　stay　at　the　food　for　more　than　a　few　seconds。　If　they　were　to　domesticate　it；　the　animal　would　have　to　bee　accustomed　to　their　voices。
　〃Please　don't　be　scared；〃　Mark　said　softly。　Paul　had　promised　that；　if　the　squirrel　could　be　tamed；　Mark　would　be　allowed　to　take　it　home　and　make　a　pet　of　it。　〃Please；　don't　run　away。〃
　Not　yet　prepared　to　trust　them；　it　dropped　the　slice　of　apple；　turned；　bounded　into　the　forest；　and　scrambled　to　the　upper　branches　of　a　maple　tree。
　Mark　jumped　up。　〃Ah；　heck！　We　wouldn't　have　hurt　you；　you　dumb　squirrel！〃　Disappointment　lined　his　face。
　〃Stay　calm。　He'll　be　back　again　tomorrow；〃　Paul　said。　He　stood　and　stretched　his　stiff　muscles。
　〃He'll　never　trust　us。〃
　〃Yes；　he　will。　Little　by　little。〃
　〃We'll　never　tame　him。〃
　〃Little　by　little；〃　Paul　said。　〃He　can't　be　converted　in　one　week。　You've　got　to　be　patient。〃
　〃I'm　not　very　good　at　being　patient。〃
　〃I　know。　But　you'll　learn。〃
　〃Little　by　little？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Paul　said。　He　bent　over；　picked　up　the　apple　slices　and　peanuts；　and　dropped　them　into　a　plastic　bag。
　〃Hey；〃　Mark　said；　〃maybe　he's　mad　at　us　because　we　always　take　the　food　when　we　leave。〃
　Paul　laughed。　〃Maybe　so。　But　if　he　got　in　the　habit　of　sneaking　back　and　eating　after　we've　gone；　he　wouldn't　have　any　reason　to　e　out　while　we're　here。〃
　As　they　started　back　toward　camp；　which　lay　at　the　far　end　of　the　two…hundred…yard…long　mountain　meadow；　Paul　gradually　became　aware　again　of　the　beautiful　day　as　if　it　were　a　mosaic　for　all　the　senses；　falling　into　place　around　him；　piece　by　piece。　The　warm　summer　breeze。　White　daisies　gleaming　in　the　grass；　and　here　and　there　a　buttercup。　The　odor　of　grass　and　earth　and　wild　flowers。　The　constant　rustle　of　leaves　and　the　gentle　soughing　of　the　breeze　in　the　pine　boughs。　The　trilling　of　birds。　The　solemn　shadows　of　the　forest。　High　above；　a　hawk　wheeled　into　sight；　the　last　piece　of　the　mosaic；　its　shrill　cry　seemed　filled　with　pride；　as　if　it　knew　that　it　had　capped　the　scene；　as　if　it　thought　it　had　pulled　down　the　sky　with　its　wings。
　The　time　had　e　for　their　weekly　trip　into　town　to　replenish　their　supply　of　perishable　goods…but　for　a　moment　he　didn't　want　to　leave　the　mountain。　Even　Black　River…small；　nearly　isolated　from　the　modem　world；　singularly　peaceful…　would　seem　raucous　when　pared　to　the　serenity　of　the　forest。
　But　of　course　Black　River　offered　more　than　fresh　eggs；　milk；　butter；　and　other　groceries：　Jenny　was　there。
　As　they　drew　near　the　camp；　Mark　ran　ahead。　He　pushed　aside　a　pair　of　yellow　canvas　flaps　and　peered　into　the　large　tent　that　they　had　erected　in　the　shadow　of　several　eighty…foot　hemlocks　and　firs。　A　second　later　he　turned　away　from　the　tent；　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth；　and　shouted；　〃Rya！　Hey；　Rya！〃
　〃Here；〃　she　said；　ing　out　from　behind　the　tent。
　For　an　instant　Paul　couldn't　believe　what　he　saw：　a　small　young　squirrel　perched　on　her　right　arm；　its　claws　hooked
　through　the　sleeve　of　her　corduroy　jacket。　It　was　chewing　on　a　piece　of　apple；　and　she　was　petting　it　gently。
　〃How　did　you　do　it？〃　he　asked。
　〃Chocolate。〃
　〃Chocolate？〃
　She　grinned。　〃I　started　out　trying　to　lure　it　with　the　same　bait　you　and　Mark　have　been　using。　But　then　I　figured　that　a　squirrel　can　probably　get　nuts　and　apples　on　his　own。　But　he　can't　get　chocolate。　I　figured　the　smell　would　be　irresistible…　and　it　was！　He　was　eating　out　of　my　hand　by　Wednesday；　but　I　didn't　want　you　to　know　about　him　until　I　was　sure　he'd　gotten　over　the　worst　of　his　fear　of　humans。〃
　〃He's　not　eating　chocolate　now。〃
　〃Too　much　of　it　wouldn't　be　good　for　him。〃
　The　squirrel　raised　its　head　and　looked　quizzically　at　Paul。　Then　it　continued　gnawing　on　the　piece　of　apple　in　its　forepaws。
　〃Do　you　like　him；　Mark？〃　Rya　asked。　As　she　spoke　her　grin　melted　into　a　frown。
　Paul　saw　why：　the　boy　was　close　to　tears。　He　wanted　a　squirrel　of　his　own…but　he　knew　they　couldn't　take　two　of　the　animals　home　with　them。　His　lower　lip　quivered；　however；　he　was　determined　not　to　cry。
　Rya　recovered　quickly。　Smiling；　she　said；　〃Well；　Mark？　Do　you　like　him？　I'll　be　upset　if　you　don't。　I　went　to　an　awful　lot　of　trouble　to　get　him　for　you。〃
　You　little　sweetheart；　Paul　thought。
　Blinking　back　tears；　Mark　said；　〃For　me？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。
　〃You　mean　you're　giving　him　to　me？〃
　She　feigned　surprise。　〃Who　else？〃
　I　thought　he　was　yours。〃　。
　Now　what　would　I　want　with　a　pet　squirrel？　she　asked。　〃He'll　be　a　good　pet　for　a　boy。　But　he　would　be　all　wrong　for　a　girl。〃　She　put　the　animal　on　the　ground　and　hunkered　down　beside　it。　Fishing　a　piece　of　candy　from　a　pocket；　she　said；　〃e　on。　You've　got　to　feed　him　some　chocolate　if　you　really　want　to　make　friends　with　him。〃
　The　squirrel　plucked　the　candy　from　Mark's　hand　and　nibbled　it　with　obvious　pleasure。　The　boy　was　also　in　ecstasy　as　he　gently　stroked　its　flanks　and　long　tail。　When　the　chocolate　was　gone；　the　animal　sniffed　first　at　Mark　and　then　at　Rya；　and　when　it　realized　there　would　be　no　more　treats　today；　it　slipped　out　from　between　them　and　dashed　toward　the　trees。
　〃Hey！〃　Mark　said。　He　ran　after　it　until　he　saw　that　it　was　much　faster　than　he。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Rya　said。　〃He'll　e　back　tomorrow；　so　long　as　we　have　some　chocolate　for　him。〃
　〃If　we　tame　him；〃　Mark　said；　〃can　I　take　him　into　town　next　week？〃
　〃We'll　see；〃　Paul　said。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃If　we're　going　to　spend　today　in　town；　we'd　better　get　moving。〃
　The　station　wagon　was　parked　half　a　mile　away；　at　the　end　of　a　weed…choked　dirt　lane　that　was　used　by　hunters　in　late　autumn　and　early　winter。
　True　to　form；　Mark　shouted；　〃Last　one　to　the　ear's　a　dope！〃　He　ran　ahead　along　the　path　that　snaked　down　through　the　woods；　and　in　a　few　seconds　he　was　out　of　sight。
　Rya　walked　at　Paul's　side。
　〃That　was　a　very　nice　thing　you　did；〃　he　said。
　She　pretended　not　to　know　what　he　meant。　〃Getting　the　squirrel　for　Mark？　It　was　fun。〃
　〃You　didn't　get　it　for　Mark。〃
　〃Sure　I　did。　Who　else　would　I　get　it　for？〃
　〃Yourself；〃　Paul　said。　〃But　when　you　saw　how　much　it　meant　to　him　to　have　a　squirrel　of　his　own；　you　gave　it　up。〃
　She　grimaced。　〃You　must　think　I'm　a　saint　or　something！　If　I'd　really　wanted　that　squirrel；　I　wouldn't　have　given　him　away。　Not　in　a　million　years。〃
　〃You're　not　a　good　liar；〃　he　said　affectionately。
　Exasperated；　she　said；　〃Fathers！〃　Hoping　he　wouldn't　notice　her　embarrassment；　she　ran　ahead；　shouting　to　Mark；　and　was　soon　out　of　sight　beyond　a　dense　patch　of　mountain　laurel。
　〃Children！〃　he　said　aloud。　But　there　was　no　exasperation　in　his　voice；　only　love。
　Since　Annie's　death　he　had　spent　more　time　with　the　children　than　he　might　have　done　if　she　had　lived…partly　because　there　was　something　of　her　in　Mark　and　Rya；　and　he　felt　that　he　was　keeping　in　touch　with　her　through　them。　He　had　learned　that　each　of　them　was　quite　different　from　the　other；　each　with　his　unique　outlook　and　abilities；　and　he　cherished　their　individuality。　Rya　would　always　know　more　about　life；　people；　and　the　rules　of　the　game　than　Mark　would。　Curious；　probing；　patient；　seeking　knowledge；　she　would　enjoy　life　from　an　intellectual　vantage　point。　She　would　know　that　especially　intense　passion…sexual；　emotional；　mental…which　none　but　the　very　bright　ever　experience。　On　the　other　hand；　although　Mark　would　face　life　with　far　less　understanding　than　Rya；　he　was　not　to　be　pitied。　Not　for　a　moment！　Brimming　with　enthusiasm；　quick　to　laugh；　overwhelmingly　optimistic；　he　would　live　every　one　of　his　days　with　gusto。　If　he　was　denied　plex　pleasures　and　satisfactions…well；　to　pensate　for　that；　he　would　ever　be　in　tune　with　the　simple　joys　of　life　in　which　Rya；　while　understanding　them；　would　never　be　able　to　indulge　herself　fully　without　some　self…consciousness。　Paul　knew　that；　in　days　to　e；　each　of　his　children　would　bring　him　a　special　kind　of　happiness　and　pride…unless　death　took　them　from　him。
　As　if　he　had　walked　into　an　invisible　barrier；　he　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　trail　and　swayed　slightly　from　side　to　side。
　That　last　thought　had　taken　him　pletely　by　surprise。　When　he　lost　Annie；　he　had　thought　for　a　time　that　he　had　lost　all　that　was　worth　having。　Her　death　made　him　painfully　aware　that　everything…even　deeply　felt；　strong　personal　relationships　that　nothing　in　life　could　twist　or　destroy…was　temporary；　pawned　to　the　grave。　For　the　past　three　and　a　half　years；　in　the　back　of　his　mind；　a　small　voice　had　been　telling　him　to　be　prepared　for　death；　to　expect　it；　and　not　to　let　the　loss　of　Mark　or　Rya　or　anyone　else；　if　it　came；　shatter　him　as　Annie's　death　had　nearly　done。　But　until　now　the　voice　had　been　almost　subconscious；　an　urgent　counsel　of　which　he　was　only　vaguely　aware。　This　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　let　it　pop　loose　from　the　subconscious。　As　it　rose　to　the　surface；　it　startled
　him。　A　shiver　passed　through　him　from　head　to　foot。　He　had　an　eerie　sense　of　precognition。　Then　it　was　gone　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。
　An　animal　moved　in　the　underbrush。
　Overhead；　above　the　canopy　of　trees；　a　hawk　screamed。
　Suddenly　the　summer　forest　seemed　much　too　dark