sk.thewastelands-第54节

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for　at　least　a　week；〃　he　said。
　　Jake　had　gazed　at　it　doubtfully。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Cheflet；〃　Roland　said；　then　looked　disgustedly　at　Eddie。　〃You　tell　him。　I　still　can't　say　it。〃
　　〃Keflex。　You　can　trust　it；　Jake；　it　came　from　a　government…approved　pharmacy　in　good　old　New　York。　Roland　swallowed　a　bunch　of　it；　and　he's　as　healthy　as　a　horse。　Looks　a　little　like　one；　too；　as　you　can　see。〃
　　Jake　was　astonished。　〃How　did　you　get　medicine　in　New　York？〃
　　〃That's　a　long　story；〃　the　gunslinger　said。　〃You'll　hear　all　of　it　in　time；　but　for　now　just　take　the　pill。〃
　　Jake　did。　The　response　was　both　quick　and　satisfying。　The　angry　red　swelling　around　the　bite　began　to　fade　in　twenty…four　hours；　and　now　the　fever　was　gone　as　well。
　　The　warm　thing　nuzzled　again　and　Jake　sat　up　with　a　jerk；　his　eyes　flying　open。
　　The　creature　which　had　been　licking　his　cheek　took　two　hasty　steps　backward。　It　was　a　billy…bumbler；　but　Jake　didn't　know　that；　he　had　never　seen　one　before　now。　It　was　skinnier　than　the　ones　Roland's　party　had　seen　earlier；　and　its　black…　and　gray…striped　fur　was　matted　and　mangy。　There　was　a　clot　of　old　dried　blood　on　one　flank。　Its　gold…ringed　black　eyes　looked　at　Jake　anxiously；　its　hindquarters　switched　hopefully　back　and　forth。　Jake　relaxed。　He　supposed　there　were　exceptions　to　the　rule；　but　he　had　an　idea　that　something　wagging　its　tail…or　trying　to…was　probably　not　too　dangerous。
　　It　was　just　past　first　light；　probably　around　five…thirty　in　the　morning。　Jake　could　peg　it　no　closer　than　that　because　his　digital　Seiko　no　longer　worked　。。。　or　rather；　was　working　in　an　extremely　eccentric　way。　When　he　had　first　glanced　at　it　after　ing　through；　the　Seiko　claimed　it　was　98：71：65；　a　time　which　did　not；　so　far　as　Jake　knew；　exist。　A　longer　look　showed　him　that　the　watch　was　now　running　backward。　If　it　had　been　doing　this　at　a　steady　rate；　he　supposed　it　might　still　have　been　of　some　use；　but　it　wasn't。　It　would　unwind　its　numbers　at　what　seemed　like　the　right　speed　for　awhile　（Jake　verified　this　by　saying　the　word　〃Mississippi〃　between　each　number）；　and　then　the　readout　would　either　stop　entirely　for　ten　or　twenty　seconds…making　him　think　the　watch　had　finally　given　up　the　ghost…or　a　bunch　of　numbers　would　blur　by　all　at　once。
　　He　had　mentioned　this　odd　behavior　to　Roland　and　had　shown　him　the　watch；　thinking　it　would　amaze　him；　but　Roland　examined　it　closely　for　only　a　moment　or　two　before　nodding　in　a　dismissive　way　and　telling　Jake　it　was　an　interesting　clock；　but　as　a　rule　no　timepiece　did　very　good　work　these　days。　So　the　Seiko　was　useless；　but　Jake　still　found　himself　loath　to　throw　it　away　。　。　。　because；　he　supposed；　it　was　a　piece　of　his　old　life；　and　there　were　only　a　few　of　those　left。
　　Right　now　the　Seiko　claimed　it　was　sixty…two　minutes　past　forty　on　a　Wednesday；　Thursday；　and　Saturday　in　both　December　and　March。
　　The　morning　was　extremely　foggy；　beyond　a　radius　of　fifty　or　sixty　feet；　the　world　simply　disappeared。　If　this　day　was　like　the　previous　three；　the　sun　would　show　up　as　a　faint　white　circle　in　another　two　hours　or　so；　and　by　nine…thirty　the　day　would　be　clear　and　hot。　Jake　looked　around　and　saw　his　travelling　panions　（he　didn't　quite　dare　call　them　friends；　at　least　not　yet）　asleep　beneath　their　hide　blankets…Roland　close　by；　Eddie　and　Susannah　a　larger　hump　on　the　far　side　of　the　dead　campfire。
　　He　once　more　turned　his　attention　to　the　animal　which　had　awak…ened　him。　It　looked　like　a　bination　raccoon　and　woodchuck；　with　a　dash　of　dachshund　thrown　in　for　good　measure。
　　〃How　you　doin；　boy？〃　he　asked　softly。
　　〃Oy！〃　the　billy…bumbler　replied　at　once；　still　looking　at　him　anx…iously。　Its　voice　was　low　and　deep；　almost　a　bark；　the　voice　of　an　English　footballer　with　a　bad　cold　in　his　throat。
　　Jake　recoiled；　surprised。　The　billy…bumbler；　startled　by　the　quick　movement；　took　several　further　steps　backward；　seemed　about　to　flee；　and　then　held　its　ground。　Its　hindquarters　wagged　back　and　forth　more　strenuously　than　ever；　and　its　gold…black　eyes　continued　to　regard　Jake　nervously。　The　whiskers　on　its　snout　trembled。
　　〃This　one　remembers　men；〃　a　voice　remarked　at　Jake's　shoulder。　He　looked　around　and　saw　Roland　squatting　just　behind　him　with　his　forearms　resting　on　his　thighs　and　his　long　hands　dangling　between　his　knees。　He　was　looking　at　the　animal　with　a　great　deal　more　interest　than　he　had　shown　in　Jake's　watch。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Jake　asked　softly。　He　did　not　want　to　startle　it　away；　he　was　enchanted。　〃Its　eyes　are　beautiful！〃
　　〃Billy…bumbler；〃　Roland　said。
　　〃Umber！〃　the　creature　ejaculated；　and　retreated　another　step。
　　〃It　talks！〃
　　〃Not　really。　Bumblers　just　repeat　what　they　hear…or　used　to。　I　haven't　heard　one　do　it　in　years。　This　fellow　looks　almost　starved。　Proba…bly　came　to　forage。〃
　　〃He　was　licking　my　face。　Can　I　feed　it？〃
　　〃We'll　never　get　rid　of　it　if　you　do；〃　Roland　said；　then　smiled　a　little　and　snapped　his　fingers。　〃Hey！　Billy！〃
　　The　creature　mimicked　the　sound　of　the　snapping　fingers　somehow；　it　sounded　as　if　it　were　clucking　its　tongue　against　the　roof　of　its　mouth。　〃Ay！〃　it　called　in　its　hoarse　voice。　〃Ay；　Illy！〃　Now　its　ragged　hindquarters　were　positively　gagging　back　and　forth。
　　〃Go　ahead　and　give　it　a　bite。　I　knew　an　old　groom　once　who　said　a　good　bumbler　is　good　luck。　This　looks　like　a　good　one。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Jake　agreed。　〃It　does。〃
　　〃Once　they　were　tame；　and　every　barony　had　half　a　dozen　roaming　around　the　castle　or　manor…house。　They　weren't　good　for　much　except　amusing　the　children　and　keeping　the　rat　population　down。　They　can　be　quite　faithful…or　were　in　the　old　days…although　I　never　heard　of　one　that　would　remain　as　loyal　as　a　good　dog。　The　wild　ones　are　scavengers。　Not　dangerous；　but　a　pain　in　the　ass。〃
　　〃Ass！〃　cried　the　bumbler。　Its　anxious　eyes　continued　to　flick　back　and　forth　between　Jake　and　the　gunslinger。
　　Jake　reached　into　his　pack；　slowly；　afraid　to　startle　the　creature；　and　drew　out　the　remains　of　a　gunslinger　burrito。　He　tossed　it　toward　the　billy…bumbler。　The　bumbler　flinched　back　and　then　turned　with　a　small；　childlike　cry；　exposing　its　furry　corkscrew　tail。　Jake　felt　sure　it　would　run；　but　it　stopped；　looking　doubtfully　back　over　its　shoulder。
　　〃e　on；〃　Jake　said。　〃Eat　it；　boy。〃
　　〃Oy；〃　the　bumbler　muttered；　but　it　didn't　move。
　　〃Give　it　time；〃　Roland　said。　〃It'll　e；　I　think。〃
　　The　bumbler　stretched　forward；　revealing　a　long　and　surprisingly　graceful　neck。　Its　slender　black　nose　twitched　as　it　sniffed　the　food。　At　last　it　trotted　forward；　and　Jake　noticed　it　was　limping　a　little。　The　bum…bler　sniffed　the　burrito；　then　used　one　paw　to　separate　the　chunk　of　deermeat　from　the　leaf。　It　carried　out　this　operation　with　a　delicacy　that　was　oddly　solemn。　Once　the　meat　was　clear　of　the　leaf；　the　bumbler　wolfed　it　in　a　single　bite；　then　looked　up　at　Jake。　〃Oy！〃　it　said；　and　when　Jake　laughed；　it　shrank　away　again。
　　〃That's　a　skinny　one；〃　Eddie　said　sleepily　from　behind　them。　At　the　sound　of　his　voice；　the　bumbler　immediately　turned　and　was　gone　into　the　mist。
　　〃You　scared　it　away！〃　Jake　accused。
　　〃Jeez；　I'm　sorry；〃　Eddie　said。　He　ran　a　hand　through　his　sleep…corkscrewed　hair。　〃If　I'd　known　it　was　one　of　your　close　personal　friends；　Jake；　I　would　have　dragged　out　the　goddam　coffee…cake。〃
　　Roland　clapped　Jake　briefly　on　the　shoulder。　〃It'll　be　back。〃
　　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　　〃If　something　doesn't　kill　it；　yes。　We　fed　it；　didn't　we？〃
　　Before　Jake　could　reply；　the　sound　of　the　drums　began　again。　This　was　the　third　morning　they　had　heard　them；　and　twice　the　sound　had　e　to　them　as　afternoon　slipped　down　toward　evening：　a　faint；　toneless　thudding　from　the　direction　of　the　city。　The　sound　was　clearer　this　morn…ing；　if　no　more　prehensible。　Jake　hated　it。　It　was　as　if；　somewhere　out　in　that　thick　and　featureless　blanket　of　morning　mist；　the　heart　of　some　big　animal　was　beating。
　　〃You　still　don't　have　any　idea　what　that　is；　Roland？〃　Susannah　asked。　She　had　slipped　on　her　shift；　tied　back　her　hair；　and　was　now　folding　the　blankets　beneath　which　she　and　Eddie　had　slept。
　　〃No。　But　I'm　sure　vve'll　find　out。〃
　　〃How　reassuring；〃　Eddie　said　sourly。
　　Roland　got　to　his　feet。　〃e　on。　Let's　not　waste　the　day。〃
　　　
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　　THE　FOG　BEGAN　TO　unravel　after　they　had　been　on　the　road　for　an　hour　or　so。　They　took　turns　pushing　Susannah's　chair；　and　it　jolted　unhappily　along；　for　the　road　was　now　mined　with　large；　rough　cobblestones。　By　midmorning　the　day　was　fair；　hot；　and　cloudless；　the　city　skyline　stood　out　clearly　on　the　southeastern　horizon。　To　Jake　it　didn't　look　much　different　from　the　skyline　of　New　York；　although　he　thought　these　build…ings　might　not　be　as　high。　If　the　place　had　fallen　apart；　as　most　things　in　Roland's　world　apparently　had；　you　certainly　couldn't　tell　it　from　here。　Like　Eddie；　Jake　had　begun　to　entertain　the　unspoken　hope　that　they　might　find　help　there　。。。　or　at　least　a　good　hot　meal。
　　To　their　left；　thirty　or　forty　miles　away；　they　could　see　the　broad　sweep　of　the　Send　River。　Birds　circled　above　it　in　large　flocks。　Every　now　and　then　one　would　fold　its　wings　and　drop　like　a　stone；　probably　on　a　fishing　expedition。　The　road　and　the　river　wer