CHAPTER 10

  ThefullmooedahalobehindIgelsheadandevokedthememoryofsaintsandisinthechurchIcouldbarelyremember.ByhissidestoodLuchóg.Bothweredressedfortravelinjacketsandshoestowardoffthefrost.

  "Aniday,getupadressed.Youreingwithusthism."

  "M?"Irubbedthesleepfrommyeyes."Itsthemiddleofthenight."

  "Thesunllbeupinnotime.Youdbestbequick,"Luchógadvised.

  Westolealongthehiddentrailsthroughtheforest,leapinglikerabbits,scramblingthroughbrambles,croundwithgreatspeedandnopause.Cloudspassedbehemoon,firsthidingandthenrevealingthelandscape.Thetrailledaptyroads,ourfeetsoundingonthepavemeedthroughopenspaces,throughafieldofstalksthatrustledandhummedaswerolledbetweenrows,pastabarnbigagainstthedarkskyandafarmhouseyellowitishmoonlight.Iall,acowlowedatourfleetingpresence.Adogbarkedonce.Pastthefarm,achoftrees,anotherroad,andthenwewerecrossingastreamfromthedizzyie.Onthefarside,Igelledusintoaditchthatparalleledtheroad,andwecrouchedlowinitscover.Theskybegantolightentoadeepviolet.Anenginecoughedandsoonamilktruckpassedbyontheroadabove.

  "Westartedtoolate,"Igelsaid."Hellhavetobemorecarefulnow.Aniday,thismwewilltesthowfaryouveetobeingoneofus."

  Lookingdowntheroad,Ispiedthemilktruckstoppingatadrearybungalowoskirtsoftowdoorstoodasmallgeneralstorewithasinglegasolinepumpoutfront.Themilkman,allinwhite,desdedfromhisperdcarriedhisbaskettothesidedoor,returningbrisklywithtwoglassemptiesthatkedagainstthewire.Caughtupinthese,Inearlyfottofollowmyradesastheyslitheredahead.Ireachedtheminaculvertnottenyardsfromthegasstation,andtheywerewhisperingandpointingindirespiracy.Theobjectofdesirebegantotakeshapeiheringlight.Atopthepump,acoffeemugshonelikeawhitebea.

  "Gogetthatcup,"Igelordered."Dontbeseen."

  Therisingsunpushedawaythedeeperhuesofthenight,andaationonmypartriskeddiscovery.Itletasktosprintacrossthegrassandpavement,grabthecup,anddashbacktoourhidingplace.Fearheldmeback.

  "Takeoffyourshoes,"Igeladvised."Theyllneverhearyou."

  Islippedoffmybrogansandrantothepump,itsred-wingedhorsevaultingtowardtheheavens,andIgraspedthemugandturogo,whenanuednoisefrozemetothespot.Glassonglass.Iimagihestationownerreagintothemilkbox,detegapeculiarmotionatthegaspump,andhtostopme.Butnosuchthinghappened.Asdoorwhinedandclosedwithabang.Iswallowedandtrottedbayrades,holdingupthemugintriumph.

  "Youdonewell,littletreasure."

  "Whileyoudalliedintheopen"—Igelstareddown—"Iwentaheadforthemilk."

  Thebottlewasalreadyopen.Withoutshakingdownthehalf-inchofcream,Igelpouredmesomefirst,andwewasheddownthehalf-gallohreedrunkards,toastingthedawn.ilksettledintomystomach,swellingmybelly,causioswoonanddrowseawaythemwithmyfellowthievesinaditch.

  Atmidday,wewokefromourslumberandmovedclosertotowninmeasuredsteps,hidingamongtheshadows,haltingatthehintofanypeople.Stoppingonlyatplacesthatappearedtobeempty,homeswithnobodyinside,wepried,snooped,andhuhethreeofusclamberedoveralowstonewallandstolearmloadsoffruitfromapeartree.Eachbitewasasweetsin,aookfarmorethanwecouldeat.Ihatedtoabandonthepears,butwetossedmostofthembackoverthewallandintotheorchard,leaviorotinthesun.Fromaclotheslinelaundry,weeachtooka,freshshirt,andIswipedawhitesweaterforSpeck.Luchógpocketedonesoahangingpair."Tradition."HegrinnedliketheCheshireCat."Themysteryofthemissingsoeverywashingday."

  Asdaylightbeganitsslowfade,thechildrenappearedwiththeirbooksandsatchels,andanhourortwolatercamethefathersintheirbigautomobiles.Wewaitedforsundown,andafterthat,lightsonandlightsout.Good-nightsbegotgoodnights,andhousespoppedintodarknesslikebubblesina.Hereandtherealampburned,betrayingperhapssomelonesomesoulreadingpastmidnightorawanderinginsomniacetfulbachelor.Likeabattlefieldgeneral,Igelstudiedthesesignsoftimebeforewemovedoutintothestreets.

  YearshadpassedsinceIdlastlookedthroughthestorefrontwindowofthetoyshoporfelttheroughsurfaceofbrickers.Thetowher-worldly,yetIcouldnotpassbyasingleplacewithoutexperiengafloodofassociationsandmemories.AtthegatesoftheCatholicchurch,IheardLatinraisedbyaphantomchorus.Themotionlessdyeinfrontofthebarbershhtbacksmellsofwitchhazelandtheclipofsailboxesontheerremindedmeofvalentinesandbirthdaycards.Myschooljuredapictureofchildrenstreamingoutbythedozensfromitsdoubledoors,screamingforsummer.Foralltheirfamiliarity,however,thestreetsuledmewiththeirersandstraightlihedeadweightofwalls,theclearboundariesofwindows.Therepetitivearchitectureboredownlikeawalledmaze.Thesignsandwordsandadmonitions—STOP,EATHERE,SAMEDAYDRYING;YOUDESERVEACOLORTV—didnotilluminateanymystery,butomeindifferenttoreadingtheirstantmessages.Atlast,wecametet.

  Luchógclimbeduptoawindowandslippedthroughaspacethatseemedmuallandnarrow.Hecollapsedlikeamousegoinguhedoor.Standinginthealleyway,Igelalookoutuntilheheardthesoftclickofthefrontlock;heguidedusupthestairstothemarket.Asheopehedoor,Luchóggaveusawangrin,aousledhishair.Silently,weproceededdowntherowofgoods,pasttheOvaltineandBosco,cerealinbrightboxes,sofvegetables,fruit,fish,a.Everynewfoodtemptedme,butIgelwouldnotallowanydelay,andheorderedmeinawhisperto"ehererightnow."Theycrouchedbybagsoomrow,andIgelrippedohasliceofhissharpthumbnail.Helickedhisfiip,dippeditinthepowder,thentastedit.

  "Bah...flour."

  Hemovedafewpadrepeatedtheprocedure.

  "Worse...sugar."

  "Thatstuffwillkillyou,"Luchógsaid.

  "Excuseme,"Iinterrupted,"butIread.Whatareyoulookingfor?"

  Luchóglookedatmeasifthequestionwasthemostpreposterousthinghedeverheard."Salt,man,salt."

  Ipoihebottomshelf,thatevenwithoutthegiftoflanguage,onemightreizethepictureoftheold-fashionedgirlunderherumbrella,leavingbehindatrailofsalt."WhenItRains,ItPours,"Isaid,buttheyseemeduakemymeaning.Weloadedourrucksackswithasmuchascouldbecarriedahestorebythefrontdoor,adeflatiure,sideringthesmasbordinside.omadethejourneyhomelongerandmorearduous,andwedidnotreachcampuntildaybreak.Thesalt,asIwouldlaterdiscover,wasusedtopreservemeatandfishfortheleanmonths,butatthetime,Ifeltasifwehadsearchedthewideseasfortreasureandsailedintoportwithachestfilledwithsand.

  Whenshewashahenewsweater,Speckseyeswidehsurpriseanddelight.Shepeeledoffthetatteredjerseyshehadwornformonthsandliftedthesweateroverherhead,slidingherarmsinsideliketwoeels.Thebriefsightofherbareskiledme,andIlookedaway.Shesatonabla,curledupherlegsbehherbottom,andbademesitbesideher.

  "Tellme,OGreatHunter,aboutyourvisittotheoldworld.Retyourmishapsandbravedeeds.Giveusastory."

  "Theresnotmuchtosay.Wewenttothestoreforsalt.ButIsawaschoolandachurdweswipedabottleofmilk."Ireachedintomypocketandbroughtoutasoft,overripepear."Ibroughtthisback,too."

  Shesetthepearontheground."Tellmemore.Whatelsedidyousee?Howdidtheworldmakeyoufeel?"

  "LikeIwasrememberingandfettingatthesametime.WhenIsteppedintolamplight,myshadoeared,sometimesseveralshadows,butosidethecircle,theyalldisappeared."

  "Youveseenshadowsbefore.Brighterlightsthrowhardershadows."

  "Itisastrangelight,andtheworldisfullhtlinesandedges.Theersoftheirwallslookedassharpasakisunrealandabitscary."

  "Thatsjustatrickofyination.Writeyourimpressionsinyourbook."Spegeredthehemofhersweater."Speakingofbooks,didyouseethelibrary?"

  "Library?"

  "Wheretheykeepthebooks,Aniday.Youdidhelibrary?"

  "Ihadfottenallaboutit."Butaswetalked,Icouldrecallthestacksofwell-wornbooks,thehushinglibrarian,quietmenandiwomenbowingforward,reading.Mymotherhadtakehere.Mymother."Iusedtogothere,Speck.TheyletmetakehomebooksandbringthembackwhenIwasfinished.Igotapapercardandsignedmynameonaslipatthebackofthebook."

  "Youremember."

  "ButIdontrememberwhatIwrote.IdidntwriteAniday."

  Shepickedupthepearandieditforsoftspots."Getmeaknife,Aniday,andIllcutthisinhalf.Andifyood,Illtakeyoutothelibrarytoseethebooks."

  Ratherthanleavinginthemiddleofthenightasbefore,wewalkedoutofcampatnoononacrispOctoberdaywithoutsomuchasafare-thee-well.Luchóg,SpedIfollowedthesametrailintotown,butwetookourtime,asifstrollingthroughthepark,notwantingtoreachthestreetsuntildusk.Abroadhighwayseveredthewoods,aowaitforalongbreakiraffic.Isedthecarsonthecethattheladyintheredightdriveby,butourvantagepointwastoofarfromtheroadtomakeoutanyofthedrivers.

  Atthegasstationontheedgeoftown,twoboyscircledthepumpontheirbicycles,traglazyarjoyingtheirlastfunintheremnantsunlight.Theirmothercalledthemfordinner,butbeforeIcouldseeherface,shevanishedbehindaclosingdoor.Luchógleading,wemovedacrosstheroadinsinglefile.Halfwayacrosstheasphalt,hefrozeandprickedhisearstothewest.Iheardnothing,butinmybonesseheelectricapproachofdangermovingquicklyasasummerstorm.Amomentsindecision,aouradvantage.SpringingfromthedarkhedogswerenearlyuponusbeforeSpeckgrabbedmyhandandshouted,"Run!"

  Teethsnapping,thepairsplittochaseusinameleeofbarksandgrowls.Thebiggerdog,amuscularshepherd,wentafterLuchógashespriowardtown.SpedIracedbacktothewoods,ahoundyelpinginpursuit.Whenwereachedthetrees,sheyankedmefor,sothatIwassixfeetoffthegroundbeforerealizingIwasclimbingasycamore.Speckturnedandfacedthedog,whichleaptforher,butshesteppedtotheside,grabbedthebeastbythescruffofthenedflungitintothebushes.Thedogcriedintheair,snappedbrancheswhenitlanded,andscrambledtoitsfeetipainandfusion.Lookingbackoveritsshoulderatthisgirl,hetuckedhistailbetweenhislegsandslunkaway.

  ingdowntheroadfromtheotherdire,theGermanshepherdtrottedalongsideLuchógasifhewerealongtimepet.Theystoppedasoneinfrontofus,andthedogwaggeditstailandlickedLuchógsfingers."Doyourememberthelastgeling,Speck?TheGermanboy?"

  "Yourenotsupposedtomention—"

  "Hecameinhandywiththisbloodye.IwasrunningformylifewhenIsuddenlyrememberedthatoldlullabyourmaosing."

  "GutenAbend?"

  Hesang,"GutenAbend,gutNacht,mitRosenbedacht,"andthedogwhimpered.Luchógstrokedtheshepherdbetweentheears."Turnsoutmusicdothsoothethesavagebeast."

  "Breast,"shesaid."Thequoteis:Musichathcharmstosoothethesavagebreast."

  "Donttellhim,"Luchógburstout."AufWiedersehen,Schatzi.Goonhome."Thedogtrottedoff.

  "Thatwasscary,"Isaid.

  Feigningnonchalance,Luchógrolledacigarette."Couldhavebeenworse.Couldhavebeenpeople."

  "Ifwemeetsomebody,playdumb,"Spestructed."Theyllthinkwereabunchofkidsandtellustogoonhome.NodyourheadwhenItalkanddontsayaword."Ilookedarouystreets,halfhopingforanenter,butallthepeopleseemedtobeidinner,bathingthechildreingreadyforbed.Inmanyhomes,ahlyblueglowemanatedfromwithin.

  Thelibrarysquattedstatelyinthemiddleofatree-linedblock.Speckmovedasifshehadpassedthiswaymanytimesbefore,andtheproblemoflockeddoorswaseasilycircumvented.Luchógledusaroundthebacktoastaircaseandpoiagapwherethecretehadseparatedfromthemainwall.

  "IdontthinkIfitthroughthat.Myheadstoobig,andImnotthatskinny."

  "Luchógisamouse,"Specksaid."Watdlearn."

  Hetoldmethesecretofsofteningonesbohegististothinklikeamouseorabat,simplyrealizingonesownflexibility."Itwillhurtthefirsttime,lad,likeeverygoodthing,buttheresnotricktoit.Amatteroffaith.Andpractice."

  HedisappearedintothecradSpeckfollowedhim,exhalingasingledrawn-outsigh.PushingthroughthatnarrowspacehurtmorethanIsay.Theabrasionsonmytemplestookweekstoheal.Aftersofteningmyself,Ihadtoremembertokeepmymusclestenseforawhileorriskanarmgoinglimp.ButLuchógwasright—withpractice,squeezingbecameseature.

  Underhelibrary,thecrawlspacewasdarkandforeboding,sowheruckamatch,theflameglowedwithhope.Shetouchedtheflametoadlewidwiththedlelitahurrielampthatsmelledofmustandkerosene.Eachsuccessiveilluminatihtthedimensionsauresoftheroomintosharperfocus.Thebackofthebuildinghadbeenbuiltonaslightslope,sothatthefloorinedfromourentranceway,whereonecouldstandquitefortably,risingtotheoppositewall,whereonecouldrestonlybysitting.IttellyouhowmanytimesIbumpedmyheadontheceilingbythatfarwall.Thechamberhadbeenmadeactally,asortofhollowbehanewadditiontotheoldlibrarybuilding.Sididonthesamefoundation,theroomwashotterthanoutsideduringthesummerandbone-coldier.BylamplightIcouldseethatsomeonehadaddedafewhomeytouches—abraces,afewdrinkingvessels,and,ihwester,asortofeasychairfashionedfromsalvagedblas.LuchógbeganfiddlingwithhiscigarettepoudSpeckorderedhimout,ifhemustsmoke.Grumbling,hescootedthroughthecrack.

  "Sowhatdoyouthink,Aniday?Abitrustic,butstill...civilization."

  "Itsgrand."

  "Youhavehebestpart.Thewholereashtyouhere."Speckmotioofollow,atleduptheinetothebackwall.Shereachedup,turaknob,andapaneldroppedfromtheceiling.Inaflash,shehoistedherselfupthroughtheholeandwasgone.Iko,waitingforherreturn,lookingupthroughtheemptyspace.Allatonce,herfaceappearedintheframe.

  "Areyouingornot?"shewhispered.

  Ifollowedherintothelibrary.Thepalelightfromourchamberbelowdissipatedintheroom,butIcouldstillmakeout—myheartleaptatthesight—rowafterrow,shelfaboveshelf,floortoceiling,acityofbooks.Speckturomeandasked,"Now,whatshallwereadfirst?"松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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