CHAPTER 14

  Lookingfaraheadoh,Ispiedherreturningtocamp,whichsetmymindatease.Sheappearedbetweerees,movinglikeadeeralongtheridgeliheithelibraryhadleftmeeagertoapologize,soItookashortcutthroughtheforestthatwouldallowmetocutheroffalongherroute.Mymindbuzzedwiththestoryofthemanintheyard.Ihopedtotellherbeforetheimportantpartsvahefusion.Speckwouldbemad,rightfullyso,butherpassionwouldmollifyanyanger.AsIdrewnear,shemusthavespottedme,forshetookoffinasprint.HadIatedbefivingchase,perhapsIwouldhavecaughther,buttheroughterraiedspeed.Inmyhaste,Isoeonafallenbrandlandedfacedowni.Spittingleavesandtwigs,IlookeduptoseeSpeckhadalreadymadeitintocampandwastalkingwithBéka.

  "Shedoesntwanttospeakwithyou,"theoldtoadsaiduponmyarrival,andclampedhishandonmyshoulder.Afewoftheelders—Igel,Ragno,Zanzara,andBlomma—hadsidledohim,fawall.

  "ButIalktoher."

  LuchógandKivijoiheothers.Smaolachwalkedtowardthegroupfrht,hishandschedandshaking.Onionsapproachedfrommyleft,amenagtoothsomesmileonherfaihemencircledme.Igelsteppediheringandjabbedafimychest.

  "Youhaveviolatedourtrust."

  "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"

  "Shefollowedyou,Aniday.Shesawyouwiththeman.Youweretoavoidanytactwiththem,yetthereyouwere,tryingtounicatewithohem."Igelpushedmetotheground,kigupacloudofrottenleaves.Humiliated,Iquicklysprangbayfeet.Myfeargrewastheothershollerediives.

  "Doyouknowhowdangerousthatwas?"

  "Teachhimalesson."

  "Doyouuandweotbediscovered?"

  "Sohewontfetagain."

  "Theycouldeandcaptureus,andthenwewillneverbefree."

  "Punishhim."

  Igeldidnotstrikethefirstblow.Frombehind,afistoraclubsmashedintomykidneys,andIarchedmyback.Withmybodythusexposed,Igelpunchedmesquarelyinthesolarplexus,andIhunchedforward.Alineofdroolspilledfrommyopenmouth.Theyooncelikeapackofwilddingdownwoundedprey.Theblowscamefromalldires,andinitialshockgaveain.Theyscrapedmyfacewiththeirnails,rippedhunksofhairfrommyscalp,saeethintomyshoulder,drawingblood.Aropyarmyneck,shuttingofftheflowaggedamygerise.Amidthefury,theireyesblazedwithfrenzy,andsheerhatredtwistedtheirfeatures.Onebyoheypeeledoff,sated,andthepressurelessened,butthosewhoremainedkickedatmyribs,tauntiogetup,snarlingandgrowlingatmetofightback.Icouldnotmusterthestrength.Beforewalkingaway,Békastompedonmyfingers,andIgeldeliveredakickwitheachwordofhisfinaladmonition:"Donottalktopeopleagain."

  Iyeyesandstayedstill.Thesunshonedownthroughthebrahetrees,warmingmybody.Myjointsachedfromthefall,andmyfingersswelledandthrobbed.Oneeyeaintedbladblue,andbloodoozedfromcutsandpooledbehplumbruises.Mymouthtastedofvomitanddirt,andIpassedoutinarumpledheap.

  Coolwateronmycutsandbruisesstartledmeawake,andmyfirstvisionwasofSpetoverme,wipingthebloodfrommyface.DirectlybehioodSmaoladLuchóg,theirfacespih.DropsofmybloodleftaredpatSpeckswhitesweater.WhenItriedtospeak,shepressedthewetclothtomylips.

  "Aniday,Iamsosorry.Ididnotwantthistohappen."

  "Weresorry,too,"Smaolachsaid."Butthelawhasaruthlesslogic."

  ChavisorypokedoutherheadfrombehindSpecksshoulder."Itooknopartinit."

  "Youshouldnothaveleftme,Aniday.Youshouldhavetrustedme."

  Isatupslowlyandfacedmytormentors."Whydidyouletthem?"

  "Itooknopart,"Chavisorysaid.

  LuchógkbesideSpedspokeforall."Wehadtodoit,sothatyouwillnoteverfet.Youspoketothehuman,andifhecaughtyou,youwouldbegoneforever."

  "SupposeIwanttogoback."

  Noonelookedmeintheeye.Chavisoryhummedtoherselfwhiletheotherskeptsilent.

  "Ithinkthatmighthavebeenmyrealfather,Speck.Fromtheotherworld.Ormaybeitwasamonsterandadream.Butitwaoeintothehouse.Ihavebeentherebefore."

  "Doesntmatterwhohewas,"saidSmaolach."Father,mother,sister,brother,yourAuntFannysunohatmatters.Wereyourfamily."

  Ispatoutamouthfulofdirtandblood."Afamilydoesuposowheyhaveagoodreason."

  Chavisoryshoutedinmyear,"Ididouchyou!"Shedancedspiralsarouhers.

  "Wewerefollowingrules,"saidSpeck.

  "Idontwanttostayhere.Iwanttogobayrealfamily."

  "Aniday,yout,"Specksaid."Theythinkyohesepasttenyears.Youmaylooklikeyht,butyouarealmosteighteen.Wearestutime."

  Luchógadded,"Youdbeaghosttothem."

  "Iwanttogohome."

  Spefrontedme."Listen,thereareonlythreepossiblechoices,andgoinghomeisnotohem."

  &quht,"Smaolachsaid.Hesatdownonarottiumpandtedoffthepossibilitiesonhisfingers."Ohatwhileyoudooldhere,deathlyill,youdiebyact.Irememberonefelloenta-walkingawintryday.Hemadeafoolishcalculationinhisleapfromthetopofthebridgetotheedgeoftheriverbank,andhisjumpwasnotjumpyenough.Hefellintotheriver,wentrightthroughtheiddrowned,frozeh."

  "Actshappen,"Luchógadded."Longago,youcouldfindyourselfeaten.Wolvesandmountainlionsprowledtheseparts.Didyoueverhearoftheonefromupnorthwhowiinsideacaveandwokeupspringtimeoaveryhungrygrizzly?Amandiebyanyceimaginable."

  "Two,youcouldberidofus,"Smaolachsaid,"bysimplyleaving.Justupandsaunteroffandgoliveapartandalone.Wediscethatsortofattitude,mindyou,forweneedyouheretohelpusfichild.Tisharderthanyouthinktopretendtobesomeoneelse."

  "Besides,itisalonesomelife,"saidChavisory.

  "True,"Speckagreed."Butyoubelonelywithadozenfriendsbesideyou."

  "Ifyougothatway,youremorelikelytomeetwithasingularfate,"Luchógsaid."Supposeyoufellinaditdcouldup?Thenwherewouldyoube?"

  SaidSmaolach,"Themfellowsusuallysuccumb,doosometwistintheroad?Youloseyourwayinablizzard.Ablackwidownipsyourthumbasyousleep.Andofindtheae,thecowsliportheboiledfrogseggs."

  "Besides,wherewouldyougothatsaerthanthis?"Luchógasked.

  "Iwouldgocrazybeingjustbymyselfallthetime,"Chavisoryadded.

  "Then,"Luchógtoldher,"youwouldhavetomakethege."

  Specklookedbeyoowardthetreeline."Thatsthethirdway.Youfindtherightchildoherside,andyoutakeherplace."

  "Nowyourefusingtheboy,"saidSmaolach."First,youhavetofindachild,learnallabouthim.Allofuswatdstudyhim.Fromadistance,mind."

  "Ithastobesomebodywhoisnthappy,"Chavisorysaid.

  Smaolachscowledather."Nevermindthat.Weobservethechildinteams.Whilecertainpeopletakedownhishabits,othersstudyhisvoice."

  "Startwiththename,"saidSpeck."Gatherallthefacts:age,birthdaybrothersandsisters."

  Chavisoryinterruptedher."Idstayawayfromboyswithdogs.Dogsarebornsuspicious."

  "Youhavetoknowenough,"Specksaid,"soyoumakepeoplebelieveyouareohem.Achildoftheirown."

  Carefullyrollingacigarette,Luchógsaid,"IvebetimesthoughtthatIdlookforalargefamily,withlotsofkidsandsoon,andthenpicktheohemiddlethatnobodyllmissornoticetheyregoneforabit.OrifIfetsomedetailoramslightlyoffinmyimitation,nobodyisthewiser.Maybenumbersixofthirteen,orfourofseven.Notaseasyasitoncewas,nowthatmumsanddadsarenthavingsomanybabies."

  "Idliketobeababyagain,"saidChavisory.

  "Onceyouhavemadethechoice,"saidSmaolach,"wegoinandgrabthechild.Heorshesgottobealone,oryoullbefoundout.HaveyoueverheardthetaleofthemonesinRussiaorthereabouts,wheretheycaughtthelotofthemstealingatinyCossackladwithpoih,andthemCossackstookallourboysofthewoodsandburoacrisp?"

  "Fireisadevilofawaytogo,"saidLuchóg."DidIevertellyouofthefaerygelingcaughtsnoopingaroundtheroomofagirlshewishedtoreplace?Shehearstheparentsein,andleapsinthecloset,makingthegerightthereintheroom.Atfirst,theparentsthoughtnothingofit,whentheyopehedoorandthereshelayinginthedark.Laterthatday,therealgirleshome,andwhatdoyouthink?Theresthetwoofthemsidebyside,andourfriendwouldhavemadeit,butshehadlearnedhowtospeaklikethelittlegirl.Sothemothersays,NowwhieofyouisLudtherealLucysays,Iam,aherLucyletsoutasquawktoraisethedead.Shehadtojumpoutthesed-floorwindowandstartallain."

  Smaolachlookedperplexedduringhisfriendsstory,scratghisheadasiftryingtorecallanimportaail."Ah,theresabitofmagic,ofcourse.Webindupthechildinawebandleadhimtothewater."

  Spinningonherheels,Chavisoryshouted,"Aheintation.Youmustntfetthat."

  "Inhegoeslikeabaptism,"Smaolatinued."Outhees,oneofus.oleaveexceptbyohreeways,andIwouldnotgiveyoumyshoesforthefirsttwo."

  Chavisorydrewacirthedustwithherbaretoe."RemembertheGermanboywhoplayedthepiano?TheonebeforeAniday."

  Withashorthiss,SpeckgrabbedChavisorybythehairandpulledthepoorcreaturetoher.Shesatonherchestandthrewherhandsuponherface,massagingandkneadingChavisorysskinlikesomuchdough.Thegirlscreamedandcriedlikeafoxirap.Whenshehadfinished,SpeckrevealedareasonablecopyofherowfathevisageofChavisory.Theylookedliketwins.

  "Youputmeback,"Chavisoryplained.

  "Youputmeback."Speckimitatedherperfectly.

  IcouldnotbelievewhatIwasseeing.

  "Theresyourfuture,littletreasure.Beholdthegeling,"laidSmaolach."Goingbacktothepastasyourselfisnotanoption.Butwhenyoureturnasagedpersontotheirworld,yougettostaythere,growupasohem,liveasohem,moreorless,growoldastimeallows,andyoulldothatyet,whenyourturnes."

  "Myturn?Iwanttogohhtnow.HowdoIdoit?"

  "Youdont,"Luchógsaid."Youhavetowaituntiltherestofushavegoheresanaturalordertoourworldthatmusturbed.Onechildforonegeling.Whenyourtimees,youwillfindanotherchildfromadifferentfamilythanwhatyouleftbehind.Youotgobackwhene."

  "Imafraid,Aniday,yourelastintheline.Youllhavetobepatient."

  LuchógandSmaolachtookChavisorybehindthehoneysuckleaomanipulateherface.Thethreeofthemlaughedandcarriedhthewholeprocess."Justmakemeprettyagain,"and"Letsgetohemmagazihthewomenspictures,"and"Hey,shelookslikeAudreyHepburn."Eventually,theyfixedherfadsheflewfromtheirclutcheslikeabat.

  Speckwasunusuallykindtomefortherestofthatday,perhapsoutofmisplacedguiltformybeating.Hergentlenessremindedmeofmymotherstouch,orwhatIthoughtIremembered.Myownmhtaswellhavebeenthephantom,oranyotherfitobejured.Iwasfettingagaiinbetweenmemoryandimaginationblurring.ThemanIsaw,couldhebemyfather?Iwondered.Heappearedtohavereizedme,butIwasnothisson,onlyashadowfromthewoods.Inthedeadofnight,IwrotedoworyofthethreewaysinMessnotebook,hopingtouanditalliure.Speckkeptmepanywhiletheothersslept.Iarlight,hercareshadvanishedfromherface;evenhereyes,usuallysotired,radiatedpassion.

  "Iamsorrytheyhurtyou."

  "Itdoesnthurt,"Iwhispered,stiffandsore.

  "Lifeherehasitspensations.Listen."

  Lowinaflyway,anowlsweptbetweerees,unrollingitswingso.Spesed,thefinehairsonherarmsbristling.

  "Youwillold,"shesaid."Youwonthavetoworryaboutgettingmarriedorhavingbabiesorfindingajob.Nograyhairandwrinkles,hfallingout.Youwontneedaeoracrutch."

  Weheardtheowldesdandstrike.Themousescreamedoheit.

  "Likechildrenwhonevergrowup,"Isaid.

  "Theindifferentchildrenoftheearth."Shelethersentengerintheair.Ifixedmyeyeuponasiar,hopingtoseheearthorseetheheavensmove.Thistrickofstaringanddriftingwiththeskyhascuredmyinsomniamanytimesovertheyears,butnotthatnight.Thosestarswerefixedandthisglobecreakedasifstuitsrotation.Eyeslifted,pointingtothemoon,Spesideredthenight,thoughIhadnoideawhatshewasthinking.

  "Washemyfather,Speck?"

  "Iottellyou.Letgoofthepast,Aniday.Itslikeholdingdandelionstothewind.Waitfortherightmoment,andtheseedswillscatteraway."Shelookedatme."Youshouldrest."

  "It.Mymindisfilledwithnoises."

  Shepressedherfiomylips."Listen."

  Nothingstirred.Herpresence,myown."Ithearathing."

  Butshecouldhearadistantsound,andhergazeturnedinward,asiftransportedtoitssource.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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