jg.skippingchristmas-第22节

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　When　Salino　got　the　gist　of　the　story；　he　said；　rather　loudly；　〃Frosty？　I　thought　you　guys　weren't　doing　Christmas　this　year；　Mr。　Krank。　First　you　borrow　a　tree。　Now　this。〃
　〃What's　going　on；　Luther？〃　Frohmeyer　called　out。　It　was　a　public　question。　Its　answer　was　for　everyone。
　Luther　looked　at　Nora；　and　realized　she　wasn't　about　to　say　a　word。　The　explanations　belonged　to　him。
　〃Blair's　ing　home；　for　Christmas；〃　he　blurted；　rubbing　his　left　ankle。
　〃Blair's　ing　home；〃　Frohmeyer　repeated　loudly；　and　the　news　rippled　through　the　crowd。　Regardless　of　how　they　felt　about　Luther　at　the　moment；　the　neighbors　adored　Blair。　They'd　watched　her　grow　up；　sent　her　off　to　college；　and　waited　for　her　to　e　back　each　summer。　She'd　babysat　for　most　of　the　younger　kids　on　Hemlock。　As　an　only　child；　Blair　had　treated　the　other　children　like　family。　She　was　everyone's　big　sister。
　〃And　she's　bringing　her　fiancé；〃　Luther　added；　and　this　too　swept　through　the　onlookers。
　〃Who's　Blair？〃　asked　Salino；　as　if　he　were　a　homicide　detective　digging　for　clues。
　〃She's　my　daughter；〃　Luther　explained　to　the　uninformed。　〃She　left　about　a　month　ago　for　Peru；　with　the　Peace　Corps；　not　going　to　be　back　for　a　year；　or　so　we　thought。　She　called　around　eleven　today。　She　was　in　Miami；　ing　home　to　surprise　us　for　Christmas；　and　she's　bringing　a　fiancé；　some　doctor　she　just　met　down　there。〃　Nora　moved　closer　and　was　now　holding　his　elbow。
　〃And　she　expects　to　see　a　Christmas　tree？〃　Frohmeyer　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　a　Frosty？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃And　what　about　the　annual　Krank　Christmas　Eve　party？〃
　〃That　too。〃
　The　crowd　inched　closer　as　Frohmeyer　analyzed　things。　〃What　time　does　she　get　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃Plane　lands　at　six。〃
　〃Six！〃
　People　looked　at　their　watches。　Luther　rubbed　the　other　ankle。　His　feet　were　tingling　now；　a　good　sign。　Blood　was　flowing　down　there　again。
　Vic　Frohmeyer　took　a　step　back　and　looked　into　the　faces　of　his　neighbors。　He　cleared　his　throat；　raised　his　chin；　and　began；　〃Okay；　folks；　here's　the　game　plan。　We're　about　to　have　a　party　here　at　the　Kranks'；　a　Christmas　homeing　for　Blair。　Those　of　you　who　can；　drop　what　you're　doing　and　pitch　in。　Nora；　do　you　have　a　turkey？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　sheepishly。　〃Smoked　trout。〃
　〃Smoked　trout？〃
　〃That's　all　I　could　find。〃
　Several　of　the　women　whispered；　〃Smoked　trout？〃
　〃Who　has　a　turkey？〃　Frohmeyer　asked。
　〃We　have　two；〃　said　Jude　Becker。　〃Both　in　the　oven。〃
　〃Great；〃　said　Frohmeyer。　〃Cliff；　you　take　a　team　down　to　Brixley's　and　get　his　Frosty。　Get　some　lights　too；　we'll　string　'em　along　Luther's　boxwoods　here。　Everybody　go　home；　change　clothes；　grab　whatever　extra　food　you　can　find；　and　meet　back　here　in　a　half　hour。〃
　
　He　looked　at　Saline　and　Treen　and　said；　〃You　guys　head　to　the　airport。〃
　〃For　what？〃　asked　Salino。
　〃Blair　needs　a　ride　home。〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　if　we　can。〃
　〃Shall　I　call　the　Chief？〃
　Treen　and　Salino　headed　for　their　car。　The　neighbors　began　to　scatter；　now　that　they　had　their　instructions　from　Frohmeyer。　Luther　and　Nora　watched　them　disperse　up　and　down　Hemlock；　all　moving　quickly；　all　with　a　purpose。
　Nora　looked　at　Luther　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　Luther　felt　like　crying　too。　His　ankles　were　raw。
　Frohmeyer　said；　〃How　many　guests　are　ing　to　the　party？〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　Nora　said；　staring　at　the　empty　street。
　〃Not　as　many　as　you　think；〃　Luther　said　to　her。　〃The　Underwoods　called　and　canceled。　As　did　Dox。〃
　〃So　did　Father　Zabriskie；〃　said　Nora。
　〃Not　Mitch　Underwood？〃　queried　Frohmeyer。
　〃Yes；　but　he's　not　ing。〃
　What　a　sad　little　party；　thought　Frohmeyer。　〃So　how　many　guests　do　you　need？〃
　〃Everybody's　invited；〃　Luther　said。　〃The　whole　street。〃
　〃Yes；　the　entire　street；〃　Nora　added。
　Frohmeyer　looked　at　Kistler　and　asked；　〃How　many　guys　in　the　station　tonight？〃
　〃Eight。〃
　〃Can　the　firemen　and　medics　e　too？〃　Vic　asked　Nora。
　〃Yes；　they're　all　invited；〃　she　said。
　〃And　the　police　as　well；　added　Luther。
　〃It'll　be　a　crowd。〃
　〃A　crowd　would　be　nice；　wouldn't　it；　Luther？〃　Nora　said。
　He　pulled　the　blankets　tighter　and　said；　〃Yes；　Blair　would　love　a　crowd。〃
　〃How　about　some　carolers？〃　Frohmeyer　asked。
　〃That　would　be　nice；〃　Nora　said。
　They　helped　Luther　into　the　house；　and　by　the　time　he　made　it　to　the　kitchen　he　was　walking　unassisted；　but　with　a　severe　limp。　Kendall　left　him　a　plastic　cane；　one　he　vowed　he　wouldn't　use。
　When　they　were　alone　in　the　living　room；　with　Trogdon's　tree；　Luther　and　Nora　shared　a。　few　quiet　moments　by　the　fire。　They　talked　about　Blair。　They　tried　in　vain　to　analyze　the　prospect　of　a　fiancé　then　a　groom；　then　a　new　son…in…law。
　They　were　touched　beyond　words　by　the　unity　of　their　neighbors。　The　cruise　was　never　mentioned。
　Nora　looked　at　her　watch　and　said　she　had　to　get　ready。　〃I　wish　I'd　had　a　camera；〃　she　said；　walking　away。　〃You　up　there　hanging　by　your　feet　with　half　the　city　watching。〃　And　she　laughed　all　the　way　to　the　bedroom。
　
　
　Nineteen
　
　Blair　was　just　a　little　miffed　that　her　parents　were　not　waiting　at　the　arrival　gate。　Sure　it　was　short　notice；　and　the　airport　was　crowded；　and　they　were　undoubtedly　busy　with　the　party；　but　she　was；　after　all；　bringing　home　her　one　and　only。　She　said　nothing　though；　as　she　and　Enrique　walked　quickly　down　the　concourse；　arm　in　arm；　stride　for　stride；　somehow　weaving　gracefully　through　the　mob　while　remaining　attached　at　the　hip　and　staring　only　at　each　other。
　There　was　no　one　to　greet　them　at　the　baggage　claim　either。　But　as　they　were　hauling　their　luggage　toward　the　exit；　Blair　saw　two　policemen　holding　a　hand…scrawled　sign　that　read　〃Blair　and　Enriqe。〃
　They　had　misspelled　Enrique；　but　at　the　moment　who　cared？　She　called　to　them；　and　they　snapped　into　action；　scooping　up　the　luggage　and　leading　them　through　the　mass　of　people。　Officer　Salino　explained　as　they　walked　outside　that　the　Chief　had　dispatched　a　police　escort　for　Blair　and　Enrique。　Wele　home！
　〃The　party　is　waiting；〃　he　said　as　they　stuffed　their　things　into　the　trunk　of　a　police　car；　which　was　parked　illegally　at　the　curb　in　front　of　the　taxis。　A　second　police　car　was　parked　in　front　of　the　first。
　As　a　South　American；　Enrique　was　more　than　a　little　hesitant　to　voluntarily　get　into　the　back　of　a　police　car。　He　looked　around　nervously；　at　the　crush　of　foot　traffic；　taxis；　and　buses　bumper　to　bumper；　people　yelling；　guards　whistling。　The　idea　of　bolting　crossed　his　mind；　then　his　eyes　returned　to　the　beautiful　face　of　the　girl　he　loved。
　〃Let's　go；〃　she　said；　and　they　jumped　in。　He　would've　followed　her　anywhere。　With　lights　flashing；　the　two　cars　flew　away；　darting　through　traffic；　forcing　others　onto　the　edges　of　the　streets。
　〃This　happens　all　the　time？〃　Enrique　whispered。
　〃Never；〃　Blair　answered。　What　a　nice　touch；　she　thought。
　Officer　Treen　was　driving　furiously。　Officer　Salino　was　smiling　at　the　thought　of　Luther　Krank　hanging　by　his　feet　while　the　entire　neighborhood　looked　on。　But　he　wouldn't　say　a　word。　Blair　would　never　know　the　truth；　according　to　orders　from　Vic　Frohmeyer；　who'd　finally　gotten　through　to　the　Mayor　and　also　had　the　Chief's　ear。
　As　they　worked　their　way　into　the　suburbs；　the　traffic　thinned　and　a　light　snow　began。　〃Calling　for　four　inches；〃　Salino　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Does　it　snow　down　in　Peru？〃
　〃In　the　mountains；〃　Enrique　said。　〃But　I　live　in　Lima；　the　capital。〃
　〃Had　a　cousin　went　to　Mexico　one　time；〃　Salino　said；　but　let　it　go　because　there　was　nothing　else　to　add。　The　cousin　had　almost　died；　etc。；　but　Salino　wisely　decided　not　to　venture　into　third…world　horror　stories。
　Blair　was　determined　to　be　hyperprotective　of　her　fiancé　and　his　homeland；　so　she　quickly　rushed　in　with　a　〃Has　it　snowed　since　Thanksgiving？〃
　The　subject　of　weather　was　the　most　mon　ground　of　all。　〃Had　two　inches　a　week　ago；　wasn't　it？〃　Salino　said；　glancing　at　Treen；　who　was　driving　with　white　knuckles　in　a　successful　attempt　to　keep　his　car　no　more　than　five　feet　behind　the　police　car　in　front　of　them。
　〃Four　inches；〃　Treen　said　with　authority。
　〃No；　it　was　two；　wasn't　it？〃　Salino　argued。
　〃Four；〃　Treen　said；　shaking　his　head；　and　this　irritated　Salino。
　They　finally　settled　on　three　inches　of　snow　as　Blair　and　Enrique　huddled　in　the　back　and　looked　at　the　rows　of　neatly　decorated　houses。
　〃Almost　there；〃　she　said　softly。　〃That's　Stanton；　Hemlock　is　next。〃
　Spike　was　the　lookout。　He　flashed　green　twice　on　his　Boy　Scout　signal　lantern；　and　the　stage　was　set。
　
　Luther　limped　pitifully　into　their　bathroom；　where　Nora　was　putting　the　finishing　touches　on　her　face。　For　twenty　minutes　she'd　been　desperately　experimenting　with　everything　she　could　find…foundations；　powders；　highlights。　Her　wonderfully　tanned　skin　was　hidden　from　the　neck　down；　and　she　was　determined　to　lighten　her　face。
　It　wasn't　working；　though。
　〃You　look　emaciated；〃　Luther　said；　truthfully。　Powder　was　flying　around　her　head。
　Luther　was　in　too　much　pain　to　worry　about　his　tan。　At　Nora's　suggestion；　he　was　wearing　black…black　cardigan　over　a　black　turtleneck　with　dark　gray　slacks。　The　darker　his　attire　the　paler　his　skin；　in　her　opinion。　The　cardigan　he'd　worn　only　once；　and　luckily　it　was　one　Blair　had　given　him　f