sk.carrie-第25节

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'Sixty…three　votes　for　Frank　Grier　and　Jessica　MacLean；　and　sixty…three　votes　for　Thomas　Ross　and　Carrie　White。'
This　was　followed　by　a　moment　of　silence；　and　then　sudden；　swelling　applause。　Tommy　looked　across　at　his　date。　Her　head　was　lowered；　as　if　in　shame；　but　he　had　a　sudden　feeling。
（carrie　carrie　carrie）
not　unlike　the　one　he　had　had　when　he　asked　her　to　the　prom。　His　mind　felt　as　if　something　alien　was　moving　in　there；　calling　Carrie's　name　over　and　over　again。　As　if
'Attention！'　Vic　was　calling。　'If　I　could　have　your　attention；　please。'　The　applause　quieted。　'We're　going　to　have　a　run…off　ballot。　When　the　people　passing　out　the　slips　of　paper　get　to　you；　please　write　the　couple　you　favour　on　it。'
He　left　the　mike；　looking　relieved。
The　ballots　were　circulated；　they　had　been　hastily　torn　from　leftover　prom　programmes。　The　band　played　unnoticed　and　people　talked　excitedly。
'They　weren't　applauding　for　us；'　Carrie　said；　looking　up　The　thing　he　had　felt　（or　thought　he　had　felt）　was　gone　'It　couldn't　have　been　for　us。'
'Maybe　it　was　for　you。'
She　looked　at　him；　mute。
'What's　taking　it　so　long？'　she　hissed　at　him。　'I　beard　them　clap。　Maybe　that　was　it。　If　you　fucked　up…'　The　length　of　jute　cord　hung　between　them　limply；　untouched　since　Billy　had　poked　a　screwdriver　through　the　vent　and　lifted　it　out。
'Don't　worry；'　he　said　calmly。　'They'll　play　the　school　song。　They　always　do。'
'But…'
'Shut　up。　You　talk　too　fucking　much。'　The　tip　of　his　cigarette　winked　peacefully　in　the　dark。
She　shut。　But
（oh　when　this　is　over　you're　going　to　get　it　buddy　maybe　you'll　go　to　bed　with　lover's　nuts　tonight）
her　mind　ran　furiously　over　his　words；　storing　them。　People　did　not　speak　to　her　in　such　a　manner。　Her　father　was　a　lawyer。
It　was　seven　minutes　to　ten。
He　was　holding　the　broken　pencil　in　his　hand；　ready　to　write；　when　she　touched　his　wrist　lightly；　tentatively。
'Don't　。　。'
'What？'
'Don't　vote　for　us；'　she　said　finally。
He　raised　his　eyebrows　quizzically。　'Why　not？　In　for　a　penny；　in　for　a　pound。　That's　what　my　mother　always　says。'
（mother）
A　picture　rose　in　her　mind　instantly；　her　mother　droning　endless　prayers　to　a　towering；　faceless；　columnar　God　who　prowled　roadhouse　parking　lots　with　a　sword　of　fire　in　one　hand。　Terror　rose　in　her　blackly；　and　she　had　to　fight　with　all　her　spirit　to　hold　it　back。　She　could　not　explain　her　dread；　her　sense　of　premonition。　She　could　only　smile　helplessly　and　repeat：　'Don't。　Please。'
The　Honour　Society　ushers　were　ing　back；　collecting　folded　slips。　He　hesitated　a　moment　longer；　then　suddenly　scrawled　Tommy　and　Carrie　on　the　ragged　slip　of　paper。　'For　you；'　he　said。　'Tonight　you　go　first…class。'
She　could　not　reply；　for　the　premonition　was　on　her。　her　mother's　face。
The　knife　slipped　from　the　whetstone；　and　in　an　instant　it　had　sliced　the　cup　of　her　palm　below　the　thumb。
She　looked　at　the　cut。　It　bled　slowly；　thickly；　from　the　open　lips　of　the　wound　running　out　of　her　hand　and　spotting　the　worn　linoleum　of　the　kitchen　floor。　Good；　then。　It　was　good。　The　blade　had　tasted　flesh　and　let　blood。　She　did　not　bandage　it　but　tipped　the　flow　over　the　cutting　edge；　letting　the　blood　dull　the　blade's　edge；　then　she　began　to　sharpen　again；　heedless　of　the　droplets　which　splattered　her　dress。
If　thine　right　eye　offend　thee；　pluck　it　out
If　it　was　a　hard　scripture；　it　was　also　sweet　and　good。　A　fitting　scripture　for　those　who　lurked　in　the　doorway　shadows　of　one…night　hotels　and　in　the　weeds　behind　bowling　alleys。
Pluck　it　out
（oh　and　the　nasty　music　they　play）
Pluck　it
（the　girls　show　their　underwear　how　it　sweats　how　it　sweats　blood）
out
The　Black　Forest　cuckoo　began　to　strike　ten　and
（cut　her　guts　out　on　the　floor）
if　thine　right　eye　offend　thee；　pluck　it　out
The　dress　was　done　and　she　could　not　watch　the　television　or　take　out　her　books　or　call　Nancy　on　the　phone。　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　sit　on　the　sofa　facing　the　blackness　of　the　kitchen　window　and　feel　some　nameless　sort　of　fear　growing　in　her　like　an　infant　ing　to　dreadful　term。
With　a　sigh　she　began　to　massage　her　arms　absently。　They　were　cold　and　prickly。　It　was　twelve　after　ten　and　there　was　no　reason；　really　no　reason；　to　feel　that　the　world　was　ing　to　an　end。
The　stacks　were　higher　this　time；　but　they　still　looked　exactly　the　same。　Again；　three　counts　were　taken　to　make　sure。　Then　Vic　Mooney　went　to　the　mike　again。　He　paused　a　moment；　relishing　the　blue　feel　of　tension　in　the　air；　and　then　announced　simply：
‘Tommy　and　Carrie　win。　By　one　vote。'
Dead　silence　for　a　moment；　then　applause　filled　the　hall　again；　some　of　it　not　without　satiric　overtones。　Carrie　drew　in　a　startled；　smothered　gasp；　and　Tommy　again　felt　（but　for　only　a　second）　that　weird　vertigo　in　his　mind
（carrie　carrie　carrie　carrie）
that　seemed　to　blank　out　all　thought　but　the　name　and　image　of　this　strange　girl　he　was　with。　For　a　fleeting　second　he　was　literally　scared　shitless。
Something　fell　on　the　floor　with　a　clink；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　candle　between　them　whiffed　out。
Then　Josie　and　the　Moonglows　were　playing　a　rock　version　of　Pomp　and　Circumstance；　the　ushers　appeared　at　their　table　（almost　magically；　all　this　had　been　rehearsed　meticulously　by　Miss　Geer　who；　according　to　rumour；　ate　slow　and　clumsy　ushers　for　lunch）；　a　sceptre　wrapped　in　aluminium　foil　was　thrust　into　Tommy's　hand；　a　robe　with　a　lush　dog…fur　collar　was　thrown　over　Carrie's　shoulders；　and　they　were　being　led　down　the　centre　aisle　by　a　boy　and　a　girl　in　white　blazers。　The　band　blared。　The　audience　applauded。　Miss　Geer　looked　vindicated。　Tommy　Ross　was　grinning　bemusedly。
They　were　ushered　up　the　steps　to　the　apron；　led　across　to　the　thrones；　and　seated。　Still　the　applause　swelled。　The　sarcasm　in　it　was　lost　now；　it　was　honest　and　deep；　a　little　frightening。　Carrie　was　glad　to　sit　down。　It　was　all　happening　too　fast。　Her　legs　were　trembling　under　her　and　suddenly；　even　with　the　paratively　high　neck　of　her　gown；　her　breasts
（dirtypillows）
felt　dreadfully　exposed。　The　sound　of　the　applause　in　her　ears　made　her　feel　woozy；　almost　punch…drunk。　Part　of　her　was　actually　convinced　that　all　this　was　a　dream　from　which　she　would　wake　with　mixed　feeling　of　loss　and　relief。
Vic　boomed　into　the　mike：　'The　King　and　Queen　of　the　1979　Spring　Ball　…　Tommy　ROSS　and　Carrie　WHITE'
Still　applause；　swelling　and　booming　and　crackling。　Tommy　Ross　in　the　fading　moments　of　his　life　now；　took　Carrie's　hand　and　grinned　at　her；　thinking　that　Suzie's　intuition　had　been　very　right。　Somehow　she　grinned　back。　TOMMY
（she　was　right　and　i　love　her　well　i　love　this　one　too　this　carrie　she　is　beautiful　and　it's　right　and　i　love　all　of　them　the　light　the　light　in　her　eyes）
and　Carrie
（can't　see　them　the　lights　are　too　bright　i　can　hear　them　but　can't　see　them　the　shower　remember　the　shower　o　momma　it's　too　high　i　think　i　want　to　get　down　o　are　they　laughing　and　ready　to　throw　things　to　point　and　scream　with　laughter　i　can't　see　them　i　can't　see　them　it's　all　too　bright）
and　the　beam　above　them。
Both　bands；　in　a　sudden　and　serendipitous　coalition　of　rock　and　brass；　swung　into　the　school　song。　The　audience　rose　to　its　feet　and　began　to　sing；　still　applauding。
It　was　ten…o…seven。
Billy　had　just　flexed　his　knees　to　make　the　Joints　pop。　Chris　Hargensen　stood　next　to　him　with　increasing　aura　of　nervousness。　Her　hands　played　aimlessly　along　the　seams　of　the　jeans　she　had　worn　and　she　was　biting　the　softness　of　her　lower　lip；　chewing　at　it；　making　it　a　little　ragged。
'You　think　they'll　vote　for　them？；　Billy　said　softly。
'They　will；'　she　said。　'I　set　it　up。'　it　won't　even　be　close。　Why　do　they　keep　applauding？　What's　going　on　in　there？'
'Don't　ask　me；　babe。
The　school　song　suddenly　roared　out；　full　and　strong　on　the　soft　May　air；　and　Chris　jumped　as　if　stung。　A　soft　gasp　of　surprise　escaped　her
All　rise　for　Thomas　Ewen　Hiiiiyyygh。　。　。
'Go　on；'　he　said。　'They're　there。'　His　eyes　glowed　softly　in　the　dark。　The　odd　half…grin　had　touched　his　features。
She　licked　her　lips。　They　both　stared　at　the　length　of　jute　cord。
We　will　raise　your　banners　to　the　skyyyyy
'Shut　up；'　she　whispered。　She　was　trembling；　and　he　thought　that　her　body　had　never　looked　so　lush　or　exciting。　When　this　was　over　he　was　going　to　have　her　until　every　other　time　she'd　been　had　was　like　two　pumps　with　a　fags　little　finger。　He　was　going　on　her　like　a　raw　cob　through　butter。
'No　guts；　babe？'
He　leaned　forward。　'I　won't　pull　it　for　you；　babe。　It　can　sit　there　till　bell　freezes。'
With　pride　we　wear　the　red　and　whiiyyyte
A　sudden　smothered　sound　that　might　have　been　a　scream　came　from　her　mouth；　and　she　leaned　forward　and　pulled　violently　on　the　cord　with　both　hands。　It　came　loose　with　slack　for　a　moment；　making　her　think　that　Billy　had　been　having　her　on　all　this　time；　that　the　rope　was　attached　to　nothing　but　thin　air。　Then　it　snubbed　tight；　held　for　a　second；　and　then　came　through　her　palm　harshly；　leaving　a　thin　burn。
she　began。
The　music　inside　came　to　a　jangling；　discordant　halt　For　a　moment　ragged　You　continued　oblivious；　and　then　they　stopped。　Then　was　a　beat　of　silence；　and　then　someone　screamed。　Silence　again。
They　stared　at　each　other　in　the　dark；　frozen　by　the　actual　act　as　thought　never　could　have　done。　Her　very　breath