sk.carrie-第33节

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up　'…and　waited　for　you　to　e　so　I　could　make　my　sacrifice。　But　I　was　weak　and　backsliding。　I　took　this　knife　in　hand　again　when　you　were　three；　and　I　backslid　again。　So　now　the　devil　has　e　home。'
She　held　the　knife　up；　and　her　eyes　fastened　hypnotically　on　the　glittering　hook　of　its　blade。
Carrie　took　a　slow；　blundering　step　forward。
'I　came　to　kill　you；　Momma。　And　you　were　waiting　here　to　kill　me。　Momma；　I　。。。　it's　not　right；　Momma。　It's　not　。。。　'
'Let's　pray；'　Momma　said　softly。　Her　eyes　fixed　on　Carrie's　and　there　was　a　crazed；　awful　passion　in　them。　The　fire　light　was　brighter　now；　dancing　on　the　walls　Up　dervishes。　'For　the　last　time；　let　us　pray。'
'Oh　Momma　help　me！'　Carrie　cried　out。
She　fell　forward　on　her　knees；　head　down；　hands　raised　in　supplication。
Momma　leaned　forward；　and　the　knife　came　down　in　a　shining　arc。
Carrie；　perhaps　seeing　out　of　the　tail　of　her　eye；　jerked　back；　and　instead　of　penetrating　her　back；　the　knife　went　into　her　shoulder　to　the　hilt。　Momma's　feet　tangled　in　the　legs　of　her　chair；　and　she　collapsed　in　a　sitting　sprawl。
They　stared　at　each　other　in　silent　tableau。
Blood　began　to　ooze　from　around　the　handle　of　the　knife　and　to　splash　on　to　the　floor。
Then　Carrie　said　softly：　'I'm　going　to　give　you　a　present；　Momma。'
Margaret　tried　to　get　up；　staggered；　and　fell　back　on　her　hands　and　knees。　'What　are　you　doing？'　she　croaked　hoarsely。
'I'm　picturing　your　heart；　Momma；'　Carrie　said。　'It's　easier　when　you　see　things　in　your　mind。　Your　heart　is　a　big　red　muscle。　Mine　goes　faster　when　I　use　my　power。　But　your　is　going　a　little　slower　now。　A　little　slower。'
Margaret　tried　to　get　up　again；　failed；　and　forked　the　sign　of　the　evil　eye　at　her　daughter。
'A　little　slower；　Momma。　Do　you　know　what　the　present　is；　Momma？　What　you　always　wanted。　Darkness。　And　whatever　God　lives　there。'
Margaret　White　whispered：　'Our　father；　Who　art　in　heaven…'
'Slower；　Momma。　Slower。'
'…hallowed　be　Thy　name…'
'I　can　see　the　blood　draining　back　into　you。　Slower。'
'…Thy　Kingdom　e…'
'Your　feet　and　hands　like　marble；　like　alabaster。　White。'
'…Thy　will　be　done…'
'My　will；　Momma。　Slower！'
'…on　earth…'
'Slower。'
'…as　。。。　as　。。。　as　it。。。'
She　collapsed　forward；　hands　twitching。
'…as　it　is　in　heaven。'
Carrie　whispered：　'Full　stop。'
She　looked　down　at　herself；　and　put　her　hands　weakly　around　the　haft　of　the　knife。
（no　o　no　that　hurts　that's　too　much　hurt）
She　tried　to　get　up；　failed；　then　pulled　herself　up　by　Momma's　stool。　Dizziness　and　nausea　washed　over　her。　She　could　taste　blood；　bright　and　slick；　on　the　back　of　her　throat。　Smoke；　acrid　and　choking；　was　drifting　in　through　the　windows　now。　The　flames　had　reached　next　door；　even　now　sparks　would　be　lighting　softly　on　the　roof　that　rocks　had　punched　brutally　through　a　thousand　years　before。
Carrie　went　out　the　back　door；　staggered　across　the　lawn；　and　rested
（where's　my　momma）
against　a　tree。　There　was　something　she　was　supposed　to　do。　Something　about
（roadhouses　parking　lots）
the　Angel　with　the　Sword。　The　Fiery　Sword。
Never　mind。　It　would　e　to　her。
She　crossed　by　back　yards　to　Willow　Street　and　then　crawled　up　the　embankment　to　Route　6。
It　was　1：　15　A。M。
It　was　11：20　P。M。　when　Christine　Hargensen　and　Billy　Nolan　got　back　to　The　Cavalier。　They　went　up　the　back　stairs；　down　the　hall；　and　before　she　could　do　more　than　turn　on　the　lights；　he　was　yanking　at　her　blouse。
'For　God's　sake　let　me　unbutton　it…'
'To　hell　with　that。'
He　ripped　it　suddenly　down　the　back。　The　cloth　tore　with　a　sudden　hard　sound。　One　button　popped　free　and　winked　on　the　bare　wood　floor。　Honky…tonkin'　music　came　faintly　up　to　them；　and　the　building　vibrated　subtly　with　the　clumsy…enthusiastic　dancing　of　farmers　and　truckers　and　millworkers　and　waitresses　and　hairdressers；　of　the　greasers　and　their　townie　girl　friends　from　Westover　and　Motton。
'Hey…'
'Be　quiet。'
He　slapped　her；　rocking　her　head　back。　Her　eyes　took　on　a　flat　and　deadly　shine。
'This　is　the　end；　Billy。'　She　backed　away　from　him；　breasts　swelling　into　her　bra；　flat　stomach　pumping；　legs　long　and　tapering　in　her　jeans；　but　she　backed　toward　the　bed。　'It's　over。'
'Sure；'　he　said。　He　lunged　for　her　and　she　punched　him；　a　surprising　hard　punch　that　landed　on　his　cheek。
He　straightened　and　twitched　his　head　a　little。　'You　gave　me　a　shiner；　you　bitch。'
'I'll　give　you　more。'
'You're　goddam　right　you　will。'　They　stared　at　each　other；　panting；　glaring。　Then　he　began　to　unbutton　his　shirt；　a　little　grin　beginning　on　his　face。
'We　got　it　on；　Charlie。　We　really　got　it　on。'　He　called　her　Charlie　whenever　he　was　pleased　with　her。　It　seemed　to　be；　she　thought　with　a　cold　blink　of　humour；　a　generic　term　for　good　cunt。
She　felt　a　little　smile　e　to　her　own　face；　relaxed　a　little；　and　that　was　when　he　whipped　his　shirt　across　her　face　and　came　in　low；　butting　her　in　the　stomach　like　a　goat；　tipping　her　on　to　the　bed。　The　springs　screamed。　She　pounded　her　fists　helplessly　on　his　back。
'Get　off　me！　Get　off　me！　Get　off　me！　You　fucking　greaseball；　get　off　me！'
He　was　grinning　at　her；　and　with　one　quick；　hard　yank　her　zipper　was　broken；　her　hips　free。
'Call　your　daddy？'　he　was　grunting。　'That　what　you　gonna　do？　Huh？　Huh？　That　it；　ole　Chuckie？　Call　big　ole　legal　beagle　daddy？　Huh？　I　woulda　done　it　to　you；　you　know　that？　I　woulda　dumped　it　all　over　your　fuckin　squash。　You　know　it？　Huh？　Know　it？　Pig　blood　for　pigs；　right？　Right　on　your　motherfucking　squash。　You…'
She　had　suddenly　ceased　to　resist。　He　paused；　staring　down　at　her；　and　she　had　an　odd　smile　on　her　face。　'You　wanted　it　this　way　all　along；　didn't　you？　You　miserable　little　scumbag。　That's　right；　isn't　it？　You　creepy　little　onenut　low…cock　dinkless　wonder。'
His　grin　was　slow；　crazed。　'It　doesn't　matter。'
'No；'　she　said。　'It　doesn't。'　Her　smile　suddenly　vanished；　the　cords　on　her　neck　stood　out　as　she　hawked　back　…　and　spat　in　his　face。
They　descended　into　a　red；　thrashing　unconsciousness。　Downstairs　the　music　thumped　and　wheezed　（'I'm　poppin　little　white　pills　an　my　eyes　are　open　wide/Six　days　on　the　road　and　I'm　gonna　make　it　home　tonight！'）；　c/w；　full　throttle；　very　loud；　very　bad；　five…man　band　wearing　sequined　cowboy　shirts　and　new　pegged　jeans　with　bright　rivets；　occasionally　wiping　mixed　sweat　and　Vitalis　from　their　brows；　lead　guitar；　rhythm；　steel；　dobro　guitar；　drums；　no　one　heard　the　town　whistle；　or　the　first　explosion；　or　the　second；　and　when　the　gas　main　blew　and　the　music　stopped　and　someone　drove　into　the　parking　lot　and　began　to　yell　the　news；　Chris　and　Billy　were　asleep。
Chris　woke　suddenly　and　the　clock　on　the　night　table　said　five　minutes　of　one。　Someone　was　pounding　on　the　door。
'Billy！'　the　voice　was　yelling。　'Get　up！　Hey！　Hey！'
Billy　stirred；　rolled　over；　and　knocked　the　cheap　alarm　clock　on　to　the　floor。　'What　the　Christ？'　he　said　thickly；　and　sat　up。　His　back　stung。　The　bitch　had　covered　it　with　long　scratches。　He'd　barely　noticed　it　at　the　time；　but　now　decided　he　was　going　to　have　to　send　her　home　bowlegged。　Just　to　show　her　who　was　boss。。
Silence　struck　him。　Silence。　The　Cavalier　did　not　close　until　two；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he　could　still　see　the　neon　twinkling　and　flicking　through　the　dusty　garret　window。　Except　for　the　steady　pounding
（something　happened）
the　place　was　a　graveyard。
'Billy；　you　in　there？　Hey！'
'Who　is　it？'　Chris　whispered。　Her　eyes　were　glittering　and　watchful　in　the　intermittent　neon。
'Jackie　Talbot；'　he　said　absently；　then　raised　his　voice。　'What？'
'Lemme　in；　Billy。　I　got　to　talk　to　you！'
Billy　got　up　and　padded　to　the　door；　naked。　He　unlocked　the　old…fashioned　hook…and…eye　and　opened　it。
Jackie　Talbot　burst　in。　His　eyes　were　wild　and　his　face　was　smeared　with　soot。　He　had　been　drinking　it　up　with　Steve　and　Henry　when　the　news　came　at　ten　minutes　of　twelve。　They　had　gone　back　to　town　in　Henry's　elderly　Dodge　convertible；　and　had　seen　the　Jackson　Avenue　gas　main　explode　from　the　vantage　point　of　Brickyard　Hill。　When　Jackie　had　borrowed　the　Dodge　and　started　to　drive　back　at　12：30；　the　town　was　a　panicky　shambles。
'Chamberlain's　burning　up；'　he　said　to　Billy。　'Whole　fuckin　town。　The　school's　gone。　The　Centre's　gone。　West　End　blew　up　…　gas。　And　Carlin　Street's　on　fire。　And　they're　saying　Carrie　White　did　it！'
'Oh　God；'　Chris　said。　She　started　to　get　out　of　bed　and　grope　for　her　clothes。　'What　did…'
'Shut　up；'　Billy　said　mildly；　'or　I'll　kick　your　ass。'　He　looked　at　Jackie　again　and　nodded　for　him　to　go　on。
'They　seen　her。　Lots　of　people　seen　her。　Billy；　they　say　she's　all　covered　with　blood。　She　was　at　that　fuckin　prom　tonight。。。　Steve　and　Henry　didn't　get　it　but　。。。　Billy；　did　you　。。。　that　pig　blood　。。。　was　it…'
'Yeah；'　Billy　said。
'Oh；　no。'　Jackie　stumbled　back　against　the　doorframe。　His　face　was　a　sickly　yellow　in　the　light　of　the　one　hall　lightbulb。　'Oh　Jesus；　Billy；　the　whole　town…。'
'Carrie　trashed　the　whole　town？　Carrie　White？　You're　full　of　shit。'　He　said　it　calmly；　almost　serenely。　Behind　him；　Chris　was　dressing　rapidly。
'Go　and　look　out　the　window；'　Jackie　said。
Billy　went　over　and　looked　out。　The　entire　eastern　horizon　had　gone　crimson；　and　the　sky　was　alight　with　it。　Even　as　he　looked；　three　fire　trucks　screamed　by。　He　could　make　out　the　names　on　them　in　the　glow　of　the　street　light　that　marked　The　C