stephen king - mist-第28节

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　〃Yes。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter　to　me；〃　Hattie　said。　Her　face　was　white　and　in　spite　of　the　sleep　she'd　gotten　there　were　large　discolored　patches　under　her　eyes。　〃I　would　do　anything…take　any　chances…just　to　see　the　sun　again。〃
　Just　to　see　the　sun　again。　A　little　shiver　coursed　through　me。　She　had　put　her　finger　on　a　spot　that　was　very　close　to　the　center　of　my　own　fears；　on　the　sense　of　almost　foregone　doom　that　had　gripped　me　since　I　had　seen　Norm　dragged　out　through　the　loading　door。　You　could　only　see　the　sun　through　the　mist　as　a　little　silver　coin。　it　was　like　being　on　Venus。
　It　wasn't　so　much　the　monstrous　creatures　that　lurked　in　the　mist；　my　shot　with　the　pinchbar　had　shown　me　they　were　no　Lovecraftian　horrors　with　immortal　life　but　only　organic　creatures　with　their　own　vulnerabilities。　It　was　the　mist　itself　that　sapped　the　strength　and　robbed　the　will。　Just　to　see　the　sun　again。　She　was　right。　That　alone　would　be　worth　going　through　a　lot　of　hell。
　I　smiled　at　Hattie　and　she　smiled　tentatively　back。
　〃Yes；〃　Amanda　said。　〃Me　too。〃
　I　began　to　shake　Billy　awake　as　gently　as　I　could。
　〃I'm　with　you；〃　Mrs。　Reppler　said　briefly。
　We　were　all　together　by　the　meat　counter；　all　but　Bud　Brown。　He　had　thanked　us　for　the　invitation　and　then　declined　it。　He　would　not　leave　his　place　in　the　market；　he　said；　but　added　in　a　remarkably　gentle　tone　of　voice　that　he　didn't　blame　Ollie　for　doing　so。
　An　unpleasant；　sweetish　aroma　was　beginning　to　drift　up　from　the　white　enamel　case　now；　a　smell　that　reminded　me　of　the　time　our　freezer　went　on　the　fritz　while　we　were　spending　a　week　on　the　Cape。　Perhaps；　I　thought；　it　was　the　smell　of　spoiling　meat　that　had　driven　Mr。　McVey　over　to　Mrs。　Carmody's　team。
　〃…expiation　It's　expiation　we　want　to　think　about　now！　We　have　been　scourged　with　whips　and　scorpions！　We　have　been　punished　for　delving　into　secrets　forbidden　by　God　of　old！　We　have　seen　the　lips　of　the　earth　open！　We　have　seen　the　obscenities　of　nightmare！　The　rock　will　not　hide　them；　the　dead　tree　gives　no
　shelter！　And　how　will　it　end？　What　will　stop　it？〃
　〃Expiation！〃　shouted　good　old　Myron　LaFleur。
　〃Expiation　。。。　expiation　。。。〃　They　whispered　it　uncertainly。
　〃Let　me　hear　you　say　it　like　you　mean　it！〃　Mrs。　Carmody　shouted。　The　veins　stood　out　on　her　neck　in　bulging　cords。　Her　voice　was　cracking　and　hoarse　now；　but　still　full　of　power。　And　it　occurred　to　me　that　it　was　the　mist　that　had　given　her　that　power…the　power　to　cloud　men's　minds；　to　make　a　particularly　apt　pun…just　as　it　had　taken　away　the　sun's　power　from　the　rest　of　us。　Before；　she　had　been　nothing　but　a　mildly　eccentric　old　woman　with　an　antiques　store　in　a　town　that　was　lousy　with　antiques　stores。　Nothing　but　an　old　woman　with　a　few　stuffed　animals　in　the　back　room　and　a　reputation　for
　（that　witch　。。。　that　cunt）
　folk　medicine。　it　was　said　she　could　find　water　with　an　applewood　stick；　that　she　could　charm　warts；　and　sell　you　a　cream　that　would　fade　freckles　to　shadows　of　their　former　selves。　I　had　even　heard…was　it　from　old　Bill　Giosti？　…　that　Mrs。　Carmody　could　be　seen　（in　total　confidence）　about　your　love　life；　that　if　you　were　having　the　bedroom　miseries；　she　could　give　you　a　drink　that　would　put　the　ram　back　in　your　rod。
　〃EXPIATION！〃　they　all　cried　together。
　〃Expiation；　that's　right！〃　she　shouted　deliriously。　〃It's　expiation　gonna　clear　away　this　fog！　Expiation　gonna　clear　off　these　monsters　and　abominations！　Expiation　gonna　drop　the　scales　of　mist　from　our　eyes　and　let　us　see！〃　Her　voice　dropped　a　notch。　〃And　what　does　the　Bible　say　expiation　is？　What　is　the　only　cleanser　for　sin　in　the　Eye　and　Mind　of　God？〃
　〃Blood。　〃
　This　time　the　chill　shuddered　up　through　my　entire　body；　cresting　at　the　nape　of　my　neck　and　making　the　hairs　there　stiffen。　Mr。　McVey　had　spoken　that　word；　Mr。　McVey　the　butcher　who　had　been　cutting　meat　in　Bridgton　ever　since　I　was　a　kid　holding　my　father's　talented　hand。　Mr。　McVey　taking　orders　and　cutting　meat　in　his　stained　whites。　Mr。　McVey；　whose　acquaintanceship　with　the　knife　was　long…yes；　and　with　the　saw　and　cleaver　as　well。　Mr。　McVey　who　would　understand　better　than　anyone　else　that　the　cleanser　of　the　soul　flows　from　the　wounds　of　the　body。
　〃Blood　。。。　〃　they　whispered。
　〃Daddy；　I'm　scared；〃　Billy　said。　He　was　clutching　my　hand　tightly；　his　small　face　strained　and　pale。
　〃Ollie；〃　I　said；　〃why　don't　we　get　out　of　this　loony　bin？〃
　〃Right　on；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　We　started　down　the　second　aisle　in　a　loose　group…Ollie；　Amanda；　Cornell；　Mrs。　Turman；　Mrs。　Reppler；　Billy；　and　I。　it　was　a　quarter　to　five　in　the　morning　and　the　mist　was　beginning　to　lighten　again。
　〃You　and　Cornell　take　the　grocery　bags；〃　Ollie　said　to　me。
　〃Okay。〃
　〃I'll　go　first。　Your　Scout　is　a　four…door；　is　it？〃
　〃Yeah。　It　is。〃
　〃Okay；　I'll　open　the　driver's　door　and　the　back　door　on　the　same　side。　Mrs。　Dumfries；　can　you　carry　Billy？〃
　She　picked　him　up　in　her　arms。
　〃Am　I　too　heavy？〃　Billy　asked。
　〃No；　hon。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃You　and　Billy　get　in　front；〃　Ollie　went　on。　〃Shove　way　over。　Mrs。　Turman　in　front；　in　the　middle。　David；　you　behind　the　wheel。　The　rest　of　us　will…〃
　〃Where　did　you　think　you　were　going？〃
　It　was　Mrs。　Carmody。
　She　stood　at　the　head　of　the　checkout　line　where　Ollie　had　hidden　the　bags　of　groceries。　Her　pantsuit　was　a　yellow　scream　in　the　gloom。　Her　hair　frizzed　out　wildly　in　all　directions；　reminding　me　momentarily　of　Elsa　Lanchester　in　The　Bride　of　Frankenstein。　Her　eyes　blazed。　Ten　or　fifteen　people　stood　behind　her；　blocking　the　IN　and　OUT　doors。　They　had　the　look　of　people　who　had　been　in　car　accidents；　or　who　had　seen　a　UFO　land；　or　who　had　seen　a　tree　pull　its　roots　up　and　walk。
　Billy　cringed　against　Amanda　and　buried　his　face　against　her　neck。
　〃Going　out　now；　Mrs。　Carmody；〃　Ollie　said。　His　voice　was　curiously　gentle。　〃Stand　away；　please。〃
　〃You　can't　go　out。　That　way　is　death。　Don't　you　know　that　by　now？〃
　〃No　one　has　interfered　with　you；〃　I　said。　〃All　we　want　is　the　same　privilege。〃
　She　bent　and　found　the　bags　of　groceries　unerringly。　She　must　have　known　what　we　were　planning　all　along。　She　pulled　them　out　from　the　shelf　where　Ollie　had　placed　them。　One　ripped　open；　spilling　cans　across　the　floor。　She　threw　the　other　and　it　smashed　open　with　the　sound　of　breaking　glass。　Soda　ran　fizzing　every　which　way　and　sprayed　off　the　chrome　facing　of　the　next　checkout　lane。
　〃These　are　the　sort　of　people　who　brought　it　on！〃　she　shouted。　〃People　who　will　not　bend　to　the　will　of　the　Almighty！　Sinners　in　pride；　haughty　they　are；　and　stiff…necked！　it　is　from　their　number　that　the　sacrifice　must　e！　From　their　number　the　blood　of　expiation！〃
　A　rising　rumble　of　agreement　spurred　her　on。　She　was　in　a　frenzy　now。　Spittle　flew　from　her　lips　as　she　screamed　at　the　people　crowding　up　behind　her：　〃It's　the　boy　we　want！　Grab　him！　Take　him！　It's　the　boy　we　want！〃
　They　surged　forward；　Myron　LaFleur　in　the　lead；　his　eyes　blankly　joyous。　Mr。　McVey　was　directly　behind　him；　his　face　blank　and　stolid。
　Amanda　faltered　backward；　holding　Billy　more　tightly。　His　arms　were　wrapped　around　her　neck。　She　looked　at　me；　terrified。　〃David；　what　do　I…〃
　〃Get　them　both！　〃　Mrs。　Carmody　screamed。　〃Get　his　whore；　too。；　〃
　She　was　an　apocalypse　of　yellow　and　dark　joy。　Her　purse　was　still　over　her　arm。　She　began　to　jump　up　and　down。　〃Get　the　boy；　get　the　whore；　get　them　both；　get　them　all；　get…〃
　A　single　sharp　report　rang　out。
　Everything　froze；　as　if　we　were　a　classroom　full　of　unruly　children　and　the　teacher　had　just　stepped　back　in　and　shut　the　door　sharply。　Myron　LaFleur　and　Mr。　McVey　stopped　where　they　were；　about　ten　paces　away。　Myron　looked　back　uncertainly　at　the　butcher。　He　didn't　look　back　or　even　seem　to　realize　that　LaFleur　was　there。　Mr。　McVey　had　a　look　I　had　seen　on　too　many　other　faces　in　the　last　two　days。　He　had　gone　over。　His　mind　had　snapped。
　Myron　backed　up；　staring　at　Ollie　Weeks　with　widening；　fearful　eyes。　His　backing…up　became　a　run。　He　turned　the　corner　of　the　aisle；　skidded　on　a　can；　fell　down；　scrambled　up　again；　and　was　gone。
　Ollie　stood　in　the　classic　target　shooter's　position；　Amanda's　gun　clasped　in　both　hands。　Mrs。　Carmody　still　stood　at　the　head　of　the　checkout　lane。　Both　of　her　liver…spotted　hands　were　clasped　over　her　stomach。　Blood　poured　out　between　her　fingers　and　splashed　her　yellow　slacks。
　Her　mouth　opened　and　closed。　Once。　Twice。　She　was　trying　to　talk。　At　last　she　made　it。
　〃You　will　all　die　out　there；〃　she　said；　and　then　she　pitched　slowly　forward。　Her　purse　slithered　off　her　arm；　struck　the　floor；　and　spilled　its　contents。　A　paper…wrapped　tube　rolled　across　the　distance　between　us　and　struck　one　of　my　shoes。　Without　thinking；　I　bent　over　and　picked　it　up。　it　was　a　half…used　package　of　Rolaids。　I　threw　it　down　again。　I　didn't　want　to　touch　anything　that　belonged　to　her。
　The　〃congregation〃　was　backing　away；　spreading　out；　their　focus　broken。　None　of　them　took　their　eyes　from　the　fallen　figure　and　the　dark　blood　spreading　out　from　beneath　her　body。　〃You　murdered　her！〃　someone　cried　out　in　fear　and　anger。　But　no　one　pointed　out　that　she　had　been　planning　something　similar　for　my　son。
　Ollie　was　still　frozen　in　his　shooter's　position；　but　now