osc.am2.redprophet-第19节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of…God told him not to visit the farms when the men were away； working on the church。
So there was nothing left for Lolla…Wossiky to do。 He knew he was close to the dream beast； but he couldn't find it。 He couldn't walk in the forest because the animals ran from him and he stumbled and fell all the time； more and more； until he feared he might break a bone and die of starvation because he couldn't even call small animals to feed him。 He couldn't visit the farms because the men were angry。 So he lay on the mons； sleeping from drunkenness or trying to endure the pain of the black noise； one or the other。
Sometimes he worked up the energy to go up the hill and see the men working on the church。 Whenever he got there； some man would call out； 〃Here es the Red Christian！〃 and Lolla…Wossiky knew that there was malice and ridicule in the voices that said it and the voices that laughed。
He was not at the church the day the roof…beam fell。 He was sleeping on the grass of the mons； near the porch of Armor's house； when he heard the crash。 It startled him awake； and the black noise came back harsher than ever； even though he had drunk eight swallows that morning and ought to be drunk till noon。 He lay there holding his head until men started ing down from the hill； cursing and muttering about the strange thing that happened。
〃What happened？〃 Lolla…Wossiky asked。 He had to know； because whatever it was； it had made the black noise worse than it had been in years。 〃Was a man killed？〃 He knew that a gunshot made the black noise in the first place。 〃Did White Murderer Harrison shoot somebody？〃
At first they paid him no attention； because they thought he was drunk； of course。 But finally someone told him what happened。
They had been laying the first ridgebeam in place； high on top of the building； when the central ridgepole shivered and tossed the ridgebeam up in the air。 〃Came down flat； just like God's own foot stepping on the earth； and wouldn't you know； there was that little Alvin Junior； Al Miller's boy； right under the beam。 Well； we thought he was dead。 The boy just stood there； the beam landed smack you must have heard the noise； that's why it sounded like a gun to you but you won't believe this。 That ridgebeam split right in half； right in the very place where Alvin was standing； split right in two and landed on this side and that side of him； didn't touch a hair on his head。〃
〃Something strange about that boy；〃 said a man。
〃He's got a guardian angel； that's what he's got；〃 said another。
Alvin Junior。 The boy he couldn't see with his eye open。
There was no one at the church when Lolla…Wossiky got there。 The ridgebeam was also gone； everything swept out； no sign of the accident。 But Lolla…Wossiky was not looking with his eye。 He could feel it； almost as soon as he got within sight of the church。 A whirlpool； not fast at the edges； but stronger and stronger the closer he came。 A whirlwind of light； and the closer he got； the weaker the black noise became。 Until he stood on the church floor； in the spot that he knew was where the boy was standing。 How did he know？ The black noise was quieter。 Not gone； the pain not healed； but Lolla…Wossiky could feel the green land again； just a little； not like it used to be； but he could feel the small life under the floor； a squirrel in the meadow not far off； things he hadn't felt； drunk or sober； in all the years since the gun blew the black noise into his head。
Lolla…Wossiky turned around and around； seeing nothing but the walls of the church。 Until he closed his eye。 Then he saw the whirlwind； yes； white light spinning and spinning around him； and the black noise retreating。 He was in the end of his own dream now； and he could see with his eye closed； see clearly。 There was a shining path ahead of him； a road as bright as the noonday sky； dazzling like meadow snow on a clear day。 He knew already； without opening his eye to see； where the path would lead。 Up the hill； down the other side； up a higher hill； to a house not far from a strewn； a house where lived a White boy who was only visible to Lolla…Wossiky with his eye closed。
His silent step had returned to him； now that the black noise had backed off a bit。 He walked around the house； around and around。 No one heard him。 Inside laughter； shouting； screaming。 Happy children； quarreling children。 Stern voices of parents。 Except for the language； it could be his village。 His own sisters and brothers in the happy days before White Murderer Harrison took his father's life。
The White father； Alvin Miller； came out to the privy。 Not long after； the boy himself came； running； as if he was afraid。 He shouted at the privy door。 With his eye open； Lolla…Wossiky only knew that someone was standing there； shouting。 With his eye closed； he saw the boy clearly； radiant； and heard his voice like birdsong across a river； all music； even though what he said was silly； foolish； like a child。
〃If you don't e out I'll do it right in front of the door so you'll step in it when you e out！〃
Then silence； as the boy grew more worried； hitting himself on the top of his head with his own fist； as if to say； Stupid； stupid； stupid。 Something changed in Al Junior's expression； Lolla…Wossiky opened his eye to see that the father had e out； was saying something。
The boy answered him； ashamed。 The father corrected him。 Lolla…Wossiky closed his eye。
〃Yes sir；〃 said the boy。
Again the father must be speaking； but with his eye closed Lolla…Wossiky did not hear the father。
〃Sorry； Papa。〃
Then the father must have walked away； because little Alvin went into the privy。 Muttering； so soft no one could hear。 But Lolla…Wossiky heard。 〃Well； if you'd just build another outhouse I'd be fine。〃
Lolla…Wossiky laughed。 Foolish boy； foolish father； like all boys； like all fathers。
The boy finished and went into the house。
Here I am； said Lolla…Wossiky silently。 I followed the shining path； I came to this place； I saw silly White family things； now where is my dream beast？
And again he saw the white light gather； inside the house； following the boy up the stairs。 For Lolla…Wossiky there were no walls。 He saw the boy being very careful； as if he were watching for an enemy； for some attack。 When he reached the bedroom he ducked inside； closed his door quickly behind him。 Lolla…Wossiky saw him so clearly that he thought he could almost hear his thoughts； and then； because he thought it； and because this was near the end of his dream； almost to the time of waking； he did hear the boy's thoughts； or at least felt his feelings。 It was his sisters he was afraid of。 A silly quarrel； begun with teasing； but malicious now he was afraid of their vengeance。
It came as he stripped off his clothes and pulled his nightshirt over his head。 Stinging！ Insects； thought the boy。 Spiders； scorpions； tiny snakes！ He pulled the nightshirt off； slapped himself； cried out from the pain； the surprise； the fear。
But Lolla…Wossiky could feel the land well enough to know there were no insects。 Not on his body； not in the shirt。 Though there were many living creatures there。 Small life； little animals。 Roaches； hundreds of them living in the walls and floors。
Not in all the walls and floors； though。 Just in Alvin Junior's room。 All gathered to his room。
Was it enmity？ Roaches were too small for hate。 They knew only three feelings； those little creatures。 Fear； hunger； and the third sense； the land sense。 The trust in how things ought to be。 Did the boy feed them？ No。 They came to him for the other thing。 Lolla…Wossiky could hardly believe it； but he felt it in the roaches and couldn't doubt。 The boy had called them somehow。 The boy had the land sense； at least enough to call these small creatures。
Call them why？ Who wanted roaches？ But he was only a boy。 There didn't have to be sense in it。 Just the discovery that the little life would e when you called it。 Red boys learned this； but always with their father or a brother； always out on the first hunt。 Kneel and speak silently to the life you need to take； and ask it if this is a good time； and if it is willing to die to make your life strong。 Is it your time to die？ asks the Red boy。 And if the life consents； it will e。
This is what the boy did。 Except it wasn't so simple。 He didn't call the roaches to die for his need； because he had no need。 No； he called them and kept them safe。 He protected them。 It was like a treaty。 There were certain places the roaches didn't go。 Into Alvin's bed。 Into his little brother Calvin's cradle。 Into Alvin's clothing； folded on the stool。 And in return Alvin nevcr killed them。 They were safe in his room。 It was a sanctuary； a reserve。 A very silly thing； a child playing with things he didn't understand。
But the marvel of it was this was a White boy； doing something beyond even a Red man's reach。 When did the Red man ever say to the bear； e and live with me and I will keep you safe？ When did the bear ever believe such a thing？ No wonder the light was centered on this boy。 This wasn't the foolish knack of the White man Hooch； or even the strong living hexes of the woman Eleanor。 This wasn't the
