dw.jimmythekid-第13节

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　Back　at　the　intersection；　Parker　stopped　long　enough　for　Henley　to　get　out　and　move　the　detour　sign　so　that　it　now　blocked　the　road　the　Lincoln　had　just　gone　down。　Then　they　drove　on；　following　the　Lincoln。
　Judson　too　was　beginning　to　think　the　school　bus　was　taking　too　long　to　do　nothing。　Glancing　in　the　rear…view　mirror　again；　seeing　the　blue　Dodge　ing　to　a　stop　behind　him；　almost　close　enough　to　touch　the　Lincoln's　rear　bumper；　he　said；　〃Pretty　well…traveled　road。〃
　In　the　Dodge；　Parker　and　Henley　and　Angie　were　putting　on　the　large　rubber　Mickey　Mouse　masks。　〃I　feel　like　a　clown　in　this　thing；〃　Henley　said。　His　voice　was　muffled　and　altered　by　the　rubber。
　〃It's　to　make　it　easier　for　the　kid；〃　Parker　said。　〃We　don't　want　a　hysterical　kid　on　our　hands。　Angie；　you　do　the　talking　to　him。〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃It's　a　game；　it's　fun；　we're　all　just　playing。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Angie　said。
　〃Let's　go；〃　Parker　said。
　They　got　out　of　the　Dodge；　Parker　and　Henley　carrying　revolvers；　and　walked　swiftly　up　next　to　the　Lincoln；　Parker　on　the　left　and　Henley　and　Angie　on　the　right。
　Judson；　who　was　frowning　now　toward　the　school　bus；　wondering　why　it　wasn't　finishing　its　business　and　moving　on；　caught　a　glimpse　of　something　moving　in　his　outside　mirror。　He　looked　at　it；　and　saw　a　man　ing　this　way　with　something　glittery　and　strange　over　his　head。　〃What　the…？〃　He　twisted　around　to　his　left；　to　look　back；　and　the　man　closed　the　distance；　pulled　open　Judson's　door；　and　said；　fast　and　low；　〃Not　a　move。　Not　one　move。〃
　There　was　a　gun　in　the　man's　hand；　down　by　Judson's　elbow。　〃Uh；〃　said　Judson　The　Lincoln's　engine　was　running；　but　the　gearshift　was　in　park。　Also；　the　car　was　wedged　in　both　front　and　back　by　the　truck　and　the　Dodge。　Still；　Judson's　hand　started　to　move　almost　instinctively　toward　the　gearshift　lever；　when　the　door　on　the　passenger　side　opened；　and　another　one　got　in。　Another　gun；　another　mask　over　the　head。　Judson；　looking　at　him；　suddenly　terrified　at　this　apparition　sitting　next　to　him；　realized　what　he　was　looking　at　was　a　Mickey　Mouse　mask；　and　for　some　reason　that　only　made　things　more　frightening。
　Meanwhile；　Angie　had　gotten　into　the　backseat。　〃Hi；　Bobby；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　whose　face　this　is　I'm　wearing？〃
　Bobby　hadn't　seen　the　guns　of　the　two　men　dealing　with　the　chauffeur；　but　he'd　heard　the　toughness　in　the　one　man's　voice；　and　he　sensed　the　strangeness　of　what　was　happening。　Frightened；　not　sure　what　to　expect　or　how　he　should　act；　he　said；　〃Who…who　are　you？〃
　〃Who　do　I　look　like；　Bobby？〃
　〃You're　not　Mickey　Mouse！〃　He　knew　that　much；　and　being　able　to　say　so；　loud　and　clear；　helped　to　calm　and　reassure　him。
　〃But　I'm　making　believe　to　be　Mickey　Mouse；〃　Angie　said。　〃We're　all　going　to　play　make…believe　for　a　while　now。〃
　Up　front；　Henley　had　pressed　his　revolver　into　Albert　Judson's　side。　His　voice　soft；　muffled　by　the　mask；　he　said；　〃Let's　not　scare　the　kid。　Nobody's　gonna　get　hurt。〃
　〃What　do　you…？〃　Judson's　mouth　was　dry。　He　coughed；　and　started　again。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　〃Think　about　it；〃　Henley　said。
　Parker。　seeing　that　the　chauffeur　was　under　control；　shut　the　Lincoln's　door　again　and　went　up　to　rap　on　the　rear　doors　of　the　tractor…trailer。　The　doors　swung　open；　pushed　out　by　Krauss；　who　looked　critically　out　and　down　at　the　Lincoln　and　said；　〃You'll　have　to　back　it　up。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　Parker　walked　back　past　the　Lincoln　to　the　Dodge。　Inside　the　Lincoln；　Henley　was　controlling　the　chauffeur　and　Angie　was　controlling　the　boy。　She　was　talking　to　him；　chattering　at　him；　keeping　him　calm　with　a　soothing　flow　of　words。
　Parker　got　into　the　Dodge；　ran　it　backward　about　fifteen　feet；　got　out　of　it；　walked　up　to　the　Lincoln；　opened　the　chauffeur's　door　again；　and　said；　〃Slide　over。〃
　Henley　made　room；　and　Judson　slid　over　into　the　middle　of　the　seat。　He　said；　〃You're　going　to　kidnap　the　boy！〃
　Henley　said；　〃Keep　it　down。　I　told　you；　we　don't　scare　the　kid。〃
　Krauss　had　pulled　the　metal　ramp　out　of　the　truck　partway　and　now；　when　Parker　put　the　Lincoln　into　reverse　and　backed　up　till　he　was　nudging　the　Dodge's　bumper；　Krauss　brought　the　ramp　out　the　rest　of　the　way　and　lowered　it　to　the　ground。　Parker　shifted　into　low　and　eased　the　Lincoln　forward；　up　the　ramp　and　inside　the　truck。
　Bobby；　wide…eyed；　said；　〃What　are　we　doing？〃
　〃Have　you　ever　been　inside　a　truck　before？〃　Angie　tried　to　make　it　sound　like　a　treat；　or　a　game。　〃Inside　a　car　that's　inside　a　truck？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　do　this；〃　Bobby　said。
　〃Don't　be　afraid；　Bobby；〃　Angie　said。　〃Nobody's　going　to　hurt　you；　I　promise。〃
　Parker　switched　off　the　Lincoln's　engine；　took　the　keys；　and　climbed　out。　It　was　a　tight　fit　between　the　side　of　the　car　and　the　inner　wall　of　the　truck。　Parker　went　sideways　to　the　rear　of　the　truck；　dropped　down　to　the　ground；　and　helped　Kraus　slide　the　ramp　back　up　inside　the　truck。
　In　the　Lincoln；　Judson　had　moved　over　behind　the　wheel　again；　not　so　he　could　drive；　but　so　he　would　be　further　from　the　gun。　Henley；　facing　him　but　staying　on　his　own　side；　said；　〃Switch　on　the　interior　lights；〃　and　Judson　did　so；　without　question。
　Parker　and　Krauss　closed　the　truck's　doors；　inside；　now；　the　only　illumination　came　from　the　lights　inside　the　Lincoln。　Bobby；　his　fright　being　slowly　overe　by　curiosity　as　time　went　by　with　no　attack　against　him；　looked　around　and　said；　〃It's　like　being　out　at　night；　isn't　it？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Angie　said。　〃We'll　pretend　we're　going　for　a　drive　now；　at　night。〃
　Outside；　Krauss　and　Parker　had　removed　their　masks。　Ruth；　at　the　wheel　of　the　school　bus；　switched　off　the　flashing　red　lights；　put　the　bus　in　gear；　and　drove　it　off　the　road。　Krauss　got　into　the　cab　of　the　truck；　started　the　engine；　and　drove　off；　accelerating　slowly；　the　engine　whining　up　through　the　gears。
　Ruth　got　out　of　the　bus　and　walked　across　the　road　to　the　Dodge。　Peeling　rubber　gloves　from　her　hands；　she　tossed　them　into　the　weeds　beside　the　road；　then　got　into　the　Dodge　on　the　passenger　side　as　Parker　slid　in　behind　the　wheel。　She　said；　〃How'd　the　kid　take　it？〃
　〃Fine；〃　Parker　said。　〃Angie's　talking　to　him。〃
　Parker　swung　the　Dodge　around　in　a　U…turn；　drove　back　to　the　intersection；　and　picked　up　the　detour　sign　there。　He　tossed　it　in　the　trunk；　went　back　the　other　way　again；　passed　the　abandoned　school　bus；　and　caught　up　with　the　tractor…trailer　at　the　next　crossroad；　where　Krauss　was　removing　the　second　detour　sign；　the　one　that　had　diverted　traffic　away　from　Edgehill　Road　while　they　were　collecting　the　Lincoln。
　Inside　the　Lincoln；　Henley　had　taken　out　the　handcuffs；　and　had　cuffed　the　chauffeur　to　the　steering　wheel。　Now；　when　Krauss　knocked　on　the　trailer　doors；　Henley　turned　to　Angie；　nodded　at　the　boy；　and　said；　〃Get　him　ready。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Despite　the　muffling　effect　of　the　mask；　Angie's　nervousness　could　clearly　be　heard；　and　she　fumbled　at　first　when　she　tried　to　take　the　other　mask　out　from　under　her　shirt。　Then　she　got　it；　and　showed　it　to　Bobby；　and　said；　〃This　is　for　you。　The　same　kind　of　mask　as　the　rest　of　us；　see？　Mickey　Mouse。〃
　〃For　me？〃　Then　he　looked　at　it　more　closely；　and　said；　〃The　eyes　are　taped　up。〃
　〃That's　because　we're　going　to　go　on　playing　nighttime；〃　Angie　said。　〃We'll　be　leaving　the　truck　now；　but　you're　still　going　to　make　believe　it's　night。〃
　〃I　won't　be　able　to　see　anything！〃　Renewed　fright　made　the　boy's　voice　shrill。
　〃You'll　be　holding　my　hand；〃　Angie　told　him。　〃It's　all　right；　it　really　is。　Ask　your　chauffeur；　there；　he　knows。〃
　Bobby　looked　doubtfully　toward　Judson；　whose　back　was　to　him。　〃Albert？〃　he　said。　〃Am　I　supposed　to　do　that？〃
　Judson　turned　his　head　just　enough　to　see　Henley　and　the　gun　in　Henley's　hand。　〃Answer　the　boy；〃　Henley　said。；　his　voice　soft。　He　was　holding　the　gun　too　low　for　the　boy　to　see　it。
　Judson　nodded。　Not　facing　Bobby；　he　said；　〃It's　all　right；　Bobby。　You　do　what　these　people　say。　There's　nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　Bobby　relaxed　a　bit；　then；　but　still　kept　looking　doubtfully　at　everybody；　and　when　he　said；　〃All　right；　then；　I'll　wear　the　old　mask；〃　his　reluctance　was　clear　in　his　voice。
　Angie　slipped　the　mask　on　over　the　boy's　head。　〃Is　that　all　right？　It　isn't　too　tight；　is　it？〃
　〃No；　it's　okay。　It　smells　funny。〃　His　voice；　too；　was　muffled　now。
　〃That's　the　smell　of　rubber；〃　Angie　told　him。　〃Take　my　hand；　now；　we're　going　to　get　out　of　the　car。〃
　Henley　led　the　way；　opening　the　rear　doors　of　the　truck；　then　handing　Bobby　down　to　Parker。　Angie　got　down；　took　the　boy's　hand　again；　and　led　him　over　to　the　Dodge。　Henley　and　Krauss　closed　the　truck　doors　while　Parker　got　into　the　Dodge　and　started　the　engine。　Angie　and　Henley　had　gotten　rid　of　their　masks　now；　leaving　Bobby　the　only　one　with　his　face　covered。
　They　all　got　into　the　Dodge；　the　three　men　in　front；　the　two　women　in　back　with　the　boy　between　them。　Angie　said；　〃Bobbie；　this　is　Gloria；　a　friend　of　mine。〃
　〃Hello；　Bobby。〃
　Bobby　said；　his　face　toward　Angie；　〃You　took　your　mask　off。　Your　voice　sounds　different。〃
　〃You're　the　one　with　the　mask　on　now；〃　Angie　told　him。　〃We　take　turns。〃
　〃And　be　sure　to　leave　it　on；〃　Ruth　said。　She　sounded　colder；　more　stern　than　Angie。
　〃I　will；〃　Bobby　said。　Angie　had　been　continuing　to