sk.thewastelands-第20节

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h　it　was　a　long　silver　needle。
　　〃A　pass！〃　Eddie　said。　〃You　really　are　an　Eagle　Scout！〃
　　Roland　shook　his　head。　〃Not　a　pass。　I　know　what　they　are；　of　course；　but　these　days　I　keep　my　directions　by　the　sun　and　stars；　and　even　now　they　serve　me　quite　well。〃
　　〃Even　now？〃　Susannah　asked；　a　trifle　uneasily。
　　He　nodded。　〃The　directions　of　the　world　are　also　in　drift。〃
　　〃Christ；〃　Eddie　said。　He　tried　to　imagine　a　world　where　true　north　was　slipping　slyly　off　to　the　east　or　west　and　gave　up　almost　at　once。　It　made　him　feel　a　little　ill；　the　way　looking　down　from　the　top　of　a　high　building　had　always　made　him　feel　a　little　ill。
　　〃This　is　just　a　needle；　but　it　is　steel　and　it　should　serve　our　purpose　as　well　as　a　pass。　The　Beam　is　our　course　now；　and　the　needle　will　show　it。〃　He　rummaged　in　his　purse　again　and　came　out　with　a　poorly　made　pottery　cup。　A　crack　ran　down　one　side。　Roland　had　mended　this　artifact；　which　he　had　found　at　the　old　campsite；　with　pine…gum。　Now　he　went　to　the　stream；　dipped　the　cup　into　it；　and　brought　it　back　to　where　Susannah　sat　in　her　wheelchair。　He　put　the　cup　down　carefully　on　the　wheelchair's　arm；　and　when　the　surface　of　the　water　inside　was　calm；　he　dropped　the　needle　in。　It　sank　to　the　bottom　and　rested　there。
　　〃Wow！〃　Eddie　said。　〃Great！　I'd　fall　at　your　feet　in　wonder；　Roland；　but　I　don't　want　to　spoil　the　crease　in　my　pants。〃
　　〃I'm　not　finished。　Hold　the　cup　steady；　Susannah。〃
　　She　did；　and　Roland　pushed　her　slowly　across　the　clearing。　When　she　was　about　twelve　feet　in　front　of　the　door；　he　turned　the　chair　carefully　so　she　was　facing　away　from　it。
　　〃Eddie！〃　she　cried。　〃Look　at　this！〃
　　He　bent　over　the　pottery　cup；　marginally　aware　that　water　was　already　oozing　through　Roland's　makeshift　seal。　The　needle　was　rising　slowly　to　the　surface。　It　reached　it　and　bobbed　there　as　serenely　as　a　cork　would　have　done。　Its　direction　lay　in　a　straight　line　from　the　portal　behind　them　and　into　the　old；　tangled　forest　ahead。　〃Holy　shit…a　floating　needle。　Now　I　really　have　seen　everything。〃
　　〃Hold　the　cup；　Susannah。〃
　　She　held　it　steady　as　Roland　pushed　the　wheelchair　further　into　the　clearing；　at　right　angles　to　the　box。　The　needle　lost　its　steady　point；　bobbed　randomly　for　a　moment；　then　sank　to　the　bottom　of　the　cup　again。　When　Roland　pulled　the　chair　backward　to　its　former　spot；　it　rose　once　more　and　pointed　the　way。
　　〃If　we　had　iron　filings　and　a　sheet　of　paper；〃　the　gunslinger　said；　〃we　could　scatter　the　filings　on　the　paper's　surface　and　watch　them　draw　together　into　a　line　which　would　point　that　same　course。〃
　　〃Will　that　happen　even　when　we　leave　the　Portal？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　Roland　nodded。　〃Nor　is　that　all。　We　can　actually　see　the　Beam。〃
　　Susannah　looked　over　her　shoulder。　Her　elbow　bumped　the　cup　a　little　as　she　did。　The　needle　swung　aimlessly　as　the　water　inside　sloshed　。　。　。　and　then　settled　firmly　back　in　its　original　direction。
　　〃Not　that　way；〃　Roland　said。　〃Look　down；　both　of　you…Eddie　at　your　feet；　Susannah　into　your　lap。〃
　　They　did　as　he　asked。
　　〃When　I　tell　you　to　look　up；　look　straight　ahead；　in　the　direction　the　needle　points。　Don't　look　at　any　one　thing；　let　your　eye　see　whatever　it　will。　Now…look　up！〃
　　They　did。　For　a　moment　Eddie　saw　nothing　but　the　woods。　He　tried　to　make　his　eyes　relax　。　。　。　and　suddenly　it　was　there；　the　way　the　shape　of　the　slingshot　had　been　there；　inside　the　knob　of　wood；　and　he　knew　why　Roland　had　told　them　not　to　look　at　any　one　thing。　The　effect　of　the　Beam　was　everywhere　along　its　course；　but　it　was　subtle。　The　needles　of　the　pines　and　spruces　pointed　that　way。　The　greenberry　bushes　grew　slightly　slanted；　and　the　slant　lay　in　the　direction　of　the　Beam。　Not　all　the　trees　the　bear　had　pushed　down　to　clear　its　sightlines　had　fallen　along　that　camouflaged　path…which　ran　southeast；　if　Eddie　had　his　direc…tions　right…but　most　had；　as　if　the　force　ing　out　of　the　box　had　pushed　them　that　way　as　they　tottered。　The　clearest　evidence　was　in　the　way　the　shadows　lay　on　the　ground。　With　the　sun　ing　up　in　the　east　they　all　pointed　west；　of　course；　but　as　Eddie　looked　southeast；　he　saw　a　rough　herringbone　pattern　that　existed　only　along　the　line　which　the　needle　in　the　cup　had　pointed　out。
　　〃I　might　see　something〃　Susannah　said　doubtfully；　〃but…〃
　　〃Look　at　the　shadows！　The　shadows；　Suze！〃
　　Eddie　saw　her　eyes　widen　as　it　all　fell　into　place　for　her。　〃My　God！　It's　there！　Right　there！　It's　like　when　someone　has　a　natural　part　in　their　hair！〃
　　Now　that　Eddie　had　seen　it；　he　could　not　unsee　it；　a　dim　aisle　driving　through　the　untidy　tangle　which　surrounded　the　clearing；　a　straight…edge　course　that　was　the　way　of　the　Beam。　He　was　suddenly　aware　of　how　huge　the　force　flowing　around　him　（and　probably　right　through　him；　like　X…rays）　must　be；　and　had　to　control　an　urge　to　step　away；　either　to　the　right　or　left。　〃Say；　Roland；　this　won't　make　me　sterile；　will　it？〃
　　Roland　shrugged；　smiling　faintly。
　　〃It's　like　a　riverbed；〃　Susannah　marvelled。　〃A　riverbed　so　over…grown　you　can　barely　see　it　。。。　but　it's　still　there。　The　pattern　of　shadows　will　never　change　as　long　as　we　stay　inside　the　path　of　the　Beam；　will　it？〃
　　〃No；〃　Roland　said。　〃They'll　change　direction　as　the　sun　moves　across　the　sky；　of　course；　but　we'll　always　be　able　to　see　the　course　of　the　Beam。　You　must　remember　that　it　has　been　flowing　along　this　same　path　for　thousands…perhaps　tens　of　thousands…of　years。　Look　up；　you　two；　into　the　sky！〃
　　They　did；　and　saw　that　the　thin　cirrus　clouds　had　also　picked　up　that　herringbone　pattern　along　the　course　of　the　Beam　。　。　。　and　those　clouds　within　the　alley　of　its　power　were　flowing　faster　than　those　to　either　side。　They　were　being　pushed　southeast。　Being　pushed　in　the　direction　of　the　Dark　Tower。
　　〃You　see？　Even　the　clouds　must　obey。〃
　　A　small　flock　of　birds　coursed　toward　them。　As　they　reached　the　path　of　the　Beam；　they　were　all　deflected　toward　the　southeast　for　a　moment。　Although　Eddie　clearly　saw　this　happen；　his　eyes　could　hardly　credit　it。　When　the　birds　had　crossed　the　narrow　corridor　of　the　Beam's　influence；　they　resumed　their　former　course。
　　〃Well；〃　Eddie　said；　〃I　suppose　we　ought　to　get　going。　A　journey　of　a　thousand　miles　begins　with　a　single　step；　and　all　that　shit。〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　Susannah　was　looking　at　Roland。　〃It　isn't　just　a　thousand　miles；　is　it？　Not　anymore。　How　far　are　we　talking　about；　Roland？　Five　thousand　miles？　Ten？〃
　　〃I　can't　say。　It　will　be　very　far。〃
　　〃Well；　how　in　the　hell　we　ever　goan　get　there；　with　you　two　pushing　me　in　this　goddam　wheelchair？　We'll　be　lucky　to　make　three　miles　a　day　through　yonder　Drawers；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　〃The　way　has　been　opened；〃　Roland　said　patiently；　〃and　that's　enough　for　now。　The　time　may　e；　Susannah　Dean；　when　we　travel　faster　than　you　would　like。〃
　　〃Oh　yeah？〃　She　looked　at　him　truculently；　and　both　men　could　see　Detta　Walker　dancing　a　dangerous　hornpipe　in　her　eyes　again。　〃You　got　a　race…car　lined　up？　If　you　do；　it　might　be　nice　if　we　had　a　damn　road　to　run　it　on！〃
　　〃The　land　and　the　way　we　travel　on　it　will　change。　It　always　does。〃
　　Susannah　flapped　a　hand　at　the　gunslinger；　go　on　with　you；　it　said。　〃You　sound　like　my　old　mamma；　sayin　God　will　provide。〃
　　〃Hasn't　He？〃　Roland　asked　gravely。
　　She　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　in　silent　surprise；　then　threw　her　head　back　and　laughed　at　the　sky。　〃Wt…11；　I　guess　that　depends　on　how　you　look　at　it。　All　I　can　say　is　that　if　this　is　providin；　Roland；　I'd　hate　to　see　what'd　happen　if　He　decided　to　let　us　go　hungry。〃
　　〃e　on；　let's　do　it；〃　Eddie　said。　〃I　want　to　get　out　of　this　place。　I　don't　like　it。〃　And　that　was　true；　but　that　wasn't　all。　He　also　felt　a　deep　eagerness　to　set　his　feet　upon　that　concealed　path；　that　highway　in　hiding。　Every　step　was　a　step　closer　to　the　field　of　roses　and　the　Tower　which　dominated　it。　He　realized…not　without　some　wonder…that　he　meant　to　see　that　Tower　。。。　or　die　trying。
　　Congratulations；　Roland；　he　thought。　You've　done　it。　I'm　one　of　the　converted。　Someone　say　hallelujah。
　　〃There's　one　other　thing　before　we　go。〃　Roland　bent　and　untied　the　rawhide　lace　around　his　left　thigh。　Then　he　slowly　began　to　unbuckle　his　gunbelt。
　　〃What's　this　jive？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　Roland　pulled　the　gunbelt　free　and　held　it　out　to　him。　〃You　know　why　I'm　doing　this；〃　he　said　calmly。
　　〃Put　it　back　on；　man！〃　Eddie　felt　a　terrible　stew　of　conflicting　emo…tions　roiling　inside　him；　could　feel　his　fingers　trembling　even　inside　his　clenched　fists。　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃
　　〃Losing　my　mind　an　inch　at　a　time。　Until　the　wound　inside　me　closes…if　it　ever　does…I　am　not　fit　to　wear　this。　And　you　know　it。〃
　　〃Take　it；　Eddie；〃　Susannah　said　quietly。
　　〃If　you　hadn't　been　wearing　this　goddamn　thing　last　night；　when　that　bat　came　at　me；　I'd　be　gone　from　the　nose　up　this　morning！〃
　　The　gunslinger　replied　by　continuing　to　hold　his　remaining　gun　out　to　Eddie。　The　posture　of　his　body　said　he　was　prepared　to　stand　that　way　all　day；　if　that　was　what　it　took。
　　〃All　right！〃　Eddie　cried。　〃Goddammit；　all　right！〃
　　He　snatched　the　gunbelt　from　Roland's　hand　and　buckled　it　about　his　own　waist　in　a　series　of　rough　gestures。　He