sk.thewastelands-第40节

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　playground；　where　the　Juvenile　Court　Building　is　now。　I　want　Henry　to　take　me　to　see　a　place　over　in　Dutch　Hill。　An　old　house。　The　kids　used　to　call　it　The　Mansion；　and　everyone　said　it　was　haunted。　Maybe　it　even　was。　It　was　creepy；　I　know　that　much。　Real　creepy。〃
　　Eddie　shook　his　head；　remembering。
　　〃I　thought　of　The　Mansion　for　the　first　time　in　years　when　we　were　in　the　bear's　clearing；　and　I　put　my　head　close　to　that　weird　box。　I　dunno…maybe　that's　why　I'm　having　the　dream。〃
　　〃But　you　don't　think　so；〃　Susannah　said。
　　〃No。　I　think　whatever's　happening　is　a　lot　more　plicated　than　just　remembering　stuff。〃
　　〃Did　you　and　your　brother　actually　go　to　this　place？〃　Roland　asked。
　　〃Yeah…I　talked　him　into　it。〃
　　〃And　did　something　happen？〃
　　〃No。　But　it　was　scary。　We　stood　there　and　looked　at　it　for　a　little　while；　and　Henry　teased　me…saving　he　was　going　to　make　me　go　in　and　pick　up　a　souvenir；　stuff　like　that…but　I　knew　he　didn't　really　mean　it。　He　was　as　scared　of　the　place　as　I　was。〃
　　〃And　that's　it？〃　Susannah　asked。　〃You　just　dream　of　going　to　this　place？　The　Mansion？〃
　　〃There's　a　little　more　than　that。　Someone　es　。　。　。　and　then　just　land　of　hangs　out。　I　notice　him　in　the　dream；　but　just　a　little　。　。　。　like　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye；　you　know？　Only　I　know　we're　supposed　to　pretend　we　don't　know　each　other。〃
　　〃Was　this　someone　really　there　that　day？〃　Roland　asked。　He　was　watching　Eddie　intently；　〃Or　is　he　only　a　player　in　this　dream？〃
　　〃That　was　a　long　time　ago。　I　couldn't　have　been　more　than　thirteen。　How　could　I　remember　a　thing　like　that　for　sure？〃
　　Roland　said　nothing。
　　〃Okay；〃　Eddie　said　at　last。　〃Yeah。　I　think　he　was　there　that　day。　A　kid　who　was　either　carrying　a　gym…bag　or　wearing　a　backpack；　I　can't　remember　which。　And　sunglasses　that　were　too　big　for　his　face。　The　ones　with　the　mirror　lenses。〃
　　〃Who　was　this　person？〃　Roland　asked。
　　Eddie　was　silent　for　a　long　time。　He　was　holding　the　last　of　his　burritos　a　la　Roland　in　one　hand；　but　he　had　lost　his　appetite。　〃I　think　it's　the　kid　you　met　at　the　way　station；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　think　your　old　friend　Jake　was　hanging　around；　watching　me　and　Henry　on　the　afternoon　we　went　over　to　Dutch　Hill。　I　think　he　followed　us。　Because　he　hears　the　voices；　just　like　you；　Roland。　And　because　he's　sharing　my　dreams；　and　I'm　sharing　his。　I　think　that　what　I　remember　is　what's　happening　now；　in　Jake's　when。　The　kid　is　trying　to　e　back　here。　And　if　the　key　isn't　done　when　he　makes　his　move…or　if　it's　done　wrong…he's　probably　going　to　die。〃
　　Roland　said；　〃Maybe　he　has　a　key　of　his　own。　Is　that　possible？〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　think　it　is；〃　Eddie　said；　〃but　it　isn't　enough。〃　He　sighed　and　stuck　the　last　burrito　in　his　pocket　for　later。　〃And　I　don't　think　he　knows　that。〃
　　　
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　　THEY　MOVED　ALONG；　ROLAND　and　Eddie　trading　off　on　Susannah's　wheelchair。　They　picked　the　left…hand　wheelrut。　The　chair　bumped　and　pitched；　and　every　now　and　then　Eddie　and　Roland　had　to　lift　it　over　the　cobbles　which　stuck　out　of　the　dirt　here　and　there　like　old　teeth。　They　were　still　making　faster；　easier　time　than　they　had　in　a　week；　how…ever。　The　ground　was　rising；　and　when　Eddie　looked　over　his　shoulder　he　could　see　the　forest　sloping　away　in　what　looked　like　a　series　of　gentle　steps。　Far　to　the　northwest；　he　could　see　a　ribbon　of　water　spilling　over　a　fractured　rock　face。　It　was；　he　realized　with　wonder；　the　place　they　had　dubbed　〃the　shooting　gallery。〃　Now　it　was　almost　lost　behind　them　in　the　haze　of　this　dreaming　summer　afternoon。
　　〃Whoa　down；　boy！〃　Susannah　called　sharply。　Eddie　faced　forward　again　just　in　time　to　keep　from　pushing　the　wheelchair　into　Roland。　The　gunslinger　had　stopped　and　was　peering　into　the　tangled　bushes　at　the　left　of　the　road。
　　〃You　keep　that　up；　I'm　gonna　revoke　your　driver's　license；〃　Susannah　said　waspily。
　　Eddie　ignored　her。　He　was　following　Roland's　gaze。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃One　way　to　find　out。〃　He　turned；　hoisted　Susannah　from　her　chair；　~and　planted　her　on　his　hip。　〃Let's　all　take　a　look。〃
　　〃Put　me　down；　big　boy…I　can　make　my　way。　Easier'n　you　boys；　if　you　really　want　to　know。〃
　　As　Roland　gently　lowered　her　to　the　grassy　wheelrut；　Eddie　peered　into　the　woods。　The　late　light　threw　overlapping　crosses　of　shadow；　but　he　thought　he　saw　what　had　caught　Roland's　eye。　It　was　a　tall　gray　stone；　almost　pletely　hidden　in　a　shag　of　vines　and　creepers。
　　Susannah　slipped　into　the　woods　at　the　side　of　the　road　with　eely　sinuousness。　Roland　and　Eddie　followed。
　　〃It's　a　marker；　isn't　it？〃　Susannah　was　propped　on　her　hands　study…ing　die　rectangular　chunk　of　rock。　It　had　once　been　straight；　but　now　it　leaned　drunkenly　to　the　right；　like　an　old　gravestone。
　　〃Yes。　Give　me　my　knife；　Eddie。〃
　　Eddie　handed　it　over；　then　hunkered　next　to　Susannah　as　the　gun…slinger　cut　away　the　vines。　As　they　fell；　he　could　see　eroded　letters　carved　into　the　stone；　and　he　knew　what　they　said　before　Roland　had　uncovered　even　half　of　the　inscription：
　　TRAVELLER；　BEYOND　LIES　MID…WORLD。
　　　
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　　〃WHAT　DOES　IT　MEAN？〃　Susannah　asked　at　last。　Her　voice　was　soft　and　awestruck；　her　eyes　ceaselessly　measured　the　gray　stone　plinth。
　　〃It　means　that　we're　nearing　the　end　of　this　first　stage。〃　Roland's　face　was　solemn　and　thoughtful　as　he　handed　his　knife　back　to　Eddie。　〃I　think　that　we'll　keep　to　this　old　coach…road　now…or　rather；　it　will　keep　to　us。　It　has　taken　up　the　path　of　the　Beam。　The　woods　will　end　soon。　I　expect　a　great　change。〃
　　〃What　is　Mid…World？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　〃One　of　the　large　kingdoms　which　dominated　the　earth　in　the　times　before　these。　A　kingdom　of　hope　and　knowledge　and　light…the　sort　of　things　we　were　trying　to　hold　onto　in　my　land　before　the　darkness　over…took　us；　as　well。　Some　day　if　there's　time；　I'll　tell　you　all　the　old　stories　。　。　。　the　ones　I　know；　at　least。　They　form　a　large　tapestry；　one　which　is　beautiful　but　very　sad。
　　〃According　to　the　old　tales；　a　great　city　once　stood　at　the　edge　of　Mid…World…perhaps　as　great　as　your　city　of　New　York。　It　will　be　in　ruins　now；　if　it　still　exists　at　all。　But　there　may　be　people　。。。　or　monsters　。。。　or　both。　We'll　have　to　be　on　our　guard。〃
　　He　reached　out　his　two…fingered　right　hand　and　touched　the　inscrip…tion。　〃Mid…World；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　meditative　voice。　〃Who　would　have　thought　。　。　。〃　He　trailed　off。
　　〃Well；　there's　no　help　for　it；　is　there？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　The　gunslinger　shook　his　head。　〃No　help。〃
　　〃Ka；〃　Susannah　said　suddenly；　and　they　both　looked　at　her。
　　
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　　THERE　WERE　TWO　HOURS　of　daylight　left；　and　so　they　moved　on。　The　road　continued　southeast；　along　the　path　of　the　Beam；　and　two　other　overgrown　roads…smaller　ones…joined　the　one　they　were　following。　Along　one　side　of　the　second　were　the　mossy；　tumbled　remains　of　what　must　have　once　been　an　immense　rock　wall。　Nearby；　a　dozen　fat　billy…bumblers　sat　upon　the　ruins；　watching　the　pilgrims　with　their　odd　gold…ringed　eyes。　To　Eddie　they　looked　like　a　jury　with　hanging　on　its　mind。
　　The　road　continued　to　grow　wider　and　more　clearly　defined。　Twice　they　passed　the　shells　of　long…deserted　buildings。　The　second　one；　Roland　said；　might　have　been　a　windmill。　Susannah　said　it　looked　haunted。　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised；〃　the　gunslinger　replied。　His　matter…of…fact　tone　chilled　both　of　them。
　　When　darkness　forced　a　halt；　the　trees　were　thinning　and　the　breeze　which　had　chased　around　tin…in　all　day　became　a　light；　warm　wind。　Ahead；　the　land　continued　to　rise。
　　〃We'll　e　to　the　top　of　the　ridge　in　a　day　or　two；〃　Roland　said。　〃Then　we'll　see。〃
　　〃See　what？〃　Susannah　asked；　but　Roland　only　shrugged。
　　That　night　Eddie　began　to　carve　again；　but　with　no　real　feeling　of　inspiration。　The　confidence　and　happiness　he'd　felt　as　the　key　first　began　to　take　shape　had　left　him。　His　fingers　felt　clumsy　and　stupid。　For　the　first　time　in　months　he　thought　longingly　of　how　good　it　would　be　to　have　some　heroin。　Not　a　lot；　he　felt　sure　that　a　nickel　bag　and　a　rolled…up　dollar　bill　would　send　him　flying　through　this　little　carving　project　in　no　time　flat。
　　〃What　are　you　smiling　about；　Eddie？〃　Roland　asked。　He　was　sitting　on　the　other　side　of　the　campfire；　the　low；　wind…driven　flames　danced　capriciously　between　them。
　　〃Was　I　smiling？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　how　stupid　some　people　can　be…you　put　them　in　a　room　with　six　doors；　they'll　still　walk　into　the　walls。　And　then　have　the　nerve　to　bitch　about　it。〃
　　〃If　you're　afraid　of　what　might　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　doors；　maybe　bouncing　off　the　walls　seems　safer；〃　Susannah　said。
　　Eddie　nodded。　〃Maybe　so。〃
　　He　worked　slowly；　trying　to　see　the　shapes　in　the　wood…that　little　s…shape　in　particular。　He　discovered　it　had　bee　very　dim。
　　Please；　God；　help　me　not　to　fuck　this　up；　he　thought；　but　he　was　terribly　afraid　that　he　had　already　begun　to　do　just　that。　At　last　he　gave　up；　returned　the　key　（which　he　had　barely　changed　at　all）　to　the　gun…slinger；　and　curled　up　beneath　one　of　the　hides。　Five　minutes　later；　the　dream　about　the　boy　and　the　old　Markey　Avenue　playground　had　begun　to　unspool　again。
　　
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　　JAKE　STEPPED　OUT　OF　his　apartment　building　at　about　quarter　of　seven；　which　left　him　with　o