sk.thewastelands-第46节

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ded　and　misunderstood　when　someone　yelled　at　them。　And　it　was　always　Wassa　matter？　and　it　was　Can'tcha　take　a　joke？　and　it　was　Why　don'tcha　lighten　up　a　little？
　　What　are　you　doing　with　him；　kid？　Jake　wondered。　If　you're　on　my　side；　what　are　you　doing　with　a　jerk　like　that？
　　But　as　the　younger　lad　turned　around　and　they　started　to　walk　down　the　street　again；　Jake　knew。　The　old　boy's　features　were　heavier；　and　his　plexion　was　badly　pitted　with　acne；　but　otherwise　the　resemblance　was　striking。　The　two　boys　were　brothers。
　　
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　　JAKE　TURNED　AWAY　AND　began　to　idle　up　the　sidewalk　ahead　of　the　two　boys。　He　reached　into　his　breast　pocket　with　a　shaky　hand；　pulled　out　his　father's　sunglasses；　and　managed　to　fumble　them　onto　his　face。
　　Voices　swelled　behind　him；　as　if　someone　was　gradually　turning　up　the　volume　on　a　radio。
　　〃You　shouldn't　have　ranked　on　her　that　bad；　Henry。　It　was　mean。〃
　　〃She　loves　it；　Eddie。〃　Henry's　voice　was　placent；　worldly…wise。　〃When　you　get　a　little　older；　you'll　understand。〃
　　〃She　was　cryin。〃
　　〃Prob'ly　got　the　rag　on；〃　Henry　said　in　a　philosophical　tone。
　　They　were　very　close　now。　Jake　shrank　against　the　side　of　the　build…ing。　His　head　was　down；　his　hands　stuffed　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　jeans。　He　didn't　know　why　it　seemed　so　vitally　important　that　he　not　be　noticed；　but　it　did。　Henry　didn't　matter；　one　way　or　the　other；　but…
　　The　younger　one；　isn't　supposed　to　remember　me；　he　thought。　I　don't　know　why；　exactly；　but　he's　not。
　　They　passed　him　without　so　much　as　a　glance；　the　one　Henry　had　called　Eddie　walking　on　the　outside；　dribbling　the　basketball　along　the　gutter。
　　〃You　gotta　admit　she　looked　funny；〃　Henry　was　saying。　〃Ole　Be…Bop　Maryanne；　jumpin　for　her　newspaper。　Woof！　Woof！〃
　　Eddie　looked　up　at　his　brother　with　an　expression　that　wanted　to　be　reproachful　。　。　。　and　then　he　gave　up　and　dissolved　into　laughter。　Jake　saw　the　unconditional　love　in　that　upturned　face　and　guessed　that　Eddie　would　forgive　a　lot　in　his　big　brother　before　giving　it　up　as　a　bad　job。
　　〃So　are　we　going？〃　Eddie　asked　now。　〃You　said　we　could。　After　school。〃
　　〃I　said　maybe。　I　dunno　if　I　wanna　walk　all　the　way　over　there。　Mom'll　be　home；　by　now；　too。　Maybe　we　just　oughtta　forget　it。　Go　upstairs　and　watch　some　tube。〃
　　They　were　now　ten　feet　ahead　of　Jake　and　pulling　away。
　　〃Ah；　e　on！　You　said！〃
　　Beyond　the　building　the　two　boys　were　currently　passing　was　a　chainlink　fence　with　an　open　gate　in　it。　Beyond　it；　Jake　saw；　was　the　playground　of　which　he　had　dreamed　last　night　。。。　a　version　of　it；　any…way。　It　wasn't　surrounded　by　trees；　and　there　was　no　odd　subway　kiosk　with　diagonal　slashes　of　yellow　and　black　across　the　front；　but　the　cracked　concrete　was　the　same。　So　were　the　faded　yellow　foul　lines。
　　〃Well　。　。　。　maybe。　I　dunno。〃　Jake　realized　Henry　was　teasing　again。　Eddie　didn't；　though；　he　was　too　anxious　about　wherever　it　was　he　wanted　to　go。　〃Let's　shoot　some　hoops　while　I　think　it　over。〃
　　He　stole　the　ball　from　his　younger　brother；　dribbled　clumsily　onto　the　playground；　and　went　for　a　lay…up　that　hit　high　on　the　backboard　and　bounced　back　without　even　touching　the　rim　of　the　hoop。　Henry　was　good　at　stealing　newspapers　from　teenage　girls；　Jake　thought；　but　on　the　basketball　court　he　sucked　the　big　one。
　　Eddie　walked　in　through　the　gate；　unbuttoned　his　corduroy　pants；　and　slipped　them　down。　Beneath　them　were　the　faded　madras　shorts　he　had　been　wearing　in　Jake's　dream。
　　〃Oh；　is　he　wearing　his　shortie　panties？〃　Henry　said。　〃Ain't　they　cuuute？〃　He　waited　until　his　brother　balanced　himself　on　one　leg　to　pull　off　his　cords；　then　flung　the　basketball　at　him。　Eddie　managed　to　bat　it　away；　probably　saving　himself　a　bloody　nose；　but　he　lost　his　balance　and　fell　clumsily　to　the　concrete。　He　didn't　cut　himself；　but　he　could　have　done　so；　Jake　saw；　a　great　deal　of　broken　glass　glittered　in　the　sun　along　the　chainlink。
　　〃e　on；　Henry；　quit　it；〃　he　said；　but　with　no　real　reproach。　Jake　guessed　I　Henry　had　been　pulling　shit　like　this　on　him　so　long　that　Eddie　only　noticed　it　when　Henry　pulled　it　on　someone　else…someone　like　the　blonde　ticket…seller。
　　〃Turn　on；　Henwy；　twit　it。〃
　　Eddie　got　to　his　feet　and　trotted　out　onto　the　court。　The　ball　had　struck　the　chainlink　fence　and　bounced　back　to　Henry。　Henry　now　tried　to　dribble　past　his　younger　brother。　Eddie's　hand　went　out；　lightning…quick　but　oddly　delicate；　and　stole　the　ball。　He　easily　ducked　under　Henry's　outstretched；　flailing　arm　and　went　for　the　basket。　Henry　dogged　him；　frowning　thunderously；　but　he　might　as　well　have　been　taking　a　nap。　Eddie　went　up；　knees　bent；　feet　neatly　cocked；　and　laid　the　ball　in。　Henry　grabbed　it　and　dribbled　out　to　the　stripe。
　　Shouldn't　have　done　that；　Eddie；　Jake　thought。　He　was　standing　just　beyond　the　place　where　the　fence　ended；　watching　the　two　boys。　This　seemed　safe　enough；　at　least　for　the　moment。　He　was　wearing　his　dad's　sunglasses；　and　the　two　boys　were　so　involved　in　what　they　were　doing　that　they　wouldn't　have　noticed　if　President　Carter　had　strolled　up　to　watch。　Jake　doubted　if　Henry　knew　who　President　Carter　was；　anyway。
　　He　expected　Henry　to　foul　his　brother；　perhaps　heavily；　as　a　payback　for　the　steal；　but　he　had　underestimated　Eddie's　guile。　Henry　offered　a　head…fake　that　wouldn't　have　fooled　Jake's　mother；　but　Eddie　appeared　to　fall　for　it。　Henry　broke　past　him　and　drove　for　the　basket；　gaily　travel…ling　the　ball　most　of　the　way。　Jake　was　quite　sure　Eddie　could　have　caught　him　easily　and　stolen　the　ball　again；　but　instead　of　doing　so；　the　lad　hung　back。　Henry　laid　it　up…clumsily…and　the　ball　bounced　off　the　rim　again。　Eddie　grabbed　it　。。。　and　then　let　it　squirt　through　his　fingers。　Henry　snatched　it；　turned；　and　put　it　through　the　netless　hoop。
　　〃One…up；〃　Henry　panted。　〃Play　to　twelve？〃
　　〃Sure。〃
　　Jake　had　seen　enough。　It　would　be　close；　but　in　the　end　Henry　would　win。　Eddie　would　see　to　it。　It　would　do　more　than　save　him　from　getting　lumped　up；　it　would　put　Henry　in　a　good　mood；　making　him　more　agreeable　to　whatever　it　was　Eddie　wanted　to　do。
　　Hey　Moose…I　think　your　little　brother　has　been　playing　you　like　a　violin　for　a　long　time　now；　and　you　don't　have　the　slightest　idea；　do　you？
　　He　drew　back　until　the　apartment　building　which　stood　at　the　north　end　of　the　court　cut　off　his　view　of　the　Dean　brothers；　and　their　view　of　him。　He　leaned　against　the　wall　and　listened　to　the　thump　of　the　ball　on　the　court。　Soon　Henry　was　puffing　like　Charlie　the　Choo…Choo　going　up　a　steep　hill。　He　would　be　a　smoker；　of　course；　guys　like　Henry　were　always　smokers。
　　The　game　took　almost　ten　minutes；　and　by　the　time　Henry　claimed　victory；　the　street　was　filled　up　with　other　home…going　kids。　A　few　gave　Jake　curious　glances　as　they　passed　by。
　　〃Good　game；　Henry；〃　Eddie　said。
　　〃Not　bad；〃　Henry　panted。　〃You're　still　falling　for　the　old　head…fake。〃
　　Sure　he　is；　Jake　thought。　I　think　he'll　go　on　falling　for　it　until　he's　gained　about　eighty　pounds。　Then　you　might　get　a　surprise。
　　〃I　guess　I　am。　Hey；　Henry；　can't　we　please　go　look　at　the　place？〃
　　〃Yeah；　why　not？　Let's　do　it。〃
　　〃All　right”　Eddie　yelled。　There　was　the　smacking　sound　of　flesh　on　flesh；　probably　Eddie　giving　his　brother　a　high…five。　〃Boss！〃
　　〃You　go　on　up　to　the　apartment。　Tell　Mom　we'll　be　in　by　four…thirty；　quarter　of　five。　But　don't　say　anything　about　The　Mansion。　She'd　have　a　shit…fit。　She　thinks　it's　haunted；　too。〃
　　〃You　want　me　to　tell　her　we're　going　over　Dewey's？〃
　　Silence　as　Henry　considered　this。　〃Naw。　She　might　call　Mrs。　Bunkowski。　Tell　her　。　。　。　tell　her　we're　goin　down　to　Dahlie's　to　get　Hoodsie　Rockets。　She'll　believe　that。　Ask　her　for　a　coupla　bucks；　too。〃
　　〃She　won't　give　me　any　money。　Not　two　days　before　payday。〃
　　〃Bullshit。　You　can　get　it　out　of　her。　Go　on；　now。〃
　　〃Okay。〃　But　Jake　didn't　hear　Eddie　moving。　〃Henry？〃
　　〃What？〃　Impatiently。
　　〃Is　The　Mansion　haunted；　do　you　think？〃
　　Jake　sidled　a　little　closer　to　the　playground。　He　didn't　want　to　be　noticed；　but　he　strongly　felt　that　he　needed　to　hear　this。
　　〃Naw。　There　ain't　no　real　haunted　houses…just　in　the　fuckin　movies。〃
　　〃Oh。〃　There　was　unmistakable　relief　in　Eddie's　voice。
　　〃But　if　there　ever　was　one；〃　Henry　resumed　（perhaps　he　didn't　want　his　little　brother　feeling　too　relieved；　Jake　thought）；　〃it'd　be　The　Mansion。　I　heard　that　a　couple　of　years　ago；　two　kids　from　Norwood　Street　went　in　there　to　bump　uglies　and　the　cops　found　em　with　their　throats　cut　and　all　the　blood　drained　out　of　their　bodies。　But　there　wasn't　any　blood　on　em　or　around　em。　Get　it？　The　blood　was　all　gone。〃
　　〃You　shittin　me？〃　Eddie　breathed。
　　〃Nope。　But　that　wasn't　the　worst　thing。〃
　　〃What　was？〃
　　〃Their　hair　was　dead　white；〃　Henry　said。　The　voice　that　drifted　to　Jake　was　solemn。　He　had　an　idea　that　Henry　wasn't　teasing　this　time；　that　this　time　he　believed　every　word　he　was　saying。　（He　also　doubted　that　Henry　had　brains　enough　to　make　such　a　story　up。）　〃Both　of　em。　And　their　eyes　were　wide　open　and　staring；　like　they　saw　the　most　gross…awful　thing　in　the　world。〃
　　〃Aw；　gimme　a　break；〃　Eddie　said；　but　his　voice　was　soft；　awed。
　　〃You　still　wanna　go？〃
　　〃Sure。