sk.thewastelands-第69节

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　　His　shoulder　was　suddenly　seized；　and　with　painful　force。
　　〃What　was　his　name？〃　Roland　asked。
　　〃Mr。　Tower；〃　Jake　said。　〃Calvin　Tower。　Didn't　I　tell　you　that？〃
　　〃No。〃　Roland　slowly　relaxed　his　grip　on　Jake's　shoulder。　〃But　now　that　I　hear　it；　I　suppose　I'm　not　surprised。〃
　　Eddie　had　opened　Jake's　pack　and　found　Riddle…De…Dum！　He　tossed　it　to　Susannah。　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I　always　thought　that　dead…baby　joke　was　pretty　good。　Tasteless；　maybe；　but　pretty　good。〃
　　〃I　don't　care　about　taste；〃　Roland　said。　〃It's　senseless　and　unsolvable；　and　that's　what　makes　it　silly。　A　good　riddle　is　neither。〃
　　〃Jesus！　You　guys　did　take　this　stuff　seriously；　didn't　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　Jake；　meanwhile；　had　been　restacking　the　kindling　and　mulling　over　the　riddle　which　had　started　the　discussion。　Now　he　suddenly　smiled。　〃A　fire。　That's　the　answer；　right？　Dress　it　at　night；　undress　it　in　the　morning。　If　you　change　'dress'　to　'build；'　it's　simple。〃
　　〃That's　it。〃　Roland　returned　Jake's　smile；　but　his　eyes　were　on　Susannah；　watching　as　she　thumbed　through　the　small；　tattered　book。　He　thought；　looking　at　her　studious　frown　and　the　absent　way　she　read…justed　the　yellow　flower　in　her　hair　when　it　tried　to　slip　free；　that　she　alone　might　sense　that　the　tattered　book　of　riddles　could　be　as　important　as　Charlie　the　Choo…Choo　。　。　。　maybe　more　important。　He　looked　from　her　to　Eddie　and　felt　a　recurrence　of　his　irritation　at　Eddie's　foolish　riddle。　The　young　man　bore　another　resemblance　to　Cuthbert；　this　one　rather　unfortunate：　Roland　sometimes　felt　like　shaking　him　until　his　nose　bled　and　his　teeth　fell　out。
　　Soft；　gunslinger…soft！　Cort's　voice；　not　quite　laughing；　spoke　up　in　his　head；　and　Roland　resolutely　put　his　emotions　at　arm's　length。　It　was　easier　to　do　that　when　he　remembered　that　Eddie　couldn't　help　his　occasional　forays　into　nonsense；　character　was　also　at　least　partly　formed　by　ka；　and　Roland　knew　well　that　there　was　more　to　Eddie　than　non…sense。　Anytime　he　started　to　make　the　mistake　of　thinking　that　wasn't　so；　he　would　do　well　to　remember　their　conversation　by　the　side　of　the　road　three　nights　before；　when　Eddie　had　accused　him　of　using　them　as　markers　on　his　own　private　game…board。　That　had　angered　him　。　。　。　but　it　had　been　close　enough　to　the　truth　to　shame　him；　as　well。
　　Blissfully　unaware　of　these　long　thoughts；　Eddie　now　inquired：　〃What's　green；　weighs　a　hundred　tons；　and　lives　at　the　bottom　of　the　ocean？〃
　　〃I　know；〃　Jake　said。　〃Moby　Snot；　the　Great　Green　Whale。〃
　　〃Idiocy；〃　Roland　muttered。
　　〃Yeah…but　that's　what's　supposed　to　make　it　funny；〃　Eddie　said。　〃Jokes　are　supposed　to　make　you　think　around　ers；　too。　You　see　。　。　。〃　He　looked　at　Roland's　face；　laughed；　and　threw　up　his　hands。　〃Never　mind。　I　give　up。　You　wouldn't　understand。　Not　in　a　million　years。　Let's　look　at　the　damned　book。　I'll　even　try　to　take　it　seriously　。。。　if　we　can　eat　a　little　supper　first；　that　is。〃
　　〃Watch　Me；〃　the　gunslinger　said　with　a　flicker　of　a　smile。
　　〃Huh？〃
　　〃That　means　you　have　a　deal。〃
　　Jake　scraped　the　steel　across　the　flint。　A　spark　jumped；　and　this　time　the　kindling　caught　fire。　He　sat　back　contentedly　and　watched　the　flames　spread；　one　arm　slung　around　Oy's　neck。　He　felt　well　pleased　with　him…self。　He　had　started　the　evening　fire　。　。　。　and　he　had　guessed　the　answer　to　Roland's　riddle。
　　　
　　　3
　　〃I'VE　GOT　ONE；〃　JAKE　said　as　they　ate　their　evening　burritos。
　　〃Is　it　a　foolish　one？〃　Roland　asked。
　　〃Nah。　It's　a　real　one。〃
　　〃Then　try　me　with　it。〃
　　〃Okay。　What　can　run　but　never　walks；　has　a　mouth　but　never　talks；　has　a　bed　but　never　sleeps；　has　a　head　but　never　weeps？〃
　　〃A　good　one；〃　Roland　said　kindly；　〃but　an　old　one。　A　river。〃
　　Jake　was　a　little　crestfallen。　〃You　really　are　hard　to　stump。〃
　　Roland　tossed　the　last　bite　of　his　burrito　to　Oy；　who　accepted　it　eagerly。　〃Not　me。　I'm　what　Eddie　calls　an　overpush。　You　should　have　seen　Alain。　He　collected　riddles　the　way　a　lady　collects　fans。〃
　　〃That's　pushover；　Roland；　old　buddy；〃　Eddie　said。
　　〃Thank　you。　Try　this　one：　What　lies　in　bed；　and　stands　in　bed？/　First　white；　then　red/　The　plumper　it　gets/　The　better　the　old　woman　likes　it？〃
　　Eddie　burst　out　laughing。　〃A　dork！〃　he　yelled。　〃Crude；　Roland！　But　I　like　it！　I　liyyyke　it！〃
　　Roland　shook　his　head。　〃Your　answer　is　wrong。　A　good　riddle　is　sometimes　a　puzzle　in　words；　like　Jake's　about　the　river；　but　sometimes　it's　more　like　a　magician's　trick；　making　you　look　in　one　direction　while　it's　going　somewhere　else。〃
　　〃It's　a　double；〃　Jake　said。　He　explained　what　Aaron　Deepneau　had　said　about　the　Riddle　of　Samson。　Roland　nodded。
　　〃Is　it　a　strawberry？〃　Susannah　asked；　then　answered　her　own　ques…tion。　〃Of　course　it　is。　It's　like　the　fire…riddle。　There's　a　metaphor　hidden　inside　it。　Once　you　understand　the　metaphor；　you　can　solve　the　riddle。〃
　　〃I　metaphor　sex；　but　she　slapped　my　face　and　walked　away　when　I　asked；〃　Eddie　told　them　sadly。　They　all　ignored　him。
　　〃If　you　change　'gets'　to　'grows；'　〃　Susannah　went　on；　〃it's　easy。　First　white；　then　red。　Plumper　it　grows；　the　better　the　old　woman　likes　it。〃　She　looked　pleased　with　herself。
　　Roland　nodded。　〃The　answer　I　always　heard　was　a　wenberry；　but　I'm　sure　both　answers　mean　the　same　thing。〃
　　Eddie　picked　up　Riddle…De…Dum！　and　began　flipping　through　it。　〃How　about　this　one；　Roland？　When　is　a　door　not　a　door？〃
　　Roland　frowned。　〃Is　it　another　piece　of　your　stupidity？　Because　my　patience…〃
　　〃No。　I　promised　to　take　it　seriously；　and　I　am…I'm　trying；　at　least。　It's　in　this　book；　and　I　just　happen　to　know　the　answer。　I　heard　it　when　I　was　a　kid。〃
　　Jake；　who　also　knew　the　answer；　winked　at　Eddie。　Eddie　winked　back；　and　was　amused　to　see　Oy　also　trying　to　wink。　The　humbler　kept　shutting　both　eyes；　and　eventually　gave　up。
　　Roland　and　Susannah；　meanwhile；　were　puzzling　over　the　question。　〃It　must　have　something　to　do　with　love；〃　Roland　said。　〃A　door；　adore。　When　is　adore　not　adore　。　。　。　hmmm　。　。　。〃
　　〃Hmmm；〃　Oy　said。　His　imitation　of　Roland's　thoughtful　tone　was　perfect。　Eddie　winked　at　Jake　again。　Jake　covered　his　mouth　to　hide　a　smile。
　　〃Is　the　answer　false　love？〃　Roland　asked　at　last。
　　〃Nope。〃
　　〃Window；〃　Susannah　said　suddenly　and　decisively。　〃When　is　a　door　not　a　door？　When　it's　a　window。〃
　　〃Nope。〃　Eddie　was　grinning　broadly　now；　but　Jake　was　struck　by　how　far　from　the　real　answer　both　of　them　had　wandered。　There　was　magic　at　work　here；　he　thought。　Pretty　mon　stuff；　as　magic　went；　no　flying　carpets　or　disappearing　elephants；　but　magic；　all　the　same。　He　suddenly　saw　what　they　were　doing…a　simple　game　of　riddles　around　a　campfire…in　an　entirely　new　light。　It　was　like　playing　blind…man's　bluff；　only　in　this　game　the　blindfold　was　made　of　words。
　　〃I　give　up；〃　Susannah　said。
　　〃Yes；〃　Roland　said。　〃Tell　if　you　know。〃
　　〃The　answer　is　a　jar。　A　door　is　not　a　door　when　it's　ajar。　Get　it？〃　Eddie　watched　as　prehension　dawned　on　Roland's　face　and　asked；　a　little　apprehensively；　〃Is　it　a　bad　one？　I　was　trying　to　be　serious　this　time；　Roland…really。〃
　　〃Not　bad　at　all。　On　the　contrary；　it's　quite　good。　Cort　would　have　gotten　it；　I'm　sure　。　。　。　probably　Alain；　too；　it's　still　very　clever。　I　did　what　I　always　used　to　do　in　the　schoolroom：　made　it　more　plicated　than　it　really　was　and　shot　right　past　the　answer。〃
　　〃There　really　is　something　to　it；　isn't　there？〃　Eddie　mused。　Roland　nodded；　but　Eddie　didn't　see；　he　was　looking　into　the　depths　of　the　fire；　where　dozens　of　roses　bloomed　and　faded　in　the　coals。
　　Roland　said；　〃One　more；　and　we'll　turn　in。　Only　from　tonight　on；　we'll　stand　a　watch。　You　first；　Eddie；　then　Susannah。　I'll　take　the　last　one。〃
　　〃What　about　me？〃　Jake　asked。
　　〃Later　on　you　may　have　to　take　a　rum。　Right　now　it's　more　impor…tant　for　you　to　get　your　sleep。〃
　　〃Do　you　really　think　sentry…duty　is　necessary？〃　Susannah　asked。
　　〃I　don't　know。　And　that's　the　best　reason　of　all　to　do　it。　Jake；　choose　us　a　riddle　from　your　book。〃
　　Eddie　handed　Riddle…De…Dum！　to　Jake；　who　thumbed　through　the　pages　and　finally　stopped　near　the　back。　〃Whoa！　This　one's　a　killer。〃
　　〃Let's　hear　it；〃　Eddie　said。　〃If　I　don't　get　it；　Suze　will。　We're　known　at　Fair…Days　all　across　the　land　as　Eddie　Dean　and　His　Riddling　Queen。〃
　　〃We're　witty　tonight；　ain't　we？〃　Susannah　said。　〃Let's　see　how　witty　you　are　after　settin　by　the　side　o'　the　road　until　midnight　or　so；　honeychild。〃
　　Jake　read：　〃　'There　is　a　thing　that　nothing　is；　and　yet　it　has　a　name。　It's　sometimes　tall　and　sometimes　short；　joins　our　talks；　joins　our　sport；　and　plays　at　every　game。'　〃
　　They　discussed　this　riddle　for　almost　fifteen　minutes；　but　none　of　them　could　even　hazard　an　answer。
　　〃Maybe　it'll　e　to　one　of　us　while　we're　asleep；〃　Jake　said。　〃That's　how　I　got　the　one　about　the　river。〃
　　〃Cheap　book；　with　the　answers　torn　out；〃　Eddie　said。　He　stood　up　and　wrapped　a　hide　blanket　around　his　shoulders　like　a　cloak。
　　〃Well；　it　was　cheap。　Mr。　Tower　gave　it　to　me　for　free。〃
　　〃What　am　I　looking　for；　Roland？〃　Eddie　asked。
　　Roland　shrugged　as　he　lay　down。　〃I　don't　know；　but　I　think　you'll　know　it　if　you　see　it　or　hear　it。〃
　　〃Wake　me　up　when　you　start　feeling　sleepy；〃　Susannah　s