sk.thewastelands-第17部分

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　　As　Eddie　approached　the　metal　box　with　its　alternating　diagonal　slashes　of　yellow　and　black；　a　strong　and　unpleasant　memory　seized　him…for　the　first　time　in　years　he　found　himself　thinking　of　a　crumbling　Victorian　wreck　in　Dutch　Hill；　about　a　mile　away　from　the　neighborhood　he　and　Henry　had　grown　up。　This　wreck；　which　was　known　as　The　Mansion　to　the　neighborhood　kids；　occupied　a　plot　of　weedy；　untended　lawn　on　Rhinehold　Street。　Eddie　guessed　that　practically　all　the　kids　in　the　borough　had　heard　spooky　stories　about　The　Mansion。　The　house　stood　slumped　beneath　its　steep　roofs；　seeming　to　glare　at　passersby　from　the　deep　shadows　thrown　by　its　eaves。　The　windows　were　gone；　of　course…kids　can　throw　rocks　through　windows　without　getting　too　close　to　a　place…hut　it　had　not　been　spray…painted；　and　it　had　not　bee　a　make…out　spot　or　a　shooting　gallery。　Oddest　of　all　was　the　simple　fact　of　its　continued　existence：　no　one　had　set　it　on　fire　to　collect　the　insurance　or　just　to　see　it　bum。　The　kids　said　it　was　haunted；　of　course；　and　as　Eddie　stood　on　the　sidewalk　with　Henry　one　day；　looking　at　it　（they　had　made　the　pilgrimage　specifically　to　see　this　object　of　fabulous　rumor；　although　Henry　had　told　their　mother　they　were　only　going　for　Hoodsie　Rockets　at　Dahlberg's　with　some　of　his　friends）；　it　had　seemed　that　it　really　might　be　haunted。　Hadn't　he　felt　some　strong　and　unfriendly　force　seeping　from　that　old　Victorian's　shadowy　windows；　windows　that　seemed　to　look　at　him　with　the　fixed　stare　of　a　dangerous　lunatic？　Hadn't　he　felt　some　subtle　wind　stirring　the　hairs　on　his　arms　and　the　back　of　his　neck？　Hadn't　he　had　the　clear　intuition　that　if　he　stepped　inside　that　place；　the　door　would　slam　and　lock　behind　him　and　the　walls　would　begin　to　close　in；　grinding　the　bones　of　dead　mice　to　powder；　wanting　to　crush　his　bones　the　same　way？
　　Haunting。　Haunted。
　　He　felt　that　same　old　sense　of　mystery　and　danger　now；　as　he　approached　the　metal　box。　Gooseflesh　began　to　ripple　up　his　legs　and　down　his　arms；　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　neck　bushed　out　and　became　rough；　overlapping　hackles。　He　felt　that　same　subtle　wind　blowing　past　him；　although　the　leaves　on　the　trees　which　ringed　the　clearing　were　perfectly　still。
　　Yet　he　walked　toward　the　door　anyway　（for　that　was　what　it　was；　of　course；　another　door；　although　this　one　was　locked　and　always　would　be　against　the　likes　of　him）；　not　stopping　until　his　ear　was　pressed　against　it。
　　It　was　as　if　he　had　dropped　a　tab　of　really　strong　acid　half　an　hour　ago　and　it　was　just　beginning　to　e　on　heavy。　Strange　colors　flowed　across　the　darkness　behind　his　eyeballs。　He　seemed　to　hear　voices　mur…muring　up　to　him　from　long　hallways　like　stone　throats；　halls　which　were　lit　with　guttering　electric　torches。　Once　these　flambeaux　of　the　modern　age　had　thrown　a　bright　glare　across　everything；　but　now　they　were　only　sullen　cores　of　blue　light。　He　sensed　emptiness　。　。　。　desertion　。　。　。　desola…tion　。　。　。　death。
　　The　machinery　rumbled　on　and　on；　but　wasn't　there　a　rough　under…tone　to　the　sound？　A　land　of　desperate　thudding　beneath　the　hum；　like　the　arrhythmia　of　a　diseased　heart？　A　feeling　that　the　machinery　produc…ing　this　sound；　although　far　more　sophisticated　even　than　that　within　the　bear　had　been；　was　somehow　falling　out　of　tune　with　itself？
　　〃All　is　silent　in　the　halls　of　the　dead；〃　Eddie　heard　himself　whisper　in　a　falling；　fainting　voice。　〃All　is　forgotten　in　the　stone　halls　of　the　dead。　Behold　the　stairways　which　stand　in　darkness；　behold　the　rooms　of　ruin。
　　These　are　the　halls　of　the　dead　where　the　spiders　spin　and　the　great　circuits　tall　quiet；　one　by　one。〃
　　Roland　pulled　him　roughly　back；　and　Eddie　looked　at　him　with　dazed　eyes。
　　〃That's　enough；〃　Roland　said。
　　〃Whatever　they　put　in　there　isn't　doing　so　well；　is　it？〃　Eddie　heard　himself　ask。　His　trembling　voice　seemed　to　e　from　far　away。　He　could　still　feel　the　power　ing　out　of　that　box。　It　called　to　him。
　　〃No。　Nothing　in　my　world　is　doing　so　well　these　days。〃
　　〃If　you　boys　are　planning　to　camp　here　for　the　night；　you'll　have　to　do　without　the　pleasure　of　my　pany；〃　Susannah　said。　Her　face　was　a　white　blur　in　the　ashy　aftermath　of　twilight。　〃I'm　going　over　yonder。　I　don't　like　the　way　that　thing　makes　me　feel。〃
　　〃We'll　all　camp　over　yonder；〃　Roland　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　　〃What　a　good　idea；〃　Eddie　said。　As　they　moved　away　from　the　box；　the　sound　of　the　machinery　began　to　dim。　Eddie　felt　its　hold　on　him　weakening；　although　it　still　called　to　him；　invited　him　to　explore　the　half…lit　hallways；　the　standing　stairways；　the　rooms　of　ruin　where　the　spiders　spun　and　the　control　panels　were　going　dark；　one　by　one。
　　
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　　IN　His　DREAM　THAT　night；　Eddie　again　went　walking　down　Second　Ave…nue　toward　Tom　and　Gerry's　Artistic　Deli　on　the　corner　of　Second　and　Forty…sixth。　He　passed　a　record　store　and　the　Rolling　Stones　boomed　from　the　speakers：
　　
　　〃I　see　a　red　door　and　I　want　to　paint　it　black；
　　No　colours　anymore；　I　want　them　to　turn　black；
　　I　see　the　girls　walk　by　dressed　in　their　summer　clothes；
　　I　have　to　turn　my　head　until　my　darkness　goes　。。。〃
　　
　　He　walked　on；　passing　a　store　called　Reflections　of　You　between　Forty…ninth　and　Forty…eighth。　He　saw　himself　in　one　of　the　mirrors　hang…ing　in　the　display　window。　He　thought　he　looked　better　than　he　had　in　years…hair　a　little　too　long；　but　otherwise　tanned　and　fit。　The　clothes；　though　。　。　。　uh…uh；　man。　Square…bear　shit　all　the　way。　Blue　blazer；　white　shirt；　dark　red　tie；　gray　dress　pants　。。。　he　had　never　owned　a　yuppie…from…hell　outfit　like　that　in　his　life。
　　Someone　was　shaking　him。
　　Eddie　tried　to　burrow　deeper　into　the　dream。　He　didn't　want　to　wake　up　now。　Not　before　he　got　to　the　deli　and　used　his　key　to　go　through　the　door　and　into　the　field　of　roses。　He　wanted　to　see　it　all　again…the　endless　blanket　of　red；　the　overarching　blue　sky　where　those　great　white　cloud…ships　sailed；　and　the　Dark　Tower。　He　was　afraid　of　the　darkness　which　lived　within　that　eldritch　column；　waiting　to　eat　anyone　who　got　too　close；　but　he　wanted　to　see　it　again　just　the　same。　Needed　to　see　it。
　　The　hand；　however；　would　not　stop　shaking。　The　dream　began　to　darken；　and　the　smells　of　car　exhaust　along　Second　Avenue　became　the　smell　of　woodsmoke…thin　now；　because　the　fire　was　almost　out。
　　It　was　Susannah。　She　looked　scared。　Eddie　sat　up　and　put　an　arm　around　her。　They　had　camped　on　the　far　side　of　the　alder　grove；　within　earshot　of　the　stream　babbling　through　the　bone…littered　clearing。　On　the　other　side　of　the　glowing　embers　which　had　been　their　campfire；　Roland　lay　asleep。　His　sleep　was　not　easy。　He　had　cast　aside　his　single　blanket　and　lay　with　his　knees　drawn　up　almost　to　his　chest。　With　his　boots　off；　his　feet　looked　white　and　narrow　and　defenseless。　The　great　toe　of　the　right　foot　was　gone；　victim　of　the　lobster…thing　which　had　also　snatched　away　part　of　his　right　hand。
　　He　was　moaning　some　slurred　phrase　over　and　over　again。　After　a　few　repetitions；　Eddie　realized　it　was　the　phrase　he　had　spoken　before　keeling　over　in　the　clearing　where　Susannah　had　shot　the　bear：　Go；　then…there　are　other　worlds　than　these。　He　would　fall　silent　for　a　moment；　then　call　out　the　boy's　name：　〃Jake！　Where　are　you？　Jake！〃
　　The　desolation　and　despair　in　his　voice　filled　Eddie　with　horror。　His　arms　stole　around　Susannah　and　he　pulled　her　tight　against　him。　He　could　feel　her　shivering；　although　the　night　was　warm。
　　The　gunslinger　rolled　over。　Starlight　fell　into　his　open　eyes。
　　〃Jake；　where　are　you？〃　he　called　to　the　night。　〃e　back！〃
　　〃Oh　Jesus…he's　off　again。　What　should　we　do；　Suze？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　just　knew　I　couldn't　listen　to　it　anymore　by　myself。　He　sounds　so　far　away。　So　far　away　from　everything。〃
　　〃Go；　then；〃　the　gunslinger　murmured；　rolling　back　onto　his　side　and　drawing　his　knees　up　once　more；　〃there　are　other　worlds　than　these。〃　He　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　his　chest　hitched　and　he　loosed　the　boy's　name　in　a　long；　bloodcurdling　cry。　In　the　woods　behind　them；　some　large　bird　flew　away　in　a　dry　whirr　of　wings　toward　some　less　exciting　part　of　the　world。
　　〃Do　you　have　any　ideas？〃　Susannah　asked。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　wet　with　tears。　〃Maybe　we　should　wake　him　up？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Eddie　saw　the　gunslinger's　revolver；　the　one　he　wore　on　his　left　hip。　It　had　been　placed；　in　its　holster；　on　a　neatly　folded　square　of　hide　within　easy　reach　of　the　place　where　Roland　lay。　〃I　don't　think　I　dare；〃　he　added　at　last。
　　〃It's　driving　him　crazy。〃
　　Eddie　nodded。
　　〃What　do　we　do　about　it？　Eddie；　what　do　we　do？〃
　　Eddie　didn't　know。　An　antibiotic　had　stopped　the　infection　caused　by　the　bite　of　the　lobster…thing；　now　Roland　was　burning　with　infection　again；　but　Eddie　didn't　think　there　was　an　antibiotic　in　the　world　that　would　cure　what　was　wrong　with　him　this　time。

　　〃I　don't　know。　Lie　down　with　me；　Suze。〃
　　Eddie　threw　a　hide　over　both　of　them；　and　after　a　while　her　trembling　quieted。
　　〃If　he　goes　insane；　he　may　hurt　us；〃　she　said。
　　〃Don't　I　know　it。〃　This　unpleasant　idea　had　occurred　to　him　in　terms　of　the　bear…its　red；　hate…filled　eyes　（and　had　there　not　been　bewilderment　as　well；　lurking　deep　in　those　red　depths？）　and　its　deadly　slashing　claws。　Eddie's　eyes　moved　to　the　revolver；　lying　so　close　to　the　gunslinger's　good　left　hand；　and　he　remembered　again　how　fast　Roland　had　been　when　he'd　seen　the　mechanical　bat　swooping　down　toward　them。　So　fast　his　hand　had　seemed　to　disappear。　If　the　gunslinger　went　mad；　and　if　he　and　Susannah　became　the　focus　of　that　madness；　they　would　have　no　chance。　No　chance　at　all。
　　He　pressed　his　face　into　the　warm　hollow　of　Susannah's　neck　and　closed　his　eyes。
　　Not　long　after；　Roland　ceased　his　babbling。　Eddie　raised　his　head　and　looked　over。　The　gunslinger　appeared　to　be　sleeping　naturally　again。　Eddie　looked　at　Susannah　and　saw　that　she　had　also　gone　to　sleep。　He　lay　down　beside　her；　gently　kissed　the　swell　of　her　breast；　and　closed　his　own　eyes。
　　Not　you；　buddy；　you're　gonna　be　awake　a　long；　long　time。
　　But　they　had　been　on　the　move　for　two　days　and　Eddie　was　bone…tired。　He　drifted　off　。。。　drifted　down。
　　Back　to　the　dream；　he　thought　as　he　went。　I　want　to　go　back　to　S