sk.thewastelands-第33部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　he　was　going　to　fall　asleep　at　his　desk。　He　took　off　his　shirt；　then　gazed　down　at　the　front　of　Charlie　the　Choo…Choo　again。
　　That　smile。　He　just　didn't　trust　that　smile。
　　Not　a　bit。
　　
　　　23
　　SLEEP　DIDN'T　E　AS　soon　as　Jake　had　hoped。　The　voices　began　to　argue　again　about　whether　he　was　alive　or　dead；　and　they　kept　him　awake。　At　last　he　sat　up　in　bed　with　his　eyes　closed　and　his　fisted　hands　planted　against　his　temples。
　　Quit！　he　screamed　at　them。　Just　quit！　You　were　gone　all　day；　be　gone　again！
　　I　would　if　he'd　just　admit　I'm　dead；　one　of　the　voices　said　sulkily。
　　I　would　if　he'd　just　take　a　for　God's　sake　look　around　and　admit　I'm　clearly　alive；　the　other　snapped　back。
　　He　was　going　to　scream　right　out　loud。　There　was　no　way　to　hold　it　back；　he　could　feel　it　ing　up　his　throat　like　vomit。　He　opened　his　eyes；　saw　his　pants　lying　over　the　seat　of　his　desk　chair；　and　an　idea　occurred　to　him。　He　got　out　of　bed；　went　to　the　chair；　and　felt　in　the　right　front　pocket　of　the　pants。
　　The　silver　key　was　still　there；　and　the　moment　his　fingers　closed　around　it；　the　voices　ceased。
　　Tell　him；　he　thought；　with　no　idea　who　the　thought　was　for。　Tell　him　to　grab　the　key。　The　key　makes　the　voices　go。
　　He　went　back　to　bed　and　was　asleep　with　the　key　clasped　loosely　in　his　hand　three　minutes　after　his　head　hit　the　pillow。
　　
　　
　　　III
　　　DOOR　AND　DEMON
　　　
　　　1
　　EDDIE　WAS　ALMOST　ASLEEP　when　a　voice　spoke　clearly　in　his　ear：　Tell　him　to　grab　the　key。　The　key　makes　the　voices　go。
　　He　sat　bolt　upright；　looking　around　wildly。　Susannah　was　sound　asleep　beside　him；　that　voice　had　not　been　hers。
　　Nor　anyone　else's；　it　seemed。　They　had　been　moving　through　the　woods　and　along　the　path　of　the　Beam　for　eight　days　now；　and　this　evening　they　had　camped　in　the　deep　cleft　of　a　pocket　valley。　Close　by　on　the　left；　a　large　stream　roared　brashly　past；　headed　in　the　same　direc…tion　as　they　were：　southeast。　To　the　right；　firs　rose　up　a　steep　slope　of　land。　There　were　no　intruders　here；　only　Susannah　asleep　and　Roland　awake。　He　sat　huddled　beneath　his　blanket　at　the　edge　of　the　stream's　cut；　staring　out　into　the　darkness。
　　Tell　him　to　grab　the　key。　The　key　makes　the　voices　go。
　　Eddie　hesitated　for　only　a　moment。　Roland's　sanity　was　in　the　bal…ance　now；　the　balance　was　tipping　the　wrong　way；　and　the　worst　part　of　it　was　this：　no　one　knew　it　better　than　the　man　himself。　At　this　point；　Eddie　was　prepared　to　clutch　at　any　straw。
　　He　had　been　using　a　folded　square　of　deerskin　as　a　pillow。　He　reached　beneath　it　and　removed　a　bundle　wrapped　in　a　piece　of　hide。　He　walked　over　to　Roland；　and　was　disturbed　to　see　that　the　gunslinger　did　not　notice　him　until　he　was　less　than　four　steps　from　his　unprotected　back。　There　had　been　a　time…and　it　was　not　so　long　ago…when　Roland　would　have　known　Eddie　was　awake　even　before　Eddie　sat　up。　He　would　have　heard　the　change　in　his　breathing。
　　He　was　more　alert　than　this　back　on　the　beach；　when　he　was　half…dead　from　the　lobster…thing's　bite；　Eddie　thought　grimly。
　　Roland　at　last　turned　his　head　and　glanced　at　him。　His　eyes　were　bright　with　pain　and　weariness；　but　Eddie　recognized　these　things　as　no　more　than　a　surface　glitter。　Beneath　it；　he　sensed　a　growing　confusion　that　would　almost　surely　bee　madness　if　it　continued　to　develop　unchecked。　Pity　tugged　at　Eddie's　heart。
　　〃Can't　sleep？〃　Roland　asked。　His　voice　was　slow；　almost　drugged。
　　〃I　almost　was；　and　then　I　woke　up；〃　Eddie　said。　〃Listen…〃
　　〃I　think　I'm　getting　ready　to　die。〃　Roland　looked　at　Eddie。　The　bright　shine　left　his　eyes；　and　now　looking　into　them　was　like　staring　into　a　pair　of　deep；　dark　wells　that　seemed　to　have　no　bottom。　Eddie　shud…dered；　more　because　of　that　empty　stare　than　because　of　what　Roland　had　said。　〃And　do　you　know　what　I　hope　lies　in　the　clearing　where　the　path　ends；　Eddie？〃
　　〃Roland…〃
　　〃Silence；〃　Roland　said。　He　exhaled　a　dusty　sigh。　〃Just　silence。　That　will　be　enough。　An　end　to　。。。　this。〃
　　He　planted　his　fists　against　his　temples；　and　Eddie　thought：　I've　seen　someone　else　do　that；　and　not　long　ago。　But　who？　Where？
　　It　was　ridiculous　of　course；　he　had　seen　no　one　but　Roland　and　Susannah　for　almost　two　months　now。　But　it　felt　true；　all　the　same。
　　〃Roland；　I've　been　making　something；〃　Eddie　said。
　　Roland　nodded。　A　ghost　of　a　smile　touched　his　lips。　〃I　know。　What　is　it？　Are　you　finally　ready　to　tell？〃
　　〃I　think　it　might　be　part　of　this　ka…tet　thing。〃
　　The　vacant　look　left　Roland's　eyes。　He　gazed　at　Eddie　thoughtfully　but　said　nothing。
　　〃Look。〃　Eddie　began　to　unfold　the　piece　of　hide。
　　That　won't　do　any　good！　Henry's　voice　suddenly　brayed。　It　was　so　loud　that　Eddie　actually　flinched　a　little。　It's　just　a　stupid　piece　of　wood…carving！　He'll　take　one　look　and　laugh　at　it！　He'll　laugh　at　you！　〃Oh；　lookit　this！〃　he'll　say。　〃Did　the　sissy　carve　something？〃
　　〃Shut　up；〃　Eddie　muttered。
　　The　gunslinger　raised　his　eyebrows。
　　〃Not　you。〃
　　Roland　nodded；　unsurprised。　〃Your　brother　es　to　you　often；　doesn't　he；　Eddie？〃
　　For　a　moment　Eddie　only　stared　at　him；　his　carving　still　hidden　in　the　hide　square。　Then　he　smiled。　It　was　not　a　very　pleasant　smile。　〃Not　as　often　as　he　used　to；　Roland。　Thank　Christ　for　small　favors。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Roland　said。　〃Too　many　voices　weigh　heavy　on　a　man's　heart　。　。　。　What　is　it；　Eddie？　Show　me；　please。〃
　　Eddie　held　up　the　chunk　of　ash。　The　key；　almost　plete；　emerged　from　it　like　the　head　of　a　woman　from　the　prow　of　a　sailing　ship　。。。　or　the　hilt　of　a　sword　from　a　chunk　of　stone。　Eddie　didn't　know　how　close　he　had　e　to　duplicating　the　key…shape　he　had　seen　in　the　fire　（and　never　would；　he　supposed；　unless　he　found　the　right　lock　in　which　to　try　it）；　but　he　thought　it　was　close。　Of　one　thing　he　was　quite　sure：　it　was　the　best　carving　he　had　ever　done。　By　far。
　　〃By　the　gods；　Eddie；　it's　beautiful！〃　Roland　said。　The　apathy　was　gone　from　his　voice；　he　spoke　in　a　tone　of　surprised　reverence　Eddie　had　never　heard　before。　〃Is　it　done？　It's　not；　is　it？〃
　　〃No…not　quite。〃　He　ran　his　thumb　into　the　third　notch；　and　then　over　the　s…shape　at　the　end　of　the　last　notch。　〃There's　a　little　more　to　do　on　this　notch；　and　the　curve　at　the　end　isn't　right　yet。　I　don't　know　how　I　know　that；　but　I　do。〃
　　〃This　is　your　secret。〃　It　wasn't　a　question。
　　〃Yes。　Now　if　only　I　knew　what　it　meant。〃
　　Roland　looked　around。　Eddie　followed　his　gaze　and　saw　Susannah。　He　found　some　relief　in　the　fact　that　Roland　had　heard　her　first。
　　〃What　you　boys　doin　up　so　late？　Chewin　the　fat？〃　She　saw　the　wooden　key　in　Eddie's　hand　and　nodded。　〃I　wondered　when　you　were　going　to　get　around　to　showing　that　off。　It's　good；　you　know。　I　don't　know　what　it's　for；　but　it's　damned　good。〃
　　〃You　don't　have　any　idea　what　door　it　might　open？〃　Roland　asked　Eddie。　〃That　was　not　part　of　your　khef？〃
　　〃No…but　it　might　be　good　for　something　even　though　it　isn't　done。〃　He　held　the　key　out　to　Roland。　〃I　want　you　to　keep　it　for　me。〃
　　Roland　didn't　move　to　take　it。　He　regarded　Eddie　closely。　〃Why？〃
　　〃Because　。　。　。　well。　。　。　because　I　think　someone　told　me　you　should。〃
　　〃Who？〃
　　Your　boy；　Eddie　thought　suddenly；　and　as　soon　as　the　thought　came　he　knew　it　was　true。　It　was　your　goddamned　boy。　But　he　didn't　want　to　say　so。　He　didn't　want　to　mention　the　boy's　name　at　all。　It　might　just　set　Roland　off　again。
　　〃I　don't　know。　But　I　think　you　ought　to　give　it　a　try。〃
　　Roland　reached　slowly　for　the　key。　As　his　fingers　touched　it；　a　bright　glimmer　seemed　to　flash　down　its　barrel；　but　it　was　gone　so　quickly　that　Eddie　could　not　be　sure　he　had　seen　it。　It　might　have　been　only　starlight。
　　Roland's　hand　closed　over　the　key　growing　out　of　the　branch。　For　a　moment　his　face　showed　nothing。　Then　his　brow　furrowed　and　his　head　cocked　in　a　listening　gesture。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Susannah　asked。　〃Do　you　hear…〃
　　〃Shhhh！〃　The　puzzlement　on　Roland's　face　was　slowly　being　replaced　with　wonder。　He　looked　from　Eddie　to　Susannah　and　then　back　to　Eddie。　His　eyes　were　filling　with　some　great　emotion；　as　a　pitcher　fills　with　water　when　it　is　dipped　in　a　spring。
　　〃Roland？〃　Eddie　asked　uneasily。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　　Roland　whispered　something。　Eddie　couldn't　hear　what　it　was。
　　Susannah　looked　scared。　She　glanced　frantically　at　Eddie；　as　if　to　ask；　What　did　you　do　to　him？
　　Eddie　took　one　of　her　hands　in　both　of　his　own。　〃I　think　it's　all　right。〃
　　Roland's　hand　was　clamped　so　tightly　on　the　chunk　of　wood　that　Eddie　was　momentarily　afraid　he　might　snap　it　in　two；　but　the　wood　was　strong　and　Eddie　had　carved　thick。　The　gunslinger's　throat　bulged；　his　Adam's　apple　rose　and　fell　as　he　struggled　with　speech。　And　suddenly　he　yelled　at　the　sky　in　a　fair；　strong　voice：
　　〃GONE！　THE　VOICES　ARE　GONE！〃
　　He　looked　back　at　them；　and　Eddie　saw　something　he　had　never　expected　to　see　in　his　life…not　even　if　that　life　stretched　over　a　thousand　years。
　　Roland　of　Gilead　was　weeping。
　　　
　　　2
　　THE　GUNSLINGER　SLEPT　SOUNDLY　and　dreamlessly　that　night　for　the　first　time　in　months；　and　he　slept　with　the　not…quite　finished　key　clenched　tightly　in　his　hand。
　　　
　　　3
　　IN　ANOTHER　WORLD；　BUT　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　same　ka…tet；　Jake　Chambers　was　having　the　most　vivid　dream　of　his　life。
　　He　was　walking　through　the　tangled　remains　of　an　ancient　forest…a　dead　zone　of　fallen　trees　and　scruffy；　aggravating　bushes　that　bit　his　ankles　and　tried　to　steal　his　sneakers。　He　came　to　a　thin　belt　of　younger　trees　（alders；　he　thought；　or　perhaps　beeches…he　was　a　city　boy；　and　the　only　thing　he　knew　for　sure　about　trees　was　that　some　had　leaves　and　some　had　needles）　and　discovered　a　path　through　them。　He　made　his　way　along　this；　moving　a　little　faster。　There　was　a　clearing　of　some　sort　up　ahead。
　　He　stopped　once　before　reaching　it；　when　he　spied　some　sort　of　stone　marker　to　his　right。　He　left　the　path　to　look　at　it。　There　were　letters　carved　into　it；　but　they　were　so　eroded　he　couldn't　make　them　out。　At　last　he　closed　his　eyes　（he　had　never　done　this　in　a　dream　before）　and　let　his　fingers　trace　each　letter；　like　a　blind　boy　reading　Braille。　Each　formed　in　the　darkness　behind　his　lids　until　they　made　a　sentence　which　stood　forth　in　an　outline　of　bl