dk.watchers-第17部分

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d　and　clapped　his　hands；　he　would　most　likely　have　frightened　off　the　thing　in　the　brush。　Even　if　his　reaction　could　be　blamed　on　instinct；　he　had　not　behaved　in　accordance　with　his　self…image　as　a　hard…bitten　canyon　squatter。　If　he　armed　himself　with　the　rifle　now；　when　there　was　no　pelling　need　for　it；　he'd　lose　a　large　measure　of　self…respect；　which　was　important　because　the　only　opinion　of　Wes　Dalberg　that　Wes　cared　about　was　his　own。　No　gun。
　Wes　risked　going　to　the　living　room's　big　window。　This　was　an　alteration　made　by　someone　who　held　the　Forest　Service　lease　on　the　cabin　about　twenty　years　ago；　the　old；　narrow；　multipane　window　had　been　taken　out；　a　larger　hole　cut　in　the　wall；　and　a　big　single…pane　window　installed　to　take　advantage　of　the　spectacular　forest　view。
　A　few　moon…silvered　clouds　appeared　phosphorescent　against　the　velvety　blackness　of　the　night　sky。　Moonlight　dappled　the　front　yard；　glistered　on　the　grill　and　hood　and　windshield　of　Wes's　Jeep　Cherokee；　and　outlined　the　shadowy　shapes　of　the　encroaching　trees。　At　first　nothing　moved　except　a　few　branches　swaying　gently　in　the　mild　wind。
　He　studied　the　woodland　scene　for　a　couple　of　minutes。　Neither　seeing　nor　hearing　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　he　decided　the　animal　had　wandered　off。　With　considerable　relief　and　with　a　resurgence　of　embarrassment；　he　started　to　turn　away　from　the　window…then　glimpsed　movement　near　the　Jeep。　He　squinted；　saw　nothing；　remained　watchful　for　another　minute　or　two。　Just　when　he　decided　he　had　imagined　the　movement；　he　saw　it　again：
　something　ing　out　from　behind　the　Jeep。　He　leaned　closer　to　the　window。
　Something　was　rushing　across　the　yard　toward　the　cabin；　ing　fast　and　low　to　the　ground。　Instead　of　revealing　the　nature　of　the　enemy；　the　moonlight
　made　it　more　mysterious；　shapeless。　The　thing　was　hurtling　at　the　cabin。　Abruptly…Jesus；　God！…the　creature　was　airborne；　a　strangeness　flying　straight　at　him　through　the　darkness；　and　Wes　cried　out；　and　an　instant　later　the　beast　exploded　through　the　big　window；　and　Wes　screamed；　but　the　scream　was　cut　short。
　　
　　
　9
　Because　Travis　was　not　much　of　a　drinker；　three　beers　were　enough　to　insure　against　insomnia。　He　was　asleep　within　seconds　of　putting　his　head　on　the　pillow。　He　dreamed　that　he　was　the　ringmaster　in　a　circus　where　all　the　performing　animals　could　speak；　and　after　each　show　he　visited　them　in　their　cages；　where　each　animal　told　him　a　secret　that　amazed　him　even　though　he　forgot　it　as　soon　as　he　moved　along　to　the　next　cage　and　the　next　secret。
　At　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　he　woke　and　saw　Einstein　at　the　bedroom　window。　The　dog　was　standing　with　its　forepaws　on　the　sill；　its　face　limned　by　moonlight；　staring　out　at　the　night；　very　alert。
　〃What's　wrong；　boy？〃　Travis　asked。
　Einstein　glanced　at　him；　then　returned　his　attention　to　the　moon…washed　night。　He　whined　softly；　and　his　ears　perked　up　slightly。
　〃Somebody　out　there？〃　Travis　asked；　getting　off　the　bed；　pulling　on　his　jeans。
　The　dog　dropped　onto　all　fours　and　hurried　out　of　the　bedroom。
　Travis　found　him　at　another　window　in　the　darkened　living　room；　studying　the　night　on　that　side　of　the　house。　Crouching　beside　the　dog；　putting　a　hand　on　the　broad　furry　back；　he　said；　〃What's　the　matter？　Huh？〃
　Einstein　pressed　his　snout　to　the　glass　and　mewled　nervously。
　Travis　could　see　nothing　threatening　on　the　front　lawn　or　on　the　street。　Then　a　thought　struck　him；　and　he　said；　〃Are　you　worried　about　whatever　was　chasing　you　in　the　woods　this　morning？〃
　The　dog　regarded　him　solemnly。
　〃What　was　it　out　there　in　the　forest？〃　Travis　wondered。
　Einstein　whined　again　and　shuddered。
　Remembering　the　retriever's…and　his　own…stark　fear　in　the　Santa　Ana　foothills；　recalling　the　uncanny　feeling　that　something　unnatural　had　been　stalking　them；　Travis　shivered。　He　looked　out　at　the　night…draped　world。　The　spiky　black　patterns　of　the　date　palm's　fronds　were　edged　in　wan　yellow　light　from　the　nearest　streetlamp。　A　fitful　wind　harried　small　funnels　of　dust　and　leaves　and　bits　of　litter　along　the　pavement；　dropped　them　for　a　few　seconds　and　left　them　for　dead；　then　enlivened　them　again。　A　lone　moth　bumped　softly　against　the　window　in　front　of　Travis's　and　Einstein's　faces；　evidently　mistaking　the　reflection　of　the　moon　or　streetlamp　for　a　flame。
　〃Are　you　worried　that　it's　still　after　you？〃　he　asked。
　The　dog　woofed　once；　quietly。
　〃Well；　I　don't　think　it　is；〃　Travis　said。　〃I　don't　think　you　understand　how　far　north　we've　e。　We　had　wheels；　but　it　would　have；　had　to　follow　on　foot；　which　it　couldn't　have　done。　Whatever　it　was；　it's　far　behind　us；　Einstein；　far　down　there　in　Orange　County；　with　no　way　of　knowing　where　we've　gone。　You　don't　have　to　worry　about　it　any　more。　You　understand？〃
　Einstein　nuzzled　and　licked　Travis's　hand　as　if　reassured　and　grateful。　But　he　looked　out　the　window　again　and　issued　a　barely　audible　whimper。
　Travis　had　to　coax　him　back　into　the　bedroom。　There；　the　dog　wanted　to　lie　on　the　bed　beside　his　master；　and　in　the　interest　of　calming　the　animal；　Travis　did　not　object。
　Wind　murmured　and　moaned　in　the　bungalow's　eaves。
　Now　and　then　the　house　creaked　with　ordinary　middle…of…the…night　settling　noises。
　Engine　purring；　tires　whispering；　a　car　went　by　on　the　street。
　Exhausted　from　the　emotional　as　well　as　the　physical　exertions　of　the　day；　Travis　was　soon　asleep。
　Near　dawn　he　came　half　awake　and　realized　that　Einstein　was　at　the　bedroom　window　again；　keeping　watch。　He　murmured　the　retriever's　name　and　wearily　patted　the　mattress。　But　Einstein　remained　on　guard；　and　Travis　drifted　off　once　more。
　　
　FOUR
　1
　The　day　following　her　encounter　with　Art　Streck；　Nora　Devon　went　for　a　long　walk；　intending　to　explore　parts　of　the　city　that　she　had　never　seen　before。　She　had　taken　short　walks　with　Violet　once　a　week。　Since　the　old　woman's　death；　Nora　still　went　out；　though　less　often；　and　she　never　ventured　farther　than　six　or　eight　blocks　from　home。　Today；　she　would　go　much　farther。　This　was　to　be　the　first　small　step　in　a　long　journey　toward　liberation　and　self…respect。
　Before　setting　out；　she　considered　having　a　light　lunch　later　at　a　restaurant　chosen　at　random　along　the　way。　But　she　had　never　been　in　a　restaurant。　The　prospect　of　dealing　with　a　waiter　and　dining　in　the　pany　of　strangers　was　daunting。　Instead；　she　packed　one　apple；　one　orange；　and　two　oatmeal　cookies　in　a　small　paper　bag。　She　would　eat　lunch　alone；　in　a　park　somewhere。　Even　that　would　be　revolutionary。　One　small　step　at　a　time。
　The　sky　was　clear。　The　air　was　warm。　With　vivid　green　spring　growth；　the　trees　looked　fresh；　they　stirred　in　a　breeze　just　strong　enough　to　take　the　searing　edge　off　the　hot　sunlight。
　As　Nora　strolled　past　the　well…kept　houses；　the　vast　majority　of　which　were　in　one　style　of　Spanish　architecture　or　another；　she　looked　at　doors　and　windows　with　a　new　curiosity；　wondering　about　the　people　who　lived　within。　Were　they　happy？　Sad？　In　love？　What　music　and　books　did　they　enjoy？　What　food？　Were　they　planning　vacations　to　exotic　places；　evenings　at　the　theater；　visits　to　nightclubs？
　She　had　never　wondered　about　them　before　because　she　had　known　their　lives　and　hers　would　never　cross。　Wondering　about　them　would　have　been　a
　waste　of　time　and　effort。　But　now。
　When　she　encountered　other　walkers；　she　kept　her　head　down　and　averted　her　face；　as　she　had　always　done　before；　but　after　a　while　she　found　the　Courage　to　look　at　some　of　them。　She　was　surprised　when　many　smiled　at　her　and　said　hello。　In　time；　she　was　even　more　surprised　when　she　heard　herself　respond。
　At　the　county　courthouse　she　paused　to　admire　the　yellow　blossoms　of　the　Yucca　plants　and　the　rich　red　bougainvillea　that　climbed　the　stucco　wall　and　twined　through　the　ornate　wrought…iron　grille　over　one　of　the　tall　windows。
　At　the　Santa　Barbara　Mission；　built　in　1815；　she　stood　at　the　foot　of　the
　front　steps　and　studied　the　handsome　fa？ade　of　the　old　church。　She　explored　the　courtyard　with　its　Sacred　Garden　and　climbed　the　west　bell　tower。
　Gradually；　she　began　to　understand　why；　in　some　of　the　many　books　she　had　read；　Santa　Barbara　had　been　called　one　of　the　most　beautiful　places　on　earth。　She　had　lived　there　nearly　all　her　life；　but　because　she　had　cowered　in　the　Devon　house　with　Violet　and；　on　venturing　out；　had　looked　at　little　more　than　her　own　shoes；　she　was　seeing　the　town　for　the　first　time。　It　both　charmed　and　thrilled　her。
　At　one　o'clock；　in　Alameda　Park　within　sight　of　the　pond；　she　sat　on　a　bench　near　three　ancient　and　massive　date　palms。　Her　feet　were　getting　sore；　but　she　did　not　intend　to　go　home　early。　She　opened　the　paper　bag　and　began　lunch　with　the　yellow　apple。　Never　had　anything　tasted　half　as　delicious。　Famished；　she　quickly　ate　the　orange；　too；　dropping　the　pieces　of　peel　into　the　bag；　and　she　was　starting　on　the　first　of　the　oatmeal　cookies　when　Art　Streck　sat　down　beside　her。
　〃Hello；　prettiness。〃
　He　was　wearing　only　blue　running　shorts；　running　shoes；　and　thick　white　athletic　socks。　However；　he　clearly　hadn't　been　running；　for　he　wasn't　sweating。　He　was　muscular　with　a　broad　chest；　deeply　tanned；　exceedingly　masculine。　The　whole　purpose　of　his　attire　was　to　display　his　physique；　so　Nora　at　once　averted　her　eyes。
　〃Shy？〃　he　asked。
　She　could　not　speak　because　the　bite　she　had　taken　from　the　oatmeal　cookie　was　stuck　in　her　mouth。　She　couldn't　work　up　any　saliva。　She　was　afraid　she　would　choke　if　she　tried　to　swallow　the　piece　of　cookie；　but　she　couldn't　very　well　just　spit　it　out。
　〃My　sweet；　shy　Nora；〃　Streck　said。
　Looking　down；　she　saw　how　badly　her　right　hand　was　trembling。　The　cookie　was　being　shaken　to　pieces　in　her　fingers；　bits　of　it　dropped　onto　the　paving　between　her　feet。
　She　had　told　herself　that　she　would　go　for　a　daylong　walk　as　a　first　step　toward　liberation；　but　now　she　had　to　admit　there　had　been　another　reason　for　getting　out　of　the　house。　She　had　been　trying　to　avoid　Streck's　attentions。　She　was　afraid　to　stay　home；　afraid　that　he'd　call　and　call　and　call。　But　now　he　had　found　her　in　the　open；　beyond　the　protection　of　her　locked　windows　and　bolted　doors；　which　was　worse　than　the　telephone；　infinitely　worse。
　〃Look　at　me；　Nora。〃