dk.watchers-第78部分

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　Keene　was　impressed。　〃He　really　is　a　hero！〃
　Nora　sensed　that　the　stories　about　Einstein　had　so　pletely　won　the　vet　Over　that；　if　he　did　spot　the　tattoo　and　knew　what　it　meant；　he　might　conceivably　put　it　out　of　his　mind　and　might　let　them　go　in　peace　once　Einstein　was　recovered。　If　Einstein　recovered。
　But　as　they　were　gathering　up　the　dishes；　Keene　said；　〃Sam；　I've　been　wondering　why　your　wife　calls　you　'Travis。'
　They　were　prepared　for　this。　Since　assuming　new　identities；　they　had　decided　that　it　was　easier　and　safer　for　Nora　to　continue　calling　him　Travis；　rather　than　trying　to　use　Sam　all　the　time　and　then；　at　some　crucial　moment；　slipping　up。　They　could　claim　that　Travis　was　a　nickname　she'd　given　him；　that　the　origin　was　a　private　joke；　with　winks　at　each　other　and　foolish　grins；　they　could　imply　there　was　something　sexual　about　it；　something　much　too　embarrassing　to　explain　further。　That　was　how　they　handled　Keene's　question；　but　they　were　in　no　mood　to　wink　and　grin　foolishly　with　any　conviction；　so　Nora　was　not　sure　they　carried　it　off。　In　fact　she　thought　their　nervous　and　inept　performance　might　increase　Keene's　suspicions　if　he　had　any。
　　
　　
　Just　before　afternoon　office　hours　were　to　begin；　Keene　received　a　call　from　his　assistant；　who'd　had　a　headache　when　she　had　gone　to　lunch；　and　who　now　reported　that　the　headache　had　been　plicated　by　an　upset　stomach。　The　vet　was　left　to　handle　his　patients　alone；　so　Travis　quickly　volunteered　his　and　Nora's　services。
　〃We've　got　no　veterinary　training；　of　course。　But　we　can　handle　any　manual　labor　involved。〃
　〃Sure；　〃Nora　agreed；　〃and　between　us　we've　got　one　pretty　good　brain。　We　could　do　just　about　anything　else　you　showed　us　how　to　do。〃
　They　spent　the　afternoon　restraining　recalcitrant　cats　and　dogs　and　parrots　and　all　sorts　of　other　animals　while　Jim　Keene　treated　them。　There　were　bandages　to　be　laid　out；　medicines　to　be　retrieved　from　the　cabinets；　instruments　to　be　washed　and　sterilized；　fees　to　be　collected　and　receipts　written。　Some　pets；　afflicted　with　vomiting　and　diarrhea；　left　messes　to　be　cleaned　up；　but　Travis　and　Nora　tended　to　those　unpleasantnesses　as　unplainingly　and　unhesitatingly　as　they　performed　other　tasks。
　They　had　two　motives；　the　first　of　which　was　that；　by　assisting　Keene；　they　had　a　chance　to　be　in　the　surgery　with　Einstein　throughout　the　afternoon。　Between　chores；　they　stole　a　few　moments　to　pet　the　retriever；　speak　a　few　encouraging　words　to　him；　and　reassure　themselves　that　he　was　getting　no　worse。　The　downside　of　being　around　Einstein　continuously　was　that　they　could　see；　to　their　dismay；　that　he　did　not　seem　to　be　getting　any　better；　either。
　Their　other　purpose　was　to　further　ingratiate　themselves　with　the　vet；　to　give　him　a　reason　to　be　beholden　to　them；　so　he　would　not　reconsider　his　decision　to　allow　them　to　stay　the　night。
　The　patient　load　was　far　greater　than　usual；　Keene　said；　and　they　were　not　able　to　close　the　office　until　after　six　o'clock。　Weariness…and　the　labor　they
　shared…generated　a　warm　feeling　of　camaraderie。　As　they　made　and　ate　dinner　together；　Jim　Keene　entertained　them　with　a　treasure　of　amusing　animal　stories　culled　from　his　experiences；　and　they　were　almost　as　fortable　and　friendly　as　they　would　have　been　if　they　had　known　the　vet　for　months　instead　of　less　than　one　day。
　Keene　prepared　the　guest　bedroom　for　them；　and　provided　a　few　blankets　with　which　to　make　a　crude　bed　on　the　floor　of　the　surgery。　Travis　and　Nora　would　sleep　in　the　real　bed　in　shifts；　each　spending　half　the　night　on　the　floor　with　Einstein。
　Travis　had　the　first　shift；　from　ten　o'clock　until　three　in　the　morning。　Only　one　light　was　left　on　in　the　far　corner　of　the　surgery；　and　Travis　alternately　sat　and　stretched　out　on　the　piled　blankets　in　the　shadows　where　Einstein　lay。
　Sometimes；　Einstein　slept；　and　the　sound　of　his　breathing　was　more　normal；　less　frightening。　But　sometimes　he　was　awake；　and　his　respiration　was　horribly　labored；　and　he　whimpered　in　pain　and…Travis　somehow　knew…in　fear。　When　Einstein　was　awake；　Travis　talked　to　him；　reminiscing　about　experiences　they　had　shared；　the　many　good　moments　and　happy　times　over　the　past　six　months；　and　the　retriever　seemed　to　be　at　least　slightly　soothed　by　Travis's　voice。
　Unable　to　move　at　all；　the　dog　was　of　necessity　incontinent。　A　couple　of　times　he　peed　on　the　plastic…covered　mattress。　With　no　distaste　whatsoever；　with　the　same　tenderness　and　passion　a　father　might　show　in　caring　for　a　gravely　ill　child；　Travis　cleaned　up。　In　a　curious　way；　Travis　was　even　pleased　by　the　mess　because；　every　time　Einstein　peed；　it　was　proof　that　he　still　lived；　still　functioned；　in　some　ways；　as　normally　as　ever。
　Rainsqualls　came　and　went　during　the　night。　The　sound　of　rain　on　the　roof　was　mournful；　like　funeral　drums。
　Twice　during　the　first　shift；　Jim　Keene　appeared　in　pajamas　and　a　robe。　The　first　time；　he　examined　Einstein　carefully　and　changed　his　IV　bottle。　Later；　he　administered　an　injection　after　the　examination。　On　both　occasions；　he　assured　Travis　that　right　now　they　did　not　have　to　see　signs　of　improvement　to　be　encouraged；　right　now；　it　was　good　enough　that　there　were　no　indications　of　deterioration　in　the　dog's　condition。
　Frequently　during　the　night；　Travis　wandered　to　the　other　end　of　the　surgery　and　read　the　words　of　a　simply　framed　scroll　that　hung　above　the　scrub　sink：
　　
　TRIBUTE　TO　A　DOG
　The　one　absolutely　unselfish　friend　that　man　can　have　in　this　selfish　world；　the　one　that　never　deserts　him；　the　one　that　never　proves　Ungrateful　or　treacherous；　is　his　dog。　A　man's　dog　stands　by　him　in　prosperity　and　in　poverty；　in　health　and　in　sickness。　He　will　sleep　on　the　cold　ground；　where　the　wintry　winds　blow　and　the　snow　drives　fiercely；　if　only　he　may　be　near　his　master's　side。　He　will　kiss　the　hand　that　has　no　food　to　offer；　he　will　lick　the　wounds　and　sores　that　e　in　encounter　with　the　roughness　of　the　world。　He　guards　the　sleep　of　his　pauper　master　as　if　he　were　a　prince。　When　all　other　friends　desert；　he　remains。　When　riches　take　wing　and　reputation　falls　to　pieces；　he　is　as　constant　in　his　love　as　the　sun　in　its　journey　through　the　heavens。
　…Senator　George　Vest；　1870
　Each　time　he　read　the　tribute；　Travis　was　filled　anew　with　wonder　at　Einstein's　existence。　What　fantasy　of　children　was　more　mon　than　that　their　dogs　were　fully　as　perceptive　and　wise　and　clever　as　any　adult？　What　gift　from　God　would　more　delight　a　young　mind　than　to　have　the　family　dog　prove　able　to　municate　on　a　human　level　and　to　share　triumphs　and　tragedies　with　full　understanding　of　their　meaning　and　importance？　What　miracle　could　bring　more　joy；　more　respect　for　the　mysteries　of　nature；　more　sheer　exuberance　over　the　unanticipated　wonders　of　life？　Somehow；　in　the　very　idea　of　a　dog's　personality　and　human　intelligence　bined　in　a　single　creature；　one　had　a　hope　of　a　species　at　once　as　gifted　as　humankind　but　more　noble　and　worthy。　And　what　fantasy　of　adults　was　more　mon　than　that；　one　day；　another　intelligent　species　would　be　found　to　share　the　vast；　cold　universe　and；　by　sharing　it；　would　at　last　provide　some　relief　from　our　race's　unspeakable　loneliness　and　sense　of　quiet　desperation？
　And　what　other　loss　could　be　more　devastating　than　the　loss　of　Einstein；　this　first　hopeful　evidence　that　humankind　carried　within　it　the　seeds　not　merely　of　greatness　but　of　godhood？
　These　thoughts；　which　Travis　could　not　suppress；　shook　him　and　drew　from　him　a　thick　sob　of　grief。　Damning　himself　for　being　an　emotional　basket　case；　he　went　into　the　downstairs　hall；　where　Einstein　would　not　be　aware　of…　and　perhaps　be　frightened　by…his　tears。
　　
　　
　Nora　relieved　him　at　three　in　the　morning。　She　had　to　insist　that　he　go　upstairs；　for　he　was　reluctant　to　leave　Keene's　surgery。
　Exhausted　but　protesting　that　he　would　not　sleep；　Travis　tumbled　into　bed　and　slept。
　He　dreamed　of　being　pursued　by　a　yellow…eyed　thing　with　wicked　talons　and　foreshortened　alligator　jaws。　He　was　trying　to　protect　Einstein　and　Nora；　pushing　them　in　front　of　him；　encouraging　them　to　run；　run；　run。　But　somehow　the　monster　got　around　Travis　and　tore　Einstein　to　pieces；　then　savaged　Nora…it　was　the　Cornell　Curse；　which　could　not　be　avoided　by　a　simple　change　of　name　to　Samuel　Hyatt…and　at　last　Travis　stopped　running　and　fell　to　his　knees　and　lowered　his　head　because；　having　failed　Nora　and　the　dog；　he　wanted　to　die；　and　he　heard　the　thing　approaching…click…click…click
　and　he　was　afraid　but　he　also　weled　the　death　that　it　promised…
　Nora　woke　him　shortly　before　five　in　the　morning。　〃Einstein；〃　she　said　urgently。　〃He's　having　convulsions。〃
　　
　　
　When　Nora　led　Travis　into　the　white…walled　surgery；　Jim　Keene　was　crouched　over　Einstein；　ministering　to　him。　They　could　do　nothing　but　stay　out　of　the　vet's　way；　give　him　room　to　work。
　She　and　Travis　held　each　other。
　After　a　few　minutes；　the　vet　stood　up。　He　looked　worried；　and　he　did　not　make　his　usual　effort　to　smile　or　try　to　lift　their　hopes。　〃I've　given　him　additional　anticonvulsants。　I　think　。　。　。　he'll　be　all　right　now。〃
　〃Has　he　gone　into　the　second　stage？〃　Travis　asked。　〃Maybe　not；〃　Keene　said。
　〃Could　he　be　having　convulsions　and　still　be　in　first　stage？〃　〃It's　possible；〃　Keene　said。
　〃But　not　likely。〃
　〃Not　likely；〃　Keene　said。　〃But　。　。　。　not　impossible。〃　Second…stage　distemper；　Nora　thought　miserably。
　She　held　Travis　tighter　than　ever。
　Second　stage。　Brain　involvement。　Encephalitis。　Chorea。　Brain　damage。　Brain　damage。
　　
　　
　Travis　would　not　return　to　bed。　He　remained　in　the　surgery　with　Nora　and　Einstein　the　rest　of　that　night。
　They　turned　on　another　light；　brightening　the　room　somewhat　but　not　enough　to　bother　Einstein；　and　they　watched　him　closely　for　signs　that　the　distemper　had　progressed　to　the　second　stage：　the　jerking　and　twitching　and　chewing　movements　of　which　Jim　Keene　had　spoken。
　Travis　was　unable　to　extract　any　hope　from　the　fact　that　no　such　symptoms　were　exhibited。　Even　if　Einstein　was　in　the　first　stage　of　the　disease　and　remained　there；　he　appeared　to　be　dying。
　　
　　
　The　next　day；　Friday；　December　3；　Jim　Keene's　assistant　was　still　too　sick　to　e　to　work；　so　Nora　and　Travis　helped　out　again。
　By　lu