stephen king - mist-第6部分

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　Billy　had　tuned　back　to　the　musical　cereal　on　WJBQ。　Pretty　soon　we　got　to　town。
　The　Norge　Washateria　in　the　shopping　center　was　closed；　it　being　impossible　to　run　a　coin…op　laundry　without　electricity；　but　both　the　Bridgton　Pharmacy　and　the　Federal　Foods　Supermarket　were　open。　The　parking　lot　was　pretty　full；　and　as　always　in　the　middle　of　the　summer；　a　lot　of　the　cars　had　out…of…state　plates。　Little　knots　of　people　stood　here　and　there　in　the　sun；　noodling　about　the　storm；　women　with　women；　men　with　men。
　I　saw　Mrs。　Carmody；　she　of　the　stuffed　animals　and　the　stump…water　lore。　She　sailed　into　the　supermarket　decked　out　in　an　amazing　canary…yellow　pantsuit。　A　purse　that　looked　the　size　of　a　small　Samsonite　suitcase　was　slung　over　one　forearm。　Then　an　idiot　on　a　Yamaha　roared　past　me；　missing　my　front　bumper　by　a　few　scant　inches。　He　wore　a　denim　jacket；　mirror　sunglasses；　and　no　helmet。
　〃Look　at　that　stupid　shit；〃　Norton　growled。
　I　circled　the　parking　lot　once；　looking　for　a　good　space。　There　were　none。　I　was　just　resigning　myself　to　a　long　walk　from　the　far　end　of　the　lot　when　I　got　lucky。　A　lime…green　Cadillac　the　size　of　a　small　cabin　cruiser　was　easing　out　of　a　slot　in　the　rank　closest　to　the　market's　doors。　The　moment　it　was　gone；　I　slid　into　the　space。
　I　gave　Billy　Steffs　shopping　list。　He　was　five；　but　he　could　read　printing。　〃Get　a　cart　and　get　started。　I　want　to　give　your　mother　a　jingle。　Mr。　Norton　will　help　you。　And　I'll　be　right　along。〃
　We　got　out　and　Billy　immediately　grabbed　Mr。　Norton's　hand。　He'd　been　taught　not　to　cross　the　parking　lot　without　holding　an　adult's　hand　when　he　was　younger　and　hadn't　yet　lost　the　habit。　Norton　looked　surprised　for　a　moment；　and　then　smiled　a　little。　I　could　almost　forgive　him　for　feeling　Steff　up　with　his　eyes。　The　two　of　them　went　into　the　market。
　I　strolled　over　to　the　pay　phone；　which　was　on　the　wall　between　the　drugstore　and　the　Norge。　A　sweltering　woman　in　a　purple　sunsuit　was　jogging　the　cutoff　switch　up　and　down。　I　stood　behind　her　with　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　wondering　why　I　felt　so　uneasy　about　Steff；　and　why　the　unease　should　be　all　wrapped　up　with　that　line　of　white　but　unsparkling　fog；　the　radio　stations　that　were　off　the　air
　and　the　Arrowhead　Project。
　The　woman　in　the　purple　sunsuit　had　a　sunburn　and　freckles　on　her　fat　shoulders。　She　looked　like　a　sweaty　orange　baby。　She　slammed　the　phone　back　down　on　its　cradle；　turned　toward　the　drugstore　and　saw　me　there。
　〃Save　your　dime；〃　she　said。　〃Just　dah…dah…dah。〃　She　walked　grumpily　away。
　I　almost　slapped　my　forehead。　The　phone　lines　were　down　someplace；　of　course。　Some　of　them　were　underground；　but　nowhere　near　all　of　them。　I　tried　the　phone　anyway。　The　pay　phones　in　the　area　are　what　Steff　calls　Paranoid　Pay　Phones。　Instead　of　putting　your　dime　right　in；　you　get　a　dial　tone　and　make　your　call。　When　someone　answers；　there's　an　automatic　cutoff　and　you　have　to　shove　your　dime　in　before　your　party　hangs　up。　They're　irritating；　but　that　day　it　did　save　me　my　dime。　There　was　no　dial　tone。　As　the　lady　had　said；　it　was　just　dah…dah…dah。
　I　hung　up　and　walked　slowly　toward　the　market；　just　in　time　to　see　an　amusing　little　incident。　An　elderly　couple　walked　toward　the　IN　door；　chatting　together。　And　still　chatting；　they　walked　right　into　it。　They　stopped　talking　in　a　jangle　and　the　woman　squawked　her　surprise。　They　stared　at　each　other　ically。　Then　they　laughed；　and　the　old　guy　pushed　the　door　open　for　his　wife　with　some　effort…those　electric…eye　doors　are　heavy　…　and　they　went　in。　When　the　electricity　goes　off；　it　catches　you　in　a　hundred　different　ways。
　I　pushed　the　door　open　myself　and　noticed　the　lack　of　air　conditioning　first　thing。　Usually　in　the　summer　they　have　it　cranked　up　high　enough　to　give　you　frostbite　if　you　stay　in　the　market　more　than　an　hour　at　a　stretch。
　Like　most　modern　markets；　the　Federal　was　constructed　like　a　Skinner　box…modern　marketing　techniques　turn　all　customers　into　white　rats。　The　stuff　you　really　needed；　staples；　like　bread；　milk；　meat；　beer；　and　frozen　dinners；　was　all　on　the　far　side　of　the　store。　To　get　there　you　had　to　walk　past　all　the　impulse　items　known　to　modern　man…everything　from　Cricket　lighters　to　rubber　dog　bones。
　Beyond　the　IN　door　is　the　fruit…and…vegetable　aisle。　I　looked　up　it；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　Norton　or　my　son。　The　old　lady　who　had　run　into　the　door　was　examining　grapefruits。　Her　husband　had　produced　a　net　sack　to　store　purchases　in。
　I　walked　up　the　aisle　and　went　left。　I　found　them　in　the　third　aisle；　Billy　mulling　over　the　ranks　of　Jello…O　packages　and　instant　puddings。　Norton　was　standing　directly　behind　him；　peering　at　Steff's　list。　I　had　to　grin　a　little　at　his　nonplussed　expression。
　I　threaded　my　way　down　to　them；　past　half…loaded　carriages　（Steff　hadn't　been　the　only　one　struck　by　the　squirreling　impulse　apparently）　and　browsing　shoppers。　Norton　took　two　cans　of　pie　filling　down　from　the　top　shelf　and　put　them　in　the　cart。
　〃How　are　you　doing？〃　I　asked；　and　Norton　looked　around　with　unmistakable　relief。
　〃All　right；　aren't　we；　Billy？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Billy　said；　and　couldn't　resist　adding　in　a　rather　smug　tone：　〃But　there's　lots　of　stuff　Mr。　Norton　can't　read　either；　Dad。〃
　〃Let　me　see。〃　I　took　the　list。
　Norton　had　made　a　neat；　lawyerly　check　beside　each　of　the　items　he　and　Billy　had　picked　up…half　a　dozen　or　so；　including　the　milk　and　a　six…pack　of　Coke。　There　were　maybe　ten　other　things　that　she　wanted。
　〃We　ought　to　go　back　to　the　fruits　and　vegetables；〃　I　said。　〃She　wants　some　tomatoes　and　cucumbers。〃
　Billy　started　to　turn　the　card　around　and　Norton　said；　〃You　ought　to　go　have　a　look　at　the　checkout；　Dave。〃
　I　went　and　had　a　look。　it　was　the　sort　of　thing　you　sometimes　see　photos　of　in　the　paper　on　a　slow　newsday；　with　a　humorous　caption　beneath。　Only　two　lanes　were　open；　and　the　double　line　of　people　waiting　to　check　their　purchases　out　stretched　past　the　mostly　denuded　bread　racks；　then　made　a　jig　to　the　right　and　went　out　of　sight　along　the　frozen…food　coolers。　All　of　the　new　puterized　NCRs　were　hooded。　At　each　of　the　two　open　positions；　a　harried…looking　girl　was　totting　up　purchases　on　a　battery…powered　pocket　calculator。　Standing　with　each　girl　was　one　of　the　Federal's　two　managers；　Bud　Brown　and　Ollie　Weeks。　I　liked　Ollie　but　didn't　care　much　for　Bud
　Brown；　who　seemed　to　fancy　himself　the　Charles　de　Gaulle　of　the　supermarket　world。
　As　each　girl　finished　checking　her　order；　Bud　or　Ollie　would　paperclip　a　chit　to　the　customer's　cash　or　check　and　toss　it　into　the　box　he　was　using　as　a　cash　repository。　They　all　looked　hot　and　tired；
　〃Hope　you　brought　a　good　book；〃　Norton　said；　joining　me。　〃We're　going　to　be　in　line　for　a　while。〃
　I　thought　of　Steff　again；　at　home　alone；　and　had　another　flash　of　unease。　〃You　go　on　and　get　your　stuff；〃　I　said。　〃Billy　and　I　can　handle　the　rest　of　this；〃
　〃Want　me　to　grab　a　few　more　beers　for　you　too？〃
　I　thought　about　it；　but　in　spite　of　the　rapprochement；　I　didn't　want　to　spend　the　afternoon　with　Brent　Norton　getting　drunk。　Not　with　the　mess　things　were　in　around　the　house。
　〃Sorry；〃　I　said。　〃I've　got　to　take　a　raincheck；　Brent。〃
　I　thought　his　face　stiffened　a　little。　〃Okay；〃　he　said　shortly；　and　walked　off。　I　watched　him　go；　and　then　Billy　was　tugging　at　my　shirt。
　〃Did　you　talk　to　Mommy？〃
　〃Nope。　The　phone　wasn't　working。　Those　lines　are　down　too；　I　guess。〃
　〃Are　you　worried　about　her？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　lying。　I　was　worried；　all　right；　but　had　no　idea　why　I　should　be。　〃No；　of　course　I'm　not。　Are　you？〃
　〃No…ooo　。。。〃　But　he　was。　His　face　had　a　pinched　look。　We　should　have　gone　back　then。　But　even　then　it　might　have　been　too　late。
　　
　III。　The　ing　of　the　Mist。
　We　worked　our　way　back　to　the　fruits　and　vegetables　like　salmon　fighting　their　way　upstream。　I　saw　some　familiar　faces…Mike　Haden；　one　of　our　selectmen；　Mrs。　Reppler　from　the　grammar　school　（she　who　had　terrified　generations　of　third…graders　was　currently　sneering　at　the　cantaloupes）；　Mrs。　Turman；　who　sometimes　sat　Billy　when　Steff　and　I　went　out…but　mostly　they　were　summer　people
　stocking　up　on　no…cook　items　and　joshing　each　other　about　〃roughing　it。〃　The　cold　cuts　had　been　picked　over　as　thoroughly　as　the　dimebook　tray　at　a　rummage　sale；　there　was　nothing　left　but　a　few　packages　of　bologna；　some　macaroni　loaf；　and　one　lonely；　phallic　kielbasa　sausage。
　I　got　tomatoes；　cukes；　and　a　jar　of　mayonnaise。　She　wanted　bacon；　but　all　the　bacon　was　gone。　I　picked　up　some　of　the　bologna　as　a　substitute；　although　I've　never　been　able　to　eat　the　stuff　with　any　real　enthusiasm　since　the　FDA　reported　that　each　package　contained　a　small　amount　of　insect　filth　…　a　little　something　extra　for　your　money。
　〃Look；〃　Billy　said　as　we　rounded　the　corner　into　the　fourth　aisle。　〃There's　some　army　guys。〃
　There　were　two　of　them；　their　dun　uniforms　standing　out　against　the　much　brighter　background　of　summer　clothes　and　sportswear。　We　had　gotten　used　to　seeing　a　scattering　of　army　personnel　with　the　Arrowhead　Project　only　thirty　miles　or　so　away。　These　two　looked　hardly　old　enough　to　shave　yet。
　I　glanced　back　down　at　Steffs　list　and　saw　that　we　had　everything　。。。　no；　almost　but　not　quite；　At　the　bottom；　as　an　afterthought；　she　had　scribbled：　Bottle　of　Lancers？　That　sounded　good　to　me。　A　couple　of　glasses　of　wine　tonight　after　Billy　had　sacked　out；　then　maybe　a　long　slow　bout　of　lovemaking　before　sleep。
　I　left　the　cart　and　worked　my　way　down　to　the　wine　and　got　a　bottle。　As　I　walked　back　I　passed　the　big　double　doors　leading　to　the　storage　area　and　heard　the　steady　roar　of　a　good…sized　generator。
　I　decided　it　was　probably　just　big　enough　to　keep　the　cold　cases　cold；　but　not　large　enough　to　power　the　doors　and　cash　registers　and　all　the　other　electrical　equipment。　It　sounded　like　a　motorcycle　back　there。
　Norton　appeared　just　as　we　got　into　line；　balancing　two　six…packs　of　Schlitz　Light；　a　loaf　of　bread；　and　the　kielbasa　I　had　spotted　a　few　minutes　earlier。　He　got　in　line　with　Billy　and　me。　It　seemed　very　warm　in　the　market　with　the　air　conditioning　off；　and　I　wondered　why　none　of　the　stockboys　…had　at　least　chocked　the　doors　open。　I　had　seen
　Buddy　Eagleton　in　his　red　apron　two　aisles　back；　doing　not