dk.intensity-第67部分

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orked　in　the　deep　shade　of　an　umbrella。　Eventually；　they　struck　up　a　conversation。　The　father's　name　was　Ned　Barnes；　and　his　boy　was　Jamie。　Ned　was　a　widower　and；　of　all　things；　a　freelance　writer　with　several　modestly　successful　novels　to　his　credit。　Jamie　developed　a　crush　on　Ariel　and　brought　her　things　that　he　found　special…a　handful　of　wildflowers；　an　interesting　seashell；　a　picture　of　a　ical…looking　dog　torn　from　a　magazine…and　put　them　beside　her　on　the　blanket　without　asking　that　she　be　mindful　of　them。
　On　August　twelfth；　Chyna　cooked　a　spaghetti…and…meatball　dinner　for　the　four　of　them；　at　the　apartment。　Later　she　and　Ned　played　Go　Fish　and　other　games　with　Jamie　while　Ariel　sat　staring　placidly　at　her　hands。　Since　the　night　in　the　motor　home；　that　terrible　anguished　expression　and　silent　scream　had　not　crossed　the　girl's　face。　She　had　also　stopped　hugging　herself　and　rocking　anxiously。
　Later　in　August；　the　four　of　them　went　to　a　movie　together；　and　they　continued　to　see　one　another　at　the　beach；　where　they　took　up　tenancy　side　by　side。　Their　relationship　was　very　relaxed；　with　no　pressure　or　expectations。　None　of　them　wanted　anything　more　than　to　be　less　alone。
　In　September；　just　after　Labor　Day；　when　there　would　not　be　many　more　days　warm　enough　to　remend　the　beach；　Ned　looked　up　from　his　laptop　next　door　and　said；　〃Chyna。〃
　She　was　reading　a　novel　and　only　replied；　〃Hmmm；〃　without　taking　her　eyes　off　the　page。
　He　insisted；　〃Look。　Look　at　Ariel。〃
　The　girl　wore　cut…off　blue　jeans　and　a　long…sleeve　blouse；　because　the　day　was　already　a　touch　cool　for　sunbathing。　She　was　barefoot　at　the　edge　of　the　water；　surf　breaking　around　her　ankles；　but　she　was　not　standing　zombie…like　and　staring　bayward；　as　usual。　Instead；　her　arms　were　stretched　over　her　head；　and　she　was　waving　her　hands　in　the　air　while　quietly　dancing　in　place。
　〃She　loves　the　bay　so；〃　Ned　said。
　Chyna　was　unable　to　speak。
　〃She　loves　life；〃　he　said。
　Choking　on　emotion；　Chyna　prayed　that　it　was　true。　The　girl　didn't　dance　long；　and　when　later　she　returned　to　the　blanket；　her　gaze　was　as　faraway　as　ever。
　By　December　of　that　year；　more　than　twenty　months　after　fleeing　the　house　of　Edgler　Vess；　Ariel　was　eighteen　years　old；　no　longer　a　girl　but　a　lovely　young　woman。　Frequently；　however；　she　called　for　her　mother　and　father　in　her　sleep；　for　her　brother；　and　her　voice…the　only　time　it　was　heard…was　young；　frail；　and　lost。
　Then；　on　Christmas　morning；　among　the　gifts　for　Ariel；　Ned；　and　Jamie　that　were　stacked　under　the　tree　in　the　apartment　living　room；　Chyna　was　surprised　to　find　a　small　package　for　herself。　It　had　been　wrapped　with　great　care；　though　as　if　by　a　child　with　more　enthusiasm　than　skill。　Her　name　was　printed　in　uneven　block　letters　on　a　snowman　gift　tag。　When　she　opened　the　box；　a　slip　of　blue　paper　lay　within。　On　the　paper　were　four　words　that　appeared　to　have　been　set　down　with　considerable　effort；　much　hesitation；　and　lots　of　stops　and　starts：　I　want　to　live。
　Heart　pounding；　tongue　thick；　she　took　both　of　the　girl's　hands。　For　a　while　she　didn't　know　what　to　say；　and　she　couldn't　have　said　it　if　she　had　known。
　Finally　words　came　haltingly：　〃This　。。。　this　is　the　best　。。。　the　best　gift　I've　ever　had；　honey。　This　is　the　best　there　could　ever　be。　This　is　all　I　want　。。。　for　you　to　try。〃
　She　read　the　four　words　again；　through　tears。
　I　WANT　TO　LIVE。
　Chyna　said；　〃But　you　don't　know　how　to　get　back；　do　you？〃
　The　girl　was　very　still。　Then　she　blinked。　Both　of　her　hands　tightened　on　Chyna's　hands。
　〃There's　a　way；〃　Chyna　assured　her。
　The　girl's　hands　gripped　Chyna's　even　tighter。
　〃There's　hope；　baby。　There's　always　hope。　There's　a　way；　and　no　one　can　ever　find　it　alone；　but　we　can　find　it　together。　We　can　find　it　together。　You　just　have　to　believe。〃
　The　girl　could　not　make　eye　contact；　but　her　hands　continued　to　grip　Chyna's。
　〃I　want　to　tell　you　a　story　about　a　redwood　forest　and　something　I　saw　there　one　night；　and　something　I　saw　later；　too；　when　I　needed　to　see　it。　Maybe　it　won't　mean　as　much　to　you；　and　maybe　it　wouldn't　mean　anything　at　all　to　other　people；　but　it　means　the　world　to　me；　even　if　I　don't　fully　understand　it。〃
　I　WANT　TO　LIVE。
　
　Over　the　next　few　years；　the　road　back　from　the　Wild　Wood　to　the　beauties　and　wonders　of　this　world　was　not　an　easy　one　for　Ariel。　There　were　times　of　despair　when　she　seemed　to　make　no　progress　at　all；　or　even　slid　backward。
　Eventually；　however；　a　day　came　when　they　traveled　with　Ned　and　Jamie　to　that　redwood　grove。
　They　walked　through　the　ferns　and　the　rhododendrons　in　the　solemn　shadows　under　the　massive　trees；　and　Ariel　said；　〃Show　me　where。〃
　Chyna　led　her　by　the　hand　to　the　very　place；　and　said；　〃Here。〃
　How　scared　Chyna　had　been　that　night；　risking　so　much　for　a　girl　she　had　never　seen。　Scared　less　of　Vess　than　of　this　new　thing　that　she　had　found　in　herself。　This　reckless　caring。　And　now　she　knows　it　is　nothing　that　should　have　frightened　her。　It　is　the　purpose　for　which　we　exist。　This　reckless　caring。
　



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