pzb.lostsouls-第27部分

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　　〃Sure；　this　is　it。　Go　on　up　the　drive。〃
　　Steve　twisted　around　to　look　at　Ghost。　〃You're　tryin'　to　tell　me　a　witch　owns　this　place？〃
　　Ghost　looked　hurt；　〃Miz　Catlin's　not　a　witch。　She　was　friends　with　my　grandmother。　You　think　my　grandmother　was　a　witch？〃
　　Steve　remained　tactfully　silent。
　　Ghost　scowled。　〃Well；　anyway。　Miz　Catlin　just　knows　about　medicine；　that's　all。〃
　　Steve　maneuvered　the　T…bird　into　a　wide　circle　of　gravel　at　the　top　of　the　driveway；　trying　not　to　run　over　any　of　the　chrysanthemums　that　nodded　in　the　sun　behind　a　tiny　white　picket　fence。　As　he　got　out；　another　goose　pecked　at　the　toe　of　his　boot；　then　flapped　up　onto　the　hood　of　the　ear　and　fixed　him　with　a　baleful　eye。
　　〃Stare　at　him；〃　Ghost　said。　〃They　won't　bite　you　if　you　keep　staring　at　them。〃
　　Steve　backed　away。　〃They　bite？〃
　　〃Not　really。　They　hiss　at　you；　mostly。　The　only　lime　geese　are　ever　dangerous　is　when　you　happen　to　be　standing　on　the　edge　of　a　cliff。　I　heard　about　a　guy　who　almost　got　killed　that　way。
　　〃By　geese？〃
　　〃Yeah；　there　was　a　whole　flock　of　them　ing　after　him。　All　hissing　and　cackling　and　stabbing　at　his　ankles　with　their　big　o1'　beaks。　He　didn't　know　you　had　to　stare　them　right　in　the　eye；　and　he　panicked。　They　backed　him　right　over　a　fifty…foot　cliff。〃
　　〃So　how　e　he　didn't　die？〃
　　〃This　guy　had　wings；〃　said　Ghost。　〃He　flew　away。〃　
　　Steve　sighed　with　the　air　of　one　long…suffering　but　patient。
　　〃Miz　Catlin？〃　Ghost　said；　putting　his　head　around　the　screen　door。　〃You　here；　Miz　Catlin？〃
　　〃GHOST…CHILD！〃
　　A　tiny　old　lady　came　barrelling　out　of　the　store's　dimness　and　launched　herself　into　Ghost's　outstretched　arms。　Ghost　lifted　her　off　the　floor　and　hugged　her　hard；　knocking　her　big　flowered　hat　off。　Steve　picked　it　up　and　held　it　awkwardly　until　Miz　Catlin's　little　sneakered　feet　were　on　the　floor　again。
　　She　adjusted　the　hat　over　her　long　gray　hair；　smiling　up　at　Ghost。　〃How　the　hell　did　you　ever　get　so　big；　child？　You　grow　another　inch　every　time　I　see　you。〃　She　turned　to　Steve。　〃I　was　there　when　this　kid　saw　his　first　light。　My　sister　Lexy　delivered　him。　I　gave　his　mama　a　spoonful　of　mother…wort　in　wine；　but　there　weren't　no　need。　He　was　the　easiest　baby　I　ever　seen。　Once　I　pulled　his　caul　off；　he　just　laid　there　and　watched　us　all　with　them　holy　blue　eyes。　I　gave　him　a　decoction　of　pomegranate　rind　for　the　runs　once。　Ate　too　many　of　my　fresh　green　apples　and　couldn't　stay　off　the　pot　for　ten　minutes　at　a　time。　He　weren't　but　this　high。〃　Miz　Catlin　held　her　hand　a　couple　of　feet　off　the　floor。
　　The　little　lady　herself　wasn't　much　taller；　the　top　of　her　flowered　hat　reached　about　to　Steve's　rib　cage。　Steve　thought　he　remembered　hearing　this　story　before；　but　he　smiled　at　Miz　Catlin。　Ghost　was　studying　the　ceiling；　the　rose…and…vine…patterned　wallpaper；　the　jars　of　bright　penny　candy　on　the　shelves。　He　saw　Steve　looking　at　him　and　scuffed　his　toe　on　the　wooden　floor。
　　Miz　Catlin　disengaged　herself　from　Ghost's　arms。　〃You　and　your　good…looking　friend　just　e　out　to　brighten　up　an　old　lady's　day；　or　you　need　some　medicine？〃
　　〃It's　my　wisdom　teeth。〃
　　〃O　Lord。　Let　me　see　'em。〃　She　peered　into　Ghost's　mouth；　prodded　his　gums　with　a　wrinkled　forefinger。　〃You're　lucky。　Got　a　big　mouth。　You　won't　have　to　get　'em　pulled。　I'll　make　up　that　balm　directly。　You　want　to　poke　around　in　the　back　room　like　you　used　to？〃
　　A　crazy　light　came　into　Ghost's　eyes。　〃Shit；　yeah！　Steve；　wait　till　you　see　what's　back　there。〃
　　Miz　Catlin's　dried…apple　face　registered　astonishment。　〃This　isn't　Steve？　That　skinny　kid　who　used　to　hang　around　with　you　all　the　time？　Well；　age　surely　made　you　handsome；　Mister　Steve　Finn。〃　The　old　lady　stared　at　Steve　with　such　frankness　that　he　wanted　to　look　away；　but　he　thought　that　might　be　rude。　Finally　Miz　Catlin　giggled　like　a　little　girl　and　waved　her　hand　at　them。　〃Listen　to　me…I　never　could　give　up　flirtin'。　Anyway；　you　kids　take　a　good　look　back　there。〃　She　indicated　the　contents　of　the　front　room：　baskets　of　hand…dipped　candles；　patchwork　quilts；　potpourris。　〃All　this　stuff；　it's　for　the　tourists。　Back　in　the　back…that's　my　real　stock。　Ghost'll　show　you。　He　knows。〃
　　After　the　white…painted；　sun…dappled　walls　of　the　front　room；　the　back　of　the　store　seemed　dark；　the　air　heavy　and　oppressive。　There　was　a　scent　of　dry　antiseptic　dust；　of　strange　oily　spirits。　Of　herbs。　As　Steve's　eyes　got　used　to　the　light；　he　realized　that　he　and　Ghost　were　standing　in　a　room　lined　with　thousands　of　small　boxes　and　bottles。　There　were　shelves　crammed　with　them；　tall　glass…fronted　cabinets　displaying　them；　open　drawers　stuffed　with　them。
　　〃It's　all　medicine；〃　Ghost　said　with　reverence。　〃Antique　patent　medicine。　New　ones；　too。　Herb　remedies。　The　stock　of　a　hundred　old…time　pharmacies。　Miz　Catlin's　got　it　all　right　here。〃　He　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room　swaying　gently　from　side　to　side；　seeming　to　take　in　the　essence　of　the　place。　His　hands　hung　limp　at　his　sides。
　　Soon　Ghost's　eyes　seemed　to　go　transparent。　Steve　thought　that　if　he　looked　close　enough　he　could　see　all　the　way　through　to　the　whorls　of　Ghost's　brain；　to　the　vaulted　chamber　of　Ghost's　skull。　The　first　time　Steve　had　seen　his　friend　go　into　this　state；　when　they　were　kids；　it　had　alarmed　him。　He　thought　he　was　either　watching　the　start　of　an　epileptic　fit　or　Ghost　was　about　to　die　on　him。　Now　he　was　used　to　it。　Ghost　was　just　getting　real　heavy　into　some　mind…groove；　as　their　friend　Terry　might　have　put　it。　Other　people　thought　hard；　sometimes；　but　Ghost　tranced　out。　Steve　watched　him　for　a　moment；　then　shrugged　and　started　exploring　the　room。
　　He　found　big　brown　bottles　with　murky　contents　gone　to　powder；　little　bottles　of　heavy　blue　and　green　glass；　cardboard　boxes　whose　corners　had　gone　softly　ragged　with　age；　their　colors　sifting　down　to　the　dusty　wooden　floor　to　mingle　with　the　cobwebs。　Tucked　into　odd　corners　of　the　shelves　were　all　manner　of　pharmaceutical　curios：　brass　weights　and　measures；　stained　mortars　and　pestles；　a　glass　globe　full　of　brightly　colored　pills　that　looked　like　candy；　a　scale　whose　sign；　YOUR　WEIGHT　AND　FORTUNE；　was　almost　obscured　by　dust。　A　row　of　large　amber　bottles；　all　marked　in　a　flowing　black　script：　ELIXIR　MALTO…PEPSIN；　AQ。　ROSAE　AND　GLYC。；　HEXATONE。　A　drawer　full　of　patent　medicine　bearing　once…bright　labels　of　yellow　and　red　and　green；　fabulous　claims；　long　arcane　lists　of　ingredients。　In　a　blue　box　stained　with　what　must　be　rusty　water　marks；　DOCTOR　DeBARR'S　MANDRAKE　BLOOD　AND　LIVER　PILLS。　In　a　big　bottle　of　pure　white　glass；　NOAH'S　LINIMENT…FOR　ALL　CREATION…MAN　OR　BEAST。
　　〃e　and　look　at　this　stuff；〃　Steve　told　Ghost。　〃It's　got　something　in　it　called　uva　ursi。　What　the　hell　is　uva　ursi？〃
　　Ghost　didn't　answer。　He　was　still　in　the　middle　of　the　room　swaying。　〃Aloes；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Bear's…foot　root；　elm　bark；　gentian；　Jamaican　ginger　root。。。〃
　　〃Look　at　this　shit；〃　Steve　said。　〃'Powdered　Nutgall　Suppositories。'　Nice；　huh？〃
　　〃Indian　rhubarb；　nux　vomica；　quassia　chips；　asafoetida；　peppermint。。。〃
　　Steve　saw　a　little　brown　bottle　on　a　high　shelf。　〃'Extract　of　Cannabis！'　He　reached　for　the　bottle。
　　〃Leave　it　alone　。　。　。　mullein　leaf；　boneset　leaf；　senna　pods；　anise；　snakeroot　。　。　。　liverwort。〃　Ghost　shook　himself　and　opened　his　eyes。　〃Sorry。　I　was　smelling。〃
　　〃Balm's　ready！〃　Miz　Catlin　called　a　few　minutes　later。　
　　Ghost　took　a　final　sniff　of　the　room's　delicate　crumbling　scent。　As　they　turned　to　leave；　Steve　stepped　onto　the　YOUR　WEIGHT　AND　FORTUNE　scale　and　dug　in　his　pocket　for　a　penny。　〃It　doesn't　work；〃　said　Ghost。　〃It　broke　a　long　time　ago。〃　But　Steve　had　already　put　the　coin　in。　The　scale　clattered；　clanked；　ratcheted。　A　yellowed　card　fell　out　of　the　slot。　
　　〃It　never　did　that　before；〃　Ghost　said。
　　Steve　handed　him　the　card。　Ghost　read　it　twice；　first　silently；　then　aloud：　〃'Pain　lies　ahead　for　you　and　your　beloved。〃　Ghost's　eyes　were　dark　and　troubled。
　　〃Big　fuckin'　deal；〃　said　Steve。　〃I　don't　have　a　beloved。〃　He　crumpled　the　card。
　　Miz　Catlin　eyed　them　suspiciously　as　they　came　out　of　the　back　room。　〃Somethin'　the　matter？〃
　　〃Your　scale　gave　Steve　a　bad　fortune；〃　Ghost　said。　He　told　her　what　had　been　printed　on　the　card。
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃Well；　I　wouldn't　pay　it　too　much　mind。　That　old　thing　usually　stays　broke；　but　once　in　a　while　it　gets　temperamental。　You　can　predict　a　passel　of　woe　in　anyone's　life　if　you've　the　inclination。〃　She　stared　at　Steve；　and　her　eyes　sharpened。　〃You；　though…I　remember　what　Deliverance　said　about　you。　I　don't　have　the　gift　like　her　and　Ghost；　but　I　can　see　it　too。　You're　hotheaded；　and　you　let　your　temper　lead　you。　Don't　listen　to　your　good　heart　as　much　as　you　ought　to。　Deliverance　said　you'd　hurt　somebody　someday；　no　doubt　about　it…but　that　you'd　end　up　hurtin'　yourself　worst　of　all。〃
　　
　　The　drive　back　to　town　was　subdued。　The　day　had　clouded　over；　grown　muggy　and　stifling。　Steve's　hangover　was　starting　to　e　back。　Ghost　let　the　guitar　lie　on　the　floor。　From　time　to　time　he　hung　his　head　out　the　window　and　checked　the　sky；　his　nostrils　flaring　anxiously；　trying　to　scent　rain。
　　Ghost　knew　the　next　rain　would　bring　on　a　cold　spell；　soon　after　that　it　would　be　time　to　batten　down　for　the　winter。
　　〃What　the　fuck　is　that？〃　said　Steve　when　they　were　halfway　home。
　　Ghost　looked。　They　were　past　the　spot　and　over　the　swell　of　the　road　before　he　registered　what　he　had　seen：　a　lone　angular　figure　huddled　behind　a　flower　stand。　ROSES；　said　the　painted　wooden　sign。　The　figure　was　tall；　pale；　wrapped　entirely　in　black。　Black　cloak；　black　hat；　big　dark　sunglasses。　Even　his　hands　were　sheathed　in　black　gloves。
　　〃Some　fun；　huh；〃　said　Steve；　and　nervously　cranked　up　his　window。　The　air　in　the　T…bird　grew　thick；　smothering。　Ghost　didn't　know　why　the　figure　at　the　flower　stand　gave　him　a　sick　feeling；　but　he　did　know　that　such　feelings　seldom　came　to　him　without　a　reason。　The　worm　of　worry　for　Ann　was　still　gnawing　away　in　him　too。　And　until　he　knew　the　reason；　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　about　it。　Ghost　put　his　forehead　against　the　window　and　didn't　think　again　until　they　were　home。
　　
　　　Chapter　17
　　
　　Morning　on　a　sunny　road　with　the　music　cra