pzb.lostsouls-第44部分

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et　her　in。　I　drove　past　there　one　day　and　saw　her　in　their　yard。　Thought　maybe　her　car　had　broken　down；　so　I　stopped　and　asked　her　if　she　wanted　a　ride　into　town；　but　she　told　me　to　get　lost。　Said　she　was　waiting　for　her　true　love。〃　He　sucked　at　the　joint。　〃I　hope　they　tell　her　to　fuck　off。〃
　　Ghost　lay　down　next　to　Steve。　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　　〃I　sprayed　gravel。　Peeled　out　of　there。　I　figured　if　I　hung　around；　I'd　either　kill　her　or　that　little　green…eyed　fucker。〃
　　Ghost　heard　Steve's　knuckles　cracking。　〃You　don't　want　to　mess　with　them；〃　he　said。
　　〃'Yeah；　I　know　what　you　told　me。　His　face　was　all　healed　up；　and　that　means　he　must　be　Count　Dracula　or　something。　I　don't　remember；　Ghost　I　don't　know。〃
　　'Trust　me；　then。〃
　　〃Guess　I　better。　What　else　have　I　got　to　trust？〃　There　was　no　anger　in　Steve's　voice　now。　He　only　sounded　sad；　and　very　tired。　A　man　who　wanted　to　stop　thinking。
　　Ghost　would　have　done　anything　to　make　Steve　happier。　But　what　could　he　do？　Unbewitch　Ann？　Tell　Zillah　and　his　crew　to　get　out　of　town　before　sunrise？　He　propped　himself　on　his　elbows　and　shook　a　few　pine　needles　out　of　his　hair。　The　sweet　orange　smell　of　singeing　pumpkin　flesh　drifted　in　from　the　houses　at　the　edge　of　the　woods。
　　Ghost　wondered　if　the　one…eyed　jack…o'…lantern　he　had　carved　was　still　burning　on　their　front　porch。　He　felt　desperate　to　talk　about　something；　anything　else。　〃The　lost　souls　get　to　e　out　tonight；〃　he　said。
　　〃Huh？　You　mean　us？〃　The　joint　had　gone　out。　Steve　lit　it　again。
　　〃Uh…uh。〃　Ghost　sucked　spicy　smoke；　felt　his　lungs　expand　and　his　brain　swirl。　〃All　the　dark　things。　All　the　sad　things　and　the　minds　left　over　from　the　bodies；　the　minds　who　don't　know　they're　dead；　the　ones　with　no　place　to　go。〃　He　felt　his　pupils　grow　larger　against　the　dark。　〃And　the　evil　things；　too。〃
　　〃Now　you're　trying　to　give　me　the　creeps。　Well；　I　can　play　that　game　too。　Want　me　to　tell　you　the　story　of　the　Hook　again？　Huh？〃　The　joint　had　burned　down　to　a　quarter　inch。　Steve　snuffed　it　and　dropped　it　in　the　pine　needles；　then　began　to　cough。　〃Fuck　it。　I　want　a　beer。　Let's　go　over　to　R。J。's。〃
　　〃Shhh。〃　Ghost's　head　came　up。　His　hair　fell　over　his　eyes；　and　he　brushed　it　away。　After　a　second　Steve　sat　up　and　stared　into　the　woods　too。　Something　flickered　through　the　pines　and　kudzu；　a　bright　orange　smudge　on　the　night。　A　jack…o'…lantern；　Ghost　guessed；　burning　on　someone's　porch。　But　he　thought　he　heard　a　rustle；　a　noise　just　slightly　too　loud　to　be　made　by　a　squirrel　or　a　night　bird…a　crunch。　Footsteps。　Soft　footsteps；　ing　through　the　woods。
　　〃Something's　out　there；〃　he　told　Steve。
　　Steve　opened　his　mouth　and　shut　it　again。　He　was　going　to　say　something　about　smoking　too　much　weed；　Ghost　supposed；　but　had　thought　better　of　it。　Good。　〃Okay；〃　Steve　managed　in　a　whisper。　〃What　do　we　do？〃
　　〃Get　up　quiet。　Stay　behind　me。〃
　　Steve　grabbed　Ghost's　ann。　Ghost　felt　electricity　flowing　between　them；　white　and　crackling　and　pure。　〃Like　hell　I　will。　I'm　not　letting　you…〃
　　〃Stay　behind　me；〃　Ghost　said　again；　and　looked　straight　into　the　woods；　trying　to　feel　out　whatever　might　be　ing。
　　Then　branches　broke；　dead　leaves　rattled　down　like　dry　brown　bones。　Something　round　and　fiery　hurtled　toward　them。　Steve　went　down　fast；　pulling　Ghost　with　him。　Ghost　fell　as　limply　as　a　rag　doll。　The　savage　orb　exploded　against　Miles's　gravestone。　Ripe　orange　pulp　splattered　them。
　　Ghost　shielded　his　face　with　one　hand　and　felt　wildly　for　Steve　with　the　other；　then　heard　an　unhappy　young　voice　wail；　〃Shit…I　tripped…my　shoelace　came　untied…〃
　　Ghost　lifted　his　head。　〃Nothing？〃　Chunks　of　pumpkin　and　pulp　slimed　the　ground；　shiny　black　in　the　moonlight。　In　the　middle　of　the　mess；　the　boy　struggled　to　his　knees　and　swiped　futilely　at　his　raincoat。　He　wouldn't　meet　Ghost's　eyes。　〃Shit！　I　tripped　over　my　own　goddamn　shoelace…I'm　sorry…〃
　　〃It's　okay。　Don't　worry　about　it。〃　Ghost　crawled　over　and　put　his　hand　on　Nothing's　shoulder。　Nothing's　face　tilted　up　to　Ghost's。　His　eyes　were　shadowed；　his　cheekbones　more　prominent　than　they　had　been　outside　the　Sacred　Yew　a　month　ago；　his　lips　drawn　tight　across　his　teeth。　For　no　good　reason；　Ghost　thought　suddenly　of　certain　strange　happenings　in　Missing　Mile　lately。　The　bodies　of　two　railroad　bums；　mutilated　and　decayed；　found　half…buried　in　the　dead　kudzu　near　the　train　tracks。　The　disappearance　of　a　little　boy　out　on　Violin　Road。　But　those　things　did　not　bear　thinking　about　right　now。　〃What　happened？〃　he　asked　Nothing。　〃They　didn't　kick　you　out；　did　they？〃
　　At　the　thought；　a　breath　of　cold　wind　seemed　to　pass　through　Nothing。　He　shuddered。　〃No。　Oh　no。　Christian　gave　me　the　jack…o'…lantern。　I　was　bringing　it　to　you。　I　walked　over　here〃
　　〃You　walked　all　the　way　from　Violin　Road？〃　Steve　interrupted。　〃Shit；　kid；　that's　three　or　four　miles。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Nothing。　〃I　didn't　want　the　others　to　know　I　was　ing。　I　told　them　I　was　just　going　out　for　a…for　a　walk。　And　you　weren't　home；　but　I　heard　your　voices　back　here；　and　I　saw　you　lighting　matches。〃
　　〃So　what　do　you　want？〃　said　Steve。　He　seemed　to　have　remembered　that　Nothing　was　on　the　wrong　side。　〃Does　your　green…eyed　buddy　want　me　to　send　Ghost　on　over？　He　already　took　my　girlfriend。　He　might　as　well　have　my　best　friend　too。〃　Ghost　poked　him；　but　he　kept　talking。　His　voice　was　unsteady。　〃Maybe　he　wants　my　car。　Or　my　bag　of　pot。　I'll　just　go　home　and　pack　it　all　up　for　him。〃
　　Nothing　stared　at　the　ground。　〃No。　I　just…I　came　to　tell　you　that　we're　leaving。　All　of　us。　Tonight。　We're　going　to　New　Orleans。〃
　　〃Even　Christian？〃　asked　Ghost。　〃He's　from　Now　Orleans。　He's　going　home？〃
　　〃The　new　barkeep？〃　said　Steve。　〃How　the　fuck　do　you　know　that？〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　said　Nothing。　〃He's　scared　to　go　back。　Somebody　there　is　after　him。　But　he　can't　let　us　leave　without　him。　And　I　was　born　in　New　Orleans。　So　this　time　I　really　am　going　home。〃
　　〃I'm　happy　for　you。　I　guess。〃　Ghost　was　surprised　to　find　that　he　would　miss　Nothing。　He　hadn't　seen　the　boy　since　that　night　at　the　club；　that　horrible　night；　but　now　he　realized　he　had　been　hoping　that　Nothing　would　show　up　on　the　doorstep　one　day。　Forsaking　his　family；　or　forsaken　by　them。　Saving　himself。
　　But　that　was　impossible。　Blood　calls　to　blood。　Nothing　had　to　go　home。
　　〃Wait　a　sec；〃　said　Steve。　〃How　e　you　walked　all　the　way　over　here　to　tell　us　you　were　leaving？　This　doesn't　have　anything　to　do　with　Ann；　does　it？〃
　　Nothing　studied　the　ground　some　more；　stirring　the　pine　needles　with　the　toe　of　his　sneaker。　〃I　was　kind　of　hoping　you　knew。　I'm　afraid　she'll　try　to　follow　us。　She　came　and　told　Christian　yesterday…〃　Nothing　swallowed；　glanced　at　Steve；　blinked　several　times。　His　eyes　looked　huge　in　the　haft…light　〃Forget　it；〃　he　said。　〃Mostly　I　just　came　to　tell　you　goodbye。　I'm　sorry　things　turned　out　like　they　did。　I　wish　they　could　have　been　different。　But　I'm　with　my　family　now。〃　He　slipped　his　arms　around　Ghost's　neck　and　quickly　kissed　Ghost's　cheek　with　cold　chapped　lips。　Then　he　turned　away。
　　〃Wait！〃　Ghost　snatched　at　a　thin　black…clad　arm。　Nothing　looked　back；　his　face　wary；　haft…hidden　in　shadow。
　　〃It　scares　me；　Nothing。〃　Ghost　pulled　his　hair　over　his　face。　〃But　I　need　to　know。　What　are　they？　What　are　you？〃
　　〃I　think　you　know。〃　Nothing　stopped　back　and　gave　them　a　wide　smile。　On　any　other　face　so　young　it　would　have　been　a　sunny；　angelic　smile。　But　on　Nothing's　face　it　was　wrong；　so　wrong　that　at　first　Ghost　could　not　grasp　why。　Then　he　knew。　Most　of　Nothing's　front　teeth　bad　been　filed　to　sharp　points。
　　〃What　did　Ann　say　to　Christian？〃　Ghost　whispered。
　　〃I　didn't　want　to　tell　you；〃　said　Nothing。　〃She's　going　to　have　a　baby。　She　says　it's　Zillah's　baby。〃
　　Ghost　could　not　speak。　After　a　moment　he　had　to　close　his　eyes。　When　he　opened　them；　Nothing　had　faded　back　into　the　woods。　Without　the　glow　of　the　jack…o'…lantern　to　mark　his　path；　he　disappeared　quickly；　melting　like　a　black　wraith　into　the　shadows　between　the　trees。
　　Ghost　turned　to　look　at　Steve。　Steve　had　pulled　a　plant　out　of　the　ground　and　was　using　its　leaves　to　wipe　pumpkin　pulp　off　his　face。
　　〃Are　you　okay？〃　Ghost　asked。
　　〃Huh？　Yeah。　Why　shouldn't　I　be？〃　Steve　looked　at　the　leaves　he'd　been　wiping　his　face　with；　held　them　up　to　the　moonlight。　〃Poison　oak。　It　figures。　Shit。〃
　　〃You　won't　get　it；〃　Ghost　told　him。
　　〃How　do　you…〃　Steve　slapped　his　knees。　〃Okay。　Okay。　I　won't　get　it。　Do　we　have　to　wait　tin　somebody　slings　a　rotting　corpse　at　us；　or　can　we　go　over　to　R。J。's　now？〃
　　〃Sure。　We　can　go　to　R。J。's。〃　If　Steve　wanted　to　pretend　he　hadn't　heard　Nothing's　parting　words；　if　Steve　bad　refused　to　notice　that　mouthful　of　sharpened　teeth；　Ghost　wasn't　going　to　force　it。　It　would　catch　up　to　Steve　sooner　or　later；　and　then　all　hell　would　break　loose。
　　The　lights　were　bright　at　the　party。　Terry　Buckett　answered　the　door　wearing　a　pair　of　long　johns　with　psychedelic　peace　signs　painted　all　over　them。　He　took　one　look　at　Steve；　pointed　over　his　shoulder；　and　said；　〃The　keg's　that　way。〃
　　They　found　it　out　on　the　back　porch　in　a　garbage　can　full　of　ice。　As　Ghost　was　pumping　it；　R。J。　caught　up　with　them。　His　Dracula　makeup　was　smudged　on　his　nose　where　he　kept　pushing　his　glasses　up。　〃We're　having　a　vampire　film　festival；〃　he　explained；　supporting　himself　against　the　porch　railing。　〃They're　just　finishing　up　Near　Dark；　that　one's　real　cool。　You　missed　The　Lost　Boys。〃
　　〃Fuckin'　shame；〃　said　Steve　darkly；　draining　half　of　his　first　beer。
　　RJ。　put　a　dripping　cup　into　Ghost's　hand。　He　sipped　it；　tasting　the　tingling　foam　and　the　barley　funk　and　something　metallic。　Something　metallic　and　red…　No。　The　beer　was　clear；　white　and　golden；　pure。　He　swallowed　that　mouthful　in　a　hurry。　Then　he　drank　off　the　rest　of　the　cup。
　　Ghost　sat　on　the　floor　and　drank　two　more　cups　of　beer。　Vamp　was　on　now。　All　the　vampires　seemed　to　be　aged；　running　a　honky…tonk　joint；　the　remainders　of　a　glorious　race。　He　tried　to　talk　to　Monica　when　she　walked　by；　but　she　was　dressed　as　the　Raven　and　would　only　say　〃Nevermore。〃
　　He　was　about　to　go　in　search　of　some　fruit　juice　when　Steve　loomed　in　front　of　him；　swaying　slightly；　reeking　of　beer；　his　T…shirt　stained　with　it。　S