sk.everythingseventual-第11部分

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　　'You　can't　get　away；　fisherboy！'　he　cried　from　behind　me。　He　sounded　furious；　but　he　also　sounded　as　if　he　were　laughing。　'It　takes　more　than　a　mouthful　of　trout　to　fill　me　up！'
　　'Leave　me　alone！'　I　screamed　back　at　him。　I　grabbed　the　bridge's　railing　and　threw　myself　over　it　in　a　clumsy　somersault；　filling　my　hands　with　splinters　and　bumping　my　head　so　hard　on　the　boards　when　I　came　down　that　I　saw　stars。　I　rolled　over　onto　my　belly　and　began　crawling。　I　lurched　to　my　feet　just　before　I　got　to　the　end　of　the　bridge；　stumbled　once；　found　my　rhythm；　and　then　began　to　run。　I　ran　as　only　nine…year…old　boys　can　run；　which　is　like　the　wind。　It　felt　as　if　my　feet　only　touched　the　ground　with　every　third　or　fourth　stride；　and　for　all　I　know；　that　may　be　true。　I　ran　straight　up　the　righthand　wheelrut　in　the　road；　ran　until　my　temples　pounded　and　my　eyes　pulsed　in　their　sockets；　ran　until　I　had　a　hot　stitch　in　my　left　side　from　the　bottom　of　my　ribs　to　my　armpit；　ran　until　I　could　taste　blood　and　something　like　metal…shavings　in　the　back　of　my　throat。　When　I　couldn't　run　anymore　I　stumbled　to　a　stop　and　looked　back　over　my　shoulder；　puffing　and　blowing　like　a　windbroke　horse。　I　was　convinced　I　would　see　him　standing　right　there　behind　me　in　his　natty　black　suit；　the　watch…chain　a　glittering　loop　across　his　vest　and　not　a　hair　out　of　place。
　　But　he　was　gone。　The　road　stretching　back　toward　Castle　Stream　between　the　darkly　massed　pines　and　spruces　was　empty。　And　yet　I　sensed　him　somewhere　near　in　those　woods；　watching　me　with　his　grassfire　eyes；　smelling　of　burnt　matches　and　roasted　fish。
　　I　turned　and　began　walking　as　fast　as　I　could；　limping　a　little…I'd　pulled　muscles　in　both　legs；　and　when　I　got　out　of　bed　the　next　morning　I　was　so　sore　I　could　barely　walk。　I　didn't　notice　those　things　then；　though。　I　just　kept　looking　over　my　shoulder；　needing　again　and　again　to　verify　that　the　road　behind　me　was　still　empty。　It　was；　each　time　I　looked；　but　those　backward　glances　seemed　to　increase　my　fear　rather　than　lessening　it。　The　firs　looked　darker；　massier；　and　I　kept　imagining　what　lay　behind　the　trees　which　marched　beside　the　road…long；　tangled　corridors　of　forest；　leg…breaking　deadfalls；　ravines　where　anything　might　live。　Until　that　Saturday　in　1914；　I　had　thought　that　bears　were　the　worst　thing　the　forest　could　hold。
　　Now　I　knew　better。
　　
　　A　mile　or　so　further　up　the　road；　just　beyond　the　place　where　it　came　out　of　the　woods　and　joined　the　Geegan　Flat　Road；　I　saw　my　father　walking　toward　me　and　whistling　'The　Old　Oaken　Bucket。'　He　was　carrying　his　own　rod；　the　one　with　the　fancy　spinning　reel　from　Monkey　Ward。　In　his　other　hand　he　had　his　creel；　the　one　with　the　ribbon　my　mother　had　woven　through　the　handle　back　when　Dan　was　still　alive。　DEDICATED　TO　JESUS；　that　ribbon　said。　I　had　been　walking　but　when　I　saw　him　I　started　to　run　again；　screaming　Dad！　Dad！　Dad！　at　the　top　of　my　lungs　and　staggering　from　side　to　side　on　my　tired；　sprung　legs　like　a　drunken　sailor。　The　expression　of　surprise　on　his　face　when　he　recognized　me　might　have　been　ical　under　other　circumstances；　but　not　under　these。　He　dropped　his　rod　and　creel　into　the　road　without　so　much　as　a　downward　glance　at　them　and　ran　to　me。　It　was　the　fastest　I　ever　saw　my　Dad　run　in　his　life；　when　we　came　together　it　was　a　wonder　the　impact　didn't　knock　us　both　senseless；　and　I　struck　my　face　on　his　belt…buckle　hard　enough　to　start　a　little　nosebleed。　I　didn't　notice　that　until　later；　though。　Right　then　I　only　reached　out　my　arms　and　clutched　him　as　hard　as　I　could。　I　held　on　and　rubbed　my　hot　face　back　and　forth　against　his　belly；　covering　his　old　blue　workshirt　with　blood　and　tears　and　snot。
　　'Gary；　what　is　it？　What　happened？　Are　you　all　right？'
　　'Ma's　dead！'　I　sobbed。　'I　met　a　man　in　the　woods　and　he　told　me！　Ma's　dead！　She　got　stung　by　a　bee　and　it　swelled　her　all　up　just　like　what　happened　to　Dan；　and　she's　dead！　She's　on　the　kitchen　floor　and　Candy　Bill　。　。　。　licked　the　t…t…tears　。　。　。　off　her　。　。　。　off　her　。　。　。'
　　Face　was　the　last　word　I　had　to　say；　but　by　then　my　chest　was　hitching　so　bad　I　couldn't　get　it　out。　My　tears　were　flowing　again；　and　my　Dad's　startled；　frightened　face　had　blurred　into　three　overlapping　images。　I　began　to　howl…not　like　a　little　kid　who's　skun　his　knee　but　like　a　dog　that's　seen　something　bad　by　moonlight…and　my　father　pressed　my　head　against　his　hard　flat　stomach　again。　I　slipped　out　from　under　his　hand；　though；　and　looked　back　over　my　shoulder。　I　wanted　to　make　sure　the　man　in　the　black　suit　wasn't　ing。　There　was　no　sign　of　him；　the　road　winding　back　into　the　woods　was　pletely　empty。　I　promised　myself　I　would　never　go　back　down　that　road　again；　not　ever；　no　matter　what；　and　I　suppose　now　God's　greatest　blessing　to　His　creatures　below　is　that　they　can't　see　the　future。　It　might　have　broken　my　mind　if　I　had　known　I　would　be　going　back　down　that　road；　and　not　two　hours　later。　For　that　moment；　though；　I　was　only　relieved　to　see　we　were　still　alone。　Then　I　thought　of　my　mother…my　beautiful　dead　mother…and　laid　my　face　back　against　my　father's　stomach　and　bawled　some　more。
　　'Gary；　listen　to　me；'　he　said　a　moment　or　two　later。　I　went　on　bawling。　He　gave　me　a　little　longer　to　do　that；　then　reached　down　and　lifted　my　chin　so　he　could　look　into　my　face　and　I　could　look　into　his。　'Your　Mom's　fine；'　he　said。
　　I　could　only　look　at　him　with　tears　streaming　down　my　cheeks。　I　didn't　believe　him。
　　'I　don't　know　who　told　you　different；　or　what　kind　of　dirty　dog　would　want　to　put　a　scare　like　that　into　a　little　boy；　but　I　swear　to　God　your　mother's　fine。'
　　'But　。　。　。　but　he　said　。　。　。'
　　'I　don't　care　what　he　said。　I　got　back　from　Eversham's　earlier　than　I　expected…he　doesn't　want　to　sell　any　cows；　it's　all　just　talk…and　decided　I　had　time　to　catch　up　with　you。　I　got　my　pole　and　my　creel　and　your　mother　made　us　a　couple　of　jelly　fold…overs。　Her　new　bread。　Still　warm。　So　she　was　fine　half　an　hour　ago；　Gary；　and　there's　nobody　knows　any　different　that's　e　from　this　direction；　I　guarantee　you。　Not　in　just　half　an　hour's　time。'　He　looked　over　my　shoulder。　'Who　was　this　man？　And　where　was　he？　I'm　going　to　find　him　and　thrash　him　within　an　inch　of　his　life。'
　　I　thought　a　thousand　things　in　just　two　seconds…that's　what　it　seemed　like；　anyway…but　the　last　thing　I　thought　was　the　most　powerful：　if　my　Dad　met　up　with　the　man　in　the　black　suit；　I　didn't　think　my　Dad　would　be　the　one　to　do　the　thrashing。　Or　the　walking　away。
　　I　kept　remembering　those　long　white　fingers；　and　the　talons　at　the　ends　of　them。
　　'Gary？'
　　'I　don't　know　that　I　remember；'　I　said。
　　'Were　you　where　the　stream　splits？　The　big　rock？'
　　I　could　never　lie　to　my　father　when　he　asked　a　direct　question…not　to　save　his　life　or　mine。　'Yes；　but　don't　go　down　there。'　I　seized　his　arm　with　both　hands　and　tugged　it　hard。　'Please　don't。　He　was　a　scary　man。'　Inspiration　struck　like　an　illuminating　lightning…bolt。　'I　think　he　had　a　gun。'
　　He　looked　at　me　thoughtfully。　'Maybe　there　wasn't　a　man；'　he　said；　lifting　his　voice　a　little　on　the　last　word　and　turning　it　into　something　that　was　almost　but　not　quite　a　question。　'Maybe　you　fell　asleep　while　you　were　fishing；　son；　and　had　a　bad　dream。　Like　the　ones　you　had　about　Danny　last　winter。'
　　I　had　had　a　lot　of　bad　dreams　about　Dan　last　winter；　dreams　where　I　would　open　the　door　to　our　closet　or　to　the　dark；　fruity　interior　of　the　cider　shed　and　see　him　standing　there　and　looking　at　me　out　of　his　purple　strangulated　face；　from　many　of　these　dreams　I　had　awakened　screaming；　and　awakened　my　parents；　as　well。　I　had　fallen　asleep　on　the　bank　of　the　stream　for　a　little　while；　too…dozed　off；　anyway…but　I　hadn't　dreamed　and　I　was　sure　I　had　awakened　just　before　the　man　in　the　black　suit　clapped　the　bee　dead；　sending　it　tumbling　off　my　nose　and　into　my　lap。　I　hadn't　dreamed　him　the　way　I　had　dreamed　Dan；　I　was　quite　sure　of　that；　although　my　meeting　with　him　had　already　attained　a　dreamlike　quality　in　my　mind；　as　I　suppose　supernatural　occurrences　always　must。　But　if　my　Dad　thought　that　the　man　had　only　existed　in　my　own　head；　that　might　be　better。　Better　for　him。
　　'It　might　have　been；　I　guess；'　I　said。
　　'Well；　we　ought　to　go　back　and　find　your　rod　and　your　creel。'　He　actually　started　in　that　direction；　and　I　had　to　tug　frantically　at　his　arm　to　stop　him　again；　and　turn　him　back　toward　me。
　　'Later；'　I　said。　'Please；　Dad？　I　want　to　see　Mother。　I've　got　to　see　her　with　my　own　eyes。'
　　He　thought　that　over；　then　nodded。　'Yes；　I　suppose　you　do。　We'll　go　home　first；　and　get　your　rod　and　creel　later。'
　　So　we　walked　back　to　the　farm　together；　my　father　with　his　fish…pole　propped　on　his　shoulder　just　like　one　of　my　friends；　me　carrying　his　creel；　both　of　us　eating　folded…over　slices　of　my　mother's　bread　smeared　with　blackcurrant　jam。
　　'Did　you　catch　anything？'　he　asked　as　we　came　in　sight　of　the　barn。
　　'Yes；　sir；'　I　said。　'A　rainbow。　Pretty　good…sized。'　And　a　brookie　that　was　a　lot　bigger；　I　thought　but　didn't　say。　Biggest　one　I　ever　saw；　to　tell　the　truth；　but　I　don't　have　that　one　to　show　you；　Dad。　I　gave　that　one　to　the　man　in　the　black　suit；　so　he　wouldn't　eat　me。　And　it　worked　。　。　。　but　just　barely。
　　'That's　all？　Nothing　else？'
　　'After　I　caught　it　I　fell　asleep。'　This　was　not　really　an　answer；　but　not　really　a　lie；　either。
　　'Lucky　you　didn't　lose　your　pole。　You　didn't；　did　you；　Gary？'
　　'No；　sir；'　I　said；　very　reluctantly。　Lying　about　that　would　do　no　good　even　if　I'd　been　able　to　think　up　a　whopper…not　if　he　was　set　on　going　back　to　get　my　creel　anyway；　and　I　could　see　by　his　face　that　he　was。
　　Up　ahead；　Candy　Bill　came　racing　out　of　the　back　door；　barking　his　shrill　bark　and　wagging　his　whole　rear　end　back　and　forth　the　way　Scotties　do　when　they're　excited。　I　couldn't　wait　any　longer；　hope　and　anxiety　bubbled　up　in　my　throat　like　foam。　I　broke　away　from　my　father　and　ran　to　the　house；　still　lugging　his　creel　and　still　convinced；　in　my　heart　of　hearts；　that　I　was　going　to　find　my　mother　dead　on　the　kitchen　floor　with　her　face　swelled　and　purple　like　Dan's　had　been　when　my　father　carried　him　in　from　the　west　field；　crying　and　calling　the　name　of　Jesus。
　　But　she　was　stan