srdonaldson.theillearthwar-第4部分

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two　arms　for　that。〃
　Ingenuously；　Covenant　asked；　〃Did　you　have　any　trouble　getting　a　license　to　drive　this　rig？〃
　〃You　kidding？　I　can　handle　this　baby　better　with　my　gut　than　you　can　with　four　arms　and　sober。〃　He　grinned　around　his　cigar；　relishing　his　own　humor。
　The　man's　geniality　touched　Covenant。　Already　he　regretted　his　duplicity。　But　shame　always　made　him　angry；　stubborn…a　leper's　conditioned　reflex。　When　the　truck　was　parked　behind　the　nightclub；　he　pushed　open　the　door　of　the　cab　and　jumped　to　the　ground　as　if　he　were　in　a　hurry　to　get　away　from　his　panion。
　Riding　in　the　darkness；　he　had　forgotten　how　far　off　the　ground　he　was。　An　instant　of　vertigo　caught　him。　He　landed　awkwardly；　almost　fell。　His　feet　felt　nothing；　but　the　jolt　gave　an　added　throb　to　the　ache　of　his　ankles。
　Over　his　moment　of　dizziness；　he　heard　the　driver　say；　〃You　know；　I　figured　you　got　a　head　start　on　the　booze。〃
　To　avoid　meeting　the　man's　stony；　speculative　stare；　Covenant　went　ahead　of　him　around　toward　the　front　of　the　nightclub。
　As　he　rounded　the　corner；　Covenant　nearly　collided　with　a　battered　old　man　wearing　dark　glasses。　The　old　man　stood　with　his　back　to　the　building；　extending　n　bruised　tin　cup　toward　the　passersby；　and　following　their　movements　with　his　ears。　He　held　his　head　high；　but　it　trembled　slightly　on　his　thin　neck；　and　he　was　singing　〃Blessed　Assurance〃　as　if　it　were　a　dirge。　Under　one　arm　he　carried　a　white…tipped　cane。　When　Covenant　veered　away　from　him；　he　waved　his　cup　vaguely　in　that　direction。
　Covenant　was　leery　of　beggars。　He　remembered　the　tattered　fanatic　who　had　accosted　him　like　an　introduction　or　preparation　just　before　the　onset　of　his　delusion。　The　memory　made　him　alert　to　a　sudden　tension　in　the　night。　He　stepped　close　to　the　blind　man　and　peered　into　his　face。
　The　beggar's　song　did　not　change　inflection；　but　he　turned　an　ear　toward　Covenant；　and　poked　his　cup　at　Covenant's　chest。
　The　truck　driver　stopped　behind　Covenant。　〃Hell；〃　he　growled；　〃they're　swarming。　It's　like　a　disease。　e　on。　You　promised　me　a　drink。〃
　1n　the　light　of　the　streetlamp；　Covenant　could　see　that　this　was　not　that　other　beggar；　the　fanatic。　But　still　the　man's　blindness　affected　him。　His　sympathy　for　the　maimed　rushed　up　in　him。　Pulling　his　wallet　out　of　his　jacket；　he　took　twenty　dollars　and　stuffed　them　in　the　tin　cup。
　〃Twenty　bucks！〃　ejaculated　the　driver。　〃Are　you　simple；　or　what？　You　don't　need　no　drink；　buddy。　You　need　a　keeper。〃
　Without　a　break　in　his　song；　the　blind　man　put　out　a　gnarled　hand；　crumpled　the　bills；　and　hid　them　away　somewhere　in　his　rags。　Then　he　turned　and　went　tapping　dispassionately　away　down　the　sidewalk；　secure　in　the　private　mysticism　of　the　blind…singing　as　he　moved　about　〃a　foretaste　of　glory　divine。〃
　Covenant　watched　his　back　fade　into　the　night；　then　swung　around　toward　his　panion。　The　driver　was　a　head　taller　than　Covenant；　and　carried　his　bulk　solidly　on　thick　legs。　His　cigar　gleamed　like　one　of　Drool　Rockworm's　eyes。
　Drool；　Covenant　remembered；　Lord　Foul's　mad；　Cavewightish　servant　or　pawn。　Drool　had　found　the　Staff　of　Law；　and　had　been　destroyed　by　it　or　because　of　it。　His　death　had　released　Covenant　from　the　Land。
　Covenant　poked　a　numb　finger　at　the　trucker's　chest；　trying　vainly　to　touch　him；　taste　his　actuality。　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　serious　about　that　drink。　But　I　should　tell　you〃…he　swallowed；　then　forced　himself　to　say　it　〃I'm　Thomas　Covenant。　That　leper。〃
　The　driver　snorted　around　his　cigar。　〃Sure；　buddy。　And　I'm　Jesus　Christ。　If　you　blew　your　wad；　say　so。　But　don't　give　me　that　leper　crap。　You're　just　simple；　is　all。〃
　Covenant　scowled　up　at　the　man　for　a　moment　longer。　Then　he　said　resolutely；　〃Well；　in　any　case；　I'm　not　broke。　Not　yet。　e　on。〃
　Together；　they　went　on　to　the　entrance　of　the　nightclub。　It　was　called　The　Door。　In　keeping　with　its　name；　the　place　had　a　wide　iron　gate　like　a　portal　into　Hades。　The　gate　was　lit　in　a　sick　green；　but　spotlighted　whitely　at　its　center　was　a　large　poster　which　bore　the　words：
　Positively　the　last　night　America's　newest　singing　sensation　SUSIE　THURSTON
　Included　was　a　photograph　which　tried　to　make　Susie　Thurston　look　alluring。　But　the　flashy　gloss　of　the　print　had　aged　to　an　ambiguous　gray。
　Covenant　gave　himself　a　perfunctory　VSE；　adjured　his　courage；　and　walked　into　the　nightclub；　holding　his　breath　as　if　he　were　entering　the　first　circle　of　hell。
　Inside；　the　club　was　crowded；　Susie　Thurston's　farewell　performance　was　well　attended。　Covenant　and　his　panion　took　the　only　seats　they　could　find…at　a　small　table　near　the　stage。　The　table　was　already　occupied　by　a　middle…aged　man　in　a　tired　suit。　Something　about　the　way　he　held　his　glass　suggested　that　he　had　been　drinking　for　some　time。　When　Covenant　asked　to　join　him；　he　did　not　appear　to　notice。　He　stared　in　the　direction　of　the　stage　with　round　eyes；　looking　as　solemn　as　a　bird。
　The　driver　discounted　him　with　a　brusque　gesture。　He　turned　a　chair　around；　and　straddled　it　as　if　bracing　the　burden　of　his　belly　against　the　chair　back。　Covenant　took　the　remaining　seat　and　tucked　himself　close　to　the　table；　to　reduce　the　risk　of　being　struck　by　anyone　passing　between　the　tables。
　The　unaccustomed　press　of　people　afflicted　him　with　anxiety。　He　sat　still；　huddling　into　himself。　A　fear　of　exposure　beat　on　his　pulse；　and　he　gripped　himself　hard；　breathing　deeply　as　if　resisting　an　attack　of　vertigo；　surrounded　by　people　who　took　no　notice　of　him；　he　felt　vulnerable。　He　was　taking　too　big　a　chance。　But　they　were　people；　superficially　like　himself。　He　repulsed　the　urge　to　flee。　Gradually；　he　realized　that　his　panion　was　waiting　for　him　to　order。
　Feeling　vaguely　ill　and　defenseless；　he　raised　his　arm　and　attracted　the　waiter's　attention。　The　driver　ordered　a　double　Scotch　on　the　rocks。　Apprehension　momentarily　paralyzed　Covenant's　voice；　but　then　he　forced　himself　to　request　a　gin　and　tonic。　He　regretted　the　order　at　once；　gin　and　tonic　had　been　Joan's　drink。　But　he　did　not　change　it。　He　could　hardly　help　sighing　with　relief　when　the　waiter　moved　away。
　Through　the　clutch　of　his　tension；　he　felt　that　the　order　came　with　almost　miraculous　promptitude。　Swirling　around　the　table；　the　waiter　deposited　three　drinks；　including　a　glass　of　something　that　looked　like　raw　alcohol　for　the　middle…aged　man。　Raising　his　glass；　the　driver　downed　half　his　drink；　grimaced；　and　muttered；　〃Sugar　water。〃　The　solemn　man　poured　his　alcohol　past　his　jumping　Adam's　apple　in　one　movement。
　A　part　of　Covenant's　mind　wondered　if　he　were　going　to　end　up　paying　for　all　three　of　them。
　Reluctantly；　he　tasted　his　gin　and　tonic；　and　almost　gagged　in　sudden　anger。　The　lime　in　the　drink　reminded　him　intensely　of　aliantha。　Pathetic！　he　snarled　at　himself。　For　punishment；　he　drank　off　the　rest　of　the　gin；　and　signaled　to　the　waiter　for　more。　Abruptly　he　determined　to　get　drunk。
　When　the　second　round　came；　the　waiter　again　brought　three　drinks。　Covenant　looked　stiffly　at　his　panions。　Then　the　three　of　them　drank　as　if　they　had　tacitly　engaged　each　other　in　a　contest。
　Wiping　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　the　driver　leaned　forward　and　said；　〃Buddy；　I　got　to　warn　you。　It's　your　dough。　I　can　drink　you　under　the　table。〃
　To　give　the　third　man　an　opening；　Covenant　replied；　〃I　think　our　friend　here　is　going　to　last　longer　than　both　of　us。〃
　〃What；　a　little　guy　like　him？〃　There　was　humor　in　the　trucker's　tone；　an　offer　of　radeship。　〃No　way。　No　way　at　all。〃
　But　the　solemn　man　did　not　recognize　the　driver's　existence　with　even　a　flick　of　his　eyes。　He　kept　staring　into　the　stage　as　if　it　were　an　abyss。
　For　a　while；　his　gloom　presided　over　the　table。　Covenant　ordered　again；　and　a　few　minutes　later　the　waiter　brought　out　a　third　round…three　more　drinks。　This　time；　the　trucker　stopped　him。　1n　a　jocose　way　as　if　he　were　assuming　responsibility　for　Covenant；　he　jerked　his　thumb　at　the　middle…aged　man　and　said；　〃I　hope　you　know　we　ain't　payin'　for　him。〃
　〃Sure。〃　The　waiter　was　bored。　〃He　has　a　standing　order。　Pays　in　advance。〃　Disdain　seemed　to　tighten　his　face；　pulling　it　together　like　the　closing　of　a　fist　around　his　nose。　〃es　here　every　night　just　to　watch　her　and　drink　himself　blind。〃　Then　someone　else　signaled　to　him；　and　he　was　gone。
　For　a　moment；　the　third　man　said　nothing。　Slowly；　the　houselights　went　down；　and　an　expectant　hush　dropped　like　a　shroud　over　the　packed　club。　Then　into　the　silence　the　man　croaked　quietly；　〃My　wife。〃
　A　spotlight　centered　on　the　stage；　and　the　club　MC　came　out　of　the　wings。　Behind　him；　musicians　took　their　places…a　small　bo；　casually　dressed。
　The　MC　flashed　out　a　smile；　started　his　spiel。　〃It　makes　me　personally　sad　to　introduce　our　little　lady　tonight；　because　this　is　the　last　time　she'll　be　with　us　for　a　while；　at　least。　She's　going　on　from　here　to　the　places　where　famous　people　get　famouser。　We　at　The　Door　won't　soon　forget　her。　Remember；　you　heard　her　here　first。　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　Miss　Susie　Thurston！〃
　The　spotlight　picked　up　the　singer　as　she　came　out；　carrying　a　hand　microphone。　She　wore　a　leather　outfit　…a　skirt　that　left　most　of　her　legs　bare　and　a　sleeveless　vest　with　a　fringe　across　her　breasts；　emphasizing　their　movemen