sk.thegunslinger-第5部分

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in；　although　someone　had　closed　his　eyes　and　put　slugs　on　them。　His　hands　had　been　folded　on　his　chest　with　a　sprig　of　devil…grass　in　them。　He　smelled　like　poison。
The　man　in　black　pushed　back　his　hood　and　came　to　the　bar。　Alice　watched　him；　feeling　trepidation　mixed　with　the　familiar　want　that　hid　within　her。　There　was　no　religious　symbol　on　him；　although　that　meant　nothing　by　itself。
〃Whiskey；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　soft　and　pleasant。　〃Good　whiskey。〃
She　reached　under　the　counter　and　brought　out　a　bottle　of　Star。　She　could　have　palmed　off　the　local　popskull　on　him　as　her　best；　but　did　not。　She　poured；　and　the　man　in　black　watched　her。　His　eyes　were　large；　luminous。　The　shadows　were　too　thick　to　determine　their　color　exactly。　Her　need　intensified。　The　hollering　and　whooping　went　on　behind；　unabated。　Sheb；　the　worthless　gelding；　was　playing　about　the　Christian　Soldiers　and　somebody　had　persuaded　Aunt　Mill　to　sing。　Her　voice；　warped　and　distorted；　cut　through　the　babble　like　a　dull　ax　through　a　calf's　brain。
〃Hey；　Allie！〃
She　went　to　serve；　resentful　of　the　stranger's　silence；　resentful　of　his　no…color　eyes　and　her　own　restless　groin。　She　was　afraid　of　her　needs。　They　were　capricious　and　beyond　her　control。　They　might　be　the　signal　of　the　change；　which　would　in　turn　signal　the　beginning　of　her　old　age　a　condition　which　in　Tull　was　usually　as　short　and　bitter　as　a　winter　sunset。
She　drew　beer　until　the　keg　was　empty；　then　broached　another。　She　knew　better　than　to　ask　Sheb；　he　would　e　willingly　enough；　like　the　dog　he　was；　and　would　either　chop　off　his　own　fingers　or　spume　beer　all　over　everything。　The　stranger's　eyes　were　on　her　as　she　went　about　it；　she　could　feel　them。
〃It's　busy；〃　he　said　when　she　returned。　He　had　not　touched　his　drink；　merely　rolled　it　between　his　palms　to　warm　it。
〃Wake；〃　she　said。
〃I　noticed　the　departed。〃
〃They're　bums；〃　she　said　with　sudden　hatred。　〃All　bums。〃
〃It　excites　them。　He's　dead。　They're　not。〃
〃He　was　their　butt　when　he　was　alive。　It's　not　right　that　he　should　be　their　butt　now。　It's。。。　〃She　trailed　off；　not　able　to　express　what　it　was；　or　how　it　was　obscene。
〃Weed…eater？〃
〃Yes！　What　else　did　he　have？〃
Her　tone　was　accusing；　but　he　did　not　drop　his　eyes；　and　she　felt　the　blood　rush　to　her　face。　〃I'm　sorry。　Are　you　a　priest？　This　must　revolt　you。〃
〃I'm　not　and　it　doesn't。〃　He　knocked　the　whiskey　back　neatly　and　did　not　grimace。　〃Once　more；　please。〃
〃I'll　have　to　see　the　color　of　your　coin　first。　I'm　sorry。〃
〃No　need　to　be。〃
He　put　a　rough　silver　coin　on　the　counter；　thick　on　one　edge；　thin　on　the　other；　and　she　said　as　she　would　say　later：
〃I　don't　have　change　for　this。〃
He　shook　his　head；　dismissing　it；　and　watched　absently　as　he　poured　again。
〃Are　you　only　passing　through？〃　she　asked。
He　did　not　reply　for　a　long　time；　and　she　was　about　to　repeat　when　he　shook　his　head　impatiently。　〃Don't　talk　trivialities。　You're　here　with　death。〃
She　recoiled；　hurt　and　amazed；　her　first　thought　being　that　he　had　lied　about　his　holiness　to　test　her。
〃You　cared　for　him；〃　he　said　flatly。　〃Isn't　that　true？〃
〃Who？　Nort？〃　She　laughed；　affecting　annoyance　to　cover　her　confusion。　〃I　think　you　better　　〃
〃You're　soft…hearted　and　a　little　afraid；〃　he　went　on；　〃and　he　was　on　the　weed；　looking　out　hell's　back　door。　And　there　he　is；　and　they've　even　slammed　the　door　now；　and　you　don't　think　they'll　open　it　until　it's　time　for　you　to　walk　through；　isn't　it　so？〃
〃What　are　you；　drunk？〃
〃Mistuh　Norton；　he　dead；〃　the　man　in　black　intoned　sardonically。　〃Dead　as　anybody。　Dead　as　you　or　anybody。〃
〃Get　out　of　my　place。〃　She　felt　a　trembling　loathing　spring　up　in　her；　but　the　warmth　still　radiated　from　her　belly。
〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said　softly。　〃It's　all　right。　Wait。　Just　wait。〃
The　eyes　were　blue。　She　felt　suddenly　easy　in　her　mind；　as　if　she　had　taken　a　drug。
〃See？〃　he　asked　her。　〃Do　you　see？〃
She　nodded　dumbly　and　he　laughed　aloud　　a　fine；　strong；　untainted　laugh　that　swung　heads　around。　He　whirled　and　faced　them；　suddenly　made　the　center　of　attention　by　some　unknown　alchemy。　Aunt　Mill　faltered　and　subsided；　leaving　a　cracked　high　note　bleeding　on　the　air。　Sheb　struck　a　discord　and　halted。　They　looked　at　the　stranger　uneasily。　Sand　rattled　against　the　sides　of　the　building。
The　silence　held；　spun　itself　out。　Her　breath　had　clogged　in　her　throat　and　she　looked　down　and　saw　both　hands　pressed　to　her　belly　beneath　the　bar。　They　all　looked　at　him　and　he　looked　at　them。　Then　the　laugh　burst　forth　again；　strong；　rich；　beyond　denial。　But　there　was　no　urge　to　laugh　along　with　him。
〃I'll　show　you　a　wonder！〃　he　cried　at　them。　But　they　only　watched　him；　like　obedient　children　taken　to　see　a　magician　in　whom　they　have　grown　too　old　to　believe。
The　man　in　black　sprang　forward；　and　Aunt　Mill　drew　away　from　him。　He　grinned　fiercely　and　slapped　her　broad　belly。　A　short；　unwitting　cackle　was　forced　out　of　her；　and　the　man　in　black　threw　back　his　head。
〃It's　better；　isn't　it？〃
Aunt　Mill　cackled　again；　suddenly　broke　into　sobs；　and　fled　blindly　through　the　doors。　The　others　watched　her　go　silently。　The　storm　was　beginning；　shadows　followed　each　other；　rising　and　falling　on　the　white　cyclorama　of　the　sky。　A　man　near　the　piano　with　a　forgotten　beer　in　one　hand　made　a　groaning；　grinning　sound。
The　man　in　black　stood　over　Nort；　grinning　down　at　him。　The　wind　howled　and　shrieked　and　thrummed。　Something　large　struck　the　side　of　the　building　and　bounced　away。　One　of　the　men　at　the　bar　tore　himself　free　and　exited　in　looping；　grotesque　strides。　Thunder　racketed　in　sudden　dry　vollies。
〃All　right；〃　the　man　in　black　grinned。　〃All　right；　let's　get　down　to　it。〃
He　began　to　spit　into　Nort's　face；　aiming　carefully。　The　spittle　gleamed　on　his　forehead；　pearled　down　the　shaven　beak　of　his　nose。
Under　the　bar；　her　hands　worked　faster。
Sheb　laughed；　loon…like；　and　hunched　over。　He　began　to　cough　up　phlegm；　huge　and　sticky　gobs　of　it；　and　let　fly。　The　man　in　black　roared　approval　and　pounded　him　on　the　back。　Sheb　grinned；　one　gold　tooth　twinkling。
Some　fled。　Others　gathered　in　a　loose　ring　around　Nort。　His　face　and　the　dewlapped　rooster…wrinkles　of　his　neck　and　upper　chest　gleamed　with　liquid　　liquid　so　precious　in　this　dry　country。　And　suddenly　it　stopped；　as　if　on　signal。　There　was　ragged；　heavy　breathing。
The　man　in　black　suddenly　lunged　across　the　body；　jackknifing　over　it　in　a　smooth　arc。　It　was　pretty；　like　a　flash　of　water。　He　caught　himself　on　his　hands；　sprang　to　his　feet　in　a　twist；　grinning；　and　went　over　again。　One　of　the　watchers　forgot　himself；　began　to　applaud；　and　suddenly　backed　away；　eyes　cloudy　with　terror。　He　slobbered　a　hand　across　his　mouth　and　made　for　the　door。
Nort　twitched　the　third　time　the　man　in　black　went　across。
A　sound　went　through　the　watchers　　a　grunt　　and　then　they　were　silent。　The　man　in　black　threw　his　head　back　and　howled。　His　chest　moved　in　a　quick；　shallow　rhythm　as　he　sucked　air。　He　began　to　go　back　and　forth　at　a　faster　clip；　pouring　over　Nort's　body　like　water　poured　from　one　glass　to　another　glass。　The　only　sound　in　the　room　was　the　tearing　rasp　of　his　respiration　and　the　rising　pulse　of　the　storm。
Nort　drew　a　deep；　dry　breath。　His　hands　rattled　and　pounded　aimlessly　on　the　table。　Sheb　screeched　and　exited。　One　of　the　women　followed　him。
The　man　in　black　went　across　once　more；　twice；　thrice。　The　whole　body　was　vibrating　now；　trembling　and　rapping　and　twitching。　The　smell　of　rot　and　excrement　and　decay　billowed　up　in　choking　waves。　His　eyes　opened。
Alice　felt　her　feet　propelling　her　backward。　She　struck　the　mirror；　making　it　shiver；　and　blind　panic　took　over。　She　bolted　like　a　steer。
〃I've　given　into　you；〃　the　man　in　black　called　after　her；　panting。　〃Now　you　can　sleep　easy。　Even　that　isn't　irreversible。　Although　it's。。。　so。。。　goddamned。。。funny！〃　And　he　began　to　laugh　again；　The　sound　faded　as　she　raced　up　the　stairs；　not　stopping　until　the　door　to　the　three　rooms　above　the　bar　was　bolted。
She　began　to　giggle　then；　rocking　back　and　forth　on　her　haunches　by　the　door。　The　sound　rose　to　a　keening　wail　that　mixed　with　the　wind。
Downstairs；　Nort　wandered　absently　out　into　the　storm　to　pull　some　weed。　The　man　in　black；　now　the　only　patron　of　the　bar；　watched　him　go；　still　grinning。
When　she　forced　herself　to　go　back　down　that　evening；　carrying　a　lamp　in　one　hand　and　a　heavy　stick　of　stove…wood　in　the　other；　the　man　in　black　was　gone；　rig　and　all。　But　Nort　was　there；　sitting　at　the　table　by　the　door　as　if　he　had　never　been　away。　The　smell　of　the　weed　was　on　him；　but　not　as　heavily　as　she　might　have　expected。
He　looked　up　at　her　and　smiled　tentatively。　〃Hello；　Allie。〃
〃Hello；　Nort。〃　She　put　the　stove　wood　down　and　began　lighting　the　lamps；　not　turning　her　back　to　him。
〃I　been　touched　by　God；〃　he　said　presently。　〃I　ain't　going　to　die　no　more。　He　said　so。　It　was　a　promise。〃
〃How　nice　for　you；　Nort。〃　The　spill　she　was　holding　dropped　through　her　trembling　fingers　and　she　picked　it　up。
〃I'd　like　to　stop　chewing　the　grass；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　enjoy　it　no　more。　It　don't　seem　right　for　a　man　touched　by　God　to　be　chewing　the　weed。〃
〃Then　why　don't　you　stop？〃
Her　exasperation　startled　her　into　looking　at　him　as　a　man　again；　rather　than　an　infernal　miracle。　What　she　saw　was　a　rather　sad…looking