sk.cujo-第44章

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He　lunged　forward；　her　hands　slipped；　and　suddenly　he　was　biting　her；　biting　her　bare　stomach　just　below　the　white　cotton　cups　of　her　bra；　digging　for　her　entrails　
Donna　uttered　a　low；　feral　cry　of　pain　and　shoved　with　both　hands　as　hard　as　she　could。　Now　she　was　sitting　up　again；　blood　trickling　down　to　the　waistband　of　her　pants。　She　held　Cujo　with　her　left　hand。　Her　right　hand　groped　for　the　Pinto's　doorhandle　and　found　it。　She　began　to　slam　the　door　against　the　dog。　Each　time　she　swept　it　forward　into　Cujo's　ribs；　there　was　a　heavy　whopping　sound；　like　a　heavy　rug　beater　striking　a　carpet　hung　over　a　clothesline。　Each　time　the　door　hit　him；　Cujo　would　grunt；　snorting　his　warm；　foggy　breath　over　her。
He　drew　back　a　little　to　spring。　She　timed　it　and　brought　the　door　toward　her　again；　using　all　of　her　failing　strength。　This　time　the　door　closed　on　his　neck　and　head；　and　she　heard　a　crunching　sound。　Cujo　howled　his　pain　and　she　thought；　He　must　draw　back　now；　he　must；　he　MUST；　but　Cujo　drove　forward　instead　and　his　jaws　closed　on　her　lower　thigh；　just　above　her　knee；　and　with　one　quick　ripping　motion　he　pulled　a　chunk　out　of　her。　Donna　shrieked。
She　slammed　the　door　on　Cujo's　head　again　and　again；　her　screams　melting　into　Tad's；　melting　into　a　gray　shockworld　as　Cujo　worked　on　her　leg；　turning　it　into　something　else；　something　that　was　red　and　muddy　and　churned　up。　The　dog's　head　was　plastered　with　thick；　sticky　blood；　as　black　as　insect　blood　in　the　chancey　starlight。　Little　by　little　he　was　forcing　his　way　in　again；　her　strength　was　on　the　ebb　now。
She　pulled　the　door　to　one　final　time；　her　head　thrown　back；　her　mouth　drawn　open　in　a　quivering　circle；　her　face　a　livid；　moving　blur　in　the　darkness。　It　really　was　the　last　time；　there　was　just　no　more　left。
But　suddenly　Cujo　had　had　enough。
He　drew　back；　whining；　staggered　away；　and　suddenly　fell　over　on　the　gravel；　trembling；　legs　scratching　weakly　at　nothing。　He　began　to　dig　at　his　wounded　head　with　his　right　forepaw。
Donna　slammed　the　door　shut　and　lay　back；　sobbing　weakly。
'Mommy　…　Mommy　…　Mommy
'Tad　。。。　okay　。　。
'Mommy！'
'　。。。　Okay。
Hands：　his　on　her；　fluttering　and　birdlike；　hers　on　Tad's　face；　touching；　trying　to　reassure；　then　falling　back。
'Mommy　。。。　home。。　。　please　。。。　Daddy　and　home　。。。　Daddy　and　home。。。'
'Sure；　Tad　we　will　。。。　we　will；　honest　to　God；　I'll　get　you　there　。。。　we　will　。　。　。'
No　sense　in　the　words。　It　was　all　right。　She　could　feel　herself　fading　back；　fading　into　that　gray　shockworld；　those　mists　in　herself　which　she　had　never　suspected　until　now。　Tad's　words　took　on　a　deep　chaining　sound；　words　in　an　echo　chamber。　But　it　was　all　right。　It　was　
No。　It　wasn't　all　right。
Because　the　dog　had　bitten　her　
…　and　the　dog　was　rabid。
Holly　told　her　sister　not　to　he　foolish；　to　just　dial　her　call　direct；　but　Charity　insisted　on　calling　the　operator　and　having　it　billed　to　her　home　number。　Taking　handouts；　even　a　little　thing　like　an　after…six　long…distance　call；　wasn't　her　way。
The　operator　got　her　directory　assistance　for　Maine　and　Charity　asked　for　Alva　Thornton's　number　in　Castle　Rock。　A　few　moments　later；　Alva's　phone　was　ringing。
'Hello；　Thornton's　Egg　Farms。
'Hi；　Bessie？'
'Ayuh；　'tis。'
'This　is　Charity　Camber。　I'm　calling　from　Connecticut。　Is　Alva　right　around　handy？'
Brett　sat　on　the　sofa；　pretending　to　read　a　book。
'Gee；　Charity；　he　ain't。　He's　got　his　bowling　league　t'night。　They're　all　over　to　the　Pondicherry　Lanes　in　Bridgton。　Somethin　wrong？'
Charity　had　carefully　and　consciously　decided　what　she　was　going　to　say。　The　situation　was　a　bit　delicate。　Like　almost　every　other　married　woman　in　Castle　Rock　（and　that　was　not　to　necessarily　let　out　the　single　ones）；　Bessie　loved　to　talk；　and　if　she　found　out　that　Joe　Camber　had　gone　shooting　off　somewhere　without　his　wife's　knowledge　as　soon　as　Charity　and　Brett　had　left　to　visit　her　sister　in　Connecticut。。。　why；　that　would　be　something　to　talk　about　on　the　party　line；　wouldn't　it？
'No；　except　that　Brett　and　I　got　a　little　worried　about　the　dog。'
'Your　Saint　Bernard？'
'Ayuh；　Cujo。　Brett　and　I　are　down　here　visiting　my　sister　while　Joe's　in　Portsmouth　on　business。　'This　was　a　barefaced　be；　but　a　safe　one；　Joe　did　occasionally　go　to　Portsmouth　to　buy　parts　（there　was　no　sales　tax）　and　to　the　car　auctions。　'I　just　wanted　to　make　sure　he　got　someone　to　feed　the　dog。　You　know　how　men　are。'
'Well；　Joe　was　over　here　yesterday　or　the　day　before；　I　think；'　Bessie　said　doubtfully。　Actually；　it　had　been　the　previous　Thursday。　Bessie　Thornton　was　not　a　terribly　bright　woman　（her　great…aunt；　the　late　Evvie　Chalmers；　had　been　fond　of　screaming　to　anyone　who　would　listen　that　Bessie　'wouldn't　never　pass　none　of　those　IQ　tests；　but　she's　goodhearted'）；　her　life　on　Alva's　chicken　farm　was　a　hard　one；　and　she　lived　most　fully　during　her　'stories'…　As　the　World　Turns；　The　Doctors；　and　All　My　Children　（she　had　tried　The　Young　and　the　Restless　but　considered　it　'too　racy　by　half'）。　She　tended　to　be　fuzzy　on　those　parts　of　the　real　world　that　did　not　bear　on　feeding　and　watering　the　chickens；　adjusting　their　piped…in　music；　candling　and　sorting　eggs；　washing　floors　and　clothes；　doing　dishes；　selling　eggs；　tending　the　garden。　And　in　the　winter；　of　course；　she　could　have　told　a　questioner　the　exact　date　of　the　next　meeting　of　the　Castle　Rock　SnoDevils；　the　snowmobile　club　she　and　Alva　belonged　to。
Joe　had　e　over　on　that　day　with　a　tractor　tire　he　had　repaired　for　Alva。　Joe　had　done　the　job　free　of　charge　since　the　Cambers　got　all　their　eggs　from　the　Thorntons　at　half　price。　Alva　also　harrowed　Joe's　small　patch　of　garden　each　April；　and　so　Joe　was　glad　to　patch　the　tire。　It　was　the　way　country　people　got　along。
Charity　knew　perfectly　well　that　Joe　had　gone　over　to　the　Thorntons'　with　the　repaired　tire　the　previous　Thursday。　She　also　knew　that　Bessie　was　apt　to　get　her　days　mixed　up。　All　of　which　left　her　in　a　pretty　dilemma。　She　could　ask　Bessie　if　Joe　had　had　a　tractor　tire　with　him　when　he　came　up　'yesterday　or　the　day　before；'　and　if　Bessie　said　why　yes；　now　that　you　mention　it；　he　did；　that　would　mean　that　Joe　hadn't　been　up　to　see　Alva　since　last　Thursday；　which　would　mean　that　Joe　hadn't　asked　Alva　to　feed　Cujo；　which　would　also　mean　that　Alva　wouldn't　have　any　information　about　Cujo's　health　and　well…being。
Or　she　could　just　leave　well　enough　alone　and　ease　Brett's　mind。　They　could　enjoy　the　rest　of　their　visit　without　thoughts　of　home　intruding　constantly。　And　。。。　well；　she　was　a　little　jealous　of　Cujo　right　about　now。　Tell　the　truth　and　shame　the　devil。　Cujo　was　distracting　Brett's　attention　from　what　could　be　the　most　important　trip　he　ever　took。　She　wanted　the　boy　to　see　a　whole　new　life；　a　whole　new　set　of　possibilities；　so　that　when　the　time　came；　a　few　years　from　now；　for　him　to　decide　which　doors　he　wanted　to　step　through　and　which　ones　he　would　allow　to　swing　closed；　he　could　make　those　decisions　with　a　bit　of　perspective。　Perhaps　she　had　been　wrong　to　believe　she　could　steer　him；　but　let　him　at　least　have　enough　experience　to　make　up　his　mind　for　himself。
Was　it　fair　to　let　his　worries　about　the　damned　dog　stand　in　the　way　of　that？
；Charity？　You　there？　I　said　I　thought
'Ayuh；　I　heard　you；　Bessie。　He　probably　did　ask　Alva　to　feed　him；　then。'
'Well；　I'll　ask　him　when　he　gets　home；　Charity。　And　I'll　let　you　know；　too。'
'You　do　that。　Thanks　ever　so　much；　Bessie。'
'Don't　even　mention　it。'
'Fine。　Good…bye。'　And　Charity　hung　up；　realizing　that　Bessie　had　forgotten　to　ask　for　Jim　and　Holly's　phone　number。　Which　was　fine。　She　turned　toward　Brett；　posing　her　face。　She　would　say　nothing　that　was　a　lie。　She　would　lie　to　her　son。
'Bessie　said　your　dad　was　over　to　see　Alva　Sunday　night；'　Charity　said。　'Must　have　asked　him　to　take　care　of　Cujo　then。'
'Oh。'　Brett　was　looking　at　her　in　a　speculative　way　that　made　her　a　little　uneasy。　'But　you　didn't　talk　to　Alva　himself。'
'No；　he　was　out　bowling。　But　Bessie　said　she'd　let　us　know　if　…'
She　doesn't　have　our　number　down　here。'　Was　Brett's　tone　now　faintly　accusatory？　Or　was　that　her　own　conscience　talking？
'Well；　I'll　call　her　back　in　the　morning；　then；'　Charity　said；　hoping　to　close　the　conversation　and　applying　some　salve　to　her　conscience　at　the　same　time。
'Daddy　took　a　tractor　tire　over　last　week；'　Brett　said　thoughtfully。　'Maybe　Mrs。　Thornton　got　mixed　up　on　which　day　Daddy　was　there。'
'I　think　Bessie　Thornton　can　keep　her　days　straighter　in　her　head　than　that；'　Charity　said；　not　thinking　so　at　all。　'Besides；　she　didn't　mention　anything　to　me　about　a　tractor　tire。'
'Yeah；　but　you　didn't　ask　her。'
'Go　ahead　and　call　her　back；　then！'　Charity　flashed　at　him。　A　sudden　helpless　fury　swept　her；　the　same　ugly　feeling　that　had　e　when　Brett　had　offered　his　wickedly　exact　observation　about　Holly　and　her　deck　of　credit　cards。　When　he　had　done　that　his　father's　intonation；　even　his　father's　pattern　of　speech；　had　crept　into　his　voice；　and　it　had　seemed　to　her；　then　and　now；　that　the　only　thing　this　trip　was　doing　was　to　show　her　once　and　for　all　who　Brett　really　belonged　to　…lock；　stock；　and　barrel。
'Mom　'
'No；　go　ahead；　call　her　back；　the　number's　right　here　on　the　scratchpad。　just　tell　the　operator　to　charge　it　to　our　phone　so　it　won't　go　on　Holly's　bill。　Ask　Bessie　all　your　questions。　I　only　did　the　best　I　could。'
There；　she　thought　with　sad　and　bitter　amusement。　just　five　minutes　ago　I　wasn't　going　to　lie　to　him。
That　afternoon　her　anger　had　sparked　anger　in　him。　Tonight　he　only　said　quietly；　'Naw；　that's　okay。'
'If　you　want；　we'll　call　somebody　else　and　have　them　go　up　and　check；'　Charity　said。　She　was　already　sorry　for　her　outburst。
'Who　would　we　call？'　Brett　asked。
'Well；　what　about　one　of　the　Milliken　brothers？'
Brett　only　looked　at　her。
'Maybe　that's　not　such　a　good　idea；'　Charity　agreed。　Late　last　winter；　Joe　Camber　and　john　Milliken　had　had　a　bitter　argument　over　the　charge　on　some　repair　work　Joe　had　done　on　the　Milliken　brothers'　old　Chevy　Bel　Air。　Since　then；　the　Cambers　and　the　Millikens　hadn't　been　talking　much。　The　last　time　Charity　had　gone　to　play　Beano　down　at　the　Grange；　she　had　tried　to　pass　a　friendly　word　with　Kim　Milliken；　Freddy's　daughter；　but　Kim　wouldn't　say　a　word　to　her；　just　walked　away　with　her　head　up　as　if　she　hadn't　been　acting　the　slut　with　half　the　boys　in　Castle　Rock　High　School。
It　occurred　to　her　now　how　really　isolated　they　were；　up　at　the　end　of　Town　Road　No。3。　It　made　her　feel　lonely　and　a　little　chilled。　She　could　think　of　no　one　she　could　reasonably　ask　to　go　up　to　their　place　with　a　flashlight　and　hunt　up　Cujo　and　make　sure　he　was　okay。
Never　mind；'　Brett　said　listlessly。　'Probably　stupid；　anyway。　He　probably　just　ate　some　burdocks　or　something。'
'Listen；'　Charity　said；　putting　an　arm　around　him。　'One　thing　you　aren't　is　stupid；　Brett。　I'll　call　Alva　himself　in　the　morning　and　ask　him　to　go　up。　I'll　do　it　as　soon　as　we　get　up。　Okay？'
'Would　you；　Mom？'
'Yes。'
'That'd　be　great。　I'm　sorry　to　bug　you　about　it；　but　I　can't　seem　to　get　it　off　my　mind。
Jim　popped　his　head　in。　'I　got　out　the　Scrabble　board。　Anyone　want　to　play？'
'I　will；'　Brett　said；　getting　up；　'if　you　show　me　how。'
'What　about　you；　Charity？'
Charity　smiled。　'Not　just　now；　I　guess。　I'll　bein　for　some　of　the　popcorn。'
Brett　went　out　with