dk.coldfire-第56章

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　to　the　truth。　
　The　cafe　and　soda　fountain　were　to　the　left；　and　through　the　archway　Jim　saw　a　few　people　at　breakfast。　Immediately　inside　the　door　was　the　small　newsstand；　where　morning　papers　were　stacked　high；　mostly　the　Santa　Barbara　daily；　there　were　also　magazines；　and　to　one　side　a　revolving　wire　rack　filled　with　paperback　books。　
　〃I　used　to　buy　paperbacks　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　loved　books　even　back　then　couldn't　get　enough　of　them。〃　
　The　pharmacy　was　through　another　archway　to　the　right。　It　resembled　any　modern　American　pharmacy　in　that　it　stocked　more　cosmetics；　beauty　aids；　and　hair…care　products　than　patent　medicines。　
　Otherwise；　it　was　pleasantly　quaint：　wood　shelves　instead　of　metal　or　fiberboard；　polished　granite　counters；　an　appealing　aroma　posed　of　Bayberry　candles；　nickle　candy；　cigar…tobacco　efiluvium　filtering　from　the　humidified　case　in　behind　the　cash　register；　faint　traces　of　ethyl　alcohol；　and　sundry　pharmaceuticals。　
　Though　the　hour　was　early；　the　pharmacist　was　on　duty；　serving　as　his　own　checkout　clerk。　It　was　Corbett　Handahl　himself；　a　heavy　wide…shouldered；　man　with　a　white　mustache　and　white　hair；　wearing　a　crisp　blue　starched。　shirt　under　his　starched　white　lab　jacket。　
　He　looked　up　and　said；　〃Jim　Ironheart；　bless　my　soul。　How　long's　it　been…at　least　three；　four　years？〃　They　shook　hands。　
　dead…　〃Four　years　and　four　months；〃　Jim　said。　He　almost　added；　since　grandpa　died；　but　checked　himself　without　quite　knowing　why。　
　Spritzing　the　granite　prescription…service　counter　with　Windex；　Corbett　Handahl　wiped　it　with　paper　towels。　He　smiled　at　Holly。　
　〃And　whoever　you　are；　I　am　eternally　grateful　to　you　for　bringing　beauty　into　this　gray　morning。〃　
　Corbett　was　the　perfect　smalltown　pharmacist：　just　jovial　enough　to　seem　like　ordinary　folks　in　spite　of　being　placed　in　the　town's　upper　social　class　by　virtue　of　his　occupation；　enough　of　a　tease　to　be　something　of　a　local　character；　but　with　an　unmistakable　air　of　petence　and　probity　that　made　you　feel　the　medicines　he　pounded　would　always　be　safe。　
　Townfolk　stopped　in　just　to　say　hello；　not　only　when　they　needed　something；　and　his　genuine　interest　in　people　served　his　merce。　He　had　been　working　at　the　pharmacy　for　thirty…three　years　and　had　been　the　owner　since　his　father's　death　twenty…seven　years　ago。　
　Handahl　was　the　least　threatening　of　men；　yet　Jim　suddenly　felt　threatened　by　him。　He　wanted　to　get　out　of　the　pharmacy　before。　。　。　
　Before　what？　Before　Handahl　said　the　wrong　thing；　revealed　too　much。　
　But　what　could　he　reveal？　〃I'm　Jim's　fiancee；〃　Holly　said；　somewhat　to　Jim's　surprise。　
　〃Congratulations；　Jim；〃　Handahl　said。　〃You're　a　lucky　man。　Young　lady；　I　just　hope　you　know；　the　family　changed　its　name　from　Ironhead；　which　was　more　descriptive。　Stubborn　group。〃　He　winked　and　laughed。　
　Holly　said；　〃Jim's　taking　me　around　town；　showing　me　favorite　places　Sentimental　journey；　I　suppose　you'd　call　it。〃　
　Frowning　at　Jim；　Handahl　said；　〃Didn't　think　you　ever　liked　this　town　well　enough　to　feel　sentimental　about　it。〃　
　Jim　shrugged。　〃Attitudes　change。〃　
　〃Glad　to　hear　it。〃　Handahl　turned　to　Holly　again。　〃He　started　ing　in　here　soon　after　he　moved　in　with　his　grandfolks；　every　Tuesday　and　Friday　when　new　books　and　magazines　arrived　from　the　distributor　in　Santa　Barbara。〃　He　had　put　aside　the　Windex。　He　was　arranging　counter　displays　of　chewing　gum；　breath　mints；　disposable　lighters；　and　pocket　bs。　〃Jim　was　a　real　reader　then。　You　still　a　real　reader？〃　〃Still　am；〃　Jim　said　with　growing　uneasiness；　terrified　of　what　Handahl　might　say　next。　Yet　for　the　life　of　him；　he　did　not　know　what　the　man　could　say　that　would　matter　so　much。　
　〃Your　tastes　were　kinda　narrow；　I　remember。〃　To　Holly：　〃Used　to　spend　his　allowance　buying　most　every　science　fiction　or　spook…'em　paperback　that　came　in　the　door。　Course；　in　those　days；　a　two…dollar…a…week　allowance　went　pretty　far；　if　you　remember　that　a　book　was　about　forty…five　or　fifty　cents。〃　
　Claustrophobia　settled　over　Jim；　thick　as　a　heavy　shroud。　The　pharmacy　began　to　seem　frighteningly　small；　crowded　with　merchandise；　and　he　wanted　to　get　out　of　there。　
　It's　ing；　he　thought；　with　a　sudden　quickening　of　anxiety。　It's　ing。　
　Handahl　said；　〃I　suppose　maybe　he　got　his　interest　in　weird　fiction　from　his　mom　and　dad。〃　
　Frowning；　Holly　said；　〃How's　that？〃　〃I　didn't　know　Jamie；　Jim's　dad；　all　that　well；　but　I　was　only　one　year　behind　him　at　county　high　school。　No　offense；　Jim；　but　your　dad　had　some　exotic　interests…though　the　way　the　world's　changed；　they　probably　wouldn't　seem　as　exotic　now　as　back　in　the　early　fifties。〃　
　〃Exotic　interests？〃　Holly　prodded。　
　Jim　looked　around　the　pharmacy；　wondering　where　it　would　e　from；　which　route　of　escape　might　be　blocked　and　which　might　remain　open。　He　was　swinging　between　tentative　acceptance　of　Holly's　theory　and　rejection　of　it；　and　right　now；　he　was　sure　she　had　to　be　wrong。　It　wasn't　a　force　inside　him。　It　was　entirely　a　separate　being；　just　as　The　Friend　was。　It　was　an　evil　alien；　just　as　The　Friend　was　good；　and　it　could　go　anywhere；　e　out　of　anything；　at　any　second；　and　it　was　ing；　he　knew　it　was　ing；　it　wanted　to　kill　them　all。　
　〃Well；〃　Handahl　said；　〃when　he　was　a　kid；　Jamie　used　to　e　in　here　…it　was　my　dad's　store　then…and　buy　those　old　pulp　magazines　with　robots；　monsters；　and　scanty…clad　women　on　the　covers。　He　used　to　talk　a　lot　about　how　we'd　put　men　on　the　moon　someday；　and　everyone　thought　he　was　a　little　strange　for　that；　but　I　guess　he　was　right　after　all。　
　Didn't　surprise　me　when　I　heard　he'd　given　up　being　an　accountant；　found　a　showhiz　wife；　and　was　making　his　living　doing　a　mentalist　act。〃　
　〃Mentalist　act？〃　Holly　said；　glancing　at　Jim。　〃I　thought　your　dad　was　an　accountant；　your　mom　was　an　actress。〃　
　〃They　were；〃　he　said　thinly。　〃That's　what　they　were…before　they　put　together　the　act。〃　
　He　had　almost　forgotten　about　the　act；　which　surprised　him。　How　could　he　have　forgotten　the　act？　He　had　all　the　photographs　from　the　tours；　so　many　of　them　on　his　walls；　he　looked　at　them　everyday；　yet　he'd　pretty　much　forgotten　that　they　had　been　taken　during　travels　between　performances。　
　It　was　ing　very　fast　now。　
　Close。　It　was　very　close。　
　He　wanted　to　warn　Holly。　He　couldn't　speak。　
　Something　seemed　to　have　stolen　his　tongue；　locked　his　jaws。　
　It　was　ing。　
　It　didn't　want　him　to　warn　her。　It　wanted　to　take　her　by　surprise。　
　Arranging　the　last　of　the　counter　displays；　Handahl　said；　〃It　was　a　tragedy；　what　happened　to　them；　all　right。　Jim；　when　you　first　came　to　town　to　stay　with　your　grandfolks；　you　were　so　withdrawn；　nobody　could　get　two　words　out　of　you。〃　
　Holly　was　watching　Jim　rather　than　Handahl。　
　She　seemed　to　sense　that　he　was　in　grave　distress。　
　〃Second　year；　after　Lena　died；〃　Handahl　said；　〃Jim　pretty　much　clammed　up　altogether；　totally　mute；　like　he　was　never　going　to　talk　another　word　as　long　as　he　lived。　You　remember　that；　Jim？〃　In　astonishment；　Holly　turned　to　Jim　and　said；　〃Your　grandmother　died　the　second　year　you　were　here；　when　you　were　only　eleven？〃　I　told　her　five　years　ago；　Jim　thought。　Why　did　I　tell　her　five　years　ago　when　the　truth　is　twenty…four？　It　was　ing。　
　He　sensed　it。　
　ing。　
　The　Enemy。　
　He　said；　〃Excuse　me；　gotta　get　some　fresh　air。〃　He　hurried　outside　and　stood　by　the　car；　gasping　for　breath。　
　Looking　back；　he　discovered　that　Holly　had　not　followed　him。　He　could　see　her　through　a　pharmacy　window；　talking　to　Handahl。　
　It　was　ing。　
　Holly；　don't　talk　to　him；　Jim　thought。　Don't　listen　to　him；　get　out　of　there。　
　It　was　ing。　
　Leaning　against　the　car；　he　thought：　the　only　reason　I　fear　Corbett　Handahl　is　because　he　knows　more　about　my　life　in　Svenborg　than　I　remember　myself　Lub…dub…DUB。　
　It　was　here。　
　Handahl　stared　curiously　after　Jim。　
　Holly　said；　〃I　think　he's　never　gotten　over　what　happened　to　his　parents　。　。　。　or　to　Lena。〃　
　Handahl　nodded。　〃Who　could　get　over　a　horrible　thing　like　that？　He　was　such　a　nice　little　kid；　it　broke　your　heart。〃　Before　Holly　could　ask　anything　more　about　Lena；　Handahl　said；　〃Are　you　two　moving　into　the　farmhouse？〃　〃No。　Just　staying　for　a　couple　of　days。〃　
　〃None　of　my　business；　really；　but　it's　a　shame　that　land　isn't　being　farmed。〃　
　〃Well；　Jim's　not　a　farmer　himself；〃　she　said；　〃and　with　nobody　willing　to　buy　the　place…〃　〃Nobody　willing　to　buy　it？　Why；　young　lady；　they'd　stand　twenty　deep　to　buy　it　if　Jim　would　put　it　on　the　market。〃　
　She　blinked　at　him。　
　He　went　on：　〃You　have　a　real　good　artesian　well　on　that　property；　which　means　you　always　have　water　in　a　county　that's　usually　short　of　it。〃　He　leaned　against　the　granite　counter　and　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　
　〃The　way　it　works…when　that　big　old　pond　is　full　up；　the　weight　of　all　that　water　puts　pressure　on　the　natural　wellhead　and　slows　the　inflow　of　new　water。　But　you　start　pumping　it　out　of　there　to　irrigate　crops；　and　the　flow　picks　up；　and　the　pond　is　pretty　much　always　full；　like　the　magic　pitcher　in　that　old　fairytale。〃　He　tilted　his　head　and　squinted　at　her。　〃Jim　tell　you　he　couldn't　sell　it？〃　〃Well；　I　assumed…〃　〃Tell　you　what；〃　Handahl　said；　〃maybe　that　man　of　yours　is　more　sentimental　than　I'd　thought。　Maybe　he　doesn't　want　to　sell　the　farm　because　it　has　too　many　memories　for　him。〃　
　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。　〃But　there're　bad　as　well　as　good　memories　out　there。〃　
　〃You're　right　about　that。〃　
　〃Like　his　grandmother　dying；〃　she　noodged；　trying　to　get　him　back　on　that　subject。　〃That　was…〃　A　rattling　sound　interrupted　her。　She　turned　and　saw　bottles　of　shampoo；　hairspray；　vitamins；　and　cold　medicines　jiggling　on　their　shelves。　
　〃Earthquake；〃　Handahl　said；　looking　up　worriedly　at　the　ceiling；　as　if　he　thought　it　might　tumble　in　on　them。　
　The　containers　rattled　more　violently　than　ever；　and　Holly　knew　they　were　disturbed　by　something　worse　than　an　earthquake。　She　was　being　warned　not　to　ask　Handahl　any　more　questions。　
　Lub…dub…DUB；　lub…dub…DUB。　
　The　cozy　world　of　the　quaint　pharmacy　started　ing　apart。　The　bottles　exploded　off　the　shelves；　straight　at　her。　She　swung　away；　drew　her　arms　over　her　head。　The　containers　hammered　her；　flew　past　her　and　pelted　Handahl。　The　humidor；　which　stood　behind　the　counter；　was　vibrating。　Instinctively　Holly　dropped　to　the　floor。　Even　as　she　went　down；　the　glass　door　of　that　case　blew　outward。　Glass　shrapnel　cut　the　air　where　she　had　been　standing。　She　scrambled　toward　the　exit　as　glittering　shards　rained　to　the　floor。　Behind　her　the　heavy　cash　register　crashed　off　the　granite　counter；　missing　her　by　inches；　barely　sparing　her　a　broken　spine。　
　Before　the　walls　could　begin　to　blister　and　pulse　and　bring　forth　an　alien　form；　she　reached　the　door；　fled　through　the　newsstand；　and　went　into　the　street；　leaving　Handahl　in　what　he　no　doubt　assumed　was　earthquake　rubble。　
　The　tripartite　beat　was　throbbing　up　from　the　brick　walkway　beneath　her　feet。　
　She　found　Jim　leaning　against　the　car；　shuddering　and　white…faced；　with　the　expression　of　a　man　standing　on　a　precipice；　peering　into　a　gulf　longing　to　jump。　He　did　not　respond　to　her　when　she　said　his　name。　
　He　seemed　on　the　verge　of　surrendering　to　the　dark　force　that　he'd　held　within　…and　nurtured…all　these　years　and　that　no