sk.carrie-第21章

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With　a　sigh　she　began　to　massage　her　arms　absently。　They　were　cold　and　prickly。　It　was　twelve　after　ten　and　there　was　no　reason；　really　no　reason；　to　feel　that　the　world　was　ing　to　an　end。
The　stacks　were　higher　this　time；　but　they　still　looked　exactly　the　same。　Again；　three　counts　were　taken　to　make　sure。　Then　Vic　Mooney　went　to　the　mike　again。　He　paused　a　moment；　relishing　the　blue　feel　of　tension　in　the　air；　and　then　announced　simply：
‘Tommy　and　Carrie　win。　By　one　vote。'
Dead　silence　for　a　moment；　then　applause　filled　the　hall　again；　some　of　it　not　without　satiric　overtones。　Carrie　drew　in　a　startled；　smothered　gasp；　and　Tommy　again　felt　（but　for　only　a　second）　that　weird　vertigo　in　his　mind
（carrie　carrie　carrie　carrie）
that　seemed　to　blank　out　all　thought　but　the　name　and　image　of　this　strange　girl　he　was　with。　For　a　fleeting　second　he　was　literally　scared　shitless。
Something　fell　on　the　floor　with　a　clink；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　candle　between　them　whiffed　out。
Then　Josie　and　the　Moonglows　were　playing　a　rock　version　of　Pomp　and　Circumstance；　the　ushers　appeared　at　their　table　（almost　magically；　all　this　had　been　rehearsed　meticulously　by　Miss　Geer　who；　according　to　rumour；　ate　slow　and　clumsy　ushers　for　lunch）；　a　sceptre　wrapped　in　aluminium　foil　was　thrust　into　Tommy's　hand；　a　robe　with　a　lush　dog…fur　collar　was　thrown　over　Carrie's　shoulders；　and　they　were　being　led　down　the　centre　aisle　by　a　boy　and　a　girl　in　white　blazers。　The　band　blared。　The　audience　applauded。　Miss　Geer　looked　vindicated。　Tommy　Ross　was　grinning　bemusedly。
They　were　ushered　up　the　steps　to　the　apron；　led　across　to　the　thrones；　and　seated。　Still　the　applause　swelled。　The　sarcasm　in　it　was　lost　now；　it　was　honest　and　deep；　a　little　frightening。　Carrie　was　glad　to　sit　down。　It　was　all　happening　too　fast。　Her　legs　were　trembling　under　her　and　suddenly；　even　with　the　paratively　high　neck　of　her　gown；　her　breasts
（dirtypillows）
felt　dreadfully　exposed。　The　sound　of　the　applause　in　her　ears　made　her　feel　woozy；　almost　punch…drunk。　Part　of　her　was　actually　convinced　that　all　this　was　a　dream　from　which　she　would　wake　with　mixed　feeling　of　loss　and　relief。
Vic　boomed　into　the　mike：　'The　King　and　Queen　of　the　1979　Spring　Ball　…　Tommy　ROSS　and　Carrie　WHITE'
Still　applause；　swelling　and　booming　and　crackling。　Tommy　Ross　in　the　fading　moments　of　his　life　now；　took　Carrie's　hand　and　grinned　at　her；　thinking　that　Suzie's　intuition　had　been　very　right。　Somehow　she　grinned　back。　TOMMY
（she　was　right　and　i　love　her　well　i　love　this　one　too　this　carrie　she　is　beautiful　and　it's　right　and　i　love　all　of　them　the　light　the　light　in　her　eyes）
and　Carrie
（can't　see　them　the　lights　are　too　bright　i　can　hear　them　but　can't　see　them　the　shower　remember　the　shower　o　momma　it's　too　high　i　think　i　want　to　get　down　o　are　they　laughing　and　ready　to　throw　things　to　point　and　scream　with　laughter　i　can't　see　them　i　can't　see　them　it's　all　too　bright）
and　the　beam　above　them。
Both　bands；　in　a　sudden　and　serendipitous　coalition　of　rock　and　brass；　swung　into　the　school　song。　The　audience　rose　to　its　feet　and　began　to　sing；　still　applauding。
It　was　ten…o…seven。
Billy　had　just　flexed　his　knees　to　make　the　Joints　pop。　Chris　Hargensen　stood　next　to　him　with　increasing　aura　of　nervousness。　Her　hands　played　aimlessly　along　the　seams　of　the　jeans　she　had　worn　and　she　was　biting　the　softness　of　her　lower　lip；　chewing　at　it；　making　it　a　little　ragged。
'You　think　they'll　vote　for　them？；　Billy　said　softly。
'They　will；'　she　said。　'I　set　it　up。'　it　won't　even　be　close。　Why　do　they　keep　applauding？　What's　going　on　in　there？'
'Don't　ask　me；　babe。
The　school　song　suddenly　roared　out；　full　and　strong　on　the　soft　May　air；　and　Chris　jumped　as　if　stung。　A　soft　gasp　of　surprise　escaped　her
All　rise　for　Thomas　Ewen　Hiiiiyyygh。　。　。
'Go　on；'　he　said。　'They're　there。'　His　eyes　glowed　softly　in　the　dark。　The　odd　half…grin　had　touched　his　features。
She　licked　her　lips。　They　both　stared　at　the　length　of　jute　cord。
We　will　raise　your　banners　to　the　skyyyyy
'Shut　up；'　she　whispered。　She　was　trembling；　and　he　thought　that　her　body　had　never　looked　so　lush　or　exciting。　When　this　was　over　he　was　going　to　have　her　until　every　other　time　she'd　been　had　was　like　two　pumps　with　a　fags　little　finger。　He　was　going　on　her　like　a　raw　cob　through　butter。
'No　guts；　babe？'
He　leaned　forward。　'I　won't　pull　it　for　you；　babe。　It　can　sit　there　till　bell　freezes。'
With　pride　we　wear　the　red　and　whiiyyyte
A　sudden　smothered　sound　that　might　have　been　a　scream　came　from　her　mouth；　and　she　leaned　forward　and　pulled　violently　on　the　cord　with　both　hands。　It　came　loose　with　slack　for　a　moment；　making　her　think　that　Billy　had　been　having　her　on　all　this　time；　that　the　rope　was　attached　to　nothing　but　thin　air。　Then　it　snubbed　tight；　held　for　a　second；　and　then　came　through　her　palm　harshly；　leaving　a　thin　burn。
she　began。
The　music　inside　came　to　a　jangling；　discordant　halt　For　a　moment　ragged　You　continued　oblivious；　and　then　they　stopped。　Then　was　a　beat　of　silence；　and　then　someone　screamed。　Silence　again。
They　stared　at　each　other　in　the　dark；　frozen　by　the　actual　act　as　thought　never　could　have　done。　Her　very　breath　turned　to　glass　in　her　throat。
Then；　inside；　the　laughter　began。
It　was　ten　twenty…five；　and　the　feeling　had　been　getting　worse　and　worse。　Sue　stood　in　front　of　the　gas　range　on　one　foot；　waiting　for　the　milk　to　begin　steaming　so　she　could　dump　in　the　Nestle's。　Twice　she　had　begun　to　go　upstairs　and　put　on　a　nightgown　and　twice　she　had　stopped；　drawn　for　no　reason　at　all　to　the　kitchen　window　that　looked　down　Brickyard　Hill　and　the　spiral　of　Route　6　that　led　into　town。
Now；　as　the　whistle　mounted　atop　the　town　hall　on　Main　Street　suddenly　began　to　shriek　into　the　night；　and　falling　in　cycles　of　panic；　she　did　not　evert　immediately　to　the　window；　but　only　tamed　the　heat　oft　under　the　milk　so　it　would　not　burn。
The　town　hall　whistle　went　off　every　day　at　twelve　noon　and　that　was　all；　except　to　call　the　volunteer　fire　department　during　grass…fire　season　in　August　and　September。　It　was　strictly　for　major　disasters　and　its　sound　was　dreamy　and　terrifying　in　the　empty　house。
She　went　to　the　window；　but　slowly。　The　shrieking　of　the　whistle　rose　and　fell；　rose　and　fell。　Somewhere；　horns　were　beginning　to　blast；　as　if　for　a　wedding。　She　could　see　her　reflection　in　the　darkened　glass；　lips　parted；　eyes　wide；　and　then　the　condensation　of　her　breath　obscured　it。
A　memory；　half…forgotten；　came　to　her。　As　children　in　grammar　school；　they　had　practised　air…raid　drills。　When　the　teacher　clapped　her　hands　and　said；　'The　town　whistle　is　blowing；'　you　were　supposed　to　crawl　under　your　desk　and　put　your　hands　over　your　head　and　wait；　either　for　the　all…clear　or　for　enemy　missiles　to　blow　you　to　powder。　Now；　in　her　mind；　as　clearly　as　a　leaf　pressed　in　plastic；
（the　town　whistle　is　blowing）
she　heard　the　words　clang　in　her　mind
Far　below；　to　the　left；　where　the　high　school　parking　lot　was　…　the　ring　of　sodium　are　lamps　made　it　a　sure　landmark；　although　the　school　building　itself　was　invisible　in　the　dark　…a　spark　glowed　as　if　God　has　struck　a　flint…and…steel。
（that's　whew　the　oil　tanks　are）
The　spark　hesitated；　then　bloomed　orange。　Now　you　could　see　the　school；　and　it　was　on　fire。
She　was　already　on　her　way　to　the　closet　to　get　her　coat　when　the　first　dull；　booming　explosion　shook　the　floor　under　her　feet　and　made　her　mother's　china　rattle　in　the　cupboards。
From　We　Survived　the　Black　Prom；　by　Norma　Watson　（Published　in　the　August；　1980；　issue　of　The　Reader's　Digest　as　a　'Drama　in　Real　Life'　article）：
。。。　and　it　happened　so　quickly　that　no　one　really　knew　what　was　happening。　We　were　all　standing　and　applauding　and　singing　the　school　song。　Then　…　I　was　at　the　usher's　table　just　inside　the　main　doors；　looking　at　the　stage　…　there　was　a　sparkle　as　the　big　lights　over　the　stage　apron　reflected　on　something　metallic。　I　was　standing　with　Tina　Blake　and　Stella　Horan；　and　I　think　they　saw　it；　too。
All　at　once　there　was　a　huge　red　splash　in　the　air。　Some　of　it　hit　the　mural　and　ran　in　long　drips。　I　knew　right　away；　even　before　it　hit　them；　that　it　was　blood。　Stella　Horan　thought　it　was　paint；　but　I　had　a　premonition；　just　like　the　time　my　brother　got　hit　by　a　hay　truck。
They　were　drenched。　Carrie　got　it　the　worst。　She　looked　exactly　like　she　had　been　dipped　in　a　bucket　of　red　paint。　She　just　sat　there。　She　never　moved。　The　band　that　was　closest　to　the　stage；　Josie　and　the　moonglows；　got　splattered。　The　lead　guitarist　had　a　white　instrument；　and　it　splattered　all　over　it。
I　say：　'My　God；　that's　blood！'
When　I　said　that；　Tina　screamed。　It　was　very　loud；　and　it　rang　out　clearly　in　the　auditorium。
People　had　stopped　singing　and　everything　was　pletely　quiet。　I　couldn't　move。　I　was　rooted　to　the　spot。　I　looked　up　and　there　were　two　buckets　dangling　high　over　the　thrones；　swinging　and　banging　together。　They　were　still　dripping。　All　of　a　sudden　they　fell；　with　a　lot　of　loose　string　paying　out　behind　them。　One　of　them　hit　Tommy　Ross　on　the　head。　It　made　a　very　loud　noise；　like　a　gong。
That　made　someone　laugh。　I　don't　know　who　it　was；　but　it　wasn't　the　way　a　person　laughs　when　they　we　something　funny　and　gay。　It　was　raw　and　hysterical　and　awful。
At　the　same　instant；　Carrie　opened　her　eyes　wide。
That　was　when　they　all　started　laughing。　I　did　too。　God　help　me。　It　was　so　。。。　weird。
When　I　was　a　little　girl　I　had　a　Walt　Disney　storybook　called　Song　of　the　South；　and　it　had　that　Uncle　Remus　story　about　the　tarbaby　in　it。　There　was　a　picture　of　the　tarbaby　sitting　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　looking　like　one　of　those　old…time　Negro　minstrels　with　the　blackface　and　great　white　eyes。　When　Carrie　opened　her　eyes　it　was　like　that。　They　were　the　only　part　of　her　that　wasn't　pletely　red。　And　the　light　had　gotten　in　them　and　made　them　glassy。　God　help　me；　but　she　looked　for　all　the　world　like　Eddie　Cantor　doing　that　pop…eyed　act　of　his。
That　was　what　made　people　laugh。　We　couldn't　help　it。　It　was　one　of　those　things　where　you　laugh　or　go　crazy。　Carrie　had　been　the　butt　of　every　joke　for　so　long；　and　we　all　felt　that　we　were　part　of　something　special　that　night　It　was　as　if　we　were　watching　a　person　rejoin　the　human　race；　and　I　for　one　thanked　the　Lord　for　it。　And　that　happened。　That　horror。
And　so　there　was　nothing　else　to　do。　It　was　either　laugh　or　cry；　and　who　could　bring　himself　to　cry　over　Carrie　after　all　those　years？
She　just　sat　there；　staring　out　at　them；　and　the　laughter　kept　swelling；　getting　louder　and　louder。　People　were　holding　their　bellies　and　doubling　up　and　pointing　at　her。　Tommy　was　the　only　one　who　wasn't　looking　at　her。　He　was　sort　of　slumped　over　in　his　seat　as　if　lied　gone　to　sleep。　You　couldn't　tell　he　was　hurt；　though：　he　was　splashed；　too　bad。
And　then　her　face　。。。　broke；　I　don't　know　how　else　to　describe　it。　She　put　her　hands　up　to　her　face　and　halfstaggered　to　her　feet。　She　almost　got　tangled　in　her　own　feet　and　fell　over；　and　that　made　people　laugh　even　more。　Then　she　sort　of　。。。　hopped　off　the　stage。　It　was　like　watching　a　big　red　frog　hopping　off　a　lily　pad。　She　almost　fell　again；　but　kept　on　her　feet。
Miss　Desjardin　came　running　over　to　her；　and　she　wasn't　laughing　any　more。　She　was　holding　out　h