第63部分(第3/7 頁)

　on　them　in　black　thread。　There　were　burst…open　suitcases　everywhere。　And　bodies。　And　parts　of　bodies。　There　were　seventy…three　people　on　that　bus；　and　only　four　survived　the　crash。　I　was　one　of　them；　the　only　one　not　seriously　hurt。

I　got　up　and　staggered　among　the　burst…open　suitcases　and　shattered　people；　crying　out　my　wife's　name。　I　kicked　aside　an　alarm　clock；　I　remember　that；　and　I　remember　seeing　a　dead　boy　of　about　thirteen　lying　in　a　strew　of　glass　with　P。F。　Flyers　on　his　feet　and　half　his　face　gone。　I　felt　the　rain　beating　on　my　own　face；　then　I　went　through　the　underpass　and　it　was　gone　for　awhile。　When　I　came　out　on　the　other　side　it　was　there　again；　hammering　my　cheeks　and　forehead。　Lying　by　the　shattered　cab　of　the　overturned　fertilizer　truck；　I　saw　Jan。　I　recognized　her　by　her　red　dress　…　it　was　her　second…best。　The　best　she　had　been　saving　for　the　actual　graduation；　of　course。

She　wasn't　quite　dead。　I　have　often　thought　it　would　have　been　better　…　for　me；　if　not　for　her　…　if　she　had　been　killed　instantly。　It　might　have　made　it　possible　for　me　to　let　her　go　a　little　sooner；　a　little　more　naturally。　Or　perhaps　I'm　only　kidding　myself　about　that。　All　I　know　for　sure　is　that　I　have　never　let　her　go；　not　really。

She　was　trembling　all　over。　One　of　her　shoes　had　e　off　and　I　could　see　her　foot　jittering。　Her　eyes　were　open　but　blank；　the　left　one　full　of　blood；　and　as　I　fell　on　my　knees　next　to　her　in　the　smoky…smelling　rain；　all　I　could　think　of　was　that　jitter　meant　she　was　being　electrocuted；　she　was　being　electrocuted　and　I　had　to　hold　the　roll　before　it　was　too　late。

〃Help　me！〃　I　screamed。　〃Help　me；　someone　help　me！〃

No　one　helped；　no　one　even　came。　The　rain　pounded　down　…　a　hard；　soaking　rain　that　flattened

My　stil