第47部分(第6/7 頁)

his　face　looked　lively　and　eager。　Why　not？　I　remember　thinking。　Why　shouldn't　he　look　eager？　He's　a　fool。

Brutal　and　Harry　were　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder　at　the　foot　of　the　truck；　like　kids　in　a　thunderstorm；　and　I　saw　that　both　of　them　looked　as　scared；　confused；　and　uneasy　as　I　felt。　That　made　me　feel　even　worse。

John　got　down。　For　him　it　was　more　of　a　step　than　a　jump。　I　followed；　stiff…legged　and　miserable。　I　would　have　sprawled　on　the　cold　gravel　if　he　hadn't　caught　me　by　the　arm。

〃This　is　a　mistake；〃　Brutal　said　in　a　hissy　little　voice。　His　eyes　were　very　wide　and　very　frightened。　〃Christ　Almighty；　Paul；　what　were　we　thinking？〃

〃Too　late　now；〃　I　said。　I　pushed　one　of　Coffey's　hips；　and　he　went　obediently　enough　to　stand　beside　Harry。　Then　I　grabbed　Brutal's　elbow　like　this　was　a　date　we　were　on　and　got　the　two　of　us　walking　toward　the　stoop　where　that　light　was　now　burning。　〃Let　me　do　the　talking。　Understand？〃

〃Yeah；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Right　now　that's　just　about　the　only　thing　I　do　understand。〃

I　looked　back　over　my　shoulder。　〃Harry；　stay　by　the　truck　with　him　until　I　call　for　you。　I　don't　want　Moores　to　see　him　until　I'm　ready。〃　Except　I　was　never　going　to　be　ready。　I　knew　that　now。

Brutal　and　I　had　just　reached　the　foot　of　the　steps　when　the　front　door　was　hauled　open　hard　enough　to　flap　the　brass　knocker　against　its　plate。　There　stood　Hal　Moores　in　blue　pajama　pants　and　a　strapstyle　tee…shirt；　his　iron…gray　hair　standing　up　in　tufts　and　twists。　He　was　a　man　who　had　made　a　thousand　enemies　over　the　course　of　his　career；　and　he　knew　it。　Clasped　in　his　right　hand；　the　abnormally　long　barrel　not　quite　pointing　at　the　floor；　was　the　pistol　which　had　always　been　mounted　over　the　mantel。　It　was　the　sort　of　gun　known　as