第15部分(第1/7 頁)

that—he　was　used　to　it　now。

My　nightmare　probably　wouldn't　even　frighten　someone　else。　Nothing　jumped　out

and　screamed；　〃Boo！〃

There　were　no　zombies；　no　ghosts；　no　psychopaths。　There　was　nothing；　really。

Only　nothing。　Just　the

endless　maze　of　moss…covered　trees；　so　quiet　that　the　silence　was　an

unfortable　pressure　against　my

eardrums。　It　was　dark；　like　dusk　on　a　cloudy　day；　with　only　enough　light　to

see　that　there　was　nothing　to

see。　I　hurried　through　the　gloom　without　a　path；　always　searching；　searching；

searching；　getting　more

frantic　as　the　time　stretched　on；　trying　to　move　faster；　though　the　speed　made

me　clumsy　Then　there

would　e　the　point　in　my　dream—and　I　could　feel　it　ing　now；　but　could

never　seem　to　wake

myself　up　before　it　hit—when　I　couldn't　remember　what　it　was　that　I　was

searching　for。　When　I　realized

that　there　was　nothing　to　search　for；　and　nothing　to　find。　That　there　never

had　been　anything　more　than

just　this　empty；　dreary　wood；　and　there　never　would　be　anything　more　for　me

nothing　but　nothing

That　was　usually　about　when　the　screaming　started。

I　wasn't　paying　attention　to　where　I　was　driving—just　wandering　through

empty；　wet　side　roads　as　I

avoided　the　ways　that　would　take　me　home—because　I　didn't　have　anywhere　to

go。

I　wished　I　could　feel　numb　again；　but　I　couldn't　remember　how　I'd　managed　it

before。　The　nightmare　was

nagging　at　my　mind　and　making　me　think　about　things　that　would　cause　me　pain。

I　didn't　want　to

remember　the　forest。　Even　as　I　shuddered　away　from　the　images；　I　felt　my　eyes

fill　with　tears　and　the

aching　begin　arou