第18部分(第2/7 頁)

and　kissing　and　being　mellow；　Georgie　was　acting　all　hyperactive　and　making　Natedrive　the

carriage。

The　attic　itself　was　incredible。　It　was　full　of　beautiful　old　things　from　days　gone　by；　but　kept　in

perfect　order　as　if　at　any　time　someone　was　going　to　carry　them　downstairs　and　put　them　to　use

again。　The　carriage　was　painted　gold　and　lined　with　purple　velvet；　and　under　the　seat　inside；　in　a

little　leather　chest；　were　fur　rugs　and　muffs　to　keep　your　hands　warm　while　you　went　out　for　a　ride。

Best　of　all；　eight　white　carousel　horses　with　white　feather　plumes　affixed　to　real　leather　harnesses

were　pulling　the　carriage。

？e　on；　faster；faster　；　giddyap；giddyap　！？　Georgie　shouted　at　the　carousel　horses；　cracking　her

long　leather　whip　and　bouncing　up　and　down　in　the　red　leather　coachman？s　seat。

Whoa。

Nate　sat　back　on　the　seat　beside　her　and　tried　to　light　another　joint；　but　Georgie　was　bouncing

around　so　much；　it　fell　right　out　of　his　hand。　？Fuck！？　he　cried；　exasperated。　He　leaned　over　the

side　of　the　carriage　to　see　where　the　joint　had　fallen　on　the　white…painted　wood　floor；　but　the　attic

was　lit　only　by　a　single　dim　bulb　and　he　couldn？t　see　the　joint　anywhere。

？That？s　okay。？　Georgie　jumped　down　from　the　carriage。　？e　on；　there？s　something　I　want　to

show　you。？

Reluctantly　Nate　left　the　joint　where　it　had　fallen　and　followed　her　to　the　other　side　of　the　attic；

where　a　bunch　of　antique　wooden　trunks　were　stacked。　？This　is　where　all　my　old　horse　stuff　is

kept；？　Georgie　explained。　She　opened　the　top　trunk　and　pulled　out　a　handful　of　ribbons　she？d　won

at　horse　shows。　？I　was　a　really　good　rider。？　She　offered　the　ribbons　to　Nate。

All　of　th