第16部分(第1/7 頁)

watching　him　closely。

〃Most　times；　if　I　want　to。　But　usually　I　don't　try。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Well　。。。〃　he　paused　a　moment；　troubled。　〃It　would　be　like　peeking　into　the

bedroom　and　watching　while　they're　doing　the　thing　that　makes　babies。　Do　you

know　that　thing？〃

〃I　have　had　acquaintance　with　it；〃　Hallorann　said　gravely。

〃They　wouldn't　like　that。　And　they　wouldn't　like　me　peeking　at　their　thinks。

It　would　be　dirty。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃But　I　know　how　they're　feeling；〃　Danny　said。　〃I　can't　help　that。　I　know　how

you're　feeling；　too。　I　hurt　you。　I'm　sorry。〃

〃It's　just　a　headache。　I've　had　hangovers　that　were　worse。　Can　you　read　other

people；　Danny？〃

〃I　can't　read　yet　at　all；〃　Danny　said；　〃except　a　few　words。　But　Daddy's　going

to　teach　me　this　winter。　My　daddy　used　to　teach　reading　and　writing　in　a　big

school。　Mostly　writing；　but　he　knows　reading；　too。〃

〃I　mean；　can　you　tell　what　anybody　is　thinking？〃

Danny　thought　about　it。

〃I　can　if　it's　loud；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Like　Mrs。　Brant　and　the　pants。　Or　like

once；　when　me　and　Mommy　were　in　this　big　store　to　get　me　some　shoes；　there　was

this　big　kid　looking　at　radios；　and　he　was　thinking　about　taking　one　without

buying　it。　Then　he'd　think；　what　if　I　get　caught？　Then　he'd　think；　I　really　want

it。　Then　he'd　think　about　getting　caught　again。　He　was　making　himself　sick　about

it；　and　he　was　making　me　sick。　Mommy　was　talking　to　the　man　who　sells　the　shoes

so　I　went　over　and　said；　‘Kid；　don't　take　that　radio。　Go　away。'　And　he　got

really　scared。　He　went　away　fast。〃

Hallorann　was　grinning　broadly。　〃I　bet　he　did。　Can　you　do　anything　else；

Danny？　Is　it　only　thou