第43部分(第1/7 页)

〃As　long　as　you　can　do　what　needs　doing　without　getting　caught；〃　Brutal　said。

Dean　looked　offended；　and　I　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃As　soon　after　you　clock　in　as　you　can　。。。　all　right？〃

〃You　bet。〃

My　wife　popped　her　head　through　the　door　as　if　I'd　given　her　a　cue　to　do　so。　〃Who's　for　more　iced　tea？〃　she　asked　brightly。　〃What　about　you；　Brutus？〃

〃No；　thanks；〃　he　said。　〃What　I'd　like　is　a　good　hard　knock　of　whiskey；　but　under　the　circumstances；　that　might　not　be　a　good　idea。〃

Janice　looked　at　me；　smiling　mouth；　worried　eyes。　〃What　are　you　getting　these　boys　into；　Paul？〃　But　before　I　could　even　think　of　framing　a　reply；　she　raised　her　hand　and　said；　〃Never　mind；　I　don't　want　to　know。〃

3。

Later；　long　after　the　others　were　gone　and　while　I　was　dressing　for　work；　she　took　me　by　the　arm；　swung　me　around；　and　looked　into　my　eyes　with　fierce　intensity。

〃Melinda？〃　she　asked。

I　nodded。

〃Can　you　do　something　for　her；　Paul？　Really　do　something　for　her；　or　is　it　all　wishful　dreaming　brought　on　by　what　you　saw　last　night？〃

I　thought　of　Coffey's　eyes；　of　Coffey's　hands；　and　of　the　hypnotized　way　I'd　gone　to　him　when　he'd　wanted　me。　I　thought　of　him　holding　out　his　hands　for　Mr。　Jingles's　broken；　dying　body。　While　there's　still　time；　he　had　said。　And　the　black　swirling　things　that　turned　white　and　disappeared。

〃I　think　we　might　be　the　only　chance　she　has　left；〃　I　said　at　last。

〃Then　take　it；〃　she　said；　buttoning　the　front　of　my　new　fall　coat。　It　had　been　in　the　closet　since　my　birthday　at　the　beginning　of　September；　but　this　was　only　the　third　or　fourth　time　I'd　actually　worn　it。　〃Take　it。〃

And　she　practically　pushed　me　out　the　door。

4。

I　clocked　in　that　night　…　in　man