第41部分(第2/8 页)

ould；　I　suppose；　but。。。〃

〃You　shouldn't。〃

〃No。　I　shouldn't。〃

Now；　I　thought；　she'll　ask　me　where　I　go；　what　I　have　to　do　down　in　those　woods　that's　so　damned　important。

But　she　didn't。　Instead　she　gave　me　that　imp's　smile　again。　It　looked　strange　and　absolutely　wonderful　on　her　too…gaunt；　pain…haunted　face。　〃Do　you　know　Mr。　Howland？〃　she　asked。

〃Sure；〃　I　said；　although　I　didn't　see　him　much；　he　was　in　the　west　wing；　which　at　Georgia　Pines　was　almost　like　a　neighboring　country。　〃Why？〃

〃Do　you　know　what's　special　about　him？〃

I　shook　my　head。

〃Mr。　Howland；〃　Elaine　said；　smiling　more　widely　than　ever；　〃is　one　of　only　five　residents　left　at　Georgia　Pines　who　have　permission　to　smoke。　That's　because　he　was　a　resident　before　the　rules　changed。〃

A　grandfather　clause；　I　thought。　And　what　place　was　more　fitted　for　one　than　an　old…age　home？

She　reached　into　the　pocket　of　her　blue…and…white…striped　dress　and　pulled　two　items　partway　out：　a　cigarette　and　a　book　of　matches。　〃Thief　of　green；　thief　red；〃　she　sang　in　a　lilting；　funny　voice。　〃Little　Ellie's　going　to　wet　the　bed。〃

〃Elaine；　what　…　〃

〃Walk　an　old　girl　downstairs；〃　she　said；　putting　the　cigarette　and　matches　back　into　her　pocket　and　taking　my　arm　in　one　of　her　gnarled　hands。　We　began　to　walk　back　down　the　hall。　As　we　did；　I　decided　to　give　up　and　put　myself　in　her　hands。　She　was　old　and　brittle；　but　not　stupid。

As　we　went　down；　walking　with