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第41部分（第1页）

ould　likely　be　watching　for　me　already。　It　would　be　smart　to　stay　right　where　I　was　。。。　except　I　couldnt。

〃Paul？〃

I　turned　around　so　fast　I　almost　fell　down。　It　was　my　friend　Elaine　Connelly。　Her　eyes　widened　and　she　put　out　her　hands；　as　if　to　catch　me。　Lucky　for　her　I　caught　my　balance；　Elaines　arthritis　is　terrible；　and　I　probably　would　have　broken　her　in　two　like　a　dry　stick　if　Id　fallen　into　her　arms。　Romance　doesnt　die　when　you　pass　into　the　strange　country　that　lies　beyond　eighty；　but　you　can　forget　the　Cone　with　the　Wind　crap。

〃Im　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃I　didnt　mean　to　startle　you。〃

〃Thats　all　right；〃　I　said；　and　gave　her　a　feeble　smile。　〃Its　a　better　wake…up　than　a　faceful　of　cold　water。　I　should　hire　you　to　do　it　every　morning。〃

〃You　were　looking　for　his　car；　werent　you？　Dolans　car。〃

There　was　no　sense　kidding　her　about　it；　so　I　nodded。　〃I　wish　I　could　be　sure　hes　over　in　the　west　wing。　Id　like　to　slip　out　for　a　little　while；　but　I　dont　want　him　to　see　me。〃

She　smiled　…　a　ghost　of　the　teasing　imps　smile　she　must　have　had　as　a　girl。　〃Nosy　bastard；　isnt　he？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Hes　not　in　the　west　wing；　either。　Ive　already　been　down　to　breakfast；　sleepyhead；　and　I　can　tell　you　where　he　is；　because　I　peeked。　Hes　in　the　kitchen。〃

I　looked　at　her；　dismayed。　I　had　known　Dolan　was　curious；　but　not　how　curious。

〃Can　you　put　your　morning　walk　off？〃　Elaine　asked。

I　thought　about　it。　〃I　could；　I　suppose；　but。。。〃

〃You　shouldnt。〃

〃No。　I　shouldnt。〃

Now；　I　thought；　shell　ask　me　where　I　go；　what　I　have　to　do　down　in　those　woods　thats　so　damned　important。

But　she　didnt。　Instead　she　gave　me　that　imps　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　didnt　see　him　much；　he　was　in　the　west　wing；　which　at　Georgia　Pines　was　almost　like　a　neighboring　country。　〃Why？〃

〃Do　you　know　whats　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。　Thats　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　Ellies　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　the　glassy　care　of　the　relics　we　have　now　bee；　Elaine　said：　〃Wait　at　the　foot。　Im　going　over　to　the　west　wing；　to　the　hall　toilet　there。　You　know　the　one　I　mean；　dont　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃The　one　just　outside　the　spa。　But　why？〃

〃I　havent　had　a　cigarette　in　over　fifteen　years；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　feel　like　one　this　morning。　I　dont　know　how　many　puffs　itll　take　to　set　off　the　smoke　detector　in　there；　but　I　intend　to　find　out。〃

I　looked　at　her　with　dawning　admiration；　thinking　how　much　she　reminded　me　of　my　wife　…　Jan　might　have　done　exactly　the　same　thing。　Elaine　looked　back　at　me；　smiling　her　saucy　imps　smile。　I　cupped　my　hand　around　the　back　of　her　lovely　long　neck；　drew　her　face　to　mine；　and　kissed　her　mouth　lightly。　〃I　love　you；　Ellie；〃　I　said。

〃Oooh；　such　big　talk；〃　she　said；　but　I　could　tell　she　was　pleased。

〃What　about　Chuck　Howland？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　he　going　to　get　in　trouble？〃

〃No；　because　hes　in　the　TV　room；　watching　Good　Morning　America　with　about　two　dozen　other　folks。　And　Im　going　to　make　myself　scarce　as　soon　as　the　smoke　detector　turns　on　the　west…wing　fire　alarm。〃

〃Dont　you　fall　down　and　hurt　yourself；　woman。　Id　never　forgive　myself　if　…　〃

〃Oh；　stop　your　fussing；〃　she　said；　and　this　time　she　kissed　me。　Love　among　the　ruins。　It　probably　sounds　funny　to　some　of　you　and　grotesque　to　the　rest　of　you；　but　Ill　tell　you　something；　my　friend：　weird　loves　better　than　no　love　at　all。

I　watched　her　walk　away；　moving　slowly　and　stiffly　（but　she　will　only　use　a　cane　on　wet　days；　and　only　then　if　the　pain　is　terrible；　its　one　of　her　vanities）；　and　waited。　Five　minutes　went　by；　then　ten；　and　just　as　I　was　deciding　she　had　either　lost　her　courage　or　discovered　that　the　battery　of　the　smoke　detector　in　the　toilet　was　dead；　the　fire　alarm　went　off　in　the　west　wing　with　a　loud；　buzzing　burr。