第9部分 (第1/7页)

whisper。　〃Please。　I'm　not　promising　anything。　If　you　still　want　to　talk　then；

we'll　talk。　About　anything　you　want。〃

They　looked　across　the　sunny　kitchen　at　each　other　for　a　long　time；　and　when

she　turned　back　to　the　dishes　without　saying　anything　more；　he　began　to　shudder。

God；　he　needed　a　drink。　Just　a　little　pick…me…up　to　put　things　in　their　true

perspective　—

〃Danny　said　he　dreamed　you　had　a　car　accident；〃　she　said　abruptly。　〃He　has

funny　dreams　sometimes。　He　said　it　this　morning；　when　I　got　him　dressed。　Did

you；　Jack？　Did　you　have　an　accident？〃

〃No。〃

By　noon　the　craving　for　a　drink　had　bee　a　low…grade　fever。　He　went　to　Al's。

〃You　dry？〃　Al　asked　before　letting　him　in。　Al　looked　horrible。

〃Bone　dry。　You　look　like　Lon　Chaney　in　Phantom　of　the　Opera。〃

〃e　on　in。〃

They　played　two…handed　whist　all　afternoon。　They　didn't　drink。

A　week　passed。　He　and　Wendy　didn't　speak　much。　But　he　knew　she　was　watching；

not　believing。　He　drank　coffee　black　and　endless　cans　of　Coca…Cola。　One　night　he

drank　a　whole　six…pack　of　Coke　and　then　ran　into　the　bathroom　and　vomited　it　up。

The　level　of　the　bottles　in　the　liquor　cabinet　did　not　go　down。　After　his

classes　he　went　over　to　Al　Shockley's…she　hated　Al　Shockley　worse　than　she　had

ever　hated　anyone…and　when　he　came　home　she　would　swear　she　smelled　scotch　or

gin　on　his　breath；　but　he　would　talk　lucidly　to　her　before　supper；　drink　coffee；

play　with　Danny　after　supper；　sharing　a　Coke　with　him；　read　him　a　bedtime　story；

then　sit　and　correct　themes　with　cup　after　cup　of　black　coffee　by　his　hand；　and

she　would　have　to　admit　to　herself　that　she　had　been　wrong。

Weeks　passed