第46部分(第8/8頁)

A　little　finger　of　road　…　narrow；　unpaved；　weeds　running　up　the　center　crown…angled　off　to　the　right。　We　turned　up　this　and　ile。　Brutal　was　beginning　to　grumble　again　when　Harry　stopped；　went　to　the　left　side　of　the　track；　and　began　to　remove　sprays　of　broken…off　pine　boughs。　John　and　Brutal　pitched　in；　and　before　I　could　join　them；　they　had　uncovered　the　dented　snout　of　an　old　Farmall　truck；　its　wired…on　headlights　staring　at　us　like　buggy　eyes。

〃I　wanted　to　be　as　careful　as　I　could；　you　know；〃　Harry　said　to　Brutal　in　a　thin；　scolding　voice。　〃This　may　be　a　big　joke　to　you；　Brutus　Howell；　but　I　e　from　a　very　religious　family；　I　got　cousins　back　in　the　hollers　so　damn　holy　they　make　the　Christians　look　like　lions；　and　if　I　get　caught　playing　at　something　like　this…！〃

〃It's　okay；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I'm　just　jumpy；　that's　all。〃

〃Me　too；〃　Harry　said　stiffly。　〃Now　if　this　cussed　old　thing　will　just　start…〃

He　walked　around　the　hood　of　the　truck；　still　muttering；　and　Brutal　tipped　me　a　wink。　As　far　as　Coffey　was　concerned；　we　had　ceased　to