Pet Sematary - Stephen King [42]
Poor Gage, Ellie had said again, fetching another sigh. Louis thought of crocodile tears and grinned. Ellie grabbed his hand and started pulling him. Lets go, Daddy. Lets go-lets go-lets go.
Gage has got a touch of the croup, Louis said to Jud now.
Well, thats a real shame, Norma said, but it will mean more to him next year. Hold out your bag, Ellie whoops!
She had taken an apple and a bite-sized Snickers bar out of the treat bowl on the table, but both of them had fallen out of her hand. Louis was a little shocked at how clawlike that hand looked. He bent over and picked up the apple as it rolled across the floor. Jud got the Snickers and dropped it into Ellies bag.
Oh, let me get you another apple, honey, Norma said. That one will bruise.
Its fine, Louis said, trying to drop it into Ellies bag, but Ellie stepped away, holding her bag protectively shut.
I dont want a bruised apple, Daddy, she said, looking at her father as if he might have gone mad. Brown spots yuck!
Ellie, thats damned impolite!
Dont scold her for telling the truth, Louis, Norma said.
Only children tell the whole truth, you know. Thats what makes them children. The brown spots are yucky.
Thank you, Mrs. Crandall, Ellie said, casting a vindicated eye on her father.
Youre very welcome, honey, Norma said.
Jud escorted them out to the porch. Two little ghosts were coming up the walk, and Ellie recognized them both as friends from school. She took them back to the kitchen, and for a moment Jud and Louis were alone on the porch.
Her arthritis has gotten worse, Louis said.
Jud nodded and pinched out his cigarette over an ashtray. Yeah. Its come down harder on her every fall and winter, but this is the worst its ever been.
What does her doctor say?
Nothing. He cant say nothing because Norma hasnt been back to see him.
What? Why not?
Jud looked at Louis, and in the light cast by the headlamps of the station wagon waiting for the ghosts, he looked oddly defenseless. Id meant to ask you this at a better time, Louis, but I guess there isnt no good time to impose on a friendship. Would you examine her?
From the kitchen, Louis could hear the two ghosts booo-ing and Ellie going into her cackles-which she had been practicing all week-again. It all sounded very fine and Halloweenish.
What else is wrong with Norma? he asked. Is she afraid of something else, Jud?
Shes been having pains in her chest, Jud said in a low voice. She wont go see Dr. Weybridge anymore. Im a little worried.
Is Norma worried?
Jud hesitated and then said, I think shes scared. I think thats why she doesnt want to go to the doctor. One of her oldest friends, Betty Coslaw, died in the EMMC just last month. Cancer. She and Norma were of an age. Shes scared.
Id be happy to examine her, Louis said. No problem at all.
Thanks, Louis, Jud said gratefully. If we catch her one night, gang up on her, I think-
Jud broke off, head cocking quizzically to one side. His eyes met Louiss.
Louis couldnt remember later exactly how one emotion slipped
into the next. Trying to analyze it only made him feel dizzy. All he could remember for sure was that curiosity changed swiftly into a feeling that somewhere something had gone badly wrong. His eyes met Juds, both unguarded. It was a moment before he could find a way to act.
Hoooo-hoooo, the Halloween ghosts in the kitchen chanted. Hooo-hooo. And then suddenly the h-sound was gone arid the cry rose louder, genuinely frightening: oooo-000000-
And then one of the ghosts began to scream.
Daddy! Ellies voice was wild and tight with alarm. Daddy! Missus Crandall fell down!
Ah, Jesus, Jud almost moaned.
Ellie came running out onto the porch, her black dress flapping. She clutched her broom in one hand. Her green face, now pulled long in dismay, looked like the face of a pygmy wino in the last stages of alcohol poisoning. The two little ghosts followed her, crying.
Jud lunged through the door, amazingly spry for a man of over eighty. No, more than spry. Again, almost lithe. He was