windowsasifexpectingahideousbeasttoleapoutinanexplosionofglassandwood
ametallicclickingsoundfromthebranchesabovegrabbedhisattention,madehimlookup;aflashofsilverandredlightcaughthiseyesjustbeforedisappearingaroundthetrunktotheothersidehescrambledtohisfeetandwalkedaroundthetree,craninghisneckforasignofwhateverhe’dheard,buthesawonlybarebranches,grayandbrown,forkingoutlikeskeletonfingers—andlookingjustasalive
“thatwasoneofthembeetleblades,”someonesaid
thomastuedtohisrighttoseeakidstandingnearby,shortandpudgy,staringathimhewasyoung—probablytheyoungestofanyinthegrouphe’dseensofar,maybetwelveorthirteenyearsoldhisbrownhairhungdownoverhisearsandneck,scrapingthetopsofhisshouldersblueeyesshonethroughanotherwisepitifulface,flabbyandflushed
thomasnoddedathim“abeetlewhat”
“beetleblade,”theboysaid,pointingtothetopofthetree“won’thurtyaunlessyou’restupidenoughtotouchoneofthem”hepaused“shank”hedidn’tsoundfortablesayingthelastword,asifhehadn’tquitegraspedtheslangoftheglade
anotherscream,thisonelongandnerve-grinding,torethroughtheairandthomas’sheartlurchedthefearwaslikeicydewonhisskin“what’sgoingonoverthere”heasked,pointingatthebuilding
“don’tknow,”thechubbyboyreplied;hisvoicestillcarriedthehighpitchofchildhood“ben’sinthere,sickerthanadogtheygothim”
“they”thomasdidn’tlikethemaliciouswaytheboyhadsaidtheword
“yeah”
“whoarethey”
“betterhopeyouneverfindout,”thekidanswered,lookingfartoofortableforthesituationheheldouthishand“myname’schuckiwasthegreenbeanuntilyoushowedup”
thisismyguideforthenightthomasthoughthecouldn’tshakehisextremedisfort,andnowannoyancecreptinaswellnothingmadesense;hisheadhurt
“whyiseveryonecallingmegreenbean”heasked,shakingchuck’shandquickly,thenlettinggo
“cuzyou’rethenewestnewbie”chuckpointedatthomasandlaughedanotherscreamcamefromthehouse,asoundlikeastarvinganimalbeingtortured
“howcanyoubelaughing”thomasasked,horrifiedbythenoise“itsoundslikesomeone’sdyinginthere”
“he’llbeokaynoonediesiftheymakeitbackintimetogettheserumit’salloothingdeadootdeadjusthurtsalot”
thisgavethomaspause“whathurtsalot”
chuck’seyeswanderedasifhewasn’tsurewhattosay“um,gettin’stungbythegrievers”
“grievers”thomaswasonlygettingmoreandmoreconfusedstunggrieversthewordshadaheavyweightofdreadtothem,andhesuddenlywasn’tsosurehewantedtoknowwhatchuckwastalkingabout
chuckshrugged,thenlookedaway,eyesrolling
thomassighedinfrustrationandleanedbackagainstthetree“lookslikeyoubarelyknowmorethanido,”hesaid,butheknewitwasn’ttruehismemorylosswasstrangehemostlyrememberedtheworkingsoftheworld—butemptiedofspecifics,faces,nameslikeabookpletelyintactbutmissingonewordineverydozen,makingitamiserableandconfusingreadhedidn’tevenknowhisage
“chuck,how…olddoyouthinkiam”
theboyscannedhimupanddown“i’dsayyou’resixteenandincaseyouwerewondering,fivefootnine…brownhairoh,anduglyasfriedliveronastick”hesnortedalaugh
thomaswassostunnedhe’dbarelyheardthelastpartsixteenhewassixteenhefeltmucholderthanthat
“areyouserious”hepaused,searchingforwords“how…”hedidn’tevenknowwhattoask
“don’tworryyou’llbeallwhackedforafewdays,butthenyou’llgetusedtothisplaceihavewelivehere,thisisitbetterthanlivinginapileofklunk”hesquinted,maybeanticipatingthomas’squestion“klunk’sanotherwordforpoopoomakesaklunksoundwhenitfallsinourpeepots”
thomaslookedatchuck,unabletobelievehewashavingthisconversation“that’snice”wasallhecouldmanagehestoodupandwalkedpastchucktowardtheoldbuilding;shackwasabetterwordfortheplaceitlookedthreeorfourstorieshighandabouttofalldownatanyminute—acrazyassortmentoflogsandboardsandthicktwineandwindowsseeminglythrowntogetheratrandom,themassive,ivy-strewnstonewallsrisingupbehinditashemovedacrossthecourtyard,thedistinctsmelloffirewoodandsomekindofmeatcookingmadehisstomachgrumbleknowingnowthatitwasjustasickkiddoingthescreamingmadethomasfeelbetteruntilhethoughtaboutwhathadcausedit…
“what’syouame”chuckaskedfrombehind,runningtocatchup
“what”
“youameyoustillhaven’ttoldus—andiknowyourememberthatmuch”
“thomas”hebarelyheardhimselfsayit—histhoughtshadspuninanewdirectionifchuckwasright,he’djustdiscoveredalinktotherestoftheboysamonpattetotheirmemorylossestheyallrememberedtheiameswhynottheirparents’nameswhynotafriend’snamewhynottheirlastnames
“nicetomeetyou,thomas,”chucksaid“don’tyouworry,i’lltakecareofyoui’vebeenhereawholemonth,andiknowtheplaceinsideandoutyoucancountonchuck,okay”
thomashadalmostreachedthefrontdooroftheshackandthesmallgroupofboyscongregatingtherewhenhewa**byasuddenandsurpriserushofangerhetuedtofacechuck“youcan’teventellmeanythingiwouldn’tcallthattakingcareofme”hetuedbacktowardthedoor,intentongoinginsidetofindsomeanswerswherethissuddencourageandresolvecamefrom,hehadnoidea
chuckshrugged“nothin’isay’lldoyouanygood,”hesaid“i’mbasicallystillanewbie,toobuticanbeyourfriend—”
“idon’tneedfriends,”thomasinterrupted
he’dreachedthedoor,anuglyslabofsun-fadedwood,andhepulleditopentoseeseveralstoic-facedboysstandingatthefootofacrookedstaircase,thestepsandrailingstwistedandangledinalldirectionsdarkwallpapercoveredthewallsofthefoyerandhallway,halfofitpeelingofftheonlydecorationsinsightwereadustyvaseonathree-leggedtableandablack-and-whitepictureofanancientwomandressedinanold-fashionedwhitedressitremindedthomasofahauntedhousefromamovieorsomethingtherewereevenplanksofwoodmissingfromthefloor
theplacereekedofdustandmildew—abigcontrasttothepleasantsmellsoutsideflickeringfluorescentlightsshonefromtheceilinghehadn’tthoughtofityet,buthehadtowonderwheretheelectricitycamefrominaplacelikethegladehestaredattheoldwomaninthepicturehadshelivedhereoncetakencareofthesepeople
“hey,look,it’sthegreenbean,”oneoftheolderboyscalledoutwithastart,thomasrealizeditwastheblack-hairedguywho’dgivenhimthelookofdeathearlierhelookedlikehewasfifteenorso,tallandskinnyhisnosewasthesizeofasmallfistandresembledadeformedpotato“thisshankprobablyklunkedhispantswhenheheardoldbennybabyscreamlikeagirlneedanewdiaper,shuck-face”
“myname’sthomas”hehadtogetawayfromthisguywithoutanotherword,hemadeforthestairs,onlybecausetheywereclose,onlybecausehehadnoideawhattodoorsaybutthebullysteppedinfrontofhim,holdingahandup
“holdonthere,greenie”hejerkedathumbinthedirectionoftheupperfloor“newbiesaren’tallowedtoseesomeonewho’sbeen…takennewtandalbywon’tallowit”
“what’syourproblem”thomasasked,tryingtokeepthefearoutofhisvoice,tryingnottothinkwhatthekidhadmeantbytaken“idon’tevenknowwhereiamalliwantissomehelp”
“listentome,greenbean”theboywrinkleduphisface,foldedhisarms“i’veseenyoubeforesomething’sfishyaboutyoushowinguphere,andi’mgonnafindoutwhat”
asurgeofheatpulsedthroughthomas’sveins“i’veneverseenyoubeforeinmylifeihavenoideawhoyouare,andicouldn’tcareless,”hespatbutreally,howwouldheknowandhowcouldthiskidrememberhim
thebullysnickered,ashortburstoflaughtermixedwithaphlegm-filledsnortthenhisfacegrewserious,hiseyebrowsslantinginward“i’ve…seenyou,shanknottoomanyinthesepartscansaythey’vebeenstung”hepointedupthestairs“ihaveiknowwhatoldbennybaby’sgoingthroughi’vebeenthereandisawyouduringthechanging”
hereachedoutandpokedthomasinthechest“andibetyourfirstmealfromfrypanthatbenny’llsayhe’sseenya,too”
thomasrefusedtobreakeyecontactbutdecidedtosaynothingpanicateathimonceagainwouldthingseverstopgettingworse
“grievergotyawettin’yourself”theboysaidthroughasneer“alittlescarednowdon’twannagetstung,doya”
therewasthatwordagainstungthomastriednottothinkaboutitandpointedupthestairs,fromwherethemoansofthesickkidechoedthroughthebuilding“ifnewtwentupthere,theniwannatalktohim”
theboysaidnothing,staredatthomasforseveralsecondsthenheshookhishead“youknowwhatyou’reright,tommy—ishouldn’tbesomeantonewbiesgoonupstairsandi’msurealbyandnewt’llfillyouinseriously,gooni’msorry”
helightlyslappedthomas’sshoulder,thensteppedback,gesturingupthestairsbutthomasknewthekidwasuptosomethinglosingpartsofyourmemorydidn’tmakeyouanidiot
“what’syouame”thomasasked,stallingfortimewhilehetriedtodecideifheshouldgoupafterall
“gallyanddon’tletanyonefoolyoui’mtherealleaderhere,notthetwogeezershanksupstairsmeyoucancallmecaptaingallyifyouwant”hesmiledforthefirsttime;histeethmatchedhisdisgustingnosetwoorthreeweremissing,andnotasingleoneapproachedanythingclosetothecolorwhitehisbreathescapedjustenoughforthomastogetawhiff,remindinghimofsomehorriblememorythatwasjustoutofreachitmadehisstomachtu
“okay,”hesaid,sosickoftheguyhewantedtoscream,punchhimintheface“captaingallyitis”heexaggeratedasalute,feelingarushofadrenaline,asheknewhe’djustcrossedaline
afewsnickersescapedthecrowd,andgallylookedaround,hisfacebrightredhepeeredbackatthomas,hatredfurrowinghisbrowandcrinklinghismonstrousnose
“justgoupthestairs,”gallysaid“andstayawayfromme,youlittleslinthead”hepointedupagainbutdidn’ttakehiseyesoffthomas
“fine”thomaslookedaroundonemoretime,embarrassed,confused,angryhefelttheheatofbloodinhisfacenoonemadeamovetostophimfromdoingasgallyasked,exceptforchuck,whostoodatthefrontdoor,shakinghishead
“you’renotsupposedto,”theyoungerboysaid“you’reanewbie—youcan’tgoupthere”
“go,”saidgallywithasneer“goonup”
thomasregrettedhavingeinsideinthefirstplace—buthedidwanttotalktothatnewtguy
hestartedupthestairseachstepgroanedandcreakedunderhisweight;hemight’vestoppedforfearoffallingthroughtheoldwoodifheweren’tleavingsuchanawkwardsituationbelowuphewent,wincingateverysplinteredsoundthestairsreachedalanding,tuedleft,thencameuponarailedhallwayleadingtoseveralroomsonlyonedoorhadalightingthroughthecrackatthebottom
“thechanging!”gallyshoutedfrombelow“lookforwardtoit,shuck-face!”
asifthetauntinggavethomasasuddenburstofcourage,hewalkedovertothelitdoor,ignoringthecreakingfloorboardsandlaughterdownstairs—ignoringtheonslaughtofwordshedidn’tunderstand,suppressingthedreadfulfeelingstheyinducedhereacheddown,tuedthebrasshandle,andopenedthedoor
insidetheroom,newtandalbycrouchedoversomeonelyingonabed
thomasleanedinclosertoseewhatthefusswasallabout,butwhenhegotaclearlookattheconditionofthepatient,hisheartwentcoldhehadtofightthebilethatsurgeduphisthroat
thelookwasfast—onlyafewseconds—butitwasenoughtohaunthimforeveratwisted,palefigurewrithinginagony,chestbareandhideoustight,rigidcordsofsicklygreenveinswebbedacrosstheboy’sbodyandlimbs,likeropesunderhisskinpurplishbruisescoveredthekid,redhives,bloodyscratcheshisbloodshoteyesbulged,dartingbackandforththeimagehadalreadybuedintothomas’smindbeforealbyjumpedup,blockingtheviewbutnotthemoansandscreams,pushingthomasoutoftheroom,thenslammingthedoorshutbehindthem
“what’reyoudoinguphere,greenie!”albyyelled,hislipstautwithanger,eyesonfire
thomasfeltweak“i…uh…wantsomeanswers,”hemurmured,buthecouldn’tputanystrengthinhiswords—felthimselfgiveupinsidewhatwaswrongwiththatkidthomasslouchedagainsttherailinginthehallwayandstaredatthefloor,notsurewhattodonext
“getyourruntcheeksdownthosestairs,rightnow,”albyordered“chuck’llhelpyouifiseeyouagainbeforetomorrowmoing,youain’treachin’anotheronealivei’llthrowyouoffthecliffmyself,yougetme”
thomaswashumiliatedandscaredhefeltlikehe’dshrunktothesizeofasmallratwithoutsayingaword,hepushedpastalbyandheadeddownthecreakysteps,goingasfastashedaredignoringthegapingstaresofeveryoneatthebottom—especiallygally—hewalkedoutthedoor,pullingchuckbythearmashedidso
thomashatedthesepeoplehehatedallofthemexceptchuck“getmeawayfromtheseguys,”thomassaidherealizedthatchuckmightactuallybehisonlyfriendintheworld
“yougotit,”chuckreplied,hisvoicechipper,asifthrilledtobeneeded“butfirstweshouldgetyousomefoodfromfrypan”
“idon’tknowificanevereatagain”notafterwhathe’djustseen
chucknodded“yeah,youwilli’llmeetyouatthesametreeasbeforetenminutes”
thomaswasmorethanhappytogetawayfromthehouse,andheadedbacktowardthetreehe’donlyknownwhatitwasliketobealivehereforashortwhileandhealreadywantedittoendhewishedforalltheworldhecouldremembersomethingabouthispreviouslifeanythinghismom,hisdad,afriend,hisschool,ahobbyagirl
heblinkedhardseveraltimes,tryingtogettheimageofwhathe’djustseenintheshackoutofhismind
thechanginggallyhadcalleditthechanging
itwasn’tcold,butthomasshudderedonceagain
[小说网，！]
