白噪音(White Noise) (英文版)作者:唐·德里罗(Don DeLillo)-第23部分

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hydrocarbons；　or　whatever　the　precise　toxic　content。　But　it　was　also　spectacular；　part　of　the　grandness　of　a　sweeping　event；　like　the　vivid　scene　in　the　switching　yard　or　the　people　trudging　across　the　snowy　overpass　with　children；　food；　belongings；　a　tragic　army　of　the　dispossessed。　Our　fear　was　acpanied　by　a　sense　of　awe　that　bordered　on　the　religious。　It　is　surely　possible　to　be　awed　by　the　thing　that　threatens　your　life；　to　see　it　as　a　cosmic　force；　so　much　larger　than　yourself；　more　powerful；　created　by　elemental　and　willful　rhythms。　This　was　a　death　made　in　the　laboratory；　defined　and　measurable；　but　we　thought　of　it　at　the　time　in　a　simple　and　primitive　way；　as　some　seasonal　perversity　of　the　earth　like　a　flood　or　tornado；　something　not　subject　to　control。　　Our　helplessness　did　not　seem　patible　with　the　idea　of　a　man…made　event。
　　In　the　back　seat　the　kids　fought　for　possession　of　the　binoculars。
　　The　whole　thing　was　amazing。　They　seemed　to　be　spotlighting　the　cloud　for　us　as　if　it　were　part　of　a　sound…and…light　show；　a　bit　of　mood…setting　mist　drifting　across　a　high　battlement　where　a　king　had　been　slain。　But　this　was　not　history　we　were　witnessing。　It　was　some　secret　festering　thing；　some　dreamed　emotion　that　acpanies　the　dreamer　out　of　sleep。　Flares　came　swooning　from　the　helicopters；　creamy　bursts　of　red　and　white　light。　Drivers　sounded　their　horns　and　children　crowded　all　the　windows；　faces　tilted；　pink　hands　pressed　against　the　glass。
　　The　road　curved　away　from　the　toxic　cloud　and　traffic　moved　more　freely　for　a　while。　At　an　intersection　near　the　Boy　Scout　camp；　two　schoolbuses　entered　the　mainstream　traffic；　both　carrying　the　insane　of　Blacksmith。　We　recognized　the　drivers；　spotted　familiar　faces　in　the　windows；　people　we　customarily　saw　sitting　on　lawn　chairs　behind　the　asylum's　sparse　hedges　or　walking　in　ever　narrowing　circles；　with　ever　increasing　speed；　like　spinning　masses　in　a　gyration　device。　We　felt　an　odd　affection　for　them　and　a　sense　of　relief　that　they　were　being　looked　after　in　a　diligent　and　professional　manner。　It　seemed　to　mean　the　structure　was　intact。
　　We　passed　a　sign　for　the　most　photographed　barn　in　America。
　　It　took　an　hour　to　funnel　traffic　into　the　single…lane　approach　to　the　camp。　Mylex…suited　men　waved　flashlights　and　set　out　Day…Glo　pylons；　directing　us　toward　the　parking　lot　and　onto　athletic　fields　and　other　open　areas。　People　came　out　of　the　woods；　some　wearing　headlamps；　some　carrying　shopping　bags；　children；　pets。　We　bumped　along　dirt　paths；　over　ruts　and　mounds。　Near　the　main　buildings　we　saw　a　group　of　men　and　women　carrying　clipboards　and　walkie…talkies；　non…Mylex…suited　officials；　experts　in　the　new　science　of　evacuation。　Steffie　joined　Wilder　in　fitful　sleep。　The　rain　let　up。　People　turned　off　their　headlights；　sat　uncertainly　in　their　cars。　The　long　strange　journey　was　over。　We　waited　for　a　sense　of　satisfaction　to　reach　us；　some　mood　in　the　air　of　quiet　acplishment；　the　well…earned　fatigue　that　promises　a　still　and　deep…lying　sleep。　But　people　sat　in　their　dark　cars　staring　out　at　each　other　through　closed　windows。　Heinrich　ate　a　candy　bar。　We　listened　to　the　sound　of　his　teeth　getting　stuck　in　the　caramel　and　glucose　mass。　Finally　a　family　of　five　got　out　of　a　Datsun　Maxima。　They　wore　life　jackets　and　carried　flares。
　　Small　crowds　collected　around　certain　men。　Here　were　the　sources　of　information　and　rumor。　One　person　worked　in　a　chemical　plant；　another　had　overheard　a　remark；　a　third　was　related　to　a　clerk　in　a　state　agency。　True；　false　and　other　kinds　of　news　radiated　through　the　dormitory　from　these　dense　clusters。
　　It　was　said　that　we　would　be　allowed　to　go　home　first　thing　in　the　morning；　that　the　government　was　engaged　in　a　cover…up；　that　a　helicopter　had　entered　the　toxic　cloud　and　never　reappeared；　that　the　dogs　had　arrived　from　New　Mexico；　parachuting　into　a　meadow　in　a　daring　night　drop；　that　the　town　of　Farmington　would　be　uninhabitable　for　forty　years。
　　Remarks　existed　in　a　state　of　permanent　flotation。　No　one　thing　was　either　more　or　less　plausible　than　any　other　thing。　As　people　jolted　out　of　reality；　we　were　released　from　the　need　to　distinguish。
　　Some　families　chose　to　sleep　in　their　cars；　others　were　forced　to　do　so　because　there　was　no　room　for　them　in　the　seven　or　eight　buildings　on　the　grounds。　We　were　in　a　large　barracks；　one　of　three　such　buildings　at　the　camp；　and　with　the　generator　now　working　we　were　fairly　fortable。　The　Red　Cross　had　provided　cots；　portable　heaters；　sandwiches　and　coffee。　There　were　kerosene　lamps　to　supplement　the　existing　overhead　lights。　Many　people　had　radios；　extra　food　to　share　with　others；　blankets；　beach　chairs；　extra　clothing。　The　place　was　crowded；　still　quite　cold；　but　the　sight　of　nurses　and　volunteer　workers　made　us　feel　the　children　were　safe；　and　the　presence　of　other　stranded　souls；　young　women　with　infants；　old　and　infirm　people；　gave　us　a　certain　staunchness　and　will；　a　selfless　bent　that　was　pronounced　enough　to　function　as　a　mon　identity。　This　large　gray　area；　dank　and　bare　and　lost　to　history　just　a　couple　of　hours　ago；　was　an　oddly　agreeable　place　right　now；　filled　with　an　eagerness　of　munity　and　voice。
　　Seekers　of　news　moved　from　one　cluster　of　people　to　another；　tending　to　linger　at　the　larger　groups。　In　this　way　I　moved　slowly　through　the　barracks。　There　were　nine　evacuation　centers；　I　learned；　including　this　one　and　the　Kung　Fu　Palace。　Iron　City　had　not　been　emptied　out；　nor　had　most　of　the　other　towns　in　the　area。　It　was　said　that　the　governor　was　on　his　way　from　the　capitol　in　an　executive　helicopter。　It　would　probably　set　down　in　a　bean　field　outside　a　deserted　town；　allowing　the　governor　to　emerge；　square…jawed　and　confident；　in　a　bush　jacket；　within　camera　range；　for　ten　or　fifteen　seconds；　as　a　demonstration　of　his　imperishability。
　　What　a　surprise　it　was　to　ease　my　way　between　people　at　the　outer　edges　of　one　of　the　largest　clusters　and　discover　that　my　own　son　was　at　the　center　of　things；　speaking　in　his　new…found　voice；　his　tone　of　enthusiasm　for　runaway　calamity。　He　was　talking　about　the　airborne　toxic　event　in　a　technical　way；　although　his　voice　all　but　sang　with　prophetic　disclosure。　He　pronounced　the　name　itself；　Nyodene　Derivative；　with　an　unseemly　relish；　taking　morbid　delight　in　the　very　sound。　People　listened　attentively　to　this　adolescent　boy　in　a　field　jacket　and　cap；　with　binoculars　strapped　around　his　neck　and　an　Instamatic　fastened　to　his　belt。　No　doubt　his　listeners　were　influenced　by　his　age。　He　would　be　truthful　and　earnest；　serving　no　special　interest；　he　would　have　an　awareness　of　the　environment；　his　knowledge　of　chemistry　would　be　fresh　and　up…to…date。
　　I　heard　him　say；　〃The　stuff　they　sprayed　on　the　big　spill　at　the　train　yard　was　probably　soda　ash。　But　it　was　a　case　of　too　little　too　late。　My　guess　is　they'll　get　some　crop　dusters　up　in　the　air　at　daybreak　and　bombard　the　toxic　cloud　with　lots　more　soda　ash；　which　could　break　it　up　and　scatter　it　into　a　million　harmless　puffs。　Soda　ash　is　the　mon　name　for　sodium　carbonate；　which　is　used　in　the　manufacture　of　glass；　ceramics；　detergents　and　soaps。　It's　also　what　they　use　to　make　bicarbonate　of　soda；　something　a　lot　of　you　have　probably　guzzled　after　a　night　on　the　town。〃　People　moved　in　closer；　impressed　by　the　boy's　knowledgeability　and　wit。　It　was　remarkable　to　hear　him　speak　so　easily　to　a　crowd　of　strangers。　Was　he　finding　himself；　learning　how　to　determine　his　worth　from　the　reactions　of　others？　Was　it　possible　that　out　of　the　turmoil　and　surge　of　this　dreadful　event　he　would　learn　to　make　his　way　in　the　world？
　　〃What　you're　probably　all　wondering　is　what　exactly　is　this　Nyodene　D。　we　keep　hearing　about？　A　good　question。　We　studied　it　in　school；　we　saw　movies　of　rats　having　convulsions　and　so　on。　So；　okay；　it's　basically　simple。　Nyodene　D。　is　a　whole　bunch　of　things　thrown　together　that　are　byproducts　of　the　manufacture　of　insecticide。　The　original　stuff　kills　roaches；　the　byproducts　kill　everything　left　over。　A　little　joke　our　teacher　made。〃
　　He　snapped　his　fingers；　let　his　left　leg　swing　a　bit。
　　〃In　powder　form　it's　colorless；　odorless　and　very　dangerous；　except　no　one　seems　to　know　exactly　what　it　causes　in　humans　or　in　the　offspring　of　humans。　They　tested　for　years　and　either　they　don't　know　for　sure　or　they　know　and　aren't　saying。　Some　things　are　too　awful　to　publicize。〃
　　He　archied　his　brows　and　began　to　twitch　ically；　his　tongue　lolling　in　a　corner　of　his　mouth。　I　was　astonished　to　hear　people　laugh。
　　〃Once　it　seeps　into　the　soil；　it　has　a　life　span　of　forty　years。　This　is　longer　than　a　lot　of　people。　After　five　years　you'll　notice　various　kinds　of　fungi　appearing　between　your　regular　windows　and　storm　windows　as　well　as　in　your　clothes　and　food。　After　ten　years　your　screens　will　turn　rusty　and　begin　to　pit　and　rot。　Siding　will　warp。　There　will　be　glass　breakage　and　trauma　to　pets。　After　twenty　years　you'll　probably　have　to　seal　yourself　in　the　attic　and　just　wait　and　see。　I　guess　there's　a　lesson　in　all　this。　Get　to　know　your　chemicals。〃
　　I　didn't　want　him　to　see　me　there。　It　would　make　him　self…conscious；　remind　him　of　his　former　life　as　a　gloomy　and　fugitive　boy。　Let　him　bloom；　if　that's　what　he　was　doing；　in　the　name　of　mischance；　dread　and　random　disaster。　So　I　slipped　away；　passing　a　man　who　wore　snow　boots　wrapped　in　plastic；　and　headed　for　the　far　end　of　the　barracks；　where　we'd；　earlier　made　camp。
　　We　were　next　to　a　black　family　of　Jehovah's　Witnesses。　A　man　and　woman　with　a　boy　about　twelve。　Father　and　son　were　handing　but　tracts　to　people　nearby　and　seemed　to　have　no　trouble　finding　willing　recipients　and　listeners。
　　The　woman　said　to　Babette；　〃Isn't　this　something？〃
　　〃Nothing　surprises　me　anymore；〃　Babette　said。
　　〃Isn't　that　the　truth。〃
　　〃What　would　surprise　me　would　be　if　there　were　no　surprises。〃
　　〃That　sounds　about　right。〃
　　〃Or　if　there　were　little　bitty　surprises。　That　would　be　a　surprise。　Instead　of　things　like　this。〃
　　〃God　Jehovah's　got　a　bigger　surprise　in　store　than　this；〃　the　woman　said。
　　〃God　Jehovah？〃
　　〃That's　the　one。〃
　　Steffie　and　Wilder　were　asleep　in　one　of　the　cots。　Denise　sat　at　the　other