第27部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

e　doctors　were　done　with　her；　they　had　their　interesting；　newfangled　X…ray　photographs　of　the　tumor　in　her　head；　they　had　documented　the　weakness　in　her　hand　and　the　paralyzing　pains　that　racked　her　almost　constantly　by　then；　and　were　done　with　her。　They　gave　her　husband　a　bunch　of　pills　with　morphine　in　them　and　sent　Melinda　home　to　die。　Hal　Moores　had　some　sick…leave　piled　up　…　not　a　lot；　they　didn't　give　you　a　lot　in　those　days；　but　he　took　what　he　had　so　he　could　help　her　do　what　she　had　to　do。

My　wife　and　I　went　to　see　her　three　days　or　so　after　she　came　home。　I　called　ahead　and　Hal　said　yes；　that　would　be　fine；　Melinda　was　having　a　pretty　good　day　and　would　enjoy　seeing　us。

〃I　hate　calls　like　this；〃　I　said　to　Janice　as　we　drove　to　the　little　house　where　the　Mooreses　had　spent　most　of　their　marriage。

〃So　does　everyone；　honey；〃　she　said；　and　patted　my　hand。　〃We'll　bear　up　under　it；　and　so　will　she。〃

〃I　hope　so。〃

We　found　Melinda　in　the　sitting　room；　planted　in　a　bright　slant　of　unseasonably　warm　October　sun；　and　my　first　shocked　thought　was　that　she　had　lost　niy　pounds。　She　hadn't；　of　course　…　if　she'd　lost　that　much　weight；　she　hardly　would　have　been　there　at　all　…　but　that　was　my　brain's　initial　reaction　to　what　my　eyes　were　reporting。　Her　face　had　fallen　away　to　show　the　shape　of　the　underlying　skull；　and　her　skin　was　as　white　as　parchment。　There　were　dark　circles　under　her　eyes。　And　it　was　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　her　in　her　rocker　when　she　didn't　have　a　lapful　of　sewing　or　afghan　squares　or　rags　for　braiding　into　a　rug。　She　was　just　sitting　there。　Like　a　person　in　a　train…station。

〃Melinda；〃　my　wife　said　warmly。　I　think　she　was　as　shocked　as　I　was　…　more；　perhaps　…　but　she　hid　it　splendidly；　as　some　women　seem　able　to