第16部分（第1页）

watching　him　closely。

〃Most　times；　if　I　want　to。　But　usually　I　dont　try。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Well　。。。〃　he　paused　a　moment；　troubled。　〃It　would　be　like　peeking　into　the

bedroom　and　watching　while　theyre　doing　the　thing　that　makes　babies。　Do　you

know　that　thing？〃

〃I　have　had　acquaintance　with　it；〃　Hallorann　said　gravely。

〃They　wouldnt　like　that。　And　they　wouldnt　like　me　peeking　at　their　thinks。

It　would　be　dirty。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃But　I　know　how　theyre　feeling；〃　Danny　said。　〃I　cant　help　that。　I　know　how

youre　feeling；　too。　I　hurt　you。　Im　sorry。〃

〃Its　just　a　headache。　Ive　had　hangovers　that　were　worse。　Can　you　read　other

people；　Danny？〃

〃I　cant　read　yet　at　all；〃　Danny　said；　〃except　a　few　words。　But　Daddys　going

to　teach　me　this　winter。　My　daddy　used　to　teach　reading　and　writing　in　a　big

school。　Mostly　writing；　but　he　knows　reading；　too。〃

〃I　mean；　can　you　tell　what　anybody　is　thinking？〃

Danny　thought　about　it。

〃I　can　if　its　loud；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Like　Mrs。　Brant　and　the　pants。　Or　like

once；　when　me　and　Mommy　were　in　this　big　store　to　get　me　some　shoes；　there　was

this　big　kid　looking　at　radios；　and　he　was　thinking　about　taking　one　without

buying　it。　Then　hed　think；　what　if　I　get　caught？　Then　hed　think；　I　really　want

it。　Then　hed　think　about　getting　caught　again。　He　was　making　himself　sick　about

it；　and　he　was　making　me　sick。　Mommy　was　talking　to　the　man　who　sells　the　shoes

so　I　went　over　and　said；　‘Kid；　dont　take　that　radio。　Go　away。　And　he　got

really　scared。　He　went　away　fast。〃

Hallorann　was　grinning　broadly。　〃I　bet　he　did。　Can　you　do　anything　else；

Danny？　Is　it　only　thoughts　and　feelings；　or　is　there　more？〃

Cautiously：　〃Is　there　more　for　you？〃

〃Sometimes；〃　Hallorann　said。　〃Not　often。　Sometimes　。。。　sometimes　there　are

dreams。　Do　you　dream；　Danny？〃

〃Sometimes；〃　Danny　said；　〃I　dream　when　Im　awake。　After　Tony　es。〃　His　thumb

wanted　to　go　into　his　mouth　again。　He　had　never　told　anyone　but　Mommy　and　Daddy