《No Country for Old Men》第32章

outside　the　drugstore　on　main　he　stopped　and　turned　and　leaned　against　a　car　parked there。　he　checked　the　street。　no　one　ing。　he　unscrewed　the　gascap　at　his　elbow　and hooked　the　shirtsleeve　over　the　coathanger　and　ran　it　down　into　the　tank　and　drew　it　out again。　he　taped　the　cardboard　over　the　open　gastank　and　balled　the　sleeve　wet　with gasoline　over　the　top　of　it　and　taped　it　down　and　lit　it　and　turned　and　limped　into　the drugstore。　he　was　little　more　than　halfway　down　the　aisle　toward　the　pharmacy　when the　car　outside　exploded　into　flame　taking　out　most　of　the　glass　in　front　of　the　store。
he　let　himself　in　through　the　little　gate　and　went　down　the　pharmacists　aisles。　he　found a　packet　of　syringes　and　a　bottle　of　hydrocodone　tablets　and　he　came　back　up　the　aisle looking　for　penicillin。　he　couldnt　find　it　but　he　found　tetracycline　and　sulfa。　he　stuffed these　things　in　his　pocket　and　came　out　from　behind　the　counter　in　the　orange　glow　of the　fire　and　went　down　the　aisle　and　picked　up　a　pair　of　aluminum　crutches　and　pushed open　the　rear　door　and　went　hobbling　out　across　the　gravel　parking　lot　behind　the　store。
the　alarm　at　the　rear　door　went　off　but　no　one　paid　any　attention　and　chigurh　never　had even　glanced　toward　the　front　of　the　store　which　was　now　in　flames。
he　pulled　into　a　motel　outside　of　hondo　and　got　a　room　at　the　end　of　the　building　and walked　in　and　set　his　bag　on　the　bed。　he　shoved　the　pistol　under　the　pillow　and　went　in the　bathroom　with　the　bag　from　the　cooperative　and　dumped　the　contents　out　into　the sink。　he　emptied　his　pockets　and　laid　out　everything　on　the　counter…keys；　billfold；　the vials　of　antibiotic　and　the　syringes。　he　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　tub　and　pulled　off　his　boots and　reached　down　and　put　the　plug　in　the　tub　and　turned　on　the　tap。　then　he　undressed and　eased　himself　into　the　tub　while　it　filled。
his　leg　was　black　and　blue　and　swollen　badly。　it　looked　like　a　snakebite。　he　laved　water over　the　wounds　with　a　washcloth。　he　turned　his　leg　in　the　water　and　studied　the　exit wound。　small　pieces　of　cloth　stuck　to　the　tissue。　the　hole　was　big　enough　to　put　your thumb　in。
when　he　climbed　out　of　the　tub　the　water　was　a　pale　pink　and　the　holes　in　his　leg　were still　leaking　a　pale　blood　dilute　with　serum。　he　dropped　his　boots　in　the　water　and patted　himself　dry　with　the　towel　and　sat　on　the　toilet　and　took　the　bottle　of　betadine and　the　packet　of　swabs　from　the　sink。　he　tore　open　the　packet　with　his　teeth　and unscrewed　the　bottle　and　tipped　it　slowly　over　the　wounds。　then　he　set　the　bottle　down and　bent　to　work；　picking　out　the　bits　of　cloth；　using　the　swabs　and　the　forceps。　he　sat with　the　water　running　in　the　sink　and　rested。　he　held　the　tip　of　the　forceps　under　the faucet　and　shook　away　the　water　and　bent　to　his　work　again。
when　he　was　done　he　disinfected　the　wound　a　final　time　and　tore　open　packets　of　four by　fours　and　laid　them　over　the　holes　in　his　leg　and　bound　them　with　gauze　off　of　a　roll packaged　for　sheep　and　goats。　then　he　rose　and　filled　the　plastic　tumbler　on　the　sink counter　with　water　and　drank　it。　he　filled　it　and　drank　twice　more。　then　he　went　back into　the　bedroom　and　stretched　out　on　the　bed　with　his　leg　propped　on　the　pillows。
other　than　a　light　beading　of　sweat　on　his　forehead　there　was　little　evidence　that　his labors　had　cost　him　anything　at　all。
when　he　went　back　into　the　bathroom　he　stripped　one　of　the　syringes　out　of　the　plastic wrapper　and　sank　the　needle　through　the　seal　into　the　vial　of　tetracycline　and　drew　the glass　barrel　full　and　held　it　to　the　light　and　pressed　the　plunger　with　his　thumb　until　a small　bead　appeared　at　the　tip　of　the　needle。　then　he　snapped　the　syringe　twice　with　his finger　and　bent　and　slid　the　needle　into　the　quadriceps　of　his　right　leg　and　slowly depressed　the　plunger。
he　stayed　in　the　motel　for　five　days。　hobbling　down　to　the　cafe　on　the　crutches　for　his meals　and　back　again。　he　kept　the　television　on　and　he　sat　up　in　the　bed　watching　it　and he　never　changed　channels。　he　watched　whatever　came　on。　he　watched　soap　operas　and the　news　and　talk　shows。　he　changed　the　dressing　twice　a　day　and　cleaned　the　wounds with　epsom　salt　solution　and　took　the　antibiotics。　when　the　maid　came　the　first　morning he　went　to　the　door　and　told　her　he　did　not　need　any　service。　just　towels　and　soap。　he gave　her　ten　dollars　and　she　took　the　money　and　stood　there　uncertainly。　he　told　her　the same　thing　in　spanish　and　she　nodded　and　put　the　money　in　her　apron　and　pushed　her cart　back　up　the　walkway　and　he　stood　there　and　studied　the　cars　in　the　parking　lot　and then　shut　the　door。
on　the　fifth　night　while　he　was　sitting　in　the　cafe　two　deputies　from　the　valdez　county sheriffs　office　came　in　and　sat　down　and　removed　their　hats　and　put　them　in　the　empty chairs　at　either　side　and　took　the　menus　from　the　chrome　holder　and　opened　them。　one of　them　looked　at　him。　chigurh　watched　it　all　without　turning　or　looking。　they　spoke。
then　the　other　one　looked　at　him。　then　the　waitress　came。　he　finished　his　coffee　and rose　and　left　the　money　on　the　table　and　walked　out。　hed　left　the　crutches　in　the　room and　he　walked　slowly　and　evenly　along　the　walkway　past　the　cafe　window　trying　not　to limp。　he　walked　past　his　room　to　the　end　of　the　ramada　and　turned。　he　looked　at　the ramcharger　parked　at　the　end　of　the　lot。　it　could　not　be　seen　from　the　office　or　from　the restaurant。　he　went　back　to　the　room　and　put　his　shavingkit　and　the　pistol　in　his　bag　and walked　out　across　the　parking　lot　and　got　into　the　ramcharger　and　started　it　and　drove over　the　concrete　divider　into　the　parking　lot　of　the　electronics　shop　next　door　and　out onto　the　highway。
wells　stood　on　the　bridge　with　the　wind　off　the　river　tousling　his　thin　and　sandy　hair。
he　turned　and　leaned　against　the　fence　and　raised　the　small　cheap　camera　he　carried　and took　a　picture　of　nothing　in　particular　and　lowered　the　camera　again。　he　was　standing where　moss　had　stood　four　nights　ago。　he　studied　the　blood　on　the　walk。　where　it trailed　off　to　nothing　he　stopped　and　stood　with　his　arms　folded　and　his　chin　in　his　hand。
he　didnt　bother　to　take　a　picture。　there