gossip girl 12 终结- 第14节

Uh…oh。

“e　to　Yale！”　Blair　cried。　“They　have　a　sailing　team。”

“Could　I　do　that？”　Nate　wondered。　For　the　past　four　months；　he’d　barely　read　a　book。　Hell；　he’d　barely　even　spoken　to　anyone　except　Chips。　Even　here；　it　had　felt　too　overwhelming　to　order　breakfast；　he　was　thankful　Blair　had　stepped　in。　There　were　too　many　choices；　too　many　decisions　in　the　real　world。　He　felt　like　he　needed　a　remedial　course　in　life　before　he　started　at　an　Ivy　League　university。

“Of　course。”　Blair　patted　him　on　the　knee。　“You　only　just　deferred。　You　could　start　spring　semester。　I　can　e…mail　my　advisor　and　ask　him　to　help　you　pick　classes。　He’s　the　best；”　Blair　said；　busily　creating　a　mental　list　of　all　the　things　she　had　to　do。　First；　she’d　have　to　head　to　New　Haven　to　find　an　adorable　town　house　she　and　Nate　could　rent。　Then；　they’d　go　shopping　at　ABC　Carpet　&　Home　to　decorate。　She’d　have　to　help　him　pick　the　right　classes　and　she’d　have　to　talk　to　Petra；　a　nice　but　way…too…sporty　girl　from　her　econ　class；　to　see　if　she　knew　any　of　the　sailing　guys…。

“How’s　the　movie　biz？”　Nate　asked　Serena；　interrupting　Blair’s　reverie。　Blair　felt　a　wave　of　annoyance　ripple　through　her。　Who　cared？　After　all；　they　were　talking　about　Nate’s　future。

“It’s　fine。　It’s　a　lot　of　sitting　around　and　waiting　for　something　to　happen　or　running　from　place　to　place；　meeting　people　you’re　never　going　to　see　again。　I　kind　of　wish　I　could　just　lie　in　the　grass　somewhere　and　read　books；”　Serena　mused。

“College　isn’t　really　about　lying　around　and　reading　books；”　Blair　scoffed；　placing　her　hand　territorially　on　Nate’s　thigh。

“I　know。”　Serena　sighed。　“I　just　miss　the　way　it　used　to　be；　sometimes。”

“I　don’t；”　Blair　said　as　the　waiter　set　their　plates　of　food　in　front　of　them。　“I　feel　like　our　real　lives　have　started。　Don’t　you　agree？”　She　turned　sharply　toward　Nate　and　snatched　a　slice　of　bacon　from　his　plate。

Suddenly；　Serena　couldn’t　stand　it　anymore。　If　she　had　to　watch　them　be　couply　with　each　other；　she　at　least　needed　a　drink。

She　cocked　her　head　and　gestured　to　the　waiter。　“A　round　of　mimosas？　We’re　celebrating！”　she　announced。　All　she　had　to　do　was　pretend　she　was　in　a　movie；　and　she’d　be　able　to　make　it　through　the　rest　of　breakfast。

And　would　that　movie　be　called　The　Flat　Tire　on　the　Perpetual　Third　Wheel？

who　says　you　can’t　go　home？

“Daniel…san！”　Can　you　get　more　rocks　for　the　fire　pit？”　Rufus　asked；　poking　his　head　out　of　a　lopsided　canvas…and…log　structure　that　served　as　a　sweat　lodge。　Dan　had　spent　the　last　few　days　in　an　upstate　New　York　campsite　with　Rufus　and　his　motley　group　of　friends：　Mika；　Herbert；　and　Ron。　Ron　preferred　to　be　called　Running　Rainbow；　and　when　he　wasn’t　serving　as　a　barista　at　Starbucks；　he　taught　tai　chi　for　free　in　Central　Park。　Mika　and　Herbert　were　tall；　skinny；　bald　members　of　a　folk…rock　band　that　played　open…mic　nights　around　the　city。　Rufus　had　met　all　three　of　them　at　a　seminar　at　the　Ninety…second　Street　Y　called　Bringing　the　Age　of　Aquarius　into　the　Age　of　the　Internet。

Rufus　emerged　from　the　sweat　lodge　wearing　a　blue…and…yellow　striped　towel　around　his　waist　and　white　Crocs。　He　didn’t　seem　the　least　bit　cold；　despite　the　fact　that　the　temperature　hovered　near　freezing。　Dan　was　shivering　in　a　Patagonia　parka　he’d　inadvertently　stolen　from　his　Evergreen　roommate。

“Okay；”　Dan　mumbled。　They’d　only　been　in　the　woods　for　two　nights；　but　it　felt　like　a　lifetime；　especially　since　he　didn’t　even　get　cell　service。　He’d　wanted　to　call　Vanessa　at　midnight　on　New　Year’s　Eve；　but　no　matter　how　far　away　he　walked　from　the　campsite；　he　couldn’t　get　reception。

Dan　sighed　and　grabbed　a　large　moss…covered　rock；　groaning　as　he　picked　it　up。

“Here。”　He　dropped　the　rock　next　to　Rufus’s　Crocs。　Inside；　Herbert　and　Mika　were　banging　on　bongo　drums。

“Thanks；”　Herbert　called。　“I　think　we’re　ready　to　begin　the　ceremony。”　He　poked　his　head　out　of　the　structure　like　a　puppy　in　an　extra…large　doghouse。　“And　Dan；　since　you’re　the　youngest；　you　can　be　the　dog　soldier；”　he　announced。

“Excuse　me？”　Dog　soldier？

“You　need　to　protect　the　door　while　we　chant　away　our　demons；”　Herbert　explained。　“We　have　extra　animal　skins　if　you　get　cold。”

Dan　did　a　double　take。　Was　this　guy　serious？　Protect　the　door？　Not　only　was　it　broad　daylight；　but　the　wooded　area　they　were　staying　in　was　right　next　to　a　farmhouse。　What　he’d　thought　had　been　a　rushing　river　when　they’d　gotten　to　the　site　after　dark　on　New　Year’s　had　actually　been　the　whooshing　of　cars　across　a　highway。　But　it　was　no　use　arguing。　Herbert　had　already　retreated　back　into　the　sweat　lodge　with　his　bongo　drum。

Dan　sighed　and　sat　on　a　log　outside　the　lodge。　Fuck；　he　was　cold。　He　wondered　what　Vanessa　was　doing。　Knowing　she　was　in　New　York　while　he　was　here　was　almost　too　much　to　bear。

Sounds　like　he’s　the　negative　spirit。

He　pulled　a　pen　and　a　crumpled　receipt　from　the　pocket　of　his　jacket。　Maybe　he　should　focus　on　writing。　Maybe　suffering　would　be　good　for　him—he　wasn’t　going　to　suffer　at　all　once　he　and　Vanessa　were　living　together。　Smoothing　out　the　paper　on　his　thigh；　he　began　to　write。

Sweat；　skin　heat；　cold；　wet　sweet。

It　was　no　use。　The　poem　sounded　like　the　beginning　of　an　erotic　version　of　The　Cat　in　the　Hat。　There　was　no　way　he　could　do　this　for　two　more　days。　Besides；　sitting　outside　and　guarding　against　evil　spirits　didn’t　really　equate　to　bonding　time　with　his　dad。　That　was　it。　He　was　going　home。

“Dad？”　Dan　whispered　hesitantly　through　the　canvas…flapped　door　of　the　lean…to。

“What？”　Rufus’s　wiry　hair　was　slick　with　sweat　and　his　face　was　bright　red　as　he　swayed　back　and　forth　in　front　of　the　central　fire。

“I　don’t　think　this　is　working　for　me；”　Dan　said　carefully。　“I　need　to　see　Vanessa。”

Rufus　shook　his　grizzly　head　sadly　and　stood　up。　Dan　cringed。　His　dad　was　only　wearing　a　tiny　purple　Speedo　that　sagged　in　the　ass。　“Are　you　sure？”　he　asked；　clapping　Dan　on　the　shoulder。　“Because　if　you　want　me　to　take　over　dog　soldier　duty　so　you　can　sweat　it　out；　that’d　be　fine　with　me。　You　know；　I　never　believed　this　New　Age　crap；　but　it’s　good　stuff。”

Dan　shook　his　head。　“I　think　my　spirit　guides　are　telling　me　to　go　home；”　he　said　seriously。

The　bongo　playing　stopped。　“Door　to　the　farmhouse　is　open　if　you　need　to　call　Al’s　taxi　service；”　Running　Rainbow　yelled；　then　resumed　drumming。

Rufus　shrugged。　“You’ll　be　okay？”

“Yes。　Have　fun；　Dad！”　Dan　yelled　as　he　practically　sprinted　away　from　the　campsite　and　toward　the　highway。　He　didn’t　want　to　wait　for　Al’s　taxi　service。　He　just　wanted　to　go　home。　Stamping　his　feet　on　the　asphalt；　he　put　his　thumb　up。

A　truck　slowed　down。

“What　do　we　have　here？”　The　driver　leaned　out　his　window。　He　was　missing　three　front　teeth　and　was　probably　around　sixty。　His　long　bushy　hair　reminded　Dan　of　pictures　of　Jerry　Garcia　in　his　later　years。　Was　this　where　all　the　sixties　stoners　came　to　die？

“I’m　heading　to　the　city。　New　York？”　Dan　said；　trying　to　play　it　cool；　as　if　he　hitchhiked　all　the　time。

Jerry　Two　nodded　thoughtfully。　“Hop　in！”　he　announced　grandly。　Dan　nodded　and　took　a　breath。　The　cab　of　the　truck　smelled　like　patchouli　and　jasmine。

“Bringing　my　candles　to　sell　in　the　big　city。　You　ever　been　to　the　Union　Square　greenmarket？　I　have　a　booth！”　Jerry　Two　said　proudly　as　he　floored　the　accelerator。

“Oh？”　Dan　said　politely。　At　least　the　cab　of　the　truck　was　warm。　And　he　really　doubted　a　candle…selling　hippie　would　be　a　serial　killer。

“Yep。　Me　and　my　wife　make　’em。　You　got　a　wife？”　the　driver　asked　panionably。

“No。”　Dan　shook　his　head。　He　tried　to　imagine　himself　and　Vanessa　in　their　sixties。　Would　they　still　be　making　poetry　and　films？　“I　have　a　girlfriend；　though。　I’m　going　back　to　the　city　to　see　her；”　Dan　said；　surprised　at　how　much　information　he　was　volunteering。

Jerry　Two　nodded　thoughtfully。　“When　I　was　your　age；　I　was　already　married。　My　wife’s　name　is　Joan；　and　she’s　just　as　pretty　and　smart　as　the　first　time　I　laid　eyes　on　her。　When　you　find　a　lady　like　that；　you　don’t　let　her　go；　you　know　what　I　mean？”

“Yes；”　Dan　mumbled；