ebEpvI

file:///E|/Funny%20&%20Weird%20Shit/75%20-%20Stephen%20King%20Books/Stephen%20King%20-%20Pet%20Sematary.htmwas quicker, and all that happened was that Gage got a spanking for not stopping when they yelled.It was Steve who really saw how it was going with Rachel and with Ellie as well. He forbade Rachel togo to the morning viewing (although “viewing” was really a misnomer because of the closed coffin; if itwas open, Louis thought, they’d all run screaming from the room, me included) and forbade Ellie to goat all. Rachel protested. Ellie only sat, silent and grave, with the picture of her and Gage in one hand.It was Steve who gave Rachel the shot she needed and who gave Ellie a teaspoon of a colorless liquid todrink. Ellie usually whined and protested about taking medicine—any kind of medicine—but she drankthis silently and without a grimace. By ten o’clock that morning she was asleep in her bed (the picture ofher and Gage still held in her hand) and Rachel was sitting in front of the television set, watching“Wheel of Fortune.” Her responses to Steve’s questions were slow. She was stoned, but her face had lostthat thoughtful look of madness which had so worried—and frightened—the P.A. when he came in thatmorning at a quarter past eight.Jud, of course, had made all the arrangements. He made them with the same calm efficiency that he hadmade them for his wife three months before. But it was Steve Masterton who took Louis aside justbefore Louis left for the funeral home.“I’ll see that she’s there this afternoon, if she seems capable of handling it,” he told Louis.“Okay.”“The shot will have worn off by then. Your friend Mr. Crandall says he’ll stay with Ellie during theafternoon viewing hours—”“Right.”“—and play Monopoly or something with her—”“Uh-huh.”“But—”“Right.”Steve stopped. They were standing in the garage, Church’s stomping ground, the place where he broughthis dead birds and dead rats. The ones that Louis owned. Outside was May sunshine,and a robin bopped across the head of the driveway, as if it had important business somewhere.Maybe it did.file:///E|/Funny%20&%20Weird%20Shit/75%20-%20St...20Books/Stephen%20King%20-%20Pet%20Sematary.htm (183 of 333)7/28/2005 9:21:49 PM