sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第42部分

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　〃You　mean　psychokinesis？　There　are　a　lot　of　experiments　being　done；　but　no　one　has　ever　e　up　with　any　proof　that's　convinced　me。〃　
　There　was　the　broken　vase　outside　her　bedroom　door。　Jill　wanted　to　tell　him　about　that；　about　the　cold　air　that　kept　following　her；　about　Toby's　wheelchair　at　her　door；　but　he　would　think　she　was　crazy。　Was　she？　Was　something　wrong　with　her？　Was　she　losing　her　mind？　
　When　Dr。　Kaplan　left；　Jill　walked　over　to　look　at　herself　in　the　mirror。　She　was　shocked　by　what　she　saw。　Her　cheeks　were　sunken　and　her　eyes　enormous　in　a　pale；　bony　face。　If　I　go　on　this　way；　Jill　thought；　I'll　die　before　Toby。　She　looked　at　her　stringy；　dull　hair　and　her　broken；　cracked　fingernails。　
　I　must　never　let　David　see　me　looking　like　this。　I　have　to　start　taking　care　of　myself。　From　now　on；　she　told　herself；　you're　going　to　the　beauty　parlor　once　a　week；　and　you're　going　to　eat　three　meals　a　day　and　sleep　eight　hows。　The　following　morning；　Jill　made　an　appointment　at　the　beauty　parlor。　She　was　exhausted；　and　under　the　warm；　fortable　hum　of　the　hair　drier；　she　dozed　off；　and　the　nightmare　began。　She　was　in　bed；　asleep。　She　could　hear　Toby　e　into　her　bedroom　in　his　wheelchair。。。　creak。。。　creak。　Slowly；　he　got　out　of　the　chair　and　rose　to　his　feet　and　moved　toward　her；　grinning；　his　skeletal　hands　reaching　for　her　throat。　Jill　awoke　screaming　wildly；　throwing　the　beauty　shop　into　an　uproar。　She　fled　without　even　having　her　hair　bed　out。　After　that　experience；　Jill　was　afraid　to　leave　the　house　again。　And　afraid　to　remain　in　it。
　Something　seemed　to　be　wrong　with　her　head。　It　was　no　longer　just　the　headaches。　She　was　beginning　to　forget　things。　She　would　go　downstairs　for　something　and　walk　into　the　kitchen　and　stand　there；　not　knowing　what　she　had　e　for。　Her　memory　began　to　play　strange　tricks　on　her。　Once；　Nurse　Gordon　came　in　to　speak　to　her；　Jill　wondered　what　a　nurse　was　doing　there；　and　then　she　suddenly　remembered。　The　director　was　waiting　on　the　set　for　Jill。　She　tried　to　recall　her　line。　Not　very　well；　I'm　afraid。　Doctor。　She　must　speak　to　the　director　and　find　out　how　he　wanted　her　to　read　it。　Nurse　Gordon　was　holding　her　band；　saying；　〃Mrs。　Temple！　Mrs。　Templel　Are　you　feeling　all　right？〃　And　Jill　was　back　in　her　own　surroundings；　again　in　the　present；　caught　up　in　the　terror　of　what　was　happening　to　her。　She　knew　she　could　not　go　on　like　this。　She　had　to　find　out　whether　there　was　something　wrong　with　her　mind　or　whether　Toby　was　able　to　somehow　move；　whether　he　had　found　a　way　to　attack　her；　to　try　to　murder　her。　She　had　to　see　him。　She　forced　herself　to　walk　down　the　long　hall　toward　Toby's　bedroom。　She　stood　outside　a　moment；　steeling　herself；　and　then　Jill　entered　Toby's　room。　
　Toby　was　lying　in　his　bed；　and　the　nurse　was　giving　him　a　sponge　bath。　She　looked　up；　saw　Jill　and　said；　
　〃Why；　here's　Mrs。　Temple。　We're　just　having　a　nice　bath；　aren't　we？〃　
　Jill　turned　to　look　at　the　figure　on　the　bed。　Toby's　arms　and　legs　had　shriveled　into　stringy　appendages　attached　to　his　shrunken；　twisted　torso。　Between　his　legs；　like　some　long　indecent　snake；　lay　his　useless　penis；　flaccid　and　ugly。　The　yellow　cast　had　gone　from　Toby's　face；　but　the　gaping　idiot　grin　was　still　there。　The　body　was　dead；　but　the　eyes　were　frantically　alive。　Darting；　seeking；　weighing；　planning；　hating；　cunning　blue　eyes　filled　with　their　secret　plans；　their　deadly　determination。　It　was　Toby's　mind　she　was　seeing。　The　important　thing　to　remember　is　that　his　mind　is　unimpaired；　the　doctor　had　told　her。　His　mind　could　think　and　feel　and　hate。　That　mind　had　nothing　to　do　but　plan　its　revenge；　figure　put　a　way　to　destroy　her。　Toby　wanted　her　dead；　as　she　wanted　him　dead。　As　Jill　looked　down　at　him　now；　staring　into　those　eyes　blazing　with　loathing；　she　could　hear　him　saying；　I'm　going　to　kilt　you；　and　she　could　feel　the　waves　of　abhorrence　hitting　her　like　physical　blows。　Jill　stared　into　those　eyes；　and　she　remembered　the　broken　vase　and　she　knew　that　none　of　the　nightmares　had　been　illusions。　He　had　found　a　way。　She　knew　now　that　it　was　Toby's　life　against　hers。　
　　
　When　Dr。　Kaplan　finished　his　examination　of　Toby；　he　went　to　find　Jill。　
　〃I　think　you　should　stop　the　therapy　in　the　swimming　pool；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　waste　of　time。　I　was　hoping　we　might　get　some　slight　improvement　in　Toby's　musculature；　but　it's　not　working。　I'll　talk　to　the　therapist　myself。〃　
　〃No！〃　It　was　a　sharp　cry。　Dr。　Kaplan　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　
　〃Jill；　I　now　what　you　did　for　Toby　last　time。　But　this　time　it's　hopeless。　I　〃　
　〃We　can't　give　up。　Not　yet。〃　There　was　a　desperation　in　her　voice。　Dr。　Kaplan　hesitated；　then　shrugged。　
　〃Well；　if　it　means　that　much　to　you；　but〃　
　〃It　does。〃　At　that　moment；　it　was　the　most　important　thing　in　the　world。　It　was　going　to　save　Jill's　life。　She　knew　now　what　she　had　to　do。　
　The　following　day　was　Friday。　David　telephoned　Jill　to　tell　her　that　he　had　to　go　to　Madrid　on　business。　
　〃I　may　not　be　able　to　call　over　the　weekend。〃　
　〃I'll　miss　you；〃　Jill　said。　〃Very　much。〃　
　〃I'll　miss　you；　too。　Are　you　all　right？　You　sound　strange。　Are　you　tired？〃　
　Jill　was　fighting　to　keep　her　eyes　open；　to　forget　the　terrible　pain　in　her　head。　She　could　not　remember　the　last　time　she　had　eaten　or　slept。　She　was　so　weak　that　it　was　difficult　to　stand。　She　forced　energy　into　her　voice。　
　〃I'm　fine；　David。〃　
　〃I　love　you；　darling。　Take　care　of　yourself。〃　
　〃I'm　going　to；　David。　I　love　you；　please　know　that。〃　
　No　matter　what　happens。　She　heard　the　physiotherapist's　car　turn　into　the　driveway；　and　Jill　started　downstairs；　her　head　pounding；　her　trembling　legs　barely　able　to　support　her。　She　opened　the　front　door　as　the　physiotherapist　was　about　to　ring　the　bell。　
　〃Morning；　Mrs。　Temple；〃　he　said。　He　started　to　enter；　but　Jill　blocked　his　way。　He　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　
　〃Dr。　Kaplan　has　decided　to　discontinue　Mr。　Temple's　therapy　treatments；〃　Jill　said。　The　physiotherapist　frowned。　It　meant　he　had　made　an　unnecessary　trip　out　here。　Someone　should　have　told　him　earlier。　Ordinarily　he　would　have　plained　about　the　way　it　had　been　handled。　But　Mrs。　Temple　was　such　a　great　lady；　with　such　big　problems。　He　smiled　at　her　and　said；　
　〃It's　okay；　Mrs。　Temple。　I　understand。〃　
　And　he　got　back　into　his　car。　Jill　waited　until　she　heard　the　car　drive　away。　Then　she　started　back　up　the　stairs。　Halfway　up；　a　wave　of　dizziness　hit　her　again；　and　she　had　to　cling　to　the　banister　until　it　passed。　She　could　not　stop　now。　If　she　did；　she　would　be　dead。　She　walked　to　the　door　of　Toby's　room；　turned　the　knob　and　entered。　Nurse　Gallagher　was　seated　in　an　easy　chair　working　on　needlepoint。　She　looked　up　in　surprise　as　she　saw　Jill　standing　in　the　doorway。　
　〃Well！〃　she　said。　〃You've　e　to　visit　us。　Isn't　that　nice？〃　She　turned　toward　the　bed。　〃I　know　Mr。　Temple　is　pleased。　Aren't　we；　Mr。　Temple？〃　
　Toby　was　sitting　up　in　bed；　propped　upright　by　pillows；　his　eyes　carrying　his　message　to　Jill。　I'm　going　to　kill　you。　Jill　averted　her　eyes　and　walked　over　to　Nurse　Gallagher。　
　〃I've　decided　that　I　haven't　been　spending　enough　time　with　my　husband。〃　
　〃Well；　now；　that's　exactly　what　I've　been　thinking；〃　Nurse　Gallagher　chirped。　〃But　then　I　could　see　that　you've　been　ill　yourself；　and　so　I　said　to　myself　〃　
　〃I'm　feeling　much　better　now；〃　Jill　interrupted。　〃I'd　like　to　be　alone　with　Mr。　Temple。〃　
　Nurse　Gallagher　gathered　up　her　needlepoint　paraphernalia　and　got　to　her　feet。　
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　sure　we'll　enjoy　that。〃　She　turned　toward　the　grinning　figure　on　the　bed。　〃Won't　we；　Mr。　Temple？〃　To　Jill；　she　added；　〃I'm　just　go　down　to　the　kitchen　and　fix　myself　a　nice　cup　of　tea。〃　
　〃No。　You're　off　duty　in　half　an　hour。　You　can　leave　now。　I'll　stay　here　until　Nurse　Gordon　arrives。〃　Jill　gave　her　a　quick；　reassuring　smile。　〃Don't　worry。　I'll　be　here　with　him。〃　
　〃I　suppose　I　could　get　some　shopping　done；　and　　〃　
　〃Fine；〃　Jill　said。　〃You　run　along。〃　
　Jill　stood　there；　immobile；　until　she　heard　the　front　door　slam　and　Nurse　Gallagher's　car　going　down　the　driveway。　When　the　sounds　of　the　motor　had　died　away　on　the　summer　air；　Jill　turned　to　look　at　Toby。　His　eyes　were　focused　on　her　face　in　an　unwavering；　unblinking　stare。　Forcing　herself　to　move　closer　to　the　bed；　she　pulled　back　the　covers　and　looked　down　at　the　wasted；　paralyzed　frame；　the　limp；　useless　legs。　The　wheelchair　was　in　a　corner。　Jill　moved　it　over　to　the　bedside　and　positioned　the　chair　so　that　she　could　roll　Toby　onto　it。　She　reached　toward　him；　and　stopped。　It　took　every　ounce　of　her　willpower　to　touch　him。　The　grinning；　mummified　face　was　only　inches　away　from　her；　the　mouth　smiling　idiotically　and　the　bright　blue　eyes　spewing　venom。　Jill　leaned　forward　and　forced　herself　to　lift　Toby　by　his　arms。　He　was　almost　weightless；　but　in　Jill's　exhausted　condition；　she　could　barely　manage　it。　As　she　touched　his　body；　Jill　could　feel　the　icy　air　begin　to　envelop　her。　The　pressure　inside　her　head　was　being　unbearable。　There　were　bright　colored　spots　before　her　eyes；　and　they　began　to　dance　around；　faster　and　faster；　making　her　dizzy。　She　felt　herself　starting　to　faint；　but　she　knew　that　she　must　not　allow　that　to　happen。　Not　if　she　wanted　to　live。　With　a　superhuman　effort；　she　dragged　Toby's　limp　body　onto　the　wheelchair　and　strapped　him　in。　She　looked　at　her　watch。　She　had　only　twenty　minutes。　
　It　took　Jill　five　minutes　to　go　into　her　bedroom　and　change　into　a　bathing　suit　and　return　to　Toby's　room。　She　released　the　brake　on　the　wheelchair　and　began　to　wheel　Toby　down　the　corridor；　into　the　elevator。　She　stood　behind　him　as　they　rode　down；　so　that　she　could　not　see　his　eyes；　but　she　could　feel　them。　And　she　could　feel　the　damp　cold　of　the　noxious　air　that　began　to　fill　the　elevator；　smothering　her；　caressing　her；　filling　her　lungs　with　its　putrescence　until　she　began　to　choke。　She　could　not　breathe。　She　fell　to　her　knees；　gasping；　fighting　to　stay　conscious；　trapped　in　there　with　him。　As　she　started　to　feel　herself　blacking　out；　the　elevator　door　opened。　She　crawled　into　the　warm　sunlight　and　lay　there　on　the　ground；　breathing　deeply；　sucking　in　the　fresh　air；　slowly　getting　back　her　energy。　She　turned　toward　the　elevator。　Toby　was　seated　in　the　wheelc