jg.thefirm-第24部分

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　　〃It's　good　beer。〃
　　〃And　when　I　get　tired　of　dominoes；　I'll　throw　some　darts。〃　He　nodded　to　a　corner　where　a　group　of　drunk　Englishmen　were　tossing　darts　at　a　board　and　cursing　each　other。　〃And　when　I　get　tired　of　darts；　well；　who　knows　what　I'll　do。　Excuse　me。〃　He　headed　for　a　table　on　the　patio　where　two　string　bikinis　had　just　sat　down。　He　introduced　himself；　and　they　asked　him　to　have　a　seat。　Mitch　ordered　another　Red　Stripe　and　went　to　the　beach。　In　the　distance　he　could　see　the　bank　buildings　of　Georgetown。　He　walked　in　that　direction。
　　The　food　was　placed　on　folding　tables　around　the　pool。　Grilled　grouper；　barbecued　shark；　pompano；　fried　shrimp；　turtle　and　oysters；　lobster　and　red　snapper。　It　was　all　from　the　sea；　and　all　fresh。　The　guests　crowded　around　the　tables　and　served　themselves　while　waiters　scurried　back　and　forth　with　gallons　of　rum　punch。　They　ate　on　small　tables　in　the　courtyard　overlooking　Rumheads　and　the　sea。　A　reggae　band　tuned　up。　The　sun　dipped　behind　a　cloud；　then　over　the　horizon。
　　Mitch　followed　Avery　through　the　buffet　and；　as　expected；　to　a　table　where　the　two　women　were　waiting。　They　were　sisters；　both　in　their　late　twenties；　both　divorced；　both　half　drunk。　The　one　named　Carrie　had　fallen　in　heat　with　Avery；　and　the　other　one；　Julia；　immediately　began　making　eyes　at　Mitch。　He　wondered　what　Avery　had　told　them。
　　〃I　see　you're　married；〃　Julia　whispered　as　she　moved　next　to　him。
　　〃Yes；　happily。〃
　　She　smiled　as　if　to　accept　the　challenge。　Avery　and　his　woman　winked　at　each　other。　Mitch　grabbed　a　glass　of　punch　and　gulped　it　down。　'
　　He　picked　at　his　food　and　could　think　of　nothing　but　Abby。　This　would　be　hard　to　explain；　if　an　explanation　became　necessary。　Having　dinner　with　two　attractive　women　who　were　barely　dressed。　It　would　be　impossible　to　explain。　The　conversation　became　awkward　at　the　table；　and　Mitch　added　nothing。　A　waiter　set　a　large　pitcher　on　the　table；　and　it　quickly　was　emptied。　Avery　became　obnoxious。　He　told　the　women　Mitch　had　played　for　the　New　York　Giants；　had　two　Super　Bowl　rings。　Made　a　million　bucks　a　year　before　a　knee　injury　ruined　his　career。　Mitch　shook　his　head　and　drank　some　more。　Julia　drooled　at　him　and　moved　closer。
　　The　band　turned　up　the　volume；　and　it　was　time　to　dance。　Half　the　crowd　moved　to　a　wooden　dance　floor　under　two　trees；　between　the　pool　and　the　beach。　〃Let's　dance！〃　Avery　yelled；　and　grabbed　his　woman。　They　ran　through　the　tables　and　were　soon　lost　in　the　crowd　of　jerking　and　lunging　tourists。
　　He　felt　her　move　closer；　then　her　hand　was　on　his　leg。　〃Do　you　wanna　dance？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Good。　Neither　do　I。　What　would　you　like　to　do？〃　She　rubbed　her　breasts　on　his　biceps　and　gave　her　best　seductive　smile；　only　inches　away。
　　〃I　don't　plan　to　do　anything。〃　He　removed　her　hand。
　　〃Aw；　e　on。　Let's　have　some　fun。　Your　wife　will　never　know。〃
　　〃Look；　you're　a　very　lovely　lady；　but　you're　wasting　your　time　with　me。　It's　still　early。　You've　got　plenty　of　time　to　pick　up　a　real　stud。〃
　　〃You're　cute。〃
　　The　hand　was　back；　and　Mitch　breathed　deeply。　〃Why　don't　you　get　lost。〃
　　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃　The　hand　was　gone。
　　〃I　said；　'Get　lost。'　〃
　　She　backed　away。　〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃
　　〃I　have　an　aversion　to　municable　diseases。　Get　lost。〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　get　lost。〃
　　〃That's　a　wonderful　idea。　I　think　I　will　get　lost。　Enjoyed　dinner。〃
　　Mitch　grabbed　a　glass　of　rum　punch　and　made　his　way　through　the　dancers　to　the　bar。　He　ordered　a　Red　Stripe　and　sat　by　himself　in　a　dark　corner　of　the　patio。　The　beach　in　front　of　him　was　deserted。　The　lights　of　a　dozen　boats　moved　slowly　across　the　water。　Behind　him　were　the　sounds　of　the　Barefoot　Boys　and　the　laughter　of　the　Caribbean　night。　Nice；　he　thought；　but　it　would　be　nicer　with　Abby。　Maybe　they　would　vacation　here　next　summer。　They　needed　time　together；　away　from　home　and　the　office。　There　was　a　distance　between　them…distance　he　could　not　define。　Distance　they　could　not　discuss　but　both　felt。　Distance　he　was　afraid　of。
　　〃What　are　you　watching？〃　The　voice　startled　him。　She　walked　to　the　table　and　sat　next　to　him。　She　was　a　native；　dark　skin　with　blue　or　hazel　eyes。　It　was　impossible　to　teH　in　the　dark。　But　they　were　beautiful　eyes；　warm　and　uninhibited。　Her　dark　curly　hair　was　pulled　back　and　hung　almost　to　her　waist。　She　was　an　exotic　mixture　of　black；　white　and　probably　Latin。　And　probably　more。　She　wore　a　white　bikini　top　cut　very　low　and　barely　covering　her　large　breasts　and　a　long；　brightly　colored　skirt　with　a　slit　to　the　waist　that　exposed　almost　everything　when　she　sat　and　crossed　her　legs。　No　shoes。
　　〃Nothing；　really；〃　Mitch　said。
　　She　was　young；　with　a　childish　smile　that　revealed　perfect　teeth。　〃Where　are　you　from？〃　she　asked。
　　〃The　States。〃
　　She　smiled　and　chuckled。　〃Of　course　you　are。　Where　in　the　States？〃　It　was　the　soft；　gentle；　precise；　confident　English　of　the　Caribbean。
　　〃Memphis。〃
　　〃A　lot　of　people　e　here　from　Memphis。　A　lot　of　divers。〃
　　〃Do　you　live　here？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Yes。　All　my　life。　My　mother　is　a　native。　My　father　is　from　England。　He's　gone　now；　back　to　where　he　came　from。〃
　　〃Would　you　like　a　drink？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Yes。　Rum　and　soda。〃
　　He　stood　at　the　bar　and　waited　for　the　drinks。　A　dull；　nervous　something　throbbed　in　his　stomach。　He　could　slide　into　the　darkness；　disappear　into　the　crowd　and　find　his　way　to　the　safety　of　the　condo。　He　could　lock　the　door　and　read　a　book　on　international　tax　havens。　Pretty　boring。　Plus；　Avery　was　there　by　now　with　his　hot　little　number。　The　girl　was　harmless；　the　rum　and　Red　Stripe　told　him。　They　would　have　a　couple　of　drinks　and　say　good　night。
　　He　returned　with　the　drinks　and　sat　across　from　the　girl；　as　far　away　as　possible。　They　were　alone　on　the　patio。
　　〃Are　you　a　diver？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No。　Believe　it　or　not；　I'm　here　on　business。　I'm　a　lawyer；　and　I　have　meetings　with　some　bankers　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃How　long　will　you　be　here？〃
　　〃Couple　of　days。〃　He　was　polite；　but　short。　The　less　he　said；　the　safer　he　would　be。　She　recrossed　her　legs　and　smiled　innocently。　He　felt　weak。
　　〃How　old　are　you？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I'm　twenty；　and　my　name　is　Eilene。　I'm　old　enough。〃
　　〃I'm　Mitch。〃　His　stomach　flipped　and　he　felt　lightheaded。　He　sipped　rapidly　on　his　beer。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。
　　She　watched　with　that　same　seductive　smile。　〃You're　very　handsome。〃
　　This　was　unraveling　in　a　hurry。　Keep　cool；　he　told　himself；　just　keep　cool。
　　〃Thank　you。〃
　　〃Are　you　an　athlete？〃
　　〃Sort　of。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　　〃You　look　like　an　athlete。　You're　very　muscular　and　firm。〃　It　was　the　way　she　emphasized　〃firm〃　that　made　his　stomach　flip　again。　He　admired　her　body　and　tried　to　think　of　some　pliment　that　would　not　be　suggestive。　Forget　it。
　　〃Where　do　you　work？〃　he　asked；　aiming　for　less　sensual　areas。
　　〃I'm　a　clerk　in　a　jewelry　store　in　town。〃
　　〃Where　do　you　live？〃
　　〃In　Georgetown。　Where　are　you　staying？〃
　　〃A　condo　next　door。〃　He　nodded　in　the　direction；　and　she　looked　to　her　left。　She　wanted　to　see　the　condo；　he　could　tell。　She　sipped　on　her　drink。
　　〃Why　aren't　you　at　the　party？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I'm　not　much　on　parties。〃
　　〃Do　you　like　the　beach？〃
　　〃It's　beautiful。〃
　　〃It's　prettier　in　the　moonlight。〃　That　smile；　again。
　　He　could　say　nothing　to　this。
　　〃There's　a　better　bar　about　a　mile　down　the　beach；〃　she　said。　〃Let's_go　for　a　walk。〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　I　should　get　back。　I've　got　some　work　to　do　before　morning。〃
　　She　laughed　and　stood。　〃No　one　goes　in　this　early　in　the　Caymans。　e　on。　I　owe　you　a　drink。〃
　　〃No。　I'd　better　not。〃
　　She　grabbed　his　hand；　and　he　followed　her　off　the　patio　onto　the　beach。　They　walked　in　silence　until　the　Palms　was　out　of　sight　and　the　music　was　growing　dimmer。　The　moon　was　overhead　and　brighter　now；　and　the　beach　was　deserted。　She　unsnapped　something　and　removed　her　skirt；　leaving　nothing　but　a　string　around　her　waist　and　a　string　running　between　her　legs。　She　rolled　up　the　skirt　and　placed　it　around　his　neck。　She　took　his　hand。
　　Something　said　run。　Throw　the　beer　bottle　in　the　ocean。　Throw　the　skirt　in　the　sand。　And　run　like　hell。　Run　to　the　condo。　Lock　the　door。　Lock　the　windows。　Run。　Run。　Run。
　　And　something　said　to　relax。　It's　harmless　fun。　Have　a　few　more　drinks。　If　something　happens；　enjoy　it。　No　one　will　ever　know；　Memphis　is　a　thousand　miles　away。　Avery　won't　know。　And　what　about　Avery？　What　could　he　say？　Everybody　does　it。　It　had　happened　once　before　when　he　was　in　college；　before　he　was　married　but　after　he　was　engaged。　He　had　blamed　it　on　too　much　beer；　and　had　survived　with　no　major　scars。　Time　took　care　of　it。　Abby　would　never　know。
　　Run。　Run。　Run。
　　They　walked　for　a　mile　and　there　was　no　bar　in　sight。　The　beach　was　darker。　A　cloud　conveniently　hid　the　moon。　They　had　seen　no　one　since　Rumheads。　She　pulled　his　hand　toward　two　plastic　beach　chairs　next　to　the　water。　〃Let's　rest；〃　she　said。　He　finished　his　beer。
　　〃You're　not　saying　much；〃　she　said。
　　〃What　would　you　like　for　me　to　say？〃
　　〃Do　you　think　I'm　beautiful？〃
　　〃You　are　very　beautiful。　And　you　have　a　beautiful　body。〃
　　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　her　chair　and　splashed　her　feet　in　the　water。　〃Let's　go　for　a　swim。〃
　　〃I；　uh；　I'm　not　really　in　the　mood。〃
　　〃e　on；　Mitch。　I　love　the　water。〃
　　〃Go　ahead。　I'll　watch。〃
　　She　knelt　beside　him　in　the　sand　and　faced　him；　niches　away。　In　slow　motion；　she　reached　behind　her　neck。　She　unhooked　her　bikini　top；　and　it　fell　off；　very　slowly。　Her　breasts；　much　larger　now；　lay　on　his　left　forearm。　She　handed　it　to　him。　〃Hold　this　for　me。〃　It　was　soft　and　white　and　weighed　less　than　a　millionth　of　an　ounce。　He　was　paralyzed　and　the　breathing；　heavy　and　labored　only　seconds　ago；　had　now　ceased　altogether。
　　She　walked　slowly　into　the　water。　The　white　string　covered　nothing　from　the　rear。　Her　long；　dark；　beautiful　hair　hung　to　her　waist。　She　waded　knee　deep；　then　turned　to　the　beach。
　　〃e　on；　Mitch。　The　water　feels　great。〃
　　She　flashed　a　brilliant　smile　and　he　could　see　it。　He　rubbed　the　bikini　top　and　knew　this　would　be　his　last　chance　to　run。　But　he　was　dizzy　and　weak。　Running　would　require　more　strength　tha