dk.watchers-第22部分

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　With　a　jolt；　he　also　realized　that　the　dog　would　not　have　brought　the　directory　to　him　in　the　living　room　if　it　had　not　understood　the　purpose　of　such　a　book。
　〃By　God；　fur　face；　you　have　been　well　named；　haven't　you？〃
　　　
　6
　Although　Nora　usually　ate　dinner　no　earlier　than　seven；　she　was　hungry。　The　morning　walk　and　the　glass　of　brandy　had　given　her　an　appetite　that　even　thoughts　of　Streck　could　not　spoil。　She　didn't　feel　like　cooking；　so　she　prepared　a　platter　of　fresh　fruit　and　some　cheese；　plus　a　croissant　heated　in　the　oven。
　Nora　usually　ate　dinner　in　her　room；　in　bed　with　a　magazine　or　book；　because　she　was　happiest　there。　Now；　as　she　prepared　a　platter　to　take　upstairs；　the　telephone　rang。
　Streck。
　It　must　be　him。　Who　else？　She　received　few　calls。
　She　froze；　listening　to　the　phone。　Even　after　it　stopped；　she　leaned　against　the　kitchen　counter；　feeling　weak；　waiting　for　the　ringing　to　start　again。
　　　
　7
　When　Nora　Devon　did　not　answer　her　telephone；　Travis　was　ready　to　go　back　to　the　evening　news　on　TV；　but　Einstein　was　still　agitated。　The　retriever　leaped　up　against　the　counter；　pawed　at　the　directory；　pulled　it　to　the　floor　again；　took　it　in　his　jaws；　and　hurried　out　of　the　kitchen。
　Curious　about　the　dog's　next　move；　Travis　followed　and　found　him　waiting　at　the　front　door　with　the　phone　book　still　in　his　mouth。
　〃What　now？〃
　Einstein　put　one　paw　on　the　door。
　〃You　want　to　go　out？〃
　The　dog　whined；　but　the　sound　was　muffled　by　the　directory　in　his　mouth。　〃What're　you　going　to　do　with　the　phone　book　out　there？　Bury　it　like　a　bone？　What's　up？〃
　Although　he　received　answers　to　none　of　his　questions；　Travis　opened　the　door　and　let　the　retriever　out　into　the　golden；　late…afternoon　sunshine。　Einstein　dashed　straight　to　the　pickup　parked　in　the　driveway。　He　stood　at　the　passenger　door；　looking　back　with　what　might　have　been　impatience。
　Travis　walked　to　the　truck　and　looked　down　at　the　retriever。　He　sighed。　〃I　suspect　you　want　to　go　somewhere；　and　I　suspect　you　don't　have　in　mind　the　offices　of　the　telephone　pany。〃
　Dropping　the　directory；　Einstein　jumped　up；　put　his　forepaws　against　the　door　of　the　truck　and　stood　there；　looking　over　his　shoulder　at　Travis。　He　barked。
　〃You　want　me　to　look　up　Miss　Devon's　address　in　the　phone　book　and　go　there。　Is　that　it？〃
　One　woof。
　〃Sorry；〃　Travis　said。　〃I　know　you　liked　her；　but　I'm　not　in　the　market　for　a　woman。　Besides；　she's　not　my　type。　I　already　told　you　that。　And　I'm　not　her　type；　either。　Fact　is；　I　have　a　hunch　that　nobody's　her　type。
　The　dog　barked。
　''NO
　The　dog　dropped　to　the　ground；　rushed　at　Travis；　and　took　hold　of　one　leg　of　his　jeans　again。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　reaching　down　and　grabbing　Einstein　by　the　collar。　〃There's　no　point　chewing　up　my　wardrobe；　because　I'm　not　going。〃
　Einstein　let　go；　twisted　out　of　his　grasp；　and　sprinted　to　the　long　bed　of　brightly　blooming　impatiens；　where　he　started　to　dig　furiously；　tossing　mangled　flowers　onto　the　lawn　behind　him。
　〃What're　you　doing　now；　for　God's　sake？〃
　The　dog　kept　digging　industriously；　working　his　way　through　the　bed；　back　and　forth；　apparently　bent　on　totally　destroying　it。
　〃Hey；　stop　that！〃　Travis　hurried　toward　the　retriever。
　Einstein　fled　to　the　other　end　of　the　front　yard　and　menced　digging　a　hole　in　the　grass。
　Travis　went　after　him。
　Einstein　escaped　once　more　to　another　corner　of　the　lawn；　where　he　began　ripping　out　more　grass；　then　to　the　birdbath；　which　he　tried　to　undermine；　then　back　to　what　was　left　of　the　impatiens。
　Unable　to　catch　the　retriever；　Travis　finally　halted；　gasped　for　breath；　and　shouted；　〃Enough！〃
　Einstein　stopped　digging　in　the　flowers　and　raised　his　head；　snaky　trailers　of　coral…red　impatiens　dangling　from　his　mouth。
　〃We'll　go；〃　Travis　said。
　Einstein　dropped　the　flowers　and　came　out　of　the　ruins；　onto　the　lawn…　warily。
　〃No　tricks；〃　Travis　promised。　〃If　it　means　that　much　to　you；　then　we'll　go　see　the　woman。　But　God　knows　what　I'm　going　to　say　to　her。〃
　
　8
　With　her　dinner　platter　in　one　hand　and　a　bottle　of　Evian　in　the　other；　Nora　went　along　the　downstairs　hallway；　forted　by　the　sight　of　lights　blazing　in　every　room。　On　the　upstairs　landing；　she　used　her　elbow　to　flick　the　switch　for　the　second…floor　hall　lights。　She　would　need　to　include　a　lot　of　light　bulbs　in　her　next　grocery　order　because　she　intended　to　leave　all　the　lights　burning　day　and　night　for　the　foreseeable　future。　It　was　an　expense　she　did　not　in　the　least　begrudge。
　Still　buoyed　by　the　brandy；　she　began　to　sing　softly　to　herself　as　she　headed　for　her　room：　〃Moon　River；　wider　than　a　mile　。　。
　She　stepped　through　the　door。　Streck　was　lying　on　the　bed。
　He　grinned　and　said；　〃Hi；　babe。〃
　For　an　instant　she　thought　he　was　a　hallucination；　but　when　he　spoke　she　knew　he　was　real；　and　she　cried　out；　and　the　platter　fell　from　her　hand；　Scattering　fruit　and　cheese　across　the　floor。
　〃Oh　my；　what　an　awful　mess　you've　made；〃　he　said；　sitting　up　and　swinging　his　legs　over　the　edge　of　the　bed。　He　was　still　wearing　his　running　shorts；　athletic　socks；　and　running　shoes；　nothing　else。　〃But　there's　no　need　to　clean　it　up　now。　There's　other　business　to　take　care　of　first。　I　been　waiting　a　long　time　for　you　to　e　upstairs。　Waiting　and　thinking　about　you　。　。　。　getting　Primed　for　you。　。　。〃　He　stood。　〃And　now　it's　time　to　teach　you　what　you've　never　learned。〃
　Nora　could　not　move。　Could　not　breathe。
　He　must　have　e　to　the　house　directly　from　the　park；　arriving　before
　she　did。　He　had　forced　entry；　leaving　no　trace　of　a　break…in；　and　he'd　been　waiting　here　on　the　bed　all　the　time　she'd　been　sipping　brandy　in　the　kitchen。　There　was　something　about　his　waiting　up　here　that　was　creepier　than　anything　else　he　had　done；　waiting　and　teasing　himself　with　the　promise　of　her；　getting　a　kick　out　of　listening　to　her　putter　around　downstairs　in　ignorance　of　his　presence。
　When　he　was　finished　with　her；　would　he　kill　her？
　She　turned　and　ran　into　the　second…floor　hallway。
　As　she　put　her　hand　on　the　newel　post　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　and　started　down；　she　heard　Streck　behind　het。
　She　plunged　down　the　steps；　taking　them　two　and　three　at　a　time；　terrified　that　she　was　going　to　twist　an　ankle　and　fall；　and　at　the　landing　her　knee　nearly　buckled；　and　she　stumbled　but　kept　going；　leaped　down　the　last　flight；　into　the　first…floor　hall。
　Seizing　her　from　behind；　catching　the　baggy　shoulders　of　her　dress；　Streck　spun　her　around　to　face　him。
　　
　9
　As　Travis　swung　to　the　curb　in　front　of　the　Devon　house；　Einstein　stood　on　the　front　seat；　placed　both　forepaws　on　the　door　handle；　bore　down　with　all　of　his　weight；　and　opened　the　door。　Another　neat　trick。　He　was　out　of　the　truck　and　galloping　up　the　front　walkway　before　Travis　had　engaged　the　hand　brake　and　switched　off　the　engine。
　Seconds　later；　Travis　reached　the　foot　of　the　veranda　steps　in　time　to　see　the　retriever　on　the　porch　as　he　stood　on　his　hind　paws　and　hit　the　doorbell　with　one　forepaw。　The　bell　was　audible　from　inside。
　Climbing　the　steps；　Travis　said；　〃Now；　what　the　devil's　gotten　into　you？〃
　The　dog　rang　the　bell　again。
　〃Give　her　a　chance…〃
　As　Einstein　hit　the　button　a　third　time；　Travis　heard　a　man　shout　in　anger　and　pain。　Then　a　woman's　cry　for　help。
　Barking　as　ferociously　as　he　had　done　in　the　woods　yesterday；　Einstein　clawed　at　the　door　as　if　he　actually　believed　he　could　tear　his　way　through　it。
　Pressing　forward；　Travis　peered　through　a　clear　segment　in　the　stained…glass　window。　The　hallway　was　brightly　lit；　so　he　was　able　to　see　two　people　struggling　only　a　few　feet　away。
　Einstein　was　barking；　snarling；　going　crazy。
　Travis　tried　the　door；　found　it　locked。　He　used　his　elbow　to　smash　in　a　couple　of　the　stained…glass　segments；　reached　inside；　fumbled　for　the　lock；　located　it　and　the　security　chain；　and　went　inside　just　as　the　guy　in　running　shorts　pushed　the　woman　aside　and　turned　to　face　him。
　Einstein　didn't　give　Travis　a　chance　to　act。　The　retriever　bolted　along　the　hallway；　straight　toward　the　runner。
　The　guy　reacted　as　anyone　would　upon　seeing　a　charging　dog　the　size　of　this　one：　he　ran。　The　woman　tried　to　trip　him；　and　he　stumbled　but　did　not　fall。　At　the　end　of　the　corridor；　he　slammed　through　a　swinging　door；　out　of　sight。
　Einstein　raced　past　Nora　Devon　and　reached　the　still…swinging　door　at　full　tilt；　timing　his　approach　perfectly；　streaking　through　the　opening　as　the　door　rocked　inward。　He　vanished　after　the　runner。　In　the　room　beyond　the　swinging　door…the　kitchen；　Travis　figured…there　was　much　barking；　snarling；　and　shouting。　Something　fell　with　a　crash；　then　something　else　made　an　even　louder　crash；　and　the　runner　cursed；　and　Einstein　made　a　vicious　sound　that　gave　Travis　a　chill；　and　the　din　grew　worse。
　He　went　to　Nora　Devon。　She　was　leaning　against　the　newel　post　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　He　said；　〃You　okay？〃
　〃He　almost　。　。　。　almost　。　。
　〃But　he　didn't；〃　Travis　guessed。
　〃No。〃
　He　touched　the　blood　on　her　chin。　〃You're　hurt。〃
　〃His　blood；〃　she　said；　seeing　it　on　Travis's　fingertips。　〃I　bit　the　bastard。〃　She　looked　toward　the　swinging　door；　which　had　stopped　moving　now。　〃Don't　let　him　hurt　the　dog。〃
　〃Not　likely；〃　Travis　said。
　The　noise　in　the　kitchen　subsided　as　Travis　pushed　through　the　swinging　door。　Two　ladder…back　chairs　had　been　knocked　over。　A　large　blue…flowered　ceramic　cookie　jar　lay　in　pieces　on　the　tile　floor；　and　oatmeal　cookies　were　scattered　across　the　room；　some　whole　and　some　broken　and　some　squashed。　The　runner　was　sitting　in　a　corner；　his　bare　legs　pulled　up；　hands　crossed　defensively　on　his　chest。　One　of　the　man's　shoes　was　missing；　and　Travis　suspected　the　dog　had　gotten　hold　of　it。　The　runner's　right　hand　was　bleeding；　which　was　evidently　Nora　Devon's　work。　He　was　also　bleeding　from　his　left　calf；　but　that　wound　appeared　to　be　a　dog　bite。　Einstein　was　guarding　him；　staying　back　out　of　range　of　a　kick；　but　ready　to　tear　at　the　runner　if　the　guy　was　foolish　enough　to　attempt　to　leave　the　corner。
　〃Nice　job；〃　Travis　told　the　dog。　〃Very　nice　indeed。〃
　Einstein　made　a　whining　sound　that　indicated　acceptance　of　the　praise。　But　when　the　runner　started　to　move；　the　happy　whine　turned　instantly　to　a　snarl。　Einste