dclegg.purity-第5部分

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wives。　Owen　can't　be　a　Mooncalf。〃
　Jim　snorted。　〃No；　it's　a　beautiful　name。　Mooncalf。〃
　Owen　remained　silent；　still　numb　from　meeting　the　interloper。
　〃Well；　if　he's　a　Mooncalf　then　what　am　I？〃
　〃Kitten；〃　Jimmy　laughed。
　〃If　I'm　Kitten；　then　you're　Cat。〃
　〃All　right；　then　I'm　Cat。　Now；　what　shall　we　call　this　island？〃
　〃Outerbridge；〃　Owen　said。　〃Call　it　Outerbridge。〃
　〃That's　not　the　game；〃　Jimmy　grinned；　and　damn　if　his　smile　wasn't　dazzling。
　Anyone　would　fall　in　love　with　this　guy；　anyone；　man；　woman；　or　dog；　he　was　so　damn　attractive　and　warm；　it　made　Owen　want　to　walk　away　and　forget　about　Jenna　pletely。　〃The　game　is　everything；　Mooncalf。　It　doesn't　matter　what　things　are。　You　shape　them　into　the　way　you　want　them。　That's　how　you　gain　mastery。〃
　〃Mastery's　the　thing；〃　Owen　said；　faking　a　sort　of　blissful　…　and　very　nearly　nonchalant　…　take　on　all　of　it。
　I'll　beat　you；　he　thought　as　he　watched　his　rival；　this　apollonian　boy　with　his　golden　hair　and　squinty　green　eyes　and　the　way　he　had　arrogance　that　was　absolutely　seductive。
　I　will　beat　you；　Owen　made　the　oath　then　and　there。　He　glanced　briefly　up　at　the　unfettered　sun　and　prayed　that　if　nothing　else　went　his　way　in　this　life；　he　would　beat　down　this　Jimmy。
　Then；　Owen　reached　out　and　gave　Jimmy's　shoulder　a　friendly　squeeze。
　〃Just　not　big　on　games　I　guess。〃
　Jenna　laughed；　〃Owen；　the　game　is　called　Paradise。　You　rename　everything　to　your　liking。　Jimmy　invented　it。　Isn't　it。。。marvelous？〃　She　pecked　the　bastard　on　his　ear。　Owen　noted：　the　kiss　went　to　his　earlobe；　and　Jimmy　barely　had　an　earlobe。　His　ear　was　smooth　and　rounded　and　touched　down　right　behind　one　of　his　several　dimples。
　Jimmy　laughed；　shrugging；　grabbing　her　around　the　waist　and　pulling　her　close　to　him。　〃Let's　call　the　island　Sea　Biscuit。〃
　〃No；〃　Jenna　groaned。　〃That's　terrible。　Terrible。　Owen；　you　name　it。〃
　〃Outerbridge；〃　Owen　said。
　It　was　noon；　and　they　were　at　the　jetty。　The　sailboat　bobbed　gently　with　the　current；　and　Owen　finally　took　his　baseball　cap　off。
　〃There　now；〃　Jimmy　said；　approvingly。　〃You　look　less　like　a　little　boy　than　like　a　man。　The　Mooncalf　has　such　pretty　hair　for　a　moody　guy。〃　He　reached　over　and　scruffed　his　hand　through　Owen's　hair。　His　fingers　felt　electric。　〃I　know　the　name　for　this　island。　I　know。　It's　called　Bermuda。　We're　in　Bermuda；〃　he　laughed；　leaning　into　Jenna；　kissing　her　just　behind　her　ear。
　No；　Owen　thought。　You're　in　the　realm　of　Dagon。
　8
　A　restless　night　came　to　him；　and　then　another　and　another。　He　lay　on　his　single　bed；　sheets　pulled　back；　and　a　fever　such　as　he　had　never　before　felt　washed　over　him。
　Whosoever　has　loved　the　way　I　love　Jenna　Montgomery；　he　whispered　to　the　stars　through　his　bedroom　window；　has　known　sacrifice　and　torture　and　days　and　nights　of　endless　wanting；　thirst　without　satisfaction；　hunger　without　morsel。　Whosoever　has　wept　within　themselves　for　what　they　could　not　reach；　could　not　touch；　has　felt　what　I　feel。
　Whosoever　has　spent　his　life　working　his　body；　mind；　and　soul　to　its　absolute　limit　to　be　the　extreme　candidate　for　the　love　of　a　beautiful　and　angelic　girl　as　I　have　for　her；　as　I　have　given　myself　to　the　shape　that　she　would　long　for。。。
　That　man　would　not　rest　were　a　rival　to　steal　the　prize　from　him。
　Dagon；　he　whispered　soundlessly。　Dagon。　My　god。　Bring　her　to　me。
　Eventually；　Owen　Crites　slept　better　imagining　the　world　under　the　sea　where　the　people　who　were　part　of　Dagon　had　dwelt；　with　their　vast　and　imperious　citadels；　their　large　cold　eyes　and　their　wet　shapeless　forms；　and　he　imagined　the　great　sacrifice　he　would　throw　to　them　for　their　entertainment。
　9
　〃How　are　you　going　to　waste　your　last　summer？〃　Owen's　mother　asked　as　she　switched　off　the　faucet；　plunging　her　hands　back　into　the　soapy　water。
　〃Now；　don't　blot；　Owen；　dry。　There's　a　difference。〃　She　passed　him　the　first　dish；　which　he　sprayed　down　and　then　wiped　with　the　green…and…white　hand　towel。　The　kitchen　in　the　caretaker's　house　was　as　narrow　as　one　of　the　closets　in　the　big　house；　but　the　window　looked　out　on　a　small　sunken　garden；　behind　which；　the　pine　trees　stuck　out　like　crooked　teeth。　〃Don't　blot；〃　his　mother　repeated。
　Owen　began　stacking　the　dry　plates　carefully。　〃I　need　a　job。〃
　〃You　work　for　your　father。〃
　〃Not　this　summer；〃　he　replied。　〃Hank'll　do　without　me。〃
　〃Hank？〃　his　mother　said；　nearly　laughing。　〃Hank？　Next　you'll　be　calling　me　Trudy。〃　Then；　her　mood　darkened。　〃Show　some　respect。〃　His　mother　reached　down　to　pull　the　plug　on　the　drain。　She　reached　back　to　her　hairpins；　pulling　them　out　so　that　her　gray…streaked　hair　fell　along　her　shoulders。　She　smoothed　it　back；　and　turned　to　watch　him　dry　the　rest　of　the　plates　and　bowls　from　supper。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。〃
　He　glanced　at　her　for　the　barest　moment。
　〃You're　thinking　that　you'll　work　down　where　she　goes　at　night。　The　restaurant。　The　dock。　You'll　be　there　for　the　dances。　I've　seen　the　boys　working　at　those　places。　They　live　here　all　year　'round。　But　in　the　summer；　sometimes　they　get　the　rich　girls。　But　those　girls　don't　care　about　them。　The　boys　are　just　part　of　summer　to　those　girls。　Just　like　the　beach。　Just　like　a　walk。〃
　He　remained　silent；　and　kept　his　eyes　on　each　bowl　as　he　carefully　wiped　the　towel　through　them。
　〃I　grew　up　in　her　world。　I　know　what　she'd　have　to　give　up。　Don't　ask　her　to　do　it。　Not　if　you　care　about　her；〃　his　mother　said。　Then；　she　nearly　snickered。
　〃What's　funny？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　remember　your　father　at　your　age；　is　all。　I　remember　him　so　well；〃　she　said。　〃He's　working　on　the　pump　now。　The　pump　and　the　well。　Today　he　worked　on　the　azaleas　and　the　roses。　Tomorrow；　he'll　probably　check　the　pool。
　If　I　had　only　known　then。　Owen；　you　might　as　well　go　find　that　pirate　treasure　as　think　that　a　girl　like　that　will　be　interested　in　you　beyond　these　summerish　flings。〃
　Owen　dropped　the　towel　on　top　of　the　cutting　board；　and　turned　to　walk　away。　〃I　know　what　you　get　up　to；〃　his　mother　called　to　him；　but　he　had　already　stepped　out　of　the　house；　letting　the　screen　door　swing　lazily　shut。
　〃You're　nearly　a　man；　Owen。　You　need　to　grow　out　of　all　your　imaginings　now。〃
　Her　voice；　behind　him；　was　part　of　another　layer　of　existence。　The　smell　of　fresh　grass　mingled　with　the　slight　scent　of　the　roses　which　were　just　blooming　in　spirals　and　curves　up　on　the　bluffs。
　He　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　hill；　feeling　the　late　sun　stroke　him　like　a　warm　hand。　At　the　rim　of　the　koi　pond；　he　knelt　down　and　looked　at　his　reflection　in　the　green　water。　Soon；　the　patchwork　fish　came　to　the　surface。　He　reached　his　hand　into　the　murkiness；　shivering　with　the　chill；　and　found　the　god　laying　where　he'd　left　it；　behind　the　lava　rocks。
　He　felt　the　edge　of　the　god's　face。
　10
　In　a　school　notebook；　Owen　wrote：
　Things　Jenna　likes。
　1。　She　loves　swing　dancing。
　2。　She　likes　expensive　perfume。　The　kind　older　women　wear。　Not　like　other　girls。
　3。　She　likes　sandals。
　4。　She　likes　to　let　a　boy　open　a　door　for　her。
　5。　She　likes　clothes　from　Manhattan。
　6。　She　likes　to　be　plimented　on　how　smart　she　is。
　7。　She　likes　someone　who　listens　to　her。
　8。　She　likes　holding　hands。
　Things　Jenna　hates：
　1。　She　hates　heavy　metal　rock。
　2。　She　hates　boys　who　look　at　her　breasts。
　3。　She　hates　having　to　wait　for　anything。　Ever。
　4。　She　hates　Julia　Roberts　movies。　She　reminds　me　of　movie　stars　though。
　5。　She　hates　when　animals　get　hurt。
　6。　She　hates　being　treated　like　a　piece　of　meat。
　7。　She　hates　boys　who　want　to　go　all　the　way　because　she　told　me　three　years　ago　that　she's　going　to　wait　for　the　right　one。
　8。　She　hates　having　to　do　things　she　hates。
　11
　He　waited　a　week　before　going　back　up　to　the　Montgomery　place；　and　even　then；　it　was　after　eleven；　and　the　house　was　dark　and　silent　except　for　the　kitchen；　where　Mrs。　M　always　kept　a　light　on。　At　first；　he　intended　to　stand　beneath　Jenna's　bedroom　window　and　maybe　toss　a　pebble　at　it　to　get　her　attention。　He　noticed　that　the　window　…　on　the　third　story　…　was　open；　and　he　decided　he'd　call　to　her。
　Then；　he　noticed　that　one　of　the　guest　room　windows　was　open；　too。
　That　would　be　Jimmy's。　The　bastard。
　Owen　glanced　along　the　trellis　and　gutters；　and　decided　he'd　try　that　route　first。　He　climbed　the　trellis　with　the　agility　of　a　monkey；　although　it　threatened　to　pull　away　if　he　didn't　balance　his　weight　just　right。　It　wasn't　much　different　from　the　rope　climb　in　gym。　When　he　worried　that　he　wouldn't　make　it　to　the　third　story　roof；　he　remembered　the　breathing　trick　and　began　inhaling　and　exhaling　carefully。　That　was　where　the　balance　was：　in　the　breathing。　Then；　he　grabbed　the　rain　gutter；　and　scaled　the　slant　of　the　roof。　He　crawled　along　it；　slowly；　cautiously；　and　went　to　look　in　on　Jenna　while　she　slept。　He　felt　himself　grow　hard；　imagining　how　he　could　hold　her　while　she　slept；　imagining　how　he　would　smell　her　hair。
　When　he　looked　through　the　open　window；　he　saw　the　other　boy　there；　Jimmy；　in　bed　with　her；　holding　her；　moving　against　her。
　Owen　caught　his　breath　and　held　it　for　what　felt　like　the　longest　time。
　He　could　hold　his　breath　under　water　for　a　few　minutes；　and　holding　it　now　while　he　watched　Jimmy　press　himself　into　her；　like　a　hummingbird　jabbing　at　a　flower；　but　not　as　pretty；　just　dark　and　murky；　Jimmy's　body　rising　and　falling　as　he　plunged　into　her；　not　gently　the　way　she　would　want　it；　but　like　he　was　a　jackal　tearing　apart　some　carcass。
　
　
　Chapter　Three
　The　morning　swim　
　1
　〃The　Salty　Dog；〃　Owen　said；　lifting　himself　from　the　swimming　pool。
　〃Waiting　tables。　Since　Memorial　Day　weekend。　Lifting　weights；　too。〃
　〃That　must　be　delightful；〃　Mrs。　M　said。　She　stood　near　the　changing　rooms；　swathed　in　a　red　bathrobe；　dark　glasses　covering　her　eyes。　She　looked　like　a　movie　star。　She　had　a　cigarette　in　her　hand；　which　she　waved　dramatically。　〃I　imagine　you　meet　lots　of　girls　and　boys　your　age　at　that　dive。〃
　〃Some。〃
　〃You're　still　very　young　for　your　age；〃　she　said；　and　then　caught　her　breath　for　a　moment。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　mean　that　in　a　negative　way。　I　meant　it　as。。。as。。。you're　so　innocent　pared　to　the　boys　at　that　school　she　goes　to。
　They've　already　begun　those　patterns　they'll　have　for