dclegg.purity-第6部分

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ed　to　the　boys　at　that　school　she　goes　to。
　They've　already　begun　those　patterns　they'll　have　for　life。〃　She　exhaled　a　lungful　of　smoke。　She　was　like　a　beautiful　dragon；　he　thought。　A　jade　dragon　with　sparkling　eyes。
　Owen　drew　himself　up　the　rest　of　the　way　over　the　pool's　edge。　He　exhaled　deeply；　coughing。
　〃My　smoking　bother　you？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　swiveling　to　sit　down　more　fortably；　his　legs　still　in　the　water。　〃Just　holding　my　breath。　Trying；　anyway。〃
　〃Trying　to　reach　some　goal？　Underwater？〃　She　took　her　sunglasses　off；　and　dropped　them　carelessly　on　the　tile。
　He　nodded。　〃To　beat　the　Guinness　Book　of　World　Records。　This　guy；　he　held　his　breath。　Thirteen　minutes。〃
　〃That's　impossible。〃　She　walked　casually　over　to　him。　He　could　see　her　sapphire　bathing　suit　top；　and　her　sparrowish　breasts　cupped　within　it　as　her　robe　fell　open。　She　stepped　out　of　her　sandals。　For　a　moment；　he　thought　of　what　she　would　look　like　with　her　suit　ripped　from　chin　to　thigh；　with　him　pressing　into　her　…　no；　not　him；　Jimmy；　the　way　he　had　torn　into　Jenna。　Mrs。
　M；　a　smile　on　her　face；　could　not　read　his　thoughts；　he　hoped。　〃No　one　can　hold　his　breath　that　long；〃　she　said。　〃It　must've　been　a　cheat。〃
　〃If　you　believe　in　something；　maybe　you　can　do　impossible　stuff；　Mrs。
　M。〃
　〃That's　magical　thinking；　sweetie。　And　Mrs。　M；　good　lord。〃　She　laughed；　dropping　her　robe　pletely。　She　shimmered。　〃You're　a　man　now。
　You'll　have　to　start　calling　people　by　their　first　names；　Owen。　I　feel　like　a　schoolmarm　when　you　call　me　that。　Is　that　what　you　want　me　to　feel　like？　A　haggish　old　schoolmarm？　I'm　forty；　not　seventy。　Catherine。　Or　Cathy。〃
　〃Oh；　yeah；　okay；〃　he　said；　grinning。　〃Cathy。〃
　As　she　walked　along　the　edge　of　the　pool　to　the　far　end；　she　pulled　her　hair　back　and　tucked　it　into　her　white　bathing　cap。　She　lifted　her　arm　in　a　certain　way　to　him；　like　a　salute。　Then；　Jenna's　mother　dove　into　the　pool；　graceful　as　a　mermaid。　He　watched　her　do　laps　while　he　caught　his　breath。
　2
　When　he　went　to　shower　off；　Owen　saw　the　other　boy's　towel　hanging　from　the　bathroom　stall。　Steam　began　to　fill　the　changing　room。　He　pulled　his　wet　trunks　down；　and　tossed　them　on　a　chair。　He　grabbed　one　of　the　long　white　towels　that　the　Montgomery's'　maid　kept　neatly　rolled　in　the　cabinet　over　the　toilet。　Then；　he　walked　the　narrow　hallway　to　the　large　shower。　All　three　shower　heads　were　running；　and　the　boy　stood　there　rubbing　soap　along　his　arms；　his　face　frothy　with　white　soap　foam。　Owen　ignored　him；　stepping　beneath　the　furthest　shower　head；　and　grabbed　a　bar　of　Ivory　from　the　holder。
　〃Mooncalf；〃　Jimmy　said；　as　the　foam　rinsed　from　his　face。　His　hair　stuck　up　high　on　his　head。　The　smell　of　Ivory　soap　was　overpowering。　〃Haven't　seen　you　in　awhile。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Owen　said；　his　voice　husky。　He　didn't　feel　the　way　he　did　in　school　with　the　other　boys；　not　with　this　Jimmy；　this　eighteen…year…old　who　he　had　watched　deflower　Jenna。　He　felt　disgusted。　〃Been　busy。〃　He　turned　his　back　on　Jimmy　for　the　rest　of　the　shower；　hoping　the　other　boy　would　leave　to　go　swim　in　the　pool。　But　Jimmy　toweled　off；　and　began　dressing　just　as　Owen　turned　off　the　water。　He　slipped　his　shorts　on；　and　reached　for　his　t…shirt。
　〃You've　been　working　out　a　lot。　Me；　too。　I　run　every　morning。　I　play　tennis。〃
　〃Swim；〃　Owen　said。　He　walked　back　to　the　toilet　to　take　a　leak。
　〃Swim？〃
　〃I　swim。〃
　〃Ah；　a　plete　sentence　out　of　the　Mooncalf；〃　Jimmy　chuckled。
　〃That's　the　first　thing　I　noticed　about　you；　you　know。〃
　Owen　said　nothing；　flushed　the　toilet。　Sat　down　on　one　of　the　chairs；　and　reached　for　his　shirt。
　〃You　talk　in　bits　of　sentences。　Well；　that　and　your　hair。〃
　Owen　twisted　back　to　look　at　him；　his　t…shirt　shirt　half　over　his　head。
　〃My　hair？　What's　your　problem？〃
　〃You've　got　pretty　hair。　It's　soft；　too。　Most　guys'　hair　is　like　bristles。〃
　〃Weirdo；〃　Owen　said；　then；　〃Sleep　in　the　guest　room　much？〃　He　pulled　the　shirt　down；　and　then　went　to　grab　his　socks。　Jimmy　followed　him；　sitting　down　on　a　short　bench。
　〃No。　That　bother　you？〃
　〃No。　It's　weird　that　her　parents　don't　care。〃
　〃They　don't。　Well；　her　mother　doesn't。　Her　father's　still　down　in　the　city。　And　I　thought　you　were　hot　for　Jenna。　That's　the　third　thing　I　noticed　about　you。〃
　〃We're　friends。　That's　all。〃
　〃Boys　can't　just　be　friends　with　girls。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Owen　said。　He　laughed；　but　it　was　a　fake。　It　echoed　off　the　turquoise　tile　and　sounded　less　genuine　as　it　went。　He　looked　at　Jimmy；　who　was　watching　him　with　a　sort　of　paternal　take　…　the　way　Owen's　father　would　look　at　him　when　he　didn't　understand　him。
　〃You　know；　Mooncalf；　you　b　your　hair　to　the　left　a　little　more　…　make　the　part　slightly　higher；　and　you'd　look　top　drawer。　You　really　would。
　Your　chin's　strong；　your　body's　in　excellent　shape。　You　need　to　get　rid　of　these；〃　Jimmy　pointed　at　Owen's　red　t…shirt；　〃and　start　wearing　some　oxford　cloths；　button…downs。　With　sleeves。　Short　sleeves　are　for　kids。　It　would　show　your　best　side。　And　maybe　some　khakis。　When　you　grin；　don't　show　all　your　teeth。〃
　〃Bite　me。〃
　Jimmy　laughed；　and　reached　out；　pressing　his　hand　against　Owen's　shoulder　in　what　could　only　be　a　casual　and　friendly　…　even　brotherly　…　gesture。　〃Good。　Some　spirit。　I'm　just　trying　to　help。　You　look　good；　but　you　look　too　island。　You　need　a　little　charm。　All　guys　do。　Swimming　only　goes　so　far；　after　all。〃　Jimmy；　ever…annoying；　kept　up　the　jabber。　〃I'm　not　much　of　a　swimmer。　I　sail；　but　the　idea　of　water；　well；　let's　just　say　I　do　a　passable　dog　paddle。　But　you've　got　those　biceps。　Amazing　shoulders　for　such　a　Mooncalf　runt。　Pretty　good。　How　much　you　bench？〃
　〃Who　cares？〃
　A　brief　silence。
　Then；　〃I　do。〃
　〃Well；　not　all　that　much；〃　Owen　said。　〃I　just　stack　the　weights　on　and　push。　I　don't　notice　how　much。〃
　〃Don't　notice？　My　god；　sport；　you　mean　to　say　your　goal　isn't　the　weights？〃
　Owen　shrugged。　〃I　never　think　about　it。　I　just　want　to　be　powerful。　I　mean　strong。〃
　〃You　said　powerful。〃
　〃Same　thing。〃
　Another　brief　silence。
　〃You　ever　up　for　tennis？〃　Jimmy　asked。
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃I　can　teach　you　if　you　like。　It　would　be　fun　to　play　a　doubles　match　one　day。　Early；　before　it's　too　hot。　You；　me；　Jenna；　and　maybe　you　could　find　a　friend　to　bring。　We　could　have　a　good　match。　It's　always　fun　to　play　doubles；〃
　Jimmy　said。　Owen　noticed　the　bination　of　arrogance　and　nonchalance；　as　if　none　of　this　mattered。　Even　this　small　talk　was　something　to　fill　some　empty　space。　Jimmy　probably　screwed　Jenna　on　a　nightly　basis。　But　he　never　thought　about　Owen；　or　Owen　and　Jenna。　He　probably　lived　in　the　moment。
　pletely。
　〃Saturday　should　be　fun；〃　Jimmy　said；　wiping　the　last　of　the　spray　from　his　shoulders　as　he　pushed　his　feet　into　the　cheapest　sneakers　that　Owen　had　ever　seen。　〃You　bringing　a　date？〃
　Owen　glanced　up。　〃Her　birthday？〃
　〃Yeah；　you　know；　the　whole　crowd's　ing　from　the　Cape；　and　then　we'll　just　do　tequila　shots　til　dawn。　You　got　a　girl　off…island？〃
　Owen　began　to　lie；　just　to　fill　that　emptiness　between　them。　Yes；　he　had　a　girl。　Yes；　he　was　excited　about　Jenna's　birthday　party；　even　though　he　had　not　been　invited　to　it。　Yes；　he　was　considering　his　options　as　to　which　colleges　he　was　looking　into　…　Middlebury　looked　promising；　he　didn't　think　he　had　quite　the　grades　for　Harvard；　but　his　uncle　had　been　a　Dean　at　Middlebury；　and　yes；　they　could　all　go　skiing　in　the　winter　up　there　in　some　distant　holiday。
　The　whole　time；　Jimmy　reached　into　his　shaving　kit；　went　over　to　shave　at　the　mirror；　and　then　applied　some　kind　of　lotion　to　his　face。　He　finished　it　off　with　a　spritz　of　the　most　obnoxious　cologne　that　Owen　had　ever　smelled。　While　they　small…talked　it；　Owen　knew；　standing　there　in　the　diminishing　steam　of　the　changing　room；　he　knew。
　Owen　knew　just　by　standing　there　with　Jimmy　in　the　shimmering　mist。
　Jimmy　had　a　weakness。
　He　began　spending　time；　after　that；　thinking　about　that　weakness。
　Thinking　about　how　he　could　get　Jenna　back。
　3
　Owen's　shift　at　the　Salty　Dog　began　at　three　and　lasted　until　eleven；　six　days　a　week。　He　emerged　sweaty　and　stinking　of　grease；　because　half　his　job　was　cleaning　out　the　fryers　and　grease　pits　at　the　end　of　the　night；　and　when　he　got　off　shift　in　early　July　…　it　was　nearly　two　a。m。　…　he　went　down　to　the　jetty　to　stare　out　at　the　early　morning　mist　of　the　Sound；　smoke　some　cigarettes；　and　chill。
　He　didn't　turn　around　when　he　heard　the　footsteps　ing　up　behind　him。
　〃Mooncalf。〃
　〃Hey　Jimmy。〃
　〃Got　a　cig？〃
　〃Take　one；〃　Owen　tossed　a　cigarette　back。
　〃Thanks。　I　guess　you　want　to　be　alone。〃
　〃Didn't　know　you　smoked。〃
　〃I　don't。　Not　when　anyone　looks；　anyway。〃
　〃That's　nice。　Anything　else　you　do　when　no　one's　looking？〃
　〃If　I　told；　you'd　know　my　secrets。〃
　〃How's　Jenna？〃
　〃She's　okay。　She　fell　asleep　early。　I　just　needed　to　wander　a　little。　How's　the　job？〃
　〃Good。　You　can　smell　it　on　me。　You　wander　late。　It's　almost　morning。〃
　〃In　Manhattan；　I　wander　at　all　hours。　I　like　this　time　of　night。　I　kind　of　miss　work。　I　used　to　work　summers　in　one　of　my　dad's　stores。　It　was　fun　sometimes。〃
　〃Seems　like　more　fun　to　run　around　the　island　all　summer。　Like　you　two。〃
　〃It　gets　old。　I　take　that　back。　Yeah；　it's　fun。　I　guess　you　want　to　be　left　alone。〃
　〃You　guessed　right；〃　Owen　said；　cricking　his　neck　to　the　left　a　bit。
　〃Your　neck　hurt？〃
　〃It　gets　stiff。　Leaning　over　a　mop　half　the　time。　On　my　knees　cleaning　up　all　kinds　of　shit。〃
　〃Here；〃　Jimmy　said；　and　Owen　felt　hands　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　gently　massaging。　〃Better？〃
　Owen　let　him　continue。　〃This　fog　depresses　me。〃
　〃I　think　it's　peaceful。〃
　〃You　would。〃
　〃Mooncalf；　you　hate　me；　don't　you？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃How　does　this　feel？〃　Jimmy　pressed　his　thumbs　into　Owen's　shoulders。
　〃Oh　yeah；〃　Owen　said。　〃Right　there。〃
　4
　Before　dawn；　he　had　gone　to　the　pond。　He　knelt　down　beside　it；　and　reached　down　among　the　algae　and　slimy　rocks　until　he　found　it。
　He　drew　the　statue　up；　and　set　it　down　on　the　wet　grass。
　〃I　guess　you're　just　made　up；〃　he　said　aloud。　〃I　guess　I'm　just　a　screwed　up　guy　who　made　you　up。　Maybe　when　I　was　twelve　I　was　warped。　But　you're　just　some　cheap　souvenir　someone　lost。　No　one　believes　in　gods。〃
　But　still；　the　itchy　thought　touched　him　som