ericlustbader.the ninja-第24部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ntient。　He　had　acquired　a　second　skin：　a　malignancy　which　now　started　to　eat　into　his　flesh。　His　skin　curled　and　cindered；　peeling　away　to　tendon　and　sinew。　Only　this　was　left　to　him；　as　the　substance　saturated　him；　piercing　his　bones。　These　were　slowly　powdered。　And　all　the　while　the　tiger　with　the　ninja's　face　grinned　at　him。　Then；　as　he　felt　all　strength　running　out　of　him；　as　if　he　were　urinating　his　life　away；　puddling　it　on　the　ground　before　him；　the　beast　lifted　its　right　forepaw。　It
　was　a　human　arm　that　had　been　amputated　at　the　elbow。　Above；　the　skin　was　black；　the　muscles　gone；　the　arm　…　what　was　left　of　it　…　virtually　fleshless；　as　if　it　had　been　crisped　in　some　terrible　swift　blast。　The　tiger　with　the　ninja's　face　lifted　this　limb　up　to　him　as　if　to　say；　'See　this　and　remember。'　On　the　inside　of　the　arm　was　tattooed　a　seven…digit　number。　Camp；　he　thought　over　and　over。　Camp；　camp；　camp。　He　was　a　jellyfish　now；　shorn　of　manhood；　even　his　ape　heritage。　Beyond　that；　he　now　swayed　in　the　jungle；　when　man　was　still　a　part　of　the　gravid　seas；　before　the　spark；　before　the　first　fish　crawled　to　the　edge　of　its　world　and　became　an　amphibian；　before　the　land　was　fit　for　life。　In　this　jungle　sea；　he　drifted　with　his　implacable　foe。　'See；　see；　see；'　said　the　beast；　moving　towards　him　who　hung　helpless　on　the　tides；　the　evolutionary　avatar。　'No！'　cried　the　jellyfish。　'Don't　you　see？　You'll　destroy　everyone！'　But；　unheeding；　the　man…tiger　was　upon　him。　〃This　I　do　for　my　…'
　Doc　Deerforth　awoke　with　a　start。　He　was　drenched　in　sweat　and　his　cotton　shirt　was　twisted　to　one　side　so　that　he　felt　as　if　he　were　inside　a　strait　jacket。　He　gasped；　taking　several　deep　breaths。　The　rain　had　ceased　some　time　while　he　was　asleep　but　water　still　dripped　from　the　eaves；　making　him　think　of　the　sea　and　the　jellyfish　and　the　ninja　and　annihilation。
　Terry　was　almost　killed　on　his　way　to　meet　Vincent。　This；　in　itself；　held　no　import　for　him；　he　was　far　too　busy　with　his　thoughts。
　He　was　thinking　about　Hideoshi　as　he　stepped　off　the　kerb　at　Sixth　Avenue；　walking　east　on　Forty…sixth　Street。　He　was　meeting　Vincent　at　Michita；　a　small　Japanese　restaurant　on　Forty…sixth　between　Sixth　and　Fifth　avenues。　This　place；　run　in　the　traditional　style　…　a　sushi　bar　and　tatami　rooms　…　was　open　virtually　twenty…four　hours　a　day　because　it　catered；　in　large　part；　for　the　many　Japanese　businessmen　new　to　the　country；　still　on　Tokyo　time。　It　was　a　favourite　haunt　of　Nicholas's；　Vincent's　and　his　because　they　all　felt　quite　at　home　there。
　He　was　against　the　light　and；　in　the　gutter；　he　was　almost
　run　down　by　an　old　rattling　Checker　cab；　hurtling　up　the　avenue。　The　shrill　blast　of　the　horn　snapped　him　out　of　his　reverie　and　he　leaped　back　onto　the　sidewalk　amid　the　screech　of　brakes　and　the　heartfelt　curses　of　the　obese；　shaggy…haired　driver。　'Fuckin'　asshole　gook！'　he　heard　as　the　taxi　swerved　past　him。　He　felt　the　cool　breeze　of　its　close　passage　and　then　it　was　accelerating　uptown。
　This　incident；　however；　did　not　long　deter　him　from　his　inner　contemplation。　Upstairs　in　the　dojo；　while　he　had　been　preparing　his　bokken　for　the　ing　matches；　he　had　observed　the　man　at　work　on　his　aikido　and；　somewhat　later；　at　karate。　He　had　been　appalled　at　the　man's　strength　and　agility。　Also；　it　was　obvious　after　a　few　short　moments　that　he　knew　far　more　about　strategy　than　did　Terry's　instructors。　Since　opening；　the　dojo　had　rapidly　built　a　reputation　as　being　one　of　the　finest　facilities　of　its　kind；　not　only　in　America；　but　in　all　the　world。　Much　of　this；　of　course；　came　from　Terry's　astute　selection　of　sensei。　To　a　man；　his　instructors　were　top…level　masters　in　each　of　their　specialities。　To　see　them'　thus　handled　was　disquieting　indeed。　As　he　went　through　Michita's　thick　blond…wood　and　iron　door；　he　wondered　whether　he　should　tell　Vincent　of　Hideoshi's　visit。
　Eileen　went　shopping　after　leaving　the　dojo。　She　went　cross…town　to　Bloomingdale's　and　bought　several　new　pieces　of　lingerie。　On　a　whim；　she　picked　up　a　bottle　of　a　cologne　she　had　been　meaning　to　try。　On　the　way　back　to　Terry's　she　stopped　at　a　liquor　store　and　bought　a　bottle　of　1970　Dom　Perignon。
　It　was　still　light　when　she　reached　Terry's　brownstone。　She　put　the　champagne　in　the　refrigerator　and　threw　her　Blooming…dale's　packages　on　the　wide　bed。　Returning　to　the　kitchen；　she　put　four　eggs　in　to　boil　for　the　caviar；　checked　to　make　sure　there　were　enough　onions；　and　bread　for　toast。
　Then　she　went　through　into　the　bedroom　and；　crossing　its　ample　width；　into　the　bathroom；　turning　on　the　shower。　She　undressed　and　was　about　to　step　into　the　stall　when　she　remembered　something。　Without　bothering　to　wrap　a　towel
　round　her；　she　returned　to　the　living…room　and　put　a　record　on　the　stereo；　turning　it　up　so　that　she　could　hear　it　in　the　shower。
　She　sang　with　the　water　beating　down　on　her；　hearing　the　distant　sounds　of　the　music　as　if　from　the　far　side　of　a　waterfall。　She　imagined　herself　on　a　tropical　island；　bathing　in　the　turquoise　water　of　a　deserted　lagoon。　She　washed　her　hair　and　soaped　her　body；　revelling　in　the　slipperiness　against　her　skin。
　She　turned　off　the　water　and　got　out；　towelling　her　hair　first。　In　Terry's　full…length　mirror；　she　regarded　her　naked　self　critically。　She　was　proud　of　her　body。　Her　skin　was　sleek　and　unblemished；　her　flesh　firm　despite　her　age。　Her　neck　was　long　and　slender；　her　shoulders　as　delicate　as　a　china　doll's。　Her　breasts；　sloping　gently；　were　still　ripe　and　firm；　the　nipples　dark　and　long。　Her　waist　was　narrow；　her　hips　flaring　gently。　But　it　was　her　legs　of　which　she　was　most　proud。　They　were　long　and　firm；　the　muscles　taut　and　supple；　the　ankles　narrow；　her　feet　small。　She　watched　her　muscles　rippling　as　she　worked　the　thick　blue…green　towel　over　her　wet　flesh。　Her　nipples　sprang　erect　at　the　rough　contact　and　she　felt　the　first　beginning　warmth　as　she　moved　the　towel　slowly　down　her　belly；　between　her　thighs；　back　and　forth；　anticipating　Terry's　arrival。　She　loved　his　hands　on　her　body；　they　were　so　soft　and　gentle　and　knowing；　she　abhorred　anything　rough；　he　knew　she　loved　that　part　as　much　as　when　he　was　inside　her；　both　of　them　ing　in　concert。　She　loved　to　make　love　to　music；　the　changing　melodies；　harmonies；　tempi　somehow　enhancing　the　process。　And；　of　course；　the　added　sounds　made　vocalizing　easier　for　both　of　them。　She　watched　the　flush　of　blood　throughout　her　body　reflected　in　the　mirror　as　her　thoughts　pushed　onward；　inward。　She　imagined　that　Terry　was　already　home；　moving　around　the　living…room；　preparing　the　caviar　and　champagne。　She　dropped　the　towel　as；　with　one　hand；　she　rubbed　her　nipples；　with　the　other　she　probed　gently　between　her　thighs。
　After　a　time；　she　sighed　deeply　and　stepped　out　into　the　bedroom。　She　crossed　to　the　bed　and；　bending　over；　slit　open　the　bag。　She　took　out　the　bottle　of　cologne；　Chanel　No。　19；　opened　it　and　dabbed　it　on　her　richly　glowing　skin。　Then　she
　stepped　into　the　cream　silk　teddy　she　had　bought；　luxuriating　in　the　feel　of　the　sensuous　fabric。　This　was　how　Terry　would　see　her　when　he　arrived。
　She　turned　towards　the　open　doorway　and　a　frown　creased　her　brow。　Darkness　prevailed　there　and；　while　it　was　night　now；　the　sunset　having　slipped　away　while　she　was　in　the　shower；　she　was　certain　she　had　turned　on　the　lights　there　when　she　had　e　in。　Or　had　she？　She　shrugged　and　went　through　the　doorway。
　Half　way　to　the　small　porcelain　lamp　on　the　table　next　to　the　sofa；　she　paused；　turning　her　head。　Had　there　been　some　movement　in　the　room　to　her　exfreme　left？　Now　she　saw　only　clumps　of　dense　shadows。　Outside；　a　cat　yowled　twice　as　if　it　were　being　skinned　alive；　then　there　was　the　brief　clatter　of　metal　garbage…can　lids　in　the　cement　alley　at　the　side　of　the　house；　ing　clear　through　the　wall。　The　music　was　still　playing。　Henry　Mancini。　A　bitter…sweet　melody　that　she　knew　ended　the　side　of　the　record。　Mancini　was　so　romantic。
　She　crossed　to　the　table　and　pressed　the　switch；　the　lights　in　the　bedroom　went　out。　She　turned　round；　oblivious　for　a　moment　of　the　fact　that　the　lamp　had　not　lit。　The　music　was　over　and　she　was　conscious　of　the　minute　sounds　of　the　tone　arm　lifting；　setting　down　on　its　cradle　and　the　turn…table　stopping。　There　was　only　one　sound　now；　very　close　to　her；　and　she　realized　that　it　was　her　harsh　breathing。
　'Is　anyone　there？'　She　felt　foolish。
　The　total　absence　of　sound　was　infinitely　more　frightening　than　if　she　had　heard　a　voice　reply。　She　looked　down　at　the　glowing　dial　of　her　watch　and　all　she　could　think　of　was：　Terry　will　be　home　soon。
　As　if　drawn　towards　the　unknown；　she　went　slowly　across　the　living…room　until　she　was　standing　at　the　doorway。　She　peered　in；　trying　to　see　in　the　gloom；　the　curtains　were　closed　and　here；　at　the　back　of　the　house；　the　trees　of　the　back　yard　intervened　behind　the　closed　windows；　the　working　air…conditioner；　vitiating　the　lamps　from　the　neighbouring　houses。
　She　went　into　the　bedroom；　her　hand　feeling　along　the　wall　for　the　light…switch。　But　before　she　got　to　it；　she　heard　the　click　of　the　stereo　from　the　other　room；　heard；　after　a　tiny
　delay；　Mancini's　piano　and　the　double　bass　begin　a　jazz　duet。　Soon　the　drums　joined　them　and　then　the　strings。　Last　of　all　was　the　sax；　a　crying；　almost　human　voice　among　the　myriad　instruments。　The　music　was　filled　with　tension。
　She　whirled　towards　the　doorway；　could　not　see　through　it。　Something　or　someone　blocked　her　view。　She　took　a　step　forward　and　gasped　as　something　slithered　towards　her　in　a　blur；　wrapped　itself　around　her　right　wrist。
　Crying　out　inarticulately；　she　stumbled　backwards。　She　flung　up　her　arm　in　an　attempt　to　free　herself　but　the　thing　…　whatever　it　was　…　followed　her　silently；　relentlessly；　the　grip　on　her　wrist　tightened　until　she　thought　her　bones　might　break。
　'What　do　you　want？〃　she　said　inanely。　'What　do　you　want？'　Her　mind；　numbed　by　fear；　could　think　of　nothing　else　to　say。　It　was　as　if　the　night；　through　some　magical　incantation；　had　bee　a　sentient　being。
　She　felt　the　edge　of　the　bed　against　the　backs　of　her　knees　and；　as　if　this　solid　barrier　brought　her　back　to　reality；　she　launched　herself　forward。　She　did　not　believe　in　ghosts；　not　even　in　the　fomi　of　her　ancestors；　as　tangi