cw.blackalibi-第22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！


　　〃I'll　do　better　than　that　for　you。　e　on；　I'll　blow　you　to　a　cup　of　steaming　coffee。　I　keep　feeling　chilly　down　the　middle　of　my　back。〃
　　They　went　back　inside　the　place　La　Bruja　had　just　left。　There　was　no　one　in　it　but　the　proprietor；　a　weary…looking　man　in　rolled　shirt　sleeves　and　a　floor…length　apron。　They　sat　down　at　one　of　the　battered　wooden　tables。
　　The　first　thing　Clo…Clo　did　was　kick　off　her　shoes　under　it；　wiggle　her　toes。　〃Some　relief；　huh？〃
　　La　Bruja　brooded　dully　down　on　the　table　top；　flicked　a　leftover　matchstick　away；　flapped　her　band　in　disgusted　agreement　toward　her。
　　〃This　is　the　part　I　like　best；　when　'it's　all　over。　Don't　have　to　smile；　don't　have　to　listen；　don't　have　to　watch　what　you　say　next。〃
　　〃Are　you　that　way？　I'm　that　way；　too；〃　Clo…Clo　admitted。　She　siphoned　hot；　watery　coffee　noisily　into　her　mouth　without　lifting　the　cup　from　the　table　at　all。
　　Presently；　the　warm　brew　flooding　through　her；　she　began　to　wax　philosophical。　〃I　wonder　where　we'll　all　be　a　year　from　now。〃
　　〃Tomorrow　night；　for　that　matter；〃　said　the　disgruntled　La　Bruja；　continuing　to　lower　down　upon　the　table。
　　〃Tell　my　fortune；〃　Clo…Clo　urged。　〃e　on；　chica。〃
　　La　Bruja　grinned　lopsidedly　at　her。　〃I　know　you；　you　little　monkey；　that's　the　reason　you　offered　me　the　cup　of　coffee。〃
　　Clo…Clo　didn't　try　to　deny　it。　〃After　all；　it's　the　only　relaxation　I　ever　get　during　the　course　of　an　evening。〃
　　La　Bruja　balanced　her　cigarette　on　the　edge　of　the　table。　〃All　right；〃　she　acceded　wearily；　〃pass　me　your　mitt。〃
　　〃No；　try　it　with　the　cards。　I　like　it　better　with　the　cards；　there's　more　stuff　to　it。〃　Clo…Clo　raised　her　voice　to　the　shopkeeper　in　the　shadowy　background。　〃Hey；　got　a　deck　of　cards？〃
　　〃Yes；　but　I'm　going　to　close　up。〃　He　turned　off　a　light；　and　doubled　the　previous　dimness。
　　Clo…Clo　looked　around　at　him　with　a　mixture　of　sudden　annoyance　and　nervousness；　totally　unlike　her　usual　self。　〃Couldn't　you　wait　a　minute；　what's　your　hurry？〃　she　said　sharply。
　　〃I　want　to　get　some　sleep　myself；〃　he　grumbled。　〃Think　all　I've　got　to　do　is　stay　up　all　night　for　two　hustlers？〃
　　Clo…Clo　gave　the　table　a　smack。　〃You　bring　us　those　cards！〃　She　wanted　respect　for　her　ten　centavos。　She　was；　for　once；　in　the　unusual　position　of　being　the　customer　in　her　own　right；　and　she　was　going　to　get　everything　out　of　it　that　was　ing　to　her。
　　He　shuffled　grudgingly　forward　and　slapped　an　insanitary　deck　down　between　them。　〃Five　more　minutes；　you　two；〃　he　grunted。　On　his　way　back　he　turned　out　another　light。　There　was　only　one　left　now　in　the　entire　place；　casting　a　smoky　pooi　of　light　down　over　their　immediate　table　and　nothing　else。　The　rest　was　all　shadows。
　　〃Will　you　be　able　to　see？〃　Clo…Clo　asked　anxiously。
　　〃Good　enough。〃　La　Bruja；　cigarette　vibrating　unsupported　between　her　lips　once　more；　shuffled　deftly　with　a　low　whirring　noise。　〃Cut；〃　she　ordered。　She　began　to　pay　them　out。
　　Clo…Clo　pointed　both　elbows　to　the　table　top；　rested　her　face　between　her　hands；　looked　on　absorbedly。　A　period　of　low…voiced　intermittent　recital　ensued；　all　on　La　Bruja's　part。　Then　it　broke　off　again　suddenly。　There　was　a　long　pause。
　　Clo…Clo　raised　her　eyes　from　the　cards　to　the　other　girl's　face。　〃What's　the　matter？　Something　go　wrong？〃　Le　Bruja　had　mangled　them　all　together；　was　restacking　them　to　start　over。
　　〃What're　you　doing　that　for？〃
　　〃I　want　to　try　it　over；〃　La　Bruja　said　nonmittally。
　　The　low…voiced　recital　began　again。　Then　it　stopped　short　again；　just　as　before。
　　Once　more　she　began　over。　Once　more　she　stopped；　as　though　at　a　loss。
　　〃What　do　you　keep　quitting　bike　that　for？〃　Clo…Clo　asked。
　　La　Bruja　shook　her　head　slightly；　whether　at　the　question　itsebf　or　at　the　condition　that　had　caused　the　question　to　be　asked　she　left　unresobved。
　　〃It's　still　here；〃　she　murmured　finabby。
　　Clo…Clo　booked　them　over。　〃I　know；　but　what　is　it？〃
　　〃It's　something；　but　I　can't　make　out　myself　what　it　is。　It's　nothing　good。　Wait　a　minute；　I'll　see　if　I　can　get　it　for　you。　It's　dark；　and　that　means　some　kind　of　trouble。　It's　a　four　card。　It's　the　four　of　spades　and　it's　right　over　you。　Every　time　I　shuffle　them　it　keeps　ing　Out　right　over　you。　Whatever　it　is；　it's　something　that's　hanging　over　you；　that's　nearing　you；　that's　on　its　way。〃　She　spread　her　hands　helpbessby。
　　Clo…Clo　rolled　her　eyeballs　upwards　half　under　her　lids　in　unspoken　dismay。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　I'll　try　it　again。〃　La　Bruja's　hands　reached　out；　harvested　the　cards　into　a　bristling　heap。
　　Clo…Clo　turned　her　head　stiffly　aside；　booked　off　into　the　shadows。　〃Gall　me　if…if　it　es　back　again。〃　She　cross…barred　one　index　finger　over　the　other；　held　them　that　way。
　　There　was　a　period　of　bated　waiting。　She　could　hear　the　faint　tick　the　cards　made　going　down　on　the　wood。　It　was　very　stibb　in　the　room。　The　only　thing　that　moved　was　a　silent　thing；　the　shadow　of　La　Bruja's　hand　on　the　floor；　rising　and　fabling；　rising　and　fabling；　where　Clo…Clo　was　booking　down　with　averted　head。
　　The　hand　stopped。　The　ticks　of　cardboard　stopped。　La　Bruja　spoke。
　　〃It's　back　again。　Fourth　time　in　a　row。〃
　　Clo…Clo　bunched　her　shoulders。　〃It's　drafty　in　here；〃　she　said。　She　turned　slowly；　glanced　down　as　at　something　coiled　to　strike　her。　〃But　isn't　it　you　that　puts　them　there？　Isn't　it…isn't　it　your　hand？〃
　　〃They　e　in　rotation。　What　have　I　to　do　with　that？　As　soon　as　you　e　out；　and　fall　into　the　center　place；　all　those　that　follow　have　their　places　in　order　around　you。　If　I　meddled　with　that；　the　fortune　would　be　worthless。〃
　　〃You　mean　it　has　been　in　that　exact…upper　corner　of　my　card；　each　of　the　four　times？〃
　　〃No；　but　it　has　been　in　the　row　over　you　each　time。　It　has　e　out　within　three　or　four　cards　of　your　own。　It　is　something　on　its　way　to　you。〃
　　Clo…Clo　slashed　out；　caught　the　other's　wrist　in　frightened　appeal。　Her　voice　broke。　〃Bruja。　Brujita。　You　gotta　figure　out…you　gotta　tell　me　what　it　is！　Try！〃
　　She　waited；　then　seeing　that　no　answer　was　forthing；　began　to　try　to　coach　her　in　her　own　metier。　〃What　does　the　four　mean？　Is　it　a　date　I　should　beware　of？　Today's　the；　bet　me　see…〃
　　〃No；　it's　no　date。　There　are　no　dates　in　these　cards。　It's　in　the　first　row　over　you；　so　it's　soon。〃
　　〃Well；　is　it　a　man？〃
　　〃No；　the　picture　cards　are　men；　the　jacks　and　kings。〃
　　〃Well；　what　could　it　be　then？　Something　with　four　legs？　Maybe　it　means　I'm　going　to　be　trampled　by　a　black　horse。〃
　　La　Bruja　shrugged。
　　Clo…Clo　snapped　her　fingers。　〃I've　got　it。　Four。　Something　with　four　wheels。　I　should　stay　out　of　a　black　automobile　or　I'm　going　to　get　smashed　up。
　　〃It　could　be；〃　Le　Bruja　said　uncertainly。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　as　disturbing　to　her　as　to　her　client；　she　wasn't　taking　it　bightby。　Perhaps　because　it　was　a　challenge　to　her　professional　skill。　She　continued　to　stare　downward　in　stony　concentration　at　it；　the　brick　of　still…unused　cards　retained　in　her　hand；　kneading　a　corner　of　her　lip　every　now　and　then　between　her　teeth。
　　The　proprietor　had　fallen　into　a　doze　somewhere　in　the　dusk…laden　background。　His　heavy　breathing　was　the　only　sound　to　be　heard　in　the　silences　between　their　remarks。
　　〃But　they're　your　cards。　Gan't　you　read　them？〃
　　〃Sure　I　can　read　them…as　far　as　they　go。　The　spades　suit　is　always　trouble　or　misfortune。　The　ace　of　spades　itself　is　the　one　to　book　out　for；　that's　the　death　card。〃
　　Clo…Clo　took　a　deep　breath　of　unutterable　relief。　〃It's　not　out。　So　maybe　if　I　just　steer　clear　of　a　black　car…〃　She　lit　a　cigarette　with　a　hand　that　was　shaking　so；　the　match　singed　the　paper　all　down　one　side　nearly　to　her　lips。　〃Go　ahead　a　little　further；　instead　of　turning　back。　Pay　more　out。　Maybe　something'lb　e　out　after　that'bl…　that'll　make　it　clearer。〃
　　La　Bruja　lidded　her　eyes　acquiescently。　Her　hand　moved。　〃That's　a　money　card。〃　Her　hand　moved　again。　〃That's　a　card　that　means　a　trip　or　journey；　a　small　one。〃
　　〃I'm　to　get　more　money　and　go　on　a　trip　or　journey？〃　suggested　Clo…Clo　hopefully。
　　〃No；　they're　in　reverse。　That　means；　a　trip　back　because　of　money。　Money　is　going　to　cause　you　to　make　a　return　trip　to　somewhere。〃
　　This　time　Clo…Clo　didn't　ment；　she　kept〃　her　own　counsel。　She　thought：　〃Sounds　like　I'm　going　back　to　the　Tabarin　one　of　these　nights'　and　meet　that　same　darling　of　a　papacito　and　be　given　another…〃
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　she　urged；　〃put　the　next　one　in　line　down。〃
　　La　Bruja's　free　hand　moved　to　the　brick　she　held；　stripped　the　top　of　it；　carried　it　to　the　table；　reversed　it　with　a　deft　twist。
　　There　was　a　sort　of　impalpable　detonation　between　them；　unseen；　unheard；　but　as　keenly　felt　as　the　flare　of　flashlight　powder。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　what'd　you　say　just　now　was　the…？〃
　　Clo…Clo；　eyes　dilated　craned　her　neck　toward　the　layout。　Before　she　could　verify　it；　La　Bruja　had　slapped　her　hand　over　it；　effacing　it。
　　〃Don't　look　at　it。〃　La　Bruja　suddenly　whipped　it　out　of　the　set…up　and　left　a　blank　space　where　it　had　been。
　　〃The　death　card；〃　Clo…Clo　whispered。
　　〃It　wasn't　right　over　you；〃　La　Bruja　said　roughly。
　　〃But　it　was　right　over　this　other　one；　this　four　thing。　And　that　was　touching　me。　Corner　to　corner！〃
　　〃Now　look　at　your　face；〃　La　Bruja　said　accusingly。　〃You're　all　white。　You　shouldn't　have　asked　me…〃　She　swept　her　hand　back　and　forth　across　the　cards；　obliterating　their　arrangement　beyond　repair。　She　jogged　her　chair　back。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；〃　she　said　impatiently。
　　Clo…Clo　didn't　move　for　a　minute；　didn't　act　as　though　she'd　heard　her。　Her　eyes　were　still　fixed　unseeingby　on　the　barren　table　top；　where　the　cards　had　been　until　now；　as　though　she　could　stilb　see　them。　Once　she　backed　her　hand　across　the　brow　fringe　of　the　chrysanthemum　hair　mop；　leaving　a　little　indentation　in　its　evenness　of　line　through　which　a　triangular　wedge　of　forehead　peered。
　　〃Gome　on；　don't　take　it　like　that；〃　La　Bruja　tried　to　cheer　her　up。
　　Clo…Clo　moved　her　head　at　bast；　but　not　toward　her　panion。　She　turned　it　slowly；　warily；　the　other　way　around；　toward　the　half…visible　streetbevel　window　of　the　shop；　across　the　room　from　them；　with　its　shutters　already　backed　together　behind　it　in　closure　for　th