th.red dragon-第43部分

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　〃Wait　here。〃
　He　carried　in　the　sack　from　the　liquor　store　and　made　a　fast　inspection　tour。　He　stopped　in　the　kitchen　and　stood　for　a　moment　with　his　hands　over　his　face。　He　wasn't　sure　what　he　was　doing。　He　felt　danger；　but　not　from　the　woman。　He　couldn't　look　up　the　stairs。　He　had　to　do　something　and　he　didn't　know　how。　He　should　take　her　back　home。
　Before　his　Being；　he　would　not　have　dared　any　of　this。
　Now　he　realized　he　could　do　anything。　Anything。　Anything。
　He　came　outside；　into　the　sunset；　into　the　long　blue　shadow　of　the　van。　Reba　McClane　held　on　to　his　shoulders　until　her　foot　touched　the　ground。
　She　felt　the　loom　of　the　house。　She　sensed　its　height　in　the　echo　of　the　van　door　closing。
　〃Four　steps　on　the　grass。　Then　there's　a　ramp；〃　he　said。
　She　took　his　arm。　A　tremor　through　him。　Clean　perspiration　in　cotton。
　〃You　do　have　a　ramp。　What　for？〃
　〃Old　people　were　here。〃
　〃Not　now；　though。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It　feels　cool　and　tall；〃　she　said　in　the　parlor。　Museum　air。　And　was　that　incense？　A　clock　ticked　far　away。　〃It's　a　big　house；　isn't　it？　How　many　rooms？〃
　〃Fourteen。〃
　〃It's　old。　The　things　in　here　are　old。〃　She　brushed　against　a　fringed　lampshade　and　touched　it　with　her　fingers。
　Shy　Mr。　Dolarhyde。　She　was　perfectly　aware　that　it　had　excited　him　to　see　her　with　the　tiger；　he　had　shuddered　like　a　horse　when　she　took　his　arm　leaving　the　treatment　room。
　An　elegant　gesture；　his　arranging　that。　Maybe　eloquent　as　well；　she　wasn't　sure。
　〃Martini？〃
　〃Let　me　go　with　you　and　do　it；〃　she　said；　taking　off　her　shoes。
　She　flicked　vermouth　from　her　finger　into　the　glass。　Two　and　a　half　ounces　of　gin　on　top；　and　two　olives。　She　picked　up　points　of　reference　quickly　in　the　house　…　the　ticking　clock；　the　hum　of　a　window　air　conditioner。　There　was　a　warm　place　on　the　floor　near　the　kitchen　door　where　the　sunlight　had　fallen　through　the　afternoon。
　He　took　her　to　his　big　chair。　He　sat　on　the　couch。
　There　was　a　charge　in　the　air。　Like　fluorescence　in　the　sea；　it　limned　movement；　she　found　a　place　for　her　drink　on　the　stand　beside　her；　he　put　on　music。
　To　Dolarhyde　the　room　seemed　changed。　She　was　the　first　voluntary　pany　he　ever　had　in　the　house；　and　now　the　room　was　divided　into　her　part　and　his。
　There　was　the　music；　Debussy　as　the　light　failed。
　He　asked　her　about　Denver　and　she　told　him　a　little；　absently；　as　though　she　thought　of　something　else。　He　described　the　house　and　the　big　hedged　yard。　There　wasn't　much　need　to　talk。
　In　the　silence　while　he　changed　records；　she　said；　〃That　wonderful　tiger；　this　house；　you're　just　full　of　surprises；　D。　I　don't　think　anybody　knows　you　at　all。〃
　〃Did　you　ask　them？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Anybody。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Then　how　do　you　know　that　nobody　knows　me？〃　His　concentration　on　the　tongue…twister　kept　the　tone　of　the　question　neutral。
　〃Oh；　some　of　the　women　from　Gateway　saw　us　getting　into　your　van　the　other　day。　Boy；　were　they　curious。　All　of　a　sudden　I　have　pany　at　the　Coke　machine。〃
　〃What　do　they　want　to　know？〃
　〃They　just　wanted　some　juicy　gossip。　When　they　found　out　there　isn't　any；　they　went　away。　They　were　just　fishing。〃
　〃And　what　did　they　say？〃
　She　had　meant　to　make　the　women's　avid　curiosity　into　humor　directed　at　herself。　It　was　not　working　out　that　way。
　〃They　wonder　about　everything；〃　she　said。　〃They　find　you　very　mysterious　and　interesting。　e　on；　it's　a　pliment。〃
　〃Did　they　tell　you　how　I　look？〃
　The　question　was　spoken　lightly；　very　well　done；　but　Reba　knew　that　nobody　is　ever　kidding。　She　met　it　head…on。
　〃I　didn't　ask　them。　But；　yes；　they　told　me　how　they　think　you　look。　Want　to　hear　it？　Verbatim？　Don't　ask　if　you　don't。〃　She　was　sure　he　would　ask。
　No　reply。
　Suddenly　Reba　felt　that　she　was　alone　in　the　room；　that　the　place　where　he　had　stood　was　emptier　than　empty；　a　black　hole　swallowing　everything　and　emanating　nothing。　She　knew　he　could　not　have　left　without　her　hearing　him。
　〃I　think　I'll　tell　you；〃　she　said。　〃You　have　a　kind　of　hard　clean　neatness　that　they　like。　They　said　you　have　a　remarkable　body。〃　Clearly　she　couldn't　leave　it　at　that。　〃They　say　you're　very　sensitive　about　your　face　and　that　you　shouldn't　be。　Okay；　here's　the　dippy　one　with　the　Dentine；　is　it　Eileen？〃
　〃Eileen。〃
　Ah；　a　return　signal。　She　felt　like　a　radio　astronomer。
　Reba　was　an　excellent　mimic。　She　could　have　reproduced　Eileen's　speech　with　startling　fidelity；　but　she　was　too　wise　to　mimic　anyone's　speech　for　Dolarhyde。　She　quoted　Eileen　as　though　she　read　from　a　transcript。
　〃'He's　not　a　bad…looking　guy。　Honest　to　God　I've　gone　out　with　lots　of　guys　didn't　look　that　good。　I　went　out　with　a　hockey　player　one　time　…　played　for　the　Blues？　…　had　a　little　dip　in　his　lip　where　his　gum　shrank　back　from　his　bridge？　They　all　have　that；　hockey　players。　It's　kind　of；　you　know；　macho；　I　think。　Mr。　D。's　got　the　nicest　skin；　and　what　I　wouldn't　give　for　his　hair。'　Satisfied？　Oh；　and　she　asked　me　if　you're　as　strong　as　you　look。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃I　said　I　didn't　know。〃　She　drained　her　glass　and　got　up。　〃Where　the　hell　are　you　anyway；　D。？〃　She　knew　when　he　moved　between　her　and　a　stereo　speaker。　〃Aha。　Here　you　are。　Do　you　want　to　know　what　I　think　about　it？〃
　She　found　his　mouth　with　her　fingers　and　kissed　it；　lightly　pressing　his　lips　against　his　clenched　teeth。　She　registered　instantly　that　it　was　shyness　and　not　distaste　that　held　him　rigid。
　He　was　astonished。
　〃Now；　would　you　show　me　where　the　bathroom　is？〃
　She　took　his　arm　and　went　with　him　down　the　hall。
　〃I　can　find　my　own　way　back。〃
　In　the　bathroom　she　patted　her　hair　and　ran　her　fingers　along　the　top　of　the　basin；　hunting　toothpaste　or　mouthwash。　She　tried　to　find　the　door　of　the　medicine　cabinet　and　found　there　was　no　door；　only　hinges　and　exposed　shelves。　She　touched　the　objects　on　them　carefully；　leery　of　a　razor；　until　she　found　a　bottle。　She　took　off　the　cap；　smelled　to　verify　mouthwash；　and　swished　some　around。
　When　she　returned　to　the　parlor；　she　heard　a　familiar　sound　…　the　whir　of　a　projector　rewinding。
　〃I　have　to　do　a　little　homework；〃　Dolarhyde　said；　handing　her　a　fresh　martini。
　〃Sure；〃　she　said。　She　didn't　know　how　to　take　it。　〃If　I'm　keeping　you　from　working；　I'll　go。　Will　a　cab　e　up　here？〃
　〃No。　I　want　you　to　be　here。　I　do。　It's　just　some　film　I　need　to　check。　It　won't　take　long。〃
　He　started　to　take　her　to　the　big　chair。　She　knew　where　the　couch　was。　She　went　to　it　instead。
　〃Does　it　have　a　soundtrack？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃May　I　keep　the　music？〃
　〃Um…hmmm。〃
　She　felt　his　attention。　He　wanted　her　to　stay；　he　was　just　frightened。　He　shouldn't　be。　All　right。　She　sat　down。
　The　martini　was　wonderfully　cold　and　crisp。
　He　sat　on　the　other　end　of　the　couch；　his　weight　clinking　the　ice　in　her　glass。　The　projector　was　still　rewinding。
　〃I　think　I'll　stretch　out　for　a　few　minutes　if　you　don't　mind；〃　she　said。　〃No；　don't　move；　I　have　plenty　of　room。　Wake　me　up　if　I　drop　off；　okay？〃
　She　lay　on　the　couch；　holding　the　glass　on　her　stomach；　the　tips　of　her　hair　just　touched　his　hand　beside　his　thigh。
　He　flicked　the　remote　switch　and　the　film　began。
　Dolarhyde　had　wanted　to　watch　his　Leeds　film　or　his　Jacobi　film　with　this　woman　in　the　room。　He　wanted　to　look　back　and　forth　from　the　screen　to　Reba。　He　knew　she　would　never　survive　that。　The　women　saw　her　getting　into　his　van。　Don't　even　think　about　that。　The　women　saw　her　getting　into　his　van。
　He　would　watch　his　film　of　the　Shermans；　the　people　he　would　visit　next。　He　would　see　the　promise　of　relief　to　e；　and　do　it　in　Reba's　presence；　looking　at　her　all　he　liked。
　On　the　screen；　The　New　House　spelled　in　pennies　on　a　shirt　cardboard。　A　long　shot　of　Mrs。　Sherman　and　the　children。　Fun　in　the　pool。　Mrs。　Sherman　holds　to　the　ladder　and　looks　up　at　the　camera；　bosom　swelling　shining　wet　above　her　suit；　pale　legs　scissoring。
　Dolarhyde　was　proud　of　his　self…control。　He　would　think　of　this　film；　not　the　other　one。　But　in　his　mind　he　began　to　speak　to　Mrs。　Sherman　as　he　had　spoken　to　Valerie　Leeds　in　Atlanta。
　
　You　see　me　now；　yes
　That's　how　you　feel　to　see　me；　yes
　
　Fun　with　old　clothes。　Mrs。　Sherruan　has　the　wide　hat　on。　She　is　before　the　mirror。　She　turns　with　an　arch　smile　and　strikes　a　pose　for　the　camera；　her　hand　at　the　back　of　her　neck。　There　is　a　cameo　at　her　throat。
　Reba　McClane　stirs　on　the　couch。　She　sets　her　glass　on　the　floor。　Dolarhyde　feels　a　weight　and　warmth。　She　has　rested　her　head　on　his　thigh。　The　nape　of　her　neck　is　pale　and　the　movie　light　plays　on　it。
　He　sits　very　still；　moves　only　his　thumb　to　stop　the　film；　back　it　up。　On　the　screen；　Mrs。　Sherman　poses　before　the　mirror　in　the　hat。　She　turns　to　the　camera　and　smiles。
　
　You　see　me　now；　yes
　That's　how　you　feel　to　see　me；　yes　
　Do　you　feel　me　now？　yes
　
　Dolarhyde　is　trembling。　His　trousers　are　mashing　him　so　hard。　He　feels　heat。　He　feels　warm　breath　through　the　cloth。　Reba　has　made　a　discovery。
　Convulsively　his　thumb　works　the　switch。
　
　You　see　me　now；　yes
　That's　how　you　feel　to　see　me；　yes
　Do　you　feel　this？　yes
　
　Reba　has　unzipped　his　trousers。
　A　stab　of　fear　in　him；　he　has　never　been　erect　before　in　the　presence　of　a　living　woman。　He　is　the　Dragon；　he　doesn't　have　to　be　afraid。
　Busy　fingers　spring　him　free。
　
　OH。
　Do　you　feel　me　now？　yes
　Do　you　feel　this　yes
　You　do　I　know　it　yes
　Your　heart　is　loud　yes
　
　He　must　keep　his　hands　off　Reba's　neck。　Keep　them　off。　The　women　saw　them　in　the　van。　His　hand　is　squeezing　the　arm　of　the　couch。　His　fingers　pop　through　the　upholstery。
　
　Your　heart　is　loud　yes
　And　fluttering　now
　It's　fluttering　now
　It's　trying　to　get　out　yes
　And　now　it's　quick　and　light　and　quicker　and　light　and　。　。　。
　Gone。
　Oh；　gone。
　
　Reba　rests　her　head　on　his　thigh　and　turns　her　gleaming　cheek　to　him。　She　runs　her　hand　inside　his　shirt　and　rests　it　warm　on　his　chest。
　〃I　hope　I　didn't　shock　you；〃　she　said。
　It　was　the　sound　of　her　living　voice　that　shocked　him；　and　he　felt　to　see　if　her　heart　was　going　and　it　was。　She　held　his　hand　there　gently。
　〃My　goodness；　you're　not　through　yet；　are　you？〃
　A　living　woman。　How　bizarre。　Filled　with　power；　the　Dragon's　or　his　own；　he　lifted　her　from　the　couch　easily。　She　weighed　not