th.red dragon-第44部分

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　〃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　nothing；　so　much　easier　to　carry　because　she　wasn't　limp。　Not　upstairs。　Not　upstairs。　Hurrying　now。　Somewhere。　Quick。　Grandmother's　bed；　the　satin　forter　sliding　under　them。
　〃Oh；　wait；　I'll　get　them　off。　Oh；　now　it's　torn。　I　don't　care。　e　on。　My　God；　man。　That's　so　sweeeet。　Don't　please　hold　me　down；　let　me　e　up　to　you　and　take　it。〃
　
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　With　Reba；　his　only　living　woman；　held　with　her　in　this　one　bubbleskin　of　time；　he　felt　for　the　first　time　that　it　was　all　right：　it　was　his　life　he　was　releasing；　himself　past　all　mortality　that　he　was　sending　into　her　starry　darkness；　away　from　this　pain　planet；　ringing　harmonic　distances　away　to　peace　and　the　promise　of　rest。
　Beside　her　in　the　dark；　he　put　his　hand　on　her　and　pressed　her　together　gently　to　seal　the　way　back。　As　she　slept；　Dolarhyde；　damned　murderer　of　eleven；　listened　time　and　again　to　her　heart。
　Images。　Baroque　pearls　flying　through　the　friendly　dark。　A　Very　pistol　he　had　fired　at　the　moon。　A　great　firework　he　saw　in　Hong　Kong　called　〃The　Dragon　Sows　His　Pearls。〃
　The　Dragon。
　He　felt　stunned；　cloven。　And　all　the　long　night　beside　her　he　listened；　fearful；　for　himself　ing　down　the　stairs　in　the　kimono。
　She　stirred　once　in　the　night；　searching　sleepily　until　she　found　the　bedside　glass。　Grandmother's　teeth　rattled　in　it。
　Dolarhyde　brought　her　water。　She　held　him　in　the　dark。　When　she　slept　again；　he　took　her　hand　off　his　great　tattoo　and　put　it　on　his　face。
　
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　He　slept　hard　at　dawn。
　Reba　McClane　woke　at　nine　and　heard　his　steady　breathing。　She　stretched　lazily　in　the　big　bed。　He　didn't　stir。　She　reviewed　the　layout　of　the　house；　the　order　of　rugs　and　floor；　the　direction　of　the　ticking　clock。　When　she　had　it　straight；　she　rose　quietly　and　found　the　bathroom。
　After　her　long　shower；　he　was　still　asleep。　Her　torn　underclothes　were　on　the　floor。　She　found　them　with　her　feet　and　stuffed　them　in　her　purse。　She　pulled　her　cotton　dress　on　over　her　head；　picked　up　her　cane　and　walked　outside。
　He　had　told　her　the　yard　was　large　and　level；　bounded　by　hedges　grown　wild；　but　she　was　cautious　at　first。
　The　morning　breeze　was　cool；　the　sun　warm。　She　stood　in　the　yard　and　let　the　wind　toss　the　seed　heads　of　the　elderberry　through　her　hands。　The　wind　found　the　creases　of　her　body；　fresh　from　the　shower。　She　raised　her　arms　to　it　and　the　wind　blew　cool　beneath　her　breasts　and　arms　and　between　her　legs。　Bees　went　by。　She　was　not　afraid　of　them　and　they　left　her　alone。
　Dolarhyde　woke；　puzzled　for　an　instant　because　he　was　not　in　his　room　upstairs。　His　yellow　eyes　grew　wide　as　he　remembered。　An　owlish　turn　of　his　head　to　the　other　pillow。　Empty。
　Was　she　wandering　around　the　house？　What　might　she　find？　Or　had　something　happened　in　the　night？　Something　to　clean　up。　He　would　be　suspected。　He　might　have　to　run。
　He　looked　in　the　bathroom；　in　the　kitchen。　Down　in　the　basement　where　his　other　wheelchair　stood。　The　upper　floor。　He　didn't　want　to　go　upstairs。　He　had　to　look。　His　tattoo　flexed　as　he　climbed　the　stairs。　The　Dragon　glowed　at　him　from　the　picture　in　his　bedroom。　He　could　not　stay　in　the　room　with　the　Dragon。
　From　an　upstairs　window　he　spotted　her　in　the　yard。
　〃FRANCIS。〃　He　knew　the　voice　came　from　his　room。　He　knew　it　was　the　voice　of　the　Dragon。　This　new　twoness　with　the　Dragon　disoriented　him。　He　first　felt　it　when　he　put　his　hand　on　Reba's　heart。
　The　Dragon　had　never　spoken　to　him　before。　It　was　frightening。
　〃FRANCIS；　E　HERE。〃
　He　tried　to　shut　out　the　voice　calling　him；　calling　him　as　he　hurried　down　the　stairs。
　What　could　she　have　found？　Grandmother's　teeth　had　rattled　in　the　glass；　but　he　put　them　away　when　he　brought　her　water。　She　couldn't　see　anything。
　Freddy's　tape。　It　was　in　a　cassette　recorder　in　the　parlor。　He　checked　it。　The　cassette　was　rewound　to　the　beginning。　He　couldn't　remember　if　he　had　rewound　it　after　he　played　it　on　the　telephone　to　the　Tattler。
　She　must　not　e　back　in　the　house。　He　didn't　know　what　might　happen　in　the　house。　She　might　get　a　surprise。　The　Dragon　might　e　down。　He　knew　how　easily　she　would　tear。
　The　women　saw　her　getting　in　his　van。　Warfield　would　remember　them　together；　Hurriedly　he　dressed。
　Reba　McClane　felt　the　cool　bar　of　a　tree　trunk's　shadow；　and　then　the　sun　again　as　she　wandered　across　the　yard。　She　could　always　tell　where　she　was　by　the　heat　of　the　sun　and　the　hum　of　the　window　air　conditioner。　Navigation；　her　life's　discipline；　was　easy　here。　She　turned　around　and　around；　trailing　her　hands　on　the　shrubs　and　overgrown　flowers。
　A　cloud　blocked　the　sun　and　she　stopped；　not　knowing　in　which　direction　she　faced。　She　listened　for　the　air　conditioner。　It　was　off。　She　felt　a　moment　of　uneasiness；　then　clapped　her　hands　and　heard　the　reassuring　echo　from　the　house。　Reba　flipped　up　her　watch　crystal　and　felt　the　time。　She'd　have　to　wake　D。　soon。　She　needed　to　go　home。
　The　screen　door　slammed。
　〃Good　morning；〃　she　said。
　His　keys　tinkled　as　he　came　across　the　grass。
　He　approached　her　cautiously；　as　though　the　wind　of　his　ing　might　blow　her　down；　and　saw　that　she　was　not　afraid　of　him。
　She　didn't　seem　embarrassed　or　ashamed　of　what　they　had　done　in　the　night。　She　didn't　seem　angry。　She　didn't　run　from　him　or　threaten　him。　He　wondered　if　it　was　because　she　had　not　seen　his　private　parts。
　Reba　put　her　arms　around　him　and　laid　her　head　on　his　hard　chest。　His　heart　was　going　fast。
　He　managed　to　say　good　morning。
　〃I've　had　a　really　terrific　time；　D。〃
　Really？　What　would　someone　say　back？　〃Good。　Me　too。〃　That　seemed　all　right。　Get　her　away　from　here。
　〃But　I　need　to　go　home　now；〃　she　was　saying。　〃My　sister's　ing　by　to　pick　me　up　for　lunch。　You　could　e　too　if　you　like。〃
　〃I　have　to　go　the　plant；〃　he　said；　modifying　the　lie　he　had　ready；　〃I'll　get　my　purse。〃
　Oh　no。　〃I'll　get　it。〃
　Almost　blind　to　his　own　true　feelings；　no　more　able　to　express　them　than　a　scar　can　blush；　Dolarhyde　did　not　know　what　had　happened　to　him　with　Reba　McClane；　or　why。　He　was　confused；　spiked　with　new　fright　at　being　Two。
　She　threatened　him；　she　did　not　threaten　him。
　There　was　the　matter　of　her　startling　live　movements　of　acceptance　in　Grandmother's　bed。
　Often　Dolarhyde　did　not　find　out　what　he　felt　until　he　acted。　He　didn't　know　how　he　felt　toward　Reba　MeClane。
　An　ugly　incident　as　he　drove　her　home　enlightened　him　a　little。　Just　past　the　Lindbergh　Boulevard　exit　off　Interstate　70；　Dolarhyde　pulled　into　a　Servco　Supreme　station　to　fill　his　van。
　The　attendant　was　a　heavyset；　sullen　man　with　muscatel　on　his　breath。　He　made　a　face　when　Dolarhyde　asked　him　to　check　the　oil。
　The　van　was　a　quart　low。　The　attendant　jammed　the　oil　spout　into　the　can　and　stuck　the　spout　into　the　engine。
　Dolarhyde　climbed　out　to　pay。
　The　attendant　seemed　enthusiastic　about　wiping　the　windshield；　the　passenger　side　of　the　windshield。　He　wiped　and　wiped。
　Reba　McClane　sat　in　the　high　bucket　seat；　her　legs　crossed；　her　skirt　riding　up　over　her　knee。　Her　white　cane　lay　between　the　seats。
　The　attendant　started　over　on　the　windshield。　He　was　looking　up　her　dress。
　Dolarhyde　glanced　up　from　his　wallet　and　caught　him。　He　reached　in　through　the　window　of　the　van　and　turned　the　wipers　on　high　speed；　batting　the　attendant's　fingers。
　〃Hey；　watch　that。〃　The　attendant　got　busy　removing　the　oil　can　from　the　engine　partment。　He　knew　he　was　caught　and　he　wore　a　sly　grin　until　Dolarhyde　came　around　the　van　to　him。
　〃You　son　of　a　bitch。〃　Fast　over　the　/s/。
　〃What　the　hell's　the　matter　with　you？〃　The　attendant　was　about　Dolarhyde's　height　and　weight；　but　he　had　nowhere　near　the　muscle。　He　was　young　to　have　dentures；　and　he　didn't　take　care　of　them。
　Their　greenness　disgusted　Dolarhyde。　〃What　happened　to　your　teeth？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃What's　it　to　you？〃
　〃Did　you　pull　them　for　your　boyfriend；　you　rotten　prick？〃　Dolarhyde　stood　too　close。
　〃Get　the　hell　away　from　me。〃
　Quietly；　〃Pig。　Idiot。　Trash。　Fool。〃
　With　a　one…hand　shove　Dolarhyde　sent　him　flying　back　to　slam　against　the　van。　The　oil　can　and　spout　clattered　on　the　asphalt
　Dolarhyde　picked　it　up。
　〃Don't　run。　I　can　catch　you。〃　He　pulled　the　spout　ftom　the　can　and　looked　at　its　sharp　end。
　The　attendant　was　pale。　There　was　something　in　Dolarhyde's　face　that　he　had　never　seen　before；　anywhere。
　For　a　red　instant　Dolarhyde　saw　the　spout　jammed　in　the　man's　chest；　draining　his　heart。　He　saw　Reba's　face　through　the　windshield。　She　was　shaking　her　head；　saying　something。　She　was　trying　to　find　the　handle　to　roll　her　window　down。
　〃Ever　had　anything　broken；　ass…eyes？〃
　The　attendant　shook　his　head　fast。　〃I　didn't　mean　no　offense；　now。　Honest　to　God。〃
　Dolarhyde　held　the　curved　metal　spout　in　front　of　the　man's　face。　He　held　it　in　both　hands　and　his　chest　muscles　bunched　as　he　bent　it　double。　He　pulled　out　the　man's　waistband　and　dropped　the　spout　down　the　front　of　his　pants。
　〃Keep　your　pig　eyes　to　yourself。〃　He　stuffed　money　for　the　gas　in　the　man's　shirt　pocket。　〃You　can　run　now；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　could　catch　you　anytime。〃
　
　
　CHAPTER　36
　
　The　tape　came　on　Saturday　in　a　small　package　addressed　to　Will　Graham；　c/o　FBI　Headquarters；　Washington。　It　had　been　mailed　in　Chicago　on　the　day　Lounds　was　killed。
　The　laboratory　and　Latent　Prints　found　nothing　useful　on　the　cassette　case　or　the　wrapper。
　A　copy　of　the　tape　went　to　Chicago　in　the　afternoon　pouch。　Special　Agent　Chester　brought　it　to　Graham　in　the　jury　room　at　midafternoon。　A　memo　from　Lloyd　Bowman　was　attached：
　
　　　　Voiceprints　verify　this　is　Lounds。　Obviously　he　was　repeating　dictation。　It's　a　new　tape；　manufactured　in　the　last　three　months　and　never　used　before。　Behavioral　Science　is　picking　at　the　content。　Dr。　Bloom　should　hear　it　when　he's　well　enough　…　you　decide　about　that。
　　　　Clearly　the　killer's　trying　to　rattle　you。
　　　　He'll　do　that　once　too　often；　I　think。
　
　A　dry　vote　of　confidence；　much　appreciated。
　Graham　knew　he　had　to　listen　to　the　tape。　He　waited　until　Chester　left。
　He　didn't　want　to　be　closed　up　in　the　jury　room　with　it。　T