cpike.thelastvampire-第12部分

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　eyes。　I　see　that　his　eyes　are　green　even　from　two　hundred　yards　away。　His　face　is　tan；　deeply　lined　from　the　sun。　There　is　at　least　one　gun　in　his　coat；　possibly　two。
　The　woman　is　ten　years　younger；　an　attractive　brunette。　She　is　dressed　entirely　in　black。　Her　coat　is　bulky；　as　are　her　hidden　guns。　She　has　at　least　one　fully　automatic　weapon　on　her。　Her　skin　is　creamy　white；　the　line　of　her　mouth　set　and　hard。　Her　legs　are　long；　her　muscles　toned。　She　may　be　an　expert　in　karate　or　some　such　discipline。　Her　mind　is　easy　to　read。　She　has　a　nasty　job　to　do　and　she　is　going　to　do　it　right。　Her　promised　reward　is　great。
　Yet　it　is　clear　the　man　is　the　leader。　His　smile　is　straight　and　thin　lipped；　more　chilling　than　the　girl's　frown。　This　is　Slim；　I　know。
　Four　blocks　down　the　street　I　can　hear　another　limousine　parked；　its　engine　idling。　I　cannot　see　the　second　car…it　is　hidden　behind　a　building…but　I　am　able　to　match　the　sound　of　the　engines。　The　cars　could　hold　maybe　ten　people　each；　I　estimate。　In　all　the　odds　might　be　twenty　to　one　against　me。
　The　man　and　the　woman　walk　toward　me　without　speaking。　I　consider　escaping　over　the　side　of　the　pier。　But　I　hesitate　because　I　am　a　predator　first　and　foremost；　I　hate　to　run。　Also；　my　curiosity　is　high。　Who　are　these　characters　and　what　do　they　want　with　me？　Yet　if　they　reach　for　their　weapons；　I　will　jump。　I　will　be　gone　in　the　flick　of　an　eye。　It　is　clear　to　me　that　neither　of　these　approaching　creatures　is　anything　but　mortal。
　The　woman　stops　walking　thirty　yards　from　me。　The　man　approaches　to　within　ten　yards　but　es　no　closer。　They　do　not　reach　for　their　weapons　but　they　keep　their　hands　ready。　Down　the　street　I　hear　three　people　get　out　of　the　second　limousine。　They　spread　out　in　three　different　directions。　They　carry　weapons：　I　hear　the　metal　brush　their　clothes。　They　take　up　positions…I　am　finally　able　to　see　them　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye…one　behind　a　car；　another　next　to　a　tree；　the　last　crouched　behind　a　sign。　Simultaneously　three　people　inside　the　limousine　at　the　pier　level　high…powered　rifles　at　me。
　My　hesitation　has　cost　me　already。
　I　stand　in　the　sights　of　six　sets　of　cross　hairs。
　My　fear　is　still　manageable。　I　figure　I　can　take　a　bullet　or　two　and　still　escape　over　the　side。　As　long　as　they　don't　get　me　directly　in　the　head　or　heart。　Still；　I　do　not　want　to　run。　I　want　to　talk　to　Slim。　He　is　the　first　to　speak。
　〃You　must　be　Alisa。〃
　I　nod。　〃Slim？〃
　〃In　the　flesh。〃
　〃You　agreed　to　e　alone。〃
　〃I　wanted　to　e　alone。　But　my　associates　didn't　think　it　would　be　wise。〃
　〃Your　associates　are　all　about。　Why　so　many　soldiers　for　one　girl？〃
　〃Your　reputation　precedes　you；　Alisa。〃
　〃What　reputation　is　that？〃
　He　shrugs。　〃That　you　are　a　resourceful　young　woman。〃
　Interesting；　I　think。　He　is　almost　embarrassed　by　the　precautions　that　have　been　taken　to　abduct　me。　He　has　been　told　to　take　them…ordered。　He　doesn't　know　that　I　am　a　vampire；　and　if　he　doesn't　know；　then　probably　no　one　with　him　knows　since　he　is　clearly　in　mand　of　the　operation。　That　gives　me　a　huge　advantage。　But　the　person　above　him　knows。　I　must　meet　this　person；　I　decide。
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　ask。
　〃Just　that　you　e　with　us　for　a　little　ride。〃
　〃To　where？〃
　〃To　a　place　not　far　from　here；〃　he　says。
　That　is　a　lie。　We　will　drive　a　long　distance　if　I　get　in　his　limousine。　〃Who　sent　you？〃
　〃You　will　meet　him　if　you　e　with　me。〃
　Him。　〃What　is　his　name？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　not　at　liberty　to　discuss　that　at　this　time。〃
　〃What　if　I　don't　want　to　e？〃　I　ask。
　Slim　sighs。　〃That　would　not　be　good。　In　fact；　it　would　be　very　bad。〃
　They　will　shoot　me　if　I　resist；　without　question。　It　is　good　to　know。
　〃Did　you　know　Detective　Michael　Riley？〃　I　ask。
　〃Yes。　I　worked　with　him。　I　assume　you　met　him？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　is　he？〃
　I　smile；　my　eyes　cold。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　don't。〃　He　gestures　with　his　hand。　〃Please　e　with　us。　A　police　car　might　be　along　at　any　moment。　I'm　sure　neither　of　us　wants　to　plicate　matters。〃
　〃If　I　do　e　with　you；　do　I　have　your　word　I　will　not　be　harmed？〃　I　ask。
　He　keeps　his　face　straight。　〃You　have　my　word；　Alisa。〃
　Another　lie。　This　man　is　a　killer。　I　can　smell　the　blood　on　him。　I　shift　slightly　on　my　feet。　The　rifles　aimed　at　me　all　have　telescopic　sights。　They　move　as　I　move。　I　estimate　at　least　one　of　the　shooters　will　hit　me　before　I　can　get　over　the　pier　rail。　I　don't　like　being　shot；　although　I　have　a　few　times。　I　have　no　choice　but　to　go　along；　I　decide；　for　the　moment。
　〃Very　well；　Mr。　Slim；〃　I　say。　〃I　will　e　with　you。〃
　We　walk　toward　the　limousine；　Slim　on　my　right；　the　woman　on　my　left。　As　we　are　almost　at　the　entrance　to　the　pier；　the　limousine　down　the　street　suddenly　appears。　Without　picking　up　the　men　it　deposited；　it　drives　until　it　is　parked　behind　the　first　limousine。　Four　men　jump　out。　Their　　clothes　are　all　similar…black　sweatsuits。　They　point　automatic　weapons　at　me。　My　fear　escalates。　Their　precautions　are　extraordinary。　If　they　decide　to　open　fire　now；　I　will　die。　I　think　of　Krishna；　I　don't　know　why。　But　he　did　tell　me　I　would　have　his　grace　if　I　listened　to　him。　And　in　my　own　way　I　have　not　disobeyed　him。　Slim　turns　in　my　direction。
　〃Alisa；〃　he　says。　〃I　would　like　it　if　you　would　slowly　reach　in　your　coat　and　remove　your　gun　and　toss　it　on　the　ground。〃
　I　do　as　he　asks。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Slim　says。　〃Do　you　have　any　other　weapons　on　you？〃
　〃You　will　have　to　search　me　to　find　out。〃
　〃I　prefer　not　to　search　you。　I'm　asking　you　if　you　have　any　other　weapons；　and　that　you　surrender　them　now。〃
　These　are　dangerous　people；　highly　trained。　I　have　to　go　on　the　offensive；　I　think；　quickly。　I　stare　at　Slim；　my　eyes　boring　into　him。　He　tries　to　glance　away　but　is　unable　to。　I　speak　softly；　knowing　he　hears　my　words　as　if　they　were　whispered　between　his　ears。
　〃You　do　not　have　to　be　afraid　of　me；　Mr。　Slim；〃　I　say。　〃It　does　not　matter　what　you　have　been　told。　Your　fear　is　unnecessary。　I　am　nothing　more　than　I　appear。〃
　I　am　planting　a　suggestion　deep　in　his　psyche；　pushing　buttons　he　already　feels。　But　the　woman　takes　a　sudden　step　forward。　She　speaks。　〃Don't　listen　to　her。　Remember。〃
　Slim　shakes　his　head　as　if　trying　to　clear　it　He　gestures　to　the　woman。　〃Search　her；〃　he　orders。
　I　stand　perfectly　still　while　the　woman　works　her　way　down　into　my　boots　and　discovers　my　remaining　pistol　and　knife。　I　consider　grabbing　her　and　holding　her　as　a　hostage。　But　a　study　of　the　eyes　of　the　men　assembled　tells　me　that　they　will　kill　her　to　get　to　me；　and　lose　no　sleep　over　the　act。　The　woman　disarms　me　and　jumps　back　from　me　as　if　afraid　she　will　catch　something　from　me。　All　of　them；　without　exception；　are　confused　about　why　I　have　to　be　treated　with　such　caution。　Yet　all　of　them　are　determined　to　follow　orders。　Slim　removes　two　pairs　of　handcuffs　from　inside　his　coat。　They　are　gold　colored；　and　don't　smell　like　steel…probably　some　special　alloy。　They　are　three　times　thicker　than　normal　cuffs。　Slim　tosses　them　toward　me　and　they　land　at　my　feet。
　〃Alisa；〃　he　says　patiently。　〃I　would　like　you　to　put　one　pair　of　these　around　your　wrists；　the　other　pair　around　your　ankles。〃
　〃Why？〃　Now　I　want　to　stall　for　time。　Maybe　a　police　officer　will　e　by。　Of　course；　these　people　would　just　kill　the　officer。
　〃We　have　a　long　drive　ahead　of　us；　and　we　want　you　safely　tucked　away　before　we　allow　you　in　our　car；〃　Slim　says。
　〃You　said　we　didn't　have　far　to　go？〃
　〃Put　on　the　cuffs。〃
　〃All　right。〃　I　put　them　on；　marveling　once　more　at　their　preparation。
　〃Press　them　together　so　that　they　lock；〃　Slim　suggests。
　I　do　so。　They　click。　〃Happy？〃　I　ask。　〃Can　we　go？〃
　Slim　removes　a　black　eye　mask　from　his　pocket；　similar　to　the　kind　people　wear　to　bed。　He　steps　toward　me。　〃I　want　you　to　put　this　on；〃　he　says。
　I　hold　out　my　cuffed　hands。　〃You'll　have　to　put　it　on　me。〃
　He　takes　another　step　toward　me。　〃Your　hands　are　free　enough　to　put　it　on。〃
　I　catch　his　eye　again；　it　may　be　my　last　chance。　〃You　do　not　have　to　be　so　afraid　of　me；　Slim。　Your　fear　is　ridiculous。〃
　He　hurries　toward　me　and　covers　my　eyes。　I　hear　his　voice。
　〃You're　right；　Alisa；〃　he　says。
　He　grabs　my　arm　and　pulls　me　toward　the　limousine。
　We　drive　south　on　the　Coast　Highway。　All　is　dark；　but　I　still　have　my　sense　of　direction。　All　my　senses　with　the　exception　of　my　eyes　are　very　alert。　Slim　sits　on　my　right；　the　woman　on　my　left。　Four　burly　men　sit　across　from　us；　two　up　front。　I　count　the　breaths。　The　second　limousine　follows　a　hundred　yards　behind。　They　picked　up　their　three　marksmen　before　we　hit　the　road。
　There　are　no　incidental　smells　in　the　limousine。　The　car　is　new。　There　is　no　food　in　the　limousine；　but　there　is　drink　in　the　bar：　sodas；　juice；　water。　There　is　a　faint　smell　of　gunpowder　in　the　air。　One　or　more　of　the　guns　in　the　vehicle　has　recently　been　fired。　Everybody　has　his　gun　out；　in　his　hands　or　resting　in　his　lap。　Only　the　woman　keeps　hers　aimed　at　me。　She　is　the　most　afraid　of　me。
　Several　miles　go　by。　The　breathing　of　the　people　around　me　begins　to　slow；　to　lengthen　and　deepen。　They　are　relaxing；　except　for　the　woman。　They　think　the　difficult　part　is　over。　Careful；　I　test　the　strength　of　the　cuffs。　The　metal　is　incredibly　hard。　I　will　not　be　able　to　break　it。　But　that　doesn't　mean　I　can't　get　around。　I　can　hop；　even　bound；　far　more　quickly　than　any　mortal　can　run。　I　might　be　able　to　grab　one　of　the　automatic　weapons　from　the　lap　of　one　of　the　men　across　from　me　and　shoot　and　kill　most　of　the　people　in　the　limousine　before　they　can　shoot　me　back。　Then　again；　the　woman　might　put　a　bullet　in　my　brain　first。　Also；　I　know　the　car　behind　us　is　operating　under　strict　instructions。　The　pattern　in　the　abduction　is　clear。　If　they　see　me　attacking；　they　will　open　fire　without　hesitation。　Everyone　in　the　first　limousine　will　die；　and　I　will　be　one　of　them。　This　is　why　there　are　two　cars；　not　one。
　I　must　try　another　way。
　I　let　another　thirty　minutes　go　by。　Then　I　speak。
　〃Slim。　I　have　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　that's　not　possible；〃　he　says。
　〃I　have　to　go　bad。　I　drank　an　entire　bottle　of　Coke　before　meeting　you。〃
　〃I　don't　care。　We　are　not　stopping。〃
　〃I'll　pee　all　over　the　seat。　You'll　have　to　sit　in　it。〃