el.the miko-第83部分

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　〃Christ！〃　she　cried；　teary…eyed；　〃you're　a　goddamned　knight　without　a　lady。　Can't　you　see　that　I　just　don't　care　anymore？〃
　〃But　I　do！〃　He　jerked　at　her。　〃Now　e　on！〃　He　skidded　them　to　the　left　as　another　bullet　whined　into　the　stone　just　behind　them　and　to　the　right。
　〃What's　the　use；〃　she　said　as　they　ran。　〃He's　got　the　gun。〃
　〃Yeah；　I　noticed　that。〃
　〃I　hate　guns；〃　she　said。
　And　Croaker　had　to　laugh。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Me；　too。　Especially　when　I　don't　have　one。〃　But　the　fact　was　that　she　was　right。　The　Blue　Monster　had　an　edge　Croaker　could　not　possibly　overe。　A　gun　against　nothing；　not　a　particularly　fair　fight。　But　then　nothing　much　was　fair　in　life　anyway。
　As　he　ran　he　recalled　Nicholas　telling　him　that　he　had　never　used　a　gun。　Yet　Croaker　knew　his　friend　to　be　one　of　the　most　dangerous　men　on　earth。　What；　then；　was　his　secret？　When　he　had　asked　Nicholas　that　question　he　had　merely　smiled　enigmatically　and　said；　〃There　are　ways。〃
　Now　what　the　hell　did　he　mean　by　that？　Croaker　wondered。　I　sure　could　use　one　of　those　secrets　now。　As　the　third　shot　rang　out；　barely　missing　him；　he　berated　himself；　Think！　Use　the　brain　your　old　man　bequeathed　you！
　There　was　nothing　around　them　but　stone；　metal；　and　glass。　What　could　he。。。　Ah！　He　had　it！　There　was　no　time　to　think　of　whether　or　not　it　was　a　good　idea；　it　was　the　only　one　he　had　and　the　Blue　Monster　was　right　behind　them；　closing　in　for　the　kill。
　He　ducked　them　around　a　corner；　dropped　Alix's　hand；　and　sprinted　ahead。　Just　around　another　right…angle　turn；　he　slid　to　a　stop　and　pulled　his　shirt　over　his　head。　Wrapping　it　around　his　left　hand；　he　shot　the　swathed　fist　forward　into　a　sheet　of　glass。
　Alix　gasped　at　the　sound　as　she　came　hurtling　around　the　corner。　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Get　back　there！〃　he　said；　waving　her　behind　him。　〃As　far　as　you　can　without　losing　sight　of　me。〃　Alix　did　as　she　was　bade　and　he　knelt　down；　searching　among　the　glitter　of　glass　shards。　Somewhere　in　the　dim　recesses　of　the　store　a　ringing　was　sounding　and　he　knew　that　this　was　strictly　shut…ended　now　because　as　soon　as　he　had　tripped　the　alarm　by　breaking　the　window；　a　new　element　had　been　added：　the　police。　And　he　had　as　much　stake　in　keeping　them　out　of　this　as　the　Blue　Monster　had。
　Croaker　found　what　he　needed；　both　pieces；　one　a　narrow；　long　strip；　the　second　a　shorter；　jagged　one。　With　extreme　care；　he　placed　the　smaller　piece　in　his　right　hand；　keeping　the　razor…sharp　edges　away　from　the　web　of　his　hand。　Now　he　took　up　the　larger　piece　in　his　wrapped　left　hand。
　He　moved　to　the　inner　edge　of　the　corner；　keeping　his　body　flat　against　the　column　and　away　from　the　bright　fingers　of　shattered　glass　still　in　the　windowframe。
　Now　came　the　moment　of　truth。　He　could　stick　his　head　out　to　see　where　the　Blue　Monster　was　like　all　the　cops　on　TV　did。　But　then　he'd　probably　get　his　head　shot　off；　the　Blue　Monster　wasn't　firing　blanks。　Real　life　presented　problems　Hollywood　scriptwriters　never　seemed　to　address。
　〃Hey；　buddy！〃　he　called　from　his　place　of　concealment。　〃It's　all　over。　The　cops'll　be　here　any　minute！　You'd　better　be　six　miles　away　from　here　by　then！〃
　〃You　V　me　both；〃　came　the　voice　from　around　the　corner　and　Croaker　thought；　I've　got　him！；　using　the　aural　fix　and　bringing　his　left　hand　back　in　a　tensed　arc；　the　muscles　quivering　with　the　strain　of　anticipating　the　hairtrigger　release；　the　forebrain　acknowledging　the　existence　of　only　one　chance。
　Then　Croaker　was　holding　his　breath；　striding　his　left　leg　forward　in　a　blur；　shooting　his　upper　torso　forward；　closing　his　mind　to　the　thought　of　himself　as　a　target　and　the　forearm　already　ing　forward　with　rocketing　speed；　the　swathed　fingers　releasing　their　burden　at　the　far　apex　of　the　arc　when　momentum　bined　with　Croaker's　own　strength　to　turn　the　shard　of　glass　into　a　glittering　missile。
　〃That's　what　you　think；　buddy！〃　Let　it　all　out　in　a　harsh　rush；　providing　twin　stimuli　for　the　Blue　Monster's　brain　to　chew　on　during　this　moment　of　extreme　stress。
　He　saw　a　blurred　glimpse　of　the　Blue　Monster　jerking　back　at　the　sight　and　sound；　the　glass　shard　already　upon　him；　cracking　in　two　across　the　bridge　of　his　nose。
　Croaker　had　no　time　to　wish　that　his　aim　had　been　more　accurate。　Blood　was　streaming　from　the　Blue　Monster's　face　and　both　his　hands　were　up；　trying　to　free　his　vision。
　But　there　was　nothing　at　all　wrong　with　his　hearing　and　his　gun　hand　leveled　on　Croaker's　stomach　as　he　heard　his　adversary　ing　on。　He　squeezed　off　one　shot；　two；　then　swung　the　barrel　of　the　gun　into　the　oning　head。
　It　was　a　lucky　blow；　ing　in　blind　as　it　did；　landing　just　behind　Croaker's　left　ear。　Croaker　staggered；　off　balance　from　having　swerved　away　from　the　gunshots；　in　the　midst　of　transferring　the　smaller　shard　of　glass　from　his　right　hand　to　his　left；　missing　the　first　stab。　Now　at　close　range　with　the　Blue　Monster's　sight　back　he　could　imagine　the　hole　the　。357　slug　would　tear　into　him。　There　wouldn't　be　much　left　of　his　insides。
　And　as　the　Blue　Monster's　finger　began　to　squeeze　the　trigger　Croaker　put　aside　the　pain　flashing　through　his　head　and　through　sheer　force　of　will　made　his　motor　functions　return　to　life；　swinging　his　left　arm　in　a　shallow　arc　inside　the　muzzle　of　the　pistol；　stabbing　inward　and　up　with　all　his　might。
　He　gave　a　mighty　groan　at　the　pain　that　shot　through　him　and　dimly　he　felt　flesh　and　sinew　giving　way　beneath　the　pressure　he　was　exerting　as　he　jammed　the　glass　shard　into　the　Blue　Monster's　chest。　Blood　flowed　from　his　own　palm；　mingling　with　that　of　the　Blue　Monster。
　He　pushed　at　the　body　as　the　gun　went　off　in　reflexive　response；　scattering　plaster　off　the　ceiling　high　above。　Croaker　became　aware　of　something　pulling　at　his　arm；　soft　breath　on　his　cheek；　and　a　voice；　as　insistent　as　a　bee；　in　his　ear。
　〃e　on！〃　Alix　begged　him；　pulling　at　him　desperately。　〃Oh；　God；　Lew；　they'll　be　here　any　second！〃
　He　rolled　heavily；　only　dimly　aware　of　who　she　was　and　why　she　was　bothering　him　now　when　he　was　so　tired　and　only　wanted　to　close　his　eyes　and。。。　Get　up！　his　mind　screamed　at　him。　Get　her　out　of　here　before　it's　too　late！　Too　late　for　what。。。　Just　want　to　turn　over　and　close　my　eyes　and。。。　For　God's　sake　stay　awake！
　On　his　hands　and　knees　now；　bleeding　all　over　the　clean；〃shiny　surface　of　the　arcade　floor；　Alix　tugging　at　his　arm；　pulling　him　dizzily　upward；　the　corridor　beginning　to　be　bathed　in　pulsing　crimson　light；　the　sounds　of　sirens　blossoming　in　his　ears。　He　turned　with　her　now；　allowing　her　to　head　him　out　of　the　labyrinth；　loping；　willing　his　stiff　legs　to　work；　trying　to　ignore　the　pounding　in　his　head；　the　roar　of　his　own　pulse；　the　acrid　coppery　taste　in　his　mouth　making　him　want　to　gag。
　Red；　black；　red；　the　illumination　revolving；　until　gradually　the　red　began　to　grow　dimmer　and　then　he　felt　the　cool　incredibly　soft　night　breeze　on　his　hot　cheeks　and　he　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　tell　her；　〃Keys。　Alix；　get　the　goddamned　car　keys！〃
　Nangi　turned　his　torso　over　in　the　bed；　ignoring　his　useless　legs。　He　reached　out　in　the　darkness　and　touched　the　slim　shoulder　of　the　second　Chinese　girl　on　the　beach。　Nangi　shook　her　with　some　power。　He　leaned　his　head　in　toward　the　curtain　of　night…black　hair　and　said；　〃Wake　up；　sleepy　one；〃　directly　into　the　hollow　of　her　ear。　He　was　greeted　with　nothing　more　articulate　than　a　snore。
　He　rolled　away　from　her　and　sat　up。　Good。　The　bit　of　white　powder；　tasteless　and　odorless；　he　had　put　in　her　champagne　had　done　its　work　nicely。　Now　it　was　time　to　go　to　work。
　The　villa　was　silent　as　he　quickly　dressed　in　shirt　and　trousers。　He　left　off　his　shoes　and　socks；　transferring　several　small　objects　from　a　deep　pouch　hidden　within　the　silk　folds　of　the　lining　of　his　suit　jacket　into　his　trousers'　pocket。
　Across　the　room；　ribboned　in　bluish　shadow；　he　took　up　his　walking　stick　and　carefully　opened　the　door。　The　hallway　was　dark　and　silent　and　slowly　he　crept　awkwardly　along　it；　turning　his　mind　from　thoughts　of　powerful　athlete's　legs；　which　in　this　situation　would　have　served　him　in　good　stead。
　When　he　reached　the　closed　door　behind　which　Liu　and　the　tall　girl　had　disappeared　not　more　than　fifteen　minutes　ago；　he　paused。　Unscrewing　the　white　jade　dragon　at　the　head　of　his　walking　stick；　he　inserted　one　of　the　small　objects　in　his　pocket。　He　pressed　a　stud；　peered　at　the　inside　mechanism；　satisfying　himself　as　to　its　working　order；　and　slowly；　using　infinite　care；　turned　the　knob　on　the　door　before　him。　He　froze　as　a　sliver　of　pink　lamplight　slithered　out　the　tiny　crack　between　door　and　frame。
　When　nothing　further　occurred；　he　continued　pushing　the　door　inward。　It　was　time　to　see　if　the　sensation　he　had　picked　up　from　Liu　at　the　moment　he　watched　the　tall　girl　earlier　on　the　veranda　had　any　validity。　Now　he　could　discern　the　faint；　floating　lilt　of　the　Chinese。　Surprisingly；　it　was　not　Cantonese。　Nangi　had　enough　ongoing　business　in　Hong　Kong　so　that　he　had　made　himself　learn　the　language　because　he　never　quite　felt　secure　leaving　his　business　fate　to　interpreters。　But　this　was　a　dialect　he　was　not　familiar　with。
　It　was　not　so　much　that　Liu　would　be　speaking　it。　He　was　a　munist　Chinese　from　the　mainland；　where　Cantonese　was　certainly　not　the　lingua　franca。　But　these　two　beach　girls…surely　they　were　local。　Of　course　they　could　be　Chiu　Chow　or　originally　from　any　number　of　other　provinces。　But　still。。。
　Nangi　set　his　walking　stick；　point　first；　along　the　carpeted　floor　and　slowly　slid　it　through　the　gap　in　the　door；　extending　it　to　its　full　length。　Then　he　settled　himself　to　listen。　After　a　long　while　he　picked　up　a　word　he　knew　and　his　heart　began　to　race。　But　cautious　man　that　he　was；　he　waited　for　another　word　or　phrase　that　would　give　him　confirmation。
　When　it　finally　came；　he　gave　a　tiny　inward　sigh。　They　were　speaking　Mandarin；　there　was　no　doubt　of　it。　It　was　extremely　unlikely　that　Liu　would　find　a　street　girl　in　the　Crown　Colony　whose　native　tongue　was　the　same　as　his　own。
　Nangi；　crouched　unfortably　in　the　hallway；　waited　patiently　through　the　grunting　coupling　and　the　languid　aftermath　when　the　conversation　picked　up　again。　When　at　last　he　heard　the　soft　slide　of　bedsheets；　he　withdrew　his　walking　stic