cspector.worldwithoutend-第17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！


　Aina　shoves　away　from　the　table；　unwilling　to　see　what　es　next。
　〃But　you　don't　know　how　it　ends；　〃　the　old　woman　says。
　〃Why　should　I　want　to　know？〃　Aina　says。　〃After　all；　they're　nothing　but　a　pack　of　cards。〃
　
　
　
　〃You　must　send　me　back；〃　Thais　said。
　
　We'd　returned　to　the　darkened　interior　of　my　living　room　shortly　after　sunrise。　Thais　was　not　fond　of　the　light。　He　said　it　was　too　cruel。　
　〃Why　don't　you　stay　here　with　me？〃　I　asked。　Caimbeui　gave　me　a　sharp　look；　which　I　ignored。
　〃I　cannot；〃　Thais　said。　〃And　you　know　why。　But　there　is　something　I　will　tell　you。　Ysrthgrathe　is　not　the　only　one　of　the　Enemy　here。　There　is　another；　just　as　subtle　and　as　deadly。〃
　〃But　where。。。　how。。。〃
　〃Deal　with　Ysrthgrathe　first；〃　Thais　said。
　
　I　tried　to　get　him　to　tell　me　more；　but　he　refused。　Finally；　I　had　no　other　choice　than　to　send　him　back。
　
　The　house　seemed　empty　after　Thais　was　gone。　How　I　wanted　to　spend　time　with　him。　Get　to　know　him。　Figure　out　his　peculiarities。　But　I　had　denied　myself　that　long　ago。　And　there　was　no　going　into　the　past　to　fix　things。
　
　We　closed　up　the　house　again。　Sheets　covered　the　furniture。　The　alarms　were　set。　I　didn't　look　back　as　we　drove　away。
　
　
　PART　II
　
　Millions　long　for　immortality　who　do　not　know　what　to　do　with　themselves　on　a　rainy　Sunday　afternoon。
Susan　Ertz
　
　She　sleeps。　And　dreams。　Safe　happy　dreams　of　times　never　lived　and　not　imagined。　They　fort　her　and　calm　her　until　she　sinks。　Sinks　down　into　the　long　black　darkness　of　her　night。
　
　
　Once；　a　human　discovered　what　I　was。
　
　Like　most　curious　men；　he　thought　that　the　knowledge　would　gain　him　something。　As　though　knowledge　is　a　safe　thing。　Inert　and　powerless　on　its　own。
　
　It　was　1998。
　
　Fin　de　siecle　fever　was　at　an　all…time　high。　There　were　riots　and　hysterical　sightings　of　Ufos；　messiahs；　and　dead　celebrities。　I'd　bought　my　home　in　Scotland　a　few　years　earlier　for　an　obscenely　cheap　price。　An　earldom；　no　less。　Imagine；　me　a　countess。　It　was　to　laugh。
　
　I　had　settled　into　a　smaller　house　on　this　property。　The　castle　held　no　interest　for　me；　being　large　and　'hard　to　maintain。　I'd　acquired　quite　a　large　fortune　over　my　many　eons。　I　could　afford　to　take　the；　uh；　long　view　on　investments。　There　are　some　uses　to　being　immortal…even　if　they're　only　financial。
　
　It　was　from　this　vantage　point　that　I　was　watching　everything　happening　around　me　with　great　interest。　
　The　signs　were　beginning。　I　knew　it　wouldn't　be　long　before　the　magic　returned。
　
　So　I　began　to　gather　together　the　things　I　would　need　to　be　prepared。　For　many　centuries　I'd　hidden　artifacts　away；　waiting　for　this　time。　It　was　on　one　such　trip　that　I　noticed　him；
　
　I'd　just　arrived　from　Scotland。　The　United　States　was　still　whole　back　then。　The　turmoil　that　would　rip　it　apart　was　years　away。　Though　I　had　spent　many　years　in　America　over　the　last　two　centuries；　I　tried　to　stay　away　from　the　politics　of　the　place。　They　seemed　entirely　too　messy　to　me。　But　that's　always　been　the　nature　of　freedom。
　
　As　I　ran　to　catch　my　connecting　flight　to　New　Orleans；　I　saw　him。　He　was　leaning　against　one　of　the　pillars　that　lined　the　concourse　in　O'Hare。　He　wore　a　black　T…shirt　and　faded　blue　jeans。　A　scuffed　duffel　bag　lay　at　his　feet　like　a　lazy　dog。
　
　There　was　a　look　of　intense　concentration　on　his　face；　as　though　he　were　looking　not　at　how　I　appeared；　but　at　what　was　inside　me。　I　didn't　like　it。
　
　This　was　before　the　Awakening；　and　there　was　no　way　he　could　know　what　I　really　was　for　I'd　found　ways　to　disguise　my　true　form。　Oh；　I　appeared　human；　for　the　most　part。　My　features　were　more　delicate；　perhaps；　than　most。　And　I　was　very　thin。　But　my　skin　was　as　black　as　it　ever　was；　and　my　hair　was　dark　then；　too。　Some　of　the　developments　in　the　twenty…first　century　weren't　all　bad。　I'd　seen　that　blondes　really　don't　have　more　fun；　and　I　found　that　auburn　really　didn't　suit　me。
　
　As　I　passed；　the　light　reflected　off　his　glasses；　obsouring　his　eyes　from　me。　I　noticed　that　he　had　straw…colored　hair　sprinkled　with　a　little　gray。　His　beard　was　clipped　neat　and　close；　giving　him　an　almost　scholarly　look。　But　then　I　could　see　his　eyes　again　and　once　more　I　had　the　sensation　of　being　looked　through。
　
　Frowning；　I　turned　and　hurried　on　down　the　corridor。　I　wouldn't　have　given　him　another　thought；　except　that　he　boarded　my　plane　not　more　than　fifteen　minutes　later。
　
　He　was　the　last　passenger　on；　probably　flying　stand…by。　But　why　was　he　on　this　flight？　And　why　had　he　been　standing　there　in　the　corridor；　as　though　he　were　waiting　for　me？
　
　But　he　passed　by　me；　not　even　making　eye　contact。　What　an　imagination　I　had；　I　thought。　The　idea　that　he　was　following　me。　It　was　nothing。　A　chance　meeting　of　the　eyes；　nothing　more。
　
　Despite　the　air　conditioning；　the　air　was　hot　and　soupy。　The　smell　of　beignets　hit　me　as　I　walked　through　the　airport。　One　of　the　charms　of　the　New　Orleans　airport　was　the　immediate　realization　that　this　place　was　like　none　other　in　the　United　States。　That　Puritan　priggishness　was　utterly　cast　aside　here。
　
　Maybe　it　was　the　weather；　or　perhaps　the　strong　hold　the　French　had　placed　upon　the　place　centuries　before；　but　here　there　was　no　hand…wringing　over　drinking；　or　gambling；　or　eating。　In　short；　it　was　heaven；　of　a　sort。
　
　I　caught　a　cab　to　the　Fairmont　Hotel；　a　gorgeous　place　with　nine…meter…high　ceilings　in　the　foyer；　crystal　chandeliers；　thick　rugs；　and　the　almost　physical　sensation　of　decadence。　They　also　made　the　most　fabulous　pecan　pie　there。　A　southern　confection　that　I've　never　liked　anywhere　else。
　
　As　the　elevator　was　closing　to　take　me　up　to　my　room；　I　thought　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　Black　T…shirt　through　the　milling　hotel　guests；　but　I　knew　it　must　be　my　imagination。
　
　The　French　Quarter　was　a　five…minute　walk　from　the　hotel。　New　York　was　the　only　other　place　in　America　where　history　butts　up　so　closely　with　the　present。　I　went　down　Chartres　Street；　then　cut　over　to　Royal。　The　heavy　smell　of　the　olive　trees　in　bloom　sweetened　the　air　and　almost　masked　the　odor　of　the　river。
　
　Lined　in　antique　shops　and　small　art　houses；　Royal　was　my　favorite　street　in　the　Vieux　Carre。　Bourbon　may　have　been　more　famous；　but　the　smell　of　vomit　every　few　steps　always　put　me　off。　There　were　some　beautiful　homes　at　the　eastern　end　of　Bourbon；　but　they　hardly　made　up　for　the　foul　smells　and　lingering　air　of　dissipation。
　
　I　slipped　into　one　of　the　antique　galleries：　de　Pouilly's。　Over　the　years　I'd　made　friends　with　the　owners　of　many　of　these　stores。　They　knew　me　as　selective　and　willing　to　pay　well　for　what　I　wanted。　In　return；　I　expected　them　to　keep　quiet　about　my　｜　visits　and　to　let　me。。。　wander。。。　in　their　shops。　｜　The　whole　Quarter　was　rabbit…warrened。　You　might　｜　enter　an　unpretentious　storefront；　only　to　discover　a　｜　maze　of　rooms　that　led　you　through　any　number　of　connected　buildings。　I　doubt　there　was　anyone　who　knew　all　the　twists　and　turns　in　these　places。
　
　A　middle…aged　man　approached　me　as　I　entered。　He　gave　off　the　superior　air　of　someone　who　just　knew　I　wasn't　the　sort　who　could　afford　to　buy　here。
　
　〃May　I　help　you？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　that　let　me　know　in　no　uncertain　terms　that　he　thought　he　couldn't。
　
　I　picked　up　a　bronze　piece　（not　a　very　good　reproduction　at　that）　and　turned　it　over　as　though　considering。
　
　〃Tell　Mr。　Hyslop　that　Ms。　Sluage　is　here；〃　I　said。　I　began　fingering　a　porcelain　bowl　that　looked　to　be　an　original　Meissen。　The　clerk　was　obviously　torn　between　telling　me　not　to　touch　the　pretties　and　trying　to　decide　if　I　was；　indeed；　on　speaking　terms　with　his　employer。　Fear　won　out　over　officiousness；　and　he　scuttled　off　like　a　cockroach。
　
　A　few　minutes　later　（I　was　by　now　poking　around　in　a　large；　intricately　appointed　armoire　looking　for　secret　doors）；　Mr。　Hyslop　appeared　with　the　now　very　sweaty　clerk　in　tow。
　
　〃Ms。　Sluage；〃　Mr。　Hyslop　said　as　he　held　out　his　hand。　〃It's　so　good　to　see　you　again。　I　trust　you've　been　able　to　amuse　yourself？〃
　
　As　I　backed　out　of　the　armoire　and　gave　a　little　sneeze；　Mr。　Hyslop　produced　a　handkerchief　like　a　magician　performing　a　trick。
　
　〃Bless　you；〃　he　said　as　he　pushed　it　into　my　hand。　'I　always　get　the　sneezes　when　I　start　looking　into　these　old　pieces。　No　matter　how　hard　we　try　to　keep　up；　they　seem　to　bring　the　dust　with　them。〃　
　〃That's　quite　all　right；〃　I　said；　taking　the　prot…fered　hanky。　〃I　was　just　investigating　to　see　if　I　might　want　this　piece。〃
　〃Take　your　time；　take　your　time；〃　Hyslop　said　as　he　waved　his　clerk　away。　The　clerk　slunk　off　to　go　harass　a　couple　who'd　just　stepped　inside　from　the　sweltering　October　air。
　〃What　I'd　like　to　do　is　take　a　look　at　those　items　you've　been　keeping　for　me；　and　make　some　arrangements　for　their　transport。〃
　Hyslop　looked　a　bit　concerned。　〃Are　you　not　satisfied　with　our　arrangement？〃　he　asked。　〃I　thought　that…〃
　〃No；　no；〃　I　said；　cutting　him　off。　〃It's　nothing　like　that。　I've　just　finally　settled　down　in　one　place　and　I'd　like　to　spend　some　time　enjoying　the　things　I've　bought。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　he　replied。　〃How　foolish　of　me。　Please；　this　way。〃
　
　I　followed　him　through　the　shop　into　a　series　of　dimly　lit　twisting　and　turning　hallways。　Then　up　three　flights　of　narrow　stairs　painted　over　so　many　times　there　were　lumpy　bumps　like　Braille　on　the　railing　and　walls。　It　was　very　quiet　here。　You　couldn't　hear　any　of　the　usual　street　noise　that　bubbled　through　the　Quarter　day　and　night。　He　led　me　into　his　office；　then　fumbled　around　with　his　keys　until　he　had　the　right　one。
　
　〃Here　we　are；〃　Hyslop　said　proudly　as　he　flipped　on　the　light　switch。
　
　The　closet　was　small；　but　crammed　to　the　top　with　arcana。　Shelf　after　shelf　with　boxes　labeled　in　a　code　we'd　designed。　One　shelf　held　only　boxes　of　books。　Another；　rare　pottery。　On　yet　another；　articles　of　clothing。　All　had　special　significance。　All　were　precious　only　to　those　who　knew　what　to　look　for。
　
　I　could　feel　the　pull　of　the　energy　in　that　little　closet。
　
　〃I　doubt　anyone　has　a　better　collection　of　oddities；〃　Hyslop　said。　〃I　just　recently　added　this。〃　He　pulled　a　small　box　from　one　of　the　shelves　and　opened　it。　Ins