cspector.worldwithoutend-第20部分

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t　I　can　no　more　make　you　immortal　than　any　stranger　off　the　street　could。〃
　
　He　frowned。　〃You're　just　trying　to　confuse　me；〃　he　said。　〃You　told　me　at　the　restaurant。。。〃
　〃I　told　you　that　so　you　wouldn't　make　a　scene。　Even　if　I　wanted　to；　I　couldn't　change　you　from　what　you　are。　I　don't　have　that　power。　Why　would　I　lie　to　you？〃
　〃Is　this　a　test？〃　he　asked。　I　groaned。　〃No；　it　is　not。　It's　the　truth。〃　〃You　just　don't　like　me。　That's　why　you're　doing　this。　Well；　it　won't　work。　And　it　doesn't　matter　anyway。　I　figured　out　what　you　are；　and　that's　worth　something。　Don't　think　you'll　fool　me　the　way　you've　fooled　everyone　else。〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　I　said。　〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　that。〃　I　think　you're　a　special　kind　of　fool；　I　thought。　〃You　know；　being　immortal　doesn't　just　happen　overnight。　It　takes　a　while　for　the　process　to　work。〃
　〃But　you　can　start　it　soon；　can't　you？〃　〃Oh；　yes；〃　I　said。　〃But　first；　I　must　make　some　preparations。〃　I　tossed　him　the　key　to　my　hotel　room。　〃I'm　in　room　1650　at　the　Fairmont。　I'll　be　back　before　midnight。〃　〃I'll　be　waiting；〃　he　said。
　
　I　didn't　say　anything；　just　turned　and　went　back　toward　the　Quarter。
　
　I　knocked　on　the　door　of　my　room　at　11：45。　The　vid　inside　was　loud　enough　for　me　to　hear　it　through　the　door。　Then　the　door　swung　open。　I　had　half…hoped　Mortimer　might　realize　how　foolish　this　whole　thing　was；　but　no；　there　he　was；　sans　jacket；　and　barefoot。　〃Glad　to　see　you've　made　yourself　fortable；〃
　
　I　said。
　
　〃Yeah；　well；　given　the　circumstances；　I　didn't　think　you'd　mind。〃
　〃Push　that　bed　up　against　the　wall；〃　I　said。　As　he　did　so；　I　also　pushed　every　other　piece　of　furniture　in　the　room　against　the　walls；　making　a　nice…sized　space　in　the　center　of　the　room。
　〃We're　going　to　do　it　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃Why　not？〃　I　asked。　〃This　place　has　always　had　a　great　deal　of　magical　energy。　Besides；　this　is　just　the　start　of　the　process；　and　I　know　how　anxious　you　are　to　embark　on　your　new　life。〃
　〃Yeah；　well；　I　guess　I　thought　I'd　have　more　time。〃
　〃Time　for　what？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　replied。　〃To　say　goodbye。〃
　〃You　can't　say　goodbye；　but　you　can　go　back　and　make　some　preparations；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　explain　everything　after　the　ceremony。〃
　
　I　crouched　down　and　poured　out　the　contents　of　the　bag　I'd　brought　back　with　me。　Luckily；　Marie　Laveau's　House　of　Voodoo　had　just　the　sort　of　things　that　would　help　in　my　little　charade。　Candles；　skulls；　charms；　unidentifiable　bones；　incense；　and　assorted　effluvia　tumbled　onto　the　carpet。　Feathers　I'd　picked　up　in　the　park　came　from　my　jacket　pocket。
　
　I　shoved　everything　to　one　side。　〃Stand　here；〃　I　instructed；　pointing　to　the　center　of　the　room。　I　placed　the　candles　around　him　in　a　rough　circle；　then　lit　them。　The　incense　I　lit　and　stuck　in…between　the　drawers　of　the　bureau。　Then　I　switched　off　the　lights　and　went　over　to　the　window　and　drew　the　drapes。
　
　The　effect　was　getting　pretty　good。　Lots　of　sandalwood　smoke　wafting　through　flickering　candle　light。　I　made　him　hold　out　his　hands　and　dropped　a　skull　into　one　and　the　strange　bones　into　the　other。　Then　I　made　him　open　his　mouth　and　popped　one　of　the　charms　inside。　I　almost　started　laughing　at　the　face　he　made；　but　I　knew　that　would　break　the　spell。
　
　The　rest　of　the　charms　I　placed　in　his　pockets　and　down　his　shirt。　Then　I　began　to　chant　softly　and　wave　my　arms　in　front　of　him。　In　Sanskrit　I　told　him　what　a　plete　imbecile　he　was　and　how　his　mother　was　probably　a　goat…herder　who　slept　in　cow　dung　for　fun　while　she　mated　with　snakes　at　the　bottom　of　a　cesspool。　
　
　From　the　expression　on　John　Mortimer's　face